The term ‘crescendo’ is well-known among musicians, signifying the way music intensifies by building upon preceding notes to reach a peak of intensity. Crescendo can also be evidenced in a person’s life. Legendary leadership expert Stephen R. Covey explains1 how this works.
When a piece of music reaches a crescendo, it does not just get louder. The sense of growing, intensifying, and expanding in a composition or performance results from an expressive mix of rhythm, harmony, and melody…Living your Life in Crescendo means continually growing in contribution, learning, and influence. The mindset that ‘your most important work is always ahead of you’ is an optimistic, forward-thinking mentality that teaches you can always contribute regardless of what’s happened to you or what stage you are in.
The Creator’s appointed times are more than mere religious rituals; their meaning and significance grow and intensify over time. These feast days act as signposts, guiding us through the journey of personal sanctification toward the ultimate goal of becoming a community of fully redeemed individuals who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
As the master composer and conductor of a believer’s life journey, YHWH orchestrates our experiences to reach a crescendo of purpose and fulfillment. A beautiful illustration of this can be found in the way His appointed times and feast days are ordered.
The Overture of the Weekly Sabbath
The development process of each believer begins with small steps. As a musical overture is an introduction to something more substantial, so is the mandate to take a weekly rest day – the Sabbath.
For six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath; a day of rest and a holy gathering dedicated to YHWH. You shall not do any work; it is a Sabbath to YHWH wherever you live. Leviticus 23:3
An example of Yah’s creation rest, the seventh day is set apart as the sign of the covenant between Eloah (God) and his people. As such it teaches us the foundational principles of worship and reverence. It is also symbolic of how Yeshua provides rest for our souls.
Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Shavuot
Situated between the overture and the coda of a musical piece are the exposition and development sections. In the context of our music composition metaphor, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Shavuot qualify. These three annual observances focus squarely on the individual’s spiritual growth.
During Passover observances, we learn to trust in Yeshua who redeems us from sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread highlights the practice and necessity of removing sin from our own lives. Our attention then shifts to Shavuot, which focuses on Yah’s covenant. Our commitment to covenant fidelity entails faithfully upholding the terms of this eternal covenant, emphasizing our duties to Yah and the promises He has given us. (Leviticus 23:4-22)
The Day of Trumpets
The Day of Trumpets marks the next big event on Yah’s appointed times calendar. In Leviticus, Moses informed the children of Yisrael that the first day of the seventh month – Day of Trumpets2 – was to be a Sabbath day of rest, a set-apart convocation, and a memorial of trumpets. It was meant to be a time of reflection and preparation for the upcoming Day of Atonement.
The Hebrew word for trumpet is teruah which generally means a loud noise or shout, often associated with the blast of a shofar3. Throughout Hebrew history, the blowing of trumpets has held significant religious, communal, and military importance in ancient Yisrael.
Trumpets were blown to call the people to repentance or signal the start of a new year. (Leviticus 23:24-25) Their blasts facilitated community gatherings for festivals and special events or directed the movement of the camp in the wilderness. (Numbers 10:1-10, 2 Samuel 6:12-15) Trumpets served as battle signals, conveying orders and rallying troops. (Joshua 6:4-20, Numbers 10:9) They were also blown to announce and celebrate the anointing and ascension of a new king. (1 Kings 1:39, 2 Kings 9:13)
One day in the future the blowing of the seventh trumpet will cause a prophetic syncopation4 to occur – one that evokes jubilation and joy for the righteous, but shock and horror for the unrepentant.
Up until now, the day of mercy has existed; and He has been merciful and patient toward all who dwell on the earth. But when the time comes, then the power, the punishment, and the judgment; which Yahuah Tseva’oth has prepared for those who submit to the judgment of righteousness, for those who reject that judgment, and for those who take His name in vain. That day has been prepared as a covenant for the elect and as an inquisition for sinners. 1 Enoch (Chanok) 59:4-6
The seventh trumpet blast will:
Announce the return of Yeshua to establish the Kingdom of Eloah on earth
Set in motion the seven last plagues of judgment
Signal the resurrection and redemption of saints in Sheol
Bring New Jerusalem down to occupy the land promised to Shem/Yisrael
As we prepare for the Autumn Feast days we can’t help but imagine the second most pivotal moment in human history – the first being Yeshua’s first coming. At Yeshua’s second coming the elect will be taken up to New Jerusalem (above) while chaos unfolds on the earth.
Do you think this is the city5 of which I said, “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands”? This building6 now constructed in your midst is not the one revealed to Me, the one prepared from the time I decided to create Paradise and showed it to Adam before he sinned. When he transgressed the commandment, it was taken away from him, along with Paradise. After these things, I showed it to My servant Abraham at night among the portions of the sacrifices. I also showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I revealed to him the design of the Tabernacle and all its furnishings. And now, behold, it is preserved with Me, just like Paradise. Therefore, go and do as I command you. 2 Baruch 4:2-7
This ‘last trump’ will also mark the beginning of the third ‘woe.’ The Greek word for woe is ouai and can be defined as a deep and inconsolable grief, misery, or calamity.
The Word of our Elohim stands forever (Isaiah 40:8)
During this time angels are tasked with separating the wheat from the chaff. The winepress of Yah’s wrath will destroy many. This unimaginable woe is felt by YHWH as well as those who will experience the brunt of these cataclysmic judgments described by the Apostle.
The Most High wishes for everyone to be saved, yet humanity’s stubbornness and sinful nature often resist the truth of His word. Nevertheless, the righteous will be safeguarded, much like the children of Israel in Goshen during the judgments on Egypt.
Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself for a little while until the fury has passed. For behold the Lord7 is coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her blood and will no longer cover her slain. Isaiah 26:20-21
When the Apostle John uses the expression ‘the Day of YHWH’, does he mean a literal 24-hour time period or is he referring to an elongated period of time – maybe weeks or even months – when end-time events play out to a prescribed conclusion?
It seems probable that all of the events leading up to and during this awful time in human history will take longer than a day to be realized. After all, the judgments against Egypt prior to the Exodus took months to complete. (Exodus 7-15)
Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles & The Addition
As we near the coda of this end time composition, the remaining Fall Feast days come to the forefront. The Day of Atonement, coming ten days after Trumpets marks a time of somber reflection.
The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot is all about family. We will finally see our Father and our King face-to-face and behold their glory. Our roles as kings and priests will focus on teaching righteousness to those who survived the great tribulation and were spared in the sheep and goats judgment.
The eight-day Addition at the end of Sukkot will be a time of never-ending joy and righteousness. We will dwell in eternal bliss, clothed in our new bodies, never to sin again. Shouts of HalleluYah will take on a whole new meaning.
The Great Pivot
The Feast of Trumpets is a significant turning point, marking a shift in focus. It encourages reflection on the Spring feast observances of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Shavuot, where Yah ministered to believers individually. As Autumn unfolds after Trumpets, His attention transitions to larger groups, highlighting a communal dynamic.
This concluding chapter or coda in Yah’s magnificent composition of love and redemption serves as a testament to the Creator’s patience and mercy toward us, His children.
Footnotes
1 Covey, Stephen R., and Cynthia Covey Haller. Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead, Simon & Schuster, 2022.
2 Leviticus 23:24
3 A ram’s-horn trumpet used by ancient Hebrews. On the Hebrew calendar during Moses’ day, the civil year and the ecclesiastical year began at different times. The civil year started with the Feast of Trumpets, (or Yom Teruah) in autumn, marking the beginning of the agricultural and fiscal year. The ecclesiastical year, on the other hand, began in spring with the month of Abib, marked by Passover, and was primarily concerned with religious festivals and observances.
4 In music, syncopation refers to the use of various rhythms played simultaneously to create an off-beat effect in a piece. Essentially, syncopation involves disrupting the regular flow of rhythm by placing stresses or accents in unexpected places.
5 Jerusalem (earthly)
6 The Temple in Jerusalem
7 In many Bible translations, “LORD” (in all capital letters) typically represents the Tetragrammaton, YHWH (יהוה), the personal name of God in Hebrew. It emphasizes His covenant relationship with Israel. “Lord” (with only the first letter capitalized) usually refers to a title of respect or authority, often used for Yeshua (ישוע).
Predictions about the last days often evoke fears surrounding the mark of the beast. However, we encourage you to shift your focus to something far more important: receiving the mark of YHWH. Yes, the faithful are marked by the Most High, bearing the promise of eternal life. The enemy’s mark carries the threat of the second death. Before we unpack this, let’s lay a solid foundation.
When Men’s Hearts Fail
People are frightened – even many believers in the Messiah. When you scroll through the comments section of most news websites, sentiments like the one below have become all too common of late:
Luke’s gospel tells us that men’s hearts will fail because of fear of what’s coming. They sense that these calamities have a spiritual connection.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:25-26
Even though we are bombarded daily with news of worldwide civil unrest, skyrocketing national debt, political chaos, racial division, and impending economic collapse, as Yeshua’s disciples we are told to remain steadfast.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
Luke 21: 26-27
For those of us who have diligently studied the Bible from cover to cover to discover its marvelous truths, the future – while sometimes frightening – is also filled with hope. This is made possible only by the grace the Almighty has given us through His son, Yeshua.
Recently, journalist Tucker Carlson made this observation:
“I just can’t believe that in the end, when it really gets intense – as it is now – that it’s Christians – it’s people who actually believe the Bible, – who are the only ones with wisdom, who understand what’s really going on. They’re not shocked at all, and they’re not panicked either. They get it.”
Yes, we get it. People of faith understand how all this will play out. According to the book of Revelation, there will be an ever-encroaching spiritual darkness and pressures placed on Torah followers to conform. Some of us may even live long enough to see the unveiling of the two witnesses and the unmasking of the ‘man of sin’ who will put the ‘D’ in draconian lawlessness. Despite these challenges, we remain hopeful because we already know how this unfolds.
I shall not leave you orphans – I am coming to you. Yet a little while and the world no longer sees me, but you shall see me, because I live, and you shall live.
John 14:18-19
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
But before we get ‘there’, we have to go ‘through’ some hard things. Unfortunately, the doctrine of the rapture has led millions to believe that the church will be removed before the worst events occur. Quite the contrary.
First of all, judgment will begin with Yah’s house — His people. The days of cultural Christianity1 are over.
It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message! If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad? So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.
1 Peter 4:17-19 The Message Bible
Secondly, many sincere believers in Yeshua have been taught that they will be whisked away in the rapture before the Great Tribulation. The rapture doctrine2 was a fanciful theory first put forth by John Nelson Darby in the 19th century. Yeshua never taught this doctrine. Instead, he warned us to gird our loins and be ready to be deceived, mocked, and persecuted for our faith.
The damage this doctrine inflicts on the spiritually uninformed is tragic on several levels: it feeds a false sense of security, misrepresents a major aspect of the Gospel of the Kingdom, and may sow seeds of anger against Yah and His Son when stuff hits the fan and believers are still here.
The often quoted passages in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 do not refer to a pre-trib rapture. It describes the first resurrection of the righteous, either still alive or residing in Sheol (the grave). The coming of the Son of Man doesn’t happen until the end of the tribulation. Members of the ekklesia (assembly, called out ones) who are still alive, will be tested through hardship. (1 Peter 1)
Throughout our lives, our faith is tested by various trials. The Most High allows challenges such as poverty, persecution, sickness, and satanic malevolent forces to attack us to shape our character and strengthen our resolve. He intends for these experiences to yield positive outcomes, ultimately demonstrating that these trials were purposefully designed for our growth. (Ephesians 6:12)
Those who expect to escape persecution in these last days must ask themselves, ‘Why would this generation be any different from previous generations of faithful saints who were beaten, sawn asunder, forced to hide in caves and wander about in sheep and goat skins?’ (Hebrews 11:36-40)
Weighed. Measured. Numbered.
There is a provocative prophetic passage in 2 Esdras3 concerning the end times. The angel Uriel, speaking to the seer Esdras in a vision, asserts that there is a predetermined number of righteous men and women who must be born before the end of this age can (or will) come.
For he has weighed the age in the balance, and with measure has measured the times, and by number has numbered the seasons: neither will he move nor stir things, till the measure appointed be fulfilled.4
2 Esdras/IV Ezra 4:36,37
In addition to weighing the age, measuring the times, and numbering the seasons, Yah is putting believers to the test to determine how we stack up in accordance with His word. Job was well aware of this:
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
Job 31:5-6 KJV
Scales are used to weigh a thing to properly ascertain its value, as is the case of gold or silver. In the Scriptures, when scales are referenced about a person, they usually symbolize an assessment of that individual’s character or actions. In this sense, a balance or scale is emblematic of justice – as in ‘weighing’ actions.
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for Yahuah is an El of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
The balance thus used to denote judgment in this life became also the emblem of judgment in the future state, when the conduct of men will be accurately estimated, and justice dealt out to them according to the strict rules of equity.
When you examine the paintings and papyri of ancient Egypt, and Daniel’s writings concerning Belshazzar, the nexus between scales and judgment is unmistakable. The handwriting was literally on the wall for Babylon’s prideful king that fateful night in 539 BC. The words etched on the banquet hall wall foretold impending judgment.
This is the explanation of the matter: “Mene—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it. Tekel: you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting. Peres—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Daniel 5:26-28 KJV
In determining our ‘righteousness’, the standards of measurement Yah uses can be found in the commandments included in the Torah. To be found worthy of Kingdom citizenship, our behavior in this life has to be weighed and measured against Torah standards.
When we place our faith in the promises made to us in the Scriptures and choose to walk in Yeshua’s ways5, we reveal our true character and the quality of our commitment to the Gospel. Therefore, we are numbered or counted worthy of Kingdom citizenship.
Righteous Rules to Live By
Most church-goers have a knee-jerk reaction to the word ‘law’ when spoken in a religious context. They will either claim that “we are no longer under the law” or say “the law is for the Jews” or “Jesus did away with the law.” They may also argue that Christ was the “end of the law,” citing Romans 10:4.
Christ being the end or goal of the law does not mean his righteousness was imputed or transferred to my (sin debt) account. This teaching absolves the believer of his or her responsibility of obedience to the law – and sin is the transgression of the law. This is why Yeshua would end conversations with “go and sin no more.”
(See also: John 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:34, 2 Peter 2:14)
Torah is defined as “pertaining to the law, laws, legal, just, legitimate, equitable.” However, its root is yarah (#H3384) which means “to shoot like an arrow or to teach.” These definitions work beautifully together when you understand that since our aim is to become like Yeshua (our goal), then the Torah or law is the means by which we can hit the bullseye of that target. Or come close to hitting it. When we fail, we have been given the privilege of confession of sin before our High Priest, Yeshua.
Again, where there is no law then there is no transgression. Sin is the transgression of the law. So when we are taught to despise Yah’s Torah, we place ourselves in spiritual (legal) jeopardy.
We have a choice: we can allow ourselves to be mentally tormented by the “what ifs” connected to the next election or economic collapse, or we can focus on the promises made to those who walk in covenant obedience.
The Bible contains numerous if/then promises from Yah and Yeshua, indicating that if Yah’s people act in a specific manner, then Yah will respond with a corresponding action. In other words, the ‘then’ statements are promises that God’s covenant people will see fulfilled for being obedient. The promised blessings for obedience can be found in Deuteronomy 28, Exodus 23:20-23, and Leviticus 26:1-12.
On the Day of Yah, when chaos erupts on earth, there will be no spiritual ambiguity. During the end-time harvest, angels will distinguish between the wheat and the chaff at the sound of the seventh trumpet. The wheat symbolizes believers who will be taken to the New Jerusalem, while the chaff represents unbelievers destined for destruction (Luke 3:16). Angels will not inquire about your religious affiliation—Jew, Gentile, Presbyterian, or Baptist. Instead, your faithfulness and conduct as a believer in Yeshua will serve as the definitive test. (Matthew 13:37-43)
Contrasting the Two Marks
The Mark of the Beast
Once the the beast (aka anti-messiah), is revealed and takes over worldwide governance, his false prophet will issue an ultimatum: receive the beast’s mark or suffer the consequences.6
And the second beast causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is a call for wisdom. Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: and that number is 666.
Revelation 13:16-18 NLT
These verses tell us:
Every strata of society will be presented with a choice to take or refuse the mark.
The beast’s mark will be on the right hand or forehead.
Without this mark, you will not be able to buy or sell.
The Greek word for mark is xaragma which translates as ‘an engraving (etching); (figuratively) a mark providing undeniable identification, like a symbol giving irrefutable connection between the parties.’ Accepting this mark equates to an act of worship, involving a choice influenced by fear—a tactic of the adversary. This mark will reveal both genuine Covenant keepers and those who have fallen away. It could be related to programmable mRNA nanotechnology, digital interface tattoos, quantum dot tattoos, the payment system tied to universal basic income or vaccine passports. The true nature of the mark is unknown at this time.
The Mark of YHWH
Contrast the beast’s mark with YHWH’s mark which signifies our love for Him and voluntary obedience to His commandments. Instead of oppressive servitude, Yah’s comes with the promise of provision and eternal life from the Father.
The typical strategy of the enemy is to distort and twist the truth of Yah’s word. He did it in Eden and he is doing it now. It is not surprising that the ultimate counterfeiter, Satan, chose the right hand or forehead as locations for his mark on the human body. Our hands symbolize our actions, while our foreheads7 represent the part of the brain where we meditate and reflect on Yah’s word continually. Throughout the Scriptures, references to the hand and head serve as Yah’s way of marking His people.
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 11:18
Hear, O Israel: Yahuah our Elohim, Yahuah is One. And you shall love Yahuah your elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 6:4-8
It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of Yahuah is to be on your lips. Exodus 13:9
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living El. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our Elohim on their foreheads.8”
Revelation 7:2-3
They shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. .
Exodus 11:18
Fear Not
It has been said that the opposite of fear is knowledge and understanding. Even the secular world understands this. An article9 published on Psychology Today online suggested this antidote to succumbing to fear:
When something frightens you, a willingness to question things before accepting them or jumping to conclusions, is the beginning of how you overcome fear. Courage and confidence, bravery and derring-do, come later. They come after research, examination, and analysis.
Interestingly enough, this advice is also scriptural.
The reverence of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Qadosh One is understanding. For by Me your days become many, and years of life are added to you.
Proverbs 9:10-11
We acquire knowledge of the Holy One through the study of the Scriptures. As people of faith we must, in this late hour, take responsibility for our spiritual growth and development. Instead of blindly following the teachings of YouTube apologists or pastors, we must investigate all claims. We must spend time in prayer and study. (Acts 17:10-12)
Instead of freaking out about what the world is involved in, use this precious time to mine the Scriptures for the wisdom to navigate these uncertain waters. Trust the Ruach HaKodesh to guide you to the truth.
Instead of concentrating on what the beast’s mark might look like, focus on receiving the Mark of Yahuah. Center your attention on what pleases Yah, and He will mark and seal your soul for eternity. Be bold in claiming every promise given to the covenant people in the Scriptures, as they apply to you..
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luke 12:4
Every blessing promised to Yisrael (biblical Israel) applies to all grafted-in believers who place their faith in Yeshua, our High Priest. Both the First Covenant (Old Testament) and the Renewed Covenant (New Testament) affirm that Yah’s people, Yisrael, are a people of faith. Those who believe in Yah and strive to follow His guidance are regarded as members of His family because they have been grafted into the Vine. (John 15)
We must be fearless and resolute now, before the pressure is ratcheted up. No matter how the enemy threatens us, we must pray for courage to resist taking his mark –- even if it means death. The mark we seek comes from above.
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4
The ultimate outcome of history is in Yah’s hands. To inherit all things, we must be overcomers, and that journey begins with repentance. By surrendering unconditionally to the Most High and believing in Yeshua as the path to eternal life, we gain the strength to withstand any challenges from the enemy in these last days. As Daniel 2:21 reminds us, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Delve into the scriptures, pray for wisdom, and firmly believe that only the Most High can secure your future.
FOOTNOTES
1 Cultural Christianity is a term used to describe people who identify as Christian but don’t practice the faith or have a personal relationship with Jesus. Cultural Christians may value religious culture and identify with certain aspects of Christianity, such as Jesus’ good works, but may reject the spiritual aspects required to be a biblically defined disciple. For example, cultural Christians may believe they are ‘saved’ by attending church, being baptized, or being a good person, but they do not follow Yeshua’s teachings concerning obeying the commandments – the Torah.
2 John Nelson Darby, a dispensationalist theologian, is credited with developing the rapture doctrine in the early 19th century. Darby’s work was influenced by his analysis of Bible translations in 1833. The doctrine became popular with Christians who were interested in the end times, especially after it was included in study Bibles like the Scofield Reference Bible in 1909 and in books like Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth in 1970.
3 2 Esdras is an apocalyptic book in some English versions of the Bible. Tradition ascribes it to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the fifth century BC, whom the book identifies with the sixth-century figure Shealtiel.
4 “The times and periods of the course of the world’s history have been predetermined by God. The numbers of the years have been exactly fixed. This was a fundamental postulate of the apocalyptists, who devoted much of their energy to calculations, based upon a close study of prophecy, as to the exact period when history should reach its consummation. One scheme especially favored dividing history into a world-week of seven millenniums, corresponding to the week of Creation. Here, however, as in the case of the number of the righteous (elect) no definite number is mentioned.” R.H. Charles commentary on IV Ezra.
5 Prophets, apostles, angels, and Yeshua have all functioned at one time or another as agents or ambassadors of the Most High in order to advance the Father’s Kingdom agenda. Yeshua did not concoct ‘new’ commandments. He taught obedience to the commandments his Father had already given -– the eternal Torah.
7 This seal is probably not visible; instead, it signifies that individuals derive their identity through their relationship with Yahuah and Yeshua.
8 The frontal lobes are involved in motor function, problem-solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgment, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior. Source: Centre for Neuro Skills, https://neuroskills.com/brian-injury/frongtal-lobes/
9 “What’s the Opposite of Fear”, Robert Evans Wilson Jr., posted February 11, 2022
Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Most believers are familiar with this passage, which serves as a reminder to avoid living the lifestyle of a drunkard. However, this verse alludes to more than a simple warning against being a drunkard. More importantly, this passage reminds us that the devil is always actively seeking to destroy a believer who is engaged in any sinful practice. This repeated warning can be seen throughout the entire Bible, where kings fall due to their sinful choices and where believers in Yahusha (Jesus) fall away. This passage from the Apostle Peter instructs believers to be watchful, reminding us to stay vigilant. It emphasizes the importance of being on guard, like disciplined disciples and vigilant soldiers protecting a kingdom’s gate.
You Must Remain Situationally Alert
When believers lower their guard, they allow sin to enter their lives and can easily become entangled in the fallen ways of the world instead of staying aligned with the righteous ways of Elohim Yahuah. It is essential to consider the spiritual aspects related to these verses:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I shall give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings. For My yoke is gentle, and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 TS2009
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
In Deuteronomy 7:3-4, Yahuah warns the children of Israel against the wicked idolatrous practices of the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites:
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from Me to worship other gods. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.
3 John 1:11 states, “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” Ephesians chapter 5 describes how light cannot be mingled or yoked with darkness, instructing believers not to be partners with the wicked who are on a path of destruction but rather to walk as children of the light being partners with the righteous.
Beware of Enemy Combatants
Many other verses in the Bible emphasize the importance of believers not getting involved with sinful or wicked people or activities, which is a consistent message throughout.1 The point is, that as children of God, we should separate ourselves from those who do not follow Yahuah’s laws and hate evil, just as He does.
The Apostle Paul agrees. In his letter to the Romans, he describes love this way:
Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.
Romans 12:9 Amplified Bible
As disciples and imitators of Yahusha who desire to follow God’s laws, we must pause and reflect on our lifestyles, relationships, careers, and devotion to Yahuah’s Torah. We are instructed to be imitators of God (Eloah) and Messiah Yahusha, who always obeyed the laws of his heavenly Father.
Ephesians chapter 5 begins with a list of sinful behaviors to avoid and advises against partnering with those who lead an evil lifestyle. When we consider the broad scope of biblical history, we can clearly observe the spiritual cause and effect that arises when believers align themselves with either Yahuah’s ways or the ways of the world.
During the reigns of righteous leaders like Moses, Joshua, David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, Israel flourished under Yahuah’s protection. However, in other biblical periods, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah strayed from righteousness, engaging in idolatry and worshiping false gods and demons. These sinful decisions resulted in plagues, war, death, and slavery. They ultimately led to the destruction of both kingdoms, where all of the Hebrew tribes were dispersed among the nations as a form of punishment by God.
When the children of Israel yoked themselves with the world’s sinful lifestyle, they no longer retained the hedge of protection provided by Yahuah. They opened the door for evil spiritual powers and principalities to dominate their lives, separating them from their heavenly Father, Yahuah.
When we choose to rebel against Yahuah’s ways and remove his light yoke, we become yoked with Satan, the evil one. This choice leads us down the broad path of destruction. Truly, we have no one to blame but ourselves as Yahuah gave us free will.
Every day, believers must make the Joshua 24:15 decision to choose whom they will serve — good or evil, God or Satan. There is no middle ground or grey area, which scripture describes as lukewarm. Revelation 3:15-16 graphically illustrates God’s disgust with those who are lukewarm. We must not kid ourselves or fall prey to false teachings. Many false Christian teachers preach the lie of the tolerance and acceptance of evil. 1 John 2:15-16 makes it clear: if you love the world or the things of the world, the Father is not in you.
Honor the Father’s Rules of Engagement
When the yoke of the world is chosen, it is a dangerous path. And, as Romans 1:24 points out, God will turn the rebellious over to the sinful desires of their own heart. Likewise, as Jeremiah 17:9-10 warns, the heart is deceitful above all things. Furthermore, 2 Timothy 4:3 warns of the very problem we see today as it pertains to this subject, where it reads:
“For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.”
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
From a spiritual perspective, one can see many pieces of evidence that lead to idolatry. Paul also cautions against this in 1 Corinthians 10:20, highlighting how engaging in idolatrous practices aligns us with demons. This points to the root of the problem, whereby mankind rejects Yahusha’s easy yoke and light burden.
In today’s world, we witness the persistent efforts of rebellious individuals who reject God’s ways, the Torah, the Gospel, and the laws of liberty. They confidently assert their own understanding as superior. Believers who are perceptive can observe how these individuals, within the “Woke Cultural and Progressive Movement,” subject themselves to numerous layers of human rules and regulations. Ironically, this self-imposed burden further enslaves them under the weight of others’ expectations. By choosing this path, they distance themselves from true freedom and the liberating principles found in the Torah and the Gospel of the Kingdom message.
Consider that when the world imposes laws that starkly contrast biblical morality, it is not simply that they disagree with “religion’s laws” but that such laws have a stark spiritual contrast as well. 1 Timothy 4:1 describes it as follows:
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
HCSB
Make no mistake; we are living in the times of 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Peter 3:3-4, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where it is written:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Believers must diligently follow the instructions of Luke 21:36, which reads:
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
ESV
As we continue to see the world devolve into a perpetual state of wickedness and rebellion against God, now more than ever, we must hold fast to God’s ways, observe the Torah, and work hard to be self-disciplined at all times. We must be imitators of Yahusha Messiah and endure until the end. In Matthew 24:37-39, Yahusha draws a comparison between the end times and the era of Noah. Genesis chapter 6 illustrates the extreme wickedness of humanity during Noah’s time, with their continuous focus on evil thoughts.
The Enemy Is Always At the Gate
We can expect the same to happen again as the end times grow closer. We can already see the passage of numerous laws protecting wickedness and essentially criminalizing the laws of God. It would be no surprise to many believers if wicked leaders eventually declared the entire Bible a hate crime, banning it as we see across the world in many communist countries.
Our only real protection comes from the Father Yahuah, which is only available to believers who walk in righteousness and follow God’s laws and not man’s laws, not yoked with evil but yoked to Messiah. We must remember that scripture teaches us that we are not of this world but sojourners in it. We belong to another kingdom, the kingdom of Yahuah the Father.
However, we as believers do not fear wicked men, but we have a respectful fear of Yah and faith in the promises written in His word.
Be encouraged and be courageous in these turbulent times. Remember that it is written, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NLT). It is also written that “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7).
Brothers and sisters, the enemy is at the gates of our spiritual and physical temples. We are always in a state of spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness. Be encouraged brothers and sisters and always remember that Elohim Yahuah’s protection exists in both the physical and spiritual realm and we are only to fear Father Yahuah, keep his commands, trust in him, keep our faith in Messiah Yahusha, and find refuge in His promises. I will close with this passage of encouragement from the Apostle James (James 1:12):
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Some of the most valuable lessons of obedience are learned in the furnace of affliction. Those who have been through seasons of spiritual pruning or divine discipline can attest to this. The challenge for us believers in Yeshua is remaining faithful in the fire of Yah’s testing. And if our ultimate goal is to navigate this present darkness with biblical fidelity, we must expect to be tested and trust that the Ruach will provide the necessary light to stay on course.
A key to remaining faithful during trials is to remember that:
Embracing and overcoming hardships helps forge resilient and mighty warriors for the Kingdom
Every follower of Yeshua will encounter seasons of testing
The purpose of the test is to guide us toward a profound level of spiritual growth and maturity
Hardships Make for Strong Kingdom Soldiers
Times of hardship and soul-crushing disappointments are not unique to believers in the Gospel message. The lives of Moses, Job, Joseph, the Prophets, and Yeshua bear witness to the fact that those who desire to walk the narrow path of righteousness will suffer. This is normal and is to be expected.
Faithful lives dedicated to the pursuit of righteousness and in service of Yahuah require hardship.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:12 (AMP)
The word rendered “fiery ordeal” here is the Greek word purosis.1It can mean to be on fire, to burn, a conflagration, or any severe trial. It can also be used idiomatically to describe a major calamity. Metaphorically, it represents a trial that puts one’s faith to the test, similar to how gold is refined through fire. In this context, the fiery ordeal serves as powerful imagery that conveys the notion of how enduring trials test one’s faith and purify our spiritual walk.
Moreover, a righteous person is not promised peace and tranquility in this life.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that bears no fruit He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it bears more fruit.
John 15:1-2
The Gardener’s special brand of spiritual pruning comes in a variety of disciplines:
Discipline administered within a Torah-based congregation
Allowing the person to experience a period of testing
Allowing the pressures of life to expose a person’s true character/beliefs
Removal of ‘worthless branches’ through death
All true followers of Yeshua who are united to him in faith will devote their time and prayer life to abiding in and drawing from the Vine.
Jesus here says that he sustains the same relation to his disciples that a parent stalk does to the branches, but this does not denote any physical or incomprehensible union. It is a union formed by believing in him; resulting from our dependence on him and our need of him; from embracing him as our Saviour, Redeemer, and Friend. We become united to him in all our interests and have common feelings, common desires, and a common destiny with him. We seek the same object, are willing to encounter the same trials, contempt, persecution, and want, and are desirous that his God shall be ours, and his eternal abode ours.
Of course, no one in their right mind wants to suffer. Almost instinctively we gravitate toward the twisted mindset of the Laodiceans who presumed that their prosperity was evidence that all was well with them and their Creator. (Revelation (Hazon) 3:17-19)
They were doing the “works” but they lacked enthusiasm — they were just going through the motions. Their spiritual blindness and the nakedness of their soul were on full display. (Ephesians 1:18) Confession, repentance, and submission were needed to procure true riches from the proper source – Yeshua, our High Priest.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you become rich; and white garments, so that you become dressed, so that the shame of your nakedness might not be shown; and anoint your eyes with ointment so that you see.
Rev 3:18 (Halleluyah Scriptures)
The cure for their pride and perceived self-sufficiency could only come from the purifying fire of suffering.
…so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of [Yeshua ha’Mashiah]. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:7,8 AMP
Unfortunately the spiritual state of today’s “church” is not much different from the lukewarm Laodicean assembly in Revelation.
It can be said that many contemporary congregants have a “form” of godliness. They are taught to gorge on grace while ignoring Torah stipulations designed to teach righteousness — the character of the Most High and His Son. They are taught that ‘grace’ absolves them of any responsibility in ‘working out’ their salvation because Yeshua did all the heavy lifting for us. So they sit back and enjoy the ride, believing that since Jesus paid it all there is nothing left to do but wait for the last trumpet to sound.
Every follower of Yeshua Will Encounter Seasons of Testing
Some assume that suffering is always a sign of punishment from Yah. If this is true, then how do we explain the honor given to those ‘witnesses’ called martyrs who suffer unto death, refusing to bow the knee to religious and political despots?
They were stoned [to death], they were sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith], they were put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated.
Hebrews 11:37
While faith is often expressed in words, true biblical faith is always validated in acts.
Moreover, a righteous person is not promised peace and tranquility in this life. To expect this to be true is delusional and misrepresents the Father’s love for us. Unfortunately, this is the message of the apostate church. It is a mindset whereby those who outsource their biblical knowledge and understanding to pastors fall victim to the soulish doctrine that equates blessing with material goods.
This mindset is pervasive today. We are all too familiar with the heart-wrenching stories of individuals who, despite being bestowed with abundant material blessings, tragically find themselves in a state of spiritual and material deprivation. Their lives of ease led to their ultimate downfall. This is as true of the Moabites as it is of those who adhere to a Laodocean brand of theology.
Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.
Jeremiah 48:11
‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth! Because you are saying, “I am rich, and have become rich, and I have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see. As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. Be zealous, therefore, and repent!
Revelation 3: 15-19
When we abide in Yeshua our thoughts, dreams, and prayers will align with his desires to bless those following Covenant Torah.
However, we must be willing to go through the fire of adversity with a heart of obedience. It is the only way we can utter “thy will be done” in prayer and truly mean it when we experience life’s hardships.
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7
Enduring the Pressures of These ‘Last Days’
Technically, the ‘last days’ began at the resurrection and ascendancy of Yeshua into his High Priesthood. Before departing, he issued this warning:
“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogues [sacred assemblies]. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:1-4
Paul echoed this message in his letter to Timothy.
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Paul’s instructions to Timothy apply to us. First of all, we are to draw strength from knowing that even though we are undeserving of it, Yah ( through our High Priest Yeshua) will ‘grace’ us with eternal life and completely pardon our sins in the resurrection. In the meantime, we are not to be entangled with the distractions of this life. This includes a preoccupation with secular civilian affairs such as presidential politics, social media, or entertainment. These are the distractions of the enemy. We must always remember that Yah is the Sovereign of Creation and all outcomes are in His hands. (Psalm 31: 15)
It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!
Daniel 2:21 AMP
Secondly, we need to know who the real enemies are: the principalities and powers behind rulers and those in authority who desire to keep us in bondage to a beast system of spiritual, psychological, medical, and financial enslavement.
We have been warned that, as Yeshua’s return draws near, religious hypocrites will be exposed for all to see, and true believers who proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom will be vilified and persecuted. This “falling away” will precede the unveiling of the Man of Sin – one of two personalities referred to as ‘beasts’.
The Greek word used for falling away is skandalizo,2 which means “to put a snare (in the way), to cause to stumble, to give offense.” Skandalizo is closely related to the word scandalize, which means to speak falsely or maliciously of, or to bring into reproach.
This is exactly what happens when we try to share new insights with professing believers. Many will reject our message and then proceed to scandalize us without ever examining the veracity of what we are proclaiming. This falling away phenomenon has to occur before Messiah’s second coming — so don’t be shocked when it happens.
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness – the son of destruction – is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4
2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4
Enduring Testing Yields A Profound Level of Maturity
As mentioned earlier, testing does not necessarily imply guilt or sin. The Father loves us and wants us to experience the fullness of His Kingdom while still on earth in this mortal body. The goal is to become better saints. The way we get there is by enduring the pressure of the test or trial. The prophets of old understood this all too well.
My brothers, and an example of suffering and patience, take the nebi’im (prophets), who spoke in the Name of Yahuah.
James 5:10 HalleluYah Scriptures
There was no talk amongst them about a pie-in-the-sky ‘rapture’ event that would spare certain believers from the tribulation and stresses of the last days. This brand of religion falsely promises that no one will ever be tested, asked to defend their position or suffer for their beliefs. Instead, they will be whisked away before the really bad stuff hits the fan. In the book Vain Traditions, the rapture doctrine is explained as such:
The rapture doctrine says that Yahushua will come in two stages: “for” his qodeshim, represented by the Greek word parousia, and the second stage beith “with” his qodeshim, revealed in the Greek word aqpokalupto. In fact, New Testament usage makes no distinction between these two Greek words. The doctrine says that the word parousia in 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-16 is an initial coming “for” his qodeshim before the tribulation. However, parousia is falsely used in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 8, where his coming clearly is at the end of the tribulation.1
And indeed, all those wanting to live reverently in Mashiaqh Yahushua, shall be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12 HalleluYah Scriptures
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has been tested, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Practices Essential to Enduring Suffering
What are the keys to enduring suffering? There are several.
First, we must begin with prayer and trust in the promise of 1 John 5: 14-15:
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. and if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
The ‘whatever’ in this passage is limited by ‘anything’ that lines up with Yah’s will for us individually. It has been said that faith is a “relational” response of trust. All relationships have their idiosyncrasies or behaviors unique to each individual. As we spend more time in relationship with the Father through prayer and study, our petitions line up with His. We then are confident in whatever, whenever, and however way He decides to answer, we are going to be alright.
Secondly, we must abide (remain) in the Vine that is Yeshua.
Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.
John 15:4
Abide is an Old English word signifying progressively to “await,” “remain,” “lodge,” “sojourn,” “dwell,” “continue,” “endure”; to remain stable or fixed in a state.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
In our times of awaiting an answer to prayer, we often experience restlessness, exasperation, and even hopelessness. We want the pain to end or the problem solved now. So we are tempted to fix the problem using our limited carnal wisdom and strength. Instead, we must resist. And in resisting we allow the fire of the Ruach to burn away our fleshly emotions and carnal attempts at solving the problem. We must trust that the Ruach will help strengthen and guide us until the season of testing is complete.
Thirdly, we must believe that this testing is not meant to hurt but to heal and bring us to a greater level of spiritual and relational maturity. On the other side of the test, when the answer has been provided, we will possess the very thing in our spiritual arsenal to help others who are facing the same situation.
Finally, we must take responsibility for knowing what the Scriptures say and obeying the written Torah.
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 AMP
The only way to know Father and Son relationally is to spend time in the Word. The only way to be shielded from “end time” deception is to love the truth of Yah’s Word as revealed in the totality of the Scriptures. This includes some extra-biblical texts that were removed from most Bibles.
…because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. 11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 AMP
A New Testament-only focus will keep you in a state of partial scriptural blindness. The Ruach ha’Kodesh (Holy Spirit) left us the first half of the Bible for a reason. The Biblical canon of 66 was meant to be studied from front to back — in its entirety and in context. Simply defined, context is the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed. It is derived from the Latin contextus (a joining together).
Uncoupling First Covenant (Old Testament) study from Renewed Covenant (New Testament) study has led to profound biblical illiteracy and the tendency to rely solely on the pastorate to guide our thinking. Yahuah’s set-apart Spirit — His Ruach — was given to help believers understand what the Word is saying. Yah’s set-apart Spirit is never wrong, however, men are apt to make mistakes or champion false doctrine.
Fast and pray for understanding. Remember, the people who will be deceived in these last days will be those who reject the truth.
Own Your Faith
We have been blessed to live in a time when technology has put a myriad of study materials at our fingertips. It is the individual’s responsibility and duty to show themselves approved through prayer, study, and endurance.
It is never too late to start owning your faith. A good starting point would be to learn how to study your Bible. Ask the Father to lead you to a Spirit-led community of believers in Yeshua. Build up a library in your home so you can research independently of technology in case the grid goes down. Memorize the Scriptures so you can pray effectively. Learn what it means to walk in Covenant obedience with the Most High.
Expect to be challenged and pray for the courage necessary to remain faithful until the end.
1 G#4451: a burning, calamities or trials that test the character, the burning by which metals are roasted and reduced. (Thayer’s Greek definitions)
2 Strong’s #G4624
Vain Traditions is a not-for-sale paperback book published by vaintraditions.com. It is a compilation of information collected from a variety of sources.
As a father of three boys, I am often worried about how my sons will cope with the abounding wickedness we see across the world today. I recognize how challenging it will be for them to guard their hearts and minds against sin as they grow into young men. I couldn’t even begin to list all of the wickedness observed in the world today, as it will fill volumes of books. Yet, I am reminded that the scriptures teach us that there is nothing new about the sinful nature of humanity.
What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 BSB
Ecclesiastes goes on to say in chapter 3:14-15:
I know that, whatsoever Elohiym does, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and Elohiym does it, the men should fear before him. That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and Elohiym requires that which is past.
Although, at present, demonic activity seems to be progressing quickly, rest assured the above verses are true, and these types of cultural sins and temptations have been around on earth in ages past in one form or another.
Other Torah observant fathers have faced these challenges before, albeit without the technology we have today, from Babylon to Ancient Greece and from Roman culture to modern cultures. So be encouraged, Yahuah was with those believers then, and He is with us today.
Righteous Sons Have Committed Fathers
As a father, I want to prepare my sons in the best way possible for their current challenges and the challenges to come. As a believer in Yahusha, I want to instill in them biblical morals and principles to lean upon as they face these challenges in the hopes that they make the best choices possible. Likewise, as any loving parent, I pray they make better choices than I did at their age and as young men.
I know that I don’t have all the answers, and I also know that with the generational gap, I don’t honestly know what it’s like to be in their shoes, walking in this wicked world in these trying times. What I do know is that the scriptures reveal Truth.1 The Bible warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 to:
“Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”
HCSB
Therefore, as a father, I must always be on guard, knowing that evil is always seeking after my family’s hearts and minds.
Sin is indeed assaulting Fathers and sons from nearly every angle. In the United States, masculinity is broadly under attack, where being a strong male is shunned. The World expresses the idea that strong men are not welcome in our society except where we might need them for security, wars, and entertainment. After that, strong men are expected always to be passive, submissive, and weak. However, as men of God, the scriptures remind us in several passages to be strong, brave, righteous, and imitators of Messiah Yahusha at all times.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged, for יהוה your Elohim is with you wherever you go.”
Yehoshua 1:9 TS2009
Of course, this does not refer only to the physical but also to the spiritual, as it relates to being a good father, a good son, and a righteous man of Yahuah. To prepare and combat these spiritual battles we face each and every day, scripture advises us to prepare ourselves daily for what may come.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:10-12 HCSB).
Ephesians 6:10-12 HCSB
There is, of course, a time and a place for physical strength and courage required of any father in protecting their family, but what fathers and sons are predominantly facing in this culture pertains to the spiritual attacks we encounter daily from the world.
Fatherhood In The Age of Wokeness
What advice can I give fathers and sons in coping with the onslaught of wokeness, lawlessness, sexualization, and perversion the world is attacking believers with? I can only turn to the scriptures for guidance because, as Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches, we are not to lean on our own understanding and are to seek wisdom from Yahuah as James 1:5 instructs.
I couldn’t begin to list all the verses and stories in Scripture which express the wisdom of Yahuah of how a father should instruct and prepare his sons for the world. However, the Bible, as a whole, expresses the character of Yahuah as the perfect example of a loving father, which is an example in and of itself of how we are to guide our sons in life.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For what it’s worth, I know from the scriptures that fathers, as servant leaders of the household, must set the example of righteous living so that our sons can see us walking the walk and talking the talk of scripturally righteous living. If we fathers serve Yahuah with all our heart, mind, and strength, perhaps Proverbs 17:6 will truly become a reality in the fullness of time, which reads, “Parents are the pride of their children.”
Actions indeed speak louder than words. As my oldest son quickly approaches the age of 16, even though his youthful foolishness is often on display, I have observed that when it counts, the biblical principles I have tried to instill in him come to his mind and are revealed in his actions.
We Must Trust Our Righteous Heavenly Father
I know and trust that my Father Yahuah is at work in my sons.
Additionally, as it pertains to preparing my sons for coping with the abominable wokeness of the world, the book of Proverbs is very fitting for today. I choose to be open, honest, and blunt with my sons about many of the difficult topics written about in Proverbs. Although I feel uncomfortable discussing whores, harlots, and other more mature subjects, I know that the woke, perverted people of the world would not hesitate to discuss these things with my sons and implant a sinful point of view in their minds.
Therefore it is critical that my sons hear these topics from me, a God-fearing father, from a biblical perspective first — so that the truth is already rooted as a foundation in their minds. If we fathers remain diligent, disciplined, and dedicated to biblical righteousness — unrelenting in teaching biblical truths to our sons — then I believe we will one day hear a good report spoken regarding them and experience the father’s joy spoken of in 3 John 1:4:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”
FOOTNOTES
1 Pontius Pilate famously asked Yahusha “What is truth?” Although philosophers come up short with a proper definition, the Scriptures are clear. There are three aspects from which we can measure Truth: Yahusha (John 14:6), the Word (John 17:17), and the Ruach HaKodesh or Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6).
My mother passed away in the Autumn of 2021 at the age of 97. On several occasions, during the final days of her life, she would point to someone apparently standing at the foot of her bed. “Do you see him?” she asked. “Who?” I would reply. “That man,” she said, with a big smile on her face.
No, I did not see the “man.” But I believe she saw something — or someone.
I choose to believe, based on what the Scriptures tell us, that she saw the angel assigned to soon escort her to the place where she would await her resurrection. (More on this later.)
Notice that I did not say the angel who would take her to Heaven. That’s because, contrary to what most of us learned in church, the Bible does not say Heaven is the next stop after we die. According to the Scriptures, both believers and unbelievers alike go to a place referred to as Sheol1 in Hebrew, or Hades2 in Greek.
Sheol In The Scriptures
It has been said that the problem with Sheol is that both the righteous and the wicked go there. Sheol is the mysterious place (grave) from which righteous souls will be resurrected when the trumpet sounds on the Day of the Lord. It also contains a sort of “waiting room” for unrepentant souls destined for the lake of fire known as Gehenna.3
The Prophets and Patriarchs made mention of Sheol on several occasions, and its whereabouts are noted in Enoch’s writings. In Genesis and Jubilees, a distraught Jacob declared that he would go there after examining Joseph’s blood-stained coat.
Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, “For I will go down into Sheol unto my son mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
Genesis 37:31-35 Berean Study Bible
Jacob examines Joseph’s coat
And the sons of Jacob slaughtered a kid, and dipped the coat of Joseph in the blood, and sent (it) to Jacob their father on the tenth of the seventh month. And he mourned all that night, for they had brought it to him in the evening, and he became feverish with mourning for his death, and he said: ‘An evil beast hath devoured Joseph’; And he mourned for Joseph, one year, and did not cease, for he said: Let me go down to She’ol mourning for my son.
Jubilees 34:12-13,17
Korah, his followers, and his household go down to Sheol
The rebellious Korah and all his kin went down alive to the pit (Sheol) for trying to usurp Moses’ authority in defiance of the Almighty.
If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then Yahuah has not sent me. But if Yahuah brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated Yahuah with contempt.
Numbers 16:29,30
The Prophet Enoch wrote this regarding Sheol:
In those days shall the earth deliver up from her womb, and Sheol deliver up from hers, that which it has received; and destruction shall restore that which it owes.
1 Enoch 51:1
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Tobit spoke of Sheol and this place is mentioned in the Psalms, Habakkuk, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Job, and the writings of Baruch (Jeremiah’s scribe).4 It may surprise you to learn that Sheol is also mentioned by one of the three Hebrew men thrown into Nebuchadnezzer’s fiery furnace.5
While we do not understand the exact nature of Sheol, we do know that it is the first stop on our journey to the afterlife. Unfortunately, Sheol/Hades has been mistranslated as “death, pit, grave, and hell in various versions of the Bible. These descriptions have led to much confusion as to its features and whereabouts over the centuries.
According to Fred B. Pearson Th.D., Sheol is a place located in the lower parts of the earth where departed souls reside.6
The Old Testament word for the abode of the dead is Sheol. It is derived, as most scholars think, from a word meaning hollow. To the Hebrew mind Sheol was simply the state or abode of the dead. It was not the same as the grave, though it was so translated in some of the older versions. The grave was the resting place of the body from which the spirit had departed, while Sheol was the resting place of departed spirits, or personalities. Usually, Sheol was thought of as being deep down in the earth, as hell is often thought of today. In Old Testament Sheol is represented as the opposite of the upper sphere of life and light. It is “deep Sheol.” Its direction is “down.”
Enoch mentions that Abel is currently there, along with everyone else who has died since his murder at the hands of his brother Cain (Qayin). However, there is an important distinction made regarding this realm.
Pearson:
Always Sheol was regarded as the appointed place for all persons, the great rendezvous of the dead. Here the dead are gathered to their tribes and families. Often we find, especially in the Pentateuch, such expressions as “to be gathered to one’s people,” “to go to one’s fathers,” etc.
We learn from Enoch that the righteous dead are placed in separate compartments from the unrighteous souls in Sheol. (1 Enoch 22) According to Enoch’s vision, the compartment containing the righteous is “bright and there is a fountain of water in its midst.” The water is perhaps symbolic of resurrection; which makes sense in the context of the parable that Yeshua told of the rich man and Lazarus.
The Rich Man and Lazarus in Sheol
One of the best explanations given of our intermediate destination after death is found in Yeshua’s discourse with the Pharisees in Luke’s gospel, in which he expounded on the Law, Prophets, and the Kingdom.
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. “And being in torments in Hades,he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
Luke 16:22-24
” The Rich Man in Hell and the Poor Lazarus in Abraham’s Lap” – Hans Leonhard Schäufelein (1480-1540)
These verses are very illuminating. In them, we learn that Lazarus was carried by angels to a place called “Abraham’s bosom.” The epithet is used to describe a place of comfort.
“Bosom of Abraham” refers to the place of comfort in the biblical Sheol (or Hades in the Greek Septuagint version of the Hebrew scriptures from around 200 BC, and therefore so described in the New Testament)[1] where the righteous dead abided prior to Jesus’ resurrection.
Bosom of Abraham. (2023, April 27). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosom_of_Abraham
We are also told that the rich man was suffering in a lower level of Sheol/Hades in that he had to “look up” to see Abraham and the beggar. Many theologians teach that the rich man was in a fiery Hell, suffering in the torment of literal and unquenchable flames. However, this conclusion has several flaws:
Torment here is referring to an emotional state, not literal flames (a Catholic notion)
When the Scripture speaks of this man being in torment, it is speaking of the emotional torment of a person awaiting the second death, which is total annihilation in the Lake of Fire known as Gehenna. The word for torment or agony is odunaó. HELPs Word Study offers this insight into what this Greek word means:
3600 odynáō (from 3601/odýnē, “very painful sorrow”) – properly, to experience intense emotional pain (WP, 2, 223), i.e. deep, personal anguish expressed by great mourning (LS). This root (ody-) literally means “go down” (as the sun in a sunset) and refers to consuming sorrow.
The rich man was not asking for a literal drink of water. He was desirous of something that he could never have — resurrection.
Contrary to what we were taught in church, the unrighteous dead will spend their time in a dark compartment of Sheol awaiting the final judgment at the end of the millennium. They will have had hundreds, if not thousands of years to contemplate their ultimate destiny in Gehenna — the lake of fire that will completely annihilate them. The wicked will not be forever burning in a lake of fire. This is a Catholic notion and insults the merciful and gracious nature of our Heavenly Father and his Son Yeshua, our High Priest
We Must Be Born Again
In his conversation with Nicodemus, Yeshua ties water and Spirit to the salvation experience. Once we are redeemed from Sheol and “quickened”, we will no longer be made of flesh and blood. In order to enter the New Jerusalem (heaven), our bodies will need to be recreated (reconstituted) and our nature will change.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
John 3:3,4 NKJV
When Yeshua told Nicodemus that we must be born again to enter into Yahuah’s Kingdom, the Pharisee was understandably confused. But he, like us, had to expand his way of thinking. He had to think of Sheol as a type of womb that would “birth” (resurrect) new “creatures” (creations) made of water and Spirit. (James 1:18) This event is known as the first resurrection. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
“Truly, truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5
In John 3:1-21, Yeshua marks the way to eternal life with breadcrumbs for us to follow. These verses contain a wealth of information that contradicts much of what we were taught about the new birth, the way to Heaven, the punishment of Gehenna, and the authority Yeshua’s name carries. This authority is tied to his purpose and has a huge impact on how we understand the sequence of events that lead to our redemption.
Water holds historical, ritual, eschatological, and metaphorical significance in the life of a believer. It is tied to the conduct of individuals and nations. As a rule, covenant breakers, the lawless, and the disobedient are denied water. Those who desire to walk in righteousness are given it abundantly as a sign of moral purity.
Eschatologically speaking, when the righteous are caught up to the New Jerusalem, Yahuah will water our “dry bones.” At this time we will be sprinkled with clean water and purified. This sprinkling represents both the resurrection and the indwelling of the Spirit.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Ezekiel 36:24-26 New Living Translation
Life After Death
The Scriptures speak of our bodies metaphorically as a tent or sukkah — a temporary dwelling place. The essence of who we really are (our mind, will, emotions, and life experiences) is contained in our souls.
Now we know that if the early tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
2 Corinthians 5:1-3 Berean Study Bible
When we die our bodies return to dust, Yahuah withdraws His life-giving breath, and our souls go to the Sheol. The righteous souls who occupy “Abraham’s bosom” will be ransomed from there on the Day of the Lord, when they receive their resurrection bodies. The wicked will remain in their “holding cells” until the Great White Throne judicial proceeding is spoken of in Revelation.
This first resurrection has been called the rapture7 by many in mainstream Christianity. However, it can be more appropriately thought of as the first resurrection or even the second exodus.
I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
Hosea 13: 14 ESV
Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.
Isaiah 26:19 Berean Study Bible
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 Berean Study Bible
Sheol’s Connection to Biblical Cosmology
It must be stated that belief in Sheol’s existence beneath the earth is tied to biblical cosmology. Specifically a geocentric versus a heliocentric model of our home in this physical realm. Why? Because if you adopt a heliocentric mindset, then you will likely believe that the earth contains a liquid outer region surrounded by a solid iron core.
This model not only makes the existence of Sheol as described in the Scriptures almost impossible, but it also injects an element of doubt into what the Bible says about:
Whether you agree or disagree, please take time to test everything that is written in this article against Scripture. Ask the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to guide your thinking.8
When you understand what the Bible has to say about a place called Sheol, you will be well on your way to discovering what happens nanoseconds after you die. Your final destination will either be life in Yahuah’s (YHWH) Kingdom or total annihilation in the lake of fire — the second death. Sheol just is a stop along the way as we all await the resurrection.
FOOTNOTES
1 Sheol (#H7585): underworld (place to which people descend at death). Hades, or the word of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates; grave, hell, pit.
2 (Strongs #G86) hádēs (from 1/A “not” and idein/eidō, “see”) – properly, the “unseen place,” referring to the (invisible) realm in which all the dead reside, i.e. the present dwelling place of all the departed (deceased); Hades. Source: HELPS Word-studies
3 (Strongs #G1067) geenna – Gehenna is a valley west and South of Jerusalem, also a symbolic name for the final place of punishment of the ungodly. Source: Strong’s Concordance. (Strong’s #G1067) géenna (a transliteration of the Hebrew term, Gêhinnōm, “the valley of Hinnom”) – Gehenna, i.e. hell (also referred to as the “lake of fire” in Revelation). Source: HELPS Word-study
5 The “Prayer of the Three Hebrew Children” was once included in the King James bible but was later removed. This is the prayer that Hadrach, Meshech, and Abednego (Hanania, Mishael, and Azariah) prayed while in the furnace. The furnace is symbolic of the Lake of Fire — the ultimate fiery furnace spoken of in the Book of Revelation.
7 The origin of the Rapture doctrine (theory) can be linked to two men: John Nelson Darby, a 19th-century theologian, and C.I. Scofield, author of the Scofield Reference Bible.
8The Gospel Worth Dying For goes into detail concerning life after death, Sheol, Gehenna, and the days leading up to the return of Yeshua. Download the book here.
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