Purim – Recognizing Miracles

We are now in the moon of Adar (the 12th moon) where our joy is increased. But we are living in the galut (dispersion, exile) among the very anti-Semitic goy who try and make life for us Jews very difficult. Here in South Africa, our government is instituting a boycott of any Israeli products, persecuting us Jews and having many marches against us because they claim that we live according to an apartheid regime and that we are villains and evil. But is that really true?

But do we live by apartheid? And if so what kind of apartheid are we talking about?  If we are evil then how is this evil defined?  And then, would such opinions not depend on others point of view?  Looking at a torah life as the only way of life and survival may indeed seem stupid or evil from the outside. The Torah makes it very clear that Yisra’el is a kadosh nation. The question is, what does it mean to be kadosh?

Kadosh simply means, “separate” or, “set apart.” The Christian bible translates this Hebrew word, “kadosh” as “holy.” HASHEM made it very clear that we are not allowed to be like the other nations. Are we not to follow the commands and precepts found in the Torah, no matter where we are? To do this, we must separate ourselves in a torah life and culture, not so? Anti-Apartheid (Anti-Kadosh) literally means, “forced conversion,” which is a very wicked act. It is exactly what happened during the Spanish Inquisition where many Jews we killed. Anti-Kadosh, in this sense, is Anti-Semitic.

Now I need to make it very clear that the kadosh'ness' of the Jews is in no way the same as that of the other apartheid regimes, like what happened in South Africa. Us Jews do not hate or mistreat people from other nations or cultures. In fact, Although we are one of the smallest nations in the world, we are the second largest financial, humanitarian aid contributor among all nations. We have a deep love for people and live to be a light to the world bringing morality and righteousness, no matter where we may be.

Unfortunately, because we have not stayed kadosh, and most times, not been able to do so, there is a great amount of Jews that have assimilated into other cultures and religions. This has always been viewed as a great crisis among religious Jews. We have seen throughout history that Jews have been forced to assimilate and convert to other cultures and religions or face the penalty of being kicked out of the community, country or even killed. This is still happening at this moment all around the world to some degree or another, whether it be terrorist attacks, pressure from the governments, boycotts or simple hate speech against us.

So how are we to increase our joy? We could even be justified in being angry at the injustice and clear violation of our human and religious rights that our own governments show us. But no, we are not angry at all. In fact, we rejoice and really do increase our joy. But how is this even possible? There is one simple word that explains how it is possible, “Emuna.”

Through all this tribulation that we are going through, it is fitting that Purim is being celebrated now. Purim is the remembrance and celebration of the great miracles and protection that the Almighty grants us, His nation, Yisra’el. We read the story Esther on this day, which has so many lessons for us.

The story of Esther is about how we were exiled and were living under the Persian King. One of the King’s generals, Hamman, was an evil man and convinced the King to make a decree that all the Jews must be killed because they live by a different set of laws and separate themselves from the people among whom they live (the Persians). So the Jews were to be destroyed because they were living in apartheid.

But HASHEM had His hand over the situation at every single moment. HASHEM caused this to happen, even though it seemed bad. And As Jews we so many times feel that HASHEM has departed from us, and in worldly terms we may even have every right to moan about being persecuted. But this is not what we do. Such events caused us to fast and repent and turn to HASHEM for their salvation. Everything happened as it should have and at the right moments too. In the end, the evil Hamman and his sons were hanged on the very gallows that Hamman built for the hanging of the righteous Jew called Mordechai. At the end we Jews were not only saved then, we also gained all the respect of the King, something we did not have before.

Emuna teaches that there is only One being that is in control of everything and that everything that happens is from Him. And that everything that He does is for the good, even if it may seem bad.

The Name of the Almighty does not appear even once in the entire book of Esther. In fact it is the only book in the entire Tanakh that does not contain the Name at all. This teaches us, among other things too, that even though it seems that HASHEM has hidden Himself from us, that He is still actually in control and watching over us.

The ultimate goal in life is “tikkun” (soul correction) and everything that happens to us happens for the sake of tikkun, because HASHEM loves us.

That is why us Jews can be happy and Joyful at all times, no matter what our circumstances are at any time. We know that everything is for the good.

May we all continue to do teshuva (repentance) and grow closer to HASHEM, by the study and obedience to His Torah so that we may continue to joyfully say: BARUCH HASHEM no matter what our circumstance. To be kadosh (set-apart) is to be satisfied with being different, as we prefer to be what HASHEM wants us to be, no matter where we are or what the circumstances.

Purim Same'ach

So you say you follow the Torah

There has been a growth in the amount of people who claim to be Torah followers among the gentile nations lately. Many groups and organizations, like Hebrew Roots and Messianics etc, all claim to be turning back to the Torah and its ways. But is this what is really happening? One passage in the Scriptures comes to mind when I think about this, “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name? And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!” (Mat 7:22-23)

The Messiah was speaking of those who call him Master and even do many things in his name. So it is clear that he is not speaking of the worldly people and those from other religions, but rather of those who profess his name. This idea should get everyone who does profess his name to evaluate themselves and make sure that they do not fall under this category of lawlessness who the Messiah will say, “depart from me” in the end of days, which is a very scary idea.

Every single one of us, who profess to follow the Torah, has the duty to ourselves to test and make sure that we really are following the Torah. Many people claim to do so, but there actions make it very clear that they do not.

The message of the Torah is a life of selflessness and loving the Almighty and one another. Every single command in the Torah teaches us how to love. We cannot rely on our own understanding of love, but must do as the Torah teaches us, which is the instruction for true love. The Torah teaches us not to murder, steal, commit adultery, curse or harm our parents etc which are all destructive and it also teaches us to respect our fellow humans. But do we really do this? Or do we only do this when it suites us to do it? The Torah requires it all the time.

Being a Torah follower, we are supposed to be a light to the world and live by example. If we do not, then how can the non-believers ever see anything good that might convince them to seek something better? If we look like and do what the world does and looks like, then there is no difference and there cannot be any good in the world, and as such, we are not following the instructions of the Almighty.

Let us look at a few examples of things that are not always thought of as transgressions of the Torah, but are clear transgressions.

STEALING
Do not steal, which is one of the Ten Commandments, but do you really keep this commandment? Now we really have to start being honest with ourselves as we are not going to answer to one another, but rather to the Almighty who knows what you have done or not.

Do you have DVD’s that are not originals, or movies that have been downloaded or copied but have copyright protection? If so, then you are a thief and have transgressed the Torah.

Do you have music that you have not bought, including MP3’s and copies that are protected by copyright laws etc? And do you freely share any copyrighted music with your friends? If so, then you are a thief. (this does not include any freeware music which is perfectly fine to give out).

Do you have any software (which is not freeware) installed on your computer that you use that has not been bought, or for which you do not have a working license for? If so, then you are stealing.

One might justify that the authors and owners of the software, music and movies are all rich and that the few things that you have does not make any difference to these people, or some other similar excuse. But is that what you are going to say to the Almighty when you stand in front of Him and He asks you why you broke the Commandment of, “do not steal?” Will your excuse be acceptable to the Almighty?

If we do such things, then we are supporting theft and are not living as an example to the nations. If we support criminal activities, then we are no different to the world and, in fact, contribute to the destruction that is caused by stealing.

RESPECT FOR FELLOW HUMANS
This is a very wide field and can be applied in all situations of our lives. I am going to use a few examples that should stimulate your thought process and understanding in other situations too.

Do you obey the rules of the road as set by your local government? If not, then you are transgressing the Torah. Let me explain further. The rules of the road were set in place to protect the people and keep them as safe as possible. If everyone on the roads kept to all the rules of the road, then it would almost totally prevent any deaths and losses on the roads, but this is unfortunately not the case and many thousands of lives are lost annually because of people not obeying the rules of the road. Are you contributing to this destruction or are you being an example of righteousness?

Do you keep to the speed limits of the roads? If not, then you do not respect any of the other people around you as you are creating a dangerous situation for them that could result in damages and even loss of life.

Do you quickly speed around another car that is keeping to the speed limit just to gain one cars position and get to your destination a fraction quicker? If so, then you are stealing… you are breaking the law and causing the person who you pushed in front of to lose money in the form of using more petrol, waiting for you, and also wear and tear such as break pads from having to break harder for you. It is a very selfish and destructive action. You are supposed to be an example to the world and keep to the laws of the land.

Do you stop at a stop street and at the traffic light as required (even if there are no other cars around), or do you just slow down at the stop street or quickly jump over a traffic light that has just turned red when you could have stopped? If so, then you are transgressing the Torah and putting lives in danger and even stealing from others. I have found that the person who does not intend to stop at a stop sign but rather just slow down, approaches it at a high speed usually jumps in front of the law abiding citizen who does stop and causes loss of petrol, and might even cause an accident in the process, just so that you can jump in front of one car and be king of the road. This is a clear violation of the Torah.

OTHER EXAMPLES
Here are some other examples of ways people transgress the Torah.

Do you smoke? If so, then you are transgressing the Torah. I am speaking more along the lines of smoking in public or around other people, but not limited to that alone. All people are allergic to smoke as it always has a negative effect on your body. Second hand smoke is destructive and is known to kill non-smokers too. If you smoke in front of anyone else, you are causing harm to that person and could even contribute to the death of that person and even yourself.

Are you honest concerning paying your taxes? If not, then you are transgressing the Torah by lying and stealing.

Do you pay your employees of time? If not, then you are transgressing the Torah.


I could mention many more things, but think that you get the idea and can reason within yourself what other activities are not acceptable to the Almighty.

We are to be a light to the world and live by example in righteousness. We are to love one another and not take away from each other. We are to put others before ourselves and not be selfish.

If we cannot submit to local authorities, whom the Almighty has put above us, then how can we submit to the ultimate authority who is YHWH the Almighty.

So are you one of those who do many mighty works in the name of the Messiah, but yet live a lawless life by transgressing the Torah? This is something you need to ask yourself and be honest about too.

May we all submit to the Torah and all that it commands so that we all learn to love each other with the love of the Almighty.

In what do you delight yourself?

There is an Afrikaans saying, “Wat die hart van vol is, sal die mond van praat.” Which in English means, “whatever your heart is filled with, will come out of your mouth.” In other words, if you delight yourself in sports, for instance, you will speak about sport with your friends. If you delight yourself in art, then that is what you are going to speak about, etc. Another thing is that you are going to surround yourself with people who also have the same delights and interests. As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together.”

Now the reason you are reading this article on this website, is because you are interested in, or seeking the truth about Scripture. Now this article is sort of a continuation of the previous article I posted on this website, namely, “Seek and you shall find.”

What is it that you delight yourself in? There are only two real options that you can choose from, either you delight yourself in the Almighty, or you delight yourself in the things of this world. These two things are always in opposition with each other. “Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16)

It should now start becoming apparent to you that one cannot delight in both things, or in one thing in the morning and the other during the day etc. You have to choose which one you are going to delight in and live your entire life according to that choice.

Now the Scriptures also classify the people who delight in the Almighty and also those who delight in the world. “Blessed is the man who shall not walk in the counsel of the wrong, And shall not stand in the path of sinners, And shall not sit in the seat of scoffers, But his delight is in the Torah of יהוה (YHWH), And he meditates in His Torah day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2)

This passage found in Psalm 1 gives a lot of information. Firstly, it makes a differentiation between the wrong, who are the sinners and scoffers (of the world), and those who delight in the Torah (instruction) of the Almighty

Secondly, the people who are righteous are those who meditate in the Torah (first 5 books of the Scriptures, Genesis – Deuteronomy) day and night. That means that every thing they do, and every choice they make is in accordance to what is written in the Torah of the Almighty.

Thirdly, it makes it very clear that the Torah is a delight to the righteous. Only the sinful world finds the Torah of YHWH the Almighty to be tedious or even a curse. This is because the Torah is of the Spirit and the flesh rebels against it. “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh does not profit at all. The words that I speak to you are Spirit and are life” (John 6:63 ) and also, “For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6).  Just by knowing this simple point can help you to realize in what it is that you desire.

Now there are many people who claim that they are lead by the Spirit and are shown things by the Spirit and yet do not have any desire to do what is written in the Torah, which is the Word of the Almighty. This is proof that they are being lead by a false spirit as the true Ruach (Spirit) of the Almighty, will never speak against the Torah and will always point us back to the written Torah. If they say the Spirit taught them anything that is contrary to the Torah, then they are a liar or are filled with a different spirit (demon). “The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4)

It is made very clear in the Scriptures as to what the pleasure of the Almighty is. He takes pleasure in us loving Him and following all that is written in His Torah. “I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). We can learn a lot from the man who is spoken of as being ‘the man after the Almighty’s own heart’. If such a man, who understood the desire of the Almighty, took so much delight and pleasure in learning and doing all that is written in the Torah of the Almighty, then how can anyone call it a curse? “Make me walk in the path of Your commands, For I have delighted in it” (Psalm 119:35), “That I might delight myself in Your commands, Which I have loved” (Psalm 119:47), “Their heart has become like fat, Without feeling; I have delighted in Your Torah” (Psalm 119:70), “Let Your compassions come to me, That I might live, For Your Torah is my delight” (Psalm 119:77).

I could go on and post MANY more verses that proclaim the love of the Torah of the Almighty by the beloved servant of the Almighty, King David. But is he the only one who ever delighted in the Torah? “For I delight in the Torah of Elohim according to the inward man” (Rom 7:22). Here we can see that Sha’ul (Paul) too had the same desire for the Torah of the Almighty as David did.

We can also learn a lot from science and from scientists too. Let us have a look at a statement (or rather a scientific law) that was named after the scientist called Isaac Newton. The third law of Newton is, “for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction”. This law is true in the spiritual realm as well. Just as much as the Almighty loves those doing righteousness, He too hates those who work wickedness, “For You are not an Ěl taking delight in wrong, Nor does evil dwell with You. The boasters do not stand before Your eyes; You hate all workers of wickedness” (Psalm 5:4-5).

The Almighty even sent a working of delusion for those who do not have a love for the truth, but rather delighted in unrighteousness (worldly desires), “and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness” (2 Thess 2:10 - 12).

What is an example of this delusion spoken of above? Christianity is a good example of a delusion that causes people to believe in falsehood.  Now before anyone gets upset by this statement, you have to consider a few points first, namely, why are there so many different translations of the Bible in Christianity, which all differ from each other? Which version is the correct one? Why has the Bible been mistranslated, and then, taught to be correct? Why is it that the Church throws away all the Words of the Almighty and calls them old and irrelevant (contrary to what the Messiah said)? Why does the Church teach doctrines from pagan followers rather than what is written in the Scriptures? Why is it that Christianity teaches that things that were once abominable and hated by the Almighty, are now okay to do?

I could go on and on asking many questions, but the fact is that Christianity creates an environment where the people, who want to carry on with their worldly desires, can come together and get a “guiltless pass” where it is okay to carry on living in sin.

Only those who delight in the Torah are those who are the delight of the Almighty, “Praise Yah! Blessed is the man, who fears יהוה (YHWH), Who has greatly delighted in His commands” (Psalm 112:1).

And what is the fear of the Almighty? “The fear of יהוה (YHWH) is to hate evil. I have hated pride and arrogance, And the evil way, And the perverse mouth” (Proverbs 8:13). Do you hate evil, or do you tolerate it and even delight in it? Do you love the Way of the Almighty (Torah), or do you love the way of the world?

The Scriptures make it very clear that the ways of the world are unrighteous and evil, but the Way of the Almighty, which is written in the Torah, is righteous and perfect.

In which one do you delight yourself?

The Trinity doctrine is a false doctrine

One of the most fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith is that of the “Trinity.” But is this belief based on the Scriptures, or does it originate from a different religion altogether. One thing we need to ask ourselves, can we find it in the Scriptures?

I did a search for something that might support the Trinity doctrine. I did find something in the King James Bible that looked as though the doctrine might be Scriptural. Let us have a look at this section in the Bible.

5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one (1 John 5:7-8 KJV).

Now verse 7 clearly speaks of what we today know as the Trinity. But when I started looking at other translations, I came across something startling. It seems as thought the KJV Bible added verse 7, that did not originally exist, into the Bible. Let us see what the other translations say.

5:7 For there are three witnesses-

5:8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood-and these three are one. (1 John 5:7-8 International Standard Version).

Here we see a huge difference. It seems as if the KJV combined verses 7 and 8 into one verse and added their own verse as verse 7 to support their own doctrine. They also added the words, “in earth” into verse 8 in the KJV to suggest that there must be three witnesses in heaven too.

Many of the translations differ from the KJV here as do the early Greek manuscripts. So where does this false doctrine originate from?

The Christian Faith is built on the writings of the early Church Fathers who created what is known as Christianity today. One of these Church Fathers is called Tertullian and he lived in 155-230 CE (AD).

Tertullian was born into a mainstream Gentile pagan family, but later he became a devout Christo-pagan. He found mainstream Christianity very intolerable, so he set out to make broad sweeping reform.

According to Jerome, Tertullian was “distressed by the envy and laxity of the clergy of the Roman church” so he joined with the Montanists (also known as the Cataphrygian Heresy) founded by Montanus. Montanus was formerly following the pagan mother goddess of fertility named Cybele where he learned plenty of things to adapt into Christianity.

One of Montanus’ “achievements” was to fall into a trance and prophecy under the influence of the “Holy Ghost,” insisting that his utterances were the voice of the “Holy Ghost.” Modern day “tongue-speaking” Pentecostal or Charismatic denominations apparently have very similar experiences to those of the church of Montanus. As Montanus’ theologies and influence advanced, he was joined by Priscilla and Maximilla, who abandoned their husbands to follow the call of his “prophetic” ministry.

Tertullian, though, while fumbling in all manner of paganism and spiritism also picked up an “anointing” of the “Holy Ghost” and through demonic inspiration, he compartmentalized the “Godhead” and coined the word “Trinity” which, of course, is one of the most cherished doctrines of the Christian Church today. The “persons of the Trinity” doctrine flourished in the hierarchy-based Christian religion, which also views itself as a pyramid structure. Tertullian wrote using puns, wit, sarcasm and a continual pounding of his opponents with invective and platitude; yet he was the architect of the pinnacle doctrine of Christianity, the “persons of the Trinity.” Tertullian theology is very akin to the likes of Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz who were the original trinity of Babylon and he inserted the “persons” of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, making him extremely popular among pagan Gentile Christians.

Other trinities

Let us have a look at some Trinities found that influenced Tertullian and gave him the idea to incorporate it into the Christian religion.

Babylonian: Baal, Semiramis, Tammuz. (alt. Bel, Ishtar, Duzu).

India: Brahma, Shiva (or Devaki), Vishnu (or Krishna).

Egypt: Amon Ra, Isis, Osiris (or Horus).
Greece: Zeus (or Apollo), Demeter (or Athena, Artemis), Porsephene (or Nike).

Rome (Roma): Deus (form of Zeus, also known as Zeus-Father, or Iu-piter, Jupiter); Venus (or

Astarte, Biblia, Charis); Cupid (or Bacchus, Nike).

Celtic: (also known as Druid, Wiccan, Norse, Gaelic); Baal (or Woden, Teutates, Heil);

Ceridwen (or Freya, Frigga, Eostre); Thor (or Balder, Taranis, Dero). (alt. Esus, Taranis,

Teutates).

Canaanite: (and Phoenician); Baal (or Moloch); Asherah (or Ishtar, Easter, Tanit); Rompha.

Chaldean: (and Zoroastrian); Baal Mithras (known as “wise-lord” Ahura Mazda, or Ohrmazd);

Astoreth; Haoma.

Persian: Shamash, Ishtar, Sin. Macedonian / Asian: Dagon (fish idol); Cybele

(or Ceres); Deoius (or Janus).

Mithraic: (Chaldean fusion with Indo-Iranian); Mithras (or Marduk, called Sol by Romans);

Rashnu; Vohu Manah.

Mandaean: Joshaman, Abatar, Hibil Ziwa.

Manichaean: Ohrmazd, Maitreya (New Age “Christ”); Zurvan.

So as you can see, there is quite a list of pagan trinities and that many of them are interlinked with each other, which teaches us that the pagan religions stem from the same root. We can clearly see that the Trinity doctrine originates from paganism.

Trinity in the Scriptures?

For any kind of doctrine or teaching to be true, then that specific doctrine or teaching has to match up to every other part of the Bible. Does the Bible claim that the Messiah is also the Almighty as the Trinity doctrine teaches? Well let us look at a few verses concerning this matter.

“For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua)” (1 Tim 2:5)

The above verse clearly makes a differentiation between the Messiah and Elohim the Almighty. Yehoshua the Messiah is the Mediator between us and the Almighty, just like the “Kohen Gadol” (High Priest). In fact, Yehoshua is the Kohen Gadol, “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, יהושע (Yehoshua) the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).

The Messiah is our High Priest who is the Mediator between us and the Almighty because we are unable to come to the Almighty on our own for the forgiveness of sin. No one who is blemished is able to come into the presence of the Almighty. It is the Messiah who fulfills that roll of presenting His own blood to the Almighty for the forgiveness of our sins on Yom Kippur. If Yehoshua the Messiah was the Almighty and not a being on His own, then it would be impossible to fulfill the role of High Priest.

Let us have a look at another verse, “for us there is one Elohim, the Father, from whom all came and for whom we live, and one Master יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah, through whom all came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Once again we get a very clear distinction between the Almighty and His Son Yehoshua the Messiah. It states that there is only One Elohim, who is the Father, for whom we live, and only one Son who is the Messiah through whom we live. This verse also reveals to us that the Messiah has been around since the beginning. He is also know as the Living Word (Torah). That is why we are to live through Him (the Torah) in order to live for the Almighty.

So as we can see, the Bible does not support the Trinity doctrine at all, but some people take bits and pieces from the Scriptures and use it out of context to try and justify their convictions or false teachings. Let us look at one such argument that is used by the Church to try and justify their falsehood. “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)

Now does Yehoshua the Messiah claim the be the Almighty when He said, “I and My Father are one.”? Or was He really saying that He and His Father are in agreement with one another? To answer this question, we need to compare it with the rest of what is written in the Bible. “And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they might be one, as We are” (John 17:11)

The above verse is speaking of the followers of the Almighty to become one as the Almighty and the Messiah are One. Now, can a group of people suddenly become one person? Or is this verse speaking of a group of people standing in agreement with each other and in agreement to the Almighty and His Messiah? Now let us look at another verse and see if this statement is consistent, “so that they all might be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they too might be one in Us, so that the world might believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:21).

Once again it clearly says that the people stand together in agreement with each other and in agreement with the Almighty and Yehoshua the Messiah. It does not mean that they are one person at all. The Hebrew idiom “being one” means to be in agreement with each other. This terminology comes from the very beginning of the Scriptures, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24).

Now I ask you, how many of you have ever witnessed a man and his wife physically joining and becoming one person? No one has ever seen this happen because that is not what is meant by becoming one flesh. It simply means to join together in agreement with each other.

So any one who uses the argument that the Messiah said, “I and My Father are one” to prove the Trinity doctrine, is either not very well versed in the Bible or is simply a liar.

One very important message for us all is that it is saying that the Almighty and His Messiah (the Living Word) call us to become one with them. Now we also know that The Almighty and His Word (the Messiah) are never changing and remains the same today as in the time of the beginning, ”יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).

We have also seen from above that the Messiah was there from the beginning in the time of Adam. We can also see that He is the same today as He was in the beginning, and He is in perfect agreement with His Father who is the Almighty Master of the universe.

So if we want to learn how to serve the Almighty and follow the Messiah, then we have to go to the Instruction book called the Torah, which are the first five books of the Scriptures (Tanakh). In those five books, the Almighty reveals to us what He requires from us and also the things that He loves and also the things that He hates.

Those five books give us exact instructions on how to live our lives to be pleasing to the Almighty in order to receive favor from Him.

There are many things that the Almighty regards as abominations and teaches us to NOT do them or have them close to us. These things, for example, are eating unclean animals, making moulded images (like the cross) adultery, idolatry, profaning the Sabbath, Murder, Rape and many other things too. Now to think that what was once unacceptable to the Almighty has suddenly become okay to do today is a teaching that is anti-Scriptural and evil.

If we desire to love the Almighty, then we need to do all that is commanded in the Torah. “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands” (John 14:15)

Also.... click here to see John 1:1-3 explained

Did the Almighty change His Law?

What is the function of a law? It is to govern a group of people so that they may adhere to the rules of a ruler and to make sure that everyone lives and treats their fellow being in the way that is desired by that ruler. Whoever breaks the specific law gets punished, put in prison or even gets a death penalty. Now the Almighty gave a specific law for those who follow Him. YHWH is the melech haolam (king of the universe). Everything in nature abides by His Law, as well as those following Him. Anyone who breaks His Law, WILL be punished or even put to death. It may not happen right at this moment, but it certainly WILL happen.

Now many teach that we do not have to follow His Law. Some even teach that His Law has been done away with, and some even teach that the Almighty has changed His Law. These people that teach these things are either out to create a following in order to make money by deceiving people, or they themselves are deceived and teaching others what they believe to be true. But the fact stands that they are teaching falsehood. The Law of the Most High is eternal, never ending. If His Law has been done away with, or changed, then the scientific laws would also have to change or be done away with. But as we can see, Science is still alive and well.


When Y’hoshua said “I have not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it”. Here the Christian church teaches that by “fulfilling” the law, he actually cancelled it. Nothing could be further from the truth than that statement.  Hebrews use many idioms in their communication with one another. The scriptures are full of Hebrew idioms.  At the time when Y’hoshua walked the earth, whenever someone taught something against the Torah, they would say that person is “destroying the law”.  “Fulfilling the law” meant to DO and OBEY the law. That is what Y’hoshua was saying, that he is obedient to the law and that they were not understanding exactly who he is.

The only thing that has changed are the people. They have decided to ignore the Law of the Almighty and create their own laws, laws that are easy and cater to their fleshly lusts and enjoyments. The fact of the matter is that there are only two laws, if you do not abide by the one, then you are following the other one. The two laws are, “the Law of the Almighty” which is His Torah which leads to life, and “the Law of sin” which is Satan’s law which is the opposite of the Torah and leads to death. The motto of the church of Satan, founded by Anton LeVey, is “Do what thou wilt”, meaning that you can do as you please, not having to keep the Torah of the Most High.

The Law of the Almighty is His Word, also known as Scripture. Let us have a look at what we are taught in Scripture:

”יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). Here we can see that the Messiah never changes. He existed from before the world was created and He will continue to remain after everything has come to an end. But we are speaking of the Law of the Almighty, the Father of the Messiah here. Let us read another verse then, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). It is clear that they are of the same character and the same mind. If the Messiah differed in even the slightest opinion to His Father, then He would not have been able to say that they are the same.

Let us then see what the Messiah says about the Torah of His Father, “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done” (Mat 5:18). Has all been done? If not, where is the Torah now? And what or who is it applicable to? Well every tree and animal and planet and ocean and scientific law are governed by the Torah of YHWH. 

There are many things that the Almighty hates. Those that desire to do the Will of the Almighty, also have to hate these same things. If we do not utterly loath these things that the Most High hates, then that is a very clear indication that we do not follow Him, but rather do the things we desire to do. One of these things that is an abomination to the Almighty is idolatry. Let us have a closer look.

Idolatry

“You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Exodus 20:4-5) (Deut 5:8-9). Here it is clearly written in the Ten Commandments that those who make a carved image or anything of the sort will be punished. Those who do are those who hate the Almighty. One of these carved images that comes to mind is the “cross”. Now what happens to those who hate the Almighty and have carved images? Let us read to find out, ”but repaying those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He does not delay to do so with him who hates Him, He repays him to his face” (Deut 7:10)

Is something that the Almighty once hated, now all of a sudden, become acceptable to Him? Is He not the same today as he was 6000 years ago?

I have heard many people, who have some dodgy images and carvings etc, say that they do not pray to them or worship them in any way, but only have it in their house as an ornament or something nice to look at. But what does the Word of the Almighty say? “And do not bring an abomination into your house, lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is accursed” (Deut 7:26). It is clearly written that we too have to hate and loath it and not allow it into our homes. Once again the “cross” comes to mind, as well as African masks and even pretty carvings of animals, like eagles etc.

Idolatry is not something that is new, it was very rampant from long before the nation of Yisrael even existed. The entire world was wiped out, except for 8 people (Noah and his family) when the world was flooded because of idolatry. Now when the nation of Yisrael were going to take residency of their promised land, they were to destroy all the nations that lived there before them. This is so that they do not learn to do as the other nations did as they were all idolaters. Let us read what the Law of the Most High taught the Israelites and also teaches us now, “When יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too. Do not do so to יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim, for every abomination which יהוה (YHWH) hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones” (Deut 12:29-31). This, once again, clearly teaches us that we are not to learn the ways of the pagans. We cannot serve the Almighty as the pagans serve their own deities, it is an abomination to the Most High and He hates it. Things like Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, January first new years day and even birthdays celebrations all originate from paganism and is an abomination.

So it is very clear that we need to follow the Almighty using His Instructions (Torah) and not learn how the rest of the world (pagans) worship their deities.

Is the statement “love the sinner but not the sin” a valid statement?

This statement of “love the sinner but not the sin” is used many times by Christians who try and shift the blame from themselves or others when they commit sin. But my question is always, “where is that written?” there is no such statement in the entire Scriptures. The sinner is the one committing the sin and is therefore guilty of committing that sin. If someone habitually commits such sins that are an abomination to the Almighty, then is that person not also an abomination? Let us see what is written,”The boasters do not stand before Your eyes; You hate all workers of wickedness” (Psalm 5:5). Here we can see that those who habitually commit these sins, are themselves wicked too and they are hated by the Almighty. This statement is confirmed by the following verse, “יהוה (YHWH) tries the righteous, But His being shall hate the wrong And the one who loves violence” (Psalm 11:5).

Even the followers of the Almighty, like King David, also hated those who were wicked. ”I have hated the assembly of evil-doers, And I do not sit with the wrong” (Psalm 26:5). We are not to fellowship with those who are sinners. If we do, they will cause us to stumble. Just like the Israelites had to destroy all the inhabitants of the land of Israel as they were taking occupancy, so that they do not learn as they do. So too must we not spend our time with those who are not followers of the Almighty as we will learn many things that they do and turn away from following the instruction of the Most High. We are to hate those who are habitually breaking the Torah of YHWH. ”I have hated those who observe lying vanities; But I trust in יהוה (YHWH)” (Psalm 31:6).

I could go on and on showing you all over Scripture that the Almighty and His followers hates sin and those habitually committing sin, ”You have loved righteousness and hated wrongness; Therefore Elohim, Your Elohim, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Psalm 45:7).

Here is another one, “You who love יהוה (YHWH), hate evil! He guards the lives of His kind ones, He delivers them out of the hand of the wrong” (Psalm 97:10). What then is evil? Anything that is a transgression of the Torah of YHWH is evil. The Almighty hates it when His Law is broken, and He labels it as evil. So if you love the Most High, then you will abstain from doing evil and rather continue to keep His Law. If you hate the Almighty, then you will not keep His Torah. ”I have hated falsehood and loathe it, Your Torah I have loved” (Psalm 119:163).

How many times have you heard the phrase that we need to, “fear the Almighty”? If I go to a church and ask ten different Christians what it means to fear the Almighty, I am sure to get ten different answers as this is not a topic that is really taught in the churches. Let us see what is written in the Scriptures, “The fear of יהוה (YHWH) is to hate evil. I have hated pride and arrogance, And the evil way, And the perverse mouth” (Proverbs 8:13). Here is the purist form of fearing YHWH the Almighty, to hate evil (which is the transgression of the Torah).

So has the Law of the Almighty changed?

“For everyone who is practicing evil matters hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:20). Who decides what is evil or not? I am sure that almost everyone will agree that it is the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth. What we need to remember is that He is the same today as He was yesterday, and is the same as He was 4000 years ago too.

Now with this in mind, can the Almighty accept something now that used to be hated by Him and considered an abomination? Or can He now love someone that would have been hated before and called an abomination? Certainly not, The Almighty NEVER changes, He is always the same.

Did the Messiah bring a new law? If He did, I cannot find it. He came to do what is written in the Torah and taught us to do the same. If we are followers of the Messiah, then we will walk as He walked. “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6). How is your walk? Does it look like the walk of the Messiah?

As you can clearly see, the Almighty YHWH hates sin and even those walking in sin. We can also clearly see that His Laws have not changed and are certainly not done away with. Those who are walking as the Messiah did are hated by the lawless ones and even persecuted and attacked by wicked people. “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mat 5:10-12).

So the time on this earth for those who love the Almighty might be a tough life, but those who endure to the end, WILL be saved. “And you shall be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who shall have endured to the end shall be saved” (Mat 10:22). So do not lose hope, the Almighty will bring you gladness for your efforts, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Because of this, Elohim, Your Elohim, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Heb 1:9).

My prayer after writing this article is that people’ eyes be opened to the Truth and turn to follow what is pleasing in the eyes of the Most High and NOT what is evil in His eyes.

Let those who have the Creator as their ruler, all follow His rules.

Blessings and Shalom to all those reading this.

Be Perfect as your Father in heaven is Perfect

The Torah reading for this past Shabbat was very much about purging the evil out of Israel and to be perfect before YHWH our Elohim. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, those who are guilty of the evil must be put to death. What is this evil that is being spoken of here? Disobeying the Torah of YHWH is evil. Although not all evil acts are punishable by death, many are, for example, adultery, murder, magic, sorcery, idolatry and a few others.

Does this really sound like the character of the Almighty (or the 'love of Jesus'), killing those that disobey His Commands? Only those who believe in human rights and other humanistic religions, like Christianity, do not think that this is His Character. They believe that everyone should have “the love of Jesus” forgiving everyone’s iniquities and evil deeds continuously. The fact of the matter is that the Messiah came to do the Torah of His Father. Christianity has been based on humanistic man-made doctrines that do not in anyway resemble the true Messiah. Even the Bible has been fabricated (mistranslated in many places) to promote the anti-Messiah doctrines that the Church teaches. A really good example of this is the story about the woman caught in adultery found in John 8:1-11, where “Jesus” just happened to forgive her evil sin that should have been punished by death. The problem with that story is that it never happened according to the Aramaic New Testament and even the earliest Greek translations. You can read more on that topic here. The church uses this passage to justify the evil works of their members.

Let us have a look at a few verses from the Living Word of the Almighty from this Torah reading,

“Follow righteousness, righteousness alone, so that you live and inherit the land which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is giving you” (Deut 16:20). Now when one does a study ofTorah and the prophets, you will notice that everything works in cycles and are signs and shadows of things still to come. One of the most obvious examples is that of entering into the promised land of Israel signifying entering into the Kingdom of YHWH at the end of days. The Torah is spoken of as “the Living Words” in Acts 7:38. It is the Instruction for us, to teach us how we are going to be able to inherit and enter into the Kingdom of YHWH just as it was instruction for the Hebrews on how to inherit the Land that YHWH was giving them.

“When there is found in your midst, in any of your cities which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the eyes of יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim, in transgressing His covenant,
and has gone and served other mighty ones and bowed down to them, or to the sun or to the moon or to any of the host of the heavens, which I have not commanded,
and it has been made known to you and you have heard, and has searched diligently. Then see, if true: the matter is confirmed that such an abomination has been done in Yisra’ĕl,
then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil matter, and you shall stone to death that man or woman with stones” (Deut 17:2-5)

If one does a little research on the origin, practices and traditions of Christianity, you will find that it all comes from Sun-worship. Easter, Christmas, Jesus, God, Lord, Holy, the cross and many more names and traditions all stem from Sun-worship! Are these things not abominations? Did the Messiah come to declare what was once an abomination in the eyes of Him and His Father, now okay and acceptable? Certainly not! 

The reason that YHWH divorced the majority of Israel was because they did not heed His Command not to learn to do according to the abominations of the Gentiles. “When you come into the land which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is giving you, do not learn to do according to the abominations of those gentiles” (Deut 18:9). It is very evident that the church is following these abominations and is therefore abominable to YHWH. Again you have to ask yourself, is what was abominable before, now made good?

One thing that the Church really hammers on is that it is impossible to keep the Torah or be perfect. The Torah itself teaches us that we are to be perfect before YHWH, “Be perfect before יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim” (Deut 18:13). Why would YHWH command this if it was impossible to do? This is because it is not impossible and the church is lying to us. 

Let us read of a few characters in the Scriptures, “This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with Elohim” (Gen 6:9). “There was a man in the land of Uts, whose name was Iyoḇ. And that man was perfect and straight, and one who feared Elohim and turned aside from evil” (Job 1:1). “There was in the days of Herodes, the sovereign of Yehuḏah, a certain priest named Zeḵaryah, of the division of Aḇiyah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheḇa. And they were both righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousnesses of יהוה (YHWH)” (Luke 1:5). These are but a few examples of people who were perfect and righteous before YHWH.  Now let us see what the Messiah Himself taught what we are to do, “Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect” (Mat 5:48).

So according to the Living Word of YHWH and by the teaching of the Messiah, we are to be perfect before YHWH walking in all the Commands of YHWH. We are not to learn to do as the pagan Gentiles do. Should we not then search out to see whether we are doing as the pagans are doing or are we following the Word of the Almighty?

Word Survey: Lord

The Name YHWH has been substituted in our translations of the Scriptures with the title “Lord” some 6823 times. The short form, Yah, has also been substituted 48 times with “Lord,” and only in one place was it retained as: Yah, in Psalm 68:4, in the older and more literal translations. Further, wherever we read “GOD” in capital letters, that too is a substituted for “YHWH.” This title, “Lord,” is applied to all heathen deities, if the word “god” is not used for them. In most cases “lord” and “god” are used interchangeably for pagan idols. For instance, Hare Krishna is popularly known as “Lord,” and nowadays we hear much about “Lord Maitreya.”

In 1 Cor 8:5 Paul says, “as there are many mighty one’s and many masters.”So, who then, do we worship? Surely there is only One that we should worship, with His Son sitting on His right side. “…What is His Name, and what is His Son’s Name, if you know?” (Prov 30:4). Why have Their Names been hidden from us?

Let us investigate this most common substitute for the Name YHWH, namely “Lord.” What is its etymology? Dictionaries tell us that it originated from the Old English “hlaford,” which in turn came from “half-weard” = loaf-keeper. This may be true, but you do have to stretch your imagination to see a connection between “lord” and half-weard.

Nevertheless, even if we do accept this explanation, I would like to propose that, in accordance with the spirit of syncretism, i.e. making your deity acceptable to others, we can readily see how the worshippers of three pagan deities with names similar to “lord,” were accommodated by means of compromise. These three pagan deities were “Larth”, “Loride” and “Lordo.” The Church, which evolved after Constantine fused the Messianic Belief with Sun-worship, was enthusiastic to win as many followers as they could, even if it meant compromise or assimilation.

Let us do some research on these three idols:

(1) LARTH: There was an Etruscan house deity whose name was Lar, which signified “Lord,” also know as Larth, who later on became very popular in Rome and became known as Lares (plural), because as idol statues they were usually in pairs. This deity was invoked together with Janus, Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus and Bellona. The Greek equivalent of this name was Heros, which was another name for Zeus. A feminine form was known as Lara, who was the beloved of Mercury, the Sun-deity. Another name for Zeus was Larissaeus, which also was another name for Apollo. Zeus was also known as Larasios or Lariseus, while Larasios was also a surname of Helios, Typical of the syncretism and polytheism of those days, we read of Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235 C.E.) who “had images of Abraham, Christ and Alexander the Great among his household Lares.” These Lares are to be found in the East as well, seen in niches in Hindu houses.

However, what is the analogy between Larth (Lar) and Lord? Firstly, all sources agree, that this Lar or Larth means: Lord. Secondly, it is well documented that “th” and “d” were virtually interchangeably used, varying from nation to nation. Thirdly, in Old English and Middle English it was common to find the “o” and “a” interchangeably used too.

In the Middle English Dictionary, editor S.M. Kuhn, we read that lord was earlier spelt lard; that lor became lord; that lor was spelt lar in Old English (meaning: the action or process of teaching or preaching); that Lore-fader was also spelt Larfaderr or Larefadir or larfadir (meaning: teacher); that lorspel was lar-spel in Old English (meaning: that which is taught in religion); and that lor-theu was previously also spelt lar-theow, lardewe, lardewen, lauerd, lordeau (meaning: teacher or spiritual or theological teacher). Thus we can easily see the ease of identifying Lard, Lord, Larth, Lor, Lar, Lortheu, Lartheow, Lardewe with one another. In fact, it is easier to trace the origin of “Lord” according to this well documented evidence, rather than the commonly held belief that it originated from half-weard.

(2) LORIDE: Thor was the well-known Teutonic war-deity. He was also known as a Sun-deity. His surname was Hlorridhi, as recorded in the Edda. This name or surname was also spelt Hloridi or Loride, the latter also taken to be Thor’s son, who had a wife with the name “Glora.” This Loride could easily have been contracted to the form “Lord,” or perhaps it could only have served to establish religious syncretism with Larth, and Lortheu, and Lard, and Lordeau, and Lord.

(3) LORDO: Lordo, or Lordon, was another deity or daimon, the daimon of “lordosis,” the curvature of the spine of body, which also had a sensual meaning.

If all this evidence is considered, one can resolve that, apart from the various names which contributed towards the assimilation or syncretism, the most likely origin of the word “Lord” is from Larth (Lard) and Lortheu (lardewe, lordeau, lauerd).

Thus, although the word “Lord” is not so clearly related to, or originated from, frank Sun-worship, we have enough evidence to trace its roots back to idolatrous worship in the form of Loride, being a surname for Thor (the Sun), and also Lortheu or Lardewe or lordeau (connected with theos or deos or deva), as well as Larth or Lar which was somehow linked with Mercury (the Sun-deity) and Zeus, the Sky-deity who later on became the Sun-deity.

As a confirmation of the conclusion to which we came, we afterwards discovered the following findings of the scholar of English names, Robert Ferguson, in his Surnames as a Science. In pp 157 and 189 he emphatically states that “Lord” could not have had its origin from hlaford, which was said to come from half-weard. Like us, he states that the origin of “Lord” is from lar, lore, and Loride.

What then, should we use instead of “Lord”? The word “Master” is an exact rendering of the Hebrew Adonai (actually the ‘ai’ at the end of the word means ‘my’ so Adonai means ‘my Master’) and the Greek Kurios. If we love the Name of YHWH, as is expected from us (Ps 69:36, ps 119:132, Isa 56:6), can we be content with this word “Lord” which many have dared to substitute His Name with? Can we say with David in Ps 5:11, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You… let those also who love Your Name, be joyful in You.”

Elohim’s end-time prophecy of Isa 56:6-7 could mean a blessing, or an exclusion to us, “Also the sons of the foreigner, who joined themselves to YHWH, to serve Him, and to love the Name of YHWH, to be His servants – everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My Covenant – even them I will bring to My Set-Apart Mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.”

Again, He prophecies about this time in Hosea 2:16-17,”’And it shall be, in the day’ says YHWH, ‘That you will… no longer call me: My Baal; for I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more.’”

The prophecy of Zeph 3:9 must be fulfilled, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the Name of YHWH, to serve Him with one accord.”

(Article from a book called: "Come Out of Her My People" by Chris Koster)