Birthday Celebration, Innocent or Evil?

Okay, now most of us have learned that Christmas and Easter and Valentines day and Halloween are all pagan ceremonies and are not acceptable for those who truly follow the faith of the Almighty YHWH. But what about the equally evil rituals that most, self proclaimed, believers still keep? About 95% of all the people I have met who claim to be believers are still celebrating pagan festivals like birthday celebrations. Some of these believers do these things only because they were unaware of its roots. Others don’t care and they are the ones who are not believers at all. We are to be obedient to the Almighty, and not push the evidence aside and justify it as being innocent traditions. Let us see where birthday celebrations originate from and what the meanings of the rituals really are.

Early Believers did not celebrate their birthdays. Birthdays have a strong connection with pagan religions and magic. There is no record of birthday celebrations by the Jews in the Scriptures. Not even Y’hoshua’s birthday is recorded or celebrated in the Scriptures. There are only two accounts of birthdays mentioned in the Scriptures, both celebrated by Pagan or non Believing individuals, both ending in a devastating result. Let us have a quick look at these two instances in the Scriptures.

Scriptural reference for birthday celebrations:

“And on the third day, Pharaoh’s birthday, it came to be that he made a feast for all his servants. And he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and of the chief baker among his servants, and he restored the chief cupbearer to his post of cupbearer again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, but he hanged the chief baker, as Yosĕph had interpreted to them” (Gen 40:20-22)

Here we see that Pharaoh, who was not at all a follower of the Almighty, had one of his chiefs executed. You must now start to think, “is this what YHWH wants from us?”

Now the second instance.

“But as Herodes’ birthday was being held, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herodes, so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And she, being urged on by her mother, said, “Give me here the head of Yohanan the Immerser on a dish.” And the sovereign was sad, but because of the oaths and the guests he commanded it to be given, and sent and beheaded Yoḥanan in prison. And his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother” (Matthew 14:6-11) (you can find this in Mark chapter 6 as well)

Here we can see the death of a righteous person, in fact, the cousin of the Messiah himself who is also referred to as Elijah. Again, we must ask ourselves… Is this what the Almighty desires?

Origin of birthday celebrations

Thousands of years ago, when pagan men looked up into the night sky and charted the stars, they invented calendars and calculated the birth dates, to the very hour, of kings, rulers and their successors. These ancient pagan astrologers meticulously examined horoscopes and birthday omens because they believed that the fate of the rich and powerful might affect an entire society. Even to this day, men have been putting their trust in horoscopes instead of the Creator of the universe.

In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs ordered businesses to close on their birthdays and gave enormous feasts for hundreds of servants. In ancient Greece, wealthy males joined birthday clubs composed exclusively of men who shared their birth date. Once a month, the club celebrated with a feast. When a member died, he left money to help pay for future parties. In Persia, noblemen observed their birthdays by barbecuing an ox, a camel and a donkey and serving hundreds of small cakes to the celebrants.

In ancient Rome, the emperor gave huge parties in honor of his own birthday, which included parades, circuses, and gladiatorial combat. The celebration of days was so important to the average Roman citizen that the Roman calendar designated a majority of days for some form of celebration—including many birthdays of gods and famous men.

The Roman calendar, with its emphasis on continual celebration, has had great influence on modern society. Consider the following quote about the origin of the Roman calendar:

“Our [Roman] calendar is not Christian in origin. It descends directly from the Egyptians, who originated the 12 month solar year, 365 day system.”

A pagan Egyptian scientist, Sosigenes, suggested this plan to the pagan Emperor Julius Caesar, who directed that it go into effect throughout the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. As adopted it indicated its pagan origin by the names of the months—called after Janus, Maia, Juno, etc. The days were not named but numbered on a complicated system involving Ides, Nones, and Calends. It was not until 321 A.D. that the seven-day week feature was added, when the Emperor Constantine (supposedly) adopted Christianity. Oddly enough for his weekdays he chose pagan names which are still used.” (Journal of Calendar Reform, Sept. 1953, p. 128.)

Birthdays have its origin in astrology.

“Thus said יהוה (YHWH), “Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles (pagans) are awed by them” (Jer 10:2)

Origin of birthday cakes

Modern birthday parties and celebrations by children take their form mainly from Germany, where the birthday child received gifts, chose a menu and received a candle-ringed butter or jam cake.

Birthday cakes are related to the Greek goddess Artemis, whose birthday was celebrated with moon-shaped honey cakes topped with candles. The candles with special magic to grant wishes.

Origin of birthday parties and birthday gifts

It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would come to be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.

Saying “happy birthday” to friends and loved ones was society’s superstitious way of protecting them from evil spirits. Birthday thumps, bumps, pinches, etc., were said to bring luck and send away evil spirits. Party snappers, horns and other noisemakers were also intended to scare off bad-luck spirits

A closer look at the birth of the Messiah

Let’s briefly examine the subject of the “wise men” who gave gifts to Messiah. The scripture that describes this is in Matthew 2:1, 11: “Now when Yehoshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men (Magi) from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Yehudim?…And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

It is commonly supposed that these were birthday presents for “baby Yehoshua.” But is this what the Scripture actually says? Absolutely not! Also, they arrived well after his “birthday.” Notice that it refers to the Messiah as a “young child” rather than a baby. This is one more reason that the gifts brought to Him could not have been “birthday presents.”

A long-standing, ancient custom of the East was to present gifts when one came into the presence of a king. These men understood that they were in the presence of the “King of the Jews.” The Scriptures have many examples of people sending gifts to kings or presenting them upon arrival into the king’s presence. This custom is common today when ambassadors or others come into the presence of a world leader.

Finally, notice what the Adam Clarke Commentary, Vol. 5, page 46, states about what really happened on this occasion: Verse 11. “They presented unto him gifts. The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands. This custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South Seas Islands.” Gifts were customarily presented to kings.” The real intent behind this example should now be clear.

What did the other Characters think of their day of birth?

Like Job, Jeremiah also cursed the day of his own birth: “Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed…Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?” (Jeremiah 20:14, 18).

Yet, Solomon was inspired to write, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and pagan religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century, even Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom."

Birthdays have an ancient origin stemming from magic and paganism, similar to the origins of Christmas and Halloween. This belief in spirits is the reason for many, if not all, of the traditional birthday customs that are practiced today

So now that we know that birthday celebrations are pagan of origin. And that it is based on astrology (the worship of the sun moon and stars), Can we ignore the Scriptures when they say, “Thus said יהוה (YHWH), “Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles (pagans) are awed by them” (Jeremiah 10:2) or when it says, “and lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens, and shall see the sun, and the moon, and the stars – all the host of the heavens – and you be drawn away into bowing down to them and serving them, which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim has allotted to all the peoples under all the heavens” (Deut 4:19).

You see, The Almighty forbade His followers from learning the traditions and celebrations of the pagan nations. This is because He hates those traditions and celebrations, “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)

Did the Law of YHWH change since the coming of the Messiah? “So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” (Eph 4:17). It clearly did not. YHWH still hates the same practices of the pagans that are practiced today. Celebrating Christmas and Easter and Halloween and New Years Day and even Birthdays are all pagan practices and are hated by the Creator and Master of the Universe who is YHWH.

Some more instances of what YHWH taught His followers, “‘Do not do as they do in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt), where you dwelt. And do not do as they do in the land of Kena’an, where I am bringing you, and do not walk in their laws’” (Lev 18:3). He also taught them the following, “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” (Deut 12:29-30)

Finaly, let us see what the Almighty says should happen to those who celebrate such things as those celebrated by the pagan nations, “When there is found in your midst, in any of your cities which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the eyes of יהוה 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)

So as you can see, this is a very serious matter in the eyes of the one who has the power to totally destroy your soul. To those who say that it is just some innocent fun, are those who do not have any regard for the Word of the Almighty and will be held accountable for those actions.

Those who love the Creator will cease from any such evil celebrations and rather walk in all the Commands of YHWH. Those who claim that it is innocent fun, or that the “kids will not understand” etc, are those who do not have a love for the Word of YHWH and are not His followers.

Romans 4 - Belief and Works

“What, then, shall we say Avraham our father, to have found, according to the flesh? For if Avraham was declared right by works, he has ground for boasting, but not before Elohim. For what does the Scripture say? “Avraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”  (Rom 4:1-3)

Now these three verses seem to contradict what Ya’akov (James) taught when he said “You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone” (James 2:24). But the fact of the matter is that they do not in any way contradict each other. Ya’akov wrote much clearer and to the point than Shaul’s writings. You see, Shaul is teaching against the religious system that demands that you keep to all their laws and traditions that are followed by the flesh and not by belief. Avraham first believed and therefore his actions or works revealed his belief. This is exactly what Ya’akov also teaches, “So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works” (James 2:17-18). You cannot have belief without works, nor can you have works without belief.

For us to be declared righteous is a gift, but we need to follow the instruction of YHWH (His Torah) in order to receive this wonderful gift. It is ludicrous to think that we are declared righteous and still live our lives continuing in the abominations of this world. Throughout the entire Scriptures, there is a common theme, if you transgress the Torah of YHWH, it is an abomination and YHWH turns away from you, but if you guard to keep His Torah, then He is with you always. Nothing has changed, even until now, and that is exactly what the Messiah and His followers teach.

“And to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned as a favour but as a debt. And to him who is not working but believes on Him who is declaring right the wicked, his belief is reckoned for righteousness, even as Dawiḏ also says of the blessedness of the man to whom Elohim reckons righteousness without works: “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man to whom יהוה (YHWH) shall by no means reckon sin.”” (Rom 4:4-8). Once again, Shaul is explaining the difference between being ‘under the Law’ and being ‘subject to the law,’ he is also teaching repentance and the engrafting of the Goyim (Gentile, wild olive) into the good olive tree here.

To those who are trying to earn the reward by doing ultra religious works and traditions believe that the reward is owed to them as they do these works without faith. This is not, in any way, having a relationship with the Almighty. Does this mean that Shaul is teaching that we do not have to keep the Torah of YHWH? Not at all, as we can see that when the wicked repent, they will be declared righteous and their past sins are covered. This does not mean that they can continue to transgress the Torah of YHWH as that would deem that person wicked again and not righteous.

“Is this blessing then upon the circumcised only, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Avraham for righteousness. How then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.” (Rom 4:9-10) Avraham confirmed his understanding righteousness-credit by obeying YHWH and getting physically circumcised! Shaul never teaches that it is not necessary to be circumcised in the flesh, but rather that you first build your belief and faith (circumcision of the heart), then by learning the Torah of Mosheh and having the desire to do the will of YHWH, then a person will, out of his own, choose to become circumcised in the flesh out of obedience to the will of the Almighty.

Shaul is also teaching to the Jews and the Gentiles here when he refers to the circumcised (Jews) and the uncircumcised (Gentiles, even though some of the Gentiles could be circumcised in the flesh too). The thought that Gentiles do not have to subject themselves to the Torah of YHWH is not ever taught throughout the Torah, in fact, the person who is accused of doing so (Shaul), is teaching the total opposite here by saying that everyone, Gentiles included, who convert to the Faith OF Yehoshua the Messiah, has to subject themselves to the Torah of YHWH just as the Messiah Himself did.

“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the belief while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them also,” (Rom 4:11). Avraham is the Father of many nations. For example, he is the Father of the Arabs, who are mostly Islamic, through Yishmael his son from Sarah’s servant Hagar. Does that mean that Avraham would endorse Islam today? I don’t think so as he stood only for the One true Elohim . Avraham was uncircumcised when Yishmael was conceived, but was circumcised at the conception of Yitschak, through whom the covenant would be. Once again, notice that Avraham circumcised himself and all his household through obedience to the Almighty, should we not do the same?

"and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the belief which our father Avraham had in uncircumcision." (Rom 4:12) Shaul is teaching that Avraham’s physical circumcision came after he believed, after he had faith, after his heart was circumcised, in opposition to a contemporary false teaching that circumcision should come first before belief or faith. At no time does Shaul ever discount physical circumcision; he simply rejects false religious traditions that turned circumcision into device to control new converts. This principle also applies to those who would hurriedly baptize new converts in an effort to show strong numbers, or practicing “forced conversions.”

“For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Aḇraham or to his seed through the Torah, but through a righteousness of belief. For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, belief has been made useless, and the promise has been nullified,” (Rom 4:13-14). Once again, Shaul is rejecting the ultra religious traditions that teach their followers to do all they say in order to be saved. This idea nullifies the promise of the Almighty. Like Shaul has taught before, you cannot have belief without the Torah. Once you come into the faith, then your knowledge will gradually increase as you study the Almighty’s Word, and then you will conform your life to His Instruction. This is all because of belief.

Avraham is heir of the world, just like he is the father of the Hebrews and the Arabs, as we saw above. He is also the father of Rome (Christianity) through Esau, who is Yitschak’s (Isaac) son. Whenever we read of Esau in the Scriptures and in prophecy, we know that he represents the Church (Rome), just as Yishmael represents Islam in prophecy. Once we know this truth, passages in Scripture start revealing things we did not realize. Consider the following verse, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom 9:13). Jacob’s name changed to Israel whom the Almighty loves. Esau is Rome, whom the Almighty hates.

"for the Torah works out wrath, for where there is no Torah there is no transgression." (Rom 4:15). Like the Hebrew word “Torah”, the Aramaic namusa can refer to the entire corpus of work or to an individual instruction for a person or group (“torah” with a small “t”). This verse literally reads, “where there is no Torah provision against an action, there is no transgression.” The KJV reads, “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” Mainstream Christianity translates this to mean that Torah is done away with, but Shaul is teaching the very opposite. Wherever Torah is NOT being taught, people will do what is right in their own eyes, thus bringing the wrath of YHWH upon themselves. You can think for yourself, if the Torah was done away with, then how can we know what sin is? Then we are able to do whatever we want without any consequence. It is just a preposterous idea.

"On account of this it is of belief, that it be according to favour, for the promise to be made certain to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Torah, but also to those who are of the belief of Aḇraham, who is father of us all – " (Rom 4:16)
Having Avraham as a father brings the responsibility of being honorable children, worthy of legacy! Contrary to Christian theology; faith, while credited to Avraham as righteousness, was not the only component of his total righteousness. It is what Avraham did with his faith that brings him near to YHWH. As YHWH Himself declares: “I swore to your father Avraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Avraham obeyed Me and kept My requirements, My commands, My decrees and My laws” (Genesis 26:4-5).

“as it has been written, “I have made you a father of many nations” – in the presence of Him whom he believed, even Elohim, who gives life to the dead and calls that which does not exist as existing, who against all expectation did believe, in expectation, so that he should become father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall your seed be.” And not having grown weak in belief, he did not consider his own body, already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, he did not hesitate about the promise of Elohim through unbelief, but was strengthened in belief, giving esteem to Elohim, and being completely persuaded that what He had promised He was also able to do.” (Rom 4:17-21). Do you think that Avraham would have had a son if he did not believe? It was unnatural for Sarah to have a child as she was far past the point of being able to conceive. It was only through belief and obedience to the Almighty that this wonderful miracle could take place. Israel is the Almighty’s beloved nation, and they all came into being through miracle after miracle showing us that it is a miraculous nation. We as goy (Gentiles) are now also able to partake in the promise of the beloved nation of Israel, but only if we join ourselves to the ‘good olive tree’ and fulfilling the requirements to do so.

“Therefore also “it was reckoned to him for righteousness.” (Rom 4:22). Avraham believed and obeyed, therefore he was declared righteous. Has that concept changed since Avraham? Do we need to only believe without obedience to the Torah (Instruction of YHWH in righteousness) to be declared righteous? Certainly not, as that is never taught in the Scriptures. In fact, you can see a common theme in the Scriptures that when ever someone or a nation turned from doing the Torah of YHWH, then YHWH departed from them and gave them over to their enemies. Does the Almighty, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, change?

“And not because of him alone was it written that it was reckoned to him, but also because of us, to whom it shall be reckoned, to us who believe in Him who raised up  יהושע (Yehoshua) our Master from the dead, who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for us to be declared right.” (Rom 4:23-25). The Messiah came to show us how to live. He was an example for us to follow. He also came as the sacrifice for us when He hung on the torture stake. The sacrificial laws of the Torah have not changed and have not been done away with. Only the blood of the Messiah (Lamb) is sufficient to replace all other blood. Every single sacrifice done before the Messiah, was only a symbol of the Messiah. It was not the blood of the goats and lambs etc. that could make a covering for sin, but only the blood of the Messiah. Those who made sacrifices in the past, did so because they believed in the Messiah and that His blood would make a covering (kippur) for their transgressions.

No one can ever know the Messiah or His role if we do not study the Torah of His Father as it describes His Character and duties and everything else about Him. In order to believe in Him, you need to know Him first.

Do you desire to know the Messiah?

Romans 3 with comentary

This chapter of Romans is twisted so much to suite many false doctrines that the Church teaches. So I am revealing the true context for people to see the Truth. we are not to follow what we think or believe the Scriptures are saying but rather follow what the Scriptures really are saying.


“What then is the advantage of the Yehuḏite (Jew)? Or what is the value of the circumcision? Much in every way! Because firstly indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of Elohim” (Rom 3:1-2). What Shaul wrote here totally disproves what is called the “replacement theology” that is taught by the Church. You see, the Church teaches that the Jews gave up their right to be called “God’s people”, so that the Church can take their place. This is done so that they can blackmail the population into joining the Church (Christian faith) or else they cannot be saved. This is also where anti-Semitic propaganda comes from, teaching the masses that the Jews killed “Jesus”. This is a very dangerous and evil thought. Shaul makes it very clear that the Jews are truly the chosen people, even until today.

“For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief nullify the trustworthiness of Elohim? Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, and every man a liar, as it has been written, “That You should be declared right in Your words, and prevail in Your judging.”” (Rom 3:3-4). Now the majority of Judaism denies that Yehoshua is the Messiah and they are still waiting for “the Messiah” to come for the first time. There are however, many Jews that believe in Yehoshua as the Messiah, and keep their belief in silence. There are also many Jews who are totally “non-religious” but the majority of the Jews follow after religious traditions, namely, the Talmud and Oral Law, which Shaul refers to as ‘under the law’.

Now what Shaul is saying here is that just because some of the Jews do not believe in the truth, does in no way make the truth false. The Word of YHWH is truth which is the Torah and the prophets. Any man that speaks words of his own, is a liar. But if a man speaks the Word of YHWH, then his words are true.

If anyone lives according to the Torah of YHWH, then that person will not be found guilty in the time of judgment.

“But if our unrighteousness establishes the righteousness of Elohim, what shall we say? Is Elohim unrighteous who is inflicting wrath? I speak as a man. Let it not be! Otherwise how shall Elohim judge the world? For if the truth of Elohim has increased through my lie, to His esteem, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil so that the good might come”? – as we are wrongly accused and as some claim that we say. Their judgment is in the right” (Rom 3:5-8). Here is a piece of text that the Church twists to justify their false doctrines. It is a common thought among the Christian faith that it is impossible to keep the Ten Commandments. The problem with that statement is that it is not supported by the Scriptures. One can see this as soon as you start reading the Scriptures and noticing that the whole theme of the Scriptures is to obey the Word of YHWH. Even the Messiah made this clear when he quoted the Scriptures and said, “But He answering, said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of יהוה (YHWH).’ ” (Mat 4:4). And what is the Word of YHWH? It is the Tanakh (Torah and the Prophets) of course.

The teachings of the Church are humanistic teachings and not the teachings or Words of YHWH. In the days of Shaul, the Christian Church had not been founded yet and Shaul had never heard the word Christian or the word Church, which are both from pagan origin.

Shaul was saying that righteousness cannot be established on unrighteousness. You see, Elohim afflicted and still does afflict wrath on unrighteousness. So the question was that if we established righteousness by our unrighteousness, how can Elohim be righteous if he afflicts us? The answer to this is that righteousness is established on righteousness, NOT unrighteousness.  We are to live by the spirit and not by our flesh. In other words, we are to die to our unrighteous humanistic flesh so that we can live by the righteous Spirit of Elohim who writes the Torah on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all, for we have previously accused both Yehuḏim (Jews) and Gentiles that they are all under sin. As it has been written, “There is none righteous, no, not one! “There is no one who is understanding, there is none who is seeking Elohim. “They all have turned aside, they have together become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:9-12).
Now here is one of the favorite arguments that the Christian Church uses to justify their sinful way of living. But in order to justify that no one can be righteous by this piece of Shaul’s letter, one must either be twisting Shaul’s writings or just be untaught in the Scriptures. Peter himself said that this would happen, “and reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Sha’ul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these matters, in which some are hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the other Scriptures. You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless” (2 Peter 3:15-17).

What Shaul is saying is that no man is righteous if he lives according to his own instruction. But as soon as we live according to the Instruction of YHWH (the Torah), then we live righteously as the Torah of YHWH is righteous. It is evil to believe that it is impossible to live according to the Torah of YHWH, or that no one has or can achieve this. As soon as you believe that to be true, then you believe the Scriptures to be untrue.

Let me point out a few examples. Noah was righteous and perfect (Gen 6:9, 7:1), Abraham was righteous (Gen 15:6), Yoseph (Joseph), the step father of Yehoshua was righteous (Mat 1:19), Yehochanan (John the Baptist) was righteous (Mark 6:20), the parents of Yehochanan were both righteous and walking in all the Commands of YHWH (Luke 1:5-6), a man called Shim’on was righteous (Luke 2:25) and there are MANY more places in the Scriptures that tell of righteous people walking in the Torah of YHWH. Yehoshua the Son of YHWH said that He did not come for the righteous, but for the sinners to come to repentance (Luke 5:32). Repentance is turning away from sin and following righteousness.

What does it mean to be righteous? “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה (YHWH) our Elohim, as He has commanded us” (Deut 6:25)

Also another important point that Shaul makes is that those who are righteous are no more important than the unrighteous. This is because everyone was unrighteous before repentance and only by the favor of YHWH have the righteous found the truth of righteousness.

“Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have deceived, The poison of adders is under their lips, Whose mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and wretchedness are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes.” (Rom 3:13-18). Shaul writes of the human nature of men, explaining that no person is good as long as we do not follow the Instruction of YHWH (His Torah). Notice that everything that Shaul mentions here is 100% against the Torah of YHWH. Naturally, man is not good and reverts to all these evil deeds that are written here. As soon as we start seeking the reign of YHWH and His righteousness, then these evil deeds will be disgusting in our eyes, just as they are disgusting in the eyes of YHWH and we will turn away from them.

“And we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those who are in the Torah (here the Aramaic Peshitta says, “under the Torah”), so that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world come under judgment before Elohim. Therefore by works of Torah no flesh shall be declared right before Him, for by the Torah is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 3:19-20). Now here is a confusing section for those who are untaught or unstable in the Scriptures. This is also one of the favorite sections that the Church use to justify the false doctrine that they do not have to follow the Word of YHWH anymore. They use it to judge the righteous people who are following the Instruction of YHWH, by calling them legalists, as they are ‘under the Law’. This however is a very evil teaching. The term ‘under the Torah’ refers to being under a religious organization like Rabbinical Judaism and even Christianity, etc. (This fact actually proves that the Christians are the ones who are the legalists!)

Only the mouths of the unrighteous have to be shut as they speak evil things. But if a person speaks the words of Torah, then he does not speak his own words, but rather the Words of YHWH by which we live.

‘Works of the Torah’ means exactly the same as ‘under the Torah’, see commentary on verse 28. No one can be saved through works on their own. The Scriptures also teach that those who do not do the Torah of YHWH will be cast into the fire and will not be granted entrance into the kingdom of YHWH (Rev 22:14). The Torah is the Instruction of YHWH for us that leads us to righteousness.

It is crazy how the Church teaches that we should not sin anymore, and then in the same breath, teaches us that we do not have to obey the Torah of YHWH anymore! Is there a contradiction anywhere that is greater than this? The Torah teaches us how to love YHWH and how to love our neighbor too, it teaches us how to care for our animals and how to farm and care for the land too, it also teaches us how to care for the fatherless, the widow and the poor, it teaches us to stay away from evil and idolatry, it teaches us how to look after our bodies and how to stay healthy (all of which the Church totally ignores). The Torah is also the knowledge of sin! Have you ever thought what this means? It means that if you break any of the instructions of YHWH (the Torah), then it is sin.

“But now, apart from the Torah, a righteousness of Elohim has been revealed, being witnessed by the Torah and the Prophets” (Rom 3:21) Yehoshua qualified as Mashiyach because He fulfilled all Torah and Prophetic requirements, and He became Torah. Torah is written upon the heart by the Ruach haKodesh; the Spirit of Mashiyach is Torah which is the Spirit of Mashiyach, or the Manifestation (Word) of YHWH which became flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, if we live “in” Yehoshua, we will also follow the Torah. It is evil to posture that Shaul brought Torah down, when in fact Yehoshua and Shaul restored and elevated Torah to be the foundation of a spiritual dialogue with Heaven.

If Yehoshua followed the Torah 100%, and we are to follow in His footsteps, does that mean we also have to follow the Torah? (1 Peter 2:21).

“and the righteousness of Elohim is through belief in יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the esteem of Elohim,” (Rom 3:22-23). Do the demons also believe (James 2:19)? Is believing in the Messiah and continuing in sin acceptable to the Almighty? Are those who believe in “Jesus” but do not keep the Commands of YHWH the true believers? Let us see, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah” (Rev 12:17), “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of יהושע (Yehoshua)” (Rev 14:12). One cannot believe in the Messiah and not observe the Torah, it is just impossible.

“being declared right, without paying, by His favour through the redemption which is in Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua), whom Elohim set forth as an atonement (a covering), through belief in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His tolerance Elohim had passed over the sins that had taken place before, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He is righteous and declares righteous the one who has belief in יהושע (Yehoshua)” (Rom 3:24-26). There is a teaching in the Church that because “Jesus’” blood covers sin, we can now ignore the Instruction of YHWH. Notice here that that is the exact opposite to what Shaul is saying. Yes Yehoshua became the Lamb that was sacrificed as a sin offering and that He is the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) who presents His blood to YHWH for the covering of sins. But notice also how it says “for sins that had taken place before”. All the sacrifices that were done from the beginning of time were all representative of the Messiah and that the blood of Yehoshua covered all the sins past, after repentance, from Adam to the death of the Messiah. It in no way means that we are now ‘allowed’ to sin or that anything has changed from the Word of YHWH. Is not the Torah everlasting (Mat 5:18)?

One thing we need to remember is, how can the Almighty declare someone, who continues to disobey His Instruction, to be righteous? That is impossible. The people who have belief in Yehoshua are all Torah observant and are then declared righteous.

“Where, then, is the boasting? It is shut out. By what Torah? Of works? No, but by the Torah of belief” (Rom 3:27). The Pharisees taught that new believers needed to immediately adhere to all the laws of the Torah, then afterward find belief, however, the Good News teaches otherwise, we first need to believe and have faith, then the Torah will be written on our hearts and we will desire to learn and do the whole Torah of YHWH. We see this when James proclaimed that new believers need not be circumcised immediately in Acts 15 as they needed to believe first and find that out as they study the Torah for themselves. New believers did however need to immediately refrain from certain things, “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the gentiles who are turning to Elohim, but that we write to them to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring, and from what is strangled, and from blood” (Act 15:19-20). Sadly there is no Christian church that teaches or even abstains from any of these things written in Acts 15.

“For we reckon that a man is declared right by belief without works of Torah” (Rom 3:28) The terms “works of Torah” and “under Torah” predate Shaul by hundreds of years. These terms were discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls (A Sectarian Manifesto 4QMMT:4Q394-399); while originally referring to the ultra religious halakha of the Essenes, the same principles apply to the Pharisees’ halakha. These two phrases are also mentioned in Romans 6:14, 15, 9:32, 1 Corinthians 9:20, 21, Galatians 2:16, 3:2, 5, 10, 23, 4:4, 5, 21, 5:18. “Under Torah” refers to the orthodox/traditional interpretation and observance of Torah. Religious halakha is clearly NOT what Yehoshua or Shaul followed in their observance of Torah. The Renewed Covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:33 is to write the Torah of YHWH upon the hearts of His people, not the “Torah of men.” The idiomatic expression “works of Torah” provides insight to those of a “traditional” Jewish upbringing. Shaul references Jews at the beginning of this chapter; in verse 19 he states “Now we know” referring to those who understand Torah and halakha.

“Or is He the Elohim of the Yehuḏim (Jews) only, and not also of the gentiles? Yea, of the gentiles also, since it is one Elohim who shall declare right the circumcised by belief and the uncircumcised through belief” (Rom 3:29-30). Once again we see that Shaul is speaking of the Jews and Gentiles when referring to the circumcision and the uncircumcision respectively. Gentile believers (wild olive) can be engrafted into the true belief (good olive) and hence, YHWH is the Elohim of the Jews and the Gentile believers too. Shaul did not in any way teach that Gentile believers need not be circumcised in the flesh as required in the Torah, but rather that they need to believe before blindly doing Commands without belief.

“Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief (faith)? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah” (Rom 3:31) As we can see here, faith or belief does not in anyway nullify the Torah, in fact, we cannot have faith or belief without the observance of the Torah. On the other side, the observance of Torah without faith or belief is also not possible.

Romans 2 – Judging, practice what you preach and circumcision

Romans chapter 2 has a couple of teachings that are misquoted so many times and used for so many false doctrines. The one that is the most evident is that of, ‘Don’t judge me, because if you judge me, then you will also be judged.’ Another one is that of, if one subjects themselves to follow the Torah, then that person is under the law. This chapter is also one of the most used verses used to justify that one does not need to be circumcised in the flesh. All of these points are totally false and I will show you why in this article, by using what Shaul wrote here in Romans 2.

One key point that we do not always remember about the letters that Shaul wrote is that they did not originally have chapters or verses, but were written as a continual piece of writing as they were letters sent to the Gentile believers living in Rome.

There are many valuable lessons that can be learnt from Shaul’s letters and even in this chapter in Romans. But in order to learn from these lessons, we need to understand what is being taught in the correct context. If we do not read it in its correct context, we stand the chance of failing to learn what Shaul was teaching, and even worse, we could learn the total opposite of what is being taught, like millions of people around the world because they follow the people who incorrectly interpret Shaul's teachings.

Now let us break this chapter into sections, and I will point out the things that Shaul was really trying to say. 

“Therefore, O man, you are without excuse, everyone who judges, for in which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you who judge practice the same wrongs. And we know that the judgment of Elohim is according to truth against those who practice such wrongs” (Rom 2:1-2). This verse is so wrongly used by millions of people to try and hide or justify their sinful behavior. As soon as someone tries to point out their error(s), the first reaction to this is a very defensive reaction with the phrase, something like this, “don’t judge me, for you will also be judged if you do!”

People only judge when they deviate from the ‘Judgment’ of YHWH. Quoting His Judgment and staying within His Judgment is not being judgmental! Only when one deviates from the Judgment of YHWH, then that person elevates himself above YHWH and will then be judged by YHWH accordingly.

The church has taught us all to be too thin skinned, so that we are incapable of accepting correction for our sinful actions, which is a very dangerous matter, and can lead us into destruction. The fact of the matter is that the majority of the time, when someone points out errors, it is done out of love, in order to help that person become aware of the problem and to fix the problem. Even if the rebuke seems harsh, it is not to be met with a defensive reaction, but rather a personal soul searching on the matter to see if the matter is true. Then we can repent of the error and continue to grow in faith.

“And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such wrongs, and doing the same, that you shall escape the judgment of Elohim? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the kindness of Elohim leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Elohim, who “shall render to each one according to his works”: everlasting life to those who by persistence in good work seek for esteem, and respect, and incorruptibility; but wrath and displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness” (Rom 2:3-8). Here Shaul is speaking to those who are hypocrites, who judge other people while, they themselves, do the same evils. He is also clarifying that a person only judges if he judges outside the judgment of YHWH (as stated above).

Notice how Shaul points out that those who practice the same wrongs by which they judge others are hard and unrepentant and that these people will be met with the wrath of YHWH in the day of wrath.  These people will be judged by Elohim through His Torah (righteous judgment of Elohim) according to their works.

Also notice how clear Shaul is making the distinction between the righteous and the unrepentant sinners. He shows us here that only those who persist in good works (the Torah of YHWH) and seek for esteem and respect and incorruptibility, will inherit everlasting life. And those that do not obey the Torah (truth) but rather obey unrighteousness (anti-Torah) will receive the wrath and displeasure of YHWH.

“affliction and distress on every human being working what is evil, of the Yehuḏite first, and also of the Aramean” (Rom 2:9). Aramean, as apposed to “Greek” or “Gentile” who have no ancestral ties to Israel. Almost all our English translations of the Bible have the word “Greek” instead of “Aramean” here, which is again a twisting of Scripture. Shaul is extremely clear throughout his epistle to make proper distinction between these two, although the point of the message is clear that YHWH is no respecter of persons.  

“but esteem, respect, and peace to everyone working what is good, to the Yehuḏite first and also to the Aramean. For there is no partiality with Elohim” (Rom 2:10-11). Now do not think that a Greek or any other nationality cannot be saved because the verse reads “Aramean” instead of “Greek”, that is not what Shaul is teaching. Shaul is teaching that esteem, respect, and Shalom (peace) to everyone that obeys the Torah of YHWH, whether it be Jews or anyone else as Elohim accepts everyone who submits themselves to Him. If a person submits to YHWH, then he has to follow YHWH’s instruction which is His Torah (instruction in righteousness).

“For as many as sinned without Torah shall also perish without Torah, and as many as sinned in the Torah shall be judged by the Torah. For not the hearers of the Torah are righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of Torah (the law) shall be declared right” (Rom 2:12-13)

So those who sin, not knowing the Torah, will perish without the Torah. In order to gain everlasting life, one needs to have the Torah and subject themselves to it. Also notice how those “under Torah” and those “doers of Torah” are put in opposition to one another; therefore, both cannot simultaneously be in error. This is clarified with the phrase “for the doers of Torah will be made righteous.” So, if Torah-doers are made righteous, it stands to reason Torah itself is NOT passing away! The fact that such deep pro-Torah statements are being sent to Gentiles in Rome speak volumes of how mainstream Christianity is perverting Shaul’s teachings. “Under Torah” means to look to its rituals as a form of magic; a power that needs no purity of intent to bring about blessing, but merely fixed repetition. Torah in itself provides no authority of magic. Rather, Torah has authority because it is YHWH’s instruction to man! So “under Torah” is a false teaching that has never been true according to the Tanakh: YHWH blesses man for Torah observance, which is obedience to His Commandments and obedience to Him. Notice in Matthew 15 how Yehoshua rebukes the Pharisees on this very issue, how they set aside YHWH’s Torah (instructions) in favor of their traditions.

“For when gentiles, who do not have the Torah, by nature do what is in the Torah, although not having the Torah, they are a Torah to themselves, who show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or even excusing” (Rom 2:14-15)

Shaul does not suggest that Gentiles are spontaneously Mastering Torah. Even common logic will prove this to be true. The point is that they should learn the written Torah without the distraction from Pharisaic or any other man-made traditions which are not rooted in the plain understanding of the Torah.

“in the day when Elohim shall judge the secrets of men through  יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah, according to my Good News” (Rom 2:16). Here is a scary thought for many people, that in the end on the return of the Messiah, those that have sinned but have not been “caught out”, will be judged for all the sins that they committed in secret. YHWH knows your thoughts and even the intentions of your thoughts too. "According to my Good News" is that of the Messiah who also lifted up and magnified the Torah of His Father. So everyone will be judged according to the Torah of YHWH.

“See, you are called a Yehuḏite, and rest on the Torah, and make your boast in Elohim, and know the desire of Elohim, and approve what is superior, being instructed out of the Torah, and are trusting that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Torah” (Rom 2:17-20). Wow, Shaul makes it VERY clear in this piece that we are all to learn and conduct ourselves according to the Torah! It is very clear through out the entire Scriptures, and stated here again by Shaul, that in order to know the desire of the Almighty, then you must study the Torah. The Torah is a very beautiful Word, however, many false teachers try and claim that it is a curse and that all that subject themselves to it are under a curse.

Is that really what Shaul is teaching? Can that statement or idea be found anywhere in Scripture? Certainly not! The Torah is the Living Word of YHWH, it is the marriage contract between the bride and the bridegroom, it teaches us how to love the Almighty and also to love each other. One can only start reading the Torah and see for themselves that if the world was governed by the Torah (which it will be with the return of the Messiah), then there would not be any hunger or poverty or theft or murders or unrighteousness in any way.

“You, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who proclaim that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abominate idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the Torah, through the transgression of the Torah do you disrespect Elohim? For “The Name of Elohim is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you,” as it has been written” (Rom 2:21-24)

Now here Shaul is once again addressing the hypocrites, or is at least warning the readers to not be hypocrites. He shows us that if we claim to be followers of the Almighty and we have any influence on other people, even if it is by being observed by how we live our lives, then we are to live our lives totally according to the Torah of YHWH. If we do not do this, then we are guilty of blaspheming the Name of Elohim.

What Shaul is also saying here is one of the most important keys to deciphering all his letters (which is the majority of the Renewed Covenant). He is saying here that one has to practice what you preach. Now that is a very important statement! Let me explain why, it is taught by all of Christianity that Shaul taught that it is not any more necessary to follow the Torah, because of the death and resurrection of the Messiah. This false doctrine is never supported anywhere in Scripture nor anywhere in Shaul’s letters.

You see, if Shaul taught that we are to practice what we preach, then he himself would also have to practice what he taught, or else he would also be a hypocrite! So if it was not necessary to follow the Torah anymore, then why did Shaul subject himself to following the Torah till the day he died? He did not deviate one bit from the Torah, in fact, he went out of his way to keep the Torah even when he was in captivity.

“For circumcision indeed profits if you practice the Torah, but if you are a transgressor of the Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if an uncircumcised one watches over the righteousness of the Torah, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned as circumcision? And the uncircumcised by nature, who perfects the Torah, shall judge you who notwithstanding letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah! For he is not a Yehuḏite who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But a Yehuḏite is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, whose praise is not from men but from Elohim” (Rom 2:25-29)

Once again, here is a small piece of Shaul’s letter that is grossly mistranslated and many false doctrines are based on these few verses. The false teachers use this piece to teach that it is not necessary to be circumcised in the flesh. This of course is a totally false teaching.

Once again, we need a key to understanding what Shaul really meant here. Why do we need a key? Because Shaul wrote with a Hebrew mindset as he himself was a Hebrew and used Hebrew idioms. We, who are English speaking, are not Hebrews and do not read the Scriptures with a Hebrew mindset. In order to understand these Hebrew idioms we have to actually learn them and that is what the key is and not some magic formula that was “revealed in a divine way” to a single person, like many false teachers claim when they try and teach a new false doctrine to the people.

Now the key to this section is that of the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Shaul is not necessarily classifying the physical circumcision here, but is rather speaking of two different groups of people. Whenever he talks of the circumcision, he is referring to the Hebrews or Jews as that is how they were known, and the uncircumcision are the Gentiles or those that are not native to Israel.

Now with this point clear, you can read the section in the correct context. Those who are of the ‘circumcision’ who transgress the Torah, will become ‘uncircumcision’. If you do not use the key in this instance, you can try and imagine what people might believe, that those who are circumcised must be uncircumcised…. ? Who is going to have their foreskin sewn back on? OUCH!

No, what is being taught is that the Jews who transgress the Torah, will be cut off from YHWH’s people as stated in Romans 11.

Also, because a person could be physically circumcised and be a thief, liar, murderer, etc.

On the flip side, those who are of the uncircumcision (Gentiles), who keep the Torah of YHWH, will be reckoned as the circumcision (grafted into the good olive tree) again explained in Romans 11. You see, the true faith of YHWH and His Son the Messiah is to love Him and to watch over the righteousness of the Torah and to become righteous by doing the Torah of YHWH.

So are we to be circumcised in the flesh too? Well…. What does the Torah (the Living Word of YHWH) teach us on this subject? I am sure you can look it up for yourself!

So if you read Shaul’s letters in the correct context, it makes so much more sense and dismisses all the false teachings that stem from them. Shaul NEVER taught that it was not necessary to keep the Torah, but rather that it was absolutely necessary to keep the Torah of YHWH in order to inherit everlasting life.

Obeying The Faith

One teaching that is very dangerous that is being taught to millions of people by the Christian churches to deceive their faithful followers, is that the Torah does not apply to the Gentiles but rather only applies  to the Jews. The church teaches that Paul (Shaul) taught this doctrine. However, this is not the case, as we will see in the following verses.  

“Shaul, a servant of Yehoshua the Mashiyach, called and sent and separated to the Good News of Elohim” (Romans 1:1) Notice here that this is YHWH’s Good News about His Son. Let us read further, “(That) He (Elohim) had before promised, by His prophets, in the Set Apart Scriptures” (Romans 1:2). Now what are these ‘Set apart Scriptures’ that Shaul is speaking of? It certainly is NOT the ‘New Testament’ as it never existed during the time of the writing of his letters. Shaul quotes the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament) over 80 times in this letter to the Romans. Without understanding the original context of Torah (first 5 books of the Scriptures), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) which he quoted from, it will be impossible to thoroughly comprehend his teachings. Shaul never heard the words “Old Testament” in his lifetime, nor would he ever permit such a dishonoring title to be given to the Word of YHWH which is Mashiyach preincarnate.

Let us carry on reading, “Concerning His Son who was born in the flesh, of the seed of the house of Dawid, and was made known as the Son of Elohim by power, and by the Ruach haKodesh (Set Apart Spirit), who arose from the dead, Yehoshua the Mashiyach, our Master, by whom we have received favor and a mission among all the Gentiles to the end that they may obey the faith in His Name. Among whom, you also are called by Yehoshua the Mashiyach” (Romans 1:3-6)

When Shaul says “the faith in His Name”, YHWH is being referenced here: “YHWH is salvation” which is also the Name of His Son (Yehoshua means ‘YHWH is salvation). This context is established in the next verse: “among whom, you also are called by Yehoshua the Mashiyach,” meaning that Yehoshua is not intended as the subject of this passage as it relates to Name.

What is also interesting here is that Shaul is teaching that the Gentiles are to obey the faith of YHWH, just as the Mashiyach did. Did YHWH change his mind about His Torah? Does He now allow, what was once evil and abominable in His eyes, to become acceptable to do? Does the Torah only apply to the Jews and another set of instructions to the Gentiles? What Shaul is teaching here is that the Torah is for the Jews and the Gentiles alike.

One thing that is very important to understand is that the Torah is NOT the Jewish law, but rather YHWH’s Law. Anyone who desires to follow the Almighty, just as His Son the Mashiyach did, needs to subject themselves to His Torah.

I will continue on this subject in my next post where I cover what Shaul was saying in Romans chapter 2. You will then notice that he carries on with the teaching that we are all to subject ourselves to the Torah of YHWH if we desire to inherit eternal life.

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?

Walk as He walked

It is written that we are to walk as the Messiah walked. The Christian Church however teaches us that we do not have to walk as He walked. One has to make the decision to either follow what the Church teaches, or what the Scripture teaches. The Messiah walked in Truth and kept all of the Torah of His Father and taught us to do the same.

“While your minds became sanctified by OBEDIENCE to the truth; and you be full of love, without respect of persons, so that you love one another out of a pure and perfect heart; like persons born anew, not of seed that perishes but of that which doth not perish, by the Living Word of Elohim who abides forever. Because all flesh is as grass and all its beauty like the flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower withers away; BUT THE WORD OF ELOHIM (TORAH) ABIDES FOREVER: and this is the word that is announced to you” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

Quoting Isaiah 40:6-8 indicating the Word of YHWH is Y’hoshua Mashiyach, and Mashiyach is the Word of YHWH – which is very opposite to the Christian teaching that the Word of YHWH, or Torah, was done away with by Jesus! Y’hoshua’s followers, Jewish or not, are Torah observant because they recognize this very important fact, that the Word of our Elohim abides forever!

“Therefore, cease all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and jealousy and backbiting. And be like very small children; and crave the Word, as being the pure spiritual milk by which you are nourished up to life; if you have tasted and seen that Master YHWH is good: to whom you have come because He is a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but with Elohim elect and precious” (1 Peter 2:1-4).

What Peter is teaching here is that in order to be part of the following of the Messiah, you need to stop sinning. He goes on by saying that we must become like little children, not to be childish, but to be child like who is willing to learn so that we crave to learn the Torah so that we can learn what the perfect Will of our "Daddy" (YHWH) is and do it. We are to do so just as children love their fathers and try and imitate them in every way. So also is our relationship with the Father in heaven, out of our love for Him, we learn what He desires from us and follow His Instruction. Peter is teaching new believers and telling them that they must go and learn the Word of YHWH (Torah) and as they learn, they must also do.

This teaching by Peter goes hand in hand with what was decided and taught by the Shlichim (taught one's) in Acts 15:28-29 “For it seemed good to the Set-apart Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessities: that you abstain from what is offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and whoring. If you keep yourselves from these, you shall do well. Be strong!” James made this decision because of the religious fanatics telling the people that if they want to convert to the faith of Y’hoshua that they have to immediately be circumcised and do every law in order to be saved. What was decided then by the Disciples is that this is not what is required immediately as the true faith of Y’hoshua is one of love and not of religious traditions, which drove many new converts away because of the immediate difficulty. The Disciples were in no way teaching that the rest of the Torah should not be observed by them or that they do not have to be circumcised, but rather that the new converts should only abstain from the four above mentioned commands straight away, and then out of their love for the Creator and His Messiah, will learn what His perfect Will is and do it, which is the Torah.

“My beloved, I entreat you as strangers and pilgrims, separate yourselves from ALL lusts of the body, for they war against the soul. And let your behavior be honorable before all men; so that they who utter evil speeches against you, may see your good actions and may praise Elohim in the day of trial” (1 Peter 2:11-12). What then are these lusts of the body? Sin is being spoken of here, anything that goes against the Torah of YHWH is not the perfect Will of YHWH and therefore not of YHWH but is rather the lusts of the body. Y’hoshua the Messiah came not only to shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, but just as importantly, gave us an example of how we should live. He taught us to walk as He walked by obeying the Will of His Father in heaven. “For I gave you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15) “For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps, who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, who, being reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). If we claim to follow the Messiah, then it should be obvious to the people by our actions as we are to walk as He walked by keeping the Torah of His Father, and if we don’t, it is clear evidence that we do not follow Him, but rather follow the lusts of our flesh. “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6)


We can clearly see from the following verse, that the new believers were to go to Synagogues and read Torah every SABBATH. “For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him –being read in the congregations every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21)

It is very clear that to be followers of the Messiah, that we have to stop sinning. Not because of religious traditions, but rather because of our love for Him and His Father. We are to be like little children who crave the Word (Torah) of YHWH so that we can learn to do what is right. Doing anything other than what is written in the Torah of YHWH is following the lusts of the flesh which is clearly forbidden as it wars against the soul.

Word Survey: Jesus

There is not a single authoritative reference source which gives the name Jesus or Iesous as the original name of our Saviour! All of them admit that the original form of the Name was Jehoshua or Yehoshua. Why then, was it changed from Yehoshua to Jesus?

Many Hebrew names of the Old Testament prophets have been “Hellenized” when these names were rewritten in the Greek New Testament. Thus, Yesha'Yahu (Isaiah) became Isaias, Elisha became Elissaios or Elisseus (Eliseus), and Ěliyahu (Elijah) became Helias in the Greek New Testament. The King James Version has retained some of these Hellenized names. Since the King James Version was published, the newer English versions have ignored these Hellenized names of the Greek New Testament, and have preferred, quite correctly, to render them as they are found in the Hebrew Old Testament, namely: Yesha'Yahu (Isaiah), Elisha and Ěliyahu (Elijah).

Incidentally, the similarity between the Hellenized Helias (instead of Ěliyahu) and the Greek Sun-deity Helios, gave rise to the well-known assimilation of these two by the Church. Dr. A.B. Cook, in his book, Zeus -- A Study in Ancient Religion, Vol. I, pp. 178-179, elaborates on this, quoting the comments of a 5^th century Christian poet and others, on this. Imagine it, Ěliyahu identified with Helios, the Greek Sun-deity!

Returning to our discussion on the reluctance of the translators to persist with all of the Hellenized name in the Greek of the New Testament, one could very well ask: but why did they persist with the Hellenized Iesous of our Saviour’s Name, and its further Latinized form Iesus? It is accepted by all, that our Saviour’s Hebrew Name was Yehoshua. So why did the translators of the Scriptures not retain or restore it, as they did with the names of the Hebrew prophets?

It is generally agreed that our Saviour’s Name is identical (or very similar) to that of the successor to Moses, Joshua. But “Joshua” was not the name of the man who led Israel into the Promised Land. The Greeks substituted the Old Testament “Yehoshua” with Iesous, the same word they used for our Saviour in the New Testament. Subsequently the Latins came and substituted it with Josue (Iosue) in the Old Testament (which became Josua in German and Joshua in English), but used Iesus in the New Testament.

In the Hebrew Scriptures we do not find the word “Joshua.” In every place it is written: Yehoshua. However, after the Babylonian captivity we find the shortened form “Yeshua” in a few places – shortened, because they then omitted the second and third letters, namely: WH. Everyone who sees the names Yehoshua and Iesous will agree there is no resemblance between the names Yehoshua and Iesous or Jesus.

Before we continue with our study of the words Iesous and Iesus, we would like to point out that we have been led to believe that our Saviour’s correct Name is: Yehoshua (It is actually Yahu-shua, but in a conjunction word, the suffix (begining) always shortens its syllables, thus we get “Yehoshua) . Our Saviour said in John 5:43, “I have come in My Father’s Name.” Again, in John 17:11 He prayed to His Father, “Keep them through Your Name which You have given Me” – according to the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, the United Bible Societies’ Third Edition, and the Majority Text. Therefore, in John 17:11 our Saviour states That His Father’s Name had been given to him. Again he repeats this irrefutable fact in the next verse, John 17:12, “in your Name which You gave Me. And I guarded them (or it).” Read John 17:11-12 in any of the modern English versions.

So, we have our Saviour’s clear words, in three texts, that His Father’s Name was given to Him. Paul also testified to this in Eph 3:14-15 as well as in Phil 2:9. What then is His Father’s Name? Although most scholars accept YHWH as being “Yahweh,” and many still cling to the older form “Yehowah” (or Jehovah) (Yehowah means: Yah is my calamity or my destruction), we are convinced that the correct form is Yahueh (which is 100% provable)

Two factors contributed greatly to the substitution and distortion of our Saviour’s Name. The first was the un-Scriptural superstitious teaching of the Jews that the Father’s Name is not to be uttered, that it is ineffable, that others will profane it when they use it, and that the Name must be “disguised” outside of the temple of Jerusalem.

Because of the Father’s Name being in His Son’s Name, this same disastrous suppression of the Name resulted in them (? The Greeks) giving a Hellenized, in fact a surrogate name for our Saviour. He did warn us in John 5:43, “I have come in My Father’s Name… if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

The second factor was the strong anti-Judaism that prevailed amongst the Gentiles, as we have already pointed out. The Gentiles wanted a saviour, but not a Jewish one. They loathed the Jews, they even loathed the Elohim of the Old Testament. Thus, a Hellenized saviour was preferred. The Hellenized theological school at Alexandria, led by the syncretizing, allegorizing, philosophying, Gnostic-indoctrinated Clement and Origen, was the place where everything started to become distorted and adapted to suit the Gentiles. The Messianic Belief, and its Saviour, had to become Hellenized to be acceptable to the Gentiles.

Where did Iesous and Iesus come from? In Bux and Schöne, Wörterbuch der Antike, under “Jesus,” we read, “JESUS: really named Jehoshua. Iesous (Greek), Iesus (Latin) is adapted from the Greek, possibly from the name of a Greek healing goddess Ieso (Iaso).”

Like all authoritative sources, this dictionary admits to the real true Name of our Saviour: Jehoshua (or as we believe: Yehoshua). It then states, as most others, that the commonly known substitute, non-original, non-real name “Jesus” was adapted from the Greek. We must remember that our Saviour was born from a Hebrew maiden, not from a Greek one. His stepfather, His half-brothers and half-sisters, in fact all His people, were Hebrews (Jews). Furthermore, this dictionary then traces the substitute name back to the Latin Iesus, and the Greek Iesous. It then traces the origin of the name Iesous back as being possibly adapted from the Greek healing goddess Ieso (Iaso).

To the uninformed I would like to point out that Iaso is the usual Greek form, while Ieso is from the Ionic dialect of the Greeks.

This startling discovery of the connection between Ieso (Iaso) and Iesous, is also revealed to us by the highly respected and authoritative unabridged edition of Liddell and Scott, Greek-English Lexicon, p.816. under “Iaso.”

The third witness comes to us in a scholarly article by Hans Lamer in Philologische Wochenschrift, No. 25, 21 June 1930, pp. 763-765. In this article the author recalls the fact of Ieso being the Ionic Greek goddess of healing. Hans Lamer then postulates, because of all the evidence, that “next to Ieso man shaped a proper masculine Iesous. This was even more welcome to the Greeks who converted to Christianity.” He then continues, “If the above is true, then the name of our Lord which we commonly use goes back to a long lost form of the name of a Greek goddess of healing. But to Greeks who venerated a healing goddess Ieso, a saviour Iesous must have been most acceptable. The Hellenization was thus rather clever.”

This then is the evidence of three sources who, like us, do not hide the fact of the Greek name Iesous being related to Ieso, the Greek goddess of healing. The Hellenization of our Saviour’s Name was indeed most cleverly done. To repeat our Saviour’s words of warning in John 5:43, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me, if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

There is no resemblance or identifiability between our Saviour’s Name, Yehoshua, and the Greek substitute for it, Iesous. The Father’s Name, Yah- or Yahu-, cannot be seen in the Greek Iesous or in the Latin Iesus, neither in the English or German Jesus.

In spite of attempts made to justify the “translating” of the Father’s Name and His Son’s Name, the fact remains: A personal name cannot be translated! It is simply not done. The name of every single person on this earth remains the same in all languages. Nobody would make a fool of himself by calling Giuseppe Verdi by another name, Joseph Green, even though Giuseppe means Joseph and Verdi means Green. Satan’s name is the same in all languages. He has seen to it that his name has been left unmolested!

However, let us further investigate the names Ieso (Iaso) and Iesous. According to ancient Greek religion, Apollo, their great Sun-deity, had a son by the name of Asclepius, the deity of healing, but also identified with the Sun. This Asclepius had daughters, and one of them was Ieso (Iaso), the Greek goddess of healing. Because of her father’s and grandfather’s identities as Sun-deities, she too is in the same family of Sun-deities. Therefore, the name Iesous, which is derived from Ieso, can be traced back to Sun-worship.

We find other related names, all of them variants of the same name, Iasus, Iasion, Iasius, in ancient Greek religion, as being sons of Zeus. Even in India we find a similar name Issa or Issi, as surnames for their deity Shiva. Quite a few scholars have remarked on the similarity between the names of the Indian Issa or Issi, the Egyptian Isis and the Greek Iaso.

In our research on the deity Isis we made two startling discoveries. The one was that the son of Isis was called Isu by some. However, the second discovery yielded even further light: the learned scholar of Egyptian religion, Hans Bonnet, reveals to us in his Reallexikon der agyptischen Religionsgeschichte, p. 326, that the name of Isis appears in the hieroglyphic inscriptions as ESU or ES. No wonder it has been remarked, “Between Isis and Jesus as names confusion could arise. This Isis also had a child, which was called Isu by some. This Isu or Esu sound exactly like the “Jesu” that we find the Saviour called in the translated Scriptures of many languages, eg. many African languages.

Rev. Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, p. 164, also remarked on the similarity of Jesus and Isis, “IHS – Iesus Hominum Salvator – But let a Roman worshipper of Isis (for in the age of the emperors there were innumerable worshippers of Isis in Rome) cast his eyes upon them, and how will he read them, of course according to his own well-known system of idolatry: Isis, Horus, Seb.” He then continues with a similar example of “skilful planning” by “the very same spirit, that converted the festival of the Pagan Oannes into the feast of the Christian Johannes.” (The Hebrew name of the baptizer, and that of the apostle as well, was Yochanan or Yehochanan).

Thus, by supplanting the Name of our Saviour Yehoshua with that of the Hellenized Iesous (IHSOUS), which became the Latinized Iesus, it was easy to make the pagans feel welcome – those pagans who worshipped the Greek Ieso (Iaso), of which the masculine counterpart is Iesous (in capitals: IHSOUS), as well as those who worshipped the Egyptian Esu (Isis).

Further evidence of syncretism with the Isis-system is found in A Kircher, Oedipus Aegypticus, wherein the name of the son of Isis is revealed to us as “Iessus, which signifies Issa, whom they also call Christ in Greek.”

Another pagan group of worshippers could also be made to feel at home with the introduction of this surrogate name Iesous (IHSOUS) or Iesus, namely the worshippers of Esus. Jan de Vries holds that Esus was a Gallic deity comparable to the Scandinavian Odin. Odin, of course, was the Scandinavian Sky-deity. This Gallic or Celtic deity, Esus, has also been identified with Mars, and by others with Mercury, and was regarded to be the special deity of Paris.

Just as Iaso, Ieso, Iesous are derived from the Greek word for healing, iasis, we similarly find Isis (more correctly; Esu) and her son Horus (more correctly; Her), regarded as deities of healing as well as cosmic deities, or Sun-deities, by others.

The most disturbing evidence is yet to follow. The abbreviated form of the name Iesous is: Ies or in capitals: IHS, for in Greek the capital for “e” is “H.” This is to be found on many inscriptions made by the Church during the Dark Middle Ages. This fact is also well documented and is generally admitted by scholarly sources and ordinary English dictionaries. These dictionaries bear witness to the fact of IHS (Ies) being an abbreviated form of IHSOUS (Iesous).

Furthermore, the shocking fact has also been recorded for us that IHS was a mystery surname of Bacchus, and was afterwards taken as initials for Iesous, capitals: IHSOUS. We discovered this in a dictionary of mythology and in an encyclopedia of religion.

This revelation was confirmed by a third witness, Dr. E.W. Bullinger, The Apocalypse, footnote p. 396, “Whatever meanings of… IHS may be given, the fact remains that it was part of the name of Bacchus…” We then realized most painfully, that our beloved Messiah was identified with the Greek deity Bacchus, by giving our Saviour the surname or other name of Bacchus, namely: IHS or Ies! Bacchus was well known to be a Sun-deity. Bacchus was also a commonly known name for Tammuz among classical writers. Tammuz, as you will remember, was known to be the young returning Sun-deity, returning in spring. Bacchus, also known as Dionysus, was expressly identified with the Egyptian Osiris, the well known Egyptian Sun-deity. Bacchus was also called Ichthus, the Fish.

So, yet another group, the worshippers of Bacchus, the Sun-deity, alias Ies (IHS), were conciliated, were made welcome, with the foreign-to-the-Hebrew name of Iesous (IHSOUS) or Iesus. The most appalling revelation startled us, indeed. After being enlightened about the solar origin of the word IHS and its fuller form IHSOUS (Iesous), we are no longer surprised to find the ecclesiastical emblem, IHS, encircled by sunrays, commonly displayed on church windows:

No wonder that we read the testimony of the learned Christian advocate, M. Turretin, in describing the state of Christianity in the 4^th century, saying “that it was not so much the [Roman] Empire that was brought over to the Faith, as the Faith that was brought over to the Empire; not the Pagans who were converted to Christianity, but Christianity that was converted to Paganism.”

A further witness to this paganization of the Messianic Belief is that of Emperor Hadrian, who, in a letter to the Consul Serianus, wrote, “There are there (in Egypt) Christians who worship Serapis; and devote to Serapis are those who call themselves ‘Bishops of Christ.’”

Another testimony comes to us from the letter of Faustus, writing to Augustine, “You have substituted your love-feasts for the sacrifice of the Pagans; for their idols your martyrs, whom you serve with the very same honours. You appease the shades of the dead with wine and feasts; you celebrate the solemn festivals of the Gentiles, their calends, and their solctices; and as to their manners, those you have retained without any alteration. Nothing distinguishes you from the Pagans, except that you hold your assemblies apart from them.

Our Saviour Yehoshua, in His final message to us, the book of Revelation, has warned us of this in Rev 17, Rev 18, Rev 19, and also in Rev 13, Rev 14, and Rev 16 – Babylon, Mystery Babylon. The Great Harlot has made “the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication,” out of the “golden cup” in her hand, “full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Rev 17:1-5). She is also described as “sitting on a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy” (verse 3).

Tammuz, alias Bacchus, has a surname: Ies or IHS. He was also known as the Fish (Ichthus), and had the Tau, the cross, as his sign. These three (Ies, the Fish, and the cross) have survived, and are still with us!

In Acts 4:12 we read, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This verse clearly tells us that there is only one Name whereby we can be saved – there is none other. It cannot be Yehoshua as well as Jesus, Iesous, Iesus, or Ies (Bacchus). There is no resemblance between the names Yehoshua and Jesus. The one is correct and the other one a substitute. The one contains our Father’s Name and the other one not. Yehoshua has said that He came in His Father’s Name (John 5:43). In the newer translations of the Scriptures, we read in two places (John 17:11 and 12), that Yehoshua said that His Father’s Name was given to Him. If we believe the Scriptures, if we believe our Messiah, if we believe what is written in Acts 4:12, we cannot be satisfied with any substitute name. We must believe, accept, and be baptized into the only saving Name: Yehoshua.

In the end-time, according to Joel 2:32, calling on the Name of Yahueh will be necessary for salvation and deliverance. By believing in, calling on, and being baptized in the Name of Yehoshua, we do “call on the Name of Yahueh,” through His Son, who had His Father’s Name given to Him, by His Father. “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive” (John 5:43).

The writer of Proverbs challenges us in Prov 30:4, “What is His Name, and what is His Son’s Name, if thou canst tell?” KJV. A very interesting alternate rendering for Psalm 72:17 is given to us in the centre column of the Reference King James Version, speaking about the promised Messiah. “His Name shall be as a Son to continue His Father’s Name for ever.”

As I have stated, there is no resemblance between the Name Yehoshua abd the name Jesus. Neither is there any resemblance between their meanings. Yehoshua means: “the Salvation of Yah or Yahu.” “Jesus” is derived from Iesus, derived from Iesous (IHSOUS), obviously derived from the Greek goddess of healing, Ieso or Iaso. Her name was derived from iasis, which means “healing.” Further, the short form, or original source of the name Iesous (IHSOUS) is Ies (IHS), the very surname of Bacchus, the Sun-deity.

Therefore, the two names differ completely in their origin, and in their meaning. And more important: Our Saviour’s Name contains the Name of His Father, which the substitute name does not. Further proof of the Father’s Name being in the Son’s Name is found in Eph 3:14-15, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father… from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Surely, if His family receives His Name, His only begotten Son will also have His Name.

Another proof is Rev 14:1, which in the Textus Receptus based translations read somewhat differently to what is found in the newer versions. Rev 14:1-5, in Green’s Interlinear Translation reads, “And I saw, and behold, a Lamb standing on the Mount Zion! And with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having the Name of His Father written upon their foreheads… These are those who were not defiled… These are those following the Lamb wherever He may go. These were redeemed… first-fruit to Elohim… And no guile was found in their mouth, for they are without blemish before the throne of Elohim.”

The Nestle-Aland test reads, “having His Name and the Name of His Father written on their foreheads.” Do we wish to be part of this first-fruit company? Then we are to make quite certain that we have the Father’s Name and the Lamb’s Name on (or in) our foreheads. The similarity between their Names is obvious. Whether it will be just one Name, Yah, or whether it will be both Yahueh and Yehoshua, is not clearly indicated, and is less important – as long as we have the essential part of the Name, Yah, which transmits its etymological concept of life, ever-lasting life. Verses 4-5 warn us against defilement – spiritual defilement – the lies that we have inherited, including the lies about the Names, “O Yahueh,… the Gentiles shall come to you from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Surely our fathers have inherited lies…’ Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know…; and they shall know My Name is Yahueh” (Jer 16 19-21), a prophecy for the end-time.

“Therefore My people shall know My Name” (Isa 52:6). “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My Name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘Yahueh is my Mighty One’” (Zech 13:9). “For then will I restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the Name of Yahueh, to serve Him with one accord” (Zeph 3:9). “And Yahueh shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – ‘Yahueh is one,’ and His Name one” (Zech 14:9). He will no longer be called by all those hundreds of names, by which He is known today. His Name will be “one.” And His Son, in whose Name the Father’s Name is contained, will subject Himself to His Father in that day (1 Cor 15:28).

(This is an excerpt from the book "Come out of her my people" by Dr. Chris Koster)