Are we to celebrate Hanukkah?

At the time of the writing of this article, it is deep into the Hanukkah celebration. When I logged on to Facebook this morning, which I have not done for a long time, the most talked about topic was about Hanukkah. I mostly saw arguments from Messianics and "Believers" who mostly claimed that Hanukkah is not to be celebrated as it is not found in the Torah or anywhere in the rest of the Scriptures. They even go as far as to say that because it is called a festival of lights, that it is pagan and evil. But is this really the case? Let us have a look at Hanukkah a little through the eyes of a Jew who lives by the Torah and honors the Almighty, blessed be He.

Is Hanukkah not found in Torah?

Yes it is true; we cannot find the celebration of Hanukkah as a mo'ed (appointed time) anywhere in the Torah at all. Does that mean that we may not celebrate it at all? Well, the celebration of Hanukkah (dedication) wholly revolves around the re-capture of Yerushalayim by the Hasmonians (who were Levites and Kohanim (Priests)), from the Greeks, and the re-dedication of the Temple of HaShem, blessed be He. This event happened around 500BCE, which is LONG after Torah had been written and completed. So for this reason, there would be no way that Hanukkah would be found in the Torah. 

None of us as Jews observe Chanukah as if it is compulsory or as if it is a mo-ed declared by torah.
It is purely a cultural celebration, where we celebrate the many wonderful miracles that HaShem, blessed be He, did for the Jews during the re-dedication (Hanukkah) of the kadosh temple,including the events leading up to it.

But then, again, what we look for and how we look will determine either what we will find (or not find). If we really look carefully, then we will find Hanukkah in the Torah. When the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was erected for the first time, it had to be "Hanukkah" (dedicated) first before it came into service. We read about this event in Bamidbar (Numbers) chapter seven. Anything which was to be used for ‘sacred purpose’ had to be dedicated (Hanukkah).

Festival of lights
Yes, Hanukkah is called a festival of lights. Does this automatically mean that it is pagan in nature, just because there are other religions that have their own festivals with the same name? That idea is really an absurdity. If we had to use that same logic, then the term "El," which we use to refer to HaShem, blessed be He, is also pagan because that is also the name of the ancient Cananite deity. The Cananite 'el' was the "father of the gods." But in reality, the Hebrew word 'el' simply means, "mighty one." The Hebrew word 'el' was a fitting name for the deity that the Cananite people created for themselves and for whom they had to find a name. The fact is, that the word "El" long preceded the Ca'ananite deity. Also the term "ba'al" is not pagan at all, but rather the deity which was given that name by its creators is. The term ba'al simply means "master or husband." I am my wife's ba'al.

So just because Hanukkah is referred to as the festival of lights does by no means mean that it is in any way associated with any pagan practice at all or with any other religions festival of lights. Why then is Hanukkah called the festival of lights?

There is a commandment in the Torah that the kohen gadol (high priest) must daily clean and light the Menorah in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) or Beit Mikdash (Temple). See, even lighting candles and even incense, is found in the Torah and is not of pagan origin. Now during the time of the Maccabee's when the temple was abominated by the Greeks slaughtering pigs on the alter and many other abominations, the Hasmonians (Maccabee's) re-captured the city and the Temple too. They then did a full cleans of the temple and then re-dedicated (Hanukkah) it. But during this time, they needed pure oil for the lighting of the menorah. They needed enough oil for at least eight days, but could only find enough for one day. When they used that oil, a miracle happened and it lasted the full eight days long instead of only one day.

That is why we light candles for a period of eight days during Hanukkah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil lasting the full eight days needed during the re-dedication (Hanukkah) of the temple. That is also why we call it the festival of lights which is the celebration of the miracle of the menorah and NOT from pagan origins at all. A Jewish home can be identified during the time of Hanukkah by the sight of lights from the hanukkia (Hanukkah candles) radiating light in the window.

For those who do not wish to celebrate Hanukkah and all the miracles that HaShem, did for His people and His Temple, then don't. This is in any event a Jewish practice and not for people of other religions. For those who belong to the Hebrew faith, we celebrate such amazing miracles that HaShem, blessed be He, did for us as a nation. It is our culture and as a nation, we celebrate it all together, which brings unity among us. Such commemoration also brings hope and strength in times of trouble, hardship and persecution. Such traditions have brought joy in times when it seemed impossible and even gives a reason for living to many. It is safe to say that many Jewish traditions, such as Hanukkah, are the reason that many Jews lived when it was easier to just give up and die. Unity is of the utmost importance to the Hebrew nation, when one Jew hurts, then all Jews hurt together. As the saying, that comes from the movie "The Three Musketeers” says, "All for one and one for all." This is how the Jews have survived throughout history, and this is why we celebrate Hanukkah.

Every single Jew who awaits the coming of the Messiah, looks forward to the one who will bring peace to this world and rebuild the Beit Mikdash (Temple) and then Hanukkah (Dedicate) it. And yes, there will be a festival that day, and yes, there will be lights as there will also be a dedication (Hanukkah).

For those who live a life of Hanukkah, may you be filled with the light and joy of Hanukkah!!!!

The Trinity doctrine is a false doctrine

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

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

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

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

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

5:7 For there are three witnesses-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other trinities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teutates).

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

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

Astoreth; Haoma.

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

(or Ceres); Deoius (or Janus).

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

Rashnu; Vohu Manah.

Mandaean: Joshaman, Abatar, Hibil Ziwa.

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

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

Trinity in the Scriptures?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do miracles determine a belief system to be true?

There are many many people who follow the Christian faith, and will not consider any other belief, because they have witnessed a “miracle” performed by a Christian minister or missionary or evangelist etc. at one time or another. Some have even witnessed many “miracles.” But do miracles prove a certain belief system to be the true faith of the Almighty?

The Christian Church of today, especially the “super” churches, are all about performing miracles in order to con their followers to throw their hard earned money at the church. There are even super rich Christian television networks, like TBN, that preach to the public in every single show or sermon, that they should give their money to them, even if it is their last cent. Then they claim that if they do, then a “wonderful” miracle will happen and that the people who give money to them, will be financially blessed or healed of a physical ailment. This all is a load of rubbish as these people take the last little bit of money from old ladies and drive around in the most expensive cars and live in the most expensive houses, and even own multiple houses, and some even have their own private jets too, like Kennith and Gloria Copeland and still continue to fool the poor people into supporting their wealthy lifestyle. What do these faithful followers of theirs get in return? Absolutely nothing, not even a miracle.

There are however some genuine miracles that have been performed by Christian leaders. Does this, however, prove that Christianity is the true faith of the Almighty? In order to answer this, we need to see if the Christian faith is based upon the Word of the Almighty. The litmus test to see if anyone is in the true faith of the Messiah, is to see if that person walks as the Messiah walked. “For this is favour, if because of conscience toward Elohim anyone bears up under grief, suffering unrighteously. For what credit is there in enduring a beating when you sin? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure, this finds favour with Elohim. For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:19-21). Also read here, “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

Are the Christians following in the footsteps of the Messiah? Let us have a look at a few examples of what the Messiah did, and then compare them to the Christians and see if they are the same.

1) The Messiah - wore tzitzit (tassels)

“and begged Him to let them only touch the tzitzit of His garment. And as many as touched it were completely healed” (Mat 14:36)

“came from behind and touched the tzitzit of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped” (Luke 8:44)

1) The Christian – Does not wear tzitzit

In fact, whenever I see one of my old Christian friends, and they see my tzitzit, they always ask me, “what is that for?” This is because they have never been taught the true Messiah. If the Messiah came and walked into a church, they would not recognize him, and would actually say that He is one of those Jews, who’s Torah does not apply to them at all.

2) The Messiah – Kept the 7^th day Sabbath

“At that time יהושע (Yehoshua) went through the grain fields on THE Sabbath. And His taught ones were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain, to eat” (Mat 12:1).

“And pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath” (Mat 24:20). Here the Messiah is speaking of the end times, which has not happened yet, that he is saying that THE Sabbath is still in effect. That when the time comes that the believers in the Messiah have to flee, that we should pray that it not be on THE Sabbath.

“And they went into Kephar Naḥum, and immediately on the Sabbath He went into the congregation and taught” (Mark 1:21)

“And Sabbath having come, He began to teach in the congregation. And many who heard Him were astonished, saying, “Where did He get all this? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such miracles are done through His hands?” (Mark 6:2). It is very clear that the Messiah kept the Sabbath day.

2) The Christian – Does not keep the Sabbath

In fact, the Christian teaches that the Sabbath does not apply to them any more and that they have been set free from it. WHAT??? They have been set free from rest? Is not the Sabbath a delight? I would hate to be set free from a delightful rest.

The Church admits that they have changed the day of rest from the 7^th day to the 1^st day of the week in commemoration of the worship of the Sun (Sun-Day) and also to show the Churches authority above the Scriptures. They do not even hide this fact and have arrogantly published this and even brag about this.

Would you rather follow the sun-worship 1^st day, or the day that the Almighty has established and that the Messiah Himself kept and taught us to keep?

3) The Messiah – ate only clean (kosher) food.

We all know that the Messiah never committed any sin. This means that he kept His Fathers Torah (Instruction) perfectly. We read in Lev 11 about what foods are clean and which ones are not clean. The Messiah never ate anything animal that is unclean.

We can know this as we have a record of one of His followers (disciples) that walked with Him daily, that tells us that he has never eaten anything unclean. “But Kĕpha said, “Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean.”” (Act 10:14). Here Peter is saying that he never ate anything unkosher (unclean). This is even the time that he walk with the Messiah. All the followers of the Messiah will never eat anything that is unclean according to the Word of the Almighty, Leviticus 11.

3) The Christian – Eats unclean (unkosher) food.

The Christian learns by his church that we do not have to follow the Instruction of the Almighty anymore. They do however have to follow the instruction of the church. Shouldn’t this alone raise suspicion?

The church teaches that only “God” can change His Laws and that He gave Peter the permission to eat unclean foods, that are detrimental to our health and cause many deceases like cancer. They quote Acts 10, but then fail to read further where it gives the description of the vision given to Peter. It was never intended for him to eat unclean meat. Read more about that here.

4) The Messiah – Prayed using the Name of His Father YHWH

The Messiah came to make known the Name of His Father. The Jewish practice of those days, and still today, is to keep the true Name of the Almighty secret out of fear of using it in vain. The Messiah never subscribed to Jewish traditions, but rather kept His Fathers Word where it is written, “And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisraĕl, ‘יהוה (YHWH) Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.” (Exodus 3:15).

4) The Christian – Does not know the Name of the Almighty, prays to pagan idols.

The Christians place their trust and faith in the name of pagan idols every time they pray in the name of “God” or in the name of “Jesus”. Both these names are of the names of pagan idols (click on the names highlighted to see where they come from).

The Name of the Messiah is “Yehoshua.” The name “Jesus” is not a translation of Yehoshua, but comes from the Greek Iesous, which originates from the Egyptian Sun-deity called “Isis”

The name “God” is of just as bad a origin as the name “Jesus”

The reason for the Christian not knowing the Name of the Almighty and His Son the Messiah is because all the English Bibles have substituted the Name of the Almighty and His Son the Messiah and many other names and words with those of pagan idols.

English is a very young language and only came to be after the joining of the true faith and paganism from the time of Constantine in the year 321 AD. He started to create Christianity as we know it to be today and hid the truth from the people. (Also read about thefounders of the all gentile church here).

“And there is no deliverance in anyone else, for there is no other Name under the heaven given among men by which we need to be saved.” (Act 4:12). Here we can see that we cannot be saved by the name of “Jesus”, but only by the true Name of the Almighty.

5) The Messiah – Kept all the moedim (appointed times and feasts)

“And the festival of the Yehuḏim was near, the Festival of Booths” (John 7:2). Here we can see that the Messiah did attend the feast of Sukkot.

Like we have seen from above, the Messiah never sinned once. This means he kept all the moedim that the Almighty teaches us that we must do (Leviticus 23). We cannot know or understand salvation if we do not keep all the appointed times of the Almighty.

Also notice that sin is described by breaking the Torah of the Almighty. Is it not taught by the Messiah that we must go and “sin no more?”

5) The Christian – Keeps all the pagan feasts and none of the moedim of the Almighty

The Christian does not keep any of the moedim of the Almighty. In fact, the Christian rather keeps all the pagan feasts and celebrations. Many do not even know this, but blindly follow the Church into their own destruction.

Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, New years day, Birthday celebrations. All these are pagan celebrations and are an abomination to the Almighty. All of them originate from Sun-worship, which is forbidden by the Word of the Almighty.

Now I can go on and on about the many teachings and practices and traditions that the Christians follow to prove that Christianity is not the faith of the Messiah as they do not do as the Messiah did. The Messiah never came and died for us so that we may continue in sin. What was an abomination to the Almighty before, is still an abomination to Him now.

So now we can see that the Christian faith does not follow the teachings of the Messiah. But what about the miracles that happen within the church? Let us read what the Word of YHWH says about this, “When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder shall come true, of which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other mighty ones – which you have not known – and serve them” (Deut 13:1-2). Here we see that even false prophets and dreamers of dreams (those who receive “divine” visions) can perform miracles too. Does that make them righteous? Let us carry on and see what the Almighty says, do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being” (Deut 13:3). Okay, now we can see that that person who is performing those miracles that does not follow the Messiah should not be listened to. It is also a test for those who do follow the Word of the Almighty, that they know His Word and can see when someone is not teaching them truth, even though he performs miracles. It is to see whether they love the Almighty to do and follow His Word, or will they fall for and follow other doctrines that are not taught by the Almighty or His Messiah.

So what then are those, who desire to do the Will of the Almighty, to do? Walk after יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim and fear Him, and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him” (Deut 13:4). Here we clearly see that we need to fear the Almighty and guard to obey all His Commandments and obey His voice.

What then should be done of that false prophet that teaches us to follow the ways of Sun-worship? And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams is put to death, because he has spoken apostasy against יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim – who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim and redeemed you from the house of bondage – to make you stray from the way in which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim commanded you to walk. Thus you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deut 13:5). The Almighty hates the people who teaches others to turn away from His Instructions. He says that they are evil and need to be put to death. Now we cannot go around and put every Christian preacher to death, as that would land us in jail. However, they will stand in front of the Almighty one day and will have to try and explain why they turned so many people away from Him, and to their destruction.

We should not fellowship with such evil people nor should we stand for or follow anything that they teach, as it will be turning us away from obeying the Word of the Almighty.

Now many will say that this only applied to the “Old Testament” times and does not apply to them any more. Is it not written that the Almighty is the same yesterday, today and forever? But let us also read what is written in the “New Testament” for those who ignorantly throw the Word of the Almighty (Old Testament) out the window, “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones” (Mat 24:24). This does apply to today.

Let me leave you with a piece out of the “New Testament” that perfectly describes the Christian Church of today and of the English Bible too. “But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2). The Christians speak evil of those who are keeping and obeying the Word of the Almighty. They even say that the Torah, which is the Word of the Almighty, is a curse. Is this not speaking evil of the Almighty Himself?

Also realize that the person who wrote the above verse also kept the Torah of the Almighty, as did Shaul (Paul), who wrote the majority of the “New Testament,” as did all the disciples and followers of the Messiah. Those who do not keep the Torah of the Almighty are those who are teaching a different doctrine to the Messiah and are the evil prophets spoken of above.

Another thing, if we are to have a relationship with the Almighty and His Son, that also means that we need to love Him. What are we taught about loving the Almighty? “He who possesses My commands and guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21). So only those who guard to keep the Commands love the Almighty and are loved by Him.

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.

Lunar-Sabbath doctrine is stupid!

When someone says ‘keep an open mind about it’ to an avid Torah student, then you can almost be sure that what he is talking about, or trying to reveal, is probably man-made rubbish. This seems to be the case when I was told to keep an open mind about the stupid lunar Sabbath doctrine (Yes I said it is stupid because that is exactly what it is!). Are we not to follow truth and fact rather than opinions?

These people claim that there is 1900 different documents proving the lunar sabbath and zero proving the 7 day weekly cycle where the 7^th day is the Sabbath (by the way, this statement is utter rubbish!). Well , if these people make this claim, then they certainly have never ever read the Word of YHWH before!  Another thing is that they make claims about 1900 documents proving that the Sabbath is determined by the moon cycle, but these people have not been able to produce even one of these so called documents!

Now, if I was confronted with even a million documents speaking of a certain teaching, but the Torah of YHWH says otherwise, who am I going to believe or follow? The million other documents, or the Word of YHWH? I think that this is a no-brainer, I will always choose the Word of the Creator who’s wisdom is greater than everyone and everything! That means that any document that contradicts the Word of YHWH is a false document and the source, or writer, is a liar. Even if a million other people agree with that false document, it still stays false.

Also notice that we are to test everything according to the Torah of YHWH to see if it is right or wrong, just as the Berean’s did when Shaul taught them. They did not just accept the teachings of Shaul, but tested it according to the Torah and the prophets before they accepted his word. Notice that they were noble for doing so.

So let us examine the Torah of YHWH to see if the lunar-sabbath is sound doctrine, or if the 7’th day weekly Sabbath is the Sabbath of YHWH.

Let us start from the beginning:

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array (If you read, chapter 1, you will see that His work was done in six days). And on the seventh day Elohim completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made” (Gen 2:1-3).
Now does this section of Scripture ever say anything about the moon phase concerning the Sabbath? Certainly not! In fact, there is no mention of the moon determining the Sabbath throughout the entire Scriptures, as we will see further.

What about when the Israelites had to gather manah for food?

“And it came to be, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Mosheh. And he said to them, “This is what יהוה (YHWH) has said, ‘Tomorrow is a rest, a Sabbath set-apart to יהוה (YHWH). That which you bake, bake; and that which you cook, cook. And lay up for yourselves all that is left over, to keep it until morning.’ ” And they laid it up till morning, as Mosheh commanded. And it did not stink, and no worm was in it. And Mosheh said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to יהוה (YHWH), today you do not find it in the field. “Gather it six days, but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there is none.” (Exodus 16:22-26). Ask yourself again… Is there any mention of the moon here? Or are they to gather the bread for six days, where on the sixth day (preparation day) they gather a double portion, and rest on the Sabbath? Then the cycle begins again!!! I am sure that even the very young children could count to 6 and 7, don’t you?

Now what do the Ten Commandments say about the Sabbath?

“Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. “For in six days יהוה (YHWH) made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore יהוה (YHWH) blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart” (Exodus 20:8-11). Where is the mention of the moon here? If it was so important, I am sure YHWH would have given the instruction to follow the Sabbath according to the moon phase. BUT HE DIDN’T!!! What then did YHWH say? Count six days, which will be the days that you work, and the seventh day you will rest (cease)!

Where does the New Moon day come into all of this, as the lunar-sabbatarians teach? They say that the New Moon day is not counted as a week day! WHAT… that is the most nonsensical thing I have ever heard! If it were true (which it is not), were the Israelites to gather their daily bread on that day too? Then it would not be six days gathering, but rather seven days of gathering (which is NOT what YHWH said and told Mosheh to tell the people!!!). And if they were to rest on that day, would it not have been, rest on the seventh day and the first day too? This is just utter rubbish and not supported by the Word of YHWH!

The more I study the Torah of YHWH, the more absurd the lunar-sabbath doctrine looks!

Shavuot disproves the lunar-sabbath without a doubt!

YHWH probably anticipated (well, He is all knowing) that there were going to be people, in the last days, that would try and deceive the weak into believing the totally false doctrine of the lunar-sabbath. That is why YHWH created the counting of the omer, which completely destroys the false lunar-sabbath doctrine. Let us have a look.

“And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths.  Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to יהוה (YHWH)” (Lev 23:15-16).
Now as you can see, that from the day after the weekly Sabbath that falls within chag Matzot (feast of unleavened bread), that you count 7 complete Sabbaths, and then the day after the 7^th Sabbath will be chag Shavuot (feast of weeks). Notice that this count MUST add up to fifty days. Now with the Scriptural 7 day weekly cycle, there are no issues and the count ALWAYS adds up to fifty as required by Torah.

But using the absurd lunar-sabbath, too many issues arise. Now I consider myself to be quite a maths boffin and love doing problem solving. I have spent a lot of time and tried, in many ways, to get the count to Shavuot to be fifty days, using the false lunar-sabbath doctrine. It is just impossible as it has extra days that they claim to not count as week days, but they are days that have to be counted. You see… the lunar-sabbath is utter rubbish and does not fit the requirements of the Torah in any way!

Using the Gregorian calendar to prove when the Sabbath of YHWH is to be kept

Let us now use the pagan Gregorian calendar as a historic witness to when the Sabbath is to be kept. Please note that we do not in any way follow the Gregorian calendar, but are merely using it as a witness to historic events!

Now one thing to remember is that in the days of Yehoshua the Messiah (who kept the correct Sabbath of His Father), the Julian calendar was a 7 day weekly cycle just like we have today.

Now the calendar has not been changed so as to confuse the days of the week. We can be positive that our seventh day is the same day Yehoshua observed when He was here on Earth. Pope Gregory XIII did make a calendar change in 1582, but it did not interfere with the weekly cycle. Our present Gregorian calendar was named after him when he made that small change in 1582.

What did Pope Gregory do to the calendar? Before 1582 the Julian calendar had been in effect, instituted by Julius Ceasar about 46 B.C. and named after him. But the Julian calendar had calculated the length of the year as 365 1/4 days, and the year is actually eleven minutes less than 365 1/4 days. Those eleven minutes accumulated, and by 1582 the numbering of the calendar was ten days out of harmony with the solar system. Gregory simply dropped those ten days out of the numbering of the calendar. It was Thursday, October 4, 1582, and the next day, Friday, should have been October 5. But Gregory made it October 15 instead, dropping exactly ten days to bring the calendar back into harmony with the heavenly bodies.

Were the days of the week confused? No. Friday still followed Thursday, and Saturday still followed Friday. The same seventh day remained, and the weekly cycle was not disturbed in the least. When we keep the seventh day from Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset, we are observing the same day Yehoshua kept, and He did it every week according to Luke 4:16.

Now we know that Yehoshua the Messiah kept the Sabbath on the same day as the Pharisees and the rest of the Jewish people. Now does history show that all the Jewish sects and communities, from the time of the Messiah until now, that they changed the day that they keep the Sabbath? Well, history proves to us that the Jews of today keep the exact same 7^th day Sabbath as the Messiah 2000 years ago. To think otherwise is evil and is ignoring these proofs.

You see, all Jewish people, even many who did not learn of other calendars, who were scattered all around the world, ALL agreed on when the Sabbath was when they eventually were able to make contact with other Jews because of the advance of technology, there were non that dissagreed on when the Sabbath was.

Another source that we can use is that of the Muslim calendar, which is about 3,000 years old, where thay faithfull kept the day before the Sabbath as their "holy day", and look, what day do they keep today? It is still the same today as it was 3,000 years ago.

Another argument from the lunar sabbatarians that arises is that because we keep the seventh day (where the Gregorian Saturday just happens to fall upon) as the Sabbath, that we are worshipping Saturn who is a pagan idol. If this were true, then the argument could be the same for them, only worse!!! As their erroneous lunar-sabbath falls on Saturn-day, Sun-day, Moon-day, Tyr’s-day, Woden’s-day, Thor’s-day and Frigga-day. All of which are pagan days. It is a pathetic attempt to discredit YHWH’s Sabbath. YHWH’s seven day week (1^st day, 2^nd day, 3^rd day, 4^th day, 5^th day, preparation day and Shabbat) was there long before Julius Caesar and Pope Gregory XIII and their pagan calendars.

Anyone who follows the lunar-sabbath and teaches it to others, is calling the Messiah and His Father liars. These people teach that the Messiah kept the Sabbath on the wrong day. This is an evil teaching and should be thrown in the rubbish bin where it belongs.

Now the moon does have a part in determining time, the sighting of the New Moon indicates the start of a new month (moon), NOT the start of a new week, as we have seen from the above texts.

You can read more about what the lunar-sabbath is all about and where it originates from here.

I hope this evidence opens the eyes of people who are following the lunar-sabbath to repent and turn back to the Scriptural calendar, and for those who are confused by people teaching the evil doctrine of the lunar-sabbath.

Church, the origin of the word

This is the word used in most English versions as a rendering of the “New Testament’s” Greek word ekklesia. This word really means “a calling out,” a meeting or a gathering. Ekklesia is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew qahal, which means an assembly or a congregation. Neither ekklesia nor qahal means a building. Tyndale, in his translation, uniformly translated ekklesia as “congregation” and only used the word “churches” to translate Acts 19:37 for heathen temples!

Where does the word “church,” come from then? Ecclesiastical sources give the origin as kuriakon or kyriakon in Greek. However, to accept this, one has to stretch your imagination in an attempt to see any resemblance.

Also, because kuriakon means a building (the house of Kurios = Lord), and not a gathering or meeting of people, as the words ekklesia and qahal imply, therefore this explanation can only be regarded as distorted, even if it is true. Our common dictionaries, however, are honest in revealing to us the true origin. They all trace the word back to its Old English or Anglo-Saxon root, namely circe.

And the origin of circe? Any encyclopedia, or dictionary of mythology, will reveal who Circe was. She was the goddess-daughter of Helios, the Sun-deity! Again, another form of Sun-worship, this time the name of the daughter of the Sun-deity, had become mixed with the Messianic Belief.

Some interesting facts emerge from the study of the word circe. The word is related to “circus,” “circle,” “circuit,” “Circean,” “circulate,” and the various words starting with “circum-.” Latin rules of grammar demands a pronunciation of “sirke.” The Old English word circe could have been pronounced similarly to “kirke,” or even “sirse.”

However, Circe was in fact originally a Greek goddess where her name was written as: Kirke, and pronounced as such – just as in numerous similar cases of words of Greek origin, e.g. cyst and kustis, cycle and kuklos, cylinder and kulindros. The word “church” is known in Scotland as kirk, and in German as kirche and in Netherlands as kerk. These words show their direct derivation from the Greek Kirke even better than the English “church.” However, even the Old English circe for “church,” reveals its origin.

Let us rather use the Scriptural “assembly” or “congregation,” and renounce the word that is derived from Circe, the daughter of the Sun-deity!

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

Origin of the word “God”

A prophecy for the end-time is given in Isa 65:11 wherein our Mighty One warns of the apostasy of His people, “But you are those who forsake YHWH… who prepare a table for Gad, and who furnish a drink offering for Meni.” All commentators agree that Gad is a pagan deity, and so is Meni. Gad is usually interpreted as the well-known Syrian or Canaanite deity of “Good Luck” or “Fortune,” and Meni the deity of “Destiny.” This Gad is written in the Hebrew as GD (gimel dalet), but the Massoretes afterwards vowel-pointed it, adding an “a,” to give us “Gad.” However, we find other references in Scripture to a similar deity, if not the same one, also spelt GD in the Hebrew text but this time vowel-pointed to read “Gawd” or “God” (Josh 11:17, 12:7, 13:5), where we find “Baal-Gawd” or “Baal-God,” according to the vowel-pointed Massoretic Hebrew text. This Baal-Gawd or Baal-God was obviously a place named after their deity.

The Astrologers identified Gad with Jupitar, the Sky-deity or the Sun-deity. Other sources of research also testify of “Gad” being the Sun-deity. Rev Alexander Hislop wrote, “There is reason to believe that Gad refers to the Sun-god… The name Gad… is applicable to Nimrod, whose general character was that of a Sun-god… Thus then, if Gad was the ‘Sun-divinity’, Meni was very naturally regarded as ‘The Lord Moon.’”

Keil and Delitzsch, Commentaries on the Old Testament, comments on Isaiah 65:11, “There can be no doubt, therefore, that Gad, the god of good fortune… is Baal (Bel) as the god of good fortune… this is the deified planet Jupiter… Gad is Jupiter… Mene is Dea Luna… Rosenmuller very properly traces back the Septuagint rendering to this Egyptian view, according to which Gad is the Sun-god and Meni the lunar goddess as the power of fate.”

Isaiah 65:11 tells us then that YHWH’s people have forsaken Him and in the end-time are found to be serving Gad, the Sun-deity as the deity of “Good Luck,” and Meni, the Moon-deity of “Destiny.”

As pointed out above, this Gad (GD with an “a” vowel pointing) is probably the same deity as we read of in the book of Joshua, GD with a vowel-pointing of “aw” or “o,” making it “Gawd” or “God.” The vocal-pointing of the Massoretes cannot always be relied on, but we can rely on the Hebrew Scriptures before the vocal pointings was done. It could well be that GD of Isaiah 65:11 is the same as the “Gawd” or “God” of the book of Joshua. But, let us not try to establish a fact on an assumption. Let us rather do some research on the word “God.”

The word God (or god), like the Greek Theos (or theos) is used in our versions as a title, a generic name, usually. It translates the Hebrew Elohim (or elohim), El (or el), and Eloah. However, in quite a few places it is used as the substitute for the Tetragrammaton, the Name of our Father, e.g. Matthew 4:4 (quoted from Deut 8:3), Romans 4:3 (quoted from Gen 15:6) etc. If the word God is then used as a substitute for the Name, it must be accepted that the word God has become a name again.

How and when did this title or name become adopted into our modern languages? Encyclopedia Britannica, 11^th edition, says, “GOD – the common Teutonic word for a personal object of religious worship… applied to all those superhuman beings of the heathen mythologies. The word ‘god’ on the conversion of the Teutonic races to Christianity was adopted as the name of the one Supreme Being…”

Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary, Unabridged, 1^st edition, says, “The word is common to Teutonic tongues… It was applied to heathen deities and later, when the Teutonic peoples were converted to Christianity, the word was elevated to the Christian sense.”

James Hastings, Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, vol. 6, pg 302, reads, “After the conversion of the Teutons to Christianity the word came to be applied also to the Christian Deity… Its etymology and its original meaning are obscure, and have been much debated.”

J.G.R. Forlong, Encyclopedia of Religions, on “God,” says, “It is remarkable that philologists are unable to decide the origin of this familiar Teutonic word.” Once again, we are strongly suspicious of the rulers of darkness or the Prince of Darkness, having succeeded, once again, in hiding yet another work of darkness.

There is much confusion in the European languages between the words gud (good) and god. The Scandinavian languages, like the old Anglo-Saxon, called god gud and called gud (good) god. Calling good god and god gud is bad enough to confuse us. Even worse is that the Old Netherlands languages regarded god as an idol and gud as the correct deity! Jacob Grimm recorded this for us, as well as Julius Pokorny and Jan de Vries.

This inconsistency of spelling confuses us, as it must have confused the people in those early centuries who were still completely or partially ignorant of the True Mighty One and His Name. Jacob Grimm asserts that this was done because of fear, “Such a fear may arise from two causes: a holy name must not be abused, or an unholy dreaded name, e.g., that of the devil, has to be softened down by modifying its form,” and then gives examples.

Other scholars have explained that the names of national deities were either hid, or modified, in order to prevent their enemies getting hold of these names – enemies who might use it as a magic word against them.

Another reason for this changing of spelling of idols’ names was the ritual of abrenuntiatio, i.e. a solemn renouncing of the names of major deities, whenever a pagan person became converted to Christianity. One of the three major idols of the Teutonic tribes was called Saxnot. It is well documented how this name was renounced and later on came back in a disguised form, Saxneat. We even found that some idols’ names were spelt 17 different ways.

We found further evidence that “gott” or “god” was not only a title, but used as a name too, amongst the Teutonic tribes. Simrock discovered songs wherein “Gott” was used as a Beiname for the deity Odin. In German, Beiname means: surname (or epithet, or appellation).

We further found “Goda” as a proper name of an idol. Moreover, the same author relates how Woden, “The name of the highest god,” also called Woten and Odan, was also called Godan. The Teutonic masculine deities each had its female consort or counterpart. Thus we read that this deity’s female consort was frau Gode. It is commonly known that our Wednesday was named after Woden or Wotan. In Westphalian we find this day being called Godenstag.

Although the majority of dictionaries do not acknowledge it, there are some that frankly admit it and clearly state that the origin of the word “god” is uncertain or unknown. Why uncertain or unknown? What was there to hide?

Other dictionaries propose that the most likely origin of the word “god” is the Indo-Germanic (or Sanskrit) word huta. Some dictionaries prefer to spell this ancient word ghuta. Huta (or Ghuta) was of course an appellative or another name for Indra, Indian Sun-deity, as the more comprehensive dictionaries duly admit. We do accept this, but would be happier to find a word with an “o” instead of a “u.”

In the Indo-Germanic dictionaries there is only one word which resembles the word “god,” in fact, it is pronounced exactly the same. This is the word ghodh. Dictionaries which are not Indo-Germanic, usually spell this word with an “a.” Julius Pokorny, Indogermanisches Etomologisches Wörterbuch, vol. 1, pg 423 says the word ghodh means: union, also sexual union or mating. He says that from this root the following Germanic (European) word came forth: gaden, gatten, gaten, g????d, gader, guot, gut, g????oda, godina, etc.

Sanders-Wulfling, Handwörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, pg. 234, as well as Grimm, Deutsches Wörterbuch, under “gatten,” say that gatten means, to mate. In Dutch this word is commonly used for a marriage partner, a consort, a spouse. This word is also found in the English “beget, begat, begotten.”

Prof. Dr. Eduard Kuck, Luneburger Wörterbuch, vol. 1, pg 594, admits that Gott, got, gode, gade, god and guth (gud) are all the same word! Note well: God is the same as gade! Schiller & L3bben, Mittelniederdeutsches Wörterbuch, says the same on pg 135: got, gode, gade and Gott are the same!

A third witness is that of Wossidlo-Teuchert, Mecklenburgisches Wörterbuch, vol. 3, pg 231, which confirms this and says that the word Gott was anciently known as Gade.

Dr. Arnold Walder, Germanisches Urzeit, pg 300, says that the following words are the same or related: the German GUT, the German GOTT, the Aramaic GAD-a, the Arabian GUD, and also the Greek AGATH-os. Oskar Schade, Altdeutsches Wörterbuch, vol. 1, pg 342 and 359, still tries to distinguish between gut (gud) and got (gott, god), but the lists of variants of these two words are virtually interchangeable!

The evidence is clear: Although the two concepts “good” and “god” developed in two different directions, the one European nation called good “god” and called god “gud,” while another nation called them vice versa. This confusion or interchangeability between the words, as well as the evidence from the above-named sources, brings us to the conclusion that these words had a common origin, namely the concept of “good,” which in turn originated from the concept “union” or “mating,” namely the word ghodh, as revealed to us in Julius Pokorny’s dictionary.

Remember: the Hebrew word “Elohim” has been translated as “God.” But “Elohim” means Mighty One(s), while ghodh (or ghadh) means: union, even sexual union (to mate). The original meaning and concept of “Elohim” and “God” differ totally, especially because of the latter’s carnal or sensual meaning.

Such then was the spirit of paganism which started creeping in at Alexandria in the 2^nd century and which finally took over at Rome in the 4^th century. From there syncretistic mixed religion spread to Europe where it took a few more centuries for it to become further mixed with the pagan elements of our Germanic (Teutonic) ancestors.

If the Teutonic pagans called all their idols by the generic name “gott” or “god,” shall we continue to call the One that we love by the same generic name-title, or name? Why do we not translate the title Elohim (or El or Eloah) with its proper meaning: Mighty One? Also, in those places where “God” has become a substitute name for “YHWH,” shall we continue to invite the wrath of Elohim by doing this?

He has commanded us that we should not destroy His Name (Deut12:3 and 4). He is sorely displeased with those who have forgotten His Name for Baal (Jeremiah 23:27), remembering that Baal rally was the Sun-deity. “Therefore My people shall know My Name” (Isaiah 52:6). “YHWH’s voice cries to the city – wisdom shall see Your Name” (Micah 6:9).

“For Elohim will save Zion… and those who love His Name shall dwell in it” (Psalm 69:35-36). Also read Isaiah 56:6-7. If we love Him, we will love His Name. If we love His Name, we will not destroy it (Deut 12:3-4), we will not forget it (Jeremiah 23:27), we will not substitute it with anything else, let alone substitute it with a title, a generic name, or a name, which had been used for a pagan deity (Exodus 23:13).

Also, and even more applicable to this present study, we will stop substituting His Name with Baal (Jeremiah 23:27 and Hos 2:16) – that great Sun-deity, also known as Bel, who was the primary deity of Babylon – whether “Baal” applies to the name of the Sun-deity, or whether “Baal” is merely used as a title. We are to stop substituting His Name with anything that pertains to a Sun-deity, or even only a title with an idolatrous origin, notwithstanding attempts to justify the “changed meaning of the word.”

There is not a single text in all Scripture which prohibits us from calling Him by His Name. They called upon His Name right back in Gen 4:26. Abram called upon His Name in Gen 12:8 and 13:4, and as “Abraham” again in Gen 21:33. Abraham called the place in Moria “YHWH Yireh” (Gen 22:14). Isaac called upon the Name YHWH (Gen 26:25). Jacob used the Name (Gen 28:16). Leah used it (Gen 29:33 and 35). Moses proclaimed the Name of YHWH (Deut 32:3). David declared YHWH’s Name (Psalm 22:22), and so did our Messiah (Heb 2:12, John 17:6 &26). Finally, Yehoshua promised to do it again (John 17:26) – which you and I are now experiencing!

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