Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

The mark of Elohim.

Many are so concerned with the mark of the beast, that they do not realize that similar to those who worship the beast and his image, will be marked with an identification mark as worshipers of the beast, so will or are those who worship Yahshua the image of the invisible Elohim, and Elohim Himself be marked or sealed with His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. The question is what is the mark of YHVH and His Son Yahshua?

Many in Churchianity came to believe that Yahshua came to free us from the bondage of Torah, and quote Galatians 5: 1, to substantiate this, in this way: ‘It was for freedom that Messiah set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.’ However, if we truly understand the Scriptures we will get to understand that exactly the opposite is true. For example we read from Psalm 119: 142 (a book also contained in the so-called ‘Gideon’s Bible’, where most other books of the Tanach have been excluded, due to the popular belief in Churchianity that the Messiah has abolished Torah for them): ‘Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law(Torah) is truth.’ In addition Yahshua our Messiah said to the Jews who had believed in Him in John 8: 31 & 32: “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; (32) and you shall know the truth(Torah), and the truth shall make you free.” Therefore, it is the Law or Torah that brings freedom, something completely contrary to what most people believe today. When YHVH took the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He immediately led them to Mount Sinai to give them His commandments, statutes and judgments (Exodus 20 – 23). Did YHVH our Elohim who promised the nation of Israel freedom from bondage in Egypt, take them to Mount Sinai, and deliver them right back into slavery again? And why then would He being an all knowing Elohim at the same time promise them freedom? Is He a liar? No, YHVH promised His people freedom and gave them Torah, because the Torah is freedom from the bondage of sin.

Messiah therefore did not set us free from Torah, but from sin – which is defined as the transgression of the law or lawlessness in first John 3: 4 - 8, in this way: ‘Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. (5) And you know that He (Messiah) appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. (6) No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.(7) Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; (8) the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  The Son of Elohim appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.’  Rav Yaa’cov who was in full agreement that Torah is freedom wrote in James 1: 22 - 25, saying: ‘But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (23)For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (24) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (25) But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty (meaning freedom), and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ Even so, those who teach against Torah continue to teach that Torah is bondage and that Lawlessness is freedom. They are the ones that Rav Kepha mentions in 2 Peter 2: 18 - 21, saying: ‘For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, (19) promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves to corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. (20) For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Master and Savior Yahshua Messiah, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. (21) For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.’

We read Jeremiah’s warning about what happened in Churchianity in Jeremiah 8: 4 – 11, saying: ‘And you shall say to them, “Thus says YHVH,” “Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not repent? (5) Why then has this people, Jerusalem, turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. (6) I have listened and heard, they have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, saying “What have I done?” Everyone turned to his course, like a horse charging into the battle. (7) Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons; and the turtledove and the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration; but My people do not know the ordinance of YHVH. (8) How can you say, “We are wise, and the law of YHVH is with us”? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. (9) The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of YHVH, and what kind of wisdom do they have? (10) Therefore I will give their wives to others, their fields to new owners; Because from the least even to the greatest everyone is greedy for gain; From the prophet even to the priest everyone practices deceit. (11) And they heal the broken-ness of the daughter of My people superficially, saying, “Peace, peace,” but there is no peace.’The fact that our brethren and fellow Israelites in Churchianity have been deceived to come to believe that Torah was abolished, is undeniable.From these Scriptures it is clear that we cannot say we believe in Yahshua, without also obeying Torah. In fact that is exactly what Yahshua our Messiah said in John 5: 43 – 47, as follows: “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him. (44) How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only Elohim? (45) Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” It is for this reason that John 3: 36, is of greater importance to true believers than John 3: 16, in this way: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim abides on him.” Brethren it is high time that we make some of our brethren in Churchianity who showed interest in what we teach in the past, aware of these Scriptural truths. Perhaps reading the same in their own Scriptures might get them thinking.

But, what is the mark of Elohim?  YHVH our Elohim told the nation of Israel  through Moses what His mark is after giving them His Torah, statutes and Judgments earlier in Exodus, saying to him in Exodus 31: 13 & 14: “But as for you, speak to the sons (children) of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My Sabbaths (plural – meaning not only the weekly Sabbaths, but also the annual Sabbaths (or Feast Days of Elohim– already mentioned in Exodus 20: 11 & 23: 14 – 18) and land Sabbaths (also mentioned in Exodus 23: 10 & 11); for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am YHVH who sanctifies you. (14) Therefore you are to observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.’  The weekly Sabbath is very important to Elohim as it points to the coming millennial rule of Yahshua the Messiah and His saints (first-fruit believers in Him who qualifies to rule under Him at His coming). However, the annual and land Sabbaths are equally important to Elohim, as witnessed in Exodus 13: 6 - 9, where He also speak to the children of Israel though Moses, saying: ‘For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to YHVH. (7) Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders. (8) And you shall tell (pesach) your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what YHVH did for me when I came out of Egypt (in our case, the false religions of the world).’  (9) And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of YHVH may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand (Yahshua the right hand and Power of Elohim) YHVH brought you out of Egypt.’YHVH execute his work on earth through His right hand; the head of His congregation of called out believers Yahshua the Messiah, as much as Satan is executing His work through the head of his church, the Pope, who calls himself the vicar (meaning in place of) Christ on earth.

By keeping the Feast Days of Elohim, we show that we fear Elohim and want to obey His Torah teachings, but we also get to know His plan of salvation for all mankind. The Feast Days of Elohim is directly linked to the coming Kingdom of Elohim on earth, as it is now in heaven, as witnessed in Nahum 1: 15, as follows: ‘Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news (or the gospel), who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; he is cut off completely.’ This is obviously a prophecy about the millennial rule of Messiah, when there will one day be peace – to a level never experienced by mankind, except by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  In addition, the Jewish rabbis hold that if you believe in the coming kingdom of Elohim, you will already make Him King in your life and keep all the Torah teachings that will be applicable during Messiah’s millennial rule and beyond. Continuing on in Exodus 31, we read from verses 15 – 18:’“For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy (or set-apart) to YHVH; whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. (16) So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. (17) It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days YHVH made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” (18) And when He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of Elohim.’ So we see that the Sabbaths of Elohim is a sign to other people, showing them who our Creator is, but also that we are His people, prepared to obey His every word.

However, the Sabbaths of Elohim are not the only signs that we are His people and He is our Elohim. Turning to  Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9 (English version of the Tanach), we read: ‘Hear, O Israel: YHVH our Elohim is one YHVH: (5) And thou shalt love YHVH thy Elohim with all thine heart (faith or belief system), and with all thy soul (the way you live),and with all thy might (your willpower and energy).(6) And these words, which I commanded thee this day shall be in thine heart: (7)And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (9)And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates.’ How important is the Sh’ma in our lives? Here in Deuteronomy 6: 4 YHVH our Elohim tells us categorically that there is only one YHVH, something which He confirmed earlier in Deuteronomy 4: 39, saying: “Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that YHVH, He is Elohim in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.” How long are those who contradict YHVH continue in their misguided believe that there are two (YHVH)’s? The reason why both the hand and forehead are mentioned in the quoted section from Exodus and Deuteronomy is because we use our hands and brain power to perform our daily work. Some people like builders, carpenters, and engineers perform manual labor, whilst others work with their minds like accountants, computer programmers, and statisticians. So, both these categories of work are included in the prohibition not to do any work on the Sabbath. Considering the command in Deuteronomy 23: 20 (English Tanach) we see further how ‘hand’ is used to explain work, but also refraining from work, as follows: ‘Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury (interest); but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that YHVH thy Elohim may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.’

Knowing what the mark of YHVH is, let’s also have a look at what the mark of the Beast mentioned in a number of verses in the book of Revelation is. Turning to Revelation 13 we read about the end time beast in verses 11 – 17, in this way: ‘And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. (12) And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. (13) And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. (14) And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. (15) And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (16) And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men, and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, (17) and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.’We see that the mark of the beast will also be put on either the right hand or the forehead of its recipient. So it will also have to do with when those who are marked with it will work to earn a living. Similar to those who have the Sabbath and Elohim’s Torah as his mark on their hands and their foreheads, will  those who rest on the day dictated by the beast be marked with his mark on either their hands or foreheads, depending obviously on the profession in which they work.

We read further about the mark of the beast from Revelation 14: 9& 10, as follows: ‘And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, (10) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”  The warning for those of us called out of the biggest false religion of the world in Revelation 18: 4 – 6 is very serious, in this way: ‘And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; (5) for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and Elohim has remembered her iniquities.” When one day in the near future YHVH unleashes His wrath on the beast she will be laid waste in one hour, as witnessed in verses 19 & 20 of Revelation 18, as follows: “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning and saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ (20) Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because Elohim has pronounced judgment for you against her.”  The type of plagues that will be unleashed upon those who receive the mark of the beast, is described in Revelation 16: 2,in this way: ‘And the first angel went and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.’ We see the end result of those who had the chutzpah to reject receiving the mark of the beast, no matter the cost, in Revelation 20: 4, as follows: ‘And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded, because of the testimony of Yahshua and because of the word of Elohim, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.’ Clearly whoever is marked with the mark of Elohim, wants to be ruled by YHVH the Elohim of Israel and whoever is marked with the mark of the beast, wants to be ruled by Satan.

The mark of Elohim is much like a deposit of eternal life to be inherited by those who finally qualify by remaining faithful to the end, as described in Ephesians 1: 13 & 14, in this way: ‘In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Set-apart Spirit of promise, (14) who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Elohim’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.’  Elohim’s mark is clearly an indication similar to the tree of life, showing that those who have come out of Satan’s rule of the world, in which he ensured the abolition of Elohim’s Torah, including His Sabbaths. The mark of Elohim is believing (forehead) and doing (right hand) His will, the Sabbaths being the covenant sign. We read from Ezekiel 22: 23 – 26 about Churchianity from its inception, soon after Messiah’s ascension to heaven, as follows: ‘And the word of YHVH came to me saying, (24) Son of man, say to her, “You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.”(25) There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her. (26) Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean and they hide their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.’Rav Kepha warned about Satan being the roaring lion in first Peter 5: 8, saying: ‘Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’  So, if Satan is the roaring lion tearing the prey, then the teachers in Churchianity must be his agents helping him in his job to deceive the whole world. The mark of the beast is also in his follower’s foreheads, meaning what they believe, being the lie that he is perpetuating through their false ministers, namely that Torah is done away with and that Sabbath keeping (the sign denoting who is YHVH) is unimportant. The right hand in this case doing work, and thereby defiling the Sabbath sign which is the test commandment.

As a side line at this point:  Let’s have a look at why Satan was thrown from the mountain (or government) of Elohim. We turn to Ezekiel 28: 15 – 17 (English –Tanach)  to read about the account, in this way: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they  have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of Elohim: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” We see here thatthrough Satan’s deceptive ways commerce was one of the initial transgressions that Satan committed. In so doing he encouraged mankind to defile the One and Only Test command of YHVH, namely the Sabbath command by doing business on it.  This is how he caused all, both great and small, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no one might buy or sell, unless he has the mark. This is showing that similar to the way that those of us who are called out from the religions of the world, are currently resisting to do business on Elohim’s Sabbath, so will Satan’s followers resist from buying and selling on Sunday, but will also keep us from doing any buying and selling of the goods we require, for transgressing the Sunday law which will soon be enforced throughout the world. We need to understand that there are two marks in the Scriptures, and it shows that you and I will live or die by one or the other. You will either fight for YHVH or be an accomplice of Satan. To have the mark of Elohim, we need to obey His Torah including keeping His weekly, annual and land Sabbaths.

The mark of the beast is simply Torahlessness and Satan’s natural spirit that encourages mankind to sin by believing they are right in doing things their own way – as long as they feel right about it in their hearts. This despite Elohim’s warnings in Proverbs 14: 12 and 16: 25, as follows: ‘There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” The prophet Jeremiah similarly warned in Jeremiah 17: 9, saying: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick (the KJV here reads: wicked); who can understand it? Yes, the last thing we should trust in is our hearts. Psalm 118 is nestled right in the center of the Scriptures, between the shortest Psalm (117) and the longest Psalm (119). Verse 8 of Psalm 118 is said to be the midpoint in the Scriptures, provides the following advice to those who believe the Scriptures to be the word of Elohim, i.e. ‘It is better to take refuge in YHVH than to trust in man.’ It is for this very reason that YHVH warned us through Rav Shaul in 2 Corinthians 6: 17 & 18, saying: ‘“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says YHVH. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. (18) “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Master Almighty.’ We need to remember that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden barring them from the tree of life, which is the Set-apart Spirit, because of disobeying a direct command of Elohim.

However, YHVH specifically sent us Yahshua to show us how we will be able to like Him, become born again children of Elohim, when we are resurrected at Messiah’s return, as is confirmed in Romans 8: 11, giving us the Key to Eternal live, provided we remain faithful to Elohim and His Torah, in this way: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah Yahshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” Nevertheless, the choice is always ours – we can choose to live forever, by repenting and being immersed by a teaching elder in the congregation of Elohim’s called out believers, and after immersion the Set-apart Spirit will be given to those on whom the teaching elder lays his hands as witnessed in 1 Timothy 4: 14, as follows: ‘Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery(an elder in the congregation).” Yes Messiah only became the Son of Elohim after His resurrection from the dead, as confirmed in Romans 1: 1 – 4, in this way: ‘Paul, a bond-servant of Messiah Yahshua, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of Elohim, (2) which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, (3) concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared the Son of Elohim with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Yahshua Messiah our Master.’

We are now able to get the mark of Elohim, which will if we remain faithful to Elohim and His Torah including observing His Sabbaths until Messiah’s return or until death, ensure eternal life for us in His soon coming Kingdom. But, we need to make the choice to either follow YHVH or Satan! It is that simple.