Me, wear what?

Messiah our High Priest and mediator.

Other than with Churchianity our Jewish Brothers believe in an Elohim who is incorporeal, meaning that He is invisible and nobody has or can see Him. In Kabbalah Elohim is referred to as ‘Ein Sof’ meaning there is no end to Him. A while back, I listened to the beginning of a sermon by a Christian minister who started his teaching by saying: ‘We Christians do not believe in a G-d who is invisible like the Jews do.’ Because I have developed quite a dislike for the religion in which most of the lost sheep of the house of Israel came to believe after being scattered into the world because of spiritual adultery, I immediately switched off the T V and turned my attention to something else.

However, being serious about what I believe, I could not get what this man said out of my mind. At first I thought the reason for him saying what he did, was because he like most believers in Churchianity do not believe what the Bible has to say about the subject, since they spend most of their time studying their own doctrines during their seven years at their church seminary or theological college, as I am fully aware that even the Bible specifically written for use by Christian teachers attest to the fact that only YHVH is eternal, immortal and invisible and no man has or can see him in both 1 Timothy 1: 17 and 6: 16. Even though we as Nazarene Jews/Israelites believe in the Messiah who came as the Salvation of YHVH, we refer to Him as Yahshua the Messiah, Scientist refer to G-d as ‘the forces of nature’, Muslims call the creator ‘Allah’, and Christians call Him ‘the Lord J*e*s*u*s* Christ’. From this it is clear why the Christian teacher mentioned before, said what he did in his Sunday morning service on TV. Yes, they believe in a G-d who in the form of a man and could be seen and touched by His disciples and others, whilst He was on earth. But, thinking about it a bit longer I realized that since Yahshua our Messiah came only to bring us from the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the covenant our heavenly Father made with our ancient forefathers, together with the house of Judah and that He did not come for them during His first advent at all, what the real issue at stake is.

Let me explain. Soon after YHVH called ancient Israel out of Egypt and even before He gave them the commandments at Mount Sinai, He told them that depending on their obedience to His commandments, they shall be a kingdom of priests and a Set-apart nation to Him, as recorded in Exodus 19: 5 and the first part of verse 6, as follows: ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; (6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a set-apart nation.’ YHVH declared Israel to be His treasured possession before all nations and accordingly they were to be a reign of priests and a set-apart nation to Him. They were to be a model nation to show all the other nations of the world, how obedience to Elohim will be to the benefit and blessing of all creation. They were to be stewards of the Oracles of Elohim; the conduits through which Elohim’s teachings regarding His Torah truths and blessings were to be disseminated. The entire nation was to consist of priestly people; who would perform priestly duties before YHVH their Elohim. But, we see that the nation soon felt that they were not qualified to enter into the responsibility of their priestly calling assigned by YHVH and they wanted a mediator for themselves to carry on a relationship with YHVH the Elohim of Israel. Because YHVH anticipated Israel’s need for a mediator, He communicated His concurrence for their need of a mediator from that time forward as we read from Deuteronomy 5: 28 – 31, in this way: “And YHVH heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and YHVH said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. (29) Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! (30) Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” (31) But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes (how to apply the commandments in your lives) and the judgments (the punishment for contravening the commandments) which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess.’” YHVH who knows the end from the beginning knew that other than the house of Judah who belief in an unseen Elohim, the house of Israel will always need something tangible to believe in. YHVH immediately appointed Moses officially as the mediator of Israel during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, before entering the Promised Land. The nation of Israel failed to be a model nation when Moses ‘delayed’ coming down from the mountain and Aaron got them to give him the gold rings in the ears of their wives and children and fashioned it into a molten calf. He also told them that the golden calf is their god, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. In addition he built an altar before it and proclaim at the end of Exodus 32: 5, saying: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to YHVH.” Consequently, we read from Exodus 32: 6, ‘So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.’ The commentary in the New American Standard Mac Arthur Study Bible, against the words ‘to play’ reads - ‘The Heb. Word allows for the inclusion of drunken and immoral activities so common to idolatrous fertility cults in their revelry’. The incident of the golden calf included cultural practices which the Israelites must have learnt in Egypt; i.e. burnt offerings were intermixed with pagan customs of sexual immorality and idolatry, totally unacceptable to Elohim.

Obviously, this caused Elohim’s anger to flare up against the nation of Israel and He was ready to utterly destroy them. But Moses’ pleadings on behalf of the nation made YHVH change His mind. Moses went down the mountain with the two engraved tablets in his hands and when he saw the golden calf and the dancing, he became very angry and threw the tablets of stone from his hands shattering them at the foot of the mountain. Then he ground the golden calf into fine powder and threw it into water, which he forced the Israelites to drink. Moses recognized the actions of Aaron and the Israelites as a sin, punishable by death. So he stood at the gate of the camp saying as in Exodus 32: 26, “Whoever is for YHVH, come to me!” We see further from the same verse that the Levites gathered together around him and Moses instructed them to go back and forth in the camp and kill every man his brother and every man his neighbor. As a result of the action taken by the Levites, YHVH chose the Levites to take the place of the first-born Israelites, to serve as priests under Aaron and his sons, as we read from Numbers 3: 9 – 13, in this way: “You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. (10) So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.” (11) Again YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, (12) “Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every first-born, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be mine. (13) For all the first-born are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the first-born in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am YHVH.” At this time YHVH called Aaron and his family and set them apart by law to be the priesthood for the nation of Israel. Even so, the nation remained set-apart to YHVH; the Aaronic priests were to bring the sacrifices and offerings of the people of Israel before YHVH. This was when the Sacrificial law commanding the shedding of an animal’s blood, every time an Israelite sinned, to teach them and us, their modern day ancestors that there is a need for punishment or a curse when we transgress Elohim’s Laws, that requires the shedding of blood. The truth of the matter is that Elohim introduced a system of cause and effect from the time He created Adam and Eve and like the law of gravity, it cannot be abolished. In addition the two-fold promise that YHVH entered into with Abraham made provision for the house of Israel who were later scattered into the world because of idolatry, to return to the covenant that He made with Abraham and His descendants who remained Torah observant and as the sign of the covenant circumcise their children at eight days old, through Abraham’s one seed, Yahshua.

As mediators between YHVH and the people of Israel, the priesthood had to stand as righteous as humanly possible between YHVH and His people and at the same time represent both YHVH and the people according to His plan for Israel. As explained in Galatians 3: 13 – 20 we read about Yahshua’s role as mediator for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, as follows: ‘Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— (14) in order that in Messiah Yahshua the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (who are called by Elohim’s name – namely Israel), so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (15) Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations; even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. (16) Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Messiah. (17) What I am saying is this; the (Sacrificial) Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by Elohim, so as to nullify the promise. (18) For if the inheritance (of the Promised Land) is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but Elohim has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. (19) Why the (Sacrificial) Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed (of Abraham, namely Yahshua) should come to whom the promise had been made. (20) Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas Elohim is only one.” This is in total agreement with what YHVH tells us about Himself in Isaiah 43: 10 & 11, saying: “You are My witnesses,” declares YHVH, “And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Elohim formed, and there will be none after Me. (11) “I, even I, am YHVH; and there is no savior besides Me.” A second witness comes from Isaiah 63: 8, in this way: ‘For He said, “Surely, they are My people, sons who will not deal falsely.” So He became their Savior.’ Moses told the nation in Deuteronomy 18: 15 – 19, saying: “YHVH your Elohim will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. (16) This is according to all that you asked of YHVH your Elohim in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of YHVH my Elohim, let me not see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ (17) And YHVH said to me, “They have spoken well. (18) ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (19) And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.’”

Yahshua came as Immanuel, meaning Elohim with us; He came as the visible image of the invisible Elohim (as per Colossians 1: 15) in whom the fullness of Elohim dwells in bodily form (as per Colossians 2: 9). The point is that no man can fulfill the dual role of mediator and Elohim. We read accordingly from Isaiah 59: 16, in this way: ‘And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him.’ Yes, Yahshua is the visible image of the invisible Elohim and the right hand and holy arm of Elohim promised in the Torah and the Prophets. Going back to Exodus 32: 28 & 29 we read: ‘So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. (29) Then Moses said, “Dedicate yourselves today to YHVH—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”’ Similarly, YHVH is calling first-fruits to come out of the world today and to consecrate or set them apart for service unto Him. For each one who responds there is a reward of the priesthood. We also read from Numbers 25 that when Israel stayed at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, who invited them to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bow down to the pagan gods of the Moabites, including Baal-peor and YHVH became very angry with the people of Israel. So YHVH instructed Moses in verse 4 of Numbers 25, saying: “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before YHVH, so that the fierce anger of YHVH may turn away from Israel.” Moses obeyed and instructed the judges of Israel, as we read in verse 5 of Numbers 25, saying: “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.” At this same time one of the sons of Israel brought a Midianite woman in full sight of Moses and the sons of Israel, whilst they were still weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazer, the son of Aaron saw it, he got up from the midst of the people, taking a spear in his hand; he went into the tent of the man and pierced both the man and woman through their bodies, effectively checking the plague and those who died by the plague were 24,000.

YHVH made a covenant of peace (shalom in Hebrew) with Phinehas; thus making a covenant with him and his descendants after him that they will hold the office of priest (or Cohen) forever. Those of us who are called out of the world to become priests under Yahshua in the coming kingdom of Elohim, have to be like Phinehas, jealous (or rather zealous) for Elohim and His righteousness. We who are presently being trained to become priests (teachers) in the world tomorrow should not shirk our responsibility; it is our duty to warn the people called out by Elohim about their transgressions, as we read in Isaiah 58: 1, as follows: “Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.” Every person whom YHVH calls is important to Him and no one of us is beyond correction. YHVH wants each and every one of us to be ready to take action, when there is a need to do so. Are we going to do what YHVH requires of us, or are we going to remain quiet and avoid our responsibility as Nazarenes? The duty of a Nazarene or watchman is as described in Ezekiel 3: 17 – 21, as follows: “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. (18) When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die’; and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. (19) Yet if you have warned the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. (20) Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he shall die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. (21) However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.” Phinehas and his descendants after him will hold the office of priest forever. It seems odd that since Phinehas a Levite and descendant of Aaron the High Priest, that YHVH did not give him the office of High Priest forever. But, we know the reason for this being that Yahshua our Messiah has become the one and only High Priest forever. However, Yahshua is a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Levi.

As believers in Yahshua, the early Nazarenes were a sect of the Pharisees, much like the Levites, but of a different Priesthood; namely the royal priesthood of our coming King Messiah Yahshua, the High Priest to the order of Melchizedek. It is true that as the visible image of Elohim, YHVH is greater than Yahshua, and we worship YHVH in and through Yahshua. As Nazarene believers in Yahshua, we are fully aware that Yahshua is the corner stone upon which we as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Elohim through Yahshua Messiah. Yahshua is “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.” He is the stone of stumbling (σКάνδαλον in Greek; meaning scandal) or a major stumbling block, which resulted from the way Elohim revealed Himself in the Torah. YHVH revealed Himself as the Creator and Sustainer of mankind: informing them that; He is YHVH their One and Only Elohim; to honor His Name; and not to make any idols or likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. But, in order to accomplish His redemptive work, a small part of Him became a ‘man’ in Yahshua the Messiah. Rav Kepha explained in Acts 4: 10 – 12 and 1 Peter 2: 5 - 8, that not only may we be saved through the scandal of YHVH incarnate, but the scandal of His crucifixion is the only way for mankind to be reconciled to Elohim. It is through His incarnation as Yahshua our Messiah, the Lamb of Elohim that we worship YHVH our Creator and Redeemer.

The Scriptural revelation requires that the name of Elohim be made known to mankind and when He revealed Himself in Exodus 3: 14, He said to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” -The footnote against ‘I AM’ in this verse in the New American Standard Bible reads: ‘Related to the Name of G-d, YHVH rendered LORD, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be.’ This essentially means that YHVH can be whatever we need Him to be, as may be understood from His various names given in the Tanach. In Genesis 22: 14, He is YHVH-YIRAH meaning YHVH our Provider; in Exodus 17: 15 He is YHVH-NISSI meaning YHVH is My Banner; and in Jeremiah 23: 6, He is YHVH-TSIDIKENU meaning YHVH Our Righteousness, which refers to Yahshua the righteous Branch, through whom we from the lost sheep of the house of Israel attains righteousness. In addition most of us are aware that the meaning of Yahshua’s name is the Salvation of YHVH, since the purpose of His first advent was to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the Father and Brother Judah. Through these truths the commandments given in Exodus 20: 3 – 11, YHVH ensured that His people understood the importance of His name in worshipping Him. If our proclamation that Yahshua is Elohim with us offends some, then it will have to be the scandal that Yahshua said it would be in Matthew 21: 42 – 44, as follows: “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM YHVH, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? (43) Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of Elohim will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it. (44) And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Elohim has truly gone to extremes to make His name and deeds known to mankind throughout the Scriptures. David attests to the fact that YHVH became our salvation, in Psalm 118: 21 – 26 in this way: ‘I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; and Thou hast become my salvation. (22) The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. (23) This is (YHVH)’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (24) This is the day which YHVH has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (25) O YHVH, do save, we beseech Thee; O YHVH, we beseech Thee, do send prosperity! (26) Blessed is the one who comes in the name of YHVH; we have blessed you from the house of YHVH.’

According to Rav Kepha, we who believe this truth about our Master and Savior Yahshua the Messiah are as per 1 Peter 2: 9, ‘(But you are) A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR Elohim’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.’ Are we like the ancient Israelites going to evade our responsibility as priests? As priests of Elohim, most of us are able to recall the set-apart garments which were placed on Aaron and his sons. Similarly Yahshua is giving us priestly garments to wear. We read from the prophesy about Yahshua in Isaiah 61: 1 – 10, as follows: ‘The Spirit of YHVH Elohim is upon me, because YHVH has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; (2) To proclaim the favorable year of YHVH, and the day of vengeance of our Elohim; to comfort all who mourn, (3) To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland (a peer shaped head covering) instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of YHVH, that He may be glorified (esteemed). (4) Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. (5) And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. (6) But you will be called the priests of YHVH; you will be spoken of as ministers of our Elohim. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (7) Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs. (8) For I, YHVH, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. (9) Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them because they are the offspring whom YHVH has blessed. (10) I will rejoice greatly in YHVH, my soul will exalt in my Elohim; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland (the KJV reads: decketh himself with ornaments; the side reference in the KJV reads: decketh as a priest), and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.’

Ezekiel the prophet also prophesied about the restoration of the priesthood in Ezekiel 44. To start with, the first ordinance is that no foreigner uncircumcised in heart (not immersed) and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter (YHVH)’s sanctuary (verses 7 – 9). Next we read about the restoration of the Levitical priesthood; we see that the priesthood will again be clothed in priestly garments including linen turbans (verse 18). In Isaiah 66: 20 & 21 YHVH tells our Jewish Brothers, ‘Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering (first-fruits) to YHVH, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says YHVH, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of YHVH. (21) I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says YHVH.’ Yes, those of us called at this time, who manage to overcome Satan, the world and the self, will become kings and priests during the millennium and beyond, as we read from Revelation 5: 10, as follows: “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our Elohim; and they will reign upon the earth.” The first time that we read in the Scriptures about a person or being holding the two offices of king and priest together, is in Genesis 14: 18: ‘And Melchizedek king of Salem (meaning king of peace) brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of Elohim Most High.’ We see in Hebrews 7: 3 that Melchizedek was without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of Elohim. In Psalm 110: 4 talking about our Messiah, David wrote: ‘YHVH has sworn and will not change His mind, “Thou are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Rav Shaul wrote accordingly in Hebrews 5: 5 & 6, saying: ‘So also Messiah did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE”; (6) just as He says also in another passage, “THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” The Order of the Priesthood of Melchizedek will consist of the High Priest and King Yahshua, with other priests who were called by YHVH and remained faithful throughout their human lives. They will be changed into spiritual children of Elohim at Yahshua’s return, reigning under Him. In Romans 8: 29 & 30 we read: ‘For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; (30) and whom He justified, these He also glorified.’ A second witness to this may be read in Hebrews 2: 11: ‘For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.’ We, who are called during this age, are predestined to become kings and priests under Yahshua during His millennial rule, provided we qualify. This means that we will be in the first resurrection as is recorded for us in Revelation 20: 6: ‘Blessed and Set-apart is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.’ This tells us that we who know Elohim and believe in the one whom He has sent, namely Yahshua the salvation of YHVH, are to become kings and priests under Yahshua during His millennial rule.

We need to practice to become kings and priests during the coming Kingdom of Elohim, as we will be required to perform priestly duties then and have to learn to do so, during this age. We should practice righteousness in our lives by doing what YHVH requires of us in His Torah, so that we may teach our siblings, those who survive the tribulation into the millennium, as well as those in the second resurrection, the physical and spiritual application of Torah in their lives. However, let’s also turn to Exodus 29: 38 & 39 to see what some of the other duties of royal priests are: “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar; two one year old lambs each day, continuously. (29) The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.” We do not sacrifice animals any longer, but are nevertheless required to make two offerings per day, as we read from Exodus 30: 7 & 8, “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. (8) And when Aaron trims the lamps at twilight (in the evening), he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before YHVH throughout your generations.” In Psalm 141: 1 & 2 David wrote about such offerings, saying: “O YHVH, I call upon thee; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee! (2) May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” We also read from Revelation 5: 8 that the prayers of the saints are considered as incense before YHVH, as follows: ‘And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.’ A second witness comes from Revelation 8: 4 in this way: ‘And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before Elohim out of the angel’s hand.’

To conclude we read the encouraging words of Rav Shaul from Hebrews 9: 11 – 15, saying: ‘But when Messiah appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; (12) and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (13) For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, (14) how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim? (15) And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (given to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob).’ Halleluyah!