Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Elohim’s purpose for mankind will come to fruition.

Right from the beginning of the creation of mankind Elohim planned to come and dwell amongst His people.  However history shows that Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden cut him and his descendants off from the Spirit of Elohim, but also from an ongoing relationship with Elohim.  After Elohim barred Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the ‘Tree of Life’, the whole world became corrupt and YHVH destroyed all life from earth in a flood, except for Noah, his family and the animals which YHVH led to enter the ark to protect them from the flood. When the failure of mankind was repeated with the rebellion at Babylon led by Nimrod after the flood, YHVH started over again with one man called Abram. YHVH made a two-fold covenant with him, promising that he and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob would eventually possess the Promised Land eternally as spiritual children of Elohim, over which the second death has no power, provided they remain faithful to His commandments including circumcising their sons at eight days old. The second part of the promise was that those descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, who eventually disobeyed and were scattered into the world because of idolatry, would be able to return to the covenant through Abraham’s one seed, namely Yahshua, through whom the rest of mankind will also be saved after Messiah’s millennial rule.

So, even though Esau under the guise of the Roman Catholic Church held the house of Israel captive over the past 1800 years since Messiah’s first advent to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the covenant He made with them, together with the house of Judah at Mount Sinai, YHVH is calling a remnant of the lost sheep of the house of Israel to come out of Churchianity and return to the covenant, thus ensuring that His purpose is on course. Even though we, like our Jewish Brothers believe in the coming millennial rule of Messiah, there are those who believe the reference to the 1000-years in the book of Revelation to be symbolic and will never occur literally. In addition, there are others who believe that the 1000-years are already here and to them this is known as the ‘church age’.  But, because Elohim knows the end from the beginning, He designed a failsafe 7,000 year Master Plan to bring about His purpose for the salvation of all mankind. Nevertheless, He sentenced mankind to a period of 6,000 years to carry out what Adam effectively demanded for his descendants; to do their own thing, relying on their own ability and do as they please. But, influenced by Satan man’s way was catastrophic and will be more so in the foreseeable future because of the hardness of our hearts. Elohim allowed Satan to cunningly deceive the whole world as witnessed in Revelation 12: 9, in this way: ‘And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.’ We also see from 2 Corinthians 4: 3 & 4, ‘And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of Elohim.’ Nobody can deny that Satan has successfully influenced mankind into establishing their own governments, religions and civilization based on his way of ‘get’, instead of Elohim’s way of ‘give’. We see that during the 6,000 year period only those specifically called by Elohim can come to Messiah, as Yahshua clearly said in John 6: 44, as follows: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” So it is clear that unless Elohim intervenes by specifically calling one to repentance and salvation; to a life of training for His Kingdom, no one can come to Messiah. Yes, all people are cut off through sin, except the house of Judah and a remnant of the house of Israel (including a number of Gentiles) whom Elohim calls out of sin!

As a messenger from Elohim, Yahshua came proclaiming the good news about the coming Kingdom of Elohim, as witnessed in Mark 1: 14 & 15, but more specifically in John 3: 3 – 8, in this way: ‘Yahshua answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim.” (4) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” (5) Yahshua answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim.” (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” (8) The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”’ Yahshua foretold the time when mankind will no longer be cut off from Elohim. He announced that the government of Elohim will be restored by the coming Kingdom of Elohim, composed of born-again spiritual children of Elohim. Yahshua foretold the gospel that those called from the house of Israel (including a number of Gentiles) by Elohim, may ultimately with their Torah observant Jewish Brothers become spirit born children of Elohim, ruling under Messiah in His soon coming Kingdom. However, even after spending three and a half years during which time thousands of people must have heard His teachings, only about 120 people continued as His disciples , after His death and resurrection, as witnessed in Acts 1: 15 – 19, as follows: ‘And at this time Kepha stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, (16) “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Set-apart Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Yahshua. (17) For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.” (18) (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. (19) And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)’  These 120 people were called by the Father to ultimately join their Jewish Brothers in the congregation started in the wilderness by Moses after he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt.  However, before 70 CE the message that Messiah and His apostles taught was rapidly suppressed by a growing, deceived counterfeit church called Christianity.

We see from Daniel 12: 4 that Elohim showed Daniel about today’s knowledge explosion, in this way: “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” At the close of the 6,000 years allotted to mankind to rule themselves and during the lifetime of Elohim’s modern day disciples, there are numerous sources of information and there are awesome material progress in the world. Most of the modern technology in use today has been developed over the past 200 years. The machine age, was followed by the nuclear and the space ages. The motor car, airplane, radio, television, personal computers, laptops, cellphones and many laborsaving devices have all been invented in recent times. During the past 6,000 years man’s superior brain has been proven, but without Elohim’s Spirit, it is confined to working and understanding only the physical world. Human education systems are totally materialistic and most of mankind’s motives come from an attitude of greed. Even though mankind is capable of going to the moon, he is incapable of living in peace and harmony with his neighbor. We are now living in the end times; we are the very last generation of the 6,000 year period during which we were cut off from Elohim. Those whom Elohim has called out of the world to receive His Set-apart Spirit and to grow and overcome the world, Satan and the self, will together with their Torah observant brethren from the house of Judah  be born-again of Elohim in the first resurrection, when Messiah returns. As Yahshua explained in John 3: 3 -8 quoted earlier, we must be born-again to enter Elohim’s Family. We see from Romans 8: 29 – 30 that when we are born again of the Elohim kind, we will be like Yahshua, as follows: ‘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; (30) and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.’  For us to be conformed of Elohim, means to become like Yahshua; to be glorified as He is glorified and become a child of Elohim. We understand from reading 1 Corinthians 15: 51 & 52 that the Spiritual birth of believers in Messiah will take place at His return to earth on the Feast of Trumpets, as follows: ‘Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.’ This is when the resurrection will also occur, as witnessed in 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 – 17, in this way:  ‘For if we believe that Yahshua died and rose again, even so Elohim will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Yahshua. (15) ‘For this we say to you by the word of the Master, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Master, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Master Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of Elohim; and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Master.’

When Yahshua our Messiah returns to earth, the Spirit begotten children of Elohim who have died throughout the ages will be resurrected to be born-again as Spiritual children of Elohim and those who are still alive will be changed in an instant into Spirit beings.  That is when they will be born-again as members of Elohim’s Family. They will inherit eternal life in a similar way in which Messiah was resurrected to eternal life. We see that after Messiah’s resurrection He was able to appear and disappear and even pass through walls, as witnessed in John 20: 19 & 26 – 28, as follows: ‘When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Yahshua came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (26) ‘And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Yahshua came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” (27) Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” (28) Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!” (29) Yahshua said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”’ Yahshua explained to the Sadducees in Luke 20: 34 – 36 that once a person has been changed into spirit, he cannot die, saying: “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, (35) but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; (36) for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of Elohim, being sons of the resurrection.” David also testified about this in Psalm 102: 25 – 28, saying: “Of old Thou didst found the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. (26) Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed. (27) But Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end. (28) The children of Thy servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before Thee.” Elohim tells us through His servant David, that we like Messiah, will live forever once we are born-again as the spiritual children of Elohim. 

Yahshua our Messiah was glorified after His death and resurrection as recorded in Hebrews 2: 9, as follows: ‘But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Yahshua, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of Elohim He might taste death for everyone.’  We see a description of how His glorified spirit body appeared when He was manifested in a vision before Yochanan in Revelation 1: 13 – 15, in this way: ‘And in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. (14) And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; (15) and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.’  Before Yahshua became a human being, He was the word of Elohim who appeared as a glorious spiritual being. After His resurrection and ascension to heaven He was restored to the same power and glory. At this time, Messiah as a spirit being radiates light as bright as the morning star. We see from Colossians 3: 4 when Messiah returns one day, those of us who retain the Set-apart Spirit through immersion and obedience, will also ‘be revealed with Him in glory.’ In fact Yahshua gave some of His disciples a foretaste of this future glorified condition in Matthew 17: 1, 2 & 9, as follows: ‘And six days later Yahshua took with Him Kepha and Yaa’cov and Yochanan his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. (2) And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. (9) And as they were coming down from the mountain, Yahshua commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”’ The glory which spirit-begotten children of Elohim will receive at the resurrection will be as the stars in heaven, as Daniel wrote in Daniel 12: 3, in this way: “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

 

The Scriptures define the nature of Elohim in 1 John 4: 8, saying: ‘The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love.’  We see further from 1 John 5: 2 & 3 what the love of Elohim is, as follows: ‘By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and observe His commandments. (3) For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’ Elohim has an outgoing concern for humanity. He gave us His Torah for our good and showers us with everything we have and are, including His Set-apart Spirit, which we from the lost ten tribes receive as a begettal from Him after we repent from breaking the Law and return to Him through faith in Yahshua Messiah as our personal Savior, as opposed to Torah observant members of the house of Judah who receive the Set-apart Spirit by obedience. Elohim’s love can be defined as outgoing concern for His children. It is the way without coveting, lust, greed, vanity, selfishness, competition, strife, violence and destruction, resentment and bitterness – all characteristics of Satan the devil. The character of Elohim, which a third of the angels failed to develop, is the way of Elohim’s Torah and He is now in the process of creating the same character in His Spirit-begotten children, as they, by their own choice and with the help of the Set-apart Spirits, live His way of life! When we are finally born-again as the children of Elohim at Messiah’s return, we will be given glorious eternal life in the Kingdom of Elohim. The coming Kingdom of Elohim will be ruled by Yahshua Messiah, assisted by the resurrected first-born believers from both houses of Israel. Those who qualify to rule with Messiah will rule the earth with Him for a thousand years as kings and priest, teaching those who survive the Great Tribulation during the Millennium as well as those in the second resurrection after the Great White Throne judgment. During the Millennium millions will learn to live Elohim’s way and be born into Elohim’s ruling Family. Then after the Millennium, the billions who died since Adam and before Messiah’s second coming without having had the opportunity to know and understand Elohim’s way to salvation, will be raised in a physical resurrection and be given their first opportunity to become children of Elohim. They will be given the opportunity to become Sons of Elohim during the period of judgment mentioned in Revelation 20: 11 & 12, when their eyes will be open to understand the Scriptures as we read from Isaiah 25: 7 – 9, in this way: ‘And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death for all time, and YHVH Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for YHVH has spoken. (9) And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our Elohim for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is YHVH for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” These additional millions will be added to Elohim’s family at the conclusion of Elohim’s plan for physical mankind.

If we assume that about 250 billion people will ultimately be born-again into Elohim’s Family, how will Elohim keep them occupied for all eternity? Yahshua told His disciples before His ascension to heaven saying in Matthew 28: 18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” We see from Romans 8: 16 & 17, that those born-again into Elohim’s eternal Family will share in Messiah’s inheritance, in this way: ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, (17) and if children, heirs also, heirs of Elohim and fellow heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.’ But, we also see from Isaiah 9: 6 & 7 that Elohim’s government will continue to expand for all eternity, as follows: ‘For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (7) There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more, the zeal of YHVH of host will accomplish this.’ According to Hebrews 1: 2, Elohim has appointed His Son heir of all things, but the Moffat translation of Hebrew 1: 2, renders the ‘all things’ as “the universe.” As unbelievable as it may sound our ultimate destiny and the potential of every human being is to rule the universe under Elohim one day! The question is: will there really be enough work in the universe to keep 250 billion spiritual sons of Elohim busy for all eternity? The number of stars and planets in the universe is virtually uncountable, but is estimated to be more than 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10 sextillion) by Encyclopedia Britannica. Therefore each son of Elohim will have millions of stars to develop and maintain – enough to make up an entire galaxy of stars. Our potential is to be born into Elohim’s Family ruling the universe, receiving similar power to that of Yahshua. Together, all the born children of Elohim will ultimately be given power to rule the entire universe. Presently the whole creation is waiting anxiously for the rebirth of the children of Elohim, as witnessed in Romans 8: 19 – 23, in this way: ‘For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of Elohim. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (23) And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.’ Rav Shaul shows here that the whole creation, including the stars and planets are waiting with eager anticipation for the actual birth and appearing of the children of Elohim. The children of Elohim will turn all the planets in the universe into beautiful, productive, life-sustaining worlds. As children of Elohim we will never grow tired or weary and we will always be joyous, full of energy, strength and power to assist our Father in maintaining the universe. What an incredible future is awaiting every human being? Are you in the process of preparing to fulfill Elohim’s purpose for your life?

As our Savoir and ‘the firstborn of many brethren’ Yahshua has already qualified for the highest position under Elohim in His coming Kingdom, as witnessed in Philippians 2: 9 – 11, as follows: ‘Therefore also Elohim highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Yahshua EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,  (11) and that every tongue should confess that Yahshua Messiah is Master, to the glory of Elohim the Father.’ Certain other individuals have also qualified for positions promised them by Elohim, in His everlasting Kingdom, as we read amongst other from Ezekiel 37: 21 – 24, in this way: ‘And say to them, Thus says YHVH Elohim, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; (22) and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and  they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. (23) And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people and I will be their Elohim. (24) And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them.”’  The twelve apostles will also rule over the tribes of Israel, as Yahshua told them in Matthew 19: 28, saying: “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” So will Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all our fathers and mothers in the faith who already qualified according to Hebrews 11: 4 – 40.

There will be various positions of responsibility in the Kingdom of Elohim, for a whole new civilization to be built on earth, but this time according to Elohim’s specifications. As spirit-begotten children of Elohim, we are being judged at this time, for the future positions we will be required to control, as Rav Kepha wrote in 1 Peter 4: 17, saying: ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of Elohim; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of Elohim?’ We will be awarded with an office or position in Elohim’s government according to our works in this life! When the glorified Messiah returns to the earth to rule the world from Jerusalem, He will assign positions of authority in His government to those who are saved by His grace, those who through grace, received Elohim’s gift of eternal life by a resurrection or change to immortality at His Second Coming. But, most professing Churchianity confuses the reward of the saved, with eternal life. Eternal life is a gift, not a reward, as recorded in Romans 6: 23, in this way: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of Elohim is eternal life in Messiah Yahshua our Master.’ Yet, we are even now required to keep the commandments to have eternal life, as Yahshua said in Matthew 19: 17, as follows: “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The point is: a ‘gift’ is something given freely. Elohim’s gift of eternal life comes by His grace and favor and there is absolutely nothing we can do to earn it. But, Elohim has certain conditions which must be met before He will give us immortality. Compliance to these conditions does not earn eternal life, but disobedience will result in eternal death, as witnessed in 1 Corinthians 6: 9 & 10, in this way: ‘Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of Elohim.’ Once called by Elohim, we should make very sure that we do not do the things we used to do before He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Elohim will definitely not give eternal life to anyone who insist on living Satan’s way of life.

The reward of the saved is not eternal life; but it is in fact rulership under Messiah over all the nations of the earth. However, not all positions of rulership will be the same. As called out believers we are required to use Elohim’s Set-apart Spirit to produce much fruit, as Yahshua explained in John 15: 1 – 8, saying: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (5) I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. (8) By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” We see further from Yahshua’s parable of the sower in Matthew 13: 23 that some who are called at this time, produce more ‘fruit’ than others, as follows: “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”  We are given the Set-apart Spirit of Elohim so that we can produce good fruit. It is by using Elohim’s Set-apart Spirit that we are able to produce fruit – and thereby training for the responsible positions that Elohim is planning to reward us with in His coming Kingdom. However, one’s specific job will depend on how well we are doing during our training period; i.e. the amount of fruit (good works) we produce during our life as believers. The parable of the pound in Luke 19 shows that the reward each believer will receive will depend on how much the believer grew and overcame spiritually in this life. In this parable Messiah pictures Himself as a nobleman who goes to a far country (in this case heaven) to receive a kingdom and return to earth (as per verses 11 & 12). In verse 13 we see that before He departs, he gives each of His 10 servants (indicative of the remnant of the lost ten tribes that He came to reconcile back to the Father and brother Judah) an equal amount of money.

Once He receives the Kingdom and returns, He shows us in Luke 19: 15 how He will judge these servants, saying: “And it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done.”  These servants are the ones the Father called and to whom He has given His Set-apart Spirit, represented by an equal amount of money. Elohim has given each believer an equal amount of His Set-apart Spirit to be used to serve others, overcome, help performing the work of Elohim and to develop spiritual character. We see from verses 16 – 19 that each believer or servant will be rewarded proportionate to his spiritual growth in this life. As believers our lives may be compared to a ‘spiritual training college’ where we are trained to become kings and priests in Elohim’s Kingdom. However, the parable shows that some learn more and produce more spiritual fruit (godly character) than others. Therefore, each one will receive greater or lesser positions of responsibility based upon the amount of his spiritual overcoming and how much Elohim’s character was developed in this life. The parable in Matthew 25: 14 – 30 shows that we will be rewarded according to our works, but it also show Elohim’s fairness in rewarding us by taking into account our own natural limitations. Here again Messiah compares Himself to a man who goes to a far country. But, in this parable He divides up his goods according to the abilities of each of His slaves (verse 15). The units of money, like the minas (or pounds) in Luke 19, symbolize the Set-apart Spirit given to each believer – but they also picture the spiritual gifts given to each based on his own ability. The point is: Elohim is totally aware that some of His servants have more natural abilities and talents than others. Whereas in the parable of the minas in Luke 19 all ten servants were given the same amount of money, and each were given an equal portion of Elohim’s Spirit from Elohim from the start. In the parable of the talents, Elohim gave spiritual gifts according to the natural abilities of the slaves. To one He gave five, to the next one He gave two and to the third only one. But, we see that even though the slave with two produced less in number than the one with five, he also doubled what he started with. So he did as well as the first slave in proportion to his ability. So we see that to whom much is given, much is required; and to whom little is given, less is required (as seen in the last part of Luke 12: 48).  The parable shows further that each servant who is faithful over a few things, according to his limited abilities and opportunities in this life, will be rewarded with much when Messiah returns, as also confirmed in Matthew 25: 23, in this way: “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”

In conclusion we see that those who have been given the Set-apart Spirit as first-fruits, who fail to grow and overcome in this life and do nothing with what they have been given will not only lose their reward of rulership, but also the free gift of eternal life! We need to understand that Elohim’s purpose for mankind will come to fruition, with or without our co-operation. Think about it!