Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Why and how to study Torah?

The subject of Torah or the term ‘the Law’ produces negative mental and spiritual images in the minds of most Christians who confess faith in the Messiah.  Those negative images are both of the heavenly Father YHVH Elohim, and also of His word, the truth that He revealed to His people Israel. In context of the Torah, YHVH is presumed to be a stern lawgiver and harsh judge who sits in the third heaven, knowing little about how human beings suffer to make a living. Almost in opposition to YHVH our Elohim, Churchianity views J*e*s*u*s* as the friendly Son of G-d who came specifically to abolish His strict father’s commandments and introduced new easier commandments to his followers. In addition Torah is also viewed as an outdated collection of books containing commandments, statutes and judgments against those who fail to keep them to the letter. Some imagine these ‘laws’ as a means to trip up human beings, because they believe that we cannot possibly know, understand or implement them in our lives. These negative images do grave injustice to Elohim’s revelation of Himself to His children. They teach Torah as something harsh, bad and transient, which was superseded by grace, when Yahshua died for the sins of the world. They usually quote the following two passages from the Renewed Covenant in support of their teachings; namely firstly John 1: 16 & 17, ‘For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. (17) For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Yahshua Messiah.’ And secondly Romans 13: 10, Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.’

Yet, Yahshua the one these people say they believe in, unambiguously told the Jews who attended an annual Feast Day with Him in John 5: 45 – 47, saying: “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 writing, how will you believe My words?” In addition the Renewed Covenant states clearly in first John 5: 3, ‘For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’  In the light of the fact that these two Scriptures from the Renewed Covenant clearly show the opposite of what Churchianity believes to be true, allow me with this short study to dispel these erroneous thoughts from the minds of believers and replace it with truth based on the Scriptures. But before we commence the study, it is necessary for us to understand when we study Torah that no communication, be it written or verbal can be understood without interpretation. Torah is basically a communication from YHVH given to the children of Israel through Moses for all eternity, as YHVH told Moses in the first part of Exodus 19: 9, saying: “Behold, I shall come to you in a thick cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe in you forever.” It is therefore important for us to know the rules of interpretation in order not to misunderstand the Torah and to know what it really says. The point is that misinterpretation causes misunderstanding and misunderstanding results in false doctrines. YHVH has placed in Torah everything a student of Torah needs to ‘hear’ to understand the text.

 

Even though, the Jewish or Hebraic concept of interpretation was basically rejected by the ‘so-called’ church fathers, because they were considered too Jewish, we are told in Romans 3: 1 - 4[1] that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of Elohim and for this reason we need to consider the way they view the Scriptures, to truly understand it.  But, in rejecting the Hebraic ways, these church fathers had to substitute the literal interpretation with their idea of a ‘spiritual interpretation’. The end result was a so-called ‘dogmatic theology’ that was based on Greek logic, which separated the ‘church’ from the Olive Tree of Israel.  The Hebraic interpretation of the Scriptures is divided into four levels and is known as ‘PaRDeS.’  The four levels of understanding supported by the word ‘PaRDeS’ are as follows:

(P) ashat = ‘literal’ meaning.

(R) emez = ‘hinted’ meaning.

(D) rash = ‘search’ for the meaning.

(S) od = ‘hidden’ meaning.

The first level of interpretation namely Pashat is the key to Scriptural understanding. If you discard the ‘Pashat’ level, you lose any real chance of an accurate understanding. If for example you read in Genesis 2: 9, ‘And out of the ground YHVH Elohim caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’  You need to accept that that is at the basic level the true meaning of this verse, namely that there were two literal trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden. Pashat is the basic meaning of the text and no Scriptural interpretation ever abandons its plain, literal meaning. So no matter what other interpretative modes are used, the text always retains its literal meaning. A second verse misinterpreted or even rejected by some who insist that Eve’s son Cain was fathered by Satan, is Genesis 4: 1, where we read: ‘Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of YHVH.”’ This clearly shows that Adam fathered Cain and Satan had nothing to do with his conception. We need to understand, that we cannot add or take away from what is written in the Torah, as explained by Moses in Deuteronomy 4: 2, saying: “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHVH your Elohim which I command you.’ We also need to be ever mindful of Messiah’s words in Matthew 22: 29 & 30, when the Sadducees questioned Him about the resurrection of the dead in which they did not believe, as follows: ‘But Yahshua answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of Elohim. (30) For in the resurrection they (those in the first resurrection as also explained in first Corinthians 15: 50 – 53 and Revelation 20: 6) neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”’ This is clearly saying that angels cannot procreate, and Satan being a fallen angel can also not have children. In addition for those who insist that the first sin had to do with sex, it is important to notice that it was only after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, when Adam had relations with His wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain.

 

We are suitably warned by Rav Kepha about false teachers who sees sexual connotations into almost everything they read in the Scriptures, when he explained in 2 Peter 2: 9 – 20, saying: ‘Then the Master knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, (10) and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, (11) whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before YHVH. (12) But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, (13) suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, (14) having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;  (15) forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, (16) but he received a rebuke for his own transgression; for a dumb donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet. (17) These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. (18) 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 of 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.’

 

At a deeper level however, the passage about the two trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden, may also be used as an illustration or principle to teach about the different attitudes of mankind. According to this interpretation, the tree of life may simply be seen as Elohim’s instruction (or Torah), which we need to follow to the letter to inherit eternal life. The tree of good and evil on the other hand may be interpreted as man’s own unguided idea of how to live life. A good example being Elohim’s teaching that we should not eat pork meat based on Leviticus 11: 4 – 7, as it renders us unclean. If we follow this teaching of Elohim, we show our obedience to Him and apart from those who disobey this teaching, we will also be healthier. Those who eat pork without taking into account what YHVH taught in Torah, the first five books of the Scriptures penned by Moses, are even now taking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In addition we need to remember that YHVH our Creator and the King of the Universe is also our loving heavenly Father. As our Father, He like all fathers wants the best for us, His children. Like our earthly fathers, YHVH our Elohim has lovingly given us instructions which we as His children are to follow for our own good. It is similar to when our earthly parents taught us not to run with a pair of scissors or not to touch a hot fire. YHVH is our creator and similar to any manufacturer of the equipment we use, He gave us a manual to ensure that we operate to our full potential. When we consume pork against Elohim’s instruction, it is similar to an owner of a diesel powered vehicle who against what is written in the vehicle’s instruction manual put gasoline (petrol) into its fuel tank and expect the vehicle to perform as usual. Yes, (YHVH)’s Torah is our instruction manual, but so are the rest of the Scriptures in the Tanach and the Renewed Covenant.

 

A major misunderstanding is what is meant by the transliterated Hebrew word ‘Mitzvah’ (singular) or ‘Mitzvot’ the plural form of the commandments of Elohim, which may also be interpreted as good deeds.  There are 613 commandments given in Torah, of which 248 are positive commands and 365 are negative commands. Positive commandments require Elohim’s subjects to do something, such as wear tzitzit, keep Elohim’s Sabbath and annual Feast Days and to give charity (transliterated as ‘tzedakah’ in Hebrew) to poor brethren or family members in our midst. Negative commands are commands that tell us to refrain from doing something, such as not to commit adultery, not to steal and not to bear false witness. The problem for those who reject Torah, yet tell us that they are serving G-d is that without the Torah they have no idea what sin is. Such believers who insist they love and serve Elohim the same way we do, but that they are doing so strictly according to the Renewed Covenant or so-called ‘New Testament’, need not overlook the fact that Rav Yochanan (also known as the apostle John) wrote in first John 5: 2, saying: ‘By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and observe His commandments.’ In addition Yahshua the one Churchianity folk claim to believe in, told His disciple in Matthew 7: 21 – 23, saying: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’’’ It is quite surprising how many in especially protestant Christian circles claim to be prophets or prophetesses; and how many are involved in the casting out of demons and performing miracles. Some of these groups thrive on having so-called healing crusades where they do all sorts of miracles, including even raising the dead. What most of them do not understand is that the living dead (or spiritually dead) - those idol worshippers who serve a false god and worship him according to the laws and times declared holy by their ‘spiritual leader’, such as the one the Prophet Daniel prophesied about in Daniel 7: 24 & 25[2], who have been given a false hope of salvation are raised from the dead when someone proclaims the gospel of the coming Kingdom of Elohim to them and they start following a teacher who teach them the way of Elohim and His Torah, similar to the prodigal son who returned to his father after living a wayward life. His father immediately prepared a fatted calve for him and when asked by the eldest son who always remained with the father, why he is rejoicing over his wayward son, the father replied in Luke 15: 31 & 31, saying: ‘My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. (32) But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live; and was lost and has been found.’ When Messiah told His disciples that they will perform many miracles in His name, even raising the dead, He essentially meant that they will bring them back from the road that leads to eternal death to the one that leads to eternal life. A second witness to this comes from Matthew 22: 31 & 32, where Yahshua spoke about those in the first resurrection, saying: “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by Elohim, saying, (32) ‘I AM THE ELOHIM OF ABRAHAM, AND THE ELOHIM OF ISAAC, AND THE ELOHIM OF JACOB’? He is not the Elohim of the dead but of the living.” Yahshua was saying that even though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are presently in their graves they are already as good as being alive, because they already qualified to be in the first resurrection with better promises[3]. But, how does the Renewed Covenant interpret the word ‘lawlessness’ in verse 23 of Matthew 7? We find the answer in first John 3: 4, in this way: ‘Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.’ 

 

There are three major categories of Torah teachings, namely the commandments, statutes and judgments. The commandments tell us at a higher level what to do and what not to do, such as in Deuteronomy 5: 7, ‘You shall have no other gods, before (or beside) Me (YHVH our Elohim).’ The statutes give us more details as to what is given in the command, by breaking it down as may be read from Deuteronomy 6: 14 as follows: “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you.”  The judgment in this case is given in verse 15, in this way: “For YHVH your Elohim in the midst of you is a jealous Elohim; otherwise the anger of YHVH your Elohim will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.” In addition to these three categories, Torah also consists of witnesses (testimonies) transliterated as ‘Edot’ in Hebrew; right rulings transliterated as ‘mishpatim’; and laws or statutes that do not give reasons for obeying them, transliterated as ‘chukim’. Testimonies (‘edot’) are commands such as keeping the Sabbath and Feast Days of Elohim. These Set-apart days testify that YHVH our Elohim is the creator of the universe, but also about His soon coming Kingdom on earth, as it is now in heaven. In addition these witnesses or testimonies remind us that YHVH is faithful and that we are His people Israel, whose forefathers received the Torah from Him by the hand of Moses. The Right Rulings (‘mishpatim’) are moral and ethical laws such as ‘you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal’, etc. The laws and statutes without explanation are laws such as not to plow with two types of animal at the same time and not to wear clothing made from two types of material, such as linen and wool.

 

Those who teach that we need only obey the right rulings and that the testimonies and chukim need not be kept by believers in Messiah, need to read Messiah’s own words in Matthew 5: 17 – 20, as follows: ‘Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. (18) For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. (19) Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ We do not only obey Torah because everything makes sense to us, the fact that an instruction may not have a reason behind it makes obedience to it even more a step in faith. It shows YHVH that we place His instructions above our own personal reasoning. When YHVH told Abram to leave his country and family, he did not give him a reason, but father Abram obeyed without question and later His name was changed to Abraham, meaning the father of the faithful. Because Abraham was later willing to sacrifice his only son to YHVH for no given reason, YHVH promised him and his offspring the Promised Land forever. Abraham proved his faith by performing the works YHVH required of him. Similarly, the only way that we are able to show YHVH that we love and obey Him is by keeping His commandments without question.

 

To the Hebrew mindset, the idea of doctrinal formulation is a foreign concept. The crux of true set-apartness is tied to a relationship with YHVH and not to a creed or doctrinal statement. The Torah gives its followers direction of how the people of Israel should relate to YHVH and each other through action, not thoughts and expression of words. Their relationship with Father YHVH was therefore expressed in obedience to Torah not by stating doctrines. Their love for YHVH and each other is action orientated rather than mere words, as Rav Yaa’cov explained in James 1: 21 – 27 and 2: 14 – 26, saying: ‘Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (22) 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 (Torah), the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (26) If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. (27) This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our Elohim and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (2: 14) What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, (16) and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  (17) Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (18) But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (19) You believe that Elohim is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (20) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (22) You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED ELOHIM, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of Elohim. (24) You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. (25) And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’

 

The Jews (Hebrews) fully authenticate their humanity – they are not ashamed of their emotions and express them by laughing, crying, dancing and singing, shouting, clapping their hands and drinking of wine. They celebrate (YHVH)’s Feast Days by rejoicing; the drinking of wine is a sign of joy and accompanies their celebrations at the Feasts Days of Elohim. Jews make no distinction between what is Set-apart and secular. All of it belongs to YHVH and is submitted to Him, including eating, working, marital relations and worship services. Religion is defined as the way they live their lives. To an Israelite his religion is the Way he has chosen to walk out his redemption. It is a relationship with YHVH in His path of righteousness, shown us by Yahshua, (YHVH)’s perfect example as to how to follow Him. As Israelites we learn truth by practicing it, not just think it - truth is an encounter with Divine reality through doing the commandments. As people whom YHVH has called in a similar way that He called our father Abraham, we need to renew our minds that have been defiled by the Greco-Roman system of religion and by adopting a new Hebrew mindset, as we are admonished in Hosea 14: 1 – 9, as follows: ‘Return, O Israel, to YHVH your Elohim, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (2) Take words (meaning Torah) with you and return to YHVH. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.” (3) Assyria (those who took us captive right at the beginning) will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we again say, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in Thee the orphan finds mercy.  (4) I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them. (5) I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. (6) His shoots will sprout, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. (7) Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. (8) O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; from Me comes your fruit. (9) Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of YHVH are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.’

 

Torah should be translated as teachings and not law; in fact the word Torah means to be impregnated or to receive seed into oneself. This is why Yahshua our Messiah used the idea of seeds to explain the coming kingdom of Elohim. The Torah is implanted like a seed in a receptive, nurturing environment, to bring forth the fruit of the Kingdom in the life and hearts of the people in whom it has been sown. The Torah has the power to motivate us to correct our behavior to eventually become citizens of the future kingdom of Elohim, by already making Him King in our lives in this life. The ideal of true Torah teaching is to implant seeds that are maturing and ultimately allow us to express its concepts and truths through mature thoughts and actions. True Torah is never mindless, ritualistic living of religion; it is by practicing obedience to the commandments that we get to know the difference between the reason for a command and the purpose of a command. We should not be overly concerned with the reason for keeping a command, but should seek to find the purpose which is directed at finding the meaning of the command. Our approach to study Torah should accept the existence of the command and try and define its meaning by finding the purpose for it to be observed by a Torah observant Israelite. To understand the concept of Kosher, niddah, circumcision and tzitzit, we should, observe them without trying to look for a reason for doing so. Instead we should rather ask ourselves what the purpose or meaning that is expressed by these commandments. Even though YHVH gave certain commandments without giving us a reason for keeping it, we need to understand that every commandment given by YHVH has a purpose.

 

Pursuing the purpose of a command dictates that we perform the command and experience satisfaction by doing so. Finding purpose is the key to fulfillment in life. The covenants that YHVH made with our forefathers in the faith are what produce purpose of Torah.  It teaches what is right and wrong, and gives us the Laws of a just nation, knowing that YHVH our Elohim is our lawgiver. Yahshua understood the concept of Torah being seed sown into the hearts of His disciples. His words which were all Torah received from the Father could fall on various types of hearts, whether the words took root and bore fruit depended on how well the listeners could hear (Sh’ma) the parables and truth He spoke. He said accordingly to His disciples (and by implication to us His latter day disciples) in Matthew 13: 11 – 15: “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (12) For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. (13) Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (14) And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; (15) FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM.’” The capital letters used by Yahshua in this section is a quote from Isaiah 6: 8 – 10. If we turn to Isaiah 6, we see that this quote is followed by verses 11 – 13, in this way: ‘Then I said, “YHVH, how long?” And He answered, "Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, houses are without people, and the land is utterly desolate. (12) YHVH has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. (13) Yet there will be a tenth portion in it, and it will again be subject to burning, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump.” After the punishment to be unleashed upon the world that are not prepared to hear (YHVH)’s words before Messiah returns to earth, will only leave a remnant who will inherit the Promised Land or kingdom of Elohim during the millennium. The vast majority who did not listen with understanding, will only be resurrected during the second resurrection, during which time every knee will bow before Yahshua – that is when they will get an opportunity to learn the truth and accept Yahshua as their personal savior who died for the sins of the world. Yahshua’s parables were intended for those who hear and understand His words. They will become the Spiritual children of the Kingdom of Elohim.

 

By looking a little deeper; in Hebrew the gematria of the letter (ק) transliterated as ‘qof’ is 100. It is a symbol of ‘growth cycles’ and Set-apartness. All the cycles of the universe teach us that everything in the universe has a purpose. The cycle of seven is repeated in Torah a number of times. The gematria of 100 is a cycle of 10 times 10. The millennium is on the same cycle of seven; the seventh millennium. The millennium of the kingdom age is in a cycle of 10, also 10 times 10 times 10 which equals 1000 years. A seed must follow its natural cycle to bear fruit in the life of an Israelite. It must be sown, watered, grow, bear fruit and be harvested. Yahshua is busy sowing the seed of Torah through the discipleship program that He started into the fertile hearts of Israelites. It needs to be watered by means of prayer, studying, hearing and obeying Torah and then it will bear fruits of the Set-apart Spirit specified in Galatians 5: 22 – 26, as follows: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (24) Now those who belong to Messiah Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (26) Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.’

 

The end result will be, to be harvested into the Kingdom of Elohim during the end of this age. Our purpose for studying Torah is therefore to get to know the way of Elohim, to show Him that we love Him and to be able to teach others during this age, but especially during Messiah’s millennial rule and the Great white throne judgment period, when books will be opened to the minds of those resurrected at that time. Messiah’s apostle Rav Yochanan wrote fittingly in first John 2: 3 – 7, saying: ‘And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (4) The one who says “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  (5) but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of Elohim has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: (6) the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.’  Think carefully about it!    

 

[1] Romans 3: 1 – 4: ‘Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of Elohim. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of Elohim, will it? May it never be! Rather, let Elohim be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT THOU MIGHTEST BE JUSTIFIED IN THY WORDS, AND MIGHTEST PREVAIL WHEN THOU ART JUDGED.”’

[2] Daniel 7: 24 & 25: ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times (of worship services) and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.’ Even though these changes to times and law has been made by the ruling Pope 1800, years ago, the three and a half years spoken about here refers to the period of the Great Tribulation, before Messiah comes to rule the world from Jerusalem.

[3] Revelation 20: 6, ‘Blessed and holy is the one who has 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.’