343 The Scripture is the foundation to

The Scriptures is the foundation of knowledge.

HASHEM spoke to the prophet Daniel about the time of the end in Daniel 12: 3 & 4, saying: “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. (4) But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” From this we understand that we are living during the end times, as it is only during the last 70 years since World War II that mankind has been traveling across the globe at great speed, but more importantly is the fact that we live in a dynamic age of information driven by scientific communications and digital innovation.

Both scientific knowledge and knowledge about the way of G-d are being ‘discovered’ at an ever-increasing pace. In line with Daniel’s prophecy, Messiah ben Joseph told His disciples in Matthew 13: 11 & 12, saying: “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.” Even though there is an excess of information available about almost any subject that man’s mind can contemplate, humanity is unfortunately lacking the basic knowledge so essential for their well-being. Yes, we are at this time drowning in an information over-load but starved of knowledge about G-d and His ways.But what is the problem? Why doesn’t mankind understand the way of G-d? We get the answer in Hosea 4: 1 (KJV), where Isaiah wrote: ‘Hear the word of HASHEM, ye children of Israel: for HASHEM hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth (Torah), nor mercy, nor knowledge of G-d in the land.

Something vitally important to the very existence of mankind is lacking. However, notice carefully that it is not missing because it cannot be found any longer, but it is missing because people have rejected the available knowledge and will as a result be destroyed, as Hosea wrote further in verse 6 of Hosea 4, saying: ‘My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law (Torah) of your G-d, I also will forget your children.” The prophet Jeremiah prophesied about our people (Israel) in Jeremiah 2: 8, saying: “The priests did not say, ‘Where is HASHEM?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal (the Lord) and walked after things that did not profit (them spiritually).” Jeremiah continues in verses 11 – 14, telling us Israelites why we are being punished at this time, saying: “Has a nation changed gods, when they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory for what does not profit. (12) Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate,” declares HASHEM. (13) For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (14) Is Israel a slave? Or is he a home born servant? Why has he become prey? Jeremiah gives us the answer in verse 19, saying: ‘“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your apostasies (backsliding) will reprove you; know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake HASHEM your G-d, and the dread (fear) of Me is not in you,” declares HASHEM G-d of hosts.’ Ever since the late 1980’s with the invention of internet and the world-wide web mankind has amassed information previously unheard of. But what concerns HASHEM is our lack of spiritual knowledge. Rav Shaul accurately described many people of our time who are always searching more information on the internet, saying in 2 Timothy 3: 7, they are ‘always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.’

Why is it that we who are so much better educated than our parents know so much less? By the way, it is senseless to look for the answer on the internet. Yes, you will find lots more information, but will still not know the true answer. The reason is that the answer is only available in the word of G-d. HASHEM tells us through Jeremiah the prophet, talking specifically to those of us who think of ourselves as being ‘learned’ saying in Jeremiah 9: 23 & 24: ‘Thus says HASHEM, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast in his riches; (24) but let him who boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am HASHEM who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares HASHEM.’It is only when we humble ourselves before HASHEM that we will learn anything. If we come to Sabbath services for teachings, thinking and believing we know it all, we will not learn anything. Messiah ben Joseph told His disciples about spiritual knowledge concerning the coming kingdom of G-d in Matthew 13: 16 & 17, saying: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. (17) For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not heart it.” Let me tell you, knowing G-d’s word is priceless – it is indeed the foundation of understanding all knowledge.

But why has mankind rejected true knowledge from G-d? We find the answer in 2 Corinthians 4: 3 & 4, in this way: ‘And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) in whose case the god of the 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 G-d.’ Most people do not believe that Satan is the god of this world. In fact, many modern Christians are uncomfortable with the reality of Satan; nevertheless, we read from first John 5: 19 as follows: ‘We know that we are of G-d, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.’ It is also for this reason that Rav Shaul wrote about Messiah ben Joseph in Galatians 1: 1 – 4, saying: ‘Shaul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Y’shua Messiah, and G-d the Father, who raise Him from the dead), (2) and all the brethren who are with me, to the congregations of Galatia: (3) Grace to you and peace from G-d our Father, and the Master Y’shua Messiah, (4) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our G-d and Father.’One reason for Messiah ben Joseph’s coming to the world was to disarm Satan, as witnessed in Hebrews 2: 14, in this way: ‘Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.’

Messiah ben Joseph’s death was the first step in G-d’s plan of salvation for all mankind. Satan would dearly love us to cut G-d’s plan short, with Messiah ben Joseph remaining on the cross, as portrayed in the Roman Catholic Church. It is for this reason that Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 5: 10, saying: ‘For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to G-d through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.’One way in which Satan has managed to deceive believers in Messiah ben Joseph, is by allowing them to believe that the Scriptures contain two sections: the one old and outdated, and the other new and to be seen as a separate book. The problem with Satan’s disinformation is that mankind had been fed so much erroneous teachings for many centuries that even intelligent people started believing that the two parts of the Scriptures represent two totally opposite views, namely that of the so-called ‘Old Testament’ with a strict old G-d of wrath as opposed to the ‘New Testament’ with a much more lenient G-d of love. It is also for this reason that some believe the so-called ‘Old Testament’ became obsolete and had to be replaced by the ‘New Testament’ and as a result they have neglected three quarters of G-d’s inspired word to their own peril.

Many who say they believe in Messiah ben Joseph today reject most of what is recorded in the Tanach, but specifically the Torah written by Moses. Even though these people claim to believe in Messiah, most of what they believe is directly opposite to what He taught whilst He was on earth. In fact, we see from what He personally told His audience in John 5: 46 & 47, that unless we believe the Torah written by Moses, we cannot believe in Him, in this way: ‘For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” In full support of this we see that after Messiah ben Joseph’s death and resurrection He met up with His disciples before His ascension teaching them in Luke 24: 44 & 45, saying: ‘“These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (45) Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.’

If we are truly interested in how the two parts of G-d’s word join seamlessly into His complete revelation to us, we will recognize how the book of Malachi speaks about ‘Elijah who is to come’ in Malachi 4: 4 – 6, and how the book of Matthew in Matthew 11: 13 & 14, in the words of Messiah (ben Joseph), says: “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until (or concerning) John (the Immerser)(14) And if you care to accept it, he himself is Elijah, who was to come.’ Luke in Luke 1: 16 & 17, wrote about Yochanan the Immerser, saying: “And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to HASHEM their G-d. (17) And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Master.”In fact, Messiah ben Joseph confirmed historical accounts in the Scriptures in His teachings, one of which being His Olivet prophecy where He referred to the creation of the world in Genesis 1, saying in Matthew 24: 21, ‘For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.’ He further spoke about Noah’s time in verses 37 & 38, saying: “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. (38) For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark.’Messiah ben Joseph also confirmed that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have already qualified to be in the kingdom of G-d, where He warned in Luke 13: 28, saying: “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of G-d, but yourselves being cast out.” Messiah ben Joseph therefore authenticated the Tanach, by accepting Scriptural history and quoting the same in His teachings.

G-d takes His word very seriously and Messiah Ben David in a vision tells us at the end of the book of Revelation in Chapter 22: 18 & 19, saying: ‘I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them G-d shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; (19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, G-d shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.’ We know that the warnings given here in Revelation extends to all the other books of the Scriptures, as is witnessed in Deuteronomy 4: 2, in this way: “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of HASHEM your G-d which I command you.” Messiah ben Joseph confirmed as recorded in Matthew 4: 4 and Luke 4: 4 that as human beings we need to eat daily, but also to study the word of G-d to survive both physically and spiritually, saying: “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF G-D.’” How can words be more important to human survival than food? G-d gave us His commandments for our own good – if we live by what He taught in His word, we will not only benefit in this life, but also inherit eternal life in Messiah ben David’s Kingdom to come.

We need to understand that human life is more than an existence from the cradle to the grave. HASHEM has a plan for every human life lived on earth and wants to use our earthly life as a training period in preparation for an eternal position in the universe to come. Each one of us needs to get to know how to cooperate with HASHEM to be able to handle the responsibility He planned for us in the future. It is for this reason vitally important that we start cooperating with HASHEM in this life and learn to do His will, at this time; right Now! It was for this very reason that immediately after Messiah ben Joseph’s immersion that He preached the gospel of G-d, saying in Mark 1: 15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of G-d is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”It is important to understand that the Scriptures are the words that HASHEM is communicating to each one of us on an individual basis. It was for this reason that Y’shua said in John 6: 63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” This tells us that Scriptural principals are empowered by spiritual forces that cannot be seen. It is for this reason that we read from John 1: 1, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with G-d, and the word was G-d.” HASHEM talks to us through His word – we must therefore respect it as we would HASHEM Himself!

Yes, G-d’s word is truly the foundation of knowledge. It gives us important information not readily available from other sources. An example being where HASHEM forbids the eating and or cooking of meat of an animal in its mother’s milk in Exodus 23: 19; 34: 26 and Deuteronomy 14: 21. To most people’s minds this is one law that does not make sense at all. I am sure for many years since the giving of this command many struggled to find reasons for HASHEM to have such a command. However, with hindsight and with medical science having discovered the problem that many of us have with cholesterol, it is beginning to make sense for those with discerning minds. Yes, it is simply a health law which HASHEM has given along with laws forbidding the consumption of fat and blood, the last named also mentioned by Rav Yaa’cov in Acts 15: 20, as one of four initial commandments that new believers need to obey when they are called into the faith by HASHEM; but the main point is that if we do not obey these so-called least commandments – we are disobedient to G-d. G-d’s word also provides us with a framework with which we may apply other knowledge. For example, the Jewish clock reads 5781 years, but scientist estimate the universe to be more than 13 billion years old. We need to understand that both these views are correct; but that Torah looks forward in time from different time space coordinates, when the universe was small. Since then, the universe has expanded and because space stretches, the stretching totally changes the perception of time.

This fact is recorded on the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory webpage, in this way: “Our universe burst into existence in an event known as the big bang 13.8 billion years ago, moments later space itself ripped apart, expanding exponentially in an episode known as inflation.” The universe is not static; it has been expanding from the very beginning when it was first created. The Scriptures attest to this in the first part of Job 9: 8, where Job said: “Who alone stretches out the heavens.” A second witness comes from Psalm 104: 1 & 2, where David wrote: ‘Bless HASHEM, O my soul! O HASHEM my G-d, Thou art very great; Thou are clothed in splendor and majesty, (2) covering Thyself with light as with a cloak, stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.’ The prophet Isaiah mentioned the stretching out of the heavens several times, one of which appears in Isaiah 42: 5, saying: ‘Thus says G-d HASHEM, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it.’ According to scientists our moon has slowly moved away from the earth by a few feet annually. The moon is presently about 239,000 miles away from earth. If we could turn the clock a few thousand million years back, the moon would be close or even joined to the earth. That means that creation must have taken place less than a thousand million years ago, with the moon being created some distance away from the earth. In other words, there was a beginning. Even though the world of man was created about 4000 BCE the universe including the earth were created at an earlier time.

Einstein taught that the Big Bang theory does not only bring space and matter into existence, but that there is also a time dimension to be considered. How we see time is from where we are viewing it. Einstein’s equation E = MC², informs us that energy can change into matter. Once it changes, time starts. Energy is said to travel at the speed of light, namely 300 million meters per second. At the speed of light, time does not pass, it only grabs hold or starts when matter is present. The moment of time prior to the clock starting for the Scriptures lasted 1/100,000 of a second - a noticeably short time. But in that time the universe expanded from a tiny speck to the solar system. That is when energy changed to matter and time started.The Theory of Relativity informs us that the difference in the rate at which time passes in different frames of reference, depends on the ratio of the strengths of the gravitational fields in the systems. For example, a minute on the moon goes faster than a minute on the earth. Similarly, is a minute on the sun slower than a minute on the earth. If you could look from one system to another, you would see time differently. Because, depending on factors like gravity and velocity, you observe time in a way that is quite different. For example, there are planets in the universe where time is so stretched out that in the time, we live out about one year on earth, only one-and-a-half-minute go by on such planets. If one could look down on earth from such a planet, our perception of earth time would be that everyone on earth is moving amazingly fast. If we could look up at that planet from earth, our perception would be that it moves very slowly. But which is correct? Like I said earlier, both are correct since both are happening at the same time. There are numerous locations in the universe, where if you could put a clock, it would tick so slowly from our perspective (if we could live that long) 13 billion years would go by, but the clock at that remote location would tick away only six days. So even though the universe is more than 13 billion years old, Torah looks forward in time, from quite different time-space coordinates, when the universe was small. However, since the universe has expanded, space stretched out, and as a result the perception of time has totally changed.

King David similarly used foundational knowledge to summarize G-d’s plan of salvation in five short verses. He described in seven steps how mankind needs to be prepared to ultimately share the universe with G-d in Psalm 103. The first two steps deal with mankind’s responsibility to trust and obey HASHEM, and to confirm this by willingly accepting His instructions, then HASHEM will do all the rest to ensure our place in eternity with Him. We read from verse 1 of Psalm 103, ‘Bless HASHEM, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.’ The transliterated Hebrew word for bless is ‘Baruch’ – meaning to give oneself to HASHEM without reservation and to respect Him as the Almighty. It means that we should let His will become our will and trust that everything that He does is for our good in preparing us for life as His spiritual children.But the word‘Baruch’ also implies the thought of giving; in this case giving HASHEM the honor and respect due to Him. If the principle given in Psalm 115: 8 also applies to HASHEM the only G-d, then if we trust in Him, we will become like Him. Therefore, if we admire HASHEM and His ways, we will eventually become like Him. It is perhaps for this reason that we are told by Rav Shaul to conform to the image of Y’shua in Romans 8: 29 & 30, in this way: ‘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.’

We read the second step from verse 2 of Psalm 103, as follows: ‘Bless HASHEM, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.’ This means that we are to claim (HASHEM)’s benefits and remind ourselves and others that HASHEM loves to give them. If we conform to the image of G-d, we will like Messiah ben David become heirs of G-d, as we are told in Romans 8: 16 – 17, in this way: ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of G-d, (17) and if children, heirs also, heirs of G-d and fellow heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.’ (HASHEM)’s greatest gift is of Himself. The prodigal son described in Luke 15 asked his father to give him everything due to him, but when he came to himself, he understood his own shortcomings and with a changed attitude said,‘make me as one of your hired men.’ If we understand what Messiah ben Joseph taught here, this should become our approach to (HASHEM)’s throne.

The third step in David’s plan in Psalm 103: 3, i.e. ‘Who pardons all your iniquities’, to prepare us to share the universe with HASHEM is to establish our status as needing forgiveness as sinners and by our own nature unworthy of G-d’s goodness and grace. It is for this reason that we read from Romans 3: 23, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G-d.’ Yes, we all need forgiveness of our sins, which is affected by us acknowledging our sins; the transgression of the Law, and returning to Torah obedience, but also accepting Messiah ben Joseph as our Passover lamb, acknowledging that He shed His blood for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, including ours. The fourth step, i.e. ‘Who heals all our diseases ‘deals with provision of physical and spiritual healing. Even though we need medical doctors to set broken bones, to prevent blood loss, to identify viruses and treat infections, we need to understand that HASHEM is ultimately our healer. The fifth step, i.e. ‘Who redeems your life from the pit (or destruction)’ only applies to those who have gone through the four previous steps. Those who will ultimately not bow before the Messiah will be destroyed as per Malachi 4: 1. The words ‘who redeems your life from destruction’, refers to the whole man; that his body, soul, and spirit be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Messiah ben David, as per 1 Thessalonians 5: 23.

The sixth step, i.e. ‘Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion’, refers to the coronation of those in the first resurrection as Rav Shaul assured us as in 2 Timothy 4: 7 & 8, saying: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearance.’ The seventh step, i.e. ‘Who satisfies your years (desire) with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.’ The words ‘good things’ do not mean material things, but involve adornment of your spiritual character, when you will be fitted for the next perfect world. This is implied in the reference to the eagle. The Imperial Eagle is the king of birds. The eggs of the Imperial Eagle hatch in 35 days, as compared to all other eagles which hatch in 28 days. They mate for life and have a life span equal to that of mankind. When they get old, their feathers are torn and disarrayed from long use, they sit in their nests day after day doing nothing, and without food and water, as if awaiting translation. After some time, the body shrinks, the old feathers drop off and the wrinkled skin appears, to leave a sorry looking mess behind. But soon new skin appears to take new life and color. A little while longer and the bird is covered with fuzz, which eventually turns into feathers, and within a few weeks he is again covered with new plumage. Like a miracle, one day he lifts his powerful feathered wings and soars off into the sky in search of a new life. King David under Divine inspiration likens this miraculous transformation to that of a believer in the hands of His Creator, using the invisible Word and Spirit to remove the weaknesses of human life in favor of spiritual life in the Kingdom of G-d.

HASHEM wants us to like David applies the basic knowledge that He provides to understand the deeper things in life. The point is that G-d commands us to live in harmony with His revealed way of life. His laws define the true values, and He expects us to get to know them to the point where they become a way of life.The Scriptures are contained in a single book of spiritual instructions that reflect both G-d’s mind and character. Y’shua our Messiah as the image of the invisible G-d is not a separate entity away from HASHEM our G-d, but is very much part of G-d, and as such did not view the laws that HASHEM gave through Moses in a different light. We read accordingly from Matthew 22: 35 – 40, ‘And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, (36) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (37) And He said to him, “’YOU SHALL LOVE HASHEM YOUR G-D WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’(38) “This is the great and foremost commandment. (39) The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ (40)“On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” G-d’s Laws are spiritual according to Romans 7: 14 and is based on love – since G-d gave it for our good. G-d’s laws define love toward Him as our Creator, as well as to our neighbor. Messiah ben Joseph cited both these commandments from the Torah and thereby authenticated the same. HASHEM gave mankind His word, the Scriptures as a manual on how to apply these laws, to live happy productive lives. The Scriptures also inform us to continue to grow in the grace (mercy) and knowledge of our Master and Messiah ben Joseph. In other words, in addition to obeying Torah, we need to study the words and life of Messiah ben Joseph whilst He was on earth and start living the way that He lived. Yes, it is as we read earlier in Romans 5: 10, ‘we shall be saved by His life’; meaning the life that He now lives in us.

From Genesis to Revelation the Scriptures is a book of spiritual instruction. Its focus is on G-d’s spiritual Law, which is embodied and summarized in the Ten Commandments. As the foundation of all knowledge the Scriptures show the root cause of every problem that has plagued mankind since creation. G-d’s word reveals true values by which we are required to live, if we need to solve our enormous relationship problems and other insolvable problems that threaten to overwhelm us. Messiah ben Joseph’s disciples left a permanent record or testimony in the Renewed Covenant about His life and teachings for believers to follow as witnessed in John 20: 30 & 31, in this way: ‘Many other signs therefore Y’shua also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these have been written that you may believe that Y’shua is the Messiah, the Son of G-d; and that believing you may have life in His name.’ Think about it!

Psalm 119: 142, ‘Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth.’

To be able to bless (HASHEM)’s holy name, we need to be taught about it by someone before we can do so, as Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 10: 13 & 14, saying: ‘For “WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF HASHEM WILL BE SAVED.” How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’

Psalm 115: 8 states that “Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.”