38 Would you like to live forever? | nazareneisrael2house

Would you like to live forever?

Very few people realize that the gospel about the coming Kingdom of Elohim, is the same gospel Elohim proclaimed to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob our fathers in the faith, when He promised them and their descendants (who like them has to prove their faith by their works - by being obedient to fulfil their part of the covenant), eternal life as co-rulers with Messiah in the Promised Land, when He returns. But, not many people alive today, want to live forever. The reason being, that we live in an age characterized by dysfunctional personal relationships, broken homes, neglected children, violent crimes and a total loss of faith in Elohim, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We do not trust each other any longer and all relationships are viewed as only temporary. We know of fewer lifelong marriages and the idea of lifelong careers have disappeared totally. Young Israelites have to be multi-skilled, if they want to survive economically and not many contribute to pension funds and medical insurance schemes any more. Even those with university degrees and diplomas cannot secure permanent positions and most have to accept temporary work to make a living.

We live in a vastly different world since the beginning of 2009 and our quality of life has deteriorated so much, that the future is becoming bleaker by the day. Our world has been teetering on the edge of a recession for the last seven years, and only the very naïve believes that everything will improve soon. Even though world leaders won’t at this time admit it, they are desperately trying various solutions to what appears to be an insurmountable problem. Even nature seems to be hostile to human survival here on earth. There are droughts, floods, earth quakes and volcanoes disrupting the lives of many inhabitants of our planet today. Because of the ongoing economic crises, most citizens of the world fail to secure work, and oddly enough those who are given work because of government policies, cannot perform their functions productively, because they are not qualified or have falsified their résumés. Even those wealthy enough to start their own businesses suffer loss, because of pilfering by their staff and a lack of sales and business opportunities in general. Yes, the future does not look very promising and young people have very little hope for a better future. Presently millions of Africans and Arabs are infiltrating Europe in a search for a better living and to escape escalating violence and war in their own countries, but instead they are causing more problems in the world. There is a spirit of unrest creeping into especially third world countries, because the citizens of these countries have grown to distrust their leaders, who have been in power for decades. The question is: Why can’t the clever leaders; the scientist and financial geniuses of recent years solve the overwhelming problems facing our world? The reason is that the problems facing modern man is spiritual in nature. The diagnosis for all these problems is simply, that only relationships based on common rules will work. Because standards are vague or even non-existent, people cannot agree to accept or adhere to the same moral principles any longer. Anything goes; it is like the song goes: ‘love the one you’re with’. Because most attach the wrong connotation to the word love; divorce and broken homes are the order of the day and we are going from bad to worse. The result is unwanted pregnancies, abortions and in a worst case scenario aids. The truth is that when standards are not upheld any longer, society goes astray. Many empires in the past disappeared because of a lack of standards and if you cannot see the writing on the wall yet, the western world is fast heading that way!

Ever since the creation of mankind, there have been standards or rules according to which we should live our lives. Similar to with any manufactured appliance, machine or equipment, which usually comes with an operating manual, that should be read to ensure the most efficient operation of the equipment, we as human beings also have been given an operating manual, which if we follow it correctly will ensure our well-being. This manual instructs us what to eat, when to rest, and how to live with our Creator/Maker and neighbor. Like the makers of a diesel powered motor vehicle know and prescribe what fuel to use to ensure optimal performance of the vehicle, YHVH the one who created us through His word, knows what is best for us. Even so, very few people are interested to ever read the manual given to us, or want to be told what to do and what not to do. In fact, most believe that since we do not have copies in the original languages any longer, and because of numerous mistranslations in the copies available to us, we are no longer able to read and understand the Scriptures. They believe that only those with Doctorate degrees in the original languages in which the Scriptures were written should interpret it for us, as only such learned individuals are able to understand the Scriptures correctly. But the truth of the matter is that because we have grown accustomed to be entertained by those who teach us ‘Scriptural truths’, we are not interested in an Elohim who meets us through Scriptural revelation. As a result people are not interested to study or confirm what their learned teachers taught them in the Scriptures. In addition, those learned people who in the past interpreted the Scriptures for their followers, have because of greed, twisted the Scriptures to say whatever they require it to say, to enable them to fleece their students. As a result some only have faith in hard scientific evidence; whilst many young people steer away from structured religion and are unsure where to turn to for answers to religious questions, such as: Why are we here? What happens when we die? Etc.

These people are unsure of what truth is or that it even exists and by saying that the Scriptures are so full of mistakes that one cannot believe it any longer, they imply that YHVH is not a factor in their lives. Such people say they worship Elohim (who most refer to as G-d), but in reality it is only lip service as may be read from Isaiah 29: 13 & 14 (KJV), in this way: ‘Wherefore YHVH said, “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.’ Yes, even the learned among these people are beginning to forget the little truth they once knew. Contrary to what the Scriptures teach, people have come to believe that it is impossible for human beings to keep the commandments at all. A man attending our services a while back, listened to my sermon about the two resurrections and the (only) chance available to the unsaved dead after the second resurrection, as recorded in Isaiah 25: 7 – 9, as follows: ‘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 (we know according to Revelation 20: 14 that death and the grave will only be swallowed up for all time, after the second resurrection and the great white throne judgment), and YHVH Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth (this does not sound like YHVH is going to throw everyone not called at this time into the lake of fire, without giving those who never got to know Him or His Salvation truth, their first chance to repent and learn about Him); 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.”’ After services, this person (who shall remain anonymous, since all human beings may change their minds and can repent of previous held false beliefs) told me that he does not believe this teaching and refused to accept the literal meaning of these verses. Later he sent me an SMS, saying that there is no one alive who is able to keep Elohim’s commandments. I could not see the connection between the two topics; although obedience to Torah is required to be in the first resurrection, it is not really related to the mercy that Elohim will show the unsaved dead during the great white throne judgment. Even so, those of us called at this time need to keep the commandments to the best of our ability, remembering that it is not impossible to do so if we truly love Elohim, as we read from first John 5: 3 in this way: ‘For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’ In hindsight I realized that the SMS was a delayed reaction to this man’s anti-Torah sentiment, which he leant from Churchianity.

The reason why many ‘believers’ doubt what they read in the Scriptures, is because they are always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth, as Rav Shaul wrote in 2 Timothy 3: 7. Such people do not want to be taught by anybody, and prefer to study the Scriptures all on their own. They consult hundreds of books, the internet and research doctrines of the so-called learned ‘church fathers’, including the use of (Greek) hermeneutics to interpret the Scriptures, which only leads to confusion and their unbelief. They do not understand that Yahshua instituted a discipleship program, allowing those who have gone through His discipleship program to teach others about the coming kingdom of Elohim and whatever else He taught His disciples whilst He was on earth, as He commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28: 18 – 20, saying: “All authority (the KJV reads: power since Yahshua is the power of Elohim[1]) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Set-Apart Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In addition we read from Romans 10: 13 & 14: ‘For “WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF YHVH WILL BE SAVED.” (14) 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?’ It is very important that we do self-study, but we need teachers to teach us about Elohim’s plan of salvation for all mankind and such things as, what happens when we die, which are all contrary to what Churchianity teach.

When we are called-out of the world by YHVH, our first step in our relationship with Him, is to repent from our past lawlessness, to return to obeying Torah and to be immersed into the saving name of Yahshua our Messiah. This is when the Salvation of YHVH, namely Yahshua becomes our personal Passover and we are given a portion of Elohim’s Set-apart Spirit as a pledge (or deposit) of our inheritance of eternal life, as we read from Ephesians 1: 13 & 14, in this way: ‘In Him (Yahshua), you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Set-apart Spirit of promise, (14) who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to redemption of Elohim’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.’ After immersion, we are required to grow in grace and knowledge (as we read from 2 Peter 3: 18[2]), by praying and studying the Scriptures under guidance of a teacher who comes in the name of YHVH and teaches Torah. The teacher who teaches returnees from the lost ten tribes, must be one who does not only teach Torah, but should also live Torah as a reflection in his life and believe in the Salvation of YHVH, namely Yahshua as we read from first Timothy 3: 2 – 7[3], and Revelation 14: 12[4].

It is vitally important that we demonstrate our faith by the fruit that we bear after immersion, as Yahshua said in John 15: 1 – 8, as follows: “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 (yes we the congregation of called-out believers are being judged during this age as we are told in 1 Peter 4: 17[5]). (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.” But how is it possible for us to abide in Yahshua? Yes, we should study His word and keep the commandments, but there is more, as Yahshua our Messiah explained in John 6: 53 – 57 and especially in verse 56, in this way: ‘Yahshua therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. (54) He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (55) For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. (56) He who eats my flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” So here in verse 56 Yahshua tells us how we get to abide in Him and even though it sounds gruesome to most, we know that He was talking about the new symbols that He instituted when He partook of the Passover, the night before His impalement and death.

We read Rav Shaul’s explanation in this regard from 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 25, as follows: ‘For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you, that the Master Yahshua in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; (24) and when He had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (25) In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as You drink it, in remembrance of Me.”’ If we partake of the annual Passover, with the new symbols that Yahshua introduced at His last Passover, we get to abide in Him, and He in us. But, at this point we still need to answer the question about the conditions under which Yahshua will reveal Himself to us. Yahshua gives us the answer to this question in John 14: 19 – 21, in this way: “After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. (20) In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. (21) He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.” Here we are given the conditions that we need to meet before Yahshua our Messiah will disclose Himself to us. It is no wonder that many so-called believers do not know Yahshua's true identity – that He is Elohim in the flesh and if we start obeying Him fully, we will get to know Him, like we should.

Elohim extends His love to us from the lost ten tribes, whom He divorced because of Idolatry, to return through Abraham’s one seed Yahshua our Messiah, but it is important to notice that His love is based on adhering to eternal standards, which were established by Him from the start, as we read from John 14: 24, as follows: “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” Since Yahshua is Elohim in the flesh, the Laws of the Father and that of the Son are exactly the same, as explained by Rav Yochanan in 2 John 6, in this way ‘And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.’ Rav Yochanan talking about Yahshua our Messiah in second John told us that His commandments are not at all new, but is the same commandments given to Moses at the beginning, when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. YHVH sent Messiah specifically to reconcile us back to both Him and Brother Judah in order to reestablish the commonwealth of Israel, but expects our obedience to exceed theirs, because of our disposition to idolatry, as Yahshua also confirmed in Matthew 5: 20, saying: “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’ve read in first John 5: 3, Rav Yochanan saying that these commandments of Elohim are not burdensome, so those who believe that it is impossible to keep Elohim’s Torah are either not trying or simply opposed to it. If we oppose Elohim’s Torah of love, we bring untold suffering upon ourselves and our children in the form of dysfunctional human relationships or the curses given in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. YHVH put unchangeable laws in effect from the beginning of creation, and no one – not even J*e*s*u*s* C*h*r*i*s*t* did or can change these laws. Like the law of gravity is beneficial to all who dwell on earth, but harmful when transgressed, so are Elohim’s laws for our benefit, but if we continue to transgress them, we will be corrected. You and I can attend Sunday and Easter sunrise services as much as we like, we will definitely not get to heaven[6] doing so! But, in addition to the proper relationships we will have with Elohim and fellow human beings by following His spiritual standards, Yahshua said in John 14: 23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him’” Can one ask for a bigger blessing! Yes, Yahshua our Messiah is returning soon, as He promised about 2,000 years ago, to usher in Elohim’s kingdom on earth, as it is now in heaven. Once Messiah takes over earth’s rulership, there will be no more corruption or the mismanagement of resources that is for use (not abuse) of Elohim’s people, as witnessed in Isaiah 11: 3 - 5, as follows: ‘And He will delight in the fear of YHVH, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; (4) But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth (the judgments described in Torah), and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. (5) Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.’ Who will not want to live eternally under such conditions of righteousness?

But let’s get back to what Yahshua had to say about our fathers in the faith? We read from Luke 13: 23 – 30: ‘And someone said to Him, “Master, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, (24) “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (25) Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Master open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ (26) Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; (27) and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVIL-DOERS.’ (28) 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 Elohim, but yourselves being cast out. (29) And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table (partaking of the Passover) in the kingdom of Elohim. (30) And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”’ Here Yahshua informed us that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob already qualified to be in the kingdom of Elohim, but if we do not follow their example, we will be cast out. In fact we see from Matthew 22: 29 – 32 Yahshua telling the Sadducees that those who qualified like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are even though they are still in their graves, as good as resurrected to eternal life already, saying: “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of Elohim. (30) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (31) 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.” This is confirmed in Hebrews 11: 8 – 10, as follows: ‘By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, (10) for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is Elohim. Continuing in verses 39 & 40 we read: ‘And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, (40) because Elohim had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.’ Yes, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will only receive the promise to live eternally in the Promised Land, when Yahshua returns and those of us called at this time who also qualifies to be resurrected with our fathers in the faith, at that time.

Now that we have answered the question about eternal life, let’s address the problem about the credibility of the Scriptures translated in different languages. Despite the fact that most of the called-out believers believe and trust in the Scriptures as the Word of Elohim, there are whole segments in society, including some called-out believers, who has a biased view of the Scriptures. As mentioned before, there are basically two problems with the modern translations of the Scriptures. Not all of us can read or fully understand the original languages from which the Scriptures were translated. In addition, even though the people who translated the Scriptures had the best intentions to translate it as accurately as possible, they were unfortunately biased due to doctrines based on human ideas and philosophy. Because the Christian Church who was behind most modern translations, wanted to move away from anything Jewish, they lost their ability to fully understand the meaning of the original text. In an effort to camouflage the fact that Yahshua came as a Jew, they opt to change His name from Yahshua the Salvation of YHVH to J*e*s*u*s*, which does not have the same meaning at all. This leaves us with translated Scriptures that differ in many instances from the original. Even so, YHVH still uses the adulterated versions of the Scriptures that we currently have to teach us His truths, as Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 15: 4, saying: ‘For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.’ The Scriptures have been available for hundreds of years. People heard the Word of Elohim from the pages of the Scriptures or from the prophets; and the message from Elohim was always, to repent and return to Him in obedience. Even if the medium used to transfer the message differed, the result has always been the same: But, only a few have responded positively to Elohim’s Word. What makes the difference to those who respond and those who don’t? The main reason for those who respond positively is that they are convinced that the Scriptures are indeed the Word of Elohim. In addition each one of us has the right to exercise our own free will; our Creator has allowed us the right of free choice and He will never force us to believe or do anything that we are not prepared to do. Some people simply exercise their free will to respond positively to Elohim’s word, whilst others reject the same.

In addition, if we have the Set-apart Spirit in us to guide us into all truth as Yahshua promised in John 16: 13[7], we should not reject the Scriptures out of hand. This brings us to the subject of faith. What is faith? We read according to Hebrews 11: 1 - 3, ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (2) For by it the men of old gained approval. (3) By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of Elohim, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.’ We read further that if we do not have faith, we cannot please Elohim, as we read from verse 6 of Hebrews 11, in this way: ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ It is impossible for anyone of us to convert or convince anyone else to believe in Elohim and His word. We need to be ever mindful of Yahshua’s words 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.” Yahshua commissioned His original disciples, and by implication also us his modern day disciples, to proclaim the good news of the coming kingdom of Elohim into the entire world as we read from Matthew 24: 14, in this way: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and the end shall come.” Note that this does not say that we should try to convert people, as it will only lead to persecution and rejection. It is as Yahshua said in John 15: 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, “A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” We need to keep in mind that YHVH is able to use any written material, no matter how polluted the translation is that we use. If we let the Set-apart Spirit guide us, it will indeed guide us into all truth. It obviously will help a great deal if we are able to read the original copies of the Scriptures, but we know that it is not possible at this time. But, it is good to obtain a number of different translations, to compare them to try and find the truth. I personally have seven different translations in English and if I find something controversial, I compare all my translations, before coming to a conclusion. Below I list some useful rules to help you in studying the Scriptures:

The Scriptures has a Jewish background and we need to interpret it from a Hebraic point of view.
If you come from Christianity, it is important to disregard most of what they taught.
Never quote a text out of context – only use the Scriptures to interpret Scriptures.
Take it literally as it has been written for the average person’s understanding.
Take into consideration who wrote the text, and why and to whom it was addressed.
Even though the words recorded in the Scriptures were not written directly to us, it was written for us as an example so that we may know what to do and what not to do.
Even though Encyclopedias, Concordances, Bible Dictionaries are very useful, remember that most were compiled by Christian authors.
Also remember that YHVH did not give us the Scriptures to impress or dominate others.
Finally remember to always ask for Elohim’s Spiritual guidance before studying the Scriptures.

[1]. Yahshua is the power of Elohim as is confirmed in first Corinthians 1: 24 and Jeremiah 32: 17, as follows: ‘Ah YHVH Elohim! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”

[2]. 2 Peter 3: 18, ‘But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Messiah. To Him be the glory (esteem), both now and to the day of eternity. Amein.’

[3]. 1 Timothy 3: 2 – 7, “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the congregation of Elohim?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the congregation, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

[4]. Revelation 14: 12, ‘Here is the perseverance of the saints (true believers) who keep the commandments of Elohim and their faith in Yahshua.’

[5]. 1 Peter 4: 17, ‘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?’

[6].Yahshua preached the gospel about the coming kingdom of Elohim – essentially informing us that after 6,000 years of mankind’s misrule, YHVH is coming to establish His Kingdom on earth, as it is now in heaven (as per Matthew 6: 10). In addition He clearly taught in John 3: 13, saying: “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.”

[7]. John 16: 13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”