Events in the news — already evidently out-of-control — seem to be coming to a head recently. Both this week’s and last weeks Torah portions (from the “Talking Torah” room on Paltalk, where both Jeff Gilbert and I teach every Shabbat) should be of particular interest to those who are not only concerned about how to “come out of her”, but about what we should come IN TO.
Call it “community”:
I contend that Shaul was simply a consummate Torah scholar, who — following his revelation on the “road to Damascus” — realized that there was a BIG difference between what was “Written”, in the Torah, Writings, and Prophets (in other words, all that was then known as “Scripture”) and what HE HIMSELF had been taught from the “traditions of the elders”. He realized that man’s traditions, even when they are CALLED “law”, are not the same as the Torah of YHVH.
Not long ago, I had an email exchange with a friend whose concerns may sound familiar to others who have wrestled with the question of whether Paul was a “tare”, who rewrote Scripture, or has just been “twisted”:
Dear Mark,
You recent articles suggest to me that most “Christians” have been brought up in a “Church” which teaches an insidious lie:
“the Law has been done away with.”
I wholeheartedly agree: Pew warmers are following Paul instead of Jesus, because “cheap grace” is being taught.
Unfortunately, most Xtians will not believe it, because Paul admonished his followers not to believe “another gospel” if it differs from what Paul was preaching.
Paul and his words remain as tares, so intertwined with the real gospels by chosen disciples and what Christians have been taught for so long, that pulling out the ‘tares’ would remove most of the NT, and shatter lukewarm, misguided mainstream Xtianity and faith in God.
Paul was NOT a chosen disciple and his message of FREE GRACE is in direct opposition to what Jesus actually said!
Paul’s biggest deception was his teaching that because Jesus ‘finished’ everything on the cross, we (as believers) can safely disregard not only the Law that governs Jews, but also, that we can disregard the celebration of festivals, Jewish traditions and customs, as practiced and taught by the Pharisees, FOR Jews.
On the other hand, maybe that would be the BEST thing that has happened in the last 2,000 years or so — exposing the false gospel of Paul in the NT… separating the ‘wheat from the chaff’.
A number of articles from a ministry purporting to teach “Jesus’ words only” were attached. Since space does not permit a complete response to all of those, I’ll just try to summarize a few points that those confronted with similar questions might find valuable. And since I usually start with the warning of II Kefa (Peter) 3:15-16 about how Paul could be “twisted”, I won’t repeat that again here (yet, anyway!)
Remember that when we deal with individuals, as individuals, we have an advantage over those of us who write articles, or teach on the radio, or speak in local fellowships. We can be ready, “in season and out“, to respond to the specific, individual concerns of those who ask about our faith.
Hi… (I responded)
I actually DID believe that myself for quite some time…that Paul was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, to use another metaphor. And I really don’t have a huge problem with that thesis; it’s easier for most ‘evangelicals’ to understand than the alternative…which is to study Torah to the extent that Shaul did, “for themselves,” and realize that he in fact IS teaching consistently what YHVH (and the Word Made Flesh) instructed. BUT, he is TOTALLY at odds with the so-called “Law” taught by the Pharisees. (This is what really distinguishes the “Law for Jews” from the INSTRUCTION of YHVH for ALL of us!)
Remember that Yahushua roundly condemned them as the “Hypocrites!” they were in places like Matityahu/Matt 23.
Later Popes did the same thing, but with their own, different, substitutions..on everything from YHVH’s “appointed times”, and Sabbaths, to food, to marriage.
And it’s not really about defending Paul; he was a teacher, perhaps even a particularly good one, but arguably a bit too “deep” for most people…particularly those who, centuries later, didn’t have a CLUE about the DIFFERENCES he was pointing out.
(Think about this, I added later: Within only about four centuries after the Most Important Sacrifice in all Human History, the Pesach (Passover) had been not only perverted but actually RENAMED after a Greco-Roman “goddess”. If Satan had convinced people that the “old Law” was legalistic, done away with, and burdensome; that, INSTEAD, they should celebrate pagan “holidays” named after false ‘gods’ like Ishtar/Easter by eating things God said were ‘not food’, like pig…are we getting pretty close to “calling good, evil, and vice-versa? And if they can twist the Words of Yahushua Himself, what chance does a poor sap like “Paul” have? 😉
This is my criticism for those who understand part of the problem, but miss the bigger point — and blame “Paul” for the mistranslation and distortion of his teachings, rather than the “blind guides” and “sons of vipers” who twist him (“as they do the rest of Scripture”) to their own destruction. (There! Finally, II Kefa [Peter] 3:15-16.)
There is MUCH more than can be said. But, a series of examples may be the easiest summary of the issues.
Example #1:
Shaul NEVER said that TORAH (the word he really used – not ‘nomos’) is done away with; just that we can’t earn something that YHVH the Father gave us. Because he was the ‘consummate Torah scholar’, he probably focused too much on subtle details for some; after all, those who don’t understand the “old” Writings as well as he did will miss many of his continual references. How can one follow his logic, built on the FOUNDATION of YHVH’s Torah, and then claim that the foundation itself doesn’t apply?
But Yahushua put it far more simply:
“IF you love Me, keep My commandments.” Which? ALL of ’em, of course! He didn’t change “one yod or tittle“.
Ultimately, that’s why I sometimes distinguish between Shaul and Paul, and between Yahushua and “Jesus”: to make that distinction as clear as possible. If “Jesus” had really “done away with the Law” (or “nailed it to his cross”; check the actual wording!) He would have been a liar, and a “false messiah” – just as He pointed out, and warned us about.
In both cases, fallen teachers and false prophets have set up “straw men” who teach something very different from what BOTH Shaul and his Master actually point out “is Written“!
Example #2: “Did Paul abolish the Sabbath?”
Paul said anyone in Christ’s movement did not have to follow the Sabbath any longer. He wrote in Colossians 2:16-17:“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
This, I contend, is one of the most often-twisted, and important, distinctions that Shaul makes!
Even the Roman Catholic Church admits that there is NO place in Scripture where YHVH’s Sabbath is changed to “Sunday”. They are PROUD to have done it on their own claimed authority! (See John Cardinal Gibbons, Archdiocese of Baltimore; prominent, among many.) So, I will submit up front that this verse has not only been taken out of context, but literally turned upside-down. Good is being called ‘evil’.
But before I return to the verse, let me ask a question. TO WHOM WAS SHAUL WRITING the letter? Of course, it was the new believers at Colossae. But the key is the history and context. They were former PAGANS (perhaps from the ‘lost ten tribes,’ perhaps not — but ultimately they were being “grafted in”) who are still living in a very pagan world, and subject to pressure from their families, friends, and business associates. They wanted to TURN (‘tshuvah’ in the Hebrew, translated as “repent”, but it literally means “TURN around”; you’re goin’ the wrong way!) away from pagan ‘gods’, from pagan “holy days”, and from pagan ‘meat’ and ‘food’! They were being persecuted for keeping the Sabbaths of YHVH, and rejecting the “holy days” of the pagan world they lived in!
ANY “torah-observant” follower of Yahushua would know immediately what Shaul was talking about. But the ‘church’ which DENIES the very Foundation of Scripture, the Written ‘instruction’ of YHVH Himself, and His “Torah Made Flesh” has a problem! For 1700 years, they have obfuscated the difference between His Word and THEIR “law”…because they have “added to” and “subtracted from” it, just as the Pharisees and “hypocrites” throughout history have done. And they have for centuries done EXACTLY what Shaul warned about — persecuted, even killed, those who reject their PAGAN “holy days” and false “sabbaths” and instead keep the Appointed Times of YHVH! (A reading of the sordid truth of this aspect of ‘church’ history may well shock and horrify you.) Now, take a look again:
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths…”
In proper context, this one is almost funny today! Those of us who have “come out of” a paganized church can relate to exactly what Shaul was saying! “WHY won’t you eat pork? Or shellfish?”
“What is WRONG with you? You don’t celebrate EASTER!”
(You mean, why do we do as YHVH commanded – and object to a pagan spring fertility goddess sunrise ritual, incorporating elements of child sacrifice and fertility symbols? Why do we keep His Pesach [Passover] — which He repeatedly said to keep “forever” — instead of a different day and date? And why would anyone who worships Him, and “Him alone” object to the re-naming of the most important event in human history after a pagan goddess?) …”have some Easter ham…”
And think about the example of the seven day week! Almost every culture in the world uses it – almost like it was “from the Beginning”! Many other languages, like Spanish (“Sabado”), still retain the meaning of the Sabbath (seventh) day in their names.
And there is more support for this point, from the same letter.
“Be careful that you do not let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, and after the elements of the world, and not after our Beloved King.” (Col. 2:8; Original Scriptures Edition 1. Verses 20-22 bring home the same point.)
Paul was NOT ‘abolishing the Sabbath’! He was offering comfort to those who faced persecution from their pagan communities when THEY wanted to return to following YHVH and His Torah!
Yahushua even said “the world will hate you for My sake.” Sometimes, the world hates Paul, too. He had a tough job: trying to teach those who did not yet KNOW Torah what the “Word Made Flesh” Himself had said, and done.
And as more people come to an understanding of that Truth, and the fact that YermeYahu (Jeremiah) was right…we HAVE inherited lies!…some may well even be angry about it. Like Shaul, if we are to be “good and faithful servants” of the Most High, we need to be able to lead His “lost sheep” back to Him.
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A year ago I wrote in this column about the “middle” plagues visited by YHVH on Mitzraim (Egypt) in the time of Moses. I tend to refer to them as the “Transition Plagues”, because unlike the first three plagues, where the “magicians of Pharaoh” were at least partly able to mimic the malady (as if adding a few more frogs to the infestation was somehow a helpful demonstration of their power!) — by the time the lice or gnats were brought upon them, those men were forced to admit that “this is the finger of God”. (Exodus 8:19) The transition, then, is between plagues or judgments which men may be able to imitate, and thus deny the will or existence of YHVH, and those they cannot. In other words, for a while, stiff-necked men are still able to claim that they are NOT suffering the curse brought on by their own rebellion to the Word of YHVH.
I speculated then that, if we are in fact entering the Biblical “End Times”, and “the pattern of the original Exodus repeats…then other judgments against the false ‘mighty ones’ of the current worldly systems of the modern versions of Babylon and Mitzraim will follow. For example, as was already evident some time ago, the breakdown of our fiat paper system of dishonest weights and measures continues. And in spite of literally trillions of dollars of bailouts and machinations (plagues of dollars are even easier to add to, evidently, than frogs), the world financial system is less stable today than ever. Even the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) recently admitted that what the modern money magicians persist in still calling a “recession” has not YET entered the long-promised recovery — and evidently won’t, any time soon. And the related Euro plague has expanded as well, with the initial infection of the PIIGS nations having spread beyond Greece and Portugal lately to downgrades of sovereign bonds in nations like Hungary and France.
It is likely that additional plagues are still to come, and are even somewhat predictable. Famines and wars generally follow currency breakdowns and bank holidays. But of arguably even greater concern is the condition predicted by our Savior in Matthew chapter 24. What those who translated most English versions of the Bible refer to as “lawlessness” or “iniquity”, however, I contend should be rendered more appropriately as “torah-less-ness”, or rebellion against His Word…which is, of course, what those words really mean:
“And because torah-less-ness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (MatitYahu/Matthew 24:12)
Admittedly, this condition even sounds more like a PREDECESSOR to the judgments to follow than an actual plague in itself. But the daily news certainly confirms the diagnosis. It is the implications of that prediction which are so important now, however, as we seek to “know the season”, and understand what is still to come…and WHY.
Most “Christians” have been brought up in a “Church” which teaches an insidious lie:
“the Law has been done away with.”
Can we be at all surprised, then, when entire nations make that same claim?
After all, He is no longer even permitted to be acknowledged in many Statehouses, legislatures, schools, or courtrooms!
If the “OLD” Testament — the very Foundation upon which the rest of Scripture rests — could have “passed away”, then why would ANYONE believe that something as ephemeral as any Constitution could ever endure? Can we doubt that when gullible people governed by evil men announce that the “Supreme Law of the Land” — whatever that means! — has been done away with, they are just repeating the same lie?
And that those who teach such lies are ultimately “without excuse”?
Just take a look at the ‘fruit’ of such perfidy:
The Transportation “Security” Administration now routinely ignores even the pretense of “probable cause” for its routine illegal searches and seizures. The concept of a “search warrant” is now nothing but a quaint reminder of a time when sworn “officers of the law” actually knew what the Bill of Rights said. Last month, overwhelming majorities of both a treasonous “Amerikan” House and Senate passed the “NDAA”, which now allows for people ANYWHERE — including, but not limited to “US citizens” — to be detained without charge, trial, or even evidence. Not even the pretense of “due process” remains. And only this month, an attempt to allow shutdown of websites based on allegations of “piracy” resulted in a massive online protest. Only after the offending bills were supposedly sent “back to the drawing board” did the revelation emerge that the administration had ALREADY signed an “executive agreement” masquerading as a treaty called “ACTA”! Thus, not even the pretense of “free speech” under the First Amendment may soon remain.
And the life savings of literally tens of millions of people is soon to be stolen – both directly and through insidious inflation. Other forms of “lawlessness” will inevitably follow. The iron fist of a police state will follow, as intended.
In the final plague before the “death of the first-born”, the Almighty brought “darkness” (or “chosef” in the Hebrew) upon Egypt; darkness which was so spiritually and physically intense that it “may even be felt” (Exodus 10:21). Interestingly, this is the same word that was “upon the face of the deep” in the second verse in Scripture, and which was “divided” from the light immediately thereafter by Elohim.
And — just as He had done in all of the plagues following that transition — YHVH “put a difference” between His people and those of the land of Mitzraim, and “all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” And our true King is now quickening the process of separation — wheat from chaff, sheep from goats, light from darkness, and His people from the paganism — and lawlessness! — of the world.
Pharaoh’s magicians got it; some probably left, and became part of the ‘mixed multitude’ which was brought out of the land of Mitzraim and were later “grafted in” to Israel. Those who did not (Exodus 10:1) had their hearts hardened right along with Pharaoh. Those who – regardless of their background – humbled themselves before YHVH and were obedient to His directions were saved.
What is coming is likely to be ugly, and then violent. But it is the prince of THIS world who claims that ‘the ends justify the means,’ and not our Master. We STILL have a “choice of Law,” a choice of Whom we serve! Even as those who are of this world descend into lawlessness, those who “come out of her“, and serve YHVH alone must remember that His ‘torah’ guides our actions! As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”
Even though perhaps the plagues to come have only just begun, I will suggest that this difference between “light” and “darkness” is crucial. As we seek to understand the counsel of Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues,” we must begin to make that separation ourselves. “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (II Cor. 6:14) Through whatever plagues may yet come, and whatever deception may be attempted by the Adversary, our instruction remains clear:
“If you love Me, keep My commands.”
Question: “So what exactly can we do to begin bringing ourselves out of babylon? What can I do NOW? Apart from growing and catching my own food and rain-water.”
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The story which begins the Book of the Exodus, and then the life of Moses, is about a people who have fallen into bondage. And arguably, they didn’t even know how it happened.
The Book of Genesis ends not too long after the father and brothers of Yahuseph (Joseph) have come into the land of Mitzraim (or current Egypt). There remained not quite five years left until the famine through which they were saved would have ended, so – a question presents itself: Why didn’t they LEAVE?
Why STAY, and let their children, and their children after them, fall into bondage?
Our own Founding Fathers, through the words of Thomas Jefferson, give a pretty good answer…and it has never changed too much throughout most of history:
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
Slavery, in other words, is often easier than genuine “change.”
The latest installment of the “Come out of her, My people” Show addresses this issue in some detail, as well as something I call the “Chicken Little Syndrome”:
Now that the Masters of the Universe in DC have declared, Bill of Rights no longer a factor, that ANYONE they declare to be a terrorist can be “disappeared” — without recourse, without evidence, without warrant, counsel, appeal, or any pretense at what was once called “due process” — an interesting irony exists.
NORAD is telling children that radar is “tracking Santa”. The “First Lady” [sic] participated in the lie as well…telling gullible youngsters about where “Santa Clause” is now, and what “He” is doing.
Has anybody else noticed that the same people who are telling children pagan LIES are now claiming the right to kill and torture their parents – or YOU – with even less evidence?
There is both bad news and good news from Hebrew Nation Radio lately. The bad news is that there have been some podcast issues over the past week or so.
The good news is that the primary reason for the interruption is a bandwidth problem. The number of podcast listeners and subscribers has grown so rapidly that the required bandwidth to support all those who follow the show exceeded what the existing setup could supply. We’re still working on a long-term solution (more bandwidth, and higher server capacity — which of course takes more money) but have an ‘interim solution’ in place already.
The daily news shows, and weekly shows (like “Come out of her, My people”, and Drive Time Friday with Jeff) are again being posted.
I have updated the links on the “Audio: Radio Shows” page to work with the new setup.
And, as always, listeners can go directly to:
How many times have we heard expressions in various Christian churches about the claim to do any number of things “in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ”? Do we really understand what that phrase means? Yahushua made it clear that He came “in the Name of” His Father, YHVH, and frequently said things like, “the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” (Yahuchanon/John 10:25)
Even more dramatically, what may well be the most blunt warning in Scripture hinges on an understanding of that concept. Yahushua reminded people that it was DOING the will of YHVH that mattered, rather than simply claiming His Name, and then added, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! ‘ ” [disregard His Torah] (Matt. 7:21-23)
Is it possible to claim to “come in His name”, and yet not know what that means? Is it possible that there might be more to it than knowing how to pronounce the ‘tetragrammaton’ — YHVH — or recognizing that His earthly mother never actually called the Savior “Jesus”?
To understand the meaning of the phrase, we must understand the Biblical Hebrew culture. And perhaps the best example of the concept is found in the story of the search for a bride for Yitzak ( or Isaac) in Bereshiet/Genesis chapter 24.
The story of the servant of Abraham who is sent to bring home a bride for his son is the longest personal narrative in the entire Torah. The level of detail, in contrast to most other stories, is striking…and there must be a reason. And yet, in spite of that level of detail, the servant himself is never once identified by name.** It seems that the fact that he WAS such a ‘good and faithful servant’, who did what his master sent him to do, is the thing that really matters.
Abraham asked his servant to swear that he would contract with and bring home a suitable bride from his own kin; that he would faithfully execute the task he was charged with fulfilling. He then sent his servant out on a large caravan of camels, laden with goods which would serve both as gifts for the bride and her family, and surety to demonstrate that he did, in fact, have the authority to contract on behalf of his master; that he really did, “come in his name”:
“…for all his master’s goods were in his hand.” (Bereshiet/Genesis 24:10)
His master’s wealth, and his son’s future, was literally placed in the servant’s hands. He was entrusted with a tremendous amount of responsibility, and empowered to first find, and then contract “in his name” for one of the most fundamental of all human relationships. To put the matter in terms familiar to a modern lawyer, Abraham’s servant was given his “power of attorney”. And such a servant, if he acts lawfully, must exercise what is called “due diligence”.
And Scripture shows that ‘the man’ did in fact do his duty faithfully, and was miraculously blessed by YHVH in the process!
Abraham’s man WAS a “good and faithful servant” precisely BECAUSE he performed the task he was assigned in the same way he knew that his master would have. Each of the true prophets of Yah faithfully spoke the Words that He commanded them, because they did so “in His Name”, and by His Authority. Yahushua came in His Father’s Name, and did exactly what He came to do — even to the point of saying, “nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Our Savior says, “if you love Me, keep My commands.” (Yahuchanon/John 14:15) And His “parable of the talents” makes the point that we must learn to be faithful using what He has given us, to DO what He asks of us. It is not enough to “claim” His Name, if we don’t follow His instruction (torah)! If we claim to act on His behalf, it must be in accord with His will, and by keeping His commandments.
There can be no greater reward for any of us that to someday hear the glorious words, “well done, good and faithful servant!”
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** While other references in Scripture suggest strongly that the name of the servant in the story is probably Eliezer, he is always called “Abrahams’ servant”, or simply “the man” during this narrative. That, too, seems to be an important aspect of the lesson: it was what he DID that mattered.
