Holy Day Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

“…The feasts of the Lord,

which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations,

these are My feasts.”

- Leviticus 23:1

 

“These are the feasts of the Lord,

holy convocations

which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” - vs.4

 

 

“…Also the tenth day of this seventh month

shall be the Day of Atonement.

It shall be a holy convocation for you;

you shall afflict your souls…”- vs. 27

YHWH has ordained one annual Holy Day that teaches humanity Divine Grace and Judgment, and that day is approaching soon – probably sooner than you think.  The 10th day of the 7th Biblical month (Thursday, Sept.27, figuring from the first day Sept.18), for angel and human alike, is one of the most important Holy Days of the year (Lev.23:26-32).  It is the universal Divine Judgment Day, the fearsome Day of YHWH's reckoning (Gen.9:5-6).  In English it is generally called “the Day of Atonement,” and in Hebrew it is called “Yom Kippur.”   “...You shall afflicts your souls,” means it is the day to repent and cleanse the spirit and soul, through a 24-hour commanded fast.  Jewish tradition teaches that on this day, sometime in the future, the Book of Life will be sealed, and the gates of Heaven will be closed. 

YHWH clearly warns a-l-l humanity,

as part of the universal Rainbow Covenant given to Noah

“… I will demand a reckoning…”

– Genesis 9:5

 

"It is appointed for people to die once--and after that,

to face judgment."

- Hebrews 9:27

There are some universal beliefs that most people have regarding spirituality.  Around the world many people believe in angels, evil, and a judgment day.  Some may just laugh it off, but deep down they know at some point they will have to meet their MAKER and give account of themselves. 

Over my church hopping years when the conversation turned to being saved, I would always ask, “What happens to that honest Asian man who never heard about “Jesus?”  He lived an honest life in his day-to-day business dealings, never murdered anyone, and stayed true to his wife, what happens to him when he dies?  Generally the response was that, “…sadly he would die and is not saved,” they cite John 14:6 for their reasoning.  To me it always seemed like a bit of an arrogant, smug in your salvation, and little concern for your fellow man, kind of attitude - in the spirit of Abraham I would dicker a little.

As I often say, the worldwide body of believers are at different levels of understanding and most of the world still lives under the Noadic Covenant.  They are the basic human-spiritual rights in the Universal Noahic Rainbow Covenant, that govern a-l-l humanity, they were also restated by Yahshua, and the Apostles, Mat.13:24-30; Act.15:29.  Some others, Israel, and the Christians apply themselves to the narrower path of the higher Covenants with rewards/crowns for special service.  I’m sorry, in my humble opinion, contrary to Christian tradition, I have hope for that honest man or women who does not know Christ, and I have lost many Christian friends because of it.  What about all those people who died before the advent of the Messiah, what happens to them?  I believe that YHWH has a provision to accept Christ during ones final judgment.  Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c12_judgment_day.htm

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification:

that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel 

in sanctification and honor,

not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter,

because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.”

- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

The keyword in the above verse is “sanctification,” and it was introduced in the beginning of the year with Passover.  Sanctification means set apart from all the others.  The faithful are spiritually set apart, spiritual Hebrews, as we walk YHWH’s Ancient Path of Righteousness.  On the Holy Day of Pentecost YHWH gave us His Laws so that we could remain sanctified.  In other words, YHWH wants HIS Faithful to live Holy lives on a day-to-day basis while interacting with the community in our work, and play - to live and work honestly (Gal.5:22-23).  The Apostle Peter tells “…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy,” 1Peter1:16.  It is easy enough to understand, and easy enough to read it in Scriptures (Gal.5:19-21) – but there is still much debate on the topic.  Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_early_christians.htm

“Be an example to all believers

in what you teach,

in the way you live,

in your love, your faith, and your purity.”

- 1 Timothy 4:12

The Holy Day of Atonement is the tollbooth on YHWH’s Ancient Path.  As I pointed out during the spring Holy Days newsletter, surviving Passover means humanity has been 'justified and redeemed' (Exo.ch.12-13).  Redeemed means that something has been bought back from the marketplace; justification means, that someone has been judged and found not guilty.  In other words, humanities sins are washed away in the sea of forgetfulness, and that is a good thing for the spiritual bank account.  During the Holy Days of Unleavened Bread YHWH teaches us humility, because a prideful person will not yield to YHWH’s Divine guidance, and on Pentecost HE teaches us HIS Laws and gave us HIS Holy Spirit, which is our helper so that we may learn and continue to live a Holy life.  Now comes the time to evaluate how well the Faithful have learned their lessons.  In other words it is time to tally up our spiritual bank account.  Justification and redemption makes our spiritual bank accounts possible, but the account does not contain money it contains the Holy Spirit.  If we live a good and honest life the Holy Spirit inside us grows, if we live an evil and sinful life then our Holy Spirit withers and fades.  This is the Day YHWH demands HIS toll before one can enter the Gates of Heaven (HIS Kingdom). 

“Come and see the works of GOD;

He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.”

- Psalm 66:3

The 10 days from the Day of Trumpets to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are called the Days of Awe (Yamim Nora’im) and/or the Days of Repentance (Yemei Tshuvah).  These Holy Days have dual-purpose prophecies and meanings.  The title “Days of Awe” teach us about future prophecies, which are YHWH’s promises of conquering evil via these awesome events that will unfold during these 10 days (Joel ch.2).  The title “Days of Repentance” teach us about personal repentance.  We'll review the Days of Awe first.

Sometime in the future, almost tomorrow...

The Days of Awe of the Conquering Messiah’s Judgment

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him,

then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

All the nations will be gathered before Him,

and He will separate them one from another,

as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand,

‘Come, you blessed of My Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...’

Then He will also say to those on the left hand,

‘Depart from Me, you cursed,

into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...’”

- Yahshua, Matthew 25:31-46

During these awesome 10 days, the worlds armies gathered at Jerusalem have been vanquished and in the spiritual war between good and evil there will be a thousand-year cease-fire.  After the battle, Satan will be bound by Michael the Archangel, Revelation 20:1-2 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”  The Antichrist (the Satan possessed human leader), and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire, Gehenna the final death, these souls are dead forever (Rev.19:20.)  

Yahshua will cross the Kidron Valley and enter the Temple Mount through the Eastern Gate just as He did on Palm Sunday some two thousand years ago.  The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that the promised Messiah would enter the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount into the rebuilt Third Temple (Eze.43:1-5).  The Prophet had told Israel that this Eastern Gate (it was originally called the Golden Gate because it was covered in a golden colored bronze) would be sealed in the future, to preserve it for the entrance of the coming Messiah (Eze.44:1-2).  The Earthquake will open the sealed Eastern Gate that He will walk through and enter the Tribulation (third) Temple.

 After entering the Tribulation Temple, Yahshua will be anointed with the sacred oil of the anointing.  Yahshua's human bloodline comes from King David so he has some “orthodox” Hebrew birthright duties to fulfill, and it begins with the anointing.  This special mixture of anointing oil was first ordered to be made in Exodus 30:22-33, to be used for sanctification of religious articles and leaders.  This anointing oil was lost when the second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., and has been lost for two almost thousand years because the special materials to remake this oil are no longer available.  Miraculously, during the Dead Sea Scrolls excavation of the Copper Scroll, a flask of this anointing oil has been found.  The oil, buried almost two thousand years ago, in one of the hottest spots on earth, is still fresh and usable today.  

After the anointing, Yahshua as our great High Priest will then announce the “Gospel” or “Good News” that the Kingdom/Government of YHWH has arrived.  He will proclaim the Great Planetary Jubilee (Lev.25:1-13), the time of restitution of all things, since the world began, meaning the cancellation of all debts, and all the prisons will be opened and everyone will be free to start over (Act.3:18-21).  There will be a literal one-year rest for the planet and all it’s inhabitants.  He will then judge the nations of the world, before establishing His Millennium Kingdom.      

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

- Matthew 5:9

In the Garden of Gethsemane where Yahshua was betrayed, representatives of all nations will be gathered before Him.  He will separate the righteous sheep nations (those who did good works to the Hebrew people, to the Christians, to the hungry, the poor, and those nations who are peacemakers), from the goat nations (the ones who cursed and oppressed His servants, and those who started violence).  The goat nations will not survive, they will go away into everlasting punishment (Mat.25:31-46; Gen.12:3). As the Bible says, "...the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the Age of Grace.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth," Mat.13:47-50.

“That to Me every knee shall bow,

Every tongue shall take an oath.”

- Isaiah 45:23

The lesson of the Tribulation era is clear - Satan's way leads to death.  About a third of humanity will survive the terrible ordeal brought on by mans own hand.  The Messiah will begin calling all the mortals on Earth to repent the utter hopelessness of the life they have chosen.  The mortal citizens entering the Millennium Kingdom will be those survivors of the Great Tribulation period and the Battle of Armageddon.  As they enter the next level of Humanities spiritual evolution they will receive the spiritual salvation needed to inherit all of the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.  The first part of the Messiah's Earthly rule now begins.  As stated in Revelation ch.20, six times it is written that the Messiah will rule and reign for a thousand years. 

Now it will be revealed to Humanity what is meant by the term Kingdom of YHWH, ruled by Yahshua the Messiah, as the nations of humanity will culturally reset to the time before 1Samuel ch.8, before Israel rejected YHWH and chose and earthly king to replace HIM.  As in the Book of Judges, it will be a government based on the revolutionary Protestant concept, that GOD directly empowers the people - instead of a king; and what GOD directly gives - no man can take away.  The dusty statue books that control us today will be gone in a world in which the people will finally accept their responsibility of GOD given freedom... 

Yahshua will now supernaturally protect humanity

as he renews the planet from its near destruction.

Sometime in the future, after the thousand years are finished.

 The Days of Awe of YHWH’s Final Judgment… 

"'Now when the thousand years have expired,

Satan will be released from his prison

and will go out to deceive the nations 

which are in the four corners of the earth,

Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle,

 whose number is as the sand of the sea.

They went up on the breadth of the earth

and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.

And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

- Revelation 20:7-9

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it,…

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,

and books were opened.

And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.

And the dead were judged according to their works…

The sea gave up the dead who were in it,

and Death and Hades delivered up the dead…

And they were judged, each one according to their works.”

- Revelation 20:11-13

The fearsome day of YHWH's 'reckoning' is at hand!  This is the big one!  For angel and human alike, this is a very serious day.  During these past 10 days YHWH has returned to earth and supernaturally vanquished the forces of evil gathered around Jerusalem.  Now on HIS Holy Day of Atonement HE will call all humanity, both dead and alive, to judgment.  The Universal Covenants given to Adam and Noah, tells us the earthly mortal body dies and returns to the earth.  At death the spirit of the person lives to be called at the end of this age of sin for a "reckoning" (Gen.3:19; 9:5-6).  The basic human-spiritual rights in the Universal Noahic Rainbow Covenant, govern a-l-l humanity, they were also restated by Yahshua, and the Apostles, Mat.13:24-30; Act.15:29. 

“The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked.

Who really knows how bad it is?

But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

- Jeremiah 17:9-10

Known as The Great White Throne Judgment of the Rainbow Covenant, YHWH comes to Earth, and opens the Books of Life.  Then HE will judge a-l-l humanity and the angels (Gen.9:5-6; Rev.20:11-15; 2Pet.2:4), and the Golden Rule is the standard of measure.  Over the centuries there have been many opinions on what Judgment Day will be like but YHWH sees our hearts (Heb.4:12; 1Cor.4:5), and HE relayed a wonderful parable of the final Judgment in the ancient book of “The Shepherd Of Hermas.”  See my Judgment Day webpage: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c12_judgment_day.htm

Since Adam and Eve there is now death on the planet.  The body dies and returns to the earth.  This brings us to another one of those nagging questions of life: What happens when I die?  There are those moments, those hopeless life and death situations, when no amount of money, no person or thing really matters, it is the time when one faces eternity, and at that time who are you gonna call?  Ponder this for a moment, dying is bad enough, but what if something could steal your spirit.  The ramifications are too scary to consider. 

Polls show even though they might not know HIM very well, 96% of adults will cry out to GOD for help when all else fails.  So fear not!  Thankfully, YHWH gave us our spirits and HE is in charge.  HE has a collection and storage system in place to care for the spirit - good or bad.  At death the departed human spirit is a spiritual mold of the persons form, memory, and character that will be called to judgment sometime in the future.  At the resurrection, the spirit brings into the resurrected body all the memory, knowledge and character, as well as the form and features of the person (Heb.9:27).

The western ideas of hell stems from the - not totally accurate - medieval writings of two poets, Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” and Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”  The word hell in the English Bible is a mistranslation.  The same English word 'hell' is used in the place of three different Hebrew and Greek words, representing three different places. 

The Bible describes two holding places, one for the spirits of the deceased humans and one for angels.  The spirits of the deceased humans are presently asleep, unaware of the passage of time (Ecc.9:5) in a place called Sheol in Hebrew, and Hades in Greek.  This one place is divided into two sections, one side is sleeping in Divine comfort - the other side is not.  The comfort side, has the perks for the righteous, and the other side is 'the no frills’ discomfort side for the unrighteous (Luk.16:19-31).  I picture it like this: It is like the difference between having the best day of your life, then having your best nights sleep, ever, and in the best bed you have ever seen; vs. sleeping outside on a rock, on a hot, muggy, and buggy summer night - with no breeze, after having the worst day of your life.  Upon the resurrection of Yahshua, He took the comfort / righteous side of Hades to His FATHER's Heaven for some Divine comfort. (click for more info: Holy Day Firstfruits)

The second holding place described is for specific, extraordinary evil angels that transgressed the Laws of the Heavens, called Tartaros in 2Peter 2:4.  These two locations are a holding place until trial, judgment and sentencing, (sentencing can be either to life or to death).  The fates of the fallen angels are in Jude vs.6-7, And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The third hell the Bible refers to is Gehenna, the Lake of Fire, or the final punishment after trial and judgment (Mal.4:1; Rev.19:20, 20:10).  This is the spiritual death, the final eternal extinguishing of the life-force, total death, not eternal torture (eternal punishment, not eternal punishing).  The Bible also calls this the second death (Rev.20:14, 21:8).

Just for the record, and to avoid confusion, all those humans who did not know the Messiah, or were not chosen by the Him (see Mystery of the Bride), or chose not to commit themselves to the higher Theocratic Covenants, will sleep until the time of the final Great White Throne Judgment of YHWH, after the earthly 1,000 year millennial rule of the Messiah.  Then the spirits of a-l-l humanity will be called from their graves (in Hades) and assembled.  Because they died laboring under a false education system, they will all be informed of the truthful circumstances, and readied to give account of their lives. 

One has to discount the conventional Roman ideas of hell.  Hades is not a place of punishment, because they were not judged yet.  YHWH is not so petty as to punish someone before he comes to trial.  Hades is a holding place until judgment, like a holding cell before trial. 

After one has been judged, and if you are lucky enough to receive that Majestic nod to step forward, you will be asked one last question.  Do you accept YHWH's 'Anointed One,' the Messiah-Christ, as the one who speaks for YHWH in this part of the Universe (Jno.5:37)?  Yes or No?  Is that your final answer? 

YHWH will now supernaturally protect humanity

as he renews the planet from the destructive of the Age of Sin.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.” 

– Psalm 51:2-3

As I mentioned above, these ten days between the two Holy Days are traditionally called the Days of Awe and the Days of Repentance.  I already talked about the prophetic aspects of the Days of Awe; the meaning of the Days of Repentance is directed to humanity.  For us mere mortals, the Divine lesson during this time is to forgive and be forgiven.  Forgive those who have wronged you, and repent of the wrongs you have caused others.  Because in the end, if you cannot forgive others, then you cannot expect to be forgiven (Mat.6:12-15).  

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger

and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,

just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

- Ephesians 4:31-32

For us mere mortals, the universal theme of this Holy Day is self-improvement.  Evolve beyond your primitive sub-routines!  Seize the moment to find "at-one-ment" with YHWH, and live again!  Lose the customer is always right attitude, and the haughty spirit that knows nothing of repenting.  One must approach our Covenant responsibilities with a humble spirit, because a humble spirit will learn, the haughty in spirit thinks they know it all and have no need to learn anything.  This is a serious day to take responsibility for our actions, we should reflect on our life, repent for our sins, forgive and be forgiven, and find at-one-ment with YHWH and Yahshua. 

Today, modern science would agree with this ancient mandate from heaven: Repentance is good for the soul!  It frees you from the heavy baggage of guilt that haunts your subconscious.  This is the day to make peace with loved ones and friends, then put the old issues behind you, and start your renewed spiritual life.  (A good place to begin learning about personal behavior is from the Biblical Book of Proverbs.) 

Believers are commanded to grow in knowledge and grace (2Pet.3:18), to be a living sacrifice..., transformed by the renewing of your mind... (Rom.12:1-2).  Seeing the error of your ways is accomplished in the most intelligent and clever way, and driving the point home, is not accomplished through brow beating sermons.  Our Biblical example is with King David who stole the wife of one of his captains (2Sam.12:1-13).  The Prophet Nathan was directed by YHWH to show King David the error of his ways, not by going and yelling at him, but by showing him his sin in the form of a parable, which was a story of a pet lamb. 

In this story the Prophet paints a picture of a rich man with much livestock, but when the rich man wanted to provide a dinner for a visitor, he stole the poor man’s only lamb.  The poor man loved his only lamb and treated it so well it was like a member of the family.  It is a wonderful story and anyone who is a pet lover can instantly relate to the example.  Coincidentally, King David was once a shepherd and he understood the poor man’s pain.  King David became enraged at hearing the story and said the rich man should die for what he did.  Upon realizing he was the rich man, it moved King David to repent immediately (2Sam.12:1-14). 

Pride is the worst sin, because pride is what caused the dark angels to rebel against YHWH.  Pride prevents asking for forgiveness, and then there can be no repentance.  GODLY sorrow is a much deeper sorrow than simple remorse; GODLY sorrow leads to repentance.  In YHWH’s Church a Believer must do as King David did, when a person understands their sin, one must repent.  It is not merely a religious exercise of just going through the motions.  Repentance means a change of mind.  It invokes a “revelation,” of not only heartfelt sorrow for the past sins, but a total change of mind, of attitude, of direction and purpose to life.  It is like tasting food that has spoiled, once you realize it, yuck, you spit it out, and think to yourself, I’ll never eat that again!

Psalm 51 describes a three-step process:

[1] Accept responsibility, and acknowledge the transgression, vs.1-2. 

[2] Repentance (say you are sorry), then ask forgiveness, and offer restitution to the injured party, vs.3-4. 

[3] Change lifestyle to avoid that sin, vs.10-11.  Once repented do not commit that sin again (Heb.10:26).  Work to strengthen the spirit.  Study the Bible to increase knowledge and character in faith - grace - love - gentleness - temperance - patience - modesty - forgiveness - charity - truth - cheerfulness, etc.

Serious repentance begins with serious prayer.

[1] We pray to ask YHWH for forgiveness.  "The Lord is my helper!" Hebrews 13:6.  YHWH and Yahshua are not looking for reasons to keep you out of Heaven they are there to help.  Not sure were to start or how to repent, pray and ask for HIS Divine help and wisdom.  YHWH loves to help us.  It is His delight to do us good.  He is pleased to see us coming to HIM for assistance, or for Grace, or for HIS Blessing.

[2] We pray to give thanks to YHWH for all our blessings.  Do you sometimes feel like the world is against you?  If you need some reasons to give thanks, log on to http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_be_thankful.htm.  Then pray the thanksgiving Psalm 136.

[3] Lastly we pray to make our requests know to YHWH.  It has always been believed that during the fall season of Holy Days all the spiritual decisions for the following year are made.  It is also believed that YHWH releases special favors, and answers prayers during this season.  "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive," Matthew 21:22; Phil.4:6.  "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken," Psalm 55:22.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

– Philippians 4:6-7

“We love the LORD, of course,

but we often wonder what HE finds to love in us.”

 - Ed Howe

YHWH-GOD is Love!  The Believers are commanded to grow in knowledge and grace (2Pet.3:18), to be a living sacrifice…, transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Rom.12:1-2).  The Holy Days are a personal, spirit-training, series of Heavenly lessons, with subtle instructions that picture a greater spiritual truth and this is a big hands-on training day.  YHWH’s Holy Convocations are hands on!  They are designed to encourage the individual Believer to actively participate and in-turn gives them a place in HIS Universe, and this is a big day of active spiritual training.

In the last newsletter I brought up the point that after YHWH creates HIS Covenants with humanity – then what?  The Covenants are not going to be fulfilled the next day but maybe thousands of years later, how will YHWH keep Hope alive amongst the Faithful?  YHWH shows us how HE plans to fulfill HIS Covenants by designing a series of annual Holy Day that lays out HIS plan of redemption for HIS Creation.  On this day the Faithful “practice” spiritual redemption, “afflict your souls” is today’s mandate, and it’s hands-on.  YHWH is not a gotch-ya kind of god, HE Loves HIS Creation and designed this annual Holy Day for humanity to have practice tests, so that we may have a better chance of passing the final exam – so to speak.

The true Believer, the spiritual Hebrew, has nothing to fear on Judgment Day.  There is some confusion regarding the term Judgment Day, because the same word is associated with different Biblical events, so to clear up some confusion let’s review them.  Sometime in the future, almost tomorrow, the next big Judgment Day will be after the conquering Messiah returns to earth and judges the nations of the world.  The peacemaker nations will survive and become the nations of the Messiah’s Millennium Kingdom (Mat.25:31-46; Rev.19:11-21) – the haters and warmongers will not survive.  The last and final Judgment will be after the Millennium rule of the Messiah when YHWH returns to earth.  HE calls the evil angels from their holding cells and all humanity from their graves, and begins the final judgment of whether they will die permanently or enter into eternal life (2Pet.2:4; Rev.20:11-15). 

"For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven

-- is My brother and sister and mother."

- Matthew 12:50

We have a Brother in Yahshua!  There is only one group of humans that escape these two spiritual judgments; they are the Bride of the Messiah.  Sometime before the Messiah returns to earth He will call out His true believers (from the living and the dead) and translate them to the place prepared for them in heaven (John 14:2-3).  Once there, every person called will spend a little private time with the Messiah, not to be judged, their sins are burnt up as wood hay and stubble (1Cor.3:11-13), but it will be their unique traits that will be examined, and determined how the candidate can best serve in the Millennium Kingdom – and beyond.  Remember: The true believer has nothing to fear on Judgment Day, they have already passed the test – so to speak.

"But the loving kindness of the LORD

is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,

and His righteousness to children's children,

to those who keep His covenant

and remember His precepts to do them."

- Psalm 103:17-18

 ~ Character Counts ~

“…keep to the paths of righteousness.

For the upright will dwell in the land,

And the blameless will remain in it;

But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,”

- Proverbs 2:20

Facing a Divine Judgment Day causes one to ponder, just exactly what is my Covenant obligation?  What must I do to receive that approving nod from YHWH to enter the Gates of Heaven?  GOD is love (1John 4:8), and HE wants all humanity to join HIM in HIS Kingdom, but there are conditions.  YHWH does not believe in the whip of big government, HE promotes self-discipline and small government, and to that end, HE teaches us in HIS Scriptures to heed HIS Commandments, because the bad behavior called “sin” (adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, etc) will not get you into HIS Kingdom.  Sin is mentioned over 640 times in the Bible, unfortunately today, our political and religious leadership does not like to talk about sin anymore – it’s too divisive they say, so they talk about empty feel good topics.  Let no man deceive you (1Tim.4:13), the hard reality is that sinners cannot get into Heaven – even if they are Christians (1Cor.6:9; Gal.519-21; Eph.5:3-6; Rev.21:8, 22:15), and this is the Holy Day that teaches a-l-l humanity, not just the Jews, to repent and change from your wicked ways.

"For whom the Lord loves--He chastens."

- Hebrews 12:6

The sage says that the facade of man [or woman] has three sides: What he thinks he is, what others think he is, and what he really is.  To understand our place in life, we must be honest and yield ourselves to guidance of the higher Divine life force and seek our true face.  Sometime in the future, there will be a day, you are standing in line and nervously looking up you receive a majestic nod to step forward and give account (Rev.20:12).  YHWH will ask: What part of "Thou shalt not..." didn't you understand?  Lame excuses for our mistakes, or misdeeds, won't work on this Day, our FATHER sees our hearts (Heb.4:12).  This is a serious day to take responsibility for our actions, we should reflect on our life, repent for our sins, forgive and be forgiven.  We are commanded to afflict our souls through a 24 hour fast (Lev.23:26-32). 

“I bet you there will be people in hell saying,

'I thought there was no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.'”

- G.A. Jarquin

 

Yahshua clearly warned:

“... but if you want to enter into life,

keep The Commandments,”

- Matthew 19:18

The Bible including the NT has hundreds of references regarding living a righteous Holy life, but sadly many preachers today do not touch on the subject.  In Hebrew, the term for an exceptionally righteous person is Tzaddik.  Proverbs 10:25 say that unlike the wicked who are swept away by a whirlwind, the righteous have an everlasting foundation.  The Bible also warns us, “be not overly righteous,” Ecclesiastes 7:16.  I like using the salt analogy, the Faithful are the salt of the earth, but we shouldn’t be too salty, because too much salt spoils the taste of the spiritual food we share.  For the full story log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/fyi_salt_covenant.htm

Our CREATOR makes the gates of Heaven available,

 the Messiah opens the gates,

but you walk through on your own two feet.

Thankfully, GOD deals with humanity via HIS Covenants not man’s religions (Mat.22:23), and HE makes allowances for the false education humanity has been taught during their mortal lives.  The Gospels lessons are centered on ‘grace,’ which is the advanced concept of mercy.  Yahshua teaches humanity that our CREATOR is a GOD who loves and forgives all humanity, even the lowly most wretched person has value, and all should ‘learn’ so they may join HIM in HIS Kingdom (Mat.ch.5-7).  The lessons Yahshua taught discount most Jewish oral law, but still use the lessons of the Torah and the Prophets of the Hebrew Bible as foundational guidance, and the main lessons are honor and humility, repentance and kindness. 

 ~ The 24-Hour Commanded Fast ~

 

“…when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites…

and anoint your head… ”

- Matthew 6:16-17

Today, modern science would agree with this ancient mandate from heaven: Fasting is good for the soul!  Fasting, withholding nutritional inputs is an essential component to good health.  It is a vacation from digesting food, which is the most energy-demanding activity of the body, and can be a beneficial part of the healing and energizing process.  One third of the body's energy supply is used during digestion.  While fasting, energy normally used for digestion is redirected to the restorative processes.

On HIS Holy Days YHWH gives us a snap shot of what is good for us all year, I.E. the Temple offering of salt, bread, barley grass, unleavened bread, etc., are all good things to promote health throughout the year, and it is the same with fasting.  The lost art of the practice of fasting once a week or once a month for 24 hours is a wonderful and safe lifetime habit for most people.  Fasting regularly enhances one's health more than any other single activity.  Even after a person reaches ideal body weight, unwanted substances that are hard for the body to eliminate enter the body through the foods we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.  Fasting helps to release unwanted substances, toxins, and other wastes from the fat and tissues and helps to restore and maintain vitality and strength.

Regardless of the day’s activities (if you have to work or not), DO NOT brag about it, or walk around with a sad countenance to show off your fast and sacrifice.  It is private affair between you and your CREATOR.  Beginning a fast is also the time for the precious anointing with oil (Mat.6:16-18).  Anointing yourself and loved ones is a powerful spiritual power-tool.  The Apostle John writes in 1John 2:27, that anointing refers to the Divine spiritual process in which the Holy Spirit empowers a person’s heart and mind with YHWH’s truth and love.  For more info log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t5_anointing.htm .

Those who really need an anointing are easy to spot, the proud in heart, lofty in spirit, covetous in his aims, condemning others, justifying himself, unsympathetic or harsh, etc – but they are too proud to humble themselves before YHWH and Yahshua.  For more info see the Book of James.

For tips on how to 'invoke' the sacred anointing, log on to http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t8_order_of_rites.htm

~ Don’t forget your sea salt! ~

All believers are part of the Salt Covenant with YHWH (Lev.2:13; 2Chr.13:5).  In ancient times, salt was also used to seal a bond of friendship forever.  Brethren at an Israelite table would seal their friendship by the sharing of salt.  On this day after fasting, seal your prayers of repentance with a lick of pure sea salt to heal the spiritual rift.  Modern science is confirming the benefit of YHWH’s Ancient Rites, (real unprocessed) sea salt acts as preservative for your body.  (And believers also know it preserves our spirit.)  Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/fyi_salt_covenant.htm

~ GOD Bless the USA! ~

Here in America, for a country based on 'unalienable' GOD-given-rights, it should be a national day of fasting and repentance (2Chr.7:14).  And the money saved on food during the fast day, should be donated to your local food bank, and then watch the blessings grow.

Our FATHER knows what is good for us.  HE wants HIS Faithful to be kind and giving, not as a religious requirement, because it is good for your health.  One study by the University of Michigan kept track of 400 elderly couples over a five-year span and they found that couples that gave to charity were twice as likely to outlive those who didn’t!  Other studies show that people who give more than they receive – no matter if it’s money, clothes, or even advice – are healthier and happier!

“If you study the Bible without applying it to your daily life,

then it would be better not to study it at all.”

- Zac Poonen

Through Noah, YHWH told humanity to form community governments, and HE told us how to run them in the Torah.  The reason is simple; learning the personal virtues of this Holy Day also benefits our community.  There is a saying; “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”  Our founding fathers knew their Bibles and world history.  They knew that basically there are two ways to govern a community.  People will either be self-disciplined or need the whip of tyranny.  If people are disciplined and honorable then they need less government to control them, if they have no moral character then they will need the whip of big government to control them.  The early immigrants who settled this country were self-disciplined and self-reliant because they were a deeply religious, Bible-believing, Christian people - and they built a great country.  Unfortunately for the last 50 or more years, the minions for the dark side have been hard at work removing the Bible and the founding religious values from our public squares and educational establishments.  Even if they did want to remove GOD but still promote good values, then you would think that at the very least they would trumpet the Golden Rule – it’s universal, every religion has one, and it is at the heart of spiritual maturity - their silence speaks volumes.  In my humble opinion, it would appear that they silently want to ruin this great nation instead of help it

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave--and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised!"

- Job 1:21

~ In Closing… ~

 

Meditate, Practice, Pray,

 

“You must meditate and dwell upon what you read…

You must also practice and live out what you read….

You must also pray over what you read….”

- Thomas Brooks (“The Unsearchable Riches of Christ”)

The Judgment Day quote from Revelation 20:13 clearly says “…judged, each one according to their works.”  It’s a curious thing; the verse did not mention purity of the religion or theology, but your “works.”  This Holy Day teaches our “works” means we are to live, on a daily basis, a righteous life, with charity, and a slow to anger, forgiving heart, which in-turn, makes the Faithful, Ambassadors of the Kingdom (2Cor.5:20).  The prime directive of Ambassadorship: Love your GOD, and love your neighbor.  And, “. . . forgive them for they know not what they do . . .,“ is the motto (Luk.23:34). 

To be an Ambassador of the Kingdom means you are a Friend of the Kingdom, not a servant to it.  The Faithful are considered Friends because of the Divine Knowledge revealed to them (Jno.15:15).  Log on for more info: http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t7_sacred_assembly.htm

“...we do not war according to the flesh,

and the weapons are not carnal...” 

- 2Corinthians 10:3-4

The Faithful know Satan is the target of this spiritual war not our neighbor (Eph.6:12).  Satan is the god of this world and the Believers in our CREATOR are “living in their native lands - but as aliens.” 

The Believers are “in this world, but not of this world.”  The Believers are citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom of YHWH (Phi.3:20), fellow citizens with the Old Testament Saints (Eph.2:19) - under the authority of the Messiah.  They follow local customs in clothing, food, and other aspects of life - but as citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom, they are only passing their days on Earth.  Log on for more info: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_early_christians.htm

"You ought to live holy and godly lives."

- 2 Peter 3:11

They are “present in the flesh” - but do not live “according to the flesh.”  They obey the appointed laws of the community - but go beyond that and follow the Heavenly Laws in their own lives.  They are treated with outrageous disrespect - but behave respectfully and bless those in return.  They are dishonored and their names blackened - but they gain glory through dishonor and their names are cleared in the Heavenly Book of Life.  

The Faithful are given the Armor of YHWH.  YHWH doesn’t call the equipped; HE equips the called, with HIS armor.  Ephesians 6:11 states “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  Log on for more info: http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t6_armor.htm

Knowin’ is the easy part!  YHWH’s Faithful is not a church of potted plants.  The citizens are Ambassadors of the Kingdom and represent their Government.  This is not a passive role; it is a pro-active role.  They live by example and share the spiritual truths that they have learned, using clear and simple language - not political style double-talk, using many words to say nothing, or spiritual, feel-good psychobabble which has no lasting benefit (Mat.5:37).  We follow Yahshua, the Apostles, and the Hebrew Testament Prophets, fearless and uncompromising, but seasoned with amazing grace.

"But prove yourselves doers of the word,

and not merely hearers who delude themselves"

- James 1:22

In philosophy and religion, it has been said

that you will know the quality of a tree by the fruit that it bears.

 

The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. 

Enjoy the journey of learning.

> http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_10_commands.htm

> http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c5_sacred_covenants.htm

> http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c12_judgment_day.htm

> http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_fall.htm

> http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_fall_observance.htm

> Ambassadors: http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t7_sacred_assembly.htm

During your Holy Day prayers, please remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for all those who stand with Israel (Ps.122) 

May you be written in the Book of Life.

Wishing you peace and blessings, Errol.

**********************************************

Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire

  e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com

website: www.homeworship101.com

**********************************************

WSC Newsletter 2012-11, posted 09/24/12.

 

Copyright © 2012 Errol Mueller.  All rights reserved.  Short quotations, page copying, or redistribution for personal or non-commercial group study is permitted and encouraged, provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions.  Author’s name, website address, and copyright notice must be included.  If any other use is desired, written permission is required.

For information, email or call (334) 678-0913.  White Stone Communications (Rev.2:17), Dothan, AL.

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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

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