LIGHT OF MENORAH

LESSON 68 PART 1 In part 1 we consider verses 1-5 of chapter 28 and it seems that these testify of Adoneinu Yeshua HaMaschiach, our Lord Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  For one thing Aaron, whose Heavenly Father is the God of Abraham, was the High priest and his sons, also sons of their Father, the God of Abraham, the first priests to serve with their dad.  But, what about us?  Jesus, the Son of the Father, is the High Priest of a heavenly priesthood, and us, adopted "sons of the Father" and priests, a royal priesthood as we see in 1 Pete. 2:9.  Aaron and his sons are priests of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the one and only Almighty God.  And us.  We with our Lord Jesus are sons of the Father and are priests of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the one and only Almighty God.  So amazing.  And there's more.  So much more. We will study the fact that special clothes are required to be a priest.  Aaron has special clothes that are holy and made for glory and are to be beautiful.  They must be worn when the minister in the Holy of Holies.  But, we are priests.  Is God telling us that we too should be cognizant of how we dress we we come to worship Him and praise Him and as a congregation lift up our reverence and honor to the Lord?  Perhaps.  It seems possible that God is concerned with not only the status of our hearts (our internal status of righteousness) but also the way we manifest ourselves in worship services (our external appearance) in church.  We'll see how many in the church today misinterpret verses to support dressing down and even sloppy to church.  This entire lesson has to do with being disciples of Yeshua.  You just read one connection above.  Aaron is High Priest and his sons are priest and they have a Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  And we are disciples of Rabbi Yeshua.  Thus we are to be like HIM.  He is the Son of the Father as well as us and Jesus is the High Priest and we are priests of the High priest all sons of the Father.  This is one connection in verses 1-5 of Exodus 28.  There's more and one needs to really understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus.  If we do then so much of what is presented will be more understandable and it will expand and enhance your understanding. I highly recommend you also access the lessons of Ray Vander Laan – a proven and credible Bible scholar and teacher - at his website http://www.ThattheWorldMayKnow.com.  I will link you to his article on the Rabbis and Talmideem (Rabbis and Disciples).  I thank Ray so much for being my teacher and being the one who has inspired me to study this concept in a deeper and more expansive way.  Also, at his website, click LEARN and look up his AUDIO lessons and rabbis and disciples.  You will not be disappointed.  Here’s links to key places on Ray’s website and the article on Rabbi and Talmidim (a must read) https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim Audio lessons (listen to all audio with the word disciple or rabbi or talmid) https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/category/Audio Recently Ray Vander Laan did an extensive video Bible study series on Rabbi and Disciples.  It is available for purchase with leader guides and many notes.  Again, Ray will teach the Bible in its historical context and teach us what a disciple is the way Jesus meant it.  Check out the link below.  This is a Bible study you need to do at your church.  You’ll also find at least one free session you can preview when you access the link.  Here it is … https://store.focusonthefamily.com/rvl-discipleship?srsltid=AfmBOoqYpL_2JKlZdp6V8owxJOpMlAd9AyKz7o1047KP0sU--Rc1P-f8 Another key aspect to the Holy Place was the Me orah.  In the Jewish culture of Yeshua’s day and before, the Menorah was looked upon in several ways.  Dr. John D. Garr, Ph.D., Th.D Founder, Restoration Foundation, wrote an article that gets at the Jewish roots of our faith so we can understand the Menorah the way they did then.  And again, the Menorah seems to also represent Jesus and us since He said He is the Light of the World and so are we.  This is an article you don’t want to miss.  Here’s the link - https://archive.bridgesforpeace.com/letter/gods-lamp-mans-light-mysteries-of-the-menorah/ Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  ( Ferret - teaching in a wadi somewhere in the Negev) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background      

As we put the Bible into its historical context, we find our understanding of the first Passover is extremely limited from what is taught in traditional Sunday churches and Messianic groups.  But, as we delve into the fact that the Exodus and the Passover are so affected by Egypt, its ancient culture, and pantheon of gods, the Passover takes on a deeper and more awesome meaning.  In this lesson (part 2 in this mini series on Exod. 12:1-14) we ask the question why did God wait till the 15th of the month, the night of the full moon, to come and kill all the first born in all Egypt?  The dads of each household picked a lamb or goat less than 1 year old on the 10th of the month and kept it until the 14th.  It was to be sacrificed on the evening of the 14th and after sundown, which means it is now the 15th of the month, at midnight, the Lord let His final hammer fall; the Lord executed the first born on all Egypt.  Was there something special about this night, the 15th of Nissan?  Was it somehow different from other nights astronomically?  Did it relate to Egypt, its gods?  Once we study this we will be blown away and our understanding of the Passover we be expanded and enriched.  On top of that we will see how it relates to Jesus, the Last Supper (the Passover Meal of the Messiah), His death, and resurrection.  We will more see the awesome connection in that on the 15th on Nissan probably in 30 A.D. the first born and only begotten son of the Father, The Lord God, was executed.  What we will learn is that it was the same in Egypt for Amun Ra, the “father” god of all the gods of Egypt.  His only son was Khonsu, the moon god.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (FERRET - SEA OF GALILEE) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

TRUTH NUGGET #16   For Hebrews they have a Middle East mindset unlike us who have a Greek mindset (Western). For Hebrews they represent major theological concepts many times in pictures. Like Jesus as a Jewish Rabbi telling teaching us that we are branches of the true vine and He is the true vine. In the psalms the writers like David use this Hebrew mindset and create pictures that those who lived in 1200 or 1000 or 900 B.C. would completely understand from the culture of those days. This video will consider two dramatic "pictures" of major attributes of the Lord in Psalm 52:8 and Psalm 18:33 and Hab. 3:18-19. Does His word give us specifics as to how He does support us and help us in trials, troubles, suffering, and perhaps even in death?  The Bible seems to give us a picture of times of trouble and suffering.  The Bible seems to picture them as "high places" - like dangerous steep high cliffs that we must walk, saint and sinner, as we live and persevere in a fallen world. These pictures present amazing truths of our Lord and His love for us His people that can only be understood if you are Hebrew and lived in David's day of the days of Messiah Jesus. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

There is a concept so prevalent in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament - nothing "old" about it) and in the Messianic Texts (the New Testament) and my 1st teacher in Israel, Ray Vander Laan, termed it as, “Head and Heart and Hands and Feet.”  Over and over again we read the about being righteous and it is pictured in the way we talk or hear or listen (our head) or in our work or results of what we do (hands)  and in the ways we walk (feet) – walk in the commands of the Lord and walk in our own ways.  It is also pictured in the way we think or our emotions of feelings (heart).  Just consider the text in the prophet Isaiah. "Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, ... So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood." (Isa 1:5-15) In one chapter we see this concept played out quite clearly.  The rebelliousness against God is pictured using the concept “head and heart and hands and feet.”  Another place this is seen is in the consecration of the high priest Aaron and his sons.  Consider … "Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. "You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the lobes of his sons' right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood around on the altar. (Exo 29:19-20) In the Torah Commentary by the Messianic Jewish scholar, Tim Hegg, he says that these body parts in the ancient Middle East and among the ancient Hebrews came to mean hearing and obeying the Torah of the Lord using the ear (Head).  The right hand symbolizes one’s work.  Aaron had his hand dedicated to the daily work of the sacrifices of the Lord (Hand).  His feet symbolize that he walk according the God’s ways and maintain his right standing before God in his daily movements in life (Feet).  There are two verses that you may remember that deal with the heart.  In these verses we see that the heart is the source of our wickedness and our evil ways and thoughts.  Consider … "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways (feet), According to the results of his deeds(hands). (Jer 17:9-10) "But the things that proceed out of the mouth(head) come from the heart, and those defile the man. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts (heart), murders(hands), adulteries(hands), fornications(hands), thefts (hands), false witness(head)., slanders(head). (Mat 15:18-19) In Psalm 15:1-3 we again come across this "picture" of head and heart and hands and feet.  Let's delve into this and see the dramatic place it takes us.  Let's study this idea God seems to use to teach from Genesis to Revelation.  Come let's learn about Head and Hearts and Hands and Feet. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0    

Jesus teaches a harsh fact, a standard of measure He gives us.  It is a tough thing to grasp and to apply in our lives especially in days like today in the USA of 2021.  Jesus said … "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mat 5:43-45)   So, good things happen to the righteous and the unrighteous.  They both experience bad things as well.  There is no difference between Godly Christians and the ungodly, the ones who are anti-God or anti-Christ.  On top of that we are to love our enemies.  No where in the entire Bible do we read such a statement except here.  Jesus does not negate the Torah, God’s instruction in the books of Moses. He does not negate the law in Lev. 19:18 that says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” but He adds to it.  Jesus is saying our neighbor is our enemy, one who persecutes us and may even be out to do us harm and even kill us.  It is Jesus’ requirement of us if we are to be true Christians, real disciples.    This is harsh.  It is tough reality.  We live in a fallen world and Jesus’ does not mince words.  To be a disciple and take on His “standard of measure” is not easy; it is a matter of life and death.   But THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.  There is an amazing reality that separates the Godly person from the ungodly, the righteous person following the Good Shepherd from the unrighteous person who follows the false shepherd.  What is that difference?  We see it in one verse in Hebrew in Psalm 4:3 and in the historical context of Jesus’ day.  How might a disciple of Jesus understand Psalm 4:3? I suggest to you we need to grasp what they may have understood.  It truly makes all the difference.   I mentioned in this lesson to consider listening to a podcast I did entitled, “For Such a Time as This.”  It is a study on Phil. 4:6-7 …   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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)   Listening to this podcast (in four parts) will add so much more to this lesson.  If you click on the link below it will take you to the series, “For Such a Time as This.”  They are in reverse order – session 4 is first and you need to “slide down” to access session 1 and begin the study.  LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=for+such+a+time   To complete your study even more, I also suggest you listen to the podcast series on the Lord’s Prayer.  It is so related to Psalm 4:3 and the concepts in this verse and the concept of being a true disciple of Rabbi Yeshua, our Lord, our Savior, our God, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  See the link below to access the sessions on the Lord’s prayer.  Once again they are in reverse order. LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=the+lord%27s+prayer  Other Truth Nuggets on the Psalms ... Nuggets 10 - Psalm 1 - I Am and Acacia Tree - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-10-psalm-1-a-beatitude-of-the-acacia-tree/ Nuggets 2 - Psalm 23 and 91 - God's Hidden Tents - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-2/ Nuggets 1 - Psalm 118:24 - This is the Day - But It Isn't Today - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-1/   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0      

In Jesus' day the only Bible they had then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  In Matt 16:18 we read that Jesus will build His ECCLESIA G1577 upon a rock.  But, Jesus did not mean church as we know it in the 21st century.  He did not mean a building or an organization or a religion.  He meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly" from Thayer's Greek Lexicon.  So He meant people.  How do you relate a group of people to a ROCK?   One thing that is possible is it may be connected to the location of where Jesus said this.  He said it at a pagan Roman city called Caesarea Philippi 25 miles north of the sea of Galilee.  This city was the location of a rock formation where pagans came to worship the god Pan in bizarre and immoral rituals.  This was a "holy" pagan religious site where of pagan gods even from Old Testament days.  Ray Vander Laan has an excellent (short) article related to this archaeological site and how it might connect to Jesus' words.  Here's the link -  https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/gates-of-hell-article Here's a link to an awesome scholarly resource where you can study this archaeological site in detail with awesome pictures.  Link - https://www.biblewalks.com/banias Jesus at this place talks about building His assembly of followers on a ROCK.  But, this is a place where an assembly of pagans gathered at a ROCK to worship pagan gods and goddesses.  Is there something the Lord wants us to understand?  But, in the book of Isaiah we read ... "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him." (Isa 51:1-2) Bible commentators both Jewish and Christian say this verse suggests that Abraham is the ROCK.  And all the disciples of Jesus had then was the Hebrew Scriptures.  They very likely knew this verse.  So, did they somehow relate Jesus' words to Abraham?  Needless to say we have some interesting connections to explore.  This is what we will do in lesson 58.  We will again study the life of Abraham and use it as a EULOGY to this man who is our "father" by faith as Paul teaches us in ... Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:28-29) Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  ( Ferret - teaching in a wadi somewhere in the Negev) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background      

Jesus is said to have taught the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  It is as if we think Jesus invented the beatitudes and a grammatical form to teach us about what a real disciple is like.  Well, he did not.  David used the format and so did other writers of the psalms.  Solomon uses it also in Proverbs.  Psalm 1 is a beatitude.  It is a picture of what a righteous man or woman is like who is one of God's people, one saved and part of the everlasting Kingdom of the Most High.  Such a one is like a tree planted by streams of water.  Once again, David gets it.  Adonai inspired David to probably associate a righteous disciple of Yeshua with a particular tree found in the wadis of the Judean wilderness.  So, you are like this tree.  So come and join us in this podcast to understand what God says we are like even in days of difficulty and distress.  We are not taken out of these difficult days but we live in them and through them to show the world what it is like to be HIS disciple, HIS righteous people. Click here for my paper on the acacia tree - https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8p8guvg9r2lqol/The%20Acacia%20Tree%20.pdf?dl=0 Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

So you think you know Passover? You think you see all the connections between Jesus the Messiah and the Passover and Egypt? You think as I did that Jesus did a Passover Seder? Wow - you won't believe what we missed.  Share my excitement as you join me on a journey to learn about the Passover like never before. You will be amazed at what is not taught to us and see, that what is taught to us, is so limited and basic. In this lesson I mentioned that I will link you to lessons 30 and 31 in this Torah series on Exodus.  Here's the links.  I recommend HIGHLY that you study these lessons if you haven't yet before you move on.   Link to lesson 30 - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d94p6-117e40f Link to lesson 31 - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pbvk7-117ff15   And here's a link to the special lesson entitled, "The Archaeology of the Passover: the Ram of God and the Last Supper."  This lesson goes deeper into some aspects of the Last Supper that are so awesome.  Here's the link to this podcast - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tzda7-da7d9c Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret - on the lower level of a pagan temple in the ancient city of Gath) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background    

Lesson 5 – HaMo’ed Sukkot Shel Adonai The Lord’s Appointed Time of Sukkot Lev. 23:36 “on the eighth day” ביום השמיני BayYom HaShmee-nee  

We finally come to the end of this podcast series, “The Fall Feasts of Adonai.”  In lesson 3 of Sukkot we started seeing the amazing “shadows” of the Messiah over Sukkot.  Indeed there really seems to be NO excuse for the “church” to ignore not doing the “feasts” as they testify of Jesus anymore.  The early church fathers contributed to the separation of us from our Jewish roots.  But, with archaeology and sound historical scholarship, we can reconnect to the days of Yeshua and hear as they heard and see as they saw and understand in ways that only enhance and expand our understanding of God's truth, of God's Gospel. The Lord told us in John 5:39.  He taught us when all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures that all scripture testifies of Him!  Yes, Sukkot testifies of Yeshua. In this session we need to understand how this “appointed time” of the Lord is a time of great joy for all seasons.  The Jewish rabbis of Jesus day understood it.  But now, with Jesus who has come and will return, we now see an amazing correlation to the events that happened in the Temple in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day to His coming and that this is the Gospel, the Good News, which is for all the people of all the nations.  We will also see that there is a case to be made that Jesus was perhaps born in the season of Sukkot.  In other words it could be that we Christians are doing our shopping for gifts at the wrong time!  It could be the ancient culture gives us sound reasons to celebrate the birth of Christ at Sukkot and not on December 25th which was a pagan holiday in ancient Rome.  Ready?  Come and join the study.  Come and see the amazing ways the Hebrew Scriptures testify of Yeshua, witness the ONE who will come and be suspended on “the tree” to become the source of LIVING WATER for all who proclaim Yeshua is Adonai, Yeshua is Lord, Yeshua is God.  Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background  

We come to the awesome climax of our study on the feast, the appointed time of the Lord, Sukkot.  Our objective now is to heed the teaching of Paul when he taught … Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:16-17)   How is Jesus the Shadow over us of Sukkot?  How does this feast testify of Messiah?  What is amazing as we put this feast in its historical context, as we study it in the times of Yeshua, when He walked among, that we see this feast testify of His birth and His death.  It is just too awesome.  It is truly the season of our joy, (זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ) "Z'man Simchateinu."  What a time to sing the Jewish folk song so appropriate for this appointed time, “Have Nagilah.”  See the lyrics below in Hebrew and English.   Hava nagila, hava nagila Hava nagila ve-nis'mecha Repeat Hava neranena, hava neranena Hava neranena venis'mecha Uru, uru achim Uru achim belev same'ach Let us rejoice, let us rejoice Let us rejoice and be glad Repeat Let us sing, let us sing Let us sing and be glad Awaken, awaken brethren Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart. Here's a link to a YouTube video of this song with the lyrics in Hebrew.  Here's the link - https://youtu.be/UbjmkrUDb8c   Indeed, it is as if this “last” feast of the agricultural year is no only about the “end” but it is about the “beginning.”  It is the end of the agricultural year, the harvest time that started as Passover is over.  But, it is the time where all the Jews in the days of Yeshua looked forward to the beginning of the new agricultural year and the start of the early rains.  So too for us disciples of our Lord Yeshua Adonai, Sukkot testifies of the day when He came to “camp out” with us, His birth, the beginning.  And it testifies of His death, and His cross, which is the way for the lord to pour upon us Living Water. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0      

Many Messianic groups today will build their sukkahs in their yards and enter the sukkah on after sunset on the eve of Mo'ed Sukkot - the appointed time of Sukkot or Tabernacles.  There are very many Jewish rituals and prayers that many Gentile Messianic Christians practice each evening in their sukkahs since the Jewish people do it.   You can see our sukkah that we put up to practice observance of this God ordered, commanded appointed time.  (See below) We put up a "tent" and not a wooden rabbinic "lean to" as ordered and commanded by the rabbis.   The Hebrews dwelt in "tents" not a wooden structure with a roof of branches and leaves (see two examples of "kosher" booths or sukkahs - royalty free from Wikipedia - at the end of this introduction).  For Robin and I we focus on His word, the actual Hebrew, and not made up rabbinic rules and regulations.   Robin and I needed to recapture how the feast of Tabernacles testifies of Jesus.  How do we see Jesus in this feast?  This was not apparent when Robin and I followed our Messianic Gentile teachers who only emphasized what the orthodox rabbis taught.  Everything they taught and told us to do was not helping us relate to Yeshua, the Messiah, the Lord, our God. In lesson 2 we try and "see" what those early believers saw when they did this feast of the Lord.  And I'm not talking about the disciples in Jesus' day but the Hebrews coming out of Egypt!  They were to remember living in tents when the Lord delivered them from the bondage of slavery from Egypt.  Those Hebrews would remember the tents they lived in, but they would also remember, Emmanoo El עִמָּנוּ אֵל - "God with us" - and that Adonai, the Lord, Yahvay יהוה‎ also dwelt in a tent (tabernacle is Latin for "tent").  He was with them 24/7.  They saw His glorious presence coming down upon the "Tabernacle" in Exodus 40, His SHH-KEE-NAH glory.  He came once to dwell in a Sukkah, a tent.  Later, He came again. This time to dwell in His permanent "house" built by Solomon.  God came twice.  Interesting! Sounds like something Christians know - Jesus came once and will come again.  Is this somehow connected to Yeshua?  Is there Biblical truth that I did not learn from so called "expert" Messianic Gentile teachers who only were stuck on Orthodox Judaism?  It was wonderful to learn from them and to take part in applying Jewish rituals but looking back Jesus was not a priority.  So, the answer is yes.  Once again by reconnecting to the Bible in its historical, and not rabbinic context, by reconnecting to the ancient culture and practices of Israel, we begin to "see" like they did, we begin to "hear" God's word like they did, and we begin to "understand" like they did and our walk with the Lord is enhanced and our views expanded.  God goes beyond Christian theological "midrash" and theological "midrash" of Orthodox Judaism.  Sukkot testifies of Adonai Yeshua.  Come.  Come and join us to learn how.  Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0 Pictures below accessible at Wikipedia and a public domain.    

This is the time of our joy.  In Hebrew (זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ) "Z'man Simchateinu" (pronounced - sim ka tay noo).  This means the "season of our JOY."  If there was an argument to convince the "church" to begin to do services on God's feasts, His mo'edem, His appointed times, these three lessons might convince you - at least for Sukkot.  And, even if your pastor doesn't agree since he/she is stuck in tradition or he might hold that the Old Testament and the feasts and Torah are null and void; or he/she is uncomfortable doing this and be considered "weird" among his fellow pastors - then do it yourself.  Find some others who want to do the feasts.  Find other fellow Christians to study together, learn how the feasts testify of Jesus as Jesus implied in John 5:39, and do your own services at your house since these are about Jesus.  Perhaps the pastor would be OK if you did them at your church building.  These are God's.    Again, this is from THE VERY WORDS OF GOD and not my opinion.  It is time for us as real disciples of Adonai Yeshua, to do (תְשׁוּבָה) teshoovah, repentance, which actually in Hebrew means the process of "turning back."  What a joy it'd be to see 1000's of tents put up during the feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, by Christians, across the land, to praise the Lord and rejoice in the season of our JOY.  You will see this in these three lessons on Sukkot.  As a note, the angels who appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born said, "I bring you news of great JOY for all people" in Like 2:10.  Hmmm ... that's Christmas.  That's when Jesus came to dwell amongest us.  Hmmm, this sounds like Sukkot.  Could it be? Robin and I set up our tent every year.  We do Sukkot as an appointed time to remember Jesus.  Here's some pictures of our tent below. God commanded the Hebrews that each year forever they are to set up a    ( סוקה) sukkah, Hebrew for a tent, booth, shanty, a make shift shelter out of wood and branches.  In this way they will remember the time they lived in tents with the Lord.  He also dwelt in a tent (Latin for tent is "tabernacle").  God was with us!  In other words, עִמָּנוּ אֵל Emmanoo El which means "God with us."  This is also associated with Jesus at His birth.  We will see this in lesson 1.  Moreover, we will see that as God came twice to first, campout with Israel in His tent.  He came a 2nd time to dwell in the House (Solomon built God's HOUSE not His Temple - see 1 Kings 5-8).  Hmmm, interesting.  Does this mean that Jesus came twice to first campout?  Does this mean that Jesus came twice to dwell in His House?  What House?  The Temple, the Beit Mikdash (Holy Dwelling House) in Jerusalem is gone, it was destroyed.  But, he did come to dwell in a New House, a New Temple.  Wait till you see!  You will then realize that this is the season of our JOY, the season of our rejoicing.  Together we will sing "Hava Nagilah" together.  See the lyrics below in Hebrew and English. Hava nagila, hava nagila Hava nagila ve-nis'mecha Repeat Hava neranena, hava neranena Hava neranena venis'mecha Uru, uru achim Uru achim belev same'ach   Let us rejoice, let us rejoice Let us rejoice and be glad Repeat Let us sing, let us sing Let us sing and be glad Awaken, awaken brethren Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Jesus teaches His disciples that they are the BRANCHES and He is the TRUE VINE.  On top of that these branches are "clean" because of what they learned from their rabbi, Rabbi Jesus.  Clean?  You mean somehow Jesus' words gave them a bath?  Huh? He was teaching Jews in Israel about 2000 years ago.  We are so disconnected from those days that much of what Jesus taught simply escapes us.  So, if you thought you understood everything in John 15:1-11 wait till you watch this vidcast!  The church has abandoned understanding the Bible in its ancient historical and cultural context.  There are so many misconceptions that we are taught mistakenly and without the knowledge of the teacher.  It is time once again to reconnect to those days and study His word in context and grasp the original intended meaning by the Lord.  Ready?  Let's go. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Some people think that the word "fornication" means sex outside of marriage. Some say that this is what it means in the Bible.  NOPE.  Sorry folks.  God never states specifically that pre-marital sex or sex outside of marriage is a sin.  But it is.  How does God teach us this in His Torah, His "instruction?"  How did He get this across to His chosen people the Hebrews coming out of Egypt?  How did God do this to His people in the 1st century A.D. when He, Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, God Himself, how did He teach this THEN?  We missed it.  He did teach it.  But, once again we need to put the Bible into its historical perspective.  One needs to understand how God taught them THEN 3400, 3000, 2500,  or 2000 years ago, so we can understand NOW.  Sex outside of marriage is a sin and, on top of that, it looks as if it is something God hates.  Wait till you see. Here's a number of links I promised in the podcast you many find very enlightening.   Link 1 - the practice of sex outside of marriage, abortion, and infanticide in ancient Greece and Rome - https://soc.history.ancient.narkive.com/DIO506S4/world-before-christ-infanticide-and-abortion-in-ancient-pagan-world Link 2 - the 613 laws of Maimonides - https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/756399/jewish/The-613-Commandments-Mitzvot.htm Link 3 - Jewish scholarly site showing that pre-marital sex is NOT brought up in the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) - https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-views-on-premarital-sex/ Link 4 - Ray Vander Laan's article on ancient pagan religion and practices - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/fertility-cults-of-canaan Link 5 - Josephus' statement that abortion is considered murder - https://lexundria.com/j_ap/2.202/wst Link 6 - my research article for my master's degree in Biblical history.  The focus is on adoption in ancient Turkey (Asia Minor) but relates to infanticide in ancient Rome.  The bibliography is invaluable - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0 Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Once again we come to text of the Bible that is taken out of its historical context.  Once again we are surrounded by childish ideas of the Scapegoat and what the term עֲזָאזֵל Azazel means.  It is not a name.  And Jewish scholars agree that the scapegoat is NOT a sacrifice.  It does nothing for the person -  does not forgive sin - at all.  So what is it? On top of that Jesus says in John 5:39 the following ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; ..." (Joh 5:39)  OK - God says sometime between 24-30 A.D. that Scripture testifies of Jesus.  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures the Old Testament and the Torah, the first five books of the Bible were the foundation of the Bible.  Does the Scapegoat, עֲזָאזֵל Azazel, testify of Messiah Yeshua, Jesus the Christ?  Does the  Scapegoat, עֲזָאזֵל Azazel, shows us the Lord?  Wait till you see!! Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

Awhile back a pastor I knew did a lesson on Yom Kipppureem.  In his sermon he connected Yom Kippureem to Passover for us who were Christians.  I never heard this before and it was interesting.  Over the years this has stayed with me and I think there is something here to be considered.  Let's take a look. 1) Yom Kippureem totally involved the high priest.  He alone was involved in all the sacrifices and rituals of the appointed time, no on else, so that all the unintentional sins of Israel would be forgiven and atoned for. But, Yeshua is our high priest, and He was the only one on Passover to provide a way so that our intentional sins would be forgiven and atoned for.   2) On Yom Kippureem there was one from the flocks that was the sin offering, a goat chosen by lot.  On Passover, there is only one Lamb of God, Yeshua, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world and He was chosen since the beginning of time. (Luke 9:35) 3) Today the Jewish people reserve the month before Rosh HaShana as a month to prepare for Yom Kippureem.  It is the month of Elul.  For us Christians we today have a time before Passover when we prepare for the remembrance of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the cross.  We call it Lent.   4) In the year of Jubilee the shofar is to be sounded on Yom Kippureem.  This is to announce that all slaves were free and all are released from their debts.  Today, the shofar is blown at the end of the services for Yom Kippureem.  But, on Passover, the shofar was blown in Jesus' day at the time of the sacrifice of the Passover lambs.  It was at this time that Jesus died and we, as slaves to sin, chose Jesus, and proclaim Him as Lord and Savor, as God, we can confess our intentional sins are are forgiven, released, and free.  He paid the price of our debt.  For Jew and Gentile the shofar blast on Passover the day and hour Jesus died announces the year of Jubilee tat started then and never ends. 5) On Yom Kippureem the high priest showed up a week early.  He was then in the Temple getting ready of his big day on Yom Kippureem.  Jesus as well.  He showed up in Bethany six days before Passover, the day of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.  He was in the Temple and it was as if Jesus was teaching and witnessing His word before His terrible day when WE crucified Him due to our sin. There probably is more.  And there is.  But now.  Come.  Study this last lesson on Yom Kippureem.  Study and see and hear how Jesus is the shadow of this appointed time over us.  Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ. (Col 2:16-17) Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background  

In this second lesson on the most holiest day for the religious Jewish people, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ - the day of Atonements יום הכיפורים‎ -  we wonder if the Hebrews did this "feast" during the 40 years in the Sinai?  Did they do it in David's day, Solomon's, or Hezekiah's?   In Jesus' day Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ was devoutly practiced and it was called "The Great Day" or "The Day" or simply the "The Fast."  This can be seen in the books of Acts when Paul was on that sea voyage and experienced the ship wreck.  Consider ...  When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, and said to them, "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." (Act 27:7-10) Dr. Craig Keener - an superb and highly credible Bible historian and scholar - comments on this.  He says ... The “fast” here refers to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which occurs in September or October. Sea travel became more dangerous as winter approached (2Ti_4:21; Tit_3:12). Shipping was completely closed down from around November 10 to as late as March 10, but September 15-November 10 and March 11-May 26 were risky periods as well. (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. © 1993 by Craig S. Keener). During Jesus' day the appointed time focused on the High Priest and the rituals and events taught by יהוה‎ Yahvay, the Lord our God, in Leviticus 16.  It is possible there were services in the local synagogues across Israel.  However, the TORAH, God's "instruction" and not law emphasized the High Priest and the things that must be done on the Temple in Jerusalem. After 70 A.D. Judaism changes dramatically.  All things had to be rethought and looked at from a different perspective.  Why?  There was no Temple anymore.  Now what?  So, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ takes on a whole different way of observing this awesome day as the rabbis "made up" new rituals and new practices that are not in the Bible at all.  Some are.  But overall the Jewish way today of doing Yom Kippureem is not like it was in Jesus' day. We know that there are days coming we call the Great Tribulation.  We know it has to do with the predictions of the "70 Weeks" on Daniel.  It was weeks of years or each year represents one day of "week." In Judaism you might hear that the "last week" of Daniel's 70 weeks is called the "Time of Jacob's Trouble."  Some verses related to this in Judaism are ... "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."  (Dan 9:24-27) Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: "For thus says the LORD, 'I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. 'Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? 'Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's distress, But he will be saved from it. 'It shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. (Jer 30:4-8) Is there some connection between Jesus, "The Time of Jacob's Distress (Trouble)," Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎, Yom Teruah יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎ (rabbinic name is Rosh HaShana), and Jesus' words as we read ... "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mar 1:15) Come.  Join us.  Let's study Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎.  Let's "see" how this appointed time is a picture of the coming of the End of Days, the awesome Day of the Lord.         

Ten days after Yom Teruah יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎ (rabbinic name is Rosh HaShana) we come to the most holiest day for the religious Jewish people, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ - the day of Atonements.  Already we see that when we call it Yom Kippur we are incorrect.  God calls it Yom Kippureem, atonements is plural.  In this first of the three lessons on this feast (not a feast but an "appointed time" or mo'edeem מועדים - like a date - one knows the day, the time, and the place of the meeting) we will learn why it is called the day of atonements.  We will see that those who teach that atonement means "AT ONE MENT" are showing their total lack of Bible knowledge and understanding.  We will deal with the question that few in the pulpit can deal with and that is if on Yom Kippureem God atones and forgives ALL the sins of all the people Israel (look it up in Lev. 16:34) then what did Jesus do on the cross? Does this mean Israel is cleansed of all sins once per year, but non-Jews, like us, need Jesus?  Does that mean Israel does not need Jesus?  Is Israel some sort of super race in God's eyes?  We will see that Yom Kippureem does not cleanse Israel of sin.  We will see that indeed all men, all women, young and old, Jew and Gentile, have no hope to be forgiven of their sin unless there is the solution God provided, His death and blood sacrifice on the cross.  All this is right in front of us.  The confusion is cleared up easily and precisely IF you know the Hebrew and IF you know what the Torah says about UNINTENTIONAL SIN and INTENTIONAL SIN and the SIN OFFERING.  All the answers are right there in front of us, but few in the church are educated in Biblical Hebrew and the ancient culture of Israel, our Jewish roots.  Our seminaries are graduating highly educated pastors with no Biblical understanding, no knowledge of Biblical Hebrew or Greek, and no training in understanding the Bible in its historical context or the Jewish roots of Christianity. Here's two awesome links to two articles at www.TorahClass.com - a Jewish/Christian teaching site explain this - 1) https://torahclass.com/old-testament-leviticus-lesson-23-ch16/?format=video&lang=en 2) https://torahclass.com/old-testament-leviticus-lesson-24-ch16-ch17/?format=audio&lang=en Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background

  From Abraham Cohen’s excellent scholarly work, “Everymans’ Talmud,” we read that in Judaism today and in the days of Jesus, one’s death was more important than one’s birth.  Jews will rejoice at a person’s death if they were righteous and live a life living according to the ways of the Lord.  Don’t rejoice at a person’ birth.  One being born is just beginning their life.  Will they live righteously?  Will do amazing things by the power of the hand of the Lord?  Or, will they live sinful lives, unrighteous before God and man?  We don’t know.  So, thus, we celebrate the death of a righteous person.  This idea of the importance of the death of a person over the birth of a person is shown in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  There are only 41 verses or so relating to the birth of Christ in Matthew and Luke.  But there are over 400 verses in the four gospels reporting on the death of Jesus.  Of course!  The gospels are books written by Jews in their Jewish Middle Eastern mindset 2000 years ago.  The death of Jesus and the sacrifice of the cross is critically important to those Jewish gospel writers. Far different than Christians today ​in how we emphasize His birth that we ​c​all Christmas. In lesson 57 we will continue to study Abraham and his life from the Jewish perspective.  He first appears in Genesis 12 and the Torah is silent as to why Abraham was chosen by Adonai.  But, at his passing, we are now able to go back and study Abraham’s life.  We are able to consider ways God may have looked upon this man and chose Abraham to be our father in the faith as Paul teaches us in Rom. 4:13-16.   Abraham was given the gospel!  So, in the Torah, the books of Moses, we first read of the gospel, the gospel according to Moses, as Paul shows us in Gal. 3:8.  Now as we study the life of Abraham at his death, we will see Jesus.  Just like Jesus said in John 5:39.   How is Abraham our father?  How does all this relate to us today in the 21st century?  We will find that Abraham put all things in his life below his love of God and his commitment to obey Him.  One might say Abraham "hated" everything in his life as compared to his love of God.  But, it isn't hate.  The Hebrew word is שׂנא SANAY H8130 - can mean hate but equally can mean loved less, held in lower esteem, second place.  Yes.  Abraham put all in a lower position as compared to his love and faithfulness to the Lord.  He is the epitome of Jesus was talking about in Luke 14:26 when Jesus taught ... "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate (not hate but SANAY - put all things in a lower position that our love and faith in Jesus) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.  (Luk 14:26) How can we come to have our understanding expanded and enriched as we understand that through Abraham’s seed (his descendants) that all will be blessed?  How do we grasp that we are Abraham’s seed along with Jesus​?​  Jesus is the blessing to all nations and we are to bring Him to all nations.  Abraham was sent and he went.  Jesus was sent and He went.  Jesus sends us.  Are we ready to go and be like ​our ​daddy, Abraham?   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret at the ancient city of Pergamum) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0