ISLAM'S SWORD

December 28, 2007

Yesterday before going over to our neighbors for our regular Thursday prayer/praise/fellowship time, Rimona's eyes fell on a newspaper (which we rarely buy or read) that happened to be lying on our dinning room table. What stood out were all the horrible things that are beleaguering our country; Old ladies beaten (some robbed) by individuals and small bands of youth and even adults; a sex festival that is in the making in Tel Aviv (not to mention the "love" and gay parades that have already established themselves as part of that city's "cultural" scene). In addition to the above were the tabloids about corruption in high places, which have become our "daily bread". And the list does not end there.

Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told". How true! Some of the things that are happening on this planet, in our day and age, we would not believe even if we were told. But in order not to take this scripture out of its context, let us take a look at the very precise description, depicted in the previous verses, and compare it to the current situation in Israel and in other countries too: " Why do You [YHVH] make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness [even if it is in the newspaper and television]? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises [even in the body of Messiah]. Therefore, the law [Torah] is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice comes out perverted (Habakkuk 1:3-4). The Hebrew verb for "surround" is "katar" and shares its root with the word for crown, "keter". In other words, what this is implying is that the wicked do not only "surround" the righteous, but they also rule over them. This expresses perfectly our situation today in the nation of Israel, and the so called Christian nations as well.

Secular humanism, along with its self-righteous religions, is leading the people into the valley of YHVH's righteous judgments (ref. Joel 3: 12). But what shocked the prophet Habakkuk was that YHVH decided to grant favor to one of the fiercest people of his day and raise them up to judge His people: "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, [whose land was in what is today's heartland of Islam] that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth [they are the hunters and fishermen of Hab. 1: 14-17 that YHVH has raised up, favored, and sent into the nations] to seize dwelling places which are not theirs [also the Palestinians' claim on the Land of Israel]. They are dreaded and feared [terrorism]. Their justice and authority originate with themselves [Muslim self-righteousness is second to none]. Their horses are swifter than leopards and keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swooping down to devour. All of them come for violence [Hamas]. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand. They mock at kings, and rulers are a laughing matter to them [mockery is a very prevalent attitude that we have all witnessed in Osama Bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahamadinejad, Saddam Hussein, Nasralla the Hezbollah leader, etc, a trait inherited from Ishmael, Esau, Amalek etc.]. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up rubble to capture" (Habakkuk 1:6-10).

They would not be able to do this had YHVH not given them favor, and this is the point of the prophet's dilemma. How could the Elohim of Israel sanction such a people to carry out His judgments? This is what perplexes the mind of the believers today and what constitutes "not believing this even though you were told". Islam's sword is aimed at the heart of the people of Israel, both the saved and unsaved in Ephraim and Judah. YHVH is using them to bring His people to repentance and return to Torah (His instructions), commandments, the gospel, and the land. The Church's gospel of "we are not under the law" has turned it into a lawlessness entity along with the nations it is established in. There is blindness to YHVH's righteous judgments. The fact that church buildings are being turned into occult centers and mosques, as we witnessed with our own eyes in England and Scotland and on American Christian TV, is not even noticed.

Back to Habakkuk, who took his post as a guard and stationed himself on the ramparts to watch and listen to what YHVH would speak to him, and to consider how to reply to His indignation. And so the prophet heard: "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

YHVH's purpose for Islam has been in the making and will come to its ultimate conclusion. It is as sure as are His words, quoted above. The 'how', 'when' and 'where' are in His hands, but Habakkuk's prophecy does not end with the successes of YHVH's accomplices. For when He finishes using them, just as He did other nations in the past, to accomplish His plans for Israel this is what He says: "Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you-- Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants. Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house to put his nest on high to be delivered from the hand of calamity! You have devised a shameful thing for your house by cutting off many peoples; so you are sinning against yourself" (Habakkuk 2: 8-10). This is followed by a series of "woes" upon the enemy, but what about us, who are witnessing all of this? Are we on the watchtowers and the ramparts? For this prophecy ends in a very solemn but positive note: "I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. [And here comes the leap of faith:] Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in YHVH, I will rejoice in the Elohim of my salvation. YHVH Elohim is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places" (Habakkuk 3: 16-19 emphases added).

Are we aware of, and prepared for what is coming?

Ephraim

LAW OF SIN

December 21, 2007

First of all I must apologize for an assumption that I made in last week's letter. I was quoting from Romans chapter 6, where Paul says that "we are no longer under the law". My comment was that "indeed we are not under law but that the law is under us". However, after checking the context in which the Apostle was using the word "law" – "nomos" in Greek - I discovered that he was speaking there very specifically of the "law of sin and death": "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law [of sin] but under grace" (Romans 6:14). Seeing that it is the "law of sin and death" that he was talking about in that passage, not only are we not "under it", but it cannot and should not be our foundation either, as I had incorrectly written. Instead we are under the law of grace in Messiah Yeshua. His righteousness has dominion in our life, as we walk by faith in what our Heavenly Father had accomplished judicially through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son. The writings of the apostles, at least in the form in which they have been handed down to us, only use this one Greek word to describe commandments, laws and Torah. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Tanach which preceded the writing of the New Covenant books) Torah is translated "nomos" – law, a fact which became the precedence to perceiving the meaning of the Hebrew word, "Torah", as strictly law. However, the Septuagint, unlike the writers of the New Covenant books, does distinguish between "laws", "ordinances", "commandments" etc.; for example the Ten Commandments are translated as the "Ten Words" which is the literal translation of the Hebrew.

Paul's main concern was that we understand that man is either under the rule or dominion of Sin, which is lawlessness and its consequences, that is the curses; or the dominion of Righteousness, which is the obedience of faith leading to the laws of blessings. In other words, there are two spiritual kingdoms that man is subject to. If we have received by faith the truth of the Gospel and continue to live accordingly, we will be living under the law of life in Messiah, that is, by the instructions (Torah) of the Word of Elohim from Genesis to Revelation. The Word of YHVH governs His Kingdom, thus we must get to know every statute, ordinance, commandment and law that is apropos to His rule.

Paul mentions two laws that are working in him as a Believer: "I find then a law [of Sin and death], that evil [power of Sin] is present within me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law [Torah/Word] of Elohim according to the inward man. But I see another law [of Sin] in my members, warring against the law [instructions of Righteousness] of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank Elohim -- through Yeshua the Messiah our ruler! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law [Torah-instructions] of Elohim, but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7: 21-25).

After this, comes the grand finale of Paul's dissertation about the reality of a Believer's life of faith in the law of grace: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1 NKJV). In this particular translation "no condemnation" is conditional. If we walk according to the flesh then we are under the laws of sin and its verdict is condemnation. But if we walk according to the Spirit that is, by faith believing what is true about ourselves in Messiah Yeshua, and draw our life/nature from His Righteousness (fruit of the Spirit), then "the righteous requirement of the law [Torah/His instructions] might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).

The Apostle is always making a reference to a war that is waging inside of us. He explains that the nature of Sin lusts for the power to rule, especially over us who are governed by the Spirit. It wants to use us in order to express its nature through our flesh and thus to set up its kingdom. We have therefore been given spiritual armor for protection. This armor is the life of Yeshua. He is the Truth around our waist/loins, He is our breastplate of Righteousness, He is our Peace that we walk in, He is our shield of Faith, our helmet of Salvation and He is the Word of Elohim, our sword (ref. Ephesians 6: 14-17). Hence the Word instructs us not to obey the lusts of the flesh but to present our members as (literally) weapons of righteousness to Elohim (Romans 6: 12-13).

Many people are looking for, or are predicting war in the Middle East. My beloved brothers and sisters, we are already at war and the whole creation is groaning in waiting for a body of Believers that will emerge victoriously from this battle and set the creation free. Let us run the race and exercise our weapons of righteousness, so that we will be fit when YHVH gathers us together as a mighty army (ref. Ezekiel 37: 10).

Ephraim

THE COMMANDMENTS

December 14, 2007

"This is My commandment that you love one another" (John 15:12). Is this commandment, given by Yeshua, "law"? Summing up all the commandments into two He declared: "You shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12: 30-31). If these commandments are "law", then we cannot just nonchalantly toss away any of the commandments given to us, with the excuse that "we are not under law". As mentioned in previous letters, I do agree that "we are not under law"; but rather that the law should be "under us". It needs to be a foundation of our walk in the Spirit of life and liberty in Messiah Yeshua. The commandments were all given by the Word of Elohim, and that Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. Nevertheless, as "new creation beings" in YHVH's Son, we must understand these commandments in a new light.

Some of the religious leaders of Yeshua's day, and ours too, disregarded the commandments, laying them aside for the sake of their traditions (see Mark 7: 8-9). Yeshua pointed these clerics directly to the problem that beset them. He exposed the nature of Sin that was resident in the innermost part of man's being: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness" (Mark 7:21-22). Because Sin became the very spiritual nature of man, its power and influence was being expressed through human experience. There was no possible way that any person could live outside of Sin's realm of control. Paul the Apostle admitted that when he wanted to carry out "the good", he found another law working in his members and was actually unable to do "this good" that he desired. This law he called the "Law of Sin". However, when he had accepted through "the faith" Elohim's answer to man's bondage to Sin, he believed that it was no longer himself that was committing Sin, but the influence of the Power of Sin that was still working in his soul (Romans 7:17).

Paul believed that he had died, along with all humanity, when Yeshua died. His identity with Yeshua's death was not an excuse to continue allowing Sin to rule his being. On the contrary, Yeshua's death and resurrection granted him the mandate to overcome Sin. However, he would not have been able to discern Sin had YHVH not given the commandments/law.

Paul wrote that when, for example, the commandment/law "you shall not covet" was decreed he recognized all manner of covetousness operative within him. However, Paul does not blame the law of commandments for his problem; He actually acknowledges its importance in the life of the Believer. Had it not been for the law, he would have continued to be a victim of Sin, being deceived by the powers of darkness. But when the light/glory of the commandment, or law, came he recognized the fact that covetousness was not part of his new nature in Messiah. Paul was using the commandments as a tool to discern the nature of Sin that was still at work in his members. This, obviously, was not a one time effort but an every day walkout, in order to overcome the Power of Sin. Through this understanding of the function of the commandments, he was actually keeping them, as in this way the Nature of Sin was being exposed. Thus, Paul found himself identifying with YHVH's righteousness in and through Messiah Yeshua.

In Paul's letter to the Believers in Rome, especially in Chapter Seven, he explains his view of the commandments of Elohim and their relationship to Sin. He recognized that the commandments of Elohim were given to reveal the power and influence of another spiritual nature whose fruit was producing "death". To the Apostle, the commandments were spiritual and good for he would not have known Sin without them. The same is true for us. The commandments are always before us to lead us to repentance and to YHVH's provision of "grace" through His Son. As long as Sin is still at work within us, we need the commandments; not to try and do them for the purpose of righteousness, but to keep us mindful and discerning as to what Sin looks like.

Ephraim

GLORIFING HIM

December 7, 2007

The trip to England was like riding on the wings of an eagle. It was "blessed beyond blessed" from the time I left home until I saw the smiling faces of my family members greeting me at the airport, upon my return at 01:00 AM; Each stop along the journey was an oasis of His love, encouragement and anointing. Even though many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing troublesome times, His message to all of us was very simple and foundational. The Spirit was pointing us back to our first love, to the faith and to remembering what the Father had accomplished for us through His only begotten Son while we were yet sinners, an accomplishment that was the ultimate demonstration of His love, power and wisdom (ref. 1 Corinthians 1:24).

It was interesting that most of us were veteran believers, but in order to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him, the Almighty had to shake our comfort zones, lifestyles, ministries and relationships. And while so doing, He also reminded us of the truth about ourselves vis-à-vis the New Covenant. What YHVH was imparting to us centered round the execution tree, that is the altar and sacrifice (Yeshua) that He had used as a means to forgive and reconcile us unto Himself.

We had to conclude that it is of utmost necessity that we hold on, and cling to what is true about ourselves, all of which may be summed up in the fact that we are dead, but that our life is hidden in Messiah in Elohim. Indeed, Messiah's presence in us constitutes our life and nature and hence the soul must come into union and merge with Him, so that the Father can glorify His Son. Yeshua prayed in John 17 that as He glorified the Father, the Father would also glorify Him. This, then, is the reason that the Father has placed the life of His Son in us, so that through us He would fulfill this goal.

Our circumstances, therefore, become opportunities to glorify Yeshua's indwelling presence. This is brought about by yielding to His nature (the fruit of the Spirit). In this way His life is glorified by us and in us, especially so in our relationships with others, as Yeshua's glory is seen in our love for one another. Yeshua prayed: "And the glory which you Father have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one" (John 17: 22). We must believe what is true about our death and no longer look at ourselves, or others, after the flesh because when Yeshua died "all men died. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh… if any man is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5: 15-17).

Many have been set free by believing and understanding this reality. Others are still in a battle with spirits of unbelief and doubt as to whether this is true or not. But when we walk in His indwelling presence we bring glory to the Almighty and to His Son. This is not an easy row to hoe, as we have plenty of resistance from the power of sin, which is the nature of darkness that wants us to be channels of its unloving character.

Let us make this season of dedication a time of remembering, recognizing, repenting and cleansing ourselves (temples of His Spirit) "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

May Yeshua be the light of His Father's glory in your holy place!

Ephraim

HEIR OF THE KOSMOS (world)

Many people today are dabbling in real estate in order to earn a little extra money on the side. Well, wouldn't you know it? YHVH is into that business too! First He is seen creating the property that He will own and then He takes possession over all of it. Psalm 24:1 states: "The earth is YHVH’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein”. In Psalm 89:11 we read: "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them”. And 1st Corinthians 10:26 reiterates Psalm 89:1by quoting: "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness."

These scriptures attest to the fact that YHVH has never lost the title deed of ownership of the earth to any devil. However, He shared His dominion with mankind. "Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’" (Gen. 1:26). In this short statement YHVH was setting up His kingdom on earth, and man (male and female in this context) was to be in charge of overseeing, ruling or subduing all living things.

Subduing does not mean exploiting, but actually just the opposite. It stands for imparting life and light to the living creatures. Yet at first nothing was said about property rights. It was only until after the nations (goyim) were divided up that this issue came to the fore. Thus we read in Genesis 10:32: "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood" (emphasis added). Genesis 10:25 says: "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided" (emphasis added). And, "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel" (Deut. 32:8). Now, why would Elohim set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the Children of Israel, when Israel was not even around at the time of Peleg? Peleg was the son of Eber, or Ever in Hebrew, whose name is forever stamped upon the Israelites – Hebrews - and is one of the forefathers of Abraham. And so, in this short statement from Deuteronomy 32, we see YHVH establishing His "kingdom order" in the family of Noah.

As we follow YHVH's plan, we see Him implementing it right from the start by putting it in order, as is seen later in the covenant that He was to make with Abraham the father of Israel: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land [eretz] which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth [eretz]; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth [eretz], then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk on the land [eretz] through its length and its width, for I give it to you" (Gen.13:14-17). Abraham could not take possession of the inheritance until he made his presence in the place. This is somewhat like the old Turkish (Ottoman) law that determines that ground could be claimed by planting or building on it. The life of Abraham was destined to be scattered "like dust" all over the earth. Could this be how Abraham was to become, as Romans 4:13 terms it, "heir of the kosmos" - fixed order of YHVH's government? However, it is not only given to those who are of the law but also to those "who are of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all" (Rom. 4:16).

Abram was living somewhere between Ai and Bethel when YHVH uttered the above-quoted promise (Deut. 13:14-17). I would like to take the liberty to expand on the meaning of this blessing based on its context: "Arise walk in the earth through its length and its breath and I will give it to you". The Hebrew word "eretz" can be translated earth, land, field or ground but it actually comes from a root meaning to "be firm”. Thus a translator may use any of these English words at their discretion according to the context. My understanding of the context, in light of the massive blessing of multiplicity, is that the seed would be as the dust of the earth (eretz), and dust as we know usually covers everything. I believe that YHVH did not limit this blessing to Abraham only and to a specific land (Canaan), but also to his seed and to the entire earth (incidentally, notice the similarity: “earth” – “eretz”). His intent was to sow the seed into all the earth (eretz), thus perpetuating the blessing that He made with Adam and Noah to “fill the earth and rule over [subdue] it".

Later on in the life of Abraham, YHVH says to him that his seed would be like the stars of heaven (ref. Gen.15:5). This is again a numerical reference, but moreover, also to that of position as the stars, along with the moon, were to rule and to be for signs and for seasons.

Abraham, now in the 'form' of his own multiplied seed, was also told that 'he' would be a nation (goy) and that this goy would be a goy of princes and priests: “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel…” (Exodus 19:6). And, "YHVH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath” (Deut. 8:13). The irrevocable destiny of the life of the forefathers was to have dominion, to subdue and rule this planet earth.

The Patriarchs are very much alive today in their progeny, whether their children know it or not, for did YHVH not say that He is the "Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of the living?" (Mat. 22:32)? This is why our eyes must be open to present truth, or reality.

YHVH is a covenant keeping Elohim, and we in this generation are the witnesses to that faithfulness, loving-kindness and mercy. That being so not just by what we say, but more so by who we are. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is being who YHVH has created us to be, and at the same time also recognizing this incredible living truth – that we are "the workmanship of YHVH". “But when he [Jacob] sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name, hallowing the Holy One of Jacob, and fearing the Elohim of Israel” (Is. 29:22-24 emphasis added). We are His living stones, hewn from the rock who is "Abraham our father and Sarah who gave birth to us in pain" (Is. 51:2). "For He spoke and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The counsel of YHVH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations… Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" (Ps. 33:9, 11-12). "Because YHVH loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, YHVH has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage” (Deut.7:8). Why did YHVH do all that? So that we (Israel) might be filled with His Spirit, and be that channel of His life and light to the earth.

"Let Your mercy, O YHVH, be upon us, just as we have waited upon You" (Ps. 33:22). "For those who wait on YHVH, they shall inherit the earth" (Ps. 37:9, ref. also v. 34).

Ephraim

SAVIOR - REDEEMER

November 3, 2007

This time let's take a look at two of Yeshua's roles, namely that of Savior/Deliverer, and Redeemer. Yeshua's name comes from the Hebrew root y.sh.a, meaning "to deliver" or "save". In Scripture this term is mainly used in the context of deliverance, that is, removal from certain bondage situations, or extracting from various predicaments. As important as salvation is, it is not as comprehensive as redemption. The judges of Israel are a case in point. YHVH did not require that the ones He chose as judges/deliverers have specific and fixed qualifications, as would redeemers. Often upon completion of a given task or assignment, the savior or deliverer would retire. The deliverer had a job to fulfill, and hence many of the kings in Israel acted as saviors or deliverers when an enemy was oppressing the nation, or even individuals. In contrast, a redeemer's office is for a lifetime. Moses, for example, was called to be a savior, yet, typically, was not appointed to the office of a priest. That role was reserved for the firstborn of the family, Aaron.

Originally a first-born redeemer had priestly responsibilities, aside from being his kinsmen's deliverer and looking after the interests of the family at all times. Abraham, for example, being a firstborn and redeemer took Lot under His wing because his nephew was too young to take responsibility for his deceased father's inheritance. In time, Abraham did hand the inheritance over to his nephew, along with prime real estate. However, at one point Abraham had also to "save" Lot and his family and their belongings. In the wake of the war that broke out when the king of Sodom was taken captive, along with Lot and family, Abraham got involved because he was a responsible first-born redeemer, fulfilling his role as a savior. In the eyes of YHVH this was one of the qualifying traits that led to the Malchizedec blessing being bestowed upon him. Had he not been his brother's keeper, YHVH would have rejected Abraham and would have chosen another from Terah's family. In Genesis this pattern comes up over and over again. This is one of the reasons why Elohim required of Cain an answer regarding his brother's whereabouts. Doubtless, as a firstborn Cain knew that he was his brother's keeper, and thus his cynical response gave him away.

In order for Yeshua to be Israel's Redeemer he too had to qualify, by being a firstborn prince, faithful and obedient to the will of His Father in all matters "even unto death", because giving up one's life for a brother is a major qualifying mark of a redeemer. Another example of this was seen in the family of Jacob; When Reuben was to take Benjamin with the other brothers down to Egypt, he offered the life of his two sons if he were to fail to bring Benjamin back safely. This, however, did not satisfy Jacob and for this, and other reasons, Reuben lost his firstborn position and rights as leader of the family. The one who earned this role was Judah, who had learned from His daughter-in-law the righteousness of keeping YHVH's laws that govern a redeemer's office, which in that case was to restore life from the dead (in lieu of Judah's dead sons). When Judah expressed willingness to put his own life on the line for Benjamin, he qualified for the position which his father saw fit to grant him.

In our day the concept of a redeemer in the family is all but lost, hence we have been blinded to the importance of YHVH's plan to restore the creation through a redeemer nation: "For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim" (Romans 8:19).

Adam/Man was given an inheritance that is waiting to be redeemed by a chosen firstborn in the family. Yeshua obviously did not set the creation free, as it was His responsibility to redeem His Father's inheritance. But who is going to redeem Man's inheritance? (ref. Gen. 1:26). In order to answer that question, we need to become aware of the plan of redemption and the importance of bringing together the two trees/sticks of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim. The church at large has only been interested in and occupied by a "Savior", but knows little about Yeshua as a Redeemer. To be saved and go to heaven is basically the vision that has been handed to those who believe. But when we understand YHVH's divine order in humanity, we will not be so interested in the "saving" of our own necks from the wrath of Elohim, but we will enter into the "love of Elohim", taking His viewpoint on the restoration of all things that are spoken through the mouths of His holy prophets from of old.

Ephraim