YOU ARE STANDING

September 7, 2007

In this week’s Torah reading of NITZAVIM (Deut. 29:10 – 30:20) we find the chosen people standing before YHVH. They have just received another covenant (Deut 29: 1) and awesome commands which enumerated the consequences of obedience and disobedience (the blessings and the curses). But were they ready for the final oath that would catapult them into something so fearful, yet so promising as this covenant with the Elohim of their fathers? The conditions were clear, and so was their inherent weakness (which would make meeting the requirements almost impossible).

How could YHVH subject these men, women and children to such laws, when He already knew that they were born of the “sin nature”, and would thus miss the mark of Torah and suffer the consequences? Moshe said to them: “Yet to this day YHVH has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear” (Deut. 29:4). How unfair it all seemed, or was YHVH concealing His plan in the darkness of the “mystery of iniquity” (2nd Thes.2:7, also Eph.2:1-2)?

A MATTER OF THE HEART

“YHVH has not yet given you...” In this short phrase we see that YHVH holds Himself responsible for the future success, or failure, of His plan. Even after the flood YHVH declared that, “man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). Because of this inherent condition, Moses, under the anointing of the Holy One, begins to prophecy the destiny of the Hebrew people: “And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations, where YHVH your God has driven you…” (Deut. 30:1). Before the Children of Israel had a chance to prove themselves, or even to make any kind of free will choice, YHVH already knew what would happen to them, because of the condition of their heart.

As mentioned, YHVH had made Himself accountable regarding the covenant that He made with the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a covenant replete with blessings of land and fruitfulness that would multiply and spread to all nations. But this covenant (‘of Moav’), issued before entering the land was conditional. Standing before YHVH, they are looking toward the land that they are about to enter, the land of milk and honey promised to their forefathers. However, the conditions for remaining in the land are now hanging over their heads like a seething prophetic refining pot. "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess” (Deut. 30:17-18). It was as if YHVH was using this conditional covenant as a tool to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, and preparing the way for an even greater promise.

YHVH KNOWS...

History reveals that YHVH was true to His word, even though the potential consequences of the Moav Covenant may be interpreted as negative and even disastrous (abounding in curses and not blessings). Some may even venture to condemn the generations of our forefathers for failing to live up to the righteousness of Torah. YHVH, aware of these weaknesses, built into the Sinai Covenant the sacrificial system for atonement and forgiveness of sin to be in effect year after year throughout the cycles of the feasts. But did the Sinai Covenant take care of the condition of the heart? Obviously we would have to answer: “no, it did not”. In fact, it did the very opposite, revealing the corruptness of the heart. Yeshua pointed out this condition, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (7:21-23). This is why Yeshua describes the religious man as a white washed tomb. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mat. 23:27-28).

How was YHVH going to have a People that would become a holy nation (Ex. 19:6), and be His witness (Isa. 43:10,12)? As Moses continues to prophesy we are given one of the first glimpses into the mystery of the will of YHVH (ref. Eph. 1:9-10), and into a covenant that would once and for all deal with the condition of the heart: “YHVH your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deut. 30:6). A door of hope was left open; the destiny of the people was sealed by the prophetic word. The irrevocable calling upon them as YHVH’s people could not fail. YHVH said: “I WILL”, thus leaving no doubt that it was not going to be by the will of man, nor by might, nor by power but by the Spirit of the infallible Word/Torah of YHVH.

THE FINAL COVENANT REVEALED

The seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was called out for YHVH’s namesake, called and chosen to be His firstborn (Ex. 4:22, Jer. 31:9), and, yes, to become YHVH’s possession and inheritance (Deut. 32:9). YHVH was not obligated to take care of them because of who they were. Their seed would become His witness and light to the nations because of His name, and the love that He had for their forefathers (Acts 1:8).

The prophet Ezekiel reiterated these same promising words many years later: “Therefore say to the house of Israel, this is what YHVH Elohim says: ‘It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord’, declares YHVH Elohim, ‘when I show myself holy in you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my Torah. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers, you will be my people, and I will be your God’” (Eze 36:22-28).


Through His covenant-relationship with Israel, YHVH was literally putting His head, His “Godship”, His name (nature) on the “chopping block” of humanity. If He would not have been faithful to carry out His word, His covenant promises, to His people, especially to Abraham, then our faith and trust in Him would be to no avail, and the bible would simply be a book of bad jokes.

Step by step and line upon line God was setting the stage for the final covenant that would accomplish His purpose for the ages. It would be a blood covenant of grace and mercy, a covenant that would embody, fulfill and absorb all the previous covenants. This covenant would include a divine act of circumcising the heart, changing our very nature, in order for us to be able to love YHVH our Elohim with all our heart and with all our soul, and keep the commandments and live. This future covenant guaranteed life, because of the unconditional, unchanging, unfailing love and faithfulness of the God of Israel.

STANDING

Standing before YHVH is often seen as a time of consecration and sanctification, therefore just as our forefathers stood before YHVH, let us stand before this portion of His word, examining its prophetic past and its reality and fulfillment for today. May we conclude and say ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to a Father who is sovereign, just, faithful and true` who keeps covenant and shows mercy; who gives grace and truth through His Redeemer – Messiah Yeshua - who gave His life not only for us but TO us.

Surely, we who have received the grace of the New Covenant, having a circumcised heart that we may understand, eyes to see the reality of the Kingdom of YHVH and ears to hear His Word, can agree with the statement from this week’s portion: “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deut. 30:11-14).

Ephraim

FOR HIS NAME SAKE

August 31, 2007

I don't know if you are like me, but I have really been fighting and struggling to overcome the power of sin, the world of lusts, and the devil. Reading the letters to the "congregations" in the book of Revelation, I noticed that they were all promised some wonderful things if they would only "overcome".

I had to ask myself if I'm any closer to this ideal than I was 35 years ago, when I first received the Life of the Messiah and the Spirit of Holiness. After so many years why am I still struggling in certain areas? Scripture says "… young men, because you are strong, and the word of Elohim abides in you,.. you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14). When I looked at the mirror, it told me that I was a bit passed the young part. But are there any "young men" in the body of Messiah who have overcome the evil one? I had to ponder. There are a lot of wonderful people, but have they "overcome" the power of sin that is working in their members (ref. Romans 7: 23)?

Being a special education teacher, I had to examine to see if I had missed something in my spiritual early childhood development, which could be a handicap in my present spiritual walk. In his writings to little children, John the Apostle gave me a clue as to what may be my problem: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake…and… "You know the Father…" (1 John 2:12, 13). Knowing that my sins are forgiven is not a problem, but what struck me was the last part of the statement: "for His name's sake". What is the meaning of "for His name's sake", and does it have something to do with knowing the Father? Could it be that in all my "Christian" education I never learned nor saw anyone living for the Father's "name sake"?

One of the first verses I had to memorize many years ago was, "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). I knew, back then, that Jesus overcame and that that was sufficient to get me to heaven. However, the first part of the verse was left out for some reason. "You are of Elohim [His name's sake] little children and have overcome them [the spirits that are not from Elohim]" (1 John 4:4). Overcoming seems to take place during childhood, as this is also the time in which one gets to know one's parents. "Little children you know the Father" (1 John 2:13). Yeshua said, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), and Peter, quoting from the Torah, writes, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 19:2).

I believe that belonging to YHVH, for His Name's Sake, is not just carrying the label of His name, but the very life and nature of the Father. Thus in order to overcome, our faith must take us into the Father's gospel-reality; that means that our identity is in fact no longer ours, but our Heavenly Father's through Yeshua our Messiah: "For you have died and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim. When Messiah, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4). Getting to know Him is getting to know who we are as His children, as His body, as His nation Israel. Hence, my overcoming is not going to be based on how hard I work at defeating sin and the world, but on recognizing that my sins were forgiven me not for my name's sake, but for His and that victory and overcoming are based on knowing the Father's righteousness and His life in me. "For whoever is born of Elohim overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith" (1 John 5:4). "And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of Elohim?" (1 John 5:5).

Over the years I have written about the importance of firstborn, and that according to Scripture all first fruit and firstborn belong to Elohim. That means that they are His and are here for His name's sake. Yeshua was the perfect example, He was not just the only begotten Son of Elohim, but He was also the firstborn of creation and firstborn from the dead (ref. Colossians 1: 15-18). Yeshua overcame because He knew who and what He was as a firstborn redeemer, and lived for His Father's Name sake. We too are likened to the first fruit of the new creation (ref. James 1: 18), but not only of the 'new', we are also of the 'old'; "Israel is my firstborn" (Exodus 4:22); "Ephraim is my firstborn" (ref Jeremiah 31:9). As firstborn, we belong to YHVH Elohim for His name's sake. This is seen in YHVH's response to us through the prophet Ezekiel:

"Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says YHVH Elohim, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. "And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I amYHVH," declares YHVH Elohim, "when I prove Myself holy in you in their sight" (Ezekiel 36: 22-23).

May it be so!

Ephraim

REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

August 10, 2007

"Here goes another message…" you are thinking… "about the church replacing the Jews, or the House of Judah (Jews) replacing the House of Joseph/Israel…" No, not this time! The issue at hand is altogether different - it is one that is even more serious, incurring dire consequences. It has to do with replacing YHVH's commandments, especially the first one: "You shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6: 5; Matthew 22:37).

Why did Yeshua teach us that of all the commandments, this one is the most important? In fact, He even indicated that all the others are contingent upon this one. Thus, if we do not keep this command, the others are rendered as of no effect. Have we unwittingly replaced this commandment with perhaps hundreds of others? Have we added to or taken away from this most important Torah ruling?

YHVH warned Israel: "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHVH your Elohim which I command you… whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). Adding to or taking away from the Word of Elohim also constitutes a form of replacement theology. In any language, if letters are removed from words; added or replaced (especially the consonants), the meaning will be changed and in many cases lost altogether. Yeshua, speaking to his disciples said that "until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Torah, until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:18). Yeshua did not come to do away with the Torah, but rather to fulfill and bring clarity to it as seen, for example, in what is called the "Sermon on the Mount".

YHVH warned Israel what would happen to them if they did not walk according to His instructions: "Your eyes have seen what YHVH has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, YHVH your Elohim has destroyed them from among you. But you who held fast to YHVH your Elohim are alive today, every one of you" (Deuteronomy 4: 3-40).

In the wisdom of the Proverbs we get a glimpse at how dangerous it is to add to YHVH's word: "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6). Revelation 21:8 reveals to us that "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

The positive side, however, is that there is a wonderful promise to those who do obey YHVH's instruction: "My son, forget not my Torah; but let your heart keep my commandments: For length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you" (Proverbs 3:1-2 emphases added). If you are like me, I really struggle with loving my Heavenly Father with all my heart, soul and strength. It seems that the battle rages inside me to keep this from being my primary goal. Each and every day I become occupied with so many other thoughts, words and actions. And as I reflect back on the day, just thinking about that commandment may have only been a momentary or fleeting experience. It is obvious that this does not come naturally to us and it takes effort to embrace and cling to this most important injunction.

The Torah instructions disclose to us that YHVH our Elohim tests us to see if we will love Him. One such acid test, which proves whether there is a heart to love YHVH or not, is the enticement by a prophet or dreamer of dreams who performs signs and wonders in order to draw us (Israel) to follow (love) other gods and serve them (ref. Deuteronomy 13:3). When our forefathers were taken through the desert, Elohim confided in them His reason for having led them that way: "And you shall remember all the way which YHVH your Elohim has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

It seems that YHVH gives us wilderness experiences each and every day, for this same reason. Are we making excuses during these times, complaining about the circumstances or people that He has placed in our path, or do we see them as opportunities to love Him with all our heart, soul and strength?

The most important aspect of our Heavenly Father's relationship with us is the intimacy through a heart of love. I pray that we have not replaced this first and most important commandment for another. Perhaps one of the reasons that our Creator gave us the Shabbat is so that we would have at least one day out of the week to practice loving Him. But if we have not known His love for us, and we do not express with all our hearts love towards Him, it will be very difficult to find that inner peace that brings the rest and a true Shabbat experience.

Ephraim

TAKING OUT A NATION

August 3, 2007

In last week's letter I suggested that we are living in the days of restoration, which brought to mind something Moshe said to Israel upon their entrance to the good land: "… has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as YHVH your Elohim did for you in Egypt before your eyes?" (Deuteronomy 4:34).

Was the above scripture played out once again over the past hundred years, when the first nation/stick of Judah (see Eze 37:16) was taken out of the nations by the mighty hand of the Almighty, and brought back to the land? Were there not two world wars during this time? If this is what it took to bring a remnant of the first nation out; what about the second nation "in the hand of Ephraim" (Ezekiel 37: 19 Zechariah 10)? Is this the scenario which is unfolding before our eyes? Will we see great terrors, trials, signs, wonders and wars? There is much resistance by religious authorities to this biblical understanding, namely to the fact that YHVH has these two witness nations of Judah and Israel and that they are to be restored into one nation in the land. Never-the-less, YHVH's Word is the "same yesterday, today and forever". And since He is watching over His Word to perform it, it really does not make much difference what man thinks, although YHVH does grant windows of time for repentance.

Many of you responded positively to last week's letter (DDD), for which I would like to thank you. I would also like to add that none of us can foretell the future, but we can have fun looking at the horizon and analyzing what we see. The following is a portion of a letter that I received last week:

"What we've witnessed many times is the "Chicken Little syndrome", where someone is crying the sky is falling..., and it leads to the "Boy who cried wolf" syndrome where folks then tend to become numb, complacent and will cease to rightly respond. We do not want to be watchmen who are like mute dogs that cannot sound a warning, but as we're peering to the horizon to see what may be coming, we need to have the object in focus before we start crying battle. We have to be still, and press our ears to hear and wait on Father".

With that in mind, I am going to 'take a shot' at what I perceive to be Syria's reason for flexing its muscles on its border with Israel. The Syrians are well aware of the consequences that they would have to face, should they attack Israel. Hence I believe their reason for feigning military aggression is in order to force the UN and the US to put pressure on Israel to abide by UN-resolutions which address the handing over of all territories, and the creation of a PA State. Assad also feels compelled to demonstrate strength of leadership and a posture of 'standing up' to Israel. Should a Syrian threat be imminent and in earnest, Israel could make use of a preemptive attack. It doesn't appear, however, that Olmert is ready to do that, especially with Peres, who wants peace at all costs, at the helm. Thus, in the course of this past week all kinds of diplomatic efforts were made, and voices (including from the Bush government) were heard making pronouncements regarding the emergence of a PA State before the American President leaves office.

On the other hand efforts have been made on the part of some moderate Western Islamic clerics to deplore Muslim extremists. One even went so far as to point his finger directly at the Saudis, who are the ones financing the building of mosques and perpetuating their particular brand of Islam (Wahabbism) which is the most extreme sect within Suni Islam. This cleric advised the Bush administration to stop supporting the Saudi regime. But lo and behold, guess who is now behind the most recent peace initiative? Do you want to laugh or cry?

As far as war is concerned, we in Israel are at war with Hezbollah and Hamas. As to the Saudis, our government is willing to sit down with them (with the backing of the USA) and at least in principle accept their plan, which is nothing more than another version of UN resolution 224 and 338 and motivated by mega bucks. At this point we will have to wait and see what will come out of it. Could this be one more prop on the stage of the land division scene (Joel 3:2), very specifically "the mountains of Israel" which consist of what is commonly called the West Bank? In Ezekiel 36:1-4 the enemies declare that those areas belong to them.

But in contrast, the Elohim of Israel says: "I will make them [Judah and Israel] one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms" (Ezekiel 37:22).

Ephraim

D-D-D

July 27, 2007

For the past six months (and longer) there have been numerous predictions of war. Just as Yeshua predicted, that are not only wars, but also plenty of "rumors of wars". With the advent of the Internet we have surely fulfilled the quota of this prophecy. This generation of Believers appears to be afflicted with a syndrome that may be termed DDD (Deceptive Disinformation Dissemination).

I'm sure by now you have heard or seen the following:

"If war between Syria and Israel is indeed imminent the message calls for our most urgent intercession. It is interesting to note that… and his team recently commented that Syria is currently closing its borders and withdrawing all its personnel from Lebanon. Hal Lindsay backed up this info in his report on SKY TV on the evening of the 17th July and hinted at all out war."
Here is another email:

"Today we had business to do in Jerusalem, so we left our home at 7 am and traveled down the east side of the Galilee, through Bet Shean and past the check point at Sede Trimot in the Jordan Valley.

Once we entered the Jordan Valley as we passed through the Arab agricultural areas we noticed the following which is most unusual;

1. There were no people visible working the in the fields.
2. There were no children along the side of the road.
3. There were no tractors or other farm vehicles anywhere to be seen.
4. All of the vegetables had been completely harvested and the fields were 100% empty.
5. No preparation of the fields was evident for the next planting...Plastic was everywhere from the prior crop.
6. The greenhouses had no plants in them.....
7. The vegetable stands that are normally filled to the brim from the harvest were completely vacant.
8. This is the peak season for growing vegetables in the Jordan Valley, yet everything had been harvested and nothing was growing waiting to be harvested or picked.

We concluded our business in Jerusalem and got back on the road again about 2:45 pm
Heading north up the Jordan Valley. Again, no people, no fruit stands, no crops, nothing!"

Because there is such an interest in end-times and particularly in Israel's involvement in it, some Believers have become so obsessed with what they think or perceive to be a part of this scenario that they end up with what I call "end-time paranoia". Some friends in our fellowship traveled through this same area, going from Jerusalem to the North, and saw what would seem a complete opposite state of affairs. One has to realize that the Jordan Valley during the summer, especially at certain times of the day, is so hot (120 degrees is not unusual) that it would not allow the presence of anyone in the fields. Living in Samaria, surrounded by Arab villages and farms, we have been watching our neighbors busy in their fields and selling their fruit alongside the roads. Thus there is nothing that would confirm the above description.

Having some kind of reputation, does not make one ministry or another an authority on the prophetic. Many a time such "prophecies" are backed up by the claim that the "resulting intercession" changed the prophetic destiny. We must learn how to cast down every thought and imagination that exalt themselves against the knowledge of the sovereignty of the Most High Elohim.

Another email was just sent to us, of which came from a Messianic pastor here in Israel:
"For those of you considering travel to Israel but are concerned about security issues and the imminent threat of war I want to encourage you and your families. I personally see no indication of war against Israel in the immediate future, despite numbers of disturbing reports. Frankly I am concerned by the irresponsibility of some of these reports and so called, 'prophetic words.'I do believe in the prophetic and I believe that God warns through his prophets. This is all the more reason that we must be more careful in issuing prophetic alerts, so that we do not become skeptical of the true prophetic because of so many misguided, emotionally based warnings. We all remember the boy who cried 'wolf.'"

I believe that we are in the days of restoration, even though the times may be very turbulent. We therefore need to fix our eyes on the one who is faithfully fulfilling His words that He spoke to our forefathers and the prophets of old. Yes, there is a need for intercessors, but of the kind that are led by the Spirit, understand and are established in "present truth", desiring to cooperate with YHVH and not configure imaginary end time scenarios.

Ephraim

A DESERT'S SECRET

June 1, 2007

This week we would like to take you on an adventure that we were privileged to experience last week. A while back we received an invitation from some friends, to spend two days with them after Shavuot in the Negev desert by the Egyptian border. The place just happens to be in one of the main areas where our forefathers set up camp, after leaving Egypt. Today there are a number of Israeli settlements in that locale, one of which is called by the region's ancient name, Kadesh - Barnea.

We gathered in a local charming and simple guest facility, something of a Bedouin desert inn with a Mexican touch, spread out accommodations and a herd of camels for neighbors. After an evening of songs of praise under the starlit skies, tea and coffee by the fire pit, cheerful hilarity and exchanges with other guests, our little group headed to the one room bungalow to find our mats and sleeping bags. We tried to arrange the mats in such a way that our feet would not be too close to someone else's nose. During the night the stillness was intercepted occasionally by the sounds of sleepers, from all around. At one point Rimona was hushing what she thought was a cat, only to find out that someone was coming back in, after using the outdoor toilet. The early morning is such a beautiful time in the desert that most were up for a walk, or sat outside by the camp fire drinking a cup of sugar with either tea or coffee in it, reading scriptures and praising the Creator. Soon it was time for the buffet style breakfast of salads, cheeses, bread and eggs. As we all set around on floor mats, Bedouin style, we discussed the coming jeep tour.

The desert is always fascinating, and at times may even disclose some of its secrets to the observant (or fortunate) visitor. Our friend, tour guide and driver, Eyal, moved to this region with his family about four years earlier. He had been doing quite a bit of researching and investigating of the biblical significance of the area. Investing time, zeal, and arduous efforts Eyal has become party to some of the desert's most precious mysteries, especially concerning biblical events that have taken place there.

The eight of us (plus our guide/driver) settled into the vehicle that was to carry us to an unknown destiny across gorges, hills, and river beds. After an interesting and rather rough journey, which to our surprise unveiled much of the desert's hidden beauty of green, yellow and purple flora, we finally arrived at our destination.

Eyal had kept us in suspense until we were actually standing at the spot, where our eyes fell on a semi circular shallow basin-like structure, about the size of a two man tent and surrounded by rocks that had been piled up to form a wall. In the middle of the floor was a small pillar. The archeologists who uncovered this back in the 1970's were astonished to find these small structures all over the area. After giving us some general background about archeology, and especially about the prevailing dating system, Eyal expounded on the stony structures, surrounding us. Archeology, it appears, does not favor the bible as a source of facts and information, to put it mildly. Thus, according to the experts, a very large group of nomads had stayed for a while in that area and then disappeared. But because of an obsolete, but still venerated dating system, the archeologists will not even consider the Israelites as a possibility, but at the same time are not able to agree as to whom those nomads were, and their possible motive for camping in that arid part of the world. To our eyes, however, it was obvious that this was the campsite of the Israelites, and that the structures we were viewing were what the bible calls "succas", or temporary shelters. The middle pillar evidently held the roof, which was made up of branches, or possibly skins or cloths of some kind.

Bones of kosher animals were also found in the area, as well as stone mortars and pestles, although without as much as a seed, grain, cereal or shell, which always accompany such findings. As puzzling as that fact is to the intellectual researchers, to the bible believer it is crystal clear, namely that these stone mills were used to grind the manna. Given its special nature, this substance would not have left any remains.

After walking through this area, Eyal took us to another site, where we viewed large piles of rocks, about four feet high and six feet in diameter. The archeologists who uncovered these constructions concluded that they were graves, all empty except for an occasional tooth or small bone. Interestingly, a permanent graveyard, which was excavated in the hills north of Jericho, seems to have held the answer to the mystery of the empty tombs in this part of the Negev. The tombs that were discovered in the latter site, contrary to the earlier ones, were full of bones but it was obvious that these bones were transported from somewhere else. Additionally, no idols were found in those graves, which indicated that the buried originated from a culture and religion different from the local one of the time.

Having seen so closely our forefathers' homes and resting places, and the evidence of the exactness and veracity of the biblical record, was most inspiring and up building. It made history truly His Story, and not a mere series of past events, a Story that is couched in eternity which we can experience in our own 'here and now'.

Ephraim

A SHAVUOT STORY

May 26, 2007

It was a bright and beautiful spring morning with a hint of an impending heat wave. The olive trees dotting the landscape added silvery hues to the golden light. But even more spectacular was the light that was reflecting from the Temple, commanding, in all its glory, Mount Moriah to the west. As the smoke was rising from the morning sacrifices, it caught the sunrays and appeared to be sending them back to the heavens from whence they came. It was the 40th day of the Counting of the Omer. It might have even been Rosh Chodesh (that is the first day of the third month). For a number of days now, during the Counting, the little band of students followed their Master to this lovely spot, to listen to him speak about the Kingdom of Elohim. But today things seemed different. Yeshua was not the same as He had been in the past little while. Something was in the air…

One of the disciples whispered over to the other, as they began their ascent toward the summit of the Mount of Olives, “Do you recall what He said to us a few days before Passover, words we did not understand then?” “Yes,” replied the listener, “He said, 'in a little while you will not see Me, and again a little while you we will see Me, because I go the Father.'” Another disciple, half listening in to the conversation, suddenly butted in, “that’s right, the Master told us that there would come an hour in which we would remember the things He had told us.” Yeshua, walking just a few paces ahead, was smiling as He overheard their talk.

They nearly reached the summit, when a follower of the disciples who had been within earshot, asked them to fill him in on what Yeshua had told them. All three began to respond to the inquirer all at once. Then suddenly they all stopped, just as quickly as they had started. Smiling and laughing at each other, as they were gesturing with their hands, they knew instinctively who should answer this time. It was Yochanan. The beloved disciple began to describe the episode that had occurred just before the fateful day of their teacher’s arrest. He told the young man that had Yeshua not done among the people and the religious leaders the works which He had done, the latter would not have been guilty of sin; but now, after having witnessed His deeds, their response demonstrated their hatred for Him, and also for His Father. "This," Yochanan added, "happened that the word from Psalm 35;19 'they hated Me without a cause', might be fulfilled." He then proceeded to tell the young fellow that Yeshua had spoken to them about a Helper whom He would send to them from the Father. “Yeshua said that this Spirit, which He called the Spirit of Truth, would come forth from the Father and that He would testify as to who Yeshua really was, and because of His presence we also, who have been with Yeshua from the beginning, would bear witness to the Truth.” Yochanan continued breathlessly as they climbed together. "These things Yeshua spoke to us, that we should not stumble. Yeshua further said that we would be put out of the synagogues; yes, even that a time would come that whosoever kills us will think that he is doing Elohim a favorable service. These things they will do to us because they have not known the Father, or the Messiah. Our Master told us these things, so that when the time comes we would remember these things and be ready. He did not tell us these things at first because He was with us, but now that He was going back to the One who sent Him, He wanted to warn us. Amazingly none of us had asked Him where He was going, although His words were very troublesome to us and our hearts were filled with sorrow. But then He said something very strange. He told us that His going away would be to our advantage. That did not make sense to us at all. Who is this Helper whom He was talking about, who will not come to us unless Yeshua would go away? Only if He departs, would He then send this Helper to us, and when the Helper comes He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

The man was very perplexed over these words, but before he could ask, “where is Yeshua going?” they had arrived at the summit. A feeling of awe and deep reverence swept their hearts, as Yeshua turned to face them. His voice was stern and commanding when He told them not to leave Jerusalem before the Father’s promise is fulfilled. They all looked at one another, expecting someone to ask the inevitable question, “Where are you going and when will you return?”

Yet no one spoke. But the silence which surrounded them did not still their minds. They remained preoccupied with thoughts on the previous days’ teachings about the Kingdom of Elohim. Their expectations were aroused once again by Yeshua’s words about the coming Kingdom. Was He now going to lead them into Jerusalem in a triumphant march of victory, and set up His Kingdom over Israel? They had such hopes before His death! And oh how terribly disappointed and devastated they were when He hung on the execution tree! But now, after His reappearance, their hopes had been rekindled with the passion to see the Kingdom restored to Israel.

The impetuous students could no longer resist, and turning to Yeshua asked Him point blank: “Is it at this time that You are going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” All eyes remained fixed upon His gentle face, as He answered them candidly in a matter of fact tone: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Sprit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1: 7-8). Before those standing around could gather their thoughts, a mist began to appear over and around the Messiah. To their amazement He began to rise along with the cloud and soon evaporated out of sight.

Standing there on top of that mountain gazing in wonderment at the blue sky, nothing seemed to be real to the bewildered band. No more questions and no more answers. A feeling of disbelief descended upon them. But the dramatic scene was not over yet. Two men dressed in white appeared from nowhere and stood in front of them. Where had they come from? No one knew. These mysterious characters, however, seemed to recognize them and even knew where they were from. “Men of Galilee! “, they announced, “Why do you stand looking into the sky? Yeshua who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1: 11).

Total silence enveloped them as they trekked back down the mountain. Crossing the bridge in front of the Temple they hurriedly made their way back to the upper room, where they had been staying while they counted the Omer with their Master. Now the Messiah was no longer with them. All that lingered were His departing words, calling for them to remain in Jerusalem. Fishing in the Sea of Galilee seemed now like a faraway dream, yet the Teacher’s words to them, of becoming fishers of men still held them captive. Together with one mind and in prayer they finished the Counting of the Fifty Days.
When the Feast Day arrived, they were still together in that same room. Suddenly a sound of a violent rushing wind cut through the place, and then appeared what looked like "tongues of fire". Right then they were filled with that which was promised by the Father. Stunned by the overwhelming presence of the Spirit, they reeled back and forth like drunkards and spoke in strange languages. Although eying each other, as if they were strangers, they now felt that they had knowledge of, and an intimacy with their Elohim and Messiah which they had never thought possible. Bathing in the Father’s love, they went into the streets and with little effort spoke in the languages of those present, convicting them of sin, righteousness and judgment. They expounded the truth of Torah in a new and living way, healing the sick, lame and blind, casting out demons as if the authority of heaven was in their very mouths. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that this was Yeshua’s answer to their question about the Kingdom being restored to Israel. They were now the witnesses to that Kingdom, which came into them via the Spirit of Holiness. Later, one of the apostles would put this experience, of the indwelling Spirit, into perspective by saying that the “Kingdom of Elohim is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

As we approach the 50th day of the counting of the Omer, let us continue to pray with one heart as our Messiah has taught us: “Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Holy be your Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” His Kingdom has come into our hearts by the Holy Spirit’s presence, but now are we prepared to do His will?

Ephraim

GET TOGETHER

May 18, 2007

Hopefully by now you have become acclimated to being called an "Israelite". Moreover, to some of you the Spirit has revealed your specific tribal identity. Others, on the other hand, feel that they are Gentiles, while there are those who know that they are of Judah and others refer to themselves as Ephraimites. Our national/natural identity is indeed very important, so long as it does not cause us to lose our sense of identity and unity with and in Messiah Yeshua.

Paul declared something about himself that most of us would like to ignore. However, that statement is so important to our own oneness/unity that it bears considering and reading over and over, until it is fully absorbed: "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Messiah. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3: 4-11). In addition, although a born-again Believer and a seasoned apostle, Paul viewed himself as a "wretched man" (Romans 7: 24).

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not trying to make light of the natural identity. Without a doubt, it is a very significant factor. It is very much a part of our testimony and witness to YHVH's faithfulness to His covenants, and to that which He spoke through His prophets of old. However, we do not only have an earthly testimony; there is also a heavenly one to which we bear witness.

Writing to the Ephesian Believers, both Jews and non-Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, the Apostle highlights their first point of unity: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Even with all of the Jewish and Torah keeping credentials, he came to realize that he was no different than any other person.

In that famous Chapter 11 of Romans, Paul notes that "Elohim gave up all", and that means all mankind, to disobedience (ref Romans 11:32). If YHVH has given all up to this condition, no one is exempt. Thankfully Paul doesn't stop there, but introduces another point regarding our unity/togetherness, as is seen in the following verses: "But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua" (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Isn't that wonderful? By His grace and love YHVH made us alive together with Messiah, raised us up with Him and caused us to sit together with Him, and hence with one another. Psalm 133 tells us how pleasant and how important it is for brothers to sit/dwell/be in unity. YHVH redeemed and restored us in order for us to participate in an administration that for ages was hidden in Himself, but has now been made known to us and through us (that is, if we are sitting together in Messiah) to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (ref. Ephesians 3: 9-10).

Wow! Just think, at first we were all together under the influence of the prince and power of the air, and the spirit that was working in us was the same one that works in all the sons of disobedience… But because of His great love and grace, He has now taken us out of the kingdoms of this world's darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). The nature of this kingdom of light is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are evident in those who are seated together in these heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua. As a result we are now ruling over the spirits that once ruled us.

Since we are called to such an incredible place, the Apostle implores us "to be worthy of this calling by putting on humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4: 1-3). With that let us greet one another with a hearty and fragrant….

Ephraim

YA'ACOV MY SERVANT

May 11, 2007

"Who has performed and accomplished it, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I YHVH the first, and am with the last. I am He" (Isaiah 41:4). Rephrased this verse would read: "I YHVH, the first and the last, have performed and accomplished it, calling the generations from the beginning." Because YHVH is speaking here very specifically about the life of Ya'acov in his progeny throughout all its generations, we, who have his life in this generation, are assured of His continual involvement, until He will fully accomplish His word and purpose for the whole house of Ya'acov.

"But you, Israel, My servant, Ya'acov whom I have chosen, descendant of Avraham My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts, and said to you, 'you are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your Elohim. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand'" (Isaiah 41: 8-10). These words from the Elohim of Ya'acov, especially to those of us who have come from the "rejected" side of his house (meaning the lost tribes), are very encouraging and comforting, indicating that YHVH is "watching over His word to perform it" (Jeremiah 1:12).

YHVH warns those who content with or war against His servants, but at the same time tells us (Israel/Ya'acov) not to fear: "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent. For I am YHVH your Elohim, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'do not fear, I will help you'" (Isaiah 41:11-13).

The greatest challenge that we, as the redeemed of Israel have, is to contend with the spirits of unbelief and doubt. However, these two messengers of Satan are discernable because of their modus operandi (mode of operation) of exalting themselves above the knowledge of the Word of Elohim (ref. 2 Corinthians 10:5). In this generation of the seed of the forefathers, we are being challenged like never before: from the cares and the riches of the world, to wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters, and in particular the rise of the sword of Islam. The frogs are croaking the message of "fear" from every avenue of communication. But in the case of YHVH's redeemed remnant, fear should not be a motivating factor in decision making. We need to be strong in the strength of His "Righteous Right Hand", whom we know as Yeshua our Messiah and our righteousness.

If we will humble ourselves and pray, YHVH will answer and will not forsake us. He will open rivers on the bare heights; springs in the midst of the valleys. He will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water (ref. Isaiah 41:17-18).

In this generation we need to know who we are and to whom we belong. We are His redeemed remnant "Israel", His servant. We are here and alive in Messiah for His namesake, that is, we are to be a manifestation of His nature. This is first seen in our families, and then in our relationships with one another in the body of Messiah.

May our studies of Torah (scriptures) this week be accompanied by "faith, hope, and love", all of which, working together, establish us in the unity of His Kingdom, as a holy nation and royal priesthood.

As we enter into His Shabbat, "let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
Ephraim

ISRAELITE IDENTITY

April 27, 2007

It has been a number of years now since I have started using this introduction (namely "fellow Israelite"), to reinforce our identity as a redeemed Jewish or Gentile person in Messiah. Many believers are coming into what is termed the "Hebraic roots". This must translate itself into a national identity, and not into a religious uniqueness of sorts. Peter, writing to both Gentiles and Jews, declares that we are a "Holy Nation" (ref Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). Doesn't this nation have a name, or is it devoid of one? Paul gives us a clue in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

"Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision " by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah" (Ephesians 2:11-13).

He continues to write to these two people groups (that are in Messiah), telling them that the wall of partition has been broken down, and that they have become one within the same house, through the life (blood) of the Redeemer. He goes on to say that there is no Jew or Greek (ref Col 3:11), but yet all are identified with Messiah, thus with Israel. He is calling his audience "former Gentiles" who are now Israelites. Perhaps Jewish believers need to come to the same understanding; i.e. that they too were formally Jewish but now are Israelites. This puts both parties on notice that they do not belong to themselves, but to Him who has made them one people through His divine nature and has begotten a new creation and a holy nation.

But is this commonwealth of Israel only a spiritual reality, or does its witness include being a part of the physical fulfillment of Biblical prophecy? Are the redeemed Jews the only ones in this new family that the fulfillment of prophecy is referring to, or are all Israelites included? Are we one, or are we not? Do we belong to the same commonwealth or are there two, one for the Jew and another for the Gentile-cum-Israelite? In fact, if this is the case then there must be two covenants, one with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and one with all those who are not of this genus.

While the Spirit is drawing the believing community to the roots of YHVH's plan for the redemption and restoration of His kingdom to all Israel, there are some who are falsely charging us, of telling non-Jews in Messiah that they are to become Jewish. Just to set the record straight; we are declaring, in accordance with the words of the prophets and apostles, that we are all Israelites. Those who are dividing the body of Messiah through false accusation, jealousy, or resentment are not walking in love, or in the reality of the Gospel. If our spiritual enemy and our natural ones can prevent us from becoming a royal priesthood and holy nation, they will have won the battle without too much resistance on our part. As a royal priesthood we are to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice (ref Romans 12:1), casting down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim (ref 2 Corinthians 10:5). It is very important that we all understand what it means to be an Israelite, YHVH's firstborn nation (ref. Exodus 4:22).

Ephraim

BEES, FISHERS AND HUNTERS

April 20, 2007

I'm sure most of you have been watching the News, of the latest mass killing that just took place in the U.S.A. Another loss that is taking place in great proportions in many nations, that is only now beginning to make headlines, is the disappearance of the honey bee, especially in the United States and Europe. This fact in the long run could spell disaster for the food chain and affect the crops. The experts are calling this phenomenon, "colony collapse syndrome". It is thought that the cellular phone antennas are causing the bees to loose their homing capabilities. The word for "bee" in Hebrew is "d'vorah", stemming from the root d.v.r which is the root for the verb "to speak". We thought it quite ironic, or perhaps prophetic of the last days when the "Word of Elohim" - "Dvar YHVH" - is being confused by the multitudes of man's communication devices and as a result His people have lost their ability to return to their home in "Zion", not to mention the collapse of the family unit, which is breaking down human society.

Speaking of homing capabilities, a few years ago I intermittently sent my personal testimony, as part of the weekly Friday letters. Close to the time of completion of this series, Batya Wootten suggested to compile the letters into a book. This is now history as the book came out about two years ago. It is called "Return to the Land - an Ephraimite's Journey Home", published by Key of David Publishing. Over an eight year period I have written over 350 Friday letters, along with other articles on a variety of subjects, in addition I have traveled and given lectures and seminars on the theme of the "Gospel of the kingdom in the Torah and Prophets". Yet the main thrust of these teachings has been the exposition of YHVH's plan of redemption, and its connection to the restoration of His kingdom to the whole House of Israel.

A friend of ours has taken much of this material and has come up with an essay, which is her own elucidation of this theme, that is - "The Restoration of YHVH's Kingdom to Israel". I too have compiled a manuscript with more of an emphasis on unlocking YHVH'S plan for the redemption of the creation. With the permission of this friend, I will be putting her manuscript on a blog site. At the same time, I may be sending out, periodically in chapter form, the manuscript I had composed as the weekly Friday letter. As I stated in an earlier letter, all revelation knowledge belongs to the Spirit of Holiness who has been sent to teach us and guide into all truth. Thus, the glory does not belong to man but to the name that is above all names. We all see through a glass darkly, so if I have added things that are not clear or that reflect my own understanding or interpretation, I trust that you will be so kind as to forgive and even give me some scriptural guidance.

We are presently living in a period of the outpouring of YHVH's Spirit, an outpouring which is leading us into "present truth". There are, therefore, many in the Body of Messiah who are seeing and hearing these same truths and are sharing them, so that others may be edified and receive confirmation as to what the Spirit is, in turn, revealing to them. YHVH is currently in the process of bringing the nations to the Valley of Jehosaphat ("Yah's judgments"); we therefore need Him to reveal to us as much truth as possible, so that we will not be ensnared by the deception of the growing "Anti-Messiah" spirit.

Over the past hundred and fifty years, YHVH has been sending the fishers out to bring the message of the Gospel of Yeshua the Savior to all nations. Now He is sending the hunters (Nimrod, Esau, Amalikites, Ishmael) into those same nations by way of Islam.
"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the LORD, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks" (Jeremiah 16:16).
Because this is of Elohim, nothing will stop their advancement until they accomplish the mission for which they have been sent.

Sadly, many, who have been called out to become disciples of Yeshua, will fall away because of lies which they have been fed concerning YHVH's Word. The Apostles wrote their letters based on the revelation that they had received from the scriptures (Torah, Prophets and Writings) therefore, the New Covenant writings must be confirmed by those same scriptures.

I solicit your prayers and encouragement in order to get this message out. Freely YHVH has given to us His Spirit and freely it must flow to others. We pray that what is happening to the bees will not happen to the redeemed remnant of Judah and Israel/Ephraim.

May Abba richly bless you as you seek first the Kingdom of YHVH and His righteousness in Messiah Yeshua (the Davar of YHVH).

Ephraim

PASSOVER AND OUR NATIONAL UNITY

April 1, 2007

It is quite significant that it was at Passover time that YHVH declared Israel to be His firstborn nation; the only nation that would ever have this status before Him. Israel’s birth as a liberated nation came as a result of the death of a lamb, and its blood having been smeared on the doorposts of the homes. I hope this year we will consider the importance of our unity as YHVH’s redeemed firstborn nation, and what it means to be called an “Israelite”. Paul said that the feasts are but a shadow of things to come: May Abba grant us the ability to see beyond the shadows into the light of His redemptive work through the sacrifice of His lamb (Yeshua). The redemption of the firstborn (the nation of Abraham) means that the creation will be set free by a nation of the sons of YHVH, "saviors" who will come out of Zion and establish His kingdom, as it is written: "Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be YHVH's" (Obadiah 1:21; and ref. Hosea 1:10).

It was over 3,800 years ago, when the Elohim of Jacob sent His family down to Egypt to preserve them. Speaking to His servant Jacob, He said: “I am YHVH, the Elohim of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation [goy] there’” (Genesis 46:3). One of the Hebrew words for “nation” is “goy”. It is first used in the Tanach, in the Covenant that YHVH made with our forefather Abraham, “I will make you a great nation [goy]; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). One man, one Elohim, one Covenant, one national identity; this was at the heart of YHVH’s plan for the redemption of the creation. The Elohim of Abraham set apart a man, and swore by His own name that his seed/sperm would become a great and holy (set-apart) nation.

When Jacob and his band of seventy souls arrived in Egypt, he found another family-member already down there. Joseph and his progeny had lost their identity and connection with their family of origin. Thus, Joseph's children were most likely uncircumcised when their grandfather adopted them, and in a sense formed a prophetic type of the lost tribes of Israel, that is the so called "Gentiles" or the vast company of nations that YHVH had promised to the forefathers. Paul discloses that this hidden company (treasure), in the nations, are those who have (even though uncircumcised) the "faith" of their forefather Abraham (ref Romans chapter 4). Moreover, in Egypt the Children of Jacob also multiplied profusely. This too was a prophetic picture, of a time in which their numerical increase would encompass the entire earth.

Jacob’s family, living in Egypt, eventually became slaves to the lords of the land. While in that state they lost their vision of being a nation, a family and a people with a purpose, and a Divine call. This is portrayed quite vividly in the scene of the two Hebrew slaves, who were fighting one another to their own demise (ref Exodus 2:13). The embittered seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was now characterized by survival instincts. This was only natural, since they were living under extreme conditions, where their captors debased them into mere sub-human slaves. So where was this great nation that was promised to Abraham? His seed, now turned slaves, were cursing the day of their birth. They had become nothing more than dead dry bones in the desert sands of Egypt. So helpless were they that they could not even respond to Moses, when he came to them preaching the good news of their deliverance (ref. Exodus 6:9)!

The Passover story is replete with pestilence, famine and one disaster following another. But when gross darkness covered the land, there was still light in the tents of the Hebrews (ref. Ex.10:23), as the anointing of YHVH’s covenant word (which “is a light”, ref. Ps. 119:105) was still upon them to become a great nation. How was this going to be made possible? It certainly was not going to happen by the nation’s own strength. It was going to take a miracle, a Divine intervention. YHVH, therefore, dispatched a man with a message: “Let My people go”. Moses was faithful to bring that word to the ruler of the slaves, but YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, just to make sure that His people would know that their deliverance was not going to come by the way or authority of man. Had Pharaoh given his permission, these Hebrews would have been forever indebted to their master. They would perpetually be looking to him as their deliverer, and thus would not be able to take up their divinely ordained position as the head of all the nations. In this manner, they would have been bound to Egypt.

YHVH had His plan of restoring these slaves to freedom and to their national identity. He told His servant Moses to, "speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: `On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats…. Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb….then you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning…. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:3-5; 21-22; 13).

The moment the elders applied the blood to the lintels and the doorposts of the Hebrews’ homes, the latter were sealed into deliverance, freedom and destiny. But even beyond that - their dependency on man has just come to an end. They were now united behind the one sacrifice, totally dependent upon the powerful right arm of the Almighty to bring them out. “Let My people go!” YHVH had already announced to Egypt's rulers to whom these people belonged. This was a people that did not belong to itself. They were and still are today “My people, [“ami” -singular] says YHVH”. But now, through the blood of the lamb, they were set apart to enter into the next phase of His plan. “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).

Whereas harsh conditions and bondage reduce human beings to mere existence, effacing their individual uniqueness, affluence can also keep one in bondage to extreme individualism. Therefore, as we, Israelites (Ephraim and Judah), YHVH’s two families of His one People Israel, gather together to honor Him during this year’s Passover, let us leave our individualism and lift up the cup of unity. Remember that we all were once slaves to sin and death and bound to the principalities and powers of this world’s (kosmos) dominion. It behooves us to, “purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; (nor with strife, contention, bitterness and unforgiveness) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7-8). May we walk together through the Door that is splattered with the blood of the Lamb, out of the houses of our bondage and into the liberty of the new corporate life of the “One New Man”. The wall of partition in the House of Jacob has been broken down, so let us serve one another in the nature of the new creation person (Yeshua) who is the embodiment of the Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation Israel, Elohim’s firstborn!

May you all be blessed during this Passover and Feast of Matzot (unleavened bread) with a sense of national unity! May the eyes of our hearts be opened anew to the fact that we are “My people Israel” in this generation.

Ephraim

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there YHVH commanded the blessing--Life forevermore” (Ps. 133).

FEAR AND TREMBLING

March 23, 2007

This morning was another one of those early-dawn stirrings for prayer purposes, accompanied by the oft-repeated ominous sensation. Since the Feast of Pesach is about to alight upon us, there is a heightened awareness of the enemies' schemes. I therefore turned to Psalm 83, which for the past few years has become a leitmotif (as many of you are well aware), of the state of affairs in the land and its environs. Praying this psalm for the umpteenth time, I was seized by an unusual sense of alarm when I arrived at verses 2-5, which read as follows: "For, behold, Your enemies, [YHVH] make an uproar; and those who hate You, [Elohim of Israel] have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, "Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." For they have conspired together with one mind; against You [YHVH, the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yisrael) do they make a covenant."

I realized that the company of those who cry, "let us wipe them out as a nation that the name of Israel be remembered no more," includes also those who cling to Replacement Theology, and oppose the restoration of the House of Joseph/Israel! I therefore submit to you this thought with fear and trembling, and pray that you too will travail in intercession for those in the body of Messiah who are speaking out and taking counsel against YHVH's people of the House of Joseph/Israel, or Judah/Israel. I pray that this will not engender criticism or judgment of our brothers, but, rather, an attitude of urgency and concern leading to supplication.

It was almost twenty-five years ago that I received revelation- understanding about the division which occurred within the House of Jacob. It was like a bombshell. At the time, I was reading the blessing that Israel (Jacob) pronounced upon Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Menashe: "And he (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, Elohim, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the Elohim which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Messenger which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name (Israel) be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth…a great people…the m'lo-ha-goyim" [fullness of the nations], (Genesis 48: 15-17, 19).

The name "Israel", according to the above excerpt (and many other Bible references), was very obviously imparted to Joseph and his sons. This particular aspect of the blessing, therefore, becomes very important, as the enemies' goal is to wipe out the nation so "that the name Israel be remembered no more."

Additionally, Joseph's descendants were to fulfill the multiplicity provision of the covenant, which YHVH had made with their forefathers. Thus, they were to become the uncircumcised seed of Abraham (which was not hard to do as all of the Abrahamic seed was uncircumcised when born). In that state of un-circumcision they would become the "fullness of the nations/gentiles". It was in this manner that YHVH hid His treasured ones in the deserts of humanity. Paul, the Apostle, understood this mystery, which he explains in Romans chapters 4 and 11.

Throughout the books of the prophets YHVH addresses these two trees (etzim) - the olive tree of Judah (the "circumcised"), and the uncultivated ("uncircumcised") olive tree of Israel/Joseph. The prophet Ezekiel calls them "two nations": "And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations" (Ezekiel 37:22). Through the prophet Jeremiah, YHVH established the new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah (again, two trees, two nations, two houses). And although YHVH saw both of them as "Israel", yet He prophetically distinguished between them: "Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over" (Isaiah 8:14).

To my dismay, now knowing by the Spirit who is included in the company of the enemies of Israel, how could I continue to pray Psalm 83, which declares their (the "enemies'") dismal and formidable fate? "O my Elohim, make them like the whirling dust; like chaff before the wind. Like fire that burns the forest, and like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm. Fill their faces with dishonor, that they may seek Your name, YHVH. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever; and let them be humiliated and perish, that they may know that You alone, whose name is YHVH, are the Most High over all the earth" (Psalm 83: 13-18).

Nevertheless, it bears repeating that we are not to be critical of those in the body of Messiah who are inadvertently opposed to YHVH'S PLAN of REDEMPTION. But instead we are to pray for them with fear and trembling, because if they were aware of what they are doing, they most certainly would not join the enemies of YHVH in their devises to wipe out the name of His people (be they of the one house, or the other).
YHVH is restoring the identity of His lost, rejected, un-circumcised, covenant people whose destiny and identity are described by the prophets. The two, Judah and Israel, are ordained to become one and there is nothing that can derail this plan. But at the same time, as we have observed, YHVH addresses in very strong terms those who are opposed to the restoration of the house/nation which carries the blessing of the name "Israel", that is Joseph and his sons.

As a backdrop against which we are to view this difficult quandary, it is advisable to refer to Psalm 37, which declares that it will only be the humble, or meek, who will qualify for the inheritance (ref Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5). Please keep in mind, therefore, that the prideful and self-righteous will not inherit the earth/land, and that includes those of us who are affiliated with the Whole House of Israel restoration. The Apostle warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, lest we be deceived (ref Romans 12:3; Galatians 6:3).

Ephraim

"How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity…it is life eternal (Psalm 133:1&3).

GRAVEYARD SCENE

March 16, 2007

For the past eight years Rimona and I have been involved in writing articles and sending them out, upon request. We also had a website with Rimona's "Hebrew insights into the weekly Parasha", and other articles. The Father laid on our hearts to freely give, as He has freely given to us. This includes work of service to the local body (that is those who want a relationship with us : -), and to our brethren overseas, as well as to none believers. Recently the domain that our website, 1st-born.com, was on closed down for some reason, and thus the materials are no longer available. We have decided to open blog spots (posted below) that will give you access to our teachings and articles. We have also been increasingly more active in teaching and building relationship between the House of Judah and the House of Israel/Joseph-Ephraim here, which means our time for writing, is somewhat diminishing. After many years of seeing only strife and contention between Ephraim and Judah, especially in the believing community, we are now beginning to witness the gradual collapse of those walls, and relationships being formed. This is happening among those who are not so interested in uniformity of doctrine, but in the unity of the Life of Yeshua and the Father, just as Yeshua prayed "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me" (John 17:23). "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one" (John 17:22).

On Tuesday night we returned home quite late from the weekly meeting in Jerusalem, in which Ariel K. was teaching a mixed Ephraimite/Judaite group. Ariel emphasized the need for a strong willful desire, or passion, for an intimate relationship with the Father and the Son, which would then also create strong bonds with each other. But that goal can only be attained if we lay down our life, "die out to self", or empty ourselves of pride and self righteousness and embrace Him. He, Yeshua, the Life of the Word, must be our target, goal, and objective.

The following morning we woke up very early, feeling that we didn't get a good night's rest. But the Spirit would not let us go back to sleep, prompting deep intercession for the Body of Messiah. After about two hours I dozed off for about 3 minutes (according to Rimona), only to be jarred out of sleep by a dream.

In the dream I saw myself walking, accompanied by others, in the direction of a graveyard in order to attend a memorial service. There were about 4 or 5 people on my right, and a girl of about 15 on my left. For some reason I had turned to the young girl, and jokingly said to her that I hoped the person, whose memorial service we were about to attend, was not buried alive. We then arrived at a place where the path split, and the girl left and joined the others on the right, while I was left to walk alone. As I looked ahead I saw the grave. It was mounded with fresh light-yellowish colored sand with a wreath lying on top (apparently others had arrived before us). As the group proceeded to the grave, I realized that the shorts I was wearing were not the proper attire for the occasion. I watched the others go over to the grave and bow in memory of the deceased. Suddenly the earth beneath the pile of sand began to push upward; sand poured down from both sides into the hole, as if the body was coming up out of the grave. It made two such movements, with the second revealing more of the body, and much less sand was left on top. I did not see the wreath anymore. However, the others carried on as if nothing was happening. I woke up trembling from the sudden surprise.

After prayer, this is what I believe to be the interpretation: The grave is that of Ezekiel's description of the dry bones of the whole House of Israel (both Judah and Ephraim). They are being united into one body by the power of the Spirit, but are still in the grave with the sands of time heaped up over them. In Ezekiel 37 it seems that the rattling of the bones, the putting on of the sinews, flesh and skin all takes place while they are still in the grave. But when the breath comes into them, they are filled with life and power to push up the earth and sand, and not beyond. We could be coming close to the time in which the Spirit is going to be breathing life into these two sticks or nations. Rimona thought that being dressed with shorts indicates that it was summer time.

The people to my right, I believe, were believers from the right wing conservative Evangelical and Charismatic circles, bible believing and lovers of Israel. They were all dressed in their Sunday church clothing while I was dressed as if I were going to a picnic. The wreath and the memorial service all represented their love for the land and the dry bones. My remark to the young girl apparently was not just a joke, but actually directed at all the ones to my right, as if to say that with their replacement theology doctrines they had buried alive the House of Israel. As we drew near to the grave there was a little island in the road, where the young girl had made her choice. This might be indicative of those who are in this relatively new Ephraimite movement, and who could be enticed with the dispensational doctrines of the right wingers. The left might mean the literal approach to the Word of YHVH, which gives glory to the faithfulness of a Covenant-keeping Elohim. Interestingly, all the others present, standing by the grave, were not aware in the slightest of what was happening right before their eyes.

Ephraim

WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

March 9, 2007

This is the Purim season, a festival which is celebrated by reading the book of Esther. In the days leading up to this holiday the Spirit has been highlighting a couple of very important points, namely: "wisdom and understanding". Esther obviously possessed these qualities, along with the commensurate conduct. In the construction of the Tabernacle, described in this week's Torah portion, with its articles and clothing; wisdom and understanding also played a very important role. For this work YHVH chose only those whose hearts were stirred to do the work, and then granted them these two precious qualities.

"And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom YHVH has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that YHVH has commanded" (Exodus 36:1). "And all the women whose heart stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats' hair" (Exodus 35:26).

Many years later, YHVH bestowed upon David's son this very same anointing: "And Elohim gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore" (1 Kings 4:29). Like others in the past who had a heart to serve the Most High, Solomon was given these wonderful gifts from Elohim. However, the question is, did these attributes come free or did YHVH supply them through the diligent study of the Torah? Because it was required of kings to write, read, and study the Torah, as it is written: "Now it shall come about when he [king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this Torah on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the YHVH his Elohim…and that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and not turn aside from the commandment…" (Deuteronomy 17: 18-20).

In Proverbs Solomon points to the Torah as the source of wisdom and understanding. The only written word of Elohim at the time of Solomon was the Torah, Joshua, Judges and possibly the book of Job and his father's Psalms. Thus this reigning king of Israel referred to the Word of Elohim as a source of wisdom and understanding.

James the apostle to the twelve tribes writes: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). This "wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17).

Solomon states that the beginning of wisdom is the fear/reverence of YHVH and His Word (ref. Proverbs 9:10). But how do we obtain this fear or reverence? Let us listen to some wise counsel:

"My son, if you receive My [YHVH's] words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of YHVH, and find the knowledge of Elohim" (Proverbs 2:1-5).

Where will we find this understanding and knowledge of YHVH's words and commands? As mentioned above, Solomon directs us to the Torah. "My son, do not forget my Torah, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you" (Proverbs 3: 1-2). "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my Torah" (Proverbs 4:1-2).

If one forsakes Torah or turns a deaf ear to YHVH's instruction, that is YHVH's words for wisdom and understanding, there are some dire consequences in store that should be taken notice of.

"Those who forsake the Torah praise the wicked… "One who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination" (Proverbs 28: 4; 9).

Therefore, "Trust in YHVH with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear YHVH and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones" (Proverbs 3:5-6)


Thus, if we are wise in our own eyes, leaning on our own understanding and do not acknowledge Him, the result will be sickness to our flesh and weakness to our bones.

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13).

Ephraim

MY PEACE I GIVE YOU

February 16, 2007

One of the things that Yeshua prophesied regarding the latter days was that there would be wars, and rumors of war: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6). In the last few years there have certainly been plenty of rumors vis-à-vis wars, and as to the 'making of wars', that seems to be endless. However, in the midst of all these end time happenings, Yeshua says to us, his disciples, not to fear or be troubled by these things for they must come, and moreover, notice what he adds here: "the end is not yet". So why are we concerning ourselves over these issues? Is it a tactic of the enemy to rob us of Yeshua's peace? Are we unwittingly replacing faith with the spirit of unbelief?

We read that "Elohim has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Our Master compassionately says: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Paul adds to this by exhorting us to
"let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

If we have received the "Spirit of Holiness" we have also received His kingdom rule, thus His righteousness, peace and joy should be our continual reality. If that is not the case, then we are being robbed of our spiritual inheritance in Messiah. Is there something we must do in order to maintain these wonderful promises that have been freely given to us in Messiah Yeshua? Paul answers this in his letter to the believers in Corinth: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Yesterday a friend shared a very interesting concept; what we believe can many times be easily offset, or even exchanged, but what we hold as a conviction we will defend to the end. Once we know that we know that something is true, it gets fixed in our hearts and becomes our very reality, it is our life. Thusly, knowing the Word of Elohim and believing that it is true is not enough. This belief must be accompanied by revelation understanding by the Spirit, so that it becomes our conviction and life in us. For if the "Word" becomes our life we are no longer just hearers of the "word", but also doers.

No doubt these are troublesome times, whether we are personally affected, or whether it is a reality for our nation. Yet we can take confidence in our Elohim, for He will never leave us nor forsake us (ref Hebrews 13:5). "For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:31). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). In other words, His peace will not fail us when we abide in Him, as we trust in His faithfulness to keep covenant and are confident of His sovereignty.

Yesterday, during our prayer time with our believing neighbors, we were encouraging one another in regards to the sovereignty of Elohim. I happened to open my bible and saw the following verse: "Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor" (1 Kings 22:34). When the Almighty decrees something He will accomplish it, no matter what we try to do to prevent or change it. The word that stuck out in that little sentence was "random". The bow-man did not specifically aim, he just shot and the arrow happened to find the most vulnerable spot in the armor of the king of Israel, in spite of the king's masquerading attempt. Yes, there may be wars and rumors of wars but we need not lose our peace and give in to the enemy's fear tactics. Instead we are to have unshakeable confidence in YHVH. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of Elohim, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Some have asked me if I have an archive of these Friday letters. Since I do not have an accessible one, I decided to post them on a blog site: http://israeliteletters.blogspot.com/

I started these Friday letters back in August of 1998, so it will take me a while to get them all into this blog. But you are welcome to read what appears there. Freely Abba has given, and freely it is made available to those who are interested.

Ephraim

THE TWO HOUSES IN THE LATTER DAYS

from http://www.1st-born.com/article_two_houses.php

According to Scripture, the “Two Houses of Israel” are two separate and distinct entities. Each of them has its own specific prophetic destiny. But even though two, they are still bound to the calling which they have inherited from their forefather Jacob - that is, to be one chosen nation of kings and priests. However, in the course of their history YHVH divided the nation into two nation/kingdoms for His purposes and plans that are directly related to the covenant that He swore to Abraham. Thus, it is very important to understand the first-born concept and its centrality in YHVH’s plan of redemption, and its connection to the Two Houses of Israel. Grasping the firstborn principle is paramount to the understanding of the latter day events recorded in the Tanach.

Isaiah 8:14 presents the ‘Two House truth’: “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to BOTH the houses of Israel”. As long as these two continue to stumble and take offense over the One who is their Rock they will remain two distinct entities.
Many like to define the two groups as ‘Christians’ (Israel/Ephraim), and ‘Jews’ (Judah), as if they are made up of two religious sects. In spite of that we must realize that all tribes are represented in both houses, and that together they constitute multitudes of peoples, which make up many ethnic groups. But for our purpose here, let us relate to them as nations. We have, then, the nation of Judah/Israel today, being made up mostly of Jews from Judah. On the other hand, because YHVH is true to His word, there is also the other house (Joseph/Ephraim), which YHVH has sown or mixed into many peoples in literally all nations: "Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples” (Hos. 2:8), being the “fullness of the nations” (Genesis 48:19), even though most of them are unaware of their identity. The influence of the multitudes of Ephraim, on some of these nations, brought about blessings of multiplicity, military prowess and economic wealth (see Genesis 49:22-26). In the blessing to Joseph, through his son Menasseh, Jacob pronounced that they would become a great people. However, as a great people the descendants of the northern kingdom would not be able to connect their greatness to the fulfillment of the prophecies, as YHVH was going to blind them and cause them to forget their identity (which is indicated by the meaning of the very name “Menasseh”).

Judah never lost its identityOne of the keys to understanding the end time scriptures is to watch for Judah’s lead. The Jews have never lost their identity, but have been preserved by the Almighty: “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, I will save them by YHVH their Elohim, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen." (Hosea 1:7) And: “He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts [or rejected ones] of Israel [Joseph/Ephraim], and gather together the dispersed [but preserved and recognizable] of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12)

In Ezekiel 37 we see that Judah’s stick (nation) is gathered first (and indeed it was restored in 1948) and is also being ‘written upon’. (v. 16) Then, during the times of the “latter rain”, Judah is called as a nation to be “a mighty war horse in battle.” (Zechariah 10:1,3) In the course of those days Jerusalem is restored to Judah (which was fulfilled in 1967), who is called to prepare for war against its surrounding nations (see Joel 3:1-2,11). In these self-same days the stick of Joseph/Ephraim is also to be gathered and to be ‘written upon’. (Ezekiel 37:16) Sometime later the two are to join together in the war with the surrounding nations (ref. Isaiah 11:13-15, Zechariah 9:13). These are but a few of the scriptural descriptions and references that have been and are yet to be fulfilled, in what are called the ‘latter days’. [Hebrew word for ‘latter days’ is ‘acherith’, which means latter days or has been translated as ‘hindermost’ by some expositors.]

Our day and age
The nations surrounding Judah and Jerusalem are hostile and belligerent at present. Their hostility extends not only toward Judah/Israel but also toward some of the peoples of Joseph’s progeny who are supportive of the Jews, and who are aligned with them economically and militarily (such as the United States and the British Commonwealth of Nations). With impending war and other potentially catastrophic world events, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the prophetic perspective. When we know that all of this has been predicted beforehand, and that in YHVH’s strategy it is as good as having taken place already, we can rejoice, for our full redemption is drawing closer.

According to the prophets of old, these days are marked by wars and great turmoil. Yeshua’s words about these days also reiterate the same thoughts: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars’.” (Matthew 24:4-6) Most of us don’t have any problems relating today’s world situations to what Yeshua or the prophets said on the topic. YHVH has given us the scriptures, His Spirit and this wonderful world of communication as a tool to reveal to us the truths of His Word.

So why are the kingdoms of this world being shaken? Is it because YHVH so hates the world that He is bent on destroying it? That is far from being His motivation. YHVH’s true motive is always based on His nature, which is, of course, unconditional love, righteousness and faithfulness. All that YHVH does revolves around possessing His inheritance, and establishing His kingdom here on earth. “YHVH’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (Deut. 32:9) YHVH sent His Son (Yeshua) to restore the House of Jacob (both houses) and set up His everlasting kingdom in and through them (Luke 1:31-33).
What then are these ‘heavy-duty’ judgments all about? Could He be acting now in the same manner that He did in the days when His people, our forefathers, dwelt in Egypt? At that time too YHVH wasn’t just being vindictive when He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. He was not looking for a pretext in order to harm the land and people of Egypt. Neither was He trying to convince them that they had to repent from their ways and turn to Him (at least not directly). He was motivated by faithfulness to His word and compassion toward His people. He wanted to establish them and His kingdom according to His pre-ordained plan, so that Egypt and the rest of the nations would know that He was the Elohim of His people Israel. He never once called Himself the God of Egypt, or the God of Amalek, but He did say repeatedly that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

YHVH says about Himself that He changes not. He is the God of Israel (both houses) and we still belong to Him, just as did our forefathers. We, who have come into the revelation understanding of our true identity, must face up to our history as His covenant people and to our relationship with Him, especially now that He has raised us from the dead spiritually and restored our lost national (natural) identity through the new covenant. One scripture that we have quoted over the years, along with other Two House teachers, is Acts 3:19-21:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which Elohim has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

The position of the firstborn
Although we had been focusing mainly on the restoration of our natural identity, as well as on what it means to be an Israelite and a firstborn in humanity, and how that bears upon the restoration of YHVH’s kingdom to Israel, there is yet another very important ‘ingredient’ that the redeemed Israelites must consider. This ingredient is perhaps the major theme of the writings of the New Covenant books. It may be defined as, ‘who we are as the first fruit of a new creation order’. James wrote: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” (James 1:18) Paul also says that “if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (Colossians 5:17) Presumably, if that is the case, who needs the ‘old’ and ‘natural’ Israelite, since now we are all ‘new’ and ‘spiritual’ Israelites? Well, let’s not jump to conclusions too soon. The Greek mindset would definitely analyze it from that perspective, but the Hebraic point of view is able to integrate these concepts (otherwise there would be no male or female either).

The Hebrew word for firstborn, in Exodus 13:12, is “peh’ter”, meaning to separate, or first to open. Breaking forth and opening up the way was the responsibility and calling of a firstborn. Thus Yeshua was the first to break forth into the new creation life and existence (spiritually speaking). His birth into this new life was a guarantee that the rest of His brethren would soon follow until “all of Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26) And thus, once the Father brings forth His first fruit company (Israel) of the ‘Adamic’ family, the rest of their brethren in the family of man will follow.

What manner of people ought we to be?However, the question remains: having our restored identity now, what kind of people aught we to be in these days “in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of YHVH, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat”? (2 Peter 3:10-12) In the midst of this very forceful message, Peter challenges and importunes the believer with the question: “What manner of persons ought we to be?”Those who have come into the revelation knowledge of their true heritage and ancestry, and have had their eyes open to the mysteries which have been hidden throughout the ages, must face this question. Paul, writing to the Laodicean congregation, addressed this mystery: “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 emphasis added) It is the one “mystery” that, according to his own admittance, he had struggled with greatly in conflicts and sufferings, to bring to the nations. His true motive was to proclaim Messiah Yeshua, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that he might present the believers prefect in Him (ref. Colossians 2:24-28). Since this is the case, then “what manner of persons aught we to be?”
The Apostle answered the question as he labored, striving in accord with the Spirit of Holiness that was mightily at work in him (ref. Colossians 1:29). He wanted the believers to know how great a conflict he had for them over this issue, especially for those in Laodicea (mentioned also in Revelation 3:14 and generally compared to the believers of today, especially in the ‘first world’ nations). His burden was to see love, that is, Messiah manifest in the life and relationships of the believing community. He also wanted them to understand the riches of the fullness of these mysteries that are at work in them: the mystery of Elohim, the mystery of the Father and the mystery of “Messiah in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3).

The Apostle did not want these believers to be “deceived by persuasive words of man’s philosophies,” but to remain steadfast in their faith in Messiah Yeshua, and to allow Him to be master of their lives, walking in Him and “being rooted and built up in Him and abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:4,6-7) Try to imagine having today apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers with this same incredible motivation and burden for the flock of YHVH!!!
The manifestation of His life in and through a chosen and called-out people was YHVH’s plan from the beginning, as recorded in the Tanach (Old Testament). This people had its natural beginning through four mothers, three of whom (Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel) were barren with dead and unproductive wombs, but with YHVH’s intervention they brought forth the life of our forefathers (Isaac and Jacob). Paul writes about this phenomenon in his letter to the believers in Rome. “As it is written, ‘I have made you [Abraham] a father of many nations’, in the presence of Him whom he believed -- God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did [i.e. the nation that would be birthed in a dead womb], who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your seed [Isaac] be.’ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb” (Rom. 4:17-19).

Even though they had this incredible and miraculous beginning, as the called, chosen and elect of the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, the nature of sin was still active in them. The progeny was true to its ‘Adamic’ character and engaged in idolatry, adultery and rebellion, and as a result would need to be redeemed from that condition.

Ephraim the ‘new man’
Having had this miraculous beginning, but a tainted nature, Ephraim (of the two parts that make up the progeny), has had the following endearing words said of him: “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says YHVH. Set up signposts; make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:20-21)

Speaking to the Ephraimites, YHVH addresses them as, “My dear son”, and almost in the same breath as a “virgin”. In one case male imagery is used, and in the other feminine gender. Intriguingly, through Hosea (1:2) YHVH calls these same people a “harlot”. How is this possible? A virgin is one who had never had intercourse, whereas for a harlot it is a way of life. So what has happened to Israel that YHVH would look upon her so differently? In that same chapter of Jeremiah a new covenant is made with Israel/Ephraim and Judah. This covenant was activated by Yeshua’s blood, when He gave himself to the will of His Father and poured out His life. It is through this covenant that YHVH removes the life of the sinner and does away with it. However, within this same covenant the provision is also made for man to have a new spirit life, a ‘new creation’ nature. This new life is the life of YHVH’s risen Son, who is the image and likeness of His Father (see Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 1:3). As mentioned above, the twelve tribes of Israel are to be the first fruit, or the first expression of this new life.

Paul knew this when he went out to preach this good news to the “lost sheep of the House of Israel” scattered amongst the nations. In this generation we are the remnant who have received mercy and have been born again into this living hope, “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” We hear a lot about the “one new man”, but mainly in the context of an answer to the question of ‘who is a gentile, and who is a Jew’, while the Apostle’s perspective and objective was not who the one new man was made up of (ethnically or in gender). Rather, Paul emphasized and depicted the nature and character of this “one new man”, describing him as a holy temple in which the Spirit of YHVH was (and is) resident (ref. Ephesians 2:21-22).

“Therefore, what manner of new creation persons aught we to be, as the elect of God, holy and beloved?” We are to be an expression of “tender mercies, kindness, humility, and meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Messiah forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to YHVH. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Yeshua our master, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:12-17) This is not what we will become. This is who we are already through faith, “for He [Yeshua] is our life.” (Col 3:4)