Dear reader,

Although I have called myself a Christian for many years it is not until recently that I have begun to search the scriptures to find out what “the truth of the Word” is for myself. If I am honest with myself I have been living on the regurgitation of pastors and preachers or holding onto a “prophetic word” or trusting in an “experience” to keep me going for most of my crawl. Because of this I have often stumbled or fallen. In so doing I have failed to live up to the expectation that a wife should have of her husband as the priest of the home and have been “tossed too and fro with every wind of doctrine”. For this I take responsibility because each believer must work out his or her own salvation. I cannot blame the pastors and the teachers when I stand before the Almighty one day to give account. 

At the beginning of 2002 I committed myself to read through the Word from Genesis to Revelation. I have been challenged by what I have found in the pages of the Bible. It is somehow different to what I had been taught.  You may find these words really hard to swallow at first but I pray that the Holy (Set apart) Spirit will direct you as you, as a good Berean, look into the scriptures to see if it be so.  

I came to discover that the true faith that Messiah left his disciples to teach others is very different to the one that we have today. We live in a Greek (Hellenistic) culture that interprets the bible from a western perspective but in fact the bible is a Middle Eastern book written from a Hebraic perspective. The Hebrew and the Greek cultures clash head on. They are so diametrically opposed to each other that in Zech 9:13 it says that Yahweh is, “Rising up the sons of Zion against the sons of Greece”. 

“Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, it’s officials, it’s priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares Yahweh” Jeremiah 1:19.

It is not easy to make a stand against paganism in the church. Jeremiah had a terrible time. He was thrown into cisterns, rejected, the works yet he stood firm. The “traditions of man” are very deeply ingrained into the “christian” society. The problem is that when believers are confronted with the origins of these traditions they are defended to the bitter end. We also, like Jeremiah, have to stand against the proliferation of pagan worship in the church. We initially have to recognize it in our own lives, repent and then show (not judge) others.  But who will listen?  

Paganism is rooted in lawlessness and “the traditions of man”. It has elbowed itself into just about every aspect of church life. Most do not even recognize what form it takes. Leaders accept it and teachers okay it. Is it our responsibility to point out these pagan traditions or do we just sit and not cause any waves? 

It is my conviction that we, as the last days church should be standing in the gap like the prophets of old . Declaring to kings, officials and the people of the land these unrighteous pagan customs, expose the roots so that we will be free to worship Yahweh the way He intended us to worship Him. In spirit and in truth.

At the commencement of this paper I need to write a little bit about “motive”. I have many wonderful Christian friends whose love for the Messiah would easily outshine mine. Whose lives are testimonies of the Master’s grace. They pray and do a lot more than I do. They win more lost souls than I do and their lights shine far brighter than mine does. I am not judging motive at all. I am also not saying that Yahweh does not see the heart of every believer. All I can do is look how the teaching corresponds with the Word. The Word is the measuring stick on which to base our lives. The crunch comes when our doctrine has to conform to Scripture. How obedient are we?  I am sure that that the “motives” of those who prophesied and cast out devils etc were great but look where “motive” got them.  

We cannot say “but our motives are pure” and continue to follow the ways of the pagan. 
  
There is wisdom in many counselors therefore I place some of my thoughts on paper. If I am wrong, according to the Word (not a translation) and man made traditions I will back down and start again. However, if this is right (righteous), then a change has to begin in the heart of every truth seeking believer, starting with me. Time is short and much has to be rooted out.. Can I change people? No. Will the few change the view of many? I doubt it. Revival begins with one man. That’s me and that’s you teaching the Word as Messiah taught it and correcting “the traditions of man” with truth. Biblical history has shown that the majority is never right.

The other morning the pastor at a church I attend asked a thought-provoking question, “Why we do not see the authority that was present in the early church?” I suggest that much has been robbed, twisted or changed and adopted by the years of man-made tradition. If we could come back to the roots of the pure faith without the traditions of man, I am sure that the church would witness the restoration of all things. 

I do not profess to know everything. There is so much more to learn. I am just a believer searching for the ancient paths. 

Peter Lowe <peterlowe@mjvn.co.za>
29/11/2002       

1.

“Lentil Stew”

"Like all translations of the bible, made as they are by imperfect man, this one falls far short of its goal."  I found this sentence in the preface of my NIV study bible. It caught me by surprise. It is very revealing. The bible that I read is a translation and the translators themselves confess that there could be mistakes. I don’t believe that they would intentionally make mistakes to mislead us but translations, as good as they are, are open to human error and interpretation and tradition. I didn’t say that, the translators did! Sometimes the errors are blatant and once pointed they become obvious and can be corrected.

One of those errors is concerning the tradition of “ineffability”. Ineffability is the unscriptural practice of avoiding, hiding or masking the true Name. It is a pagan practice with deep roots in Egypt, Babylon and Greece. Ineffability means, “To great for words”.    

The Name

In the preface of my NIV study bible it also says: 
" In regard the divine name YHWH, commonly referred to as the tetragammaton, the translators adopted the device used in most English versions of rendering that name as "LORD" in capital letters to distinguish it from "Adonai”, another Hebrew word rendered "lord" for which small letters are used" 

In the footnotes of Genesis 2:4 it says "LORD" (Hebrew YHWH, "Yahweh) is the personal and covenant Name of God, emphasizing His role as Israel's personal redeemer and covenant Lord while God (Hebrew- Elohim) is a general term. Both names occur thousands of times in the OT, and often as here they appear together - clearly indicating that they refer to the same one and only God." 

I was brought up in a Christian home and have prayed to God and Jesus since I can remember. What a shock it was to find out that his Name isn’t “God” or “The LORD”
He has a proper Name. The translators even know he has a Name but it is His “Hebrew Name”. Yahweh doesn’t change and he certainly doesn’t have a name that changes from one language group to another. How can He have a Hebrew Name and an English or a Chinese name? What Name would he like us to call on? May we use His Name? Does it really matter what we call Him as long as our heart is right? Is His Name important to Him? These are questions that needed an answer. 

Here is the dilemma: "Lord" is not a name it is a title ("lord" in Hebrew is the same as baal...(see footnote Is 46: 1). 
 “Father”, is a title the same as “Abba”. We are privileged to call Him Father but this is not His name. 
"God" is not a name it is a title (God is derived from the pagan Germanic deity Gad) The Muslims have a god. It is demon with a personal Name called Allah. They say that he is the God of Abraham. They call him “God”.
The Hindu’s have millions of gods and they have personal names (Lord Krishna, Sheva, Raam etc) lumped together they are known as “God”
Confusion! Confusion!
The Christians also have a God and His Name is also “God”. Yes , we know He is the only true “God” but “God” is not His Name.  
It seems to me that words seem to take on new meanings, but we need to go to their roots to find out how ignorant we are. For example the word Baal means lord. We call “God” “The LORD” . We mean 
2.
“Soverieghn” or “Master” but in our ignorance we are actually saying “Baal” every time we call him “LORD” 

1251 . Ba’al ; owner , master, lord, possessor, husband……
1249. Ba’al: to rule, possess, to marry, be married. Hebrew /Greek Key Study Bible

As born again believers we serve the “God” of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). His personal covenant Name is YaHWeH. Sometimes pronounced YaHuWeH). Yahweh is a Name full of meaning. The Ever Living, Ever Present, Self Existent, One . Yahweh is His covenant Name. Have you come into covenant with Yahweh? Have you laid down your life for Him? You are privileged to call on His covenant Name……YaHWeH.
                            This is what Yahweh says, he who made heaven and earth, Yahweh who formed it and established it  - Yahweh is His Name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable (hidden) things (matters) you do not know.  (Jer 33: 2-3)

Call: “Speak in a tone meant to reach distant hearer (to person), utter a summons or signal”

The translators above, say that in "most English versions", the covenant name, Yahweh, has been removed over 6800 times and substituted with a title, “the LORD”. Who gave them authority to substitute His set apart Name. Tradition! Ineffability. 

"The biblical concept of naming was rooted in the ancient world’s understanding that a name expressed essence. To know the name of a person was to know that person’s total character and nature." (Holman’s Bible Dictionary, p. 1007) 

Father Yahweh is restoring His great covenant Name in these last days. He is making His Name known again. (Jeremiah 17:19-21 ; Ezek 36: 20-23; Ez 39:7-8 ; John12:29; Zeph 3:9 ; Mal 1:11) There are so many other verses. My favourite is Exodus 3: 14 –15….                                   
                                  "Elohim (The Mighty one) said to Moses , "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. Elohim also said to Moses ; " Say to the Israelites, Yahweh (The Ever Living, Ever present, Self Existent One) the Elohim of your fathers - The Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac and the Elohim of Jacob - has sent me to you. This is my Name, forever the Name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." 

“Father Glorify your Name!” Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John 12:29

We are given snippets of His Wonderful Name in scripture. In the New King James Version we read in Isaiah 12:4 It says,
 "Behold Elohim is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For YAH , Yahweh , is my strength and my song; He has also become my salvation." 
Psalm 68 :4 
"Sing to Elohim, sing praises to his Name, extol Him who rides on the clouds by His name YAH , and rejoice before Him. 
Isaiah 26: 4 
Trust in Yahweh forever, for in YAH, Yahweh is everlasting strength. 
Isaiah 38:11 ; 
" I said I will not see YAH, Yahweh in the land of the living......." 

Hallelu –YAH, like Coke, is an international word. This means that every nation, tribe and tongue can pronounce His Name. Hallelu- Yah!!! Praise - YAH. There is no excuse everyone can say His Name.

The footnotes for Psalm 68:4 says " YAH is an abbreviation for Yahweh ......" 

Exodus 20:7 "You do not bring the Name of Yahweh your Elohim to naught, for Yahweh does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught" 
Or “ You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your Elohim, for Yahweh will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name”  

I suggest that the translators by substituting the Name with titles have inadvertently corrupted the breathed scriptures and taught others to follow suit and have brought His Covenant Name, Yahweh (or Yahuweh) to naught. 
3.
 “In a self righteous attempt to obey the third commandment, the Jewish leaders adapted a pagan practice found in Babylon known as ineffability. The pagans gave false reverence and respect to pagan mighty ones such as Marduk and Baal by refusing to use their real names and by substituting titles to show these false deities a form of perverted honor. Even in Egypt, the name of Osiris was said and taught to be ineffable.”
 
There are so many scriptures commanding us as his covenant people to call on His Name. We are doing ourselves (believers) a great disservice by not doing so and not teaching others the true Name of our covenant partner. Do you think that His wonderful Name is not relevant today? We sing a lot about His Name but fall short of actually mentioning it. In our meetings we say “praise his Holy Name” but we never mention it!

Isaiah, looking forward in 56:6 says, " And foreigners who bind themselves to Yahweh to serve him to love the Name of Yahweh and to worship him. ......." 
I have grown to love the name of my "new covenant" partner.
He is my Father and asks me to call upon His Name - YAHWEH. His name (all that He represents) is my refuge. “The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Prov 18:10 
When we, his people call on the Name –“YAHWEH” – our covenant partner, the ever living, ever present self existent One has promised to hear and answer.  

Some translations say the Name is “Jehovah”. This cannot be as the letter “J” is only 500 years old (more later) while “Hovah” is Hebrew for “calamity”. This was a poor translation from translators who did not have a firm grasp of biblical Hebrew. 
 
I could write so much more about the Name YaHWeH.  I think about it every time I breathe. 

Here are some more scriptures……..

A memorial forever:
Your name , O Yahweh, endures forever, your fame O Yahweh, throughout all generations. Ps. 135:13. Ex 3:15. See also Hosea 12:5. 
Magnified forever:
For  thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones," Is. 57:15.
Esteemed:
"If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, YAHWEH YOUR ELOHIM, then Yahweh will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues and serious prolonged sicknesses." Deut 28:58-59. 
Excellent: 
"O Yahweh, our Master, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth, who have set your splendor (esteem) above the heavens," Psalms 8:1. 
Majestic: 
"And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his Elohim; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great to the ends of the earth," Micah 5:4. 
Blessed:
"And he said, “Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there: Yahweh gave, and  Yahweh has taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh," Job 1:21. 
Reverend (deserving of reverence):
"He has sent his redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Set-apart and awesome is His Name," Ps. 111:9. 
A strong tower:
"The Name of Yahweh is a strong tower; The righteous run into it and are safe," Proverbs 18:10. 
These Scriptures show His Name is much more than a title or label. His Name is a very essential part of having and maintaining a close, personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, Yahweh. 
Not only are we to know His Name: 
"And those that know your name will put their trust in You: for You, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalms 9:10. 
"Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks: behold, it is I," Isaiah 52:6. 

4.
We are to: Have wisdom to see His Name: 
" Yahweh's voice cries to the city, Wisdom shall see Your name: “hear the rod, and who has appointed it?" Micah 6:9. 
Seek His Name: 
"Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Your name, Yahweh," Ps 83:16. 
Call upon His Name:
"And it shall come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved. For in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as Yahweh has said, among the remnant whom Yahweh calls," Joel 2:32. 
"And it shall come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved," Acts 2:21. 
"For whoever calls upon the name of Yahweh shall be saved," Romans 10:13. 
Praise His Name:
"From the rising of the sun to it’s setting Yahweh's name is to be praised," Psalms 113:3. 
"Glory in His set apart name: let the hearts of those rejoice who seek Yahweh," Psalms 105:3. 
"All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before you, O Yahweh; and shall glorify your name," Psalms 86:9. 
Sing to His Name: 
"All the earth shall worship You, and sing praises to you; they shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah Psalms 66:4) 
Think about His Name: 
"Then those that feared Yahweh spoke to one another: and Yahweh listened and heard them, so a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear Yahweh, and who meditate on His name." Malachi 3:16. 
Give thanks to His Holy Name:
"Save us, O Yahweh our Elohim, and gather us from among the gentiles, to give thanks to your set apart name," Psalms 106:47. 
"But to you who fear my name the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go out, and grow fat like stall-fed calves." Malachi 4:2. 
Trust in His Name:
"Who among you fears Yahweh, who obeys the voice of his Servant,who walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Yahweh, and rely upon his Elohim," Isaiah 50:10. 
Exalt His Name:
"Oh magnify Yahweh with me, and let us exalt his name together," Psalms 34:3. 
Bless His Name: 
"Sing to Yahweh , bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day," Psalms 96:2. 
Wait upon His Name: 
"I will praise you forever, because You have done it: and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on your name." Psalms 52:9. 
Walk in His Name: 
"For all people walk each in the name of is god, but we will walk in the name of Yahweh our Elohim forever and ever," Micah 4:5. 
Set His Name Apart:
"But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in His midst, they will hallow My name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the Elohim of Israel," Isaiah 29:23. 
Remember His Name:
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of Yahweh our Elohim," Psalms 20:7. 
Declare His Name: 
"To declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem," Psalms 102:21. 
"I will declare Your name to my brethren: in the midst of the assembly will I praise you," Psalms 22:22; Hebrews 2:12. 

The name Jesus
The song goes “Jesus , Jesus, Jesus, There is something about that name……. “ Yes there is something about that name but it isn’t what you think!!!

I would like to look at a new translation of Matthew 2:1 ..... 
                                                 " Now when Yahshua the Messiah was born at Athens, Greece in the days of Alexander the Great, behold there came wise men from the East to Olympia saying,  'Where is he that is born King of the Greeks, for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship Him. When Alexander had heard these things, he was troubled and all Olympia with him. " 
5.
Hold on!!! The bible says the Savior was Hebrew, born of the tribe of Judah. This “new” translation must be wrong, the Greeks were pagans. He wasn't Greek nor was he born among Greeks. You would be right. Just as out of place as a Hebrew Messiah in Greek culture would be a Messiah with a Greek name in Hebrew village. 

The meaning of names 
“ A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
							Proverbs 22:1
I have never studied Hebrew but have just recently completed a study on the meaning of Hebrew names. This has been very interesting fore as we have heard, in bible times, the meaning of the person's name often carried in it the persons life calling. Somehow we have lost the importance of names in our western culture . The Hindus and Muslims still recognize the importance of names.

Name                                       Hebrew equivalent                     Meaning

Isaiah                                    = Yesha Yahu                               :Yahweh saves 
Jeremiah                               = Yirme Yahu                               : Yahweh throws 
Ezekiel                                  = Yeheziel                                    : El (Elohim) strengthens 
Daniel                                    = Dani El                                      : El (Elohim) is the judge 
Hosea (abb)                          = Hosea                                        : Salvation 
Joel (abb)                              = Yo El                                          : Yahweh is Elohim 
Amos (abb)                           = Amos (Amasi Yah)                     : Yahweh carries 
Obediah                                = Obad Yah                                   : Servant (worshipper) of 
                                                                                                      Yahweh 
Jonah                                    = Yonah                                         : Dove 
Micah (abb)                           = Mikah                                          : Who is like Yahweh? 
Nahum                                  = Nahum                                         : Comfort 
Habbakkuk                            = Habaqquq                                   : Babylonian name -    
                                                                                                       some kind of plant. 
Zephananiah                         = Tsephan Yah                               :Yahweh hides /   
                                                                                                       Yahweh protects 
Haggai                                   = Haggai                                         : Festal ( He was     
                                                                                         probably born in the 7th month) 
Zechariah                              = Zekar Yah                                     : Yahweh remembers 
Malachi                                  = Malaki                                           : My messenger 
Samuel                                   = Shemu El                                     : Heard of Elohim 
Elijah                                      = Eli Yahu                                        : Yahweh is my Elohim 
Elisha                                     = Elisha                                            : Elohim saves 
Joshua                                    = Yehoshua :                                  : Yahweh saves/                      
                                                                                                         Yahweh gives victory

This exercise proved that even though the Hebrew pronunciation may be different (Ya’aqob / Jacob), the translators had the transliteration (the transference from one language to another) in place. That is …..they sort of sound the same.

About the letter "J" (according to the pro’s)
"The form of "J" was unknown in any alphabet until the 14th century." 
                                                                                   Encyclopaedia Americana 
" "J", the tenth letter of the English alphabet, is the youngest of the 26 letters." 
                                                                               The New Book of Knowledge. 

Look at this .......................... A name out of place and time

The prophets were looking forward (prophesying) of the coming Jewish Messiah. In Matthew 1:21 we are given what His name will mean ...... "He will save his people from their sins" and in John 17: 11 +12 we see that the Father has given the Son His Name and in vs 25-26 the Son will continue to make the Father’s Name known. We have seen that the Father's Name is “Yah”  and now we are told that the Father has given the Son his Name as an inheritance (Heb 1:4 ;John 5:43), so the Name of the Jewish Messiah should have the meaning "The Salvation of Yahweh". The footnote of Matt 1:21 says that the Sons Name is a variation (Greek form) of Joshua (Yehoshua). 
  
6.
In our bibles, however, He has been given a Greek name not a “form of Joshua” , Jesus. Something doesn’t add up. The Talmud teaches that it is far better for a Jew to eat pig than to learn Greek!!!

Consider the following: 

The Messiah came from His Father, "Yahweh" , as a Jew to the Jewish people. 
The long awaited Jewish Messiah was born into a Jewish carpenter’s home to Jewish parents, Miryam and Yoseph, from the royal line of King David of Israel. 
An angelic messenger gave them the Savior’s Name and told them exactly what the meaning of his Name should be. 
He was and still is a Jew and lived in a Jewish town Nazareth in Israel.(Hebrews 13:8) 
He is the King of the Jews and soon He will reign from Jerusalem.
He called a Greek woman a dog. (Mark 7:24-30)
He was a Jewish Rabbi. He read Hebrew scrolls in the temple but possibly spoke Aramaic (a sister language) to the disciples and the crowds.
The Messiah himself said He had inherited his Heavenly Father’s Name. (John17:6)
He celebrated all the feasts kept the Shabbat and was often found teaching in the Jewish temple and the synagogues. 
 
The clanger!!!

The Greek culture or "Hellenization" was not popular with the Hebrews, very few spoke Greek or even had a desire to speak Greek. Even Josephus, the great Hebrew scholar said he could only speak a little Greek. “Hellenization” was “The adoption of the Greek culture. The Greek culture empathizes sport, education and fashion. The youth were targeted. It compromised principles a brought the world into the Israel  and the church. Liberalism is the hallmark of Hellenism. Being an exclusive or fundamentalist was not tolerated”   

"Jesus" is a Greek Name that does not mean, “ the salvation of Yahweh” in Hebrew, English or Greek. Remembering the letter "J" only came into existence 500 years ago. Initially it would have been "Iesous". 

There must be some explanation……

According to the Dictionary of Christian folklore and Legend by J.C.J Metford pg 126:
”It is known that the Greek names ending with sus, seus, and sous (which are phonic pronunciations for Zeus) were attached to Greek names and geographical areas as means to give honor to their supreme deity Zeus. Examples are Parnassus, a sacred mountain in Greece, the Greek deity of wine and son of Zeus, Dionysus, the Greek hero of the Trojan war was Odysseus, and the Greek deity of healing was Ieusus (which is a variant spelling of Iesous or the Latin Iesus/Jesus)…..” There are other Greek words that end with “sus” E.g. Tarsus means “Sweet breathe of Zeus”. 

But the question isn’t really if the name “Jesus” is pagan or not. The question is was “Jesus” the name given to our Savior at his birth. Lets see…..

There is no way the Jewish Messiah would have been known as “Jesus” while on earth and His Heavenly Father Yahweh, who loved Him has never authorized a change of name since he ascended. The “church” might have authorised the change but it didn’t come from Yahweh, the disciples or Paul. 

The name Jesus is also not in line with the pattern of Hebrew scripture. We can try force Jesus to mean Yahshua (the salvation of Yah) but the two don’t even remotely sound alike. (Eg. Yirmeyahu = Jeremiah, Yeshayahu = Isaiah , Yahshua = Jesus?)

The Hebrew term for “save” is “shua” (footnote Matt1:21)while in Greek “save” is "Soter" so His Name correctly transliterated into Greek should read "Yah-soter" or "Soter-Yah". In the Greek / English Septuagint the Savior’s name is written exactly the same as Joshua, son of Nun (Josh 10:1), and Jesus (Matthew 1:16) in the Interlinear Greek/English New testament .Strongs 3091. How can this be? Two completely different names spelt exactly the same be pronounced differently.

I would like to suggest that… the Messiah only has one name in any language. 
I would like to suggest that….it is impossible that our Saviour’s Name is Jesus. 
I would like to suggest that….He did not have and has never had a Greek name . 
I would like to suggest that …"Jesus" does not mean, (in any language), "the salvation of Yahweh" or "Yahweh’s salvation". 
7.
I would like to suggest ……   that His authentic Name was changed and hidden. Just like His Father’s Name has been hidden.
I would like to suggest …..that our enemy, Satan, knows the power of the Messiah's authentic name and has deceived us into excepting, by tradition (or lies), a counterfeit name. After all it would be out of character, he is the father of liars.
I would also like to suggest …..that man, as he is so prone, said "We don't like the Name He was given from heaven, it is far to Jewish, let's change it to one that will make it more attractive to the pagans.(unbelievers). We still do this today with “seeker sensitive” services etc. That’s another issue!!!

The Name above all names

Yeshua is a popular Hebrew name, it means “save” .Shaul (Paul) had a friend called Jesus (Yeshua), also called Justus.(Col 4:11) The Jews were expecting the Messiah. His name couldn’t have been “Yeshua”. Some believers call the Messiah “Yeshua” today. Yes it means “save” The same as Hosea or Elisha.     

Gabriel declared HIS NAME SHALL BE "YAH-SHUA" (Yahushua?)BECAUSE HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS!!! Mathew 1:21 (check out the footnote).There has never been another with the same Name. “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Yahweh.” 

In this wonderful Name is indeed written the message of Salvation. His Heavenly Father gave Him one Name. It is the Name that He inherited from His Father Yahweh (Hebrews 1;4).  His Father Yahweh gave His Son this Name ….., “because he will save his people from their sins” . 
"Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12 , John 3:18 ; Acts 10:43 ; John 14:6 ; I Tim 2;5)
Shaul (Paul) wrote that Yahweh has given His Son a Name that is above every other name. (Phil 2:9-10)
Through time, lies, tradition and translations so much of the "truth" has been distorted, subtracted or added to. The enemy has not changed his vile, deceiving spots since the days of the Garden of Eden. He continues to twist the truth and add a bit more. 

Father Yahweh has declared that : We must call on His Name. His Name is a refuge (Proverbs 18:10)

The Son, Yahshua has declared that : We have incredible authority in His Name. Ask anything.(John14:13)

IF……You were the enemy what would you attack??? What would you try to hide??? 

My goal as a believer is to return to the fundamental truths, like His true Name, once known and clearly taught by the early Assembly but have been neglected or ignored through the centuries. Shouldn't this be the desire of every true believer - to worship in ALL truth? Why go only half way, or put another way, why continue worshipping partly in error? 

We "the called out ones" known as "believers" have allowed the enemy to rob us of the wonderful inheritance of His authentic Name and we have settled for lies and the traditions of men.

Does it matter? Isn’t this gnat picking?This is the most humanistic question one could ask. We should ask ….does it matter to whom?

Proverbs 30 prompts us with a list of leading questions and finally at the end of vs 4 it says…
" What is His Name, and the name of His Son? Tell me if you know!" 
and another from Acts 3:17 
"Now brother’s I know that you acted in ignorance as did your leaders……Repent then and turn to Elohim that your sins may be wiped out. That times of refreshing may come from Yahweh……" 

Am I saying that every born again believer in the Greek name is not saved? Never can that be true!!!  Yahweh knows our hearts. He also knows our ignorance but once ignorance is exposed the excuse no longer remains only repentance. The Spirit in these last days is making the Father’s Name known. He is making known the Son’s Name known (John 17:26). Why? Because persecution is coming and we as believers are going to need a place of refuge to run and hide. He is also exposing the lies to the truth so that we can recognize the delusion and walk in the light. We are going to have start asking in His Name –Yahshua - and calling on His Name - Yahshua because wickedness is increasing every day. 

8.
According to Acts 3: 21, Yahshua is waiting in heaven for the restoration of all matters. I am encouraged daily to see how He is restoring His true Name, as well as many other "matters", to believers around the world.

My prayer is that this writing be received not to divide but to teach us, as good Bereans to see if it be so. 

The issue of the Name is more than just the spelling, its not like abracadabra or whatever magical pronunciation is demonically used. Yahshua is everything in Scripture, so it is the character, the relationship, the past, present and future of our citizenship of the Kingdom of Heaven that he represents as he reconciles us to our Father Yahweh in Heaven and ultimately ensures that the Father may be all in all. 1 Cor 15.28. 

Once again there is so much more I could write about the Name - YAHSHUA. 

The Way of the Torah (Law)

My understanding of Torah (the law) is that it is “the way” Elohim wanted His covenant bride, Israel, to live. When they moved into his house they fell under the ways of his household. The Torah was the reflection of a perfect husband and he expected his bride to be perfect just as he was perfect. 

Yahweh knows how imperfect (Roms 6:23) we are and he knew we would break his laws so he rushed to create an elaborate system of blood sacrifice and it had to be done “exactly” right otherwise it would not be acceptable (Heb 8:6). Innocent blood had to be shed for the covering or atonement of sin.

The Torah (Way of Living) consisted of 5 parts :

1. Spiritual Law - The moral Law and the feasts of Yahweh
2. Commercial law- Business principles to live by
3. Ceremonial law- Levitical laws for blood sacrifices and ceremonial cleansing. 
4. Judicial law- The punishment for trespassers of the Torah.
5. Natural law- The treatment of sicknesses and diseases as well as ways to stay healthy.

As I have read through the pages of the Old Covenant I came to realize that Yahweh had two main issues with his covenant people Israel. The prophets prophesied lies and the priests didn't teach the Torah properly. (Jer 2:8 ; Jer 9:13 ;Ezek 13 ;Ezek 22:26; Hosea 4:6 ; Micah 3:11 ; Zeph 3:4) Because of their disobedience and failure to keep the Torah they invited onto themselves the curses of Deut 28:15 – 68.  From this I see that although the "system" was in place to cover sin through the shedding of blood, the people still had an obligation to obey (walk in) the torah. The priests and prophets had an obligation to teach / preach the law correctly. 

I think I can safely say with Shaul say that "I am the chief of sinners" and when I look into the ten commands (not suggestions) of Yahweh I realize how very far short I fall of Yahweh's perfect standard. So believe me when I say I am not talking from a place of perfection here.

We are the recipients of the “re-newed” (much better) covenant. The NIV calls it a “New” covenant, which makes it seem like the whole “Old” thing was scrapped and Yahweh started all over again. This is misleading. It should read “re-newed” covenant because the first covenant that was cut with the blood of bulls and goats. We, (Kingdom citizens) have a "much better” or a “renewed” covenant cut with the blood of Yahshua (Hebrews 9 : 11- 31). Jeremiah 31:31- 37  and Hebrews 8 outlines the new Covenant to be made with Israel. It amazed me to hear that Yahweh never made a covenant with the gentiles (goyim or heathen). He re-newed the Covenant with Israel only. Romans 11 confirms, we as wild branches (goyim), have been grafted into Israel and now, as Aliens (Lev 19:33 ; Num 15:13-16 ; Deut 10:18; many others) we have become heirs to the promises of the re-newed covenant. We as a royal priesthood and a set apart nation (1 Peter 2:9-11) have been adopted into the household of Yahweh. We are now along with the redeemed Jews are Kingdom citizens. When we truly realize what this means out of a depth of love (and appreciation) for Yahweh we obey the rules of His royal household ie we walk in His ways. The rules can never, ever save us or get us extra favor. It is Yahshua’s blood alone that has bought our salvation. Praise His Name. We now as His renewed covenant bride uphold the moral law (spiritual) that has been written on our minds and in our hearts.(vs 33) and when we fail, which for me is daily, I rush to ask for the Blood of Yahshua to take away my sins and Father Yahweh says, “because of the blood......I forgive.” (vs 34). 

9.
The first covenant was not faulty in anyway. Yahweh didn’t make a mistake and have to start all over again. He never makes mistakes. Israel, the people, (like you and I), blew it, and because of Israel's marital unfaithfulness a letter of divorce was written her. The marriage contract (covenant) was broken by the unfaithfulness of a lawless, pagan deity worshipping, harlot of a wife, however, out of Yahweh's great love for His people Israel, He “renewed” the covenant with a far better one. Because the blood slaughter of Yahshua (perfect and spotless) has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven (removed) not only covered. 

The requirements of the ceremonial law have been fully met in Yahshua. Our High Priest sits at the right hand over Yahweh the Father. The Old Covenant priest’s job was never done. He could never sit. It was an endless slaughter of innocent life, an endless flow of blood. Yahshua, the salvation of Yahweh, bleeding and dying on the execution stake called out, “It is finished”. The ceremonial law to cover sin was no longer required. His innocent blood is the basis on which the “re-newed” covenant has been cut. The moral law stands though. Not a jot or tittle of that will change. We have not been forgiven to live and do as we like.  

Romans 8:4 ..The footnotes of the NIV study bible says, “ The Law (torah) still plays a role in the life of a believer  - not as a means of salvation but as a moral and ethical guide, obeyed out of a love for ‘God’ and by the power that the Spirit provides.This is the fulfilment of Jeremiah 31: 33-34…….”   

Respected theologian John Wesley said,” But the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments and enforced by the prophets, He, (Messiah) did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law that can never be broken. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not depending on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God (Yahweh) and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.”

The Holy (Set apart) Spirit living in us creates “a desire” to obey the Father's laws (Romans8:13) Yahshua confirmed this when He said in…
                            Matthew 5:17-20 "Do not think I have come to abolish the law (torah) or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them I have come to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law (torah) until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teachers others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Elohim) but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" 

Yahshua summarized the Torah by quoting Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 
" Love Yahweh ,your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself."

1 John 5: 3 .... This is love for Yahweh: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome,....."

What is this “Law of Love”? It isn’t that goose pimple feeling or a hug at the door as you come into church. The proof of your love for Yahweh, Yahshua and the Set Apart Spirit shows through your obedience to His Torah (law). 

So let's break this down then. If you say you love Yahweh you will ........

1. Have no desire to have other mighty ones (“gods”) before His face
2. Have no desire to worship or bow down to idols.
3. Have a desire to honour His Name and use it properly, not bring it to naught by substituting it with a "title"
4. Have a desire to set aside the seventh day and conform to Yahweh's Sabbath regulations not your own..
5. Have a desire to respect your father and mother.
6. Respect life.
7. Have a desire to be faithful.
8. Respect someone else’s property and not steal it.
9. Have a desire to speak the truth.
10. Have a desire to be content with what belongs to you and be satisfied.

10.
How do we do this? How can we walk a life like this? ONLY IN THE SPIRIT. The Spirit leads us into all truth. He teaches us as we go along, and when we fail and fall we come rushing to the feet of our Father, Yahweh and humbly ask for forgiveness of our transgression and for strength to overcome in any of the above areas through Yahshua the Son because any problem be it fear, doubt, envy, unforgiveness, lust etc will be found reflected in the Torah. 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Elohim" Romans 3:23

In Matthew 13 Yahshua talks a lot about the wheat and the weeds. I have only recently learnt that the “weeds” He is talking about are “Zonin” which are a degenerate form of wheat. One can only spot the difference when the heads show. The heads of the wheat bow while the “zonin” remain upright. I see this as “the fruit”. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no (moral) law. 

Yahshua talking about the “end of the age” where the evidence of the fruit will be seen and the Son of man will send his angels to harvest “everything that causes sin and all who do evil” That’s Lawlessness!!!

So what is the difference between the “wheat” and the “zonin”? Are we obeying the way of the Torah, the moral law? Are we loving Yahweh? Are we loving others? Do we understand the meaning of the blood of Yahshua in the New Covenant? 

But one says “We are under grace, not under law” So just do what you like .I put my hand up and asked Jesus into my life, said a prayer. Now I can do anything I like. I’m saved ”No!!! The next step is obedience. To what? His ways. What ways? His Torah.

“In a recent Barna Research Institute said 62% of Americans said they were Christians yet only 6 -10 % who were living Christian lives ie “ These people (6-10%) are a breed apart…. They are more tolerant of people of diverse backgrounds. They are involved in charitable activities. They are involved in practical Christianity. They are absolutely committed to prayer”  So how do the other 52-56% live. The survey shows that 90% of Americans pray but 87% do not believe the Ten Commandments. A massive 92% own a bible but 11% read it daily. 91% lie regularly at work or at home. 61% believe that premarital sex is not at all wrong.

Youth Leader magazine says “More Christian teens watch MTV each week (42%) than non Christians (33%), Of these same Christian teens……, 65% said they prayed daily, 72% believed the Bible and yet over a three month period, 66% had lied to a parent or a teacher, 55% had had sex, 55% had cheated in an exam and 20% got drunk or used an illegal drug. In New York 18% of abortion patients described themselves as born again or evangelical Christians. One in five who murdered their babies professed faith in Jesus Christ. One in four think that Yahshua sinned while He was on the earth.”  Ray Comfort.

The character of a true citizen of the Kingdom of heaven is according to Revelation is
  			“Those who obey Elohims commandments and hold to the testimony of Yahshua” Rev 12 :17b

			“”This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey Elohims commandments and remain faithful to Yahshua” Rev 14:12

			‘ Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have the right the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Rev 22:14.

If one says that they are a believer in Yahshua then they must depart from the ways of iniquity ie Lawlessness.

Could it be that what causes the confusion is what Peter experienced?…
                                ”….just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that Elohim gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort as they do the other scriptures to their own destruction. “

Paul …”Do we then , nullify the law (torah) by this faith? Not at all! Rather we uphold the law,(torah) ” Romans 3:31.

11.
Therefore none will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law, rather, through the law (torah) we become conscious of sin. Rom 3:20.

Shaul (Paul) would not have said in one sentence “We are not under the law” and in the next breathe “The law doesn’t apply to us anymore” .He certainly wouldn’t contradict Yahshua. We have obviously, as Peter warned, misunderstood Paul. 

To sum up this section I, as a recipient (grafted in) of the re-newed covenant walk in his ways (obey) and when I fall (trangress), I repent, (turn away from), and the blood of Yahshua, (the salvation of Yah), washes away my iniquities (transgressions), and Yahweh, who knows everything, is faithful and just to forgive me of all my iniquities, (lawlessness).

But what happens to those who are disobedient (lawless)? The Kingdom of Yahweh is for the repentant torah obedient believer only! The wheat and the weeds / sheep and the goats / Matthew 7:21 demonstrate this clearly. These are both growing in the same field. The judgement comes and the weeds (lawless) are burned while the wheat (blood washed and lawful) inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh. This is in line with the above verses from Revelation. And Hebrews 10:28 - 31 

If we are believers in Yahshua Messiah and understand what He has done in terms of the re-newed Covenant and are walking a life of repentance and obedience to His torah we will inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh. 

Jeremiah asks the question (9:12 +13)
                               “ Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? Yahweh said, "It is because they have forsaken my torah (law) which I set before them ; they have not obeyed me or followed my law (torah).

Shaul (Paul) in his writings to the different churches is warning not against upholding the torah or the feasts but against the man made traditions that say they have to be circumcised, baptized, even keep the moral or anything else to be “SAVED”. Salvation can only come through the blood slaughter YAH-SHUA, the salvation of YAH. There is no other way.

What it all boils down to is…………     

Paganism in the Church.

If there is one thing Yahweh hates, it is the worship of pagan deities. 

Exodus 20:3+4….”You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for your self an idol in the form of anything in Heaven above, or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, Yahweh your El am a jealous El , punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third generation of those that hate me, but showing love to a thousand of those who love me and keep my commandments.” 

Genesis25:26 – 34 gives the account of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for some lentil stew. Esau despised his birthright. I would like to show that we, like Esau, have sold our inheritance for worthless lentil stew.

The Prophets had a lot to say about paganism that was so rife in Israel. (Isaiah 1:29 – 31 ; Isaiah 44: 6- 20 ; Isaiah 46:1 –2 + 5 – 13 ; Isaiah 66:17 ;Jer 2:23,27-28) There are so many scriptures about how Israel did her own thing and worshipped Baal and Ashteroth, and other deities of the pagan nations.

Jeremiah sums it up in 9:13 , “Yahweh said , “It is because they have forsaken my law (torah) which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or follow my law (torah). Instead they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the ways of the Baals (lords) as their fathers taught them.”
			11:13 , “You have as many gods as you have towns, o Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal (lord) are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.
			22:9 , “ And the answer will be :” Because they have forsaken the covenant of Yahweh their Elohim and have worshipped and served other gods”

12.
Yahweh gives a call to Israel in Jeremiah 51:45,  “Come out of her my people! Run for you lives! Run from the fierce anger of Yahweh …..“ But that is Old Testament stuff it is not applicable to our modern world. We are born again Christians under a new covenant, we don’t worship Baal and Ashteroth etc.

In Revelation 18:4 the call goes out to the church (US), “Come out of her my people, so that you will not share in her sins,…..” 

Who is this “HER” that we must come out of?  Babylon! It seems like there are two kingdoms. The kingdom of this world and the harlot church, ( Babylon = Satan’s kingdom), and the kingdom of Heaven (Jerusalem = The kingdom of Yahweh) the called out ones. We as “born again, blood washed, torah 
abiding” believers should have nothing to do with the pagan practices of the pagan nations.  These two completely opposing kingdoms run two different calendars. Abraham was the first to be called out of Ur, Babylon to the Promised Land. Nehemiah was also called out of Babylon to Jerusalem.   
 	    
It was about 5 years back that I was convicted about celebrating the pagan festivals of Christmas and Easter. What Christmas and Easter pagan! These two festivals are so ingrained into the church that you would say they were in the bible. Well they are….

The command comes again (comments in brackets)
                              “Do not learn the ways of the nations (gentiles- heathens) or be terrified by the signs in the sky (zodiac or host worship?), though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold, they fasten it with a hammer and nails so it will not totter.(Christmas tree?)” Jer 10: 2  
		        
		        “ The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven.(The whole family gets involved in the idolatry .The Queen of Heaven is another name for Ishtar (Easter), the goddess of fertility , Easter eggs, fruit mince pies, rabbits,  from which we derive the word Easter.) Jer 7:18
   		        “ ……were about 25 men. With their backs toward the temple of Yahweh and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun (Sun worship) in the east. ”Ezek 8:16b.
                                 
                    “ Love her as Yahweh loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes (Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Hot cross buns”  Hosea 3:1		

 The Babylon system that we are told to get out of is all based on Sun worship. It has its fullness in the modern calendar. The pagan story, without going into too much detail, goes that Easter, the goddess of feritlity (Ishtar) is impregnated and at Christmas, nine months later, gives birth to the sun. Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Messiah. It never has. We are not instructed anywhere in the scriptures to put a day aside to remember Yahshua’s birth. We are told to remember His death and resurrection but then Good Friday to Easter Sunday cannot make up 3 whole days and 3 whole nights. The pagans have even messed that up.  Yahshua said that He would be in the ground for 3 days and 3 nights. The sums just don’t work. However,  if we are made aware that Yahshua was arrested on the Wednesday evening in the Garden, He died at 3:00 pm on the 5th day (Thursday) which was a high Shabbat, He was in the grave for the normal Shabbat (Friday night and all Saturday) and rose on the morning of the 1st day. Yahshua said he would only give one sign and that would be the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

We are told in Dan 7: 25 that someone would arise that will , “ Speak against the most high and oppress His saints and try to change the set times (appointed times) and the laws (torah). That someone was Constantine.

It is very unfortunate that the Church has exchanged it’s birthright for lentil stew and put it’s roots into pagan soil as she has adopted pagan symbols and traditions connected to the worship of Baal, Ishtar / Easter and the fertility cult of the sun god.

The Catholic involvement

Emperor Constantine was thought to be doing the Christian church a huge favor by “converting” to Christianity.  His conversion was always in doubt, as up until the day he died, he wore a medallion in praise of the sun god. He was a sun worshipper. He believed that Yahshua was just another name for the sun god so for him adapt to Christianity was not really a big deal. He just didn’t like the Jewishness of it. Up until the time of Constantine Christianity was known as a sect of Judaism known as the Nazarenes.  

13.
This how Constantine got started….He was given a “vision”, “ Constantine and his whole army saw a luminous cross appear in the afternoon sky with this message, ’In this conquer’ – Eusibus “The Life of Constantine.

He was anti-semitic. He persecuted and slaughtered the Jews mercilessly. He changed the Sabbath day worship to SUN day in praise of the Sun. Introduced the pagan festivals of Christmas and Easter and christianized the pagans. At the council of Nicea in AD325 he said, “It is becoming beyond measure that on this holiest of festivals, we should follow the customs of the Jews. Let us henceforth have nothing in common with these odious people”

What a sad day for the New Covenant church. Everything changed. Up until this point the assembly had been “following the customs of the Jews”. The feasts of Yahweh were scrapped and the pagan festivals of Sun worship were adopted with a change of name to give it a religious flare and Sun worship (Baal worship) became ingrained into Christianity and has been there for 1700 years. Our deep, well nourished sap filled roots were cut off and replaced with Christmas trees that have to nailed in place to stop them from tottering over. 

In a recent church bulletin the following appeared: “Christmas day the 25th of December. Service time 8:30 am. It is with joy and gladness of heart that we come together in unity of spirit, to celebrate the birth of our Saviour and Lord – Jesus Christ. We know full well that the birth of Jesus, in all probability did not take place on this date, but we nonetheless join hands with the rest of Christendom in this declaration of his miraculous incarnation – but most of all, to take advantage of this once a year opportunity in sharing the message of salvation with many who would not ‘darken the door of a church’ at any other time of the year.” This all look very innocent but it reeks of paganism. Once again I must stress that I am not judging motive here. I know these people and they love Yahshua and their hearts are for saving the lost but how far have we fallen when we have to use a pagan festival to bring the sinner home. What is that sinner saved into? We are no better than Constantine using the pagan festivals to attract the heathen! Hard words. What is this notice saying? “We know that Yahshua was not born on this day but for the sake of tradition and unity we will celebrate Christmas with all the other faiths, we will have our pagan Christmas suppers and celebrations. We will have our Christmas trees and tinsel. We will give the gifts and the lights and Santa will come in his sleigh and we will call him “Father Christmas” even though we have been instructed by Yahshua not to call any man “Father” . It’s paganism and we have been instructed to “come out” of this harlot bride of Hell. 
				1 Peter 4:3-6 “for you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans chose to do  - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 

				2 Kings 17:32-33 + 40-41  “They worshipped Yahweh, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. They worshipped Yahweh, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been bought. ….They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshipping Yahweh they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. 
 
Yahweh hates mixture. In Leviticus He gives Moses instruction and says that the Israelites should not mix their seed, ploughing partners or cloth (Deut 22:9-11). As believers we should have absolutely NOTHING to do with these pagan festivals no matter how good our motives may be and no matter how hard the persecution might get from Grand parents, family and friends. We need to make a stand in these last days against compromise and be “Set apart” just as Yahweh and Yahshua and the Set Apart Spirit. Is SET APART.      

“Apostasy is “To be separated from one’s roots” 

This is in effect what has happened. The “church” exchanged the truth for a lie or the Birthright for Esau’s lentil stew. The appointed times and the Law of Yahweh were changed by Constantine 1700 years ago.
We , the “Ekklesia” (The called out ones) have got to the place where Israel was in the days of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos and the rest of the prophets. We are guilty of mixing the worship of Yahweh with pagan traditions. The prophets were warning of a coming judgement. Yahweh had had enough of Israel playing the prostitute. Judgement was coming. 

14.
Yahweh is calling us out of prostituting ourselves to the Babylonian system of worship and calling us to worship in the paths that He has laid down for us to walk in. In obedience and love for his torah and thankfulness to Yahshua. Out of our disgust for Babylon and it’s ways, we seek the kingdom of Yahweh first and that means walking in obedience to the constitution on which Kingdom is built. The Torah.

			Put the trumpet (rams horn) to your lips! An eagle is over the house of Yahweh because the people have broken my covenant and broken my law.  Hosea 8:1

The hardest part of getting out of Babylon is no compromise. Making a stand is the hardest part.  Yahweh said to Jeremiah 15:19 ”….Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”   		
                               
The Appointed times of Yahweh

We have seen the path of “truth” has deviated much since Yahshua ascended but it doesn’t mean the truth has never been there to be found (John 17:17).    

This to me “The appointed times of Yahweh” seems to be such a simple issue but it really causes trouble in certain circles. Certain verses are used to “prove” that “We are no longer under the law” 

“For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law” Hebrews 7:25

“For by calling this covenant “re-newed” he has made the old one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” Hebrews 8:13

“ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless, for the law (Levitical / Ceremonial torah) made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to Yahweh.  

Is the writer of Hebrews saying that the whole of the torah is now scrapped because we have a new High Priest? I don’t think so. That goes against scripture. He is saying that the Levitical priesthood has now come to an end. We now have a new order of priesthood – Fully Elohim and fully man. Yahshua (the salvation of Yah). There is no further need for animal sacrifices and ceremonial washing for the covering of sins. No our High Priest Yashua Ha Messiach has scrapped all of that. He has set us free from the law of sin and death.  HIS blood covers the mercy seat forever and now, because of our “new High Priest” Yahshua, we can come, even enter, the most set apart place, the presence of Yahweh, free of conscience because of our New High priest.  Hallelu – Yah ! Praise Yahl 

With that as a back drop. We see that the moral law has not been scrapped it will be with us even in the millenium.(Isaiah 2:2-3) It is Yahweh’s standard it can never change. It is the constitution of his Kingdom.

Does it really matter ?

I have been accused of “straining at gnats” . Does it really matter? My question is does it matter to Who? The question “Does is really matter ? ” is the epitome of humanism. We, as blood washed, torah-abiding believers should be saying, “If it matters to Yahweh it matters to me.” We should not be making excuses or trying to find our way around the issues. Yahshua takes the Pharisees to task when he says “ You have a fine way of setting aside the commandments of Yahweh in order to observe your own traditions.” Mark 7:9

The moral or spiritual way of living (torah) consisted of two parts, the moral law and the appointed times of Yahweh. They are not the feasts of the Jews they are the feasts of Yahweh. I am amazed when talking about the feasts of the level of ignorance concerning the festivals of Yahweh. Most people think that they have to become Jews and act like Jews in order to celebrate the feasts of Yahweh. I don’t agree with this. We have been saved from all human tradition, law and regulations we are free to worship Elohim the way He wants us to worship Him, in spirit and in truth. 
			“These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which you are to proclaim as set apart gatherings “ Lev 23: 2. (Yahweh entrusted the feasts to the Jews. The word “Jew” is in fact “Yahudim” which means “Worshipper of Yah” )

Yahweh then proceeds to list the appointed times starting with the Sabbath day (Shabbat) , Passover,  First fruits ; Feast of weeks ; Feast of trumpets; Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles and Purim. 

The Shabbat: 

15.
The seventh day rest was instituted in Gen 2: 2+3,….
                                                “ By the seventh day Elohim had finished the work he had been doing , so on the seventh day he rested from all His work. And Elohim blessed (spoke good of) the seventh day and set it apart because on it He rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

This ties up wonderfully with Matthew 12:8  
                                     For the Son of Man is master of the Shabbat.

The footnote on Luke 6: 5 is revealing …. “Yahshua has the authority to over rule laws concerning the Sabbath, particularly as interpreted by the Pharisees.”  

It was so annoying to Yahshua that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law had put such heavy man-made burdens (yolks) on the people. He as a Rabbi taught his disciples that the Shabbat is a delight (Isaiah 58:13 and 14 b) ie the freedom of the Shabbat. This make sense to me. Let’s speculate for a moment ………Why do you think Yahweh said to pharaoh “Let my people go so that they may worship me.” He wanted his people to go free from Pharoah (Satan). They finally got free and Yahweh gave them the Torah (Law). But that’s not freedom it’s law!!! The Israelites did what they wanted (humanism) and see how far it got them! Their freedom was really walking in the obedience of the torah of Yahweh and the shedding of innocent blood for the covering of their sins.   

Shabbat observance is connected with following three truths: 
•	The completion of Yahweh’s work of creation (Ex 20:11) 
•	The redemption from Egypt (Duet 5:15) 
•	and man’s simple need for rest and refreshment (Ex23:12)

Every 7th day Shabbat (sundown to sundown) we are to remember how Elohim created the world. We should teach our children the wonders of creation so that they have an answer to this evolution rubbish. We should remember how Yahweh brought the Hebrews out of Egypt and give thanks for how Yahshua has saved us from our sin. We should take time out and relax do things that are not work related. Our Creator knows us well. Take time out to be with the family and friends. Spend a bit extra time with Yahshua in His Word and in prayer. The evening can be used to get together with other believers and share from the Word because nobody is working the next day. Sunday is just a normal day in Yahweh’s eyes.

It is absolutely true that Yahshua fulfills the Shabbat rest in every way. We rest in Yahshua’s full and completed work on Golgotha every single day, however, I have found no reference to Yahshua authorising the scrapping the 4th commandment. Yahweh says rest on My seventh day, put some time aside for Me and your family and we, in or ignorance or rebellion, say, “no” it not applicable to us. We will do it our way.

“There remains then a “Sabbath rest” ( Sabbath rest = Greek Sabbatismos, which means Sabbath keeping) for the people of Elohim; for any one who enters Elohim’s (sabbath) rest also rests from his own work, just as Elohim did from His. Let us, therefore make every effort to enter that (sabbath) rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Heb 4:9-11

the context of the above verse is found in 3vs18-19 

“And to whom did Elohim swear that they would never enter His (sabbath) rest if not those who obeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of their unbelief.” Obedience is the fruit of belief and disobedience proves that one does not truly believe
 
The confusion of the Shabbat. 7th day or 1st day?       

If Yahweh says the Shabbat is on the 7th day and the church says it is on the 1st day of the week who authorized the change. Let’s have a look at what some church leaders have to say……

The Catholic church first…….

The Catholic Mirror, official publication of James Cardinal Gibbons, Sept. 23, 1893. 
"The Catholic Church, . . . by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday
Martin J. Scott, Things Catholics Are Asked About (1927),p. 136. 
"Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that worship should be changed from Saturday to Sunday .... Now the Church ... instituted, by God's authority, Sunday as the day of worship. This same Church, by the same 
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divine authority, taught the doctrine of Purgatory long before the Bible was made. We have, therefore, the same authority for Purgatory as we have for Sunday." 
Peter R. Kraemer, Catholic Church Extension Society (1975), Chicago, Illinois. 
"Regarding the change from the observance of the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday, I wish to draw your attention to the facts: 
"1) That Protestants, who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion, should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not, but on the contrary observe the Sunday, stultifies them in the eyes of every thinking man. 
"2) We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith. Besides the Bible we have the living Church, the authority of the Church, as a rule to guide us. We say, this Church, instituted by Christ to teach and guide man through life, has the right to change the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament and hence, we accept her change of the Sabbath to Sunday. We frankly say, yes, the Church made this change, made this law, as she made many other laws, for instance, the Friday abstinence, the unmarried priesthood, the laws concerning mixed marriages, the regulation of Catholic marriages and a thousand other laws. 
"It is always somewhat laughable, to see the Protestant churches, in pulpit and legislation, demand the observance of Sunday, of which there is nothing in their Bible." 
 
 And now some Protestant confessions……..

Bishop Seymour, Why We Keep Sunday . 
We have made the change from the seventh day to the first day, from Saturday to Sunday, on the authority of the one holy Catholic Church." 
Dr. Augustus Neander, The History of the Christian Religion and Church Henry John Rose, tr. (1843), p. 186. 
"The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intentions of the apostles to establish a Divine command in this respect, far from them, and from the early apostolic Church, to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday." 
Dwight L. Moody 
D. L. Moody, Weighed and Wanting (Fleming H. Revell Co.: New York), pp. 47, 48. 
The Sabbath was binding in Eden, and it has been in force ever since. This fourth commandment begins with the word 'remember,' showing that the Sabbath already existed when God Wrote the law on the tables of stone at Sinai. How can men claim that this one commandment has been done away with when they will admit that the other nine are still binding?" 
Presbyterian T. C. Blake, D.D., Theology Condensed, pp.474, 475. 
"The Sabbath is a part of the decalogue - the Ten Commandments. This alone forever settles the question as to the perpetuity of the institution . . . . Until, therefore, it can be shown that the whole moral law has been repealed, the Sabbath will stand . . . . The teaching of Christ confirms the perpetuity of the Sabbath." 

The Shabbat is from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. This is the seventh day. The day that Yahweh put aside for man (not just the Jews) to rest. We can see from the above quotations the hand of the harlot church.  Dan 7:25 rings loud and clear the anti messiah has changed what Yahweh has ordained as His appointed Holy (Set apart) days and given us pagan holidays and the church has gulped down Esau’s lentil stew.

Ezekiel 34 has strong words for the shepherds of the sheep but verse 19 sums it up,”Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?” What we are drinking from is cisterns when we should be drinking from living water.    

The Shabbat was the first of the feasts of Yahweh (Lev23). We are in rebellion against the most high Elohim. We, therefore need to repent and once again return to the ancient paths. Yahweh will never change and His Torah will not change either.

The church often judges Israel for how they blew it but we are in exactly the same position. Yahweh simply asked them to obey the rules of his house. They said no we will do it our own way. Yahweh asks us to obey His law that is written in our heart and we say, “no we will do it our way”. We will obey the commandments that relate to man but we ignore the first four that relate to Elohim. Satan’s lie continues through the ages  “ Did Elohim really say,……” “You surely will not die”  (Gen 3:1-8) Yahweh says “Walk in obedience” Satan says “Did He really mean it?  It took 2000 years for judgement to fall on the house of Israel. That is Yahweh’s grace extended. 

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“You made known to them your set apart Shabbat and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock. You told them to go take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them, but they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff necked and did not obey your commands. They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving El , gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them ……….” Neh 9:14-17

Yahweh never abandons his people. His grace is also extended to us. He is in covenant with us. He longs for us to turn from our wicked ways and call upon His covenant Name - Yahweh. When His people, Israel were exiled to Babylon He didn’t leave them. He is faithful to His promises. Just like today the church in general finds itself in spiritual Babylon. So much of the harlot church of Revelation has found it’s place in the modern church… .Substitute titles, False Greek Names, material idols, pagan festivals, heavenly host worship, pagan attraction yet he still honors our prayers. He doesn’t desert us in Babylon.  Yahweh is calling us out. Slowly one by one it’s happening all over the world. He is revealing His Name –Yahweh (Yahuweh), he is revealing His Son’s name – Yahshua (Yahushua), believers are burning their idols, re-discovering the Shabbat, celebrating the Feasts while finding freedom in obeying the Torah while living a life of humility and repentance. 

Don’t think for one minute that because Yahweh is answering our prayers that He is happy with our pagan lies and traditions. Judgement begins in the house of Yahweh. I don’t think Father Yahweh is to concerned with our counterfeit earthly calendar with it’s pagan deity days of the week and months either. He is working according to the calendar of His kingdom that has been laid down since creation and has no end. In the beginning Elohim said…The day starts at sunset. We say “No the day starts at midnight.”   

Consider the following…….Yahshua was slaughtered on Passover . Exactly.
			     Yahshua fulfilled Unleavened bread. Exactly.				    
                                            Yahshua fulfilled First Fruits. Exactly.
		                  Feast of weeks (Pentecost) The Set apart Spirit came exactly on the day.
Is there any reason why the rest of the feasts should not be fulfilled exactly. The next is trumpets.(rapture) Then Day of atonement. Then Tabanacles. Lastly Purim. All of these point to Messiah Yahshua.

Here is my problem. What do we as Kingdom citizens know about the feasts of Yahweh? These feasts are all about Yahshua. OUR savior. OUR master. OUR friend. OUR deliverer. OUR Messiah. OUR soon coming King and yet we have paid very little or no attention to the meaning of the feasts. Thinking they are the feasts of the Jews is a lie. The feasts are full of the most wonderful insights to the working of Yahweh and we as believers in Messiah Yahshua are in the privileged position to see how Yahshua fulfills them all. Should we, as parents, be giving our children the inheritance of truth rather than pagan lies and fantasies.
			“Yahweh my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “or fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good……”  Jer16: 19

We know all about the traditions of Christmas and Easter. We know all about the stockings, presents, tinsel, lights, puddings, Santa (Satan) Easter eggs ,bunnies and other pagan traditions but do we know about the Kingdoms calendar. How does it work?  In our ignorance we sin! Repent for the Kingdom of Yahweh is at hand. No wonder the prophet Daniel nearly fainted when he saw all that was going on in these end times. Is it surprising Yahshua asks if He would even find faith on the earth? We are so close to the coming of Yahshua and the Church is wondering around completely at home in Babylon. “Come out of Her my people” is the call. Will you obey?      		 	

Some more scriptures to ponder Jude 3+4 ; 1 Peter 4:16; James 1:25; Heb 10:26-31; Titus 1:14; 2 Tim 4:3; 1 Tim 4:1; 2Thes 21-13; Col 2:8 ; there are so many others)      
      
Human tradition and the Feasts of Yahweh

How do we as New Covenant believers celebrate the Feast’s of Yahweh. I know that Yahshua was very much against “Human Tradition”, yet He celebrated the Feasts with his disciples. Shaul kept the feasts. We must throw out the human tradition (as Judaic as they may be ) and study what the word says about 
each feast and celebrate them this way. They need to be fun for the children but deep in meaning so that 

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the youngest to the eldest can leave with a lesson learnt. There needs to be an interaction of all at the table and the food needs to be good!!!

Yahweh is not boring. His feasts are not boring. They are fun.

Satan is a counterfeit. He counterfeits every good inheritance Yahweh gives His children. Yahweh has Holy (Set Apart) days. Satan has holidays

If we as believers in Yahshua the Messiah of Yahweh want to celebrate the feasts of Yahweh then the focus of the feasts needs to be Yahshua who fulfills the feasts.

Passover:
When we celebrate Passover what are we doing? We remember when Israel was in bondage under Pharoah and how Yahweh with a strong and mighty arm delivered them.  We as believers could get together for a nice leg of lamb and tell our stories of how we were delivered from the grasp that Satan had on us and how Yahshua set us free to worship Him. The evening is focused not on our selves but what Yahshua has done. We break bread together, sing and pray etc. A story can be told for the children to remember the great things that Yahweh has done. 

Unleavened bread:
When we celebrate unleavened bread what are we doing? We remember how Israel had to leave Egypt in a rush they were not to have any leaven (yeast) in the bread. Why? Leaven is symbolic of sin.
We need to get rid of it through obedience to Yahweh’s laws.. Get some yeast products in the house and symbolically “clean” the house. Involve the children and teach them the lesson of how we are to be obedient and to be like Yahshua. For seven days we do not eat any products with yeast in them. This reminds us much sin is part of our lives and what our High priest Yahshua has done for us.

Firstfruits:
When we celebrate firstfruits what are we doing? We remember the bounty of Yahweh to Israel. The sheaths of wheat were to be waved by the priests in thanks giving for Yahwehs bounty in the land. Why. We as believers in Yahshua come together in thanksgiving for all that Yahweh has done and we testify of his goodness, mercy and provision through Yahshua the Messiah. We teach the children about gratitude.

Weeks:
When we celebrate “Weeks” or Pentecost what are we doing? This feast came 7 weeks after first fruits and it was a celebration of harvest. The instruction in Leviticus was not to harvest everything but to leave some for the “alien” . We as believers in Yahshua want to share with others what Yahshua has given us. We could invite unsaved friends to a meal and share with them the good news of Yahshua. We teach the children about the Set Apart Spirit, how He came and How 3000 people were harvested on that day.

Trumpets (Rosh Hashana –New years day):
When we celebrate trumpets what are we doing? This is the feast where the whole of Israel was presented before Yahweh for His favour. We as believers are looking forward to the blast of the Shofar, when as His bride we will be caught away to be with Yahshua for seven years, witness His marriage and coronation. Many believe that this is the time of the year when Messiah will come in the clouds. As believers we too can blow trumpets. We too can look forward to our glorious hope the coming of Messiah Yahshua. We come together and share about end time issues that point toward the soon return of Yahshua and teach the children about the hope we have in Yahshua’s promise to come again.

Day of Atonement (Yom Hakkipurim):
When we celebrate Day of Atonement what are we doing? This is the feast where the priests and the people were cleansed of their sins and the Set Apart place was purified. For the believer in Yahshua Messiah this is a time of repentance of looking deep within and sorting out the “rubbish “ that accumulates in our lives. It is also a time of making right relationships that have gone sour. It is a time to draw aside to sort out these “sins” with our High Priest Yahshua, ask Him for his help and to atone for us. The Set Apart Spirit lives in us we are the Holy Place of the Most High Elohim.. 

Tabernacles ( Booths) : 
When we celebrate the feast of Tabernacles what are we doing? This is the feast where the jews remember the trip from Egypt to Canaan . How the were kept by Elohim for forty years in the desert. They lived in tents (tabernacles) , they were fed from heaven with manna. Their shoes never wore out etc.  As 
believers in Yahshua we look back and see how good Yahweh has been to us. This is the time of year 
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when we should go camping. Caravan or tent or bungalow. We get as many people together and go camping for a week. During that week we share from the Word and testify how Yahweh has kept us through the desert experiences and how he has provided for us in many different circumstances. Yahshua is our bread and our provision. He is our shepherd etc etc. The children learn about our wonderful provider in a practical way.  

Tabernacles is closed with the “Sacred” Assembly. We come together to give thanks. Close the Feast of Tabernacles and go home. The children have learned in an atmosphere of joy and fun. They have received depth and not shallow lies.  

These are the main feasts of Yahweh. There are minor feasts as well. Purim is where the Jews celebrate their freedom through the hands of Queen Ester. Hunukkah, the festival of lights and some new moon festivals but the above are the main Feasts of Yahweh. These are Yahweh’s Set Apart days for us to remember and enjoy all that He has done. What a wonderful inheritance Yahweh has given us. Much better than lentil stew!!!  

Conclusion 

There is so much more that I could write and share about. This was never meant to be 20 pages long but I trust that the little that I have shared will send you diving for your bibles to discover for yourself if it be so  

A short note to church leaders: This is a very difficult message to put into practice. It takes courage to stand against paganism in your own family never mind a whole church however with teaching and correction it can be done. Your calling is not to please people but rather to please Yahweh. I know your motive may be wonderful but this really isn’t about motive. It is about doing what is written despite criticism. Just as Yahshua revealed His Father’s name so we should be revealing the names to the Assembly Maybe then we will see the power of Elohim back in the church. It starts with one. 

 "Then those that feared Yahweh talked with each other, and Yahweh listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those that feared Yahweh, and honored his name. Mal.3:16 But for those who fear my Name , the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in it’s wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Mal 4:2 For where two or three come together in My Name there I am with them. Matt 18:20 What agreement is there between the temple of Elohim and idols? 2 Cor 6:16"Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many people saw the miraculous signs that he was doing and believed in his name. John 2:23. " Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name he gave the right to become children of Elohim." John 1:12. "Yahweh bless you, and keep you: Yahweh make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, Yahweh turn His face toward you, and give you peace. So they shall put my Name on the Israelites; and I will bless them." Num.6:24-27. 

The answer to the question asked in Proverbs 30:4 is now clear. The Name of the Father is Yahweh and His Son's Name is Yahshua. 

Peter Lowe
Peterlowe@mjvn.co.za