Yeshua at Ḥanukkah
(John 10:22-42) By Michael Ladda There is a place in scripture where Ḥanukkah is mentioned, it is in (John 10:22). Interestingly, since the original Hebrew version of 1 Maccabees is not preserved and we only have Greek translations, this is the oldest known reference to Ḥanukkah in literature. 22At that time the Ḥanukkah came to be in Yerushalayim, and it was winter. 23And Yeshua was walking in the Set-apart Place, in the porch of Shelomoh. I believe that the accounts we have in scripture are there for a reason. We read at the end of (the book of John chapter 21 verse 25): 25Now there is much else that Yeshua did. If every one of them were written down, I think that the world itself would not contain the written books. The information contained in John is condensed down to only include the critical elements of the story. So, I don’t believe that the recording of the time of this event is superfluous information. We read in (Luke 2:41-42): 41And His parents went to Yerushalayim every year at the Festival of the Pĕsaḥ. 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Yerushalayim according to the practice of the festival. This follows a pattern in scripture, I don’t believe the Messiah is accidentally in Yerushalayim for this minor feast. Yeshua was accustomed to go to the Temple for the various feast days and appointed times since he was a child. Additionally, if the Messiah was against this minor feast, we should expect some kind of rebuke to the people or religious leaders here about the celebration of this feast and we don’t see one. What we do see is a rebuke very much in keeping with the theme of Ḥanukkah. 24So the Yehuḏim surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, say to us plainly.” Why were they asking this at this time? One of the major themes of Ḥanukkah is one of victory over oppression. That is the reason this minor feast exists in the first place, the Maccabean victory over Antiochus Epiphanes and the Seleucid empire. The Jews at this time are under oppression from the Romans Empire. They were looking for their Messiah, the one who would free them from their oppression. If Yeshua is the one, it’s very possible they are wondering why isn’t he leading an army like the Maccabees did to defeat the Romans? 25Yeshua answered them, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness concerning Me. The works that Yeshua did are proof that he is the Messiah. We read in (Matthew 11:2-6) that John the Baptist had the same question while he was in prison: 2And when Yoḥanan had heard in the prison of the works of Messiah, he sent two of his taught ones 3and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4And Yeshua answering, said to them, “Go, report to Yoḥanan what you hear and see: 5“Blind receive sight and lame walk, lepers are cleansed and deaf hear, dead are raised up and poor are brought the Good News. 6“And blessed is he who does not stumble in Me.” Here Yeshua lists various works that are proof of him being the Messiah. These are a foreshadow of the coming Kingdom of Elohim, when sickness and death and ignorance about Elohim are removed from this earth. 26“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Although professing to know Elohim and follow His ways, these people have rejected Yeshua and his teaching. They have rejected the Son of Elohim, their own Messiah, the one through whom Elohim brings about true salvation in this world. They have stumbled in Yeshua. 28“And I give them everlasting life, and they shall by no means ever perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. Yeshua who has the power and authority given to him by his Father to resurrect the dead and give them eternal life will not falter. There is no question as to whether Yeshua will accomplish this wonderous feat. The Father is greater than all, who can defy Him? No one. Why is the Father with Yeshua? The next line answers that question. 30“I and My Father are one.” Yeshua will use this language later in (John 17:11) speaking of his disciples after he is to leave them: 11“And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they might be one, as We are. And again in (verse 22): 22And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one as We are one Yeshua’s prayer for his disciples to be one as he and the Father are one, is a prayer for complete unity. Unity of purpose and unity of spirit. That we as believers in Messiah wouldn’t be quarreling amongst ourselves, but that we would be in unison with each other. Keeping the commandments of Elohim and the Testimony of salvation through Yeshua the Messiah. Yeshua and the Father are in complete agreement. Yeshua is completely submitted to and committed to the cause of the Father to the point of his own death. This is why he has this great authority; this is why he is the Messiah. They are looking for fleshly salvation from human oppressors. Yeshua is bringing spiritual salvation from spiritual oppression. Our biggest problems in this life don’t come from the outside world, they come from within. We need to be free from the oppression of sin, from the oppression of our own flesh. We need to be spiritually reborn with a new purpose of serving Elohim. Only once we are transformed can we be truly free. This it the Messiah that Elohim knows we need. 31Again the Yehuḏim picked up stones to stone Him. 32Yeshua answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. Because of which of these works do you stone Me?” 33The Yehuḏim answered Him, saying, “We do not stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself Elohim.” Are the Jews correct in their assertion? Is the point Yeshua is trying to make here that he is Elohim? Notice that Yeshua and the Jews are talking past each other in this exchange. This follows a pattern throughout John’s Gospel of people not understanding Yeshua’s words. There are numerous examples up to this point in the story including:
This pattern of people misunderstanding Yeshua continues throughout the book of John. Since the audience in (John 10:33) thought Yeshua was making a claim to be Elohim, this would be evidence against such an understanding, not for it. The same people who have been arguing with him at every turn and misrepresenting him are the ones we should be listening to? We know from (John 1:1) that Yeshua’s original nature is of Elohim, but this isn’t a question of his nature, this is of authority, they are saying he is making himself out to be the highest authority. Yeshua’s answer is telling: 34Yeshua answered them, “Is it not written in your own Torah, ‘I said, “You are elohim”’? 35“If He called them elohim, to whom the word of Elohim came – and it is impossible for the Scripture to be broken – 36do you say of Him whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of Elohim’? Yeshua’s response is amazing here. He quotes (Psalms 82) to defend himself: 0A Psalm of Asaph. 1Elohim stands in the congregation of Ěl; He judges in the midst of the elohim. 2How long would you judge perversely, And show partiality to the wrong? Selah. 3Give right-ruling to the poor and fatherless, Do right to the afflicted and needy. 4Rescue the poor and needy; Deliver them from the hand of the wrong. 5They do not know, nor do they understand, They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6I, I said, “You are elohim, And all of you are sons of the Most High. 7But as men you die, And fall as one of the heads. 8Arise, O Elohim, judge the earth, For You shall possess all the nations. A psalm that references the divine council as well as human judges. Yeshua applies this to the teachers of the law that they themselves are called elohim making their assertion that they are going to stone Yeshua for claiming to be Elohim highly dubious. Those teachers of the law and judges in Israel stand in the place of Elohim when judging the nation in the Torah of Elohim. The psalm implores the judges to judge rightly because they are representatives of Elohim and bear His title. The psalm also mentions the fact that it calls these judges sons of the Most High. They claim Yeshua is making himself Elohim and he corrects them that he said he was “the Son of Elohim” which is the most accurate description of who he is. Their accusation that Yeshua is claiming to be the highest authority is incorrect; Yeshua here and throughout scripture asserts that he is subservient to the highest authority and represents that authority perfectly in every way. 37“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;” 38but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” Once again imploring them to look past their own bias and just look at the fruit of his works; that they are undeniably done in the power of Elohim. But they are not his sheep and do not listen. 39Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, but He went forth out of their hand, 40and went once more to the other side of the Yardĕn to the place where Yoḥanan was immersing at first, and there He stayed. 41And many came to Him and said, “Yoḥanan indeed did no sign, yet all that Yoḥanan said about this Man was true.” 42And many believed in Him there. One of the major themes of Ḥanukkah is one of victory over oppression. The Jews of this time are looking for a great military leader who will overthrow their physical oppressors, the Romans. But the Messiah came to overthrow the real oppressor, HaSatan and our own sinful nature. That is what we need deliverance from. We need to be delivered from the passions of the flesh and walk in the spirit. I want to quote (Galatians 5:19-25): 19And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery, whoring, uncleanness, indecency, 20idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practice such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah. 24And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. As believers in Messiah, it is our responsibility to be overcomers with Messiah. As Yeshua said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” We need to listen to the words and teachings of the Messiah and follow them. Strive to be like him. To live righteous lives in this fallen world. To rededicate our fallen temples to purified and cleansed ones. To shine through us the light of Elohim in the darkness.
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A message for Shemini Atzeret — the Eighth day of Assembly By Sanford Beattie ***This was a great message from Brother Sanford at our Sukkot gathering, teaching that there is hope for the lost in the future. Enjoy.***
Do you have friends or family, loved ones, that have died, or look like they will die, without
receiving the knowledge of God’s way of life? What is going to happen to them? It is knowing what God has planned for them that gives me hope and encourages me to remain steadfast in keeping God’s law. It is God’s plan for them that is foreshadowed by the eighth day of the Feast of Sukkot. And that is what I wish to address here. God’s intentions are clear: John 3:16* “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” 1 Timothy 2:4 “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing [desiring] that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Romans 11:25 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.’ [from Isaiah 59:20-21] 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” So how is God doing? He said all Israel will be saved. Has that happened yet? Okay, so they were to be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. How is that coming along? If God is trying to save everyone in this life, you would think that when Messiah was on the earth, the most progress would have been made. And yet at the end of His ministry, only a relative few were disciples. The largest religion in the world today is Christianity, with Catholics in the majority. They bow down to idols, don’t keep the Sabbath, or the Torah—some of the same things God accused Israel of through the prophets. What about the Protestants? They don’t keep the Sabbath or Holy Days or Torah either. And what about the billions in China, India, and the rest of the world that have never even heard of Yeshua, the “only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”, as Peter said in Acts 4:12? If God is trying to save the world right now, He is not as all powerful as we think He is. He’s in a battle with Satan over the hearts of men, and He is losing. But in this message, I want to show that God can and will keep His promises to Israel and the world — that He knows exactly what He is doing and has all power to bring about exactly what He said He will do. So why does it look like God is failing? John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Romans 11:7 “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.’ ” (Referencing Isaiah 29:10; see also Deuteronomy 29:4; Jeremiah 5:21; Ezekiel 12:2.) 2 Corinthians 3:13 “unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Matthew 13:10 “And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ 11 He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: “Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” (Citing Isaiah 6:9-10.) Yeshua said His goal at that time was not to convert everyone. The parables were not given to make it easier to understand. This was because it was not their time. And He quoted Isaiah, showing it was not their time in Isaiah’s day either. Yeshua also said: Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household’ ” (as prophesied in Micah 7:6). How many of you have tried to convert your family and friends, to tell them all about keeping Torah, the Sabbath, the Holy Days? How did that work out for you? God is not calling everyone at this time. He is calling some into what the New Testament calls His Church. And He expects those in it to keep His law, overcome sin, and develop holy, righteous character. And to accomplish these expectations, these are the ones to whom He gives His holy spirit. Romans 8:8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Unless we are led by the spirit of God, we are not God’s children. Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” He gives His spirit (Acts 5:32) and His eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9) to those who obey Him. So what happened to the promises to Israel—promises God made to Abraham about his descendants? Not just promises that if they obeyed, He would bless them physically, but promises that He would someday save them too. Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our [their, AV] sins Into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.” Psalm 130:7 “O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.” Ezekiel 11:19 “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 18:30 “ ‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Therefore turn and live!’ ” Ezekiel 36:24 “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.” Isaiah 11:9 “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious. 11 It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left.” Isaiah 49:5 “And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength), 6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” This is not happening now. This is what happens to Israel and the Gentiles after Messiah returns at the seventh trumpet. God is working with a relatively small group of people now. Hopefully we are part of that group, The template was given in the Torah. A priesthood was established to help teach the Israelites, who would, if they followed God’s law, be a model nation setting the example and teaching the nations around them. We are learning God’s way, and hopefully, with the help of God’s Spirit, we are overcoming and developing the character He wants. When that seventh trumpet sounds, if we have overcome, we will be changed, and this mortal will put on immortality. As it says in Revelation 5:10, God will make them kings and priests, to reign on the earth. Then, those who are changed are put to work helping those who are still alive, both Israel and Gentiles. God will pour out His Spirit, they will see the Messiah and learn His ways. They too will be expected to overcome and develop godly character. But what of those who have died? What about the Israelites who died in the wilderness, and later generations who did not follow God and rejected the message of the prophets. What of the Gentiles who never knew God. What of our friends and relatives who don’t believe us when we witness to them. Even if they’ve heard of God, did they really believe Him? Did they follow His ways, keep His Sabbaths and His laws? If so, they will be resurrected with the saints in the resurrection at the return of Christ. This is God’s decision. He knows whom He has called; and He knows who is ready for eternal life. But we know there are many who have not been called. And they need to be given that same opportunity to believe and trust in God—the same opportunity that we have been given to develop righteous character through God’s spirit—so they too can be saved. Revelation 20:4 (AV) “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. [Death is a sleep, from which the dead need to be awakened. That is a subject I do not have time to address now, but scriptures are numerous in showing that.] This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:11 (AV) “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened [to understanding]: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” How long is this great white throne judgment? Does it take place instantaneously? Are the dead judged solely on what they did in this life? What about those who never heard of the name of Yeshua, or even of the true God? Acts 24:15 “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Matthew 10:15 “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” (which rejected the witness of the Twelve). Matthew 11:20 “Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.’ ” If God is saving and judging them based only on what they have done in this life, Sodom is certainly a candidate for the lake of fire. And yet Yeshua said it will be more tolerable for them than for Capernaum. Their fate could hardly be the lake of fire and be more tolerable. And Yeshua says if He had witnessed to them, they would have accepted the witness. Is God unfair? Or will He indeed someday witness to them? Matthew 12:41 “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.” Luke 12:45 “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” We see here glimpses of punishment, condemnation for bad behavior, witnessing, teaching. So what is the day of judgment? 24 hours? The day of the Lord is a period of time, probably a year. The day of trial in the wilderness was 40 years (Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 3:8). With God, a day is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8; Psalms 90:4). Think of it more as the “time of judgment”, and keep in mind that judgment does not just mean sentencing. 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God;” This is our day of judgment. It is not instantaneous, and it is not just a sentencing. It takes time. It is a process of learning and overcoming with God’s spirit. And this will also be true for those who have not been called at this time. Acts 17:30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” John 5:28 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” The word for “condemnation” in the above verse is usually translated “judgment” and should be so translated here (as it is in numerous other translations: ASV, RSV, ESV, YLT…). It refers to a period of teaching, trying and testing, not just sentencing. And there will of course be punishment and correction, just as there is for us: Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” Deuteronomy 8:5 “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.” In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), the rich man is waking up in a future resurrection. Whatever nightmare or vision he is experiencing, he is oblivious to the passage of time, totally unaware that his five brothers have long since died. This time gap is a ”great gulf” that stands in the way of taking any message back to them. And besides this, it was not God’s time (during Yeshua’s human life) to save the world. The Eighth Day festival reminds us of the many times scripture speaks of events occurring on an eighth day. Whether it be the consecration of the altar, or of the priests, the healing of lepers, or cleansing from abnormal discharges, this symbol of the eighth day following a seven-day period of cleansing represents a new beginning, and also a dedication, and often a return, to God. There is a parallel in these with what we see in the Eighth Day. Many have noted that the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20 is the Millennial reign of the Messiah, and that the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) reminds us of that time. And at the end of that time, the rest of the dead will be raised, as pictured by this Eighth Day. It is perhaps the most comforting feast day of the year, confirming that ours is not the only day of salvation. God starts things small. He likens the kingdom to a grain of mustard seed that grows to become a huge tree. He chose the smallest of nations to eventually become great and teach the world, even if they failed. His church started with 12 apostles and grew from there. The firstfruits will be in the first resurrection and teach those in the Millennium. Then the rest of the dead will be resurrected and the whole world will be offered an opportunity for salvation. What is the purpose for this temporary life in the process of receiving salvation and eternal life? It is not an easy life. Why do we have to go through trials and training in the law of God? This is a major subject in scripture, but simply put, it is to develop godly character. Character is the ability to come to the knowledge of the right way to live, then of one’s own free will to choose the right instead of the wrong, and then to actually do the right. God created us with free moral agency. He cannot just speak the word and instantaneously make us righteous because He does not want automatons for children. He is teaching us to obey — sometimes through hard-earned experience, and sometimes with the rod of correction. The goal is for us to learn how wonderful and good God’s way of life really is, so that we will choose that way of our own free will. God will not give eternal life to those who have not proven that they will always obey Him, because they fear, respect and love Him, knowing in the depths of their beings that their Heavenly Father knows best. We must have God’s law written in our hearts, meaning that God’s way is our way. For God to know that we have achieved that goal requires teaching, testing and correction. Those in the second resurrection cannot receive eternal life without this same teaching and testing. And this requires time. It cannot be done by divine command alone. It requires the cooperation of each person being led by the Spirit of God to overcome. A death bed repentance does not cut it. Repentance is just the beginning of a new life. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43) was not told that he had it made. (Jesus was put in the grave that day; He was not in paradise that day.) Rather, the thief was told that very day (from the very time of his repentance) that he would someday make it, because God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). We will see our friends and family again. We are not being offered salvation and eternal life just for our own benefit. We are being trained now, ahead of most, for a job: to be able to teach our friends and loved ones, and the whole world, God’s way of life. Our individual life experiences help equip us to have the understanding, compassion, patience, mercy and love we will need to carry out this responsibility. The Eighth Day will be a new beginning for the world, being cleansed of their uncleannesses and returned to God. God is indeed all powerful. He will fulfill His promises. His plan will play out just as He said it would. And all will be given an opportunity for salvation and eternal life. The physical creation was easy. Creating character in free moral agents is God’s greatest and most challenging work. In summary: 1. God has said He wants all to come to repentance and be saved. 2. Only a relatively small number are being called at this time. The vast majority, if they have even heard of the one true God, are not obeying Him. 3. Only those who are “called, chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14) are destined to be raised in a “first” resurrection, to rule with Yeshua for 1000 years as priests (teachers). During that time the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God, and His Spirit will be poured out on all flesh. 4. The Biblical Holy Days picture God’s plan of salvation from beginning to end — from Messiah being slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) because of Adam’s sin (as pictured by the Passover sacrifice) … all the way through to the time of the “Eighth Day” when forgiveness through that same sacrifice will be offered to the whole world, all the way back to Adam and Eve. 5. Creating character requires time, teaching and testing. The judgment day (Eighth Day) is that time of teaching and overcoming for most of the people who have ever lived. The scriptures show it is not a momentary sentencing based solely on past behavior. There is an opportunity for all mankind — to repent and overcome and be saved — to be granted life forevermore. “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.” (Revelation 3:5) Copyright © 2023 Sanford Beattie Shalom everyone, we are in a new year and Passover is upon us. I've updated our Passover Haggadah from last year for your use out there wherever and whenever you are celebrating. I pray that you will be blessed by this work and that we can all grow closer to the Father this Holy Day season. All praise to the Most High Elohim who works His miracles in this world!
Shalom everyone, I haven't posted anything in a while and wanted to get something up on the site.
There is always confusion as to when the new moon is and where we can find the information about new moon sightings. One of the best sites to find this information is Renewed Moon. They compile new moon reports from various websites and groups. They also have a separate column for global new moon sightings and Israel based new moon sightings. We are partial to the Israel new moon sighting over here, but it is nice to have both available. If you want to get a nice fancy calendar, you can go to A Rood Awakening and buy one. I used to painstakingly spend hours making my own calendars in excel spreadsheets, who knew there were ones available for $19.95 plus shipping? Doesn't get any easier than that. Be blessed and walk with Yah! Renewed moon last night at Double Peak Park in San Marcos. It is truly a blessing for brethren to dwell together in unity. Shalom everyone, here are some pictures from a few of our groups celebrating the day of shouting! We are now in the days of awe leading up to Yom HaKippurim and Sukkot is right around the corner. Praise Yah! Hanukkah Teaching by Chaim Goldman [Repairing the Breach]
1 Maccabees 1:41-49 41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, 42 and that all should give up their particular customs. 43 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane Sabbaths and festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests, 47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane, 49 so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 He added, “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die.” We can see from the above passage what was targeted to erase the faith of Yah: 1) Forbid sacrifices to Yah 2) Profane Sabbaths and festivals 3) Defile the sanctuary and priests 4) Build idols 5) Sacrifice swine & unclean animals 6) Leave their sons uncircumcised 7) Eat unclean animals 8) Forget the Torah Little did Antiochus Epiphanes know that hundreds of years later the Catholic church would accomplish all the above. If you look at this list you can see that this is basically the main doctrine of that church and her daughters. In main line Christianity the Sabbath and the festivals are all but forgotten, Catholic "priests" are taken from just anyone out of the land instead of the sons of Aaron, idol building is rampant, swine and unclean animals are the center of religious holiday feasts, circumcision is ignored, and the Torah is ridiculed if it is even acknowledged at all. We know that the Father blesses us for obedience (Deuteronomy 28). We must continue on the path of life that the Father has laid out for us, but it is so easy to want to slip back into conformity with Satan's world, to take the easy way out, to compromise our integrity. When we feel the pressure to abandon the ways of the most high, be it from our work or our family or our friends. Do we have the resolve within ourselves to say "no", to tell this world that we will not be like it, we are going to follow our Master. What a great example of faith we have from the Maccabees. May all of us who follow the commandments of Elohim and the testimony of Yeshua have such faith and determination. 
We had a great time celebrating the day of shouting with our brothers and sisters at the Christian Fellowship of El Cajon.
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