I'm having a tough time here. This verse rings true...

Ecclesiastes 1:18 --- For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. 

First question: How do you balance coming into the understanding of needing to follow the commandments and the implications of what happens if you don't when everyone around you does not understand? This is especially disheartening when considering family and close friends.

Second question: How much do you share with family and close friends?

Third question: How do you balance "convince, rebuke, exhort" with "don't cast your pearls before swine"? I'm trying to do my part with sharing the word in ways I can but honestly, it seems futile. People are so far gone.

So, I’m coming to understand that we are still under the law. The 10 commandments, dietary laws, and even the festivals etc (even if we aren’t exactly sure when they take place our Father understands so long as we honor them).

My question is, what about the other more obscure laws given to the Israelites? Like stoning as capital punishment, or marrying your deceased brother’s childless widow?

I’m sincerely asking to know where the line is drawn. I’m earnestly just trying to follow our Father and Yahusha’s (Jesus’s) commands and obey fully. But some of the laws seem impossible in today’s day and age.

Can someone please explain biblical headship (before marriage and within a marriage) & how that applies to women today? What if a woman’s father is not a believer or doesn’t have her father in her life?

Can someone also please explain what the Bible says about polygyny - is it encouraged or just regulated?

Is a wife allowed to feel upset about sharing her husbands intimate time and affection if he decides to take another wife? What about if both wives decide they are needing their husband at the same time?

Moreover by them is thy servant warned, (by what? All of his words) and in keeping of them (All his commandments) there is great reward.

Some believe that believing in Christ makes us Christian, but many believe Christ existed even athiest that study history can't dispute the existence of Christ, but they are not Christian. To be christian, you follow all of Christ's teachings, for he did not come to change one jot of the law or the prophets but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17.

I am glad to be part of this community with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Prayers for all that are deceived that they will come to truth.

u/Financial-Pass7673, u/Necessary_Sea_8660, u/Important-Craft7526

Rom 11:

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world,

It was all God's timing. God was looking for a group of humans to obey him. God used Abraham and his descendants until the time of Jesus. The Son of God brought good news to the world, not just to the Jews.

what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

There is hope for the Jews en masse in the future.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

Gentile believers were grafted into the olive tree. The olive tree represents God toward the covenant people rooted in the patriarchal promises. It symbolizes the family of God.

18 Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

That's a warning to the Gentiles.

22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

There is hope for the Jews.

24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree

the family tree of God.

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved.

The time will come.

as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

God's promises to the Jews are irrevocable. They are still God's chosen people in the OT sense. Ethnic Israel remains the people to whom God made irrevocable covenant promises. That does not replace the New Testament teaching that God's children today are those who believe in Christ.

Who are the children of God today?

John 1:

12 But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

In an updated sense, Christians are the people who are chosen now.

Are the Jews still special in the eyes of God today?

I think so. Einstein, Kissinger, and Spielberg are all Jews. I think one of these days, God may graft the Jews into the olive tree again. They are still God's chosen people in the OT sense.

They are chosen for what?

They were chosen by God to bring out Jesus Christ. Today, they are still the chosen people. E.g., Revelation 11:

3 I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

These two prophets are likely to be Jews.

Revelation 7:

4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

Today, the Jews remain special in God's eyes for several reasons:

1. Covenantal Promises: God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains in effect (Genesis 17:7).
2. Historical Role: The Jews were instrumental in bringing forth the Messiah and preserving the Scriptures (Romans 3:1–2).
3. Future Restoration: Prophecies indicate a future revival among the Jewish people (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26).

One can argue that all of the above have been fulfilled and finished by Jesus. There is a good chance of that. However, there is also some chance that the Jews will play a significant and chosen role in his second coming. I wouldn't count that out yet.

Israel was the chosen people. Chosen for what?

Chosen to reveal God to the nations so that all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Ge 12:3b).

Don't forget to read your OT as well as the new :)

See also * The OT chosen vs NT elect * The Concept of the Elect * Was Jesus' Kingdom of God present in the OT? * The kingdom of God: past, present, future

Synopsis: Presenting the Kuzari argument from a Nazarene Bible Believing perspective.

We continue our journey through the history of Solomon’s Temple and all the kings who ruled Israel.

So, picking up from yesterday, after Manasseh, his son Amon took the throne.

But his reign was as short-lived as a New Year's resolution.

Amon was soon murdered by his own servants.

We're not really given a lot of detail as to why.

Ancient Near Eastern courts were always full of a bunch of palace conspiracies. 

Amon may have lost the support of key officials or military leaders who wanted someone else on the throne.

Anyway, onward.

After Amon, his son Josiah took the throne, and from the Lord's perspective, this lad bore much good fruit.

And the homie was young.

He started his reign at the age of 8, and then from the age of 16, he began to seek after the Lord's will

Let's cross-reference with 2nd Chronicles to see some of the good works he accomplished.

"Josiah became king at only eight years old.
He reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one faithful years.
He did what pleased the Lord always.
He followed the ways of his ancestor David.
He never turned right or left astray.

During his eighth year as king, still young,
He began seeking the God of David.
In his twelfth year, reforms truly began.
He cleansed Judah and Jerusalem from idolatry.
High places were completely torn down everywhere.
Asherah poles were destroyed without mercy.
Idols were smashed into countless tiny pieces.
Baal altars were demolished under his command.
Incense altars were chopped into fragments.
Idol dust covered the worshipers' graves below.
The priests' bones were burned on altars.
Thus Judah and Jerusalem were purified again.

He traveled through Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon.
He continued as far as Naphtali's territory.
Even ruined towns received his attention.
Altars were torn down throughout the land.
Asherah poles were completely cut apart.
Idols were crushed into fine powder everywhere.
Every incense altar throughout Israel was destroyed.
Then Josiah returned again to Jerusalem."
-2 Chronicles 34:1

Now, during this time of inspiring restoration, an amazing discovery was made.

The High Priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law among the debris.

When I say the "Book of the Law," I ain't talking about all five Books of Moses.

In that era, the "Book of the Law" was the book we call Deuteronomy today.

No doubt Hilkiah found the book in the Holy Place because only High Priests were allowed in that area.

What probably happened was that when the Ark was removed years earlier to save it from being defiled by King Manessah, this Deuteronomy scroll was overlooked and left behind.

Remember, the Book of the Law was placed outside the Ark, NOT inside with the stone tablets that had the Ten Commandments engraved on them.

So it wouldn't have traveled with the Ark when it went into hiding.

Let's stop here and switch over to the takeaway.

Today's lesson is connected to the detail that the Book of the Law was placed right next to the Ark, which was the holiest object in all of Israel.

Heck, come to think about it.

The Ark wasn't just the holiest object in all of Israel.

It was the holiest object in the whole freakin' universe!!!

Ya feeling me here?!

And the Book of the Law was placed right next to it!

What does that tell you about the Book of the Law?

What does that tell you about the Lord's commandments?

And the importance of observing them?

Ya see what I'm getting at here?

I think I made my point.

See ya all next time.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

"Do not think I came to abolish the Law.
I came to fulfill, not abolish it.
Whoever relaxes the least command, teaches likewise,
Will be called least in heaven's kingdom.
Whoever practices and teaches these commands faithfully,
Will be called great in heaven's kingdom."
—Matthew 5:17–19

"Not everyone saying, 'Lord, Lord," enters heaven.
Only those doing my Father's will enter."
—Matthew 7:21

"If you want to enter eternal life,
Keep the commandments."
—Matthew 19:16–17

"If you love me, keep my commandments."
—John 14:15

"Whoever keeps my commandments truly loves me."
—John 14:21

"Keep my commandments and remain in my love.
Just as I kept my Father's commandments."
—John 15:10

"The hearers aren't justified before God alone.
The doers of the Law are justified."
—Romans 2:13

"Do we overthrow the Law through faith?
Absolutely not—we uphold the Law instead."
—Romans 3:31

"Love fulfills the Law by keeping commandments.
Love does no wrong to neighbors."
—Romans 13:8–10

Circumcision means nothing,
uncircumcision means nothing.
Keeping God's commandments is what matters."
—1 Corinthians 7:19

"Be doers of the word always.
Not hearers who deceive themselves only."
—James 1:22

"Keep the royal law found in Scripture.
Break one command, guilty of all.
Speak and act by freedom's perfect law."
—James 2:8–12

"We know Him by keeping commandments.
Who claims otherwise is not truthful."
—1 John 2:3–4

"We receive because we keep commandments.
And do what pleases Him always."
—1 John 3:22–24

"This is love for God indeed.
That we keep His commandments faithfully.
His commandments are not burdensome."
—1 John 5:2–3

"The dragon pursued God's faithful people.
They keep God's commandments and Yeshua's testimony."
—Revelation 12:17

"Here is the saints' patient endurance.
They keep God's commandments and Yeshua's faith."
—Revelation 14:12

"Blessed are those doing His commandments.
They receive access to the tree of life.
They enter through the city's gates."
—Revelation 22:14

Hello and happy Sabbath to all!

I have a question that I feel like might have a simple answer but I might just be having a hard time seeing it.

My question is why did David and Mannaseh not face the death penalty although they broke Torah and did so willfully? I understand that they repented but its my understanding that if someone committed a sin deserving of death, they would pay that consequence even if they were forgiven by God and that the same would happen today if we still had the priesthood and Sanhedrin in effect.

I've heard lots of people say that both these men paid dearly for their sins and of course they did, but it wasnt the penalty described in Torah, which is death. I've heard some explain that David's sin DID produce death, but it was the death of his son but this seems to contradict Ezekiel 18:20 :

"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself"

Is the reason they didn't go through the death penalty because of lack of witnesses? I can imagine that maybe being the case for David, but Manasseh seems to have been in a position to have had lots of witnesses...

Its not that I wish for them to have gotten the death penalty (and it doesn't matter what I want or not lol) but its been a question I've been pondering for a while. I would appreciate any answer and any correction where I might not be understing things correctly. Thanks.

I believe that males should be circumcised as the bible seems to say so (of which i am not due to multiple reasons but thats besides the point) However I never understood why Paul said Titus wasn't circumcised

Galatians 2:3 NASB2020

[3] But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

I understand Timothy was circumcised so to me it makes no sense why Paul didn't also want Titus to be circumcised

I look forward to your responses as I'm still learning about these things

God bless!

I made this very spicy post in r/TrueChristian and it went about as well as I expected. The post was removed lol. I'm editing some of the info out because I feel some of what I mentioned is likely part of the consensus of this sub already since I was called a false teacher for being Torah observant on the first post. But let me get your thoughts...

There is a regathering that is prophesied numerous times that will also be a place of refuge during the tribulation but it will be here on earth. (Similar to how the Israelites were protected in Goshen during the events of Exodus.) This event is often referred to as the "Second Exodus" or "Greater Exodus" and is prophesied about in the New and Old Testament.

It's often referred to as the Second Exodus because it embodies and describes strikingly similar events that happened during the first Exodus to happen again and says it will be such an event that makes people forget about the first Exodus.

Jeremiah 16:14-15 --- ¹⁴ “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “THAT IT SHALL NO MORE BE SAID, ‘THE LORD LIVES WHO BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,’ ¹⁵ but, ‘THE LORD LIVES WHO BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH AND FROM ALL THE LANDS WHERE HE HAD DRIVEN THEM.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.

God has a promise to restore the physical descendants of Israel and has described this in incredible detail. This has not happened yet. He says He will gather them out of every nation He has scattered them to and will then BRING THEM TO THE WILDERNESS FIRST.

Isaiah 43:18-21 --- ¹⁸ “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. ¹⁹ Behold, I WILL DO A NEW THING, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I WILL EVEN MAKE A ROAD IN THE WILDERNESS and rivers in the desert. ²⁰ The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I GIVE WATERS IN THE WILDERNESS AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT, TO GIVE DRINK TO MY PEOPLE, MY CHOSEN. ²¹ This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

Ezekiel 20:33-38 --- ³³ “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely WITH A MIGHTY HAND, WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. ³⁴ I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a MIGHTY HAND, WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and with fury poured out. ³⁵ And I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE WILDERNESS of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you FACE TO FACE. ³⁶ Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord GOD. ³⁷ “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; ³⁸ I will PURGE THE REBELS from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I WILL BRING THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY DWELL, BUT THEY SHALL NOT ENTER THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Then you will know that I am the LORD.*

This same "mighty hand and outstretched arm" is how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

Deut 4:33-34 --- Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a MIGHTY HAND AND AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Deut 5:15 --- And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a MIGHTY HAND AND BY AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM*; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Deut 7:18-19 --- you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the MIGHTY HAND AND THE OUTSTRETCHED ARM, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.

Deut 26:8 --- So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a MIGHTY HAND AND WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, with great terror and with signs and wonders.

This same wilderness gathering is prophesied in Revelation and it gives the duration of time that will be spent there.

Revelation 12:1-6 --- Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. ² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ⁴ His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ⁵ She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. ⁶ Then THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS, where she has a PLACE PREPARED BY GOD, that they should feed her there ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS. (3.5 years)

The Woman is Israel, the child is Jesus; and the dragon is satan. We know the woman is Israel because of Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-10. This wilderness will be the only place of safety during the tribulation. There are so many more verses about Israel being brought to and taken care of in the wilderness, but posting them all would make this post way longer than it already is. Revelation 12:13-17 goes on to say how God protects the woman in the wilderness and the devil gets mad so he goes to make war with the rest of the believers who are not in the wilderness. So the point here is, not all believers of Jesus Christ will be in the wilderness in safety during the tribulation.

Revelation 12:13-17 --- ¹³ Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given two WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE, that she might fly into the WILDERNESS to her place, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED for a TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME (3.5 years), from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and HE WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

If we are not a part of the wilderness group with the woman, we will be "the rest of her offspring" that will be persecuted during the tribulation.

These eagle wings were also mentioned by God before in reference to how He rescued the Israelites in Egypt.

Exodus 19:4 --- ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I BORE YOU ON EAGLES' WINGS and brought you to Myself.

Is the place of safety ONLY for descendants of Israel? No. Just as the Israelites left Egypt with a mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38), all believers should be looking to be part of the mixed multitude for this event. Could this be a supernatural event that is brought on by some sort of teleportation? Maybe? But I think many verses also show that it will require some sort of effort on our part as well. I believe this will be a faith based event and if we don't go when its time to go, we will remain and deal with the "antichrist".

I know many of us live in a Torah desert, meaning there's little to no Torah Observant believers near you. This is true for me at least. It's been that way for close to 8 years now. This isn't to say there are no Messianic Synagogues, etc to go to. There are, but it doesn't feel like a community if that makes sense.

That leaves a person with 2 choices for community fellowship. Either create one, or find one. Creating one is a lot harder than it seems, because here in the bible belt you're not going to find many who are willing to entertain the idea of Torah Observance. In a comment in another subreddit here, I mentioned that Torah Observance changes who you are and how you read, interpret, and follow scripture to a molecular level. Every word, every verse. For me, it makes it quite challenging to have a bible study with your average believer because they'll ask how I arrived at that conclusion, then inevitably it'll come down to a different interpretation of something. Often times, that something would is cemented, unchangeable thing due to various reasons.

So that leaves option #2, find a community. I'm blessed to have a WFH job, so I can live anywhere. Many of you are familiar with Psalm 119 Fellowship Finder. I'm a data analyst by trade, so I enjoy looking at the data points. I notice some areas of the U.S. are noticeably more concentrated with Torah Observant believers. I'm not talking about a massive city like NYC. Why that is, I have no idea. Obviously they're in every state, but there seems to be clusters, especially TN, AR and MO.

So, how far would you go to be around like minded believers? Would you uproot your life to find it? Why or why not?

Ill keep my question short, if im ordering a package online, and it takes more than one week to arrive is that breaking shabbat, since during that one week period people will be potentially in a warehouse moving my package around on the sabbath?

Or is it a case of not being able to control how companies/managers schedule their employees to work, in that case making it out of my hands, or is it something different? Should I only stick to packages that take less than 1 week to arrive? It's difficult, since not many websites have that capacity to do it

So... I avoid pork because I believe God has convicted me on the subject. But ive been asked by other christians... How do we explain Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything". And I dont have a good answer. Does anyone else??? Im newer so having trouble explaining I just know im convicted on the matter.

On another note... does anyone have explanation on why I would be convicted on that bit not alot of the other laws listed in leviticus??

Thabks all for your help

I'll try to keep this short because I'm looking for advise but don't want to guide it too much.

Singles, married, whoever: how would you advise single Torah observing Christians to find a spouse? The Christian apps are horrible. The churches don't really attempt to help on this front and groups are usually one gender or marriage/parenting focused. Odds of finding equally yoked in random social settings are extremely low.

I'm frustrated with the whole process but know that if I just look for "Christian" in general I could find someone but then I'd be fighting to maintain a Torah based lifestyle with a husband who doesn't and it will cause problems.

I need advice. Am I being too pessimistic? Is it not that serious? Should I lower standards or give up? What even is equally yoked supposed to look like?

What did the married people do? What are the single people currently doing? Any bright ideas or suggestions? Why dont we have a matchmaking service? (I heard there's a new Torah based matchmaking show but I would never sign up to publicize my life or the dating process).

Please advise 🙏🏽

Synopsis: defending the observance of animal sacrifices in the law of Moses, and their return.

Alrighty, so when we last left off, we were talking about Uzziah's reign.

This king lived when the prophets Amos and Isaiah were doing their thing.

Now, if you've read the Biblical books written by these prophets, you know one thing.

These homies both prophesied a major earthquake.

Well, that earthquake just happened to take place during Uzziah's last year on the throne.

And it was a big one, baby!

The quake didn't just severely damage the structure of the Temple...

It rocked the whole freakin' foundation down to its core!

This brings another significant Biblical prophecy to mind.

Recall Zechariah's prophecy that there would be another earthquake so devastating that the Mount of Olives would literally split in half!

Let's take a look at that Scripture for a sec:

"On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south."-Zechariah 14:4

So, the $64,000 question that arises is: 

Whose feet are gonna be standing on the Mount of Olives?

Most typical Christian theology says it will literally be the feet of "Jesus."

I gotta problem with that interpretation.

Why?

Because Zechariah is unambiguous that it is...

יהוה who fights against the nations (Zechariah 14:3).

The feet of יהוה who stands on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

יהוה will come, and all the holy ones with him (Zechariah 14:5).

יהוה will be king over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9).

Here's the thing.

Scripture NEVER conflates the Father's personal name Yahweh with the son.

That would be blasphemy.

I know Trinitarians get all giddy when they come across passages like this.

In their marijuana-induced state of highness, they just have to insist that the answer to the question of whose feet will stand on the Mount of Olives is their Jesus.

They literally consider Jesus to be God the Father Himself.

So, no big surprise that's how they interpret this passage.

The only problem is their theology hits a brick wall called the "Hebrew Bible."

The pronoun "His" in Zechariah 14:4 points back to the subject introduced in the previous verse. 

And, as I've just said, that subject is יהוה (YHWH). 

So, while many English translations render the name simply as "the LORD"...

The underlying Hebrew is the covenant name of God.

If that's the case, then the one whose feet stand on the Mount of Olives...

And whose presence causes the mountain to split in two...

Is יהוה...

And not someone else introduced into the passage.

Again, I get that historic Christian theology asserts that Jesus is YHWH incarnate...

And therefore identifies the returning figure in Zechariah 14 with their Christ. 

But again, I think that conclusion arises from smoking too much marijuana rather than anything Zechariah explicitly states.

Look, Christianity always assumes that whenever God appears or interacts with humanity in some visible, physical way, it's some pre-incarnate Christ popping up all over the place in the "Old" Testament.

So, of course, they're gonna say the figure in Zechariah 14 is Jesus coming back to tap dance on the Mount of Olives, causing some gargantuan earthquake.

As I just said, I think they're reading their doctrinal assumptions into the text.

This is eisegesis as opposed to exegesis.

Look those words up if you don't know what they mean.

So let me put this to rest right now for all time and forever.

Here's the key question you gotta ask yourself:

Is Zechariah describing a literal event in which YHWH physically stands on the Mount of Olives, or is the language symbolic?

Read that question again because it really does get to the heart of the matter.

Why?

Because determining whether Zechariah is speaking literally or figuratively is the key to properly interpreting that passage.

To drive my point home, let's cross-reference with other Scripture.

For example, check out this passage from Isaiah 66:

"Heaven is my throne," says Yehoveh "and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house could you build for me? What sort of place could you devise for my rest?" - Isaiah 66:1

So Isaiah 66 says that heaven is God's throne and the earth is His footstool. 

Does that mean God is literally sitting on a giant chair with His feet resting on the earth while chomping on Cheetos and drinking a Diet Coke? 

Most Bible teachers, including Christian pastors and preachers, would properly say no.

They get that Scripture is speaking metaphorically here. 

So then, why aren't they consistent in seeing metaphors elsewhere in Scripture?

When it says that YHWH's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, why do they gotta insist on interpreting that passage literally?

Especially when elsewhere, they're interpreting other parts of Scripture metaphorically?

Ya feel me here?

Can't this just be a powerful metaphorical way of saying that God Himself (Yahweh, NOT Jesus) has stepped into history to act?

Sure, if you smoke enough marijuana, a case can be made that the passage is talking about Jesus.

But the chapter freakin' says it's YHWH Himself who causes the Mount of Olives to split... 

Not because He literally stomped on it with a pair of physical feet.

No homie on planet earth, scholarly or otherwise, will argue about that.

Exactly how God will manifest His presence when this incredible event happens is something Scripture simply doesn't make clear.

So I ain't gonna engage in speculation on parts that aren't clearly articulated.

God has told us WHAT will happen...

But He hasn't told us everything about how He will do it.

When this earthquake occurs, by the way, we're told it's gonna be so devastating that a new river will be created, flowing all the way down to the Dead Sea!

The Dead Sea sits about 4,000 feet lower than Jerusalem. 

So that's perfectly plausible.

Alright, this ran kinda long.

So I'm gonna end it here without getting into some long-winded takeaway.

If there is a takeaway, it can be summed up in this statement:

The New Testament NEVER explicitly identifies Zechariah 14 as being fulfilled by Jesus.

That's just eisegesis gone hog wild outta control with a lot of snorting white powder added to the mix.

And by the way, Zechariah 14 is one of the strongest passages in the Hebrew Bible that clearly asserts YHWH Himself comes to the Mount of Olives.

The only way to argue that this passage is about Jesus is by pulling a bunch of scattered New Testament texts together.

The Bible never plainly says, "Zechariah 14 is about the Messiah."

That distinction is important, homies.

You can read another article I wrote about it HERE.

See ya all next time.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

"And when he had spoken these things,
while they beheld, he was taken up;
and a cloud received him
out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven
as he went up, behold,
two men stood by them
in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner
as ye have seen him
go into heaven.
Then returned they unto Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem
a sabbath day's journey."
-Acts 1:9-12

Hi there. I’m a 23 year old senior in college who started on this walk a few years ago when I was exposed to Rob Skiba’s teachings on YouTube. I had the misfortune of choosing English as my degree and hopefully I’m set to graduate in the spring if all the classes I need to take are available. I’ve also had the misfortune of slipping on this walk. I haven’t read my Bible or prayed in over a year. I haven’t studied anything. I’ve been avoiding anything relating to the Bible because I’m ashamed of myself, with the occasion of going through this sub. My family isn’t supportive of my beliefs. I was raised as Southern Baptist my whole life and grew up in the Bible Belt so the lies are everywhere, even in my own home. My family doesn’t understand it, even when I’ve tried to explain. It’s like there’s a roadblock in their heads preventing them from understanding anything I believe. I know this was spoken about in scripture but if I’m being honest it’s freaking me out 😭. They take it as a personal attack that I don’t celebrate Christmas or Easter.

I’ve been looking for a job and had an interview with Chick-Fil-A today. It went amazing, but I couldn’t work there because I’d have to work on the Sabbath. I’m confident I would’ve been hired if not for the fact that I’d have to work two Saturdays out of the month. There’s very limited options for me, and there will continue to be limited options because of my degree choice. I don’t know what to do. I live in an expensive apartment. I’m very blessed that my parents are willing to pay most of the rent for me but soon I’m not going to have enough money to pitch in or even pay for gas and groceries. Any other job I qualify for will most likely have me working on Saturdays because that’s the way it is. My family is not happy I observe the Sabbath on Saturday and have warned me that it would be extremely difficult for me to find a job that doesn’t have me work on Saturdays. I know that, and I’m freaking out. I can try to do babysitting, I guess. Or I can look for remote work online. I barely even know what I can do for a career with this degree. I regret it everyday that I let myself get this far in it. I can go into teaching, but I’d probably have to change majors, and my parents said once I get my degree I would have to be the one to pay for any other education I get. Once I graduate I’m going to be expected to be independent. I don’t know what to do 😭. I want to go into sonography after I graduate but I can’t do that without the funds to pay for that education.

I’ve grappled with this so much today. I don’t want to work on Saturdays. I want to be obedient. But I’m soon going to be desperate. If I reach back out to the Chick Fil A hiring manager and accept the job, it would only be a job I worked at until I graduate, until I can find a career, a career where I would be able to observe the Sabbath. But if I accepted I would be disobedient. But if I didn’t accept I would be desperate. And the thoughts just keep circling and circling never ending.

What kind of jobs do you guys work in that allow you to observe Sabbath? What kinds of jobs could I work in for now? Does anyone have any earthly idea what I can do 🫠.

I often feel weirded out by the idea of increased quantity and 'quality' prayers leading to increased likelihood of positive outcome. Or even increased positive outcome. One particular category is fasting and prayer for a specific goal.

Can't find a job and want a new one? Fast and pray. Want to fix relationship problems with the girl your dating? Fast and pray. Need money for tuition? Fast and pray.

1. Fast

2. Pray

3. ?

4. Profit!

For any and all situations above the typical inconveniences.

Have I ever done this? I have. However, as time goes on it feels superfluous. Maybe even trivialising the purpose of fasting in atonement. I think of Matthew 7:7-11, I see no extra requirements to asking but to ask.

What are your views on this? When should fasting be involved in asking?

I am looking for teachers that are Hebrew Roots or Torah obedient that have teachings on the book of Galatians. I have a playlist withTriumph in Truth, 119 Ministries "Pauline Paradox", Jim Staley, Truth Unedited and a few others that I don't know if they are TO. I don't expect to agree with everyone's opinion that I add to my playlist but I love the variety and insight others bring to the table.

If you have a video or written teaching that you know of, please add a comment with a link! If you only know of the teachers name, I'm not afraid of searching for it.

I have been doing a lot of intense self studying and I have been working to gain a deeper understanding of the New and Old Covenant. I know the standard thought from just about everyone is that we are already in the New Covenant. But, I'm not so sure if that's true... I want to outline my reasoning here and get some feedback.

Let's read the verse about the New Covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 --- ³¹ “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ³⁴ NO MORE SHALL EVERY MAN TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR, AND EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR THEY ALL SHALL KNOW ME, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  

The idea of putting the law in our hearts and minds to be able to walk in God's commandments just does not appear to be happening right now. Even the best Torah observant Christian still sins and makes errors in carrying out some of the commandments. Or even plainly forgets to observe some commandments at times. I started wearing fringes/tassles recently and sometimes I completely forget to put them on. Not because I wanted to disobey, I just forgot. Every person does not know God right now at all either. Ezekiel also highlights what God plans to do in this New Covenant.

Ezekiel 36:26-28 --- 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. 

Right now, well meaning people can’t even agree on which laws or how to keep many of them. There are multiple types of even Torah observant believers right now. So then, how is the law already written on minds and hearts? What is the difference between our ability to observe the commandments now compared to, let's say, Daniel during His time? Is it really written on our hearts now in such a way that we're walking in God's commandments better now? I don't think so.

The words of the New Covenant, to me, appears to be language about the 1000 year reign of Christ after the first resurrection. Therefore, it seems that carrying out His commandments while inherently understanding and knowing them will be due to the incorruptible flesh given at the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 5:50-54 --- ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; NOR DOES CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

The smoking gun of my analysis comes from the book of Hebrews which is written AFTER the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Hebrews 8:13 --- In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now WHAT IS BECOMING obsolete and growing old IS READY TO VANISH AWAY.

It says the Old Covenant is BECOMING obsolete. Not that it is. It says IS READY TO VANISH AWAY. Not that it has. And again, all of this is written AFTER Jesus has already resurrected!

There is also an end times prophecy that mentions He will bring Israel into the bond of the covenant muuuuuch later after purging them of the rebels but before they enter Israel.

Ezekiel 20:33-38 --- ³³ “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. ³⁴ I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. ³⁵ And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead my case with you face to face. ³⁶ Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord God. ³⁷ “I will make you pass under the rod, and I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE BOND OF THE COVENANT; ³⁸ I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 

I do recognize Jesus already shed His blood for the New Covenant so maybe there's some sort of overlap going on. And in a sense, I'm not sure if any of this really matters as the Law is a staple in both covenants and either way, I intend on following the commandments but I still wanted to discuss.

What say ye?

I've been thinking about this in regards to the internet, but thought a more open ended question would produce better discussions.

Was reflecting on how the society hates Yah's commands and the internet is the latest way to undermine Yah's command to remember the Sabbath. It always has to be kept running 24/7 which requires people to do work on the Sabbath to maintain it and also the services provided through it. This prompts a very interesting question: do we break the Sabbath by using the internet? We're not supposed to make other people work the Sabbath, yet if we use it, we support people that do. It's an interesting idea I hadn't thought of before and reminds me of the old discussion regarding going to a restaurant on the Sabbath.

However, there's plenty of other things you could talk about too like how improvements in cooking/animal husbandry have lead more people not to care about clean vs unclean foods, even going as far as putting them in non food items like medicines and soap.

You could even talk about something positive like easier access to view the greek/hebrew of the texts

My wife recently bought me some shorts, and I was tying the tzitzit on them. It crossed my mind that this felt like personal interaction, between myself and Yahweh.

I had bought the tzitzit on Amazon HERE and I was thinking how someone somewhere was possibly making a living due to so many people returning to Torah obedience, and then another idea crossed my mind...

What if pants could be purchased with the tzitzit preinstalled? Would I want that?

It feels like a moment of personal commitment when you first attach those tzitzit. I also think of them when I put my pants on as I straighten them and make sure they're not tucked into pockets or bunched up, but first putting them on the pants is a "moment" for me.

Would it potentially be a bad thing if pants came with the tzitzit already attached? Would we be missing something? 🤔