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Inside this issue: And They Did Evil In The Sight Of YHWH...
EDITOR:
For comments or inquiries please
write to YEA, P. O. Box 31, Atlanta, TX 75551. TUMULTUOUS TIMES AHEAD The
reality of this world and life is beginning to sink in. We are very near the end
times and things are going to begin to unravel. As most of you know, I am one of
those strange people who happens to believe that the Hebrew language is a most
important and vital language to look to for revelation. If you have a love for
the Greek language as well as a Greek mindset, more power to you. But Scriptures
were originally revealed in the ancient Paleo Hebrew and this author believes
that the New Testament was also written in Hebrew. How can this be? Because the
apostles were Hebrew. They were writing primarily to Hebrews. Our Savior was
Hebrew and didn’t bother to speak to Paul in another tongue but Hebrew when He
revealed Himself to him. (Acts 26:14).
Furthermore, when Paul traveled to a new area, he always sought out the
Synagogues first, performing the duty that he understood must be done, that is,
go to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. (Ro. 1:16; 2:9-10) This is because
the Synagogues always had a copy of the Tanakh, the Old Testament in Hebrew,
which would be read and studied every Sabbath day. The Jews, like the
Christians, have been instrumental in preserving the Scriptures even though they
really don’t understand them and they also condemn them to destruction because
of their rebellion and disobedience.
Believe it or not, the ancient Hebrew tongue will open your eyes to
modern day happenings if you will allow it. Take, for example, the adversary who
came into Yahweh’s congregation. He is identified in Psalms 74:10 as the Tsar!
The Tsar who came into the
congregation and took over as its Pontifex
Maximus (high priest), was none other than Constantine the Great
who dictated the changes from the Sabbath to Sunday, from the annual holy days
to the holidays, and from Hebrew to Greek. After all, if you convert the Hebrew
to other languages like Greek, Latin, English, etc., then you can keep people
from seeing what is going on. Identification is very easily lost and the
Scriptures can be made to say things differently than what they originally
meant.
So what about today’s world? I can tell you that it would take reams
and reams of paper to explain it all, so I certainly won’t be able to explain
it in just one page, but I can establish a little foundation. When Adam and Eve
were in the Garden of Eden, they were naked and not ashamed (Gen. 2:25). The
Hebrew word for “ashamed” is buwsh! It would sound much like the last name
of our current President Bush. That Hebrew word (buwsh)
not only is interpreted or defined as ashamed, but it also means; to be delayed,
to be disappointed, to be confounded, or confused.
The question I now have to ask is, has President Bush disappointed
anyone? Yes! Even those of his own party! Are many ashamed of him now?
Absolutely! What is going on in our nation that could also be described by these
words? Doesn’t the stock market seem to be more than a little dismayed,
confounded and confused? Haven’t many great burgeoning corporations, banks,
etc., begun to enter into a period of confusion and decline? Is this a
coincidence or has Yahweh been trying to tell those who understand Hebrew that
this is the result of having lived as a lawless generation since Constantine?
You see, even though Christianity proclaims that it loves Yahweh’s law
and word on the one hand, they hate it on the other because they proclaim that
it is done away. If there is no law, then the result is chaos, confusion, and
destruction. That’s right people, life, creation exists by laws that were put
into play by the very Word of Yahweh. When He spoke, it came into existence by
the very power of His word (Jn. 1:1-3, 10-14). It is currently being upheld by
the power of His word (Heb. 1:3). By Him all things consist, being held together
(Col. 1:16), by the power of His Word.
But He will not always allow His creation to continue in lawlessness,
rebellion and disobedience to Him, His Word and His commands. The media has also
taken the ball and run with it so that there is no lack of lawlessness in our
land. I continue to harp on this, but the news media, the movie media, the
television media, the radio media, the music media, the drug culture, the
medical profession, as well as the Christian media and others are all working
together to bring about total lawlessness, which results in total destruction.
I know that Yahweh is merciful. I have experienced His mercy all of my
lifetime (PRAISE HIM!)!!! But the time came when He allowed both Israel and
Judah to continue no longer in His promised land, and in His word of promise. He
had to horribly chasten and correct them. We are now coming to that same period
of time for this world. Destruction for many and slavery for the few survivors
is on its way. Did you know that our government, the banking system, and we
ourselves have spent ourselves into debt to the tune of about 180 TRILLION
dollars?! We can’t even begin to imagine how great these numbers are, but it
is a fact that we have sold ourselves into debt so deeply that we have no way of
climbing out of the pit.
Chaos, confusion, correction, destruction are on the way. The dollar is
sinking. Other nations and currencies may replace them momentarily, but they
also will suffer the pangs of chaos, confusion, degeneration and destruction.
Lift up your heads now! Our salvation is on its way! We had to come to these
times before Yahweh intervenes by sending His Son Yahshua to intervene in world
affairs, and save His own people Judah and Israel from the destructive paths
that they have chosen. Times are going to get very hard, but Yahweh’s Word
never fails. All will soon be crying out to Him for His mercy and intervention.
Why not do so now? JH It is a simple fact that man loves leavened bread. What is leaven, you might ask? Leavening is the yeast, or other agents that cause a lump of dough to rise into a loaf of bread, a doughnut, roll, etc. There is a period of time, however, when Yahweh commands us to eat our bread grains without leaven in them. This period of time is called the feast of unleavened bread. It takes place with and is connected to the annual Passover observance commanded in Scripture. Why does Yahweh command us to do this? Just what does leaven represent? By Jerry Healan Yahweh
commanded Israel, “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it
shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation
of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every
man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if
the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto
his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to
his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without
blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from
the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month:
and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the
evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts
and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire,
and unleavened
bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it
raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs,
and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the
morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet,
and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh’s
Passover,” Ex. 12:2-11.
Furthermore, He continued, “And this day shall be unto you for a
memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; ye
shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even
the first day ye shall put away leaven out
of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall
be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an
holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to
you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must
eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall
observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame
day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt:
therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for
ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of
the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Seven days shall there
be no leaven found in your houses: for
whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that
soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger,
or born in the land. Ye shall eat
nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened
bread,” Ex. 12:14-20.
What is the significance to this ritual? Yahweh had commanded the
Israelites to take a lamb of the first year out of the sheep or the goats and to
kill it in the 14 th day of the month at even. This animal was called the
Passover lamb. Why did He command this? Because He was going to deliver His
people Israel from bondage to Egypt by slaying all of the firstborn of Egypt
from the house of Pharaoh to the lowest and most common servant, even down to
the beasts, the animals themselves. The Passover lamb was to be substituted for
the Israelites firstborn so that no harm would come upon them.
Yahweh reiterated this command several times, but He especially commanded
it in the book of Leviticus, chapter 23, “These are the feasts of Yahweh, even
holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth
day of the first month at even is Yahweh’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day
of the same month is the
feast of unleavened bread unto Yahweh: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work
therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh seven days: in
the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein,”
vv. 4-8.
You see, whether you believe it or not, we are all enslaved, in bondage
to the flesh and the god of this world. The god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) is
the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). Egypt was a physical type of the
world in which we live today. Pharaoh was a type, a representative of the
present god of this world who leads all into disobedience and rebellion against
Yahweh. If we are to be delivered from this great leader of rebellion and
disobedience, we must come to Yahshua, the Passover Lamb, Who will soon
intervene to deliver His people from this world and its rule into the promise of
Yahweh, that is, the coming kingdom of heaven.
The coming kingdom of heaven is a time of blessedness, peace,
tranquility, righteousness and plenty that the world has truly really never
experienced. While there may be many skeptics and scoffers who doubt that such
will ever take place, the fact of the matter is that Yahweh’s word is sure and
true. It will take place in His own chosen time and it will take this present
evil world by storm and surprise.
Notice what the Prophet Jeremiah is inspired to declare about this time
of deliverance, “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that it shall
no more be said, Yahweh liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of
the land of Egypt; But, Yahweh liveth, that brought up the children of Israel
from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them:
and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers,”
16:14-15.
While the Passover lamb of old was utilized to deliver the children out
of Egypt, the fact of the matter is that it was powerless to deliver those who
had died from the grave. Through the all powerful Passover Lamb, Yahshua the
Messiah, even the graves of His people will be opened and they will be restored
to their inheritance and kingdom. What a fantastic and powerful testimony! That
is why it says that the deliverance from ancient Egypt will be forgotten!
Through the greater Passover Lamb, Yahshua the Messiah, there will be total and
complete deliverance, not only for the living, but also for the dead!
Yahshua declared that He was the true bread from heaven, “They said
therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe
thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is
written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Yahshua said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but
my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of Elohim is he
which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they
unto him, Master, evermore give us this bread. And Yahshua said unto them, I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst,” Jn. 6:30-35.
While the reference is primarily to the manna, the fact of the matter is
that just as the Passover lamb was a type of Him, so was the unleavened bread.
It represented Him in His affliction for Yahweh commanded, “Observe the month
of Abib, and keep the Passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib
Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore
sacrifice the Passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim, of the flock and the herd, in the
place which Yahweh shall choose to place his name there. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction;
for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest
remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of
thy life. And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast
seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst
the first day at even, remain all night until the morning,” Dt. 16:1-4.
Leaven puffs up, but bread dough that has no leaven is flat, typifying
humility and meekness. Yahshua came as the most humble and afflicted of
servants, “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and
extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man,
and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many
nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been
told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of Yahweh revealed? For he
shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:
he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty
that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him
not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Elohim, and
afflicted. But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
Yahweh hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken
from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was
cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he
stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;
because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he
shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall
prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he
shall bear their iniquities,” Isa. 52:13-15; 53:1-11.
The Prophet Hosea is inspired to write, “When I would have healed
Israel, then the iniquity
of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness
of Samaria: for they commit falsehood;
and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. And they
consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own
doings have beset them about; they are before my face. They make the king glad
with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers, as
an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the
dough, until it be leavened. In the day of our king the princes have made
him sick with bottles of wine;
he stretched out his hand with scorners.
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait:
their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are
fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me. Ephraim, he hath mixed
himself among the people; Ephraim is a
cake not turned,” Hos. 7:1-8.
Look at all of the things revealed here to be associated with leaven;
iniquity, wickedness, falsehood, thievery, robbery, adultery, lies, drunkenness,
scorners, etc.
The Prophet Amos decrees, “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are
in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters,
Bring, and let us drink.
The Sovereign Yahweh hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come
upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with
fishhooks. And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is
before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith Yahweh. Come to
Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices
every morning, and your tithes after three years: And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven,
and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children
of Israel, saith The Sovereign Yahweh,” 4:1-5.
Once again the oppression of the poor, crushing of the needy, drunkenness
and transgression are associated with leaven by the Prophet Amos.
The Psalmist pleads, “Deliver me, O my Elohim, out of the hand of the
wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man,” Psa. 71:4.
Interestingly, “cruel man” is translated from the Hebrew word chamets,
which is the very word for leaven! Notice that the hand of the wicked and
unrighteous are associated with the leaven (chamets)
of the cruel man.
The Psalmist Asaph professes, “Truly Elohim is good to Israel, even to
such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps
had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death:
but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are
they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they
have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt,
and speak wickedly concerning
oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and
their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and
waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth Elohim know?
and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the unrighteous, who prosper in the world;
they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my
hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened
every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the
generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for
me; Until I went into the sanctuary of Elohim; then understood I their end.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into
destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are
utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Yahweh, when
thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved (chamets),
and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast
before thee,” Psa. 73:1-22.
Notice that the Psalmist almost went the way of the foolish and wicked
until he went to the house of Elohim. Then he understood that even though they
seem to prosper and do well, their ultimate end is destruction from the hand of
Yahweh. When he realized these things, then his heart was “grieved.” This
word grieved” is translated from the Hebrew word chamets or leaven. Thus, we can determine that
grief is associated with leaven. In other words, his heart was being leavened
with the evil of the wicked until corrected by Yahweh.
Later, Yahshua warned his disciples to take heed and beware of the leaven
of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples hadn’t taken any bread with them
and were confused to think that they had taken no bread to eat, but he corrected
them by saying that it wasn’t because they had no bread, but they needed to
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:5-11). “Then understood they how
that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees,” v. 12.
The Pharisees had wrested control over the common people and were
teaching them the tenets of what has become modern day Orthodox Rabbinic
Judaism. Another form of modern day Judaism has descended from the Sadducees,
which is called Karaite Judaism. This ministry would be remiss if it didn’t
warn you of the leaven that is extant in both of these movements along with much
of the subsequent Jewish movements that are also influenced by them.
The book of Mark adds a little information that Matthew fails to reveal.
In Mark Yahshua is quoted as saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven
of Herod,” 8:15.
What can this mean? The leaven of Herod would have been the doctrine of
the Herodians. Herod was made king of the land of Canaan by Augustus Caesar, his
cousin. His father was an Edomite and his mother was of Ishmael. There were
those who promoted him as king over Israel, which is fallacious since the true
King is Yahshua, who is of Judah, specifically King David. Herod practiced
Judaism in the Jerusalem area, but he also built the city in the north named
Caesarea, which was named after Caesar and had a temple built therein, which was
dedicated to the worship of Caesar as a god. This should enlighten us
concerning the leaven of Herod. Herod’s king was Caesar. Caesar was worshipped
as the son of god. When Constantine Caesar entered into the New Testament
Assembly, he took over as its Pontifex Maximus
or great high priest and mediator between heaven and earth. Through his edicts
the faith began to be transformed and corrupted into modern day Christianity. The doctrine of the Herodians,
therefore, was the doctrine that he was the rightful king over the Jews due to
his being placed there by a still greater king, Caesar. In other words, Caesar
was the ultimate king and whoever he appointed as their sub-king or leader had
the authority of heaven. Constantine gave honor and esteem to another deity
rather than Yahweh and another savior rather than Yahshua. Thus, we should avoid the
leaven, that is, the doctrines of Rabbinic Judaisim (Pharisees), Karaite Judaism
(Sadducees) and Christianity (Herodians). Look at what Paul associates
with leaven. Firstly, he declares that they are “puffed up” which is what
leaven does to dough. Being puffed up also has to do with vanity. But he is also
associating fornication that is not so much as named among the Gentiles
(non-Hebrew unbelievers). He also associates it with malice and wickedness.
Chametz is
the Hebrew term for leavened bread. It is defined as; ferment, (figuratively) extortion. Chametz
comes from the primitive root word chamets
(#2556 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).
Chamets is defined as; a primitive root; to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or
figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling). This is the word from when the idea of
the “cruel man” and the “grieved heart” is derived in the Psalms
referred to above. The word “ferment” comes
from fervere which means to boil or become agitated.
To “extort” means to get (money, etc.) from someone by violence, threats,
misuse of authority, etc. (Webster’s New World
Dictionary) The term extortion
is often used metaphorically to refer to usury or to price-gouging. To be “pungent” or
“sour” has to do with being made acid or rank by or as by fermentation. Sour
usually implies an unpleasant sharpness of taste and often connotes fermentation
or rancidness (Webster’s New World Dictionary). A look into the word
“harsh” is quite revealing; Harsh
adj. [ME. harsk,
akin to G. harsch, rough, raw < IE.
base *kars, to scratch, comb., whence
L. carduus, thistle, carrere,
to card (wool)] 1.
unpleasantly sharp or rough; specif., a)
grating to the ear; discordant b)
too bright or vivid to the eye; glaring c)
too strong to the taste; bitter d)
not smooth to the touch; coarse 2. unpleasantly crude,
abrupt, or strained so as to be offensive to the mind or feelings [the harsh realities of death]
3. rough, crude, or forbidding in appearance [beneath his harsh exterior]
4. excessively severe; cruel or unfeeling [a harsh punishment] − SYN. See ROUGH (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Finally, “dazzle” is
defined as; 1. to overpower or dim
the vision of with very bright light or brilliant qualities, display, etc. —vi. 1. to be overpowered by
glare. 2.
to arouse admiration by brilliant display (Webster’s
New World Dictionary). Dazzle is defined as, 1. to overpower or dim
the vision of with very bright light or moving lights 2. to confuse, surprise,
or overpower with brilliant qualities, display, etc.—vi. 1.
to be overpowered by glare 2. to
arouse admiration by brilliant display. Isn’t this the technique that
modern day movies, musicians, advertizers, and even the media utilize to obtain
and keep the attention of their viewers, who could also be called their
worshippers as many of them, especially the rich and famous are called icons,
idols, etc.? What we have found in these
definitions certainly goes hand in hand with the descriptions that we have found
in the Scriptures concerning leaven typifying the works of sin and wickedness. Yahshua explained to his
disciples that the seeds are the word of the kingdom of heaven. Those that fell
by the wayside heard the good news of the kingdom of heaven, but couldn’t
understand it. The wicked one, therefore, came and took what they had heard away
from them. Others heard it and received it gladly, but have no depth of root in
themselves to endure the hardships and troubles that come because of the good
news of the kingdom. Still others desired the cares of this world and life,
which causes one to become unprofitable. But the seeds that fall into the good
soil bring forth much fruit for the kingdom. He then put forth another
parable of the kingdom wherein a man sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy
came and sowed the seeds of tares among his wheat. The tare and the wheat both
look alike until the time for the fruit to be borne. The wheat will bear fruit
for the kingdom, while the tare will bear nothing. The next parable is about the
mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds, but eventually grows into a
great tree so that even the birds of the air can lodge in its branches. Notice that each of these
parables is about the kingdom of heaven in its relationship to the earth. The
final parable that Yahshua gives is this, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto
leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole
was leavened,” Mt. 13:33. When we look at the preceding
parable about the mustard seed and measure it with this final one, it appears as
if the two go hand in hand in explanation about the growth of the kingdom, but
what about the second parable where the enemy sows tares in the field? What can
we learn about this last parable? We have already searched the Scriptures and
actually found nothing good about leaven. We have only been able to find it in
association with the works of sin, evil, unrighteousness and wickedness. Let’s
see if we can figure out each of these parables, because a parable is given to
hide certain meanings and we must search it out as carefully as we can by
comparing Scriptures with Scriptures. Psalms 74 is a very revealing
Psalm, “O Elohim, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger
smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou
hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed;
this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual
desolations; even all that the enemy hath done
wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine
enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their
ensigns for signs. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the
thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes
and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary,
they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all
the meeting places of Elohim in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more
any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O Elohim, how
long shall the adversary reproach? shall
the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand,
even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom,” vv. 1-11. Notice that! It says that the
enemy (tares) has done wickedly in the sanctuary. Yahweh’s enemies roar in the
midst of His congregation. They have cast fire into His sanctuary. The enemy is
blaspheming His name which has caused His right hand to be withdrawn. Yahshua is Yahweh’s right
hand (Psa. 110:1-5; Heb. 1:13; Eph. 1:20). Who is the enemy, the adversary that
blasphemes His name? The psalm identifies him. The Hebrew word for adversary in
verse ten is TSAR! One of the most important titles for Constantine, called the
great, was TSAR! He entered into the New Covenant Assembly and took over as its Pontifex Maximus
(High Priest and mediator) and began to issue the edicts of sun (fire) worship.
The signs of Yahweh’s people were the seventh day Sabbaths and the annual holy
days. He changed them to Sunday and the annual pagan holidays (more fire
worship). He and his cohorts who have followed him, including King James, have
blasphemed Yahweh’s name, authority, seal, and power. The tares have been sown among
the wheat and have been in the process of crowding the wheat out of existence
ever since. Constantine is the little horn of Daniel 8 who magnifies himself to
the prince of host, casts the (spiritual) sanctuary and the truth to the ground
through the transgression of desolation and practices and prospers seemingly as
the true faith. What event in the Scriptures do
we have available that this parable is likened unto? Once again, we must go to
the book of Daniel chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. When
none of his astrologers and magicians could explain it, he called for Daniel and
explained, “Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth,
and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height
thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for
all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof,
and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and,
behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and
said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves,
and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from
his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with
a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet
with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of
the earth: Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him;
and let seven times pass over him,” vv. 10-16. In Daniel chapter two,
Nebuchadnezzar is revealed to posses the title “king of kings” (v. 37). This
is the same title that Yahshua will be given in the very near future (Rev.
17:14; 19:16). Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar is given the heart of a beast, which
identifies him with the first beast of Daniel chapter 7. That beast is like a
lion with eagle’s wings. The lion is king of beasts while the eagle is king of
birds, thus the title “king of kings.” In Daniel chapter 2 a great
dreadful and terrible image is revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, which is a microcosm
or thumb nail sketch of the history of the ruling kingdoms of the world and
their pagan idolatrous religions. The rulership of these kingdoms begins with
Nebuchadnezzar and ends with the fourth kingdom (Rome) whose legs are iron and
feet part of iron and part of clay. The ten toes of the image is part of iron
and part of mirey clay. The rule of these kingdoms and
their idolatrous worship continues until a stone is cut out without hands that
will smite the image on its toes and then grow into a great mountain or
kingdom that will fill all of the earth. That stone, of course, is the
Messiah Yahshua. The parable of the mustard seed
is a parable of the time when Yahshua’s kingdom will be planted in Jerusalem
and His kingdom, beginning as the smallest of kingdoms, will grow to fill all of
the earth. But what about the woman? What
does she typify? Israel was, in effect, the wife of Yahweh. Yahshua came for the
purpose of restoring his bride, Israel. His disciples understood this,
therefore, they asked him, “When they therefore were come together, they asked
of him, saying, Master, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?” Acts 1:6. The Prophet Zechariah is shown
a prophecy, “Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me,
Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What
is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is
their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a
talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth
in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness.
And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon
the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there
came out two women, and the wind was in
their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up
the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked
with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an
house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her
own base,” Zech. 5:5-11. The woman is the wife of Yahweh
that was taken into the land of Shinar or Babylon which was Judah. But the women
of Israel fared no better, “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the
mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to
their masters, Bring, and let us drink. The Sovereign Yahweh hath sworn by his
holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away
with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. And ye shall go out at the
breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the
palace, saith Yahweh. Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply
transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after
three years: And offer a sacrifice of
thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings:
for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Sovereign Yahweh,”
Amos 4:1-5. Furthermore, the assembly, the
body and bride of the Messiah is likened to seven assemblies in Revelation
chapters one through three. They are likened to seven candlesticks in chapter
one (11-20). In chapter two, He begins to
give messages to each of the seven assemblies. In chapter two he warns the first
assembly (Ephesus) that she has fallen because she has left her first love (vv.
4-5). The second assembly (Smyrna) is basically persecuted out of existence. The
third assembly (Pergamos) dwells where Satan’s throne is and he warns, “But
I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the
doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate,” vv. 14-15. Wouldn’t this be the
beginning of the introduction of leaven into the assembly? When we get to the fourth
stage, the Assembly of Thyatira, a prophetess named Jezebel (similar to Jezebel,
the wife of Ahab, king of Israel) is allowed to seduce Yahshua’s servants to
commit fornication, and eat things sacrifices unto idols. The lump is now fully
leavened. The next Assembly is Sardis who
has a name as if she were alive, but is dead. The lump is allowed to sit while
the leaven permeates totally. Total leaven sin, wickedness, adultery,
fornication, etc., brings total death and destruction. There is a group of believers
who are allowed to become unleavened which causes them to love their fellow man
and to proclaim the truths concerning Yahshua. This is the Philadelphian
Assembly. The final assembly is lukewarm,
rich in physical goods, but poor in the spirit. She is naked, meaning that she
is practicing outright idolatry without her true covering, Yahshua the Messiah.
She is blind and simply can’t see her spiritual impoverishment. Yahshua is shown to be outside
this assembly for He stands at the door and knocks. The problem is that, in
accordance with his parable in John ten, He is the door. Thus, this assembly has
embraced another door rather than the true door. When Yahshua returns, who is
Elohim and a consuming fire, the unleavened, the true seed, the wheat, will be
preserved, while the leavened, the tares, will be gathered and burned. Remember
the lot or fate of the harlot of Revelation 17-18. “Sincerity” is translated
from the Greek word heilikrineia,
which is defined as, clearness, i.e. (by implication) purity (figuratively). It
comes from another Greek word, heilikrines,
which is defined as, from heile
(the sun's ray) and 2919; judged by sunlight,
i.e. tested as genuine (figuratively). (Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance) If we are to be cleansed, then
we must be examined by Yahweh’s light. The Psalmist asks and answers,
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto
according to thy word,” Psa. 119:9. John reveals that Yahshua is
the word, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and
the Word was Elohim. The same was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made….
And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” Jn. 1:1-3,
14. Furthermore, Yahshua is the
light, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men,” Jn. 1:4. “For
Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For Yahweh sent
not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of Elohim. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in Yahweh,”
Jn. 3:16-21. Yahshua is also the truth,
“Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me,” Jn. 14:6. Yahshua is the word, the light,
the truth through whom we must become unleavened. He is our Passover sacrificed
for us. We are cleansed in his blood. This is the unleavened of sincerity and
truth. As we eat the unleavened bread
for seven days, we must realize and think of the bread typifying his flesh (Jn.
6). There are seven days in a complete week. The seventh day brings about rest.
The seventh day of unleavened bread is also a holy day and a rest day, typifying
his ability to unleaven us every day of the week and for all time. The seven
days also typify the seven thousand year period of Yahweh’s plan of salvation.
Each day represents a thousand years (2 Pet. 2:8). We are to eat no leavened
products during this seven day period. Leaven is to be put out of all our
dwellings. This typifies our putting sin out of our lives by the power of the
blood of the Lamb and the eating of his flesh. Seven is the number for spiritual
perfection and completion, thus, in Yahshua, the Passover Lamb, the true bread
from heaven, the bread of affliction, we have the ability to be forgiven of our
sins and to become unleavened for all eternity. Leavening typifies sin, wickedness, unrighteousness and all things that go with it. To be unleavened typifies purity, cleanness, righteousness without which we will not see our Heavenly Father. We can serve Yahweh (purity, unleaven) or we can serve the flesh (sin, leaven), what will your choice be? SHOULD A NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER OBSERVE The preponderance of those who embrace the New Testament
Scriptures and the Messiah of that New Testament observe Easter during March or
April of each year. A minority of believers, however, observe the Passover and
Days of Unleavened Bread. Which is right? Which is truly according to Scripture? By Jerry Healan During
the Easter observance, the Scriptural account of the resurrection of the Savior
is the supreme focus. However, why is this period called Easter and where did
this term Easter come from? “The English term, according to the Ven. Bede (De temporum ratione, I, v), relates to Estre, a
Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring…” (The Catholic Encyclopedia Electronic Version)
“The name Easter comes from the Anglo-Saxon Eostre, a goddess of light or
spring whose festival was celebrated in April.” (The
World Book Encyclopedia, p. 2088) “The name Easter, like the names of
the days of the week, is a survival from the old Teutonic mythology. According
to Bede (De Temp. Rat. C. xv.) It is derived
from Eostre, or Ostâra, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to
whom the month answering to our April, and called Eostur-monath, was dedicated.” (Encyclopedia Britannica 14th edition, vol. 7,
p. 858) “Then look at Easter. What means the term Easter itself? It is not a
Christian name. It bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is
nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven,
whose name, as pronounced by the people of Nineveh, was evidently identical with
that now in common use in this country. That name was found by Layard on the
Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. The worship of Bel and Astarte was very early
introduced into Britain, along with the Druids, ‘the priests of the
groves’.” (The Two Babylons
by Alexander Hislop, p. 103)
Do you get the impact of all of these statements? Easter is a name
associated with a pagan goddess! It is a name which is associated with Teutonic
mythology which reaches further back to Nineveh and Babylon! It is the name of
the “Queen of heaven!” |
OUR
COVER: Spring is coming and with it also the Spring
holydays/holidays. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are the first
observances of Yahweh’s Sacred Calendar, while the world observes its
traditional Easter with sunrise services, bunny rabbits laying colored eggs,
people displaying their new Easter garments and the children’s search for the
eggs, etc. Our cover picture highlights the observance of Passover and
Unleavened Bread. We trust that our articles entitled "What Leaven
Represents" and "Should a New Testament Believer Observe Easter or
Passover?" will help to be an eye opener for the observances commanded by
Yahweh in His Word and the traditions of paganism that have replaced those
commands in the hearts of so many.
