Short Answers... links to more detailed comments
Short Answers Section:
#1 What about people who say that the Old Testament is not for today, and everything that needed to be done was accomplished at the cross? What is our response to them?
Answer, short form: The Old Testament was a "foretelling" of what was to be done in the future at the Cross. Yeshua's work at the Cross validates the prophetic accuracy of the Old Testament, and provides us Salvation and empowerment to live the Torah based life of Scripture by following Yeshua's example of "keeping the Commandments." The Old Testament is the "Dictionary" for the New Testament, and the Old Testament is to the New Testament as the bud is to the flower... you have the same DNA in the flower, which drew its origin from the "seed" that created the plant, from which came the "bud," which produced the flower, all with the pure likeness of the seed. If you "tinker" with the process along the way, you end up with what is called a Hybrid... definitely not what YHVH (God/Yahweh) approves.When we read the Scriptures without prejudice to our own customs and traditions, the Old and New Testaments are very consistent... it is when we read the Bible through the eyes of our traditions, un-Scriptural institutional doctrines, man-made teachings, and pre-conceived thinking that clouds form over the issues. We are told to have our minds "washed by the water of the Word," and that we need to be "renewed in the spirit of our minds." The place to start is in the beginning of the Scriptures, Genesis 1:1 (not midway through the Bible or in a fragmented text approach), we must read and study our Bible with the leading of the Holy Spirit, and be willing to believe the Scriptures instead falling back to our opinions and influential doctorial traditions proposed by others.
The Scripture says, "Let God be true and every man a liar." (Rom 3:4a). Remember, YHVH is the "Same, Yesterday- Today- and Forever," and He said, "I DO NOT CHANGE," and the Psalmist wrote, "Thy Word, oh YHVH (LORD), is forever settled in Heaven." (Ps 119:89) Forever, means forever. Therefore, by the "law of first reference," if the Old Testament says something, the New Testament does not rebuke it. In fact, it is really a "renewed" covenant, not a "new" one. We are not to measure the Scriptures by our opinions, but we are to change our thinking to agree with the Scriptures, it is called "obedience," and it is still very much in vogue. For more detail, see: "Follow the Seed," and "In Spirit and in Truth." and Does the New Testament Annul the Biblical Appointments? and Truth... has Consequences
#2 What is a Mikvah Service? Is this something that I should consider doing?
Answer, short form: Mikvah is a ritual purification bath taken by believers on certain occasions, which is a Torah teaching, and is referred to in Scriptures as bathing or washing with water, namely by immersion in running water. When Naaman (a Syrian, "Captain of hosts), came to Israel for healing, Elisha the prophet told him to go and "dip seven times in the Jordan River." This would be considered a "Mikvah" experience (See 2Kings 5 for the entire story). At the time of Yeshua, it is said that there some 200 "pools" around the city (near the Temple in Jerusalem), where persons could complete this purification. Today, it is yet an accepted practice and there are even places established for this very purpose, especially in the Jewish community. Many Torah observant Messianic believers attend Mikvah services and there is both spiritual and physical cleansing to be experienced... even deliverance and healing can be experienced by the person of faith that enjoins this age old practice along Biblical lines and who comes with a sincere heart. On the more "Orthodox" side of Jewish perspective , Mikvah is more focused on a woman's way of purification following menstrual cycles.(Click to see a Jewish Mikvah link)#3 Should I be watching Israel in these last days? If so why?
Answer, short form: "And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:29-32 KJV) Surely Yeshua is clearly telling us that there is a prophetic "end of days" event related to this "fig tree" (believed by many scholars to represent Israel). Although some believe it to refer to the "Jews" of modern "political" Israel rather than "Biblical" Israel (I.E., the Commonwealth of Israel consisting of Judah and Ephraim, the covenant people, namely believers and followers of Yeshua). There are those who believe the true symbol of the Israel of YHVH is represented by the "olive tree." It is for sure that hardly a day goes by without something of riveting proportions being reported as a news flash in the Middle East, with much of the focus on the tiny nation of Israel. Israel (especially Jerusalem) is YHVH's focal point for the event of all times. And, Yes you should be keeping your eye on Israel and also be studying the Scriptures and how Israel relates to you an your life... This is especially important for "Christians" who may be innocently confused by faulty "pre-tribulation" rapture teachings that dull their spiritual senses concerning the last days. There will be no so called "church rapture" before YHVH's appointed time for the first resurrection near the end of tribulation, and those who are taken by surprise by this doctrinal error will be open to having their belief systems derailed... such a deception is just what haSatan is planning on. YES...Watch Israel and events surrounding Jerusalem (especially the temple mount activity and the setting up of the altar there) and other prophetic writings the Scriptures reveal, time at hand... (Click to read more on Israel in the last days)
#4 Who Are YHVH's (God's) "Chosen" People?
Answer, short form: In a "nutshell," If you diligently search the Bible from "cover to cover," and believe what is says, you will come to the only possible conclusion found in its printed text, and that is "ISRAEL ALONE" is YHVH's forever chosen people. They are identified in the Exodus teaching as being the first “assembly” of YHVH’s people in Ex 19:3 - 6 (at Mt Sinai), and are yet today those who make up the “assemblies” of the “Commonwealth of Israel,” (sometimes called Messianic Faith congregations) that hold fast to YHVH’s instructions (Torah) and those who love and follow Messiah (the Christ), and who understand that they are the “Israel of YHVH (God)" or "Commonwealth of Israel"… by Faith. This is so important to understand that it bears highlighting: from the beginning YHVH has only had ONE people with whom He made a covenant, and with whom He refers to making a new (renewed) covenant with; those people were (and are) called “Israel.” They are identified (yesterday, today and forever) as those who embrace Torah (keep His Commandments as Yeshua taught), love YHVH (and in the “renewed covenant” receive His Son Yeshua the Messiah and His blood sacrifice for salvation), and are joined by faith to the Commonwealth of ONE PEOPLE… Israel.
This is not a “church,” “nation,” “bloodline,” or “political” people…IT IS A FAITH PEOPLE. There will be some “nation” Jews included, some “bloodline” Jews and Israelites included, and there will be some “gentiles” included, known as “companions” according to the Scriptures (Ezk 37:15-28). Most of the “Israelites,” or the scattered seed of the Northern Kingdom (Israel, 10 tribes), and “their companions,” are today, for the most part, scattered in among the Christian Churches worldwide (they are people, not “churches”)… and are being called out and back to their Hebraic roots. Not all those in the Christian Churches are included, as much of the modern Christian Church is full of “tares” and social attendees who likely are not even saved (recent Barna Reports say less than 50% of persons who call themselves Christians in church sample surveys confess a "Biblical" world view! In other words... They DO NOT believe the Bible is solidly God's absolute truth concerning its claims).Lawless (clearly meaning “without law” or without Torah when mentioned in the Bible) practices have invaded the rank and file of most “churches” as very few ever instruct their parishioners to follow the teachings of the Torah (teachings of Moses, which Yeshua confirmed in John 5:47), which a majority even teach against as being relevant for believers to follow today… mostly, they tend to fight over their “denominational” doctrines and are more concerned with membership growth, their building programs, and “fellowship” activities than they are obeying the WORD OF YHVH. Let me note something that may rock some people's complacent religious boat: YHVH does not have (never has had) any covenant with the “church” as incorrectly taught by many misguided Theologians today. Let me give you the Scriptural Proof:
Jer 31:31 (Old Testament)
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: KJVHeb 8:8-10 (New Testament, more correctly “Renewed” Testament)
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: KJVLet me say it again: from the beginning YHVH has only had ONE people with whom He made a covenant, and with whom He refers to making a new (renewed) covenant with; those people were (and are) called “Israel.” They are identified (yesterday, today and forever) as those who embrace Torah (keep His Commandments as Yeshua taught), love YHVH (and in the “renewed covenant” receive His Son Yeshua the Messiah and His blood sacrifice for salvation), and are joined by faith to the Commonwealth of ONE PEOPLE… Israel.
You can’t ride your “church” into heaven… you can only go in to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21), being birthed into “Israel” by faith in Yeshua, an by entering through one of the 12 gates (Rev 21:12, each named after one of Israel’s 12 tribes), by the rules of Rev 22:14: 14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." KJV (underlined emphasis mine)"do" means "do" in other words, obedience to "his" (YHVH's) commandments... the commandments HAVE NOT been done away with at the Cross. YHVH only has one covenant, one people: those who repent of their sins, enter into the covenant of blood by faith in Yeshua’s work at Calvary, and who do and teach His Commandments Mat 5:17-20 (love and honor His Torah’s instructions). To believe otherwise (and teach any such contrary doctrines) leads to destruction. Keeping Torah, does not “save” you, however if you love Yeshua (as He said, you WILL keep His commandments… He IS Torah, the Word that became flesh). Go To: In Depth Discussion
#5 What is the underlying importance of the of the Vineyard of Isaiah 5:1-10, and Yeshua's parable of Matthew 21:28-46?
Answer, short form: First, few people today even know the agriculture of a "Vineyard." Those in the wine industry surely do know the difficult and laborious tender love and care that "Vineyard" requires. Suffice it to say, it takes a lot of work and attention to care for a Vineyard. YHVH's Vineyard is "Israel." The people of the Vineyard are the "House Judah" and "House of Israel." The House of Judah is the "Southern Kingdom... Judah and Benjamin" and the "Northern Kingdom is the Ten remaining tribes." The ten remaining tribes are often called the "lost tribes." The are not lost... YHVH knows where each of them are, down to the last person, down to the number of hairs on each of their heads.
The short answer is we the people of YHVH produced "wild" grapes... forsook His fellowship and departed his instructions and teachings (Torah). The Vineyard Scriptures above symbolically portray aspects of Israel's or an individual believer's spiritual life. The understanding of these Scriptures in each believers life is of utmost importance... if it is important to you, click on the following link to for a deeper understanding: Go To: In Depth Discussion
#6 I was raised in the church and have believed that God used the church to spread the Gospel. How do I come to grips with that when your teachings seem to be telling me that I need to leave the church?
Answer, short form: First, we are not telling you to leave the church (ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT can do that). If what you come to believe, after you make a diligent and thorough unbiased study of the Scriptures, causes your heart to be drawn to a deeper more Biblical desire to please YHVH, and you want to fellowship with others of like-minded understanding of what is thought to be a more accurate and true walk in "Israelite" faith with Yeshua (as the early disciples practiced)... then you must make up your own mind where to fellowship and how to practice what you believe the Bible tells you to; such as which day is the "LORD'S DAY" (i.e., Sabbath vs Sunday), and which "holidays" to keep (i.e, Passover vs Easter; and, Hanukkah vs Christmas), and other Biblical "appointed times."There are many innocent, but misinformed, people who dearly love "Jesus" and genuinely desire to serve and please Him, however the original faith of the early church of Yeshua's day was soundly Torah observant and Sabbath honoring and diligently separated itself from "mingling" other Un-Scriptural customs and refrained from any form of Un-Biblical religious practice with their walk of faith, which "mingling" is clearly forbidden by YHVH. If you want a deep analysis of "Christianity's conflict with Divine Law," Go To: In Depth Discussion
#7 If there is no rapture of the church (pre-tribulation) and we have to go through the Great Tribulation, how will I know what to do, where to go, and etc... etc...??
Answer, short form: This "pre-tribulation" church rapture mind-set is a product of the late 1800's and is clearly man conceived. The "catching away," which is the meaning of the word "rapture," is going to happen, but it will be near the end of the Great Tribulation, and faithful believers in Yeshua who are savvy to the "events of our day concerning Israel," will not be taken by surprise and neither will they need to fear. This subject is so controversial and subject to so many opinions that it is one of the most "spiritualized" subjects of the Bible. To be "spiritualized," means to be taken out of the "real" and framed with subjective teaching (non-objective, without sound Bible proof text). Yeshua was sure this would be an issue and it is important to note one verse in the book of Revelation: Rev 22:7-197 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. KJV
NOTE: "Bold" my addition for emphasis. Yeshua makes it clear, he wants the faithful to study and understand the meaning of this book... it is NOT sealed from our learning it, meaning it is to be studied, taught and understood for the "objective" real truth that it is... not some "spiritualized" opinion. In order to understand this book, you must understand that in the Torah, YHVH has set up a "dress rehearsal" for the end of time, and the understanding of this book... it is by the "moedim" (meaning "appointed times," which is about YHVH's (His) eternal feasts of Leviticus Chpt 23, of which the very first is to KEEP THE SABBATH). The outline of the coming Kingdom of YHVH is given in these sacred holidays. If you do not study Torah and understand the "appointed times," then your question, "how will I know what to do, where to go, and etc... etc...??,"is answered by you will NOT know. If you want to know more about these issues, click on: Go To In Depth Discussion
#8 What was Moses Doing on Mt. Sinai that concerns YOU?
Answer, short form: Moses at "Mt. Sinai" is one of the most important events in your Bible. It is at "Mt. Sinai" that YHVH gave Israel the eternal covenant "marital contract," or "Ketubah" as it would be called in Hebrew. This most extremely important event is our lifeline to YHVH's blessings (avoiding the curses, on the other side of the coin)... because it is where WE find our "identity" as "people of the covenant." There is NO other YHVH breathed definition that details the people of YHVH's profile than that given to Moses, by YHVH, when he instructed Moses to explain the covenant He had for them (US)... for all times. No other people have any other covenant or agreement with YHVH that defines their future and destiny. It is the place where Israel said "I Do," and became the "betrothed" bride-to-be of Yeshua, the Bridegroom. This understanding is critical, and runs crossways to traditional "church" doctrines that too often discard the "Old Testament" Law [more correctly defined "instructions," and known as Torah]. Customarily delegating "those" laws to the "Jews."Israel is YHVH's ONLY people, and Yeshua's Bride is Israel... not the "church." The "church" HAS NOT replaced Israel, and the "church" does not have ANY covenant with YHVH. Yeshua is Torah [Word that became flesh], to reject Torah is to reject Yeshua. Yeshua was "on the Mountain" and is the other half or the Ketubah with US (believers in Yeshua who love Him and keep his commandments). Do you think Yeshua would want His Bride to Keep His "instructions" until He comes for Her? Who Is Israel "of the Bible?" Go To In Depth Discussion