One Torah For All

One Torah shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:49

Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:3-5
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
4 but when the fullness of the time came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 that He might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

The only way that Elohim sending forth His Son in the fullness of time even becomes feasible, is if it is a fact that Elohim is sovereign over His creation in every single aspect. It can be no accident, luck, or happenstance, that Elohim chose that particular time with those particular people to send His Son into this physical realm. Either YHWH is Sovereign over each and every aspect of His creation or He is Sovereign over none of it! There simply can be no middle ground.

When one begins to grasp and understand this truth in its fullness, then what follows is the fullness of His shalom. This is something that Yeshua promised to all of His disciples.

Yochanan [John] 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”

These words are very similar to the words that Yoseph spoke to his brothers when they came to him, afraid that Yoseph was about to take vengeance upon them after their father Ya’aqov died. Yoseph spoke to them words of comfort and shalom, telling them that there was no need to be afraid. Likewise, Yeshua has spoken to His disciples, then and now, that there is no reason to be afraid.

As Mashiach came into this world the first time, at exactly the right moment in time, once again He will return at exactly the right moment. One can be assured that it will not be too soon, nor will it be too late. It will happen at exactly the right moment according to His time; in the fullness of time He will come! One can and should take comfort in that truth. This is true regardless of what man does or does not do. It is true regardless of what man teaches or believes to be true. It is true regardless of when man thinks it will happen. In the fullness of time He will come!

 

Be of Good Cheer

Yochanan [John] 16:33
“These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Even though those of the world would hurt us, persecute us, and put us through all sorts of trials and tribulations, we still have the ability to have His joy fill us at all times. There are several passages of Scripture today that speak to us in our time, particularly concerning the holocaust that seems to be looming on the horizon of the political landscape. How should we react to this? Many are afraid. Why are those who are afraid, afraid? These words spoken by Yeshua should bring great comfort. Let us examine some other passages concerning this matter.

 

Authority

Daniel 4:17
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

Nebuchadnezzar did not understand this eternal principle. He was of the inflated opinion that he was where he was because of who he was and how great he was. He was filled with pride! The result of this pride was a warning and a decree from Elohim that he was going to have to learn a very valuable lesson. Furthermore, until he learned that lesson he was going to eat grass like a cow.

One of the truths that one really needs to be rock solid on in these days is this very principle: that YHWH sets over the kingdoms of men whomever He wills! Do you know this to be true? I mean do you really believe it? This important question will be discussed more, shortly.

Daniel 4:25
that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you; till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.

YHWH set Nebuchadnezzar over this kingdom and his heart was lifted up with pride. The result was that YHWH was going to take the kingdom away from him for a short time to teach him a lesson, and then return the kingdom to him. It would seem that Elohim does not do this often. Mostly, history would teach that He simply removes a leader and places another leader in his place. However, there are two things in this case that are important to note: 1) Nebuchadnezzar must have had something in his heart that was redeemable, for he actually learned this lesson 2) Elohim needed to teach mankind a lesson as well, so that those who hear and obey His Voice would know that those of a despotic nature that rule over them down through the ages, are there because Elohim set them there for His purposes. It would seem that the majority of mankind has not learned this lesson, for if they had learned this lesson, then why are they fearful of those who might come into power? Has not YHWH done it?

Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, “What are you doing?”

Nebuchadnezzar actually did learn his lesson and Elohim returned him to his kingdom. He then understood that he was the ruler of this kingdom not by any merit of his own, nor even because of who he was, and not because of any great military power he might command, but because it was the desire of Elohim. Notice his words and attitude after he learned his lesson.

Daniel 4:37
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those that walk in pride He is able to bring low.”

Furthermore, he learned that having a heart full of pride, particularly if one is in a position of leadership, will cause Elohim to bring that person down. Either the pride will be removed, or the person will be removed. Pride cannot stand in the place of leadership.

Qorintyah Aleph [1st Corinthians] 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

YHWH warns many times and in many ways, that he will not tolerate pride in His people. There just simply is not any room for this kind of puffed-up attitude, for it does not give Elohim His honor and glory, and Scripture teaches that He will not share His glory with another.

Romans 13:1-2
1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers; for there is no power but of Elohim; and the powers that be are ordained of Elohim.
2 Therefore he that resists the power, withstands the ordinance of Elohim; and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.

What you are about to read is going to be difficult words for you to hear, particularly if you have never heard them before. But they are true and righteous words, words that will bring joy and peace to you if you allow YHWH to do a good work in you.

The above passage states that there is no governmental power that exists outside of His will. If a government is in power, it is because YHWH placed it there for His purposes. We may not understand His ways, but nonetheless His ways are right and good! Furthermore, one who resists these governments that He places in power is fighting against Elohim Himself. Ouch! Now please consider this in the context of prophecy.

We know that according to prophecy, there is coming a government that will be completely and totally against YHWH and His Mashiach. Many know and refer to this coming government as the government of the Anti-mashiach (Antichrist). It is YHWH’s will that this man will come into power according to His time. May I please submit to you that we are not to fight against this very corrupt government? While it may be difficult to totally comprehend or accept this truth, the Anti-mashiach will come into power because it is YHWH’s will for this to happen. Let that truth sink into your spirit. Furthermore, YHWH has warned His people that He would bring this to pass so that His people would not be caught unaware. The primary reason that a pre-tribulation rapture teaching is so very appealing is because it appeals to the flesh of man, in that he would get to escape any possible physical harm from this person known as the Anti-mashiach. However, this teaching just simply goes against the greater counsel of Scripture. People in general are afraid during these times. But are these times so very different than any of the other times in which men have lived? Not really! In the Torah portion Vayechi, the ten older brothers of Yoseph were afraid of the man who ruled Egypt. They were afraid for their lives. But this fear was unfounded. And even if it was not unfounded, does a true disciple of YHWH ever have a right to be fearful? NO!

In this particular case, the government of the Anti-mashiach will be so wicked, that one cannot fully submit to all that this man of sin will require of his subjects; among the things he will require is for mankind to worship him as god. This is the very reason that YHWH has told His people in advance about this coming government. But is this a just cause to live in fear? No, it is not! Living in fear of this man or this situation is not living by faith and Scripture teaches that whatever is not of faith is sin.

Romans 14:23b
And whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

So if one cannot fight against this government and one cannot submit to it, then what is left for him to do?

Matithyah [Matthew] 10:23a
“But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next”

Yeshua taught His disciples to be prepared to flee when persecution arises. Don’t stick around and see what is going to come about; get out of Dodge!

Matithyah [Matthew] 24:15-20
15 “When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (let him that reads understand),
16 “then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains:
17 let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:
18 and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
19 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
20 And you pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a Shabbat.”

We do not know exactly when this will occur, but when it does, we should know how to respond according to the teachings of Scripture. It is important to recognize what is going on in our world today. However, whatever is going on in our world at any given time should not cause distress, for if it does, then one does not truly understand that YHWH is sovereign over the kingdoms of man.

And whether this would occur in our lifetimes or not is pretty much irrelevant. Why?

Yochanan Aleph [1st John] 2:18
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Anti-mashiach comes, even now there have arisen many anti-mashiachs; by this we know that it is the last hour.

This is the truth, there have always been many who would oppose the ordinances of YHWH for their own selfish gain. One must always be on the lookout for such as these, for they will not only oppose YHWH, but they will equally oppose His people. As there was a holocaust in the middle of the last century, and before that, there were many other such times in which many who would live for YHWH have given their lives because they would not deny YHWH whom they served, there will be more such times to come. There is no reason to fear these times, regardless of how severe they might be.

Yochanan Aleph [1st John] 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment; and he that fears is not made perfect in love.

Do not fear these times, but watch for them. When they do come, do not fear, rather trust YHWH and know that He is in control of this world and the kingdoms of this world.

Remember those who have gone before, who faced similar situations; like Daniel, who was thrown to the lions because he continued to honor YHWH as Elohim, and those who hated YHWH had him thrown into the lion’s den.

Or, those three young friends of Daniel’s: Hananyah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azaryah (Abed-nego), who withstood the king to his face, and refused to bow down to an idol and worship a false god. The king’s face became distorted with anger and he ordered these three righteous men to be thrown into the fire of the furnace. However, Elohim delivered them alive from the flames of that furnace because they knew who the true Sovereign was over the kingdoms of man: YHWH!

Regardless of what is happening in this country and around the world in the political landscape, rest assured that YHWH not only knows what is going on, but that He is in control of what is going on. He is causing things to happen according to His timetable. Do not fear!

Kepha Bet [2nd Peter] 3:11-12
11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy living and piety,
12 Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Just exactly what can we do to hasten the coming of the day of Elohim? If we spend more time working at building His Kingdom (which is a spiritual kingdom), than trying to fix an earthly kingdom that by its very nature cannot be fixed (be made righteous), then would this not hasten the day of His return?

May our faith shine forth for all to see so that YHWH may be glorified and honored at all times.

ABBA YHWH, give us clarity of vision in these days, so that we can see Your hand at work in our world and in our lives, so that we can trust and not fear; in the name of Yeshua our Mashiach, Amein.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
www.onetorahforall.com