Caught up to the Third Heaven

II CORINTHIANS 12:1-2  It is not expedient doubtless for me to glory, I will come to visions and revelations of YHWH. I knew a [woman] in Messiah above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell: YHWH knoweth:) such a one caught up to the third heaven.

When I first wrote this testimony in the form it is today, at the word fourteen in the above verse I wrote eleven years, because the event about which I testify in this post occurred eleven years previously. I was astonished to discover a few days ago it is now fourteen years later, the same number of years after which Paul wrote about his trip to Heaven.

I mentioned this episode in my life at the end of a previous post Third Trial: Sell All You Have and Follow Me. Not only is it precisely fourteen years after the event, but exactly one year ago that I wrote about my third trial. As I sit writing this it is 19 October 2013. I wrote Third Trial  on the 24 October 2012. I expect it to take me those five days difference at least to type this up as it is seven pages in length. We shall see. There is a time for everything under the sun, and Father’s timing is always perfect. It should not surprise us.

Despite it being so long, I have chosen to put this conclusion to my blog in one post. Every word of it is true. I suggest reading Third Trial first to make the acquaintance of Michael, and understand the circumstances surrounding our voyage beyond the stars.

Richard the Lionheart

It was 24 April 1999, a coal-black Saturday evening. The previous night I had been delivered of a rock-hard heart of obsidian. I was in a strange trance-like state. Father told me I must go to Heaven to be prepared for the work I was to do.

“It is too important to fail,” He continued. I could not receive the necessary strengthening any other way.

I pulled my three children out of bed and we all lay down on the floor. They were still almost asleep having no idea what was happening. As for myself, I sort of expected an angel to lift us heavenward or something and wondered how we were going to breathe in space!

Just then the sun started to dawn in the eastern sky. My deliverance experience had taken all night. Just Father, the angels, and me. Now it seemed too late to go to Heaven that day. We were en route to Melbourne from Brisbane and had soon to hit the road.

“Tomorrow night,” Father said.

We got up, packed the van, and left for Melbourne.

That night, Ric–Richard the Lionheart, Father had nicknamed him–my chauffeur, was driving. He had flown up to Brisbane to accompany us down. My little family was going to live in Melbourne with a Christian group calling themselves The Hope of Israel.                         

In Bathurst we stopped to buy fuel. sitting in the front passenger side of my old Econovan, I was wide awake worrying about Ric’s driving.

“Go to sleep,” commanded Father.

That was enough for me. Closing my eyes I slipped into somewhere between a trance and a dream. It was the strangest experience. I was asleep while knowing what was physically happening around me. Yet when I awoke next morning and talked to Ric, these things were a little different to what they had seemed. In my sleeping state, I was having a vivid dream, the memory of which is still almost as fresh today.

The dream, therefore, is in italics. What I felt happening with my physical senses is in normal Roman script. (What I thought was happening I have put in brackets.)

Michael the Archangel

The van was being driven down the highway towards Albury. We were rushing into the night–cold night air–through the stars to Heaven with an angel driving very fast. Our driver was Michael the archangel (whom we had previously met in Redcliffe). The children were asleep in the back seat. As we went up, I felt the angel stop many times, take things out of the van, and let them fall off into the darkness. At each of three stops, he took my children out one by one and let them too fall away into the blackness of outer space. Each time the act terrified me. But Father had instructed me at the outset to stay asleep, no matter what, until He told me to wake up. I did so though I felt more like I was pretending to sleep.                                                                                                                          

When each of the children was taken out, my heart broke. But I knew I had to let them go. I gave them into Father’s hands and somehow knew He would take care of them, that they were not my concern. After all were gone one of the children whimpered in his or her sleep! They were still in the back and had been all the time. Father was just testing my heart. (In reality Ric stopped to put blankets, coats, and towels over the sleeping children. It was these items he had pulled out of the van, not the children.)

We sped past myriads of stars (the headlights of cars passing us on the road). Gradually I started to see glimpses of a great light in the distance. We had to slow down and stop a number of times to adjust to the brightness or would have gone blind. Eventually I saw a huge crowd of people in the distance, all waiting for me, but also waiting on someone at the very point of our destination. I suddenly realized we were on our way to the Throne Room of the Father and I cringed in terror at the thought of coming face to face with Him.                                                                                                                

My fear seemed to plunge me to another place. It struck me that before this trip I may have actually been on my way to Hell. If I was so afraid to go to Heaven, I must, I reasoned, be going to Hell. I felt afraid of that potentiality too.

Fear, fear, fear. so much fear. How could I possibly be afraid of my Father, my beautiful Creator, King, and Saviour? Because I was so sinful, so dirty, so evil before Him. Then I must be going to Hell.                                                                                                        

“Well, would you go there?” He asked, “That’s where you deserve to go. There is no one in Heaven in your condition.”                                                                                                          

I cringed at that thought also. I did not want to. The idea terrified me more than going to face Father. But I decided if that is where I was going, I would somehow sustain it–somehow. Nevertheless, I asked Father if He would just strengthen me to endure it.  Again I had a sudden thought. I remembered Yahshua had died and gone to Hell for me!

“Didn’t Jesus (I still called Him that then) go to Hell for me?” I asked Father.                       

No answer, but immediately we were again rushing towards the light, which was my answer. A sigh of relief left me deflated and helpless on the ground. We were still in the van but for each experience I was not. I was standing instead with Father or someone else.                                                                                                                                                              

I said to my Beloved, “I still cannot come to face You like this; I am so filthy,” I cried to Him pitifully.                                                                                                                                          

“What are your sins, Child?” He asked, “Won’t you give them to Me and get rid of them? Cry out to Me to help you. Keep crying out to Me no matter what.”                                

“Yes, yes, that’s a good idea,” I replied, sagging in relief again.

David the Prophet

Suddenly, all of my sins, all of my life started passing before my eyes. A little man came forward to greet me. He had a fat belly. “I know him,” I thought. It was David Kriss who had travelled to Brisbane to invite me to join the fellowship in Melbourne. “That’s strange,” my thoughts continued, “I expected Jesus would be up here to greet me, not just a little fat man.”                                                                                                                              

“THAT LITTLE MAN WAS JESUS!” Father told me in a rather black tone (MATT. 25:40).   I was stung to the core at His piercing condemnation of my pride.

Sagging yet again, in discouragement this time, I asked Father, “How can You ever forgive me for treating You the way I treated him?” (On the day we met, David had rebuked me for the way in which I had greeted him. My talkativeness had dominated the conversation.) “How can You forgive me, how can I be forgiven? Is there no way?”                

Looking around ahead of me I saw the great crowd all wore white robes. There was Ric next to David.                                                                                                                                      

“And he is Jesus too,” Father said.                                                                                                    

I saw Father in David’s eyes speaking to me with His eyes of love, chastening, and truth about myself. I remembered the abysmal way I had treated Ric, as if I was his commander giving him orders. I went down on my knees before Him in David and Ric, and washed their feet with my tears, kissing them and drying them with my hair.  (Ladies, if you don’t have long hair, how do you expect to do this for Yahshua if ever the opportunity arises? Those with afro hair excused.)                                                                     

“You did that,” Father said, “when you massaged David’s feet for Ric, to relieve him of the duty, and to make up in small measure for not welcoming him properly the first day. (David was diabetic, so Ric would rub his feet each night.)

“I did that, Father?” I asked, “You mean, I did something right?” Suddenly I recalled reading about the judgment of the saints when Yahshua will give them their rewards. He is not going to condemn but reward, and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”              

Looking at the other people in the crowd, I saw my parents, my brothers, sister, and their families. I saw my Christian brothers and sisters from Redcliffe and other places (–none of these people were dead at the time). I saw all the unbelievers I had met. I saw all the abominations I had committed against them. (Until that moment I had not realized this. What I consider the utmost respect is often vastly inferior to that expected by the One who is love personified.). I saw my children. I saw the babies I killed–more than I thought. (I once worked on a gynaecology ward in London where abortions were performed, and I had used IUDs which cause early abortions as birth control measures. These sins had as then been repented of by me.)

Father declared, “I’m giving them back to you.”                                                                          

Each time I remembered the sins I had committed against these people–all dressed in white robes, all Yahshua Himself–I would cringe again on the floor in agony and a part of me would cry out, “Help me, forgive me.” I would feel a chip being taken off me and fly away into the darkness, feeling utter relief. Then Father would show me some little thing I had done for them out of even the smallest measure of love. I would cry out with relief that I could be the tiniest bit righteous.  

Philip, My Husband

I saw a picture of Roadie, David’s black dog, lying on the floor beside his master. Feeling the dog was symbolic of somebody, I asked Father who this was.                                              

“Who is small and black (with sin),” He asked me in return, “that you treated like a dog, worse even?”                                                                                                                                  

Philip, my husband, laying there in YHWH’s hands all this time. (Philip was violent and I was in terror of him so I kept our whereabouts secret from him for four and a half years. Philip saw this as rejection. Father saw this as a lack of faith in Him.)  I had a flash in my thoughts that Father would restore Philip to me as my husband and was waiting for me ahead. I felt a shudder of revulsion but realized that too was an awful sin against him. I decided despite that revulsion and fear of being with Philip, if it is Father’s will, may it be done.                                                                                                                                

After Philip (Roadie), there appeared Christian men I knew – Vince, Peter, Ric, David, Geoff, as if they too were each going to be my husband and I was being brought to be prepared as a bride. I had the same thoughts towards them all, first shock and revulsion then acceptance and consenting to let Father’s will be done. The burden of sin against them would be lifted off giving me immense release.                                                                      

I was like a bride rushing to my wedding, but unprepared in filthy clothes. Father told me all of these men had been sent by Him to be a ‘husband’ to me in my lack (to give me a measure of spiritual covering and training in how to properly treat men and a husband), but I had treated them dishonourably. Now, however, I accepted them all gladly because they were chosen and sent by Father in His infinite wisdom.                          

“What can I do to make up for rejecting these men, Father?” I asked.                                    

He answered, “A person must give just a cup of water to one of My friends to be raised up on the last day. I thought of Philip and cast my mind about for something he had done for me. I felt grieved to the heart at the thought of him going to the Lake of Fire. I could not think of anything he had done for me. Not one thing. Then I remembered the rissoles.  

I cried out to Father. “Does offering to cook rissoles for us qualify him?” I pleaded.          

“Yes, Child, it is worth even more than that,” my Father relieved my anguish.                    

That time I had not allowed him to cook, though Philip had strenuously offered, because I knew he couldn’t cook. This memory made me feel terrible.                                        

But Father assuaged my guilt by remonstrating, “That was out of a heart of love for him, especially considering the exhausted and ill state you were in. And don’t worry, Child, as Roadie lays beside David on the seat, head on his lap, so Philip has been and will be in My hands.”                                                                                                                                        

Later I recalled many other things Philip had done for me: made toy swords for me as leader of King’s Kids in Bible College; defended me against a wrongful accusation by one of the student leaders there; stood in as my daughter’s father at a Father’s Day event; built us a house with his own hands in his village; bought a house for us in Madang; started a new business to support us; sent letters, cards, and gifts.                                    

As I rushed closer and closer I felt colder and colder when I would expect to feel warmer coming to Heaven. I suddenly realized that I was going to be naked before Father and all these people! Naked! I was shocked, embarrassed, and ashamed.                      

“Please, Father, don’t let me have to be naked. But if it is Your will, sustain me and I will somehow do it.”                                                                                                                                

I felt Him put a beautiful soft rug of animal fur, like a brown bear skin, over me making me feel warmed and covered. (Ric had stopped the van at this stage and put my large red beach towel over me. I was so deeply engrossed in the dream, I did not realize this until the next morning when he told me, but I did feel him putting something soft and warm over me. I had also felt the cold night air as he opened the passenger door. I felt the towel with my fingers and genuinely believed it to be a bear skin rug.)

Knowing how unclean my heart was, I imagined the Sword of the Spirit cutting it out. The thought of actually falling on the point of that sword, for that is what I felt I must do, was agony and horror to me.                                                                                                          

“I can’t do that!” I cried, “No, no, no! I can’t! I can’t! I can’t fall on a sword like that,” recalling Rick Joyner’s visions of it (from his book The Harvest I think) and how I had judged him and many others. I deserved the Sword.                                                             

“Let us do it, Father, if it is Your will.”                                                                                            

But I could not do it myself. So Father did it. An angel stood on either side of me holding my arms to support me if I fell. The sword point went in with a tiny prick, twisted, and came out so quickly I hardly felt it. I fell back on to the seat (of the van) under the rug. I was naked. I remembered a previous dream I’d had of a future wedding night. In it my husband and I wore snow-white kimono type robes with a patch of red, like blood, over our hearts.  

Under the Cross    

We drove up to and stopped in a sort of pavilion–a tent set up in a field. It was night, but dim lights somewhere cast enough glow with which to see. There were trees and neatly trimmed lawns as if in a beautiful park.                                                                                     

The angel carried me out of the tent where our van, the spaceship, had parked. He put me down and I stood naked and unashamed. I was under the Cross looking up at Yahshua. He likewise was naked. He looked down upon me with eyes of such indescribably pure love it was as if we were one person. We were in semi-darkness. He and I with not another living creature within sight or sound. The brilliant glow of Heaven shone distantly behind the Cross.                                                                      

Suddenly a spear was thrust into Yahshua’s side. Blood and water poured out and over me like a shower, washing me clean. I basked in it. The flow felt like a hot shower when one has been cold and unwashed for a long time. It was so brilliant and pleasurable. I danced under it with joy.                                                                                              

Then I stood in the middle of the pavilion, a small tent like those at medieval jousting tournaments, with my hands up and horizontal like a cross. Serving women–handmaids–dressed me for my wedding. I was given flowers to hold and more were put into my hair.  

In that instant I became aware I was not marrying any of these men in my dream but Yahshua Himself. And we would be going to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The people in white robes were the guests.                                                                                      

Into my mind popped that other husband and children, already named, I’d hoped to have one day.                                                                                                                                            

“Would you give them up for Me, just Me alone?” Yahshua asked.                                          

“Yes,” I replied, “How could anyone compare? I’ll gladly have you alone.”                            

Yahshua said, “These little ones, your children in Heaven, are the ones you named. And I will give them back to you.” I did not quite know if He meant in Heaven or on Earth, but I was satisfied with that. (I have three children now. When the last was born his birth was so incredible I wanted to go back next day to have twins! Prior to that I had not wanted more children. After it I decided I wanted many–two, four, ten, twenty, as many as Father would give me. So I set about naming them.) I saw in the dream Father, as David I think, standing among a group of small children of different ages. One’s hand He held while another, a baby, was in His other arm.                                                                      

Then it was our wedding night. (This part of the dream was an exact repeat of the other dream I’d previously had of my husband and myself in white kimonos.) 

“Wake up!”                         

I could see through my eyelids the dawn coming on. Ric had stopped the van. I kept my eyes closed wondering what to do, when Father said to wake up. The trance-dream had lasted eight hours.

I opened my eyes but felt I was still somehow in the trance. I looked at Ric sitting in the driver’s seat beside me having driven all night and saw Yahshua Himself. I determined I would not miss one word He said or one gesture He might make. I had things to learn from Him. I had to obey his every command. My Yahshua. My Husband.

We drove to a resort where we would be staying that night. Ric needed sleep. Being almost closed for the winter, it looked to my eyes a dreary place. I had expected to be brought to a luxury hotel, and with my children be given a banquet beyond my wildest dreams. Instead we were given what appeared to be the tiniest shoddiest caravan. My hopes fell.

As I walked inside, however, the large size of it surprised me. “This is beautiful,” I thought. The palace must be coming later. But I felt so grieved that Yahshua had to stay in this shoddy looking place. I made His bed with the only decent sheets I had – pink floral ones given to me by my mother. They were all I had to offer and had even been slept in by me once before, the fact of which I forgot to tell Ric.

As I made the bed with these splendid sheets I had a most remarkable revelation. When in Papua New Guinea at Bible College, engaged in secret to Philip, I’d had a dream that I had made my marriage bed with some gorgeous pink flowers that grew in profusion up there. I loved them. There were no sheets in that dream. The blossoms were the sheets. Making the bed for Yahshua in that shoddy van was the fulfillment of that dream. I had thought the bed was for Philip and me.

“I Am Your Money”

Yahshua, before bedding down, instructed me to go into Albury, withdraw some money out of my bank account, and then buy some food for us. We were to be back by two. The money to purchase our petrol for the trip down had been donated by a pastor in Sydney who did not, at the time, know me.

We left Yahshua in Ric’s tired body to sleep in peace and drove into town. Once there, while looking for the bank, I heard a voice like Father’s in the dream say to trust Him, He is our money. I did not need to go to St. George (the bank).

I went and parked outside the police station instead. I watched people passing by. They looked strange: lost, sick, poverty-stricken, in rags. The second-hand shop, I noticed, was the best appointed building in town. It was resplendently decorated and lit up like a palace. With a sunken heart I remembered all the clothes I had thrown out in Petrie before embarking on this trip because they needed washing or mending. Previously I had always taken old clothes to these thrift shops and shopped there myself too.

“My people always find second-hand shops most beautiful and most inviting,” Father whispered to my heart. Such a compliment (thrift shops help the poor and needy).

I was still in a trance state. I had a vision of Michael the archangel coming to drive us to a new house or van. Father (I believed) said I wold never have to drive again. In welcome to them I started cleaning the inside of my van while my patient children sat in the back wondering what I was doing. Stuff I thought I didn’t need including the map to the resort was thrown out into a bin on the sidewalk. Father said also that people would follow us.

Whilst engaged in this cleaning spree, the man who starred as ‘Jesus’ in the film by that name–Brian Deacon is the actor’s name–got out of a vehicle on the road, walked over to me, and handed me the book of LUKE with his photo as Yahshua on the front cover. At least, that man or angel looked exactly like Brian Deacon. I thanked him in some surprise before he returned to the vehicle which was then driven off.

As if a veil was suddenly lifted from my befogged mind, the lateness of the hour entered my consciousness. It was 3 p.m., an hour after Yahshua had told me to be back. I had neither been to the bank nor shopping. I realized I had been in some kind of daze doing stupid things and that I had left Yahshua and disobeyed. Oh, my rebellious heart made me feel sick.

I jumped in the van and drove off to the bank but couldn’t find a park. Thinking to go round the block, we started to get further and further away instead of closer, hopelessly lost. In the pain of my hopelessness I cried out, “What am I to do? How can I do this? I’m hopeless. My heart is so rebellious.”

Father’s voice made me focus. “What is the most important thing now, Yahshua or the money?”

“Yahshua,” I answered. The conversation was taking place in my mind. “I must go back and beg His forgiveness immediately.” But I was fast becoming lost. I was so afraid.

Father rebuked me, “I told you to stand against fear.” He had commanded it two nights previously before removing my rock-hard heart. We had been surrounded by demons so thickly that night my legs shook uncontrollably, “You must, Debra.”

Calming down I asked Him what to do.

“Go to Yahshua,” He directed.

“What if I can’t find my way back? What if He left because I wasn’t there, and won’t forgive me?”

“Is that what My Word says?” He asked, “Use the map He gave you.” The map which showed the way from Albury Wodonga to the resort.

The map! In my stupidity I had thrown the map away! I thought I wouldn’t need it, that Yahshua would be my map as well as my money. How the enemy lies to us.

“Find it, Debra, find the map,” urged my Father’s voice, or it could have been my own.

I drove back to the police station, fished it out of the rubbish bin, jumped in the car, and drove, careful to stay legal. Yahshua would not like me to break the law, even to obey Him. He kept the Law and so must I–perfectly. We raced back.

A Banquet of Fish

On the way I envisioned Him having given up on me and giving the banquet alone without me. He was at the banquet with all those people.

“I don’t care,” I thought, “I’ll go in, throw myself at His feet and beg His forgiveness. I’ll wash His feet with my tears and dry them with my hair even in front of all those people. Like the prostitute.

The realization hit me that I was that prostitute–not Deborah the prophetess–but the harlot. I physically took my hair out of its bun in preparation as I drove along. Feverishly. I had not even brushed it properly that morning. It was a mess. To appear before Yahshua, at our wedding banquet like this!

Finally, there. Ric held out his arms and hugged me. Compared to my disastrous thoughts, his reaction was so gentle and compassionate with hardly a hint of rebuke. He had been wondering where we were, looking for us, asking everybody at the resort if they had seen us. He wanted to take us fishing! Yahshua wanted to take my children and me fishing! What an honour.

Everything was so strange. The place was so dirty–so earthly–and expensive, but he didn’t seem to notice. He was solely attendant on me and my children. All focus was on us. And then he paid me the loveliest compliment.

He said, “It’s the demons. They are getting very worried because they know you are  going to be set free soon.”

“Really? Set free? How? When?” I wondered.

I saw many people called to the Elect being gathered together, in a place like that resort, for teaching, training, and fellowship in preparation to be sent out for the harvest. They will live in booths (caravans or vans that are mobile and temporary). I saw J-, our future king, and was disappointed he just ran past on his way to the banquet without noticing me. He’s up ahead of me. A hint of jealousy welled up before I put it down. I only care that I’m here, not whether I’m first or last.

Actually, I am last and they are all waiting to welcome me with their open arms and eyes of love.

That night we dined on trout caught with Yahshua, the Fisher of men, at the neighbouring trout farm. I hated killing those fish when we caught them. I saw the terror in their eyes as I smashed in their brains.

Next day we arrived in Melbourne where I was destined to meet about half of the twelve men called to be, according to my understanding, the new apostles of the Lamb.

Ric I was not sure about for many years afterwards. He would go from being Yahshua in the flesh to just plain Ric in a twinkle. I now believe he was being Ric as he was created to be when he seemed to be Yahshua, to another Ric with leftover traits from his time in the occult before he became a Christian but from which he was not fully delivered. But it was the fact I was still in a trance that made me believe at the time he was Yahshua. Whatever the explanation, it was due to him I fell in love anew with my King. We discovered his car registration plates had my name on them – DEB.

The man who was pastor, in whose house we lived, was named Philip and he nicknamed me ‘Debra of the Most High’, though the group cast us out after two weeks, just as the disciples denied Yahshua. There was a fear of Yezebel in the group which resulted in all the women being ‘under the thumb’ so to speak. Women were treated like second-class citizens just as they are in the religion of Islam. It was submission gone mad. Consequently none of the ladies’ gifts was acknowledged, appreciated, or used.  All the ladies ate separately to the men and had to cook for and serve them. One evening I was doing such serving when, as I approached the three men at the table for that meal, I ran into an invisible wall. It stopped me dead as if it was a sheet of glass. Father did this to show me a demonic spirit in control of these people: a division between the men and women. There were many others too, and other incidents too numerous to write about here. But ‘Debra of the Most High’ was never going to last long in a group like that. The demons wouldn’t stand for it.

Philip and I did come together again for a time. But he rejected the treasure Father offered him, returning to Papua New Guinea and his other family up there. On our return trip to Brisbane after having spent several weeks in Melbourne claiming those men for YHWH, Father did a grand work in my heart. He made me again fall in love with my hitherto despised husband. When Philip received my first letter after four and a half years of silence, he ran out of the Madang Post Office shouting, “It’s a miracle!” And it was. He remained backslidden for fifteen years. But I knew from the dream Father had him tightly in His hands. He never let Philip go. His head lay upon Father’s lap. Three years ago after years of silence I found him in PNG and had the honour of leading him back to his Messiah via a mobile phone.

David Kriss has since died. Father had told me he would.

My beautiful, beloved oldest child is a prodigal right now. I have had to surrender all of them and everything to Father at one time or another. It was Ranyhyn who told us prophetically when we ran out of petrol on the way to Melbourne, we each had 12,000 angels surrounding us. That’s 12,000 for me, another 12,000 for her, and 12,000 for my two boys with 12,000 in reserve. Jed now has 12,000 of his own, and they have their work cut out for them. The other day, he tells me, that space cadet son of mine picked up a brown snake with his bare hands and ripped it apart.  The snake had killed two tiny orphan calves Jed had rescued and to say he was angry at it would have been an understatement. Jed takes the Bible literally where it says “Fear not,” and that we will pick up serpents without harm. I must admit to having a little way to go yet in that department, though I have chased three snakes away in the last three weeks.

The night we ate fish at the resort I told Ric/Yahshua about the dream the previous night. Not the whole dream–though I dearly would have loved to–just that I’d had one. It was either that Yahshua knew about it already or Ric didn’t care (sometimes I couldn’t tell who was manifesting), but He/he told me just to write it down for a future time. I guess that time is now. My hope and prayer is for us all to come to that place of Spirit and Truth…

REVELATION 22:20-21  He which testifieth these things saith; Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, King Yahshua. The grace of our King Yahshua Messiah be with you all. Amen

…bringing with You a new age when even fish survive in their watery home unmolested, snakes don’t bite, children don’t go walkabout, and husbands love their wives enough to die for them but never have to.                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Be Ye Therefore Perfect

The True Church

Perfection and purity are characteristics of the virgin bride. Many a time I have heard it said Christians cannot attain perfection in this life. Yet Yahshua commands in MATTHEW 5:48:

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is  in Heaven is perfect.

We are called by YHWH to come into sinless perfection, no less. This is not an impossibility with full surrender and in the strength of Him who calls us to it. Even the law, according to Him, is easy to keep:

DEUTERONOMY 30:11-14 NASB  And this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in Heaven… Nor is it beyond the sea… But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

Therefore, if confession is made with the mouth and commitment of the heart, despite how weak and incapable we feel, Father in His power will do the work in us. Apart from the Holy Spirit, YHWH has given the Church helpers:

EPHESIANS 4:11-13  And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of the Messiah. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of YHWH, unto a perfect man, unto a measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah.

It is the work of these prophets and apostles to reveal mysteries and give understanding to the end that the church may be sanctified (EPH. 3:3-5). It is YHWH’s plan to use these last days just prior to the onset of the Millennium to reveal to His children the full manifestation of His glory:

I JOHN 3:2-3  Beloved now are we the sons of YHWH, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

In the Church, sinless perfection is considered almost impossible to attain. Church leaders therefore neglect to teach this doctrine, which keeps their people in sin and ignorance. Christians remain spiritually immature–babes fed on milk, carnal, worldly. Without spiritual maturity a Christian man cannot attain sonship and is not born again as a new creation.

To be truly born again, one must be separated from dependence on the world and have entered into the death of Messiah. Men become priests, able to represent their families, churches, communities, and nations before YHWH. In the spiritual realm they are kings. Women, though not priests, are spiritual queens. The Kingdom of YHWH becomes a reality in their lives as does going into them and shining out of them the perfect love of YHWH. They become free of the law of sin and death.

JOHN 3:3  …Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of YHWH.

Not only cannot a person enter the Kingdom without this rebirth, he cannot even see it, that is, understand what it is, or how to get there.

To those who keep the Church in darkness and apostasy there is a stern warning in EZEKIEL (39:34:9-10):

Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of YHWH; Thus saith YHWH; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

The False Church

The carnal church, Mystery Babylon, overseen by these shepherds will support the world systems on which it relies, and governments until she is destroyed during the final SEVEN YEARS. This is a characteristic of the false church. The World Council of Churches is one such organization that currently supports the aims and actions of the coming One World Government. Strange how the WCC can do that–support the OWG when that government is not yet officially set up. The reason for this is that the World Council of Churches was founded by the Rockefellers who were originally Jewish (Khazars), but became Baptists with the aim of infiltrating the Baptist Church.

Spiritual blindness and arrogance are also characteristics of the false church. Another is that it will persecute the True Church. This persecution is undertaken by the designs of the satanic principality of Saul. It embodies all the shortcomings of the historical King Saul. David symbolizes the True Church, hiding in the wilderness, not of any particular city or denomination.

Remember that through disobedience and fear of the people, Saul failed to wait for the priest and prophet, Samuel. He failed to await YHWH’s time. The false church exhibits this same impatience, undertaking YHWH’s work in its own strength. Many times interpreting work as YHWH’s when it is not. Then in murderous jealousy of David, it refuses to hand over rule to the true anointed. Today, like Saul, the false church has lost its inheritance. Not only that but she herself is lost but does not know it.

Saul reigns in the high places of the denominational church, denying the throne to David. In Yerushalem and Israel also, it rules the Jews, denying the throne to the Christian Church and their Messiah, refusing to prostrate themselves in humility before Him.

A Plea

Fellow Christians, ministers, pastors, priests, elders. Having read the warning in this blog, present it to your congregations, share it, study it, discern it, discuss it. You are accountable before the Almighty to do so. For yours and the blood of others under your care will be required of you if you fail to pass on this warning as I have faithfully done.

Let it sink into all believers’ hearts: the resurrection lifestyle of a born again Christian is possible. We can and must appropriate the fully redeemed life of Yahshua Messiah. He can and should be glorified in His saints, the same glory He now has on His Heavenly throne.

HOSHIYAH 6:1-3  Come and let us return unto YHWH: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days (2000 years since His last coming) He will revive us; in the third day (Millennium) He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

ISAYAH 60:1-5  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall covert the earth, and gross darkness the people: but YHWH shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea (mankind) shall be converted unto thee.

My Special Treasure: A Kingdom of Priests

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to YHWH by Yahshua Messiah…But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.           (I PETER 2:5, 9)

It is obvious from the book of GENESIS that the man, as husband and father, was priest of his house. Cain, Abel, Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, and Yacob all offered sacrifices and prayers for themselves and their families. This unwritten or oral Law of YHWH is and always has been in effect from Adam until today. A man is priest of his household. It was and still is his duty to ensure his family was/is familiar with the High Father’s expectations (the later Law and Scriptures) and adhered to them.

At the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, Father initiated a new Law–that every firstborn male of man and cattle was to be sanctified and dedicated to Him.

And YHWH spoke unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is Mine.     (EXODUS 13:1-2)

This was to take effect from the time the Israelites entered the land of Canaan.

Now it shall come to pass when YHWH brings you to the land of the Canaanite…that you shall devote to YHWH the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to YHWH…and every firstborn among your sons you shall redeem.         And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What is this?” then you shall say to him, “With a powerful hand YHWH brought us out of the land of Egypt, and from the house of slavery. And it came about when Pharaoh was slow about letting us go, that YHWH killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to YHWH the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.         So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a strong hand, YHWH brought us out of Egypt.         (EXODUS 13:11-16 NIV)

The animals were to be slain as a sacrifice to YHWH, but the sons of men were to be redeemed. From the number of times Father tells the Israelites to tell their children about His great wonders and acts of salvation for them, there is no doubt the devotion and sacrifice of the firstborn–man and beast–was to be a reminder to them down through the pages of history. YHWH’s plagues upon Egypt were a judgment against that nation for enslaving Israel and killing their newborn sons, a horrific act after Yoseph, in YHWH’s wisdom, not only saved but profoundly blessed Egypt just a few generations previously.

By the sanctification of the firstborn males, YHWH was also establishing the men as priests in the service of the tabernacle, and later the temple in the Promised Land. The firstborn males of animals were given as offerings to remind them of sin, and as tithes, until the ultimate sacrifice of the Redeemer Himself, at which time the killing of animals for sacrifices was to cease. This was a picture of the Messiah: as the animals were sacrificed, so was He; as He redeemed men by His death, so were the firstborn sons redeemed from being killed, unlike the Egyptian firstborn who suffered YHWH’s full judgment for their sins.

As Paul points out in HEBREWS 10:6, Father took no pleasure in this sacrificial system. He took no pleasure in the killing of animals, or even in the killing of the firstborn sons of Egypt. It is important to understand that because YHWH hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh himself would not be judged for his acts of stubbornness that resulted in Egypt’s near destruction. It was all for glory for the Most High and to point out sin.

Father’s lack of pleasure was even more apparent when the firstborn of Israel disqualified themselves from service in the priesthood at the foot of Mount Horeb. After descending from the mount and seeing the people’s gross acts of idolatry, Moses stood in the gate of the camp and cried, “Whoever is for YHWH, come to me!” (EX. 33:26).

Instead of the chosen, dedicated, sanctified firstborn running to Moses, the Levites won the privilege of serving in the tabernacle. It was they instead who responded to Moses’ question, then executed the rebels. For this loyalty to YHWH, they became His special ministers. However, YHWH still states the firstborn are His (EX. 34:20). One day they are to come back into their own.

The Law of the firstborn was in effect until the incident of the golden calf at Horeb. When the Levites were taken as priests instead of the firstborn, the Law of the Levitical priesthood was added to the Mosaic Law given in the wilderness.

And thou shalt take the Levites for Me (I am YHWH) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel…the Levites shall be Mine: I am YHWH. NUMBERS 3:41, 45

As the firstborn son in Moses’ immediate family, Aaron became a priest. Because he acted as Moses’ mouth before Pharaoh during the exodus, YHWH also rewarded Aaron (and his sons) with a special priesthood. Following the choosing of the Levites as priests, there was this special class within that tribe whose ministry included the more sacred functions undertaken in the inner part of the Tabernacle–the Holy Place. Only Aaron himself at that time could enter and perform the duties behind the second veil of the Most Holy Place (I CHRON. 6:48-49). Aaron became YHWH’s high priest. This was made an hereditary appointment upon Phineas’ act of zealous loyalty to YHWH when halting the sin of Peor (NUM. 25).

Despite the added Levitical priesthood Law, Father promised that the Seed of Abraham would one day be a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (PSA. 110:4), who was without father, mother, or descent (HEB. 7:3), a pre-incarnation of Yahshua Messiah Himself in fact. Furthermore, according to the rendering in The Book of Yahweh Bible, ISAYAH 43:28, YHWH promised to dissolve the Levitical priesthood due to their sacrificing to other gods:

Your first father sinned, and your interpreters broke My covenant and turned away from Me in prayer; [praying to gods (Elohim) instead]. Therefore I will dissolve the Levitical priesthood. 

Yahshua took the place of the Levitical priesthood, the laws of which included the animal sacrifice.

In the time of the patriarchs, the firstborn son had a position of special honour and responsibility in the family structure. He was given a double portion of the inheritance (DEUT. 21:17) with which he was expected to care for his parents in their old age. YHWH proclaimed Israel to be His firstborn (EX. 4:22). With the death of Egypt’s firstborn, this matter of birthright took on new importance for the Israelites. Their firstborn were to be set apart for YHWH and it was necessary to make a sacrifice for their redemption. Picture Yahshua.

Following Yahshua’s death, with the destruction of the priesthood and Levitical services, the duties of service once again fell upon the firstborn–Israel! But Israel, like the original firstborn, disqualified herself, for they refused to accept Yahshua as their King, Priest, Messiah, and Redeemer. To this day, of course, YHWH’s firstborn remains in apostasy, as was Pharaoh of Egypt with his hardened heart (MATT. 21:42-44).

From the new era that dawned after Yahshua’s death, the service of the priesthood was no longer in the temple at Yerushalem–soon to be destroyed just as was Egypt–but in the temple made without human hands, composed of living stones of which Yahshua is to be the capstone.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of YHWH, and precious. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to YHWH by Yahshua Messiah.    (I PETER 2:4-5)

…Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that shall believe on Him shall not be confounded. (IS. 28:16, I PETER 2:6)

The living stones, those rallying to His call, are not Levites, not even biological firstborn. These are, like Yahshua Himself, the firstborn taken from among men:

And He is the image of the invisible Father, the firstborn of all creation.    (COL. 1:15 NASB)

But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living Father, the Heavenly Yerushalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven, and to YHWH the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And to Yahshua the mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling… HEBREWS 12:22-24

–those who accept Yahshua as their Saviour and King and become YHWH’s alone. They are the tithe, the ten percent who give one hundred percent of their lives to Father.

These so dedicated are not only priests in their own houses but to the wider house–the Church–and indeed, their nations.

In YHWH’s perfect world, there would be no government, no king, and no female priests! It is purely a male domain accept insofar as a husband and wife are one flesh. Wise men, and occasionally women, are chosen as judges. There are city states where priests minister to the people and expound the Laws of YHWH. A central place or city hosts the great Feast Day festivals where all YHWH’s people gather three times a year. And here it is that the high priest ministers to Yahshua the King on His earthly throne.

A Stumbling Block to YHWH’s Ancient People

There is an erroneous idea in apostate Christianity that Yahshua and the apostles preached two Gospels, one for the Jews and a different one for the Gentiles. Now where in the Bible does it say that? Galatians? Didn’t we look at that book and find it agreed with the Gospel of the Yerushalem Church? The error came about in the second or third centuries when the early Church abandoned her Hebrew roots. Dominated by Rome, the Church distanced itself from the Jewish believers, doing away with the traditional observances of Feasts according to the Law. The Church was of the belief it could Christianize pagan feasts such as the mid-winter solstice or rebirth of the sun, which became Christmas. The Passover became Easter, the feast of Ishtar, Babylonian fertility goddess.

Christians commemorate these pagan Roman feasts in complete ignorance of the many legal rights given to Satan ans his demonic forces to rule within the Church. From almost the beginning of the Church age Satan has ensured by this sinister rule the alienation of YHWH’s ancient people. To this day the Christian Church remains a major stumbling block to the Jewish people. By means of satanic deception, the Church has successfully blinded the Jews to a recognition of their Messiah and the Scriptures that will reveal Him to them. By annulling and discarding the Mosaic Law the Jews have been isolated, and we Christians have lost understanding and the greater part of our heritage.

We do well to remember the admonition of HOSHIYAH 4:6:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me; seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of YHWH thy Father, I will also reject thy children.

There is a school of thought that present day Christianity, since it was kidnapped by Rome from the Jews–if you like–is a masquerade founded by Simon Magus the sorcerer we first meet in Samaria (ACTS 8). Historians have shown that this Simon believed he became a Christian in Samaria when rebuked by Peter for wanting to buy the Holy Spirit. Thereafter, according to historical sources, Simon Magus went to Rome, became the first pope, and started the Babylonian mystery religion there: adulterated Christianity, pagan beliefs and practices, the Jewish faith mixed with Babylonian myths and Greek additions. In short, the Christianity we know today. Along with Roman Catholicism, the daughters of the Babylonian whore who rides the demonic beast into the last days of our history before the millennial reign of Messiah.

And that is why the vast majority of the Church will not be included in the Bride that is raptured to Heaven mid Seven-Year Tribulation. And furthermore why only the 144,000 children of Israel families comprise the True Church and WILL be miraculously air-lifted alive to Heaven at that time.

To close this chapter I quote the seventeenth century author, John Lightfoot, in his The Chronicle of the Events of the Old Testament:

The giving of the law is a foreshadowing of Pentecost, just as the Passover is a foreshadowing of Calvary. The interval of time was about the same but the correspondence lies in the fact that although the law came down from Heaven it could not make men submissive and obedient to (YHWH), and hence the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven to write the law on the hearts of (YHWH)’s new covenant people, so that ‘the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit’ (ROMANS 5:5, 8:4). The correspondence then is the law coming down from Heaven at the beginning of the dispensation of grace. The law of (YHWH) was the equipment of His people of Old for their service and testimony; the Spirit of (YHWH) is the equipment now.

and Cecil B. de Mille’s observation of the principles contained in his monumental movie, The Ten Commandments:

“It is impossible for us to break the Law. We can only break ourselves against the Law.”

Rick Joyner Meets Paul in Heaven

One of my favourite Christian books is The Final Quest by prophet, minister, and writer Rick Joyner. It was published in 1996 when I was still very, very young: 36! Now, I’m just very young. Compared to the Ancient of Days, just a speck in the womb of life..

Rick Joyner relates a series of prophetic trances, dreams and experiences he was given wherein he went to Heaven. There he witnessed our last days’ battle, met various Christian heroes whose bodies have died, was accompanied by angels, and was honoured to speak with Yahshua Himself. I recently finished reading the book for the umteenth time and noticed in the last chapter Mr Joyner met the apostle Paul.

It seems Paul is a king with a throne on the dais around Yahshua. No surprise there. But I was struck by what Paul told Rick Joyner. It’s been awhile since I last read the book and had forgotten.

The man of today is effusive in his praise for the letters written by the man of the first century A.D., and their contribution to the Church, even now. But to Rick Joyner’s surprise, Paul laments how his writings have been used wrongly, and taken precedence over Yahshua’s words of life. Paul’s revelations can only hold weight, he says, if they are built on the foundation stones laid by the King Himself. Yet there are those who are using the apostle’s words as foundation stones.

“The greatest wisdom, and the most powerful truths,” emphasizes Paul,” are His words, not mine.”

It isn’t often we have a window into the here and now of contributors to Scripture who have died. What Paul told Rick Joyner should act like a rein to pull up all those who quote him as if he is the be all and end all of New Testament Bible prophecy, wisdom, and knowledge. We must never forget, as the apostle Peter wrote, that Paul’s letters are by some ‘misunderstood and twisted’. I often correct Christian friends when they quote one of Paul’s letters but have understood or interpreted it erroneously. When I quote Yahshua’s words or his brother James’ letter in answer to what they have said,  it is dismissed as unimportant or rationalized! (Who knows there is an evil spirit called Rationalization?) Yet the Bible IS Yahshua’s Word. And James was the head of the Yerushalem Church. He knew Yahshua all his life intimately, was present for the three-year ministry, Yahshua’s crucifixion and resurrection, and the birth of the early Church.

James writes in his epistle many of the same points I make in this last series of posts that tomorrow night I will complete.

But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (JAMES 1:25).

If you fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well (JAMES 2:8).

Ye see how that by works (of the Law) a man is justified, and not by faith only (JAMES 2:24).

And what about the words of John the beloved, disciple and apostle who knew Yahshua for the three initial years of His ministry: By this we know that we love the children of YHWH, when we love YHWH, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of YHWH, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous (I JOHN 5:2-3).

And my old favourite from the mouth of Yahshua Himself: Think not that I have come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whomsoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (MATTHEW 5:17-19).

Stern warning. Which are you? Least or great?

What about Divorce?

Before entering into the subject of divorce, marriage, adultery, and fornication, I have a question. Have you ever noticed how David and his men were ignorant of the Law at the time they were transporting the Ark of the Covenant to Yerushalem on an ox cart? Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark when it started tipping. YHWH slew him (II SAM. 6:7). It did not matter that David was angry, nor that they had no idea why the tragedy had occurred. At first. Ignorance simply was not an excuse with the Almighty. And it is not now. The legal penalties still applied and apply.

David checked the Law and found that only Levitical priests were authorized to carry the Ark, and on their shoulders. An ox cart will not do. A fear of YHWH was manifested. They did it right the next time.

Now to the subject of marriage according to Old Testament Law. Did Yahshua say anything different about divorce than is written in the Law? First let us see what He said:

MATTHEW 5:31-32  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away His wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Furthermore, Yahshua was questioned in MATTHEW 19:3 (NASB):

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?

He answered thus in MATTHEW 19:4-6 (NASB):

“Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE and said, ‘FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH (GEN. 1:27, 2:24, 5:2)? Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore YHWH has joined together, let no man separate.”

Then they further asked of Yahshua in MATTHEW 10:7:

Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

To which He answered in MATTHEW 19:8-9:

Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall (divorce) his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery…

The Laws dealing with divorce and adultery are found in LEVITICUS 20:10–adulterers put to death; NUMBERS 5:11-31–water of bitterness; DEUTERONOMY 22:13-29–virginity and rape; DEUTERONOMY 24:1–certificate of divorce. From these Laws we ascertain there are only two reasons for divorce: the new wife is found not to be a virgin because she has apparently committed fornication before their betrothal, and she commits adultery or lies with another man after their betrothal.

From a study of these Scriptures it can be understood that Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife–not out of hardness of heart–but because that man found uncleanness in her. Uncleanness was fornication (she was not a virgin when they got married) or adultery. Both cases resulted in the woman being stoned to death, but an adulterer had to be caught in the act by at least two witnesses so it was hard to prove. In such a case the husband could divorce his wife and send her away.

However, because DEUTERONOMY 24:1 was not spelled out explicitly, the husbands were using it to divorce their wives with any trifling excuse to get rid of them. That was their hardness of heart. This Law was not said by Moses, nor was it written  by Moses. It was permitted by Moses in his office as judge of the people. In the beginning in GENESIS 2:24 the Law was as Yahshua quoted it in MATTHEW 19:5. It was not the Law that was wrong. Perhaps Moses was in error to permit such a thing, but the sin was in the hearts of the husbands.

So the aspect of divorce that Yahshua taught was from YHWH’s Law. Yahshua could never contradict the Law, nor could He make more perfect a Law that was already perfect (PSA. 19:7). If Moses sinned then Yahshua could correct the improper ideas resulting from that–according to the Law. However, I believe He was reprimanding the hard-heartedness of husbands who divorced their wives illegally. Yahshua was saying nothing different to the Law from the beginning in Eden and the Mosaic written Law. In fact, He was affirming it or clarifying it as the Pharisees, who sat in Moses’ seat teaching and explaining the Law, had failed to do.

In the beginning there was no such thing as divorce. It was not YHWH’s will for a husband and wife to separate at all. It was not His will for any sort of immorality outside of marriage.

Murder, Manslaughter, and Miscellany

A convicted murderer is to be put to death, but someone who kills another person accidentally but negligently is to be incarcerated with a small amount of freedom for a period of time. Today that would be determined by a judge, bearing in mind that in Old Testament times it could be the remainder of the high priest’s life. This ultimately leaves the decision in YHWH’s hands.

A Law in DEUTERONOMY 4:2 states we must not take away from any of YHWH’s Laws. The Pharisees of Yahshua’s time did this and we know how He reacted in condemnation of them and their traditions. How He must likewise deplore the hundreds of extras and the lack of laws of our lands devised by man’s corrupt and deviant minds, which do not set us free, but bind and control every detail of our lives.

There are many other Laws for which there are no definite explanations. One must be led by the Spirit after seeking Father’s will about how these particular Laws should be kept. Take for instance EXODUS 21:23-25 (NASB):

But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

If nothing else this Scripture shows us the absolute importance of each person and each part of a person to YHWH Almighty, and how careful every one of us should be of everybody else. I for one would never play rugby league or any contact sport like it! In fact, this verse refers to accidental bodily harm inflicted upon a pregnant woman resulting in the miscarriage her unborn child. The loss of her baby incurs a fine only but the absolute value of the woman is made clear here. For his failure to be properly careful about the victim, the person inflicting the injury, in YHWH’s eyes, apparently deserves the same to happen to him. It is then repeated in DEUTERONOMY 19:21:

And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Do you ever get the idea that our understanding of YHWH’s absolute justice is far short of ideal? Anyway, we can marry these Scriptures with a perhaps slightly imperfect understanding that says: let the penalty for these sins fit the crime and circumstances.

Presently our governing bodies make our laws and they decide the penalties for both perpetrators and victims of crime. By penalties for victims I mean when a person or family loses a loved one to murder, it is a lifelong penalty whereas the murderer may be free after a few short years of a prison sentence.

Just such a situation occurred in my city as I wrote this for the book In Spirit and in Truth. A deranged killer had stabbed a young girl to death less than five years previously. He was found to be insane and imprisoned in a mental institution. Yet today he walks freely around the community on week-long leave in the custody of his parents. When it became public knowledge, there was an outcry with the result that the government promised to review the laws that allow this. The murder’s mother, however, slammed those who exposed the situation saying they did not understand mental illness. That may be true, but the victim’s parents certainly understand their grief and suffering, not to mention the fear with which they live knowing a killer roams around their city.

Another Law of indefinite understanding is EXODUS 35:3:

Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitation on the Sabbath day.

During the wilderness wanderings by the Israelites, a man was stoned to death for collecting firewood on the Sabbath. The Law witnesses against not only collecting the wood, but making the fire; but what if YHWH’s people are in such a cold place they would freeze to death without a fire? What about in today’s push button world where we must only flick a switch to turn the stove or heater on? How are we to understand Yahshua’s gracious concession that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath in relation to this particular Law (MARK 2:27)? Again we should seek YHWH’s will and be guided by the Spirit.

There are said to be statements made by Yahshua that are different or go far deeper than that of the Mosaic Law. MATTHEW 5:28 is one such Law:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Uh uh! Here it is in the Old Testament Law:

DEUTERONOMY 5:21  Neither shalt thou desire (long for, lust after) thy neighbour’s wife…

Another such statement is in MATTHEW 5:22:

But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment (of murder)…

Here too is the Law in the Old Testament:

LEVITICUS 19:17  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart.

The Law of the Nazirite

When YHWH gave the priesthood and temple duties to the Levites He made provision for other men to dedicate themselves to His service, either temporarily or for their entire lives. Samuel, Sampson, and John the baptist were lifelong Nazirites. To show their separation these men were not to shave off their hair, not was it to be long like a woman’s hair, as Paul forbids in II CORINTHIANS 11:14:

EZEKIEL 44:20 (NASB)  Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.

NUMBERS 6:5 (NASB)  All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head…he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long.

This meant not excessively short or shorn. When the days of a temporary dedication were over, then they were to shave their heads and bring a sacrifice.

The dedication of a Nazirite alludes to the then coming New Testament priesthood of all Christian men. There is a reference to it in SONG OF SHELOMOH 7:5:

Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your hair are like purple threads.

Purple threads symbolize the crown or mitre of the royal priesthood. In fact, the word nazar means to hold aloof, to separate oneself, to abstain, to devote oneself. It is closely related to the word nezer which means a consecration, consecrated head, a diadem, a crown, and was the headgear of the priest, who was prohibited from being defiled and was separated from anything secular.

Another related word is nadir – to promise or vow, and neder – a promise , vow, or vowed sacrifice. Interestingly, a neder was a thank offering which could even be made by Gentiles as in YONAH 1:6.

The Nazirite vow was entirely voluntary but once made could not be annulled. Yahshua was called a Nazarene to relate Him to the dedication of a Nazirite, despite the fact He was descended from the priestly tribe of Levi through His mother (Mary’s cousin Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron LUKE 1:5, so this descent was through the women’s grandmother). The vow also reaches into the New Testament and time of the Gentiles when the priesthood reverted back to the ‘firstborn’, that is, those born of the Spirit. This is a spiritual birth resulting in a spiritual devotion that YHWH desires of His people (DEUT. 6:5).

Because now all men are members of the royal and everlasting priesthood, the Nazirite vows are obsolete–it serves as a symbol only. Today, true one hundred percent Christians are dedicated to YHWH from the time of their spiritual rebirth–sometimes by their parents from birth–until they die or are translated, and even beyond death.

…Shall in No Wise Pass from the Law

DEUTERONOMY 22:11 and LEVITICUS 19:19 commands us not to wear clothing of both wool and linen.

Why not? Does this mean we are not to wear fabric with two materials woven together? First, it is important to remember that there were only animal wool and flax available when these Laws were written. The priestly garments were of linen so the wearers would not sweat, but stay smelling fresh. Wool made them sweat.

A more specific reason was that the curtains around the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place, the screen for its entrance, and the veil separating the two were made of wool mixed with linen (EX. 26:1, 31, 36. Only some Bible versions have yarn written after blue, purple, and scarlet which specifies it as wool). Like the holy anointing oil to be used exclusively in the Holy Place, this fabric made of wool and linen was only for the Holy Place curtains. One other article made from this special fabric was the ephod, which was interwoven with gold threads.

If we ensure our garments are not made of fabric with a wool and cotton or linen blend, we can easily fulfill this Law. Any other fabric blend is probably acceptable.

Alliances and treaties with pagan nations

A number of Laws prohibit a righteous Christian nation that follows YHWH from making treaties and alliances or have fellowship with or even show mercy to pagan, god-worshipping nations. Among them are EXODUS 34:15, DEUTERONOMY 7:2 and 20:16-18. How many Communist and pagan regimes and countries are propped up by the foreign aid payments from more prosperous Christian first-world, industrialized nations? If these nations refused to help the pagan ones, or trade with them, undoubtedly they would collapse, leaving their starving people clamouring for the blessings through Yahshua Messiah they witness in Christian countries. The only section of these nations we should give aid and solace to is the Church in them, and missionaries who are taking the Gospel to the people there.

No god-worshipper, unless he repents, should be permitted to live in a righteous country, let alone be allowed to worship or build a pagan temple.

Blasphemy is forbidden

That is, committing sin while professing to keep YHWH’s Law. According to LEVITICUS 24:16, it is a sin punishable by death.

We must not devalue, hide, or cause YHWH’s Name to be forgotten (EX. 20:7). We must not profane His Name (LEV. 22:32), or curse Him or His delegated authorities (EX. 22:28). Neither are we to doubt or rebel against the Most High (DEUT. 6:16), or worship Him in any way except that which He has ordained (DEUT. 12:4).

No man who has a defect or disability may be a priest.

He must be completely whole, healed, and healthy to glorify YHWH as our healer (LEV. 21:17-18, 21-23). Priests also must be ritually clean before they minister. Spiritually this means they must not be in sin, as well as being repentant for past sins (LEV. 22:6-7). This applies equally to anyone coming to the temple or church (NUM. 5:3, 19:20). Today pastors, ministers, elders, deacons, and adult male Christians are considered priests.

An altar must not be made of cut stone (EX. 20:25).

Symbolically we are stones that build up into YHWH’s temple with Yahshua being the top- or cornerstone. Being uncut stones means YHWH creates and forms us according to His purposes. To be cut means we are operating in our own strength.

One Jot or One Tittle…

Images and idols

The second Commandment forbids the making of images. It is little known or understood that an image in the form of any creature, from Heaven, Hell, or the sea is an abomination. How many of us have houses full of ornaments, figurines, and sculptures? The Law does not state idols are prohibited, but (brazen or cast 3D) images! One need only ask oneself, did the Israelites make or have dolls or images? Even the brazen serpent was destroyed when it became an idol. King Shelomoh (Solomon) broke this Law when he had images incorporated into his throne and into the sea in the temple.

There are many pretty objects we can use to beautify our homes, and with which children may play other than images. Have more babies so little girls can learn how to be mothers on the real thing. Are your images so important to you that you cannot get rid of them? If so, they have surely become idols.

On my return from Bali and later Africa, I brought with me bags full of images. Some I recognized immediately for what they were when I recommitted myself to Messiah at age 31. These were quickly disposed of, including a hand-sized metal crucifix on which hung an image of Yahshua my grandfather had brought back with him from Palestine in World War II. Another was a repulsive Balinese god or demon wrestling a snake which left me wondering what beauty I had ever seen in it. The last image to go by smashing with a hammer was a soapstone sculpture of a pregnant woman I’d bought to commemorate expecting Ranyhyn in Africa. It was discerned to be the image devoted to an African fertility god. Of course. What else would it be? African tribes seldom make images merely to decorate their mud huts. All of these items had curses attached to them.

A woman must not dress like a man (DEUT. 22:5)

It is interesting to note that in Biblical days the only women to wear very short or shorn hair like a man were prostitutes. So too only prostitutes wore their hair uncovered by scarves or other appropriate feminine head wear. Paul writes about this in detail in I CORINTHIANS 11 and it is discussed more fully in Let Her Be Covered.

In the same vein, a man must not dress like or as a woman. Is it permissible for women to wear long pants? I do, but certainly not in some countries. But I believe that whatever is acceptable in a particular country may be worn so long as it is decent, appropriate, and clean–unless you live on the street or some such place (mind you, I lived on the street with three young children for a year and we were never dirty. In addition I’ve been three times around the world including across the Sahara Desert and I managed to wash every day. See Third Trial: Sell All You Have and Follow Me and Ladders, Sand Dunes, Soft Edges, and Prayer)– without enticing the opposite sex to sin. Men also may wear a long dress-like garment or a sarong if that is acceptable garb.

Papua New Guinea is one country in which it is not acceptable for a woman to wear shorts, long pants, or even a swimming costume. Yet the native women often go topless without anyone so much as glancing at them.

In LEVITICUS 19:28 there is a command against the cutting of our bodies or putting tattoo marks on those perfect bodies with which we were created.

I interpret this to mean anything which deliberately pierces the skin: tattoos, earrings and other piercings, injections and immunizations, acupuncture, surgical operations and procedures. The priests of Baal cut their skin. Pagan medical practices were rife with blood-letting, leaching, and drilling holes in skulls to facilitate the release of evil spirits. Pagan religious rituals in India and the Middle East dictate the cutting of the skin.

Far from releasing evil spirits, it is my contention that these practices lead to possession by evil spirits with the cut or hole being a doorway for them. Any implants in the body will ensure the demons residency in that body until the insert is removed. Ask any former Satanist the truth about this. A quick investigation into the history of medicine will also reveal that the modern techniques of surgery are not so modern at all, but have been practised for thousands of years, usually for spiritual, pagan, or religious reasons.

This obviously does not apply to cuts and wounds from accidents, though if they occur frequently I would seek YHWH for a reason or legal right from sin in your life.

Men are admonished not to shave the edges of their beards or their heads (LEV. 19:27).

Priests of Baal shaved their heads and shaved their beards into goatees, that is, a small beard on the chin. Firstly, YHWH’s men are to have beards–all of them, with no exceptions. Only women and children had no whiskers. The men were not to shave at all but to have full beards and short hair. This does not necessarily mean a long waist length beard as depicted in pictures of Moses and Abraham. Men may trim their beards short, but not shave them at the sides or edges nor shave off all their hair.

The only exceptions to this were when a man came to the temple after fulfilling a Nazirite vow (NUM. 6:18, ACTS 21:24), and the ritual cleansing of a leper (LEV. 14:8-9).