Search the scriptures
Number
105
Newsletter (Web version)
May-Jun. 2010
“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, FOR ...THEY ARE THEY
WHICH TESTIFY OF ME,” JOHN 5:39
Letter from The Editor
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G |
reetings, everyone: Our Fourth Sabbath
meeting in Harrison, AR, on March 6, was attended by families
and individuals from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri,
about 50 in all.
Here
is a note from Barrie Wittrock, YVR Director:
Meeting of Prison Ministries in Harrison AR
We
would like to thank everyone who attended, for helping to make
the day a success. Thank you for the many miles you drove. Thank
you for the testimonies that you gave. It is inspiring to all
involved to see ex –prisoners whose lives have been transformed
by the power of Yahweh. That gives hope to all of mankind. Thank
you to those who came to worship with us. Thanks to those who
came to listen, and to learn, and to offer assistance. That
gives hope to those whom Yahweh has called to work this
difficult job. Thanks to all those who spoke. Thanks for caring
enough to share your thoughts, feelings, and time, with us.
Thanks to the Assembly in Harrison who allowed us to invade
their town, and their meeting hall, and who helped to make the
day possible. Thanks to everyone for all of the great food.
Several days later I am still full. Golden Corral has nothing on
you guys! Thanks for the wonderful, inspiring music, that
sometimes brought tears to my eyes. Thank you very much to the
people who cleaned up the mess afterwards. Just think of all the
possibilities when we can come together and work together. We
would like to thank everyone most of all for a wonderful memory.
Heart moving memories make life good and worthwhile. Thank you
all for coming together as a family.
Thank you Yahweh for giving me such a wonderful family, just as
you told me you would, way back there while I was still a
prisoner. Thank you for calling me out and for counting me
worthy to work for you. Thank you for holding me safe in your
Mighty hand, and thank you for inspiring me to write these
things. HALLELUYAH! ~
(Note: To read YVR’s newsletter, go to
www.yahwehsvineyard.org)
Barrie Wittrock was ordained to the office of Elder in the
Assembly of Yahweh at this meeting. Congratulations, Barrie!
(See more details under “Announcements.”)
See
a few pictures of the meeting inside this issue.
On
another note, if you read the last issue of the STS newsletter
(the March-April edition), you no doubt noticed a strange series
of mistakes on page 5. Here is what happened. I use Microsoft
Word for all correspondence and the newsletter. It has a “find
and replace” feature that allows us to find the false titles
used in most Scriptures, and change them to the correct name
automatically, without us having to search for them. I told it
to find “god” and change it to “Yahweh.” But some things that
should have been left “god” got changed. For example, in a
reference to Ishtar (Easter or Astarte), being a false
“goddess,” it was changed to “Yahwehdess.”
In the rush to get the newsletter out before the March 6
meeting at Harrison, AR, it was not proof-read very carefully
before printing, and was not noticed until it was called to my
attention by several readers. I promise to do a better job of
proof-reading from now on
J.
The
13th and First (Abib) moon will have been seen before
you get this. We hope you had a wonderful Passover/UB Feast and
are looking forward to Pentecost (Shavuot) on June 20.
In
conjunction with this Festival, study the giving of the
Covenant, including the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Yahweh’s
“marriage Covenant” with Israel begins with Exodus 19:1 and goes
to 24:8. This took place on the Day of Pentecost in the third
moon, seven weeks after they left Egypt. The people said “I do,”
in verse 8, and again in 24:3. Then, of course, they didn’t do.
So what’s new? Not much. We as a nation of stiff-necked
Israelites and “strangers among us,” are doing the very same
things today that they were doing back then. The nations have a
form of religion, but it is not of Yahweh. It is man’s
traditions.
Next, study the Evangels (gospels) and Acts 1-2-3-4 with
emphasis on chapter 2, where the disciples/Apostles were
gathered together in the Temple on the Day of Shavuot
(Pentecost). This day the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) was
given on the very same day that the Law was given in Exodus 19:1
– 24:8, and was given so that we can keep the Law with a
Spiritual intent. This is the “writing the Law in our hearts”
that we read about in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and confirmed in Hebrews
10:16.
Read
this whole chapter and see also Romans 2:15. This shows us that
no more sacrifice (lamb killing) is necessary. Yahshua died once
for all. Anything beyond that could be seen as denying Yahshua’s
sacrifice for us, as if His blood was not quite enough.
This
issue is going out late. Due to the increased number of requests
for literature and answering letters with Scriptural questions,
we find ourselves strapped to be timely. Some have inquired if
we still publish a newsletter. Yes, we do, so please bear with
us. We hope to get back on schedule by the time the next issue
is due.
One
more thing
– How should the tetragrammaton (the four letters, YHWH) be
pronounced? In Hebrew they are
hwhy,
reading from right to left. This is the Father’s Name, and
appears 6,823 times in the original Hebrew Scriptures. Man has
removed it and inserted pagan names or titles in its place.
Lately certain ones have rejected Hebrew grammar to come up with
their own ideas, and are leading many astray. I hope this brief
explanation will encourage those who have been deceived to do
some further study. The most common mispronunciation lately is
Ya-HOO-a. They have replaced the “W” with a “U”, emphasized the
HOO, and added an “A.” There is no “U” in the Hebrew alphabet.
The four letters are “Yod,” “Hay,” “Waw,” “Hay,” and are
commonly pronounced “Yahweh.” The “hay” (H) is silent, as in “HalleluJAH,”
Ahh,” or “Bah.” And there is certainly no “A” sound at the end.
If
you have become convinced that all the linguistic experts and
Hebrew scholars are in error and one man is correct in his
assertions, please be open-minded enough to take another look.
For
a more complete explanation, please write for a 4-page article
by Elder Don Esposito. In it, he gives references to many
authoritative works, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.,
that show it is almost a certainty that “YAHWEH” is the correct
pronunciation. May Yah bless! (Psalm 68:4). Thanks.
Shalom,
Frank Brown
~
Weekly Meeting Schedule
(All Arkansas meetings are at 10:30 AM except 4th
Sabbath, which is at 11:00 AM) (Shared meal after each meeting)
First Sabbath of Each Month:
Senior Activity Center in Harrison, AR. On Hwy. 62-65, near
intersection with Hwy. 7 South, and across from Edwards Grocery.
More info, Frank Brown, 1-479-754-2553, or Clayton Shaeffer,
1-870-448-5542
Second Sabbath of each month,
Community Building in downtown Hartman, AR. Call Frank Brown,
479-754-2553 for more information.
Third Sabbath of
each month,
McCord Community Bldg, east of Fayetteville on Hwy 16, two miles
east of Elkins, at County Rd. 40. Going east, it is on the
right. Shared meal afterward. Call Loy Bragg at 870-446-2256 for
more info.
Fourth Sabbath of each month,
Community Room of the Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers
Ave., Fort Smith, AR. Call Mike Mastropaolo at 479-928-5005 or
me at 479-754-2553 for more information.
Hendersonville, NC Assembly,
weekly Sabbath meetings at Family Christian
Center, 520 So. Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC. It is
in a new strip mall, and very nice. It seats
over 200 people, has an eating area, a nursery
and private rooms for counseling, etc. Time 2:00
pm. Meal afterward. For more info, Elder Woodrow
Pryor, 1-864-457-2912.
Expected New Moons in 2010:
Jan.
16; Feb. 15; Mar. 16; Apr. 15; May 14; Jun. 13; Jul. 12;
Aug. 11; Sep. 9; Oct. 9; Nov. 7; Dec.6.
Solstices and Equinoxes, 2010:
Spring Equinox (spring begins)
March 20, 12:32 PM, CDT;
Summer Solstice (summer begins) June 21, 6:28 AM;
Fall
Equinox (autumn begins) September 22, 10:09 PM;
Winter Solstice (winter begins) December 21, 5:38 PM
(Based on expected visual sighting of the New
Moons
and subject to correction)
Passover April 29; Unleavened Bread first High
Day April 30; last High Day May 6. Pentecost
June 20; Feast of Trumpets October 10; Day of
Atonement Oct. 19; Feast of Tabernacles Oct.
24-30 and Last Great Day Oct 31.
For an
explanation of these days, write for my booklet,
“Yahweh’s Holy Days vs. Man’s Holidays”
It explains Yahweh’s Plan of Salvation which is
based on the agricultural harvest seasons in the
land of Israel, and shows that all the holidays
and festivals celebrated by the world, and
Christians in general, are not based on
Scripture but have pagan roots. This and other
booklets are free for the asking. Write for our
newly revised list of available literature~
[Please Note: Opinions expressed in this newsletter by others
may or may not reflect the views of the Editor or of this
Assembly. Also, we do not endorse all the doctrines and/or
practices of the resources listed below]
Correspondence courses, etc.
Since I am frequently
asked, here is a list of a few assemblies that I know of who
offer DVD or CD sermons, correspondence courses, newsletters,
literature and/or magazines:
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry,
PO Box 463, Holts Summit, MO 65043-0463; Correspondence Course &
Newsletter; also on-line Sabbath services.
Assemblies of Yahweh,
PO Drawer C, Bethel, PA 19507; Correspondence Course & The
Sacred Name Broadcaster Magazine; “The Sacred Scriptures” $25 +
$5 shipping = $30.
Yahweh’s Evangelistic Assembly,
PO Box 31, Atlanta, TX 75551-0031. Yahweh’s Witness Magazine;
YEA newsletter; Correspondence Course.
Yahweh’s Assembly in Messiah,
401 N. Roby Farm Rd. Rocheport, MO 65279; Correspondence Course
& The Master Key Magazine, and DVDs of our Sabbath services.
Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua,
2963 County Road 233, Kingdom City, MO 65262. DVDs, CDs,
Newsletter & Magazine; Correspondence Course.
Search the Scriptures Ministry,
PO Box 32, Clarksville, AR 72830-0032. Newsletter, Literature,
Booklets and Articles. Inquire about Sacred Name Bibles and
Concordances.
“The
Scriptures,”
Sacred Name Bible is available from STS for (soft back) $25
postpaid, (hard backs in print again) $30 ppd.
The
Word of Yahweh, 2nd Edition
(Sacred Name Bible) is available from Assembly of Yahweh, 1017
N. Gunnell Rd., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 USA. Bonded Leather $40;
Hard Cover $25 each or $200 for case of 10; Soft Cover $20 each
or $180 for case of 12. S&H $5 each via priority mail or $30 per
case priority mail, or $20 per case via media mail in USA.
Canada $10 each, priority intl.; $50 per case (10 or 12),
priority mail international. Other foreign please write for
rates. The Faith Magazine is available, too.
New
Fellowship Finder:
http://www.intergate.com/~jcordaro/
Assembly meets at homes in Lillington, North Carolina (John
Cordaro)
Pagan religious
customs found in Christianity and other religions. Order the
book, “Fossilized Customs, NEW expanded 8th
edition,” and ”End of Days – In the Twinkling of
an Eye,” also his latest, Torah Zone from
Lew White, Torahzone.net, 2303 Watterson Trail, Louisville, KY
40299. One “Fossilized Customs,” 8th Edition, for
$12.95, 4 for $20, 10 or more, $4.00 each. One “Twinkling” or
Torah Zone for $7.95, 5 for $20, 10 or more, $3 each. All are
plus Shipping & Handling.
Machine embroidery
using the Sacred Names (in Paleo or Modern Hebrew.)
T-shirts $17, state size and color, other shirts must be
purchased by you and sent to me.
Most embroidery $10.
Pick a short verse, part of a verse or phrase to have
embroidered.
Example:
hwhy
is my shepherd
Psalm
23
“Contact me with questions or requests.” Polly
Lewis,
rplewis352@hotmail.com. (Ed. Note: If you
have no email service, write to me and I will
contact her for you.).
Three Books,
word-for-word translations of Mattityahu,
Daniel-Esther-Ruth (3-in-1bk), Revelation.
Each of these three books is 8-1/2 x 11, 80
pages. $12 each.
Two Song Books. Seven Beautiful Messianic
Songs
(bk 1); Six more (bk 2). Fully
notated with chords. 8-1/2 x 11, 62 pages ea.
$22 each or both for $38. S & H $9. Make checks
payable to “Todd” and mail to “Word for Word,”
PO Box 362, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-0362.
"If in the area of Vancouver BC Canada,
Join Peter Skinder and his group to worship
together each Sabbath. Contact email is
peterandelise@shaw.ca"
Ordination
Barrie Wittrock,
Director of Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge, was ordained to the
office of Elder in the Assembly of Yahweh, at the fellowship
meeting on March 6 in Harrison, AR. Participating in the
ordination were Elders Jerry Healan, Howard Parsons, Darrell
Whitfield, and Frank Brown. Congratulations, Elder Barrie!
Obituaries
Elder Voy Wilks, 89, of Cisco, Texas, a long-time leader in the Sacred Name movement, passed away on March 14, 2010, after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Myrtle, and is survived by his wife, Sue, two sons, Dan (Staci) Wilks and Farris (Jo Ann) Wilks; three daughters, Ruth (Joe) York, Tovayah (Kerry) Nelms, and Beth Maynard, plus many grandchildren and great-grand-children; a loving congregation, The Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day at Romney, Texas, and many Spiritual brothers and sisters throughout the US and the world.
Burial was at the
Romney Cemetery on March 15, 2010 with a memorial service on
Wednesday, March 17, 2010. He will be sorely missed by all who
knew him. A wise man once said “when an old person dies, it’s
like a library burning down.” This is especially true in Brother
Voy’s case. He had a treasure trove of Scriptural knowledge
which he shared with all who would hear for many, many years.
Elder Jacob O.
Meyer,
of Bethel, PA, another long-time leader in the Sacred Name
assemblies, died on April 9, after suffering a cerebral
hemorrhage. He began his work in the mid-60’s and had his own
short wave radio station and the “Sacred Name Broadcaster”
magazine. That group, the “Assemblies of Yahweh,” published a
Sacred Name Bible in 1981, based on the American Standard with
the Names of Yahweh and Yahshua inserted where translators had
removed them and replaced with titles or names of pagan deities.
His organization published many other doctrinal books and
articles.
My list of his
survivors is incomplete, but includes two sons, Jonathan and
Jake, a sister, Millie Deck, nephew James Meyer, niece, Margie
Mansager. He was in his mid-70’s. ~~
Births
“So happy to report that my first little great-granddaughter
Eden Marie arrived around 10 p.m. last night. Weighed in at 8
lbs. 3.5 oz and is 19 1/2 inches long. Amanda and Keith Wilson
are the proud parents & she has two happy brothers, Noah &
Abraham.” (From Flo Saforek
5-12-10)
====================
Ladies Fellowship Meeting
–
Our second meeting was held on March 17, at the Harrison Senior
Center, and
our third meeting was on April 21st at the Hartman Community
Center, Hartman, AR. The third meeting was held on May 19 at the
home of Loice Green, Mountain View, AR. All ladies are invited
and encouraged to attend these meetings. For more information,
call Sue Shaeffer, at 870-448-5542 .
The “Good News” of
Yahshua and
the Torah Work Together
By Terry G. Nash
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ome
may ask why we teach new Believers to obey the Torah (Law or
Instructions), and its commandments. And, why not just teach the
Messiah instead of the Torah? Isn’t that old Jewish Law done
away?
In
the first place, we teach Believers to obey Yahweh’s
Commandments because the Good News of Yahshua ha Mashiach itself
enforces obedience to the Commandments. Second of all, what
defines sin is the commandments. And thirdly, we cannot teach
the Good News without teaching obedience to Yahweh’s Torah.
~The
Purpose for Yahshua’s Coming ~
Now
let’s consider the Scriptural proof to my statements above.
Shaul (Paul) states, “…Messiah Yahshua came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief,” (1 Tim. 1:15). An angel of
Yahweh proclaims, “He shall save His people from their sins,”
(Matt. 1:21). Again Shaul states, “Messiah died for our sins” (1
Cor. 15:1-3), and “…that He by the grace of Yahweh should taste
of death for every man (Heb.2:9). The wages of sin is death
(Rom. 6:23). Yahchanan (John) says this about sin “…sin is the
transgression of the Law (Torah)” (1 Yochanan 3:4).
Note
that it says that sin is the transgression of the Law, which is
the breaking of Yahweh’s Torah Com-mandments. This is the
Scripturarl definition of sin.
The
Scriptures plainly tell us why Yahshua ha Mashiach came to
earth. He came to be the sacrificial offering for our sins. And
we know that sin is the breaking of Yahweh’s Torah commands.
Therefore, the Good News is that Yahshua died for our acts of
breaking the Torah commands. This is a Scriptural fact. The
Commandments of the Torah, both before, and at the time of
Yahshua’s death, is what defines sin. All students of the
Scriptures must admit to this fact. It is the same today
(Malachi 3:6 and Heb. 13:8).
~Obedience to What Was Once Broken~
Mattithyahu 1:21 tells us that Yahshua came to save His people
from their sins. We must conclude that in saving us from our
acts of breaking the Commandments, Yahweh would require
obedience to the Torah commands that we had been breaking. He
did not come to take away the Commandments that defines sin, but
to take away our sins (1 Yochanan 3:5). In other words, Yahshua
came to take away our transgressions OF the Law, but not the LAW
itself, that defines our sins.
Sin,
transgressions, disobedience to Yahweh’s Torah commands, brought
death into the world (Rom. 5:12). In the Brit Chadashah (New
Covenant), we are told that the wages, or our payment, for our
sins has not changed. It is still death! (Romans 6:23).
Presently, Yahshua is our Savior FROM our sins, not IN our sins.
Through faith in Him and obedience to the terms of the Brit
Chadashah, we are gorgiven of our sins, and at that moment, we
are made free from sin, and dead to it. Then we become servants
of righteousness (Rom. 6:1-2, 6, 17-18).When we are made free
from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh)
dwelling within our minds and hearts, the righteousness of
Yahweh’s Law is fulfilled in us. Shaul states, “That the
righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh but after the Spirit,”(Romans 8:4).
~The
Knowledge of Sin~
Shaul tells us, What shall we say, then?Is the Law sin? Yah
forbid! Nay, I had not known sin but by the Law; for I had not
known lust, except the Law had said, ‘Thou shall not covet’”
(Rom. 7:7). Shaul then states, “…for by the Law is the knowledge
of sin.” (Rom. 3:20). Put these two statements together, and we
see that Shaul is definitely teaching that by the Torah
Commandments is the knowledge of sin for us today (and every
day). He stated that he would not have known sin but by the Law,
then explains further, “For without the Law, sin is dead,”
(Rom. 7:8), and “… for where no law is, there is no
transgression,” (Rom. 4:15).
In
other words, Shaul is saying that without the Law there is no
sin. Sin, we know, is the breaking of the Law, Yahweh’s Holy
Law. And so, if Yahweh’s Law is abolished, as some teach that it
is, then there would be no sin, and if there be no sin, we would
have no need for a Savior.
~Attributes of the Law~
Shaul writes, “Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Commandment
holy and just and good,” (Rom. 7:12). If the Law and the
Commandments were holy, just and good in Shaul’s time, then they
must still be today. So why aren’t they taught today in
mainstream Christianity? It’s no wonder the majority of
Christians are confused. They do not know the Scriptural
definition of what sin is.
~The
Law is Spiritual~
Shaul tells us, “For we know that the Law is Spiritual,” (Rom.
7:14). Yahweh’s Torah commands are spiritual, and only those who
are spiritual, who are led by the Ruach ha Kodesh can fulfill
its requirements (Rom. 8:4). If we have been cleansed and made
free from sin through Yahshua’s shed blood, and have His Spirit
within us, then the righteousness of Yahweh’s Holy, Just and
Good Law, will be fulfilled in us, Amein!
Perhaps you can see by now why we must teach Yahweh’s Torah when
we preach the Good News of Yahshua ha Maschiah and His Kingdom.
The Good News calls for us to repent, to turn away from our
sins, and to accept Yahshua as Master and Savior to save us from
our sins, not to save us in our sins How can people repent of
their sins when they have no idea what sin is? By the Torah is
the knowledge of sin, so then to know what sin is, we must study
and teach Torah (Law).
~Obedience to Torah~
Yahshua preached the Good News, the same Good News that we are
commanded to preach (Mark 1:14-15, 16:15-16, and Matthew 24:14;
28:19-20).
The
Sermon on the Mount is part of the Good News that Yahshua
preached. He taught full obedience to the Commandments of
Yahweh’s Torah. He commanded us to do, and to teach, all of them
(Mat. 5:19).Yahshua did not teach a substitute law, but
magnified Yahweh’s Torah (Isaiah 42:21).
In
Mat. 5:21-22, Yahshua magnifies the sixth Commandment to include
hatred. 1 Yochanan (John) 3:15 states, “He who hates his brother
is a murderer.” We must obey from the heart. If we are holding
on to hatred of any kind toward anyone, we are guilty of murder,
thus breaking the sixth Commandment.
In
Mat. 5:27-28, Yahshua magnifies the seventh Commandment. He
tells us that lust in the heart breaks the command that forbids
adultery.
Yahshua ha Mashiach came to save us from our sins, and Yahweh’s
Torah is to be written upon our hearts by the power of the Ruach
he Kodesh (Mat. 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:2,3; Heb. 8:10).
Our
hearts are cleansed by faith, and the love of Yahweh is shed
abroad in our hearts by His indwelling Spirit. Lust and hatred
are removed, and Yahweh’s love compels us to total obedience to
the Torah commands. This is how the Good News of Yahshua ha
Mashiach and the Torah work together. ~
Terry
G. Nash.
Ordaining Barrie Wittrock and other pictures of meeting, 3-6-10

Elders Jerry Healan, Barrie
Howard Parsons, Barrie, Frank
Wittrock, Frank
Brown
Brown

Elders Howard Parsons,
Elder Barrie – closing talk.
Jerry
Healan, Barrie Wittrock
with
his Wife, Melissa
(1 Pet 5:1-3 KJV) "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: {2} Feed the flock of Yahweh which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {3} Neither as being lords over Yah's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

Some of the 50 participants who were present
Chris Avalos
Family provided
the worship music
and songs
Feast report from South Bay, FL:
Greetings, Elder Frank, Patricia and all who share your message
at Search the Scriptures Ministry.
Passover is a remembrance of the passing over of the destroying
angel in Mitsrayim (Egypt) and also of the Messiah’s death. The
Feast of Unleavened Bread symbolizes the putting off of all sin
and false doctrine from our lives and feeding on the pure
unleavened bread of the Word. Paul mentions the Feast of
Unleavened Bread in 1 Cor. 5:6-8. He instructs us to purge out
the old leaven (old way of living) so that we may be a new lump
(v. 7). Paul tells us all to keep the Feast with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth. HalleluYAH!
We
celebrated Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread here.
Thankfully the Chaplaincy Dep’t., Senior Chaplain Ojukwo and
Assistant Chaplain Rabbi Lieberman provided the room space, and
facilitated the way for us to receive the needed supplies for us
to properly observe the Passover and Feast. We are truly blessed
to be at this facility under the leadership of Warden S. Hobart
and AFA Warden of Programs, Mr. Ibizm an dAFA Warden of Security
Mr. Floyd, who approved the holy event.
The
Facility’s food service department headed by Mrs. McGregor
supplied unleavened meals throughout the week of Unleavened. We
are thankful for their assistance and the hard work from their
staffs.
Our
senior Elder Ramon Elston gave a teaching and reading of
Shemoth, chapters 12 through 15,
teaching us the importance and the significance of this
holy celebration –festival as an everlasting Law (Shemoth 12:14
– 24).
Elder Agustin gave a teaching on 1 Cor. 5:6-8, how Paul
instructs us to purge out the old leaven and keep the Feast with
the unleavened of Sincerity and Truth. I asked, “Did the Messiah
Yahshua keep the Feast?” Answer, “Yes, He did – as a boy (Luke
2:41-42) and as a man (Luke 22:14-16)”.(*
See
footnote at end of his letter. Ed.)
Then
I asked another question: “Should the Renewed Covenant People
(Believers) keep the Feasts nowadays?” Answer: “Yes. In 1 Cor.
11:1, Paul said he followed Yahshua’s example, and we should
follow him. Peter said in 1 Pet. 2:21 that Yahshua left us an
example that we should walk in His ways (follow His steps).”
Before the Month of Abib began, Elders Ramon Elston and I
(Agustin Rodriguez), baptized four members in the holy Names of
Yahweh and His Son our Messiah Yahshua. They are Brian Emmert,
Jose Cruz, Tomas Vasquez, and Richard McIntyre. We want to
congratulate them and ask you to keep them in your prayers.
Thanks to you, Bro. Frank for your support. May Yah bless you!
Shalom, Agustin J. Rodriguez. ~
* Please note that, although Yahshua DID indeed keep all His Father’s instructions faithfully, He could not have both EATEN the Passover and BEEN our Passover in the year that He died. The supper of Luke 22 occurred at least one day and possibly two days before the Passover when He was slain on the stake. For Scriptural proof write for my article, “Study on Passover, Unleavened Bread and Yahshua’s Memorial Supper.”
Thank you, Bro. Agustin and all the men at South Bay. I wish all
chaplaincy departments and wardens were as accommodating toward
our faith as yours are. ~fb~
Here
is one more report, this time from a Texas prison:
Dear
Elder Brown: We wanted to give you and your readers an update on
a major blessing that our community experienced during
this year’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. For the first time
ever, the Messianic community of the William G. McConnell
Unit was allowed to properly observe the “Feast days” in a more
Scriptural manner.ch day of the Feast
we were allowed to have three (3) set apart meals, leaven
free, of course, in an isolated environment (chow hall), in
which all aspects of our meals were performed by men of
our own congregation! HalleluYAH!
We
were allowed to prepare our own menus, select and separate our
ingredients, cook/prepare and then serve our own meals with
no one outside our own members involved in any way. Every
meal.. breakfast, lunch and dinner.. was served after the rest
of the unit had been fed and the chow hall had been cleaned of
all leaven and our utensils had been thoroughly washed and ‘set
aside’ for our use.
Our
community/congregation has existed for more than a decade now,
but this is the first time that we have been allowed to
congregate together for meals during F.U.B., much less three
times every day! HalleluYAH!
To our incarcerated brethren, keep the Faith,
brothers! Never compromise and never
give up! Yahweh blesses those who “endure to the
end!” Shalom, Dale Whitworth.
(Ed’s note: I received this additional
information from Dale Whitworth concerning their
Assembly at Beeville. He says: “Another hot
Texas summer has begun as I begin sweating my
way through it. Things have been going well with
our congregation here. We are now averaging 125
at our PM service on the 2nd Sabbath
of the month, and 50 – 75 at the PM service on
the 3rd Sabbath each month.
I am happy to report that during the month of
May 2010 we baptized 13 new brethren into the
family! HalleluYAH! There is a great “awakening”
happening her on the McConnell Unit, and I
praise Yahweh for it!”
The
following short article came to me via email through a third
party. It is calendar-related and I am printing it because of
the calendar “confusion” that comes up about 7 times in a
19-year time cycle – the time when Yahweh’s calendar requires a
13th month be intercalated to keep His Holy Days
within their proper seasons of Spring and Fall.
Probably most of you either know, know of, or have heard of,
Herb Solinsky. He has made extensive studies of calendars, and
particularly Yahweh’s calendar as it relates to His High annual
Sabbaths, over a period of many years.
This
year is one of those leap-years when it is necessary to add a 13th
month (called VeAdar, which means Adar II, Adar being the 12th
month). The myth practiced by most of the Assemblies of today
about searching for “Abib barley” is just that – a man-made myth
that has no Scriptural basis. When the year is begun with the
next new moon after the vernal equinox, that is the month of
Abib (things greening out) and there will always be ripe barley
for the Wave Sheaf offering that is made on the day after the
weekly Sabbath that falls during the days of unleavened bread.
This
is confirmed by Yahshua’s example. He died on the afternoon of
Abib 14 (which was Wednesday that year), same time the Passover
lambs were being sacrificed at the Temple. The sign of His being
the Messiah was to be in the ‘heart of the earth” for three days
and three nights, just as Jonah was in the belly of the great
fish for three days and three nights. (Mat 12:40).
He
was buried very near sunset, just before the start of Abib 15,
the first High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread. Then after three
full days and three full nights, He was resurrected late on the
weekly Sabbath afternoon, just before sunset. When the women
came to the tomb early the next morning (first day of the week),
He had already been raised. When Miriam recognized Him she
wanted to hold onto Him, but He told her not to touch him, as He
had not yet ascended to the Father (John 20:17). But later that
same day, He did allow Himself to be held (Mat. 28:9). He WAS
the True Wave Sheaf offering and He did it, NOT on the day after
the first High Day, as Judaism teaches, but on the first day of
the week (Sunday) that came just after the weekly Sabbath during
Unleavened Bread. He was dead and buried on the 15th,16th,
and 17th of Abib. Now for Herb’s short article:
Equinox and Solstice is
in the Bible
by
Herb Solinsky
The
Hebrew word TKUFAH, Strong's number 8622, occurs four times in
the Bible, Ex 34:22; I Sam 1:20; II Chr 24:23; Ps 19:7. In 1907
when the well-known lexicon by Brown, Driver, and Briggs was
published (see page 880 for TKUFAH), the Dead Sea Scrolls were
not yet discovered and clarifying insightful meanings into some
ancient Hebrew words were not yet available. The Dead Sea
Scrolls use the Hebrew word TKUFAH in contexts before the time
of Christ, and this is now discussed.
In
The Jewish Quarterly Review, volume 58, 1967-1968, pages 309-316
there is a paper published by Sidney B. Hoenig titled, "Textual
Readings and Meanings in Hodayot (I QH)." This is from the Dead
Sea Scrolls. On pages 312-313 he discusses two expressions found
there: one is "TKUFAH of the day" and the other is "at the
appointed time of the night at TKUFAH". Hoenig explains that the
former means "zenith of the day" meaning "noon" and the latter
means "at the appointed time of the night at zenith" meaning
"midnight". It is particularly interesting that in the
expression "at the appointed time of the night at TKUFAH" the
Hebrew word for "appointed time" is MOED, the same word used for
the holy days in Lev 23 and for seasons in Gen 1:14. Thus it is
not foreign to ancient Hebrew to use or associate TKUFAH with
MOED. This use of TKUFAH shows two heavenly bodies, the earth
and sun, interacting on a daily basis so that at astronomically
distinctive points in time TKUFAH refers to those points in
time.
In
The Madrid Qumran Congress, volume 2, edited by Julio Trebolle
Barrera and Luis Vegas Montaner (Leiden: Brill, 1992), there is
a chapter by Johann Maier titled "Shire Olat hash-Shabbat. Some
Observations on their Calendric Implications and on their
Style". On page 146 Maier writes, "The Songs themselves are
attached to the thirteen sabbaths of one quarter or season
(tqufah) of a year, according to the editor the first quarter
(the Nisan season) only." Here we see the Hebrew word TKUFAH
used for the season of spring, which begins with the vernal
equinox and ends with the summer solstice. Here also
astronomically distinctive points in time involving the earth
and sun define a time period called TKUFAH.
The
intertestamental apocryphal Book of Sirach (also known as
Ecclesiasticus) contains the Hebrew word TKUFAH. This book was
written in Hebrew about 190 BCE, but today only incomplete
sections of it have survived, having been discovered with
thousands of other Hebrew texts in the attic of a synagogue in
Cairo, Egypt toward the end of the nineteenth century. The
treasure of texts in that attic which survived for many hundreds
of years is known as the Cairo Geniza. There are many copies of
Sirach in Greek translation, and most of the Hebrew words in
Sirach 43:7 are preserved, one of them being TKUFAH. The Greek
translation for TKUFAH is SUNTELIA (Strong's Greek number 4930)
which means completion, fulfillment, or destruction. These words
indicate a point in time at which some event occurred. In
harmony with this idea, the Jerusalem Bible translates Sirach
43:7, "the moon it is that signals the feasts, a luminary that
wanes after her full". Here "her full" refers to the full moon
and is translated from TKUFAH or SUNTELIA. Here TKUFAH refers to
a natural distinctive time of the moon in its movement about the
earth.
These contexts from the Dead Sea Scrolls and from Sirach from
before the time of Christ show the Hebrew word TKUFAH used to
refer to natural distinctive points or time intervals associated
with the heavenly bodies of the earth, sun, and moon.
In
A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament by
William L. Holladay (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971), on page 394
the word TKUFAH is defined. The parentheses and square brackets
are part of the text of that book by Holladay where he writes
about TKUFAH "turning (of sun at solstice) Ps 19:7; (of the
year, i.e. end of year, at autumnal equinox) Ex 34:22; (of the
days [i.e. of the year] = end of year I Sam 1:20".
In
Ex 34:22 Moses was told, in literal translation, "And you shall
celebrate ... the Feast of Ingathering TKUFAH the year". There
is no Hebrew preposition attached to TKUFAH here. In harmony
with the astronomical uses shown above, this refers to the
autumnal equinox. Certainly Moses was aware of the equinoxes
from the knowledge he gained in his upbringing in Egypt (Acts
7:22), and the fact that the greatest pyramids had one wall
aligned exactly east-west. Only on the days of the equinoxes
does the shadow of a vertical object fall exactly east-west all
day long. The ancients were easily able to determine an
east-west line. Therefore the equinoxes are visible signs of the
sun in relation to the earth and do fall within the purview of
signs in Gen 1:14 "lights in the expanse of the heavens ... for
signs and for festivals and for days and years". Note also that
these, the lights in the sky, are for years. It would take
some specific other Scripture, not some vague implication,
to overturn the signs of the lights in the heavens for
determining the festivals.
I refrained from using references in the Talmud
for TKUFAH to mean an equinox or solstice,
although they have this meaning in the Talmud
many times, because I do not accept the Talmud
as a proper way to establish meanings of
biblical Hebrew words. ~HS (end of article)
Bro.
Darrell and Sister Monica Whitfield’s report:
Greetings in the name of our Master Yahu'shua the Messiah from
The Assembly of Yahweh Called Out Ones of the Messiah,
ministering to those in the Arkansas
Department of Correction. Monica and I have been busy
every sabbath. We go to
Brickey’s Unit twice on Friday evenings
each month, once on Friday evening
to Tucker Maximum unit, and then on sabbath mornings every other
sabbath 1st and third to North Central
Unit, Calico Rock and then 2nd, 4th, and 5th sabbath at
the Cummins Unit .
We have baptized 3 brothers in the precious name of
"Yahu'ah-Yahshua the Messiah" Brother Davidson at Brickey's
Unit, Brother Bedford at the Tucker Max
Unit, and Brother Easter,
at the Calico Rock Unit. We currently have three requests for
baptism in process at the Tucker Max unit, and three at the
Cummins Unit hopefully fulfilled on May
29th when we serve second
Passover to these men. We got into Brickeys, Calico Rock,
and Tucker Max Unit for first Passover and encouraged the men to
walk in the faith. The Calico Rock Unit has a dear Seventh Day
Adventist brother, Jerry Cooper who attended our commemoration
of the Master's death at the North Central Unit in Calico Rock
Arkansas. He has given the men booklets from a man that is a
Seventh Day Adventist who keeps the feast, and the name of
Yahweh, from California.
I want to thank all of you who help us and Brother Frank with
expenses and prayers. I would like to encourage all of you that
read this report to remember those in bonds. We all have
committed sins that are worthy according to Scripture of death
for "the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23, "but the gift of
Yahweh is everlasting life though Yahu'shua the Messiah our
Saviour." Luke 4:16, "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue
on the Sabbath day, and stood up
for to read.4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of
the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found
the place where it was written,4:18 The
Spirit of YHWH is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that
are bruised,4:19 To preach the acceptable year of YHWH." He came
to release those from the bondage they are in.
The word translated “prison” is mentioned about 80 times
throughout the Scriptures. Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of
the Master YHWH is upon me; because YHWH hath anointed me to
preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up
the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound; (2) To
proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh, and the day of vengeance
of our Elohim; to comfort all that mourn;" (3)
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy
for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of YHWH, that he might be
glorified." Part of the ministry of Yahu’shua was “the opening
of the prison to them that are bound” or as Luke is translated
“to set at liberty them that are bruised“.
We are also admonished strongly by Yahu’shua to visit those in
prisons. Please read Mattithyahu 25:33-46. This is
a pretty plain admonishment to us to be about our Fathers
business seeing that when we do it unto the least of these we do
it to His Son, Yahu’shua. I would ask you as my
brothers and sisters to
seriously consider taking up this privilege to visit those in
prisons or to help send others with your tithes and offerings
helping set the captive free!
Thanks! Darrell and Monica Whitfield,
P. O. Box 17122,North Little Rock,
AR,72117.
Search the Scriptures Newsletter
Issue #105, May-June, 2010
P. O. Box 32,
Clarksville, AR 72830-0032 USA
Phone: 1-479-754-2553
Email:
efbrown@search-the-scriptures.org
. or
Phone: 1-479-754-2553
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