Search the scriptures

 Number 99                           Newsletter (Web version)                     May – Jun. 2009

 

  “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, FOR ...THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY OF ME,” JOHN 5:39

Letter from The Editor

G

reetings:  I begin this letter with an apology. Two goof-ups occurred due to not double checking our work.

First, I discovered on April 22, six weeks too late, that the March-April newsletter had not yet been posted to the web page. This may have caused some of you who have no one to meet with, to miss the instructions for keeping the High Sabbaths when alone.

 Second, when we did another printing of the 2009 calendar, we printed it backward, Dec. through Jan., and several were sent out that way. If you got one of these, please write and we will send you a correctly printed one.

It’s nice to have helpers to lay mistakes off on J, but “the buck stops here,” so I take full responsibility. We will try to be more diligent to double-check things in future.

We had a good Passover/Unleavened Bread Feast with the Hendersonville, North Carolina Assembly of Yahweh. Thirty were in attendance Passover night and the First and Last High days, and about 15-20 for the week-day meetings. See photo pg. 11. The theme was the wedding of the Lamb to His Bride, the Assembly, shortly after His return to resurrect the Saints. The teaching was based on Hebrew wedding customs where the Father selects the Son’s bride, then the Son goes to prepare a place for her (John 14:2-3), while she makes herself ready. We are doing that now.

One sister was baptized (she didn’t want her name published) and she and six others had hands laid on to receive the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to reside in their hearts and minds. They obviously already had the Spirit working with them, and now it is IN them. They were Sharon Masters, John & Joyce Rhodes, John Frogge, Mark Trammel, and Dickie Brock. Congratulations to all of you.

Lately requests for literature, booklets, books, etc. have greatly increased. Yahshua said, “Freely ye have received; freely give.” We do follow that guideline. Our literature is free to you, thanks to the generous contributions of others. But it does cost money. When you request items and can afford to make an offering, please do so. You are not paying for what you receive; you are making it possible for someone else to receive something free, too. If you cannot, that is another matter. If you can’t make an offering but want an article, do not hesitate to request it anyway. We are not in the business of “selling the Good News.”

A great many of our readers are prison inmates with very limited means. Even so, many of them make small contributions as they are able, even sending a few postage stamps. Some even tithe regularly on their meager earnings. All this is greatly appreciated. With postage due to rise again on May 11, and the cost of everything else going up too, every “widow’s mite” counts. Postage to other countries is almost prohibitive, especially for large orders of literature. Recently we have had requests from New Zealand, Africa, India, South America and Philippines for large quantities of booklets and articles, mostly for distribution there. All this is good, but the postage costs are very high.

Attention prison inmates – if you want to start an Assembly in your prison, be sure to request the “Instructions for Chapel Accommodations and Steps to be Taken to Have Your Faith Recognized.” We are still having difficulty with an obnoxious chaplain in one of our Arkansas prisons. I have joined forces with Elder Darrell K. Whitfield in an effort to right this wrong. Elder Whitfield is able and willing to visit that unit once a month for a Sabbath service, but has been denied.  In addition, there are 8 or 9 men in his unit who want to be baptized by us, and he is censoring who can and cannot be admitted to that unit. Both of us have been refused. Please pray about this blatant attempt to force his will on these Yahwist men.

Thanks to a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous, we are able to continue distributing copies of Sacred Name Bibles, namely “The Scriptures,” and “The Word of Yahweh” to those who are truly indigent and cannot afford to buy one. We do accept donations of any amount to continue the program, but if you are indigent and cannot afford to make an offering, we will send it anyway, as finances allow. Soft-back only; hardbacks unavailable.  

We are also offering a small concordance under the same conditions. The donor found a Cruden’s soft back concordance that lists most words in the KJV Scriptures and shows where to find it, but does not have a dictionary to give word meanings. It is very useful for finding a scripture if you know some of the key words in the passage, but cannot remember where it is in the Bible. An appropriate offering for the Bible is $25, and for the concordance, $10 or whatever amount you can afford. Thanks.

Please note: Barrie A. Wittrock, Director, Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge, just informed me that they have found a piece of property for sale that is suitable for the Work’s headquarters, where they can house and train newly released prison inmates to be productive citizens instead of returning to their old ways. It is located in a rural area off Hwy. 63, north of Rolla, MO. It has a good 10,000 s.f. building with some roof damage; a well, lagoon, 2 RV or mobile home sites, already set up. Plenty of room (10 acres) for expansion, a garden, etc. But funds are needed to purchase it. Yahweh's Assembly in Messiah, Rocheport, MO is helping. If you can help by sending a special offering, send it to YAIM, 401 No. Roby Farm Rd., Rocheport, MO 65279, and mark it "For Yahweh's Vineyard of Refuge." Thank you very much!

Prison inmates please note: An inmate responded to my short comment on Kosher diets with what I think is a very good idea: He got on a vegetarian diet and says he now gets more food, better food, and more dessert J. He cited Daniel’s situation in Daniel chapter one, especially verses 5-16. Note verse 8, he didn’t want to defile himself with the king’s meat. ~

Assembly leaders please note: The South Bay, FL Assembly of Yahweh is in need of a sponsor for the High Sabbath Set-Apart-Days, to buy supplies they need to keep the Feasts. If you or your Assembly could help them out, here is the address to send offerings: The Amen Foundation, 6817 Southwest 11th St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33023, or directly to Deacon Agustin J. Rodriguez #392323, PO Box 7171, B4 209L, South Bay, FL 33493-7171. “All donations appreciated!” A. J. Rodriguez. ~

Until next time, Shalom –

 Frank Brown     ~

 Please note email address: This will discontinue the “efbrown2@centurytel.net” address, but I will still receive emails at that address for awhile yet. This one, efbrown@search-the-scriptures.org. will continue to be active. It is hard to change email addresses due to the huge amount of literature that has been published and sent out with the old address on it.

Attention prison inmates – if you want to start an Assembly in your prison, be sure to request the “Instructions for Chapel Accommodations and Steps to be Taken to Have Your Faith Recognized.” See announcement elsewhere in this publication. Request from us at PO Box 32, Clarksville, AR 72830.

Thanks to a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous, we are able to buy more copies of Sacred Name Bibles, namely “The Scriptures,” and “The Word of Yahweh” for giving to those who desire one but cannot afford to buy one. We do accept offerings to continue the program, but if you are indigent and cannot afford to make an offering, tell us and we will send it anyway, as finances allow.

He has also asked us to offer a concordance under the same conditions. He found a Cruden’s soft back concordance that lists most words in the KJV Scriptures and shows where to find it, but does not have a dictionary to give word meanings. It is very useful for finding a scripture if you know some of the key words in the passage, but cannot remember where it is in the Bible.

An appropriate offering for the Bible is $25, and for the concordance, $10; or whatever you can afford.

 

Until next time, Shalom –  Frank Brown     ~

 

 

Weekly Meeting Schedule

(All Arkansas meetings are at 10:30 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 at 1-479-754-2553, or Clayton Shaeffer at 1-870-448-5542

Second Sabbath of each month, Community Building in downtown Hartman, AR. Call me, Frank Brown, at 479-754-2553, for more information.

Third Sabbath, Open

Fourth Sabbath of each month, Community Room of the Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR.  Call Jim Biggs at 479-474-3348, or me at 479-754-2553 for more information.  

Please note: Fort Smith area Sabbath Bible studies and 3rd and 5th Sabbath Convocations: Call Michael and Lucy Mastropaolo at 479-928-5005 for time and location.

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 a dining area, a nursery and private rooms for counseling, etc. Time, 1:00 pm. Meal afterward. For more info, Elder Woodrow Pryor, 1-864-457-2912.

 

Expected New Moons in 2009:

(Visible after sundown on the dates listed):

(New Moon Day is the day after the sighting).

Jan. 27; Feb. 26; Mar. 27; Apr. 26; May 25; Jun. 23; Jul. 23; Aug. 21; Sep. 20; Oct. 20; Nov. 18; Dec. 17.

Solstices and Equinoxes in 2009:

Spring began 6:44 AM, March 20 (Spring Equinox);
Summer begins 12:46 AM, June 21 (Summer Solstice);
Fall begins 4:19 PM, Sept. 22 (Autumnal Equinox);
Winter begins 11:47 AM, Dec. 21 (Winter Solstice).

Schedule of 2009 Feast Days:
(Based on expected visual sighting of the New Moons
and subject to correction)

First Day of New Year, Mar. 28; Passover, April 10; Feast of Unleavened Bread, April 11-17; Wave Sheaf Day, April 12; Shavuot (Pentecost), May 31; Trumpets Sept. 21; Atonement (the Fast Day) Sept. 30; Tabernacles Oct. 5-11; Last Great Day Oct. 12.

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~

Resources
[Please Note: Opinions expressed in this newsletter by others may or may not reflect the views of the Editor or of this Assembly]

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.”

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.

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 back) $30 postpaid.

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.

New Fellowship Finder: Two sites are compiling lists of Believers, Assemblies and articles. Check out these two:

http://www.godstruth.net/  The name is The Assembly Of The Eternal and address is Vancouver, BC. Canada (Peter Skinder)

http://www.intergate.com/~jcordaro/  Assembly meets at homes in Lillington, North Carolina (John Cordaro)

Fellowship finder: (The administrator says): “Please note – this is not my site, but is posted by another Believer to aid those searching for a group or for individuals to fellowship with. If you have a local Assembly or a fellowship group, you may post it, too. Here is a basic list of the new capabilities:
* Ability to edit or delete your own listings.
* Searchable database that includes all foreign countries as well as Canadian provinces. 
* Email address and other contact information is no longer public. Others contact you and you can respond through an internal mailing system. You choose when to give out more information.
* Option to provide your phone number and address to the system administrator (myself) in case your email address changes and you forget to update your listing. I can then let you know that others are trying to contact you but your email address isn’t working.
* Optional email notification when someone from your area posts a new entry to the list.
* Ability to upload a photo or graphic along with your entry.
Again, if you have posted to the old Fellowship Finder, you will need to make an entry to the new one. Go to
http://www.eliyah.com/fellowship/ to make a new entry. The old list will continue to be available for reference but will not accept any new entries. If you have any questions, contact me at
http://www.eliyah.com/contact.html. May Yahweh continue to use this as a way to bring His people together.

With love in His Service, EliYah”

 

Web sites for young believers who have access to the internet. There is a Youth Forum and a Youth Chat room. The sites are: http://eliyah.com/youth/forum/index.html

On this site young people can post a message, ask a question, an answer or whatever. All new posts can also be sent to you by email. http://eliyah.com/youth/chat.html

It is easy to log in. You can then type messages for those logged in to see.  Try it at 8 to 9 PM Eastern time.

http://scripturalhelps.org/purity.htm

 (The Blessings of Purity) [Note The URL change]

http://scripturalhelps.org [note The URL change]

 (Some good family information – Scriptural helps)

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 $9.95, 4 for $20, 10 or more, $3.75 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 Arabic 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.)

Announcements

New outreach work in Rolla, MO. Called Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge, P .O. Box 595, Rolla, MO 65402-0595. The director, Barrie A. Wittrock, says their short-term goal is “an aftercare program and encouragement for prison inmates and people just being released from prison,” while the long-term goal is “to see people giving back to their communities through Yahweh.”

He is looking for strong people who are dedicated to following Yahweh to help with this work, and also Yahwist inmates who are in need of help. Many of you have written to me with requests for help of various kinds, and I have referred a few to him. But instead of going to him through me, I suggest that you who are in need of some assistance (trouble getting a kosher diet, trouble being able to keep Sabbath, being unjustly persecuted for your beliefs in other ways, parole issues, etc.), write to him directly at the above address and explain your problem.

He is getting Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge organized, and has asked Elder Pete Vacca and Ed Burgett of the Rocheport, MO YAIM and me to serve on the Board of Directors. We have agreed to do so. The aim of the organization is to not to just assist newly released ex-inmates make the transition back into society, but to train them to give back to the community by serving others.

Also, he has a sheet of instructions that explains your rights as prison inmates to assemble for Sabbath worship services and tells you how to go about getting approved. You can request one from him, or from me. ~

New Assembly in Lexington, KY. Bro. Ricardo Angolano has announced his intent to start a fellowship in the Lexington area. If you are in his area, contact him at phone # 859-253-9745).

Custom or LAW?

By Gary Anderson

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n most any subject in the Bible, folks seem to have different viewpoints.  Even among us, there are different ones.

One of the larger of the denominations among the  Christian churches has a custom that if you darken the door of their church, and are of the female persuasion, you’ll be handed a scarf, or some cloth to put over your head.  This, of course, is the Catholic Church, and they base their viewpoint on scriptures found in Corinthians.

Today, I’m going to show how others reach a DIFFERENT viewpoint than the Catholics have.

 I heard a fellow one time give about a 2 hour (seemed like it anyway) talk “proving” that women SHOULD have their heads covered, using the same scriptures that the Catholics do.  I won’t be taking up 2 hours of your time with this article, and I WON’T, as he did, be saying: “IF YOU DON’T SEE IT THIS WAY, YOU’RE WRONG!!!”

Let’s start out with a fellow that finds himself on a deserted tropic island... we’ll call him DID. (Deserted Island Dude) DID finds himself alone, and he finds the previous occupant of the island has left living quarters, and a collection of different Bible translations, a Bible Dictionary, and Strong’s Concordance, and a Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown (JFB) Commentary.  DID decides to read the Bible.  He goes through creation, the flood, Abraham, the Exodus, and comes to the setting up of the priesthood. 

Aaron’s sons get ZAPPED for offering “strange fire”.  Le 10:1 ¶ And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

DID thinks to himself: Yahweh is SERIOUS about folks doing what he instructed!!!

He reads on, and finally comes to Corinthians:

1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of the Messiah. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is Yahweh. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

DID has an epiphany: THAT’S where they get the custom of men taking off whatever they have on their head when someone says: “Let us pray”!  Then he says:  HUH???  THAT doesn’t make sense...  You mean I have to take off my hat every time I pray, or come into the presence of Yahweh????  He looks into his concordance, and finds NO command in Torah that he should take off his hat, or scarf, or whatever cloth he has on his head. He CAN’T find ANY command like that.  THEN, he remembers something, and he goes flipping back through his Bible, to: 

Ex 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. (KJV)

He thinks he knows what a mitre is, but he looks in his Bible Dictionary, and finds:

Mitre (Heb mitsnepheth), something rolled round the head; the turban or head-dress of the high priest (Ex 28:4,37,39; 29:6, etc.). In the Authorized Version of Eze 21:26, this Hebrew word is rendered "diadem," but in the Revised Version, "mitre." It was a twisted band of fine linen, 8 yards in length, coiled into the form of a cap, and worn on official occasions (Le 8:9; 16:4; Zec 3:5). On the front of it was a golden plate with the inscription, "Holiness to Yahweh." The mitsnepheth differed from the mitre or head-dress (migba'ah) of the common priest. (See Bonnet.)

He gets his Pictorial Bible Dictionary, and looks up “Priest”, and sees a drawing of a priest with a cloth turban on his head.

He tells himself: SEE???  It doesn’t make sense,,, the priests were ORDERED to wear head coverings when they came before Yahweh, and would they jerk it off when they came into His presence?  After what happened to Aaron’s sons, one wouldn’t think they’d dare!  So, WHAT is Paul talking about when he’s talking about covering? DID reads on:

 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

DID has ANOTHER epiphany: Ah HAH!!!  THAT’S where they get the custom of a woman wearing a “chapel veil” in the Catholic Church.  Then he says to himself: IF a woman doesn’t have a scarf on, she dishonors her husband? He goes flipping through his Strong’s Concordance, and finds that there’s NOTHING in the Torah that commands a woman to wear a scarf.  THIS just doesn’t make sense.  Besides, he says to himself, IF it isn’t talking about the MAN’S “covering” on his head being a cloth, hat, etc., and obviously it isn’t, because the priests were COMMANDED to wear a cloth on their head, it’s NOT talking about that with the woman either. 

He thinks a little, and then looks up a couple of places in the Old Testament, that he remembers about women being covered:

Ge 24:61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62  And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

Well, says DID to himself, Rebekah covered herself, let’s look and see what the other translations might say, and they didn’t help, because they all basically said the same thing.  He checks his JFB commentary and finds:

The CUSTOM in THOSE DAYS was that the veil was an essential part of female dress. In country places it is often thrown aside, but on the appearance of a stranger, it is drawn over the face, as to conceal all but the eyes. It was a sign of modesty and chastity, and in a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her husband. 

DID says,,, “That makes sense,,,  it was a CUSTOM... she wasn’t wearing it with the folks that she was traveling with in the camel train, and only put it on when a “stranger” appeared, since she wasn’t anyone’s bride at that time.”  DID thinks to himself: “Maybe it was because she considered herself ‘betrothed’”.  Then he says, NO, if we go by what the scripture tells us, Abraham’s servant told her it was his master out there; for all Rebekah knew, that was Abraham, the servant’s master, so it appears that she did it because it was a stranger.  DID smiles to himself, thinking, that if a woman wanted to follow the custom in the OT, she’d have to wear a hood, or Burqa to only have her eyes showing.

Then DID flips over to the other place he can think of, which is in NUMBERS 5:  and reads about when a man gets jealous of his wife:

Nu 5:11 ¶ And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,13 And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; 14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled 15 Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh:17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:18 And the priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:

AHHHH, says DID,,, he has never seen a command in the Torah for a woman to cover her head, but here it’s mentioned “UNCOVER”... let’s see what the other translations say: and he finds of the 13 different translations of the bible he has, 5 of them say uncover her head, and the other 8 say: The Priest is to: let the hair of the woman go loose, unbind the hair of the woman’s head, loosen the woman’s hair, and one says dishevel the woman’s hair.  So, he says to himself, the MAJORITY of these translators read the Hebrew and translate it having the “COVER” being the woman’s hair. 

He decides that the LAW doesn’t command a woman to wear a cloth on her head, but that it was just a custom in those days.

And he reads on in I Cor. 11, to see if he can make sense out of what Paul is saying:

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of Yahweh: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in Yahweh. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of Yahweh. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto Yahweh uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

DID says: NOW WHAT???  Paul suddenly jumped to HAIR, and SHORT hair on a man.... and he reads on:

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

DID has an epiphany!!! AH HAH!!!  In a woman, LONG HAIR = COVERING!!!  Paul is talking about HAIR LENGTH when he’s been talking about men and women being covered or uncovered!!!  With the man he couldn’t have been talking about a hat, or scarf, because of what Yahweh ordered the priests to do when they came before him.

 SOOOOO, says DID to himself, Paul has given us the KEY to what he’s talking about when he says “covered”, by telling us that the covering for a woman is her HAIR.   Let’s see if it will fit, and make sense that way, by substituting the appropriate hair length for men and women into the places where Paul used the word “covered”, or “uncovered”, etc.   So he reads I Cor. 11: with those substitutions in the appropriate places to see if it makes sense.  He also puts in Messiah, and Husband in the appropriate places:

1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Messiah. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Messiah; and the head of the woman is her husband; and the head of Messiah is Yahweh. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having LONG HAIR, dishonoureth Messiah. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with SHORT HAIR dishonoureth her husband: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman has not LONG HAIR, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her have LONG HAIR. 7 For a man indeed ought NOT to have LONG HAIR, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of Yahweh: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have LONG HAIR on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in Yahweh. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of Yahweh. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto Yahweh with SHORT HAIR? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have LONG HAIR, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have LONG HAIR, it is a GLORY to her: for her HAIR is given her for a COVERING.

DID says to himself: YEAH, now THAT makes sense.  And he comes to the viewpoint that men don’t have to yank off their hats, and women don’t have to wear a scarf, or chapel veil, when they come before Yahweh. It’s just a custom, and not a law of the Torah.

In conclusion, I’ll have to say that I agree with DID in his viewpoint, and IF YOU DON’T SEE IT THIS WAY, then that’s OK.  We can still be brothers and sisters; we’ll just be brothers and sisters with a different viewpoint. HALLELUYAH! ~

 

Email Forward From Jeannie Mitchell:

O

ne of the oldest Scriptural texts ever found contained the name Yahweh. A silver amulet dating back about 2,600 years (600 years before the birth of the Messiah) contains a seventh century extract from the Book of Numbers (6:24-26). It was part of a treasure found by a Tel Aviv University archaeologist in a First Temple Period family tomb in Jerusalem. When this amulet was written the Temple of Solomon still stood, the heirs of King David ruled and the Dead Sea Scrolls would not even be written for another 400 years. After three years of technological care the amulet was unrolled at the Israel Museum. The name of Yahweh was clearly read.
The Jerusalem Post issues 6-26-86 and 8-9-86 and the 6-87 issue of The Readers Digest). There are any number of reference books also that show evidence that Yahweh is, indeed, the name of the Creator. Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 1957, states, "Yahweh: the Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHWH) traditionally pronounced "Jehovah" is now known to be correctly vocalized as *"ya-way." –Elijah  (*Ya with an “AH” sound, as in “bah”).

Side Note: Since according to Scriptures, the Son came in His Father’s Name, then it would follow that “ya-shua” would be the pronunciation of the Messiah’s name which literally means “Yah is salvation” or “Salvation of Yah.”

 Exodus 3:15 (King James Version)

 15And Yahweh said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my Name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Thank you, Jeannie for forwarding this tidbit. I remember that article in the June 1987 Readers Digest, and still have it filed away somewhere. I had only known the Father’s Name for two years at that time, and it was a nice boost to my new Faith. ~

Wedding

Barrie Wittrock and Melissa Taylor of Rolla, MO became one in Yahweh on May 3, 2009, at Rolla, MO. The wedding ceremony was performed by Elder Hector Castillo of Chicago, IL, and a blessing was said for the couple by Elder George Garner of the Rocheport, MO Assembly. Music was provided by “Quodesh,” two sons of Elder Hector. Barrie is the Director of Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge, Rolla, MO. The couple will be at home in Rolla. They wish to thank everyone who attended.

Left to Right, Melissa & Barrie Wittrock; Elder Hector Castillo

 

Births

To Gabriel and Sady (Bornhoft)DeLapp, a son, Silas Gavriel, born May 2, 2009, weighing 8 lb 11 oz. He joins his sibling, Shiloh. Sady is Neil Bornhoft’s daughter. She and her brother, Zack, played and sang for us at the FOT at Taneyville, MO in 2005).

Obituary

William "Gary" Maynard of Rising Star, TX, passed away at a hospital in Abilene, TX on Sunday, April 26, 2009. He was 67 years old. He is survived by his wife, Beth, a sister, Sara, of Abilene, a brother, Jerald, of Rising Star, TX, a brother, Worley, of Humble, TX, Step-son Paul Brown of Cisco, three daughters and numerous grandchildren and many friends.  He attended the Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day of Cisco, TX. Graveside service and burial was at 2 PM, April 28, at Romney Cemetery. ~

Putting Sin Out
Examining Ourselves Daily
By Frank Brown

Passover/Unleavened Bread is over for another year. We symbolically put sin out of our lives, but have we really? Did we get ALL the sin out? Or was it just symbolic? We must examine ourselves, and not just before Passover, but on a daily basis.

(1 Cor 11:26-32 NRSV)  "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Master's death until he comes. {27} Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Master. {28} Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. {30} For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. {31} But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. {32} But when we are judged by the Master, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."

(2 Cor 13:5 NRSV)  "Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!"

We must find our own faults, and not those of our neighbor’s. Pointing a finger at others leaves three pointing back at us.

I’ve picked out four areas that I believe are troublesome for most of us, more than some others, based on my own experiences. They are harder to overcome and easier to slip up on. Then I will give some ways to cope with these things:

(1) Anger – wrath: Do you fly off the handle easily? Easily provoked?

(Prov 14:17a NRSV)  "One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly, ..."

 (Rom 12:18-19 KJV)  "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Master."

(Eph 4:26-27 NRSV)  "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, {27} and do not make room for the devil."

(James 1:19-20 NRSV)  "You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for your anger does not produce YAHWEH's righteousness."

 

(2) The Evil Tongue (La Shon Hara): James 3. Gossiping, tale-bearing, lying, slander. Or just talking about a brother or sister in a negative way to others.

(Psa 39:1 NRSV)  "I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.""

(James 3:1-6 NRSV)  "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. {2} For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. {3} If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. {4} Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. {5} So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! {6} And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell." (Gehenna.)

Go ahead and read the rest of this chapter.

The tongue likely gets us into more trouble than any other member of our bodies. It can cause us to sin, thus incurring Yahweh’s displeasure, AND cause trouble with other people. So it is as the old saying says, “It’s better to be quiet and let people think you’re dumb than to open your mouth and prove it.”

(3) Pride & Vanity: Do you have a tendency to boast, especially around “new” people you are meeting for the first time? Don’t! First impressions are extremely important, and this is not the time to impress others with how smart you are. This #3 overlaps a bit with #2, but that’s OK.

(Prov 8:13 KJV)  "The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (“Froward mouth” is translated “perverted speech” in the NRSV)

(Prov 16:18 KJV)  "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

(Prov 29:23 KJV)  "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."

(Mark 7:21-23 NRSV)  "For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.""

We have a tendency to think we are the center of the universe and everything revolves around “the big I.” That’s called “I” trouble. We must have a humble, quiet, meek spirit. If we are loud and brassy, given to braggadocio and cockiness, we are not doing Yahweh’s will. We are not pleasing in His sight. This does not mean to become a “Mr. or Mrs. Milquetoast,” with nothing to say, or to withdraw with shyness completely. Learn to strike a balance. Speak up with vigor at the appropriate time, state your case, then listen. Yahweh gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason – we should listen twice as much as we speak J.

If we are witnessing to others, do NOT let their responses anger or upset you. This is about the worst example you could set, other than giving them wrong information. If they seem not to want to hear, or become argumentative, then drop the subject. A no-no: “I am right and you’re wrong, so there!”

(4) Hidden Sins: The biggest of these is LUST, and usually lust of the flesh. Lust for money and power, for me, is zero; but it is a problem for some, especially these industrial and financial CEOs with their huge salaries and bonuses. We could also include politicians who think big government is the answer to all our problems, and the more power they wield, the better off we will be. WRONG! Man’s government IS the problem. There will be no peace until Yahweh sends His Son back to claim His bride and set up the righteous Kingdom of Yahweh here on earth. May He hasten that day!

But the flesh is another matter, and common to all. Sexual sins are the most widespread among the general population, and more especially among men. Yahweh made us this way to insure that the human race would survive and grow to populate the earth. But perversion quickly set in, so much so that He destroyed all life and started over with Noah and his family. But not long after, the world had again become so corrupt, and especially in  the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, that He decided to send destruction on them.

Today He is giving us enough rope to hang ourselves, and we are doing it. He is already bringing some of the plagues and curses that He promised (in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and other Scriptures) upon us.  Many of these things have happened down through the years to His disobedient people, but as someone once said, “We ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!” Just wait until the end-time calamities grow progressively worse and worse to the point that neither we nor our children will survive without His divine protection. What about the world-wide “natural” calamities we are now experiencing? Volcanoes, brush and forest fires, drought, failed crops, torrential rains and floods, tsunamis, tornados, hurricanes,  global warming, or is it cooling? Scientists are confused, not realizing that these cycles are normal and not man-made.

Then there are the man-made disasters. Swine flu, bird flu, avian flu, plain old common flu; E coli from tomatoes – no, spinach – no, peanut butter – no, well, we don’t know. Just stop eating?

Wars in diverse places; famine, starvation, disease epidemics; AIDS, cancer, heart disease, diabetes. Universal government - sanctified holocaust. 6 million Jews? Terrible, but a mere drop in the bucket compared to the huge uncountable number of innocent children who were cruelly murdered before they could even draw the breath of life.

Crime against some of those who survive – sex perverts prey on the littlest of them. Old people are robbed and murdered by thugs among us. Husbands and fathers abuse their wives and children.

Millions of little children go to bed hungry every night due to ambitious, prideful dictators who confiscate for themselves aid given by generous donors. Trillions of dollars given by (sometimes) overgenerous citizens and governments to nations in need is diverted to the dictator, his minions, and his armed forces. Case in point, North Korea’s Kim Il Jong, also Rwanda, Sudan, Palestinian leaders (Hamas) in the West Bank, etc. They don’t care about their people. Self-aggrandizement is their only interest.

Sorry, I got sidetracked. Now back to the subject:

Please read First Corinthians 10:1-21, and 1 John 2:15-16. While the world as we know it is collapsing around our ears, we go blithely on our way, ignoring all the signs of impending doom, and refusing to repent.

We tend to cover up these fleshly sins, maybe not even recognizing that they are there, or for sure, we don’t want anyone else to know they are there! BUT they are. We are mostly carnal and we MUST root these out and overcome them. Sexual sins that are especially equated with idolatry, are an abomination to Yahweh.

How to overcome: The first thing we must do is to get control of our minds. All sin begins there. If we can control our minds, we can control our emotions. If we let our minds have free rein, they will inevitably gravitate toward evil. So how do we get control of our minds? Assuming that we have Yahweh’s Spirit dwelling in our minds, or at least working WITH us, to lead us into Truth, do these things:

Study the Word: 2 Tim 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto YAHWEH, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (discerning) the word of truth.

Meditate on His Law, and on what Yahshua did for us: (Josh 1:8 KJV)  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

(John 3:16 KJV)  "For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Remember that He laid down His life for us, to pay a debt that we could not pay. He didn’t have to. You see, we are under a death penalty, and unless we accept His sacrifice for us and then obey, we WILL die an eternal death.

 

(Psa 1:1-2 KJV)  "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the unrighteous, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {2} But his delight is in the law of the MASTER; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

 

(1 Tim 4:15-16 KJV)  "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. {16} Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

 

(Gal 2:20 NRSV)  "and it is no longer I who live, but it is the Messiah who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Yah, who loved me and gave himself for me."

 

Pray daily and diligently. Many Scriptures tell us to pray, and also HOW to pray.

By doing these things, we grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).

Remember, He does not want hearers only, but doers!

May Yahweh bless us as we take these things to heart and DO them!

HalleluYAH! ~

 

Current World Events

I touched on world events in the short item above, but I also want to mention a few other things that have come to my attention lately. Some of our national leader, Pres. Obama’s, ideas seem intent on turning us (USA) into a third world country. Then include plans to place us under the authority of the United Nations, making US citizens subject to their international laws instead of our own Constitution, which has served us fairly well for over 200 years now. That’s change, all right!

He has signed a bill to fund abortions (a particularly ugly form of holocaust) in foreign countries as well as here. We as a nation will pay dearly for this human sacrifice of the most innocent among us, to the gods of “choice.” Now they want to export our sins to other nations, too.

He thinks that by cozying up to those who have vowed before their moon-god, Allah, to slaughter us, they will see how “nice” we are, and thus be nice to us. This is naiveté to the extreme. Some synonyms for naiveté are innocence, gullibility, and inexperience. He has exhibited all these and more in the short 100+ days he has been in charge. Does he have a plan? OR is he being inspired by spiritual forces in dark places?

Is it all just him? Oh no! He has plenty of help. None of these things could happen without the consent of Congress, a pitiable assembly of self-serving mis-leaders, cheats and liars who are busily feathering their own nests to the detriment of those they promised to represent.

His choice to head the federal Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has branded those among us who oppose abortion and “gay” marriages “terrorists,” and says that we are more of a threat to national security than any of the radical Islamist extremists. If this is not a national insult to every right-thinking American, I don’t know what is!

There is a bill before Congress now that would make at least thirty (30) sex perversions protected by law, including pedophilia. This is the “hate crimes” bill that would get violators longer prison terms for crimes against any of these people.

He and they are hell-bent to take our guns, too, or at least make them ineffective by limiting and controlling ammunition.

Then there is “national health care,” which has been pushed for years by liberal democrats such as Senator Ted Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others. All we have to do to find out how this would work is to take a close look at the Veterans Administration and how their hospitals and outpatient facilities are run. Remember Walter Reed Hospital in DC?

Meanwhile, the Islamics inch ever closer with their Shaira law. One Islamic radical cleric on Tangle.com just explained to his followers that one man coming across the US border from Mexico with only 4 pounds of anthrax could spread it around and within an hour, kill three hundred thousand Americans. He said this would make 9-11 look like child’s play. Impossible? Hardly. They smuggle illegal drugs and guns (not to mention $$cash) back and forth across the border every day.

Another video on youtube.com shows the demographics of Moslem immigration and birth rates. According to the narrator, it takes at least a 2.1 birth rate per couple for a nation to sustain itself. And ALL major nations, including the US, Europe, and the far East (China, Japan, India) only average a 1.8 birth rate. The US and most of Europe have less than that. Compare these rates with the Moslem’s 8.1 birth rate. To make it simpler, we don’t produce enough children to replace ourselves, while the Moslems are doing about 400 % better than we are. Soon, demographers say, many nations in Europe will have a Moslem majority. The US will take a few years longer. Can Sharia law be far behind?

A certain Scripture comes to mind here: (Deu 28:43 KJV)  "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low." [Did we REALLY know the man who became president? Not I – he seems a stranger to everything American.]

(Deu 28:48-50 KJV)  "Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which Yahweh shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. {49} Yahweh shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; {50} A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young:"

To sum up, our nation and our world is changing – drastically. We must be prepared or perish. Whether it happens in our lifetimes or not, we must at all times be prepared. Whether we survive physically or not, if we are ready, we will make it into His Glorious Kingdom. This is our ultimate goal. Be strong and don’t give up, as many will. See 2 Peter 3:3-4 &  Mat. 24:12-13. ~

 

(This letter is from the Director of Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge,
 You may phone him at 573-201-9337)

 

Yahweh’s Vineyard of Refuge

PO Box 595

Rolla, MO 65402-0595

Greetings to everyone in the Mighty Name of Yahweh!  Thanks for all the letters of encouragement and interest in our progress as an outreach program. Most of all, thanks for all of the prayers.

First of all, I have several announcements to make. Brother Shannon Northrip has been released from prison on March 5th., and he has made the decision to help with the day to day planning and building of this outreach program...Among other things he is helping me with the letter writing which frees me up to handle other things pertaining to the ministry. This will be a blessing to everyone because the high volume of letters makes it difficult for me to keep up and answer everyone in a timely manner. Getting to know each of you individually is a priority for us because our brothers in chains are the No.1 reason why we exist. I hope and pray that more of you eventually get out and join us here as we progress in Yahshua’s calling. It is our vision to build a solid staff of ex-prisoners who will handle all aspects of this ministry, not only helping other prisoners, but helping the communities we reside in. For those of you who are not being released soon., there is an important work for you to do right where you are.

1Pet.2:9-12  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were no people but now you are Yahweh’s people. You had not received mercy but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep way from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.                                                                                  

Maintain good conduct among the gentiles so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify Yahweh on the day of visitation.

            The next thing I’d like to mention is our board of directors. I believe that Yahweh has opened the hearts of some very capable and dedicated men of Yahweh to sit on our board of directors. Frank Brown, Pete Vacca and Ed Burgett are all dedicated and very devoted men of Yahweh whom I believe will see this project to full bloom. Yahweh in His own time is sending us those that we need to turn a vision into a reality. Praise Yahweh!

Finally I want each of you who read this to know you’re not alone in this world.  Elder Brown’s newsletter reaches a large number of prisoners in The United States. There are some who are all alone in their study of Yahweh’s word and there are others who are in large assemblies behind the walls.. With over 1000 state  prisons in the United States it is evident that there is an explosion of the Yahwist faith going on behind these walls. Almost every follower of Yahweh is going through some kind of trial or tribulation. I would like for us all to pray for each other as we peacefully search for the truth of Yahweh. Think of and pray for all of your brothers and sisters who after last count are lying in their beds quietly thinking and praying that very same thing. 

Shalom in Yahshua, Barrie Wittrock, Director ~                

 

NC D.U.B. Meeting. Front, Elder Woodrow & Beth Pryor

Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, 2009

 

T

his is the third of the seven annual High Sabbaths, the first and last days of Unleavened Bread being the first two. It is the only one that has to be counted. All the others have a Hebrew calendar date, falling on the same day each lunar year. This year it falls on Sunday, May 31.

The instructions are found in Leviticus 23, beginning in verse 10: “…when ye… reap the harvest…bring a sheaf of the firstfruits to the priest.” V. 11: the priest waves the sheaf before Yahweh, “…to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.”

Many do not understand which Sabbath is meant here. All agree that this occurs during the seven days of Unleavened Bread, but is it the High Sabbath, the 15th of Abib, or is it the weekly Sabbath that occurs during UB? I have a booklet, “The Scriptural Count to Pentecost,”that you can request for more details, but I want to share three things with you in this short article:

1)      Why I believe observation of the New Moon is proper and necessary, and therefore the Jewish calendar that we formerly followed is in error;

2)      Why I believe the count to Pentecost begins with the WEEKLY Sabbath during UB and NOT with the first Holy Day of UB; and

First, Observing the New Moon. 

There is no logic to the present-day Jewish calculated calendar, which often declares a new moon before it can be seen in the western sky. Visible sightings were used up until at least the Diaspora in 70 CE and about 100 years afterward. History proves this; Jewish writings proves this; Scripture requires it. 

Even the Jews admit that their present calendar is neither accurate nor Biblical. Hillel II invented a new calendar in the 4th century, including unscriptural postponements. A sect of the Jews further changed it in 801 CE, to include even more postponements. Postponements are nowhere mentioned in Scripture and were added for their own convenience. NOT ALL JEWS by any stretch accepted this method. Many sects kept observing visible moons.

Gen 1:14-18; Psa. 104:19 (moon for seasons, moeds. Holy Days or Appointed times. To give LIGHT. Heavenly lights set the seasons. A "dark" moon gives no light. In fact, the word "month" comes from two principal Hebrew words, Chodesh, meaning to be new, and Yerach, meaning lumination, i.e., "new shining" or "new lumination." So the Moon must be visible to be Scriptural.

Paul's mention of the Jews keeping the oracles of Yahweh (Rom. 3:2) simply means that unto them were committed the preserving of the Scriptures - not permission to alter or change things.

Second, Which  Sabbath?

Read Lev 23:5-16, 21; The "Sabbath" is mentioned only as a point of reference. The important thing is that it is the DAY AFTER the Sabbath. But what Sabbath? The weekly Sabbath, and here is why:

Lev 23:11  And he shall wave the sheaf before YHWH, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath (7676) the priest shall wave it.Lev 23:15-16  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, (7676) from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath (7676) shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meal offering unto YHWH.

When did Yahshua become our wave sheaf offering?  Well, let's see: Wed. the 14th - He died and was buried. Thur. the 15th - High Day, Yahshua is in the tomb. Fri. the 16th, He is in the Tomb. weekly preparation. Sabbath the 17th, He is in the tomb until just before sunset, when He was Resurrected! He appears to the women Sunday morning the 18th, early, then goes to the Father to be accepted as the Firstfruits offering.

If the count was from the first High Day (called simply a Holy Convocation, Lev 23:7), then He would have to be the firstfruits on Friday the 16th, the day after the High Day on Thursday. But He was not - it was Sunday. He was in the tomb on Friday.

Also NOWHERE in the Old Testament are any of the Holy Days called Sabbaths EXCEPT ATONEMENT (Lev. 16:31). Trumpets, and first and last day of Tabs are translated Sabbaths in KJV, but is from a different word, H7677, Shabbathown. All three Spring Feasts are called simply holy convocations.

After carefully considering all these things, I concluded that it is impossible for Yahweh to have meant to start the count to Pentecost from the first High Day of UB, but rather, it had to be the first day of the week (Sunday) which falls within the days of UB, after a weekly Sabbath, whether or not the weekly Sabbath itself is within the days. So it, the DAY AFTER, must be within the Days of UB, and not necessarily the Sabbath.

So, what is the purpose of Shavuot – Pentecost? Is it just a day to meet with no purpose other than to worship Yahweh? No, indeed! It has great significance. The Law (Torah) summed up in the Ten Commandments was given to Israel on this day. They left Egypt on the 15th, first day of UB; crossed the Red Sea, getting out of Egypt, a type of sin, on the 21st of the first month. Then they journeyed on to Sinai, followed Yahweh’s instructions to prepare themselves, and then on the appropriate day, they assembled to hear Yahweh give them the conditions of His marriage covenant (this begins in Exodus 19:1 and ends at 24:8). The people affirmed the marriage contract in Exodus 19:8 and again in Exodus 24:3.

But they could not keep their end of the bargain. They did not have the “heart” for it (Deut. 5:29), so Yahweh made a way to write His Law in their and our hearts and minds. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), 50 days after Yahshua’s resurrection, and 10 days after His ascension to heaven, when His disciples were gathered with other Jews to keep the Feast of Weeks, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, as a ‘down payment’ on immortality. To have it, we must repent of our sins, be baptized in Yahshua’s Name for remission of those sins (Acts 2:38), and then be obedient, letting Yahshua’s life be our example. See Mat 19:17, Rev. 12:17 and 14:12. He showed us the way, let us walk therein. HalleluYAH! ~

 

 

Search the Scriptures Newsletter

 

Issue #99, May - June, 2009

 

P. O. Box 32,

Clarksville, AR 72830-0032 USA

Phone: 1-479-754-2553

   Email: 

efbrown@search-the-scriptures.org

                             www.search-the-scriptures.org