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BO “Go”

TORAH: Exodus 10:1-13:16HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 46:13-28

B’RIT CHADASHAH: Luke 2:22-24, John 19:31-37

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[1] A blue-print is a photographic print (contact print) of a drawing or other image rendered as white lines on a blue background, especially such a print of an architectural plan or technical drawing. The term "blueprint" has come to be used to refer to any detailed plan used as a guide for building or action.The Blueprint - The TORAH- the WHOLE BIBLEIn order to understand God's plans for the future, to understand the prophetic books of the Bible and to be able to interpret them in a biblical way, it is imperative first of all to understand God's blueprint [1].*** Without good drawings and plans and detailed measurements and materials made by a trained architect, it is impossible to build a house with everything in the right place, or even to understand at which stage the building process is.

There are manifest similarities observed in Pharaoh’s four proposals and how the devil operates.

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The Blueprint/Instruction Manual - The TORAHThe Torah speaks of what was and what is and what is to come (compare Revelation 1:19). It was not meant to be a sort of history book for us, nor an archaeology book, or even literature. It is a prophetic book (Luke 24:27,44). The Torah speaks, sometimes using the events in peoples lives, about Gods plan to save humanity and the future of the world.* It explains how we can be part of Gods great deliverance and which role Israel played in it all. It is a book of freedom for people in slavery and comfort and hope for those who live in a broken world.The other books of the Bible, including the prophetic books and the New Testament expand on the things revealed in the Torah and God has never deviated from His plan (see Hebrews 6:17).

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TORAH THE BLUEPRINT OF HEAVENLITTLE CHILDREN, YOUNG MEN, AND FATHERSIn I John 2:12,14 it describes little children, young men and fathers as it is written:"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. ... Ihave written unto you, fathers (patriarch), because you have known him that is from the beginning. Ihave written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth inyou, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

These three levels of people represent three progressive levels of spiritual growth.

The little children whose sins are forgiven relates to the outer court Christian. The young men who knowthe Word of God relates to the Holy Place. The father who knows God relates to the Holy ofHolies Christian. 6

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In Romans 12:1-2, God describes three levels of doing His will. These three levels are the good will of God, the acceptable will of God and the perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 :"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God."

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Rev 1:8 I am the Aleph and the Tav, the Beginning and the Ending, says Adonai YAHWEH, the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.Rev 22:13 I am the Aleph and the Tav, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.Rev 22:14 Blessed are the ones doing His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and that they may enter by the gates into the city.

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And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, so that I show these signs of Mine before him,(Exodus 10:1 )“Bo” has two slightly different spellings in Scripture depending on where you look. Here it is spelled simply “Beit-aleph” and means “come”, “enter”, “come with”, “bring near”, “go out”, “go”, or as translated here “go in”. - Va’era. This week God introduces Himself as YHVH to Moses but states that He was not know to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as YHVH but El Shaddai or God Almighty. The character of God in His fullness. - Many of us build idols of what we want God to be but we do not want to see the fullness of who He is. Yes He is a God of love and mercy BUT He is also a God of justice and righteousness. - In fact, we see this week that our God is a Warrior God, a characteristic that most people today refuse to admit and recognize. - We hope you enjoy this week’s teaching connecting our Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith. 19

Pharaoh’s four proposals and how Moses responded to them. "Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land" (Ex. 8: 25). - The plagues of turning the water into blood, frogs, lice, and flies is when the first proposal is offered. - Pharaoh like the devil himself cannot be trusted and he is a brazen liar (cp. John 8: 44, cp. Ex. 8: 8, 15). * Israel could not offer the needed sacrifices "in the land" because the land was under the control of Pharaoh and to have done so would have incurred the Egyptian death penalty (Ex. 8: 26). * In other words, Israel could not please Egypt and God at the same time. Yeshua taught: "24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6).

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Pharaoh’s four proposals and how Moses responded to them. Addendum 1: The ten plagues are observed in Exodus 7: 20 through 12: 30). These were miracles performed by God and yet Pharaoh refused to cooperate. As a result, he suffered a hardened heart. Notice how we both read that pharaoh hardened his own heart and God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 8: 15; 9: 12). *** I submit that God then and now hardens our heart by our refusal to accept His will (cp. Heb. 3: 7-15, cp. 2 Thes. 2: 10-12). ( PASTORS BIBLE TEACHERS WHO REFUSED THET TORAH ( TEN COMMANDMENTS _ SHABBATH) their hearts hardened . ( joke: hardening of the arteries – cholesterol blockage for refusing to keep kashru laws)

Pharaoh’s four proposals and how Moses responded to them. If the devil today cannot have complete control, he will relinquish some control to be able to yet keep man in his jurisdiction, so to speak. The New Testament is explicit in terms of no compromise with evil. In fact, not only is such fellowship forbidden, but rebuke and exposure of such is required (Eph. 5: 10, 11). • Denominationalism is a system that is offered by the devil, the

modern Pharaoh, in order to allow some religion, but be able to control it. ***

• Compromise and religious mergence. ( Political control)• Such is basically the appeal of Pharaoh to Moses. • Notice Moses’ reply to Pharaoh’s compromise solution: "27: We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us" (Ex. 8). "Only ye shall not go very far away" (Ex. 8: 28). 22

For us, the principles taught (By Moses) are very important. The Devil does not care if we make the supreme sacrifice as long as we do it on his terms. "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned" (1 Corinthians 13:3) ***the Devil is pleased as long as it is not done in loving obedience to God. *** *** “We all worship the same God, whether we do it your way or mine" are of the same nature. ***One thing that makes these false doctrines so appealing is that they are almost true. (too much LIBERTY IN CHURCH)- One denominational church is almost as good as another,

but none even compare with the LORD’s (Matthew 16:18).

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Pharaoh’s four proposals and how Moses responded to them. "Only ye shall not go very far away" (Ex. 8: 28). Pharaoh attempted to position himself and control Israel to where they would think they were freed, but he would have them within his easy reach. * In other words, Pharaoh offered to grant partial release. * God today demands all or none. We are commanded to love God totally; count all things loss for Christ; and be totally dedicated in mind and body to God (Matt. 22: 37; Phili. 3: 7, 8; Rom. 12: 1, 2). Some professing Christians have just enough religion to make them unhappy. They remain within easy reach of the devil and do not totally refuse him (cp. Jas. 4: 7). *** Why? It’s the battle of the MIND? (PSCHOLOGY – Know thyself- GREEK VS KNOW THY GOD WHO CREATED YOURSELFPharaoh would have gladly conceded, but Moses steadfastly refused to compromise.

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"Only ye shall not go very far away" (Ex. 8: 28). The temptations to be a half-Christian are many, and the manifestations of trying to do it are on every hand. This was the condition of the church in Laodicea. God's reaction to it is vividly suggested in Revelation 3:16, "So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." It comes in many forms. There are many connected with the church who are willing to learn enough to seem religious, but not enough to change their lives. ( go thru Trials first – no half cook in God’s Kingdom)That Yeshua said in Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters" makes no impression on them. ***Many Bible classes and teachers make no attempt to probe deeply into a study of God's word, but merely skim the surface.

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Pharaoh’s four proposals and how Moses responded to them.

"Go now ye that are men" [but not] "your little ones" (Ex. 10: 8-11). Pharaoh’s proposal number three involved only releasing the males, but retaining the women and children. At the time of this third offer, three more plagues have occurred, murrain, boils, and the hail. Thus, seven in all have taken place. * Pharaoh tried to convinced Moses and Aaron that the children were not important in the worship of God (cp. Ex. 10: 11). The devil has convinced many today that their children are not to be included in religious observation. ( EXPLAIN GENERATIONAL CONTINUITY)Paul wrote: "4: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6). Many denominations today provide baby sitting and children’s church for the young people; thus excluding them from the "real" worship. ***(STRUCTURE OF LAWS FOR YOUNG & OLD VS RACHIM) Pharaoh and the devil know that if the women and children can be excluded, control will continue over the men. - Such a condition, at best, would result in divided attention and affection.

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There are those who claim to be Christian parents who refuse to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). • They reason, "If I make my child attend the services, or study

the Bible, he will grow up and resent the church and me." Or, "I think a child should make up his own mind about his religious beliefs.“ (LAW IN USA & U.N.)

• It is probably true that if a child sees his parents sit at home and never study the Bible nor attend Bible classes, yet the parent makes the child go, he will resent it.

• But any time the Devil can get a person to leave any of his relatives behind because of any sort of excuse he may have, he has accomplished his purpose. Many times I have heard someone say, "I never discuss the Bible with my relatives, for they are harder to convert than any outsider.“ ( MAYBE OVERFAMILIARITY WITH RELATIVES) 27

"Go now ye that are men" [but not] "your little ones" (Ex. 10: 8-11). Pharaoh’s proposal number three involved only releasing the males, but retaining the women and children. * Pharaoh tried to convinced Moses and Aaron that the children were not important in the worship of God (cp. Ex. 10: 11).

Denominations and all teachers of false doctrine are motivated by the concept of going, but not going all the way. *** It is the basis of the doctrine of salvation by faith only, or worship according to the dictates of your own conscience. *** follow your heart??Peter, who followed afar off (Matthew 26:58) and subsequently cursed, swore and denied his Lord should be a warning to all those who are not willing to go all the way with Christ.The next compromise is found in Exodus 10:11. "Go now ye that are men." No doubt he felt that they would come back if they left their wives and little ones behind.

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Lessons of GENERATIONAL CONTINUITY ( PRINCIPLE) Shemot/Exodus 1:6 And Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

dor From H1752; properly a revolution - דורYour’re Either Growing or Shrinking?

to decline – regress – going backward –ד רPRINCIPLE:- Each GENERATION ( MEN WOMEN & CHILDREN) must be able

to draw on the accumulated wisdom and experience of the previous GENERATION.

- ( ex. Supreme court decisions. Etc)- This principle applies to personal development and also on

personal marriageTHE TEACHINGS OF THE TORAH MUST CONTINUE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION - & we are just starting in PH

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This phrase is also repeated in various other passages: 1 Kin 21:29; Jer 32:18; Is 14:21; Jer 14:20Lamentations 5:77 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities.Lam 5:7 Ang aming mga magulang ay nagkasala at wala na; At aming pinasan ang kanilang mga kasamaan.

Two Greek words are used to convey the idea of iniquity. One is translated as lawlessness and the other as evildoers or workers of unrighteousness.Matthew 7:2323 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

"Go…only let your flocks and herds be stayed" (Ex. 10: 24). * Pharaoh’s fourth proposal might appear to have been one that could have been compromised. Some are even critical of Moses for refusing this offer. Keep aware that two more of the ten plagues have taken place, locusts and darkness; thus nine in all. * While perhaps plausible on the surface, there would have been serious negative consequences had Moses accepted this offer. ***Leaving their "belongings" in Egypt would have resulted in a looking back condition. *** Yeshua reminds us of one who looked back: "Remember Lot’s wife" (Luke 17: 32). "62: And Yeshua said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9). A divided heart has caused many to return to the devil (cp. Hos. 10: 2). While some compromises may appear relatively innocent, they involve more that what may appear on the surface. *THE EVIL AND DANGER OF ANTI- SEMITISM & REPLACEMENT THEOLOGYMoses relies thus to this offer:

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"Go…only let your flocks and herds be stayed" (Ex. 10: 24). It is a strange and remarkable fact that man will consent to any terms rather than yield his life in complete submission and total surrender to the will of God. The Devil knows this and will do all within his power to get him to compromise at any or all points along the way. *** God reveals that He is never satisfied without a complete surrender. The rich young ruler would gladly have followed Jesus if he could have done it on his own terms. ***Only the Lord knows how many have fallen into the snare of thinking one can keep his business and his religion separate. ( CHURCH AND SECULAR LIVES ARE VIEWED AS INSEPARABLE IN HEBRAIC WORLDVIEW VS GREEK ___ PHYSICAL SEPARATE FROM SPIRITUAL ( PLATONIC)I know the Lord said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth" (Matthew 4:9), but He also said, "He that provides not for his own has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel" (1 Timothy 5:8). *** We should be able to learn from the story of Pharaoh that God does not allow us to compromise with respect to His commands.

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"26: Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither" (Ex. 10). The devil just like Pharaoh is often relentless and is willing to compromise. He is able to make his offers appealing and even appear fair. "I should be able to go to the dance, just as long as I do not dance," the devil convinces young people. "A little marijuana will not hurt me," the devil often works by degrees. *** "I know it will be hard marrying Sam who is not a Christian and who likes the world, but I can manage and will remain faithful to God," the devil convinces many women. *** In the case of the flocks, Israel would need these animals in their worship. You see, Pharaoh if he succeeds in talking them into leaving behind their flocks will defeat their worship. ***The devil will partially let people go today, if he can defeat their worship to God. ( GREEK WIHOUT HEBRAIC TEACHINGS IS PARTIALLY INCOMPLETE THEOLOGY & PRACTICE.) ***

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Conclusion: Through all of the compromises and the refusals offered by Pharaoh to release Israel, Moses stood firm. (TORAH ALL THE WAY!)"9: And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD" (Ex. 10). There will be many compromise offers to not hold staunchly to the truth (John 8: 32, 4: 24). Some of these concessions may appear reasonable, but be careful. In all of these, the devil just like Pharaoh, has designed them to where he can still reach and control us when he desires. ( MIXED BABYLON)There must not be absolutely any compromise with the devil (Matt. 6: 24). *** All such negotiations with the devil will always end in man being taken advantage of by the devil. ( WHY? LACK OF KNOWLEDGE – CHRISTIAN NEEDS MESSIANIC TORAH TEACHERS TODAY)The good news is that Israel was freed and the Egyptian armies were defeated (Ex. 14ff.). We, too, can be liberated from the bondage of the devil today, just like Israel, with God’s help! (Rom. 6: 17, 18.)

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8TH PLAQUEAnd Mosheh and Aharon came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Hebrews, ‘Till when shall you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they serve Me. ‘Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, see, tomorrow I am bringing locusts within your borders. ‘And they shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one is able to see the land. And they shall eat the rest of what has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. ‘And they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Mitsrites, which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ ” …Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and Aharon in haste, and said, “I have sinned against יהוה your Elohim and against you. “And now, please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to יהוה your Elohim, that He would only turn away this death from me.” ..(Exodus 10:3-19 )

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It is reported that a swarm of locust can be up to 50 million strong and climb up to 3,000 feet (914 meters) in the air posing problems for pilots. ( Signs of defiled land)- In a National Geographic article it was reported that

fifteen to thirty million adult locusts inhabit each square mile of a swarm. Depending on the wind, locust swarms can fly at some 10 to 12 miles an hour (16 to 19 kilometers an hour), traveling 80 miles (130 kilometers) or more in a single day.

- - Another resource reported that in 1954 locusts migrated from northwest Africa to the British Isles. In 1988 they moved from West Africa to the Caribbean, covering some 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) in the period of about ten days. In 2010 Australian locust swarmed over 500,000 square kilometers (190,000 square miles) roughly the size of Spain.

The insects weigh less than one tenth of an ounce (two grams) but eat their weight in food each day. ***In a day, one ton of locusts, a very small part of a swarm, consume enough food for 2,500 people. The locust can live between three to six months, and there is a tenfold increase in locust numbers from one generation to the next.

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ARBEH - JUDGEMENT

The word translated here as “locusts” is “arbeh” (aleph-reish-beit-hey) and has several meanings; one of which is “locust” as in a “swarm of locusts” or more precisely “swarming locusts”. It also means, according to Gesenius‟ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, “floodgates”, as in the floodgates of heaven, that open up during hard rains. The locust was an attack on Anubis, the god of the fields, especially cemeteries.The letters that make up “arbeh” have the numeric value of 211 which equals; ”hei „ra‟ah” or “he has shown”, “gibor” or “mighty”, “ee‟ra” or “you fear”, “ha ber‟ad” or “the hail” and “El Pa‟al” or “El of Recompense”. - The equivalent Aramaic word for “arbeh”, in the Aramaic

Targum is “gova”. The word “gova” is used in Revelation 9:1-11, the locusts that come out of the pit.

- “Gova” is related to the Hebrew word “geva”, which means “height” and has the connotation of “coming down from on high” as with judgment.

- Then I shall repay you the years that the swarming locust (ha arbeh) has eaten, the young locust (ha yeleq), and the (chaseil) consuming locust, and the (gazam) gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

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However, יהוה hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not let the children of Yisra’ĕl go. And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and let there be darkness over the land of Mitsrayim, even a darkness which is felt.” ..and there was thick darkness in all the land of Mitsrayim for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, while all the children of Yisra’ĕl had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:20-23)The ninth plaque, that of darkness; a darkness that can be felt. This kind of darkness is talked about throughout Scripture. First Abram: And it came to be, when the sun was going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram, that see, a frightening great darkness fell upon him. (Genesis 15:12 ). - And, this is the same darkness mentioned at the giving of the “Ten Commandments” in ..“Do not fear, for Elohim has come to prove you, and in order that His fear be before you, so that you do not sin.” So the people stood at a distance, but Mosheh drew near the thick darkness where Elohim was. (Exodus 20:18-21)

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Torah and Yeshua is the Living Torah!Therefore יהושע spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.” (John 8:12)The light that we are reflecting, is the light of Torah, which is Yeshua! When we love Yeshua by keeping His commandments, we reflect that light into a dark world:“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands. (John 14:15)Yeshua also said:“You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens. (Matthew 5:14-16)

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And he said to them, “Let יהוה be with you as I let you and your little ones go! Watch, for evil (RA) is before your face! (Exodus 10:10 )In the Hebrew we find the following translation: Then he said to them, “You better hope יהוה is with you because when I let you and your little one go…..beware for RA is in front of your faces!”The word for evil in Hebrew is Ra, and Ra was a chief god of Egypt. He was the sun god, the god of light…and Pharaoh considered himself to be the son of this god. So we can see here that Pharaoh is setting forth the challenge of the Elohim of the Hebrews verses the sun god Ra! The light of Egypt verses the light of יהוה! And no wonder! For Satan himself masquerades as a messenger of light! (2 Corinthians 11:14 ) 41

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Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun god, and was viewed as the creator of all life. This false god was identified primarily with the noonday sun and represented light, warmth, and growth to its worshipers. It is depicted as a man with the head of a hawk, bull, ram, or solar orb, and its symbols were sometimes combined with other gods. • Darkness represented the complete removal of Yahweh’s

presence from the Egyptians, while the • light (of His presence) continued to remain over the

Children of Israel. His presence (i.e. His faithfulness) was with them. Symbol of a time to come: And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the esteem of Elohim lightened it, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23 )

Darkness snuffed out life; without light life ceased. Scripture said that no one could move. They were paralyzed for those three days. Without the life support of light even the air around them was immobile, fire could not even burn. This plague was so terrible they could actually “feel” the darkness.

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The pattern of how worship of the sun has continued throughout history. In ancient Babylon, the kings served as high priests of the sun god, Bel-Marduk. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 ed., the celebration of the winter solstice around December 25 was regarded as the birthday of the sun. It was a major holiday associated with gift-giving and the sacred evergreen tree.Persia was Babylon’s successor and the ancient Persian religion centred on the worship of Mithras, the god of light. The Greeks of Asia Minor identified Mithras with their ancient sun god, Helios. Then Alexander the Great travelled to Egypt to the Temple of Amon-Ra to be proclaimed by the priests as the literal son of the sun god. In 274 AD Aurelian established the sun-god as the supreme god of the Roman Empire. 44

Constantine, considered Rome’s first “Christian” emperor, was himself a devotee of the sun god. The famous vision of the cross as he marched on Rome came to him from the sun. The sun appeared on most of his coins and his own statue at Constantinople bore the rayed crown of the sun-god. - His coins were inscribed: “Sol Invicto Comiti” (Committed to the invincible sun). While claiming to be a “Christian”, Constantine maintained the title “Pontifus Maximus” the high priest of paganism. ( COMPROMISE WITH SATAN)*** In 321 AD, Constantine enacted laws that all courts of justice, inhabitants of towns, and workers were to be at rest on Sun-day, doing away with the Sabbath. The term used was “the venerable day of the sun.” The observance of Sunday (associated with sun worship), has thus worked its way right on down through the medieval period to modern times. Contrary to what we’ve been told, it was not יהוה that authorized the change from a 7th day Sabbath to the 1st day of the week. 45

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Sunday is first day of week mentioned in NT notes

Act 20:6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. Act 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 1Co 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Ha-Motzei shabbat – outgoing of shabbatSunset is FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK…sunset to sunset vs sunrise to sunrise – catholic time 50

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Constantine saw himself as the sun god, he believed this so much that he had יהוה 's Biblical lunar calendar changed to a solar calendar to have the people pay homage to him and take the focus off the God of Israel. Without God’s lunar calendar directing and guiding them, Yahweh’s people lost their heritage and their identity. They even began to see יהוה’s celebrations as strange and foreign. ***The establishment of his solar calendar worked, and many were led astray into the worship of Babylonian celebrations like Christmas and Easter. Constantine even named the days of the week after Babylonian gods to have the people pay homage to the gods he worshipped. Thus we readily accept the days of the week as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday etc. not realizing they are so named in honor of pagan gods. So don't let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah. (Colossians 2:16-17 CJB)

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Yom rishon days of the week in hebrew Insert here

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The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 also originated in the 4th century. - The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a

rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity’s existence. - The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people’s birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ’s Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival celebration. This was the Roman version of Christianity. It was polluted and mixed and filled with pagan rituals. *

- -Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days, not taught in most public school history classes. 56

Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You are to see still greater abominations than these.” And He brought me into the inner court of the House of יהוה. And there, at the door of the Hĕkal of יהוה, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the Hĕkal of יהוה and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves eastward to the sun. (Ezekiel 8:15-16 )Ezekiel is taken through a vision to the temple of יהוה and shown many detestable things, and the MOST detestable thing was this. * There are men worshiping in the temple of יהוה, but they are participating in some facet of sun worship, which causes their backs to face the ALMIGHTY יהוה! Worship of the sun in יהוה’s own house! יהוה hates the mix in our worship.

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There is darkness in the “Day of יהוה”, as in “And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke, the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה. “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be delivered1. ..(Joel 2:30-32). We read Woe to you who are longing for the day of יהוה! What does the day of יהוה mean to you? It is darkness, and not light, as when a man flees from a lion, and a bear shall meet him; or entered his house, rested his hand on the wall, and a serpent shall bite him. Is not the day of יהוה darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18-20 ) Near is the great day of יהוה, near and hurrying greatly, the noise of the day of יהוה. Let the mighty man then bitterly cry out! That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and trouble, a day of waste and ruin, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of ram’s horn and alarm ... “And I shall bring distress on men, and they shall walk like blind men .. their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.” (Zephaniah 1:14-17 )

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CALENDER CHANGE“This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. (Exodus 12:2 )*** Israel will hear the very first commandment given to corporate Israel, before the last plaque happens and it was “change your calendar”. – 1st mitzvah- The calendar of Egypt was based on the sun, and in dealing with this preoccupation with sun worship, יהוה commanded the Israelites to base their calendar on the moon. ***- They were no longer to have anything to do with

worshiping the sun or with the sun god, RA. ***The beautiful concept of light had been so perverted by the evil one. Teaching them the truth about light will be a part of Elohim freeing His people from Pharaoh’s rule and Egypt’s influence. *** And He will do this by starting with the celebration of the New Moon. Based on this calendar, the events of the Passover will be remembered and celebrated each year as an everlasting ordinance!‘And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה throughout your generations – observe it as a festival, an everlasting law. (Exo 12:14

)

The first mitzvah of the Torah to the Children of Israel is that of "sanctifying the month" (KIDDUSH HACHODESH). This involves counting the months of the year from Nissan/abib, the month of redemption, - and, when the Sanhedrin sits in the Land of Israel,

taking testimony from witnesses who have sighted the new moon in order to declare the start of the new month.

- Marking time from the point at which the moon, having briefly disappeared from sight, begins to wax and grow, is a sign of constant regeneration and vitality.

- The sign of the crescent was taken over by Islam, but the unique power of the crescent of the new moon as a symbol of renewal is known only to the Children of Israel, who observe the commandment of Sanctifying the Month.

s lunar calendar establishes the timing of His’יהוהmoedim/feast days called the paths of righteousness, an aspect of the walk of holiness He has called His people to.

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Most rabbis assert that this is actually the beginning of the Torah (the Instructions). In the Hebrew, verse 2 reads; “Ha chodesh hazeh lachem rosh chodesh‟im rishown hu lacham l‟chodeshe ha shaneh.” Now, according to the rabbis, while this verse can be translated as above, there is a second possible translation; “This new moon shall be for you the head of months, it is the first month of the year.” This understanding is supported by the following verse, verse 3, which states; “Speak to all the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. (Exodus 12:3 ). Since the command for each household to take a lamb on the 10th day, this command had to be given some days earlier. Note: does not tell Moshe and Aharon to “speak to the יהוהChildren of Yisra’el” here. Yahweh says that this “is the beginning of the month for you (lachem)” and that this “is the first month of the year (lachem) for you”. (MARCH 10 2016 – SHEMITAH BEGINS)Then, יהוה has them speak to B‟nei Yisra‟el regarding the choosing of a lamb on the 10th day of the month. 61

While יהוה was raining destruction down upon Egypt, He was simultaneously communicating with His people, giving them instruction. He told them to be ready to relate the wonders He was working to their children and their children's children for all time. (Exodus 10:2) - He told them to take note of the new moon and to use

it to take control of time and thereby take control of their own destiny. (ibid 12:2)

- He told each household to acquire a lamb and to be ready to slaughter and eat it, in what would be the most extreme and outrageously politically incorrect act of their day - the "P" word - the korban Pesach, (Passover offering). (ibid 12:3) He told them to take the blood from the Pesach lamb and to paint their doorposts red, so that they would no longer see themselves as being just like everyone else, but as being special and in possession of a יהוה given mission. (ibid 12:7) And the most miraculous thing happened, in fact the only miraculous thing: They listened.

Because Israel took upיהוה 's great challenge to team up with Him and change the world forever, His efforts were not in vain, and His presence was revealed in the world and acknowledged by all. ***

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Today the world is witnessing cataclysmic, earth-shaking events. Natural disasters and man-made catastrophes have been wracking the earth with uncanny frequency in recent years. But today's leaders, both the democratically elected variety and the dictatorial are not the same as Pharaoh. Nor are today's wise men - the pundits and scientists and scholars - the same as the wise men and magicians of Pharaoh's day. - The last thing that any of today's cultured classes want to admit of is evidence of the "finger ofיהוה " behind all the turmoil. Natural disasters have their sources in cold scientific fact, and when those facts are stretched to the breaking point then the finger is pointed at man as the source of nature's breakdown: • Pollution and overpopulation;• Abuse of the planet's natural resources have set the

very immutable laws of nature awry. Political and social upheaval? They are the result of past and present colonialism and economic injustice. Our greatest minds tell us so.

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Rosh Chodesh is the Hebrew term for “New/renewed moon”. “ Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our festival day.” (Psalms 81:3)Rosh Chodesh is a time to come together with other believers and “sound the shofar”! The moon is a heavenly body that cannot produce its own light. Israel also has no light of its own, but she would learn she was to be a light to the nations. On Rosh Chodesh the moon’s light breaks forth from the darkness and brings light to the world as a reminder to us of our calling and purpose. Our purpose is to bring the light of salvation to the world. We are to be reflecting the light of Torah into a dark world.For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light1, And reproofs of discipline a way of life (Proverbs 6:23)

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Torah and Yeshua is the Living Torah!Therefore יהושע spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.” (John 8:12)The light that we are reflecting, is the light of Torah, which is Yeshua! When we love Yeshua by keeping His commandments, we reflect that light into a dark world:“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands. (John 14:15)Yeshua also said:“You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens. (Matthew 5:14-16)

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Rosh Chodesh is the exact day when יהוה’s presence filled the tabernacle: And it came to be in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Dwelling Place was raised up. … And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the esteem of יהוה filled the Dwelling Place. ..(Exodus 40:17-35)It is written in the Talmud that “anyone who blesses the New Moon is like one who receives the Shekinah (the glory)”. This is exactly what happened when the Israelites raised up the tabernacle in the desert on Rosh Chodesh! Thus every month on Rosh Chodesh, we are able to watch that little sliver of moon pierce the darkness and we are reminded of our purpose….shine forth His light! Be renewed!“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand. “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares יהוה. (Isaiah 66:22-23)

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Most rabbis assert that this is actually the beginning of the Torah (the Instructions). In the Hebrew, verse 2 reads; “Ha chodesh hazeh lachem rosh chodesh‟im rishown hu lacham l‟chodeshe ha shaneh.” Now, according to the rabbis, while this verse can be translated as above, there is a second possible translation; “This new moon shall be for you the head of months, it is the first month of the year.” This understanding is supported by the following verse, verse 3, which states; “Speak to all the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. (Exodus 12:3 ). Since the command for each household to take a lamb on the 10th day, this command had to be given some days earlier. Note: does not tell Moshe and Aharon to “speak to the יהוהChildren of Yisra’el” here. Yahweh says that this “is the beginning of the month for you (lachem)” and that this “is the first month of the year (lachem) for you”. (MARCH 10 2016 – SHEMITAH BEGINS)Then, יהוה has them speak to B‟nei Yisra‟el regarding the choosing of a lamb on the 10th day of the month. 67

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HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH 2016-2017 ?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

Lev 25:3 You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and shall gather its produce.Lev 25:4 And in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest to the land, a Sabbath to YAHWEH. You shall not sow your field, and you shall not prune your vineyard.Lev 25:5 You shall not reap that which grows of itself of your harvest; and you shall not gather the grapes of your unkempt vine; it shall be a year of rest to the land.Lev 25:6 And the Sabbath of the land shall be to you for food, to you, and to your male slave, and to your female slave, and to your hired one, and to your tenant, those living among you;Lev 25:7 and to your livestock, and to the animal in your land, all its produce shall be for food.

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH 2016-2017 ?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH 2016-2017 ?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

The first commandment we find regarding the Shemitah/Sabbatical year, gives the following instruction regarding the land.Exodus 23:1111 but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.• The focus of this commandment is to let the land rest and lie

fallow, and very importantly, to leave whatever is on the field for the needy. This includes the vineyard and olive grove.

• No harvesting is to take place; nothing is to be sold in the marketplace. Z*

When we read this literally, it would seem that other fruit trees are excluded from this commandment. It seems contradicting, because later we are instructed to leave all crops.

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH 2016-2017 ?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

Leviticus 25:6–76 ‘All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. 7 ‘Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.What is meant by “all crops.” It is important to understand this correctly, so we shall look at the Hebrew words that were used.What does the hebrew word “crop” mean?Strongs 9311  �בואהת   teḇûāh): =  yield, produce, crops, i.e., what is harvested from plants, whether grain or fruit (Ge 47:24; Dt 22:9);

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

From this definition, we see that it could include fruit. Let’s look at the word “all ” The Hebrew word “kol” was translated as “all”Leviticus 25:6-7 also reads “all”3972  �לכ  ( kōl): n.masc.; ≡ Str 3605; TWOT 985a—1. LN 59.23–59.34 all, every, any, i.e., the totality of any object, mass, collective, extension ; pertaining to being entire or whole, with a focus on the totality of the object or idea (Ex 29:18; Nu 5:30); 5. LN 58.21–58.30 every kind of, every sort of, i.e., a totality of kinds or sorts (Ge 7:2)2

We may conclude that all produce was included, the yield of the field as well as fruit. Would that exclude fruit form other trees? Does this only include the grapevine and olive tree? Let’s see if we can find another witness. Let us look at this phrase “vineyard and olive grove” and see where else in Scripture it was used, as well its context.

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

The phrase “vineyard and olive grove” is used in a few places.It is used twice in Deuteronomy. In the first reference, YHVH is giving the Israelites a warning not to forget Him when He prospers them. When they entered the land, YHVH gave them everything they needed.Deuteronomy 6:1111 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied,* The question is did YHVH only give them vineyards and olive groves?

HOW TO KEEP THE SHEMITAH?PRINCIPLES & PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

We know from Scripture, that when the spies brought back produce of the land, they brought back other fruit as well.Numbers 13:2323 Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs.From this, we know that other fruits were also cultivated in the land, not only grapevines and olive trees. The phrase “vineyard and olive grove” is used as a collective term which includes all fruit, fruit from vines and fruit from trees. * Just like vegetables would be included when we speak of the produce of the field, so would we include raspberries and blackberries when we speak of vines and apples, pears and other fruit when speaking of olive trees. Papaya dragon fruits etc.

olive groves and vineyards? Here, is refers to wealth, once again used as a collective term.We find similar examples in the book of Nehemiah.Nehemiah 5:1111 “Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.”Nehemiah 9:2525 “They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness.This refers to their prosperity. Then, in Nehemiah 9:25, the term vineyards and olive groves is qualified with “fruit trees in abundance.” In Nehemiah 5:11, we have seen a reference to grain, new wine and oil.

We find yet another reference to new wine and oil, once again linked to prosperity. We read in Deuteronomy 7:13 that covenantal faithfulness will result in blessing. Read this blessing and see how it is said.Deuteronomy 7:1313 “He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you.* Would this mean that YHVH would only bless the grain, grape and olive crops? *

Here is another example, this time of YHVH bringing a curse on the people.Haggai 1:1111 “I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”• We know that drought would affect all crops, not only grain, grapes and olives. From all these references, it is our understanding that the commandment not to prune the vineyard and olive grove, and not to harvest its fruit also pertains to other fruit-bearing plants. * Grape vines refer to other vines like raspberries and the like and olive grove to fruit-bearing trees.What further strengthens this point was when we looked into the purpose of pruning.

What is the purpose of pruning? Y’shua gave us the answer; the context of His words are spiritual, but it is true physically as well. Pruning is done in order for a tree to bear more fruit. Any fruit-bearing tree benefits from pruning.John 15:22 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.Here is an explaination from a horticultural point of view.Fruit tree pruning is the cutting and removing of parts of a fruit tree. It covers a number of horticulturaltechniques that control growth, remove dead or diseased wood, and stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Pruning often means cutting branches back, sometimes removing smaller limbs entirely. It may also mean removal of young shoots, buds, leaves, etc. Careful attention to pruning and training young trees affects their later productivity and longevity. Good pruning and training can also prevent later injury from weak crotches (where a tree trunk splits into two or more branches) that break from the weight of fruit, snow, or ice on the branches.3

Fruit trees benefit from pruning; it stimulates new growth and fruiting. However, fruit trees also benefit from leaving them every so often in order to increase its fruit-bearing capacity. To prune or not to prune seems to be a fine balance. Here is a good explanation that helped me understand pruning a bit better. This was quite a wow-moment when I read this.As an expert puts it:In fruit trees there has to be a good relationship between growth of the branches and the formation of fruit buds. As a rule you can say: Less pruning promotes the formation of fruit buds, while pruning promotes the growth of new branches.It may sound contradictory, but if you have a tree with lots of sprawling branches, the best way to get rid of it is to stop pruning! In this way the tree will settle down and it will proceed to develop fruit buds.

The other extreme is a fruit tree that is not pruned. These trees are filled with plenty of fruit buds, flowering is lavish and there are lots of fruits, however there is often no growth. In itself, there seems to be nothing to worry about; lots of fruit is fine, you might think. The problem is that when the tree is in this state, it gradually goes into the dying phase. The excessive fruiting year in and year out, makes the tree to age rapidly. This kind of trees you have to prune! 4

This seems tricky to know exactly when to do what, especially if you are no horticulturist. This made me think, maybe YHVH in His great wisdom provided the answer for us by commanding us not to prune every seventh year. It is a fine balance and just maybe; that balance is found in the Sabbatical year.

ConclusionWe have presented to you why we understand the Sabbatical year commandment to include fruit trees both in pruning and harvesting. Not pruning once in a while (every seven years) benefits a tree like letting the land lie fallow benefits the soil. This is truly incredible!So, in the Sabbatical year, we are not to prune our vines or fruit trees. We are not to harvest the fruit either. We are to leave it on the tree; we may eat of it, and others may as well. This means that we are to prepare in the same way we prepare for other crops.

We are to store up enough in the previous year, either by canning, drying or freezing. We won’t be buying any fruit either, because when we buy fruit from trees that were pruned and harvested in the Sabbatical year, we partake of the sins of others. We are to do to this to the best of our ability.We need to be creative and think of ways to make this work as our bodies need vitamins and minerals from fruit and vegetables. Please share your ideas with us via the comments or e-mail, then all can benefit from it. May YHVH bless you in your pursuit to be obedient to His commandments.

THROW YOU OUT

And יהוה said to Mosheh, “I am bringing yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Mitsrayim. After that he is going to let you go from here. When he lets you go, he shall drive you out from here altogether. Exodus 11:1This is a parenthetical statement. As soon as Moses and Aaron had been forcefully driven out of the palace by Pharaoh, יהוה informed Moses that one more plague was forth-coming. - It would be a judgment, and effectual to bring about the release of Israel, a departure that Pharaoh would actually hasten. A translation of Sforno [Chumash, Stone Edition] reads: "He shall send you [the children of Israel] as he has sent you [Moses and Aaron, when he ejected you from the palace throne room]; he shall surely thrust out all of you."

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Moshe said, "Here is what Adonai says: 'About midnight I will go out into Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the slave-girl at the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the livestock. There will be a horrendous wailing throughout all the land of Egypt — there has never been another like it, and there never will be again. (Exodus 11:4-6 CJB)This was the last and final plague on Egypt. The death of the firstborn was an attack on Pharaoh, the god-king. - Pharaoh was considered a god, as was his firstborn son who

would succeed him on the throne. In fact, the firstborn of people and animals in general were often worshipped.

- Pharaoh was considered an incarnation of Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the giver of life.

- Because Pharaoh’s son was considered a god, when he died it was as if a god of Egypt had actually died. 89

Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats. " 'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and then the entire assembly of the community of Isra'el will slaughter it at dusk. (Exodus 12:5-6 CJB)The month of Nissan is governed by the astrological sign of Aries (T'LEH, the Ram), called the "head" or first of the constellations, since this is when the annual "regeneration" of the world begins in springtime. The Egyptians, who were masters of astronomy and astrology, worshipped sheep (see Gen. 46:34 and Rashi). The commandment to the Children of Israel to take young sheep, ritually slaughter and eat them, was indicative of the destruction of the Egyptian religion through the Exodus and its replacement with a completely new and revolutionary way of coming to know G-d. Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum

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They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame at the entrance of the house in which they eat it. That night, they are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire; they are to eat it with matzah and maror. Don't eat it raw or boiled, but roasted in the fire, with its head, the lower parts of its legs and its inner organs. Let nothing of it remain till morning; if any of it does remain, burn it up completely. " 'Here is how you are to eat it: with your belt fastened, your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand; and you are to eat it hurriedly. It is Adonai's Pesach [Passover]. (Exodus 12:7-11 CJB)The two doorposts represent theTwo Houses of Israel: the House of Judah and the House of Israel. They are joined together by the lintel, Yeshua, the Lamb of God, the mediator between heaven and earth. ***End times unity is seen here of the restoration of all Twelve Tribes. The one gate can also reflect the future “twelve gates” unified in Yeshua that lead into the New Jerusalem. The house represents the house of Yahweh and His covering, which we choose to remain in as we walk in obedience to Him.

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For that night, I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both men and animals; and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt; I am Adonai. (Exodus 12:12 CJB)At Midnight, on the 14th day of Abib, יהוה killed all the first-born in Mitzrayim, of man and beast. But, the Children of Yisra‟el, and those of the “mixed multitude”, who obeyed the instructions lived to depart Mitzrayim and the slavery of four generations, just as יהוה had first promised Avraham over 400 years earlier. Note: YHVH says; „And I shall pass through the land of Mitsrayim on that night….‟, the Hebrew word for “pass through” is “abar” (or “ayin-beit-reish” = eber), which also means to “pass over” which equates to “The Passover”. “Abar” in the Aramaic “And I shall be revealed in the land of Mitsrayim on that night…‟. *** “He” passed through not an angel” and “I and not a seraph” and “I and not a messenger”. ***Only יהוה, Who gives life, can take it. As we learned last week, this concept of meting out judgment to Mitzrayim, while showing mercy and salvation to Yisra‟el, are the attributes that are revealed in the Name “Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey”. 92

Moses was the greatest of all prophets, but he was still "the MAN Moses". Moses could say that the first-born would be smitten "ABOUT Midnight" (Ex. 11:4). But יהוה alone could make the plague actually happen "AT midnight" (Ex. 12:29) -- at the exact moment. alone is the "hero" of the Exodus. "And I shall pass יהוהthrough [Targum = I shall be revealed in] the land of Egypt on this night" (Ex. 12:12) -- "I and not an Angel; I and not a Saraf; I and not a messenger." (from the Seder Night Haggadah, commenting on "And I shall pass through / be revealed").The whole purpose of the Exodus was not to glorify a man or a nation, but to reveal יהוה 's absolute power over all creation. As Moses reminded the people forty years later, at the end of his ministry. (Deuteronomy 7:6-10) ***

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While יהוה was raining destruction down upon Egypt, He was simultaneously communicating with His people, giving them instruction. He told them to be ready to relate the wonders He was working to their children and their children's children for all time. (Exodus 10:2) - He told them to take note of the new moon and to use

it to take control of time and thereby take control of their own destiny. (ibid 12:2)

- He told each household to acquire a lamb and to be ready to slaughter and eat it, in what would be the most extreme and outrageously politically incorrect act of their day - the "P" word - the korban Pesach, (Passover offering). (ibid 12:3) He told them to take the blood from the Pesach lamb and to paint their doorposts red, so that they would no longer see themselves as being just like everyone else, but as being special and in possession of a יהוה given mission. (ibid 12:7) And the most miraculous thing happened, in fact the only miraculous thing: They listened.

Because Israel took upיהוה 's great challenge to team up with Him and change the world forever, His efforts were not in vain, and His presence was revealed in the world and acknowledged by all. ***

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‘And youª shall keep it till on¹ the fourteenth day² of the same month; then the whole assembly³ of the congregation of Israel is to kill it between the settingsⁿ. (Exodus 12:6 MISB)

14th Day

1st Setting pointAt noon

2nd Setting pointAt sunset

setting

Between the settings

בין הערביםsunrise

rising

‘And they shall eat the flesh that night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Exodus 12:8 MISB)

14th Day That Night

Passover EatenRemains burned

Passover Killed

And none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. (Exodus 12:22 NAS)

The Destroyer Passes over

Passover in EgyptA day and a night

Passover in Egypt1 day and 1 night

SYMBOLISM

Bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8) - Represent the bitterness of our slavery and bondage. Matzo - Flat unleavened bread, represents יהוה’s pure Word pointing to our redemption and freedom from our sin. Roasted lamb - represents the Messiah Yeshua, the Savior of the World who took our death upon Himself.

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SYMBOLISM

Bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8) - Represent the bitterness of our slavery and bondage. Matzo - Flat unleavened bread, represents יהוה’s pure Word pointing to our redemption and freedom from our sin. Roasted lamb - represents the Messiah Yeshua, the Savior of the World who took our death upon Himself.

Easter: Man imposed Easter (by threat of death) on the people three hundred and twenty five years after Yeshua died. Yeshua never taught Easter or the celebration of it. Easter originated and was celebrated in Babylon hundreds of years before Yeshua was born. - Easter is the celebration of Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of fertility at the spring equinox. Eggs are a symbol of Ishtar, and were dipped in the blood of human sacrifices made to pay homage to her. Today’s practice of decorating Easter eggs originated from this tradition.

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15th Day (day after Passover) Exodus by Night

Leaving RamesesWith a high hand

Exodus: a day and a night

And they set out from Rameses in the first month, in the fifteenth day of the first month. In the day after the Passover the sons of Israel went out with a high hand before the eyes of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born whom Yahweh had struck down among them. Yahweh had also executed judgments on their gods., (Num 33:3-4 MISB)

Exodus EndedBy SunriseExodus Begins

At sunrise

Egypt Plundered & Buries its first-born

Border of Egypt withwilderness

“Observe¹ the month² of the Aviv³ and celebrate the Passover to Yahweh your Almighty, for in the monthº of Aviv Yahweh your Almighty brought you out of Egypt by night.ª (Deut 16:1 MISB)

Exodus1 day and 1 night

in the day after the Passover

ממחרת הפסח

by Night

לילה

16th Day: Israel Encamped

Israel Makes theFirst Camp outsideEgypt at Succoth

Israel Rests a Day and A Night

Israel Bakes UnleavenedDough into Bread

Thankful for Deliverance

Israel sets out to nextencampment

Israel Revives(recuperates)

1 day and 1 night

And¹ they baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. (Exodus 12:39 MISB)

MemorialSeder 15 Memorial

Of Exodus 1614

Additional Festive OfferingMay be eaten for a day and night

Passover MemorialOffering

Additional PassoverOffering to MemorializeExodus (passover the

Border of Egypt)

Memorial of Passover in Egypt

Memorial of Exodus

Additional BarleyOffering waved

Annual SabbathSpanning both feasts

Calendar day foreating

Wave offering

Wave offeringAshes removed

The priest threw a handful of the wave offering on the altar to be burned until morning as an Olah ascending offering. The rest of the offering was eaten by the priests or burned by morning (Lev. 6:9-10, 14-18). The same procedure pertained to the lambs offered with the wave offering.

Additional Festive Offerings thatMay be eaten for “a day and night”

MATZAH – ONE LAW FOR NATIVE ISRAEL & FOREIGNER

" 'This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to Adonai; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation. " 'For seven days you are to eat matzah - on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Isra'el. On the first and seventh days, you are to have an assembly set aside for God. - On these days no work is to be done, except what each must do to prepare his food; you may do only that. You are to observe the festival of matzah, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day from generation to generation by a perpetual regulation. From the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day, you are to eat matzah. During those seven days, no leaven is to be found in your houses. Whoever eats food with hametz in it is to be cut off from the community of Isra'el — it doesn't matter whether he is a foreigner or a citizen of the land. Eat nothing with hametz in it. Wherever you live, eat matzah.' “(Exodus 12:14-20 CJB)

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"Moreover, it will serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, so that Adonai's Torah may be on your lips; because with a strong hand Adonai brought you out of Egypt. Therefore you are to observe this regulation at its proper time, year after year. When Adonai brings you into the land of the Kena`ani, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, you are to set apart for Adonai everything that is first from the womb. Every firstborn male animal will belong to Adonai. Every firstborn from a donkey, you are to redeem with a lamb; but if you choose not to redeem it, you must break its neck. But from people, you are to redeem every firstborn son. (Exodus 13:9-13 CJB)Part of the priestly garments was the mitre, a gold plate on the High Priest’s forehead that read “Holy unto Yahweh.” This “sign” distinguishes the Bride in the end days; the Bride and the priesthood, and are called Holy unto יהוה when they walk in His ways and keep His feasts! ***(Exodus 28:36; Revelation 20:4) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53).

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MATZAH – ONE LAW FOR NATIVE ISRAEL & FOREIGNER

Lev 24:22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God. Num 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. Num 15:29 both the native among the sons of Israel, and the alien that lives among them; one law shall be to you for him who acts in error.

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..set apart for Adonai everything that is first from the womb. Every firstborn male animal will belong to Adonai. (Exodus 13:12 CJB)In this week‟s parsha, we see two Hebrew words that come into play here. First, the word “be‟qor” means literally “born first” and the word “peh‟ter” which means “to separate” or “first to open”. Here we see clearly the intent to set apart or separate the ones born first, just as they were first to open or separate the womb. - The first-born son in the family was assigned several important functions. - He was the kinsman-redeemer of family members and land that was sold, or encumbered, to satisfy debt. - And also, to recover family who were captured, abducted, or sold into slavery. The stories of Judah and Tamar, and Boaz and Ruth depict the role of the firstborn head of the family as one who “raised” his replacement by fathering a child for the family. *** In the event of his death, the next son would marry his brother‟s wife and raise up a seed, as an heir for the dead brother. And, this was also considered a picture of the resurrection.

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The firstborn was also the blood avenger, if any family member had lost his life at the hand of another. He was responsible to restore family property that had been lost, taken or seized. - In order to be able to respond to all these contingencies

the father bestowed upon his first-born, before death, a “double portion” of his material wealth, above the other siblings. Up until then he was more like a prince.

- In taking full responsibility for all matters in his family, he became to his clan like a king or ruler and a servant of Elohim, as well as a judge and a guardian of Torah for the family.

Avraham, for example, was instructed to command his children in the ways of righteousness according to B’reshith 18:19. The Levites, who were given the priesthood of the firstborn, were to bestow, inspire, and be an example of “life and peace” according to Mal’aki 2:5. - But first he had to prove his faithfulness to his father and to the Torah of Elohim. Had he violated these requirements, he stood a good chance of losing this position to a younger brother, as happened with Esau and Rueben.

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chooses His first-born according to His will and often יהוהtimes our heart. יהוה gave Ya‟aqob revelation and the insight to adopt Manasseh and Ephraim in order to give Yoseph a “double portion” as he would a first-born. To Yoseph, Ya‟aqob gives the blessings of multiplicity and the family priesthood. The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. (Genesis 49:26 NKJV). Looking at the Hebrew we get the whole story. The word used for “separated” is “na‟zir” (Strong‟s #5139) meaning “consecrated”, “dedicated” or “set-apart one” and is the root for Nazarite. Yoseph was set-apart and given the “priesthood” according to the order of the Melek Tzaddik (first-born, righteous king). Shim‟on Kepha tells us in Kepha Aleph 2:4-5; Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through Yahshua Messiah.

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So, what about the donkey thing? Elohim killed the first-born throughout Mitzrayim; but, by the blood of the lamb, ransomed the first-born of Yisra‟el. He then instructs us, that the first-born of the animals are His, except that we are to ransom the first-born of the donkeys, or asses, with a lamb. The obvious in comparing men and asses as donkeys are a picture of us; and here‟s how. *The Hebrew word used here for “donkey” is “cham‟or” (Strong‟s #2543) literally meaning “ass”, also “troubled” or “in turmoil”. “Cham‟or” is spelled “chet-mem-reish”. “Chet” means “fear”, “mem” means “water” or “fountain of Wisdom” and “reish” means “head” or “beginning”; showing us that fear (or reverence) of the water (the washing of the Word) is at the “beginning” of our relationship to Elohim. In other words, these donkeys represent those who have fear (or reverence) of the Word. Our turmoil, then, is to understand and learn it. These are as “first-born” who are ransomed. Those who don‟t care for the Word are not ransomed and their necks are broken. So, being an ass isn‟t always a bad thing. 108

PROVIDES FOR HIS DONKEY יהוה

repeats this ransom, or redeeming of the first-born יהוהcommand 18 times in the Torah. He called Yisra‟el His first-born in Shemot 4:22; And you shall say to Pharaoh, „Thus said יהוה, “Yisra‟el is My son, My firstborn,” And we see For thus said יהוה, .. For I shall be a Father to Yisra’ĕl, and Ephrayim – he is My first-born. “Hear the word of יהוה, O gentiles, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Yisra’ĕl gathers him, and shall guard him as a shepherd his flock.’ “For יהוה shall ransom Yaʽaqob, and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he. (Jeremiah 31:7-11). Ya‟aqob indeed gave the “first-born” blessing to Ephraim over Manasseh, when he adopted them from Yoseph. He set Ephraim apart, made him “na‟zir”, just as he had done for Yoseph. Ephraim sinned and led the whole of the Northern Kingdom into idolatry. It was Elohim who instructed and guided Ya‟aqob to bless Yoseph and then Ephraim with the priesthood of Melek Tzadik, - He provided the “Lamb” for the redemption of His first-born donkey, just as he did for all Yisra‟el, His first-born, in Mitzrayim.

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Moses was the greatest of all prophets, but he was still "the MAN Moses". Moses could say that the first-born would be smitten "ABOUT Midnight" (Ex. 11:4). But יהוה alone could make the plague actually happen "AT midnight" (Ex. 12:29) -- at the exact moment. alone is the "hero" of the Exodus. "And I shall pass יהוהthrough [Targum = I shall be revealed in] the land of Egypt on this night" (Ex. 12:12) -- "I and not an Angel; I and not a Saraf; I and not a messenger." (from the Seder Night Haggadah, commenting on "And I shall pass through / be revealed").The whole purpose of the Exodus was not to glorify a man or a nation, but to reveal יהוה 's absolute power over all creation. As Moses reminded the people forty years later, at the end of his ministry. (Deuteronomy 7:6-10) ***

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Exodus in RevelationRevelation: the Passover Key, there are striking parallels between the events remembered in Exodus and the foretold in the end-time prophets and Revelation. - Can we see prophetic trends in the first five books

of the bible in relation to end time prophetic events today?

- End TIME PREPARATION – SHEMITAH? How to keep it?

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Revelation in Relation to Genesis The book of Revelation is essentially a sequel to the book of Genesis. They are the two bookends of the Bible. Genesis means beginnings and Genesis is from - the Greek word apokalupsis and literally means an unveiling of something previously hidden. - Thus, Genesis is the book of the world’s beginnings, while Revelation is the book of the unveiling of the world’s future. -The great themes of the Bible start in Genesis and are progressively revealed throughout the Bible, culminating in the Revelation. 112

Revelation in Relation to Genesis The book of Revelation is essentially a sequel to the book of Genesis. They are the two bookends of the Bible. Genesis means beginnings and Genesis is from the Greek word apokalupsis and literally means an unveiling of something previously hidden. - Thus, Genesis is the book of the world’s beginnings, while Revelation is the book of the unveiling of the world’s future. -The great themes of the Bible start in Genesis and are progressively revealed throughout the Bible, culminating in the Revelation. Genesis describes a sinless world in the Garden of Eden, made for man and placed under his care. Even though sin and the curse have interrupted for a time, God’s ultimate purpose cannot be defeated. All that He intended from the beginning will come to pass. The earth will be restored to its original perfection and then continue forever. Sin and the curse will be removed and death will be no more. - The first three chapters of Genesis outline the introduction of sin into ADONAI’sperfect creation, and - the last three chapters of Revelation outline the cleansing of sin from the LORD’s redeemed creation. 113

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BLUEPRINTS & PATTERNS OR STRUCTURE OF THE BIBLE

Revelation in Relation to GenesisThe apostle John clearly took for granted that his readers would already be familiar with the rest of the Bible and thus prepared to accept and understand ADONAI’s last climatic written revelation as His completed Word. The Word of the LORD is eternal and it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). Gradually, however, God fulfilled what He had foretold through the prophets (Acts 3:18). He had been revealing His Word from His heart, through His prophets, from heaven to mankind on earth. When Messiah came, His Word became flesh and was transmitted into writing through Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and others. Finally, about a hundred years after Christ was born, John, the last surviving Apostle, was chosen to finish the Bible. Then God’s Word was complete.

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Revelation in Relation to Genesis In the letters to the seven churches, the tree of life and paradise are mentioned in Revelation 2:7. The cherubim of Genesis 3:24 are probably the living creatures mentioned in Revelation 4:6-8 and throughout the book. In Revelation 5:5, Christ is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, which is a reference to Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49:9. In the same prophecy the mention of washing clothes in blood is picked up in Revelation 1:5, 7:14 and 19:13. All Jacob’s children are named in his prophecy with the exception of Dan, and they are all named again, with the exception of Dan, in Revelation 7:4-8. The book of Revelation contains concepts, not only from Genesis, but also from the entire Bible. Some writers have estimated that more than two-thirds of the verses in Revelation contain quotations or allusions from the Old Covenant.

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Revelation in Relation to GenesisWhile the Bible does use many symbols, it is consistent in its usage of those symbols. A specific symbol will mean the same thing throughout the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in the vast majority of cases. - For example, Revelation has no direct quotes from the Old Covenant, but it has about 550 references to it. Only the last two chapters of Revelation regarding the Eternal Order have information that is entirely new. For this study, the symbols will be examined in accordance with the Golden Rule of Interpretation. While recognizing the existence of the symbols, there will be no resorting to guesswork. Rather, we will study Revelation on the premise that all the symbols in it are explained elsewhere, either in a different part of Revelation itself, or somewhere else in the Bible. In other words, we will let Scripture interpret Scripture. Their meanings will not be determined by speculation. 117

Revelation in Relation to Genesis

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Revelation in Relation to Genesis

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Revelation in Relation to Genesis

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The Importance of the Number Seven in the book of RevelationA unique feature of the book of Revelation is the number seven. There are:1. seven churches (1:4, 11, 20).2. seven Spirits (1:4, 3 :1, 4 :5, 5:6).3. seven golden lampstands (1:12-13, 20, 2:1).4. seven stars (1:16, 20, 2 :1, 3:1).5. seven lamps (4:5).6. seven seals (5:1, 5:5).7. seven horns (5:6).

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The Importance of the Number Seven in the book of Revelation8. seven eyes (5:6).9. seven angels (8:2, 6 ).10. seven trumpets (8:2, 6).11. seven thunders (10:3, 4 ).12. seven thousand (11:13).13. seven heads (12:3, 13:1 , 17:3, 7, 9).14. seven crowns (12:3).15. seven angels (15:1, 6-8, 16:1, 17:1, 21:9).16. seven plagues (15:1, 6, 8, 21:9).

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The Importance of the Number Seven in the book of Revelation17. seven bowls (15:7, 17:1, 21:9).18. seven mountains (17:9).19. seven kings (17:10-11). This unusual format can hardly be an accident. The word seven occurs in Revelation more than any other book in the Bible. In fact, it occurs more than all the other books in the New Covenant combined. It was not a literary device used by John because he was merely recording what he had seen and heard. The list of “sevens” above are the ones that are directly identified by the Greek word for seven, or hepta. However, there are other groups of seven things in Revelation, but they have to be counted up by the reader to notice that there are seven of them. For example, there are

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The Importance of the Number Seven in the book of Revelation20. seven beatitudes (statements using Blessed 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14).21. seven years of judgment (11:3, 16:6 and 14, 13:5).22. seven divisions of each of the letters to the seven churches (the description of Christ, the city, the church, the commendation, the concern, the command, and finally, the counsel).23. seven attributes of the Lamb (5:12).24. the seventh dispensation completing Scripture (20:1-10).

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The Importance of the Number Seven in the book of RevelationMany other associations of seven can be found in Revelation as one studies it in depth. For that matter, there are many other numbers also prominent in the book such as 666, 144,000, twelve gates, four horsemen, ten kings and 1000 years. So the obvious question is, why? Why is the book of Revelation so permeated with this emphasis on numbers? Actually, this same phenomenon is found throughout the Bible. For example, in Matthew 1:1-11, the vocabulary has 49 words (7x7), 28 words begin with a vowel (4x7), the remaining 21 words begin with a consonant (3x7), 7 words end with a vowel, 42 (6x7). The 49 words in the passage have 266 letters (38x7). Out of the 266 letters, 140 are vowels (20x7), and 126 are consonants (18x7). Also, of these 49 words, 14 occur only once (2x7), 35 occur more than once (5x7), of those 42 (6x7) are nouns and 7 are not. The remaining common nouns have exactly 49 letters (7x7). Masculine nouns occur 56 times (8x7). The names of only 3 women appear in the passage, and the Greek letters of their names add up to exactly 14 (7x2). It would have taken Matthew several months, working eight hours a day to construct the genealogy, even if it were possible. Yet the names were chosen before Matthew was even born! Actually, this same phenomenon is found throughout the Bible (see my commentary on Genesis Ae – The Number Seven). Multiples of the number seven are God’s numerical finger prints that He has left on every verse of Scripture.

The Importance of the Number SevenIn the very special case of the book of Revelation, however, the mathematical formula is clearly intentional and meaningful, so that to ignore it would be to miss much of the message of the book. Consequently, the various numbers and the reasons for their use will be discussed as we come to them while working our way through the book. The number seven has always been regarded as representing fullness or completion. This is true not only in the Bible but among almost all peoples throughout history. Seven is the number of perfection. The emphasis on seven as a number of fullness is understandable in terms of the weekly calendar by which we order our daily lives. Most countries throughout history have followed the seven-day week. But this does not really answer the question, for it does not explain why nations ever started following a seven-day week in the first place. The seven-day week has no astronomical basis, as do the month or the year, nor does the number seven have a physiological basis like the number ten.

The Importance of the Number SevenThe only real explanation why people have always followed a seven-day week and why the number seven has always symbolized fullness and completion is the divine decree from the Bible:And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done (Genesis 2:3). The LORD completed His great work of creating, constructing, and energizing the entire cosmos and all its creatures in the very first seven-day period of history. Since the beginning of sin and the curse that followed, He has been accomplishing His mighty work of redeeming and saving His creation.

One day His work will be completed, although it will have taken longer than seven days. Much of this latter work was preparatory, getting the world ready for the coming of its Redeemer to pay the price for its deliverance and restoration.

The Importance of the Number SevenThe First Covenant, beginning with Genesis, describes the history of this preparation, and the New Covenant details the coming of the Savior, the payment of the price, and the establishment of a great witnessing community of His redeemed people under the leadership of the apostles. Eventually, this great work of the redemption of those who are ADONAI’S possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:14) will also be completed, and the LORD’s eternal rest will begin. The book of Revelation, written by the last of His apostles at the very end of the Apostolic Age, provides His people with guidance through all the other ages to come, focusing especially on the great climatic events that will bring God’s work to completion, fullness and perfection. The book of Revelation, therefore, above all else, is designed to assure us that what God has said is true; that what He has promised, He will do. The book of Revelation is real, future history, as sure as Genesis is real, primeval history. Its characters are real and the events it prophesies will indeed come to pass. ADONAI will finish His work because He is the Promise Keeper.7

Revelation in Relation to Genesis There are other comparisons that could be made between the two worlds revealed in Genesis and Revelation. There are a number of specific themes that began in Genesis that are either elaborated on, or referenced in Revelation. For example, the original creation of the world is specifically mentioned in Revelation four times (4:11; 10:6; 13:8; 14:7). There is an implicit reference to Noah’s Flood in Revelation 14:7, and the rainbow covenant with Noah inRevelation 10:1. The age-long conflict between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman, first introduced in Genesis 3:15, is discussed at length in Revelation 12:1-17. The old serpent of the Garden of Eden is clearly identified there as Satan, the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9). The post-Flood rebellion that began at Babel under Nimrod is developed and analyzed throughout history until its climax under the coming antichrist at Babylon the Great in Revelation 17 and 18. There is a reference to the wickedness of Sodom in Revelation 11:8 and burning sulfur in Revelation 14:10. 129

Revelation in Relation to Genesis In the letters to the seven churches, the tree of life and paradise are mentioned in Revelation 2:7. The cherubim of Genesis 3:24 are probably the living creatures mentioned in Revelation 4:6-8 and throughout the book. In Revelation 5:5, Christ is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, which is a reference to Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49:9. In the same prophecy the mention of washing clothes in blood is picked up in Revelation 1:5, 7:14 and 19:13. All Jacob’s children are named in his prophecy with the exception of Dan, and they are all named again, with the exception of Dan, in Revelation 7:4-8. The book of Revelation contains concepts, not only from Genesis, but also from the entire Bible. Some writers have estimated that more than two-thirds of the verses in Revelation contain quotations or allusions from the Old Covenant.

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Revelation in Relation to GenesisThe apostle John clearly took for granted that his readers would already be familiar with the rest of the Bible and thus prepared to accept and understand ADONAI’s last climatic written revelation as His completed Word. The Word of the LORD is eternal and it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). Gradually, however, God fulfilled what He had foretold through the prophets (Acts 3:18). He had been revealing His Word from His heart, through His prophets, from heaven to mankind on earth. When Messiah came, His Word became flesh and was transmitted into writing throughMatthew, Mark, Luke, John and others. Finally, about a hundred years after Christ was born,John, the last surviving Apostle, was chosen to finish the Bible. Then God’s Word was complete.

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Exodus in RevelationRevelation: the Passover Key, there are striking parallels between the events remembered in Exodus and the foretold in the end-time prophets and Revelation. So, as we prepare for Pesach, let us also prepare for the last days of deliverance, by telling the story. Exodus 13:8 says, "You shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'"Every Passover, we must retell the story of the deliverance of our ancestors from slavery as our story.

As Dan Juster has pointed out in his book 133

Exodus in Revelation- In Exodus, an evil Pharaoh arose, seeking to oppress and destroy the children of Israel. - In Revelation, an anti-Messiah will arise, seeking to oppress and destroy the people of God (both Israel and the believers in Messiah).

-In Exodus, God raises up two witnesses (Moses and Aaron) to prophesy against Pharaoh's power. -In Revelation, God will raise up two witnesses to prophesy against the power of Anti-Messiah.

-In Exodus, plagues fall upon Egypt, demonstrating the power of God to Egypt. I-n Revelation, plagues will fall upon the world, demonstrating the power of God to the world and the gods of this world.

Plague #1: Water is turns into blood. Exodus 7:20-22, "So Moses . lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile."

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Exodus in RevelationThe plague of blood in the Nile was a judgment on the Nile god known as Hapi, who was as associated with fertility, food and water. With all that fish rotting, Hapi looked pretty helpless! - Similarly, in Revelation 8:8-9, "The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died."

*** I don't know about you, but if I saw the sea turning to blood, I would be reminded of what happened in Egypt. But in the last days, not everyone will get the message right away, just as they didn't in Egypt. - Pharaoh's magicians tried imitating Moses with their tricks. - And in Revelation, Anti-Messiah's false prophet will seek to deceive many

with his false signs. - Revelation 13:14, "And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because

of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast."

- Just remember, been there, done that!135

Exodus in RevelationPlague #2: Frogs. Exodus 8:3, "The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed." - If you think frogs in your bed is ooey, wait until you see what's in

store in - Revelation 16:13, "And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs."

- Note that the frogs and later locusts are unclean spirits that look like frogs.

- That's a principle for interpreting Revelation: - the plagues are unclean or evil spirits. God regarded them as

unclean spirits in Egypt, too. The plague of frogs was a judgment on the god Heket, who had the head of a frog and was worshiped as a god of fertility.

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Exodus in Revelation- Exodus 9:10-12, "It became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. And the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them." From the river the plagues came into their homes and then on their skin. - So in Revelation 16:11, "they cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and did not turn from their sinful deeds."***In Exodus, in spite of the awesome signs of God's judgment, Pharaoh amazingly hardens his heart.

***In Revelation, in spite of the awesome signs of God's wrath, many people will still refuse to repent. (We should not be surprised that many refuse to repent, for as Yeshua said in Matthew 7:13-14, "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.")

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Exodus in RevelationJust as plagues of locusts and darkness fell upon Egypt, so they appear again - in Revelation 9:2-3, "He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power."- In Exodus, the plagues fall upon Egypt, the greatest world power of that time.- In Revelation, the plague fall upon all the nations of the world which

defy the God of Israel. - For just as God judged Egypt for its mistreatment of the children of

Israel, God will judges all the nations for how they have treated His covenant people Israel. As He says in Joel 3:2, "I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land."

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Exodus in RevelationThrough all these plagues, God makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.- Exodus 9:26, "Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail."- In Revelation, God protects His people who have His seal:

Revelation 7:3, "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!"

- The seal of God is probably not a cross on your neck or even jewelry with the Messianic seal; it's the Spirit of God living in your heart. As 2 Corinthians 1:22 says, "He put his seal on us, and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee for the future."

In response to the seal of God Anti-Messiah demands that the mark of "666" appear on the rest- the number of man, apart from God. (In Hebrew numerology 6 is the number of man.)

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Exodus in Revelation- In Exodus, God protects his people in Goshen.=In Revelation 9:4, the demonic locusts will be commanded to harm "only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."-In Exodus, the sons of Israel overcame the angel of death by means of the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their houses.-In Revelation 12:11 the children of God will overcome Satan "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony- In Exodus, the armies of Pharaoh foolishly defy God by coming out to attack Israel.- In Revelation, the armies of the nations will again defy God by making a final assault against Israel.

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Exodus in Revelation- In Exodus, God splits he sea to deliver his people.- In Revelation, Messiah will split both the heavens and the earth to deliver his people, taking them up through the veil between the seen and unseen to be with him for the wedding of the Lamb.- In Exodus, the armies of Egypt are drowned in the sea.- In Revelation, the armies of anti-Messiah are consumed by nuclear fire.- In Exodus, Moses and Miriam lead Israel in a song of victory and praise to God. In Revelation, the elders of Israel lead the saints in song after song of glory and praise to the Lamb. It's glory to God, both in Exodus and Revelation. V'eemru?

Yet there is also grit and gruesomeness, darkness and despair, tears and terror.

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Exodus in RevelationIn Exodus, the children of Israel suffered in bondage until their cries aroused God's compassion. In the last days, the blood of the saints or kedoshim will also cry out to God. In Revelation 6:10, "they cried out with a loud voice: 'Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?'"

A key to ushering in the final victory is the suffering and the blood of the kedoshim. On the one hand, God distinguishes and protects His people, sealed by His Spirit. On the other hand, some of His prophets and kedoshim do willingly suffer for His name's sake.

By identifying with the blood of the Lamb, the trials and even the blood of the martyrs take on eternal significance and power, filling up the cup of Messiah's sufferings. Since humanity ceded authority over this world to hasatan, we are responsible for its devastation. So humanity will shares in the restoration of this world by sharing in Messiah's suffering-Messiah will call some of His holy people to take a stand against the spiritual forces of darkness in this world.

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Exodus in RevelationHashem does provide protection for His people through the tribulation--the seal distinguishing them for those afflicted by the locusts and other plagues; the place of refuge in the wilderness to which the woman representing Israel flees from the dragon; the calling up rapture of the kedoshim into His presence at the sound of the seventh shofar, for the glorious wedding with the Lamb.

Yet just as Messiah willingly laid down His life in suffering and death, in order to fulfill the purpose of God, some of the kedoshim in the last days will willingly present their testimony to those who hate it, for the sake of some who will turn and trust in God. I think of my friend and mentor Carol Ann, who willingly gave her life in intercession the rebirth of faith in Israel and the Islamic world. I think of Jill Shannon, a Jewish believer to whom the Lord has revealed her own martyrdom. She was thrilled to see it at first, but when she accepted her calling and destiny, it transformed her.

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Exodus in RevelationTo the martyr-witnesses there is special honor in the judgment of the just. Revelation 20:4, "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years."

Yet even for those of us who are not called so, there will be opportunity to keep trusting in the faithfulness of God during times of shaking and terror all around us.

How do you respond to the trembling of earthquakes, to the sudden rush of tsunamis, to the growing disaster of nuclear reactors spewing radiation into the air and the sea? How do you respond to suffering in your own body or the body of someone you love? How do you respond to the voice of the enemy threatening to overwhelm you, "You're done for!"

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Exodus in RevelationFear is natural in such circumstances; faith is supernatural. Will we see with natural eyes only, or with supernatural? God gives us supernatural insight. As Romans 8:15 says, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" Today we can cry out to Him, "Abba Father," and keep trusting in Him. V'eemru?

At this point, I'd like to share a testimony about what happened to me, just last Shabbat. Before service began, I was experiencing some fairly intense warfare-this though came into my head: "The congregation is small and it's going to fold"-just as I am about to leave Lehigh and go full time. Hasatan is persistent, seeking to distract and if possible discourage me. I just prayed and worshiped the Lord through it.

But then came four prophecies that spoke directly against these attacks.First, during the prophecy time, Paul Kofchock opened with a word, "Do not fear. I am with you. Do not fear." I hope that word spoke to others as well, but it spoke with resonance to my soul.

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Exodus in RevelationThe story of Exodus was written as an example for us: we should re-tell it as if it were our own story. The story of Revelation was written as a warning and an encouragement to us: we should ponder it as it were our own future-for it will be.

In that day, you and I will cry out Abba Father, and keep trusting in Him, so that we will say, as Job 19:25 says, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God."

In Rev 2:10, Yeshua tells the congregation of Smyrna, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested. and I will give you the crown of life."

That crown is worth waiting for, worth enduring for. V'eemru?The worship team may come forward. Let's pray...

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Exodus in RevelationWE SERVE AN AWESOME POWERFUL GOD!WE SERVE A VERY PRECISE GOD !HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE NOW!WHAT YOURE GOING THROUGH .AND HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH.

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US !

TORAH PEOPLE HAVE A BEGINNING A DESTINYPREPARED BY GOD !

JOIN US IN THESE JOURNEY !

STUDY TORAH AND LEARN the BLUEPRINTS OF GOD.

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