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The Holy Bible and The Big picture

William J.D. Shaw updated: May 20, 2019

1. Introduction

This work is directed at identification of the key or important directives of God taken from

His Holy Word. It is based upon the use of the King James Version, KJV, and presents the

corresponding verses within each topic. It is up to the reader to verify the context of the verse and

prove for themselves the thoughts and interpretations provided. Recognize that the Holy Bible

often has duality of meaning in a fair number of concepts as found in certain verses. This work is

taken from the verses and words of the Holy Bible, not from any directions of man. Before tackling

this document one should read and become familiar with the documents “Important Background to

Bible Understanding and Study” , “Further Important Information to Bible Understanding and

Study”, “Summary of Jesus Words and Examples” and “How Obedient does God Demand”.

To be allowed to come and take on the true Christ one must be called by God, for you

cannot of your own volition decide to take this step. If you are not called and you take this step on

your own then most likely you are following after a false Christ. The calling in the time of Christ as

well as in today’s time is a call to the gospel of the Kingdom of God and to be led by God’s Holy

Spirit. If you are called by God and do not have an open mind, you will not gain understanding and

His word will not become alive to you and you will not be led by the Holy Spirit. If you keep an open

mind and truly wish and commit to follow Christ and are prepared to do His Will, then more and

more will be opened unto you.

Much of the following will be controversial, based upon the traditions of man, also called

the commandments of man. Where these conflict with the Bible or the Commandments of God

means you are following the wrong path. Whatever you believe and follow must be supported by

verse from the Bible. If God does not tell you to do something, it is not up to you to try and justify

that what you do pleases God, His ways are higher than ours. Be very careful as to what you do and

follow, make sure it does not conflict with God’s Word and His Will. If you do not like what the

following sections tell us, then find passages in the Bible that tell you different. Anything that man

says, that does not come directly from God’s Holy Word is wrong. Note that the more times the

Bible tells you the same thing, the more important it is.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father

Even if one is called, it does not mean he is chosen to participate in the coming kingdom of

God on earth.

Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Recognize that at the time of Jesus and His ministry, there was only the Old Testament, the

New Testament was written later. Therefore Jesus followed the requirements and quoted scripture

from the Old Testament, likewise the apostles and disciples only referred to the Old Testament

scripture and to what they learned and witnessed directly from Christ and as they were guided by

the Holy Spirit. Now we have the advantage of having the New Testament as well as the Old

Testament and the guidance of the Spirit of God. Recognize as well Jesus came to the Jews and

not to the Gentiles. Jesus did not have to tell the Jews to keep the commands and the Law, He only

had to explain to them how to keep it better, by placing the intent in their heart. Later He sent His

disciples to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.

This work is only a guide to help one learn and identify the key aspects of God’s word, you

must discover for yourself the truth. You do this by reading God’s Word, pray first and ask God to

give you His Holy Spirit to guide you, and that what is shown to you, that you will place it on your

heart and obey. If you sincerely do this, the Bible will become alive and speak to you. Then over

time more will be opened to you. This way forward is learning by spiritual understanding.

Intellectual understanding if correct is only good as a rough guide in going forward, intellectual

understanding can be wrong, spiritual understanding is truth coming directly out of God’s Word.

2. Gather to worship

A question that first arises is whether we should congregate to worship God ? If so when

should we do this ? The Bible instructs us to congregate in worship to God on the seventh day of

the week or the Sabbath as a day of special rest.

Lev 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy

convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

A convocation is a calling out, an assembly, a public meeting, a reading, which is a

gathering of God’s people, taken as coming before him to worship. As it was in the Old Testament,

so it is in the congregation in the New Testament. This convocation was in the New Testament

carried out in the synagogues of the Jews throughout the country as well as in the temple in

Jerusalem, then later in the churches that formed or the homes of the converted Jews and Gentiles.

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In Moses time the location was in front of a tabernacle tent which was where God resided. The tent

was also in those days effectively the temple where the sacrifices took place.

Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the

synagogues every sabbath day.

Joh 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

In Jesus time the only temple was in Jerusalem, it acted as both the synagogue where

scripture was read and convocation occurred, as well as the inner portion where sacrifices were

made. There were many synagogues or public gathering places spread throughout the country.

The assembly place of the temple was as defined by God in the Old Testament and again by

Jesus, as the house of God and was to be called the house of prayer.

Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

We even have some further direction as to how we should praise God on the Sabbath day.

Psa 92:1 A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the

LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Today congregations gather in churches to worship God by singing praises, giving thanks,

praying, reading the Holy Word and then elaborating, preaching or discussing it, as we assemble

together in His house, whether it be on Sunday by most, or on Saturday by a few. The New

Testament has further instructions on worship in Christ’s new established church, but more

correctly called Christ’s new established congregation. A gathering of two or three, guarantees that

Jesus will be there amongst those present.

3. What do Protestant churches teach for salvation

Protestant Churches all teach that everlasting life with the Father and Jesus is available to all that

repent of their sins and believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins,

and that believing in Christ as our savior then we are saved. Or stated another way, by our faith in

believing in Jesus and by the grace or gift of God, and not by our own good works, we are forgiven

of our previous sins and are saved. By repenting and becoming a new person, which means as a

few of the churches teach for us to follow the commandments of Jesus, normally being 9 of the

10, then we are good with God. Many tell you that the commandments were nailed to the cross,

but they cannot in honesty back this up with scripture, they speculate as to what was and what was

not nailed to the cross. They teach repent, do good, love your neighbor and that is our total

obligation because Christ did the rest for us. They ignore scripture that tells a more complete story.

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When something is not clear we need to follow what Christ said and showed us by example rather

than to speculate.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Most of the churches today, tells us that there is not much more required of us. They ignore

scripture that tells us differently. These days, the trend is that it is good to study our Bible in study

groups and to have some involvement in the church. Yet even the Old Testament is clear in what

God expects of man.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The above verse is very clear, you need to search out for yourself, what are His

commandments. We are told not to sin, but what is sin? It is the breaking of God’s law !

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no

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adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

We are informed that breaking any one law means we have transgressed all the laws and

are guilty of not following what God has commanded of us. This thought needs to be reflected

upon and kept in mind. As we go forward, we need to ask ourselves what law, what

commandments, are these only the 10 commandments or are they much more detailed and

inclusive. Check out for yourself what the word “Law” means, use Strong’s numbers in the Old

Testament.

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

We sin when we reject God’s Word and reject God’s Will. God’s Word is given to us along

with it’s meaning and it’s intention. When we follow God’s Word we grow as God’s children and

please him.

4. Why is the big picture missing

In any book there is a theme or key important concepts, the Holy Bible is no different in this

regard. However it is much more difficult to identify the big picture in the Bible since it is

comprised of so many books, chapters, verses and words, and often things are fragmented and

scattered throughout. In the past in order to identify key aspects of the Bible one normally needed

to rely on ministers, who one would think, have extensively studied the Bible for a number of years

and have things right, but in reality that is not so. However we presently live in a privileged time

where through the use of computer Bible programs and the use of the internet, each of us can

search out and study any topic ourselves.

There are a number of computer programs for study of the Holy Bible, usually these have

Hebrew and Greek translation words available, as well as word search ability and commentaries

from various scholars. An excellent free program is “e-sword”, and an excellent moderately priced

program is “Sword Searcher”. This latter program has many more resources attached to it. These

programs also have a number of different Bible translations that are free and others that can be

purchased for a nominal fee. These many various Bibles can be used for comparison on any verse.

In addition to these Bible resources, on the web, one has access to many books and pamphlets

often put together by various churches , ministers, and Bible studying individuals, these can be

read and evaluated by anyone.

What is the big picture of the Bible ? It is found in what Jesus did by example and told the

apostles to do, which was to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God;

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Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Mat 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

So what is this gospel of the Kingdom of God ? It is what Jesus taught, it is the good news

of God’s coming Kingdom on earth. The coming of God’s Government on earth, where everyone

will obey God’s Laws. To prepare for this we are to repent and follow God’s Laws and for us to grow

in heart and spirit as children of God, and we do this by total obedience to God by keeping all His

commandments, statutes, precepts, judgments and ordinances in the way they were intended to

be kept, specifically being in our heart and our mind. This is so that we might grow in purity and

goodness through the help of God. God wants us to become Holy. The Kingdom of God will come

to earth at the end time and God’s Commandments will be carried out here on earth as well as in

heaven. This will occur for a period of time of 1000 years. When Jesus returns at some point

ahead of this end time, the first Judgment will take place and those who are dead and found to be

ready and acceptable will be resurrected and changed as well as those living at that time. Those

resurrected at this time are those found worthy and will serve and rule with Jesus for the 1000 year

period. The first resurrection occurs some time before the beginning of the millennium rule and is

the resurrection of only the saints. Note those in God’s early church were identified as His Saints,

ask yourself do you follow Christ’s directions as given to them at that time that you might be found

worthy to be in this group.

God wants us to grow in spirit and become pure and good of heart, and to become like him,

then when given everlasting life we shall be changed into a spiritual body and live with Him forever.

The preaching of the coming Kingdom of God, tells us to prepare ourselves, to watch for its

approach and be ready and found acceptable to serve Christ when it comes.

A second and separate but integral message in addition to the Gospel of the Kingdom of

God is the belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, come down to earth as a man in the flesh, living

without any sin and then putting man’s sin upon himself and dying as a sacrifice for all of us, then

rising on the third day, ascending back up to heaven and sitting on the right hand of God the

Father. The apostles taught both as they go together, in a specific order with the Kingdom first and

Jesus second.

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Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Notice the last verse of James above, where He says the Kingdom is promised to those that

love him. As one reads the Holy Word, take careful note of how we show our love to God. Also take

note of when the Kingdom of God comes to earth and later to the new earth, how do we worship

God.

The above seems pretty straight forward and it is, if you properly study and follow God’s

Word. But Satan, the god of this present world, or prince of the air, has worked deception into the

churches and we are taught not to be totally obedient to God, as a result most all churches have

brought in various subtle changes, to what we are told to do from God’s word, that conflict with the

Bible, resulting in our not following in total obedience to God.

Since nearly all of our ministers have been deceived in their courses and college studies

and having been taught falsehoods, they teach their congregations what they have learned. Many

have not learned the truths themselves by directly studying and letting God’s Word reveal itself to

them, rather they have been taught in a classroom by others who follow a tradition of teaching

what someone previously has thought was correct. Recognize that human nature, or the flesh, is

in enmity with God, man naturally rebels against God. People do not want to be required to do

anything contrary to the way of the world, they do not want to have an obligation to God, one that

requires them into action to do God’s Will, especially if it goes against the ways of the world.

Therefore human nature is to normally accept these deceptions without question because they fall

in with the way of the world and do not require specific obligations, responsibilities or unpopular

actions on our part.

These deceptions mainly have to do with changing our obedience to God. This means

having us follow some of God’s Laws, but not all that He requires of us. This is extremely important

to keep in mind as you read and study further. It is up to you to prove, using God’s Word, as to

what is the truth and what He requires of us. You do this by collecting together the various verses

on one subject and seeing what they really say. You must read and reflect on each topic. God gave

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us the ability to think and to apply reason and to reflect on His Word. Keep in mind as you study

any topic, that God does not promote confusion, rather scripture is logical and orderly. Also keep in

mind that God does not change, He is the same in the past, the same in the present and the same

in the future.

5. Watch out for deception

Jesus as well as His disciples warned us to beware of deception entering into the church and

into our lives and hence into our beliefs. Recognize that when scripture tells us the same thing

twice it is very important, when it reinforces the same thing three times it becomes extremely

important. The more times it is repeated, the more important it becomes. The following are Jesus

and His disciples warnings directed to us of this danger;

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

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Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

As we can see from the above verses, Jesus and His disciples warned us many, many times

to beware of those who would work their way into the church and attempt to deceive us. Recognize

that we are deceived by lies, and cunning craftiness, often which usually contains some amount of

truth. Before Jesus returns He has warned us 17 times not to be deceived. However when you

examine both the many Protestant and Catholic Churches, they have deceived both us as well as

themselves and their many ministers. So after we were warned 17 times in the New Testament,

what do you think God will think of all those who have been deceived ? Does He think, it is not your

fault ? I would hardly think so ! With so many warnings and leaving us a road map, the Holy Bible,

it is very likely that He will hold us accountable. Note above Eph 5:6, here we are warned of being

deceived and following a path of disobedience, there is a penalty to be paid for allowing ourselves

to be lead astray .

Mar 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of

men. Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the

washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep

your own tradition.

Jesus also warned us of what we hear and of following the commandments or traditions of

man especially where they conflict with the commandments and laws of God. Following the

commandments of man – you worship God in vain.

Jesus does tell us what will happen to those who teach others to break one of the least of

the commandments;

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Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So being deceived has grave consequences. If you are deceived it is most likely that you

are breaking one or more of God’s commandments. It is likely that your heart and spirit are not

growing as God wishes them to grow.

The God throughout the Old Testament warned us to beware of not keeping His

commandments;

Deu 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: In the very beginning Satan was deceitful to Eve, so it is no small wonder that we are

warned to be aware and on the lookout for deception from Satan and his workers.

We are also warned to beware of those who walk in sin and are hypocrites;

Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Luk 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Act 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

So Jesus is telling us to beware of being lead astray into the sin of the world and in not

following what God’s Word tells us, and that we need to test and be on guard in recognizing the lies

and deceit of the world and those trying to deceive us. Jesus preached and left us examples to

follow and these are found in the New Testament given to us from the apostles with Words directed

from the Holy Spirit. So beware of the traditions of men and of the rudiments of the world. From

Col 2:8 above we are told not to follow after the world, but rather after what Christ has told us and

shown us.

Note that deception is not limited to the past and today only, rather it will also occur in the

future after Jesus returns and collects His saints;

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Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

The above two verses refer to Satan. From all of the above passages one can see that

Christians have been warned continually throughout the Bible that we need to be on guard and be

aware of being deceived. These warnings were left by Jesus at the beginning of establishing His

congregation or church. The churches and the individuals in the congregations should constantly

over the ages have been taking these warnings to heart, continually testing and rejecting anything

that was not directed by God in His Holy Word. A good description of being deceived is found

throughout 2Peter 2.

To identify what God requires of us, we need to study the Holy Bible and let it interpret

itself, to let it grow within us and to reflect upon it. This then gives us a clear path forward, it also

shows us what deceit is around us, and identifies as to what makes us disobedient to God. In order

to do this we must question everything we have been told and all the traditions of the world around

us.

6. The Interaction of God throughout the Old Testament

The starting point in getting to the truths of the Bible is to understand who is the one

throughout the Old Testament that dealt with man. This is the MAJOR KEY that unlocks

understanding to many New Testament Scriptures, it allows an orderly and logical thought process

for understanding of other keys. The identification of who is the one of the Old Testament, that

throughout deals with man, is well hidden within the Old Testament, but it becomes clear when

using the New Testament. Throughout the Old Testament there were a few individuals who walked

with God. It is likely Moses knew who the one that was dealing directly with him was, since he

wrote the first five books of the Bible.

Examining the following verse, using the Hebrew words, we find that in the beginning the

word God is plural;

Gen 1:1 In the beginningH7225 GodH430 createdH1254 (H853) the heavenH8064 and the earth.H776

The Strong number H430 is plural, meaning what we would normally take this as more

than one God. However the plural use of the word in Hebrew denotes plentitude of might. It does

not mean that there is more than one God.

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Another verse as given below also seems to indicate more than one God, but again the meaning is

not plural for God.

Gen 3:22 And the LORDH3068 GodH430 said,H559 Behold,H2005 the manH120 is becomeH1961 as

oneH259 ofH4480 us, to knowH3045 goodH2896 and evil:H7451 and now,H6258 lestH6435 he put forthH7971 his hand,H3027 and takeH3947 alsoH1571 of the treeH4480 H6086 of life,H2416 and eat,H398 and liveH2425 for ever:H5769

Rather it is used as man has become like one of the angels. Again the word “God” is

defined the same as above being plentitude of might. The Bible is clear, there is only one God, that

being the Father.

With the New Testament Jesus introduced us to the Father. Thus we now know that God

the Father and also the Son of God both existed at the beginning before the making of the heaven

and the earth.

David also knew there were two major Beings as born out in His sayings;

Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath

anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The difficulty with the above verses can be clarified by looking more carefully at the word

“God” as translated in the KJV. To do this we need to go to “The Scriptures” Bible, where careful

attention is made to the descriptions used for the words we take from the KJV as God, Lord, All

Mighty, Creator as well as describing others. In Hebrew words are Elohim, which have a number of

meanings, which are, mighty one, strength, ruler, chief, and messenger. It is often used to refer to

the creator and also to the Father. Verse Psa 45:7 says “therefore Creator, thy Mighty One, hath….”.

Or the Son of God is anointed by the Father.

The New Testament has a number of verses telling us that Jesus existed throughout the

Old Testament, He was the one who made the heaven and the earth and man, the one that dealt

with man over the ages. The key words in the New Testament for alerting us to be able to see this

are; the Word, the Cloud and the Rock. Consider the following;

Act 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him

in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

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1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Also we know that the Word was with God in the beginning, and that the Word was Christ,

meaning both the Father and the Son existed at the beginning. This clearly tells us that Christ was

the Word. This comes from Jesus teaching of the apostles after He had risen from the dead.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Note again that the word the translators used in the KJV as “God” is really the Hebrew word “Elohim”.

So what Joh 1:1 really says is that the Word was with the Father and the Word was a mighty one.

1Jn 5:7 because three are who are testifying in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these--the three--are one;

1Jn 5:8 and three are who are testifying in the earth , the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.

*(note in the above two verses, all the words in the light font - these were inserted by the interpreters,

this is from Young’s 1898 Literal translation, the KJV does not identify the words that were added, this

will be dwelt with in a later section)

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory

as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Again “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” meaning Christ was the Word.

The Father was not revealed to us in the beginning of the Bible, it came much later in the

New Testament.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

However if we combine Hebrews 1:8-10 with Psalms 45:6,7 it becomes clear that Christ

was a mediator for God The Father throughout the Old Testament and that He made all things.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of

righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

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Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. PSa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath

anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

In the above, the New and the Old Testaments are tied together. God the Father is

addressing the Son and He calls him the creator. There are other verses in the New Testament that

tell us that one was mighty and next to the Father and this was Christ or the Word.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our

Saviour Jesus Christ; Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and

invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the

dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

From the KJV it wrongly leads us to attribute Jesus as God. Rather a clearer understanding

comes from “The Scriptures” Bible. Without doubt, Jesus is the word, He was given the

responsibility by the Father to deal directly with man throughout the Old Testament, the one who

interacted with man and with Abraham and later the Israelites as well as with Moses and the other

prophets, this was Christ. It was Christ that rewarded and also punished. He wrote the laws,

commandments, precepts, ordinances, and statutes. Christ wrote the Ten Commandments with

His finger on the stone tablets. He is the one who gave the Laws, ordinances, statutes judgments,

precepts and commandments.

Recognize that the Son and the Father are of the same mind, they are in constant contact

with each other and the Father works through the Son. The Son can do what the Father has shown

Him. It is the Son that was given the responsibility to create and deal with man. Under the

direction of the Father, Christ gave the commandments and He will judge man on how obedient to

His commandments a person was in his life.

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Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as

we are one:

Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

The names we find for Jesus are, the Messiah, Christ, the Rock, the Word, Jehovah, Lord of

Hosts, Lord God, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, King of Righteousness, King of Kings, Lord of Lords,

I AM , Son of God, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The prince of Peace.

When Moses asked to see God, the following occurred;

Exo 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

Exo 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

When Moses saw God, he was placed in a clift in the rock and God covered his eyes with His

hand as He walked past until Moses could view the back of God as He walked away.

Exo 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of

the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: Exo 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall

not be seen.

It is important to note that no one, not even Moses while he lived on earth had seen God

the Father, only Christ has seen God the Father.

Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This states that no living person has seen God the Father, there are a total of five different

verses in the New Testament that tell us this, the above is only one of the five. Therefore Moses

saw the Word, the mediator of the Father, or the back of Christ or the Son of God as He passed by.

Recognizing that the Word of the Old Testament, the one that interacted with man, was

Christ, this allows us to see how the Old and New Testament are one and the same, they are totally

tied together. The one thing that changed is that now we are saved by faith and grace, this does

not change the fact that we still need to follow the laws of God in order to have our faith grow and

for ourselves to grow as God wants us to develop. Not that our actions in this save us, but they help

us grow in the manner that God wants us to acquire the personal characteristics that He values ,

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also by following the laws they show our love for God. They help us to keep from sinning and help

us in walking forward on the narrow path.

To fully and correctly understand this relationship between the Father and the Son, and the

many words in the KJV for God, one should use “The Scriptures” Bible as it is much more accurate

and careful in its translation.

7. The important lessons of the Old Testament

There are many stories in the Old Testament, but most have one underlying theme, that of

obedience verses disobedience. Either obeying God or rebelling against God and walking in sin,

which is the same as walking in the way of the world. What we should learn from the Old

Testament is that Obedience is rewarded and Disobedience is punished. Disobedience is going the

way of man’s desires, the way of the world, doing your own thing and not doing what God has

directed us to do.

There are some major punishments that took place in the Old Testament. God started over

with man at the time of Noah, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent the Israelites into

slavery, He scattered the many tribes, and He had the Jews become servants being ruled over by

others, and also He removed them from their land by scattering them throughout the world. Note

that in Exodus, those disobedient to God’s commandment of the Sabbath, by collecting fire wood

on that day, were directed by God to be taken and stoned.

In the 10 commandments, the first 4 are our relationship with God, the remaining 6 are our

relationship with our fellow man. All of the commandments are important, but the first 4 are the

most important because these are an enmity in man towards God making them the easiest to

break.

The following verse sums up what the Son of God felt about man according to the Old

Testament;

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

In the above verse it is Christ that says “keep all my commandments always”, Christ does

not change, He is the same at the beginning of the world, the same at the time of Moses, the same

at the time He was crucified, the same today and the same at the end of the world and the same in

the future. Christ does not say keep some or most of my commandments. Christ does not say keep

all my commandments for a while. No, we are told to “Keep All my commandments Always”. That

means throughout the time of the Old Testament, at the time of Christ’s preaching on earth, at the

present time and also in the future or coming times. What Christ told us is the same as coming

from the Father.

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God knows better than what we know, He has told us to keep His commandments and

laws, and He must have a reason for this. By following and doing this, not just to the letter of the

law, but rather to the intent of the law, working within our heart, it will act with God’s help to

change our heart to that which He wants us to change and grow. It will have a direct effect on

having our spirit grow as God wants it to develop. God’s laws and commandments tell us how to

live and by embracing them, they help us change inwardly in a manner that pleases God. They help

us grow as God’s children and to make our way through the present world by keeping on the narrow

path.

8. Being obedient to God

What is required for us to be obedient to God ? We are told to obey His commandments,

His statutes and His laws - always. This means no limit of time, it means past, present and future.

Who is the command to obey for ? It is for God’s people, if you take on Christ as your savior

and repent then you are one of God’s chosen people. There is no difference then between Jew or

Gentile, bond of free, man or woman, we are all part of the branches on the olive tree. Recognize

you are not saved by obeying, you are saved by Jesus dying and shedding his blood for our sins and

being forgiven by God’s grace. However by obeying we are showing our love to God, we are being

obedient to His Will. God’s laws when we write them on our heart help us to grow and mature as

God wants us to grow. God’s laws are the instructions to us on how we are to make our way

forward through this present life. They are made to act in changing us to becoming Holy and

righteous, growing as God’s children.

Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my

statutes, and my laws.

This is not easy, especially in today’s world since it goes against the way the world operates.

Just because everyone is doing something else from what we are required by God, certainly does

not make all the others right. We are warned against this disobedience in the end time;

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming

of the Son of man be.

Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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Note that in the time of Noah, no one was following Gods Commandments, except for

Noah, so God destroyed everyone except Noah and his family, and then started over. So today it is

no different with man, the world goes its own way and few, very few, follow all of Gods

commandments. God tells us as the end approaches it will be just like in the days of Noah, nearly

everyone doing the wrong things in going forward through life. So do not be fooled into following

the crowd or the way of the world. God gave all of us the right to choose and to think, so be

careful, study His Holy Word and choose carefully.

It is only the saints that will escape the test of the tribulation and the wrath of God as it is

applied to the earth at the end time, prior to the beginning of the millennium.

God always punished His people when they strayed from His commandments, especially

those which were man’s interaction with God. Therefore recognize that the first 4 commandments

are extremely important. If you follow only three of the first four, you are not obedient to God. If

you are not obedient in your relationship with God, a question that should be asked or thought of is,

will God hear your prayers ? Will God know you ? Will God give His Spirit to you in order to lead

you?

Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and

shall not be able. Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye

begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Being totally obedient to God requires obeying His commandments, His statutes. His

Judgments, His precepts. His ordinances and His Laws. These will all be addressed shortly.

Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

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Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Psa 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Psa 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

Psa 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

Psa 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

In Psalms there are many words used to describe God’s commandments as seen from the

above, they are not only commandments but also laws, testimonies, precepts, statutes, judgments,

and what is not seen in the verses above is also ordinances. These words all mean basically the

same, they all mean God’s laws or commandments. Look at Strong’s numbers for these words.

Recognize we are not saved by keeping God’s laws and commandments, we are saved by

God’s grace, however we have an obligation to obey what God tells us and requires us to do. When

you repent, you are to change and go forth without sinning. Sin is the breaking of God’s Laws or

commandments. It is only those who keep God’s Laws and commandments that are the saints,

the ones who are taken at the first resurrection when Christ returns for His bride, the ones who are

rewarded for their patience and endurance, the ones who serve to rule with Christ through the

millennium. Others that are saved are resurrected and judged at the end of the millennium, at the

second resurrection.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

9. The gospel of the Kingdom of God

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The Kingdom of God is the ruling of the entire earth by the Son of God. It is where all men

will be required to obey God’s Laws. It is the good news of the Government of God set up on earth.

The gospel of the Kingdom of God is that of informing man that this Kingdom is coming to earth at

some time in the future, which no man knows when. It is when God’s Will is carried out on earth as

it is in heaven. It tells you to repent now and be ready for the moment of Christ’s return.

Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

For Jesus in teaching us to pray was telling us of the coming Kingdom of God and in so

doing was preparing us for its coming.

Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

In preaching of the coming Kingdom of God, Jesus was telling us to prepare and be ready

and not to be caught unawares. Jesus was the messenger of God the Father and told the world of

the good news of the coming Government of God. We need to be careful that we follow all that

Jesus taught. In order to prepare we are to do God’s Will, here on earth at this time in our

preparation to Christ’s coming at the start of the millenium.

2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. We need to be careful that we follow the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and that of the

gospel of Christ, in the manner that it is taught to us from God’s Word. Follow what Jesus taught

and did as well as that of His apostles.

What was a main purpose of Jesus in being born on earth ? It was first to be a messenger

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for God the Father and to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. He instructed His disciples to

do the same. Second it was to take on the sins of the world, to die and shed His blood for all in the

world, especially for those who will believe in Him and follow His instructions.

Luk 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Luk 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luk 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Jesus also reinforced the teaching of the coming Kingdom of God by teaching us how to

pray and what to expect.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Yes it tells us that the whole world here on earth will do God’s Will, in other words be in total

obedience to God’s Laws and commandments.

You might ask yourself, do you know of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, have you heard

it preached to you ? Do you recognize it’s importance ? Are you ready for it ? If your church is not

preaching it why is that ?

10. How are we to prepare for the Kingdom of God

In preparing for the Kingdom of God, the first thing we are to do is repent.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

This is only the start. Jesus taught the masses in parables, and He explained these to His

disciples. These are now available to us to understand from His Holy Word. In essence it tells us

that we must change in our heart, in our mind, we must become God’s children and allow him to

develop our heart, our mind and our spirit as He would have it grow. We start by believing that God

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the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth and was born a man in the flesh, made His way in

the world without sinning, took all of man’s sins on himself, was crucified, died and rose again on

the third day, ascended up to heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father. Christ is now our

chief priest and intercedes to the Father on our behalf. Now we can go to God the Father directly,

through Jesus, with our prayers.

By repenting , having a new change in behavior and thought and being truly sorry for our all

sins that we committed, and believing in Jesus as our savior, we have our past sins wiped away and

are now at the starting gate of preparing for the Kingdom of God. We now need to follow the

examples laid down for us by Jesus. By the examples shown to us through the Holy Bible, of the

actions Jesus and those His disciples followed, we have a standard for ourselves to follow and

attempt to emulate. The way we do this is by being obedient to the commandments, statutes and

laws, not by the letter but by their intent. We cannot do this emulation by ourselves, we need God

to work within us and to help us change. We know that all things are possible with God.

We are to trust in God, to understand that man cannot solve the problems of the world, that

this will only occur when Jesus returns, at the beginning of the millennium, and sets up His

government on earth. Then and only then, will the world have peace and prosperity. We are to

watch and pray always, to recognize when this process comes about, to be able to recognize the

season when Jesus returns. To recognize that the entire world will fight against Him, likely as a

result of being deceived into thinking He is the antichrist or an alien from outer space.

Thus those who are living at Christ’s sudden coming at the end of the tribulation period, will

be changed and the dead will be resurrected, all of those taken being His saints. Those found

worthy to serve Christ during the thousand year period where His kingdom rules over the whole

earth. This is when the commandments and laws of God will be followed by the entire earth, it will

be done on earth as it is in heaven. If you are not familiar and keeping those commandments and

laws at this time, you will not be ready and able to serve under Christ. Think about it, in this world

does a company hire you for a job that you are not trained or qualified for ?

11. What did Jesus tell us to do?

The entire New Testament is filled with instruction for us to follow. What present day

Christians in North America get hung up on is first looking at Jesus as only a mighty being of love.

They forget Jesus is also the mediator of the Old Testament, who is also a mighty one that punishes

and is the mighty one that will at the end time judge us. The second thing that present day

Christians in North America get hung up on is that they treat the Old Testament and the Laws of

God as being only for the Jews or Israelites. They are not, they were given to God’s chosen people

to live by, as an example to all those other nations around them. The laws are for all who become

God’s people. The other thing that one must recognize is that there is a requirement on our part of

more than only faith. We have an obligation and responsibilities to God, Jesus did not do

everything for us by dying on the cross. Jesus by His life shows us what is expected of us, He also

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tells us what is required from us. He identifies our obligations to Him. Recognize that true

Christianity requires active effort on our part. If you do not believe you have obligations consider

the following;

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

You might not like the obligations, but if you ignore them, remember what Jesus said;

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there

be that find it.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

In the past when God became disappointed in the behavior of the Israelites He was at times

moved to the point of not hearing their cry. Consider the following verses from the Old Testament;

Jer 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

Jer 11:9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Jer 11:10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

Jer 11:11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

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Jer 17:27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

Mic 3:4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Eze 8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

The reason God became moved to ignore the cry of the Israelites was mainly because of

their disobedience to the first 4 commandments. This was usually idolatry as well as not keeping

the Sabbath as God instructed. Note that the first 4 commandments are essentially all tied

together, they are our relationship with God. They are how we worship God and get to know him,

how we become close to Him, how we develop a personal relationship with Him. They are how we

allow God to grow within us, they are our obedience to His Will.

A question you should ask yourself is, if you are not totally obedient to God, does He hear

your prayers ?

Jesus showed us that it was most important to obey the intent of the commandments, and

not to treat them as being followed legalistically as to the letter of the law. We can break the

commandments easily within our mind, even thought we do not physically break them. Therefore

we need to change both our mind and our heart, in order to truly follow God’s commandments. As

our mind and heart grow in righteousness so does our spirit. To change our mind and heart we

need God’s help.

The verses in the New Testament containing Jesus words and examples tell us what is

expected of us, what we are to do in order to follow and please Him. One needs to read these

particular verses very careful and reflect on what they are telling us to do today. A compilation of

these verses and their meaning is found in a document entitled “Summary of Jesus Words and

Examples”.

Recognize that at the time of Jesus life on earth, only the Old Testament existed.

Everything Jesus stated and referenced was taken out of the Old Testament. The apostles used the

Old Testament in their teachings, both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. Now we have an advantage

of having both the Old and New Testaments in order to help us follow the path. Whenever we find

anything that is not clear, just follow what Jesus said and showed us by His example.

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12. The first major deception- Sunday

Even with the many warnings by Jesus and the apostles a major deception made its way

into the church. The first major deception is now prevalent in nearly all churches worldwide,

whether protestant or catholic.

This is not an easy topic, most (a very large majority) of the Christian faith, gathers and

worships on Sunday, most state that the 10 commandments were nailed to the cross. This is not

supported by any Bible statement. Others say that the Sabbath was transferred to Sunday, again

this is not supported by any Bible statement. Others say that the commandments, statutes and

ordinances are only given to the Israelites, again this is not the case. Most churches pick and

choose from the 10 commandments, taking 9 but leaving out the 4th. A study of God's Word and

those of Jesus and His disciples are given below regarding the Law of God or His commandments.

This study requires identifying the various verses out of the Bible, not taking them out of context,

but assembling them to get the whole picture. This has only recently become relatively easy due to

computer word searches and direct meaning of Greek and Hebrew words in the English version

translations of the Bible. In addition the web carries lots of scholarly work on Bible meaning, some

correct and others in error. Because we are given the ability to think, to critically analyze, to reflect

upon and to be logical in our thoughts, we can by following the Word of God, test out any other

scholarly work or anything others tell us.

Because a large majority of people do something does not mean it is right, just look at

Noah and also Sodom and Gomorrah. Consider what happened to those not obeying God’s

commandments throughout the Old Testament. Note how the Israelites were punished time and

time again by being taken into slavery due to their disobedience to God’s commandments.

The examination of the Sabbath in this work of the first major deception, is a study of God’s

Word and is compared to man’s direction. One needs to recognize that Satan is at work and has

been since Adam and Eve, he works to deceive the entire world and to lead it astray.

The 7th day of the week is a Holy Day sanctified by God at the beginning of His creation of

heaven and earth. This was a special Holy Day long before Abraham or the Israelites appeared.

Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

God blessed that specific day and made it a Holy Day, it is a Holy Day to God. A Holy Day

does not change unless God tells us that it changes. Rather the Bible tells us that it stays as a

permanent Holy Day for all eternity. It is clear that the Sabbath Day is Saturday as identified by

God to Moses and kept to this day by the Jews and a small number of other Christian organizations.

The Sabbath Day has been since the beginning of time and it will remain so until this earth and

heaven pass away, we are told that it will be kept in the millennium. All people living during the

millennium will come and worship God every Sabbath.

Exo 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

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Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Is God inconsistent, no ! Thus the Sabbath has never changed from Saturday but remains

the same day from the beginning of the heaven and earth until God so should tell us that it no

longer applies. God nor Jesus never gave a directive that the Sabbath Day was changed or

transferred to another day.

Ecc 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Heb 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

It is often thought by many that the Law that Jesus speaks of are only the ten

commandments of God. It is much more inclusive than that, which will be covered later. Jesus

tells us that not one tiny bit of the Law will change until the end of our time and all is fulfilled. It

can't be made much clearer than that. When is all fulfilled ? It is when death is destroyed at the

Last Great Day, it is then that the existing heavens and earth pass away followed by the creation of

the new Heavens, new Earth and new Jerusalem.

The Sabbath in the Old Testament as identified for Moses was a test of man in his

obedience to God. It remains as a test for man even unto the present day. Is God serious about

this test of obedience? Yes He is;

Exo 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Exo 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exo 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exo 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

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Num 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

Num 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

Num 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. Num 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the

congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. Num 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with

stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

What are the commandments of God regarding the Sabbath? They were given to Moses as

the Ten Commandments. The 4th commandment is of the Sabbath, we are to remember it and

keep it. This commandment is from the beginning to eternity (perpetually). There is duality in the

commandment to “remember the Sabbath”. It was likely that even from Adam forward all knew

which day was the Sabbath, Enoch walked with God as did Abraham but when the Israelites ended

up in Egypt for so many years, likely they forgot which day was the Sabbath and it needed to be

pointed out to them again. Second it is likely meant for our present day as well, that most would

ignore and forget the Sabbath.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

On the Sabbath we are too do no work, we are to rest and to grow close to God. This day

was given to us by God to be a delight, we are to look forward to it. It is a day of prayer, Bible study

and fellowship regarding God and our efforts to grow spiritually close to God, to have God's Spirit

grow within us. It is a day we are to spend honoring God the Father and Jesus our Master. It is a

day to remind us of God’s creations. We are not to do our own pleasure on the Sabbath, but rather

to focus exclusively on God and our relationship with Him. There is also a special reward given by

God to those who keep the Sabbath.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

We are to follow the examples given by Jesus and those of His disciples that followed what

He taught them. There are many examples, parables and interpretations of the parables as well as

actions that were given to us by Jesus.

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Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

What did Jesus do on the Sabbath ? In following him, what did His disciples do on the

Sabbath ?

Mar 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read Luk 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Act 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned

with them out of the scriptures, Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

By His example Jesus kept the Sabbath and He further explained and showed us that we

can do good on the Sabbath, He showed us the underlying understanding of the Sabbath. It was

not a number of rules that were set up by the Pharisees that were to be followed (the oral Torah or

written laws by the Pharisees, the Talmud), rather it was a day to interact with God, to grow close to

him and to rest in him.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, recognize He made the Sabbath directive. But yet He

followed the law as it applied to man and directed by God. He was setting an example for us to

follow, for all of those who have taken Christ on and become His people.

Luk 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

To have salvation we are to love God and in doing this we are obedient to him and follow

His commandments to us. Jesus reinforced this and told us to do this.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

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Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth

is not in him. 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we

that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Jesus never said you only need to keep 9 of the commandments, no you must keep all 10

of them.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

If we break or do not follow one of the commandments (or Law as given by God) then we

do not follow the path God set before us.

Num 15:40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Recognize at the time of Jesus only the Old Testament was in existence, when Jesus

referred to the commandments, it was in reference to those contained in the Old Testament.

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If you doubt how serious it is not to keep ALL the commandments remember what

happened to the man who gathered wood on the Sabbath. Also remember what Jesus told us

about breaking even the least of the commandments.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus when telling of things to come, or signs of His return at the end time, also told us to

pray that our flight not be on the Sabbath. After that statement by Jesus how can anyone say that

the Sabbath was done away with.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

In the book of Hebrews, that is written to the new Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, it

identifies Jesus as being greater than Moses, faith and our salvation as a result of Jesus sacrifice

for our sins. The following has duality in the Israelites coming into the Holy Land, but also it can be

taken verbally as applying to the Gentiles who have accepted Christ. It is interesting to read what

was written regarding the Sabbath.

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was

first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is

said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Heb 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another

day. Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God

did from his.

We read in Hebrews 4:9 the Sabbath Day remains as initially given by God. The word “rest”

in Greek is "Sabbatismos" which really translates into - a Sabbath rest, or a rest on the Sabbath.

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Today many say Jesus did not say keep the Sabbath. Understand that Jesus came to the

Jews and not to the Gentiles, the Jews ardent in keeping the Sabbath, Jesus did not need to tell

them to keep the Sabbath, He did tell them that they could do good on the Sabbath. That

statement and by His action He reinforced keeping of the Sabbath.

Often apostasy churches and others say that the Sabbath was transferred to Sunday and

quote the one following verse,

Act 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

However throughout the New Testament, Jesus and later the apostles preached to the Jews

and the Gentiles on Saturday. The above verse does not mean that the apostles transferred the

Sabbath to Sunday, rather it should be interpreted as at sunset on the end of Saturday, now being

the beginning of Sunday (most likely after preaching or teaching to the people during the Sabbath

day) the apostles themselves had some time to meet and to eat together and Paul at this time was

able to “preach” to them, or discuss with them, or give them instructions, since he was leaving the

next morning. (the Greek word for preach also can be interpreted to mean the following; dispute,

reason with, speak, to converse, argue, and discuss- check out the Strong number). The evening

being the beginning of the first day of the week. Note that in the morning or morrow, Paul was

traveling. If this was the new Sabbath, he would not travel on that day. Travel in those days

required a lot of physical exertion and would fall in the same category as work, therefore it would

not be a day of rest. Everything Jesus followed and taught reinforced that the Saturday Sabbath

does not change (see Heb 4:9, Mat 5:18 and Mat 24:20 above) and must be maintained not only to

the very end, but also when we are with God in the future, we will come together to praise and

worship him on the Sabbath.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Also reread above Heb 4:3 through to 4.10, this is extremely clear.

Jesus came not to change the Law (Torah), but to fulfill it, and said not one little part of it

can be changed until heaven and earth pass away, see Mat 5:17-18 above. The Holy Word of God,

is clear in that the Sabbath is the day God sanctified and identified for man, it is God’s Holy Day,

not man’s or the Jews, it cannot be changed by man to become another day. Jesus kept the

Sabbath, this is another example for us to follow, for there is no verse in the Bible that tells us it

was changed.

Heb 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

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Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest (sabbath) to the people of God.

Can man change the Sabbath Day ? This would be going against God. This would be

disobedience to God. The Catholic Church says it had the authority and changed the Sabbath by

transferring it to Sunday, or to an old pagan holiday, the day of the sun. Re-read Matthew 5:19, it

applies to many today. The Catholic church knows that the Sabbath is Saturday, but they say they

have the power directly from God to change it to Sunday. What reasoning do the protestant

churches have that they believe they can change to Sunday ?

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach

men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Often apostasy churches argue that we do not need to keep the Sabbath from the

following verse. However this verse says do not let any MAN or others tell you what to do or to try

and judge you, with regard to the Sabbath or other commandments of God. We are to do the

commandments given to us by God and not to listen to others (man) who try and tell us different. It

is only Jesus who will judge us.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Not only are we required to keep the Sabbath, but we are instructed how we are to keep

that Holy Day. The activities we are to do on the Sabbath are described in the following;

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any

work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

On the Sabbath we are not to do our own thing, rather we are to draw close to God, to honor

Him. We are not to do our own pleasure. That means not watching sports or movies on the

Sabbath, not going fishing, not doing our hobbies, or not going shopping or eating out. We are to

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spend the time on the Sabbath getting to know God, drawing close to him. That does not mean

just going to church for one or two hours and then doing our own thing. It means praying, reading

God’s Word, reflecting on what we read and praying again. We can discuss God’s Word among

ourselves for better understanding. We are also to rest and in so doing contemplate on God’s

might and glory, His creation and the beauty of His creations. Also on the Sabbath Jesus showed

us that it is acceptable to do good.

One might ask whether the commandments of God are only for the Jews, as many

ministers interpret them in order not to be required to follow them. Rather it applies to all who by

faith are in Christ and are His, for all those in spirit become as Israelites or as the children of

Abraham. The Jews are from the tribe of Judah and are only one of the 12 tribes. It does not

matter if we are Gentile or Israelite, once we take on Christ, we are His and become His people. By

following Jesus we become the seed of Abraham. Note that in the Old Testament any one that was

not an Israelite but attached themselves to them in order to worship the one and only living God

was required to keep the same laws.

Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male

nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the

spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Further when we take on Christ, we become the children of God, it no longer matters if we

are Gentile, Jew, or Israelite, we are all the same, we have become God’s children.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

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Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. Rom 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Also note from the following verse that the Sabbath was made for “Man”, not just the

Israelites, but for everyone, Gentile or Jew.

Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

The analogy of the olive tree tells us when we are Christ’s, we are grafted into the tree as its

branches. This means if we are Gentiles, we are now part of the tree and are no different from the

Israelites or the Jews that are also branches on the tree. God broke off some of the branches of the

Jews and Israelites due to disobedience and rejection of Christ and made room for grafting in

believing Gentiles . All those that are part of the tree are Christ’s people. Logic tells us that what is

expected of one of the branches is also expected of all the branches. So what is expected of the

Jews is the same that is expected of the Israelites and is the same as that expected of the Gentiles

that are grafted in. There is one set of commandments and laws that apply to all who are the

children of God.

Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

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Thus when we accept Christ as our savior there is no difference expected from us as to that

of the Jews, we are all to obey the commandments of God and do His Will. Recognize that the root

is that of Jesus. That means the same laws apply to all of the branches on the tree.

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Going further we know that the law is Holy, and God expects us to grow and become Holy.

The commandments, law and ordinances of God are made for man in order that he might follow

them and grow in goodness and become more like God. We now need to keep the law in newness

of spirit, not that it acts to save us, rather that it helps our mind, our heart and spirit to grow and

serve God. Our obedience to God shows our love for God. It helps us to be ready and found worthy

when Christ returns. You might also look at the act of keeping God’s laws is part of our training for

the coming Kingdom of God on earth. Keeping the laws by their intent on our heart is an action of

delighting in the laws and allowing them to help us grow and develop as God’s children.

Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Psa 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

Are actions required in order to have faith? Yes we need to have action in order to have

faith. The actions are obeying God by keeping His laws and requirements for us, not questioning

nor arguing with respect to what He asks of us. Abraham is an ultimate example of faith by action.

Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son

upon the altar? Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. We are not saved by our actions, we are saved by faith and grace, and this is the starting

point. We have an obligation to grow in mind and spirit as God wants us to grow and we do this by

being obedient to all of God’s commandments in the manner that they were intended. Obeying

God’s commandments, laws, ordinances and statutes is a pre-condition or qualifier for becoming a

mature adopted son of God. For without doing this we will not be able to grow in mind, heart and

spirit in a manner whereby we please God and grow Holy.

In summary, obedience to God means keeping the Sabbath as He intended it be kept, both

on the specific day He identified for us and also in the activities He wants us to do on that day such

that in spirit we grow closer to him. A specific day such as your birthday never changes, it is fixed,

so is God’s Sabbath day, it is fixed. Recognize that this is not the only day that we pray or have

conversation with God, rather we are told to pray always. This means we need to pray every day

and many times throughout the day lest we lose sight of our purpose for God and become

distracted by the way of the world. God is to be in the fore front of our minds all the time.

The choice we must make personally and of our own free will is whether we will follow

God’s commandments and examples given to us by Jesus and His disciples and keep the Sabbath.

Or whether we will follow man and the way of the world and take Sunday as a day for fellowship

and possibly of rest and likely be busy doing our own thing the remainder of that day. Note that

Jesus tells us the gate is narrow and few find it. The Bible, the Holy Word of God, is our guide, not

false prophets.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

We are approaching the end times, there are some Christians that have awakened and are

reading the Bible and following God's commandments in keeping the Sabbath. Some of these are

Continuing Church of God, Seventh Day Baptists, The British-Israel Church of God, The Restored

Church of God and various other splinter groups, Christian Jews, Messianic groups, whole Bible

groups and many others. There are in the order of 560 different groups throughout the world (there

is a web document on Sabbath keeping churches). It is these that follow Christ's directions and

examples He gave to us. The Seventh Day Adventists are the one group that is highly visible in

North America and most people see and identify it with the Sabbath keeping, and do not see or are

aware of the other groups. Some of the 560 will appear more like a cult and impose other

restrictive rules and interpretations upon their members, while a few others will attempt to live by

the Word of God and examples set by Jesus. Sabbath keeping churches may or may not keep all

God’s commandments nor search out all of God’s truths. Some will others won’t. A danger within a

number of Sabbath keeping churches is that of thinking that they are the true and only remnant

church and Christians. They deceive themselves by thinking that they and only they are exclusive in

being saved by Christ.

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The laws of the Old Testament are of various types, the civil laws written by Moses, the

sacrificial laws again written by Moses and the third law is what many refer to as the moral law,

which is the law written by Moses and also in short form by the finger of God and is the 10

commandments. These moral laws are God's Laws and do not change. The 10 commandments

are written with two specific aspects. The first is man's relationship with God, being described in

the first 4 commandments. The second is man's relationship with man, being described in the

remaining 6 commandments. It is only the civil and sacrificial laws that were removed by Jesus at

His sacrifice of death and resurrection, as the lamb of God for man’s sins. In addition the oral Laws

made by the Pharisees are man’s laws and is completely done away with (the Talmud). When

Jesus is referring to the commandments or law that is not changed He is referring to the 10

commandments and others that He gave in Leviticus. In addition there are Holy Day laws and food

laws that still apply today. There are other laws on sexual fornication and some other very specific

laws from God. That which is hung on the cross are the civil laws, the sacrificial laws, and the oral

Talmud laws. By loving our neighbor we automatically do both God’s laws and the civil laws.

Another way of looking at what was hung on the cross is that the original 10 commandments

condemned man to that of eternal death because he could never keep them in becoming perfect.

But when Jesus died for our sins the old law was removed and the new law, with the same words,

was established because now we were saved by grace and not by action. The cross represents two

major things, Jesus taking on our sin so that it can be covered by His blood and Jesus victory over

death. It is not clear and made explicit in the Bible as to exactly all or what was nailed on the cross,

rather than taking liberty in its interpretation, we need just to follow the examples that Jesus gave

us by His words and His actions. We need to be extremely careful on following traditions that we

have been taught, for these are commandments of man, we need to examine them carefully to

make sure they do not go against directives given to us from God. If they go against the directives

of God then we must not do them.

The commandments of God are restated and explained to us by Jesus in the New

Testament and how we break them with thoughts in our mind. Jesus covered all of the

commandments either in action or explicit statements giving us the intent, not just the letter of the

law in words. Jesus did not specifically tell us that we are not to make graven images or bow down

to them, He did not tell us not to take God's name in vain, as the Jews were clear on these points

and to love God we need to obey them. Jesus came first to the Jews who knew the Old Testament

laws, later He directed His disciples to go to first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles who did not

know about idols, the Sabbath, the commandments of God or the one true living God. By His

actions Jesus followed the Sabbath and told us that nothing in the law from God can change. Even

His disciples knew His teachings and followed the commandments including the Sabbath. The

greatest commandment in the Law, loving the lord your God, as given by Jesus contains and

implies not to follow after idolatry and taking God's name in vain, it implies further being obedient

to God, which means following the Sabbath (which is a test by God of our obedience even today as

it was in early times).

Jesus keeps telling us if we love him and we love God, we will keep the commandments.

It is the Holy Word of God that tells us and guides us in this, if we listen to the Word and

have an open mind, and not a stiff neck.

It is the Bible or the Holy Word of God that gives us our instruction, not man’s rules.

Recognize that God knows much more than man. His ways are higher than man’s ways. The Bible

(God’s Word) is consistent, if we read it and study it, the path to follow becomes clear. The choice

is an individual one for each of us, to either follow God’s commandments or alternately the

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commandments of man. God’s Word is found in the Old Testament as well as in the New

Testament. We cannot earn salvation by obeying God’s commandments, but rather by faith in

Christ we are saved. However we please God and show our love for him when we keep His

commandments as they were intended, in our heart and in our mind and in our actions, for faith

without action is void. Keeping God’s commandments, work within us to help us become

righteous, pure of mind and holy as God wants us to grow. They help to train us for our future life

with God. In order to go forth and not sin after repenting means you need to know all the laws and

go forth doing them.

If you love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, then

you will keep His commandments, as in so doing you are showing your love for Him. In doing this

you are allowing God to change you and grow within you.

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

It is amazing how much opposition there is to accepting Saturday as the Sabbath. Only

with an open mind and accepting God’s Word can one come to acceptance. Because it upsets the

apple cart and goes in opposition to the way of the world and places an obligation on us with our

relationship to God, most are stiff necked and will not accept this 4th commandment. Yet they

cannot prove, from the Holy Bible, that worship remains on the day that the world goes, being

Sunday. Also they do not recognize that the instructions of the Sabbath are a complete day of

communication with God, starting at sunset of Friday until sunset on Saturday, not a day going to

church and then going away and doing our own thing.

Recognize that Sunday or day of the sun is a pagan day of worship of the sun, a day the

Israelites fell into as a result of the influence of their world neighbors around them, a day that

greatly displeased God.

Also recognize that if you have become one in Christ, then you become His and are grafted as

a branch into the tree and become His people. You now have the circumcision of the heart and are

one of God’s chosen or special people. You are now in spirit a seed of Abraham, and hence the

same as an Israelite or Jew in God’s eyes. Once grafted into the branches of His people, He expects

you to follow His commandments, statutes and laws.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

God gave us instructions to keep all the directives that He gave us, always.

Deu 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

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Take the following verse and knowing it is Christ’s Words and directive and that Christ wrote

the 10 commandments in stone with His finger, ignore it if you can, using whatever justification or

rational you might think up, then go on to pick and choose only those verses you wish to follow. If

you do this then you are not following God’s commandments and laws. Jesus left us many

examples on how we are to follow him, just read your Bible. We cannot arbitrarily gloss over and

ignore verses that we do not like.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

A question you should ask yourself is did Jesus obey the weekly Sabbath and the Holy Days

because He was a Jew and did this out of tradition, or was it because of His being a mighty one of

the Old Testament and having given the commandments, laws, ordinances, and statutes to a group

of people that He had chosen to be His people and expected them to obey these laws, that He

followed them so as to set an example. This means that the weekly Sabbath and Holy Days were

not nailed to the cross, they were in effect in the far past, they were again after Jesus resurrection

and will also in the future be in effect, this means by logic they are still in effect at the present

time. Recognize that God does not change, therefore at the end time He will judge all people, Jews

and Gentiles from the past and the present and the future, by the same rules or laws that He gave.

There is one other justification that protestant churches today use. They believe that Jesus

rose from the dead on the first day of the week, and therefore in order to please Him they ignore

the commandment and tell themselves that they honor God by moving the day of worship from

Saturday to that of Sunday. There is no verse given to us by God that tells us to do this. Doing this

is a commandment of man. God has a different calendar than man, His calendar uses the new

moon as the starting time of each month. God tells us to keep the Holy Days of Passover and

Unleavened Bread, those days now have duality in meaning as established and fulfilled by Jesus.

They now commemorate Jesus death by the establishment of participating in communion on the

evening of the Passover, Nisan 14th . They now give us victory over sin and death on the day portion

of Nisan 14th , as well as by His resurrection on Nisan 17th , and by waving the First Fruits of the

Lamb of God before God the Father on the first day of the week, Nisan 18 at that year of Jesus

resurrection, during the days of Unleavened Bread. The days of the week that Jesus died and also

rose from the dead changes every year as to the day that they fall on, the Holy Days are tied to the

new moon of Nisan. Following Bible verse closely tells us Jesus rose on Saturday and not on

Sunday. Irrespective of the day Jesus rose, it changes every year on the day of the week that it falls

on and we are not told to change the Sabbath to a different day. By keeping the Holy Days of God,

as He gave them to us, we celebrate the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, in being

taken out of sin and in having our sins covered by Jesus death and blood and in honoring Christ

during these days for His Crucifixion, His Resurrection and His Presentation of the First Fruits of

being Resurrected from the Dead. These are central to our Christian faith, they were fulfilled by

Christ during the first three of God’s Holy Days and we should celebrate them on the correct days

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every year until Christ returns. However the Protestant Churches go against this and follow, by

tradition, the Catholic Church in celebrating Easter instead and ignoring God’s Holy Days.

There is no verse in the Bible that moves the weekly Sabbath from Saturday to any other

day. For if this was done Jesus would have informed us, rather He told us the laws do not change.

We need to follow and live by every Word of God and to do God’s Will.

If you ask a Protestant minister why your church worships on Sunday, the first day of the

week, rather than on Saturday the seventh or last day of the week, his answer will likely be because

Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday and therefore we honor him on that day. This is presumption

on his part because he went to Bible College and this was the doctrine that was taught to him.

Careful examination of scripture does not state this nor tell us to do this. If you ask him to show

you by using God’s way of counting time, which are 3 days and 3 nights, 72 hours, how it was that

Jesus died and rose on this exact schedule, he will not be able to make it work out since it is fixed

in his mind that Jesus rose on Sunday. He will have less days and or more nights. Ask him to show

you where in the Bible it tells us the Sabbath was transferred to Sunday. What you will learn is that

man justifies what he does by his own actions even when it conflicts with God’s commandments.

The other argument he will likely make is that the commandments were only for the Jews and we

being gentiles do not have to obey them. Or he will tell you it was all nailed to the cross, but will

not be able to give you scripture to back up his belief. Using only the Bible is the only way you learn

the truth. Everything we are told or read, before being accepted as truth must be proven out using

God’s Word. We live only by every word of God, which is truth. There is one law for both Jews and

those who attach themselves to the Jews. God’s word is truth.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

On this subject preachers are most all driven by emotion and not by logic and rational

thinking. They believe what they were taught, not that they came to that belief personally by being

directed by God’s Holy Spirit. Rather they will ignore other verses given to us by Jesus, such as the

following two examples;

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

There is man’s way and there is God’s way, we all are free to choose. It is our free will

choice that is important in God’s eyes. Either we obey God or we do not.

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13. The second major deception - Idolatry

Another major deception that worked its way into the church and is well established is that

of idolatry. This is broader in content than just idols. It means that for one not to practice idolatry

we must love God first and foremost above all else. This means in the world that one lives in, you

must not love anyone or anything more than you love God. The main focus in our heart needs to be

on God.

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth

son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all

thy soul, and with all thy mind

If you have grown to love God more than anything of this earth, then you may be totally free

of committing idolatry. If not you may love money, knowledge, food, sex, clothes, cars, art, a

person, acceptance by others, praise from others, etc, more than God. There are many traps of

loving things of this world and if they rate higher than God you are committing idolatry.

Initially idolatry was the worship of statues, or images of anything at all. It was bowing

down and worshiping these things as stated in the 10 commandments,

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The commandments from God were clear as from the following verses,

Lev 19:4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. Lev 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. 1Ch 16:26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Eze 20:16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

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1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Note that covetousness is a form of idolatry, placing worldly things above love for God.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

The key is summed up in the following verse,

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Unfortunately, human nature is such that we want a physical object to focus on as being a

type of representation of the God we cannot see. God has warned us not to do this, rather to pray

to him as the unseen living God, all we know is that we are made in His image. Examining things

of the churches today, there are images of Christ, whether they be statues or pictures or stained

glass images, they can be focused on as idols. The same with the Virgin Mary. Indeed even

crosses can if one is not careful become idols. Our worship of God is only allowed in our hearts and

minds, not in any image found either in heaven or on earth, or below the earth.

We in fact do not know with certainty that Jesus was crucified on a cross or on a pole.

Consider the following,

Mat 27:42 He savedG4982 others;G243 himselfG1438 he cannotG1410 G3756 save.G4982 IfG1487 he beG2076 the KingG935 of Israel,G2474 let him nowG3568 come downG2597 fromG575 theG3588 cross,G4716 andG2532 we will believeG4100 him.G846

Strong’s number G4716 reference of the Greek means “a stake or post”. It has been

interpreted as a cross, which it might have been or it could have been a post. Either way we should

not get hung up on the image of a cross, which easily can take on a prominent place as an idol.

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14. The third major deception - Easter

The third major deception that worked its way into the churches is that of celebrating

Easter. The three days and nights of Jesus being dead and then rising 72 hours later does not

make sense in a Friday late afternoon death to an early morning Sunday rising from the dead. This

is not biblical from the Word of God. In addition God did not tell us to celebrate His death and

resurrection directly, although when we keep the Holy Days of God we do this in a dual nature and

follow Jesus instruction to take communion. There is a major conflict here, ignored by churches

and following the way of the world in celebrating Easter as a counterfeit death and resurrection.

This is a tradition of man that is in conflict with the commandments of God.

The Pharisees at the time of Jesus asked for a sign that He was the Messiah and Jesus gave

them one sign, that being He would be dead for three days and three nights, or 72 hours and then

would rise or come back to life. This is an exact time period, 72 hours. This is the only sign Jesus

would give them. In the Bible God’s measurement of nights and days starts at sunset and ends the

following day at sunset. Thus sunset to sunrise is one night and sunrise to sunset is one day, each

night and day together being 24 hours. Since Christ made the heavens and the earth and set the

days and the manner in which they are to be counted, then when Jesus states 3 days and 3 nights

it is an exact period of time, time measured by God’s standard, not time measured by man’s

standard. What Christ speaks is truth.

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Jon 1:15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her

raging. Jon 1:16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD,

and made vows. Jon 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the

belly of the fish three days and three nights.

From Daniel there is a duality prediction, one to do with Christ and another to do with the

end time. The one to do with Christ is that of His ministry and death. He will be cut off in the midst

of the week and cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. This tells us that Jesus died in the

middle of the week and from the New Testament we know that the curtain in the temple was torn

in two at the time of His death.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end

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thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

We know Jesus died mid to late afternoon of a day in the middle of the week, which means

Wednesday. In 30AD (depending on how one predicts years using a computer program, if 30 days

was used instead of 29.530588 days for lunar full moons, then going back from present time to

the year that Jesus was crucified, the year would be out by plus 2.6 years), so the exact year is not

that important, as this was the only year for Passover falling on a Wednesday within plus or minus

10 years either side. This determination of prediction was made using 3 different computer

programs found on the web. The correct Jewish Passover started in the evening of what we call

Tuesday, which was the start of the night of Wednesday by God’s daily calendar, it was the time

that Jesus celebrated with His disciples and ate the Passover. To Jesus the Passover started on

what is normally to us Tuesday night, really being the beginning of Wednesday, and followed on to

morning and all the day time of Wednesday. But to the major sect of the Jews at that time, they

were celebrating the preparation day of the Passover on Wednesday at sunset. They were off by

one day. The day that followed Wednesday at sunset was a special Holy Day also called a Sabbath,

which was one of the annual Sabbaths being different from the weekly Sabbaths. This annual

Sabbath was the first day of Unleavened Bread. Passover usually falls on Monday or Friday in the

various years, it occasionally falls on Thursday and on Saturday, very rarely does it fall on

Wednesday. Passover falling on Wednesday means Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Saturday, not on

Sunday at that time. Palm Sunday was really Palm Saturday, Nisan 10, Jesus death was late on

Wednesday, Nisan 14 and His resurrection late on Saturday, Nisan 17. The days of the week that

these fall on change every year, they are tied to Passover based upon the new lunar moon of Nisan.

This is according to God’s calendar of months and days.

Jon 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Jon 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

Jon 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Jon 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

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Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld

the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day

according to the commandment.

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Jesus came and ate the Passover with His disciples on Tuesday evening after sunset, now

being the beginning of Wednesday in God’s weekly calendar. During the next day, being

Wednesday daylight, He was tried, crucified and died late in the day around 3 or 5 pm, so to rise

again in 72 hours would be in mid or late afternoon on the third day (3 nights and 3 days). Not in

the morning of the third day, and not in the morning of 1 ½ days later. The day Jesus died was late

on the day before a special Sabbath evening. This Sabbath was an annual Sabbath as told in John

19:31, the annual Sabbath following the day of the Passover, which was the beginning day or the

first day of Unleavened Bread which is an annual Holy Day. This annual Sabbath was also known

as a high day. For the Jews at that time, to them Thursday was the annual Sabbath, thus the

women waited until Friday morning to purchase spices and ointments and then had to wait again

until the weekly Sabbath which was Friday at sunset until the end of Saturday at sunset had past.

Thus it was not until very early Sunday morning, or just prior to the first day portion of the week,

that they could come to the sepulcher.

Jesus death is described as being late in the afternoon of the day preceding the annual

Sabbath.

Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mar 15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. Mar 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to

drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. Mar 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. Mar 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Mar 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and

gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and

Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; Mar 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and

many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day

before the sabbath, Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom

of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he

asked him whether he had been any while dead. Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

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Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

The annual Sabbath was on Thursday, so it was not until Friday morning that Mary could

gather spices in preparation to place on Jesus dead body. In those days the amount of spice

required for a body was in the order of one hundred pounds, not a small amount. She had to

gather and prepare them before the weekly Sabbath but then had to wait until the weekly Sabbath

was over, now being near the end of the night of the first day of the week or very early Sunday

morning, before sunrise. Now Mary came to the tomb early on Sunday. At that time the stone was

suddenly rolled away and the tomb was empty and did not contain Jesus, only the angel.

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek

Jesus, which was crucified. Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Mat 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he

goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

This tells us that the tomb was still sealed when Mary came early Sunday morning before

sunrise, the angel rolled the stone away and tells Mary that He is not here, rather He is risen as He

said He would and to come into the tomb and see the place where the Lord was lain.

Now from Mark we know Jesus appeared to Mary on the first day of the week, but the

following is a confusing verse because as written in the Bible (any Bible) suggesting that Jesus rose

on Sunday. This following passage will be addressed later.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Other passages reinforce the three days and nights.

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the

sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood

by them in shining garments:

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Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Again it is reinforced that Jesus was dead for three days and nights and that He rose on the

third day.

Now look at the troubling verse which nearly all take to mean Jesus rose on Sunday. All

various translations use the same punctuation and interpretation. Read it slowly and carefully.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary

Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Now modify the punctuation as the original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible did not

contain punctuation, it was put in later as English translations were made. Now read the same

verse again with changed punctuation.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary

Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

This modified punctuation is the correct one. Now it states that Jesus had risen (3 days &

3 nights) which is in the day portion of the day before the first day of the week, and that later Mary

came to the tomb early on the first day of the week and He appeared to her at that time. It now

corresponds with all other Bible text and the Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread which

was an annual Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath.

The only way for 3 days and 3 nights to work, and remember it was the only sign given by

Jesus to the Pharisees, was for Jesus to die late on Wednesday afternoon and to rise late on

Saturday afternoon. This means from what we read, God, removed Jesus from the tomb without

moving the rock that was sealing the tomb. Not a difficulty for God. Jesus remained in the garden

after He had risen, through the remaining time of the day on Saturday and throughout the night

and early morning of Sunday. There is a major reason for this and it will be seen shortly.

The Holy Word of God is now in agreement in it’s entirety with Jesus’s sayings (Mat 12:40) ,

and the angels at the tomb saying (Luk 24:7) The only sign in addition to the miracles that Jesus

performed would be one sign given to the Pharisees, that being dead for 3 days and 3 nights. Thus

all are now in keeping with God’s Word.

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Consider another section of verses of Mary coming to the tomb while it was still dark and

meeting Jesus in the garden. These tell us Jesus rose before sunrise, or the start of the day portion

of the daytime of the first day of the week. So even counting the Jew’s way of taking a small

portion of a day as a whole day, there are not three days from Friday to Sunday as Jesus had risen

before sunrise. Irrespective, it really does not matter which day of the week Jesus rose since it is

tied to the Holy Days and it falls on different day of the week every year.

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

In both the Old and New Testament the word Sabbath is either Strong’s number H7676 or

G4521 in Hebrew or Greek. It can mean a single Sabbath or plural Sabbaths or an interval

between Sabbaths. In Mat 28:1 it is better interpreted as plural, after the two Sabbaths had

finished.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are commandments of men. Easter originated over 2000

BC from a pagan god Ishtar, which followed a death and resurrection celebrated on the day of the

sun. The word Ishtar changed into today’s pronunciation of Easter.

God does not tell us to treat Easter as a Holy Time, He does tell us to treat the Passover

and the days of Unleavened Bread as Holy Days. Jesus did this and so did His disciples even after

His death and resurrection. This is the correct time for Christians to take communion, once a year

on the evening or start of the Passover, until He returns. This now corresponds to the time Jesus

was betrayed, crucified, died, and rose again. It also coincides with Christ saving the Israelites and

bringing them out of Egypt. Often the Bible is filled with duality. The actual day of Passover, which

was the day of crucifixion and the resurrection three days later change every year upon which day

of the week they fall, sometimes being close to the day celebrated by most of the churches, being

Easter , other times being far removed. Passover became the day Christ was sacrificed as the lamb

of God for our sins. By God’s calendar it is on Nisan 14th, starting at sunset of the start of that day

with the night portion first then followed by the day portion.

Easter is a major deception that has been taught to Christians for centuries, initially by

Catholics and followed on by Protestants. Satan has deceived most all that call themselves

Christians. A question is how will Christ view this ? What did He say about being deceived ? Will it

be “I know you not”? Consider the following.

Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

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1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their

lips; but their heart is far from me. Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and

shall not be able. Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye

begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

What are the commandments ? They are the instructions that were given by Christ to all

who become His people to follow and in doing so show obedience to God. God never told us to

celebrate Christ’s resurrection, but we were told to celebrate the Passover, Christ’s sacrifice as the

lamb for our sins and the days of Unleavened Bread, as being taken out of sin.

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Some say that Jesus rose on Sunday and therefore it is the new Sabbath, but this is in total

contradiction to the Bible. Sunday is a pagan day of worship to the god of the sun. The way of the

world, which is the way of man, is to celebrate Easter with Sunday as the key event. How easy does

man justify traditions to his own liking going against God, so that he can do what he wants and not

having to do what God commands. Accept that God’s ways are higher than man’s ways.

Note that every year the days of the week upon which Jesus death and resurrection fall

change and it can only be established by counting 14 days from the beginning of Nisan, which is

the month of God’s new year, the month He told the Israelites at mount Sinai to become the first

month of the new year.

As an example for one specific year, note that for 2017, according to God’s calendar, Passover

starts at sunset Sunday April 9th, thus Jesus died late on April 10th , Monday, which for this year will

be the day portion of Passover. Then He would rise late on April 13th now being Thursday. This is

according to God’s calendar. The way of the world is that of following the death and resurrection on

Good Friday on April 14th and Easter on April 16th which is following the tradition of man and not

the commandment of God.

Recall the lesson of the deaths of Aaron’s sons, which occurred when they took initiative in

burning strange incense and fire in the wilderness tabernacle. This was in opposition of God’s

instructions to them. God requires that we follow His instructions and do things according to His

Will and His timing. Take this to heart; we are not to think we know better than God and by doing

things our way that we are pleasing or honoring God. Ignoring God’s instructions to us is done at

your own peril.

15. Fourth major deception – Traditions of Man

The way of man or the traditions of man are doing things in a manner that man thinks he knows best,

rather than following the commandments, or traditions if you prefer, of God. In other words by

following the traditions of man we create a conflict by not following the commandments of God.

Worse than this we celebrate the traditions of man on pagan holy days and tell ourselves that God

does not mind because our intent is right at least in our own eyes. If you have not figured it out by

now, you might never figure it out. God gives us commandments and expects us to do them in the

manner that He tells us and in the timing of what He tells us. We are not at liberty to change any of

His ways or timing to something we think we know best.

In addition to Easter as covered in the preceding section above, the next place to start is

Christmas. The word Christmas came from the Roman Catholic Church and is formed from two

words, Christ – Mass. The word Mass means sacrificial death, together the words mean the death

of Christ, it has nothing to do with Christ’s birth. When you say “merry Christmas”, you are in fact

saying merry or happy Christ’s death. Christ was born at a time when the shepherds were still

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tending their flocks in the high plains, they had not yet brought their flocks down to the valley for

the winter. This time of year was in either near the end of September or beginning of October, not

in December. The 25th of December is a pagan holy day, going back 2000 BC and practiced by the

Babylonians . God never told us to celebrate Christ’s birth or His death or His resurrection, He

recorded it for us, showing how the Bible prophesized these events well before they happened. God

did tell us to keep His Holy Days, and to have communion on the beginning of the night of

Passover, and to keep the days of Unleavened Bread. So the way of the world is to ignore the Holy

Days of God and to celebrate days that God did not tell us to celebrate and to celebrate these days

on pagan holy days. It does not matter that you might think you are honoring God by following the

traditions of man in celebrating Christ’s birth, especially on a pagan holy day. Our ways are not

higher than God’s ways. What does matter is that the world has traded God’s Holy Days for

traditions of man, traditions which fall on pagan holy days.

Next consider New Years day, January 1 from the Gregorian calendar. This again is a pagan

holy day, going back 2000 years BC and tied to Babylon and Sun worship. It is not the calendar

that God gave us. God’s calendar starts with months of the new moon. God’s first day of His new

year is the first day of Nisan or “green ears”, it is in the spring and for the year 2017 falls on March

28.

Other pagan holy days are Valentine’s days and Halloween, check them out for yourself. So

what are the Holy days of God that you celebrate ? For those with children going the way of God

and not the way of the world is very difficult as children will feel left out or robbed of what they see

their friends around them doing. This creates an additional challenge for parents, but God will help.

Another tradition of man is that of setting up colleges to train pastors in set doctrines, doctrine

set by the upper administrators of a particular church body. Then to have the pastors preach these

doctrines to their congregations. God’s way was given to us by Christ, to have His church or better

called His congregation, being made up of equals of individuals and led by God’s Holy Spirit, each

contributing to the growth and understanding of the rest, the people having mature knowledge

helping to guide those who were new by giving them understanding, where needed, as they grew.

Christ set His congregation or church up in a totally different manner than what nearly all of our

churches follow today. Few of today’s churches, if any will be lead by God’s Holy Spirit in any major

way, as a result of going man’s way as opposed to God’s way.

16. The Fifth major deception – The Lord’s Day

For some reason many preachers have interpreted that “the Lord’s Day”, or “ Day of the

Lord”, as Sunday. This does not come from the Holy Bible. They wrongly attribute Sunday to the

day that Jesus rose from the dead and call it the Lord’s Day. If you do a study of the Bible it is clear

that “the Day of the Lord” is the day God sends His wrath upon the earth. This is found in both the

New and Old Testament in many, many verses. It is the day that John in Revelations was shown

the future. The day that John was in the spirit and the future was shown or revealed to him was on

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and around the day of God’s wrath, or The Day of the Lord. This day is in keeping with the theme of

the Day of the Lord and the revelation occurs covering a number of Holy Days over those from

Pentecost to the Last Great Day following at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Day of the

Lord, when the worst portion of His wrath is poured out on the earth is possibly Penticost. The

actual day in the week for the Holy Days change every year. Below are a very few of the verses.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a

trumpet,

Jesus never told us to celebrate the day of His resurrection, He never told us to change the

Sabbath to the first day of the week. By His example and those of His disciples the Sabbath as

originally given was kept, that being on Saturday. We were not told to celebrate His birth, but we

were told by example to carry out communion in the remembrance of His death on the evening of

the night of Passover, not at whatever time we want or as often as we want. Pastors will tell its

congregation that Sunday is the Lord’s day, believing that was the day Christ rose from the dead,

and in now worshiping on Sunday that they are honoring Christ. There is no verse in God’s Holy

Word that tells us to do this. Christ never directed man to do this, rather by doing this, man is

justifying a tradition or commandment of man, one that comes originally from the Roman Catholic

church. By this, most of the Christians weekly worship is now on Sunday or the first day of the

week, which is the day of the sun, a pagan holiday. No, Jesus told us and showed us by His actions

to keep the Sabbath, which is the last day of the week or the 7th day of the week, being Saturday.

Suppose for a moment that at the time or year that Jesus rose from the dead, was on Sunday, this

does not change what He told us to do and showed us by His example, the Saturday Sabbath is still

the day of drawing close to God. Recognize that on God’s calendar the Passover day of the week

that it falls on changes every year, often falling on Monday, sometimes occurring in March and

other times in April. This means that the specific days of the week on which Jesus died and was

resurrected change every year, they are not on a fixed weekly day. Recognize there is God’s way of

counting and it is different from man’s way of counting. When raised with traditions that go

against commandments of God, it is not easy to change and abandon those traditions. However

recognize that obedience to God is more important than the comfort you feel from following man’s

traditions. Yes the world follows Easter and not the first three Holy days of God, remember what

happened at Noah’s time.

17. The Sixth major deception – The Trinity

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A difficult subject or concept is that of the Holy Spirit. All Protestant churches along with

the Catholic Church believe that the Holy Spirit is a person. I would suggest that the Holy Bible

does not support this belief.

In Genesis 1:1 the word God is plural, Strong H430, but we know it is a way of speaking in

Hebrew for one God, an all powerful being. Later Jesus makes this clear in teaching us to pray

directly to the Father. At this point we then know that there is one God the Father.

We also learn from the Bible that God is a Spirit.

Joh 4:24 God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We also know that God is Holy.

Psa 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

Psa 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

We also learn that there is a physical world and a spirit world.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Psa 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

These verses tell us that angels are spirit and live in the spirit world with God. At the

resurrection, we that are the children of God, become spirit and join the spirit world. We do not

know the laws of nature that govern the spiritual world, nor how it operates other than it is presided

over by God the Father. It is only from God’s Holy Word that we are able to gain a very small

appreciation of this other world and we do not know how it works.

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In the New Testament the word for Spirit and for Ghost is Strong G4151. It means the

same and is translated in some places as Spirit and in others as Ghost. Considering that God is

Spirit and that God is Holy, the term Holy Spirit would logically indicate that it is some part or

amount of God’s Holy Spirit, or of God Himself. In fact it appears that the Old Testament uses this

interpretation throughout . God’s Spirit is power, His power to create and give life.

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Throughout the Old Testament, God gave some of His Holy Spirit to various persons,

consider the following;

1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Exo 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

Exo 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exo 31:4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Exo 35:31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

Psa 51:11 Do not cast me out from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Isa 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Jdg 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

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Jdg 6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him

Jdg 11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

Jdg 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

Jdg 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

Jdg 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands

1Sa 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1Sa 19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1Sa 19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

Num 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Mic 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

All of the above, refer to the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God and hence are equivalent to

the Holy Spirit as found in the New Testament. The Spirit of God that is given is good, but on

occasion an evil spirit will enter into a person. These are the fallen angels that God made in a past

time. The Spirit of God usually gives direction, wisdom, prophecy and words that one is to speak.

This shows that the Holy Spirit of God was active in a few people throughout the Old Testament.

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For whatever reason the translation, in the King James Version, of the same word, Strong

G4151, in the New Testament was made mostly using the word Ghost. This is very different from

the word ghost used in the Old Testament which means breath out, expire, death or dying and is

given by the Strong’s Hebrew number H1478. In the New Testament God’s Holy Ghost or rather

God’s Holy Spirit is the better translation and should be used as it is in keeping with the

terminology of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, Spirit which comes from God is translated

from H7307 and appears to means the same as G4151 of the New Testament.

Now, knowing how God’s Spirit was given to individuals as described in the Old Testament,

consider the following verses of the New Testament that address the Spirit of God and His giving

this to those that He will.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Ac t 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

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1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

The understanding comes from recognizing that it is His Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God

which is given. It appears to be some portion of God himself.

Now examine the words Holy Ghost, which we now consider to more correctly say Holy

Spirit. The two verses below are taken from the 1898 Young’s Literal Translation Bible, and the

only change from that of the KJV is the words Holy Spirit rather than Holy Ghost.

Mar 12:36 for David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my lord, Sit thou on My right hand, till I place thine enemies--thy footstool;

Luk 1:67 And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,

Note that the two verses above refer back to the Old Testament, which refer to the Spirit of

God or the Spirit of the Lord, but now termed in the New Testament as the Holy Spirit.

In the translation of the words Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost the sentence structure when

translated into English uses the words - “the Holy Spirit” which implies that of a person. However

from the Old Testament we know that this implication is wrong. The Holy Spirit is direct from God

as part of His being. Two typical verses of many from the New Testament using the term “the Holy

Ghost” is as follows.

Luk 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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So even though the preposition “the” implies that of a person, it is incorrect to be

interpreted in this manner. The correct interpretation comes to us from the Old Testament.

Now consider the letters of Paul to the various churches, his opening greetings are all from

the Father and from Jesus Christ. None include a third person such as that of the Holy Ghost. This

would be a tremendous slight if the Holy Ghost was a person.

Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Co 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

All of the greetings by Paul and the other apostles are consistent, and only are addressed

using the Father and Jesus Christ. They do mention in their letters that of the Holy Ghost, but it is in

the context of being lead by it towards growing in Christ.

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Spirit leads us and teaches us, it instills truth within us and guides us to do the Will of

God. It is what we need in order to help us grow in righteousness, for without God’s help through

His Holy Spirit residing in us, we cannot do this on our own.

Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he

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maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Now examine the one verse in the Holy Bible that tells us that the Holy Ghost is the third

person, this comes from 1John and is found below.

1Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

The verses seem pretty clear and indicate that the Holy Ghost is a third person. Also look at

the KJV with the Strong numbers for these three verses.

1Jn 5:6 ThisG3778 isG2076 he that cameG2064 byG1223 waterG5204 andG2532 blood,G129

even JesusG2424 Christ;G5547 notG3756 byG1722 waterG5204 only,G3440 butG235 byG1722

waterG5204 andG2532 blood.G129 AndG2532 it isG2076 theG3588 SpiritG4151 that beareth

witness,G3140 becauseG3754 theG3588 SpiritG4151 isG2076 truth.G225

11Jn 5:7 ForG3754 there areG1526 threeG5140 that bear recordG3140 inG1722 heaven,G3772

theG3588 Father,G3962 theG3588 Word,G3056 andG2532 theG3588 HolyG40 Ghost:G4151

andG2532 theseG3778 threeG5140 areG1526 one.G1520

1Jn 5:8 AndG2532 there areG1526 threeG5140 that bear witnessG3140 inG1722 earth,G1093

theG3588 Spirit,G4151 andG2532 theG3588 water,G5204 andG2532 theG3588 blood:G129

andG2532 these threeG5140 agreeG1526 inG1519 one.G1520

These make the translation appear totally legitimate. Also 1John 5 has 21 verses

in the KJV. Now compare the 1898 Young’s Literal Translation Bible for the same three verses as

below.

1Jn 5:6 This one is he who did come through water and blood--Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and the blood; and the Spirit it is that is testifying, because the Spirit is the truth,

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1Jn 5:7 because three are who are testifying in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these--the three--are one;

1Jn 5:8 and three are who are testifying in the earth , the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.

The words added by the translators are in a lighter font and stand out. Notice now how the

added words, not found in the many Bible translations as shown in the Complete Jewish Bible for

the same three verses.

1Jn 5:6 He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah—not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

1Jn 5:7 There are three witnesses—

1Jn 5:8 the Spirit, the water and the blood—and these three are in agreement.

Today most other Bible translations do not have the added words. Apparently these added

words are known as the “comma Johanneum” and there has been heated debate over centuries as

to whether they were in the original early Greek texts. Some scholars comment that they were not

in early Greek texts, others state that only eight Greek texts contained the words out of 500 Greek

texts. Today there does not appear any way that we can determine the authenticity of whether the

added text was original or added later, as it appears that we cannot establish which is the earliest

Greek text. There are many scholarly documents put forth, that take a stand on opposite sides.

The only other verse seeming to indicate a Trinity is the following,

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

However this likely means that when baptizing it was to be done in the name of the Father

and of the Son and have that person accepting the Holy Spirit from God.

We may never know with complete certainty whether there is a Trinity or whether the Holy

Spirit is some part of God, as we do not have any real understanding of how the spirit world works.

From the wording primarily in the Old Testament, but also those in the New Testament with respect

to God’s Spirit, I believe that the Holy Spirit is some portion of God either that of the Father or that

of the Son and is not a third person. Also consider the following.

Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto

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God.

The above verse tells us that lying to the Holy Spirit is in fact lying directly to God, which

logically tells us the Holy Spirit is some direct portion of God Himself.

18. The Holy Days & other laws

God gave His chosen people specific Holy Days to keep and to celebrate, these are Holy

Days of God, not the Israelites Holy Days. God instructs those who become his chosen people,

Israelite or those that attach themselves to the Israelites, to keep His Holy Days forever. These

days are tied to prophecy. Many of these days now have dual meaning. A few of these days have

been fulfilled by Christ, while others have not yet been fulfilled by prophecy. Most all have special

annual Sabbaths within them.

A major Holy Day that God first gave was the weekly Sabbath. The other Holy days are

annual feasts and celebrations. In addition to the Holy Days there were other laws that were also

given.

A. The Holy Days of God:

The Holy Days are defined in the Old Testament in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16, these

are attached in Appendix I. Also in Appendix II other laws and commandments are given. They are

stated as being forever. They were a commandment of God that were to be obeyed by those who

are Christ’s. The question is whether they are only for the Israelites? They were given originally to

the Israelites, but they were expanded to the gentiles as well, to all those who attached themselves

to the Israelites in worship and acceptance of the one true living God.

Num 9:14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the

LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall

he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

Num 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with

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you.

Later we learn that all who live in faith of Jesus, we are all the same when we live in Jesus,

there is neither male or female, Gentile or Jew and therefore all that God has directed applies to all

of us.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male

nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

God tells us that the Holy Days are to be kept forever, everlasting, throughout your

generations, that means what God says, forever.

Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the

children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

This Holy Day as commanded from the scriptures refers to the Day of Atonement. It is

clear, it states that it is to be obeyed forever. The wording throughout your generations in all your

dwellings, also means forever, it is perpetual, never ending. As stated in Lev 16:31 and Lev 23:31

with two different wordings, both mean the same – forever.

Lev 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

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Lev 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 19:37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

Lev 22:31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the

LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in

their seasons. Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

We are to keep the judgments, ordinances, statutes, Sabbaths, commandments, feasts,

and Holy convocations. The Holy Days as set by Christ (who is the mediator of the Old Testament)

have specific meanings which we are to observe and celebrate. The meanings for some become

dual after the crucifixion and resurrection. These days are memorials, Holy Days of God, My feasts,

My Sabbaths, says God, and He is serious about them. What happens when you do not keep them,

in the Old Testament God punished the Israelites.

Eze 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Eze 20:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Eze 20:16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Eze 20:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

Eze 22:8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

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Eze 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

The following verses of the prophets that are referring to future times, after the return of

Christ, state that in the millennium everyone will come to worship the Lord on His Holy Days.

Therefore this is a lasting tradition or commandment of God, it was followed in early times, in times

after Christ’s first coming and will be followed at Christ’s end day coming, at the start of the

millennium. This means by logic it should be followed even in current times. The directives given

in the Old Testament by God are binding to all eternity, recognize God does not change.

Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,

saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Isa_66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Eze_46:3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.

Eze_46:9 But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.

Zec_14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

If we look at the New Testament we see that Jesus kept the days of the feasts, the Last

Great Day and all the Sabbaths. Jesus kept the Passover and had His last meal with His disciples

on the evening of the Passover, then was crucified in the daytime of the Passover and died before

the Passover day time was finished. Jesus became the lamb of the Passover for all mankind. At

sunrise on the day following the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread, Jesus

presented Himself to God the Father as the First Fruit of the resurrection and also as the new Chief

Priest. This set of Holy Days now appears complete. Later after Jesus had risen, He directed His

disciples to gather together on the Day of Pentecost in order to receive the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament shows that the disciples kept the Passover, the Days of Unleavened

Bread, Pentecost, the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement. By logic, it is most likely that they

kept the other Holy Days as well.

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Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Later the Church of God as set up by Jesus and continually built by the disciples kept the

Holy Days.

Joh 12:20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Act 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

The first to come in each new year is the Passover. The second following right on the end

of the Passover is Days of Unleavened Bread and within this the First Fruits or the waving of the

sheave, occurring on the first day of the week after the weekly Sabbath within the time period of

the Days of Unleavened Bread. The First Fruit is honoring the spring harvest. The fourth is

Pentecost or summer harvest. The next to follow or the fifth which is the Day of Trumpets. The

sixth is Day of Atonement. The seventh is Feast of Tabernacles. Finally eighth, the day following

the end of the Feast of Tabernacles is the Last Great Day, it is the large fall harvest.

1. Passover:

The Passover originally was celebrated as the evening and night of the last plaque on Egypt,

with the killing of a lamb and painting its blood on the door posts of the Israelites. This allowed the

angel of death to pass over those houses when seeing the blood on the door posts. After Christ, it

is now celebrated as the sacrifice of Christ, as the lamb of God, for our sins. It needs to be

celebrated with Christ’s last supper in the evening of the start of Passover, bread for Jesus broken

body and wine for His spilled blood, given unselfishly for our sins. The Passover is not a feast day or

an annual Sabbath. Rather it is a Holy Day, a liberation from our sins and our having the gift of

eternal life being extended to us by God. At the end of the day light part of the Passover, at sunset

which is the start of the following night, it then becomes the beginning of the Days of Unleavened

Bread.

Eze_45:21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

2. Unleavened Bread:

The days of Unleavened Bread, signifying that leavening represents sin and we are to put it

all out of our lives. Both the first day of Unleavened Bread and the last day or seventh day are Holy

Convocations or special annual Sabbaths or High days. Also within the seven days a weekly

Sabbath will occur. Over these days we are to eat only unleavened bread with our meals. The Days

of Unleavened Bread cover 7 days. The Passover day is not a Sabbath Day designated by God. The

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days of Unleavened Bread are representing God’s people being taken out of sin (as Egypt was a

type of sin to them). The first day is a memorial to God, an annual reminder, an ordinance forever.

It is putting sin out of our lives and becoming obedient to God and His laws. Keeping the seven

days is a memorial that God’s law is firmly in our mind. It means we continually need God’s help to

keep sin out of our lives. Therefore the seventh day is a feast or celebration to God for His

continual helping us to keep sin out of our lives. The leaven is symbolic of the puffing up in our

minds of ourselves, it is the buildup of sin within us, and thus we are to both physically and

spiritually keep sin out of our lives.

Observing the Days of Unleavened Bread took on new dual meaning with Christ’s crucifixion

and resurrection, as now Christ’s sacrifice has taken on our sins. Opposite of sin is God’s laws, the

Days of Unleavened Bread are to actively recognize that God’s laws are to reside and be at work in

our minds and hearts. We need God’s help in overcoming sin, to be taken out of sin. These feast

days are to make us aware that we cannot do it alone, or by ourselves. We are to remove physical

sin (leaven) as well as spiritual sin (leaven) – with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Spiritual

leaven is essentially malice and wickedness.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

As seen from the above verses, Paul kept the Passover as did the Congregation or Church of

God in those early times. Even today, it is no different, we need to be reminded that we need God’s

help to keep sin out of our lives.

3. First Fruits:

The Sunday or the first day of the week, following the weekly Sabbath that occurs within the

Days of Unleavened Bread, is the waving of the sheaf of the spring harvest. It is the day of First

Fruits to be presented before God by the high priest. It occurs within the days of Unleavened Bread.

It is the day that Jesus when resurrected, now being the First Fruit of the dead to permanently

rise and also being the Chief Priest, presented Himself to God the Father. This Holy Day has been

fulfilled by Jesus.

4. Pentecost or Feast of Weeks:

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Pentecost or Feast of Weeks is a special annual Sabbath Day of presenting

a sacrifice of the summer harvest. It is now also the initiation or start of the Church of God. It is

the day where the apostles and disciples were gathered together in receiving of the Holy Spirit. It

resulted in 3000 people being saved by receiving the Holy Spirit on that day. The summer harvest

is a larger harvest than the spring first harvest, but not as large as the fall harvest. It now becomes

a celebration of both the summer harvest and the start of the Church of God. This is a Holy one day

period or Sabbath. This is the day the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit. It was the day

that a pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit was made to many that accepted Christ. This day always

falls on a Sunday and is one day only. It is found by counting 7 weeks or weekly Sabbaths, from

the sheaf wave offering or First Fruit of the spring harvest in the days of Unleavened Bread. It is

determined by counting , this is why it is called the feast of weeks. It is a feast day, or a Holy Day, a

day where no work is done, or a special annual Sabbath.

In the future, it is possible that this day might in fact coincide with the second or continued

gathering of God’s people or the Saints, occurring upon Christ’s return coming in the clouds, or

what is commonly called the rapture or the completion of the first resurrection. It could in fact

coincide with the birth date of the Church and it’s being transformed and taken out of the world

before the days of tribulation. At the end of the days of tribulation a new start will be given to those

surviving that period. Within the tribulation is where the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth.

The First resurrection could in fact parallel the days of Noah and Enoch. This gathering will be

relatively few in number as these are the summer fruits.

Christ will come suddenly at a time that no one knows, He will come to claim His bride, the

Saints, in the same manner as was a Jewish custom for the groom coming unexpectedly to claim

His bride. Those that are ready and watching will be taken, but those that are not ready will be left.

This is why we are told to watch and pray always. This is why no one knows the time Jesus will

come.

Act 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

1Co 16:8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

Again from the above verses Paul kept the Pentecost as did the early congregation or church.

5. Feast of the Trumpets:

The Feast of the Trumpets likely has a dual meaning, first as an assembly of blowing horns

as used in the Old Testament for warnings and gathering the tribes for battles as well as for the

destruction of Jericho.

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Then possibly in a future time God will have His trumpets blown for the plaques to be

spread on the earth, most likely the blowing of the first trumpet after the start of the Tribulation will

occur on the Day of Trumpets. When the last or 7th trumpet will be blown and Christ will return to

earth along Kingdom of God.

This is a one day special annual Sabbath. It is possible that this might be the beginning day

of Christ’s rule over all nations on earth. The tribes of Israel will then be gathered from around the

world and brought together in one place, likely to Jerusalem. It is possible that Jesus will return on

this Holy Day since He kept the other Holy Days, Passover, Unleavened Bread, waving of the

sheaves or First Fruits and Pentecost, giving them future meaning. Note that the Day of Trumpets

is a feast day, one in which we are to assemble and celebrate and blow trumpets and or shofars.

6. Day of Atonement:

The Day of Atonement is a fasting and praying day. This is a day where all of God’s

children will be at one with him. This is an annual Sabbath day, it is known to the Jews as Yom

Kipper. It means at-one-ment, where all the world will be at one with God. Fasting and praying go

together in amplifying our relationship with God and in creating stronger inner faith and strength. It

helps us to overcome temptation and sin in the world. This is a 24 hr day of fasting without drink

or food.

In the future it is possible that Satan will be bound and taken out of contact with the world,

banished to an uninhabited wilderness, a bottomless pit. Christ represents the first goat who was

sacrificed on the cross for our sins, Satan is the second goat that will be removed from the world

for a period of time. He will be sent into the bottomless pit for around a 1000 years, then let loose

to walk the earth for a short time before being completely removed.

It is also possible this might be a day that the eyes of Israel are opened.

Note that Paul kept this day as did the congregation or the Church in the days following

Christ’s death and resurrection.

Act 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the

fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

7. Feast of the Tabernacles:

The Feast of the Tabernacles is a seven day feast with the first being a special or annual

Sabbath. It occurs 5 days after the Day of Atonement. Within this seven days it will also have a

weekly Sabbath. This feast of 7 days is instructed by God to be celebrated and rejoice in its

keeping. It is a number of days that those keeping this time are to dwell in temporary shelters, as

those Israelites did in the wilderness before coming into the promised land. It is usually to be kept

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in a location designated by God. At present, it is kept in a few specific locations in Canada and the

USA by some groups. However at present it can be kept by individuals in agreed upon locations.

We are to put money aside through the year in order to travel, pay for hotels and celebrate

throughout the seven days. It is a Holy holiday. It was a celebration of the large fall harvest.

In the millennium all nations will keep the Feast of the Tabernacles. Since in the future rule

of Christ on earth, it is required to be kept, then by logic it must be required to be kept in our day

and age , to be kept always. In the future millennium time, if nations do not keep this Holy Day

they will be punished.

It possibly signifies a celebration of the millennium rule of Christ on earth, with the last day

being the end of the millennium time.

In the Bible the number 7 denotes completion or perfection. The number 8 denotes a new

beginning, or a new start. Note that First Fruits and Pentecost, occur on the 1st day of the week, the

Last Great Day follows on from the end of the Week of Tabernacles or on an 8th day if you like.

8. Last Great Day:

This is the day following the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles. It is the eight day, and

is a Holy annual Sabbath day, it was a solemn assembly. It is the day of judgment, or the second

resurrection. It is when an opportunity will be given to those who were not called or did not hear

the Word of God while they lived and died in ignorance. It is possible that on this day following the

end of the last day of the feast is a gathering in of a special fall harvest, of the rest of God’s people,

the large billions of them. This then ends the time of those living at the end of the millennium

being able to be saved. This is the day of final judgment of those who are in the book of life as well

as those who are not in the book of life. It is also a resurrection of all others who lived and died

throughout the millennium as well as from the time of Adam. They will be awakened and judged.

This is the time when people will be judged on their works throughout their life. This day

immediately precedes the new earth, new heaven and new Jerusalem and those that will live with

God forever. God’s plan for redemption of mankind finishes on this last Holy Day. At this day, all

that have died and yet sleep will be awakened and judged. All that have not attained eternal life

with the Father and Jesus or not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire

and burned forever. On this day Satan will be removed once and for all.

This annual Sabbath follows the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles.

B. Commandments of the Holy Days:

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The commandments given by God are forever. The Holy Days as laid out in Leviticus and

Numbers are forever. The Holy Days are God’s Holy Days, not some arbitrary number of days set by

man, nor are they days that man can change. God informed us of His Holy Days and Sabbaths, the

weekly Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths. He has told us and identified for us the Days that we are

to celebrate and keep Holy as well as the days which are Sabbaths, or days in which no work is

done.

Exo 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

If we are God’s children then we are obedient to him and His commandments, to His Holy

Days and to His Sabbaths. If we love him we do so by actions, the actions of keeping His

commandments and laws both physically and with the intent in our hearts and minds. When God

says these are forever, that means from the beginning of being given to man all the way to eternity.

Be aware that Jesus Christ is the mediator of the Old Testament, we did not know of the

Father until Jesus first came among us. When Jesus talks about “my commandments”, He is

referring to the commandments He gave in the Old Testament. We are saved by faith, not through

our actions in attempting to be sinless as this cannot work. The crucifixion and death of Jesus now

has taken man’s sin away and now we are saved by faith and the grace given by God. However

faith without works is nothing. Works or actions require human effort, they are not just spiritual

thoughts.

Joh_14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh_14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Jesus tells us to keep His commandments, not that these actions will save us, but rather

that they will help us grow closer in spirit to God. We are saved by faith. The actions of keeping the

commandments help us to grow spiritually as God would have us grow. They are an obligation on

our part to have action in showing our love to God. They show our obedience to God.

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Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Note that we are saved by faith but we establish the law, or abide by, uphold, stand by,

continue in. Faith without works is dead, the works are following what God directs us to do. We

are to live by every Word of God. There are lots of laws and commandments in those words of God.

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision

through faith. Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Are we to honor the Holy Days ? God tells us if we are His children that we are to honor

them forever as stated in the following verses. They are His Holy convocations, His Holy Days.

Weekly Sabbath

Exo 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Exo 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Passover, Unleavened Bread

Exo 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Atonement

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Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

Feasts of the Lord

Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

Identification of the Feast of the Lord or Holy Days are described in the following verses.

They identify the location where the ordinances are found as well as their statement.

Weekly Sabbath

Lev 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Passover, Unleavened Bread

Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.

Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Feast of First Fruits (within Days of Unleavened Bread)

Lev 23:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.

Lev 23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall

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be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Pentecost or Feast of Weeks

Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

L Lev 23:18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.

Lev 23:19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Lev 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.

Lev 23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Lev 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Feast of Trumpets

Lev 23:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Day of Atonement

Lev 23:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall

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be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.

Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Feast of Tabernacles or Booths

Lev 23:33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

Lev 23:38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Lev 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

Lev 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Lev 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Last Great Day or Last Day

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Lev 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

Neh 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly,

according unto the manner.

Keep the commandments and statutes

Deu 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Deu 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.

Recognize that the Holy Days, the commandments, laws, ordinances, judgments and

statutes were originally given to the Israelites, who were to be examples of righteous living people.

They were to be God’s people. Those who have put on Christ are now also God’s people and have

become Abraham’s seed. There is no difference between Israelites or Gentiles, male or female,

bond or free, all that have put on Christ are God’s people. Because God does not change and also

because God is just and fair, this means all that are Christ’s are judged the same way and expected

to live the same way. All are required to keep all of God’s laws. Now both the Jews and the

Gentiles who put on Christ and follow Him are to be examples of righteous living people in the

world today.

C. Other Laws and Commandments

So what laws were nailed to the cross? This is where the difficulty lies, the far majority of

churches today teach that Christ did all the work for us and that He nailed all the commandments

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to the cross so that we need not do anything, no effort, no obligation, with the exception to repent

and believe on Christ as our saviour. They tell their congregations, you do not have to obey and

show obedience to God and His laws or statues or commandments as these were for the Israelites

only. You can reach this conclusion by selecting a few specific verses taken out of context and

giving an erroneous interpretation to others as well as more importantly ignoring many other verses

in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. When all is studied and taken together, it is

clear that effort on our part in showing obedience to God is required by God in addition to faith. The

lessons of the Old Testament show how important obedience is to God. The Old Testament was

written by the prophets and is just as important to follow today as that of the New Testament.

So what was nailed to the cross. First the sacrificial laws, as the death and resurrection of

Christ replaced these. This means the sacrificial law for sin has been fulfilled for all time by Jesus.

At present there is an absence of a temple so all other sacrifices cannot be made. We still need to

make offerings but common sense tells us these have changed in our society to our whole self,

body and mind, and that of money, rather than lambs etc. Second the written Torah or laws or

commandments as given to Moses still apply. However there was also what is known as the oral

Torah or Talmud, developed by the priests and Pharisees, who made these up and wrote them

down and Christ referred to these as the commandments of man. These were legal rules

developed by the Pharisees as to what could and could not be done in order to better try in keeping

the written Torah. These oral Torah’s were nailed to the cross. These are not in the Holy Bible.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees on these oral laws two times and Paul rebuked the new Christians on

not sitting down and eating with a new convert to Christ who was not physically immediately

circumcised. In Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy there are other commandments that we need

to interpret in today’s society whether we need to keep or not. Here it will be based upon civic law,

common sense in our society, whether it fits in being written on our heart, being based in love and

righteousness, as well as keeping us from evil. Let’s examine these, first the commandments that

follow the intent of the 10 commandments and ones we need to obey ;

Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Exo 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Lev 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor

observe times. Lev 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by

them: I am the LORD your God. Lev 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be

put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

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This commandment tells us those following after demons and devils or the spirit world are

evil, but now days we cannot go around killing them because of our civic laws. But it does tell us to

keep ourselves separate from them, not to have anything to do with them.

Lev 18:7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Lev 18:8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

Lev 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

Lev 18:10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.

Lev 18:11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Lev 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.

Lev 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.

Lev 18:14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

Lev 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Lev 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

Lev 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

Lev 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.

Lev 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.

Lev 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.

Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Lev 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Lev 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Lev 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Lev 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

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Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Lev 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Lev 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 20:16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Lev 20:19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.

Lev 25:17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.

Lev 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

Deu 14:21 Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deu 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

Deu 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Deu 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

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Deu 23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

Deu 23:20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deu 24:10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

Deu 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put

on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Deu 27:18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

These above, are commandments or laws that nearly all Christians would agree are to be

obeyed. These are very descriptive and leave little doubt. Many are to do with sexual fornication

others with loving ones brother and how to live. Some cover our relationship with God. They are

met by following love for God and love for all mankind.

There are others that do not apply in our current age or have been modified by how our

society has changed. Today we are not small tribes living off the land, we do not plow with oxen

anymore, our poor and widows do not scavenge in fields for food. We do not have slaves anymore.

The rest for the land every 7th year is good farming practice, some practice this today and it is

better than using fertilizer every year on a continuous basis, as we have learned recently. Others

because we live in a mixed world and cannot separate ourselves as a society from people who

worship other gods and we cannot go about killing people as our rulers laws forbid this action.

However we can remove ourselves from associating with people who are evil and worship other

gods.

Lev_19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

Lev_19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Lev_20:2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

Lev_25:3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

Lev_25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

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Lev_25:5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

Deu_15:12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

Deu_23:24 When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

Deu_23:25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

The following on cutting hair and beards had to do with idols and god’s from other cultures.

Rather hair and beards should be cut for a natural and tidy look.

Lev_19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

1Col 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 1Col 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto

him? 1Col 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a

covering.

We are told to honour and respect the elderly, for they are ones with wisdom and

experience.

Lev 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

The following has three items, the mixing of different animals for reproduction is generally

not good, such as domestic and wild beast. The second of mixed seed is not practical when it

comes to harvest and may also pertain to weeds or tares from the New Testament parable. The

third on mixed threads in a garment may refer to priests garments at the time.

Lev 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

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Today there is controversy on what one can eat. God intends for our bodies to be healthy

and Holy as they contain His Holy Spirit, and thus are Holy temples. Noah loaded his ark with both

clean and unclean animals, see verse below. Originally the covenant of God with Noah was that he

could eat meat, but since he knew which was clean and unclean, the verse did not have to state

“eat clean meat”. It had to be alive at the time of selection, and one could not eat blood. Later

with Moses and the Israelites, God reintroduced the same covenant with them, that they could only

eat clean meat or flesh.

Deu 14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. Deu 14:4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,

At the time of Moses there was no refrigeration, nor did they know about parasites in

animals nor about animal disease or the collection of pesticides in animals. Even today this

knowledge is not sufficient to ignore God’s rules. God knows what is best for man, therefore we

need to follow what He tells us to do. Many of the unclean animals are scavengers and therefore

exposed to parasites, disease, and pollution, which they take into their body, which later we eat.

These are animals including pigs and seafood such as crabs, shrimp etc. Today many Western

Christians say our food is inspected and controlled by Government as being safe, therefore we can

eat anything and are not required to follow God’s commandment pertaining clean flesh. We either

obey God or we do not, God knows much more than what man knows, God has told us what is good

for us and bad for us to eat in the various animals. In the future man’s knowledge may well

increase to where man finds that harm comes to our bodies from eating unclean animals.

In the beginning even at the time of Noah, he knew which were clean and unclean animals

as only clean animals were used in sacrifices. Prior to the time of the ark, God’s people only ate

vegetables and fruits, no meat. After the ark God gave man permission to eat animals. Even

though it does not explicitly state clean meat, since Noah knew of clean verses unclean meat and

therefore it is implied that it is clean animals only.

Gen 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of

beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given

you all things.

Thus early from the beginning God had told His people of what laws were to be obeyed,

some people obeyed and others did not. Abraham kept God’s laws. We know that adultery was

one law and that murder was another as was idol worship. These are all found early in Genesis and

are before the 10 commandments were officially given in writing. Logic tells us that most likely

God told early man, from Adam onward, His laws that they were to follow.

Gen 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

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Gen 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God

made he man.

Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Gen 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Gen 12:18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Gen 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but

a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my

statutes, and my laws. Thus even before the ten commandments were given, those living from Adam forward

knew of many if not all of the commandments and laws of God, and they were expected to keep

them.

Consider the following, Paul states that Christ was the first fruit of the risen, and Peter tells

us Christ is the lamb that died for our sins.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Following on from the verses above, as one last thought now examine the following verse

where in the morning of the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

We know that Jesus was resurrected late on the weekly Sabbath, or Saturday, so why was

He in the garden early Sunday morning ? Jesus was carrying out a Holy Day instruction, where the

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First Fruit lamb of being raised from the dead must be presented to God by the head priest, who

also is Jesus. This must be done on the day following the weekly Sabbath as stated in Leviticus 23.

Thus Jesus had to wait until sunrise Sunday morning until He could present Himself to the Father.

Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Now ask yourself if this was of such importance that Jesus was obeying this commandment

by waiting from late on Saturday, when being resurrected, until early Sunday morning at sun rise, is

it not important that we obey them as well. Again follow the examples given to us by Jesus, then

we cannot go wrong.

19. The Rock of God’s Church

Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church;

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The word church comes from Strong’s G1577, which is also interpreted to mean, a calling

out, an assembly, a congregation, a community. Today the word church has a erroneous

connotation, it suggests an organization that should be run with a hierarchical form of government.

One that dictates doctrine, one that is not guided by the individual members or assembly, but

essentially dictated to by a preacher who follows doctrine set by those above him. Rather Jesus

built His “congregation” to be directed by the Holy Spirit from God, with each member being equal

and contributing in the manner that they were able, and those requiring milk being corrected and

encouraged by those who had a more mature understanding from the Holy Spirit. It was to be a

community of like minded people, walking together in unison by following Christ. It was to be all in

agreement to the same beliefs, all living by the same actions. An assembly of all like minded

individuals being led by the Holy Spirit are Christ’s congregation or church. This means Christ’s

congregation is made up of individuals spread throughout the world.

It is important to note that the rock Jesus was referring to was Himself, not Peter. Peter

was the pebble, Christ is the rock.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

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2Sa 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Christ’s congregation was formed on the day of Pentecost, when all the disciples and those

gathered in the room, were those upon whom the Holy Spirit of God descended. This was the start

of what the world commonly calls Christ’s church or the church of God. Thus any group of

individuals that have taken on Christ and are being led by the Holy Spirit, when gathered together

in worship and fellowship are Christ’s church. It only takes two or three gathered together to have

Christ be present among them. Of interest is that the original group in the start of Christ’s

congregation or church were Jews, not Gentiles.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Note that if you are truly a son of God or one of His, then you are led by the Spirit of God

and it resides within you.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom_8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

It is the assembly of individuals that accept Christ that make up the Holy Temple through

the guidance of the Spirit of God. The accumulation of all of these individuals make up the Church

that Christ started. It is not a physical building or a religious organization, rather it is an assembly

of individuals all being led by the Holy Spirit. This is the Church of God as it is today and was from

it’s inception, it is now spread throughout the entire world. Each person in this church is an equal,

all having different gifts from the Holy Spirit, each contributing together for the benefit of the entire

assembly, no one person dominates, those with faith and understanding that are mature, help to

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serve by guiding those that are young in the faith and are requiring help. It is a community effort, it

does not operate as a hierarchy.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1Th 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

What is Christ’s church directed to do ? It is to go forth in the world teaching others all

things that Jesus commanded to His disciples. Thus again you cannot go wrong if you follow the

words and actions given to us by Jesus.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Recognize that today the protestant churches are all hierarchal and are not operating in the

manner that Jesus established His church after His resurrection. At present in Canada and the

USA Jesus true church is currently small groups of like minded people meeting together, worshiping

and growing by support and guidance of each other. To find this group you will need to identify

those that follow what Jesus showed us by example, to worship and keep the Sabbath Holy, to

celebrate and keep the Holy Days including the annual or high Sabbaths. In addition to small

groups of individuals, the only organized and recognizable church group that I have been able to

identify in today’s times are some of the Messianic groups of Gentiles and Jews and small

independent groups that accept and study the whole Bible following it closely for both the Old and

New Testaments. In today’s world there are some various groups that state that they are the true

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church, but if they are a hierarchal organization in form, they really are not. False churches tell you

that you need to pay them a tithe. If you are a true follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit will at some

point lead you to a small group or others who also follow as closely as they can.

Every church in North America today will tell others that they are led by the Holy Spirit. But

since they do not obey what God’s word tells them, it is questionable how much if any of the Holy

Spirit is guiding them. God’s Word tells us that the Hoy Spirit is given to those that obey. One needs

to search God’s Word very carefully to know the truth of what one needs to obey.

Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

20. Recognize the way of the world verses the Way of God

The way of the world today in North America is that Sunday is the day of worship, that some

people go to church for an hour or two and then go home to watch a football game, or go shopping

since the stores are open. People today are raised from a young age and taught that the world is a

place to get as much as you possibly can. It is not a place to give. People are taught to be

independent, to be free to do their own thing as long as it is within our civil laws. People are taught

to celebrate Easter, at least as a holiday if not more. The world around us is driven on greed, often

disguised using the socially acceptable term profit or good business practice. The world is a place

where nearly everything is driven by money. People do not want to be obligated to following

commandments, they often tell themselves that the end nearly always justifies the means.

There are few, very few people today who put God first and attempt to follow the path He

set forth before them and wants them to follow. It basically is much the same today as it was in

the time of Sodom and Gomorra or in the time of Noah. The large majority dictates how the world

goes. From God’s Holy Word, we should have learned that we need to be true to God and His

commandments to us. We are not to go the way of the world thinking everyone that does must be

right. It is only those that obey God, are the ones who are right. Our focus needs to be on God and

how we are to strive at growing and becoming Holy as He wants us to become and as He is willing

to help us become. Our focus is not to be focused on the current material world. The way of God is

given in His instructions to us, it occurs throughout the entire Bible. We cannot arbitrarily ignore

specific verses or try and argue them away. The Holy Word of God speaks to you if you listen to it

and accept it for what it says.

Think about this, if you are following deceptions that are not biblical or proven in the Holy

Bible, then you are most likely following another Jesus, one that does not lead to salvation.

We must be diligent in doing God’s commandments to us, God’s commandments must be

written in our heart, we must watch and pray always.

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Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

21. Are You Saved?

The churches today tell you that if you believe in Christ and repent that you are saved. The

Holy Bible has other verses that tell you that you must do much more. Let us start with the key

verse that tells us we are saved.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now look at other verses that tells us that few are saved.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

What are we told to do? We are told to follow the examples given to us by Jesus.

Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an

example, that ye should follow his steps:

Specifically we are told the path we are to follow, and the important steps we are to do.

Deu 7:11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

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Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

To sum up what is expected of us in being on the straight and narrow path, Christ tells us

and also by example showed us what He wants us to do. We need to study the Bible very carefully.

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Yes we are told to keep all the commandments always. If we follow the correct path we are

saved and we grow as children of God. So we need to ask ourselves, do we keep all of God’s

commandments ? Search out for yourself what are all of God’s laws, statutes, judgments,

precepts, ordinances and commandments.

How much of God’s Word do you understand ? In order to gain a total in depth

understanding of God’s Word it will come to us and grow within us if we totally obey God as we

walk forward in life. Understanding will be opened to us bit by bit as we go forward. We are

directed by the Spirit of God through the reading of His word. When we are led by God’s Holy Spirit

and read His word, it will suddenly become alive, it will jump out and hit us, and we will be shown

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things we never saw or understood previously. This then becomes understanding within us on a

spiritual level.

Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

22. The choice is yours

In the beginning God gave us free choice. Either to obey him, or to choose not to obey and

go our own way. Going our own way is following the way of the world, it is the way that leads to

permanent death. Following the way of God leads to eternal life, to serve, to worship and be spent

with God. Jesus paid the price for our sins, but we need to pay a price as well, that of being totally

obedient to God and obeying His directives to us, to do God’s Will and not doing our own will. Our

obligation is to do exactly what God wants us to do and this is explained time and time again in the

Holy Bible. The commandments were given by Christ in the Old Testament, they were clarified in

the New Testament in how they need to be in our thoughts as well as our actions. It was Christ who

punished the Israelites in the Old Testament, it is Christ who will judge all of us at the resurrections.

It is Christ that in the New Testament told us to obey the commandments. It is Christ that told us

that the commandments and the law does not change one little bit, ever. It is Christ that gave us a

detailed example through His life, one that we are to try and follow. It is Christ that warned us not

to be deceived. If we truly love God with all our heart we will try our best to please him, to do all

that He commands us to do, to follow on the straight and narrow path that He lays before us, to do

His Will and to endure to the end. The reason for God’s laws and commandments is to allow us to

work towards growing Holy, growing in a manner that God wants us to develop.

Yes the choice or path we follow is one that we choose of our own free will. Hopefully it will

not be the wrong one.

As you choose your path forward, think on the following; By example Jesus and His

Disciples kept the weekly Sabbath and the Holy Days. These were kept before Christ came, they

were kept at the time of Christ and they will be kept when the Kingdom of God comes to earth in

the future. Logic tells us that they should be kept as well at the present time.

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Recognize the God does not change, what He commands of us does not change. Also

recognize that God is just and righteous, He will judge all people, past generations / present

generations / future generations, by the same standards.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Num 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.

Num 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

Do we chose this,

Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding

0r this,

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Of which the latter will lead to this,

Mat 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Growing properly in Christ does not happen by wishful thinking, it is not emotional feeling, it

requires hard work. One must study the Bible, the whole Word of God, reading and learning in a

consistent and dedicated manner. A way of making good progress is to select a subject or topic,

then to collect the verses that apply to that topic in order to come to an in depth understanding.

Always one step at a time. We must do this with pray and asking for God’s help.

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To find the right and narrow path it is imperative to recognize all of the key or important

instructions from God and follow them. Place all the important instructions in your mind and on

your heart, in their intent, and move forward with them, always.

##########################

Appendix I

These are first the descriptions of the Sabbaths and the Holy Days from Leviticus and

Deuteronomy.

Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

Lev 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the

LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Lev 23:8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh

day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Lev 23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

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Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Lev 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day

shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

Lev 23:38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Lev 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

Lev 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Lev 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

Lev 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.

Lev 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

Num 9:2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.

Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

Deu 16:2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

Deu 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Deu 16:4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

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Deu 16:5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

Deu 16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

Deu 16:7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

Deu 16:8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.

Deu 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

Deu 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Deu 16:11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Deu 16:12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Deu 16:13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

Deu 16:14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

Deu 16:15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

Deu 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

Appendix II

In addition to the Holy Days there are other laws and commandments given by God to His

people. The following are from Exodus and Leviticus. Some from Exodus also describe the Holy

Days.

Exo 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

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Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Exo 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Exo 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Exo 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest

of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

. Exo 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments

and my laws?

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is

in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am

a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any

work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

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Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife,

nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Exo 20:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Exo 20:19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. Exo 20:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly

destroyed. Exo 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers Exo 12:12

in the land of Egypt. Exo 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

Exo 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: Exo 23:11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may

eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

Exo 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven

days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Lev 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Lev 11:43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

Lev 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Lev 11: 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Lev 11:46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

Lev 11:47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

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Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Lev 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any

woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Lev 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by

them: I am the LORD your God.