TWIN GOATS FOR TWO BRIDES!

Vayiqra (Leviticus) chapter 16

Today we are walking in: TWIN GOATS FOR TWO BRIDES!

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16:7–10

And he shall take את eth the two goats, and present them before YAHUAH at the door of the Tabernacle of the assembly. And Aharon shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for YAHUAH, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aharon shall bring the goat upon which YAHUAH’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before YAHUAH, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

ATONEMENT

Today we look to the word—ATONEMENT—H3722—kaphar—to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, forgive, pardon, or cleanse.

The Torah Testifies……….

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16:16

And he shall make an atonement H3722 for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Yashar’el, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the Tabernacle of the assembly, that remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16:30

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement H3722 for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before YAHUAH.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 21:8

Be merciful, O YAHUAH, unto your people Yashar’el, whom you have redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto your people of Yashar’el’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven H3722 them.

The Prophets Proclaim………

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 6:7

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged H3722.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 18:23

Yet, YAHUAH, you know all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive H3722 not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight, but let them be overthrown before you; deal thus with them in the time of your anger.

Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 45:20

And so you shall do the seventh day of the month for everyone that errs, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile H3722 the house.

The Writings Witness………

Tehilliym (Psalms) 65:3

Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, you shall purge them away H3722.

Tehilliym (Psalms) 78:38

But he, being full of compassion, forgave H3722 their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy (2 Chronicles) 30:18

For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephrayim, and Menashsheh, Yisshakar, and Zevulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Pecach otherwise than it was written. But Yechizqiyahu prayed for them, saying, The good YAHUAH pardon H3722 everyone.




We see the same pattern again following the Feast of Trumpets in the fall where there are “ten days of tarrying” for the bride leading up to Yom Kippur.

In 27 A.D., Just before his 30th birthday YAHUSHA’S baptism (mikvah) took place on the 1st of Elul in the 6th Hebrew month. At this time he began to fulfill the role of the “twin goats” leading up to Yom Kippur.

His mikvah was a fulfillment of the “sacrificial goat” and the legal moment of his death, because mikvah is a symbol of death (Romaiym 6:3–4).

Immediately following his mikvah, he was sent into the wilderness to fast and pray for Yisra’el as the “scapegoat.”

Mashiach fulfilled the pattern of the twin goats on Yom Kippur and then he also fulfilled the role of the Kohen Gadowl (High Priest) that year when he read Yeshayahu 61:1–2 in the synagogue (Luqas 4:19) and he declared “The acceptable year of YAHUAH.”

Yochanon the Immerser was the Levitical High Priest that year who acted as the one who would “kill the goat” symbolically (Vayiqra 16:15). It is for this very reason that he cried out when he saw YAHUSHA coming to be baptized, as he declared “Behold, the Lamb of YAHUAH ELOHIYM who takes away the sin of the world!” (Yochanon 1:29–36).

Immediately following his mikvah, he was sent to the wilderness by the RUACH HA’QODESH as the “scape-goat” or in Hebrew “Azazel.”

The definition of a “scapegoat” is “The innocent party who takes the blame for the guilty party.” During his days of fasting in the wilderness, YAHUSHA remained there for “forty days” and he prayed for Yisra’el to repent and come back to Torah.

When he emerged from the wilderness, he went into the temple as the new High Priest after the order of Malkiy-Tsedeq (Ivriym 5 & 7) and then he read Yeshayahu 61:1–2 in the synagogue as he declared that he was the “anointed one”—the HA’MASHIACH—and he also declared “The acceptable year of YAHUAH” (Luqas 4:19).

This was Yom Kippur language, as the High Priest was the only one who could declare that Yisra’el was either accepted or not accepted each year on Yom Kippur.

If the sacrifice of the goat was accepted, the red ribbon would miraculously turn white (Yeshayahu 1:18) and this was a sign that the nation was forgiven that year. But if the red ribbon did not turn white, then their sins remained and they were not accepted. During the final “ten days” of his fast leading up to Yom Kippur, I suspect that this is when he was tempted of the devil and he overcame these temptations on behalf of his future bride who would have to “suffer tribulation for ten days.”

Parallels Between Mosheh & Mashiach’s Ministry for Yisra’el

Mosheh made “sacrifices” for the people, and then he sprinkled them before he ascended the second time up to Mount Sinai on the 1st day of the 6th Hebrew month of Elul. He remained there for forty days leading up to Yom Kippur (Shemoth 34:4–28). Our Mashiach was also sent into the wilderness on the 1st of Elul immediately following his mikvah.

On the 40th day of Mosheh being on Mount Sinai, he received the second set of Ten Commandments for Yisra’el which was their “renewed marriage covenant.”

This was after they had violated the first covenant with the molten calf in Shemoth 32. Yisra’el had taken “wedding vows” just before Mosheh went up to Mount Sinai the first time around and they agreed to “obey” the covenant. In the next verse in Shemoth 24:8, Mosheh then sprinkled the nation of Yisra’el with the blood of animals as atonement.

Then in Shemoth 24:12, Mosheh went up to receive the “two tables of testimony” or the “written marriage covenant” called a “ketuwbah” in Hebrew. In Shemoth 24:15, when Mosheh went up to receive the written marriage covenant for Yisra’el, the cloud “covered” the mountain for “six days” and on the “seventh day” Mosheh descended down the mountain to present to Yisra’el with the written marriage covenant in stone. This was Yom Kippur typology because the mountain was “covered” by a cloud.

There was a seven-day wedding ceremony during the last of these forty days while Mosheh was in the mountain receiving the marriage covenant.

In the future, during the “Ten Days of Awe” between The Feast of Trumpets & the Day of Atonement, there will also be a “seven-day” wedding for the bride of Mashiach. When Mosheh came down the mountain and found Yisra’el whoring with the molten calf, he then went back up the mountain to “make atonement” for their sins (Shemoth 32:30). He acted as the High Priest on Yom Kippur who made atonement for the entire nation. After this, in Shemoth 30:10–16, YAHUAH established an ordinance that Aharon and his sons would “make atonement” for the nation of Yisra’el once per year on Yom Kippur.

We then see that Mosheh acted as the “scape-goat” who was willing to have his name blotted out of the book of life so that the people would live.

Shemoth (Exodus) 32:32–33

32 Yet now, if you will forgive their sin—and if not, blot me, I pray you, out of your book which you have written.

33 And YAHUAH said unto Mosheh, Whosoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

To this very day, the Hebrew people have a saying during the “Ten Days of Awe” as they declare to one another “May your name not be blotted out of the book of life” or “May your name be written in the book of life.”

This is precisely why our Mashiach said to the Congregation at Sardis, that because their works were not found to be perfect, that they were in danger of having their names blotted out:

Chizayon (Revelation) 3:2–5

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before YAHUAH ELOHIYM.

3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Mosheh offered to have his name blotted out instead of the nation of Yisra’el as he was foreshadowing the role of the “scapegoat” who was the innocent party willing to take the blame for the guilty. Nevertheless, the people had to pay for their own sins because they sinned willfully after they had already received the sprinkling of the blood at the marriage ceremony.

On that day 3,000 men fell (Shemoth 32:28). In Ivriym 10 & Vayiqra 4:13–14, we read that atonement is only made for those who sin out of ignorance. But for those who sin willfully, they will have their names blotted out:

Ivriym (Hebrews) 10:26–30

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Mosheh’s Torah died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer (worse) punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of YAHUAH ELOHIYM, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the RUACH of grace?

30 For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, says YAHUAH. And again, YAHUAH shall judge his people.

In Chizayon 19:2, when our Mashiach returns on the day of “vengeance” he will punish all those who rejected his blood sacrifice and he will also “avenge” the blood of his set-apart ones (his saints).

In Shemoth 33:6 the Yisraelites “stripped off their ornaments” of pagan idolatry at Mount Horeb. The name “Sinai” literally means “Babylonian moon god,” but the name “Horeb” literally means “to kill and destroy.”

This is why in Galatiym 4:24, the emissary Sha’ul likened the first covenant on Mount Sinai to “bondage” because the people placed themselves back under bondage with the golden calf after they had already taken marriage vows with YAHUAH. Then at Mount Horeb, they stripped off their idolatry and this is where they chose to “die to the old sinful nature.” Hence, Mount Horeb represents freedom and repentance where they chose to renew their covenant with YAHUAH again.

In Shemoth 33:11, Mosheh communed with YAHUAH “face-to-face” on behalf of the people of Yisra’el and this is once again “Yom Kippur” language, for to this day the Hebrew people nicknamed the Day of Atonement “face to face!”

In Shemoth 34:10, when Mosheh returned to present a second set of Ten Commandments, instead of the stone tablets being broken, they were deposited into an ark made of incorruptible wood which never decays. And what is this a picture of? It is a picture of the bride receiving the “Torah” written in her heart and mind as a sign of the “Renewed Covenant” (Yirmeyahu 31:31–33, Ivriym 8:10, 10:16).

In the same way that these commandments of stone were deposited into an ark made of wood that is “incorruptible,” so the very same commandments were deposited into a brand new nature on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) in the 2nd chapter of Ma’asiym as 3,000 were saved on that day when they were “born-again of incorruptible seed!” (Kepha Ri’shon 1:23).

In Shemoth 34:28, when Mosheh returned after being in the mountain a second time for yet another “forty days and forty nights” and he received a “new” set of stone tablets as this prefigured the Renewed Covenant in Mashiach.

Our Mashiach also remained here after his resurrection for “forty days” teaching his disciples the Torah!

When Mosheh presented the second set of stone tablets to Yisra’el, and he deposited them into the Ark of the Covenant made of incorruptible wood and this was in the following year fifty days after “First Fruits,” on Shavuot.

In Devariym 4:10–12 we read that the people of Yisra’el gathered to “hear” the words of YAHUAH as he spoke out of the “midst of the fire.” This was the self-same day of the Feast of Shavuot when the RUACH HA’QODESH came upon the disciples as “tongues of fire” and they all “heard” the voice of YAHUAH each man in his own tongue (Ma’asiym 2:11). That is when the Torah was then “deposited” into their new incorruptible nature!

The first covenant that Mosheh presented to Yisra’el was during the forty days following Shavuot, but the second covenant was presented during the forty days leading up to Yom Kippur. When our Mashiach fasted during those very same “forty days” it was to “reverse the curse” of the broken covenant at Mount Sinai! But he also fasted for the future sins of the House of Yahudah who would later on reject his blood sacrifice for “forty years” leading up to 70 A.D. when the Romans came and laid siege to Yerushalayim.

Like Yechezq’el, our Mashiach fasted “one day for each year” for the sins of Yisra’el & Yahudah (Yechezq’el 4:6). Both Mosheh and our Mashiach YAHUSHA interceded for Yisra’el during the “forty days” leading up to Yom Kippur.

Mosheh had come “face-to-face” with YAHUAH himself and his face shone so brightly that he had to place a “veil” over his face to cover it (Shemoth 34:33–35). Once again this is Yom Kippur language!

Similarly, the “veil” in the temple “parted” on Pecach the moment that Mashiach died on the tree paving the way for the Renewed Covenant.

The second time around, Mosheh returned from Mount Sinai on the 40th day which was on Yom Kippur, but he did not deposit these commandments into the ark until the following spring which was on the 50th day after First Fruits when he presented a “Renewed Covenant” to Yisra’el, just as our Mashiach presented to Yisra’el a “Renewed Covenant” on the 50th day following his First Fruits resurrection!

Under the Mosaic Covenant, Yisra’el was cursed with the first covenant because of the golden calf. However, they were then redeemed with a Renewed Covenant during Yom Kippur when Mosheh made atonement for them.

In the last days, the House of Yahudah will be redeemed again on Yom Kippur when they finally accept the blood covenant of Mashiach. And thus we can see that with the ministry of Mosheh was on Yom Kippur when he “reversed the curse” with the golden calf for Yisra’el as a foreshadowing of our Mashiach when he would later on fast in the wilderness during those very same forty days for their forty years of unbelief in the wilderness. The four Spring Feasts represent Mashiach’s first coming and his redemption for the Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra’el (Ten Northern Tribes of Ephrayim). The three Fall Feasts at his second coming will bring together “the first and the last” born of Yisra’el as one bride.

And thus we see that following the three Spring Feasts of Pecach, Matstsah, & First Fruits there were “ten days” where the disciples had to “tarry” to receive the promised Renewed Covenant on Shavuot.

Also following the Feast of Trumpets, there is another period of “ten days” where the bride typified in Rachel will have to “tarry” and prepare herself to receive the promise of the Renewed Covenant as well.

Both Mosheh & Mashiach communed with the Father for “forty days” and then they both “made atonement” for Yisra’el’s sins on Yom Kippur. Both Mosheh & Mashiach “interceded” for Yisra’el for forty days leading up to Yom Kippur.

YAHUSHA remained here after his resurrection for “forty days” as he taught his disciples the Torah. Fifty days following the “First Fruits” (resurrection day), both Mosheh & Mashiach made a “deposit” of the renewed marriage covenant (Torah) into a vessel made of that which is “incorruptible.”

What pattern can we observe here? There are “ten days” in the spring between the ascension of YAHUSHA back to the Father and the day of Shavuot when the Torah was written on the bride’s heart. In the fall there are “ten days” following the bride’s ascension to the Father on Yom Teruw’ah leading up to Yom Kippur when the bride will have her heart restored to the “Living Torah” the Mashiach himself!

The number “forty” represents “testing” and “judgment” in scripture, but the number “ten” represents “the gentile nations.” The number “fifty” represents “The Year of Jubilee” which means freedom and redemption for the bride (Vayiqra 25:9–24).

And thus, we can see that within seven feasts annually, YAHUSHA will gather from the four corners of earth and the four winds of heaven, his elect out of ten nations from seven continents and they will be narrowed down to seven women or seven congregations. These seven congregations, will then be narrowed down to ten virgins. These will then be divided up into two groups (five wise & five foolish), until finally they will become “two brides,” that end up becoming only one bride on Yom Kippur!

Mattithyahu 25:32–33 shows us a picture of the nations being divided into “sheep on the right” (wise virgins) and “goats on the left” (foolish virgins).

During these final “Ten Days of Awe” the foolish virgins will have one last chance to repent and be filled with the “oil” of the RUACH HA’QODESH so that she can be ready to come “face-to-face” with the bridegroom. Both houses of Yisra’el will finally become “one house, one bride, one stick” in the hand of YAHUAH on the 10th day of the 7th month (Yom Kippur) in the 50th year of Jubilee!

A Chronological Timeline of the Fall Feasts of YAHUAH in the Final Days

1.) The Abomination of Desolation: Will be seen in the 3rd Hebrew Temple (Mattithyahu 24:15) and then there will be 42 months where the Anti-Mashiach will begin a false ministry, while concurrently, the Two Witnesses will prophesy against him globally for 3½ years. The Two Witnesses in Chizayon 11, are not limited to merely two individuals, but they are also two corporate groups called “The Two Candlesticks & The Two Olive trees.”

These two groups are seen as Smyrna & Philadelphia as well as Ephrayim & Yahudah.

2.) The Ministry of the Two Witnesses: Will last for 1,260 days until Yom Kippur, and then Mashiach will return and make both brides “one stick” in his hand. There will be 75 more days leading up to Chanukkah to “rebuild the Tabernacle of David” (Amoc 9:11, Ma’asiym 15:16). If we add 75 days to 1,260 days, this takes us to the 1,335 days in Daniy’el 12:11–12 as it says:

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”

3.) The Seven-day Wedding of Le’ah & Ya’aqov: In the same way that Ya’aqov was tricked into marrying Le’ah after seven years of working for Rachel, Mashiach will complete a total of 7 years of ministry (3½ years during his earthly ministry and the other 3½ years through his two witnesses). Then after his seven years are completed, there will be a 7-day literal marriage (one week), which will commence at the “last trumpet” (Qorintiym Ri’shon 15:52) on the Feast of Trumpets aka Yom Teruw’ah.

This will be the bride typified in Le’ah & Philadelphia and she will be changed into incorruption (immortality). This is the bride represented as the “five wise virgins” whose oil lamps are filled when the bridegroom comes.

To them is provided “an open door” (Chizayon 3:7–8). The door is then “shut” and the “five foolish virgins” must then go and “buy oil” during the “Ten Days of Awe” to be ready at the second coming of Mashiach.

In a Hebrew Wedding custom, during the first three of those days the bride is given a “three-day notice” that the groom is on the way. She hears the shouts from a “three day’s journey” in the distance and she knows that sometime within those three days, he will be there to catch her away. This could very well be the same period of 3½ days where the Two Witnesses will have their dead bodies lying in the streets and then at the sound of the 7th angel (7th trumpet), they are resurrected (Chizayon 11:11–15).

This is why this feast is prophetically called “The day that no man knows.”

Not only does the bride not know the precise timing of when the bridegroom will arrive (although she knows the approximate timing), but the enemy is not made privy to this timing so that he cannot come and kidnap the bride away. Another reason why Yom Teruw’ah is called “The day that no man knows” is because it cannot be determined by a fixed time on the calendar. It can only be determined by the first sighting of the new moon by the “Two Witnesses.”

Also, in a Hebrew Wedding custom, the bridegroom (not wanting to make known the exact timing of his arrival to the enemy), tells the nosey people who inquire about the wedding date “No man knows the day nor the hour—only my father knows” (Mattithyahu 24:36). This is a Hebrew Idiom for the Feast of Trumpets.

4.) Rachel Left Out of the Wedding Until Yom Kippur: Those “five foolish virgins” who are not ready are caught off guard by “The thief in the night” and they shall not escape (Tasloniqiym Ri’shon 5:2–3). This bride will not see YAHUSHA as their Mashiach until that day when they will “look upon him whom they pierced” (Zakaryahu 12:10) and this will take place on Yom Kippur when the bride removes the veil and she sees him “face to face.”

Mashiach said of this group that they would not see him again until they say “Baruch Haba B’Shem YAHUAH” (Luqas 13:35). This phrase in Hebrew is translated: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of YAHUAH.”

5.) The Thief in the Night: While the bride is enjoying a 7-day wedding with the bridegroom in a set-apart place called “the chamber” or “chuppah” (Tehilliym 19:5, Yo’el 2:16) the children of wrath who are caught off guard by “The thief in the night” are having bowls of wrath being poured out upon them and they still won’t repent (Daniy’el 12:10, Tasloniqiym Ri’shon 5:2, Chizayon 16:15).

This all happens during the “Ten Days of Awe.” The only ones who are “sealed” during this time are the “elect” from the House of Yahudah typified in Rachel & Smyrna (Chizayon 7:3 & Yechezq’el 9:4).

6.) Ten Days of Awe: There are ten days between the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruw’ah) & the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). During these ten days, the first bride typified in Le’ah has already gone into the marriage with the bridegroom and now the second bride typified in Rachel will have ten days to “afflict herself” by fasting and praying.

In Vayiqra 23:27, we are commanded to “afflict our souls” or else we shall be “cut off” and disinherited from Yisra’el. The Congregation of Smyrna typified in Rachel will spend these ten days like Ester who anointed herself with oil of myrrh to meet the king.

7.) The Second Coming of Mashiach on Yom Kippur: This will be “The Day of Vengeance” when Mashiach returns to avenge the blood of the set-apart ones as seen in Chizayon 19:2. He is seen coming in the clouds on a white horse with his army. His wife is also clothed in white linen fine and clean.

This commences the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (Chizayon 19:9), and this is when the bride will go into the Feast of Tabernacles and she will drink the 4th Pecach cup of wine with Mashiach which is the sealing of the covenant (Mattithyahu 26:29). This is when the final cup of wine is partaken of by the bride and the groom in a Hebrew Wedding.

Chizayon (Revelation) 19:7–8

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

On this same day of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the High Priest in the temple would mix the blood of the bull (symbolic of Ephrayim & Le’ah) and the blood of the sacrificial goat (symbolic of Yahudah & Rachel) and the two bloods are then sprinkled on the mercy seat! The instructions for Yom Kippur are found in Vayiqra 16.

This means that both families (Le’ah & Rachel) who gave birth to Yahudah & Yoceph (Ephrayim) will then become “one family” on this day when the blood of both families are mixed together by the High Priest, YAHUSHA! This is the reason why there are always “twin goats” on Yom Kippur (one goat for each house of Yisra’el).

On that day, Mashiach will separate the obedient sheep from the disobedient goats (Mattithyahu 25:32). The two nations of Yisra’el (Ephrayim & Yahudah) will no longer be “goats” by nature (disobedient), but the remnant are going to be transformed into obedient sheep who “follow the lamb wherever he goes” (Chizayon 14:4).

YAHUSHA will then take vengeance on her enemies and avenge the blood of the set-apart ones (saints) on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This is the day of wrath for the wicked (Mishlei 6:34, Yeshayahu 34:8, 61:2, Chizayon 19:2).

8.) The Seven-day Wedding of Rachel & Ya’aqov: In the same way that Rachel was also married to Ya’aqov after the “seven-day” wedding of her older sister Le’ah, so this other bride typified in Rachel & Smyrna will have to suffer tribulation for “ten days” until the second coming of Mashiach on Yom Kippur.

After both families become “one stick” in the hand of YAHUAH (Yechezq’el 37:16–17), then five days later on the Feast of Tabernacles aka Sukkot, there will be one big wedding reception, for both brides will then be only one bride!

9.) The Sabbath Millennium & the Eighth Day: On the final day of “The Feast of Tabernacles” or “Sukkot,” we are commanded to dwell in temporary shelters to remind us that this earth that we currently live in is temporary and it is passing away.

At the end of these seven days, the final day is called “Ha’Shannah Rabbah” which means “The Last Great Day.”

Another name for this last day of the Feast of Tabernacles is called “Shemini Atzeret” or “The Eighth Day.” In Kepha Sheniy 3:8 it says that “One day is as a thousand years with YAHUAH.”

This means that all during the Millennial Reign of Mashiach, it will be just like the “seventh day” Shabbat of rest that we enjoy each week because it will take place in the 7,000th year from creation. Our Mashiach will “tabernacle” or “dwell” with us for a thousand years of Shabbat rest.

Our calendar week is meant to be a “mini” creation week. In the beginning, YAHUAH created everything in six days and on the seventh day he rested. Every seventh day when we observe Shabbat, we are observing a “mini” version of the Sabbath Millennium when we shall “rule and reign” with Mashiach.

And then, after the one-thousand years are finished, we will go into the “eighth day” or the “eighth millennium” which parallels to the last day of The Feast of Tabernacles. At the end of the Millennium, this present earth that we know of will pass away. This temporary earth or shelter that we dwell in will be replaced by a “New Heaven & a New Earth” (Chizayon 21:1).

At the end of the Millennium on the “Last Great Day” will be the “white throne judgment seat of Mashiach” (Chizayon 20:11–15).

The righteous will receive rewards as to whether his works were of “wood, hay or stubble” (Qorintiym Ri’shon 3:12).

Let Us Prepare Ourselves For the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

The commandment to “Prepare the way of YAHUAH” was preached by all the prophets of Yisra’el and by Yochanon the Immerser.

This commandment is given for “All Yisra’el” and this includes those who thought that they were merely “Gentiles” but now they have discovered their true identity as “Renewed Covenant Yisra’el.”

The Day of Blowing or Yom Teruw’ah

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:23–25

23 And YAHUAH spoke unto Mosheh, saying,

24 Speak unto the children of Yisra’el, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a Shabbat, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation (rehearsal).

25 You shall do no servile work therein: but you shall offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH.

The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:26–32

26 And YAHUAH spoke unto Mosheh, saying,

27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation (rehearsal) unto you; and you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH.

28 And you shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before YAHUAH ELOHAYKEM.

29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

30 And whatsoever soul it be that does any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.

31 You shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

32 It shall be unto you a Shabbat of rest, and you shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening unto evening, shall you celebrate your Shabbat.

How Does the Bride Prepare?

The “word” of YAHUAH is the “lamp” that lights the bride’s path to find the bridegroom, and the “word” is also the Torah, called “the book of truth” (Tehilliym 119:142). Philadelphia was commended for “keeping the word” of his patience.

The oil in her lamp is also “the seven ruachoth” of YAHUAH (Yeshayahu 11:2, Chizayon 4:5, 5:6) that illuminates the “seven-branch menorah” in the temple. It is the RUACH of YAHUAH that illuminates our understanding of his word.

This means that the bride must have both RUACH & Truth, she must have both Wisdom & Revelation. In other words, she must possess the DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING!

Tehilliym (Psalms) 119:105

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Is it possible for the elect to lose their salvation?

Chizayon (Revelation) 3:5

He that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Beloved, there is a condition to being able to remain in the book of life. That condition is that you must “overcome” the world, the flesh and the devil.

And how do we overcome?

Chizayon (Revelation) 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

What is the Word of Our Testimony?

Shemoth (Exodus) 31:18

And he gave unto Mosheh, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of YAHUAH ELOHIYM.

Beloved, our testimony is the Torah written in our hearts by the finger of YAHUAH! The Renewed Marriage Covenant that Mashiach sealed with his own blood is written in the heart of the bride, and that marriage contract is the “written Torah” called a “ketuwbah.”

According to an Ancient Hebrew Wedding tradition, a bride may not enjoy intimacy with her bridegroom without the written marriage agreement on her at all times—in other words the bride must have the written Torah in her heart!

Those who are engaged to be married to the Lamb, have both the “testimony” (the Torah written in their hearts) and the “RUACH” (the oil) in their lamps to light their path to meet the bridegroom. And they must also wash their garments in the blood of the Lamb. In order for a covenant to be valid, there has to be two or three witnesses.

Chizayon (Revelation) 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of YAHUSHA: worship YAHUAH ELOHIYM for the testimony of YAHUSHA is the ruach of prophecy.

What is interesting is that the word for “testimony” in Hebrew is:

H5715—eduwth—which means “a witness.”

Yochanon Ri’shon (1 John) 5:5–8

5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that YAHUSHA is the Son of YAHUAH ELOHIYM?

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the RUACH that bears witness, because the RUACH is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the RUACH HA’QODESH: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the RUACH, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

The bride has all three: The RUACH, the Water & the Blood!

What Does the Bride Overcome?

Yochanon Ri’shon (1 John) 3:4

Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.

Yochanon Ri’shon (1 John) 3:9

Whosoever is born of YAHUAH ELOHIYM does not commit sin (lawlessness); for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin (disobey Torah), because he is born of YAHUAH ELOHIYM.

The “five wise virgins” have overcome the world and all that is in the world which is “the pride of life, the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh” (Yochanon Ri’shon 2:16). In other words, the bride has overcome sin and lawlessness.

Now is the time to “repent” and rend your hearts (not merely your garments) which is superficial and outward:

Yo’el (Joel) 2:13

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto YAHUAH ELOHAYKEM: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil.

Tehilliym (Psalms) 51:10, 16–17

10 Create in me a clean heart, O YAHUAH ELOHIYM; and renew a right ruach within me.

16 For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of YAHUAH ELOHIYM are a broken ruach: a broken and a contrite heart, O YAHUAH ELOHIYM, you will not despise.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 4!

Mishlei (Proverbs) chapter 9

Today we are walking in: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 4!

Mishlei (Proverbs) 9:10

The fear of YAHUAH is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

FEAR

Today we look to the word—FEAR—H3374—yir’ah—fear, terror, fearing; reverence, respect, piety. From the root word H3372—yare’—to fear, revere, be afraid.

The Torah Testifies……….

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 5:29

O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear H3372 me, and guard all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 8:6

Therefore you shall guard the commandments of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, to walk in his ways, and to fear H3372 him.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 10:12

And now, Yashar’el, what does YAHUAH ELOHAYKA require of you, but to fear H3372 YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve YAHUAH ELOHAYKA with all your heart and with all your soul.

The Prophets Proclaim………

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 11:2

And the RUACH YAHUAH shall rest upon him, the RUACH of wisdom and understanding, the RUACH of counsel and might, the RUACH of knowledge and of the fear H3374 of YAHUAH.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 33:6

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of yeshu`ah: the fear H3374 of YAHUAH is his treasure.

Mal’akiy (Malachi) 1:6

A son honours his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear H4172? Says YAHUAH TSEVA’OTH unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised your name?

The Writings Witness………

Mishlei (Proverbs) 9:10

The fear H3374 of YAHUAH is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Tehilliym (Psalms) 112:1

HalleluYah. Blessed is the man that fears H3373 YAHUAH, that delights greatly in his commandments.

Tehilliym (Psalms) 128:1

Blessed is every one that fears H3373 YAHUAH; that walks in his ways.




We are beginning Part 4 in this series, focusing on those characteristics of wisdom that set the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins. Let’s briefly recap what we have seen in the previous parts.

When YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH taught the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, He spoke the following words:

“They that were ready went in with Him [the Bridegroom] to the marriage” (Mattithyahu 25:10)

In this passage from Mattithyahu 25, YAHUSHA was teaching His disciples the importance of being ready for a marriage. The marriage He was referring to was His own marriage — “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (see Chizayon 19:7-9)

In the parable of the ten Virgins, we are given this vital key for being ready for the marriage to the Bridegroom:

… the Wise Virgins had wisdom, but the Foolish Virgins lacked wisdom!

It was the Wise Virgins in the parable who were ready to go in with the Bridegroom! And it is the same with us today. If we desire to BE ready, we too must have the same wisdom!

Walking in Wisdom

Very briefly, here is what we have seen in the previous parts of this series.

In Part 1, we saw that wisdom comes from the Words of YAHUAH’S mouth, as recorded in the written Scriptures. We discussed the wisdom of the Wise Virgins as being a daily walk, a ‘way’ or path to walk in. We saw that there is a prerequisite, a necessary requirement that we must meet, if we desire to enter, walk in, The Way of Wisdom. We also looked at the goal for learning the Scriptural characteristics of wisdom.

In Part 2, we looked in depth at the wisdom of one who hears and obeys the counsel and instruction of Scripture. We saw the great importance of using discernment for testing what our source of wisdom is! We learned that by the wisdom of our obedience to YAHUAH’S written Word [the Scriptures], YAHUAH enables us to be made ready.

In Part 3, we saw that the one who is wise, learns to choose humility as a Way of Life — choosing to follow the example of Mashiach, who humbled Himself by becoming obedient.

In order to fully understand what is presented here in Part 4, please refer to the previous articles, because they cover basic, foundational guidelines for entering into Scriptural wisdom.

And now, the next wisdom characteristic we will look at is:

One who is wise will walk in the Fear of YAHUAH!

The Fear of YAHUAH ELOHIYM

This characteristic of the Wise Virgins is found in Mishlei 9:

“The fear of YAHUAH is the beginning of wisdom.” (Mishlei 9:10a)

According to the above passage, if we want wisdom, we must begin with the Fear of YAHUAH. But what is the Fear of YAHUAH?

The English word ‘fear’ in this verse is the Hebrew word yir’ah (Strong’s #03374), which stems from the root word yar’ey (Strong’s #03372).

Yar’ey means “fearing, fearful, to be afraid exceedingly, honourable reverence, to be had in reverence.”

When we truly reverence someone, we are on the edge of fearing that person. When we are seriously afraid of something, “it seems that we can feel our insides flowing.”

This verse in Mishlei 9, reveals to us what the very Beginning of wisdom is: the Fear of YAHUAH. No one really comes close to having true wisdom unless they have a measure of the Fear of YAHUAH. So the Fear of YAHUAH is the First Step toward wisdom. However, there is something mysterious about this characteristic of wisdom.

We know we are to love YAHUAH with all our heart. This is the first and great commandment (Mattithyahu 22:37,38). And yet, many times, the Scriptures urge us to ‘Fear ELOHIYM!’ So how can we ‘Love ELOHIYM’ and also ‘Fear ELOHIYM’?

The answer is in finding out what the Fear of ELOHIYM is, as well as remembering the full Hebrew definition for the word ‘fear’ which includes honourable reverence.

Let us therefore look at only a few of the many Scripture passages that define the Fear of YAHUAH.

Blessed are They that Fear YAHUAH

The following verses show us, from a practical standpoint, exactly what the Fear of YAHUAH is — and how it can be seen in our lives:

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me [YAHUAH], and guard all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! (Devariym 5:29)

And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear YAHUAH ELOHAYU, to guard all the words of this Torah and these statutes, to do them: (Devariym 17:19)

HalleluYah. Blessed is the man that fears YAHUAH, that delights greatly in His commandments. (Tehilliym 112:1)

Blessed is every one that fears YAHUAH; that walks in His ways. (Tehilliym 128:1)

Therefore you shall guard the commandments of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. (Devariym 8:6)

Now let’s list the practical steps that the above passages reveal about what it means to fear YAHUAH:
To fear YAHUAH ELOHIYM is to guard all His commandments, always;
To fear YAHUAH is to study and guard all the Words of the Torah, the statutes;
To fear YAHUAH is to delight greatly in His commandments;
To fear YAHUAH is to walk in YAHUAH’S ways.

These are clear, do-able steps to take to walk in the Fear of YAHUAH.

With one-step-at-a-time, with YAHUAH’S essential merciful grace, then the Fear of YAHUAH is achievable. With His help, we can do the simple steps of walking in His ways, guarding His Word!

All who truly desire to know YAHUAH ELOHIYM, to love Him, understand Him, then they will choose … to hearken to [hear and obey] YAHUAH’S ways, His statutes, and His commandments (Yochanon 14:15,21; 15:10; Yochanon Ri’shon 5:3). This is the evidence that we have [and are walking in], the Fear of YAHUAH.

Let’s see what the Scriptures say about learning the Fear of YAHUAH.

Learning the Fear of YAHUAH

From the Scriptures we find that YAHUAH wants us to learn the Fear of YAHUAH:

1.) That their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear YAHUAH ELOHAYKA … (Devariym 31:13a).

2.) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of YAHUAH (Tehilliym 34:11).

Both of the above verses reveal the need for us to be teachable and learn the Fear of YAHUAH.

The first verse above, in Devariym, is one of at least fourteen verses in Devariym alone, where YAHUAH’S people are exhorted to learn the Fear of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA [your Mighty One] (see Devariym 4:10; 5:29; 6:2,13,24; 8:6; 10:12,20; 13:4; 14:23; 17:19; 28:58; 31:12,13).

Rather than list all these Scriptures here, we will point out one verse that clearly sums up the rest:

You shall walk after YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, and fear Him, and guard His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him. (Devariym 13:4)

This verse, along with the others in Devariym, reveal the following practical steps we need to learn the Fear of YAHUAH:
Hearken to [hear and obey] YAHUAH’S Words;
Carefully obey the instructions of YAHUAH;
Have a copy of YAHUAH’S Torah [His instructions, teachings for His children] and read it all the days of our life;
Hear, observe to do, all the Words of this Torah.

Again we can see that YAHUAH is showing us the practical steps for learning the Fear of ELOHIYM.

Learning the Fear of YAHUAH begins when we start to cultivate a great reverence for, and obedience to, YAHUAH’S written WORD, the Scriptures. Over and over throughout the Scriptures, we find that learning the Fear of YAHUAH is revealed in passages that urge obedience to YAHUAH’S commandments, instructions, and teachings!

Now let’s look at Tehilliym 34:11. This passage reveals in context (Tehilliym 34:12-14) a few more ‘homework assignments’ that are given to those students who wish to learn the Fear of YAHUAH:
Guard our tongue from speaking evil, guard our lips from speaking deceit;
Depart from evil, and do good;
Seek peace, and pursue it.

Learning the Fear of YAHUAH begins the moment we take steps toward departing from all evil actions and words! This is confirmed in Mishlei 8:13: “The fear of YAHUAH is to hate evil!” When we have the genuine Fear of ELOHIYM, we will hate and avoid the evil-ness of pride, arrogance, selfishness, covetousness, falseness, and perversion. When we hate evil, we actively guard our mouth, choosing to speak words that bring forth life and edification.

As we saw in Out of the Abundance of the Heart, we can choose to use our tongue to speak words that build up others, bringing life. Or, we can choose to speak words that tear down others, bringing death. Guarding our words is how we can begin to learn the Fear of ELOHIYM.

And, we must be teachable and tender-hearted toward learning the written Word of YAHUAH. Tender-hearted-ness is necessary for us to be as a little child – humble in our attitude and obedient to the Word, if we are to learn to Fear ELOHIYM. Oh Thirsty Souls, let us be praying for hearts to be tender and teachable!

Walking in the Fear of YAHUAH

We have seen that the Scriptures describe in great detail, what it means to walk in the Fear of YAHUAH. When we are truly walking in the Fear of YAHUAH, then we will behave and speak with great reverence and loyalty about YAHUAH’S Truth, His Character, and His Word! Our heart’s desire will be to practice studying YAHUAH’S Word daily, and learning to obey YAHUAH’S Torah [His instructions and guidelines for His children] (Mishlei 29:18b). Also, we will seek to glorify YAHUAH in everything we do (Qorintiym Ri’shon 10:31)!

When we have the Fear of YAHUAH, then we will earnestly seek to avoid any sort of evil-doing. We will begin learning to avoid the things that YAHUAH hates, seeking to love the things that delights our heavenly Father. We will delight in guarding all of Mashiach’s commandments, including those He gave to Mosheh (Yochanon 14:15,21; 15:10; Yochanon Ri’shon 5:3)! With the Fear of YAHUAH, we will know how exceptional and immense the love of YAHUAH for His children is! And, we will find it much easier to trust Him with all our heart!

Why is this true?

Because we will be regularly studying His written Word, continually being reminded of His loving and intimate care for His children! (Tehilliym 91:14; Mishlei 8:17; Shiyr HaShiriym 1:2b; Yeshayahu 38:17; Yirmeyahu 31:3; Yochanon 14:21). We will be experiencing very personal events that confirm Father’s love and direction for us. And, we will begin to understand the importance of speaking respectfully to, and about, our heavenly Father.

And, because we are hiding YAHUAH’S Word in our heart, spending time with Him in our prayer closet, seeking His help in all we do, then we will be more sensitive to the RUACH HA’QODESH’S leading, being careful to not sin against Him. And, the genuine Fear of YAHUAH will deliver us from the dangerous trap of the fear of man! (Tehilliym 119:11; Tehilliym 17:3; Mishlei 29:25).

The Rewards

We must add one more detail in our look at this characteristic of the Wise Virgins. We must mention the rewards! According to Scripture, there are great rewards for walking in the Fear of YAHUAH. A brief list of these rewards is great motivation for us to pursue the Fear of YAHUAH!

Notice these promises offered to those who walk in the Fear of YAHUAH:

The angel of YAHUAH encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them. (Tehilliym 34:7)

O fear YAHUAH, ye His saints: for there is no lack to them that fear Him. (Tehilliym 34:9)

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. (Tehilliym 103:11)

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Tehilliym 145:19)

YAHUAH takes pleasure [‘delights’] in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. (Tehilliym 147:11)

From the above Scriptures, there are wonderful rewards for those who Fear ELOHIYM:
The angel of YAHUAH surrounds them;
They have no lack;
They have YAHUAH’S great mercy;
YAHUAH fulfills their desire;
YAHUAH hears their cry;
YAHUAH will save them;
YAHUAH delights in them!

What amazing love our heavenly Father has for His children!!

Let us remember however, that the Fear of YAHUAH is the Beginning of wisdom! When we have the Fear of YAHUAH, then we have the ‘key‘ that opens the vault to the treasures of wisdom! And wisdom, whose price is above rubies, is truly a treasure!! [See Iyov 28:12-28.]

Learning the Fear of YAHUAH is not only a key characteristic of the Wise Virgins, but it is also a key ingredient to our well-being (Qoheleth 8:12b).

YAHUAH ELOHIYM created us, loves us immensely, and knows the beginning and the ending of all things! He knows therefore, that it is For Our Good, that we learn to Fear Him!

When King David prayed, “Teach me Your way, O YAHUAH, … unite my heart to fear (yar’ey) Your name,” (Tehilliym 86:11), David was exhibiting his desire to learn and walk in the Fear of YAHUAH. May this be our desire — to have an undivided heart to honour YAHUAH, learn to Fear Him, and reverence (yar’ey) His holy Name (Tehilliym 111:9; Mal’akiy 1:6).

The Greatest Reward

Let us remember: our exceeding great reward is Mashiach Himself (Bereshiyth 15:1), who is the Bridegroom! So the greatest reward or incentive for our gaining wisdom, is so that we will want to become ready — ready to go in to the marriage with the Bridegroom! And the way we acquire that readiness is to do what YAHUAH exhorts: ‘Get Wisdom!‘

But none of our readiness would be possible without the grace and mercy of our Father YAHUAH! Our own efforts are not enough! We NEED the help of the RUACH HA’QODESH!! Only by the RUACH YAHUAH imparting His wisdom and His help in maintaining obedience to His written Word, one-step-at-a-time, only then, can we hope to be enabled to Be Ready for our Bridegroom. Let us pray to stay near Him always, seeking His grace, that we so desperately need in all things!!

The one who is wise will be seeking and walking in the Fear of YAHUAH! This is a vital and important characteristic of the Wise Virgins! The Fear of YAHUAH is the one wisdom characteristic that initiates, supports, and cultivates all the other wisdom characteristics!

If we seek to cultivate this amazing quality, then we are on the road to gaining wisdom and, by His mercy, becoming ready to be among the company of the Wise Virgins!!

Messiah’s Forty Days of Fasting Leading Up to Yom Kippur!

Luke 4




Messiah’s Forty Days of Fasting Leading Up to Yom Kippur! The Revelation of Yeshua Is Found in the Feast Days!!!







Witness write through the Bible: H3789 kathab--to write, inscribe, engrave, write in, write on




Exo 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write H3789 this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.




The Torah .........……

Exo 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write H3789 thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.







The prophets proclaim...............…

Isa 30:8 Now go, write H3789 it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the

time to come for ever and ever:







The writings bear witness.........…

Pro 7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write H3789 them upon the table of thine heart.







Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write H3789 it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.







Luke 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, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.




Most children taught by the Catholic nuns have been taught that our Messiah fasted in the wilderness during the forty days known as “Lent.” This season would commence on “Ash Wednesday,” and it would culminate on “Easter Sunday,” according to Catholic tradition.




It was not until layer that it was discovered these traditions of Ash Wednesday, Lent & Easter stemmed from ancient Babylonian religion, and were adopted into Christianity by Rome.




As you read Luke 4:19, where our Messiah declared “The Acceptable Year of The Most High.” It should be understood in that moment that our Messiah, Yeshua fasted during the forty days of repentance or “Teshuva,” leading up to Yom Kippur. Even though Luke’s gospel does not tell us what time of year this was, there are enough clues in the language of Isaiah 61 to indicate Yom Kippur typology.




Additionally, during his 40-day fast, our Messiah, Yeshua turned 30 years old on “Yom Teruah,” (Feast of Trumpets), which then qualified him (according to Numbers 4:3), to be the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.




Messianic tradition holds to the idea that our Messiah was born on The Feast of Tabernacles or “Sukkot.” However, there are a few problems that arise with that theory. Once we understand that our Messiah was acting as the High Priest, Melchizedek when he made the declaration of “The Acceptable Year of The Most High,” it becomes obvious that in order for him to make this declaration, he had to have had his 30th birthday BEFORE Yom Kippur!




After his cousin John immersed him in the Jordan River, there was a transfer of power that was being made. The authority of the Sons of Aaron as the High Priest was being passed on to our Messiah who was from the Tribe of Judah. Hebrews 7:14 confirms this when it says that “Melchizedek sprang out of Judah!”




It was on this particular Yom Kippur in Luke 4:19, that we see our Messiah revealing to those in the Synagogue that he was the “Anointed One,” the Messiah of Israel, and the High Priest who could then declare whether or not the nation was accepted that year for Yom Kippur. This is precisely when his 3.5 year ministry began, on Yom Kippur in 26 A.D.




Once we establish that his 30th birthday took place on the Feast of Trumpets during his 40-days of fasting in the wilderness, we can then conclude that he was old enough to become the High Priest for Israel!




The clue can be found is Luke 4:19, when we learn that our Messiah “DECLARED THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE MOST HIGH!”




Only the High Priest could declare “THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE MOST HIGH” once per year on Yom Kippur!




The month of Elul is the 6th month on the Hebrew Calendar and it is called “chodesh ha’cheshbon,” which is a month of accounting.




The name of the month Elul is spelled with four Hebrew Letters, Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed which is said to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li.” This is translated “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine,” a quote from Song of Songs 6:3, where the Beloved is The Most High, and the “I” is his covenant bride, Israel.




In Aramaic (the vernacular of the Hebrew people at the time that the month names were adopted), the word “Elul” means “search,” which is appropriate, because this is the time of the year when we search our hearts and farmers search for the harvest.




According to deductive reasoning by reading the scriptures, the month of Elul is the same time that Mosheh (Moses) went to Mount Sinai to prepare the second set of tablets after the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32; 34:27-28). He ascended on Rosh Chodesh Elul and he descended on the 10th of Tishri, at the end of Yom Kippur, when repentance was complete. The 1st day of Elul commences a period of 40 days where Moses prayed for The Most High to forgive the people after they committed adultery with the golden calf. After this, the commandment to prepare the second set of tablets was given.




Could this be the reason why our Messiah fasted during these very same forty days? Could it be that he was also preparing to present the very same commandments that would be written upon the heart of his bride for Yom Kippur? You see, in Ancient Hebrew Wedding Custom, the bride was to have the ketubah (written marriage agreement) on her at all times, or else she could not enjoy intimacy with her husband. This explains why The Most High promised to “write his Torah” (laws) in the heart of his bride (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).




Traditionally, the Hebrews celebrate a time of fasting and repentance for “forty days.” This is the time that foreshadows the preparation for the bride to meet her bridegroom on the “Feast of Trumpets” (Yom Teruah), and on “Yom Kippur”(Day of Atonement). These two feast days, I believe represent the marriage of two different brides typified in Leah & Rachel to Jacob. In John 10:16, our Messiah spoke of having “two folds of sheep,” when he said the following words “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”




These two folds of sheep are none other than what Isaiah 8:14 describes as “Both Houses of Israel.” The Two Southern Tribes of Judah & the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel are referred to in prophecy as as “The Stick of Ephraim & the Stick of Judah” (Ezekiel 37:16).




True to prophecy, our Messiah said in John 10:16 that he would make both sheepfolds “one fold,” just as Ezekiel also foretold that both Houses of Israel would become “one stick,” in the hand of The Most High in the last days (Ezekiel 37:19). This event will culminate during the last ten days of the “Great Tribulation,” (which will only last for three and half years).




During these last ten days of tribulation, our Messiah will make these two houses only one house, and one bride. These last ten days are often referred to by the Hebrews as “The Ten Days of Awe” (Revelation 3:10).




At the end of these forty days of fasting and repentance in the final Jubilee at the “last great day” of the 6th millennium and going into the “Sabbath Millennium,” which will commence the 1st day of the 7th month called “Tishri!”




The Feast of Trumpets commemorates the “ushering in of the king,” and it is a time for us to prepare our hearts for the Fall Feasts of The Most High.




The two themes of the month of Elul have to do with accounting and preparation of the heart. In Aramaic the word Elul means “searching.”




(Psalms) 139:23 Search me, O The Most High, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

It was during this time of year that Yahuwchanon (John) the Immerser (Baptist) began preaching repentance in the wilderness:




(Matthew) 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of THE MOST HIGH, make his paths straight.




The Hebrew word for “repent” is as follows:




#8668 tshuwa’ah tesh-ooaw or tshuah; from #7768 in the sense of #3467; rescue (literal or figurative, personal, national or spiritual): deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory.




The next two words are the root words that make up this word for repent (tshuwah):




#3467 yasha yawshah to be open, wide or free; to be safe; avenging, defend, deliver, help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring salvation, save, get victory.




#7768 shava shawvah: to be free, freedom from trouble; cry aloud, shout.




These three words above, all paint a picture of what is happening during the 40 days of fasting and repentance starting on the 1st of Elul (the 6th month) and leading right up to the 10th day of the 7th month of Tishri on Yom Kippur (day of covering). We first see that John the Immerser (Baptist) was “crying out” (shauwa) for the nation of Israel to repent by exclaiming “tshuwa!”




This was the time of year when Israel was being called to prepare for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The Day of Atonement is a day of salvation (yasha) for those who repent, but it is a day of avenging or “vengeance” for those who are not ready and have not washed their garments in the blood of the lamb. For forty days, Israel would always prepare their hearts during this season of repenting. It was a time to “make the crooked paths straight” and to ask forgiveness from those whom you may have wronged.




Yeshua admonished us not to bother bringing a gift to the altar until we go and make peace with our brother:




(Matthew) 5:24 Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.




To those who repent and make the crooked paths straight (correct the wrongs that they have committed), the Day of Atonement will be a day of “acceptance” by The Most High. But to those who do not humble themselves and repent, it will be a day of “vengeance.” On the future Day of Atonement when Messiah returns in Revelation 19:2, he will “avenge” the blood of his set-apart ones (his bride). It is for this reason that he read only the first half of Isaiah 61:2 at the end of his “forty days of fasting” in the wilderness:




(Isaiah) 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of THE MOST HIGH, and the day of vengeance of our The Most High; to comfort all that mourn;




Yeshua only read the first half of this verse when he declared that he had come to fulfill this prophecy in “Proclaiming the Acceptable Year of The Most High.”




However, he did not finish the latter part of this verse, because he has yet to fulfill the other half of Isaiah 61:2, at his second coming on “The Day of Vengeance of our The Most High” (Revelation 19:2). This will be the very same event called “The Great Day of Wrath,” (Zephaniah 1:15-18; Romans 2:5; Revelation 6:17) also referred to as “The Great & Terrible Day of The Most High”(Joel 2:31).




There are three parts to Isaiah 61:2 to be fulfilled in history:




1.) To Proclaim “The Acceptable Year of The Most High.”

Yeshua already did this at the beginning of his ministry when he emerged from his 40-day fast on Yom Kippur. This statement is “Yom Kippur” language. Only the High Priest (Kohen ha’Gadowl) could declare “The Acceptable Year of The Most High” each year for Yom Kippur. You see, the atonement of the entire nation depended on the righteousness of the High Priest. The High Priest had to first make atonement for himself by killing a bullock. And then he would be a proper vessel to make atonement for the entire nation when he killed the Yom Kippur sacrificial goat. If the High Priest was not righteous, he would die behind the veil in the “Holy of Holies,” and this meant that the entire nation was not atoned for that year and they were “not accepted.”




When John the Immerser baptized Yeshua, he was transferring the role of the High Priest from the sons of Aaron back to the Melchizedek Priesthood again. And so Yeshua was now acting as the High Priest that year when he interceded in the wilderness for Israel. This is why he qualified as one who could then “Declare the Acceptable Year of The Most High!”




2.) To Proclaim “The Day of Vengeance of our The Most High.”

He will do this at his second coming when he returns to “avenge” the injustices that have been done to his bride. He will avenge their blood and “even the score.”




3.) To Comfort All that Mourn.

On that day, the House of Judah will finally see the one whom “they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10) and “they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son.” Not only that, but all of the tribes of the earth shall mourn for him (Matthew 24:30), because not only the House of Judah, but all have crucified him!

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 3!

Mishlei (Proverbs) chapter 11

Today we are walking in: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 3!

Mishlei (Proverbs) 11:2

When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

LOWLY 

Today we look to the word—LOWLY—H6800—tsana—to be modest, humble, or lowly.

The Torah Testifies……….

Shemoth (Exodus) 10:3

And Mosheh and Aharon came in unto Phar’oh, and said unto him, Thus says YAHUAH ELOHIYM of the Ivriym, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 26:41

And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 8:2

And you shall remember all the way which YAHUAH ELOHAYKA led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would guard his commandments, or no.

The Prophets Proclaim………

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 57:15

For thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble ruach, to revive the ruach of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Miykah (Micah) 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does YAHUAH require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your ELOHIYM?

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 66:2

For all those things has my hand made, and all those things have been, says YAHUAH: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite ruach, and trembles at my word.

The Writings Witness………

Mishlei (Proverbs) 11:2

When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly H6800 is wisdom.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 22:4

By humility and the fear of YAHUAH are riches, and honour, and life.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy (2 Chronicles) 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.




For this series, we are focusing on those characteristics of wisdom that set the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins. In Part 1, we looked at the following words spoken by YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH:

“They that were ready went in with Him [the Bridegroom] to the marriage” (Mattithyahu 25:10)

In speaking this parable, YAHUSHA taught His disciples the importance of being ready for a marriage — “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Chizayon 19:7-9)

In the Mattithyahu 25 parable, we are given the vital key for being ready for marriage to the Bridegroom:

the Wise Virgins had wisdom, but the Foolish Virgins lacked wisdom!

It was the Wise Virgins who were ready to go in with the Bridegroom. And it is the same with us today. If we desire to BE ready, we too must have the same wisdom!

Walking in Wisdom

As a brief summary of Part 2, we looked in depth at the wisdom of hearing and obeying the counsel and instruction of Scripture. We saw the great importance of using discernment for testing what our source of wisdom is! We learned that by the wisdom of our obedience to YAHUAH’S written Word [the Scriptures], YAHUAH enables us to be made ready.

Now, the next wisdom characteristic we will look at is:

The one who is wise is humble!

The wise walk in ‘humility’!

The Wisdom of Humility

This characteristic of the Wise Virgins is found in Mishlei 11:

With the lowly is wisdom (Mishlei 11:2b)

This English word ‘lowly’ is the Hebrew root word ‘tsana‘ (Strong’s #6800), meaning humbly, lowly, with the implication to humiliate.

The one who is truly wise will have a humble, lowly ruach, even choosing to bow down, as if to humiliate yourself before YAHUAH ELOHIYM.

This Hebrew word ‘tsana‘ is used not as often as the other Hebrew words for ‘humble’. But all the Hebrew words for humble or lowly have the general idea of looking down, to bend the knee, humble (self), downcast, meek, poor, and lowly.

This is a very important principle seen throughout the Scriptures: we are to be of a humble ruach, willing to humble ourselves. The Scriptures show repeatedly that having humility is a prerequisite, a necessary requirement for receiving YAHUAH’S blessings, wisdom, and guidance.

Whenever we see the word ‘humble’ in the Scriptures, many times it is YAHUAH speaking to us, urging us by His RUACH, saying: “Humble yourself!” We are to make this first step of humility toward YAHUAH, before we can know His direction or intervention on our behalf. YAHUAH does indeed want us to know His direction, but we must first humble ourselves by choosing to seek Him of our own free will!

Being of a humble ruach therefore, is a choice! Often it is an on-going, day-by-day choice. Over and over, we must make the choice to be tender-hearted, humble, repentant, and at times, of a broken ruach. If we desire the blessings of YAHUAH’S presence, wisdom, and grace, then we will quickly learn that humility before YAHUAH is the only pathway to these treasures.

If we are genuinely humble, then we will be ‘lowly’! We will be empty of self-righteousness! Being lowly means we will be deflated, not puffed up with pride, not hard-hearted, not selfish. The humble, the lowly, will choose to be tender-hearted, respectful, teachable, and open to correction. And, the humble will ask Father YAHUAH often for His help and strength, and admit their needs, their weaknesses and sorrows, and express their joys and thankfulness.

Our natural tendency is to be hard, tough, and self-sufficient. Therefore we must frequently seek YAHUAH’S mercy and grace to help us choose to be of a humble ruach.

Rewards of Humility

Let us recall what King David knew: “YAHUAH will listen to the prayers of the lowly. He will not forget the cry of the humble” (Tehilliym 10:17; 9:12b).

Notice the rich treasures we gain when we are humble:

If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy 7:14)

Because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before ELOHIYM, when you heard His words … I have even heard you also, says YAHUAH. (Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy 34:27)

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I [YAHUAH] dwell in the high and holy place, dwell with him also that is of a contrite [sorrowful] and humble ruach, to revive the ruach of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Yeshayahu 57:15)

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mattithyahu 18:4)

Humble yourselves in the sight of YAHUAH, and He shall lift you up. (Ya’aqov 4:10)

As the above Scriptures teach, the rewards for humility are numerous! YAHUAH promises to hear and answer the prayers of the humble, the repentant. He promises to restore and lift up the humble. YAHUAH rewards the humble with His care, wisdom, and grace (Tehilliym 138:6 and Ya’aqov 4:6)! The humble seek and receive YAHUAH’S direction and help.

Those who walk with YAHUAH in humility, as innocent as a little child, will inspire YAHUAH’S parental instincts. But without humility, we will not have the heart of a ‘little child,’ as Mashiach urges us to have (Mattithyahu 18:3-4)!

As we saw in Entering the Kingdom of Heaven, the lowly, the bending-the-knee quality of humility is absolutely necessary for YAHUAH’S children to begin to know the Heavenly Father. Humility is necessary for us to apply the characteristic we discussed in Part 2 — “hearkening to counsel.” In Part 2, we saw that Miryam, Martha’s sister, is a perfect example of a Wise Virgin! Miryam exhibited humility by choosing to bend-the-knee – “sitting at YAHUSHA’S feet, listening to His Word.” (Luqas 10:39)

He Humbled Himself

IF we want more wisdom from our Heavenly Father, then we will seek to learn and follow our Savior’s example of humility:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH: … [Who] emptied Himself,… and being found in human form, He [YAHUSHA] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (see Philippiym 2:5-8)

YAHUSHA humbled Himself by becoming obedient! He emptied Himself of all His rightful authority, glory, and divine nature. He humbled Himself, and became a servant! Notice: it takes humility to be empty! It takes humility to be obedient to YAHUAH’S written Word.

If we desire to be among the Wise Virgins, then we will give earnest heed to the RUACH HA’QODESH’S persistent exhortation to us throughout the Scriptures: “Be Humble!”

When we make the choices, over and over again, to ‘bow down’ and walk humbly with our ELOHIYM, then we will reap the rewards of knowing the wisdom that is from above: the wisdom that is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy and good fruits (Ya’aqov 3:17).

The Greatest Benefit

As we saw in Part 1, the greatest benefit of being wise is to become ready — ready to go in to the marriage with the Bridegroom! The way we acquire that readiness is to do what YAHUAH exhorts: ‘Get Wisdom!‘

By our earnest efforts to be obedient to YAHUAH’S Word, He enables us to BE ready that we might be among the company of the Wise Virgins. Therefore stay close to the Savior, seeking His grace and mercy, and remember this absolutely necessary characteristic of the Wise Virgins:

choosing to be of a humble and lowly ruach.

Those who do this, are well on their way to walking in The Way of Wisdom, thus making themselves ready for the Bridegroom!

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 2!

Mishlei (Proverbs) chapter 12

Today we are walking in: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 2!

Mishlei (Proverbs) 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkens unto counsel is wise.

HEARKEN

Today we look to the word—HEARKEN—H8085—shama—to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.); to listen, give heed, understand, and obey.

The Torah Testifies……….

Shemoth (Exodus) 19:5

Now therefore, if ye will obey H8085 my voice indeed, and guard my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 6:4

Hear H8085, O Yashar’el: YAHUAH ELOHAYNU is one YAHUAH.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 28:1

And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken H8085 diligently unto the voice of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, to guard and to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that YAHUAH ELOHAYKA will set you on high above all nations of the earth.

The Prophets Proclaim………

Shemu’el Ri’shon (1 Samuel) 15:22

And Shemu’el said, Has YAHUAH as great delight in ascending smoke offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying H8085 the voice of YAHUAH? Behold, to obey H8085 is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 1:19

If ye be willing and obedient H8085, ye shall eat the good of the land.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 7:23

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey H8085 my voice, and I will be your ELOHIYM, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

The Writings Witness………

Mishlei (Proverbs) 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkens H8085 unto counsel is wise.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 19:20

Hear H8085 counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 8:34

Blessed is the man that hears H8085 me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.




For this series, we are focusing on the characteristics of wisdom that set the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins. As a brief recap, let’s look at what we saw in Part 1:

When YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH taught the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, He spoke these words:

They that were ready went in with Him [the Bridegroom] to the marriage” (Mattithyahu 25:10)

By this parable, YAHUSHA taught His disciples the importance of ‘being ready’ for a marriage. The marriage referred to is Mashiach’s own marriage — “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Chizayon 19:7-9).

In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Mattithyahu 25), we are given the vital key for being ready for marriage to the Bridegroom:

the Wise Virgins had wisdom, but the Foolish Virgins lacked wisdom!

The Wise Virgins were ready to go in with the Bridegroom. And so it is with us today. If we desire to BE ready, we too must have the same wisdom!

Entering, Walking in The Way of Wisdom

As we saw in Part 1, wisdom comes from the WORD of YAHUAH ELOHIYM! Also in Part 1, we discussed wisdom as being a daily walk — a ‘way’ or path to walk in. We saw that there is a prerequisite, a necessary requirement to meet, if we desire to enter, and walk in The Way of Wisdom.

Now, we begin Part 2. The wisdom characteristic we will look at is:

The one who is wise receives instruction!

The wise ‘hearken’ to counsel!

Hearkens to Counsel

This characteristic of the Wise Virgins is found in Mishlei 12:

“He that hearkens unto counsel is wise.” (Mishlei 12:15b)

The English word ‘hearken’ is the very important Hebrew word ‘shama‘ (Strong’s #8085), meaning “to hear intelligently, with the implication of attention and intention to obey.”

The one who desires wisdom begins to patiently listen to counsel, instruction, and correction. If instruction is willingly received, then we are teachable! By listening carefully, putting into practice what is being taught, the wise become even wiser (Mishlei 9:9a). This is how we grow in wisdom – by listening carefully!! The wise will not do a lot of talking (Mishlei 10:19 and Mishlei 29:11). Instead, the wise learn to be Listeners!

In contrast, as we saw in Characteristics of the Foolish, the FOOLISH despises and scorns instruction, correction, counsel, and understanding (Mishlei 1:7 and Mishlei 18:2). The foolish love to talk, often getting into trouble because of constant talking (Mishlei 18:7 and Mishlei 28:11).

Digging For Treasure

Seeking and hearing counsel that is truth-FULL and beneficial means that we will LOVE the Truth and thus, avoid being deceived (See Tasloniqiym Sheniy 2:8-12). But we must seek truth that is according to the truth of the Scriptures – the Cepher! This requires an effort that is similar to digging for treasure (see Mishlei 2). Digging for treasure has the exciting promise of great riches, yet the process can be difficult and wearisome.

In order to gain TRUE spiritual wisdom according to the Scriptures, taught by the RUACH HA’QODESH, we must begin digging — patiently searching and investigating what seems to be ‘wisdom’. To become wise, we must prayerfully ‘dig’. We must search the Scriptures for ourselves, learning what the Scriptures teach For Ourselves. And we must test anything that claims to be Scriptural counsel or teaching!! We are digging for the Treasures of Wisdom, IF we pursue the true wisdom that is according to the Scriptures — according to the written Word of YAHUAH:

… O YAHUAH, give me understanding according to Your Word. (Tehilliym 119:169b)

The entrance of Your Words give light; it gives understanding unto the simple. (Tehilliym 119:130)

Uphold me according unto Your Word, that I may live …. (Tehilliym 119:116a)

To the Torah and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word [the Scriptures], it is because there is no light [no truth] in them. (Yeshayahu 8:20)

As the above verses teach, wisdom that is according to the written Word of YAHUAH will strengthen us, guard us, and lead us into TRUTH and understanding! The wisdom of YAHUAH ELOHIYM will soften our hearts, making us more willing to yield to the guidance and correction of the RUACH HA’QODESH.

When we study the Scriptures as our primary source of wisdom, and hearken to and follow what it says, then we will grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge! When we receive YAHUAH’S wisdom, even our character will begin to portray a more righteous nature!

Our Example: Miryam or Martha?

In Luqas chapter 10, we see the account of Miryam and Martha. Martha’s focus was to be busy with much serving, but Miryam’s focus was to sit at the feet of YAHUSHA, to listen and learn:

And she [Martha] had a sister called Miryam, who sat at YAHUSHA’S feet and listened to His teaching …. But Martha was cumbered about much serving,… YAHUSHA said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: Miryam has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luqas 10:39-42)

As this passage teaches, YAHUSHA tells Martha that Miryam has chosen the one thing that is necessary: being near Mashiach, listening to His teaching. Though Martha’s desire to serve is good, it is Miryam who is the example of one who desires to BE WISE, for she desires to ‘hearken unto counsel.’

Miryam is a good example of a Wise Virgin, because her desire is to stay close to the Savior, taking in His Words, attending to His Words. This staying near to our Savior [sitting at Mashiach’s feet] — this genuine listening, then applying the wisdom and counsel found in the Scriptures – this makes one wise!

The Wise Virgins develop the habit of daily Scripture reading and study, asking YAHUAH for wisdom (Mishlei 8:34 and Ya’aqov 1:5), hearkening to [hearing and obeying] His counsel. YAHUAH’S counsel and grace leads the Wise Virgins to apply the Word of YAHUAH to their own lives. It is this ‘hearkening’ — hearing and obeying YAHUAH’S Word — that results in acquiring the wisdom that is from above — from YAHUAH (Ya’aqov 3:17).

We gain further confirmation that wisdom comes from hearkening to the counsel and instruction of YAHUAH’S written Word, by the following:

Hear counsel and receive instruction, that you may BE wise in your latter end (Mishlei 19:20).

He is in The Way of Life that keeps instruction (Mishlei 10:17a).

These verses teach that we are in ‘The Way of Life‘ when we are receiving instruction from Scripture! The Hebrew word definitions give us more insight:

He is in The Way of LIFE that keeps
[guards, heeds, attends to] instruction
[correction, chastisement, and discipline].
(Mishlei 10:17a)

When we guard, heed, and attend to the instruction provided by YAHUAH – hearkening to His WORD – then we are in ‘The WAY of LIFE‘!

What is our Source of Wisdom? ** A CAUTION **

Hearkening to counsel and instruction means we must be cautious regarding the source of ‘wisdom’ we are listening to! Not every ‘Scripture study,’ not every pastor, teacher, or spiritual leader can be trusted to lead us to true wisdom. It requires great discernment on the part of the listener to determine if the wisdom is according to the Scriptures!

As we saw in The Wisdom of the Wise, pursuing wisdom can be tricky. There are many hidden, foolish pitfalls to guard against because true, spiritual wisdom is a hidden treasure. It is not easily recognized, not easily acquired (Qorintiym Ri’shon 2:7).

Many speak with man’s wisdom, but TRUE, spiritual wisdom that is taught by the RUACH HA’QODESH, will be in agreement with the Holy Scriptures:

We speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the RUACH HA’QODESH teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (Qorintiym Ri’shon 2:13)

If we are going to be wise, we must look beneath the surface, discern and test if the ‘wisdom’ we hear is from humanistic teachings — or from the RUACH HA’QODESH. The RUACH HA’QODESH is The One who illuminates the TRUTH of Scripture to us. Therefore,

Keep in mind: the RUACH HA’QODESH’S guidance will always be in agreement with the written Scriptures!

We must make sure that the ‘wisdom’ we hear, the understanding, knowledge, and counsel we listen to, is wisdom that will result in the ultimate reward of true wisdom — being ready for the Bridegroom – for the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Discerning True Wisdom

There are many ‘Scripture’ teachers — pastors, ministers, and spiritual leaders — who have the knowledge of a thousand different things but, have little or no knowledge of YAHUAH ELOHIYM!

Sadly, some people are “wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Yirmeyahu 4:22). Some will even say, “We desire not the knowledge of ELOHIYM” (Iyov 21:14). For this reason, we must “try (test) the ruachoth whether they are of ELOHIYM” (See Yochanon Ri’shon 4:1)! We must ask ourselves important questions:

“Is this ‘wisdom’ pure and truthful, originating from the Heavenly Father, and is according to the Scriptures — or is it a religious mixture, mixing truth with man-made doctrines?”

“Will this ‘wisdom’ lead me to edification and the saving of my soul — or is it a spiritual mixture of ‘new age’ spiritism, an ‘addition’ to YAHUAH’S Word, mixed in with a little bit of truth, defiling those who feed upon it?”

“Will this ‘wisdom’ help me prepare as a Virtuous Bride for the Bridegroom — or is it a side-issue, a distraction, something popular and Foolish?”

Man-made, spiritual mixtures are among the most subtle and dangerous pitfalls that can rob us, stealing our crown, causing us to depart from The Faith (Yahudah 1:3).

Spiritual mixtures, mixing false with truth, can twist and pervert the truth of YAHUAH’S Word, causing confusion, ultimately causing us to practice a lie! We must consider carefully what so-called ‘wisdom’ we listen to!! We must be diligent to guard ourselves against the utter foolishness of “… ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (Timotheus Sheniy 3:7).

Notice also, another pitfall that is seen in the following passage:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (Mishlei 12:15a).

As we search YAHUAH’S WORD for the treasure of true wisdom, we may discover that much of what we find appears to be against what we already think is right and true. We may find that some of what we have learned is not true wisdom, but is the rubble and debris of man-made religious doctrines and mixtures! The only safe-guard we have is to read the Scriptures for ourselves, to personally investigate each Scriptural doctrine for ourselves, comparing them against what the Scriptures actually say!

As we are searching for wisdom’s riches, we will undoubtedly uncover the rubble of our own foolishness, or the foolishness of others, or the foolish rubble of the ‘wisdom of this world.’ We discussed these dangers at length in A Way That Seems Right: Avoiding the Strong Delusion.

Remember Our Goal

As we seek for wisdom, we must remember the GOAL we discussed in Part 1 . . .

To BE Ready — ready to go in to the marriage with the Bridegroom!

The way to BE Ready is to DO what Father exhorts: ‘Get wisdom!‘ By YAHUAH’S wisdom (and mercy) and obedience to the Scriptures, YAHUAH will enable us to BE ready! Therefore stay close to the Savior, LOVE His Truth, and seek His merciful grace to help you receive His true wisdom, counsel, and correction.

Remember this wonderful characteristic of the Wise Virgins: studying the Scriptures for ourselves, and hearkening to the counsel found in the Holy Scriptures. Those who do this are well on their way to walking in The Way of Wisdom, making themselves ready for the Bridegroom!

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 1!

Mattithyahu (Matthew) chapter 25

Today we are walking in: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE VIRGINS — PART 1!

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 25:10

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

WISDOM

Today we look to the word—WISDOM—H2451—chokmah—wisdom (in a good sense); skill, shrewdness, prudence.

The Torah Testifies……….

Shemoth (Exodus) 31:3

And I have filled him with the RUACH ELOHIYM, in wisdom H2451, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 4:6

Guard therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom H2451 and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 34:9

And Yahusha the son of Nun was full of the RUACH of wisdom H2451; for Mosheh had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Yashar’el hearkened unto him, and did as YAHUAH commanded Mosheh.

The Prophets Proclaim………

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 11:2

And the RUACH YAHUAH shall rest upon him, the RUACH of wisdom H2451 and understanding, the RUACH of counsel and might, the RUACH of knowledge and of the fear of YAHUAH.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 33:6

And wisdom H2451 and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of yeshu`ah: the fear of YAHUAH is his treasure.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 9:23–24

Thus says YAHUAH, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom H2451, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am YAHUAH which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says YAHUAH.

The Writings Witness………

Mishlei (Proverbs) 4:5–7

Get wisdom H2451, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you. Wisdom H2451 is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

Mishlei (Proverbs) 2:6

For YAHUAH gives wisdom H2451: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Iyov (Job) 28:28

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of YAHUAH, that is wisdom H2451; and to depart from evil is understanding.




When YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH taught the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, He said something very concerning:

“They that were ready went in with Him [the Bridegroom] to the marriage” (Mattithyahu 25:10)

YAHUSHA was teaching His disciples the importance of being ready for a marriage. The marriage being YAHUSHA’S own marriage—“the marriage supper of the Lamb” (see Chizayon 19:7–9).

In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Mattithyahu 25), we are given a vital key for being ready for marriage to the Bridegroom:

… the Wise Virgins had wisdom, but… the Foolish Virgins lacked wisdom!

The Virgins who had extra oil were the ones who had wisdom! They were the Wise Virgins and they were ready to go in with the Bridegroom.

Now it is the same with us today! If we desire to be ready, we too must have the same wisdom!

Get Wisdom

For this series, we’ll look at four different characteristics of wisdom which sets the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins.

First, we begin with a short introduction, briefly examining the nature of this vital key known as wisdom.

The topic of ‘wisdom’ is not frequently discussed. Yet there are many who desire wisdom, yearning to live life wisely. We all have an inner knowing that somehow, by wisdom, we will prosper and avoid problems. There seems to be an inborn desire for wisdom.

Having wisdom is highly desirable! Wisdom is something that born again Believers in YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH should pursue!

In the cepher of Mishlei, the Heavenly Father urges: “GET Wisdom!”

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not!

Do not forsake her [Wisdom], and she shall preserve you!

Love her, and she shall keep you.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore GET wisdom! And with all your getting, get understanding! (Mishlei 4:5–7)

YAHUAH ELOHIYM wants us to seek His wisdom that is pure and undefiled.

When we have YAHUAH’S wisdom—the spiritual wisdom from above—then we will have a better understanding of YAHUAH’S truth and His love!

There are certain qualities of true, spiritual wisdom that we can recognize, but… only if we earnestly and diligently seek the true, pure wisdom from above.

True, spiritual wisdom is a hidden treasure!! It is not easily recognized, not easily acquired (Qorintiym Ri’shon 2:7).

Yet, it is the Wise Virgins who fervently seek YAHUAH’S pure, undefiled wisdom! And, they find it!

“True wisdom is the ability to see things from God’s perspective.”

— Kathryn Kuhlman

Gaining Wisdom: First A Prerequisite

In seeking wisdom, the Wise Virgins have first come to understand that true wisdom is a gift from YAHUAH:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of ELOHIYM, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. (Ya’aqov 1:5)

For YAHUAH gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Mishlei 2:6)

As these verses teach: YAHUAH ELOHIYM is the One who gives wisdom! Wisdom comes from the Words of YAHUAH’S mouth, and His Words are recorded in the Scriptures. Thus the Wise Virgins begin seeking for wisdom by searching YAHUAH’S Words, and putting into action what they read.

But why do the Wise Virgins earnestly seek wisdom? Because of their love for their Bridegroom Savior, YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH!

Everything the Wise Virgins do is out of their deep, consuming LOVE for the Lover of their souls, the One who first loved them (see Yochanon Ri’shon 4:9,19; Shiyr HaShiriym 2:10; 7:10).

Because of their intense love for YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH, the Wise Virgins grow in wisdom. Consequently, they grow in their obedience to YAHUAH’S Word. They begin to learn that the Scriptures hold the KEY to making them wise:

“…from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH” (Timotheus Sheniy 3:15).

The Wise Virgins study the ‘Holy Scriptures’ and apply its wisdom to their daily lives.

The Wise Virgins…
have a deep love for their Savior,
have a strong willingness to change their lifestyle, and
they want to please YAHUAH and walk by faith, because: without faith it is impossible to please ELOHIYM (Ivriym 11:6).

The Wise Virgins begin to live their lives according to the Scriptures!! This is the First and Foremost Prerequisite! This is the necessary key to gaining wisdom!! This is what sets the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins!

From this willingness to change our lifestyle—changing from living according to man-made traditions that contradict the Scriptures, to a lifestyle of obedience to the Scriptures—springs all the other characteristics of the Wise Virgins.

But how can we bring about this change of lifestyle? How can we put YAHUAH’S wisdom into practice, so that we may be found among the Wise Virgins? Are there more details that tell us what to do? Yes! There are other characteristics we can pursue to help us gain wisdom!

Wisdom Characteristics

The cepher of Mishlei reveals several distinct wisdom characteristics that set apart the Wise Virgins from the Foolish Virgins.

These wisdom characteristics show us that wisdom is not a state of being, but it is a daily walk—a ‘way‘ to walk in:

“I have taught you in the Way of Wisdom; I have led you in right paths.” (Mishlei 4:11)

Furthermore, throughout Mishlei, we see that our daily walk (the choices we make, the actions we take), reveals the path we are walking in—reveals whether we are in The Way of Wisdom or in the Way of the Foolish.

In Mishlei, several characteristics of the Wise are contrasted with the characteristics of the Foolish.

In this series, we will look at four foundational characteristics of the Wise Virgins that will help us to walk in The Way of Wisdom. However, we must keep in mind—to walk in The Way of Wisdom, we need to meet this prerequisite, this necessary requirement for gaining wisdom:

• To gain wisdom we must have a serious willingness to live our lives according to the Principle of Obedience to the Scriptures!

If we have met this requirement, then we have taken the First Step in gaining wisdom. We can thus begin to grow in maturity by learning and practicing the Characteristics of Wisdom that set the Wise Virgins apart from the Foolish Virgins!

Let us be as the Bereans and thoroughly investigate YAHUAH’S Word regarding the following four highly-desirable characteristics.

Our goal in learning the Characteristics of Wisdom is so that we may BE Wise and BE READY—ready to go in to the marriage with the Bridegroom! The way we acquire that readiness is to do what Father YAHUAH exhorts: ‘Get Wisdom!‘

The wisdom of obedience to YAHUAH’S written Word is pleasing to YAHUAH!

By the power of His RUACH HA’QODESH, YAHUAH enables us to BE obedient and ready, so that we might be among the company of Wise Virgins who had wisdom!