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Sermons Series 3:58a, 1 October 2006
The Third Wave
Part 12: Yom Kippur 2006 Evening Service
Main Themes:
Minor Themes:
Click here for Part 11
Brethren and sisters, I greet you in Yah'shua the Messiah's Holy Name on this the first evening of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Around the world Torah-obedient believers are gathering together in fear and trembling (2 Cor.7:15; Phil.2:12) to begin with us a 24 hour fast during which we present ourselves before Yahweh inwardly in the temples of our gardens, in our hearts, together with our families, for His judgement of the condition of our minds, hearts and physical bodies.
It is no exaggeration to day that in many ways Yom Kippur is the most awesome of all the moedim. It does not have the drama of a Sea of Reeds crossing, or the blowing of the shofar at Mount Sinai with Yahweh speaking out of the fire reading out aloud the Aseret Hadiberot or Ten Commandments with a thundering voice. It does not have the drama of the angel of death walking through the streets of Egypt claiming the uncovered firstborn sons of the land nor the sudden sharpness of the trumpets blaring at Yom Teruah. And it lacks the joy and celebration of Sukkot which is our next appointment after we have passed through this day. This isn't a fun day, and isn't supposed to be either. But it will lead to joy if we do it right. But neither is it a performance - a time to pretend to be ever-so-holy or ever-so-miserable with long-faces like the Pharisee displays of old during fasting. That won't wash either. This is not a ritual, some religious 'acting' or drama. Neither is it the time, as the non-Messianic Jews cynically do, to renounce all the covenants and vows we made the year previously so that Yahweh cannot fault us on those we have broken. Quite the contrary, this is the Day of Accountability and of Repentance. It is the climax of the annual Teshuvah or Repentance season Yahweh said to Moses:
"It is on this day that atonement (kippur) shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before Yahweh. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute" (Lev.16:30-31, NASU).
Useless is the put-on miserable face or the imitation humility of a haggard and sad looking body. Useless is the drama of spiritual Hollywood. Your outward show means nothing. Today Yahweh looks penetratingly into your heart and if you desire it, will shine the bright light of truth into it with great intensity so that before tomorrow evening you may offer a complete repentance and be cleansed by the atoning blood of Messiah. What other people think is irrelevant, except for wives who must simultaneously get right with their husbands, and children with their fathers, so that "the hearts of the fathers (may be turned) to their children, and the hearts of the children (may be turned) to their fathers, or else I will come and strike the land with a curse" (Mal.4:6, NIV). At the end of Yom Kippur the Spirit of Elijah also desires to come, at its conclusion, so that all hearts are turned to the places where they are supposed to be turned, because if they are facing in the wrong direction, they are cursed. For whatever is separated from its source is cursed, and whoever desires to be separated from their source - whether Yahweh-Elohim or godly husband - is also cursed. It is the desire - the will - of our Heavenly Father that all hearts should be turned to the proper place so that He can shower them with blessings at Sukkot.
In the days leading to Yom Kippur Yahweh has awakened me and spoken audibly to me. This is not something that happens very often but when it does, I naturally listen carefully. And when He speaks it is always directly to the point, no flowery words, no introductions or conclusions - just His straight message. A little under a week ago, on Monday 25 September, after a couple of very sobering and taxing days at which time a number of souls were critically struggling with issues, He reminded me once again of the need to abolish all competing authorities within our hearts other than those which He has appointed. Earlier I had had a dream in which I was trying to please a nonbeliever because I desired his respect and I did what I was not supposed to do: like Jacob with Esau, I bought him a gift! Only it wasn't him, of course, but a piece of demonic theatre, and when I awoke I was ashamed, and had to break yet another tie with the world and the carnal drive to get approval from it. I was frustrated, upset. The man himself is actually very nice and helpful ... but worldly. In a situation where he would have to choose between my world, which includes Yahweh - and his world, which includes his friends and worldly passions, guess what he's going to choose? He - and all of us - when placed in a place of choice will always choose the greatest of his loves! Always! And the solution is not to try and 'buy him off' because when it comes to the crunch, he will forget your carnal bribe and choose what he desires. That goes for us too. At the final crunch we always choose what we love best and go to it. All Yom Kippur does, is makes us aware of our 'first love' - whether it is Yah'shua (Rev.2:4) or ourselves. We judge ourselves and go to the place we believe we will find happiness, whether it is true or a lie.
At Yom Kippur we look at all such compromises we have made throughout the year and we do or don't do something about them. And please understand, this is no pagan 'New Year's Resolution' that the world deals deceptively in every 1 January - the day of the double-faced demon called Janus. You can't say: "Ooops, sorry. I resolve not to do that again" only to then fail in a few days' or weeks' time. Yom Kippur does not work like that because at Yom Kippur Yahweh looks straight into your heart and discerns its every motive, sees every hiding place, and exposes every lie that you are willing to see.
What are the remaining authorities in your life? Who rules the many faceted sides of your being? Who owns what is in your heart ... for real? Moreover, is it true ownership of your heart or is it merely some 'resolution' that is disconnected from your feelings - mere words? The reason most new year resolutions fail is because they're not sincere and they're not based in truth. They're just words, idle intends, but possessing no real drive or commitment. The soul usually intends to stay put and not budge and quietly forget the resolutions.
"The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to Yahweh by fire. Do no work on that day, because it is the Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), when atonement is made for you before Yahweh your Elohim. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves (fast). From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath" (Lev.23:26-32, NIV).
May I remind you again of the components of Yom Kippur. Today we do not make burnt offerings of animals because Yah'shua is our completed and perpetual atonement. What, then, is a spiritual "offering made to Yahweh by fire"? What fire is needed here? It is, of course, the fire of purification. He wants you to finally - if you haven't already done so during Teshuvah, or haven't done so completely yet - to present all of yourself and walk through His refiner's fire.
Now obviously He's not saying that He expects you to be perfect every Yom Kippur - none of us could do that. He does, however, expect us to deny our flesh or 'afflict' ourselves (RSTNE). In other words, to fast. We are to deny our bodies food for 24 hours. And whilst food is necessary for the physical body, it is not necessary for the spirit, and it is the spirit we want to look deeply into today - the heart of our being. And as we deny our flesh physical food, and 'afflict' ourselves because of it, so we are simultaneously declaring that we deny our spirits 'fleshy' things, that which derives from the carnal nature. Yahweh wants that nature starved to death, and our token 24 hours of fasting - the only time in the year when we are commanded to fast - is to remind us that denying the flesh costs and is momentarily uncomfortable as the spirit experiences the withdrawal symptoms of sin denied and the demonic fix rejected. What do I mean by that?
What I mean is this: those things which keep us attached to sin - the things that give us pleasure in sinning - are not of divine or human origin but are demonic. The perverse thrill of unrighteous dominion and control of others, the illusory sense of safety that comes when we make ourselves unilaterally head of ourselves and not responsible to anyone else, the wicked rush of excitement that comes from planning evil whether it be theft, violence, fornication, adultery, or anything forbidden by Yahweh in His Torah - all these 'kicks' and false comforts are given by the enemy of our souls to keep us addicted to sin. And when we make the decision - not just at Yom Kippur but at any time during the year - to quit a sin habit by entering into covenants with the Most High - when we do that, the demonic inside, which has gained access because we have believed the lie that these things are good and necessary for us - when we do that, the demons turn on the screws and make us feel the withdrawal symptoms as they deny their 'fixes' to us, so that we will desire to sin again. The 'affliction' is riding this discomfort, pain, agony, craving, urge to hide, or whatever until the demonic is starved and no longer has grounds and can be safely ejected - once we have seen the lie and chosen the truth. Then, with the demons gone, the unnatural craving for ungodly sex, power, self-rule, evil or whatever, vanishes and we are at shalom - we are at peace, no longer tossed to and fro by two opinions, two powers, two heads. Then Yahweh truly rules, then His curse is lifted, and His blessings pour in.
I have a great deal to share with you this Yom Kippur because it is probably the most decisive one this fellowship has ever had and will affect who will be with us to celebrate in the 'wonderful year' Yahweh has promised, and who will not, beginning at Sukkot. It will also decide whether we get the Tabernacles anointing or not, though as yet we still do not know how Yahweh will act or what to expect. Which brings me to what I really want to talk about this evening, which is the spirit of expectation.
Last Monday morning Yahweh showed me several things which He wants me to share with you today. And first of all let me start by sharing something with you that was gradually revealed to me, through working with a number of people, which I would never have dreamed of. As you all know, we are justified by grace (Gal.2:16). And as you all know, salvation - freely given, and never earned - can only come about when we do our three works or acts. The first work, is trust. Without trusting, there is no salvation, because salvation is by faith or actively trusting, which leads to Torah-obedience. And the second work, is surrender - without surrender of the soul, Yahweh cannot enter. For the man, his task is to give the sceptre of self rule to Yah'shua, who is the legitimate King of kings. Now many believe the false notion that giving the sceptre of Yah'shua consists of no more than professing with their lips that He is Messiah. But that is not surrender. The confession of the mouth is the intent - it is facing in the right direction - it is applying the blood on the door posts of Pesach and getting ready for action. The action of surrender involves movement of the heart, represented by movement of the feet as the soul in Egypt, delivered from the death-angel- flees spiritual Babylon or Egypt, and heads for the Promised Land - the Garden of Yahweh during Chag haMatzah. Great battles follow - enemy hosts swallowed up and drowned in the waters, and a rescue mission in the desert. After the decision comes ACTION.
As you know, the second most critical phase of deliverance - surrender - involves the transfer of self-sovereignty to its rightful owner. A soul that rules itself carries a sceptre which denotes authority. Now try to imagine a nation where everyone is the king, president or prime minister. Everywhere you go down the street you see people dressed up in royal regalia, wearing crowns, covered in silk clothing, carrying a sceptre and an orb. Everyone is dressed differently and everyone obeys their own laws. As you look at these laws, you might be surprised. "The king (or queen) shall be admired at all times", says one. "I, the king, shall have whatever woman I want, when I want, how I want, and may use whatever device I can think of to get her into my royal bed", says another. "I, the queen, shall be worshipped. Therefore I shall give my favours on those who will worship me, and deny them to those who won't." "I am clothed in royal robes. I am impregnable. I am safe. No one will dare harm me because I have more authority than anyone else." Were you to read the private torahs of every man and woman you would be shocked, amused, surprised, amazed. When man rules himself, or woman rules herself, they are, as we saw last Sabbath, Rahabs, because they walk in the pride and arrogance of their hearts. This desire to rule on our own terms is inherent in the fleshy nature. Everyone has it.
So you can imagine my surprise when Yahweh told me that even when a soul has given authority to its rightful head - the man to Yah'shua, a wife to her husband, sons and daughters to their father - even when they have done this, seen the error of their ways, understood the true order of Yahweh's Kingdom, the flesh is constantly plotting to get it back and the demonic is relentlessly urging them to do so. It is one thing to trust, and it is another to actually and concretely give authority to the rightful head (no small task in itself), but there is a third no less important work that we have to be doing all the time - until the evil inclination is fully and finally burned out of us - and that is to make sure the sceptre remains where it belongs.
I don't know how many times I have seen wives or children surrender the sceptre of self-rule to their husbands or fathers only to snatch it back again at the first opportunity! How many times have you heard people give eloquent speeches on how they are now going to surrender their lives to Yah'shua only to snatch what they surrendered right back again and do their own thing! Very often, when authority is surrendered, it is done begrudgingly. The heart knows what is right but still resents it. If that is the case, surrendering is not complete. And until it is, trouble lies ahead. 'A person convinced against his will, remains unconvinced still', which I would modify to read: 'A person surrendered against his will, remains unsurrendered still'. And you can know whether that soul is unsurrendered or not by its actions.
Last Monday Yahweh showed me a vision which actually quite startled me because of its graphic nature. I had been sorrowing over a sister who has this authority problem, and wondering what to do. All He had told me to do was wait and observe. He showed me a vision of a woman with both female and male genitalia side by side which represented both submission and rebellion. (I am not saying that the male reproductive organ is 'bad' incidentally, just that the female one represents female position or submission in this illustration). In actual fact, people start getting confused over their sexuality precisely over authority issues because they have not been brought up with proper gender rôle models. However, sexuality is not what I am talking about here. What I am saying is that until we are surrendered to the proper authorities with a willing heart there will be confusion and turmoil in the soul. Surrender is, first, an act of will - a decision, a covenant, an undertaking - but then, and most importantly, an act of motion. There must be a moving away from attitudes, actions and behaviours of self-rule, towards attitudes, actions and behaviours of the rulership of our legitimate heads. How, practically, you may ask, is one to do this?
There are, according to Mark Graeser, eight stages of changing wrong behaviour, some of which may come easily to us, and others more difficulty. You would be surprised at just how tenaciously people hold on to those sceptres! And they do so because of the numerous lies that the demonic has fed them, about how unsafe it is to fully let go. They will give you legitimate and false reasons. Legitimately, they will remind you of those who abuse headship and power, but they will take this one step further and tell women (for example) that all men are abusers of power, and therefore not worthy to hold your sceptre of authority. And whilst that is a subtle lie - because there are righteous men out there - it conceals an even more pernicious lie, namely, that since (according to the demonic) all men are untrustworthy, then by implication the Deity who tells you that you must submit to your male head - your husband or father - well, He must be untrustworthy too. So what happens? You start on the road towards atheism or end up with a false picture of what our Heavenly Father is like.
The motion or act of truly surrendering passes through seven phases that correspond to the seven annual festivals and the seven Ruachs. Most people get stuck somewhere along the line, think there's no more surrendering to be done - or that they've 'done their part' and start - sometimes awares, and sometimes unawares - to backtrack to self-rule again.
Phase #0 - The World
In the zero pre pre-phase as I call it, we are really completely unaware that we are actually rebellious and unsurrendered, because, as Paul tells us, we are deceived by our own nature - our old, carnal, fallen, fleshy, soulish, Adamic, devilish nature, with its many 'desires' (Eph.4:22). Moreover we can't know whether these desires are good or bad until they are exposed by the Torah - we have to hear Yahweh tell us they are wrong, and the place we start is Scripture. It can be quite a shock to discover that Yahweh tells us to move in the opposite way we have been going. It's at this point we have to choose whether we believe Him or not, whether we truly accept Him as Saviour and Deliverer, or not. It's very often at this stage that we learn about the whole doctrine of righteous ownership and not a few claiming to be Christians balk at this point, reject Yahweh's Torah, and choose instead to believe the demonic lies within them. Most politically correct unbelievers consider it anathema.
Phase #1 - Pesach (Rishon)
In the first stage - the stage of making a decision - you become aware of the faulty behaviour, you convince yourselves that it isn't wrong, or that it's not 'so bad' or harmful to warrant you making any changes to your life. Instead you rationalise and make excuses. Instead of submitting yourselves to Yahweh or your husband or father as they should - instead of resisting the devil and making him flee (Jas.4:17) - you continue in your rebellion and remain unsubmitted. At this stage, because you have been given more light and truth and chosen to reject it, the demonic gains more legal grounds and power and the struggle heats up. The feelings are not engaged at this stage - there's no guilt, no remorse, no pain at wrongdoing. Without this active involvement of the heart for righteousness, what often happens is that the soul says 'no' to Yah'shua and returns to old ways. At this point there must be a judgement - it is here that at Yom Kippur the rebellious soul is returned to the world and expelled from the congregation of Israel, on the day before the Sabbath rest. Which is why Yahweh said: "Anyone who does not deny himself on that day (Yom Kippur) must be cut off from his people". It is on this day annually that the Messianic Community is purged and the membership rolls altered to reflect those changes. To fail to do so is to bring corruption and death into the Body. That is why the next stages are so important because they indicate that a soul is continuing to repent and worthy of continuing membership in the Commonwealth of Israel. Stages #1 corresponds to Pesach and the Ruach haRishon. Here the decision is made to be covered by headship or not. Here the decision to start a new life is made and to leave the world or stay in it.
Phase #2 - Chag haMatzah (Shanee)
In the second stage - the first stage of motion or action - you become aware of your rebellious behaviour, you know it is wrong, you feel it in your heart - you feel the shame, the remorse, but you keep your feelings to yourself. You don't confess them. Instead, you continue in your unsubmitted state and don't tell anyone. You don't connect with others so that you can know how they feel about your behaviour or what it is doing to them - especially to your head, whether it is Yah'shua, your husband, your father, or perhaps your pastor or some other legitimate authority figure. Paul expressed this idea in these immortal words: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Rom 7:14-15, NIV).
Now this is a lot better than the previous stage of not feeling at all. At this stage you actively hate what you're doing, and that indicates that repentance is at work. You see your offence to Yahweh but still can't see your offence to your head or to others affected by your ungodly behaviour. You are avidly reading Scripture now, keenly discovering what Yahweh's Torah says, and you are discovering how you are putting yourself out of right relationship with Him through wrong belief and wrong behaviour. This corresponds to Chag haMatzah and the Ruach haShanee, and represents the first stages of getting the leaven of sin out of your life. Yet you are frustrated by your behaviour - you hate it but feel powerless to do anything about it, and can't see the hurt you are doing to others yet. But you are at least moving - you're heading for that wall of water called the Sea of Reads (Red Sea) but little do you know that you're going to get pinned there by Pharaoh's army and all your fear of men and of the world is going to surface to be dealt with. You are going to discover which authority - which headship - you fear and respect and love the most.
Phase #3 - Yom haBikkurim (Shleshi)
In the third stage, things really start happening, and you start to see the firstfruits of your repentance. This corresponds to the wheat harvest in the moedim, the poor man's bread. You start to see that your behaviour is wrong, it hurts Yahweh and it hurts those who are loving you and your head. And you start to see your fear and panic - you discover what you really submit to you in your heart. And you have to choose to fear Yahweh or Pharaoh, your spiritual head or worldly ones who claim the headship belonging to your true head. You share openly your feelings of shame and remorse with others, especially your head, and you give account to those you have hurt. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (Jas.5:16, NIV), says the apostle James. At this stage, real changes start taking place in your heart. The waters of Yah'shua's healing begin to enter for the first time and you feel the presence of the Ruach haShleshi assuring you that it is safe to be under your godly head. And it may feel at this stage - and please be especially aware of this - it may feel that you've made it, that you're home and dry, with nothing more to worry about. Certainly, you've made real progress - there's a harvest of righteousness and a cleansing of the soul. But ... well, things are not fully well yet.
Phase #4 - Shavu'ot (Revee)
People often get discouraged at this the fourth stage. The sense of victory - of having done something meaningful, useful and right in one's life - can leave one overconfident and cocky. You know that the behaviour, be it rebelliousness or anything else contrary to Torah, is wrong, you're open about it to your head and to those who need to know, but out of impulse or habitual response you do it anyway. But you stop yourself, even in the middle of the act, apologise and account to those you hurt, and choose to act out of right behaviour. There is still an issue there (to your chagrin), you may get discouraged and frustrated, but you decide not to go back to your old behaviour. In making that decision - the decision to do what is right - you are actually moving towards a fuller endowment - you have made the decision of love and shown forth the second fruit of the figurative wheat harvest, of Pentecost or Shavu'ot. You're eating a richer diet now, feeling the overflowing love of the Ruach haRevee - you're not turning back any more, not falling back into rebellion, but choosing the right. Something is still there getting in the way but it is now no longer the dominant force. The flesh is in second place now, still exerting its influence, but not winning
Phase #5 - Yom Teruah (Chamashee)
You're now at the fifth stage where you still think about rebelling, or having an impulse to rebel, but catch yourself before you act it out and follow up with the right behaviour. You're blowing the trumpet of alarm as the urge to rebel surfaces and this time shouting 'No!'. It's not a weaker hesitation, or a desire to weaken, or go back to that which is familiar, but a fixed determination to relegate the flesh even more into the background. The gap between the flesh widens sufficiently to allow the Messiah to reveal Himself in a dramatic way and to start to actually put it to death so that He can rule. Now Yah'shua turns up and asks for all the remaining part of your heart that aren't fully surrendered - He's coming as He's announced with the shofar. He's coming for His own. Will you give it to Him - joyfully, and unreservedly?
Phase #6 - Yom Kippur (Sheshi)
By the time we reach the sixth stage you deliberately think about submitting even before a situation arises which might tempt you to rebel. You then act it out in the moment the enemy comes along and whispers temptation into your ear. You have courage now and real determination - you have the power of the Ruach haSheshi flowing in you - you are militant against sin, against lies, against rebellion, against all untruth - you're uncompromising, and sometimes even appear stern and 'different' - some may even think you're a bit fanatical or even cold, when in actuality it is the zeal of Yahweh Himself, His passion for goodness, His determination that no particle of impurity shall belong to our temple.
Phase #7 - Sukkot (Shegal haShabbat)
By the time we come to the seventh and last stage you are submitted without even having to think about it. By this stage it may truly be said that this part of Torah has been fully written on your heart (Ps.37:31). First it was written with invisible ink, then more visible, and then boldly and finally in big, bright, shiny letters which declare: "I am joyfully and unashamedly submitted in all things to my Heavenly Head (and my earthly head)! I no longer own myself and I am content." Your conscience, your heart, your soul, your whole being has become fully educated in the truth, loves it, embraces it, and fights tenaciously to defend it. Now you obey spontaneously without having to think about it even because you know in your innermost being, in every cell of your body, that this is not only right but also good and pleasant. It's delicious and soul-satisfying. In fact, it's ecstatic! The transformation process between rebellion and submission is complete and you can celebrate spontaneously a full marriage to Yah'shua or to your earthly husband. You have become a new person, literally. You have gone through the seven-stepped process of overcoming and sanctification - of being made holy or set-apart - because you are now set apart from the world and its rebellion, and set apart to Yahweh and His glory - fully. You have become a child of the first resurrection As Paul said: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like Elohim in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph.4:22-24, NIV).
Conclusion
And so we see, yet again, the relationship between spiritual change, the festivals and the seven Ruachs, for each of the Ruachs will assist you with these stages. Paul said:
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Elohim's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will" (Rom.12:2, NIV).
Very year we go through this process until it becomes ingrained in us. That is why we have these moedim, that is why they are such a blessing, because they are the blueprint to glory. Moreover, we can work through them every week, for each festival corresponds to a day of the week which is ruled by one of the seven Ruachs. The lessons, with proper application and determination, can be learned fast! But it's up to us. Above all realise this: it all boils down to the power of choice - you have all it needs. Free choice exercising trusting faith, and choosing to submit and then fighting to retain that submission - all of this is available to you now.
Tomorrow morning we return here for our main service of the day at which time I want to tell you more. And then we will assemble just before sunset to the Neilah service and to receive Yahweh's judgement. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning. Meantime, I pray you will mediate on what I have been sharing with you and draw inspiration. Amen.
Click here for Part 13
Author: Lev-Tsiyon
Glossary of MLT Hebraic, Greek and English Terms For other terms and full details please see the Micropedia
A
Adon(ai) = Master, a pagan fertility god, Adonis; used by many Messianics but not MLT
(a)eon(ian) = 7 dispensation- or age-long time periods, not forever (see le-olam-va-ed)
Alef-Tav = Alpha-Omega, A-Z, first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet = Yah'shua
Amen = truly, let it be so, written Amein by some Messianics
Apocrypha = Hebraic Scriptures not a part of the Protestant canon (e.g. Baruch)
Anti-Messiah = Hebraic term for the end-time Antichrist or anyone opposed to the Messiah
antinomian = lawless Christian who disregards all or part of Torah/commandments
Ashkenazi Jew = East European Jew descended from the Turkic-Japhethite Khazars
Assembly = church, congregation, ekklesia, community, fellowship, koinonia, gathering
Azazel = the Yom Kippur scapegoat
B
Baal, Ba'al = any other master than Yahweh, usually demonic in MLT terminology
Bachor(im) = firstborn son(s)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah = Son/Daughter of Commandment, covenant to obey Torah at age 12
being = soul, the whole person (spirit and body), e.g. "my whole being"
Beit, bet, beth = house, e.g. Beit Yisrael (House of Israel), Beth Lechem (House of Bread)
Beit haMikdash = Yahweh's Temple in Yerushalayim
B'rit Chadashah = the New Covenant; B'rit Chadashah Scriptures = New Testament
B'rit Milah = circumcision - abolished in the B'rit Chadashah, replaced by Mikvah
C
canon = authoritative Scripture (Heb. qaneh, Gk. kanôn = measuring instrument)
Catechumen = a serious, covenanted investigator seeking Mikvah or Baptism in MLT
Chag haMatzah = Feast of Unleavened Bread, second of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Chavurat Bekorot = MLT's Priesthood Order, Holy Order and Assembly of the Firstborn
Cohen = priest; Cohen Gadol = High Priest (also spelled Kohen)
Council of Yah's elohim = the heavenly Assembly of the Firstborn or Chavurat Bekorot
D
demon = fallen malek or angel in rebellion against Yahweh (Heb. shad; see Êl-Shaddai)
derech = the Way, Path or Road - Yah'shua and the Gospel are the Way
Drash = moral or homiletic interpretation of Scripture - see PaRDeS
E
Echad = One, Union of two or more in one (as opposed to Yachid) - see Elohim
Echad Godhead Doctrine = Father Yahweh, Son Yah'shua and Sevenfold Ruach (Mother)
Êl, Eloah, Elah = God the Father, Yahweh
Êl-Elyon = Most High God, Yahweh
Êl-Shaddai = Master/Lord over all shads or demons
Elohim = God, the Godhead (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), lit. 'Mighty One(s)', 'Ruler(s)'
elohim = Israelite judges, rulers, angels or gods (false deities, idols, demons)
emunah = faith, actively trusting, clinging or adhering to (especially Yahweh or Yah'shua)
emet = truth, Yah'shua is the Emet
Ephraimite = descendant of the patriarch Ephraim and head of Messsianic Israel
F
Feasts of Yahweh = the 7 annual Moedim (Pesach, Chag haMatzah, Yom haBikkurim, Shavu'ot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot)
G
Gan-Eden = Garden of Eden, Paradise and state of the purified heart in Messiah
goy(im) = nation(s), Israelites or gentiles not born in or converted to the Covenant
H
hallelu-Yah = praise Yah(weh)!
Heylel = proper name of Satan or haSatan = the Adversary, the devil
Sabbath = Yom Shabbat (Friday to Saturday sunset, add 1 day in IDL Zone)
Hochmah = Wisdom, title of the 7-fold Ruach haQodesh
I
IDL = International Date Line, false man-made time division in Pacific Ocean
IDL Zone = Area between the true Divine Date Line (Lake Van/Eden) and the false one
Israeli = citizen of the modern Edomite-Khazar Republic of Israel (not Biblical Israel)
Israelite = citizen of biblical state of Israel or a modern follower of the Messiah
J
Jew = post-biblical term describing descendants of Edomite and Khazar converts to Judaism
Johannine = pertaining to the Apostle Yochanan (e.g. Gospel of John)
Josephite = descendant of the patriarch Joseph, the head of Messianic Israel
Judahite = a person in direct descent from the patriarch Judah, forefather of the Messiah
Judaism = a Talmudic-based religion rejecting Yah'shua the Messiah
Judean = a citizen of the Kingdom or Province of Judah until the 2nd Century diaspora
K
Kadosh la Yahweh = set-apart or dedicated to Yahweh, 'Holiness to the Lord', MLT motto
Karaites = Jews (from 700 AD) who reject the Talmud and accept only the Tanakh
kashrut = keeping kosher, food laws of Yahweh and correspinding lifestyle
Ketuvim = Writings or Hagiographa of the Tanakh
Khazar = a Turkic convert to Judaism ~700 AD forming the Ashkenazi Jewish community
kosher = clean foods authorised by Yahweh for human consumption
L
Lashon Hara = evil-speaking, gossip or slander
legalism = false route to salvation through works (self-salvation)
le-olam-va-ed = dispensation- or age-long, aeonian, not eternal, forever or for eternity
Lev = heart, as in Lev-Tsiyon = heart of Zion
Lev-Tsiyon = Heart of the Fortress [of Yahweh], Hebrew name of MLT's founder
M
Master = Lord, Sir, Adon(ai) - (one in authority, a ruler - a king, husband, prophet, judge)
Malak(im) = Angel(s), heavenly supernatural messenger(s)
manna = wafers of honey, bread from heaven (lit. 'what is this?')
matzah = unleavened bread, see Chag haMatzah
Menorah = 7-armed candlearbra = the 7 annual Moedim and 7-fold Ruach haQodesh
Messiah = Christ; Anti-Messiah = Antichrist
Messianic Community = Body of Christ, sum total of all true believers; all true fellowships
Messianic Israel = all who worship Yahweh, trust in Yah'shua, obey Torah and overcome
Messianic Jew = Messianic convert from Judaism still clinging to Talmudic traditions
Midrash = aggadic interpretation of scripture viâ Drash, a scriptural discussion
Mikvah = baptism by immersion of convert into Yah'shua or of wife into husband
Mishpachah = family: nuclear, congregational, tribal or the whole of Messianic Israel
MLT = Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon = family of the heart of the fortress [of Yahweh]
Mishpat = right-ruling or judgement
mitzvah/mitzvot = commandment(s)
moed(im) = appointment(s) of Yahweh, 7 Annual Feasts, Sabbath and Rosh Chodesh
N
Nefilim, Nephilim = giant offspring of materialised demons and human women
Nevi'im = prophetic writings of the Old Testament or Tanakh
New Birth = spiritual conversion in the Ruach haRishon, being 'born again' with new heart
Nidah = a woman's menstruation period during which no intercourse is permitted
O
Olive Branch = collection of revelations, prophecies and visions published by MLT
P
Paraclete = Comforter, Advocate (NEB), Counsellor, Ruach haQodesh (Gk. paraklêtos)
PaRDeS = method of textual interpretation (homiletics) - see P'shat, Remez, Drash, Sod
Patriarch = a father who is head of his family, clan or tribe (lit. 'father-ruler')
Pentateuch = first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis-Deuteronomy), also called Torah
peribolaion = headcovering worn by daughters/wives in submission to fathers/husbands
Pesach = Passover, first of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Peshitta = an Aramaic version of the Bible
Prototrinitarianism = early, simplified MLT formulation of the Echad Godhead Doctrine
Prush(im) = Pharisee(s)
Pseudepigrapha = Non-canonical Hebrew writings additional to the Apocrypha
P'shat = literal, contextual, philological, exoteric, outer meaning of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Q
Qadosh Qadoshim = Holy of Holies, most sacred set-apart room of the Beit haMikdash
Qodesh, Kodesh = set-apart, holy (see Ruach haQodesh)
R
Rabbi = Teacher, term used by Messianic Jews and some Messianic Israelites = Pastor
Refuge, the 12 Cities of = divinely protected MLT fortresses during the 7-year Tribulation
Remez = hint or allegorical level of Hebraic understanding of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Rosh Chodesh = monthly New Moon appointment of Yahweh
ruach = spirit of a person (lit.'breath')
Ruach Elohim = Spirit of God (the Spirit of the collective Godhead or Elohim)
Ruach haChamashee = 5th Ruach presides over Yom Teruah and Yom Chamashee
Ruach haQodesh = the Sevenfold Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost (lit. 'Set-Apart Breath')
Ruach haRevee = 4th Ruach presides over Shavu'ot, Yom Revee and Bar Mitzvah
Ruach haRishon = 1st Ruach presides over Pesach, Yom Rishon and the New Birth
Ruach haShanee = 2nd Ruach presides over Chag haMatzah and Yom Shanee
Ruach haSheshi = 6th Ruach presides over Yom Kippur and Yom Sheshi
Ruach haShleshi = 3rd Ruach presides over Yom haBikkurim, Yom Shleshi and Mikvah
S
Sabbath = Yom Shabbat (Friday to Saturday sunset, add 1 day in IDL Zone)
Satan = rebel archangel Heylel, father of lies, devil, chief demon (lit.'Adversary')
Sephardic Jew = West European Jew of mixed blood containing many Judahites
Septuagint = Greek translation of the Tanakh, LXX
Shegal haShabbat = 7th Ruach (Sabbath Queen) presides over Sukkot and Yom Shabbat
Shekinah = Divine Presence and Glory of Yahweh-Elohim
Set-apart = holy, sanctified, consecrated, dedicated, separated (to and by Yahweh)
Shabbat-Shabbaton = High Sabbath (e.g. Yom Kippur)
Shalom = heavenly peace, standard Hebraic greeting invoking Yahweh's peace
Shamash(im) = servant(s), deacon(s), attendant(s)
Shavu'ot = Pentecost or Weeks, fourth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Sheol = grave or pit, euphamism for Hades or hell - also see Tartarus
shofar = ram's horn, blown during Yahweh's Moedim
simcha = joy, keynote of Sukkot
Sod = mystical, anagogic, inner or esoteric understanding of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Sukkot = Tabernacles or Booths, seventh of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Synagogue = Greek word used by Jews and Messianics (but not MLT) for a meeting house
T
talmid(a) = male/female disciple or student
Talmud = scriptures, teachings and commentaries belonging to non-Messianic Judaism
Tanakh = acronym for Old Testament Scriptures - Torah, Nevi'im & Ketuvim
Tartarus = place of imprisonment under the earth for rebellious angels and Nephilim
teshuvah = repentance, remorse and contrition leading back to Torah obedience
Torah = Yahweh's teachings or Law; New Covenant Torah includes Yah'shua's teachings
Tribulation, the Great = the final 7 years of the present aeon when Anti-Messiah rules
Trinity = Catholic Godhead formula - see Echad Godhead Doctrine and Prototrinitarianism
Tsiyon = Zion, a fortress, a name of Jerusalem and a prominent hill
Tzitzit/Tizitziyot = tassel(s) worn by men in remembrance of Torah
U
Universalism = salvation of all at the cosmic Yovel, with different rewards and punishments
Y
Yachid = one, single person or item, as opposed to Echad (many in one, unity)
Yah'shua the Messiah = Jesus Christ (the Son)
Yahudah = Judah - see Judahite
Yahweh, Yah, YHWH = the true Name of our Heavenly Father, also carried by Yah'shua
Yahweh-Elohim = LORD God (the Father, Yahweh as Head of the Godhead or Elohim)
Yahweh haQatan = the sent Yahweh = Yah(weh)'shua, Malak of Yahweh's Presence
Yam Suf = Sea of Reeds, the true Israelite Exodus water crossing, not the Red Sea
Yarden = Jordan River (lit. 'meanderer')
Yerushalayim = Jerusalem
Yisrael = Israel (lit. 'ruling with Êl') = true believers under the New Covenant
Yom Chamashee = 5th day of the week (Thursday, Friday in IDL Zone)
Yom Din, Yom haDin = (the) Day of Judgement
Yom haBikkurim = Feast of Firstfruits, third of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yom Revee = 4th day of the week (Wednesday, Thursday in IDL Zone)
Yom Rishon = 1st day of the week (Sunday, Monday in IDL Zone)
Yom Kippur = Day of Atonement, sixth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yom Shabbat = 7th day of the week and Sabbath Rest (Saturday, Sunday in IDL Zone)
Yom Shanee = 2nd day of the week (Monday, Tuesday in IDL Zone)
Yom Sheshi = 6th day of the week (Friday, Saturday in IDL Zone)
Yom Shleshi = 3rd day of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday in IDL Zone)
Yom Teruah = Day of Trumpets, fifth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yosef = Joseph - see Josephite
Yovel = Jubilee or Year of Jubilee
Z
Zaqen(im) = elder(s) of an assembly or congregation, or senior members of a community
Zoë Life = Greek term for spiritual life in the Messiah
Commonly Used MLT Abbreviations
For additional abbreviations and explanations, please see the Micropedia
A
Amp.V(er). = Amplified Version of the Bible
Aram. = Aramaic
AV = Authorised Version of the Bible - see KJV
B
BCAY = B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh - see NCCG
BoA = Books of Abraham (e.g. 1Abr., 2Abr., etc.)
C
cp, cf = compare with
CB(Q) = Chavurat Bekorot
CEV = Contemporary English Version of the Bible
ch. = chapter
CJB = Complete Jewish Bible
CLNT = Concordant Literal New Testament
CYe = Council of Yah's elohim
E
Eng. = English
F
ff. = and onwards/forwards
fn = footnote
G
Gk. = Greek
GNB = Good News Bible - see TEV
H
Heb. = Hebrew, Hebraic
HEM = Holy Echad Marriage, eternal marriage
HO = Holy Order - see Chavurat Bekorot
HOC = Holy Order Collection of revelations - see OB
HRV = Hebraic-Roots Version of the Bible
I
ibid. = ibidem (lit. 'in the same place'), referring to a book previously cited
ICJC = Independent Church of Jesus Christ, earlier name of NCCF
ISRV = Institute for Scripture Research Version of the Bible
J
JB = Jerusalem Bible
JBP/Phillips = J.B.Phillips translation of the New Testament
JNT = Jewish New Testament
K
KJV = King James Version of the Bible - see AV
L
LB = Living Bible
lit. = literally or literature
LXX = Septuagint, Greek translation of the OT
M
MLT = Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon
Moff. = Moffatt translation of the Bible
MRC = Messianic Renewed Covenant Version of the NT
MS(S) = Manuscript(s)
N
NASB, NASV = New American Standard Bible/Version
NC&C = New Covenants & Commandments - see OB
NCCF = New Covenant Christian Fellowship, earlier name of NCCG
NCCG = New Covenant Church of God, earlier name of MLT - see BCAY
NCP = New Covenant Press, publishing arm of MLT
NCW = New Covenant Witness, MLT magazine
NEB = New English Bible
NIV = New International Version of the Bible
NKJV = New King James Version of the Bible
Nor. = Norwegian
NT = New Testament, B'rit Chadashah
NWT = New World Translation of the Bible, unreliable Jehovah's Witness version
O
OB = Olive Branch - see NC&C
op.cit. = opere citato (lit. in the work cited)
OT = Old Testament, Tanakh
P
p(p). = page(s)
pl. = plural - see s.
PWNC = Prophetic Words of the New Covenant, revelation cataloging system - see OB
Q
QED = quod erat demonstrandum (lit. which was shown to be proved)
R
RCF = Restoration Christian Fellowship, earlier name of ICJC
RhQ = Ruach haQodesh, Holy Spirit
RSTNE = Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition of the Bible
RSV = Revised Standard Version of the Bible
RV = Revised Version of the Bible
S
s. = singular - see pl.
S&G = Smith & Goodspeed Version of the Bible
T
TEV = Today's English Version of the Bible - see GNB
V
Vulg. = Biblia Vulgata, Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible
W
WEB = World English Bible
Glossary Copyright ©2007 Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) - All Rights Reserved
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This page was first created on 18 March 2007
Last updated on 18 March 2007
Copyright ©2006 Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) - All Rights Reserved
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