Chapter 29. Restoring Biblical Marriage Today



As we have discussed in earlier chapters, plural marriage isn't for everybody. In terms of the available number of males and females our planet could not, in any case, sustain more than about 20% of the total population living in this way without there becoming a shortage of women for the rest. And whilst this fact is often used as a weapon against its practice by the monogamy-only people, it fails to take into account the fact polygamy would be restricted by the natural order built into humankind by the Creator anyway.


We all agree that in any society there must be a certain proportion of different trades and professions, of which farming has always been the chief. Were a country like Kenya suddenly to be flooded by hundreds of thousands of people qualified to be policemen there would obviously be no need for them and they would be obliged to retrain for another profession.


Living plural marriage is not something that you can necessarily just 'train' for anymore than we can all be trained to be carpenters. Most of the skills we have we are born with. True, we still have to be trained, but it would not be possible to train every Kenyan citizen to be a University Lecturer. In the same way there are those who are born to be polygamists and those who are not. But unlike those who would be University Lecturers, every human being can potentially be a polygamist.


This needs a word of explanation. Every living soul can be saved by accepting Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) as their personal Lord and Saviour, but not everybody will choose to. Those who will accept salvation, Yahweh our Heavenly Father knows beforehand, and these the Bible says are predestined or foreordained (Rom.8:29-30; Eph.1:5,11). As far as the Creator is concerned, then, the list of those who will be saved exists before we even come to this world. This does not mean that everybody doesn't have the same chance to be saved: it means simply that God, being omniscient, knows what all of us will decide beforehand. Thus the list of invitations to the allegorical Wedding Feast of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) in heaven was written out long before we were even born here.


Nearly every single Christian Church and denomination has been infected with the monogamy-only virus. This is not to say that Yahweh is not using them to bring the simple Gospel message of salvation to the world, for He is. It is, however, to say categorically that throughout the centuries the Body of Christ has been blinded to much truth by the craftiness of Satan, and not just in the sphere of marriage. Through the long periods of darkness which have exerted a suffocating control over Yahweh's people there have always been some who have clung on to the truth's of God's Word, usually in hiding and at great personal risk to their own lives.


The 'Age of the Denominations' is soon at an end as far as their divine acceptance by heaven is concerned. They have been tolerated and used because that has all there has been. Even before the Protestant Reformation began the gradual restoration of Biblical truth so long suppressed by its mother Church at Rome, Yahweh used what existed - in spite of their perversions - to create order and foster holiness. Since Martin Luther nailed his edicts on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral in Germany, Protestantism has spawned literally hundreds (if not thousands) of denominations. Lutherans, Reformed Christians, Presbyterians, Calvinists, Methodists, Anglicans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Christadelphians, Mennonites, Hutterites, Seventh-Day Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Worldwide Church of God, and hundreds of others all vie for competition in the religious market. Why are there so many? It is because man will not obey. He will not to what Yahweh tells him. Is it not reasonable to assume that so many Christians are going to get things wrong if, for example, they are willing not to see what the Bible says about marriage? And if demons can blind believers as to the truth of biblical marriage, can then not - and will they not - do the same thing regarding other principles? What other commandments and practices might we have glossed over, explained away, or ignored in the Scriptures simply because that is the way we have been taught by our priests ... who were taught by other priests, who were taught by other priests, and so on, back across the generations?


You will discover that in the West least, Christians raised in the monogamy-only tradition who have discovered the truth of multiple marriage have started digging into their Bibles and ignoring what their priests and pastors have been teaching them. Like the first Reformers, they have decided to find out for themselves. And this is what they have started to discover.

Chapter 30. The Restoration of Torah



Most Christians have no idea what Torah is. Many will know that it has something to do with "the Jews" and assume, because that is what their priests have taught them, that it is something that belongs to 'Judaism' and not to them. It may come as a surprise to you to learn that millions of Christians, influenced by the earliest teachings of Martin Luther, have been taught that there is something 'bad' about 'law', 'commandments', or 'rules' of any kind. There isn't. Obedience to the Torah (which in Hebrew means 'Teaching' but which has come to mean' the Law') is seen to be a very clear fruit of salvation in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Thus the end-time believers, we learn will have a two-fold characteristic about them: they will have faith in Yah'shua (Jesus) as their Redeemer and be law-keepers:


"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of Eloah (God) and the faith of Yah'shua (Jesus)" (Rev 14:12, NKJV).
Who are the people whom Satan is angry with?


"And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of Eloah (God) and have the testimony of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)" (Rev.12:17, NKJV).

The Gospel of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is the Good News that we can be saved from our sins by trusting in His Name and in the blood of His atonement. When we are saved, the immediate response will be a heart-desire to be obedient to all of our Heavenly Father's commandments, because this is pleasing to Him, good for us, and good for our neighbour. It is only then that we can partake of the Tree of Life:


"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city" (Rev.22:14, NKJV).

When others like myself discovered we had been lied to by priests and pastors about plural marriage it was not long before we discovered we had been lied to in almost every other aspect of the Gospel. Indeed, what we discovered so profoundly shocked us that we wondered how it was these things had been kept hidden for so many hundreds of years.


Firstly, it will interest you to learn that there is no such thing as the 'Old Testament' or the 'New Testament'. These terms were invented by Catholics and added to our Bibles. The Bible, in fact, has four divisions of Scripture and all of these are one organic whole:



1. The Torah (Teaching or Law - Genesis-Deuteronomy)
2. The Nebi'im (Prophets - e.g. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc.)
3. The Kethubim (Writings - e.g. Proverbs, Chronicles, Psalms, etc.)
4. The Messianic Scriptures ('New Testament' - e.g. John, Galatians, etc.)

When Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, wrote:


"If Moses should try to intimidate you with his stupid Ten Commandments, tell him right out - chase yourself to the Jews" (from a Lecture at Wittenberg)
he was lying, and you only have to see what Yah'shua (Jesus) said to know that this is so:


"Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, Eloah (God). But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Yah'shua (Jesus) said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'" (Matt.19:16-19, NKJV).

So who will you believe? Martin Luther and the priests who teach what Martin Luther taught, or the very Son of God, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)? Make a decision: Are the Ten Commandments stupid or do they in fact enable you to "enter into life"? Who was stupid: Luther or the Messiah (Christ)?


What I am challenging you to do is to decide something very simple: to believe the teachings of God or the teachings of men? What will you choose? Dare you risk following men? For if you do, see what Yah'shua (Jesus) says will happen to you:


"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matt.7:21-23, NKJV).

If this is true - as we know it must be because Yahweh never lies (see Chapter 4) - then we are in grave danger of losing our souls if we say that believing in Christ is enough and that obeying Torah - the Commandments - doesn't matter. We have seen what the Messiah (Christ) has said about lawlessness, haven't we? Those who are lawless - who reject law - are commanded to depart from Him because they never knew Him.


This is the Word of God - these are not my words - but the words of the Saviour. If you believe them, and have received the salvation of His Son, then you are obliged to be obedient to Torah. If this is your heart-desire, then come with me as we run through a simple outline of the Gospel of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

Chapter 31. The Plan of Salvation



1. What is Salvation?

Salvation is deliverance from the penalty, pollution, and power of sin (Rom.6:14,23; Ti.3:4-6). It is eternally more important than being saved from fire, deep water, illness or loneliness.


2. What is sin?

Sin is any thought, word, or deed that either violates or falls short of complete conformity to Yahweh's holy laws or Torah (Rom.3:23; Jas.4:7; 1 Jn.3:4). In short, Yah'shua (Jesus) and His apostles taught that sin is anything that doesn't reflect selfless love for Yahweh and others (Mt.22:34-40).


3. What has Elohim (God) done to Provide for Salvation?

He became a member of the human race in the person of Yah'shua (Jesus), lived sinlessly as our substitute to fulfil Yahweh's righteous demands (2 Cor.5:21), suffered and died on the cross to bear the penalty of our sins (Mt.20:28; Rom.4:23-25; 1 Cor.15:3-4), and rose from the grave to break the power of death and defeat Satan (Ac.2:24; Heb.2:14-15). In other words, He accepted full responsibility to pay the price for the consequence of sins.


4. For whom did Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) die?

Yah'shua (Jesus) died for all people (Jn.3:16; 2 Cor.5:14-15), for all have fallen short of their original purpose to know Yahweh our Father (Jn.17:3), to glorify Him (1 Cor.10:31), and to enjoy Him forever (Rev.7:15-17; 21:1-4). The Messiah (Christ) died for those who are sinners by nature (Ps.51:5), disobedient by choice (Rom.3:23), spiritually dead (Eph.2:1,5), unable to please Yahweh (Rom.8:8), and under His wrath (Jn.3:36; Rom.1:18).


5. What is Repentance?

It is a term used by John the Baptist, Yah'shua (Jesus), Paul, and Peter (Mt.3:1-2; 4:17; Ac.2:38; 20:21). Repentance is that change of attitude about one's self, one's sin, and God, which involved the whole personality - mind, emotions, and will. In varying degrees, it always accompanies true faith. It is usually accompanied by sorrow for sin and is one evidence that genuine repentance has occurred (2 Cor.7:9-10). True repentance always leads to voluntary obedience to the commandments of Yahweh (Jn.14:15; 15:10; Mt.5:19; 1 Jn.2:3-5) and is a fruit of genuine faith and salvation.


6. Who will be saved?

Salvation is offered to everyone and is freely given to all who believe on Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) (Mt.11:28; Jn.1:12; 3:15-13,36; 6:40,47; 11:25-26; 20:31; Ac.16:31; Rom.10:9-10). Yah'shua (Jesus) said, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (Jn.6:37).


7. How do we receive Salvation?

By faith alone. Neither zealous commitment to good works (Eph.2:8-10) not careful observance of religious rituals (Gal.3:1-9) play a part in obtaining salvation. Salvation is not found in our efforts for Yahweh but in trusting what Yah'shua (Jesus) has done for us. All Yahweh requires is that we call out to Him in true faith and ask Him to save us (Rom.10:13). On that basis He gives salvation. Everything else follows.


8. What is Saving Faith?

It is personal trust in the Lord Yah'shua (Jesus). It is believing that Yahweh, on the basis of the Messiah's (Christ's) substitutionary death and resurrection, forgives and accepts all who trust in Him and rely on Him alone for salvation (Rom.3:21-26; 4:1-25; 5:1-2; Eph.2:8-10). It is not what we do but what we believe that counts. If what we believe is right, doing right will follow. Good works are the fruit and the evidence (Eph.2:10; 1 Jn.3:7-10), not the ground or the cause.


9. What is true Obedience?

Obedience is the response of a saved soul and is motivated by love for Yahweh and for man causing him to obey the commandments. True faith is never passive but goes hand-in-hand with obedience. Faith in Yah'shua (Jesus) and obedience to the commandments of Yahweh are the twin evidences of the saved in the end-time assembly/church (Rev.12:17; 14:12; 22:14).


10. What Commandments should we obey?

All of them. Yah'shua warned against picking and choosing what commandments we want to obey and said that what may appear to be inconsequential commandments matter and may have grave consequences for those who ignore them (Mt.5:17-20). Because there are several hundred commandments which are given to us as measuring sticks of our salvation, they have been given to us on three progressive levels of understanding and implementation: (a) The Two Great Commandments, (b) the Ten Commandments (Decalogue), and (c) the Mitzvot.


11. What are the Two Great Commandments?

They are a summary of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) and were taught by Yah'shua (Jesus): "'You shall love Yahweh your Elohim (God) with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great command- ment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets"" (Mt.22:37-40; Dt.6:5; Lev.19:18). They are like the two wrists of our hands.


12. What is the Decalogue (Ten Commandments)?

It is an expansion and explanation of the Two Great Commandments. They tell us what loving Yahweh and our neighbour actually consists of in practice (Rom.13:8-10; Gal.5:14): (1) Worshipping only Yahweh, the one true God; (2) Fleeing from idolatry; (3) Honouring the Name of Yahweh; (4) Observing the seventh-day Saturday Sabbath day of rest (note: this is Sunday between longitude ~43° East of Greenwich and the International Date Line); (5) Honouring your parents; (6) Not murdering; (7) Not committing adultery; (8) Not stealing; (9) Not giving false testimony; (10) Not desiring another person's property (Ex.20:1-17). They are like the 10 fingers on our two hands.


13. What are the Mitzvot?

These are all the other commandments which are expansions, amplifications, additions or clarifications of the Decalogue and are scattered throughout the Bible. They include such things as Yahweh's dietary code (e.g. Dt.14; Lev.11), marriage practices and regulations (including polygamy), dress codes, how to observe the Seven Annual Feasts (Lev.23), how to conduct congregational life, interpersonal relationships (e.g. Lev.19:13-18), and so forth. There are several hundred altogether. Some of these were changed by Yah'shua (Jesus) in order to bring them up to the original standards Yahweh intended. The ceremonial law and its priesthood have been superseded but the ethical and moral laws are immutable.


14. How can I possibly know and obey all the Commandments?

By careful study and application over time (Ac.17:11). That is why Yahweh has given them on three different levels to match a believer's spiritual maturity: (a) Elementary (The Two Great Commandments), (b) Intermediary (The Decalogue) and (c) Advanced (The Mitzvot). Each is the foundation of the next. But since they are all interconnected, they will naturally fall into place with right faith.


15. What do I need to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

After believing in Yah'shua (Jesus) as the Messiah (Christ), accepting Him as your Lord (Commander) and Saviour (Redeemer), you should be baptised by complete immersion (Mt.28:19) and join a local Bible-believing and commandment-keeping assembly/church. Learn and implement the elementary principles of the Gospel. Thereafter go on to completion (Heb.6:1-3), becoming perfect like your Father Yahweh in Heaven (Mt.5:48) until you have finished the race which is your life on earth (Heb.12:1-2; 2 Tim.4:7-8; 1 Cor.9:24-26).


16. How can I distinguish between a true and a false church or assembly?

Firstly, look at their fruits (Mt.7:16,20). Are they filled with the fruits of righteousness (Phil.1:11; Gal.5:22-23)? Are the members pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, without partiality and without hypocrisy (Jas.3:17-18)? Secondly, are they teaching and obeying all the commandments of Yahweh (Mt.19:17)? Are they full of wisdom and understanding (Prov.4:5a)? Are they repentant (Ac.17:30-31)? Are they full of love for one another (1 Jn.3:11)? Are they happy (Ps. 146:5)? Is it built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (Eph.2:20) and are they blessed with the spiritual gifts (1 Cor.12:28)? Is its foundation Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) or an institution or some charismatic person (1 Cor.3:11)? Are the ministers and members living humbly and simply (Jas.4:6)? Is there equality of wealth (Ac.2:44; 4:32)? Do husbands love their wives as Christ loved the Church/Assembly, and do wives submit to their husbands in righteousness (Col.3:18-19; Eph.5: 22-28)? Are the people free of adultery, fornication, homosexuality and other vices (Gal.5:19-21)? Search your Bible and you will know what to expect of a true congregation of Yahweh's people.

for those who want to go deeper....