REPENTANCE

Have you ever had the experience of driving in a strange city and suddenly realizing you were going the wrong way on a one-way street? What you do next is very much like the biblical idea of repentance. You make a U-turn and change your direction as fast as you can. Repentance is motivated by the realization that you have taken the wrong way in life. Repentance is made complete when you admit your sin and make a commitment, with YHVH’s help, to change your life’s direction. Repentance is literally a change of mind, not about individual plans, intentions, or beliefs, but rather a change in one’s attitude about YHVH. Such repentance accompanies saving faith in the Moshiach {Acts 20:21}. It is inconsistent and unintelligible to suppose that anyone could believe in the Moshiach yet not repent. Repentance is such an important aspect of conversion that it is often stressed, as when Moshiach said that there is joy in heaven among the angels over one sinner who repents {Luke 15:7}. The apostles described the conversion of the Gentiles to the Moshiach as YHVH granting them [repentance unto life] {Acts 11:18}. Repentance and faith in the Moshiach are in fact inseparable, though a convert may be aware of one aspect more than another. Such penitence is not an isolated act but a disposition of the mind, providing a spur for behaviour that accords with YHVH’s declared will. Recognition of daily sins and shortcomings provides the occasion for renewed acts of penitence and for fresh exercises of faith in the Moshiach. One of the deepest and most noteworthy expressions of such penitence is David’s account of his adultery with Bathsheba {Psalm 51}. Whole churches, gatherings and social media are, on occasion, called to repent {Revelation 2:5}. {2 Corinthians 7} contains an interesting and full description of such corporate repentance involving the elements of sorrow for sin and a determined resolve to forsake old sinful ways and to behave properly. While repentance is often accompanied by deep feelings, it is not equivalent to such feelings but is rooted in convictions about the sinner’s own need before a holy Elohiym. Both John the Baptist {Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:4} and the Moshiach {Mark 1:15} were preachers of repentance, calling not the righteous but sinners to repent. And in accordance with the Great Commission {Luke 24:44-49}, the apostles continued the same kind of preaching -- beginning with Peter’s preaching on Shavuot. {Acts 2}.

WHY IS REPENTANCE ESSENTIAL TO A SPIRITUAL LIFE?

1 --- Repentance opens the way for a relationship with YHVH Elohiym: --- Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: [You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee YHVH’s coming judgment? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to YHVH. Do not just say: We are safe – we are the descendants of Abraham. That proves nothing. YHVH can change these stones here into children of Abraham] {Luke 3:7-8}. Repentance has two sides-turning away from sins and turning toward YHVH. To be truly repentant, we must do both. We can’t just say that we believe and then live any way we choose; neither can we simply live a morally correct life without a personal relationship with YHVH, because that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of any sins YHVH points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide you.

2 --- Repentance demonstrates real faith: --- Confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead {James 2:14-26}. Yeshua’ harshest Words were to the respectable religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. They wanted to be known as religious authorities, but they did not want to change their hearts and minds. Thus, their lives were unproductive. Repentance must be tied to action, or it is not real. Following Yeshua means more than saying the right words; it means acting on what He says.

3 --- Repentance makes inward change a visible reality: --- [In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was: Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near] {Matthew 3:1-2}. When you wash dirty hands, the results are immediately visible. But repentance happens inside with a cleansing that is not seen right away. So, John used a symbolic action that people could see: baptism. The Jews used baptism to initiate converts, so John’s audience was familiar with the rite. Here, baptism was used as a sign of repentance and forgiveness. Repent means [to turn,] implying a change in behaviour. It is turning from sin toward YHVH. Have you repented of sin in your life? Can others see the difference it makes in you? A changed life with new and different behaviour makes your repentance real and visible.

4 --- Repentance breaks our bondage to sin: --- [The leading priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Yeshua] {John 12:10-11}. The chief priests’ blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink ever deeper into sin. They rejected the Moshiach and planned to kill Him, and then plotted to murder Lazarus as well. One sin leads to another. From the Jewish leaders’ point of view, they could accuse Yeshua of blasphemy because He claimed equality with YHVH. But Lazarus had done nothing of the kind. They wanted Lazarus dead simply because he was a living witness to Yeshua’s Power. This is a warning to us to avoid sin. Sin leads to more sin, and this downward spiral can be stopped only by repentance and the Power of Ruach HaKodesh to change behaviour.

A -- WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

Matthew 3:1-3: “Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH.” --- Repentance means being sorry for sin and being committed to a new way of life serving YHVH.

Luke 19:8: “Zacchaeus… said to Adonai: …if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” --- Repentance is made complete by changed behaviour.

Exodus 9:27-34: “When Pharaoh saw this, he and his officials sinned yet again by stubbornly refusing to do as they had promised.” --- Repentance that produces no lasting change is insincere.

B -- WHY DOES YHVH WANTS US TO REPENT?

Leviticus 26:40-42: “At last My people will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors for betraying Me and being hostile toward Me.” --- All of us need to repent because we have betrayed YHVH with our sins.

2 Chronicles 30:9: “Adonai your YHVH is gracious and merciful. If you return to Him, He will not continue to turn His Face from you.” --- Repentance is necessary for an ongoing relationship with YHVH.

1 Samuel 7:3: “Samuel said to all the people of Israel: If you are really serious about wanting to return to Adonai, get rid of your foreign gods. ‘Determine to obey only Adonai; then He will rescue you.’” --- We must turn away from all other gods in order to worship the One True Elohiym.

Proverbs 28:13: “People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.”

Isaiah 55:7: “Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to Adonai that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our YHVH, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Jeremiah 3:12: “Therefore, go and say these words to Israel: This is what Adonai says: O Israel, My faithless people, come home to Me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever.” --- Repentance is necessary to receive YHVH’s mercy.

Ezekiel 18:30-32: “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Adonai. Turn from your sins! Do not let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I do not want you to die, says the Sovereign Adonai. Turn back and live!”

Ezekiel 33:11: “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Adonai, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” --- Repentance is the key to having new life from YHVH.

Matthew 3:2: “Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Luke 24:47: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to Me.”

Acts 2:37-38: “Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles: Brothers, what should we do? Peter replied: Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, and be baptized in the Name of Yeshua Moshiach for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of Ruach HaKodesh.” --- Forgiveness of sins and entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is only for those who have turned away from their sins and turned to YHVH.

Acts 3:19: “Turn from your sins and turn to YHVH, so you can be cleansed of your sins.” --- Forgiveness of sins and the Kingdom of Heaven are only for those who have turned away from their sins and turned to YHVH.

Matthew 11:20-24: “Then Yeshua began to denounce the cities where He had done most of His miracles, because they had not turned from their sins and turned to YHVH. …You people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead.” --- Refusal to turn away from our sins will bring YHVH’s judgment.

C -- WHY IS REPENTANCE NECESSARY?

Ezekiel 33:10-16: “The good works of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the sins of evil people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.” --- Repentance leads to forgiveness of sin.

Jeremiah 5:3: “They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent.” --- The unrepentant heart rejects YHVH and remains in sin’s grasp.

Luke 13:1-8: “You will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to YHVH.” --- Yeshua taught that without repentance we face judgment.

Luke 15:10: “There is joy in the presence of YHVH’s angels when even one sinner repents.” All heaven rejoices when one sinner repents.

D -- IS REPENTANCE A ONE-TIME EVENT? OR DO WE NEED TO REPENT EVERY TIME WE SIN?

Psalm 51:16-17: “The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O YHVH, You will not despise.” --- While salvation is a one-time event, YHVH is pleased by broken and contrite hearts willing to confess and repent of sin.

1 John 1:8-9: “If we say we have no sin, we are… refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him.” --- Confession and repentance of sin is a constant mark of the person walking in the Light of fellowship with YHVH.

BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

A VOICE FROM THE HEAVENS

From Matthew 3:13-17

One day Yeshua came down from Galilee to the place where John was baptizing. John was disturbed that Yeshua asked to be baptized and didn’t want to do it. [You should baptize me,] John told Him. [Why are You asking me to baptize You?] [Because it is right for Me to do this,] Yeshua answered. [Please do what you should and baptize Me.] When John understood that, he baptized Yeshua. After Yeshua was baptized, He came up out of the water. The heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of YHVH coming down upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came out of the heavens. [This is My beloved Son,] YHVH said. In Whom I am very pleased.]

SATAN’S STRANGE VISIT

From Matthew 4:1-11

After Yeshua was baptized, the Spirit of YHVH led Him into the wilderness country to be tempted by Satan. For forty days and forty nights Yeshua ate nothing and He became very hungry. Then Satan came to see Yeshua and tempt Him. [If You really are YHVH’s Son,] Satan urged, [You could turn these stones into bread. Then You would have plenty to eat.] But Yeshua answered, [The Scriptures say that man must have more than bread to build his life. As the body needs bread, so the soul hungers for every word that YHVH has spoken.] Then Satan took Yeshua to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem. [Now is the time to prove that You are YHVH’s Son,] Satan suggested. [Jump! You know that the Scriptures say that YHVH will send His angels to take care of You. They will hold You in their hands and keep You from falling to the rocks below.] [The Scriptures also say that you must not try to tempt YHVH!] Yeshua answered. For his last temptation, Satan took Yeshua to the peak of a high mountain and showed Him the nations of the world and all their riches and power. [I will give this wealth and power to You,] Satan said. [All You must do is bow down and worship me.] [Go away,] Yeshua told Satan. [The Scriptures tell us to worship and serve YHVH alone.] Defeated, Satan went away and left Him alone. But He did not remain alone, for angels came to serve Him.

COMMENTARY

THE PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE

Herod’s temple, which Yeshua visited often, was enclosed on the east and south by the great wall of Jerusalem. The pinnacle of the temple was the south-eastern corner of this wall. From the walkway at the top of the wall’s south-eastern corner, one could look down one hundred and twenty-eight feet to the Kidron Valley below. Here Satan tempted Yeshua to jump. On a clear day, the view from this pinnacle reached out for great distances to the east and south. The rising sun might reflect from the Dead Sea, many miles to the east, or from the village of Bethphage or Bethany, near the summit of the Mount of Olives. Every morning, a priest came to this highest corner of Jerusalem’s walls. There he stood and waited for the sun to rise. When the light of dawn reached the rooftops of Hebron, a village twenty-five miles to the south, he gave the signal to start the morning sacrifice. Then the morning trumpets sounded, the temple gates were opened, and the people entered for the first service of the day. The pinnacle of the temple still stands today, rebuilt over the foundations of the wall that Yeshua knew. But with the passing of centuries, the valley has filled in with forty to fifty feet of rubbish and dirt. With some imagination, one can still visualize what it must have been in the time of Yeshua.

BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

A VOICE FOR YHVH IN THE WILDERNESS

From Luke 3:1-6; Matthew 3:4-6

The story of John’s work begins fifteen years after Tiberius Caesar had become the Roman emperor. At that time, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod Antipas was ruler of Galilee. Herod’s brother, Philip, ruled over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias ruled over Abilene. The high priests in Israel were Annas and Caiaphas. While John was living in the wilderness, YHVH sent a message to him. Obedient to YHVH, John took that message throughout the country near the Jordan River, telling the people to turn away from their sin, seek YHVH’s forgiveness, and be baptized. Seven hundred years earlier, Isaiah had written this about John, [A voice will cry out in the wilderness and say: Build a road for YHVH! Make it a straight and level road, filling the valleys, levelling the hills, and giving it a smooth surface. When the road is built, the Moshiach will come forth with salvation from YHVH.] John wore unusual clothing, garments made of camel’s hair, with a wide leather belt about his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. The people of Jerusalem and Judea, as well as the neighbours around the Jordan, came out to hear John preach. Many of them confessed their sins, and were baptized in the Jordan River.

JOHN’S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE

From Luke 3:7-18

This is the kind of message that John gave to the people who came to hear him:

[You are like a brood of snakes! You want to escape hell but you don’t want YHVH! Is that why you came to be baptized? Do you want others to believe that you have turned away from sin? Then you must show your change by the way you live. Don’t brag that Abraham is in your family tree. That won’t help you get to YHVH! YHVH could turn these stones into descendants of Abraham. But they would not be YHVH’s followers any more than you. The sharp edge of YHVH’s judgment is lifted high above you, ready to cut you down like a rotten tree. Fruitless trees deserve to be cut down and thrown onto the fire.]

[Then what should we do?] the people asked. [How can we show others that we have turned away from sin?] [Do you have two coats?] John asked. [Give one to a poor person. Do you have more than enough food? Share it with the hungry.] There were tax collectors among the crowd. They, too, had come to be baptized. [How can we show that we have turned away from sin?] they asked. [Do your work honestly,] he answered. [Don’t collect more money from people than you should.] The soldiers also asked how they might show that they were giving up their sins. [Stop forcing people to give you money,] John told them. [Learn to live on the money you earn.]

SOMEONE GREATER THAN I

From Luke 3:15-18

People were anxious for the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son, to come, so they began to wonder about John the Baptist. Could he be the Moshiach? Was he the one they had waited for so long? [No,] John told them. [I baptize you, but only with water. Someone is coming who is far greater than I. He is so great that I am not good enough to bend down and loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you with Ruach HaKodesh, who will burn away the impurity in your life. Like a thresher, He will separate the worthless chaff in your life from that which He wants to keep, burning the chaff with a fire that never goes out.] Warning and pleading with the people, he preached to them the Good News about the coming Saviour

COMMENTARY

JOHN’S AUDIENCE

The people who came to hear John the Baptist preach in the wilderness formed a strange congregation. Many of them shared little in common. The preacher himself presented a unique appearance, dressed as he was in garments of camels’ hair, with a wide leather belt around his waist. Who were these people? Not everyone there wanted to be baptized. Many came out of simple curiosity. There were rumours that John was the prophet Elijah returned from the dead. His rugged clothing and his diet of locusts and honey reminded many of the Old Testament prophet. The Roman soldiers were there under orders to prevent the crowd that followed John from becoming unruly. Caesar did not want him to start a revolution against the Roman government. The religious leaders also came to see that John did not start a revolution, but they were concerned about a religious revolt, not a political uprising. The Sadducees and Pharisees were afraid John would preach a message that would turn people away from their synagogues and the temple.

Thought for Today: Tuesday October 14

Haydn, the great musician, was once asked why his church music was so cheerful. He replied: “When I think upon YHVH, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen, and since YHVH has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.” Haydn discovered the secret to lasting joy: “I think on YHVH Elohiym” – when we turn our minds and hearts to His Power and His Love for us, we cannot help it to be joyful.

Reading Job this morning, it dawned on me that twice Satan appears before YHWH amongst the sons of YHWH when they presented themselves before YHWH. This is found in Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7.

Not once is he kicked out or asked as to why he is present with the other sons.

I always understood that Satan was a created being and therefore came into existence through the will of YHWH, but does this mean that Satan is a son of YHWH and therefore part of the heavenly council?

Does that then also mean that he got his inheritance in Deut 32:8-9 as one of the sons?

“Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters! And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price. Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is excellent, and let your being delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, so that your being lives. And let Me make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy mercies of Dawiḏ. See, I have given Him as a witness to the people, a Leader and a Commander for the people. See, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation who does not know you run to you, because of YHWH your Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, for He has adorned you. Seek YHWH while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near. Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to YHWH, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much!”

“And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.’ As the Scripture said, ‘out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water.’”

“I, Yeshua, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And he who hears, let him say, ‘Come!’ And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires it, take the water of life without paying!”

Hoshana Rabbah Sameach!

Hoshana Rabbah is the Great Day of the Feast and is the seventh and last day of Chag Hasukkoth.

It is not a High Sabbath, so cooking and work are permitted.

As the last day of the Feast, it is the most joyful and celebratory of all.

In Temple times, during each day of the Feast, a procession was made around the altar of sacrifice during which psalms were sung and the lulav, a bundle of palm, myrtle, willow and an etrog (Vayyiq’ra.23:40), were waved and beaten.

On Hoshana Rabbah, seven circuits were made around the altar and the great water-pouring ceremony was held in anticipation of the fall rains.

It is said that a person has never witnessed true joy in worship until he has seen first-hand the water-pouring on Hoshana Rabbah.

Readings: Bemidbar (Numbers) 29:26-34; Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:1-13; Yochanan (John) 7:37-39; Chazon (Revelation) 21:1-7 & 22:1-21.

(Bemidbar 29:26-34)

Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(Yeshayahu 55:1-13)

Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price.

Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is excellent, and let your being delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, so that your being lives. And let Me make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy mercies of Dawiḏ.

See, I have given Him as a witness to the people, a Leader and a Commander for the people.

See, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation who does not know you run to you, because of YHWH your Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl, for He has adorned you.

Seek YHWH while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near.

Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to YHWH, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares YHWH.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.

For with joy you go out, and with peace you are brought in – the mountains and the hills break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field clap the hands.

Instead of the thorn the cypress comes up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle comes up. And it shall be to YHWH for a name, for an everlasting sign which is not cut off.

(Yochanan 7:37-39)

And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.

As the Scripture said, out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water.

And this He said concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet esteemed.

(Chazon 21:1-7 & 22:1-21)

And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more.

And I, Yoḥanan, saw the set-apart city, renewed Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the heaven saying, See, the Booth of Elohim is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim.

And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying. And there shall be no more pain, for the former matters have passed away.

And He who was sitting on the throne said, See, I make all matters new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy.

And He said to me, It is done! I am the Aleph’ and the Taw’, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I shall give of the fountain of the water of life without payment.

The one who overcomes shall inherit all this, and I shall be his Elohim and he shall be My son.

And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb.

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And no longer shall there be any curse, and the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads.

And night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because YHWH Elohim shall give them light. And they shall rule forever and ever.

And he said to me, These words are trustworthy and true. And YHWH Elohim of the set-apart prophets has sent His messenger to show His servants what has to take place with speed. See, I am coming speedily! Blessed is he who guards the words of the prophecy of this book.

And I, Yoḥanan, saw and heard these matters. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the messenger who showed me these matters.

And he said to me, See, do not! For I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who are guarding the words of this book. Worship Elohim.

And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. He who does wrong, let him do more wrong; he who is filthy, let him be more filthy; he who is righteous, let him be more righteous; he who is set-apart, let him be more set-apart. And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according to his work. I am the Aleph’ and the Taw’, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood. I, Yeshua, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And he who hears, let him say, Come! And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires it, take the water of life without paying! For I witness to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, Elohim shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the set-apart city, which are written in this Book. He that bears witness of these matters says, Yes, I am coming speedily. Aměn. Yes, come, Master Yeshua!

The favor of our Master Yeshua Messiah be with the set-apart ones. Aměn.

FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – B’REISHYTH:

In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

And the earth came to be formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of Elohim was moving on the face of the waters.

And Elohim said, “Y’hy Or” and light came to be.

And Elohim saw the light, that it was excellent. And Elohim separated the light from the darkness.

And Elohim called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, one day.

Shalom, friends,

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B'reishyth (Genesis 1:1-6:8) - Min Hazaqen Commentary

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New metal song about... Can you tell what it's about?

I am the Plan א
by Dr Garth Grenache
and his Uncanny Valley Orchestra
2025:10:14
https://youtube.com/shorts/LG4....DZ511s78?si=khIZH8q8

I am the plan
I am the man
Yah gave me clout
But some did doubt

I fought the beasts
Persia and Greece
Your prince did hold
We two were bold

The mystery
They knew not me
Pierced foot and hand
Yet I do stand

They look into
My life in you
And so they learn
I’m Wisdom true

Then they’ll arise
And war in skies
Dragón they’ll cast
Then he’ll be fast

Goyim he’ll lead
Against thy seed
Yerushalem
I’ll fight for them

Prevail I shall
And cast in hell
And all shall see
That Yah sent me

We’ll rule as one
I am the Son
I am the plan
I am the man