1) Clarify whether or not there are two “gospels”, one for Jews and one for Gentiles.

2) What, exactly, is the “gospel”?

The word “gospel”, as used throughout the King James Version, will be translated “good news” throughout this study as that is what the correct meaning is.

Let’s begin by identifying the main preacher and subject of the good news.

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of Adonai Yahweh is upon me; because Yahweh hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Yahshua, the Messiah of Israel, quoted this passage as pertaining to himself before a synagogue full of Jews (Luke 4:16-21). Preaching the good news was a major part of his mission. The following verse shows that he did indeed preach the good news and he did so to the Jews who were present at the temple that day.

Lu 20:1 – And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

Yahshua did not limit his preaching of the good news to just Jerusalem. He preached in many other cities as well.

Mt 9:35- And Yahshua went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

The above verse identifies what that good news was. It was the good news of the “kingdom”. After empowering his disciples, Yahshua sent them out to preach the good news as well.

Lu 9:1-6 – Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of Elohim, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house you enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the good news, and healing every where.

In the above passage, the Jews were expected to embrace the good news of the kingdom of Elohim.

Was Yahshua’s message of a coming kingdom something new to Israel? Not at all. Mk.15:43 tells us Joseph of Arimathaea “waited for the Kingdom of Elohim.” This was a common hope among the Jews. They knew the Kingdom was taken from them and they awaited its return to them. It was that hope that prompted the disciples to ask Yahshua the following question;

“Master, will you at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6.

Hundreds of years before Yahshua was even born, the prophets declared a future king would reign over Israel. They understood that King to be the promised Messiah.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Yahweh of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:7.

“Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” Jeremiah 23:5.

 

Mt 12:28 – But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of Elohim, then the kingdom of Elohim is come unto you.

It is said that the kingdom had come to them, not in its fullness, but by virtue of the fact that its King was standing before them. The same is true of the following verse:

Lu 17:21 – Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of Elohim is among you.

Mt 24:14 – And this good news of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The same good news of the kingdom that Yahshua preached to the Jews will be preached by his followers throughout the world.

Mt 26:6-13 – Now when Yahshua was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Yahshua understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble you the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For you have the poor always with you; but me you have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this good news shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

What “good news” was he referring to in verse 13 that would be preached in the whole world? The good news that the King among them would die and be buried (vs.12). How can that be good news? Because without his death our sins would still be upon us.

Lu 24:44-47 – And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Messiah to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The above passage begins to define more clearly the good news that was to be preached; that is, remission of sins through Messiah’s sacrificial death, as well as his ensuing resurrection. This is the same message that was written in the OT Scriptures, especially in types and shadows throughout the “law of Moses”, Isaiah 53 (the prophets), and Psalm 22 (the Psalms). They were written there so that all Israel would know the good news that was to come.

Here is an example of where the good news was preached in the “law of Moses” (Torah).

Gal.3:8 – And the scripture, foreseeing that Elohim would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the good news unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

John Gill’s commentary reads, “The passage referred to, is in Ge 12:3 and is repeated Ge 18:18 and in Ge 22:18 is thus expressed, in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; which shows, that this is not to be understood of Abraham personally, but of his seed; and which cannot intend Isaac, the immediate seed of Abraham, in whom it was never verified; and besides, is carried down to his seed, Ge 26:4 as not terminating in him; and for the same reason it cannot design Jacob, the immediate seed of Isaac; see Ge 28:14 nor the whole body of the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, in whom it never had its completion; for when and how have the nations of the earth been blessed in them? either whilst in their own land, when they would have no conversation with them, neither on a civil or sacred account, unless they conformed to their rites; or since their dispersion, so far from it, that their name is used by way of reproach, and as a proverb, a taunt, and a curse everywhere; but it is to be understood of the Messiah, . . .”

The following words were spoken to Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. They set forth the requirement for entrance into the kingdom that Yahshua preached about. Therefore, they are part of the good news of the kingdom of Elohim.

John 3:5 -Yahshua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim.

John 3:16 – For Elohim so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Here is another example of the good news being preached to a Jew (Martha).

John 11:25-26 – Yahshua said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

After Yahshua resurrection and ascension, the responsibility for continuing to proclaim the good news was passed on to his disciples. Peter was the primary preacher of the good news to the Jews (the circumcision).

Ga 2:7 – But contrariwise, when they saw that the good news of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the good news of the circumcision was unto Peter;

Let’s take a look at what Peter proclaimed to the Jews.

Acts 2:22-24 – You men of Israel, hear these words; Yahshua of Nazareth, a man approved of Elohim among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which Elohim did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know: him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of Elohim, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom Elohim hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

He proclaimed the same message that Yahshua proclaimed; the good news of Yahshua’s death and resurrection.

Converts that had embraced the good news as delivered by Peter began to preach the good news outside the borders of Israel, but onlyto the Jews in those areas.

Acts 11:19-21 – Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Master Yahshua. And the hand of the Master was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Master.

That the good news was preached only to Jews agrees with Paul’s statement in the following verse.

Ro 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the good news of Messiah: for it is the power of Elohim unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The “good news of Messiah” not only means the good news about Messiah, but the good news as preached by Messiah.

The good news was eventually embraced by Saul of Tarsus, better known as the Apostle Paul. His custom was to visit synagogues in order the preach the good news to the Jews first. One of his opportunities to preach the good news to the Jews is found in the following account.

Acts 13:14-16 – But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear Elohim, give audience.

Acts 13:23-33 – Of this man’s seed hath Elohim according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Yahshua: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think you that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears Elohim, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But Elohim raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, Elohim hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He has raised up Yahshua again; as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee’.

Acts 13:43-46 – Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of Elohim. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of Elohim. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of Elohim should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

So, Paul preached the good news of Yahshua’s death and resurrection to the Jews just as Yahshua did. The Jews, however, rejected their message of good news which prompted Paul and Barnabas to take that same message to the Gentiles of Antioch.

The following two passages show Paul continuing to preach the good news to Jews in other cities.

Acts 14:1 – And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Acts 17:1-3 – Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Messiah must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Yahshua, whom I preach unto you, is Messiah.

The above passage, as well as the following passage, clearly outline the good news that Paul preached.

1 Cor.15:1-4 – Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the good news which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Messiah died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The good news that Messiah died for our sins was indeed proclaimed in the scriptures, specifically Isaiah 53.

Isa.53:5-6 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa.53:8 – He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Isa.53:10-11 – Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Paul was faithful throughout his ministry to preach the same good news that Yahshua preached, that is, the kingdom of Elohim and that which pertained to its King, namely his death, burial, and resurrection..

Acts 28:23 – And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of Elohim, persuading them concerning Yahshua, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Ac 28:30-31 – And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of Elohim, and teaching those things which concern the Master Yahshua Messiah, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

This next passage is very important in showing why the Jews need the good news just as the Gentiles do. It also shows that keeping the law/Torah is not the good news.

Ro.3:9-28 – What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after Elohim. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Elohim. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of Elohim without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of Elohim which is by faith of Yahshua Messiah unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Elohim;Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yahshua: Whom Elohim hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Elohim; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Yahshua. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Jews will not automatically be saved simply because they are Jews. They need to embrace the good news of the kingdom of Elohim and the death, burial and resurrection of its King just as Gentiles do.

When Ro.11:26 says, “And so all Israel shall be saved . . .”, it does not include those that were cut off in unbelief and who continue to abide in it. Nor would “Israel” that is saved include such Jews as Messiah rebuked in the following passage.

Mt.23:33-35 – You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of Gehenna? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.

In conclusion, the good news of the Kingdom of Elohim (Yahweh) and the good news that the King of that Kingdom (Messiah Yahshua) died, was buried, and has resurrected from the dead to live and reign over that Kingdom during the millennium, and that all mankind can live forever in that Kingdom, is for both Jews and Gentiles. Jews must embrace that good news now or after their blindness has been lifted. If not, they will remain cut off in unbelief. May Almighty Yahweh grant them and the Gentile nations ears to hear and eyes to see the glorious good news proclaimed to them.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith Yahweh: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is.1:18).

Friend, if you have not had your sins forgiven yet, Almighty Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is offering to cleanse you, forgive you, and make you as pure as snow. So please stop for a moment and reason with Him.

He says in His Word, the Bible,

“There is none righteous, no not one. . . For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of [Yahweh].” (Romans 3:10,23).

You are included among the “ALL” in this verse. You are a sinner because you have broken Yahweh’s laws throughout your life. What will your payment be for living a life of sin?

“For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a).

You have an appointment with death; not just a physical death, but what the Bible calls “the second death,” an eternal death.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev.20:14-15).

You are not without hope, however. If your name IS found written in the book of life, you will not face the second death. There is only one way to assure your name will be written there.

“Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn.14:6).

Yahshua, the only begotten Son of Yahweh is THE WAY.

Romans 6:23 in its entirety reads,

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of [Yahweh] is eternal life through Yahshua Messiah our Master.” (Rom.6:23).

Yahweh has provided a way for you and all sinners to avoid the second death in the lake of fire. He sent His only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah, to die for the sins of the world, including yours, no matter how bad they are!

“But [Yahweh] commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Rom.5:8).

“For [Yahweh] so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For [Yahweh] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”(Jn.3:16-17).

Yahweh, your Creator, loves you. He loves you so much that He allowed His Son to die so that your sins could be forgiven and so that you could receive eternal life. He does not rejoice over the death of sinners, but longs for them to receive His unmerited love. Would you like to receive His love, forgiveness, and salvation? Then follow His instructions in Romans 10:9,10 and Acts 2:38.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Master Yahshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that [Yahweh] hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”(Rom.10:9-10).

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).

I invite you to say this short prayer, or something similar, and receive Yahshua as your personal Savior;

“Almighty Yahweh,

I admit that I am a sinner in need of your salvation. Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed and purify me through the shed blood of your only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah. I ask that Yahshua become the Master and Savior of my life.”

If you are hesitant about receiving this free gift of salvation and eternal life, please reply to this post and we’ll talk. If you have accepted this gift, may you grow in grace and truth and in the knowledge of our Master and Savior, Yahshua the Messiah.

There is, indeed, a Divine Being who created the heavens and the earth and who brought you into existence. Contrary to popular belief, mankind did not evolve from monkeys (and before that; fish, one celled creatures, and “chemical soup”).

I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. . . For thus says Yahweh that created the heavens; The Mighty One himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am Yahweh; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:12, 18)

This fact of the existence of a Divine Creator is evident in creation itself.

For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Deity; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)

Do not be deceived by men who profess to be wise and come up with all sorts of unscientific theories about how creation and life came to be. They are merely guessing, having not been eyewitnesses to creation. Actually, it is more like wishful thinking. They do not want to admit to the existence of a Divine Creator because then they would need to be subject to Him and His commandments. Their willful ignorance allows them to continue in their sinful ways without fear of judgment. However, a judgment day is coming.

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasure up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of [Yahweh]; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with [Yahweh]. (Romans 2:5-11)

The question for you is, “How are you going to fare come judgment day? Will you receive a favorable judgment and be granted eternal life or an unfavorable judgment and be granted eternal death?

For [Yahweh] so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For [Yahweh] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of [Yahweh]. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in [Yahweh]. (John 3:16-21)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of [Yahweh]: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:24-29)

You may ask, “On what grounds would I be condemned to eternal death? I am a good person and help others whenever I can.”

Your Creator, Almighty Yahweh, has a holy law that you and all men have broken. When that law is broken it is called “sin”.

Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)

All men have sinned (broken Yahweh’s law).

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of [Yahweh]; (Romans 3:23)

The payment or consequence for sin is death.

For the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23a)

Now ask yourself, “Have I sinned by breaking Yahweh’s law?” If you ever stole anything, lied, worked on Yahweh’s Sabbath Day (Saturday), committed adultery, desired something you could not lawfully have, etc., then you have sinned and are under the death penalty. That penalty will be carried out come judgment day. Are you ready to face your judge? Do you have a defense ready that will free you from death?

There is only one way to be freed from sin and from the death penalty imposed upon you. His name is Yahshua (also known as Jesus).

Yahshua said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Yahshua said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)

Do you believe this? If not, you will die an eternal death. If so, you will live forever.

“How can that be” you ask? “How can believing in a man have such an effect on my eternal destiny?”

Since the payment for sin is death, someone had to take your place and die for you. Someone had to take your sin and punishment upon himself. That someone was Yahshua, the only begotten Son of your Creator, Yahweh.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; He has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:5-12)

For even hereunto were you called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25)

The Bible teaches that sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

The Bible also teaches that through one man’s obedience, righteousness and life were made available again to all mankind.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Yahshua Messiah.

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-19)

Yahshua the Messiah is that one man, the only man that lived a sinless life by obeying all of Yahweh’s laws.

For He has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of [Yahweh] in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Because he was sinless, Yahweh was able to use him to bear the sins of the world.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Let’s recap your situation.

You sinned by breaking Yahweh’s holy law.

You placed yourself under the death penalty for sin.

You have no hope of escaping eternal death.

You are reading this article and now have hope.

You found out that Yahshua took the sins of the world upon himself so they would not have to die an eternal death, but live forever.

Now ask yourself, “How can I receive this incredible forgiveness of my own sins and live forever?”

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Master Yahshua Messiah, and you shall be saved, and your house. (Act 16:31)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Act 2:38)

To “repent” involves confessing your sins to Yahweh, asking Him to forgive you and turning away from them by not committing those sins again.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of [Yahweh], even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

To “receive” the Master Yahshua is to accept him as your Master and Savior and allowing him to lead you through life. It includes choosing to obey his commandments.

That if you shall confess with thy mouth the Master Yahshua, and shall believe in your heart that [Yahweh] has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

You make a public confession that Yahshua has become your Master and Savior when you get baptized (totally immersed under water to wash away your sins and symbolizing putting to death your old sinful self in the watery grave and rising up out of the grave a new man).

Once you have made such a commitment and received this precious salvation as a free gift from your Creator, you should begin walking in obedience to not only His commandments, but Yahshua’s as well. Obedience to the commandments is a fruit of your salvation and is brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit within you.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27)

It is that same Holy Spirit that lives within a true believer that will bring about your resurrection from the dead.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against [Yahweh]: for it is not subject to the law of [Yahweh], neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please [Yahweh]. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of [Yahweh] dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his. And if Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Yahshua from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Messiah from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

There are many promises made by Yahweh that the believer will receive from Him. The gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life are only two of them. If Yahweh permits, I will lay out those promises in a future article.

So dear friend, you have reached a crossroads in your life. A decision must be made to either receive Yahshua as your Master and Savior and all the blessings that that entails or reject him and continue in your present ways until judgment day and then suffer the consequences.

“What are the consequences of rejecting Yahshua” you may ask?

He that believes on him (Yahshua) is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of [Yahweh]. (John 3:18)

Who is a liar but he that denies that Yahshua is the Messiah? He is anti-Messiah, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. ( 1 John 2:22-23)

He that believes on the Son of [Yahweh] has the witness in himself: he that believes not [Yahweh] has made Him a liar; because he believes not the record that [Yahweh] gave of His Son. And this is the record, that [Yahweh] has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of [Yahweh] has not life. (1 John 5:10-12)

He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his [Yahweh], and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:7-8)

Choose wisely dear reader.

These words were written by David as the Spirit of Almighty Yahweh inspired him. Yahweh is a discerner of the heart. He not only knows what’s in each of our hearts, but He knows the ramifications of what we think in our hearts. 

Are you an atheist that does not believe there is a “God” or a “Mighty One” that created and rules this universe? That same “God” who you do not believe exists classifies you as a “fool”, that is, one who lacks wisdom. I encourage you to reconsider the facts concerning His existence.

The fool has said in his heart, There is no [Mighty One]. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good. Yahweh looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek [the Mighty One]. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:1-3)

The above passage holds true for all mankind, not just atheists. The Apostle Paul quoted from this passage and concluded:

Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before [the Mighty One]. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of [the Mighty One]; (Romans 3:19, 23) 

All mankind has sinned, including you dear reader. The payment must therefore be given to you at the appointed time.

For the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23a)

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

At this point in your life, if you choose to do nothing, your fate is sealed. The righteous judgment of your Creator has decreed that you must forfeit your life at an appointed time. However, your fate can be altered through the most magnificent plan ever conceived.

Your Creator has provided a means through which you can have the death penalty removed.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of the Mighty One is eternal life through Yahshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) our Master. (Romans 6:23)

But we see Yahshua, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of the Mighty One should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)

For Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to the Mighty One, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).

Your Creator allowed His only begotten Son to die in your place. He paid the price for your sins so that you may live eternally with your Creator; His life for yours, his suffering for yours. Greater love has no man than that he would lay down his life for another. Such has Messiah done for you. All you need to do is accept the gift of life being offered to you by repenting of your sins (being sorry for them and turning away from them unto obedience to your Creator) and receiving The Master Yahshua as your Savior (believing in him for your salvation).

For the Mighty One so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

But as many as received him (Yahshua), to them gave he power to become the sons of the Mighty One, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

Your choices are simple:

A)    Reject this message of salvation through belief in Messiah Yahshua and die an eternal death and separation from your Creator

B)    Accept this message of salvation through the sacrificial death of Yahshua on your behalf and live eternally with him and your Creator.

This is a no brainer dear reader. Exercise wisdom and live!

The word “euangelion” occurs over seventy-five times in the NT with the meaning of “good news.” Several English translations use “good news” as well; The American Standard Version, The Twentieth Century New Testament, The Berkeley Version of the New Testament, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People (Williams), The New Testament: An American Translation (Goodspeed), etc.

The New Testament speaks of the good news in several ways. There is the; “good news of Yahshua Messiah, the Son of [Yahweh]” (Mk.1:1), “good news of [Yahweh]” (Rom.1:1), “good news of the kingdom of [Yahweh]” (Mk.1:14), “good news of the glory of Messiah” (II Cor.4:4), “good news of peace” (Rom.10:15), etc. Each of these aspects of the good news have major importance in the overall message of salvation preached in the NT. The “everlasting good news” encompasses all aspects of the good news as found in Scripture. For those who refuse to heed the good news it is utter foolishness, but to those who accept the good news it is the “power of [Yahweh] unto salvation” (Rom.1:16).

This site is concerned primarily with that aspect of the everlasting good news that is proclaimed in Rev.14:6,7.

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting good news to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear [Yahweh], and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.” KJV

This message is for all people as verse 6 tells us. It is not just for “religious” people, but for the worst of sinners as well. The main concern of verse 7 is that all people “Fear [Yahweh]” who is identified as the Creator. Most English versions say, “Fear God,” but, once again, “God” is a man-made title. The Holy Scriptures reveal the Creator’s personal name to be “Yahweh.” Many times in the OT we are admonished to “Fear [Yahweh].” The following are just a few examples;

Ps.33:8 – “Let all the earth fear Yahweh. . .”
Ps.34:9 – “O fear Yahweh, ye His saints. . .”
Ps.115:13 – “He will bless them that fear Yahweh. . .”
Pr.3:7 – “Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear Yahweh and depart from evil. “

Fear can come in two forms. It can be fear as in reverence or it can be fear as in fright. The context of Rev.14:7 can include both forms of fear, but certainly that of fright since it concerns the “hour of His judgment.” As Heb.10:30,31 tells us;

“For we know Him that said, ‘Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith Yahweh.’ And again, ‘Yahweh shall judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Mighty One.”

Friends, if you do not want to be on the receiving end of Yahweh’s vengeance, you need to respond appropriately to the good news of Rev.14:7. Begin to fear Yahweh who created you. Contrary to popular belief, you did not evolve from monkeys. You were created by a loving being who has a great plan for your life.

How does a person come to fear Yahweh, you may ask? Click here to find out. “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom . . .” as the psalmist wrote. But that fear will eventually turn into a deep love for Yahweh once you come to know Him in a more intimate way. As we read in I Jn.4:18;

” There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.”

We need to be “made” perfect in love. One does not love naturally. As we experience something more and more we make a conscious decision to love. As you learn about Yahweh through His written word, the Bible, and as you realize the great love He has for all His creatures, you will grow to love Him and all your fears will be abated.

Rev.14:7 also commands us to “give glory to Him” (Yahweh). The word “glory” is translated from the Greek word “doxa”. As used throughout the New Testament, it has the meaning of holding a good opinion about someone, resulting in praise and honor towards that person. There is no being in the universe worthy of more praise and honor than the Creator Himself.

We are admonished similarly in Ps 29:2;

“Give unto Yahweh the glory due unto his name; worship Yahweh in the beauty of holiness.”

To give glory to Yahweh is a form of fearing Yahweh in the sense of reverence. Ps 89:7 reads;

“El (the Mighty One) is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.”

Here we see the two commands of Rev.14:7; to fear Him and to give glory or reverence to Him. We also see both in Heb.12:28.

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve Elohim acceptably with reverence and fear.”

Yahweh will not allow His glory to be given to another through idolatry as we read in Isa.42:8;

“I am Yahweh: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Israel failed to give Yahweh the glory due His name when they fell into idolatry, so He warned Israel to do so or face dire consequences.

“If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Yahweh of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” Mal.2:2

One of the most important ways to give glory to Yahweh is by confessing His Messiah, Yahshua, as one’s Master.

“And that every tongue should confess that Yahshua Messiah is Master, to the glory of Elohim the Father.” Php 2:11

Messiah Yahshua is the “way” of salvation according to Yahweh’s great plan of salvation which He devised before the foundation of the world. To embrace Yahshua as Messiah and confess him as one’s Master is to give glory to Yahweh. To reject him as Messiah and Master is to reject Yahweh’s plan of salvation. It sends a message to Yahweh that the individual deserves the glory for devising his own means of salvation contrary to Yahweh’s method.

 
The everlasting good news being preached in Rev.14:7 makes it quite clear that the object of our worship is the one who “made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Since most English translations attribute creation to “God” in verse 7, and since this general title is applied to several beings including Yahweh, His Son Yahshua, Satan, men, and angels, we need to search the Scriptures to determine the true identity of the Creator.

We won’t go into great detail about that subject here since it is dealt with in other studies at this site. Suffice it to say that the Scriptures emphatically declare the Creator to be “Yahweh” over 100 times. A few examples follow;

Is.44:24 – “Thus saith Yahweh, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am Yahweh that maketh all things ; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself.”

Is.45:11, 12 – “Thus saith Yahweh . . .I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”

Is.45:18 – “For thus saith Yahweh that created the heavens; Elohim Himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am Yahweh; and there is none else.”

If we direct our worship at any other being, we commit idolatry. If we glorify any other being as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, we commit idolatry. That includes glorifying Yahweh’s Son Yahshua as Creator. This is one of Christianity’s greatest failings. Satan has deceived the “church” into misdirecting its worship from the Father to the Son. He knew he couldn’t get them to worship himself, so the next best thing would be to misdirect their worship to another being. This Christians will gladly do all the while believing they are doing what is right. Satan is the father of lies and this is one of his greatest whoppers.

Do not misunderstand me. Yahshua is truly the Son of Yahweh, the Savior of the world, the Messiah. He deserves all the honor due him, but only where honor is due. He is not to be honored as Creator because that honor goes to his Father, Yahweh. He is also not to be honored as Yahweh Himself as many like to do. The Son is not the Father and Yahshua is not Yahweh.

So, we need to fear Yahweh who is the Creator. We need to worship Him as well. But Jn.4:24 says we must worship the Father “in truth.” Here is where true doctrine becomes important. If our doctrine is false, then our worship is false. Its a good thing we have the blood of Yahshua to cleanse us from our sins of ignorance. For an outline of the fundamental doctrines of true faith and worship, click here.

The most important truth concerning the worship of Yahweh is to do it the way that He provided. Yahshua the Messiah said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn.14:6). Before a person can approach Yahweh in true worship, he must first accept Yahshua as his personal savior. This entails confessing with your mouth the Master Yahshua, and believing in your heart that Yahweh raised him from the dead (Rom.10:9). Click here to learn more about what you must do to be saved.

The admonition to “fear [Yahweh] and give glory to Him” is given in reference to a specific time frame; “the hour of His judgment”. In the context of Revelation, “the hour of His judgment” began with the opening of the seventh seal of Rev.8:1 which began the Day of Yahweh. It is at that time that Yahweh will judge this world and the wicked in it by fire.

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of wicked men.” 2 Pe.3:7

To fear Yahweh and give glory to Him is a loving warning from our Creator. It is His hope that, by embracing those words and doing them, we will avoid being recipients of that judgment. As we saw before, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Mighty One.

In conclusion, to fear Yahweh and worship Him as Creator is the everlasting good news. It has been preached since the beginning of time and will continue to be preached forever. The angel of Rev.14:7 is merely reminding the inhabitants of earth to do what they should have always done, but failed to do. I hope you will embrace this good news for it is truly powerful and life changing. It is your salvation!

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith Yahweh: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is.1:18).

Friend, if you have not had your sins forgiven yet, Almighty Yahweh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is offering to cleanse you, forgive you, and make you as pure as snow. So please stop for a moment and reason with Him.

He says in His Word, the Bible,

“There is none righteous, no not one. . . For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of [Yahweh].” (Romans 3:10,23).

You are included among the “ALL” in this verse. You are a sinner because you have broken Yahweh’s laws throughout your life. What will your payment be for living a life of sin?

“For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a).

You have an appointment with death; not just a physical death, but what the Bible calls “the second death,” an eternal death.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev.20:14-15).

You are not without hope, however. If your name IS found written in the book of life, you will not face the second death. There is only one way to assure your name will be written there.

“Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn.14:6).

Yahshua, the only begotten Son of Yahweh is THE WAY.

Romans 6:23 in its entirety reads,

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of [Yahweh] is eternal life through Yahshua Messiah our Master.” (Rom.6:23).

Yahweh has provided a way for you and all sinners to avoid the second death in the lake of fire. He sent His only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah, to die for the sins of the world, including yours, no matter how bad they are!

“But [Yahweh] commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Rom.5:8).

“For [Yahweh] so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For [Yahweh] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (Jn.3:16-17).

Yahweh, your Creator, loves you. He loves you so much that He allowed His Son to die so that your sins could be forgiven and so that you could receive eternal life. He does not rejoice over the death of sinners, but longs for them to receive His unmerited love. Would you like to receive His love, forgiveness, and salvation? Then follow His instructions in Romans 10:9,10 and Acts 2:38.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Master Yahshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that [Yahweh] hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom.10:9-10).

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).

I invite you to say this short prayer, or something similar, and receive Yahshua as your personal Savior;

“Almighty Yahweh,

I admit that I am a sinner in need of your salvation. Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed and purify me through the shed blood of your only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah. I ask that Yahshua become the Master and Savior of my life.”

If you are hesitant about receiving this free gift of salvation and eternal life, please reply to this post and we’ll talk. If you have accepted this gift, may you grow in grace and truth and in the knowledge of our Master and Savior, Yahshua the Messiah.

Genesis 12:1-3  YHWH said to Abram: ‘Get you out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show you. And I will make of tyou a great nation, and I will bless you, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you, and him that curses you will I curse; and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

He repeated those promises to Abraham’s son Isaac who was not merely a child born of Abraham, but a child promised by the Almighty Himself.

Genesis 18:10 – And He said: ‘I will certainly return unto you when the season comes round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. . . . 14.  Is any thing too hard for YHWH. At the set time I will return unto you, when the season comes round, and Sarah shall have a son.’

In other words, the blessings would come upon Abraham through the promised seed (Isaac), not through Abraham’s other son, Ishmael, born of Sarah’s Egyptian handmaid (Genesis 25:12).

The promises of Genesis 12:1-3 were fulfilled in that Abraham’s descendents through Isaac did indeed become a great nation during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Abram was blessed to have such a nation come from his loins and his name became great throughout the earth.

However, the blessing upon Abram and his descendants was not to stop in King Solomon’s day. There would come a time when “all the families of the earth” would be blessed in Abram. This promise was repeated with more clarity after Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

Genesis 22:16-18  . . . and said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, says YHWH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have hearkened to My voice.’

Here we see that the blessings upon all nations will come through Abraham’s “seed”. What “seed” was this referring to? A great Torah observant Pharisee, trained at the feet of Gamaliel, wrote:

“Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your seed,” who is Mashiach.”

The “seed” through which “all the families” and “all the nations” of the earth would be blessed is Abraham’s descendent, Mashiach. The other descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were indeed a blessing to people within a very limited scope, but the eternal blessings Maschiach would bring to the inhabitants of planet Earth would far eclipse the temporal blessings that came through men like Moses, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc.

What are some of these eternal blessings that the Maschiach will bring?

1. He will sit upon the throne of David as he rules over the Kingdom of Elohim. (Isaiah 9:7; 11:4)
2. He will bring eternal peace. (Isaiah 9:7)
3. He will destroy the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)
4. He will be a light of the nations, open blind eyes and free the prisoners. (Isaiah 42:6-7)
5. He will judge the Earth (Isaiah 42:4)
6. He will be the salvation of YHWH to all the Earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
7. He will bring Jacob back to YHWH. (Isaiah 49:5-6)
8. He will bear the grief, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities and sins of Israel. (Isaiah 53:4-12)

When will Maschiach come?

Here is Micah 5:1-3 from the Tanakh with my commentary in bold.

Micah 5:1 – Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

The “judge of Israel” is Maschiach as Aben Ezra agrees. They will treat him cruelly.

Micah 5:2 -  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

This verse refers to Maschiach. He is YHWH’s appointed ruler over Israel whose origin traces back to David. Just as David was born in Bethlehem, so too will Maschiach, David’s descendant.

Micah 5:3 – Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

Maschiach will give Israel up (not focus his attention on them) until a “woman” gives birth. What “woman” is this?

Isaiah 66:7-10  Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Is a land born in one day? Is a nation brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? says YHWH; Shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? says thy Elohim. Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her;

The “woman” is Zion/Jerusalem. In verse 7, she gave birth to a son BEFORE she had labor pains. That son was Mashiach! He was the first born son of Zion before she began to experience incredible tribulation as recorded by Josephus in his horrific historical account of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. (Antiquities of the Jews) and through the ordeal of the holocaust.

Notice verses 8-9; Zion was to give birth to more children AFTER her labor pains. The birth of Zion’s children is approaching in our day as her labor pains reach their peak as prophesied by Zechariah 14:1-2.

Behold, a day of YHWH comes, when your spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

At that time, Maschiach will return and stand upon the Mount of Olives as YHWH’s shaliach or emissary.

Getting back to Micah 5:3; “then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.” Aren’t the children of Israel Maschiach’s brethren? Who, then, are the “rest of his brothers”? They are those who received him when he first came shortly before Zion/Jerusalem began to experience labor pains in 70 C.E. When Maschiach first came, most did not receive him as Maschiach. They thought he was an imposter and had him put to death. However, death could not hold him. His Elohim (YHWH) raised him from the dead and seated him on His right hand until his enemies be made his footstool (Psalm 110:1).

Psalm 110:1  A Psalm of David. HASHEM said unto my lord: ‘Sit you at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Do not be misled by the Tanakh translation where it begins with, “Regarding David, A Psalm”. In all other Psalms where the Tanakh reads, “by David” such as Psalms 108 & 109, it is the same Hebrew word, “לדוד”.  Psalm 110:1 are the words of YHWH to His Maschiach, David’s Master. They are not the words of some unknown author writing about David.

Here is the Jewish Publication Society’s translation of Psalm 110:1;

A Psalm of David. The LORD saith unto my lord: ‘Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’

Who is this Maschiach?

It is none other than Yeshua of Nazareth who was born in Bethlehem, killed at the request of unbelieving Jews of Jerusalem, and resurrected from the dead by his Elohim, (YHWH). Do not be misled into rejecting Yeshua as Maschiach because Christians erroneously teach he is “GOD”.  Micah 5:3 shows us that YHWH is his “Elohim”. Yeshua cannot be his own Elohim, therefore, he is under subjection to YHWH who is the one true Elohim.

During the time of Maschiach’s giving up Israel, YHWH has blinded you to the truth that Yeshua is Maschiach.

Isaiah 29:10-19 -  For YHWH has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; the prophets, and your heads, the seers, has He covered. And the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a writing that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he says: ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’; and the writing is delivered to him that is not learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he says: ‘I am not learned.’

And YHWH said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote; Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from YHWH, and their works are in the dark, and they say: ‘Who sees us? and who knows us?’

O your perversity! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it: ‘He made me not’; or the thing framed say of him that framed it: ‘He has no understanding?’ Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in YHWH, and the neediest among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

The time is coming soon when YHWH will lift the blindness from the children of Israel and Maschiach’s brothers (his disciples) will come to tell you of him. Be ready to receive their words of truth.

Isaiah 59:20  And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says YHWH.

Lift up your heads, Oh Israel, your Maschiach (Yeshua)  lives and will return for you!

HalleluYah!

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim (“God”) is at hand: repent ye, and believe the good news (“gospel”).” Mark 1:15, KJV

With those words, Yahshua taught the people of the nearness of the coming Kingdom of Elohim and that it necessitates repentance. Repentance means to turn away from one’s sins (transgressions of Yahweh’s laws – 1 John 3:4) and begin obeying the very laws that were being transgressed. It requires a change of mind concerning one’s relationship with the Creator, Yahweh. This change of mind is from disobedience to obedience out of regret for past sins and behaviors that were contrary to the Almighty’s will. It also blossoms out of a heartfelt love for Yahweh and a desire to live according to His revealed will. That will is revealed in Torah ( the laws and teachings of Yahweh).

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of repentance as it relates to the Kingdom as well. In responding to the Elders of the assembly at Ephesus, Paul said;

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward Elohim, and faith toward our Master Yahshua Messiah. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Master Yahshua, to testify the good news of the grace of Elohim. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of Elohim, shall see my face no more.”Acts 20:20-25.

Why would Yahshua and Paul make repentance a prerequisite to the Kingdom? Every kingdom, whether earthly or heavenly, is governed by laws. Without law chaos would reign. Every man would do as he pleased resulting in the soon collapse of such a kingdom. A similar fate struck Israel. In that case, the Kingdom of Yahweh did not collapse, but was taken away from Israel because of their sins.

“What?” some may say. “Didn’t Yahshua say the Kingdom of Elohim was at hand? How can you say the Kingdom of Yahweh over Israel was taken away if it hadn’t even come yet?”

The Scriptures do not leave us ignorant concerning this matter.

The Kingdom Lost

Let’s begin with 1 Chr.28:1-5;

“And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our Elohim, and had made ready for the building: But Elohim said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. Howbeit Yahweh Elohim of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for He hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He liked me to make me king over all Israel: And of all my sons, (for Yahweh hath given me many sons,) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel.“ 1 Chronicles 28:1-5, KJV.

Yahweh Himself chose Solomon to sit on “the throne of the Kingdom of Yahweh over Israel”. The Kingdom was on this earth thousands of years ago and Solomon ruled it.

Notice, also, that Yahweh chose David to be king over Israel forever (vs.4). Forever did not end at David’s death, but will never end. As long as Israel exists, David will be its king. This would require David’s resurrection in the future and the continuance of Israel forever.

1 Chr.29:10,11, 22, 23, teach us that the Kingdom of Israel is Yahweh’s Kingdom and that David ruled that same Kingdom before Solomon succeeded him.

“Wherefore David blessed Yahweh before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Yahweh Elohim of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Yahweh, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the Kingdom, O Yahweh, and thou art exalted as head above all. . . . And did eat and drink before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Yahweh to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.” 1 Chronicles 29:10,11,22, 23.

Yahweh has sworn to David that his descendants would always sit upon the throne of His Kingdom. However, that promise was conditional upon the obedience of David’s children to the covenant laws that governed the Kingdom (Ps. 132:11,12; 1 Kgs 2:1-4).

Psalm 132:11,12 says;

“Yahweh hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.” Psalms 132:11,12.

We see, in 1 Kgs.11:9-11, that David’s son Solomon would fail to keep those covenant laws.

“And Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from Yahweh Elohim of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other elohim: but he kept not that which Yahweh commanded. Wherefore Yahweh said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.” 1 Kings 11:9-11.

Solomon’s idolatry cost him the Kingdom. Yahweh rent it from him and gave ten tribes to Solomon’s servant’s son Jeroboam (vs.31). For David and Jreusalem’s sake, Yahweh did not remove His entire Kingdom, but gave one tribe to Solomon’s son Rehoboam (vs.32, 36).

Rehoboam’s Kingdom was called, “the Kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the son of David” in 2 Chr.13:8.

Israel continued to reject the laws of the Kingdom until Yahweh brought the Assyrians upon them to carry them out of His sight.

“Yet Yahweh testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in Yahweh their Elohim. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom Yahweh had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of Yahweh their Elohim, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of Yahweh their Elohim, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of his sight. For He rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following Yahweh, and made them sin a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; Until Yahweh removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.” 2 Kings 17:13-23.

King Saul’s disobedience cost him the Kingdom as well. Failure to obey led Samuel to say to Saul;

“Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy Elohim, which he commanded thee: for now would Yahweh have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee.” 1 Samuel 13:13,14.

Judah would soon follow in the footsteps of the ten tribes by being taken into captivity by the king of Babylon because of their sins.

“And Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke by His servants the prophets. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. . . .And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.” 2 Kings 24:2, 10, 14.

Through the fate of Israel and Judah, we learn that repentance and obedience are crucial to living a peaceful, blessed life in the Kingdom. This is why Yahshua preached repentance to Israel prior to the Kingdom coming again. Without a change of heart concerning obeying the laws of the Kingdom, entrance would be denied.

Yahshua’s call to repentance raises another question. Why would he call Israel to repent of their transgressions against old covenant laws if those laws would no longer be binding under the new covenant? The answer is, he wouldn’t. He called them to repent of transgressions against old covenant laws because those same laws would govern the coming Kingdom.

When Yahweh gave Jeremiah his prophecy of the new covenant in Jer.31:31-33. He said He would write His laws upon the hearts of new covenant Israelites. What laws? The only laws that existed at that time, old covenant laws. They would be carried over into the new covenant, with the exception of those that were fulfilled by Messiah such as animal sacrifices or those related to the Temple, but the administration of it would be different. There would no longer be a condemnatory function of the law for those who walk in the Spirit of the new covenant. Please read, “The Law and the New Covenant Believer” for a more detailed explanation of this.

The Hope of the Kingdom Restored

Was Yahshua’s message of a coming Kingdom something new to Israel? Not at all. Mk.15:43 tells us Joseph of Arimathaea “waited for the Kingdom of Elohim.” This was a common hope among the Jews. They knew the Kingdom was taken from them and they awaited its return to them. It was that hope that prompted the disciples to ask Yahshua the following question;

“Master, will you at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6.

Yahshua, knowing perfectly well that the disciples were referring to the same kingdom he preached about, did not correct any erroneous thinking on their part, but simply said it was not for them to know when that time would be.

Israel was a nation that not only anticipated the restoration of the Kingdom to them, but they longed for it. This was especially true at a time in their history when they were subjects to Roman rule. That is why the preaching of the coming Kingdom was indeed good news!

Yahshua was called and sent to preach that good news to the people of Capernaum of Galilee. When the people implored him to not depart from them, he said;

“I must preach the Kingdom of Elohim to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.” Luke 4:43.

Yahweh did not send Yahshua to preach the good news to the entire world, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt.15:24). Yahshua commissioned his twelve disciples to a similar mission. Mt.10:5-7 reads;

“These twelve Yahshua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:5-7.

David prophesied that Yahweh’s saints would preach this Kingdom message when he wrote;

“All thy works shall praise thee, O Yahweh; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his Kingdom. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” Psalms 145:10-13.

The Good News Spreads

Eventually, the commission extended beyond the twelve disciples and beyond the borders of Israel. Shortly before his ascension, our Savior commissioned the twelve to;

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the good news to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

In Acts 8:1-4, we learn that after the stoning of Stephen, Saul began to wreak havoc upon the believers in Jerusalem. This resulted in a scattering of the believers throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

In Acts 8:12, we see Philip successfully preaching the Kingdom and preaching Messiah unto the Samaritans. Shortly afterwards, Saul was converted to the faith. From then on, there was no stopping the spread of the good news of the coming Kingdom of Elohim. Paul, in writing to the Colossians, said the good news was “preached to every creature under heaven.”

Paul continued to preach this Kingdom message throughout his life. The last record we have of Paul’s ministry states;

ÒAnd when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of Elohim, persuading them concerning Yahshua, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of Elohim, and teaching those things which concern the Master Yahshua Messiah, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:23, 30,31.

The Government of the Kingdom

Every kingdom has a king. Yahweh’s Kingdom is no different. John 1:49 says;

“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of Elohim; thou art the King of Israel.” John 1:49.

If only the rest of the world would have believed as readily as Nathanael did.

John also records the following about Yahshua’s mission;

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Yahshua answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37.

The angel Gabriel prophesied to Miriam of the honor and position of Yahshua as the King over Yahweh’s coming Kingdom.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Yahshua. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and Yahweh Elohim shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31-33.

Hundreds of years before Yahshua was even born, the prophets declared his reign as King over Israel.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Yahweh of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:7.

“Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” Jeremiah 23:5.

Hebrews 1:8 says of Yahweh’s Son;

“Thy throne, O elohim, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy Kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8.

In Rev.19:16, we see Yahweh’s Son Yahshua coming out of heaven to make war against the wicked. The name written on his vesture reads, “King of kings“. He will not be the only king to rule in the Kingdom of Yahweh. The saints that overcome will rule the nations as well.

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Revelation 2:26,27.

King David’s government over Israel was a type of King Yahshua’s government over the world. King David sat upon the throne of Yahweh over Israel and King Yahshua will sit on the throne of Yahweh over the world. King David had 288,000 men that served him and helped him rule Israel (1 Chr.27:1-15). King Yahshua will have 288,000 saints to help him rule the world in righteousness (Rev.7:4; 14:1). For a deeper study on this, click here.

As I mentioned earlier, every kingdom has laws to govern the behavior of its citizens. The Kingdom of Yahweh is no different. New covenant law, written on the hearts of the repentant, will be the rule of life in the Kingdom. Those that desire to live in the Kingdom of Yahweh will embrace those laws and obey them even now before the Kingdom comes, not as a means to enter the Kingdom (salvation by works), but as a fruit of their salvation and love for Yahweh.

“For this is the love of [Yahweh], that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.

Yahweh had this to say about the king that sits upon the throne of the Kingdom over Israel;

“When thou art come unto the land which Yahweh thy Elohim giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. . . . And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear Yahweh his Elohim, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.” Deuteronomy 17:14,15, 18-20.

King Yahshua showed the law even more respect and honor, for he taught us, in the sermon on the mount, to obey the deeper meaning of the law, not merely its letter (Mt.5:21, 22, 27, 28).

Entrance Into the Kingdom is Conditional

There is only one “way” to enter the Kingdom and that is through the “door”, Yahshua the Messiah.

“Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber . . . Then said Yahshua unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep . . . I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:1, 7, 9.

However, thee are also certain conditions that must be met in order to gain entrance into the Kingdom.

1) A new birth – John 3:3-5

“Yahshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Yahshua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim.”

2) Faith and a love for Yahweh – James 2:5

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not Elohim chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?”

3) Endurance – Acts 14:22

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of Elohim.”

4) Compassion – Mt.25:34,35

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

5) Not looking back – Luke 9:62

“And Yahshua said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of Elohim.”

6) Humility – Mt.18:3,4

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

7) Turning away from unrighteousness – 1 Cor.6:9,10

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.”

8) A resurrection from the dead through Messiah Yahshua

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Elohim; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”

9) Not doing the works of the flesh – Gal.5:19-21

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.”

10) A heart that doesn’t trust in riches – Mt.19:23,24

“Then said Yahshua unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim.”

11) Obedience to the Father – Mt.7:21

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

12) Obedience to the Son – Heb.5:9

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

Conclusion

In Mt.6:10, Yahshua taught his disciples to pray, “thy Kingdom come . . .” When it does come, it will destroy all other governments / kingdoms on earth as prophesied by Daniel.

“And in the days of these kings shall the Elohim of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44.

The Hebrew for “break in pieces” means to “crush”. This will not be a physical crushing as an earthly army might crush the enemy with tanks and air strikes. Rev.19:14,15, 19-21 tell us the enemies of Yahshua will be slain by the “sword” of his words.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty [Yahweh] . . . And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:14, 15, 19-21.

Rev.11:15 says the kingdoms or governments of this planet will become Yahweh’s and Yahshua’s. The leaders will be overthrown and Yahshua’s Kingdom government will begin to rule the world from Jerusalem. At that time, the law of Yahweh will go forth out of Zion (Jerusalem) unto all the nations.

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.” Isaiah 2:1-5.

A time of unprecedented peace will blanket the earth a Yahshua and his resurrected saints rule in righteousness. Those believers that live by faith and Yahweh’s Torah (law) today are in training to begin their rule. People that refuse to obey Yahweh’s commandments, including His Sabbaths, Feast Days, laws of purity and holiness, etc., will find themselves, at best, to be the least in the Kingdom as our Savior Yahshua taught in Mt.5:17-19;

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19.

Friend, I hope you have ears to hear what the true good news (gospel) of the Kingdom of heaven is and a heart of love for your Creator, Yahweh, tat you may believe and obey.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of [Yahweh]; And He shall send Yahshua Messiah, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which [[Yahweh]] hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:19-21.

“From that time Yahshua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17, KJV.

The Scriptural definition of faith along with an example of it is found in Hebrews 11:1-3;

 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of [Elohim], so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 There are actually two definitions in verse one. First, faith is “the substance (foundation) of things hoped for”. Throughout Scripture we read of various promises made by our Creator such as the forgiveness of all our sins; a resurrection from the dead unto eternal life; the coming of the Messiah; the coming of Yahweh’s Kingdom on earth, etc. Faith is a confident expectation/belief of these promises coming to pass. 

The second definition of faith is “the evidence of things not seen”. In the example given, we did not see the worlds (universe) being created by Yahweh speaking them into existence. By faith we believe this to be true because we believe the Scriptures to be true. 

On the other hand, those who don’t believe there is a Creator who created the universe choose to believe in the “Big Bang” theory. They did not see the Big Bang take place, nor is there any evidence of it. They simply choose to believe BY FAITH the words of the scientist that came up with that theory.

 So then, those who believe in a Creator do so by faith and those who don’t believe in a Creator do so by faith. Where will you put your faith; in the Creator spoken of in Scripture (the Bible) or in a scientist in his theory of how the universe came to be?

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to [Elohim] must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Do you believe that Yahweh Elohim exists and that He rewards those that seek Him? If not, then it is impossible for you to live a pleasing life in His sight. All of creation testifies of the existence of a Creator.

Romans 1:18-20 – For the wrath of [Elohim] is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of [Elohim] is manifest in them; for [Elohim] has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and deity; so that they are without excuse:

Do you hold the truth in unrighteousness by rejecting it and believing scientists that say there is no Creator? If so, you need to stop and examine the glory of all that fills our planet. Consider the human eye and brain; the flowers of the field; the variety of life; the way all things work perfectly together to support life, etc. Then ask yourself if all this came to be by a lifeless speck of dust. Then ask yourself where that speck of dust came from and who created it? There is no doubt whatsoever that a Creator exists. Accept it by faith instead of accepting the theories of man by faith.

Why it is important to have faith

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of [Elohim]: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Yahweh saves people from eternal death by His grace (unmerited kindness). Yet, that grace is not given except “through faith”. When we put our faith in Yahweh and His Son Yahshua, we will be saved and granted eternal life. We cannot earn our salvation by working for it (by doing good deeds, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, etc.). Salvation is a gift given by grace through faith. 

Colossians 1:21-23 – And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Once we believe the gospel (good news that Yahshua died for our sins, arose from the dead, ascended into heaven) by faith and continue in that faith, we will stand before our Creator and His Son Yahshua without any charges that can be brought against us. We will be without blame come judgment day.

Ephesians 6:16 – Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Faith is a shield to protect us from our enemy’s attempts to cause us to fall or sin. When we are being attacked or tempted to sin, we remember the promises and commandments of our Creator and hold fast to them through faith. When we are tempted to commit adultery, steal, covet or any other sinful action, we exercise faith in our Creator’s words to not do those things and we remember the promises He made to those who obey Him.

1 Peter 1:5-9 – Who are kept by the power of [Elohim] through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in sorrow through many temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Yahshua Messiah: Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

As we go through life, we will face many trials,  tribulations and temptations. These all test our faith and refine it into its purest state. Then, when our Savior Yahshua returns whom we have never seen, we will receive the reward of remaining faithful, that is, salvation unto eternal life.

Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of [Elohim] unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of [Elohim] revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Once again, salvation is the reward of those who live by faith.

The consequences of having no faith

Romans 11:20-23 – Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: For if [Elohim] spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of [Elohim]: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for [Elohim] is able to graft them in again.

Israel is spoken of as an olive tree. Those Israelites that did not have faith and did not believe the gospel are branches that were cut off of the tree. The Gentiles that believed the gospel by faith were grafted onto the natural olive tree. It does not matter if you are a natural born Israelite or a Gentile. If you have faith, you will remain part of the tree. If you walk in unbelief (a lack of faith), you will be cut off, wither and die.

Hebrews 10:38-39 – Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We MUST have faith and live by it or our Creator will not be pleased with us and we will not receive salvation.

How do we get faith?

Romans 10:13-14, 17 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Master shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of [Elohim].

Once a person hears the good news about Yahshua the Messiah and what he has done for them by dying for their sins and resurrecting from the dead to pave the way for them to follow him in the resurrection unto eternal life, they will hopefully believe by faith and receive him as their Savior.

John 3:14-18 – And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man (Yahshua) be lifted up: That whosoever believes (has faith) in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For [Elohim] so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For [Elohim] sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of [Elohim].

Conclusion

You, dear reader, have heard the good news through this blog and other blogs on this site if you are a regular reader. You must now make the most important decision of your life. Will you continue to believe by faith the scientists that tell you there is no Creator and that we evolved from monkeys or will you believe by faith that there is a Creator who sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins so that you can be forgiven and live forever with Him in His Kingdom on earth?

To believe the good news by faith is to receive eternal life. To reject the good news through unbelief (no faith) is to receive eternal death. That was an easy choice for me to make 25 years ago. I have not regretted that decision since then. I have faith that all that Yahweh has said in His word, the Bible, will come to pass. Much of it has already come to pass and much is yet to come. I can face my future with a firm assurance that I will be saved by Yahweh’s grace through faith. How about you? Do you know what your future holds? Do you know where you are headed after you die? Have faith in Yahweh and His Son Yahshua and you will live forever.

John 11:25-26  – Yahshua said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

To the assembly at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:7 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of [Elohim].

The word “overcomes” comes from the Greek word “nikao” meaning, “to subdue (literally or figuratively): – conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.” The promise is made to those who belonged to the Ephesus assembly. The word “assembly” is the Greek word “ecclesia” meaning, “a calling out”. The assembly at Ephesus was comprised of those who were called out of the darkness of this world.

The “tree of life” refers to the tree mentioned in Revelation 22:2.

Revelation 22:2 – In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

It also refers back to the same tree that was in the midst of the Garden of Eden. Yahweh allowed Adam and Eve to eat of it until they sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From that moment on, access to the tree of life was forbidden.

Genesis 3:22-24 – And Yahweh Elohim said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore Yahweh Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Those who overcome will be permitted to eat from the tree of life and live forever. They will also be permitted to enter the Garden of Eden (the “paradise of Elohim”) once again since that is where the tree of life is located.

To the assembly at Smyrna:

Revelation 2:11  – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

The “second death” is defined in Revelation 21:8:

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The first death is when you die like everyone else does; old age, car accident, illness, etc. The second death occurs after you are judged and found guilty of all your sins and are thrown into the lake of fire terminating your existence forever. This second death can be avoiding by believing in and receiving Yahshua as your Savior. His death on your behalf pays the death penalty that you should receive. His shed blood cleanses you of all sin so that you will stand before the Almighty in a state of innocence. 

To the assembly at Pergamos:

Revelation 2:17 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.

It is not clear what this “hidden manna” refers to. It certainly calls to mind the manna that fell from heaven in the wilderness which sustained Israel on their journey to the promised land. That manna was “hidden” under a layer of dew. A bowl full of that same manna was put inside the Ark of the Covenant, hidden from view. I, however, suspect the following meaning.

Manna is “bread” from heaven. The words of Yahweh are also bread/food for us.

Deuteronomy 8:3 – And He humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh does man live.

The “hidden manna”, therefore, may refer to Yahshua feeding the overcomers with food from Yahweh’s Word that has been hidden from it’s readers. Our understanding would be opened to see and eat of things that were hidden in the Word (the Scriptures) for centuries.

The “white stone” may be a reminder to the overcomer as to how he overcame; the stone representing our “rock” Yahshua (1 Corinthians 10:4) and white representing his righteousness.  The overcomer was clothed with Yahshua’s righteousness and stands on the firm foundation of the Rock, Yahshua. The overcomer’s new name written on it would not only represent Yahshua’s righteousness upon him, but the intimate relationship between Yahweh, Yahshua and the overcomer as a result of being adopted into the family of Yahweh.

To the assembly at Thyatira:

Rev 2:26-28 -  And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

Here we see that overcomers must keep Yahshua’s works until the end. What are the “works” that Yahshua expects from an overcomer?

John 14:15 -  If you love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:21 -  He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 -  If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:12 -  This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.

We show our love for one another by obeying Yahweh’s commandments. If we steal, bear false witness, murder, commit adultery, etc., we show we do not love the person we are transgressing against. If we commit idolatry, take Yahweh’s name in vain, break His Holy Sabbath, dishonor Him, etc., we show that we don’t love Yahweh.

The overcome will receive power over the nations that are alive during the 1,000 year after Yahshua returns from heaven. Just as Yahweh gave Yahshua the power to rule as King over the nations, Yahshua will give overcomers the authority and power to rule with him.

As for giving overcomers the “morning star”, we read in Revelation 22:16:

I Yahshua have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Yahshua is the morning star. He will give himself to the overcomer so that the two will become one as a husband becomes one with his wife. This intimate relationship of love will continue throughout all eternity.

To the assembly at Sardis:

Revelation 3:5 -  He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.

We are told in Revelation 19:8, that white clothing represents the righteousness of the saints.

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

Their garments have not been soiled or stained by sin for Yahshua’s shed blood is constantly washing them clean. They are clothed with the pure and spotless righteousness of Yahshua, the only sinless man to ever live.

Overcomers will not have their name blotted out of the Book of Life which contains the names of everyone that will receive the gift of eternal life.

Revelation 20:12 -  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before [Elohim]; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

When Yahweh hears Yahshua confess the names of the overcomers, He will grant them eternal life.

To the assembly at Philadelphia:

Revelation 3:12 -  Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my [Elohim], and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my [Elohim], and the name of the city of my [Elohim], which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my [Elohim]: and I will write upon him my new name.

As we see in this passage, Yahshua has an Elohim. His name is Yahweh. Yahshua is not his own Elohim, but Yahweh is. Overcomers will be pillars in Yahweh’s temple. Yahshua is its foundation and the overcomers give it stability and strength as a stone pillar would do.

The names of Yahweh and Yahshua will be written on their foreheads as they were on the 144,000 of Revelation 14:1:

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his name and his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Just as each overcomer will have a new name, so will Messiah Yahshua. His new name will be written on overcomers as well.

To the assembly at Laodicea:

Revelation 3:21  – To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

To sit on the throne of Yahshua means the overcomer will rule the Kingdom of Yahweh along with Yahshua. There will be many nations that enter into the millennium. They will be the subjects of the Kingdom. Overcomers will be the rulers of that Kingdom on earth. 

What will overcomers be overcoming?

They will overcome:

1) evil:

Romans 12:21  – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

2) the world:

1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of [Elohim] overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

3) Satan:

Revelation 12:9-11 – And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our [Elohim], and the power of his Messiah: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our [Elohim] day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

4) the flesh:

Romans 8:13 – For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, you shall live.

4) Sin:

1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yahshua Messiah his Son cleanses us from all sin.

5) Death:

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 -  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to [Elohim], which gives us the victory through our Master Yahshua Messiah.

Conclusion:

Revelation 21:7 – He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his [Elohim], and he shall be my son.

Friend, if you desire to be an overcomer and receive all the blessings that overcomers will receive, then put your trust in Yahweh to save you through faith in His only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah.