WE CHALLENGE YOU NOW TO READ THIS SHORT TEACHING ON "GRACE AND TORAH"
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM!
Can One Follow the Torah (Law) Fully Today?
Are we under the Torah (Law) today?
The Christian and the Law?
The argument by many "Christians" is as follows:
* “The answer to these questions is of course, no! There is no temple, no sacrifices, no Cohen Gadol (High Priest), no Levites (priesthood), and so forth. It is an objective statement that the Torah (Law) cannot be followed. There are Scriptures that indicate that if one does not do the whole law, leaving out nothing, then he is guilty of breaking the entire law.”
This causes many "Christians" to say: "We are not under the Law anymore" and use various verses to motivate their arguments. Verses such as:
Gal 5:3
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised,
that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.
James makes the point clear. But what part of the Law is discussed in James and Galatians?
To understand the concept of Torah (Law), you must first understand how the Old Covenant was put together. The Old Covenant in Hebrew is known as the TaNaCh. TaNaCh is a Hebrew acronym (short form/contraction) for Torah, Nevi’im and Chetuvim.
In the “TaNaCh” the Five Books written by Moshe (Moses) is known as the Torah and is also known as the Chumash. Nevi’im the Hebrew for prophets, is the collected Books of the Prophets or the Prophetic Books.
Chetuvim, the Hebrew for the Writings, are the remaining Books. In other words the TaNaCh is the entire Old Covenant.
The purpose of TaNaCh is as different as its parts: the Torah (meaning teaching/ instruction) is YHWH’s ideas on how to live life in book form. The Torah is the Believer’s ‘Life Manual.’
Nevi’im represents the blood and sweat and tears of the Prophets’ leadership over a period of 920 years, beginning with Samuel and ending with Ezra. Though the last Prophet died long ago, their prophecies still apply today. While many of their prophecies were immediately applicable, many are about Moshiach (Messiah), which is the most fundamental Jewish belief.
Chetuvim are the collected writings of Moshe (Psalms, the Book of Job), King David (Psalms) and Solomon (Proverbs, the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes), the Prophets Samuel (the Scroll of Ruth), Jeremiah (the Scroll of Lamentations) and Daniel (the Book of Daniel) and the Men of the Great Assembly (the Scroll of Esther).
Listed below are the Books of the TaNaCh:
The Torah (Teachings or Instructions from YHWH)
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a)
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Bereishit
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(Hebrew "In the beginning" – Anglicized name is Genesis meaning "creation")
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b)
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Sh’mot
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(Hebrew "Names" – Anglicized name is Exodus meaning "departure")
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c)
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Vayikra
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(Hebrew "He called" – Anglicized name is Leviticus meaning Levites)
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d)
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Bamidbar
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(Hebrew "In the wilderness" – Anglicized name Numbers mean Numbers)
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e)
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Devarim
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(Hebrew "Things" – Anglicized name Deuteronomy mean "second word")
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The Nevi’im (Consisting of the Major Prophets and the 12 Minor Prophets)
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a)
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Yehoshua
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(Joshua)
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b)
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Shoftim
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(Judges)
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c)
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Shmuel
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(Samuel I & II)
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d)
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Melachim
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(Kings I & II)
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e)
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Yeshayah
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(Isaiah)
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f)
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Yirmiyah
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(Jeremiah)
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g)
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Yechezkel
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(Ezekiel)
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h)
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Trey Asar
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(“The Twelve”, treated as one book)
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12 Minor Prophets
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1)
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Hoshea
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(Hosea)
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2)
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Yoel
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(Joel)
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3)
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Amus
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(Amos)
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4)
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Ovadyah
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(Obadiah)
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5)
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Yonah
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(Jonah)
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6)
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Michah
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(Micah)
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7)
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Nachum
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(Nahum)
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8)
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Chavakuk
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(Habbakkuk)
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9)
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Tzefanyah
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(Zephaniah)
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10)
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Chagai
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(Haggai)
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11)
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Zecharyah
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(Zechariah)
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12)
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Malachi
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(Malachi)
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The Chetuvim (Writings)
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a)
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Tehillim
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(Psalms)
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b)
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Mishlei
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(Proverbs)
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c)
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Iyov
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(Job)
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d)
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Shir HaShirim
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(Song of Songs)
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e)
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Rut
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(Ruth)
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f)
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Eichah
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(Lamentations)
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g)
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Kohelet
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(Ecclesiastes)
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h)
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Esther
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(Esther)
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i)
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Daniel
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(Daniel)
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j)
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Ezra &
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(Ezra)
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k)
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Nechemyah
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(Nehemiah, treated as one book)
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l)
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Divrei Hayamim
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(Chronicles I & II)
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According to the Rabbinical Rabbis there are two Torahs, the Written Torah and the Oral Torah. The Written Torah is what YHWH gave to Moshe. The Oral Torah is the interpretation of the Written Torah with man’s perceptions and ideas on how to understand and live the Written Torah. This is mostly also the traditions of the Hebrew people. YHWH outright forbids adding anything to the Written Torah (Deut 4:2, 12:32, Prov 30:6).
The Written Torah consists of the Five Books in the TaNaCh which Moshe wrote and the Oral Torah consisting of additional instructions passed down orally from generation to generation. The Rabbis understand the Written Torah as YHWH's expressed will, and the Oral Torah as the detailed instructions of how to fulfill that expressed will. After the destruction of the Second Temple, Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi (Judah the Prince) began to collect, sift, arrange, classify and edit the great body of Oral Torah into a basic compendium of authoritative Torah Law called the Mishnah. Over succeeding generations, as Rabbis continued their study of the Oral Torah, a tradition of commentary and explanation began to grow. This expanding mass of material became an object of study in its own right and was called the Gemara in Aramaic - meaning ‘study’. Both the Mishnah and Gemara were combined into a single document and called the Talmud - meaning 'to study' in Hebrew. The Talmud is divided into six parts, in which there are various tractates on different topical areas. Today, there are only thirty-seven of the original sixty tractates of the Babylonian Talmud (Bavli) and thirty-nine of the original sixty-three tractates of the Jerusalem Talmud (Yerushalmi).
Getting back to the Written Torah; there are 613 commandments in the Written Torah. These 613 commandments list what is required, permitted, and forbidden by YHWH, and range from activity of the lay person in everyday life to the strict procedures followed by the High Priest. The 613 commandments are codified and divided into the 248 positive and 365 negative Laws. It is interesting to note that there are 365 negative commandments corresponding to the 365 days of the year, one commandment for each day. There are also 365 ligaments, veins, and tendons in the body and 248 limbs and organs in your body. (According to various midrashim, the 248 positives correspond to the limbs in the human body and the 365 equals the sinews and nerves. The fulfillment of each mitzvah brings life and vitality to the
particular part of the body to which it corresponds - http://www.wsat.org/drusha/knowing_the_mitzvos_of_the_torah.htm).
Therefore the Jews do not take the Psalmist lightly when he wrote “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?” (Psalm 35:9-10). This is the reason why the Hebrew reel to and fro during worship, every part in their body is moved into worship! (Bones is “etsem” in Hebrew and it actually is the entire outer body that you see)
The Torah of Moshe in the Old Covenant is a series of instructions given to Israel to help them live holy lives. Within the core of the Mosaic Law (Moses’ Law) was the sacrificial system, evidence that YHWH knew Israel would not be able to keep the Torah, therefore the sacrificial system declares YHWH's grace and His willingness to forgive the sins of His people. The Torah consists of three sections: the Sacrificial (Rituals/Ceremonies), Moral (Ethical), and the Civil (Governmental) section. These sections will be explained later in more detail. Further, it is important to understand that the Torah was originally designed, as is still applicable today, for correction, protection and direction only, and cannot at all give you salvation! I say it again … Torah cannot give you salvation! Torah was designed and built on the foundational teachings for Correction / Protection / Direction, basically it is YHWH manual to life holy and to identify sin. With that as background let us summarize before we continue:
THE THREE SECTIONS OF TORAH - INTRODUCTION
The Sacrificial Section
There is a distinction between the three types of ‘laws’ in the Old Covenant. The first type is the Sacrificial ‘Laws’, also known as the Ceremonial/Ritual ‘Laws.’ These are the laws governing the Temple worship and the way we are to approach YHWH. They have to do with the layout of the Temple, the ways a person must be purified and the sacrificial system. We don’t sacrifice animals today because Y’shua has become the perfect sacrifice. He, in His death on the cross, fulfilled the Sacrificial / Ceremonial section. Today each and every offering and sacrifice in the Torah is a shadow / type of Messiah Y’shua and His work and how He fulfilled it. This is what He meant by the concept “Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Torah), or the prophets (Nevi’im): I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17). Y’shua literally came to fulfill this specific Section of the Torah. Believers do not have to offer or sacrifice anything anymore as Y’shua has done the full atonement for us with His precious blood. What is extremely important to note is that Y’shua fulfilled this Section, but He never discarded the Moral or Civil Sections, they still remain to this very day! When Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) wrote to the various Assemblies of Galatians and the Romans he had this in mind. Rabbi Sha’ul never implied at all that the whole of the Torah is done away with, as that will directly contradict Y’shua’s teachings on Torah which He said we must keep! (Verses further below). The general "Christian" tends to read things into the Scripture which are not there and jump to conclusions which are not based on sound Hebrew thinking and doctrine.
The Civil Section
The second type is Civil ‘Laws,’ also known as the Judicial ‘Laws.’ They are about taxes, charging interest, punishing sin. When Rabbi Sha’ul wrote to Titus, he said we must adhere to the authorities who rule over us: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,” (Titus 3:1 and also Heb 13:7). He quoted directly from the Torah: “And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.” (Deut 17:5), and Sha’ul also quoted from the Chetuvim: “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:” (Prov 24:21), which means that the Civil / Judicial Torah teachings and instructions are still applicable to the Believer today!
The Moral Section
The third type is the Moral Laws. The Ten Commandments fall into this category. These ‘Laws’ are also still in effect, because they are a reflection of YHWH’s moral character, and that does not change. The Moral Section of the Torah deals with issues such as, “Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore” (Lev 19:29), and “Neither shalt thou steal” (Deut 5:19), etc., This Section of Torah still remains firmly in place today both in the TaNaCh and Brit Hadassah (Newer Covenant – N.T.), and there is no Scriptural information from the Old or Renewed Covenant that we are allowed to break any part of this Moral Torah Section!
The Ceremonial, Moral and Civil Instructions
As said there are three types of biblical precepts: ceremonial, civil, and moral. It is very important to note that YHWH had the civil and the moral in force even before the ‘Law’ was given at Mount Sinai! Since they, the civil and moral precepts, are part of the law of nature, i.e. you must rest on the Shabbat (seventh day), the land must rest every seventh year, and of the character of YHWH, i.e. you are not allowed to murder, or prostitute your daughter, etc.
On the other hand the ceremonial precepts deal with the forms of worshipping YHWH as well as ritual cleanness. The ceremonial commands were "ordained to the Divine worship for that particular time and to the foreshadowing of Messiah". They are all “shadows and types” of Y’shua’s work which He fulfilled. Accordingly, upon the coming of Messiah Y’shua they ceased to bind and to observe them now would be equivalent to declaring falsely that Messiah has not yet come. This would then be a mortal sin for the Believer.
But did YHWH establish three different kinds of ‘Laws’ in the Older Covenant? It is interesting to note that there is no place given in Scripture where the terms Ceremonial, Moral, and Civil Laws are found, but that they are there is factual. The bottom line is that it is extremely difficult to divide the Torah of YHWH into these three categories.
In summary, there are 613 Commandments in the Torah of Moshe. These are divided into 248 Affirmative Laws and 365 Negative Laws. Moses Margoliouth was one of the translators of the English Revised Version, and published a catalogue of the 613 commandments in English in 1743.
It is also common to divide the Mosaic Law into three other parts:
1) the Ten Commandments (often called the heart of the Moral Law),
2) the ordinances, and
3) the judgments.
The ordinances are the laws governing Israel’s religious life while the judgments are the civil laws. These divisions are sometimes helpful for analysis and study but actually have no Scriptural authority. Many of Israel’s laws would belong in two of the suggested divisions. For example, the law of the tithe is both religious and civil. The Ten Commandments have a prominent place in the Torah but Y’shua taught that the greatest commandment was not one of the ten. A summary of the greatest commandment of the Torah is given below. Each of the 613 Laws can be classified into the two areas above.
But the entire Torah can be wrapped up in Two Commandments: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt 22:36-37). Why, because the heart of the Torah is Love and Grace!!! Y’shua quoted direct from the heart of the Torah: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut 6:5) and "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18). This is the core of Torah! The Moral Law is more clearly revealed in the New Covenant. The Believer’s standard of conduct should be holiness (Col 3:1). We are not without law but we are under “the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2), the law of love (James 2:8), and “the law of liberty” (James 2:12), and if you love YHWH you will want to do His Torah willingly.
Conclusion:
The dividing of the Mosaic Law into Civil, Ceremonial, and Moral Laws violates proper Hebraic hermeneutical method, for it is inconsistent and illogical, and as said, the Older Covenant gives no hint of such distinctions. Sometimes one “Law” can be categorized in two or all three sections. We also need to be reminded that all Scripture is "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16).
Do you still need the Law? Absolutely, you need the Moral and Civil Law sections of YHWH!
Now my beloved no-law Preacher and Believer, I challenge you to give a literal interpretation of the following verses and reason YHWH and Y’shua’s words away from a literal context …
This is Y’shua giving instructions on His Father YHWH’s Laws …
Matt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah), till all be fulfilled.
Matt 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break (which is a verb, an act/deed) one of these least commandments (of Torah), and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do (which is a verb, an act/deed) and teach (which is a verb, an act/deed) them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep (which is a verb, an act/deed) the commandments (Torah).
Matt 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law (Torah) and the prophets. (These two Laws are the core of the Torah, love God – Deut 6:5, and love your neighbour – Lev 19:18, if you will do these two passionately then you will automatically want to do the rest of the Laws (because of your sincere love))
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep (which is a verb, an act/deed) my commandments (Torah).
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments (Torah), and keepeth them (which is a verb, an act/deed), he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (If you want Y’shua to manifest Himself to you, do Torah!)
Rabbi Sha’ul gave the same instructions on YHWH’s and Y’shua’s Laws …
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law (Torah) is the knowledge of sin. (You can only identify sin by using YHWH’s standard, and that is His Laws in the Torah!)
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Rabbi Sha’ul is quoting from the core of the Torah and Y’shua’s words.)
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rabbi Sha’ul is again quoting from the core of the Torah and Y’shua’s words.)
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (Because sin can only be indentified by the Torah as Rabbi Sha’ul clearly stated in Rom 3:20 above. How else can you identify sin if there is no Law?)
1 Cor 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping (which is a verb, an act/deed) of the commandments (Torah) of God.
1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments (Torah Laws) of the Lord. (Rabbi Sha’ul distinctly says that he only teach and write the Torah Laws to the Gentiles!)
Now there are a host of other verse that could be quoted, the point is YHWH and Y’shua is definitely not Schizophrenic, and Rabbi Sha’ul’s teachings can never ever violate YHWH and Y’shua’s teachings on the Torah. The problem is not what Rabbi Sha’ul taught, it is how the church have raped the teachings of both Y’shua and Rabbi Sha’ul to enhance a satanic doctrine that violates just about everything in the Bible.
Yes it is a very harsh statement, but YHWH says distinctly “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments (Torah). He that saith, I know him, and keepeth (which is a verb, an act/deed) not his commandments (Torah), is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4). Ponder on this verse for a moment and take what God said literally, and you should.
Now the alarming question arises, is there any truth in a preacher who has slaved himself for the Gospel for years, and consistently taught that “you have nothing to do with the Law anymore”? You answer that question …
YHWH’s further goes to say that if you truly love Him you will willfully want to keep His Torah …
If ye love me, keep my commandments (His Torah). (John 14:15)
He that hath my commandments (His Torah), and keepeth them (which is a verb, an act/deed), he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
If ye keep (which is a verb, an act/deed) my commandments (Torah), ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept (which is a verb, an act/deed) my Father's commandments (Torah), and abide in his love.
(John 15:10)
From the verses above we can clearly see that Y’shua say over and over that if you love Him and YHWH, you will want to do YHWH’s Laws even as He has done His Father’s Laws.
Y’shua takes it further and makes it clear that the only way we can get to know Him is by studying and keeping His Torah ...
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep (which is a verb, an act/deed) his commandments.
(1 John 2:3)
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not (which is a verb, an act/deed) his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep (which is a verb, an act/deed) his commandments, and do (which is a verb, an act/deed) those things that are pleasing in his sight.
(1 John 3:22)
Once you complied with the abovementioned by loving to keep and do YHWH’s Laws, then Y’shua will dwell in you by YHWH’s Spirit ...
And he that keepeth his commandments (Torah) dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1 John 3:24)
But then there is another spirit in our days, the spirit of the Antichrist, the Lawless one, the Torahless one …
And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence. (also in Isaiah 11:4) (2 Thes 2:8 LITV)
The "Lawless One" is one of the names of the Antichrist. He is so called because he will totally go against YHWH’s Laws, YHWH’s Torah when he appears. This spirit of Lawlessness is already rampant in the church today!
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient (to point out sin), for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (1 Tim 1:9)
Beloved friend, if you sincerely love YHWH and Y’shua then you will want to do His Laws willingly and freely …
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
(1 John 5:2)
As YHWH’s Laws are not grievous – meaning terrible or hard to do ...
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not heavy.
(1 John 5:3)
This is the way YHWH’s desire us to walk, because it is the ancient path to righteousness, the only way, the only way Y’shua taught ...
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2 John 1:6)
The keeping and doing of YHWH’s Laws, His Commandments, His Torah, is all part of the holiness plan for you stay on the narrow road (Mat 7:13-14) to ensure you enter into the New Jerusalem City for everlasting life …
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev 22:14)
Now read the following words of Y’shua on the Torah in context …
13 Go in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are the ones entering in through it.
14 For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way that leads away into life, and few are the ones finding it.
15 But beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are plundering wolves.
16 From their fruits you shall know them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 So every good tree produces good fruits, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruits.
18 A good tree cannot produce evil fruits, nor a corrupt tree produce good fruits.
19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.
20 Then surely from their fruits you shall know them.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do (which is a verb, an act/deed) the will of My Father in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?
23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!" (Ps 6:8)
24 Then everyone who hears these Words from Me, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; (Mat 7:13-24)
My beloved Christian friend taken literally is “lawlessness” not Torahlessness? And did Y’shua not distinctly say that we must keep and do Torah, the will of His Father in Heaven?
We are all going to stand before a literal God one day … that literal God will ask you the question “why did you not take my words literally?” These word may ring in your ears for eternity …
From what we have just seen from a literal context is that you have to do YHWH’s Torah, all of the Torah except for the Sacrificial Laws also known as the Ritual Laws. This cannot be reasoned away. By trying to reason it away through spiritualizing of Scripture which enforces keeping Torah, you are violently transgressing YHWH’s instructions, and Y’shua said …
The one who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has that judging him: the Word which I spoke, that will judge him in the last Day. (John 12:48)
We notice the same pattern as Y’shua teaches for the last days, during the Tribulation Period. It must be brought to the reader’s attention that Torah was relevant in the TaNaCH, Torah is relevant today according to Y’shua Himself, and Torah will be relevant until the end.
Listen what the Book of Revelation says:
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“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments (Torah) of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev 12:17)
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“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments (Torah) of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev 14:12)
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From the verses quoted above we can clearly deduce that the Torah was applicable in the past, is still applicable today, and will be applicable in the future. Now meditate on the next verse and see YHWH’s beautiful promise for the active Doer of the Word, not just the reader or listener:
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“Blessed are they that do his commandments (Torah), that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev 22:14)
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From this verse alone we clearly see that YHWH is a God of conditions. This means, if you want access to the Tree of Life and the New Jerusalem City, as I am sure every Believer wants, then you must “do his commandments.” Do is a verb and requires an action. Are you blatantly ignoring Torah altogether, or, are you just reading the Torah and not actively doing it, or are you an active Doer (Executer) of Torah?
The courses and our products listed on this Website will undoubtedly prove that it is YHWH’s will for every Believer in Messiah Y’shua to study, understand and live Torah.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law (Torah),
even his prayer shall be abomination. (Prov 28:9)
We are Hebrew Rooted, Torah observant Messianic Believers. Meaning, we believe Y’shua is THE ONLY Messiah and salvation is only through Him, and we take YHWH’s Word, both the Old Covenant and New Covenant literally and live Torah. Please see "WHAT WE BELIEVE" for more detail.
Order this teaching in the booklet "The True Doctrine of Law and Grace Unfolded" as well as its follow up also in a A5 booklet format "How should Believers apply the Law (Torah) today?" You can also order "The Rape of the Torah in the New Covenant", it is a A4 soft cover book with 245 pages, which explains the correct interpretation of every verse in the New Covenant dealing with the "Law". Please see "HRTI'S PRODUCTS" section.
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Background
This emblem has become known as the “Messianic Seal” and was used by Believers in Moshiach Y’shua in the first century Jerusalem. It was used in the Messianic Synagogue that was led by Ya'akov ben Yosef, the half-brother of Y’shua. The Seal was discovered on artifacts that were secretly excavated from what is known today as Mt. Zion prior to the 1967 six-day war, by a Greek Orthodox monk who was living as a solitary person in the Old City.
The artifacts were discovered in a cave near the Tomb of David in the Old City, which was apparently used by the Believers of Acts, the first “Church” at Yerushalayim which were Jewish. These artifacts were used for their mikvah (purification bath) and as a place for anointing with oil for healing. It is also speculated that new Believers were anointed with oil as part of their mikvah to symbolize the immersion of the Believer by the Ruach HaKodesh into the Body of Moshiach.
Layout
The Seal consists of a Menorah (seven-branch lampstand) whose base is intertwined with the tail of a Fish, creating a Magen David, or Shield (Star) of David.
The Menorah reminds us of the Holy Temple (Exod 25:31-37) and conveys the message of hope and salvation associated with it. Seven is the number of perfection. Its seven-branched shape symbolizes the Tree of Life that stood in the middle of the Garden of Eden, and which will stand again in the New Yerushalayim, and carries the promise of eternal life. Its seven lamps which give the light in its fullest intensity symbolizes the light of YHWH. Assurance of YHWH’s enlightening presence is in the middle of the New Yerushalayim (Zech 4:1-6; Rev 22:1-5). The Menorah also speaks to us of the light of Torah and the Righteousness of YHWH (Prov 6:23; 13:9; Psalm 36:9-10; 37:6; 119:105, 130; Job 29:3; Isaiah 2:1-5). It also reminds us that Yisra'el is called by YHWH to be a light to the Goyim (Gentiles) (Isaiah 42:6-7; 49:6; 6:1-5). The Gentiles must therefore also follow the Ancient Path and be grafted into the Olive Tree Israel (Rom 11), to benefit the nutrition of the Roots. The menorah has been used as a symbol for Torah (Instructions or Teachings of the Law) from ancient times.
The Fish has been a symbol of Christian identity for nearly 2,000 years. Our Messiah first spoke to a small group of fishermen with the words: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mat 4:18). The new disciples were quick to drop their nets to go and gather men for the Holy One of Israel because of the Hebrew Scripture: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them...” (Jer. 16:16). The Fish has been a meaningful symbol of the followers of Y’shua who have been commissioned by YHWH to reveal His Grace.
The Star of David. For the past 2,000 years the Menorah has stood alone to represent the Torah and the Fish has been swimming on it’s own to represent Grace. In these last miraculous days YHWH is restoring His truth to His people and we are seeing the two become one in Moshiach. We are to become one people, one body, and one faith. The Two Sticks of Ezekiel (chapter 37) are to become one in the hand of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. When Torah and Grace are in perfect balance (joined together), then only, they can reveal the Star of David, the Son of David who is our Messiah and King. Did you know that the Star of David is found as early as in the days of Moshe, in fact it is dynamically found in the Tabernacle of Moshe. It is YHWH’s signature in the Tabernacle, that is why Satan has tried to corrupt it via the Masons and the Occult – Please see the Pictorial Powerpoint Teaching CD for this detail teaching at the Hebraic Roots Teaching Institute’s online shop. The Scripture therefor is clear, when Torah and Grace is in perfect harmony, then only we are doing what YHWH instructed. Y’shua is therefore the Link, the Bridge, the Star, which is the Door to this eternal truth. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel (Num 24:17). Y’shua said of Himself: I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star (Rev 22:16).
The Heart of YHWH
The Messianic Seal and its recent discovery is revealing the original intent of YHWH for His People. Jews and Gentiles are to find their identity together as one people belonging to Moschiach. Y’shua is the Living Torah (in Hebrew -devar - the Word) made flesh who came to explain the Written Torah. And when He is lifted up many Gentiles will come to the brightness of His rising and be captivated by the Grace and Mercy of the Holy One of Israel. The Gentile Fish is not to continue swimming on it’s own but is to be caught for Moshiach.
In discovering the Hebraic roots of the faith many former Gentiles are finding themselves joined to the Chosen People - the Israel of YHWH. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, ... That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without YHWH in the world: But now in Messiah Y’shua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah” (Eph 2:11-13).
The Fulfillment by Y’shua
The Messianic Seal reveals YHWH’s original intention for His people and what Messiah has accomplished for us: “For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Eph. 14). Y’shua’s death on the cross/tree “abolished in his flesh the enmity [the opposing of YHWH and one another], even the law of commandments contained in ordinances [dogma]; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto YHWH in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off [Gentiles/LoAmmi Israel], and to them that were nigh [Jews/Torah faithful Israel]. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers [without knowledge] and foreigners [of YHWH’s Kingdom], but fellow citizens [same citizenship of the people consecrated unto YHWH - the chosen people] with the saints [Hebrews], and of the household [related by blood, kindred] of YHWH” (Eph 2:15-18).
Y’shua did not abolish the Torah of YHWH. We need to heed His instructions and renew our minds to: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets” (Mat 5:17). Y’shua came to fulfill Torah by correctly interpreting it. The Torah represented by the Menorah will continue until as Y’shua says: “For verily [truthfully] I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law [Torah], till all be fulfilled [come to pass]”. Many of the Torah’s prophecies about Messiah, Israel and the Gentiles have not come to pass even today.
Y’shua came to abolish only the enmity caused by man’s sin and the wrong interpretations of Torah that opposed YHWH. The sin had separated man from YHWH. The wrong interpretations of Torah created isolationism instead of evangelism and withheld the goodness of YHWH’s Word from others. It has always been the Father’s intention for His Torah to be given to the nations/Gentiles as well as to Israel. Israel is to be a light (Menorah) to the nations. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen upon thee ... YHWH shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light” (Isaiah 60:1-3). (Please get the Booklet Teachings at our online shop of “The True Doctrine of the Law (Torah) and Grace” and “How the Believers should apply the Torah (Law) today”)
It is through the Torah that Y’shua is revealed. In Messiah’s own words He upholds Torah: “For had ye believed Moses [Torah], ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings [Torah], how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46).
Conclusion
The Menorah is a symbol for the Tree of Life. The pattern given to Moshe describes the Menorah as being fashioned of gold with almond buds upon it’s branches (Exod 25:33). At it’s roots we see the symbol for Moshiach in the Star of David “... there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10).
The Star of David is only displayed in the Messianic Seal when the Menorah and Fish come together. It does not and can not exist independent of the Torah and Grace symbols. The Star of David has six points to it representing the six days of creation. At the center of the perfectly balanced star we find the Sabbath rest given to us as a free gift in Messiah. And His rest (Sabbath) is glorious.
The Fish symbolizing Grace needs to be caught on the Hebraic Roots of the faith. The swimming fish displayed by Christians is separated from the Jewishness of it’s Messiah. Fishers of men need to go forth and preach the gospel that will be received by the Jew first and then to the Gentile. Those who have been given the understanding of the Messianic Seal need to preach the good news of the Torah-Grace of YHWH available to whosover will receive it. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel 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 [Gentile]” (Rom.1:16).
The Menorah is steadfast and firm. It’s symbolism is of eternal value because it was created from the pattern of the heavenly. The Fish has mobility as long as it is swimming and on it’s own. When captured by Y’shua’s fisherman the Fish will lose it’s life in Messiah. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” (Mat 8:35).
The Fish needs to come to the Menorah, the only way, the Ancient Path. In Ezekiel’s Two Sticks, Ephraim (from the Church) is brought to Judah (from the Synagogue). “Thus saith the Lord G-d; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand” (Ezek 37:19). YHWH is doing this work of grafting all Believers in Y’shua into the same Olive Tree of Israel.
When the Star of David is in perfect balance between Torah and Grace we see the truth of who Messiah is.
The Punchline
Torah without Messiah as taught in Rabbinic Judaism does not reveal Y’shua to the world. Messiah’s Grace without Torah as taught in Christendom does not reflect the reality of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
It is time the two voices for the Holy One of Israel unite as one. When they do the beauty of Messiah will be revealed to both Houses of Israel (Judah and Ephraim) and to the Gentiles. The Messianic Seal reveals this message in it’s rich Biblical symbolism. Please proclaim the truth by wearing this emblem ...
We found various teachings of this article on numerous websites, and have no idea who holds the copyright. We combined some of these teachings into one and add our own thoughts as well. If the copyright owner will contact us, we will be glad to give proper credit or remove the article.
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Evangelical Press News Service, July 6, 1999
Aurora, Colo. (EP) — A Messianic Seal from the Christian church in ancient Jerusalem has been rediscovered after 2000 years. This ancient symbol was found on Mount Zion. It is believed to have been created and used by the Jewish believers who called themselves Nazarenes in the first Messianic Church.
Three companies—Olim Creative Products of Tiberias, News About Israel (NAI) of Jerusalem, and Christian Floral Delivery of Colorado—jointly announced the discovery of this ancient symbol, which has been copyrighted by NAI. It consists of three separate but integrated symbols: a menorah at the top, a star of David in the middle, and a fish at the bottom. In each of the renditions of the three-part symbol the star is created by interlacing the stand of the menorah with the fish.
The Messianic Seal was found etched or inscribed on eight ancient artifacts. The artifacts were presented to Ludwig Schneider, editor in chief of NAI's magazine, Israel Today, in 1990. They came from Tech Otecus, an elderly monk who lived as a hermit in the Old City of Jerusalem. Otecus said that in the 1960s he had personally excavated about 40 artifacts bearing the Messianic Seal from an ancient grotto located in the immediate vicinity of the Upper Room on Mount Zion.
What was once the main entrance to the grotto is now covered with a jail-like heavy wire mesh enclosure. Its door, leading down into the ancient baptismal place, is tightly secured with a heavy chain and lock. According to Schneider, the last remaining entry to the grotto was sealed shortly after he excitedly told the priests at the local monastery about the discovery of the Messianic Seal.
Schneider photographed eight artifacts which were given to him by Otecus, and showed the pictures to the curator of the Israel Museum. "When he had carefully studied my pictures," Schneider recalled, "the curator immediately promised me that these artifacts and their unique symbol were an important find. He told me that the museum had seen other artifacts bearing the same three-part symbol from some other sources he did not specify."
According to Bob Fischer, president of Olim Creative Products and co-author with local historian and artist Reuven Schmalz of their book, The Messianic Seal of the Jerusalem Church, the ancient three-part symbol has, since 135 A.D., been suppressed by various Israeli groups or agencies, such as the Israel Museum and Orthodox rabbis in the Old City of Jerusalem, while simultaneously being buried for these nearly two millennia by the church.
According to Fischer, at least two of the eight artifacts were obviously ceremonial pieces which may have well been used by James the Just, the brother of Jesus, who is said to be the first pastor of the church, or perhaps even by one or more of the Twelve Apostles.
One of the eight artifacts is a brick-sized block of well-worn local marble. This piece bears an etched version of the Messianic Seal with a Taw (the last letter in the ancient Hebrew alphabet that looks exactly like a sign of the cross) in the eye of the fish symbol, as well as the ancient Aramaic lettering proclaiming the use of this artifact as a stand to hold a vial of anointing oil. The ancient Aramaic is transliterated as, "La Shemen Ruehon" (For the Oil of the Spirit - picture below). Another of the eight artifacts is a small, almost intact, vial which could well have sat on top of the marble stand.
Commenting on what he characterized as the "monumental importance" of this archaeological discovery, Fischer said, "Beyond the historical background of the Nazarenes, the first Jewish believers who founded the Jerusalem Church, the Messianic Seal itself proclaims to the world the pervasive Jewishness of Jesus Christ and the decidedly Jewish foundation and roots of the church founded in His name."
"The Messianic Seal of the Jerusalem Church," Fischer continued, "strikes at the very roots of anti-Semitism while proclaiming a compelling message that restores unity: Jew with Jew, and Jew with Gentile. The importance of this discovery cannot be minimized. The Messianic Seal is not only just the key to understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls, it can and should shake the foundations of the church and orthodox Judaism with its incredible message of unity and love. It breaks down barriers that have existed for millennia and points the way toward restoration."
STAR OF ZION
Way back on the 29th August 1897 in the town of Basil. Switzerland, a Zionist Visionary, Theodor Hertzel called a meeting amongst prominent Jewish folk about the inheritance that God had given them many years ago, the Land of Israel (Ps 135 v 12). They were a people landless for nearly 2000 years, so very courageously he prophesied that in 50 years time the Jewish People would have their land back and be a nation once again!
Well a hundred years later in 1984, with Jewish nation thriving against all odds for 50 years already, a Christian Zionist conference was held in the very same city and building to show our solidarity. Here we declared our support and ongoing commitment to Israel to keep her inheritance from the God of their forefathers.
This is when Elizabeth Robertson Campbell was commissioned by The International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem to design a LOGO that would be fitting to show our unity.
With such a daunting mandate and very little time on her side, a desperate prayer went up to the God of Israel for inspiration! Literally in a flash the design came to her and THE STAR OF ZION was born. Since then it has become the International symbol for Christian Zionism ever since, and also the logo we use on some of our products.
When worn as a pendant, earrings’ or lapel pin, it always stimulates wonderful interest as to its origin, where Believers can share their Biblical stance and gratitude to Israel for we all have inherited spiritually through her.
You can order the STAR OF ZION direct from Liz at her Website
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