Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Feb 11, 2022

News Letter 5857-051
The 5th Year of the 4th Sabbatical Cycle
The 26th year of the 120th Jubilee Cycle
The 10th day of the 13th month 5857 years after the creation of Adam
The 4th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Sword, Famines, and Pestilence
1674 Days until the Two Witnesses
625 Days into the 2300 Days Started May 31st, 2020

February 12, 2022

Shabbat Shalom Royal Family of Yehovah,


Shabbat Zoom Meeting

There are many people in need of fellowship and who are sitting at home on the Sabbath with no one to talk to or debate with. I want to encourage all of you to join us on Shabbat, and to invite others to come and join us as well. If the time is not convenient then you can listen to the teaching and the midrash after on our YouTube channel.

What are we doing and why do we teach this way?

We are going to discuss both sides of an issue and then let you choose. It is the work of the Ruach (Spirit) to direct and to teach you.

The medieval commentator Rashi wrote that the Hebrew word for wrestle (avek) implies that Jacob was “tied”, for the same word is used to describe knotted fringes in a Jewish prayer shawl, the tzitzityot. Rashi says, “thus is the manner of two people who struggle to overthrow each other, that one embraces the other and knots him with his arms”.

Our intellectual wrestling has been replaced by a different kind of struggle. We are Wrestling with Yehovah as we grapple with His Word. It is an intimate act, symbolizing a relationship in which Yehovah and I and you are bound together. My wrestling is a struggle to discover what Yehovah expects of us, and we are “tied” to the One who assists us in that struggle.

Today, many say Israel means “Champion of God”, or better — the “Wrestler of God”.

Our Torah sessions each Shabbat teach you and encourage you to constantly challenge, question, argue against, as well as view alternative views and explanations of the Word. In other words, we are to “wrestle with the Word” to get to the truth. Jews worldwide believe that you need to wrestle with the Word and constantly challenge Dogma, Theology, and views or else you will never get to the Truth.

We are not like most churches where “The preacher talks and everyone listens.” We encourage everyone to participate, to question and to contribute what they know on the subject being discussed. We want you to be a champion wrestler of the Word of Yehovah. We want you to wear the title of Israel, knowing that you not only know but are capable to explain why you know the Torah to be true with logic and facts.

We have a few rules though. Let others talk and listen. There is no discussion about UFO’s Nephilim, Vaccines or conspiracy-type subjects. We have people from around the world with different world views. Not everyone cares who is the President of any particular country. Treat each other with respect as Fellow wrestlers of the word. Some of our subjects are hard to understand and require you to be mature and if you do not know, then listen to gain knowledge and understanding and hopefully wisdom. The very things you are commanded to ask Yehovah for and He gives to those who ask.

Jas 1:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.

We hope you can invite those who want to keep Torah to come and join us by hitting the link below. It is almost like a Torah teaching fellowship talk show with people from around the world taking part and sharing their insights and understandings.

We start off with some music and then some prayers and it’s as though you were sitting around the kitchen back in Newfoundland having a cup of coffee and all of us enjoying each other’s company. I hope you will grace us with your company someday.

Sabbath February 12,  2022, the room will be open at 12:30 PM Eastern with singing and prayers until about 1:15 PM. You are all welcome to join and watch. It is not recorded. We will have our afternoon service after this. You are welcome to come and join us before during and after we are off the air.

We look forward to you joining our family and getting to know us as we get to know you.

Joseph Dumond is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Joseph Dumond’s Personal Meeting Room

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Septennial Torah Portion

If you go to Torah Portion at our archived section, you can then go to the 5th year which is the 5th year of the Sabbatical Cycle, the one we are in now, as we state at the top of every News Letter. There you can scroll down to February 12, 2022, and see that this Shabbat we could very well be midrashing about

Exodus 27

Isaiah 43-45

Ps 147

John 16-17

If you missed last week’s exciting discoveries as we studied that section you can go and watch past Shabbats on our media section.


Book Review

I have asked Eileen to give a quick review of what she has read in our latest book The 10 Days of Awe and the Abomination that makes Desolate. She is helping me in researching certain things as I go along and pulling up some gems along the way.

We have Pauline Reardon Benjes working on the cover. Lori-Dawn Kowal proofing and editing what I am writing so that it makes sense. Joli Darling has now begun the editing, correcting my bad grammar and poor sentence structure. Stephen Spykerman is writing the forward and has been with me on various parts of this journey of discovery. I have not asked yet, but I do hope to have Sally Cave do the audio version of the book once we have it published. She has already done the 2300 Days of Hell and It was A Riddle Not A Command and currently doing The Mystery of the Jewish Rapture 2033.

I will share one section with you this week and another one next week in an effort to get your anticipation up for it. It could be another three or four months before everything is done. So we could use your prayers.

We are also entering the 3rd tithe year. In the third tithe year, we are to make sure we care for our widows and orphans. If you are a widow, then I am willing to send you a copy if you will e-mail me your mailing address with phone number and email. Delivery people want the phone number so they can call you if there is a problem finding your house.

by Eileen Espinosa

Somebody, pinch me!  I have been given the great privilege of pre-reading Joe’s latest book, The 10 Days of Awe and the Abomination that Makes Desolate, alongside Lori-Dawn.  I believe this is his greatest work to date and an excellent summation of his other books combined…and so much more.  I am not finished with almost 300 pages to go, but so far I have discovered how much I don’t know and am learning so much!  Joe’s research is impeccable and he makes amazing connections.  What a gift to the world!

The book takes the reader on a journey of the faithful from the book of Acts to modern times.  The “early rains” included significant events for both houses of Judah and Ephraim.  Then the “wheat” germinated in 1883 and will be violently harvested 150 days (years) later with a sickle in 2033.  The “latter rains,” or the last 50 days (years) before the harvest, started in 1983 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Around this time, very significant events happened in the lives of those who are dedicated to the “restoration of all things.”

Those things restored and in the process of restoration are the Hebrew language, the land of Israel, the name of Yehovah, the Sabbath and Holy Days (with the proper methodology), the Sabbatical Years and 120 Jubilee Cycles (land rest, third year tithes), and the tithe to support the Levites.

This book teaches about the history of the restoration from sincere men of faith, but they did not have the knowledge of the crescent moon to start the month, the aviv barley to start the year, Daniel’s revealed prophecies through the knowledge of 70 Jubilee cycles, or the parallel Jubilee cycles of Noah, Lot and Joseph with today’s Jubilee cycle.

Joseph Dumond’s and Nehemia Gordon’s ministries are two shining examples of how Yehovah is bringing about the restoration of all things through the revealing of Yehovah’s name and the Sabbatical-and-Jubilee-and-sighted-moon-and-barley calendar.  I find it beautiful that they both have “peace” in their middle names.

One of the surprising things I learned was the Mount of Corruption and Beelzebub are the same word for “shiitake” lol.  Also, the U.N. Government House in the SW corner of the Mount of Offence has the potential to be the site where the abomination will be set up.  This is because the word “kanaph” (corner, border, wing) of Daniel 9:27 means we should look in the corner of the mountain to find the abominable thing!

This book is surely the work of a prophet from among our brothers (a human like Moses), who is turning the hearts of us to our Father Yehovah.  Joe’s full name means “Yehovah shall add to peaceful rulership of the world.”  This book is part of that…and also brings so much hope to those who are willing to grab hold of Yehovah’s covenant and come under the shadow of His wings.

 


We have just made a new discovery in our latest book The 10 Days of Awe and the Abomination that makes Desolate. It is a theory I have put together and you may or may not agree. I would like to offer it here for you to read and consider. I look forward to your comments below.

This section has not been edited as yet. It is just completed Thursday and I felt the desire to share it. With this section on the Two Witnesses, we are breaking into a long section about Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement.

Two Witnesses

If you have not yet noticed there is quite a lot of information coming from the Leviticus 16 chapter and the Day of Atonement sacrifice. It makes perfect sense that it should, as the Day of Atonement is the final day of the 10 Days of Awe as well as the final day of the 40 Days of Repentance. We all want to have our names written in the Book of Life at this time. G’mar Chatimah Tovah” — may you be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Starting back when Moses first sought to make atonement for Israel on account of the golden calf event, we read about the book Yehovah had. 

30 And it happened on the next day, Moses said to the people, You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to Jehovah. Perhaps I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31 And Moses returned to Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. 32 And now will You forgive their sin! And if not, I pray You, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Exodus 32:30-32)

In the book of Malachi, where Yehovah tells us He is going to send His messenger before the Day of Lord, we are also told about the books of remembrance that Yehovah has.

1 Behold, I will send My messenger, and He will clear the way before Me. And Jehovah, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Angel of the Covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He comes, says Jehovah of Hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

16 Then those fearing Jehovah spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And Jehovah listened and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Jehovah, and for those esteeming His name. (Malachi 3:16)

These books are mentioned in Psalm 139:16, 69:27-28; Daniel 12:1-2; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5, 13:8 and 21:27.

We will have as of Aviv 1, 2024, entered into those final days when sin, the transgression of the law, will prevent our names from being written in the Book of Life, or when our sincere and deep repentance will give us cause to find our names in the Book of Life.

As noted in Malachi 3 the messenger of Yehovah comes before the dreadful Day of the Lord, and in Malachi 4, Moses and Elijah are mentioned who would turn the people back to Yehovah. Yes, I am taking a bit of literal liberty here, I know. 

4 Remember the Law of Moses My servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah. 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, that I not come and strike the earth with utter destruction. (Malachi 4:4-6)

I want to talk about the Two Witnesses here for a few moments by looking at them from a way I had never considered until I began to study the subjects contained in the pages of this book in recent months. I may be way off the mark on this, but I am going to share it here with you in case it helps someone in the future with a clearer understanding.

I am speaking in reference to all we have now shared about Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement.

Before I begin there, I have a couple of other references to keep in mind about the Two Witnesses.

In Daniel chapter 8 we are told something about them.

13 Then I heard a certain holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that one who spoke, Until when shall the vision last, concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression that astounds, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled? 14 And he said to me, For two thousand, three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be vindicated. (Daniel 8:13-14)

It is our position that this 2300-day count began in 2020, the middle of the 70th Jubilee Cycle since Moses with Yehovah at the burning bush. That count ends when the Two Witnesses begin to work in 2026. We have explained this in detail in our book The 2300 Days of Hell and will not do so here. What I wanted to point out about the Two Witnesses, is that one understood the chronology while the other did not. I also want to point out that the one who did not know the chronology did know who to call and ask.

These two verses also tell me that the Two Witnesses will be vindicating the Saints, which is what the word sanctuary more correctly translated is saying. The Saints being vindicated are those who have been slain for their testimony in Revelation.

9 And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Until when, Master, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were should have their number made complete. (Revelation 6:9-11)

With all of this in mind, let us now examine two other witnesses no one looks at and see if they can shed some light on these end times. They were both directly connected to the events of Leviticus 16 so we must look at them to see where if anywhere they fit into our understanding. I am talking about Nadab and Abihu. Yes, they were killed near the Days of Unleavened Bread, but this is when we learn about not going into the Holy of Holies but once a year.

Most commentators make these two out to be drunkards and evil men. I think they are all wrong.

Let’s begin with the beginning when they are first mentioned. In Exodus we read how both Nadab and Abihu were individually named by Yehovah to join Moses, Aaron and 70 of the elders of Israel on the plateau to have the meal to ratify the covenant that Israel had just made. They are explicitly named by Yehovah. Just imagine that for yourself. 

1 And He said to Moses, Come up to Jehovah, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. And bow yourselves afar off. (Exodus 24:1)

Imagine how you would feel if Yehovah called you specifically by name amongst many others to come and join Him. If Yehovah asked you to join Moses and go up the mountain, you would feel very excited and terrified at the same time. That was on Shabbat, the day before Shavuot. It was the 49th day of the counting of the Omer.

Now read what happened on the day of Shavuot.

3 And Moses came and told the people all the Words of Jehovah, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, All the words which Jehovah has said, we will do. 4 And Moses wrote all the Words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar below the mountain and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel who offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of bulls to Jehovah. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, All that Jehovah has said we will do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah has made with you concerning all these words. (Exodus 24:3-8)

Moses read the words of the covenant and all the people agreed to be obedient to it after which Moses sprinkled the blood from the offering on the book and then on the people. This is a Blood Covenant. The offering being made here was a peace offering. It is called a shelem offering from the word shalam which is where we get the word Shalom from. Everything was now complete to finalize the agreement. The only thing left was to have a joint meal between the two parties. Between Yehovah and the leaders of Israel.

The 74 men then took the meat from this peace offering with them and went up the mountain and ate a meal with Yehovah. They both ate and saw Him and did not die.

9 And Moses went up, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. 10 And they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as the essence of the heavens for clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the sons of Israel He did not lay his hands. Also they saw God, and ate and drank.(Exodus 24:9-11)

All 74 of the men are up here with Yehovah for 7 days. Then on the 7th day Yehovah calls Moses alone to come up higher and into the cloud where Yehovah will then give him the Ten Commandments, the Torah written on stone. But these men see Yehovah as a devouring fire on the mountain and they do not die.

12 And Jehovah said to Moses, Come up to Me in the mountain, and be there. And I will give you tablets of stone, and the Law, and commandments which I have written, so that you may teach them. 13 And Moses rose up, and his attendant Joshua. And Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, You stay here for us until we come again to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has any matters to do, let him come to them. 15 And Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 16 And the glory of Jehovah abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of Israel. 18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mountain. And Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:12-18)

What we have now read about Nadab and Abihu was such a super high point for them in their lives.

When I was on Noah’s Ark for the first time, I was very excited and felt very privileged. Very few had ever been able to do what I had done. Now many are able to do the same. I am about to go to Saudi Arabia, which had just opened up to the public in 2019, and I will be going to this very same place where Nadab and Abihu along with Moses, Aaron and the 70 elders ate a meal with Yehovah. I am super excited about this. But these men ate with and fellowshipped with Yehovah. That has got to top any and all life experiences.

After this, they make the golden calf when Moses was on the mountain for 40 days. Moses breaks the two tablets written by the finger or Yehovah. He goes back up the mountain for another 40 days and returns with the second set of stone commandments. Moses meets with Yehovah and his face turns luminous. Moses builds and assembles the tabernacle, erecting it on the 1st day of the month of Aviv. Then in Exodus 40 we are told Yehovah filled the Tabernacle.

Now let’s compare the events we just read about with the events that led to the death Nadab and Abihu.[1] I urge you to read all of the dedication ceremony in Leviticus chapter 8.

At the end of chapter 8 they are told to stay there for seven days and seven nights at the entrance to the tabernacle. It is very similar to the time they were on top of the mountain for 7 days and nights with Yehovah at Shavuot. In verse 26 we are told they burnt unleavened bread from the basket so we know this is during the Days of Unleavened Bread because you only eat unleavened bread during those 7 days at Passover.

31 And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And eat it there with the bread in the basket of consecrations, as I have commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. 32 And that which remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire. 33 You shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation seven days, until the days of your consecration are at an end. For He shall consecrate you seven days. 34 As He has done this day, Jehovah has commanded you to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 And you shall remain at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of Jehovah, so that you do not die. For so I am commanded. 36 And Aaron and his sons did all the things which Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 8:31-36)

After they have been dedicated for the 7 days, on the eighth day they make sin offerings and then they make the peace offering which is similar to what they did at Shavuot 9 months prior.

1 And it happened on the eighth day. Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel. 2 And he said to Aaron, Take a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish for a burnt offering, and offer before Jehovah. 3 And speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Take a kid of the goats for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb of the first year, all without blemish, for a burnt offering. 4 Also take a young bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Jehovah, and a food offering mixed with oil. For today Jehovah will appear to you. (Leviticus 9:1-4)

The Tabernacle has now been up for a month. The Shekinah has come and dwelt in it. But on this 8th day of their dedication ceremony, again after the peace offering is made, then Yehovah is going to come and appear to them. Peace offerings are rare. We do not read about them very often. Nadab and Abihu have got to be excited.

Then Moses tells Aaron to make the sin offerings on behalf of all of Israel, which he does and then he makes the peace offering on behalf of Israel and his sons are helping him do all of these things as well. Then we read how Yehovah appeared in front of the entire nation and came into the Tabernacle.

22 And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out and blessed the people. And the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before Jehovah, and burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:22-24)

This sounds just like when Nadab and Abihu and the rest of the elders were on the mountain when Yehovah appeared to them after the peace offering. In both Exodus and Leviticus Yehovah was a devouring fire. 

17 And the sight of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of Israel. (Exodus 24:17)

After all these awesome events taking place, we now read about a tragedy when Nadab and Abihu are killed by Yehovah. When fire came out and devoured them. I am questioning whether or not it was a tragedy or whether it was prophetic. 

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them. 2 And there went out fire from Jehovah and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, It is that which Jehovah spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3)

Many will comment about the two being drunk or bringing the wrong type of fire. Others say they were only to go in on the Day of Atonement, and yet Moses and Aaron had just gone in and out. I am not going to dwell on these other comments. I am seeing and trying to find a connection to the Two Witnesses. Consider what I am seeing and study this to possibly learn if it is not true.

The name Nadab has this for a meaning.

H5068 (Strong) נָדַב nâdab naw-dab’

A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously: – offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing (-ly).

H5068 (Ancient Hebrew)

H5068 = AHLB# 2380 (V)

2380) Bdn% (נָדַב NDB) ac: Offer co: Offering ab: Honor: The offering of something with a willing heart as a sign of honor.

The word Nadab is found in Exodus 24, 35:21, 29 and 1 Chronicles 29. All of these scriptures in relation to making a free-will offering towards the Tabernacle or the Temple. Moses had to restrain the people who in their enthusiasm were giving too much.

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring Me an offering. You shall take an offering from every man that gives it willingly with his heart. (Exodus 25:1-2)

Yes, they wanted to give and that was great, but they also have to give the way Yehovah commanded them to do it.

If you love your spouse, you do not give them a vacuum cleaner. You give them something they want, or they desire, not something you want to give. We are to love Yehovah and in so doing we will want to give a gift to Him in a way that He has told us how to do it. What gift does He want from you?

Now, look at the name Abihu. Look at the meaning of his name according to the Semitic Early Hebrew. It is showing you “One who is looking at a Great sight.” That sight being Yehovah the Father.

H30 (Strong) אֲבִיהוּא ‘ăbı̂yhû’ ab-ee-hoo’

From H1 and H1931; father (that is worshipper) of Him (that is God); Abihu, a son of Aaron: – Abihu.

H1 (Ancient Hebrew)

H1 = AHLB# 1002-A (N)

1002) Ba% (אָב AB) ac: Stand co: Pole ab: ?: The pictograph a represents strength, the b represents the tent. Combined these mean “the strength of the house”. This can be the tent poles which hold up the tent, the house, as well as the father who holds up the family, the household. (eng: paan exchange from a b and p and a reversal of the letters)

H1 (Strong) אָב ‘âb  awb

A primitive word; father in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application: – chief, (fore-) father ([-less]), X patrimony, principal. Compare names in “Abi-”

H1931 (Ancient Hebrew)

H1931 = AHLB# 1093-J (N)

1093) Ae% (הא HA) ac: Look co: ? ab: Behold: The pictograph e represents one who is looking at a great sight with his hands raised as when saying behold. A looking toward someone or something. This root is closely related to eefe, and ie.(eng: he)

With this understanding of Abiyhu’s name, take a look at the beatitudes in Matthew and in particular this one: 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

G3700 (Thayer) ὀπτάνομαι  /  ὄπτομαι optanomai  /  optomai

Thayer Definition:

1) to look at, behold

2) to allow one’s self to be seen, to appear

Abiyhu saw a great sight. He saw Yehovah in person.

Now if you will allow me, I am going to draw the connections to the Two Witnesses. It is my “theory” that Nadab and Abiyhu were making a freewill and or peace offering to Yehovah of themselves and just as the fire came down to consume the sacrifice on the altar that day, it also came down and consumed these two men. It is my view that Yehovah was using them for a prophetic purpose showing us something in the future about the Two Witnesses.

The Two Witnesses in the last days will not be making burnt offerings, but they will be praising the name of Yehovah. With this in mind consider the following verses.

6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Jehovah, for it is good. (Psalm 54:6)

108 I pray You, take the free-will offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, and teach me Your judgments. (Psalm 119:108)

15 By Him, then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, confessing His name. (Hebrew 13:15)

14 Offer to God thanksgiving; and pay your vows to the Most High; 15 and call on Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. (Psalm 50:14-15)

Now consider the free will offering Yehshua made when He was crucified. Was it and is it not similar?

11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 But he who is a hireling and not the shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. And the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. 13 The hireling flees, because he is a hireling and does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by those who are Mine. 15 Even as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd. 17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I might take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down from Myself.I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I have received this commandment from My Father. (John 10:11-18)

The first time Nadab and Abiyhu saw Yehovah, they also saw Moses make an offering on the eighth day, Shavuot. It was the eighth day of the dedication when Nadab and Abiyhu were dedicated and then went into the Tabernacle just as Moses and Aaron had done.

22 And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out and blessed the people. And the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before Jehovah, and burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:22-24)

After Moses and Aaron came out of the Tabernacle, Nadab and Abiyhu may have assumed they too and the 70 elders would also be able to go in.

When Nadab and Abiyhu were with Moses they saw the offering and then Yehovah said to Moses for all of them to come up the mountain. They were up on the plateau when they heard Yehovah say to Moses for Moses alone to “Come Up Here.”

1 And He said to Moses, Come up to Jehovah, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. And bow yourselves afar off. 2 And Moses alone shall come near Jehovah, but they shall not come near. Neither shall the people go up with him. (Exodus 24:1-2)

9 And Moses went up, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. 10 And they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as the essence of the heavens for clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the sons of Israel He did not lay his hands. Also they saw God, and ate and drank. 12 And Jehovah said to Moses, Come up to Me in the mountain, and be there. And I will give you tablets of stone, and the Law, and commandments which I have written, so that you may teach them. (Exodus 24:9-12)

When they were up on the mountain for 7 days feasting with Yehovah and seeing Him then they heard Yehovah command Moses to come up to Him saying, “Come up here.” The Two Witnesses are also going to be told by Yehovah to come up here after they have been slaughtered. 

7 And when they complete their testimony, the beast coming up out of the abyss will make war against them and will overcome them and kill them. 8 And their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And many of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will see their dead bodies three days and a half, and they will not allow their dead bodies to be put in tombs. 10 And the ones who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and will make merry, and will send one another gifts, because these two prophets tormented those living on the earth. 11 And after three days and a half, a spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. And great fear fell on those seeing them. 12 And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they went up to Heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. (Revelation 11:7-12)

We read about Yehovah lighting the fire of the altar himself and then again with fire He destroys, or can we say consumes the offering of Nadab and Abiyhu? I believe they wanted to draw near to Yehovah. You draw near when you go up to make an offering.

24 And there came a fire out from before Jehovah, and burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:24)

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them. 2 And there went out fire from Jehovah and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah. (Leviticus 10:1-2)

The Two Witnesses will be given the power of this fire that will come from their mouths to consume their enemies in the same way Elijah called for fire to come down from heaven to consume the offering he had made.

3 And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone will hurt them, so it is right for him to be killed. (Revelation 11:3-5)

36 And it happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Word. 37 Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this people may know that You are Jehovah God, and that You have turned their heart back again. 38 And the fire of Jehovah fell and burned up the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He is the God! Jehovah, He is the God! (1 Kings 18:36-39)

9 And he sent to him a commander of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him. And, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, Man of God! The king has said, Come down. 10 And Elijah answered and said to the commander of fifty, If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And there came down fire from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty. 11 And he turned and he sent to him another commander of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, Man of God! So says the king, Come down quickly. 12 And Elijah answered and said to him, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty. (2 Kings 1:9-12)

Now when I read Malachi, I see something different being said.

1 For behold, the day is coming, burning like a fire pot; and all the proud, and every doer of wickedness, shall be chaff. And the coming day will set them ablaze, says Jehovah of Hosts, which will not leave root or branches to them. 2 But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, and healing will be on His wings. And you shall go out and frisk like calves of the stall. 3 And you shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day which I am preparing, says Jehovah of Hosts. 4 Remember the Law of Moses My servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah. 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, that I not come and strike the earth with utter destruction. (Malachi 4:1-6)

He is turning the hearts to the father, Abiyhu. Yes, I know I am taking liberties. We are also told that if they do not turn back to Yehovah, then He is going to strike the earth with utter destruction. The exact same thing Moses said would happen to those who did not listen to “That Prophet” that was to come. Moses was not speaking about Yehshua.

15 Jehovah your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, One like me. To Him you shall listen, 16 according to all that you desired of Jehovah your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying: Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, so that I do not die. 17 And Jehovah said to me, They have spoken well what they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, one like you, and will put My words in His mouth. And He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. 19 And it shall happen, whatever man will not listen to My Words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

Just before Yehovah destroys this earth, these Two Witnesses will be giving out that final warning. Will people listen to them? Everyone is going to call them troublemakers just as Ahab did.

17 And it happened when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Are you he that troubles Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Jehovah, and you have followed the Baals. (Kings 18:17-18)

[1] I want to give credit to Rabbi David Fohrman of AlephBeta for inspiring me to look at this subject from a different perspective. https://www.alephbeta.org/playlist/why-nadab-and-abihu-died

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 Comments

  1. Niel de Villiers

    Interesting study . For me , the problem lies in that Yehovah is understood to be Yehovah Almighty . Clearly He says to Moses in Exodus 33 : 20 – ” no man can see my face and live ”
    This is after the meal they had earlier in Exodus 24 .
    Consider the Shema : ” Hear o Israel – Yahuah is our God – Yahuah is One ( Echad )
    Echad is a unity – not a number . See Genesis 2 : 24
    A man shall leave …… , and they shall become One ( echad ) flesh .
    For me the God they could see , or beheld , was Yahusha and that is why they were not killed . Did He not clearly say to His disciples – I and the Father are one ( echad ) if you have sesn Me , you have seen My Father . Once you come to understand this , it becomes understandable how Abraham could see and talk with ” Yahusha ” who visited him and Sarah or Joshua meeting the Commander of the Heavenly Host , and for who he had to take of his shoes .
    A last comment is to be very careful of comments by Rabbi’s from Judaism .
    Shalom and God bless

    Reply
    • Joseph F Dumond

      Shabbat Shalom Niel, you said to be very careful of Rabbis from Judaism. I welcome most comments and they do not all have to agree. But Anti Semitic remarks are not welcome.

      If it was not for the Rabbis you would not have a Bible to read from. Nor would you have the deep insights into the Torah that we now take for granted.

      Yehshua was a Jew. You hate the Rabbis then you hate the Jews and Yehshua. There were bad Rabbis in Yehshuas day the same as there are bad Pastors and Evangelists in our day to day.

      Praise Yehovah we have Rabbis to learn from who have spent years studying the Torah so that we can jump to the front of the line gleaning from all they worked a lifetime to understand.

      Any further comments like that will get your post deleted.

      Reply
      • Niel de Villiers

        Shalom Joe

        Thank you for your comment .
        Why would you think one would hate Rabbi’s , therefore Jews and then Yahusha – for a warning about comments and believes of Rabbi’s .
        Why would you think that i have also not been in conversation with them , about their believes especially Rabbi’s Forman and Tovi Singer . Can assure you that i have been involved in a Messianic congregation in Kfar Saba for many years now and they will confirm my love for Israel and it’s people .
        Will i again warn you like Yahusha did in Matt 23 : 1-3 warn us – most defnitely and if you have a problem with it – let us say our goodbyes . Shalom

        Reply
        • Joseph F Dumond

          Shabbat Shalom Niel, I have read the last line of your first comment and it would seem I have misunderstood you. I would like to publicly apologize to you for my misconception. And I would also like to thank Frank for vouching for your good character. Please forgive me. I look forward to getting to know you better.

          Reply
          • Niel de Villiers

            Hi Joe – no offence taken . Thank you for undersyanding now , what i wanted to warn you about .
            I cincerely believe there are many , many good people taken captive by doctine of many religions , and it is always my prayer for them to be freed from this form of slavery .
            The wonder of our internet age , is that i comprehend many of this good people are realising under what yoke they are , and are turning to ministries like yours and few others like Nazarene Israel , to see what the ” Way ” Yahuah wants us to live by . I’m truly believe that it is the beginning of the awakening and thank God that we can be part thereof . I can only thank the Holy Spirit that have guided me in turning to how Yahuah wants us to live – for His glory .
            Take care and God bless

          • FJ

            It is good to re examine & be able to admit error & misjudgment of others.

            Praise Abba for life in humility.
            Blessings

  2. MT Head

    This is your strength. Teasing out deep, hidden connections that bring new light to old ignorance. Whether it can be refuted or not, it doesn’t really matter. It’s a good teaching and provokes much curiosity.

    You may recognise when I say, I had been mulling over two other witnesses following hearing them mentioned in some other recently well publicized spoken words. Those being Joshua and Caleb. The two spies that returned from witnessing Jehovah’s promised land and didn’t bear false witness. Two witnesses of the Father’s truth and not afraid to act on it…..I’m sure many more examples can be found of this type. Maybe they all the together to tell us something we hadn’t seen before? Some way we are required to act when we walk in true faith.

    Every blessing in your work. We are all catching glimpses of the bigger picture, keep knitting them together, the tapestry is going to be stunning.

    Reply
  3. Ella H Morgan

    As usual, stunning inf. I can’t wait to read the book

    Reply
  4. Frank Smyth

    Shalom Joseph.
    There is a fine line between appreciation of the wisdom and understanding of the Rabbis and following them down the road to Judaism. This is the line Yeshua had to walk. Do not add to Torah is one of our instructions.
    All opinions which differ form your point of view are not necessarily anti Semitic. I know Neil and and in his defence, he is not an anti Semitic person.
    Yehovah bless you good Joseph.
    Shalom,
    Frank.

    Reply
  5. Stuart

    I find this theory very concerning. Self-immolation is the end result of many cultic mindsets and cannot be based in scripture. What true service can we offer Jehovah if we are dead?

    Psalm 88:10-12
    Ronans 12:1

    I think the plain reading of the text is accurate as it always is.

    Reply
    • Joseph F Dumond

      Shabbat Shalom Stuart, I was not advocating death. I was comparing Nadab and Abiyhu to the Two Wtinesses who also will die. As Romans 12:1 says present yourselves as a living sacrifice. All sacrifices are slaughtered.

      Rom 8:36 As it is written, “For Your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep of slaughter.”

      Psa 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god,
      Psa 44:21 shall not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
      Psa 44:22 Yea, for Your sake we are put to death all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
      Psa 44:23 Awaken! Why do You sleep, O Jehovah? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.
      Psa 44:24 Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and distress?
      Psa 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly holds fast to the earth.
      Psa 44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your mercy.

      We were also very clear about it being a theory, a talking point.
      You are correct about the Cultic mindset which has blindly followed Rome and her daughters without questioning those things they say. That same cultic mindset has led many who will only believe the original King James Version and none other. This type of mindset will only follow what the interpreters of the Bible (in the 1600s) say it says and will not go and look at the original Hebrew, themselves for a better and deeper understanding.
      I want and desire for the readers, of this Newsletter and of anything put out by Sightedmoon, to think for themselves and to prove all things. Not to be a follower of any man, but to follow Yehovah by proving what the scriptures actually do say.

      Reply
  6. Sombra

    Leviticus 10:1-2….. which He had not commanded them. We often think, if God didn’t command them, then it must have been a wrong thing to do. But if they were offering a free will offering… God can NOT command us to bring a freewill offering, because then it isn’t a freewill offering.

    So this phrase “which He had not commanded” is not about Yah being displeased with what they did… it just means that Yah did not command them to be sacrificed.

    And this would also make sense why Aaron was told not to mourn for them. Why would you mourn their deaths when they gave their lives freely.?

    Reply
  7. Anne Scammel

    Hello Mr. Dumond
    I am fairly new to this website and the torah. We have a mutual friend by name of Steven Smith who been visiting me over the last year or so. I feel so grateful of the time he takes to check in on me and answer the questions I always torment him with. Thankfully Steven is a very patient man and I can always count on him to do his best to find the answers I ask whether he has to go look for himself if he doesn’t know right off. He often leads me here to your website and all the information that you have shared here.
    I still learning how comment and use internet better but I leaning as I go. I hope meet more brethren to fellowship with. Thank you
    Yours Truly
    Anne Scammel
    Truro
    Nova Scotia, Canada

    Reply
  8. Ronnie Joyce Wells

    With the scriptural references of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers which everyone can go and read, I’m just going to say, I strongly disagree with the theory that Nadab and Abihu are prophetic of two future witnesses. Yehovah has a standard and people die as a result of not adhering to it, no matter how much we may try to make things sound or be endearing otherwise. Aaron was the anointed, appointed High Priest, (Lev. 4, Lev. 8-10). Nadab and Abihu could only serve in that capacity when Aaron was no longer around. Nadab and Abihu entered Yehovah’s presence as laymen. Yehovah did not recognize them by hearing the tinkling of the bells of the High Priest garment when they came into His presence. He did not see the onyx stones on their shoulders or the breastplate of stones with all tribes of Israel represented on it on their chest. He did not see the Holy crown on their heads. All of these were the garments to be worn by the anointed one going into Yehovah’s presence. Don’t get me wrong, what happened to Nadab and Abihu was sad and terrible. We shouldn’t look at it as them offering themselves as a freewill offering though. Yehovah has a standard and He must be treated as HOLY.
    Perhaps we have so much suffering, sickness and destruction going on in our lives and society because we do not uphold Yehovah’s Standard. We have been so conditioned by the “Just love everybody, just tolerate everybody, God loves them too.”
    I wonder, how many of us prostrate ourselves before Yehovah and instead of launching into a recited prayer or list of gimmees, that we ask Him to accept us into His presence along with all the tribes of Israel naming them by name and their descendants for His presence to be with us this day and every day for His glory, honor and praise; to turn all our hearts back to Him in obedience that we may indeed treat Him as Holy. Shabbat Shalom.

    Reply
  9. Jim H.

    Joe,

    First, I want to say that I fully agree with the person who commented above, Ronnie Joyce Wells. There is no reason for Moses to make the statement, “It is what the LORD spoke, saying ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all people I will be honored…'” (Lev. 10:3) unless the actions taken by Nadab and Abihu were contrary to setting Him apart as holy and honored among the people.

    I do not think comparing these two to the Two Witnesses of the last day is a valid, relevant, comparison.

    A more valid and relevant comparison is to compare them to Ananias and Sapphira who, after the presence of God had also come in the form of the Holy Spirit, treated it as common, earthly.

    Both suffered the same fate and both situations are mirrors of one another.

    Please correct me if I misunderstood what you were trying to say.

    You also made the following comment above:
    “The exact same thing Moses said would happen to those who did not listen to “That Prophet” that was to come. Moses was not speaking about Yehshua.”

    Again, I fully disagree that Moses’ comment about “the Prophet” does not apply to Yehshua. I’m not sure if you are pulling a certain quality/characteristic from what you are teaching to say THAT doesn’t apply to Yehshua or not. But the “Prophet like unto Moses MOST definitely does apply to Yehshua! and those who do not listen to Him sill assuredly be cast into the Lake of Fire. We can debate what “listen to Him” means but the result for those who do not live as He instructed is the Lake of Fire.

    Again, as mentioned before, I am not going to spend my time attempting to edit the following. I’ve had too many times where the whole things has been lost during the attempt.

    I will reprint a long lesson done a few years ago on this subject. Hopefully the entire content will copy to the website as I lost a lot of the last email I tried to recopy so it looked like I quit in the middle of it a number of weeks ago. I never had a chance to go back to see if there were any responses to it until a number of weeks later, only to realize a lot of the Word doc had not copied to the site.

    The following is quite long. It is a Sabbath teaching for our group. Only individuals can tell if it is of any value.

    In the following content, forgive the use of Yeshua and the fact the website editor considers this a misspelling. I changed it above, but too much to change in the following.

    Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (All quotes from NASB)
    15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.
    16 This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ [Ex. 20:20]
    17 The LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well.
    18 I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
    19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.

    Background: Moses is writing here about an event that happened over 39 years earlier and which can be found in Exodus 20:20, yet this specific detail of that event is mentioned here for the first time in the Torah.

    A question we should ask ourselves is, “Why didn’t Elohim have Moses write this information down way back in Exodus when the event happened? Why did He have Moses give this specific detail here in Deuteronomy 18, as part of Moses’ last instructions given to the children of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land?”

    Could it be because they, and we, can only enter the Land by listening to His, the Father’s, Prophet? There was a physical land of Israel they were about to enter then, but for us there is also a physical/spiritual land of Israel where the Great King will rule and reign over all the earth. Moses’ words apply equally to both groups of people. A number of New Testament writers specifically refer to this prophesy; John, Peter, and the writer of Hebrews! Paul is more discrete but also refers to it.
    This passage is without a doubt one of the most significant, but overlooked, prophesies of the Old Testament.

    Analysis: The Father informs Moses He is going to do just what the children of Israel requested of Him at Mt. Sinai. This means, legally, his people can’t fault Him for not doing what they asked in order to make His words plain to them, right? The Father will accommodate their request! His response to them is:
    1) He is going to send them a man who will arise from among their own countrymen,
    2) This man will be a prophet, just like Moses, and,
    3) The prophet will speak the Father’s words in the Father’s Name.
    4. Last, a warning follows: The one who refuses to listen to His prophet, meaning refuses to “hear and obey” His Prophet, will answer directly to the Father for his or her rebellion.

    This specific prophet will not speak on his own initiative but will only speak what God commands him to speak. This would follow the same pattern given in Exodus where we are informed over and over again, Moses did “…just as YHVH commanded Moses.” Ex. 39) The Prophet will do the same!
    If this prophet is to be like Moses, what do we already know about Moses that will help us to identify the coming prophet?
    1) Moses was raised as a son of royalty but became a common sheep herder. Yeshua was with the Father in heaven but laid His position aside to shepherd His Father’s sheep.
    2) Moses led the children of Israel out of the house of bondage to Egypt. Yeshua lead them out of bondage to sin.
    3) Moses was an intercessor between the people and God. Yeshua is also!
    4) Moses led the children of Israel to the borders of the Promised Land. Yeshua will gather His elect to the Promised Land and be their King!
    5) Moses, though a Levite, prepared the priesthood for service. Yeshua prepares His people for the same; a nation of priests! Moses was never a priest; while on earth neither was Yeshua!
    6) Moses gave Israel the written Law, the Instructions of God. Yeshua wrote them and gave them to Moses for His people! Both were lawgivers and taught the same doctrine. James 4:12 quoting Isaiah 33:22)
    7) Moses met with Elohim face to face. Yeshua was with God in the beginning!
    8) Moses was faithful to build God’s house, His dwelling place, according to the instructions/pattern given. Yeshua is the builder of God’s House, His dwelling place, also according to His Instructions!
    9) Elohim’s testimony of Moses is, “and just as YHVH commanded Moses, so Moses did”. Yeshua was also obedient in the same manner, even unto death.
    You may be able to think of other parallels between Moses and Yeshua and so add some of you own. This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive list.
    Introduction: Where do we find information in the New Testament allowing us to identify the Prophet like unto Moses, the Prophet the Father promised to send His people, in response to their request?
    John the Baptist was uniquely qualified to understand the Old Testament scriptures to specifically speak about the One who was coming. Filled with the spirit from his mother’s womb, he knew his mission was to be a voice in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. He understood his baptism was inferior to the baptism of the One coming after him.
    John the Baptist was the eldest, and likely only, son of a husband and wife who were both descendants of Aaron. (Lk 1:5) Scripture testifies his father and mother were both “blameless” with respect to obeying Elohim’s Law. (Lk. 1:7)
    The apostle John was a disciple of John the Baptist and was with him when he answered questions of the religious leaders, sent by the Pharisees from Jerusalem, inquiring as to John the Baptist’s identity. This is recorded in John 1:19-28. The apostle John along with Andrew, another disciple of John the Baptist, were the first to follow Yeshua once they heard him testify of Yeshua, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36-40)
    The theme of the John’s gospel is about this Prophet like unto Moses! Peter in Acts 3 and the writer of Hebrews (Chapter 10) also address specific aspects of “the Prophet”, including the Deuteronomy 18 “warning” aspects for those who reject His testimony.
    The Apostle John’s Testimony of Yeshua:
    The Apostle John’s purpose for writing his gospel is to inform us, based on his own eye witness testimony, Yeshua is both the prophet like unto Moses and the Messiah. John records his purpose for his writing the gospel of John in John 20:30-31. “Many other signs therefore performed Yeshua also in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
    As we read his testimony we should be asking ourselves, “How does this testimony provide evidence Yeshua is the prophet like unto Moses and/or the Messiah?”
    John states His purpose in writing these things was to ensure his reader knew Yeshua was the one anointed to deliver His people from bondage and restore them back to a right relationship with the Father, to give them life. The question about whether Yeshua was “the Prophet” or Messiah was actually an on-going debate among the people throughout the time period of John’s gospel, and he refers to this a number of times thus giving us a glimpse into the theocratic mindset among the Jews in early 1st century CE.
    Keep in mind the events which led to the birth of John the Baptist when his father’s turn to offer the sacrifice in the holy place occurred and he was visited by an angel. He was unable to speak until the child was born and he wrote the child would be named “John”. His wife was not in her youth either. The people questioned him about naming him John, since no one in his family had this name. (Luke 1) Obviously, these miraculous events would have been known to many of the religious leaders and so they had been, and were still, looking for some kind of visitation from YHVH.
    John 1:19- 24
    The Jews sent priests and Levites, from Jerusalem, to John the Baptist and asked him, “Who are you?”
    20 He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
    21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
    22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
    23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
    24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
    It is apparent from the text that the religious leaders in the 1st century C.E, were aware of and looking for at least one of three people: Elijah, Messiah, and/or the Prophet. All three of these are found in the Old Testament and are spoken of there as indicators that the end of the age and the time for the Messianic Kingdom has arrived.
    We’ve already seen the Prophet like unto Moses is prophesied to come in Deuteronomy 18:15 -18. The Messiah, the Son of Man, is spoken of in Daniel 7:13-14, and Elijah was prophesied to come before the Messiah in Malachi 4:5. The religious leaders knew the scriptures! Their problem was they had formed a mental image of what this would look like and were not able to adjust their theology to the reality that was taking place right before them.
    We always need to be careful of being so wed to our doctrine we end up with myopic vision and miss the actual move of the Father! It can happen to anyone!
    When Yeshua spoke of Himself as, “the Son of Man”, He was specifically recalling to the Jewish mind the mention of “the Son of Man” spoken of in Daniel 7:13-14. They understood this! However, many of them thought He should be a military leader and deliver them from the power of Rome and therefore missed His deliverance from a stronger captor, the bondage to sin, the transgression of YHVH’s Law (1 John 3:4)!
    John 1:41 He [Andrew] found first his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah”. Obviously, they were already looking for Him!
    John 1:49-51 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
    The term “ascending and descending” is actually a reference from back in Exodus 19 of Moses going up (ascending) and down (descending) Sinai in Exodus 19 over and over; first receiving instructions from God for the people, then informing the people of the instructions, and then going back to get more instructions and informing the people, and so on and so forth!
    Nathaniel’s emphatic response to Yeshua’s informing Nathaniel He saw him “under the fig tree” has resulted in a lot of commentary and questions as to the meaning. So has the cursing of the fig tree just prior to Yeshua’s crucifixion.
    I’d like to connect these two events and present my understanding on the matter from the Old Testament, comparing scripture to scripture. There is most definitely something here that is not apparent, since Nathaniel’s response to Yeshua saying He saw him under the fig tree brought forth such an emotional affirmation as to the His deity and rulership. Why? What was Nathaniel focused on?
    I believe Nathaniel was focused on “the fig tree”! He understood Yeshua’s message to him that he would be in the Messianic Kingdom. In scripture there are two trees; the olive tree and the fig tree.
    Hosea 9:10- “I found Israel like the grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.” The forefathers referred to here are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
    1 Kings 4:25 “So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, even from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” We understand Solomon’s early reign is a foreshadowing of the Messianic Kingdom.
    Micah 4:1-4 “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains,
    and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
    2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob;
    and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
    for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
    3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;
    and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. This is, of course, a passage describing activities taking place in the Messianic Kingdom. Everyone will dwell safely under his own vine and fig tree!
    Mt. 24:32-34 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree; when you see its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place.” Even Yeshua said that the “fig tree” would be a sign of the nearness of His return.
    So why, just a few days before His crucifixion, did Yeshua curse the fig tree? (Mt. 21:18-19)
    I believe Judah is the fig tree. Their Messiah had come to inspect their fruit but found no fruit on them. They rejected Him. He pronounced that the leader’s house, Judah, would be left to them desolate, they would be exiled. His interaction with the fig tree was simply a physical illustration of what had already happened in many of the Jews lives spiritually.
    Let’s return back to what John taught about Yeshua being the Prophet, but note Moses also prophesied all of Israel, including Judah, would be scattered among the nations! (Deut. 30:1) Judah’s scattering occurred under Hadrian over 100 years after Messiah!
    John 2:14-17 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business. His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”
    Moses was also zealous for God’s Name, for His reputation among the nations, as he made intercession for the sin of the golden calf!
    John 3:12-16 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”
    Yeshua was “sent” by Elohim!
    John 3:28-31 “You yourselves [John the Baptist’s disciples] are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God;
    John the Baptist testified to his disciples that Yeshua was from heaven, that He was above all, that the words He spoke were the words of Elohim, and that He was sent by Elohim.
    John 4:25 “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
    Yeshua claimed to be the Messiah. The woman understood the Messiah would declare all things unto the people. Moses declared many things to the people.
    John 4:42 “So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
    The Samaritans heard His word and understood the Messiah to be the Savior of the world!
    John 5:19-23 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
    Yeshua was sent by the Father, to speak the Father’s words to the people and the one who “believes” His word, meaning, the one who acts out His Word, has passed from death unto life.
    John 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but [I seek] the will of Him who sent Me.
    Yeshua was sent by the Father. He judges only in accordance with the will of the one who sent Him, His Father! He does not seek His own will, but only the Father’s! He is the Father’s faithful servant, as was Moses!
    John 5:38 You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.
    Yeshua was sent by the Father and spoke the Father’s words to them but they couldn’t receive it because they rejected obeying the Father’s words. Israel rejected Moses and his words also.
    John 6:28-29 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God; that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
    Yeshua was sent by the Father to speak the Father’s words. The people have to “do” what He speaks to them, to do the work of Elohim.
    John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
    He was sent by the Father to do the Father’s will. Not to do His own will.
    John 7:1 “After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.”
    John 7:5-7 “For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus *said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” (He spoke God’s Words, Law/Instructions.)
    John 7:16-18 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”
    16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
    John 7:26-29 “Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ [Messiah- the Anointed One], do they? 27 However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
    John 7:40-41 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet [like unto Moses].”
    41 Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?
    John 7:51-52 “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” 52 They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”
    But Isaiah 9:1-7 appears to contradict this!
    John 8:18 I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
    John 8:23-24 “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.”
    John 8:26-28 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” 27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.
    John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.”
    John 8:47-49 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” 48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
    John 9:17 So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
    John 9: 32-33 “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
    John 10:17-18 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
    John 11:27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
    John 12:44-50 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
    John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
    John 14:10-11 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

    John 14:19-24 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
    John 14:30-31 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.”
    Every action of Yeshua was intended to honor His Father! It was never about Him!! Moses was the meekest man on the earth!
    John 15:22-25 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25 But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’
    John 16:2-5 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to Him who sent Me;”
    John 16:13-15 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
    John 17:3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
    John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
    John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

    James 4:12, Is. 33:22, Is. 49:17-19

    Reply
  10. Sarkis

    Hi Joseph,
    I still don’t understand that Nadab and Abiyhu could be the pattern for the two witnesses.
    My understanding when I look for patterns from scriptures,
    I see Moses and Aaron during Exodus, as two witnesses
    Then Jehshuah (Jesus) and John the Baptist. as two witnesses
    Moses and Aaron were brothers and Jehshuah and John the Baptist were cousins.
    So I think that the two witnesses could be related.
    As for Nadab and Abiyhu being a living sacrifice goes contrary to scripture
    Yehovah does not allow human sacrifices
    Thank you for making the Shabbat Zoom teaching available,
    I enjoy it and learn from so many people
    Blessings

    Reply

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