Preparing for the Temple

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: Jul 21, 2023

News Letter 5859-021
The 7th Year of the 4th Sabbatical Cycle
The 28th year of the 120th Jubilee Cycle
The 4th day of the 6th month 5859 years after the creation of Adam
The 4th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Sword, Famines, and Pestilence

July 22, 2023

Shabbat Shalom to the Royal Family of Yehovah,

Shalom Brethren, as you can see around the world Yehovah is cranking up the heat and breaking all the records. At this same time crops are falling and then Russia walks away from the Ukraine deal to allow safe passage of grains to the rest of the world. Russia and Ukraine ship 1/4 of the worlds grains. So any disruption is going to send some nations into starvation. The day after Russia walked away they then began to attack the port city of Odessa and have done so up until the time of this posting. Again all of this falling in line with the 5th curse of Leviticus 23, where Yehovah is going to send worldwide famines.

I have included three articles this week. Two about the heat and one about Russia and the coming famine.

This week I want to show you just how far along Judah is in preparing for the Temple to be built and the Red Heifer offering.

With the new moon of the 6th month having begun, we are now in the 40 days of repentance and fasting. Prepare your hearts for our groom who is coming. Forgive those who have hurt you and make amends to those you have hurt. Judgment begins in 2024. Repent now and be ready.

We have also created a new video this week, encouraging everyone to fast more than just the one time on Atonement. We want Yehovah to heal our lands, but he has to see us repent and return to obeying Him. Please pray, fast and share this video. Help us to get the message out.


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There is way too many events taking place in the world right now for me to post them all in this newsletter. The world temperatures are shooting through the roof. Climatic disasters are following one after another. And Russia has walked away from the grain deal with Ukraine. All of these things leading to the 5th curse of famine. I am trying to keep you updated so that you are aware. But I am now doing so daily on Telegram.

Please follow me on Telegram. Just click this link. This is where I post things as they happen, many of which will not make it to the News Letter. Follow me here and then you can share these stories on your own FB page.

You can also follow me on Facebook at

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The Shmita Year of 2023

We have now begun the 6th month and we are now half way through the Sabbatical year. How does it feel? Excited? You are now almost 1/2 way through the Sabbatical year.  You are allowed to eat some of the food you have stored away. LOL. I know looking at it each day, wondering if it was enough, still plays on your mind. So eat some of it and let the Sabbatical year be a blessing to you and your family.

Brethren find a way to obey. Stop finding excuses why you can’t do this or that.

If you just discovered this was the Shmita year, then stock up now for the remainder of the year. Don’t plant or harvest this year. Obey Yehovah.

The Shmita Year of 2023

Aviv 1 on February 21/22, 2023 began the 7th Year of Rest. You can prove this by understanding that 2 King 19:29 spoke about a 49th and 50th-year land rest. Knowing this was 701 and 700 BC, you can then count by 7 or 49 and land on every Sabbatical year or every Jubilee in history. All of our proof’s line up with this understanding.

We want to encourage you to watch and share this video of our teaching at GLC about the Sabbatical Year.

In this Sabbatical year, you are:

  1. Not to Plant
  2. Not to Harvest
  3. Stock up on Food in the 6th year
  4. Forgive Debts
  5. Read the Torah Out Loud on the 1st day of Sukkot.

These are the basic rules that you are to keep in order to be blessed by Yehovah. As of this writing, it is not too late to stock up for the year.

There are 365 days in the year. Let’s just say there are 400 days, in case there is an Adar Bet next year. You can buy 400 Cans of Soup to have one meal of soup each day during the year. One can of soup costs about $2, so for $800 you have a year’s supply of soup. But if you are not going to eat soup every day then take out half and buy canned beans, vegetables and fruits.

You can do this. Do not say you can’t do this. Find the will to find a way to get this done. Find excuses as to why you will obey. We are coming into the 5th curse over the next 7 years. That curse is famine and it will be so bad that people will eat their own children. So stock up on food now so you can obey Yehovah. And extra food will be a welcome blessing later.

Brethren, this is not that hard to do. What it takes is the willpower to do it: that and a little planning. You can buy meat throughout the year. It is not a ban on meat. You can also eat anything that grows of itself during the year. But do not plan on living off of those things that come from the ground. It they fail then you have no food. Stock up now, and if something grows, they are a bonus, but they are also free game for the neighbours and the animals. So they might eat it before you do. Plan ahead and stock up now. You still have time to get it done.

I received this email this week and want to share it and answer it with you all.

Message: Hello Joseph

I was wondering – are we allowed to still buy “old stock” from the store up to 22 Feb 2023? Most products have Production dates and Sell by dates on them. I am staying away from fresh vegetables and fruit but if I can see on a canned item or on frozen vegetables that the Production date in well outside of the beginning of the Shmita year, I am allowed to buy it?

As you might know, we (South Africa) are sometimes without power for up to 8 hours, sometimes more, a day. I therefore did not invest in an extra freezer or fridge for we are expecting the collapse of the grid any day and all those frozen things will have to be thrown away. I have stocked up for the Shmita year, but still have this impression on my spirit that I have to keep doing it for as long as I can – especially canned goods.

Personally I do not see why I can’t, because it is old stock. Nowhere do I read in the Torah that you are not allowed to buy the old stock in the Shmita year (provided of course that you can find a Production date on the can/container that is well outside the beginning of our Shmita year. But, my understanding of it may be wrong, so I would really appreciate your input.

Shalom

Melanie

South Africa

As I always do here is my standard answer as to what you are to do during the Sabbatical year.

  1. Not to Plant
  2. Not to Harvest
  3. Stock up on Food in the 6th year
  4. Forgive Debts
  5. Read the Torah Out Loud on the 1st day of Sukkot.

Each person is different. Each person has a different culture they live in. Some do not have electric power. Some are called and discover this information and the sabbatical year has already begun. Yehovah has called each of us from the walk we are in. Different races, different problems. But He HAS called you to begin NOW to obey. So, start to obey from that point on with all your might and all your ability. But Start!!!

Joe Dumond Rules

In answer to Melanie, these are now what I do. They are not written in Torah. This would come under Joe Dumond rules, which must be changed when found to be out of alignment with Yehovah’s Laws. Each of you will develop you own rules for you and your family. I might not agree with them but so long as we are all keeping the 5 rules of the Shmita year then do not judge others who are trying to obey. Let Yehovah judge them. Let Yehovah bless them according to what they do right and what they do wrong. But do not let us go around attacking each other, and especially those who are trying.

I have stocked up my food for the upcoming year. Here in Ontario, Canada, I will use Shavuot as another one of my benchmarks. I will explain in a moment.

Here in Ontario, I will continue to buy and eat apples that were grown in Ontario up until about Shavuot 2023. This means any apples marked as product of Ontario would have been grown and harvested in 2022. New Apples will not be available from Ontario until some time in the summer of 2023. So my cut off date will be Shavuot 2023. Potatoes grown here in Canada either from Ontario or Prince Edward Island, the main place potatoes are grown in Canada will not come on the market until about August. Again, I can use last years stocks up until my cut off date of Shavuot 2023.

Here in Ontario, our lettuce and most fresh fruit and vegetables comes from around the world and take about 7 days to go from being picked to the store. So for me, as of Passover 2023, I will not be eating any fresh greens from the stores. I will eat only what I have already bought before that date which is now passed. Most canned fruits and vegetables are from last years harvest. So canned goods I will continue to stock up on. I believe I will finish this the week after the Days of Unleavened Bread. I know there is no yeast in them, but I have had many problems to resolve with my wife about storing food here in the apartment, which is forcing me to be very precise in all I do.

Now if I am going to use Shavuot as my cut off date for those things grown here in Ontario, then next year when the Sabbatical Year ends at Aviv in 2024, then I also will continue to not eat those things grown in Ontario, until they come into season here locally. For example, I will wait until August before eating Apples again. I will wait until August before I eat new potatoes.

After Aviv 1 in 2024, when fresh strawberries begin to arrive on the store shelves in Ontario I will wait until around the 1st of the second month before I eat them. I am doing this because the shelve life is about a week or two. So if I wait until the 1st of the 2nd month, then those fresh products will have been harvested in 2024 after Aviv, when we can then again harvest. In the past I have waited and to set the date at Shavuot.

Here is an example from the Bible you need to understand and once you do then can decide what to do for yourself. It is upon this understanding that I set the date for myself of Shavuot.

Lev 25:20 And if you shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow nor gather in our increase!

Lev 25:21 Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

Lev 25:22 And you shall sow the eighth year, and eat of old fruit until the ninth year; until its fruits come in, you shall eat the old fruit.

The Barley was sown around Sukkoth in the fall. It is harvested after Passover. In a Sabbatical year you could not harvest the barley in the Sabbatical Year. You would not be able to plant in the Sabbatical year in the fall. This then meant you would not have a barley crop the year after the Sabbatical year at Passover. This is now the 8th year. In the fall around Sukkoth in the 8th year, you could plant but would not be able to harvest until Passover in the 9th year.

What ever the crop or food you are desiring to plant or harvest, in what ever part of the world you you live in, you must plant and harvest according to the Sabbatical Year rules from Aviv to Aviv.

So each person must figure out when Strawberries are planted and harvested according to this understanding. When Potatoes are planted according to this understanding. Our society does not obey Yehovah. So each of us must read the labels and decide if this is kosher or not. To this day, I do not drink any wine harvested in the year 2016 or 2009 both Sabbatical years I have kept.

We all must obey. Do the best you can and pray Yehovah helps you to understand and to be able to obey.

If you want to use aquaponics or soilless planting then you must decide if this is kosher or not. I am not going to come up with an entire Targum or set of Tamudic do’s and don’ts. Read the rules or read Lev 25 and then you decide. You are called to be a King and Priest in the Kingdom of Yehovah. As a King and Preist you must uphold the Law of Yehovah and enforce it. As a King or Priest in the Kingdom, is what you are going to do, upholding those laws? Is what you are going to do pleasing to Yehovah? You must decide. I am not your judge.

Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings,

Php 2:15 so that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Among these you shine as lights in the world,

Php 2:16 holding forth the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice with you in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain.

Some are asking how to do you travel? When you go to someones home what do you do? YOU can assume that those people are obeying Yehovah and you eat. Or you can pull out your own food from your purse and eat it in front of them. Again I am not your judge. You must decide what to do.

Joshua crossed the Jordan in the 50th year.  He did not plant anything the year before or this year. And yet he ate everything they captured from the cities of the Caananites. They did not obey Yehovah. Joshua ate their food.

There is not commandment telling you you cannot eat. I have given you Joe Dumond rules above. They are not Yehovah’s rules. You must decide what you are going to do.

The Countdown Has Already Begun!

The Countdown Has Already Begun!

The Countdown To the Abomination Began March 11, 2020 when W.H.O. announced a world wide pandemic!

 

We are just weeks away from this event taking place. Do you know what to look for, and do you know where to look for it? Are you even watching? It is time to get right with Yehovah now with fasting and prayers and turning back to Him while you have time.

 

THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE must surely qualify as one of the most misinterpreted subjects in the entire Bible. In truth, it is a mystery, as evidenced by the fact that even the prophet Daniel himself did not fully comprehend its meaning. (Daniel 12:8-9)

Clearly, therefore, there is no shame in failing to understand all the details of this major End-Times’ prophetic event. This is where Joseph Dumond’s second book in his Elijah Trilogy comes as such a timely and most befitting word in season. This work is best suited for those who genuinely and in earnest seek after truth, as it provides an accurate compass guiding the reader safely through the maze of all the key End-Times’ prophetic markers that enable one to come into a full understanding of the content therein. As the author leads you step-by-step; you will come to know the true meaning and full import of this earth-shattering event. For starters, you will be impacted by the urgency of the hour, as the timing of this event is just around the corner.

You will marvel in amazement as you have your eyes opened to the true understanding of what is meant by the 70th week of Daniel.
You will find out the true biblical location of the sacrificial altar for the Red Heifer, as well as the most probable timetable for this event. It will come as a revelation for you to learn that it may not necessarily mean a Temple has to be built before this sacrifice is made.

You will discover when the Antichrist intervenes to stop the sacrifices being offered at the altar in Jerusalem, and also, when he plans to set up “The Abomination That Makes Desolate.”

You will also learn when the “Two Witnesses” commence their ministry in Jerusalem, and how Nadab and Abihu—the two sons of Aaron—may have been prophetic symbols of those Two Witnesses.

The strength and beauty of this work is that, unlike so many other authors, Joseph Dumond actually gives answers that pinpoint exactly where we are prophetically today. Not only this, he gives us the tools to prove the answers for ourselves. He does this by demonstrating in the clearest terms aided by his colourful charts that the major KEYS to understanding END-TIMES’ PROPHECY are the Sabbatical and Jubilee Cycles. Most students of the Bible sadly are wholly unaware of their existence. Yet, once you understand these, you are able to—with a significantly improved level of accuracy—pinpoint exactly where we are in these biblical cycles of time. The amazing—or some might even say scary part being—that all of these spectacular, apocalyptic and catastrophic events will be taking place in just a few years from now!

The 1290 Days has already started counting down. Yehshua warned what was going to come next. Get ready!! We are there now and no one is prepared.

If you want a PDF version and you want it now just go to our store and you can begin to read this book as soon as you fill in your information.

 

Restoration of All Things

Restoration of All Things

It Was A Riddle Not A Command

It Was A Riddle Not A Command

Yehshua always spoke in parables publicly.

Matthew 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

He did this on purpose so they would not understand.

Matthew 13:10-17 And the disciples said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?

He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whoever does not have, from him shall be taken away even that which he has.

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not; nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which said, “By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive; for this people’s heart has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard them.

Yehshua spoke about the 5 Foolish Virgins in a parable.

Matthew 25:11-13 Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.

Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes.

The expression “No Man Knows the Day or the Hour” is what Yehshua was speaking about in the previous chapter, Matthew 24:36 and here He is using the same expression in this parable again.

This is what most Christians use to dismiss any and all end time prophecies as being false teachings. They do not realize it was a parable meant to say something and hide the truth from those who hearts have grown stupid which is what that word gross means when Isaiah says their hearts have become gross.

Yehshua was telling the foolish they would not and could not know the day or the hour and at the same time telling the wise the precise time He would return on.

The question is which one of the virgins are you?

Order the book and find out which one you are and learn how to change from being a foolish virgin to one of the 5 Wise Virgins.

If you want to understand the Feast of Trumpets…if you want to know about Yehshua birthday, if you want to get the basics understanding of the 10 days of Awe, which we are about publish then you need to read this book as your foundation.

Order the book so you never have to hear the words, I never knew you.

TORAH PORTIONS

Torah Portions

We read through the entire Torah along with the Prophets and the New Testament, once over the course of 3 1/2 years. Or according to the Sabbatical Cycle which means we read it all twice over a 7 year period. This allows us to cover more in-depth rather than being rushed to cover as much as is covered on an annual basis. We allow all to comment and take part in the discussions.

Septennial Torah Portion

If you go to Torah Portion at our archived section, you can then go to the 7th year which is the 7th 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 the proper date, and see that this Shabbat we could very well be midrashing about:

Numbers 35

Ezra 8-10

2 Corinthians 2-3

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

Spokesman Club Manual

Spokesman Club Manual

 

At our leadership meeting we discussed how it was going in relationship to letting others speak at sightedmoon.com on Shabbat.

We had a wide range of discussions on it. On the whole, meetings are now too long, is the one complaint I am hearing. We still want to do the midrash and the Torah studies.

Some only want to come and have me teach. This puts a lot of pressure on me to prepare a sermon each and every week. My goal here at sightedmoon.com is to teach people the torah and how the Jubilee Cycles along with the Holy days teach you the plan of salvation. Another goal I have is to have people capable of teaching these things to others.

In order to do the second goal we must have a place for people to practice and fail at giving teachings. This is also why we allow and encourage midrashes. So people know how to argue in love about the many and various false teachings they are going to be presented. Iron sharpening Iron.

I have asked Shane Diltz to help me by looking after this aspect of sightedmoon.com. He organizes the speakers and makes sure their subject is kosher.

Many years ago while I was attending the WWCG, they had this program to teach you how to speak. After our meeting I went out and found it on line. I want to encourage you all to go through it and do each step in the speaking program. Practice on your spouse or on your dog or cat. But practice before you come to give your presentation to us. Practice.

Your goal is to teach us the subject on your heart and to do so in 15 Minutes 20 Minutes TOPS. Going forward we will shut you down after so many minutes. We may give you a one minute warning. But we will shut you down. We want you to learn how to pack your presentation in small but powerful punches. We want you to learn. And we are going to allow you to do so at sightedmoon.com.

Please do look over the manual. Prepare your subject according to one of the learning courses and practice. We look forward to your presentation and growth.

Many of the fonts do not transfer over well, so I will give you the link to the manual and you can read it on the original site. https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getacmanuals&InfoID=1397922400&page=&return=bklets

Join Our Sabbath Meetings

Join Our Sabbath Meetings

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 teaches you and encourages 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 of explaining 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 services begin at 12:30 PM EDT where we will be doing prayers songs and teaching from this hour.

Shabbat Services will begin at about 1:15 pm Eastern.

On the Holy Day, Shavuot, we will be having two meetings. One at 10 AM Eastern and the afternoon will be 2 PM Eastern. Look forward to seeing you all there.

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

Join Zoom Meeting

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New Moon Day 6th Month

New Moon Day 6th Month

As suspected the new moon did prove to be to difficult to see as shown to us in Torah Calendar. https://torahcalendar.com/MOON.asp?JDN=2460144&TDAY=1

But we did have two witnesses who did see it Tuesday evening July 18 thus beginning the new month.

The New Moon was sighted from Jerusalem (French Hill) at 8:25pm by Noa Guenther and David Shmuelovitz

New Moon day was  Tuesday evening and Wednesday day. So we begin our count of the 6th month as day one on Wednesday. Shabbat is then day 4.

Devorah reported that these two witnesses were interrogated by Roy Hoffman thus fulfilling the requirements of the Temple of proving the two witnesses. The Picture above was taken by Gadi Edelheit of the Israel New Moon Society.

1. Noa Ben Gad (Guenther) stated that she saw the New Moon from Jerusalem (French Hill) with her naked eye from 8:25pm-8:26pm.Noa said she spotted the New Moon WITHOUT the assistance of optical aids and looked away and was able to spot it again. She pointed out the moon to her father, who wasn’t sure whether he was in fact seeing the moon, so he took his camera, zoomed in, and confirmed that it was in fact the moon Noa was seeing. In the excitement of the moment, he neglected to take a photo. While I don’t know Noa personally, I have had the pleasure of spending a fair amount of time with her father and two brothers on several occasions. They are very upstanding people, and the family is well respected by people I trust. Noa has a lot of experience looking for the New Moon and is typically the first one to sight the New Moon out of her family. I asked Dr. Roy Hoffman of the Israeli New Moon Society, if he would reach out to Noa and her father, to learn more about their observation and share with me his impression. Roy shared with me their conversation and told me that he believes Noa and her father’s testimonies.

2. David Shlomovitz first spotted the moon from Otniel using binoculars. He then removed the binoculars and saw the moon with his naked eye from 8:18pm to 8:21pm. He mentioned that had he not first spotted the moon through the binoculars, and therefore knew that was the moon, he does believe he would have been able to see it with his naked eye. Once again Dr. Roy Hoffman of the Israeli New Moon Society, reached out to David to learn more about his observation. Roy shared with me their conversation and told me that he believes David’s testimony. Roy also reached out to the current head of the Israeli New Moon Society, who confirmed that David is a considered a highly reliable observer.

The 700 Club Asia 4th Interview

4th Interview with Peter Kairuz of The 700 Club Asia

We don’t want you to miss it. It has just come out after we posted this Newsletter. Our 4th interview with Peter Kairuz of The 700 Club.
Watch the second half and share it with your loved ones. Time is running out.

Keeping Shabbat Holy

Keeping Shabbat Holy

In Exodus 19 and 20 we read about Yehovah coming down on Mount Sinai in spectacular form on the 49th day of counting the Omer. He then begins to speak so that the entire nation heard His voice. Once Yehovah had spoken the ten commandments, then the people feared and Moses says the following:

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw, they trembled, and stood afar off.

Exo 20:19  And they said to Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear. But let not God speak with us, lest we die.

Exo 20:20  And Moses said to the people, Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and so that His fear may be before your faces, so that you may not sin.

Exo 20:21  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

The Sabbath is a TEST!

The Sabbath is a test? How is it a test?

We have been sharing this scripture in all of our presentations here in the Philippines. Yehshua spoke these words to the Pharisees who were looking for and expecting the Messiah. Today we can say the same thing. All Christians are looking for and expecting the Messiah. But….

Joh 5:46  For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me.

Joh 5:47  But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My Words?

Everyone claims to love Jesus and believes in Him, but all Christians do not know the books of Moses and as such they do not know Yehshua, because Moses wrote about Yehshua. He did so in the Holy Days of Leviticus 23. And having done away with the “Old Testament” they have thrown out the information that tells them how to know and love Yehshua.

In Matthew 25, five of the foolish virgins are about to be told I never knew you. He does not know them because they do not know Yehshua. Where do you stand in this scenario? Do you know Him? Do you DO the Holy Days which show you all about Him? Or do you not keep any of the Holy Days at all? Just by answering these three questions, you will know what Yehshua is going to say to you very soon. He will let those who know Him enter into the wedding or tell many I never knew you.

The Sabbath and Holy Days are a test.

Eze 20:1  And it happened in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask of Jehovah, and sat before me.

Eze 20:2  And came the Word of Jehovah to me, saying,

Eze 20:3  Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Have you come to ask of Me? As I live, says the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.

Eze 20:4  Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.

Eze 20:5  And say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: In the day that I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt; when I lifted up My hand to them, saying, I am Jehovah your God;

Eze 20:6  in the day that I lifted up My hand to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

Eze 20:7  then I said to them, Let each man throw away the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God.

Eze 20:8  But they rebelled against Me and would not listen to Me. They did not each man throw away the abominations of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. And I said, I will pour out My fury against them to fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

Eze 20:9  But I worked for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the nations among whom they were, for I made Myself known to them in their eyes, by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Eze 20:10  And I caused them to go out from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

Eze 20:11  And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

Eze 20:12  And also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah who sets them apart.

Eze 20:13  But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man does, he shall even live in them. And they greatly profaned My sabbaths. And I said, I will pour out My fury on them in the wilderness to destroy them.

Eze 20:14  But I worked for My name’s sake, so that it should not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I brought them out.

Eze 20:15  And also I lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey; it is the glory of all lands;

Eze 20:16  because they despised My judgments and walked not in My sabbaths; and they profaned My sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.

Eze 20:17  But My eye spared them from destroying them, nor did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

Eze 20:18  But I said to their sons in the wilderness, Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

Eze 20:19  I am Jehovah your God. Walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them,

Eze 20:20  and keep My sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am Jehovah your God.

Eze 20:21  But the sons rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes, nor kept My judgments to do them; the judgments which, if a man do, he shall even live in them; they profaned My sabbaths and I said I would pour out My fury on them, to fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness.

Eze 20:22  But I withdrew My hand and worked for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, from whom I brought them out in their eyes.

Eze 20:23  I also lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and scatter them through the lands,

Eze 20:24  because they had not done My judgments, but had despised My sabbaths and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

The Sabbath is a test and it is also a sign between us and Yehovah. We are told that judgment begins at the house of Yehovah (1 Peter 4:17). Many times people think of this judgment as condemnation. But it’s a process of evaluation, of learning, of growing, of learning how to walk with Yehovah. We are His people and He is showing us through His Holy Days and His laws how we can be part of His family.

“I will test them …”

Before Isreal even arrived at Mount Sinai, and right after they crossed the Red Sea, Yehovah said something we all need to be aware of.

Exo 16:1  And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 16:2  And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

Exo 16:3  And the sons of Israel said to them, O that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exo 16:4  Then Jehovah said to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from the heavens for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain amount every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My Law or not.

Exo 16:5  And on the sixth day it shall happen, they shall prepare what they bring in. And it shall be twice as much as they gather day by day.

Yehovah was going to put Israel to a test! On what? “Whether they will walk in My law or not.” The fact that Yehovah here announced that He would test whether the Israelites would obey His laws—several weeks before He inscribed the Ten Commandments in stone at Mount Sinai—tells us that His divine laws already existed (compare Exodus 16:28; Genesis 26:5). He would soon reveal them anew at Mount Sinai.

Exo 16:13  And it happened at evening, the quails came up and covered the camp. And in the morning the dew lay all around the host.

Exo 16:14  And when the layer of dew had gone up, behold, there was a small round thing upon the face of the wilderness, small as the hoar-frost upon the ground.

Exo 16:15  And when the sons of Israel saw, they said each one to his brother, What is that? For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which Jehovah has given you to eat.

Exo 16:16  This is the thing which Jehovah has commanded: Each man gather of it according to his eating, an omer for a head, according to the number of your souls. Each one shall take for those who are in his camp.

Exo 16:17  And the sons of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, and some less.

Exo 16:18  And when they measured with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little lacked nothing. They gathered each one according to his eating.

Exo 16:19  And Moses said, Let no man leave of it until the morning.

Exo 16:20  But they did not listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning. And it became rotten with maggots, and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Exo 16:21  And they gathered it every morning, each man according to his eating. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

Exo 16:22  And it happened, on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

Exo 16:23  And he said to them, This is that which Jehovah has said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath to Jehovah. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil. And that which remains over, lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

Exo 16:24  And they laid it up until the morning, as Moses said. And it did not stink, neither was there any worm in it.

Exo 16:25  And Moses said, Eat that today. For today is a sabbath to Jehovah. Today you shall not find it in the field.

Exo 16:26  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exo 16:27  And it happened some of the people went out on the seventh day in order to gather. And they did not find any.

Exo 16:28  And Jehovah said to Moses, How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My Laws?

Exo 16:29  See, because Jehovah has given you the sabbath, therefore He gives you the bread of two days on the sixth day. Each one stay in his place. Let not any one go out of his place on the seventh day.

Exo 16:30  So the people rested on the seventh day.

Yehovah chose which day was the Sabbath. Not the people. He did this for 40 years by having no Manna on the weekly Sabbath. 40 years x 52 weeks in a year is 2080 times in which they got to see exactly when the Sabbath was. Manna was provided every day but one, which was the 7th day, or Saturday.

If they gathered too much manna on each of the other days of the week it would stink. But they were allowed to gather twice as much only the 6th day, Friday in preparation for the weekly Sabbath. We are to prepare our meals on Friday. What ever we want to eat on the Sabbath, we are to make and have ready on the Friday, the day before. It is called the preparation day.

Exo 20:8  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:9  Six days you shall labor and do all your work.

Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Jehovah your God. You shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger within your gates.

Exo 20:11  For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it.

No one is to work for you on the Sabbath. Let me say this loud and clear.

NO ONE IS TO WORK FOR YOU ON THE SABBATH!!!

NO ONE! You do not hire staff to serve or cook your food on the Sabbath. You do not use non-believers on the Sabbath because they don’t believe. You do not go out to a restaurant on the Sabbath to eat. You do not go shopping on the Sabbath. You do not buy gas on the Sabbath. You get everything ready the day before. Fill your tanks before you have to drive to services.

If you have to clean your assembly, then do it on the preparation day. Let everyone, including your wife, your husband, your children, and your staff, have the day off. They should not have to work for you because you’re wealthy or because they are not believers. Yehovah said for everyone, including the animals, to rest.

Here in the Philippines, I have seen it many times—those claiming to have the truth use those of lower status to work for them on the Sabbath. You want the blessings. You want to be blessed by Yehovah, but because you are continuing to sin in this manner, He is not going to bless you. Still, unless you repent and do so immediately, you will reap the curses and are no different than anyone else. Yet, you are different because you do know, and in knowing, you still sin. Be very careful; Yehovah is not going to be mocked.

Let’s notice several important points in these verses:

“Remember the Sabbath day …” The Sabbath is something to remember. Many assume this is the first time Yehovah expected anyone to observe the Sabbath day. But the fact that He commanded the Sabbath to be remembered should help us to realize that it already existed before the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Indeed, He had revealed it to the Israelites earlier, in Exodus 16. But its origins go much further back, as we will see. It is in that regard that the Sabbath was to be observed as a remembrance—a memorial of something of great importance.

“… To keep it holy.” The Sabbath is to be kept holy. Holy means set apart for Yehovah‘s use and purpose rather than our own.

“… The seventh day is the Sabbath …” The Sabbath day is the seventh day of the week (observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, as the Bible counts time; compare Leviticus 23:32). Most people go to church on Sunday—which is the first day of the week, as shown by most calendars and almost any encyclopedia.

“… of Jehovah your God. “ The Sabbath belongs to Yehovah, not to the Jewish people, as many people assume.

“In it you shall do no work …” One aspect of keeping the Sabbath holy is to do no regular work on that day.

“… You, nor your son, nor your daughter …” The Sabbath is to be kept by all members of the household, as well as employees and guests. Even animals were given the day to rest.

“… For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.” Here is what the Sabbath memorializes. It is linked to Yehovah’s creative acts in Genesis 1, thus pointing to Him as the true God, the Creator, as distinct from the false gods of human invention. After creating Adam and Eve on the sixth day, Yehovah rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1:27-2:3). He instituted the Sabbath at that time in the presence of the first two human beings—long before there was a nation of Israel or a people known as the Jews. And, in resting on that first Sabbath, Yehovah set us an example to emulate.

” Therefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it.” Again we see that God established the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Hallow means to make holy. By definition, God alone can make things holy, dedicating them for His use. Man cannot make anything holy, nor can he make unholy anything God has made holy—an important consideration when we examine whether we should still observe the Sabbath and, if so, on which day.

A Test of Faith

Every week, year in and year out, Yehovah is testing mankind, and He is testing you. Will you pass His test? Will you do everything in your power to make the Sabbath a rest for you and all those around you? Will your staff have the Sabbath off? Will the food and anything else be prepared on the Friday?

You claim to be followers of Yehshua, will you be the light, will  you be the example this world needs and keep Holy The Sabbath? Or are you going to fail this weekly test and suffer the curses along with the rest of the world?

Immediately after giving them the Ten Commandments, Yehovah said:

“Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

Deu 5:23  And it happened when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, for the mountain burned with fire, you came near me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders,

Deu 5:24  and you said, Behold! Jehovah our God has revealed His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire. We have seen today that God talks with man yet he still lives.

Deu 5:25  Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more, then we shall die.

Deu 5:26  For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

Deu 5:27  You go near and hear all that Jehovah our God shall say. And you speak to us all that Jehovah our God shall speak to you, and we will hear and act.

Deu 5:28  And Jehovah heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me. And Jehovah said to me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken.

Deu 5:29  Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their sons forever!

Deu 4:5  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, so that you should do so in the land where you go to possess it.

Deu 4:6  And you shall keep and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Deu 4:7  For who is a great nation whose God is coming near to them, as Jehovah our God is, in all our calling on Him?

Deu 4:8  And who is a great nation whose statutes and judgments are so righteous as all this Law which I set before you today?

Deu 7:12  And it shall be, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, Jehovah your God shall keep to you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

Deu 7:13  And He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your land, your grain, and your wine, and your oil, the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you.

Deu 7:14  You shall be blessed above all people. There shall not be male or female barren among you or among your cattle.

Deu 7:15  And Jehovah will take away from you all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt which you know upon you. But He will lay them upon all who hate you.

Deu 28:1  And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of Jehovah your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you today, Jehovah your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth.

Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God.

Deu 28:3  You shall be blessed in the city, and be blessed in the field.

Deu 28:4  The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep.

Deu 28:5  Your basket and your store shall be blessed.

Deu 28:6  You shall be blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out.

Deu 28:7  Jehovah shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be stricken before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.

Deu 28:8  Jehovah shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and all that you set your hand to. And He shall bless you in the land which Jehovah your God gives you.

Deu 28:9  Jehovah shall establish you a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Jehovah your God and walk in His ways.

Deu 28:10  And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Jehovah, and they shall be afraid of you.

Deu 28:11  And Jehovah shall prosper you in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers to give you.

Deu 28:12  Jehovah shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow.

Deu 28:13  And Jehovah shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.

Deu 28:14  And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Yehovah wanted Israel and all of mankind to have a heart of obedience, to recognize that His laws are an expression of His holy, righteous, loving character

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God.

1Jn 4:8  The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

He wants us to recognize that His laws reveal a way of life based on love (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; 2 John 1:6) and that by living that law they would develop character like His.

Lev 19:16  You shall not go as a slanderer among your people;  (Lashon Harah)

Rom 13:8  Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.

Rom 13:9  For: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not lust;” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Rom 13:10  Love works no ill to its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.

Gal 5:14  For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

2Jn 1:5  And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

The Sabbath would be a sign that those who kept it would be Yehovah’s people. Those who want to be grafted into Isreal must also keep this sign and pass this test to remain in His grace.

Exo 31:12  And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,

Exo 31:13  Speak also to the sons of Israel, saying, Truly you shall keep My sabbaths. For it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I am Jehovah who sanctifies you.

Exo 31:14  You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it isholy to you. Everyone that defiles it shall surely be put to death. For whoever does any work in it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Exo 31:15  Six days may work be done, but on the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to Jehovah. Whoever does any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exo 31:16  Therefore the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant.

Exo 31:17  It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever. For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

Failing the Test

We have already quoted Ezekiel showing you how Israel failed the Sabbath test over and over again until finally Yehovah removed them from the land. We are right now on the cusp of the second greater Exodus. One in which the Philippines plays a major role. Are we going to be recorded as those who would not keep the Sabbath and after seeing the mighty miracles of Yehovah not obey Him?

Is the Sabbath important to Yehovah? He specifically stated that one of the Israelites’ most flagrant sins that led to their national downfall and captivity was profaning the Sabbath.

Eze 22:26  Her priests have broken My Law and have defiled My holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and the common, and have not taught between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am defiled among them.

Jer 17:21  So says Jehovah, Take heed to yourselves, and carry no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.

Jer 17:22  Nor carry out a burden from your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers.

Jer 17:23  But they did not obey, nor bowed down their ear, but made their neck stiff, so that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

Jer 17:24  And it shall be, if you carefully listen to Me, says Jehovah, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy, to do no work in it;

Jer 17:25  then kings and rulers sitting on the throne of David shall enter into the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their rulers, the men of Judah, and the people of Jerusalem. And this city shall remain forever.

Jer 17:26  And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and grain offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of Jehovah.

Jer 17:27  But if you will not listen to me to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to carry a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it will not be put out.

Why Are the Sabbaths So Important to Yehovah?

As we have already quoted, Yehshua tells us in John 5:46 that if you want to know Him, then you must also understand the five books of Moses. But because Christianity refuses to read those books or obey them, they do not and cannot know Yehshua, because wrote about or explained the heart of Yehovah.

Here is the one verse which the Jews have no idea what it means nor do Christians and yet it is the one verse that explains the heart of Yehovah.

Lev 23:36  Seven days you shall offer a fire offering to Jehovah. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. And you shall offer a fire offering to Jehovah. It is a solemn assembly. And you shall do no work of labor.

Once you understand that all the Holy Days, the moedim, the sacred times of appointments all point to the 8th Day, Shemini Atzeret, and Yehovah’s overwhelming desire to dwell with mankind here on earth, then you will understand how all the Holy Days explain His plan of salvation. By keeping them, we express to Him our desire to learn His plan and be part of it.

Heb 3:7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear His voice,

Heb 3:8  do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness,

Heb 3:9  when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.

Heb 3:10  Therefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways.

Heb 3:11  So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.”

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through thedeceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

Heb 3:15  while it is said, “Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

Heb 3:16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke; however, not all who came out of Egypt by Moses.

Heb 3:17  But with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who did not believe?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 4:1  Therefore, a promise being left to enter into His rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it.

Heb 4:2  For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Heb 4:3  For we who have believed do enter into the rest, as He said, “I have sworn in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:4  For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested the seventh day from all His works.”

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, “They shall not enter into My rest.”

Heb 4:6  Since then it remains that some must enter into it, and since they to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief,

Heb 4:7  He again marks out a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” (after so long a time). Even as it is said, “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

Heb 4:8  For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb 4:9  So then there remains a rest to the people of God.

Heb 4:10  For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.

Heb 4:11  Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.

This rest is shown to us every week by the Saturday Sabbath. It is a weekly example of the rest Yehovah wants all of us to enter into. That is the 7th millennium which begins in 2045. He wants us to enter that rest by practicing weekly the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

Israel failed this test. Are you also going to fail this test now that you have been told these truths?

In Isaiah, Yehovah tells us that our sins have separated us from Him.

Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing.

Notice what Yehovah says about us in Chapter 58. If we will humble ourselves before Him.

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a ram’s horn, and show My people their rebellion, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Isa 58:2  Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and one who did not forget the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in drawing near to God.

Isa 58:3  They say, Why have we fasted, and You do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and You take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and crush all your laborers.

Isa 58:4  Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness; you shall not fast as you do today, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast and a day pleasing to Jehovah?

Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed ones go free, and that you break every yoke?

Isa 58:7  Is it not to break your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and you will not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isa 58:8  Then shall your light break out as the dawn, and your health shall spring out quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Jehovah shall gather you.

Isa 58:9  Then you shall call, and Jehovah shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If you take the yoke away from among you, the pointing of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Isa 58:10  and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Isa 58:11  And Jehovah shall always guide you and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones fat; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

Isa 58:12  And those who come of you shall build the old ruins; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Pay close attention to the last two verse in this chapter. Does this sound like the Sabbath is done away?

Isa 58:13  If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words,

Isa 58:14  then you shall delight yourself in Jehovah; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed yourself with the inheritance of Jacob your father. For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.

Why is the Sabbath important to Yehovah? Because He wants us to have a proper, loving relationship with Him. To do that we must spend time with Him. He wants us to surrender one of our most precious possessions—our time—so He can teach us through His Word, the Bible, the Torah. He wants the Sabbath to be a time and a way to ”  then you shall delight yourself in Jehovah”

These Are Divine Appointments

Lev 23:2  Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, The feasts of Jehovah, which you shall proclaim, holy convocations, even these are My appointed feasts.

These are His feasts, His “sacred assemblies.” Most people would not miss a doctor’s appointment, but think nothing of missing a divine appointment with the creator of the universe.

The Hebrew word moed, the plural form here translated “appointed feasts,” means “appointed time” or “meeting” (Lawrence Richards, Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, 1985, “Feast/Festival”). The word assemblies is translated from the plural form of miqra, denoting a summoned gathering. In other words, Yehovah says His Sabbath is a divine appointment that He commands His people to keep through their gathering before Him to build their relationship with Him and other believers.

Heb 10:24  and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,

Heb 10:25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Notice that He is the one who sets the appointment, not us. He is the one who determines the time—His weekly Sabbath and annual festivals.

That raises an interesting question: If we don’t come before Him at the time He commands, either by not coming at all or coming on a different day, are we really keeping an appointment with Him?

If someone makes arrangements to meet with you next Wednesday but decides to show up on Thursday instead, would you think he had kept the appointment? Of course not. So why should we think Yehovah would find it acceptable if we decide to assemble on a day different from the one He commands?

Will you pass the test? Are you willing to surrender a portion of your time to build the kind of relationship God wants to enjoy with you?

There are many churches today who say the commandments are done away. Yet in the very last book of the Bible, it says something different to what the churches are saying.

Rev 22:12  And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.

Rev 22:13  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15  But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

Rev 22:16  I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you over the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star.

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let the one who is thirsty come. And he willing, let him take of the Water of Life freely.

Rev 22:18  For I testify together to everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add on him the plagues that have been written in this Book.

Rev 22:19  And if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which have been written in this Book.

Rev 22:20  He who testifies these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly, Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

Rev 22:21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.

Will you now pass the Test?

Doers of the Law in Business Too

How Wyden King runs his businesses according to God’s will

May 21, 2021

“It’s hard to uphold righteousness in business, especially when unrighteous practices are the norm,” says the heir to the Anito and Victoria Court motel chain.

This story originally appeared in Entrepreneur Philippines on March 21, 2016.

“It’s not that I went from love motels to Christian hotels; I’d say it’s my long road to obedience,” said Wyden King, the 62-year-old chairman and president of Legend Hotels International Corporation (LHI), operator of The Legend Villas hotel in Mandaluyong City.

In the late 80s and the early 90s, King was operating another type of establishment—the Anito Hotel, known for short-time lodging for all kinds of rendezvous. In its heyday, the motel chain saw an average of 11,000 visitors daily, and even earned up to PHP2 million (US$43,056.94) in gross sales daily across its 14 branches.

But by 1994, King wanted to leave it all behind to pursue God’s will for his life.

Heir to a motel chain empire

It was considered an unprecedented move; after all, King is one of the heirs to the motel chain empire established by his father Angelo King, known as “The Motel King of the Philippines.” This empire was composed of the Anito and the Victoria Court motel chains, the latter inherited by King’s older brother, Archimedes “Archie” King, who passed away in 2015.

Perhaps as is fitting for a motel chain heir, King lived an exciting lifestyle. In his younger years, he explored different beliefs, from New Age to Zen Buddhism, among a host of different spiritual wellness practices. He also had various extra marital affairs, all of which were kept secret from his family.

As early as 1986, though, King said there was a prodding “to surrender his life to God.” However, it took him another six years, in 1992, before he finally accepted Jesus Christ into his life and became a full-pledged born-again Christian.

With this came a lot of changes. For one, King ended his extra-marital affairs and rekindled his relationship with his wife. Then, he bid farewell to the “unrighteous business practices” which enabled Anito Hotel to dominate the segment. “I used to bribe a lot of local government officials so that they can either promote our business, or turn a blind eye every time we failed to pay our taxes on time,” he recalled.

By 1994, King said that the Lord impressed upon him that he should leave the motel chain business for good. But it was not that easy.

For the glory of God

“I couldn’t say that I wasn’t accountable for what was going on inside the premises. The hotel itself was really designed to promote illicit affairs, may it be marital or pre-marital,” said King. “No matter how I went about it, I was promoting immorality, and it went against my beliefs at the time,” he recalled.

So, King put the business up for sale in 1996. There were a lot of potential buyers, but King was not entirely happy with their offers, so the deals did not push through. Aside from the selling price, King also became concerned about the livelihood of his employees, around 2,000 of them, in the event he sells the business.

In 1998, King started closing the Anito Hotel so that he can venture into other types of businesses which can be more aligned with his Christian values and principles. The first motel he closed down was the Anito Hotel in Pasay City.

After every motel closure, King would hang a white tarpaulin in front of the building which said, “Anito Hotel closed for the Glory of God.”  Finally, in 2008, after 10 years of closing shop, King was able to close down the last of the 14 branches of Anito Hotel.

It took a long time, but I knew I had to do it. I committed myself to that promise I made to the Lord 21 years ago,” recalled King.

Shifting gears

All his businesses are now “anchored on God-centered values,” and he believes that a business founded on Christian values and principles can still thrive and be profitable.

Between 1998 and 2008, he turned seven of his former Anito Hotel buildings into wholesome, family-oriented hotels: three Kabayan Hotels, which targets returning OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and their families; one Mabuhay Manor, which also targets returning OFWs; one Pinoy Pamilya Hotel, which targets provincial business travelers and their families; one Legend Hotel for corporate and upscale clientele; and one Park, Bed, & Breakfast, which targets motorists.

Aside from hotel chains, King now also owns a dormitory (MyPlace in Loyola Heights, Quezon City for university students from the provinces); a laundry service (Kalinisan Steam Laundry, which does bulk-washing for hotels, restaurants, and hospitals); a non-profit school (Living Angels Christian Academy, which targets low income families); a real estate development firm (San Rafael Development); and several public wet and dry markets all over Luzon.

Pains and gains

King has transformed his businesses to fully align with his personal convictions, but it is not without its challenges.

While he was able to venture into different kinds of businesses, King admits that overall profitability still pales in comparison to the glory days of Anito Hotel. “For the past 21 years, you can say that my businesses have really been going downhill. But God wants to strengthen my character, and that would not be possible if I didn’t face these struggles in business,” shared King.

Also, “It’s hard to uphold righteousness in business, especially when unrighteous practices are the norm,” said King, who quipped that, based on previous experience, bribery really sped up business transactions. “But I don’t do that anymore,” he added.

Another challenge for King is to get everyone on board the “God-centered values” of his companies. “Of course, there’s resistance from some employees, because I really want to promote wholesome relationships,” he said, seeing that it can lead to less conflict in the workplace, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity in the process.

While King does not require his employees to be Born Again Christians like himself, nor does he ask them to convert once they come on board. But part of his companies’ corporate training program is gospel sharing, equipping, and kingdom-building. “I don’t force it on anyone because it’s a personal decision—the Lord wants it to come from their hearts,” he added.

Bible verses are prominently displayed in the facilities of LHI’s hotel chains, from the reception to the hotel rooms. Worship halls and prayer rooms are also available for employees, where they can hold their weekly Bible studies and worship services.

Now, at 62 years old, King remains hands-on with his businesses, even highly involved with the equipping of his employees. “I’m just a steward of God’s blessings—these things are not even mine. I don’t hold on anymore to things that are temporary, because my view is now in the eternal…God himself is my reward.”

*****

Toni is the deputy associate editor of Entrepreneur.com.ph. Follow her on Twitter, @toni_antiporda

Kabayan Hotel’s landmark structure at Edsa corner Protacio Street in Pasay City has celebrated its 22 years by launching a new look with the addition of new 342-key rooms and the Kabayan Suites located at the top floor.

The new hotel wing intends to serve the growing clientele of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who want to take advantage of the hotel’s location with easy access to the LRT/MRT stations, domestic and international airports, transport terminals, government offices like OWWA and the DFA, as well as entertainment centers at the SM Mall of Asia, branding it as the hotel choice for OFWs that provides warm Filipino hospitality.

“Our DNA is Filipino hospitality. We would like to nurture that and propagate the Filipino hospitality and extend it to all our guests—OFWs, provincial travelers who are coming to Manila, businessmen, seamen, etc. These are basically our target market, the middle income group,” chairman Wyden King said in an interview with Hospitality News Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colorful opening of the Kabayan Hotel’s newly-constructed wing was graced by (from left): Engr. Edgar Dupo, DOT NCR Director Sharlene Batin, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Kabayan Hotel Chairman  Wyden King, Celine Marie King, daughter Emma King, and the property manager Raymond Aves. 
 Innovations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mabuhay Suite, 36 sqm with 2 queen-size beds that can fit 4 guests. Suite rooms are equipped with latest technology like the powered bath showers and smart toilets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the years, Kabayan Hotel has transformed the hospitality landscape with various innovations such as the Dorm Rooms, a gentle-exclusive rooms with 3 deck double deck beds;  Pad Rooms for solo backpackers and seamen; Japanese-style Kapsule Rooms with 4, 8 and 10 beds gender-exclusive rooms; and Team Rooms good for those traveling with a group or  families up to 4 guests. The new Kabayan Suite offers deluxe room space, well-appointed bathroom, and a relaxing resort ambience perfect for family staycations.The new building also has brand new Pad suites, Mabuhay Suites for travelers who would like to enjoy room amenities that are designed for a comfortable stay in the heart of the busy Metro. Not to mention is the inclusion of rooms for physically-challenged individuals, assigning 1 room per floor from the 3rd floor up to the 12th. All rooms are equipped with modern functionalities like powered bath showers and smart toilets.

Filipino-inspired interiors

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new lobby showcasing Filipino culture and craftsmanship from an elegant revolving door to wood panels adorned with intrinsic carvings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new Kabayan Hotel building features local elements that showcase Filipino culture and craftsmanship. Guests are welcomed to the spacious lobby through an elegant revolving glass door. Panels of handcrafted solihiya adorn the walls of the reception area; whole slabs of pristine marble and natural hardwood were used for the front desk. Piña embroidery and mother of pearl inlays accentuate the elevator’s interiors.“We want our guests to enjoy bisita sa bahay (house guest) hospitality here. We will continue to serve our target community with genuine Filipino hospitality,” King added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friendly staff at any guests service to help them assist with their needs including government-related inquiries

The hotel prides itself with services that are tailor-fit for OFW kababayans, One notable feature is the OFW Help Desk that can refer their government agency-related inquiries or assist them with processing and printing their documents on-site. There are even weighing scales available at their convenient luggage packing area located at the lobby.

Growing together

“At Kabayan Hotel, our tagline has been kasabayan niyo kami, (we are with you)” whether they are the start of their journey as aspiring OFWs staying at their Dorms and Kapsules, or returning workers who have been able to save up and are already staying at our Superior or Suite Rooms, we are able to host them as they relax and bond with their families,” said General Manager Raymund Aves.

He added, “We are continuously innovating our trusted Filipino hospitality brand, offering improved services and brand new rooms…..while keeping to our promise of ‘sulit’ (worth it), and ‘alaga’ (care)…we are evolving our hotel products and services with a tagline—‘Bagong Kabayan Para sa Bagong Makabayan’ We would like to invite and welcome more guests who are looking for a relaxing, safe, and comfortable stay at every stage of their success journey.”

 

Preparing for the Temple-Levitical Choir

Preparing for the Temple-Levitical Choir

INTRODUCING THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE’S LEVITICAL CHOIR ACADEMY

In yet another major step toward preparing for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service, the Temple Institute has established the Levitical Choir Academy, dedicated to teaching today’s descendants of the tribe of Levi the Levitical songbook – the songs that are sung by the Levitical Choir in accompaniment to the Daily offerings and the Additional Festival offerings performed in the Holy Temple. Levi’im from all across Israel have already responded to the Temple Institute’s initiative, and as these video clip show, are already honing their skills as a proper Levitical Choir. Levitical garments are currently being designed for the choir to be worn during their service in the rebuilt Holy Temple.

JOIN US THIS YEAR AT ALL NATIONS CONVOCATION JERUSALEM TO EXPERIENCE HEAVENLY HARP WORSHIP IN JERUSALEM: SEPTEMBER 15th – 29th, 2023. 𓏢 https://jhopfan.org/contact

“Days of Elijah” is live on YouTube now! This song was first written and sung by our friend, Robin Mark from Northern Ireland, which he also performed in Jerusalem at the All Nations Convocation. Although it was written almost 30 years ago (1994), it is as relevant or even more than ever before!

On October 3, 2022, during our annual All Nations Convocation Jerusalem and Watchmen’s Tour of Israel (ANCJ), 144 harpists from 35 different nations, including Israel, gathered together with worshippers from 140 nations in Jerusalem to minister to the King on the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount. We are sharing the videos here and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kings.harpists

On our Facebook page is where we will make further announcements, post links to new music every Friday, and encourage the global harp community.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the bell to receive notifications whenever we post a new video, and don’t forget to share with your friends!

We’re honored to have the opportunity to teach, encourage, and build up communities to worship the King with harp music- in Israel and in all nations! And now, we’re excited to release the heavenly sound of all nations coming together and ministering to the King with harps.

Shalom in Messiah’s Love and Joy,

Tom and Kate Hess – Directors of the King’s Harpists

The King’s Harpists music is now streaming on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kings.harpists/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Cqdt… iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the… YouTube Music:    / the king’s harpis…   Bandcamp: https://kingsharpists.bandcamp.com/

 

Preparing for the Temple-Red Heifer

I want you all to be aware of just how close things are and what the Temple Mount Institute is preparing for.

Preparing for the Temple-Red Heifer

The following article is taken from The Temple Mount Institute

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: BRINGING THE HOLY TEMPLE TO LIFE!

 

“Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering…” (Ex. 25:2)

Thus begins Terumah, this week’s Torah reading, in which HaShem reveals His desire that Israel “make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst.” (Ex. 25:8)

The Temple Institute is dedicated to making the Holy Temple a reality in our day, and toward this end, the Temple Institute has, for 36 years, been building and planning and researching and teaching and sharing with you our reconstructed sacred vessels and priestly garments, our books and paintings, our red heifer candidates, our teachings and insights and our love for HaShem and the Holy Temple!

It is only through the generosity of your hearts that we are able to continue our important work. Only together can we build for HaShem a sanctuary and “a house of prayer for all nations!”

SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!

 
 

THE RED HEIFER!

 

The ashes of the red heifer, essential for the renewal of the Divine service in the Holy Temple, is one of the Torah’s most fascinating and mysterious commandments. In our brand new in-depth entry, learn what constitutes “a perfectly red unblemished cow,” how the ashes are made and how they are applied, the history and the mystery of the red heifer, and current efforts to raise a red heifer. Beautifully illustrated and extensively footnoted!

 

THE RED HEIFER

 

The red heifer is a cow that is reddish-brown in color. The People of Israel (i.e. the Jewish People) were commanded to use the ashes of a red heifer in the purification process of those who have contracted ritual impurity as a result of coming in contact with a human corpse.

The burning of the red heifer is one of the 613 Jewish commandments. In the words of Maimonides, [1] “He commanded us to prepare the red heifer, so that its ashes be ready for one who needs it for purification from the impurity of a corpse.”

The complete renewing of all aspects of the Holy Temple service, and the revival of complete ritual purity among Jews, is contingent upon the preparation of the red heifer. The performance of this commandment is incumbent upon the Sanhedrin and the kohanim (priests), since its performance entails details that must be under public supervision, such as; the purchasing of the heifer, the process of its preparation, taking caution against possible impurities, the meticulousness required with the slaughtering and burning process, etc.

In the past, this process was performed, on average, once every fifty years, and every generation must prepare itself to perform this commandment, in all its details.

In our generation, in which we look forward to the reinstitution of the service in the Holy Temple, with G-d’s help, the Temple Institute has conducted research on this topic and the teachings have been published in articles and books. A condensed review of this material is presented here.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMMANDMENT AS A PREREQUISITE
TO FULFILLING THE COMPLETE SERVICE IN THE HOLY TEMPLE

 

The preparation of the red heifer is a precondition for the reinstitution of the complete service in the Holy Temple.

Although in a situation when there are no ashes of the Red Heifer, those Temple services which are designated to be performed on a specified day, must be conducted even in a state of ritual impurity, such as: The Tamid – Daily Offering, the Musafim – Additional Offerings for Sabbath and festivals, the Paschal lamb, etc.  However, all the other offerings which do not have a designated time-frame may only be brought when the officiating kohanim (priests) and the individuals bringing the offerings are ritually pure.

Furthermore, entrance to the Sanctified Courtyard for the performance of services that are not time-dependent, is only permitted to those who are ritually pure. [2]

In addition, there are commandments that are to be performed outside of the Temple compound only by a person in a state of purity. For example, the commandment to separate a tithe from produce (terumah), and separating part of one’s bread (challah), for these may only be given to the kohanim (priests) when the item that was separated and the kohen are ritually pure. Likewise, the practice of Second Tithes (ma’aser sheini), which are to be separated from the produce on the first, second, fourth and fifth years of the seven-year cycle and are to be eaten by the People of Israel within the walls of the sanctified city of Jerusalem, may only be performed in a state of ritual purity.

 

THE RED HEIFER – ITS COLOR AND PHYSICAL PERFECTIONS

 

The heifer must be completely red, meaning, there must be no other colored hairs among the red ones. [3] It appears to be that this “red” color referred to is actually a variety of different shades of red that have been found in cow hair throughout the generations. For example, a brownish-red hue that is more red than brown, as well as orange, pink, burgundy, and the like. [4] The Jewish law pertaining to the red heifer hair color requirement is as follows: If the cow has two white or black hairs next to each other – it is invalid. [5] Even if those hairs are plucked – the heifer is still invalid. [6] The eyes of the heifer, teeth, and tongue do not have to be red. However, if the horns and hooves are black, they must be removed without harming the flesh of the heifer, in order for the red heifer to be valid for this commandment. [7]

 

THE DISQUALIFICATIONS THAT PREVENT THE USAGE OF THE RED HEIFER

 

As stated, the language used in the Torah regarding the red heifer is “perfect.” And, according to the simple text of the Torah, “perfect” is to be understood in its broadest sense, including a heifer “on which no yoke has been laid.” From here the Sages learn that if one were to perform any labor with the red heifer, even if someone were simply riding it or leaning on it, it becomes invalid. Even if a yoke was simply placed on the red heifer and it was not yet used for labor, it becomes invalid. [8] Furthermore, it also becomes invalid in the event that a bull attempted to mate with her. [9]

However, disqualification does not occur if the work with the heifer was performed automatically and against the will or intent of the owner. Additionally, if the work is performed with the red heifer in order to maintain the heifer’s needs, such as tying a rope around it for its protection or leaning on it while washing it, etc. it does not become invalid. [10]

The Torah also states that the red heifer must be “without blemish, in which there is no defect”, which is to be understood that the heifer cannot have any physical defects or blemishes that would invalidate any other offering. [11] So, too, anything that generally disqualifies offerings also disqualifies the red heifer to be used. For example, if it falls under the halakhic concept of treifah (literally “nonkosher,” torn, mangled). This is because the red heifer is referred to in Scripture as ‘chatat‘, with similarities in law to the laws of a Sin-Offering. [12]

As for the time the red heifer may be used for this commandment –  the Sages state that it is valid when it reaches maturity, i.e. from the beginning of its third year. [13] From this age and onward the red heifer is valid without age limitations. Though, ideally, one should not wait till it passes the age of four, lest it grows hairs of colors that deem it invalid. [14]

PURCHASING THE RED HEIFER

 

The red heifer is bought with the funds of the Temple Treasury. [15] It is also possible to purchase one from a Gentile or from outside the Land of Israel. [16] The red heifer cannot be purchased when it is still a calf, in order to raise it until maturity under the auspices of the Temple Treasury. Rather, the red heifer is to be purchased with the funds of the Holy Temple when it becomes of age of a matured cow. [17] Until then, the red heifer is raised by its original owners, under the supervision of the Jewish Court. [18]

THE HOLINESS OF THE RED HEIFER

 

The red heifer is not considered an offering (‘korban’), since it is not offered on the altar in the Holy Temple. Therefore, it is not defined as “Sanctities of the Altar”, rather it is under of the category of “Sanctities of the Temple Treasury”, as all items owned by the Holy Temple. It is for this reason, in the event that it died unexpectedly, it is permissible to redeem its value from the Temple Treasury in order to make use of its precious hide. However, in this case, its flesh is not given to a Non-Jew or to animals to eat (even though they do not have to abide by laws of kosher food).[19]

Despite the above, the red heifer ritual also abides by some of the rules of offerings in the Temple since the Torah uses the same word to describe both Sin Offerings and the red heifer (‘chata’at’).[20]

RED HEIFERS ARRIVE IN ISRAEL!

 

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality.

We invite you to join us in our worldwide effort to produce the longed-for ashes of the red heifer!

Preparing for the Temple-BLUE, PURPLE & CRIMSON

 

Preparing for the Temple-BLUE, PURPLE & CRIMSON

 

BLUE, PURPLE & CRIMSON: THE COLORS OF THE TABERNACLE!

In the book of Exodus we read of the building of the desert Tabernacle, the Sanctuary in which G-d will dwell amongst His people. We learn of the beautiful fabric dyed sky blue and royal purple and crimson red. We learn that the Israelites, inspired by G-d with wisdom, understanding and knowledge, produced these colors. But Torah doesn’t reveal the secret, how? In our day these ancient, long forgotten arts and sciences have been rediscovered here in Israel. Enjoy this glimpse into the fascinating renaissance of biblical dye-making, filmed in the re-established town of Shiloh, at the site of the ancient Tabernacle.

JUDITH ABRAHAMS, THE MASTER WEAVER WHO WOVE THE HIGH PRIEST’S ROBE

Judith Abrahams is a master weaver who was commissioned by the Temple Institute to weave the me’il techelet – the all blue tunic of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), which can be seen at the Institute’s Jerusalem exhibition. In this beautiful documentary, which was filmed by Graham and Ronit Humberstone in 2020, Judith shares her personal journey and enlightens us with her passion for weaving which has led her to study traditional Navajo weaving with the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, and then, employing the “chochmat lev – wisdom of the heart” (Exodus 35:25) that she accrued, to weave the High Priest’s robe. Judith now sets her sights on weaving the Parochet, the massive curtain which separated the Temple Sanctuary (Kodesh) from the Kodesh HaKodeshim (the Holy of Holies). The Temple Institute thanks Graham and Ronit for allowing us to present their video on our YouTube channel, in order to share Judith’s story with a wide audience. And, of course, great thanks and appreciation to Judith Abrahams, for blessing us with her talents and her inspiration.

“And all the skilled (chochmat lev) women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair.” Exodus 35:25-26)

Preparing for the Temple-Kohanim

 

Preparing for the Temple-Kohanim

Training Levitical Priests for the Holy Temple – Established by the Temple Institute, Jerusalem The Temple Institute, established nearly thirty years ago, has now established the world’s first school for training Levitical Priests to serve in the Holy Temple. Your support will help to strengthen and develop this school.

Donate: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/th…

After millennia of yearning, only one organization is paving the way for the rebuilding of the Temple: the internationally-acclaimed Temple Institute (מכון המקדש), a research organization founded nearly thirty years ago and located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Temple Institute is dedicated to every aspect of preparing for the renewal and ultimate construction of the Third Temple, and has succeeded in bringing about a spiritual awakening – bringing the concept of the Holy Temple back to forefront of our consciousness.

The Institute has created nearly all of the sacred vessels needed to resume the Divine service in the Holy Temple, including the High Priest’s breastplate featuring the twelve precious stones of the tribes of Israel, the half-ton golden menorah, and the musical instruments of the Levitical choir. It has also made huge advances in preparing the architectural plans for the building of the Temple, and many other areas of research. But who will serve in the rebuilt Holy Temple?

The Temple Institute has established the world’s first school for the training and preparation of Kohanim – the Levitical Priests: Nezer Hakodesh, Hebrew for ‘Crown of Holiness,’ the Institute for Kohanic Studies. The Kohanim (plural for Kohen, the Temple priests) are the representatives of both the Creator and all of Israel, as well as all of humanity. The Institute’s goal is to prepare these men to assume their duties and responsibilities in the Holy Temple. Nezer Hakodesh brings alive the knowledge required by the kohanim through educational practice drills on every aspect of the Temple service, held throughout the year. In addition to all the relevant sources of Torah halacha and knowledge.

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Heat and Famine

 

July is world’s hottest month, with spikes not seen in 125,000 years

By the end of the week, it is likely that 15 days just this month will have breached an unprecedented global temperature threshold — a clarion wakeup call in the form of extreme weather. 

Why it matters: Nearly every facet of the climate system is flashing red this summer, from record-low sea ice extent in Antarctica to hot tub-like ocean waters surrounding South Florida, and all-time high temperature records set in multiple countries on at least three continents. 

And all this is occurring as human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels and other sources continue to increase, despite the existence of ever-cheaper technologies to generate electricity and power certain modes of transportation. 

Zoom in: Already this month, 14 days have recorded surface air temperatures greater than 17°C (62.6°F) — spikes that have not been seen for roughly 125,000 years.

In fact, Wednesday marked the 17th straight day with global temperatures hotter than any prior days on record.

Several more records are all but certain to fall in the coming weeks: 

July will be the hottest month on Earth since instrument records began in the 19th century.

The milestone for the hottest summer worldwide is in jeopardy, according to the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. 

NOAA and the ECMWF has said additional heat waves are likely in coming weeks, particularly if the dominant weather pattern — featuring multiple, stuck heat domes around the hemisphere — is not disrupted. 

By the numbers: The heat domes worldwide have been noteworthy for their duration, expansiveness and severity. This is the case even in places famous for hot weather, where people would normally shrug off a hot stretch. 

The overnight minimum temperature Wednesday morning in Phoenix was a sweltering 97°F, an all time high for that location. 

On Friday, the city is forecast to have its record 20th-straight day with a high temperature of 110°F or greater.

Austin, Texas, has had 10-straight days with a high temperature of 105°F or greater, an unprecedented streak.

Threat level: This heat is not a mere inconvenience or something to power through. 

It is downright deadly, particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, those with chronic illnesses and people without access to air conditioning. 

Early figures on heat-related deaths in parts of the U.S., for example, are starting to emerge, and in coming weeks it is likely these will climb.

A recent study in the journal Nature Medicine found severe heat waves in Europe last summer killed as many as 61,000 people.

The intrigue: The 17°C demarcation line is not a hard climate boundary beyond which ice sheets will melt and the oceans rise inexorably. Rather, it represents yet another warning — a “Stop, turn back” sign on the march to a more treacherous and less familiar planet. 

It is also the product of a modern but not 100% precise method of carefully estimating the planet’s temperature on a daily basis. 

It involves computer model reanalysis, in which data from ships, buoys, surface weather stations, satellites and other sources are crunched and calculated in near-real-time. 

What they’re saying: Forget about the overused expression, “the new normal,” to describe our current climate moment. As Friedericke Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London told Axios, “We’re nowhere near a normal.” 

“Whenever we stop burning fossil fuels we can begin to figure out what ‘normal’ means again,” Otto said.

Former NASA climate scientist James Hansen, who rose to prominence by warning the Senate and the American people about the dangers of climate change in the sizzling American summer of 1988, told The Guardian: “We are headed wittingly into the new reality – we knew it was coming.”

He termed humanity “damned fools,” saying: “We have to taste it to believe it.” 

The bottom line: Perhaps this is our taste of the new type of extreme heat, as we transition into even more unstable times. Because this is both one of the hottest summers of our lives, and one of the coolest of the rest of our lives.


From Japan to Louisiana to Rome, Here Are Ten Heat Records Earth Has Broken Since June

As the planet clocks the warmest June ever, here’s a list of temperature marks that fell this summer

07/20/2023

As of now, 2020 and 2016 stand tied as the hottest year ever recorded. But after nearly seven months of unprecedented warm weather across the globe, experts say 2023 is on track to take their place at the top of the charts.

To start the year, Europe experienced its second-warmest winter on record. And the Earth as a whole proceeded to document its fourth-warmest April and its third-warmest May.

Then, in early June, El Niño arrived. During this natural climate occurrence, Pacific Ocean surface temperatures rise three to five degrees above average—and it can have serious effects on weather across the globe. The event may cause drought in some regions and flooding in others, but it tends to have a global warming effect.

Combined with the long-term impact of climate change, which has contributed to the last eight years being the hottest ever documented, temperature records have been falling across the planet this summer.

“Climate change and temperature increase has spurred a surge in reports of record weather and climate extremes, especially for heat,” says Randall Cerveny, a geographical scientist at Arizona State University, in a statement. “We have to make sure that these records are verified for the sake of scientific understanding and accuracy.”

More than 1,000 high temperature records have been broken in the United States since June, according to CNN’s Eric Zerkel. Here’s a glance at just a fraction of this recent, unprecedented heat, both in the U.S. and abroad.

1. June becomes the world’s hottest ever recorded

In the 174-year history of recorded temperatures, June 2023 is the hottest ever.

The average global surface temperature for the month was 1.89 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average and 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit above the previous record, set in June 2020, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In another solemn milestone, last month was the 532nd consecutive month to be above the 20th-century average, according to NOAA. Global sea ice coverage hit a record low for June, driven largely by low levels of ice in the Antarctic.

2. Death Valley broke daily and nightly records

Known for being the hottest place on Earth, on July 16, Death Valley felled its high temperature record for that date that had stood since 1972 (and was tied in 2005). In anticipation, tourists bizarrely flocked to the park in hopes of experiencing its highest temperature, but it only hit 128 degrees Fahrenheit, disappointing the crowds, with one visitor referring to the heat as a “blow-dryer to my face.”

Additionally, the lowest point in North America may have documented its hottest midnight in the early hours of Monday. While the 120-degree record is still preliminary, it signals the dangers of extreme heat carrying into the night.

“People just don’t get the chance to cool off,” Richard Davy, a senior researcher at the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Norway, tells New Scientist’s James Dinneen.

3. Phoenix swelters in multi-day heat

Arizona’s capital city is currently baking under a record heat streak never seen before, according to official records. On Tuesday, Phoenix experienced its 19th consecutive day with temperatures above 110 degrees, surpassing the 18 days of heat that occurred in 1974.

But as the week goes on, the city is set to not only break, but truly shatter this previous record. Daily high temperatures are currently predicted to be at least 111 degrees through July 28.

Also on Tuesday, the city’s high temperature of 116 degrees knocked down the previous daily record for July 18, which had stood for more than three decades since being set in 1989.

4. Earth smashes records for hottest planet-wide temperature

In early July, Earth set back-to-back records for the hottest daily average temperature across the whole planet. For four days in a row, thermometers documented the hottest days to ever be measured.

“Monday, July 3rd was the hottest day ever recorded on planet Earth. A record that lasted until… Tuesday, July 4th,” Bill McGuire, an earth scientist at University College London, wrote in a tweet. “Totally unprecedented and terrifying.”

The heat remained on Wednesday, July 5, and on Thursday, July 6, the record fell again, as global average temperatures hit 63.01 degrees Fahrenheit.

The previous record, 62.46 degrees, was set in 2016 during the last El Niño event.

While these temperatures may not seem very hot, they are world averages—even the frigid poles, high-altitude mountains and the southern hemisphere, which is experiencing winter, factor into this number.

No other July day has managed to eclipse the record set earlier this month, but every single day since then has also been above the previous record temperature from 2016, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer.

5. Tokyo breaks nearly 150-year-old record

In June, for five days in a row, the Japanese capital clocked temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, marking a multi-day heat wave not seen in the city since records began in 1875.

Japan’s population is uniquely vulnerable to extreme heat, as nearly 30 percent of its residents are above the age of 65. Older adults are especially prone to heat-related illness, as their bodies cannot regulate temperature as easily.

In another unprecedented occurrence, the city of Isesaki, located northwest of Tokyo, faced heat above 104 degrees Fahrenheit last month, the highest June temperature ever recorded in Japan.

And the country’s extreme weather has not let up this month—on Sunday, some cities clocked their hottest temperatures in more than four decades, including the town of Hirono (99.14 degrees Fahrenheit) and the resort city of Nasushiobara (95.72 degrees Fahrenheit).

6. Rome hits its highest temperature

On Tuesday, Rome experienced its most sweltering weather on record, reaching 107.24 degrees Fahrenheit. While several places in the city set records, this high temperature was recorded at a weather station in the eastern suburbs.

Almost all major cities across Italy were under red alerts Tuesday, meaning the heat posed a threat to the entire population, not just vulnerable groups, writes the Telegraph’s Maighna Nanu.

Rome’s previous record was set only last year, when the mercury hit 105.26 degrees Fahrenheit in June 2022.

7. Acadiana faces longest heat streak

Acadiana, a region in south-central Louisiana, is in the throes of the longest stretch of hot weather since records started in 1893. On Tuesday, the area recorded its 42nd straight day of above 90-degree temperatures, with 12 days surpassing 98 degrees, per KATC’s Rob Perillo.

And Lafayette, Louisiana, just had its hottest June in the books—a strong finish to its hottest six-month stretch, from January to June this year. Now, Lafayette and Acadiana are on the way to another record: the hottest July ever documented, and by a wide margin.

“Currently,” writes Daniel Phillips for KATC, “it’s not even close.”

8. Chinese township documents the country’s hottest day ever

Sanbao township, a remote village on the outskirts of Turpan in northwestern China, set a nationwide high temperature record when it clocked in at 125.96 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday.

The record came as U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry met with Xie Zhenhua, his counterpart in China, to discuss addressing the climate crisis. China and the United States are the world’s two highest-contributing countries to greenhouse gas emissions yearly.

9. Northern Spain reaches a regional high

Catalonia, a region in northern Spain, hit a record high temperature as a heat wave known as Cerberus grips southern Europe. The town of Figueres reached 113.5 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.

Cerberus brought record temperatures to France as well—Verdun, in the northeast, hit 105.1 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in documented history.

10. Ocean temperatures rise, setting records

In June, the global ocean surface temperature was at a record high for the third month in a row. Compared to the average, last month was the highest anomaly that NOAA had ever recorded.

And off Florida’s Atlantic coast, a marine heat wave is bringing unprecedented water temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As summer goes on, this could bring stress to coral reefs.

“We’re entering uncharted territories,” Derek Manzello, an ecologist and the coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program, tells the New York Times’ Catrin Einhorn and Elena Shao.

Ocean temperatures are strongly influenced by El Niño. But the long-term warming trend is clear, and it’s driven by climate change. To turn it around, experts say, the world must cut back drastically on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

“Until we stop burning fossil fuels, this will only get worse,” climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Imperial College of London, tells Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press. “Heat records will keep getting broken. People and ecosystems are already in many cases beyond what they are able to deal with.”

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As of now, 2020 and 2016 stand tied as the hottest year ever recorded. But after nearly seven months of unprecedented warm weather across the globe, experts say 2023 is on track to take their place at the top of the charts.

To start the year, Europe experienced its second-warmest winter on record. And the Earth as a whole proceeded to document its fourth-warmest April and its third-warmest May.

Then, in early June, El Niño arrived. During this natural climate occurrence, Pacific Ocean surface temperatures rise three to five degrees above average—and it can have serious effects on weather across the globe. The event may cause drought in some regions and flooding in others, but it tends to have a global warming effect.

Combined with the long-term impact of climate change, which has contributed to the last eight years being the hottest ever documented, temperature records have been falling across the planet this summer.

“Climate change and temperature increase has spurred a surge in reports of record weather and climate extremes, especially for heat,” says Randall Cerveny, a geographical scientist at Arizona State University, in a statement. “We have to make sure that these records are verified for the sake of scientific understanding and accuracy.”

More than 1,000 high temperature records have been broken in the United States since June, according to CNN’s Eric Zerkel. Here’s a glance at just a fraction of this recent, unprecedented heat, both in the U.S. and abroad.

1 . June becomes the world’s hottest ever recorded

In the 174-year history of recorded temperatures, June 2023 is the hottest ever.

The average global surface temperature for the month was 1.89 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average and 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit above the previous record, set in June 2020, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As of now, 2020 and 2016 stand tied as the hottest year ever recorded. But after nearly seven months of unprecedented warm weather across the globe, experts say 2023 is on track to take their place at the top of the charts.

T o start the year, Europe experienced its second-warmest winter on record. And the Earth as a whole proceeded to document its fourth-warmest April and its third-warmest May.

Then, in early June, El Niño arrived. During this natural climate occurrence, Pacific Ocean surface temperatures rise three to five degrees above average—and it can have serious effects on weather across the globe. The event may cause drought in some regions and flooding in others, but it tends to have a global warming effect.

Combined with the long-term impact of climate change, which has contributed to the last eight years being the hottest ever documented, temperature records have been falling across the planet this summer.

“Climate change and temperature increase has spurred a surge in reports of record weather and climate extremes, especially for heat,” says Randall Cerveny, a geographical scientist at Arizona State University, in a statement. “We have to make sure that these records are verified for the sake of scientific understanding and accuracy.”

More than 1,000 high temperature records have been broken in the United States since June, according to CNN’s Eric Zerkel. Here’s a glance at just a fraction of this recent, unprecedented heat, both in the U.S. and abroad.

1 . June becomes the world’s hottest ever recorded

In the 174-year history of recorded temperatures, June 2023 is the hottest ever.

The average global surface temperature for the month was 1.89 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average and 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit above the previous record, set in June 2020, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In June, the global ocean surface temperature was at a record high for the third month in a row. Compared to the average, last month was the highest anomaly that NOAA had ever recorded.

And off Florida’s Atlantic coast, a marine heat wave is bringing unprecedented water temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As summer goes on, this could bring stress to coral reefs.

“ We’re entering uncharted territories,” Derek Manzello, an ecologist and the coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program, tells the New York Times’ Catrin Einhorn and Elena Shao.

Ocean temperatures are strongly influenced by El Niño. But the long-term warming trend is clear, and it’s driven by climate change. To turn it around, experts say, the world must cut back drastically on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

“Until we stop burning fossil fuels, this will only get worse,” climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Imperial College of London, tells Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press. “Heat records will keep getting broken. People and ecosystems are already in many cases beyond what they are able to deal with.”


 

Wheat prices soar for a third day as Russia-Ukraine tensions stoke fears of major food crisis

Wheat prices rose for a third straight day on Thursday after Russia threatened to treat ships heading for Ukrainian ports as military cargo carriers.

It comes shortly after the Kremlin pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a critically important wartime deal that provided a maritime humanitarian corridor for the export of Ukrainian grain.

Russian forces have launched extensive missile and drone attacks against port and grain infrastructure in southern Ukraine in recent days.

Wheat prices rose on Thursday after Russia threatened to treat ships heading for Ukrainian ports as military cargo carriers, deepening fears of a global food security crisis.

It marks the third consecutive day of price rises. The most actively traded wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade was last seen trading around 1.4% higher at 737.6 cents per bushel, notching a three-week high.

It follows a jump of 8.5% in the previous session, the biggest daily gain in more than a year, on mounting geopolitical tensions. Wheat prices remain well below the peak levels of 1,177.5 cents per bushel reached in May of last year, however.

The rise follows the Kremlin’s decision Monday to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a critically important wartime deal that provided a maritime humanitarian corridor for the export of Ukrainian grain.

U.N. chief António Guterres said he “deeply” regretted Russia’s decision to terminate the initiative, which in effect ended a “lifeline” for hundreds of millions across the globe facing hunger, as well as those already struggling with spiraling food costs.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday that Russia’s decision to pull out of the pact would imperil global food security.

“What we already know is that this is going to create a big and huge food crisis in the world,” Borrell said Thursday ahead of an EU foreign minister’s meeting.

Attacks on grain terminals

Russian forces have launched extensive missile and drone attacks against port and grain infrastructure in southern Ukraine in recent days.

The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, said Wednesday that it believes the recent attacks were likely to reaffirm Russia’s objections to the renewal of the Black Sea grain deal and hinder Kyiv’s ability to export agricultural commodities.

Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday that recent attacks on Ukraine’s southern port of Odesa and other cities had destroyed 60,000 tons of grain as well as crucial infrastructure.

Western and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of essentially attacking all those who rely on Ukraine’s grain exports, and putting vulnerable people at risk. A large portion of Ukrainian grain and food products go to countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Ratcheting tensions up further, Moscow warned that from Thursday all vessels sailing toward Ukrainian ports would be deemed “to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country will immediately reinstate the international grain deal if its demands are met. These include lifting restrictions that limit the full dispatch of its own grain and fertilizer exports, and an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank.

Since it was signed in July last year, the U.N. estimated that the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed more than 32 million metric tons of food commodities to be exported from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports — Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, previously known as Yuzhny — to 45 countries worldwide.

‘Further pressure on supplies’

The U.N. said the deal had played an “indispensable role” in global food security, while analysts said it had supported price stability and prevented shortages across the developing world. Investors, however, had been bracing for the intiative to be axed.

“Ukraine will now be forced to export most of its grains and oilseeds through its land borders and Danube ports. This will significantly drive up transportation costs and pile further pressure on Ukrainian farmers’ profits,” Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at Dutch lender Rabobank, said Monday.

“The knock-on effect of this is it could prompt them to plant less next season, placing further pressure on supplies going forward,” he added.

Ultimately, Mera said the development means low-income countries in Africa and the Middle East will likely become more dependent on Russian wheat — a country that represents more than 20% of global wheat exports.


5 Comments

  1. Stuart Wall

    Shalom Joseph,

    I’m hoping you can clarify or correct my current understanding from reading your books and website articles over the years. As I understand it, Western civilisation will be destroyed during the upcoming feasts and then the judgement of 2024 will come upon the rest of the world? Or have I misunderstood your writings?

    Reply
  2. Jayson

    I remember being in school back in the 1970’s and they were lecturing us how that humans were negatively impacting the climate and that “in a few short years” we were going to cause an ice age where the earth was going to freeze over and we’re all going to die!

    Reply
  3. Judy F Dover

    Shalom.
    To each how great is our Yahoveh Elohim Creator!!
    Just a insight of all these things we are being taught, introduced to, have certainly moved away from for some of us not even knowing or understand..I myself went into my literal closet in 1994, and talked to God at that time,not knowing his name Yahoveh Elohim Creator ( pentacostal affiliation) I said I need the truth,this religion is going no where..that night Yahoveh Elohim Creator woke me and said I was from the lost tribes of Israel and I set up in bed, in the dark and said what is this!!?
    Just amazing the next year we moved to Oklahoma ( instructions from Elohim) and this is where my life met Truth in the Yeshua and his Father Yahoveh.. Sabbath.. holy days!
    Now here today in prayer several weeks ago,I prayed for confirmation of things Yahoveh has spoke to me, and I’m sitting there after praying, scrolling through the TV and there is a man standing with a huge calendar behind him, I stop and I listen,and there is my confirmation..
    Today Sabbath July 22,2023.. Joel 2..is the word of Truth given as this the last 7 years in this 4th cycle.thankyou!!

    Reply
    • Shannon

      Thank you for bringing the progress of their plans to our attention, in their own words.

      I’d still like to know where they think to do this.

      Ignoring the Son is dangerous business. Be warned! Psalm 2

      Reply
  4. Lucinda Robinson

    My dad owned 2 hotels before he was converted. Once converted, he said he knew he had to sell them because businssmen from the community he knew were bringing their mistresses into the motel. He then started building homes and housing developments.

    Reply

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