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Our intellectual wrestling has been replaced by a different kind of struggle.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.

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

Joseph Dumond is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Joseph Dumond’s Personal Meeting Room

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The Perpetual Calendar

We have available from our website a calendar you can use to keep track of the days of the month based on when the Barley is ripe and when the moon is sighted. ALl you have to do is download it. https://sightedmoon.com/perpetual-calendar/

With the new year about to begin, you can learn about the calendar as you record it. This is a great tool to have and it is free to anyone who wants it.

Rain Before or After Sukkot?

Throughout Sukkot, we hint at our desire for rain through rituals such as the water libation practiced in the Temple and the four species, mainly the willow, representing the association of plant growth and water. Continuing with the water theme, a particular feature of Shemini Atzeret is the prayer for rain, thus officially beginning Israel’s rainy season. Since the land of Israel relies so heavily on substantial rain for its crops, the prayer for rain is recited with a special plaintive melody, and the cantor dons a white kittel (robe), as on Yom Kippur.

As many of you know and understand, this has been a year to watch Yehovah and pay attention to all He is doing. We went to Israel and personally looked for the barley and found it to be in a State of Aviv in many places. Announcing this placed us one month ahead of a few and two months ahead of many brethren who will be keeping the Feast of Sukkot this coming month. October 5, will be the Feast of Trumpets for them or the day before for the Hillel people.

We then watched for the first fruits of wheat to be harvested just before Shavuot, followed by watching for the 1st fruits of figs, parmegranites and grapes during the fifth month. We then kept Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret from August 20 to August 26.

On Shemini Atzeret on August 26, 2024, the following pictures of Storks flying back south for the winter were taken over Israel. You will notice that the moon is the phase that you see it on Shemini Atzeret. Some people make a lot of noise about you must have storks to know when Passover is. They never mention them for the fall feasts when the Storks mostly go in the other direction.

Jer 8:4  And you shall say to them, So says Jehovah; shall they fall and not arise? Shall he turn away and not return?

Jer 8:5  Why has this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a never-ending backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.

Jer 8:6  I listened and heard, but they did not speak right; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Everyone turned in their own courses, as the horse rushes into the battle.

Jer 8:7  Yea, the stork in the heavens knows her seasons; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow watch the time of their coming; but my people do not know the judgment of Jehovah.

Jer 8:8  How do you say, We are wise, and the Law of Jehovah is with us? Lo, certainly the lying pen of the scribes has written falsely.

Another indication of the time of year is made by several people and some groups that it is not supposed to rain until well after Sukkot. We also had the first heavy rains this past week in Gaza and Jerusalem. Now you hear all the excuses for the things they used to say.

The Unholy Woman of Zechariah

We shared this article with you last week. Then, during the week, we were given the following pictures. I would like to share them with you and let you reread the article about the dimensions given by the angel to Zechariah.

You will notice it has two stages, which tell you it is being flown or pushed by two evil women or evil fires.

The height is 15.5 meters, which is 50.853 feet, or 16.58 meters, which is 54.396 feet. This is longer than the megillah of Zechariah, but you get the idea.

The diameter is 1.25 meters or 4.101 feet, which is the distance from one side to the other. The megillah or flying scroll in Zechariah is 5.5 feet. Do you see a pattern here?

Zechariah 5
I, Zechariah, looked up and saw a flying scroll in the sky. 2 And the angel that was showing me these things said, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; 34.3 feet long, and 5.5 feet in diameter.” 3 Then he said, “This is the curse that will afflict the entire land of Israel. Every one that steals and every one that swears falsely by my name will be destroyed by it. 4And I will bring it forth, says YHWH T’zavaot. This flying scroll that you see, will completely consume the timbers and stones of the house of the thief, and he that swears falsely by my name.”

5 Then the angel said, “Look up and see what this flying scroll is.” 6 And I responded, “What is it?” And he said, “This is a container that flies.” He said, “Furthermore, this is their appearance throughout the whole earth.” 7 Then I saw a mass of lead and a fire offering, as it was lifted up and secured in the container. 8 And he said, “The fire that you see being put in the container, is an evil fire offering.” Then he secured the fire offering in the container and put the lead mass in the opening.

9 Then I looked up and saw as two fires came out of the container, and the fires caused the wind to lift the container by its ‘stork like’ wings, from the earth into the sky. 10 Then I asked the angel, “Where are they taking the container?” 11 And he said, “To establish a base for it, and set it up in the land of Shinar (which is modern day Iraq).”

(Zechariah 6) Then I turned and saw four war chariots coming out from between two man-made mountains. 2 With the first war chariot there were red horses; with the second chariot black horses; 3 with the third chariot white horses; and with the fourth chariot salt-and-pepper and strong colored horses. 4 Then I asked, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go out from standing before the lord of all the earth. 7 They desired to be released to roam throughout the earth, so the angel said, “Go, and roam the earth.” So they did. 6 The black horses went into the north country; and the white went after them; and the salt-and-pepper and strong colored horses went toward the south country.” 8 Then he cried out to me saying, “Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”

Michael Rood explains this passage of scriptures with convincing style.

“What is the situation with the woman who is so evil that they put her in a basket with a lead lid on it?”

Historically, we know that many of the “writings” of the prophets were done by the scribes of the Sanhedrin, the ruling elders of Israel. We do not know for certain whether the Tekoan shepherd, Amos, knew how to read or write. But we do know that he received revelation and went up to Jerusalem and appeared before the elders with the proclamation, “Thus saith YHWH.” His revelation was written down by the Temple scribes. When the words of Amos came to pass, his words were preserved as the Word of Yehovah. The opening of the scroll of Amos reads:

The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake.
How do we know that Amos spoke these words two years before the earthquake? Because it was formally recorded in Israel’s records after the earthquake took place. Amos may have given the coming earthquake as a sign that his words were from Yehovah we don’t know. Not everything that Amos said was written – just the specifics of the revelation. A prophet could be considered a nut case until his prophecy came to pass. The scribes of the Sanhedrin accurately recorded Isaiah’s words, but that didn’t account for much in his day. The political and religious world hated his words so intensely that they took him outside the city walls of Jerusalem and ripped his living body in half with a rusty lumberjack saw. But when his words came to pass, they all knew that a prophet had been in their midst. His words are still preserved for us today.

Zechariah spoke things contrary to political and religious correctness and they took him out of the city and crushed his skull with a huge rock. But when the smoke of God’s judgment cleared, they knew a prophet had been in their midst. We have the words of men who we call prophets because scribes wrote down their unwelcome words and kept them safely until they were either confirmed or refuted by reality. When these men were threatened with death, they refused to recant. The prophets’ words for their day and time were precisely fulfilled, and their revelation of things concerning the last days is just as sure.

Zechariah may have appeared before the Sanhedrin several times with a revelation from the Almighty. His words are not recorded in a time-blocked sequence of events. There may have been years between his appearances before the elders of Israel. But one thing is certain; when they had heard enough, they killed him. Zechariah speaks of a great war in the last days. A war in which the nations of the Earth will begin to shake uncontrollably over the events that are about to transpire. Israel will be brought to the brink of destruction. There will appear to be no hope for the salvation of the nation. But at the last dying gasp, the Almighty will reveal his hand from the heavens and fight for Israel. All of the nations of the world will know that He has delivered His people from destruction and they will know that Yehovah is the Elohim of Israel.

Before that day comes, there will be a progression of events that will bring the players into the battle theatre. Zechariah saw a vision, a revelation that has not had an historical context until just this year. In chapter five, verse one, in King James of England’s authorized version of the translation of the Hebrew

Scriptures we read:

Zech 5:1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying (sc)roll.

The word ‘roll’ was from the Hebrew word “megillah” and it is. A megillah is a singular scroll ‘such as the megillah of Esther. It is a small volume and does not require megillot’ two scrolls, which are necessary for a larger volume, such as the Torah. We have a long history of what a scroll looks like. It is a cylinder that is several times longer than its diameter. It has neither a chocolate frosting or a salmon and cream cheese filling, it is just a cylinder that is doing something very unusual to Zechariah’s way of thinking, 2,500 years before airplanes were invented, it is flying. Let’s watch the picture develop.

2 And he said unto me, “What seest thou?” I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. KJV

My translation:

2 And the angel that was showing me these things said,
What do you see? I see a flying scroll in the sky; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. KJV
The cubit used in the land of Israel through the time of Solomon is the measurement commonly referred to as “the royal Egyptian cubit” which is 20.62 British inches. The intact gates of Gezer and Beth-Horon measure out to the perfect 20.62 inch cubit. This measurement may more properly be referred to as “the sacred cubit” as it was used in the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza
The 20 cubit length of this megillah is twice the 10 breadth, which would make this look more like a soup can, than a scroll. But if the 10 cubit breadth is describing the circumference, such as the 12 cubit circumference of the brazen pillars of Solomon’s Temple – then we have the dimensions of a traditional megillah. Translating these dimensions into a standard measurement for the United States:
I see a flying scroll; 34.3 feet long, and 5.5 feet in diameter.
I have seen many a flying scroll with these dimensions. Let’s go on;

3 Then said he unto me, this is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth. KJV

The term “earth” is usually from “eretz”, which can and often does refer only to eretz Israel, the land of Israel. Context alone determines its usage, and sometimes the context is indecisive. I rendered it;

3 Then he said, “This flying scroll is the curse that will afflict the entire land of Israel.

Then the angel qualifies the reason for its existence;
Everyone that steals and every one that swears falsely by my name will be destroyed by it.
4 And I will bring it forth, says YHWH Tzavaot.
Those who carry the name of the Holy One of Israel for their own personal glory and agenda, those who say that they speak for the Almighty but only speak their own desires, are swearing falsely in His name. Those who say, “the Lord told me” and the LORD never told them anything, those are the individuals who will be destroyed by this curse that will inflict at least the entire land of Israel, and perhaps on a global scale. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of false prophets who steal God’s words “one from another.” They say they have a word from the Lord, but it is the same word that the false prophet who heads their denomination has been mouthing for the last 60 years. Those who steal and swear falsely in His name will be destroyed by this flying scroll that will afflict the entire land, and Yehovah will bring it forth.

This flying scroll that you see, will completely consume the timbers and stones of the house of the thief, and he that swears falsely by my name.”
This is one bad megillah! Any idea of what kind of flying scroll might have that kind of destructive capacity in our day and time?

5 Then the angel said, “Look up and see what this flying scroll is.” 6 And I responded, “What is it?” MIV

This is a treasure. The angel is actually going to give us more detail about this destructive device.

And he said, “This is an ephah that goeth forth.” He said moreover, “This is their resemblance through all the earth.” 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. KJV

Aha! This is where we got the picture of a woman in a basket, from an English translation of ephah. When we measure out an ephah of corn at the market, we use a basket that will contain an ephah measure of product. We know what a peck of apples looks like – whether it is in the old wooden basket with wire handles, or in a white paper sack with nylon handles. A peck, like an ephah, is a measurement, it is a container. But this is a container that flies! It is a flying container that is 34.3 feet long and it is 5.5 feet in diameter and it is going to destroy all of those who are outside of God’s will in the land of Israel. The angel said furthermore, these destructive devices all look the same, everywhere on the face of the earth.

7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. KJV

Aha! Aha! Here is the woman who is so evil that they put her in a basket with a lead lid on it, and here is the answer.
I am going to replace the word “woman” with the word “fire.”
“OK, let’s find out what it says in Hebrew.
“It is the word “aisha.”
“It is a fire offering!”

“Aisha – fire offering” and “sha – woman” are the same consonants in Hebrew – the context determines the meaning. The Karaites in the Middle Ages, who developed the Masoretic text, used the vowel point that interpreted this word as “woman” because they, too, had no idea of its prophetic significance. A fire offering in a flying container that incinerates buildings throughout Israel did not make any sense a thousand years ago, but neither did an evil woman in a lead-lidded basket! For over 1,000 years, every translation of the Hebrew Scriptures on the planet has been derived from the same Karaite Masorah, with the same dot under the Aleph, a dot that did not exist in the original text. From that same text, every translation in every language has been resultant.

For centuries, men had followed each other’s translations and completely missed the point of Zechariah’s vision.
The Word still goes forth from Zion.

7 Then I saw a mass of lead and a fire offering, as it was lifted up and secured in the container. 8 And he said, “This fire that you see being put in the container, is an evil fire offering.” Then he secured the fire offering in the container and put the lead mass in the opening.

The container in which this mass of lead and fire offering is placed is 34.3 feet long and 5.5 feet in diameter. It flies. It will completely consume the homes of the disobedient in the land of Israel, including all of the wood and the stones. This fire offering is evil and it is encased in lead. That, my friends, is a missile with a nuclear warhead poised to strike the land of Israel. Swallow hard.

Non-critical masses of U-235 uranium or other fissionable materials are encased in lead to protect friendly personnel from contamination before detonation. When the warhead is activated, a controlled explosion propels the non-critical masses together to reach critical mass. That creates the evil fire that produces a holocaust, a burnt offering of everything in the path of the fireball. Moments later, the vacuum left from the departing fireball sucks the smoke and debris back into the void, and a pillar of fire and smoke shoots up into the stratosphere, darkening the sun, moon, and stars.
Now the vision makes sense. The precursor to the upcoming war detailed in the 12th chapter, is the development and deployment of nuclear missiles against the land of Israel. Thermal nuclear war in the land of Israel is going to happen.

The angel gives specific details to Zechariah so that we would know the things that must come to pass in the last days. And the Internet will allow the correct translation of “aisha” to cover the world in a moment of time. Knowing that God has told the end from the beginning gives us great confidence that he is the master of time and space, and we can trust Him with our children’s lives in the times of trouble ahead.

9 Then I looked up and saw as two fires came out of the container, and the fires caused the wind to lift the container by its “stork like” wings, from the earth into the sky.

Zechariah saw two fires come out of the container that propelled the missile into the sky. A two stage nuclear missile is a very common bird among the nuclear arsenals of the world. India’s nuclear missile is a two-stage device (two fires) that is named “Agni” which in Hindi means “fire.” The missile that Zechariah was watching had short wings that resembled the wings of a stork. Every missile on the face of the earth has that same feature. I will regress to verse 4 for a moment:

4 And I will bring it forth, says YHWH Tzavaot
(the LORD of Hosts KJV).

Jewish scientists created each of the three varieties of nuclear warheads on the planet. In fact, it was the lineage of Levi that developed this modern “fire offering” technology. As I say, “If you don’t have the Levites up on the Temple mount doing sacrifices, they get into all sorts of weird stuff.” They are going to do a fire offering – one way or another. As the Scriptures say in Genesis 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

Finally, Zechariah asks a question of the angel that is absolutely critical for our understanding.

10 Then I asked the angel, “Where are they taking the container?” 11 And he said,
“To establish a base for it, and set it up in the land of Shinar.”

The land of Shinar is present day Iraq!

During the 1980s, the Iraqis built a nuclear warhead production facility. Israel knew that Iraq would attack at the earliest occasion, so Israel made a pre-emptive strike and bombed the nuclear plant into a pile of rubble. The U.N. and U.S. whined like spoiled two-year-old children because Israel took this situation into their own hands, against the wishes of the New World Order. Iraq knew that it would be impossible to rebuild its nuclear arsenal within striking distance of Israel’s fighter/bombers. Soon after, the U.S. media reported that several Iraqi nuclear scientists defected to Pakistan. Untold millions of Iraqi dollars also defected to Pakistan. The Pakis successfully tested their first nuclear warhead a few years later, and now the Pakis and the Indians are rattling their nuclear sabers as their troops prepare for war.

The front cover of Scientific American magazine

The feature article: “India, Pakistan, and the Bomb”. On page eighty-one I found a detailed comparison of India’s nuclear missiles to those of Pakistan. A man was depicted at the foot of a Paki missile as a scale comparison. The missile appeared to be about 35 feet tall and about five and a half feet in diameter. The Iraqi scud is only 37 ½ feet long. Both missiles are visually the same dimensions that Zechariah saw by revelation nearly 2,500 years ago. Who can begin to appreciate the God that we serve? I would like to be on His team when the brimstone hits the fan!

Zechariah 5:I, Zechariah, looked up and saw a flying scroll in the sky. 2 And the angel that was showing me these things said, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; 34.3 feet long, and 5.5 feet in diameter.” 3 Then he said, “This is the curse that will afflict the entire land of Israel. Every one that steals and every one that swears falsely by my name will be destroyed by it. 4And I will bring it forth, says YHWH Tzavaot. This flying scroll that you see, will completely consume the timbers and stones of the house of the thief, and he that swears falsely by my name.”

5 Then the angel said, “Look up and see what this flying scroll is.” 6 And I responded, “What is it?” And he said, “This is a container that flies.” He said, “Furthermore, this is their appearance throughout the whole earth.” 7 Then I saw a mass of lead and a fire offering, as it was lifted up and secured in the container. 8 And he said, “The fire that you see being put in the container, is an evil fire offering.” Then he secured the fire offering in the container and put the lead mass in the opening.

9 Then I looked up and saw as two fires came out of the container, and the fires caused the wind to lift the container by its ‘stork like’ wings, from the earth into the sky. 10 Then I asked the angel, “Where are they taking the container?” 11 And he said, “To establish a base for it, and set it up in the land of Shinar (which is modern day Iraq).”

(Zechariah 6) Then I turned and saw four war chariots coming out from between two man-made mountains. 2 With the first war chariot there were red horses; with the second chariot black horses; 3 with the third chariot white horses; and with the fourth chariot salt-and-pepper and strong colored horses. 4 Then I asked, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go out from standing before the lord of all the earth. 7 They desired to be released to roam throughout the earth, so the angel said, “Go, and roam the earth.” So they did. 6 The black horses went into the north country; and the white went after them; and the salt-and-pepper and strong colored horses went toward the south country.” 8 Then he cried out to me saying, “Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”

From Michael John Rood www.6001.com Zecharia’s Thermonuclear War

I don’t have to tell you what is going on in the Middel East right now and how everyone is trying to stop Israel and Hezbollah from going to war and dragging the whole region into WW III.

The Battleground Within

By James Relf

I have been asked to write about a common, maybe more common than most would like to acknowledge, but common nonetheless, mental issue: depression. As we join each other weekly and look at the online faces of those around us, sharing in a Sabbath meeting, you might begin to notice that most of the screens are blanked out. Could it be that they have poor internet access, are introverted, are nervous about public speaking, or are just shy? Yes, to all of the above. There is also the chance that some may be depressed and choose not to show themselves yet because they need to be part of something greater. Look, I am no doctor; I can only write about what I know, and I can certainly say that all of these possibilities are real.

What many do not consider is that in this day and age, depression is as common as the common cold and, for many, much more serious. Depression comes in many forms and shows in the body in different ways. Depending on a person’s background, it could come from an abusive childhood, some rape, illness, mental abuse, and many other horrible ways that trauma can affect the mind of anyone. I am not a doctor or clinical physiologist, but I have lived with the consequences of childhood abuse in many forms and suffered from depression and migraines for over 40 years, so I have some idea of what I am about to share from experience firsthand.

Here are a few facts to back up what I am saying from the  World Health Organization on just depression alone.

KEY FACTS:

• Depression is a common mental disorder.
• Globally, an estimated 5% of adults suffer from depression.
• More women are affected by depression than men.
• Depression can lead to suicide.
• There is effective treatment for mild, moderate and severe depression.

OVERVIEW

• Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time.
• Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
• Depression can happen to anyone. People who have lived through abuse, severe losses or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression. Women are more likely to have depression than men.
• An estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds.

SYMPTOMS AND PATTERNS

During a depressive episode, a person experiences a depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty). They may feel a loss of pleasure or interest in activities.

A depressive episode is different from regular mood fluctuations. They last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Other symptoms are also present, which may include:

• poor concentration
• feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth
• hopelessness about the future
• thoughts about dying or suicide
• disrupted sleep
• changes in appetite or weight
• feeling very tired or low in energy.

Depression can cause difficulties in all aspects of life, including in the community and at home, work and school.

A depressive episode can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number and severity of symptoms, as well as the impact on the individual’s functioning. 

There are different patterns of depressive episodes including:

• single episode depressive disorder, meaning the person’s first and only episode;
• recurrent depressive disorder, meaning the person has a history of at least two depressive episodes; and
• bipolar disorder, meaning that depressive episodes alternate with periods of manic symptoms, which include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behavior.  

Contributing factors and prevention

Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, traumatic events) are more likely to develop depression. Depression can, in turn, lead to more stress and dysfunction and worsen the affected person’s life situation and the depression itself.

Depression is closely related to and affected by physical health. Many of the factors that influence depression (such as physical inactivity or harmful use of alcohol) are also known risk factors for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases. In turn, people with these diseases may also find themselves experiencing depression due to the difficulties associated with managing their condition.

Prevention programmes have been shown to reduce depression. Effective community approaches to prevent depression include school-based programmes to enhance a pattern of positive coping in children and adolescents. Interventions for parents of children with behavioral problems may reduce parental depressive symptoms and improve outcomes for their children. Exercise programmes for older persons can also be effective in depression prevention.

As you can see from just this one source of information it is a large subject. Many people like Mysefl search for answers as to “Why was I like this?” and “How do I get away from it?” or even worse, “What is wrong with me?”  A better question might be, “How did I get here? These are all good questions, and depending on who you ask, there are volumes of books out there to give you any answer you want. Even, those that will not help you.

Here is a passage about what it means to be human, from Guardian Angel (pg46) that I found fascinating:

Being human means acting according  to  YHVH’s  path  to  life. It means standing against chaos. It  means participating in a covenant
guarantee. It means knowing what is permitted and what is not, and acting accordingly. Any behavior that denies, negates or rejects these goals is not human behavior and the creatures that exhibit nonNhuman behavior are not creatures that exhibit YHVH’s image.

Before sin entered  the world, YHVH made human beings as perfect representatives of His image and likeness. Now we discover that this is an active and dynamic interaction with roles, responsibilities and a relationship with Him. But when sin entered the picture, something tragic occurred. Human beings began to move in another direction. Over time, those who were designed to become human rejected walking this path. They eventually arrive at a destination not intended for human beings. Human beings are intended to arrive at the full expression of “our image and likeness.” But it is also possible to arrive at another destination, as we will see.^[1] G. K. Beale notes, “All human beings have been created to be reflecting beings, and they will reflect whatever they are ultimately committed to, whether the true YHVH or some other object in the created order.”^[2] Beale’s analysis underscores the verbal quality of the divine image. Human being is manifest by acting as YHVH would act, being the reflected image of the YHVH who creates, sustains and brings about order.

^[1]  “It is indeed conceivable that man may continue to be without being human. One of the most frightening prospects we must face is that this earth may be populated by a race of beings which though belonging to the race homo sapiens according to biology will be devoid of the qualities by which man is spiritually distinguished from the rest of organic creatures.” Abraham Heschel, Who Is Man? (Stanford University Press, 1965) p. 29.

^[2]  G. K. Beale, We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry (IVP Academic: Downers Grove, IL), 2008, p. 23.

This passage from Guardian Angel points out what happens when we stray from the path, which, from my experience, is what happens in depression because we can no longer focus on what we are created to do, “Stand Against Chaos.” One cannot stand against chaos when you are submerged in it and struggling against it day by day. It changes our purpose and affects our body in ways many do not see. We become slaves to chaos just out of survival, forget about standing against it.

Here is what a person with severe depression can look like. Over the years of finding no solution to cure myself of the depression, I have gone so far as to lie down on a busy highway and wait for a truck or car to hit me, admitted myself into a mental hospital for help, only to be told three weeks later that they could not help me and sent me home. Drugs, and I am not speaking of the kind that makes you forget everything, but the kind that alters your body chemistry, your brain activity. At times, I was so out of it that I did not even know who I was. And let’s not forget the ever-present migraine that can be associated with depression. When we focus too much on ourselves, our brain kicks into high gear and does not slow down. This is called “survivor mode,” and our bodies can burn out and cause a slew of other physical problems, causing our body to slowly destroy itself, all because we just can’t stop focusing on our problems, whether they are in the present or past. When you are depressed, your past is always your present, so that does not help.

The image of YHVH is not a static element. It is not something that we possess like flesh and blood. It is a dynamic activity. I reflect YHVH’s image as the order-­maker when I act as the order-taker. It is action within the relationship that constitutes the image. We are manifested as human beings when we act humanly, when we act in ways that manifest the image and likeness of YHVH. (pg48)

Depression prevents this from happening!

So, how did I get free of depression? Another excellent question that I will try to explain. Being just a believer does not make any difference.

First, depending on your “Christian” background, we all have to come from some starting point. Depending on where you come from, you would have been taught one lie or another about what Scripture says. That comes from 18 years of attending church and believing that the Old Testament was done away with. Our understanding of Scripture has been tainted, and what we may think the Bible says according to who taught us and their education, we may not even be close to truly understanding what is expected of us from YHVH’s point of view. I refer to the very beginning of Genesis in the very first few chapters. In English, it talks about the creation story of the world and Adam and Eve. In Hebrew, it tells way more about the roles of men and women, how we fit into YHVH’s plan, and why we are here. I bet you never heard that in Church!

It’s a lot of information that is only revealed in the Hebrew language. If a depressed person never knows this exists, they will be living a lie and be under the same curse that came into effect after Adam & Eve destroyed what YHVH had established because of poor choices. On top of that, if they believe that they are saved and walking in obedience, and not according to the plan that YHVH had designed, how are any of us supposed to be receiving or living a blessed life if we are never on the right road to get there in the first place?

Could it have been that what I thought I knew about my relationship with YHVH was incorrect, or was YHVH ignoring me? I had read the Bible more than a dozen times, cover to cover, done extensive studies on many topics, including the Tabernacle, which is, of course, my favourite subject, and even became a pastor and taught in over four different countries. I have been part of and witnessed more miracles than I can remember, yet I still felt alone and like this was just my lot in life as a servant of YHVH, and I had to learn to live with it. This only proved to me that while I still may be used by YHVH, I was not receiving His real Blessing and did not understand why I was here. This is a question that many depressed people not only want to know but need to know to justify all their suffering.

What does this mean? It means that YHVH determines what is good. We are placed in His World according to His instructions. If we want real pleasure in the life and to truly know YHVH, then we MUST live under His sign – the sign that guarantees control over what is allowed. Sin is determining what is good outside of the bourndaries of His covenant. Will power is not enough to pull yourself out of the muck and mire that is your depression. Perhaps, just perhaps, we need to reassess our list of what is good. If there is something on that list that does not line up with His Torah and His commandments, then it has to go!

There were times when I thought back to it that I was not depressed and was enjoying my life, free of the guilt, self-loathing, and depression that I carried with me every day. When I taught Torah, I spent time with fellow believers, got to share about the experiences that I had had, and watched as people would sit there and ask questions, and the fellowship was amazing. The community spirit, that connection with like-minded people, was what brought me happiness. After it was over, I fell back into the depression pit and wallowed in it until something else came along. I hated my life. Being part of something that was doing the work (Shemah) of YHVH, that work that I only really understood when I read the Hebrew version of Genesis, was part of the solution that set me free.

Additionally, part of that work involved studying the Torah, and so, one day, I decided to find out exactly what the Bible had to say about depression or the different aspects associated with it, like fear, forgiveness, self-discipline, temptation, people-pleasing, boundaries, and spiritual darkness, to name a few. All of these aspects are covered in the book The Battleground Within.

What I decided to do once I started was to make it a Bible Study that I did with myself and see where it led. I was surprised at what I had found. When someone is depressed, they have a very poor impression of themselves and have very little, if any, confidence that their opinion or voice is worth anything. So they stay in the shadows, they can participate in a crowd but stay silent, hidden, so they can receive but not give. Interestingly this is also a sign that they are outside of the role they were created for. We are called to be a light to the nations and you cannot do that from the shadows and keeping your mouth shut.

When I first started I was not sure what to look for. In the beginning, I believe I started with fear because my life was controlled by it. I found more information than I at first thought possible and it was as I was writing down and working through some of the different aspects of this process, I thought also maybe someone else might find this helpful. Let me give you a few clues to what I found out:

• When I spent too much time focusing on myself, the depression was worse.
• When I spent too much time focusing on my problems, the migraines got worse.
• When I spent too much time dwelling on myself, it hurt my marriage.
• When I spent too much time focusing on myself my confidence disappeared because I did not give YHVH any chance to help me, I was always putting myself down. If I did not believe in myself, then how could anyone else?
• When I focused on myself too long, I would also lose jobs. After all, I could not focus on my work, and then be depressed because I lost another job. Vicious cycle.
• When I spend too much time focusing on myself, I look for anything that will make me feel something positive, even when I know its wrong, adding to the problems. Sound familiar?

You get the picture. You end up spinning yourself into the ground like a corkscrew so deep that you cannot get out or even see daylight. I spend many years in that hole with no ladder or hand to pull me out.  I had to choose to serve YHVH, wholeheartedly and with the intent that I was not to focus on myself or condemn myself if I screwed up and just focus on taking life one day at a time. There is a great deal of scriptures about just this, living in the moment and not worrying about our past or the future because we control neither of them and cannot change either.

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of YHVH (Luke 9:62)

I  would also like to point out, especially after re-reading and this time getting more out of the book; Guardian Angel by Skip Moen, that the depth of depression one suffers is more than likely tied to the sin that one carries within ourselves and that we are all too aware of it and have not corrected ourselves according to YHVH’s Word. I mentioned this above, but it is worth mentioning it again. I would highly recommend everyone to read this book, even if you are not married, you will still gain a wealth of knowledge that will redefine your relationship with YHVH.

Again, let me make this clear, since the fall of mankind, we are ever more likely to be aware of our sinful nature and how far we are from TRUE OBEDIENCE to YHVH’s Word. Humans tend to change, manipulate, ignore, pretend that all is right, and most of all be lazy when it comes to actually learning how to READ, INTERPRETE, & DO, the Hebrew Torah, NOT the English version. If I have come to learn anything is that I am far from understanding properly & truly, what my role is that as a man, I play according to the Torah. You can’t figure it out if you only see the English versions. When you come to understand this simple yet evasive instruction, it becomes even more clear how much we have failed and that depression is a direct result, at least part of the results, of realizing this fact even if you don’t acknowledge it to yourself. Once you can admit this, honestly, and KNOW the correct path to restoration, it’s like YHVH turns back on the lights and shows you the true path to recovery through His Word.

That is what made those moments special for me when I was sharing and teaching around the world, I was just in the moment and nothing else mattered. YHVH was just there with me at that moment and I would not give that up for anything. Now that I know the solution to my hidden sin and inherited sin, I can do something about it. Knowing is only half the battle, the rest comes in the doing every day with all the time we have left.