News Letter 5853-046
The 1st Year of the 4th Sabbatical Cycle
The 22nd year of the Jubilee Cycle
The 7th day of the 12th month 5853 years after the creation of Adam
The 12th Month in the First year of the Fourth Sabbatical Cycle
The 4th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Sword, Famines, and Pestilence
February 24, 2018
Shabbat Shalom To the Royal Family,
The 12th New Moon of 5853
The new moon of the 12th month was clearly visible from Jerusalem this evening, Saturday, February 17, 2018 (which was the end of the 30th day of the previous month). I first sighted the new moon at 5:28 pm. However, it was difficult for me to get a good picture of it before it went behind the clouds (see above photo). At the time of this writing, I am not aware of any other positive reports, although I wouldn’t be surprised if they come in later.
On behalf of all of us who rely on these reports, I wish to thank everyone in Israel who looked for the new moon this evening and sent in their observations in a timely manner. And a special thank you to all of you who are supporting our efforts in many different ways around the world.
As you know, at the end of the 12th month, our dedicated team of devout individuals, will be inspecting the barley crop in the Land of Israel, to determine whether this year needs to be intercalated with a 13th month. If you find these reports to be of value, please consider supporting our efforts at https://www.patreon.com/datetree. We could really use your support, particularly this time of the year!
Chodesh Tov! Make it a great month!
Devorah Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
Sickness and Death
Dear Brethren, I want to apologize for not having a News Letter to send out last week, Feb 17, 2018.
The week of January 21-27 I caught the flu and this year it is a very dangerous flu with many deaths being reported across Canada and the USA. In Canada, there have been reported 21,000 flu cases as of Feb 6, 2018. I was but another statistic in that number.
You can call it the man flu if you want, but I was laid out unable to breathe and extremely lethargic. I had zero energy to do anything. I could not read or study nor write. All I did was sleep. I missed this week being off from work. As the following week of January 28 to February 2, began my breathing declined and coughing increased, I was just unable to catch my breath. We went to the hospital and I was told I had pneumonia Feb 4. Prescribed amoxicillin and all I did for that next week was sleep. I did not go to work. I finally felt good enough to go to work Feb 12.
But on Feb 7 my Brother-in-law died having succumbed to the cancer that had raced through his body infecting every organ in him.
We had had my Mom’s 80th birthday at his place this past July. I gave him my books which he said he would read. He then had his daughters wedding in Sept. and began to complain about a pain in his back thinking it was a Chiropractic issue. But after two treatments he was told to go to the hospital and get it checked out. That was now the end of November.
My Sister is a marathon runner and iron man racer. Her husband is there to support her for every race. He is a 24-hour mountain bike racer and my sister is there to cheer him on at each event. They are are both very fit and eat properly. And yet this cancer grabbed my brother in law and would not slow up until it finally won out on Feb 7.
On Feb 17 one day after Ralph would have turned 61 there was a memorial service for him in which were held full firemen honor guard on his behalf. There were over 600 people in attendance as many of the Fire Chief’s got up to speak and reflect on Ralph always being the first to the accident or fire. Ralph was at this time made Honorary Captain because now he could not refuse the title any longer, having turned down the promotion for years, only wanting to teach the new recruits and to be one of them in the field.
As his Fire Helmets and Captains hat were presented to his wife, my sister, and his two sons there was not a dry eye among-st the 600 watching. As Ralphs, Daughter carried his urn out through the honor guard procession and then had the urn placed on the firetruck by his comrades, for his last tour of duty again there was not a dry eye to be seen.
There was also a Baptist preacher who was the Fire Departments Chaplain and he had the difficult task of speaking to a secular audience and trying to share the truths of the Bible with them. Ralph and my sister did not attend church as far as I know. The Chaplain did a great job and I had to thank him for how he was able to do what he did. (Mind you it was typical gone to heaven sort of stuff).
After this, all the family from BC to NFLD and all points in between gathered to celebrate the life of Ralph with his Wife in typical Newfy Wake style with singing and telling of stories and laughter. All of this between the tears.
Then just like that Monday came and it is known as Family Day here in Ontario, and all the family were all gone heading back home and my Sister was now alone having the time she needed having no more tears to cry after dealing with Ralphs cancer and death and arrangements for the past 4 months.
As I watched all of this and consoled those who needed it and watched so many people who did not know how to act or what to say to those who have just lost their husband and father, I could not help but to reflect back to an article I had written in 2005 when my Nan died back in Newfoundland. It was called How Will You Be Remembered?
Ralph and my Sister were great people and they were loved by many. Ralph served his community as a volunteer fireman for 23 years. They were greatly respected by many in many circles of life.
I am sharing all of this for two reasons. First of all, to help you to understand just how out of gas I have been for the past month and so you can have a glimpse of what has been going on in my life.
UPDATED: Flags lowered to mourn sudden passing of Caledon volunteer firefighter Ralph Sugg
NEWS Feb 09, 2018 by Danielle Marr
Ralph Sugg, a longtime volunteer firefighter with the Town of Caledon, has died following a brief illness, the Enterprise has learned.
Fire Chief Darryl Bailey notified staff early Thursday evening, Feb. 8, in an email brought to the attention of the Enterprise.
“It is with great sadness that we pass along some very sad news,” he wrote.
After serving his community for more than 23 years, Sugg, a volunteer firefighter with the Mono Mills fire station passed away suddenly after a brief illness.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to Ralph’s family, friends and all members of Caledon Fire and Emergency Services,” Bailey continues.
Fellow longtime volunteer firefighter Brian Zimmerman told the Enterprise Sugg’s passing has hit the Mono Mills fire department hard. He was someone new recruits would look up to as he took them under his wing and showed them the ropes.
“Ralph was a hero,” Zimmerman wrote in a tribute on Facebook. “He was always the one to charge in, take the fires head on, and save what could be saved.”
“Ralph was often the first to enter the vehicle at a car accident. He would render first aid and console patients until the crews could get them out,” said Zimmerman. “Ralph took every task and did it to the best of his abilities, going above and beyond. Because of his efforts, many lives have been saved.”
Municipal flags at Caledon Town Hall and all municipal buildings will be flown at half-mast in honour of the passing of Sugg.
The family will receive friends at the Caledon Community Complex, 6215 Old Church Rd, Caledon East on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. A service to honour Sugg will take place at 1 p.m. Donations can be made to Bethell Hospice Foundation or the Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation.
With files by Robyn Wilkinson
Letting your Light Shine
As far as I know, my sister and Ralph never went to church and had no use for going to church. but they were very very much loved in the community. Ralph served for 23 years as a volunteer fireman running into the line of danger when others were running out. Some of the stories that Ralph told me have made him a hero to me, but……. What does Yehovah think?
We are told in
Mathew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Those who are prophesying in His name, and casting out demons and raising up great churches and having huge revival meetings and huge TV followings are going to be told ‘I never knew you’, but why?
Again Mathew 25 we are told about the 10 virgins and how 5 of them will be told ‘I never knew you’ and again I ask you why?
Mathew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
These are those who missed the appointed time by not having enough oil, and what is the oil.
Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
The object of trimming would be to secure a brighter light. It would involve the trimming of the wick and replenish the oil if needed. When the cry does arise there will be a wonderful lamp-trimming.
Mathew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
So how do we trim our wicks so that our light shines brighter? Self-examination.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us test and examine our ways,
and return to the Lord!
Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven:
“We have transgressed and rebelled,
and you have not forgiven.
1 Corinthians 11: 31-32 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Galatians 6:3-6 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
Matthew 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps
are gone out.
The RSV says, more correctly, “Our lamps are going out,” They had kept up a flickering light to this time. Their apparent piety, though it satisfied them before, was not sufficient now. They were the ones who looked perfect at the church on Sunday. But they are fighting all week long and have never cracked open the Bible other than to have it open when they are at church so as to show they are good. How many of you am I now describing?
They should have known – and been ready – No excuse!
Mathew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Mathew 13:36-44 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Mathew 10:28-33 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Mathew 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Mathew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
I love my Sister and I love my family and extended family. I have nothing but respect for all first responders. The utmost respect. But those who do the will of our Father are my Brothers and Sisters. Those who keep the commandments are the ones who are charging in when the world is running away. Those of us who obey and DO HIS WILL are the real heroes even though the world hates us right now for obeying Yehovah.
What is the Will of the Father?
John 15:9-11 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John 8:29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
John 8:55 You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
It is those who keep the Commandments. It is those who DO those commandments in everyday life and not just when you’re with the assembly or group of others. But those who obey even when no one is around.
John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.
1 John 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.
This is His will that we keep His commandments.
Where do we learn about when our Salvation is?
So where is my Brother in law today? Did he go straight to Heaven because of all the good he had done and all the lives he had saved? Where are your loved ones that have died? You will never know where they are until you begin to obey Yehovah and keep the Holy Days as commanded in Lev 23. They explain the whole plan of Salvation. Yes, you can read it all you want but it is not until you actually begin to do those Holy Days that you will begin to understand.
We are fast approaching the Passover Season. How does Passover help to explain about death and what happens at death? How does it explain the resurrection of the body?
At the beginning of His Ministry, Yehshua said the following;
John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
Moses, Joshua, David, Samuel, Noah, Shem Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and any other of the Saints you can think of, none of them had gone to heaven. Not one. They were all still dead and asleep in the earth. But Yehshua was the first one to be raised from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:20-25 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The Bible records several accounts of resurrections. Every time a person is raised from the dead, it is a stupendous miracle, showing that Yehovah who is Himself the Source of Life has the ability to give life to whom He will—even after death. The following people were raised from the dead in the Bible:
The widow of Zarephath’s son (1 Kings 17:17–24). Elijah the prophet raised the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead. Elijah was staying in an upper room of the widow’s house during a severe drought in the land. While he was there, the widow’s son became ill and died. In her grief, the woman brought the body of her son to Elijah with the assumption that his presence in her household had brought about the death of her boy as a judgment on her past sin. Elijah took the dead boy from her arms, went to the upper room, and prayed, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” (verse 21). Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times as he prayed, and “the Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (verse 22). The prophet brought the boy to his mother, who was filled with faith in the power of God through Elijah: “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (verse 24).
The Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18–37). The prophet Elisha raised the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead. Elisha regularly stayed in Shunem in an upper room prepared for him by this woman and her husband. One day, while Elisha was at Mount Carmel, the couple’s young son died. The woman carried the body of her son to Elisha’s room and laid it on the bed (verse 21). Then, without even telling her husband the news, she departed for Carmel to find Elisha (verses 22–25). When she found Elisha, she pleaded with him to come to Shunem. Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, ahead of them with instructions to lay Elisha’s staff on the boy’s face (verse 31). As soon as Elisha and the Shunammite woman arrived back home, Elisha went to the upper room, shut the door, and prayed. Then he stretched out on top of the boy’s body, and the body began to warm (verse 34). Elisha arose, walked about the room, and stretched himself out on the body again. The boy then sneezed seven times and awoke from death (verse 35). Elisha then delivered the boy, alive again, to his grateful mother (verses 36–37).
The man raised out of Elisha’s grave (2 Kings 13:20–21). Elisha is connected with another resurrection that occurred after his death. Sometime after Elisha had died and was buried, some men were burying another body in the same area. The grave diggers saw a band of Moabite raiders approaching, and, rather than risk an encounter with the Moabites, they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s grave. Scripture records that, “when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet” (verse 21).
The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11–17). This is the first of the resurrections that Jesus performed. As the Lord approached the town of Nain, He met a funeral procession leaving the city. In the coffin was a young man, the only son of a widow. When Jesus saw the procession, “his heart went out to [the woman] and he said, ‘Don’t cry’” (verse 13). Jesus came close and touched the coffin and spoke to the dead man: “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (verse 14). Obeying the divine order, “the dead man sat up and began to talk” (verse 15). And thus Jesus turned the funeral into a praise and worship service: “God has come to help his people,” the people said (verse 16).
Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52–56). Jesus also showed His power over death by raising the young daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader. The Lord was surrounded by crowds when Jairus came to Him, begging Him to visit his house and heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter (verses 41–42). Jesus began to follow Jarius home, but on the way a member of Jarius’ household approached them with the sad news that Jairus’ daughter had died. Jesus turned to Jarius with words of hope: “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (verse 50). Upon arriving at Jarius’ house, Jesus took the girl’s parents, Peter, James, and John and entered the room where the body lay. There, “he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up” (verses 54–55). Jesus and His disciples then left the resurrected girl with her astonished parents.
Lazarus of Bethany (John 11). The third person that Jesus raised from the dead was His friend Lazarus. Word had come to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, but Jesus did not go to Bethany to heal him. Instead, He told His disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (verse 4). A couple days later, Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus had died, but He promised a resurrection: “I am going there to wake him up” (verse 11). When Jesus reached Bethany, four days after Lazarus’ death, Lazarus’ grieving sisters both greeted Jesus with the same words: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verses 21 and 32). Jesus, speaking to Martha, promised to raise Lazarus from the dead (verse 23) and proclaimed Himself to be “the resurrection and the life” (verse 25). Jesus asked to see the grave. When He got to the place, He commanded the stone to be rolled away from the tomb (verse 39), and He prayed (verses 41–42) and “called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” (verse 43). Just as Jesus had promised, “the dead man came out” (verse 44). The result of this miracle was that God was glorified and “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him” (verse 45). Others, however, refused to believe in Jesus and plotted to destroy both Jesus and Lazarus (John 11:53; 12:10).
Tabitha (Acts 9:36–43). Tabitha, whose Greek name was Dorcas, was a believer who lived in the coastal city of Joppa. Her resurrection was performed by the apostle Peter. Dorcas was known for “always doing good and helping the poor” (verse 36). When she died, the believers in Joppa were filled with sadness. They laid the body in an upper room and sent for Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda (verses 37–38). Peter came at once and met with the disciples in Joppa, who showed him the clothing that Dorcas had made for the widows there (verse 39). Peter sent them all out of the room and prayed. Then “turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet” (verses 40–41). The overjoyed believers received their resurrected friend, and the news spread quickly throughout the city. “Many people believed in the Lord” as a result (verse 42).
Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12). Eutychus was a young man who lived (and died and lived again) in Troas. He was raised from the dead by the apostle Paul. The believers in Troas were gathered in an upper room to hear the apostle speak. Since Paul was leaving town the next day, he spoke late into the night. One of his audience members was Eutychus, who sat in a window and, unfortunately, fell asleep. Eutychus slipped out of the window and fell three stories to his death (verse 9). Paul went down and “threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him” (verse 10). Eutychus came back to life, went upstairs, and ate a meal with the others. When the meeting finally broke up at daylight, “the people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted” (verse 12).
Jesus (Mark 16:1–8). Of course, any list of resurrections in the Bible must include the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are the focal points of Scripture and the most important events in the history of the world. The resurrection of Jesus is different from the Bible’s other resurrections in a very notable way: Jesus’ resurrection is the first “permanent” resurrection; all the other resurrections in the Bible were “temporary” in that those raised to life died again. Lazarus died twice; Jesus rose, nevermore to die. In this way, He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
It is only when we read Lev 23 and understand the meaning and the purpose of the wave sheaf offering that we can get a glimpse of the plan of Salvation. All of those who were raised back to life as mentioned above died again.
Various saints in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50–53). The Bible mentions some resurrections that occurred en masse at the resurrection of Christ. When Jesus died, “the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open” (verses 51–52). Those open tombs remained open until the third day. At that time, “the bodies of many holy people . . . were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (verses 52–53). On the day that Jesus was raised to life, these saints were also raised and became witnesses in Jerusalem of the life that only Jesus can give.
Again we must read;
1 Corinthians 15:20-25 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Christ the firstfruits. It is not singular but plural. Christ and those saints who came into Jerusalem that Saturday evening when the barley is being prepared. The barley is then waved that Sunday morning at 9 AM and this is when Yehovah along with these Saints ascended to Heaven. This is why Yehshua told Mary not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended. That took place at 9 AM and then later He told the Apostles to touch Him and to look at His wounds.
No man had gone to heaven until this point in time. Not until Yehshua led them there.
Now we read in Revelation about the 24 Elders. Who are they but our Ancestors? Look up the word used for Elders in Rev 4:4. These 24 elders were at one time alive on this earth and had died before Yehshua came back to life. This is the meaning of the wave sheaf offering of Lev 23.
Another thing to note here as shared with us in
Ephesians 4:8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
When you or anyone dies you are as we have seen from the other scriptures above asleep. Yehshua says they were asleep. Paul says they are captives. They are captives of Satan who brought death into this world through the tree of good and evil from which Adam and Eve chose. Death is the last thing destroyed in the lake of fire.
All those who have died have fallen asleep and are being held captive by Satan. This is why they must be redeemed by Yehovah.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says Yehovah, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
“I am Yehovah, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,Isaiah 48:17-19 Thus says Yehovah,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am Yehovah your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.”
So the next wave offering is at Pentecost. Keep reading in Lev 23. This is the time when the wheat is to be raised up which is symbolized by the two loaves of bread that are waved.
1 Cor 15:50-58 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
This is the great meaning of the Feast of Pentecost. It is when all those who have ever lived since Yehshua rose from the grave and died in the faith will be raised up. Paul, Peter, James and all the rest of the apostles and Saints and then those of us who are alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. The Dead first and then us.
But this does not cover my Brother in law or your loved ones who were not in the faith. What is to happen to them?
Rev 20: 1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Those who do not and did not have the mark of the Beast on their foreheads or their hands are raised up to reign during this 7th millennium.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.
So what is the Mark of the Beast? In order to know what is the Mark of the Beast, you have to learn what is the Mark of Yehovah. Yehovah’s mark on you or His sign on you are His Sabbath. His Holy Days and His Sabbatical and Jubilee years. These are on your hand by the way you stop work and keep them Holy and the mark on your head by the way you stop and study His words. Please do go and read our full article on this.
All of those people, like my brother in law and some of you who keep Sunday as your day of rest and Christmas and Easter and any other Holy Days that are not mentioned in Lev 23 such as Purim and Chanukah are also marking yourselves with Satan’s mark. Like it or not that is the truth.
But those who do not have that mark or those who do have the mark of Yehovah will be brought back to life to live during the 7th Millennium. Those with Satan’s mark will be brought back to life at the end of the 7th Millennium for a short while and then judged.
So we have those who were brought back to life represented by the wave offering at Passover. We have those who are about to be brought back to life or those who are alive changed to spirit in the twinkling of an eye represented by Pentecost, and we have the rest of the dead or those who are asleep or held captive by Satan brought back to life for a short while at the end of the 7th Millennium and this is represented by the third chag known as the Feast of Tabernacles.
By not keeping the Feast of Lev 23 you miss out on all this understanding of the plan of salvation and end up like most Christians who just guess about the end times.
What is the Truth about Heaven and Hell?
I am going to leave you with some more homework. Here is a series of articles teaching you about Heaven and Hell. Many of you need to read this and unlearn many of the false things you have assumed to be true.
Heaven or Hell Which one you going to? Are you Sure?
#2 Continuation of Heaven and Hell.
#3 Heaven and Hell
#4 Heaven and Hell
#5 Heaven and Hell
#6 Heaven and Hell
In closing, there has been something troubling me. There is one believer whose daughter had a severe spider bite to her ankle.
She wrote me and asked me to pray for her daughter. I did and one hour later this was the same foot.
There was another lady who had cancer come back on her and she asked me to anoint her. I did and then prayed for her and today she is still cancer free. That was 4 and 1/2 years ago. I was only an instrument Yehovah used to both have those people ask and for me to pray for them so that He could work His miracles on them. On those who obeyed Him.
The difference was that those who asked had faith as mentioned in James 5:13-18 and they were trying to obey Yehovah.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
I love my family but they never asked for prayer. They never sought Yehovah to heal them. They never thought to consider to turn from their present path and begin to follow Him. And then Proverbs comes to mind and it is so sad to see in real life the words of our Father coming true. Some during this funeral service talked to me briefly about some things but they never allowed Yehovah to be a part of their lives. My question for you is this. Is Yehovah part of your life or is just another religion your trying for this month?
Proverbs 1:20-33 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Thank you for sharing about this time of trial, Joseph, and reminding us of our first duty.
My condolences to you for your family. r
I pray you recover fully from your illness and regain your strength.
Greetings Joe,
WHAT EPHESIANS 4:8-9 TRULY MEANS
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended FIRST into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Paul’s OT quote this time is from Ps 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity (sheb-ee’) captive (shabah): thou hast received gifts for men;
#7628 sheb-ee’ , KJV-captivity 35, captive 10, prisoners 2, taken away 1, taken 1; 49. Definition: captivity, captives
#7617 shabah, KJV-(carry, take away,…) captive 37, (take, drive,…) away 8, take 2; 47 Definition: to take captive, to lead captive.
To take captive prisoners, these words are used in the following verses in that very context: Nu 21:1, De 21:10, Jud 5:12, 2Ch 6:37, 2Ch 6:38, 2Ch 28:17.
“Led captivity captive” means to take away the conquered captive as we can see in other verses such as 1Ki 8:48, Lu 21:24, Ro 7:23. Paul is here quoting Ps 68:18, and if anything it could very well mean that Yahshua led captive the forces of evil (Jn 12:31, Col 2:15, Heb 2:14, 1Jn 3:8) not led captive the OT saints into heaven.
Col 2:15 Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
1Pe 3:18 (Messiah) Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached (not the gospel) unto the spirits in prison; 21 …an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
Jude 1:6 The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Mt 8:29 And behold, they (2 demons) cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
It was only after his resurrection that he could have possibly descended into the grave to “Led captivity captive,” because, after all, he was dead for 72 hours. Paul is writing this long after Yahshua had ascended into heaven (Act 2:9). Paul, in explaining Ps 68:18 wrote, “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended FIRST,” during the forty days between the resurrection and his ascension.
Yahshua went into the earth to preach to fallen angels, demons and the forces of darkness, not into purgatory or hell to release the saints.
1Pe 3:18 (Messiah) being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah.
When was Yahshua “made alive by the Spirit”?
Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you.
Ro 1:4 Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
He was made alive of course at his resurrection.
Ac 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
And Yahshua “has received gifts for men” (Ps 68:18) which was the gifts of the Holy Spirit which he gives to men.
Mt 27:51-53 The earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
It says there bodies arose, like Lazarus, out of the graves opened by the earthquake. There is no indication these saints were resurrected with a glorified body and it says they went into the city, not to heaven with Yahshua.
Paul details the order and states Messiah is the firstfruits and the rest of the firstfruits will be “at his coming.”
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming.
He also deals with this in 1Th 4:14.
By the way “firstfruits” is not plural but singular and does not mean saints were included in Yahshua’s ascension to heaven.
Ro 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the FIRSTFRUIT of Achaia to Christ.
1Co 15:20 But now Messiah is risen from the dead, and has become the FIRSTFRUIT of those who have fallen asleep.
David Smith
The sobering truth is that the Word of Yehoveh does not change. Sometimes we want to change it to suit ourselves. Not possible.
May Yeshua strengthen you mightily in the days ahead.
May the joy of YHVH be your strength as you recover from your illness.
Am deeply sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. My condolences to you and your family.
We are the ones who change never the Word of YHVH.
Blessings to you and yours.
Brother, I am praising YHWH for sustaining you and raising you up from such an illness. I’m very sorry for the loss in your wife’s family. May the remaining ones hear The Voice of Yehovah and t’shuvah. I am amazed at the people, Hebrew roots\messianic especially, that deny a literal hell. Yeshua speaks of it all through scripture. Thank you for bringing so many to light. And, thank you for all you do. YHWH bless you and keep you. Shalom alechem.
You more than made up for a missing publication with this letter Joseph, and a wonderful one it was. Thank you! God bless you.
Victoria Bingham
Wow what a time you have had!
Your words were missed last week , I suspected that something must be up to have not written.
This morning as I woke up and my thoughts were on exactly this topic and the question of what happens to the unbeliever who is a good person.
We had a death of a friend and at the memorial I heard family members telling the now mom-less little girl that her mommy was in heaven watching over her. And everything within in me cringed…. it is not true
Number one cause the dead aren’t in heaven
Number two because she was not a believer and has been addicted to drugs and had committed suicide.
The rosy picture we try to create I think does far more harm in the long run than the hard truth.
It is so frustrating to have people around me who refuse to listen and like you with your family, you love them so much but they just won’t listen.
We have created this fluffy false religion that makes us think everyone and their dog is on a cloud with a harp
Thank you Joseph.
You were missed. We were concerned especially after writing about the farmers in South Africa which is truth.
Condolences to the family. May Yahweh open up our understanding when faced with family.
Will you be so kind as to expand on the “rapture”. Blessings. And a speedy and complete recovery.
We are born to die… get over it!
As a person of 81-years, I’ve seen and experienced lots of death in my life. So much so, that I can truly say that I’m a surviver of the majority of my contemporaries… the vast majority of those that I grew up with, went to school with, etc…etc… are dead now. Yes, this sickly premature-born-child with complications of double pneumonia from acute diphtherial infection (which is rare in developed countries now because of immunization against Corynebacterium diphtheriae) which left me physically disabled for the first 12-years of my life, and color-blind to this day…. yet long living enough to experience so much long suffering through so many obituaries, memorial services with long winded “you better GET saved” sermon-type-eulogies admonishing the gathered and bereaved to total noisome sobbing in fear for their own existence and immortality…. Yes you’ve really Got to GET saved in order to GET salvation, in order to continue GETTING for ever and ever more, amen.
THE FEAR OF DEATH, or ceasing to exist, is the first and prime motivation of all religious (church) teachings.
Me hizo falta su publicación semanal pensé que mi tablets no recibía su enseñanza pero que gran alegría en todo mi ser cuando hoy sábado 24. busco la tablet y comienzo a leer su enseñanza . El Eterno les guarde y le bendiga y le de mucha salud. Anita de Puerto Rico
This is what Anita wrote once it is translated.
I needed his weekly publication I thought that my tablets did not receive his teaching but that great joy in my whole being when Saturday, 24. I look for the tablet and start reading his teaching. The Eternal guard you and bless you and give you great health. Anita from Puerto Rico
From my articles, you will know I do not agree with David Smiths comments above. He does not believe anyone ascended with Yehshua on wave sheaf day.
And thank you to all who took the time to write.
As to Harvard H Newberry, it would be awesome to say we gain wisdom with age. But not all people do. We were never created just to die. Yehovah never created death. Satan brought death into the equation once Adam and Eve chose the tree of Knowledge of Good and evil instead of choosing the Tree of Life which was what Yehovah was offering. Death is a by-product of sin.
Secondly, you do not get saved to get salvation. Not one of us got anything of on our own. But everyone who believes is one who was chosen by Yehovah. John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
So none of us went out and chose one day to go and get saved. But each one of was called by Yehovah and through that calling turned and began to obey Him.
While the world tries to GET SAVED we who answer the calling choose to obey. And that is a major difference.
Shalom brother, I am new to your ministry and I have been watching and learning a lot from your videos.. so much to take in for the past month.. been a lot notes and praying asking Yah to help understand and learn all I can.. I have been learning some ancient hebrew and learning how to study and break down the word meanings with ancient Hebrew words and letters, but when I came across you teaching videos it was like wow I have been missing out on a lot.. I have been learning about Lev 23.. I gonna to do all I can with the little knowledge I have in keeping the feast.. I have no one else to do these feast with here where I live so I am going to do the best I can with no experience at it.. O please teach me Yah.. when you talk about wave offering, are to have actual barely? I don’t know even how to get barely here..help me understand more.. I am married of 43 years and even though my spouse is not where I am and neither is any of my other family members..so I’m alone in my Torah walk do the best I can.. I have been keeping the 7 th Shabbat .. Please I’m asking for prayer as I move forward alone in my walk keeping these feast, for I’m a newbie beginning now..so help to understand..Are in the year 5853 as I want to keep the calendar I downloaded off your website.. and when is date it change to the next year..I know it around Passover but I don’t know details, still learning.. Thank you so much for your ministry and to the new insight of Sabbatical/Jubilee Cycles I’m learning.. All help is welcomed.. and Praise be unto Yahshua..and thanks for your newsletters, I still got a lot to read..Shelby Edwards from Va Beach Va
Shalom brother Joseph, I first off thank you for your ministry, I have so much learning to do. I am new here and I have been spending time watching your videos and taking lots of notes on the Sabbatical/Jubilee Cycles and purchased your books too..So much to take in but the more I watch the more I understand.. Im on my second round of watching them this far.. And any help I can get from anyone to help me the process is very welcomed.. This will be my first year in keeping the feast so I will do the best I can with the knowledge I’ve learned.. again other help would be very appreciated along the process.. My spouse and I have been married for 43 years but seem to care about changing and learning more as I do.. so nobody else in my family is walking the Torah Walk but me.. I can’t find anyone here to celebrate the feast with so I will do the best I can with the knowledge I learned..I have a question when it co es to the sheave wave offering , how can I do it if there is no barely around here.. please help me understand more.. also from what understand we are in the year 5853, when does the year change, I know it’s around Passover that’s all I know.. and then the dates of the other feast I’m not clear on either.. please help understand.. My condolences to you and your family in the loss of your brother inlaw. Praise Yah for the recovery of your illness..Thank you for everything and may you have restful Shalom..
Oops mistake where I mentioned my spouse he care nothing about my Torah Walk
I too pray for your health, Mr. Dumond. I pray that Yehovah will heal you, for you truly do a good work to so many.
The real secret of sighted moon’s magic is that the bible is made of words, and that if you know the words that the bible is made of, then you can make of it whatever you wish, like so many have before.
R.I.P.
Shalom Joe glad to hear you are out of bed and back plowing.
Pretty amazing that the website replies has those who are so negative. I always find it a bit lame & unhelpful when a person is prepared to say the bible is twisted by men to say anything that a man wants it to say but give no indications or helpful meaningful instances specifically that can be investigated and generalise nothingness in their warning or criticism.
Open discussion about the Scriptures Harvard J Newberry is necessary and demanded of us to divide the word of truth accurately.
And for me, in contrast to the incomplete wisdom of your statement if you actually continually work to correctly discern what the words of the bible intended MEANING is, you have a good chance of coming into the understanding of the will of the Father more completely and then can choose to be obedient or not.
It is process and growth, that comes from diligence. That is not magic …that is prayer and heart felt desire and opening up many sources to check if your interpretations apprehend ancient usage alongside what the Spirit of Truth is revealing to you in the immediate present or future. I do hope this makes sense if your read it Harvard. Please continue to grow and seek & do the will of the Father. Shalom FJ
The millions and millions of people that were saved by grace through faith, without keeping the Shabbat are not in Heaven according to your intro about Billy Graham and Theresa! My background is Dutch protestant their dogmas became a lot like yours later on. The preacher that would make the gate to heaven the smallest and the path the narrowest must be the most truth full. God rather doesn’t have you in Heaven after all! I think you are great on the Hebrew calendar and other areas, however, you are with all due respect very much a greek systematic thinker! if you don’t make the perfect puzzle…you are out!!!
For folks that read these newsletters and think that truths like these raise the bar just too high, remember that our Heavenly Father is merciful. Even the disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25, Luke 18:26). With God all things are possible. Keep on doing your best to understand and follow His word.
In association with the last part of this post, I have another miracle to report. My son was diagnosed several weeks back with a blood disorder after having some blood labs taken. After much prayer while waiting to get him to see a specialist, the specialist did another blood draw and performed the blood labs again. The specialist doctor called us personally after a couple days to let us know that there was not a problem at all with my son’s blood — that my son is perfectly healthy. (He spent a lot of time trying to explain how the first blood labs must have been some kind of crazy lab error and such… he was having a hard time explaining this one).
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Scripture also says that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
What this website is trying to teach you is much more than just the calendar. It’s about pursuing righteousness. Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. (Psalm 58:11)
Wow based on the “wisdom” of some remarks above , it not shocking why many are NOT going to be in the 1st resurrection . For his church is a “SMALL flock”. ….Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.
They are so negative and still also have so much old tradition within their explanations , its very obvious. Some say that the bible’s words can be twisted to mean anything … YES to those who do not have a KNOWLEDGE of the real TRUTH for “my people perish for lack of Knowledge” of scripture.
Some say there IS a hell … yes there is, its called Gehena (the popular dump site in Jerusalem) which is also known as the GRAVE.
So yes we go to the grave not an everburning punishing “hell” . These who contradict what YOU have proven Joseph , NEED to read again and go over your exegetic study of this subject BEFORE commenting on what they “believe” .
I run into so many who have that attitude that ” that’s not what it means to me ” . WOW they really do not get it when they say these things.
WAKE up people its NOT about YOU!
Re small flock making it into Heaven, I share an observation: I work (now semiretired) in the marble & stone fabrication installation industry. One of the things I noticed, a long time ago (like 20 years) is that only the very top layer of the marble will be seen. The rest of the marble under the very top layer is not seen, but still is there. This kind of reminds me that only a few will get into Heaven. In summary, the 1% of mega wealthiest of the world are living a heaven on Earth, as the Earth orbits & spins in Heaven.