Chapter 6

Shabuwa'

Seven Sevens

The Answer is Seven...

The fourth Called-Out Assembly is known by many names: the Feast of Weeks, of Sevens, of Sabbaths, of Fifty, of Pentecost, of Shabuwa’, of Chamisym, and as Shavuot. It is the only Miqra’ which stands alone, apart from God’s pattern of three Spring and three Fall Festivals. It is observed seven weeks after FirstFruits, causing it to be celebrated in the early summer.

As has been our pattern, we will contemplate how Yahweh defined this Miqra’ and then investigate how it was fulfilled in the Spiritual birth of the ecumenical out-calling which would include Gowym in addition to Yahuwdym. Along the way, we will discover why this is the only Feast Christians acknowledge, and why it is the one most Jews barely recognize. We will also consider the reasons behind Yahweh’s choice of titles-Sevens.

Opening the books transcribed by Moseh to the heart of the Torah-to Leviticus-we pick up the reading immediately after the presentation of the FirstFruits wave offering with Yahweh saying: "Accurately count (saphar - reckon, record, relate, rehearse, and regale) from the day after (mahorath - the next day following) the Shabat (shabat - the day of rest and reflection), from (min) the day (yowm) you came forth and bore (bow’ - arrived with and included) the sheaf of grain (‘omer - bundle of grain prepared for processing and transport) as an ascending wave offering (tanuwpah - a gift of fruit which is lifted up, from nuwph, to elevate and move something which is sprinkled and anointed to and fro), a total (hayah - the existence) of seven (sheba’ - a sworn oath) complete (tamym - full, right, true, and perfect) Sabbaths (shabath - weeks)." (Leviticus 23:15)

The timing was important, as it is throughout Scripture, which is why I am dismayed by Christians who dismiss the vociferous detailed accounting concerning God’s prophetic timeline with a flippant, thoughtless, out of context, and poorly translated "no one knows the hour." God said accurately count seven Sabbaths from the day after the special Sabbath of Unleavened Bread, and from the wave offering on the Called-Out Assembly of FirstFruits. Not any day would do. We aren’t authorized to change God’s Feast to another of our own liking. Yahweh has established a specific date, and it is based upon a very well defined, repetitive pattern. Even if He doesn’t expect much from us, there is always a reason for His precision.

Seven Sabbaths from the day after the special Sabbath of Unleavened Bread represents fifty days. This annual pattern of seven sevens plus one is repeated in Yahweh’s presentation of the redemptive year of the lamb, called a "Yowbel" by God, but known as a "Jubilee." Every fifty years, according to Yahweh’s Yowbel instructions, all debts are to be forgiven and all slaves are to be freed. It’s not a coincidence in purpose or timing-it’s further evidence of Yah’s plan.

As we shall soon discover, Seven Sevens exists to emphasize all of the truths inherent in the Sabbath-which is why the word appears twice in the opening stanza. The essence of the Shabat message is that six days of ordinary human labor lead to a single day of reflective and restful relationship with God. The formula demonstrates that we are unable to earn the opportunity to live with our Heavenly Father. Also, the ever-present pattern of man, symbolized by six, in addition to God, who is one, equaling seven, is symbolic of Scriptural perfection. God’s design is for us to be with Him. As such, these thoughts not only serve as the foundation of Yahweh’s revelation to mankind, this Miqra’ was actually named Shabuwa’-Seven Sabbaths-after His redemptive and prophetic pattern.

Along these lines, Shabuwa’ also provides a perspective from which to view the stage upon which the most significant fulfillments of the seven Called-Out Assemblies have and will occur. Seven sevens plus one is central to God’s provision, His plan and timing. Everything pertinent to our salvation not only occurs in Yowbel years (defined as increments of seven sevens plus one), but specifically on intervals of forty (the Scriptural number for the completion of a time of testing) Yowbel (i.e., every 2,000 years).

For example, forty Yowbel after Adam’s fall in 3968 BCE, which was 1968 BCE, Abraham established the Covenant with Yahweh on Mount Mowriyah, foreshadowing what would occur on Passover in the exact same location forty Yowbel later with Yahshua serving as the Sacrificial Lamb in the Yowbel of 33CE. Moving forward, exactly forty Yowbel from that date is the last Redemptive Year remaining within the lifetimes of those who witnessed Israel’s prophetic rebirth as a nation. So if God is consistent, it would be reasonable to conclude that the fulfillment of the last two Miqra’ey, those of Reconciliations and Shelters, will occur in 2033-year 6,000 on the Creator’s calendar. This timing reflects the conclusion of six days (read millennia) of man’s toil outside of the Garden followed by a seventh day of rest and relationship with God known as the Millennial Sabbath, where the entire Earth will be like Eden. As such, one of the primary purposes of Seven Sevens is to remind us each year that Yahweh has given us the keys with which the pattern underlying His prophetic plan may be unlocked.

More than anything, the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’ heralds the birth announcement of the Renewed Covenant. "Always and forever (‘ad - eternally and into perpetuity), you shall accurately count, reckon, record, relate, rehearse, and regale (saphar) the Day of Fifty (yowm chamisym - the Feast of Chamisym), starting from (min) the next day after (mahorath) the seventh (shabiyiy) Shabat (shabat - week), and you shall come near and approach (qarab) Yahuweh’s renewed and restored (hadas) gift (minhah - offering given freely as a present without compensation)." (Leviticus 23:16) Yahuweh is speaking of the renewal of His Covenant, of His restoring gift for all mankind. He is asking us to approach Him by way of the path He has laid out through Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits. We do this by coming so close to God that we become enveloped in the Set-Apart Spirit of Shabuwa’.

By stating that this Feast is "Yahuweh’s renewed gift," God is connecting the elements which comprise His story for us. He is linking the Miqra’ey with the Ekklesia, the Old Covenant with the Renewed Covenant, Yahuweh with Yahushua, and the Torah with Grace. He has obliterated the myth that there is a distinction, a difference between His prescriptions for living in the Torah and grace-based salvation. Yahushua came to fulfill the Scriptures, because they provide the path to paradise. And that is perhaps why, in this context of a "renewed gift," God referred to the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths by its Renewed Covenant name, yowm chamisym, which is synonymous with hemera Pentekoste - "the Day of Fifty."

Later in Deuteronomy, Moses will tell us that the Miqra’ of Chamisym, the Called-Out Assembly of Fifty, is to be all-inclusive: men and women, young and old, wealthy and poor, slave and free, Gowym and Yahuwdym. That foreknowledge is required to understand this text-especially in conjunction with the approach of Yahweh’s restoring and renewing gift as it is reflected in the Renewed Covenant Writings.

More telling still, the Greek word which consistently underlies man’s errant choice of "church" in the Renewed Covenant is actually ekklesia-meaning "called out," or "called-out assembly." Therefore, ekklesia is synonymous with the miqra’ey. The words are as similar as different languages allow. There is a direct connection and a purposefully designed association, a causal link if you will, between Yahuweh’s Miqra’ey/Called-Out Assemblies and His Ekklesia/Called-Out Assembly. One leads to the other.

But as a result of men changing God’s Word, not one Christian in a million is aware of this connection, of this association, of this path to a relationship with Yah. So, that begs the question: why did men who claimed to be serving God and to be trustworthy, alter and blur Yahweh’s message, and in so doing create a politicized and powerful institution based upon their corruption-their counterfeit? What is it that causes the founders of religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism to claim God’s authority and then to contradict God?

The answer is obvious. Those who support the religious establishment are coddled by it. Those who expose and condemn it, those who threaten it by revealing the truth, are crucified by it-slandered and often tortured. And while understanding the religious, political, and economic motivations for such corruptions, and assessing blame, is considerably less important than knowing how humankind was duped, with such information, we can effectively expose and condemn the behavior which has deceived so many while at the same time, shine a light on the path home.

The message is: nothing is more important than understanding what Yahweh actually said. With this information, we can correct the record and free souls from religious schemes. And toward that end, the linguistic basis for the corrupt human replacement which lies at the very heart of Christendom, "church," should have either been translated "called-out assembly," conveying the proper meaning of the word, or should have been transliterated "miqra’," appropriately conveying the title upon which the Called-Out Assembly is based. The best thing that can be said for "Church" is that it has no Scriptural basis or meaning, and that it is wrong. At worst, it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon root circe (pronounced with the hard "ch" sound, rendering "chirch." Circe was the daughter of Helios-a pagan sun goddess. From her name, we get the English words: circle, circuit, and circus, in addition of course, to church.

Being ignorant of the essential connection between Yahuweh’s seven Miqra’ey and the Renewed Covenant’s Ekklesia, or Called-Out Assembly (as a result of man’s careless and errant translations) comes at a tremendous price-one which hides the true nature of God’s restoring and renewing gift. Yahweh provided a plan, a seven-step path to Him, which remains virtually unknown to the vast preponderance of Christians. And if they don’t know Yah’s Way, they are on the wrong path.

So, why would any informed, rational person trust something which changes, even contradicts, the plan meticulously laid out in the very Scriptures the religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism claim provide their legitimacy and authority? And when someone points out that it is rationally impossible for a religion to be trustworthy if it changes and contradicts its own Scriptures, why do they continue to believe in that which is irrefutably false?

It really is that simple, that logical, that cut and dry. Religions which alter and contradict in any material way the Scriptures upon which they derive their authority, words which they claim were inspired, is a farce. This would include Judaism, Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical varieties), Islam, and Mormonism. It doesn’t matter whether Yahweh’s Word was actually inspired by God or not. Because, if the Torah, Prophets, Psalms, and Renewed Covenant Writings weren’t inspired, the divine basis of the authority these religions claim vanishes as does their credibility as they protested otherwise. And if Yah’s testimony is true, each of these religions is false because they all change, conceal, corrupt, and counterfeit what God’s Scriptures reveal. This is why it is impossible to be an informed and rational practitioner of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Mormonism. No amount of rationalization, justification, excuses, explanations, opinions, or feelings changes this reality-nor does tradition, longevity, popularity, or political correctness. It’s simple logic.

So that you are not ignorant of the evidence, nor irrational in your conclusions, understand that "God did not create His church." God doesn’t have or want a church. Such is man’s invention. Yahweh established a Covenant on the basis of His relationship with Abraham. This Covenant was codified in discussions with Moses and it was lived out in the lives of the Yahuwdym as they were freed from bondage and human oppression. It was fulfilled in the words and deeds of Yahshua. The Miqra’ey represent that plan. "Upon this rock [of recognition God said], I shall build My Miqra’ey-My Called-Out Assembly."

There aren’t two covenants, just one. Grace didn’t replace the Law, but instead God’s renewing gift is a product of the Torah. The seven Miqra’ey aren’t "Jewish holidays," but instead the embodiment of Yahweh’s plan of salvation. The "Church" didn’t replace "Jews" as God’s chosen people. The message of the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths is that choosing to be born anew by way of our Spiritual Mother leads to our adoption as our Heavenly Father’s Children, as Yahuwdym (meaning related to Yah). This is Yahweh’s plan-His restoring and renewing gift. It is the reason for the Miqra’ey and its resulting Ekklesia-God’s Called-Out Assembly.

Being a model of diversity, the ekklesia would be comprised of all races, genders, and classes of people. Therefore, since the Yahuwdym were ultimately providing the Bread of Life, the Messiyah (meaning the Anointed Implement of Yah), they were symbolically being asked to bring a loaf for the Gowym, too. "You all (‘athim) shall come bringing (bow’) out of (min) your homes (mowshab - your dwelling places where you live, your houses and households, and your assemblies) two (senaym) loaves of bread (lechem) as an ascending wave offering (tanuwpah), a double portion (senaym senaym) as a tithe (‘isarown)." (Leviticus 23:17) Please notice that the "tithe" is food which is eaten by all. It’s not money. Paying pastors and priests is a human invention-as is a monetary tithe.

This grain offering was unlike that of the Miqra’ of Matsah, where sin, represented by the yeast fungus, was excluded. This time, the flour was to be corrupted because the ekklesia, like the Feast of Seven Sabbaths, is a come-as-you-are party. Yahweh’s gift, His Renewed Covenant, is the acknowledgement and removal of our sin. "They shall exist as (hayah) stripped flour (‘slet - fine ground grain with the hulls removed), baked (‘apah) with yeast (hames - soured, fermented, oppressed, grieved, cruel, ruthless, embittered, and puffed up by a leavening fungus), a FirstFruits (Bikuwrym - an initial harvest which is gathered in; from bakar, of firstborn children with privileged inheritances) unto (la - according to and on behalf of) Yahuweh." (Leviticus 23:17)

Our Heavenly Father is in the business of harvesting flawed souls-but not before He purifies them. His FirstFruits are people who are gathered unto Him after they have been born anew, cleansed by the Set-Apart Spirit. The resulting gift is a privileged inheritance. We become God’s sons and daughters-gaining access to all that is His.

As an interesting aside, Yahweh has an affinity for flawed people. Abraham, Moses, and David did and said many undesirable things. But yet, they serve as models for us; not by their actions, but instead by how Yah was able to work with them. They knew Yahweh, loved their Heavenly Father, and they relied upon Him. And that was enough, because God did all the rest.

Since the souls invited to this party would be corrupted by sin, since the bread they were instructed to bring was soured and fermented by the yeast fungus, they would require the atoning blood of a perfect lamb. "In addition to (‘al - above and beyond) the loaves of bread (lechem), come near and approach with (qarab - bring and draw nigh with) seven (sheba’) one-year-old (sanah) lamb (kebes) sons (ben), entirely without defect or blemish (tamym - complete and sound, unimpaired and innocent, blameless and perfect)..." (Leviticus 23:18) In addition to emphasizing the importance of the number itself, seven perfect lambs represent the seven Miqra’ey, the seven steps in Yahweh’s plan of salvation. It’s the formula by which flawed souls come to have a relationship with God. It is the title Yah selected for this appointment.

As we dive further into this passage, the first intriguing word is qarab, translated "come near and approach." It means "to draw near, coming into the presence of a judge in response to a summons." It conveys the idea of "entering into the midst of something-becoming part of it or them." And yet, some Hebrew dictionaries, in an effort to support existing translations and religious rituals, suggest without regard to the word’s etymology, that qarab (or qareb) could convey "present an offering." But, there is no suggestion of "presenting anything" or "making an offering" in the word or in any of its roots. Therefore, this unsupported "definition" is most likely the result of rabbis not understanding God’s instructions, and of Christian publishers being more comfortable conforming to previous religious interpretations than being accurate. After all, the basis of marketing is: familiarity sells.

As added evidence for this conclusion, there are many Hebrew words for "make," none of which are remotely related to qarab. The primary Hebrew term for "present," especially in the sense of making an offering or providing a gift, is minchah. And since minchah is also the most commonly used Hebrew word for "offering," it’s the term Yahweh would have chosen in this context if He wanted to convey "present an offering" rather than "qarab-draw near and approach." And if God wanted to convey the notion of a "sacrificial offering," He would have used tanuwpah or terumah, not qarab.

We will be confronted with qarab again. The next time will be with regard to "appearing before and approaching the adoptive mother who enlightens and elevates unto Yahuweh" in the Leviticus 23:27 presentation of Yowm Kippurym, the Day of Reconciliations. There, we will once again seek to understand why a word which clearly means "to come near, approach, and enter the presence of someone" was altered to convey: "present an offering." Because in that context, responding appropriately is a life or death decision.

Returning to this passage, qarab tells us that we were asked to approach Yahweh with seven perfect lambs. While there is but one prefect Lamb of God, there are seven steps which we must take with Him if we want to come into Yah’s presence: Pesach, Matsah, Bikuwrym, Shabuwa’, Taruw’ah, Kippurym, and Sukah. We do this by relying upon what Yahshua has and will do for us on these seven days, and by accepting the Set-Apart Spirit in conjunction with them. Both manifestations of God work together to save our flawed souls, one paying the ransom needed for redemption, the other adorning us in a Garment of Light, which purifies our imperfections, making us appear perfect in Yah’s eyes. These concepts are essential to our admission into heaven.

The reason Yahweh gave us our nesamah, or conscience, is that He wants us to be discerning. We must use this unique human capacity to reason if we want to fully appreciate the message He is conveying in this verse. I say that because there is no such thing as an animal "without defect or blemish." And it’s senseless to call an animal "innocent, blameless, or perfect." Also, the Yisra’elites didn’t use "ben/son" to describe the offspring of livestock, because it was unnecessary to denote masculinity with nouns like kebes, which already convey gender. So by using "son" and "perfection," Yahuweh was painting a prophetic picture of the Messiyah, and of the role He would play in the redemption of humankind.

Additional insights regarding the Messiyah can be derived from the next word, tamym. It is a derivative of tamam, a term which conveys one of the ways the Old Covenant was renewed. Yahshua, as the Lamb of God, "put an end to" the need for animal sacrifices for the atonement of sin (at least prior their reenactment during the Millennial Sabbath). By "fulfilling" the Miqra’ey requirements "perfectly," and by "completing" His redemptive mission, by "finishing the job," God "accomplished all that was necessary" to make us "whole, complete, and upright"-forever. The Miqra’ey sacrifices point toward Yahshua’s sacrifice. They served as a "record," as a "rehearsal," designed to "regale" the seven most-important dates in mankind’s redemptive history.

And speaking of perfection, Yahweh required seven lambs to remind this corrupted ecumenical gathering of Yahuwdym and Gowym, men and women, young and old, that seven is the number of perfection. Only those who are perfected by the Son and the Spirit can party in the Creator’s presence. To fully appreciate Yahweh’s plan we must come to understand the prevalence and pertinence of seven.

Returning to the menu for the Feast of Seven Sevens, we have two polluted loaves and seven perfect lambs. But there is more..."...and (wa) one (‘echad) bull (par - male cow from parar, that which is broken and frustrated, divided, split apart, violated, and ineffectual), a son (ben) from the herd to reflect upon (baqar - to consider along with the offspring of cattle), and two (senaym) rams representing the upright pillar and doorway (‘ayil - the Mighty One who leads by way of the door posts and the tree)..." (Leviticus 23:18)

Bull, or par, is derived from a word which describes fallen man apart from God. It conveys the idea that without the benefit of "Yahweh having laid upon the Lamb the iniquity of us all" we are "broken, split apart, and divided" from Him. Having "violated" the Torah, our feeble attempts to save ourselves are "ineffectual."

Secondarily, the bull and the sun are Satan’s most enduring symbols. So while baqar can mean "cattle, heard, or oxen," the same three Hebrew consonants vocalized boqer mean "daybreak and rising sun." Satan’s name, Halal ben Shachar, means the "Arrogant Son of the Morning or Rising Star." Along those lines, baqaq conveys "empty and void, laid waste, and devastated." And that may be why Yahweh wants us to baqar, "to consider and reflect upon," our condition as a consequence of having confused His instructions with the devil’s counterfeits in the religions of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Mormonism, and Islam. Even Secular Humanism, with its celebration of the sun, its renewable energy, and devotion to mother earth in the form of environmentalism, is giving the more overt religions competition when it comes to false worship.

‘Ayil, the word translated "rams representing the upright pillar," is the opposite of baqar. Its every nuance is Messianic. ‘Ayil is the "Ram" whose "horns of light" served as the sacrificial replacement for Isaac on Mount Mowriyah. ‘Ayil is the "Lamb" who was sacrificed to bear our sins during Passover. ‘Ayil is "the Upright Pillar" representing Yahweh’s presence with the Children of Israel during the Exodus. ‘Ayil is the "Mighty One" who became a man to save men at the end of the fourth millennium. ‘Ayil is the Good Shepherd, "the leader of the flock," the one who shepherds His sheep to the Promised Land. ‘Ayil is "the tree, the upright pillar of wood" upon which our Savior was nailed. ‘Ayil represents the "door posts and lintel" upon which the blood of the lamb was smeared during the Exodus Passover. And ‘ayil is "the doorway" to our hearts and to heaven, by which Yahshua stands and knocks, hoping that we will respond.

And while there is only one God, the Savior and Spirit were both set-apart from Yahweh to serve and save man. That is why "two" ‘ayil were required. More on this in a moment...

So far, so good, but our Heavenly Father wasn’t finished. Still describing the ‘ayil, He spoke of it: "...existing as (hayah) an ascending way (‘olah - an elevated ramp and offering by whose steps one can rise) to (la) Yahuweh, which is offered as a gift (minhah - a sacrificial present, an apportionment bestowed, an offering given without compensation), an anointing poured out (necek / nacak - a drink offered and served) as our adoptive mother who enlightens, purifies, and elevates (‘iseh/‘isah) unto (la - toward, into, on behalf of, according to, and in relation to) Yahuweh, creating the pleasing Spirit (ruyach - forming a pleasant aroma; from ruwach, the Spirit) of reconciliation (nyhohoch - of restoration and relationship, of appeasement and conciliation, of tranquility and harmonious fellowship, from nuwach, to rest in peace)." (Leviticus 23:18)

If you harbored any doubts that this Called-Out Assembly was descriptive of the gift of life upon which the Renewed Covenant was based, or that it encapsulates the concept of grace-based salvation, those concerns should have evaporated. Contrary to theological explanations, the Torah doesn’t portray a legalized, works-based path to God. Grace-based salvation, and being born anew, lie at the heart of the Miqra’ey, which in turn form the heart of the Torah.

Digging ever deeper, we find that the primary meaning of nyhohoch, is "an appeasement which brings reconciliation and peace between the parties engaged in a relationship." Nyhohoch is from nuwach, meaning "that which brings rest and allows someone to settle and remain." This "resting place," this "place of tranquility," is heaven. And our arrival is predicated upon forming a relationship with the "ruyach-the pleasing Spirit" of Yahweh.

The Hebrew word ‘iseh /‘isah, depending upon how the letters are vocalized, was translated "adoptive mother who enlightens, purifies, and elevates," because it means: "woman, wife, female, adoptive mother, and fire." As we will discover in the "Taruw’ah" chapter, and again in "Yowm Kippurym," ‘iseh is almost always translated "burnt offering" or "an offering made by fire," because it is indistinguishable in the text from the feminine noun for fire, ‘eseh. However, there is no reference to "offering" or "made" in the word’s etymology. These meanings and roots acknowledged, neither "feminine fire" nor "woman and wife," make sense as the primary definition within the context of this passage-or the others.

Throughout Scripture, however, ‘eseh /fire is used as a metaphor for judgment, for burning off impurities and thus for purification, for the separation of good from bad, for light and enlightenment, for warmth and comfort, and often as something which elevates and uplifts-a reference to the primary direction a fire’s smoke and energy travel. And yet while these are all important salvation-related concepts, based upon the three Hebrew letters found in the text, the word Yahweh selected could just as easily have been ‘isah, meaning "female individual, wife, woman, and non-biological adoptive mother."

In that their consonant compositions are identical, there is no way to distinguish between ‘eseh,‘iseh, or ‘isah (אִשֶּׁה Alef-Shin-He) in Yah’s revelation. Rabbis, called Masoretes, wouldn’t point and vocalize this text for more than 1,000 years after it was originally transcribed, and our oldest extant copy of such vocalizations, called the Masoretic Text, dates to the 11^th century CE. And sadly, the more I study the Word, the less I trust their opinions.

In this particular verse, the more traditional portrayal of ‘iseh as "a burnt offering," or the more linguistically accurate and demonstrative connotation "an offering which separates and rises" are permissible, albeit they are not ideal choices in that the passage concludes with "the pleasing Spirit of reconciliation." That aside, since there is no reference to "making an offering" in the Hebrew word itself, and since we will soon discover that the definition "burnt offering" becomes senseless in the presentation of the Miqra’ of Yowm Kippurym (also derived from this very section of Leviticus), we are compelled to consider other options. After all, it is God’s custom, when there are many potential renderings of a term, that multiple meanings are in fact intended, widening and deepening the instruction being offered.

Upon studying every nuance of the consonant root, it becomes evident that the rendering of ‘eseh,‘iseh, ‘isah, which encapsulates every potential aspect of these Hebrew terms, and which consistently works within the context of the story being told, is "adoptive mother who enlightens, purifies, and elevates." And as we have come to learn, there is an aspect of Yahweh’s nature which "purifies, separating good from bad, which covers us in light and enlightens us, which provides warmth and comfort, and which elevates and uplifts souls, incorporating every aspect of ‘eseh. Moreover, according to the Word, the Spirit adorns us in a Garment of Light, She nurtures us, comforts us, enlightens us, protects us, empowers us, and acts as our advocate before God, embodying every metaphor associated with fire in the Word.

Likewise, there is "a female individual and non-biological adoptive mother," who, not only represents God, but also encapsulates every aspect of ‘isah. She is the Set-Apart Spirit, our Spiritual Mother, the feminine manifestation of God through whom our souls are redeemed and renewed, reborn onto eternal life. Our Spiritual Mother anoints us in "Yahuweh’s pleasing Spirit of reconciliation," pouring out Her Garment of Light upon us, rendering us perfect and eternal.

If you are troubled by Yahweh having a feminine/maternal nature in addition to His role as Father and Son, I invite you to consider that those who are saved are born anew-a maternal function. While Evangelical Christians acknowledge the need to be "born again," to be "born of water and of spirit," they don’t pause long enough to recognize that we are not born of fathers-but instead of mothers.

Reinforcing these thoughts, the Hebrew word for Spirit, ruwach, is feminine, and all of the responsibilities described in Scripture which are associated with the Set-Apart Spirit’s, are maternal. And by way of further confirmation, the feminine ‘isah also means "to make relations friendly"-the principle function of the Spirit and a central ingredient to reconciliation.

For those who are still uncomfortable with Yahweh having a paternal and a maternal nature, contemplate why He said: "So God created ‘Adam in His image (tselem - resemblance, pattern, and model), in the image of God He created him. Male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)

Before we leave the 18^th verse, let’s at least consider a more traditional rendering, one which communicates by way of metaphors. "...and two rams (‘ayil - Mighty Ones representing the upright pillar and the doorway) existing as (hayah) a burnt offering (‘olah - an ascending way) to (la) Yahuweh, offered as a sacrifice (minhah - a gift given without compensation), a drink offered and served (necek / nacak - an anointing poured out), an offering made by fire (‘iseh/‘isah - by the adoptive mother who enlightens, purifies, and elevates) unto (la) Yahuweh, creating the pleasant aroma (ruyach - as the pleasing Spirit) of reconciliation (nyhohoch - of restoration and appeasement)." (Leviticus 23:18)

Yahweh’s recipe for Shabuwa’ wasn’t yet complete. Still speaking of the "all-are-welcome and come-as-you-are party," God said: "You shall produce (‘asah - provide and bring) one (‘ehad) satyr goat (saiyr ‘ez - a hairy male, often used to depict demon-possessed beings, even swine; from sa’ar, a horrible, tempestuous whirlwind and dreaded storm which swirls and sweeps away) for sin (chata’ah - as a result of guilt and going the wrong way, for having incurred the penalty of becoming unclean, for having trespassed, missing the path), and two (senaym) year-old (sanah) lamb (kebes) sons (ben) as a sacrifice (zebach) for salvation (shelem / shalem / shalom / shilem / shalam - for that which completes and finishes, rendering the payment in full; that which brings peace, prosperity, and well-being; that which represents a voluntary sacrifice to requite so as to repay the debt, returning and reestablishing the alliance of friendship; that which perfects and makes whole, rendering the beneficiary unharmed and at peace; that which provides compensation, recompensing damage incurred; that which restores, makes amends, and reinstitutes the fellowship)." (Leviticus 23:19)

The "satyr" represents all that is wrong with us and the world. It is symbolic of Satan, "the goat who is possessed, the demonic swine, and the dreaded and horrid whirlwind whose circular reasoning sweeps people away" from God. The satyr’s beguiling influence is one of the reasons we have "sinned and incurred guilt, have become unclean, and have missed the way, going down the wrong path." So, to solve the problem of satanically-inspired sin, Yahweh has offered the Savior and the Spirit. No matter how one vocalizes slm, it spells "salvation."

The purpose of the Feast of Seven Sabbaths is to restore and renew sinful souls so that we are able to rise up to Yahweh and live in His presence. Therefore..."The one who officiates (kohen - the priest) shall wave (nuwph) them with the bread (lechem - the grain) of FirstFruits (bikuwrym - the initial harvest gathered in of the firstborn with privileged inheritances) as an offering which elevates (tanuwphah) before and in the presence of Yahuweh in accordance with (‘al - on the basis of) the two (shanayim - the double portion of) lambs (kebes - male lambs or rams). They shall exist (hayah) set-apart (qodesh) unto (la - as an extension of, by means of, and on behalf of) Yahuweh." (Leviticus 23:20)

The Spirit and the Savior "exist as an extension of, by means of, and on behalf of Yahuweh." They are responsible for elevating us into the presence of God. This is a perfect portrayal of what it means to be "set-apart." The two lambs convey the concept that the Spirit and Son are diminished manifestations of Yah, set-apart and extended from Him and by Him to serve us.

The inclusion of bikuwrym in this passage has caused religious types to tout Shabuwa’ as being one of three religious festivals which commemorate harvests. This in turn is used to associate Yahweh with countless crop and solar deities. And while there is a harvest suggested here, the context reveals that purified souls are being reaped, not crops.

Also, while we are on the subject of religious gerrymandering, the rabbinical insistence that Shabuwa’, which they call Shavuot, commemorates the "handing down of the Torah," is speculation, because it isn’t implicit in Scripture. Moreover, rabbis have long since discarded the authority of the Torah, replacing it with their Talmud, mooting the notion should it by chance be true. Christians, of course, are no better, as they take Pentecost completely out of its Torah lineage-insisting that this very same "Torah was nailed to the cross."

While the religious world remains oblivious to Yahweh’s plan, it isn’t God’s fault. He not only told us what to do on this day; He told us twice. "You shall call out (qara’ - address by name, proclaim, preach, and publish) that this essential (‘etsem - substantive and foundational) day exists (hayah - was, is, and forever will be) set apart (qodesh), a Miqra’ Called-Out Assembly (miqra’ - a summons to a rehearsal meeting which brings us together, encouraging us to read and recite the written Word, proclaiming it and publicly while calling others) unto you." (Leviticus 23:21)

It isn’t by accident that the root of miqra’, qara’, was included in the passage. By using it, Yah is telling us what to do on this essential day. Qara’ reminds us that we are being "summoned," and "called." We have been "given the opportunity to engage in something which is important to remember." Qara’ reveals that we are being "invited to come into the presence" of God. It conveys the notion that we are being "called by name," and that we are to "proclaim and announce publicly that other guests are also being received hospitably." Qara’ even explains that we are "to read aloud something which has been written down"-the Torah perhaps. And finally, qara’ reminds us that "we have been chosen to seek, meet, and encounter the highest authority."

Miqra’ simply adds the concepts of "togetherness and assembly," and of "people being asked to gather for a particular purpose." That purpose, of course, is then defined by qara’-"to answer a summons to be called out, to be invited to come into the presence of God, to be given the opportunity to engage regarding something which is important to remember, to read and recite the written Word so that others choose to seek, meet, and encounter the Highest Authority."

This means that we are to observe the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’ by answering God’s summons, gathering together and recognizing that this day served as a rehearsal for that which was fulfilled seven-sevens of days after the FirstFruits resurrection and harvest of saved souls. We are to read the Word, to proclaim its redemptive truth, and invite the unsaved to seek and encounter God. We are invited to use this day to share Yahweh’s seven-step plan of salvation for all people and for all time.

There is something, however, which we are asked to refrain from on this essential day: no business as usual-especially religious business. The Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths depicts the Spirit’s work in addition to the Son’s. And since they are both manifestations of Yahuweh, we are being instructed not to do His job or Hers: "You shall not (lo’) do (‘asah - effect, produce, or institute) any of (kol) the work (‘abodah - labor) of the heavenly messenger’s service (mala’kah - the task of God’s envoy and representative) on it as an eternal (‘owlam - everlasting) prescription (huqah - clearly communicated ordinance and statute) throughout time, for all generations (dowr) in all your settlements, abodes, populations, assemblies, situations, and travels (mowshab)." (Leviticus 23:21) The Festival of Sevens is an appointment with God which is to be observed and proclaimed forever, throughout time, no matter where we live.

Since Yahweh had so much to say about the Miqra’ey of Shabuwa’, let’s review His instructions, this time uninterrupted by my explanations and commentary. God begins: "Accurately count (reckon, record, relate, and rehearse) from the day after (the next day following) the Shabat, from the day you came forth and bore (arrived with and included) the sheaf of grain (bundle of grain prepared for processing and transport) as an ascending wave offering (gift of fruit which is lifted up and elevated once sprinkled and anointed) the existence of seven complete (full, right, true, and perfect) Sabbaths (shabath - weeks)." (Leviticus 23:15)

"Always and forever (eternally and into perpetuity), you shall accurately count, reckon, record, relate, rehearse, and regale the Day of Fifty (Chamisym), starting from the next day after the seventh Shabat, and you shall come near and approach Yahuweh’s renewed and restored gift (offering given freely as a present without compensation)." (Leviticus 23:16)

"You all shall come bringing out of your homes (your dwelling places where you live, your houses and households, and your assemblies) two loaves of bread as an ascending wave offering, a double portion as a tithe. They shall exist as stripped flour (fine ground grain with the hulls removed), baked with yeast (soured, fermented, oppressed, grieved, cruel, ruthless, embittered, and puffed up by a leavening fungus), a FirstFruits (Bikuwrym - an initial harvest which is gathered in; from bakar, of firstborn children with privileged inheritances) unto (according to) Yahuweh." (Leviticus 23:17)

"In addition to the loaves of bread, come near and approach with (bring and draw neigh with) seven one-year-old lamb sons, entirely without defect or blemish (complete and sound, unimpaired and innocent, blameless and perfect), and one bull (male cow, that which is broken and frustrated, divided, split apart, violated, and ineffectual), a son from the herd to reflect upon (to consider along with the offspring of cattle), and two rams representing the upright pillar and doorway (the Mighty One who leads by way of the door posts and the tree), existing as an ascending way (an elevated ramp and offering by whose steps one can rise) to Yahuweh, offered as a gift (a sacrificial present, an apportionment bestowed, an offering given without compensation), an anointing poured out (a drink offered and served) as the adoptive mother who enlightens, purifies, and elevates unto (according to) Yahuweh, creating the pleasing Spirit of reconciliation (of restoration, of relationship, of appeasement, of conciliation, of tranquility and harmonious fellowship)." (Leviticus 23:18)

"You shall produce (provide and bring) one satyr goat (a hairy male goat, often depicting demon-possessed beings, even swine; a horrible, tempestuous whirlwind and dreaded storm which swirls and sweeps away) for sin (as a result of guilt and going the wrong way, for having incurred the penalty of becoming unclean, for having trespassed, missing the path), and two year-old lamb sons as a sacrifice for salvation (for that which completes and finishes, rendering the payment in full; that which brings peace, prosperity, and well-being; that which represents a voluntary sacrifice to requite so as to repay the debt, returning and reestablishing the alliance of friendship; that which perfects and makes whole, rendering the beneficiary unharmed and at peace; that which provides compensation, recompensing damage incurred; that which restores, makes amends, and reinstitutes the fellowship)." (Leviticus 23:19)

"The one who officiates (the priest) shall wave them with the bread (the grain) of FirstFruits (bikuwrym - the initial harvest gathered in of the firstborn with privileged inheritances) as an offering which elevates before and in the presence of Yahuweh in accordance with (on the basis of) the two (the double portion of) lambs (male lambs or rams). They shall exist set-apart unto (as an extension of, by means of, and on behalf of) Yahuweh." (Leviticus 23:20)

"You shall call out (address by name, proclaim, preach, and publish) that this essential (substantive and foundational) day exists (was, is, and forever will be) set apart, a Called-Out Assembly (miqra’ - a summons to a rehearsal meeting which brings us together, encouraging us to read and recite the written Word, proclaiming it and publicly while calling others) unto you. You shall not do (effect, produce, or institute) any of the work (labor) of the heavenly messenger’s service (the task of God’s envoy and representative) on it as an eternal (everlasting) prescription (clearly communicated ordinance and statute) throughout time, for all generations in all your settlements, abodes, populations, assemblies, situations, and sojourns." (Leviticus 23:21)

There is a unique aspect of the Festival which wasn’t delineated in the Levitical presentation, but became evident in the Acts fulfillment. In that Moses predicted the all-inclusive nature of the Feast of Fifty in Deuteronomy, let’s turn to it now and examine the connection between the Old and Renewed Covenant.

This instruction follows God’s presentation of Pesach, Matsah, and Bikuwrym: "You shall accurately count (sapar - reckon, record, relate, rehearse, and regale) seven (sheba’) sevens (shabuwa’ - weeks) for (la - concerning and on behalf of) yourself (‘athah) from (min) beginning to (halal) bring a sickle (hermes) against (ba) the standing grain (qamah - from quwm, to stand upright and rise). Begin (halal) to count (sapar) seven (sheba’) sevens (shabuwa’ - weeks)." (Deuteronomy 16:9) Yahweh reminds us that this, like all His Miqra’ey (Scriptural plural of Miqra’), are for us, not for Him. And by connecting this Festival with the Bikuwrym Harvest, we discover that Shabuwa’ isn’t an isolated affair.

The secret to understanding sheba’ and its derivative, shabuwa’, is that in addition to meaning "seven," they convey "to make a binding promise and solemn oath." Yahweh is promising us that we can trust and rely upon the binding seven-step plan He has sworn to in His solemn Scriptures.

There is an interesting play on words in this presentation of Sheba’ Shabuwa’-the only Miqra’ where sin’s symbols are included. Representing our revolt against Yahweh we find halal, whose primary meaning isn’t "to begin," but instead "to defile, profane, pollute, treat with contempt, desecrate, and dishonor so as to achieve a lower status and diminished state." Halal is Satan’s first name (Halal ben Shachar) because it describes his response to God and his influence on humankind. Along these lines, halal also means "to be seen as impure, to be in violation of the covenant, to degrade the proud for doing that which is reprehensible, to pierce, and to slay."

Qamah, translated "standing grain," represents human souls, who apart from Yahweh’s plan of salvation, would have been cut down, halal-ed, if you will. They otherwise would be seen as impure, in violation of the Covenant, and thus desecrated, dishonored, and cast down-ultimately having their souls diminished to nothingness upon their mortal demise. But thankfully, qamah is based upon quwm-which is the premise and the promise of the Miqra’ey. It is the Hebrew equivalent of histemi-the foundational term of the Renewed Covenant, conveying that the purpose of Yah’s seven Called-Out Assemblies is: God stood up for us so that we would be able to stand with Him.

Therefore, there is more to this discussion of the Miqra’ of Sheba’ Shabuwa’ than just telling us to observe it on the right day. While the formula which underlies God’s plan of salvation is based upon six (man) in addition to one (God) creates perfection (Seven), the foundation is quwm and histemi-God stood up for us so that we could stand with Him.

In this next verse, Yahweh tells us that one way to acknowledge His charity is to show some ourselves. Yet, He wants it to be our choice and voluntary. "Keep (‘asah - attend to and celebrate) the Festival Feast (chag) of Sevens (Shabuwa’ - Weeks) to Yahuweh your God (‘elohym) with a sufficient (misah - an appropriately affordable portion; from masas, an ultimately insignificant) voluntary offering (nadabah - freewill contribution; noncompulsory donation) from your hand, which by association (‘asher) you can give (nathan - bestow, deliver, and entrust) relative to (ka - according to) how (‘asher) Yahuweh your God (‘elohym) blesses and adores (barak - kneels down and favors) you." (Deuteronomy 16:10) Nothing we do or give will save us. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be charitable. We are to follow our Savior’s example.

The "freewill offering" is predicated upon past-not future-blessings from God. Most all religions promote sacrifices to in essence, "bribe" their deity, either appeasing him or her, or encouraging their god to "bless" future harvests. There is none of that in Yahuweh’s Scriptures. Neither God’s blessings nor paradise can be purchased.

While the Scriptural presentation of the Yowbel, or Lamb’s Redemptive Year, is still two Leviticus chapters away, be aware that the preceding verse in Deuteronomy serves to tie Shabuwa’ and the Yowbel together. Both are about charity, about forgiving debts and setting people free regardless of their obligations. The connection is greater than just the pattern of Seven Sevens.

Yahweh likes to celebrate, and everyone is invited to this party. The Festival Feast of Seven Sabbaths is a gala for all who want to "rejoice and be glad"-a homecoming which includes men and women, rich and poor, young and old, Yahuwdym and Gowym, common workers and Levitical priests, the fatherless and the forsaken, those who have settled down and those who are just passing through. "Rejoice and be glad (samach - express your joy and happiness outwardly) in the presence of (paneh - before) Yahuweh your God (‘elohym), you, and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites (lewy - the uniters), those in your communities (sa’ar - within your gates, cities, and assemblies), strangers, travelers and newcomers (ger - foreigners from different racial, geographic, and cultural groups), orphans (yatowm - fatherless children) and widows (‘alman - the forsaken whose spouses have passed away) who relationally (‘asher) are in (ba) your midst (qereb), standing up at the place (maqowm - being upright at the home) where (‘asher) Yahuweh, your God, chooses (bachar - selects, decides, and desires is best) for His personal and proper name (shem - designation, reputation, and glory) to tabernacle (campout) and reside (shakan - to abide and dwell, to settle in and call home)." (Deuteronomy 16:11)

The place of Yahuweh’s choosing during the Exodus was the Tabernacle. When the Yisra’elites settled down, it became the Temple on Mount Mowriyah. When they moved away from God, God’s earthly residence became Yahshua. And now, thanks to the Festival of Sevens, Yahweh has many additional homes where His name resides. We are called Yahuwdym-those who are related to Yah.

Also notice that Yahweh introduced the all-inclusive nature of this party with a phrase most associate with the Renewed Covenant-"rejoice and be glad." I find it particularly poignant that the same passage culminates with a reference to "standing up at the place where Yahuweh your God chooses...." Yahweh bowed down and entered our world so that He could stand up for us on Mount Mowriyah’s pole, ultimately enabling us to stand with Him-camping out, residing, abiding and dwelling with our Heavenly Father for all eternity.

Apart from the persistent Islamic persecution of Christians and Jews, there aren’t many slaves currently in Egypt, but this Scriptural message is timeless and universal. At one time or another we have all been besieged by the Adversary. "Remember (zakar - always be mindful) that indeed (ky) you once existed as (hayah - you were) a slave (‘ebed - one who works and serves subject to another) in Egypt (Mitsraym - the crucible; plural of matsowr, meaning you were hostilely besieged by a foe and were confined by the adversary). Celebrate (‘asah - be aware, and carefully cling to) this reality (‘el-leh), carefully keeping, guarding, and observing (samar - treasuring and retaining, even revering) the prescribed and inscribed statutes (haqaq - clearly communicate the written prescriptions)." (Deuteronomy 16:9-12)

The Miqra’ey are "clearly communicated written prescriptions for us to celebrate, to carefully keep and observe." They are the way to God-the path to life. And they provide the roadmap to unfurling prophecy, past, present and future. They are to be observed for all time, so that every generation comes to know Yahweh, and comes to understand His seven-step plan of salvation.

The Miqra’ey are not to be replaced by ceremonies and rituals conceived by man. Those who observe Easter Sunday, Rosh Hashanah, Christmas, Lent, All-Hallow’s Eve, St. Valentine’s Day, Ashura Day, Ramadan, the Summer Solstice, May Day, Janus’ New Year’s Day, or any other manmade poligious (political/religious) scheme, contribute to the deception and add to the fog which separates mankind from God.

As mentioned in part previously, rabbis, uncomfortable with the ecumenical nature of Shabuwa’, as well as its focus on Yahweh’s restoring gift manifest within the Renewed Covenant, now claim that it commemorates the time when Moshe received the Torah on Mount Horeb. While that is subject to speculation, and is at best short-sighted, missing the big picture, it’s certain Seven Sevens commemorates the time that those who trusted Yahshua, and who observed the Called-Out Assembly, were imbued with the Qodesh Ruwach-the Set-Apart Spirit of Yahweh. This day marks the time the Miqra’ey became the Ekklesia.

It is also worth noting, that some Christian denominations acknowledge Shabuwa’-the only Miqra’ so honored. Unfortunately, they don’t know its proper name, or the significance of that title, and they celebrate it on the wrong day, choosing "Whitsun," known as "Wisdom Sunday." None of Shabuwa’s redemptive metaphors or prophetic insights are conveyed to their congregations. For them, it’s all about the beginning of the "Church Age," and of them replacing Jews as God’s instruments. No thought is ever given to this being the fourth stride toward a relationship with God, or that it is the midpoint in Yahuweh’s seven-step plan of salvation. They even fail to see how Seven Sabbaths serves as a central plank in the unfolding of God’s redemptive timeline, providing the very framework or skeleton upon which Yah’s schedule hangs.

In the "Bikuwrym" chapter, Yahweh spoke of His Miqra’ey as if they were a cohesive whole, played out in three acts. So to establish the proper context for what follows, and by way of review, remember that God said: "Three times a year you shall stand before Me (walk along side and set foot in My presence) celebrating a festival feast with Me. You shall keep (be aware of, attend to, and highly regard) the Festival Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I instructed, at the time appointed in the month of ‘Abyb, for in it you came forth from the crucible of Egypt. None shall appear before Me (shall be seen in My presence and behold My face, none shall be considered or regarded by Me) as an empty vessel (void, with an unfilled space, without a marker demonstrating the relationship). You shall keep the Festival Feast of the harvest (the time of reaping that which was sown, of gathering in the crop of), the initial gathering of grain and the first fruit ready to be picked and gathered of your labors which you sow in the field, and the Festival Feast of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in (receive and accept) your labors out of the field. Three times a year all shall remember to be seen (be inspected and considered) before (in the presence of) Yahuweh." (Exodus 23:14-17)

This passage affirms that a harvest of souls is an essential component of the Spring, Summer, and Fall Feasts. In the Spring, this reaping of souls is Bikuwrym or FirstFruits-as the name implies, where the beneficiaries of Pesach and Matsah are called home. In the Fall, Yahweh’s ingathering is Yowm Kippurym, commemorating the day our Heavenly Father will reconcile His relationship with the Children of Yisra’el. In the Summer, the spiritual birth of God’s family, and the resulting harvest of souls, occurs on Shabuwa’, making it Mother’s Day.

The common thread in these harvests is the presence of the Set-Apart Spirit-our Spiritual Mother. Her Spirit fills the void in our souls, and purifies us, making it possible for us to live in Yahweh’s presence. The role the Spirit plays in Called-Out Assemblies is essential. FirstFruits celebrates the restoration of body, soul, and Spirit, facilitating Yahshua’s resurrection, restoration, and return. Seven Sabbaths solves the mandate of: "none shall appear before Me as an empty vessel," with its fulfillment focused entirely upon the Set-Apart Spirit filling the Called-Out Assembly on this day. This means that the Day of Reconciliations serves humankind’s last opportunity to commune with God. Those who answer Yahweh’s summons to appear in the presence of our Spiritual Mother will be adopted into our Heavenly Father’s family.

In the heart of this message, God revealed one of the most important, and least appreciated, prophecies in the whole of Scripture. In the context of this sweeping presentation regarding the three harvests which emerge out of the seven Called-Out Assemblies, Yahweh promised that He would send out a Messenger, representing Himself, one who would bear His name, for the purpose of saving His people, by showing them the way home. "Behold (look and see), I will send out (extend Myself to dispatch) a Messenger representing Me (an authorized spiritual and heavenly envoy, a supernatural representative who serves as My ambassador, a servant who proclaims My message and fulfills My mission, a theophany-the visible manifestation of Myself) before you (in your presence, to appear as a person face to face) to watch over, protect, and save you (to care for and keep you and for you to revere and cling to) with regard to the Way, and to bring you to (carry and transport you to, gather you in and harvest you, to cause you to arrive at and be included in) the standing place and home (the upright abode, the household of the Source, and the dwelling of the Upright One) which by way of this relationship I have established (prepared, made ready, and arranged)." (Exodus 23:20)

"Carefully observe and pay attention to Him (watch and wait for Him, revere and treasure Him, heed Him and be protected and saved by Him, cling to Him) because (min - He is a part of Me, from Me, and He is an extension of Me, and) My presence is on Him. Attentively listen to and understand (receive, pay attention to, and highly regard) His voice. Do not be rebellious or contentious toward Him because if you are, He will not pardon you, lift you up, or carry you away from (nasa’ - support and sustain you, remove your guilt and forgive you, or take away and bear) your transgressions and rebellion (your revolt, your crimes, sins, offences, and faults) since (because indeed) My personal and proper name is upon Him." (Exodus 23:21)

Yahweh made good on this promise, fulfilling the Miqra’ey, and thereby saving those who would listen to Yahshua. But as religions, old and new, are wont to do, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam concealed the Way to God, ignoring this direct connection between the Called-Out Assemblies and the harvests of souls, between the one who had been Set-Apart and the role Yahshua played in our salvation. Pity.

Instead, the founders of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam did the very thing Yahweh asked them not to do. "You shall not bow down (prostrate yourself in worship before, associate with, or show allegiance) to their gods nor serve (be submissive to) them, nor observe, celebrate, or attempt to profit from (perform for, deal with, or attend to) the likes of (things associated with, similar or related to) their practices and customs (traditions and patterns of behavior), rather instead you shall tear them down and demolish them (topple, oust and utterly destroy them, removing them from their lofty positions), breaking (shattering), crippling, and crushing (pulverizing, disfiguring and destroying) their sacred memorial stones, pillars, and altars (religious monuments, obelisks, and idolatrous statues)." (Exodus 23:24)

And yet, Rabbi Akiba, Emperor Constantine, and the "Prophet" Muhammad did the opposite. Pagan customs were redefined to facilitate new religions. The Babylonian Rosh Hashanah replaced Taruw’ah. The Babylonian Easter Sunday replaced Bikuwrym. And the Babylonian Asherah Day replaced Shabuwa’-to name but a few putrid examples. God’s Way was replaced by man’s way, and as a result, man has lost his way.

Mankind has not only suffered needlessly, many have sought to blame the very God who they ignored and rebuffed for their misery, saying that "a loving God would never have allowed such anguish." And yet God said: "Serve (work with and minister) alongside (with and next to) Yahuweh, your God, and He will kneel down and bless (adore, invoking divine favor for) your bread and water. And He will remove disease and suffering (weakness and grief) from your midst." (Exodus 23:25) By ignoring Yahweh’s Torah instructions, mankind, especially religious devotees, have brought disease and suffering upon themselves. When a child dies prematurely, when cancer riddles a person’s body, it isn’t God’s plan, but instead man’s which is to blame.

In Bikuwrym chapter, we plotted a new course after the twenty-fifth verse, moving on to the Levitical presentation of the FirstFruits Harvest. This time, remaining cognizant of the context of the Miqra’ey’s three ingatherings of souls, of Yahshua providing the Way, and of religions representing the adversary, I’d like to venture deeper into the Exodus instruction.

The beguiled and beguiling mind of man provides the impetus for religious monuments such as cathedrals and mosques, obelisks to sun gods like those found in the Vatican and Washington, D.C., idolatrous statues like those erected to Mary, "Mother of God and Queen of Heaven," and for pagan religious practices such as Lent, Weeping for Tammuz, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Ramadan. To rid a place of them, and to rid an area of the disease and suffering they exacerbate, one has to rid one’s realm of their host-religious practitioners. In direct opposition to the means Catholicism, and indeed Christianity, has used to assimilate people into their religion, Yahweh said: "You shall not (lo’) cut an agreement (karat - make a covenant) with (la - on behalf or in accord with) them (hemah), nor a Covenant (beriyth - familial relationship, alliance, treaty, league, promise or pledge) with (la) their gods (‘elohym)." (Exodus 23:32)

And while rabbis, priests, and imams have done this very thing, none have been as bold as Roman Catholics, who based their "New Covenant" upon the myths and traditions of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans-allegedly to lure pagans away from the very traditions the Church was emulating. These are but a few examples of the putrid pagan pontifications found in the Christian swamp of religious poison: Imperial Rome’s and Janus’ New Year’s Day (also known as the Octave of Christmas and Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), the Epiphany, St. Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Lent, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of St. John, Halloween (All Saints Day), the Advent, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, and Christmas (the Nativity of our Lord), Sunday Worship (as the Lord’s Day), the Eucharist, Communion, the Sacrifice of the Mass, acknowledging Saints, Prayers to and for the Dead, the Rosary, Priestly Confession, Purgatory, Statues and Prayers to the Madonna and Child, the Cross, Sign of the Cross, Crucifixes, Religious Relics and Icons, Halos, Steeples, Obelisks, Holy Water, Infant Baptism, Wax Candles, Justification by Works, Indulgences, a Monetary Tithe, a Paid Clergy, a Clerical Hierarchy, a Sovereign Pontiff or Pope, Cardinals, Celibate Priests as Fathers, Monks, Nuns, and calling God "Lord,".... (You’ll notice, not one of Yahweh’s seven Called-Out Assemblies made the Christian list.) And then there is the Babylonian Christmas Tree and its lights and decorations, the Babylonian Yule Log, Wreaths, and Santa, the Babylonian Easter Bunny and Dyed Eggs, the Babylonian Easter Ham and Hot Cross Buns.

In direct violation of Yahweh’s instructions, rabbis have instituted the pagan celebrations of the Babylonian Head of the Year, called Rosh HaShanah, Tzom Gedaliah, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Yom HaAtzmaut, LaqBaOmer, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Asarah B’Tevet, the Celebration of the Month of Tammuz, the Fast of Esther, the Fast of Tammuz, Purim, the Three Weeks of Tammuz, the Fast of Tisha B’Av, Rosh Chodesh Elul, and Sefirat HaOmer, to name but a few extracurricular religious holidays. And it should be noted, that on Hebcal, the most popular rabbinical calendar, Matsah, Bikuwrym, and Taruw’ah aren’t ever listed. Moreover, Shabuwa’ is always set on the wrong day, and Yowm Kippurym’s is routinely moved to keep its special Sabbath from falling on a Muslim or Christian holy day.

God isn’t Politically Correct. He isn’t a proponent of Multiculturalism. Tolerance isn’t a Divine virtue. Simply stated, the edicts of Socialist Secular Humanism are in direct opposition to Yahweh’s instructions for one very important reason. "They will not (lo’) inhabit (yasab - live, dwell, settle, or marry) in (ba) your (athah) land (‘erets - realm and region, country and territory) lest (pen - otherwise, implying apprehension regarding a negative outcome) they cause you to sin (hata’ - err, miss the way, and do the wrong thing, incurring guilt) according to (la - and against) Me (‘any)." (Exodus 23:33)

Scriptural critics, especially those opposed to the Torah, are quick to remove the conquest verses from their context, and then declare that "the God of the Old Testament was violent and unmerciful." They never ponder, even for a moment, the reason God wanted the pagans out of a handful of specific villages in the Promised Land in the fourteenth-century BCE. Simply stated: it was the most merciful and intelligent thing to do.

If there is a God, if He created the universe and life, and if that God provided a means for His creation to know Him, and to live with Him, then the most compassionate, moral, and rational thing to do was and is to eliminate and diminish the influence of those who, and things which, convolute this message and plan. Chief among these things are religions, and those who profess them.

Since Yahweh knows that He exists, knows that He is responsible for the universe and all life in it, knows that He has revealed Scriptures which enable us to recognize Him, and knows that He articulated and then facilitated a plan of salvation, teaching His people to be tolerant and accepting of dogmas and people which are hostile to Him would be akin to inviting someone with a contagious form of leprosy into your home-knowing that they would infect and kill your children.

This unwillingness to accommodate and tolerate deceitful, destructive, deadly, and damning doctrines is not a freewill or choice issue. God doesn’t care what religious people do in their homes or in their countries. But the Promised Land is God’s home; Yisra’el is His country. And more than anyone, our Heavenly Father and Creator understands the deadly consequences which occur when His children associate with those who are infected with religious schemes-those who worship false gods. Such relationships inevitably lead to sin. Religions prevail specifically because they are enticing.

But their lure is a trap, one that ensnares souls in Satan’s noose. "Because (ky) serving (‘abad - working for, being reduced to servitude and being enslaved by) their gods (‘elohym) will indeed (ky) be (hayah - exist as) a snare (mowqes - trap or noose, that which lures, entices, incapacitates, and injures) to (la - with regard to and concerning) you." (Exodus 23:33)

No rational, loving parent would encourage his or her children to work and live among thieves, among those infected with lethal infectious diseases, among perpetual liars, or among vicious murdering and torturing religious terrorists. And if that were the only place to work and live, a loving and rational parent would do whatever they could to clean up that community, ridding it of its bad influences for the sake of their children.

When we contemplate Scripture from the perspective of family relationships, from beiyth-household and beriyth-covenant, everything makes since. God wants to rid His home and His neighborhood of negative influences, because that’s what is in the best interest of His children.

Speaking of how infectious religions begin, and of the enticements that are used to perpetrate them, the founders of the Jewish religion, Rabbis Akiva and Maimonides, taught that the seventy elders of Israel received their Oral Law at the same time Moseh received the Torah from Yahweh. But, in the very next verse, that is not what God said: "And then (wa) God (‘el) said to (‘amar) Moseh (moseh - one who draws out), be lifted up (‘alah - ascend and rise up) to God (‘el) Yahuweh (yhwh), you (‘athah), ‘Aharown (‘aharown - one who brings light and choice (i.e., informed freewill), Nadab (nadab - one who volunteers, giving freely), and ‘Abyhuw’ (‘abyhuw’ - from huw’, he and his, and ‘ab, father). And (wa) seventy (shibym) from (min) the elders (zaqen - old people) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - individuals who strive with God) will bow down (hawah - prostrate themselves) from (min) a distance (rahowq - from afar, distanced and removed, separated and alienated, absent and remote)." (Exodus 24:1)

Yahweh has been consistent. Those who choose to engage in a relationship with Him are asked to walk out of their political and religious realms, walk with Him, and be upright with Him. Those who oppose Him, those who are being judged by Him, are shown in the opposite position, clinging to religion and bowing down before Him. But, those who are separated and remote are not bowing down in worship, as some would suggest. This verse is as clear as words allow. The "old men of Israel," those who are credited with the Talmud, are "distanced and removed, separated and alienated, absent and remote" from Yahweh, while the other four men are seen "rising up" toward Him.

The proper conclusion is: the Torah leads to a Familial Covenant of Life with God and religious traditions lead to alienation and separation from God. Those who are with Yahweh, are seen upright, standing side by side with their Creator and walking alongside their Heavenly Father. Those who are alien to God, are depicted bowing down before Him in judgment.

The Word is the Way. Without it, no one can approach Yah. "Then Moseh alone (bad - by himself), approached and came near, and was present with (nagas) Yahuweh (yhwh), God (‘el). They (hem) did not approach and were not present (lo’ nagas) and the people (‘am) did not (lo’) ascend (‘alah - be lifted up) with (‘im) him (huw’)." (Exodus 24:2) Moses had the Word; He had been anointed in the Spirit of Shabuwa’; they didn’t and hadn’t.

But that condition wouldn’t last long, at least for those who came to rely upon Yahweh’s Torah as opposed to the people’s Talmud. "Moseh came (bow’) and accurately recounted (sapar - carefully related a written inscription which had been recorded using a precise accounting) to (la) the people (‘am - family) all (kol) of the words (dabar - statements, message, and communication) of Yahweh’s (yhwh) and all (kol) of the judgments (mispat - decisions, verdicts, proclamations, plans, and prescriptions)." (Exodus 24:3)

Of paramount importance to us in this passage is the use of sapar, "to accurately and carefully record in writing, using a precise accounting." God purposely selected sapar rather than any of the many other ordinary Hebrew words for verbal communication for a reason. The Torah isn’t hearsay; it is a transcription of Yahweh’s words. And it is complete. All means all, that is all all means. More telling still, sapar is identical in the consonant text to seper, which is "written communication," a "document, book, or scroll." That is not to say, however, that the entire Torah was transcribed at this juncture, but only that everything God had said so far, was accurately and completely recorded and communicated. There would be yet another, more comprehensive installment.

What’s also intriguing here is the use of mispat, almost as a conclusion or summary of what was revealed, because "all of the words of Yahweh" would have been sufficient to convey that Moseh had been a faithful scribe. Moreover, all of Yahweh’s words would have included His "judgments, decisions, verdicts, proclamations, plans, and prescriptions." But with a little investigation, we quickly discover that there are two reasons mispat was added.

First, mispat is based upon saphat, which tells us four things: Yahweh alone is our "Judge," and the Torah is the Constitution of His "government." Yahweh is the source of "vindication" as well as "condemnation," not rabbis, priests, or any other human institution.

The second reason for adding mispat is that it provides an insight into that which Yahweh would ultimately condemn. This word became synonymous with the Jewish religion, and thus served as a warning to those who would try to usurp God’s authority and ability. Mispat has been religiously transliterated mitzvot. Then, two-thousand five-hundred years after Moshe inscribed Yahweh’s mispat, Moshe Maimonides developed 613 mitzvot, or rabbinical regulations, customs, and traditions which now serve as the foundation of Judaism. Most of these were concocted and compiled by the Rambam (an acronym based upon Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) and then came to be included in what’s called "Halakah," meaning "to walk," but known as "Jewish Religious Law." This misguided rabbi claimed that there were 613 regulations listed in the Torah, something which is not true, and that his mitzvot were all based upon the Torah, something which is not true, and that the number was equal to the number of seeds in a pomegranate and number of bones in the human body, neither of which is true.

But this is true: Rabbi Maimonides was born in Cordoba, Spain in 1135 CE, within two centuries of the time the once Christian nation was conquered by the Islamic Moors. Then, following the fundamentalist Islamic Almohades conquest of Muslim Moorish Spain in 1148, Maimonides’ father, unhappy with the Islamic ultimatum: "surrender to Allah and Muhammad and become a Muslim, or die," moved the family, like most all Spanish Jews, into exile in Fez, Morocco (the place whose streets ran red with Christian blood during the Islamic conquests of the eighth century).

During this time, the young Maimonides studied under Abdul Arab Ibn Muwashah, at which was, the most influential Islamic religious institution, the University and Mosque of Al-Qarawiyin. There, the Rambam was known to have read from, pondered and pontificated upon Islam’s holy books. These would have included Allah’s Qur’an, Ishaq’s Sira (Biography of Muhammad), Tabari’s Tarikh (History of Islam), and Bukhari’s Hadith (Oral Traditions and Law from Muhammad’s Companions)-the last of which served to significantly influence Maimonides view of the Talmud, or Jewish Oral Law, which itself had served as the basis of Allah’s Qur’anic recital.

Known by the Islamic name Abu Imran Mussa (the name of the Qur’an’s caricature of Moshe/Moses) bin (son of) Maimun ibn Abdallah (slave-to-Allah), the Rambam relocated to Egypt to serve Sultan Saladin-the second most acclaimed Muslim of all time, and the general who led the Islamic opposition to the Crusaders. There, he collaborated with the Muslim sage Averroes to promote and develop the philosophical tradition of Aristotle-who in addition to being a philosopher and educator, was a pagan immersed in the sun-god religion of ancient Greece. Consistent with the Qur’an (which claims to confirm that which it contradicts), and central to Maimonides religion, the Islamic and Greek advocate advanced the arrogant and irrational notion that "it is impossible for the truths arrived at by human intellect to contradict those revealed by God," in spite of the fact that the foundation of his religion was little more than a contradiction of Yahweh’s Scripture. And so it would be that the Jewish religion which had given birth to Islam in Yathrib (today’s Medina), was now rooted in the religion it had conceived. The Rabbi’s fourteen-volume Mishneh Torah remains canonical in its authority, especially as it codifies of the Babylonian Talmud. It even served to inspire one of the most acclaimed Roman Catholic philosophers and theologians, Saint Thomas Aquinas, who a century later, reveled in the writings of Abu Imran Mussa bin Maimun ibn Abdallah, a.k.a., the Rambam, Maimonides.

His mitzvot, like all things rabbinical, were manmade religious regulations designed to empower the kind of people Yahweh wanted removed from the Promised Land. As stated earlier, the basis of the word is saphat, meaning "to judge, to govern, to vindicate, and to condemn." With Yahweh as the universal Judge, the only one who could vindicate and condemn, and with the Torah serving as the constitution of His government, there was no room for a religion, much less rabbis. So, rabbis claimed this authority for themselves, condemning tens of millions of Jewish souls in the process.

There is of course, no record of their precious Oral Law existing prior to the emergence of the egotistical and self-serving religious cast of rabbis, themselves, some one thousand three hundred years after the Torah was meticulously transcribed and read to the people. Like most things religious, Jewish Oral Law is a myth, one which no informed, rational person would believe. These religious regulations would not be "accurately recounted in writing" until the production of the Babylonian Talmud, circa 200 to 500 CE and the Mishneh, circa 200 and 1180 CE, depending upon which version one accepts.

Unlike their present day infatuation with the Talmud, on this day, the Children of Yisra’el listened to the Torah. "And all (kol) the people (‘am - family) answered (‘anah - and responded) in one (‘ehad) voice (qowl), saying (‘amar), ‘All (kol) the words (dabar - message and statements) which by way of relationship (‘asher) Yahuweh (yhwh) has spoken (dabar - words Yahweh has communicated), we will do (‘asah - perform and profit from, accomplish and celebrate).’" (Exodus 24:3)

Unfortunately, as this drama unfolds, we soon discover that the Children of Yisra’el didn’t follow Yahweh’s instructions, but instead, shared the Promised Land with religious and political aficionados of every persuasion. As a result, they served false gods and became history’s most infamous bad example. Fortunately, however, even in the wake of another ten million Jews succumbing to racial hatred over the next 24 years, one third will return to God and "in one voice, say, ‘All the words which by way of relationship Yahuweh has spoken, we will do, perform and profit from, accomplish and celebrate." Mark your calendars. This collective roar from the last generation of Yahuwdym will resonate at sunset, 6:22 PM, Jerusalem time, at the dawn of Yowm Kippurym, on October 2^nd, 2033.

Providing what should have been a death blow to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, 1500, 1700, 2000, and 2500 years before they were born under Akiva, Constantine, Muhammad, and Maimonides, Yahweh revealed: "And (wa) Moseh wrote down (katab - engraved and inscribed using an alphabet, used a pen, ink, and parchment or papyrus, to record as a scribe) all (kol) the words (dabar) of Yahuweh (yhwh)." (Exodus 24:4) If this is true, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are false, as is Secular Humanism. If the Torah was accurately transcribed, their corruptions, concealments, and counterfeits of God’s foundational message to humankind aren’t trustworthy or reliable. And as such, for the sake of many, they must be exposed and condemned.

This verse is particularly caustic to Judaism, because it provides no possibility of an Oral Law. If Moses wrote down everything Yahweh said, the religion’s foundation is rotten. And if these words cannot be trusted, if Moses didn’t do what Yahweh said he did, then Judaism cannot be relied upon because it would then have drawn its authority from an unreliable God and text.

This verse is particularly caustic to Christianity, because it means that the religion’s festivals, symbols, and teachings are wrong, as they are in conflict with the Word of God as transcribed by Moseh. Mutually exclusive and diametrically opposing concepts, such as those which exist between the Torah and the Church, cannot both be right. If the Called-Out Assemblies and Sabbath are from God, Christmas, Easter, and Sunday worship are not.

This verse is particularly caustic to Islam, because Allah claims that his Qur’an "confirms the Torah," when in actuality, it is the antithesis of Yahweh’s Word. Therefore, if the Torah is reliable, and Moseh did what it says, then Muhammad, and his Qur’anic recital are rubbish, as their diatribe consistently contradicts that which it claims to affirm. And even if the Torah is false, so is Allah as he claims to have revealed it.

The forth verse of the twenty-fourth chapter of Exodus goes on to describe an altar Moshe constructed at the base of Mount Horeb, replete with twelve columns for the twelve tribes of Israel. I mention this because if you search for "Jabal al-Lawz, Saudi Arabia, on Google Maps, you can actually see the remains of the altar, as well as the burned summit of the mountain and even the rock, from which water came forth.

"Then (wa), the young men (na’ar) of the sons (ben - male children) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - individuals who live with God) were sent out (salah) to lift up (‘alah) burnt offerings (‘olah - that which elevates) and sacrifices (zabah)- fellowship offerings which complete and fulfill (selem - a consent agreement to completely restore by way of paying a ransom to make full restitution, and thereby facilitating salvation), sacrificing (zabah) bulls (par) according to and concerning Yahuweh (yhwh)." (Exodus 24:5) The Word is both written and flesh. The words of the Covenant had to be fulfilled by way of the flesh, for it to be effective. The Miqra’ey provide the path home because Yahshua traveled this road before us, paying the toll along the way.

Our sinful nature, and resulting imperfections, preclude us from living in the presence of a perfect God-which is why Moseh alone was permitted on the Mount. So, to solve this problem, and enlarge His family, Yahweh delineated a plan and then enabled it. The plan is the Called Out Assemblies. The delineation is the Torah. The enabler is Yahshua. And collectively, they are the Covenant.

At this seminal moment in the history of our salvation, Yahweh asked Moseh to read the playbook He had provided. "He grasped hold of (laqah - received, accepted, and obtained) the precisely written documentation (seper - scroll with accurate and exacting physically recorded inscriptions on it) of the (ha) Covenant (beriyth - familial relationship agreement based upon mutual binding oaths and promises, a marriage vow, from beiyth, home and household) and read it out loud (qara’ - summoned people to it, proclaiming, announcing, and reciting it) in (ba) a hearing (‘ozen - time of listening). And the family (‘am - people) said (‘amar), ‘All (kol) that (‘asher - which relationally) Yahuweh (yhwh) has spoken (dabar - communicated in words), we will receive, hear, heed, understand, obey (sama’ - listen to, proclaim, comprehend) and do (‘asah - perform, acknowledge, profit from, and celebrate).’" (Exodus 24:7)

First among the many insights embedded in this verse is that the Torah is "the precisely written documentation of the Covenant." It provides the purpose and plan of God. Those who wish to enjoy the benefits of the Covenant, and want to form a family-oriented relationship with Yahweh, must do as Moseh has done-by reading the Torah. Yahweh’s revelation has been meticulously recorded so that we might come to know, trust, and rely upon God.

The term Yahweh selected to convey "read it out loud" was qara’, the basis of miqra’. Its primary definition is "to summon," and to "call out" which collectively define the purpose of the Torah and the Covenant. Yahweh is calling us to Him; He is inviting us into His family; He is summoning us to appear before Him as we walk along the seven-step path He has provided to His home. The Torah is the Way. The Covenant is the result.

In this passage, Yahweh documented an additional clause in the Yisra’eli response. They would not only do what God had prescribed, such as observe the Sabbath and attend the Miqra’ey, they promised to listen to what Yah had to say, striving to comprehend and understand it, so that they would be able heed His instructions. It is what we all should be doing.

What happens next is a foreshadowing of Yahshua’s sacrifice-of the fulfillment of the Torah. "Moses took some (laqah - obtained and received a portion) of the blood (dam) [of a sacrificial animal which had been slain] and sprinkled it (zaraq - used his fingertips to collect and disperse drops) on (‘al - and over) the family (‘am - people). He said (‘amar), ‘Behold (hineh - look now and see, pay attention to) the blood (dam) of the Familial Covenant Relationship (beriyth - marriage agreement for family unity, household alliance and binding promise) which, by way of relationship (‘asher) Yahuweh (yhwh) has cut (karat - formed as a solemn agreement between separate parties with stipulations and responsibilities for their mutual benefit and unity) with (‘im) you all (‘athim) concerning (‘al) all (kol) of these (‘eleh) words (dabar).’" (Exodus 24:8)

By way of the Word, and this foreshadowing prophetic symbolism, the Children of Yisra’el were prepared, albeit only temporarily, to meet their Maker. "And so (wa) Moseh (moseh - one who draws out), ‘Aharown (‘aharown - one who brings light and choice (i.e., informed freewill), Nadab (nadab - one who volunteers, freely giving of himself), ‘Abyhuw’ (‘abyhuw’ - the father is his), and the seventy (shib’ym) elders (zaqen - old men) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - those who are empowered by God), approached (‘eth) and saw (ra’ah - looked upon) the God (‘elohym - the Mighty Ones) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - individuals who strive with God)..." (Exodus 24:9-10)

It is interesting to report, that the names of the participants, in the order they are presented, tell us something about the Savior: the one who draws out, the one who brings light and choice, the one voluntarily gives freely of himself-the father is his.

The passage goes on to reveal that this manifestation of God was corporeal, that is to say, He had hands and feet, and He enjoyed a good meal. As such, Yahweh stood upon the mountain as Yahshua. And in the process of doing this, Yahweh destroyed the religion Maimonides would later conceive, because the Rambam claimed "God is incorporeal-incapable of assuming human form."

The most important aspect of the meeting on the mountain is that unlike the pre-Torah and pre-atoned elders who "prostrated themselves estranged from God," no one was on their knees. They were partying with Yah, not groveling at His feet.

"Yahweh said to Moseh, ‘Ascend (‘alah) to Me, and come to exist (hayah) here (sam) on the mountain (har) and I will give (natan - produce and bestow for) you the stone (‘eben - from banah, rebuilding and reestablishing) tablets (luwah - finished surface for inscribing words), and (wa) the Torah (towrah - prescriptions for living, teachings, instructions, regulations, and laws) and (wa) the Commandments (miswah - authoritative directions which serve as prescriptions and instructions) which (‘asher - by way of relationship) I will write (katab - communicate by way of words using an alphabet) to (la) give them guidance (yarah hem - to teach, direct, and instruct them)." (Exodus 24:12)

The Hebrew word towrah defines the purpose of the book. It serves as an instruction manual for human existence, including as it should, our Creator’s prescriptions for productive living. In it, we discover God’s regulations, so that we conduct ourselves by the right set of rules. The Towrah is Yahweh’s guidance to humankind. It provides the proper perspective by which to understand our purpose and His plan.

Moseh’s encounters with Yahweh were not always by way of Yahshua, the diminished, corporeal, manifestation of God. He, like few before him or after him, experienced God’s glory. "And Moseh ascended the cloud (‘anan - water vapor) covered (kasha - adorned, clothed, and concealed) mountain (har). And the manifestation of power and the glorious presence (kabowd - glory and splendor, honor and reverence, person, reputation, and abundance, the tremendous significance) of Yahuweh (yhwh) came to dwell (sakan - live and abide, tabernacle, inhabit, remain, and settle) on (‘al) Mount (har) Synay (synay), and the cloud (‘anan - water vapor) clothed and adorned (kasha - covered and concealed) him / Him (huw’) for six (ses) days (yowm). And on (ba - in) the seventh (shaby’y) day (yowm), He summoned (qara’ - called out) to (‘el) Moseh from (min) the midst (tawek - middle or center) of the cloud (‘anan - obscuring accumulation of water vapor)." (Exodus 24:15-16)

In the process of trying to ascertain the meaning of synay, I came upon something interesting. Syvan, which means "their covering," is the third month of the Scriptural year, and thus corresponds to the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’ in May or June-seven sevens from Bikuwrym. The Feast of Sevens, like the Mountain during Moseh’s ascent, is all about being "covered, adorned, and clothed" in "Yahweh’s glorious presence."

The purpose of the Set-Apart Spirit’s Garment of Light is to adorn us in Yahweh’s glory, and thereby conceal our sin, making us appear perfect in God’s eyes. The spiritual rebirth which facilitates this transformation is often equated with water, as it has been here on Mount Synay, because we are born of water, and because water cleanses and purifies. This is the reason baptism became the outward symbol of our spiritual rebirth.

God is light, and as such, He was seen as light. "The appearance of (mar’eh - sight and vision, spectacle and phenomenon of) the manifestation of power and the glorious presence (kabowd - splendor, honor, reverence, person, reputation, and abundance, the tremendous significance and massiveness) of Yahuweh was similar to (ka - could be compared to) fire (‘es - flames, a torch or lightning) on (ba) the summit (ro’sh - top) of the mountain (har) from the point of view (la) and perspective (‘ayin - eyesight and capacity to understand, the perceptions) of the Children of Yisra’el." (Exodus 24:17)

Kabowd, is based upon kabad, the operative term of the Fifth Commandment, and thus it provides an important insight into the real identity of the Father and Mother we are to "honor and revere, to view as tremendously significant, even glorious." After all, in the twelfth verse of Exodus 24, we were introduced to these very Commandments.

You’ll also notice that the "fire" wasn’t coming from a "burning bush," but instead from the summit of this rocky and barren mountain. This provides additional credibility to the pre-Exodus translation of sanah as "a high rocky place" in the "Salah - Freedom" chapter. Moreover, the summit of Mount Synay, known today as Jabal al-Lawz, still reveals the consequence of God’s presence.

"Moseh came (bow’ - pursued and was included) into (ba) the midst (tawek) of the water vapor (‘anan - cloud and mist) and ascended (‘alah - rose and was lifted up) the mountain (har). And Moseh came to exist (hayah) on the mountain for forty (‘arba’ym - to be square) days (yowm) and nights (laylah)." (Exodus 24:18) Either Scripture contains useless information, or there is a reason God has revealed this story using His favorite numbers and formula. Three men accompanied Moseh. There were seventy elders. Moseh stayed on the mountain for six days, the number designating man, before He was invited to campout with God on the seventh day. And the duration of his visit was forty days.

The Miqra’ey follow this same formula: six steps toward God are followed by the opportunity to camp out with Him on the seventh. God’s stone tablets, given to Moseh during this visit, reveal three commandments which pertain to God, one which quantifies His formula, followed by six which tell how we should behave. And the Covenant is played out over the course of three sets of forty Yowbel, Redemptive Years (following the seven sevens plus one formula of Shabuwa’). The story of our redemption is based upon a clearly articulated and consistent plan.

At the conclusion of our Exodus study, I’d like to share seven thoughts about the lead character. While Moseh was invited to be the scribe for this plan, He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land at the conclusion of the Exodus-although he is there now, a beneficiary of the FirstFruits Harvest. Moseh was 120 years old at the conclusion of his mortal existence. He had enjoyed three lives-one as a prince in Egypt, one as a prince in Arabia, and one as Yahweh’s messenger. It was an extraordinary life.

While it would be foolish to feel sorry for Moseh, there are reasons why he departed this mortal realm within eyesight of the goal. The Torah, given as it was through Moses, just points the way to the Promised Land. Yahushua is responsible for getting us there. And that is why Yahushua, the son of Nun (the Infinite), took over for Moses as Yah’s children crossed the Jordan River and entered Yisra’el. Had Yahushua not fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths, the Way would have been a dead end.

The Torah provides the foundation upon which we gain the proper perspective to view God and ourselves-the very purpose of life. This instruction enables us to see the way to the Promised Land from our wilderness, just as it did for Moseh.

And once we reach our Heavenly Father’s home, we still have to have Passover’s door opened for us. And that is where we find Yahshua, waiting for us.

While salvation is a gift, that doesn’t mean that Yahweh wants us to ignore, or more importantly, change, His instructions. Moseh did, striking the stone he was asked to instruct, and there was a consequence. It is a message Christian and Jewish clerics the world over still don’t understand.

Yahushua, the Rock of our Salvation, the Cistern of Living Waters, spoke to us, explaining the way out of mankind’s wilderness and into the Promised Land. He did not strike us. He instead was stricken, with blows which resulted from human instructions, not God’s.

Because words are more powerful than any weapon, the Word was made flesh and prevailed. So the message is, when it comes to God’s Word, it’s very important that we get them right, lest we too be stricken with death and separation.

Lastly, in the life of Moseh, we see Yah’s timeline emerge once again. There were three periods of 40 years, just as three sets of 40 Yowbel timeframes take us from the expulsion from the Garden of Eden to the Millennial Sabbath-to the time we get to camp out with God in the Promised Land. In his life, we see the foundation of Yahweh’s plan of salvation.

Before we leave this instruction from Yahweh, I’d like you to consider a final thought. This passage on the Miqra’ey, Torah, and Covenant, confirms that these things have nothing to do with the Jewish religion, but instead form the essence of the familial relationship Yahweh established with Abraham and affirmed through Moseh. There is but one path to God, one set of instructions, and one family.

Now that we understand the redemptive prophecies contained in the Old Covenant’s presentation of the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths, let’s consider the Renewed Covenant Writings and examine how the Miqra’ was fulfilled, giving birth to the Called-Out Assembly.

As we shall see, this transformation occurred because the first Followers of the Way answered Yahweh’s summons and observed the Festival or Sevens. Because they were in the right place, for the right reason, at the right time, with the right expectations, the Set-Apart Spirit anointed them. Souls were restored. The Covenant was renewed.

In the opening line of the second chapter of book of Acts, we see that the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’, like the three preceding it, was fulfilled in accordance with God’s instructions. In fact, when one considers that Acts is a sequel to Luke, and that Luke concludes with the Bikuwrym discussion between Yahshua and the men on the road to Emmaus, one Called-Out Assembly simply follows the other.

"Indeed (kai - and then also, this should be emphasized), on (en - with regard to and during) the Day (hemera - period of time reckoned from sunset to sunset) of Fifty (Pentekoste - feminine form of pentekonta, meaning fifty), it was completely fulfilled (sumpleroo - was fully completed in association with someone and something, was entirely realized by way of relationship)..." (Acts 2:1) This introductory statement conveys two equally important thoughts. The Miqra’ of Shabuwa’ was observed by the first to follow Yahshua’s example on the date specified by God. And also, every aspect of the Miqra’, as described in the Torah, was satisfied. As such, this is the fourth of four Miqra’ey which were fulfilled by Yahshua and the Spirit, in the correct order, in the right way, on the appropriate day, and in a Yowbel Redemptive Year-all as part of the Torah’s unfolding plan of salvation. Do you suppose this is a coincidence or a pattern? Said a different way, is God random or does He have a plan?

Sumpleroo, in the above verse, is a compound of sun, meaning "with the help of, and by way of a close connection, association, or relationship with someone or something," and pleroo, meaning "to make full, to cause to abound and to furnish liberally, to complete and to consummate, to accomplish and fulfill, and to bring to realization." As such, it tells us that the promises of Seven Sabbaths were "realized, accomplished, and fulfilled, causing those in close association and relationship to be furnished liberally so as to be lacking in nothing."

It is worth noting that there is also an immersion aspect of the Greek word sumpleroo. It speaks of a liquid filling something to the brim. As a result, it was used by sailors when their ship completely filled with water, becoming swamped as a result of a storm. Therefore, we can make the connection between our spiritual rebirth, which is symbolized by baptismal immersion, and this day, whereby the Set-Apart Spirit bathes us in living and purifying waters.

"It came to exist (eimi - to happen and take place in a manner corresponding identically) that all assembled together in harmony (pas homou - everyone was like-minded, like-natured, and unified in an assembly) in the presence of (epi - in contact with, concerning, and before) it (auto - [a reference to the Set-Apart Spirit])." (Acts 2:1) Auto is a neuter, singular pronoun because unlike Hebrew, where Ruwach/Spirit is a feminine noun, the Greek pneuma, is neuter. And while it sounds odd to our ear to refer to our Spiritual Mother as "it," rather than "She," or "Her," such is the liability of Greek as compared to Hebrew with regard to spiritual understanding.

Whether the conclusion of Acts 2:1 is translated that all of those who trusted Yahshua were all of like mind and thus were together observing the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’, or that in addition to this harmony and compliance, they were also in the presence of the Spirit, the overriding sentiment is that by heeding Yahweh’s summons, and gathering together on this day, the first followers of the Way were unified in their understanding of the Word. The path from the Miqra’ey/Called-Out Assemblies to the Ekklesia/Called-Out Assembly was perfectly clear to the initial beneficiaries. The message was not corrupted until the Scriptures were misrepresented, rendering Miqra’, "Convocation," and Ekklesia, "Church" (after the sun goddess "Circe," pronounced "chirch," from whom we derive "circle" and "circus") instead of accurately translating both "Called-Out Assembly." Clerics thereby severed one of Scripture’s most essential connection. Few things have been as devastating to our understanding.

"And immediately (aphno - suddenly, and yet in a welcoming manner, putting people at ease) there came into existence (ginomai - became recognized, known and acknowledged, arose and appeared publicly for the purpose of creation, birth, and marriage) out of (ek - from and by means of) heaven (ouranos - the abode of God) the sound of information and news (echos - of a spoken report) exactly like (hosper - corresponding to and connected to, a manifestation for comparison to) a compelling and mighty force (biaias - an empowering, strong, singular, and active feminine source of energy), moving inwardly and upholding (pheromai - guiding, sustaining, accepting, and bearing) the breath of spiritual life (pnoe - feminine derivative of pneuma Spirit), and filling (pleroo - liberally and abundantly supplying and perfecting) the whole (holos - entirely completing all who were in the) house (oikon - household and home) where (ou) they were residing." (Acts 2:2) The disciples had a job to do-to communicate God’s plan of salvation. This plan was in fact embodied in the very Called-Out Assembly they were observing. Their mission was to share this news with people the world over. And the Set-Apart Spirit of Yahweh, our Spiritual Mother, gave them the tools they would need to do it.

Dissecting this passage word by word, we discover that the adjective (biaias) used to describe the nature of the heavenly "compelling force," like pnoe, "the breath of spiritual life," is feminine and singular, as is our Spiritual Mother. Further, there is a "vehement" connotation of biaias, making the Spirit "impassioned and fervid," even "eager and deeply emotional." Moreover, biaias is related to bios, meaning "life," and is derived from bia, meaning "strong and vital." After death, there is no life apart from the Spirit.

At its most fundamental level, pheromai, translated "moving inwardly and upholding," means "to carry or bring something from one place to another, including carrying away a burden or bringing forth new life." Etymologists say pheromai means "to lead, to guide, or to convey." Homer used pheromai to mean "to bring forth and express the word." The classical author used it to "facilitate the bearing and removal of burdens which are carried away." In the Iliad, pheromai is used to "show favor" and "to produce fruit." It conveyed "the presentation of a gift that upholds, enabling the beneficiary to endure." These benefits describe the gifts of the Spirit.

Pnoe, as a feminine noun, means both "breath and wind." As such, it is a blend between the Greek and Hebrew words for "soul," from breath, and "spirit," from wind. Yahshua, as the human manifestation of Yahweh, actually had a soul which is probably why this unique term was chosen. In one of His last conversations with His disciples, Yahshua told them that they would recognize and know the Comforter because He and the Spirit were one and the same.

Pleroo suggests that the Spirit "proclaimed completely," and "provided fully," completing the promise of the Miqra’. She supplied saved souls with everything they needed to live life abundantly and productively. Pleroo conveys the concepts of "fulfillment, filling up, completion, making complete, and realization-making a promise come true and proclaiming that accomplishment." As Yahshua consistently taught, the Renewed Covenant is best understood when it is seen as the complete fulfillment of the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms.

Lastly, oikon is a "home, a place where families live." Adopting us into Yahweh’s family, inviting us into God’s home, enabling us to live forever with our Heavenly Father, is the reason Yah sent His Spirit to earth.

Yahweh has a specific plan that He wants the whole world to understand. The best way to accomplish this is to deploy the principal tool used in the acquisition of knowledge, in thought, causation, creation, and in the formation of relationships-language. "And languages (glossa - the various tongues and dialects of human speech) became apparent to them (horao - they came to know and understand them), like a fire burning (pyros) in them. And they were distributed (diamerizo - divided, dispersed, spread out) conferred and appointed (kathizo - coming down to rest) upon (epi) each and every one (hekastos) of them (autos - used as a masculine, plural pronoun). And they were all individually (pas) filled with (pimplamai - swelling with the involvement and breath of) the Set-Apart (hagion - gender neuter of hagios, purifying and upright) ΠΝΣ (placeholder for Spirit based upon Ruwach using a contraction of pneuma), and began (archomai) to speak (laleo - talk in) other (heteros - different) languages (glossa - tongues and dialect), just as (kathos - inasmuch as, when and in the manner that) the ΠΝΑ (Spirit, Ruwach) gave (didomi - allowed and granted) them the ability to enlighten through the spoken word (apophtheggomai - the ability to pronounce words and hold a dignified and enlightened discourse using them)." (Acts 2:3-4) The whole world needed saving. That could only be done with words.

The public proclamation and communication aspect of what was occurring is inherent in the title Yahweh chose to describe His annual meetings: Miqra’-"a called-out assembly, a summons to a rehearsal meeting which brings us together, encouraging us to read and recite the written Word, proclaiming it publicly." Based upon qara’, it conveys "calling out" to everyone and "verbally inviting" them to come into Yah’s presence. And that is why Yahweh chose to describe the beneficiaries of this calling with a word which conveys the exact same thoughts-ekklesia.

If it were not for the popularity of the Pentecostal movement, where "speaking in tongues" is interpreted to be "praising God in a heavenly language," I wouldn’t be required to state the obvious. The Spirit of Sevens empowered those who observed Shabuwa’ to enlighten others by speaking their language, not God’s. If an audible (as in producing and detecting sound waves in a gas or fluid) language is used in heaven, the dialect is Hebrew.

Bringing this all together, the operative book of the Renewed Covenant proclaims: "Indeed (this should be emphasized), on (with regard to and during) the Day (period of time reckoned from sunset to sunset) of Fifty (Pentekoste), it was completely fulfilled (was fully completed and was entirely realized by way of relationship). And it came to exist that all assembled together in harmony (everyone was like-minded, like-natured, and unified in an assembly) in the presence of [the Set-Apart Spirit]." (Acts 2:1)

"And immediately there came into existence (became recognized, known and acknowledged) out of heaven the sound of information and news exactly like a compelling and mighty force (an empowering, strong, singular, and active feminine source of energy), moving inwardly and upholding (guiding, sustaining, accepting, and bearing) the breath of spiritual life, and filling (liberally and abundantly supplying and perfecting) the whole house (household and home) where they were residing." (Acts 2:2)

"And languages (various tongues and dialects of human speech) became apparent to them (they came to know and understand them), like a fire burning in them. And they were distributed (divided, dispersed, spread out) conferred and appointed (coming down to rest) upon each and every one of them. And they were all individually filled with (swelling with the involvement and breath of) the Set-Apart (purifying and upright) Spirit, and began to speak other (different) languages, just as (inasmuch as) the Spirit gave (allowed and granted) them the ability to enlighten through the spoken word." (Acts 2:3-4)

Continuing on, we discover that there is nothing overtly religious folks detest more than being confronted with the idea of God bypassing them, and working through others whom they see as inferior. "And now (de) existing (eimi) inside (eis) Jerusalem (Ierousalem - a transliteration of Yaruwshalaim, meaning the source of salvation), resided (katoikeo - settled and lived) Jews (Ioudaios - a transliteration of Yahuwdym, meaning related to Yah), overtly pious (eulabes - devout and religious, carried away by goodness, from eu, good and prosperous, and lambano, taken by, and affiliated with) men (andros) from (apo) every (pas) nation (ethnos - cultural and geographic) under (hypo) heaven (ouranos). And so now when (de) this (houtos - feminine singular) voice (phone - feminine singular noun for sound, language, and audible speech) came to exist (ginomai - was received, acquired, experienced, and became known, appearing in public) in large assemblies of people (plethos - in a large congregation and crowd), they were confused (sygcheo - baffled and consternated, bewildered and disturbed, in an uproar, dismayed), because (hoti) each and every one (hekastos heis) herd (akouo - was endowed with the faculty for hearing) what was spoken (laleo - talking) in his (autos) own (idios - individually distinct) language (dialektos - dialect or tongue)." (Acts 2:5-6)

"This singular feminine voice" they heard emanating from the rather large called-out assembly on the Called-Out Assembly of Sevens was that of our Spiritual Mother, which had to be particularly troubling to these pompous and chauvinistic religious types. And that is to say that our Heavenly Father’s ways confound men who prefer their own ways. In a society oppressed and deceived by Rabbinical Judaism, God bypassed those who sought rank and power, who considered themselves superior, who were overtly religious, and conveyed the path home, the means to join His family, in a maternal voice broadcast by the lowliest members of the community. What a horror it must have been for those skilled in language, academics, and theology-to those in positions of influence.

"And (kai) besides (de), they were out of their minds (existemi - were nearly driven insane and out of their senses, displaced from their established positions, confused and astounded), and they were surprised (thaumazo - astonished and amazed, demonstrating a typical human response to a divine revelation), saying (lego), ‘Look (idou - behold), are not (ou) the entirety (hapas - the whole and all) of them who are (eimi) speaking (laleo - talking) Galileans (Galilaios - from Galiylah, those who roll away)?’" (Acts 2:7)

Existemi is a compound of ek, meaning "out of and away from," and histemi, "meaning to stand upright and to be established." The pious were the opposite of what God intended. Rather than standing with Him, as the ekklesia/called-out assembly had done on the Miqra’/Called-Out Assembly of Sevens, they were blown off of their feet and driven senseless by God. The Spirit of Enlightenment bewildered those who professed to be wise.

Throughout the Renewed Covenant, Galilee is used as a pejorative, much the same way as a Los Angelean would say, "He’s from Watts," or a New Yorker would lament, "He’s from Harlem." It was a swampy, mosquito-infested lowland, several days walk and several thousand feet below Jerusalem. Galilee was a place, pious religious folks avoided like the plague-which is why Yahshua loved it there. The name itself, based as it is upon galal, "to roll away," is symbolic of Gilgal, the place where Yahweh "rolled away the reproach of the crucible," in Joshua / Yahuwshua’ 5:9. And like Gilgal, it is directly related to Golgotha, the very place Yahshua rolled the iniquity away from all mankind.

While the pious religious types were irritated at having been bypassed by the Spirit, there was no denying the message She was communicating. They were witnessing the power of the Word-God’s greatest miracle. "Somehow (pos), each and every one (hekastos) hears them speak (akouo) in the distinct (idios - individual and unique) language and dialect (dialektos) of their birth (gennnao): Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Yahuwdah (Ioudaia), Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt (Aigyptos), parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome (Rhomaios), not only Yahuwdym (Ioudaios - a transliteration of the Hebrew) and newcomers (proselutos - visitors from other nations), Cretans and Arabs (Araps), listening to (akouo - receiving the news and hearing) them speak (laleo - talk) in their own tongue (glossa - language and dialect) the magnificent things and powerful works (megaleios - the great deeds and miracles) of ΘΥ (placeholder for Yahuweh based upon ‘elohym God using a contraction of theou)." (Acts 2:8-11) The ecumenical nature of the fulfillment of Seven Sevens depicted here in Acts paralleled the Torah’s prophecy where another inclusive list appears. Everything happened precisely as it had been predicted, and it had occurred right on God’s schedule.

In this passage, the Greek word, proselutos, which means "foreign visitor," is contrasted with Yahuwdym, conveying "Related to Yah," but usually translated "Jews." Proselutos is derived from proserchomai, which means "to come to, to approach, and to draw near." Proserchomai in turn is a compound of pro, meaning "to take advantage and to draw near," and erchomai, "to come from one place to another." Therefore, the contrast is between those Yahuwdym who have already come to know Yahweh through Yahshua’s exacting fulfillment of the Miqra’ey as foretold in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms, and the Gowym who have taken advantage of the all-inclusive promise of Shabuwa’. These proselutos/foreign visitors have now been adopted into our Heavenly Father’s family by the message and power of our Spiritual Mother. The proselutos had left the Babylonian-inspired religious culture of their birth to walk with God.

And yet, proselutos is transliterated in most English Bibles as "proselytes." Then, those who aided and abetted the errant transliterations, erroneously defined that word as "converts to Judaism," and thereby miscommunicated Yahweh’s intent. This day marked neither the birth of the Church and Christianity as Catholics and Protestants profess, nor a revival of Judaism. The Word came directly from God, bypassing every cleric and religious institution

The concept here is that the called-out ekklesia was now as Moses had predicted it would be in Deuteronomy. It was comprised of Yahuwdym and Gowym. There were no religious converts to be found here; only new relationships. From this moment to this present day, the Word of God has been carried to all peoples of the world by spirit-filled men and women. Yahweh’s family is now all-inclusive. Everyone is welcome. And all arrive the same way-by being immersed from above in the Set-Apart Spirit.

Let’s pause a moment and ponder what God has revealed. In Acts, Yahweh has just confirmed and fulfilled the Torah-producing "the magnificent things and powerful works of God." The ekklesia-miqra’ became and remains comprised of people of all races and all nations. The first Followers of the Way, the first to be immersed in the Spirit, the first to be born anew and to be adopted into Yahweh’s eternal family, became in effect, a united nation-one whose government was of another world. Race, gender, family affiliation, age, and social status no longer mattered.

The Miqra’ of Chamisym/Fifty is qodesh/set apart, a special day for us to revel in our birth, grateful for the magnificent work performed by the Set-Apart Spirit. It is "Mother’s Day," a time which commemorates the role our Spiritual Mother plays in our adoption into our Heavenly Father’s family. It is an annual homecoming where those who are related to Yah invite their friends to celebrate the good news-that a path home has been laid out and built at great cost, its toll paid by God, so that we might journey free. This day of reunion will endure for all time, for all people, and in all places, serving as a rehearsal of what was to come and now has been done.

The Feast of Seven Sevens follows FirstFruits by seven weeks. The pattern is seven Sabbath’s plus one day after the special Sabbath of Unleavened Bread-the most essential day on the road to our salvation. As we have discovered, this Called-Out Assembly is a time of celebration and rejoicing, open to all people, free and slave, Yahuwdym and Gowym, men and women, young and old, to all sinners no matter how unclean. We know this because it is the only Miqra’ey where leavened bread is sanctioned-and because God has said so. Unlike the Catholic Eucharist which is limited to their converts, this Festival comes with an open invitation. Shabuwa’ is the day which unites the Old and Renewed Covenants, making them one.

Luke, the author of Acts, provided a historian’s view of the birth of the ekklesia during the fulfillment of the Miqra’. And since his testimony confirms that the initial Followers of the Way observed the Called-Out Assembly in accordance with the Torah, it is only reasonable that we follow their example-keeping this appointment with God.

Upon examining the letter and spirit of this day, one comes to understand that the best way to broadcast its message and celebrate its inheritance is to host a grand party replete with a medley of foods, including a variety of libations, and most especially breads and desserts baked with yeast. Invite everyone who is interested in knowing God, whether they are engaged in a relationship with Him, mired in a religious swamp, or deluded by a secular mirage. After a time of casual conversation and music, stand before the guests and share what you have come to know about the path home our Heavenly Father has provided. Explain how on this day, those who rely upon Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits, will be immersed in Yahweh’s Set-Apart Spirit, causing them to be adopted into God’s family by way of our Spiritual Mother. Most of all, have fun. Radiate the light which comes from knowing Yah and express the joy loving families experience during the birth of a child.

It may seem unexpected, now that we are celebrating the fourth of seven assemblies that we are witnessing an event which depicts the long predicted hiatus for the nation of Israel. But the Feasts of Seven Sabbaths is just that-symbolic of Yahweh’s family becoming an international community, one no longer focused on a single race. Yahuwdym, now Jews, estranged from the Covenant, would be whisked off center stage, and dispersed from the Promised Land. But gone was not forgotten. The distant ancestors of these lost souls will be called back home. The last generation before Yahweh’s final fulfillment of the remaining three Miqra’ey, will witness the return of Jews to the Promised Land. And over time, the joy of 1948 will give rise to wars and terrorism, to pestilence and famine, to natural and political disasters, as a lost world marches to the tribulation and its rendezvous with destiny.

The time between the fulfillment of Shabuwa’ and Taruw’ah, the fourth and fifth Miqra’, will be less than a score of years shy of forty Yowbel-two thousand years, save as much as a decade or so. The fulfillment of the fifth Miqra’ will bring an end to the time of the Gentiles, and with it a return of Yahuwdym to center stage. Then, right on schedule, on the final Yowbel year remaining within the lifetimes of the generation which witnessed the rebirth of the nation of Israel, those left behind shall see the remaining two Miqra’ey fulfilled before their very eyes.

So even with two of the seven Miqra’ey signifying the beginning (Shabuwa’) and the end (Taruw’ah) of the international ekklesia, the Feasts of Yahweh still present one, harmonious story. The linguistic equivalence between the Miqra’ey/Called-Out Assemblies and the Ekklesia/Called-Out Assembly, says as much. The former has given birth to the latter, demonstrating that the Old and Renewed Covenants are one. Gowym, as a result of Pesach, Matsah, and Bikuwrym have been invited to become Yahuwdym-those who are related to Yah-on Shabuwa’. As adopted beneficiaries we must recognize and cherish, even celebrate, that our good fortune, this gracious gift, is a legacy of the Torah. And we must understand that Yahweh has not abandoned Yahuwdym in favor of a multi-ethnic ekklesia comprised principally of Gowym, as has been taught by misinformed theologians touting "replacement theology." The Artist has merely moved the Chosen People to the periphery of an unfinished canvas, knowing that at a time certain, He’ll finish the grand crescendo of His masterpiece. He has even told us how and when.

Perhaps a better metaphor would be that of a Playwright whose most important characters, by way of their natures, have relegated themselves to the wings in act two. And yet the Author hasn’t lost track of them, or His interest in them. He fully intends to bring them back for the grand finale, tying up all the loose ends in act three. The miraculous history of Yisra’el in the twentieth century is proof that Yahweh still loves His Chosen People. The first and final three Miqra’ey celebrations make it clear that Yisra’el is the chosen vehicle for unveiling Yahweh’s grand plan. And to be fully transparent, even on this transitional day, the preponderance of those who benefited from the observance of Seven Sevens were Yahuwdym, not Gowym. More important still, all of the books of the Renewed Covenant, none of which had been written at this time, would be transcribed by God’s Chosen people. There wasn’t a Gentile scribe in the group.

Each Miqra’ has been designed to memorialize an important event in the life of Yisra’el and to be prophetic of even more important events in the unfolding of Yahweh’s redemptive plan. They speak poignantly of the Messiyah’s role in the salvation of mankind, with detail after detail pointing directly and unambiguously toward Yahshua. Thus far, each has been fulfilled in order, and on the very day of its mandated celebration. That fact alone makes the odds against their coincidental fulfillment over sixteen billion to one. The lesson is: pay attention to dates and numbers-they’re important to our Creator.

As interesting as all this is, it becomes downright earth-shaking when you realize that there are three more annual feasts yet to be fulfilled. They all take place in the autumn, in Tishri, the seventh and final month of Yahweh’s redemptive calendar. Each predicts a strategically essential event in the Grand Plan. And more to the point, they complete the picture God is painting.

The spring Feasts have come to pass; the fall Feasts are yet to come. Yahweh has given us carefully drawn prophetic word pictures to teach us the most important lessons we can possibly learn.

While it is trivial by comparison, there is a sinister religious proclamation which ultimately arose as a direct result of Shabuwa’-one which poisons one-and-a-half billion souls. To share Yahweh’s message of salvation in the language of the Araps/Arabs (in Acts 2:8-11), an alphabet was required, as Arabs had none at this time. So written Arabic, the language of the Qur’an, was actually created by Syrian Gowym and Yahuwdym who were Followers of the Way for the express purpose of witnessing to the miracle of this day. The resulting "Christian Syriac" alphabet and vocabulary, derived from Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek in the fifth or sixth century CE, ultimately became the tool Satan would use in his most acclaimed recital: the Islamic Qur’an.

Of particular interest in this regard is the fact that most all of the Qur’an’s essential religious terms are actually Greek and Hebrew-not Arabic. And yet, Muslims the world over, unaware of the foreign source of their language, claim that those who don’t read paleo-Arabic (which would include all but a few hundred people worldwide), can’t understand Allah’s message. And yet, the best way to understand the Qur’an (besides reordering it chronologically and setting it into the context of Muhammad’s life as it is revealed in the Hadith/Oral Reports) is to understand the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words which comprise the Qur’anic message.

The basis of Allah’s claim, and the foundation of Islam, is the false notion that Allah, not Yahweh, was the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and Yahshua (whom Allah calls Issa, Arabic for Esau). Allah protests that "his Qur’an confirms the Torah, Prophets, and Gospels," when in fact, Allah’s Qur’anic recital is the antithesis of Yahweh’s Word. Muhammad, for example, as Allah’s lone messenger, violated and negated all ten commandments. Allah even says that "his Qur’an, written in pure Arabic" was "inscribed on tablets before the world was created," and that the reason that the "Torah, Prophets, and Gospels" no longer convey the same message, is that seventh-century CE Jews living in Yathrib, today’s Medina, "changed and corrupted their Scriptures to foil Muhammad."

Therefore, the existence of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the seventy first-, second-, and third-century manuscripts of the Renewed Covenant, prove that the Islamic god was lying. But more than this, it’s unconscionable that the advocates of Islam, a religion which inverts and repudiates Yahweh’s message, claim that the Arabic of the Qur’an is proof of its superiority and to its understanding, when in fact, the means to convey its message was developed by the very people Allah orders Muslims "to wipe out to the last."

These things known, had rabbis, priests, and Christian theologians not removed Yahweh’s name from His Scriptures, Islam would have been stillborn. Even a fool would have been able to recognize that Allah is not Yahweh.

There is still much we can learn from Luke’s account of what happened on Seven Sabbaths, the year of its fulfillment. "But (de) also (kai), all (pas) were astonished (existemi - astounded and amazed beyond comprehension), even (kai) perplexed and puzzled (diaporeo - embarrassed and in doubt, at a loss without sufficient information and understanding to render a rational conclusion), with different people (allos) saying (lego) to (pros) others (allos), ‘What (tis) is (eimi) the purpose of (thelo - the intent and thinking behind) this (houtos)?’" (Acts 2:12)

When it comes to knowing the mind of God there are several paths a person can take. Some simply ignore the quest, preoccupied with their mortal existence or overconfident that man is the highest form of life. Others, like those depicted in this passage, don’t know enough to draw an informed conclusion. And while both of these roads lead to death, and to the destruction of one’s soul upon the completion of their brief mortal existence, there is a far worse fate awaiting those who promote the false notion that "Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Church." There is no "Church" in Scripture, only the miqra’ey and their resulting ekklesia. We have been called out of man’s world and into God’s realm, away from religion and into a familial relationship.

Even today, the secular and the sectarian ridicule the Called-Out Assemblies, belittling them, concealing them, corrupting them, or counterfeiting them. It is why the narrow path to God remains unpopular. "Others (heteros - different people), now (de) poked fun, scoffing, sneering, and mocking (diachleuazo - derided and ridiculed, flapping their lips and running their mouths), saying (legos), ‘It is because they are (hoti eimi) exceptionally full (mestoo - bulging) with sweet wine (gleukos - new wine which is still fermenting).’" (Acts 2:13) In the midst of the Spirit’s defining moment, those tainted by this world, accused those now of another realm, of being inebriated with cheap wine. But alas, the wine which made this gala possible, was as precious as life itself.

Throughout Scripture, we are constantly reminded that we are called to confront lies, exposing and condemning them. We are never asked to be tolerant of deception. "But now (de) Petros stood up (histemi - made a stand so as to enable others to stand) with (syn) the eleven; he raised (epairomai) his voice (phone) and he spoke to (apophthengomai - addressed) them, ‘Jewish (Ioudaios - a transliteration of Yahuwdym, related to Yah) men (andros) and all (pas) who dwell in (katoikeo) Jerusalem (Ierousalem - a transliteration of Yaruwshalaim, the source of restoration), listen carefully to (enotizomai - receive and pay attention to) my words (rhema - voice and message), and let this (houtos) be (eimi) known (gnostos - learned, perceived, and understood as a result of acquiring knowledge) to you..." (Acts 2:14)

There is more to exposing lies advanced by clerical types than condemning the errant dogmas. While Petros refuted their accusations, essentially calling it senseless, he was prepared to explain what was actually occurring. He understood, as few Christians do, that the birth of the Called-Out Assembly was the fulfillment of the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. "...because (gar) they are not (ou) drunk (methuo - intoxicated) in the manner (hos) you suppose (hypolambano - are willing to accept and promote, receive and advance), for indeed (gar) it is (eimi) the third (tritos) hour (hora) of the day (hemera). To the contrary (alla - instead and moreover) this (houtos) exists as (eimi - exactly represents, stands for, and is identical to) the pronouncement (eipon - saying and speech) of (dia) the prophet (prophetes - one who makes something known before it happens) Yow’el (Ioel - a transliteration of Yow’el, a contraction of Yahuweh and ‘el, meaning Yahuweh is God, but rendered Joel):" (Acts 2:15-16)

At this point, Petros actually quoted Yow’el from memory, which reveals a great deal in and of itself. Verses 2:17 through 21 of Acts, cite Joel 2:28 through 32 (also referenced as Joel 3:1-5). But recognizing that Peter didn’t deliver his rebuttal in Greek, but instead in Aramaic, to accurately render what the prophet and disciple said, we will need to reconstruct this Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, using the original language of revelation. And by comparing the texts, we will also become better adept at properly rendering other verses in the Renewed Covenant.

However, since context is an essential element of understanding, before we juxtapose the Hebrew and Greek, it’s appropriate to thumb back a page or two, and then review the Old Covenant prophecy within the context in which it was delivered. The cited portion of Yow’el/Joel pertains to the events of the last days, and to the birth of the ekklesia/called-out assembly on the Called-Out Assembly of Sevens, because it ushers in the final Yowbel/Redemptive era. Then speaking of the final advent of Yahshua, we read: "Yahuweh grants (natan - gives, bestows, and provides) a voice (qowl) to Him (huw’)-to (la) the presence (paneh) of His Mighty One (hayil - singular masculine for vital and powerful force, strong, capable, and vigorous One). Indeed (kiy), enormous (ma’od - exceedingly abundant) is His encampment (machaneh - place where His people camp out). Indeed (kiy) mighty (‘asuwm - vast and powerful, enormously capable) is He who carries out and fulfills (‘asah - fashions and accomplishes) the Word (dabar). For indeed (kiy) great (gadowl - important and intense, massive in magnitude and extent) is the day (yowm - time period) of Yahuweh (yhwh). To the greatest extent possible (ma’od - exceedingly and abundantly), revere (yare’ - venerate and show profound respect for) Him (huw’) who (mah) bears your burdens, lifts you up and carries you away (nasa’). And now (‘atah - at this moment in time) also (gam - surely), declares (ne’um - prophetically affirms) Yahuweh (yhwh), return (suwb - come back to, change your thinking and be restored) to Me forever (‘ad ‘aniy) with (ba) all your heart (lebab) in fasting (tsuwm - abstinence of food), in weeping (beky - sorrow) and in mourning (misped)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:11-12) (With regard to the One we are encouraged to revere, the Masoretic has "He who kuwl - endures, grasps hold of, bears the burdens of others, comforts, protects, and provides the sustenance necessary to survive" rather than nasa’, which is found on the Qumran Scrolls, meaning He who "bears your burdens, lifts you up, and carries you away.")

God wants His people to return to Him by way of His fulfillment of the Word so that we can camp out with Him forever. He wanted the Yahuwdym who were mocking the words of the Set-Apart Spirit on Shabuwa’ to know that the Messiyah they had crucified, still endured and would return. The reference to a limited diet is suggestive of the famines which will ravage the world at this time. Weeping is evocative of the travails of Jerusalem as Armageddon approaches. And mourning is in reference to the Day of Mourning, known to Yahuwdym as Yowm Kippurym-the great day of Yah’s return.

God would continue to plead with His people, using words which would haunt their souls nearly 900 years after they were inscribed: "Tear open (qara’) your hearts (labab) and not (‘al) your garments (begged). Return to Yahuweh (yhwh) your God (‘elohym - Mighty One), because indeed (kiy) He is gracious (hanuwn - compassionate and merciful) and shows favoritism (rahuwm - for the sake of relationship forgives those who deserve to be punished). He is slow to anger (‘arek ‘ap - patient and long-suffering) and great (rab - extensive and abundant) in faithful and steadfast love and affection (hesed - unfailing kindness and favor). Change your attitude and thinking (naham - relent and show regret) over (‘al - concerning and regarding) your wickedness and wrongdoing (ra’ah - disagreeable malignancy, injury, evil and harm). Who (my) knows (yada’ - recognizes and is aware of) the return (suwb - the time of restoration)? Change your attitude and thinking (naham - be sorry and regret what you’ve thought, said, and done, relent) and remain (sa’ar - survive and be spared) thereafter (‘achar - enduring to the end), speaking favorably of and praising (barakah) the gift (minah - offering) and libation (nesek) of (la) Yahuweh (yhwh) your Mighty One (‘elohym - God)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:13-14)

In times like these, the overtly religious Jews who were ridiculing those whom the Set-Apart Spirit had empowered on Shabuwa’, would have been scouring the Word for an explanation of what was occurring. So by quoting a subsequent passage in Yow’el, Petros recognized that his audience would make the same connections I’m going to share with you. The "tear open your hearts, not your garments" was a reference to the rabbis who judged Yahshua. Rather than accepting Him as the corporeal manifestation of Yahweh, they ripped their robes, as the Talmud required, when Yahshua cited Yahweh’s name at His trial.

Unlike religious men, God wants even the religious to know that He is gracious and merciful, and that while these rabbis deserved to be punished for the great evil they had done, He would forgive them-so long as they changed their attitude and thinking. And that is why Yahweh used rab, meaning "great," in this context. He knew that the religious Jews who were assailing His called-out assembly would one day claim the title of rabbi for themselves. And Yah was telling them, and through them us, that the path from religion to relationship is predicated upon changing one’s attitude, one’s thinking, one’s words and deeds.

Yahweh communicated that they not only needed to regret the fact that they had murdered the Messiyah, but also alerted them to the reality that they were equally clueless as to when He would return. So, once again, God encouraged them to change their perspective so that they might be spared, enjoying the hereafter with the very God they had sought to kill. It would indeed be a radical reversal, one which many Yahuwdym actually made on Shabuwa’ in 33 CE, and many more will make forty Yowbel thereafter.

In His parting salvo, Yahweh wanted His accusers to know that the Spirit they were inferring was wine, was actually God’s gift and blessing, the means to the hereafter-representing the Savior’s blood. These were sobering, heart-piercing words, powerful prophetic statements that would surely awaken all but the most stubborn.

In the 18^th verse of the second chapter of Yow’el, God explains that He won’t sit idly by as His Land is ravaged by the Magog Federation of Islamic nations: "Yahuweh (yhwh) is jealous for (qana’ - desires exclusivity and is devoted to) His Land (‘erets) and will show mercy to (hamal - spare and deliver) His family (‘am)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:18)

Then speaking of saved souls (symbolized by grain), atonement (attested to by wine), and the work of the Spirit (represented by oil), we read: "Yahuweh (yhwh) will answer (‘anah - reply and respond), saying (‘amar) to His family (‘am), ‘Look and see (hineh - behold, pay attention to this), I (‘aniy) am sending out (salah - dispatching, reaching out and setting apart) to you grain ready for harvest (dagan), new wine (tiyrowsh - freshly pressed wine), and olive oil (yishar). You will be completely satisfied (saba’ - be filled and enriched, be completed and fulfilled in abundance) with (‘eth) them.’" (Yow’el/Joel 2:19) Yahweh’s solution for humankind’s revolt includes the three things which must be crushed before they are useful. And that is because He sacrificed Himself for our benefit. The "grain and new wine" represent the body and blood of Yahshua, broken and spilled for us on Passover. "Olive oil" is symbolic of the Spirit, who was reunited with Yahshua on FirstFruits, and who plays the starring role in Shabuwa’ and Yowm Kippurym.

After telling us that He Himself will annihilate those who came to destroy Yisra’el and Yahuwdym, God reveals: "Eat and be satisfied (saba’). Shout with joy and extol the greatness of (halal - praise and cheer, crying aloud) the personal and proper name (shem) of Yahuweh (yhwh), your Mighty One (‘elohym - God) who performs (‘asah - extends considerable effort to bring about) and fulfills these amazing feats (pala’ - does these astounding and extraordinary things). My family (‘am) will not (lo’) be ashamed (bows - be emotionally distressed and humiliated, be disgraced and frustrated, be disappointed and disillusioned, be confounded and confused, even be damned and separated) for ever (‘owlam)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:26)

The crime rabbinical Jews have perpetrated on their own people under penalty of death, the very crime to which these egotistic and self-serving deceivers sentenced their Savior to die, that of saying Yahuweh’s name, will be so thoroughly repudiated, God’s family will shout in unison: "Yahuweh," finally giving God credit for all He has done for them. And this simple realization will finally bring the Diaspora to an end. The message is: God requires everything of Himself and very little of us. A little recognition will go a long way.

"Know (yada’ - become aware of, acknowledge, and respect, become familiar with and teach) that indeed (kiy) I am (‘aniy) in (ba) the midst (qereb) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - individuals who strive with, live with, endure with, and are empowered by God). And I (‘aniy), Yahuweh (yhwh) am your God (‘elohym - Mighty One). There is no (‘ayin) other (‘uwd)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:27) Just as God had come to dwell within His ekklesia/called-out assembly on the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths, He can always be found in the midst of those individuals who live with and who are empowered by Him-Yisra’el.

It is within this context that Petros cited the prophet Yow’el, quoting a man whose very name embodied the declaration which ultimately saved the Chosen People: "Yahuweh is God." In the Greek Renewed Covenant we read that the pouring out of the Spirit the world witnessed on Shabuwa’ had been predicted centuries before: "And it shall come to be (eimi - exist in an identical fashion, happen, and come to pass) in (en) the final (eschatos - last in a series (the theological term eschatology is derived from this word) days (hemera), ΘΣ (placeholder for God, the Mighty One as manifest in ‘elohym as opposed to theos) says (lego - affirms and communicates), ‘I will pour out (ekcheomai - shed and bestow, spill and distribute liberally, set forth and give in abundance so as to be fully experienced) from (apo) Me, My (ego) ΠΝΣ (placeholder for Spirit as in ruwach as opposed to pneuma) upon (epi - among) all (pasa) flesh (sarx - physical bodies, on the corporeal mortal nature of humankind). Your sons (huios) and your daughters (thygater) will speak inspired utterances (propheteuo - proclaim what God wants known). Your young men (neaniskos - used of males between twenty-four and forty-years old) shall see visions (horasis - from horao, see with their own eyes, become acquainted with and experience, use their perspective to perceive and understand), and your elders (presbyteros - old men and ranking individuals) will experience supernatural communication from God (enypnion enupniazomai - experience revelations while dreaming).’" (Acts 2:17)

This same passage in the original language of revelation, conveys: "And (wa) it shall come to be (hayah - exist and happen) afterward (‘ahar - next, at a later, and another time), therefore (ken), I will pour out (sapak - shed and spill forth) My Spirit (ruwach - a feminine noun which speaks of the divine power, identity, and acceptance of Yahuweh) on (‘al) all (kol) human flesh (basar - the physical bodies of mortal mankind), and your sons (ben) and your daughters (bath) shall prophesy (naba’ - communicate an inspired message and foretell the future), and your elders (zaqen - aged and prominent individuals) shall become aware of revelations (halowm - gain insights while dreaming) during inspired dreams (halam)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:28 or 3:1)

The message is the same save three glaring exceptions. First, in the Old Covenant text, Yahweh was speaking in first person, and used "I," something Petros was uncomfortable doing in the first line he cited, recognizing that it might be confusing. That is why the Renewed Covenant apostle said "God" or "Mighty One" in either Hebrew or Aramaic.

Second, ruwach, unlike the neuter noun pneuma, is definitely feminine, and thus represents the maternal aspects of God. And that essential distinction is why Spirit is always represented by a placeholder in all Greek manuscripts predating Constantine (as ΠΝΑ, ΠΝΣ, or ΠΝΙ with a horizontal line over the capitalized letters)-telling us where to go to obtain the unvarnished truth. This means that every time we read "Spirit" in an English translation of the Renewed Covenant, we should be aware that the basis of the word was never written out as pneuma, but rather a placeholder was always used telling us that we must turn to the Scriptures for answers.

Third, this pouring out of the Spirit of God was predicted to occur "afterward, at a later date" in the Hebrew text as opposed to in "the last days" in Greek. This difference makes Petros’ citing of the verse especially relevant to the Shabuwa’ fulfillment he was experiencing and defending. And that is particularly significant because once the first four Called-Out Assemblies were fulfilled, the Renewed Covenant differed from the Old Covenant in two subtle ways. During Shabuwa’, God’s Spirit came to reside in everyone who had gathered on the Miqra’, trusting and relying upon the work Yahshua had done, as opposed to God’s Spirit temporarily anointing select individuals at a particular time and for a particular purpose. The other difference is that once the first four Miqra’ey had been fulfilled, they could be observed as they were intended-as living and prophetic metaphors memorializing the path to salvation.

Here, once again, is the next line in the Greek translation of Petros’ Aramaic recital of the Hebrew Scriptures: "Indeed (ge - really and truly), upon (epi) My male servants (doulos - masculine plural denoting the same sense of belonging and relationship as Yahuwdym - those who belong to and are related to Yah) and also upon My female servants (doule - feminine plural denoting a same sense of belonging and relationship). In (en) those (ekeinos) days (hemera - period of time) I will pour out (ekcheomai - shed and bestow, spill and distribute liberally, set forth and give in abundance so as to be fully experienced) from (apo) Me, My (ego) ΠΝΑ (placeholder for Spirit as in ruwach as opposed to pneuma) upon (epi - among) them and they will speak inspired utterances (propheteuo - proclaim what God wants known)." (Acts 2:18)

Since the only difference between the Greek and Hebrew in this verse (Yow’el/Joel 2:29 or 3:2) is "ruwach/Spirit" is written out in Yow’el and pneuma/Spirit is represented by a placeholder in Acts, we can conclude that the Hebrew term is definitive here and throughout the Renewed Covenant. This known, this divine revelation tells us that the Set-Apart Spirit, our Spiritual Mother, is the source of inspired Godly insights.

Moving on to the next sentence Petros recited to those who were criticizing the called-out assembly on the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths, the Greek reads: "And (kai) I will allow and produce (didomi - bestow and permit) wonders and miracles which foreshadow significant upcoming events (teras - omens, marvels, and signs which serve as portent, predicting the future prophetically, things so unusual, they arouse attention and close observation) in (en) the sky (ouranos - atmosphere and universe) above (ano) and signs (semeion - miraculous signals and unusual occurrences which transcend the common course of nature) upon (epi) the earth (ge - land) below (kato): blood (haima), fire (pyr), and (kai) rising clouds of (atmis - steam, billowing vapor, from aer, air and atmospheric) smoke (kapnos)." (Acts 2:19) With these prophetic words we have returned to the realm of the last days-to the Tribulation itself. These signs foreshadow Yahshua’s return.

In comparing the Greek and Hebrew, didomi and natan convey the same range of meanings, indicating that some of these signs God will "produce," and others He will "allow." Considering the number of natural disasters and adverse consequences errantly attributed to "acts of god," such distinctions are important.

The only other difference is that armis, translated "rising clouds of" in reference to smoke, is timarah, "columns or pillars" of smoke in Hebrew. When I visualize "rising clouds and columns of smoke" I think of the mushroom clouds associated with nuclear bombs and of volcanic eruptions. During the last days, both will occur, negatively altering our planet and its atmosphere.

Petros, reading the words of Yow’el, said as much: "The sun (helios) will be changed (metastrepho - turned) to (eis) darkness (skotos - darkened and obscured, made gloomy, from skia, have its light intercepted as in a shadow), and the moon (selene) to (eis) blood (haima) before (prin) the coming (erchomai - arrival and appearance) of the (ho) great (megas - massively important and enormously sizable in all respects) and brilliant, shining, visible manifestation (epiphanies - wonderful, glorious, radiant, illustrious, and notable appearance in clear and full view shining forth as light, from epiphaino, to show oneself, become known, appear, and become visible like a star) day (hemera - time) of ΚΩ (placeholder for Yahuweh, using a contraction of kurios - the Sovereign Authority to whom everything belongs, based upon kuros, conveying total supremacy, but most always conveyed as "LORD")." (Acts 2:20)

The Hebrew is significantly different, and more revealing, in this verse: "The sun (semes) will be overwhelmed (hapak - will be changed, disturbed, weakened, overturned and proven unreliable) by (la) darkness (hosek - obscured and darkened, dimmed and concealed) and the moon (yareh) to (la) blood (dam) before (paneh - in the presence and appearance of) the coming (bow’ - approaching), great (gadowl - massively important and enormously sizable in magnitude and extent), reverent, and frightening (yare’ - profoundly respectful and awesomely dreadful) day (yowm) of Yahuweh (yhwh)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:31 or 3:4)

There are three glaring differences between the Greek translation and the Hebrew original. First, rather than using the common Hebrew words for "change," muwr or shanah, or even shub, naham, tamuwrah, halaph, or haliyphah, Jow’el wrote: hapak when predicting what will happen to the sun. It invokes the idea that the sun, as Satan’s most popular guise, will be "overturned and be proven unreliable" in the last days. Its illumination, as well as its influence, will be "dimmed and obscured" by the arrival of the Greater Light-Yahshua. As such, it will be the last hurrah for "Allahu Akbar!"-Allah is the Greatest.

Just as the sun isn’t going to be extinguished, merely darkened in the aftermath of nuclear holocaust, an asteroid strike, and the billowing smoke which will rise from the torching of the Middle East’s oil fields at the conclusion of the Magog War, the moon won’t turn into blood, but rather will reflect a diminished reddish-brown aura. If you have ever seen the moon during a full eclipse, or viewed it through air saturated with smoke, you’ll recognize this depiction. And it is an important one, because if the light reflected off of the moon’s surface is diminished by global atmospheric pollution of this magnitude, observing a new moon, especially in the seventh month of the seventh year of the Tribulation, will be impossible. The first emerging crescent is already hard to see, as it occurs briefly just before sunset, low on the horizon through the greatest density of air, and it is always in competition with the source of its light-the sun. Therefore, for those who survive long enough to witness the fulfillment of Yowm Kippurym with Yahweh’s return, and then the Miqra’ of Sukah, and the initiation of the Millennial Sabbath, they won’t be able to actually see the first crescent of the new moon which not only designates Taruw’ah, but also determines the arrival of the Day of Reconciliations ten days later, followed by the final and seventh Called-Out Assembly of Shelters celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month. This gives new meaning to "no one knows the day or the hour."

The second significant difference between the Greek and Hebrew text is that while both renditions agree with the fact that Yahweh’s Yowm Kippurym return will be "great" as in "megas and gadowl - massively important and enormously sizable in all respects, both in magnitude and extent," they differ considerably with regard to what follows. The Greek suggests that this day will be distinguished because God will be undiminished, and will arrive as "a brilliant shining visible manifestation, a wonderful, glorious, radiant, and illustrious appearance in clear and full view shining forth as light, becoming visible like a star." And no doubt, that will be true, as He will return closer to His natural state. The result of which will be to instantly vaporize those anywhere near Him who are not protected by the Set-Apart Spirit’s Garment of Light. And as such, the Yowm Kippurym warning that those who don’t accept Yahweh’s summons to approach our Spiritual Mother on this day will be annihilated, takes on an added significance.

The Hebrew, however, uses one of the Old Covenant’s most mistranslated and least understood terms to paint the scene from a different perspective. Yare’ can mean "revere" or "fear." And that means for some, for those who have followed Yahweh’s seven-step path home, and who have received the Set-Apart Spirit in the spirit of Seven Sabbaths, they will view the Day of Reconciliations with all of the "reverence" it deserves, "profoundly respectful" of their Heavenly Father and the work He has done to bring them into His family.

But, those who have come to destroy Yisra’el, and to kill Yahuwdym, the sudden, unexpected, and brilliant appearance of Yahweh will be "awesomely dreadful," literally "frightening" them to death.

In the end, all of us will come to see God in one of two ways. Some will respect and revere Him, and for those who do, He will reciprocate, moving over on His throne so that they can sit beside Him. For those secular humanists who reject God, and religious devotees who have been taught to fear Him, they will find their judgment before God to be a dreadful affair. Yare’ defines both conditions, which is why its shadings are perfectly suited to describe the varying perspectives souls will surely have on this extraordinary day.

Speaking of this time, it is not "the great and awesome day of the LORD," as your KJV, NASB, or NIV protest. The Greek word kurios cannot be found in the text of any first-, second-, or third-century manuscripts of the Renewed Covenant, Petros didn’t speak Greek, and Yahuweh’s name is clearly evident in the Hebrew verse the Apostle was quoting. At issue here is that God has but one name, Yahweh, a name He wants us to know and use because it alone can be relied upon for salvation. Moreover, Yahweh hates being called "Lord" because that title is Satan’s, as it defines the Adversary’s ambitions, not God’s.

In that there are few things more important than avoiding replacing Yahweh’s name with the title "the LORD," I want to pause a moment and ponder Yahweh’s pained words to His people in Hosea. Speaking of Yisra’el, God begins: "Let her therefore turn away from (suwr - change direction, move on a different path, be removed from, forsake, reject, and abolish) illicit relationships with a false deities (zenuniym - religious infidelity, adultery, and especially idolatry,) away from her [Yisra’el’s] presence." (Hosea 2:2-3)

Speaking of the Whore of Babylon’s influence on the Children of Yisra’el, Yahweh revealed: "Their mother wantonly committed adultery and idolatry (zanah - was a harlot and a whore). She who conceived them made a serious mistake (bowsh - did something wrong and lost hope by acting shamefully). She said, ‘I will go after my lovers that provide my bread, my water, my wool, my linen, my oil, and my drink.’" (Hosea 2:4-5)

As a result of following Satan’s and man’s religious path, rather than Yahweh’s Way, God said: "Therefore, behold (hineh - I call your attention to this change of scene, emphasizing it) I will hedge up (suk - fence in, erect a restraining barrier, and block) your path (derek - pattern of life) with thorns, closing it off so that she shall not find or attain her way (natiyb - path of life conceived by men)." (Hosea 2:6) Because: "She did not discern (da’ah - acknowledge information that requires wisdom) that I gave long lasting grain, and new wine, and olive oil, and increased her silver and gold, which they assigned to Lord Ba’al." (Hosea 2:8) If you turn to the "Azab - Abandonment" chapter of the Going Astray volume of Yada Yahweh, you will find a long discussion on the origins and nature of Lord Ba’al, and thereby more fully appreciate why Yahweh consistently used the term to define the Adversary and his satanically-inspired religions.

Divorcing His Chosen People for their infidelity, Yahweh warned that upon His redemptive advent (His sixth of seven, and the one in which religious Jews elected to crucify their Messiyah): "Therefore I will return and take away My grain at the occasion of change, and my new wine at the appointed time (mowed), and spare my wool and linen that would have kept her nakedness hidden." (Hosea 2:9)

Then speaking of the Babylonian-inspired Ba’alym religious celebrations which had crept into the Jewish calendar, and His people’s infidelity with regard to the Covenant, Yahweh predicted: "And now will I reveal her lewdness and shame in the sight of her lovers (ahab - those with whom she has formed a relationship) and none shall save (nasal - deliver or rescue) her out of My hand (yad - power or authority). I shall cause a cessation of all her celebrations, her religious feasts, her new moon religious festivals, and her sabbaths, and all her appointed assemblies." (Hosea 2:10-11) God isn’t tolerant of religious observances-especially when they conceal, corrupt, or counterfeit His Miqra’ey / Called-Out Assemblies as most Jewish and Christian religious festivals do.

The Familial Relationship predicated upon marriage and home, and known as the "Covenant," required fidelity to yield blessings. So there was a consequence of cavorting with Lord Ba’al: "I will destroy (shamem - leave desolate, lay waste and ravage, ruin and abandon) her vines and her fig trees, whereof she has said, ‘These are my gratuities (etenal - payments for being a prostitute, the quid pro quo rewards) associated with loving people (ahab - coveting things and bribes) given to me.’ But I intend to turn them into a thicket, and the beasts of the field shall devour them." (Hosea 2:12) And so it would be. The Temple was torn down in 70 CE, and the Land was salted and destroyed by the Romans between 133 and 135 as a result of Jews rejecting the Covenant.

While this is a warning to the Jews, predicting the nearly 2,000-year Diaspora, it should be equally disturbing to Christians: "I will take an inventory of (peqad - recount) her days in association with (‘asher) Lords (Ba’alym - false gods), wherein she caused incense and sacrifices to rise up in smoke, and she went on the prowl in search of prey in a beguiling way with her loop earrings (nezem - ornamental rings and circles which separate) and her jewelry associated with harlotry, and she went out after (halak ahar - walked with, followed, and joined) her lovers (ahab - formed a relationship with others, desiring objects and coveting things). And she forgot Me, becoming lame and crippled, says Yahuweh (yhwh)." (Hosea 2:13)

But divorced was not forgotten. Verses 14 through 16 describe a doorway and path from the wilderness back home to the Promised Land which Yahweh promised to leave open, hoping and knowing that His Chosen People would one day return. Speaking of that day, God said: "And it shall be at that day, declares Yahuweh (yhwh), that you shall call Me husband (ishi - extant, present, in existence, the Mighty One); and shall call Me (qara - summon Me as and read aloud) My Lord (ba’ali) never again (halo owd - no more and no longer). For I will remove and reject the names of the Lords (Ba’alym - false gods) out of her mouth, and they shall be proclaimed (zakar - remembered, recalled, and mentioned) by their name no more." (Hosea 2:16-17)

So at the time of reconciliation, on the Day of Reconciliations, at the terminus of the intermission, on the day Yisra’el’s long divorce is reconciled, at the reestablishment of the Covenant, and upon God’s long-awaited return to Earth, Yahuwdym will call Yahuweh "Ishi - Husband." The bride will have returned from her flirtations with Lord Ba’al. This means that the Jews who survive the Tribulation will acknowledge that Yahuweh manifest Himself as a man-as the Messiyah Yahshua-to save them. It means that they will come to recognize that God exists and that His name is Yahweh-not "Lord." They will become reacquainted, so to speak. And it means that Yahweh and His Yahuwdym will be remarried-signaling the resumption of the olam beriyth-the eternal covenant.

And while this glorious and magnificent chorus is the doorway to salvation, what follows is so sad it makes me want to cry and scream all at the same time. At this great celebration of reconciliation, upon His glorious return, the thing Yahweh cherishes most is never being called "Lord" again. That means when the rabbis, priests and pastors scratched His name out of His Scripture 7,000 times, replacing it with "LORD," God was and remains in agony. Yahweh longs for a time that "Lord" will never again be spoken, remembered, or read.

Returning to the Acts of the Apostles and Spirit, one of the most important parts of Petros’ recital of Yow’el is contained in what comes next. As we discovered in Yow’el 2:26, nothing is more essential to our salvation than boldly proclaiming Yahweh’s name. "And it shall come to pass (eimi - be that) all (pas - everyone) who (hos), and as many as (an - used as a preposition to present a possibility), call upon (epikaleomai - ask for help in and bear) the (ho) personal and proper name (onoma) of ΚΩ (Yahuweh) will be saved (sozo - rescued, delivered, restored, and healed)." (Acts 2:20)

In Hebrew, this essential passage reads: "And (wa) it shall come to be (hayah - exist) that everyone (kol - all) who relationally (‘asher) calls out (qara’ - summons and proclaims, reads aloud and recites) in (ba) the personal and proper name (shem) Yahuweh (yhwh), shall be saved (malat - be rescued and delivered, be spared and slip away, escaping from harm, their life preserved)..." (Yow’el/Joel 2:32 or 3:5)

It is so obvious, it’s a wonder that theologians, clerics, and scholars have dumbfounded so many for so long. "Lord" is a title, not a "personal and proper name," and thus cannot be used in this context. Not only isn’t the definite article "the" included in the Greek text, eliminating the possibility that the ΚΩ placeholder stood for "the Lord," by design, a name, the name, is all that fits.

Eimi and pas are appropriate translations of hayah and kol, albeit, hayah, not eimi, forms the basis of Yahweh’s name as it defines His nature. Hos, however, is an inadequate translation of ‘asher, in that the Hebrew term is "relational," and thereby adds an essential insight excluded from the Greek. And I suppose, that is why Petros included the prepositional an in his citation, inferring that salvation was conditional, and that something had to be done, namely a relationship formed, before the possibility became a reality.

"Call upon" in Greek adds an accurate additional nuance in that it speaks of "asking for help using a particular name." Further, epikaleomai conveys a "desire to bear the name," because those who call upon Yahuweh become Yahuwdym.

In Hebrew, two words are used to describe the means to salvation: qara’ ba, meaning to "call out in" the name Yahuweh. Qara’, as we have become aware, forms the basis of Miqra’, designating the Called-Out Assembly being celebrated this day as the Spirit came upon the ekklesia.

Additionally, qara’ tells us that we are to "summon and proclaim" Yahweh’s name, "reading it aloud and reciting" it if we want to be saved. And that’s hard to do when you don’t know it, and when it has been removed 7,000 times from the very Scriptures which provide the path to salvation.

While Petros had concluded his citation of Yow’el, Yahweh wasn’t finished "...because indeed (kiy) on (ba) Mount (har) Tsyown (tsyown - the signpost on the way) and in (ba) Yaruwshalaim (yaruwshalaim - the source of salvation) deliverance (paleytah - the escape for the remnant and remainder, the survivors from oppression and captivity) will be (hayah) equated to (ka - and be in accord with) relationally (‘asher) saying (‘amar - answering and claiming, calling and declaring, speaking and requesting) Yahuweh (yhwh). The remaining survivors (saryd - the remnant) relationally (‘asher) call out to (qara’ - summon and proclaim, read aloud and recite) Yahuweh (yhwh)." (Yow’el/Joel 2:32 or 3:5)

What follows, ties Yahweh’s return and the restoration of His people together: "Look and see (hinneh - pay attention), because indeed (kiy) in (ba) that day (yowm), and during (ba) that particular time (‘eth - that specific and definite point), relationally (‘asher) I will return and restore (suwb - come back to the place I had previously left to renew) the fortunes (sebuwt - freeing people from oppression, suppression, and captivity), for Yahuwdah (yahuwdah - those related to Yah who bear His name) and Yaruwshalaim (yaruwshalaim - the source of salvation)." (Yow’el/Joel 3:1 or 4:1)

The rest of Yow’el goes on to describe Armageddon, referring to the gathering of militants and their weapons as "an abundance of riches, rumbling, commotion, tumult, uproar and confusion from a multitude of troops (hamon hamon) in the valley (‘emeq - low geographical area) of decision (harus), for the day of Yahuweh is near in the valley (‘emeq) of the decision (harus - of making a choice to be on one side of a sharp divide or the other, to be cut free, and to be judged and punished)." (Yow’el/Joel 3:14 or 4:14) For most of man’s existence, mortal souls were free to select one of three fates. Those who chose to rely upon Yahweh would live forever with Him. Those who sided with Satan, as those in the valley of decision had done, would endure forever in the Abyss with the Adversary. And while most souls would simply cease to exist at the end of their mortal lives, that option will not being afforded to the rumbling, tumultuous, and confused multitude who had come to annihilate Yahweh’s Chosen People. It was decision time, and they had all expressed theirs by way of the company they had chosen and the mission they had engaged upon.

Scripture paints Yahweh as patient, always waiting until the last possible moment, giving people every opportunity to change before usurping their freewill, and demonstrably intervening as He eventually must in human affairs. But to fulfill the final two Miqra’ey, and to save a remnant of Yahuwdym from having the Adversary and his associates destroy the Promised Land, and all life on Earth, He will arrive a heartbeat before we annihilate ourselves and the planet to save the day. Because of the damage we have done, "The sun (semes) and moon (yareh) will grow dark (qadar - have their light obscured) and stars (kokab) will withdraw (‘asap - experience a gathering in or harvest of) their brightness (nagah - splendor and radiance), and Yahuweh (yhwh) will shout (sa’ag - roar) from (min) Tsyown (tsyown - the signpost on the way) and from (min) Yaruwshalaim (yaruwshalaim - the source of restoration) deploying (natan - producing, giving, and bestowing) His voice (qowl), shaking (ra’as) the heavens (samayim) and the earth (‘erets - land). Then (wa) Yahuweh (yhwh) will be a shelter (mahseh - refuge of safety from danger) for (la) His (huw’) family (‘am), protecting (ma’oz - sheltering my means of an enclosed encampment) the Children (ben) of Yisra’el (yisra’el - those who strive with and are empowered by God). And you will know (yada’ - recognize and acknowledge, respect and understand, realize and become familiar with, be aware and discover) that indeed (kiy - surely and truly) I (‘aniy), Yahuweh (yhwh), your God (‘elohym), live (sakan - dwell, remain, settle, and camp) in (ba) Tsyown, My (‘aniy) set-apart (qodesh - purifying and cleansing) mountain (har), and I will continue to exist (hayah) in the set-apart and cleansed (qodesh) Yaruwshalaim. Unauthorized and illegitimate strangers (zar - foreigners and aliens, children born of another mother and father) shall not (lo’) pass over (‘abar) into (ba) her (huw’)." (Yow’el/Joel 3:15-16 or 4:15-16)

In this passage, Yahweh has transitioned from themes of reconciliation upon His return on the Day of Reconciliations, to providing shelter on Sukah/Shelters, because one Miqra’ flows to the next, one leading to the other. Just as the first four Called-Out Assemblies have been fulfilled in the right way, on the right day, and in the right order, giving birth to the ekklesia/called-out assembly, the final three Miqra’ey will also be fulfilled, restoring the Children of Yisra’el as they begin the Millennial Sabbath, camping out with God for one thousand years.

The whole story has been brought to its conclusion. Everyone who has survived His glorious return will yada’ Yahweh, they will "know, recognize and acknowledge, respect and understand, realize and discover that being qodesh/set-apart unto God and cleansed was the purpose of Shabuwa’. From this time forward, only those whose mother and father are our Spiritual Mother and Heavenly Father will be afforded the opportunity to camp out on the set-apart mountain and set-apart city. Those who did not avail themselves of Passover when they had the opportunity, will be excluded as strangers.

Petros continued to give the religious zealots who were mocking the work of the Set-Apart Spirit on Shabuwa’ an earful, intermixing Scriptural citations with sound conclusions. It is the example we should follow on this Miqra’ as well as on all others.

After having connected the pouring forth of the Set-Apart Spirit upon humankind on the Called-Out Assembly of Sevens with the prediction that it would occur in Joel, Peter told his audience that the prophecies pertaining to Yahweh’s return indicated not only that He had been here before, but that Yahshua embodied the manifestation they had witnessed.

During this process, the disciple told those who made saying Yahweh’s name a crime punishable by death that God actually said the opposite: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of Yahuweh shall be saved." And it was along these lines that He pressed forward with this analysis: "Yisra’elite (Israelites - a transliteration of Yisra’elite) men (andros), pay attention to and understand (akouo - hear what I have to say and receive) these words (logos - statements, treatise, and reasoning): ΙΝΥ (placeholder for Yahushua, meaning Yah Saves) the Nazarene (Nazoraios - a transliteration of natsyr, meaning preserved, netser, branch (a Messianic symbol from Isaiah 11:1), and nazar, to separate and set apart), is a man (andros) who publicly demonstrated (apodeiknymi - showed, attested, and proved, using sound arguments to expose and demonstrate) to (eis) you (sy) that He is from (apo) ΘΣ (placeholder for Yahuweh, our God) using supernatural powers and abilities (dynamis - an inherent capacity) to perform extraordinary miracles with prophetic significance (teras - wonders which foreshadow that which is to come and are so unusual, they arouse close observation). These are signs (semeion - nonverbal means of communication, distinguishing omens portending remarkable events which transcend the common course of nature and authenticate the individual) which (hos) ΘΣ (placeholder for our God, Yahuweh) performed (poieomai - assigned and worked) through (dia) Him (autos) in your midst (mesos) as (kathos) you know (oida - possess sufficient information to comprehend and understand)." (Acts 2:22)

Yahshua not only performed countless miracles, many of which were extraordinary, they all served to convey aspects of His nature and purpose. Moreover, each time He did something no other person had ever done, He demonstrated that He was indeed God. And since Yahweh clearly said that He would be "returning," Yahshua represents the lone credible candidate for the preceding advent. And that is why this conclusion followed the Yow’el citation.

What’s more, Yahshua was the only individual in human history who even attempted to fulfill the prophetic plan Yahweh had so carefully delineated. "He was appointed to (horizo - determined, set, decreed, and foreordained to fulfill) the pre-arranged and prophetic (prognosis - the predestined and previously revealed and known) plan and purpose (boule) of ΘΣ (placeholder for Yahuweh, our God)..." (Acts 2:23) Petros has just articulated the thesis statement of Yada Yahweh. Yahweh designed and disclosed His plan and purpose in the Old Covenant-the salvation of humankind-and Yahshua fulfilled and facilitated that plan in the Renewed Covenant.

With Calvinism on the rise in the West, I’d like to make an important distinction here. Yahweh’s response to man, even Yahshua’s words and deeds, were predetermined-inscribed in stone and unchangeable-before the universe was created. Man’s response to God, and our words and deeds, are always subject to freewill. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to ignore God’s plan, serve a god of man’s making, accept Yahweh, or reject Him.

Within the realm of prophecy, there are certain things which Yahweh has preordained-the fulfillment of the Miqra’ey for example. The things which God has promised to do, will be accomplished on the stage of human history in complete accord with Scripture, in order, and on the predetermined day, regardless of mankind’s response. Yahweh is committed in this regard, and no longer has any option.

Other prophecies simply report that which mankind will do with the continued exercise of freewill. In such cases, Yahweh has been to our future and is reporting back to us what He has seen, so that when it happens as He witnessed it, we will trust His witness. So, while Yahweh was certain that Yahuwdym would return to Yisra’el in the last days as a result of the Holocaust, He had no hand in those horrific events. Individual men and women made poor decisions, squandering the gift of freewill, and the consequences where devastating. Such will continue to be the case over the next two dozen years. Just because Yahweh knows the future as it relates to mankind, it doesn’t mean that we are predestined to act badly.

What follows is as brilliantly worded, as is that which preceded it. "...He was betrayed and given over (ekdotos - delivered and handed over) to (dia) the hand (cheir - power, influence, authority, and control) of lawless heathens (anomos - pagans destitute of the Torah) who chose to take control and lift Him up (anaireo - to do away with and destroy, from haireomai, to choose to control), affixing Him (prospegnumi)." (Acts 2:23) While prospegnumi is most always translated "crucify," this Greek word, unlike stauroo, "to be nailed to an upright pole," simply means to "affix and to fasten." The lifting up aspect of what occurred was communicated by anaireo. Petros’ evidently wanted to make the same distinction I did-that men had a choice even though God didn’t. The actions of those who on Shabuwa’ were scoffing at the Spirit, and who fifty-one days earlier on Pesach had mocked the Messiyah, becoming accessories to His crucifixion, were not to be excused or condoned as if they were predestined to reject God.

As an interesting aside, it is worth noting that the preponderance of Catholic sculptures and paintings depict Yahshua in one of two ways, attached to His mother as an infant, or helplessly attached to a cross. It is as if the Catholic hierarchy has chosen to control Him in that way. They are quietly saying: if He cannot take care of Himself, why would you trust Him to take care of you?" And that leads to: "Trust us instead with your soul."

"ΘΩ (placeholder for Yahuweh) restored Him to life, caused Him to stand up, and raised Him (anistamai), releasing and dismissing Him (lou - loosening Him and setting Him free) from the suffering and pain (odin - agony and labor pangs) of death and separation (thanatos - the separation of the soul from the body and from God) because (kathoti) it was not (ou) possible (dynatos) for Him to exist (eimi) held and influenced (krateo - seized) by (hypo - under) these things." (Acts 2:23) There are few things in Scripture more complicated or insightful than what actually transpired on Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits as it relates to Yahshua’s body, soul, and Spirit. And since an entire volume of Yada Yahweh (Salvation) is devoted to this topic, suffice it to say for now: Yahshua’s mortal body was sacrificed as the Passover Lamb. His Spirit returned to Yahweh just prior to His death because Yah’s Spirit cannot die. During Unleavened Bread, a Sabbath in 33 CE, Yahshua’s soul descended into the place of separation, called Sheowl, to redeem us, keeping us from being separated from God. But Yahweh saw to it that Yahshua’s soul was freed, retrieved, and reunited with His body and His Spirit on FirstFruits. And it is all of these things that Petros is summarizing here.

The Apostle’s Shabuwa’ soliloquy was advanced by way of a second Old Covenant citation, this time from the 16^th Psalm. But so as to better understand why he selected it, let’s begin our examination by studying the entire Psalm from which the excerpt was taken. Peter didn’t cite it in a vacuum so we shouldn’t approach it out of context either.

It begins: "A written psalm (miktam - an inscribed poem and prayer) of Dauwid (dauwid - love and beloved): Keep and protect me (samar ‘aniy - revere and care for me, watch over and guard me, cling to and preserve me) God (‘el) because (kiy - for the reason that) I trust in and rely upon You (hasah ba ‘antah - I seek shelter and take refuge, trusting in You). I say (‘amar - promise and declare) to (la) Yahuweh (yhwh), my (‘any) Upright One (‘eden / ‘edon - my foundation and the established and firm pillar of my tabernacle, and the base upon which I stand), You (‘atath) are good to (tabah - kind, gracious, and generous to) me (‘aniy) because of You, not me (bal ‘al’atath - not because of who I am, but because of who You are)." (Psalm 16:1-2)

Another way to phrase the last line would be: "I have no goodness besides You." In other words, David is correctly stating that his righteousness isn’t his doing, but God’s. This known, there are two essential insights in this passage. First, David is depending upon Yahweh protecting Him for no other reason than he is trusting and relying upon God to do so. And that is always sufficient.

Second, while the NASB begins the second verse with "I said to the LORD, ‘Thou art my LORD,’" ‘adonay, one of two Hebrew words for "lord," doesn’t actually appear in the text-not even in the lord-loving Masoretic. While the first "LORD" comes by way of the standard replacement of Yahuweh’s name perpetrated by scholars and publishers, the second insertion is a unique travesty. In this case the Masoretes actually pointed ‘edon correctly, clearly conveying that David was referring to Yahweh as the "Upright One"-one of the most insightful titles attributed to God in the whole of Scripture. It conveys that Yahweh is the "foundation upon which we are established." He is the reliable and firm pillar of our tabernacle." God is "the base upon which we stand." He is the one who stood up for us so that we could stand with Him.

This realization is especially significant with regard to the incessant insertions of "Lord" in the Renewed Covenant where it does not belong. Based upon this verse, and many others, to be consistent and accurate, we are compelled to replace the ΚΣ, ΚΥ, and ΚΩ placeholders when they appear in the text with either "Yahweh" or "Upright One," depending upon which better suits the context of the discussion. And for this reason alone, our review of the Psalm based upon Peter’s Shabuwa’ quotation of it, has borne valuable fruit.

"Concerning (la) the set-apart (qodesh - cleansed and purified) who are (‘asher) in (ba) the Land (‘erets - realm and world), they (hem) are all (kol) majestic (‘adiyr - illustrious, glorious, noble, and magnificent), and I delight (hepes - take pleasure and enjoyment associating) with (ba) them." (Psalm 16:3) David is not so egotistical that he thinks that he is the lone apple of Yahweh’s eye, but knows that all of God’s children are beautiful. While we may be flawed, and while every good thing we possess is of God, because of what He has done, we are all "illustrious, glorious, and magnificent" from our Heavenly Father’s perspective. And since this is Shabuwa’, it is important to note that we must credit our Spiritual Mother, and Her Garment of Light, for our spiritual glow.

"The sufferings and anxieties (‘asebeth - sorrows and grief, anguish and pain, and the unfavorable circumstances) will be numerous and substantial (rabah - great) for those (hem) who impetuously chase after (mahar - rashly and hurriedly, energetically without thought or reason pursue) another (‘aher). I will not (bal) pour their drink offerings (nasak) of blood (dam) and will not (bal) lift up (nasa’ - respect or honor, exalt or bear) their names (shem) on (‘al) my lips (sapah)." (Psalm 16:4) What’s particularly profound here, especially in this context, is that ‘adonay, the rabbinic replacement for ‘edon, is the name of a pagan god-in this case "Adonis." Moreover, ba’al, the other Hebrew word for "Lord," is Satan’s Scriptural title because it defines his ambition. Therefore, we ought not respect or honor the title "Lord." In fact, other than to criticize and condemn its use, the name and title "Lord" ought never cross our lips.

"Yahuweh (yhwh) allots and provides (menath - assigns and gives, prepares and apportions) my share, fate, and inheritance (heleq - reward), my crucible (kuwr - source of purification). You uphold and secure (tamak - personally take hold of and control, you accept and receive) my fate (goral - lot as in casting black and white stones to determine an outcome, recompense and retribution)." (Psalm 16:5)

With the required cultural baggage buried under a few thousand years of debris, most miss the significance of this passage. A goral was a lot, something which was cast to determine one’s fate. Usually comprised of black and white pebbles, white was indicative of a favorable outcome. So by using this phrase, David was saying three things. First, Yahweh was "upholding and securing" his destiny.

Second, Yahweh was accepting and receiving David’s recompense and retribution, which is to say, He was redeeming him by accepting his punishment. Such is the message of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

Third, by saying that Yahweh would personally take hold of David’s lot-his white stone-the psalmist is telling us that God is going to intervene to assure our salvation. Yahshua said this very thing in His open prophetic letter to the Assembly in Pergamos-the seat of Satan. Of issue with Pergamos was that they were a "place where the control and power of the doctrines and teachings (public religious instructions) of Balaam (a transliteration of the name of the false and demonic Babylonian prophet known as "the Lord") are taught (delivered as a discourse from an official teacher, preacher, or politician)." But, for the Philadelphians who avoided and disdained this religious rhetoric, and who relied upon Yahweh instead of Lord Ba’al, Yahshua said: And I will give to (grant and bestow, furnish and deliver to) him a light (that which is white, bright and brilliant) acquittal stone and invitation (a white rock which was used in courts to designate a favorable verdict)." (Revelation 2:17)

Returning to the Psalm, while there is no mention of a tent or ship in what follows, David has resumed using poetic terminology which requires the addition of some words to convey his intent. In the lingo of a sailor or explorer, he is saying that the wind and sun have always been at his back and that his destinations have been divine. "The cords of my tent and the rigging of my ship (hebel - ropes, cords, and lines) have fallen (naphal) for (la) me in (ba) beautiful and pleasant places (na’ym - favorable and acceptable circumstances), so surely (‘ap - therefore too) my inheritance (nahalah) will be pleasing and delightful (sapar - thoroughly enjoyable glistening, bright, and beautiful) for me." (Psalm 16:6) David is expecting paradise to be pleasant, especially since our inheritance comes from God.

"I am blessed (barak) by (‘eth) Yahuweh (yhwh) who relationally (‘asher) advises me (ya’as - provides counsel), yea also (‘aph - even) instructs (yasar - teaches and disciplines, corrects and trains) my innermost being (kilyah - my emotions and attitude) during times of darkness (laylah - the night)." (Psalm 16:7) This is a reference to our Spiritual Counselor and Advisor, the Set-Apart Spirit-Shabuwa’s star attraction.

This brings us to the beginning of Petros’ second Seven Sevens quotation in defense of the work of the Spirit. "I continually (tamyd - consistently and perpetually) set (sawah - place and thereby come to resemble) Yahuweh (yhwh) before (neged - beside and nearby) me, because (kiy) at (min) His right side (yamyn - right hand) I will not (bal) stagger or fall (mowt - be shaken, deviate from the right path, or be separated from Him)." (Psalm 16:8) This is great advice for all of us. It explains why this passionate, albeit flawed, rascal was so loved by God, and how he was able to accomplish great things in difficult times.

Luke’s Greek translation of Petros’ Aramaic rendition of the Hebrew passage reads as follows: "For (gar - because) ΔΔ (placeholder for Dauwid, meaning love, using the Greek transliteration Dauid) said (lego - declared and affirmed) of (eis) Him (autos), ‘I foresee (proorao) ΚΩ (placeholder for Yahuweh using kurios, the Supreme Authority and the Upright One) in front of (enopion - and before) me (ego) always (pas) on my behalf (dia) because (hoti) from (ek - out of and because of) His right hand (dexios - authority) I will not be (me eimi) shaken or swayed (saleuomai - be overthrown or distressed)." (Acts 2:25) This translation of Psalm 16:8 provides yet another undeniable confirmation that many, if not most, of the placeholders for kurios are only correctly represented when they are replaced with Yahweh’s name.

While we are on this topic, the irrational explanation scholars use to dismiss the ubiquitous existence of placeholders throughout all seventy of the pre-Constantine first-, second-, and third-century manuscripts of the Greek Renewed Covenant is similar to their justification for replacing Yahweh’s name 7,000 times with "Lord" in the Old Covenant. They claim that the scribes had so much respect for the names and titles Yahweh, Yahshua, Spirit, Father, Son, Messiyah, and Lord, that they devised a scheme of placeholders to dignify their Divine status. But if that were so, then why was "Dauid" conveyed using the same system? After all, Peter’s whole point was that David wasn’t Divine, which meant that he was speaking of Yahshua. And more telling still, if the notion of "Divine respect" were God’s idea, why did He see to it that all of these names and titles were written out without exception, tens-of-thousands of times in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms?

There is only one, informed, rational, and consistent conclusion which can be drawn regarding the use of placeholders throughout the Renewed Covenant Writings: God prefers His Hebrew names and titles because they each convey an essential message which is lost in the conversion to another language. Dauwid means "love and beloved," and as such gives considerable meaning to the nature of his kingdom from God’s perspective. His name helps us understand why Yahweh was so enamored with him.

David proclaimed: "Therefore (ken), my heart (leb) is elated (samah - is joyous), rejoicing (gyl - jubilant and delighting) at my glorious reward (kabowd - abundance and splendor as in the manifestation of power and respect). My flesh (basar) also (‘ap) is abiding (sakan - remaining, living, and dwelling) by means of (la) trust and reliance (batch - in security and safety),..." (Psalms 16:9) We should all be appreciative of the reward Yahweh is offering those who choose to trust and rely upon Him. In our resurrected state, our existence will be akin to Yahshua’s-a spiritual being reunited with our consciousness/soul and flesh.

The Greek translation is reasonably similar: "Therefore (dia), my heart (kardia) rejoices (euphrainomai - celebrates), and my tongue (glossa - language and speech) delights (agalliao) that also (eti) my flesh (sarkos) will abide and endure (kataskenoo - live) as a result of (epi) a confident and trusting expectation (elpis),...." (Acts 2:26)

Before we consider the next verse Petros quoted, be aware that there are two sections of Sheowl, Abraham’s bosom, which is where those who have chosen the Covenant will reside, and the section which serves as a holding facility for those souls who are awaiting judgment. David would have dwelled in Abraham’s section of Sheowl from the time he died, to the time he was gathered into heaven during the FirstFruits Harvest following Yahshua’s resurrection. So, the first part of this next passage is accurate as it relates to the king, in that his soul was not abandoned, but instead retrieved by God.

However, David, was not always "loyal and faithful," and his body most assuredly "decomposed" in his grave. So the second portion of this verse could not possibly pertain to him-and that was Peter’s point. Only Yahshua, the "Set-Apart and Godly One who was loyal and faithful," experienced death without the resulting "decay" which naturally occurs in a grave. And while the Messiyah’s soul experienced Sheowl, going there on Matsah to redeem us, it too was retrieved by God on Bikuwrym.

In this light, please consider: "...because (kiy) my soul (nepesh - consciousness) will not (lo’) be abandoned and be left behind (‘azab - be separated and deserted, rejected and forsaken) to (la) Sheowl (Sheowl - the realm of the dead and place of questioning). You will not (lo’) give (natan - place and assign) Your loyal and faithful (hasid / hesed - Set-Apart and Godly One) to see (ra’ah - or experience) decay (sahat - decomposition in the grave),..." (Psalms 16:10)

Luke’s Greek translation of Petros’ Hebrew recital of this verse adds an interesting confirmation: "...because (hoti) my soul (psyche - consciousness) will not (ou) be utterly forsaken and totally abandoned (egkataleipo - be left behind and deserted) in Hades (hades - the abode of the dead). Neither (oude) will Your Set-Apart and Dedicated One (hosios - loyal and faithful, undefiled and pure) be allowed (didomi) to see (horao - experience) decay and decomposition (diaphthora)." (Acts 2:27) Only Yahshua was "undefiled and pure," making it clear that the Set-Apart and Dedicated One was and is the Messiyah. Additionally, while the Hebrew word sahat can mean "pit or grave" in addition to "decay and decomposition," diaphthora is unequivocal, reinforcing the reason Petros selected this text.

Yahshua’s disciple completed the 16^th Psalm in his Shabuwa’ defense, letting us know that David wrote: "Make me aware and enable me to understand (yada’ - to know, respect, and acknowledge) the way (‘orah - path) of abundant (soba’ - full, contented) and joyous (simhah - pleasurable and genuinely happy) life (hay) in (‘eth - proximity with) your presence (paneh), experiencing a favorable acceptance, contentment, and pleasure (na’ym) at (ba) your right side (yamyn) forever (nesah)." (Psalms 16:11) Yahshua is the way and the life. He came that we might have life, and experience it abundantly.

The Greek rendition concludes: "Reveal and make known to (gnorizo - provide the information needed to understand and thereby expose to) me (ego) the way (hodos - path, road, and journey) to a complete and fulfilling (pleroo - full and abundant) life (zoe) of joy and gladness (euphrosyne - cheerfulness and gratitude) in proximity to (meta - in association with) Your presence (prosopon)." (Acts 2: 28)

One of the reasons that I love Petros’ Shabuwa’ rebuttal against the religious establishment is the way he weaves his arguments. His foundation, the facts in this case, are quotations from the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms-the only unassailable source of evidence with regard to spiritual matters. He explains how past and current events can best be understood when they are viewed from the perspective of Scripture. Then he helps his audience make the necessary connections-which is the essence of rational thinking. But more than this, Peter steps back from the current work of the Spirit on Shabuwa’, to the events which made this day possible, so that his audience would come to appreciate the interrelationship between the Miqra’ey, and see how Passover led to Sevens. He recognized that the best way to establish the identity and purpose of the Set-Apart Spirit on Shabuwa’, was to establish the identity and purpose of Yahshua on Pesach, Matsah, and Bikuwrym.

Yes, his rebuttal was long, and I’m sure that his audience thinned as he pressed his case. Today, in our sound bite world, where our attention span is that of a flea, his ratings would have been so low, he would have been canceled during this, his premier. And such is the case with Yada Yahweh, where chapters are the length of books. It, like Peter, is out of step with the crowd. But he makes no apology, nor does God. While most don’t care enough to learn what is required to understand, there are some who are willing to invest the time. And for them, Petros continued, as shall we.

While some might argue that long, complex arguments deter and confuse the simple-minded, it is worth noting that the man defending the Spirit on the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths had no formal education. He had been a lowly fisherman just a few years prior. So, with an open mind, a soft heart, and calloused hands, he lectured Jerusalem’s religious and political establishment: "Gentlemen (andros), brothers (adelphos), it is possible (exesti - permissible and obligatory, reasonable and rational) after all to say (eipon - indeed, based on this account to communicate) to you with boldness, confidence, and frankness (parresia - in open public discourse, enjoying freedom of speech, courageously, without any concern or fear) with regard to (pros - according to) and concerning (peri) the patriarch (patriaches - founder and forefather) ΔΔ (Dauwid, meaning love, using the Greek transliteration Dauid), that (hoti) he both died (teleutao - his life is finished and has come to a close) and was buried (thapto), and his tomb (mnema - grave and memorial sepulcher) exists (eimi - and can be identified) among (en) us, even until (achri) this (houtos) day (hemera - time)." (Acts 2:29)

The argument he was making is that for Scripture to be accurate and reliable, and for David to be dead and buried, the prophecy regarding a corpse not decomposing, must be speaking about someone else-Yahshua perhaps. "Being (hyparcho) therefore (oun) a prophet (prophetes - one who discloses the future before it occurs), and knowing (oida - comprehending, understanding, remembering, and acknowledging) that (hoti) ΘΣ (Yahuweh, who is God) swore (omnuo - professed) an oath (horkos - and promised) that from out (ek) of the fruit (darpos - the productive source and harvest) of his loins (osphys), [a descendant] would sit (kathizo) upon (epi) His (autos) throne (thronos), he foresaw (proorao) and spoke (laleo) about (peri) the resurrection (anastasis - rising up and standing upright) of the ΧΡΝ (Messiyah, the anointed implement of Yah), because namely (hoti), He was not (oute) left behind and abandoned so as to remain (egkataleipo - forsaken and deserted) at (eis - inside and within) Hades (hades - the abode of the dead), nor (oute) did His flesh (sarx - physical human body) see (horao - experience) decay and decomposition (diaphthora - corruption)." (Acts 2:30-31)

This fisherman selected his words very carefully. Had he said that the Messiyah had not been "aphorize/separated," "choris/separated and set-apart," or especially "krino/separated, judged, and put asunder," He would have contradicted God and nullified our salvation by disavowing the sacrifice Yahshua made on Unleavened Bread, whereby His soul was separated from God in Sheowl so that we wouldn’t have to endure this same punishment. God’s soul went there for us, but, as a result of the FirstFruits Harvest, His soul was not eternally forsaken there. Egkataleipo says as much as it is based upon kataleipo, meaning "to be left behind and to remain abandoned." It speaks of being forsaken to be sure, but not of permanent separation, so that the Messiyah’s soul could be temporarily separated in Sheowl, fulfilling Matsah, but also be reunited with the Spirit, fulfilling Bikuwrym.

Moreover, by saying that "nor did His flesh experience decomposition," Peter didn’t contradict Passover or other Messianic prophecies by suggesting that Yahshua’s mortal body didn’t die or wasn’t buried.

"This ΙΝ (placeholder for Yahushua) whom ΘΣ (placeholder for Yahuweh) raised up (anistamai - caused to be restored to life and stand upright so as to enable us to stand), which all (pas) of us exist as (eimi) witnesses (martyros - spectators and observers who can testify based upon their experience), therefore (oun) is the right hand (dexia - the authority and power) of ΘΥ (Yahuweh), lifted up and exalted (hypsoo - dignified and honored). He also (te - by way of close relationship and making a connection) promised (epangelia - provided an assurance and agreement by way of an announcement) the Set-Apart (hagion - purifying) ΠΝΣ (placeholder for Spirit based upon an understanding of ruwach, from pneuma) who is received and acquired (lambano - obtained, possessed, and experienced, adorning others) from (para) the ΠΡΣ (placeholder for Father based upon the Hebrew ‘ab using the Greek pater), which (hos) you all (sou) have also (kai) seen (blepo) and heard (akouo)." (Acts 2:32-33)

The political and religious scoffers in Peter’s Shabuwa’ audience had indeed witnessed the resurrection on Bikuwrym, exactly seven-sevens, or forty-nine days ago. And now, they not only knew where Yahshua had gone, and that He had indeed fulfilled the prophecies made about Him, but that the Set-Apart Spirit had been promised as well. The source of the uncommon power and unfamiliar languages they were witnessing was "received and acquired from the Father," something which was "obtained and experienced" as part of a promise He had made. And this Set-Apart Spirit actually came to "possess" those She "adorned." With this argument, Petros had made the transition from Yahshua to the Spirit, from Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits, to what was happening on Sevens. These were the steps God had made and wanted us to follow.

Speaking of "Set-Apart," hagion is an adjective used to convey that the Spirit is set-apart from God and that She exists to set us apart from man’s defiled world and unto God’s realm. As a verb, hagiazo, means "to render and acknowledge that something or someone is separated unto God, purified and cleansed, upright and moral." As such, it is the perfect adjective to describe the Spirit and define Her mission.

Unfortunately, however, hagion is either translated "Holy" when defining the Spirit, as "saints," when used of men, or "sacred" when associated with an object throughout the Renewed Covenant despite the fact that its primary meaning is "set apart," and its secondary meaning is "to purify and cleanse." "Holy" then is defined in most dictionaries as something quite different: "exalted and worthy of complete devotion, one perfect in goodness and righteousness." This suggests that there is another, besides Yahweh who is to be exalted and who is worthy of our complete devotion. But since the Set-Apart Spirit is simply a manifestation of Yahweh, set-apart from Him to serve us, exalting the Spirit is akin to elevating the heart above the head as if the heart were viable distinct from the body.

Dictionaries go on to say that "holy" means: "divine," which while true of the Spirit, (albeit not of "saints") isn’t part of the definition of the word God chose, or even its Hebrew counterpart, qodesh. And they all equate "holy" with those things which are "religious," conveying the inverse of Yahweh’s intent.

The notion of being "set-apart" is central to the Covenant, and essential to our understanding of the nature and purpose of the Spirit as well as Messiyah. At best, "holy" conceals and corrupts this message, and it replaces God’s terminology with man’s. Worse, it applies attributes to saints, objects, and the Spirit which are completely inaccurate.

But the story gets darker, because holy has a satanic past. It was derived from the Old English word halig, meaning "whole," which is the opposite of what God is communicating. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "holy" was "originally used to venerate heathen deities in Old Norse." In the Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols, "holy in practically all languages was derived from the divinely honored sun." Forlong’s Encyclopedia of Religions says: "Holi is the Great Hindu spring festival held in honor of Krishna as the spring sun-god...and a personified woman called Holi."

Heilei, which is the German pronunciation of holy, means "sun’s ray" and "halo"-combining the religious and scientific symbols for the sun-god and man. It’s then little wonder religious types are wont to place these pagan symbols over the heads of their "saints." As confirmation of this, J.C. Cooper in his Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols, writes: "Nimbus (a halo around a saint’s head replete with a sunburst), Halo, and Aureole (a heavenly crown of radiant light or corona worn by saints) were originally indicative of solar power and of the sun’s disk, and hence display an attribute of sun-gods."

Since so many of our religious words, such as "church," which is an adaptation of Circe (pronounced similarly to church, representing the sun goddess who was the daughter of Helios), come from Germanic sources, it is instructive to know that heilei and heilig, the German equivalent of holy, were derived from Heil. In Bell’s New Pantheon, "Heil was a Saxon (Prussian and North Germanic) idol." So it is safe to say that at best, "holy" is wrong in that it misses the point, and at worst, "holy" leads us in the wrong direction.

"For (gar - indeed) ΔΔ (placeholder for Dauwid, meaning love, using the Greek transliteration Dauid), did not (ou) ascend (anabaino - rise and go up) to (eis) heaven (ouranos), but (de) himself (autos) said (lego - affirmed)..." (Acts 2:34) Before we open the 110^th Psalm and read what David said, it’s important to note that with the exception of Enoch and Elijah, no one had gone directly to heaven without dying first. David wasn’t raised until the FirstFruits Harvest, along with folks like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, and even Moses.

David’s next ode to Yahweh begins: "A psalm (mizmowr - a poetic song with melody and words) of (la) Dauwid (dauwid - love and beloved): Yahuweh (yhwh) prophetically declares (na’um - predicts) concerning (la) My Upright One (‘eden / ‘edon - My foundation and the established and firm pillar of My Tabernacle, the base upon which I stand): You will live, sit, and remain (yasab - dwell, abide, restore, and be renewed) at (la) My right side (yamyn - right hand of power and authority) forever (‘ad - into perpetuity). I will place (syth - set) Your enemies (‘ayab - foes who are openly hostile) as (la) your foot (regel) stool (hadom)." (Psalm 110:1) This is one of many examples where vocalizing ‘eden/Upright One as ‘adon/Lord, or kurios/Lord as the Textus Receptus’ Greek rendering of this passage is wont to do, renders the verse absurd. Who, pray tell is Yahweh’s "Lord?" The concept is so laughable, it’s amazing that such nonsense has made its way into modern English translations.

In Acts 2:34, we find a somewhat tortured rendition of this Psalm: "...‘Said (eipon) ΚΣ (placeholder for Yahuweh, using a contraction of kurios): My (ego) ΚΩ (placeholder for Upright One based upon a contraction of kurios representing ‘edon, the Foundation and Upright Pillar of My Tabernacle) sits and resides (kathemai - lives and remains) by means of (ek - out of, because of, and set-apart from) My (ego) right side (dexios - right hand of power and authority) until (hoes) I put (tithemi - place, deposit, cause, and make) your enemies (echthros - foes who are hostile, hatful, and odious) as a footstool (hypopodion) for your feet (podos)." (Acts 2:34-5)

While this was the beginning and end of Peter’s third Old Covenant citation, its continued context helps identify the nature of the "Upright One." Speaking prophetically of Him, God said: "Your mighty and powerful (‘oz - protective and sheltering) staff and ruling scepter (mateh - branch (as in the Messiyah)), Yahuweh (yhwh) sends out (salah - dispatches and sends away, reaches and stretches out) from (min) Tsyown (tsyowm - the signpost to show the way) to trample, subdue, and chastise (radah - subjugating) the foes (‘ayab - those who are openly hostile) in your midst (qereb)." (Psalm 110:2) The question of identity has been solved. There is but one individual who was predicted to be a "branch," whose "mighty and powerful, protective and sheltering, staff and ruling scepter" would "subdue and chastise" His "foes," and also "live, sit, and remain, at [Yahweh’s] right hand, forever, renewing and restoring into perpetuity."

The apostle who became Petros, and is known as Peter, said in defense of the Spirit of Shabuwa’: "Therefore (oun - accordingly and consequently, these things being so), let every (pas) family and household (oikos) in Yisra’el (Israel - a transliteration of yisra’el, meaning individuals who strive with God) know (ginosko - learn, recognize, understand, and acknowledge) with certainty (asphalos - beyond any doubt) that (hoti) ΚΝ (placeholder for Yahuweh using a contraction of kurion, meaning the Supreme Authority) made (poieomai - performed what was required to cause and designate) Him (autos) the (tov) ΧΡΝ (placeholder for Messiyah, the Anointed Implement of Yah using a contraction of Christon) and ΘΣ (placeholder for God, based upon ‘elohym, meaning Mighty One, using a contraction of theos), this (houtos) ΙHΝ (placeholder for Yahushua, meaning Yah Saves) whom (hos) you ΕΣΡΩΣΑΤΕ (placeholder for aorist active tense of the verb stauroo based upon the noun stauros - affixed to an upright stake, crucified, nailing Him to a pillar, driving it down into the ground so as to make the pole upright, based on histemi, meaning to stand upright so as to enable others to stand)." (Acts 2:36)

In Peter’s mind, and in the mind of any informed, rational person, there is no doubt; Yahweh was responsible for Yahshua being both the Messiyah, Yah’s Anointed Implement, and God. And someday, just over a score of years from now, the apostle’s wish will come true: "every family and household in Yisra’el will know for certain" as well. On Yowm Kippurym, the Day of Reconciliations, every remaining Yahuwdym will "recognize Him, understand Him, and acknowledge" that it was Yahweh "whom they pierced" on Passover.

Even on this day, the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’ in 33 CE, seven sevens after the most important three days in human history, "Now when (de) they heard this (akouo - paid attention and received this news, comprehending this message), they were pierced through (datanyssomai) the heart (kardia)." (Acts 2:37) This is so compelling, so dramatic, it almost takes your breath away. Imagine this happening today; witnessing an overtly religious and political audience being swayed by the power of Scripture and reason, moving from scoffing skeptics to conviction.

"They said (eipon) to Petros (petros, meaning stone or rock), and to (pros) the rest (loipos - remaining) of the apostles (apostolos - those who are properly informed and equipped as messengers and envoys who are set apart and sent away for a specific purpose, based upon apo, separation, and stello, prepared and equipped), ‘Brethren (adelphos - bothers and fellow countrymen), what (tis) is a man (andros) to do (poieomai)?’" (Acts 2:37)

The reason Peter prevailed, beyond his preparation, the efficacy of the Spirit, and his approach, is that his audience was much better informed than our politicians and religious leaders are today. They knew the Old Covenant Scriptures and its prophecies, and they were well versed in the Miqra’ey. They had actually witnessed Yahshua fulfill predictions small and large. Moreover, while their religious and political schemes were all headed in the wrong direction, this audience had not yet become corrupted by a millennium of polluted terminologies and Babylonian rituals. I dare say, similar success in our time would be far less likely.

Along these lines, it’s a travesty that so many revealing Scriptural words have been transliterated. Apostolos is a prime example. As a transliterated title, the term adds nothing to our understanding. But when it is translated, as all words should be, we come to appreciate the fact it was inappropriate to limit "apostle" to a group of eleven men. God expects all of us to study His Word so that we are properly informed. He wants all of us to capitalize on the Spirit of Shabuwa’, so that we are properly equipped. And then, and only then, He wants us all to go out into the world as messengers, ready to do what Peter was doing-combining the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms with reasoned analysis to effectively confront the religious and political establishment.

The pious religious leaders and political types who had openly accused Shabuwa’s newly formed ekklesia/called-out assembly of being intoxicated lowlifes, had come to recognize that they were wrong. And that in any political and religious culture, is always the first step toward understanding and salvation. The seeds of truth will not grow amongst the weeds of a manure pile. While it is considered intolerant and hateful in today’s politically correct climate to assail someone’s religion, until the lies upon which people cling are exposed and condemned, until the audience is willing to acknowledge that they have been misled, until they seek answers, a witness’ message will fall on deaf ears.

Way back some twenty verses ago, Peter began his defense of Shabuwa’ by telling his audience that they were wrong (Acts 2:15-16). And now that they had admitted it based upon their body language, and had asked for assistance, Peter was prepared to help: "And now (de), accordingly (pros), Petros (petros - meaning stone or rock) told (phemi - instructed) them, ‘Change your thinking and attitude (metanoeo - after you have come to recognize that which is false, change your perspective and obtain a proper understanding of what is true before it is too late to avoid the consequences)..." (Acts 2:38)

Metanoeo literally means "perceive afterward." It is a compound of meta, meaning "with, later, and after, denoting a change of place, perspective, or condition," and noeo, which means "to perceive using your mind, to ponder, think, consider, and understand." Noeo is in turn derived from nous, which is "the mind, our faculty of intellectually judging and determining, deciding and discriminating." There isn’t a hint of anything behavioral in metanoeo, and yet it is almost always translated using the religious term "repent." And if you look up "repent" in your favorite dictionary, you find: "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life, to feel remorse and regret." These are behavioral and emotional concepts, which completely miss the intent of metanoeo entirely.

God recognizes that we must think our way to knowing, to trust and reliance, and thus to salvation. And to think clearly and effectively, we must do so from the proper foundation and perspective-that being the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms.

Religious institutions know that they are doomed the moment their victims begin to think on their own, which is why metanoeo is always mistranslated. They prevail when they make their audiences feel guilty, like they must bring their behavior in line with the institution’s standards, or roast in hell. To promote this myth, theological tomes all associate "repentance" with "religious conversion," insisting that a person must convert to survive.

It is little wonder so many are lost under the spell of religious jargon. The very source upon which they must rely for direction has been polluted by those who are deluding them.

Once again, in the beginning of this passage, theologians concealed another word’s meaning by transliterating baptizo rather than translating it: "...and also (kai) be immersed and cleansed (baptizo - dipped, washed, and purified) each and every one (hekastos) of you by (epi - before and by means of) the personal and proper name (onoma) of ΧΥ ΙΥ (placeholders for the Messiyah Yahushua) in order to (eis) be pardoned, set free, and to be set apart (aphesis - to be liberated and released, having one’s debt cancelled, from apo, set-apart and aphiemi, to be sent to stand upright) from your sin and guilt (hamartia - being mistaken and wandering off the path), and then (kai) receive (lambano - grasp hold of and acquire, select and experience) the gift (dorea - free and unearned benefit) of the Set-Apart (hagios) ΠΝΣ (placeholder for Spirit and ruwach)." (Acts 2:38)

Peter’s advice was direct and simple: 1) Change your perspective and thinking. 2) Be immersed and cleansed in the name of the Messiyah Yahshua in order to be pardoned and set apart from your guilt. 3) Choose to receive the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit.

And as clear as that is, it’s hard to do when the instructions are garbled. Virtually every English Bible errs in the translation of this essential verse with their inclusion of: "repent, baptized, Jesus, Christ, forgiveness, and Holy." Since we have already covered the inappropriateness of "repent," and have already addressed the debate between "holy" and "set-apart," let’s consider "baptized" next. Here, the dictionary definition isn’t the problem, because Webster defines it as "to purify or cleanse spiritually." So the issue is that the transliterated term has become synonymous with a religious act and with a religious denomination. Moreover, the emphasis on water, rather than spiritual cleansing, causes religious practitioners to miss the point and believe that having water dribbled on one’s head or jumping in a stream achieves a desired result. Water is irrelevant. We are spiritually cleansed and purified by the Set-Apart Spirit based upon what Yahshua did for us on Passover and Unleavened Bread. Water is simply symbolic, as is the act of baptism. And while we are on the subject, infant baptism, as is practiced in Catholicism, is purely Babylonian, and is entirely inappropriate.

Moving deeper into the passage, there is no Scriptural justification for "Jesus," "Christ," or "Jesus Christ." On 77 occasions, the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms tell us that the Savior’s name is Yahushua. His name means "Yah Saves." Since Scripture dictates that the Savior will and has come in His Father’s name, and since the Father has but one name-Yahuweh-"Jesus" must be the wrong name. There is absolutely no association between "Jesus" and "Yahuweh" of any kind. There is however, an association between "Jesus" and "Gesus"-the "Horned One" of the Druid religion.

Recognizing that all names should be transliterated, it is useful to know that there is no "J" sound or letter in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. And even if there were, Peter delivered his defense of the Spirit of Shabuwa’ in Hebrew and Aramaic. Therefore, he could neither have pronounced a name with a "J" sound, nor could the Savior’s name begin with this letter, period.

Iesou, Iesous, and Iesoun, upon which "Jesus" was derived, wasn’t written on any page of any pre-Constantinian (read Catholic), first-, second-, or third-century manuscript of the Renewed Covenant. Therefore, its very foundation does not exist. Jerome, who created the Latin Vulgate on behalf of the Catholic Church, would have had access to these early manuscripts and therefore would have known about the existence of the placeholders-and yet he chose to ignore them. As a result, a dozen centuries later, a hundred years after the initial appearance of the "J" in English, and in the third edition of the King James Version, men decided to give the Savior a new name: "Jesus."

To add insult to injury, Yahshua’s title is "Messiyah," not "Christ." The Hebrew term means "anointed implement of Yah." Scripturally, it is only used as a title in two places, both times in Daniel, prophecies Yahshua fulfilled. The audience most every time it was used in the Renewed Covenant, was comprised of Yahuwdym, those who were awaiting, would have used, and would have recognized the most important title in their country: "Messiyah."

"Christ," is a transliteration of Christos, Christou, Christo, and Christon. It only means "anointed" in relation to "the application of drugs." Otherwise, it means "whitewashed." Like the name Yahshua, the title Christos wasn’t written on any page of any pre-Catholic, first- through third-century manuscript of the Renewed Covenant. Therefore, its foundation also does not exist.

Titles, like names, can be transliterated, meaning that it is appropriate to write and say: "Messiyah." But unlike proper names, titles can also be translated, meaning that it is appropriate to write and say: "Anointed Implement of Yah." Therefore, those who wish to be accurate can call Yahshua either "the Messiyah," or the "Anointed Implement of Yah," but not "Christ."

"Jesus Christ," as if "Christ" were His last name, is wrong on all accounts. "Christ" isn’t a name, it’s a title like "President, King, General, or Lord." And just as it is absurd to say "Washington President," instead of "President Washington," "George King," rather than "King George," or "Patton General," rather than "General Patton," it’s inaccurate to say "Yahshua Messiyah," rather than "Messiyah Yahshua," and thus "Jesus Christ" is inverted and convoluted.

If you were speaking Hebrew or Greek, it’s appropriate to have adjectives follow names and nouns, but not in English. By way of confirmation, in this same passage, hagios follows the placeholder for Spirit, just as qodesh follows ruwach in Hebrew. But, when we translate something, we are required to follow the rules of grammar in the translated language. So, ruwach/spirit qodesh/set-apart becomes "Set-Apart Spirit." Knowing this, why was "Jesus Christ" left backwards?

It should be noted also, that Luke, in his biography of Yahshua, never once connects His name and His title, although he uses both individually as in "the Messiyah," and "Yahshua," but never "the Messiyah Yahshua." The name and title are set side by side only once in Mark, and twice each in Matthew and John. The call of Christendom therefore, is poorly attested, poorly conceived, poorly transliterated, poorly translated, and poorly arranged.

Before we leave this essential passage, let’s review it once again, simplified this time: "Now when they heard this, they were pierced through the heart. They said to Petros, and to the rest of those who were properly informed and equipped as messengers, ‘Brethren, what is a man to do?’" (Acts 2:37) "And now, accordingly, Petros told them, ‘Change your thinking and attitude and also be immersed and cleansed each and every one of you by means of the personal and proper name of the Messiyah Yahushua in order to be pardoned, set free, and to be set apart from your sin and guilt, and then receive the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Please take note, on the day Catholics allege their "Church" was born, Peter, the man they claim was the first Pope, did not say any of the following when his audience asked him what they should do: join my church, become a Catholic, convert to Christianity, make a profession of faith, promote me to pope, kiss my ring, pay me an indulgence to minimize your time in purgatory, have your children baptized and confirmed, attend Mass, go to confession, stay clear of the seven deadly sins, do a bunch of good works, become celibate, observe Lent and celebrate Christmas and Easter, perform the sign of the cross, buy some prayer beads and perform three Hail Maries, worship the Lord, bow down in prayer, tithe, trust me because I am the rock upon which the Church will be built, or don’t worry because I hold the keys to heaven. And that would be that for the claims of Catholicism.

While there is no "Church" in Scripture, the Called-Out Assembly of Seven Sabbaths does come with an open invitation, whereby young and old, neighbors and foreigners alike are summoned to accept the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit. "For indeed (gar - because) the announced promise (epangelia - consent approval (read: Covenant) exists (eimi - was, is, and will be) for you, your children (teknon - your offspring including sons and daughters), everyone (pas) who is a great distance away (makran - far off, remote and distant (read: outside Yisra’el and lost), and for as many (hosos) as ΚΣ (placeholder for Yahuweh, the Supreme Authority) our ΘΣ (placeholder for God, based upon ‘elohym) calls to Himself (proskaleomai - calls out to, invites, and summons (read: those who answer the summons to His Called-Out Assemblies)." (Acts 2:39) There are seven invitations on Yahweh’s calendar each year, seven days upon which we are summoned by our Heavenly Father to celebrate our salvation and adoption into His family. Shabuwa’ is Mother’s Day, the fourth step along the Way, a time which assures eternal life in heaven to all of those who answer God’s call.

The question for all of us is: are we prepared, are we equipped, and are we willing to do what Petros did? And if not, why not? "And with many more (pleion - an increasing quantity of appropriate and fitting), yet different (heteros - additional) words (logos), He admonished and testified (diamartyromai - bore witness to, and used them to warn, assert, affirm, declare, and emphatically state) to earnestly encourage and summon (parakaleo - call, invite, and urge, instruct, admonish, and exhort) them, ‘Become saved and be set apart from (sozo apo - become rescued from the dangers of, be delivered from the destruction of, become healed from the sickness of, and be preserved, set-apart from the separation of) this crooked and corrupt (skolios - unscrupulous, dishonest, and twisted) generation (genea - age and race)." (Acts 2:40) This verse is as vital and compelling today as it was when it was first spoken over 1900 years ago. Very little has changed.

Well, that isn’t entirely true. It should be noted that the KJV and NIV altered the second half of this passage to read: "Save yourselves from..." And yet, none of the Greek words for the pronouns "you, your, yours, yourself, or yourselves" sy, sou, soi, se, humin, humeis, and humeteros, appear in the text. And that is because we cannot save ourselves-it is a gift of God, the result of the seven Called-Out Assemblies, and Yahshua’s and the Spirit’s fulfillment of them.

The portion of Petros’ witness we are privy to was based exclusively upon explaining how Yahshua and the Spirit fulfilled the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. He used this evidence to "admonish and warn" his audience, in addition to "encouraging and summoning" them. I bring this to your attention, because Christians and Jews have wrongly been led to believe that it is inappropriate to point out the flaws in people’s beliefs.

Petros’ exhorted his overtly religious and political audience "to become set apart from a crooked and corrupt, twisted and dishonest generation." Distancing oneself from man’s oppressive and deceptive schemes, and approaching Yah by way of His seven-step plan, is the central message of Scripture. Mankind’s religions are "dangerous," they are unscrupulous and corrupt." And especially telling in this regard is the word Peter selected to convey "crooked," skolios, which literally conveys "curved and windy, serpentine and bent, twisted and meandering," as opposed to straight. It is based upon skello, which describes the bends in our leg, from our hip to our toes, inclusive of knees and ankles. Men have twisted and shaped God’s Word, message, and plan to suit their own agenda-one which leads to spiritual sickness, and to the destruction of the soul. And sadly, Jews are masters at this scheme, which is why genea means "race" in addition to generation.

Luke, in documenting the fulfillment of the Miqra’ of Shabuwa’, quantified the results so that we might obtain a better perspective on what transpired. "Indeed (men), therefore (oun - as a result), approximately (hosei) three thousand (trischilioi) souls (psyche) received and accepted (apodechomai - welcomed and grasped hold of, recognized and acknowledged the truth and validity of) His (autos - His (as in Yahweh’s/Yahshua’s) Word (legos - Word as in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms). They were immersed and cleansed (baptizo - dipped, washed, and purified) and were added (prostithemai - were granted and given favorable access to gather together with, join and associate in fellowship with, and set in the right place) during (en - and in) that one (ekeinos) day (hemera)." (Acts 2:41) Based upon what we have read, and based upon the content of this sentence, it is obvious that the "legos/Word," singular, these fortunate souls received and accepted, was both Yahshua, the Word made flesh, and Yahweh’s Word in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. Yahshua had fulfilled the Miqra’ey, becoming the living embodiment of the Word.

The number three thousand is significant in that Yahweh’s plan unfolds over three two-thousand year (forty Yowbel) increments of time. And while that number represents a significant quantity of people, three-thousand souls was a tiny fraction of the world’s population at the time. Far more people reject Yah’s Word than receive it. Such has always been, and will always be, the case. Truth has never been popular, and the way is narrow which leads to life.

To be added to our Heavenly Father’s family, we must first be freed of the consequence of our sin, which is death. This occurred on Passover. We must be redeemed from the penalty of our revolt against God, which is separation from Him. This was made possible by the Called-Out Assembly of Unleavened Bread. Those who choose to avail themselves of these remedies are gathered together and accepted by Yah on FirstFruits. And as a result of these three days, our reward and God’s ultimate gift, is to be born anew from above by way of our Spiritual Mother, the Set-Apart Spirit, on Seven Sevens.

Now that four of the seven Called-Out Assemblies have been fulfilled, we have learned enough to look back and celebrate these down-payments with understanding, reveling in what God has done for us. And we know enough now to look forward with eager and vigilant anticipation to the next three being fulfilled on time and on schedule. It is a marvelous plan with a wonderful result.