Glad-U-See

Psa 2:1-6 Why do the gentiles rage and the mob imagine something that is not true? The kings of the earth set themselves against YHVH (the rulers take counsel together), and against his Messiah, saying, “Let us break their restraints asunder, and cast away their chains from us”. He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: Adonai shall mock them. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure, "Yet have I anointed my King upon my set apart hill of Zion".

1Joh 2:4 & 22 He that saith, "I know Him" (I have an intimate covenantal relationship with the Father) and keeps not His written commandments, is a liar, and the Truth (the Torah, Psa 119:142,151) is not in him. Who is a liar but he that rejects Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel? He is antichrist that contradicts the Father and the Son.

In First John, the term "antichrist" refers to those with disparate views to the Netzerim.

The Hebrew word netzerim refers to the followers of Messiah Yeshua. The word means "Assembly of Shoots", an appellation derived from Isa 11:1 & Mat 2:23. See Joh 15:5; Act 24:5. His followers were not called "christians".

The word "christian" is not an appellation for all the followers of Yeshua. The Greek word kristianos (ben yitshar, in Hebrew) is used for someone who received a special anointing of olive oil (such as a prophet of Israel, priest of Israel, or king of Israel).

Let's review the three occurrences of that Greek word:

Occurrence #1: Act 11:26-28 For a whole year they met with the Congregation and taught large numbers. And these disciples, before they were called anything else in Antioch, were called anointed-ones (kristianos, "prophets"), for in those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the annointing that there would be a severe famine throughout the Thracean-Seleucid-Ptolemaic Empire. This took place during the time of Claudius.

Occurrence #2: Act 26:27-29 "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe." Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to act like an anointed-one (kristianon, "a prophet") so easily?" "I wish before Elohim," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might be the kind I am (Act 26:16; Num 11:29), except for these chains."

Occurrence #3: 1Pet 4:10-11,16-17 Anyone of you who received a gift should serve the gift that he received from Elohim (from the Aramaic text) ... If anyone speaks, his speech should be like the Oracles of YHVH (Num 27:21); if anyone serves in the Temple, his service should be from the strength YHVH provides, so that in everything YHVH may be glorified through Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. To YHVH belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen ... But if anyone is recognized as an anointed-one (kristianos, "a priest", Act 6:7), he should not feel shame, but should glorify YHVH by this NAME; as though it were time for judgment to start at the House of YHVH (the Temple, Joh 2:15-16).

The antichrists think the Torah is a restraint.

There are millions of antichrists today (1Joh 2:18). Their mantra is, “Let us break their restraints asunder, and cast away their chains from us” (Psa 2:3). In the Targum Yonathan (the Aramaic version of Psalms), the restraints and chains are identified in Psa 2:12 as the Torah: "Accept the Torah (in Hebrew, the phrase is "kiss purity") lest He be angry, and you lose your way; for His wrath will tarry a little. Happy all who trust in His written Word!"

To be antichrist is to be anti-Torah.

Let's juxtapose the Messiah with the antichrists:

The Messiah came to restore the unadulterated written Torah.

Mic 4:2-3 Let us go up to the Mountain of YHVH, even to the House of the Elohim of Jacob (Isa 2:2-3); and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the Torah shall go forth of Zion, that is to say, the Word of YHVH from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many People, and rebuke numerous gentiles afar off (Dan 9:7); and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; gentile shall not lift up a sword against gentile; neither shall they learn war any more.

Mat 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to misinterpret the Torah or the Prophets; I am not come to neglect, but to properly interpret the Torah (Isa 42:21). For verily I say unto you, until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah, until all be accomplished. (Jots and tittles are are dots put above letters and enlarged or bolded letters drawn in unique ways; none of which are translated or even noted in English translations. The Messiah is endorsing the Hebrew manuscripts. There are no jots and tittles in Greek). Whosoever therefore shall make one of the least commandments unnecessary, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of YHVH in Israel (1Chr 28:5; 2Chr 13:8); but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom. [See the following reference for further study: "Understanding the difficult words of Jesus", by Bivin and Blizzard, pages 152 to 155].

Joh 1:17 The Torah was given by Moses, and its grace and truth enlivened by Yeshua the Messiah.

Joh 4:25-26 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us." "I am He," Yeshua told her, "the One speaking to you."

Rom 10:4-8 The Messiah of Israel is the aim and purpose (from Thayer’s Greek definitions) of the Torah concerning righteousness to everyone that believes (Deu 6:25). Because Moses describes the righteousness which is of the Torah in Lev 18:5, "the man who does those things shall be restored and remain alive by them (Ezek 20:11-26)". You see, the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise in Deu 30:11-14: "this commandment which I command thee this day, is not too difficult for thee, neither does it get old. It is always relevant and accessible and not in the sky, that thou should say, who shall go up for us to the sky? (The phrase “to bring the Messiah to us” is a scholium). Neither is the Torah under the sea that thou should say, who shall go under the sea for us, and bring it unto us? (The remainder of verse 7 is another scholium). But the Torah is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou may perform it". This righteousness which is of the Torah is the Word of Faith, which we broadcast.

The antichrists want to do away with the Torah or change the way the text of the Torah is perceived. Here are two examples:

1. “But we will not have this sort of thing. We would rather not preach again for the rest of our life than to let the Law return and to let Christ be torn out of our hearts. We will not have Moses as ruler or lawgiver any longer. Indeed God himself will not have it either. The Law was an intermediary solely for the Jewish people. We must therefore silence the mouths of those factious spirits who say, "Thus says the Law," etc. Here you simply reply: the Law has nothing to do with us. If I were to accept the Law in one commandment, I would have to accept the entire Law. Thus the consequence would be that if I accept the Law as master, then I must have myself circumcised, wash my clothes in the Jewish way, eat and drink and dress thus and so, and observe all that stuff. So, then, we will neither observe nor accept the Law. The Law is dead. Its rule ended when Christ came. It is of no further service”. (Sermon by Martin Luther, Aug 27, 1525).

For a provocative look at Luther’s opinions of Moses and the Torah, read about the treatise he wrote in 1543 called "On the Jews and Their Lies" at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Jews_and_Their_Lies.

2. "The Oral Torah (GUS: see the Sidebar above right), also transmitted to Moses on Sinai, defines and elaborates upon the behavior and values that the Written Torah prescribes. It provides keys and approaches with which one can read and understand the Written Torah, to be able to derive the expected behavior and values. This capability of derivation provides the Oral Torah with its infinite dimension. The Written and Oral Torahs together provide Mankind with a set of formal and detailed instructions for living. Without the Oral Torah, the Written Torah will be misunderstood and thereby misused, distorted by individuals for personal advantage or out of sheer ignorance". (JewishAmerica: Sharing and caring on behalf of Torah Judaism).

The Messiah came to reunite Judah and Israel and return them to the Land.

Mat 10:5 The Twelve Yeshua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, "Go not in the manner and custom of the gentiles. And into any cities of Samaria enter ye not. (The plural form of “city” is from the Aramaic Peshitta).

When Assyria invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel and displaced the ten tribes, they populated the cities with captives from other countries, but a remnant of Israelites, known as the Samaritans, were left in the agricultural areas and the fishing villages.

NIV Study Bible page 550: "A close examination of Assyrian records reveals ... agricultural workers ... were deliberately left to care for the crops".

Yeshua sent them into Samaria, but proscribed the cities.

Mat 10:6 But go rather to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, "the Kingdom of YHVH in Israel is unveiled"

Mat 10:23 Ye shall not have completed all the cities of Israel (the cities of the world where Israel has been scattered) until the Son of Man returns” (see 1Pet 1:1 & 5).

Luk 17:15-21 And one of the ten who had been smitten with the plague of tzarrat (Lev 13:45-46, a fit description for the banished ten tribes of Israel, who were considered the walking dead, outside the camp, cut-off from the Temple and from the People), when he saw that he was healed, turned back (Act 15:19), and with a loud voice glorified YHVH, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. And Yeshua answering said, "Were there not ten cleansed (cp. 1Kin 11:35)? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to YHVH, except this stranger". And he said unto him, "Arise, continue your journey; thy faith has restored you". And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of YHVH in Israel (1Chr 28:5; 2Chr 13:8) should come, he answered them and said, "The Kingdom of YHVH in Israel will not come while looking yonder; neither shall they say, 'it's not here, it must be up there', for behold, the Kingdom of YHVH in Israel is already among you".

It was the departing Samaritan that was among them. He was a descendant of one of the dispersed tribes of Israel, Joh 4:12 & 25. The Pharisees descended from either the tribe of Judah or Benjamin. Along with the Messiah, this group was a precursor of the future restoration of the Kingdom of YHVH in Israel, when all return to give glory to Elohim.

Isa 49:6 He said, "Is it an insignificant thing that you, Messiah of Israel, should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob? And in order to restore the Preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the gentiles (Luk 2:30-32; 15:8) so that thou may be my Salvation (my Restorer) unto the end of the earth".

The antichrists want to replace Judah and Israel.

“The natural seed of Abraham did receive, under the Old Covenant, the fulfillment of the natural blessings promised, but the spiritual blessings promised, which the natural typified, were intended not for the natural seed (in either Old or New Covenants) but for the spiritual seed, that is true, regenerated believers” (William Payne, Trinity Baptist Church).

GUS: Isn’t the opposite of natural seed, unnatural seed? There is no such thing as spiritual-symbolic-ethereal-invisible sperm. Gen 15:2-4 says that a seed must be the physical descendant of Abraham and Sarah; this is not a promise about the coming of the Messiah, see our commentary entitled “The Promise & the Seed”.

“All scripture is God-breathed -- given by his inspiration. The Old Testament, which was God's revelation to the Jews, is the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ. The New Testament is God's revelation to spiritual Israel -- the Church” (Statement of Faith - Indore Pentecostal Church of God).

GUS: Jeremiah said that Israel will be displaced by a man-made organization called "Christianity", after we have explored every galaxy in the universe and journeyed to the center of the earth, Jer 31:31-37.

“Since the story of the Old Testament is the story of the nation of Israel, and since the creation of this nation was God's advance work for the bringing of the Messiah into the world, we should not be surprised that Paul referred to the Lord's church as the Israel of God: ‘And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God’. (Eddie Cloer, Prescott Church of Christ)

GUS: The author has blurred the meaning of the verse. The word "church" in Hebrew is qahal, the Multitude of the People of Israel, Gen 48:4. The physical descendants of Jacob will always be the "Lord’s church": Act 7:38; Jam 1:1; 1Pet 1:1; 2:10 & Hos 1:9-10.

“Nor are we surprised that Paul figuratively depicted the church with terms taken from God's covenant relationship with ancient Israel: ‘For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh’ (Philippians 3:3)”. (Eddie Cloer, Prescott Church of Christ).

GUS: The author has reversed the meaning. The subject is Israel as seen in the following verses, as opposed to gentiles as seen in the previous verse. Adding the word “true” is both deceptive and unnecessary.

“This depiction of the church as Israel should be highly significant to us, for it tells us that Christians are spiritual Israel today and have been set apart as God's own possession even as was ancient Israel”. (Eddie Cloer, Prescott Church of Christ).

GUS: If the writings of the Netzerim hinted to an invisible Israel, it was in context with Israel's expulsion and subsequent loss of identity. Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Americans, the Euahlayi, or whomever, are "spiritual Israel" only if they are descendants of the original émigré.

Daniel characterized an antichrist as a great-pretender who “shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to alter the Appointed Occasions and the Commandments” (Dan 7:25). What distorted YHVH's Covenant with Israel, substituted the Feasts of YHVH for pagan holidays, appropriated the heritage of the Firstborn of YHVH (Exo 4:22), and altered YHVH’s Commandments concerning the Sabbath, dietary instructions, etc? Actually, there were two corruptions: Christianity and the oral law (which propagates the so-called Noachide Laws).