Restoring the Two Houses by Edward Chumney

THE BIBLICAL DAY BEGINS
IN THE EVENING AND ENDS IN THE MORNING

The Biblical day begins in the evening and ends in the morning (Genesis [Bereishit] 1:1,5,8,13,19,23,31). Likewise, the Sabbath (Shabbat) begins in the evening and ends in the morning. Each of the seven days of creation is a spiritual picture of 1,000 years of time. In Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 it is written:

"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

The seventh day of creation, the Sabbath (Shabbat), is a spiritual picture of the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). The Apostle (Shaliach) Peter (Kefa) associates the day of the L-rd to the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach) and the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) in II Peter 3:7-10 it is written:

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."



THE SABBATH AND BIBLICAL PROPHECY

The Sabbath (Shabbat) was given to us by the G-d of Israel to understand end-time Bible prophecy because the Sabbath (Shabbat) is a foreshadowing of the time known as the day of the L-rd or the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Furthermore, the Biblical day begins in the EVENING (a time of darkness) and ends in the MORNING (a time of light). Therefore, is it possible that the day of the L-rd or the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) also begins in the EVENING (the time of the seven year tribulation or birth pangs of the Messiah (Chevlai shel Mashiach/Ya’acov’s trouble) and ends in the MORNING (a time of light) or the remaining 993 years ???

In my book, The Seven Festivals of the Messiah, I explain that one of the themes of Rosh HaShanah (the Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus (Vayikra) 23:23-25) is HaMelech (the king). This is the Biblical appointed time when the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be crowned King (Messiah ben David). Psalm (Tehillim) 47 is a coronation psalm. This event happens in Revelation 4-5.

After the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus has His coronation ceremony, the events of the tribulation (Chevlai shel Mashiach/Ya’acov’s trouble) and the judgment of the nations are described in Revelation 6-18. The return of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David when He sets His feet down upon the mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) happens also in Revelation 19. Because traditional corporate Christianity (house of Israel) has not understood that the Sabbath (Shabbat) was given by the G-d of Israel as a prophetic foreshadowing of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) and by corporately rejecting that the Biblical Sabbath (Shabbat) is the seventh day of the week and goes from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, is it possible that this has darkened the understanding of traditional corporate Christianity (house of Israel) regarding correctly interpreting the events surrounding the coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David), the tribulation (Chevlai shel Mashiach/Ya’acov’s trouble) and the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo)???



TITLES FOR THE DAY OF THE L-RD

There are many titles for the day of the L-rd. Some of these titles will indicate a time of trial, trouble, tribulation and darkness (EVENING = a time of darkness) while other titles will indicate a time of peace and tranquility (MORNING = a time of light). Some of the titles of the day of the L-rd that indicate trial, trouble, tribulation, wrath and darkness are:

1) A day of visitation and desolation (Isaiah 10:3)

2) A day of fierce anger (Isaiah 13:13)

3) The day of grief and desperate sorrow (Isaiah 17:11)

4) The day of trouble (Isaiah 22:5, Jeremiah 51:2, Zephaniah 1:14-15)

5) The day of the great slaughter (Isaiah 30:25)

6) The day of the Lord’s vengeance (Isaiah 34:8, 61:2, 63:4)

7) The day of His wrath (Zephaniah 1:15,18

8 The day of darkness and gloominess (Joel 2:1-2, Zephaniah 1:14-15)

9) The day of clouds and thick darkness (Joel 2:1-2, Zephaniah 1:14-15)

10) The great and terrible day of the Lord (Joel 2:31, Malachi 4:5)

11) The day of battle (Zechariah 14:3)

12) The day of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1)

13) A day of desolation (Zephaniah 1:15)

14) A day of trumpet and alarm (Zephaniah 1:16)

15) The day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (II Peter 3:7)

There are other titles for the day of the L-rd which seem to indicate a time of peace, rest, comfort, tranquility and victory. Some of the these titles are:

1) A day the Lord gives you rest (Isaiah 14:3)

2) The day of the EAST wind (Isaiah 27:8

3) The day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8

4) A day of clouds (clouds refer to believers) — (Ezekiel 30:3, Hebrews 12:1)

5) The day that I am glorified (Ezekiel 39:13)

6) The day of His preparation (Nahum 2:3)

7) The day when the Son of Man is revealed (Luke 17:30)

8) The day of our Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 1:8, II Corinthians 1:14, Philippians 1:6)

9) The day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30)

10) The day of Christ (Philippians 1:10, 2:16)

11) The day of G-d (II Peter 3:12)

After the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David), there will be perpetual peace and harmony on the earth during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Some of the Scriptures which speak of this time of peace (shalom) are:

1) The animals will be at peace with each other and with mankind (Isaiah 11:6-8.

2) The farmland will be prosperous (Ezekiel 34:24-27).

3) G-d’s people shall dwell safely and peacefully (Ezekiel 34:25, 28.

4) The whole world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d (Isaiah 11:9, Jeremiah 31:33-34).

5) There will be peace and no wars (Isaiah 2:3-4, Micah 4:3).

6) The Torah will be taught from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3, Micah 4:1-2).

7) There will be continual light on the earth (Zechariah 14:6-8.

8) The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be King over all the earth (Daniel 7:13-14,18,27, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 2:27, 11:15, 12:5, 19:15-16).

So, the day of the L-rd is described as being a time of trial, trouble, tribulation, wrath and darkness and ends with a time of peace, prosperity, dwelling safely, no wars, universal knowledge of the Torah and the Messiah (Mashiach) and light. There is no contradiction that the day of the L-rd is both darkness and light if we understand the Sabbath (Shabbat) is a term for the day of the L-rd and that each Biblical day begins in the evening and ends in the morning.

Therefore, it seems quite possible that the evening part of the day of the L-rd and the first seven years of the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) is the tribulation or birth pangs of the Messiah (Chevlai shel Mashiach/Ya’acov’s trouble) and the morning part of the day of the L-rd is the last 993 years of the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) when the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus who is called the day star (II Peter [Kefa] 1:19) and the bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16) returns to the earth at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David) and sets His feet down on the mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

THE SABBATH WILL BE KEPT
FOR ALL ETERNITY

When the G-d of Israel gave the Sabbath (Shabbat) to His people, He proclaimed that it was to be an ETERNAL/EVERLASTING ordinance. In Exodus (Shemot) 31:15-17 it is written:

"Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."

The Sabbath (Shabbat) will be kept during the days of the new heaven and the new earth. In Revelation 21:1 it is written:

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."

During the days of the new heaven and the new earth, the G-d of Israel will REQUIRE that ALL FLESH keep the Sabbath (Shabbat). In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 66:22-23 it is written:

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord."

In conclusion, in order for full restoration to come to both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity), both houses of Israel need to come to a more fuller understanding and application of the Biblical Sabbath (Shabbat) that the G-d of Israel gave His people to celebrate on the seventh day of the week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. For the house of Judah (Judaism), they need to realize that the fullness of their Sabbath (Shabbat) rest is in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. For the house of Israel (Christianity), they need to understand that the Biblical Sabbath (Shabbat) day is from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown and that the G-d of Israel gave the Sabbath (Shabbat) as an eternal covenant that is to be kept by His people forever.

Furthermore, the house of Israel (Christianity) needs to understand that the G-d of Israel gave the Sabbath (Shabbat) to His people to more fully reveal His redemptive plan through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus including the marriage of His bride, the prophetic events regarding the second coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David) and the events surrounding His rule and reign during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

May the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus come speedily in our days and set up His Messianic Kingdom bringing eternal peace (shalom) and teaching the Torah to all nations from the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) so that both houses of Israel can abide forever in the Sabbath (Shabbat) rest of the G-d of Israel. Amen !!!

THE 7,000-YEAR PLAN OF G-D


In order for full restoration to come to both the house of Israel (Christianity) and the house of Judah (Judaism), both houses of Israel need to understand and embrace the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel. The house of Israel (Christianity) needs to embrace the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel rather than dispensational theology. The house of Judah (Judaism) needs to understand that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah be Yosef (Joseph) after 4,000 years since the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) exactly as expected by the ancient rabbi’s (Sanhedrin 97/98 ).

It was explained to the house of Israel (Christianity) in chapter 3 that before the death of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was NOT the "age of law" because the Torah and the Word of G-d are synonymous terms and the Torah/Word of G-d lives and abides forever (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 40:8, I Peter [Kefa] 1:25). Furthermore, it was explained that the G-d of Israel has ALWAYS redeemed/saved His people by His grace/mercy.

In the last chapter, we learned that the "day of the Lord" is the Sabbath (Shabbat) and the Sabbath is a foreshadowing of the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). The 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) is the last 1,000 years of the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel.

Each day in the Bible begins in the "evening" and ends in the "morning" (Genesis [Bereishit] 1). The "evening" part of the "day of the L-rd" (the Messianic Age/Athid Lavo) is the tribulation/birth pangs of the Messiah (Chevlai shel Mashiach). The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will return to the earth at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David at the "break of the morning." He is the "star that comes out of Jacob" (Numbers [Bamidbar] 24:17) and the "bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16). In the "morning" part of the "day of the Lord" (Messianic Age/Athid Lavo), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) will teach the Torah to the nations from the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 2:2-3).



THE AGES OF THE 7,000-YEAR
PLAN OF G-D

When the G-d of Israel created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden), He ordained that from the creation of Adam and Eve to the end of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) would be 7,000 years of time. Before the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) was eternity past. After the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) is eternity future. Future eternity (Olam Haba) will be a return to the paradise of eternity past (represented by the Garden of Eden [Gan Eden] before the sin of Adam). Time is going forward to the past. That which was (Garden of Eden before the sin of Adam) is that which shall be (eternity future/Olam Habah/Heaven). In Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 1:9 it is written:

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."

Traditional Judaism (house of Judah) understands that the first 6,000 years is known as the present age/world (Olam Hazeh). These first 6,000 years are divided into three 2,000-year periods of time or ages. The first 2,000 years from the creation of Adam to the time of Abraham (Avraham) is known as the period/age of desolation (Tohu). The next two thousand years from the time of Abraham to the expected arrival of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is known as the period/age of Torah. The final 2,000 years of time within the 6,000 years of the present/age world (Olam Hazeh) is known as the days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach). The last 1,000 years is known as the Messianic era or the future age/coming (Athid Lavo). The 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel can be seen in the following chart.



12,0004,0006,0007,000
Olam Haba !------------!------------!--------------!---------------! Olam Haba

Tohu Torah Days of Athid
Messiah Lavo



THE SEVEN DAYS OF CREATION
IS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE 7,000 YEARS OF TIME

The 7,000-year plan of the G-d of Israel is a major concept and foundational truth in understanding Bible prophecy and eschatology (study of the last things). The rabbis of traditional Judaism (house of Judah) understand that the G-d of Israel gave the seven days of creation in the book of Genesis as Torah/instruction to teach His people that there are 7,000 years of time from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) to the end of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Each day in creation represents 1,000 years in time. This is based upon connecting Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 to the seven days of creation. In Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 it is written:

"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

In rabbinic literature, it is also taught that each day in creation represents 1,000 years of time. In the Talmud in Sanhedrin 97 it is written:

"It has been taught in accordance with R. Kattina: Just as the seventh year is one year of release in seven, so is the world: one thousand years out of seven shall be fallow, as it is written. And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day; [Isaiah 2:11] and it is further said, A Psalm and song for the sabbath day; [Psalm 92] meaning the day that is altogether Sabbath [i.e. the period of complete desolation] and it is also said, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past. [Psalm 90:4: thus ‘day’ in the preceding verses means a thousand years]."

In an article entitled, "The Coming of Messiah" written in The Jewish Press newspaper (Brooklyn, New York) by Rabbi Sholom Klass, he explains the traditional Jewish view (house of Judah) of each day in creation representing 1,000 years of time based upon Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 as explained by the respected Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Moses Ben Nachman (1194-1270). He is known in Jewish tradition by the acronym RaMBaN. The articles reads:

"The Ramban explains that in the creation of the world which is itemized in Genesis, G-d left a blue print for the future. Each day of creation represents 1,000 years of the total existence of the world — 6,000 years. The first day was null and void, no one knew the Torah. G-d created light, Adam, whose light shone from one end of the earth to the other. In this thousand years no one worshipped idols. In the second day, G-d created the heaven which divided the waters, representing Noah who was divided from the evil people who perished in the waters. In the third day (third millennium) came the grass and fruit representing Abraham, as the Psalm says, ‘A Tzadik [righteous] grows as the grass,’ and out of him came the fruit of Torah and mitzvohs [commandments] when his children accepted the Torah on Mount Sinai. On the fourth day (fourth millennium) came the planets and the stars representing the two Botei Hamikdosh (Holy Temples) whence came forth the light to protect the world. On the fifth day came the animals, fish and fowl, signifying that after the destruction of the Temples, man would spread over the earth and a new sect would multiply as the fish of the sea, but they would be as cruel as the animals and the people would not seek to embrace G-d as the Torah commands. On the sixth day G-d created man, symbolizing the present era when man would reach his highest peak in knowledge and Messiah ben David [the Kingly Messiah] will come. The seventh day, Shabbos [Sabbath] represents the ‘Olam Habah,’ the future world which will follow the Messianic era. May G-d protect us and hasten these glorious days for all of us (Rambam, Bereishes Genesis 2)."

The traditional Jewish view (house of Judah) of linking each of the seven days of creation to 1,000 years of time based upon Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 is restated in the extra-biblical book of Barnabas Chapter 13, verses 3-6 as it is written:

"And even in the beginning of the creation he makes mention of the sabbath. And God made in six days the works of his hands; and he finished them on the seventh day, and he rested the seventh day, and sanctified it. Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end. For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, shall all things be accomplished. And what is it that he saith, And he rested the seventh day: he meaneth this; that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in that seventh day."

The traditional Jewish view (house of Judah) of each day of creation representing 1,000 years of time is expressed in the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) in II Peter (Kefa) 3:8-10 as it is written:

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

WHAT IS THE CURRENT JEWISH YEAR?

The current year in the Jewish calendar is 57xx. In the book, Gates of the Seasons by the Central Conference of American Rabbis in an article written by Alexander Guttmann on pages 7-10, he explains the origin and understanding of the present Jewish calendar.

"The main purpose of the Jewish calendar is, and always has been, to set the dates of the festivals. Our present calendar has its roots in the Torah, but it has been modified by Jewish religious authorities through the ages. The principal rules were established by the Sages and Rabbis of antiquity and were supplemented by medieval scholars. In Talmudic times the regulation of the calendar was the exclusive right of the Jewish leadership in the Land of Israel, particularly that of the Nasi (Patriach). Since that time, such regulation has been regarded as a task of crucial importance for the observance of Judaism…

In the Bible, the Hebrew months are lunar (i.e. each month begins with the "birth" of the new moon). However, since festivals such as Passover and Sukkot had to occur in the proper agricultural season (i.e. according to the solar year), it is obvious that the Jewish calendar must be lunar-solar. This means that the lunar year (approximately 354 days) and the solar year (approximately 365 days) had to be harmonized and adjusted to each other, a complex process that was meticulously refined by the ancient and medieval Rabbis.

The Jewish day has twenty-four hours and starts in the evening. The length of the lunar month is traditionally calculated as 29 days, 12 hours, and 793 parts of an hour (divided into 1080 parts). This is the time span between one new moon and the next. Since it is impractical to start a new month at varying hours of the day, the Sages of antiquity ordained that the length of the month should alternate between 29 and 30 days. Since the lunar month is somewhat longer than 29 days and 12 hours, the remainder is taken care of by making the months of Cheshvan and Kislev flexible, i.e. they can both have either 29 or 30 days.

The introduction of a permanent Jewish calendar became increasingly urgent after Jews began to spread throughout the world. As Jewry dispersed, regular contacts with the Jewish leadership in the Land of Israel, which had the sole privilege of regulating the calendar, became more and more difficult. The most important step in this process of permanent calendar reform was the adoption in the eighth century CE of a nineteen-year cycle of "intercalation" (i.e. harmonization of the solar and lunar calendars). The adoption of this cycle made the actual physical observation of the new moon and the signs of approaching spring unnecessary. This cycle of nineteen years adjusts the lunar year to the solar year by inserting into it seven leap years (i.e. the additional 30-day month of Adar) in the following order: every third, sixth, eighth, eleventh, fourteenth, seventeenth, and nineteenth year.

In the Bible the months are most frequently designated by ordinal numbers. However, there are references both to such ancient names as Ziv, Ethanim, and Aviv and to some of the now customary names of Kislev, Tevet, Adar, Nisan, Sivan, and Elul, which are of Babylonian origin. But, it is only since the first century that the Hebrew calendar has employed the now traditional names of Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tamuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar.

The Jewish tradition of counting years since the creation of the world has it roots in early Talmudic times, but it was not adopted authoritatively until several centuries later. In Biblical times, dates were referred to as being "two years before the earthquake," the year of the death of King Uzziah," etc. In Talmudic times, we find instances of dating from the creation of the world, but this was adopted as the Jewish method only much later as a response to Christian dating.

It was in the eighth century that Christians began to date their documents generally as AD (Anno Domini, the year of the Lord), and so it is hardly a coincidence that in the eighth and ninth centuries we find more and more Jewish documents dated "since the creation of the world" (sometimes referred to as AM, Anno Mundi, the year of the world). Obviously, calculating dates based on the Christian theological principles were not acceptable to Jews; nevertheless, it was not until the twelfth century that dating "since the creation" was accepted by Jews universally.

Only a minority of Jews today would take the traditional Jewish date as being literally "since the creation of the world" … Jewish texts will often use such designations as BCE (Before the Common, or Christian Era) or CE in order to avoid any dating related to Christianity. In order to determine the Jewish year for a given civil year, the number 3760 is added; conversely, in order to find the civil year for a given Jewish year, 3760 is subtracted. Of course, since the Jewish year changes with Rosh HaShanah, the number to work with from Rosh HaShanah to December 31 is 3761.

The greatest change which the Rabbis made in the festival calendar was the addition of a day to each of the holidays ordained in the Torah, except Yom Kippur. This was done in the early Talmudic period (i.e. first century). Compelling circumstances at that time forced the Rabbis to make this change.

Not only was the confirmation and sanctification of the new moon — and therefore the new month — the duty of the Palestinian authorities, but theirs was also the task of communicating the dates of the new moon to every Jewish community. This was a task of vital importance, as the new moon determines the dates of the festivals. At an earlier time, the new moon (i.e. the first of the month) was communicated to all the Jews in Palestine and the Diaspora by kindling flares on hilltops. However, after the Samaritans kindled flares at the wrong time to confuse the Jews, the news about the New Moon had to be communicated by messengers. The change was introduced by Judah Hanasi (c. 135-200 CE).

Since it often happened that the messengers did not arrive in time at the places of their destination outside of Palestine because of road hazards, wars, or political upheavals, a second day was added to the holidays for the Jews in the Diaspora. This assured that one of the two days on which they celebrated the festival was indeed the proper holy day. In Palestine the addition of these "second days" to the festivals was not necessary because the news about the sighting of the new moon, proclaimed in Palestine, reached every part of that land in due time, i.e. prior to the dates of the festivals. The exception was Rosh HaShanah, which falls on the first day of the month of Tishri, making timely communication about this New Moon, even in Palestine, impossible.

During the Talmudic period a stable, scientifically determined calendar was adopted, and so the pragmatic need for "second days" disappeared. But the Palestinian authorities did not abolish these extra days of observance for Diaspora Jews (nor the second day of Rosh HaShanah for Palestinian Jews) because of the Rabbinic principle that we "may not change the custom of [our] forefathers."

Because it was mostly in response to more and more Christians (house of Israel) beginning to date their documents around the eighth century as AD (Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord) and because it was not until the twelfth century that the present way of Jewish dating of time was accepted by Jews (house of Judah) universally, it can be concluded that the modern Jewish calendar is not literally "since the creation of the world." When the Jewish people (house of Judah), recalculated time "since the beginning of the world", they did not recalculate all of the years when they were taken captive in Babylon (Judaism in the 1st Century Christian Era) Volume I, Chapter 1 by George Foote Moore. However, Biblically, the G-d of Israel did ordain that there would be 6,000 years of time from the creation of Adam to the beginning of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Therefore, only the G-d of Israel knows for sure how close we are to the conclusion of 6,000 years of time and the beginning of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

THE 6,000-YEAR PRESENT ERA IN GENESIS 1:1

In the audio tape series, America’s Biblical Blueprint by Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Volume 1, he explains the allusion to the first 6,000 years of the 7,000-year plan of the G-d of Israel in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 by examining the text of the verse in Hebrew. In English, Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 reads:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

In Hebrew, Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 reads:

"Bereishit b’rah elohim et hashamayim v’et ha’eretz."

As Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Daniel Lapin explains in the tape series, in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Alef, appears 6 times in a very improbable sequence. The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the third letter of the first two Hebrew words, Bereishit and B’rah. The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the first letter in the next two Hebrew words, elohim and et. The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the second letter in the last two Hebrew words, v’et and ha’eretz.




THE WISDOM OF KEEPING THE TORAH
AND THE HEBREW ALEF

In traditional Jewish (house of Judah) thought, the Hebrew letter, Alef, represents wisdom. In the Bible, wisdom is associated and linked with keeping the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4:1, 5-8 it is written:

"Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them … Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law [TORAH], which I set before you this day?"

So, in this Scripture, keeping the Torah of the G-d of Israel is associated with wisdom and understanding. In traditional Jewish thought, the Hebrew letter, Alef, is also associated with wisdom. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the G-d of Israel would choose the Hebrew letter, Alef, in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1, to represent the wisdom of keeping His Torah during the first 6,000 years of time known as the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age).

How is the Alef (which represents wisdom) and the wisdom of keeping the Torah of the G-d of Israel linked to an allusion of 6,000 years of time in Genesis 1:1? As Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Daniel Lapin explains in his tape series, in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1, the Hebrew letter, Alef, appears 6 times in a very improbable sequence. The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the third letter in the first two Hebrew words, Bereishit, and B’rah. These first two occurrences of the Hebrew letter, Alef, as the third letter in each of the first two Hebrew words, Bereishit and B’rah represents the first 2,000 years of time known as Tohu when there was the least amount of knowledge of the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel among the earth’s people.

The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the first letter in the next two Hebrew words, elohim and et. These next two occurrences of the Hebrew letter, Alef, as the first letter in each of the next two Hebrew words, elohim and et represents the next 2,000 years of time known as Torah when the knowledge and understanding of the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel and following it would be at its greatest within the first 6,000 years of time.

The Hebrew letter, Alef, is the second letter in the last two Hebrew words in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1, v’et and ha’eretz. These last two occurrences of the Hebrew letter, Alef, as the second letter in each of the next two Hebrew words, v’et and ha’eretz represents the last 2,000 years of time known as the days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach) of the first 6,000 years. This signifies that during this time there would be a great religious/secular debate among the people of the earth regarding whether or not they should follow the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel.



WHEN IS THE END OF
THE 6,000-YEAR PRESENT ERA?

The greatest 1,000-year period of the 7,000 years of time will be during the days of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). This period of time follows the first 6,000 years of time known as the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age). As we have just studied, the last 2,000 years of the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age) known as the days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach) would be a period of time when there would be an ideological struggle among the people of the world whether they should follow the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel or live according to the values of a secular society.

Being Jewish, the disciples (talmidim) of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus had an understanding of the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel and knew that they were living in the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age). By knowing that the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age) is followed by the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) and by knowing that they were speaking to the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus Himself, they decided to ask Him what signs that His people should expect to see so that they would know when the present world/age (Olam Hazeh) was concluding and the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) was about to arrive. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 24:3 it is written:

"When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the talmidim [disciples] came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that you are coming and that the ‘olam hazeh’ is ending?’ " (The Complete Jewish Bible version by David Stern)

The Jewish (house of Judah) disciples of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus had no concept, no knowledge and no understanding of the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel through the eyes of modern traditional Christian (house of Israel) dispensational theology (the age of law and the age of grace). Furthermore, we should notice that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus did not rebuke His disciples (talmidim) for understanding that the first 6,000 years of time were known as the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age). However, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus did acknowledge the premise of their question and gave a detailed answer in the rest of Matthew (Mattityahu) 24 known within Christianity (house of Israel) as the Olivet discourse.



THE JEWISH MESSIAH WILL COME
AFTER 4,000 YEARS OF TIME

It is traditional Jewish (house of Judah) understanding that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would come 4,000 years after the creation of Adam and Eve. In the Talmud in Sanhedrin 97 it is written:

"The Tanna debe Eliyyahu teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation; [i.e. no Torah. It is a tradition that Abraham was fifty-two years old when he began to convert men to the worship of the true God; from Adam until then, two thousand years elapsed] two thousand years the Torah flourished; and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era, [i.e. Messiah will come within that period] but through our many iniquities all these years have been lost. [He should have come at the beginning of the last two thousand years; the delay is due to our sins.]"

Therefore, as recorded in the Talmud in Sanhedrin 97, there was an expectation that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would come after 4,000 years of time. In an article in the Jewish Press newspaper (Brooklyn, New York) by Rabbi Sholom Klass entitled, The Coming of the Messiah, he explains that there was a high expectation among the Jewish people for a Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) during the first century. In his article, Rabbi Sholom Klass writes:

"The belief in a personal Messiah reached its highest tension during that period of the first century when Rome sent her despotic procurators to rule over Judea. The yoke was most oppressive and the Jews awaited a leader whom G-d would send to articulate their latent spirit of rebellion and free them from the Roman tyranny."

4,000 YEARS FROM THE CREATION OF
ADAM TO THE JEWISH MESSIAH

Next, we will examine the Biblical chronology of time to understand that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth 4,000 years from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). This matches exactly the period of time when the Messiah was expected to come to the earth according to traditional Jewish expectation. The purpose of this chronology is NOT to Biblically justify EXACTLY the entire 4,000 year period of time from the creation of Adam to the coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus in the first century. However, it is given to establish a Biblical basis for the credibility of making such a hypothesis.



FROM ADAM TO ABRAHAM

Adam to Seth ...................... 130 years (Genesis 5:3)
Seth to Enos ........................105 years (Genesis 5:6)
Enos to Cainan ..................... 90 years (Genesis 5:9)
Cainan to Mahalaleel .......... 70 years (Genesis 5:12)
Mahalaleel to Jared ............ 65 years (Genesis 5:15)
Jared to Enoch ....................162 years (Genesis 5:18
Enoch to Methuselah .......... 65 years (Genesis 5:21)
Methuselah to Lamech ..... 187 years (Genesis 5:25)
Lamech to Noah ................ 182 years (Genesis 5:28-29)
Noah to the Flood .............. 600 years (Genesis 7:6)
Flood to Arphaxad ................ 2 years (Genesis 11:10)
Arphaxad to Salah .............. 35 years (Genesis 11:12)
Salah to Eber ...................... 30 years (Genesis 11:14)
Eber to Peleg ...................... 34 years (Genesis 11:16)
Peleg to Reu ....................... 30 years (Genesis 11:18
Reu to Serug ....................... 32 years (Genesis 11:20)
Serug to Nahor .................... 30 years (Genesis 11:22)
Nahor to Terah .................... 29 years (Genesis 11:24)
Terah to Abraham .............. 70 years (Genesis 11:26)
-------
Adam to Abraham ........... 1948 years

It is interesting to note that from Adam to Abraham (Avraham) was 1948 years. The birth of the modern day state of Israel happened on the Gregorian calendar in 1948.



FROM ABRAHAM TO EGYPT

Abraham to Isaac ......... 100 years (Genesis 21:5)
Isaac to Jacob ................ 60 years (Genesis 25:26)
Jacob to Egypt ............. 130 years (Genesis 47:28
-------
Abraham to Egypt ....... 290 years


FROM EGYPT TO THE EXODUS

From Egypt to the Exodus .............. X years

— Jacob and his family went to Egypt

Jacob went to Egypt .................................. (Genesis 46:8,11)
Levi went to Egypt (Jacob’s son) ............. (Genesis 46:8,11)
Kohath went to Egypt (Levi’s son) ........... (Genesis 46:8,11)


Kohath had a son named Amram ............ (Exodus 6:18
Amram had a son named Moses ............ (Exodus 6:20)
Moses to the Exodus — 80 years ........... (Exodus 7:7)

From Egypt to the Exodus:

X = (Kohath to Amram to Moses + 80)



FROM THE WILDERNESS TO JOSHUA’S DEATH

In the Wilderness ............................. 40 years (Numbers 32:13)
Wilderness to death Joshua ............ 30 years (Joshua 14:7, 24:29)
----
Exodus to death Joshua .................. 70 years



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES

Under King Cushanrishathaim ...... 8 years (Judges 3:8
Under Othniel ............................... 40 years (Judges 3:10-11)
Under King Eglon ......................... 18 years (Judges 3:14)
Under Ehud ................................... 80 years (Judges 3:15,30)
Under King Jabin .......................... 20 years (Judges 4:1-3)
Under Deborah ............................. 40 years (Judges 4:4, 5:31)
Under Midianites ........................... 7 years (Judges 6:1)
Under Gideon ............................... 40 years (Judges 6:7, 8:28
Under Abimelech ............................ 3 years (Judges 8:32, 9:22)
Under Tola .................................... 23 years (Judges 10:1-2)
Under Jair ..................................... 22 years (Judges 10:3)
Under Ammonites ........................ 18 years (Judges 10:5-8
Under Jephthah ............................. 6 years (Judges 12:7)
Under Ibzan ................................... 7 years (Judges 12:8-9)
Under Elon ................................... 10 years (Judges 12:11)
Under Abdon .................................. 8 years (Judges 12:13-14)
Under Philistines ......................... 40 years (Judges 13:1)
Under Samson ............................. 20 years (Judges 16:30-31)
Under Eli/Samuel ........................ 40 years (I Samuel 4:15,18
-----
Judges to Samuel ..................... 450 years (Acts 13:20)



THE KINGS OF JUDAH

Under King Saul ......................... 40 years (Acts 13:21)
Under King David ...................... 40 years (I Chron 29:26-27)
Under King Solomon .................. 40 years (I Kings 11:42-43)
Under King Rehoboam ............. 17 years (I Kings 14:21)
Under King Abijam ...................... 3 years (I Kings 15:1-2)
Under King Asa ......................... 41 years (I Kings 15:8-10)
Under King Jehoshaphat .......... 25 years (I Kings 22:41-42)
Under King Jehoram ................. 8 years (II Chron 21:5)
Under King Ahaziah ................... 1 year (II Chron 22:1-2)
Under Queen Athaliah ............... 6 years (II Chron 22:12)
Under King Joash .................... 40 years (II Chron 24:1)
Under King Amaziah ................ 29 years (II Chron 25:1)
Under Uzziah ............................ 52 years (II Chron 26:3)
Under Jotham ........................... 16 years (II Chron 27:1)
Under Ahaz .............................. 16 years (II Chron 28:1)
Under Hezekiah ....................... 29 years (II Chron 29:1)
Under Manasseh ...................... 55 years (II Chron 33:1)
Under Amon ............................... 2 years (II Chron 33:21)
Under King Josiah .................... 31 years (II Chron 34:1)
Under King Jehoahaz ................. 3 months (II Chron 36:2)
Under King Jehoiakim .............. 11 years (II Chron 36:3-7)
Under King Jehoiachin ................ 3 months (II Chron 36:9)
Under King Zedekiah ................ 11 years (II Chron 36:11)
-----
KINGS OF JUDAH ................. 513 years

History tells us that the Jews (house of Judah) were taken captive to Babylon in 586 BCE.



SUMMARY OF THE TIME
FROM ADAM TO YESHUA/JESUS

Adam to Abraham .................... 1948 years
Abraham to Egypt ...................... 290 years
From Egypt to Moses ................... X years

The Bible does not explicitly give us this time but Kohath went to Egypt and Moses (Moshe) is the grandson of Kohath. So, this is an arbitrary number.

Let X = 63 years
X = (Kohath to Amram to Moses)

Moses to the Exodus .................... 80 years
Exodus to death Joshua ................ 70 years
Judges to Samuel ......................... 450 years
Kings of Judah ............................. 513 years
Babylonian Captivity ................... 586 years (BCE)
----------
From Adam to Yeshua/Jesus .... 4000 years
Therefore, we can conclude that there is credible Biblical evidence to prove that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth around 4,000 years from the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) exactly according to the traditional Jewish (house of Judah) expectation from the Talmud Sanhedrin 97 that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would come to the earth after 4,000 years of time at the beginning of the last 2,000-year period of time known as the days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach) within the 6,000-year period of time known as the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age).

THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH
AFTER 4,000 YEARS IN GENESIS 1:1

Earlier in this chapter, we studied the allusion to the 6,000 years of time of the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age) from Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 by analyzing the six occurrences of the Hebrew letter, Alef, and relating these occurrences to each of the three 2,000 years of time within the 6,000-year period of the Olam Hazeh (the present world/age) by looking at this verse in the Hebrew language. Next, we will examine Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 in Hebrew, once again, to see the allusion of the coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus after 4,000 years of time following the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). In Hebrew, Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 is written:

"Bereishit b’rah elohim et hashamayim v’et ha’eretz."

There are seven Hebrew words in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1. If each word represents 1,000 years of time, the fourth word would represent 4,000 years of time. The fourth Hebrew word in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 is "et." The Hebrew word "et" is spelled with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Alef, and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tav. In Revelation 1:5, 7-8 it is written:

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood … behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. Being born in the land of Israel and being a Jew, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus would have spoken Hebrew. Translating Revelation 1:8 from Greek to Hebrew, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus said that He is the Alef and the Tav. In a literal (Peshat) sense, the Hebrew word "et" in Genesis (Bereishit) signifies a direct object in the grammar of the Hebrew language. However, since the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus Himself told us in Revelation 1:8 that He is the Alef and the Tav, we can translate Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 to read as follows:

"In the beginning [Bereishit] God created [b’ray elohim] et [alef, tav … the Jewish Messiah (Yeshua/Jesus)]…"

In traditional Jewish (house of Judah) thought, the Messiah was one of the seven things created before the foundation of the world (Talmud, Pesachim 54). In Revelation 13:8, it is written:

"…the Lamb [Yeshua/Jesus … John 1:29] slain from the foundation of the world."

In Zechariah 12:10, the Hebrew word "et" (alef, tav) appears, once again, in reference to the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as it is written:

"…and they shall look upon me [et] [alef, tav] whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."



THE TIMING OF THE COMING
OF THE JEWISH MESSIAH


The Jews (house of Judah) were taken captive to Babylon in three stages.

The first deportation took place in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim. This was the first year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (II Chronicles 36:5-7, Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 25:1). This event happened around 605 BCE.

The second deportation took place in the seventh year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 52:28. At this time, 3,023 people were taken to Babylon. In the eighth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) was besieged (II Kings [Melachim] 24:10-12) and 10,000 people were taken captive to Babylon (II Kings [Melachim] 24:14) along with King Jehoiachin. This event is in II Kings [Melachim] 24:8-14. It happened around 597 BCE. The city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign (II Kings [Melachim] 25:1-2).

The third deportation occurred in the nineteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. This would have been in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) and the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) were destroyed at this time (II Kings [Melachim] 25:8-11). This event happened in 586 BCE.

The G-d of Israel told the prophet Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) that the captivity in Babylon was for 70 years (Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 25:1, 11). The 70 years of exile was due to Israel not keeping the seventh year sabbatical for the land (Leviticus [Vayikra] 25:1-4, II Chronicles 36:20-21).

At the end of 70 years of captivity in Babylon, Cyrus, King of Persia , will defeat Babylon and allow the Jews (house of Judah) to return to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to rebuild the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) (II Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3, 5:13-14, Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 29:10, Daniel 9:2).

Cyrus made the decree in 538 BCE. The building of the Temple began two years later (Ezra 3:8 in 536 BCE.

The Jews (house of Judah) did not return to the land of Israel as a corporate people after the 70 year Babylonian captivity. Only a remnant returned. Those Jews (house of Judah) who did return from the exile in Babylon did so in three stages.

The first stage was under Cyrus, King of Persia. This is found in Ezra chapters 1-6. The leaders of Israel were Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 3:2). But they had difficulties (Ezra 4:3-5, 5:2). The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was rebuilt after a period of time (Ezra 6:14-15). Herod enlarged and beautified this Temple (John [Yochanan] 2:18-20).


From the first deportation to the beginning of the rebuilding of the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was 70 years (605 BCE - 536 BCE). The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was destroyed in 586 BCE. The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, King of Persia (Ezra 6:14-15). This would make the completion taking place in 516 BCE. From the time the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was destroyed to the time the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was rebuilt was 70 years.

The second stage of return from captivity is in Ezra 7. This happened in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, King of Persia (Ezra 7:1-7). This would be in 458 BCE. As many as wished could go back from Babylon based upon the decree of King Artaxerxes in Ezra 7:11-13. The number who returned were 1,758 (Ezra 8:1-20).

The third stage of return from captivity is in the book of Nehemiah. The Jews (house of Judah) began to come back in the twentieth year of the reign of King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1). This would be in 444 BCE. Those people who returned are listed in Nehemiah 7. A decree given by King Artaxerxes to rebuild the Temple in the twentieth year is found in Nehemiah 2:1-8, 5:14.

From the commandment to restore and rebuild the Temple (Nehemiah 2:1-8, 5:14) which was 444 BCE until the death of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was prophesied to be 69 weeks or 483 years. This prophecy was given to Daniel in Daniel 9:1-4, 20-26 as it is written:

"In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments … And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee: for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks [490 years] are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks [69 weeks]: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was crucified and hung on a tree 69 weeks from the commandments to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) exactly according to the prophecy that was given to Daniel. When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) during the final week of His life, He wept over the city because they did not know the "day of their visitation." In Luke 19:37-38, 41-44, it is written:

"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest … And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of your visitation."

PICTURES OF 6,000 AND 7,000 YEARS
IN THE BIBLE

The G-d of Israel has given us many spiritual pictures of His 7,000-year redemptive plan in the Bible. In this section of the chapter, we will examine some of these spiritual pictures that the G-d of Israel gave His people to understand the 6,000 years of the present age (Olam Hazeh) as well as the entire 7,000 years of His redemptive plan.



NOAH AND THE FLOOD

Noah was 600 years old when the flood (judgment) came upon the earth. In Genesis (Bereishit) 7:11-12, it is written:

"In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights."

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years (the end of the Olam Hazeh), judgment (the tribulation/birth pangs of the Messiah/Chevlai shel Mashiach) will come upon the earth.



MOSES AND MOUNT SINAI

After six days, Moses (Moshe) was called up to mount Sinai to be in the presence (kivod) of the G-d of Israel in the midst of the cloud. In Exodus (Shemot) 24:13-18 it is written:

"…and Moses went up into the mount of God … and Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud … And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights."

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years (the end of the Olam Hazeh), the glory (kivod) of the G-d of Israel will be upon the Bride of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus and she will be caught up in the clouds to be in the presence of the G-d of Israel (Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:30, Hebrews 12:1, Revelation 1:5,7).

In I Thessalonians 4:16-17 it is written:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [shofar] of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

It is traditional Jewish thought (house of Judah) that two themes associated with the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) is the resurrection of the dead and the blowing of the last trump. Therefore, I Thessalonians 4:16-17 is an allusion to the resurrection of the dead which will take place after 6,000 years of time on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah). For a more detailed study of the Biblical Festivals and how the G-d of Israel gave the Biblical Festivals in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23 to teach about the first and second coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus and our personal relationship (halacha) with Him, I would encourage you to read my book, The Seven Festivals of the Messiah.



THE DISCIPLES
AND THE TRANSFIGURATION

After six days, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus took Peter (Kefa), James (Ya’acov), and John (Yochanan) up into a high mountain and was transfigured before them. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 17:1-4, it is written:

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Once again, this is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years (the end of the Olam Hazeh), there will be the resurrection of the dead and the Bride of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will rule and reign with Him during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is associated with the Messianic Age. In Revelation 5:10, it is written:

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."



THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS


The resurrection of Lazarus in John (Yochanan) 11 took place over six days.

Lazarus is sick for two days (John 11:1-6).
Lazarus is dead for four days (John 11:14, 39).
Yeshua/Jesus resurrects Lazarus after these six days (John 11:40-44).
One again, this is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years (the end of the Olam Hazeh), there will be the resurrection of the dead. This last 1,000-year period is the "final day" (Psalm 90:4, II Peter 3:8 of the 7,000-year plan of the G-d of Israel. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, spoke to the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus stating that she knew that the resurrection of the dead would take place in the "last day." In John (Yochanan) 11:21-27 it is written:

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveths and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."



SLAVES WORKED FOR SIX YEARS

The G-d of Israel declared in the Torah that a Hebrew servant was to work for six years and on the seventh year he was to be freed. In Exodus (Shemot) 21:2, it is written:

"If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing."

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that He ordained that the punishment for Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) was that man would be a slave to the earth for 6,000 years (until the end of the Olam Hazeh). Afterward, man would be freed from his bondage to the earth and would enjoy the peace (shalom) of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Adam’s bondage to the earth as punishment by the G-d of Israel because of his sin in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) is given to us in Genesis (Bereishit) 3:17-19 as it is written:

"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

This is also a spiritual picture/blueprint of mankind being under the bondage of sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:16) and the slavery of Satan’s kingdom for 6,000 years because Adam sinned and yielded to the temptation of the serpent (Nachash) in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). Afterward, man would be free from the slavery of Satan’s kingdom (but not sin) during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) when Satan would be bound (Revelation 20:2) and the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus would rule and reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4) teaching the Torah to the nations from Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 2:2-4).



THE HIDING OF KING JOASH

King Joash was hidden in the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) for six years. At the beginning of the seventh year, King Joash was crowned King over Israel. In II Kings (Melachim) 11:1-4, 21 it is written:

"And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land. And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son … seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign."

In this story, King Joash is a type of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In traditional Jewish thought (house of Judah), the Messiah (Mashiach) is one of the seven things created before the creation of the world and the timing of his coming or the redemption is also one of the seven things which are hidden from man (Talmud, Pesachim 54). Therefore, King Joash is a spiritual picture / blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel to teach us that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus would be hid from ruling and reigning on the earth (physically) as King (Zechariah 14:9) for 6,000 years (the end of the Olam Hazeh).

At the end of 6,000 years (Olam Hazeh), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be crowned King on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah). In traditional Jewish thought (house of Judah), this is the coronation day of the King. The coronation of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) to rule and reign in righteousness as King over all the earth is revealed to us in Revelation 5. In Revelation 5:1-5 it is written:

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the King of kings and the L-rd of lords (Zechariah 14:9, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:11-16).

THE STEPS
TO KING SOLOMON’S THRONE

King Soloman (Shlomo) had six steps to his throne and the seventh step was his throne. In II Chronicles 9:18 it is written:

"And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays."

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that mankind is climbing a stairway of six steps (6,000 years of time known as the Olam Hazeh) until we reach that seventh step (the Messianic Age/Athid Lavo) when the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be crowned King of kings and L-rd of lords (Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 19:11-16).



KING SOLOMON
IS A TYPE OF THE MESSIAH

King Solomon is a type of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.

Solomon (Shlomo) sat upon the throne of his father David (I Kings [Melachim] 2:12) and was given the throne of his father David (I Kings [Melachim] 3:6-7).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus sat upon the throne of His father David and He was given the throne of His father David (Luke 1:30-32, Acts 2:29-30).

Solomon’s (Shlomo) kingdom was established greatly (I Kings [Melachim] 2:12) and the throne of David shall be established before the L-rd forever (I Kings [Melachim] 2:45).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus’ kingdom shall have no end (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 9:6-7, Luke 1:33).

Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms and they served Solomon all the days of his life (I Kings [Melachim] 4:21).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will rule over all the kingdoms and they shall serve Him forever (Daniel 2:44, 7:14, 27).

Solomon (Shlomo) is the Strong’s word 8010 in the Hebrew Concordance which means "Peaceful." Solomon (Shlomo) which is the Strong’s word 8010 comes from the Strong’s word 7965 which is the Hebrew word shalom which means "peace."
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is called the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 9:6).

Solomon (Shlomo) was king in the midst of his people (I Kings [Melachim] 3:7-8.
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be King in the midst of His people (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 12:6 = Psalm [Tehillim] 89:18, Zechariah 2:10-11).

Solomon (Shlomo) was the wisest of earthly kings (I Kings [Melachim] 3:5, 9-13, 4:29-31, 10:23, II Chronicles 9:22-23).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the wisdom of the G-d of Israel (I Corinthians 1:24, Colossians 2:2-3).

Solomon (Shlomo) built the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) and he had rest on every side (I Kings [Melachim] 5:2-4, 6:9, 14).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will build the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) and will have rest on every side (Zechariah 6:12-13). The Branch (Zechariah 6:12) is a term for the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 11:1, 10).

Solomon (Shlomo) was given wisdom and understanding to righteously judge good and evil. (I Kings (Melachim) 3:9-13).

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus has wisdom and understanding to righteously judge good and evil. (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 11:1-6).

The whole earth sought Solomon (Shlomo) to hear his wisdom (I Kings [Melachim] 10:24).
The whole earth will speak of the wisdom of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus during the Messianic Age. (Psalm [Tehillim] 145:1, 11-13).

During the reign of Solomon (Shlomo), every man was "under his vine and fig tree" (I Kings [Melachim] 4:25).
"Under his vine and under his fig tree" is a Jewish "idiom" for the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

During the reign of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) every man will sit "under his vine and under his fig tree" (Micah 4:3-4, John 1:47-49).



THE MARRIAGE IN CANA OF GALILEE

The book of John (Yochanan) beginning in John 1:19 through John 2:1 will outline events which will happen over seven days of time.

John 1:19 = Day 1
John 1:29 = Day 2
John 1:35 = Day 3
John 1:43 = Day 4
After the fourth day, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will go forth into Galilee. Galilee is the Strong’s word 1551 in the Hebrew dictionary. The word Galilee in Hebrew means "a circle." A circle is a synonym for heaven. These four days are a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus would come to the earth after being in heaven/circle (Olam Haba) 4,000 years from the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden).

John 2:1 describes a marriage in Cana of Galilee on the third day. This third day (after the four previous days) is the seventh day. On this day, there is a wedding.

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years of time (the end of the Olam Hazeh) He will enter into the fullness of the marriage with His people when the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will rule and reign with His Bride during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). In traditional Jewish thought (house of Judah), the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) is the day of the fullness of the wedding of the G-d of Israel with His people.



JOSHUA CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER

The crossing of the Jordan river by the children of Israel is a spiritual picture/blueprint of the first 6,000 years of time known as the Olam Hazeh (the present age).

Joshua 3:1 = Day 1
Joshua 3:2 = After three days (Day 4), the children of Israel cross the Jordan river.
In this Scripture passage, Joshua (Yehoshua) is a type of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. Joshua is the Strong’s word 3091 in the Hebrew dictionary. Jesus is the Strong’s word 2424 in the Greek dictionary of the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) and corresponds to the Hebrew name Joshua (Yehoshua).

Joshua became the leader of the children of Israel after the death of Moses (Moshe) and led G-d’s chosen people into the Promised Land. These four days are a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus coming to the earth 4,000 years after the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) to lead all those who would put their faith, trust and confidence (emunah) in Him into the Promised Land of the Messianic Kingdom.

Joshua 3:3-4. There is a space of 2,000 cubits between the ark of the covenant and the children of Israel.
These 2,000 cubits are a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that the Jewish nation (house of Judah) as a corporate people would remove themselves from the G-d of Israel’s spiritual ark of the covenant (the Jewish Messiah [Mashiach] Yeshua/Jesus) for 2,000 years following the first coming of Yeshua/Jesus as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph). At the end of 6,000 years of time (Olam Hazeh), the Jewish people as a corporate nation will accept Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah (Mashiach). In Hosea (Hoshea) 5:15, 6:1-3 it is written:

"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days [2,000 years from the Messiah’s first coming] will he revive us: in the third day [the Messianic Age/Athid Lavo] he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

Joshua 3:5. Sanctify yourselves for TOMORROW the L-rd will do wonders among you.
Joshua 3:7. The Lord said to Joshua, THIS DAY will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all of Israel.

The TOMORROW and the THIS DAY = Four days + 2,000 cubits or 6,000 years.

After 6,000 years (Olam Hazeh / the present age), the L-rd will magnify the sight of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus in the sight of all of Israel during the time of Jacob’s (Ya’acov’s trouble — Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 30:7) tribulation/birth pangs of the Messiah (Chevlai shel Mashiach).

THE BIRTH OF JACOB

The birth of Jacob (Ya’acov) is a spiritual picture/blueprint of 6,000 years (Olam Hazeh). Jacob (Ya’acov) is Israel (Genesis [Bereishit] 32:27-28

Isaac (Yitzchak) is 40 years old when he marries Rebekah (Rivkah) (Genesis [Bereishit] 25:20).
Isaac (Yitzchak) is a type of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. These 40 years are a spiritual picture/blueprint that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will come to the earth at His first coming as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph).

Rebekah (Rivkah) will be barren for 20 years before Jacob (Israel) is born (Genesis [Bereishit] 25:21,26).
After 20 years (2,000 years), Rebekah (Rivkah) bears Jacob (Ya’acov). This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that 2,000 years following the first coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the suffering Messiah known to the Jewish people (house of Judah) as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph), the Jewish people (house of Judah) as a corporate nation will accept the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah.



THE CHILDREN OF JACOB BY LEAH

In Genesis (Bereishit) 29, Leah has seven children. This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel of His 7,000-year redemptive plan from the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) to the end of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

The first son is Reuben (Genesis [Bereishit] 29:32). Reuben is the Strong’s word 7205 which comes from two Hebrew words. These two Hebrew words are the Strong’s word 7200 which means "to see" and the Strong’s word 1121 which means "a son." So, Reuben means "to see a son."


The second son is Simeon (Genesis [Bereishit] 29:33). Simeon is the Strong’s word 8095 in the Hebrew dictionary and comes from the Strong’s word 8085 which is the Hebrew word "Shema" which means "to hear." So, the name Simeon means "hearing."


The third son is Levi (Genesis [Bereishit] 29:34). Levi is the Strong’s word 3878 in the Hebrew dictionary and comes from the Strong’s word 3867 which is the Hebrew word "Lavah" which means "to join." So, the name Levi means "to join."

The fourth son is Judah (Genesis [Bereishit] 29:35). Judah is the Strong’s word 3063 which is the Hebrew word "Yehudah" which means "to praise."

Judah (Yehudah) is the fourth son of Leah. It was prophesied by the G-d of Israel though Jacob (Ya’acov) that the scepter (authority to rule and reign) would not depart from Judah and that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would be from the tribe of Judah. In Genesis (Bereishit) 49:10 it is written:

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [a term for the Jewish Messiah] come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

Even as Judah (Yehudah) was the fourth son of Leah, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth 4,000 years from the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) and was born from the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5). After four children, Leah’s womb stops (Genesis [Bereishit] 29:35). This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that the Jewish people (house of Judah) would not receive the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as a corporate nation during His first coming as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) following the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden).

The fifth son is Issachar (Genesis [Bereishit] 30:18. Issachar is the Strong’s word 3485 in the Hebrew dictionary. Issachar comes from the Strong’s word 7939 which means "hire or wages." So, Issachar means "my hiring or my wages."

This is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that following the first coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) and the destruction of the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) that the Jewish people (house of Judah) would be scattered among the nations as a "hired" people.

The sixth son is Zebulun (Genesis [Bereishit] 30:19-20). Zebulun is the Strong’s word 2074 in the Hebrew dictionary. Zebulun comes from the Strong’s word 2082 which means "to dwell." So, Zebulun means "dwelling."

This is a spiritual prophetic/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years of time (Olam Hazeh/the present age) He will dwell with His people through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

The seventh child is a daughter named Dinah (Genesis [Bereishit] 30:21). Dinah is the Strong’s word 1783. It is related to the Strong’s word 1779 which is "Din" which means "to judge." So, Dinah means "judge."

Dinah (female) is a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that after 6,000 years of time (Olam Hazeh) the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will live and dwell with His Bride (female) during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) ruling and reigning with her judging the nations. In I Corinthians 6:2-3 it is written:

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? … know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"

In Revelation 5:10 it is written:

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

In Revelation 20:4 it is written:

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."



CHAPTER SUMMARY

In this chapter, we studied the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel. In doing so, we were able to understand that the G-d of Israel gave the seven days of creation in the book of Genesis (Bereishit) as a prophetic foreshadowing of His 7,000-year plan for man following the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). Each day in creation represents 1,000 years of time. The seventh day of creation (Sabbath) is a prophetic picture/blueprint of the 1,000-year Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).

These 7,000 years of time were outlined for us in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 with the six occurrences of the Hebrew letter, Alef. The fourth word in Hebrew in Genesis (Bereishit) 1:1 is the Hebrew word (Alef, Tav) which spiritually represents the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. This fourth letter is also a spiritual picture/blueprint given to us by the G-d of Israel that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus would come to the earth as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) 4,000 years after the creation of Adam and Eve.

We examined the Biblical evidence through genealogy and chronology that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth around 4,000 years following the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). Finally, we studied Biblical pictures/blueprints (sod/deeper meaning) of the 7,000-year prophetic plan of the G-d of Israel using various examples in Scripture.

In order for full restoration to come to both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity), Christianity (house of Israel) must begin to replace their traditional prophetic understanding of time based upon dispensationalism (age of law/age of grace) with the 7,000-year redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel. Meanwhile, the house of Judah (Judaism) needs to realize that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth 4,000 years following the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) at the exact time when they were expecting the G-d of Israel to send the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach).

May the G-d of Israel bring redemption, restoration, reconciliation and unity to both houses of Israel speedily in our days. Amen !!

YESHUA, OUR JEWISH MESSIAH


Yeshua/Jesus was/is a Jew. He was born a Jew, He lived as a Jew and He died a Jew. While most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) recognize that Yeshua/Jesus was Jewish, they do not worship the G-d of Israel by identifying with the Jewishness of the Messiah. The roots of faith (emunah) in Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah is biblical Judaism. In fact, the early believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach) were considered a sect of Judaism (house of Judah) (Acts 28:22). On the other hand, many members from the house of Judah (Judaism) do not recognize Yeshua/Jesus as being a Jew. For those Jews (house of Judah) who do recognize that Yeshua/Jesus was Jewish, they do not realize that Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew. Therefore, both houses of Israel need to identify in a greater measure with the Jewishness of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.

In this chapter, we will examine the Jewishness of Yeshua/Jesus. We will discover that Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew, He lived His life as a Torah observant Jew and He died a Jew. Furthermore, when He returns to the earth to rule and reign for 1,000 years during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo), He will do so as a Torah observant Jew teaching the Torah of the G-d of Israel to the nations of the world (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 2:2-4). In this chapter, we will study the Jewishness of the life of Yeshua/Jesus. We will be mainly focusing on His life as recorded for us in the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) books of Matthew (Mattityahu), Mark, Luke and John (Yochanan). In doing so, may both houses of Israel (Judaism and Christianity) recognize and identify with the Jewishness of Yeshua/Jesus and realize that He is our JEWISH Messiah (Mashiach).



OUR JEWISH MESSIAH:
YESHUA/JESUS WAS BORN A JEW

Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew. He was born of the seed of David and in the city of David which is called Bethlehem. When Yeshua/Jesus was born, His parents were betrothed to each other. Betrothal is the first of two stages of a biblical Jewish marriage. Yeshua/Jesus was circumcised the eighth day (brit milah) as is the custom for the birth of a Jewish boy. The name of Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua. Yeshua is the Hebrew word which means salvation. Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew. Yeshua/Jesus was born to be the Savior of the world and the Messiah (Mashiach) of both houses of Israel (Judaism and Christianity).



YESHUA/JESUS WAS BORN A JEW
FROM THE SEED OF DAVID

Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew. Traditional Judaism (house of Judah) believes that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) will be born from the seed of David. The house of Israel (Christianity) also believes that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) will be born from the seed of David. In I Chronicles 17:7-14 it is written:

"Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more: neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning, And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom forever: and his throne shall be established forevermore."

The G-d of Israel’s promise to David is repeated in Psalm (Tehillim) 89:20, 34-37 as it is written:

"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him … my covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. In Romans 1:3, it is written:

"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh"

In Hebrew 7:14 it is written:

"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah…"

In Revelation 5:5, it is written:

"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book…"

When Yeshua/Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary (Miryam), the Jewish mother of Yeshua/Jesus and said in Luke 1:30-33 as it is written:

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."



JESUS IN HEBREW MEANS SALVATION

In Luke 1:31, the angel Gabriel told Mary (Miryam) that the Messiah’s name would be Jesus. The name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua which means salvation. In Hebrew thought, a name is given to a person to represent a person’s character, identity, purpose or destiny. A name represents who a person is to be. One of the roles of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is to redeem the house of Jacob and save the world from their sins. Therefore, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) was named Yeshua which means in Hebrew "salvation" because the Messiah would save His people from their sins. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 1:21 it is written:

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [Yeshua]: for he shall save his people from their sins"



THE IMPORTANCE OF A NAME
IN HEBRAIC THOUGHT

A Hebrew name is important because a name in Hebrew thought represents a person’s character, identity, purpose or destiny. The angel Gabriel gave instructions to Mary (Miryam) to name the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua/salvation because his character, identity, purpose and destiny in the heart of the G-d of Israel is to save His people from their sins. Next, we will examine the names of the patriarch’s, Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzchak) and Jacob (Ya’acov) to understand in a greater way how a name in Hebraic thought represents a person’s character, identity, purpose or destiny.

ABRAHAM IN HEBREW MEANS
FATHER OF A MULTITUDE

Abram is the Strong’s word 87 in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance. It is the Hebrew word Avram. Avram (Abram) in Hebrew means "exalted Father." When the G-d of Israel made a covenant with Abram (Avram), He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Avraham). Abraham is the Strong’s word 85 which in Hebrew means "father of a multitude." When He changed Abraham’s name, the G-d of Israel added the Hebrew letter, hay ("h"), to Abraham’s name. The Hebrew letter, hay ("h"), represents the breath and life of the G-d of Israel.

By making a covenant with Abraham (Avraham) and changing his name, the G-d of Israel was communicating to Abraham (Avraham) that He was going to change the character, identity, purpose and destiny of Abraham and his descendents. The G-d of Israel was going to do this by adding His breath and life (the Hebrew letter, hay, ["h"]) to the life of Abraham (Avraham) and make him a "father of a multitude." In Genesis (Bereishit) 17:1-7 it is written:

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly … As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations [Avraham in Hebrew]. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram [which means ‘exalted father’ in Hebrew] but thy name shall be Abraham; [which means ‘father of a multitude’ in Hebrew] for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee."



ISAAC IN HEBREW MEANS LAUGHTER

Isaac (Yitzchak) is the son of Abraham (Avraham) and Sarah. Isaac is the Strong’s word 3327 and is the Hebrew word Yitzchak which means "laughter." When the G-d of Israel told Abraham that Sarah was going to have a child in her old age when she was past child bearing age, Sarah "laughed." (Genesis [Bereishit] 18:9-14). Therefore, Abraham and Sarah named their child Isaac (Yitzchak) or "laughter." When Isaac (Yitzchak) was born, Sarah said that the G-d of Israel has made her to "laugh" (which has a deeper spiritual meaning of rejoicing with great joy) so that all that hear (SHEMA in Hebrew which means to hear, do and obey) will "laugh" (have great joy in the L-rd) with me. Therefore, Abraham and Sarah named their child, Isaac (Yitzchak), because the name Isaac (laughter) represented a prophetic event that the G-d of Israel performed in their lives. In Genesis (Bereishit) 18:9-14 it is written:

"And they said unto him [Abraham], Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

When Isaac was born, Abraham (Avraham) and Sarah named him Yitzchak in Hebrew which means "laughter." In Genesis (Bereishit) 21:1-3, 6 it is written:

"And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac … And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh so that all that hear [which is the Hebrew word SHEMA which means hear, do and obey and is the Strong’s word 8085] will laugh with me."



JACOB IN HEBREW MEANS SUPPLANTER

Jacob is the Strong’s word 3290 in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance. Jacob is the Hebrew word Ya’acov which means "supplanter, deceiver, kiniver, heel catcher." The meaning of the name of Jacob (Ya’acov) was prophetic of the life of Jacob (Ya’acov) until the G-d of Israel changed his name to Israel. Israel is the Strong’s word 3478 which means "to rule and have power as a prince with God." Jacob (Ya’acov) was given the name "heel catcher" because when he was born, he "caught the heel" of his older brother Esau. Therefore, his name was called Jacob (Ya’acov) which means a "heel catcher."

During his life, Jacob (Ya’acov) greatly desired to inherit the covenant blessing that the G-d of Israel made with Abraham (Avraham). While Jacob’s heart was honorable in desiring the covenant blessing that the G-d of Israel promised Abraham (Avraham) and the G-d of Israel honored the heart of Jacob (Ya’acov) for desiring this blessing, the method that Jacob (Ya’acov) used to obtain this blessing is best characterized as being a "supplanter, deceiver or kiniver." This is the meaning of the name Jacob (Ya’acov) in Hebrew.

Esau and Jacob (Ya’acov) were twin sons of Isaac (Yitzchak) and Rebekah (Rivkah). Because Esau was the firstborn, the family inheritance legally belonged to him. However, Jacob (Ya’acov) purposed in his heart that he would obtain the blessing of the firstborn. Because Jacob desired the covenant blessing that the G-d of Israel made with Abraham (Avraham) so greatly, Jacob (Ya’acov) asked his brother Esau to sell him the birthright of Esau when Esau was hungry and needed food to eat.

Esau represents the carnal (earthly) believer in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach). Esau’s heart was more preoccupied with meeting his TEMPORARY fleshly, earthly needs than inheriting the ETERNAL covenant promises that the G-d of Israel made with Abraham (Avraham). Therefore, Esau sold his "birthright" to satisfy his temporary earthly desire of food for his body. However, Jacob (Ya’acov) was more concerned with the eternal covenant blessing that the G-d of Israel promised to the descendents of Abraham (Avraham).

Jacob (Ya’acov) had a "wrestling" in his life between his carnal nature (evil inclination) being a "supplanter, deceiver, kiniver" with his brother Esau and his spiritual nature (good inclination) which desired the blessing of the G-d of Israel. When Jacob (Ya’acov) had a "wrestling" match with the G-d of Israel toward the end of his life, this was prophetic of his life. In the "wrestling" match, Jacob (Ya’acov) prevailed. Even though Jacob’s method of obtaining the blessing of the firstborn was carnal, fleshly and earthly (evil inclination), the G-d of Israel honored the spiritual nature (good inclination) of Jacob’s heart to desire the covenant blessing that He made with Abraham (Avraham).

When Jacob (Ya’acov) prevailed in his "wrestling" match with the G-d of Israel, G-d changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Israel is the Strong’s word 3478 which means "to rule and have power as a prince with G-d." The changing of the name of Jacob (Ya’acov) to Israel represented a change in the character, identity, purpose and destiny of Jacob’s (Ya’acov) life.

When Jacob (Ya’acov) was born, he grabbed the heel of his twin brother Esau who came out of the womb of their mother Rebekah (Rivkah) first. In Genesis (Bereishit) 25:21-26 it is written:

"And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people [Esau after the flesh and Jacob after the Spirit] shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder [Esau, the flesh] shall serve the younger [Jacob, the Spirit]. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

JACOB SUPPLANTS THE BIRTHRIGHT OF ESAU

In Genesis (Bereishit) 25:28-34, Esau sells his birthright to Jacob (Ya’acov) when Esau was hungry for food as it is written:

"And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his named was called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."



JACOB SUPPLANTS ISAAC’S BLESSING TO ESAU


In Genesis (Bereishit) 27:1-36, Jacob (Ya’acov) supplants the blessing of his father Isaac (Yitzchak) to Esau with the help of his mother Rebekah (Rivkah) as it is written:

"And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a DECEIVER; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest and have blessed him? Yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing…"



THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF JACOB AND ESAU

Jacob (Ya’acov) is a spiritual type and picture of the children of the Promise who walk according to the Spirit (good inclination) and not according to the carnal nature of the flesh (evil inclination). Esau is a spiritual type and picture of those who walk according to the carnal nature of the flesh and not after the Spirit. The G-d of Israel loves those whose heart is toward Him and His promises (Jacob) and hates those who are more concerned with pleasing the desires of their flesh (Esau) above loving the G-d of Israel with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and living for the eternal Kingdom of G-d. This is explained for us in Romans 9:8-13 as it is written:

"…They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God [Esau]: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed [Jacob]. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."



JACOB WRESTLES WITH G-D AND PREVAILS

In Genesis (Bereishit) 32:24-30, Jacob (Ya’acov) has a wrestling match with the G-d of Israel and prevails. Jacob (Ya’acov) would not leave Him depart until the G-d of Israel blessed Jacob. In Genesis (Bereishit) 32:24-30 it is written:

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

How did the G-d of Israel bless Jacob (Ya’acov)? He blessed him by changing his name from Jacob (Ya’acov) which means a "supplanter, deceiver, kiniver" (which was characteristic of Jacob’s [Ya’acov’s] life) to Israel which means "to rule and have power as a prince with God."

Therefore, we can see from the lives of Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzchak) and Jacob (Ya’acov) that their names represented their character, identity, purpose and destiny in G-d. In Hebraic thought, a name is prophetic of your character and your destiny. For this reason, the Jewish Messiah is named Yeshua. His name represents His character, destiny and purpose as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) to both houses of Israel (Judaism and Christianity). He is our Savior and He was sent by the G-d of Israel as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) to save His people from their sins (Matthew [Mattityahu] 1:21).



MIRYAM WAS BETROTHED TO YOSEF

Mary (Miryam) the Jewish mother of Yeshua/Jesus was betrothed to Joseph (Yosef) when Mary (Miryam) was pregnant with the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In the ancient biblical Jewish wedding ceremony, there are two stages to the wedding process. The first stage is called betrothal. During betrothal, you are legally married to your spouse but you do not physically dwell with your spouse. By understanding the Hebrew language, we can see how betrothal is legally binding. The word for betrothal in Hebrew is erusin which comes from the Hebrew root word aras. Aras is related to the Hebrew word asar which means "to bind." By this, we can see that the Hebrew language teaches us that betrothal is legally binding.

According to the ancient biblical Jewish wedding customs, once you are betrothed, the only way that you can get out of the marriage is through a divorce. A divorce is known as a "get" to the house of Judah (Judaism). The second stage of marriage is called in Hebrew nesu’in. It is during the second stage of marriage that the bride and groom physically come together and consummate the marriage. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 1:18-20, we can understand that the Jewish parents of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus were wedded according to the ancient biblical Jewish wedding customs as it is written:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused [betrothed] to Joseph, before they came together [the first of two stages of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony], she was found with child of the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh]. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man [tzaddik], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily [get/divorce]. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh]."

Therefore, the Jewish parents of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus were wedded in accordance with the ancient Jewish wedding customs.



THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF BETROTHAL

What is the spiritual (sod/deeper meaning) understanding of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony to Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah? The Messiah (Mashiach) is the groom and the Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Messiah are His Bride. When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to the earth nearly 2,000 years ago, He came so that whosoever would put their faith and confidence (emunah) in Him would be wedded to Him forever. At His first coming, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph). Following His resurrection, He ascended to Heaven (olam haba) to be with G-d the Father until He returns at His second coming to be the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David.

Today, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus does not physically dwell with those who trust in Him. Therefore, the believers in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus are currently betrothed to Him. We will enter the fullness of the marriage and physically dwell with the Messiah during the Messianic Age known as the Millennium to the house of Israel (Christianity) or the Athid Lavo to the house of Judah (Judaism).



CIRCUMCISION IS A SIGN OF THE COVENANT

It is a commandment in the Torah that every Jewish boy be circumcised the eighth day. Circumcision is the physical sign of the covenant between the G-d of Israel and His people. The G-d of Israel gave instruction to Abraham (Avraham) in Genesis (Bereishit) 17:9-14 that the physical offspring of Abraham (Avraham) were to be circumcised as it is written:

"And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."

YESHUA/ JESUS WAS
CIRCUMCISED THE EIGHTH DAY

In accordance with the G-d of Israel’s commandment to Abraham (Avraham) that every Jewish boy be circumcised the eighth day, the earthly Jewish parents of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus circumcised Him on the eighth day. In Luke 2:22-24 it is written:

"And when the days of her purification according to the law [Torah] of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law [Torah] of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law [Torah] of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

This instruction is given in the Torah of the G-d of Israel in Leviticus (Vayikra) 12:1-3,6,8 as it is written:

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised … And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest … And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean."



YESHUA/JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:1, 4-6 it is written:

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem … And when he [Herod] had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ [Messiah/Mashiach] should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are you not least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."

The prophecy that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would be born in Bethlehem of Judah is in Micah 5:2 as it is written:

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

The ruler in Israel who has been from everlasting and who was born in Bethlehem is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.



THE HEBREW MEANING
OF THE WORD BETHLEHEM

Bethlehem is the Strong’s word 1035 in the Hebrew Concordance. It comes from two Hebrew words, Beit and Lechem. Beit is the Strong’s word 1004 which means "House." Lechem is the Strong’s word 3899 which means "Bread." So, Bethlehem means in Hebrew, "House of Bread." In John (Yochanan) 6:33-35, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus said that He was the Bread (manna) that the G-d of Israel sent from Heaven (Malkut Shamayim) as it is written:

"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

The evening before the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was crucified on the tree (I Corinthians 11:23), He had a Passover (Pesach) Seder meal (Luke 22:15). During the Seder meal, bread known as matzah is eaten. In Luke 22:15, 19, Yeshua/Jesus said that this matzah bread represented His body as it is written:

"And he [Yeshua/Jesus] said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer … and he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."

The blessing that is said over the bread is called HaMotzi. In Hebrew, the blessing is: "Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech Ha Olam Ha Motzi Lechem Min Ha Aretz" which means in English, "Blessed are you O L-rd our G-d King of the Universe who brings forth the bread from the earth."

Spiritually (sod/deeper meaning), the HaMotzi is a prayer of thanks to the G-d of Israel for the resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus who was "brought forth" (resurrected) from the earth. Furthermore, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born at a place called Bethlehem (Beit Lechem) which means "House of Bread" in Hebrew.



THE EARTHLY FATHER
OF YESHUA/JESUS WAS JOSEPH

The earthly father of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was Joseph (Yosef). In Matthew (Mattityahu) 1:16, it is written:

"And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."

It is traditional Jewish thought that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) has two primary roles to fulfill in the redemption. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is seen as being a suffering Messiah and a Kingly Messiah. The suffering Messiah is given the name Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph). The Kingly Messiah is given the name Messiah ben David. Both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) know that He came to the earth at His first coming as the suffering Messiah (Messiah ben Yosef) and will return in His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David).

The earthly father of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was named Joseph (Yosef). Therefore, Yeshua/Jesus was the son of Joseph. This has a double meaning. In the literal (peshat), Yeshua/Jesus was the earthly son of Joseph (Yosef). Spiritually (sod/deeper meaning), the son of Joseph is an allusion to Yeshua/Jesus being Messiah ben Yosef (Messiah son of Joseph). In John (Yochanan) 1:45, Philip recognized that Yeshua/Jesus was the son of Joseph (Messiah ben Yosef) as it is written:

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law [Torah], and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Therefore, from these things, we can understand that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew.



YESHUA/JESUS WAS RAISED A JEW

In Luke 2:40, we are told that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus grew both physically and spiritually as it is written:

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom [chokmah]: and the grace [chesed] of God was upon him."



YESHUA/JESUS IS A SON OF THE COMMANDMENT

At the age of 12/13, a Jewish child is considered an adult. At this age, a Jewish child is responsible for knowing, studying and walking in the commandments of the G-d of Israel. Today, there is a special remembrance for this event in the life of a Jewish child. It is known as a "Bar Mitzvah." Bar Mitzvah means "son of the commandment."

The Torah is the commandments of the G-d of Israel. Those who know the Torah of the G-d of Israel and walk in the instructions of the Torah are known as the "sons" of G-d. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus showed his superior knowledge of the Torah of the G-d of Israel at the Bar Mitzvah age of 12 years old. In Luke 2:42, 46-47 it is written:

"And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast … And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors [rabbi’s of the Torah] both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."

OUR JEWISH MESSIAH:
HIS LIFE, MINISTRY AND TEACHINGS

So far, we have studied how the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew and was raised a Jew. Next, we will examine the Jewishness of his adult life, ministry and teachings.



YESHUA/JESUS WAS A CARPENTER

The earthly occupation of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a carpenter. In Mark 6:2-3, it is written:

"And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying … Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…"



YESHUA/JESUS IS A BUILDER OF G-D’S HOUSE

Just as there is a double meaning that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was the son of Joseph, the occupation of Yeshua/Jesus also has a double meaning. In the literal (peshat), Yeshua/Jesus was a carpenter and built houses. Spiritually (sod/deeper meaning), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was faithful to "build the house" of the G-d of Israel. In Hebrews 3:1-6 it is written:

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle [Shaliach] and High Priest [Cohen HaGadol] of our profession, Christ Jesus: Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [Moshe] was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses [Moshe], inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses [Moshe] verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was faithful in building the spiritual house of G-d.



HAVING A SON IS BUILDING A HOUSE

In traditional Jewish thinking, having a son is associated with building a household and raising up the family name. In Psalm (Tehillim) 2:6-7, the Jewish Kingly Messiah (Machiach) is called the Son of G-d as it is written:

"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: [one of the steps of the enthroning ceremony of a Jewish king] the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."

In Acts 13:33, it confirms that Psalm (Tehillim) 2:6-7 is speaking about the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as it is written:

"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

At the Mikvah (immersion/baptism) of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus, a voice (kol) from heaven spoke to Yeshua/Jesus and called Him the Son of G-d. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 3:13, 16-17 it is written:

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John [Yochanan the Immerser], to be baptized [mikvah/immersed] of him … And Jesus, when he was baptized [mikvah/immersed], went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God [Ruach HaKodesh] descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son [Psalm 2:7], in whom I am well pleased."

Once again, in traditional Jewish thought, having a son is associated with building a house. This truth can be understood from the Hebrew language itself. The word for son in Hebrew is "ben." It is the Strong’s word 1121 in the Hebrew Concordance. Son or ben in Hebrew means "a son or builder of a family name." Son or ben in Hebrew comes from the Strong’s word 1129 which is the Hebrew word "Banah" which means "to build." The Hebrew word for house is beit. It is the Strong’s word 1004. The Hebrew word for house, beit, also comes from the Hebrew word "banah" which means "to build." Therefore, the Hebrew language communicates to us that having a son is associated with building a house or raising up the family name. This spiritual truth can be seen in the Torah in the book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) 25:5-9 as it is written:

"If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of the brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife … Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house."

It can also be seen in Ruth 4:11 that having a son is associated with building a house. The two earthly mothers of the two houses of Israel, Rachel and Leah, had a competition between them about having sons to build up the house of Jacob. In Ruth 4:11 it is written:

"And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem."



THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY OF G-D
IS NAMED AFTER THE MESSIAH

Because the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was faithful in His task to build the spiritual house of G-d, the spiritual family of the G-d of Israel is named after the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Ephesians 3:14-15 it is written:

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to rule over both houses of Israel known as the house of Jacob. In Luke 1:31-33 it is written:

"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus [Yeshua]. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."



YESHUA/JESUS IS OUR HIGH PRIEST

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus began his public ministry at 30 years of age. In Luke 3:21-23 it is written:

"Now when all the people were baptized [mikvah/immersed] it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized [mikvah/immersed] and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh] descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age…"

Spiritually (sod/deeper meaning), by starting His public ministry at thirty years of age, the G-d of Israel is communicating to us that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus had a priestly ministry. In the Torah, it tells us that a priest could not perform his duties in the tabernacle until he was thirty years of age. In Numbers (Bamidbar) 4:1-3 it is written:

"And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is our great High Priest (Cohen HaGadol). In Hebrew 3:1, 4:14-16 it is written:

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle [shaliach] and High Priest [Cohen HaGadol] of our profession, Christ Jesus … Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is our great High Priest (Cohen HaGadol) after the order of Melchisedec. In Hebrews 7:15,17,21 it is written:

"And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest … For he testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec [Psalm 110:4] … The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou [Yeshua/Jesus] art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec."

YESHUA/JESUS WAS A JEWISH RABBI

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a rabbi. A rabbi in Hebrew means "a teacher." In John (Yochanan) 1:38, Yeshua/Jesus is called rabbi as it is written:

"Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master [teacher]) where dwellest thou?"

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is also called rabbi in John (Yochanan) 3:1-2 as it is written:

"There was a man of the Pharisees [P’rushim], named Nicodemus [Nakdimon], a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."

In Jewish thought, another name for the Messiah (Mashiach) is the teacher of righteousness. In Hosea (Hoshea) 6:3 it is written:

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

In Joel (Yoel) 2:23 it is written:

"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."

Hosea (Hoshea) 6:3 is talking about the coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). If we cross-reference Hosea (Hosea) 6:3 with Joel (Yoel) 2:23, we can see that the former rain is the Hebrew word moreh which means "teacher" and the word moderately in Joel (Yoel) 2:23 is the Hebrew word tzedakah which means "righteousness." Rabbi’s are teachers of the Torah. In Jewish thought, rain is a type of the Torah. Therefore, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a rabbi who was a teacher of righteousness (the Torah).



THE JEWISH RABBI YESHUA/JESUS
HAD STUDENTS OF HIS TEACHINGS

In Jewish thought, a rabbi (which means teacher) has students/disciples (talmidim). A disciple is a student. The closest students of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus were called his disciples (talmidim). Yeshua/Jesus had twelve disciples (talmidim). These twelve disciples (talmidim) are listed in Matthew (Mattityahu) 10:1-4 as it is written:

"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples [talmidim], he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him."



YESHUA/JESUS TAUGHT
AS A RABBI IN PARABLES

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught in parables. Parables are a rabbinic style of teaching the Torah. In the first century, most rabbi’s were aggadic rabbi’s. Aggadah is a Jewish style of teaching the Torah using parables and illustrated stories to communicate a spiritual message. Today in the house of Judah (traditional Judaism) most rabbi’s are halachic rabbi’s. Halacha is the way one walks or follows the commandments of the G-d of Israel. Halachic rabbi’s give instruction on how to follow the Torah of the G-d of Israel that has been handed down from generation to generation. It was prophesied that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would teach the Torah of the G-d of Israel in parables. In Psalm (Tehillim) 78:1-3 it is written:

"Give ear, O my people, to my law [Torah]: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us."

In Matthew (Mattityahu) 13:34-35 it is told to us that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus spoke in parables as it is written:

"All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."



YESHUA/JESUS TAUGHT
FROM THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES (TENAKH)

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught from the Jewish scriptures. The Jewish Scriptures are known as the TeNaKh. The Jewish Scriptures are divided into three sections. The first section is known as the Torah. The next section is known as the prophets (Nevi’im). The last section is known as the writings (Ketuvim). The Psalms (Tehillim) are located in the section of the Jewish Scriptures known as the writings (Ketuvim). TeNaKh is an acronym in Hebrew consisting of the first letter of each of the three sections of the Jewish scriptures.

It is traditional Jewish thought that all scriptures in the TeNaKh (Old Testament) are written about the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). In Psalm (Tehillim) 40:7-8 it is written:

"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me [the Jewish Messiah], I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [Torah] is within my heart."

In Luke 24:44, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus referred to the order of the three sections of the Jewish scriptures (TeNaKh) and proclaimed that the Jewish scriptures speak of Him as it is written:

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law [Torah] of Moses [first section of the Jewish scriptures], and in the prophets [the second section of the Jewish scriptures] and in the Psalms [the third section of the Jewish scriptures] concerning me [Psalm 40:7-8]."



YESHUA/JESUS WAS A TORAH OBSERVANT JEW

Earlier in the chapter, we saw that Yeshua/Jesus was a Jewish rabbi. He had students/disciples (talmidim) which learned His teachings. His teachings came from the Jewish scriptures (TeNaKh). As a Jewish rabbi, Yeshua/Jesus taught the Torah of the G-d of Israel. He taught the Torah as an Aggadic rabbi in parables. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew and He taught His followers to be Torah observant. Sin is the transgression of the Torah. In I John (Yochanan) 3:4 it is written:

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law [Torah]: for sin is the transgression of the law [Torah]."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was SINLESS. Therefore, He NEVER transgressed the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In I Peter (Kefa) 2:21-22 it is written:

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ [Mashiach] also suffered for us, leaving an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."

The prophet Isaiah (Yeshayahu) also tells that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) would live a life without sin. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 53:1-6, 9-10 it is written:

"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm [zeroa] of the Lord revealed? … He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions [sin is the transgression of the Torah – I John 3:4], he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all … And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."

In II Corinthians 5:19, 21 is it written:

"To wit, that God was in Christ [Mashiach], reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation … for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was sinless. Since sin is the transgression of the Torah, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus never transgressed the Torah. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew. Like any Torah observant Jewish rabbi, He taught His students (talmidim) to be Torah observant. In fact, Yeshua/Jesus taught that those who believed in Him as Messiah (Mashiach) and were Torah observant would be blessed above those who believed in Him as Messiah (Mashiach) and were not Torah observant. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 5:17-19, Yeshua/Jesus taught these words as it is written:

"THINK NOT that I am come to destroy the law [Torah], or the prophets [Nevi’im]: I am not come to destroy [to incorrectly interpret and teach the Torah], but to fulfill [to correctly interpret and teach the Torah]. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot [yud which is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet] or one tittle [taggim which is the decoration crowns which are put on various Hebrew letters] shall in no wise pass from the law [Torah], till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven [malkut shamayim]: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven [malkut shamayim]."

In these verses, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught that He did not come to destroy the Torah but to fulfill the Torah. "Destroying the Torah" and "fulfilling the Torah" are Jewish idioms. An idiom is a slang expression that is understood in the culture of its day. "Destroying the Torah" is a Jewish idiom that means to incorrectly interpret and teach the Torah. "Fulfilling the Torah" is a Jewish idiom that means to correctly interpret and teach the Torah. Therefore, we can understand from these things that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew and He taught His students (talmidim) to be Torah observant.



THE TORAH IS TRUTH AND LIGHT

The Torah of the G-d of Israel is called truth. In Psalm (Tehillim) 119:142 it is written:

"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [Torah] is the truth."

The Torah is also called truth in Malachi 2:1, 6-7 as it is written:

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you … The law [Torah] of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips … for the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law [Torah] at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts."

In these scriptures, we see that the G-d of Israel calls His Torah truth and it is the priests who are commanded to teach the Torah of the G-d of Israel to His people. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the great High Priest (Cohen HaGadol) of the G-d of Israel (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14). Being a Torah observant Jew, a Jewish rabbi and the great High Priest of the G-d of Israel, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught His students/disciples (talmidim) to walk (halacha) in the truth which is the Torah (Psalm 119:142). In John (Yochanan) 8:31-32, Yeshua/Jesus taught His students/disciples (talmidim) these words as it is written:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word [in Jewish thought, Torah is synonymous with the Word of G-d], then are ye my disciples [talmidim] indeed; And ye shall know the truth [which is the Torah – Psalm 119:142], and the truth [Torah] shall make you free."

In John (Yochanan) 17:17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus prayed that his students/disciples (talmidim) would be sanctified (which means to be holy and set apart) by following the truth (which is the Torah – Psalm 119:142) as it is written:

"Sanctify [be holy and set apart] them through thy truth: thy word [Torah] is truth [Psalm 119:142]."

The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) came to dwell inside the hearts of both Jewish (house of Judah) and non-Jewish (house of Israel) believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach) and to write the Torah of the G-d of Israel upon the hearts of His people. In Hebrews 10:15-16 it is written:

"Whereof the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh] also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws [Torah] into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is called the Spirit of truth (which is the Torah – Psalm 119:142). It is His responsibility to guide the followers of Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach) in following the Torah of the G-d of Israel and to testify that Yeshua/Jesus in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). In John (Yochanan) 15:26, 16:13, it is written:

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me ... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

The Torah is also called a lamp and a light. In Proverbs (Mishlei) 6:23 it is written:

"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law [Torah] is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."

In Psalm (Tehillim) 119:97, 105, David writes that he loves the Torah because it is a light to him as it is written:

"O how love I thy law [Torah]! It is my meditation all the day … thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught that those who keep the Torah of the G-d of Israel (which is light) become a light to the world. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 5:14-16 it is written:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The followers of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus are called to be children of light (which is the Torah). In Ephesians 5:8 it is written:

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk [halacha] as children of light."

YESHUA/JESUS TAUGHT THE SHEMA

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught his students/disciples (talmidim) that the greatest commandment in the Torah is the SHEMA. The Hebrew word SHEMA is the Strong’s word 8085 in the Hebrew concordance and means "to hear, do and obey." It is the first word in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 6:4. In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 6:4-5 it is written:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

The G-d of Israel also commanded His people in the Torah to love your neighbor as yourself. In Leviticus (Vayikra) 19:18 it is written:

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught that the SHEMA is the greatest commandment in the Torah and loving your neighbor as yourself is the second greatest commandment in the Torah. In Mark 12:28-31 it is written:

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first [greatest] commandment [in the Torah] of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: [Deuteronomy 6:4-5] this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself [Leviticus 19:18]. There is none other commandment greater than these."



YESHUA/JESUS WORSHIPPED
IN THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH

Being a Torah observant Jew, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus worshipped in a Jewish synagogue every Sabbath. In Luke 4:14-16 it is written:

"And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."

It is a Jewish custom to call a reader to read the parasha (weekly reading) every Sabbath from a raised podium (bema). When he comes, the reader is regarded as making an aliyah (which means to go up or to ascend). It is a tremendous blessing for the reader to be able to read the Jewish Scriptures of the G-d of Israel. In Luke 4:17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus followed this Jewish custom. In Luke 4:17 it is written:

"And there was delivered unto him [he made an aliyah] the book of the prophet Isaiah…"

Because the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew, He worshipped weekly in the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath.



YESHUA/JESUS KEPT THE BIBLICAL FESTIVALS

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus and His parents kept the Biblical Festivals found in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23. In Luke 2:41-42, Yeshua/Jesus and His parents kept the Biblical festival of Passover (Pesach) as it is written:

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."

In fact, the last meal that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus had was a Passover (Pesach) Seder meal. In Luke 22:14-15 it is written:

"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer [be crucified on the tree]."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus kept Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). The last day of Sukkot is a special day known as Hoshana Rabbah which means "the great salvation." In the first century, a special ceremony took place in the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) on Hoshana Rabbah where there was a circling of the altar seven times. While circling the altar seven times, special hoshanah prayers were recited. These prayers include the words, "Save us now; we implore you!"

Water is a very important aspect of the celebration of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). During the first century, there was a very important water pouring ceremony that took place every day during the seven days of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) except the first day. This ceremony was known as the Simchat Beit HaShoevah (the rejoicing at the house of the water-drawing) (Talmud, Sukkot 5). It was with this setting that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was attending Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) on the last day known as Hoshana Rabbah. In John (Yochanan) 7:2, 37-38 it is written:

"Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand …In the last day, that great day of the feast [Hoshana Rabbah], Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is known as the "season of our joy" by the house of Judah (Judaism). During the celebration of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 12:3 is often quoted as it is written:

"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

Yeshua/Jesus in Hebrew means "salvation." He is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) and the salvation (Yeshua) of both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity).

For a more detailed study of Messiah and the Biblical Festivals, I would encourage you to read my book, "The Seven Festivals of the Messiah." In this book, I teach how the G-d of Israel gave the Biblical Festivals in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23 to teach about the first and second coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus and our personal relationship with the G-d of Israel.



YESHUA/JESUS LIVED AS A JEW

In this section of this chapter of the book, we showed that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus lived as a Jew. He was a Jewish rabbi. He taught His followers to be Torah observant. The followers of His teachings were known as students/disciples (talmidim). The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught His followers in parables as an aggadic rabbi. He taught that the greatest commandment in the Torah is the SHEMA (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 6:4-5).

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was a Torah observant Jew. He worshipped in the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath. He kept the Biblical Festivals found in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23. In His adult life, ministry and teachings, Yeshua/Jesus lived a Jewish lifestyle as a Torah observant Jew.

In the final sections of this chapter, we will show how the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus died a Jew and will return to rule and reign in the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) teaching the Torah of the G-d of Israel to all nations during that time.



YESHUA/JESUS DIED A JEW

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus died a Jew. He had a Jewish burial. In John (Yochanan) 19:40, it is written:

"Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury."



BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION
OF THE DEAD IS JEWISH

In traditional Judaism, there are thirteen articles to Jewish faith. One of these articles is a belief in the resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) was a Jew and an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). He took a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1-21) in Acts 21:20-26 as a witness and to testify that he taught Jewish believers (house of Judah) in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach) to be Torah observant. In I Corinthians 15:1, 3-4, 14, 20, 23 the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) writes:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand … For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the [Jewish] Scriptures; And that he was buried [as a Jew], and that he rose again the third day according to the [Jewish] Scriptures … And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain … But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept … But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was resurrected from the dead in accordance with the traditional Jewish belief in the resurrection of the dead.



YESHUA WILL RETURN AT HIS SECOND COMING
ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

It is Jewish tradition that the Mount of Olives is called the "mountain of the Messiah." When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus ascended into heaven following His resurrection from the dead, He did so from the Mount of Olives. In Acts 1:9-12 it is written:

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet [Olives]…"

When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David), He will do so by setting His feet on the mount of Olives. In Zechariah 14:3-4, it is written:

"Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east …"



YESHUA WILL TEACH THE TORAH TO THE NATIONS DURING THE MESSIANIC AGE

After the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David) following setting His feet upon the mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12, Zechariah 14:3-4), He will rule and reign over all nations teaching them the Torah during the Messianic age (Athid Lavo) from the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 2:2-3, it is written:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law [Torah], and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

When the Torah is taught to all the nations during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) then the great commission of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be fulfilled. The great commission of Yeshua/Jesus is a commandment for His followers to make students/disciples (talmidim) of all nations teaching them to observe all things (the Torah) that He commanded them. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 28:18-20, it is written:

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [the Torah], baptizing [mikvah/immersion] them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh]: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you [the Torah]: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

During the Messianic age (Athid Lavo), there will be a Temple (Beit HaMikdash) in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). We are told this in Ezekiel (Yechezekel) chapters 40-48. In these chapters, it also tells us that during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo), all the nations will be keeping the Sabbath, the biblical festivals and the new moon. In Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 41:1, 42:1, 43:5, 44:1, 46:1, 3, the Sabbath and new moon will be observed as it is written:

"Afterward he brought me to the temple … Then he brought me forth into the utter court … So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house …Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut … Thus saith the Lord God; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened …. Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the Lord in the sabbaths and in the new moons."

The worship of the G-d of Israel on the Sabbath and new moon will also be done during the times of the new heavens and the new earth. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 66:22-23 it is written:

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord."

During the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will instruct all nations to keep the biblical festivals. In Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 45:21, Passover (Pesach) and Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) will be observed as it is written:

"In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten."

In addition, during the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo), the G-d of Israel will require all nations to keep the feast of tabernacles (Sukkot). In Zechariah 14:16-17 it is written:

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."

Therefore, from these scriptures, we can understand that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will be teaching the nations to follow the Torah during the Messianic Age.

YESHUA/JESUS IS OUR JEWISH MESSIAH

In this chapter, we learned that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah (Mashiach) of both houses of Israel (Judaism and Christianity). Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew. He was raised by Jewish parents in a Jewish home. He lived a Torah observant Jewish lifestyle. He was a Jewish rabbi and He taught His students/disciples (talmidim) to live a Torah observant lifestyle. Yeshua/Jesus died a Jew. When He returns at His second coming to be the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David, He will teach the Torah to the nations from the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

In order to be fully restored to the G-d of Israel, the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) need to recognize that Yeshua/Jesus is our JEWISH Messiah (Mashiach) and need to identify with His Jewishness. The house of Judah (Judaism) needs to accept that Yeshua/Jesus is the promised Messiah (Mashiach) as foretold in the Jewish scriptures. The house of Israel (Christianity) needs to more fully identify with the Jewishness of Yeshua/Jesus and embrace the Jewish roots of faith in Messiah. When these things are done, the G-d of Israel will bring full restoration to both houses of Israel. May it be done speedily in our days. Amen.

IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH G-D?
Over the past 2,000 years, there has been a major division between the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) about who is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). Furthermore, there has also been a major disagreement between the two houses of Israel over whether the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is just an earthly man who is anointed by the G-d of Israel and fulfills the expected functions of his office of ministry or whether the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh.

In the last chapter, we learned that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born a Jew, lived a Jew and died a Jew. In this chapter, using Scriptures from the TeNaKh (Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) along with Rabbinic and other Jewish literature, we will examine the issue of whether the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh. We will learn that the entire Bible along with selected Rabbinic and other Jewish literature teaches us that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel (YHVH) manifested in the flesh.

Furthermore, we will cross-reference Rabbinic and other Jewish literature with Scripture passages from the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) to further clarify that the WORD OF YHVH as mentioned in Jewish literature is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. Once the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) recognize that Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel (YHVH) manifested in the flesh and is the promised Jewish Messiah (Mashiach), full restoration can come to both houses of Israel.



THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS YHVH

The G-d of Israel is YHVH. YHVH is also known as the tetragrammaton. In respect to the holiness of the name of the G-d of Israel (YHVH), the house of Judah (Judaism) refers to YHVH as Adonai. In English, we pronounce the name of G-d (YHVH) as Jehovah. In our English Bibles, YHVH is mostly translated as LORD. In respect to the holiness and the sanctity of the name of the G-d of Israel, when referring to the G-d of Israel in written form, the house of Judah (Judaism) will write the name of God as G-d rather than God and write L-rd rather than Lord.



THE G-D OF ISRAEL
AND THE JEWISH MESSIAH ARE ECHAD

To the house of Judah (Judaism), the most important verse in the Torah is found in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 6:4. This scripture passage is known as the Shema. In Hebrew, this verse reads transliterated into English as:

"Shema Yisrael YHVH Eloheynu YHVH Echad."

In mystical Jewish literature, it is explained that this verse declares that the G-d of Israel is YHVH and is a COMPOUND UNITY. In the (Zohar, Volume 2, page 43) it is written:

"The prescribed daily form of prayer (a confession of the unity of the Godhead), has for its object, that you shall know and comprehend it. We have said in many places that this daily form of prayer is one of those passages concerning the unity, which is taught in the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy 6:4, we read first YHVH, then ELOHEYNU and again YHVH, which together make one unity. But how can three names be one? Are they truly one because we call them one? How three can be one can only be known through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and, in fact, with closed eyes. This is also the mystery of the voice. The voice is heard only as one sound, yet it consists of three substances, fire, wind, and water, but all three are one, as indicated through the mystery of the voice. Thus are YHVH; ELOHEYNU; YHVH but one unity, three substantive beings which are one; and this is indicated by the voice which a person uses in reading the words, "Hear, O Israel," thereby comprehending with the understanding the most perfect unity of EYN SOF (the boundless one); because all three are read with one voice, which indicates a trinity. And this is the daily confession of faith of the unity, which is revealed by the Holy Spirit in a mystery. Although there are so many persons united in the unity, yet each person is a true-one; what one does, the other does." 1

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus confirmed the above belief as written in the Zohar that He is a compound unity with the limitless one (Eyn Sof) as taught in the Shema. In John (Yochanan) 10:30 it is written:

"I and my Father [Eyn Sof] are one [Echad]."

In John (Yochanan) 17:11, 21-23 it is written:

"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are … That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH

The Targumim are a Jewish commentary on the Scripture passages in the Torah and the Prophets. The Targumim were considered to be authoritative Aramaic paraphrases of the books of the TeNaKh in the first century and were read in the synagogues along with the Hebrew of the Torah and Haftorah readings. 2

In various Scripture passages in the Torah and the Prophets, the Targumim interpret YHVH as being the WORD OF YHVH. In some of these Scripture passages, it is explained that various individuals trusted (emunah) in the WORD OF YHVH and prayed in the name of the WORD OF YHVH. The Word of YHVH is also seen as being the Creator, the covenant maker and the mediator between the G-d of Israel and mankind. Furthermore, Israel and the house of Jacob are also seen being saved by the Word of YHVH. In Jewish mystical writings, the Word of YHVH is known as Metatron who is explained to be the Son of Yah.

In the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is seen riding on a white horse, known as the Word of G-d (YHVH) and is the King of kings and the L-rd of lords. In Revelation 19:11, 13, 16 it is written:

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True … and his name is called the WORD of GOD [YHVH] … and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS."

We will now examine some of the Targumim which speak of the WORD OF YHVH being YHVH.

ABRAHAM AND JACOB TRUSTED
IN THE WORD OF YHVH

Abraham (Avraham) trusted in the WORD OF YHVH. According to Targum Onkelos, Genesis 15:6 it is written:

"And Abraham trusted [emunah] in the WORD OF YHVH, and He counted it to him for righteousness." (Targum Onkelos, Genesis 15:6) 3

According to the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH that Abraham (Avraham) trusted in was the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Galatians 3:7-9, 14 it is written:

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith [emunah], preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith [emunah] are blessed with faithful Abraham … That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith [emunah]."

According to Targum Onkelos Genesis 28:20-21, Jacob (Ya’acov) trusted in the WORD OF YHVH and the WORD OF YHVH was His G-d as it is written:

"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If the WORD OF YHVH will be my support, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the WORD OF YHVH be my GOD." (Targum Onkelos, Genesis 28:20-21) 4

According to the Targum of Psalm 62, King David urged Israel to trust in the WORD OF YAH at all times. In Psalm (Tehillim) 62:9 (Jewish version) it is written:

"Trust in the WORD OF YAH at all times, O people of the house of Israel! Pour out before Him the sighings of your heart; Say, God is our trust forever." (Targum, Psalm 62:9) 5



ABRAHAM PRAYED IN THE NAME OF YHVH

According to the Jerusalem Targum of Genesis 22:14, Abraham PRAYED in the NAME of the WORD OF YHVH as it is written:

"And Abraham worshipped and prayed in the name of the WORD OF YHVH, and said, You are YHVH who does see, but You cannot be seen." (Jerusalem Targum Genesis 22:14) 6

In the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua / Jesus instructed His followers to pray to G-d the Father [Eyn Sof] in His name. In John (Yochanan) 15:16 it is written:

"…whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE CREATOR

According to the Targumim, the WORD OF YHVH is the Creator. According to Targum Jonathan Genesis 1:27 it is written:

"And the WORD OF YHVH created man in his likeness, in the likeness of YHVH, YHVH created, male and female created He them. (Targum Jonathan, Genesis 1:27) 7

In Exodus (Shemot) 3:13-15, the G-d of Israel revealed to the children of Israel that His name is YHVH as it is written:

"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."

In the Jerusalem Targum to Exodus (Shemot) 3:14 it is written:

"And the WORD OF YHVH said to Moses: ‘I am He who said unto the world, ‘Be!’ and it was: and who in the future shall say to it ‘Be!’ and it shall be.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘I AM’ has sent me unto you." (Jerusalem Targum, Exodus 3:14) 8



YHVH MEANS TO ETERNALLY EXIST

The name of the G-d of Israel (YHVH) means in Hebrew "to eternally exist." In the Gesenius’s Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, by H.W.F. Gesenius, printed by Baker Book House Company, on page 337 in the explanation of the phrase "I AM THAT I AM," in Exodus (Shemot) 3:14, Gesenius writes:

"To this origin, allusion is made Exodus 3:14; (of the Hebrew), ‘I (ever) shall be (the same) that I am (today)’; compare Apoc 1:4,8: the name YHVH being derived from the (Hebrew) verb HVH (which means) to be, was considered to signify God as eternal and immutable, who will never be other than the same."

Therefore, the name of the G-d of Israel (YHVH) fully translated into English expresses that G-d is eternal and immutable and that His name means, "I (ever) shall be (the same) that I am (today)." In other words, the name of the G-d of Israel (YHVH) means that He eternally exists and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. This is the name of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus in Hebrews 13:8 as it is written:

"Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus confirmed the words of the Jerusalem Targum to Exodus 3:14 when He declared to the Jews that questioned Him that He was the I AM (YHVH) spoken of in Exodus (Shemot) 3:14.

In John (Yochanan) 8:56-58 it is written:

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."



THE MESSIAH IS THE I AM (YHVH)
OF THE G-D OF ISRAEL

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus referred to Himself many times as I AM in the following scripture passages:

I AM the bread of life (John 6:35).
I AM the light of the world (John 8:12).
I AM the door (John 10:9).
I AM the good shepherd (John 10:11).
I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
I AM the way, truth and the life (John 14:6).
I AM the true vine (John 15:1).
In the Targum to Psalm (Tehillim) 33:6 we are told that the WORD OF YHVH was the Creator as it is written:

"By the WORD OF YHVH were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the Spirit of His mouth."

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Targumim that the Word of YHVH is the Creator. However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH is known as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Colossians 1:15-17 it is written:

"[Jesus] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE COVENANT MAKER

According to Targum Onkelos the WORD OF YHVH made the Noahide Covenant in Genesis 9:17 as it is written:

"And YHVH said to Noah, ‘This is the token of the covenant which I have established between MY WORD and between all flesh that is upon the earth." (Targum Onkelos Genesis 9:17) 9

Also according to Targum Onkelos, it was the WORD OF YHVH who made the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:7 as it is written:

"And I will establish my covenant between MY WORD and between you…" (Targum Onkelos Genesis 17:7) 10

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in Targum Onkelos that the WORD OF YHVH made a covenant with Abraham (Avraham). However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH is known as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Galatians 3:16 it is written:

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises [Covenant] made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

THE WORD OF YHVH IS METATRON

According to the Babylonian Talmud in Sanhedrin 38b, another name for the WORD OF YHVH is Metatron as it is written:

"Once a Min [Nazarene] said to R. Idith: It is written: And unto Moses He [YHVH] said, ‘Come up unto YHVH…’ [Exodus 24:1] But surely it should have stated: … ‘Come up unto Me!’ It was METATRON [who was speaking] he replied, ‘Whose name is similar to that of his Master, for it is written: For my name is in him.’ [Exodus 23:21]" (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 38b) 11

According to the writings of Jewish mysticism, Metatron is the "Middle Pillar of the Godhead" and this "Middle Pillar" is the "Son of Yah" as it is written:

"The Middle Pillar [of the Godhead] is Metatron, who has accomplished peace above, according to the glorious state there." (Zohar, Volume 3, Ra’aya Mehaimna, page 227, Amsterdam Edition)

"Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off. This neighbor is the Middle Pillar in the Godhead, which is the Son of Yah." (Zohar, Volume 2, Ra’aya Mehaimna, page 115, Amsterdam Edition) 12

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Zohar that the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as Metatron is the Middle Pillar of the Godhead and the Son of Yah. However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as Metatron and the Son of Yah is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Colossians 1:15, 19, 2:6, 9 it is written:

"[Jesus] Who is the image of the invisible God … For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell … As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him … For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE FIRST BEGOTTEN
OF ALL THE CREATURES OF G-D

According to the writings of Jewish mysticism, the WORD OF YHVH is not only Metatron and the Son of Yah but He is also the "first begotten of all the creatures of God" as it is written:

"And Abraham said to his oldest servant of his house … [Genesis 24:2] Who is this of whom it said ‘his servant?’ In what sense must this be understood? Who is this servant? R. Nehori answered: ‘It is in no other sense to be understood than expressed in the word, ‘His servant,’ His servant, the servant of God, the chief in His service. And who is he? Metratron, as said, His is appointed to glorify the bodies which are in the grave. This is the meaning of the words, ‘Abraham said to His servant’ that is to the servant of God. The servant is Metatron, the eldest of His [YHVH’s] House, who is the first-begotten of all creatures of God, who is the ruler of all He has; because God has committed to Him the government over all His hosts." (Zohar, Genesis; Midrash HaNe’elam; Page 126, Amsterdam Edition) 13

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Zohar that the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as Metatron is the first begotten of all the creatures of G-d. However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as the first begotten of all the creatures of G-d is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In John (Yochanan) 1:1, 14, 3:16 it is written:

"In the beginning was the Word [of YHVH], and the Word [of YHVH] was with God, and the Word [of YHVH] was God [a compound unity with Eyn Sof] … And the Word [of YHVH] was made flesh and dwelt [shakan] among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only [first] begotten of the Father)… For God so loved the world that he gave his only [first] begotten Son [the Son of Yah] that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

In I John (Yochanan) 5:1, Revelation 1:5, 7 it is written:

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is [first] begotten of him … And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead … Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him [Zechariah 12:10,12 — Babylonian Talmud, Sukkot 52a]. Even so, Amen."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE WAY TO THE TREE
OF LIFE AND THE HEAVENLY CITY OF JERUSALEM

According to the writings of Jewish mysticism, the WORD OF YHVH is not only Metatron, the Son of Yah and the first begotten of all the creatures of God but He is also the way to the tree of life and the heavenly city of Jerusalem.

"To keep the way of the tree of life. [Genesis 3:24] Who is the way to the tree of life? It is the great Metatron, for he is the way to that great tree, to that mighty tree of life. Thus it is written, ‘The Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.’ [Exodus 14:19] And Metatron is called the Angel of God. Come and see, thus says R. Simeon. The holy One, blessed Be He, has prepared for Himself a holy Temple above in the heavens, a holy city, a city in the heavens, and called it Jerusalem, the holy city…" (Zohar, Volume 2, Exodus, page 51, Amsterdam Edition) 14

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Zohar that the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as Metatron is the way to the tree of life and the heavenly city of Jerusalem. However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as the way to the tree of life and the heavenly city of Jerusalem is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Revelation 21:10, 22:12, 14 it is written:

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God … And, behold, I [Yeshua/Jesus] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be … Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates of the city."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR
BETWEEN G-D AND MAN

According to the writings of Jewish mysticism, the WORD OF YHVH is not only Metatron, the Son of Yah, first begotten of all the creatures of God, the way to the tree of life and the heavenly Jerusalem but He is also the only mediator between the G-d of Israel and man as it is written:

"…Every petition sent to the King must be through Metatron. Every message and petition from here below, must first go to Metatron, and from thence to the king. Metatron is the Mediator of all that comes from heaven down to the earth, or from the earth up to heaven. And because he is the mediator of all, it is written ‘And the Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed; that is, before Israel which is above. [Exodus 14:19] This Angel of God is the same of whom it is written, ‘And YHVH went before them…’ [Exodus 13:21] to go by day and by night as the ancients have expounded it. Whoever will speak to me [says God] shall not be able to do so, till he has made it known to Metatron, thus the holy One, blessed be He, on account of the great love to and mercy with which He has over the Assembly of Israel, commits her [the Assembly] to Metratron’s care. What shall I do Him [Metatron]? I will commit my Whole house into His hand, etc. Henceforth be you a Keeper As it is written, ‘The Keeper of Israel’ [Psalm 121:4]" (Zohar, Volume 2, Exodus, page 51, Amsterdam Edition) 15

The Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Zohar that the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as Metatron is the only mediator between the G-d of Israel and mankind. However, in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), the WORD OF YHVH otherwise known as the only mediator between the G-d of Israel and mankind is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In I Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 9:15 it is written:

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus … And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first [original] testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."



THE WORD OF YHVH IS THE SAVIOR AND SALVATION
OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB

According to the Targumim, the WORD OF YHVH is the Savior and Salvation of the house of Jacob as it is written:

"Our father Jacob said: My soul does not wait for salvation such as that wrought by Gideon, the son of Joash, for that was but temporal; neither for a salvation like that of Samson, which was only transitory; but for that SALVATION which you have promised to come, THROUGH YOUR WORD unto Your people, the children of Israel; for your salvation my soul hopes." (Targum Jonathan, Genesis 49:18 16

"But Israel shall be saved by the WORD OF YHVH with an everlasting salvation … By the WORD OF YHVH shall all the seed of Israel be justified …" (Targum Jonathan, Isaiah 45:17, 25) 17

"But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and I will save them by the WORD OF YHVH, their God." (Targum Jonathan, Hosea 1:7) 18

Many Scripture passages in the TeNaKh (Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) confirms what was written in the Targumim that the WORD OF YHVH is both the Savior and the Salvation of the G-d of Israel for the entire house of Jacob (Judaism and Christianity).



THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS OUR SAVIOR

The Jewish Scriptures (TeNaKh) teach us that the G-d of Israel ALONE is our salvation. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 43:1, 3, 11 it is written:

"But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob [house of Israel and house of Judah], and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine … For I am the Lord [YHVH] thy God [Elohim], the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior [Yeshua] … I, even I, am the Lord [YHVH]; and beside me there is no savior."

In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 45:21-22 it is written:

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 63:7-8, it is written:

"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people … so he was their Savior.

In Hosea (Hoshea) 13:4, it is written:

"Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no savior beside me."

In Luke 1:46-47, it is written:

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior."

Therefore, it is the G-d of Israel alone who is our Savior.

YESHUA IS OUR SAVIOR

The Hebrew word for savior is the Strong’s word 3467 in the Strong’s Concordance. It is the Hebrew word Yasha which means "salvation, save, savior, preserve, rescue or bring deliverance."

The Hebrew word for the English word Jesus is Yeshua. It is related to the Hebrew word Yasha. As we studied in the last chapter, the Hebrew name of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach), Yeshua, communicates to us in Hebrew thought that He is the Savior of both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity).

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the Savior of the G-d of Israel for the house of Jacob. In Luke 2:10-11, it is written:

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

In John (Yochanan) 4:25-26, 41-42, it is written:

"The woman saith unto him, I know that the Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he … And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

In Acts 5:30-32, it is written:

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh] whom God hath given to them that obey him."

In Acts 13:22-23, it is written:

"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus."

Since the G-d of Israel alone is our Savior and the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is our Savior, Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh.



THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS OUR SALVATION

The Bible not only tells us that the G-d of Israel is our Savior (yasha) but He is also our salvation (yeshua). In Exodus (Shemot) 15:2, it is written:

"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation [yeshua]: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him."

In Psalm (Tehillim) 62:1-2, it is written:

"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved."

In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 12:2 it is written:

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."

Therefore, it is the G-d of Israel who is the salvation of His people.



YESHUA IS OUR SALVATION

The Hebrew word for salvation is the Strong’s word 3444 in the Strong’s Concordance. It is the Hebrew word Yeshooah which means "salvation, save, victory or bring deliverance."

The Hebrew word for the English word Jesus is Yeshua. It is related to the Hebrew word Yeshooah. The Hebrew word for the English word Jesus communicates to us that He is the Salvation of both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity).

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the Salvation of the G-d of Israel unto the house of Jacob. In Acts 4:8, 10-12 it is written:

"Then Peter [Kefa], filled with the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh], said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel … Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

In Romans 10:9-12, it is written:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him."

In I Thessalonians 5:9, it is written:

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."



THE HAND AND ARM OF G-D BRINGS SALVATION

The word hand is the Strong’s number 3027 in the Hebrew Concordance. It is the Hebrew word 3027 which is yad. The Hebrew word yad means "hand indicating power, strength or to draw from strength." The word for arm is the Strong’s number 2220 in the Hebrew Concordance. It is the Hebrew word zeroah. The Hebrew word zeroah means "arm (as stretched out), mighty, power, strength."

In Jewish thought, the hand and arm is associated with salvation, strength and victory. It is the G-d of Israel who stretches out his hand and arm to save His people. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 59:1 it is written:

"Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save …"

In Exodus (Shemot) 6:6, it is written:

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments."

In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4:32, 34 it is written:

"For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? … Or hath God attempted to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?"

In Psalm (Tehillim) 136:1, 10-12 it is written:

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever … To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth forever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth forever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth forever."

In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 52:10, it is written:

"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

In Luke 1:46-47, 51 it is written:

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior … He hath showed strength with his arm…"



THE ARM OF THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS THE MESSIAH

The arm of the G-d of Israel is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 59:1-2, 12, 15-16 it is written:

"Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear … For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them .. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

The arm of the L-rd was wounded for the sins of G-d’s people. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 53:1, 5-6 it is written:

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? … But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities … the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born to save His people from their sins. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 1:21 it is written:

"And she [Mary/Miryam] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [Yeshua]: for he shall save his people from their sins."



THE RIGHT HAND AND ARM OF G-D
BRINGS SALVATION

In Jewish thought, it is specifically the right hand and arm which brings forth victory and salvation. In Exodus (Shemot) 15:2, 6 it is written:

"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation … Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy."

In Psalm (Tehillim) 17:7 it is written:

"Show thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them."

In Psalm (Tehillim) 89:13 it is written:

"Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand."

In Psalm (Tehillim) 98:1 it is written:

"O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory."

THE RIGHT HAND OF THE G-D OF ISRAEL
IS THE MESSIAH

The right hand of the G-d of Israel is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Mark 14:61-62 it is written:

"…Again the high priest [Cohen HaGadol] asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ [Mashiach], the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

In Luke 22:66-69 it is written:

"And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ [Mashiach]? tell us. And he said unto them … Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God."

In Acts 2:29-36 it is written:

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God has sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh [II Samuel 7:12-13], he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption [Psalm 16:10]. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh], he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool [Psalm 110:1]. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

In Hebrews 1:1-5, 13 it is written:

"God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, and he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? [Psalm 2:7] And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [II Samuel 7:14] … But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool [Psalm 110:1]."



WE MUST TRUST IN THE ARM OF THE MESSIAH
AND NOT OUR OWN STRENGTH

Both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) must trust in the arm of the Messiah (Mashiach) to be our salvation and not trust in our own arm and strength. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 17:5, 7 it is written:

"Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord … Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."



THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS THE FIRST AND LAST

The G-d of Israel is the first and the last. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 41:4 it is written:

"Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I am the Lord, the first, and with the last, I am he."

The G-d of Israel is the first and the last. He is the King of Israel and the redeemer of His people. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 44:6, it is written:

"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."

The way that you would express the phrase first and the last using the Hebrew alphabet is with the Hebrew letters Alef and Tav. Alef is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet and Tav is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The first and last letters in the Greek alphabet are Alpha and Omega respectively.



THE MESSIAH IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He is the Alef and the Tav, the Alpha and Omega. In Revelation 1:5, 7-8 it is written:

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood .. Behold, he cometh with clouds: and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega [Alef and Tav in Hebrew], the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The way that you would say "which is, and which was and which is to come" in Hebrew is YHVH. The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is YHVH, the beginning and the end, the Alef and the Tav. In Revelation 2:8 it is written:

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive."

In Revelation 21:5-6 it is written:

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega [Alef and Tav in Hebrew], the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

In Revelation 22:12-13 it is written:

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."



THE MESSIAH IN ISAIAH 52/53
IN JEWISH LITERATURE

In various Jewish commentaries in Jewish literature when referring to the Scripture passages in Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 52/53, it will be said that these verses in Isaiah 52/53 speak about the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). We will examine of few of these references in this section of the chapter. On Isaiah 52:7 it is written:

"Rabbi Jose the Galilean says: Great is peace — for at the hour the King Messiah reveals himself unto Israel, he will begin in no other way than with ‘peace’ as it is written: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good news, that announces peace [Isaiah 52:7]." (Numbers Rabbah XI, 16-20) 19

On Isaiah 52:13 it is written:

"Behold, My servant the Messiah shall prosper, he shall be exalted and great and very powerful." (Targum Jonathan, Isaiah 52:13) 20

On Isaiah 52:15-53:2 it is written:

"Regarding the mission by which Messiah will present himself … Isaiah states, He grew like a tender plant and as a root out of dry land … At him will kings shut their mouths, for what had not been told unto them shall they see, and what they never heard shall they understand." (Maimonides) 21

On Isaiah 53:3 it is written:

"Man" in the passage [Isaiah 53:3] … refers to the Messiah, the Son of David … (Midrash Thanhumi, Rabbi Nahman) 22

On Isaiah 53:4-5 it is written:

"The Rabanan say that the Messiah’s name is the Suffering Scholar of Rabbi’s House (or the Leper Scholar) for it is written, ‘Surely he has born our grief and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.’ " [Isaiah 53:4] (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a) 23

"The Messiah — what is his name? … The House of Rabbi Judah the Holy One says: The Sick One … Surely he has born our sicknesses [Isaiah 53:4] (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b) 24

"The Holy One gave Messiah the opportunity to save souls but to be severely chastised … Messiah accepted the chastisement of love … ‘He was oppressed, and he was afflicted.’ And when Israel is sinful, the Messiah seeks mercy on them … ‘By his stripes we were healed and He carried the sins of many' …" (Rabbi Moshe Hadershan; Midrash Rabbah; Bereshit Rabbah) 25

THE MESSIAH WILL SET HIS FEET UPON
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

In traditional Judaism and in Rabbinic literature, the mount of Olives is called the mountain of the Messiah (Mashiach). After the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was resurrected, He left the earth to return to Heaven (Olam Haba) to sit at the right hand of the Father from the Mount of Olives. In Acts 1:9-12 it is written:

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he [Jesus] was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet [Olives], which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey."

When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus returns at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David), He will set His feet upon the mount of Olives. In Zechariah 14:3-4, 9 it is written:

"Then shall the Lord go forth … and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives … and the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one."

The person’s feet who stands upon the mount of Olives in Zechariah 14:4 is the L-rd in Zechariah 14:3. The word translated as LORD in Zechariah 14:3 is the Hebrew word YHVH. The feet of YHVH will stand upon the mount of Olives. This is the feet of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus (Acts 1:9-12).



THE MESSIAH IS KING OF KINGS
AND L-RD OF LORDS

There is an ancient Jewish prayer known as the Aleinu which is prayed regularly in Jewish synagogue services around the world. The Aleinu prayer is an affirmation that the G-d of Israel is King over all the earth. In reciting this prayer, Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 45:23 is quoted as it is written:

"…That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."

In the preceding verse in Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 45:22, it tells us that the one to whom every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear is the G-d of Israel as it is written:

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

Every knee will bow to the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus, the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David). In Philippians 2:5-11 it is written:

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the King of kings and the L-rd of lords. In Revelation 19:11, 13, 15-16 it is written:

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse [symbolic of the Kingly Messiah in Jewish thought]: and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war … and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God … and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."



THE MESSIAH AS YHVH IN THE TALMUD

In the days that the G-d of Israel restores the house of Judah (Judaism) with the house of Israel (Christianity), the house of Judah (Judaism) will mourn and weep for the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus whom they have pierced. In Zechariah 12:9-10 it is written:

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus returns at His second coming as the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David, the Babylonian Talmud explains in Sukkot 52a that they will mourn because of the slaying of the suffering Messiah known as Messiah be Yosef as it is written:

"What is the cause of the mourning [of Zechariah 12:12] … it is well according to him who explains that the cause is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, since that well agrees with the scripture verse: ‘And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son.’ [Zechariah 12:10]" (Babylonian Talmud, Sukkot 52a) 26

While the Babylonian Talmud in Sukkot 52a does not recognize that the one being slain is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus, the one who is said to be slain in Zechariah 12:10 in the Hebrew text is YHVH when read in the context of Zechariah 12:7-12. Sukkot 52a in the Talmud interprets YHVH in Zechariah 12:7-12 as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef.

In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 8:13-14 it is written:

"Sanctify the Lord [YHVH] of hosts … And he [YHVH] shall be a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel…"

While the text in Israel 8:13-14 speaks of YHVH being a sanctuary and a stone of stumbling to both houses of Israel, the Babylonian Talmud in Sanhedrin 38a interprets YHVH in these verses to be the Messiah as it is written:

"The son of David [the Messiah] cannot appear ere the two ruling Houses of Israel shall have come to an end … And he [Messiah/YHVH] will become a sanctuary, but to both the houses of Israel…" (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 38a) 27



THE MESSIAH IS THE G-D OF ISRAEL (YHVH)
MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh. In I Timothy 3:16 it is written:

"And without controversy great is the mystery [sod/deeper meaning] of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."



WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT THE MESSIAH IS?

Historically, the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) have had a difference of viewpoint regarding who is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)? Is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus or should we expect another? Whom do the people of the earth say that the Messiah (Mashiach) is? This is the question that every person on the earth must ask and answer for himself including the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity). This is the question that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus asked His disciples (talmidim) in Matthew (Mattityahu) 16:13-17 as it is written:

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John [Yochanan] the Baptist [Immerser]: some, Elijah [Eliyahu]; and others, Jeremiah [Yermiyahu], or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon [Shimon] Peter [Kefa] answered and said, Thou art the Christ [Mashiach], the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon [Shimon] Bar-jona: for flesh and blood [natural human reasoning and understanding] hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

It is G-d the Father through His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) who reveals unto men that Yeshua/Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). In I Corinthians 12:3 it is written:

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh]."



YESHUA/JESUS IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH

When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came at His first coming as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as the Messiah son of Joseph (Messiah ben Yosef), He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. In Luke 24:36, 44-46 it is written:

"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you [Shalom Alechem] … And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law [Torah] of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ [Mashiach] to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day."

The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus testified to the leaders of the house of Judah (Judaism) in His day that He was the Messiah (Mashiach). In Luke 22:66-67, 69-71 it is written:

"And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ [Mashiach]? tell us. And he said unto them … Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."



THE MESSIAH IS THE G-D OF ISRAEL

In this chapter, we examined the question that has been a MAJOR disagreement between the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity) for nearly 2,000 years. Is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh or is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) just an ordinary human being who is anointed by the G-d of Israel to perform a divine mission?

The name of the G-d of Israel is YHVH. We learned by examining Rabbinic and other Jewish literature that when the Biblical text speaks of YHVH that the Jewish commentaries often viewed the text to read the WORD OF YHVH. In various places in Jewish literature, it was explained that various individuals trusted (emunah) in the WORD OF YHVH and prayed in the name of the WORD OF YHVH. The Word of YHVH is also seen as being the Creator, the Covenant maker and the Mediator between the G-d of Israel and mankind. Furthermore, Israel and the house of Jacob are seen being saved by the WORD OF YHVH. In Jewish mystical writings, the WORD OF YHVH is known as Metatron who is explained to be the Son of Yah. From this, we were able to discover that all the references which we examined in Jewish literature that mentions the WORD OF YHVH actually speaks of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament).

Furthermore, by comparing the TeNaKh (Old Testament) with the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), we were able to understand that the G-d of Israel is our Savior and our salvation. He saves by the strength of His right hand and arm. He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Alef and the Tav, the King of kings and the L-rd of lords. Finally, we were able to understand that all of these characteristics and attributes of the G-d of Israel are associated with the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. Through this extensive study, we were able to understand that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel (YHVH) manifested in the flesh.

When the house of Judah (Judaism) recognizes that the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the G-d of Israel manifested in the flesh, restoration can come to both houses of Israel. May the G-d of Israel pour out His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) speedily in our days so that redemption, restoration, reconciliation, and unity can come to both houses of Israel. Amen.

ISRAEL: THE FIG TREE BLOSSOMS


After over two thousand years of exile in the nations of the world, the birth and blossoming of the modern day nation of Israel is a major end-time prophetic event given to us by the G-d of Israel. It is a sign to the Jewish people (house of Judah) and the nations of the world of the soon return of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus to the earth as the Kingly Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben David to usher in the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). The prophets (nevi’im) of Israel in the TeNaKh (Old Testament) wrote how the birth of the nation of Israel, the return of the house of Israel and the house of Judah from worldwide exile to the land of Israel, and the nations of the world gathering against the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) would precede the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach).

Israel is the fig tree of the G-d of Israel. In Hosea (Hoshea) 9:10 it is written:

"I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree…"

When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was asked by His disciples (talmidim) the signs that His followers could watch so that they would understand when the present age (Olam Hazeh) was concluding and the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo) was at hand, He prophetically made mention of the birth of the modern day state of Israel. In Matthew (Mattityahu) 24:3, 32-33 it is written:

"When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the talmidim [disciples] came to him privately. Tell us, they said, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that you are coming, and the ‘olam hazeh’ [end of the age] is ending? [Complete Jewish Bible version by David Stern] … Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near even at the doors."



A HEART TO BE REDEEMED FROM EXILE

Redemption from exile has always been the heart and desire of the Jewish people (house of Judah). The redemption from their first exile in Egypt (Mitzrayim) and the receiving of the Torah of the G-d of Israel at mount Sinai has been the central event that has helped to preserve the identity of the Jewish people (house of Judah) through later exiles to Babylon and eventually into all the nations of the world (Diaspora). While being in exile, the prayers of the Jewish people (house of Judah) have always been to return to the land of Israel, end the exile and live in the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). This dream of restoration, the end of the exile and the return to the land of Israel is expressed in Psalm (Tehillim) 137:1 as it is written:

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion."



THE DESIRE FOR A POLITICAL MESSIAH

In the first century, the Jewish people (house of Judah) longed for a political Messiah (Mashiach) who would free them from the oppression of Rome. Because of this desire, various Jewish groups rose up in opposition against Rome. Major wars were fought by the Jewish people (house of Judah) against Rome in 70 CE (Common Era) and in 135 CE. In 135 CE, a Jewish military leader named Simon Bar Kochba led a revolt against Rome. At this time, one of the most respected rabbi’s of the period, Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed Bar Kochba as the political Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) who would free the Jewish people (house of Judah) from the oppression of Rome. During this time, Rome was successful in winning every war against the Jewish people (house of Judah). As a result, Rome began to sell the Jewish people (house of Judah) into slavery and initiated the exile of the Jewish people (house of Judah) into all the nations of the world.



PASSIVE RESISTANCE TO OPPRESSION

Because of the hardship brought to the Jewish people (house of Judah) in fighting against Rome, losing the wars, being sold into slavery and being exiled into the nations of the world, the Jewish people (house of Judah) began to embrace the ideology of passive resistance against their oppressors from that time forward. This mindset continued to be prevalent in the late 1800s. In fact, many Orthodox Jews have long insisted that any return to the Holy Land would be carried out by the Messiah and that to take matters into one’s own hands would be blasphemous. 1 However, anti-Jewish sentiment in Europe in the late 1800s began to change this mindset among secular Jews. This change in mindset and the desire for secular Jews (house of Judah) to return to the land of Israel to escape oppression and anti-Semitism without waiting for these matters to be carried out through the rise of a political Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) became known as the Zionist movement.



THE RISE OF ZIONISM IN EUROPE

"Zionism" comes from the biblical word "Zion." It is often used as a synonym for Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) and the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael). Zionism is an ideology that expresses the yearning of Jews all over the world for their historical homeland of Zion, the Land of Israel. The foundation of Zionism is rooted in the belief that the Land of Israel is the historical birthplace of the Jewish people (house of Judah) and that Jewish life anywhere else in the world is a life of exile.

The emergence of Zionism in Europe in the late 1800s was a crucial turning point in Jewish history. Through this movement, ancient hopes and dreams of the Jewish people (house of Judah) to end the exile and return to the land of Israel was resurrected. Zionism rejects the idea that assimilation of the Jewish people (house of Judah) into the nations of the world is the best way to ensure Jewish survival.

In the late 1800s, a grass-roots youth movement contributed to this Jewish awakening in Eastern Europe. 2 At this time in history, a large number of Jews lived in the Polish and Russian pales. Czarist policy aimed at restricting the Jews prompted "thousands of idealistic young Russian Jews" to organize themselves "into a political and cultural group called the "lovers of Zion." 3 These youngsters held their first convention in Constantinople in 1882, boldly issuing a manifesto declaring their need for a Jewish homeland and their God-given right to Zion. 4



THEODOR HERZL: THE FATHER
OF MODERN ZIONISM

Theodor Herzl is the man credited with being the founder of modern Zionism. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1860. His parents, though Jewish, had no religious sentiment and young Herzl was educated in the spirit of the German-Jewish "Enlightenment" of the time. Theodor Herzl studied law at the University of Vienna. After graduating in 1884 with a doctorate in law, he left law and became the Paris correspondent for the Vienna Free Press, a liberal newspaper. During this time, Herzl became sensitive toward the Jewish problem of anti-Semitism.

In 1892, the famous Dreyfus trial began in Paris, France. Here, an assimilated Jew named Alfred Dreyfus on the French General Staff was wrongly accused and imprisoned. Herzl witnessed the riotous behavior of French mobs and the public humiliation of the Jewish officer, Dreyfus, when they taunted the French Jewish army captain with shouts of "death to the Jews." These events impacted Herzl so strongly that he became consumed with the desire for all Jews to have a national homeland to free them from social injustice and anti-Semitism. For Herzl, this meant a sovereign Jewish State. For the first time in his life, Herzl began attending Jewish religious services. 5

In 1896, Herzl began to communicate his dream by publishing Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State). More than any other single factor, Herzl’s book was most responsible for galvanizing the support of world Jewry for political Zionism. His solution called for individual Jews to immigrate to Palestine, buy land from the Turks, cultivate it into productivity, build a Jewish majority in the land, and thus reestablish the Jewish homeland. 6

In 1897, Theodor Herzl called the first Zionist Congress at Basle, Switzerland. It opened on August 29th, 1897 and was attended by some 204 participants from seventeen countries. At this time, the World Zionist Organization was established and Herzl became its first president. Here he officially launched the Zionist movement with a specific statement of purpose: "The object of Zionism is to establish for the Jewish people a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine." 7

Initially, when Herzl began to expound his ideas of having a central world organization so that Jews worldwide could move in mass to some yet unknown territory, he was met with stiff opposition from eastern European Jews who dismissed the idea and thought that Herzl was crazy. Both Orthodox and Reform rabbis branded Herzl and his ideas as visionary and impractical. Nevertheless, Herzl continued to pursue his dream and spread his ideas.

Herzl’s greatest desire was for the Jewish people (house of Judah) to have a national homeland to shelter them from the anti-Semitism that they have historically experienced in the nations of the world where they have lived over the centuries. Therefore, it did not matter to Herzl which country or territory was given to the Jewish people. Herzl’s energies seemed boundless as he assumed the role of roving ambassador for the Jews in the highest echelons of government. No confrontation fazed him. He fearlessly challenged opulent financiers; held audiences with the kaiser, the Turkish sultan, the king of Italy, and the pope; and approached leading officials of Russia and Great Britain. With his unique, polished demeanor he became a diplomat par excellence for the Zionist cause. 8

Herzl worked hard to find a territory for the Jews. At first, Sinai and Cyprus were two territories under consideration. In 1903, the British offered Herzl the area called Uganda. Because pogroms and oppression in Russia was increasing for the Jews during this period, Herzl felt that a homeland in Uganda was a credible proposal. Therefore, Herzl submitted the Uganda plan to the sixth Zionist Congress. However, this proposal met strong opposition and was rejected. The eastern European Jews regarded it as a betrayal of the dream of settling in the land of Israel. So strong and hostile was the opposition to the Uganda plan that Herzl wrote a written commitment to abandon it.

In 1904, Herzl died of a heart attack at the age of forty-four. For his efforts, Theordor Herzl became a living legend and became known as the father of modern Zionism. 9