In this issue of the Restoration Times, we discuss:
• The Great Paradox of Christmas
• Recipe for Imitation Bible – the Apocrypha
• The Palestinian Conflict and Gaza in Prophecy
• Questions and Answers
• Hebrew Word Lesson
• Eldertorial: End of Bible Literacy
Praise Yahweh for His Word and for what He shows us!
As we know, Yahweh knows all, and as such He knows the end from the beginning.
One Sabbath morning, as I was reading the Torah portion for that Sabbath (Bereshith – the
Hebrew word meaning “in the beginning”), I was amazed at what I noticed, that I had not seen
before.
In the verses of Genesis 3, I noticed a big part of Yahweh’s plan and purpose for the Son and for
the end, in the beginning!
Genesis 3:14-15 – And [Yahweh Elohim] said unto the serpent: ‘Because thou hast done this,
cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt
thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise
their heel.’ (JPS Tanakh)
I recalled learning from Bible Studies and sermons that the “woman” is the assembly of Yahweh
under the leadership of Yahshua Messiah. We see a reference to this “woman” and “her seed” in
Revelation 12:17. We also see in Revelation that the devil will be destroyed (Rev. 20:10). This is
the first connection I saw of the end from the beginning, and plan and purpose for Messiah, just
in this Torah portion. …
The weekly Sabbath Reading Torah portions are different from the Bible Portions according to
the 52 Week Reading Plan (which is on a chart in the back of the Restoration Study Bible) that I
follow during the week. Based on the outline in the JPS Tanakh, the portion for this particular
Sabbath was Bereshith – Genesis 1:1-Genesis 6:8. So I continued to read on from Genesis 3. …
The second set of verses that stood out to me from this Torah Portion are in Genesis 5, which is
the genealogy from Adam to the sons of Noah. What stood out to me is how, repeatedly, the
Scriptures mention one man begot one son, stating the names of that man and then his son. Then,
the Scriptures tell us that same man had sons and daughters, but does not state their names.
For example, Genesis 5:3-5 – When Adam had lived 130 years, he begot a son in his likeness
after his image, and he named him Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and begot
sons and daughters. (JPS Tanakh)
I thought on the significance of the men named in the chapter of Genesis 5, and asked myself
why were only certain men and certain sons named? In the aforementioned verses, Cain (the first
son of Adam and Eve) was not mentioned, even though the chapter begins by saying “This is the
record of Adam’s line.” (Genesis 5:1, JPS Tanakh)
What came into my mind next was to read the genealogy of Yahshua Messiah in the New
Testament, which we see outlined all the way back to Adam, in Luke 3. I wondered, will I see
the same names as in Genesis 5?
So, while keeping my JPS Tanakh opened to Genesis 5, I opened up my Restoration Study Bible
to cross check those names with the names in Luke 3. And, while reading backwards in Luke 3
from verse 38 into verse 36, comparing those names to the ones I saw while reading forwards
from Genesis 5:1-32, I read the same names!
This is the second connection I saw of the end from the beginning, and plan and purpose for
Messiah, just in this Torah portion.
Yahweh knows the end from the beginning. Yahweh is all-knowing and wise. And so, in the
beginning, immediately after the fall of mankind into sin, we see that Yahweh put into place a
plan and a purpose for His Son: through the seed of the woman would come the one who will put
an end to the adversary (Genesis 3:9-15).
Note for Genesis 3:15: This is a reference of prophetic importance referring to the future
destruction of Satan the devil by Yahshua the Messiah (Rom. 16:20). See Psalm 91:13. (Footnote
in Restoration Study Bible, page 11).
As mentioned above, I am following a 52 Week Bible Reading Plan during the week. So, I had
the opportunity to re-read Genesis 5 (the portion of that day was Genesis 4-7) and meditate on
what Yahweh put into place right after the fall of mankind into sin. As we know, there is mention
of Yahshua Messiah throughout the Scriptures, but this time in my personal reading, I noticed
how early in human history, and how quickly, the wheels were set into motion for the plan of
redemption and salvation through Yahshua Messiah.
In addition, other Scriptures from the New Testament, confirming the plan that was set and the
purpose for Yahshua Messiah, in the beginning, came to mind. We see that Yahshua is the Son
of Yahweh, the salvation of Yahweh (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31-33). Yahshua has been with
Yahweh since beginning and the creation, is the head of the body of the assembly, and through
him we have redemption (John 1:1-13; Colossians 1:12-18).
How loving, glorious, and wonderful is our Heavenly Father Yahweh! He has a plan of
redemption and salvation for mankind that had fallen into sin, the penalty for that sin being
death, but redemption to life is through Yahshua Messiah (Romans 5:12-15; 1Corinthians 15:22).
HalleluYah!
As a follow-up study, and for more information on the names of the lineage mentioned in
Genesis 5 and the meanings of those names, you can check out the YRM sermon by Lucas Cecil
“What’s in a Name?”. I have heard the sermon, it is very well done, praise Yahweh!
There will be more discussion on Yahshua in a Part 2 article. I’m so excited and looking
forward to completing it!
~Submitted by Judy Stern
* Remote chance to be observed a day earlier.
In this issue of the Restoration Times, we discuss:
• Taste the Coming Kingdom
• Feast Observance – Choosing Between Yourself and Yahweh
• What Happens When We Die?
• Test Your Tutelage
• Hebrew Word Lesson
• Editorial Brief
In this issue of the Restoration Times we discuss:
• Is the New Testament Really New?
• Restoring Truth Once Delivered
• Remarkable Women in the Bible
• Test Your Tutelage
• Hebrew Word Lesson
• Feedback
I have started this article so many times, with so many different ideas, and then got stuck. I got very frustrated and disappointed in myself. I finally realized I was trying to come up with something that would be impactful. It didn’t need to be impactful, just honest and from me. So here it goes: I am still new on this walk in my life, so it is okay; maybe someone else out there is in the same situation and just needs to know they are not alone. I am focusing on what I have learned and building on that, focusing on what I have gained/learned.
What have I gained and learned?
• I have learned our Heavenly Father and our Savior’s real names.
• I have a closer relationship with Yahweh and Yahshua by using their names. I pray and talk with them all day long (very satisfying).
• I feel they hear me more now, feel a very powerful connection that I did not have before, when I used G-d and Jes-s.
• I was raised in another faith. Most of my tough questions were answered with, “It is a mystery, you will understand at the end, after judgement.” YRM has taught me that the Bible answers my questions. They will direct me to appropriate verses and if I still have questions, they explain it to me. It is not a mystery unless you are learning man-made doctrine and being taught pagan beliefs. Ex: Predestination, the Trinity as well as pagan holidays like Xmas and Easter.
• I have gained a new family in the assembly, so enriching to study, congregate and talk with people of like-minded faith.
• I was using the Strong’s Concordance some, before YRM, but they encouraged and directed me to use it more. Again, the Bible has so much information and if you are encouraged and confident, it will have such a deeper meaning than ever before.
• With the confidence I am gaining, I am able to answer questions from family and friends. If I am not sure, I know it is okay to say, “Let me research that and get back to you,” and I do as Romans 15:14 tells us to.
• I am also learning to keep in mind the time period of when the Word was written, and the Hebrew mindset, as it is different from what and how we think now in modern times. Ex: The Bible mentions divorce and what context it is allowed in, Matt 19:8-9. Many people apply this to today’s way of thinking and say okay, if my spouse is unfaithful, I can get a divorce: not true. Back in that time, an engagement was a legal binding contract and during the engagement period if there was sexual immorality, then a divorce was allowed.
There is so much more to learn! I am eager to learn it as Philippians 4:13 tells me I can do all things through Messiah which strengthens me.
Yes, I have lost some family and friends, but that is okay as I have gained so much more. The Bible tells us in Luke 21:16-18 and Matthew 10:21-42 that family and friends will betray us.
Psalm 9:10 says “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou Yahweh, has not forsaken them that see thee.” Proverbs 14:26 says “In the fear of Yahweh is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Blessing and Prayers to you on your journey and growth in Yahweh and Yahshua.
Submitted by Lynne Gerulski
YRM produces a lot of content. Videos, magazines, booklets and more. The Apple computer that handles the publication side of things is getting old (11 years!) and is not able to be upgraded anymore. It has been an absolute workhorse, but it is time to retire it. It is no longer able to update software etc... And it is becoming increasingly difficult to use.
We are opting to replace it with an Apple laptop that is capable of doing all the publication work and some light video editing while also giving us the freedom to use it remotely if needed.
Nearly everything you have seen in the past 11 years from YRM has been developed using this computer. So we are asking for your help to get this replaced. We are looking at a total cost of around $4,500 and with your help we are hoping to get this computer replaced so we can continue to produce and publish content without interruption.
If no one has gone to heaven what about Enoch and Elijah, who were translated to heaven? Also, please explain the transfiguration in Matthew 17 where Moses and Elijah are talking to a transfigured Yahshua.
Genesis 5:24 reads, “And Enoch walked with Elohim: and he was not; for Elohim took him.” The RSB note reads, “Hebrews 11:5 says that Enoch was translated or transferred that he should not see death. The Greek word ‘translated’ is metatithemi and means ‘carried over,’ which is the same word used in Acts 7:16 when Jacob died in Egypt and was carried over to Sychem to be buried. The tense is conditional future, so that ‘he should not die’ (John 8:51; 11:26). In Hebrews 11:13 Enoch is included with the other saints who died having not yet received the Promise of everlasting life.” Enoch was simply transported from one place to another here on earth. The same is true with Elijah.
We read in 2Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
The RSB footnote reads, “Elijah (Hebrew EliYah, meaning ‘Yah is my El’) was transported to a different location on earth. This is evident from Elijah’s letter to Jehoram, which chronologically followed Elijah’s being taken into the whirlwind (2Chron. 21:12).
“The fifty sons of the prophets who were nearby (2Kings 2:7), and who witnessed from afar, knew that Elijah was taken somewhere else on earth because that’s where they searched for him after getting permission to do so from the prophet Elisha (2Kings 2:15-18). They would not have looked for him on earth if they thought he went to heaven, neither would the inspired Elisha have consented to their search.” The Bible speaks of three heavens: the atmosphere, outer space, and where Yahweh dwells (Gen. 7:11; Dan. 4:21; 2Cor. 12:2; Rev. 9:1). Whirlwinds operate only in the air of the first heaven. Elijah was simply transported from one place on earth to another.
Yahshua called the transfiguration a “vision” in Matthew 17:9. This was a glimpse into the future Kingdom, as is clear from the preceding verses (Matt. 16:28). In 2Peter 1:16-18 the Apostle Peter corroborates that this is what they saw (RSB).
First, should my tithe be given every time I receive a paycheck and as soon as I receive a payment? I prefer to pay my tithe to you, since you all have enlightened me with this information. Also, as you may know it is common for Christians to have their children baptized at a young age, such as when I knew none of the information I know now. But I also read that after baptism if you stray away then you have turned your back on Him.
The Bible does not provide a frequency for tithing, but examples show that it took place when payment was received. Tithing is the firstfruits of our increase and should be given to Yahweh off the top because He must come first in all things.
Infant or child baptism is not a practice the Bible supports but was introduced by the Roman church. The church believed that because children were born polluted by original sin that they needed baptism for the remission of that innate sin. Church father Tertullian was much opposed to child baptism because of what it lacked. Repentance is a prerequisite to baptism, Acts 2:38. Immersion must be followed by an immediate, permanent change and redirection of one’s life of sin to one of obedience. Children haven’t even experienced life yet in all its trials and temptations. From their disadvantaged point children don’t grasp the gravity of repentance. Repentance is not a simple confession, but a complete turnaround in behavior, thinking, and action. This requires the maturity of an adult mind. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a single case of child baptism. Based on Yahweh’s Word (Ex. 30:14; Lev. 27:2; Num. 1:3; 14:29; 26:2; 32:11; 1Chron. 23:24; Ezra 3:8), we believe that 20 is the age when a person is considered a mature adult and accountable for his or her actions in Yahweh’s eyes. For these reasons we believe that 20 is the minimum age for baptism.
Does your ministry adhere to Anglo-Israel/British-Israelism? I ask only be-cause I know that other organizations share a similar view of the Law and how it relates to Christians as your ministry does and a big reason for that is their belief in British-Israelism.
While we believe that some of the European nations may be descendants from the Israelite tribes, this is not something we emphasize and neither do the Scriptures. Besides possibly having some prophetic impact, it does not change the Good News or requirements for salvation. According to Paul in Galatians, there’s no distinction between the Jew and gentile in Messiah. Those who establish barriers based on race or ancestry do so to their detriment. Paul told Timothy, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than righteous edifying which is in faith: so do,” 1Timothy 1:4.
