Except for Atonement, fasting at other times is not an act of righteousness but humility.   Righteousness results from lawkeeping and there is no biblical law to fast regularly during the week. If fasting were an act of righteousness and in order to outdo the Pharisees we would need to fast at least three days a week. Yahshua’s point was that the Pharisees established their own standards of righteousness that had little to do with their inner, spiritual growth.

The verse tells us that in the midst of the street is the tree of life – indications of not just one tree but many of that same category lining the way. Every month this tree produces fruit in inexpressible abundance. The leaves are for the healing of the nations – ensuring health and immortality, not to heal illness because sickness is absent. Young’s Literal Translation reads, “In the midst of its broad place, and of the river on this side and on that, [is] a tree of life, yielding twelve fruits, in each several month rendering its fruits, and the leaves of the tree [are] for the service of the nations.” When Adam and Eve were rejected from the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword were placed at the east end so that they could not return and eat of the Tree of Life and live forever,Genesis 3:24. This future paradise will have nothing evil (v. 3) in it: There shall be no more curse, rather no accursed thing (Gr. Katanathema), including no serpent there as was in the Genesis paradise.

In and of itself, jewelry is not “wrong.”

In Genesis 24:53 jewelry of silver and gold was given to Rebekah as betrothal presents by Abraham’s servant.

In Exodus 3:22, 11:2, and 12:35 Yahweh commanded Israel to borrow (actually take as payment for slavery) jewelry from the Egyptians, and in 3:22 they were told to put this jewelry on their children.

Jewelry was a token of Yahweh’s love for Israel in Ezekiel 16:11-13, which Israel wore. These included bracelets and necklaces, v. 11, and earrings, v. 12.

Proverbs 25:12 speaks of how earrings of gold enhance the ear.

Paul does condemn the wearing of jewelry in 1Timothy 2 when it was used purely to glorify self. He says the believer should be concerned with the important traits of a follower of Yahweh, like sobriety, modesty, and shamefacedness (Gr. aidos = modesty toward Yahweh, awe, reverence), which is absent from the person trying to enhance personal beauty, like putting lots of gold in braided hair (1Tim. 2:9).

Jewelry can be abused and misused, as the prostitute does, but it can also be a thing of quiet, simple beauty if the person is not wearing it to receive personal adoration. That means that moderation and restraint are not just expected, but demanded.

The True Worshiper in an age of self-glorification contends with the temptation to fulfill the pulls of vanity and self-worship. Our culture has strayed far from Yahweh in this regard, and the believer must counter popular trends by putting down self and glorifying the Father in heaven. Simplicity in appearance is a means to accomplish that.

This response goes much deeper than the initial question. The answer may be found in Genesis, where Yahweh says to Eve that Adam was to rule over her (Genesis 3:17). Yahweh from the Beginning established that the man was to be the head of the relationship. Many people feel that this command no longer applies in such an advanced and modern world, however, Yahweh’s commands do not change through time.

Regardless of time or culture, Yahweh’s Word rules supreme for all those that will seek it with a pure and honest heart. Yahweh’s regulations and standards for mankind do not change. His Word remains the same for all generations. Malachi says in Malachi 3:6that Yahweh changes not. Therefore, we must understand that Yahweh’s commands are perfect and do not change for any reason.

In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Paul says that women are to remain silent within the assembly: “Women should remain silent in the assemblies. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the assembly” (NIV).

Paul says that women are not allowed to speak in the assembly. When a women has a question she is to ask her husband at home in private. In Paul’s letter to young Timothy he again makes it a point to mention that women are to obey their husbands and learn in quietness. “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Timothy 2:11-12, NIV). Scripturally, a woman must never place her authority over a man’s.

In the following Old Testament passages we find that all priests were men: Exodus 28:1; Exodus 32:26-29; Leviticus 8:2;Numbers 8:16-26. Nowhere within the Old Testament do we find priestesses. In 1 Corinthians 12:29 the Apostle Paul lists the different offices within His body, and all are masculine positions: “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?” (NIV). Nowhere did Paul or anyone else ordain a woman to official offices in the Body of Messiah.

The women’s role may not be formally within the assembly, but the women also have responsibilities which greatly affects the assembly as a whole. In Titus Yahweh through His Apostle says that women are to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, submissive to their husband. The mother also is responsible with the father to raise the children in Yahweh. She is to teach them how to love their fellow man, and Yahweh.

Any assembly or culture starts with the family, and the morals and ethics are built from there. If the family is strong the culture will be strong, if the family is weak the society will be weak. Women have a great role in accomplishing Yahweh’s truth, and without women no assembly or society would survive.

We are warned by Yahweh not to call on familiar spirits. Seeking to commune with any other spirit being besides Yahweh is strictly forbidden. Yahweh has commanded that all worship must go to Him. He is zealous for His people and will not allow them to commit idolatry in such wicked ways.

“And the soul that turns to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:6)

Dr. E.W. Bullinger in his Companion Bible says that these familiar spirits are evil spirits impersonating human beings. Ghosts are nothing more than evil spirits trying to confuse mankind. Yahweh says that when a person dies that their spirit returns to Him and all their thoughts perish in the grave. Our spirit is our life source that Yahweh has given to us.

Many people today consult psychics, fortunetellers, astrology and other such spiritualism hoping that they can obtain the answers to life, but they do not realize that they are actually calling on Satan’s spirit realm. Many who play with ouija boards are ignorant of the fact that they are involving themselves in the spirits of darkness.

Yahweh’s people are to be pure from all evil worship. We should not have any part of Satan or his evils. By going to such sources for guidance we are in effect denying Yahweh. Satan rebelled against Yahweh’s rule and authority and by our consulting with the evil spirit realm we are turning from Yahweh.

Satan has many tactics to deceive those that would be deceived. The Bible says that Satan can disquise himself into what looks good and right. “…For even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Satan can deceive us if we allow it. That’s why Yahweh tells us through his Apostle Paul that we are to “prove all things.” The Bible says that we are to stay away from any type of sorcery or demonic activity. Obey Yahweh and listen to his voice, that you may live peaceably in His truth.

Since we are “pilgrims in a foreign land” (Heb. 11:13), military service is incompatible with the Believer’s goals and objectives. This is also a lesson we find when Yahshua confronted Pilate in John 18:36, “Yahshua answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” The military also presents Sabbath and feast difficulties for the Believer.

For some of the same reasons we believe that our involvement in politics should be minimal and any service in juries should conform to Yahweh’s Word, including the need for two to three witnesses before conviction, especially in capital cases (Num. 35:30,Deut. 17:6).

Our teachings are the result of more than 40 years of in-depth study. Our doctrines undergo a great deal of scrutiny and have withstood numerous tests over the years. Our Bible studies are open and we encourage questions. If new information is presented we would be more than happy to take a look at it. We have never shied away from truth no matter where it comes from. Every one of us is enjoined in 1Thessalonians 5:21 to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”