JUDGMENT

BY: Darlene Dine

Introduction

I cannot write, things so jumbled up in my mind. So much there, but no spirit breathed upon it to bring it to life. I am in a place of waiting, where my prayers seem empty and my direction is only a fog of uncertainty. I look at myself and wonder, how can I be so poor, blind and naked? How can I be so full of pride and full of myself? I act as though I have everyone’s answers…when I do not even have my own. Maybe we aren’t supposed to (have all our answers). Not much comfort in this place of death. This is the place of judgment. The end of ourselves.

I think of past opportunities that came and went and battle accusations of the mind…knowing their source. I seem to go in a direction against all reason. All that seems happy and good as if I do not want what is “good.” But, OH how I do! Just not at the expense of living a lie in hopes of making it true. We are not real and do not desire to walk in truth. Another pagan holiday approaching…give us something to celebrate…for it is too painful to mourn. Let us have fun! We will worry of the consequences tomorrow. Of course we Christianize the holiday so it’s acceptable. We must see Him as a One who would not bring calamity, but make “nice” everything concerning us. Isn’t that His final end? Yet, we want our own version of “nice.” This “heavenly life” will not come about without death coming first. For the reality of it is seen in the passing away of this world. This is a message to the church (ekklesia), the called out ones.

We will finally see the truth that in our flesh dwells NO good thing. Can we come to grips with that? Isn’t that what the salvation message is all about? It is NOT a correction or “straightening up” of the old man that needs to take place. It is his elimination! Except a seed fall to the ground, it will not live again. Yahshua cannot burst through our tomb of death in resurrection power until we are found weeping, looking into it. Facing the reality of death and the end of all that we can do or be. Judgment is the indictment Yahweh has made on our fallen nature, the old man. The cross is his only answer.

Judgment is the reality we need to face, coming into agreement with the Holy One of Israel that you must die in order to live in Yahshua. How do we do this while blood is pumping through our bodies and we are “physically” very much alive? The word tells us to “consider (reckon)” ourselves to be dead (Rom. 6:11). This is a spiritual mystery. If you have come into agreement with this indictment of your fleshly, earthly man…you have come into agreement with what Yahweh declares. Your flesh is at enmity with Yah and His purposes. It cannot obey His commands and it cannot understand or “see” the kingdom that comes down from heaven built on spiritual truths. For it is a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly one. To the carnal mind, everything must make sense, fit into place and be seen before believed. Reasoning's of the mind…foolishness to Yah.

We want no gaps in our understanding, our experiences in this life must draw the picture we want to see and the future we want to create to believe Yahweh loves us. The picture we need to paint on the canvas of our minds to trust Him. We will discover in the life of Job, the inability of the carnal mind to “make sense” of it all. The final death to our “theologies” and “knowledge” which contradicts the spirit of wisdom that is the All-Knowing One.

We will also see the reaction and words of Yahshua at the time of Lazarus’ death. I believe this is where the church is at this hour in history. And we will, like Mary, be angry that He has delayed His coming. “If you would have been here, my brother would not have died!” Indicting the King of Kings Himself! We, in our foolishness dare to judge Yahweh and the purposes that have been laid from the foundations of the world. Still wanting to “be as God.”

We will also explore the earthly ideas that have so permeated our minds and distorted the truth. These ideas have also infiltrated the church; these false doctrines of Jezebel have kept us away from a burning light called judgment.

The following teaching is a difficult one. I have started to do it several times, only to stop and pray more. Born out of spirit and not flesh, this truth will bring us into a place we may not want to go. Our own garden of Gethsemane where we declare His will to be done and not our own, even if this requires our death. Only then can resurrection come and only then can “Thy Kingdom” come where He alone is glorified. His kingdom is established in a reality called eternity. This is where YHWH lives and dwells and has His being. May we be caught up together into His very throne room as we hear what the spirit is saying to us at this time of the end. This time of devastation…this time of no understanding…this time when judgment unfolds. It is the end, but also the beginning…of life everlasting.

Part One

The Foundation

Like most things in this world, we have not built our lives on the foundation of eternity, even as believers. Our perspectives are self-centered. We have become gods orchestrating our own universe and have created a reality of our pleasing. It is not just the world’s actions I describe, but the church’s as well. We have designed programs to appeal to the very flesh we proclaim crucified. We glorify men and teachings that keep the flesh very much alive. We foster covetousness and an attitude towards Yahweh as some kind of Lord who will bow down to us and our every demand! This we proclaim to be faith. Simply believe and He will– so convenient to require nothing of us.

Now it comes time when the foundations will be revealed for what they are. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken and that which is left standing is eternal. For if the testing does not come, how will we know what we stand on is true? How is it revealed, but by testing?

Of course the church (at large) believes that we will be spared from this hour of testing. This time that Yahshua declared to be perilous and unmatched by any other calamity in history. (Isn’t it odd that He did not say immediately following His description of these times that we were not to worry about it because we would not be here…we would be raptured? Instead He gives instructions on how to pray, what to be warned of, etc.)

If the pre-tribulation rapture is one of the mistaken foundations by which you have fallen prey to, I would encourage you to do some serious studying on this subject. I cannot include in this teaching the details of the rapture theory and why it does not hold water. It is not the goal of this series to cover this subject. However I will say this…it is a theory and not truth! I have listed resources (at the end) to help you study this subject out for yourself [1]. The hard-hearted may be in the middle of the great tribulation before they let go of this deception. Quite simply, this is a carnal way of making the end times fit in with our self-centeredness.

So, if I am saying that there is no pre-tribulation rapture, then I am saying we have to face the judgment of a Holy Yahweh as a CHURCH? Yes and this temple (made with hands) will be destroyed! It is only in the coming destruction that we will find out the truth from the lie, where an ultimate separation of light and darkness will rent the heavenlies in the battle of the ages. All that has been hidden will be revealed. Judgment will begin in the house of Yahweh.

It is His people who have been called out, given gifts far exceeding the treasures of this world and given the truths of His kingdom that will be held accountable for how they used these things. It is His House that has been given the charge to uphold a standard of holiness reflecting His character to a world engulfed in darkness. It is His House that claims to “see,” so their sin is very much before Him. Why do we have knowledge? Isn’t it given so that we may be transformed into Yahshua’s likeness? So that our lives will give HIM glory!?! Instead it has puffed up the body with pride! And now in full view we can see the ugliness of that pride, first in ourselves and then corporately. Yahweh judges severely those closest to Him and His ways.

We must prepare our hearts for the correction, humbling and repentance that awaits us all. This is no time for pride, which only causes blindness. The blind were the Scribes and Pharisees of Yahshua’s time. The most righteous, the ones who claimed to be “the spiritual leaders.” The ones who were displaying acts of righteousness before a sinful, unholy society. The standard so to speak. But Yahshua spoke and pronounced judgment on them time and time again in His passionate desire to bring them to repentance. They would not hear of it…even when He called them, “of their Father, the devil!” You see the foundation of the church has never changed. It is still the apostle and the prophet. Reject them and you align yourself with the lie.

Today, it is the “authority” of the church (Jezebel’s Babylon) that seeks to overthrow the authority of King Yahshua! When has there ever been a governmental system in the church by which the prophet of Yahweh was in submission to? Quite the contrary existed; the church was in submission to the Apostle and the Prophet. David the King submitted to the word of the prophet. A prophet’s training is one only known to Yahweh, administered by His hand in a wilderness of His choosing. Acts of humiliation that pulverize the ego bringing one into complete obedience and death. A rejection by men that few will ever endure.

The authority of the “temple” during Yahshua’s time was in conflict with Him. He was asked questions like, “By whose authority do you do these things?” They arrogantly believed, “If He did not have their approval and validation, then surely He was not of Yahweh!” The prophet not serving in the temple (John the Baptist) coming in the spirit of Elijah is the one who will AGAIN give confirmation to His ministry in the latter days. They know Him most intimately and will recognize Him and His purposes when He comes. He did not enter the church to be baptized into His ministry…HE WENT TO THE PROPHET IN THE WILDERNESS! The prophet will be shut out of the “church” systems of this world and live a life in the wilderness. He absolutely CANNOT stomach corruption! His messages are those of bringing people to change and repentance.

The same scenario is taking place at this time before His second coming. A display of righteousness that is falsehood. A decorating of the church as an “entity” to be worshipped above YHWH. An authority not to be questioned even if it conflicts with the purposes of the King. A standard…so to speak lacking the very character of Yahshua. An appearance of fruit that has already been cursed and commanded to die. This false just as before will take on the form of anti-messiah and plan to wipe out the real (for the good of all humanity of course). Opposing again the Anointed One. The enemy using the “good” intents of man…his carnal mind to eliminate the King of Kings. Satan knows the establishment of Yahshua’s Kingdom is the end of his own.

Of course, just as in the dwelling of Messiah upon the earth…the foundations have been moved. He comes to restore and He will again NOT be popular with those who defend the traditions that have developed over the years. They will seek to discredit His spirit in His people, they will seek to stone and eliminate Him. But He will come never the less. There will be those like Peter who will think they are defending Him, when in all reality their carnality and blind pride will prove to deny Him. The true prophetic word will always come to pass regardless of who we think we are in our arrogance.

The prophet will find himself rejected by those who do not want to see the truth. He will be an agent of change preparing the way and none of us like change because it requires a facing of ourselves in a light we would rather not stand in. It requires being corrected and none of us want that either. We want to be loved, accepted! We want to hide from the truth and ourselves. We don’t understand that the greatest love a person can offer is to speak the truth. They risk not being loved in return, the deepest human need we have.

Yahshua will come in a wake of judgment and fury. He is known to an immature bride only as redemption. The restoration of the prophetic ministry will prepare the way. Yahshua’s eyes are like flames. His sword of truth divides between soul and spirit. Who can withstand His appearing when we do not even submit to the light of His truth now? There will come a time when the past, present and future will no longer be separate and sin will reap its horrific consequences. Judgment brings forth the devastation of sin. The showing of it in the light for which it needs to be shown. The hatred of it for it is destruction! The putrid smell of pride and of SELF that reeks to heaven in a stench that appalls a Holy Yahweh. Does it appall us, enough to encounter our wrath upon it?

Sin has not taken too much judgment from us. Rather the conscience of many seared for a lack of judgment. An “its all up to your own personal choice” attitude has swept over the world and the church. What happened to the commandments? What happened to His Holy word? It has been interpreted to fit our messages of “the good life.” No accountability, no discipleship, no speaking of truth lest it offend. A religion of convenience, obedience to man that takes precedence over obedience to Yahweh. A society where no authority exists, but one of self-rule.

The golden calf was a creation by the Israelites of a “god” of their choosing and their control. It was fashioned by a priest who would do the people’s bidding. They did not have to wait on the words and purposes of the Holy One who delivered them, but could serve and worship a god that they themselves created and could appease. They called it Yahweh…and declared it to be the ONE who delivered them. This is what we also fall prey to while waiting the receiving of our requirements from a Holy Yahweh. The waiting of our maturity and responsibility. Idolatry is rampant in our world and in our churches. We have created a god of convenience just as the Israelites did. It was fierce judgment that fell on them.

The Levites (who were also those chosen to teach Torah) were ordered to go through the camp and execute judgment with a sword destroying all those who were part of this idolatry. The covenant was broken. “All that Yahweh has spoken, we will do,” the people proclaimed to Moses. While waiting for him to return with the requirements, their trust failed them. The distance between themselves and Yahweh made way for a false god to be birthed. They placed the temporary above the eternal. This was the betrothal to the Bridegroom! But Israel could not wait. She did not know this Yahweh and His attribute of holiness. She did not understand her part as His bride and SELF took over.

Without Yahweh’s teaching and instructions (Torah), His fiery law in pure form coming from His Holy Mountain, we create something else to trust in. We do not know how to please our husband. We give the worship, which is rightfully His to the enemy of our souls. Our disobedience has cost us so much as His people, but its cost Yahweh even more. So you see He must judge. For it brings Him glory. Judgment manifests Yahweh’s righteousness. Judgment is based on AUTHORITY even though it contains power[2].

He was known to the Israelites as both redemption and judgment! On one hand the red sea came crashing down on Pharaoh’s army. A way of deliverance blasted through the waters with the other hand. Yahweh uses judgment to save the world. The cross saves not because it avoids judgment. No, the salvation of the cross does not set aside judgment; on the contrary, the cross saves because it is itself a judgment[3]. Yet many do not know Him in judgment.

The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; (Ps. 9:16a)

For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Is. 26:9b)

Judgment carries the power for us not just to know Yahweh, but to know ourselves as well. It exposes all that is hidden. All will see Him face to face, but we will also stand in the revelation of who we truly are as well. This is a reality I want in my life now. To be false is to be hidden from His searching light. This fire of Yah has the power to burn, but not consume. It destroys sin.

[As a side note, I believe there are different places that we can stand with Yahweh. Just as the relationship of community, family and marriage differ in their intimacy levels. This is what I mean when I refer to levels in this explanation. I believe our obedience is a choice revealing whom we trust and serve. When the Israelites were told to wash their garments, this was an issue of obedience. A preparing of themselves to meet with Him. We separate ourselves; Yah does not do this for us.

YHWH then summons Moses to the top of the mountain, along with Aaron (who does not go all the way), but not the priests and the people. I included this to clarify that while it is our responsibility to move toward YHWH and to submit to His changing us from glory to glory, there is a place of standing we will have before Him for our protection. I have heard it taught that since the veil was rent in two that all could come and go freely from the Most Holy Place. I disagree with this idea for it makes Yah’s holiness to be a light thing. I believe the Most Holy Place is set apart to commune with YHWH in a most intimate way, being holy and precious. Parallels can be seen through the “top of the mountain” where Moses stood and the bedroom for a marriage couple. It is not a place that ALL have made the commitment in the relationship to enter (though Yahshua’s blood has made the way). The Most Holy Place is exactly THAT! A HOLY PLACE. To enter it at an immature level would be destructive to the relationship just as sex before marriage destroys the respect one has for another. You make yourself very vulnerable to that person and reveal your nakedness. This privilege is then counted as worthless. Yahweh protected the people by not allowing them to come that close to Him knowing the destruction it would bring to any future relationship for He is Holy and they did not know His ways.

25 'And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.

26 'Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.' (Exodus 20)

Yahweh always gave very specific instructions to protect that which is holy.

We will be on our faces in this part of the temple! The high priest only wore plain white linens and no priestly garments at ALL! He entered only once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer a blood sacrifice for the sins of the people and Himself. Again we see a picture of redemption and judgment. Those who know Yahweh in judgment will have a great love for His redemption. For we cannot see true salvation without seeing our hopeless condition before Him. And in that moment, He embraces us and we are caught up in His glory, nothing existing of ourselves but to worship Him.

In the outer court the light is natural; in the holy place it is artificial, man made light; but in the holiest of all there is neither natural nor artificial light; there is only the light of the glory of Yah[4]. Consequently the judgment there will be the most severe.

It was not my intention to make this a long side note, but I feel this point must be made. JUDGMENT is part of entering this Most Holy Place. For your flesh must die and your spirit ONLY can enter. No SELF in any form can exist there for the very presence of Yah would consume it (there can be ONLY ONE GOD in His glory). This is why I believe that man was banned from the garden after becoming self-aware. It was a form of judgment. What exists in the Most Holy Place? Yahweh’s presence and the very throne in which He rules. The Ark of the Covenant where the tablets of stone are kept (marriage covenant). The mercy seat by which our marriage is made whole and an eternal covenant has been established.

In conclusion, these different places or levels are not because of our ‘super spirituality’ but quite the opposite. They are a coming into Him and a dieing of self in the process. This could not take place with the Israelites at this time of not knowing Yahweh or His ways. The giving of His Torah was a means to an end. A knowing how to please Him as His bride, this brings us to the top of the mountain with the power of Yahshua’s life in us to carry out Torah’s requirements.]

Another meeting on His Holy Mountain is taking place and His instructions are being given to those who would look into the face of a Holy Yahweh in the wake of His judgment. A giving of the written Torah and a command to obey it, preserve it and teach it to all generations. A restoration of His authority and rule as the time of His kingdom is fast approaching.

Come to His Holy Mountain is the call.

The foundation, His Holy Torah. If we receive it, we welcome a Yahweh who is a fire, continually burning that does not consume. A circumcision of the heart, cutting away the flesh. On the mountain, our humanity will be smoked out, a passion stirred. No longer will it be, “What can you do for me?” The question changes to, "YHWH, what is your will for me?" What do you require from this marriage? A contract…covenant written in stone. One day it will be written on our hearts for we will obey out of pure love and selfless giving.

The foundation of His throne is sapphire, this blue symbolizing Torah. Pointing the way to truth. He must uphold it or destroy Himself for He has sworn by His own Name. This is faith, steadfastness. Yahweh is looking for those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. The living waters that flow from His throne are His word made alive. Quickening our spirits to a new dimension in Him, which can only come from a lowering of self. We must decrease so that His life may increase.

The foundation of judgment is simply this; to know a loving Yahweh is to know He will not cast us off forever. He is preparing a bride to be adorned for her Bridegroom. Chastisement comes to those who would be His Sons. For if we do not suffer with Him being conformed to His death, how will we be raised into newness of life seated in heavenly places? To pass under His light of judgment is flesh destroyed. But you are not flesh, the real you is spirit! Come into His marvelous light and behold Him and not yourself. Before the fall, there was no self-awareness! No self apart from Yahweh. There was only His glory surrounding Adam and Eve and they could see Him face to face with no hiding. No flesh can pass through Yahweh’s light and live. It is a separation of soul and spirit. This is the meaning of Holy– be separate. Separated unto Him.

As we move on to another aspect of judgment, reflect on what has been written. There is only One who knows the depths of our heart and the motives and intents by which we live. May we allow the judgment of Our Yahweh Elohim to expose the deepest, most hidden parts of us to His all consuming light. Let Him transform us by the refining work of fire, testing our lives until we come forth as pure gold. Let our hearts be an altar where there burns a perpetual flame lit by His Spirit never to be diminished. Submit to His judgment.

Part Two

The Perspective

There is an entering into truth that demands an eternal perspective. We must let go of the now to possess the eternal. Following in the footsteps of Our Messiah, Yahshua. When Peter suggested that Yahshua save Himself by NOT going up to Jerusalem, His Master’s reply was one of rebuke! He TURNED (Peter was obviously not looking the same direction as His Master) and said to Peter, “Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of Yahweh, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23)

Immediately following this, He tells His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny Himself and take up His cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses His life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24a)

This is the perspective. Not the temporary, but the eternal. A life that does not exist in the protecting or saving of that which is here and now. A life only concerned with the things of Yahweh. A life that does not seek its own, but finds peace in doing His will. A martyr is someone who not only dies for Him, but also portrays the death of self in their daily lives. When I say death, I do not mean to say acts of torture brought upon oneself. This would be a practice of a false religion spawned by the Jezebel spirit! She orchestrates punishment for the disfiguration of the character of Yahweh. She uses “sacrifice” and the cutting of oneself to break one’s trust in His love.

When I speak of death, I know that it is a transformation into newness of life. Your lives are hid with Messiah in Yahweh. When you choose by an act of your own will to lose this life for the sake of His, you will find true life. It is not I who live, but Messiah in me. The only One who can bring this life out of death. This death that I speak of is a separation of soul and spirit. Becoming one with Yahshua in all His fullness. Messiah in us, our hope of glory.

The self-crucifixion of which Jezebel teaches is one of yielding to the devil. There is never enough suffering for him and there are no times of joy and gladness. There is only a feeling that you will never measure up. A feeling that “what you do” will never be a big enough sacrifice so you must do more! Controlled by guilt and the pleasing of her and her offspring! This is not the cross that Yahshua calls us to. For this actually discounts the cross and places us in a position of self-righteousness. Doing enough…suffering enough…when it is clear that only ONE sacrifice was accepted and no man can approach upon any other!

As we see in the lives of Cain and Abel, one offers what had been provided and was required by Yahweh…a life. The other offering the toil of his hands and the sweat of his brow…a production! Yahweh has already cursed the fruit of the ground. That which is born of our fleshly, earthly man. He brings forth the new city whose Builder and Maker is Yahweh. It comes from above. Many will not see it as the good and perfect gift because we have our own definitions of what is good and evil. The coming of Yahshua’s kingdom will smash and bring sudden destruction upon all that opposes it. There will exist NO other kingdoms when His is made manifest!

[The sacrifice Cain brought placed him under rejection and the “fear of man” when it was not accepted. This is Jezebel’s whole plan. To steal the true sacrifice, your gift from Yahweh, given BY Yahweh. Placing you in a position where you perform to receive acceptance! Yahweh has designed His ways to protect us from this performance-based acceptance for it will always offer defeat and rejection and lead us on a path of pride and self-righteousness.]

The man-child is hidden in the womb awaiting his birth. A kingdom realized. The authority of Yahshua restored. Only in coming into Sonship, which is to say maturity–fullness. The returning to Yahweh is a turning back to His will and His ways. A returning to His word, His Holy Torah, the covenant He has made with His people. A returning to His Sabbath, His Feasts and our identity as His people, Israel. His bride.

He will write His Torah upon our hearts and we will be His people and He will be Our YHWH.

The perspective is one of marriage to the Holy One of Israel. Becoming One with Him. Nothing existing of us, but to do His will. A choosing of what we can have in Him. Priests unto Yahweh– a royal priesthood. Our ministry first to Him at the foot of His throne in the Holy of Holies. This is the death I speak of. This is a giving up for the eternal that awaits us. And this is eternal life, that we may know You, the only true YHWH and Yahshua Ha Mashiach whom you have sent.

Glorify Him in all the earth! This can be our only perspective!

Part Three

Justice for All

It is safe to say we all want justice, especially when evil afflicts innocence. We want to stand up and defiantly ask the question, “Why?” Seeing so many things as unfair in our imperfect world of sin and death. The church in her greatest theological hour, where more truth is available now than in any time in history, cannot answer the question, “Why?” She hides behind religious cloaks and corrects the prophet if he claims anything to be the judgment of Yahweh!

I know, I was there. I wrote a book called God IS Love, not knowing it would place me on a journey of many unanswered questions and a reconciling of my own concept of Yahweh with who He really is. He is not going to be who we would like Him to be, but who HE IS. When Moses asked, “Who should I say sent me?” Yahweh’s response was, “I AM that I AM.” This is the revealing of His Name. His authority and eternal existence declared and contained in that Name. This will be restored as His kingdom is brought forth in the last days. His authority, I AM.

People lack the fear of Yahweh to come into this aspect of His being. This creates the deception. For the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. When He is not in the proper place on the throne of our hearts, then He is not YHWH.

We become what we believe Him to be because we were created to reflect His very image…His likeness. When there is misunderstanding of who He is, it reflects in the church and the world. A flaw in our character because of a lack of fullness in coming into His. A people who will not come completely into truth because we are still covering our nakedness.

One wrong perception is thinking Him to be passive and tolerant of sin, never to administer correction or discipline. This deception has brought defilement into the church. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. The enemy has also sown seeds corrupting most people’s ideas and perceptions of discipline and correction. Yahweh is not one who delights in punishing men. These seeds have produced rebellion just as they did in Absalom, king David’s son and the Israelites under Pharoah’s harsh rule.

We are taught obedience in many places in Yahweh’s word, but it is really just presented as a nice thing to do if you want to be blessed! Yes, it does bring the blessing so why do we think that disobedience will bring anything but a curse? The wrath of Yahweh is built into His word. He knows what He is talking about when giving us a command. The world was framed by His word. He is the perfect designer of all things and knows the perfect use for everything He has created. Yet we only see His commands as burdensome and restricting instead of the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2) and the protection they were intended for. When Yahweh allows the consequences of our sin to unfold, this is His grace! For we have chosen to take the hard way. The way of the unfaithful is hard. (Proverbs 13:15) We do not see this as grace in our limited thinking. What humanism and false teachings we have suffered from as a society and a church! The tree of the knowledge of good and evil contains a ‘poisoned’ fruit. When eaten, it produces death to our spirit life first (by separating us from Yahweh) and then our soul and body. This is why we were commanded not to eat from this tree for it is the eating that brings our focus to self and more specifically SELF apart from our Creator. It teaches us how TO BE LIKE GODS.

We see a whole generation steeped in a lie as far as authority and obedience. You can walk into any public place and hear a parent pleading with their children to obey. You can tell that they have never followed through with their word concerning consequences, so therefore the child knows that these words are mere threats and do not mean anything. In many homes the children rule and have no respect for the parents.

What was the serpent’s weapon in the garden used against Eve? First of all to make Yahweh’s commands seem harsh and not “self-beneficial.” As if they were not of love, when His very essence IS love so He can be nothing else. Next, the devil made light of Yahweh’s authority. “You will not die!” He still uses this same weapon damaging the healthy fear we should have of Yahweh who demands absolute OBEDIENCE! Anything less is serving the devil, His enemy! We do not understand the consequences to be an upholding of righteousness and the truth of His word, but instead see a ‘God’ who is bloodthirsty and monstrous. (Remember thinking that way about our own parents when we were a child and had to suffer discipline for ‘our own’ sakes? Remember the immaturity of calling them ‘mean’ and maybe silently screaming, “I hate you.” In most cases the discipline was done out of love and protection for us?)

All of us want justice, but only ONE deserves to administer it! He is JUDGE! At every turn we judge Him just like the Israelites in the wilderness. We take on the roll of Yahweh and test Him and His motives instead of allowing Him to test us and OURS! We cry justice, JUSTICE when it comes to another’s sin. But for ourselves we want nothing but mercy and an escape.

We have lost the fear and reverence of Yahweh. Even worse than not giving Yahweh the ground of holiness He deserves in our lives is the absence of the prophet in the church. Those who do not prophesy good concerning us as a generation are considered “doom and gloom” prophets! The prophet of the hour who will be heralded speaks a message of comfort and exhortation. Peace and safety! Prosperity and livelihood to our flesh. WHEN WAS THAT EVER YAHWEH’S MESSAGE to a backslidden, apostate people? Of course if we live this passive nature of Yah in our churches, then we are going to have to be tolerant of a world steeped in corruption as well. We cannot proclaim the word of judgment when we ourselves are living a lie!

There has even been an explanation given why we are not to listen to prophets who speak of our destruction. Yahweh has not sent them because He would only send those who speak a word of encouragement. HE DOESN’T HAVE TO SEND THAT WORD, we are doing a good job of deceiving ourselves without His help! This is the word we want to hear and have no problem hearing! I’m okay, you’re okay!

And then I have heard also of the ‘New Testament’ style prophet. This is what the men of our age are all about. You see there is no judgment in the New Testament so we won’t talk of such things. WHAT? Yahshua gave stricter judgment in the New Testament for disobedience than in the old for He taught it to be a HEART issue! Go ahead, read it for yourself in Matthew, chapter 5. He said even the thought of the sin was enough to be in danger of judgment, not just the doing of it. He spoke of a new heart that would rebel against sin, not excuse it! Does Yahshua sin? Of course not, so whose life is ruling in us when we sin?

Now back to the word of comfort the prophets are to speak according to mainstream Christianity. There are four purposes listed in II Timothy, 3:16 for the word of Yahweh. They are for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness! Tell me where comforting and encouraging are listed among these? The scripture used to validate these New Testament ‘style’ prophets is found in I Corinthians 14:3.

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Well, clearly this passage is comparing one gift with another if you read the whole chapter. It is talking about speaking in tongues (edifying yourself) verses speaking to the church (prophesies). Also, this is a discourse about spiritual gifts; we are not talking about an office here! The office of the prophet is supposed to be in the church, where is it? It is part of the five-fold ministry, but non-existent in this day and hour and the call is greatly misunderstood and rejected by the church.

The gift of prophecy can be experienced by anyone who is a believer. The Prophet is a chosen vessel of Yahweh to perform a specific office to the body. He operates in love on the basis that he is required to lay down his life for the message he proclaims. This is not a popular call and one that evokes anger and hostility. He is usually required to suffer the judgments he proclaims and his call is one of bringing Yah’s people to repentance and to embrace truth. As soon as Jezebel spots a prophet, she is off to behead HIM! (Steal His Yah given authority.)

The New Testament style prophet I see in the Bible is John the Baptist (other than Yahshua!). His message was one of rebuke concerning the corruption in the government and the temple! The people who received his message were the humble who feared Yahweh and did repent at the hearing of his word. Those who made way for the coming of Messiah as proclaimed by this ‘New Testament’ prophet were the only ones who received him.

The prophet in the spirit of Elijah will prepare the way again for Yahshua’s return baptizing with fire, so let’s stop this nonsense of appeasing our flesh under the guise of “Thus sayeth the Lord!” If we do not see love in the messages the Old Testament prophets proclaimed, then we are not looking close enough! They wept and lamented over the words they were required to bring. They gave of their lives to live and “be” those messages. This is true love and one we have not come to the reality of. It is the love that fastened Yahshua to the cross. These prophets of old also prophesied restoration. But if we are not willing to proclaim judgment, we will not be used by Yah to proclaim restoration. Not to know His judgment is not to know Him. There is quite often a tearing down before the building up.

The word judgment also means RULE. How can TRUE authority be established without judgment? We have dozens of television shows all showing how criminals are brought to justice. We love it, for inside each one of us is a desire for people to get what they deserve. But Yahweh’s love goes beyond that. His grace is there for us. None of us will ever get what we deserve because of His awesome grace, but consequences will happen and all of us will one day stand before Him.

Let me say it plainly and simply…grace comes to those who REPENT and the prophetic message is one which brings us face to face with our true condition before Him. We cannot run from it or cover it over, TRUTH will surface! A facing of reality is a facing of judgment. Only then can we repent. Only then can we find this grace in its proper use. When we speak of repent, it is not to condemn us for Yahshua took our condemnation and paid the penalty for our treason. The word repent means ‘to turn’ and is for redemption and deliverance from our enemy SIN! It is to save us from ourselves. A turning from sin and the embracing of truth. However, if we do not humble ourselves and align ourselves with the truth, there is only harsh action that can be taken and it is declared by the prophet as a merciful warning. Yahweh is patient and long-suffering, much more so than we deserve. If we do not have a heart of mourning because of sin, then something is terribly wrong!

Rom. 7:24- O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?

I believe it was the “prophetic” nature that burst forth from Yahweh to deal with the very first sin. His first words were, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9) This question was asked to bring Adam into the answer, to offer a chance for a facing of truth and a coming out of hiding. An opportunity for repentance. Excuses were made instead. And Yahweh declared judgment on the serpent first and then the woman and then man. (Gen. 3:14-19)

[Notice that Yahweh did not give the serpent a chance to explain or repent, He just proceeded to pronounce judgment upon him! Judgment puts and END to sin.]

We seem to agree with the punishment befalling criminals, for it is the protection of society. Well with Yahweh, strict consequences are for the same reason, the protection of innocence. An upholding of His righteousness. A world of peace and good that we all cry out for. How then will sin be destroyed if not by Yahweh’s fierce judgment upon it? And if it is NOT destroyed, will it not in turn destroy us?

The Bride has seen the fury of His judgment time and time again in the Bible. Yahweh enlightens us on past judgments. Each episode can be studied as a lesson for us today. His judgment has not passed away, quite the contrary. His judgments will be restored to His house again[5]. We do not know what we are saying when we desire in our hearts to escape them. We are not coming into full Sonship. For a Son of Yahweh will be led by His Spirit to the place he was at the beginning. Ruling with Yahweh, sharing in His authority because they are ONE. This authority will be completely restored to man because of the obedience of the second Adam whose obedience was unto death!

We cannot fully walk in truth we do not submit to. We will have no true kingdom authority if we live a life of disobedience. This tells us who we fear, who we trust and who we serve. There are two kingdoms!

Justice for all, quite a declaration! How many of us really want to receive the justice we deserve? Isn’t this the very reason we hide from Him? We see that we are naked and we are ashamed? But He does not leave us in this condition, but clothes us in His righteousness! What a wonderful, merciful Yahweh He is! No one can judge Him as being unfair for He knows the end from the beginning and the truth from a lie. He knows the heart of man, which is deceitful! Listen to His words and agree with them quickly!

Oh, the depth and the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of Yahweh! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

In the calamity of Job, we shall discover a finding out that few will ever enter into!

Part Four

Job’s Calamity

The book of Job is one that challenges our concept of Yahweh to a great degree. We see in scripture that Yahweh allowed Satan to put his hand to Job’s life and bring the calamity that tore through with ruthlessness. We see that it was actually Yahweh’s suggestion in a sort of test to see if what He was declaring of him could be proven. But was it a testing of Job’s righteousness or his level of trust? I hope to answer that question in this chapter. The devil’s argument was that he will serve you as long as there is a good reason, but what if all you have done for him is taken away, hence the idea of destroying it is born.

To me, that is a hard pill to swallow! Yet the fact is, we are caught between a battle of two forces. Many innocent people have and will die because of this war, Yahshua being one of them (proof that we can ‘give’ our lives or have them taken). How can we come to terms with that in a world where we want everything to be perfect for everyone? How can we see that our lives are much more than everything being perfect? Does Job fear Yahweh for nothing? This was Satan’s question and it is worth considering. So much so that Yahweh let him (Satan) bring calamity upon a man who was so upright that Yah Himself thought of him. There are a few details I want to bring to your attention concerning a testing of this kind.

First of all Yahweh says in verse 8, “Have you considered My servant Job…” Why is this important? It is clear that Job is one who serves Yahweh and not the devil. Only one of this maturity could have a trial of this magnitude placed upon him. It is a testing of Job’s relationship!!! We have this idea being brought up in a mirage of Christian delusion that the world will be the ones whom Yahweh brings great calamity upon and He has destined us to escape these “trials.” If this were true, how do we include the book of Job in our theology? How can a relationship be tested that does not exist? He was said to be ONE who was blameless, upright, one who feared Yahweh and shunned evil. Not only does Job not fit into our puzzle, but also why was Yahshua put to death and all that was allowed to befall Him when He was the only righteous man who ever walked the earth?

Questions, many of them come forth when doing a study like this! I do not pretend to be one who has all the answers, but I believe Yahweh rewards those who diligently seek Him. I still ask like a little child and He reveals in strength and love just like a Father. He has answered many in this study. There was a question asked in the beginning of this book of Job that I see as being the whole lesson. The question was asked by Satan in the ninth verse of chapter one. “Does Job fear Yahweh for nothing?”

In other words, what if it did not benefit him to serve You? This is what the devil was asking. What if the blessings and protection and all that He trusts you for were taken away, he would curse You to Your face! This was the theory Satan wanted to prove. And Yahweh was willing to let him try.

I think it is important to know that this same test will come again. Satan will try to bring our focus to ourselves as he always does. He sees selfishness for it is IN him! He recognizes our flesh originating from dust and was commanded to feed from it (Gen. 3:14). None of us fully realize what we would do if all of what we know to be life was taken away. Our walk with Yahweh should be preparing us for JUST THAT! We may speculate as to how we would react. We may comfort ourselves in reasoning that people, places and things don’t matter, but do they? How do we even know without the test? We are being taught that these things are the way Yah shows His love for us. If you are not ‘getting yours,’ then you must be lacking spiritually…morally…or maybe Yahweh just doesn’t favor you like He does me!

What is even more significant about this whole book is that it is shows Yahweh in a most glorious light. It shows His wisdom far exceeding ours. It shows His purposes far exceeding the futile things we design our lives around. When we face a fiery trial, we act as judge instead of ‘the judged.’ We judge Yahweh and His motives instead of ourselves. We seem more concerned with how we look rather than glorifying Yahweh. Do we glorify Him when we are tried? Is He still worthy of our worship? Do we focus on the war or only the injury of the battle?

One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” This is the level of trust it will take to restore a broken covenant. If we could understand everything that happens to us, we would be as Yah. We are not gods. We do not know. Our best assumption may contain wisdom, but be as wrong as that of Job’s friends. Judgment is not always a result of cause and effect. Judgment is sometimes the result of a war fought between good and evil. Who do we want to win? Is the victory worth our temporary discomfort and pain? Can we stand to lose our ‘righteousness’ to gain His? Are we willing to ‘look bad’ so that He can be just? Judgment is most always a glorifying of Yahweh, though it seems to be the opposite. A declaration of Him to be the only truth. Things are never what they ‘seem’ to be in spiritual reality. Do we believe Yahweh to be truth even when we are put to the test? Is this relationship all our lives will be founded on when the test is all over?

I thought it was interesting that Yahweh gave power to Satan by lifting a ‘hedge’ of protection for this could never have been penetrated without Yahweh’s permission.

Job 1:10- "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Satan recognizes what Yah is doing on our behalf sometimes more than WE DO! Although we would be the first to cry out when our lives are touched by the enemy, we are often not aware of the protection, provision, and blessings that Yah has already established in our lives. These things also come through ‘obedience’ to His word! Living out His ways has its reward, but let’s not be duped into believing that anyone could ever achieve all Yah has done for us by His own spiritual stature for this is self-righteousness in disguise as Job finds out at the end. It is only by the blood of Yahshua that we live a new life in the spirit and only by His life in us that we are awakened to righteousness.

This also places a concept to the forefront of my mind concerning Yah’s purposes. When something is an issue of Yahweh’s purposes, our ‘here and now’ life may have to suffer great loss. As I stated in Part Two, The Perspective, an eternal purpose must take higher precedence over a temporary existence. Yah thinks in the eternal and will destroy that which does not serve His purpose in order to uphold it. Judgment destroys every opposing force. Yet, we will see His love for His people in all of His eternal purposes, so this is where we must look. And if we look close enough, He will show us that what we cling to and trust now yields nothing. It is better to know this now before we are faced with eternity. This thought brings us to the next part, which will review the story of Lazarus with an eye opening account of how even death was allowed for the ‘purpose’ of glorifying Yah.

At the end of the book, it says that Job repented in dust and ashes.

Job42:2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'

5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."

He abhorred himself. That word means to loathe, dislike intensely. Judgment will bring us into this same kind of repentance. What selfishness…what pride…oh how significant we think we are! How wise and self-righteous! Is our relationship with Yahweh all that is of value to us? The truth will be discovered soon enough. Now is the time to find out and not when the doors of eternity have opened to invite us in. The relationship with Yahweh changes to one of ‘seeing’ rather than a second hand ‘hearing’ (verse 5 above). Judgment will bring us to a place of seeing Our Yahweh Elohim in the light of His holiness. But to behold His glory is to repent in dust and ashes for we are so far away from it. This is the proper place Yahweh deserves in our lives. Coming before Him with a humility that recognizes His sovereignty and holiness. Recognizing Him to be Yah and us, His servants.

A true relationship is strengthened under the worst of circumstances and true righteousness will be brought forth under the same. It is not enough to do right because of the reward. We must do right because of the relationship. There will always come a death of selfish love in a relationship in order for it to mature into ‘selfless’ love. This is YHWH glory. His selfless love. It is seen under the worst of circumstances for this is the only way it can be seen. While betrayed, forsaken, and cast off, a love poured forth from Yahshua of the purest kind. It cannot be imitated by the false image and it will be that which brings forth the “one new man.” For it cannot be lived except we abide in Him and obey His word, which is our blueprint. The Way, The Truth and The Life.

Can we hold fast to this love until the end? Will we allow this kind of love to transform us into the same? Let’s continue on to look at another testing that I am sure in my spirit that the church will face very soon.

A coming forth of new life from the tomb and stench of death.

Part Five

Lazarus, Come Forth

I find this story in the Bible to be loaded with revelation pertaining to end time prophecy and where we are as a body when it comes to HIS purposes. Most of us would shudder to think that a person would have to die and Yahshua disappoint someone who trusted in Him in order to carry out Yahweh’s will.

‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him’ is the place in the spirit we must journey to.

The scripture reference I will use comes from John, chapter 11, beginning with verse 1. This is a beautiful picture of how judgment will be seen in its proper perspective when resurrection life is brought into the physical realm. (I will not print out the entire chapter, but I highly recommend reading it on your own.)

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

First of all, Lazarus was Mary’s brother. The same Mary who anointed Yahshua and wept at His feet. The same Mary who poured the fragrant oil from the alabaster box. Her brother was sick. So why are these details important? Scripture makes it clear that this is not just another person who wants a miracle; this is someone who has a personal relationship with Yahshua. Someone who loves Him. Someone who worships Him. Someone who understands salvation. I believe this eludes us to Mary being a type or shadow of “the church.”

The message is sent by the sisters, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

This gives us insight into our partial understanding of love as a church. In other words, since you love Lazarus…won’t you come and heal him? This is the only response we see that love could have, right? Come immediately and prevent his death. Save his life. But is this what the King of Love does?

No. Yahshua does something altogether different! He gives a resounding declaration of the purpose of Yah instead.

"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Everything Yahshua is being about this purpose, Yahshua stays two more days. May I present to your mind the following thought? What Yahshua is talking about here in verse 4 is not just about a dieing Lazarus, but a soul sickness infecting all humanity. It will indeed result in the death of our flesh, but Yahweh’s greater purpose is the salvation of our souls. This is the ultimate love that reaches into a dimension that the carnal mind cannot enter.

Many in the following verses (7-16) tried to figure out what Yahshua’s plans were (which were not His own). They could not break free from a carnal understanding to see why He would allow Lazarus to die or how that would glorify The Son or The Father. They struggled with the understanding of this greater purpose that would manifest His authority over death. In modern expression…they had NO CLUE what was going on! And in many cases neither do we. What was Yahshua saying, that He could reach into the ‘here and now’ with resurrection life? Let’s look and see, but first one more point about love.

Doesn’t it look as if verse 5 is out of place?

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

This is amazing to me that Yahweh would include in this story before any assumptions could be made that Yahshua did indeed LOVE Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Many times He also must affirm to us His love when all that happens in this life seems contrary to that truth. It was not a lack of concern that kept Yahshua from coming in time to heal Lazarus; it wasn’t an oversight on His part as to how fast Lazarus could slip away. This account happened the way it did because it was Yahweh’s purpose.

How can we see His power over death, if we do not first see death? How do we see His healing power if we do not first become sick? How do we see His protection when we do not face any danger? Yahweh will manifest and reveal Himself when we are faced with the emptiness of who we are without Him. Our soul sickness will cause death to each and every one of us.

Eccl. 3:20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

On the sixth day, this is when Lazarus was called out of his tomb (sick two days Jn. 11:1-6, and dead four days 14, 39). Noah was 600 years old when the flood came (Gen. 7:11-12). After six days, Moses was called up to mount Sinai to be in the presence of YHWH (Ex. 24:13-18). After six days, Yahshua took His disciples, Peter, James and John up to a high mountain to be transfigured before them (Mat. 17:1-4)[6]. Six is the number of man.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Heb 9:27

So you see, resurrection life can only exist in the areas of your life where sin exists no more for it has been judged and you are redeemed. He will reach into your tomb of death and hopelessness and CALL FORTH life! After the “sixth” day, we will enter into His rest and what a rest that will be!

What the enemy meant to destroy us though sin will actually turn out to be that which propels us toward Our Savior and greater dependence. The life we have here now is only to discover the value of the one to come.

So, this is a story of our destiny and Yahweh’s plan. He will allow a thing to die, just as the flower will fade away only to drop more seeds to the ground. A leaf will dry and blow away with the wind, but eyes that can see will await the miracle of a new leaf springing forth in its place. What we think is the end is not because with Yahweh there is no end. There is only a passing from one dimension to another. This story is an account of Yahshua’s power over death– the power of eternity over the temporal.

Let’s look at Mary’s response to Yahshua when He shows up several days later.

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."

She is a type of church if you can see it in this light. What she is in essence saying is that she knows of His power over death. Where she is lacking is in the knowing of His purposes. His purposes may not always meet our personal and temporary needs, but they will meet our eternal ones. She is upset because it seems as if He deliberately delayed His coming and she feels betrayed. I would like to stimulate in your thinking that a similar reaction will take place with the church when the tribulation begins and Yahshua has not ‘raptured’ them away. Many will not understand until they see Him display His power as ‘resurrection’ life! We do not see that all we are must die in order for life after death to exist. This life goes beyond what we are living now.

(Another side note: Notice Mary’s response when she first heard Yahshua was in town. She was angry and did not even come out to meet Him. It wasn’t until Martha told her that He was asking for her that she came out. Think about how that parallels the church of this hour!)

Yahshua displayed the power to destroy the works of the enemy! The works of the enemy are death, destruction and loss.

Do not see Yahweh as this awful God who has no compassion. In verse 35 it says “Yahshua wept.” It is my understanding that this weeping was not as a result of Lazarus death because Yahshua was about to bring him back to life. I believe this groaning in the spirit and this ‘distress’ that brought Our Savior to tears was a result of the lack of trust we have in Him. A blindness to His purposes. An indifference to bringing Him glory. He weeps because of how little we understand Him and His ways. I believe Yahweh will take this same disposition during the great tribulation. Many will doubt His love even though He has proven it over and over again. Many will misunderstand His delay. And many will place this temporary life over the one to come. Many will not see