“I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE” Hebrews 13: 5

A MESSAGE FOR THE NEW DECADE AND THE NEW YEAR

The old Year of 2010 and first Decade of 21^st Century are about to enter into eternity and be a part of history. The first Decade of the 21^st Century will be a historical one which will not be soon forgotten. During this first Decade the world experienced various wars, including drug wars and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The manufacturing of Biological and Chemical weapons in certain countries, including North Korea, posed a real threat to neighbouring countries and to the world. These Biological and Chemical weapons will continue to be a threat to the entire world as we embark upon the second Decade. There were the great disasters and calamities, including the great tsunami in S E Asia, hurricanes, storms and snow storms, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, great floods, land slides and giant sink holes in some countries.

Terrorism and mass killings became more widespread, beginning with 9/11 in the USA in 2001. Large numbers of people in many countries including England, Spain and Bali lost their lives or were maimed because of terrorism.

The Decade saw inflation at an all time high and very high fuel cost. Toward the end of the Decade there was the Global Credit Crunch, the financial downturn, the collapse of many banks and financial enterprises, foreclosures, bankruptcy, job losses and unemployment. Due to the great economic downturn, job losses and unemployment, untold numbers of people have become victims to abject poverty. Likewise, certain countries in the European Union have had to borrow billions of Euros to sure up their economy.

There were also extreme weather patterns and artic conditions in many countries, reaching as far as to some Caribbean islands. Fraudulent practices including Internet frauds became more sophisticated and wide spread, with the robbers and fraudsters being more and more brazen. The crime rate and murders increased in some countries, especially in the area of the illegal drugs trade. Deadly viruses resulting in the Chicken Flu, Swine Flu and other severe forms of Flu afflicted great numbers around the world and caused many deaths.

The final Year of the Decade, 2010, will be a memorable one because of the great disasters in many countries including the severe earthquake in Haiti. There were the volcanoes beginning with the volcano in Iceland, cyclones, storms, hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines, fires; the great oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, mountains of snow and freezing conditions in many countries and chaotic travelling conditions by air, sea and land. In particular, travel by air has been most affected causing thousands to be stranded at airports for long periods of time because of heavy snow and freezing conditions.

Almost every part of the world has experienced troubles this past Decade. The disasters have crisscrossed the world from China to Chile, from Australia to Africa, from the East Indies to the West Indies, from India to Israel, from Indonesia to Ireland, from Russia to Romania, from Pakistan to Peru.

Untold numbers of people and livestock have perished from the numerous disasters and much property have been lost and lives and livelihoods ruined. Many who were financially secure have lost that security and many, young and old, who thought life was in their favour, have perished in the numerous disasters.

During this first Decade of the 21^st Century, the slavery, persecution and martyrdom of Christians in many lands escalated. Likewise, many other minorities suffered similar fates. Secularism and the various “isms” became more widespread in many countries. Here in the UK, same sex marriages were legalised and civil marriages made law. Christian voices were muzzled and Christian values outlawed; the wearing of a Cross as a symbol of ones belief, as well as praying for a person in the work place, were made an offence with dire consequences and severe disciplinary actions for those who did. On the other hand, there were no restrictions on non-Christian faith groups in what they wore and did, except in the case of terrorism.

In spite of the negative attitude toward those who love and serve Yahushua Ha Mashiach, there has been a proliferation of the Christian TV Channels as satellites beam Messages of Yahushua’s love and saving grace across the world continuously. The Internet and certain radio stations also carry the Good News of Salvation so that Yahushua’s Commission in Matthew 28: 19,20 and Mark 16: 15-18, is being fulfilled and obeyed as more and more people come to know and accept Yahushua as their Saviour.

The First Decade of the 21^st Century will close and pass into eternity in a few hours time. By Yahushua’s grace, those who will be blessed to see the dawn of the second Decade will wonder what it holds. There will be much revelling and celebration in many countries as the old Decade and Year go and the new Decade and Year are welcomed in. In spite of the celebrations, troubling questions will still be upon the minds of the vast majority of people in the world.

Some of those worrying questions will be: Will conditions be better around the world or will they get worse? Will the great disasters end and will it get better financially for the vast majority who are suffering from financial hardships?? Will there be enough food to feed the nations because the great disasters have ruined the food stuff in many countries, including Russia and parts of the USA and Australia, some of the main food baskets for the world? Then there is the question of employment. Will there be employment for the unemployed and for those coming on jobs market?? What of those who are in employment, will their jobs be secure? Will oil prices which are at an all time high continue to rise?? People are very worried because there is the fear that many business people will not be able to afford the needed fuel to operate their businesses. Likewise, travelling will become more and more unaffordable, even to get to and from places of work.

The outlook is grim and the fears are real. The real question, however, remains: Will things ever get better as we enter the New Decade? Will the economic down turn and high inflation return to the pre-Credit Crunch era? Will there be an end to the terrorism and suicide bombings?? Sadly, the answer is NO!! Based upon the Word of our Elohim, THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE!! Conditions will worsen around the world and the disasters will increase. Governments will try to make it better for their people but no one and no government can stop what is happening or what is coming upon the world. These things are beyond human control. MAN IS HELPLESS!!

The only HOPE for the nations and for this world, is in our Saviour, YAHUSHUA Ha MASHIACH!! HE ALONE HAS THE ANSWER FOR THIS TROUBLED WORLD!! He Knew this time would come and gave the prophecy in Daniel Chapter 12: 1-3:

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ² And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever”.

While Yahushua was upon the earth He also spoke about these times. One such Prophecy is found in Luke 21:

“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven… ¹⁷ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake....²⁵ And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken”.

The conditions which are upon the earth and for which no man has the answer, will get far worse because according to Yahushua’s Word, THESE ARE THE END TIMES!! It is only His return to this world will bring an end to the great disasters and the terrible and frightening conditions which are prevailing. Thus He gives us the admonition in Luke 21: 28:

“²⁸ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.

We have hope of deliverance and hope for a better future with Yahushua our Saviour, for He has given us the assurance in Luke 21: 27:

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”.

Do we know when King Yahushua will return and bring us deliverance?? The answer is NO. Only Yahweh, our Father, knows the time of Yahushua’s return to this world (Matthew 24:36). However, Yahushua tells us how we will know when His coming is near. He says in Luke 21:28:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.

As the second Decade of the 21^st Century dawns, let us heed the admonition Yahushua gave in Matthew 24: 44:

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”.

We may be blessed to see His return at any time during this second Decade. Likewise, we could leave this world at anytime because this present life is uncertain. Neither Yahushua’s return to this world or our deaths should cause us to worry or fear. Yahushua has long paid the price for our sins and redeemed us by His sufferings, shed blood and death upon the Cross almost two thousand years ago. Thus we have the wonderful assurance in John 3: 16, 17:

“¹⁶ For [Yahweh] God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For [Elohim Yahweh] God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.

These are Yahweh's words of assurance to us. Let us heed them and commit our lives fully to Him and be ready at all times to meet Yahushua, our Saviour and King because our Salvation is assured.

As the New Decade and the New Year of 2011 dawn upon the world, let us place our lives in the care of our Elohim and allow the Ruach Ha Kodesh to lead, guide, help and direct us. We do not know what the days ahead hold, however, we have an Elohim Who is omniscient and knows the beginning from the end. He knows everything so we can trust Him to be with us each new day that He will bless us with in this world. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL BE SPARED THE TRIALS AND TROUBLES OF LIFE. However, we have the assurance in Hebrews 13: 5:

“I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE”

Our Elohim will be with us, so let us TRUST HIM TO BE WITH US in 2011 and every day that He will bless us with in this new Decade. MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET US BE READY TO GO HOME TO BE WITH HIM AND TO SPEND THE REST OF ETERNITY WITH HIM.

My prayer for you is:

May “the very [Elohim] God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray [Yahweh Elohim] God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our [Adon Yahushua Ha Mashiach] Lord Jesus Christ”. 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW DECADE AND NEW YEAR!!

NB: Scriptures used in the Post are taken from the KJV of the Bible.

“HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE”!!

In Matthew 1: 21, we read:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name YAHUSHUA for he shall save his people from their sins”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

The angel spoke these words of assurance to Joseph, who was engaged to be married to the virgin Mary, when he found out she was with child. For a young woman to be with child when engaged, or before being engaged, was a disgraceful thing in Israel and was punishable by death. Thus when Joseph found out that the young woman to whom he was engaged was pregnant, it was a very serious matter. Mary’s pregnancy, however, was not because of promiscuity or unfaithfulness. It was a divine act!!

In a dream the angel spoke to Joseph, whom Elohim had ordained to be the earthly guardian and custodian of the Holy Child, and told him that the Ruach Ha Kodesh had implanted the Holy Seed in the womb of the virgin Mary. The angel also told Joseph the Name by which the Holy Child was to be called and the reason for the Name. He told him:

“thou shalt call his name YAHUSHUA: for he shall save his people from their sins”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

Yahushua, or YAHWEH SHUA, came to this world for a specific purpose, to “save His people from their sins”. The Child that Mary was carrying in her womb was to be no ordinary child. He was to be the Saviour of the world and to “save His people from their sins”. This Holy Child in the womb of the virgin Mary was not conceived because of any human action. He was conceived by the Ruach Ha Kodesh, the Third Member of the Godhead, Elohim Himself!!

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she had found favour with Elohim and would conceive and bear a Son, whom she should call YAHUSHUA, she was shocked because she was still a virgin (Unknown to her, she had been specifically chosen by Elohim to bear the Holy Child, the Saviour of the world). She enquired of the angel, how it could be since she was still unmarried. The answer the angel gave to her was:

“The Holy Ghost, the Ruach Ha Kodesh, shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of Yahweh”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

The Ruach Ha Kodesh implanted the Holy Seed in Mary’s womb. But why did the Ruach Ha Kodesh have to play that special role? And why was the “holy thing” to be called the “Son of Yahweh”? This was because Yahweh, the Second Person of the Godhead, the King of Glory and Creator, had chosen to give up His throne in Heaven and come to this world of sin and shame in order to redeem and rescue mankind from the curse of sin and death. Most importantly, He did so to redeem the spirit (spirit and soul, the true person which never dies) of the human race from hell when they die (Luke 16: 19-31) and from eternal punishment in the lake of fire and Brimstone, along with Satan and his hosts, in the final Judgment ahead of this world (Revelation 20: 7-15).

Yahweh Shua, Yahushua, Elohim Himself, HAD to come to this world in human form to be our Saviour. No created being could have done that work, not even an archangel. It had to be done by the Creator Himself, Yahweh, the Second Person in the Godhead, because He had to engage in battle with an evil fallen angel, Satan, who had been in Heaven and had caused rebellion and war there. Satan’s name was Lucifer before he was cast out of Heaven. So powerful and influential was Lucifer, that he won a third of the angelic host. It was a very a vicious war because Lucifer was determined to win the war and take over as the Ruler of Heaven. Concerning this battle we read in Revelation 12: 7-9:

“7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”.

Satan lost the war and was cast out of Heaven. When he was cast out, there was rejoicing in Heaven, as we read in Revelation 12: 10-12:

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our Elohim, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our Elohim day and night. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

That, however, was not the end of the story because the lament also went up in Heaven on behalf of the inhabitants of Planet Earth. Concerning this we read in Revelation 12:

“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time”.

Once Satan came to this world, along with his demons who had been cast out of Heaven with him, he began his onslaught on the human race. The first thing he did was to deceive Eve who succumbed to his deception and sinned by eating the for bidden fruits which Elohim had told them not to touch nor eat. Adam, her husband, also succumbed to the same sin, though he was not deceived. His sin was a deliberate act!! Their sin gave Satan the opportunity he needed to usurp this world and take control away from Adam and Eve. He had not won the war in Heaven but through deception, he took this world easily.

The sin of Adam and Eve sinned automatically brought permanent separation between themselves and their Elohim Who is pure and holy. Their sin also incurred the penalty of DEATH. Sadly, because of their sin, the curse of sin and death and all the woes of this world passed on to the entire human race. Thus all have sinned and come short of Yahweh's glory (Romans 3: 23).

Satan made himself the god of this world, with the human race under his control. They needed a Redeemer!! The ONLY Person who could take on such an assignment, was the Creator Himself, Yahweh, the Second Person in the Godhead. No created being could take on the evil, hateful, wicked and vicious Satan, who was not afraid to make war in Heaven and whose influence had won him a Third of the angelic host.

The task to deliver the human race and the price which had to be paid to do so was very great. Yahushua, the Creator, decided to take up that unenviable role before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1: 20; Revelation 13:8). Thus when Adam and Eve sinned, the plan was already in place to rescue the human race from Satan, the Adversary. From that time until Yahushua came to this world four thousand years later, there were many prophecies about Him and His work of redemption. Among those prophecies were:

• Genesis 3: 15:

“…and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”.

• Isaiah 7: 14:

“Therefore Adonai himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

• Isaiah 9: 6:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty Elohim, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

The place where Yahushua was to be born was also prophesied:

Micah 5: 2:

“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”.

Four thousand years after the curse of sin came into this world, the time came for Yahushua, the promised Saviour, to come to this world and rescue mankind. Concerning this we read in Galatians 4:4:

“. . . but when the fulness of the time was come, Yahweh sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

And John 3: 16,17:

“For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For Yahweh sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

Just over two thousand years ago Yahushua, our Creator, Saviour and King, came to this world as a humbly and innocent Babe. He could have come in His splendour and awesome Majesty and have the world fall down before Him but He chose not to do so. Instead, He came as a helpless Baby, into the family of a poor Jewish couple. He could have chosen to be born in a king’s palace but He chose a lowly stable, which He shared with the animals.

For the first thirty years of His life Yahushua lived a quiet and humble life until the He began His earthly ministry, in preparation for the great sacrifice He would make on behalf of the human race. That sacrifice was to shed His blood and die for the entire human race; and that was the main purpose why He came to this world. He laboured and blessed this world through the works He did, including His teachings, mighty miracles and love for the human race. Finally, He suffered as no other person had ever suffered, and willingly died the most shameful of deaths upon the torture stake - the cross. By His suffering and death He won the war against Satan and sealed the redemption of mankind.

The cruel death of Yahushua upon that cross at Calvary almost two thousand years ago, fulfilled the angel’s prophecy to Joseph in Matthew 1:21:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name YAHUSHUA for he shall save his people from their sins”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

Thank our loving Saviour, Yahushua, that He was not afraid to come to this world and with His own blood paid the awful price for our redemption. We are thankful that His death was not the end of Him!! Three days later He, our victorious Saviour and King, arose from the grave and gained the victory over death and the grave!! Forty days later after His resurrection, He returned to Heaven to intercede before Yahweh, the Father, on behalf of the human race and to prepare a place for those who down through the ages and up to the time of His return, would accept His love and sacrifice for them and make Him their Adon and Saviour (Hebrews 7:25; John 14: 1-3).

Soon our blessed Saviour, Yahushua, will return for His children in fulfilment of His promise in John 14: 1-3:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”.

(Apologies for changes to KJV.)

We thank our loving Elohim:

• Yahweh, our Father, for taking on the role of a Father and sending Yahushua into this world to suffer and die in our place.

• The Ruach Ha Kodesh, for His role in planting the Holy Seed into the womb of the virgin Mary, for watching over her and caring for her; for the safe delivery of the Baby Yahushua into this world and for being with Him throughout His life. Likewise we are thankful to Him for the mighty works He performed through Yahushua, who had laid aside His divinity and was fully human with human limitations (Luke 4: 14-18). (Apologies for changes to KJV)

• Yahushua Ha Mashiach, for His unselfish love and His suffering and death for us; whereby He redeemed us, the human race from the curse of sin and death and secured for us a place with Him in Heaven and a permanent home in the new earth; which He will create after this old, sinful and polluted world is cleansed by molten fire, following the final judgment. At that time King Yahushua will live and dwell with His redeemed children forever. When by His grace, He returns for ALL His children who made Him their Saviour and Adon, and take them to Glory with Him, then will come to pass the prophecy in Isaiah 53:11:

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied”

King Yahushua will indeed “be satisfied” when all His children are gathered home with Him in Heaven and in the new earth. Hence before the foundation of the world, He looked down the passage of time and beyond the ravages of sin to that time when they would be with Him forever. The “travail of His soul”- the pain of sin and His own suffering at the hand of Satan and his demons will be WORTH IT ALL!!

As we celebrate this wonderful time of year, the Birth of Yahushua, our loving Saviour, let us keep before us His imminent return to take His people from every kindred, nation tribe and tongue to be with Him. At that time there will be great rejoicing throughout Heaven which will continue in the new earth. How wonderful, THE REDEEMED OF EARTH will be the reason for that great rejoicing!! LET US BE READY AND WAITING for His coming and heed Yahushua’s admonition in Matthew 24:44:

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”.

YAHUSHUA HAS REDEEMED US. HE HAS SAVED HIS PEOPLE!! THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS AND WHY TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO HE CAME FROM HEAVEN TO THIS WORLD RIDDLED WITH SIN AND SHAME!!

Have a wonderful time as you remember the Birth of our loving Saviour. Please be faithful and keep before you His soon return . IT COULD BE AT ANY TIME!!

NB: The Scriptures used in this Post are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

IS THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH IMPORTANT TO ELOHIM?

Recently a question was sent into one of the Christian Channels enquiring if worship on the Seventh Day Sabbath was important. The reply was very evasive. Knowing what is written in Yahweh's Word concerning His Holy Day, it played upon my mind. Later I wrote to the Channel in question. The following is what I wrote:

Shalom! Greetings in the precious Name of Yahushua Ha Mashiach, our loving Saviour and soon coming King.

Today as I was in the kitchen preparing for the Sabbath, I had your Channel on and heard the question that was sent in by a lady enquiring if it was important to observe the Sabbath. The first answer you gave was: “No”. [Further comments were made in a attempt to answer the question which to me were not satisfactory]. . . . I noticed that you made mention of the fact that the question comes back from time to time. Please be aware that the Question is repeated because people genuinely want to know if it is important to observe the Sabbath and if it is required by our Elohim.

My reason for writing is that when it comes to the Word of our Elohim, Yahweh’s

Word is explicit. Many who contact your Channel are seeking for guidelines and are seeking definite answers to their questions. You are the servants of Elohim and they are looking to you to help, teach and guide them in their spiritual walk with their Elohim. For many of them, you are the only ones from whom they seek answers to their questions. You are watchmen for our Elohim and He is depending on you to teach, lead and warn His children (Ezekiel 33). Please understand that if you give evasive answers, He will hold you responsible because you are His “watchmen” to great numbers of people.

…. If you had been asked if it is important NOT to kill, steal or commit adultery; you would have had a ready answer and without any hesitation you would have replied that killing, stealing and committing adultery are wrong and against God’s Law”.

Please remember that the Sabbath is also one of Yahweh's commandments in His Law of Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 3- 17). His Law of Ten Commandments was the only Law He wrote with His own finger on tablets of stone (Exodus 31: 18) out of the Six Hundred and Thirteen Laws He gave to Moses, His servant. It was not only for the children of Israel but for all His children up to the return of Yahushua. Describing Yahweh's Law, the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 19:7:

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”

Please note that the Sabbath was instituted from the very inception of this world, at the end of the Creation Week. Yahweh specifically created it for “REST” and WORSHIP. Concerning this we read in Genesis 2: 1-3:

“1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day [Elohim] God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And [Yahweh] God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which [Elohim] God created and made”.

It is the ONLY DAY which Yahweh “blessed” and “sanctified”. The Sabbath was instituted at the end of the Creation Week, long before there was a Jew in existence.

Three thousand years after Yahweh made the Sabbath Day, He came down to this world upon Mount Sinai. There He spoke aloud the Law of Ten Commandments, including the Fourth Commandment, in the hearing of the children of Israel. He told them that they were to remember to keep His Sabbath holy. He wrote this Law of Ten Commandments with His own finger on tables of stone. The Sabbath Commandment is the only commandment among the Ten in which Yahweh says:

“8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and [Elohim] God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 for in six days [Yahweh] the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore [Yahweh] the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it”. Exodus 20: 8-11:

The Sabbath is a constant reminder that Yahweh alone is the CREATOR and SOVEREIGN, with Heaven and Earth as His domain. It is also the ONLY Commandment that has His SIGN and Seal that He is our Elohim (Ezekiel 20:20).

Due to the fact that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt and were unable to observe the Sabbath, one of the first things Yahweh taught them after their deliverance from slavery, was the importance of observing His holy Sabbath Day. He used the manna He gave them to teach them this important lesson. They were given manna for six days and none on Sabbaths for forty years (Exodus 16). When one man defied Elohim and went to collect wood on the Sabbath, he was stoned to death upon Yahweh's command for desecrating the Sabbath. The drastic sentence was to teach the children of Israel that Yahweh’s holy Sabbath Day was to be kept holy (Numbers 15: 32-36).

During the time of Nehemiah, the children of Israel were desecrating the Sabbath by selling their wares and he spoke to the nobles and leaders about it. He asked them:

“Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?. . . Now you are bringing even more wrath upon the people of Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!” Nehemiah 13:17, 18.

He took action against them and had the gates shut during the Sabbath hours so that they could not trade (Nehemiah 13: 15-22).

We also read that in 2 Chronicles 36: 20, 21, that many of the children of Israel who were not killed went into captivity for seventy years, while the land “enjoyed” her “sabbaths”.

No law or commandment of Elohim Yahweh will save anyone. It is the grace of Yahushua by which we are saved (Ephesians 2:8). Obeying His Word, however, is very important. As His children who are looking and waiting for the return of our loving Saviour, Yahushua Ha Mashiach, we should obey Him out of love for Him because He says in John 14: 15:

“If ye love me, keep my commandments”.

Yahushua, while He was here upon earth set us the example and kept the Sabbath (Luke 4: 16).

At His return for His children at His second coming, upon their return with Him to Heaven; it will be obedience to Yahweh's Commandments which will be their Passport into the Kingdom of Glory. Concerning this we are told in Revelation 22: 14:

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city”.

Keeping the “commandments” includes the keeping of the fourth Commandment, the Seventh Day Sabbath. When Yahushua returns to this world a thousand years later and convenes the final judgment (Revelation 20), cleanses the world with fire and creates the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21; Isaiah 65: 17-25) for His redeemed children; they will worship Him on His holy Sabbath day, as we read in Isaiah 66: 22,23:

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith [Adonai] the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 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 [Yahweh] the Lord”.

Yahushua’s grace is great and because of His love and grace, countless numbers will be saved who have never kept the Sabbath. However, more and more people are coming to know about it and want to know about its observance. When they enquire about it, we should not be afraid to tell them what Yahweh's Word says on the matter. HIS WORD IS FINAL!! The people will then be able to make an intelligent decision whether or not to obey and worship Him on His Holy Day, as you also do. It will be a matter between them and their Elohim. LET’S NOT RATIONALISE WITH THE WORD OF YAHWEH AS SO MANY DO!! THE ANSWERS ARE IN HIS WORD, THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, so give them a “THUS SAITH ELOHIM”!! ….

NB Scriptures used in this Blogger is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.