Sunday, October 25, 2009

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

October 23, 1999

"Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice: 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?' And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals" (Rev.5:2-5).

The strong angel was looking for the one qualified to open, read, or even look at the scroll. In the last couple of weeks we looked at some of the legal requirements incumbent upon a redeemer regarding that scroll. It seems almost inconceivable that no one in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, could be found. John was so shattered over this that he fell on his face and wept. But then one of the elders comforted him and told him not to weep, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has succeeded in fulfilling all the requirements written on the scroll. It was He who was now able to loose the seals and to disclose the text written on the other side. What was it that was written there? What are the property rights?

Before getting into this, let's take a moment to listen and to view the courtroom scene of heaven, which is here before us. The Father Yahoveh is sitting on the judgement seat, with a scroll in His right hand: there are angels, four living creatures, twenty four elders and a myriad of other angels all around. But those are not the only ones present in this courtroom. We hear the proclamation about the Lion of the tribe of Judah. But lo and behold! Instead of a Lion we see a Lamb who looks as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes. What a grotesque animal! Is there some confusion here? No! As we watch this slain, sacrificial lamb go up to the Father and take the scroll out of His right hand, all those around the throne fall down and begin to SING A NEW SONG: "You are worthy, you have succeeded, you have prevailed, you did it, you qualified (according to all that was written on that legal document)! You have redeemed us and saved us from the wrathful judgements of Yahoveh. But not that only, you are also making us into a royal priesthood, a holy nation."

Who, we might ask, is the "us" referring to? Just the four living creatures and the twenty four elders? They were already in the heavenly courtroom sitting on thrones, dressed in white garments with crowns on their heads. Why were they not qualified to take the scroll and open the seals? Were they not of import and stature? However, whatever righteousness they attained through their faithfulness to Yahoveh, they still saw themselves as part of the redeemed of the Lamb. Something greater has taken place. So awesome was this work that they fell down and cast their crowns before the throne of Yahoveh, and sang a new song! But who else was to be redeemed by this lamb? It was the "us" from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. But who are those?

Remember that there were two sides to the scroll. On the one side were specified the qualification of the redeemer, and on the other side was the description of the inheritance. Whose inheritance? The Father's inheritance, which was made up of those who were to be redeemed. Therefore, it is their names that were written on the scroll. These are the ones who are to become kings and priests unto our Elohim, and they shall reign on the earth. Yes, it is hard to believe that the redeemed were foreordained, predestined, according to the will of the Father and inscribed on the scroll, and that this legal document was already written before the foundations of the earth. We all have this document in our library. It is called the Holy ("set apart") Scriptures. However, it is sealed with seven seals, so as to make it not entirely comprehensible. Not only are there seals, but there are also veils over our minds, which block our understanding. Only Yahoshua can open the seals and lift the veils, just as He did to the two men on the road to Emmaus, or to the Ethiopian eunuch. Therefore, as long as we see through a glass darkly we need to pray: "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your [legal document] the Torah" (Psa.119:18).

Back to those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life from the foundation of the earth. Do the Scriptures give us any indication as to who they might be? Well, for one thing the Redeemer would have had to be of the same family, a kinsman redeemer or an elder (first born brother). Yahoshua was of the family of David, of the tribe of Judah, son of Jacob. These people, therefore, would have to be of his family, and would have to have a calling to become a kingly-priestly nation (as was promised). There is only one nation that had that calling upon it - Israel. These people become Yahoveh's inheritance by fulfilling the statute of first fruit, or first born. Since the latter, according to the Torah ordinance, all belong to God, Israel was declared to be Yahoveh's first born nation. They were His inheritance. The redeemed, Israel, having been extracted from every tribe and nation, would have needed to be sown and mixed into all these people groups on the face of the earth. They would also have to be those returning to Zion: " Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion and come with singing…." Will they be singing this new song?

Did not Yahoveh see to the scattering and dispersion of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob into all nations? There is not any one skin color, eye color or hair texture that characterizes them. Only two attributes identify them: the faith of their father Abraham and a love for the Torah (see Rom 4:16). Oh yes, and one more… their names are written on the scroll.

Ephraim

The redeemed of the Lord shall come with singing: "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb, the All Mighty’s prevailing right hand, to take the two families of Judah and Ephraim and make them one in the land."

SEEK FIRST

Oct. 9, 1999
Last week marked the beginning reading of the Torah, as once again the yearly cycle, according to traditional Judaism, starts. It is believed that at the time of Yeshua the Torah was read in a three-year cycle. But whether it was read through in the course of a year, or in three makes little difference if one does not understand what these Divine Scriptures say. Yeshua said, "if you don't believe Moses how will you believe me, for he spoke of Me?" (John 5:46). And when Paul went out to the nations, he too went to teach and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and Yeshua from the Torah and the Prophets (see Acts 28:23).

One of Yeshua's greatest dissertations, or explanations of the Torah, can be found in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7. He did not lay down rules and regulations, but rather explained the very nature and heart of the Torah. That is to say, the nature of the new creation life that was to be written on the heart of the New Covenant redeemed Israelites. Within the context of the teaching He taught His disciples to pray: "Our Father", as a point of personal family identity (both as an Israelite and as an individual). "Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not recognize us. You, YHVH are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name" (Isaiah 63:16). "But now, YHVH, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Next, Yeshua tells us that our Father is in the heavens. Please note the plurality of heavens. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me" (Psa.139:7-10). Then Yeshua sanctifies the name of our Father, acknowledging not just the 'letter of the name', but the very nature of His name - "Holiness", set apart. After giving glory to the Father, He sets in order the priorities, first and foremost His Father's Kingdom and His will; "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done". Where? “On earth as it is in the heavens”. "As it is in the heavens" seems to indicate that there is no problem with His will being done there. But the earthly protocol of His Kingdom is the point at which He was driving. That is, the redemption of His inheritance, Israel, and the irrevocable call that is upon them as a nation, those who are predestined to become His royal priesthood in the earth - His Kingdom. This is why in Matt. 6:33 He exhorts his followers to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness". What does it mean to seek His Kingdom? Where do we look, and what do we look for?

Many possibilities present themselves in this search for the Kingdom of God on earth. But it seems that the search calls for a certain order. Perhaps to start with… The angel Gabriel, in announcing the birth of the Messiah, declared that this one, who was to come, would set up His Kingdom in the house of Jacob (see Luke 1:33). Later the Messiah's disciples, expecting Him to establish this Kingdom in Israel, asked Him when He was going to "restore the Kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6). They had been extremely disappointed that Yeshua had not accomplished what they felt the prophets had foretold. However, Yeshua's answer to their question was a little evasive, "just hang in there for it will soon come," (and with that He promised that they would receive the power from the Spirit of Holiness to be His witnesses of that Kingdom. Acts. 1:8). They had thought that there would be an outward manifestation to this Kingdom, with the Messiah sitting in Jerusalem on the throne of David. But Yeshua said that He was going to heaven to sit at His Father's right hand until all His enemies were dealt with (Luke 20:41-43). From that position of authority He would send the Spirit of Holiness and baptize the believing Israelites with fire, to purge and restore righteousness, peace and joy to the heart of His people.

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them”…(Eze. 36:27, 37:14);

The Kingdom, along with the King, would take up residence in the House of Jacob. But rather than it being an outward Kingdom, it would be an internal spiritual one. Since the House of Jacob is made up of the two houses, and the two houses are made up of His people, it is the people who make up the house and have His Kingdom in them. In this way they are fulfilling what the Messiah came to do; to set up His divine authority in the life of the Israelites.

What does that Kingdom, residing in us, look like? It is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy (Rom. 14:17) fully explained by Yeshua in what have been called the "Beatitudes" (Matt. chapters 5, 6, and 7). When we read these so-called Beatitudes, they are not there for our doing, but, rather, they define our state of being (be-attitude). They are a revelation of the nature of His life which is in us. That is the true nature of Torah. Remember that on the first day of creation, the Word came forth out of the Elohim as Light. This Light is the true nature of the Creator and Father of us all (James 1:17). We have His nature in us, just as the Father was in Yeshua. Through receiving by faith (the faith of Abraham that is in us, see Romans 4:16) the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom a new birth takes place, and we are given a new spirit life (the life of the Spirit of Holiness, ref Ez. 36:26). Thus we are able to see the Kingdom and to know the power of the age to come.

The lesson that our forefather Abraham taught us was that by faith we are declared righteous, but through obedience we receive the blessing of the inheritance of His Kingdom in our own earthen vessel. But we must remember when teaching and learning "Torah", that it is not the letter of the Word which has life, but that this life is in the nature of the Spirit of Torah (the Spirit of Holiness).

Be blessed in knowing that it is no longer you, the believer, that lives but the Anointed One of Israel that lives in you (Gal.2:20)! “For you have died and your life is hidden in Him, but He who now is your life, when He is unveiled to you [by revelation of Torah] then you will know who you are as well" (Col.3:3-4), with some of our paraphrasing). “For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Ephraim

"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brothers to dwell together in unity…" "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together…to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers"
(Psa. 133:1, Jeremiah 3:18).