Yeshua's Resurrection and Omer Wave Offering

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

We are fast approaching the start of the biblical Counting of the Omer, a very significant day in YHVH’s timetable.

Leviticus 23:10^: “Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, ‘When ye come in unto the land which I am giving to you, and have reaped its harvest, and have brought in the sheaf, the beginning [resheet] of your harvest unto the priest then he hath waved the sheaf before YHVH for your acceptance; on the morrow of the Sabbath doth the priest wave it’” (emphases added, ^{YLT translation}).  The “first” (resheet) of the Omer refers to the first ripe barley sheaves that were to be waved before YHVH for our acceptance, on the day after the weekly Shabbat. 

Thus, when Yeshua came up out of the grave on the first of the week, He was the first of the Omer, which was waved, again, for our “acceptance.”

We read in John 20:1 “Now on the first of the week Miriam of Migdal went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb…” (emphasis added).  And a little further on, in John 20:16-17: “Yeshua said to her, ‘Miriam!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).  Yeshua said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim' "  (emphases added).

In that year this tremendous event took place on the 18^th of Nisan (or Aviv), as indeed is the case this year too. In Hebrew, the figure 18 (as used in date counting) is made up of the letters Yod and Chet, which form the word for “chai” - “living” or “alive.” 

Quite often, in non-Hebrew speaking circles, the first day of the Omer is called “firstfruits.”  That inaccuracy stems possibly from the following scripture: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive.  But each one in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits, afterward those who are Messiah's at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, see also v. 20).

However, in the Aramaic version of this text (the Peshitta Aramaic Text) “firstfruits” is resheeta (or resheet in Hebrew) – that is, “beginning” (stemming from rosh – head).  This word is identical to the one employed in Leviticus 23:10, quoted above.

Back to 1 Corinthians 15:22-23: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive.  But each one in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits,[the “beginning”] afterward those who are Messiah's at His coming.”

 “Coming” is parousia in Greek and means “hidden presence.”  Thus, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at Shavuot (Pentecost), on the 50th day of the counting, Yeshua’s presence came into them (‘hid’ in them), making them the firstfruits or bikkurim of Shavuot (symbolized by two loaves which were baked with leaven).  Bikkurim is the Hebrew word used in Leviticus 23:17 for the firstfruits of Shavuot – Feast of Weeks.  Yeshua, being the head and the beginning, could not bring in the firstfruits before He Himself ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Only then could He send the Spirit, as it says in John 7:39  ^“… for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua  was not yet glorified.” Thus, He obviously had to be glorified in order to make true His promise of the Spirit of Holiness.

Interestingly, an Omer of barley was used as an offering in the event of a husband who was overcome by a spirit of jealousy. Numbers 5:14-15 says: “If the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, who has defiled herself; or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, although she has not defiled herself --  then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. He shall bring the offering required for her, one-tenth of an EPHAH of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for remembering, for bringing iniquity to remembrance” (emphasis added). One tenth of an ephah equals one omer (see Ex. 16:35).  The priest was to make the woman drink bitter water in order to determine whether she was innocent or not (ref. 5:17,18, 22-24, 27), with the effect of the drink on her body being such that it would disclose her true state. Yeshua, when He was on the stake, was given wine mixed with bitter gall, which he did taste (although He did not continue drinking it, see Matt. 27:34). 

Again, we see Yeshua, not only being the beginning of the barley harvest, but also the husband (Deut. 6:12-16) whose wife Israel has gone astray (see Jer. 3:6, as one example of many). He has become the very offering of the barely Omer, the Priest who offers it, and then the One who takes upon Himself the very transgression of the faithless wife, partaking of the bitter gall in her place.

Yeshua, of course, spent the first 40 days of the Counting of the Omer teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of Elohim, after which He ascended, but not before telling those disciples to tarry in Jerusalem “until you receive power from on high.” Yeshua’s departure date would have occurred on the 28^th of Iyyar, in Hebrew Kaf, Chet, spelling “ko’ach” – power or strength. That date also happens to be the day in which Jerusalem (that is the Old City) was liberated in the Six Day war in 1967.  Since 1968, the 28^th of Iyyar has been declared the official Jerusalem Day.

Yeshua’s multi-facetted role never ceases to amaze us, in that He was and is, what Hebrews 1:2-3 declares: “… His [Elohim’s] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

Raised to be an Army

In one of the most frequently used end-time scriptures (Ezekiel 37), an entire nation is described being raised from graves of nonexistence and transformed into a mighty army. For what purpose has this army been resurrected? Who does this army consist of?  What kind of war is it to be fighting?  Is it standing on its feet today, being clothed again with its own identity as the prophet foretold?  “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them [the dry bones of the whole house of Israel], and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army (Ezekiel 37:10).

There is a phenomenon happening in the earth today, the lost tribes of Israel known by their generic name of Ephraim, are reappearing out of every nation, tribe and people group in the earth.  This is just a very small remnant of the multitudes that are still waiting in the wings, or should I say still under YHVH’s prophetic wing.  As far as I know, at this point in time they are all coming out of some kind of Christian background although according to the prophets they are hidden in every nation.  They are carrying birthmarks of the faith of their father Abraham, their Messiah is Yeshua/Jesus and the anointing (breath) of the Spirit of Holiness is upon/in them.  But why “an army”?  Who have these ones been sent to fight?  Paul the Apostle gives some clear instructions to this army, when he tells them that: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Cor 10:3-5). And,  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”  (Eph 6:12).

This Army is to be suited with armor, a sword and shield: “Therefore take up the whole armor of Elohim, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts [thoughts] of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Elohim” (Eph 6:13-17).  This army’s Captain, Leader and King has come to destroy the works of the Devil and all his hosts: “For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), and now He is preparing this army to accomplish this mission.  Each soldier must respond by likewise preparing himself for the battle for dominion in the heavenlies. 

Satan knows YHVH’s kingdom order in the family of Adam and Noah, as it has already been laid out in the first book of the Tanach (Old Testament).  This Israelite army from the House of Judah and from the House of Israel/Ephraim, will be his main target, as the enemy knows that if they come together as one nation with one King, he will be defeated globally and YHVH’s dominion through this one nation will be over all of humanity. 

The Ephraimites are the priesthood of the Melchizedec army and their sanctification unto holiness is essential.  This is the first step into a corporate responsibility to rule in the heavenly places in and through our Messiah Yeshua. Here is what Yeshua says to the seven congregations:

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star” (Rev 2:26-28).

 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:21).

 These scriptures were written to the congregations living outside the Land, but the qualifying mark is "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the all seven congregations" (Rev. 3:21-22).

We need an ear to hear like never before. “Hear oh Israel” is not just for the Jews, but also for all Israel, especially for the Redeemed Ephraimites.  We are given a window of time to consecrate ourselves as His priests, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim” (2 Cor 7:1).  Who are we waiting for in order to accomplish this sanctification?  Peter says that YHVH has already given to us everything for life and godliness: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Pet. 1:3-4).

Perfecting holiness is not some abstract and distant scriptural concept.  He is already in us, as His life is our life. The Spirit of the Holy One is just waiting for us to defeat our enemy by repenting from cooperating with it, and resisting it by believing and obeying the Truth.

We are not in basic training - we are in “on the job training” as Yeshua’s soldiers. Our weapons are not carnal, but we need to learn to use them. Ignorance is no excuse as - we have His military manual.  This warfare does not have to be sought for; it will come to you and is right in our own backyard where lust and various other thoughts gather to play.  As we head into this Shabbat remember “Let [us] the set apart ones, be joyful in glory; let them [us] sing aloud on their [our] beds [a resting place].  Let the high praises of Elohim be in their [our] mouth, and a two-edged sword in their [our] hand…” (Ps. 149:5-6).

Ephraim

Judah's Plea

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

This next week President Obama will be coming to Israel. He is just another of the long line of national  leaders who are set to bring some resolutions to the various Middle East conflicts (which are only compounding), and in particular to Israel's impasse with the Palestinians.  However, unknowingly these world leaders are attempting to accomplish the work of an enemy whose desire is to diminish the identity of the Jewish people. 

There are many so-called Christian nations, there are fifty or so Muslim nations, so why can there not be one Zionist, Jewish nation?  According to Scripture the first of the nations that YHVH gathers is the stick/nation of Judah (see Ezekiel 37:16). Has He brought the Jews back to the land, established them as His witness and has preserve them through all the turmoil, wars and terror attacks for nought?

When the Almighty declared through the prophet Hosea that He would not have mercy on the other house, the House of Ephraim, He pronounced in the same breath: “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them… and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen" (Hos. 1:7). Judah is a nation today simply by the faithfulness of YHVH their Elohim.  We know that Satan does not want this Jewish stick to exist in any form, let alone as a nation.  Ephraimites, you are the second witness/stick or nation that YHVH is gathering at this point in time. I know your heart’s desire is to return to the Land, but please consider something, your witness is different than your brother Judah’s.  You, at this time are out before the eyes of the nations in which you reside.  Your testimony is the new creation life that has resurrected you out of the graves of forgetfulness, much like Joseph who was taken out of his prison and was lifted up in the land of Egypt - to be second only to Pharaoh, ultimately to be his brothers’ “savior”. 

We must be our brothers’ keepers and help them maintain their Jewishness as a nation.  The Israelis feel that the very reason for the existence of the State is being undermined, and are now resorting to maintaining that status at all costs in the only way they know how, and that is to compromise land for “identity”.  It is not so much a “land for peace” issue any more. Suddenly everyone seems to have awakened to the fact that the Muslim propagation is such that it endangers the existence of the Jewish State, not militarily, but demographically.  Thus, the attempts at negotiations, which are supposed to resolve the complexity of our situation here, are actually not about peace but about “identity”.  Therefore the supposition that the Judeans would be more receptive to having Ephraimites come and live here, has to be put on ‘hold’ because if that were the case what would happen to the uniqueness of Judah’s testimony?  It would be swallowed up by the “second stick”. As things are, it is already a struggle to maintain a majority in the midst of a fast growing Muslim population. It is therefore understandable that the welcome mat to Ephraim may not be rolled out that quickly. There is also the concern that Christians are ‘becoming’ Ephraimites so as to convert more Jews to Christianity. 

In light of all of this we are in great need of wisdom from above to discern the times, and to know where the Elohim of all Israel is in His prophetic scheme.  If you come over here to live, before a door is open, you may find yourself having to deal with rejection and that can lead to bitterness and other unloving spirits.  Ephraimites, you have His life and Kingdom within you, learn to rule your own being, your family and in your communities, so that when the time comes to return you will be prepared.  YHVH will also prepare Judah for our future union.  Please, do not get me wrong, if YHVH is admonishing you to come over do not disobey or be discouraged; but be aware of present conditions in the Land.  The Ephraimites who live here have seen many come and go.  It is sad to bid farewell, and we do wish that all those who want to stay could do so, but the laws, at least at this point, are not in our favor.  So until such a time when they change, we have an opportunity and an obligation to love our brothers and to support their cause to exist as a Jewish nation. There are those in Judah who know a little about the Ten Lost Tribes, but need a “sign” to become more confident that this is for real, so much so that they feel that they have an obligation to help us as well.

The Ephraimites also have a big job out in the nations, as the Messiah is still searching for His treasure, a great part of which is still hidden in the Earth: “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says YHVH” (Jer. 31:20).  Those little lost and loved orphans out there need to know that “in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the living Elohim”  (Hos. 1:10).  They need to hear again: “I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jer. 31:9).  They need the love of their heavenly Father to heal their wounds from rejection and alienation.

However, what we need out in the nations is unity of vision, and a sanctified Ephraimite priesthood, one nation, one in Messiah.

Ephraim   

Wisdom from Above

We have been hearing the trumpet blow for a while now, through many prophetic ministries who are proclaiming: “come out of her my people”, and “be separate/holy as I am holy (that is manifest the nature of your new creation life).” But is there more to this than meets the eye?  As I look back at the history of our forefathers and the many situations that they have been involved in, the one thing that stands out is that whenever YHVH was ready to gather His people He would begin by calling them to separate themselves from the nations, cultures, and religions that surrounded them.  But the people, it seems, always needed help when it came right down to carrying out YHVH’s will.  And from whence did their help come?  From their Elohim, of course, who made use of the very nations and governments whom they were joined to.  In almost each one of those occurrences persecutions would break out against YHVH’s people and force them to leave.  Likewise, if we are now in the time of the great exodus of Ephraim the second stick, could it be that the changes in government policies regarding religious rights, and all these other reports, are just another form of YHVH’s trumpets urging His people to prepare for their separation? We can no longer depend or put our trust in a Greek form of government, or in any other earthly regime. Our trust must be in our Elohim; anything else would constitute idolatry. 

Another method of shaking us out of our comfort zone is seen in situations where brothers are rising up against brothers, in the form of outbreaks of enmity, strife, jealousy, hatred and murder (especially with the tongue).  This is why in his letter James asks us to pray for wisdom.  We are living in a time in which we are in desperate need for the wisdom that is from above. We also need to have our senses exercised in differentiating good from evil, as mentioned in Hebrews 5:14, (especially in regard to our own thoughts).   James addresses this very thing in his letter to the twelve tribes of Israel:  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (1:5).  James’ letter seems to focus on this topic all the way through.  Without this wisdom we will not be able to discern what is of the Spirit of YHVH, and what is of the spirit of this world (that is, that which is of the devil).  However, we must ask in faith and without doubting, otherwise we will be tossed and driven like the waves of the sea and end up with nothing but double mindedness and become unstable in all our ways (ref. James 1:5-8). How is it that we end up in this condition?   

Here is James’ answer to the above question:  “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.   Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of YHVH.  Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘YHVH resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Therefore submit to Elohim. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.   Draw near to Elohim and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of YHVH, and He will lift you up” (James 4:2-10). 

Why was James so hard on those poor believers, who were actually Torah-observant?   These were the very ones who were also busy judging and criticizing one another.  “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge”  (James 4:11).  The amazing thing is that one may perform all 613 commandments, but if he judges another over these issues he condemns himself, as there is only one judge and lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy (ref. James 4:12).

The apostle’s warnings are not condemning statements, but rather their purpose is to shake us up into realizing that there is another spiritual entity which is influencing our thinking, causing us to act out his evil intents and ways, and comes to us by using temptations which play upon our desires/lusts.  This is why James tells us to resist the devil (and that he will flee).   We must keep a keen eye out for the spirit of this world.  When the apostles are talking about the “world” they mean “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Gal. 5:19-21). If we have any of these in our hearts, we lie against the truth and we actually manifest the wisdom that is not from above, but that which is earthly, sensual, demonic and contains every other evil thing (ref. James 3:14-16).

The wisdom that James was asking the 12 tribes to pray for is the “wisdom that is from above which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18).  As we know the whole creation still groans waiting for the revealing of the Sons of Elohim to come to maturity.  This “revealing” will only happen when He who is the “Wisdom from above” fully governs our lives.  Righteousness, peace and joy will then be made known to this groaning creation, setting it free.

Ephraim

Ownership

The expression "Jack of all trades, master of none" is a familiar one. This saying, with all due respect, fits YHVH,’s ‘professions’, although He is undoubtedly not only a “Jack of all trades” but also a Master of them all. Many people today are dabbling in real estate to earn a little extra money on the side.  Well, wouldn't you know it, YHVH is into that business also! He is first seen creating the property that He will own, and then taking possession of it. Psalm 24:1 states: "The earth is YHVH's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”  In Psalm 89:11, we read: "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them”.  In 1Corinthians 10:26 it is written: "The earth is YHVH's and all its fullness."

In these scriptures it is evident that YHVH has never lost the title deed of ownership of the earth to any devil. However, we do see Him dividing it up and giving it to men. "Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’" (Gen.1:26).

According to these scriptures, "Adam" (both male and female), had an equal role in overseeing, ruling, or subduing all living things. Subduing does not mean exploiting, but actually just the opposite - imparting life and light to the living creatures.  However, nothing was said about property rights until after the nations (goyim) where divided. We read in Genesis 10:32:  "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." Genesis 10:25 says: "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided." And, "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel" (Deuteronomy 32:8).   Now why would the Creator do that?  Israel was not even around at the time of Peleg (or was it?).  Peleg was the son of Eber, whose name is carried by the Israelites – Hebrews - and is one of the forefathers of Abram (a firstborn).

Right from the start Elohim began to put in order the true intent of His plan, which is seen later in the covenant that He made with Abraham the father of Israel. "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land [eretz] which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth [eretz]; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk on the land [eretz] through its length and its width, for I give it to you" (Gen.13:14-17). Ownership was granted to those who were chosen by YHVH (and who complied with His Word), as well as by being present and willing to redeem the land.

Abram was living somewhere between Ai and Bethel when YHVH spoke those words to him.  I would like to take the liberty to expand the meaning of this blessing based on its context. "Arise walk in the earth through its length and its breath and I will give it to you." The Hebrew word "eretz" can be translated earth, land, field, or ground.  It is legitimate for a translator to use any of these English words at their discretion according to the context.  My understanding of the context, in light of the massive blessing of multiplicity, is that the seed would be as the dust of the earth (“eretz”), and dust, as we know, usually covers everything. I believe that the Holy One did not limit this blessing to Abraham only and to a specific land (Canaan), but also to his seed and to the entire earth.  YHVH’s intent was to sow the seed into all the earth (“eretz”), thus continuing the blessing that He made with Adam and with Noah, "to fill the earth and rule over [or subdue] it."

Later on in the life of Abraham we hear YHVH saying that his seed would be like the stars of heaven (ref. Gen.15:5). Again, He is talking in terms of numbers, but here also of position, as the stars were put there to rule the night, along with the moon, and to be for signs and for seasons (stars can be seen in the night skies from any one point on the face of the earth). 

 Abraham was also told that he would be a nation (“goy”), in the form of his own multiplied seed, and that this goy would be a goy made up of kings and priests.  “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel…” (Exodus 19:6).  "YHVH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath” (Deut. 8:13). The irrevocable destiny of the life of the forefathers was to have dominion and to subdue and rule this planet earth.

 

The Patriarchs are very much alive today in their progeny, whether their children know it or not. For did not YHVH say that He is the "Elohim of Abraham, Isaac an Jacob, the Elohim of the living" (Matt. 22:32)? This is why we need to have our eyes open to present truth, or reality.

YHVH is a covenant-keeping Elohim, and in this generation we are the witnesses to that faithfulness, loving-kindness and mercy. This fact finds expression not just by what we say, but more so by whom we are. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is being who God has created us to be, and recognizing ourselves to be a manifestation of an incredible living truth - "the work of YHVH."   “But when he [Jacob] sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will worship by hallowing My name, hallowing the Holy One of Jacob, and fearing the Elohim of Israel”.  We are His living stones, hewn from the rock, which is made up of "Abraham [our] father and [of] Sarah who gave birth to [us] in pain" (Isa. 51:2).  "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.  The counsel of YHVH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations… Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" (Ps. 33:9,11-12 8).  "Because YHVH loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, YHVH has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of [spiritual] bondage” (Deut.7:8).  Why did He do that? That we might be filled with His Spirit, and be that channel of His life and light to the creation. What good is a star if it has no light?

We, in this generation of the seed of Abraham, are incredibly blessed to not only have Yeshua as our Messiah, but to be a witness to the restoration of the nation that will be His light to all the nations and to the earth.  Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled right before our very eyes, as the Spirit of Elohim is restoring the second stick or nation of “Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim” spoken of in Ezekiel thirty-seven.

"Look among the nations and watch -- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (Hab.1:5).  Not many believed that the first stick (Judah) could be gathered by YHVH and restored as a national entity on this earth.  But now that it has, the nations far and wide are taken aback. Judah/Israel is like a thorn in their side. But while they are still deliberating on how to solve this one dilemma, there is still another nation to be gathered; and this one is even more difficult to come to terms with, as it has been hidden.  In Ezekiel thirty-seven YHVH says that these dry bones of the lost tribes are in their graves of non-recognition.  That means that they will only be seen when YHVH raises them up through resurrection power.  “Awake O Israel put off your slumber, and the truth will make you free…”

Nation of Ephraim, are you wakening up to your national identity?  Are you, as the first fruit/firstborn of the new creation, willing to be your brother’s keeper?  We can only be that to another nation if we ourselves are the resurrected/re-gathered brother/nation.  YHVH wants to make one nation out of the two, but first He wants two nations, two trees, in His hand.  

 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers [two nations] to dwell [shevet Achim] together in unity…in this YHVH commands the blessing life eternal” (Ps. 133:1,3b)

Ephraim