perjantai 24. marraskuuta 2023

Reflections on Shabat 18th Nov. 2023

 



Introduction

Chapters 2-3 of the Book of Revelation contain the missionary letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor at the time of the apostle John. However, the Bible is relevant at all times and those letters have had at least two different meanings in different eras. The Revelation of John is a prophetic/apocalyptic book and because of that, the letters also tell about the development stages of the Messianic Communities, in the past, in the present and even until the end of the 1000-year peace period that lies ahead of us.

When we look at the churches in John's time and after, and how the places are named, it all tells us that Elohim has planned everything.

The content of the letters corresponds to the conditions that existed in these seven churches during the time of the apostle John, as well as the stages of development, such as apostasy and returning to apostolic teachings, which have occurred throughout history in numerous revival movements that profess Messianic belief or Christianity and in their independent local Congregations.


Processing of the topic

Let's study from Revelation chapter 2 and only the missionary letter to the Congregation in Smyrna. 




Message to the Congregation in Smyrna, verses 8-11:

>>8 And unto the angel of the Congregation in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. 11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Congregations; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.<< Rev. 2:8-11 

Verse 8 majestically expresses who Adonai Yeshua is: “I am the first and the last”. Verse Rev. 1:8 The Greek expression "I am A and O" is used for him, i.e. alpha and omega, which correspond to the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet: Alef and Tav! Here again there is a direct connection to Isaiah's expression about Him who is the only true Elohim: Isa. 44:6 "Thus says YHWH, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, YHWH Tzva'ot: I am the first and the last, there is no other Elohim besides me."

Verses 9-10: Verse 9, srk was outwardly poor - but spiritually rich - and mocked and harassed by those who call themselves orthodox Jews. The same being the object of ridicule and persecution is true even today almost 2000 years later as the fate in Israel of the Messianic Communities who believe in Yeshua as their Savior!

More from verse 10, Yeshua already told in advance that a few members of that srk would soon face a test: a short-term tribulation of 10 days. Yeshua told them to be faithful unto death, that they might receive the crown of life, or the victor's wreath.

Verse 11: Yeshua promises only the overcomers to remain unscathed from the second death. The second death means being thrown into the fiery lake of Hell from the last judgment (Rev. 20:13-15). What was special about this Congregation was that there was nothing to criticize about it! Let's learn from it!

  
A brief summary of the Smyrna congregation:

Location: Present-day Ismir on the west coast of Turkey, located about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Ephesus. (see second attached picture)
(§ = meaning, + = pluses, - = minuses). A busy trading town.
Also refers to the srk period: 63-312 
§ Smyrna means: Myrrh, fragrant ointment (Yeshua's body was anointed with Myrrh)
§ Yeshua's name: "The First and the Last" and "Dead and Risen"
§ Promise: The crown of life or the wreath of victory, surviving the second death unscathed
+ Tribulations / + Patience in poverty / + Spiritual wealth
- (no minuses, i.e. reproaches).


Introspection

Let's reflect on our own local Congregation and ourselves as individuals, to see if there are similar reasons for thanksgiving in it and in us as individuals. If we find similar let us be glad, but if we'll find reproaches, let us humble ourselves to repent as Congregation and individual, asking for it in the Holy Spirit, praying for the will and strength for us from on high!


Songs suitable for the topic
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perjantai 17. marraskuuta 2023

Reflections on Shabat 17th Nov. 2023

 



Introduction to this study

"Letters to the Congregations contained in the Book of Revelation"

Chapters 2-3 of the Book of Revelation contain the missionary letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor at the time of the apostle John. However, the Bible is relevant at all times and those letters have had at least two different meanings in different eras. The Revelation of John is a prophetic/apocalyptic book and because of that, the letters also tell about the development stages of the Messianic Communities, in the past, in the present and even until the end of the 1000-year peace period that lies ahead of us.

When we look at the churches in John's time and after, and how the places are named, it all tells us that Elohim has planned everything.

The content of the letters corresponds to the conditions that existed in these seven churches during the time of the apostle John, as well as the stages of development, such as apostasy and returning to apostolic teachings, which have occurred throughout history in numerous revival movements that profess Messianic belief or Christianity and in their independent local Congregations.


Processing of the topic

Let's study Revelation chapter 2 and only the missionary letter mentioned at the beginning of it to the Congregation in Ephesus. 




To the Congregation in Ephesus, verses 1-7:

1."To the angel of the Congregation of Ephesus write: 'Thus says he (A) who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 
2. I know your works and your toil and your patience, and that you cannot endure evil. You you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

3. You have patience, and much you have borne for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4. But I have this against you, that you have rejected your first love. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do those first works; but if you do not, then I will come (B) to you and push your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

6. But what you have is that you hate actions that I also hate. 7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit to the Congregations says. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of (C) Elohim.'

(A) Translated by G. Lamsa. verse 1 reads: "... 'Thus says the Almighty One, ...'" (Omnipotent One).

(B) Translated by G. Lamsa. verse 5 in the middle reads: "...but if you do not, I will come to you very soon..."

(C) Translated by G. Lamsa. verse 7 at the end reads: "...which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim."

Verses 1-3: To the Congregation Adonai Yeshua says that he holds in his hand the star or angel of each of the 7 Congregation's, Angelos (D) in his right hand and that he walks among the 7 golden lampstands or srk. In verse 2 He gives credit for the Congregation's angel's effort, patience, and vigilance against the false apostles. In verse 3 He gives credit to the Congregation's angel for his patience and bearing hardships for the sake of Yeshua-Name and that he is not weary.

(D) The word 'Angelos' means an angel, a messenger, and also the Congregation's shepherd, who is responsible for the Congregation's spiritual life. I choose the word Congregation's shepherd. 

Verses 4-6: 4 The only reproach concerns the rejection of first love. Without love, all the trash is useless! In verse 5, Yeshua calls the shepherd to demand repentance under the threat that otherwise he will come and push the Congregation away from the position it has in society, which is to be light and salt to those who walk in darkness.

In verse 6, He praises the srk's shepherd for hating the actions and heresies of the Nicolaitans! The Nicolaitans have been supposed to have formed a sect bearing the stamp of Gnosticism, according to the teachings of which Believers agreed to live a frivolous life, because grace is said to be enough to cover all that filth! According to one idea, the Nicolaitans also taught a theocratic hierarchy, i.e. priestly status, where normal Believers were inferior to them in front of Yeshua.

Verse 7: Yeshua exhorts all Congregation's Shepherds and members at all times to keep their ears open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, which is also evident in this mission letter! In addition, He gives a great and sure promise to eat from the tree of eternal life in Elohim's paradise (E), but only to those who overcome, i.e. are obedient to the Adonai of Congregation!

It is noteworthy that all of these letters addressed to all the 7 Congregation contain the same condition: Only the one who wins will be rewarded with the most valuable gifts!

(E) Let us remember that the first people: Adam and Eve, after their fall, were not allowed to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, which gives eternal life to those who eat it, but were expelled from Paradise and YHWH Elohim appointed the great angel princes: cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life! Adonai Yeshua is that Way and precisely the only way!


Briefly about Congregation in Ephesus

  Ephesus was a great city. (See the location on the attached map, which also shows the barren island or islet of Patmos in verse 1:9)
  Time: AD 30-100 – Located on the west coast of what is now Turkey.
Also Paul and John worked as shepherds of that Congregation.
(§ = meaning, + = pluses, - = minuses)
§ Ephesus means: "Beauty, perfection"
§ Yeshua was the owner and guardian of that Congregation as well
§ Promise to the winners: The promise to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life
+ Deeds / + Patience / + Resisting Heresies
- Extinguished first love.


Introspection

  Let's reflect on our own local Congregation and ourselves as individuals, to see if there are similar subjects of praise or reproach for it and for us as individuals. If we find similar or other reproaches, let us humble ourselves to repent as Congregations and individuals by praying for the will and strength to that from Adonai Yeshua!


Songs suitable for the topic




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perjantai 10. marraskuuta 2023

Reflections on Shabat 10th Nov. 2023


   
  Elohim created the first people, Adam and Eve, in a love relationship with him. They did not have to work hard, nor suffer physical or psychological pain. He also gave them immortality as a gift on only one condition: by being obedient to his one and only commandment! Unfortunately, they disobeyed their Creator.

  The attached picture shows how he loves his creatures and so earnestly hopes that we respond to his loving call to salvation.


Humanity is lost

  As we know, the Devil managed to mislead our ancestors already in Paradise from the love relationship they had with Creator before the Fall. However, our Creator did not destroy them, but arranged for them and their descendants to be saved through faith in his firstborn son Adonai Yeshua.


We are living in the final years of the harvest

  All of us who have heard the Good News and the grace to know the way of salvation are called to take this incomparable message of love to all creation. Not all of us can physically go all over the world to the nations and multitudes, but we can support those who are called to that work by a heavenly call with prayers and precautions. People are going to perish in large numbers!


There is a lot of harvest and few workers!

  We, who live in rich western countries or rich in poor countries, should help those in need as much as we can with prayers and financial support, so that they get food, drink, clothes, medicines and especially hear the Eternal Message of Salvation! Each of us can afford to support them more than before. Let's do it with all our hearts, loving them and knowing that they are all our neighbors, created as eternal beings for heaven! They are all eagerly waiting for our help. Let's rush to help them in many different ways!


This thing is very important to know

  With the help and guidance of our Defender, the Holy Spirit, all our acts of mercy will be successful and we will experience great joy above all that our proclamation of the Salvation message will bear abundant fruit for eternal life!


I am such an exhorting Levite

  I have noticed the unfortunate fact that most of those who have truly put their hope of salvation in Adonai Yeshua live a too selfish life pampering their own flesh, mostly helping only their own family and at most their close relatives. They give very little to the work of spreading the Good News! A maximum of 10% of their net income, although they could give very much more. "You have received as a gift, give as a gift!"


True love spares no cost

  We who know our heavenly Father Yehowah Elohim and his beloved firstborn Son Adonai Yeshua, know that they did not count the cost, but put everything in motion in order to have a living connection with us. Even today, Heaven cries out: "Elohim loves all people and wants to save them from falling into eternal perdition and separation from him!" He is still waiting to be merciful to us.

  So let's repent today of our selfishness, our lack of love towards our needy neighbors, all kinds of evil deeds and let's turn our hearts to our beloved Savior HaMashiach Yeshua to be saved and cleansed by his blood! After that, let's start following him, taking the message of Love to those who don't have it!


Songs suitable for the topic
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perjantai 3. marraskuuta 2023

Reflections on Shabat 3 Nov. 2023

 


We live in the time of the end

  When our ancestor Noah offered communion sacrifices to Elohim after the flood, Elohim promised him and his family that he would no longer lose all flesh through water. As a sign of that, he put a rainbow in the clouds to remind himself of that promise.


How do we know we are in the time of the end?

  According to the prophets of the OT and the prophecies of the NT, especially the Book of Revelation, numerous warnings precede the final destruction. They are plagues, wars, famines, earthquakes, deadly illness that befall nations. A special sign is unprecedented violence, like in Noah's time, and also moral decay, like in Lot's time! 


What will happen to the wicked then? 

  We can read in the prophecy of Adonai Yeshua that in the same way as Sodom, Gomorrah and the small towns around them were destroyed: Fire and brimstone rained down from heaven on them and completely drowned all people, animals and plants. 

Luke 17:28-30
>>28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.<<


The final fate of the wicked

  They will be thrown from the final judgment into Hell, which is the lake of fire, and there is no appeal from that judgment, but it is final and eternal! Rev. 20:12-15

>>12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before Elohim; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.<<


Can we prevent that from happening to them?

  The best thing we can do for them, while they are still living on earth in the search period, is to pray in the Holy Spirit for them to understand the Good News. It is equally important that we must guide them to know Adonai Yeshua as the one who died on the cross for their sins and as the payer of their sin debt and as the Saviour of their souls.

  We know from the Bible that not everyone will accept the righteousness of faith and that we cannot save anyone by force. That's why we need wisdom to tell unbelievers and those disappointed in life the message of Yehowah Elohim's love as convincingly and mercifully as possible!


Songs suitable for the topic


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Reflections on shabat, November 21, 2025

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