This issue of YAHSHUA'S
WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for MAY-JUNE 2008
Inside this issue:
Yahshua’s
Fulfillment Of The Offerings
EDITOR:
Jerry Healan
PROOFREADERS:
Frances Healan, Jerry
Healan,
THE
BLIND EVOLUTIONISTS
A
dear sister recently sent in the following statements that she found quite
interesting concerning one evolutionist who is possibly considering that the
universe might after all, be created by a great Creator. Following is what she
submitted:
From the reading of a recent book, based on a series of his lectures on
the study of the universe, it would appear that Stephen Hawking, the noted
theoretical physicist, has arrived at a point of agreement with the concept of a
Creator of the universe.
Excerpts
from: The Theory of Everything
by Stephen E. Hawking.
“Our galaxy is only one of some hundred thousand million that can be
seen using modern telescopes, each galaxy itself containing some hundred
thousand million stars. We live in a galaxy that is about one hundred thousand
light-years across and is slowly rotating: the stars in its spiral arms orbit
around its center about once every hundred million years. Our sun is just an
ordinary, average-sized yellow star, near the outer edge of one of the spiral
arms.” (p. 20)
“In the hot big bang model….the initial rate of expansion would have
had to be chosen very precisely for the universe not to have re-collapsed before
now. This means that the initial state of the universe must have been very
carefully chosen indeed if the hot big bang model was correct right back to the
beginning of time. It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should
have begun in just this way, except as the act of God who intended to create
beings like us” (p. 106)
We can ask about the nature of God even if there is only one possible
unified theory that is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that
breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? The
usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the
question of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does
the universe go to all the bother of existing? Is the unified theory so
compelling that it brings about its own existence? Or does it need a creator,
and if so, does He have any effect on the universe other than being responsible
for its existence? And who created Him?....
However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be
understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then
we shall all be able to take part in the discussion of why the universe exists.
If we find the answer to that, it would be ultimate triumph of human reason, for
then we would know the mind of God.” (p. 165-167)
I love to watch history channel on television when they have a program
entitled the Universe on. They say so many, many amazing statements that simply
fly right over their own heads. Just as this man speculated, just the other
night I heard one of the scientists make the statement that “We (man) exist so
that the universe can discover to itself what it is really like.” What kind of
moronic statement is this? Here is a person who is supposed to be one of the
most intelligent scientists that the world can produce and because of their
idiotic focus on a universe that evolved rather than having been created, he has
to postulate that the universe brought us forth so we could explain it to
itself. Wouldn’t you think that a universe that has the power and intelligence
to bring forth the awesome things that are in existence in the heavens above the
earth, in the earth and beneath the earth would already understand what it is
really like? What a pompous statement to think that man knows so much that he
has everything figured out and the creation must learn from him. In actuality,
the Creator brought the creation forth and then man so that man could learn of
His greatness and power.
Let’s ask this question, how many of these scientists are in agreement
with each other? The answer is, NONE! They all have their own little petty and
pet ideas, theories and doctrines and they are just like everyone else, whether
in politics, religion or anything else, none of them are really in total
agreement on anything.
In another Universe program, same series, but different show, they were
speaking about matter and anti-matter. Did you know that, according to certain
scientists, in the initial explosion, there was such an equal amount of matter
and anti-matter that they really don’t understand how matter came into
existence because the anti-matter cancelled out all of the matter in the initial
blast, except out of the billions of atoms that came into existence and were
cancelled out by subsequent billions of anti-matter atoms, one little proton
escaped and we are that one proton. This is taking fantasy to increasing
heights! How can such supposedly great minds conjure such ridiculous things?
In yet another program, it was stated that in the beginning, before the
big bang, everything was compressed into a body that was smaller than the
smallest atom. But the explosion happened and that tiny, tiny, tiny microcosm of
whatever it was began to expand out into what we see today, and it continues to
expand.
Why don’t they ever consider that man is so far above everything in
creation because Yahweh created him and placed him in that capacity? They
continue to try to search out the intelligence of the animals in creation to see
if they can find any of them that can learn to speak man’s languages, to see
if they can follow in our footsteps, etc. None ever consider the vast
difference. Man thinks about the past, present and future. Man not only builds
dwelling places, but he plans, plants, sows and stores. He engineers, designs
and has creative powers. Man delights in art, music, movies, books, magazines,
etc., etc. Man not only has learned how to fly, but he has also learned how to
get above the earth’s atmosphere, gone to the moon, plans to go to Mars, etc.,
etc.
How many creatures are in competition with man in the abilities that man
has? How many creatures have raised up schools so they can teach their young how
to read, write, figure, plan, design, engineer? Man, and man alone was created
in the very image of Elohim. Come on evolutionists, take the blinders off and
learn of your wondrous Creator! JH
The
offerings were an integral part of the Levitical priesthood of ancient Israel
They were to be exercised until the one most important and supreme sacrifice was
made by Yahshua. They were to then be done away. These sacrifices or offerings
were important in that they were exercised to lead and point Yahweh’s people
to Yahshua. They reveal many important aspects
about Yahshua and Yahweh’s plan in Him.
There are those who discount or disbelieve that Yahshua
fulfilled all of the offerings. This has to be because they simply haven’t
taken the time to research and study these things out. We have utilized the
Scriptures themselves to point these things out. To deny how the Scriptures
speak of Him, is to also deny Him. We encourage all to read with care.
By Jerry Healan
Yahshua
said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of Me,” Jn. 5:39. The Scriptures do speak of
salvation, but they speak of salvation through Yahshua. As we search the
Scriptures we should seek out the manner in which they do testify of Him. It has
all been hidden from the foundation of the world in mysteries, “But we speak
the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery,
even the hidden
wisdom, which Yahweh
ordained before
the world unto our
glory,” 1 Cor. 2:7.
We all know that Yahshua gave Himself as a sacrifice for the world. We
also know that the sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament were types of
His sacrifice. The book of Hebrews reveals that the priesthood, tabernacle,
vessels, sacrifices, and offerings were figures (the Greek word is
“paraboles” translated elsewhere as parable
or parables)
for that period of time, imposed on them until the time of reformation (Heb.
9:9-10).
Furthermore, Yahshua revealed that He, Himself, spoke in parables
in order to keep the mysteries
of Yahweh’s kingdom hidden,
Mt. 13:10-17. Paul followed up this fact with the reality that Israel was
purposely blinded, Ro. 11:7-10, 25, adding that as
Moses put a vail over his
face to keep Israel from seeing his face, which was shining from having been in
Yahweh’s presence, so the glory of that covenant was to be
abolished. Even so, their
hearts and minds were still blinded when Moses was read (2 Cor. 3:11-15). Why? Because the
Scriptures are written in parables.
Yahshua said to search the Scriptures (the Old Testament Scriptures were
the only Scriptures extant in that day. The New Testament had not been written.)
to see how they testified, witnessed of Him.
All, who believe in Yahshua, have a general or over-all concept of how
Yahshua fulfilled the Scriptures, but do we study deeply enough to pull out the
many minor details of that fulfillment? The sacrifices and offerings of the Old
Testament administration spoke of the very sacrifice of Yahshua. If we study
into them, then surely they will present a clearer picture of the true sacrifice
offered so long ago; for they were parables, types of Him. Let’s study into these Scriptures to see how many of the minute
details witness of Him. Paul says, “But even unto this day, when Moses is
read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Master (Yahshua),
the vail shall be taken away.” Let’s see if we can take away the vail.
There are five books of the law; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy. The fifth book magnifies the grace of Yahweh (“Number
in Scripture” by E. W.
Bullinger, p, 137, par. 1).
The book of Psalms is divided into five books corresponding with the
books of the law. The very first Psalm of the fifth division is Psalm 107 and
the opening verse speaks of Yahweh’s mercy (grace and mercy are
interchangeable). “O give thanks unto Yahweh, for He is good: for His mercy
endureth for ever. Let the redeemed
of Yahweh say so, whom He hath redeemed
from the hand of the enemy...O that men would praise Yahweh for His goodness (The Hebrew word translated for goodness here is “checed”
and can also be translated; favor, kindness, mercy, pity)...They fell down, and
there was none to help. Then they cried unto Yahweh in their trouble, and He saved
them out of their distresses...Oh that men would praise Yahweh for His goodness (grace, mercy), and for His wonderful works to the children
of men!...Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall
understand the lovingkindness (grace, mercy) of Yahweh,” Psa. 107:1-2, 8, 12-13, 15,
20-21, 43.
Yahweh revealed to Daniel (chapter 2) that there would be five world
ruling kingdoms, (1) Babylon, (2) Persia, (3) Greece, (4) Rome, and (5) the
kingdom of Yahweh. The fifth kingdom, the kingdom of Yahweh, will be for the
purposes of bringing in rest, peace, healing, grace, mercy and life, real
abundant living.
The five types of sacrifices were (1) the burnt or holocaust offering,
(2) the meat or meal offering, (3) the peace offering, (4) the sin offering, and
(5) the trespass offering. The five offerings describe the manner in which
Yahweh distributes His grace and the total character of the Messiah, Who was
able to fulfil them.
There were also five different types or classes of animals or items
offered. They were; (1) the bullock (oxen or cattle), (2) sheep, (3) goats, (4)
fowl (turtledoves or pigeons, and (5) meal (grain, especially barley and wheat).
Each type of sacrifice satisfied all the requirements of the offerings
enumerated in the book of Leviticus. Therefore, careful scrutinization of each
of these offerings will give a clearer understanding of the sacrifice of our
Savior as revealed in the evangel accounts. Thus, the grace of Yahweh is
truly revealed in the number five!
It was an offering which exhibited the total dedication and zeal of
Yahshua, “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Yahshua went up to
Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and
the changers of money sitting: and when He had made a scourge of small cords, He
drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out
the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold
doves, ‘Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of
merchandise.’ And His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The
zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up,’”
Jn. 2:13-17.
The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write of this zeal, “Behold,
Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your
Elohim, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. For
your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips
have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness, none calleth for
justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they
conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and
weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is
crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither
shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity,
and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make
haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting
and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is
no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth
therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth
justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness,
but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as
if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate
places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look
for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For
our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us:
for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in
transgressing and lying against Yahweh, and departing away from our Elohim,
speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of
falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off:
for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth;
and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and Yahweh saw it, and it
displeased Him that there was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor: therefore
His arm brought salvation
unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness
as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the
garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke,”
Isa. 59:1-17.
Yahshua was Yahweh’s arm, so to speak, for when He had finished the
work given for Him to do, He returned from whence He came and sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:1-3).
The offerer was to offer it of his own voluntary will (Lev. 1:3). Yahshua
Messiah offered His own life voluntarily, “I am the good Shepherd: the Good
Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep...I am the good Shepherd and know My
sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep...Therefore doth My Father love Me,
because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from
Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of My Father,” Jn. 10:11, 14-15, 17-18.
It is noted in Lev. 1:4 that this offering is an atonement, but sin is
not the total issue in this type of offering, as there was also the sin offering
and trespass offering that dealt with such. We
will deal with the atonement shortly.
The bullock, “Strong to labor,” Psa. 144:14, for “great increase is
by the strength of the ox,” Prov. 14:4, portrays Yahshua in service to Yahweh
and man, patient, untiring. The book of Mark speaks again and again of the great
multitudes that followed Him, pressing upon Him to be healed of many and various
afflictions as well as hear his words, Mk. 1:45, 2:2-5, 13-14, 3:7-8, 10, 20,
4:1, 6:32-34, 54-56, 8:1-3, 10:1.
The lamb portrays submission without murmur, for the lamb is the figure
constantly chosen to represent the submissive, uncomplaining character of
Yahshua’s sufferings. “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth,”
Isa. 53:7. “And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing.
And Pilate asked Him again saying, ‘Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many
things they witness against Thee.’ But Yahshua
yet answered nothing; so
that Pilate marvelled,” Mk. 15:3-5.
The kid of the goats served the same purpose as the lamb, for a kid,
being such, is young, innocent, unmurmuring, uncomplaining. It was also the
prime animal focused on in the day of atonement sacrifices recorded in Lev.,
chapter 16. Two kids of the goats were presented before Yahweh at the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation where Aaron, the high priest, cast lots for
them. One lot was for Yahweh, the other for the scapegoat or azazel (Lev.
16:7-10). The goat on which Yahweh’s lot fell was offered for a sin offering,
“For He made Him to be (a) sin (offering) for us, Who knew no sin,” 2 Cor.
5:21, to make atonement for us, “And not only so, but we also joy in Yahweh
through our Master Yahshua Messiah by Whom we have now received the
atonement,” Ro. 5:11.
The turtledoves represented Yahshua as being innocent. Judas confessed,
“I have betrayed the innocent blood,” Mt. 27:4. Pilate also confessed, “I am innocent of the
blood of this just (innocent,
righteous, holy) person,” Mt. 27:24.
The dove is also a symbol of peace, “But now in Messiah Yahshua ye who
sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah, for He
is our peace Who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even in Himself of twain one new man,
so making
peace: and that He might
reconcile both unto Yahweh in one body by the stake, having slain the enmity
thereby: and came and preached
peace to you which were
far off, and to them that were nigh,” Eph. 2:13-17.
Yahshua, Himself, revealed the original intent for marriage, “The
Pharisees also came unto Him tempting Him, and saying unto Him, ‘Is it lawful
for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ And He answered and said unto
them, ‘Have ye not read, that He Which made them at the beginning made them
male and female, and said, ‘For this cause shall a man leave father and
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?’
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore Yahweh hath
joined together, let not man put asunder.’ They say unto Him, ‘Why did Moses
then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?’ He saith
unto them, ‘Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered You to put
away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you,
whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry
another, committeth adultery,’” Mt. 19:3-9. The marriage of Yahshua to the
assembly will be an eternal marriage, never to be broken.
Yahshua never forgot where He came from, “I am the living bread which
came down from heaven.”
Jn. 6:51. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven,
even the son of man Which is in heaven.” Jn. 3:13. He has ascended into heaven
from whence He came.
“Who (Messiah) is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of Yahweh,” 1
Pet. 3:22.
The pigeon, because of its “homing instincts,” has been a vital tool
of man for carrying messages in times past. Yahshua came proclaiming a message
from Yahweh, “Now after that John was put into prison, Yahshua came into
Galilee preaching the evangel of the kingdom of Yahweh, and saying, ‘The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of Yahweh is at hand: repent ye and believe the
evangel,” Mk. 1:14-15. COMMENT: The word evangel comes from the Greek word
“euaggelion” and means a good message or good news.
Few people realize that Yahshua was an Apostle, “Wherefore, holy
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle
and High Priest of our profession, Messiah Yahshua,” Heb. 3:1. Apostle means;
one that is sent, a messenger.
These animals also provided another distinction for the sacrifice of
Yahshua. In an agrarian society, which is called “backward” by much of
today’s world, an ox is a very valuable animal. It is the “tractor” of
such areas. Its value is quite high. Some estimates range from $20,000 to
$50,000 for such an animal. Not every one could afford such an expensive animal.
In the case of the sin offering, only a priest was to sacrifice a bullock for
his sin. The priesthood and the wealthy were the only ones
who could afford such a sacrifice.
The lamb or kid of the goats served those who were not able to offer a
bullock while those who were very poor were only able to offer a pair of
turtledoves or pigeons. The point is that all classes were served.
The very size of the bullock denotes the abundance of the rich man’s
wealth as well as its strength and ability to work and produce. It even far
outstrips the other animals when considering it as an animal for food. The
bullock, therefore, speaks of those who have riches and power as well as the
ability to work and produce.
The bullock speaks of Yahshua in His capacity as Elohim, “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the
Word was Elohim. The same
was in the beginning with Yahweh. All
things were made by Him:
and without Him was not anything made that was made,” Jn. 1:1-3. “For by Him
(Messiah) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities,
or powers: all things were created by Him
and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things CONSIST,” Col. 1:16-17.
The Hebrew word “El” contains only two letters, the aleph (a) and the lamed (l). The aleph is an
hieroglyphic for the head of an ox, while the lamed is an hieroglyphic for a
shepherd’s rod.
The aleph also has to do with the number one, which denotes the unity of
Elohim, Father and Son are one, “I and my Father are one,” Jn. 10:30.
The lamed has to do with the number thirty. Wasn’t he sold for thirty
pieces of silver? (Mt. 26:15)
How do the rich and powerful generally use their wealth today? Isn’t
there a saying, “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer?” What was the
purpose of the unions? Weren’t they brought into existence in order to force
the rich to pay “fair” wages and to provide better and safer working
conditions? Aren’t there many rich men’s schemes today to do away with the
unions as well as the prosperity of the common worker? Aren’t they heartlessly
closing our factories and moving them to other countries where the labor is much
cheaper leaving our people without jobs or means for existence? Aren’t there
other schemes to buy out and amalgamate companies into large corporations,
consolidating power and wealth into the hands of a “few” rich with a
“streamlining,” “consolidating” scheme only for the purpose of “pure
profit” and greater power for those at the top?
Yahshua’s “rich man” attitude is far different from those we see
extant in this world, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Messiah
Yahshua: Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal
with Elohim (He was Elohim but He thought it not a thing to be clung to): But
made Himself of no reputation (He emptied Himself), and took upon Him the form
of a servant (instead of continuing as Master, He became a servant), and was
made in the likeness of men (this rich One became just like one of us): and
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the stake,” Phil. 2:5-8.
“For ye know the grace of our Master Yahshua Messiah, that, though He
was rich, yet for your
sakes He
became POOR, that ye through
His POVERTY might be
rich,” 2 Cor. 8:9. What an incredible example of a rich man! What rich man
today, who is powerful and famous, is ready to give it up, becoming a poor,
poverty stricken nobody in order to make others rich?
A man came to Yahshua asking Him what he must do to have eternal life.
Yahshua answered that if he would enter into life, keep the commandments. When
the man asked which? Yahshua enumerated five of the last six of the ten
commandments. The young man responded that he had kept all those, what else did
he need? Yahshua answered, “If you will be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give
to the poor and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” But when the young man
heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Yahshua to His disciples, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man
shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 19:16-23.
What rich man today is willing to follow these instructions? Wouldn’t
such an action be considered “extreme” or “foolish?” Doesn’t Yahweh
say that the things of Elohim are foolishness to the natural man? (1 Cor. 2:14).
Yet Yahshua didn’t ask the young man to do anything He wouldn’t do, did He?
He emptied Himself of the power, riches, honor and glory that He had, becoming
poor, impoverished so that we might be made rich.
The lamb or goat served the purposes of offering for the “middle”
class. Those who were not able to offer a bullock, but were still fairly well
off.
The sheep’s wool and the goat’s cashmere is used in clothing. Paul
writes, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put
ye on the Master Yahshua Messiah,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof,” Ro.
13:13-14. The words “put on” actually mean; to sink into a garment, to
invest with clothing, to clothe, to array.
Paul writes in another place, “For as many of you as have been baptized
into Messiah have put on
Messiah,” Gal. 3:27. He also wrote, “For we know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of Yahweh, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed
upon with our house which
is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we
that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” 2 Cor.
5:1-4.
The sacrifice of Yahshua has provided food and clothing for us as well as
drink. Paul admonished Timothy, “Having food and raiment let us be therewith
content.” 1 Tim. 6:8.
The goat is also famous for its “milk.” Many babies that have stomach
problems are recommended to drink goat’s milk. It is the closest milk to
“mother’s” found in nature. It has less butterfat and is easily digested
while cow’s milk has a high content of butterfat and is not only hard to
digest but sours and clabbers on the stomach. Even adults with stomach problems
have been recommended to drink goat’s milk. Peter writes, “Wherefore, laying
aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil
speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere (undeceitful, unadulterated) milk
of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Master
is gracious,” 1 Pet. 2:1-3.
The Psalmist David cried out in Psa. 55 about those who were hating,
persecuting and oppressing him. Then he cried out, “Oh that I had the wings
like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest,” Psa. 55:6. Thereby is
the key to the offering of the poor. Like the wings of a dove which is able to
‘freely fly” through the midst of heaven where ever it desires to go, so
shall and are the poor to be set free from their shackles of poverty into the
glorious liberty of the
Messiah, “Hearken, my
beloved brethren, hath not Yahweh chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,
and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” Jas.
2:5.
Isn’t it amazing that the rich and powerful are such by the physical
accumulation of this world, but the more rich and powerful one becomes in this
world, the more impoverished they are in the things of the Spirit. But the poor,
on the other hand, are impoverished concerning the physical things of this
world, but the true believers are rich in faith, which simply is not a tangible
thing. In other words, they are rich in the things of the Spirit.
The offerings of the Old Testament foretold us of the glorious power of
Yahshua Who was powerful, mighty, rich, yet emptied Himself of all that He had,
found Himself fashioned as a man and continued in humility and meekness in His
human life until He hung destitute, naked, empty on a tree, forsaken by His own
family and friends, persecuted, oppressed, shamefully treated by His own.
He did it all for us, setting the example that we might follow in His
footsteps, that the rich might be humbled, the sheep fed and clothed, the poor
and oppressed set free! What a Savior! What a Redeemer! What an example we have
to follow!
The bullock was then cut into his parts and placed in order on the altar,
the head, which is the seat of intellect, an emblem of the thoughts, with the
fat, representing the general health, vigor, energy, and even the wealth of the
whole person. The inwards, a symbol of the inner feelings and affections, with
the legs, typifying one’s walk, the pathway (narrow and strait), were washed
with water, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, to symbolize cleanness and purity in
every detail.
The second class of the offering, the lamb or goat, was similar to the
bullock yet there is no mention of its being flayed, but it must have been for
in the third class, the doves or pigeons, the crop and feathers were plucked and
cast on the east side of the altar beside the ashes.
The third class of offering, the turtledoves or young pigeons, were to be
cut or split open but not cut in two (Lev. 1:17). Does this not represent the
Savior, when hanging on the stake, pole or tree, having a spear thrust in His
side? Jn. 19:34.
The blood of these sacrifices were only a foreshadow of the blood of
Yahshua, Whose sacrifice was much better, based on better promises, “But
Messiah being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in
once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the
blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the
blood of Messiah, Who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to Elohim, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?” Heb. 9:11-14.
Yahshua’s blood was poured out, “But one of the soldiers with a spear
pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water,” Jn. 19:34;
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: My heart is
like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels,” Psa. 22:14. This not only
symbolized His pouring out of His physical earthly life, but also His being
poured out of heaven into the earth for the purpose of fulfilling Yahweh’s
will.
The life of all flesh is in the blood (Lev. 17:11). The covenant of Moses
was made through the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats (Heb. 9:19).
Yahshua poured out His life blood for those who are His. We must come under the
blood of His sacrifice if we are to enter into the covenant made by Him (Heb.
9:15).
We read in Isa. 59:16 that there was no intercessor, therefore Yahweh’s
own arm served that purpose. Yahshua is the Mediator of the New Covenant, “And
for this cause He is the Mediator of the New testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb.
9:15. “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He
is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises,” Heb. 8:6. “For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between
Elohim and men, the Man Messiah Yahshua,” 1 Tim. 2:5. Yahweh is able, through
Yahshua, to gather together in one
all things both which are in heaven, and which are on earth (Eph. 1:10).
Yahshua is the Mediator of a better covenant than the covenant of Moses.
It is based upon better promises. If you will research the English word
“promise” in the Scriptures, you will find that the Hebrew word is “dabar.”
Yahshua is the Word of Yahweh (Dabar-Yahweh). The covenant made through Yahshua
is the better covenant because it is based upon the Word (Dabar), the Promise (Dabar)
of Yahweh, Who is faithful.
The covenant of Moses was based upon two promises (dabarim) or words (dabarim).
It was based upon the Promise, Word of Yahweh, Who is faithful, and the promise,
word of man, who is proven unfaithful.
The covenant of Moses was based upon animal sacrifices. The covenant of
Yahshua is based upon only one sacrifice, but the far, far, far better sacrifice
of Yahshua, Himself.
Atonement has to do with reconciliation. The Hebrew word for
reconciliation and atonement is the same word.
Paul also writes, “Therefore if any man be in the Messiah, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all
things are of Yahweh, who hath reconciled us to himself by Yahshua the Messiah,
and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that Yahweh was in
the Messiah, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we
are ambassadors for the Messiah, as though Yahweh did beseech you by us: we pray
you in the Messiah's stead, be ye reconciled to Yahweh. For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
Yahweh in him,” 2 Cor. 5:17-21.
Again, this holocaust or burnt offering typified the sacrifice of Yahshua
Who was placed on the tree of sacrifice in the morning and died at mid
afternoon, the exact time that the evening sacrifice was being offered. It was
called the daily sacrifice even though two lambs were sacrificed at different
times.
Yahshua was crucified in the morning whereupon, according to Matthew, the
soldiers cast lots for His garments. Then two thieves were crucified with him,
one at the right and the other at the left. He was mocked and reviled by those
passing by as well as the priests and scribes and even by the thieves who were
crucified with him (Mt. 27:35-44). Then at the sixth hour (noon), darkness
prevailed over the land until the ninth hour (mid-afternoon) after which he died
(Mt. 27:45-50).
The Hebrew word azazel is a combination of two other Hebrew
words azaz and azal. Azaz
is defined as; a primitive root; to be stout (literally or figuratively). It is
generally translated into the English as; harden, impudent, prevail, strengthen
(self), be strong.
Azal
is defined as; a primitive root; to go away, hence, to disappear. It is
generally translated into the English as; fail, gad about, go to and fro, be
gone (spent).
The kids of the goats were young, innocent and tender. One is sacrificed
while still in that state, but the other is let go into the wilderness where as
it wanders, it becomes strong, hardened and impudent.
Some say that both goats typified Yahshua, but only one, the one
sacrificed, typified Him. The other typified the hardened spirit of Satan.
Look at the definition for azal, to gad about, to go to and fro. These
are the characteristics of one named Satan in the book of Job, “Now there was
a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and
Satan came also among them. And Yahweh said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then
Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and
fro in the earth, and from walking
up and down in it,” Job 1:6-7. Satan was going to and fro, gadding
about (walking up and down) the earth.
Not only was the Passover sacrifice fulfilled by Yahshua, but He
fulfilled all of the sacrifices, which were types of him, and also the sacrifice
for the day of Atonement.
There were presented before Pilate, two prisoners, Yahshua and Barabbas.
Barabbas means son of the Father. Yahshua, as we know, was the Son of the
Father, but Barabbas stood in for the great rebel Satan, the azazel.
Satan was allowed to appear before Yahweh with the sons of Elohim in Job, thus,
he also is a son of Elohim.
The description of Barabbas is found in the evangel accounts. He was
imprisoned for sedition (rebellion against the government), murder and robbery.
(Mk. 15:7; Lk. 23:19; Jn. 18:40; Acts 3:14) These actions are of the spirit of
Satan, not Yahshua the Messiah.
Even though the kids of the goats of old were brought before the high
priest of Israel, while Yahshua and Barabbas appeared before Pilate, it was the
priests who stirred up the people to demand Yahshua’s death, “But the chief
priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them,”
Mk. 15:11.
While the priest also cast lots, the simple fact of the matter is that
the soldiers cast lots over His garments (Mt. 27:35). Thus, all of the elements
of the day of atonement were present.
The day of atonement, as well as Yahshua’s sacrifice reveals that true
choices are always made by Yahweh, while man always is erroneous in his choices.
Thus closes the nature of the burnt or holocaust offering for our
purposes at this time. It was a freewill offering, totally consumed, totally
dedicated to Yahweh to serve His purposes. No man was to eat of it. It provided
a wondrous link between Elohim and man, between heaven and earth. What a
glorious Elohim, and what a glorious Savior we have!!! HALLELUYAH!!!
to be
continued….