Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #1: B’resheit (In the beginning) B’resheit (Genesis) 1:1-6:8
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-21
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 21:1-5; 22:1-5
As we witness the end times in real time, with the countdown to Yahshua’s return and the Millennial Reign, time has not diminished the power, awe, or fascination with the creation history of the world for true believers throughout the millennia. Indeed, true believers look forward with anticipation to Yahshua’s return, His millennial reign, final and total victory over evil, and the wedding of true believers to our Messiah, King, and “Groom, Yahshua.
Indeed, the Book of Revelation is not only a history of the universe, but the history of mankind, the Jewish people who started as a specific ethnic group of people, but in the end will be comprised of YHVH/Yahshua-believing and practicing Jews and Gentiles who will be the true “Bride of Yahshua” that the Church as co-opted through an errant replacement theology paradigm. For clarification, the definition of a true believer according to YHVH/Yahshua is defined in Romans 1-3; John Chapter 14, and the seven-fold witness found in the Book of Revelation. It is fitting then, that we summarize a “connecting of the dots” between our first parashah and the last book of the Bible, Revelation. For Yahshua himself defines himself in the book of Revelation as the “Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End” (Rev. 22:12-13). In the Hebrew “the Alef and the Tav” is used instead of “Alpha and Omega.” I submit the Hebrew translation is most accurate since Alef as the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Tav as the last since the narrative was written in Hebrew. Nevertheless, the point is made that YHVH/Yahshua existed before the universe was created and He will continue to be the “I am that I am” (Ex. 3:14) for eternity as the One who was, and is, and is to come (Rev. 4:8).
We may quickly observe that G-d’s world is orderly, just as will be His kingdom when He returns to earth. Land and water have separate domains, and each species of plan and animal reproduces “after its own kind.” In G-d’s world, purity is key in every aspect. There are no hybrids, no mixing of materials, no mixing of gods. There is one G-d, who is a complex unity identified in the first sentence of G-d’s Torah in the fourth word “that is untranslatable in traditional Hebrew but is easily translated by those who have knowledge and wisdom granted by Yahshua for a deeper understanding of who He is and that He has always been. The word is “Alef Tav.” In other words, Yahshua is the Beginning and the End, the Alef Tav, the Alpha and Omega just as He said in Revelation 22:12-13. Understanding this one gem among so many others in G-d’s Torah we must acknowledge that YHVH/Yahshua is One. We know this referring to several examples in G-d’s Torah. The first is that the accurate translation of the word “created” in Gen. 1:1 is “essenced or intentioned” and not “created.” YHVH did not create a “separate” Yahshua as part of a trinity which is not supported in the Bible. Rather, the concept of a trinity is the product of 4th century beliefs that everything can be compartmentalized, including deities. This is the Niceno-Constantinople Creed that was issued at the Council of Constantinople (381). This Creed was modified from the original Council of Nicea in 325 because the original did not include the Holy Spirit other than believing in it. To rectify this situation, it was necessary to expand the Creed to include a statement about the deity of the Holy Spirit. When all was said and done, the expansion involved drafting a new creedal statement that understood G-d to be one being who exists in three co-eternal persons. Unfortunately, starting with an incorrect presupposition will require adding to or subtracting from the original text. In this case for example, by “separating” Yahshua as a separate or even co-eternal individual, the Church supports and teaches a paradigm that the G-d of Israel is a G-d of wrath and vengeance while Yahshua is a G-d of love. A sort of a “new and improved version of G-d. Advocates of this mistaken thought process base their teachings on multiple misinterpretations of Sha’ul’s teaching to the Messianic Jewish community in Rome. We need to get this right. Sha’ul (Paul) was speaking to Messianic Jewish believers who loved and followed Yahshua’s Torah (instructions). They worshipped on the Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), they did not eat forbidden foods such as pork or shellfish among others, they kept the Designated Holy days mandated by G-d, and did not assimilate into the belief systems of the nations around them. In contrast, Many Christian clergy teach the idea that we are “once saved, always saved,” that G-d’s laws were abrogated when Yahshua died on the execution stake, and that man is free to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, an Edomite institution that G-d/Yahshua states He will destroy. So, if Yahshua is co-eternal with G-d, by default He abides by the same “House rules.” In fact He tells us that He is God in John 14 as just one example. So it is critical to establish the correct “person (1)” of G-d. Yahshua is G-d who manifests himself in any form He chooses to meet the needs of the role he is fulfilling at the time. As G-d incarnate, He provided a physical form who taught us how we are to relate to Him and to mankind. He suffered every temptation showing us we can follow His laws/instructions and negligence/rebellion will be no excuse (Rom.1-3; Deut. 30:10-14). These truths require teaching/studies that involve more time than can be addressed in one lesson. However, let us understand the truth of G-d’s Word starting with Genesis 1:1. G-d is a G-d of both Law and Grace, and this truth is taught and explained throughout G-d’s Torah. One G-d, One way to heaven “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7). We see here that reconciliation to G-d through the Messiah Yahshua is one of two requirements for salvation. The other is following His Torah out of love described in John 14, Romans 1-3 and the Seven-fold witness found in the Book of Revelation.
G-d’s Torah assumes a matter -of-fact approach in the creation of the universe by A G-d that exists and has overwhelming power. There is no myth associated with His birth as there is in other cultures’ accounts of creation, only a straightforward description of His actions using an orderly approach. It is as if the Torah is telling us that G-d’s Torah is the premise or presupposition on which the rest of the entire Torah is based and stands. Only if we choose to accept it from cover to cover, will we “do and we will hear everything the L-rd has said” (Ex. 24:7). This was the response of the Israelites when they were presented with the 10 Commands which are symbolic of a wedding contract. The people exercised their free will and chose to accept G-d’s commands before they even heard them! The biological Israelites were the first nation to be presented with the Commands written on tablets of stone by the hand of G-d. However, Noah and Avraham were given the knowledge they needed to follow G-d according to His standards before the nation Israel was born. Neither Noach nor Avraham were “Jews” in the sense many people define them. For a description of a true Jew, please read Romans 1-3. Both men met the requirements for salvation for they both met and accepted the Messiah Yahshua in ways that are explained in abstract. Avraham met Yahshua as one of the three men who came to his tent just after he was circumcised, and Noach spoke of the prophet who would be greater than he and that the people were to listen to Him (Deut. 18:15). Again YHVH/Yahshua can manifest himself in any form He chooses to meet the objective He wants accomplish.
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-21
This narrative begins with the creation account but then rapidly advances to Israel’s role as a mediator of the covenant to all mankind and light unto the nations. But as previously discussed, people like Avraham and Noach were not “Jews” in the common perception of a Jew. As I said at the beginning of this message, a true Jew is one who accepts the Messiah, “carrying the testimony of Yahshua, and one who keeps the commands of G-d out of love. Some may ask, “How can we know for sure? G-d knew we would have doubts and argue who was righteous or that we can be saved without obedience to G-d’s Torah. I invite you to read Hebrews chapter 11. These scriptures should dispel any doubt on the subject. If we want to win the prize of eternal life with YHVH/Yahshua, we must fulfill our purpose so carefully described in this haftarah. We also see a brief description that identifies YHVH/Yahshua as a G-d of vengeance and righteousness in the remainder of the chapter. Again, the first part of the chapter describes a tender G-d of love and starting at verse 14 to the end of the chapter, the “Justice” side of G-d is described. Grace AND Law; this is an inextricable relationship, one that is exercised perfectly by only One; YHVH/Yahshua.
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 21:1-5; 22:1-5
Chapter 20 is one side of a coin, which is judgement. This chapter is on the other side. The sinless condition of the Garden of Eden will finally be restored. It is the time when “the creation” which as been groaning with what Yahshua describes as a woman having birth pains (Matt. 24:4) will be set free from its bondage to decay to enjoy the freedom G-d’s children will experience for an eternity (Rom. 8:19-23). This is the restoration spoken of on Acts 3:21 in which Yahshua must “remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as G-d said through the prophets, specifically Isaiah 65:17-19).
Chapter 22 1-5 describes the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of G-d and the Lamb, the Tree of Life that produces twelve kinds of fruit; a different kind every month, and the worship of G-d and of Yahshua the Lamb by his servants (true believers) who will be completely satisfied when they are able to worship Him. They will finally see His face and His Name will be on their foreheads. This means that G-d will have made them completely His. Nighttime and darkness symbolizing G-d’s absence will no longer exist which by default includes the cessation of curses. There will be no need of lamps or the light of the son because the Light of the world, Yahshua will shine upon them. They will reign as kings forever and ever.
This opportunity for the retirement plan of a lifetime is not a given. There is no instantaneous salvation, neither will people be able to claim that YHVH/Yahshua is their Father, King, Messiah when He comes for His Bride (all true believers). In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, 10 of them set out to meet a bridegroom, but only five are prepared with oil in their lamps.
When the bridegroom is delayed, the virgins fall asleep. At midnight, they wake up to the cry, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” The foolish virgins ask the wise virgins for some of their oil, but the wise virgins refuse saying there will not be enough for sharing. The foolish virgins go off to buy oil, but the bridegroom arrives while they are away. The wise virgins are rewarded by going in with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet while the foolish virgins are disowned.
This parable emphasizes the importance of being prepared for Yahshua’s return. Unfortunately, those who still calin that he is “all love” will find that He is also righteous and true; does not change, neither does his Torah/Law.
May we be included as the bride of Yahshua, anxiously anticipating His return for us. May it be in our lifetime. Let us work for our L-rd while it is still day (John 9:4) for there will be a day when it is too late, just as He said.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart