Month: March 2020

Take Hold: There is Healing in His Wings
by
James Scott Trimm

We read in the Goodnews according to Matthew:

20 And behold, a woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, approached behind Him, and touched the tzitzit of His garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I touch His garment only, I will be delivered.
22 But Yeshua turned, and when He saw her, He said: Have trust, My daughter, for your trust has delivered you. And the woman was delivered the same hour.
(Mt. 9:20-22 HRV)

We know from the Goodnews according to the Hebrews ( an apocryphal Gospel used by the ancient Nazarenes, the original Jewish followers of Yeshua), this woman’s name was Miriam.*

This Miriam was fulfilling a beautiful Messianic prophecy found in the book of Malachi:

19 (4:1) For behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven. And all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says YHWH Tzva’ot, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
20 (4:2) But unto you that fear my Name, shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings: and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
(Mal. 4:1-2 HRV)

Although the Ketuvim Netzarim never cites this passage of Malachi as a Messianic prophecy, it is recognized as such in the Midrash Rabbah:

Moses asked: ‘ Shall they remain in pledge for ever?’ God replied: ‘No, only Until the sun appears’ that is, till the coming of the Messiah; for it says, But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings (Mal.3:20).
(Midrash Rabbah on Exodus 31:10).

The Hebrew word for “wing(s)” in Malach 4:1-2 is KANAF, a word which means “wing” or “corner” and is also the Hebrew word for “corner” in Numbers 15 where we read about the commandment to wear tzitzit on the four corners of our garments as a reminder of the of YHWH’s Torah:

37 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying:
38 Speak unto the children of Yisra’el and bid them, that they make them throughout their generations, fringes (tzitziyot) in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner, a thread of blue.
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of YHWH, and do them. And, that you go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to go astray–
40 That you may remember and do all My commandments: and be Set-Apart unto your Elohim.
41 I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: I am YHWH your Elohim.
(Numbers 15:37-41 HRV)

Miriam knew the prophecy in Malachi, she knew Yeshua was the Messiah and she knew that she could be healed if she just touched the tzitzit of the Messiah.

Now it is time for Ephraim to be healed as well, as we read in the book of Zarchariah:

Thus says YHWH Tzva’ot: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt (KANAF), of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.
(Zech 8:23 HRV)

The “ten men” represent the House of Israel (Ephraim), the Ten “Lost Tribes.”  The words “you” in the phrase “We will go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.” Is plural rather than singular in the Hebrew.  This is a beautiful prophecy of Ephraim reaching out and taking hold of the tzitzit of the House of Judah and being healed.  This is a prophecy being fulfilled in these very days as wild Ephraimite branches are broken off, grafted into Judah and fed by the root of Judah, as the stick of Joseph is brought over and joined to the stick of Judah.

Now is the time to “take hold”, not of Rabbinic Judaism, but of Nazarene Judaism, the original Jewish followers of Yeshua as the Messiah.  Yeshua did not come to create a new non-Jewish religion, He came to be the Jewish Messiah of Judaism.

Be like Miram and take hold!  There is healing in his wings!

Emergency Alert!

We must raise at least $750 by the end of the day Friday (July 5th 2024) or our account will go into the negative and start a chain reaction of returned items and fees! We need your help today!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle or Go Fund Me.

Click HERE to donate

And don’t forget to join the conversations at the NazareneSpace Social Network

Come out of Her My People
By
James Scott Trimm

Believers are given a great warning in the Book of Revelation:

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
(Revelation 18:1-4 KJV)

But who is Babylon?  Paul gives us a clue in a parallel verse:

14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(2Cor. 6:14-18 KJV)

The word translated “unrighteousness” by the KJV is in the Greek ANOMIA a form of the Greek word ANOMOS.  The Greek prefix A- meas “without” and   the Greek word NOMOS means “Torah”, thus ANOMOS means “without Torah.  This means the definitive characteristic of Babylon, is that Babylon has forsaken the Torah.  Babylon teaches that the Torah is not for today.  Christendom is modern Babylon, keeping pagan Babylonian holidays and customs and teaching that the law is not for today.

Notice Revelation says “Come out of her, my people” (Rev. 18:4) and Paul says “they shall be my people” (2Cor. 6:16).  This phrase “my people” is a key to the very nature of this calling out:

24 (2:22) And the earth shall respond to the grain, and the wine, and the oil–and they shall respond to Yizre’el.
25 (2:23) And I will sow her unto Me in the land, and I will have
compassion upon her that had not obtained compassion. And I will say to
them that were not My people: You are My people, and they shall say, You are my Elohim.
(Hosea 2:24-35 (2:22-23) HRV)

This passage from Hosea brings us to a most overlooked thread of prophecy, that of the ultimate restoration of the House of Israel.

The name Yizre’el (Jezreel in the KJV) is the key to this overlooked thread.  In Hosea 1:4 Hosea’s wife bears a son and
YHWH names the son “Yizre’el”.  Throughout Hosea the names of Hosea’s sons had special prophetic meaning.  The name “Yizre’el” is a word play on “Yisra’el” (Israel) but has the maning “El sows” or “El scatters”:

4 And YHWH said unto him: Call his name Yizre’el, for yet a little while
and I will visit the blood of Yizre’el upon the house of Yahu, and will
cause to cease–the kingdom of the House of Yisra’el.
(Hosea 1:4 HRV)

The prophetic meaning of this name is revealed in Hosea chapter 2 where Elohim scatters Yisra’el.

At this point it is absolutely essential to distinguish the two houses of Israel in this book.  In these first two chapters of Hosea it is clear that it is not the House of Judah who are facing this chastisement.  In fact Hosea specifies that while he is punishing the House of Israel, He will have compassion on the House of Judah:

7 But I will have compassion upon the House of Y’hudah, and will save them by YHWH their Elohim: and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, nor
by horses, nor by horsemen.
(Hosea 1:7 HRV)

By contrast the House of Israel will lose their identity as the people of YHWH.  His second and third sons are named “Lo-Ruchmah” (“not compassioned”) and “Lo-Ammi” (“Not My People”).

Finally YHWH tells us that at a time when the number of the descendants of Israel is as the “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered.” (Hosea 2:1 (1:10)) that this group known as Lo-Ammi “Not My People”  will come to be known as “Sons of the Living El.”

In other words these people would realize that they are not Gentiles after all, but members or the Ten Lost Tribes.

We read a beautiful prophecy about this restoration in the Apocrypha in the book of Baruch:

… but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.
And shall know that I am YHWH their Elohim: for I will give them a
heart, and ears to hear: And they shall praise me in the land of their
captivity, and shall remember my name, And return from their stiff neck,
and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their
fathers, which sinned before YHWH. And I will bring them again into
the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Avraham,
Yitzchak, and Ya’akov, and they shall be masters of it: and I will
increase them, and they shall not be diminished. And I will make an
everlasting covenant with them to be their Elohim, and they shall be
my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the
land that I have given them.
(Barukh (Baruch) 2:30-35)

It should be noted that the second half of this prophecy occurs at the time of the return of Messiah:

…And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath
unto their fathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov, and they shall be
masters of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be
diminished. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be
their Elohim, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.
(Barukh (Baruch) 2:30-35)

This is clearly an even that takes place at the Return of Messiah, as we see in Isaiah 11:12 as it is cited in Matthew 24:30-31:

12  And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the
outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
(Isaiah 11:12 KJV)

30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of
man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matt. 24:30-31 KJV)

But the first part of Barukh’s prophecy takes place before this Messianic regathering to the land, while much of Israel is still “in the land of their captivities:

… but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.
And shall know that I am YHWH their Elohim: for I will give them a
heart, and ears to hear: And they shall praise me in the land of their
captivity, and shall remember my name, And return from their stiff neck,
and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their
fathers, which sinned before YHWH. …
(Barukh (Baruch) 2:30-35)

This is a prophecy of a great restoration that takes place before the return of Messiah, and which is centered outside of the land of Israel.  As part of this restoration, these persons would “remember themselves.”  Their identity had been lost, but now they realize that they are of the House of Israel.  They will remember His Name (YHWH) and they turn back to his Torah!

This is where we are right now in Biblical prophecy!  This is the time that the House of Israel is called out of Torahless Babylon.  This is the time that that the House of Israel begins to remember who they are, turn back to Torah and remember the Name of YHWH!  This is the time that YHWH will once again call the House of Israel “My people”!  And I am delighted that this ministry has been on the cutting edge of this great last days work! 

Emergency Alert!

We need your help today! We must still raise at least $500 by the end of the day tomorrow (7/5/24) or our account will go into the negative and start a chain reaction of returned items and fees!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle or Go Fund Me.

Click HERE to donate

And don’t forget to join the conversations at the NazareneSpace Social Network

Hebraic Stoicism Lesson 1 Handouts

The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Do You Have Oil in Your Lamp?
By
James Scott Trimm

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is among one of the most interesting parables given by Yeshua.  The parable was given by Yeshua as follows:

1 Then will the Kingdom of Heaven be comparable to ten virgins, which took their torches, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five of them were prudent.
3 The five foolish, when they took the torches, took no oil with them:
4 But the prudent took the oil in their vessels, with the lamps.
5 And while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry, Behold! The bridegroom has come: go out now to meet Him!
7 Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us now of your oil, for our lamps are extinguished.
9 But the prudent answered and said to them, We may not give you, lest there suffice not for us and you. But go now therefore to them that sell, and buy for yourselves:
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they that were ready, went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
11 And after that, came the rest of the virgins, saying, My Master, My Master: open to us!
12 But He answered, saying: Amen, I say to you, I know you not.
13 Be you alert therefore, for you know not the day and the hour when the Son of Man comes.
(Matthew 25:1-13)

The ten virgins in this parable represent the ten tribes of the House of Israel and their

In 2Esdras Ezra sees a figure parallel to the “Son of Man” of Daniel 7 who comes riding upon the clouds (Dan. 7:13):

1  And it came to pass after seven days, I saw a vision  by night:
2  And, lo, there arose a great wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.
3  And I beheld, and, lo, that man flew with the clouds of heaven : that man was flying with the clouds of heaven.  And when he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.
4  And when-so-ever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the earth melts .
(2Esdras 13:1-4)

The nations make war with this figure, and after they are defeated he calls to himself a “peaceful multitude” (2Esdras 13:12).  This peaceful multitude represented the “lost” ten tribes:

39  And whereas you saw that he called and gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
40  Those are the ten  tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Hoshea the king, whom Shal’man’eser the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the [Euphrates]  River, and so came they into another land.
41  But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,
42  That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
43  And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
44  For Elyon then showed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.
45  For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Artzaret  [at the end of the world] .
46  Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and again when they shall begin to come,
47  Elyon shall stop the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore saw you the multitude with peace.
48  But those that are left behind of your people are they that are found within my set-apart borders shall be saved.
49  Now when he destroys the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.
50  And then shall he show them great wonders.
(2Esdras 13:39-50)

(Artzaret is Hebrew for “another land”)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins illustrates this same event, with some unique insights.  Especially significant is the point that half of the ten virgins have no oil in their lamps.  What does this “oil” and lack of oil represent?


Oil for the Lamp

A clue as to the symbolism of the oil for the lamps can be found in the prophecy of Zechariah:

1 And the angel that spoke with me returned and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And he said unto me: What see you? And I said, I have seen, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes: yes seven, to the lamps, which are upon the top thereof.
3 And two olive trees by it: one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 And I answered and spoke to the angel that spoke with me, saying, What are these, my master?
5 Then the angel that spoke with me answered and said unto me: Know you not what these are? And I said, No, my master.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying: This is the word of YHWH unto Z’rubavel, saying: Not by might, nor by power: but by My spirit! says YHWH Tzva’ot.
7 Who are you, O great mountain before Z’rubavel? You shall become a plain. And he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace! Grace! unto it.
8 Moreover the word of YHWH came unto me, saying:
9 The hands of Z’rubavel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it: and you shall know that YHWH Tzva’ot has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? Even they, shall see with joy the plummet in the hand of Z’rubavel–even these seven, which are the eyes of YHWH, that run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said: Know you not what these are? And I said, No, my master.
14 Then said he: These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Adon of the whole earth.
(Zech. 4:1-14 HRV)

In this prophecy we see that oil that fills the lamps derives from two olive trees.


Being Fed by the Root

One of the most beautiful prophecies of the reunion of the two houses of Israel is the “two sticks” prophecy in Ezekiel 37:15-20. In this prophecy each of the two houses of Israel are symbolized by two “sticks” which are brough together and made as one (Ezek. 37:15-18) the text goes on to specify that YHWH will:

…take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim,
and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him,
even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick,…
(Ezek. 37:19)

Now lets look at another prophecy in Zech. 8:23:

Thus said YHWH of hosts, ‘In those days ten men
from all languages of the nations take hold,
yea, they shall take hold of the edge of the garment of a man,
a Yehudite, saying, “Let us go with you,
for we have heard that Elohim is with you .”

Now lest anyone think that the “Jew” (Yehudite) in this passage is a certain Jew, such as the Messiah, I must point out that in the Hebrew the word “you” in “let us go with “you” and “Elohim is with you” is PLURAL and therefore refers not to an individual Jew, but to the House of Judah. No doubt the number “ten” here implies the lost ten tribes of Ephraim. Not that Ephraim says to Judah:

“let us [Ephraim] go with you [Judah]
for we [Ephraim] have heard that YHWH is with you [Judah].”

Finally let us look at the olive tree prophecy of Romans 11. This prophecy parallels the two “sticks” prophecy of Ezekiel 37 (note that the word STICK in Ezek. 37 is ETZ which also means “tree”).

17 And if some branches were broken off, and you who are a wild olive [tree], weregrafted into their place and became partakers of the root and of the oil of the olive [tree],
18 Do not boast against the [natural] branches. But if you boast, you are not bearing theroot, but the root bears you!
19 And perhaps you should say of the branches that were broken off, I will be grafted intheir place.
20 These [matters] are beautiful. They were broken off because they did not have trust,but you stand, by trust. Do not be exalted in your mind, but fear:
21 For if Eloah did not spare the natural branches, perhaps He will also not spare you.
22 See then the gentleness and the harshness of Eloah: upon those who fell, harshness,but upon you, gentleness, if, you remain in the gentleness. And if not, you will also bebroken off.
23 And those, if they do not remain in their lack of trust, also will be grafted in: for Eloahis able to graft them in again.
24 For if you, who are from the olive [tree] that was wild by your nature, were cut off andwere grafted–contrary to your nature–into the good olive [tree], how much more then,those, if they be grafted in their natural olive [tree]?
25 For I want you to know this mystery, my brothers, so that you will not be wise in thethought of your nefesh: that blindness of the heart, in part, has happened to Yisra’el untilthe fullness of the Goyim should come,
26 And then all Yisra’el will have Life. Thus it is
(Rom. 11:15-26 HRV)

Rom. 9 begins the contrast of the “Jews” and “Gentiles” by quoting Hosea 2:25(23); 2:1 (1:10) in Rom. 9:25-26. But if we look up the context of the people “which were not my people” which he calls “my people” in Hosea we find that they are the “children of Israel” (Hosea 2:1 (1:10)) as opposed to “the children of Judah” (Hosea 2:2 (1:11)) So if Paul is quoting Hosea in context and contrasting Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 9:24) using Hosea 2:1-2 (1:10-11) then the “Jews” of Rom. 9:24 are the “Children of Judah” of Hosea 2:2 (1:11) and the “Gentiles” of Rom. 9:24 are the “children of Israel” of Hosea 2:1 (1:10). If this is true then as this contrasting pair advances into Rom. Chapter 11 the two trees are the two Houses.

The Aramaic for the phrase “fullness of the Goyim” (Rom. 11:25) could also be translated “multitude of nations” as we read the blessing of Yoseph in Genesis:

18 And Yosef said unto his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put your right hand upon his head.
19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Howbeit, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
20 And he blessed them that day, saying, By you shall Yisra’el bless, saying, Elohim make you as Efrayim and as M’nasheh, and he set Efrayim before M’nasheh.
(Gen. 48:18-20 HRV)

Now the uncultivated olive tree in Romans 11 is clearly therefore Ephraim and the cultivated olive tree is clearly that of Judah. This prophecy tells us that branches from the tree/stick of Ephraim will be broken off and grafted into the tree/stick of Judah, are to be fed by the root of the tree/stick of Judah and are not to boast against the natural branches (Jews).”

This brings us back, full circle, to the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  The Ten Virgins represent the Ten Tribes of the House of Israel, the Ephaimites.  Half of the Ephraimites have oil and half of them do not have oil.  Half of them have been fed by the root and half of them have not been fed by the root, but have instead boasted against the natural branches.

The virgins that have oil in their lamps represent Ephraimites who have been fed by the root of the House of Judah, while the virgins without oil represent Ephraimites who have instead boasted against the House of Judah.

Do you have oil in your lamp?
Have you been fed by the cultivated olive tree (Judah)?
Or do you boast against the Jewish people? 

Donations have been extremely low this month. In these uncertain times, we need your support more than ever. The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.orgor by Zelle or Go Fund Me.

Click HERE to donate

And don’t forget to join the conversations at the NazareneSpace Social Network

The Lost Tribes and the Two Houses of Israel
A True Jewish View
by
James Scott Trimm

There have been many attempts by mainline Messianic Judaism to discredit what has come to be called “Two House Theology”.   Yet the mainline Messianic position on this issue is not in keeping with Judaism.

Sometimes I have been asked “what is the difference between Nazarene Judaism and Messianic Judaism?”  My reply is “Judaism”.  The difference between the ways Nazarene Judaism and mainline Messianic Judaism have reacted to the “Two House” movement provides us with a perfect example.  The mainline Messianic Jewish attitude towards the Two House movement is totally at odds with JUDAISM.

The Mishnah recounts to us the age old question, as to whether or not the Lost Ten Tribes will yet return.

The ten tribes are not destined to return,
since it is said, “And he cast them into another land,
as on this day” (Deut. 29:28).  
Just as the day passes and does not return,
so they have gone their way and will not return,”
the words of Rabbi Akiva.
Rabbi Eliezer says,
“Just as this day is dark and then grows light,
so the ten tribes for whom it is now dark–
thus in the future it is destined to grow light for them.”
(m.San. 10:3)

The Gemara to this passage of Mishnah says:

Our Rabbis taught: The ten tribes have no portion in the world to come, as it says, And the Lord rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation: And the Lord rooted them out of their land, refers to this world; and cast them into another land — to the world to come: this is R. Akiba’s view. R. Simeon b. Judah, of the Kefar of Acco, said on R. Simeon’s authority: If their deeds are as this day’s, they will not return; otherwise they shall. Rabbi said: They will enter the future world, as it is said, [And it shall come to pass] in that day, that the great trumpetshall be blown, [and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land ofEgypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount of Jerusalem]. (Is. 27:13)
(b.San. 110b)

It must be understood here that the “World to Come” here refers to the Messianic Kingdom.  There was a conflict between Akiva and Eliezer as to whether the Lost Ten Tribes would return.  In the Gemara we see that Rabbi Y’hudah, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin ruled in favor of Rabbi Eliezer’s view, that the Ten Tribes would in fact return and have a part in the World to Come. (Whenever the Talmud refers to “Rabbi” without a name, it is a reference to Rabbi Y’hudah the Nasi) Rabbi Y’hudah (Rabbi Judah) also indicated that the Lost Ten Tribes had lost their identity and become mingled among the nations, only to have their identity revealed in the future:

Rab Judah said in the name of R. Assi: If at the present time a heathen betroths [a daughter in Israel], note must be
taken of such betrothal since it may be that he is of the ten tribes.
(b.Yev. 16b)

The Midrash Rabba speaks of the future reunion of the two houses of Israel saying:

AND HE SAID: GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER (HE’ASEFU)… ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES, AND HEAR (XLIX, 1 f.). GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER from the land of Egypt, and ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES into Raameses; GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER from [the exile of] the ten tribes, and ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He thus commanded them to show honour to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.1 R. Aha interpreted [the word HE’ASEFU], ‘Purify yourselves,’ as in the verse, And they gathered themselves together… and they purified themselves (Neh. XII, 28 ff.).2 The Rabbis say: He warned them against dissension, bidding them, Be ye all one assembly. Thus it says, And thou, son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it: For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions (Ezek. XXXVII, 16). ‘ His companion ‘ is written: when the children of Israel unite in one band, then they may prepare themselves for redemption. For what follows this? And I will make them one nation in the land, etc. (ib. 22).
(Gen. Rabbah XCVIII:2)

The Midrash Rabbah here is making a drash on the two phrases GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER and ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES, applying this as a type of their future reunion and redemption (as seen in Ezekiel 37)

The Midrash Rabbah also teaches that the Gentile nations will be blessed by the last days restoration of the Ten Tribes by virtue of their having been scattered among them:

They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt–this refers to the generation of the wilderness–and as a dove out of
the land of Assyria (Hos. XI, 11)–this refers to the ten tribes; and of both of them it says’ And I will make them to
dwell in their houses, saith the Lord (ib.). Rabbi says: When a certain kind of dove is given food, the other doves smellit and flock to her cote. So when the elder sits and discourses, many strangers become proselytes at such a time; so, for instance, Jethro heard the news and came, Rahab heard and came. So through Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, many strangers became proselytes at that time. What is the reason? Because, when he seeth his children sanctify My name, then, as it goes on, they also that err in spirit shall come to understanding (Isa. XXIX, 23, 24).
(Song of Songs Rabbah IV:2)

Finally the Midrash Rabbah tells us something about what became of the Lost Ten Tribes:

6. AND SHE CALLED HIS NAME JOSEPH, SAYING: THE LORD ADD TO ME ANOTHER SON (XXX, 24). ANOTHER [i.e. different] in respect of exile. R. Judah b. R. Simon said: The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were not exiled to the same place as were the other ten tribes. The ten-tribes were exiled beyond the River Sambatyon, whereas the tribes of Judah and Benjamin are dispersed in all countries. ANOTHER SON-in respect of dissension. R. Phinehas said: Through Rachel’s prayer the tribes of Judah and Benjamin did not revolt [against the Davidic dynasty] together with the remaining ten tribes. ANOTHER denotes the behavior of others.
(Gen. Rabbah LXXIII:6)

The identity of this river has remained a mystery.  The primary clue to the identity of the mysterious Sabatyon river is
also found in Midrash Rabbah which quotes Rabbi Akiba as saying:

      …the river Sabatyon carries stones the whole
     week but allows them to rest on the Sabbath.
     (Genesis Rabbah 11:5)

Similarly the Talmud says:

    Let the river Sabatyon prove that the
    Seventh day is the Sabbath.
    (b.Sanh. 65b)

Back in 1987 there was an article published in the Orthodox Jewish (Chabad) Journal B’Or HaTorah titled “Did any of the Lost Tribes Go North?” by Yochanon Ben David (John Hulley) (B’Or Ha’Torah 6 (1987): 127-133). The object of this paper was to identify the Sabbatayon and thus determine the location of the Ten Lost Tribes.  This article concluded that the Sabbatyon was in fact the Bosphorus straits between the Mediterranean Sea and the the Black Sea.  Hulley showed that the Straites were anciently referred to as a river and that due to current fluctuations between the two Seas, the Bosphorus slows down, stops or changes direction approximately once every seven days.  He concludes that the legend might further be based upon a Sabbath day crossing of the Sabbatyon coinciding with the current being at rest. This would mean that the Ten Tribes had migrated across the straites toward Europe.

The prophet Ovadyah (Obadiah) speaks of the destination of the House of Israel in their exile as follows:

    And the captivity of this host of the children of Yisrael,
    that are among the Kena’anites, even unto Tzarfat, and
    the captivity of Yerushalayim, that is in Sepharad, shall
    possess the cities of the South.
    (Ovadyah 1:20)

Where is Tzarfat?  Tzarfat is the Hebrew word for “France”.  In fact, if you were reading a newspaper in Israel today,  and it referred to France, the word used would be “Tzarfat”.

In fact Rashi’s commentary to Ob. 1:20 says: “Tzarfat is the kingdom of France.”

Gauls had migrated from an area just north of the Assyrian Empire across Europe to the area we know today as France.  The land we know today as France was Gaul. In fact the “DeGaulle” in Charles DeGaulle (the French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II) means “of Gaul”. These Gauls were also known as Celts… they migrated across the English channel into the Brittish isles… thus the Celts spoke “Gealic”.  These “Gauls” were GAL-aeens who had been exiled by the Assyrians to the land north of Assyria,  As they passed through the area known now as Turkey they created a colony there called GAL-atia.

In 1944 Zionist activist David Horowitz organized the United Israel World Union. The hallmark of this Jewish organization was Isaiah’s word “My house will become a house of prayer for all peoples,” and “Whosoever will call upon the name of YHWH will be saved.” Horowitz maintained that the Lost Tribes of Israel had scattered among the nations and having lost their identity, would be a key componant and catalyst of masses of “Gentiles” who he believed would be drawn to Judaism, and join the Jewish people bringing about a Messianic age.  Horowitz continued to lead the organization and proclaim this message of the future reunion of the two houses of Israel until his death at the age of 99 years in 2002. I know, I spoke with him on a number of occasions, he was a friend of mine.

Orthodox Israeli Yair Davidy is another Jew to proclaim the message of the Two Houses of Israel and the Ten Lost Tribes.  Davidy lives in Israel where he runs the organization Brit-Am Israel.  He has written several books on the topic of the Lost Tribes and their migrations into Western Europe.  Many of these books have a letter in the front, giving them Rabbinic Aprobation from Rabbi Avram Feld.  Among Yair’s books are The Tribes: The Israelite Origin of the Western Peoples (1993); Ephraim and Lost Israelite Identity.  Yair Davidy’s thoroughly documented research shows that the Lost Ten Tribes, which had been transplanted to the outskirts of Assyria came to be known as the Sakeans (they were previously known as Yitzakheans or in Aramaic Isakeans). These Sakeans are known to have migrated northwest and made their way into Europe to become the Scythians (S’kitheans) and Saxons (Saksons). Davidy’s research has shown that other tribal groups of the Lost Ten Tribes also emerged in Europe under names similar to those of the Tribe of Israel, such as: Galics (Galileans); Danes (Dans); Cimereans (Simeons); Goths/Gots (Gads “Gad” is pronounced in Hebrew as “God”).


Not only is the Two House message the traditional position of Rabbinic Judaism, it is also the historic position of the Nazarenes, the original Jewish followers of Yeshua.

Let me begin by examining the Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah 8:14 as cited by Jerome:

The Nazarenes, who accept Messiah in such a way
that they do not cease to observe the old law
explain the two houses as the two families, viz.
of Shammai and Hillel, from whom originated the Scribes
and the Pharisees. Akiba, who took over their school,
is called the master of Aquila the proselyte, and
after him came Meir who has been succeeded by Joannes
the son of Zakkai and after him Eliezer and further
Telphon, and next Joseph Galilaeus and Joshua up to
the capture of Jerusalem. Shammai then and Hillel
were born not long before the Lord; they originated
in Judea. The name of the first means “scatterer”
and of the second “unholy”, because he scattered and
defiled the precepts of the Torah by his traditions
and deutroseis. And these are the two houses who did
not accept the Savior who has become to them ruin and
scandal.


Now I want to clarify two things here. First of all the Nazarene commentary here is not giving the Pashat (literal meaning) of the passage but a MIDRASH (an allagoical meaning) for the passage. This Midrash draws an allagorical relationship between the two houses of Israel (the House of Israel and the House of Judah) and the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel. The basis for this Midrash is a wordplay on the names Shammai and Hillel which sound in Hebrew like the words for “scatterer” and “unholy”.  “Scatterer” ties the House of Shammai allegorically to the “scattered” House of Israel. “Unholy” ties the House of Hillel to the House of Judah.

Two things are important to note:

1. The Midrash is not identifying an allegory to the two houses
themselves, but to the STUMBLING (see Is. 8:14) of the two houses.

2. The Midrash is not attacking Hillel and Shammai themselves but the
Houses or schools of Rabbinic thought that arose after them in their names
(as is clear from the linage of Rabbis that came after them), The purpose
of this portion of the Midrash is to link Rabbinic Judaism to the
“stumbling” of the House of Judah discussed in this section of Isaiah.

This section of the commentary is purely midrashic (allegorical) and tells us little about the Nazarene understanding of the Pashat (literal meaning) of this passage.

But now lets look at the Nazarene commentary on Is. 9:1-4 (8:23-93 in Jewish versions) as cited by Jerome:

The Nazarenes, whose opinion I have set forth above,
try to explain this passage in the following way:
When Messiah came and his proclaiming shone out,
the land of Zebulon and Naphtali first of all were
freed from the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees
and he shook off their shoulders the very heavy yoke
of the Jewish traditions. Later, however, the proclaiming
became more dominant, that means the proclaiming was
multiplied, through the Goodnews of the emissary Paul
who was the least of all the emissaries. And the goodnews
of Messiah shone to the most distant tribes and the way of
the whole sea. Finally the whole world, which earlier walked
or sat in darkness and was imprisoned in the bonds of idolatry
and death, has seen the clear light of the goodnews.

(Note: The “Jewish traditions” in the context of this commentary refer to Rabbinic Halachah of the fourth century CE with which the Nazarenes took issue.)


Now Isaiah 9:1-4 refers to “Galilee of the GOYIM (nations/Gentiles)” but identifies these “Gentiles” as the inhabitants of “the land of Zebulon and Naphtali”. Here the House of Israel is being identified as “Gentiles”.  There are at least two other places in Scripture where the word “Gentile” is used to describe Ephraim (the House of Israel). One of these is Gen. 48:19 where (in the Hebrew) Ephraim is told his descendent’s will become “a multitude of nations (GOYIM; Gentiles)” (compare Rom. 11:25 where the same phrase is translated in the KJV as “fullness of the gentiles”). The other case is in Rom. 9:24 which refers to “Jews” and “Gentiles” but then goes on (in Rom. 9:25-26) to quote Hosea (Hos. 2:23; 1:10) to identify them which the “Children of Judah” and “the Children of Israel” (Hosea 1:10-11; 2:23).

The Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah understands “you have multiplied the nation” (Is. 9:3) to refer to Paul “the proclaiming was multiplied, through the Goodnews of the emissary Paul… to the most distant tribes”.  Therefore the ancient Nazarenes understood the “Gentiles” to whom Paul primarily directed his message with the Ephraimite “Gentiles” of Isaiah 9:1-4 and with “the most distant tribes”.

This comment in the Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah makes it clear that the Ancient Sect of Nazarene Judaism held to the Two House message and believed that Paul was an emissary to the Ephraimites.  The “Two House” message is a JEWISH message with deep roots in Judaism.  The Two House message has always been taught in Rabbinic Judaism and it is the historic position of Nazarene Judaism. Messianic Judaism has once again exchanged Judaism for traditional Christianity. 

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Purim: The Feast of Nicanor and Spiritual Warfare
By
James Scott Trimm

The Feast of Nicanor immediately precedes the Feast of Purim (2Macc. 15:36; 1Macc. 7:49) essentially turning Purim into a three day festival complex celebrating the defeat of our enemies who wish to exterminate us.

Now the Channukah story is found in the first ten chapters of 2nd Maccabees and many of us read these chapters each year at Channukah. Unfortunately we often stop with the death of Antiochus Epiphanies and the rededication of the Temple in Chapters nine and ten, and we never read the last five chapters of this amazing book.

In these last five chapters we read of the renewed persecution of the Jews and additional battles leading up to the defeat and death of Nicanor. There are some great jewels for us in these chapters which many have been missing out on.

In Chapter 11 we read on the victory over Lysias at Beit-Tzur followed by a false peace. This was followed by renewed attacks on the Jews (12:1-16) and battle in the northeast (12:17-31) and the battle with Gorgias (12:32-38).

Then we read that when Judas Maccabee and his men gathered the dead for burial, they discovered that ll of the Jews killed in the battle had carried secret tokens of pagan gods under their tunics as good luck charms. YHWH had withdrawn His protection from these soldiers for this sin (12:39-42). Then we read:


12:41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,
12:42 Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
(2Macc. 12:41-42 KJV)

Then Judas Maccabee did something which has become very controversial:

12:43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
12:44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
12:45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
(2Macc. 12:43-45 KJV)

For more on this see my recent blog Judah Maccabee and Baptism for the Dead

Then in 13:1-8 we read of the death of the wicked priest Menelaus.

In 13:9-12 Judas orders his people to engage in intercessory prayer.

[9] Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father’s time.
[10] Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:
[11] And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.
[12] So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.
(2Macc. 13:9-12 KJV)

Judas was as much a master of Spiritual Warfare as earthly warfare, and he knew that the battle on earth was only a reflection of the real battle in the heavens:

[13] And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king’s host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.
[14] So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:
[15] And having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king’s tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.
[16] And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.
[17] This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the Lord did help him.
(2Macc. 13:13-17 KJV)

Next we read on the attack on Beit Tzur (13:18-26), the Accession of Demetrius (14:1-10) and the appointment of Nicanor and Alcumis (14:11-14).

At first Nicanor sought friendship with Judas Maccabee but the King over ruled him so he became an enemy to the Jews (14:15-36). Nicanor sent five hundred men to arrest an Elder of the Jews by the name of Razis. Razis had risked his body and life in defense of Judaism in times past (14:37-41).

[41] Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
[42] Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:
[43] But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.
[44] But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.
[45] Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,
[46] When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.
(2Macc. 14:41-46 KJV)

Razis gave his life, confident that it would be given back to him by YHWH in the resurrection.

Following this Nicanor makes a plan to attack Judas Maccabee and his army on the Sabbath, hoping to find them unprepared, and even declaring himself to be sovereign over the Sabbath (15:1-6).

Of course Judas is fighting this war in two worlds, the world in which we live, and in the heavens. He prepares his army by studying the Torah and the Prophets:

[7] But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:
[8] Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.
[9] And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.
[10] And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.
[11] Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.
(2Maccabees 15:7-11 KJV)

YHWH gave Judas the following vision:

[12] And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.
[13] This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.
[14] Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.
[15] Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,
[16] Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.
(2Macc. 15:12-16 KJV)

Judas and his army thus encourage defeat Nicanor and his army, beheading Nicanor and hanging his head from the citadel as a sign of the power of YHWH to deliver His people (15:17-35).

The people then held a public vote, and elected to establish the 13th of Adar forever as a festival (The Feast of Nicanor) to precede the Feast of Purim, to celebrate the power of YHWH to deliver His people through intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare.

As we also read in the Talmud:

[Speaking of the 13th of Adar] What is Nicanor’s Day? … It has been taught: Nicanor was one of the Greek generals; every day he waved his hand against Judah and Jerusalem and exclaimed, ‘When shall it fall into my hands that I may trample upon it?’ But when the Hasmonean Rulers proved victorious and triumphed over him they cut off his thumbs and his great toes and suspended them from, the gates of Jerusalem, as if to say of the mouth that spake arrogantly, of the hands that were waved against Jerusalem, May vengeance be exacted.
(b.Ta’anit 18b)

(You can also read about the defeat of Nicanor in 1Macc. 7:26-50)

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As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle or Go Fund me

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