THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY or LAWLESSNESS
Do you KNOW Yeshua? Have you patiently endured much insult and ridicule for faithfully proclaiming the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our G-d? Have you been hearing the L-rd say "come out of her my people" and see no place to go? Where can you meet with God's people and/or worship on the Sabbath? Among those who claim to be part of the faithful remnant, where is the REALITY that should be evident among the faithful remnant? How few even know what faith or grace mean beyond quoting the heresies of the false teachers. Is there a church without the influence of the spirits of Nicolaitane, Balaam, and Jezebel? Is there not hypocrisy, or at least inconsistency, to reduce Christianity to "just be nice?" Churchianity says, "They have professed Jesus is Lord, nothing more is required. How dare you give offense or be judgmental?" We have witnessed the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness become full by those who have come saying "Jesus is Lord!" For this cause His Name is blasphemed among the heathen. What can we do? What must we do?
Let us begin by identifying the 3 spirits which Yeshua said would take over and seek to completely destroy all but a very small remnant of redeemed believers in the last days.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
NICOLAITANS (Nihk oh lay' ituhns) personal name meaning "conqueror of the people."
If the Lord says twice this is something that He hates, we need to know what it is all about, and make sure we don't do it. Some churches had an elevated class of members. A clergy and a laity perhaps. We need to be under authority. However, if God is no respector of persons, how dare we be. Many churches elevate the status of their pastors, teachers and leaders above the body and above the Word. Consider the following as preferring church leaders to being led by the Spirit is idolatry: 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1Sa 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us.
The Lord hates striving for status in His church. If you want to be great in God's kingdom learn to be the servant of all. Like the watchman says, "It is a race to the bottom." Everything we do for someone less fortunate we do for King Yeshua. There was also an heretical group in the early church who taught immorality and idolatry. They are condemned in Revelation 2:6,15 for their practices in Ephesus, Pergamon and Thyatira. Apparently they had resisted the false prophecy being preached (Rev. 2:20-25). The Nicolaitans have been linked to the type of heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 25:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:15).
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Let us call and identify just what BALAAM is today. Balaam was first and foremost a "Prophet for Profit." The teachers of the pre-tribulation rapture, who are profiting from their teachings of this strong delusion, represent BALAAM. Just be nice because we are not under law but under grace is the catch phrase of NICOLAITINE, BALAAM, and JEZEBEL.
There is more to Balaam. He makes unity of the body impossible. Those who know the truth of the Word of God by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, will not yield to Balaam. They are therefore blamed for the schism of Balaam. The real source of the schism is the mystery of iniquity propagated by Balaam, Nicolaitine, and Jezebel. The mystery of iniquity is the CLAIM TO BEING CHRISTIANS, WHILE THEY ARE AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW AND HIS ESTABLISHED ORDER. If you resist Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel and stand for the truth of ALL of God's word, expect to be labeled as heretics, crazies, and unloving. The doctrine of Balaam is pleasant to the itching ears of the majority, who will listen only to the prophets who tell them what they want to hear.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations;
Earlier in the passage to the Thyatira church we come across Jezebel. JEZEBEL is a personal name meaning "Where is the prince?" Have you heard Jezebel saying "Where is the prince, antichrist, doesn't matter to us, because we will be raptured out before he is revealed." We are called to take the good news to the "Jew First." It certainly is inconsistent if not hypocritical to say we believe we will be out of here during the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" the time when we know that "all Israel shall be saved." Jezebel will also license, encourage, or excuse idolatry and immorality. Jezebel also wants to know "where is the prince" or church leader, so that she can seduce him. Often Jezebel (the false church) exalts herself over her husband...does not reverence her husband...tries to tell Jesus what to do. The LAW does not save anyone. However, the way any redeemed or saved person is able to prove it to HIMSELF, or anyone else, is that Yeshua, Jesus, gives the power of the HOLY Spirit, the Spirit of TRUTH and HOLINESS, to KEEP and DO God's commands. They are commandments of God, not suggestions. The Holy Spirit empowers us to delight in His Royal Law, not just the power to pontificate, or practice feigned affection. Do you LOVE the TRUTH?
Grace is the God given gift to be able to REPENT. You cannot repent apart from God's grace. We are all creatures of vanity. It is not possible for any vain creature to repent without Grace. The Holy Spirit along with grace empowers man to obey from the heart. Anything less than that, including the idea of salvation by grace alone, with no requirement other than professing belief, without free will repentant action, is, and should be, regarded as gross evil. This is the false faith of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel's phony baloney faith. Such faith is not Christian.
WE MUST ASK WHAT LAW? Ask the Holy Spirit "What Law" whenever you read that important little 3 letter word in scripture. Ask anyone who ever mentions the word "law," what law are they talking about.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do KNOW that we KNOW him, IF we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby KNOW we that we are IN Him.
ANY TIME WE SEE THAT WORD LAW IN SCRIPTURE WE BETTER KNOW WHICH OF THE 4 POSSIBLE TYPES OF LAW MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHENEVER ANYONE MENTIONS LAW BE SURE TO ASK THEM WHAT LAW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT? THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY IS THOSE WHOSE RELIGIOUS EXTERIOR COVERS A HEART THAT IS AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW. ANTI-NOMIAN MEANS AGAINST-LAW. THOSE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW, LOVE, KEEP, AND DO GOD'S ROYAL LAW.
Here are the 4 basic types of LAW we find in scripture:
1. THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH - This is the Law that the Blood of Jesus saves us from. The curse of the law of sin and death, is death. The Law of sin and death is the Law from which the Blood of Yeshua saves us. What is the law of sin and death? Romans 6:23 or Ezek 18 will give you the answer. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sins shall die. The Blood of Yeshua is the ONLY hope of having a part in the FIRST Resurrection.
2. THE LAW OF MOSES - 613 Commandments, laws, ordinances, Mitzvoth. Even to this day, 613 laws. Some of these, like circumcision, and the Levitical priesthood are done away in the new covenant, through the better priesthood of our GREAT HIGH PRIEST, Yeshua ha Massiach, Jesus THE Christ. If we were smart enough, we would see that many of these make very good sense today; however, we have glorious freedom in Messiah.
3. ORAL LAW - This is the additions and deletions and changes which religious men make to Laws of Scripture. You find Yeshua giving His strongest rebukes to religious people over this oral law, with its additions, deletions, changes, traditions, and perverse doctrines of religious men that you do not find in the Holy Bible. This is often the law to which Paul and the apostles were referring.
4. GOD's ROYAL LAW - The 10 commandments - The Everlasting Covenant - Jesus wrote these with His finger in stone so that NO ONE could change these 10 instructions in Love, Life, and Liberty. This is the Law that the Real Holy Ghost, the one that makes you holy, writes on every circumcised heart. The Holy Ghost causes born again believers to "WANT TO" keep that Royal Law of LOVE, Life, and Liberty. Born again people see this to be the only RIGHT response to the Great Love of God in Messiah Yeshua dawning in one's heart. Break these laws, and you deceive yourself, if you think you will escape.
Yes, it still includes the 4th commandment. It is an insult to God to call Lucifer's sun-god day the Lord's Day. If we don't keep all of His 10 commandments in the tribulation, we will not likely be one of those who is able to endure to the end of the great tribulation. If we don't love and delight in GOD's SABBATH, we are in trouble and don't even know it. It is unrighteousness by definition. This is why Jesus said to pray that your flight not be on the SABBATH. Tribulation is the time context of that neglected instruction.
Yeshua did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. He magnified God's royal law. His blood is the propitiation, the payment, for our sins that are PAST! He empowers us by His Holy Spirit to stop sinning. He gives us the grace to walk in repentance and true righteousness and holiness. Yeshua is the REAL Savior who gives the grace and power to stop sinning. Redeemed people stop walking in the lust of their flesh. Redeemed people are sanctified. Sanctification is the will of God for every redeemed person. Sanctification has a beginning, and continues growing in grace (the ability to repent), to finally see Him as He is. While growing in grace one gets to know Yeshua, better and better, by reading the Word of God and prayer, to answer correctly to the question What Would Jesus Do? Sanctification must have the power of the Spirit of Truth to answer What Would Jesus Do with truth to ourselves and others. Sanctification is the process of taking every thought captive to the Mind of Messiah Yeshua. As the prophet Elijah says, "Be a God Pleaser - not a self pleaser or people pleaser."
The teachings of mystical identification with Christ and the power of the Spirit are complete and openly available in scripture. Christians should not be misled into turning aside into new, private revelations from the heavens or the deep that pretend to overturn the scriptural revelation.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Have you ever heard that some people just don't show much change when they become Christians, and that does not mean anything about their salvation? I would have to say that suggests that Jesus was wrong to say you really don't know them by their fruit after all. I would have to say that suggests that Paul was wrong when he told us: 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A simple "Sinner's prayer" is not the same as "repenting and praying through, calling on the Name of the Lord" (until He answers). Too many CLAIM to know Him. Too few really do.
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
The mystery of iniquity is the CLAIM TO BEING CHRISTIANS, WHILE THEY ARE AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW AND HIS ESTABLISHED ORDER. If you resist Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel and stand for the truth of ALL of God's word, expect to be labeled as heretics, crazies, and unloving. The doctrine of Balaam is pleasant to the itching ears of the majority, who will listen only to the prophets who tell them what they want to hear.
The "be nice and don't step on toes" camp.
Quote:
The LAW does not save anyone. However, the way any redeemed or saved person is able to prove it to HIMSELF, or anyone else, is that Yeshua, Jesus, gives the power of the HOLY Spirit, the Spirit of TRUTH and HOLINESS, to KEEP and DO God's commands. They are commandments of God, not suggestions. The Holy Spirit empowers us to delight in His Royal Law, not just the power to pontificate, or practice feigned affection. Do you LOVE the TRUTH?
Grace is the God given gift to be able to REPENT. You cannot repent apart from God's grace. The Holy Spirit along with grace empowers man to obey from the heart. Anything less than that, including the idea of salvation by grace alone, with no requirement other than professing belief, without free will repentant action, is, and should be, regarded as gross evil. This is the false faith of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and
Jezebel's phony baloney faith. Such faith is not Christian.
I agree with this for the reasons of the scriptures you posted.
Quote:
Yes, it still includes the 4th commandment. It is an insult to God to call Lucifer's sun-god day the Lord's Day. If we don't keep all of His 10 commandments in the tribulation, we will not likely be one of those who is able to endure to the end of the great tribulation. If we don't love and delight in GOD's SABBATH, we are in trouble and don't even know it. It is unrighteousness by definition. This is why Jesus said to pray that your flight not be on the SABBATH. Tribulation is the time context of that neglected instruction.
This has been mentioned by you before. If I did'nt ask the question at that time, I'm asking again. How do you see the sabbath as being properly observed, besides it being on a sat.? Do you see the sabbath as being properly observed as it was set forth in the Old Testament? I've heard of this but have had no real teaching on it . . .at least not to the point to where I felt I had a full understanding of the thinking behind this.
I was raised (I realize fully that tradition is often not biblical) to view sunday as a sabbath. On this day we were to do no work unless it was absolutly a have to. Church attendance was part of what we considered part of the sabbath. Hunting, fishing was out . . .TV, and playing baseball was okey tho . .lol. Since then, with some few scripture, I have come to believe that the Lord is our sabbath. I worked a job for 30 yrs that required me to work almost every sunday so my views on a sat sabbath . . .or any sabbath day specifically, have probably been slanted somewhat to fit in with the traditions I was raised with and the nesessity of my work. So . . .in the interest at an attempt at openmindedness to the scriptures, I would like your opinion on what you consider the proper way to observe the sabbath . . .for a gentile. I'm not whipping out scripture to prove my understanding because as I have already stated, my views could be slanted . . .if you would simply give me your opinion, with scripture, I'll chew on it awhile and see how it sits.
I've read your whole post and agree with most of it . .the above mentioned topic being the only exception, and even that I can't say that I disagree with because I am not completly sure on the sabbath topic.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
The Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from God ,a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when we can set aside all of our weekday concerns and devote ourselves to higher pursuits. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). It is said "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyoth (opportunities for congregants to be called up to the Word of God) are given on Shabbat than on any other day.
Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.
Shabbat is not specifically a day of prayer. Although we do pray on Shabbat, and spend a substantial amount of time intemple or churchpraying, prayer is not what distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. Observant Jews pray every day, three times a day. See Jewish Liturgy. To say that Shabbat is a day of prayer is no more accurate than to say that Shabbat is a day of feasting: we eat every day, but on Shabbat, we eat more elaborately and in a more leisurely fashion. The same can be said of prayer on Shabbat.
In modern America, we take the five-day work-week so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks thought Jews were lazy because we insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh day.
Shabbat involves two interrelated commandments: to remember (zachor) Shabbat, and to observe (shamor) Shabbat.
Zachor: To Remember
We are commanded to remember Shabbat; but remembering means much more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat. It also means to remember the significance of Shabbat, both as a commemoration of creation and as a commemoration of our freedom from slavery in Egypt.
In Exodus 20:11, after Fourth Commandment is first instituted, God explains, "because for six days, the L-rd made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and on the seventh day, he rested; therefore, the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, we remember and acknowledge that G-d is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things. We also emulate the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day, as G-d did. If G-d's work can be set aside for a day of rest, how can we believe that our own work is too important to set aside temporarily?
In Deuteronomy 5:15, while Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments, he notes the second thing that we must remember on Shabbat: "remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the L-rd, your G-d brought you forth from there with a might hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore the L-rd your G-d commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
What does the Exodus have to do with resting on the seventh day? It's all about freedom. As I said before, in ancient times, leisure was confined to certain classes; slaves did not get days off. Thus, by resting on Shabbat, we are reminded that we are free. But in a more general sense, Shabbat frees us from our weekday concerns, from our deadlines and schedules and commitments. During the week, we are slaves to our jobs, to our creditors, to our need to provide for ourselves; on Shabbat, we are freed from these concerns, much as our ancestors were freed from slavery in Egypt.
We remember these two meanings of Shabbat when we recite kiddush (the prayer over wine sanctifying Shabbat or a holiday). Friday night kiddush refers to Shabbat as both zikkaron l'ma'aseh berei**** (a memorial of the work in the beginning) and zeicher litzi'at mitzrayim (a remembrance of the exodus from Egypt).
Shamor: To Observe
Of course, no discussion of Shabbat would be complete without a discussion of the work that is forbidden on Shabbat. This is another aspect of Shabbat that is grossly misunderstood by people who do not observe it.
Most Americans see the word "work" and think of it in the English sense of the word: physical labor and effort, or employment. Under this definition, turning on a light would be permitted, because it does not require effort, but a rabbi would not be permitted to lead Shabbat services, because leading services is his employment. Jewish law prohibits the former and permits the latter. Many Americans therefore conclude that Jewish law doesn't make any sense.
The problem lies not in Jewish law, but in the definition that Americans are using. The Torah does not prohibit "work" in the 20th century English sense of the word. The Torah prohibits "melachah" (Mem-Lamed-Alef-Kaf-Heh), which is usually translated as "work," but does not mean precisely the same thing as the English word. Before you can begin to understand the Shabbat restrictions, you must understand the word "melachah."
Melachah generally refers to the kind of work that is creative, or that exercises control or dominion over your environment. The word may be related to "melekh" (king; Mem-Lamed-Kaf). The quintessential example of melachah is the work of creating the universe, which G-d ceased from on the seventh day. Note that G-d's work did not require a great physical effort: he spoke, and it was done.
The word melachah is rarely used in scripture outside of the context of Shabbat and holiday restrictions. The only other repeated use of the word is in the discussion of the building of the sanctuary and its vessels in the wilderness. Exodus Ch. 31, 35-38. Notably, the Shabbat restrictions are reiterated during this discussion (Ex. 31:13), thus we can infer that the work of creating the sanctuary had to be stopped for Shabbat. From this, the rabbis concluded that the work prohibited on Shabbat is the same as the work of creating the sanctuary. They found 39 categories of forbidden acts, all of which are types of work that were needed to build the sanctuary:
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
[ol][*]Sowing[*]Plowing THESE ARE THE WORKS THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE[*] UNDER RABBINICAL LAWS NOT UNDER GOD'S LAWS.[*]Reaping[*]Binding sheaves[*]Threshing[*]Winnowing[*]Selecting[*]Grinding[*]Sifting[*]Kneading[*]Baking[*]Shearing wool[*]Washing wool[*]Beating wool[*]Dyeing wool[*]Spinning[*]Weaving[*]Making two loops[*]Weaving two threads[*]Separating two threads[*]Tying[*]Untying[*]Sewing two stitches[*]Tearing[*]Trapping[*]Slaughtering[*]Flaying[*]Salting meat[*]Curing hide[*]Scraping hide[*]Cutting hide up[*]Writing two letters[*]Erasing two letters[*]Building[*]Tearing a building down[*]Extinguishing a fire[*]Kindling a fire[*]Hitting with a hammer[*]Taking an object from the private domain to the public, or transporting an object in the public domain. [/ol]
(Mishnah Shabbat, 7:2)
All of these tasks are prohibited, as well as any task that operates by the same principle or has the same purpose. In addition, the rabbis have prohibited handling any implement that is intended to perform one of the above purposes (for example, a hammer, a pencil or a match) unless the tool is needed for a permitted purpose (using a hammer to crack nuts when nothing else is available) or needs to be moved to do something permitted (moving a pencil that is sitting on a prayer book), or in certain other limited circumstances. Objects that may not be handled on Shabbat are referred to as "muktzeh," which means, "that which is set aside," because you set it aside (and don't use it unnecessarily) on Shabbat.
The rabbis have also prohibited travel, buying and selling, and other weekday tasks that would interfere with the spirit of Shabbat. The use of electricity is prohibited because it serves the same function as fire or some of the other prohibitions, or because it is technically considered to be "fire."
The issue of the use of an automobile on Shabbat, so often argued by non-observant Jews, is not really an issue at all for observant Jews. The automobile is powered by an internal combustion engine, which operates by burning gasoline and oil, a clear violation of the Torah prohibition against kindling a fire. In addition, the movement of the car would constitute transporting an object in the public domain, another violation of a Torah prohibition, and in all likelihood the car would be used to travel a distance greater than that permitted by rabbinical prohibitions. For all these reasons, and many more, the use of an automobile on Shabbat is clearly not permitted.
As with almost all of the commandments, all of these Shabbat restrictions can be violated if necessary to save a life.
A Typical Shabbat
At about 2PM or 3PM on Friday afternoon, observant Jews leave the office to begin Shabbat preparations. The mood is much like preparing for the arrival of a special, beloved guest: the house is cleaned, the family bathes and dresses up, the best dishes and tableware are set, a festive meal is prepared. In addition, everything that cannot be done during Shabbat must be set up in advance: lights and appliances must be set (or timers placed on them, if the household does so), the light bulb in the refrigerator must be removed or unscrewed, so it does not turn on when you open it, and preparations for the remaining Shabbat meals must be made. Shabbat, like all Jewish days, begins at sunset, because in the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day." From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. For the precise time when shabbat begins in your area, consult the list of candle lighting times provided by the Orthodox Union or any Jewish calendar.
Shabbat candles are lit and a blessing is recited no later than eighteen minutes before sunset. This ritual, performed by the woman of the house, officially marks the beginning of Shabbat. Two candles are lit, representing the two commandments: zachor (remember) and shamor (observe), discussed below.
The family then attends a brief evening service (45 minutes - that's brief by Jewish standards - see Jewish Liturgy).
After services, the family comes home for a festive, leisurely dinner. Before dinner, the man of the house recites Kiddush, a prayer over wine sanctifying Shabbat. The usual prayer for eating bread is recited over two loaves of challah, a sweet, eggy bread shaped in a braid. The family then eats dinner. Although there are no specific requirements or customs regarding what to eat, meals are generally stewed or slow cooked items, because of the prohibition against cooking during Shabbat. (Things that are mostly cooked before Shabbat and then reheated or kept warm are OK).
After dinner, the birkat ha-mazon (grace after meals) is recited. Although this is done every day, on Shabbat, it is done in a leisurely manner with many upbeat tunes.
By the time all of this is completed, it may be 9PM or later. The family has an hour or two to talk or study Torah, and then go to sleep.
The next morning Shabbat services begin around 9AM and continue until about noon. After services, the family says kiddush again and has another leisurely, festive meal. A typical afternoon meal is cholent, a very slowly cooked stew. My recipe is below. By the time birkat ha-mazon is done, it is about 2PM. The family studies Torah for a while, talks, takes an afternoon walk, plays some checkers, or engages in other leisure activities. A short afternoon nap is not uncommon. It is traditional to have a third meal before Shabbat is over. This is usually a light meal in the late afternoon.
Shabbat ends at nightfall, when three stars are visible, approximately 40 minutes after sunset. At the conclusion of Shabbat, the family performs a concluding ritual called Havdalah (separation, division). Blessings are recited over wine, spices and candles. Then a blessing is recited regarding the division between the sacred and the secular, between Shabbat and the working days, etc. For details, see Havdalah Home Ritual.
As you can see, Shabbat is a very full day when it is properly observed, and very relaxing. You really don't miss being unable to turn on the TV, drive a car or go shopping.
Recipe for Cholent
Cholent is a traditional Shabbat dish, because it is designed to be cooked very slowly. It can be started before Shabbat and is ready to eat for lunch the next day. The name "cholent" supposedly comes from the French words "chaud lent" meaning "hot slow." If French seems like a strange source for the name of a traditional Jewish dish, keep in mind that many of the ancestors of Ashkenazic Jews traveled from Israel to Germany and Russia by way of France.
[ul][*]2 pounds fatty meat (I use stewing beef, but brisket is more common)[*]2 cups dry beans (navy beans, great northern beans, pintos, limas are typical choices).[*]1 cup barley[*]6 medium potatoes[*]2 medium onions[*]2 tablespoons flour[*]3 tablespoons oil[*]garlic, pepper and paprika to taste[*]water to cover [/ul]
Soak the beans and barley until they are thoroughly softened. Sprinkle the flour and spices on the meat and brown it lightly in the oil. Cut up the potatoes into large chunks. Slice the onions. Put everything into a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil on the stove top, then put in the oven at 250 degrees before Shabbat begins. Check it in the morning, to make sure there is enough water to keep it from burning but not enough to make it soggy. Other than that, leave it alone. By lunch time Shabbat afternoon, it is ready to eat.
This also works very well in a crock pot on the low setting, but be careful not to put in too much water!
THE ABOVE STUDY IS FROM THE VIEW POINT OF TODAYS JUDAISM AND A LOT OF RULES BY RABBIS, WE IN CHRIST OBSERVE IT AS IT WAS INTENDED, TOTAL REST AND TIME WITH FAMILY SINGING HYMS AND EATING FRUIT AND JUST CONVERSING AND READING THE WORD AND PRAYER, AND JUST FORGETTING ABOUT WORK AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN LIFE ,WITH MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND BILLS OF ALL SORTS, THAT IS FOR THE NEXT DAY TO WORRY ABOUT,LOL
THOSE MESSIANIC RABBIS THAT DO TEACH AND PREACH ON THE SABBATH DO SO BECAUSE IN FACT THEY ARE SAVING LIFES AND SOULS, ALL PERMITTED UNDER THE TRUE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW.
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
I also havea qusetion. Do all Messianic believers believe as you do about keeping the law? This is a very interesting and educational post. Thanks for all of the insights.
Chuck
Question :Alex do you agree Jesus is\was God?
I have noticed you have spelled Jesus' name yet you spell God's name as G-D or g-d.
I have to admit my ignorance, does Jesus have a different name you are to respectfull to use?
Do you see anything wrong with spelling God's name as Jesus? Mr. Pirk
Jesus is the human body of God, therefore he was God in the flesh.
Yes the Human name of the Christ is Yeshuah, I spelled God as G-d because this article was meant originally for a messianic group which believes God is a sacred name and should not be pronounced, i don't believe as they do,I believe God is my father and I can call him Abba(Daddy) By The Spirit in me.Yeshua is his earthly name, yawehev is his heavenly name and jews do not want to offend him so they spell it YHWV and His Title of God as G-d.
Yes I do believe calling Christ "JESUS" is desrespectful and racial, Jesus comes from the Greek word "EISUS" which means EI= Earth, Sus= Pig, therefore the name means earthpig, but in other languages Jesus means absolutley nothing , while his name in Hebrew "Yeshuah Means God's salvation, It is not grammatically correct to translate names of people so why change God's name ?
My name is Alex in any language, In greek it means "Governor" in hebrew it means "Ruler", but if you change it to something else it looses the intent that my parents meant to give me.
I understand most of you accepted Him as Jesus, but He knows who he is, so when you call on Him ,he forgives your ignorance and responds, for his name is written in your Hearts.
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
I also havea qusetion. Do all Messianic believers believe as you do about keeping the law? This is a very interesting and educational post. Thanks for all of the insights.
Chuck
Yes, and if they don't they are not messianics but Gentile Christians then.
__________________
"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
lTHE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY OR LAWLESSNESS
Shabbat, like all Jewish days, begins at sunset, because in the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day." From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. For the precise time when shabbat begins in your area, consult the 
