“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
What does this mean? In this teaching, from the life of Abraham, Nathan explains how YHVH’s people may not always be walking in his perfect will, but he is merciful despite this, even though finding his perfect will for our lives should be our aim and goal.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
The Bible reveals that there is a metaphorical river of life that flows from the throne of YHVH Elohim in heaven. Yeshua/Jesus tells us that this supernatural, spiritual river can flow through us out onto others. As it does, it brings a blessing to those around us, but to us as well. How can we receive heaven’s blessing that will help us to navigate through all of life’s problems and give us victory in every situation? Watch this video to find out.
Comments are welcomed on Nathan’s Bible study blog at https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
The story of Abraham leaving Babylon reveals an important biblical truth: the great mercy that YHVH Elohim—our Father in heaven—has for his children despite their weaknesses and failures. Although YHVH has a perfect will or plan for the life of each individual, even when a person strays from it, he still continues working with his child leading her or him forward in spite of their missteps and failures. This was the case with Abraham. Although he was a man of faith, he still took some wrong turns along the way, yet his heart was right and YHVH continued to lead him forward despite his missteps. We can learn much from Abraham and be encouraged by his example and YHVH’s mercy.
In studying the life of Abraham, there is an important principle from Romans 12:2 concerning finding the good, better and perfect will of Elohim for our lives.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Christian Standard Bible)
And be not conformed to this age, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your soul that ye may experience what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God. (Jubilee Bible 2000)
As much the Bible respect and even venerate Abraham as the father of the faithful (read Romans chapter four), it appears that he did not follow Elohim’s instructions perfectly at first. It wasn’t that Abraham was out of the will of Elohim, rather that he may not always have been in the absolute perfect will of Elohim, although in the overall sense he was headed in the right direction. What can we learn from this? Despite human weakness and reluctance to follow the Creator’s instructions immediately and perfectly, YHVH was still merciful and gracious with the spiritual father of our faith because the intent of his heart was inclined on obeying his Creator. Thus, there is still hope for each of us when we stray briefly from YHVH’s perfect will for our lives.
Although Abraham was obedient to YHVH to leave Babylonia, he did not immediately leave his father’s house and go directly to the country that YHVH would show him, but did so in incremental steps. (Compare Gen 11:31 with 12:1.) Moreover, Abraham did not leave his father’s family completely, but he took part of his father’s house with him including his father and nephew. What’s more, he first went to Haran which is located in northern Mesopotamia and is nowhere near Canaan. When Abraham finally made his way to Canaan minus his father, he still had some members of his larger family with him, something YHVH instructed him to leave behind (Gen 12:1). As we discover later, his nephew Lot proved to be a continuous thorn in Abraham’s side in fulfilling YHVH’s mission for his life in a new land (Gen 113:5-13; 14:1ff; 19:1ff).
What lessons can we learn from this account? First, YHVH is gracious to his children even when they do not obey him completely and immediately. Scripture still refers to Abraham as the father of the faithful or faithfulness (Rom 4:12, 16). Second, Abraham was a man of prominence in Babylon (or Chaldea), who was recognized as a mighty prince (Gen 23:6), yet when he was 75 years old, YHVH asked him to leave the comforts of life and his prestigious social position in Babylon—the New York City of its day, and trek some 600 miles by foot across the desert to the backwoods region of Canaan. No doubt, this was not an easy move for Abraham at his age.
Similarly, Yeshua tells his disciples that they may have to make similar sacrifices if they want to follow him including leaving family and loved ones (Matt 10:35–39). Despite the difficult choices that Yeshua’s followers have to make, he promises that their eternal rewards will be greater than anything the had to leave behind (Matt 19:29). What physical obstacles stand in your way of fulfilling YHVH’s spiritual calling, and his mission and destiny for your life?
Presently, YHVH is calling his people out of the spiritual Babylon (Rev 18:4) of man-made religious systems that, to one degree or another, have supplanted or even made of none effect the simple truths of YHVH’s word by doctrines and traditions of men (Mark 7:9, 13). Anything that takes precedence in the hearts and minds of men that is contrary to the Bible is, by biblical definition, an idol. End times spiritual Babylon is full of idolatry. It is a confused mixture of truth and lies. YHVH called Abraham out of the Babylon of his day, and he is now calling his people out of the Babylon of our day to worship and obey him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). YHVH’s end time saints will be those who follow Yeshua the Messiah unconditionally wherever he goes and whatever he asks of them (Rev 14:4–6; Mark 8:34). Their chief identification mark is that they follow the Torah-commandments of Elohim and have the faith of Yeshua, that is, their lives have been transformed by the message of the gospel (Rev 14:17; 12:14).
What were the consequences of Abraham not following YHVH’s will perfectly when commanded to leave Ur? First, YHVH did, in a sense, chastise Abraham in that he suffered the consequences of not heeding Elohim’s instructions to leave Ur immediately by leaving everything including his family behind. Had he left Lot behind, his headaches in Canaan would have been fewer. Lot proved to be a thorn in Abraham’s side. First, Lot greedily took the best pastures for his flocks away from Abraham, even though YHVH had promised the whole land of Canaan to Abraham. Second, Abraham had to imperil himself and his men in rescuing Lot from the Babylonians. Third, Lot’s offspring, Moab and Ammon, would prove to be continual enemies of the Israelites for hundreds of years afterwards—another consequence of Abraham not following Elohim’s instructions perfectly. In this case, the sins of the fathers had generational consequences for hundreds of years.
Romans 12:2 teaches us that each saint has to prove what is the good, better and best will of Elohim for their lives. When Abraham left Ur and only partially followed Elohim’s instructions, he was in the good or better will of Elohim, but not his perfect will. Nevertheless, Abraham’s heart was still in the right place and he was headed in the right direction. Elohim still counted that act of faith toward Abraham’s righteousness (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:22). Nevertheless Abraham still suffered the consequences of his not walking in Elohim’s perfect will, and this also happens to us sometimes as well.
Nonetheless, YHVH is gracious to those who have a heart to follow him, though we may only be walking is his good and better will, not his perfect will for our lives. The point is this: to the degree that we obey Elohim, we will be blessed, and to the degree that we do not obey him we will not be blessed. There are degrees and stages to obedience and divine judgment. When we do not fully obey YHVH, the consequences of our actions that we suffer may, in fact, help to bring us back into Elohim’s perfect will. This is because as a loving Father, YHVH sometimes has to discipline us as a form of guidance to bring us to his perfect will for our lives. The writer of Hebrews discusses this:
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom YHVH loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, Elohim dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see YHVH. (Heb 12:6–14)
In Ephesians 5:32, Paul calls marriage and the relationship between a husband and wife “a great mystery”, while likening this physical relationship to Messiah/Christ and the church. The pre-incarnate Yeshua married his Israelite bride at Mount Sinai and entered into an intimate relationship with her as metaphorically symbolized in the Tabernacle of Moses. Yeshua is remarrying his bride—a comprised of redeemed Jewish and non-Jewish believers—and desires the same, but a deeper, more intimate relationship than he even had previously with Israel. The intimate, physical relationship between a husband and wife is a physical picture of a greater spiritual reality that should ideally exist between Messiah and his spiritual bride. When we understand this deep mystery, this will help to propel us into a deeper walk with our Lord and Savior as we prepare ourselves to be his forever bride in his kingdom.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
YHVH’s saints are people who walk in the past, present and the future all at the same time. How is this? The saints of YHVH, who are wise and filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding, look to history to show them their roots to learn who they are, where they have come from, which in turn guides them forward into the future. YHVH’s wise children, the disciples of Yeshua also learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before them, so that they do not repeat these mistakes of the past and suffer the consequences of past failures. This understanding guides us in the present and helps to lead us forward into our future destiny, which is the anchor of our hope for tomorrow. This is why we are people of the past, present and future. The warrior bride of Yeshua as a child of the light knows her spiritual ancestry and heritage, who she is along with her divine mission and her future destiny.
One key to unlocking the mysteries of the Bible is understanding the cycles of history. Like a giant wheel that keeps turning relentlessly and irrevocably, the Bible chronicles the endless cycles of YHVH’s people as they encounter the forces of evil and darkness and either overcome it, or succumb to it. To know the past is also to understand the future. In these end times, heaven’s enemies are pulling out the stops to destroy YHVH’s plans and purposes on this earth along with his people who are executing those plans to defeat his enemies and to spread and enlarge his kingdom here below through the spreading of the gospel. Yeshua’s bride will play a pivotal role in the end times in helping to prepare the way for Messiah’s return and will be part of his heavenly army that will defeat the forces of Antichrist.
As end time warriors for Yeshua our soon coming Warrior King—the Messiah Son of David—YHVH’s saints do not have to be children of darkness who are unprepared and who do not know what lies ahead. If we read the road map of the Bible, it will guide our steps like radar through the darkness and foggy mist of the future. Yeshua’s warrior bride will know who she is and what her role and destiny will be in the end times. She will be like the wise virgins in Yeshua’s Matthew 25 parable prepared and ready for her Bridegroom’s wedding (Matt 25:1–13).
The shofar trumpet is sounding in the distance for those who have the ears to hear announcing the soon coming King of kings, the saints’ Heavenly Bridegroom (Matt 24:31 cp. 25:6). Now is the time to awaken from our spiritual sleep (Rev 3:14–22), then to exit Babylonian religious systems which are mixture of good and evil (Rev 18:4), and to make ourselves ready by repenting of the sins, and donning the white ropes of the works of righteousness to be the bride for which Yeshua is coming from his Father’s house to marry (Rev 19:6–9). Yeshua through his apostolic servants is calling his bride to awaken and be ready for his soon return.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overt take you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For Elohim did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess 5:1–11)
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom 13:11–14)
In our quest to learn more about the end times role of the bride of Yeshua, let us step back into the annals of biblical history and uncover a mystery that will enlighten us as to what is happening on earth today with regard to the epic struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. We are literally going back into history to learn about the future, for, again, like a giant wheel that goes round and round, history often repeats itself again and again. Through this, we will gain an understanding of how Yeshua’s warrior bride figures into the giant picture of the events of the last days and how she can prepare to meet her Heavenly Bridegroom. Let us begin gathering the puzzle pieces and then begin assembling them to see what the Bible reveals about this rather mysterious figure which we refer to as Yeshua’s warrior bride. So buckle your seat belts as we embark on an epic journey through several thousand years of biblical history. It’s back to the future!
Let first start in Jeremiah 30:7 where we find a rather cryptic and arcane passage that has engendered much fanciful speculation among many Christian Bible teachers. Here is the passage:
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. (Jer 30:7)
Forget the past speculations you have heard concerning Jacob’s Trouble. Instead let’s read the Bible and it will tell us. Understanding Jacob’s Trouble will unlock a treasure trove of information that will reward us with understanding concerning where we are presently at regarding the end times world as it relates to Yeshua’s bride as well as her role to play and her ultimate destiny.
Before defining Jacob’s Trouble in detail, we must first step back. Before facing Jacob’s Trouble, YHVH had to prepare his people for the face-off with evil they were about to encounter. YHVH will not leave his people defenseless and unprepared to face their enemy. He is a good and loving Father and Shepherd who goes before his children-sheep and prepares them for what is to come—IF they will follow his instructions! IF is a big word. YHVH’s protection and provision is always based on how his people respond to him. The choice is theirs. Wake up and get prepared or go back to the sleep of spiritual complacency.
The Bride of Messiah
Yeshua views the saints as his bride as do the apostolic writers. Yeshua cryptically alludes to this idea several times in the Gospels (Matt 9:15; 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Mark 2:19–20; Luke 12:25–40). Several apostolic writers openly discuss this theme in some of their writings as well.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah. (Col 11:2)
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Messiah; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto Elohim. (Rom 7:4)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of Elohim. (Rev 19:7–9)
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. (Rev 21:9)
Two Old Testament prophets also predict Yeshua’s marriage to his Israelite bride.
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know YHVH. (Hos 2:19–20)
For thy Maker is thine husband; YHVH of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the Elohiim of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isa 54:5)
Jacob’s Trouble—a phrase found in Jeremiah 30:7—is a prophetic codeword for some important end time events that will occur at Yeshua’s second coming and involve the warrior bride of Yeshua who will be the resurrected and glorified saints. Understanding the enemies that Jacob encountered when returning to the Promised Land after his exile in Babylon is a biblical road map to help the last days’ saints understand who they are and what their role is presently as Yeshua’s disciple as well as their future destiny at Yeshua’s return and subsequently in his millennial kingdom. This message along with the previous ones in this series is a wake up call to all Christians—who are the potential bride of Yeshua—to prepare herself for Yeshua’s soon coming NOW before it’s too late. This is a message to the wise virgins who have ears to hear.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
Sadly, in most churches, a whole boatload of important biblical truths ARE NOT taught. For most Christians, you come to Jesus, have an encounter with some water, eat some bread and fruit of the vine every so often, get your get-of-hell ticket punched, attend church occasionally and generally try to be a good person, and then when you die, you’re out of here to live happily ever after and that’s about it. Or is it? In reality, there’s more—A LOT MORE to the gospel message. And it’s actually an exciting venture involving working hand-in-hand with the soon coming King of kings to defeat the enemy with more exciting events to follow as the Bible clearly reveals. This and much more is the destiny of Christians who take their walk seriously and who love Yeshua the Messiah with all their might as this teaching reveals.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
