25 Reasons I Don’t Celebrate Christmas

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Please do not be put off by the title and incorrectly assume that I do not believe in Yeshua the Messiah (aka Jesus Christ). Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with this blog (not to mention the other public aspects of our ministry knows that there is no greater promoter of Yeshua than me. Moreover, you do not need to go any further than to look at the tags column on the right side of the front page of this blog that lists the top subjects that I write about. What is the most prominent tag? YESHUA!!! Yes! I invite you to click on that tag and you will discover dozens if not hundreds of articles that I have written promoting Yeshua and the gospel message. Enough said.

Now to my article on why I do not celebrate Christmas even though I am passionate believer and disciple of Yeshua the Messiah, my Master and Savior. — Natan

1—Christmas is not the day on which Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) was born. He was likely born in the autumn during the biblical Feast of Tabernacles. In ancient times, December 25 was considered the birthday of the demon-sun god by many heathen religions. This was definitely not the birthday of Yeshua!

2—There’s no biblical command to celebrate Christmas.

3—Christmas has become a pagan substitution for YHVH’s true biblical holidays or festivals, which are listed in Leviticus 23. These are the same biblical festivals that Yeshua and his apostles celebrated. They never celebrated the Messiah’s birth.

4—Christmas is the Christianization of various ancient pagan sun god, sex-worship rituals having to do with the winter solstice. “Cleaning up” a pagan custom is contrary to the biblical truth of turning away from the practices of the heathen and having nothing to do with them after one chooses to follow Elohim and his Word as found in the Bible.

5—Christmas is laced with heathen and Satanic rituals and traditions. These are things the saints should have nothing to do with!

6—The Bible forbids placing any trees or tree-like objects near an altar (or in a church building), since this is a heathen practice (Deut 16:21).  Most Christians violate this command when they place Christmas trees in their church sanctuaries near their altars every year at Christmas.

7—The Bible forbids the heathen practice of incorporating trees into any religious service (Deut 12:1–4). Elohim hates pagan religious practices that happen under trees (Isa 57:5; Jer 3:6).

8—Celebrating Christmas is friendship with the world which is an act of hatred toward Elohim. In this area, it makes one a friend of the world and an enemy of Elohim (Jas 4:4).

9—Elohim condemns, forbids and calls an abomination bringing any pagan items into our houses (Deut 7:24–26), of which Christmas trees and nearly all Christmas’ associated accoutrements, paraphernalia and traditions are associated.

10—The Bible commands the saints not to put up anything that even remotely resembles a Christmas tree. Jeremiah 10:1–5 is almost a perfect description of a modern Christmas tree—and it was a pagan custom 1000 years before Christmas became a Christian holiday in the Catholic Church.

11—Christmas perpetuates the lie of Santa Clause to one’s children. Lying is not a value one wants to pass on to their children. Lying is a violation of the ninth of YHVH’s ten commandments and is a sin.

12—The Bible commands the saints not to learn or practice the ways of the heathens (Jer 10:2; Lev 18:3; 20:23).

13—Christmas is about syncretizing biblical truth (i.e., the birth of Yeshua) with pagan and satanic customs. In the Bible, YHVH commands his people not to be like the heathens, turn from evil, and don’t learn their evil customs. Yeshua commanded his disciples to be in the world, but not to practice its evil ways (John 17:11, 14). Christmas is practicing the evil ways of the heathens.

14—For many, the main focus of Christmas is on self (“What gifts am I getting?”), rather than on Elohim’s gift to mankind, which was Yeshua the Messiah (who wasn’t even born in December). Christmas generally promotes a culture of selfishness and self-centeredness. These are values that were antithetical to everything that Yeshua and his disciples lived and taught.

15—Christmas promotes an atmosphere of greed, covetousness and materialism, since the major focus for most people is on receiving gifts or what’s in it for me, and not on Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. 

16—Christmas is a tradition started by the Catholic Church, and I’m not a Catholic and I don’t take my spiritual marching orders from any pope—especially when he tells me to do something contrary to the Bible, the Word of Elohim.

17—Christmas is a short, one day long holiday. Too much emphasis is placed on this one day. The devil has tricked and shortchanged Christians into substituting Christian holidays like Christmas for the biblical ones. YHVH gives his saints seven biblical holidays with two of them lasting for seven days each (see Lev 23). These biblical holidays are called feasts, and they are spiritual and guilt-free celebrations focusing on rejoicing and righteously partying with family, friends and Elohim around godly and biblical themes all involving the gospel’s plan of redemption. They are totally righteous with no paganism mixed in. This can’t be said about Christmas.

18—Do your homework. You will find that even the phrase “Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas” is sacrilegious and blasphemous.

19—If Christmas day turns sour for people (e.g. because of bad family experiences and unfulfilled expectations), then one’s year is ruined until next Christmas when one gets another shot at it in hopes it’ll be better the next go around. How pitifully sad!

20—Christmas as celebrated by the majority of people ends up taking the focus off the glorious event of the Savior’s birth, trivializes it and then places the emphasis on gift-giving, partying and mindless unbiblical pagan traditions and rituals.

21—The Bible commands us to abstain from all appearances of evil (1 Thess 5:22). There is much evil, Satanic and idolatrous baggage associated with Christmas; therefore, those who are serious about their biblical walk of righteousness and want to be obedient to YHVH Elohim should not be going near it.

22—Those who celebrate Christmas in the traditional way are honoring or worshipping pagan deities. Anytime anyone puts a pagan practice or tradition ahead of obedience to Elohim and his Word, this is, by biblical definition, idolatry. Whether it’s Christmas lights on the house, wreaths, evergreen foliage, mistletoe, the Christmas tree with its red balls, gifts under the tree, Santa Clause, or even the Christmas greeting of “Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas,” it all originates from ancient Satanic, idolatrous and lewd sex worship practices originating from pagan religions. This is not something with which the true saints of YHVH Elohim wants to be involved.

23—Christmas puts a lot of people into financial debt. Debt is bondage and evil.

24—Christmas was become a major money-making venture for merchants, and I refuse to be suckered in by their marketing schemes to purchase their products.

25—Celebrating Christmas is following a multitude to do evil—something YHVH forbids (Exod 23:2).

Now that you have received the light of the truth about Christmas, you are responsible before Elohim to live up to that truth. Will you put obedience to the Word of Elohim and his truth first in our life, or continue to walk in sin? To obey Elohim means to cast out of your life all idolatrous practices and cease doing that which is evil and sinful. This is then followed by choosing to obey YHVH Elohim in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24). “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (Jas 4:17).

 

Join Natan for Shabbat Fellowship & Bible Study on Zoom

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Shalom Everyone,

  
It is almost time for another Zoom gathering.  The link and information is below.  Be sure to have the Zoom app downloaded on your device and you have opened an account.  It is free.
We sure did miss everyone, but felt the prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  What fruit of love we have experienced!  Ray is back home now.  He has another mountain to address but I believe we are all facing something.  Remember, with Elohim all things are possible!  What a wonderful opportunity to lift up a sacrifice of praise to our heavenly Father and grow in grace.


A sister sent me the Shema prayer and Nathan tweeked it a bit for us.  It is beautiful to see how we are coming together in the Ruach as time goes by and adding to our meetings.  Testimonies are abounding.  Feel free to share so that our online ecclesia is edified.  In addition to the Shema, we would love to hear the shofar blown at the beginning of our gatherings.  Nathan volunteered to do this and if someone else has a shofar and would like to share their gift of “sounding off”, please mention it and we will make sure you have that opportunity.

Shema:  Hear, O Israel: Yehovah our Elohim, Yehovah is one. You shall loveYehovah your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul andwith all your might. And these words that I command you todayshall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to yourchildren, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, andwhen you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when yourise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall beas frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on thedoorposts of your house and on your gates.


Donna Nash and Natan Lawrence are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Shabbat FellowshipTime: Dec 25, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82418208503
Meeting ID: 824 1820 8503One tap mobile+13126266799,,82418208503# US (Chicago)+19292056099,,82418208503# US (New York)
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In Yeshua’s love and service,
James and Donna NashOpen Door Missions International                                       

(910)713-5554 http://www.opendoormissionsinternational.org

 

The Spirit of Antichrist’s Takeover of America Since 1963

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Those of us who have been alive since the 1950s and 1960s or before are well aware that America is not the same country as it was. We have watched astoundingly as it has moved progressively and systematically away from everything that made it the envy of the world, a light on the hill for all nations. Despite its flaws, millions of people from every nation have left their countries to come here…and they are still coming. Yet, as great as it still may be, it is largely a foreign country to those of us who knew it before, and this has been by design.

You see, America stands in the way of the Babylon the Great New World Order Antichrist system from taking over the world as the Bible predicted would occur 2,000 years ago in the Book of Revelation. For the satanic forces of darkness to prevail, for Lucifer (a.k.a Satan the devil) to prevail in enslaving the world, he must eliminate all vestiges of Christianity and biblical influence. It is this satanic New World Order that Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah will destroy when he returns to the earth.

Please read what is below carefully. If you are a young person who is reading this, and you think that things have always been the way they are now in America, stop! Go talk to your parents or grandparents who are over 60 years of age. They will tell you otherwise. Do not believe the propaganda that you are being taught in your public schools and institutions of “higher” learning about America and its culture. You will understand why when you read what is below. Our nation is being socially engineered by design away from all that is good. Do not fall for the lies you are being told that America is on the right path. Leftist progressivism is a to entrap and enslave the gullible and naive. Think!!! — Natan Lawrence

From https://cleverjourneys.com/2021/01/08/u-s-congressional-record-45-communist-goals/

Entered into the US Congressional Record in 1963: The 45 Communist Goals for the U.S.

BYTEXANS JACK & DODIEON  

How Liberals Have Been Totally Suckered Into Being Communists

How many of these original 45 goals can you identify as being achieved?

Congressman A.S. Herlong JR. was a Democrat from Florida. [Who was Congressman Albert Sydney Herlong Jr.? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Herlong] A decade before this, Sen. Eugene McCarthy had conducted congressional hearings against the communists. Here in are the communist goals as published in 1963.

THE 45 COMMUNIST GOALS AS READ INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, 1963

Congressional Record–Appendix, pp. A34-A35

January 10, 1963

Current Communist Goals
EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 10, 1963

Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.

At Mrs. Nordman’s request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following “Current Communist Goals,” which she identifies as an excerpt from “The Naked Communist,” by Cleon Skousen:

U. S. Congressional Seal

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS [from 1963]


1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.


2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.


3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.


5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.


6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.


7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.


8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.


9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.


10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.


11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces.


12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.


13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.


15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.


16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.


17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.


18. Gain control of all student newspapers.


19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.


20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.


21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.


22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”


23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.


25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.


26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”


27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”


28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”


29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.


30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”


31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.


32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.


33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.


34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.


35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.


36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.


37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.


38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].


39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.


40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.


41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.


42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use [“]united force[“] to solve economic, political or social problems.


43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.


44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.


45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court.

 

Psalms 82–88: From Heaven to Hell and in Between

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Psalm 82

Psalm 82:1, Elohim stands…the gods/Congregation of the mighty. Dr. Michael Heiser in his two books, Reversing Hermon and The Unseen Realm puts forth a convincing argument that the elohim mentioned in this verse are what Scripture refers to in many places as “the hosts of heaven” and refer to Elohim’s divine heavenly council. This same council is also referred to in Deut 33:2; 1 Kgs 22:19; 2 Chron 18:18; Job 15:8; Jer 23:18; Dan 7:9–10 and Heb 2:1; Acts 7:53. 

“The congregation of the mighty” seems to be a reference to Elohim acting as the Supreme Judge among his divine, heavenly council that carries out his orders. This is more than the traditional “Godhead” (i.e., the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and also includes angelic and spirit beings, and even Satan himself. 

From time to time, Elohim gathers his council together as we see in Job (Job 1:6; 2:1). Even lying spirits are subject to and do the bidding of Elohim who presides over this council also referred to as the host of heaven (1 Kgs 22:19–23). Moreover, some of the “Us” passages in the Scriptures, which have typically been attributed to the “Godhead,” according to Heiser, likely refer to this divine counsel (e.g., Gen 11:7; Ezek 44:6). This has been the view of ancient Jewish sages as well.

Modern biblical theologians have traditionally taken a non-supernaturalistic view of Psalm 82:1 by saying that the gods here refer to human rulers. While elohim may by definition and biblical usage refer to human rulers, this passage cannot be limited to this definition alone, since verse seven refers to these gods or elohim as “dying like men” as a result of Elohim’s divine judgment on them because of their wickedness. This threat makes little or no sense if it is referring only to human rulers. 

For the record, Yeshua quotes verse six in reference to human rulers (John 10:34; 14:30; 16:11), so this passage should not be taken to refer only to Elohim’s divine counsel or just to human rulers, but probably to both. This is because behind human rulers are evil spirits or principalities that govern the nations (Dan 10:20; Eph 6:12; Rev 13:2) and all of these are under the aegis of Satan, who has his own kingdom (Matt 12:26) and is presently the ruler of this world (John 12:31); however, even Satan’s kingdom is under the ultimate authority of YHVH Elohim.

The idea that there were and are unseen evil spirits and demi-gods that rule the nations of the world behind the scenes is revealed in the book of First Enoch and is also found in traditional ancient Mesopotamian historical accounts and forms the basis for the ancient Greek mythos, as Heiser proves. 

Additionally, we learn from Genesis chapter ten (in the Table of the Nations) that, at that time, there were seventy nations of the world that rebelled against YHVH at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11). Interestingly, and a little later, Jacob had 70 descendants who went down to Egypt (Exod 1:5) and who become the children of Israel. From them, Moses chose 70 elders to rule over Israel (Exod 24:1), which would eventually became the Great Sanhedrin that ruled the Jewish people. YHVH then commissioned Israel to evangelize the apostate nations by being a spiritual light to them (Deut 4:5–8)—a task they utterly failed to perform. Picking up where ancient Israel failed in its mission, Yeshua chose 70 disciples not only to replace the Jewish Sanhedrin in spiritual authority over the people of Elohim, but to go forth and to preach the gospel to the 70 nations (Luke 10:1–12, 17; Acts 1:8 cp. Matt 28:18–20) that had been lost to the kingdom of Satan at the Tower of Babel, thereby to reclaim the world for the kingdom of Elohim at the devil’s expense.

Eventually, and hopefully in the not too distant future, the resurrected and glorified saints, who will become the sons of Elohim and will be adopted into his divine family as small E elohim (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; Gal 3:26; Rom 8:14; Eph 1:5), will rule and reign with Elohim (capital E Elohim, Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) over the new heavens and new earth. This will all be to Satan and his kingdom’s detriment and to that of the small E elohim human rulers of his present-day earthly kingdom, all of whom will be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age (Rev 20:10).

Psalm 82:6, You are gods…children of the Most High.This statement likely has a dual meaning or double entendré. It can refer to the righteous saints as Yeshua alludes to in John 10:34, or possibly to the demon-nephilim of Genesis 6:4–6 who were the spawn of the heavenly angelic hosts who became the fallen angels and who cohabited with women in the pre-flood world as the context of this psalm seems to suggest.

Psalm 83

Psalm 83:6–8, Edom. This is a ten-nation confederacy of Muslim nations led by Edom, Israel’s archenemy, who have conspired against Israel. This seems to be prophetic, since this event has yet to occur. The territories of these ancient peoples include the modern nations of Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey. The territory of the ancient Edomites is in the modern nations of Jordan, Ishmael are in northern Saudi Arabia, Moab and Ammon are in Jordan, Hagrites are in Jordan in the ancient area of Gilead, Gebal is in Jordan, Amalek (grandson of Esau) were found in the Negev Desert and Sinai Peninsula, Philistia are modern day Palestinians in the Gaza Strip area, and Assyria was centered on the upper Tigris River, in northern Mesopotamia (modern northern Iraq, northeastern Syria and southeastern Turkey). At the pinnacle of its power, the Assyrian empire stretched from the island of Cyprus to Persia (Iran), and from the Caucasus Mountains (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) to the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. 

Continue reading →
 

Psalms 81 and 82 on New Moons and Small e Gods

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Psalm 81 

Psalm 81:3, Blow the trumpet [Heb. shofar] at the time of the New Moon [Heb. chodesh], at the full moon [Heb. keseh meaning full moon or concealed, covered — scholars disagree as to its meaning and the origin of the word], on our solemn feast day [Heb. chag] — NKJV. The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach translates this verse alternatively as follows,

Blow the shofar at the moon’s renewal, at the time appointed for our festive day.

The origins of the Hebrew word keseh behind the phrase “full moon” is uncertain and there is debate among the experts on this subject. Some Hebrew lexicons relate it to a Hebrew root word meaning “to conceal, to cover” (e.g., Gesenius; Strong’s number H3677 cp. H3678), while others tell us that it means “fullness; full moon” (e.g., Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon; cp. The TWOT; Strong’s). BDB tells us that the origin of keseh is unknown and that it may be an Aramaic loan word meaning “full moon.” Gesenius in his lexicon states that the etymology of keseh isn’t clear, but he favors the idea of the moon being covered or concealed in darkness as opposed to being covered in light (i.e., in its full moon state). 

The only other usage of keseh in the Scriptures is found in Prov 7:20, which gives us no clue as to the exact meaning of the word.

Orthodox Jewish scholars tell us that keseh means “to conceal or to cover.” They say that the only biblical festival that occurs at the time of the new moon (biblically, when the first sliver of the new moon becomes visible) is Yom Teruah (or Rosh HaShanah), which occurs on the first day of the seventh month (in late summer). At this time, the moon is nearly completely covered or concealed except for a small, visible sliver.

The next phrase in this verse speaks of a solemn feast day, which is the Hebrew word chag. This word refers to the three pilgrimage festivals, which are Passover and the Feast (or chag) of Unleavened, the Feast (or chag) of Weeks or Pentecost and the Feast (or chag) of Tabernacles (Exod 23:14–16; Deut 16:16).

Jewish scholars relate the word chag to Yom Teruah (which they say refers to Rosh HaShanah, see The ArtScroll Tanach Series Tehillim/Psalms Commentary on this verse). The problem with this interpretation is that the Scriptures never call the day of the new moon (rosh chodesh) a chag, nor is Yom Teruah technically a chag either in the strictest sense of the meaning of the word and its usage in Scripture. Therefore, the word keseh, if it means “concealment” must be referring to both the new moon day (the first day of each month, and to Yom Teruah, which occurs on the first day of the seventh month), while the chag must be referring to the three pilgrimage festivals.

Those scholars who take the word keseh to mean “full moon” say that the phrase in this verse containing this word refers to the pilgrimage festivals (Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles), which all occurred on or very near the time of the full moon.

Whichever interpretation you side with, the bottom line is this: The Scriptures command us to sound the shofar at the time of the New Moon, on Yom Teruah and during the three pilgrimage feasts. (See also Num 10:10.)

Psalm 82

Psalm 82:1, Elohim stands…the gods/Congregation of the mighty.Dr. Michael Heiser in his two books, Reversing Hermon and The Unseen Realm puts forth a convincing argument that the elohim mentioned in this verse are what Scripture refers to in many places as “the hosts of heaven” and refer to Elohim’s divine heavenly council. This same council is also referred to in Deut 33:2; 1 Kgs 22:19; 2 Chron 18:18; Job 15:8; Jer 23:18; Dan 7:9–10 and Heb 2:1; Acts 7:53. 

“The congregation of the mighty” seems to be a reference to Elohim acting as the Supreme Judge among his divine, heavenly council that carries out his orders. This is more than the traditional “Godhead” (i.e., the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and also includes angelic and spirit beings, and even Satan himself. 

From time to time, Elohim gathers his council together as we see in Job (Job 1:6; 2:1). Even lying spirits are subject to and do the bidding of Elohim who presides over this council also referred to as the host of heaven (1 Kgs 22:19–23). Moreover, some of the “Us” passages in the Scriptures, which have typically been attributed to the “Godhead,” according to Heiser, likely refer to this divine counsel (e.g., Gen 11:7; Ezek 44:6). This has been the view of ancient Jewish sages as well.

Modern biblical theologians have traditionally taken a non-supernaturalistic view of Psalm 82:1 by saying that the gods here refer to human rulers. While elohim may by definition and biblical usage refer to human rulers, this passage cannot be limited to this definition alone, since verse seven refers to these gods or elohim as “dying like men” as a result of Elohim’s divine judgment on them because of their wickedness. This threat makes little or no sense if it is referring only to human rulers. 

For the record, Yeshua quotes verse six in reference to human rulers (John 10:34; 14:30; 16:11), so this passage should not be taken to refer only to Elohim’s divine counsel or just to human rulers, but probably to both. This is because behind human rulers are evil spirits or principalities that govern the nations (Dan 10:20; Eph 6:12; Rev 13:2) and all of these are under the aegis of Satan, who has his own kingdom (Matt 12:26) and is presently the ruler of this world (John 12:31); however, even Satan’s kingdom is under the ultimate authority of YHVH Elohim.

The idea that there were and are unseen evil spirits and demi-gods that rule the nations of the world behind the scenes is revealed in the book of First Enoch and is also found in traditional ancient Mesopotamian historical accounts and forms the basis for the ancient Greek mythos, as Heiser proves. 

Additionally, we learn from Genesis chapter ten (in the Table of the Nations) that, at that time, there were seventy nations of the world that rebelled against YHVH at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11). Interestingly, and a little later, Jacob had 70 descendants who went down to Egypt (Exod 1:5) and who become the children of Israel. From them, Moses chose 70 elders to rule over Israel (Exod 24:1), which would eventually became the Great Sanhedrin that ruled the Jewish people. YHVH then commissioned Israel to evangelize the apostate nations by being a spiritual light to them (Deut 4:5–8)—a task they utterly failed to perform. Picking up where ancient Israel failed in its mission, Yeshua chose 70 disciples not only to replace the Jewish Sanhedrin in spiritual authority over the people of Elohim, but to go forth and to preach the gospel to the 70 nations (Luke 10:1–12, 17; Acts 1:8 cp. Matt 28:18–20) that had been lost to the kingdom of Satan at the Tower of Babel, thereby to reclaim the world for the kingdom of Elohim at the devil’s expense.

Eventually, and hopefully in the not too distant future, the resurrected and glorified saints, who will become the sons of Elohim and will be adopted into his divine family as small E elohim (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; Gal 3:26; Rom 8:14; Eph 1:5), will rule and reign with Elohim (capital E Elohim, Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) over the new heavens and new earth. This will all be to Satan and his kingdom’s detriment and to that of the small E elohim human rulers of his present-day earthly kingdom, all of whom will be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age (Rev 20:10).

Psalm 82:6, You are gods…children of the Most High.This statement likely has a dual meaning or double entendré. It can refer to the righteous saints as Yeshua alludes to in John 10:34, or possibly to the demon-nephilim of Genesis 6:4–6 who were the spawn of the heavenly angelic hosts who became the fallen angels and who cohabited with women in the pre-flood world as the context of this psalm seems to suggest.

 

Despise Not the Anointed Presence of YHVH

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2 Samuel 6–7

2 Samuel 6 :1–2, 14–23, Bring up the ark…David danced…Michal…despised him. Some people who are purveyors of dead, stale and fossilized religious systems may turn their noses airward in diffidence at the tokens or symbols of YHVH’s presence. On the other hand, there are those of equally petrified and lifeless religious systems that look to religious icons and tokens to somehow breathe life into that which is spiritually dead. Such can easily become nothing more than thinly veiled idolatry and relic worship. Neither of these situations was the case with David when he sought the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. The ark was, for the Israelites, the symbol of Elohim’s blessed presence among them. With passionate zeal from a heart of worship, David longed for the ark’s placement in Jerusalem in a place of honor, and YHVH honored David’s desire. Yet there were those, even in David’s own family, who in an effort to keep old dead systems alive, despised the anointed presence and David’s zeal for it.

As physical humans, YHVH knows that we need points of contact to aid us in connecting to the deeper things of life—especially to those things of the heavenly realm. In the physical realm, a cherished photo of a loved one, a wedding ring, a souvenir from a trip, a gift from a friend or a family heirloom may serve to refresh our memories and to stir the emotions reminding us of the people, places or events behind the keepsakes. A souvenir is something we purchase while on a trip to remind us of good memories when we return home. The word souvenir is a direct borrowing from the French word of the same spelling meaning “to remember.” The power of keepsakes, heirlooms or souvenirs over one’s mind and emotions can be so strong that they can cause us to shed a tear, go into a depression, or bring us great joy. Our emotional attachments are so strong to them that often they will be the things that we will retrieve before anything else from our burning home. These things serve as points of contact with important events that have happened in our lives. 

In our spiritual lives, we have similar points of contact. It could be a favorite Bible or another token of our faith and devotion to YHVH. The Bible reveals that anointing oil or an anointed cloth can be a point of contact with YHVH the Healer. Communion and baptism are both points of contact to higher spiritual truths. It is heresy, possibly even idolatry, to say that the water of baptism actually spiritually cleanses the sinner, or the bread and wine become the actual the body and blood of the Savior. But they are important in that they are a physical representation of deeper spiritual truths or realities.

Perhaps now we can appreciate better David’s zeal over the ark of the covenant’s return to Jerusalem. Embodied in that box was the very heritage and future of Israel, for it represented YHVH’s divine presence in the midst of his people. David recognized this and knew that, like Moses, unless YHVH was with him (Exod 33:14–15), the future looked bleak and he despaired about going forward without YHVH’s presence among them.

What are the points of contact in your spiritual life that serve as points of reference, contacts, milestones, road signs, or souvenirs either reminding you of or pointing you toward YHVH’s grace in your life? 

David literally danced for joy before the people when the ark of the covenant paraded into Jerusalem. Do we have a similar emotional tenderness, enthusiasm and exuberance about spiritual things that we too, like David, can worship our Creator with total abandon? Or do we, like Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of David, criticize those who, like David, did so? In reality, everything in that ark pointed to Yeshua—the Living Word of Elohim. No doubt David, a spiritually attuned man after YHVH’as own heart, recognized the deeper symbolism of the ark and its contents, and he would have loved every bit of it unreservedly as evidenced by his zeal at the ark’s return. Similarly, do we still possess such a love for Yeshua, or have we lost it? (Read Rev 2:4–5.) What did YHVH-Yeshua threaten to do to the assembly at Ephesus if they did not reignite the passions of their first love for him?

 2 Samuel 6:3–7, The house of Abinidab. While in the house of Abinadab, the ark’s presence had become so commonplace such that, as Matthew Henry states in his commentary, the familiarity of it engendered contempt (or at least a casual disregard) for it. Perhaps an irreverence for YHVH’s set-apart things had gripped Uzzah’s heart prompting him to touch that which was forbidden to do so. In our modern culture, and Christianity is not exempt from this, there is very little respect for authority, one’s elders, the law or other’s property, much less holy or set-apart things. In YHVH’s order of things, this is unacceptable behavior. Scripture draws strict lines of demarcation between that which is holy (kadosh or set-apart) and that which is commonplace or profane. YHVH has designated certain times, places, things and even people to be honored and respected—even revered. Are we in danger of incurring Elohim’s wrath, as Uzzah did, for not properly recognizing this?

 2 Samuel 6:16, [Michal] despised [David] in her heart. In reality, what was Michal despising—David or the ark itself? Often humans in actuality are despising the things of YHVH even though they misdirect their disregard and spite toward his human agents. Scripture reveals that the children of Israel’s rebellion against Moses was really against YHVH himself. Similarly, if the ark was a prophetic picture of Yeshua, then for whom was Michal really showing contempt? Yeshua is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to many people. Many Christians claim to follow Yeshua, yet they despise his Word and his messengers. They also despise those who are passionate devotees and worshipers of Yeshua referring to them as right-wing fanatics, extremists, unbalanced, Bible-thumpers, Jesus freaks and other derisive terms. How passionate for Yeshua and his ways are you? What does YHVH say about this attitude? (Read Rev 3:15–19.)

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Why David Had to Fight for His Throne Is Why We Have to Fight for Eternal Life

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2 Samuel 2–5

What We Can Learn from Israel’s Internecine Conflict Over Who Would Be the Next King of Israel

Second Samuel chapters two through five chronicle the conflict between those Israelites allied with David and those loyal to the family of Saul over who would be Israel’s next king. Scripture characterizes this bloody civil war with swords and spears that lasted for seven long years this way, “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker,” (2 Sam 3:1). Even though at YHVH’s command the now deceased Samuel had chosen and anointed David king over Israel many years earlier, why did YHVH require David to have to fight his way to the top leadership position in Israel? Why didn’t the Almighty just hand David the keys to the throne of Israel after the untimely death of Saul and his sons? What lessons can we learn from this tragic portion of Scripture?

There may be other reasons for this, but upon prayerful reflection several immediately come to mind. The first is this: When YHVH gives us a promise, he often does not tell us how or when the promise will be fulfilled. That is to day, there is no guarantee that it will be handed to us on the proverbial silver platter. 

Why is this? 

Everything in life is an uphill battle, even in fulfilling one’s spiritual, Elohim-ordained destiny. This is because the saints have resist the spiritual gravitational pulls that keep us grounded as prisoners on this earth; they all conspire to keep us from flying high spiritually. We are, in a sense, condemned to fight against and to overcome the world, the flesh and devil, which are all aligned against the will and ways of the Creator. However, on the positive side, in the process of having to overcome these enemies of Elohim’s plans, one grows in faith, patience and dependence on his Creator. The character of the saint is refined and strengthened in the fires of adversity. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” Weightlifters, body builders, athletes and coaches understand this principle well. Gravity and inertia are against success and victory and these must be overcome to win. For this reason, the aspiring athlete pushes his or her body past the point of pain and endurance in order to attain higher levels of achievements resulting in victories and broken records.  A trophy awaits the winner. The same is true on the spiritual playing field.

In the Scriptures, there are few if any examples of physical or spiritual achievement without hard work. It all started in the garden after the fall of man when sin entered the world. After that, man had to go to work. Life was no longer a free lunch, so to speak. The days of living in a paradise called the Garden of Eden were gone where man could just stroll about naked freely feeding himself with the fruit just hanging from trees ripe for the picking. Now he had to struggle not only against his own carnal, fallen sin nature as well as against the devil serpent, but also against the unrelenting earth itself where weeds and thorns now grew and would only reluctantly yield its fruit by blood, sweat and tears to satisfy man’s hungry belly.

Why did the Creator make it necessary for man to have to endure such a lifelong struggle from cradle till grave? Other than the fact that this struggle was man’s criminal sentence for rebelling against his Creator, there is a greater purpose for man’s otherwise painful and laborious existence trapped on this time-space capsule called Earth. It is this: YHVH has called his saints to be overcomers, even as Yeshua, who led the way for us, was an overcomer. We read the following in the Scriptures:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

You are of Elohim, little children, and have overcome them [i.e. the spirit of Antichrist that controls the world], because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

For whatever is born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Why does YHVH require his saints to be overcomers? Because the rewards that he intends to hand out are beyond anything any human can think or imagine, and are only for those who are willing to fight hard for them and who will thus appreciate them. What are these rewards that require so much overcoming to achieve? We read,

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of Elohim. (Rev 2:7)

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:11)

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. (Rev 2:17)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. (Rev 2:26)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Rev 3:5)

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My Elohim, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim. And I will write on him My new name. (Rev 3:12)

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev 3:21)

And finally, the pièce de résistance:

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Elohim and he shall be My son. (Rev 21:7)

So, in reality, this physical sin-sick, spiritual wilderness of life in which we are condemned to exist physically is, in reality, a proving or testing ground, a class room, or a cauldron of fire to test and refine us, if you will, to prepare us for something much greater, which is way beyond anything we can think or imagine. It is a launch pad, for those who qualify, to send us into a perpetual spiritual orbit around YHVH Elohim-Yeshua.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which
Elohim as prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor 2:9)

Yes, YHVH Elohim put the first humans into a garden paradise and set before them the free gift of eternal life on the condition that they would first pass the test of obedience. Well, we all know what happened: they flunked the test and here we are today in the ensuing, resulting chaotic mess. 

Yet despite it all, our Father in heaven, who so loves the world, is still offering the same reward to whomsoever will believe on him and meet his conditions by passing the obedience-sin test. This is why we must swim upstream and overcome all that is coming against us and trying to pull us downward, for this is what it takes to fullfil the spiritual destiny to which he has ordained us and to win the prized trophy of eternal life. David had to pass such a test, as did Abraham, Moses, Yeshua and everyone else who would inherit eternal life. 

After two previous rebellions (i.e., the Luciferian and the Adamic rebellions), YHVH Elohim will not allow a third rebellion to occur resulting in everlasting chaos in his eternal kingdom. He wants peace, joy, love, holiness and righteous to be set in stone forever, not the opposite.