The Soul of Mankind

What exactly is the soul? Is it immortal? Does it leave the body at death and go to heaven or hell? This seems to be the teaching of the Church today, a teaching I have heard all my life. Let's discover what the Bible actually says about the soul.

Let's start at the first mention of the word "soul" in the Bible. Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." The Hebrew word used here is nephesh. It is properly rendered a breathing creature and  refers to both man and all other living creatures. 

Prior to God breathing life into Adam, he was simply  lifeless body of clay. When God breathed into his nostrils, Adam came alive and then became a living soul. The soul is not the body, which is created from the dust of the ground, The soul is the result of God breathing life into that body. Every living being is a soul. What distinguishes the human soul from all other living creatures? Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Mankind is elevated above all other living beings in that God not only gave man the breath of life, but with that life something more; a spirit, the ability to think and reason and plan. It's this spirit in man that forms our character and the intelligence to make decisions and create, the ability to actually have a relationship with our Creator that all other creatures have not been given though they too are a nephesh or soul. 1Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?"

But, again, does this soul depart from the body at death and enter another realm? Is it immortal outside of this fleshly body? Speaking of God, we are told in 1Timothy 6:16 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."

Let's continue in Genesis with Adam and Eve in the garden. Genesis 2:16 -17 "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Genesis 3:1-5 "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Satan has been peddling that lie for the last six thousand years and the Church has bought into it.

What was God's response to their disobedience? Genesis 3:19 "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

 Genesis 3:22  "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

If Adam and Eve had obeyed God they could have partaken of the tree of life but, instead, they listened to Satan's lies and were banished from the garden.

They did not possess an immortal soul. God told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit, he would die.  2 Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Genesis 5:5 "And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."

Adam's disobedience resulted in death, not only his but also his offspring. Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

We are made of dust and to dust we shall return at death. Psalm 115:17 "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." Ecclesiastes 3:20 "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." Ecclesiastes 9:5 "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."  Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."  We are living souls. At death, that lifeforce returns to God for safe keeping until our resurrection.. Throughout the Bible, death is likened unto sleep.

Hebrews, chapter 11 recounts the lives of our ancient forerunners who lived by faith; men and women like Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and many more.

 Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." 

Hebrews 11:39-40 "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

The Old Testament books of  Kings and Chronicles, speak of the death of each king as sleeping with their fathers, beginning with David. 1Kings 2:10 "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."

Did David ascend to heaven at death? In Acts 2:29 Peter addressed the crowd on the Day of Pentecost with these words. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day."

Daniel was given a vision of the last days. Daniel 12:1-2 "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

Daniel 12:13, Daniel was instructed by the angel "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."

The scriptures are replete with the state of the dead, too numerous to include here. Man is not immortal in his present state, nor contains an immortal component that ascends from him at death. He is simply asleep awaiting the resurrection.

Job 14:14 "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."

Yes, man will indeed live again and those who put their trust in Jesus have a glorious future ahead of them. The day will come when they will arise from their sleep and be forever with their Lord in the Kingdom of God.

Please read my article "The Resurrection" to discover when and how these mortal bodies will be exchanged for immortal bodies that will never die.

The Resurrection

 Does the Bible reveal a time when God will grant the gift of immortality to human beings? Yes, but surprisingly to the majority of mankind, it will not be at our death. 1Corinthians, chapter 15, often called the resurrection chapter, gives a detailed account of mankind, beginning with Adam. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul speaks a great deal about the resurrection of Christ and what it means to the believer. Through Adam, death entered into the world but through Christ, the resurrection of the dead.

When will this resurrection occur? 1Corinthians15:22-23 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.." 

1Corinthians15:51-54 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

1Thessalonians 4:13-17 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus comforted Martha with the knowledge that her brother would live again. John 11:23-24 "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." She fully understood that Lazarus had not ascended to heaven, but that he was dead.

Four times in John, chapter 6. Jesus taught the resurrection from the dead.

John 6:39 "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." 

John 6:40 "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." 

John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." 

John 6:54 "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

 Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

 Death is an enemy. It is not a passport to heaven. 1Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 

1Corinthians 15:26 "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

 Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

 Revelation 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."

 Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

 Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

Death is the consequence of sin.  Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Believers will be raised to life through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, who gave his life a ransom for our sins."

The second death is the penalty for those who refuse the precious gift of God and will be eternal death, not eternal life in hell. 

Malachi 4:1-3 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."

 

    

The Biblical Recipe

 I don't consider myself to be a great cook, especially since I have become a widow. Cooking for one is not exciting, and trying out recipes that contain a multitude of ingredients is not my idea of fun, not to mention the cost associated with purchasing so many items just for one sit-down meal for myself. Nevertheless, I have recently decided to try out some healthy recipes that look appetizing, in addition to being simple one pan dishes with few ingredients. I'm even learning to improvise a little when the recipe might call for chicken and I substitute sausage, or I might add an ingredient or two that may add flavor, such as mushrooms, garlic or a certain spice that I feel would be a good fit. I find myself enjoying creating flavorful meals and have even invited a couple of my friends over to share a meal with me. My culinary skills are improving greatly, and my meals are becoming much more exciting and something I look forward to rather than dread.

With that said, The Lord used this new experience to reveal something about His word that really spoke to me in a tangible way I had never given thought to before. The Bible is, in many ways God's recipe for life. His word contains everything I need to live out my life in obedience to Him and to inherit the Eternal life He promises to all who follow His commands.

However, I cannot substitute ingredients as I do with my meal prep. His recipe is perfect. It doesn't need me to tamper with it. Deuteronomy 4:2 instructs "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you". These are very clear instructions.

I see a lack of reverence for God's word in today's culture. We are getting further away from the Bible and creating our own "recipe" for life according to our desires. What does God have to say about this?

 Isaiah 55:7-9 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We need to follow God's recipe as it has been given in His word. We have no right to change it or make substitutes to it. It is perfect! Unfortunately, not only in our secular world, but even in Christianity, we have often disregarded God's instructions and chosen to create our own substitutions. Each of us needs to return to the Bible to discover what God really instructs and make the necessary changes in our lives to conform to His ways. They are the path to eternal life and there's no substitute for that!

The Pictures in My Mind

 I find it amazing where my mind takes me as I sit quietly in the early morning hours contemplating life itself. I can turn the pages of my life's album and view snapshots of myself as a young child, playing gleefully with my sister, the schoolyears, growing up years, my wedding, the birth of my precious daughter, the working years, my body as it has aged and changed over time. I see good times and bad, happy times and sad. I've experienced miracles. It has been quite a journey. The picture that looms the largest is the day I gave my life to my Savior and asked Him to come into my life. He has always remained by my side and my life has been enormously blessed, through the lowest valley or highest mountaintop. He is my everything.

Through His word, I can open another album of the future. I can glimpse scenes of eternal joy in His presence. As I turn each page, I see the new heavens and new earth (II Peter 3:13). I can see Yeshua on His throne in Jerusalem, ruling over mankind (Jeremiah 3:17). If I have long slept in the dust at His return, He will awaken me and change this mortal body to an immortal one (I Corinthians 15:51-52). If I am alive at His coming, He will lift me up and I will rise with all who are His and meet Him in the clouds, to be with Him forever (I Thessalonians 4:13-17). I see the thousand-year reign, His Sabbath rest, where the saints will live and rule with Him over all the earth (Revelation 20:6). I see the earth at peace, mankind learning to live as He intended, being taught to obey His Torah (Micah 4:1-5). I see animals at peace with one another, little children sitting alongside lions, stroking their manes as if they were cuddling kittens (Isaiah 11:6-9). I see all mankind living in exuberant health, enjoying satisfying lives, no more pain or suffering (Revelation 21:4). His Holy seasons will replace those of the nations. I can see clearly all peoples going up to Jerusalem to celebrate His Sabbaths and festivals, as He has foretold in His word (Isaiah 66:23, Zechariah 14:16). I can see the day when God Himself, our Father, comes to live with us forever in the new Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:1-3). 

My life's album is filled with memories that I enjoy flipping through from time to time, but God's album is one I look into every day, for it declares my future with Him into eternity. I speak with others often, those who attend church each week, and have never heard these things. They are amazed when I open God's word and share these marvelous truths with them. God has given me a gift and a calling, to teach His word to any who will listen, to reveal to them what they may never hear in their weekly assemblies, but that which will change their lives forever as it has mine. I pray I can fulfill that mandate until I take my last breath.

Life Interrupted

(This was originally written in 2015)

As I was praying and meditating this morning, wondering what direction I would be led in now that my job recently ended, I contemplated how important it is for me to wait upon Yehovah to lead me in all aspects of my life. I rehearsed in my thoughts all the many blessings he has already bestowed upon me throughout my life and how he has never abandoned me. Surely I can depend upon him today as I look to the future. Who knows what he has in store for me?

Suddenly my thoughts turned to a dear friend of mine, Susan, whom I have known for only a short time, just a year, but who has impacted me in such a profound way. I met her October a year ago when I began attending a small Torah study group in my area. Each month, her insights and knowledge of scripture propelled me toward a much deeper understanding of our creator and his plan for our lives. She has played a huge role in my growth as a believer on so many levels and I marvel at how Yehovah has used her to advance his Kingdom message.

Susan had been a believer for many years and raised her children in a local Assemblies of God congregation. One day Yehovah spoke to her heart and revealed to her that she was going to be taken in an entirely new direction. He revealed himself to her in ways that few of us experience. She and her husband, along with a friend, started this small fellowship in order to teach others Torah, the biblical festivals, the Sabbath, and the beauty of the Hebrew language, through which Yehovah first revealed himself to mankind. Several years ago, Susan's husband suffered a sudden heart attack that took his life. They had shared a long marriage, resulting in eight children. All are grown now, except her youngest, Nathan. 

Last Fall, events in Susan's life took an unexpected turn. She and Nathan had to move out of their townhouse apartment and she didn't have money enough to relocate. One of her sons is in the State Dept, stationed in Bangkok, Thailand, and invited them to come there for a couple of months for a visit, allowing Susan to save her money and get a new start upon her return to the States this month.

Upon preparing for the trip, a friend in Israel told her of a small group of believers in Bangkok, who were studying the Torah, that she could connect with upon her arrival. The rest of the story is truly amazing. She not only began meeting with this group each Sabbath, but her knowledge of scripture also blew them away and they began asking her to teach them. Our small group was able to provide ten bibles, "The Scriptures" version and have them drop-shipped to Bangkok. This version is a closer translation to the original, using the original names of the Father and son, as well as the original names of people and places spoken of in the bible.

These believers are so zealous for Yehovah's word and, through Susan's teachings, are growing in ways they never could have imagined. And Susan.......one thing has led to another, and she has been invited to speak before other groups and even Churches that don't even teach the Sabbath or Holy Days. She shared four hours with a Muslim man and shared the teachings of the Messiah with him. Invitations have been extended for her to travel to other places; Cambodia, India, all expenses paid.
She was due to return to the States this month, but her visa had to be extended. Yehovah has other plans, and she is fully aware that each day her steps are ordered by him.

As I thought of the significance of these events this morning, my mind began thinking of all those before whose every day, ordinary lives were "interrupted" by a divine calling. I thought about Noah, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David, the prophets, and the disciples. If we are willing to follow Yehovah with all our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies, we too can be used mightily in advancing his soon-coming Kingdom on this earth. Each day we have an opportunity to step up and make a difference.

Each new day is a mystery. We make our plans, go through the lives that we have built, and one day....who knows? Our everyday, ordinary lives just might be interrupted! Yehovah might call out our name and say, "Come, follow me! I have a job for you."

May Yehovah continue to bless Susan and all who eagerly answer his call with a resounding YES!

The Seventy-Week Ministry of Messiah

If you ask most Christians today how long Yeshua's ministry was, you will no doubt be told 3 1/2 years. That's what I was told many years ago and took at face value. That's what I was taught in Church.

However, that's not what I believe today. History records that the early church fathers all believed his ministry was about one year. Eusebius, the court bishop of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, was the first to argue for the 3 1/2 year ministry and his chronology has continued through the centuries, although there are many voices that do not agree with his timeline.

I was first introduced to a dissenting view by Biblical historian, Michael Rood, the author of "The Chronological Gospels, The Acceptable Year of the Lord, The Life & Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah". This book is the result of a 40-year study of the chronology of the gospels. Michael believes that Yeshua's ministry is the second layer of Daniel's seventy-week prophecy. He contends that from the day Yeshua was baptized until he baptized with the Holy Spirit was exactly seventy weeks. In my opinion, this book as a masterpiece and has opened my mind to so much understanding regarding Yeshua's ministry.

Through Michael Rood's book, I have been able to see with greater clarity the events surrounding Yeshua's life and teachings in their proper context as recorded in the four gospel accounts. Each gospel writer gives us a glimpse of the role of the Messiah from a different perspective. Matthew's gospel focuses on his role as our King, laying down the rules of the kingdom. Mark focuses on his role as a servant, caring for the needs of the people. Luke's gospel speaks of him as the son of man, and John's as the Son of God. Luke's gospel is chronological as it follows Yeshua week by week and often day by day throughout his ministry. John follows Yeshua as he goes up to the yearly feasts in Jerusalem. The one miracle recorded by all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000, which allows us to synchronize the gospeel accounts of Yeshua's ministry with startling accuracy.

I want to focus primarily on John's gospel accounts as pertaining to the annual feasts, as this is where the controversy comes in regarding the duration of  Yeshua's ministry. Not many days after his temptation in the wilderness, John 2:13 has him at Passover in Jerusalem. Chapter 5:1 has him again at Jerusalem for a "feast of the Jews", which chronologically would be Shavuot or Pentecost, where he heals a lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Next, we come to John 6:4, which tells us that Passover is nigh. This verse seems to be missing from many of the early manuscripts and thought by some scholars to have been added with the intent of lengthening Yeshua's ministry, although Eusebius did not include this particular verse in the defense of his 3 1/2 year chronology. Interesting!

If we look at the context, Yeshua is in the Galilee feeding 5,000 men, along with women and children, barley loaves and fish. If Passover is nigh, why is he not in Jerusalem for a feast he would be commanded to keep and why is this great multitude also not going up to the feast? Why are they in the Galilee eating leavened bread? Remember, this miracle was recorded in all four gospels. Luke's gospel is in chronological order and the next event following the feeding of the five thousand is the transfiguration eight days later according to Luke 9:28. This is believed to be on the Day of Atonement, in which Peter, James, and John encourage Yeshua to stay on that mountain where they offer to erect tabernacles for the upcoming feast, fearful that he will not be safe going up to Jerusalem. John's gospel confirms the timing in John 7:2 that Tabernacles is approaching. Interject John 6:59 where Yeshua is in a Capernaum synagogue teaching on the last great day, a theme of the Day of Trumpets. John 6:4 absolutely breaks up the chronology of the gospel records. In John 5:1, Yeshua is at Shavuot. Then in John 6:59 he is in Capernaum for Trumpets. In Luke 9:28, he is with his disciples on the mount of transfiguration in the Galilee on the Day of Atonement and in John 7:2, he is going up to Jerusalem for Tabernacles.

Also, as we have already established, Luke's gospel follows Yeshua's ministry often on a day by day basis. If John 6:4 is recording a Passover and we have seen that the next named feast in John 7:2 is Tabernacles, we have a serious break in chronology and months of silence by the gospel writers who record no events during this entire time.

We continue to follow Yeshua as he travels back to Jerusalem for Hanukkah, the feast of dedication. where he heals a man born blind, John 9:1-41, 10:22. He is fulfilling his role as the light of the world.
John's gospel ends with Yeshua returning to Jerusalem for Passover, where he will become our Passover through his death, burial and resurrection.

So we have it. According to the chronology of the gospel writers accounts, we see that Yeshua's ministry begins at Passover and a year later he is crucified at Passover. Fifty days following the Feast of Firstfruits, the Holy Spirit is poured out on the disciples at Shavuot. Again, from the day of his baptism to the day he baptizes with the Holy Spirit is 70 weeks to the day, the fulfillment of the second layer of Daniel's seventy-week prophecy.

One last thought for you to ponder. If Yeshua's ministry began at Passover, which is evident according to the gospels, and his ministry was 3 1/2 years in duration, that would take us to Tabernacles, which is impossible. He was crucified at Passover.

Come Out of Her, My People

I find myself at a crossroads today, the same one I found myself at more than 30 years ago. I never imagined I would find myself back at the beginning of my journey, having to once again fight the same battles I thought I had won so long ago. At that time I was a member of a small Baptist church, comfortable in my faith, my religion. I was part of a community of believers, was active in Sunday School, served as a teacher, was a member of a weekly women's bible study. I was your average Christian I guess, much like most of my neighbors in that small town, living a quiet life, active in my daughter's school as a room mother, helping her with her studies, teaching her the Bible, raising her up to be a good, moral person.

Then one day, God interrupted my quiet, comfortable, peaceful life. He began showing me, through his word, that my "religion" was not as acceptable as I thought. Over time, he began dealing with me about the customs and traditions that the whole of Christianity had adopted, which were in direct violation of his commandments. I must interject here, that some years before, I had been exposed to this same understanding, but my heart was not open at that time to receive such revelation. It was as if a veil covered my eyes so that I was unable to comprehend the truth that God was offering me.

However, this time, I truly received revelation. I hate to admit that it wasn't readily received because it shook my foundation to the core. All that I had believed and lived by was being challenged. My whole world view was crumbling beneath my feet. My acceptance of these truths would result in a massive upheaval of my entire life and isolate me from everything and everyone that had been the sum of my entire existence up to that point. In reality, that's exactly what happened. As I began to repent and turn my life around, I was immediately met with opposition. My family and friends thought I had gone completely mad, my church brethren pleaded with me not to leave the congregation. They questioned my salvation. It's hard to explain but I was filled with joy and wonder over what God was teaching me and, at the same time, extremely saddened by my isolation from my former associations.

The one saving grace was that I lived in a very rural community and had several years to spend alone with God in training, My days were filled with bible study, meditation, and prayer. I would walk and talk with him for hours on end as he fed me the bread of life. When it was time for me to be thrown back into the world, I was like a butterfly emerging from my cocoon. I was able to stand firm in my faith, even after I began working outside of the home to help support my family.

Surrounded by "Christians" of all denominations, as well as non-Christians, I often engaged in biblical discussions where I was able to share my understanding, but rarely was able to break through the denominational strongholds that held them captive. I was surrounded by the pagan customs and traditions that had embedded themselves into the very fabric of our society and my heart was often grieved by the inability to awaken others out of their slumber to embrace the truth. I often had to remind myself that I too was once as they were, a part of it all. But for the grace of God, I would still be deceived and oblivious to God's awesome plan for mankind.

Fast forward to today. I am now retired. Since my husband's passing last September I have been blessed with friends that have taken me under their wings to keep me encouraged and lifted up. One dear friend, who has been an absolute angel to me, invited me to attend a weekly bible study at her church. You would think I would be absolutely thrilled and I am to a certain degree. However, I find myself again facing the same things I thought were buried 30 years ago. The new friends I am meeting are from varying denominations and, the more I associate with them, the more I am reminded of the great gulf that separates us. They want to invite me to attend their Sunday services and other community events that are common this time of year. I have attempted to share my beliefs with them, but they fall on deaf ears. It's not my intention to rail accusations against their chosen denominations, but I know I must separate myself from such worship. I am well aware that the longer I allow myself to be drawn into their fellowship, the more they will attempt to bring me back into "religion". I learned a long time ago that Jesus did not come to start a religion, but to have a personal relationship with mankind. It is a good thing that Christians meet together in worship. I believe everyone benefits from congregational fellowship, but it must be in accordance with the word of God. Unfortunately, the "Church" as we know it today has been infiltrated by the enemy. He has brought in leaven that has diluted the pure word given by God in the beginning, resulting in a mixture of truth and error. God says he will not accept this form of worship. It breeds confusion and contention and corrupts our worship of him. He has instructed his followers to come out of Babylon.

He has given us the knowledge of his ways if we will heed them. They are embedded in the Sabbath and Holy Days he gave to Israel millennia ago. They all point the way to Messiah and his plan for humankind. But modern Christianity has adopted customs and traditions that are diametrically opposite to those of our creator. Each one of these appointed times has been replaced with those of ancient sun-god worship. The Sabbath has been replaced by Sunday, Passover by Easter, Tabernacles by Christmas. Throw in New Year's day, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras and Halloween. Add to them the days devoted to so-called saints and you have a witch's brew that bears no resemblance to the biblical instructions in the word of God.

We are two thousand years removed from the teachings of the Apostles and many have abandoned the faith once delivered to the saints. I will admit that the majority of Christendom today is totally unaware of how they have been deceived by evil forces that have corrupted what they earnestly believe to be the true worship of God. But being ignorant of it does not make it any less the truth. It has been and remains my deepest desire to educate any and all that I come in contact with and bring them out of deception into the true worship of the living God. With that said, I know that most will choose to remain in their comfort zone, to that which is familiar to them. They will hold tightly to their customs and traditions to the very end. The good news is that Jesus will soon come back to the earth to establish his divine rule and mankind will learn to keep his commandments and live by his standards. He will open the eyes of the "spiritually" blind and lead them into all truth.

Today, he has blessed me with the opportunity of sharing his word through a home Bible study. My friends have requested that I teach them the meaning of the biblical festivals. They have been very receptive and are blown away by the beauty and real meaning of these holy seasons. I sincerely pray that God will increase us in numbers and that we will receive much truth and understanding in this study that will result in untold blessings for those involved in this endeavor.