In sober tones, Messiah Yeshua warned His disciples that “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). This warning is in the passage about the end times. We know from I John 3:4 that “everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness”. In other words, sin increases and love grows cold.
Most think the man of lawLESSness will come in Hitleresque appearance, as some monster. Scripture indicates he’ll be a smooth talking, well loved individual that few recognize.
Paul gives a hint in 2 Thessalonians as to how we can recognize him…. He will be lawLESS. In Paul’s day, what did that mean? (Hint: Torah = law.)
Therefore, the man of lawLESSness could well worship on Sunday, eat ham sandwiches, and celebrate pagan holidays, being absolutely lawLESS and few would even bat an eye.
If you do not know what lawFULL looks like, how will you recognize lawLESS?
Got Torah? (God’s everlasting instructions for righteous living…)
Does the Holy Spirit lead us into lawlessness? Indeed, can He?
This morning, while reading Ray Gardner’s Study Notes on Genesis 24, I came across the following quote. The last paragraph struck me. My notes follow.
Eliezer = El is my help (s#0461 אליעזר )
Eliezer (type of Holy Spirit) was sent to take a bride (The Bride of Yeshua) a chaste virgin, who would leave her family and all that she possessed to marry a man she had never seen. Isaac (type of Yeshua) was born through a miracle of יהוה. She would come to him by faith, believing all she had been told about him. She fell in love with him by hearing about him from Eliezer (type of Holy Spirit). She would make a difficult journey on a caravan of 10 camels (10 commandments) and she would marry Isaac (Yeshua) the day she first saw him. All that his father (type of יהוה) possessed has been given to Isaac (Yeshua). (Yeshua said the Father has given all things unto my hand John 3:35) The land that Isaac (Yeshua) lives on is given to him by יהוה. The father has said he can not take a wife of those who worship idols and live sinful lives. The decision is in the hands of the bride not Eliezer. By her own words she committed to become his bride.
Y’shua said,
‘Whoever keeps and teaches (the Commandments), he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:19b
We live in a time and culture that elevates all manner of men to be ‘heroes.’ We have movies about ‘super-heroes,’ toys called ‘Rescue Heroes,’ and TV shows about ‘Real Life Heroes.’ We are taught to desire to be heroic, or at least look up to those who are… In most cases, the focus is on the ‘hero’ or his/her ‘powers’ and little if any focus is on the Creator of the Universe.
Scripture has a similar message, but goes a step further and tells us exactly HOW to be ‘heroes’… to use that terminology, while keeping the Creator, YHWH, central in our focus. ‘Keep and teach the commandments.’
There is an even clearer passage that I was recently reminded of that spells out for us a couple ‘titles’ we should strive for.
Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach, Continue reading “Words I LONG to hear…”
11:3 Restoration 