Category: newsletter-post

What do we do with Christmas?

What do we do with Christmas?

By Eric Carlson in 12_2023-5 on December 1, 2023

As Jews we are tied to this Gentile Christmas season whether we like it or not. The ENTIRE WORLD (secular and Christian alike) pauses December 25th to recognize and celebrate the birth of a Jewish baby, the Mashiach 2,000 years ago. Such a momentous event that has changed time! Before you judge me hear me out for a moment. This time of year, I listen to the holiday channel on Sirius Radio. I love the jazz/Big Band music of Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Garibaldi, Louis Armstrong, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, most are jazz songs or winter songs that should play all winter but don’t. And yes, there are Christmas Songs being played! Many singing about “Born is the King of Israel”, “O little town of Bethlehem”, “O Come Emmanuel” “Joy to the World” based on Gen 3, and Psalm 96 & 98! A majority of the holiday songs are written and performed by Jews! How did this event get so far off track when even its music is Jewish? It’s about the supernatural birth of Yeshua, Mashiach, an event that affected all humanity:

Luke 2:7-14. and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters. 8 In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, 9 when an angel of ADONAI appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of ADONAI shone around them. They were terrified; 10 but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God: 14 “In the highest heaven, glory to God! And on earth, peace among people of good will!”

This story of Yeshua’s birth begins over 1,283 years prior to His arrival with a Gentile woman who loved the Jewish people, Ruth! Ruth was a Moabite whose Jewish husband died. Instead of going back to her own people, she clung to her mother-in-law Naomi:

Ruth 1:16-19. But Rut said, “Don’t press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. May ADONAI bring terrible curses on me, and worse ones as well, if anything but death separates you and me.” 18 When Na’omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Beit-Lechem. When they arrived in Beit-Lechem, the whole city was stirred with excitement over them. The women asked, “Can this be Na’omi?”

This is the model for the church’s relationship to Israel and the Jewish people. Ruth’s reputation, her humility, and Character preceded her! She was already known by the city elders at the city gate for her loyalty, support, and commitment to Naomi through her gleaning in Boaz’s fields, Elimelekh’s kinsman redeemer. She catches the eye of Boaz who offers to take Ruth as his wife and be Naomi’s redeeming kinsman. Boaz takes the case to the elders at the city gate and Ruth and Naomi are redeemed by Boaz. Where is Boaz from? Bethlehem. Where is Yeshua born??? Bethlehem! The people there make a prophetic proclamation at the city gate over the gentile Ruth when she is redeemed by Boaz, her Jewish husband:

Ruth 4:11-12. All the people at the gate and the leaders said, “We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le’ah, who between them built up the house of Isra’el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem. 12 May your house, because of the seed ADONAI will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y’hudah.”

Boaz and Ruth became husband and wife and Ruth became pregnant:” …Ruth … gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: ‘”Blessed be ADONAI, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.’” (Ruth 4:11-17)

Ruth is the great-grandmother of David, Yeshua’s lineages is of the Son of David. Those blessings over Ruth were prophetic and referred to the coming Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz. The women referred to Obed as a redeemer, just as Boaz was, but prophetically, they were speaking about the Redeemer of all humanity: Yeshua!

Those elders at the city gate thought that Boaz’s redeeming Elimelekh’s estate was just another real-estate settlement yet when it happened the Spirit of God falls on them when Ruth is legally given to Boaz. They prophesied these prophecies over this gentile woman, “We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le’ah, who between them built up the house of Isra’el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem.” (Ruth 4:11) They were actually prophesying about the Messiah and the location of His birth as confirmed by the prophet Micah, who said:

Micah 5:2. But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y’hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra’el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.

How profound, when they said, “become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y’hudah,” they were again prophesying a large, vast Jewish family line that has a prophetic promise connected with it! They unwittingly were prophesying about the entire Body of Messiah that would come forth through the Tribe of Judah.

Genesis 49:10. The scepter will not pass from Y’hudah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his legs, until he (Shiloh in Hebrew: epitaph of the Messiah, a Messianic Title) comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is he whom the peoples will obey.

The very embodiment and fulfillment of God’s covenant promise, of His redemption and salvation of both Jew and Gentile through the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Judah became his own kinsman redeemer through his daughter in law Tamar after both his sons died. The same Judah stood in the gap to prevent his brothers from murdering Yosef, it was Judah’s idea to sell him to the Ishmaelites as a slave. Profoundly it was also Judah who offered himself in the place of his brother Benjamin before Yosef in Egypt!

How detailed is Adonai? The saying “God is in the details” is used to emphasize the importance of paying careful attention to the tiniest things. That principle holds, but there is a deeper understanding that we see in these passages alone, our Creator reigns fully over every minute detail. Nothing ever occurs outside of Adonai’s decree and providential rule. This reveals to us a significance in all that we do, even the most minor, small thing! Let’s continue to read of Yeshua’s birth:

Luke 2:22-32. When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to ADONAI 23 (as it is written in the Torah of ADONAI, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to ADONAI”) 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Torah of ADONAI. 25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim`on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of ADONAI. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim`on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said, 29 “Now, ADONAI, according to your word, your servant is at peace as you let him go; 30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu`ah, 31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples — 32 a light (apokalupsis {ap-ok-al’-oop-sis}: light, disclosure of truth, a revelation, manifestation) that will bring revelation to the Goyim and glory to your people Isra’el.”

Simeon was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, He had attentive expectancy! The Ruach HaKodesh was upon Simeon, and he was righteous and devout. The two facts are directly connected. Simeon wasn’t perfect, but he was someone who walked in God’s ways with great intentionality! Simeon was serious about it. He knew what he was looking for, and was in tune with God Same with Anna. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)

A word for us today, we must worship and listen, carefully, and attentively while waiting! Simeon and Anna were paying attention. They were listening, and they were expectant. Like our day today, we all know something is happening! We must listen, be attentive, with expectancy! Simeon and Anna were attentive and All the People, the Goyim, the nations, and Israel will see, witness, and experience salvation, redemption, this light, this revelation of truth!

Messiah has come bringing revelation of to the Gentiles and glory to His people Israel! The nations shall see the light! God’s plan all along was for Israel to be the light bearer of all of humanity! The standard of truth and revelation regarding Adonai! We are not to be exclusive, selfishly keeping God to ourselves, rather, we are to bring the God of Israel to the world, proclaiming His Glory! Our lifestyle is to be an example to those who do not know God. We are to be the light to a darkened world!

Isaiah 49:6. he has said, “It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya’akov and restore the offspring of Isra’el. I will also make you a light (‘owr {ore}: light, light of life, light of instruction, Adonai as Israel’s light, enlightenment) to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth.”

This light goes all the way back to creation itself! It was the light, the “ore” of Adonai, the revelation of the “Great I Am” that divided, separated the light from the darkness…all before He created the sun, the moon, and stars!

Genesis 1:3-5. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God divided the light from the darkness (Choshech: darkness; misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness). 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.

Choshech’s root word Chosh: lacking, missing, unenergetic, lacking energy, powerless, beyond repair, aimless, chaotic, hopeless, feared, suspected, worthless, meaningless. Darkness or Choshech are all of these attributes! The enemy, HaSatan, the Devil, the Prince of Darkness is chosech or darkness. The light here is the same as Isaiah 49:6 “Or” illumination, revelation, joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directive, order, puts in order, woke up, and roused. Light is all of these terms! Yeshua is our “Or”, our light of the world as we read in Luke 2! Yeshua is the physical manifestation of Adonai’s revelation on earth, as Sha’ul so eloquently shared the impact Yeshua had in:

Colossians 1:13-15. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14 It is through his Son that we have redemption – that is, our sins have been forgiven. 15 He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is supreme over all creation, 16 because in connection with him were created all things – in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers or authorities – they have all been created through him and for him.

In connection with Him, with Yeshua were created all things; through Him and for Him! The light reveals the knowledge and order of Adonai! Each and every day begins at sunset and is a recreation, a reminder of God’s creation of the universe. Each day begins just as the universes began, in darkness; powerless, aimless, hopeless, feared, suspected, worthless, meaningless and streams towards the light, the knowledge, the illumination, the revelations of God Himself who separated this hopelessness with His very being which is joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directives, power, order, perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity, and love. Yeshua Himself is the ULTIMATE manifestation of this light!

John 8:12. Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”

His unique divine identity and purpose. In declaring Himself to be the “Light of the world, Yeshua reveals that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. He is His Fathers Son, whose very light formed creation, dividing the powerless, aimless, chaotic, hopeless, darkness from the light!! The light was manifest in the flesh and born into this world through a virgin birth by a young Jewish girl…. Yeshua is confirming to those who already know, while at the same time revealing to those who do not yet know, that He is the Light of the world. He is the Hope, He is the Way. He is our Light, our everlasting Light. It is Yeshua whom each of us must look to and receive, Jew and Gentile alike, in order to overcome the darkness that is in this world.

John 1:4-5. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.

God’s or, His light is Life itself and darkness cannot overcome it!

I John 1:5. And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him – none!

That means His Glory is absolute. Adonai is pure bright Light that shines like the sun on all sides of the world… there is no darkness in Him, He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent! He is the source of all prophecy, all revelation, and the author of life! This is so important that Adonai sent His only Son, Yeshua to both declare and impart this light to us, to all mankind, Jew and Gentile, Male and female, so that those who perceive and receive the “true Light” will never walk in spiritual darkness! Darkness can only exist where light is not present. Once light appears, regardless of how small, it causes the darkness to flee. It cannot stay. This is how Christmas should be celebrated, arise and shine, the light has come, nations will stream toward Your light, kings towards your shinning splendor (Isaiah 60)! This is what should be shared and celebrated on this day by those who don’t know the actual day. This is the real Story Charlie Brown!

Out of 196 countries worldwide, 160 celebrate Christmas in some form. That calculates to 81% of the world’s population. Since only 32% are Christian, what is the other 49% celebrating? Some sort of a birthday party, even though 49% don’t know whose birthday they’re celebrating. There are two motivations at the core of their celebration, altruism or capital gain. On the surface, altruism seems a noble attitude but is severely hampered by our corrupt nature. A flawed effort to duplicate the light of God without possessing the light. Capital Gain is the other major motivator with over a trillion dollars spent on Christmas in America alone! Many retailers share that over 70% of their annual revenue is from Christmas shopping alone. The monetary and cultural impact of this is huge. Because of the money involved we are bombarded by all media sources to get out and shop and celebrate and it starts earlier and earlier every year!

Let’s not antagonize and demand an end to Christmas, rather let us be an example, a loving correction, a confirming voice that the story is true even though December 25th isn’t the day. Let us be influential vice antagonistic. Almost the entire world pauses to celebrate the birth of Israel’s most famous Jewish Son. As we acknowledge and recognize that the entire world is pausing to celebrate the birth of our Messiah let it not get muddled in the traditions and paraphernalia of the season, rather let us focus upon the light that came into this world 2,000 years ago to set us free!!! Let’s celebrate Yeshua!

In His Love,
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Israel War Prayer Points

Israel War Prayer Points

By Eric Carlson in 12_2023-1 on December 1, 2023

1. Defense of Israel: We implore Adonai to safeguard Israel, currently in a war against Hamas and other terrorist organizations, while confronting additional threats from various sides.

2. Victory and safety: We pray for a decisive victory over Hamas and Hezbollah, with a fervent plea for the safety of our fighting IDF soldiers, as well as security, border patrol and police authorities.

3. Wisdom for leaders: We pray for Israel's political and military leaders, asking for wisdom in their critical tactical and strategic decisions. Give them divine strategies!

4. Comfort for grieving families: Our tears and prayers are with the grieving families on both sides of this conflict. We ask that they may find comfort and strength, in Yeshua’s name.

5. Safety and release of the hostages: We pray for the hostages immediate release and pray for their safety, security, and peaceful return.

6. Healing for the wounded: In our prayers, we seek the physical and emotional healing of the wounded, asking for their full and complete recovery and overall well-being.

7. Protection for children and civilians: Our hearts are heavy for the children affected by the war and the innocent civilian population. We appeal to Adonai for their protection and well-being during these difficult times.

8. Strength for medical personnel: We ask for strength and wisdom for doctors, nurses, medical staff, and rescue organizations as they work tirelessly to save the wounded and provide relief.

9. Divine guidance for Messianic community: We offer a special prayer for the Messianic communities in Israel and throughout the region, that we may shine as beacons of light in these trying times, receiving divine wisdom and sharing the “Good News’.

10. Shalom in our hearts: We pray the Shalom of God would fill our hearts and all of God's children worldwide, a Shalom that surpasses all understanding! We bind the spirit of fear, anxiousness, and timidity! We pray for the divine protection for all Messianic Congregations and the Jewish people worldwide, protect our hearts and minds through Messiah Yeshua, so that our every word and action may edify and glorify Adonai’s Kingdom.

We unite in these prayers, knowing that Adonai listens to our voices, as we read in James 5:16…..

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 

Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner December 2023

Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner December 2023

By Eric Carlson in 12_2023-2 on December 1, 2023

We pray you had a blessed and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! As we have entered into the month of December, we look forward to the M.J.A.A. Southeast Regional Conference December 15th-17th, 2023 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando Florida! It is a powerful, supernatural weekend of Messianic praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship! Paul Wilbur, Shae Wilbur, and the Nesbitts will be our guest psalmists! Dr. Raleigh Washington is teaching Yeshiva! Never has it been more important to stand with Israel than right now! Put action to your love and join us in solidarity with Israel! This is a weekend you don’t want to miss!

Register at: https://mjaa.org/southeast2023/

We remain committed to praying for and supporting Israel in this ongoing and difficult time! ‘It’s hard to be a Jew’, an old Yiddish proverb never felt more resonant in America today! We’re all reeling from the tidal wave of antisemitism and its silent sanction in our society! Throughout our history in America, as Jews we’ve faced our share of bigotry, excluded from certain businesses, schools, neighborhoods, and social clubs. Since the COVID Pandemic we’ve witnessed a terrifying increase in antisemitic rhetoric, violence, and attacks. But never have I witnessed and experienced the level of anguish and fear American Jews are experiencing right now.

So, what can we do? We stand on biblical truth, be bold and courageous, speak out and let your voice be heard. Do it respectfully but firmly and do not back down. Don’t use Mainstream Western Media as your news sources, they are all biased. Seek out news sources that are based in Israel with reporters who have boots on the ground in Israel. Here are a few that I recommend: Ynet News, Arutz Sheva, Jerusalem Post, and Israel 365.

Align yourself with, associate, and attend a Messianic Jewish Congregation! Congregate with both Jews and Gentiles who love Israel and our Jewish people! Be with others who have Israel and Yeshua in their heart, those who have a Biblical world view!

Keep praying for Israel and the Jewish people! Pray with fervency and unceasingly! We have placed a prayer guide for Israel in this month’s newsletter as well! עם ישראל חי “The people of Israel live!”

December is the 12th month (and last month) in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar). However, it was originally the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BC). Hence, “December” comes from the Latin “decem”, meaning “ten.” In Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life. The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. When January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, two days were added to December in the subsequent Julian calendar, making it 31 days long.

We look forward to celebrating Hanukkah for eight days which begins at sunset, Thursday, December 7th, 2023. At our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, December 8th we will have a special Hanukkah service with both a children’s and youth group holiday presentation! You don’t want to miss this special service with all of our children and youth! We’ve included a “How to Celebrate Hannukah “guide” in this Newsletter. Then, on Thursday, December 21st, 2023, we enter the “winter Solstice”, the shortest day of the year that officially marks the first day of winter!

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. When I was a young child Pearl Harbor Day was a big deal! As our nation ages the importance of this day is fading, overshadowed by 9/11. Yet it is a day we should never forget!

On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government offices, schools, and businesses do not close.

And last, but not least, December 25th is Christmas! A holiday to commemorate the birth of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua! This day is celebrated by 81% of the world’s population. 160 countries out of 196 total celebrate Christmas in some form or fashion! Since it is a Federal Holiday, our offices will be closed! Since Jews don’t celebrate Christmas, what do we do on December 25th?

It’s tough to find something to do on Christmas, because just about everything is closed, rather like the early days of the 2020 pandemic! Except on Christmas, even the grocery stores are closed! But here are a few of the more popular Jewish December 25th activities! We go out for Chinese food on Christmas. In fact, Justice Elena Kagan mentioned this in her Supreme Court confirmation hearings: when a senator asked her where she was on Christmas, she said, “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” Someone even wrote a song about Jews eating Chinese Food on Christmas. In fact, there was a meme of a sign on a Chinese Restaurant (not real!) from the “Chinese Restaurant Association” thanking the Jewish People that our God insists that we eat their food on Christmas! The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas any more than Jews do, so most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas.

Another tradition is to go to the movies. Many movie theaters are open on Christmas day, particularly in the afternoon (after 4PM). Of course, nowadays, if you’re not up for going to a movie in person, you can stream them at home. Whatever you choose to do we pray you have a blessed and wonderful December as we prepare to enter into the new Gregorian Calendar year of 2024!

Blessings and love,
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson

HANUKKAH MENORAH LIGHTING 2023

HANUKKAH MENORAH LIGHTING 2023

By Eric Carlson in 12_2023-3 on December 1, 2023

The Hanukkah celebration is a time for family and prayer. Hanukkah is a time to focus on the light of the world, Yeshua. The Hanukkah (9 branch) menorah should be placed in a window or outside to publicize this great miracle. The candles are placed in the menorah from left to right and the candles are kindled from right to left. The center candle is called the shammash (caretaker/helper). The shamash is removed, lit, and used to kindle the other candles then returned to its holder. The first night of Hanukkah you will have two candles in your menorah, the Shamash and one candle for the first night of Hanukkah. The second night you will have three candles, the Shamash and two candles on the far right of the menorah representing two nights of Hanukkah and so on through the eight days! On the last night of Hanukkah you will have all nine candles in the menorah. You will need a total of 44 candles for the entire Hanukkah celebration. The candles should be lit after sundown and the whole family should be gathered (it’s acceptable to wait past sundown so that the entire family can gather around the menorah). The candles should remain lit for at least 30 minutes. The following blessings are recited when kindling the candles:

Lighting the Candles

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה 

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
Asher Kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu, Le hadlik Ner Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God,
King of the universe, who has set us apart by Your commandments and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Miracles

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
Sh’asa Nissim La’avoteinu Bayamim Hahim B’zman Hazeh.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

The Mashiach

ברוח אתא יהוה אלוהנו מלך העולם אשר נתן לנו את דרך הישוע במשיח ישוע

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha olam, asher natan lanu et Derek ha Yeshua, b’Mashiach, Yeshua.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us the way of salvation in Messiah Yeshua.

Shehechiyanu

ברוך אתה יהוה אלוהינו מלך העולמ שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloiheinu Melech ha olam sh’hekiyanu v’kiyimanu
v’higiyanu l’azman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

After the blessings, kindle the candle or candles. The following scriptures may be read, followed by family fellowship. This is a quiet time, a time focused on our heavenly Father. Shut off the television, turn off the radio, and enter into the presence of the Most High God!

Night One

Thursday, Dec 7th, 2023 @ sunset:
Isaiah 60:19, Psalm 27:1.

Night Two

Friday, Dec 8th, 2023 @ sunset:
Psalm 119:105, 119:130, Proverbs 6:23.

Night Three

Saturday, Dec 9th, 2023 @ sunset:
Matthew 5:16, Luke 11:30.

Night Four

Sunday, Dec 10th, 2023 @ sunset:
Luke 11:34, Acts 26:18.

Night Five

Monday, Dec 11th, 2023 @ sunset:
John 1:4-5, John 8:12, John 12:35-36.

Night Six

Tuesday, Dec 12th, 2023 @ sunset:
Acts 26:12-18.

Night Seven

Wednesday, Dec 13th, 2023 @ sunset:
Ephesians 5:8-11, I Peter 2:9,
Ephesians 5:11-15,I John 1:5-9.

Night Eight

Thursday, Dec 14th, 2023 @ sunset:
Philippians 2:14-16.

Hanukkah – Culture War

Hanukkah – Culture War

By Eric Carlson in 12_2023-4 on December 1, 2023

Hanukkah means “to dedicate”. On Hanukkah, the Maccabean Jews regained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple on the 25th of Kislev. The story of Hanukkah is actually a story of culture war, parallel, and similar in many ways to the culture war raging in modern America. A Culture war is the struggle for dominance of values, beliefs, and practices. The Culture War in America is the social clash between traditional, biblical, family values vs. a progressive, liberal, anti-biblical, anti-family agenda.

At Hanukkah we celebrate the victory led by Yehuda Maccabee. The essence of Hanukkah is the salvation of Israel from foreign oppression and assimilation, though weapons and warfare were involved there also must always be an accompanied spiritual awakening, divine outpouring, a sovereign move of Adonai. Prayer is always our immediate response in any situation, but there are times when we must transition from prayer to picking up some river stones and load the sling to slay the Giants. The Maccabees understood the danger and influences of Hellenization with great clarity. They would not allow Israel to assimilate, to apostatize, to lose their culture and identity. We must be aware of and understand the complexity of this issue the Maccabees were facing because we face it today: Who or what was the real enemy? Culture war! The Syrians Greeks were attempting to Hellenize Israel while the Israeli Aristocracy were openly embracing this new, progressive, and wildly popular progressive Greek culture and philosophy! 

I Maccabees 1:11-15. In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us.” 12 This proposal pleased them, 13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, 15 and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

Assimilation through Hellenization would result in a complete annihilation and replacement of the biblical culture and identity of Israel with anti-biblical Greek culture and identity that results in sin.

No doubt there were many other Jewish people “in the middle” who weren’t seduced by the progressive Hellenistic cultural! Yet they were lukewarm about it, the silent majority that didn’t take any action against it. They probably agreed with the occupier Antiochus because culturally and politically it was the “safe” and “wise” thing to do. Seized by fear and panic many complied with the Greek demand to stop all biblical practices.

Without biblical morals and ethics, a peaceful and just nation is not possible. Without sound ethics and morals, the very fabric of society begins to shred and fragment. What results is whole scale narcissism, a person simply does whatever they think is right for themselves because there’s no foundation of truth to establish ethics and morals. It pits people against one another. Lawlessness, anarchy, and chaos prevail.

While the secular world grows increasingly hostile to Adonai and His word, what it offers to itself is more lawlessness, chaos, anarchy, and ultimately self-destruction. Almost two million people have migrated out of California in the last 3 years because it’s not safe to live there anymore! Washington state and Oregon are almost the same! Portland and Seattle are lawless, even when caught criminals are not prosecuted. Businesses are shuddering their doors and leaving! It’s like the time of Noach! Though far from perfect, Western Civilizations were based upon biblical morals and ethics which have produced the liberty, freedoms, and prosperity its citizens have experienced. This has resulted in numerous constitutional republics that recognize the God given, inalienable rights of every individual, they’ve formed constitutional governments that provide a framework of fairness, justice, safety, security, freedom and strive to defend and protect those inalienable rights! Unfortunately, we now find ourselves in a decaying society. We’ve turned away from the morals and ethics given in Proverbs chapters 1-10, that are centered upon:

Proverbs 1:7. The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

This is no longer the teaching from parents to children because many parents have fallen away, they have abandoned fear of the Lord to live a hedonistic, narcissistic life to satisfy self. Where this really is revealed is on social media! I’m stunned to see people make posts on their social media of immoral, sinful behavior that is in direct disobedience to the word of God. Then people who are supposedly Children of God reply to these posts! “I love it”, “I’m so happy for you!”, “So Sweet”. It’s one thing to sin, it’s another to make it public and receive widespread support from alleged believers! They are modeling the exact opposite of “Fear of the Lord”. Yeshua warned us about this, that lawlessness will increase:

Matthew 24:10-12. (TLV) And then many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one other. 11 Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

Yochanan boldly spoke truth, calling it what it is in:

I John 3:4.(TLV) “Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness-indeed, sin is lawlessness”

What is lawlessness? Anomia in the Greek-without Torah! Nothing reveals lawlessness more than manipulating the law legally to justify unethical, sinful behavior. This was the very reason Yeshua berated the P’rushim saying to them in:

Mathew 23:27-28. “Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and all kinds of rottenness. 28 Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah.

The need to engage in and prevail in the culture war is the central theme, the lesson of Hanukkah! Mattityahu Hasmonea got engaged and started guerrilla warfare along with his sons and a few followers against the Syrian Greek Culture invasion. What they did in the hill country of Judea and Samaria was so amazing that books on their exploits are still studied by modern guerrilla fighters. Early in the war Judas Hasmonea took over after his father’s death and he is the one who came up with the legendary tactics. They fact that they did so paved the way for Jewish continuity and survival over the last two millennia. If we want to ensure that the unique and positive aspects of American Exceptionalism will survive, we need to remember this Hanukkah story. Hanukkah is considered a somewhat minor celebration, yet the story of Hanukkah reveals a profound message concerning obedience to God and the necessity and importance of not misplacing our trust.

Our identity as both Messianic Jews and Gentiles comes from our conformity and oneness with Scripture, Gods word, with Gods culture. This is why we are so centered upon the Youth at these celebrations and the Feast Days!

Proverbs 22:6. Train (Chanak: to train, dedicate) a child in the way he [should] go; and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.

Chanak is the root word of Hanukkah. Hanukkah isn’t just about Donuts and Latkas, it’s a time of training and ‘dedication. Hanukkah is a lesson of warning for us as this battle is still being fought! It’s about the children and the enemy knows this very well!

The Syrian Greek authorities constructed gymnasiums throughout the land so that children could be indoctrinated in Greek culture and practices of physical contests. That is happening today! Daniel Villarrea, a writer for The Queerity, a top online LGBQT magazine wrote an article entitled, Can We Please Just Start Admitting That We Do Actually Want To Indoctrinate Kids? In it he says, “Why would we push anti-bullying programs or social studies classes that teach kids about the historical contributions of famous queers unless we wanted to deliberately educate children to accept queer sexuality as normal?”

The homosexual lobby is aggressively indoctrinating children that homosexual behavior is normal and should be accepted and embraced. They clearly want homosexuality to be introduced before these children are old enough, mature enough to understand who they are. This is not about education or being nice, inclusive, and tolerant. That’s why they are hosting trans reading times in public libraries-to normalize the immoral and sinful behavior! Unfortunately, some adults have become enamored with what they believe are progressive, rational and scientific ways and are convinced of the need to replace our traditional biblical based values with progressive behaviors that are immoral.

Here is their narrative: If you pushback regarding your daughters’ becoming boys, or your boys’ becoming girls, or you don’t want girls and boys to play on the same sports teams, or share coed locker rooms, or the same restrooms it’s because your closed minded, your not inclusive, and your children need to be liberated from your backward bible values. Transgenderism and gender ideology are no more scientific and rational than idol worship. Yet they are aggressively recruiting and indoctrinating our children-especially through social media! They will coerce, shame, and cancel adults who seek to live their lives and raise their children according to the word of God. As we critically learn through the Hanukkah story, the only thing worse than a culture war is too willingly surrendering our liberty, freedoms, and values without a fight.

The Maccabees dedicated themselves to this principle and Adonai long before they won and rededicated the temple! We must do the same! Hanukkah reveals a mystery, the miraculous power of trust in Adonai in the face of hopelessness, a spark of light in the depths of darkness, the limitless, divine, dunamis power of Adonai as we contend for the Kingdom of Adonai in our own culture war! Hanukkah is the story of restoration and dedication! To accomplish this, we like the Maccabee’s must first seek a personal, spiritual restoration through the word and the Blood of Messiah! Yeshua Himself, the Light of the world observed Hanukkah in the temple.

John 10:22-23. Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade.

The menorah, kept in the temple, represents the “light unto the world. The temple, which was located on a hill had inverse windows which allowed the light of the Menorah to be radiated to the world. This light represents the knowledge of the kingdom of God. It’s this light that will overcome our current darkness as our light cannot be extinguished! We must stand against this cultural invasion and deny our children’s indoctrination and not be forced to embrace unbiblical, sinful values! We must imitate Judah’s steadfastness. And thankfully there is no foreign occupying army to be defeated for lovers of freedom to prevail, so there is no need to imitate Judah’s violence. This Hanukkah let your light shine!

Chag Hanukkah Sameach
Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Rabbi and Rebbitzen’s Corner November 2023

Rabbi and Rebbitzen’s Corner November 2023

By Eric Carlson in 11_2023-2 on November 1, 2023

It’s November already! Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 23rd 2023. November, is the 11th month of the Gregorian calendar. Its name is derived from “novem”, Latin for “nine,” an indication of its position as the ninth month in the early Roman calendar. November is the last of four months to have a length of 30 days (the other three are April, June, and September). There is still time to register and attend the MJAA South East Reginal Conference in Orlando, Florida next month, December 15th – 17th, 2023! This conference is a profound way to show your love and support for the Jewish people! https://mjaa.org/southeast2023/

The National Day of Giving takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November.  Did you know that the National Day of Giving was only created in 2012? The National Day of Giving, also known as Giving Tuesday or Global Day of Giving follows three major shopping days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is created to unleash the power of radical generosity by giving a healthy donation to Non-profits and charitable organizations such as Congregation Zion’s Sake.

As we finished celebrating Sukkot last month, we were all, saddened, shocked, and horrified by the brutal, barbaric, and unprovoked attack upon Israel. As the conflict continues, please keep praying for Israel, for her safety, success, and victory over her enemies! It’s hard to believe after the despicable acts done to the elderly, children, families, and women that there are those who support Hamas or at the least don’t understand why Israel is so important! Interestingly, Gaza is mentioned no less than 20 times in the Bible – in both the Old Testament and the New.

Most references to Gaza are about how wicked its people and leaders are, how much they hate Israel and the Jewish people, and how God repeatedly sent His prophets to warn of Gaza’s impending judgment. The first time Gaza is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis, chapter 10, where God describes Gaza as part of the land occupied by the Canaanites, the mortal enemies of God. Later in the scriptures, Gaza is described as the base camp of the Philistines, who were constantly attacking and terrorizing the Jews of Israel. Adonai will judge Gaza:

Amos 1:6-7 (TLV). Thus says Adonai: “For three crimes of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. For they exiled an entire population, giving them over to Edom. 7 So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza—it will devour its citadels.

Many believers don’t know why Israel matters so much. We need to be a voice piece, a benefactor for Israel! Israel is the time clock of Yeshua’s return! It’s not based upon religion or man-made timelines. Yeshua’s return is based on what is happening in Israel. Here’s some discussion points:

Yeshua wasn’t a “Christian”, He was Jewish. He celebrated and kept the Biblical Feasts, the Moedim! He didn’t come to eradicate the Torah or the writings of the Tanach (Old Testament) or Prophets. In His own words:

Matthew 5:17-19. “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

When Yeshua returns, He isn’t returning to the United States, Europe, the E.U., the United Nations, or any other worldly capitol. The Bible says He is returning to Jerusalem! Yeshua us going to plant His foot down on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:2-5) and go through the Eastern Gate (Ezekiel 44:1-3), which is currently sealed off with 16 feet of concrete. A cemetery was also placed in front of that gate because touching the dead defiles. They don’t know that at Yeshua’s return the dead will be raised! The Word of GOD says He will return to Jerusalem and from there He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.

The final battle isn’t going to be on U.S. soil. It’s going to be in the Valley of Megiddo, in Israel. The Bible says as the nation’s wage war against Israel Yeshua will come and destroy His enemies with the breath of His mouth. (II Thessalonians 2:8).

Israel and the Jewish people have not been replaced as some believe. Gentiles are actually grafted into the Jewish rooted Olive Tree with the Jewish People; the wild branch is grafted into an existing Jewish olive tree (Romans 11). God is not done with the Jewish People as Sha’ul stated in:

Romans 11:1. In that case, I say, isn’t it that God has repudiated his people?” Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Isra’el, from the seed of Avraham, of the tribe of Binyamin.

The Word of GOD says, “When you touch Israel, you touch the Apple of GOD’s eye.” Zechariah 2:8. Adonai will keep and protect Israel:

Psalm 121:4-7. No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps. 5 ADONAI is your guardian; at your right hand ADONAI provides you with shade 6 the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night. 7 ADONAI will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life.

There is a covenant blessing connected to those who bless Israel:

Genesis 12:3. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Adonai remembers the covenant and oath He has with His people and Land of Israel forever:

Psalms 105:8-11. He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant he made with Avraham, the oath he swore to Yitz’chak, 10 and established as a law for Ya’akov, for Isra’el as an everlasting covenant: 11 “To you I will give the land of Kena’an as your allotted heritage.”

Lastly, we are commanded to pray for Jerusalem:

Psalm 122:7. May shalom be within your ramparts, prosperity in your palaces.

Please tell the world about Gods chosen people, their Promise Land, and most importantly Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah!

Blessings and Shalom!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

By Eric Carlson in 11_2023-3 on November 1, 2023

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude to God for sustaining the early settlers and was originally celebrated in October until the start of the 20th century. The original celebration was a rare time of unity between colonists and the First Nations people as they celebrated together. The colonists would have not survived without the help of the natives who introduced them to life sustaining corn which is a vegetable exclusive to the America’s (Maze) and didn’t exist outside of the western hemisphere (the America’s) until the colonists shipped some back to England in 1609.

The traditional “first Thanksgiving” is the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621. The Plymouth celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. However, there was another, more modest Thanksgiving at Berkley Plantation, Virginia on the banks of the James River in 1619, two years before the Pilgrims even landed at Plymouth. The celebration became an important part of the American history by the 1800s. Thanksgiving was modeled after the biblical celebration of Sukkot when Israel thanks God for sustenance and provision in the desert wonderings.

Thanksgiving as we celebrate it today is one of copious amounts of food: Turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravies, and numerous pies and is centered around Family! Thanksgiving is the most travelled holiday in America, families reunite and come together and for some it’s the only time of the year they do so. Thanksgiving is also extremely biblical, not the holiday, but the act. It is a heartfelt response to God when we look past our blessings to the source of the blessing.

Psalm 50:14. Offer thanksgiving (towdah {to-daw’}: to give thanks, laud, praise, to confess, give praise to God, songs of liturgical worship in the Psalms, hymn of praise, thanks offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving) as your sacrifice (Z’vach: to slaughter, kill, to sacrifice) to God, pay your vows (neder {neh’-der}: vow, offering, promise) to the Most High,

“Thanksgiving” – (todah) is an extension of the hands, avowal, adoration, a Kehillat, a congregation of worshippers offering a sacrifice of praise. Giving thanks for everything that takes place in our lives to the glory of God.

I Thessalonians 5:18. In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.

A Thanks, a Toda offering is always accompanied by a sacrifice. A sacrifice must always cost you something, there is always a price or it’s not a sacrifice. Sacrificing is always a difficult thing to do. A sacrifice is something you work hard for, something you honor or desire. To give up something you have no attachment to isn’t a sacrifice. A sacrifice also requires the worshipper to slay their own desires, the pride of flesh, our anger, and most valued of all our human reasoning and logic. Most of the authors who wrote biblical verses of Thanks and Sacrifice had endured persecution, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other intolerable situations. David was one of these authors who understood sacrifice:

I Chronicles 21:22-24. Then David said to Ornan, “Let me have the parcel with this threshing-floor, so that I can build on it an altar to ADONAI – I will pay you its full value – so that the plague will be lifted from the people.” 23 Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. I’m giving you the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing-sledges for firewood and the wheat for the grain offering – I’m giving it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No; I insist on buying it from you at the full price. I refuse to take what is yours for ADONAI or offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

Thanksgiving with Sacrifice establishes the protocol for entering into His presence! Psalm 100, one of the most well-known Psalms is written specifically about this. Numerous worship songs have been written using this Psalm:

Psalm 100:1. A psalm of thanksgiving: Shout (Ha’ri-u: to shout, raise a sound, cry out, a blast on the Shofar, to shout a war-cry, battle cry, to sound a signal for war, to shout in triumph) for joy to ADONAI, all the earth!

Hari-u L’Adonai Shout joyful to the Lord or Make a Joyful noise to Adonai. The root word of Hari-u is Ru’ah. Ru’ah is found 33 times in the Tanakh. A Ru-a is not just a shout, loud noise, or battle cry. It is the Battle Cry before engaging the enemy. It’s the joyful response to Adonai’s deliverance of His people from danger. There is a mystery hidden here regarding the power of worship! For many people, it’s not the first thing they do, entering into worship when engaging the enemy.

When receiving a bad medical report, when hearing of bad news or confronting a bad situation; releasing a Hari-u L’Adonai, Shouting for Joy unto Adonai is a battle cry to both engage the enemy and celebrating the victory….at the same time! When danger approaches, when we are under attack, when all hope is lost, when facing darkness, trials, and tribulation release the battle cry and the shout of victory! Hari-u L’Adonai, Shouting for Joy to Adonai is your victory shout, the Lord will deliver you! Release your sacrifice of Praise. Shout unto the LORD! Hallelujah!

Psalm 100:2. Serve (Iv’du: to work, serve, to make oneself a servant, to labour, to work for another, serve another by labour, to serve as subjects, to serve God, to serve or minister to God with Levitical service) ADONAI with gladness (Simcah: Joy, Gladness, Mirth, in celebration). Enter his presence with joyful songs (r’nanah {ren-aw-naw’}: singing, root ra’nan is to overcome).

Thanks, and sacrifice are intertwined which brings us back to service. We labour for God, we are to make ourselves His servant, His subject, to serve Him, to Minister to Him as priests! This service is to be done in joy and celebration.

Proverbs 17:22. A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one’s strength.

If you have no joy in your life something is missing, your life is being sapped, drained away. You are to walk in the strength of the Lord. This is directly connected to the American concept of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Nehemiah 8:10. Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of ADONAI is your strength (Ma’oz: place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold, place of safety, fastness, harbor, stronghold, refuge of God).”

Psalm 100:2 says to “enter His presence”. We are seeing a pattern here. We come before Adonai with clean hands and a pure heart. We come unto Him with a broken, contrite heart, humbly yet boldly! And we also come before Him, we enter His presence with Simcah r’nana-joyful songs that overcome! If you haven’t caught this yet, there is a major revelation from God here! He wants you joyful before Him! In Simcah, in joy! He wants you to serve Him in gladness and joy, not grumpy and depressed! Adonai wants you to come before Him with joy filled singing! He invites you to come so close that you can see His face and worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

John 4:24. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”

The reward for those who worship Him in Spirit and Truth is to behold the face, the Paniym of God!

Psalm 100:3-4. Be aware that ADONAI is God; it is he who made us; and we are his, his people, the flock in his pasture. 4 Enter his gates (Sha`ar: an opening, a door, gate to meeting place, a city or town, entrance into a palace, courtyard, camp, temple, or a city. Gates represent jurisdiction, dwelling, strength, power, dominion) with thanksgiving, enter his courtyards with praise; give thanks to him, and bless his name.

We are to be cognizant to the fact that God, Adonai is our creator, He made us and we belong to Him! We are His flock, His children under his care, we are in His pasture, and He is our shepherd. We, His flock, His people are to as the scripture says: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.”

We are to come into His court, His Temple, His presence, His authority, His jurisdiction, His dominion, His courtyard with praise, with worship! Joyfully! We are to do so with thanks, with a thankful, grateful heart. With an attitude of joy, thankfulness, appreciation, awe, and respect. One cannot enter His gate, His presence with an ungrateful, bitter heart, in depression and scorn. We enter His presence, before His face with joyous, heartfelt thanksgiving unto the Lord. We enter His courtyards with Praise. There are seven specific Hebrew Words for praise:

Halal – Halal means “to be clear, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.” Hallelujah’s root word is halal.

Yadah – From the root yad meaning hand. Yada is an extended hand, worshipping the Lord with extended hands

Todah – Todah comes from the same principle root word as yadah, but is used more specifically. Todah literally means: Thanks, adoration, acceptance.” To thank God for “things not yet received” as well as things already at hand.

Y’Shabach – means, “to shout, to address in a loud tone, to command, to triumph. Too laud, praise, and commend God.

Barakh – means “to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration.” B’rakhah is a blessing. It reveals the relationship, the connection between worship, blessing, and kneeling. It is the expectation to receive a blessing from the Lord.”

Zemar – means “to pluck the strings of an instrument, to sing, to praise; a musical word which is largely involved with joyful expressions of music with musical instruments. “To touch the strings” used concordantly with instrumental worship.

Tehillah (Psalms) – is derived from the word halal and means “the singing of halal’s, to sing or to laud; perceived to involve music, especially singing; hymns of the Spirit.

An attitude of Thanksgiving, gratitude is a quality that molds and shapes our lives, it’s a character quality, a fruit of being in Yeshua which we are to be engaged in continuously.

Hebrews 13:15. Through him, therefore, let us offer God a sacrifice of praise continually. For this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name.

Once we have properly entered His gates, hearts filled with thanksgiving and joy, our next stop and final destination are his courts, the place where we ultimately stand before our great King.

Psalms 100:5. For ADONAI is good, his grace continues forever, and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.

We must be thankful, grateful to Adonai! We are to confess His greatness, bless Him, and bend our knee before Him! The lord is good (tov), His “chesed”, His grace continues forever! His faithfulness, Emunah, and truth endure forever, in perpetuity, for all generations. Shouting for Joy unto the Lord is a battle cry and a victory cry. It’s what Israel declared with King Jehoshaphat when the defeated Moab and Ammon:

II Chronicles 20:18-22. Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while all Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before ADONAI, worshipping ADONAI; 19 and the L’vi’im from the descendants of the K’hati and the descendants of the Korchi, stood up and praised ADONAI the God of Isra’el at the top of their voices. 20 The next morning, they rose early and went out into the T’koa Desert. As they left, Y’hoshafat stood and said, “Listen to me, Y’hudah and you inhabitants of Yerushalayim! “Trust in ADONAI your God, and you will be safe. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 After consulting with the people, he appointed those who would sing to ADONAI and praise the splendor of his holiness as they went out ahead of the army, saying, “Give thanks to ADONAI, for his grace continues forever.” 22 Then, during the time when they were singing and praising, ADONAI brought a surprise attack against the people of ‘Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se’ir who had come to fight Y’hudah; and they were defeated.

As Israel sang Psalm 100:5, thanking God, in both a war cry, a battle cry and a victory song God destroyed their enemies! It’s not happy people who are thankful, its Thankful people are happy! The power of thanksgiving and praise, of entering His courtyards with joyful praise will change your situation; it takes your enemies captive! Hari-u L’Adonai Shout joyfully into whatever situation you’re facing right now…….

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Prophetic Israel

Prophetic Israel

By Eric Carlson in 11_2023-1 on November 1, 2023

With the ongoing war in Israel, it’s important to remember who Israel is! Israel is mentioned in the entire bible 500 times, 78 times in the Brit Chadesha alone! There are over 1,800 biblical prophecies contained in scripture that involves over 8,300 verses. The whole bible contains just over 31,000 verses so about 27% of scripture, or one third of the bible deals with prophecy (Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy). Of those prophecies, over 95% deal directly with Israel and the Jewish people.

Israel’s existence continues to be controversial. Some say God fulfilled His promise to Avraham so there should not be a modern state, others say there won’t be a state until Mashiach returns. Yet others say that Israel is a spiritual concept not a physical state.

God covenants with two resources: People and Land. They two are connected and cannot be separated. All of human history revolves around God’s interaction with Israel, the land and the people coupled with the revelation of Him, God unto the World. ALL World History, the rise and fall of nations, the rise and fall of Empires, humanities wars, humanities renaissances, Israel’s Diaspora’s, punishment and restorations throughout the last 5,000 years hasbeen for one purpose: To establish and restore God’s reign here on earth through Yeshua.

Israel’s two diaspora’s (exile from their land) were periods of correction and realignment that caused Israel to intensely seek God and follow Him. Israel’s reemergence as a nation is prophetic, biblical, and sign of the times we live in, There are ten specific prophecies fulfilled when Israel became a nation again in May 14th, 1948.

These 10 Bible prophecies were fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became an independent, united nation for the second time in history, and for the first time in 1,900 years.

  1. Jacob’s descendants would regain control of Israel

Bible passage: Amos 9:14-15.

Written: about 750 BC.

Fulfilled: Since 1948

In Amos 9:14-15, the prophet said that there would come a time when the exiles of Israel would again have Israel as their own land and that they would never be uprooted again. Amos lived about 2700 years ago, during a time when the people of Israel were being forced out of their homeland by a succession of foreign invasions. Despite many centuries of exile, many Jews returned to Israel and reclaimed sovereignty over a portion of their ancient homeland. This declaration of independence, in 1948, triggered a war with the surrounding countries, which objected to the presence of a Jewish state. On May 15, 1948, the day that armies from the surrounding countries invaded, Azzam Pasha, the Secretary General of the Arab League, said “This will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades.” Similar quotes were uttered by others during the war of 1948-49 and during the two major wars that followed. Despite its tiny size, Israel prevailed in these wars, preventing its people from being uprooted again, as they had been in ancient times.

Amos 9:14-15. I will restore the fortunes of my people Isra’el; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities; they will plant vineyards and drink their wine, cultivate gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their own soil, no more to be uprooted from their land, which I gave them,” says ADONAI your God.

  1. Israel would be brought back to life.

Bible passage: Ezekiel 37:10-14.

Written: between 593-571 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948

In Ezekiel 37:10-14, the prophet receives a vision in which Israel was seen as a scattering of dried-up bones. In this vision, God tells Ezekiel that the bones (Israel) would be brought back to life. Just as Ezekiel had prophesized about 2600 years ago, the Jews were brought back to the land, and the country of Israel was brought back to life. Israel re-established sovereignty in 1948, a mere three years after the end of the Holocaust, during which the Nazis killed about one-third of the world’s Jewish population.

Ezekiel 37:10-14. So I prophesied as ordered, and the breath came into them, and they were alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army! 11 Then he said to me, “Human being! These bones are the whole house of Isra’el; and they are saying, ‘Our bones have dried up, our hope is gone, and we are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy; say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says, ‘My people! I will open your graves and make you get up out of your graves, and I will bring you into the land of Isra’el. 13 Then you will know that I am ADONAI – when I have opened your graves and made you get up out of your graves, my people! 14 I will put my Spirit in you; and you will be alive. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, ADONAI, have spoken, and that I have done it,’ says ADONAI.”

  1. Isaiah spoke of Israel being reborn in one day.

Bible passage: Isaiah 66:7-8.

Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948

In Isaiah 66:7-8, the prophet foreshadowed the re-birth of Israel in 1948. Isaiah describes a woman giving birth before going into labor, and he speaks of a country being born in one day. This accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 – when the Jews declared independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2900 years.

During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel’s sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally born in a single day.

Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel’s status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of one single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.

Isaiah 66:7-8. Before going into labor, she gave birth; before her pains came, she delivered a male child. 8 Who ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Is a country born in one day? Is a nation brought forth all at once? For as soon as Tziyon went into labor, she brought forth her children.

  1. Israel would be re-established as a unified nation.

Bible passage: Ezekiel 37:21-22.

Written: between 593-571 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948

In Ezekiel 37:21-22, the prophet said that God would one day bring the people of Israel back to Israel, as a united nation. This might have been a shock for Ezekiel. He lived about 2600 years ago. At that time, the people of Israel had already divided themselves into two separate kingdoms. And, both kingdoms had been conquered by foreign invaders, who forced many of the people, including Ezekiel, into exile. But, when Jews reclaimed sovereignty in 1948, they did so as a united people, creating one nation – Israel.

Ezekiel 37:21-22. Then say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says: ‘I will take the people of Isra’el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra’el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms.

  1. The second Israel would be more impressive than the first.

Bible passage: Jeremiah 16:14-15.

Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948

In Jeremiah 16:14-15, the prophet said the second Israel would be more impressive than the first. In many regards, it is. The first time that Israel was established as a country was after Moses led the descendants of Jacob (typically referred to today as Jews) out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved for 400 years. They then conquered Canaan and established Israel about 3400 years ago. But the second time that Israel was established was after the Jews had been scattered far and wide for a few thousand years. This time the Jews had to return from as far away as the United States, China, Russia and South Africa.

Jeremiah 16:14-15. “‘Therefore,’ says ADONAI, ‘the day will come when people will no longer swear, “As ADONAI lives, who brought the people of Isra’el out of the land of Egypt,” 15 but, “As ADONAI lives, who brought the people of Isra’el out of the land to the north and out of all the countries where he drove them”; for I will bring them back to their own land, which I gave to their ancestors.

  1. Ezekiel predicted when Israel would be re-established

Bible passage: Ezekiel 4:3-6

Written: between 593-571 BC

Fulfilled: 1948

In Ezekiel 4:3-6, the prophet said the Jewish people, who had lost control of their homeland, would be punished for 430 years. This prophecy, according to Bible scholar Grant Jeffrey, pinpointed the 1948 rebirth of Israel. Here’s a summary of Jeffrey’s theory:

  1. Ezekiel said the Jewish people were to be punished for 430 years because they had turned away from God. As part of the punishment, we lost control of the land to Babylon. Many Jewish people were taken as captives to Babylon.

  1. Babylon was later conquered by Cyrus in 539 BC. Cyrus allowed the Jews to leave Babylon and to return to their homeland. But, only a small number returned. The return had taken place sometime around 536 BC, about 70 years after Judah lost independence to Babylon.

  1. Because most of the exiles chose to stay in pagan Babylon rather than return to the Holy Land, the remaining 360 years of their punishment was multiplied by 7. The reason is explained in Bible’s book of Leviticus. (Leviticus 26:18, 26:21, 26:24 and 26:28). In Leviticus, it says that if the people did not repent while being punished, the punishment would be multiplied by 7. And, by staying in pagan Babylon, most exiles were refusing to repent.

  1. So, if you take the remaining 360 years of punishment and multiply by 7, you get 2,520 years. But, Jeffrey says those years are based on an ancient 360-day lunar calendar. If those years are adjusted to the modern solar calendar, the result is 2,484 years.

  1. And, there were exactly 2,484 years from 536 BC to 1948, which is the year that Israel regained independence. In this Bible passage, Ezekiel is asked by God to symbolically act out the 430 years of punishment.

Ezekiel 4:3-6. Then take an iron griddle and put it in place as a wall of iron between yourself and the city, and fix your gaze on it – the city is under siege, and you are the one besieging it. This will be a sign for the house of Isra’el. 4 “Next, you are to lie on your left side, and have it bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el – for as many days as you lie on your side, you will bear their guilt. 5 For I am assigning you one day for each year of their guilt; thus you are to bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el for 390 days. 6 Then, when you have finished that, you are to lie on your right side and bear the guilt of the house of Y’hudah for forty days, each day corresponding to a year; this is what I am assigning you.

  1. The people of Israel would return to “their own land”

Bible passage: Ezekiel 34:13

Written: between 593-571 BC.

Fulfilled: after May 14, 1948

In Ezekiel 34:13, the prophet said that God would gather the people of Israel scattered throughout the world and bring them back to “their own land.” After many centuries of dispersion, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned to their ancient homeland beginning in the late 1800s. But, millions more returned after Israel declared independence in 1948. In other words, millions of exiles returned to their ancient homeland which was now truly “their own land” in the sense that it was now a sovereign Jewish state.

Ezekiel 34:13. I will bring them back from those peoples, gather them from those countries and return them to their own land. Then I will let them feed on the mountains of Isra’el, by the streams and in all the livable places of the land.

  1. The people of Israel would return to “their own land”

Bible passage: Jeremiah 31:10

Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948, etc.

In Jeremiah 31:10, the prophet said that God would one day gather the Jewish people back to Israel and that He would watch over them like a shepherd. History proves that God indeed has watched over the re-established nation of Israel. Hours after Israel declared independence in 1948, the surrounding countries attacked, hoping to replace the Jewish state with an Arab state. These countries are much larger than Israel. But tiny Israel prevailed in that war and was able to capture additional land, increasing the land size of Israel by 50 percent. Israel also prevailed in the two other major wars that followed.

Jeremiah 31:10. Nations, hear the word of ADONAI! Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say: “He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him, guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”

  1. Israel’s army would be disproportionately powerful.

Bible passage: Leviticus 26:3, 7-8.

Written: perhaps around 1400 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948-49, 1967, 1973, 2023 etc.

In Leviticus 26:3, 7-8, the Bible says that the army of Israel would have a supernatural power to prevail during times of conflict, if the people are obedient to the Lord. This Bible passage says that 5 people would be able to chase away 100 people, and that 100 would be able to chase away 10,000. Is there any proof to this incredible claim? Judge for yourself:

Example 1: Within hours of Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded Israel. The combined population of those countries was at least 20 million at that time. Israel had fewer than 1 million Jews. Even so, the Israel won the war and expanded the size of Israel by 50 percent.

Example 2: During the War of 1967, Israel attacked the air force bases of the surrounding countries and took control of Jerusalem for the first time in 2000 years. They also regained control of the West Bank and the Golan. That war lasted a mere 6 days.

Example 3: On Oct. 6, 1973, Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. Other countries later joined the attack. But Israel was able to push back the attacking armies and occupy land outside of Israel’s borders.

Leviticus 26:3. “‘If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them;

Leviticus 26:7-8. You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before your sword. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand -your enemies will fall before your sword.

  1. The fortunes of the people of Israel would be restored.

Bible passage: Deuteronomy 30:3-5.

Written: perhaps 1400 BC.

Fulfilled: 1948, etc.

In Deuteronomy 30:3-5, the Bible said the Jews would be scattered worldwide and that they later would return to their homeland and have their fortunes restored. This prophecy began to be fulfilled in modern times during the late 1800s when many Jews returned to Israel, from as far away as China and the United States, Russia and South Africa. Israel declared independence in 1948. Today, Israel is among the world’s most prosperous countries. In 1999, for example, Israel’s per capita Gross Domestic Product was twice as prosperous than the neighboring countries.

Deuteronomy 30:3-5. At that point, ADONAI your God will reverse your exile and show you mercy; he will return and gather you from all the peoples to which ADONAI your God scattered you. 4 If one of yours was scattered to the far end of the sky, ADONAI your God will gather you even from there; he will go there and get you. 5 ADONAI your God will bring you back into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you prosper there, and you will become even more numerous than your ancestors.

Israel is the center of God’s prophetic timeline for the future Messianic Reign! Israel is nothing short of supernatural!

Blessings and Shalom,

Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Restoration

Restoration

By Eric Carlson in 10_2023-3 on September 28, 2023

For those who have experienced Israel with us, we witnessed and experienced across the entire nation of Israel that Adonai is in the restoration business! The land and the people! Restoration is prophetic:

Isaiah 61:4. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, restore sites long destroyed; they will renew the ruined cities, destroyed many generations ago.

A recent Prophecy News Watch article headlined: “Archaeologists Are Making Bombshell Discoveries In The Land Of Israel”. This article talked extensively about all the new discoveries in archeology in the land of Israel. What we experience across the greater Kingdom of Adonai is the Parallel that’s interwoven between the physical and spirit realm of Israel and the Kingdom of Adonai. On May 14th, 1948, Israel is reborn as a nation fulfilling prophecy:

Isaiah 66:8. Who ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Is a country born in one day? Is a nation brought forth all at once? For as soon as Tziyon went into labor, she brought forth her children.

This physical restoration of the Nation of Israel resulted in a supernatural spiritual outpouring. The great tent healing revivals of Billy Graham, William Branham, Oral Roberts, T. L. Osborn, A. A. Allen to name but a few…I want us to clearly see the pattern, the intertwined relationship, the inseparable connection between the people, the Nation of Israel and the spirit realm of God. Then in June 1967-Jerusalem is restored back into our Jewish hands as Yeshua prophesied:

Luke 21:24. Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled (pateo {pat-eh’-o}: Trampled, to tread underfoot-occupied or ruled, to strike or smitten) down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.

The age or kairos time of Gentile occupation and rule of Jerusalem ended June 7th, 1967. This physical restoration resulted in a profound spiritual Charismatic outpouring and revival, the Jesus freak movement, the Y.M.J.A. was born, the modern messianic movement explodes with thousands of Jewish believers coming to Yeshua through this charismatic revival outpouring. Brings me right back to the revival scripture;

Acts 3:19-21. “Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’s presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua. 21 He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.

Adonai has had me on this scripture for some time now! Its profound, it is the revival scripture but as we read it, we see a key revelation:

Acts 3:24-26. Indeed, all the prophets announced these days, starting with Sh’mu’el and continuing through all who followed. 25 “You are the sons of the prophets; and you are included in the covenant which God made with our fathers when he said to Avraham, ‘By your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 So it is to you first that God has sent his servant whom he has raised up, so that he might bless you by turning each one of you from your evil ways.”

It’s about the people, to the Jew first but also the nations! It’s personal! It’s about every one of His creation being restored unto Him! As physical Israel continues to be revealed, as the dirt is removed, and 5,000 years of Jewish history is revealed so too will some 2,000 years of spiritual sludge and dirt be removed, and the real Yeshua will be discovered. We’re in the Season of spirit and truth; as Yeshua spoke to the woman at the well in Shechem;

John 4:23-24. But the time is coming—indeed, it’s here now—when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”

This is the restoration of true worship!! Not the stones, not the places but Adonai and Yeshua! Joel walks this process out profoundly through Rain and Restoration

Joel 2:23-25. Be glad, people of Tziyon! rejoice in ADONAI your God! For he is giving you the right amount of rain in the fall, he makes the rain come down for you, the fall and spring rains – this is what he does first. 24 Then the floors will be full of grain and the vats overflow with wine and olive oil. 25 “I will restore (shalam {shaw-lam’}: covenant of peace, to be complete, be sound, to make whole, to restore) to you the years that the locusts ate, the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms, my great army that I sent against you.

It was hands down the wettest and coldest Fall Feasts this year in Israel! Record amounts of rain have fallen, the desert itself is blossoming around the Dead Sea, and Lake Kinneret is almost it the Red Line, completely full! The rains are a both a physical and spiritual sign of blessings! Which in turn results in restoration! Immediately following restoration come the spiritual restoration, just like I already discussed!

Joel 2:28-31. “After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions; 29 and also on male and female slaves in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 I will show wonders in the sky and on earth – blood, fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and terrible Day of ADONAI.”

In the last seven years we’ve experienced the quad blood red moons along with complete Solar eclipses! Adonai has been and is restoring Physically and Spiritually! The theft of Yeshua’s identity is also being restored! In fact, this is critical as our people are looking for Mashiach! Which brings us back to that it’s about the people! Yes, Israel is the Key and Yes Yeshua will rule in Jerusalem! God will take care of all that by releasing the “New Jerusalem” from heaven with a new temple for Yeshua to rule from!

Adonai is restoring the people! He’s restoring His creation unto Himself! We’ve toured the land and walked upon the very paving stones Yeshua walked upon! We’ve seen the ruins of the cities that Yeshua ministered in! I think their gone for a very specific reason! If they’d not been destroyed people would be worshipping them! Though we will always visit the historical sites as it makes the word come alive it’s not the stones, its people! Ironically, we witnessed an explosion of Orthodox Synagogues being built atop the stones and rocks of what has been! That’s not our future! Adonai is restoring people unto Himself:

Matthew 18:12-14. “What’s your opinion? What will somebody do who has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go off to find the stray? 13 And if he happens to find it? Yes! I tell you he is happier over it than over the ninety-nine that never strayed! 14 Thus your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.

Not one lost! The cultic oppression upon Orthodox Israel shall be broken, I don’t know when or how but I know Gods word specifically says this:

Zechariah 12:10. and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced.” They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.

His word shall come to pass which all begins with relationship! Kindness opens eyes of blindness! Restoration precedes revival! Our history as a people are filled with struggle. We struggled as slaves in Egypt. We struggled with doubt which ended with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. We struggled with obedience and submission once we were in Promised Land, to survive and keep possessing it. We struggled in diaspora in Babylon. It was a struggle to return and rebuild the Temple and city after the 70 years of exile. We’ve struggled through a second, longer, 2,000-year diaspora. We struggled greatly in exile among the nations, persecution, pogroms, inquisitions, holocausts. We’ve struggled the last 75 years in rebuilding and restoring the nation of Israel and continue to do so! We continue to struggle with existentialism and idolatry today among our people. We struggle with the full restoration of Israel! We struggle as Messianic Believers in a secular-religious nation that knows Him not, or at least knows of Him but doesn’t Know Him. We must struggle, strive, and persevere to bring our people to Yeshua and bring about complete restoration and that we experience revival.

Here lies the mystery, its ONLY IN AND THROUGH THE STRUGGLES that we get to where God wants us to be! To minister unto Him. To be His representative, His emissary, to rule together with Him! To seek and strive for Jewish Revival! To be an Israelite! We are all called to rise to our calling and destiny!! In the end we will rule and minister with Him over everything that He has created!

II Timothy 2:12. If we persevere (hupomeno {hoop-om-en’-o} bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, abide, endure, suffer, struggle) we will also rule with him If we disown him, he will also disown us.

Some of us feel that we’re still in exile, many struggle just to keep the faith, to keep their witness! Exactly how does it end?

Revelation 19:5-7. ” A voice went out from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great!” 6 Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying, “Halleluyah! ADONAI, God of heaven’s armies, has begun his reign! 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself –

Yeshua isn’t returning for denominations, ministries, works, buildings, temple, churches, or synagogues! He’s returning for the bride which is composed of people! Jewish people, Gentile people, Indigenous people, Black people, Asian people, Hispanic people, Arab people, every nation, every tribe, and every tongue! All people groups are being restored to the table of sacrifice, to the Communion table! All with equal seating! Ya’acov, James, Yeshua’s brother quoted Amos 9:11-12 when he spoke to the restoration of Israel that leads to world revival in:

Acts 15:15-17. And the words of the Prophets are in complete harmony with this for it is written, 16 ‘”After this, I will return; and I will rebuild the fallen tent (Sukkah: Sukkah, booth, Chuppah, the dwelling place (Shakan) of God’s Shekinah (divine Presence). Root word also refers to Mishpocha or family-the family of David) of David. I will rebuild its ruins, I will restore it, 17 so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, that is, all the Goyim who have been called by my name,”

This Sukkah or Tabernacle of David is a place where God is sought; the world will seek Him. This Sukkah or tabernacle will be restored in the time to come. Sukkot also represents the wedding feast as the chuppah, it represents the return of the Kingdom of God here on earth, the return and rule of Yeshua! It always has and will always be about personal restoration! Let us strive and move forward in our fellowship and love with one another, as we truly will need each other in struggle of the hard times ahead! First the land then the people as laid out in Ezekiel 36:24-29.

First the restoration of the land:

Ezekiel 37:12-14. Therefore prophesy; say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says, ‘My people! I will open your graves and make you get up out of your graves, and I will bring you into the land of Isra’el. 13 Then you will know that I am ADONAI – when I have opened your graves and made you get up out of your graves, my people! 14 I will put my Spirit in you; and you will be alive. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, ADONAI, have spoken, and that I have done it,’ says ADONAI.”

Then the restoration, unification, and salvation of the people:

Ezekiel 37:22-24. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra’el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms. 23 “‘They will never again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their transgressions; but I will save them from all the places where they have been living and sinning; and I will cleanse them, so that they will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 My servant David will be king over them, and all of them will have one shepherd; they will live by my rulings and keep and observe my regulations.

Then the unity of Jews and Gentile, the One New Humanity. Even the gentiles among us will be given an inheritance, land in the Promise land:

Ezekiel 47:21-23. “‘This is the territory you are to divide among the tribes of Isra’el. 22 You are to divide it by lot as an inheritance both to you and to the foreigners living among you who give birth to children living among you; for you they are to be no different from the native-born among the people of Isra’el – they are to have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Isra’el. 23 You are to give the foreigner an inheritance in the territory of the tribe with whom he is living,’ says Adonai ELOHIM.

Lord in Yeshua’s name may we see this supernatural event in our lifetime, with our own eyes! Your word will not come back null or void! It will do what You have called it to do! We give You all the praise, glory, and honor for this righteous restoration!

Blessings,

Rabbi Eric S Carlson

Transition

Transition

By Eric Carlson in 10_2023-1 on September 28, 2023

The Hebrew letter Yud is used numerous times in the Torah to represent “life in the world to come” Ten represents the inheritance of the fullness of the Torah/Word. Ten signifies entirety: Ten generations from Adam to Noah. From Noah’s time to Abraham ten generations expired, ten plaques against Egypt, Ten Commandments. Ten represents divine completeness. Let’s look at a biblical example of transition.

Joshua 1:1-5. After the death of Moshe the servant of ADONAI, ADONAI said to Y’hoshua the son of Nun, Moshe’s assistant, 2 “Moshe my servant is dead. So now, get up and cross over this Yarden, you and all the people, to the land I am giving to them, the people of Isra’el. 3 I am giving you every place you will step on with the sole of your foot, as I said to Moshe. 4 All the land from the desert and the L’vanon to the great river, the Euphrates River – all the land of the Hitti – and on to the Great Sea in the west will be your territory. 5 No one will be able to withstand you as long as you live. Just as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.

I recently heard a great analogy from John Maxwell. Transition means letting go which comes with some fear, even trepidation. It’s like a trapeze artist swinging on the trapeze! To get to the next trapeze you must let go which releases us into the unknown! That’s when we must starve fear and feed our trust!

In this time of GREAT transition, we can learn several important points from Joshua. I’ve been routinely sharing the past several years that we are living in a great period of transition. Adonai designed transitions for a kingdom purpose. In doing so He gave us a pattern for how it works. Transitions aren’t just change but are a series of events designed to move you/us/your business/ministry/Kehillat/Body of Messiah/nation in a divine new direction. Even death itself is just a transition from this world to the next:

John 5:24. Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever hears what I am saying and trusts the One who sent me has eternal life — that is, he will not come up for judgment but has already crossed over (metabaino {met-ab-ah’-ee-no} pass over from one place to another, cross over, pass from one to another, transition) from death to life!

Our lives in the Kingdom of Adonai are one of transition, the Kingdom is always moving. A journey from this earthly realm to that of the Kingdom until the Kingdom itself transitions back to the earth! It’s never to easy-contemplate death, it’s often a hard violent transition either ageing and long-term decline or sickness, accidents, or some other event that brings about our demise.

Adonai uses periods of transition to birth restoration, revivals, awakenings, to shift history, to establish His will and dominion on earth, to guide, direct, and launch us into our prophetic future and destiny. Adonai’s presence transitioned from The Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve to Mt Sinai! From Mt Sinai to the Tabernacle, from there to the Temple, then through Yeshua from the Temple to within us! We as a people have transitioned from shepherds to slaves in Egypt, redeemed from slavery to wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, then transitioning to the Promise land, then removal and Diaspora then return, then transition back to Diaspora then transition back to the land as a nation in May 1948 and now we’re waiting for the final transition to the Messianic Reign!!

Dark storm clouds have been hanging over us for years now with many people still anxious and fearful. War is on the horizon with Russia/Ukraine, China/Taiwan, and even North Korea! Many people we know, friends, family, and neighbors are still panicking over Covid which means people are fearful! There are two profound points for us to be aware of in seasons of transition that we must understand:

  1. People are easily entrapped, enslaved in crisis. In times of severe famine, a pandemic, or any crisis. The citizens of Egypt gave Yosef their money, their land, their livestock, and themselves as slaves just to survive and feel safe. People will do just about anything out of fear and panic.

Genesis 47:25. They replied, “You have saved our lives! So if it pleases my lord, we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.”

HaSatan does not want you to boldly trust in Adonai! He doesn’t want you filled with the Ruach, obedient, submitted, tithing, praying, reading your word, and drawing closer to Adonai! HaSatan wants you panicked, frightened, scared, desperate, static and enslaved to this world! He wants you trapped by fear, by panic, into depression, into despair, into Unforgiveness, into bitterness, into disbelief, and divided! HaSatan knows what most believers don’t, a force wins by dividing and conquering the other force! Divide the people and enslave them through fear and panic where they become impotent, apathetic, powerless, and spiritually dead-no longer a threat just like Israel when enslaved in Egypt! Those who can invoke fear control the narrative.

  1. We must fight against fear, panic, tyranny, lies, and oppression! We must fight for our freedom because those in power will not willingly release you (like Pharoah when we were enslaved in Egypt)! The word speaks to this:

II Timothy 1:7. (NLV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

We’re warned not to let our freedom become the cause of our return to slavery in Galatians 5. King David gave us a profound revelation and understanding of kingdom transition. A Young David was anointed by Samuel to be King of Israel but not until Adonai dealt with Saul and removed him from the throne. This took some 15-17 years.

We are at a similar paradigm shift; a similar transition is occurring in both America and the greater Kingdom today. The presence of God is/has departed from a majority of mainstream religion. Apostasy, estrangement, rebellion, and general rejection of God has caused His presence to depart from many houses of worship today! This transition is marked by confusion, violence, and tribulation.

The world’s power base is ending while a new king is coming! Those who are attuned, those who hear the voice of Adonai are flocking to the new kingdom base, the Messianic base in preparation for the coming King, Yeshua who will reign in the Messianic age and Kingdom. In Joshua chapter one we observe another profound transition where Adonai commands Yoshua the same he did David: (chazaq {khaw-zak’}: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute).

Joshua 1:6-9. “Be strong (amats), be bold (Chazak); for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. 9 Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because ADONAI your God is with you wherever you go.”

God’s call to Israel, “chazak ve’ematz” (be strong and courageous-bold) in taking the Promise Land is directly connected to chazak ve’ematz” (be strong and courageous) in following Torah, God’s word, to keep Torah on your lips, and to meditate upon it day and night! Then you will prosper and succeed, having all the character and behavior traits David possessed. Adonai doesn’t want mediocre worship, mediocre praise, mediocre obedience, or mediocre followers! David followed Adonai with everything he had!!!

Adonai’s word, His instructions are for times of transitions: Chazak, be bold. Adonai mentions this three times to convey courage, strength, firmness, and trust upon Adonai’s covenant promises. Transitions are a universal fact of life, transitions are constant. If you woke up this morning, you are in transition. Let’s look at three foundational revelations of transitions that we must receive and walk out in our lives:

  1. Transition builds and shapes our character.

If you want to know the true character of a man or woman, watch that person during transition. During the time of persecution from Sha’ul, then the loss of his wives, children, and flocks at Ziklag, David showed great resolve, patience, and character! David didn’t panic, freak out, or crumble in the face of adversity!

I Samuel 30:6. David was in serious trouble: the people were talking about stoning him to death, because all the people were in such deep grief, each man over his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in ADONAI his God.

  1. We must posture ourselves in times of transitions to be active not passive, to engage ourselves in the narrative.

The time of transition allowed David to Build, prepare, and get ready to rule all Israel though he wasn’t even king of Judah yet! He didn’t waste his God given time. Thousands of men, warriors, flocked to David aware of the transition! As I mentioned in the beginning some 340,822 soldiers from all twelve tribes sought out David who said in:

I Chronicles 12:17,39. When David went out to meet them, he said, “If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge.”

39 All these soldiers who were experienced in war came to Hevron wholeheartedly to make David king over all Isra’el, and all the rest from Isra’el were single-hearted in wanting to make David king.

Adonai gave them a spirit of unity, to be echad, of single mind and purpose for the fulfilment of His prophetic word! We too as a congregation are posturing ourselves to do the same! Gathering those who are like “the descendants of Yissakhar, men who understood the times and knew what Isra’el ought to do, there were 200 leaders, and all their kinsmen were under their command.”I Chronicles 12:32.

  1. Our foundation and guide for Kingdom transition must be Adonai’s infallible Word.

The key to this in transition is recorded in:

Joshua 1:7-8. Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.

If we strengthen ourselves, if we are strong and bold to keep Torah on our lips, to meditate on it 24/7, and take care to do everything it says to do, everything written in it we will prosper and succeed. What a profound, supernatural divine covenant promise! If we depart, stray, apostatize from Adonai’s word in times of transition, we become susceptible to the traps, snare, and strategies of HaSatan that are designed to make us fail.

Trust, Vision, obedience, and execution equals results! Google the number of business and enterprises that started in the middle of the great depression, a season of transition that some were aware of and used to their advantage: Ada Feed & Seed, Publix Super Markets, Hy-Vee, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Pendleton Grain Growers, Texas Instrument’s, even the well-known Yellow Book USA! I want to share 3 points necessary to succeed in this time of transition:

  1. Hearing the voice of the Lord.Joshua assumed his new role as leader of Israel from Moses but this role requires him to hear the voice of the Lord which gave him and verification of the promises God made to Israel.

  1. Obedience. A point to remember that in the instructions God just gave to Joshua “get up and cross over this Yarden”, there’s no “How too’s” given by God, Joshua had to rely on instructions straight from God to perform his duties.

  1. Accountability. God provided three things for Israel to get into the Promise Land.
    1. Plans – God gives specific guidelines and blueprints to get things done.
    2. Word – God gave specific words to the work He is calling Joshua to do.
    3. Anointing – God gives the anointing for the ministry to bear the fruit it’s been called to do.

If any of these three are manipulated (often done by man), it thwarts the will of God. Adonai is free too, and often does call forth other works with different blueprints and different anointing but man CANNOT FORCE GOD’S ANOINTING FOR A SPECIFIC CALLING into a plan created by man!

This happens all the time. A congregation or people call out for and cry to God for His presence and when He answers they don’t like His design, His blueprint so they attempt to force the Anointing of God into a manmade plan that fits their own desires and when it fails, they blame God when in fact, it was their own fault. There must be accountability regarding the mission, the plans, and the anointing received from Adonai!

As a Congregation we’ve had many roadblocks attempting to thwart our mission or worse, to divide us but we’ve overcome everyone one of them and have maintained our goals and directives that Adonai assigned to us, and we will continue to do so in the future! The three key points must be done with great boldness and obedience to the word:

Joshua 1:6-9. “Be strong, be bold; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. 9 Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because ADONAI your God is with you wherever you go.”

This is the same 3 points given to Jehu who destroyed Jezebel, God follows His own pattern! We see a strikingly similar scenario.

I Kings 19:16-17. Also anoint Yehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Isra’el, and anoint Elisha the son of Shafat of Avel-M’cholah to be prophet after you. 17 Yehu will kill whoever escapes the sword of Haza’el, and Elisha will kill whoever escapes the sword of Yehu.

II Kings 9:6-10. Yehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what ADONAI the God of Isra’el says: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of ADONAI, over Isra’el. 7 You will attack the house of Ach’av your master, so that I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of ADONAI, blood shed by Izevel. <>strong>8 The entire house of Ach’av will perish; I will cut off from Ach’av every male, whether a slave or free in Isra’el. 9 I will make the house of Ach’av like the house of Yarov’am the son of N’vat and like the house of Ba’sha the son of Achiyah. 10 Moreover, the dogs will eat Izevel in the dumping-ground of Yizre’el, and there will be no one to bury her.'” Then he opened the door and fled.

Jehu received an anointing to do the job, he received the plans for the job, and he was obedient to do everything God told him to do! The topic is immaterial, it’s how we employ the mission that matters. We cannot move forward puffed up in pride, we need to move forward in humble love. As Don Finto stated: “Don’t look down on the person who is where YOU where at 6 months ago, 1 year ago, 5 years ago.” We’ve all been there, don’t antagonize as you influence, bring them along with you. When Joshua moved forward God’s covenant is reestablished.

Joshua 5:2-9. (NKJV) At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord–to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” 7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach (cherpah {kher-paw’}: reproach, scorn, shame, disgrace, blaspheme) of Egypt from you.” Therefore, the name of the place is Gilgal to this day.

This was not just affirming God’s covenant, it was rolling away the reproach, the shame, the rebuke, the disgrace, the discredit of Egypt from them! God was finishing Israel’s purification. God had taken Israel through the refiner’s fire, refining Egypt out of them! Circumcision was the covenant sign of transition revealing it was time to enter the Promise Land and receive their inheritance! Right after they endure circumcision, they are at the place of entering into the Promise Land at the Festival of Pesach and the new year.

Joshua 5:10-12. Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.

See the symbolism that God is revealing to Israel? Their obedience has delivered them from 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Pesach marks the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to that of a Nation with their own land and territory. The day after they celebrated their Pesach Seder Israel began eating the produce of the Land. The first day of unleavened bread marks the day the Manna ceased falling from heaven. The transition also includes God’s promise of inhabiting the land of milk and honey. Pesach, the first Biblical Feast of the new year kicks of the renewed annual Feast Day cycle! Sometimes, God brings times of transition to create transformation.

Blessings,

Rabbi Eric S Carlson