Let us for a moment agree that Mystery Babylon, the real matrix, is pressing hard upon this world and suffocating the children of men. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get beyond the intuitive idea that Mystery Babylon is just evil … let us get a little better understanding of its discrete and tactical purposes. Let us go beyond the obvious why (because hasatan destroys) and ask the real question … “what is the real matrix doing to us?”
The purpose of Mystery Babylon, the tool of hasatan the adversary, seeks one thing only … rebellion. Rebellion by any means! It could be overt rebellion (atheism) all the way down to simply steering people away from the truth just enough to have them reject the narrow path which Mashiach has shown for us. But in the end it is all about rebellion … the essence of all that is the father of lies and deceit!
And the second important truth: people choose to operate and slumber within the matrix. G_D allows the delusion because it is part of his plan to separate the elect from the un-elect. This may sound harsh … and this may cause your own doctrine and heart to be stressed … but all the same it is true! G_D’s purpose is reconciliation and all the rebels will be weeded out!
People can choose to come out of Mystery Babylon … but first it must be recognized. It first must be confronted. Sadly … people who choose not to confront the Babylonian nature of their delusion are quite frankly caught in a web of deceit which they don't want to leave. Conversely it is the message of the GOOD NEWS GOSPEL and the purpose of the GOOD NEWS GOSPEL to force this confrontation. It is Mashiach himself who brings not peace but conflict to this world. Conflict by way of challenge … conflict by way of calling out the darkness and its very nature … in this case creating conflict with the entire knowledge based framework which subtly permeates and rules our lives! Conflict by truth!
Let us remember this very important fact … man can't serve two masters … and man, even freed by the power of G_D through Mashiach, remains a slave in Mashiach!
So you are still thinking about rebellion … hmmm! Let us recall once again the people in Matthew Chapter 7; those rebels who thought they were doing the will of G_D! So then what do we really mean by rebellion from a Biblical perspective?
Believe it or not the answer is quite easy when one is not caught within Mystery Babylon. The answer is simply “approved lawlessness”! Let this sink in for a moment. Approved Lawlessness!
It is not imperfection … it is not stumbling a bit … it is not even a particular sin! Rebellion is choosing to live outside of G_D’s ordained citizenship rules for the Kingdom. Rebellion is snubbing the nose at, and raising the hand against the good and holy law of THE LORD. Rebellion is ignoring the terms and conditions of the Eternal Covenant between G_D and Israel.
Now before you jump off your seat and recoil at this notion please, please exercise patience. There is no doubt whatsoever … Biblically … that redemption is a free gift of mercy in the form of grace from G_D brought forth by the glorious work of Mashiach Yeshua … from before the foundations of the world! We should never under any circumstances accept any notion that the law is the means of our salvation! On the other hand … as you will see … an unwillingness to accept the Torah of G_D … of Mashiach … is paramount to rejecting G_D’s offer of redemption and adoption into his kingdom. It is just as good as saying “thanks but no-thanks”. It is a kin to saying “I don't accept the covenant”!
And if you are struggling right now … fear not … remain steadfast and patient and not only will you see the truth unfold but you will at the same time see the diabolical nature of the enemy revealed as we review this Hebraic construct through G_D’s word! We will be getting a two for one; a look at the truth and a look at how the delusion works at the same time!
We will begin by directly reviewing the utilization of this word “lawlessness” in its given Biblical context within the confines of the B’rit Chadasha … a.k.a. the so called Christian New Testament!
Below is a simple to digest visual of where the Greek word “anomia” in various forms is utilized within the New Testament … a.k.a. The Hebrew B’rit Chadasha or renewed covenant!
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Naturally it is not hard for even the Christian believer to comprehend that The Commandments of G_D are the only means of putting a definition upon sin or transgression. Agreed? … As the Spirit reveals through Holy Scripture!
As such we should understand that if one could abide by all of the commands, statutes, ordinances and precepts set forth in G_D’s Torah … then one could be sinless. A person then would be perfect and like unto G_D … as in our LORD the Mashiach! Presuming of course that Torah obedience is not strictly by rote serving a root objective to somehow “earn” justification! As we know however we are not perfect and sinless. We know that we are in need of the blood atoning sacrifice of the sin offering (kapporah) … Mashiach Yeshua … Bless his HOLY NAME!
So just to be clear … we do not get hung up on any notion that by doing the works of the law we save ourselves or obligate G_D in any manner to view us in a favorable light! However what than is this lawlessness issue really talking about? Since obviously we humans are virtually at all points in time in breach of some portion of the law … how can we be sinners without being lawless? This is the question indeed!
Here we go!
To begin let us digress a bit and recall that an early Christian faith “heresy” was: Antinomianism or lawlessness! It is the idea that believers of the G_D of Israel (Yeshua) are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented within Holy Scriptures!
From an early Christian Church perspective … before the Church had divested itself from the Hebraic roots, could there ever be any doubt that this “church pronounced heresy” would have manifested as people declaring that they did not need to follow Torah because believers were now under grace? … Think about this for a moment! It is most critical to grasp!
You are seeing this correctly … the early church deemed as “heresy” any claims that followers of the Christian faith were not obligated to comply with the Torah! Obviously the law being referred to could certainly not have been the secular pagan laws of the day since obedience to these laws would result in apostasy! As such the lawlessness must have been relative to the laws of the orthodox and true faith … which prior to the end of the apostolic age would have of course been premised upon the Hebrew Torah!
Let this sink in still further! … Today in the Christian church there is no Biblical or Covenantal Torah … but rather man-made doctrines which have replaced Torah. But … in the early church such behavior, refuting the obligation to obey G_D’s Torah, was viewed as heresy … apostasy!
Obviously the Christian church's view on such matters changed and we've already reviewed the historical record to see why and when! So … according to the early Church fathers and leaders, those leading the church prior to the removal of the Hebraic roots of the faith … those leaders very much closer to Mashiach and the original followers … those leaders not swayed by Gentile infiltration or Greek philosophy … those leaders with a much better understanding of “The Way”, would essentially consider the modern Christian faith to be heretical and apostate! Can this deduction even be debated dear reader?
The truth must assuredly sting and hurt … but please do not let pride and offense take hold … be strong and proceed for it is a worth-while journey!
Now honestly … how many of you have ever heard your minister/priest/presbyter/rabbi et.al. get up to the pulpit and share this information with the so called body of believers? C’mon … be honest … ever? And … Could you imagine the response of the congregation if such a fact were shared? Oy Vey!
And here is the big question to ask: with the historical records being so easy to get to … and the truth being so readily accessible … why don’t the leaders or body of believers within Christianity simply call a spade a spade? Why is it that the historical evidence of such dealings by the church are consistently swept under the carpet or simply brushed away as being inconsequential?
Naturally we will have to return to this question a bit later on … but … in the meantime let us look at the actual Holy Scriptures … specifically the use of “anomia” or “lawlessness” to get a better understanding as to why the early church fathers would have deemed lawlessness to be a dangerous heresy and root it out from amongst the body of believers … why “anomia” stands completely against the orthodoxy of “The Way” walked by Mashiach himself!
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Maybe not surprisingly we find this word “anomia” surface first within the gospel of Matthew 7:23 … hmmm … seems as if we have seen this before … yes? “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Initially it should be noted that does it not seem a bit strange how most bible translations interpret this simply as “workers of iniquity”? When a Hebraic perspective is placed over this word “anomia” it really changes matters does it not? All of a sudden it becomes obvious that Mashiach himself was quoted as saying I never knew you … you people that did not the Torah of G_D! And we know these people of iniquity were those that prophesied, preached, exorcised demons and worked wonders! Certainly by our “relative” standards we would not classify these people as wicked would we? In fact this best describes the leaders and active body of the churches most unfortunately.
It would appear as if our “relative” judgment process and ideas as to what righteousness is … are quite frankly irrelevant to Mashiach! Hmmm! Then again we must admit that we can't peer into the hearts of people and perhaps … just perhaps this wickedness Mashiach alludes to is a matter of motives and personal desires? Let us delve a bit deeper!
But first … one major clarification has got to be made about “doing the law” … and it is very important indeed! Lest the reader be left wondering if G_D even works at all within those that are ignorant to the law which the previous comments may unintentionally infer.
Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another …
This is very critical to understand … The Spirit reveals through Paul that when Mashiach and the Father dwell within a believer … they will do the law instinctively … but shall do so with a conscience that understands it is because he works within us!
It is also very important to understand as well that when the Gentile who does not have or know the law, works in conformance to the law, that the Gentile is indeed operating at a disadvantage despite the mercy and power of G_D! Let this sink in for a moment!
Certainly in response to situations which are present in daily life, G_D’s Spirit is attempting to work in and through true believers to do the holiness of the law … and as Paul reveals the good and holy works of Torah are made manifest. But … as is the case with all endeavors … the experienced and understanding will perform better than the unknowing and inexperienced. Hence Paul’s declaration that there is much benefit in being a Jew … or in other words there is much benefit in knowing G_D’s Torah through obedience to it and being culturally immersed in Torah … since Torah within the auspices of the covenantal relationship and the Kingdom's constitution is what ultimately differentiates a Jew from a Gentile (Goy)! … Yes?
So now we can gain much valuable insight into what we can determine to be lawlessness. Obviously a Gentile that is doing the works of the law instinctively … (in and through the Holy Spirit by Yeshua and not for human motives) … is by definition not lawless! Praise G_D!
Conversely it should be acknowledged that this same Gentile believer is typically not actively working towards being fully integrated into Israel … their adopting family! One could only do so when an understanding of this adoption … and subsequent expectations of cultural integration are understood, accepted and turned into purposeful changes within one's behavioral patterns and world view perspective. The Hebrew culture is G_D’s culture and Torah submission achieves purpose!
But let us continue on our journey and do so knowing that our mental ignorance to the law is by no means a guarantee of condemnation since G_D through Mashiach Yeshua can and does place the Spirit of his Law within the hearts of those who are willing to take on The Ways of Mashiach. Most assuredly G_D is seeking foremost those hearts desiring to do his will!
As we pull off the scales and specifically view “anomia” in the context not of general wickedness but rather in the correct Hebraic context … “lawlessness” or “without Torah”, we may be surprised at what we find. We may be surprised at how the Text is to be rendered and in what typical Hebraic context lawlessness is discussed by the inspired Jewish apostolic writers. Dear reader … are you interested in knowing what the apostles meant … are you interested in knowing what Mashiach meant?
Let us keep in mind as well that we must pay close attention to who the audience is. As we move forward let us not try to cast a veil of delusion over the truth of the text as it was handed down to Israel … in its original form … to its original audience … with its original and true meaning … within the proper context. We simply can’t “play it forward” and seek the meaning of these texts in the context of our world or our world perspective … this is just frankly unacceptable Biblical exegetical methodology. So place yourselves back in time … think about the messengers and the audiences and the cultures and the contexts in which the Revelation was given!
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Matthew 13:36:43 Then Yeshua sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, he that sows the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father! Who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Commentary:
As we see in Matthew 13:36-43 Mashiach is discussing essentially the end of matters for the children of men. It would seem that Mashiach is discussing a rapture is he not? … But it is a rapture of those who do not belong to the kingdom because they are offensive. Offensive by what standards pray tell? Certainly it can't just mean “sin” … because all people sin. Offensive then by what standard is thus the real question … agreed?
Because Mashiach made the connection directly to the kingdom, of which G_D is King, Mashiach can only be discussing the lawlessness (anomia) in more than a purely spiritual fashion … as in Mashiach was discussing the temporal constitutional laws of the kingdom. Obviously Torah was the governing societal framework of Israel and was intended to be then spread to the nations because the light of such dazzling wisdom and ways so proximal to G_D would be simply irresistible. In effect the nations would cleave to G_D through Israel!
The Jews receiving this message were people that would have 100% absolutely known that Mashiach’s comment about “lawlessness” would have meant he was discussing people that did not the Torah. To these first century Jews it would have seemed obvious that Mashiach was referring to the Goyim (Gentile Nations) that knew not the Torah nor were part of the eternal covenant or Israel.
It would also have been obvious to these first century Jews that the Kingdom was that which they expected with the coming of Mashiach. Sadly they were unaware that Mashiach first had to come in the form of the messianic shadow Joseph … the suffering servant, the betrayed brother and then as conquering King in the form of the messianic shadow King David.
In any event it would become evident however throughout Mashiach’s ministry and through his teachings that these parabolic “tares” were not just Gentiles but also the lost sheep of Israel who quite frankly were working iniquity … a.k.a. "not living a Torah life style!
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Matthew 23:13-33 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein. And he that shall swear by heaven swears by the throne of G_D, and by him that sits thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whitened sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye are witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Commentary:
These comments by Mashiach are from a 1st Century Jewish perspective nothing less than explosive. When “lawlessness” is applied over the translation “iniquity” we see a direct frontal attack by Mashiach on the Jewish leadership in control at that time and still later. And naturally the people marveled at the teaching for none had ever taught with authority to the leadership … on his own terms … and with the support of his works, miracles and sinless life proving that the testimony was upheld by G_D himself!
Now when we read this do we see Mashiach indicating anywhere that Torah is not good? Of course not! What we see is that Mashiach is condemning the leaders for not operating within the proper framework of Torah. As has been previously exposed herein the leaders are more interested in their theological and societal philosophies than they are doing G_D’s will. In fact Mashiach declares them blind to G_D’s will. And pray tell what is blinding them?
You know the answer dear reader … it is in fact Hellenism! That foul degradation of Hebrew Society brought upon Israel by the Roman puppet Herodian Dynasty. Please do your own research in this matter … it is not hard to find. The bottom line is simple … Mashiach was calling them out because they had become nothing more than another cog in the wheel of the Greco-Roman Empire.
Conversely it would seem evident from the Gospel that these same leaders could not possibly see themselves as the enemies of G_D! They were obviously deluded but most certainly their delusion was not the Torah but rather as Mashiach points out their “lawlessness” while doing works by rote for reasons other than honoring G_D with the intent of spreading his Kingdom to the nations! Their compliance to and handling of Torah was premised upon the rational and social constructs of Hellenism … they in effect were usurping Torah by virtue of their attempted control over it and the people … in pure Rabbinic terms they had put their own fences around the Torah and thereby attempted to control the Spiritual with flesh!
Can we not see what has happened to the church and its doctrine? Somehow it was handed down within the church that these Jewish leaders’ failure to move away from Torah … from the law … was the root of their iniquity. But as we can see when the text is simply rendered the way it should be … the opposite is true. Mashiach is condemning them for usurping Torah for their own benefit … For usurping G_D’s word and elevating their own teachings to the forefront! For usurping Torah while not acting in faith. How do we know this? Because G_D’s word defines fools as those who are wise in their own eyes … those who are self-determinant … agreed? As such when Mashiach declares these leaders to be fools he is declaring that they have become part of “this world's system” … or Mystery Babylon … and as such are doomed to her fate … destruction.
Also please note how Mashiach makes a definitive connection for us by referring to the blood of the prophets … see Revelations 16:6 & 17:5-6 & 18:24 where it is revealed that it is indeed the great whore who works the deceit by which the blood of the faithful is spilled. Mashiach essentially declares to those Jewish leaders that they in effect are under the delusion of Mystery Babylon and thereby children of the adversary … hasatan. The problem is not Torah … the problem is that people are deluded!
It is only under a very strong delusion indeed that these Jewish leaders could accept no rebuking … and remember that G_D rebukes those whom he loves … so he must have still loved his people Israel! It is only under such a powerful delusion that these leaders could not recognize Yeshua as the promised Mashiach of Israel or worse yet did recognize him but still rejected him in favor of their own dreams and constructs!
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Matthew 24:1-14 And Yeshua went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Yeshua said unto them, See ye not all these things? Amen I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying; tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Yeshua answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Messiah; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers' places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Commentary:
Apparently Mashiach is once again discussing the end days of the great tribulation to come. But let us focus upon the condition of the peoples, the false prophets and of course the abounding iniquity … or more appropriately the general lawlessness and or misapplication of Torah.
Undoubtedly it is the message of the false prophets which lead the people astray and most assuredly those being persecuted are those that stand against the false prophets and against the delusion. As such it is the people that are “lawful” that are being afflicted by those who are lawless.
And where do we see the confirmation within G_D’s word of such a state: …
Revelations 12:1-17 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto G_D, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of G_D that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceived the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our G_D, and the power of his Messiah: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our G_D day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of G_D, and have the testimony of Yeshua HaMashiach.
The events revealed in Matthew and Revelations are assuredly the great tribulation. As Mashiach reveals there will be many offended. These offended are those that do not want to hear of the delusion … those offended are those that hate the true followers of Mashiach. Those offended are offended because their lawlessness is being pointed out! They hated the true followers but of course they hated G_D’s ways for humanity first!
Dear reader … is there any way that Revelations 12:17 can objectively be twisted to mean something other than “Torah observers”? And please note how these Torah observers