The heading of this study has been selected because of its import in the study of the "words" of Yahvah. When this verse is taken apart, word by word, then we begin to understand that every word of Scripture must be scrutinized in minute detail. The word "opening" ("entrance" in KJV) is in Strong's #6608 pethach. It means a "way", a "door", or a "gate", and these words, as we shall see below, are pertinent to our Word Study section. But this verse means also "to peel off the outer shell to get to the nut inside". In Canticles (Song of Solomon) Scripture is referred to as the "Nut Garden". The Talmud and the Kabbalah refer to this peeling away of the outer shell as "suffering", thus one must "suffer" to obtain understanding. The "nut" is supposed to be peeled "layer by layer", and this, as we shall see, is exactly what is done in getting to the ROOT (or nut) of Hebrew words. The Greek of the New Covenant must first be translated back to Hebrew, so as to understand the full meaning implied. This is what we shall do in the following study. This month's selections, I believe, are among the most enlightening and most interesting in Scripture. Our Word Study this month focuses on God's Wisdom, the "Lightning Flash", "Arrow", "Bow", or "Flaming Sword", Yahshua. Following this line of thought, our Hebrew Perspective will also deal with these terms as reflected in the ancient prehistoric "pure" Kabbalah, that which was handed down orally from patriarch to prophet, prior to the first century (not the "magical" Kabbalah in use even today).

In keeping with the subject of this study, we shall discuss pre- and first century Essene thought concerning this matter in our historical section. As we shall learn, it neatly relates to the Word Study and Hebrew Perspective. Connecting these studies forms the beliefs of the first century followers of Yahshua (Jesus) concerning his Presence (appearing). Questions and Answers will then tie up any loose ends.

Our emphasis in this study will be on the Everlasting Promise of our Father and the Presence (appearing) of Yahshua (Jesus); therefore, this study will concentrate on the words "bow" [Heb. #7198 qesheth] in the Old Covenant (Genesis 9:13-17) and "lightning" [Gk. #796 astrape] in the New Covenant (Matthew 24:27). These words reflect the manifestation of Yahshua and the revealing of the Sons of God at his Presence, and this is an important subject, perverted by tradition, which needs to be studied. Let us first take a look at the word "bow". In Hebrew this word [qesheth] simply means "iris" (which is the Greek term for the "rainbow" slivered color of the eye, thus it is a "rainbow"). But there are other meanings of this word as well, one of which is "arrow" [Heb. #2671 chets], and means "a piercer", or "the shaft" of an arrow or spear. The arrow is simply the "lightning" flash (or "thought") of God: "But Yahvah over them will appear and forth shall go AS LIGHTNING HIS ARROW, Yea My Lord Yahvah with a horn will blow, and will move along in the whirlwinds of the south" [Zechariah 9:14]. We also find reference to this "arrow" or "lightning flash" in Psalms 64:7. This "lightning", however, is also Yahvah's "Flaming Two-edged Sword", the uttered Word of His Thought or Wisdom, the "thunder-bolt"; i.e. the "bolt" of lightning. It came forth from His bosom, the Eternal Fountain or EYE of the "rainbow"; i.e. the "pupil", "apple", or "bosom". Thus when he looks upon his new creation Israel (The New Man) who has been "changed" from Ha Adam (The Old Man), they reflect His true image and are the "apple" or "pupil" of His eye, i.e. made in the "image" of God. Yahshua (Jesus) was the "express image" of Yahvah when he walked the earth, meaning he was, indeed, the EXACT MIRROR IMAGE of Yahvah, reflecting His glory. Because of this, Yahsuah (Jesus) became the "firstborn" of the dead, and the "firstfruits" of the righteous. The Jewish sages believed the reason Yahvah formed The Man (Ha Adam) was that he might see in him a reflection of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Since "Adam" (The Man) was formed in perfection and being without sin, we can assume that this is so (by the way, this "Old Man", who carried in him the sin nature of the flesh was once perfect in wisdom and beauty before iniquity was found in him, and as a "guardian" or "tiller" of the Garden he also "walked among the fiery stones").

The word "bow", as mentioned before, in Greek is iris. Webster's Dictionary (which you can check out for yourself) states that iris is derived from the Latin word viere, which means "to plait", "a wirelike cord, woven or twisted together", an "umbilical cord"; i.e. the TREE OF LIFE from which all infants receive nourishment and LIFE (living waters, i.e., the "Fountain" of Life from above)! This Tree of Life is in the "midst of the Garden"; it is, in fact, guarded by "cherubim" ["oxen"] by the DOOR and ROOT of the Tree Himself: It is interesting that the Hebrew manuscript refers to this tree in the plural (chiim rather than chay), which depicts the Sevenfold Spirit (or Elohim) in His Branches. The significance of this is that the tree consists of a many fibers twisted together to form a single trunk with its many branches and leaves. This tree of "lives" is, in fact, God's "umbilical cord" through which the entire body of House of Yahvah is fed, His Sevenfold Spirit.

The Flaming Sword [#3857 lahat, blazing, or flaming and #2719 chereb, the sword of destruction; see Genesis 3:24]. Thus the only entrance into the Garden where we might partake of the fullness of the Tree of Life is through the "door": "He that entereth not through the DOOR into the fold of the sheep but goeth up from another place, that man is a thief and a robber, but he that entereth through the DOOR is shepherd of the sheep" [John 10:1-2], who is Yahshua himself. This explains our heading verse since Yahshua (Jesus) is, in fact, the door or gate into the words of Yahvah, or simply put, He is the "Way": "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: NO ONE COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME" [John 14:6]. The "umbilical cord" of Yahvah is the threefold silver cord OF LIFE mentioned in Ecclesiastes 12:6. If we are ever "cut off" from the "womb" above, we are, indeed, spiritually and physically dead! So this "bow" of Yahvah (an everlasting promise) was set in the "clouds (or hosts) of the heavens" just as Yahshua (Jesus) ascended to the "clouds (hosts) of heaven" and now sits in the RIGHT HAND of the Father (readied in his hand), awaiting the Father's decision to send him forth as the "lightning" or "arrow" at His Presence (for no one knows that day nor hour, not the Son, not the angels, but only the Father, Yahvah).

In the New Covenant, these words are reflected in Yahshua's (Jesus') words concerning his presencing (or appearing, the Parousia). He stated: "For just as the LIGHTNING goeth forth from the east and shineth unto the west, So shall be the PRESENCE of the Son of Man" [Matthew 24:27]. This Presence is, in fact, the "sign" of the Son of Ha Adam [i.e. Son of "The Man", genealogically descended, or the Last Adam, the "new creation" of which Paul speaks]. This is the reason he also stated that his Presence (or coming) would be like in the days of Noah. Therefore, we should look upon the patterns in Noah to determine the events of his Presence, because in them is a "pattern" from the cyclical nature of the Bible. While tradition has placed more emphasis on the "marrying and giving in marriage" aspect of this prophecy, the thing we should be looking at is that he clearly stated that "THEY OBSERVED NOT UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND TOOK THEM AWAY ALL TOGETHER, SO WILL BE THE PRESENCE OF THE SON OF MAN" [Matthew 24:39]. He added to that, that he would come as a "thief", that is, unexpectedly. He goes on to state that "if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming he would HAVE BEEN ON THE ALERT and not have suffered his house to be dug through" [Matthew 24:43]. How might one "observe" and "be on alert"? The answer is to study thoroughly the "words" of the Bible. Needless to say, when one is "ready" for the appearance of Yahvah and Yahshua (Jesus), he does not need to worry about being caught unawares.

The Greek word astrape means "lightning", by anal. "glare": lightning, bright shining. It is derived from the Gk. #797 astrapto meaning "TO FLASH AS LIGHTNING". Thayer's Greek Lexicon states: the GLEAM OF A LAMP! Thus Yahshua (Jesus) is represented as the Lamp (Heb. ner) or Seven-Branched Menorah of Yahvah through which shines Yahvah's Spirit; this "gleam" of the Spirit rested on him, thereby irradiating the full reflection of the character of Yahvah; therefore, if we have seen him, we have also seen the Father. Christian tradition places Nur's tomb on the northwest of Jerusalem; however, his tomb (the Tomb of Nur, the "Menorah") has been excavated and is in the area of Bethphage. This tomb is a rolling stone tomb inscribed with early Nazaraean symbols which refer to the mission and life of Yahshua (Jesus). Only one grave couch was ever used. Over grave couch "A" is the inscription "huios christos": SON MESSIAH! Yahvah's light (which comes from above) shines through this Lamp. Furthermore, when the Sons of Yahvah are revealed [see Romans 8:19: "For the eager outlook of creation ardenly awaiteth the revealing of the sons of YAHVAH" [quoted from the Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible; hereafter designated ROSN]; "ye are the LIGHT [Gk. #5457 phos, "to manifest by rays"] of the world" [speaking of the Sons of Yahvah]. Yahshua is the chief light "of the world", reflecting his Father's image, but the Sons of Yahvah when they are revealed will also reflect His image. It is through Yahshua (Jesus), the Lamp, that the Light of Heaven, Yahvah, shines! David, in Psalm 19:28, stated: For Thou didst LIGHT UP MY LAMP, YAHVAH, MY ELOHIM ENLIGHTENETH MY DARKNESS". Since Yahshua (Jesus), as heir, is adorned with the Seven Spirits (qualities or characteristics) of Yahvah, the seven-branched menorah is a perfect symbol for him (thus due to the sensitive nature of his death and resurrection the name "Ner" or "Nur" is inscribed upon his tomb). In light of this understanding, we can easily learn then that "that Wicked", meaning all lawless men (those who are without Torah), will be PARALYZED, ERASED, and CONSUMED with the BRIGHTNESS [#2015 epiphaneia: manifestation, appearing; from #2016 epiphanes: conspicuous, memorable, notable; from #2014 epiphaino: to shine upon, BECOME VISIBLE, known, appear, give light, all derived from the root #5457 phos: to make manifest by rays; Thayer's states that this word is used as a term for the Presence of Yahvah and means "the breaking forth", a heavenly light, a LAMP] of his coming [#3952 parousia: PRESENCE] [see 2 Thess.] (please note that there is a distinct difference between "light" (which is of Yahvah) and "lamp" (the vessel through which the Light shines). The followers of the son of "ruin" (and thus all evil which is "dark" and "hidden") will thus be revealed and destroyed. Light always reveals what is hidden in the darkness. The word for "revealed" is, in fact, Gk. #601 apokalupto meaning "to take off the cover" of that which has been concealed. Thayer's states that it means "to make known what before WAS UNKNOWN"; i.e. as a light shining in the darkness. But we also know that we, as "lamps of the world" are to be like Him [Yahvah] when we shall see him [Yahshua]: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that children (sons) of YAHVAH we should be called, and such we are! Therefore the world understandeth us not, because it understood not Him. Beloved! now are we children of YAHVAH; and not yet hath it been made manifest what we shall be, we know that, if it should be made manifest, like unto Him [Yahvah] shall we be, because we shall see Him just as He is [1 John 3:1-2]. Since Yahshua [Jesus] is His express image, and we are to be conformed to his [Yahshua's/Jesus'] image, then that means we shall be like him [Yahshua] and the Father Yahvah, because Yahshua (Jesus) is, in fact, the very visible reflection of the invisible Yahvah. So it is that Yahshua [Jesus], the vessel and Lamp, emanates the Light of the Father. Because the followers of Yahshua are all "lamps", we, too, shall reflect this same light. For this reason, we become ONE family unit; (which includes) the "Mind" of the Eternal Spirit; the "Head" of the Messiah; and the "Body" of Messiah: this is what is meant by the "UNITY" of God. It does not mean we shall become God; it means that we are in accord with His special Will, and that His Will becomes our will, too; it means we are the "congregation" or "house" of God. We are then "of like mind", "of one accord" and "of one Spirit": "For even in one Spirit we all into one body have been immersed...that there might be no division in the body," [1 Corinthians 12:12, 25]. We are to be conformed in the Will of the Eternal Spirit through which Wisdom and Understanding come; i.e. we are made "like" Him: "And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is preferred by the Spirit, that according to YAHVAH, He maketh intercession in behalf of saints; We know further, that unto them who love YAHVAH, YAHVAH causeth all things to work together for good, unto them who according to purpose, are such as He hath called; For whom He fore-approved, HE (Yahvah) ALSO FORE-APPOINTED TO BE CONFORMED UNTO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON (Yahshua), THAT HE (Yahshua) MIGHT BE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN [Romans 9:27-29+; ROSN]. He is our LEADER, our ELDER BROTHER, our FAMILY! When we receive Wisdom [#2451 Chokmah (hokmah), Wisdom, Word] who is, in fact, the Son of Yahvah, then we become a part of the House of Understanding (or House of God) [#998 Binah: perfect understanding, derived from #995 biyn, "to distinguish", "to separate mentally", "intelligence"], which is a house of "many dwellingplaces". This will be discussed in-depth in the Hebrew Perspective section below. It is the Ish and Ishshah ("distinguished") man and woman of which Yahvah approves. This is easily confirmed in Proverbs, Chapter 1, where it is stated that: "the fear [yirah: reverence] of Yahvah is the beginning of knowledge [#1877 da'ath: awareness or "secret knowledge"], but fools [#191 'evil: perverse, foolish men] despise [#936 buwz: disrespect] Wisdom [#2451 Chokmah: good wisdom] and instruction [#4148 muwsar: correction, discipline, chastisement, warning]. Thus when we have the Son, we have the Father, also!

Thus the spiritual "sign" of the Son of Man (which some believe is the mystical "cross" displayed in the sky) is, indeed, HIS PRESENCE, ITSELF! He will, therefore, come to those found not "watching" as a Thief. The brightness of his becoming visible once more as heir and Son at his Presence (return, advent, appearing) will astonish (paralyze) evil-hearted men, thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that "the more doth He [Yahvah] startle (paralyze; astonish) many nations; before Him, have kings closed their mouth, for that which had not been related to them have they seen, and that which they had not heard, have they diligently considered" [Isaiah 52:15, ROSN]. The result is that they will be consumed by the "plague" of Yahvah: "And this shall be the plague wherewith YAHVAH will plague all the peoples who have made war against Jerusalem; his flesh shall be made to rot while he is standing upon his feet, and his eyes shall rot in their sockets and his tongue shall rot in their mouth; And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall be a great confusion from YAHVAH among them" [Zechariah 14:12-13]. What is a blessing to some (the "Brightness" of His Presence) is a curse to evildoers (the Burning Anger of YHVH, which will consume them, or "Hell"), and it comes as a "two-edged sword": "And out of His mouth is going forth a sharp sword, that therewith He may smite the nations, and He shall shepherd them with a scepter of iron, and he (Yahshua) treadeth the wine-press of the wrath of the anger of YAHVAH the Almighty [i.e. as His agent, representative, or king - His King Messiah]. And He hath upon His mantle and upon His thigh a Name written, King of kings [Yahvah] and Master of masters" [Yahvah] [Revelation 19:15:15-16; ROSN], because Yahshua comes in the "Name" of Yahvah; he wears the "insignia", the signature of YHVH engraved upon his "thigh" (his generative parts, meaning his "generations"). This is the visible image of the invisible God, through which issues forth the Word and Wisdom of Yahvah, two-edged: one for blessing, and one for cursing (you will note that most Hebrew words have both positive and negative meanings). It is this two-edged sword (the visibility of the uttered Word of Wisdom) that is the "lightning flash", or "arrow" of God, and it always finds its mark.

Ezekiel speaks of this "lightning flash" in vs. 1:13-14. In verse 13, he uses the word [Heb. #1300] baraq meaning "lightning" "to cast forth", "to lighten", "concr. a FLASHING SWORD: BRIGHT, GLITTERING SWORD". It is derived from the root [Heb. #1299] baraq, which clarifies the meaning: "A FLASH OF LIGHTNING". Verse 14: "And the living ones ran and returned, like the appearance of a FLASH OF LIGHNING" [Ezekiel 1:14, ROSN]. Ezekiel certainly received his vision from the logic of the "pure" Kabbalah, where the "lightning" flashes through the Sefirotic "wheels" of the "Tree" of Life as we shall investigate below. Once again, there is mention of the "bow": "As the appearance of the BOW [#7198 qesheth: "arrow", iris, umbilical cord, etc.] which is in a cloud on a day of rain, so was the appearance of the BRIGHTNESS round about; that was the appearance of the LIKENESS of the glory of YAHVAH" [Ezekiel 1:28] and this after having seen the appearance of a "man" described in the same vein as Yahshua (Jesus) and the "righteous" in Revelation 1:12-16. This same "bow" is found "round about the throne" in Revelation 4:3. The prism of the "bow" or "rainbow" one might remember is caused by a refraction of light and EMANATES a spectrum of "jeweled" colors. We know that the New Jerusalem (both in John's and Ezekiel's visions; see Rev. 22 and Ezk. 40) is formed of "living stones" (1 Peter 2:4-5), i.e. colorful JEWELS or gems, whose "facets" or "EYES" reflect the "brightness of light", forming a RAINBOW. The name of this city is, in fact, YAHVAH IS, or the ETERNAL. These righteous will form the future precious stones, a "peculiar treasure" in the Garden of Eden, where the "guardian cherub" (the Old Man) once walked "among the fiery stones" [Ezekiel 28:13]. These emanations of "light" sparkle and shine only because of the Light that displays them. (For more information on the Divine Throne see The Divine Throne).

Ezekiel's vision is called (by Jewish sages) the "merkavah" or throne of Yahvah. The canopy of this throne is the protective Hand of Yahvah, which covers His creation like a "booth" or Sukkah over them. The pavement of "sapphire" like unto crystal REFLECTS the colors of the "jewels" (LIVING STONES) or peculiar treasure, thus displaying "rays" of colored light LIKE A RAINBOW! The "eyes" or FACETS of the jewels reflect and refract the LIGHT from above, thus they appear to be vessels (LAMPS) through which the LIGHT SHINES! These "jewels" with their "eyes" are also "all around". The four living creatures are representative of God's Army on earth: ISRAEL. They form a square (like the four directions of the earth itself) and are symbolized by their brigadal leaders' banners or "flags" on which were their emblems: Man, Reuben (South); Lion: Judah (East); Ox, Ephraim (or Joseph; West); and Eagle (nesher, a vulture), Dan (North). This, too, is reflected in the ancient pure Kabbalah. Ezekiel also used the symbolism in the Kabbalah in his vision of the Valley of Dry Bones as we shall see below.

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HEBREW PERSPECTIVE:

The study that follows is supportive of the Word Study above. The prehistoric ancient pure Kabbalah was handed down orally from the patriarchs to the prophets and then on to the Jewish sages who, after the first century C.E. (along with the help of traditional Christianity) perverted its usage to a "magical" form. It is used today by "mystical" Jews, "occult" Christianity, and a variety of fraternal organizations. It must be emphasized that it was not originally "magical" at all. What had been the Sefirotic Tree of Life (Otz Chiim) became to the mystics the Tree of Knowledge. Even those who use "spirit guides" in the New Age Movement use the Kabbalah today, as also the ancient Egyptians and the Greeks, seeking to climb "Jacob's Ladder" to the throne of God and by so doing seek to "sit in the seat of God proclaiming that [they are 'god(s)']. This is, indeed, unfortunate because in its truest and purest sense the Kabbalah [literally meaning the "Way" of Yahvah] was once a beautiful way of understanding Scripture. So let's forget about "climbing" up to the throne and focus on the "Water of Life" that flows freely down from the the Limitless Light or Eternal Fountain of Water of Life, from which everything derives. We are merely the "infant" sucking milk from the "womb" above (from Heavenly Jerusalem, the "House of Understanding" with its many rooms over which Messiah Yahshua resides).

The section of the Kabbalah in which this is found is called the Zohar [Heb. #6672 Tsohar/Zohar: a light; "window"; DOUBLE LIGHT] or "Splendor". This "window" is a "glass" or "mirror". The ancient prophets were said to have been able to receive their visions by looking through mirrors or "glasses". Paul, it will be remembered, spoke of being able to see through the "glass" darkly [Gk. #2072 esoptron: "a mirror (for looking into"; 1 Corinthians 13:12]. He clarified his meaning in 2 Corinthians 3:18 when he stated "And we all WITH UNVEILED FACE RECEIVING AND REFLECTING THE GLORY OF THE LORD [YAHVAH] INTO THE SAME IMAGE ARE BEING TRANSFORMED, FROM GLORY INTO GLORY [i.e. along the paths of the "lightning flash", which is represented by the Messiah Yahshua (Jesus)] -- EVEN AS FROM A SPIRIT THAT IS LORD [YAHVAH] [Rotherham's; ROSN]. The Talmud states that Moses had the clearest vision of Yahvah because he looked through seven mirrors. Since we were made in the "image" of God, we are expected to reflect His righteousness and become sanctified in our own selves by the "reflection" of Yahvah's Spirit. Thus, the Hebrews believed the kingdom on earth should reflect the kingdom in the heavens. They referred to it as the MIRROR IMAGE.

The word Zohar is derived from the word tsahar [Heb. #6671] meaning "to glisten", or "make oil". It thus is related to "anointing oil" [from #3323 yitshar: oil as producing light; fig. anointing], which itself is derived from [Heb. #6671] tsahar above (this also connects it with the Mount of Olives, which as we shall learn below was the execution site of Yahshua [Jesus]). When the original Hebrew gospels (Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Nazaarenes, Gospel of the Ebionites) spoke of the immersion of Yahshua (Jesus), they stated that when he emerged from the water "a great light shone all around" and the voice of Yahvah stated: "THIS DAY have I begotten thee". The Holy Spirit then descended upon him in the shape of a Hebrew letter Kaph ("in the likeness of a dove"), which also has for its emblem the "dove". This Hebrew letter also represents the "palm tree" and the "Hand" of Yahvah. It was this configuration (the Spirit in the shape of the dove "hovering" above as it did in Genesis 1:2) that was used in ancient times for ANOINTING THE HEADS OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PRIESTS! What Yahvah was doing was anointing His Son as His Mediator-Messiah, the High Priest (mediator of a better covenant), and Master of His Spirit. This had not occurred at the birth of Yahshua (Jesus); it occurred on "THIS DAY".

The Ein Sof of the kabbalah is the "unknowable" aspect of God, that which is hidden from all men. This name is synonymous with the "Far North", the Most High Heavens, Aravoth [meaning "to distill" or to "drip" like a fountain]. This last appellation of God's seat is reflected in the book of Ezekiel: "Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house (south)eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side (south side) of the house, at the south side of the altar" [Ezekiel 47:1; KJV; ROSN]. These waters came only as a "trickle" at first, and finally became a "river": The River of Life! You will remember that this "River" empties into the "Dead Sea" and makes everything live once again; i.e. it is the Healing Spirit of Yahvah. Note on the chart that the "waters" (as well as the "lightning flash") begin with Ein Sof and empty to the East (Hokmah), following the path of the lightning flash. As we know from Scripture, Yahshua [Jesus] claims to be able to LEAD US TO (Wisdom/Word of the Spirit) "rivers of living water". This is also clearly confirmed in Revelation 22 by "John" the prophet, who states that these waters of life proceed "out of the throne of Yahvah AND of the Lamb" in the midst of the "broadway" [Gk. plateia - PLAZA, and this refers to the "place" of the "source" or "being" of Yahvah - the "Garden" or bosom of Yahvah] [Rev. 22:1; KJV, ROSN] .

The first "wheel" (ophanim or "wheel-messengers" of the Living Creatures) also gives us the first instance of the "knowable" God and is called the Keter or "Crown". It is represented by the first name of God: I Am (or more properly I Become: Ani Hu), which itself was also derived from Ehyah Asher Ehyah meaning literally "I WILL BE THAT I WILL BE" or "the Ever-existing One". The roots of this Name are hayah [Heb. #1961: to exist or become] and havah [Heb. #1933: also to exist or become] with the pronoun 'asher [#834: who, that, which, what, etc.; i.e. Life who is Life Eternal]. From the Eternal Fountain then issues forth Hokmah (Chokmah) [Heb. #2451]: Wisdom, the "Word" as bursting forth (uttered) from the bosom of Yahvah. The wheel (ophanim No. 2 on the chart) of Hokmah is on the "east" or right of the Sefirotic Tree. When Wisdom is brought forth, it instantaneously flashes "like lightning" to the wheel on the east, Binah [Heb. 998] Understanding, or Intelligence (ophanim No. 3). This is why Yahshua (Jesus) (who was, indeed, also a prophet) stated that his Presence (appearing) would be as a FLASH OF LIGHTNING (which he also goes on to state flashes from EAST TO WEST). He had a clear understanding of the principles of the ancient pure Kabbalah. That he had a full understanding of it cannot be doubted in light of the next paragraph.

Binah is termed as the "House" in which are many dwellingplaces or (as the Kabbalah refers to it) "rooms". This immediately should bring to mind the words of Yahshua (Jesus): "In the house of my Father are many dwellings; or else I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, Again am I coming and will take you home unto myself that where I am ye also may be" [John 14:2-3]. The wheel called Hokmah is referred to in the Kabbalah as the "Son" of God, Wisdom, and this is exactly what Paul told us about Yahshua, proclaiming him as Messiah: "But unto them called themselves, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah, YAHVAH'S POWER [Gk. #1411 dunamis: miracle, wonderful work, strength; Heb. #3027 yad: HAND, power, means, dominion, fellowship, etc.], and YAHVAH'S WISDOM [Gk. #4678 Sophia; Thayer's states that the Hebrew counterpart of this word in the Septuagint is, in fact, "Hokmah"]" [1 Corinthian's 1:24]. Although Yahshua was the "uttered" Word of God, he had existed in his bosom before the "foundations" of the world; thus, the limited term logos in Greek (such as in John, Chapter 1) was meant to imply both meanings. Unfortunately, it has been used as a tool to promote Yahshua (Jesus) as God Himself! This changes the understanding of John 1 from a "trinitarian" concept (this chapter will be translated properly in another study) and reconfirms the Jewish understanding of Yahshua's role as Chief Messenger of Yahvah. It is this chief messenger who uses the Voice (or Trumpet) of Yahvah to gather His elect: "Because YAHSHUA himself with a word of command with a chief-messenger's (HEAD MESSENGER, which he certainly is) voice, and with a trumpet (Voice) of YAHVAH [Yahshua spoke in His Name], shall descend from heaven, and the dead in the Messiah shall rise first" [1 Thess. 4:16; ROSN]. He is, after all, the heir of God, Head and Chief of the messengers of Yahvah.

Neither does John 1, when the word logos is used properly, conflict with what Yahshua (Jesus) said when asked about the commandments: "The chief is Hear! O Israel, YAHVAH is our Elohiym, YAHVAH is one; Therefore shalt thou love YAHVAH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; and with all thy strength" [Mark 12:9-10; ROSN]. This prescriptive phrase is the first line of the Jewish Shema, a daily prayer for Israel, both in the past and presently. His use of this phrase indicates his own belief in One God and in the Unity of that God with His House (or Congregation, if you will). The point to understand here is that the Kabbalah states that the "waters" (or Sevenfold Spirit) flow from east to west on the Siferotic tree and is called both the LIGHTNING FLASH and THE FLAMING SWORD! (See the drawing below). This "sword" is, indeed, the Word and Wisdom of Yahvah as confirmed by Paul: "And the helmet of salvation welcome ye, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is what YAHVAH HAS SPOKEN" [Ephesians 6:17, ROSN]. Once the Spirit of Wisdom through the uttered Word is relayed, it immediately flashes forth from Hokmah to Binah (i.e. from wisdom to understanding), and then down through Awareness, an invisible wheel (not numbered in the tree). This invisible wheel in the pure Kabbalah is called Da'ath [Heb. #1847], Awareness or "Hidden Knowledge". Proverbs 1:7 tells us that reverence toward Yahvah is the chief or beginning of AWARENESS and knowledge (Da'ath). In the "mystical" Kabbalah (perverted over the centuries) this region or "wheel" is called the Abyss, thus we have a "mirror image" of the truth, which in fact is a perversion and a LIE, but claims the truth of the former. This is why we must be very careful when studying the writings of the kabbalah. What once was the Hidden Knowledge of Yahvah became to the "mystics" the Abyss of chaos and confusion. Yahshua [Jesus] used the root of this word in its purest sense in Luke 11:52 to indicate what was happening in the "mystical" arena: "Alas for you, the lawyers! Because ye took away the key of KNOWLEDGE [#1108 Gk. gnosis: knowing, knowledge; from #1097 ginosko: understanding, perceiving, being sure, being AWARE; Septuagint for yada', Heb. #3045, from which is derived da'ath]: Yourselves entered not, And them who were entering ye hindered". This pure form of gnosticism should not be confused with the later Christian and pagan gnosticism beginning about 60 C.E. in which the Kabbalah became finally entirely perverted. The earliest Nazaraeans (as well as the Essenes) used this pure "gnostic" knowledge. Clement, said to have been a follower of Peter himself, makes reference in the book of I Clement to this "pure" knowledge (gnosis) (do not confuse II Clement with this author; the second book was written by someone else much, much later). Paul, in Ephesians 3:2-4 clarifies Yahshua's (Jesus') statement: "If at least ye have heard of the administration of the favour of YAHWAH which hath been given unto me for you. How that by way of REVELATION was made known unto me the sacred secret even as I before wrote in brief, Respecting which ye can, by reading, PERCEIVE [Gk. #4907: sunesis: INTELLIGENCE, putting together a mental task; knowledge, understanding; from #7920 suniemi: to comprehend, act piously, consider, understand, be wise; Thayer's: to

put (as it were) the perception with the thing perceived: i.e. to understand; Septuagint for the Hebrew #1847 Da'ath] my discernment in the sacred secret of Messiah, Which in other generations had not been made known unto the sons of men as it hath now been revealed by His holy apostles and prophets in Spirit" [ROSN]. Paul is speaking of the "sacred secrets" of the prophets concerning Messiah. He, too, had studied the ancient Kabbalah.

The Binah (the House of Understanding or Divine Intelligence - Neshamah) consists of "living stones" in the House of the Sons of Yahvah with Hokmah (the Son, Wisdom) as its head, so these top three "wheels" (or ophanim), in fact, form the Union of Yahvah with the Head and Body of Messiah. These are the only wheels that interest us at this time.

As mentioned above, Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones [Ezekiel 37] was also based on the Siferotic Tree of Life. That Tree, in Kabbalah, is called Ha Adam Kadmon (The Ancient Man) In Scripture Paul refers to him as the "Old Man". It formed the skeleton of the Body of THE MAN, who was formed as perfect, complete, and sinless in the Garden. He was to be the representative of Israel, the righteous nation. Ezekiel prophesied that these bones would once again come together and form THE HOUSE OF YAHVAH, HIS ARMY! Since Yahshua (Jesus) received the Neshama [Heb. #5397: THE DIVINE INTELLECT] (as did Ha Adam; see Genesis 2:7), he became the "Last" Adam, the new creation, or the "new man" that Paul speaks of in Galatians 6:15 and Ephesians 4:22-24, and we, too, must put on this "New Man", stripping off the "Old Man".

This Tree is also known as "Jacob's Stairway". The patriarchs fully understood what it was to study Scripture in this way. Likewise, the early gnostics and Essenes used it in its purest sense. They believed this tree stood between heaven and earth, forming a bridge that reintroduces us to communication with our Father. Yahshua (Jesus) was executed on this tree (see It Was Yahvah's Will To Bruise Him). For this reason, the early Nazaraeans likened it to an evergreen, a PALM TREE, which they understood to be the HAND of Yahvah. The word for palm, in fact, means the "hollow of the hand". It is represented by the Hebrew letter Kaph (which also has as its emblem the "dove"). The Palm Tree was one of the inscriptions in the Tomb of Nur, which we have already stated belonged to none other than our Messiah.

The historical perspective this month will cover an early fragment found in the caves of Qumran and just what the Essenes meant when they wrote it. It is entitled "Foundations of Fire".

"(1)the seat of Your Honor and the footstools of the feet of Your Glory, in the [h]eights of Your standing [Heavenly Throne] and the ru'ng' [stairs] (2) of Your Holiness and the chariots of Your Glory [the ten heavens and the siferotic tree] with their 'mu'ltitudes and wheel-angels [Host in which is Spirit], and all [Your] Secrets, (3)FOUNDATIONS OF MIRACULOUS BRILLIANCES [Jewels], (4)[hon]or and virtue and highness of Glory, HOLY SECRET AND PLACE OF SPLENDOR and the HIGHNESS OF THE BEAUTY OF THE FOUNTAIN [Ein Sof], (5) majesty and THE GATHERING-PLACE [EARTHLY FOUNTAIN PLAZA and HEAVENLY BINAH] OF POWER, HONOR, PRAISE AND MIGHTY WONDERS AND HEALINGS, and MIRACULOUS WORKS, SECRET WISDOM AND IMAGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND FOUNTAIN OF UNDERSTANDING, FOUNTAIN OF DISCOVERY ["Key" of David], COUNSEL OF HOLINESS AND SECRET TRUTH, TREASUREHOUSE OF UNDERSTANDING [both spiritual and physical] from the sons of Righteousness..."

The Essenes were "gnostic" in their study of Scripture. This fragment reflects also the study of the Siferotic Tree of Life. It is, however, a message that describes a "plaza" or Throne Room of Yahvah, where sits the Tree of Life. Early Nazaraeans understood that Yahshua (Jesus) was symbolically executed on this "tree" or "cross" (which restored all things back into balance and represented the Scales of Divine Justice) and where also the physical Temple Treasures of the Copper Scroll were buried. The Essenes as well as the sages understood this "plaza" to be the Holy of Holies, the "navel" (or shor - umbilical cord) of the earth, and that the earthly Jerusalem was the "infant" who received her nourishment from her counterpart, the Heavenly Jerusalem above (thus we must be born from "above"). Ancient plazas (sometimes called "places") usually were built around fountains; thus, the Hebrew word [#5869] 'ayin means "a fountain (as the EYE, or source, OF THE LANDSCAPE); i.e. the "fountain" or Being of Yahvah was considered to have been reflected from above and manifested as the Shekinah below (which sat between the cherubim over the Mercy Seat of the Ark), which was in the center of the plaza or Throne Room (Holy of Holies). In other words, it was this "fountain" that mirrored the Heavenly FOUNTAIN above. It was, in fact, the "jewel" on the Infant's forehead: "And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head" [Ezekiel 16:12; KJV]. Yahvah was here likening Israel to an infant whose "umbilical cord" he had not cut; i.e. she was to receive nourishment from Him, the Eternal Fountain of Living Waters [Jeremiah 2:13].

The Essenes also used the Kabbalah for Gematria in Scripture (i.e. assigning numerical values to the letters of Torah and comparing them to each other). Josephus states that their prophecies were always fulfilled because they received their knowledge from Yahvah. They, too, were one of the most historical messianic sects. This sect's teaching has an affinity with the apostle Paul's writings. "The statements they examined [in the scrolls] seem to be echoed in the Pauline epistles, especially the book of Romans" [p.108, Randall Price, Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls]. It is not so much that "Christianity" might have been derived from the Essenes but that the "gnostic" revelations were used by both. It is this aspect of the Dead Sea Scrolls that cause scholars to suggest Qumran as the birthplace of Christianity. By the time the Essenes began their prophetic endeavors, mainstream Judaism had become legalistic, thus prompting devout, pious Jews to separate themselves from it. The Essenes were not the only group to do so. The Zealots (so named for their "zeal" of the Torah) were also disenchanted with the religious government of Israel, the latter having become the "bankers" (Temple Cult) of Israel. By the time of Yahshua's ministry, the Temple had become a bank, the vehicle used by four prominent families (Hanan, Boethus, Kimchit, and Phiabi, all Alexandrian Jews from Egypt) to gain control of Israel's wealth and to skim off the bulk of the population's income. They did this through a cleverly devised system of ritual sacrifice in which the priestly oligarchy were engaged. This resulted in the infamous "Bazaars of Annas" (the same Annas who drew up the Accusatory document before the Jewish trial of Yahshua [Jesus]). He and his sons controlled the priesthood for fifty years. These "bazzars" or as the Talmud calls them Beth Hanuyot, were situated on the Mount of Olives, near the site where the sin-bearer and Red Heifer were burned; i.e. at the "place" of the "skull". Hanan (Annas) was most famous for his dove aviary which was situated at Beth Hini (Beth Hanuyot), from which Bethany (actually the twin towns of Bethphage and Bethany) received its New Covenant name. Edersheim, the Talmud, and other sources state that this aviary and these bazaars were, in fact, located ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES beneath two ancient cypress trees. It was here also that the criminal beth din (courthouse) was located. It was this group of Sadducean (Babylonian-Alexandrian) Jews who were called "vipers", "snakes", and "serpents". The Talmud and Josephus call them "hissers" and "whisperers". They were connected with the Herodian household by marriage. Through the influence of the Herodian family (and through substantial bribes to the Romans) they obtained their positions. They were not of the legitimate priesthood, who would have descended through the line of Zadok, but were selected by their Edomite kinsman Herod the Great and appointed by the Romans with whom Herod was most familiar. Furthermore, they were hated by the populace. They were also biblically illiterate, relying entirely on the legalistic Pharasees and their scribes to determine Jewish law. For this reason, John the Immerser and Yahshua [Jesus] began their ministries. Both were quickly "disposed of". Why? It might well be because of their affinity with the practices of the Qumran Essenes and certainly because of their spiritually "gnostic" beliefs. These gnostic beliefs had come from two main sources: 1) Scripture and 2) Kabbalah! In studying the Peshers and other Qumran Essene writings, one might easily discern the use of pure "gnosticism" (the War Scroll in which a great part is played by the Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness, for example) and Kabbalah (the "secret" writings, such as the fragment above). They were certainly AWARE of Yahvah and the prophecies of the "Son of David" and the "Son of Man". We leave to your own any further study into this subject.

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