Elected

      From the beginning, the LORD was bringing into manifestation the not-yet-seen things that were in Him from before the beginning. One of the greatest promises that existed before the foundation of the world, and would be manifested at the appropriate time, was the promise of the Savior/Messiah/Christ who would rescue mankind from the inevitable consequence of sin, which is death. Titus wrote of that promise from eternity this way: "...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but in due time manifested His word..." (Titus 1:2-3). Both Peter and John's Book of Revelation also tell us that the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, was not slain only on a date in history, but was slain in eternity before the world even manifested. (see 1 Pet. 1:18-21, Rev. 13:8). 

     In the same way, the creation in Genesis Ch. 1 reveals that God set the seed of future generations in every living thing, to bring forth after its own kind. The woman, Eve, contained the purpose that would bring forth all living (see Gen. 3:20). However, especially mentioned in the curse upon the serpent, is the Seed which refers to the Savior, Jesus that had been set within Eve that would crush the lying serpent's head. (see Gen. 3:14-15). Not only would the Seed of the woman crush the serpent's head, but there would be an eternal enmity ('eba/'ayab - enmity, hatred, hostility/to hate as one of an opposite tribe, to be an adversary, to persecute as an enemy, to breathe or blow with anger and hatred) between the woman (and her Seed of Deliverance) and the seed of the serpent/Satan, according to the above verses. We will also see this eternal and violent hatred and persecution again below.

     We must start from this point of knowing that the LORD set every seed of life of every generation from before the beginning. Those who know the LORD are assured by scripture that they were known by Him before they were ever born. (see Ps. 139:13-17, Rom. 8:28-31). 

     This understanding will help us with this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Toldot, meaning "Generations", and begins in Gen. 25:19: "This is the genealogy/generations (toldot/yalad - descendants, results, proceedings, generations, account of men and their descendants, birth, history, origin/beget, be born, bring forth, midwife, child, delivered, birth, labor, lineage, declare pedigrees) of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac." 

     The Hebrew letters that compose the word toldot, or generation/descendants, are very interesting in meaning, and interestingly placed within the word. The letters are tav-vaw-lamed-daleth-vaw-tav. The repeated letters that mean "cross/covenant" and "nail/peg/joining", tav, and vaw, surround the two letters, lamed-daleth, that mean "the shepherd's staff that urges forward to the door." Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd (who gives His life for the sheep)," and He also said, "I am the Door of the sheep." (Jn. 10:7-11). He goes before, calling His own sheep, and the sheep follow Him in because they know His voice. (Jn. 10:3-4). So within the word toldot, I see a picture of the cross, the Shepherd, Jesus, and the sheep who follow Him. 

     We can see then that Jesus created a kind of "generation" or "line of descendants" through the work of the cross. As Isaiah Ch. 53 prophesied about the Servant of God, referring to a future Jesus, who would give His life for the sins and transgressions of God's people, the prophet also refers to a "generation" and "seed": "And who will declare (*[vaw]-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His generation (dor - age, dwelling, evermore posterity, habitation)? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken." (v. 8). The question is asked here, "How will His generation be declared when He has been cut off from life, and therefore there are no descendants?" However, Isaiah also reveals the answer: "...When You (LORD) make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see (ra'a, meaning to prophetically see, discern, perceive, foresee) His seed (zera/zara - seed, child, fruitful, offspring, descendants, posterity of moral character and practitioners of righteousness, harvest, produce of fields/sow, bearing, yielding, to scatter seed), He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (v. 10). We who have believed and received Jesus' sacrifice for our sins are His spiritual seed, His spiritual fruit, descendants, posterity.

     There were toldot generations or lines of descendants that were identified as being those that would bring forth the Messiah/Christ even before Israel became a nation in the land. This line of descendants would be challenged severely by the one, the serpent or Satan, who did not want his hated enemy, the Messiah/Christ, to be born from this elected generational line. 

     This Sabbath reading portion will also show us that when the LORD revealed His election of one line of descendants that carried the Messiah/Christ's seed over another, the line not elected would go to war against them. Those who were not elected both coveted and resented the elected.

      In this toldot Sabbath portion, (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac married (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah, and he pleaded to the LORD that Rebekah would conceive because she was barren. The LORD heard Isaac and Rebekah did conceive. However, Rebekah felt the children (twins) in her womb struggling together (rasas - oppressed, broken, break, bruised, crush, struggle, crush to pieces, grievously oppress, "a crushed reed", to treat violently) and so she enquired of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD concerning this. The warfare against the elected one had already begun in the womb. The LORD revealed this about the babies in Rebekah's womb: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve ('abad - serve, worshipper, serve as a subject) the younger." (Gen. 25:20-23).

     Although the twins would be born together, the people and nations that came from each would remain separated. The election would go to the younger twin, and the older twin would serve that younger brother. 

     The two brothers were born and the first-born twin was named Esau, and the younger twin was named Jacob. Rebekah knew that Jacob, the younger twin, was the elected one because of the prophecy given to her by the LORD. As the twins grew, they were of different characters. Esau, the older, who despised (baza - despise, contemptible, vile person, scorn, worthless, make light of) his birthright, sold that birthright to Jacob, the younger, for nothing of greater value than a bowl of red lentil stew when he was hungry. (Gen. 25:29-34). 

     Rebekah also managed through deception to gain Isaac's paternal blessing over Jacob rather than Esau. This blessing included the words: "Let peoples serve ('abad - see above) you, and nations bow down (saha - worship, reverence, bow down to royalty or God) to you. Be master (gebir - lord, ruler) over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down (saha - see above) to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!" (Gen 27:29). This is the royal election of the Messiah/Christ, who is both King and God, passed on from Isaac to Jacob, the younger son, as the LORD prophesied previously to Rebekah.

     As a result of his father's blessing of Jacob, "Esau hated (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob...and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jacob." (Gen. 27:41).

     Generations later, in another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, Esau's descendants, which became the nation of Edom, also sought to destroy Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, and the judgment of God was rendered against them. The seed of election, the Messiah/Christ, had already been identified as coming down the toldot generations of King David (see 2 Sam. 7:16-18), who was of the tribe of Judah. The LORD condemned Edom for their actions against Jerusalem/Judah: "For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever...You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity...You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off them who escaped...As you have done, it shall be done unto you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head...But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions...and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,' for the LORD has spoken." (Obadiah v. 10-18, excerpt).

     Many generations before, Edom had also refused to help Israel when they were in the wilderness after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. (see Num. 20:14-21). Moses had requested that Edom allow Israel to follow The King's (melek - king, royal, prince) Highway (derek - journey, manner, path, direction, course of life, way of living), which passed through Edom. Edom had refused to allow them to do this and gathered an army to keep them out.

     The descendants of Esau were the nation of Edom, as mentioned. However, that nation was also called Idumea. The Herods were Idumean kings that took the throne of Israel. The first Herod, Herod the Great of Judea, sought to kill all of the young male children of Bethlehem in order to kill the Messiah/Christ Child, Jesus, after He was born. This event is known as "The Slaughter of the Innocents." (see Mt. 2:16-18). Again, we see the enmity of the serpent for the woman and her Seed, and the despising for the election of God. This enmity is concentrated upon the Savior Messiah/Christ.

     The hatred of Esau for his brother Jacob did not remain between two individuals as we see above, but it was carried down the toldot generations of Esau against the elected of God, who were identified as those who carried the Seed and the promise of the Messiah/Christ. The hatred is about more than the land. It is the hatred that the serpent/Satan of the Garden of Eden carries for the prophesied Seed (of the woman), and the people who have been elected to carry that Seed. The hope in and prayers for the Messiah/Christ, the King of Israel, are still held in the hearts of Israel.

     From another reading portion from this Toldot Sabbath, the LORD reminds Israel/Jacob that He elected them even as He hated (sane - to utterly hate an odious enemy) Esau the twin brother of Jacob.  However, the prophet Malachi wrote that even though the LORD elected Israel/Jacob, they did not appreciate Him as their Father and Master, and they despised (baza - see above) His name. (Mal. 1:2-3, 6). Israel was elected by the foreknowledge of God, yet they treated Him with the same baza contempt that Esau had regarding his birthright. It is very grievous when the elect despise or take for granted their election.

     What does this understanding of election mean for those, both Jew and Gentile, who believe that Jesus is Messiah/Christ, the Son of God?

     Jesus described our direct attachment to Him and the resulting fruit of that attachment. He used the illustration of Himself as the vine, and us as the branches produced by that vine. So long as we remain attached to Him as our Vine, we will produce much fruit. Without Him as our life-giving vine we cannot produce that fruit (see zera/zara above as being His seed/fruit/harvest). (Jn. 15:1-8). This is what it means to be the toldot spiritual descendants of Jesus.

     Jesus also pointed out that because He chose us, we, like Him, will be hated and persecuted by the world (Jn. 15:18-25), which brings us back to that same enmity between the serpent and the woman who has the Seed. This enmity is eternal and ongoing.

     This enmity continues to manifest against Israel and also those who believe Jesus, the Messiah/Christ. The Book of Revelation gives us the prophetic unveiling of this continuing enmity against the royal woman who gives birth to the promised Seed: "...And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne...the dragon...that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan...persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child...And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12, excerpts).

     One reason that the serpent continues to war so continuously against the woman, who I believe are the elect of Israel/Jacob, and those who are Christ's progeny and fruitful seed in the earth, is because both will play a role in the return of Messiah/Christ to rule and reign on earth. Jesus told Jerusalem: "...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (Mt. 23:39). Jesus was not referring to His entrance into Jerusalem when the crowds previously said: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mt. 21:9), because His words over Jerusalem above are said after that event.

     They will call out to Him again, He will answer, and they will see Him again.

     The Book of Revelation closes with the words of Jesus and this prayer to Him from His chosen disciple, John: "He (meaning Jesus) who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).

     The elect, and the seed of Christ are still testifying, and calling out.

     If you would like to learn more about the elect of God in the earth, you can pray with me: "Father, You have elected individuals and generations of descendants in order to fulfill Your gracious plan of Salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Although Satan continues his enmity against You, You have rescued and preserved Your people. You have placed within those whom You elected a purpose and fruitfulness that will yield a great harvest for Your Kingdom, and for Your King of Kings, Jesus. Please Father, I never want to despise Your election, but ask that by Your Word and Your Spirit in me, and Christ in me the hope of glory, that I would show forth the good and miraculous works of Your election through Christ so that others may see them and praise God. Let my testimony and prayers bring Jesus closer to moment of His return. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

RoyalPrincess

      This week's Sabbath reading portion, titled Chayyei Sarah, or "The life of Sarah," is always very interesting. One reason that this Sabbath portion is so interesting is because "the life of Sarah" starts with the death of Sarah in Genesis 23: "Sarah (sara/sar - noblewoman, princess, the wife of a king, of noble birth, queen/prince, chief, ruler, governor, leader, princes of religious office) lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." (v. 1-2).

     As indicated by Sarah's name, she was a "princess". The LORD had previously prophesied to Abraham that kings would come from him: "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings (melek/malak - king, royal, Messiah[Christ] as the King of Israel, Jehovah as King of Israel/king, queen, rule, reign, cause to reign, to counsel and advise, ascend to the throne) shall come from you...Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings (melek/malak - same as above) of peoples shall be from her." (Gen. 17:6, 16). As Abraham sought to purchase a burial place for his wife, Sarah, from the Hittites of Canaan, they addressed him, saying: "Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places..." (Gen. 23:6). The Hittites recognized Abraham as royalty. Abraham was not interested in their burial places but wanted to purchase a field that contained a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) cave in order to bury his wife there. (v. 8-9). Although the Hittites referred to Abraham as royalty, Abraham was humble before them and "bowed himself down" (saha - bow down, obeisance, stoop, prostrate oneself before anyone out of honor, to submit oneself) before the people of the land. (v. 12). Royalty does not mean prideful or haughty in the Kingdom of God.

     The covenant household that Abraham and Sarah established in covenant with God was a royal household. This Sabbath portion, "The life of Sarah," will reveal other women in future generations who became part of this royal household. The greatest royalty that would come forth from these royal women would be the Messiah/Christ Jesus, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. As the meaning in Hebrew of the life of Sarah teaches us, the word "life" is hay/haya which includes the meaning: "have life, restored to life, revive from death, to live forever." This is no ordinary royal household, and this is no ordinary kind of "life." This is a special royal household that has the promise of eternal life in God.

     The Bible follows this royal line and those who belong to it throughout the generations. There are "princesses/queens" in this miraculous and holy account as well.

     From another part of this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath reading portion, we will see how Abraham acquires a royal bride for his son, Isaac, after the death of Sarah. (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham called his oldest, trusted servant to him, "who ruled over all that he had," to swear to return to Abraham's native land and family (moledet - kindred, born, begotten, issue, relatives, nativity, origin), "...and take a wife for (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my son Isaac." (Gen. 24:1-4). The servant, who is not named in this passage, is described as being "oldest." This is the Hebrew word zaqen, which means not only old or ancient, but in oriental culture is also "the minister of a king, and is called 'great king father' even if he is young. He is considered a man of very high eminence because of this position." Abraham made the servant swear solemnly that he would never take Isaac back to the land Abraham's family in Mesopotamia, but would bring the bride to the land of Canaan because of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land. (v. 6-9).

     Because the servant had charge over all of Abraham's goods, he took ten camels (gamal - camel, beast of burden/to deal bountifully with, reward, bestowed, recompense, do good to, served) loaded with precious goods to offer to this bride and her family, including substantial gold jewelry, silver, clothing and precious things (migdanot/meged - choice and excellent thing, precious, gem/precious fruit, excellence, distinguished, to be eminent). We know that the servant carried enough of these rich goods to require ten camels. One camel can carry over 900 pounds of goods, although the average weight that is carried by a camel is about 300 pounds. Even if we take the lesser weight, it means that Abraham's servant brought over 3,000 pounds of his master's finest goods to the prospective bride, and it could have been as much as 9,000 pounds! This is not a gift that would be given to an ordinary bride, but it is a suitable gift for a royal princess bride. The future bride and her family would certainly come to this conclusion also. If Abraham could furnish this abundance of finest things to his son's future bride, how much more in natural and spiritual riches has the Father in heaven furnished to His Son, Jesus, to bestow upon His Bride, the believers in Messiah/Christ?

     As Abraham's servant drew near to the home city of Abraham's family, he prayed to the LORD: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' - let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." (v. 12-14). The appointed young woman would not be of the average disposition. She would have a godly noble humility like Abraham (see above). Not many royal princesses today would see ten camels belonging to a stranger and offer to fetch water for them! Would we be this hospitable and humble?

     As soon as Abraham's servant finished praying, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well and did exactly as the servant had prayed. Not only that, but the servant found out that she was the daughter of Abraham' deceased brother. The LORD had answered the servant's prayer.

     Rebekah invited the servant to bring his camels and to stay with her family. After hearing the servant's story, Rebekah agreed to return with the servant to Abraham's household in Canaan to marry his son, Isaac. Her family agreed to let her go and prayed a blessing over (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the gates ( see Judges 16:2-3 and Mt. 16:16-19) of those who hate them." (Gen. 24:60).

     As the servant's and Rebekah's caravan drew near to Abraham's home, Isaac was out in his field and lifted up his eyes and saw them approach. Rebekah also lifted up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) her eyes and saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac. She took her veil and covered herself. She was not only humble and generous, but she was modest as well. "Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Rebekah as his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (Gen. 24:61-67).

     As we can see, Rebekah became designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, the identification of the (royal) household of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, after her agreement to return with Abraham's servant to marry Isaac.

     In the true meaning of a royal bride, Rebekah would establish the Messianic line of Christ as well as the nation and tribes of Israel as she gave birth to her two sons. The LORD had prophesied to her that of her twin sons, the older would serve the younger, so Rebekah did all she was able to ensure that her younger son, Jacob, later renamed Israel, would receive the blessing from her husband, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, rather than Esau. Then she would provide the means by which Jacob would survive the murderous rage of his brother, Esau, by sending Jacob to her family in Mesopotamia.

     In another reading portion from this Chayyei Sarah, "the life of Sarah" Sabbath, one of David's wives, Bathsheba, in partnership with the prophet of Israel, secured the oath of elderly King David to keep his promise to name their son Solomon as his successor, because another son from a different mother plotted to grab the throne instead before his father's death, which would also put Solomon in danger. (1 Kings 1:28-31). David assured Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him, and then set the things in motion to accomplish this. David had formerly been promised by God that his household would be the one to bring forth the Messiah/Christ in generations to come. Solomon did become king after his father David, and he is indeed named in the genealogy of Jesus. (see Mt. 1:6). Bathsheba secured the Messianic/Christ royal line that God had prophesied to her husband, King David.

     This Chayyei Sarah Sabbath also brings us the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law had a husband named Elimelech (meaning "My God is King") who had died and her two sons were dead also. All she had left as she lived in the nation of Moab was her daughter-in-law, Ruth, whose husband was deceased and had left her with no children. Naomi decided, having nothing left, to return to her homeland and hometown, Bethlehem in Israel. Her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, clung to Naomi and begged to go with her to Israel, saying in part, "...your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." After Naomi and Ruth arrived in Israel, Ruth began to glean grain/corn (sibolet/sobel - ears of corn, branches, a flowing stream, a waterflood/flowing skirt or train, train of a robe) as a poor person in the fields of Boaz, a rich kinsman of Naomi's deceased husband, in order to feed herself and Naomi. It is important to understand the meanings of the names of Boaz and Ruth in Hebrew. The Hebrew letters of Boaz' name are beth + 'ayin + zayin and when joined together could have the meaning "House/Household/Family that sees and understands the fountain of the (One) pierced." Ruth's name in Hebrew means "friendship, appearance, mate, female companion", with the root meaning: "feed, shepherd/shepherdess, pastor, tend to, to pasture, teacher, to keep, ruler." The Hebrew letters of Ruth's name are reysh + vaw + tav, which when joined together could mean "The Highest nailed to the cross/covenant." In other words, Boaz and Ruth were made for each other, a foregone conclusion. 

     Ruth says three times in the account (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13) that she while she is gleaning the field, she is really seeking "favor/grace" (hen/hanan/hana - grace, favor, pleasant, well-favored, kindness, acceptance/merciful, gracious, besought, supplication, have mercy on, implore the favor of/dwell, abide, tent, encamp, bow down, inhabit, pitch one's tent" even though she is a foreigner. Ruth is looking for a habitation of mercy and grace. When Naomi heard that Ruth was gleaning in Boaz's field and had received kindness from him, Naomi exclaimed: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and the dead!" (Ruth 2:20).

     Boaz had heard of Ruth's kindness and faithfulness to Naomi and redeemed the inheritance of all that belonged to his dead relative, which included Naomi and Ruth, and he married Ruth. Ruth became known to him by her royal character. They had a son, Obed (obed/abad - serving/servant, worshipper), who would be King David's grandfather. Naomi treated Ruth's child as her own, and became a nurse to him, and her women neighbors said, "There is a son born to Naomi." (Ruth 4:16-17). Boaz had restored the (royal) line of his dead relative Elimelech by being a "kinsman redeemer". Through the serving and faithful heart of Ruth the Moabitess, the royal line of the Messiah/Christ had been restored. Both Boaz, Ruth, Obed and, of course, David are named in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:5-6).

     How are the women mentioned in this Sabbath reading portion, in which we should also consider the Bride of Christ, connected to our Sabbath title "the life of Sarah"? Sarah, meaning "princess, noblewoman, wife of a king, queen", had also confirmed the direction of the royal Messianic line, or line of Christ, in her lifetime like the women mentioned above when she insisted that Ishmael be removed from the camp because he was mocking, saying to Abraham: "...the son of this bondwoman (referring to Hagar) shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." This was very displeasing (ra'a - evil, wicked, hurt, harm, break into pieces, evildoer, injurious) in Abraham's eyes because he loved Ishmael, his first born, also. The LORD told Abraham: "...whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." (Gen. 21:9-13). Abraham obeyed the LORD and did as Sarah had told him.

     Sarah established the royal line of kingship (Ishmael would produce princes according to the promise of the LORD, while Isaac's line would establish kings) which reflected the will and plan of God. Worldly royalty comes and goes, but the royal kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus instructed His disciples as He sent them forth to say to those that they ministered to with healing and miracles: "The kingdom of God has come nigh you."

     Our role as the royal Bride of Messiah/Christ is to affirm and witness His Kingship (see Rev. 17:14, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 7:13-14, Jn. 18:36, etc.) while understanding the royal kingdom of which we also have been made a part through Him (Rev. 1:5-6, 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

     If you would like to learn more about how each of us are connected to "the life of Sarah", you can join me in prayer: "Our Father, You have called me to Your Kingdom through and because of Your Son, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You established His royal line down through many generations, assuring us all that we have a King who has been given all power and authority, who will return to rule and reign over all the earth. Help me, Father, to serve this Kingdom and to establish it in my own heart and in all of the places upon which I set my feet. I declare that the Kingdom of God is here. It is in each of us, dwelling within me and manifesting through me until the moment when our King's feet will touch upon the Mt. of Olives in Israel. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow my King and let Your Word shine as a lamp unto my feet. I ask this in the name of my coming King, Jesus. AMEN.

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

SeeingFaith

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled, Va-yeira, meaning, "And He appeared." The title is based upon the first verse of the reading portion in Gen. 18:1: "Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, appear, behold, consider, perceive, seer, foresee, have vision, discern, gaze at, to be visible) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat (hom/hamam - dangerous heat/hot, burning, enflamed) of the day." Abraham saw the LORD in the form of three men who were standing by him, as Abraham "lifted his eyes." (v. 2). Abraham rushed around in the heat to make provision for the three men that they should rest and be refreshed (sa'ad - comfort, strengthen, hold me up, establish, uphold a throne) in their hearts. Do we realize that we can strengthen, uphold, and establish the throne of the LORD? We do so by ministering to Him. We often ask the LORD to minister favor and grace to us in various forms, but do we minister rest and refreshing to Him? Abraham ran to minister rest and comfort to the LORD. (see v. 6-8). It is at this point that the LORD prophesied that He would return to Abraham, and his wife, Sarah would have a son. Sarah, listening in the tent door, laughed to herself when she heard this promise concerning herself and her husband in their old age. That would indeed be a miracle! (v. 9-12). The LORD knew what Sarah thought in her heart and asked her, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...I will return to you...and Sarah shall have a son." (v. 13-14).

     We have studied ra'a appearing and sight together previously, and, although I try to avoid any repetitious studies and blog entries, I ended up following a path that brought me back to this topic again in a greater depth. Perhaps, in our present times, with many who are suffering and struggling, we need to take a deeper look at this topic. I hope you will agree.

     There is an expression, "blind faith." However, I found here that the LORD provides help for us in our walk of faith by letting us ra'a "see" Him, as Abraham did above. He gives us the appearance of Himself in a form that assures us that He has spoken, and He has promised. If we receive this gracious strengthening of our faith by the LORD, we are helped to overcome circumstances.

     Later on, after Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac (meaning "he laughs") was born, "God tested (nasa - prove, assay, try, test, put to the proof, to try by smell, to try by the touch) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham." (Gen. 22:1).

     This was the test of Abraham that was commanded by God: "Take now (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (v. 2). Let's look at the word, "Moriah" used here. It is translated from the Hebrew as "Chosen by Jehovah", but the Hebrew root words that make up this word are ra'a and yah, which mean "See" (see above) and "the LORD". The Hebrew letters that make up the word "Moriah" are mem, vaw, reysh, yod, heh, which, when joined together could mean: "the water/blood of the Highest's nailed hand/completed work is shown/revealed."

     The trial of Abraham seems very severe indeed, but it was necessary in order to reveal something of earthshaking importance that would be a blessing to the whole earth: the completed work of the Son of God, His only Son, whose bloodied hand was nailed.

     Let us see how Abraham ra'a saw something that strengthened him in faith and trust in the LORD: "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled (habas - bind up, govern, restrain, to stop, to rule, to bind up a wound, to bind by allegiance, to shut up) his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) donkey, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (v. 3).

     It is clear from the Hebrew meanings of the words that are used for "donkey" (hamor/hamar) and "young men" (na'ar), that Abraham was "troubled, in turmoil, foaming like a raging sea, reddened, feeling emptiness, shaken, violent in commotion, very angry, growling, yelling, crying and roaring like a lion" as he struggled with the command of the LORD concerning Isaac, but he "saddled" these feelings, or restrained them because of his allegiance to God. Did we think that God's command to offer his son of promise Isaac as a burnt offering did not affect Abraham in a profound way? Did we think that because he is named among the giants of faith (see Heb. 11:8-12), that he calmly led Isaac to the place of sacrifice? He was shaken to his core. Hebrews 11:13 explains that Abraham and other giants of faith, saw the promises from afar off and were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We are not directed by what we see in the natural, visible world, but by the promises that we see from afar off and embrace with our hearts.

     In this same manner, something happens that will drive Abraham forward. He "sees" something:

     "Then on the third day Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw (ra'a - see meaning above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place afar off (rahoq - long ago, old, space, far from, of distant time, remote and difficult to get to of place or time, great while to come, dear, precious)." (v. 4).     

     What Abraham ra'a saw caused him to say to his "young men", 'Stay here with the "donkey"; the lad and I will go yonder ('ad - as long, how long whether of space or time, until) and worship, and we will come back (sub - return, restore, refresh, recover, come back, be returned, be brought back, to be converted as a sinner) to you." (v. 5).

     We know the rest of the account. Abraham set up the offering of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his only son, Isaac, but was stopped by the Angel of the LORD at the last moment. "Then Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes, and looked (ra'a - see meaning above) and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, 'The-LORD-Will-See (ra'a)/Provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be seen (ra'a)/provided." (v. 12-14).

     Moriah is also the place that many centuries later, would be referred to as Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion of Christ outside of Jerusalem, as well as the possible place of the temple mount. This encounter of Abraham's, of course, speaks to us of the offering of God's only Son, Jesus, as our replacement burnt offering, just as the ram replaced Isaac. He died in our place, by which we sinners are converted (changed) by belief in Him. Jesus, God's only Son, also rose from the dead as the firstfruits or progenitor of our resurrection. Abraham "saw" this out of time, as Jesus also confirmed (see Jn. 8:56-58). Abraham then moved forward towards the destination in faith. Is our vision coming from this place, Moriah, or from another place?

     Abraham had *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) 'ayin eyes to ra'a see as we read in the verse above. These types of eyes are not exclusive to Abraham. All of those connected to *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ (see *note below), as Abraham was, have been given 'ayin eyes. However, 'ayin eyes are not just to see physical or natural things only, just as ra'a sight is not limited to the physical or natural. The Hebrew word 'ayin means, "sight, before, to flow, eyes of physical, mental and spiritual faculties, a spring or fountain [sources of fresh or new water, living water]." Are we seeing with those eyes that create a "spiritually seeing faith"? Are our 'ayin eyes springs and fountains of spiritual sight through which God supplies, not only for ourselves, but for others as well?

     We also know that 'ayin eyes see more than the physical realm because they can be darkened, not with physical blindness, but with spiritual blindness by God when His people refuse to "see". Those whose 'ayin eyes are darkened in this manner can no longer perceive the LORD or His works, and they become a people of unbelief rather than faith. They become so spiritually blinded that they cannot even perceive that they are spiritually blind!  How terrible it is to lose our 'ayin eyes! The Lord said this to Isaiah the prophet: "And He (the Lord) said, 'Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; Keep on seeing (ra'a - see above) but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ('ayin - see above); Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." (Isa. 6:9-10).

     The LORD also said through Isaiah the prophet: "Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind!...For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your eyes ('ayin - see above)..." (Isa. 29:9-10, excerpt). Even *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega eyes may be closed by God because the eyes of those who are meant to belong to Messiah/Christ refuse to "see".

     Jesus also talked about eyes that have become darkened to spiritual knowledge. (Mt. 6:22-23). In these verses, the eyes are the Greek word and root ophthalmos/optanomai. These Greek words mean: "eyesight, the eyes of the mind and knowing/to look at, behold, to gaze with wide open eyes at something remarkable as opposed to casual vision, watching from a distance, earnest and continual inspection." Jesus also said in another place that the religious leaders who had chosen to be spiritually blind and continued leading others into the same spiritual blindness as their own, were like "the blind leading the blind." Both will fall into the pit that is before them. (see Mt. 15:10-14, Lk. 6:39-42).

     Paul wrote that he prayed for the believers, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age which is to come." (Eph. 1:16-21). There is an awesome knowledge of the power and dominion of God in Messiah/Christ waiting to be imparted to the eyes of our understanding. Imagine the faith that is created through the opened and enlightened eyes of our spiritual understanding!

     Are we ra'a seeing afar off with our lifted 'ayin eyes, as Abraham did, and believing? Are we seeing it? Have we asked God to give light to our eyes that we may see in this way? It is the LORD who gave us those eyes, and it is the LORD who gave us that sight, and He did so for a reason. Abraham was almost overcome with horror and anger, but then he lifted up his eyes to the place where the LORD commanded him, and he saw.

     Paul wrote that there is no testing/trying/proving/temptation of faith and character that a man may experience from God of which God has not also prepared, produced, appointed, ordained or shown the way out so that we can bear it, especially for those "upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (see 1 Cor. 10:11-13). Abraham was allowed to "see" what he needed to see in order to be able to bear the test that the LORD had placed upon him for our sakes. In these times of testing and refining that come before the return of Messiah/Christ, it is a blessing and a necessity to know that the Lord shows us even the unseen things so that we may overcome. It is the blessing and lesson of this Va-yeira, "And He appeared," Sabbath. 

     The LORD said to Jeremiah, while Jeremiah was imprisoned: "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): "Call (qara' - call out, cry out, utter a loud sound, summon, invite, call with the name of God/meet, encounter) to Me, and I will answer you, and show (nagad - declare, show, show forth, make known, be apparent, to be in sight, to be manifest, to bring to the light, to conquer, to overcome, to celebrate with praise) you great (gadol - great, high, greater, mighty, great of magnitude or extent) and mighty things (basar - inaccessible, fortified, secret, mysteries), which you do not know (yada in the negative - not perceived, not known, not seen, not revealed, not observed, not aware)." (Jer. 33:2-3). The LORD then showed Jeremiah the wonderful and miraculous restoration that He had planned for Judah.

     The blessed vision that God has ordained for us that is connected to His overcoming Son, Jesus, is not just for the purpose of seeing the darkness and length of the tunnel, but it is provided to us so that we might be able to see "the light at the end of the tunnel," to coin a familiar and applicable phrase. Now that we know that this sight is available to us, we can ask it of the LORD. Are you struggling or waiting upon the promise of the LORD? He is with us in all circumstances in His supernatural way to help and strengthen us. (see Ps. 124:1-8, Isa. 41:8-10).

     If you would like to know more about faith that "sees", you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father who sees and knows all things, You are not partial nor a respecter of persons. You called Abraham to faith for our benefit, to be a blessing to all the nations and families of the earth, and as our example to follow. Abraham heard Your voice and obeyed. Abraham saw Your appearance, Jesus, and was strengthened by it, and followed the way in which You led him. I pray that I, also, have ears to hear and eyes to see, and a heart to receive what You desire to show me of things that are not yet seen in the natural world, but have already been established and completed in the Spirit. As I am tested, give me eyes to see the way out that You have ordained for me, not just to escape, but in order to strengthen and purify the faith that You have given to me. Show me, Lord, and I will "see." I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Household

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Lech - L'cha, which means, "Go! Leave!" This reading portion covers several chapters in the Book of Genesis, from Ch. 12 through Ch. 17. These chapters begin the account of Abram/Abraham's journey into the land of Canaan as he was commanded to do by the LORD. The reading begins: "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families (mispaha - familes, kindred, a circle of relatives, tribe, a genus, a kind) of the earth shall be blessed..' So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot (his nephew) went with him..." (Gen. 12:1-4).

     The phrase "Get out" as spoken by the LORD to Abram is the Hebrew word yalak, yalak (written twice). This places particular emphasis on the meaning, making it "Get out!" The word yalak/halak means, "to go, walk, depart, move, go away, to die/to live or manner of life, to lead, to bring/walk away, to go through or over a place." The LORD wasn't throwing Abram out of his home and away from his family in Haran as a punishment, but, the meaning implies that he is to get out for his own sake or benefit. As we can see in the above verses, the LORD has attached to the command to "Get out!", incredible and miraculous blessings that will come upon Abram, blessings that would never have ordinarily come into the life of a herdsman. The place in Mesopotamia from which Abram was leaving was Haran, which has the root meaning: "kindle, burn, angry, scorched, dried of thirst, to roast, of men destroyed by heat." From the Arabic language, Haran/harar has this very interesting meaning: "born of a noble race, free born, the brightness and purity of a man obscured by no stain." If we combine the two ideas, we may be able to say that the same fiery brightness that shines from an unstained purity in one man, is the same fiery brightness that destroys another (stained) man in scorching heat.

     The chapters covered by this week's Sabbath reading portion deal with Abram's journey in the LORD into the land to which God told him to go and the covenant that the LORD made with Abram/Abraham. God both spoke to and appeared to Abraham on several occasions in order to direct him. It is also here in these chapters that we first see Abram, or anyone, called a Hebrew ('ibri/'eber/'abar - "one from beyond", from beyond the Euphrates or Jordan Rivers/great grandson of Shem, "the region beyond", region on the other side, "across or beyond"/pass over or through, cross over, overflow, emigrate). (Gen. 14:13). The Hebrew letters used to compose the word "Hebrew" are 'ayin, beth, reysh, yod. These letters' individual meanings could be joined together to say: "See and understand the appearance of the fountain, house, family or body within the Highest's completed work." These are amazing works that the LORD was establishing in and through Abram the Hebrew that started with His command to "Go!".

     We have discussed in earlier blog entries the awesome foundation that the LORD established through Abraham when studying this Lech L'cha Sabbath reading portion in previous years. However, for this entry, I would like to look at events in Genesis 16 and 17.

     In Genesis 16, we see an account of Abram's first-born son when Abram was eighty-six years old. His wife Sarai/Sarah had borne Abram no children, and she told Abram to embrace her Egyptian maid, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hagar. After Hagar conceived, Sarai/Sarah "dealt harshly ('ana - afflict, force, troubled, weakened, browbeaten, oppress, put down, be depressed, be humiliated, hurt) with her." (v. 6). Hagar fled from Sarai, and the Angel of the LORD found (masa' - find, attain, acquire, meet, encounter, come upon, light upon) her by a fountain ('ayin - eyes, sight, fountain, of mental and spiritual faculties) in the wilderness. The Angel of the LORD told Hagar that she must return to her mistress, Sarai, and then said: "I will multiply your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) seed/descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude. And the Angel said/sang to Hagar about the name of her son to be born, and told her his name would be Ishmael (yisma'el - God will hear, whom God hears). (v. 7-12). Hagar called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You-Are-the- God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen (ra'a - see, behold, appear, perceive, regard, seer, foresee, have vision, look upon, gaze at, discern) Him who sees me?" In this statement, Hagar didn't say that she saw an angel, but that she saw the LORD (yod-hey-vaw-hey: "Behold the hand, behold the nail"). (v. 13-14). "So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael. (v. 15). 

     The LORD had previously established a solemn covenant with Abraham, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates..." (Gen. 15:17-21, excerpt). The LORD repeated that promise to Abram/Abraham, as He promised to make Abraham, then childless, a father of many nations.

     There came a point when a natural and spiritual family or household was to be established through Abraham. This household of Abraham was to be established through God's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant of circumcision. Every male in Abraham's household, from eight days old, was to be circumcised. However, this circumcision was not only to apply to the natural descendants of Abraham's flesh: "...every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with (your) money from any foreigner who is not your descendant..." (Gen. 17:9-14). The circumcision of the flesh is called here a "sign/token" of the covenant. (v. 11). The word translated as "sign" here is the Hebrew word 'ot, spelled with the Hebrew letters aleph-vaw-tav. which when joined together can mean "the Lord Adonai nailed to the cross, or joined to the covenant. The word 'ot means "miraculous signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, to consent, agree, assent." We can see that the covenant established was to anyone and everyone who lived within Abraham's household, not limited to those who were born of his flesh.

     What kind of household is this? According to the sign (see above meaning) of this household, it is a household of miracles. It is a household of faith, indicated by the consent and agreement necessary by the meaning of the "sign". Finally, it is a household of life, because those who do not receive the "sign" of this household are cut off. This covenant of the sign of circumcision is not limited to an outward or physical sign, but, more importantly, it is an inward or spiritual circumcision. From another reading portion of this Lech - L'cha, or "Go!/Leave!" Sabbath, the prophet Jeremiah wrote of the LORD asking Israel to return to Him and saying: "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns (see Mt. 13:3-9). Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of your evil doings." (Jer. 4:3-4). The apostle Paul, who in the flesh was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, as well as a Pharisee, wrote of the same truth: "...For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (see Rom. 2:25-29).

     Jesus also remarked that being of the household of Abraham requires more than being his genetic descendant. It requires a submission of the heart and understanding to God, the Father. (see Jn. 8:37-39). Circumcision was a prophetic sign as well as a natural sign that pointed us to greater things than the sign itself according to the Hebrew meaning of "sign".

     Abraham's household members, joined in identity by the sign of circumcision, was made up of not only his natural descendants, but even foreigners that he had bought. The prophet Isaiah brings this same revelation regarding the Servant of God, the Messiah/Christ as we read in the household of Abraham: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness; and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles....to raise up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isa. 42:6/Isa. 49:6). The Servant/Messiah/Christ is for the salvation and restoration of Israel first, and then also to the Gentiles and the whole earth. (see also Rom. 1:16-17).

     It was then that the LORD prophesied and promised to Abraham that his wife (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah would give him a son, who was to be named Isaac. It is with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) not yet born Isaac that the LORD will establish (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His covenant, although the LORD promises to bless Ishmael. (Gen. 17:15-22). The very day that Abraham was circumcised, he also circumcised his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael, and all the men of his house (bayit - house, dwelling, temple, household, family, descendants as an organized body). (v. 23-27).

     We can see the identity of the Messiah/Christ upon this natural and spiritual household of Abraham in the repeated presence of the *aleph-tav in the written Hebrew above (see *note below). Jesus also confirmed His personal presence and relationship with Abraham as the eternal Messiah/Christ, and Abraham with Him, that superseded time even though they were forty-two generations apart within flesh and time. (see Jn. 8:56-59, Mt. 1:17).

     The LORD would repeat His covenant promise of the land to Abraham's second son, Isaac, and later, to his son, Jacob. However, the prophecy of Isaac's miraculous birth to a childless and aged Sarah, points to more than the son who will inherit the land. Abraham, before he died, would have several "natural" children, but only Isaac was the son of (prophetic) promise. It was only Isaac out of all of the sons of Abraham who was to carry the seed of the yet-to-be-born Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:1-2, Lk. 3:30-34, Gal. 4:27-29).

     As the LORD Himself established this remarkable and miraculous household of Abraham as a sign, His plan of salvation continued on its set and unchangeable course.

     If you would like to learn more about this remarkable household of miracles, faith and life established not by the will of man, but by the will of God (see Jn. 1:12-13), you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, who is a God like You, establishing the end from the beginning?! Before I knew and loved You, You called me to be accepted and adopted into Your household of salvation, not because of who I was or wasn't in the flesh, but because of Your purpose for me in the Spirit and by faith in Your Son of Promise, Jesus. Let the sign of Your covenant of circumcision be within my heart and my most inward parts as it calls out to others to come and join Your eternal household. Bless the father of our faith, Abraham, and bless His household, both Jew and Gentile. I ask this in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Messiah/Christ. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Safety

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is No'ach (Noah), meaning "Rest", and also "resting place, quiet, to let remain, set down, cause to alight," taken from Genesis Chapters 9-11. The Hebrew letters that make up the word No'ach are nun and cheth and they look like this נֹחַ. 

     The meanings of these two Hebrew letters when combined together can mean: "The Heir to the Throne of life and faithfulness separates and protects in an inner chamber."-

     All of these meanings above are reflected perfectly in the account of the preservation of Noah, his family and, as we know, selections from all of the animals, and all of the food that would be needed for Noah and the animals, during the judgment by flood waters that would come over the whole earth. The rain and fountains of water lasted for forty days, but it took months for the flood waters that covered the mountain tops to recede. We, who are believers in Messiah/Christ, understand that the phrase used above, "the Heir to the Throne", refers to the Son of God, Jesus (see Heb. 1:1-4, Eph. 1:18-23, Rev. 11:15, Rom. 8:16-17). How can we recognize Jesus in the account of Noah? 

     Our first hint comes in the verse: "But Noah found (masa' - to find, to meet, to encounter, to detect, to light upon, to discover, to attain to, to come upon, to reach one, to present an offering) grace (hen/hanan - grace, favor, gracious, beauty, precious, elegance, acceptance, good-will/mercy, gracious, pity, favor, stoop in kindness to an inferior) in the eyes ('ayin - eye, fountain, countenance, knowledge, resemblance) of the LORD (יְהֹוָה/yod-hey-vaw-hey: 'Behold the hand, behold the nail')." (Gen. 6:8). Noah didn't find something, but he met/encountered/discovered/reached for Someone who was Grace. The Gospel of John reveals that Jesus as the Word of God: "...became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...And of His fulness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (Jn. 1:14, 16-17). Jesus is the fulness of grace. (see also Titus 3:4-7, 2 Pet. 3:18, Rev. 22:21).

     Noah lived in dangerous and violent times when men's hearts had become full of evil. (Gen. 6:5-7). Man had become so perversely wicked and corrupt that God would have to destroy all life that He had created and loved. Where would Noah turn in this terrible time? There was only One who could preserve and save him and his family.

     At the end of the flood account, the three sons of Noah were to form separate nations: "...according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations...These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." (Gen. 10:5, 20, 31-32). Acts 17:26-27 gives us even more revelation of why the LORD wanted to divide nations by boundaries: "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."

     Remember how Noah "found", encountered, met, discovered, attained to the Grace of God mentioned above? The LORD divided the people into nations so that they might be more likely to seek and find Him according to Acts 17, above.

     The separation into even smaller groups and separate languages for each son of Noah (see above verses) also leads us into an interesting connection. The Hebrew word used for "languages" in these verses is the word lason/lasan, which means, "tongue, language, talkers, tongue of fire." Later, in the New Testament on the Feast of Pentecost/Weeks, the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples as "tongues of fire", and the "wonderful works of God" was heard spoken of in all of the different languages of the world. This was an important confirming sign of the Gospel of salvation. (see Acts 2:1-11).

     However, immediately after the account of Noah, we read in another part of the Sabbath portion of a people that chose another way to preserve themselves.

     From Genesis 11, we read about these mysterious people: "Now the whole earth had one language (sapa - border, brink, boundary, speech, language, lips) and one speech (dabar - word, speech, utterance, language, decree, reason). And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.' They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the face of the earth." (Gen. 11:1-4).

     These people came from the east and found a plain in Shinar, which is near Babylonia/Chaldea. They had not divided into nations, as the LORD had mentioned in Gen. 10:32 above, but had one border or edge. So they came from further east than even Babylon originally. "East" is the Hebrew word qedem, which means "east, eastward, old, ancient, before, ancient time, eternal, antiquity, earliest time, everlasting,"

     They desired to make fired bricks to build a city and a tower. Bricks that have been fired go through a chemical process called vitrification that changes their characteristics. The clay brick becomes solid and non-absorbent, increased in strength and density with decreased water absorption. Not only did they fire the bricks, but they mortared and covered them with asphalt (hemar/hamar/homer - asphalt, bitumen which rises to the surface of a slime pit/cover over or smear with asphalt, red, glow with redness/asphalt smear that turns red in sunlight). Noah, on the other hand, had covered (kapar - atonement covering, cover with pitch, atonement for forgiveness of sins) the ark inside and outside with pitch, which made the ark waterproof, and was a prophecy of Messiah/Christ sent by God to be our atonement covering. These ancient people who settled in Shinar mortared and smeared their bricks with asphalt that takes on a red appearance in sunlight, and also creates an impervious surface that prevents water from penetrating. This was a manmade or counterfeit atonement covering.

     The tower that they intend to build will have a top that will reach into heaven. If the tower were that high, it would be higher than the previous flood waters. While some speculate that the tower was used for astrology and star-worshipping purposes, which was true with some ziggurat structures later found in the area and may be true here also, we cannot ignore the hints that these people also wanted to preserve themselves from any future flood. Also, the Hebrew word migdal (see below) is used for "tower", having a specific meaning that was not really connected with a ziggurat. God had made a covenant with Noah and all living creatures to never flood the earth with water again, confirming that promise with the sign of His rainbow in the sky (Gen. 9:8-17), but perhaps these people from the east did not know of or trust in that promise. They did not want to be divided into different nations, as the LORD had intended, and they set up defensive measures, including a "red" waterproof "covering", a counterfeit of the blood of atonement, to protect themselves from any flood judgment of God. They relied upon themselves for their preservation and did not seek/reach out for the Grace of God, the Lord of Grace, as Noah had.

     So we can find a connection of the city and tower being built on the plain in Shinar, as perhaps being a defensive response to the previous devastating world-wide flood. However, the purpose of this massive building project may also have to do with their additional statement: "...let us make a name (sem - name, to mark with a sign, designate, a celebrated name, fame, praised and famous, glory, the celebrated name of God) for ourselves, lest we be scattered (pus - scatter, disperse, break to pieces, shake to pieces, flow, overflow) over the face of the whole earth." (Gen. 11:4). Could these ancient people from the east have tried to commandeer the Name of God (HaShem) for themselves? They already had disobeyed the command of God to Noah's family to spread out over the whole earth. In scripture, the Name of God is also connected to a tower: "The name (sem, see above) of the LORD is a strong ('oz - strong, mighty, power, boldness, security, majesty, praise, defense, refuge, protection, make secure) tower (migdal/gadal - tower of size and height, pulpit, elevated stage/magnify, great, greater, powerful, make great); the righteous run to it and are safe (sagab - high, defend, safe, to exalt, to be safely set on high). The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem." (Proverbs 18:10-11). There are many references in scripture to the LORD as a tower, a defense, a place of rescue, refuge and safety. Man cannot provide this magnitude of safety.

     Noah's sons would bring forth many descendants according to Genesis 10. What a great temptation it would be to turn to a people, a city and a tower that claimed that they could offer safety and protection, rather than God! What a great name, with accompanying power and riches, could be had by those who claimed to be able to provide this unassailable defense and protection, even from the judgment of God! However, it would be a false promise, a lie. God showed it to be a lie in a moment: "But the LORD came down to see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the city and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, 'Indeed, the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld/restrained (basar - fenced, cut off, walled off, made inaccessible, secrets, mysteries, inaccessible things) from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.' So the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad (pus - see above) over the face of all the earth." (Gen. 11:5-9).

     It is noteworthy that in the very next chapter in Genesis, Abraham's father removed his family from this Chaldean area and began to move them westward towards Canaan. (Gen. 11:27-31). Abraham, obeying the voice of the LORD, would finish the journey into Canaan itself. This move was a foundation of faith for the greatest story ever told. The LORD had a plan and a purpose.

     In the account of the city and tower on the plain of Shinar, it is as if man once again chose to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, rather than the Tree of Life, as he had done in the Garden of Eden. Man again desired to attain for himself the power and qualities that belong to the saving God alone, including the prophesied but not yet at that time manifested Messiah/Christ, noted by the presence of the *aleph-tav (see *note below) in the written Hebrew text. It is Jesus who said that He came in His Father's name (Jn. 5:43-44), and it is Jesus who has prepared a place for us with His Father and Himself. (Jn. 14:1-6). It is God, and not man, who has prepared the genuine wondrous city, the New Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven. (Rev. 21:1-5).

     We now also live in times of violence, fear and danger, as were the times of Noah. We have seen World Wars, atom bombs, hydrogen bombs terroristic threats and attacks, and other means of destruction. There will be men and nations who promise to provide peace, safety and protection, but it is a lie committed in pursuit of wealth, glory and power. It is a lie that the LORD does not want people to believe and trust in or they will perish as the day of His return approaches. Jesus prophesied and warned of these false messiahs/christs and their deceptions. (see Mt. 24:4-5, and 23-27). Only the LORD and His Name (yod-hey-vaw-hey: "Behold the hand; Behold the nail") are the strong tower of our safety. Only in finding the Person of Grace, Jesus Messiah/Christ, as Noah did, do we find our place of safety. If man promises "peace and safety", then sudden destruction will come. (1 Thess. 5:2-3). Beware of the promises of men of false safety.

     From another reading portion of this Noach, "rest" Sabbath, this is the genuine, all-powerful, everlasting promise of peace to those who belong to the LORD as told to His prophet Isaiah: "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace (salom/salam - peace, safety, welfare/live in peace, secure, free from fault) be removed,' says the LORD, who has mercy on you...All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you." (Isa. 54:9-10, and 13-14).

     If you would like to know more about the safety found in the Lord, and His covenant of peace, you can join me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have given to us the promise of peace and safety - not as man understands "peace", but of Your peace that extends beyond man's understanding. It extends beyond the end of life and into everlasting life. No matter what my circumstances are, no matter what the events of the world are, You have, through Your precious Son, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, assured me of Your peace and safety. I run into the strong tower of Your Name, Lord, and I am saved. I look into Your eyes, and I find and encounter the Grace of Your Son. Mankind makes its plans, but You, Lord, rule over all. You closely watch over Your Word to perform all that You have said, and Your promises are true and sure. I seek Your covering and refuge, and I ask that by Your Holy Spirit, I may lead others to this place of sure peace and safety, saying, 'Enter into the Noach rest of Your Savior.' I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Endings&Beginnings

      At this time of year, after the Feast of Tabernacles, the Torah Sabbath readings come to an end with the last chapters of Deuteronomy, but at the same time, the Torah Sabbath readings are renewed with readings beginning again in the Book of Genesis (Greek word meaning "origins, source, generation, beginning"), or the Hebrew name of the first Book, B'reishit, which means "In the Beginning." The Hebrew Title of this first Book of the Torah comes from the first verse: "In the beginning (re'sit/ro's - beginning, first fruits, first, chief, best, choice, principal thing, first of its kind/head, top, beginning, first, rulers, captain, summit, height, choicest, best, height, summit, forefront) God created (bara - create, creator, select, choose, make, done, shape, form, fashion, to cut, to carve out, to produce) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the heavens ([vaw]*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) and the earth." The presence of the two *aleph-tav's and their written locations in front of the heavens and the earth bring an eternal meaning to those two parts of creation. The presence of the *aleph-tavs also connects the heavens and the earth with the identity of the Messiah/Christ Jesus, who is eternal, and calls Himself "the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last". (see *note at bottom). We see this eternal characteristic of the heavens and the earth, including new beginnings, in these prophecies: Isa. 65:17-25, 2 Pet. 3:13-14, Rev. 21:1-4. When Father God connected the heavens and the earth to His Messiah/Christ by the written Hebrew *aleph-tav, He incorporated into them the ending and the beginning of them as well.

     This Book could have been titled "Created" from the Gen. 1:1 verse above, but the title and emphasis is placed instead upon "beginning". The end of the Torah reading in Deut. 33 and 34 deal with Moses' blessings spoken over each tribe of Israel, the laying on of Moses' hands upon his appointed successor, Joshua, and the death of Moses on Mount Nebo (meaning "prophet") after the LORD showed (ra'a - look, behold, appear, consider, seer, perceive, provide, foresee, to be visible, be shown, cause to see, discern, have vision) Moses all of the land that the children of Israel were about to possess. Within this ending was the prophetic spiritual seed for the new beginning found in the ra'a vision which the LORD caused to be seen by Moses. (Deut. 34:1-4). Moses would end, but the new beginning, the land soon to be possessed by the children of Israel, was incorporated into the vision given to the prophet. There is no ending without the accompanying provision of God of the new beginning. Don't despise the ending of something, but look for the new and greater beginning that is about to come.

      Another reading from this B'reishit Sabbath brings forth a prophetic revelation of the Messiah/Christ in Isa. 42:1-9. The LORD covers this prophecy with His authority as Creator: "Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it (se'esa'im - offspring, issue, descendants, children, produce), who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it." (v. 5). The LORD also is prophesying by the principle of endings and beginnings: "Behold, the former things (ri'son/ri'sa - first in time, foremost, primary, former, aforetime/beginning time, early time) have come to pass, and new things (hadas - new, new thing, fresh, unheard of, renew, make anew, rebuild, repair, be new) I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." (v. 9).

     The LORD is both the beginning of something and the end of something (see Isa. 46:9-10, Rev. 22:12-13), followed by another new beginning (see Isa. 43:18-19, Isa. 65:17-18, Eph. 4:22-24, 2 Cor. 5:17, Rev. 21:5-6). As we can see from Eph. 4:22-24 and 2 Cor. 5:17 linked above, part of what the Lord is able to create anew is a person, whoever believes Him through Jesus Messiah/Christ, who IS the beginning and the end.

     As we can see from the first verse of Genesis, above, the meaning of the words in Hebrew includes the truth of a Creator who chooses or selects, forms, shapes and fashions. The Creator makes the purposeful decisions. Creation does not occur by happenstance or accident but is purposefully directed. Challenging the idea of Creator God is not just a recent phenomenon. The LORD understood that man in foolishness would deny this truth: "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb (see also Ps. 139:13-18): 'I am the LORD, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates (para - makes void, come to naught, make ineffectual) the signs of the babblers (bad/bada - lie, liar, used in regard to soothsayers and false prophets/devise, contrive, invent, feign), and drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness." (Isa. 44:24-25). Many of those who deny a Creator consider themselves wise intellectuals, but the LORD says here that he makes their "knowledge" into foolishness.

     It is very important that we know God as Creator. The absolute power and authority of the Creator is so great and high, that it is beyond human understanding and imagination without a revelation from Him. In that power and authority, what can't God do? Jesus and the angel of the Lord both said that nothing is impossible with God. (see Mt. 19:25-26, Lk. 1:35-38).

He is a Creator of things that no man can create in the natural world, as He notes above in Isaiah 44. For example, God spoke light energy, both spiritual light (Gen. 1:3-5) and natural light energy (Gen. 1:14-19) into existence, when the scientific law of the conservation of energy states that in the physical realm, energy cannot be created by man: "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be transformed from one form to another."

     Not only did God command light to manifest from nothingness, but that Light was the spoken Word of God, and that same Light is the Light of life in man (see Jn. 1:1-5). That Light, Who also became flesh, Jesus, (see Jn. 1:14-18) was the Author/Prince and Beginning of Life. (see Acts 3:14-15). 

     It is essential that man understands that he has a Creator and did not create or evolve himself by chance into existence. The LORD directly connects His authority to redeem and save us to His authority as Creator. He is able to redeem man because He created man. He is able to extend His Salvation to man, because He created man. We see this connection in the verses above from Isaiah 44. Isaiah also gave us even more declarations from the LORD of this connection: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King." (Isa. 43:1-3a, 15). Here we see again, the Creator has the authority to provide redemption and salvation to the uttermost extreme condition, distance and need through His Salvation, Messiah/Christ Jesus. (Heb. 7:24-25). God created that uttermost and has authority over it. David said in another reading from this Sabbath that there was no extreme distance where he could go over which God does not inhabit and have authority. Therefore, in every circumstance, God can see him, David, and rescue him. (Ps. 139:7-12).

     In another declaration through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD speaks over His people as their Creator: "For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the LORD, and there is no other....Who has declared this from ancient time (qedem/qadam - ancient time, before time, eternal, that which is before, earliest time, beginning/beforehand, before)? Who has told it from that time ('az - beginning, old, earlier, at that time or place, of old, now)? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." (Isa. 45:18, 21b-22). Only God is Creator and therefore, only God is Savior. Man cannot save himself or anyone else. There is only one Savior.

     Again we read from Isaiah: "I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I the LORD do all these things...I the LORD have created it (referring to heavens that rain down righteousness and earth that opens to bring forth salvation). Woe to him who strives with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his Maker!" (Isa. 45:7-9, excerpt). The earth, the grave, indeed opened and Salvation (Yeshua, Jesus) was brought forth! The earth could not disobey its Creator. Only man will disregard His Maker, even though it is his Maker who has called forth righteousness and salvation on man's behalf from the beginning.

     In another reading from this B'reishit, "In the beginning" Sabbath, we find God's faithful servant Job suffering great affliction through no fault of his own. He is undergoing a testing of his faith that is extreme. In this testing, he is looking in the wrong places for his help. His search, probably like ours would be also, involves the question, "Why did this happen to me?" His friends were not much help to him either, as they also searched for the reason that this affliction came upon Job. In chapters 38 through 41, the LORD begins to present the wonders of His creation to Job through questions. There were mysteries, impossibilities, specific characteristics of creation that were all meant to illustrate the presence and control of a Creator. Man could neither explain nor duplicate any of the marvels about which the LORD asked Job. The LORD "answered ('ana - answer, testify, speak, to sing, utter tunefully) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Job out of (min/men - from, among, a part of anything/string of a harp, a musical chord as parted into strings, slender threads) the whirlwind (sa'ar - storm, whirlwind, tempest, be troubled, tossed with tempest, be sore, be made, insane, violently shaken, scatter by wind)." (Job 38:1, 40:6).

     The LORD entered into Job's whirlwind of affliction and sang His testimony to him with musical chords of strings according to the Hebrew words of the verses. After beginning His revelation of His power in creation, the Lord asked Job these questions: "Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty." (Job. 40:9-10). No man can do what God has done as evidenced in His creation.

     After the LORD continues His revelation to Job, Job answered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD: "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You...I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees (ra'a - see above) You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:1-2, 5-6).

     The LORD "restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before...Now the LORD blessed (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the latter days of Job more than his beginning (re'sit -see above)..." (v. 10, 12).

     Within the LORD's revelation of His authority and power over His creation, Job found a new knowledge of God and a new beginning prepared for him that was even greater than his former blessings or ending. We also see the *aleph-tav eternal Messiah/Christ thread that we first saw in Genesis 1:1 throughout Job's experience.

     The "in the beginning" B'reishit message of this Sabbath has great meaning for all creation, and for each one of our lives. Contained within it for the heavens, the earth and all that springs out of the earth are endings and beginnings and then again new beginnings enveloped by the identity of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Messiah/Christ Jesus, who is the spoken Word of creation. Our Father, the Creator, has authority over all, and as Job said, "You can do everything, and...no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You." Are we able to walk in this powerful knowledge where nothing is impossible with God?

     If you would like to know more about this awesome creation power of God, or if you need a new beginning, you can join in my prayer: "Father, Creator, help me to walk in the knowledge of the endings and beginnings contained within the power of creation. Renew me, LORD, by faith in the redemption and salvation of Your Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. The old things have ended and passed away, and Jesus has made me and all things new. Strengthen me in faith, LORD, and heal my unbelief. You have a new beginning already planned for the heavens and the earth, as well as for me. I praise You and exalt You as my Creator and King, my Redeemer and my Savior. I pray today in the name of Jesus, my *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega". Amen."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.