Yahweh Sends Elijah The Prophet Just Before Yah'shuah's Return
In Malachi 4:4-6 we read,
4:4
"Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. 4:5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 4:6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."The time when Elijah is sent, before the coming of the great and terrible day of Yahweh, is also the time just prior to the coming of Yah'shuah, as confirmed by Malachi 3:2 among several scriptures. Elijah the prophet therefore precedes Yah'shuah in operating among Yahweh's people.
Elijah Prophesied To Succeed In His Mission
Malachi 4:6 shows that Elijah will succeed in turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children of their fathers.
How Elijah Succeeded In His Mission
1 Kings 18:36-39 shows that Elijah prayed that Yahweh hears him and turn the hearts of the people of Israel back to him - Yahweh - again. And when Yahweh answered Elijah's prayer by fire, the people believed that Yahweh indeed was the Almighty, the one to be worshipped, and turned their hearts again to him in worship! In other words, the manifestation of Yahweh's power through Elijah resulted in the hearts of the people being turned to Yahweh their father, for they resumed worshipping him faithfully, without attempting to worship idols at the same time. And when the people's hearts turn Yahweh in faithful worship, his heart is also turned to them, and he does them good, rather than allow curses to befall them. For Malachi 3:7-12 reads,
3:7
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Yahweh of Hosts. "But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings. 3:9You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. 3:10Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this," says Yahweh of hosts, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for. 3:11I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field," says Yahweh of Hosts. 3:12"All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says Yahweh of Hosts.Who Are The "Fathers" Mentioned In Malachi 4:6?
It should be noted that Malachi 4:6 mentions FATHERS - plural, rather than a singular father. Who are these fathers?
Yahweh Is The FATHER Of The CHILDREN Of Israel
The work Elijah did entailed returning the CHILDREN of Israel to Yahweh their Father. This he did by teaching and urging them to return to obedience to Yahweh, observing Yahweh's commands as given to them. For when he met Ahab he mentioned to the latter that the latter and his house had forsaken the commandments of Yahweh and followed idols. And when he spoke before the people of Israel when gathered together with the prophets of idols he reiterated the same message.
The Prophesied Elijah Replicates The Work Of The Historical Elijah
The work the Elijah to be sent before the great and terrible day of Yahweh is also the same as that of the Elijah who lived in Ahab and Jezebel's day. For the Elijah to come will remember the law of Moses, Yahweh's servant, commanded for all Israel, even the statutes and ordinances. The Elijah to come will teach all Israel to faithfully abide by Yahweh's commandments, even as the Elijah in Ahab and Jezebel's day taught all Israel to faithfully abide by Yahweh's commandments. And just as the Elijah in Ahab and Jezebel's day succeeded in turning the hearts of the children of Israel to their father, Yahweh, so also will the Elijah to come succeed in turning the hearts of the children of Israel to their father, Yahweh.
Who Is The OTHER Father Of The Children Of Israel?
But WHO makes up the FATHERS of the children of Israel, seeing that Malachi 4:6 mentions fathers - plural, rather than singular father?
Yah'shuah The Messiah Is The Other Father Of The Children Of Israel
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads,
9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 9:7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.One of the names by which the Messiah - the Anointed One - is called is "Everlasting Father"! In other words, the title of Father is not exclusively reserved to Yahweh, the Most High. It is also used for his Son, Yah'shuah, the Messiah or Christ. And just as Yahweh the Father, the Most High, is also called "Mighty God", so also is Yah'shuah the Son called "Mighty God".
The Fathers Of The Children Of Israel
It should therefore be clear that the FATHERS that the hearts of the children of Israel are turned to by the Elijah to come are Yahweh the Most High and Yah'shuah the Prince of Peace. And when the children of Israel return to them in faithful unadulterated worship, they in turn return to them to bless them greatly. In other words, by the people of Yahweh and Yah'shuah faithfully abiding in their word, worshipping them faithfully and exclusively, Yahweh and Yah'shuah do good to the people.
Yah'shuah Will Reward The Faithful In Thyatira
And Yah'shuah's word to the Thyatirans is consistent with this message. For he urges his errant servants to return to him in faithfulness, without idolatry. Those who heed his word he will reward with power and authority over the nations, even as he received power and authority from his Father Yahweh. But those who do not heed his word he will throw into great oppression.
1 Kings 19:1-18 reads,
19:1
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. 19:3When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 19:4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.19:5
He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat. 19:6He looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and laid him down again. 19:7The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. 19:8He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.19:9
He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 19:10He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 19:11He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake: 19:12and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 19:13It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 19:14He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 19:15Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; 19:16and Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room. 19:17It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill. 19:18Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.
Jezebel And Her Cohorts Do Not Easily Give Up Their Opposition Against Yahweh's Servants
It should be noted from 19:1-2 that Jezebel and other idolaters do not easily give up in their opposition against Yahweh's servants. For even after Yahweh had wrought a great victory over the prophets of Baal through Elijah's hand, the idolaters still in powerful places continued their war against Yahweh's servants.
The War Between Yahweh's Servants And Idolaters Is Long And Drawn Out
In other words, the war between Yahweh's servants fighting for pure worship of Yahweh against idolaters who pollute that worship is a continuing one. Various battles are fought between the two sides, with some battles temporarily being won by idolaters. Nevertheless, provided Yahweh's servants persist in their pure worship of Yahweh and heed his words they will indeed win the war against the idolaters. For Yahweh - he is the Mighty One! For Yahweh - he is the Mighty One!
19:9-10 reveals the nature of Elijah. He was very jealous for Yahweh and upheld Yahweh's covenant with the children of Israel, the covenant Yahweh made with them at Horeb with Moses, Yahweh's servant, presiding over the children of Israel at that time. Malachi 4:4-6 also reveals that the Elijah to come before the great and terrible day of Yahweh is also concerned for Yahweh's covenant made between him and the children of Israel at Horeb, together with the statutes and ordinances. It should therefore be clear that the children of Israel must indeed observe Yahweh's covenant made at Horeb, including the statutes and ordinances. And it should be clear that the Elijah to come will, just as the Elijah in the days of Ahab and Jezebel before him, uphold Yahweh's covenant and teach and urge the children of Israel to faithfully abide by it.
Elijah Drained By The War He Waged Against Idolaters
It should be noted that Elijah was physically drained by the war he was waging for Yahweh against idolaters. He therefore wanted to retire. Yahweh took note of Elijah's frail condition and desire, and appointed a replacement - Elisha. Nevertheless, Elisha was not to occupy Elijah's office immediately. That would come later at Yahweh's appointed time. In the interim Elijah was to continue with his warring duties, fighting for Yahweh in teaching and urging the children of Israel to faithfully worship Yahweh in purity and forsake idols.
Yahweh Preserved Faithful Worshippers Of Him Not Known To Elijah
It should also be noted that Elijah thought that he was the only prophet of Yahweh left alive after the idolaters among the children of Israel had killed Yahweh's other prophets. Nevertheless Yahweh informed him that, unknown to Elijah, there were seven thousand Israelites who had not become idolaters, and had remained faithful worshippers of Yahweh.
Only Yahweh Knows Those Who Belong To Him
By this it should be clear that, ultimately, only Yahweh knows those who are his, and he knows each one of them. Human servants of Yahweh do not know all of Yahweh's other servants. They may sometimes think that they are the only servants of Yahweh, because their eyes have yet to be opened to see other servants of Yahweh. Nevertheless, Yahweh knows how to preserve those who belong to him, even when the luminaries among them are killed or otherwise removed from their midst.
It Is Plausible That Idolaters Outnumber Yah'shuah's Faithful Servants In Thyatira
Seeing the similarity of the environment Jezebel operated in during the time of Ahab and Elijah, and the assembly in Thyatira, it should indeed be noted that it is plausible that the idolaters in Thyatira gain ascendancy over Yah'shuah faithful servants who do not practice idolatry and sexual immorality. Nevertheless, even if at a point in time Yah'shuah's faithful servants are reduced in numbers on account of their idolatrous brethren increasing in strength and numbers, there will always remain the faithful among them. For Yahweh and Yah'shuah know how to preserve those who belong to them in faithfulness and purity.
Jezebel Was Not Ahab's Only Wife
1 Kings 20:1-22 reads,
20:1
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 20:2He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben-hadad, 20:3Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine. 20:4The king of Israel answered, It is according to your saying, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.20:5
The messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben-hadad, saying, I sent indeed to you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children; 20:6but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.20:7
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Please notice how this man seeks mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him. 20:8All the elders and all the people said to him, Don’t you listen, neither consent. 20:9Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. The messengers departed, and brought him word again.20:10
Ben-hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me. 20:11The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don’t let him who girds on his armor boast himself as he who puts it off. 20:12It happened, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves in array. They set themselves in array against the city.20:13
Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am Yahweh. 20:14Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You. 20:15Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 20:16They went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.20:17
The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria. 20:18He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive. 20:19So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20:20They killed everyone his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 20:21The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. 20:22The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.It should be noted that Jezebel was NOT Ahab's ONLY wife, for 20:3, 5 and 7 all show that Ahab had wives - plural.
Jezebel's Influence Over Ahab Superseded That Of His Other Wives
Despite Jezebel not being Ahab's only wife, she indeed appears to have had greater influence over the affairs of Israel than Ahab's other wives. For through her patronage idolatry and apostasy thrived in Israel, while none of these deeds attributed to Jezebel is attributed to Ahab's other wives.
Yahweh Did Not Forsake His People Despite Their Impure Worship Of Him
It should also be noted that despite the vast majority of the children of Israel being idolaters, for they did not worship Yahweh in purity but indecisively attempted to worship both Yahweh and idols, Yahweh did not forget his people. For when they were under threat of attack from Syria, Yahweh sent a prophet of his to deliver his message of instruction and comfort to Ahab king of Israel. And Yahweh delivered Israel from the hand of the militarily superior Syria.
Yah'shuah Has Not Yet Withdrawn Himself From The Imperfect Assembly In Thyatira
In the context of the assembly in Thyatira, it appears that despite the rampant idolatry among professing servants of Yah'shuah, he will not abandon them yet. He will continue to fight their battles for them, to reiterate to them that he indeed is Yah'shuah and that they should serve him faithfully, without attempting to serve both him and idols. For Yah'shuah clearly states in Matthew 6:24,
6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.Seeing that professing servants of Yah'shuah in the assembly in Thyatira cannot serve both Yah'shuah and idols, they must indeed choose to forsake their idols and faithfully and in purity serve Yah'shuah.
Obey Yahweh's Word To You, Whatever It Is
1 Kings 20:35-43 reads,
20:35
A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, Please strike me. The man refused to strike him. 20:36Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you. As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.20:37
Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him. 20:38So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. 20:39As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. 20:40As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. The king of Israel said to him, So shall your judgment be; yourself have decided it. 20:41He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 20:42He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people. 20:43The king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.It should be noted from 20:35-36 that when Yahweh speaks a word to a person that person OUGHT to obey that word of Yahweh, irrespective of the nature of word that Yahweh has spoken to the person. When one does not listen to Yahweh the one incurs a penalty for the disobedience. We must therefore be fully obedient to Yahweh.
Those Attempting To Thwart Yahweh's Penalty Upon Another Receive It On Their Own Heads
It should also be noted that when Yahweh has set a particular penalty for a particular individual, and someone else attempts to thwart Yahweh's penalty from being inflicted upon that individual, the penalty that Yahweh had set for the particular individual comes upon the other person! For when Yahweh had devoted Ben-Hadad for death, and Ahab, who was to execute Yahweh's word on Ben-Hadad failed to do so, Yahweh's penalty of death also came upon Ahab!
Jezebel's Cohorts In Thyatira Will Share In Her Eventual Fate
In the context of the assembly of Thyatira it should be noted that Yah'shuah has devoted Jezebel for great oppression, for she refuses to repent of her idolatry, sexual immorality and causing Yah'shuah servants to go follow after her in these sins. Yah'shuah desire that his servants separate themselves from Jezebel and not tolerate her sexual immorality and idolatry. But those servants of Yah'shuah who do not heed Yah'shuah's word, and tolerate Jezebel in her wicked practices, will share in her judgement. They will be cast together with Jezebel into great oppression for being in league with her!
The Abominable Deeds Of Jezebel
1 Kings 21 reads,
21:1
It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 21:2Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it: or, if it seem good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money. 21:3Naboth said to Ahab, Yahweh forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you. 21:4Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. He laid him down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.21:5
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread? 21:6He said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard. 21:7Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.21:8
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, and who lived with Naboth. 21:9She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 21:10and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, You did curse God and the king. Then carry him out, and stone him to death. 21:11The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 21:12They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 21:13The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him: and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did curse God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones. 21:14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.21:15
It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 21:16It happened, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.21:17
The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 21:18Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he is gone down to take possession of it. 21:19You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Have you killed and also taken possession? You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even your.21:20
Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, my enemy? He answered, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21:21Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab every man-child, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel: 21:22and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin. 21:23Of Jezebel also spoke Yahweh, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. 21:24Him who dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat. 21:25(But there was none like Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 21:26He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.)21:27
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 21:28The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 21:29See you how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house.Naboth Abided By Yahweh's Word In Refusing To Satisfy Ahab's Greed
It should be noted from 21:3-4 that the REASON Naboth refused to give his family inheritance to Ahab was because Yahweh had forbidden him from so doing. In other words, Ahab's lust for Naboth's land led him to ask Naboth to disobey Yahweh. But Naboth refused to disobey Yahweh, preferring to incur the king's displeasure rather than Yahweh's displeasure.
How Authority Should Be Submitted To In This World
Naboth understood how authority should be submitted to in this world. The ultimate authority in any given territory is NOT the human king or ruler of that territory, irrespective of the power and influence he wields in that territory. The ultimate authority is Yahweh. Therefore when a human ruler issues a word that conflicts with Yahweh word, the subjects to that human ruler are NOT to abide by the ruler's word, but are to remain steadfast in Yahweh's word. For Yahweh's authority is greater than that of human rulers.
Ahab Did Not Regard Yahweh's Word
It should also be noted that Ahab did not regard Yahweh's word, placing his own greed for property ahead of submitting to Yahweh's word. For in Leviticus 25 Yahweh has clearly spoken, forbidding the children of Israel from selling their inheritance land in the fields in perpetuity. But Ahab disregarded Yahweh's word, pursuing instead his own greed!
Yahweh Commanded His People To Abide By His Word
Leviticus 25 reads, in part,
25:1
Yahweh spoke to Moses in Mount Sinai, saying, 25:2Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath to Yahweh.25:8
You shall number seven Sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. 25:9Then shall you send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of atonement shall you send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land. 25:10You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants of it: it shall be a jubilee to you; and you shall return every man to his possession, and you shall return every man to his family. 25:11A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you: you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of the undressed vines. 25:12For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat the increase of it out of the field.25:13
In this year of jubilee you shall return every man to his possession. 25:14If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy of your neighbor’s hand, you shall not wrong one another. 25:15According to the number of years after the jubilee you shall buy of your neighbor, and according to the number of years of the crops he shall sell to you. 25:16According to the length of the years you shall increase the price of it, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish the price of it; for the number of the crops does he sell to you. 25:17You shall not wrong one another; but you shall fear your God: for I am Yahweh your God. 25:18Therefore you shall do my statutes, and keep my ordinances and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety.25:23
The land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is mine: for you are strangers and sojourners with me. 25:24In all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land. 25:25If your brother be grew poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman who is next to him come, and shall redeem that which his brother has sold. 25:26If a man have no one to redeem it, and he be grew rich and find sufficient to redeem it; 25:27then let him reckon the years of the sale of it, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his possession. 25:28But if he isn’t able to get it back for himself, then that which he has sold shall remain in the hand of him who has bought it until the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return to his possession.Jezebel Disregarded Yahweh's Word
It should be noted from 1 Kings 21:5-7 that Jezebel DISREGARDED Yahweh's commandments, statutes and ordinances. For even though Yahweh had forbidden Naboth from selling his family inheritance to anyone outside his family, Jezebel disregarded Yahweh's word and sought to secure the land for her husband, against Yahweh's word. For, to her, her husband was the ultimate authority in Israel, and not Yahweh!
Jezebel Abused Yahweh's Word Despite Being Aware Of It
1 Kings 21:8-14 shows that the technique that Jezebel used to secure Naboth's land for her husband Ahab ABUSED Yahweh's word. In other words, Jezebel was NOT IGNORANT of Yahweh's word. She was familiar with it. Only that she did not fear Yahweh to submit to and abide by his word. She only selectively immersed herself into Yahweh's word in order to abuse it!
Exodus 22:28 reads,
22:28
"You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.Exodus 23:1-3 reads,
23:1
"You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. 23:2You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice; 23:3neither shall you favor a poor man in his cause.Exodus 23:7 reads,
23:7
"Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked.Leviticus 24:10-23 reads,
24:10
The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp: 24:11and the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 24:12They put him in custody, that it might be declared to them at the mouth of Yahweh.24:13
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 24:14Bring forth him who has cursed outside of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 24:15You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 24:16He who blasphemes the name of Yahweh, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemes the name of Yahweh, shall be put to death. 24:17He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death. 24:18He who strikes a animal mortally shall make it good, life for life. 24:19If a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he has done, so shall it be done to him: 24:20breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered to him. 24:21He who kills an animal shall make it good: and he who kills a man shall be put to death. 24:22You shall have one kind of law, as well for the sojourner, as for the home-born: for I am Yahweh your God. 24:23Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses.It should be noted that Jezebel clearly understood from these scriptural words above that the penalty for blaspheming Yahweh's name was death. She therefore sought Naboth's death on the false charge that Naboth had blasphemed both Yahweh and the king.
Jezebel Disobeyed Yahweh's Word While She Abused It
In attempting to prove her case she disobeyed Yahweh's word! For where Yahweh has prohibited false charges, malicious witnesses, following a multitude to pervert justice and killing the innocent and righteous, Jezebel took no heed. In other words, she only dipped into Yahweh's word to pick from it what appeared advantageous to her wicked cause, and disregarded the rest that was not consistent with her wickedness! In other words, in perpetuating evil, Jezebel selectively and out of context abused Yahweh's word!
Yahweh's Remedy Against Jezebel And Her Ilk
Nevertheless, Yahweh's word has a remedy for those who practice the wicked deeds of Jezebel and her cohorts. Deuteronomy 19:15-21 reads,
19:15
Jezebel Was Effectively An Idol To The Children Of Israel
Had the children of Israel been fearful of Yahweh's word, rather than selectively picking portions of it out of context in order to abuse it, they would have thwarted Jezebel's wicked murder and abuse of justice. But as opposed to heeding Yahweh they heeded Jezebel. In other words, they had effectively made Jezebel their idol, worshipping Jezebel rather than worshipping Yahweh, fearing Jezebel rather than fearing Yahweh! Therefore, as opposed to heeding Yahweh's word in exterminating the false witnesses and all those who pervert justice in the matter of Naboth, they joined in evil and perverting justice. They therefore incurred, in Yahweh's eyes, the penalty they unjustly executed against Naboth.
The Children Of Israel Paid Lip Service To Yahweh But Served Idols
In should again be reiterated that the environment in which Ahab, Jezebel and Elijah lived was one where the people attempted to worship both Yahweh and idols. They paid lip service to Yahweh, but, in reality, did not faithfully serve him, serving instead their idols. For they disregarded Yahweh's words and followed after the words of those who were Yahweh's enemies.
Some In Thyatira Pay Lip Service To Yah'shuah But Serve Idols
In the context of the assembly in Thyatira it should be noted that those in positions of influence in the assembly are similar to Ahab and Jezebel. These pursue their own lusts without regard to Yah'shuah's word. And in pursuing their lusts they seek to cause Yah'shuah's servants to disobey Yah'shuah!
Yah'shuah's Servants In Thyatira Should Fear Him Rather Than Men
Yah'shuah's servants should be like Naboth. They should be familiar with Yah'shuah's word, and should fear Yah'shuah rather than men - those in positions of leadership and influence in the assembly in Thyatira. Such that when the leaders, in pursuit of their own greed, urge them to disobey Yah'shuah, they will steadfastly refuse to obey their leaders' words contrary to Yah'shuah's word. For they understand that Yah'shuah has authority in both heaven and earth, and therefore is superior to the leaders in the assembly in Thyatira.
Matthew 28:18 reads,
28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.Yah'shuah's servants in the assembly in Thyatira should also note that just as there was a semblance of Yahweh worship in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, coupled with idolatry, so also it is in their assembly. There is a semblance of service to Yah'shuah - lip service. But coupled with this is rampant idolatry and wickedness, for those under the influence of Jezebel and her cohorts among them practice idolatry and do not really fear Yah'shuah. They use Yah'shuah's word selectively to pursue their own greedy ends, but in reality abuse it, not taking the whole of Yah'shuah's word that is applicable to their lives.
Yah'shuah Will Punish The Unrepentant Wicked Ones In Thyatira
Yah'shuah's servants in the assembly in Thyatira should therefore clearly understand that Yah'shuah will indeed punish these wicked ones, Jezebel and her cohorts, even as he says he will in Revelation 2:18-29. And these wicked ones practising idolatry and other evil in Yah'shuah's assembly should repent before Yah'shuah inflicts his penalty against them for their wickedness.
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