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28th of the 12th month 2021/2022
Shalom all
As part of this week’s Torah readings, from Berěshith/Genesis 18:1-22:24, we will also be reading the passage from Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:4-11 and it is with that in mind that I am sharing this teaching on the entire chapter of Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:4-11, taking a closer look at some key notes on the words that he is giving us, in order that we be equipped to keep standing firm in our Master, shining the Light of His Truth, in these days where the darkness over the people is getting thicker by the day.
This chapter highlights for us the clear warning of the false prophets and messages of falsehood that are very destructive, along with the encouragement that our Master’s protection over His set-apart reverent ones is a clear assurance to those who remain steadfast in Him and guard His righteousness and walking in His Torah, amidst the increasing depravity of lawlessness!
In verse 1, Kěpha makes it clear that just as there came to be false prophets before, so too will there be false prophets in our days – false prophets that are denying our Master and Elohim.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘false prophets’ comes from the word ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophētēs – Strong’s G5578 which simply means, ‘false prophet’, and is understood as one who falsely assumes the work of a prophet or messenger of Elohim, when they are pretending to foretell of things to come, or teach false doctrines, in the Name of Elohim.
This word is constructed from two root words:
1) ψευδής pseudēs – Strong’s G5571 which means, ‘lying, false, liars, deceitful’, which comes from the word ψεύδομαι pseudomai – Strong’s G5574 which means, ‘to lie, speak deliberate falsehoods’, and
2) προφήτης prophētēs – Strong’s G4396 which means, ‘interpreter of oracles or hidden things, spokesmen for Elohim, one who calls people back to Elohim’.
The Hebrew word for ‘prophet’ is נָבִיא naḇiy – Strong’s H5030 which means, ‘prophet, spokesman, speaker, prophesy’ and comes from the root verb נָבָא naḇa – Strong’s H5012 which simply means ‘to speak or sing (by inspiration) or communicate a message from a deity – either of proper behavior to a standard, or of future events’.
A prophet’s role is to call people back to the Torah of Elohim and give a severe warning of what will happen if they do not listen!
False prophets are not calling people back to The Torah of Elohim, nor are they giving warnings of what is coming upon the disobedient, as they are simply tickling the ears of many while seeking to make a name for themselves and profit off of their false messages.
Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:15-23 “But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves. 16 “By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 “So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. 18 “A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, by their fruits you shall know them – 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. 22 “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ 23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’”
These words of our Master יהושע Messiah, here in Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:15-23, are words that need to be heard and understood very clearly, as the craftiness of falsehood, that comes in the appearance of truth, is what we are to be on guard against and recognise how urgent we must be, in being sober, alert and watchful, so that we do not find ourselves being falsely malnourished by the junk of lawlessness.
Our Master clearly warns us to take heed against being led astray by false prophets, as He tells us to beware of such.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘beware’ comes from the root word προσέχω prosechō – Strong’s G4337 which means, ‘be alert for, watch out, be on guard, consider carefully, beware, attend to, pay attention, give attention’.
Messiah warns us that there are many who profess to know Him and follow Him, yet by their lawlessness they clearly reveal that they are not known by Him, and here we are to take heed of the clear warning that He is giving here!
And that is: we must be on guard against the prophets and teachers of lawlessness, that may actually come with an appearance that looks, and even sounds, authentic to most, while their fruits will reveal the wolves that they really are.
The basic principle that is being outlined here, by our Master, is simply that we must be on guard against prophets and teachers of falsehood!
Be careful who you give your ear to!
You may think that their words are sound and soothing, yet they could lead you away by the delusion of lawlessness and cause you to be identified as being unknown and rejected!
We are to beware of the false prophets – that is: those who are masquerading as servants of Elohim, yet are not calling you back to the Torah, but are rather leading you away from it!
In a rebuke that was given to Yisra’ěl, and their following of the falsehood, we see how the priests and prophets were speaking words of peace when there was no peace, as seen in:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 6:13-14 “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, they are all greedy for gain. And from the prophet even to the priest, all act falsely. 14 “And they heal the breach of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘falsely’ comes from the root word שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’, which comes from the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’.
Ěḵah/Lamentations 2:14 “Your prophets have seen falsehood and folly for you, and have not shown you your crookedness, to turn back your captivity. But their visions for you are false and misleading messages.”
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9:3-6 “And they bend their tongue like a bow. Falsehood, and not truth, prevails on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they have not known Me,” declares יהוה. 4 “Let everyone beware of his neighbour and not trust any brother. For every brother catches by the heel, and every neighbour walks with slanderers. 5 “And everyone deceives his neighbour, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak falsehood, and have wearied themselves to crook. 6 “You live in the midst of deceit; through deceit they have refused to know Me,” declares יהוה.”
Through the false and misleading messages, we see how so many people have actually begun to “teach themselves to speak falsehood”; a falsehood that has been so ingrained in them, as we are able to see through the mirror of the example that is given to us in Yirmeyahu, being a clear reflection of the state of falsehood that prevails on the earth today!
Ear-tickling falsehood does not show the true mirror of the Word and it misleads people into thinking that they are ok, when in fact their lawlessness and sin has not been properly dealt with and stopped, as they reject the need to submit to, and walk in, the Torah of Elohim, due to being misled by false prophets and teachers.
Teaching oneself to speak falsehood, comes as a result if not properly submitting to Our Master and Good Teacher, יהושע Messiah.
So how do we recognise or know if a prophet or teacher is a true messenger and ambassador of “Elohim and His coming reign” or not?
Scripture certainly equips us in being able to discern and know how to separate the set-apart from the profane, and if one is being misled by false teachers and prophets then they may be unable to discern this while being under the delusion of the lawless.
The Torah clearly warns us against false prophets or dreamers of dreams, as we see in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 13:1-4 “ When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder shall come true, of which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other mighty ones – which you have not known – and serve them,’ 3 do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for יהוה your Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being. 4 “Walk after יהוה your Elohim and fear Him, and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him.”
So many people today do not know these verses and/or do not understand what is clearly being written here.
The warning against listening to a false prophet, or teacher, is clear.
What is also very striking, when you see these words, is that the warning that is given here, is that if that which a false prophet says or does, comes true, we must not just follow because of the sign or wonder that came true!
How we can know if they are true or false, is in the way in which they tell us to walk or go.
If the one who performs signs and wonders, tells you to go and follow other mighty ones, then know that it is יהוה who has sent that false prophet to test you, in order to know whether you love יהוה with all your heart and being, or not!
How do I know he is false? … you may ask!
Well, if a prophet leads you away from a proper hearing, guarding and obeying of the Torah, then, by definition of these verses, he is a false prophet – no matter what kind of amazing signs and wonders he performs!!!
When we see this clear command to not listen to the words of the false prophet or dreamer of dreams that speaks falsehood, we must recognise that it is still in reference to the previous ending of Chapter 12, which states:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 12:32 “All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it – do not add to it nor take away from it.”
Those who add to, or take away from, the Torah, and teach others to follow their adding and taking away, are false teachers!!!
Yoḥanan makes it very clear to us what ‘love for Elohim’ is:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy”
These words that are given to us here in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 13 are strong words that are needed to be heard loud and clear today!
A prophet is one who speaks, and a dreamer of dreams, speaks of one who claims to have visions.
What we must always do, is test the words that are being spoken or dreams and visions that are being declared, through the plumb line of the Torah; and if it does not line up, then we are to ‘put to death’ that prophet or dreamer of dreams!
In today’s terms, we must understand that this certainly does not give us license to go and kill false teachers and prophets; but rather, what we can understand from this, is that we are to ‘put to death’ their false and misleading instructions and attempts at their leading astray our hearts and minds, from following יהוה completely.
We are to prove all spirits!
This does not mean that we must give everything a test, as some may be inclined to think, but rather, that we are to prove the spirit behind that which is being spoken, or done, in trying to lead us:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesses that יהושע Messiah has come in the flesh is of Elohim, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that יהושע Messiah has come in the flesh is not of Elohim. And this is the spirit of the anti-messiah which you heard is coming, and now is already in the world.”
DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT!
Prove the spirits, to see whether they are of Elohim of not! How?
Well, we are given a very clear answer here:
Every spirit that confesses that יהושע Messiah has come in the flesh is of Elohim!!!
Kěpha highlights the example of Lot for us, as an encouragement for us to hold firm to the sure hope we have, in the deliverance that our Master and Elohim is coming to complete in us.
We know how Seḏom and Amorah was destroyed and was reduced to ashes and the example of Lot being rescued by Elohim, is one that is used to encourage us in the knowledge that our Master and Elohim will deliver us from the coming destruction that is about to be poured out on the unrighteous, when the fire of the wrath of Elohim is poured out on the sons of disobedience, in The Day of יהוה.
Kěpha reminds us that the destruction of Seḏom and Amorah was made an example to all who afterward would live wickedly (verse 6) and therefore, the warning of this example still applies to those who are living wickedly today!
The Greek word that is translated a ‘wickedly’ in Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:6 is ἀσεβής asebēs – Strong’s G765 which means, ‘impious, destitute of reverential awe towards Elohim, living without regard for the belief and practice of set-apartness, without fear or reverence for Elohim’.
This word ἀσεβής asebēs – Strong’s G765 does not necessarily mean irreligious, but rather, it speaks of one who actively practices the opposite of what the fear of Elohim demands!
When I stop to consider what this word describes, I am gripped with a severe sadness by what I see happening at large today.
So many people who claim to be believers yet they practice the very opposite of what true fear of Elohim demands!
While the subject of the ‘fear of Elohim’ is a topic for a separate teaching, we are able to take note of a couple of verses that ought to highlight, or expose, how many are living ‘wickedly’ today!
In the words given to the generation that was about to enter into the Promised Land we take note of the following:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:1-2 “And this is the command, the laws and right-rulings which יהוה your Elohim has commanded, to teach you to do in the land which you are passing over to possess, 2 so that you fear יהוה your Elohim, to guard all His laws and His commands which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days be prolonged.”
The Torah teaches us to fear יהוה and it teaches us therefore to guard ALL His laws and commands – and so we are to be a continual hearing, guarding and doing people.
Proper fear of Elohim can only be lived out when a proper guarding and doing of His commands are being lived out.
In other words, when we guard righteousness we can begin to walk in the fear of Elohim and we know that Scripture gives us a clear definition of what righteousness is for us, as we see in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
Doing His commands and walking in the True Fear of יהוה, will keep us alive in Him!
Those who do not, are warned about the coming destruction that is coming upon the disobedient – that is: those who do not guard righteousness and do not walk in the fear of Elohim, no matter how self-righteous they may deem to be, as they may claim to be righteous yet their actions of lawlessness simply reveal that they are practicing the opposite of what the fear of Elohim demands!
Shelomoh tells us very clearly, in the parables of Mishlĕ/Proverbs 2, that when we accept the Word of Elohim and treasure up His commands, give our ears to wisdom and our hearts to understanding and seek Elohim with our all, then we would understand the fear of יהוה and find the knowledge of Elohim.
So many are perishing for lack of knowledge and they clearly do not understand the fear of Elohim, as they have cast aside the Torah of Elohim and reckon that it is no longer applicable, as they follow the delusion of the lawless; and the example of Seḏom and Amorah was as an example to such, who do not fear Elohim and actively practice that which opposes His clear standards of righteousness.
Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the entire matter: Fear Elohim and guard His commands, for this applies to all mankind!”
What becomes abundantly clear, as one searches, studies and meditates on The Word of Elohim, is that fearing Elohim can only be done when His commands are being properly guarded; and as we can see from the above text – this applies to ALL MANKIND!
There is One Torah for ALL!
Those who wickedly oppose the need to submit to walking according to The Word and oppose the clear standards of set-apartness, that ought to be pursued by all, shall be destroyed, while the righteous shall be delivered and rescued from destruction!
I cannot emphasise enough on how so many are living wickedly today and my hope is that those who hear the clear warning that Kěpha (Peter) is giving, will turn away from all forms of unrighteousness and pursue apartness and be set-apart as יהוה is set-apart!!!
Sadly, we see how many are hearing but not understanding and are seeing but not perceiving!
In speaking of the wicked and adulteress we take note of the words of our Master in:
Marqos/Mark 13:14-15 “And in them the prophecy of Yeshayahu is completely filled, which says, ‘Hearing you shall hear and by no means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive, 15 for the heart of this people has become thickened, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart, and turn back, and I heal them.”
Thickened hearts, hardened ears and closed eyes, is the state of those who live wickedly and actively practice the opposite of what the fear of Elohim demands!
The reason for me emphasising on the state of how so many are living wickedly at this time, is to highlight how this includes many people who claim to be believers and due to their thickened hearts, hardened ears and closed eyes, they are oblivious to the coming destruction, as they assume that their ‘lawless’ lives (living without the law) to be somehow acceptable in the eyes of Elohim and as called out set-apart believers who guard righteousness, we are called to warn these wicked ones and call them to COME OUT AND BE SEPARATE, for it is the Spirit and the Bride that says ‘Come!’
Perhaps I need to be even more to the point, by making it clear that those who refuse to guard righteousness, by not doing what the Word commands, are not righteous at all, but are rather wicked!
Let me say it even more plainly: those who follow falsified man-made teachings, that set aside the need to guard the Word of Elohim, are living wickedly!
Please hear what I am saying!
Those who wilfully refuse to walk according to the Word and reject the need to keep the Sabbaths and Feasts of יהוה are living wickedly and the example of Seḏom and Amorah should be a severe wake up call to come out of darkness and walk in the light!
Wilfully breaking the Sabbath in order to appease others or for doing one’s own desires, is a form of living wickedly – and this many people need to hear, even if they refuse to hear!
Yeshayahu was told to speak to a rebellious people until destruction comes and so too, do we recognise that this call for the righteous to speak, has not ended!
Our need to guard righteousness is critical, lest we find ourselves drifting away and living wickedly through compromised standards of unrighteousness that is being widely taught as acceptable teachings that are being given through the twisted commands of men while the Torah of Elohim is being forsaken!
As we consider what it must have been like for Lot, we are clearly told that he, being righteous, was oppressed with the indecent behaviour of the lawless!
Today, we are able to see Kěpha’s words being very true, in describing how there shall be false teachers who will bring in destructive heresies and deny Messiah, causing many to follow their destructive ways as the way of truth shall be evilly spoken of as they will, with fabricated words, use people for gain! (Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 2:1-3)
False and evil teachings that are masqueraded as messages of light, are being widely spread to a people who are marching aimlessly on a broad path that leads to destruction, and they are singing to the wicked tune of lawlessness, due to hardened ears, closed eyes and thickened hearts!
Heretic teachings that deny Messiah, deny His authority and the need to submit thereto and the denial of Messiah, is to deny that He is Elohim and deny that He is the same yesterday today and forever and deny that He does not change!
To deny Messiah, is to deny the fact that He is יהוה our Saviour!
Sadly, many have been led astray through destructive heresies that have set aside the need to guard the commands of Elohim and in the process, they have accepted the lawless teachings of men, who have attempted to change the times and laws of Elohim, causing them to live wickedly, despite their false assumption of righteousness and those who continue on this destructive path, will be exposed as having the wrong garments on and be thrown out to where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
To be very plain, I say it as such:
If you are not walking in the fear of Elohim and are not guarding His commands, then you are living wickedly!
What many people need to hear today, even though they do not wish to hear it, is the following:
If you do not keep the Sabbath, you are living wickedly – it is as plain as that!
Now please her me, when I say that, it is not only in the keeping of Sabbath that one is enabled or identified as guarding righteousness, but we do take note that the Sabbath, and the keeping thereof, is a sign between Elohim and us – forever! (Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 20:20)
Having been called out of darkness into His Marvellous Light, our Master calls and commissions us to be faithful and trustworthy ambassadors of His Reign by making taught ones who will guard righteousness amidst a wicked world!
Righteous living amidst a wicked world can and is a torturing one indeed, yet we must take encouragement in the hop we have as Kěpha reminds us of how Elohim rescued righteous Lot!!!
Lot was a righteous man!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘righteous’ is δίκαιος dikaios – Strong’s G1342 which means, ‘righteous, innocent, just, upright, keeping the commands of Elohim’.
Lot was a man who lived an upright and obedient life in a city that was wicked and corrupt. He would have certainly learned a great deal when sojourning with Aḇraham and with his being mentioned in Scripture as being righteous we can certainly see that he guarded the belief in Elohim.
Our righteousness is not in our own working, but that which is of Messiah, for He took our sin upon Himself in order that we may become the righteousness of Elohim:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”
The righteousness of Elohim, is through belief in יהושע Messiah, for we have all sinned and fallen short of His esteem and through His obedience, many have been made righteous – those who believe in Him!
Belief in Him, entails a working belief – that is: a belief/faith with works of obedience – obedience to His commands as I have already mentioned what righteousness is for us (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25)!
Sha’ul reminds us, in his second letter to Timotiyos, that those wishing to live reverently in Messiah shall be persecuted!
Lot was a man that would have certainly been persecuted for righteousness sake, yet was rescued from destruction!
While he lived a righteous life that was persecuted, he was continually oppressed with the indecent behaviour of the lawless!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘oppressed’ in Kěpha Bet/2 Peter 2:7 is καταπονέω kataponeō – Strong’s G2669 which means, ‘to wear down, tire down with toil, exhaust with labour, to treat roughly, afflict or oppress with evils’ and this word comes from the two root words:
1) κατά kata – Strong’s G2596 which is a preposition which carries the meaning, ‘down, against, according to’ and
2) πόνος ponos – Strong’s G4192 which means, ‘toil, labour, pain, great trouble’, which is only used 3 times in the renewed Writings, all of which are found in the Book of Ḥazon/Revelation.
Ḥazon/Revelation 16:9-11 “And men were burned with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of Elohim who possesses authority over these plagues. And they did not repent, to give Him esteem. 10 And the fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his reign became darkened. And they gnawed their tongues from pain. 11 And they blasphemed the Elohim of the heaven for their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their works.”
In the verses quoted above, we take note of how the evil refuse to repent and blaspheme Elohim as they ‘gnawed their tongues in pain’, which shows us how the lips of the wrong talk intently of their trouble and pain, so much so that they blaspheme Elohim and are unwilling to repent!
When sin has finally been dealt with and the wrong are no more and the former things have gone, we take note that there will be no more ‘pain’:
Ḥazon/Revelation 21:4 “And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying. And there shall be no more pain, for the former matters have passed away.”
With Lot being ‘oppressed’, we may be able to identify a little with what he suffered, as it was an exhausting thing to see the indecent behaviour of the lawless and it pained him greatly!
How pain stricken are you, at times, when you see the indecent behaviour of the lawless? Does it bother you as it did Lot?
The promise that we have been given, in Ḥazon/Revelation, is that the pain of seeing the indecent behaviour of the lawless will be ended when our Master and Elohim comes and wipes every tear away and restores righteousness, when effects of the former matters of wicked and sin have passed away!
The Greek two words that are translated here as ‘indecent’ are
1 – ἐν en – Strong’s G1722 which is a primary preposition denoting a fixed position (in place, time or state) meaning, ‘in or on, with, by’; and
2 – ἀσέλγεια aselgeia – Strong’s G766 which means, ‘licentiousness, sensuality’. Licentiousness means, ‘lacking legal or moral restraint, disregard sexual restraint, disregard for strict rules of correctness’.
Sensuality means, ‘gratification of the senses or indulgences of the appetite, devoted to or preoccupied with the senses or appetites, deficient in moral, spiritual, or intellectual interests’.
Those who are deficient in spiritual or intellectual interests, have no regard for the order and instructions of Elohim and they therefore are against the appointed and established order of Elohim and can be easily led astray, to doing whatever ‘feels’ right in their own eyes!
Many people are being led astray, because they do not know, or properly understand, the Scriptures and, as a result, they are being led astray by crafty doctrines of man that do not follow the clear order, pattern and witness of the Word of Elohim.
The Greek word that is translated a ‘lawless’, here in Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 3:7, is ἄθεσμος athesmos – Strong’s G113 which means, ‘lawless, unprincipled men, wicked’, and is understood as ‘one who breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts’. This word comes from the two root words:
1) α alpha – Strong’s G1 which is the first letter in the Greek alphabet that is used as a negative prefix, and
2) θεσμός thesmos which means, ‘law, custom’ and is a derivative of the word τίθημι tithēmi – Strong’s G5087 which means, ‘to lay up, lay aside, appoint, establish’.
Therefore, the ‘lawless’ is being described here as one who is against that which has been established and appointed!
This word ἄθεσμος athesmos – Strong’s G113 is used twice in Kěpha’s second letter, with the other verse being:
Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 3:17-18 “You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless, 18 but grow in the favour and knowledge of our Master and Saviour יהושע Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and to a day that abides. Aměn.”
Sha’ul warns us of the coming of lawlessness and those who do not receive a love for the truth, are handed over the delusion in order for them to believe the lies!
Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. 11 And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, 12 in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.”
This is a sober warning against not loving the Truth, as it is Elohim who will send the working of a delusion to those who will not love His Torah and love the guarding of His commands!
Delusion is a very powerful thing indeed, for the one who is handed over a working of delusion does not know that they are being led astray!
Lawlessness is promoted by the deceit of unrighteousness!
What I mean by that, is that many are falling prey to the deceit of unrighteousness that promotes that observance of the Torah and commands of Elohim is no longer valid.
We know that Scripture clearly defines for us what righteousness is:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
With righteousness being clearly defined for us as “the guarding of the commands”, we are then able to clearly understand that unrighteousness involves a willful defiance toward the guarding of the commands and therefore, promotes lawlessness, which is sin!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:17-19 “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that everyone having been born of Elohim does not sin, but the one having been born of Elohim guards himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of Elohim, and all the world lies in the wicked one.”
Sha’ul warns us, in his letter to the believers in Thessalonica, about the deceit of unrighteousness, as already quoted from Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 2:10!
In this verse, the Greek word that is translated as ‘deceit’ comes from the root word ἀπάτη apatē – Strong’s G539 which means, ‘deceit, delusion, deception’ and is used 7 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.).
Let us take a look at the other 6 verses:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:22 “And that sown among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the worry of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes fruitless.”
These words form part of the parable of the Sower and the seed and warn us against the deceit of riches that choke out the life of the Word.
We are also told in:
Luqas/Luke 8:15 “And that which fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with worries, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
Bringing fruit to perfection can only happen when we do not allow the worries, riches and pleasure of life to get in the way of our set-apartness in the Master.
The worries, riches and pleasures of life can cause many to shrink back, as the Truth is choked out; and this can only happen when the soil of our hearts are not being continually tilled and kept free from these deceitful wicked thorns and weeds of doubt that render one fruitless.
Marqos/Mark 4:18-19 “And others are those sown among thorns, these are they who hear the word, 19 and the worries of this age, and the deceit of riches, and the desires for other matters, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes fruitless.”
The Greek word that is translated here as ‘riches’ is πλοῦτος ploutos – Strong’s G4149 which means, ‘to flow or abound in wealth and riches’, and comes from the root word πλέω pleō – Strong’s G4126 which means, ‘to sail, sailing, passenger’!
I find this an interesting picture here, for if your dreams and hopes are set on ‘sailing off into the sunset’ with all your worries taken care of, think again.
This mind-set of being so wealthy that you can live the dream life and have no cares or worries is a lie and a fantasy that is not a Scriptural concept for the true set-apart believer, and having this mind-set can be very dangerous in choking out the very Truth that ought to sustain you.
The world today is riddled with the luring attraction of finding wealth and happiness; and movies and media play a big role in shaping many minds into thinking what their dream fantasy must look like – this is dangerous and choking, to say the least.
With this word πλέω pleō – Strong’s G4126 also meaning ‘passenger’ we need to take heed that we are not just ‘passengers’ here but are rather being trustworthy ‘sojourners’.
The difference between a passenger and a sojourner is that the passenger thinks that they are the ones to be served and simply seeking to be on a cruise of success, whereas a sojourner realises that he is a foreigner and stranger, and his need to guard the commands of the reign to which he belongs is vital, as his need to serve as an ambassador of that coming kingdom will cost him everything!
Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:22 “that you put off – with regard to your former way of life – the old man, being corrupted according to the desires of the deceit”
Put off the former way of life!
Put of the desires of the deceit!
These words of Sha’ul emphasise for me the clear power that deceit has, especially as we consider the deceit of riches and the desires that many have in chasing riches that cannot satisfy!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘desires’, in Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:22, comes from the root word ἐπιθυμία epithumia – Strong’s G1939 which means, ‘desire, passionate longing, lust, coveting, desires’ and this comes from the word ἐπιθυμέω epithumeō – Strong’s G1937 which means, ‘desire, covet, lust, seek that which is forbidden’ and is translated as ‘lusts’ in:
Galatiyim/Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you desire to do.”
How many of you have found yourself looking at or seeking things that you know you should not!
This can cause sin, and bring a breach in the wall which can affect the entire assembly!!!
No matter how pretty the worldly ways of worship may appear – be on guard against being drawn into desiring what is not fitting for the House of Elohim!
Do not get captivated by what the ‘evil woman’ (whore) does.
Qolasim/Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world, and not according to Messiah.”
Here, Sha’ul clearly warns us against being led astray by empty deceit, which is according to the tradition of men that so easily and quickly cast the Torah of Elohim behind their backs! When traditions of men run contrary to the Word of Messiah then be on guard and be sober in making sure that you are not made a prey of such empty deceit!
So many vainly claim that they know Messiah yet are walking contrary to His ways as they do not walk, even as He walked and they do not guard the Sabbaths and commands of Elohim, the very things He came to teach and lead us in!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 3:13 “but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin.”
Once again, we are able to recognise just how deceitful sin and lawlessness, which is unrighteousness, can be and here, in this letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of how important it is for us to encourage one another daily in the Truth, so as to keep each other’s hearts from becoming hardened by the deceit of sin, which is often presented as something attractive!
So many reveal that their hearts are hardened by deceit, as they stubbornly refuse to hear the voice of elohim and repent of their lawlessness and sin and refuse to turn from unrighteousness as they live according to the deceitful lusts of the flesh!
Kěpha Bet/2 Peter 2:12-13 “But these, like natural unreasoning beasts, having been born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheme that which they do not know, shall be destroyed in their destruction, 13 being about to receive the wages of unrighteousness, deeming indulgence in the day of pleasure, spots and blemishes, revelling in their own deceptions while they feast with you”
In speaking of the clear fate of the wicked, Kěpha highlights how the unrighteous revel in their own deceptions, even while they feast with you!
This is a sobering thought indeed, as we take note that there are many who are ‘feasting with the righteous’ yet they themselves are revelling in deceit.
This goes to show how assemblies can be greatly affected by the deceit of many who may be able to put on a ‘religious show’ before others yet their deceptive revelling in compromise will not go unrewarded as they will receive their wages for unrighteousness!
This is a very sober warning that must cause us to make sure that there is NO DECEIT found in us!!!
So many people are revelling in the deception of lawlessness and have no concept or idea of the severe punishment that is coming upon the unrighteous.
Deceit is falsehood disguised as truth and is extremely life threatening to those who have no knowledge of Elohim, due to their adherence to teachings of lawlessness.
Therefore, what we are to make sure of, as set-apart treasured ones of the Most-High, is that we put off the false and put on the Truth and make sure that we are being correctly dressed in righteousness, with the full armour of Elohim being the only true dress code that guards against deceit.
Above all we must make sure that no deceit is found on our lips as we are to make sure that we meditate on the Torah, day and night, in order for us to be firmly planted in our Rock, Messiah, who is the Truth!!!
As we contemplate on the blessing of the deliverance that our Master has worked for us and consider the blessing of the forgiveness and cleansing, He brings through His Word that does not change nor fail, let us make that there is no deceit in us, as we continue to pursue apartness before the face of our Mighty Master and Elohim, Husband and King, יהושע Messiah!!!
As we consider the dangers of deceit, we can also glean much insight from the wisdom of Shelomoh, where we see the following in regards to deceit:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26:24-26 “He who hates, pretends with his lips, and lays up deceit within him; 25 though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.”
Shelomoh continues to give us a clear warning against words of falsehood and deception, for those who hate will pretend to love!
How then can we watch and be on guard?
By loving the Truth and guarding the commands of Elohim!
Tehillah/Psalm 119:97 “O how I love Your Torah! It is my study all day long.”
Can you echo the same words of the psalmist, or is your love for the Torah drowned out by the delusion of being against that which has been established and appointed by Elohim?
If one does love the Torah of Elohim, then the necessary daily meditation and study will be a pleasure, yet so many people today. Try to argue that they just cannot find the time to get in to the Word, as their lives are so busy with many things!
Being oppressed by the indecent behaviour of the lawless, righteous Lot was tortured in his being day after day when seeing and hearing the lawless works of the wicked!
How tortured are you by what you see and hear today?
If the works of the lawless do not torture you, then it may be a warning sign that you have slipped or drifted from steadfastness and have allowed compromise to settle in your life, in order to get by with everyone and have therefore, let your light be hidden due to the fear of man and the conflict that arises when righteousness and lawlessness clash!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘tortured’ is βασανίζω basanizō – Strong’s G928 which means, ‘tortured, battered, pain, straining, be harassed or distressed, vexed with grievous pains (of body or mind)’.
The Greek word translated as ‘being’ is ψυχή psuchē – Strong’s G5590 which means, ‘breath, soul, heart, mind, life, being’, which is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ nephesh – Strong’s H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’.
Sha’ul tells us that though we walk in the flesh we do not battle according to the flesh:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elohim for overthrowing strongholds, 5 overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
Can you begin to understand what Lot went through, by being tortured in his being, day and night?
This was not something he could be going through physically, but was rather a continual raging battle within himself, as he, being righteous, was tortured by the depravity of seeing and hearing the lawless works of the wicked!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘lawless’, here in Kěpha Bet/2 Peter 2:8, is not the same as that which is used in verse 7, but rather it is the word ἄνομος anomos – Strong’s G459 meaning, ‘lawless or without law, transgressors’.
A derivative of this word is the Greek word used for ‘lawlessness’, which is ἀνομία anomia – Strong’s G458 meaning, ‘lawlessness or lawless deeds, unrighteousness’.
Yoḥanan makes it very clear to us that sin is lawlessness!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:4 “Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
The Greek word for sin is ἁμαρτία hamartia – Strong’s G266 which means, ‘sin, failure, miss the mark, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong’, and also carries the meaning of, ‘wandering from the law of Elohim, violate the law of Elohim’.
While many may claim that they do not need to adhere to, or keep, the Law of Elohim, we take note that Messiah did not redeem us from keeping the law, but He actually redeemed us from all lawlessness!
Titos/Titus 2:11-14 “For the saving Gift of Elohim has appeared to all men, 12 instructing us to renounce wickedness and worldly lusts, and to live sensibly, righteously, and reverently in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed expectation and esteemed appearance of the great Elohim and our Saviour יהושע Messiah, 14 who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people, His own possession, ardent for good works.”
The Greek word that is translated here as ‘redeem’ is λυτρόω lutroō – Strong’s G3084 which literally means, ‘to release by paying a ransom, redeem’.
In other words, Messiah has paid the price for us and released us from lawlessness, by paying the ransom for our lives with His Blood.
Sha’ul tells us in:
Romiyim/Romans 6:18 “And having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”
We have been set free from sin, which is lawlessness, in order to become servants of righteousness!
This verse is so clear – we have been set free from being disobedient to the Torah, in order to be obedient to it!!!
Seeing and hearing lawless works will be something that tortures the righteous day and night, yet we must hold firm our calling and stand steadfast in not falling from our secure position in Messiah, as we hold firm to the truth that יהוה knows how to rescue the reverent ones from trial and keep the unrighteous (lawless sinners) unto a day of judgement for punishment!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘rescue’ is ῥύομαι rhuomai – Strong’s G4506 which means, ‘deliver, rescue, draw to oneself’ and this word we see being used in the words of our Master when teaching us how we should pray, as seen in:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:13 “And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the wicked one – because Yours is the reign and the power and the esteem, forever. Aměn.”
In the constant wrestle that we see being waged between the flesh and the spirit, we see from Sha’ul’s words the following:
Romiyim/Romans 7:24-25 “Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks to Elohim, through יהושע Messiah our Master! So then, with the mind I myself truly serve the Torah of Elohim, but with the flesh the torah of sin.”
We can give thanks to Elohim for it is our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, who is the Only One who is able to deliver and rescue us! He knows how to rescue the reverent ones!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘reverent ones’ comes from the adjective εὐσεβής eusebēs – Strong’s G2152 which describes a ‘pious, devout, reverent man’.
These words are a construct of two words:
1 – εὖ eu – Strong’s G2095 which is an adverb meaning, ‘good, well done’ and
2 – σέβω sebō – Strong’s G4576 which is a verb that means, ‘to worship, revere, Elohim-fearing’.
A derivative of this word is the Greek word that is translated as ‘reverence’, which is the noun εὐσέβεια eusebeia – Strong’s G2150 and carries the meaning of, ‘well-directed reverence’, and at its root it carries the meaning, ‘to be true and to adore, speaking of one’s devout worship and being dutiful in one’s obedience’.
This word εὐσέβεια eusebeia – Strong’s G2150, applied to a believer, denotes a life that is truly acceptable unto Messiah, indicating a proper attitude toward יהושע Messiah, who saves him.
So, a true reverent one who exercises true reverence, even in the Greek understanding, is one who exhibits a ‘good and well done, Elohim-fearing worship’!!!
This word εὐσέβεια eusebeia – Strong’s G2150, reflects both an attitude and a way of life, that is well pleasing to our Master, through the continued display of complete set-apartness without compromise!
When we understand what true reverence toward Elohim means, we will find that we will do our utmost to give no room for compromise, and make sure that we forever strive for perfection in the Master, no matter where we find ourselves or in what circumstances we may be in and no matter the torture we go through when seeing and hearing the lawless works of the wicked around us!
What we can see, from the words in Kěpha’s second letter, is that there shall be a clear separation of the righteous and the unrighteous!
The righteous shall be rescued while the wicked shall be gathered for judgement and destruction!
While it may certainly be a torturous thing to see and hear the lawless works of the wicked each and every day, let us not lose heart in doing good, for we have the sure expectation in our Master that we must hold firm to until the end.
These words that we have explored in Kěpha’s second letter, can either be taken as words of encouragement or words of warning, or both!
Encouragement to those who are guarding righteousness and are meditating daily on the Word and seeking to continual please Elohim with the reasonable worship of a set-apart life, while a sobering and stern warning to those who are neglecting the call to come out and be separate.
This is a warning against those who persist in doing lawless works and continue to live wickedly by actively practicing the opposite of what the fear of Elohim demands!
This is an encouragement and call for endurance to those who are making themselves ready and are properly dressed in righteousness as this is a call to keep standing armed in the Truth and after having done all, to keep standing and not let the lawless words and actions of others deter you from your steadfast position in Messiah!
As you consider these words, how are you standing?
Have you allowed the torture of lawless deeds and the oppression of indecent behaviour to cause you to falter in your need to stand firm in the Truth?
Have you buckled under the pressure of the lawless deeds of the those who are living wickedly and have somehow lost the will to fight the good fight and find that you cave in to the pressures of family or friends, who continue to live wickedly, as they reject the need to walk in the Torah and, as a result, you find that you lack the strength to be bold?
Then take heed of these words from the Scriptures that we have been looking at and renew your mind with the truth that יהוה knows how to rescue the reverent ones from trial – and trust in Him who fights for you, as you take a firm stand in the belief/faith being clothed with the full armour of Elohim and be encouraged to stand!
As a true reverent one, perhaps the torture of lawless deeds and words and the oppression of indecent behaviour has caused you to back off from speaking up and if this is the case, then let these words ignite in you a renewed zeal for our Master, as you take a firm stand in the Truth, being ready always to give an answer for the hope you have and never be ashamed of the Good News: יהושע Messiah, as you proclaim His Name in both word and deed, having words and deeds that reflect one that has been redeemed from all lawlessness!
What in worth taking note of, as we learn from the example of Lot is that the Hebrew name Lot – לוֹט – Strong’s H3876 means, ‘covering’ and so we are able to recognise how we, through the Blood of Messiah have been covered and are fully protected in Him, as we stay in Him!
Our sure hope amidst the torture of seeing and hearing lawlessness is that we have a mighty Elohim who knows how to rescue us from trial and as we hold firm the belief to the end let us encourage one another with this truth!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 3:12-15 “Look out, brothers, lest there be in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief in falling away from the living Elohim, 13 but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Messiah if we hold fast the beginning of our trust firm to the end, 15 while it is said, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
At the end of this Chapter 2, of this second letter of Kěpha, Kěpha quotes a proverb of Shelomoh, in a chapter where he clearly describes the false prophets and false teachers that bring destructive heresies and the many that follow in their ways and walk after the flesh in filthy lust, while despising proper authority.
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”
It is known that dogs will, after vomiting, return to eat it up.
This sickening image that is done by dogs that will eat anything (even their own vomit) is likened to a fool, for he will keep doing the same sick and twisted things as he did before and therefore, reveals that he does not change his sick ways!
Kěpha talks about those who had come to the knowledge of the truth and had escaped from those living in delusion and the false promises of freedom, yet sadly they end up getting entangled in the false ways again.
He says it would have been better if they had not known the way of righteousness, than having known it and then turn away from the set-apart command!
He uses this proverb of Shelomoh to describe such people!
We have seen how some have come out of the corrupted church system and began to walk the set-apart path of obedience, by keeping the Sabbaths and Feasts, yet somehow they get entangled again by confusion and end up returning to the false system that they came out from and go back to a false sun-day worship and deny the True Names of our Saviour!
These people are fools that repeat their folly, as they go back to the lukewarm lifestyle of compromise and go back to false ways!
The idea of vomiting also reminds us of the assembly in Laodikeia which was rebuked for being lukewarm, for they were neither hot not cold, and these the Master will vomit out! (Ḥazon/Revelation 3:14-22)
The Hebrew root word used here for ‘vomit’ is קֵא qe – Strong’s H6982 which means, ‘what is vomited up’, and comes from the primitive root verb קִיא qi – Strong’s H7006 which means, ‘to vomit up, spew out’.
This root verb is only used once in Scripture:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 25:27-28 “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, “Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I am sending among you.”’ 28 “And it shall be, when they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, “You shall drink!”
This is the cup of wrath from the Hand of יהוה, that Yirmeyahu was told to go and make all the nations to whom he would be sent, to drink it.
יהוה will make the drunken drink of the cup of His wrath and vomit and be forced to drink of His wrath in their own vomit!
The noun קֵא qe – Strong’s H6982, which means, ‘vomit’, is used 4 times in Scripture; here in this parable of Shelomoh and the other 3 passages are all clearly linked with the sickening depravity of a drunken state of lawlessness and rebellion:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 19:14 “יהוה has mixed a perverse spirit in her midst. And they have led Mitsrayim astray in all her work, as a drunkard strays in his vomit.”
This was part of the message concerning Mitsrayim!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 28:7-8 “And these too have gone astray through wine, and through strong drink wandered about. Priest and prophet have gone astray through strong drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they wander about through strong drink, they go astray in vision, they stumble in right-ruling. 8 For all tables shall be covered with vomit, no place without filth.”
This was part of a severe woe that is given to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephrayim.
Ephrayim is often used as a metaphor for the House of Yisra’ĕl that had been divorced for whoring and adultery and here we take note how both priest and prophet have strayed through strong drink and because of this the tables shall be covered with vomit!
The reference to tables being covered with vomit is a metaphor for how they have turned the Feasts of Elohim into a drunken mess and how they have defiled the proper observance of set-apartness.
Today, we take note how sick the table of false worship has become, especially in Christianity, as they have corrupted the Truth and replaced the called for worship and Feasts with defiled tables of idolatry and witchcraft, as the tables of filthy vomit that they continually return to are rooted in pagan celebrations of the wickedness and evil of false fertility worship!
Those who continue to follow in the false ways of Christianity that has defiled the Table of Elohim and established their own tables of filth are like dogs that keep returning to eat up their own vomit!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 48:26 “Make him drunk, because he has made himself great against יהוה. Mo’aḇ shall splash in his vomit, and he shall also be in mockery.”
This was part of the message concerning Mo’aḇ.
The name מוֹאָב Mo’aḇ – Strong’s H4124 means, ‘of the father’.
We know that Mo’aḇ was the offspring of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters. Mo’aḇ was also the name of the 41st stage of 42 in the Wilderness Journey from Mitsrayim to the Promised Land.
So, this stop can carry both a positive as well as a negative meaning.
Are we of the heavenly Father or from the father of evil?
We must choose whom we serve and so in essence sums up the majority of our Wilderness journey – will we listen and obey our Father in Heaven and be called sons of Elohim?
Romiyim/Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim.”
Galatiyim/Galatians 3:26 “For you are all sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah יהושע.”
Galatiyim/Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, Elohim has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Qolasim/Colossians 3:4-7 “When the Messiah, who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in esteem. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience,7 in which you also once walked when you lived in them.”
There are many who claim to ‘know’ the Father and be of the Father while they deny Messiah and will therefore end up splashing in their own vomit and die!
To claim that one is of the Father one must also confess that יהושע Messiah is יהוה, for the Son and The Father are ONE!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 9:6 “For a Child shall be born unto us, a Son shall be given unto us, and the rule is on His shoulder. And His Name is called Wonder, Counsellor, Strong Ěl, Father of Continuity, Prince of Peace.”
A Son shall be given to and He shall be called ‘Father of Continuity’!
After the Millennial Reign of our Master has ended and the renewed heavens and earth come down, we take note of the words of יהושע Messiah, in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 21:6-7 “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I shall give of the fountain of the water of life without payment. 7 “The one who overcomes shall inherit all this, and I shall be his Elohim and he shall be My son.”
The Son who was given to us – יהושע Messiah – who is the Aleph and the Taw, the Beginning and the End, tells us that He is the source of Living Water (as He told the Shomeroni woman at the well) and tells us that the one who overcomes will be His son, which means He is the Father!!!
The reason I am highlighting this, is to show how many are returning to the vomit of denying that יהושע Messiah is Master and Elohim, and those who continues to do so will splash in their vomit and be destroyed!
This chapter 2 of Kěpha Bět/2 Peter, carries both a severe woe to those who are living wickedly, which includes those that have once tasted the heavenly gift and have returned to sickly ways of lawless, while at the same time, it carries a great encouragement to the reverent righteous ones, who guard the commands amidst the depravity of lawlessness.
As reverent taught ones of Messiah, let us hold firm the calling and make sure that we do not return to the vomit of falsehood and make sure that we do not lose heart, under the torment of lawless living, but rather be like Pineḥas, who stood up and put to death the whoring in the camp.
Be on guard against the cunning schemes of the lawless, who with fabricated words, try to lead astray many from walking in the clear Torah of Elohim.
Keep your position in the Master firm and be reminded that He is coming to fetch a reverent remnant Bride, that has not fallen to the wickedness and depravity of the widely accepted lawlessness that is being lived out by most, and be steadfast in the covering of His perfect love, as you stand firm, armed in His Torah and always be ready to give the reason for the sure hope you have, in Him who has redeemed us from all lawlessness!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you Shalom!