Shabbat Shalom all,

Luqas/Luke 21:36 “Watch then at all times, and pray that you be counted worthy to escape all this about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Aḏam.”

We are cautioned against the things that can weigh our hearts down as a result of not taking heed to be a watchful and sober remnant! In telling us this, יהושע was encouraging us to not be deceived, distracted or frightened, which comes to those who are asleep and are not growing in the Knowledge of our Master and Elohim; and here יהושע gives us the clear solution to not getting trapped and weighed down by the things of the world and the hunger for that which does not last! He tells us that we are to WATCH – PRAY – STAND!

A couple of months ago I gave a message from this Chapter 21 in Luqas/Luke called, ‘POSSESS YOUR LIVES BY ENDURANCE!’, and touched on the need for us to be steadfast in our complete obedience as we stand firm in the Truth of our Master. Messiah was giving us a clear warning about the need for us to be able to stand before Him when He comes, and we can only do this IF we are rooted and grounded in love, living completely set-apart lives unto our Master, and diligently obeying His clear commands!

The Greek word used here for ‘stand’ is ἵστημι histēmi – Strong’s G2476 which means, ‘to make to stand, to stand firm, be established, stand upright, stand ready and prepared, be of a steadfast mind, to uphold and sustain the authority of something’, and is also the word used in Eph’siyim/Ephesians 6 where we are told to ‘stand’ firm in the armour of Elohim; and so we can clearly see that this ‘standing’ is an equipped standing, in that the required dress code (that of righteousness – which is to guard to do all the commands) is adhered to and is functional, in us being a faithful set-apart priesthood that is able, as good stewards with that which He has given us, to stand before our High Priest and King – יהושע Messiah! As we stay in Him and He stays in us, we have the full assurance that we shall be able to stand before Him when He comes again, for He who establishes us has sealed us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge!

Timotiyos Bet/2 Timothy 2:19 “However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this seal, “יהוה knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteous-ness.”

יהוה knows those who are His!!!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-5 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. 4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is known by Him.”

To love Elohim, gives us the sure promise that we are known by Him! Sadly many do not ‘know’ 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”

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love.”

The Greek word used for ‘know’ in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John is γινώσκω ginōskō – Strong’s G1097 which means, ‘to perceive, to learn, to come to know, comprehend, understand, recognise, learn to know, get a knowledge of’. As we sit under the instructions of our Creator and Redeemer, we learn to know Him and get a knowledge of who He is and come to know how we are to live in obedience to His clear Torah. There are so many liars out there today who claim to know Elohim, yet they have no knowledge of His Torah at all, as they refuse to sit and learn His Word – how can they know Him!!! It is one thing to claim that you know Him, yet whether we know Him or not is seen in the fruit of our obedience to His commands, and all will be clearly revealed when He returns – as many will come running claiming they know Him, yet will be rejected!

Those who ‘know’ יהוה, by pursuing to know Him, and are guarding His commands in living completely set-apart lives, are known by Him. Aḇraham was ‘known’ by יהוה, because of his obedience in training up his children in righteousness:

Berěshith/Genesis 18:19 “For I have known him, so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.”

There are many today who claim to know Elohim and think that they are standing firm in Him, yet their complete disregard for His Torah and the need to guard His commands will reveal that they are not covered and will be exposed as being unable to stand before the Son of Aḏam, when He comes in His wrath!

In a message tonight called, ‘WHO IS ABLE TO STAND – COVERED OR EXPOSED?’ let us recognise our continual need to stand, stand and stand in the full armour of Elohim, as we hear, guard and do all He has commanded us to!

As I was reading this week, I was struck by the concept of being able to stand or not, when the Master returns, and the more I looked at this Day of His wrath, I realised the clear reality that some will stand covered and be reunited with our Master, while most will be exposed for their lawlessness and suffer the vengeance of His wrath that He will unleash upon His opponents – those who disobey and disregard the need for obedience to His Torah.

It is with this in mind that I want us to consider the ‘Day of יהוה’, and more specifically ‘the Day of the wrath of יהוה’. There are two main passages that I would like to look at and see some clear parallel significance to these prophetic words contained in both the Tanak and in the Renewed Writings. Please turn with me to Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:7-18 and then to Ḥazon/Revelation 6:12-17 (Read).

There are some very key similarities that are contained in these two passages of Scripture, in referring to the day of the wrath of Elohim, and as we consider these, may we see how important it is for us to hear, guard and do His Word, so that we may be hidden in the day of the wrath of יהוה.

Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 2:3 “Seek יהוה, all you meek ones of the earth, who have done His right-ruling. Seek righteousness, seek meekness, if so be that you are hidden in the day of wrath of יהוה.”

The Hebrew word translated as ‘wrath’ is אַף aph – Strong’s H639 which means, ‘a nostril, nose, face, anger’, and this word is frequently used as a reference to the anger of both men and Elohim; and anger is often expressed in the appearance of the nostrils that dilate in anger. This word comes from the root verb אָנַף anaph – Strong’s H599 which means, ‘to be angry, become angry’, and so here describes the day when יהוה’s displeasure in revealed. While this word אַף aph – Strong’s H639 is used in referring to the displeasure of יהוה, or more specifically the day of His displeasure, we find another word in Hebrew which describes the resulting action of His displeasure, which is also translated into English as ‘wrath’.

In Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:15 we are told that the great Day of יהוה is a Day of wrath, and the Hebrew word used here for ‘wrath’ is עֶבְרָה eḇrah – Strong’s H5678, which we will look at in a little more detail shortly. The Greek word used here in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak) for ‘wrath’ is ὀργή orgē – Strong’s G3709 which means, ‘impulse, wrath, vengeance, anger, indignation, anger exhibited in punishment’. This is the same Greek word that is used in the passage we read from Ḥazon/Revelation 6:12-17, when referring to the ‘wrath of the Lamb’!

And as we look at these two passages of Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1 and Ḥazon/Revelation 6 we are able to see some clear corresponding references to this great day of wrath, distress and trouble, waste and ruin, darkness and gloominess – the day of the wrath of יהוה! In verse 7 of Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1 we are told to ‘HUSH’ in the presence of the Master יהוה, for near is the day of יהוה, and He has prepared a slaughter and has set apart His invited ones. Here we see a clear reference to a time when the door of repentance will be shut, for the command to ‘hush’ is clear, for when His Day comes it will be too late for anyone who has not repented and called on the Name of יהוה to do so, and only those who have been set-apart in Him and partaken of the body of Messiah will be able to stand and be hidden in His presence!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:5 “Therefore, coming into the world, He says, “Slaughtering and meal offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.”

It is through the offering of the body of יהושע Messiah that we have been set-apart, while those who have not been set-apart shall be prepared for a slaughtering for the birds of the heavens and the beast of the earth!

This is dark day and who can bear it? In Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:16 we are given a clear reference to the day of a shofar and sounding, and this gives us a clear reference to the outpouring of the wrath of Elohim, where there is a great sounding of the shofar. The Hebrew word translated as ‘sounding’ is תְּרוּעָה  Teru‘ah – Strong’s H8643 which  means ‘a shout or blast of war, alarm or joy’, and we know that Yom Teruah is also known as the Day of the Awakening Blast – the beginning of that which unleashes the wrath of Elohim upon mankind.

In Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:14 we are told that near is the day of יהוה, and let the mighty man bitterly cry out! We are able to link this prophetic warning given here to the words in Ḥazon/Revelation 6:15-17 where the ‘mighty’ bitterly cry out for the mountains and rocks to fall on them in order to hide them for the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! In Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1 we see the prophetic warning going out, as we see it in many of the other prophets too, and here in Ḥazon/Revelation 6 Yoḥanan is given a vision into the effects of the wrath of Elohim being poured out on those who did not give ear to the warnings given by the prophets of Elohim! What struck me when reading these accounts is the clear reference to this Day of the wrath of Elohim. Here in Ḥazon/Revelation 6 we are clearly told that this great day of the wrath of Elohim, is the wrath of the Lamb; and in Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1 it is referred to as the day of the wrath of יהוה. It is a reference to one and the same ‘Day of the wrath of Elohim’, for the day of the wrath of יהוה is the day of the wrath of the Lamb, and the Lamb is יהושע Messiah!!!

Those who harden their hearts and refuse to repent from lawlessness and unrighteousness are simply storing up wrath for themselves:

Romiyim/Romans 2:5-8 “But according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Elohim, 6 who “shall render to each one according to his works” 7 everlasting life to those who by persistence in good work seek for esteem, and respect, and incorruptibility; 8 but wrath and displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness”

As we consider this Hebrew word for ‘wrath’ that I said we would come back to, we are able to gain some great insight into our need for complete submission and obedience to the guarding of the commands of Elohim, and our need to keep His Sabbath and His Feasts as commanded!

This Hebrew word for ‘wrath’ – עֶבְרָה eḇrah – Strong’s H5678 means, ‘wrath, rage, arrogance, overflow, fury, outburst’. This word comes from the Hebrew word עֵבֶר eḇer – Strong’s H5676 which means, ‘region across or beyond’, which comes from the root verb עָבַר aḇar – Strong’s H5674 which means, ‘to pass over, pass through, cross over’. What is interesting to take note of here is that a derivative of this word עָבַר aḇar is the Hebrew word עִבְרִי Iḇri – Strong’s H5680 which in English is ‘Hebrew’ and means, ‘the one from beyond, the one who crossed over’. Aḇram was the first person to be called a Hebrew (Berěshith/Genesis 14:13) and we recognise this by his ‘crossing over’ of the Euphrates River, when leaving his father’s house and going into the Promised Land at the call and instruction of Elohim! Our ‘passing over’ or becoming a ‘Hebrew’ entails our ability to clearly listen to the commands of Elohim and guard TO DO THEM!! As we consider these words that are closely related, we are able to see a wonderful teaching and warning being given to us in Scripture! How can wrath and Hebrew be linked, you may ask. But as we consider these prophetic warnings being given, and hear the call to come out and be separate, we are able to see the clear warning, that if we do not come out and separate ourselves from that which defiles, then we shall face the coming wrath of Elohim. We who were once not a people and without compassion are now, through the Blood of Messiah, the people of Elohim who have obtained compassion and are able to praise Him, who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light! We have ‘crossed over’ or ‘passed over’ by the Blood of the Lamb, and are hidden from His wrath and His ‘passing over’ over His opponents in anger!

Shemoth/Exodus 12:23 “And יהוה shall pass on to smite the Mitsrites, and shall see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and יהוה shall pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.”

In these clear instructions given to Yisra’ĕl in regards to the application of the blood being applied to the doorposts, יהוה gave a very severe and clear warning that the houses which did not have the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts, would face the death in the house, while those who had done as commanded would be ‘passed over’!

The Hebrew word translated here in this verse as ‘pass on’ in reference to the smiting of the Mitsrites is עָבַר aḇar – Strong’s H5674, from which the word for ‘wrath’ – עֶבְרָה eḇrah – Strong’s H5678 comes! The Hebrew word translated as ‘pass’ in reference to יהוה passing over the door of the houses that applied the blood of the Passover Lamb is פָּסַח pasaḥ – Strong’s H6452 which means, ‘to pass or spring over’, and it is from this verb that we get the Hebrew word פֶּסַח pesaḥ – Strong’s H6543 which means, ‘Passover, Passover offerings, the festival of Passover’.

The warning here was clear back then, and the same warning still applies today. יהוה would ‘pass on’ and ‘smite’ the Mitsrites, but ‘pass’ over those who had been covered by the blood!!! Herein lies a great truth – be covered by the Blood or be destroyed! We know that the Master יהושע Messiah tells us that unless we eat the flesh of the Son of Aḏam and drink His blood, we possess no life in ourselves, and it is through our immersion in His Name that we are given access to the partaking of the Passover Meal and Matzot, by which we are marked in our worship and sealed in Him, as long as we ‘stay in Him’. Having been grafted in by the Blood of Messiah through our immersion and partaking of His Feasts, we stay in Him by guarding His word, keeping His Sabbath and Feasts and are able to stand firm before the Son of Aḏam.  As Aḇraham ‘crossed over’ the Euphrates and became the first ‘Hebrew’, we too realise that we who have ‘Come out of Baḇel’ (which is located ‘across the river’) have crossed over into the marvellous Light of the Master, and being hidden in Him are appointed deliverance and not wrath!

Tas’loniqim Aleph/ 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “Because Elohim did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain deliverance through our Master יהושע Messiah”

As we consider the Day of the wrath of יהוה approaching near, we are able to hear the clear warning: CROSS OVER OR YOU WILL BE CROSSED OVER, or PASSOVER OR YOU WILL BE PASSED OVER!

Those who neglect the urgent need to keep the Sabbaths and Feasts of יהוה do not possess life and the wrath of Elohim remains on them:

Yoḥanan/John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.”

This is a great verse that shows that ‘belief’ alone shall not save you, but the obeying of the commands will hide you in the day of His wrath!

Mal’aḵi/Malachi 3:2 “And who is able to bear the day of His coming, and who is able to stand when He appears? For He is like the fire of a refiner, and like the soap of a launderer.”

Tehillim/Psalm 76:7 “You, You are to be feared; and who would stand in Your presence when You are displeased?”

The Hebrew word for ‘displeased’ here is אַף aph – Strong’s H639 which I described earlier as also meaning ‘wrath’.

We are either those who have passed over and are marked by the Blood of the Passover Lamb, or we shall be passed over and destroyed in the wrath of Elohim!

When looking at the Hebrew word for ‘wrath’ that comes from the root verb meaning to ‘pass over’or ‘pass through’ in the ancient pictographic script, in the context of the coming day of the wrath of יהוה, we are able to understand more of the clear prophetic warnings given to us in Scripture:

This Hebrew word for ‘wrath’ – עֶבְרָה eḇrah – Strong’s H5678 in the ancient script looks like this:

Ayin – עֶ:

This is the letter ‘ayin’ and in the ancient alphabet this letter is pictured as , which is ‘an eye’ and represents the idea of seeing and watching, as well as knowledge, as the eye is the window of knowledge.

Bet – בְ:

The ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself.

 

Resh – רָ:

The Ancient picture for this letter is , ‘the head of a man’. This letter has the meanings of ‘head or man’ as well as ‘chief, top, beginning or first’.

Hey – ה:

The original pictograph for this letter is , a man standing with his arms raised out. The Modern Hebrew and original name for this letter is “hey”. The Hebrew word “hey” means “behold”, as when looking at a great sight. This word can also mean “breath” or “sigh” as one does when looking at a great sight. The meaning of the letter  is ‘behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation’ from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!

As we consider these ancient pictures in terms of the coming wrath we are able to see the clear warning:

Look, or behold, the Master (Head) of the House is coming out!!!

With this in mind let us consider the following verses:

Miḵah/Micah 1:3 “For look, יהוה is coming out of His place, and He shall come down and shall tread on the high places of the earth.”

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 26:21 “For look, יהוה is coming out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their crookedness. And the earth shall disclose her blood, and no longer cover her slain.”

The decree has gone out and the call is very loud and clear – Come out! Passover – that is accept the work of Messiah and partake in His Feasts and the complete obedience to his Word and stay in Him or be crossed over and destroyed in the wrath of Elohim.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 13:13 “So I shall make the heavens tremble, and the earth shall shake from her place, in the wrath of יהוה of hosts and in the day of the heat of His displeasure.”

In this verse we see the two Hebrew words we have discussed in reference to His wrath – עֶבְרָה eḇrah – Strong’s H5678 (wrath) and אַף aph – Strong’s H639 (displeasure).

 

Iyoḇ/Job 21:30 “That the wicked is kept for the day of calamity. They are brought to the day of wrath.”

The Day of the wrath of the Lamb is drawing near and we are called to stand firm in righteousness and not be led astray by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Many who assume to “have it all” today, must realise that now amount of worldly wealth, possessions or status will profit them in the day of the wrath of יהוה.

Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:18 clearly tells us that silver and gold will note be able to deliver anyone in the day of the wrath of יהוה! So who is able to stand?

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 11:4 “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Righteousness delivers from death:

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.”

 As we consider the question of who is able to stand, may we hear the call of our Master who has instructed us to watch, pray and stand before the Son of Aḏam, as we find our refuge in Him who has covered us in His Blood!

Woe to those who are not covered in the Blood of the lamb, for their only awaits for them a fierce outpouring of the displeasure of Elohim on the great Day of the wrath of the Lamb!

Who is able to stand? Do you stand covered in Messiah or shall you be exposed? Herein lies the urgent call to come out and be separate! And the further need for us to call others out, as we shine the light of this truth, not wavering in our steadfast position in the Master – for then we shall be able to stand, as we abide in Him and He in us, completely clothed in the armour of light, dressed in the fine linen of set-apartness!

How are you dressed? Are you covered in the Passover Blood, or when looking intently into the mirror of the Word, have you been exposed through complacency and compromise and stand ashamed and naked and in danger of the wrath of Elohim remaining on you?

Romiyim/Romans 13:12-14 “The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in living together and indecencies, not in fighting and envy, 14 but put on the Master יהושע Messiah, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.”

Herein lies the clear call to be awake and watchful, so that we are able to stand before the Son of Aḏam!

He who has ears let Him hear what has been declared!!!

יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show you favour; יהוה lift up His face to you and give you Shalom!