The Alef Tav Story--The "Truth" Of The Matter

By the leading of the Holy Spirit, I have become acutely aware of the fact that Holy Scripture CANNOT be correctly interpreted from a western (Christian) perspective.  Our Bibles were written for Hebrew people by Hebrew people.  If we are to learn pure and complete truth concerning Biblical content, we MUST divest ourselves of all Christian thinking in favor of Hebrew perception.  Consider what Messiah says about Himself and truth.

"Yeshua said unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me'".   John 14: 6

In looking at the Greek language from which our English Bibles are translated, we find the word for "truth" means "a verity".  This sounds simple and straight forward but is woefully lacking in divine revelation that can ONLY be seen through the Hebrew language and perspective.  

In consideration of the Alef Tav story, we still have a Hebrew apostle writing about the life of our Hebrew Messiah.  Far more properly than the Greek rendition, the Hebrew word "emet" should be considered.  With the letters "Alef, mem, and Tav", one should begin to see the truth hidden by Christian reliance upon a language not used by the apostles, their followers, or their Messiah.

Let me describe this word in baseball terms.  A batter hits a long fly ball that eludes all defenders.  With all the speed he can muster, he runs around the bases and slides safely into home base just ahead of the throw.  Just as jubilant celebration begins, another umpire calls the runner out--because, in his zeal to run the bases, he didn't touch first base.

Our Alef Tav Messiah emphatically says, "I am...the truth..."  Yet, our baseball runner missed first base--the first letter of "emet".  When we remove the "Alef" from "emet", we are left with the Hebrew word, "met", which means "death".  In this, I am reminded of the words of Paul to the Romans.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of YHVH is eternal life through Yeshua our Messiah and Adonal".   Romans 6: 23

Herein lies a problem in contrast.  On one hand, we have people like our baseball runner that hits that long fly ball, runs to first base, and stops there (grace).  In regards to these, they have rightly heeded the words of Messiah through John.   

"And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free".   John 8: 32

The first group has hit a home run according to the words of Messiah through John.  Though they are clear to run the bases, they elect to stay on first base.  As baseball enthusiasts know, far more often than not, that runner is usually still standing somewhere out on the bases when the third out is made and never makes it to home base.  In a spiritual sense, many like these will hear the following from Messiah through Matthew.

"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.'"  Matthew 7: 22-23 

On the other hand, there are many that try to make it safely home without the benefit of Alef Tav (works).  They spend their lives trying to earn their redemption through the medium of "good works".  These will definitely hear the same sad words above through Matthew.  It is truly as Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of YHVH, not of works lest any man boast".   Ephesians 2: 8-9

There is a proper order in regards to grace and works.  Additionally, neither are properly utilized separate from each other.  "Faith (Grace) without works is dead", says James.  Nor, is redemption separate from works, as Paul concluded with the Ephesians.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which YHVH has before ordained that we should walk in them."   Ephesians 2: 10

The proper order is clearly shown in the first commandment of the ten.  No, it's not "you shall have no other gods before Me".  That's the second.  Thanks to western perspectives and Christian Bible translators, the second has been divided into two commandments, effectively obscuring the first.  From a Hebraic perspective, the first is as follows.

"I am Adonai your Elohim, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."   Exodus 20: 2

In harmony with the first great commandment to "love the Lord your God",  Yeshua our Law Giver says through Moses, "Believe in Me".  That is the first order of business.  We must first realize our desperate, sin nature and trust Messiah as our Redemption.  If one doesn't come to grips with this first commandment, they have no hope of keeping the other nine.

In this, many of my Christian brethren have it right.  However, they have foolishly "stopped at first base". They sit back on their "blessed assurances" trying to be a good person and wind up practicing what I've often called "sloppy agape".  In actuality, I have met many Christians that were "good people" before they expressed a profession of faith, yet, afterward, became proud, arrogant, egotistical, and just "the pits" to be around.  These just "got religion".

There is something that should happen after our redemption, and grace is bestowed.  Before we attain our actual salvation (home base), there is second and third base to attain.  Before Messiah spoke the words, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free", He spoke the following regarding second and third base, as recorded by John.
 

"As He spoke these words, many believed on Him.  Then said Yeshua to those Jews which believed on Him.  'If you continue in My Word (Torah), then you are My disciples indeed'".   John 8: 30-31

According to the accounts of ALL the apostles, continuing in His Word meant keeping His commandments (Torah).  There was no New Testament in their days.  The ONLY Scripture they had was "the Law and the Prophets".  Only the Christian twisting of Scripture through at least the last seventeen centuries could and did distort the doctrine of Messiah and the apostles. 

One example of this devious twisting is seen in a billboard sign I saw as we drove west bound through Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  On the left side of the sign, there was a picture of a cross with the word "grace" written below.  On the right side, there was a picture of the ten commandments with the word "curses" written below.  Written at the bottom of the sign and centered between "grace" and "curses" were the words "your choice".

According to the unchanging Scripture and ideals of our Alef Tav Father/Messiah, this message is blasphemy and was authored by those that subvert truth for "doctrines of demons".  Consider the following from Moses.

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known."   Deuteronomy 11: 26-28

These words were spoken just after Moses was presented with the ten commandments.  As only understood from the Hebrew, the word, "blessing" is accompanied by the letters, "Alef Tav".  For the word, "curses", the Alef Tav is omitted.  According to this unchanging edict from Father, the proponents of this Arkansas message, as well as at least a majority of Christianity, find themselves clearly in the same category as those that received the curses.

I ask from the proper perspective a similar question as the proponents of this Arkansas message.  Will you choose the complete spectrum of grace (touch all the bases), or will you choose to miss one or more of these bases and expect to arrive safely at home base (His eternal kingdom)?  The "complete" spectrum (touching ALL the bases) is the formula to true peace and encouragement.  The latter?  Eternal pain and misery (Matthew 7: 21-23). 

To Be Continued...

The Alef Tav Story--The Rest of the Story

Part 3 of 4


The Alef Tav story doesn't end with grace, as modern, Christian thought would have us believe.  Such ideals water down, take away from, and sometimes blaspheme the unchanging ideals of Father Messiah (Alef Tav).  As was shown in my last article, the story actually begins with grace.  For that reason, I introduce part two of this subject with a famous one-liner of Paul Harvey.  "Now, you're going to hear, the rrrest of the story."  

Several more times in Revelation, Messiah refers to Himself by the same name, Alef Tav, each time placing His "stamp of authority" on the subject matter.  He refers to Himself in judgment to the churches.  It is written that judgment must first come upon those of His own, then to the heathen.  Regarding judgment of His own, John records the following from Yeshua.

"I am the Alef and the Tav, the First and the Last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."  Revelation 1: 11

The judgments of Alef Tav against these churches are expansive and deep.  For this article, I will only convey my thoughts concerning Alef Tav and the church at Ephesus.  

"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.  And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary."   Revelation 2: 2-3

 In my years within Christian circles, I have found a multitude of brethren, and some entire assemblies, that manifest the qualities for which Alef Tav praised the Ephesians.  They are sincere in their faith in Messiah and incorporate that faith into their daily walk.  Even with all their weaknesses, they will be counted among the multitude returning to the land with Ephraim.  Yet, they lack one thing, as Messiah says through John.

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."   Revelation 2: 4

Of all the avenues I might take with the subject of "first love", I address the subject of Alef Tav as our true "First Love".  It has been clearly shown the Father and Messiah, Alef Tav, are one and the same.  Moses says this concerning our Father, Messiah.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."  Deuteronomy 6: 4-5

In response to the question of the "great commandment", Yeshua quoted Moses and stated the following. 

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."   Matthew 22: 37-40

In citing these two commandments, Messiah sums up the "heart" of the Torah of Moses.  Concerning the eternal nature of the Torah of Moses, Alef Tav said the following through Matthew.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."   Matthew 5: 17-18

It's been two thousand years and the earth hasn't passed away yet.  It still revolves around the sun, as does the several other planets in our tiny solar system.  And, there is still a much larger amount of stars and planets twirling around in a cosmos of immense size.  Therefore, this statement of Alef Tav must mean exactly what it says.

The law of Moses hasn't been dissolved or otherwise nullified.   Messiah just intended to fill it up with a deeper meaning.  A reading of the verses following the above passage firmly bears out this reasoning with a procession of statements beginning with the phrase, "You have heard it said of old, but I say unto you..." 

Truly, we have been redeemed (recipients of grace) from the law of sin and death.  Yet, this one law is only a small part of the Torah of Moses.  Just because grace has been freely bestowed, we are not absolved from keeping Torah.  It was James, the elder brother of Yeshua, that eloquently put this thought into words--and practice. 

"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say, 'you have faith, and I have works.'  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe--and tremble!"  James 2: 17-18

In regards to the subject of Alef Tav being our true "First Love", Messiah says the following through John in his gospel.


"If you love Me, keep My commandments."  John 14: 15

Our "was with God", "was God", Alef Tav Messiah says Torah is His commandments, those He gave to Moses from the mountain.  If on one hand we say we believe, and on the other discard His Torah, our belief in Him is truly suspect.  As James said, the devils have that level of belief.  John puts it further into perspective. 

"He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him."  1 John 2: 4-5

I am always amazed at how Christian theologians have the propensity to take only part of a text and form totally new theological ideals and claim they are of God.  Even more so, I am at a loss to understand why their parishioners are so down-right gullible in accepting their every word.  Possibly with the same frustration, Messiah stamps His authority again regarding grace.


"I am the Alef and the Tav, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."   Revelation 22: 13-14

Those that nullify His Torah and teach others to do likewise commit the sin of blasphemy--possibly against the Holy Spirit--calling good evil and evil good.   Don't be among those of whom Messiah describes in His closing comments in this last passage.

"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie."   Revelation 22: 15


Wake up my brothers and sisters.  Certainly, the work of redemption is a free gift and was completed on the cross as He says.  There is no work we can do to make us worthy of our redemption, even in the slightest.  Yet, if we truly love Him, we will do the best we can to keep His Torah, as He commanded.  

By keeping His Torah, we "work out our salvation" and place ourselves on the path to learning, practicing, and being "perfected" through "the rrrest of the story" concerning grace.  Show your love for Messiah by coming into the encouraging peace of obedience (Shema) to His Torah--without Christian mixture.

Click Here For Part Four--The Truth Of The Matter

The Alef Tav Story--Picture Of A Thousand Words

Part 2 of 4

There is an old saying I've heard.  "A picture is worth a thousand words".  As it is with many ancient languages, Hebrew words incorporate a pictorial view into their meaning.  The "Alef" was made to look like an ox and means "strength of YHVH".  The "Tav" is made in the shape of a cross and means "a sign or covenant".  Hence, "Alef Tav" is the "strength of the cross".

As told from the beginning, Yeshua (Alef Tav) was foreordained to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

"Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot...Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."  1 Peter 1: 18-20

The "Alef Tav" appears throughout the Hebrew texts of the prophetic word, yet, is somehow left out of or hidden within English translations.  In possibly the most beautiful of Messianic prophecies, Isaiah writes of the reason Yeshua (Alef Tav) was chosen from before the foundation of the world.
  
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Alef Tav) the iniquity of us all".   Isaiah 53: 6

Concerning the path Alef Tav trod to the cross, Zechariah writes the following.

"And I said unto them, 'If you think good, give me My price; and if not, forebear'.  So they weighed for My price (Alef Tav) thirty pieces of silver."   Zechariah 11:12

The Prophet also speaks of the death of the Shepherd and the scattering of His sheep.  Speaking of Himself, Matthew also records in 26: 31 Yeshua confirming Zechariah.
  
"Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite the Shepherd, (Alef Tav) and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones."  Zechariah 13: 7

In foretelling of the coming Messiah, Father God issued the following promise to Moses.
 
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put My words in His mouth; and He (Alef Tav) shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name (Alef Tav), which I have not commanded Him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die."   Deuteronomy 18: 18-20

Zechariah further spoke of "Alef Tav" in regards to the the house of David.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me (Alef Tav) Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."   Zechariah 12: 10

The Spirit of Grace has been bestowed upon us from even before the foundation of the world.  With Its foundation in perfection before the world was, that which we could never achieve while bound in our human frailty was completed upon the cross.  It is as Paul wrote to the Romans.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of Life in Messiah Yeshua has made me free from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8: 1-2


Truly, it is as Messiah (The Alef Tav) spoke through John in Revelation.   

"It is done!  I am the Alef and the Tav, the Beginning and the End.  I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."   Revelation 21: 6

According to the rabbis, Alef Tav represents perfection and completion.  In Him, our redemption is made complete.  All that now remains is the "perfecting of the saints", or "(working) out (our) salvation", as Paul said in Philippians 2: 12  This subject will be discussed in my next article.   

Click Here For Part Three--The Rest Of The Story