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.
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
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