Torah Class: Day 56 - Spiritual Lessons in the Biblical Wedding

Basis for our Studies this Year:

The Bible tells us that the “End (of the world) is declared from the “beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Certainly, this means that the early Biblical record of human history bears End-time prophetic significance. But, it’s actually even more specific than that. The original Hebrew word translated as “beginning” in Isaiah 46:10 is תישאר (rê’shı̂yth). This is the root of Bereshith, which is the Hebrew name of the first Book of the Bible, “Genesis”. In other words, prophecies of the End of the World are found in the Book of Genesis.

The Torah is one of the five keys for unlocking End-time Prophecy… Prophecy is unlocked through the Statutes!

Spiritual Lessons in the Hebrew/Biblical Wedding:

Genesis 24 – and Isaac’s Bride Selection process as a Shadow-picture of the Marriage of the Lamb

·       Abraham has sons by two women: Hagar and Sarah…  representing the true and false mother in the wedding story…  Sarah is the righteousness by faith side, and Hagar is the works of the flesh side.

·       Isaac is a shadow-picture (a prophetic portrayal) of Yahshua – Messiah

o   Isaac is the child of Promise – Galatians 4:28

o   Yahshua is the Child of Promise –

§  Genesis 3:15 – the Seed of the woman (Messiah) will crush the devil’s head (killing/eternal deathblow).

§  Isaiah 9:6  “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His Shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

o   Isaac is born of the Spirit – Galatians 4:29

§  Genesis 18:11-14 – Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah by miracle…  They are too old to naturally have a child.

o   Yahshua is Born of the Spirit – Galatians 4:29

§  Yahshua is born to Mary without a human father – impossible… and a combo of human with divine in producing this Son…  (Isaac is a shadow-picture of this)

§  To be called the Son of God means He is born of the Spirit…  When we are born of the Spirit, we also are called sons and daughters of Yahweh

·       Adam was called the son of God (when he was unfallen)

·       The unfallen beings in Job are called the sons of God.

·       Yahshua came as the Second Adam – He is unfallen.

o   Isaac portrays Yahshua’s Sacrifice – Genesis 22:1-2

§  Abraham is told to offer his only son, whom he loves – Yahshua is the only begotten of the Father

§  Isaac carries the wood of the sacrifice on his shoulders – Yahshua carries the cross on His Shoulders

§  Abraham and Isaac perform the offering on Mount Moriah – Yahshua dies on the very spot where Abraham offered Isaac

§  Abraham says “God will provide Himself a lamb…”Genesis 22:8 – Yahshua is Heaven’s Lamb

§  Isaac submits to being offered – Yahshua willingly lays down His Own Life…

·       John 10:17-18  “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” 

·       The way Isaac Takes a Bride is also a shadow picture of Yahshua and His Bride

o   Abraham sends his servant to obtain a bride from his kindred, not a Canaanite – Genesis 24:2-4

o   The Father sends His Spirit to select Yahshua’s Bride from His Church (Zion) not the world – Yahweh initiates the Bride Preparation and Selection:

§  1 John 4:19 — “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

§  John 6:44 — “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”

Selection of the Bride

Traditionally, the father often played a major role in selecting the bride.

• Abraham sending his servant to obtain Rebekah for Isaac.
• The selection of the Bride isn’t done against the woman’s will – the servant asks Abraham (the Father), “what if the woman won’t come to this land?” The response is clear, the Bridegroom isn’t going to live with her on her land… She has to come to His… 
• She has to leave her land behind and embrace His Land as her Home (the ultimate Exodus, Egypt represents the realm of sin and bondage to it…  the land of darkness…  And Canaan is the ultimate Promised Land)…
• The Bride selection is performed through the Messenger – which is the Holy Spirit (Ruach ha chodesh, is a feminine word… but words in languages can be masculine or feminine without having gender… The word for Spirit is “breath” – not a separate God.)
• The servant is not named in the story of Isaac and Rebekkah…  Yahweh’s Spirit is working for the testimony of the Son… 
• John 16:13-15  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” 
• Yahshua, the Bridegroom is called “the Way, the Truth and the Life” – the Spirit of Yah is the emissary of the Bridegroom (Yahshua , calling the Bride to the Bridegroom)
• The servant is sent by the Father, and speaks of the Son (revealing)… gives gifts to the future bride…  Leads her to the bridegroom…
• Genesis 24:53 - “And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah...”
• These gifts represent the Gifts of the Spirit, they are the Bridal adornments… and the preparation of the Saints.

Torah Class: Day 55 - Spiritual Lessons in the Biblical Wedding

Basis for our Studies this Year:

The Bible tells us that the “End (of the world) is declared from the “beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Certainly, this means that the early Biblical record of human history bears End-time prophetic significance. But, it’s actually even more specific than that. The original Hebrew word translated as “beginning” in Isaiah 46:10 is תישאר (rê’shı̂yth). This is the root of Bereshith, which is the Hebrew name of the first Book of the Bible, “Genesis”. In other words, prophecies of the End of the World are found in the Book of Genesis.

The Torah is one of the five keys for unlocking End-time Prophecy… Prophecy is unlocked through the Statutes!

Spiritual Lessons in the Hebrew/Biblical Wedding:

Genesis 24 – and Isaac’s Bride Selection process as a Shadow-picture of the Marriage of the Lamb

·       Abraham has sons by two women: Hagar and Sarah…  representing the true and false mother in the wedding story…  Sarah is the righteousness by faith side, and Hagar is the works of the flesh side.

·       Isaac is a shadow-picture (a prophetic portrayal) of Yahshua – Messiah

o   Isaac is the child of Promise – Galatians 4:28

o   Yahshua is the Child of Promise –

§  Genesis 3:15 – the Seed of the woman (Messiah) will crush the devil’s head (killing/eternal deathblow).

§  Isaiah 9:6  “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His Shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

o   Isaac is born of the Spirit – Galatians 4:29

§  Genesis 18:11-14 – Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah by miracle…  They are too old to naturally have a child.

o   Yahshua is Born of the Spirit – Galatians 4:29

§  Yahshua is born to Mary without a human father – impossible… and a combo of human with divine in producing this Son…  (Isaac is a shadow-picture of this)

§  To be called the Son of God means He is born of the Spirit…  When we are born of the Spirit, we also are called sons and daughters of Yahweh

·       Adam was called the son of God (when he was unfallen)

·       The unfallen beings in Job are called the sons of God.

·       Yahshua came as the Second Adam – He is unfallen.

o   Isaac portrays Yahshua’s Sacrifice – Genesis 22:1-2

§  Abraham is told to offer his only son, whom he loves – Yahshua is the only begotten of the Father

§  Isaac carries the wood of the sacrifice on his shoulders – Yahshua carries the cross on His Shoulders

§  Abraham and Isaac perform the offering on Mount Moriah – Yahshua dies on the very spot where Abraham offered Isaac

§  Abraham says “God will provide Himself a lamb…”Genesis 22:8 – Yahshua is Heaven’s Lamb

§  Isaac submits to being offered – Yahshua willingly lays down His Own Life…

·       John 10:17-18  “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” 

·       The way Isaac Takes a Bride is also a shadow picture of Yahshua and His Bride

o   Abraham sends his servant to obtain a bride from his kindred, not a Canaanite – Genesis 24:2-4

o   The Father sends His Spirit to select Yahshua’s Bride from His Church (Zion) not the world – Yahweh initiates the Bride Preparation and Selection:

§  1 John 4:19 — “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

§  John 6:44 — “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”

Selection of the Bride

Traditionally, the father often played a major role in selecting the bride.

• Abraham sending his servant to obtain Rebekah for Isaac.
• The selection of the Bride isn’t done against the woman’s will – the servant asks Abraham (the Father), “what if the woman won’t come to this land?” The response is clear, the Bridegroom isn’t going to live with her on her land… She has to come to His… 
• She has to leave her land behind and embrace His Land as her Home (the ultimate Exodus, Egypt represents the realm of sin and bondage to it…  the land of darkness…  And Canaan is the ultimate Promised Land)…
• The Bride selection is performed through the Messenger – which is the Holy Spirit (Ruach ha chodesh, is a feminine word… but words in languages can be masculine or feminine without having gender… The word for Spirit is “breath” – not a separate God.)
• The servant is not named in the story of Isaac and Rebekkah…  Yahweh’s Spirit is working for the testimony of the Son… 
• John 16:13-15  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” 
• Yahshua, the Bridegroom is called “the Way, the Truth and the Life” – the Spirit of Yah is the emissary of the Bridegroom (Yahshua , calling the Bride to the Bridegroom)
• The servant is sent by the Father, and speaks of the Son (revealing)… gives gifts to the future bride…  Leads her to the bridegroom…
• Genesis 24:53 - “And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah...”
• These gifts represent the Gifts of the Spirit, they are the Bridal adornments… and the preparation of the Saints.

Torah Class: Day 54 - Spiritual Lessons in the Biblical Wedding

Basis for our Studies this Year:

The Bible tells us that the “End (of the world) is declared from the “beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Certainly, this means that the early Biblical record of human history bears End-time prophetic significance. But, it’s actually even more specific than that. The original Hebrew word translated as “beginning” in Isaiah 46:10 is תישאר (rê’shı̂yth). This is the root of Bereshith, which is the Hebrew name of the first Book of the Bible, “Genesis”. In other words, prophecies of the End of the World are found in the Book of Genesis.

The Torah is one of the five keys for unlocking End-time Prophecy… Prophecy is unlocked through the Statutes!

Classes will continue without a summer break! Thank you for making your wishes known!

If you haven't voted yet, please do. While we will be having classes (so that part of the vote is not needed), the question of interest topics to study first will be impacted by your vote... Thanks for taking the time!

Spiritual Lessons in the Hebrew/Biblical Wedding:

The Biblical wedding was not just a social event. It was Covenant ceremony filled with prophetic symbolism, including:

·       Lessons on Yahweh and His Role(s)

·       Lessons on Israel and what it means to be Israel

·       Redemption

·       Covenant

·       Sanctification

·       The Promise of the Future Kingdom

The Wedding Party: the Groom

·       Yahshua is the Bridegroom

o   Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

·       The Bridegroom was typically older than the Bride, because he needed to be able to provide for her, prior to seeking her hand…  So, readiness for marriage involved the Bridegroom being able to provide (a bridegroom would be ready for marriage somewhere between 20-40 years old… more likely older in Biblical times)… It was an overlay to the age of a priest for priestly service (a priest began his service at 30).

·       Yahshua stepped into the Role of our Heavenly Bridegroom at 30 years of age…

o   He was “nearing” (about) 30 when He was baptized (29) – Luke 3:23… He ministered for 490 Days, performing the early rites of Engagement.

The Wedding Party: the Bride

·       Israel is the Bride - it is every saved person in the Last Days, yes, but the Bride is a specific Group in the Last Days

·       In Yahshua’s Wedding Parable – He tells of 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins…  Of those, only the 5 wise are saved… But here’s the point to note: the virgins are not the Bride

·       The Bride is the one who wakes the virgins, but she herself is not asleep

o   Revelation 22:17  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

§  The Bride is the 144,000 – Revelation 7 and 14

§  They are the FirstFruits (are the first to give the Call to Life)

§  The Bride is also the first of the Watchmen on the Walls of Zion – Watchmen do not sleep – the city is asleep (the 5 wise and foolish virgins) but not the watchman.

§  The Bride in the Mazzaroth is shown in Ta’am – which means “joined”, like the Sanctuary boards

·   Ta’am is now Gemini which the pagans misrepresented as twins, because originally Ta’am was the two who looked alike: Bride and Groom.

·   The New Jerusalem is also a term for the Bride

Torah Class: Day 53 - May Check Point (please cast your vote):

Should we Continue Classes Beyond May?

I began teaching online classes (Prophecy and later Torah classes) in August of 2020...  Every year, since that starting point, my online classes have begun in August and ended in May...  

It is now May of 2026... This means that, according to the original course plan and "school year" pattern, we are now in our last month of Torah studies for this year...

Normally, I love doing classes (of course), but I also look forward to the summer break (June-July, 2 weeks of August)...  But this time, I am finding myself thinking differently about it. Here's what I'm thinking/proposing, if you like the idea and are similarly inclined... 

If our understanding of Biblical Timelines is correct, time is short. I am grateful for the study time together, as Yahweh provides. But I increasingly sense that it may not always be possible to continue to study together online, as we now are... 

I have a sense of urgency in studying the Torah...  Do you share it? There is so much of Torah that remains to study... And time is shorter than ever to become firmly rooted in our knowledge and understanding of it. Do you, perhaps, share my sense of urgency for studying Torah? If so, perhaps you also feel that taking a full summer break may not be the best plan...

I will be traveling some this summer... gone for a few days... And you may have plans also...  But it seems to me that I might prefer to take brief breaks as needed (perhaps you could too, catching up with videos if you missed, here and there). But we could decide to continue through summer, taking brief breaks here and there, instead of simply stopping Torah studies entirely until mid-August...

Certainly, if we did continue our Torah studies throughout the summer (with a class or two missed every now and then), we'd be able to cover a lot more ground on how the End is declared from the beginning...  Please pray and consider what works best for you. Please read down to the bottom of this post, and then cast your vote. 

I will only continue Torah classes through the summer (and keep them going for as long as possible beyond that), if there is enough interest. So your vote truly matters!

Basis for our Studies this Year:

The Bible tells us that the “End (of the world) is declared from the “beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Certainly, this means that the early Biblical record of human history bears End-time prophetic significance. But, it’s actually even more specific than that. The original Hebrew word translated as “beginning” in Isaiah 46:10 is תישאר (rê’shı̂yth). This is the root of Bereshith, which is the Hebrew name of the first Book of the Bible, “Genesis”. In other words, prophecies of the End of the World are found in the Book of Genesis (and in Torah).

End-time Prophecies Found in Torah that we have Studied this Year so far:

Creation Week as a prophetic pattern of 7,000 years (6 “days” of labor + 1,000-year rest/Millennium)

Fall of Man — serpent deception, counterfeit wisdom, end-time rebellion

Days of Noah — global corruption before Judgment; compared directly by Yahshua to the Last Days

Tower of Babel — one-world government, one-world religion, centralized rebellion and the final Battle of Armageddon

Eden Torah — restoration of the Torah as given in Eden (which is the Eternal Law of Yahweh), with an understanding that some layers were added to address sin, but are not eternal.

Bondservants — spiritual lessons in bondservants, and why we are called to be one.

Table of Nations — how the original pagan nations - enemies of Israel - are still the enemies of spiritual Israel in the Last Days.

Hebrew Wedding — we are just starting this topic now...

Please use the following link to vote... Use the Torah Class Poll Form

Torah Class: Day 52 - Spiritual Truth in the 3rd Diet: Clean Meat

Basis for our Studies this Year:

The Bible tells us that the “End (of the world) is declared from the “beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Certainly, this means that the early Biblical record of human history bears End-time prophetic significance. But, it’s actually even more specific than that. The original Hebrew word translated as “beginning” in Isaiah 46:10 is תישאר (rê’shı̂yth). This is the root of Bereshith, which is the Hebrew name of the first Book of the Bible, “Genesis”. In other words, prophecies of the End of the World are found in the Book of Genesis.

The Torah is one of the five keys for unlocking End-time Prophecy… Prophecy is unlocked through the Statutes!

The Foods Yahweh has Given Mankind to Eat (in Torah) all Reveal Powerful Spiritual Truths...

Why are Cloven-hoofed, and chewing the cud animals given for food, versus other kinds of animals?

·   Animals that chew the cud (ruminants) have multi-chambered stomachs (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum)… This system:

o   Filters and uses microbial action on the food.

o   Breaks down toxins and pathogens more effectively.

o   Produces more stable, consistent tissue chemistry.

o   is higher in omega-3 fatty acids

o   Offers better omega-6: omega-3 ratio

o  They have more CLA (conjugated, linoleic acid – linked to anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits)

o  Cleaner diet – cleaner tissue – less accumulation of harmful

o  Ruminant animals also detoxify certain plant compounds through the multi-chambered stomach system

o  They convert rough foliage into stable nutrients far better than non-ruminant animals that also chew the cud (like rabbits)

·   Non-ruminant animals (like pigs) have a single stomach and their digests more quickly:

o   Allowing more toxins, parasites, and pathogens in their tissues.

§  Pork has been strongly associated with parasites like Trichinella spiralis

o   Unclean animals are often scavengers and omnivores

Bottom Line for clean land animals:

·   Eating only animals that chew the cud and have cloven hooves gives the following benefits:

o   More stable digestion

o   Healthier fat profiles

o   Lower parasite risk (by far)

o   Cleaner feeding behavior

Aquatic clean vs unclean animals: Only eat fish with fins and scales

·       Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10

What are the health benefits of eating this way?

·       Fish with fins and scales

o   Typically, fish with fins and scales are active, free-swimming fish

o   Live in open water columns

o   Feed on cleaner food chains (plankton, smaller fish)

o   Have a lower parasite risk

o   Lower bacterial concentration in the tissues.

o   Fish with scales have a protective outer barrier that helps protect against infection and contamination

o   Clean fish (like salmon, sardines…) are high in omega-fatty acids (EPA/DHA) with anti-inflammatory benefits

·       Fish without fins and scales

o   Often bottom-dwellers or scavengers

o   Feed on decaying matter, waste, carrion

o   More exposure to environmental toxins and contaminants

o   Bottom feeders are filter feeders (like shellfish)

§  As a result their tissues carry far higher heavy metal levels (mercury, lead, cadmium)

o   Higher risk of bacterial contamination

o   Shellfish can also harbor: vibrio bacteria, norovirus, hepatitis A (from contaminated waters)

o   Fish without scales often rely on a mucus coating, which absorbs substances more directly from the environment.

Bottom Line for fish / aquatic animals:

·   Eating only fish with fins and scales gives the following benefits:

o   Cleaner habitats (open water vs bottom sludge)

o   Lower toxin accumulation

o   Reduced bacterial risk compared to filter feeders

o   More consistent nutritional benefits.

Spiritual Meaning in the Clean Meats:

·   Cloven hoof - signifies spiritual discernment, dividing (rightly dividing the Word of Truth – correctly understanding) Truth and separating the sacred from the profane.

o  Leviticus 10:10 - “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”

o  Ezekiel 22:26 - “Her priests have violated My Law, and have profaned Mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”

·   Chewing the Cud (Rumination) - signifies meditation upon the Word of Truth. Godly meditation involves filling the mind with Scripture.

o   Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Law of Yahweh; and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”