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3 director'snotes: Dear Brethren, July 2016 As a kid, I always loved it when Independence Day and the July 4th weekend came. First, it was just before my birthday, so my annual birthday party began a few days early. Secondly, I was able to shoot off firecrackers on the 4th. Only once did a firecracker go off in my fingers, but I still have them all. Going to the park in the evening to see the big fireworks was always a big thrill with the big booms like Naval gunfire. There was the watermelon in the daytime and strawberry shortcake in the evening for dessert. And there was my birthday to cap it all off. But there was something else I remember. I remember the parades, the waving of the flag, and the patriotic things. I grew up loving my country, thankful that I was born in freedom and had the liberty to live and grow. I was aware that other places were not like America and that I was fortunate and blessed by God. I grew up pledging allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stood. I was glad to serve in the United States Navy and have always experienced deep emotions when I would render honor to the flag no matter where. The article in this issue addresses how the Bible is the very basis for the country I grew up in. Things are not like they used to be. Kids today are not growing up in the country I grew up in. It seems that people have forgotten where they came from and what we all used to believe in. There is no more pledging nor saying Thank You to God. And the flag is pretty much ignored except by those receiving a tri-folded one at a veteran s funeral. let us not forget Jerusalem. PO Box Norman OK Phone: (405) Fax: (405) Founder, Director, Editor: Operations Manager: Administrative Staff: Media Development: Graphic Design & Layout: Servers & IT Specialist: Production & Shipping: Production Assistant: Members of the Board: Monte Judah Chris Franke David Loredo Jane Greene Judi Russell Ephraim Judah Lauren Judah Seth Greene Kimberly Porch Ellen Clevenger Elisha Brinkley Monte Judah Lin Judah Dr. Ron Weaks Mark Chitty Dr. Jeff Coffman Philip DeFatta July Vol. 22 #7 YAVOH, Hebrew for "He is coming," is a monthly publication provided as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries, Inc. The ministry is a non-profit organization with an end-time prophetic message in a Messianic Hebrew context. Subscription to YAVOH - He is coming! is without cost and supported only by donation. Permission is granted to reprint any article in YAVOH - He is coming! with attribution given to YAVOH. An archive of past YAVOH articles can be found on our website. 3

4 This July 4, 2016 the citizens of the United States will observe the annual holiday of what we call Independence Day. Americans will observe this holiday as they have dating back to the historic event of the approval of the Declaration of Independence in This declaration is considered to be the birth of the nation. Many events followed that momentous declaration. There was, of course, the Revolutionary War with England, who resisted the colonies becoming independent. Once the war was ended, the thirteen colonies got down to the business of becoming states and a nation, including drafting and ratifying a Constitution. One of the interesting things that helped define the new nation was forging the famous Liberty Bell. The bell was actually forged in 1751 prior to the Declaration and the Revolutionary War to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania s Charter of Privileges (their state constitution written by William Penn). According to the historical record, the bell was rung to call the citizens of Philadelphia to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, Virtually all of the founders of this nation were Bible believing, God fearing men. Quaker Isaac Norris, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, is credited with selecting the words that were forged on the bell. The words were Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof, which is a quotation from Leviticus 25:10. It should also be noted that the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges focused on religious freedom, Native American rights, and citizens participating in the legislative process. It was this forward thinking at the time that took issue with the King of England. The Church of England was the official religion of the ruling nation England, and the King made all laws without citizen participation. The famous expression no taxation without representation was the expressed protest against the laws of England being forced on the Colonies without considering the citizens. 4

5 July 2016 This is the kind of thinking that gave birth to the Declaration of Independence. Here is another fact. The founding fathers who wrote the Constitution, including the first president, George Washington, were godly men who based the supreme law of the land on Biblical principles, just as the Pennsylvania Assembly did in writing their state constitution. There are some who do not follow the Bible who argue this point, but the overwhelming evidence is found in directly comparing the Constitution and Scripture, besides the personal quotations and writings of the founding fathers. The very idea that the Constitution defines the three branches of government (judiciary, legislative, and executive) was based on this Scripture: For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us Isaiah 33:22 There is a judicial element, a legislative element, and an executive element to God s leadership. Thus, the founders followed this model in developing the Constitution. Those who hold high federal offices in our government have to swear an oath on the Bible because the very definition of our government was based on the principles of the Bible and on the God of the Bible. In fact, the oath of office as specified in all of the original states included a very specific declaration of faith in Jesus Christ (God) to assure the assembly that the oath taker was subject to both blessing and punishment based on his performance in office. Today, this oath has now been shortened to So help me God. Some just affirm their commitment. For the founders, the very heart of what they defined as liberty and freedom was based on the Biblical description of those words. They took example from the Scripture in this manner. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:12 Newsweek Magazine made an incredible statement in an article entitled, How the Bible Made America, on December 27, 1982, historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution is our Founding Document. A recent article in Christian Post by Shane Idleman entitled, America: Then vs. Now, It s Almost Unbelievable wrote, If a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly four times more than any other source. He goes on to quote President Lincoln, Nobody has the freedom to choose to do what s morally wrong. As others have concluded, the Constitution and the First Amendment were based on the bedrock of Scripture. Dr. James Taylor, in his book It s Biblical, Not Political, addresses other elements of this topic, all pointing to the overwhelming fact that the founding fathers used their faith and the Bible for the basic framework of the Constitution and our entire government down to individual states. Today, those principles have been discarded and a separation of church and state doctrine has been systematically forced 5

6 July 2016 upon the country by leaders, representatives, and judges who have all violated their oaths of office and departed from the intent of the founders. They don t disagree when charged for abandoning the earlier understanding and basis; instead, they justify their changes with the argument that the Constitution should be a living document subject to change as the times change. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia, who passed away recently, stood against this thinking, arguing that the Constitution was not a living document but was instead a legal document with a specified amendment process. The next Supreme Court justice could well tip the scale to completely depart from the intent of the Founding Fathers. In the course of liberal and progressive efforts to make the Constitution a living document, the oft-quoted words of the Constitution concerning religion and state have been demeaned and twisted into something that was never intended. Here are the words in question. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or inhibiting the free exercise thereof In the drafting of these words, the historical record of the many drafts for these exact words were primarily concerned with no single Christian Church doctrine dominating any other Church denominations' doctrine. The founding fathers were leaders in their respective churches and they included the Baptists, Roman Catholics, Quakers/ Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Deists, to mention a few. Fifty-two of the fifty-five signers of the Declaration were 6

7 July 2016 Orthodox Christians. In fact, the word religion used in the Constitution was only referring to Christianity. The founders did not want one particular denomination to rule the roost as the Anglican church had done in England. It is interesting to see how these particular words evolved to the final form in the Constitution. Dr. Taylor s book (pgs 44-46) explains how careful our founders were in developing the proper wording. Historical documents show that the First Amendment was rewritten twelve times in order to obtain the most effective language as we see it today. Upon detailed examination, the words church, separation, or state were never used in any draft nor in the final wording of the First Amendment. How odd. How did we get so far off track from the original intent of the founders? Today, the government of the United States and all three branches defined by the Constitution no longer resemble the government conceived and established by the founders. There are many examples where the President has established laws through executive orders, set aside laws he didn t like, and used prosecutorial discretion without Congressional approval. Of all the lies spoken that we hear today, there is none greater that when some politicians take the oath of office to support and defend the Constitution when the checks and balances of the Constitutional separation of powers are being offended. In my humble opinion, and knowing there are exceptions, the only true oath takers for the words to support and defend the Constitution are the men and women of the Department of Defense (the military veterans of this country). I believe they are the remaining few in this country who understand what is meant by the words Liberty and Freedom. I base that conclusion on the present day state of affairs and the inability of new leaders to stem the flow away from the Constitution. There is a militant radical godless minority that is leveraging the courts coupled with millennials who know nothing of this country s history or Scriptural foundation. As we celebrate and remember the original intent of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States this month, I would like to take you back to those biblical principles that led them to form a whole nation. Those are the very principles of the Kingdom of God. Our faith in the Messiah and the Torah (the Law of God) is the very basis for us to have corporate and personal relationships with God and one another. Let us examine a little deeper how God has setup His government and the principles our nation was to follow. EXECUTIVE The founders of this nation wanted to build an executive branch completely opposite to the monarchy led by King George of England. One of the most profound elements of the definition for the Constitution was the decision that there would never by a King over the nation in the form of a man. Instead, they asserted very strongly that only God would be their King. They based their assertions on this Scripture. And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Zechariah 14:9 For them, the Lord was King, the Lord is King, and the Lord will be King forever. No man would be king over the United States. They equated the kingship of George to a corrupt 7

8 July 2016 dictator. Instead, the executive leader, the President, as they defined the office, would serve God and the citizens of the nation. However, they knew that no single man could accomplish such a massive and complex task. He would need an administration of cabinet officers to accomplish the task. Therefore, a popular vote for one man would not allow the people to choose wisely. Instead, they devised a system where the states would determine the Presidency through an electoral college. The emphasis on all positions in government was based on the concept of service, the exact opposite of a monarchy. Kings and princes are not servants. In man s government, other than a monarchy and a dictatorship, the leaders of nations are called Ministers. The single leader of a nation is often called the Prime Minister. The word minister actually means servant. All members of the government are to be servants of the nation, thus they are called ministers. Although in the U.S. we don t use those terms for our leaders, we do refer to the president s government as the Administration. Those who commit their lives to serve God and His people are called ministers of the Gospel. Paul was a minister of the Gospel. In fact, Paul even uses the term Ambassadors (another governmental title for those serve as a governmental representative to differing peoples and nations) as to how we are to serve God before those outside the faith. There is no question that God s executive branch of government has authority in all things. God s authority to carry out His will is boldly expressed, and we are to serve not in our own authority but in His authority to carry out His will in the kingdom. God expects us to be loyal and to not subvert His authority by going after false gods. When a President or a Minister moves out from under God s authority, asserting his own self-will above God, he is now in rebellion against God. LEGISLATIVE There is One Lawgiver. The God of Mount Sinai gave us His Law and Commandments. These are the ordinances of His kingdom. Even if there are some who do not obey His Laws, His Laws are still in effect. There is no man nor group of men, no matter how they organize or credential themselves, who can change one single law of God. They have no authority to annul, modify, or repeal any of His laws. For those who would argue that God, through the Messiah has changed His laws, they are in error. The Messiah has addressed this matter specifically, first, by asserting that He did not come to abolish the laws of God, but instead, to fulfill them. For those of us who love God, we are reminded that loving God is equated with keeping the commandments (God s laws). The Apostle James reminds us there is One Judge and Lawgiver (referring to the Messiah). Our role in this branch of God s government is to teach the commandments of God first to our children and then to our neighbors. This is a truth. Any group of citizens that is not informed of the laws for that nation are not excused from the punishment of the law. You have heard the expression before, Ignorance of the law is no defense. This is true in our faith as well. While God s mercy is extended to us in our ignorance, the willful disregard of His laws is a wholly different matter met with God s justice and judgment. God s law is specific about criminal law with degrees of offense; in other words, the difference between manslaughter and murder, and what He considers kidnapping. 8

9 July 2016 His laws even specify degrees of punishment and retribution; i.e., theft of a sheep returned and not returned. His law also covers civil matters including the matters of loans and borrowing items. There are even laws for assessing damages done and compensation for said damages. In particular, His laws address certain behaviors that harm the entire community such as immorality and quarantining contagious persons. The intent of the founders of our nation was for the legislature to ensure that all laws were consistent with the laws of Scripture. In all matters that went beyond what Scripture said, the individual states were given the power to legislate those laws. This meant that the federal government was only to see to the righteousness of the nation, maintain the common defense, and regulate interstate commerce. All other matters were up to the individual states. This was also the understanding in the establishment clause for religion. While all religious bodies were subject to the Lord, individual denominations and congregations were to determine their specific rules of order apart from any singular authority except God. Personal conscience was not only given to individuals but also states. While many think that slavery was the core issue for the American Civil War, they are mistaken. The core issue was states rights; slavery was only one of many defining issues in that debate. JUDICIARY The Lord is Judge. He is the judge of us all. He is the Supreme Judge the only one who will 9

10 July 2016 determine the final judgment for eternity. Our own civil and criminal courts are modeled after the Lord and His court. Coming before the Lord (the Judge) has a very special decorum and order. The same is true of our courts. The judge actually sits above the courtroom and wears robes of judgment and is called Your Honor. You have heard the expression Order in the Court. God s law requires that everything be done decently and in order. Paul echoed that same understanding in how we are conduct ourselves in any godly assembly. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. 1 Corinthians 14:40 The Lord also requires that the pursuit of justice in His court be done in a just way. This is the very definition of what our courts today call due process. Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:20 God s law allows for a distributed court process, meaning that small issues are judged by a judge selected by the people. If the matter is to be appealed or elevated because of its seriousness, then appellate judges consider the matter. The highest court in the land is the Supreme Court. This the same court process counseled to Moses. It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?" Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws." Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace. Exodus 18:13-23 In God s kingdom, He is the Supreme Court. In the same manner, we as men of God are also called upon to render judgments on behalf of our brethren for conflicts among us. In fact, the criteria the Apostle Paul listed for elders is about the candidate for elder being able to make judgments without bias or partiality. The Laws of Justice absolutely forbid bribery, which is the worst corruption of the judicial process. Perjury is also forbidden and the Law states that a false witness is to receive the same punishment as the guilty would have in the matter. All judgments are to be impartial without favoritism to the rich or poor. 10

11 July 2016 The day is coming at the end of the Millennial Kingdom when we will sit with the Messiah and render judgments with Him. This Independence Day let us examine the nation we live in now Not only has our nation departed from the original intent of the founders and the biblical principles in the Constitution, we as a nation have turned away from God Himself. It is ironic. Our money that we handle daily says, In God We Trust. It is not for lack of reminders that God is the source of all good things for our nation, we have willfully and intentionally disregarded God, our own Constitution, our own goodness, and pledged oaths to go a completely different direction. What is to become of us? I believe I know the answer to that question. We are in the process of being judged by God. We are deficient on the scales of righteousness. For the last couple of decades, I have heard various Christians and Christian leaders quote from II Chronicles 7:14 calling our fellow citizens to repentance and restoration of the nation. [If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 with their denominational doctrines? While repeating the promise of God, they refuse to repent of their own disregard for His laws and commandments, and these are the righteous citizens of the nations. Consider how much more God s judgment is deserved for the unrighteous. We as Messianic believers are a small minority within this nation, yet the LORD sees every heart. In Ezekiel 9:4-6 God calls for destruction to begin at Jerusalem spreading to the world, yet He promises to send a special envoy to mark the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations against God s laws and then send destroyers to go in and destroy others but not touch those who were marked. It is a sobering scene. Those days are before us. It will be the sealing of the 144,000 at the start of the Great Tribulation. What manner of men ought we to be? Let us be strong in our faith, realizing God sees our hearts. Let us pray to be found pleasing in His estimation and not careless in our daily lives. Let us respect the founding fathers designs of Liberty and Freedom and obey the laws of the land. God had blessed the establishment of this nation, and it cost dearly generation after generation to maintain it. Let us appreciate His blessings as we ponder our part in history. *All Scripture references from the NASB. But the same brethren calling for this promise of God refuse to follow God s Torah, dismissing it with their replacement Christian theology. How is God going to fulfill His good promise for a people who have thrown out the Torah and replaced 11

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14 NOW IN STOCK new! Messianic Calendar Lion and Lamb Ministries is pleased to introduce the NEW Messianic Calendar. Using lunar phase software, we have synchronized the first of each Hebrew month to when the new moon would be seen from Jerusalem. This is for all of the brethren to accurately keep the appointed times of the LORD. This calendar presents all of God's Appointed Times on the dates instructed by God in the Torah, which are not always on the days that traditional Judaism celebrates. We have referenced Scripture for every holiday and festival and marked the Rosh Chodeshes throughout the year. All dates, months, and years are shown in both Civil and Jewish Calendar systems. Hillel calendar dates are also indicated to show if there is a difference to the New Moon date. All major Biblical holidays, festivals, and High Sabbaths are marked and listed with Scripture references. Also shows Israeli national holidays, U.S. federal holidays, and time changes for the U.S. and Israel. Weekly Torah Portions, Haftarahs, and Brit Chadashah readings are referenced for every Shabbat. 16-Month Calendar (32 Pages) 1 Calendar $14.00 each 2-9 Calendars $12.00 each 10+ Calendars $11.00 each B messianicmarketplace.com Prices do not include shipping

15 lion & lamb ministries monte judah Monte Judah is the founder and director of Lion and Lamb Ministries, a Messianic prophetic teaching ministry, emphasizing the teaching of Torah, Biblical principles and eschatology. He has been teaching Torah for over 28 years and written numerous articles for the free, monthly publication YAVOH - He is Coming. Monte is also the teaching elder at B nai Shalom Messianic Congregation in Norman, OK. new! The Seven Greatest Prophecies of the Torah By Monte Judah In this fascinating 4 part series by Monte Judah, you will learn about seven foundational teachings from the Torah (5 books of Moses) that speak prophetically to God's plan of redemption through Messiah Yeshua and His second coming. These teachings include: The 7000 Year Plan of Redemption, Abraham's Promise of a Lamb "The LORD will provide," The Biblical Feasts and the Coming of Messiah, The Egyptian Exodus and the Greater Exodus, The Conflict with Jacob and Esau, The Revealing of Joseph to His Brothers, and the Second Song of Moses. 4 Audio CDs C2044 $45.00 Introduction to Torah Classic Teaching! New Look! By Monte Judah Join Monte Judah as he looks at the first five books of Moses and the multiple levels that one can study the Scripture. These levels of understanding and study are commonly known as the: P'shat, Drash, Remez, and Sod levels of study. This comprehensive 8-part audio teaching set also comes with a workbook for you to follow along with as Monte explains these introductory methods of understanding that will start you on a lifetime of studying Torah and seeking the hidden truths of the Scripture. 8 Audio CDs C1013 $45.00 special price! expires 8/31 new! Special for the Month of August! Holy Garments Teaching & Tallit Bundle By Monte Judah Learn about the customs and traditions associated with the tallit - the Jewish prayer shawl. The tallit represents God's covering over the person wearing it, as if to say the shawl itself belongs to God. It is a holy garment and should be treated as such. Let us be encouraged that God is our shield and our covering and recognize how honorable it is to dwell in the shadow of His wings. This special bundle includes a Royal Blue/Gold Messianic Tallit. Tallit comes with a zippered bag that is embroidered with stripes and the Messianic symbol (100% Polyester 72"x22"). This new teaching is now available only through this bundled offer. 1Video DVD & 1 Tallit w/ bag D1085-T $42.99 $34.99 Prices do not include shipping messianicmarketplace.com 15

16 PO Box Norman, OK Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Okla City, OK Permit #1138 7/16 10 Audio CDs T20V3 $79.00 new! messianicmarketplace.com Prices do not include shipping