My Journey Back to Torah

In this segment we review a number of passages from both the Tanakh and Apostolic Writings that demonstrate the centrality of Torah to our faith in the covenant community.

While Yah’s purpose for humanity is the same as its always been (the original prime directive), something else takes priority for covenant people living in exile or captivity. This was first revealed through Moshe. It was reiterated with Shlomo at the dedication of the temple. It was quoted by Sh’ul (Paul) in explaining the word of faith which he preached. Oh yeah, it was what Yeshua himself preached. It is the key to entering Yah’s kingdom. It is the key to fulfillment of Yah’s promise. It is our current prime directive.

Yah’s purpose for mankind has not changed. Our ability to survive and thrive is directly tied to getting back to what he prescribed for us rom the beginning.

What happened to Yah’s appointed times? Did he cancel these appointments? If not, why aren’t his people showing up?

Many followers of Yeshua are not followers of his Torah, at lest not all of it. Gratefully, there are only a few categories that get neglected: his feasts (appointed times/mo’edim), foods, and expectations of the future. But, why are those areas neglected? Is that what Yeshua taught? Has all been fulfilled?

The timing of Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection and the pouring out of the Ruach Hakodesh align to the Spring appointments: Pesach, Matzot, Bikkurim and Shavuot. What about the Fall appointments?

The fall appointments

Pesach (Passover), Matzot (Unleavened Bread), Bikkurim (Firstfruits) and Shavuot (Weeks)

The instructions about the Sabbath, the first of Yah’s appointed times, are remarkably simple. Yet, the topic has become very complicated….well not really.

The Sabbath is introduced to the Children of Isra’el by way of manna, acquainting with them with the pattern of 6 & 1. The Sabbath is then codified as a part of keeping covenant by its inclusion in the 10 words. The 6 & 1 principles is applied to years of sowing and reaping. As well, the 3 annual feasts are introduced.

The first of Yah’s appointments are the weekly Sabbath (Shabbat) and Passover (Pesach). The Sabbath is set apart from the beginning (or more aptly end) of creation. Passover is introduced as the children of Isra’el are poised to exit Egypt. The events surrounding both are set to be commemorated forever.

In this series we examine a series of events described in Leviticus 23. They are Yah’s “appointed times.” But before we can appreciate them we need to appreciate what Yah gave us for light and for signs, seasons, days and years.

The apostles made mention on the last days on multiple occasions. However, their interest was not an effort to pinpoint the time and day of Yeshua’s return. Rather, they used the last days as a basis to encourage faith and endurance. Nearly 2,000 years later, we need the same focus. Whether the restoration of all things is appointed for our lifetime, or for generations yet to arrive, our focus is on enduring until the end.

The apostolic writings have more insight on the Last Days, beginning with What Yeshua himself says. However, his words speak very specifically of thee Last Day (singular)

Daniel’s life was threatened because no one is able to tell the king what he dreamed and what it meant. But, he knew the Yah, the Elohim of heaven reveled such things. He was right. Yah revealed it to him and he revealed it to the king. Later, as he was petitioning Yah on his own, Yah revealed even more. On at least two occasions, yah made it clear that he was revealing what would happen in the Acharit Hayamim. We don’t see all the elements of the restoration of all things that are seen in other passages, however we see critical components such as the fat that the restoration is eternal, or that the dead will be raised.

Hosea is the prophet who reveals the depth of the punishment inflicted on the Northern Kingdom, which continued to be known as Israel (versus the Southern Kingdom which came to be known as Y’hudah). It is fitting to see Hosea also affirm restoration in the “latter days.”

The focus of the Acharit Hayamim is very specifically and explicitly the House of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah. However, there are other nations that play a role — often a very significant role.

Jeremiah has a second revelation of events associated with the Acharit Hayamim. The same themes are present, with some added detail. A time of Jacob’s trouble? In a beautiful twist, we discover that the revelation is directly connected to the establishment of the new covenant. There is a convergence of all that was promised to Avraham, and all that was promised since.

As expected, with each new reference we see much o the same elements. However, each has it’s own unique perspective, such as Jeremiah’s declaration of a greater exodus.

Sometimes the revelation comes from an unlikely source, like a prophet for hire who was brought over to curse the covenant people. Even he had enough sense to know you cannot curse what Yah has blessed. Like all who were giving a glimpse of the Acharit Hayamim, he foresaw the manifestation of what Yah had in mind when he first approached Avram.

OUr first reference to the “last days” comes from Ya’akov/Isra’el as he is blessing his sons. In that same time frame, he lays claim to Yosef’s sons. In this segment we pay close attention to that which is spoke concerning Y’hudah, Dan, Yosef, Ephraim and Benyamin, as they are each representative of the Northern Kingdom or the Soutehrn Kingdom. By the way, if you have not done so already, it would be a good idea to view the series called “The Rest of the Gospel” before proceeding with this series.

What is that? it’s a transliteration of the Hebrew term that means last days, or latter days, or at the end. It also is a keyword to understand the restoration of all things. In Acts 1:6 the apostles were inquiring if Yeshua was going to restore the kingdom to Isra’el at that time. Yeshua did not say they were done with Isra’el and moving to plan B. He said, the timing was not there concern. There concern was to make disciples. What if we are living in the time when the kingdom will be restored? Wouldn’t it make sense to know what that would entail? Acharit Hayamim is the key to unlocking that understanding.

Failure to understand the proper role of Torah (the law) under the new covenant will lead to conflict within the covenant community, whether it involves creating conditions to justification or condemnation of those who have been justified. A misunderstanding of Galatians will lead to a misunderstanding of the proper role of Torah under the new covenant. We don’t follow Torah to be justified. We follow torah because we have been justified. We are justified by faith in Yeshua as the Messiah and the one through whom Yah is fulfilling his promise of a new covenant. Nothing more and nothing less.

In Chapter 5, Sh’ul (Paul) puts the law in proper perspective. Yah’s Torah is central to or lives and our involvement with each other. But, we don’t use it to condemn one another, but to restore one another. In the same way that obeying one of Yah’s instructions does not justify us, trespassing one of his instructions does not condemn us.

A more powerful illustration for understanding the role of Torah/the law than that of being kept under a guard is that of being taught by a schoolmaster in the life of one who is to be the heir.