Posts Tagged ‘alef and tav’

Genesis 1:1-6:8

Genesis Chapter 1, Verse 1

Yom Rishon – Day 1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

According to Genesis 1:1, the heavens and earth had a beginning, and God was the Creator. The Hebrew language, the original language in which the following Scriptures were written, will give more insight into the creation account.

“B’resheet bara Elohim et hashamayim v’et ha eretz.”

‘God’ is rendered Elohim in this Hebrew phrase.  El  means ‘God’ and refers to God as the Creator. Elohim is the masculine plural of the word El.    This does not mean Elohim is a plurality of gods or can be divided into three parts like the trinity.  Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, Elohim is used with a singular personal pronoun which makes the word singular in a plural form revealing a multi-faceted meaning.

Selah (Think About This)
There are several other Hebrew words that are singular in a plural form giving them a multi-faceted meaning: water (mayim), life (chayim) and face (panim).

The Hebrew word for ‘heavens’ is shamayim.  The smaller word mayim within shamayim means ‘water.’   It is from shamayim that the idea comes of waters being in the heavens above and the earth below when “the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of the sky were opened” (Genesis 7:11).

The Hebrew word for ‘earth’ is eretz and means ‘land’ like Eretz Yisra’el, the Land of Isra’el.

In its ancient form, Hebrew was like Egyptian hieroglyphics, a pictorial language. Each letter was a drawing that when put together with other letter drawings described the word. Throughout this book, there will be boxes with the pictorial meaning of certain words using Hebrew Word Pictures. The complete list of the individual Hebrew letters and their pictorial meanings can be found in the Study Helps. Note: Hebrew is read right to left.

Hebrew Word Pictures
Heavens or shamayim – שמים – shin, mem, yod, ending mem
– consume the chaos, finished the work of chaos

Earth or eretz – ארץ – alef, resh, tzade
– the first authority to pull toward

Notice in Genesis 1:1 there are two little Hebrew words: ‘et.’  These two letters are found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and placed between words at different intervals.

In Hebrew, et – את – the alef and the tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  The letter picture for alef is an ox and has the meaning of ‘strength, leader or first.’ Tav looks like two crossed sticks and means ‘covenant or sign.’ Putting the two letter pictures together gives an interesting pictorial meaning for ‘et’ – את:

Hebrew Word Pictures
‘et’ or את – alef, tav
– covenant sign of the first strength

A Little More Revelation

‘In the beginning’ suggests there is also an ending.   The final book of the Bible is called Revelation and the meaning of the alef and the tav is revealed by Yeshua.

“I [Yeshua] am the Alef and the Tav, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

In Greek and English translations of the Bible, this reference is written as ‘A and Z’ or ‘Alpha and Omega’ not the Hebrew alef and tav. Understanding this simple Hebrew word places Yeshua throughout the writings of the Torah and the prophets.

The Hebrew Word Pictures for verse 1: In the beginning, Elohim, the alef and the tav (Yeshua), from a mighty chaos of water brought forth the first and most important harvest. 

Verse 2
“The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of Elohim hovered over the surface of the water.”

In Hebrew,  the words for ‘unformed and void’ are tohu wa bohu.  These words imply a great wasteland with an emptiness that needed to be filled apart from an unformed earth. According to the dictionary, void means ’empty space or vacuum.’  It also means there is ‘nothing legally in force or in effect.’ It is a state of lawlessness. The Hebrew words for ‘darkness and deep’ are tahom and suggest ‘great chaos.’   Accordingly, when any place is void of law, there is chaos.

In Hebrew, the ‘Spirit of God’ is Ruach Elohim. Ruach literally means ‘wind’ so this would be the ‘wind of God’ hovering over the surface of the water.   The Hebrew word yovel used in this verse means ‘brooding.’  ‘Brooding’ means to ‘cover with one’s wings for protection’ like a hen covers her baby chicks (Matthew 23:37). The Hebrew Word Pictures for verse 2: The breath of Elohim hovered over the void and dark chaos like wings of protection.  

Hebrew Word Pictures
Spirit or Ruach – רוח – resh, vav, chet
– highest authority binding protection

Holy Spirit or Ruach haKodesh – רוח הקדש – resh, vav, chet –– hey, kof, dalet, shin
– highest authority binding protection –– reveal what is behind the door consumes

Verse 3
“Then Elohim said,’Let there be light;’ and there was light.’”

The first spoken words of Elohim bring forth light.  When Elohim speaks, physical evidence of His words appear.

The Hebrew word for ‘light’ is or. This is not the light given by the sun, moon and stars, as they have not yet been created. Or in this verse implies that Elohim raised His countenance upon the darkness bringing light to His creation.

Hebrew Word Pictures
Light or or – אור – alef, vav, resh
– first strength binding the highest authority

Within the first three verses of Genesis 1, there is Elohim, the Creator; the alef and the tav, Yeshua, and the Ruach Elohim, the Spirit of God. From the chaos, Elohim brought forth ‘the highest, most important part of creation’ –– LIGHT through speaking WORDS. The light is Yeshua.

John 1 testifies to the creation account with the spoken word of God being Elohim, but also being the alef and the tav.  The Hebrew proves Yeshua to be the Word of God in which dwelt the life and light of mankind. As the spoken word became light and a physical reality, the Word of Elohim became a physical reality in the flesh of the Creator’s only offspring who brought light to the world.

“In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God [Elohim],  and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things came to be through him,  and without him nothing made had being. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it…. The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah [glory], the Sh’khinah [glory]  of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14).

“Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life” (John 8:12).

Verse 4
“Elohim saw that the light was good, and Elohim divided the light from the darkness.”

In Hebrew, ‘darkness’ is chosek and holds the idea that in the presence of the Light, Darkness was wiped out and went into obscurity.  The word ‘divided’ is badal and means ‘to make a distinction between the two.’   A distinction was made between spiritual darkness and the light of life.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Messiah” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Verse 5
“Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.” 

The Hebrew word for ‘day’ is yom and refers to the 24-hour period of time from evening to morning that Elohim called Day. The Hebrew word for ‘night’ is laila.   This is the period of a yom that is dark. The Hebrew word for ‘evening’ is erev.  This word represents the darkness that immediately follows light and would include twilight. The Hebrew word for ‘morning’ is boker.  Boker is that point in a yom when darkness is changing to daylight.

With the words “evening and morning,” time delineation begins. The first Day of creation is now complete.  In Hebrew, the first day of the week is Yom Rishon.

Yom Shinee – Day 2

Verses 6-8
“Elohim said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the water; let it divide the water from the water.” Elohim made the dome and divided the water under the dome from the water above the dome; that is how it was, and Elohim called the dome Sky. So there was evening, and there was morning, a second day.”

The Hebrew word for ‘dome’  is raqiva and means ‘firmament or a visible arch of the sky.’  Its primitive root can mean ‘to expand stretching.’   The raqiva is a solid, tangible thing that separated the waters (mayim) above from the waters (mayim) below.  Elohim called this expanding arch, Sky.

There are several interpretations that describe the firmament as a type of water canopy or a structured place above where Elohim dwells and there are multiple heavens. Whatever the structure, there was water above it and water below it.  From the writings of King David, King Solomon, and the apostle Sha’ul (Paul), long after Noach and the flood, it was still understood that the complex nature of the firmament continued to exist (Psalm 148:4, Proverbs 25:3, 2 Corinthians 12:2).

The second 24-hour day of creation, Yom Shinee, was completed with an evening and morning.

Yom Slishee – Day 3

Verses 9-11
“Elohim said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear,’ and that is how it was. Elohim called the dry land Earth, the gathering together of the water he called Sea, and Elohim saw that it was good.”

Elohim continued to speak and through His words created all things into existence. On day three, the waters under the firmament were gathered into one place.  This body of water He called Seas.  In Hebrew, the word for waters is mayim; it is interesting to note that Sea is the reverse of those letters or yam.

The dry land Elohim called Earth.  In Hebrew, this word is eretz as was mentioned above; however there is another Hebrew word that can be used for land, adamah.  Adamah means ‘red earth’ and, as man was formed from the dust of the ‘red earth,’ he was named adom or Adam.

Verses 12-13
“Elohim said, “Let the earth put forth grass, seed-producing plants, and fruit trees, each yielding its own kind of seed-bearing fruit, on the earth”; and that is how it was. The earth brought forth grass, plants each yielding its own kind of seed, and trees each producing its own kind of seed-bearing fruit; and God saw that it was good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.”

Through the Word of Elohim, living things began with the plant kingdom.  The adamah produced all kinds of grasses, herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees.  Some may wonder how grasses and seed-bearing plants began to produce on dry land when there was only light and no sun.  Science proves that plant seeds first germinate underground in darkness until they push through the soil. Only then do they begin to make food through photosynthesis.  This scenario supports the Day being a 24-hour period since seeds do not need millions of years, thousands of years, or even weeks to germinate and push through the ground. One 24-hour day with no sun would not be detrimental to their survival. The verses, however, imply that plants, trees, and grasses were created in maturity.

The third day of creation, Yom Shlishee, was completed with evening and morning.

Yom Reve’ee – Day 4

Verses 14-15
“Elohim said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to divide the day from the night; let them be for signs, seasons, days and years; and let them be for lights in the dome of the sky to give light to the earth’; and that is how it was.”

Before this day of creation, there was Light and Darkness along with Day and Night. On this yom, Elohim creates lights in Sky, in that place where water is above and water is below. These lights were to be signs for the seasons, days, and years.

The word ‘season’ in this verse does not refer to the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter.  In Hebrew, the word for ‘season’ is mo’ed which means ‘appointed time,’ ‘appointed meeting place’ or ‘appointed  feast.’  More specifically, Elohim put lights in the sky for His creation to recognize His holy seasons: Passover, Firstfruits, Tabernacles; days, weekly and Sabbath; and years, Jubiliee.

Verses 16-19
“Elohim made the two great lights — the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night — and the stars. Elohim put them in the dome of the sky to give light to the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and Elohim saw that it was good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.”

The two great lights that Elohim put in the dome of the sky are the sun and the moon. The 24-hour day is now ruled by the sun: sunset to sunset.  The night is ruled by the moon creating months as it waxes and wanes from one new moon to the next. The lesser lights, the stars, regulate the year through constellations like Orion and Pleiades that rise and fall throughout the seasons.  Through the greater and lesser lights, Darkness is divided from Light and a cycle of time is established for days, weeks, months, and years.

The fourth day of creation,  Yom Reve’ee, was completed with evening and morning.

Yom Chamishee – Day 5

Verses 20-23
“Elohim said, ‘Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open dome of the sky.’ Elohim created the great sea creatures and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and Elohim saw that it was good. Then Elohim blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful, multiply and fill the water of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ So there was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.” 

Elohim continued to fill the earth with life in the sea and the air through His spoken word. Fish and sea creatures like whales and sharks begin to swim in the seas.  ‘Large sea creatures’ in Hebrew are tannim and mean ‘sea monsters, dragons, and serpents.’  This would include Leviathan and Behemoth (Job 40-41).  Birds like parrots, hawks, and robins flew in the air.  Critters like grasshoppers, snails, and frogs creeped along the ground.

On this day of creation, Elohim created living creatures or nefesh chayim.  Nefesh chayim means ‘animal soul’; thus He gave all animals a ‘soul.’    A ‘soul’ is the essence of the being, its reason for existing.  Each nefesh is the expression of Elohim’s vision in creating that soul to perform His commandments according to its level of understanding and closeness to Him.

Elohim blessed these living creatures and commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the seas, the air, and the earth.  The Hebrew word parah means ‘fruitful.’   In their simple level of understanding, this is the greatest commandment for the nefesh chayim.

The fifth day of creation, Yom Chamishee, was completed with evening and morning.

Yom Sheesh – Day 6

Verses 24-25
“Elohim said, ‘Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature — each kind of livestock, crawling animal and wild beast;’ and that is how it was. Elohim made each kind of wild beast, each kind of livestock and every kind of animal that crawls along the ground; and Elohim saw that it was good.”

Elohim continued creating nefesh chayim through His word and brought forth livestock like sheep, goats, oxen, cows, pigs, and horses.  He created wild beasts like lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!  He also created animals that crawl on the ground like raccoons, dogs, cats, and skunks.

In a biological study of life, there are lists of Latin names classifying the animals of the earth. Man’s classification of animals is more complex and at times confusing because he puts whales in the same category as a monkey.  When Elohim created the animals, He classified them as birds, creepers, fish, livestock, crawlers and wild beasts.  For Elohim, this, and everything else he created, was good.

Verses 26-28
“Then Elohim said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.’ So Elohim created humankind in his own image; in the image of Elohim he created him: male and female he created them. Elohim blessed them: Elohim said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth.’”

On the same day that Elohim created nefesh chayim, He created a ‘man’ with a soul nishmat chayim, sometimes called the nishmat chayim ruach adding the ‘breath of God’ into the ‘soul.’ Man is not an animal as is commonly taught in the theory of evolution.  Elohim created man in His image, in the likeness of Himself, not animals.  He did not create birds, fish or wild beasts in His image –– only mankind.  As He commands the animals to be fruitful and multiply according to their kind, He also commands mankind –– male and female –– to do the same.

What is the image of Elohim?  Elohim breathes, creates, speaks, and has authority.  In His image, with the breath of His life in us, we are creative, communicating beings given authority over the earth.  The animals, though they breathe, do not have Elohim’s Ruach breathed into them. Animals are not creative beings as they only live through instinct. Their communication is limited, and they are given no authority over the earth.

By giving mankind authority to rule over the birds, fish, livestock, and wild beasts, mankind is not equal to the animals nor are animals equal to mankind.  Unfortunately, this distinction between man and animals has become corrupted through years of evolutionary ideology.  Mankind no longer subdues animals because animals have been deemed to have ‘human rights,’ and humans are subject to ‘animal rights.’

Selah
There are two ‘souls’: the animal soul and the human soul. Both are made from the dust of the earth, but they have different created states and destinations.

Verses 29-31
“Then Elohim said, ‘Here! Throughout the whole earth I am giving you as food every seed-bearing plant and every tree with seed-bearing fruit. And to every wild animal, bird in the air and creature crawling on the earth, in which there is a living soul, I am giving as food every kind of green plant.’ And that is how it was.  Elohim saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day.”

Both mankind and animals are given seed-bearing plants and fruit from trees as food.  At this point in creation, there are no carnivores.  Animals are not eating animals nor are human beings eating animals because death has not come into the world. 

The Man and the Woman

Elohim forms a man, ish, from the ‘dust of the ground.’ This ‘ground’ is adamah and ‘red’ like the blood that flowed through Adam’s veins. Elohim breathed into the man’s nostrils the breath of life and the ‘man’ became a living soul, nefesh chayyah.

From of the same ground Elohim caused trees to grow that were beautiful to look at and were good for food. In the middle of the garden were two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. A river went out from the Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden) to water the trees. The river had four tributaries, the Pishon, the Gichon, the Tigris and the Euphrates. In the land of Havilah, meaning ‘the suffering pain that brings forth,’ there is gold, aromatic resin, and onyx. Elohim places Adam in the garden to cultivate and care for it.

Adam is given one command or instruction: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

From the ground, Elohim formed every wild animal and every bird that flies and the air. He brings them to Adam so he can name them. Elohim realizes that there isn’t a suitable companion for Adam. In Hebrew ‘suitable companion’ is ezer neged and means ‘helper opposite to’ or ‘in the sight of.’

Elohim caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He takes a portion of his flesh from the rib area. From the flesh he creates a woman, isha. Elohim brings the woman to Adam and he responds, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes one flesh with his wife.

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good.  So there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).

Selah
At the end of each yom, Elohim says His creation is ‘good.’
At the end of the sixth day, He calls it ‘very good.’

Hebrew Word Pictures
Man or ish – איש – alef, yod, shin
– first strength finished work consumes

Woman or isha – אשה – alef, shin, hey
– first strength consumed, behold

Selah
The Hebrew word for man has the letter yod while the woman has the letter hey.
These are the first two letters of the name of Elohim – yod, hey – יהוה .
If they are removed from the Hebrew words for man and woman,
the remaining letters leave the word esh – אש – or ‘fire’.
Together, the man and woman have the ‘fire’ and warmth of Elohim’s presence.
Without Elohim’s presence, His ‘fire’ consumes them and the marriage relationship.

Genesis Chapter 2

The Seventh Day – Shabbat

Verses 1-3
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh day Elohim was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Elohim blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day Elohim rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.”

With the creation of mankind, Elohim completed His work of creating.  A new time period, the seventh day, begins and Elohim rests.  The seventh day is blessed by Elohim and made holy by its separation from all other days.  Elohim rests, not because he was tired, but because the earth and everything He had created was complete.

The seventh day is known in Hebrew as Shabbat (Sabbath).   Unlike the rest of the days, it is not called Yom Shabbat or given 24-hour time period. Without having an evening and a morning, this ‘day’ was eternal.

Selah
The number seven in Hebrew is sheva.
Shabbat and sheva have the same root letters shin, bet – שב
The word Shabbat is derived from the number seven and vice versa.

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will continue in my presence,” says Adonai, ‘so will your descendants and your name continue. Every month on Rosh Chodesh [new moon] and every week on Shabbat, everyone living will come to worship in my presence,’ says Adonai” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

The Fig Leaves

Did the fig leaves that Adam and Eve covered themselves with allude to the nation of Isra’el?  What was the animal slain whose skin covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness?  Do these two have something in common?

Yeshua said in Mark 13:27-29 that when the fig tree buds, we know his coming is near. In Scripture, the fig tree represents Isra’el. To answer the first question, yes. Isra’el has tried for centuries to cover their own sin.

Soon after Adam had given a sweet little lamb its name, he and his wife watched its life-blood being shed (Revelation 13:8).  This event was prophetic to the lamb of Elohim and the final atonement that would come through the ‘seed of woman’ to remove their sin and the sins of the world. Most likely, the fleece of the little lamb covered their nakedness which had been revealed by their sin.

The serpent offered Adam and Eve three things: immortality, wisdom, and to be like Elohim. It is interesting to consider that they already had these three things.  They had immortality because they had not yet sinned. They had all wisdom and knowledge because they walked with Elohim in Gan Eden. They were like Elohim because they were made in His image. Instead of trusting Elohim and their relationship with Him, they are deceived by the serpent and disobey Elohim’s one and only command.

Though the fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden was pleasing to the eye, it was not to be eaten.  How often do we eat things not created to be food because they are pleasing to the eye or the tastebuds? Acts 10 is the perfect example of a Scripture that has been used to nullify Elohim’s dietary instructions –– in the name of ‘liberty.’   This is the same ‘liberty’ that Adam and Eve were promised by the serpent which ultimately drove them out of the Garden.

Once Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden, k’ruvim or ‘cherubim’ with flaming swords blocked its entrance. Facing each other with their wings covering their faces, two k’ruvim were put at the entrance to the Gan Eden so that Adam and Eve could not return, eat of the Tree of Life, and live eternally in a sinful unredeemable state.

Did Adam actually experience death “on that day” he sinned? There are two kinds of death. The first is spiritual and involves a complete separation from Elohim due to sin. “On that day,” Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from fellowship with their Creator. From a spiritual perspective, they died. They lost the Light of life.

The second kind of death is physical. Adam lived to be 930 years of age so his physical death occurred on a different ‘day.’ According to Peter, a ‘day’ in Elohim’s time is like one thousand years in our time-space continuum (2 Peter 2:8). Peter says that Elohim’s rendering of time shows His patience with sinners, not wanting anyone to be destroyed. Adam died in Elohim’s rendering of a day, not man’s. Allowing Adam to live nearly one thousand years gave him time to populate the earth as Elohim commanded and, anticipate his redemption through the promised ‘seed of woman.’

Sin and the First Family

Cain brought the firstfruits of his produce to offer to Elohim, but they were not accepted.  Abel brought a lamb and it was an acceptable offering.   Why was Cain’s offering unacceptable when firstfruits grain offerings were eventually part of the offering system of the Tabernacle?  It is written in Genesis 4:7 that Cain’s heart had “sin crouching at the door.” Adam and Eve most likely taught their children about the atonement they witnessed in the Garden –– the shedding of the blood of the lamb. Cain knew what was expected of him, but fell short, and jealousy caused him to murder his brother.

“My [Cain’s] punishment is greater than I can bear. You are banning me today from the land and from your presence” (Genesis 4:13).

Cain was no longer able to farm the land east of Eden and was sent away from the presence of Elohim. This suggests two things: 1) Cain lived in the land of Elohim, and 2) Cain feared being out of Elohim’s presence. He put a mark upon Cain’s head to keep him from being a target for death. Whoever killed Cain would receive Elohim’s vengeance seven times greater than Cain’s judgment. The removal of Cain from Elohim’s land and presence alludes to the Promised Land. It may be that east of Eden, where the first family lived and worked, was near the place where Elohim’s presence would dwell forever –– Jerusalem.

Many people wonder who Cain married, and who would try to kill him. Adam and Eve were told to multiply and fill the earth.  Adam lived to be 930 years old. According to Genesis 5:4, Adam had other sons and daughters his long lifetime. It is a traditional belief that Adam and Eve had 30-35 children.  If each of those children had 30 children and they had 30 children and they had 30 children, there would be an exponentially increasing number of inhabitants on earth in a short amount of time: 30x30x30x30 would be a minimum 810,000 people.   It is important to remember that Adam and Eve were created perfect; therefore, their children would be so close to perfect bloodline that intermarriage between brothers and sisters would not create genetic problems. The whole earth was populated with the brothers and sisters birthed by Adam and Eve; and even today, second cousins are allowed to marry.

Cain feared for his life because he knew his brothers and sisters would want to kill him for killing their brother. It is possible that even Abel’s wife would want retribution, along with any children he may have had.  

A few generations later, Lemekh, a descendant of Cain, kills a man.  He states that if Cain is avenged seven times for killing his brother, then he will be avenged seventy times seven.  Lemekh wanted to be avenged because his relatives might want to take his life for killing one of their family.  Eventually, this instruction was modified and anyone who murdered another human being would be required to give his life as restitution. This is known as capital punishment and became part of the Noachide Laws.

Rather than avenging, Yeshua teaches forgiveness.  In fact, he uses the same words as Lemekh when Peter asks how often he needs to forgive a brother or sister.  “Then Peter came to Yeshua and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Yeshua answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22). Forgiveness, not vengeance, restores relationships and furthers the plan of Elohim.

“Adam again had sexual relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Shet [granted], “For God has granted me another seed in place of Hevel [Abel], since Kayin [Cain] killed him” (Genesis 4:25).

The Mishnah (written oral laws) teaches the creation week began in the fall with man being created on Tishri 1 or Feast of Trumpets. It would follow that ten days later or ten days into eternity, a lamb was sacrificed for Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This became the foundation for the Day of Atonement.

Yeshua and Creation

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it” (John 1:1-5).

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).

“It was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot. God knew him before the founding of the universe” (1 Peter 1:19-20).

©2018 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing. For a hard copy of this Torah portion, the weekly readings of the Prophets and New Testament, Study Helps, and springboard for midrash, please purchase Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there” (Revelation 21:1).

This chapter begins with the revealing of a ‘new heaven and a new earth.’ This is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “For, look! I create new heavens and a new earth; past things will not be remembered, they will no more come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

The Hebrew word for ‘new’ is chadash and means ‘to renew.’ The Greek word is kainos and means ‘fresh’ like in a ‘fresh start.’ The old heaven and earth will pass away and receive a renewed, fresh start.

Yeshua says that nothing from the Torah will pass away until there is a ‘new heaven and new earth’ (Matthew 5:17-18). This is when Torah will no longer be needed as ‘teachings and instructions’ for life. The least and greatest in the Kingdom will have already been determined by who taught the least of the commandments and who taught the greatest. Those who taught the removal of commandments will suffer great loss. King Messiah will have had his reign from the ‘old’ Jerusalem for one-thousand years with his royal priesthood serving alongside of the Levites. It was not at the cross when the Torah and became obsolete, but at the renewal of the heavens and the earth (Hebrews 8:13).

Nowhere does the writer of Hebrews suggest that the ‘old’ was ‘abolished,’ but says ‘what is old is in the process of aging until it vanishes altogether.’ Hebrews was written after Yeshua’s resurrection so it could not be referring to the removal of Torah or any of the ‘eternal’ covenants. In the ‘new heaven and earth,’ the sacrifices and the Temple ordinances are no longer necessary because there will no longer be a Temple.

According to the prophet Isaiah, several ‘old’ orders will remain into the ‘new heavens and new earth.’ The descendants of Isra’el will continue along with their Tribal names. The names of the disciples will be memorialized. The ‘appointed times’ of Rosh Chodesh and the Shabbat will also continue (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Hebrews 4 says the Sabbath day still remains. ‘Remains’ holds the prophetic vision of the eternal Shabbat being restored while still being a reminder that Sabbath remains from the beginning as a weekly ‘taste’ of Eternity. With church councils changing the Shabbat to Sunday, the only way anyone enters Adonai’s holy day is to embrace His eternal promise by faith (Hebrews 4:1-3).

“Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).

The present-day Jerusalem will pass away along with its Biblical history from the days of Melekzedek, the King of Salem, to King David who bought the threshing floor from the Jebusites to Yeshua walking its stone streets. The New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh will come down out of heaven to the new earth. The idea that we ascend to heaven is the opposite of what is presented in Revelation.

Isra’el has always been the Bride of Adonai. Through Yeshua’s blood and body, Adonai renewed the marriage covenant with Isra’el. Those who desire to be the Bride of Messiah need to understand they join Isra’el in the renewed covenant; the church that keeps itself from Isra’el will not receive this promise. In the ‘new heavens and new earth,’ the New Jerusalem will be adorned like a Bride dressed for her Husband (Isaiah 54:5-6).

“I heard a loud voice from the throne say, ‘See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away‘” (Revelation 21:3-4).

A loud voice from the throne says that the Divine Presence of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh is with mankind and He will live with them –– Immanu’el.

In Gan Eden, Elohim walked with Adam and Eve in the evening breeze. The wind of his ‘breath’ embraced them; His Light enveloped them. Had they not sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, the intimate relationship between the ‘Husband’ and ‘Bride’ would have continued as the eternal Sabbath.

When the Israelites traveled in through the wilderness, they were promised that Adonai would tabernacle with them (Leviticus 26:11-12). The Torah became the wedding vows that established a marriage covenant. Adonai’s Divine Presence lived with His Bride and appeared in a cloud of glory over the Tabernacle. Yet, even within the ‘shadow’ of this Tabernacle, there was a promise of something greater in the future –– the restoration of the original relationship between the Creator and His creation.

The prophet Ezekiel confirms the promise given to Isra’el that comes to pass in the ‘new heaven and new earth’ (Ezekiel 37:27). King Solomon also says that the hope of a world come to with a ‘new heaven and new earth’ has been planted in the hearts of mankind (Ecclesiates 3:11).

“Then the One sitting on the throne said, ‘Look! I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:5).

The Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh continues to remain on His throne and says that He is making everything new. Everything. The word ‘new’ is chadash and means ‘renew.’ The One who was with the Creator in the beginning, the Word that became flesh, speaks everything into newness. A ‘new heaven and new earth,’ will need ‘new’ people to inhabit the ‘new world.’

When born again into the Kingdom of God, each of us became ‘new creations’ in Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:17). We remained in a mortal state, a flesh body that had to die because of sin. At the first resurrection, everyone who put their faith in Yeshua received their promised immortal bodies. As ‘new creations,’ Jews and gentiles receive their inheritance in the ‘new heaven and new earth’ (Galatians 6:15). They become ‘one new man’ in its fullness. Just as the former heaven and earth required mortal beings; the new heavens and earth require ‘new creations’ in Messiah.

“Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life. He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son” (Revelation 21:6-7).

The words Yeshua speaks from the throne are ‘true’ and ‘trustworthy.’ The Hebrew word for ‘true’ is emet and means ‘firm, lasting, and reliable.’ The Hebrew word for ‘trustworthy’ is batach and means ‘to have confidence and feel secure.’

Yeshua looks at Yochanan and says, “It is done!” In Hebrew the word is asah and means ‘accomplished.’ When Yeshua died on the cross, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His words on the cross have been misinterpreted to mean that all former covenants ended, Sabbath ended, dietary instructions ended, and the ‘church’ replaced Isra’el because Adonai’s promises ended. His words were actually meant that he completed his ‘appointed time’ of Passover: the institution of the renewed marriage covenant with Isra’el.

It is not until Revelation chapter 21 that Yeshua says that everything has been accomplished and has come to an end. Everything prophesied about him in the ‘appointed times’ has been completed. There is a new beginning, a whole new creation living in the Eternal Sabbath.

Yeshua doesn’t call himself the ‘A and the Z,’ the first and last letters of the Latin alphabet because he didn’t speak Latin; he also didn’t call himself the ‘Alpha and Omega’ because he didn’t speak Greek. He calls himself the ‘alef and the tav‘ the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Though the idea of being the ‘first and the last’ letters of any alphabet may not seem important, but it does when put in its Hebrew context.

Found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures are the two letters alef and tav – את – without any particular meaning. Some consider it a type of modifier, but its appearance has no specific purpose. At the beginning and end of Revelation, Yeshua clarifies the meaning of those two letters ‘et’ –– He is the alef and the tav. According to the Hebrew Word Picture, Yeshua is the first strong sign of the covenant found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. He is in the beginning, the middle, and the end. To remove those Hebrew letters, to change those letters into a foreign language is to change his identity between hundreds of words in Hebrew Scriptures.

Hebrew Letter Pictures

‘et’ – alef and the tav – את

א Alef – An Ox means ‘first’ or ‘strong.’

ת Tav – Crossed Sticks means ‘sign’ or covenant.’

The Hebrew Word Picture for et: first strong sign of the covenant.

“But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

There are two deaths written about in Revelation. The first death is physical; the second death is spiritual and eternal. Though we all face a first death in this world, the second death is at the end of time. Those who do not have eternal life will be thrown into a ‘lake burning with fire and sulfur’ and experience eternal death.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities [Thyatira]. He who wins the victory will not be hurt at all by the second death'” (Revelation 2:11).

Fire and sulfur were used to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah though the word theion for ‘sulfur’ was translated ‘brimstone.’ Fire is hot. Fire burns. Fire gives off light that is not the light of the Lamb. Sulfur burns blue and smells like rotten eggs. When sulfur is on fire, it is nearly impossible to extinguish. As sulfur burns it produces sulfur dioxide which becomes sulfurous acid when it comes in contact with water –– the lake.

According to the CDC website: “Breathing sulfuric acid mists can result in tooth erosion and respiratory tract irritation. Drinking concentrated sulfuric acid can burn your mouth and throat, and it can erode a hole in your stomach; it has also resulted in death. If you touch sulfuric acid, it will burn your skin.” Sulfuric acid is deadly.

Fire and sulfur had to be used to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of fallen angelic-demonic presence. The Adversary will end up in the lake of fire along with those fallen angels who served him.

The ‘lake of fire’ is the place of ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth;’ it is the place of eternal torment.’ Weeping and gnashing’ of teeth is the place of greatest regret. For people who heard the Truth, even knew the Truth, but chose to rebel will receive eternal consequences: they will be thrown out from Yeshua’s Kingdom into the ‘lake burning with fire and sulfur’ (Matthew 13:41-42, Luke 13:28).

Murderers, sexually immoral, idol worshipers, liars, sorcerers, cowards, and the vile will experience the second death in the ‘lake of fire.’ These people rebelled against Torah, lived lawless lives. Idol worshipers, murderers, adulterers, and liars rebelled against the Ten Commandments. The sexually immoral, the homosexuals and fornicators, incestuous relationships and animal sex will receive eternal death.

The Greek word for ‘sorcery’ is pharmakeia and means ‘the use of medicine, drugs or spells.’ More specifically, pharmakeia means ‘to poison’ and includes having hallucinations from drugs. The noun pharmakeus is translated as pharmacist and means ‘poisoner.’ Pharmaceuticals are ‘drugs’ given by pharmacists to ‘poison’ the human body. ‘Sorcery’ is always used with ‘idolatry’ and placing someone or something higher than Adonai. Those who practice ‘sorcery’ are involved in the occult practice of drugs and will die a second death.

‘Vile’ means unpleasant, immoral, and unacceptable. ‘Vile’ includes actions that are morally wrong, offensive, thoroughly disgusting or obscene. One definition of ‘vile’ included ‘vile humor’ –– something I detest from pastors who think their vile jokes are funny. Movies have gone from teaching strong moral lessons to showing vile, disgusting, and obscene behaviors. Activities that were meant for the privacy of one’s home have become public entertainment.

According to dictionary.com, a coward is a ‘person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain; a timid or easily intimidated person.’ A coward does not take a stand for or against anything. Recently I was in a discussion about bowing before another man or even a king. This woman said she would bow to anyone in order to save her children. I wouldn’t bow before anyone because I would want my children to see me stand for what I believe –– whether I die or not.

A liar twists the truth. The liar follows the ‘father of lies’ who is subtle in his deceptions (John 8:44). The Greek word for ‘lie’ is pseudes and means ‘to be intentionally deceptive.’ A derivative of pseudes is pseudo which means ‘false, pretend or unreal.’ It is not those of the world who will be deceived; they are deceived already. It is those who know the Truth, but twist it to proclaim the ‘Lie.’

The ‘Lie’ began in Gan Eden with the serpent telling Eve ‘she could be like God.’ ‘The Lie’ included a great deception –– a fruit pleasing to the eye that would bring wisdom. ‘The Lie’ is faithlessness to God’s Word. ‘The Lie’ justifies disobedience to Adonai’s commands. ‘The Lie’ twists the Truth into something that appears to have wisdom, but actually ends in the second death in the ‘lake burning with fire and sulfur’ (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

Yeshua wants disciples who do not cower in the midst of persecution. Yeshua wants followers who will stand for Truth when ‘The Lie’ is disseminated worldwide. Yeshua wants brothers and sisters who love his land of Isra’el, his people the Jews, and the Hebrew Scriptures. He desires a Bride who has a spotless gown, keeps oil in her lamp, and is holy as he is holy (Matthew 10:33).

“One of the seven angels having the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues approached me and said, “Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9).

One of the messengers described as one who held one of the seven bowls of the seven last plagues, approached Yochanan and told him to ‘come’ and he would show him the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb. The marriage of the Lamb has already taken place (Revelation 19:7-10). Those wearing white robes were invited to the wedding feast and received great blessing. Those who had oil in their lamps became the Bride of Yeshua. These faithful were given another garment of ‘fine linen bright and clean’ to show that the Bride prepared for her marriage with righteous deeds. In her glory, the Wife of the Lamb who married to the King of Kings is revealed.

“He carried me off in the Spirit to the top of a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God. It had the Sh’khinah of God, so that its brilliance was like that of a priceless jewel, like a crystal-clear diamond [jasper]. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates; at the gates were twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Isra’el” (Revelation 21:10-12).

The messenger carried Yochanan in the Ruach to the top of a great, high mountain. The holy city of Jerusalem comes down out of heaven with the brilliance of a priceless jewel –– a crystal-clear jasper. The city reflected the Divine Presence of yod-hey-vav-hey.

Some translations use diamond for the brilliance of the New Jerusalem; others use jasper. Diamonds, which are extremely hard, are formed from intense heat and pressure that cause carbon atoms to crystalize. Jasper comes from the Hebrew word yashpheh and means ‘polish.’ Jasper is an opaque quartz-like stone that can be red, green, brown, yellow or striped. The jasper in the High Priest’s breastplate was emerald-green, is a foundation stone in the New Jerusalem, and encircled the throne of Adonai.

The New Jerusalem has a wall with 12 gates with 12 k’ruvim guarding each gate. Over each gate is inscribed one of the names of the 12 Tribes of Isra’el: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naftali, Zebulun, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin –– evidence that the names of the Tribes of Isra’el would be eternal. In order to enter the New Jerusalem, the redeemed must pass through a gate with the name of a Tribe of Isra’el.

“There were three gates to the east, three gates to the north, three gates to the south and three gates to the west. The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation-stones, and on these were the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:13-14).

Each side of the wall has three gates. This is how the Tribes of Isra’el camped in the wilderness; three on each side of the Tabernacle. The prophet Ezekiel gives a few more specifics about the gates, though the Millennial Temple will be much smaller in size. “These are the city exits; they are to be named after the tribes of Isra’el, three gates on each of the four sides; the four sides each measure just under one-and-a-half [miles]: on the north, gates named after Re’uven, Y’hudah and Levi; on the east, gates named after Yosef, Binyamin and Dan; on the south, gates named after Shim‘on, Yissakhar and Z’vulun; and on the west, gates named after Gad, Asher and Naftali” (Ezekiel 48:30-34).

The wall of the city had 12 foundation stones with one huge stone making up one foundation. On each foundation stone is written the name of one of Yeshua’s 12 disciples. The holy temple, a spiritual dwelling for Adonai, is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:19-20). In the New Jerusalem, this foundation will be revealed with precious stones.

“The angel speaking with me had a gold measuring-rod with which to measure the city, its gates and its wall. The city is laid out in a square, its length equal to its width. With his rod he measured the city at 1,500 miles, with length, width and height the same. He measured its wall at 216 feet by human standards of measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of diamond and the city of pure gold resembling pure glass” (Revelation 21:15-18).

The dimensions of the eternal city, the New Jerusalem is a cube measuring 1,500 miles in width, length and depth. The distance between Phoenix, Arizona and Richmond, Virginia is 1500 miles. The width of the walls measure 216 feet –– not quite the length of a football field. The wall is made of clear diamond and pure gold that resemble glass. Both diamond and gold symbolize going through trial by pressure and heat to be completely purified.

“The process of hammering gold into an extremely thin, unbroken sheet is called ‘goldbeating.’ Egyptian craftsmen recognized the extraordinary durability and malleability of gold and became the first goldbeaters. They pounded gold using a round stone to create the thinnest gold leaf possible.

“Most goldbeaters use 23 karat gold.  They put the gold in a pot and melt it in a furnace.  When liquified, the gold is poured into a mold and cast into a bar.  The gold bar is rolled in a mill until it is 1/1000 of an inch thick. After being rolled, the thin ribbon of gold is cut into 1-inch squares as preparation for beating.

“The first step of beating is called the Cutch which uses a fabric to interleave the gold as it was being beaten. Originally, the Cutch was made of 150 skins of ox intestine, but parchment or mylar is used today in order to handle the hours of repeated hammer blows needed to beat the gold.

“The gold is beaten on a large heavy block of marble or granite.  Beating of the Cutch takes about one hour using a fifteen pound hammer.  The goldbeater follows a pattern and sets up a rhythm of about seventy strokes per minute.  The Cutch packet is rotated and turned to ensure the gold inside expands evenly in all directions to about 4 inches square.  The gold is taken out of the Cutch and each piece is cut into four smaller pieces with a knife and put in a packet called a Shoder which has 1,500 skins.  The Shoder is beaten for about three hours until the gold expands into a 5-inch square.

“The gold is taken out of the Shoder and placed on a leather-covered surface.  The gold is now so thin that the cutter can simply blow on it to flatten it out.  Using a wooden implement called a ‘wagon,’ the gold is quickly cut into four pieces and placed in a packet called a Mold for the final beating.  The Mold, coated with gypsum powder to prevent the gold from sticking to the skins, contains 1,500 pieces of gold.  The Mold is beaten with an 8-pound hammer for three to four hours until it is a circle about six inches in diameter.  The finished leaf forms an unbroken sheet of gold with a thickness of 1/250,000 of an inch.” (Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah, pg. 195, 196).

“The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious stones — the first foundation stone was diamond [jasper], the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh turquoise [Jacinth] and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate made of a single pearl” (Revelation 21:19-21).

The foundation layers of the various colors of precious stones will appear as a rainbow of color. The foundation stones of the New Jerusalem have the names of Kefa, Andrew, Ya’akov, Yochanan, Phillip, Bartholomew, Levi, Tomas, Ya’akov, Thaddeus, Simon, Y’hudah engraved in them like the High Priest’s breastplate had the Tribal names engraved on precious stones.

Each entrance gate to the New Jerusalem is made of one large pearl. Pearls come from an ‘unclean’ mollusk –– an oyster. To enter the city, the redeemed must go through a pearl gate showing that no man is considered ‘unclean’ by Adonai.

King Solomon writes about the Eshet Chayil who is the spiritual representation of the Bride of Messiah: “Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls” (Proverbs 31:10). The Hebrew word for ‘pearls’ is peninim that means ‘coral’ or ‘pearl.’ Yeshua teaches about the ‘pearl of great price’ with reference to its value in Kingdom. The ‘pearl’ can be interpreted as Isra’el in the field of the nations (Matthew 13:45-46).

Pearls are compared to wisdom suggesting that it is the wise who enter the New Jerusalem for they reverenced yod-hey-vav-hey (Job 28:18, Proverbs 8:11, 9:10). The new creations of Jew and gentile have become ‘one new man.’ The redeemed Jew enters through an oyster’s ‘pearl’ while the redeemed gentile enters through one of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

“The city’s main street was pure gold, transparent as glass. The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s Sh’khinah gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:21-23).

The main street of the New Jerusalem is made of pure, gold that is transparent as glass. In the Aramaic, those words are translated ‘pure gold as the brightness of light.’ More than being ‘transparent,’ the street reflects the brightness of the Light in the city: the Divine Presence of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh gives the city its Light and the Lamb is its lamp.

“I saw no Temple in the city, for Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:22).

There is no need for a Temple in the New Jerusalem because the ‘old earth’ with it’s ‘former ways’ has passed away. Without a Temple, there is no longer Temple service, sacrifices, or even a priesthood. There is no need for Torah as the ‘teachings and instructions’ have also passed away. The Temple is Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. His presence enveloping the city is the Tabernacle where the Bride of the Lamb and the Lamb reside.

“The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there, and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:24-27).

Renderings of the New Jerusalem appear as a huge brilliant cube floating in space. Though that may be how exists, it doesn’t explain how kings of ‘the earth’ will bring their splendor into it. It is more reasonable to speculate that as the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, it descends into a ‘new heaven and new earth.’ It is on this ‘new earth’ that kings will once again rule and have kingdoms. They will bring tribute to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The gates of the city of the New Jerusalem will never close because there won’t be day or night.

There will still be impure people, those who do shameful things, those who lie. They will remain outside the gates of the New Jerusalem. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter this eternal holy city where there the Rosh Chodesh and the Shabbat order divine time.

This magnificent New Jerusalem with its diamond walls, rainbow foundation of precious stones, streets of pure gold, Light from the Lamb, and yod-hey-vav-hey living among His people, is the city in which Abraham put his faith. “For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). This begins eternal life in Eternity, in the New Jerusalem.

Chapter 22 – The Return of Messiah

© 2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.

את

“At the beginning I announce the end, proclaim in advance things not yet done; and I say that my plan will hold, I will do everything I please to do” (Isaiah 46:10). 

The two Hebrew letters above are the alef and tav and are read from right to left as ‘et’.  This little word  is found dispersed את between words throughout the את Hebrew Scriptures. In general, they את have no specific meaning or את purpose.

“I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). 

As a Jew who spoke Hebrew, Yeshua would never have used Greek or English letters to describe himself.  A more correct translation would be: “I am the alef and the tav, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” as the alef and the tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alef-bet; not the ‘alpha’ and ‘omega’.

Those who read his words in את Hebrew to John would have immediately understood the hundreds את of places in the Hebrew Scriptures where the alef and the tav appeared between words את for no apparent reason.  Again, the ‘alpha’ and ‘omega’ are not in the Hebrew Scriptures.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

Bereshit bara elohim et ha’shamayim v’et ha’eretz.

This is the opening verse of the Bible. Notice the two את – ‘et’ – in the English transliteration from Hebrew. This is ‘proof’ that Yeshua who is the את was in the beginning at creation; and he is considered, God.

“Pay attention!” “I am coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give to each person according to what he has done.  I am the ‘alef’ and the ‘tav’, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:12-13).

In the Hebrew of Revelation, the את is used between the words ‘my’ and ‘rewards’ supporting that the ‘rewards’ are his to give. The correct Hebrew letters are also used ‘alef’ and ‘tav.’

Hebrew Word Pictures

א Alef – An Ox means ‘first’ or ‘strong.’

ת Tav – Crossed Sticks mean ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’

The Hebrew word picture for et: first strong sign of the covenant.

Yeshua is the ‘first strong sign of the covenant.’ From the very beginning, Yeshua is the promised ‘Seed of woman’ who would fulfill everything from the beginning of creation until Eternity.

©2014 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.