Preface
It has been over ten years since the Creator saved me by a miracle that was so powerful, I knew instantly that I would be giving the rest of my life to Him. Serving Him has oftentimes been difficult, and challenging, but it has been the best choice I have ever made. I have not regretted it for a moment.
It was clear it was the Hebrew Creator, Yahweh (‘The L-rd) who had saved me; but I did not know whether or not the Messiah had already come. If I was to serve our Father, the first thing I had to do was to discover, from the Old Testament alone, whether or not the Messiah had already come (and if you read my studies, I will show you many ways to do that.)
After I had proven from the Old Testament (Tanach) that the Messiah had already come, the next thing I needed to know was which version of the faith He had originally delivered to His disciples.
Yehudah (Jude) 3
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
I could not just assume that the faith I had learned as a child was the correct one. There were many different denominations, and at most, only one of them could be correct. I needed to know which of them, if any, was the faith the Messiah originally had taught.
At first I did go back to the church I was raised in, but I did not stay long. The pastor was openly contradicting the Messiah in his sermons, using one verse to explain away another. He said (quote), “The Bible says it is better to give, than to receive, but any child knows it is better to receive than to give; and doesn’t the Bible say we are to be like little children?” Open contradiction.
Leaving my old church, I went to an Episcopalian cathedral with a powerful preacher. I delighted in his sermons, and it was there that the Spirit fell upon me after taking Communion, and I felt the indwelling rush; but when he retired some months later, the steering committee hired a gay man to lead their congregation. In his introductory sermon he talked about how he hated the Parable of the Wedding Feast, and told everyone how it did not apply to our lives today. He was funny, and even though I was aghast he made us all laugh. Then he finished by impressing upon us all the importance of raising the millions of dollars it would take to finish remodeling the cathedral.
TimaTheus Bet (2nd Timothy) 4:3-5
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
The people seemed relieved when the pastor told them the Scriptures did not apply to them. They left happy. It was like they wanted to be told that just so long as they made a good show, they did not have to keep His Word. That seemed to be what ‘church’ was to them.
Where were the real believers? I needed to find them. The Word said that fellowship was important, and I needed to find other dedicated people with whom I could learn and grow. Not knowing where else to go, I thought perhaps I could find them in rural America.
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 13:45-46
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
I moved to an area in Eastern Washington I knew from my childhood; a place in the American heartland. It was a place where roadside fruit stands left the fruit and the moneybox unattended. People weighed out their purchase, made change, and all was held on the honor system. If the unadulterated truth was to be found anywhere in America, I felt surely it would be here, in that rural part of the heartland where the Bible was still very much a part of everyday life.
Praying for direction, I moved to a small rural town that was to be my new home. The Seventh Day Adventists left a flyer in my mailbox that asked, “When was the Sabbath changed to the Sunday? And where do the Prophecies say that the day of weekly worship would ever be changed?” I could not answer that, so I went to study with them. The Sabbath seemed correct, but they kept other holidays the Bible did not advocate, such as Christmas, and Easter. Doing some research, I realized the Bible said the days of worship were not to be changed. It also said not to keep Asherah or Ishtar, and doing some research, I learned that these were different variations of the same name (Easter).
Melachim Aleph (1st Kings) 18:19
19 “Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah (Easter), who eat at Jezebel's table."
Thinking they would be interested, I showed it to the people at church. They humored me for a while, but eventually the church elders began to suggest that if I wanted to stay there, I should stop asking so many questions. How could they see that the Sabbath was never changed, but miss the fact that Christmas and Easter were not commanded, I wanted to know? It was like the blinders had only come part of the way off.
My neighbors, it turned out, were Messianic Jews, Jews who believed Yeshua (‘J-sus’) was the Messiah. They kept the Old Testament, as well as the New. Instead of Sunday, Christmas and Easter, they only kept the days that Scripture commanded. They asked, “If Yahweh does not tell us to do it, then why should we do it? How would that honor Him?” I could not answer that question, and so I began to study with them. We met in their house on the Sabbath and throughout the week, talking about His Word.
Over time, and by word of mouth, I met other believers and seekers. I met still more seekers on the Internet, and many of them had all the same sorts of questions as I did. As I began studying the questions out, I wrote down the results of my studies, and began sending them out via email, and also made a website to post them to. Whenever someone thought they had found a mistake in my studies I would go back and study things out some more, and correct any mistakes I found.
Some of the questions were very big. Often, one verse seemed to conflict with another; yet the Apostle Shaul (Paul) told us that all Scripture was inspired.
TimaTheus Bet (2nd Timothy) 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim (G-d,) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Some wanted to throw Shaul’s writings out, but Kepha (Peter) had said that Shaul’s writings were good: they were just be hard to understand; and a lot of people, even in the first century, tried to twist his writings in an effort to make them say things that they really did not.
Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 3:14-16
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation — as also our beloved brother Shaul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Kepha said that even in the first century there were those who tried to make Shaul’s writings (and the rest of Scripture) say things they did not. Who were these people? Could it be that these were the forerunners of today’s Christians? It seemed at first preposterous, but it certainly seemed to fit. While they might never admit it, whenever there was an apparent conflict between the words of the Messiah and the words of ‘Paul’, the Church seemed to go with Paul. It was like they felt they could ignore the words of Elohim (G-d), because of the words of one of His followers. It made no sense.
Ma’asei (Acts) 12:21-24
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of Elohim and not of a man!"
23 Then immediately a messenger (angel) of YHWH struck him, because he did not give glory to Elohim. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of Elohim grew and multiplied.
If one really looked, Scripture witnessed silently against not only the Pharisees (the Orthodox Jews), but also against the Christian Church. A friend commented that Christianity was like getting inoculated against the flu: they give you just enough of the faith so you won’t come down with the full-blown thing. They gave you a façade of the faith as a substitute.
There had to be some means of resolving all of the apparent conflicts without having to throw out all of the words of the Shaul. However, because it was all still so new, every time we went to study something out we went to prayer, and asked Yahweh (‘Jehovah’) to show us His truth. No matter what changes we had to make, so be it: we just needed to know His truth.
Every time we prayed and then studied, what emerged unscathed was this idea that the Good News had not been written in a vacuum. Rather, it was written by devout Jews who had been born and raised in a Jewish culture; and therefore the best way to understand their words was to think like a Jew who had accepted Yeshua (‘J-sus’) as the Messiah.
Another thing we learned was that the Apostles thought differently than we did. Hebrew was not English. The apostles’ words translated into English fairly well, but they often meant something completely different. For example, the word ‘new’ did not mean ‘brand new’, but ‘renewed’; so it was not a ‘brand new’ covenant, but a ‘Renewed’ Covenant (meaning it was a renewal of an earlier covenant). The covenant had been ‘renewed.’ Further, while there was only one word in English for a Gentile, in Hebrew there were two different words, ‘goy’ and ‘ger’; and they both meant different things. Shaul alternated back and forth between the two with ease because one of his means of discussion was to split hairs; but when one could not tell he was using two different words (such as would happen when one read his writings in Greek, or in English), one almost could not help but get things confused.
Religious Jews in the first century used a lot of slang, and as the old saying went, ‘much had been lost in the translation.’ In the centuries before the Messiah, Judea had been overrun by the Greeks, and the Greeks had taught the Jews to keep Greek customs. Devout Jews derisively called those who had converted ‘Greeks.’ Though their heritage was Jewish, the religious Jews called them ‘Greeks’ or ‘Hellenists’ as a means of distinguishing between those who had remained true to the Father’s words, and those who had strayed. If one understood this, it changed the entire picture.
What was needed was a ‘paradigm shift’, or a ‘sea change’ in thinking. My articles became longer, and eventually I found myself writing a hundred-page long study that became the first edition of Nazarene Israel. Now, perhaps seven years later, I have grown in the faith, and I believe I can make the book better.
Like many when they are first called to truth, I became angry because of all the lies. The Church teaches so much that either is not supported by His Word, or which contradicts His Word. Some of my earlier writings reflected this anger and frustration; but then YHWH showed me that the lies of the Church were foretold, and even necessary; and that it was all just part of the great cosmic script called ‘Scripture.’
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:19
19 YHWH, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction.
The gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
"Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
It was exactly my complaint with the Church: “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness and unprofitable things.” To see how Scripture foretold my situation helped me to realize just how great, and how fully in control of the situation our good heavenly Father is. Now, rather than get angry about the Church and its lies I can relax, and realize that it is all just part of a great, seven-millennia-long learning experience that YHWH’s people have to go through, in order to become the kind of people YHWH wants in the end. So now, rather than get angry at those tell lies, I can just feel sorry for them, and pray for them.
I praise YHWH for helping me to grow in Him to the point that when there is a fault, rather than get angry with the world I can remember to look in a mirror and ask, “Father, why is this in my life? What do you want me to learn from this?” But because He has started to dissipate the anger, I also need to re-write my works, so as to put the truths He has shown me in a more loving tone. This is the point of the Fourth Edition.
At first I became very adamant on the specifics of our faith; but the longer I stay in this walk, the more I realize that our faith is not just a religion, with specific truths to be observed. Yes, those exist, but it is also a spiritual path of the very highest order. In addition to the specifics, the faith is first and foremost a means of refining ourselves spiritually, and emotionally. It is meant for developing our character. We need to make a constant effort to grow spiritually, becoming the kind of people our Bridegroom wants for His bride. And when I take a good look at myself, I realize I still have much, much farther to go.
While part of the faith is about growing wise, rather than become judgmental of others, our judgment needs to remain on ourselves. We need to discipline our selves not only to be truthful and upright, but also to be selfless and loving, even in the face of persecution.
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:43-48
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
In my zeal to find the truth, and to accept nothing but the truth, I made the common mistake of going from the ‘Love without Instruction’ ditch taught by the Church to the other ditch, ‘Instruction without Love.’ This, however, is not a good place, for what YHWH wants is not just those who keep His Instructions, but those who keep them with a caring, compassionate heart; for though we may know and keep all of His Instructions, if we do so without genuine love, we are nothing.
Qorintim Aleph (1st Corinthians) 13:1-3
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Though the world denies us, many of us see YHWH’s powerful hand setting the stage for Judah’s ultimate acceptance of their Messiah, and their acceptance of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel (who are basically those Christians who have turned from their rebellious ways). We see Scripture unfolding in the daily news like never before. With the exception of following the Messiah, I do not believe there is a time in which I would rather live. Our Creator, our Book and our Nation is alive and well, and is slowly being restored in our day, because the mouth of our Creator has spoken it.
I left the church to find truth, and have been blessed to find truth in this movement. It has been a blessing beyond anything I deserve to be allowed to serve His people, and to be given the time to read, study, and to try to establish a clean, untainted body of literature for His people to use as a reference. Yet the longer I am in this faith, the more aware I am of my shortcomings. I ask you please not to believe what is written in this book just because you read it. Rather, place your trust only in YHWH, and in His word, and study these matters out for yourself as the noble Bereans did. And if you find any error, please let me know.
Ma’asei (Acts) 17:10-12
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
I have corrected and refined this book for more than seven years, but I ask you please to test everything written in this book, and hold fast only to that which you find to be good. Let His Spirit alone be your guide.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Finally, for this book to do you any good, you must apply it to your own walk, daily and with humility. The goal of Scripture is to develop and maintain an abiding personal relationship in Yeshua.
Yochanan (John) 15:1-10
15 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Yeshua tells us that in order to serve Him, we need an abiding relationship with Him. If we love Him, then yes, we need to keep His commandments; but one of those commandments is to abide in Him. We must maintain our connection with Him carefully, moment by moment, never allowing Satan to disconnect us from our Head.
Bring us back to You, YHWH, and then we shall be brought back to You. Please have mercy upon us, and renew our days, as of old.
In Yeshua’s name,
Amein.
Norman B. Willis
In the Ephraimite Dispersion,
Estimated 6010 (2010 CE).