ARISE TO YOUR REST
Psalm 132:8, 13-14: “Arise O Yahuweh into Your rest--You and the ark of Your strength…For Yahuweh has desired Zion. He has desired it for His habitation. `This is My rest forever, here I dwell, for I have desired it.’ ”
Shabbat morning, September 20, 2014
Tiberias, Israel
Shabbat eve, I re-read Dr. J.R. Church’s article on Creation Week from 2008, and was sharing it with Derek and Rivkah this morning. One thing led to another, and revelation from the Spirit began flowing. We began talking about Creation, or rather His re-creation, His renewal of the earth, and about how Yahuweh has used two of the four basic elements (air, water, fire, earth) for judgment on the earth, and how He will use the other two also. The Word, and findings by Creation scientists, indicate that this last creation began 6,000 years ago.
In my late 20s, I took courses in Archeology and Anthropology for a couple of years at Cerritos College in California. Nothing that was ever taught me by secular teachers caused me to turn from my strong belief in the Creation of the earth by Elohim as told in Genesis 1. In fact, what I learned only reinforced the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2. Secular science says that they are baffled as to why, at about 6,000 BCE in the Mesopotamian Valley of the Middle East, all of a sudden, man began domesticating sheep and cattle, and the religion of black magic burst forth. I had to laugh at that--it simply points to Cain and Abel. I learned about the Ice Age that preceded Cain and Abel. It began at some point before 10,000 BCE. Archeologists have found dinosaurs and other animals near the North Pole still standing up, and so quick frozen that green grass was still in their stomachs. Whatever froze the earth back at that time, it happened extremely fast.
Elohim never created anything “without form and void,” or in darkness. Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.” “The beginning” could have very well been multi-millions of years ago. It is obvious that something happened between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
Genesis 1:2. “And the earth came to be formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep…”
About 6,000 years ago, Elohim began again to create His family. He began with the creation of mankind in general. Then He separately created “a man” and placed him in a Garden. From this man, and a woman He created for him, Yahuweh would begin His lineage through which Messiah would come, and through whom creation could be restored and redeemed.
The anguish of His heart has always been to have a family that would love Him, and align to His thinking and ways, with His nature and likeness, with whom He could communicate and dwell with forever.
In his research, and time with Abba, Derek saw that previous to this last re-creation, Abba destroyed the earth by quick-freezing it with the breath of His nostrils. That’s why it was so instantaneous. Earth became void, empty of life, and darkness covered it. Light was removed, so it stayed in a frozen condition. This would match the timing of an “Ice Age.” Al Gore and his Mother Gaia movement tout “global warming.” Yet scientists are telling us that we are entering another Ice Age. America and Russia have been melting the ice caps for years to get at gold, minerals, oil, and other wealth under the ice – like Nephilim DNA, their technology, and their cities. To justify the rising of the seas, they say it is because of “global warming.” So much for the lies we are fed daily via the news media!
Thus, realistically, the element of “air” – a blast of icy air from His nostrils could very well have been used for the first judgment on a previous civilization. Scientists say that a previous civilization was higher than ours. They found evidence of nuclear blasts, as well as sophisticated technology, in odd places. The ancient ruins of Tiahuanco (Bolivia) go back 12,000 to 14,000 BCE. It was built by Nephilim. I’ve been there and seen it for myself. It is said to have been destroyed by a mighty flood. Rather than the flood of Noah’s day, could it have been destroyed by the warming of the ice in Genesis 1:2b, as the Spirit “brooded” to re-warm the earth?
We discussed the meaning of the word to “brood” in Genesis 1:2 and about what the Creator really did in that action. The Spirit’s “moving” over the face of the earth is the same word in Hebrew used in Deuteronomy 32:11 regarding bird who broods over and fertilizes the egg, and a mother hen who warms her eggs so that they hatch. So, in this re-creation, Abba’s Spirit warmed the earth. The ice melted. The vegetation was renewed. Land appeared out of the water, and the sun was brought into position closer to the earth, the moon was given for signs and seasons
Genesis 6:3 indicates that Elohim gave man 120 (Jubilee) years, or 6000 years. Psalm 90:4: Time for man is based on millennium. In II Peter 3:8, strongly reinforces that. I have quotes going back to BCE by His people who have commented on the 6,000 years of human history (6 is the number of man). Messiah will come in the 7th millennium, and reign for 1000 years. 7 is the number of completion. Abba comes at the dawn of the 8th millennium to dwell with us forever. (Revelation 21) 8 is the number of new beginnings.
At the dawn of the 8th millennium, we reach the end of the whole matter--Revelation 21:1-2: “And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I, Yochanan, saw the set-apart city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heavens from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Why did I go into all of this to bring you an article on Abba’s rest? – Because it sets the stage for the rest of the revelation of the last two days about Abba’s rest. Yahuweh has longed for a family that has come out from under the dominion of Satan, who would choose the tree of life, and desire only to love and adore Him. Satan has tried to block His getting His family for perhaps hundreds of thousands of years, but Yahuweh has drawn a line in the sand – and this is it. This is His final attempt at having His family, and we’re part of this. We either take a firm stand with Him, or experience the destruction of the earth to come. He has destroyed the earth by a blast of air, and by water – the Flood in Noah’s day. Soon earth will be purged by fire and upheaval of the earth itself, including the other two elements also.
II Peter 3:10-14: “But, the Day of Yahuweh shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. Seeing all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behavior and reverence, looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat! But, according to His promise, we wait for a renewed heaven and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells. So, then, beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.”
It is most astounding that Revelation 16, about the pouring out of His final bowls of wrath as Messiah descends, includes the four elements of judgment in this order: earth, water, fire, and air.
Astounding insight was impacting our spirit, as the Creator’s Presence was with us. I strongly suggest that all people go to the Spirit of Yahuweh and ask His opinion regarding His Word and His actions, and let Him teach them. He tells all of His taught ones the same things. But, then, for some of our questions to be answered, we’ll have to wait until Messiah comes, and then He’ll tell us. But, He does reward those that seek answers from Him directly.
I love to worship Him as Creator, as well as my Abba. The very last plea that He gives mankind before His wrath descends is that people just acknowledge Him as Creator. [Refer to: “Just Acknowledge Me As Creator”]
This all led to our talking about the heart of the Creator. He is a Father above all things – a Father who wants a family! So much Scripture regarding these last days refers to Him as Creator. What is He feeling now, as He has to judge mankind once again?
I brought up Revelation 15:8. His grief and anguish have built up to an overwhelming level, and now His anger is about to explode. Yet, when the seven messengers, chosen human beings of a returning Bridal remnant from the past, go forth to pour out the vials of wrath, He sends the angels out of His throne room, and sits alone. He does not want to have to destroy His Creation, but He must, in order to purge it of all defilement.
As Messiah descends with the wrath of His Father, on the “Day of Yahuweh,” “that Day,” the vials of judgment are poured out. His “children of light” are not appointed for the wrath of “that Day,” but if they are not prepared, He says He will destroy both righteous and wicked together. (i.e. I Thessalonians 5:1-10; Revelation 11:15-18; Ezekiel 14:12-23; Ezekiel 21:3-7; Isaiah 24; 34; 63:1-6; Revelation 19)
The coming judgment will be by fire. As passages like Isaiah 24 and II Peter 3:8-14 tell, the whole earth will be destroyed, except for what remains for His set-apart ones. Besides fire, it will also involve the upheaval of the earth, and its elements melting under the heat of nuclear blast. The Scriptures describe volcanoes blasting out “hail stones” of 100 pounds or more each, and fire from the depths of the earth’s core will come to the surface as we have seen in the ocean off Indonesia lately.
With each judgment, Yahuweh has grieved greatly. He has tried to create what was beautiful for those He wanted to call His children. But, each time, man rebelled and “bit into the apple,” so to speak, of the lies of Satan.
This time, IF He finds no remnant in His likeness, with His nature, guarding His Torah in the earth, He will have to destroy it again, and not re-create.
(Malachi 4:5-6) But, there will be a remnant because of the willing sacrifice of Yahushua! (Revelation 21:1-7) He will soon restore a remnant back to the Garden of Eden, where He will walk with His set-apart children in the cool of the day, in fellowship and love, with no enemy around anymore to disturb the peace.
Derek brought out that when we grieve and sorrow over what we love, emotions usually eventually lead to anger. But, His emotions are never “negative.” They always are directed towards positive results. He has to judge. He has to separate out. He has to bring justice and righteousness back to the earth.
All creation groans for the restoration of the earth – “for the manifestation of the sons of Elohim” in their righteous state. (Romans 8:16-23) He will renew the face of the earth, and punish those who have destroyed it (Revelation 11:18)
Psalm 104:30-31: “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. The esteem of Yahuweh will endure forever! And Yahuweh shall rejoice in His works!”
How wonderful that the day will come when the Creator will rejoice once again in His creation! He was so joyful after His Creation week in Genesis 1. But, it didn’t take long for Him to be grieved, and then have to punish His highest creation by expelling them from His Garden--from His Presence. The most horrible thing imaginable is to be expelled from His Presence!
Psalm 16:11: “You show me the path of life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
We touched His heart this morning. We all had tears flowing. We talked about our declarations at the Western Wall the eve of Yom Teruah, and what part our declarations have in uniting us with His heart. Derek had done a study on “rest.” He said one definition stood out more than any other to him -- The word “rest” meaning “relief from sorrow.” Yahuweh seeks relief from His sorrow. He vows to dwell with His people from Zion forever. He wants forever to put away man’s sin and betrayal of His love, and embrace a remnant of people who really love Him.
Zechariah 3:2: “And Yahuweh said to Satan, `Yahuweh rebuke you, Satan! Yahuweh who has chosen Yerushalayim rebuke you.”
Yahuweh looks with longing to the day that He will rest with His people!
The 1,000-year Kingdom of Messiah (Revelation 19-22) is a time of purging, of restoration, of setting things right, of putting death under the feet of Yahushua, and preparing for the coming of Yahuweh Himself to dwell with us here forever.
Rivkah brought out that Shabbat is a gift from Abba so that we might identify with Him in His rest, in His peace, in hearing Him, getting His direction, and aligning to what is on His heart. In observing a peaceful Shabbat we also receive relief from sorrow and grief; we receive healing, and answers to our questions, and we are refreshed.
One of the meanings of the word “rest” in Hebrew, seen below in Appendix A, means to be refreshed. In Exodus 31:17, Moses wrote: “…For in six days, Yahuweh made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
We don’t fully realize the depths of what Shabbat really means to Him. But, as we draw closer to Him, He will reveal His thoughts to us. Each seventh day is a precursor to the reign of Messiah in the 7th millennium. We entered the 7th millennium on Yom Teruah, September 29, 2000, going into 2001 on the Creation calendar.
Derek brought out that King David touched Abba’s heart. David cried out day and night that he might find a resting place for Abba among His people. He understood Abba’s grief over His wayward children. He understood the heart of Abba. So David longed for a place, a permanent place, to put the Ark, so that His people could see His dwelling with them. Thus, he prepared for the temple that Solomon would build. For forty years, David and a few Levite worshippers were in His Presence, for the ark was under a tent in David’s backyard. But, he wanted to share His Presence with all of His people. He understood Abba’s heart. This is why Yahuweh said of David, “He is a man after My own heart.” (I Samuel 13:13-14; II Samuel 8:15; Nehemiah 12:24b; Psalm 132:1-5; I Chronicles 18:1-9; Acts 13:22-23)