Convergence

 One of Yeshua's greatest dissertations on righteousness, or explanation of the Torah, can be found in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7.  These are not rules and regulations per se, but rather, they demonstrate the very nature and heart of Torah; the nature of the new creation life that was to be written on the heart of the New Covenant redeemed Israelites.  Within the context of the teaching, Yeshua instructed His disciples to pray: "Our Father", as a point of personal family identity (both as an Israelite and as an individual). "Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not recognize us. You, YHVH are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name" (Isaiah 63:16). "But now, YHVH, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8).

Next, Yeshua states that our Father is in the “heavens”. Please note the plurality of heavens. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me" (Psams139:7-10). Then Yeshua sanctifies the name of our Father, acknowledging not just the 'letter of the name', but the very nature of His name - "Holiness", set-apartness.

 

After giving glory to the Father, Yeshua sets in order the priorities; first and foremost His Father's Kingdom and His will: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done". Where? “On earth as it is in the heavens”.  "As it is in the heavens", indicates that there is no problem with YHVH’s will being done there, and so it is to the earthly protocol of the Kingdom that Yeshua is pointing.  That is the redemption of His inheritance, Israel, and the irrevocable call that is upon them as a nation. Those whom he foreknew are predestined to become His royal priesthood on earth – being the expression of His Kingdom. This is why in Matthew 6:33 He exhorts his followers to "seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness". 

 

What does it mean to seek His Kingdom? Where do we look and what do we look for? Many possibilities present themselves in this search for the Kingdom of YHVH Elohim on earth.  But it seems that the search calls for a certain order. Perhaps to start with… The angel Gabriel, in announcing the birth of the Messiah, declared that this one who was to come, would set up His Kingdom in the House of Jacob (see Luke 1:33). Later the Messiah's disciples, expecting Him to establish this Kingdom in Israel, asked Him when He was going to "restore the Kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6).  They were extremely disappointed that Yeshua had not accomplished what they felt the prophets had foretold.  However, Yeshua's answer to their question was a little evasive: "just hang in there for it will soon come" (and with that, He promised that they would receive the power from the Spirit of Holiness to be His witnesses of that Kingdom. Acts. 1:8).  The disciples thought that there would be an outward manifestation of this Kingdom, with the Messiah sitting in Jerusalem on the throne of David, but instead Yeshua said that He was going to heaven to sit at His Father's right hand until all His enemies would be dealt with (Luke 20:41-43).  From that authority, He would send the Spirit of Holiness and baptize the believing Israelites with fire to purge and restore righteousness, peace, and joy to the heart of His people.

The Kingdom, along with the King, would take up residence in the House of Jacob. But rather than it being an outward kingdom, as it had been in the past, it would be an internal-spiritual one.  Since the House of Jacob is made up of Two Houses, and those houses are made up of His people, it is the people who make up the house and who have His kingdom in them. In this way, they are/will be fulfilling what the Messiah came to do - to set up His divine authority in the life of the Israelites.

Elijah is always the harbinger of each phase of this Kingdom. This is no different in our day. Thus, the prophetic vision of an Elijah company today cannot be just about “dry bones” coming to life, but of a “great and mighty army” (Ezekiel 37:1; 37:10).  Similarly, their vision is not just about “two sticks/two nations”, but also about being “one in His Hand” (Ezekiel 37:16; 37:22). When these two visions are brought together, a revelation, an image of a great and mighty army in the Hand of the Almighty, led by the Capitan of the hosts, Yeshua, emerges. Think about what that means...

We are getting closer and closer to the fulfillment of this vision. But what must happen first, is for YHVH to allow the beast, the false prophet, and the Babylonian system to come to its fullness, so that those who are seeking, though still (partially) blind, or are hesitant and uncertain, be given the opportunity to “take sides”. “…Ephraim has played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself” (Hosea 5:3). But in contending with Ephraim (and with Judah) YHVH Himself becomes as a ‘devouring beast’ to them: “I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away… I will go away and return to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face. In their affliction they will earnestly seek me” (v. 14a, 15).

The harlot kingdom will become so repulsive to these ones, who will now be truly redeemed and cognizant of YHVH’s Kingdom and His righteousness that they will no longer participate in any way with that system, nor want anything to do with it. These redeemed and faithful Israelites will not compromise with the flesh, the world, and the devil. They will no longer bow down and worship, or trust the spiritual kingdom of darkness.   The true Israelite will know the intimate love of her Husband, whom she disgraced during the days of her own harlotry and adultery.

"In those days and at that time,’ declares YHVH, ‘the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be YHVH their Elohim they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to YHVH in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten’” (Jeremiah 50:4-5).  Yes, Jeremiah’s “those days”, are these days, our days, which are the times of Moses and Elijah (see Malachi 4:4-6).