Category: Religion

Sanctification of New Moons – Pt. 2

Defective and full Months
The Pharisees established rules that limited not only the number of months which could be defective (i.e., only 29 days long) or full (i.e., consisting of a full 30 days) but even limited which months were eligible.

The Mishnah states:

There are never less than four “full” months in the year, nor do more than eight (full) months require to be taken into account.31

In turn, they point out that there were never more than eight or less than four defective months. Meanwhile, a 12 lunar-month year has no less than 352 days and no more than 355 days, while a 13 lunar-month year has no less than 383 days and no more than 385 days.32

These reckonings were further encumbered by other restrictions which ignored the reality of the new moon phases. For example, the last month of the year, Adar—the month which precedes Nisan, the first month of the next year—is always defective,33 as was, except in special cases, the sixth month, Elul.34 The first and seventh months, on the other hand, i.e., Nisan and Tishri, were “never intercalated,” that is, they were always full.35 Continue reading “Sanctification of New Moons – Pt. 2” →

Sanctification of New Moons – Pt. 1

The Hillelic Pharisees differed from their religious counterparts in that they followed the Babylonian custom of demanding that there must be witnesses who could testify to a Calendar Court confirming the sighting of the moon’s crescent on the very first day of the new moon. They also required official sanctification of the new moon by their Calendar Court.

Our attention will now shift to examining the rules for sanctification and dissemination for the Hillelic New Moon Day. As we shall see, many of these regulations prove to be arbitrary and counter to scriptural intent.

Sanctification
The Hillelic Pharisees considered it “a religious duty to sanctify (the new moon) on the strength of actual observation.”1 This duty was required, “even though the observation is not necessary for the purpose.”2

Maimonides argues this Pharisaic position when he writes: Continue reading “Sanctification of New Moons – Pt. 1” →

The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 2

The Calendar Court

The Hillelic system for determining the New Moon Day and how to intercalate the year operated through a court panel of three judges.25 In the time of the Temple, these judges represented the Court of Elders and, after the Temple’s destruction in 70 C.E., the Great Sanhedrin of Pharisees.

The Mishnah reports:

The intercalating of the month and the intercalating of the year (are decided upon) by three (judges). So (says) Rabbi Meir. But Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel says: The matter is begun by three, discussed by five, and decided upon by seven; but if it is decided upon by three the intercalation is valid.26

Later, the number of the assembly of participating members was changed to 10 judges.27 The leading judge was the Nasi. New Moon Days were sanctified by at least two of the three members of the court.28 Continue reading “The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 2” →

The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 1

In 41 C.E., the Aristocratic system of determining new moons and the intercalation of a year, previously calculated only by the priests who were the descendants of Aaron, the high priest, was officially usurped by the Nasi (head of the Sanhedrin) of the Hillelic Pharisees.

Thus began a process wherein the Hillelic party, starting with Gamaliel I, using the “traditions of their fathers” and heavily influenced by Babylonian customs, instituted a series of modifications that forever changed the requirements for determining the beginning of a month and a year in what became known as Orthodox Judaism.

These new calendar regulations were created for two reasons: Continue reading “The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 1” →

The Lying Pen of the Scribes

YRR has released an audio Mini-Pod covering the topic of “The Lying Pen of the Scribes.”

There are 134 times when Jewish copyists (or Sopherim) of the Masoretic text, believing that certain passages were too often quoted that used the sacred name Yahweh, changed the primitive Hebrew text to read adonai or eloahim instead of Yahweh.

Unfortunately, many have failed to realize the extent of the tampering of our present Hebrew Masoretic Text, especially regarding the sacred name Yahweh.

This tampering also extended to the name Yahu, the praenomen of the preexistent Yahushua the messiah. Before Yahushua became a human, his full name, as given by Scriptures was Yahu Yahweh.

This audio presentation can be accessed and listened to at the following link:

M014. The Lying Pen of the Scribes – (9:35)

It can also be listened to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean, among others.

Passover – Egyptian Confirmation

YRR has released an audio Mini-Pod covering the topic of The Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

Unknown to most followers of Yahweh, there is a remarkable witness that provides evidence for the practice of the 7-day Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread occurring on Abib 14-20.

This witness comes from an extra-biblical work, the Book of Yashar. The present copy of the Book of Yashar is by no means to be assigned the authority of Scriptures.

However, what the text says regarding the Passover of the Exodus nevertheless proves quite informative and interesting.

This audio presentation can be accessed and listened to at the following link:

M013. Passover – Egyptian Confirmation 1 – (11:51)

It can also be listened to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean, among others.

Abib 14 – A High Sabbath

YRR has released two audio MIni-Pods covering the topic of The Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, Abib 14.

This two-part series demonstrates that the Hebrew text of the book of John (MS. Vat.ebr.100) establishes that Abib 14 is a High Sabbath and the first day of the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

The MIni-Pods can be accessed and listened to at the following links:

M011. Abib 14 – A High Sabbath – Part 1 – (13:25)

M012. Abib 14 – A High Sabbath – Part 2 – (14:21)

They can also be listened to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean, among others.

Abib 14 – Passover a High Sabbath

This study will provide evidence demonstrating that Abib 14 is a High Sabbath and marks the first day of the 7-day Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

In addition to existing Greek texts, another source we will utilize to support our conclusions is a New Testament Hebrew manuscript known as Cochin MS O.o.1.32.

Discovered in 1806 in the Synagogue of the “Black Jews” in Cochin, India, and linked to Ezekiel Rahabi II, the Hebrew manuscript’s existence in a Jewish community suggests it could preserve a rare Hebrew translation tradition.

Some scholars speculate it might draw from early Jewish-Christian or Ebionite texts, which used Hebrew or Aramaic for Christian scriptures, potentially dating back to the 1st-4th centuries C.E.

With this information in hand, our initial exploration will address the issue of the anointing and burial of Yahushua the Messiah’s body.

The Greek and Hebrew texts both state that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Yahushua’s body during the late afternoon of Abib 14.

The Burial
The relevant passage of John 19:38-40 when translated from the Greek and Hebrew texts, is as follows: Continue reading “Abib 14 – Passover a High Sabbath” →

A Sabbath Year Announcement

It would be remiss of the Yahu Ranger Report if, at this time, there was not issued the report of an approaching Sabbath Year beginning at sunset on March 22 (Abib 1) of the Gregorian Year 2023.

For various reasons, there are those who would dismiss any consideration of the validity of Sabbath Years or Jubilee Years as commanded in Scriptures. (Lev. 25: 1-13)

The Yahu Ranger Report strongly disagrees with this position.

First, the knowledge of the Sabbath and Jubilee Years is essential for reconstructing the chronological framework of ancient Israelite history.

Second, once the true Sabbath and Jubilee years are ascertained, it allows us to “clock in” and discover which years are presently Sabbaths and Jubilees. This knowledge holds great significance for the followers of Yahweh.

The book of Hebrews, for example, notes that “The Law,” of which the Sabbath and Jubilee Years are a part, is “a shadow of the coming good things.” (Heb. 10:1) The Sabbath day, to demonstrate, was reckoned as a type of the great sabbatism and rest into which the people of Yahweh will one day enter. (Heb. 3:7-4:13)

Continue reading “A Sabbath Year Announcement” →

Rules for the New Moon

Many followers of Yahweh recognize the significance of accurately observing His sacred calendar. However, there seems to be widespread confusion about how to determine the beginning of a scriptural month.

We know that Abraham was justified to receive the Promised Land “because Abraham obeyed my (Yahweh’s) voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, MY STATUTES, and my laws.” (Gen. 26:5)

Observing Yahweh’s Festival Days is a statute that Abraham would have adhered to as a requirement for justification and obtaining salvation and eternal life.

One must also conclude that Abraham surely observed the Festival Days correctly; otherwise, he would not have fulfilled this requirement, and Yahweh would not have justified him.

Continue reading “Rules for the New Moon” →

What Happened to Noah?

There seems to be confusion among many regarding Noah and the incident that occurred while he was sleeping in a drunken state, as recorded in Genesis 9:20-27.

It is generally assumed that the “YOUNGER SON” referred to in Gen. 9:24 is Ham, the son of Noah.

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his YOUNGER SON had done unto him. (Gen. 9:24)

Therefore, it follows that Ham was directly or indirectly involved in a severe transgression against Noah, his father.

This study will address the fact that Ham was not the younger son referred to but was, in fact, the oldest son of Noah. We shall also prove that the “YOUNGER SON” was actually Ham’s son Canaan.

Accordingly, we shall substantiate that Ham’s “YOUNGER SON” Canaan had perpetrated an evil act upon Noah while he was asleep in a drunken state.

Our first task is to furnish evidence establishing that Ham was Noah’s firstborn son and, therefore, the older son, not the younger. Continue reading “What Happened to Noah?” →

Did Enoch and Elijah Die?

The heart of the conjecture that, at death, the “pious-go-to-heaven” comes from the histories involving Enoch’s translation and Elijah’s trip into the heavens in a whirlwind of fire.1 Yet, the evidence proves that such an interpretation is inconsistent with clear scriptural statements.

Centuries after either of these two events, Yahushua proclaimed that no human, except for himself, had ever been in the heavens wherein father Yahweh dwells.2 Further, it is impossible that Enoch and Elijah could ever have gone into the third heavens because father Yahweh dwells in unapproachable light, “whom no one of mankind did see nor is able to see.”3

Still, another point is ignored by the advocates of the “pious-go-to heaven” conjecture; neither Enoch nor Elijah was dead at the time of their experience. Yet Scriptures proclaim that all humans have sinned and that “the wages of sin is death.”4 Continue reading “Did Enoch and Elijah Die?” →

The Sacred Ruach

In Scriptures, it is amply demonstrated that the Hebrew term רוח (ruach; spirit) refers to an unseen animating force, anything from a wind, to movement in a machine, to a life force. Basically, the term means “to blow, i.e., breathe” forth.1 Its definition proves to be very important in that it helps explain Yahweh’s sacred ruach (Holy Spirit).

The sacred ruach is an incorporeal substance that comes directly from the ruach substance of father Yahweh. It is used in different ways for creating and enabling. For instance, it provided the substance breathed into Adam, which made him a living nephesh (person), thereby creating a person, a child of Yahweh.

Yet it is also separately used to further the creation of the species of Adam—enhancing human capabilities (gifts), resurrecting humans from the dead, destroying the wicked, quickening the just into eternal life, and even perfecting those quickened.

With this study, we will deal with the fact that the sacred ruach is not a person but a “substance,” defined as the breath of father Yahweh. This divine substance was the power used by our creator to bring our world and all its life forms into existence.
 Continue reading “The Sacred Ruach” →

Three Heavens in Scriptures

We will examine the fact that in Scriptures, there are three regions of רקיע (raqiya; open expanse),1 i.e., different realms, each called “heavens.”

Father Yahweh dwells in what is defined as the “third heavens,” the sun, moon, and stars occupy the “second heavens,” and flying birds and clouds are contained in the “first heavens” (i.e., in the atmosphere surrounding the earth).

The evidence will prove that no man—with only the exception of Yahushua the messiah, and then only in those periods before and after his fleshly, earthly existence as a human—has ever dwelt in the third heavens with father Yahweh.

The fundamental error made by those who would have mortal humans go off to heaven to be with father Yahweh before death, resurrection, and quickening is their confounding of the three different realms called “heavens.” Continue reading “Three Heavens in Scriptures” →

Does Hell Exist? – Part 2

Quite opposite to the pagan notion of a conscious existence in a mythical underworld for immortal souls (whether Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, etc.), there is no life or conscious existence in the sheol of Scriptures.

No Thought in Sheol
The following scriptural verses fully demonstrate the complete absence of thought in sheol:

Return Yahweh, rescue my nephesh; save me for your mercy’s sake; for there is no memory in death, in sheol who will give thanks to you? (Psalms 6:5)

What profit is in my blood in going down to the שוח (shuch; pit, grave); will you thank the ‘aphar? Will it (the ‘aphar) thank you? Will it declare your truth?(Psalms 30:9)

The above Psalms refer to the fact that after returning to the ‘aphar a dead person has no ability to thank anyone or receive thanks, for they are unable to speak or understand the speech of someone living. A parallel thought is expressed in the rhetorical question asked by Heman the Ezrahite. He notes that nothing can come from sheol, the land of נשיה (neshyah; oblivion)49 and the dark state of death. Continue reading “Does Hell Exist? – Part 2” →