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-----Original Message-----
From: Shomeir
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 6:06 AM
To: House of Israel Newsgroup
Subject: FW: Response to A Prayer for a Sister
Shalom friends,
I am forwarding emails from Wendy Sutherland. Wendy is a new ally in the mission
to teach emerging Ephraim (the House of Israel).
Kol tov,
Shomeir
-----Original Message-----
From: Wendy Lee Sutherland [mailto:ephraimreturns@012.net.il]
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 10:20 PM
To: Web Mail Distribution List
Subject: Fw: Response to A Prayer for a Sister
Shalom Chaverim ...
I sent this reponse out to Norman Willis' web distribution list following his
request that people mourn my loss and pray for my recovery. You may find it of
interest. One thing has become very clear to me. My path is not to sit quietly
and allow the present storm to pass, but to stand for Truth that others whom
Hashem is shaking in this hour might hear and understand.
The EE tour begins today ... thank-you for your prayers. Internet access will
be minimal during the tour.
In meeting with Leah Rafaeli (Barbara Richmond) yesterday, it would appear
that Hashem has much in store for the future regarding us working together to
host a not only a conference between Ephraim and Yehudah here in Eretz Israel
next year, but we are also discussing holding one for those of us of like mind
and heart somewhere in the USA. Hodu l'YHWH ke tov, ki l'olam va'ed. Amien.
Hadassah
----- Original Message -----
From: Wendy Lee Sutherland
To: Nazarene Israel ; Norman Willis
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: Response to A Prayer for a Sister
Shalom.
Thank-you, Norman, and all those who have felt led to pray in response to
Norman's expression of a need for prayer on my behalf. I know and trust that
the motive behind both Norman's request and the resulting prayers is one of
sincerity and concern - I do appreciate such acts of kindess. I would,
however, like to respond on my own behalf and with a plea for you to at least
consider the following:
To my mind, there seems to be a bit of contradiction in that which has been
spoken. The statement has been made that I have "left Deity-Believing Ephraim"
and have "joined Non-Deity Believing Ephraim." I know that each of you believe
in the Torah proclamation of D'varim 6:4: "Sh'ma Yisra'el. YHWH Eloheyhu. YHWH
Echad." Hear O Israel. YHWH our Elohim. YHWH is One. In other words, there is
but ONE Elohim of Israel, ONE Elohim, Who is both The Creator and King of the
Universe. Further Yeshayahu 43:11 says, "I, only I, am YHWH, and there is no
savior aside from Me." Hoshea 13:4, speaking directly to Ephraim in the
context of the passage, states: "I am YHWH your Elohim since the land of
Egypt, and you should not have known any g-d beside Me, for there is no savior
beside Me."
In Norman's letter, he states: "It is all right to pray for Hadassah: But do
not forget that she is still a sister: She still believes in the Elohim of
Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya’akov; and we need to afford her as much love and
respect as we would any other brother or sister. "
Yes, indeed, I do fervently and passionately and unwaveringly believe in
YHWH Elohim: The Elohim of Avraham, of Yitzchak and of Ya'akov ... and the
Elohim of Moshe, of David, of Solomon, of the Prophets of old, of Y'shua and
of his early talmidim. If you also believe in YHWH Elohim, then you and I
each, and collectively, believe in the same Deity. My question then becomes,
how can I be called "Non-Deity Believing"? Is this not a contradiction?
You may argue that YHWH is Y'shua and Y'shua is YHWH ... such is exactly what
I once believed as well. If you truly believe this, then how can you say I am
"non-Deity believing" if I believe in YHWH ... as do you ... and you feel that
YHWH and Y'shua are one and interchangeable, indivisible? If there is only one
Deity, one Elohim and I believe in Him, how can I be said to be a
"non-believer"? Is this not a contradiction? This would infer that you and I
are not believing in the same Deity ... which immediately hits at pluralism
not monotheism. We have all, or most of you have, discovered the error in the
doctrine of the Trinity ... a triune godhead ... and have rejected as
inherited falsehood that pluralistic and non-Scriptural teaching. Yet, even in
saying that YHWH is Y'shua and Y'shua is YHWH ... assuming that most of you
think of this in terms of a duality of powers in the godhead, as taught in the
Greater and Lesser YHWH teachings ... which I, too, used to believe ... is
this not also indicative of pluralism, of more than one entity within that
which Scripture clearly declares to be Echad/One .... complete unity, all
filling and indivisible? YHWH is either Echad or He is not Echad. One thing is
for certain, YHWH is not a liar and He is "not man that He should change His
mind" (I Shemuel 15:29) nor does He change (Malachi 3:6).
It is interesting to note that in 451AD the Second Ecumecnical Council
consisting of 600 Bishops of the Chr-stian church first declared Chr-st was
fully Divine and fully human. This declaration is known and recorded for all
succeeding history as the Chalcedonian Creed. Curiously, this very tidbit of
historical data was recently published just before Yom Kippur in The Daily
Gleaner ... a secular newspaper published in New Brunswick, Canada.
YHWH is the Sovereign of the Universe. Scripture tells us that no world leader
exists except where YHWH permits such and that YHWH turns the hearts of
pharoahs as water. World history, as distasteful as we might find parts of it,
is not, nor has not, been outside the Sovereignity of The Creator. The
Biblical record ... rather the original inspired Hebrew Scriptures ... are the
infallible standard of Truth. All history has and will continue to play out in
accord with the will and the foreknowledge of YHWH Elohim. We err if we do not
give discerning credence and evaluation to credible and verifiable sources of
historical record ... even if the results of such examination is painful and
frightening. As Scripture sets forth, all matters shall be established by two
or more witnesses.
All Israel has been under the veil of exile. That exile is ending but it is
not yet over. YHWH is shaking everything that can be shaken and only those
things which are eternal shall stand. As part of this shaking, all idolatry
must pass away and be shaken out of the returning tribes of Israel, whichever
House or Kingdom they may be from. YHWH Elohim will not give His esteem to
another. He and He alone is Elohim, and as stated in the very first
Commandment, we are to "have no other mighty ones before His Face." (Exodus
20:3). No Trinity, no duality, only singular monotheistic worship of the One
True Elohim ... exactly as the historical Tzaddik Y'shua taught and
exemplified in the recorded accounts of his life.
Y'shua taught single-hearted, single-focused worship of YHWH Elohim in
accordance with the revelation and commands of Torah and the Writings and the
Prophets, which he explicitly stated he did not come to do away with and which
would not pass away until heaven and earth pass away. Yet, Y'shua said, "no
man comes unto the Father except through me." We know that in the Brit
Chadasha Y'shua's entire life served as an example of how to live in unity
with the Creator of the universe: that no one could come into relationship
with the Father except by following his monotheistic, Torah observant example.
The testimony of his life was to serve as a special "Remnant-preserving safety
net" for the perishing-without-Torah and exiled House of Israel (Matt. 15:24).
The House of Israel were to be "Lo-Ruchamah" (without compassion) and "Lo-Ammi"
(not My people) for nearly 3000 years of exile amongst the nations (Hoshea
1:7, 9). The testimony of Y'shua was used by YHWH Elohim to get these
unknowing Ephraimites to read Scripture. How else could they have come to even
a veiled understanding and relationship with the Creator of the Universe and
Eternal Father? Y'shua also said, "I and the Father are one." The Rabbis have
taught for centuries that the only way to attain unity of will and purpose and
relationship with Elohim is through internal and external submission to Torah
and undivided love of Elohim. Isn't this what Y'shua was saying, that this
state of unity with Elohim is what he had attained through Torah obedience? He
also said, "I would that you would be one as the Father and I are one,"
meaning that anyone who fully submits to Torah can attain a state of unity
with Elohim.
Is the servant referred to in Yeshayahu 49:6 the Messiah, as we've been led to
believe? The verses preceding Yeshayahu 49:6, and the preceding chapters, all
provide evidence of YHWH calling His servant Israel. Many rabbis
understand that during the House of Israel's exile, by Elohim's design, they
would descend to the level of the pagan gentile nations (Hoshea 8:8). They
would be scattered as grain through YHWH's sieve into every nation on earth
(Amos 9:9). Once the House of Israel's exile draws to an end, their awakening,
instruction, repentence and return to Torah will result in an ascent towards
righteousness and purity. This will act as a Light amidst the nations as
Ephraimites shake off the veil of exile and make their way "back the way they
went" (Yirmeyahu 31:20). Given that Israel is specified throughout Scripture,
and especially throughout the Book of Yeshayahu, as the "servant of YHWH"
(e.g. Yeshayahu 43:10; 44:1, 21; 49:3), it seems clear that Yeshayahu 49:6
applies to the exiled Ten Tribes of Israel, who represent the majority of
Israel. Their awakening, repentance and return will "raise up the tribes of
Jacob" as the Light of Torah begins to emanate from their lives, their
actions, their lips. This will bring in the prophesied "fullness of the
gentiles" (Bereshith 49:6, Romans 11:25). Consider that studying Yeshayahu
49:6 in context strongly suggests that the "servant" referred to is Israel.
Yirmeyahu 31:32, "For this is the covenant that I shall seal with the House
of Israel after those days - the word of YHWH - I will place My Torah
within them and I will write it onto their heart; I will be Elohim for them
and them will be a people for Me," is often quoted by Renewed Covenant
believers as being connected with the advent of Y'shua of Nazareth.
After what days? Read the preceding verses of Yirmeyahu 31 which
chronologically detail YHWH hearing Rachel weeping and Ephraim moaning.
Ephraim's chastisement leads to their plea to return to YHWH. After returning,
Ephraim repents. After instruction and being made aware of their sinfulness,
Ephraim is humiliated, bearing the disgrace of their youth, namely the sin and
exile of their predecessors who turned their back on Torah and monotheistic
worship of YHWH. After all this happens, we have the prophecies concerning the
latter days' covenants to be made ... including the famed, oft-quoted
"renewed/restored covenant" with the House of Israel. What covenant was broken
and needed to be restored? Torah - the constitution and marriage contract
between YHWH Elohim and the people and the Land of Israel.
The "Renewed Covenant" of Yirmeyahu 31 can only begin "after those days"
... after the prophesied repentence and return of Ephraim spoken of in
the preceding verses of Yirmeyahu 31 had occurred! The verses are
chronological!!! Up until this time in history, the title of "New Testament"
was much more accurate than to call it the "Brit Chadasha" ... It was a "new"
testament ... one created by the Chr-stian church and full of now-documented
additions, substitutions and even forgeries!!! Of the 5366 extant Greek texts
of the New Testament, there are no two texts that are in total agreement.
There are an estimated 100,000 textual differences among those 5366 texts.
Such textual variations cannot be found among Old Testament/Tanach
manuscripts.
The so-called great men of Chr-stian history, such as Eusebuis, Origen and
Justin, indicate in their writings that the first two chapters of Matthew (the
birth and genealogy of Y'shua) were later additions to the original
manuscripts. None of the Epistles nor the Book of Acts mention or indicate a
virgin birth. The Gospel of Luke does provide a "virgin birth" account, yet
scholars have brought forth evidence of revisions to the Book of Luke. One of
the most subtle yet misleading revision is that every occurrence of "his
father and mother" (which appears in the earliest manuscripts) was changed to
"Joseph and his mother", thereby implying that Joseph was not Y'shua's father.
Luke's genealogy clearly shows that Y'shua was the son of Joseph. His paternal
genealogy comes through Natan and not through the anointed line of David and
Solomon, which is a requirement for the coming Messiah ben David. A non-biased
reading of the New Testament writings will show that Y'shua and his followers
make a clear distinction between the man Y'shua and the Elohim of Israel Whom
he and his disciples worshipped, teaching others to do likewise.
In Hebrew, the word "mashiach" means to be anointed and consecrated as a king
,or a priest, or for an act of divine service unto He who is the One
True Deity. No where in the Hebrew Scriptures - the Tanach - will you find the
Hebrew phrase or title "haMashiach" ... The Messiah. "Mashiach" does
appear, but not "haMashiach." Messiah ben David will establish YHWH's Kingdom
upon this earth, bring peace amongst the nations, the Torah will be taught
from Jerusalem, and all nations will recognize YHWH and YHWH alone as the One
True Elohim. (ZekarYah 14:16-19). Contrary to what Chr-stianity teaches, the
identity of Messiah is not a salvation issue. The Tanach makes it clear that
YHWH and YHWH alone is the Savior and Redeemer of Israel. One cannot read
Yeshayahu, Yirmeyahu or Hoshea without repeatedly finding YHWH's own words
proclaiming this eternal truth.
Yirmeyahu 31:32 and Yehezqel 36:24-26 are beginning to be fulfilled. These are
the days. The Brit Chadasha (the RENEWED Covenant of Torah!) could not take
place until now. Ephraim had to awaken, realize their history and their
plight, repent, embrace Torah and begin their return to YHWH, to Am Israel and
to Eretz Israel!! These events are happening now, not 2000 years ago!!! Y'shua,
the son of Yosef, was anointed and enabled by YHWH for a specific task. In his
own words, "I was not sent except for the lost sheep of the House
of Israel." (Mattiyahu 15:24). Chr-stianity has corrupted the historical
record of the Jewish rabbi named Y'shua. The historical evidence of such
corruption and distortion grows daily. The Chr-stian church then created an
idolatrous theology with a false messiah named J-sus. Their doctrines and
teachings promulgate a fear of eternal damnation which discourages their
adherents from searching the Hebrew Scriptures as did the Bereans of Y'shua's
time.
Despite such opposition, YHWH, the True Savior and Redeemer, Sovereign of the
World, has used this distorted testimony of Y'shua to draw the descendants of
the Remnant of the House of Israel, scattered throughout the world, to read
the "Chr-stian Bible." Within the "Ch-stian Bible" can be found the Hebrew
Bible/Tanach. To the discerning reader, much of the "New Testament" is a
direct quotation from the Tanach. After all, the New Testament was not
formulated until more than 400 years after Y'shua's death. The only Bible
Y'shua and his followers had was the Tanach.
The Word of YHWH does not return unto Him void. It accomplishes that for which
it is sent forth. The Word of YHWH has preserved a Remnant of the exiled
Northern Kingdom throughout their long exile. Y'shua taught and manifested the
Torah of Life to his followers during his lifetime. Following his death, the
testimony of his teaching was carried forth by his loyal Jewish,
Torah-observant talmidim to the very locations where communities of the exiled
House of Israel were to be found. From there it spread, increasingly distorted
and veiled as the early church came forth and infiltrated the simple message
of the future restoration of the House of Israel. The church fathers added
erroneous and pagan doctrines such as equality with Elohim, the Trinity, the
virgin birth, etc., etc. It is a miracle of Yah that such distortion and lies
could nonetheless be used to preserve a remnant of the exiled Northern Kingdom
to this day. Yet, Elohim has said that His ways are not our ways (Yeshayahu
55:8-9). The Remnant of the House of Israel, and specifically the descendants
of Ephraim (Bereshith 48:19) have been appointed by YHWH to bring in the
fullness of the gentile nations (melo ha goyim) at the end of days.
Call me a "Non-Deity Believing Ephraimite" if you wish, and pray for me if you
feel led, but, please, pray for me in accordance with the Truth of the Hebrew
Scriptures and Word of Elohim and not in accordance with erroneous and
deceptive fragments of leftover Chr-stian doctrine. Ephraim has been "asleep"
for a long time. Their road of return is lengthy. It is only natural that the
awakening will be gradual. Progressive revelation, as evidenced throughout the
Hebrew Scriptures, will continue as YHWH's method of instruction until that
day when His Sanctuary abides amongst His people.
YHWH Elohim has begun to fulfill His promise of a "Renewed Covenant" with the
House of Israel. As Ephraimites awaken, repent and embrace Torah, YHWH is
writing it on their hearts and their minds. We shall once again be called
"sons of the Living Elohim" (Hoshea 1:10), and "The Children of Judah and the
Children of Israel will be assembled together, and they will appoint for
themselves one head and ascend from the land, for the Day of Jezreel is great.
Say to your brothers 'Ammi' (My People) and your sisters 'Ruchamah' (Pitied)."
(Hoshea 1:11 - 2:1) Baruch Hashem!
Shalom and may YHWH Elohim guide you into all Truth and not Half-Truths,
Wendy Sutherland
----- Original Message -----
From: Nazarene Israel
To: Norman Willis
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 3:31 PM
Subject: A Prayer for a Sister
A Prayer for a Sister
By
Norman Willis
[4] "Hear, O Israel: YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is one! [5]
And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, all your soul, and
with all your strength!
[6] "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart! [7]
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie
down, and when you rise up.
[8] You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the doorposts of
your house, and on your gates. [Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-9]
[18] “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Vayiqra
(Leviticus) 19:18]
Dear friends,
Hadassah (formerly Wendy Sutherland / Wendy McNulty) has left
Deity-Believing Ephraim, and has joined Non-Deity-Believing Ephraim; a sect
in Israel most of us were not even aware existed until a few days or weeks
ago. But Non-Deity-Believing Ephraim does in fact exist, and we need to
acknowledge them.
For those of you who are suffering shock and grief, as I am, I just want to
confirm what you may already know: That it is all right to weep. It is all
right to grieve, and to feel loss. Grieving and sorrow are Scriptural.
It is all right to pray for Hadassah: But do not forget that she is still a
sister: She still believes in the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya’akov;
and we need to afford her as much love and respect as we would any other
brother or sister. This is no less than the Second Great Command, without
which all worship is worthless.
Hear, then, a Parable:
[25] And behold! A certain scholar stood up and tested
[Yeshua], saying "Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He
said to him, "What is written in the Torah? What is your reading of it?" 27
So he answered and said, "’You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;'
and 'Your neighbor as yourself.'"
[28] And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will
live."
[29] But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Yeshua, "Who is my
neighbor?"
[30] Then Yeshua answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem
to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing,
wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance (!) a
certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the
other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and
looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and
he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
[35] “On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii (an old
Roman coin: The gold denarius was considered to be worth twenty-five silver
denarii), gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him;
and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'
[36[ “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who
fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then
Yeshua said to him, "Go and do likewise." [Luqa (Luke) 10:25-37]
This point of this parable is that the ones believing on Elohim, who show
love and compassion to others believing on Him are the ones who are truly
His people: Let us not forget our Master’s Words.
Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People.
Many have expressed fear and concern that Hadassah can never be forgiven for
having renounced Yeshua. This fear for her is completely understandable, but
is actually a misapplication of the following passage:
[31] For if we sin willfully after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which
will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected the Torah of Moshe
dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how
much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has
trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by
which he was set apart a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Favor? 30
For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says YHWH. And
again, "YHWH will judge His people."
[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.
[Ivrim (Hebrews) 10:26-31]
This passage is easily misunderstood to mean that Hadassah can never be
forgiven, and people are understandably grieved. However, please consider:
[32] "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy
will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be
forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will
be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not
be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. [Mattithyahu
(Matthew) 12:31-32]
There are several schools of thought on this topic, and we could get into a
big theological discussion, but it would be beside the point. What is called
for is intercessory prayer on behalf of our now-lost sister.
Hadassah may not agree with the need for intercessory prayer on her behalf,
but I think she can forgive us.
[19] Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a
multitude of sins.
[Ya’akov (James) 5:19-20]
If we love many Jews who have not known Yeshua, then how can it be wrong for
us to act towards Hadassah in love, praying for her soul?
A Prayer for a Sister
Hadassah, please forgive us for having been in such turmoil. You were
beloved, and you are now greatly missed. I hope you can forgive us for
having reacted with such shock and alarm at your loss. But please help us,
and pray for us also, that we might come to think of it not as losing you as
a sister in believing Ephraim; but as gaining a sister in non-believing
Ephraim.
May the Father of Heaven be with you, and guide you.
Shalom from Jerusalem
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