Community Newsletter September 2019
Contents of this months newsletter
1. Annual State of the Family Report
2. Houtz Memorial Scholarship awarded
3. Remembrances of the 9th of Av
4. The Fall Feasts: Yom Teruah and the Twin Trumpets
State of the Family Report: The Fruit of the Fourth Year by Albert J. McCarn
September, 2019 A Torah principle in (Leviticus 19:23-25 indicates that trees planted in Israel should be allowed to grow and mature until the fourth year. At that time, the fruit becomes holy, an offering of praise to YHVH. It is only in the fifth year that the fruit may be eaten, after the increase of the tree is assured. Yeshua may have had that principle in mind in His parable of a fig tree that had not produced any fruit after three years. The owner wanted to cut it down, but the vineyard keeper said, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9 NASB)
As we entered our fourth year at BYNA, this principle and parable took on special significance. At the approach of our third anniversary on March 6, we recognized the need to be intentional about offering BYNA’s first fruits to our God. In our combined meeting of the Elders and Administrative Council in April (the first or BYNA’s fourth year), we decided to designate 20% of all monthly income to two tracks of charitable giving: 10% to help widows, orphans, and others in need among our Ephraimite family in North America; and 10% to meet needs in Israel in partnership with Israeli organizations, ministries, congregations, and communities. We are even now investigating possibilities for sending support to or through Israel, and hope to have news about that in the coming months. In the meantime, we are allowing funds to accumulate.
As for our charitable giving here at home, the right answer came up immediately, although in a very sad way. On February 20 of this year, our brother, friend, and Elder Frank Houtz passed suddenly from this life. He made a significant mark on BYNA as one of our Founders. His impact for the Kingdom of our Messiah extends back many decades, and will extend forward for many more. A gifted man of vision, Frank began many significant projects, knowing that he might not be around to see them reach maturity. Frank’s congregation, Beit Minorah in Winchester, Kentucky, is taking the lead in picking up the projects he was not able to finish. Many others whom Frank touched during his lifetime are doing the same, and we at BYNA are among them. BYNA’s part has been to establish a scholarship for the arts in Frank’s honor.
Thanks to generous support from our BYNA family, we presented the first award of the Frank Houtz Memorial Scholarship to his son, Jezreel, early in August. The money will assist Jezreel in developing his musical talents with the cello. We intend to make two scholarship awards each year, and have established an application process through our website.
We ask for your help in funding this scholarship. Your gifts make it possible for us to honor Frank’s memory and pass on his legacy to future generations!
One milestone of last year was adoption of our Mispacha Guidelines, the Torah-based standards we aim to keep in our behavior toward one another and toward others. The Mispacha Guidelines will be a central component of our affiliation with individuals, congregations and fellowships, and other organizations who would like to partner with BYNA. Our affiliation guidelines and procedures are still in development, but we are moving forward with a plan to present the Mispacha Guidelines in a way that supports our calling to the ministry of reconciliation and benefits the diverse body of Messiah Yeshua.
Specifically, we are creating a template for regional BYNA conferences. At our annual leadership gathering in Ellensburg, Washington, in July 2019, we decided on a three-day conference format that could be implemented anywhere and tailored to meet needs in each locality. The first day will focus on Protocol to honor the local and regional leadership. This includes First Nations leaders with spiritual responsibility for the land, as well as government, law enforcement, and church and synagogue leaders. The second day will focus on Hebraic Identity: the message of our status as Israelites according to the testimony of Scripture. Community, a natural outgrowth of identity, is the emphasis for the third day. If we are redeemed by Israel’s Messiah, and therefore become part of the covenant nation of Israel, then we should live by the standards of righteousness given to Israel, namely the Torah of the God of Israel. How we live out those standards in obedience to Messiah Yeshua and our heavenly Father is expressed in our Mispacha Guidelines.
This conference template is now in the process of development into a curriculum, with the goal of holding our first conference in Mesa, Arizona, in January 2020. We continue to refine and update programs and services we have implemented over the past three years.
Our annual 40 Days of Repentance daily devotionals will be available on Elul 1 (beginning of the 6th month; September 1 this year) to our newsletter subscribers and on our website and Facebook page to assist in preparing for Yom Kippur (October 8-9). We continue to place a priority on intercession, not only because prayer is foundational to our relationship with our Father and to one another, but also because prayer is a way to connect with our entire community of faith, whether Christian, Jewish, Messianic, or Hebrew Roots. A major part of our intercessory effort this year has been participation in the Nations 9th of Av (https://9-av.com/), an initiative of repentance that calls on Christians to join with Jews in Israel and around the world on the day Jews set aside to mourn for the loss of both Temples, and for many other tragedies suffered by the Jewish people through the centuries. The recognition that much of this suffering has come at the hands of the church has prompted a move of repentance and a desire to repair the breach between Christians and Jews.
This initiative is consistent with BYNA’s core values, and therefore we joined several prayer ministries to facilitate a 26-hour prayer conference call on the observance of the 9th of Av, August 10-11. Three of our faithful intercessors traveled to Jerusalem to take part in the events there. Look for reports of their experiences in our newsletter, and on our weekly podcast, (Reunion Roadmap).
The National Shabbat remains one of BYNA’s flagship programs, with the vision of bringing the people of God together regardless of their differences to worship Him on the day He set aside as holy and as a sign of His covenant with Israel. We have taken a rest from holding National Shabbat’s in this past year as we assess what has worked and what can be improved. Tommy and Dorothy Wilson have moved into position as National Shabbat Directors, and hope to restart the gatherings in the coming months in their home state of South Carolina. From there, we expect National Shabbat’s to expand over time as BYNA finds partners in implementing this vision throughout North America.
As this State of the Family update goes to press, we are unveiling our new website. The redesign is easier to navigate, with new features such as a Founders page to honor those who helped establish BYNA, a summary of our history, important documents such as our Mispacha Guidelines, a calendar of events, and designated pages for our charitable projects, of which the Houtz Scholarship is the first. These are features we have wanted to implement for some time, but have not been able to until now. That is the summary of what has happened in BYNA in the first half of our fourth year. There is much more we would like to do, but we are challenged by two things: willing hands to help in the labor, and financial assistance to bring those labors to maturity.
A critical way you can help is to join our prayer team, but there are other needs as well. If you would like to help, or if you have ideas to share, please email us at info@bneyyosefna.com.
Finally, if you would like to partner with us financially to meet our modest operating expenses, or to help with the Houtz Scholarship and with our Israel-focused projects, we can receive donations online through our Donations Page. We can also receive checks made out to B’ney Yosef North America and mailed to: B’ney Yosef North America PO Box 1068 Centralia, WA 98531 As we move into the season of the fall feasts, our joy and expectation continues to multiply.
Thank you for your interest, your prayers, and your participation with us in this Kingdom process of Ephraim’s restoration and reconciliation with Judah!
Jerusalem attendees for the Nations 9av event, August 2019. Photo: Laura Densmore Remembrances of the 9th of Av 2019 By Donna Matts What an exciting privilege and honor to be part of this year’s historic gathering with Christians from many nations joining our Jewish brothers to weep with those who weep and to grieve over sins of our Christian forefathers done against the Jewish people. We joined Orthodox Jews on the Promenade overlooking Jerusalem, lit with lights in the evening darkness. With passion, Rabbi Eisen read/sang the 5 chapters of the book of Lamentations. Returning back to the hotel, many of us joined in prayer throughout the night. We continued fasting as we gathered on Sunday morning at the southern wall of the Temple Mount. Using “THE LIST (https://9-av.com/marketplace/) ” (available on Amazon or https://root-source.com), we spent time repenting for the atrocities done by our Christian forefathers for hundreds of years/shocking heartbreaking revelations for many of us! We joined in the fellowship of their and of His suffering. Sunday evening, back at the hotel, this historic 9th AV event was sealed with 3 presentations to a Chief Jewish government official: Sandra, from Friends of Israel presented signatures of Christians who are repenting for sins of Christians against Jews; Bob O’Dell presented the book, “THE LIST (https://9-av.com/marketplace/) ” (available on Amazon), compiled by he and Ray Montgomery; and Laura Densmore presented the book “40 Days of Repentance (https://9-av.com/marketplace/) ” (available on Amazon). Praise the Lord for a new generation of Christians taking responsibility to YHWH and the Jewish people to HELP this REDEMPTION process for His Kingdom purposes. May barrier walls be broken! The next 4 days followed the pattern of going to Jerusalem, then into Judea and Samaria.Our focus was to connect with the land and, with the people in a new way.We built relationship by meeting many of the people of the land in their homes and businesses/in their everyday life. We listened to these precious Orthodox Jews with caring hearts, seeking to understand them. Someone expressed that most Jews have no interaction with Christians and most Christians have had no interaction with Jews. On Monday, Rabbi Eisen led us on a Bible study walking tour of Jerusalem while Anna Rina Heymann taught about Jerusalem to the remaining group that stayed at the hotel. On Tuesday, a tour bus drove us south into Judea to the Heritage Center, where we learned details of many Jewish settlers who gave their lives to protect Jerusalem in 1947-8.We enjoyed lunch, which was a feast provided by singer/musician Yehudah Katz and his wife Michelle, followed by worship as he led singing with his guitar. On Wed, we traveled to Bethel and Shiloh in lower Samaria, visiting a soap factory, whose employees are handicapped and then to HarBrachaWinery (http://theriverwine.com/har-bracha-winery.html) for a delicious lunch. On Thursday, we visited upper Samaria, in the area of Shekem and Mounts of Blessing/Cursing. Among our stops was the largest organic farm in Israel and a ceramic factory. Late afternoon we arrived at Hayovel (http://havovel.com (http://hayovel.com) ) to enjoy a delicious meal and fellowship provided by the Waller family, while learning the amazing story of this grape farm, to which Tommy Waller brought his young family of 11 children, which now has 26 grandchildren with 6 more grand-babies to be birthed soon. This year is their 14th harvest, to which volunteers come from all over the world to harvest, prune, and plant grapes. The tractors are winning the battle for the land! Someone said that Christians tend to watch biblical prophecy while Jews make biblical prophecy happen. They step into it and walk it out. What a JOY to connect with these precious people who are “making it happen” through their obedience and faith in walking out the Torah in their lives! Following our daytime tours, we gathered in the evening to connect with many others who are here in Israel fulfilling Abba’s purposes in these last days, ministering to the needs of its people and preparing the way for Yeshua to return. * Ezra Yahkin, a 91-year-old Freedom Fighter shared stories of the early years of the Jews here on His land, Israel. * Run for Israel is using a popular “sport” to bless Israel with every step. * World Emunah Center offers Christians an opportunity to interact and minister to 800 needy Israeli children. * Christine and Peter Darg have been a blessing to Israeli people for many years. * Tuly Weisz spoke of the new generation of Christians who are recognizing their responsibility to YHWH and to Jewish people to HELP this redemption process of mourning together, fasting together, praying together to the same God. * Jeremy and Ari of the Land of Israel Network, expressed their passion for Israel and the opportunity to build His Kingdom. Jeremy played his guitar and led us worshiping YHWH as we together sang HALLELUJAH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN-3AaatbI4) ! – Jews and Christians worshipping YHWH together. How BLESSED we were to be used of our Abba to help tear down barrier walls separating His children and furthering His desire for unity in His Body. Yom Teruah and the Twin Trumpets By Batya Wooten Used by permission from Key of David Publishing “Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the campus et out. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the ten of meeting. If only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. When you blow an alarm, the camps … shall set out … When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. The priestly sons of Aaron shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statue throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, you shall sound an alarm with trumpets, that you may be remembered before Yahveh your God” (Numbers 10:1-10). Yom Teruah is one of my favorite days of the Biblical year! Called the “Day of Blowing,” it also is sometimes called The Feast of Trumpets. And, I believe that, at least in part, it is a feast that we, Messiah’s Body, are called to fulfill! If so, then to be part of that fulfillment, will be like living in Bible times! Born on Sukkot (Tabernacles), our Messiah became our Passover Lamb, was raised as the First of First Fruits, poured out His Spirit on His people at Shavuot (Pentecost), and, it is believed by many that He will return to rule and reign, as the Judge of the whole earth, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (At One with God, if you will). Then, He will forever Tabernacle here on earth with His people, Israel (See also the Heralds: The Tabernacles Celebration and Yahveh’s Calendar versus Compromise with Babylon and Rome). But this leaves out Yom Teruah. What is its purpose? How is it fulfilled? To begin, we assume all readers have a basic understanding of the Father’s latter-day plan to reunite the two sticks of “Ephraim and Judah,” to make “both the houses of Israel” one stick in His Hand” (Isaiah 8/14, Ezekiel 37:15-28). Now in Jewish tradition, this day is called Rosh Hashanah, because, after Judah was taken captive to Babylon – like the Babylonians among whom they were forced to dwell – Judah began to call this day the Head of the Year. However, our Father told us, “This month [Abib, which corresponds to March-April] shall be the beginning of months for you” (Exodus 12:2). Many claim Rosh Hashanah is but a “civil” year celebration. However, at this time, the rabbis begin anew their yearly cycle of Torah readings – which surely indicates a “spiritual” calendar. Realizing that “both houses” have “stumbled” and thus erred, as Ephraim seeks to return to his roots, he would do well to be careful to embrace only “Biblical” roots. Let him not trade in “Roman mistakes” for “Babylonian blunders” (See also the Heralds: The Tabernacles Celebration* and Yahveh’s Calendar versus Compromise with Babylon and Rome*). Ephraim also would do well to realize that the Father still wants him – he being the formerly “wild” olive branch – to provoke Judah – to make them want what they have – that being a living relationship with the Messiah of Israel (Ephraim is the wild olive branch (Jer. 11:10, 16, 2:18, 21, Rom 11). Moreover, he needs to realize that he will not provoke Judah by becoming “more Jewish than the Jew.” Instead, Ephriam needs to catch a vision. He needs to see that he yet has a great role to play, by better understanding Torah, and in latter-day celebrations of the “feasts of Israel.” Ephraim’s Call The Father’s plan of salvation for “all Israel” is to have Ephraim provoke Judah to “envy.” But instead, in many cases, he is “jealous” of Judah (Romans 11:11, Isaiah 11:13). However, in this last day, this order will be reversed. The Holy One has declared that Ephraim’s jealousy of Judah “will depart.” And this will happen as Ephraim learns of his own Israelite roots. Then, his season of jealously is over (Jeremiah 31:18-19). Moreover, how the Father plans to make Judah want to emulate Ephraim is revealed in the parable of the prodigal: As stated in the Herald, From Orphans to Heirs*, the way the “returning prodigal” (Ephraim) made the older son (Judah) jealous, was by “celebrating and rejoicing.” “Making merry” made jealous. In Greek, it is “euphraino, euphraino” which means, to be in a good frame of mind, to make glad, to be or to make merry, to rejoice (See Luke 15:11-32 and Strong’s #G2165). Legalism and religion will not provide Judah. Celebration will. This explains why so many non-Jews are feeling an unexplainable urge to “celebrate the Feats of Israel”. So, the question is, what is the real meaning behind the Biblical Day of Blowing and how might we celebrate it? Why is this such a blessing? To answer let us review our Father’s instructions for the Day of Blowing (number 10:1-10). The Purposes of The Two Trumpets To celebrate Yom Teruah, Yahveh said to make “two trumpets of silver hammered work.” He also said that “priests” were to blow them to summon “all the congregation,” or, “to have the campus set out.” Also, they were to be sounded “when we go to war in our land,” so we will “be remembered before Yahveh our God,” and, by Him, “be saved from our enemies” (Numbers 10:1-10). It is the unified sound of these two trumpets that will serve to gather “all” Israel. The Two Trumpets Depict … There are “two trumpets,” and there are two houses of Israel: Judah and Ephraim. Trumpets depict “voices,” and historically, there have been only two people groups in the Earth who have been giving voice to a good testimony about the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Those two people groups are, “Christians and Jews.” They are the only two major people groups who both claim that He is “their God.” This is not to imply that everyone who claims to be part of either group is acceptable to the Father. It is simply to state that, both claim to believe in Him, and for centuries on end, both have been giving “testimony” about Him. Thus, the fact is that, in the Earth, they have been “two witnesses” for the God of Israel (There are: two houses (Isa 8:14), two nations (Eze 35:10), two families (Jer 33:24), two sisters (Eze 23:2-4), two branches (Zec 4:11-14), two sticks (Eze 37:15-28), two lampstands (Rev 11:3-4), and two witnesses (Rev 11:3-4). Moreover, long ago the Father said of the people of Israel, “You are My witnesses” (Isaiah 43:10). And, He Himself divided the twelve tribes of Israel into two houses (2 Chronicles 11:4). Further, He declared that, in Israel, all things must be confirmed by, “two or more” before it can be “established,” confirmed, believed (Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, John 8:17, 2 Corinthians 13:1). The problem is that, in many ways the voices of these two people groups have not been sounding in “unison.” Instead, they have even been denying one another. And, the two “trumpets/voices of Teruah” are to be sounded in complete unison. The twin trumpets of Teruah forecast two latter-day voices that speak in perfect harmony. They especialy foretell the latter-day voices of “two witnesses” who finally serve their purpose – they confirm the Father’s truth in the earth. Again, we must realize that it is only the unified sound of these two voices that will gather “all” Israel! Hammered Until We Repent These all-important trumpets are made of “hammered silver.” Silver speaks of redemption (Gen 20:16, Lev 5:15, 27:3 & 6, Num 18:16). It also symbolizes refinement (Psa 12:6, 66:10, Isa 48:10, Eze 22:22, Mal 3:3). And, Yahveh says of His two witnesses: “Behold, I will refine them … in order to refine, purge, and make them pure, until the end time … I will … refine them as silver … and … they will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are My people’, and they will say, “The Lord is my God’ … As purifier of silver, He will purify … and refine .. that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness” (Jeremiah 9:7, Daniel 11:35, Zechariah 13:9, Hosea l:10, Malachi 3:30). “Hammered” trumpets speak of His molding us through affliction. His “hammered ones”. Have taken their proverbial trip to the “wilderness.” There, as promised, the Father has dealt with them, “face to face” (Ezekiel 20:35). This foretells a people who have seen the face of the Holy One – and it has forever changed them. He has purged them of all that needs to be purged. They are a fully pardoned company of Jacob: “Through this Jacob’s iniquity will be forgiven; and this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; when Asherim and incense altars will not stand” (Isaiah 27:9). The Hammer and the Unified Testimony Through bot the houses of Israel, the Holy One has been trying to “hammer” out a twofold message. It is, the twin truths of Law and Grace. And, as His two witnesses, Ephraim and Judah must come to a place of unity concerning His Holy Word, from Genesis to Revelation. Only then, will we have served our true purpose as “two witnesses” for the God of Israel. Further, we can rest assured that the Holy One will continue to “hammer” us until we get it right! And, there will be those who will get it right! Because the Father always has “7000” on whom He can count (Romans 11:4). Yom Teruah and You! In this last day, the Father would like to count on you and me! He would have us catch a vision! He wants us to see that, the clear sound of the two Yom Teruah trumpets signals the beginning of the ten days between Teruah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What does this mean to us in our day? How does it affect our personal lives? Yom Teruah and the Ten Rich Days Yom Teruah marks the beginning of a “ten day” period. In Hebrew, ten is ‘eser. Like English number ten, it speaks of, accumulation of digits (i.e., seven-teen). However, this word comes from the same root as that of ‘ashar, which means to accumulate; chiefly, to make rich (Strong’s words # H6235 and 6238 respectively). Speaking of a day when Judah is no longer blinded to the Messiah, the apostle Paul says: “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!” (Romans 11:12). The sound of these unified voices marks the beginning of a time of great richness – meaning – a richness of our Father’s power and presence. Also, the Father speaks of a day when “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” And, He says, “… In that day … I will cut off the names of the idols from the land … and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land …” And, “It will come about … that two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahveh is my God.’ Behold, a day is coming for Yahveh when the spoil taken from you will be divide among you …” (Zechariah 13:1-14:1). Spoil, riches, are returned to Israel! The phrase, “ten days,” is mentioned ten times in Scripture. We see it is Daniel’s request that he and his friends be tested for ten days: “Test your servants for ten days …” he asked (Daniel 1:12-14). Also, Yeshua used this phrase when He spoke to the church/ekklesia of Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelations 2:10). In addition, Yeshua says to this ekklesia: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan’” (Revelation 2,8-9). Those having their riches restored will have to battle those who claim to be “Jews,” but are in truth of Satan himself (see Philippians 3:3). Truly, we have to watch out for both Roman and Babylonian snares, and for those who tout their errant teachings. Traditionally, this feast begins a time when Israelites are called to make peace with their brother (but not at the price of compromise of truth). Often called the Ten Days of Awe, they mark a time of self-examination and repentance, a time for men to make peace with their brethren, and so to prepare their hearts for Yom Kippur. Time is short brothers and sisters. And we have an awesome message to declare. As “priests” of the Most High GOD, we need to encourage our still blinded Israelite brothers. We need to call out: It is time for “all the camps to set out!” We need to cry out: “The cloud is moving! And let us move with it!” We also must sound the alarm for war against all that would oppress/hinder that which the Father would do in us at this hour. We also must war for our promised Land (Isaiah 11:13-14)! However, like our forefathers who were in bondage in Egypt, so we too will only be delivered when we have a heart-felt desire for deliverance! “Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to Yahveh. So Yahveh heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yahveh saw the sons of Israel, and He took notice of them” (Exodus 2:23-25). We first must want deliverance from this Egypt that binds us! Then Father will “take notice!” Again, these trumpets are made of silver, or ken’sef. This word comes from kawsaf, a primal root that can be translated as longing. “My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2; Strong’s #H3701). Those who go into the furnace of affliction, and so are tried as silver – those who truly long for deliverance from bondage to this world system – those who yearn for the restoration of Yahveh’s Kingdom over all Israel – they will yet sing a new song. For He has sworn: “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts – They came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them” (Zephaniah 3:18). Yes, we will yet sing “the song of Moses”! (Revelation 15:3). There are Believers from both Ephriam and Judah in the reunited house of Messianic Israel. And this means, Israel is once more sounding the twin trumpets of Teruah! In the past, each house has has only one voice, one trumpet. And Scripture reveals the secret that, if only “one” is blown, all you get is “leaders.” Thus, in church and synagogue alike, we have far too may “leaders”! Moreover, our Messiah called us to be “servants”! (Mark 9:35). Again, these trumpets are to be sounded by “priests.” And Peter, the apostle, declares that we who are being called forth by Yeshua are, “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belong to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light: (I Peter 2:9). The trumpets also are to be sounded that “we may be remembered before the LORD our God,” that by Him, we might be “saved from our enemies.” Very possibly, times that are both exciting and hard lie just beyond the millennium. Before long, our enemies may well be “those of our own households” (Matthew 10:35). So, while we are able, we need to sound our united trumpet voices. But let us not fear, for, even as a house divided cannot stand, once reunited, Judah and Ephraim will truly be empowered to stand against their enemies (Lune 11;17, Obadiah 1:18, Zechariah 9:13, I Samuel 17:45, Isaiah 11:13-14). Speaking of the destruction of enemy Babylon, Father says: “’At that time … 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 Yahveh their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion [The City of Truth], turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to Yahveh in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. In those days and at that time … search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found” (Jeremiah 50:4-5,20). Our Fathers speaks of a sinless Israel, and that sinless Israel will speak forth with a united voice. Of their reunited sound, the Word says: “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance [presence]” (Psalm 89:15, NMASB). “Happy is the people who know the joyful shout, O LORD …” (Tanakh). “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout …” (RSV). “Blessed – happy, fortunate [to be envied] – are those who know the joyful sound [understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]” (TAB). The word translated sound, or shout, is teruah! It speaks of the sound of the trumpets! And blessed are those who hear it call!
