Looking For The 7,000

Looking for the 7,000

Off The Religious Grid ? You Are Not Alone -- Matthew 7:13-15 --

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

And how does our Creator God, our Savior too, preserve His Identity, separating Himself from the fakes, the frauds, those called god but are no gods? By insuring that there will be a certain number of people called, throughout every generation, preserving His true Identity. Is this important? Read on, and then you decide, which path you are on.

Looking For The Seven Thousand

A Specific Number

Then and Now?

(I Kings 19:18) we read -- "Yet I (YaHWeH) have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba'al (Lord), and every mouth which has not kissed him (Lord -- Ba'al)."

What was it that was so special about Elijah's standing up to the Priest of the Lord Ba'al?

It was a battle over Identity -- Names -- the Name identifying the God of Israel, YHWH. His Name, His Identity, had become lost among the many other gods the people had gravitated to, due to the influence of a corrupted system, both government and religious. The people had chosen many gods, whose identity were all rounded up under the single term, Ba'al -- equivalent in today's common term, LORD, for there were many called Ba'al, as today, there are many Lords, many gods - 1 Cor 8:4-6. What is it, then, that would separate one god, false or not, from so many? The NAME -- who do you call on? Who is it that you confess?

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

(Joel 2:32) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

(Isaiah 12:4) And in that day shall you say, Praise the LORD, call upon His Name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His Name is exalted.

If you understand what is being said, then you know that our God, our Savior has His own, personal, Name. So, what is it? It is Not JESUS! Pronounced as Geezus by most English speaking people and as HeyZeus by others -- neither being correct -- neither is even close to our Lord's Birth Name, the Name given to Him, not by men, but delivered by an Angel, sent by The God The Father -- Luke 1:31 -- don't forget, the name the Christians us and put into the Word did not exist back then. Yes, you have been lied to. His name, His birth Name the name given to Him by His Father in Heaven has been changed -- no, not changed, but REPLACED. If you understand this, then you can understand Eliyah's predicament, being one against the many -- truly on the outs, shunned even, by this own.

Elijah, exposing the false teachers in a miraculous victory -- Fire from Heaven -- giving the victory over all other things called gods which are no gods at all, becomes, at the same time, Elijah's lowest point. King Ahab's wife, the infamous Jezebel, put out a murderous contract for Elijah's head. This sent Elijah into a tail spin, and he lit out to save himself. While in hiding, YaHWeH revealed something very interesting to Eliyah -- a specific number of people, unseen by others, not recognized by virtually anyone, and yet, a specific number who would not, could not fail in the preserving of Israel's true Identity, apart from all other gods -- and we see this very thing during the time Savior, YaHshua, came in the flesh and beyond, even to this very day.

The New Covenant Writings reveal that this principle of "group selection", was not, and is not a one time deal -- a chosen people -- a people called out to walk the narrow path in a truth the world does want to see.

Rom 11:2-3 God didn't reject His people, which He foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about EliYah? How he pleads with God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
Rom 11:4-5 But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal (Lord worship - Ba'al)." Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

If then, so now. Paul's words confirm that this process of reserving a select few by the God of Heaven and Earth, is a continuing work, and to be of effect, this process has to be from generation to generation. Like Eliyah, not seeing those in that special election, not until he was informed by YaHWeH, Himself, did he understand that he was not alone. Those called into the election of grace may not know each other, but their unity is seen by their Father in Heaven and by the Angels. Notice how Eliyah thought he was alone, and yet he was not.

Later, from the New Testament writings, the Apostle Paul makes this very clear and if this is the case in his generation, so it is in every generation after, including this present time, and the next generation to come.

This is serious business!

(Exo 3:13) -- Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is His name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

(Pro 30:4) -- Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

(Jdg 2:13-14) They forsook YaHWeH, and served Baal (The Lord) and the Ashtaroth.

The anger of YaHWeH was kindled against Israel (people of God), and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

(John 5:43) -- I have come in My Father's Name, and you don't receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

First New Covenant Sermon

(Act 4:12) -- There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other Name under heaven, that is given (found) among men, by which we must be saved!"

Peter delivered that message to those first called, on that day of Pentecost, or known as the Feast of Weeks. Salvation in calling on any other name but the one the Apostles knew and preached, identifying, correctly, the Son of the Living God, whom Jew and Gentile crucified. Remember, the name JESUS never existed then, and would not appear until nearly 1600 years later -- yes, his birth name had already been twisted into a Greek name, and later a Latin substitute, early on. But the name replacing our Savior's birth name today, the Apostles had never heard, and never taught, and never baptized anyone in, and that false name is JESUS. Of course, the deception would not be complete if your holy books, your Bibles had not been corrupted in this way. It is not as if the translators, the preachers and teachers had no other choice. The Birth Name of our Lord is a name much, much older a name dating back to the times of Moses, a name found on the name who led the people of Israel into the promised land, JOSHUA, as it appears in the Word, better pronounced as, YaHshua. This, then is a witness against those translators and word scholars of what is called, the New Testament. The message is there, but the names have been changed. Now, read Acts 4:12, again.

Like those Israelis, the people of god, calling on the Ba'al, the modern people of today are making the same mistake, having replaced the Name of our One True Savior, YaHshua -- yes, REPLACED -- the false name, JESUS, is most definitely NOT His Name. The scholars, falsely tell us that the false name, JESUS, is an equivalent of the Greek and that is an outright lie. Even the Greek presentation, in most Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries are not a true equivalent or our Lord's Birth Name -- they are all lying. The Greeks began changing his name into something more familiar to themselves -- after all, a good Greek, with a history of gods and goddesses, could not be worshiping a Jewish god. But, the real change did not begin to take place until the Latin, or Romans got hold of this Messiah and under the guidance of Emperor Constantine, turned this Jewish god into a Roman god, and what better way than to change how His name appeared and how it would be pronounced?

Peter delivers the first sermon and it is all about the ONE Name, representing the One Savior, under whose Name we MUST be Saved -- Acts 4:12. Not maybe, or about how you look at it, or being in a different time, different place -- no, it is what counted then, also counts now -- Peter's message is specific. Because of the weakness of man, and the willingness to accept the absurd for a multitude of reasons, it has been allowed for the blind, and those living in the Fog of Religion, to continue in their ignorance. And for this reason, it seems, as I see it, our Heavenly Father has revealed Himself and His Son to a select few, to preserve His Identity. Like the 7,000 in Elijah's day, there is another group or congregation visible to the Heavenly beings, that bear the seal of the Father and the Son, literally preserving their true Identity, in a name by which we all much be saved -- calling on any other savior is vain.

As the church (ecclesia) of those first called began to expand, the Apostle Paul is called, in a dramatic way -- Acts, Chapter nine -- delivers another message that is just as important today as back then. Paul, against his own will, is called to deliver the Gospel, in the Name of the Messiah, YaHshua, to the Gentiles. Here is a man going out to imprison, leading some to death, buried in extreme hate toward those Jewish brethren who dared to claim YaHshua as Messiah. What we see with Paul's calling is the fact that our Creator can, and sometimes does take a hands on approach. One might wonder what would have happened, then or in the future, to Paul, had he not been "forcefully" called into service? Nothing good, that is for sure.

The Apostle Paul updates the "direct calling", not of choice, but by selection. Paul's forced calling, reveals a principle dating from the Time of Elijah (EliYaH) to the Time of the Apostles, and we can be pretty sure that his "selected calling" is still in effect to this very day.

It should be understood, that this is not a calling of volunteers, it is a chosen number of people, and by a numerical comparison, a percentage level by population from then to now, that number could be much, much greater, or it could also be much smaller. The Apostle Paul quoted from the Hebrew (Tanach, or Tanakh) an event that took place sometime around 9th century BC -- around 800 years earlier, and now, 1,900 (give or take) years later we read Paul's update, indicating that this principle, or process is still in effect --the setting aside of a people, unseen people, off of the religious grid, preserving His Identity, His Name, literally, and this people preserved for Himself, just as He told Elijah, and the Apostle Paul repeats.

What this means, is that for each generation of people, our Heavenly Father, along with, now, His First Born, call a people from among all people (the way for the Gentiles has been opened), for Himself, preserved out of this world's religions and systems, who worship Him and not other.

The Apostle Paul quotes this principle -- to the gentiles of Roman, and anyone that will listen, or hear, or read:

Paul, quoting Eliyah: "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
<And how does God answer EliYaH? >

"I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal (Lord)."
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (read again -- Romans 11:3-5)

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A modern example of this continuing Ba'al worship:

It is interesting to note that a statue said to be of the Apostle Peter, in a sitting position, is kissed as an act of worship -- and the kissing the Pope's ring -- a practice that is not new, but dates back to a time that "Lord" (Ba'aL) worship was common among the people of Israel, and not those claiming to be followers of Another -- "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.", (1 King 19:18 - Hos 13:2).

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Presented by Your servant Dan L Baxley

email: dan@servantsofyahshua.com

www.servantsofyahshua.com

Looking for the Seven Thousand

Paul reports this very thing, pointing toward a "remnant", a few among the people of Israel, that even in his, Paul's day that fulfilled this very same responsibility of the 7,000 in Elijah's day -- if then, and if in Paul's day, so then in ours too -- there is a "remnant" among those claiming the God of the Holy Bible is their God, that have not bowed to the "Lord (Ba'al) worship" of today -- Baal means "Lord" -- Baal worship, then, is "Lord worship" -- or -- LORD worship, the Title/name in small caps that the translators have chosen to replace His Holy Name, YHWH. Can you see this? The Name of our God, the Creator God of Israel, is replaced, in you Bible with a title that was once the name of a pagan, Babylonian god, Ba'al. Look up LORD in the Old Testament translations, in all caps and you find that LORD is actually, YHWH. Then, looking up the word Baal, and we find that that is a word that was once a pagan god and later used as Christian use the term, or word, Lord, today. You need to know to whom you are bowing to, to whom you are bending the knee, to whom you are praying to.

A quick look at this Identity:

Judges 2:13

And they forsook the LORD (YaHWeH), and served Baal (The Lord) and Ashtaroth (The Goddesses).

[See note at the end of this article - Ellicott's Commentary]

The number today may be much larger than the 7,000 in EliJah's day and even in Paul's days, in a proportional sense but the fact remains and is -- The God of Israel chose a specific number whom He personally "reserved", from among the people that had not gone the way of the majority. It is not something these few, by comparison, had done but by an action of awakening and reservation by the Action of the God of Israel, YaHWeH. And today this action is only possible through the proper recognition of our Savior through whom this knowledge of our selection comes (election of grace). The Father reveals the Son, and the Son reveals the Father, this then, is made known from generation to generation to the few -- not by your choice or my choice but by His, by Their choosing.

(Mat 11:27) All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. NIV

The God of Israel made this knowledge of "reservation" known to EliYah and later Paul picked up on this revelation and expanded upon it. This knowledge was easier to understand in the first century as our Lord's Name had not yet been changed -- yet. Remember, the battle EliYaH had with the "Lord worshippers" (Baal worshippers) was over a NAME, an identification about who the true God or gods are -- YaHWeH or the many Ba'al" Fire from Heaven proving the True God, YaH - YaHWeH and not the Lords Ba'al. Also, the name Ba'al, may have originated as a single individual, but became a name for many gods, or lords, as in many Ba'als -- so, then, whose "lord" is your "lord", or Ba'al is yours? However, Eliyah faced off against this one god, Ba'al, applied to many different lords and gods, at that time Eliyah, whose very name means, My God is YaH, is standing up against those claims that their god is Ba'al, their Lord gods are true. One man against 450 ministers, pastors, and priests for Ba'al, plus 400 priests of the groves, that is -- prophets of Asherah, also known as Astarte, later called the Queen of Heaven -- Jeremiah 44:17.

Utely's commentary:

“Anathoth” This name (BDB 779) comes from the Amorite goddess, Anath, who is the sister or consort of Ba'al. She was the most active warrior goddess (i.e., Anath, Asherah, Astarte, and Astoreth) called the Queen of heaven in the Ras Shamra poetry texts (found in the city of Ugarit, north of Israel. A city by this name, Beth-anath, is mentioned in Jos_15:59; Jos_19:38; Jdg_1:33.

Then:

1Ki 18:21-22 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD (YaHWeH) is God, follow him; but if Ba'al is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's (YaHWeH's) prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. NIV

And the people said nothing? It is not very often that we find in the historical record, where the people of Israel did not ratify the Covenant with YaHWeH, but here, in account, Eliyah charged them, and they were silent. The impact of that moment cannot be any greater, as it mimics the Church today. Today, those claiming the Hebrew/Christian Bible, as they should, as the Inspired Book they believe in, remain silent, a kind of ignorance. One of those times in history when everyone is happy in fulfilling that old saying, "Don't confuse me with the facts", a sarcastic point of truth, then and now.

Eliyah continues, telling the Pastors of Baal (The Lord), to ready a sacrifice for their god. This is a very exciting story, and told many times among the "LORD" worshippers, but always, the point is missed -- this is all about, "Whose God ithe True God?", and, "Whose Name do you call on?"

1Ki 18:24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of YaHWeH. The god who answers by fire--he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

These Ministers, Pastors and Priests, were confident. They did not hesitate. And when you read the rest of the story -- make no mistake, this is more than a "story", it is an Historical account, but told like some kind of children's story. This account should be a reminder to all that would dare call the Hebrew/Christian Bible, their Bible, the Inspired Word of Their God, seriously, as an absolutely true account, and hear what it is telling us -- Only ONE God answered a Prayer that day. Those religious leaders, all 400, were confident about their god Ba'al, even some of Jezebel, Ashra pastors and priests were present, all confident about their god and goddess, after all, they had had prayers and petitions answered before, this would be a snap, 400 plus, priests of Ba'al, backed up by 450 ministers of Astarte against the one that Elijah represented. These false prophets believed, they were believers in their false gods, or this contest would never have taken place. You see, these representatives of these false gods believed in their totems, their works of stone, those celestial lights in the sky, they believed, but this day they would find out that in all they called, Ba'al, only ONE Name truly mattered. Those prophets and priests of Ba'al put their reputations, even their lives on the line for their deception, being deceived themselves. We find this kind of deception in the times of the Apostles, and even today -- 2 Tim 3:13.

Reading the rest of that historical account, what became obvious to them, in a single moment, would cost them all of their lives. And you would think that that would be the end of the story, but no. Eliyah ends up on the run, a reward on his head -- 1 Kings 19:1-3 -- Eliyah, even after the demonstration by Fire from Heaven, and the drought broken, he was afraid, and ran for his life. Jezebel, was more fearful than Ahab, than all of the prophets of Ba'al, or the prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table. The control that this woman had over her husband, King Ahab, must have been above powerful, it had to be demonic. Eliyah would stand up against King Ahab, but not the woman, Jezebel (Ye ze ba'al -- pronounce; ee-zeh'-bel -- Bel is the Babylonian term for Ba'al). There is another possibility for Elijah's sudden fear, driving him to take off on a near 100 mile journey to the south. YaHWeH did not tell Elijah to kill the prophets. This appears to be something Elijah took upon himself -- as in the heat of the moment.

Our actions have consequences, especially those that are outside of the Word. Moses, for example, because he had take violent action against a stone, striking it, as opposed to YaHWeH's instruction to merely touch it,so water would flow, became the reason that Moses was not allowed to enter the Holy Land. This may be a similar thing with Elijah. Sudden fear, something he had not experienced up to that moment, and that fear for what he had caused to happen, the murdering of the prophets of Ba'al, and this unconscionable action producing the warrant for his head, set him on the run for fear of losing his own life. Apparently he did not travel alone, but his meeting with YaHWeH and being taught a lesson is in the desert, alone, he thinks -- 1 Kings 19:3-8 -- once restored, he pulled a 40 day, 40 night trip to mount Horeb. It is interesting that YaHWeH asks Elijah what he is doing there, not once but twice. this is when Elijah cries to him about how he is the only one left, and this is when the God of all Creation, YaHWeH, informs him that he is not alone -- 1 Kings 19:9-18

The government of that day, put a reward out for him, dead or alive, dead preferably -- Jezebel would have his head, and there would hardly be a court in any land that would not support her, not because she worships false gods, but because Elijah would be considered a Mass Murderer. Eliyah ran, a murderer on the run, with Jezebel's swat team hot on his heals. But Eliyah made it to the boarder of Judah and then to a mountain outside of Bathsheba, safe in a cave. Hiding out in a cave on the mountain of Horeb, Eliyah found out more about himself. After all he had been through, the drought, living a solitary life with a widow and her son, with virtually no recognition, until King Ahab came looking for him. One would have thought that with Eliyah's reputation and the King fearing him so much that Eliyah would be hailed as the top influencer of his day, but no, just a murderer on the run -- a mass murderer at that. There was no excuse for what He did. YaHWeH did not order this killing of his kinsmen.

Still, we need to remember that was under the Old Covenant, a covenant made with a particular people, a people that had sworn allegiance to a particular God, basing their civil lives and governance on this Covenant -- those in the Northern states of Israel were breaking away. Under the New Covenant, we are citizens of a Heavenly State, awaiting the coming of this State to Earth, but for now we are living as strangers among the blind who are ruling and ruining this Earth -- the principle for us today is one of peace -- under a covenant of peace and not vengeance -- Heb 12:14, Rom 12:17-19. We have become witnesses to mankind's inability to rule himself -- the desire may be there but the ability is not, only an appearance of goodness, while evil seems, for now, to be winning the day. Under the New Covenant we have the Promise of His return. For the most part, those He has called, live unseen among those walking blind, some seeing a little, understanding a little, like looking through a fog, not quite sure what they are looking at, but all too willing to declare themselves for just about anything that moves, be it a chiselled stone, or the crafty words of a polished deceiver. Even the teachers of deception can be deceived themselves, believing the lie. Paul warned one of his students of this very thing -- 1 Tim 3:12-14.

In Eliyah's account, notice that when he went before the "people" -- thousands must have been gathered around to see the big show. Many may have called out, "Hey, look, that trouble maker Elijah is taking on our Pastors in a contest about whose god is god", or some such thing, and it is among, or in front of these Israelis, Elijah stood up, said his piece, and they were SILENT. Much like today. The Pastors and Priest, however, when presented with the conditions of the contest, Well, now, easy pickings, right? Elijah stood not chance. Of course, at the end of the show, with Elijah the winner, the spectators were not silent anymore, jumping on their Pastors, their Priests, killing all of them. But, even after all of this, do we see the people then turning to Elijah to renew the Covenant with YaHWeH? Nope. But, then, that was then, nearly 800 years before Paul would quote a message, as a reminder for us, even to this day, given as a revelation to EliYaH, picked up by the Apostle Paul (Saul) and passed on as a reminder to all of us, that there is a calling, whether we see it or them, or not, it is as sure today as it was then.

Then Later, Paul Says -- "..then at this present time..." -- in Paul's time, this principle of a Special Calling, is continuing ....

(Rom 11:4-5)."...I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal (Lord). Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace". KJV

Let us not forget that Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13, Gal 1:16; 2:7-8, Acts 13:46; 18:6 and this message he is delivering is going out to Gentile Believers. The question has been raised that this is possible only referring to Israel. So, Israel only? What about Judah? Apparently, if we are to take this revelation, first to EliYaH, from YaHWeH, then from Paul to us, I mean Israel, then what about Judah? Paul is using the revelation to EliYaH, that he was not alone, as he thought, and so, Paul too, is letting believers in YaHshua know they are not alone either and in this revealing, something else is made known, and not to Israel only, but to all believers -- our Heavenly Father and our Savior, YaHshua, have at their will chosen from among the people that He calls His a certain number to preserved and protect and battle for His Holy Name. How do we know this, then? Read Revelation Chapter 3:8-9, and ask yourself, What is it the chosen of YaHshua are doing in opposition to those claiming to be people of God the Father and followers of YaHshua -- They refuse to deny His Holy Name.

YaHWeH says to EliYaH -- The very same account Paul Quotes for us --

(1Ki 19:18) Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." NIV (Baal was the Zeus of the day, the Jupiter, the Dionisus, the Jesus of today)

More than 7,000? Yes, now in this time, more than 7,000 -- at least down through the centuries. How do we know this? First off we are told that there will be 144,000 from all Israel, 12,000 from each tribe. Again, a specific number, but as Gentiles, that is all non-Israelis the number is not known. Of those who have come and gone the number is uncountable. But rest assured, there is a number and all are Marked by His Holy Name -- Rev 7:3, 9:4, 14:1 & 3:12 -- As then so now.

Are you the square peg trying to fit into the round hole (1 Peter 2:9; 1 Cor 3:16)? Then you may be one of these few reserved by our Creator Himself, as one of the few called, set aside, having not bowed to the Zeus of the day. Do you find yourself swimming around in the bowl of Christianity finding you cannot justify yourself by the traditions and customs of the Church? Do you see the conflict with Scripture and the actions of Christians? Then maybe it is time for you to come out of her.

If it is evident to you that the "Jesus", professed by the Christians of today, is not the Messiah of the Scriptures? Not the Messiah of 30 AD? (1 John 4:2-4; 1 John 2:22 -- seeing the deception in the teaching of "another" Savior -- seeing that, YaHshua, is His Name and is nowhere close to the false name, Jesus (many pronounce as Hey Zeus) -- seeing that the translators have stumbled over the true stone -- then you may very well be one of the 7,000. See -- His birth Name is not Jesus

144,000 Reserved for YaHshua

Paul used the example from Elijah (EliYaH) to assure those called the elect, both Gentile and Jew, that even in the most dire moments, our Heavenly Father has always a few set aside, there is always a remnant. Paul used the Elijah battle against the false prophets and priest, where it appeared he had won the fight but lost the battle and was the soul survivor, but YaHWeH scolded him for his moment of disbelief and made it clear who is really in charge and that beside Elijah, He had reserved 7,000 others. The Apostle Paul sees this, even before the Book of Revelation comes to light. The Apostle John is shown a remnant from among the people of Israel and this remnant is also mentioned as a specific number, 144,000 -- 12,000 from each tribe, and only our Heavenly Father and our Savior, YaHshua, could possibly know who and where these people are, but we are told where they will be when YaHshua returns -- with Him. We can also know that there is another number among the Gentiles, both death, to be raised and alive, living at His return that is beyond counting. This is undeniable, a certain truth. Some deny this truth and teach that the 144,000 is the church, the Christian church, denying, essentially, the clear, prophetic word.

To deny or change the meaning of the final days prophetic words is to deny the Creator God, the only Living God. But, no matter what you or I think, His word is true and this world is in for some big changes and His Gentile witnesses will be here when it happens – as will the 144,000, whom He has reserved for YaHshua -- These Israelis will not look like the picture or the character or the customised Jews of these past centuries. The word is plain on this and no matter how you read it it is always the same -- the 144,000 is a collection of flesh and blood Israelis, 12,000 from each of the tribes, set apart from this world -- a specific number -- not so visible but sealed by Him, reserved by Him, in a very similar fashion as the 7,000 that Elijah, a true man of YaHWeH, did not see or recognise, virtually invisible to the world. When YaHshua returns, this 144,000, Sealed and recognised by Him and His Angels, will walk with Him -- they will be His entourage (Rev 7:1-4 and 14:1-4 -- where He goes they go).

A Great Uncountable Number

It has always been the purpose of YaHshua to save Israel. The 144,000 is a specific number, just as our Creator chose 8 individuals to survive the flood and again setting aside (marking of sealing a certain number with His Holy Name) the 7,000 in the time of Elijah's ministry against all of the LORD (Ba'al) worshippers. This, of course does not count the number of those to be raised from the grave, nor does it take into account the Gentile converts, but we are told that this is a much greater number, ".... a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, ..." Rev 7:9-12. The times of the Gentiles is close to coming to an end -- Luke 21:24. The 144,000 are not Gentiles, they are not the Gentile Christian Church, as some claim, and in doing so, deny the simple word. Believe what its says -- the 144,000 are marked, sealed by the Name of our Heavenly Father and will have been birthed (reborn) into Spirit as "firstfruits" to walk with their Savior, The First Fruit -- No matter which race of people you are, called to Him, He is our Savior YaHshua, as well. The 144,000, however, will go wherever He goes, and they are all descendants from Jacob, who was renamed, Israel -- Israel's destiny is salvation -- Our Creator God and Father, did not raise Israel up to fail, He has determined their eventual success. This period of time is to be at the Return of our Lord and Savior, YaHshua. The vast number of Gentiles too but it is obvious that this period is at the Resurrection of both the dead (the Greater Number) and the living. So, for now, in our time, these modern times, we still wonder, and ask the question, Who are the 7,000 or the representative number that our Heavenly Father has Reserved today among the living, in our generation? This appears to be a principle of selection and election down through each generation -- HalleluYaH.

Hebrew Root Movement -- Opposing Christianity?

On the other hand are you caught up in a religion that is trying to restore the Old Covenant? Claiming to be something they are not? Many do see the error of the Paganized Christian groups and plunge into the Hebrew Roots Movement or the Messianic or the Sacred Names Movements in a futile effort, to rid themselves of the Pagan customs and traditions, only to become bound up in a different way, to things seen as more Biblical. Some try to live like Jews or see themselves as the New Israel and still others even teach they are physical descendants of Israel, seeing themselves as the Lost Tribes -- all in vain efforts to be something they are not, also a dangerous route to take. Be careful as you look to fit in (Revelation 3:9, from these run, don’t walk). It is a noble thing to seek the truth, and a brave thing to step out from the comfort of others, in order to follow revealed truth, but in the excitement of finding, of seeing this new revelation, in how the whole system called Christianity has been deceived, one should not be too anxious to join with some other group on appearances only.

In Eliyah's day, even he did not know, and was not even aware of any others who saw what he saw, and fought for what he fought for. Very odd, that after the battle over Names (Which god is your God?), and the crowd of Israelis gathers, and witnessing the fire from the heavens, and even participating in the slaughter of the false preachers and teachers and priest of Ba'al, seem to have abandon Eliyah too. Still, as we see, Eliyah was not aware of the 7,000 that YaHWeH held in reserve. It would seem that even these were not aware.

Shunned or Not Fitting In?

Do you feel you have become entangled with group oppression, all in the name of god? (Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 10-11; 2 Cor 11:13, Yes, Satan has servants whom he inspires -- the coming of the Ultimate Servant of Satan Rev 13:2 )

Do you seem to understand things in the scripture that separate you from others? (2 Cor 11:4-- , again remember, His name is not Jesus, but Yahshua, now read this again That knowledge of truth alone will cause then to shun you, Romans 10:13. Taught by God our Father, John 6:45; Ephesians 6:12)

Do you find yourself biting your tongue when around others for fear of causing division, or worse still, to be asked to leave? (maybe you should leave? 1 Cor 15:33)

Do your questions to your pastor only cause arguments or belittlement? (2 Peter 2:2-4)

Do you feel alone in this world of confused religions and obvious false doctrines? Does it seem like your Bible is saying something different from what the preacher is saying? (Matt 24:4, 1 Cor 3:19)

Do you feel that maybe you do not belong? Are you intimidated into silence? (1 John 1:2-4, never mind, your fellowship is with the Apostles through their written words and especially with God our Father and Yahshua, His son -- you are not alone, all united by His Holy Spirit -- Matthew 11:27)

Have the leaders of your church set you against your family? Or have they set your family against you? Do they practice authority over all? Scripture, our real authority? Or do they teach that the Father God is over the Christ and the Christ is over the man and man over the woman and if so then just where does it say the pastor is over the woman, over the children, over you (Eph 5:22-24)?

There has been an abundance of misuse in this area, all derived from words addressed to the Apostles and later taken by common men thinking themselves something they are not and taking on the authority given to the original Apostles. The Head of your house is you and you are subject to the Messiah. You, as the man, have a responsibility to be gentle and patient, yourself a servant to the wife -- that's right, a servant -- if one is to lead one must become a servant - Mat 20:25-27. She is not your slave, but because of her weakness (remember it was she that was deceived) you, as the head, are to be tolerant and patient toward her. To lead, you become the servant. Blessed is the man with a God fearing wife that understands this, and is able to see the true strength in her husband, for his mercy toward her is the mercy we find in YaHshua and our Heavenly Father toward us. Amen

Do you met with uncomfortable uncomfortable stares or smiles of tolerance, while attempting to engage in discussions about the creation, about our Creator, or about our Savior's True Identity? Or perhaps, you are being met with stony silence or angry?

If you can answer, "Yes", to any of the questions above, perhaps this web site is for you. Perhaps you are – one of the Seven Thousand? The Main point being, however, is not about mistreatment from others, that is to be expected -- John 15:18-19 -- but what Name do you confess, under which name, among all of the gods, do you profess, or confess? Trouble will come, for His Name's sake -- Mt 10:22; 19:29; 24:9, Acts 9:16, Rev 2:3 -- especially if you start suggesting that those calling themselves Christians, are calling on, or worshipping the wrong god, then shunning, or worse, should be expected. Telling those around you that they are worshipping the wrong god, calling on, and bowing to the wrong god, to the wrong messiah, and calling on a name that never existed in the first century, that never existed until the 15th century, just might cause some to want to throw stones at you, or worse -- Isayah 66:5. Our Savior came in a Name, and it is a Name we are to confess with our own lips, and to bow to no other. He was born YaHshua, and there is no other name found among men by which we must be saved -- Acts 4:12. With this in mind, start reading your Bible by restoring His Birth Name, and see for yourself how the meaning of verses like -- 1 John 2:22, take on a whole different meaning. Also -- 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7. We hear a lot about the Antichrist. My Bible says that there are many "Antichrists" -- 1 John 2;18. Then there is Acts 4:12, John 17:11, Hebrews 2:12, and many others, if you restore His Birth Name, your Bible readings will upon up anew.

Number One Principle "Let the Father be true and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4)

With that in mind let us proceed --

Who are the Seven Thousand?
That would be the number of those found not to have given themselves to the popular religion of their day. Biblical speaking, the original seven thousand lived during the days of Elijah (Eli-YaH). Elijah, at one point in his ministry, Eliyah thought he was alone -- the only one worshipping the true Creator in all Israel, the only one worshipping YaHWeH, even after winning the "contest" over the "LORD" (BAAL) worshippers. He, however, was wrong, and had to be reminded by YHWH, that he was not alone --

There were "seven thousand" that had not bowed to the popular religion of the day and had not kissed (joined hands with this false religion and its priests) Baal. Baal, in the days of Elijah and the Seven Thousand, was the "Lord" worship of that day. Kissing the idol of one of the Baals demonstrated an intimate acceptance of this false worship. Kissing can be likened to a handshake of today sealing an agreement. Westerners and Europeans may sign an agreement then shake hands all around sealing the signed agreement. Even today some in other countries greet and seal agreements with a kiss. It is not uncommon in this modern era to see religious people kissing their idols whether they be square prayer boxes, holy stones, holy pictures, holy crosses, holy men, and even stone statues.

In Rome there is a statue of Peter, or so they say, and the big toe on this venerated piece of stone - cut into the shape of a man - has virtually been "kissed" off. Once a year the Pope himself places his robe and crown upon this stone idol and bows before it and kisses its foot. The Seven Thousand would not be a party to such things, not in the days of Elijah and not now in these days. Who are the Seven Thousand? It is those that worship the true God in Heaven, in truth and in spirit – and acknowledge Yahshua as Messiah and Savior. An guess what? The Roman Catholic Church murdered tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters.

First the Roman Empire, under the Caesars, murdered Christians for their beliefs for nearly 300 years, but it has been the Roman Catholic Church that has murdered believers not of their baptism for the past 1,500 years, up until Napoleon removed the power of the Pope, making him a virtual captive and limiting the power to the Vatican grounds making it the smallest country/city/state in the world, covering about 25 acres (?). Although the Popes, since Napoleon, has had the power over life and death that they once enjoyed -- even over the Kings of the Earth, they ruled like a beast among nations. Some believe this will be repeated. Still, this monstrous, biblical, religious Beast, exercises great influence and as the world forgets about the crimes of the past, the Roman Church influence continues to grow in these modern days.

Make no mistake, history is the witness against this Whore of Babylon, under the authority of the Popes, launched crusades against innocent people like the Anti-baptists (those not agreeing with child baptism, or sprinkling, among many other doctrines), the Albigenses, Waldenses, and other lesser known individuals and groups, killing off whole towns and villages of people not agree with the Roman Catholic Church or refusing her confession. Of course everyone has heard of the Spanish inquisitions, but that is only a part of the history of the Roman Church drinking in the blood of true saints. Like the Woman on the Beast in Revelation chapter 17, drunk on the blood of the saints, so is the Roman Church without apology or repentance, the same today as yesterday and if given the chance to rule over kings, presidents, and prime ministers again, if unleashed, allowed out of her box, she will again torture and murder the innocent -- all of those who will not confess the unholy Name she confess and demands you confess. Make no mistake, the Roman Catholic Religious Powers are orchestrating a come back and we can see this in her bid to accept into her fold all religions. The Late Pope John began this newest of crusades by allowing pagan religions to meet in a Roman Catholic Conference and come before sitting Pope and perform their magical acts of pagan worship, all under the banner that We are all Worshipping the Same God, just in Different Ways. Of course, this is recognition by these other pagan religions that the Pope is supreme. And Pope Francis has picked up where Pope John left off. I sometimes wonder if Pope (retired) Benedict could not bring himself to go along with this path of open paganism and so he retired. Maybe not, after all, the Roman Church has enough built in paganism to check off all the boxes for a Church built on the foundations of Nimrod and Semiramis, the Whore of Babylon, also depicted in the Book of Revelation, chapter 17, verse 5 (Rev 17:5). Wait, in case you don't want to bother opening your own bible --

(Rev 17:4-6) And the Woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a Name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of YaHshua: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Mother of Harlots -- she has daughters, and who are those but they that came out of her, out in the times of the Protesting against the power of the Pope, those called the Protestant Churches, and they all kept her teachings, like daughter against the mother in a fight over authority, not doctrine, not the paganism they all accept and all calling on a name our Lord and Savior was Never Named.

When we look at the history of the Reformation, that great religious break from the Roman Church and the Pope's authority we find her "daughters", practising similar, the same, customs and traditions. Free from the shackles of Rome, yes, but in another way the same, and using the doctrine of paganism to shackle believers who would otherwise come to the True Savior and call on and be baptised into the Name of the True Savior, YaHshua, but instead, these pagan leaders in disguise take captive the innocent and kill either the flesh or the spirit, those that should belong to Him, to YaHshua. Many Protestant Bishops enforced their positions over the people by force as well, even, at times, under the penalty of death. The struggle of the saints has always been the same; by not conforming to the doctrine of those usurping the Throne of our King and Savior, and for this, many have been destroyed, burned at the stake, hung, tortured into a confession not their own. The angels of Heaven and our Heavenly Father and our Savior know who these people are and a reward awaits them.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:10)

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Elijah thought he was alone (I Kings 19:14) but he was not. The mighty YHWH corrected him (I Kings 19:18). The people of YHWH were, in the days of Elijah, concentrated in the land of Israel while today, the people of the Almighty Living God, are like "salt" sprinkled out over the face of the whole earth (Matthew 5:13). We should not forget, our Savior told us in advance that the end days would be as the end days of Noah. Many point to His, our Messiah, saying, "they married and were giving in marriage", as a proof everything was NORMAL, but this is far from the point. How had the days of Noah been? There were around 120 years of people "marrying and giving in marriage", of 'buying and selling" -- 120 years, and how did it end? Only 8 survived the end of days at that time, ONLY 8 people out of millions. Yes, as in the days of Elijah, also, we are looking for a "remnant", that would be a few not a majority.

EliYaH, means, "My God is YaH". If Elijah did not know about the "seven thousand" souls back then, what about today? As the world is even closer to the coming of our Savior, YaHshua, how many have not bowed to another god? How many today remain true to the worship of the one Savior, the one who came and revealed the Father and have not bowed to any other god or gods? Today there may be many more than a mere seven thousand, then again maybe not (Luke 8:18), but we should realize the people of the Living God are hidden in a much larger area today - all of the earth. Think for a minute – Elijah did not know the 7,000 believers -- he thought He was the only one. YaHWeH reveals to him that there are 7,000 others. Considering the overall population of Israel the number 7,000 may be a much larger number according to population, per 1,000 -- of course, we do not know the population of the Northern Tribes. It is estimated that the Northern Tribes of Israel numbered around 450,000. Still, it is pretty amazing that 7,000 were virtually unknown. Certainly a man like Elijah, would have known about them if they were going around bragging about worshipping the true God, but they were not, and he did not. The Apostle Paul uses this as a comparison for his day, as we have already read, setting a principle that it would seem is still working today.

The emphasis is not on the number or a numbers but that the Creator God has decided that during every age, every generation there will always be those that do not bow to the religions of this world and this is His doing, not mine, not yours, not anyone but Him. Elijah thought he was alone just like many of you may think or feel but you are not. You are there and I am here, that is two, and I know of a couple of others also. Remain where you are, you are there for a reason, if, however, you are being persecuted then flee to another city (Matthew 10:23). When you pray -- you pray for all of us and we for you. The unity in the body of the Messiah is not as the world sees it but as the Spirit sees and knows it.

1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which you have received of Him abide in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him.

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ (the anointed). From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" NIV

Our part in the Body of the Christ is not with some group of flesh and blood. Our central teacher is our Father in heaven and His Son, Yahshua. They are Spirit, they are Holy and this makes them the Holy Spirit.
It is lost revenues for the fleshly churches to teach this singular truth of individual unity in the living, Spiritual Body, of the Messiah.

(Rom 12:4-7) For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teach, on teaching; KJV 1Cor 10:17; 1Cor 12:12-13; 12:20; Eph 2:13;

(Please read these verses, above, leaving out the gray, italicized words (as in the KJV), as these words were added by the translators to help the reader make better sense of a particular verse, as they saw it, with their own bias, sometimes, weighing toward that bias. Read without these words and these verses make even more sense, at times, and the truth in them is sometimes revealed to be different from what has been accepted, or popular.)

(Eph 2:18) For through Him we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father.

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God (The Father) and precious to Him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yahshua the Christ.

This house, this spiritual house, is not of any fleshly group, but of those belonging to that spiritual Body of the Messiah -- that body as compared to a building of stones, as our Messiah and Savior is the Corner Stone.

Certainly it is not wrong to meet with brothers and sisters of like beliefs, but when the burden placed on the individual to comply with a group mentality that is contrary to what you see and understand in the Bible, perhaps it is time for you to reexamine this group. You should, in the fullness of love, be able to live at peace with all people but there are those that will not let this happen, especially as you, being personally taught by the Father and the Son will fall under suspicious scrutiny by those in authority. It seems that the closer someone actually approaches the truth -- striping away much of the fleshly desire -- the leadership feels more and more threatened. Don’t take this personally if this happens to you, as it is not you they are against, even rejecting, but it is the Christ in you -- not unlike the Messiah Himself when he confronted the religious leaders of His day -- they were afraid of Him and His message -- they could sense they had no power over Him.

Remember the questions that began this article – if you are fortunate enough not to have any of those problems of abuse within the organization or group you are joined with, you are most fortunate indeed. I pray this is the case as you will be able to share the truth of Yahshua’s teachings with others and may even be the tool by which others will be pulled out of the way of Babylon and its pagan practices and doctrines as taught by most of the Christian community.

Then again, perhaps you are one as in Elijah’s day, part of the invisible, spiritual Body of the Messiah?
Are you one of the Seven Thousand, or a like number, perhaps on of a greater number but not seen by the world? I hope so and in that hope we will all meet at the coming of our Lord and Master YaHshua, not some other Baal or Lord, but the one true Master of all, YaHshua and the One True Father of all. I pray you find this site a blessing and an encouragement. Hallelu-YaH

email comments to: dan@servantsofyahshua.com

Ellicott's Commentary: [Ashtaroth.—The plural of the feminine word Ash-tareth, or Astarte, “the goddess of the Sidonians” (1Ki_11:5), the Phœnician Venus—identified sometimes with the moon (e.g., in the name Ashtaroth Karnaim, “the city of the two-horned moon,” the name of Og’s capital, Deu_1:4), and sometimes with the planet Venus (2Ki_23:4; Cic. De Nat. Deor. 3:23; Euseb. Praep. Evang. i. 10). She is called the “queen of heaven,” in Jer_7:10; Jer_44:17, and was called Baalti (“my lady”) by the Phœnicians. The plural form may be, as Ewald thinks, the plural of excellence, or like Baalim an allusion to the different forms and attributes under which the goddess was worshipped. The worship of Baalim and Ashtaroth naturally went hand in hand. (See Jdg_10:6; 1Sa_7:4; 1Sa_12:10.) Ashtaroth is not to be confused with the Asheroth (rendered “groves” in the E. V.) mentioned in Jdg_3:7. The words resemble each other less in Hebrew, as Ashtaroth begins with ע, not with א. Mil. ton’s allusions to these deities are not only exquisitely beautiful but also very correct, as he derived his information from Selden’s learned Syntagma de Dis Syrüs:
“With these in troop
Came Ashtoreth, whom the Phoenicians call’d
Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns,
To whose bright image nightly by the moon
Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs;
In Zion also not unsung, where stood
Her temple.”
Par. Lost, i. 439.
The derivation of the word is very uncertain. It probably has no connection with the Greek Aster, or the Persian Esther.]

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1 Corinthians 11:14 -- A shame for man to have long hair. Isayah 53:2 -- He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him

Nowhere in the Word are we told to worship Mary or a Christ that looks so beautiful, so feminine, with long hair, as the JESUS of today is depicted. Perhaps this is not the image of our Savior, but of "another", like Ba'al and Ashtaroth? Just asking.

Marduk, a favorite Babylonian god -- look familiar?

Open Rebellion, Even From those Called the People of God

Jer 44:16 We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the Name of the LORD (YHWH)!
Jer 44:17 We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our fathers, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm.
Jer 44:18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine."
Jer 44:19 The women added, "When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes like her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?"
Jer 44:20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him,
Jer 44:21 Did not the LORD (YHWH) remember and think about the incense burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem by you and your fathers, your kings and your officials and the people of the land?
Jer 44:22 When the LORD (YHWH) could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became an object of cursing and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today.

Israel is no longer worshiping the Queen of Heaven. But a large community of those called Christians continue in this practice. This warning from the Prophets is as much for those claiming the Hebrew/Christian Word as their own, as it is to those specifically named, that is, Israel. Yes, Christians Too!

Comments and Questions to -- dan@servantsofyahshua.com

Looking For The 7,000 - Removing The Fog of Religion

Removing the Fog of Religion

Looking For The 7,000