Shabbat shalom Mishpachah! It is the final sabbath of the 40-day Sinai count which ends tomorrow. The message I am to share with you came quite suddenly 'out of the blue' yesterday during a family gathering but I did not understand it until I was retiring for the night and was directed to write it down. So it has been a long night.

Yahweh directed my attention to the 11th chapter of Ezekiel so we will go right there this morning if you'd like to follow with me. We will begin at verse 1:

"Then the Ruach (Spirit) lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of Yahweh's house, which faces eastward; and there at the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw ta Jaazaniah ('Yah is hearing') the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah ('Yah delivers') the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. And He said to me: 'Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city, who say, 'The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.'' Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!" (Ezek.11:1-4, NKJV).

We are not so much interested in the historical lesson in these verses, and the verses we are going to look at in a moment, but in the spiritual message that Yahweh has for us in our situation today, for all Scripture has multiple layers. We are going to look at biblical symbolism and apply it to Abba Yah's davar (word) to us today. First, we begin by observing where the Ruach (Spirit) takes Ezekiel, and it is "to the east gate of Yahweh's house", the Temple, "which faces eastward". The easterly direction is emphasised by being repeated twice. In Ezekiel's vision in the 43rd chapter, Yahweh's glory comes from the east and enters the Temple from the east:

"Afterward He brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. And behold, the glory of the Elohim (God) of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw -- like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. And the glory of Yahweh came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Ruach (Spirit) lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the temple" (Ezek 43:1-5, NKJV).

Brethren and sisters of the Covenant, those who are in the Sanctuary and who are in the Ark, this is the promise that is being made to you if you renmain there. He will fill you with His glory and reward for your patient waiting and for your arduous labour in overcoming the flesh, but you must persist and not give up tiqveh (hope). This is the promise to His Remnant Servants if they will yield their will entirely to Him and pursue His Emet (Truth) with all their hearts, glorifying Him in their hearts and keeping their eyes on the Redeemer of Israel.

Let us return to the primary text in chapter 11 which contains the main message to us today, on this penultimate and 39th day of the Sinai Count, for we have not ourselves yet arrived at the spiritual destination described in chapter 43. You will recall that the entrance to the Tabernacle faces east and it is through the curtain on the east side of the perimeter that the seeker after Yahweh must enter the courtyard. As we learned during the Great 2015 Dedication we must then proceed to the Brazen Altar and thence to the Brazen Laver before entering the Sanctuary through another curtain which also faces east. Everything in the Temple is arranged in a line and all face east. Likewise, the original garden was planted east of Eden (Gen.2:8) and it was on the east side of the Garden of Eden that the cherubim were stationed (Gen.3:24) to prevent Adam and Eve from getting back in after the Fall.

However, moving in an easterly direction is not symbolically positive as is coming from the east and heading west. To move eastwards means to move into wickedness whilst righteousness comes from the east and moves westwards. Thus it is written:

"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us"
(Ps 103:12, NKJV).

The soul entering the single east gate of the Tabernacle moves west until he finally arrives at the Holy of Holies. To move westwards is to move closer to Elohim (God). To move eastwards is to move further away from Him. When Lot left Abraham, he went eastwards to Sodom (Gen.13:11) in the same way that Adam and Eve were exiled to the east after their fall. The children of Abraham's concubines were sent east (Gen.25:6) because they were not of the chosen seed. Reuben, Gad and East Manasseh chose to settle east of the River Jordan (Dt.29:8) in land Yahweh had not assigned as part of the Promised Land but which, because of their choice, later became a part of it. But it was also the part of Israel that was the most harrassed by Moab, Ammon and Aram. You will notice that in the Millennium this land is not assigned to the tribes - all the land is west of the Jordan.

The children of light must move from the east by travelling westwards because the west is where Yahweh's presence may be found, which is our consummate goal. To spiritually move in a westerly direction means, first, laying down your own sin, and self, and will at the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice and obtaining forgiveness through the blood of Messiah through repentance. Second, being cleansed at the Brazen Laver or Basin.

Continuing west into the Holy Place, the cohen (priest) must approach the seven-armed Menorah, then the Table of Shewbread and then the Altar of Incense. Having done this he can then pass through the final curtain and enter the Holy of Holies to commune with Yahweh face-to-face.

Traveling east means reversing all of this - it describes apostacy in leaving Yah's presence represented by the Ark of the Covenant, the life of intercessory prayer represented by the Golden Altar of Incense, life as a member of 12-tribes Israel represented by the Golden Table of Shewbread, the light of Messiah represented by the Golden Menorah and out of the Sanctuary into the courtyard. The apostacy continues in immersing in the filthy waters of the world, undoing the cleansing of the water of the Davar (Word) of the Brazen Laver in abandoming the Bible, and returning to a life ruled by self and rebellion against Elohim (God) in undoing the work of the Brazen Altar, to finally be cast out of the courtyard altogether and into the world that Adam and Eve were thrown into.

When Yah'shua (Jesus) came to be our sacrifice for sin at Calvary, He made His triumphal entry from which direction? And in which direction was He facing? He came from the east and traveled west into Jerusalem. As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so also is the coming of the "sun of righteousness" (Mal.4:2) in both His comings in the brightness of emet (truth) and in the brightness of His appearing - and so also must His talmidim (disciples) journey. When the sun rises in the east it banishes darkness into light. As it sets in the west, it ushers in the darkness.

Now that we are clear as to the meaning of the symbolism of east and west we are better able to understand Yahweh's message to us today. So let us go back to our main text. Let me read it to you again:

"Then the Ruach (Spirit) lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of Yahweh's house, which faces eastward; and there at the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw ta Jaazaniah ('Yah is hearing') the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah ('Yah delivers') the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. And He said to me: 'Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city, who say, 'The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.'' Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!" (Ezek 11:1-4, NKJV).

At the door of the east gate stood 25 men, two of whom were false princes of Israel. They are called Jaazaniah and Pelatiah. They give false advice, telling the people to do the opposite of Yahweh's will. Their names mean, respectively, 'Yah is Hearing' and 'Yah Delivers'. However they are not living up to their names but instead are cleaving to the anti-spirit - the opposite sense - of these names, which are 'Yah is not hearing' and 'Yah is not delivering'. They represent, respectively, the false spirit of deafness to the Davar Elohim (Word of God) and bondage to Satan. They represent that demonic spirit that turns men's ears away from Elohim (God) that as a result leads them into into captivity. These are the harbingers of fatal advice. They are false nevi'im (prophets).

These princes are not cohenim (priests) but influential men of temporal power. They are able to get people's attention. People trust them and give them authority over their lives. Just as at this time there are true Melchizedek Cohenim (Priests) who are the Remnant, so at this time there are also influential leaders amongst evangelicals and messianics posing as members of the Remnant who are not, because they are fallen, whose advice is poisonous and potentially fatal if heeded.

False authority is dangerous. We all look for it in our lives and are not usually very discerning. Some of you may have heard of the Standford Prison Experiment conducted at Standford University in 1971 in which socially well-adjusted people were persuaded by an authority figure to perform torture on others, overriding all sense of moral sensibility. Thomas Horn calls this the 'Lucifer Effect' [1] because of the way the behaviour of these people imitates the Satanic mindset. From this and other experiments, and the earlier evil work of Dr.Mengle and other nazi psychiatrists during the Second World War, the élites have perfected various methods of mass control using behavioural psychology. When the authority of Yahweh is rejected, people will naturally turn to other authority figures for direction because they are too lazy to accept personal responsibility for their actions by themselves. By rejecting the toqef or authority of Yahweh and of Scripture they are soon listening to demonic voices in themselves and through others.

You will notice in the text that there is an alef-taw (ta) right in front of Jaazaniah's name because he is called to be an Alef-Taw or Alpha-Omega man - a 'Messiah-man' or follower of Messiah, one who is supposed to hear and obey Yah as a prince of Israel, but he does not not, because he is listening to a false spirit. Sadly, when leaders apostacise they take large numbers of people who trust and follow them with them, which is why leaders receive stiffer judgments from Yahweh than others, and why leaders are judged first.

As you will see in a minute, the Judgment of the USA will begin with its apostate leaders. Many are called but few are chosen (Mt.22:14) because the majority prefer not to listen to the Ruach (Spirit) but to the seducing spirits in men who possess charisma and authority. As such, then, these leaders become instruments of deception, and as we shall see, that deception will lead to the death of many. They are the Anti-Alef-Taw Men and they cause great destruction. That is why Satan first of all targets leaders for destruction because he knows this is the most spiritually economical way to bring down large numbers of believers.

Jaazaniah and Pelatiah "devise iniquity and give wicked counsel" in the city, meaning to the assembly or fellowship of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones). They counsel the people not to build houses, that is, not to settle. Why? Because they are corrupt and greedy. They are misusing their new-found power for illegal gain (Ezek.22:27). They have taken over the houses of the recently deported Jerusalemites and they are sitting smulgly on their ill-gotten gains, rather like modern banksters taking over the homes of disposessed home-owners unable to pay their mortgages after interest rates have been hiked. The bad cuts of meat have been deported; what remains is good meat, protected by the security of Jerusalem (v.15).

Let's read on, starting at verse 5:

"Then the Ruach (Spirit) of Yahweh fell upon me, and said to me, 'Speak! 'Thus says Yahweh: 'Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.' Therefore thus says Yahweh-Elohim: 'Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the caldron; but I shall bring you out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,' says Yahweh-Elohim. And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and execute judgments on you. You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am Yahweh. This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Yahweh; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles (nations) which are all around you''" (Ezek 11:5-12, NKJV).

So what was the bad advice these leaders were giving the people? They were telling them to cease doing business, like building houses or taking care of their comfort and futures, when they were about to be cooked like meat in a pot over a blazing fire. These leaders were telling the people that they should get ready for battle, and be prepared to fight, not focussing on comfort, but survival. Jeremiah, you will remember, had told the people to surrender to the Babylonians and save their lives, rather than fight and be killed (Jer.27:9-17). These false leaders, like the prophets and cohenim (priests) whom Jeremiah confronted for telling the people not to submit, scorned Jeremiah's words from Yahweh and would pay for it.

The message which I have to give to you in America and elsewhere in the West is the same. Your judgment is the Judgment of Yahweh and it is futile to fight either the Almighty or His instruments. If you do, you will die pointlessly. You must surrender your countries to your new rulers peacefully or you will die needlessly. Do not blend nationalism with religion as the Israelites did. Patriotism is typically the last refuge of scoundrels anyway and Yahweh's people must walk in His judgments and not show false and pointless bravado in a useless display of patriotism. Yah knows how much I love my own country of Great Britain but I am not going to resist Yah's judgment. Neither should you Americans as judgment comes to you in some form of form of foreign invasion and occupation.

The false leaders in Ezekiel's day thought that unless they fought they would all be in a caldron, that is to say, Jerusalem. But then, as now, Yahweh promises that some would be delivered from the city only to die on Israel's border in the wilderness (vv.8-11). This was literally fulfilled at a place called Riblah (2 Ki.25:18-21; Jer.52:24-27).

Let's read on:

"Now it happened, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, 'Ah, Yahweh-Elohim! Will You make a complete end of the ta remnant of Israel?" (Ezek.11:13, NKJV).

Notice that there is another alef-taw (ta) linked to the "remnant of Israel" just as there was one linked to Jaazaniah. Both Jaazaniah and the Remnant were spared whereas Pelatiah was not. Why was Pelatiah struck down? Because his name means 'Yah delivers' and Yahweh did not promise to deliver Jerusalem. Petaliah is a picture of Yahweh's judgment to the whole city. Likewise, since he rejected the spirit of deliverance, he would not himself be delivered. Yahweh is not promising to deliver the USA and Europe, not because He cannot or does not want to, but because these and other Western nations will not repent of their apostacy. Therefore He must strike down the leader who claims to be a Deliverer and Saviour but who is the one leading the nation into bondage.

We do not know anything about either Jaazaniah or Pelatiah but we know a lot about the present-day 'Pelatiah' and his late father, a philandering East African polygamist who abandoned his wives and who lost both his legs after having them amputated following a car crash whilst drunk-driving, a man consumed with rage against the British for denying him the realisation of his communist anti-colonialist ambitions. America is today being governed by the angry ghost of this modern-day Pelatiah's father in the same way that fallen, rebellious man is governed by the dark and angry "father of lies" (Jn.8:44), angry because he knows his time is short. Likewise we know who the modern 'Jaazaniah' is, and though he is guilty like 'Pelatiah', he is not the ringleader and is not, apparently, to be struck down. And that is because Yahweh will hear the repentant Remnant.

Today is not quite the same as Ezekiel's, of course, and we must not assume every detail will be symbolically repeated. America and Britain will not come to an end, though they may appear to for a while. Neverless the judgment will be harsh for those who are not onboard the arks of safety. West Manasseh (America) and Ephraim (Britain) will not be destroyed but they will be severely chastened along with the other Israelite nations. We must ourselves be prepared to come under the sovereignty of colonial masters for a while. This is but one of many woes that are to soon come.

There is good news for the Remnant, however, and I would like to draw your attention to the number '25' - to the 25 men standing at the east gate. Though two were evil, the number 25 is a prophetic pointer to the princely cohenim (priests) of the Remnant, and represents 'grace upon grace', consisting as it does of 20 (redemption) and 5 (grace) or grace multipled (5 x 5):

"And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16, NKJV).

May this "grace upon grace" be upon you as you continue to listen to His voice with your ears as a righteous talmid (disciple), waiting patiently for Abba's Davar (Word) to you and your family and obeying both His directives to you personally and to Yahweh's bona fide prophets, carefully testing all who claim to be speaking in His Name. May His shalom (peace) attend you as you do so. Amen.

Finally, a word to our detractors who are offering 'fatal advice'. There are those saying that prepping is a demonstration of a lack of faith, of not trusting in Elohim (God). And they are quoting a lot of Scripture out of context. Part of the problem is that there are a lot of 'wannabe prophets' leaping on the panic bandwagon with mixed motives and giving mixed counsel. Truth is mixed with error, the true Ruach (Spirit) with demonic spirits.

There will, of course, be situations where people are stocking on food, medicine, etc. who find themselves in situations where it will be entirely useless to them...like being in the wrong place such as places they will have to abandon or which may be destroyed by war, looters or natural disaster. Similarly, those who are already self-sufficient, able to grow or produce all the food they need, aren't probably going to need to stock up...provided they are where Yahweh has told them to be. And though I think it is unlikely, though by no means impossible. there may well be isolated agricultural communities where prepping isn't needed at all. If there are, they wisely won't be telling me or you about their existence.

Prepping based on panic buying without guidance from the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) won't do much good for any number of reasons. Because every locale is a little different from every other one, personal revelation is necessary, which means getting right with Yahweh and hearing Him for yourself. I myself cannot - and will not - take responsibility for others' choices. My task is simply to give general warnings and to urge you to get right with our Creator. I do not have a map showing safe places. I only know where I am supposed to be and where some of my friends have been told where they are supposed to be.

I have also said that people should properly store as a matter of general practice, rotating their food by integrating it as part of their regular diet. This is one thing the Mormons are quite right about, though their public indiscretion will probably mean the state will look at their membership rolls and then turn up at their doors and confiscate what they have when the state runs out of food and other essentials. Non-Mormons also know that Mormons have food storage and will turn up with guns to loot their homes. Everyone must use wisdom and discernment.

About the only thing I can guarantee is that an economic collapse is coming and is but weeks or months away, and I don't even need revelation for that - it's plain economic common sense. When debt exceeds GDP, collapse always follows. It has in the past and it will now. And you only have to know your history of the Great Depression between the wars, and the situation in countries after the last world war such as in Germany where people had nothing after their government collapsed and infrastructure broke down, to know that those who prepared survived and prospered.

So I would advise extreme caution in listening to either the pop prophets of doom who aren't getting authentic revelation or those who are guilting believers into thinking they are showing a lack of faith in prepping. Both are giving toxic counsel. Both are giving potentially fatal advice. Look at the signs all around you, go to Yahweh, and act on what you learn and what He tells you.

One thing I know is that you will not regret prepping if you are in the right place. And that's about all I can say right now. Even if nothing happens, or calamity is delayed, you will still be prepared against all kinds of situation. When I was out of work once, and had no state support, I survived on my food store for a whole month. I learned a valuable lesson back then.

Those who are doing nothing, or are excusing themselves by saying that Yahweh doesn't 'give dates', are not only ingoring scriptural and historical precedent but are truly gambling with their lives and are, in some cases, exhibiting severe symptoms the modern liberal spiritual disease called self-entitlement. They are falsely interpreting 'trusting in Yahweh' as Yahweh leading them to others who have prepped and who will be obligated to help them. Just consider for a moment if everyone took that attitude and no one prepped, or if the rôles were reversed and people turned up on your doorstep starving expecting Yahweh to provide for them through you because they were 'trusting in Yahweh to materially provide for them'. When there is a general or national or global crisis, such thinking is madness.

If you are so foolish, irresponsible and selfish to think that others will provide for you when everyone else is trying to survive, then you truly deserve what's coming. The vast majority of the rich have no intention of sharing anything, and likely want you dead anyway. Your only recourse, then, would be to looting, criminally risking your life. Because I can guarantee that people who have trusted and done something practically, who have obeyed the scriptural command to ensure that emunah (faith) is accompanied by works (Jas.2:17), will shoot you to protect their food supply and the lives of their families.

So don't be an ass. Do something and demonstrate that you have true emunah (faith) - now!

Endnotes

[1] Thomas Horn, Blood on the Altar: The Coming War Between Christian vs. Christian (Defender, Crane, MO: 2014), p.10ff.

Acknowledgments