Are We Eating Meats Sacrificed to Idols?

Due to the large population of Muslims living in the U.S. today, many industries are emerging that serve meat that is slaughtered according to Muslim law. It is called “Halal” or “lawful” for the Muslim to eat. It is meat that is slaughtered according to strict guidelines of Muslim law such as the animal is faced toward Mecca (the east) and has the “bismillah” (name of Allah) pronounced over it. In other words, it is meat offered to Allah.

Shouldn’t believers in Yahshua Ha Moshiach refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols? We know that no idol represents YHWH, so the one the idol represents is obvious. We are told in Acts 15:29 and 21:25 to avoid eating meats sacrificed to idols.

Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Although according to Paul in 1 Cor. 10:19-25, meat sacrificed to idols is meat sacrificed to devils.

1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to Elohim: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of YHWH, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of YHWH's table, and of the table of devils.

But if we unknowingly eat of meat sacrificed to idols, it will not harm us.

1Co 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles (meat market), that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26 For the earth is YHWH's, and the fulness thereof.
1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

However, if we are aware that it was meat sacrificed to idols or devils, then we should not eat of it.

1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is YHWH's, and the fulness thereof:

But then Paul adds:

1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

He seems to conclude that even though he knows it is offered to an idol, it would be lawful for him to eat. This seems to conflict with Luke’s warning in Acts 15:29 that we should abstain from meats offered to idols. I’ll leave it up to you to decide for yourself. But for me personally, if I know it is meat offered up to an idol or devil, I will not partake of it.

There are certain symbols proclaiming that food is “Halal”. These all proclaim that the food has been sacrificed according to Sharia law. All have had the name of Allah pronounced over them.

Please watch this short video by Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries


Are you eating food sacrificed to idols? from El Shaddai Ministries on Vimeo.

I think I will take Mark's advice.

Brick Parrish

How Important is Your Name to You?

Have you ever been introduced to someone and 15 minutes later they have forgotten your
name. Have you ever met someone and they persisted in calling you by a name that isn’t
yours? How did that make you feel?

How important is it to have your correct name on vitally important documents, such as
the deed to your home, car, pay check, savings account or your medical chart?

How do you think our heavenly Father feels when his name has been replaced in the bible
almost 7,000 times by the phrase “The Lord?” Or how does He feel when you refer to
Him as “God?” Both of these titles come from paganism. He tells us many times in
scripture how important His name is and that He doesn’t like being called by pagan titles.

Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?
yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which
they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for
Baal.

Referring to the Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Concordance, we find that one definition of the
word “Baal” is “Lord”.

H1168

בעל

ba‛al
BDB Definition:
Baal = “lord”

Do we really feel comfortable referring to YHWH as Baal? How does YHWH feel about
our calling Him “God?” It can readily be shown that this word also comes from
paganism. It is the word substituted for the Hebrew word “Elohim.”

Isa 65:11 But ye are they that forsake YHWH, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

The Hebrew word translated “that troop” is  “gad”. The Massoretes vowel pointed
it to be pronounced as gad, but we find other scriptures where the word is vowel pointed
to be pronounced “god”. An example is Jos. 11:17 where we find “Baal God” or “lord
god”. Most scholars agree that gad refers to the Canaanite pagan deity of luck or fortune.
Could this be the origin of the common phrase “Good Luck”?

H1408

גד

gad
BDB Definition:
Gad = “god of fortune”

Gad is usually identified with Jupiter by astrologers. Alexander Hislop in his book “The
Two Babylons” identifies gad as the Sun deity. He goes on to say that the name Gad is
applicable to Nimrod. We also find that “gott” or “god” was also the name of a Teutonic
deity. It was used to refer to the false deity Odin. C.J. Koster writes “We further found
“Goda” as a proper name of an idol. Moreover, the same author (quoting Jacob Grimm,
Teutonic Mythology) relates how Wodan the name of the highest god also called Wotan
and Odan, was also called Godan.”

Scripture tells us in numerous places that the name of YHWH is Holy (Qodesh - set
apart- sacred) and we are not to profane it.

1Ch 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek YHWH.


Lev 22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am YHWH which hallow you


Psa 33:20 Our soul waiteth for YHWH: he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.


Psa 145:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of YHWH: and let all flesh bless his Holy name for ever and ever.

This is only a few of the numerous scriptures that indicate that the name of YHWH is
very important for us to use. How can one bless and praise His Holy name if one does not
utter it? We are told in scripture that we are guilty of profaning the Holy name of
YHWH.

Eze 36:17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
Eze 36:18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
Eze 36:19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
Eze 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of YHWH, and are gone forth out of his land.
Eze 36:21 But I had pity for mine holy name , which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Master YHWH; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake , which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name , which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am YHWH, saith the Master YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

Many will say it isn’t important what name we call Him because He knows who we
mean. But the above scriptures seem to disagree. The Muslims and many other pagan
religions also call their deity “God”. Why should we call out Elohim that?

Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane , and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

We know that the name of YHWH is Holy and that the names of pagan deities are
profane. Brown-Driver-Briggs define the Hebrew word translated profane as follows:

H2455

חל

chol
BDB Definition:
1) profaneness, commonness, unholy, profane, common, sand

Is YHWH’s name “common?” Isn’t calling Him by a ‘common’ pagan title mixing the
Holy and the profane? Isn’t that the same as bringing His name to naught or in a false
fashion?

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain; for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The word Hebrew word translated “vain” is “shav”

H7723

שו / שוא

shav' / shav
BDB Definition:
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other Elohim but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and masters many,)
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one Elohim, the Father , of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Master Yahushua the Messiah, by whom are all things, and we by him.

So, is it fair to assume then that since these false gods are nothing, then by calling our
Elohim (YHWH) by the titles and names of any false god, is also bringing his name to
“nothing?”

There are many scriptures that indicate that YHWH is zealous for His Holy name. His
name is also in the name of our Messiah, Y’shua. Shouldn’t we also be zealous for the
only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved?

There are so many scriptures that state that YHWH’s name is very important, it is hard to
do justice to the subject. However, I wanted to keep this as short as possible and concede
that there are many other scriptures I could have used to prove this. Perhaps, this might
provoke others to do a scripture study on the words “holy name”.

One final question on the importance of names. Would you want some other name or title
written into the Book of Life in place of your true name? I think the answer is obvious.
So why don’t we make sure we honor our heavenly Father by using His proper name
when we refer or pray to Him? We are much more solid ground by doing so.

Selah – (stop and think about it.)

Just what is “legalism?”

You often hear the term “legalist” applied to someone who believes in obeying Yahweh's
Commandments as written in the Torah. It is basically defined as “ any doctrine which states salvation comes strictly from adherence to the law.” (Wikipedia)

Let's define a few terms before we continue.

The word translated “law” in the New Testament scriptures comes from the Greek word “nomos”.

Strong's Concordance defines it for us as follows:
G3551

nomos
nom'-os

From a primary word νεμω nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law specifically (of Moses (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): - law.

We can verify this is true by looking at a direct “New Testament” quote of an “Old Testament” verse.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them Elohim, and they shall be to me a people:

A quick check of Strong's Concordance will show that the word above translated “law” is indeed the Greek word “nomos”. Now compare it to the corresponding verse from the “Old Testament”:

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHWH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.

The word translated “law” in the above verse is the Hebrew word “Torah”.

Again referring to Strong's Concordance:

H8451

תרה תורה
torah torah
to-raw', to-raw'

From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch: - law.

Therefore, we can conclude that the Greek word “nomos” translated as “law” in the “New Testament” is equivalent to the word “Torah” in the “Old Testament”.

We are told in 1 John 3:4 that sin is defined as the breaking of the law (Torah).

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law .

Again, we can refer to our Strong's Concordance to verify that the word translated “law” above is the Greek word “nomos”.

The same Greek word “nomos” prefixed by the letter “A” (anomos) means “lawless”. A similar word “anomia” therefore means “lawlessness”. We find several examples of this word translated in the New Testament.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, My master, my master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, My master, my master, have we not prophesied in thyname? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Once again referring to Strong's Concordance, we find the word translated “iniquity” above is the Greek word “anomia” which we defined above as “lawlessness”. Since we have also seen that the law that is being referred to is the Torah, then we see that the real meaning of “iniquity” is the breaking of the Torah. So a worker of “iniquity” would be one who is “Torahless”.

The Mystery of Iniquity of 2 Thess 2:7 would therefore refer to the “Mystery of Torahlessness”.

If obedience to Torah is legalism, then Yahshua was the greatest legalist of all time. He never broke even one of Yahweh's Commandments. He never condemned anyone for keeping Yahweh's Commandments, but he did condemn those who had substituted mans laws for Yahweh's laws. The Pharisees had elevated their oral traditions above Yahweh's laws. The Pharisees were very legalistic in their beliefs that a person had to keep the Jewish oral traditions they themselves had written in order to be saved.

Another often heard expression that is akin to “Legalism” is the phrase “to be under the law”. This is an often misunderstood statement which has been interpreted as “the act of keeping the law” (Torah). But, actually the term means that one is relying upon the keeping of the Torah for his personal salvation. There has only been one person who was ever able to do it, our Messiah Yahshua. But, when one rejects the free gift of Yahshua, the Messiah, they automatically return to once again being “under the law” to try to earn salvation by their own efforts. However, salvation has always been by the grace of Yahweh and not by any works we have done. Still, that still does not negate the need to keep Yahweh's Commandments. We are told numerous times in scripture to keep the commandments of Yahweh. Failure to do so was the reason Israel was scattered into the nations. It was one of the last things we were told to do in the last chapter of the Old Testament book of Malachi.

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea,
and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith
YHWH of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith YHWH of hosts.
Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you EliYah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YHWH:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. 

I listed all 6 verses for context. Verse 1 is referring to the Day of Yahweh which is still future. In verse 4 we are told to remember the law (Torah) of Moses. One of the first things Yahshua taught in his sermon on the mount, was to think not that he had come to destroy the Torah or the prophets.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Yahshua had a reason for referring to the passing of heaven and earth here. He was reminding them that Moses had invoked “heaven and earth” as witness against Israel what would happen to them if they forsook the Torah. They would be scattered into the nations. This can be found in Deut 4, 30 and 31. So as long as heaven and earth stood as a witness, the Torah would remain in effect.

We are told to follow Yahshua and keep his commandments. His commandments are the same as His Father's. Paul told us to follow him as he followed Messiah. We are to live our lives as Yahshua lived his. Yahshua kept the Torah and all of the Commandments which included the keeping of the Sabbath and using the true name of His Father. He manifested Yahwehs name, not some title, to his disciples. How can we follow Yahshua and do not the things he said? He said in John:

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.


and in 1 John:

1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jo 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of YHWH perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jo 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Now, it may be a little easier to understand what Paul meant when he said:

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before YHWH.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Those who are “under the law” are relying upon the keeping of the law for salvation. By the works of the law (their own efforts), there shall be no flesh justified. A person cannot rely upon keeping the law for salvation. And the last verse confirms 1 John 3:4 that the law tells us what sin is and that by breaking it, we commit sin.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

This is because the very definition of sin is the breaking of the law or Torah. If there is no Torah to break, we cannot have sin imputed to us. However, we know that we do sin. So this means that the Torah is still in effect and Yahshua came because it was. He came to forgive us of our Torah breaking. If the Torah was done away with Yahshua, then why did he die? No Torah breaking, no sin! The answer is obvious. He came because he is the embodiment of the Torah and it remains in effect forever.

There are a couple more verses I'd like to look at here. Notice that the Saints do two things here.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of YHWH, AND have the testimony of Yahushua the Messiah.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of YHWH, AND the faith of Yahushua.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Do you think it is possible that the false accusation of being legalistic, a word that is not found in scripture, might keep many who say they love Yahshua from the kingdom because they have been duped into thinking obedience to the word wasn't necessary? This means they continued to sin and did not repent of their Torah breaking. Repentance of our sins is necessary for forgiveness. We have to know we sinned. If we don't realize that the breaking of the Torah is sin, we don't think there is anything to repent of.

Obedience to Yahweh's Commandments is absolutely essential for salvation even though it is the free gift of Elohim. We can't earn our salvation, but we can throw it away by refusing to do what Yahweh has commanded us to do in His word. The fear of being labeled “legalistic” will keep many out of Yahweh's kingdom because they will be called workers of “iniquity” by Yahshua.

There are many more scriptures I could have used from both the Old and New Testaments. But I tried to keep this as short as possible and to focus on the New Testament to prove that Torah keeping is as valid for us today as it was when Moses wrote it down.

I do not keep Torah to rely on it for my salvation. I realize that my salvation comes as a free gift bought and paid for by the blood of Yahshua, our Messiah. I keep Torah because He said if I love Him, to keep His commandments. No one will go to hell for being “legalistic” and keeping the Commandments of Yahweh. Just make sure that you are keeping them out of love rather than as a mechanical requirement for salvation. That would be legalism.

Mini Ice Age beginning?

I don't normally post these kinds of things on my blog, but I think this is important. If it is a false alarm, there is no harm done. But if this is true, you need to take action now and store up several months supply of food quickly as it will become scarce very soon. The Gulf Stream Thermo Hyaline conveyor, which brings warm ocean currents to Scotland, the British Isles and Northern Europe, has apparently stopped.

This means that the winters in that part of the world will be severe and may even interfere with crop planting in the spring. No one knows at this time how long it will take for the Gulf Stream conveyor to recover, but it may take years. There are hundreds of feet of oil under the surface in the gulf of Mexico due to the Oil spill disaster and the use of dispersants which only hide it. This has apparently stopped the Gulf loop of the thermo hyaline conveyor which brings warm waters to northern Europe and makes the winters mild.



Satellite data shows that the conveyor current has stopped in the middle of the Atlantic well before it gets to the British Isles. This will mean  a severe winter for that part of the world. If I am wrong about food production being in short supply, one can always eat their stores. But if I am right.... food will be hard to come by.

Happy Hanukkah

I want to wish all of our Jewish brothers and sisters a Happy Hanukkah.

Does Israel Have the Right to Exist?

This short video does a very good job of answering that question. The Arabs say no, but what do you say?

Islamic Antichrist?

Most of us have always been taught that the Anitchrist would come out of a revived Roman empire, but is this view correct? Joel Richardson and others like Walid Shoebat have a different understanding of the scriptures that speak of the Antichrist. I tend to agree with them. Watch these short videos and see if you think they might be right.



Part 2



Part 3