PROVING YAHUWEH'S MESSIAH FROM THE TANAKH

We have recently learned there are folks who are attempting to turn people away from our beloved Messiah, Yahushua (Matthew 24:24). This article is a study and attempt to answer their questions/comments and to “prove” Yahushua from the Tanakh (all the books of the so-called “Old Testament”). If you do not believe that Yahushua was here, then you would not be using the so-called “New Testament” books which is one reason why you should learn about Him from the Tanakh.

First of all, right off the bat, Isaiah 53 is about the “suffering servant” which the writers (and many others) believe is absolutely Yahuweh’s Messiah, Yahushua. Traditional Judaism teaches it is about Israel, dying for the sins of the pagan nations. That does not make sense since Israel is still with us and, in fact, many reading this are a PART of Israel. Ironically, that teaching was not always so...many years ago, traditional Judaism taught it was referencing Yahuweh's Messiah.  A couple of points pertaining to this chapter in Isaiah:

--It appears strongly it is speaking of an individual, not a nation. Now, the nation of Israel has been referenced other places in appearance as an individual so this point alone is not very strong, but combined with other points here the strength increases.

--When you get to verse 7, scripture does not indicate that Israel as a nation “did not open His mouth.” In fact, on occasions they were quite rebellious as a nation (Deuteronomy 9:7 for one instance).

--Verse 9 indicates this “individual” died and verses 10-12 seem to clearly indicate He is “coming back.” In verse 12, He is allotted a portion with the great and will divide the booty with the strong so He must come back for that.

Others within traditional Judaism (and possibly within the Messianic movement generally) teach it is referring to Jeremiah, yet Jeremiah did not go like a lamb to the slaughter without opening his mouth, either. Others still say it could be referring to a 16^th Century Rabbi, Sabbatai Zevi except he converted to Islam. It is hard to believe it would be referencing someone who converted to Islam.

The question may be asked, after reading Isaiah 53 in this light, “Where is He now?” and that is a rather easy answer….turn to Psalm 110:1-4 and it says where Yahushua is NOW!

Isaiah 9 is another chapter in the Tanakh which speaks to the prophetic Messiah to come. Sadly, trinitarian translators mis-translated Verse 6 to make it support a trinitarian belief, something which goes 100 percent against His words! A better translation would be: For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him. As you read through this chapter, note WHO will accomplish these things (YAHUWEH of Hosts, verse 7).

Malachi 4:5-6 speaks to Yahuweh sending EliYah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of Yahuweh. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. Prophetic indeed! Many say this refers to John the Baptist, but it does not appear that John fulfilled this requirement. Yahushua does accomplish this for all those who turn to Him. Yet, it almost seems like Yahushua does not think of Himself as EliYah in Matthew 17:12. But, on another note, could it be that “EliYah” can reference many individuals whose “El is Yahuweh”? Food for thought.

So with that said, there have been some questions which have arisen that we will answer from only the Tanakh, with possible verification verses from the letters (except for #3 which deals with the so-called “New Covenant” scriptures and where we reference Yahushua’s words to verify a point). First, we will list the questions:

1. Did Yahuweh ever tell us He would send a Messiah whose blood will take away all sins?

2. Are we ever told that we would be required to go through this Messiah in order to get to Yahuweh.

3. If the Messiah is as important as the New Testament makes Him out to be, or has been given the ultimate authority as the New Testament implies, wouldn’t Elohim have told us through His prophets?

4. We are told there is no Savior but Yahuweh and He never said He’d send a Savior? Amos 3:7 says He does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

Prior to getting into answering the individual questions, the reader should be very, very careful in studying any topic, but especially this one because we are told quite clearly that Yahuweh will send a “deluding influence” (deceptive spirit) to those (1 Kings 22:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:11) who do not want to see and/or live truth.

Onto the answers:

1. Did Yahuweh ever tell us He would send a Messiah whose blood will take away all sins?

First of all, blood will not “take away” sin, it “covers” the transgression--“atones” for it, but not in and of itself. Unintentional sin was always “forgivable” or “atoneable.” If an entire congregation sinned unintentionally and it became known, then the priests would sacrifice a bull and the entire assembly would be forgiven (Leviticus 4:13-20). There are many examples but this one is chosen because it is an ENTIRE CONGREGATION as opposed to one individual. ONE bull for the entire congregation! This was for unintentional sin, not intentional sin for which there was NEVER, in the entire Tanakh, a way to be justified back to Yahuweh. Intentional sin (i.e., violation of Yahuweh’s laws) was always death (Exodus 21:12, 16; 31:15; Leviticus 24:16; Numbers 15:35 for a sampling as there are many examples).

As a sidenote, Exodus 12:3 says how a lamb was to be chosen for an entire family. ONE LAMB for an entire FAMILY! The lamb was to be sacrificed (verse 6).

Isaiah 53:10-12 makes it clear that whoever these prophetic passages speak concerning would be a sin offering, bearing the iniquities and sin of many. Yahuweh gave this prophetic message. The very end of Isaiah 53 says, “Yet He Himself [the subject of the entire chapter] bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.”

Scripture says “the righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Faith in what? Faith that Yahuweh would provide a way. For example, David loved Yahuweh (Psalm 18:1), yet he sinned committing adultery and murder; sins for which the penalty was death. He was not put to death but was extremely repentant (Psalm 51). He KNEW he was separated from Yahuweh but he had faith—faith that His Father would provide a way to be reconciled back to Him. All have sinned [intentionally, though perhaps not rebelliously] and fallen short so we need a way BACK to the Father. Yahuweh made that “way” and His Name is Yahushua!

Paul says in Acts 13:36-39, For David, after he had served the purpose of Yahuweh in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom Yahuweh raised [Yahushua] did not undergo decay. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him [Yahushua] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him [Yahushua] everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses [intentional sin].

The above should prove the answer to the question presented. The apostles in the days when Yahushua walked the earth knew and understood this as is evident through their writings such as Romans 5:9 and Ephesians 1:7, 2:13. Hebrews 9 and 10 actually explain the connection between the High Priest entering the Tabernacle once a year to atone for the entire assembly and Yahushua’s death “atoning” for all who would accept it.

2. Are we ever told that we would be required to go through this Messiah in order to get to Yahuweh.

It is implied as the Israelites went “through” Moses to get to the Father. They [the Israelites] did not even want to hear His voice! Deuteronomy 18:5-22 speaks to how a prophet would be raised “like Moses” and would speak the Father’s words. When Yahushua was here, that is exactly what He did and told the people such (John 7:16-17). Yahushua, like Moses, performed signs and wonders from the Father (such as feeding 5,000, walking on water, healing, yet was humble like Moses speaking not his own words [John 3:34]).

Deuteronomy 31:7 says how Joshua would replace Moses upon his death and 34:9 speaks to how Moses “laid his hands” on Joshua to impart the spirit of wisdom from Yahuweh upon him. Note that “since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses” (verse 10), yet one as we have seen would come “like Moses”—humble, loving and obeying Yahuweh, knowing Yahuweh and being known by Him, performing miracles, and so on.

This was confirmed by the apostles in John 1:14 and Acts 3:22. All of scripture truly does harmonize if one wants to see it!

3. If the Messiah is as important as the New Testament makes Him out to be, or has been given the ultimate authority as the New Testament implies, wouldn’t Elohim have told us through His prophets?

Yahushua was never given the “ultimate” authority. Everything He said or did was for HIS (and our) Father’s glory. John 4:34, Yahushua said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him [YAHUWEH] who sent Me and to accomplish His work and John 14:10, …The words I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Philippians 2:11, Yahshua Messiah is Master, to the glory of YAHUWEH THE FATHER.

The Father forgives or decides not to forgive, not His Son (Matthew 6:14-15).

Matthew 7:21, Who enters heaven? He who does the will OF THE FATHER.

Yahushua will confess or deny individuals BEFORE THE FATHER (Matthew 10:32-33).

Matthew 24:36, No one, even the Son, knows the time and hour, only THE FATHER.

Matthew 5:48, Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (He did not say as “I am perfect,” but “as your heavenly Father is perfect”).

Now, Luke 10:22 says, "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." But this must be read in context. “All” does NOT always mean “all.” Examples of this is Genesis 6:12 says all flesh are corrupt, yet we’re told that Noah was a “righteous” man. Likewise, Roman 11:26 says “all Israel [all twelve tribes] will be saved.” But, do you really think murderers, adulterers and the like will be saved? We don’t think so! There is a limited sense of “all” such as Paul said “we know all things,” but they did not know ALL things then, no more than we do now!

In addition to the above, scripture actually does provide prophecies relating to YAHUWEH'S Messiah's role in both Zechariah and Psalms:

4. We are told there is no Savior but Yahuweh and He never said He’d send a Savior? Amos 3:7 says He does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

Actually, Yahuweh sent many saviors and told us such. Strong's Concordance #H3467 is translated as deliverer, savior, save, help, salvation, rescue, and such. Yahuweh also said, prophetically, in Deuteronomy 18:15 that He will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. Like who? Like Moses…. Sadly, the way Yahushua is taught is that He was a “g-d-man” because He “was always there.” If He was “always there,” then He was NOT a “prophet like” Moses because Moses was “a man”! Scripture says of Messiah that He was “born a man, lived a man and died a man” (John 8:40, John 10:33, and others) which would make Him a “prophet like me.”

Nehemiah 9:27, Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, But when they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them deliverers [H3467; “saviors”] who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.

Judges 2:18, “When YAHUWEH raised up judges for them, YAHUWEH was with the judge and delivered [H3467, saved] them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for YAHUWEH was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.

If Yahuweh’s Messiah was taught from the scriptures instead of taught from a trinitarian viewpoint (most of Christianity), there would be less confusion over His words. There is an excellent study on Oneness, Duality, Trinity and Pre-Existence which is recommended for anyone reading thus far and is available by clicking here.

It is our earnest, heartfelt prayer that anyone reading this will see the truth in Yahuweh's Messiah, Yahushua; that He was here, died for any and all who would believe, repent and be baptized and is coming back again--sooner than most realize. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us and someone will be able to assist you.