(This article reflects the viewpoints of another and does not necessarily reflect the understanding of Qumran Bet Community or AmYHWH. Perhaps truth would be better served if you also added your contribution to this piece.)

YOU AND NINE OTHERS
by Ken Graydon

The most urgent message we have to receive [and deliver] is that of repentance. The Tanakh mentions some fifty times the need for repentance. Without becoming all mystical about the meaning of numbers; it is interesting that when Abraham began to negotiate with the ETERNAL to see if the people of Sodom could be saved the first attempt he made was “if there are fifty innocent people will you spare the city?” Genesis 18:24.

The ETERNAL agreed and Abraham persevered in his attempts to save the city through to verse 32 “Let not the ETERNAL be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten [ innocent people] should be found there?” ETERNAL answered “I will not destroy for the sake of ten.”

The daily news, which reinforces the words of prophecy we read in the Tanakh, shows us how far we have come from being innocent. Never has it been more important than ‘right now’ to go before the ETERNAL in prayers of repentance.

Say to them: As I live, says the ETERNAL, I do not wish for the death of the wicked, but for the wicked to repent his way so that he may live. Repent, repent of your evil ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel!” Ezekiel 33:11

We are the house of Israel, particularly the United States and British Commonwealth countries and we are prophesied to be defeated and made captive. Our strength and military might will count for nothing.

{Eleven people armed with box cutters hijacked aircraft and brought down the World Trade Center, damaged the Pentagon and changed our view of the world forever}. The ETERNAL does not wish for the death of the wicked - but only the wicked, themselves, can prevent it by prayers and tears of repentance. By changing their lives.

You have a very important role in this:-

If I say to the wicked man, “You will die,” and you do not exhort him, nor speak to exhort a wicked man [to repent] of his wicked way, to save his life, he is guilty; he will die because of his iniquity and I shall require his blood from your hand.

But you - if you do warn the wicked man, and he does not repent of his wickedness and of his evil ways, he will die because of his iniquity, and you - you will have saved your soul. Ezekiel 3: 18-19

Your obedience will save your life. Your lack of obedience will cost the other person and you your lives. It’s a simple choice. Repentance plus obedience equals life. Any other choice brings death.

However the ETERNAL has said [He does not change so what He said then He means now] that if there are ten innocent people in a community He will not destroy the community. We are followers of - and natural heirs to - Abraham. If we can embody in our lives the obedience of Abraham we will be both, as forgiven and as blessed, as he was. The lives of the people in your community are in your hands and your life is in the balance.

We are well into the prophesied program of trouble for the House of Israel and your actions from now on will determine whether you are in the surviving remnant.

WILL THERE BE YOU AND NINE OTHERS IN REPENTANCE? WILL YOU BE THE TEN INNOCENT ONES WHO CAUSE YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAVED?