The Twelve Tribes model - Restoring All Things
The closest to living like the early church in the book of Acts is the Twelve Tribes. I've lived and worked with them on two occasions, for a month and a half on each occasion, and believe them to be blessed with God's Holy Spirit. They're working towards restoring all things as prophesied in Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 17:10-12; Acts 3:20,21 and doing a good job of doing it. Many in the Twelve Tribes believed their leader, Yoneq, was the prophesied Elijah to come and restore all things just before the Messiah returns to set up the Millennial Kingdom. This is not a teaching of Yoneq or the community - only what some believed to be the case. Even though I can't say for sure Yoneq was in the spirit of Elijah, he has done a fine job starting the Twelve Tribes and leading it. I can think of no one more deserving of the title. However, I believe the Twelve Tribes needs to do the following in order to continue to progress towards restoring everything.
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The closest to living like the early church in the book of Acts is the Twelve Tribes. I've lived and worked with them on two occasions, for a month and a half on each occasion, and believe them to be blessed with God's Holy Spirit. They're working towards restoring all things as prophesied in Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 17:10-12; Acts 3:20,21 and doing a good job of doing it. Many in the Twelve Tribes believed their leader, Yoneq, was the prophesied Elijah to come and restore all things just before the Messiah returns to set up the Millennial Kingdom. This is not a teaching of Yoneq or the community - only what some believed to be the case. Even though I can't say for sure Yoneq was in the spirit of Elijah, he has done a fine job starting the Twelve Tribes and leading it. I can think of no one more deserving of the title. However, I believe the Twelve Tribes needs to do the following in order to continue to progress towards restoring everything.
- Make and wear headbands that conceal key Scripture regarding God’s law and Christ’s teachings of the law in accordance with Deuteronomy 6:1-9 that says to do this as a symbol or as a sign. Wrist and arm bands can be made and a band made to wear across the palm and back of the hand could be worn at the daily gatherings as the Twelve Tribes does with its headbands. Hatbands can similarly conceal key scripture on the law as well. I believe the Jewish community has got this right as an essential practice, but that the 12 Tribes can do this less obtrusively. See, for example, Tefillin at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin. In my DropBox at https://www.dropbox.com/s/plyj4blbao3hq4f/InstructionsWithPicsForHeadband.pdf?dl=0, are the instructions for making the headband with pics of the one I made, and at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4fdw279t6t9i0c66wxcux/Commandments.docx?dl=0&rlkey=6tczp7mgdbhn4f9ls1apz3gvp, is the Scripture I used. Wearing headbands, wrist bands, and hand-bands like described could play a significant role in showing government authorities that we are unable to take their technological "mark of the beast" for religious reasons and should be exempt from such a requirement (we could also be exempt because we would buy and sell as a community and not as individuals). We have chosen our mark that identifies us as believers in God and Jesus Christ and prepares us to receive the seal of God described in Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1. God’s seal in the forehead is the opposite of the mark of the beast. What you have on your forehead has great symbolic significance and shows your identity, desire and destiny. See “Foreheads and the Mark of the Beast”, at https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/brass-or-flint-what-your-forehead-says-about-you/. I strongly believe Deuteronomy 6:8 was specifically designed by God to help His people during the “great tribulation” to avoid the “mark of the beast.”
- Investigate and produce literature warning about the god building plans of atheist scientists/technologists as likely to produce the biggest and worst idol man has ever made and that the mark of the beast will likely arise from this god machine. Below are links to videos and articles showing where the world is at in building the AI god capable of melding with the human mind.
a. “Elon Musk Says AI Will Take Over in 5 Years-How Neuralink Will Change Humanity”, at https://youtu.be/-q3d3lD0fFM. Elon Musk, a super rich billionaire, is developing a surgically implantable microchip he says humanity will need to protect itself from being destroyed by the powerful AI being developed. Also, see “Empowering next-generation implantable brain interfaces | Timothy Constandinou”, https://youtu.be/0flOo4G9sns, where a brain chip researcher speaks at the World Economic Forum in behalf of his research for improving the surgically implantable brain chip and mentions Musk’s brain chip research.
b. “Yuval Noah Harari: The 2021 60 Minutes interview”, at https://youtu.be/EIVTf-C6oQo. In this 60 Minutes program, Harari says Homo sapiens will die out in evolutionary fashion and be replaced by AI and cyborgs with superior bodies and brains. Also see “When Humans Become Cyborgs | DAVOS 2020”, at https://youtu.be/zrNaaz1isEQ, where becoming cyborgs is openly advocated for at the World Economic Forum.
c. 8 Gadgets You Can Control With Your Brain, at https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/brain-controlled-gadgets/?fbclid=IwAR37p8859VMvmYKyouwKzQsKqaC_SpFM-V4h1-jmYVnK7YH7lp-Js9hPl9U.
d. “Microchip Implants for Employees? One Company Says Yes”, at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/technology/microchips-wisconsin-company-employees.html. Also see “Facing COVID passport mandate, more Swedes get microchip implants”, at https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/facing-covid-passport-mandate-more-swedes-get-microchip-implants/2436048.
e. Geordie Rose - Quantum Computing: Artificial Intelligence Is Here, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqN_2jDVbOU&t=177s&fbclid=IwAR3JNuPJl8LE_jMEwfFis5DPSr_XbfTgPCMfwCPs4tlJR2XBtUtyvnpwJy4&app=desktop. (At 12:32 he describes the super powerful quantum computer as an impressive device like “an alter to an alien god.”). Compare this with new or unknown god described in Daniel 11:36-39.
f. “Deus ex machina: former Google engineer is developing an AI god”, at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/28/artificial-intelligence-god-anthony-levandowski; “All hail the AI god”, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipjpg8pJQCs&app=desktop.
g. The following links are to videos and articles about Ray Kurzweil and his vision of making man godlike through brain enhancing technology. “Ray Kurzweil: In The 2030s, Nanobots In Our Brains Will Make Us ‘Godlike’”, at http://transtechlab.org/ray-kurzweil-in-the-2030s-nanobots-in-our-brains-will-make-us-godlike/, “Ray Kurzweil: We'll Become Godlike When We Connect Our Brains to The Cloud”, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHg0FIilK0E&app=desktop,
h. Jab 2.0 for Humanity 2.0 – Hurtling Down the AI-to-Vaxx Pipeline, at https://joebot.substack.com/p/jab-20-for-humanity-20-hurtling-down?r=1gpdq0.
I. WEF agenda envisions an ‘augmented society’ ruled by Internet of Bodies, digital ID, at https://sociable.co/government-and-policy/wef-augmented-society-digital-id-transhumanism/. Also see “Human vs. "Human 2.0"; 10% Welcome Microchip in Brain - Nearly 80% Worry Next Level of Totalitarianism”, at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-vs-human-2-0-10-welcome-microchip-in-brain--nearly-80-worry-next-level-of-totalitarianism-301466076.html. - In response to the atheist idea of merging our minds (through the use of brain machine interfaces) with a godlike AI machine, the Twelve Tribes should advocate for programming AI and robots with God’s law and Christ’s teachings as described in “There’s a Better Path Than Brain Machine Interfaces” and for restoring all things as prophesied in the Bible which will result in the restoration of Eden-like conditions to the earth. A promise should be given to make this restoration in small communities and cities like Vauban, Germany here in the United States utilizing the latest in computing, robotics and solar technologies to reduce labor and harness the sun’s energy. See Germany’s Green City of the Future. And, that this will give mankind an alternative to fall back on should the man-made god-machine idea ultimately turnout disastrous as biblical prophecy indicates. Dr. Ben Goertzel, a leading AI scientist and philosopher, said in one of his many videos on AI that he hopes that some people refuse to merge their minds with AI and remain in a primitive, pristine state of existence rather than as a human machine hybrid for the sake of diversity. He’s totally against the oppressive and exploitative use of AI for military weapons, spying, and mind control/advertising and hopes to make AI research and application more open source and democratic for the public benefit. See, for example, BEN GOERTZEL - WILL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE KILL US? How The Singularity is Coming - Part 1/2 | LR, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=TDClKEORtko, and Joe Rogan & Dr. Ben Goertzel - The Fear Around Artificial Intelligence, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CHySRxPTjyk. Since we don't use swords and spears that can be turned into plowshares anymore as mentioned in Isaiah 2:4-5; Micah 4:4 this prophecy could be fulfilled by funneling our military funding - along with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) AI and robotics weapons research - into green technologies for producing fruits and veggies along with the other necessities of life in an economic and sustainable way with the least amount of labor. We could fully automate such production so we would have the necessary time to learn to live communally by sharing everything as the early church in the book of Acts did. Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35. In this way, we would have more time to spend raising children properly and studying and practicing what the Scriptures teach. Many believe Jesus Christ's thousand-year reign is to be a Sabbath's rest for His people. Hebrews 4:9-10. Reducing labor in this way would give God’s people such a rest.
- Permit members of the community to take Nazirite vows and additional vows according to Numbers 6. If the plan is to restore everything, restoration of the law of the Nazirite is a must. The law will be a blessing to those who observe it.
a. In Acts 21:17-26, we see the keeping of the law of the Nazirite by the early church in Jerusalem under the direction of the elders of the church. Paul also took the vow. Acts 18:18.
b. God’s law has always been perfect and a blessing to those who keep it. In Psalm 19:7-9; James 1:25, it is clear that all the law is perfect and brings freedom. The Nazirite law, therefore, is perfect and brings freedom to those who keep it.
c. We’re also obligated to live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4. The Nazirite vow came from the mouth of God.
d. You cannot subtract the Nazirite vow law from the Scriptures. Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32. It’s an individual's choice to take the vow or not and it's not subject to group control.
e. The vow is essential as it can help a person to avoid sin or break a harmful practice. For instance, a person could take an additional vow (Numbers 6:21) to give up cigarettes, junk food, etc. A person may also additionally vow to practice a more stringent diet and fast more frequently for spiritual growth.
f. The Nazirite vow is not a practice that must be given up in order to join the Acts church. Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-34. In Matthew 19:28-29, the Lord defines what giving up everything means. Nowhere is the Nazirite vow or prior lawful religious practices mentioned. Anything in addition to this is a debatable or a disputable matter that Paul says not to quarrel about. Romans 14:1.
g. The argument that a person must give up his Nazirite vow in order to be born again as Jesus Christ described in John 3:1-8 as necessary to enter the Kingdom of God makes no sense. The Nazirite vow is based on the right practice of God’s law which is a spiritual law as Paul stated in Romans 7:14. To be born again one needs to be born of water and the Spirit as Jesus said. In other words, one must be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not against any part of God’s law that is both perfect and spiritual and brings true freedom. James 1:25. Jesus Christ did not come to abolish God’s law or the prophets. He came to fulfill it and to teach it. Matthew 5:17-19. - Discontinue the weekly Lord’s Supper observance as a new Passover requirement. The Lord did not add any new legal requirements to the Passover before He was crucified. Mandatory wine drinking was never a part of the Passover law. When the Messiah first started His ministry, He warned the people that He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets. Matthew 5:17. He would not have added to or subtracted from the law as His Father commanded in Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32. "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge" and that is the Father. James 4:12. It would still be possible to hold your Friday night gatherings on a voluntary basis without mandatory wine drinking. Wine drinking could be voluntary and in small amounts such as a cup full. You could even look into making homemade wine.
- Permit community members to eat vegan/vegetarian diets as they as individuals see fit. The vegan/ vegetarian diet has powerful healing powers and the Scriptures show this to be the case. See Daniel 1:8-16. The Bible prophesies a restoration of the vegan/vegetarian diet of Genesis 1:29,30. See Hosea 2:18; Isaiah 11:6-9. Even though Paul’s statement that the weak in faith eat only vegetables may not be accurate due to translation and context errors, it would still be wise for Twelve Tribe members who eat meat not to look down on those who would rather eat only vegetables as it was done in the beginning and as Daniel did with God’s help. Genesis 1:29-30; Romans 14:1-6; Daniel 1:9. This is an individual choice that should not be subject to group control. Other than the Passover lamb, meat eating is not required by biblical law. Deuteronomy 12:20 makes clear the discretionary nature of meat eating. If you “crave meat” you may eat as much of it as you want.
- Fasting should also not be subject to group control. How long and the manner of the fast should be an individual choice. Choosing to go on vegan fasts as Daniel did in Daniel 10:2-3 should be permitted. Likewise, juice or water only fasting should be permitted. The Twelve Tribes should encourage long cleansing fasts for health or for spiritual reasons.
- Meat that has been artificially fattened through drugs and other factory farming methods should be considered unclean because the fat can’t all be removed and much of the toxins from the drugs and pesticide laced feed resides in this fat. Toxins are stored in the animal fat the same as in human fat. Fat is known to be unhealthy even when free of contaminants. There will likely be severe health consequences from eating such unclean meat over time. From my understanding of Leviticus 3:17, no fat whatsoever or from any animal source can be eaten. If you eat the fat from an animal that can be sacrificed, then you are to be cut off from the people. Leviticus 7:22-27. The Twelve Tribes should consider selling only healthy fish and organic eggs in its cafes.
- The Twelve Tribes should not reject outright the claims of new believers – desiring to join the Twelve Tribe – that they’ve already experienced the Holy Spirit and are already on the path to salvation. Salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are available to those not yet living in community. Notice in Luke 19:5-9 how quickly Zacchaeus received salvation and the Holy Spirit when he repented and gave half of his possessions to the poor. The Holy Spirit does work best in a community such as the Twelve Tribes and everyone ultimately needs to surrender their life to a community such as the Twelve Tribes, but God and His Holy Spirit do operate outside of community. Likewise, baptism should be administered promptly whenever someone repents of his sins and starts the process of change. Notice how Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before being baptized. Acts 10:24-48.
- The Twelve Tribes should not bar anyone from joining their communities because they’re unable to sing, dance, or speak in the assembly. Some people are unable to do these things. It’s more important to love God and treat your brother fairly and mercifully than to sing, dance, and speak well in the assembly. The Father accepted Moses when he had a problem speaking and appointed his brother to speak to the people for him. Exodus 4:14-16. There is nothing in the law or Christ’s teaching to require singing, dancing or speaking in the assembly to be a requirement of salvation. In fact, Jesus Christ said “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20.
- The tribe of Judah should be reserved for those in modern day Israel in keeping with the prophesy in the book of Zechariah. Zechariah 12:1-14; 13:1-9; 14:1-21. The Jews in Israel were brought back to Israel to fulfill this prophecy. As can be seen, by chapter 12:10-14, the Jews are moved to repentance by Christ. You could prepare to humble yourself before the tribe of Judah in Israel when the Lord moves them to repentance and seek their permission to be an extension of their tribe in the United States. Your teachings should reflect your desire to do this.
- On black/white race history and slavery, the Twelve Tribes should point out that both sides were wrong in this. God did not intervene because Africans were living a totally pagan lifestyle that practiced war and exploitation contrary to the Scriptures, and white conquerors were establishing a Satanically false Christianity throughout the world and taking slaves to make riches for the upper classes as a part of the process. See, for example, Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity and “Why the Portuguese Restoration of 1640 Matters to the History of American Slavery”, at http://www.processhistory.org/opal-barbados-slavery/. Because of the havoc wreaked by this destructive exploitation and oppression that destroyed the moral fabric of society, we (black and white) continue to suffer many problems and conflicts today. For this reason, the poor and weak (black or white) should not be looked at harshly by the Twelve Tribes.
- Do not use physical punishment on the children. Instead, systematically discipline the children by teaching them the commandments and what they mean according to Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and by showing them how to live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4. Even though the Twelve Tribes uses physical punishment well and the children respond to it reasonably well, the Twelve Tribes could do better with a system that uses no physical punishment that produces fear of punishment. The apostle John pointed out that perfect love drives out fear and fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18. The Kung Bushmen are a good example of a society that didn’t use punishment on their children that produced well behaved children. See first 8 minutes of The Gods Must Be Crazy, at http://vimeo.com/116436527. They lived cooperatively, sharing in everything, but didn’t have the Scriptures to guide them in other important areas of life. From my understanding of the Scriptures, the goal is to instill the law into the hearts and minds of men so well that there will be no sin and no need to punish anyone. Hebrews 10:15-18; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel11:19-20. I believe remembering to teach the law to the children in order to comply with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is something that must be done to turn the hearts of the children to their parents. Malachi 4:4-6.
- Grow the low THC, high CBD strains of marijuana that are not psychoactive (won’t get you high) and provide it to people who are sick and in need of this alternative medicine in place of highly toxic and addictive narcotics and psychiatric drugs that are causing severe side effects and death in too many cases. This should be done in the spirit of the Good Samaritan described in Luke10:25-37. There’s a religious duty to have mercy on one’s neighbor during the current health and drug crisis sweeping the country. The Twelve Tribes has the necessary skills to grow this type of marijuana and the spiritual strength and wisdom to provide assistance to those in need. The documentary Weed shows how safe and effective marijuana is for a number of medical conditions. Project CBD lists more conditions the high CBD strains are good for. See http://www.projectcbd.org/. You could emphasize using cannabis in raw form like advocated by William Courtney, MD. See "Raw Cannabis Advantages - William Courtney, MD", at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlsBGXNxJYU&t=478s. Not only did God create cannabis for man's use (Genesis 1:29-30), He specially created the endocannabinoid system in man to make them work together as medicine. See, for example, Reader's Digest book "The Essential Guide to CBD", pages 10-11, 23-41; "The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious", by Peter Grinspoon, MD, at https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569; "Dr David Allen the discovery of the Endocannabinoid System", at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8yRKYDAlg&t=1s. There's also been research into the use of CBD, CBDa, and CBGa for covid-19. See "The potential of cannabidiol in the COVID-19 pandemic", at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32519753/, and “Study: Hemp compounds may help prevent, treat COVID-19”, at https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/01/12/hemp-cannabis-prevent-treat-covid-study. In “Learning about CBGa and CBDa with Dr. Dustin Sulak, D.O.”, at https://youtu.be/jHAdXBwYJy8, Dr. Sulak describes how CBGa, CBDa and even THC can treat the symptoms of and prevent Covid-19.
- Grow industrial hemp as a part of the Twelve Tribes cottage industries. Hemp is totally safe and nonintoxicating and it has been legalized by the United States government. See “USDA Releases Long-Awaited Industrial Hemp Regulations”, at https://www.fb.org/market-intel/usda-releases-long-awaited-industrial-hemp-regulations. Industrial hemp has many uses and the Twelve Tribes should experiment with hemp as it’s likely to become more popular in the future. See “General Hemp Information”, https://www.hempbasics.com/shop/general-hemp-information. Hemp tea might become a more popular and cheaper alternative for Twelve Tribes cafes to sell. See “Hemp tea - A guide to the effects & benefits”, https://www.fortheageless.com/blogs/cbd-oil-uk-blog/benefits-hemp-tea.
- Become involved with the GlobalInitiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children in order to influence legislation that will permit the Twelve Tribes style of discipline to continue. The Twelve Tribes could open its communities to the organization so it can see the way it disciplines its children and how successful it has been in this regard. Even though I believe in non-punitive methods of child-rearing, I do not believe the Twelve Tribes should be forced by man-made laws to stop.
- Encourage the members of your community (including youth and children) to learn to use desktop and laptop computers and participate in Facebook and other online debate forums to express their views and educate others about what they believe. Facebook groups like “Book of Revelation & Bible Prophecy Church by RevelationScriptures.com” and “The Mark of the Beast (666)” have large numbers of participants from a wide range of religious backgrounds hungry to share and receive knowledge. Participating in such debates strengthens one’s knowledge and faith. And, the Twelve Tribes needs to let its light shine on the Internet. Using the Internet more extensively would allow you to stay connected with your communities in other countries. The Covid-19 pandemic has created a situation where travel over borders is difficult or impossible without a vaccine passport or proof of vaccination.
- The use of the Hebrew or sacred names Yahweh and Yahshua should not be mandatory and considered a sin for failure to use them. There’s no clear-cut law or commandment requiring their use under penalty of sin. “Sin is transgression of the law” and where there is no law there is no sin. 1 John 3:4. As long as they’re properly identified as the God of the Bible and His Son, there can be no misunderstanding or harm done. Who they are and what they require of us are more important than the name itself in my opinion. An excellent article on this issue is “Is a Christian Required to Use the Sacred Name?”, at https://www.ucg.org/united-news/is-a-christian-required-to-use-the-sacred-name. The author, a Sabbath and Holy Day keeper like us, found there was no such requirement after carefully considering the relevant Scripture. Sacred name keeping is a debatable issue with arguments and reasoning on both sides. Paul in Romans 14:1 says not to quarrel about debatable issues. As for the new names promised in Revelation 3:12, these are likely to have special meaning and to give some new type of understanding. It also must be considered whether the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 requires the translation of the Scriptures including the names of the Father and the Son into other languages.
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