Tithes & Alms

What is above the Law?

 

• The first commandment given to Israel upon coming out of Egypt was as follows:

Exodus 19:5 

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Jeremiah 11:3 

And say thou unto them, Thus saith Ahayah Alahayim of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

Jeremiah 11:4 

Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your Alahayim:

Jeremiah 11:5 

That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O Ahayah.

• Obeying Ahayah’s voice must be done and precedes His commands in His law. Hence for example, it’s unlawful to kill and it’s righteous to have mercy, yet Saul was rejected for not obeying the word of the Lord to kill Amalek when he spared him:

1Sa 15:2 

Thus saith Ahayah of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

1Sa 15:3  

Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

1Sa 15:7 

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

1Sa 15:8 

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

1Sa 15:9 

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1Sa 15:10 

Then came the word of Ahayah unto Samuel, saying,

1Sa 15:11 

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto Ahayah all night.

1 Samuel 15:22 

And Samuel said, Hath Ahayah as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Ahayah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:23 

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Ahayah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

• Also, the Israelites made league with the Canaanites though commanded not to and it was a snare unto them for not obeying the Lord’s voice. 

Joshua 23:11 

Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Ahayah your Alahayim.

Joshua 23:12 

Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

Joshua 23:13 

Know for a certainty that Ahayah your Alahayim will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Ahayah your Alahayim hath given you.

• Sadly they didn’t obey his voice: 

Judges 2:1 

And an angel of Ahayah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

Judges 2:2 

And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Judges 2:3 

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their alahayim shall be a snare unto you.

• Also, though it is not lawful to make molten images, Moses was commanded to make a serpent

Num 21:8  

And Ahayah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

• He obeyed Ahayah’s voice which made his act righteous, though making the image was unlawful to do which shows obeying His voice is above all else: 

Barnabas 12:6 

Yea and further though Moses gave the commandment; Ye shall not have a molten or a carved image for your Alahayim, yet he himself made one that he might show them a type of Yache. So Moses maketh a brazen serpent, and setteth it up conspicuously, and summoneth the people by proclamation.

• Moses was blameless in that he obeyed the Lord’s voice to make what was unlawful by the commandments. There was a purpose for what Ahayah commanded to be done as well:

Barnabas 12:7 

When therefore they were assembled together they entreated Moses that he should offer up intercession for them that they might be healed. And Moses said unto them; Whensoever, said he, one of you shall be bitten, let him come to the serpent which is placed on the tree, and let him believe and hope that the serpent being himself dead can make alive; and forthwith he shall be saved. And so they did. Here again thou hast in these things also the glory of Yache, how that in Him and unto Him are all things.

• So the brazen serpent being put up on a tree and believing the dead serpent can make them alive was a testimony of Yache who was to die on the cross/tree so that believing on him, we may live: 

John 3:14 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:15 

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

• The testimony of the serpent also showed that it is by Ahayah's word that we are saved not by the serpent that was seen:

Wisdom of Solomon 16:6 

But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

Wisdom of Solomon 16:7 

For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.

Wisdom of Solomon 16:12 

For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

• The serpent was a testimony of obeying Ahayah’s voice, which is what saves us and his word heals as the people obeyed what he said to do to be healed and they were healed by that word. We have other examples of how, obeying Ahayah’s voice proceeds everything else in Levi who was commanded to exact vengeance and kill though the law commands not to kill and vengeance is the Lord’s: 

Testament of Levi 5:3-4

Then the angel brought me down to the earth, and gave me a shield and a sword, and said to me: Execute vengeance on Shechem because 4 of Dinah, thy sister, and I will be with thee because the Lord hath sent me. And I destroyed at 5 that time the sons of Hamor, as it is written in the heavenly tables. 

Testament of Levi 6:1-4

6 1 And when I was going to my father, I found a brazen shield; wherefore also the name of the 2 mountain is Aspis, which is near Gebal, to the south of Abila and I kept these words in my 3 heart. And after this I counseled my father, and Reuben my brother, to bid the sons of Hamor not to be circumcised; for I was zealous because of the abomination which they had wrought on 4, 5 my sister. 

• Ahayah was with Levi to execute vengeance. He lead Simeon to deceive the Shechemites to destroy them, though “bearing false witness” is against the law.

Jasher 33:37-39, 52

37. And Simeon said to them , here is a proper advice for you; tell them to circumcise every male amongst them as we are circumcised, and if they do not wish to do this, we shall take our daughter from them and go away. 38. And if they consent to do this and will do it, then when they are sunk down with pain, we will attack them with our swords as upon one who is quiet and peaceable, and we will slay every male person amongst them. 39. And Simeon's advice pleased them, and Simeon and Levi resolved to do unto them as it was proposed.

52. And they circumcised Shechem and Hamor his father, and the five brothers of Shechem, and then everyone rose up and went home, for this thing was from Ahayah against the city of Shechem, and from Ahayah was Simeon's counsel in this matter, in order that Ahayah might deliver the city of Shechem into the hands of Jacob's two sons.

• Ahayah has his reasons for all things though it might not look right to man: 

Testament of Levi 6:5-11

5 And I slew Shechem first, and Simeon slew Hamor. And after this my brothers 6 came and smote that city with the edge of the sword. 6 And my father heard these things and was wroth, and he was grieved in that they had received the circumcision, and after that had been put to death, and in his blessings he looked amiss upon us. 7 For we sinned because we had done this thing against his will, and he was sick on that day. 8 But I saw that the sentence of Alahayim was for evil upon Shechem; for they sought to do to Sarah and Rebecca as they had done to Dinah our sister, but the Lord prevented them. 9 And they persecuted Abraham our father when he was a stranger, and they vexed his flocks when they were big with young; and Eblaen, who was born in his house, they most shamefully handled. 10 And thus they did to all strangers, taking away their wives by force, and they banished them. 11 But the wrath of the Lord came upon them to the uttermost.

• Though it seemed a sin to Jacob, for Levi and Simeon obeying Ahayah's voice were counted righteous on the heavenly tablets to help understand obeying Ahayah’s voice is essential even if others may not understand or agree.

Jubilees 30:17,20

17. For this reason I have commanded thee, saying: "Testify this testimony to Israel: see how the Shechemites fared and their sons: how they were delivered into the hands of two sons of Jacob, and they slew them under tortures, and it was (reckoned) unto them for righteousness, and it is written down to them for righteousness.  20. And we remember the righteousness which the man fulfilled during his life, at all periods of the year; until a thousand generations they will record it, and it will come to him and to his descendants after him, and he hath been recorded on the heavenly tables as a friend and a righteous man.

• Though the law says not to kill, when weighed in the balance the act is just when obeying Ahayah’s voice: 

Testament of Asher 4:1-5

4 1 For good men, even they that are of single face, though they be thought by them that are double 2 faced to sin, are just before Alahayim. For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; 3 but the whole is good, because he hath uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.

• In all actions, one has to weigh whats right in the sight of Alahayim not man, to ensure we are keeping His commandments unless given commandment from the Lord, that we may be good and faithful servants in his sight:

4 One man hateth the merciful and unjust man, and the man who committeth adultery and fasteth: this, too, hath a twofold aspect, but the whole work is good, because he followeth the Lord’s example, in that he accepteth not the seeming good as the genuine good. 5 For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean, but they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what Alahayim also hateth and forbiddeth by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.

• Through the law and testimonies, obeying Ahayah’s voice is above all and our simplicity is to be truly good walking in what is right in the sight of Alahayim obeying his voice regardless of what others may think, so that we may live:

Matthew 4:4 

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of Alahayim.

​

Were the Images of the Temple Lawful?

• Understanding that obeying Ahayah’s voice comes first and there is meaning to the testimonies left to us, let's examine whether the images made when Solomon built the House of Ahayah were lawful. Firstly, Ahayah showed Moses the pattern of the tabernacle in heaven: 

Heb 8:5  

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of Alahayim when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 

• So what Moses was to make was the replica of what is in heaven. Mind you, it’s unlawful to make graven images, the similitude of any figure, likeness of male or female, or a molten image:

Deu 27:15  

Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto Ahayah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 

Deuteronomy 4:15 

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that Ahayah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

Deuteronomy 4:16 

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:17 

The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Deuteronomy 4:18 

The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

• These commands are right and true, yet these commands do not precede the first commandment given to Israel upon coming out of Egypt:

Exodus 19:5 

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

• Knowing the Law and the first covenant of obeying the Lord’s voice, If Ahayah commands something to be made, though unlawful to do in His law, it is still a just work because one is obeying his voice. Now, let’s see what Ahayah commanded Moses:

Exodus 25:1 

And Ahayah spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 25:2 

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

Exodus 25:8 

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:9 

According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 25:18 

And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

Exo 26:31

 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubim shall it be made:

Exodus 26:1 

Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work shalt thou make them.

• The sanctuary being made after the pattern of the one in heaven helps understand that cherubim are part of the design and they are lawful to make for the sanctuary of Ahayah because that is obeying his voice to do it for His sanctuary though it’s not lawful to make molten images of gold nor carved images in general. This means making an image of a cherubim for any other purpose is unlawful because of the commandments not to make graven images, likenesses, or similitudes of any male or female figure in heaven. For confirmation that making cherubim are righteous for the house of Ahayah, Ezekiel saw the vision of the house of Ahayah that Israel is to build in Christ’s kingdom and it will also have cherubim: 

 

Ezekiel 40:2-4 

In the visions of Alahayim brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

Ezekiel 40:3 

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

Ezekiel 40:4 

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 41:1, 18-25 

Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.

Ezekiel 41:18 

And it was made with cherubim and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;

Ezekiel 41:19 

So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.

Ezekiel 41:20 

From the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.

Ezekiel 41:23 

And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.

Ezekiel 41:25 

And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.

Eze 43:10-12

Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.

Eze 43:11  

And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

Eze 43:12  

This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

 

• Through scripture understanding the form, fashion and law of the house to come and know of the pattern shown to Moses in the heavens, both of which we see there are cherubim, but no bull or lion figures in them or commanded to be made. Solomon made cherubim in the house of Ahayah as well which was lawful to do as we now know by Ahayah’s commands and the patterns of the tabernacle of old and the fashion of the House to come in Christ’s kingdom:

 

1 Kings 6:11, 19, 23, 27-29, 31-32

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Ahayah

1 Kings 6:16

And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

1 Kings 6:19

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Ahayah.

1 Kings 6:23

And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

1 Kings 6:27

And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

1 Kings 6:28

And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

1 Kings 6:29

And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

1 Kings 6:31

And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

1 Kings 6:32 

The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm trees.

• So Cherubim statues of gold were erected in the Holy place along with the doors and the walls round about the house were covered with cherubim. All this was lawful to do for the House of Ahayah because cherubim were used for the tabernacle Moses made as well.

The unlawful images of the House of the Lord

• Solomon hired Hiram, a man of Tyre, [I Kings 7:13-14]and he made a molten sea, bases, and wheel plates with similitudes of creatures that Ahayah didn’t command. [I kings 7:29-50] These items went outside of the House on the porch in the courts to the south eastern side of the House:

1 Kings 7:13-14 

And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

1 Kings 7:14 

He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

• The sea for the priest was put in the court of the House:

2 Chronicles 4:9, 6 

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

2 Chronicles 4:6 

He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

1 Kings 7:39 

And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

• The bases and the sea for the priests were outside of the House in the inner courts. There were unlawful images made by Hiram on the items in the inner court of the House:

2 Chronicles 4:2-3 

Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

2 Chronicles 4:3 

And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.

• The bases with wheels and plates

1 Kings 7:27 

And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.

1 Kings 7:29 

And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.

• The wheel plates of the bases

1 Kings 7:30, 36-37, 40 

And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

1 Kings 7:36 

For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

1 Kings 7:37 

After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

1 Kings 7:40 

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of Ahayah:

• Through scripture we see, the bulls and lions made by Hiram weren’t in the actual sanctuary but the inner courts and Ahayah never commanded Moses to make bulls and lions, neither are they in the pattern shown to Moses in the mount, nor were those images in the temple to come in Christ’s kingdom. For such reasons as afore mentioned, it was against the law and should not have been put in the courts of the house. Ahayah suffered it to be as a testimony against the Israelites, for we are the inner courts (Rev 11:1) where his altar is. The idols inside the inner courts of the temple symbolizes the idols in our hearts (Jer 9:26; Eze 11:21) and the temple being destroyed symbolizes the wrath that shall come upon those that separate themselves from Ahayah to serve their idols. 

Barnabas 16:7 

I find then that there is a temple, How then shall it be built in the name of the Lord? Understand ye. Before we believed on Alahayim, the abode of our heart was corrupt and weak, a temple truly built by hands; for it was full of idolatry and was a house of demons, because we did whatsoever was contrary to Alahayim.

• Christ will build the true temple made without hands in our heart free of idols and demons:

Barnabas 16:8 

But it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Give heed then that the temple of the Lord may be built gloriously.

Barnabas 16:9 

How? Understand ye. By receiving the remission of our sins and hoping on the Name we became new, created afresh from the beginning. Wherefore Alahayim dwelleth truly in our habitation within us. How? The word of his faith, the calling of his promise, the wisdom of the ordinances, the commandments of the teaching, He Himself prophesying in us, He Himself dwelling in us, opening for us who had been in bondage unto death the door of the temple, which is the mouth, and giving us repentance leadeth us to the incorruptible temple.

• The true temple is being built and we must be found faithful in all things to partake in it by having our hearts purified by faith, both Jew and Gentile. (Acts 15:7-9) The words of Yache building another temple without hands was in reference to this temple in our hearts:

Mark 14:58 

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

• By precept, he was referring to building the true temple gloriously in our hearts.

Barnabas 16:6 

But let us enquire whether there be any temple of Alahayim. There is; in the place where he himself undertakes to make and finish it. For it is written And it shall come to pass, when the week is being accomplished, the temple of Alahayim shall be built gloriously in the name of the Lord.

Barnabas 6:15 

For a holy temple unto the Lord, my brethren, is the abode of our heart

• Solomon should not have allowed Hiram nor Huram to make those graven images, yet we understand why Ahayah suffered them to do it, because it wasn't his true temple. The temple was left for a testimony against us because the temple with idols was destroyed by the Babylonians as a token that the man of an idolatrous heart shall also be destroyed. On the other hand, the temple made without hands, which is the holy temple of the heart [Barnabas 6:15] purified by the blood of Christ [Heb 9:14] and sanctification of the Holy Spirit,[Rom 3:28-30;5:5;15:16] shall be built up with the remnant of Israel [Rev 7:4,10;14;1-4] and the brethren of the righteous Gentiles [Rev 7:9-10] that are called. [Amos 9:11-12] 

• Solomon did error as well in making lions in his own house.

1 Kings 9:10

10  And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Ahayah, and the king's house,

1 Kings 10:18-20

18  Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

19  The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

20  And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

• Solomon was an ensign, that not by a multitude of wisdom and knowledge were Yache's people going to be delivered, [Sirach 19:24] but by obedience in obeying His voice. [Jer 9:23-24] because he had a lot of wisdom but transgressed the law as well diminishing his glory:

Ecclesiasticus 19:24 

He that hath small understanding, and feareth Alahayim, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.

 

• Solomon was also a testimony of how head knowledge alone will not make us perfect of heart. David had not a plethora of knowledge, but an obedient heart and walked in simplicity being merciful [I Sam 13;14; I Macc 2:57; I kings 11:4] and his heart was found perfect. Praise Ahayah that Solomon received the seal through repentance [Testament of Solomon] by confessing his faults, that he may receive mercy [James 5:15-16] which was promised to his father David, that Ahayah's mercy would not depart from him. [2 Sam 7:15]

Wisdom of Solomon 11:23

But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend.

• Ahayah winked at the ignorance, but we are by no means justified to do the same errors today. We are aware of the laws, the meaning of why Solomon and Hiram were suffered to make the images and what it symbolized for us and future prophesy. For us to make or continue operating with unlawful images would be unwise, seeing as though the righteous understood unlawful images were against the law as a confirmation for us to know it is indeed against the law for us today: 

4 macc 17:7

[7] And had it been lawful for us to paint, as might some artist, the tale of thy piety, would not the spectators have shuddered at the mother of seven sons suffering for righteousness' sake multitudinous tortures even unto death?

• It being unlawful to make the similitude of male or female made it unlawful to paint a portrait of the woman and her seven sons suffering. On the other hand, the unlearned make unlawful images: 

Wisdom of Solomon 13:1-10,13-15
[1]Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of Alahayim, and could not out of the good things that are seen know him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster;
[2]But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the alahayim which govern the world.
[3]With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be alahayim; let them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty hath created them.
[4]But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.
[5]For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.
[6]But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure err, seeking Alahayim, and desirous  find him.
[7]For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.
[8]Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned. 

• (though we were trying to  find Ahayah and erred, we still will not be pardoned for our iniquity, so ignorance is no excuse for the reason following:) 

[9]For if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at the world; how did they not sooner find out the Lord thereof? 

• (This is why we are not to be pardoned, because he gave us the mental ability to find him, yet we didn't apply it, even though his creation attest of his existence every day to us.)

[10]But miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who call them alahayim, which are the works of men's hands, gold and silver, to shew art in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone good for nothing, the work of an ancient hand. 

• This is showing they were making portraits to resemble beasts in their art from the ancient times

[13]And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, hath carved it diligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill of his understanding, and fashioned it to the image of a man;
[14]Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion, and with paint coloring it red, and covering every spot therein;
[15]And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall, and made it fast with iron: 

• (Its describing how after one has made the picture or image they nail up upon a wall. As one can see picture making is an ancient practice, whether images of men or beast.)

Wis 13:16 

For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it was unable to help itself; for it is an image, and hath need of help:

• We are not justified to make unlawful images today because the makers of unlawful images will be punished along with the images they make:

Wis 14:9 

For the unholy and his unholiness are both alike hateful unto Alahayim.

Wis 14:10 

For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.

• Nor is it right to lust after unlawful images:

Wis 15:5 

The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.

Wis 15:6 

Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to trust upon.

• Not only worshipping unlawful images is evil, but making them and desiring them is also evil. 

 

Understanding Unlawful Images

• An image is unlawful when they go against the commands of the Lord

Exo 20:4  

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

• Why shall we not make a carved image or the likeness of anything?

Deu 4:16

  Lest ye corrupt yourselves,

• They actually corrupt us when we make them so that is the reason we ought not to make them. What are the types of things that corrupt us if we make their likeness exactly?

and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deu 4:17

  The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Deu 4:18

 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

• So the making of any likeness or similitude of a figure whether of creatures of heaven, earth or the waters will corrupt us. What other things shall we not make?

Leviticus 26:1

[1]Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image,

• Not only shall we not make graven images (sculptures/carved images) or likenesses (images) of creatures, but we also shall not make idols (deities) as well. So even if we aren’t making a graven image or likeness of a creature or deity, it's still unlawful to make it. What else shall we not do?

neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am Ahayah your Alahayim.

• We cannot set up standing images (pillars/stumps) or images of stone to bow down unto. An image of Stone that we shall not bow down unto is self explanatory, don’t make an image of stone, nor bow down to one that someone else has made. Also, examples of a standing image that one bows down to is a Christmas tree:

Jer 10:3  

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Jer 10:4  

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Jer 10:5  

They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

• Other unlawful images to make are:

Exo 34:17

 Thou shalt make thee no molten alahayim.

Exo 20:23

 Ye shall not make with me alahayim of silver, neither shall ye make unto you alahayim of gold.

• We shall not make molten deities casted of metal, gold or silver. Images can be lawful when they do not resemble male or female creatures, aren’t made to worship, or aren’t molten deities. For example, apples aren’t creatures so they are lawful:

Proverbs 25:11 

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

• Pictures of the sun, moon, stars, aren’t unlawful because they aren’t creatures either. Stars are circles as well:

Wis 13:2 

But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the deities which govern the world.

• Jacob’s children made maps of stars to know images of stars aren’t unlawful to make:

Jasher 53:18-19

18. And he ordered them to bring before him his map of the stars, whereby Joseph knew all the times, and Joseph said unto Benjamin, I have heard that the Hebrews are acquainted with all wisdom, dost thou know anything of this? 19. And Benjamin said, thy servant is knowing also in all the wisdom which my father taught me,……

• So it’s lawful to make images of the luminaries, but we cannot worship the luminaries:

Deu 4:19  

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which Ahayah thy Alahayim hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. 

• We do have to be mindful to abstain from all appearance of evil and the star of Chiun is to be avoided which history shows is the six pointed star:

Amos 5:26

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your alahayim, which ye made to yourselves.

• The 6 pointed star, among many other images, are demonic symbols used for the worship of Satan, demons, and evil spirits. The actual luminaries of heaven are circular according to the scriptures while the 6 pointed star is the hexagon of 666. {Revelations 13:18} 

 1Th 5:22  

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

• So not all images are unlawful, just the images that resemble male or female creatures, standing images made to bow down to, molten deities, or 6 pointed stars. Other lawful images are: trees, fruits, herbs and nature because as they aren’t resembling the creatures in heaven, earth, or the sea according to the law.

Unclean Simulacra

Simulacra: an image or representation of someone or something.

•  The children of men, lead by malignant spirits, made molten images, graven images and unclean simulacra:

Jubilees 11:4

4. And they made for themselves molten images, and they worshipped each the idol, the molten image which they had made for themselves, and they began to make graven images and unclean simulacra, and malignant spirits assisted and seduced (them) into committing transgression and uncleanness. 

5. And the prince Mastema exerted himself to do all this, and he sent forth other spirits, those which were put under his hand to do all manner of wrong and sin, and all manner of transgression, to corrupt and destroy, and to shed blood upon the earth.

• The devil exerted himself to do all this to make man commit transgression, hence its evil in the sight of the Lord to make graven images or the likeness of creatures (paintings/pictures) which are unclean simulacra because they are the representation of a creature.

Deu 4:25 

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of Ahayah thy Alahayim, to provoke him to anger:

• These unlawful images, whether graven image or the likeness of anything, are made by the assistance of evil spirits then the images have evil spirits dwell in them and are hidden from men. 

Acts of Thomas 

77 And when the devil had said these things and even more, the apostle said: Yache commands you and your son through me not to enter anymore into the habitation of man: but go now and depart and dwell far apart from the territory of men. And the devils said to him: you have punished us harshly with your commandment: but what are you going to do about the others that are hidden from you? These people of India have created all types of images, rejoice in them far more than what you do: Many of these people do mostly worship and perform their own will, sacrificing to these images and bringing them gifts of food, by libations and by wine, water and offering with oblations.

• The devils were hidden in the images people created. There is a judgement for the pictures, graven image, molten image, and idols along with the person that made them: 

Wis 14:10  

For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.

• Notice the idol itself will be punished as well? Because an evil spirit dwells there. Also the person that made the image will be punished as well because he transgressed the law that commanded not to make a graven image or likeness of anything. Peter saw that the souls of these devils that dwell in unlawful images will be punished as well as the unlawful images too:

Apocalypse of Peter chapter 6 

Uriel, the angel of Alahayim, shall bring forth the souls of those sinners who perished in the flood, and of all that dwelt in all idols, in every molten image, in every (object of) love, and in pictures, and of those that dwelt on all hills and in stones and by the wayside, whom men called alahayim: they shall burn them with them in everlasting fire; and after that all of them with their dwelling places are destroyed, they shall be punished eternally

• Idols, molten images, Unclean simulacra (pictures) are dwelling places of the souls of devils so it is unlawful for us to even paint an image in respect of the law commanding not to make likenesses, [Exodus 20:4] so as not to corrupt ourselves by making the similitude of any figure, nor create a dwelling place for devils to hide in:

4 Maccabees 17:7

And had it been lawful for us to paint, as might some artist, the tale of thy piety, would not the spectators have shuddered at the mother of seven sons suffering for righteousness' sake multitudinous tortures even unto death?

• His comment showed it wasn’t lawful for us to paint people even to show the traumatic experience of what the mother and children went through because it would be making a similitude of male and female to help understand it’s not lawful to make images of living creatures even if we aren’t worshipping them.

Can we make unlawful images if we do not worship them?

• Through the testimonies, the person that makes an unlawful image is cursed along with the image that he made.

Wis 14:8 

But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called alahayim.

Wis 14:10  

For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.

Wis 14:12 

 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. 

• The scriptures show, it was not lawful to paint an image in the old testament and in the days of the Apostles, making portraits of people is not seemly for a believer either: 

Acts of John 27

27 The painter, then, on the first day made an outline of him and went away. And on the next he painted him in with his colours, and so delivered the portrait to Lycomedes to his great joy. And he took it and set it up in his own bedchamber and hung it with garlands: so that later John, when he perceived it, said to him: My beloved child, what is it that thou always doest when thou comest in from the bath into thy bedchamber alone? do not I pray with thee and the rest of the brethren? or is there something thou art hiding from us? And as he said this and talked jestingly with him, he went into the bedchamber, and saw the portrait of an old man crowned with garlands, and lamps and altars set before it. And he called him and said: Lycomedes, what meanest thou by this matter of the portrait? can it be one of thy alahayim that is painted here? for I see that thou art still living in heathen fashion.

• Its heathen fashion to paint images of male or female creatures:

And Lycomedes answered him: My only Alahayim is he who raised me up from death with my wife: but if, next to that Alahayim, it be right that the men who have benefited us should be called alahayim -it is thou, father, whom I have had painted in that portrait, whom I crown and love and reverence as having become my good guide.

Acts of John 28

28 And John who had never at any time seen his own face said to him: Thou mockest me, child: am I like that in form, thy Lord? how canst thou persuade me that the portrait is like me? And Lycomedes brought him a mirror. And when he had seen himself in the mirror and looked earnestly at the portrait, he said: As the Lord Yache Christ liveth, the portrait is like me: yet not like me, child, but like my fleshly image; for if this painter, who hath imitated this my face, desireth to draw me in a portrait, he will be at a loss, the colours that are now given to thee, and boards and plaster and glue, and the position of my shape, and old age and youth and all things that are seen with the eye.

Acts of John 29

29 …….But this that thou hast now done is childish and imperfect: thou hast drawn a dead likeness of the dead.

• Making portraits of people is the fashion of the heathen and considered childish and imperfect to make a dead likeness of the dead because children are unlearned in the words of righteousness to know not to commit the transgression. (Heb 5:13-14):

Heb 5:13 

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

• A man of full age is able to discern good from evil and knows not to make the portraits of people and creatures:

Heb 5:14 

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• Good and evil is discerned by walking in the Lord’s ways keeping his commandments, statutes, and judgements:

Deu 30:15

 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Deu 30:16 

In that I command thee this day to love Ahayah thy Alahayim, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and Ahayah thy Alahayim shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

​

​​