TITHING
AND THE REMNANT BRIDE
6 When
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the
eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit
and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they
were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin
coverings.
21
Yahweh God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and
clothed them (Genesis 3).
We find in Coverings, and in like subject matters,
that coverings, as we see here, are more than just mere clothing, but
governmental atonements for sin that prevent judgment. In fact the word
“atonement” means “covering.” Here in this very
significant beginning account regarding man is Yahweh’s testimony of two
coverings that are applied to cover man’s nakedness: the inferior fig-leaf
covering made by man, and the garments of skin covering provided by Yahweh.
Also
as we see in Coverings, in like manner there are in fact two types of coverings: the more
perfect and complete original covering that is removed because of sin, followed by the
application of the temporary substitutionary covering. The latter remains until
redemption comes and the original covering is restored. These are the two
coverings we see evidenced here.
The
original covering that clothed Adam and Eve was Yahweh’s glory. But when
they sinned, they knew they were naked and covered themselves with the works of
their own hands – “and they sewed fig
leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” Though Adam and Eve
could not have their original covering restored at that time, Yahweh provided
for them a type of the covering that foreshadowed that glory.
We have seen that hair is glory; and Yahweh fashioned for Adam and
Eve “garments of skin.” This is the identical Hebrew word used in
Genesis 27:16 where Rebekah placed “the skins of the young goats”
on Jacob’s hands and on the smooth part of his neck so that he would feel
hairy like his brother, Esau. By doing this, Jacob received Isaac’s
blessing. Therefore, the hairy skins of the animals Yahweh used to make
garments for Adam and Eve, represented the glory that would be restored to man
so as to receive His blessings. In this regard then, the garments
of skin looked to the restoration of Yahweh’s glory and the legal
responsibility He takes for man.
Thus
we see that the fig-leaf garments were the substitutionary coverings over Adam
and Eve’s nakedness, and the garments of skin represented the restoration
of the original covering. So you ask: What does this have to do with this
matter of tithing? Everything!
What
was the original covering Yahshua placed upon the church, upon the first
Remnant, to cover their nakedness? In relation to this world, it was His
covering of selling all and holding all things in common. In Luke 14:33,
Yahshua clearly stated – “So then,
none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own
possessions.” As thoroughly addressed in the writings under “The Covering For
the Bride of Yahshua,” the original glorious covering over the church
was their financial separation from this world and holding all things in
common. Even as Yahweh personally made garments of skin to cover Adam and Eve,
so Yahshua personally clothed the first Remnant with the covering of giving up
everything and following Him.
But when that covering was removed immediately after Stephen was
stoned and they were all disbursed, what then was provided as a substitutionary
covering to replace it? The covering of the tithe.
Like the fig leaves, the tithe is both inadequate and temporary. And
likewise, it is also man’s work. But as with other substitutionary
coverings, it is equally critical! Though inadequate, it at least covers our
nakedness and averts Yahweh’s judgment, affording this grace until He
restores the true covering.
In 1994, the Holy Spirit came upon me and revealed the Nazirite
vow and the two-part Remnant. Having nearly completed writing Coverings at that time, I was
fully aware that there had to be a covering over the second Remnant in order
for the Bride to pray and prophecy. As Yahshua’s Bride, we had to be
covered. It was at that time Yahweh showed me that the covering over the second
Remnant was the same covering that was over the first Remnant – holding
all things in common.
This is the covering for which we await. It is a covering that Yahshua makes, and we await the timing
for its placement. But until then, of necessity we must come under the
substitutionary covering of the tithe.
The tithe was something we briefly focused on in latter 2001 and into
2002, but subsequently were remiss about it. If we look at this legally,
clearly we are being remiss when we fail to apply an available covering.
Without question, we need to hold all things in common; but until then, we must
come under the available substitutionary covering of the tithe. We need for
Yahweh to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing we cannot contain;
therefore, we also need to be wise and see that this promise is tied to being
faithful to tithing. Though tithing may be just natural and the work of our
hands; even so, it is obviously a very important, critical legal covering. As
we are told, the natural indeed precedes the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46).
From Malachi 3 we read:
8 "Will
a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?'
In tithes and offerings.
9 "You
are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
10 "Bring
the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and
test Me now in this," says Yahweh of hosts, "if I will not open for
you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
11 "Then
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of
the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says Yahweh
of hosts.
12
"All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a
delightful land," says Yahweh of hosts.
From
1971 to 1994, Yahweh kept me very faithful to give His tithe, both personally
and in the ministry to the poor that I began. And indeed in 1994 He opened the
widows of heaven, and both then and ever since has poured out a blessing of
truth and direction I cannot contain. Just the vastness and depth of the
writings here evidence this.
The
Bride needs to practice this same faithfulness so that we can corporately
receive those “windows of heaven” blessings. Therefore, it is
incumbent that this truth regarding the covering tithe be placed before the
Bride front-and-center, and that you be faithful to Yahweh’s word and
clear governmental principle and apply it. Only then will He restore the
promised true covering of holding all things in common.
Continue to page 2 for FAITH