For centuries, man has had an untiring curiosity into the secret of longevity and ultimately, the mystery of immortaliy. Try as he might to unlock these keys to time and aging, man in his wisdom has exhausted countless avenues of diet, physical regimes, and intellectual exercises in order to achieve his understanding of utopia. To date, however, none of these efforts have proven successful in achieving an endless life. What then is the answer to the age-old riddle of immortality? With the Bible as our only authority, let us take a look at what Yahweh Elohim, our Creator, would have to say about the mystery of life.

The Beginning
In the beginning, Yahweh formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life(Genesis 2:7). Dust in this context is often translated as atoms. We are wonderfully and fearfully composed of myriads of atoms that, in combination, form our physical bodies. Dust also refers to minerals. Atoms are the building blocks of life and minerals are the natural elements found in the earth. All life is composed of these basic elements. Minerals are important in maintaining a healthy body. Our bodies must have minerals to survive.

The Man and Woman of Elohim
Reading further in the story of creation, we see that Elohim made man in His own image: And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:26,27). This account of creation affords us the understanding of the origin and destiny of man. Adam and his wife were formed in the likeness of Elohim, and for this reason, we know that they were created in a perfect state. As the offspring of Elohim, they were immortal and had light-filled bodies- bodies that radiated the Shekinah light (the presence of Elohim). The purpose of their lives was to subdue, take dominion, and replenish the earth to the glory of Yahweh. However, something terrible happened one day: Adam and his wife turned from Yahweh. They ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and, having done so, their lives were forever changed. When they partook of this forbidden fruit, they lost their immortality. The light of Elohim departed from them and they became bound in mortal flesh. They had succumbed to the subtility of the serpent (the soul-ish life) and found themselves subjected to the dictates of flesh. Scripture tells us that after the Adam man and woman ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked (Genesis 3:7). Prior to this time, their nakedness was of no consideration, since they were clothed with the glory of Yahweh. However, once they disobeyed Yahweh, this glory departed and they perceived themselves to be naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons in order to cover themselves. Genesis 3:21 tells us that Elohim made coats of skins for Adam and his wife, Eve. These 'coats of skins' refer to human flesh. Adam and Eve forfeited their celestial bodies of the light and glory of Elohim and became prisoners in bodies of physical flesh.

Generations share the suffering of the Fall
The consequences resulting in the downfall of Adam and Eve has had its impact on mankind throughout the centuries. The willful disobedience and deception of this one man and woman is still felt by the entire creation. Genesis 3:14-24 records Yahweh's response to Adam and Eve for their rebellion against Him. Multiple curses were placed on them, both indiviudually and corporately. The consequences of their actions are sobering, when we consider that modern man is still reaping the reward of their punishments. The multiplication of sin from generation to generation is a fact of life. The genetic blueprint of man began its downward spiral since the day Adam and his wife turned from Elohim, and each successive generation has, to whatever degree, become more alientated from Yahweh. Is it a wonder, then, that modern man is in the condition he is? The curse of sin is a multifarious plague that has deteriorated the very foundations of all life- spiritually, morally, physically, socially, politically, and environmentally.

Man's life span decreases
Once impervious to the limitations of the physical world, Adam and Eve found themselves subject to the world around them. The separation of their lives from Elohim became a harsh reality to face day after day; yet even in their outcast state, Elohim had pity upon them. Once born to take dominion over creation, Adam and Eve were now ruled by the laws of the flesh which include death. In the early generations of the Adam creation, we observe that the average life span of man was nearly 1000 years. With successive generations, however, records reveal a different story. Toward the time of Noah, the average life span had declined dramatically. At the end of Genesis we read that man's span on the earth had fallen to 120 years. There are perhaps a few reasons for this decline. One explanation is that as the generations of Adam became increasingly corrupt in the earth, losing more and more of the righteous seed (DNA) of Elohim, they did not live as long. Another element in this explanation could be the rejection of Yahweh's natural food laws as outlines in Genesis 1:29. This understanding of the goodness of fruits and vegetables as meat, was perhaps a truth that contributed to the disintegration of genetic strain. It wasn't until after the flood that Yahweh sanctioned the eating of meat. Why was this so? There is no indication in scripture as to why Yahweh now introduced meat into man's diet, however, it could be conjectured that Yahweh saw the overall condition of man and his inclination toward the things of the flesh, and therefore gave in to man's fleshly desires. With man now free to consume animal flesh, this suggests he began cooking his food. This further departure from an all-natural diet would, in affect, bring added deterioration to the generations. It is interesting to note, that prior to the flood, the animals were herbaceous (plant-eaters), non-predatory, and friendly to man, but after the flood, the animals feared man (Genesis 9:2). In consideration of these observations, can we conclude that man's life span declined in part because of his consumption of animal flesh? This is entirely possible. In the beginning, Elohim gave Adam and his wife the perfect menu for life: 'And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat; and it was so. (Genesis 1:29, 30).

Food Laws and Obedience
As the generations of Adam filled the earth, we know from Biblical records that Yahweh made various provisions for His people concerning food. He miraculously provided sustenance for them in the wilderness and gave them food laws through His servant, Moses. These food laws, found in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy, speak of a righteous Elohim who desired to set a standard for His people that would set them apart from the rest of the world. Even in that day, Yahweh made a way for His people and, through obedience to His law, Yahweh blessed His people. The exact diet of the Israelites is perhaps not known; yet we know that when they obeyed Yahweh, He blessed them and when they disobeyed him, He cursed them (Deuteronomy 28, 29). This same principle applies today. When the Israelites longed for the leeks and garlics of Eypgt or lusted for quail as they traveled through the wilderness, Yahweh rained down His judgment upon His people. Many were smitten dead for their lust of the flesh or their resentment toward Elohim. So it is, when we do not obey the Word of Elohim, we can expect severe consequences in our lives, which may include sickness and death.

The New Testament and Yahshua
With the advent of Yahshua, we see an entirely different law in action regarding food and food laws. The New Testament is filled with scriptures concerning meat and we are both encouraged and admonished not to offend our brother with what we eat. Paul gives us the story of his vist to Cornelius and how the Yahweh told him that all He had sanctified was good to eat. However, the New Testament does not give us a clear outline as what we should eat in order to live. The Bible tells us Yahshua ate bread and fish. If Yahshua is our example, then what do His actions teach us about how we are to eat today? Are Yahshua's actions contrary to Divine Law? We think not. Yahshua came as a man to be our example, and in humbling himself to become a man, He came in a form that we could understand. He came as one of us, dwelling among us. At this time in history, the eating of animal flesh was still sanctioned by Yahweh; and thoughYahshua could have refrained from eating fish, He did not. This was His way of identifying with man. It is also conceivable that Yahshua was free to eat animal flesh because, as the Son of Yahweh, no animal flesh could harm His sinless body. Yahshua possessed the power and presence of Elohim in such measure- even before His resurrection- that no amount of 'improper' diet could hurt Him. We also know that the fish or any other animal flesh that Yahshua ate in His day was not as polluted as our meat is today. Therefore it is possible that Yahshua's actions do not advocate a specific diet as much as reveal to us certain kingdom truths.

What then was Yahshua's message? Yahshua came to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom- a gospel that has had numerous interpretations over of time. However, the fact that the kingdom of Elohim is in effect from the time of Yahshua unto this day is very true. The great plan of Elohim to redeem His people and the restore this earth is being carried out.

The Miracle of the Blood
The promise of redemption was fulfilled in the work Yahshua accomplished in the earth, for without the coming of the Son of Man to fulfill the Father's eternal purposes, there would be no door for Yahweh's people to enter- or reenter- the heavenly realm. What was accomplished on Calvary remains the most significant historical event of all time, pivotal to the destiny of Yahweh's people. Indeed, this accomplishment transcended all time and place. The spilling of the Lamb's blood for the remission of sins broke the power of the curse of sin from mankind. The ability of the Lamb's blood to cancel sin once and for all is the single most powerful act known to man; for through the Lamb's blood, man's bloodstream can be purified- bringing the changing of the DNA unto the perfect state. The Lamb's blood is able to purify and cleanse a man's inner being, making him perfect and whole. This is the miracle of Calvary that sets the captive free, redeeming man from the curse of sin and iniquity.

Redemption- a Spiritual Work
Scripture tells us that the law is spiritual and this is true. Redemption is a spiritual work intended for the whole man- heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body. New Testament scriptures are abundantly clear that our charge from Elohim is to sanctify our temples in the light of His Word. If we are to inherit new bodies, then we must become a new creation in Messiah. We must have our minds transformed(Romans 12:1), renewed spirits (Psalms 51), and have souls regenerated unto the quickened life of Messiah (Romans 8). If we live a life under the yoke of sin, then we will reap the wages of sin, which is death. The presence of sin in our lives can, in itself, bring disease upon us. If we hold bitterness, envy, and strife in our hearts, our bodies respond with discomfort and even disease. In essence, the presence of sin becomes an acidic, caustic agent in the body. If our diet doesn't condemn us, then our thoughts will. Therefore, it behooves us to put off the old man and embrace Messiah- in thought, word and deed. Scripture admonishes us repeatedly to repent for the kingdom of Elohim is at hand. Therefore we must examine what 'meat' we are eating- spiritually and physically- so that our lives may bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If our spirits are not quickened by the power of Yahweh's Word, our physical bodies can never be resurrected unto new life. This is the principle set forth in 1 Corinthians 15- the body terrestrial and the body celestial. Throughout scripture we see the pattern of bodily redemption and the promise that Yahweh would restore His people, bringing His kingdom on this earth. This was the promise given unto Abraham thousands of years ago, known as His covenant promise. This was the great hope that was shown to Noah, Enoch, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the prophets of old, and many others throughout the ages. It was also revealed to Adam and Eve after their fall to comfort them in their time of sorrow. The vision of this redemptive plan of Yahweh was, and is, the hope of Israel. So it is, many are looking forward to having new bodies. However, they do not understand that they need not die physically to inherit their celestial bodies. The notion that we must phsyically die in order to receive a new body is not scripturally accurate. The Bible teaches that there will be those who will never taste of death, being overcomers as spoken in Revelation. The overcomers are those who will judge themselves in light of Yahweh's Word, allowing His Word to perfect them- heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body. It will be His Word made flesh in them that will redeem them from the bondage of corruption. The overcomers are those who are willing to lay down their lives completely for the sake of Messiah, to overcome all things, including death. There were those in ancient times who never tasted of death, but were taken into the heavens in translated bodies. Enoch, Elijah, Ezra, and Moses were among this number. This was but a foreshadow of the fulfillment of Yahweh's promise to His people that He would send His Messiah who would suffer death for them, so that they would never need to die. What a glorious hope! In light of this truth, we cannot and should not live in the errant understanding that only through physical death can we inherit our new bodies. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we will die to the desires of the flesh and be crucified with Messiah, Yahweh promises that He will transform us into the image of His Son.

Perfected in Yahshua's Image
One might ask, what is the image of Messiah? This is a good question. Despite nearly two thousand years since Yahshua walked in the earth, much of His life still remains a mystery to man. However, the promise of redemption continues as a daily revelation to those who seek Yahweh and His Son. If we study the life of Yahshua, we see that His mission included the establishment of a new priesthood in the earth. Under the Mosaic law, perfection was impossible. No one was able to keep all Yahweh's commandments perfectly. This is why provision was made for sacrifice. With Yahshua's coming, however, there was a changing of the priesthood. Hebrews 7:11-18 tells us, 'If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that anohter priest shouldrise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the preisthood bveing changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For heof whom these thins are spoken pertainteth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altat. For it is evident that our Messiah sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concernign priesthood. And it is yet far more evident:for that after the similityde of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Those who have never considered this passage or understood it, must understand that the law under Moses could not make a man perfect. Perfection came only through Yahshua and the redemptive work of the cross. Therefore, with the death, burial, and resurrection of Yahshua, the promise that Yahweh made to His people that He would redeem them from the curse of sin was fulfilled. Because of the shedding of the Lamb's blood, it was now possible for man to be made perfect. This new order is declared in Hebrews 7:19, 'For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto Elohim'. Yahshua is that better hope that affords us the possibility of drawing near to Yahweh. So it is, we are called to perfection- 'Be ye perfect even as I am perfect' says Yahweh; and this perfection is worked out in us as we identify with Yahshua, His Son.

Now is the Day of Salvation
We must therefore enlarge our vision to include the whole picture of Yahweh's plan, applying this understanding to our lives. Yahweh has promised to redeem us- not at some future date, but now. It was never Yahweh's plan for man to be sick or die, but in order for us to know how to be delivered from these curses, we must know how to apply the truth of Yahweh's Word to our lives and learn how to be redeemed.

Redeeming the Physical Body
What do we do then to be redeemed? We have noted that redemption is a spiritual work, being the quickening of the Holy Spirit within us, but how does this quickening pertain to our physical bodies? How does the Word of Yahweh apply in real terms to our physical well-being? For these answers, we must start with the basics. First, we must examine what we are putting into our bodies. Considering modern man, his technology, and his environment, it is the mercy of Yahweh that man has survived as long as he has. We live in a polluted world, full of toxic air, soil, and water. In spite of the wonders of modern science, man has built a toxic world for himself, full of deadly chemicals the usage of which is clearly out-of-control. Man in his wisdom has designed for himself a life of synthesis. His intelligence, his lifestyle, and the works of his hands are increasingly synthetic, as is his food. Man has adulterated his food through the use of pesticides, preservatives, processing, and genetic engineering to the point where the quality of our food is in danger and supply is in crisis. We have reached the point where there is little, if any, nutrient value left in our food. It is grown in mineral-deficient soil and pumped full of toxic chemicals both in the field and out. Is there any wonder then that we get sick? If the food we grow cnnot nourish us and, in many case is dangerous to eat, what do we do? We must have proper nourishment to live. So it is that Yahweh is putting forth a call to His people today, exhorting them to wake up and return to His self-healing diet of Genesis 1:29- a diet that even modern science cannot disprove. If applied correctly to our lives, this diet will give us the maximum possible nourishment for our bodies, making them strong- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Good health is a promise from Yahweh, but how many realize this promise? Most never know the blessing of good health because they err in the truth of Yahweh's Word, being followers of the diet of the world.

The Body- a Fine Machine
When we begin to understand that the body is a finely designed machine that Yahweh made for His glory and that our systems were built to work in a precise manner, we are able to grasp the basics of good health and healing. Part of the secret of good health is the balance of the body's chemistry, known as the pH. The pH factor is perhaps the single most important element in understanding the mechanics of good health. There is acid pH and alkaline pH. Our bodies were meant to function best in an alkaline environment as opposed to an acid environment. Cells cannot live in an acid surrounding. If cells cannot live and function properly, the body develops a condition of dis-ease. A body that is acidic is the result of an improper diet based on meat, dairy products, processed foods, and cooked foods. These foods create an acid body chemistry. A diet of live fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, builds an alkaline chemistry in the body. It is this alkaline pH that keeps the body's immune system strong. A pH factor of 7.4 is considered the optimum for good health. The pH factor- "p"=potential,"H"=hydrogen- is a key to the redemption of the body; for it will be hydrogen that will play an important role in our new, transformed bodies. Hydrogen contributes to lightening the atoms and lowering the density of our physical beings. At the fall, matter became dense. The iron became bound in protein. But the molecular structure of the redeemed (celestial) body will be changed to a lower density, allowing the body to pass through walls, etc. This is why we cannot enter the heavenly realms in old bodies.They must be changed. Scripture tells us we will be changed 'in the twinkling of an eye'. This is to say that we will be changed in our atoms, for as the Word of Yahweh is quickened in us, every atom in the body will change its vibratory rate, increasing in velocity (or megahertz) to a perfected state. This is the meaning of Romans 8- the regeneration of the sons of Yahweh. Yahweh's people must be re-charged, if your will, if they are to be fully redeemed. The body is an electrical system. When a part of the body is not functioning properly, the vibratory rate of the respective dis-eased area will drop. In order for health to be restored, the megahertz level must increase. The higher the vibratory rate, the greater the electrical charge. Thus there are definite reasons why Yahweh gave man the all-natural diet of Genesis 1:29- a diet that would give man the optimum vitamins, minerals, live enzymes, and oxygen that are essential to his good health. If we will apply this diet then in our daily lives, we can expect our whole body to come alive to the glory of Yahweh Elohim.

Deciding to Live
With these thoughts in mind, it is time to makes changes, if we are to live and be counted amoung the redeemed. It is time to put away the idols of our hearts and begin walking by the quickening life of the Holy Spirit, according to the truth of Yahweh's Word. We must assess the condition of our lives and begin to clean house, discarding what is harmful to us- including certain foods and habits. We must realize we have been deceived in our lifestyles and repent; for if we do not embrace a proper diet and take good care of our physical frames, we will not live to do the work Yahweh has called us to do in this earth. The promises of Elohim are to the obedient, and our responsibility is not small. Whereas scriptures tell us the kingdom of Elohim is not meat or drink, we do know Yahweh is returning His Genesis 1:29 diet to His people in this day lest they perish as victims of their own eating habits. Truly Yahweh does not need a diet to heal anyone as the Bible clearly reveals, however, Yahweh is using the truth of His natural laws to speak to many of His people this day. Those who have an ear to hear and obey are seeing marvelous restoration in their bodies, not only physically but spiritually and emotionally. These changes are powerful testimonies of what Yahweh can do, even when it comes to teaching us about food.

We do not know if Enoch, Elijah, Moses, and other translated ones ever adhered to a diet of raw food; however, we do know they were obedient to Yahweh. Obedience is the key to life. Coupled with obedience is discipline. It takes discipline to eat right. It takes discipline to be good stewards of our bodies. However, if we will be obedient in following all that Yahweh shows us to do in taking proper care of ourselves, we will reap the abundant life which Elohim promises. Whether or not we eat a certain way for the remainder of eternity is not important; however, it is important that we hear what Elohim is saying to us in this day that we might see His victorious salvation in our lives and never experience the grave.

Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transpressions;
so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Cast away from you all your transgressions,
wherefore ye have transgressed;
an make you a new heart and a new spirit:
For why will you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith Yahweh Elohim:
wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Ezekiel 18:30-32

References

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