The Commandments of God (613)

The following are the 613 commandments and their source in scripture, as enumerated by Maimonides:

1. To know there is a God Ex. 20:2
2. Not to even think that there are other gods besides Him Standard->Ex. 20:3 Yemenite->Ex. 20:2
3. To know that He is One Deut. 6:4
4. To love Him Deut. 6:5
5. To fear Him Deut. 10:20
6. To sanctify His Name Lev. 22:32
7. Not to profane His Name Lev. 22:32
8. Not to destroy objects associated with His Name Deut. 12:4
9. To listen to the prophet speaking in His Name Deut. 18:15
10. Not to try the LORD unduly Deut. 6:16
11. To emulate His ways Deut. 28:9
12. To cleave to those who know Him Deut. 10:20
13. To love other Jews Lev. 19:18
14. To love converts Deut. 10:19
15. Not to hate fellow Jews Lev. 19:17
16. To reprove a sinner Lev. 19:17
17. Not to embarrass others Lev. 19:17
18. Not to oppress the weak Ex. 22:21
19. Not to speak derogatorily of others Lev. 19:16
20. Not to take revenge Lev. 19:18
21. Not to bear a grudge Lev. 19:18
22. To learn Torah Deut. 6:7
23. To honor those who teach and know Torah Lev. 19:32
24. Not to inquire into idolatry Lev. 19:4
25. Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your eyes see Num. 15:39
26. Not to blaspheme Ex. 22:27
27. Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped Standard->Ex. 20:6 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:5
28. Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God Standard->Ex. 20:6 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:5
29. Not to make an idol for yourself Standard->Ex. 20:5 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:4
30. Not to make an idol for others Lev. 19:4
31. Not to make human forms even for decorative purposes Standard->Ex. 20:21 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:20
32. Not to turn a city to idolatry Deut. 13:14
33. To burn a city that has turned to idol worship Deut. 13:17
34. Not to rebuild it as a city Deut. 13:17
35. Not to derive benefit from it Deut. 13:18
36. Not to missionize an individual to idol worship Deut. 13:12
37. Not to love the idolater Deut. 13:9
38. Not to cease hating the idolater Deut. 13:9
39. Not to save the idolater Deut. 13:9
40. Not to say anything in the idolater's defense Deut. 13:9
41. Not to refrain from incriminating the idolater Deut. 13:9
42. Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry Deut. 13:14
43. Not to listen to a false prophet Deut. 13:4
44. Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God Deut. 18:20
45. Not to be afraid of killing the false prophet Deut. 18:22
46. Not to swear in the name of an idol Ex. 23:13
47. Not to perform ov (medium) Lev. 19:31
48. Not to perform yidoni ("magical seer") Lev. 19:31
49. Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech Lev. 18:21
50. Not to erect a pillar in a public place of worship Deut. 16:22
51. Not to bow down before a smooth stone Lev. 26:1
52. Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard Deut. 16:21
53. To destroy idols and their accessories Deut. 12:2
54. Not to derive benefit from idols and their accessories Deut. 7:26
55. Not to derive benefit from ornaments of idols Deut. 7:25
56. Not to make a covenant with idolaters Deut. 7:2
57. Not to show favor to them Deut. 7:2
58. Not to let them dwell in the Land of Israel Ex. 23:33
59. Not to imitate them in customs and clothing Lev. 20:23
60. Not to be superstitious Lev. 19:26
61. Not to go into a trance to foresee events, etc. Deut. 18:10
62. Not to engage in astrology Lev. 19:26
63. Not to mutter incantations Deut. 18:11
64. Not to attempt to contact the dead Deut. 18:11
65. Not to consult the ov Deut. 18:11
66. Not to consult the yidoni Deut. 18:11
67. Not to perform acts of magic Deut. 18:10
68. Men must not shave the hair off the sides of their head Lev. 19:27
69. Men must not shave their beards with a razor Lev. 19:27
70. Men must not wear women's clothing Deut. 22:5
71. Women must not wear men's clothing Deut. 22:5
72. Not to tattoo the skin Lev. 19:28
73. Not to tear the skin in mourning Deut. 14:1
74. Not to make a bald spot in mourning Deut. 14:1
75. To repent and confess wrongdoings Num. 5:7
76. To say the Shema twice daily Deut. 6:7
77. To serve the Almighty with prayer Ex. 23:25
78. The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily Num. 6:23
79. To wear tefillin (phylacteries) on the head Deut. 6:8
80. To bind tefillin on the arm Deut. 6:8
81. To put a mezuzah on each door post Deut. 6:9
82. Each male must write a Torah scroll Deut. 31:19
83. The king must have a separate Sefer Torah for himself Deut. 17:18
84. To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments Num. 15:38
85. To bless the Almighty after eating Deut. 8:10
86. To circumcise all males on the eighth day after their birth Gen. 17:10
87. To rest on the seventh day Ex. 23:12
88. Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day Standard->Ex. 20:11 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:10
89. The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat Ex. 35:3
90. Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat Ex. 16:29
91. To sanctify the day with Kiddush and Havdalah Standard->Ex. 20:9 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:8
92. To rest from prohibited labor on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:32
93. Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:32
94. To afflict yourself on Yom Kippur Lev. 16:29
95. Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur Lev. 23:29
96. To rest on the first day of Passover Lev. 23:7
97. Not to do prohibited labor on the first day of Passover Lev. 23:8
98. To rest on the seventh day of Passover Lev. 23:8
99. Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover Lev. 23:8
100. To rest on Shavuot Lev. 23:21
101. Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot Lev. 23:21
102. To rest on Rosh Hashanah Lev. 23:24
103. Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashanah Lev. 23:25
104. To rest on Sukkot Lev. 23:35
105. Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot Lev. 23:35
106. To rest on Shemini Atzeret Lev. 23:36
107. Not to do prohibited labor on Shemini Atzeret Lev. 23:36
108. Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nissan Deut. 16:3
109. To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nissan Ex. 12:15
110. Not to eat chametz all seven days of Passover Ex. 13:3
111. Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all seven days of Passover Ex. 12:20
112. Not to see chametz in your domain seven days Ex. 13:7
113. Not to find chametz in your domain seven days Ex. 12:19
114. To eat matzah on the first night of Passover Ex. 12:18
115. To relate the Exodus from Egypt on that night Ex. 13:8
116. To hear the Shofar on the first day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah) Num. 9:1
117. To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot Lev. 23:42
118. To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days Lev. 23:40
119. Each man must give a half shekel annually Ex. 30:13
120. Courts must calculate to determine when a new month begins Ex. 12:2
121. To afflict oneself and cry out before God in times of calamity Num. 10:9
122. To marry a wife by means of ketubah and kiddushin Deut. 22:13
123. Not to have sexual relations with women not thus married Deut. 23:18
124. Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual relations from your wife Ex. 21:10
125. To have children with one's wife Gen. 1:28
126. To issue a divorce by means of a Get document Deut. 24:1
127. A man must not remarry his ex-wife after she has married someone else Deut. 24:4
128. To perform yibbum (marry the widow of one's childless brother) Deut. 25:5
129. To perform halizah (free the widow of one's childless brother from yibbum) Deut. 25:9
130. The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed (by halizah) Deut. 25:5
131. The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden Ex. 22:15-16
132. The rapist must marry the maiden Deut. 22:29
133. He is never allowed to divorce her Deut. 22:29
134. The slanderer must remain married to his wife Deut. 22:19
135. He must not divorce her Deut. 22:19
136. To fulfill the laws of the Sotah Num. 5:30
137. Not to put oil on her meal offering (as usual) Num. 5:15
138. Not to put frankincense on her meal offering (as usual) Num. 5:15
139. Not to have sexual relations with your mother Lev. 18:7
140. Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife Lev. 18:8
141. Not to have sexual relations with your sister Lev. 18:9
142. Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter Lev. 18:11
143. Not to have sexual relations with your son's daughter Lev. 18:10
144. Not to have sexual relations with your daughter Lev. 18:10
145. Not to have sexual relations with your daughter's daughter Lev. 18:10
146. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter Lev. 18:17
147. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her son's daughter Lev. 18:17
148. Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter Lev. 18:17
149. Not to have sexual relations with your father's sister Lev. 18:12
150. Not to have sexual relations with your mother's sister Lev. 18:13
151. Not to have sexual relations with your father's brother's wife Lev. 18:14
152. Not to have sexual relations with your son's wife Lev. 18:15
153. Not to have sexual relations with your brother's wife Lev. 18:16
154. Not to have sexual relations with your wife's sister Lev. 18:18
155. A man must not have sexual relations with an animal Lev. 18:23
156. A woman must not have sexual relations with an animal Lev. 18:23
157. A man must not have sexual relations with a man Lev. 18:22
158. Not to have sexual relations with your father Lev. 18:7
159. Not to have sexual relations with your father's brother Lev. 18:14
160. Not to have sexual relations with someone else's wife Lev. 18:20
161. Not to have sexual relations with a menstrually impure woman Lev. 18:19
162. Not to marry non-Jews Deut. 7:3
163. Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:4
164. Not to prevent a third-generation Egyptian convert from marrying into the Jewish people Deut. 23:8-9
165. Not to refrain from marrying a third generation Edomite convert Deut. 23:8-9
166. Not to let a mamzer (a child born due to an illegal relationship) marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:3
167. Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish people Deut. 23:2
168. Not to offer to God any castrated male animals Lev. 22:24
169. The High Priest must not marry a widow Lev. 21:14
170. The High Priest must not have sexual relations with a widow even outside of marriage Lev. 21:15
171. The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden Lev. 21:13
172. A Kohen (priest) must not marry a divorcee Lev. 21:7
173. A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who has had a forbidden sexual relationship) Lev. 21:7
174. A Kohen must not marry a chalalah ("a desecrated person") (party to or product of 169-172) Lev. 21:7
175. Not to make pleasurable (sexual) contact with any forbidden woman Lev. 18:6
176. To examine the signs of animals to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:2
177. To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Deut. 14:11
178. To examine the signs of fish to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:9
179. To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher Lev. 11:21
180. Not to eat non-kosher animals Lev. 11:4
181. Not to eat non-kosher fowl Lev. 11:13
182. Not to eat non-kosher fish Lev. 11:11
183. Not to eat non-kosher flying insects Deut. 14:19
184. Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land Lev. 11:41
185. Not to eat non-kosher maggots Lev. 11:44
186. Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground Lev. 11:42
187. Not to eat creatures that live in water other than (kosher) fish Lev. 11:43
188. Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without ritual slaughter Deut. 14:21
189. Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned Ex. 21:28
190. Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded Ex. 22:30
191. Not to eat a limb torn off a living creature Deut. 12:23
192. Not to eat blood Lev. 3:17
193. Not to eat certain fats of clean animals Lev. 3:17
194. Not to eat the sinew of the thigh Gen. 32:33
195. Not to eat mixtures of milk and meat cooked together Ex. 23:19
196. Not to cook meat and milk together Ex. 34:26
197. Not to eat bread from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14
198. Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14
199. Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the Omer Lev. 23:14
200. Not to eat fruit of a tree during its first three years Lev. 19:23
201. Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard Deut. 22:9
202. Not to eat untithed fruits Lev. 22:15
203. Not to drink wine poured in service to idols Deut. 32:38
204. To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it Deut. 12:21
205. Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day Lev. 22:28
206. To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl) with earth Lev. 17:13
207. To send away the mother bird before taking its children Deut. 22:6
208. To release the mother bird if she was taken from the nest Deut. 22:7
209. Not to swear falsely in God's Name Lev. 19:12
210. Not to take God's Name in vain Standard->Ex. 20:7 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:6
211. Not to deny possession of something entrusted to you Lev. 19:11
212. Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim Lev. 19:11
213. To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth when deemed necessary by court Deut. 10:20
214. To fulfill what was uttered and to do what was avowed Deut. 23:24
215. Not to break oaths or vows Num. 30:3
216. For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah Num. 30:3
217. The Nazir must let his hair grow Num. 6:5
218. He must not cut his hair Num. 6:5
219. He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine vinegar Num. 6:3
220. He must not eat fresh grapes Num. 6:3
221. He must not eat raisins Num. 6:3
222. He must not eat grape seeds Num. 6:4
223. He must not eat grape skins Num. 6:4
224. He must not be under the same roof as a corpse Num. 6:6
225. He must not come into contact with the dead Num. 6:7
226. He must shave his head after bringing sacrifices upon completion of his Nazirite period Num. 6:9
227. To estimate the value of people as determined by the Torah Lev. 27:2
228. To estimate the value of consecrated animals Lev. 27:12-13
229. To estimate the value of consecrated houses Lev. 27:14
230. To estimate the value of consecrated fields Lev. 27:16
231. Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions (cherem) Lev. 27:28
232. Not to sell the cherem Lev. 27:28
233. Not to redeem the cherem Lev. 27:28
234. Not to plant diverse seeds together Lev. 19:19
235. Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard Deut. 22:9
236. Not to crossbreed animals Lev. 19:19
237. Not to work different animals together Deut. 22:10
238. Not to wear shaatnez, a cloth woven of wool and linen Deut. 22:11
239. To leave a corner of the field uncut for the poor Lev. 19:10
240. Not to reap that corner Lev. 19:9
241. To leave gleanings Lev. 19:9
242. Not to gather the gleanings Lev. 19:9
243. To leave the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 19:10
244. Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard Lev. 19:10
245. To leave the unformed clusters of grapes Lev. 19:10
246. Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes Lev. 19:10
247. To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field Deut. 24:19
248. Not to retrieve them Deut. 24:19
249. To separate the "tithe for the poor" Deut. 14:28
250. To give charity Deut. 15:8
251. Not to withhold charity from the poor Deut. 15:7
252. To set aside Terumah Gedolah (gift for the Kohen) Deut. 18:4
253. The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe Num. 18:26
254. Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order Ex. 22:28
255. A non-Kohen must not eat Terumah[clarification needed] Lev. 22:10
256. A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:10
257. An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Terumah Ex. 12:48
258. An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:4
259. A chalalah (party to #s 169-172 above) must not eat Terumah Lev. 22:12
260. To set aside Ma'aser (tithe) each planting year and give it to a Levite Num. 18:24
261. To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni) Deut. 14:22
262. Not to spend its redemption money on anything but food, drink, or ointment Deut. 26:14
263. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure Deut. 26:14
264. A mourner on the first day after death must not eat Ma'aser Sheni Deut. 26:14
265. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
266. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
267. Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
268. The fourth year crops must be totally for holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni Lev. 19:24
269. To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year Deut. 26:13
270. To set aside the first fruits and bring them to the Temple Ex. 23:19
271. The Kohanim must not eat the first fruits outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
272. To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation Deut. 26:5
273. To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen Num. 15:20
274. To give the foreleg, two cheeks, and abomasum of slaughtered animals to a Kohen Deut. 18:3
275. To give the first shearing of sheep to a Kohen Deut. 18:4
276. To redeem firstborn sons and give the money to a Kohen Num. 18:15
277. To redeem the firstborn donkey by giving a lamb to a Kohen Ex. 13:13
278. To break the neck of the donkey if the owner does not intend to redeem it Ex. 13:13
279. To rest the land during the seventh year by not doing any work which enhances growth Ex. 34:21
280. Not to work the land during the seventh year Lev. 25:4
281. Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year Lev. 25:4
282. Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner Lev. 25:5
283. Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way Lev. 25:5
284. To leave free all produce which grew in that year Ex. 23:11
285. To release all loans during the seventh year Deut. 15:2
286. Not to pressure or claim from the borrower Deut. 15:2
287. Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss Deut. 15:9
288. The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years Lev. 25:8
289. The Sanhedrin must sanctify the fiftieth year Lev. 25:10
290. To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves Lev. 25:9
291. Not to work the soil during the fiftieth year (Jubilee)Lev. 25:11
292. Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11
293. Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year Lev. 25:11
294. Carry out the laws of sold family properties Lev. 25:24
295. Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely Lev. 25:23
296. Carry out the laws of houses in walled cities Lev. 25:29
297. The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in Deut. 18:1
298. The Levites must not take a share in the spoils of war Deut. 18:1
299. To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their surrounding fields Num. 35:2
300. Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year Lev. 25:34
301. To build a Temple Ex. 25:8
302. Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal Standard->Ex. 20:24 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:23
303. Not to climb steps to the altar Standard->Ex. 20:27 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:26
304. To show reverence to the Temple Lev. 19:30
305. To guard the Temple area Num. 18:2
306. Not to leave the Temple unguarded Num. 18:5
307. To prepare the anointing oil Ex. 30:31
308. Not to reproduce the anointing oil Ex. 30:32
309. Not to anoint with anointing oil Ex. 30:32
310. Not to reproduce the incense formula Ex. 30:37
311. Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides incense Ex. 30:9
312. The Levites must transport the ark on their shoulders Num. 7:9
313. Not to remove the staves from the ark Ex. 25:15
314. The Levites must work in the Temple Num. 18:23
315. No Levite must do another's work of either a Kohen or a Levite Num. 18:3
316. To dedicate the Kohen for service Lev. 21:8
317. The work of the Kohanim's shifts must be equal during holidays Deut. 18:6-8
318. The Kohanim must wear their priestly garments during service Ex. 28:2
319. Not to tear the priestly garments Ex. 28:32
320. The Kohen Gadol 's breastplate must not be loosened from the Efod Ex. 28:28
321. A Kohen must not enter the Temple intoxicated Lev. 10:9
322. A Kohen must not enter the Temple with his head uncovered Lev. 10:6
323. A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn clothes Lev. 10:6
324. A Kohen must not enter the Temple indiscriminately Lev. 16:2
325. A Kohen must not leave the Temple during service Lev. 10:7
326. To send the impure from the Temple Num. 5:2
327. Impure people must not enter the Temple Num. 5:3
328. Impure people must not enter the Temple Mount area Deut. 23:11
329. Impure Kohanim must not do service in the temple Lev. 22:2
330. An impure Kohen, following immersion, must wait until after sundown before returning to service Lev. 22:7
331. A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before service Ex. 30:19
332. A Kohen with a physical blemish must not enter the sanctuary or approach the altar Lev. 21:23
333. A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve Lev. 21:17
334. A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not serve Lev. 21:17
335. One who is not a Kohen must not serve Num. 18:4
336. To offer only unblemished animals Lev. 22:21
337. Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar Lev. 22:20
338. Not to slaughter it Lev. 22:22
339. Not to sprinkle its blood Lev. 22:24
340. Not to burn its fat Lev. 22:22
341. Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal Deut. 17:1
342. Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if offered by non-Jews Lev. 22:25
343. Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals Lev. 22:21
344. To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified Deut. 12:15
345. To offer only animals which are at least eight days old Lev. 22:27
346. Not to offer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog Deut. 23:19
347. Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar Lev. 2:11
348. To salt all sacrifices Lev. 2:13
349. Not to omit the salt from sacrifices Lev. 2:13
350. Carry out the procedure of the burnt offering as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 1:3
351. Not to eat its meat Deut. 12:17
352. Carry out the procedure of the sin offering Lev. 6:18
353. Not to eat the meat of the inner sin offering Lev. 6:23
354. Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin offering Lev. 5:8
355. Carry out the procedure of the guilt offering Lev. 7:1
356. The Kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in the Temple Ex. 29:33
357. The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard Deut. 12:17
358. A non-Kohen must not eat sacrificial meat Ex. 29:33
359. To follow the procedure of the peace offering Lev. 7:11
360. Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood Deut. 12:17
361. To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 2:1
362. Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers Lev. 5:11
363. Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers Lev. 3:11
364. Not to eat the meal offering of the High Priest Lev. 6:16
365. Not to bake a meal offering as leavened bread Lev. 6:10
366. The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal offerings Lev. 6:9
367. To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival Deut. 12:5-6
368. Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow Deut. 23:22
369. To offer all sacrifices in the Temple Deut. 12:11
370. To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple Deut. 12:26
371. Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard Lev. 17:4
372. Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard Deut. 12:13
373. To offer two lambs every day Num. 28:3
374. To light a fire on the altar every day Lev. 6:6
375. Not to extinguish this fire Lev. 6:6
376. To remove the ashes from the altar every day Lev. 6:3
377. To burn incense every day Ex. 30:7
378. To light the Menorah every day Ex. 27:21
379. The Kohen Gadol ("High Priest") must bring a meal offering every day Lev. 6:13
380. To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on Shabbat Num. 28:9
381. To make the show bread Ex. 25:30
382. To bring additional offerings on Rosh Chodesh (" The New Month") Num. 28:11
383. To bring additional offerings on Passover Num. 28:19
384. To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat Lev. 23:10
385. Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks from the day the new wheat offering was brought Lev. 23:15
386. To bring additional offerings on Shavuot Num. 28:26
387. To bring two leaves to accompany the above sacrifice Lev. 23:17
388. To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana Num. 29:2
389. To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur Num. 29:8
390. To bring additional offerings on Sukkot Num. 29:13
391. To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret Num. 29:35
392. Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished Deut. 14:3
393. Not to eat from sacrifices offered with improper intentions Lev. 7:18
394. Not to leave sacrifices past the time allowed for eating them Lev. 22:30
395. Not to eat from that which was left over Lev. 19:8
396. Not to eat from sacrifices which became impure Lev. 7:19
397. An impure person must not eat from sacrifices Lev. 7:20
398. To burn the leftover sacrifices Lev. 7:17
399. To burn all impure sacrifices Lev. 7:19
400. To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parshah Acharei Mot ("After the death of Aaron's sons...") Lev. 16:3
401. One who profaned property must repay what he profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice Lev. 5:16
402. Not to work consecrated animals Deut. 15:19
403. Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals Deut. 15:19
404. To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the specified time Ex. 12:6
405. Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven Ex. 23:18
406. Not to leave the fat overnight Ex. 23:18
407. To slaughter the second Paschal Lamb Num. 9:11
408. To eat the Paschal Lamb with matzah and Marror on the night of the fourteenth of Nissan Ex. 12:8
409. To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the 15th of Iyar Num. 9:11
410. Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled Ex. 12:9
411. Not to take the paschal meat from the confines of the group Ex. 12:46
412. An apostate must not eat from it Ex. 12:43
413. A permanent or temporary hired worker must not eat from it Ex. 12:45
414. An uncircumcised male must not eat from it Ex. 12:48
415. Not to break any bones from the paschal offering Ex. 12:46
416. Not to break any bones from the second paschal offering Num. 9:12
417. Not to leave any meat from the paschal offering over until morning Ex. 12:10
418. Not to leave the second paschal meat over until morning Num. 9:12
419. Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th Deut. 16:4
420. To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot Deut. 16:16
421. To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) Ex. 23:14
422. To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) Deut. 16:14
423. Not to appear at the Temple without offerings Deut. 16:16
424. Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites Deut. 12:19
425. To assemble all the people on the Sukkot following the seventh year Deut. 31:12
426. To set aside the firstborn animals Ex. 13:12
427. The Kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem Deut. 12:17
428. Not to redeem the firstborn Num. 18:17
429. Separate the tithe from animals Lev. 27:32
430. Not to redeem the tithe Lev. 27:33
431. Every person must bring a sin offering (in the temple) for his transgression Lev. 4:27
432. Bring an asham talui (temple offering) when uncertain of guilt Lev. 5:17-18
433. Bring an asham vadai (temple offering) when guilt is ascertained Lev. 5:25
434. Bring an oleh v'yored (temple offering) offering (if the person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal offering) Lev. 5:7-11
435. The Sanhedrin must bring an offering (in the Temple) when it rules in error Lev. 4:13
436. A woman who had a running (vaginal) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh Lev. 15:28-29
437. A woman who gave birth must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh Lev. 12:6
438. A man who had a running (unnatural urinary) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after he goes to the Mikveh Lev. 15:13-14
439. A metzora must bring an offering (in the Temple) after going to the Mikveh Lev. 14:10
440. Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice Lev. 27:10
441. The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration Lev. 27:10
442. Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another Lev. 27:26
443. Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead Num. 19:14
444. Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer (Para Aduma) Num. 19:2
445. Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water Num. 19:21
446. Rule the laws of human tzara'at as prescribed in the Torah Lev. 13:12
447. The metzora must not remove his signs of impurity Deut. 24:8
448. The metzora must not shave signs of impurity in his hair Lev. 13:33
449. The metzora must publicize his condition by tearing his garments, allowing his hair to grow and covering his lips Lev. 13:45
450. Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying the metzora Lev. 14:2
451. The metzora must shave off all his hair prior to purification Lev. 14:9
452. Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing Lev. 13:47
453. Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses Lev. 13:34
454. Observe the laws of menstrual impurity Lev. 15:19
455. Observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth Lev. 12:2
456. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a woman's running issue Lev. 15:25
457. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a man's running issue (irregular ejaculation of infected semen) Lev. 15:3
458. Observe the laws of impurity caused by a dead beast Lev. 11:39
459. Observe the laws of impurity caused by the eight shratzim (insects) Lev. 11:29
460. Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal emission (regular ejaculation, with normal semen) Lev. 15:16
461. Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and solid foods Lev. 11:34
462. Every impure person must immerse himself in a Mikvah to become pure Lev. 15:16
463. The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox Ex. 21:28
464. The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating Ex. 22:4
465. The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit Ex. 21:33
466. The court must judge the damages incurred by fire Ex. 22:5
467. Not to steal money stealthily Lev. 19:11
468. The court must implement punitive measures against the thief Ex. 21:37
469. Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate Lev. 19:36
470. Not to commit injustice with scales and weights Lev. 19:35
471. Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights even if they are not for use Deut. 25:13
472. Not to move a boundary marker to steal someone's property Deut. 19:14
473. Not to kidnap Standard->Ex. 20:14 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:13
474. Not to rob openly Lev. 19:13
475. Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt Lev. 19:13
476. Not to covet and scheme to acquire another's possession Standard->Ex. 20:15 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:14
477. Not to desire another's possession Standard->Deut. 5:19 Yemenite->Deut. 5:18
478. Return the robbed object or its value Lev. 5:23
479. Not to ignore a lost object Deut. 22:3
480. Return the lost object Deut. 22:1
481. The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another's property Ex. 21:18
482. Not to murder Standard->Ex. 20:13 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:12
483. Not to accept monetary restitution to atone for the murderer Num. 35:31
484. The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge Num. 35:25
485. Not to accept monetary restitution instead of being sent to a city of refuge Num. 35:32
486. Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial Num. 35:12
487. Save someone being pursued even by taking the life of the pursuer Deut. 25:12
488. Not to pity the pursuer Num. 35:12
489. Not to stand idly by if someone's life is in danger Lev. 19:16
490. Designate cities of refuge and prepare routes of access Deut. 19:3
491. Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder Deut. 21:4
492. Not to work nor plant that river valley Deut. 21:4
493. Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your property Deut. 22:8
494. Make a guard rail around flat roofs Deut. 22:8
495. Not to put a stumbling block before a blind man (nor give harmful advice) Lev. 19:14
496. Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it Ex. 23:5
497. Help others load their beast Deut. 22:4
498. Not to leave others distraught with their burdens (but to help either load or unload) Deut. 22:4
499. Conduct sales according to Torah law Lev. 25:14
500. Not to overcharge or underpay for an article Lev. 25:14
501. Not to insult or harm anybody with words Lev. 25:17
502. Not to cheat a convert monetarily Ex. 22:20
503. Not to insult or harm a convert with words Ex. 22:20
504. Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws Ex. 21:2
505. Not to sell him as a slave is sold Lev. 25:42
506. Not to work him oppressively Lev. 25:43
507. Not to allow a non-Jew to work him oppressively Lev. 25:53
508. Not to have him do menial slave labor Lev. 25:39
509. Give him gifts when he goes free Deut. 15:14
510. Not to send him away empty-handed Deut. 15:13
511. Redeem Jewish maidservants Ex. 21:8
512. Betroth the Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8
513. The master must not sell his maidservant Ex. 21:8
514. Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs Lev. 25:46
515. Not to extradite a slave who fled to (Biblical) Israel Deut. 23:16
516. Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for refuge Deut. 23:16
517. The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard Ex. 22:9
518. Pay wages on the day they were earned Deut. 24:15
519. Not to delay payment of wages past the agreed time Lev. 19:13
520. The hired worker may eat from the unharvested crops where he works Deut. 23:25
521. The worker must not eat while on hired time Deut. 23:26
522. The worker must not take more than he can eat Deut. 23:25
523. Not to muzzle an ox while plowing Deut. 25:4
524. The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower Ex. 22:13
525. The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard Ex. 22:6
526. Lend to the poor and destitute Ex. 22:24
527. Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it Ex. 22:24
528. Press the idolater for payment Deut. 15:3
529. The creditor must not forcibly take collateral Deut. 24:10
530. Return the collateral to the debtor when needed Deut. 24:13
531. Not to delay its return when needed Deut. 24:12
532. Not to demand collateral from a widow Deut. 24:17
533. Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for preparing food Deut. 24:6
534. Not to lend with interest Lev. 25:37
535. Not to borrow with interest Deut. 23:20
536. Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note Ex. 22:24
537. Lend to and borrow from idolaters with interest Deut. 23:21
538. The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier Ex. 22:8
539. Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance Num. 27:8
540. Appoint judges Deut. 16:18
541. Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure Deut. 1:17
542. Decide by majority in case of disagreement Ex. 23:2
543. The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required Ex. 23:2
544. A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases Deut. 23:2
545. The courts must carry out the death penalty of stoning Deut. 22:24
546. The courts must carry out the death penalty of burning Lev. 20:14
547. The courts must carry out the death penalty of the sword Ex. 21:20
548. The courts must carry out the death penalty of strangulation Lev. 20:10
549. The courts must hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry Deut. 21:22
550. Bury the executed on the day they are killed Deut. 21:23
551. Not to delay burial overnight Deut. 21:23
552. The court must not let the sorcerer live Ex. 22:17
553. The court must give lashes to the wrongdoer Deut. 25:2
554. The court must not exceed the prescribed number of lashes Deut. 25:3
555. The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence Ex. 23:7
556. The court must not punish anybody who was forced to do a crime Deut. 22:26
557. A judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at the trial Deut. 19:13
558. A judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the trial Lev. 19:15
559. A judge must not respect the great man at the trial Lev. 19:15
560. A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor Ex. 23:6
561. A judge must not pervert justice Lev. 19:15
562. A judge must not pervert a case involving a convert or orphan Deut. 24:17
563. Judge righteously Lev. 19:15
564. The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment Deut. 1:17
565. Judges must not accept bribes Ex. 23:8
566. Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present Ex. 23:1
567. Not to curse judges Ex. 22:27
568. Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin Ex. 22:27
569. Not to curse any upstanding Jew Lev. 19:14
570. Anybody who knows evidence must testify in court Lev. 5:1
571. Carefully interrogate the witness Deut. 13:15
572. A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes Deut. 19:17
573. Not to accept testimony from a lone witness Deut. 19:15
574. Transgressors must not testify Ex. 23:1
575. Relatives of the litigants must not testify Deut. 24:16
576. Not to testify falsely Standard->Ex. 20:14 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:13
577. Punish the false witnesses as they tried to punish the defendant Deut. 19:19
578. Act according to the ruling of the Sanhedrin Deut. 17:11
579. Not to deviate from the word of the Sanhedrin Deut. 17:11
580. Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations Deut. 13:1
581. Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part Deut. 13:1
582. Not to curse your father and mother Ex. 21:17
583. Not to strike your father and mother Ex. 21:15
584. Respect your father or mother Standard->Ex. 20:13 TLT Yemenite->Ex. 20:12
585. Fear your father or mother Lev. 19:3
586. Not to be a rebellious son Deut. 21:18
587. Mourn for relatives Lev. 10:19
588. The High Priest must not defile himself for any relative Lev. 21:11
589. The High Priest must not enter under the same roof as a corpse Lev. 21:11
590. A Kohen must not defile himself (by going to funerals or cemeteries) for anyone except relatives Lev. 21:1
591. Appoint a king from Israel Deut. 17:15
592. Not to appoint a foreigner Deut. 17:15
593. The king must not have too many wives Deut. 17:17
594. The king must not have too many horses Deut. 17:16
595. The king must not have too much silver and gold Deut. 17:17
596. Destroy the seven Canaanite nations Deut. 20:17
597. Not to let any of them remain alive Deut. 20:16
598. Wipe out the descendants of Amalek Deut. 25:19
599. Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people Deut. 25:17
600. Not to forget Amalek's atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert Deut. 25:19
601. Not to dwell permanently in Egypt Deut. 17:16
602. Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah if they accept the terms Deut. 20:10
603. Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them Deut. 23:7
604. Not to destroy fruit trees even during the siege Deut. 20:19
605. Prepare latrines outside the camps Deut. 23:13
606. Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with Deut. 23:14
607. Appoint a priest to speak with the soldiers during the war Deut. 20:2
608. He who has taken a wife, built a new home, or planted a vineyard is given a year to rejoice with his possessions Deut. 24:5
609. Not to demand from the above any involvement, communal or military Deut. 24:5
610. Not to panic and retreat during battle Deut. 20:3
611. Keep the laws of the captive woman Deut. 21:11
612. Not to sell her into slavery Deut. 21:14
613. Not to retain her for servitude after having sexual relations with her Deut. 21:14

The above list is the complete listing of ALL of God's Commandment's. We are more familiar with the 10 (ten) commandments, which I believe to be a condensed version of the 613. Even though some of these commandments would relate to ancient Israel, they are still relatable to our everyday lives. The number 613 is a clear and concise numerical counting as it relates to the Ten Commandments. The Bible contains numerous places with numerical values recorded that is patterned by God. God is a God of pattern and purpose, and I believe these numbers are not just merely numbers, but numerical patterns as ordained by God. If you look at the prayer shawl worn by Jewish Rabbi's today and Khohanim in ancient times, this pattern is repeated on that shawl, which God has made to represent the Ten Commandments. On the prayer shawl, which Jesus Christ wore himself, the number 613 is represented in the tzitzit, which are the tassles that hang from the prayer shawl. Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, that they shall make themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall put on the corner fringe a blue (tekhelet) thread." Wearing tzitzit is a biblical commandment.

The fringe (tzitzit) on each corner is made of five strands, each of which is made of eight fine threads (known as kaful shemoneh). The five strands are passed through a hole (or according to some: two holes) 1-2 inches (25 to 50 mm) away from the corner of the cloth. There are numerous customs as to how to tie the fringe. The Talmud explains that the Bible requires an upper knot (kesher elyon) and one wrapping of three winds (hulya). The Talmud enjoined that between 7 to 13 hulyot be tied, and that "one must start and end with the color of the garment." As for the making of knots in between the hulyot, the Talmud is inconclusive, and as such poskim ("decisors of Jewish law") have varyingly interpreted this requirement.[1] The Talmud described tying assuming the use of tekhelet dye, however, following the loss of the source of the dye, various customs of tying were introduced to compensate for the lack of this primary element.

Though many methods exist, the one that gained the widest acceptance can be described as follows:

The five strands of the tzitzit are passed through holes near the four corners of the garment (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:9-11,15) that are farthest apart (10:1). Four tzitzyot are passed through each hole (11:12-13), and the two groups of four ends are double-knotted to each other at the edge of the garment near the hole (11:14,15). One of the tzitzit is made longer than the others (11:4); the long end of that one is wound around the other seven ends and double-knotted; this is done repeatedly so as to make a total of five double knots separated by four sections of winding, with a total length of at least four inches, leaving free-hanging ends that are twice that long (11:14).[2]

Before tying begins, a Hebrew blessing is said (it's more of a "declaration of intent"): L'Shem Mitzvat Tzitzit ("for the sake of the commandment of tzitzit").

The two sets of stands are knotted together twice, and then the shamash (a longer strand) is wound around the remaining seven strands a number of times (see below). The two sets are then knotted again twice. This procedure is repeated three times, such that there are a total of five knots, the four intervening spaces being taken up by windings numbering 7-8-11-13, respectively. The total number of winds comes to 39, which is the same number of winds if one were to tie according to the Talmud's instruction of 13 hulyot of 3 winds each. Furthermore, the number 39 is found to be significant in that it is the gematria (numerical equivalent) of the words: "The Lord is One" Deuteronomy 6:4). Others, especially Sephardi Jews, use 10-5-6-5 as the number of windings, a combination that represents directly the spelling of the Tetragrammaton (one of God's names).

Rashi, a prominent Jewish commentator, bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totalling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613, traditionally the number of mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzyot reminds its wearer of all Torah commandments.

Nachmanides disagrees with Rashi, pointing out that the Biblical spelling of the word tzitzit has only one yod rather than two (giving it a gematria of 590 plus 13), thus adding up to the total number of 603 rather than 613. He points out that in the Biblical quote "you shall see it and remember them", the singular form "it" can refer only to the "p'til" ("thread") of tekhelet. The tekhelet strand serves this purpose, explains the Talmud, for the blue color of tekhelet resembles the ocean, which in turn resembles the sky, which in turn is said to resemble God's holy throne - thus reminding all of the divine mission to fulfill His commandments.

FREE WILL, SUFFERING AND HOW WE ARE MADE

To understand why God has permitted suffering & what He will do about it, we have to appreciate how He made us. We were created with more than just a body and a brain. God created us with special mental & emotional qualities. The most important part of our mental & emotional makeup is free will. God implanted in us the faculty of freedom of choice. This is indeed a wonderful gift from Him.

To consider how free will is involved in God's permission of suffering, think about this: Do you appreciate having the freedom to choose what you will do and say, what you will eat & wear, what kind of work you will do, and where and how you will live? Or would you want someone to dictate your every word & action every moment of your life? No normal person wants their life taken out of their control completely. Why not? Because of the way God made us. The Bible tells us that God created man in his 'image and likeness,' and one of the faculties God himself has is freedom of choice. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 7:6) When He created humans, he gave us the wonderful gift of free will. So desiring freedom is no accident, for God is a God of freedom. The Bible says: "Where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17) Therefore, God gave us free will as a part of our very makeup. Since he knew the way our minds & emotions would work, he knew that we would be happiest with free will. To go with the gift of free will, God gave us the ability to think, weigh matters, make decisions, and know right from wrong. (Hebrews 5:14) Thus, free will was to be based on intelligent choice. We were not made like mindless robots having no will of their own. Nor were we created to act out of instinct as were animals. Instead, our marvelous brain was designed to work in harmony with our freedom of choice.

However, did God's purpose for free will to be without limits? Imagine a busy city without limits, without traffic laws, where everybody could drive in any direction at any speed. Would you want to drive under those conditions? Unlimited freedom would mean anarchy in society. There have to be laws to guide human activities. God's Word says: "Behave like free men, and never use your freedom as an excuse for wickedness." (1 Peter 2:16) God wants free will to be regulated for the common good. He purposed for us to have, not total freedom, but relative freedom, subject to the rule of law.

Whose Laws?
Whose Laws Were We Designed To Obey? 1 Peter 2:16 states: "You are slaves of no one except God." This does not mean oppressive slavery, but rather that we were designed to be happiest when in subjection to God's laws. (Matthew 22:35-40) His laws, more than any laws devised by humans, provide the best guide. "I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk."--Isaiah 48:17

Thus, we were created to be happiest when subject to God's laws for human behavior. It is similar to being subject to God's physical laws. For instance, if we ignore the law of gravity & jump off a high place, we will be injured or killed. If we ignore the internal laws of our body & stop eating food, drinking water, or breathing we will die. As surely as we were created with the need to submit to God physical laws, we were created with the need to submit to God's moral & social laws. (Matthew 4:4) Humans were not created to be independent of their Maker & be successful. In every way humans were created to live under God's rulership, not their own. Obedience to God's laws would not have been burdensome for our first parents. Instead, it would have worked for their welfare & that of the entire human family. Had the first pair stayed within the limits of God's laws, all would have been well.

The Issue of Universal Sovereignty
Why did God not just destroy Adam & Eve and start over with another human pair? Because His Universal Sovereignty, that is, His inalienable right to rule, had been challenged. The question was: Who has the right to rule, and whose rule is right, His being almighty and the Creator of all creatures gives God the right to rule over them. Since He is all-wise, His rule is best for all creatures. But God's rule had now been challenged. Also, was there something wrong with his creation--man?

By man's becoming independent of God, another question was implied: could humans do better if not ruled by God? The Creator certainly knew the answer, but a sure way for humans to find out was to allow them the total freedom they wanted. They chose that course of their own free will, so God permitted it.

By allowing humans enough time to experiment with total freedom, God would establish for all time whether humans are better off under God's rule or on their own. And the time permitted would have to be long enough to allow humans to come to what they considered the peak of their political, industrial, scientific & medical achievements.

Therefore, God has allowed man a free rein clear down to our day to show beyond any doubt whether human rule independent of Him can succeed. Thus man has been able to choose between kindness & cruelty, between love & hate, between righteousness & unrighteousness. But he has also been confronted with the consequences of his choice: goodness & peace or wickedness & suffering.

Rebellion of Spirit Creatures
There is another factor to consider. Our original parents were not the only ones to rebel against God's rule. Before God created humans, he created a higher form of life, great numbers of angels, to live in the heavenly realm. They too were created with free will & also with the need to submit to God's rule--Job 38:7; Psalm 104:4; Revelation 5:11

The Bible shows that rebellion first broke out in the spirit realm because a spirit creature wanted total freedom. He even wanted humans to worship him. (Matthew 4:8,9) This spirit rebel became a factor in influencing Adam & Eve to rebel, claiming falsely that God was withholding something good from them. (Genesis 3:1-5) So he is called Devil (Slanderer) & Satan (Adversary). Later, he induced other spirit creatures to rebel. They became known as demons--Deuteronomy 32:17; Revelation 12:9; 16:14

Humans by rebelling against God, gave themselves over to the influence of Satan & his demons. That is why the Bible calls Satan "the god of this system of things," who "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers." Hence, God's Word says that "the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." Jesus himself called Satan "the ruler of this world."--2 Corinthians 4:4, 1John 5:19; John 12:31

Two Issues
Satan raised another issue that challenged God. In effect, he charged that God was mistaken in the way He created humans & that no one would want to do the right thing when put under pressure. In fact, he claimed that under test they would even curse God (Job 2:1-5) In this way Satan called into question the integrity of the human creation.

Therefore, God has permitted enough time for all intelligent creatures to see how this issue as well as the issue of God's Sovereignty would be resolved. (Exodus 9:16) The eventual experience of human history would reveal the truth about these two issues.

First of all, what would time reveal regarding the issue of Universal Sovereignty, the rightness of God's rule? Could humans rule themselves better than God? Would any system of human rule apart from God usher in a happy world free from war, crime, and injustice? Would any eliminate poverty & provide prosperity for all? Would any conquer sickness, old age, and death? God's rule was designed to do all of that. --Genesis 1:26-31.

The Result of Rebellion
When our first parents rejected God's rule, disaster followed. They brought suffering upon themselves & all the human family that came from them. History has shown the correctness of God's warning to Adam & Eve that if they moved out from under God's provisions, they would deteriorate & eventually die. (Genesis 2:17; 3:19)

Many centuries have passed. Empires have come & gone. Every conceivable type of government has been tried. Yet, over & over, dreadful things have happened to the human family. After six thousand years, one would think that humans would have progressed to the point of establishing peace, justice & prosperity earth wide and that by now they would have mastered the positive values of kindness, compassion & cooperation.

The Situation Today
In addition consider the overall condition of the human family today. Crime & violence are rampant. Drug abuse is epidemic. Sexually transmitted diseases are pandemic. Tens of millions of people die of hunger or disease each year, while a small number have vast riches. Humans pollute & pillage the earth. Family life & moral values have broken down everywhere. Truly, life today reflects the ugly rulership of 'the god of this world,' Satan. The world he is master of is cold, ruthless, and thoroughly corrupt.--2 Corinthians 4:4

God has allowed enough time for humans to come to the peak of their scientific & material progress. But is it genuine progress when the bow and arrow have been replaced by machine guns, tanks, jet bombers, & nuclear missiles? Is it progress when people can travel into space but cannot live together in peace on earth? Is it progress when people are afraid to walk the streets at night, or even in the daytime in some places?

What Time Has Shown
What the test of centuries of time has shown is that it is not possible for humans to direct their own steps successfully apart from God's rule. It is no more possible for them to do that than it is for them to live without eating, drinking, & breathing. The evidence is clear: We were designed to be dependent on our Creator's guidance just as surely as we were created to be dependent on food, water & air.

By permitting wickedness, God has once and for all time demonstrated the sad results of misusing free will. And free will is such a precious gift that rather than take it away from man, God has allowed them to see what its misuse means. God's Word speaks the truth when it says: "It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." It is also truthful when it says: "Man has dominated man to his injury. "--Jeremiah 10:23; Ecclesiastes 8:9.

God's permission of human rule for six thousand years forcefully illustrates that man is unable to stop suffering. At no time has he done so. For instance, in his day King Solomon of Israel, with all his wisdom, wealth & power, could not straighten out the misery resulting from human rule (Ecclesiastes 4:13) Similarly, in our day world leaders even with the latest technical advances, are not able to eliminate suffering. Worse yet, history has shown that humans independent of God's rule have increased suffering instead of eliminating it.

Evidence
Jesus foretold of features that would accompany the last days: "There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilence [disease epidemics] and food shortages."--Luke 21:11 This is evident in the world today.

Major earthquakes are regular occurrences, taking many lives. The Spanish influenza alone killed about 20,000,000 people following World War I--some estimates being 30,000,000 or more. Aids has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and could take millions more in the near future. Each year millions of people die of heart ailments, cancer, and other diseases.

Jesus also foretold the increase in crime that is experienced in all lands. He said "Because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.'--Matthew 24:12

Further, Bible prophecy foretold the moral collapse so evident throughout the world today: "In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power...Wicked men & impostors will advance from bad to worse.' (2Timothy 3: 1-13) All of this has come true right before out eyes. 

Another Factor
There is another factor responsible for the huge increase in suffering in this century. Coinciding with the beginning of the last days in 1914, something happened to put mankind in even greater danger. At that time, as a prophecy in the last book of the Bible relates: "War broke out in heaven: Michael [Christ in heavenly power] and his angels battled with the dragon [Satan], and the dragon and its angels [the demons] battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil & Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him"--Revelation 12:7-9.

What were the consequences for the human family? The prophecy continues: "Woe for the earth & for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time."
Yes, Satan knows that his system is nearing its end, so he is doing everything he can to turn humans against God before he and his world are put out of the way.--Revelation 12:12; 20:1-3.

It is no wonder that Jesus foretold of our time: "On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out...Men become faint out of fear & expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.--Luke 21:25, 26.

End of Human and Demon Rule Near
How many Bible prophecies remain to be fulfilled before God destroys this present system? Very few! One of the last is at 1 Thessalonians 5:3 which states: "While they are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them." This shows that the end of this system will begin "while they are talking." Unforeseen by the world, destruction will strike when least expected, when the attention of humans is on their hoped-for peace and security.

Time is running out for this world under Satan's influence. Soon it will come to its end in a time of trouble of which Jesus said: "Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again."--Matthew 24;21.

The climax of the "great tribulation" will be God's war of Armageddon. That is the time spoken of by the prophet Daniel when God will "crush and put an end to all these kingdoms." This will mean the end of all present human rulership independent of God. His Kingdom rule from heaven will then take over complete control of all human affairs. Never again, Daniel foretold, will governing authority be left "to any other people."--Daniel 2:44; Revelation 16: 14-16.

At that time all satanic and demon influence will also cease. Those rebellious spirit creatures will be put out of the way so that they cannot "mislead the nations anymore."--Revelation 12:9; 20:1-3 They have been sentenced to death and await destruction. What a relief it will be for mankind to be free from their debasing influence!

God's Long-Range View
God's permission of suffering has been painful for all of us. But he has taken a long-range view, knowing the good results that will come in the long run. God's view will benefit creatures, not just for a few years or a few thousand, but for millions of years, for all eternity. Because Jehovah has permitted wickedness & suffering at this time, it will already have been amply proved that nothing that is out of harmony with Him can prosper. It will have been shown beyond doubt that no independent scheme of men or spirit creatures can bring lasting benefits, Hence, God will then be fully justified in swiftly crushing any rebel. "The wicked ones He will annihilate." --Psalm 145:20; Romans 3:4

Who Will Survive? Who Will Not?
When God's judgments are executed against this world, who will survive? Who will not? The Bible shows that those who want God's rule will be protected and will survive. Those who do not want God's rule will not be protected but will be destroyed along with Satan's world. Proverbs 2:21,22 says: "The upright [those who submit to God's rule]are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked [those who do not submit to God's rule], they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it."

Psalm 37:10, 11 also says: "Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more...But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." Verse 29 adds: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." We should take to heart the counsel of Psalm 37:34, which states: "Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it." Verse 37 and 38 say: "Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful. But the transgressors themselves will certainly be annihilated together; the future of wicked people will indeed be cut off."

Righteousness Replaces Wickedness
All of this will be made possible by the destruction of Satan's world. No more will there be divisive false religions, social systems, or governments. No more will there be satanic propaganda to deceive people; all the agencies producing it will go down with Satan's system. Just think: the entire poisonous atmosphere of Satan's world cleared away: What a relief that will be!

Then the destructive ideas of human rule will be replaced by the upbuilding teachings that comes from God. "All your sons will be persons taught by Jehovah."--Isaiah 54:13 With this wholesome instruction year after year, "The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea."--Isaiah 11:9 People will no more learn what is bad, but "righteousness is what the inhabitants of the productive land will certainly learn."--Isaiah 26:9 Upbuilding thoughts and actions will be the order of the day--Acts 17:31p; Phillippians 4:8

Perfect Health Restored
In a new world, there will be a rolling back of all the evil effects of the original rebellion. For example, Kingdom rule will eliminate sickness and old age. Today, even if you enjoy a measure of good health, the hard reality is that as you grow old, your eyes dim, your teeth decay, your hearing dulls, your skin wrinkles, your internal organs break down, until finally you die.

However those distressing effects that we inherited from our first parents will soon be a thing of the past. Do you remember what Jesus demonstrated regarding health while he was on earth? The Bible relates: "Great crowds approached Him, having along with them people that were lame, maimed, blind, dumb, and many otherwise, and they fairly threw them at his feet, and he cured them; so that the crowd felt amazement as they saw the dumb speaking and the lame walking and the blind seeing.--Matthew 15:30, 31.

"THE GIFT GOD GIVES IS EVERLASTING LIFE.'--Corinthians 15:25, 26; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 25:8.

This post is just something more from something profound that I recently read. Being brought up in the Catholic church from childhood to my adult life, I enjoyed the teachings of the Bible that I learned in school and church. Having forgotten most of the readings of the Bible that I learned, it was for me, earth moving to read all of the above post and to be reminded of what God has in store for those who believe in Him. I have heard of many blasphemers and personally been harassed and stalked by one of these so called 'prophets'. ["Woe for the earth & for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." yes, Satan knows that his system is nearing its end, so he is doing everything he can to turn humans against God before he and his world are put out of the way.--Revelation 12:12; 20:1-3.]

In my humble opinion, people who are truly of God behave in a way that is good and for a higher good. The next to the last paragraph eloquently shows what true prophets and men of God are able to achieve. Jesus caused the blind to see and the lame to walk and the dead to arise, things that no false prophet can do! Throughout the Bible are great men & women of God who achieved miraculous things with the help of God. Moses parted the Red Sea to save his people. To all the naysayers who believe that worshiping a false prophet will get you into heaven, I say let your false prophet raise someone from the dead or part a sea. It's very easy to believe something that you see as opposed to something that is unseen. I am of the school of thinking, like the above post, that we must have unceasing faith in God and trust that His teachings and principles will ultimately protect us from evil and shield us from Satan. Look within yourself and reflect deeply on what is around you and what you are doing in your life and pray without ceasing and have never ending faith that even though God constantly tests us every day, know that none of it is in vain.