When I was back in Israel last November, I took this picture of the old city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. You can see the old city wall as well as the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock is currently located. As I thought about the history that had happened here, Abraham attempting to offer Isaac as a sacrifice; Jesus being rejected, crucified and raised from the dead, the Holy Spirit reminded me that although there were foundational, historical events that had happened here, the best was yet to come! This would be the place that Messiah would return to and make His Capitol for His millennial reign on earth. At that moment, as a believer in Messiah, I knew why that I felt at home here! I love Israel, because as one who has been grafted into the natural vine of Israel through faith in Messiah, I too am part of Abraham's offspring! Consequently, I am an Hebraic Christian. My roots are not pagan but are Jewish. Shalom

WARRIOR ASSEMBLY OF GOD JULY 11, 2012 THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION “THE UNVEILING OF JESUS CHRIST” OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND I. GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN A. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOD’S PLAN TO HAVE A PEOPLE AND DWELL WITH THEM FOREVER. THEREFORE, AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, GOD BEGAN IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION AND NOT IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS. SAID ANOTHER WAY, GOD BEGAN WITH THE END IN MIND. THE BOOK OF GENESIS WAS THE CREATION OF THE TIME AND SPACE UNIVERSE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MOVING ALL THINGS TO GOD’S DESIRED END IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION. ONCE AGAIN, THAT DESIRED END WAS THAT GOD WOULD HAVE A PEOPLE WITH WHOM HE WOULD DWELL FOREVER. 1.REVELATION 21:1-5 “THEN I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA. I SAW THE HOLY CITY, THE NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, PREPARED AS A BRIDE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED FOR HER HUSBAND. AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE FROM THE THRONE SAYING, LOOK! GOD’S DWELLING PLACE IS NOW AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM. THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD. HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR MOURNING OR CRYING OR PAIN, FOR THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY. HE WHO WAS SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID, I AM MAKING EVERTHING NEW! THEN HE SAID, WRITE THIS DOWN, FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE.” II. THE PLAN BEGINS TO UNFOLD WITH THE FIRST MAN. A. AFTER GOD HAS CREATED THE TIME AND SPACE UNIVERSE, AND THEN FASHIONED THE EARTH TO BE HABITABLE FOR LIFE, HE BROUGHT FORTH THE CROWNING ACT OF HIS CREATION. 1. GENESIS 1:26-28 “THEN GOD SAID, LET US MAKE MANKIND IN OUR OWN IMAGE, IN OUR LIKENESS, SO THAT THEY MAY RULE OVER THE FISH IN THE SEA AND THE BIRDS IN THE SKY, OVER THE LIVESTOCK AND ALL THE WILD ANIMALS, AND OVER ALL THE CREATURES THAT MOVE ALONG THE GROUND. SO GOD CREATED MANKIND IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED THEM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. GOD BLESSED THEM AND SAID TO THEM, BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT. RULE OVER THE FISH IN THE SEA AND THE BIRDS IN THE SKY AND OVER EVERY LIVING CREATURE THAT MOVES ON THE GROUND.” a. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS SCRIPTURE THAT GOD GAVE MANKIND DOMINION OVER THE EARTH. AND THIS WAS A DOMINION THAT GOD WOULD NOT REPEAL OR RESCIND EVEN THOUGH MAN WOULD REBEL AGAINST HIM. 2. GENESIS 3:1-7 “NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, DID GOD REALLY SAY, YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN. THE WOMAN SAID TO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY, YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT OR YOU WILL DIE. YOU WILL NOT CERTAINLY DIE, THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN. FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYES, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED; SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES.” a. IF YOU READ THE REST OF GENESIS CHAPTER 3, ALTHOUGH YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS SIN HAD DISASTOROUS CONSEQUENCES, GOD DID NOT TAKE FROM MANKIND HIS PLAN FOR THEM TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH. b. HOWEVER, THE SERPENT OR THE DEVIL HAS NOW ENTERED THE PICTURE CONCERING THE RULERSHIP OF THE EARTH. 1. LUKE 4:5-8 “THE DEVIL LED HIM UP TO A HIGH PLACE AND SHOWED IN AN INSTANT ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD. AND HE SAID TO HIM, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THEIR AUTHORITY AND SPLENDER; IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME, AND I CAN GIVE IT TO ANYONE I WANT TO. IF YOU WORSHIP ME, IT WILL BE YOURS. JESUS ANSWERED, IT IS WRITTEN; WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.” a. THIS SCRIPTURE INDICATES THAT THE DEVIL USURPED THE AUTHORITY OF THE EARTH AWAY FROM MANKIND BY GETTING HIM TO SIN AGAINST GOD AND JOIN HIS REBELLION. 2. 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 “THE god OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL THAT DISPLAYS THE GLORY OF CHRIST AS LORD, AND OURSELVES AS YOUR SERVANTS FOR JESUS’ SAKE.” a. IN THIS TEXT, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS THAT THE DEVIL IS THE god OF THIS PRESENT WORLD SYSTEM. AS SUCH, HE CURRENTLY HAS DOMINION OVER THE EARTH AND NOT MAN AS GOD ORIGINALLY PLANNED. b. THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS GOD’S ANSWER TO THIS APPARENT DILEMMA? GOD GAVE AUTHORITY TO MAN TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH FOREVER, BUT SATAN USURPED THAT DOMINION AWAY FROM MAN BY GETTING HIM TO ENTER INTO HIS REBELLION AGAINST GOD. HOW THEN CAN GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN NOW BE CARRIED OUT? III. JESUS CHRIST—THE GOD MAN (THE SECOND MAN) A. GOD’S SOLUTION TO THIS APPARENT DILEMMA WAS THE GOD-MAN, THE SECOND MAN WHO CAME FROM HEAVEN. GOD THE SON WOULD COME TO EARTH AND BECOME A MAN. AS A MAN HE WOULD DEFEAT SATAN; REDEEM MAN BACK TO GOD BY SATISFYING GOD’S JUSTICE FOR MAN’S SIN BY DYING ON THE CROSS; RISE FROM THE DEAD AS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION OF GOD! ASCEND BACK TO HEAVEN, BACK TO THE GLORY OF GOD; AND ONE DAY RETURN TO THE EARTH TO FULFILL GOD’S PLAN BY FULLY TAKING BACK THE DOMINION OF THE EARTH AS A MAN; AND SETTING UP THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF THE FATHER WHERE GOD WILL DWELL WITH MAN FOREVER! 1. PSALM 2:7 “I WILL PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DECREE: HE SAID TO ME, YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER.” a. IN THIS MESSIANIC PSALM, A PSALM ABOUT THE MESSIAH-JESUS, THE FATHER SAYS TO THE SON, “TODAY I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER.” THIS DID NOT HAPPEN 2000 YEARS AGO BUT RATHER SOMETIME IN THE ETERNAL PAST. THERE WAS A TIME, ONLY THE LORD KNOWS WHEN, THAT THE ETERNAL FATHER BEGOT THE ETERNAL SON! 2. JOHN 1:1-2, 14, 18 “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING.THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US. WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY SON, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD, BUT THE ONE AND ONLY SON, WHO IS HIMSELF GOD AND IS IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER, HAS MADE HIM KNOWN.” a. THESE VERSES MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD LEFT THE GLORY OF HEAVEN AND CAME TO THE EARTH AND BECAME A MAN. HE BECAME, IF YOU WILL, THE GOD-MAN. THIS IS RECORDED IN LUKE 1:26-35. 3. COLOSSIANS 2:13-15 “WHEN YOU WERE DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND IN THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, GOD MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST. HE FORGAVE US ALL OF OUR SINS, HAVING CANCELED THE CHARGE OR OUR LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS, WHICH STOOD AGAINST US AND CONDEMNED US; HE HAS TAKEN IT AWAY, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS. AND HAVING DISARMED THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES, HE MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM BY THE CROSS.” a. GOD SATISIFIED HIS JUSTICE FOR SIN BY NAILING OUR SINS TO CHRIST ON THE CROSS, THE GUILTLESS DYING FOR THE GUILTY, AND AT THE SAME TIME DEFEATED THE SATANIC POWERS THAT HELD US IN BONDAGE BECAUSE OF OUR SIN. 4. I CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 “BUT CHRIST HAS INDEED BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD, THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. FOR SINCE DEATH CAME THROUGH A MAN, THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD CAME ALSO THROUGH A MAN. FOR AS IN ADAM ALL DIE, SO IN CHRIST ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE. BUT EACH IN TURN: CHRIST, THE FIRSTFRUITS; THEN WHEN HE COMES, THOSE WHO BELONG TO HIM. THEN THE END WILL COME, WHEN HE HANDS OVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD THE FATHER AFTER HE HAS DESTROYED ALL DOMINION, AUTHORITY AND POWER. FOR HE MUST REIGN UNTIL HE HAS PUT ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET. THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH. FOR HE HAS PUT EVERYTHING UNDER HIS FEET. NOW WHEN IT SAYS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PUT UNDER HIM, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE GOD HIMSELF, WHO PUT EVERYTHING UNDER CHRIST. WHEN HE HAS DONE THIS, THEN THE SON HIMSELF WILL BE MADE SUBJECT TO HIM WHO PUT EVERYTHING UNDER HIM, SO THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.” a. JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION OF GOD. HE IS THE FIRST OF MILLIONS WHO WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD WITH NEW BODIES. 5. ACTS 3:21 “HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE HIM (JESUS) UNTIL THE TIME COMES FOR GOD TO RESTORE EVERYTHING, AS HE PROMISED LONG AGO THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHETS.” a. JESUS WILL REMAIN IN HEAVEN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO FULLY TAKE BACK DOMINION OF THE EARTH. 6. REVELATION 5:1-7 “THEN I SAW IN THE RIGHT HAND OF HIM WHO SAT ON THE THRONE A SCROLL WITH WRITING ON BOTH SIDES AND SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS. AND I SAW A MIGHTY ANGEL PROCLAIMING IN A LOUD VOICE, WHO IS WORTHY TO BREAK THE SEALS AND OPEN THE SCROLL? BUT NO ONE IN HEAVEN OR ON THE EARTH OR UNDER THE EARTH COULD OPEN THE SCROLL OR EVEN LOOK INSIDE IT. I WEPT AND WEPT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS FOUND WHO WAS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND LOOK INSIDE. THEN ONE OF THE ELDERS SAID TO ME, DO NOT WEEP! SEE, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID, HAS TRIUMPHED. HE IS ABLE TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND BREAK ITS SEVEN SEALS. THEN I SAW A LAMB, LOOKING AS IF IT HAD BEEN SLAIN, STANDING AT THE CENTER OF THE THRONE, ENCIRCLED BY THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND THE ELDERS. THE LAMB HAD SEVEN HORNS AND SEVEN EYES, WHICH ARE THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD SENT OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH. HE WENT AND TOOK THE SCROLL FROM THE RIGHT HAND OF HIM WHO SAT ON THE THRONE.” a. GOD HIMSELF COULD NOT OPEN THE SCROLL BECAUSE IT MUST BE A MAN WHO TAKES BACK THE DOMINION OF THE EARTH. AND THE ANGELS COULD NOT OPEN THE SCROLL BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PART OF MANKIND. THAT IS WHY THAT ONLY JESUS WAS FOUND WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND OPEN IT! b. IN VERSE 9 OF REVELATION 5, THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND THE 24 ELDERS SANG A NEW SONG DECLARING WHY THAT JESUS WAS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLLS. “. . .YOU ARE WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND TO OPEN ITS SEALS, BECAUSE YOU WERE SLAIN AND WITH YOUR BLOOD YOU PURCHASED FOR GOD PERSONS FROM EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.” c. JESUS WAS FOUND WORTHY TO NOT ONLY TO TAKE THE SCROLL BUT TO OPEN IT! HE ALONE COULD BE TRUSTED TO RIGHTEOUSLY AND JUSTLY RELEASE THE JUDGMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SCROLL. ONLY HE WOULD HAVE THE LOVE, WISDOM, HUMILITY, COURAGE AND TENACITY TO DO WHAT HAD TO BE DONE AND TO DO IT PERFECTLY! d. BUT COULD JESUS BE TRUSTED TO RULE AND REIGN OVER THE EARTH AS A MAN, FOREVER AND EVER, WITHOUT EVER MISUSING HIS POWER FOR SELFISH PURPOSES? WHAT WOULD CAUSE THOSE IN HEAVEN TO KNOW THAT? IT IS STATED IN THE NEW SONG THAT WAS SONG ABOUT HIM, “. . .YOU ARE WORTHY. . . BECAUSE YOU WERE SLAIN AND YOUR BLOOD PURCHASED FOR GOD PERSONS FROM EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.” e. LET’S PROBE A LITTLE DEEPER TO DISCOVER WHY JESUS’ DEATH MADE HIM WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLLS AND THEN RELEASE THEM. 7. PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 “IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS CHRIST JESUS: WHO BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE USED TO HIS OWN ADVANTAGE; RATHER, HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, BY TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS, AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH—EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” a. IT THE SIMPLEST TERMS THAT I CAN THINK OF, JESUS WAS FOUND WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLLS AND OPEN THEM BECAUSE HE CAN TRUSTED FOREVER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND PERFECT. IF HE WAS WILLING TO HUMBLE HIMSELF AND GIVE UP HIS PLACE OF GLORY THAT HE HAD WITH THE FATHER—NOT HAVING TO DO SO— AND THEN DYING ON A CROSS SO THAT WE COULD SHARE IN THE FATHER’S ETERNAL PLAN--THEN IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT HE CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED TO RULE AND REIGN OVER THE EARTH IN PERFECTION! HE ALONE IS THE PERFECT MAN WHO WILL FULFILL THE FATHER’S ETERNAL PLAN TO LIVE AND DWELL FOREVER WITH HIS PEOPLE ON THE EARTH! b. SHOULD NOT THIS UNFATHOMABLE HUMILITY OF THE ETERNAL SON WHO GAVE UP HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD THE FATHER TO BECOME A HUMAN BEING AND DIE FOR US SO THAT WE CAN SHARE HIS GLORY THAT HE HAD WITH THE FATHER BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN MOTIVATE US TO KNOW HIM, LOVE HIM AND PURSUE HIM AS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEART? THERE IS NO ONE LIKE HIM. HIS BEAUTY AND WISDOM AND POWER SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF OUR WORSHIP AND OUR PRAYERS. WE SHOULD ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL HIM TO US. AS PAUL SAID IN COLOSSIANS 2:3 “IN WHOM (CHRIST) ARE HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.”

Election, Grace, and the Historical Continuum of Jew-Hatred

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Election, Grace, and the Historical Continuum of Jew-Hatred Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:31 AM PDT Below is an excerpt from an email exchange with Reggie Kelly on election, grace, Israel, and anti-semitism: There is a root that is deeper than anti-Semitism; it is anti-election! Israel represents the “Godness of God” in the freedom and sovereignty of a divine choice not made on the basis of human merit. It is His wise use of the ‘scandal of particularity’ that tests and exposes the presumption of claim on God by anything in man, of man, or generated by man. Israel exists to demonstrate and enforce God’s continual war on the pride humanism, the belief, secret or spoken, that there is something, anything, in man that can commend one over another to the holiness (‘apartness’) of His free gift. … There is no crisis until one is favored in some particular way more than another, but when this happens, something is exposed in the natural heart. It is the presumption of claim upon God, as though a special favor towards one sets up an obligation to do the same for all others equally (the question of ‘fairness’). However, logically, the presumption of obligation presupposes a debt based on justice, which is antithetical to the principle of grace. There was not a crisis until Jacob’s act of special favor towards Joseph. Special favor, as in the special election of Israel, sets up the occasion for envy. It evokes and surfaces something deep in the fallen hearts of men, as though a special gift or act of favor binds the giver to some imagined law of equal distribution. Inherent in our fallen nature from earliest childhood is a perverse expectation and demand. It is a driving force behind all revolution. The crisis begins when there is a perceived supply that is not distributed equally to all. There is no complaint of injustice or deprivation until something is done for one that is not done equally for the other. God is committed to the destruction of this ill-conceived presumption that cannot comprehend the true nature of grace, and He has especially ordained Israel’s election to that end. Until there is the word of election, there is no crisis, but when God speaks, whether it be concerning an individual, a people, or a chosen location, it immediately sets up a war with the principalities and powers who invariably raise the question that forms the great contest of history, “has God really said?” Such envy quickly turns to contempt and hatred. We see this in Satan, in Cain, in Esau, in Joseph’s brethren, in Saul, and on we could go. The very fall of Satan in the five “I wills” of Isa 14:13-14 can be traced to the envy that was stirred when God announced His prophetic purpose to establish the Elect Son as ruler over all nations from Jerusalem (compare Ps 2:6-8; Ps 48:2; with Isa 14:13; noting the key connecting phrase, “the sides of the north”). The freedom of the giver is especially called into question when the gift is by divine design impossible to associate with any virtue or quality in the recipient (Ro 9:11). This is the offense that is contained in that great defining statement of redemptive history, that will become a divine touchstone of testing in the crisis that concludes the age, namely, “Jacob have I loved.”

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION In this lesson, we will look at the purpose and primary themes of the Book of the Revelation. It is the strong, prophetic Word of God, history written in advance, to help every believer to walk victoriously in what will be the darkest hour in human history. TEACHING 1. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION A. The book of the Revelation records in great detail God’s aggressive plan to take over the kingdoms of the earth through His Son the Lord Jesus. It reveals the heart and leadership of Jesus at the end of this present age like no other book in scripture. Consequently, the book of the Revelation gives us more information on the end times than any other book in the Bible. B. Many people avoid reading and studying the book of the Revelation either because they don’t understand it, or because they can’t reconcile the loving Jesus with the Warrior-King who releases such devastating judgments upon the earth during the Great Tribulation period. But when rightly understood, this prophecy is designed to fill us with hope and confidence. The Church will be victorious, both in the midst of the Great Tribulation and afterwards, as we rule and reign with Christ during His millennial kingdom. C. The content of the book of the Revelation was not given to terrify us, confuse us, or to be something to stir up centuries of academic debate! It is called the “Revelation of Jesus” (1:1) because it reveals His heart and brilliant leadership. Secondarily, it is a book about events in the end times, and it gives us understanding of the great shakings that are going to be released upon the earth at the very end of the age. The Father gave us this book to reveal the beauty of His Son, and to help us prepare for all that is to come, so that we would endure until the end (2 Thessalonians 2:3). D. The book of the Revelation could be seen as an end time prayer manual to prepare the Church for the events of the end times. It is the end-time book of Acts, given to us in advance, so that we may walk in a unified prayer focus. Revelation is a record of the acts of the Holy Spirit through the end- time Apostles and prophets. E. As Moses released the plagues on Egypt through prayer in the book of Exodus, and as the first apostles released God’s power through prayer in the Book of Acts, the end-time judgments will be released in agreement through the praying church. F. It is my belief that God is now, currently, preparing the end-time intercessors, prophets, and apostles for the times that are coming. These ministries and ministers will be crucial in helping to lead the Church through the difficult and yet glorious days ahead. This season of preparation that has been so rigorous and hard may be an indicator that the days of the book of the Revelation are close at hand! “You are not what you need to be now, but you will be when the time comes!” We are approaching the time of the greatest darkness and light that the World has ever witnessed. Therefore, stay the course and allow the Holy Spirit to complete in you what needs to be completed. He will not rest until the “wineskins” of the last day Church are ready! G. The book of the Revelation is focused on four things: 1. The character and personality of Jesus as the heavenly Bridegroom, King, and Judge. 2. God’s action plan to take over the earth. 3. The role of the Church in partnering with Jesus to release the judgments of God. 4. The Church’s necessary preparation to endure and overcome in the midst of great trouble. H. Studying the book of the Revelation is essential for believers. It provides important information to prepare us to persevere through the greatest season of tribulation the Church has ever known. I. Revelation is unique in being the only book in the Bible in which God promises a special blessing to those who read, hear, and keep the words of the prophecy, as well a curse to anyone who adds to or takes from it. The primary way in which believers will be blessed is by being equipped to over- come in the darkest hour of human history. J. The book of the Revelation does not picture the people of God escaping the Great Tribulation through a secret rapture. Nor does it picture the Church defeated by the devil or offended with the temporal judgments of Christ. In contrast, Revelation paints a picture of a glorious Bride who stands victorious in the midst of great trouble as she worships her heavenly Bride- groom. K. In the final years before Jesus returns, the Church will undergo unparalleled tribulation, which will be cut short by the return of Jesus. The picture is not of a bride that is simply enduring trouble while she waits to be rescued by her heavenly Bridegroom. Rather, this time of trouble is the Church’s most glorious hour, in which she shines in bright righteousness and partners with the Lord, in releasing His judgments against unrighteousness. L. The book of the Revelation is a call for the Church to overcome in the midst of the darkest hour of human history. During this time, the rage of Satan, the wickedness of man, and the temporal judgments of God will be released on the earth in fullness. M. Revelation chapter one spells out many amazing truths about the majesty of Jesus that are meant to equip our hearts to overcome in times of great trouble. The letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapter two and three focus on the issues of overcoming in the midst of persecution and divine delay. The remainder of the book contains critical information to help the Church makes sense of circumstances, and stay faithful in the midst of greatest time of trouble that the world has ever seen. N. The Lord will use this time of trouble to purify His Bride and cause her to shine with His glory and righteousness. The book of the Revelation is the story of the ultimate triumph of the Saints over all of her enemies. At the end of the story, the Lord does not come to deliver a defeated Bride, but people who have made themselves ready to meet their King. O. As we enter into understanding the message of the book of the Revelation, we will be empowered to overcome in the midst of tribulation, as God brings us into agreement with His plan and purpose. Those who overcome will be those who know their Godd and remain faithful to Him, despite the fierce assault of the enemy.

The Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, like the other six feasts, is found in the Book of Leviticus chapter 23. In verses 39-43 we are told that this Feast, also known as Sukkot--the plural form translated "tabernacles or booths"--was to be celebrated from the 15th day of Tishri(our September/October)to the 22nd day of Tishri. During these days the nation of Israel was to dwell in "booths" to remind them that God had brought them out of the land of Egypt. It was actually a week long celebration of their deliverance from slavery and bondage. This was to be a time of great joy! In Deuteronomy 16:16, the Word of God tells us that the men of Israel were to appear in the place that God would choose three times during the year. This would be 1.Passover/Unleavened (barley harvest) 2. Shavu'ot/Pentecost (wheat harvest) 3. Sukkot/Tabernacles(Fruit harvest--olives, pomegranates, and grapes). Exodus 23:16 says that the Feast of In gathering/Tabernacles was to be celebrated at the end of the year. The point is this: This seventh and final feast at the end of the year will be fulfilled at the end of the age with the gathering of the final harvest. I will say more about this a little later. For now, we need to set the context for the Feast of Tabernacles so that we might truly know what God has always been after--what has always been in His eternal heart!

John 1:1,14 is the revelation of God's Son becoming a man: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .V.14 And the Word became flesh . . ." Then in Luke 2:22-24 we have Joseph and Mary bringing Yeshua/Jesus to the temple to be dedicated. "When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord, every first born male is to be consecrated to the Lord. V.24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves and two young pigeons." But when you look back to the Old Testament text found in Leviticus 12:6-8 we read, "When the days for her purification were over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting A YEAR OLD LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING, and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. BUT IF SHE CANNOT AFFORD A LAMB, she is to bring two doves or young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering. . ." That tells you that Joseph and Mary were not a wealthy family. But here is Mary with this awesome experience with the Holy Spirit and a powerful word from the angel Gabriel about her Son. Don't you just know that she wished that she could have offered a lamb to God on such a special occasion? Actually she did offer a lamb--THE LAMB OF GOD! And that is where I want to begin my message to you on the Feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles.

Back to John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made His DWELLING among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. The Greek word for "dwelling" is "eskeenoosen," from the root word "skenoo" which means "to tent," or "to tabernacle." In Jesus, God was TABERNACLING AMONG US! The question is this: to what end? Why did God tabernacle among us in Jesus? Why did the Son of God become a man? I believe the answer to that question is found in the seven feasts of God. Although God revealed the seven feasts to the chosen nation of Israel to be rehearsed at set times each year, ONLY GOD HIMSELF COULD FULFILL THE FEASTS. That is why He "pitched His tent" among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth!

First there was Passover. It was here that God laid the foundation through the blood of the Passover Lamb. On the 10th day of Nisan(our march/April) the Jews took a lamb into their homes to be inspected for four days to make sure it had no blemishes or imperfections. On the 14th day of Nisan, the Passover Lamb was to be killed and its blood applied with hyssop to the top and two sides of the doors to their homes. At midnight when the destroyer came into Egypt to kill the firstborn, the homes that had applied the lamb's blood were "passed over," delivered from God's judgment! It was in this way that God broke the power of Pharaoh and set His people free from slavery and bondage. For hundreds of years the Jews "rehearsed" this Passover celebration at a "set time" each spring in the month of Nisan. But then about 2,000 years ago, on Palm Sunday, THE 10TH DAY OF NISAN, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the Jewish people CHOSE HIM as their Passover Lamb when they welcomed Him into the city waving palm branches and shouting Hallelujah. On the 14TH DAY OF NISAN, they killed THEIR LAMB when they turned Him over to Pilate and said, "crucify Him." He was crucified at 9AM on Nisan 14th, the same time the High Priest bound the Passover Lamb to the altar at the Temple, the same way it had been done for hundreds of years. Then at 3PM., after all the other passover lambs had been sacrificed for the Jewish pilgrims who were there for the Passover Celebration, the High Priest went to the last lamb to be sacrificed--the lamb that was bound to the altar--and said "it is finished," and then cut the lamb's throat. It was also at 3PM that Jesus said, "It is finished," and gave up His Spirit! Jesus, the last Lamb to be sacrificed, had once and for all taken upon Himself the sins of the world! To what end? To remove the obstacle that stood between a holy God and sinful man. But why? So that God could dwell or tabernacle among us--have a relationship with us! This was the foundational feast in God fulfilling His eternal plan of dwelling with His people. Let me ask you friend, are you trusting in Jesus' blood as the sole basis of your relationship with the Father? Have you chosen Jesus as your Passover Lamb?

Unleavened Bread began after sunset on Nisan 15. That would be Thursday night following the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb at 3PM. The Israelites were to eat unleavened bread as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt. They left in such haste that the bread did not have time to rise. It was actually baked without leaven--leaven being a type of sin. More importantly this unleavened bread pointed to the "bread that came down from heaven." He, Jesus, was without leaven, without sin--pure and spotless. Consequently death could not corrupt or decay His body as David prophesied in Psalm 16:9-10 and as Peter preached in Acts 2:22-27. Why? because this was all part of God's plan to tabernacle among us BEYOND THIS LIFE. And that leads to the next feast.

On the 17th day of Nisan, sometime before sunrise on Sunday morning, Jesus arose from the dead on the very day of the Feast of Firstfruits!(Firtfruits in the Old Testament was the celebration of the barley harvest. An unleavened loaf of bread made from barley was waved before God with the expectation that the rest of the harvest would also come in). Jesus was the firstfruits to rise from the dead with a new and resurrected body as Paul makes clear in I Corinthians 15:20-23. But why? The only way that God could tabernacle among us beyond this life was for Him to come and defeat death by dying and then rising from the dead! As the firstfruits of those who die, we have the guarantee that the "rest of the harvest--believers in Jesus--" will also rise from the dead with new and resurrected bodies just like His glorious body. But more about that later.

Fifty days from the Feast of Firtfruits was the Feast of Shavu'ot or Pentecost. This feast was a celebration of the giving of the law to Moses at Mt. Sinai and also a celebration of the wheat harvest where the priest waved two loaves of LEAVENED BREAD before the Lord as a thank offering for the rest of the harvest that would come in. On this day, the risen and exalted Son of God, poured out the Holy Spirit on 120 believers in the city of Jerusalem. Whereas God wrote the Torah on two stone tablets in the Old Testament, Jesus wrote the Torah on the hearts of believers in the New Testament. The Spirit was poured out first on the Jews and then later on the Gentiles. Both were sinful or leavened, but both were cleansed by the blood of the Passover Lamb! And it was through this indwelling of the Spirit that God began to "tabernacle" with His people in a more intimate way! I ask you friend, have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? God longs to dwell in you!

With the fulfillment of the Feast of Shavu'ot/Pentecost, all of the spring feasts were fulfilled. That means that there are three feasts yet to be fulfilled: Yom Teruah/Trumpets, Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement, and Sukkot,the Feast of Tabernacles. It is to these feasts that we now turn our attention. Important to know is that the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and the retaking of Jerusalem in 1967 are both significant prophetic signs that let us know that we are close to the fulfillment of the Fall Feasts!

On the Feast of Trumpets Jesus will rapture the church and return to the earth. This will occur in the month of Tishri(our September/October). In I Thessalonians 4:16-19, the Word of God tells us the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first and we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR; SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD! Notice that we are going TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR AND BE WITH HIM FOREVER! God will be a step closer to His heart's desire: to tabernacle with us in an even greater way through the rapture and His second return to the earth. In I Corinthians 15:51-52 we read, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will all be changed." Changed? why? We will have new bodies so that we can live with God forever as part of His New Creation in Christ! One more text before we leave this feast. In Revelation 11:15,19 the Word of God reveals the following truth: V.15 "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet. . ." Please keep in mind that the number seven is the number of completeness. Therefore, the seventh trumpet is the same as "the trump of God" in I Thessalonians 4 and the "last trump" I Corinthians 15. This is the rapture and the second return happening at the same time! V.19 says "Then God's temple in heaven was opened. . ." At the time of the end, God will merge the natural and spiritual together ( See Ephesians 1:9). This again is another step in God's ultimate plan of tabernacling among His people.

Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement will follow the Feast of Trumpets. It will be during this time that Jesus will pour out the seven bowls of wrath on His way to Jerusalem. After He has raptured His Bride and circled the globe where "every eye will see Him," He will then make His ascent from Bozrah (modern day Jordan) killing Israel's enemies as He makes His way to the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem (Please see Isaiah 63:1-3;Revelation 16:1). He will then kill the Antichrist and False Prophet as well as the rest of the armies of the Islamic beast kingdom (Revelation 19:11-21). It is at this point, on Yom kippur, that the "veil" covering Israel's eyes is removed and she will receive Jesus as her Messiah!(The whole nation of Isarel will be saved in one day--on the Day of Atonement). God will have actually used the Antichrist's attempt to annihilate Israel(Revelation 12) to break their stubbornness and cause them to humble their hearts in preparation to receive Jesus as their Messiah. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement Zechariah 12:10 will become a reality for the Jewish nation. That text says, "And I(God) will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, THE ONE THEY HAVE PIERCED, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." In a word, Israel's willingness to repent and fulfill Matthew 23:39 will literally open the door for the Feast of Tabernacles to begin! That verse says, "For I(Jesus) tell you(Israel), you will not see me again UNTIL you say, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." When Israel repents, Jesus will make Himself known to them even as Joseph--a type of Christ--revealed Himself to his brothers when Judah repented(Genesis 44-45). This will be a great and glorious day!

Zechariah 14:16 says, "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty and celebrate THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES." On the Day of Atonement Israel will be saved and the nations will be judged. And then the 1,000 year reign of Jesus will begin which will be Feast of Tabernacles! Think of it friend: God will literally tabernacle among us for 1,000 years in the person of His Son! These will be golden days on the earth(Please read Isaiah 2:2-4). Then after the 1,000 years are ended, we will enter into the transcendent life of God Himself. This will be the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles--the day of new beginnings! Eight is the number of new beginnings. What is the transcendent life of God? I don't know, but I do like its description found in Revelation 21:1-5, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God's DWELLING PLACE IS NOW AMONG PEOPLE, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM. They will be His people and God himself will be WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the older order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new. . ." Hence, in these words we see God's ultimate plan fulfilled: Fully tabernacling with His people forever!

I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Shalom

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

The Day of Atonement is found in Leviticus 23:26-32 and also in Leviticus 16. After the High Priest had made atonement for himself and his family, he would then take two goats and presnet them before the Lord. Lots were then cast for the two goats. The goat whose lot fell to the Lord was sacrificed as a sin offering. The other goat was known as the scapegoat from the Hebrew word "azazal." "Az," means "goat," and "azal" means "to go away." Both hands were laid on the azazal, Israel's sins were confessed, and the goat was led away into the wilderness. Hence the term "scapegoat." The purpose of this sacrifice on the Day of Atonement, known in the Hebrew as "Yom Kippur," had to do with the importance of the shedding of blood to take away the sins of Israel. To what end? that Israel's sins would be atoned for so that they might have the favor of God upon them! Yom Kippur occured on the 10th day of Tishri--the seventh Hebrew month(our late Septemeber or early October). It was the most solemn day in all of Israel and was the one day that Israel was "to afflict their souls" through fasting from the evening of Tishri 9th to sundown on Tishri 10th(24 hours).

The first Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement occured when Moses went back up on Sinai a second time for another 40 days. When he went up on Mt. Sinai the first time to receive the 10 Commandments, the nation of Israel sinned a great sin against God by making the golden calf! The result was that God was very angry. So Moses went up on the Mount again. This time he went up for the purpose of making "atonement" for the nation because of the sin of making the golden calf. According to rabbinc tradition, Moses went up on the first of Elul(our September 1). When he came down it was Tishri 10--40 days later--(our October 10th). So Moses actually came down on the Day of Atonement letting all of Israel know that atonemnet been achieved for them. That is why that the 40 days between Elul 1 and Tishri 10 are known as the 40 days of repentance or the season of Teshuvah. The point is this: the Day of Atonement is God's forgivness for the nation of Israel. Also it should be known that when Moses came down the mountain from his meeting with God, his face was radiant(Exodus 34:29-33). That is why that the expression "face to face" is an idiom for the Day of Atonement. I will say more about this a little later. One further point here. When Moses had made atonement for Israel--their sins as a nation being forgiven--he then began collecting the materials for the construction of the Tabernacle. God was essentially saying, now that atonement has been made for you, I want to come down and tabernacle among you! This is when the Tabernacle was built!

I'm going to get a little ahead of myself here, but please understand that all of this prophetically points to the Day of Atonement in the Tribulation period--when all Israel will repent and be saved. This will result in Yeshua the Messiah living and TABERNACLING among them in the Millennial Reign! Yeshua will return on the Feast of Trumpets(Yom Teru'ah--rapture and second return); He saves Israel on the Day of Atonement from the Antichrist and the Islamic Beast Kingdom by pouring out the seven last bowls of God's judgement(Revelation 16; 19:11-21); and He begins His Millennial Reign on the Feast of Tabernacles! Back now to a little more context for the Day of Atonement.

Some may be asking this question: what is the difference between Passover and the Day of Atonement? Passover speaks of individual redemption whereas the Day of Atonement speaks of the national redemption of Israel. In individual redemption we make the choice to personaly "apply the blood to our lives by faith" and so be saved. But when we get to the ultimate fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, God says "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Yeshua/Jesus is Lord." All governments, whether they like or not, are going to bow to God on that day! So all of the Fall Feasts, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets, speaks of national redemption and restoration of all the nations back to God and His Son(Revelation 11:15-19); the Feast of Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement in particular speaks of the nation of Israel and her redemption and restoration back to God. The Feast of Tabernacles marks the 1000 year reign of this redemption and restoration.

In an attempt to shorten this article somewhat, I am going to make a statement and then give you the scriptures to validify what I am going to tell you. You will have to look up the scriptures and do the comparisons. It is impossible to understand the Book of the Revelation without understanding Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement! Said another way, there is a Yom Kippur service in the Book of the Revelation. Leviticus 16:12-15 which is describing the Day of Atonement is found in the language and imagery of Revelation 8:3-7: the number 7, incense, and the golden altar. Also, Revelation 11:15-19 is replete with Day of Atonement language: the nations angry, God's temple and the Ark of the Covenant. Keep in mind that once a year the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies where God's Presence dwelt over the Ark of the Covenant! Also, when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies he was wearing a white linen robe. When he offered the sacrifice on the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant, his white robes would be stained with blood! Please take a moment and read Isaiah 63:1-4 and Revelation 19:13. All of this in the Book of Revelation is to let us know that this is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement! Time will not allow me to develope this fully, but Yom Kippur happened at the end of the year in Israel--the final harvest. And what did they harvest in the fall of the year? Fruit, but particularly grapes from which wine was made. Revelation 14:18-20(please read) is language about the final harvest on the earth and it is full of the Day of Atonement imagery. God is telling us that Yom Kippur will happen at the end of the age when Yeshua returns to rapture the church, redeem Israel, and judge the nations that fought against Israel!

I will try and bring this to a close by hopefully making a modern application to the times in which we are living. Please take a moment and read Ezekiel 20:34-35. This speaks of what God will do with Israel in the last days. Especially notice the term "face to face," another term for Day of Atonement. During the last three and one half years of the Tribulation period, God is going to take Israel into the "wilderness," and there He will break their stubborn pride and remove the veil that has blinded their eyes to the truth. Revelation 12:6 says "The woman(Israel) fled into the WILDERNESS, to a place prepared for her by God, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days(the last three and one half years of the tribulation period)." The whole nation of Israel, that has survived Antichrist's attempt to annihilate them, will at this time on Yom Kippur realize that Yeshua/Jesus is their Messiah! Zechariah 12:10 describes this incredible moment on that day: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one THEY HAVE PIERCED, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns or an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn Son." This will fulfill the prophecy of Yeshua in Matthew 23:39, " You(Israel) will not see me again until you say,'blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'" Romans 11:25-27 says " I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:Israel has experienced a hardening in part UNTIL the full number of the Gentils has come in (been saved) , and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob(Israel). And this is my covenant with them WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." "When I take away their sins," is Yom Kippur! On the Day of Atonement Yeshua will remove their veil and they will recognize Him as their "atoning sacrifice."

In Acts 3:17-21, the Word of God makes it clear that Messiah will not come or return until Israel is ready to receive Him as a nation. This means that the Feast of Trumpets(the rapture of the church and second return of Yeshua); Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement--the national salvation of Israel; and the Feast of Tabernacles--the millennial reign of Yeshua--are all tied to Israel! This is God's heart and God's plan. If we are wise, we will make God's heart and plan our top priority. By so doing, we will be positioning ourselves for the blessing of God in these last days. Genesis 12:3 was true yesterday, it is true today, and it will true in the days ahead. "I will bless those who bless you(Israel), and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Shalom

The Feast of Trumpets

The Spring Feasts, 1.Passover--Nisan 14; 2.Unleavened Bread--Nisan 15; 3.First Fruits--Nisan 17; and 4.Pentecost--Sivan 6, all recorded in Leviticus 23 and observed/rehersed by Israel for hundreds of years, were amazingly and precisely fulfilled by Yeshua/Jesus to the very day, and in one Feast, Passover, to the very hour! In Yeshua, the Lord has redeemed us--has brought us back to Himself. But the story does not end there! But before we move on to the Fall Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, lets take a brief look at what is known as the "summer gap."

In between the Spring Feasts and the Fall Feasts there is a fairly significant period of time. That period or season is of course summer. In the context of the feasts cycle, the "summer gap" as it is called, symbolizes the span of 2000 years that began at the day of Shavu'ot/Pentecost right up to the present time. This time period also called the "summer harvest" represents the growth of the Lord's Church and the salvation or redemption of those who have accectped the Gospel. The question that needs to be answered is this: What next? What comes after the summer gap or harvest? What is the next big thing on God's calendar and when will it occur?

To answer the above questions, lets start with a couple of events that I believe are signs that "summer" is almost over. First is the rebirth of God's chosen people, Israel, on May 14, 1948. As I have said before, it is a fact that no nation that has been without a homeland for more than 40 years has survived as a nation. But Israel survived for 2000 years without a homeland! That is a miracle of God and a sign that things are changing. Secondly was the retaking of Jerusalem by the Jews for the first time since 70AD. That too was a miracle having been accomplished against all odds! The point here is this: by the rebirth of Israel and the retaking of Jerusalem God has laid the foundation for the next three "Jewish Feasts" to be fulfilled. I believe that they will be fulfilled in this generation! And the very next Feast to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets. Therefore, our subject today will be to take a deeper look into this amazing event to be fulfilled by Yeshua.

The Feast of Trumpets occured in the Hebrew seventh month of Tishri(our September or October). Between this Feast and the Day of Atonment, there are ten days that are called the "High Holy Days," or the "Days of Awe." The Sabbath that falls within this ten day period is called "Shabbat Shuv'ah" or "The Sabbath of Return." It is important to know this because several themes associated with the Messiah's second coming are associated with the fall feasts, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets. In this article I will deal with three of those themes.

The first theme associated with the Feast of Trumpets is "the sounding of the Shofar or trumpet" which also is connected to the rapture of the Church and the second return of Yeshua/Jesus. On this feast day, there were 100 blasts made with the shofar or trumpet. The last blast that was made was known as "the last trump." Consequently, in I Corinthians 15:52 when Paul is speaking of the rapture of the Church and the second return of the Lord, he describes it as happening "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at THE LAST TRUMP; for the TRUMPET/SHOFAR will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." In the Torah, this feast is referred to as "Yom Teruah," or "the day of the sounding of the shofar," which can be translated as "an awakening blast." Also, Teruah can be translated as "shout." Not surprisingly then we read these words from the Apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 4:16-17, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the voice of the archangel and the TRUMP of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so will we ever be with the Lord." The Last Trump, the Awakening Blast, and the Shout are all part of the Feast of Trumpets and consequently speak to us of the rapture and second return of Yeshua on this feast! But lets keep building on this theme.

The second theme of the Feast of Trumpets is the "wedding of the Messiah with His Church." The Jews considered marriage to be the ideal model depicting the relationship between God and Israel. This theme is found throughout the Old Testament(see particularly the book of Hosea). Consequently, the Jewish wedding ceremony was understood by early Christians to be a picture of the joining of Christ with His Church. That is made clear in Ephesians 5:25-27 where Paul compares the marriage relationship with that of Yeshua and His Church. Also in a parable speaking of the Lord's second return, the Jewish wedding is spoken of by Yeshua(Matthew 25:6,10). In the Jewish culture it was customary that after a bride-to-be had accepted the groom's proposal, the bridegroom would depart and return to his father's house to prepare the bridal chamber. It was understood to be the man's duty to go away to be with his father, build a house, and prepare for the eventual wedding. However, before he departed, he would make the following statement to the bride: I go to prepare a place for you, I will return again unto you. If those words sound familiar, they are the words that Yeshua spoke to His disciples in John 14:1-3 just before going back to His Father's house in heaven! The point here is that the rapture and return of the Lord is connected with the Jewish wedding. And here is where things are going to really get theologically interesting!

In Matthew 24:36 Yeshua said of His second return, "But of that day and hour knows no man, not not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." According to Jewish tradition, the timing of the wedding was contingent upon the Father's approval of the groom's preparation of the bridal chamber. So when someone asked when the wedding would be held, the groom would customarily answer, "only my father knows." Why is that important to know? Considering that other scriptures make it clear that the Jewish wedding is symbolically linked to the rapture and resurrection of the righteous, it is also clear that it is linked to the Feast of Trumpets as we have seen above. Therefore, when Yeshua said "no one knows the day or the hour. . . but my father only," He was actually telling us that His second return would definitely be on the Feast of Trumpets! I will enforce this truth with my last point.

The third theme of the Feast of Trumpets is that it was known as "Yom HaKeseh" or "The Hidden Day." The term "Keseh" is derived from the Hebrew root word "Kacah" which means "to conceal, hide or cover." Part of the reason why the Feast of Trumpets is considered mysterious or "hidden," is due to the fact there was a fair amount of uncertainty with regard to observing the feast on the correct calendar day. The Feast of Trumpets fell on "Rosh Chodesh," or the "New Moon." And because this feast hinged on the sighting of a tiny sliver of the new moon, even in Jerusalem it would be difficult to let everyone know when it had begun, not to mention all of Israel. Therefore, to solve this problem, a two day Feast of Trumpets was practiced. In the Rabbinic view, these two days are regarded as "Yoma Arikhta" or "one long day." For this reason when speaking of the Feast of Trumpets, the Jews would typically say, "of that day or hour no one knows." So then what we have here is another clear reference to Yeshua's words in Matthew 24:36 ". . .of that day and hour knows no man. . ." refering to the Lord's return. When you take this reference along with the previous mentioned Jewish wedding reference of "only my father knows, what you have is a stunning revelation and confirmation that Yeshua will, without a doubt, return on the Feast of Trumpets.

For the people who quote Matthew 24:36 as the reason why they are not interested in prophecy, they simply are not rightly dividing the Word of God. Yet for those who are watching, these words of Yeshua could not be more clear: He is telling us that He is coming on the Feast of Trumpets. And He will fulfill this feast to the very day just like He did Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. What a great God we serve!What an incredible Hope we have! Dear Friend, the God who has so precisely and powerfully revealed and fulfilled the feasts, and will fulfill what remains, has a great plan for your life! Put your trust in Him and in His strong Word. (Please take a moment to read and meditate on Jeremiah 29:11).

I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Shalom