Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
The Feast of Trumpets began this Wednesday at sunset. It goes by various names in Hebrew: Yom Teruah (day of the trumpet blast), Zikron Teruah (a memorial for blowing the trumpets) and RoshHoshannah (Head of the Year). It is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month called Tishri. It is considered the beginning of the civil year and begins the Ten Days of Awe.
On the Feast of Trumpets, the Jewish people believe that God will write your name in one of three books: the book of life, the book of the wicked, or the book of the intermediate. This is why there is such a heavy emphasis on repentance during the season of Teshuvah. This day also has tremendous prophetic implications.
In the future, a seven-year period called the 70th week of Daniel will take place. It will commence the most chaotic time ever known on planet Earth. There will be wars between many nations, famine will be rife, pestilence will spread like never before and humanity will be in total desperation. God's wrath will be poured out. Billions of people will perish in the process. As we approach the end of this seven-year period, the remnants of the nations will march on Jerusalem to destroy God's people.
Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, who go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. ... They gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Rev. 16:13-14, 16).
These nations are gathering to fight for control of the world. They also want to stamp out what remains of Israel. Just when it seems to be a hopeless situation, Jesus Christ will intervene on their behalf! He will blow the trumpet (shofar in Hebrew, which means a ram's horn) and return to save His people!
"Then the Lord will appear over them, and His arrow will go out like lightning. The Lord God will sound His trumpet, and will march forth like storm winds of southern Teman" (Zech. 9:14).
I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ...
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to wage war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. The remnant were slain with the sword which proceeded out of the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
Jesus Christ will return on a white horse to deliver His people from utter destruction. Following Him will be the armies of God, which is the body of Christ (Rev. 17:14). After these armies are defeated, there will be people who have survived this terrible seven-year time period. Zechariah 14 is another passage that discusses this battle. It mentions the survivors of the nations (verse 16).
When Jesus returns, a court will be seated, and books will be opened! Every person who survives the wrath of God will have an opportunity to have their name written in the book of life:
I watched until the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of Days was seated, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and its wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came out from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened.
As we remember and celebrate this year's Feast of Trumpets, we have much to keep in mind. Let us not forget that Jesus will deliver His people at Armageddon at the sound of the trumpet. He can also deliver you today. Let us also remember that He offers the grace that allows your name to be written in the book of life.
Kelly McDonald Jr.is an ordained evangelist at Hungry Hearts Ministries in Jackson, Tennessee. He has written over 40 books and booklets on pursing Christ, Hebrew roots and end-times prophecy. He is currently president of the Bible Sabbath Association (BSA). You can follow him at kellymcdonaldjr.com.
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The High Holy Days are upon us. Here in the Land there was much activity as we prepared for the first of these - Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah. Of course there is always the menu planning and eternal grocery shopping. Lots of lovely celebration foods packed with memories and.... calories! New clothing for the New Year. Clean houses for a fresh start.
But in the midst of all the hustle and bustle what may be difficult to maintain is the main reasons for this season - not only of celebration but more appropriately the 3 ‘Rs’ - Reflection, Repentance, and Restoration.
This past month, the shofar has been sounded every weekday morning in the shul. For those who have ears to hear, it is sounding to wake us up. The day is approaching when we will be called to make an assessment of our deeds this past year. How did we spend our time? On what did we spend our money? What words did we speak? Those that build or those that tear down? Do we hold hurts, bitterness, and unforgiveness? Even though the general thought or feeling is one of celebration, this is actually a somber time of year as we approach the throne of the King to be called into account.
We do not need to be afraid or enter this time with trepidation. If God has instituted these Holy days, He has done so because He is making Himself accessible. In essence, He has a calendar and your name is written on these coming days. You have, as it were, an appointment with God.
As we participate with Him in His moedim (appointed days) He has made the way for true repentance, cleansing and rebuilding of relationships - first with Him, and then with those around us. We trust Him in this that He will be faithful to meet us on Yom Teruah. He will show us those we have offended and give us the courage to make things right - to say 'I'm sorry'. He will remind us of vows not kept and give us the wisdom to keep the vows and to be careful about making future vows. He will prepare us for a life of fruitfulness and beauty with Him as our Guide.
As we are looking ahead, we are in hopes for an even more significant coming year filled with mitzvot (acts of loving-kindness) and a greater reality of the presence of the Living God and the Day in which we are living. We look forward, with joy, to the season ahead and are grateful to our God for providing a beautiful way to be in relationship with Him and each other.
Our wish for you, dear readers: May you be written for a wonderful year full of Life!
Nissim & Hadassah
Jerusalem, Israel
Hadassah and Nissim, her accountant husband, live in a settlement just outside Jerusalem with their dog Molly. After making Aliyah (immigrating) from the U.S. with their five children in 1989, they are now semi-retired and open their home to guests and those wishing to make Aliyah. When not busy with their 16 'GrandWonders', they enjoy a quiet life of study, prayer and learning to serve the LORD. Hadassah #10 09.20.17
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In Israel, we are celebrating the Lord's feast of Rosh Hashana, otherwise known as, Yom Teruah, the Day of Blowing (the Shofar). Before the Lord, we take this time to set our hearts on renewal in our relationship with God and with others. Part of the Jewish tradition is to eat apples and honey, wishing those we celebrate with, a sweet and joyful new year. In this time, we want to thank YOU For being a valuable part of the CBN Israel community! We look forward to what the Lord has for each one of us this coming year as we grow together in His love, grace and mercy.
Last week, Israelis began excitedly preparing for Rosh HaShanah, the secular Jewish New Year. As you may know, Israel observes two main New Year's. According to Exodus 12:2, the new year which God gave us starts in the spring. The secular or civil New Year's celebrated the first day of the seventh month ("Tishrei").
Rosh HaShana literally means "Head of the Year." The holiday falls this year on Sept. 20-22. It is traditionally celebrated with liturgical worship, merry greetings and gatherings, gift-giving and sounding the shofar. A hearty consumption of apples and honey symbolizes hopes for a sweet new year. Prophetic words about the upcoming year (which will be 5778) now add to the mix, as more and more Christians celebrate this special day.
It is good that Gentile followers of Messiah are engaging in the biblically Hebraic roots of our faith. We Messianic Jews encourage your authentic celebration of the feasts. What you may not know, however, is that some of the most critical, biblical aspects of Rosh HaShana are overlooked by many Jews and Christians due to a focus on extra-biblical traditions. Restoring the purity of God's appointed day in your celebration could bring even greater blessing to you, others—and Him.
What are some ways we can restore the foundations of this week's feast known as Rosh Hashanah? First, Rosh HaShanah as the Jewish new year is not a biblical feast. It is not mentioned or even directly referenced in the Scriptures. The feast that is commanded on what has been popularized as Rosh HaShanah is actually the day of blasting trumpets (Num. 29:1) or according to Leviticus 23:24, memorial of trumpet blasting. The Hebrew name for the day is Yom Teruah.
There is reason to believe Rosh HaShanah was likely observed by the ancient Israelites. It developed as a major holiday during the Jewish exile in Babylon in order to accommodate the pagan culture in which Israel had become immersed. Eventually, it overshadowed any national emphasis on the new year God actually designated for His people, which is the first day of the first month, called "Nissan." Unfortunately, Rosh HaShanah also eroded much of the significance of Yom Teruah. This is reflected in the fact Yom Teruah is the only feast rarely called by its biblical name. So to start, to help restore the pure essence and meaning of the day, Rosh HaShanah ought rightly be called, and observed as, Yom Teruah.
One rationale for the replacement of Yom Teruah with Rosh HaShanah, and resulting new year focus, is the rabbinic belief that Yom Teruah marks either the creation of the world, or of Adam and Eve, or both. (Believing in both could impact the meaning of seven "days" of creation.) This is based partly on a complex, mystical word play on the first word of Scripture, bereishit. In any case, I believe we would do best to call the day as God calls it, namely, a day to sound trumpets:
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you will have a holy assembly. You will do no ordinary work. It is a day of blowing the trumpets for you. You will offer a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord ... [a] grain offering] ... [and other offerings] made by fire to the Lord" (Num. 29:1-6).
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath, a memorial with the blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work, and you shall offer a food offering made by fire to the Lord (Lev. 23:23-25).
According to the Scriptures, God wants us to honor what we call Rosh HaShanah as a Sabbath. Instead of our usual daily work, we are to gather in holy assembly with His people. He instructs us to make temple offerings and sacrifice, but thankfully, the atonement of Yeshua fulfills this command. In Yeshua, we are to approach Yom Teruah (and everyday) with a spirit of sacrificial surrender: "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God" (Rom. 12:1). Perhaps most importantly, the Scriptures say God wants us blasting trumpets loudly and repeatedly throughout the day. According to tradition, the shofar was (and is) sounded in Israel 100 times.
Understanding certain Hebrew nuances of the name Yom Teruah can help us grasp deeper realities of the day. The Hebrew word which is translated "sound trumpets" or "blow trumpets" in Numbers 29 and Leviticus 23 is teruah. According to Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew root for teruah means (1) to disfigure or shatter by breaking; (2) to split ears by loud noise, such as by shouting for joy, sounding an alarm or intense crying and (3) loud destruction or triumph. Based on the root meanings of teruah, Yom Teruah can be translated as a day of loud clamor or noise, loud acclamations of joy, piercingly loud alarms, shattering battle cries and jubilee. This is significant!
Collectively, the Hebrew meanings of teruah describe kingdom breakthrough. Not just humankind, but the earth and spirit realms may be affected by the ear-piercing cries, wails and triumphant declarations and decrees released this day through the shofar. One (admittedly exra-biblical) possibility is that heaven's shofars are sounded over the earth realm on Yom Teruah. As we come into agreement with the declarations and decrees of YHVH by likewise blowing trumpets, His kingdom on earth is released in greater measure.
When Yom Teruah was divinely instituted, the Israelites would have associated shofar blasting with their first and only direct, national encounter with YHVH. The literal heaven- and earth-shaking encounter took place at Mount Sinai. After a great and mighty shofar blast, God gave His people the gift of His holy Law (Ex. 19:13, 16-19; 20:18). Therefore, to the ancient Israelites, Yom Teruah would have served as a memorial—but also reaffirmation or renewal—of divine covenant: "If you will faithfully obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My special possession out of all the nations ...Then all the people answered together and said, ' All that the Lord has spoken we will do: (Ex. 19:5, 8a). If you, too, are in covenant relationship with God, Yom Teruah can be a special day to remember and reaffirm or renew covenant as the shofar blasts.
Before long, trumpets were associated in Israel with other key events. They were used to call sacred assemblies. They sounded military battle cries to which God promised to respond: "When you go into battle ... sound a blast ... then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies" (Num. 10:1-10). If you assemble (with or without others) before God this Yom Teruah, or are engaged in battle (and who isn't?) why not ask Him to apply trumpet blast victory to your situation?
A final primary purpose of trumpets was to declare the coronation of a king or anointing of a high priest (1 Kings 1:34, 39; 2 Kings 9:13; 11:12-14, 2 Sam. 15:10) Therefore, on Yom Teruah, observant Jews still declare the kingship of YHVH over creation. Yom Teruah is also an ideal time to declare Yeshua as King and High Priest over your life, your nation, Israel and all the earth.
With Yeshua as its focus, Yom Teruah is not just a memorial or new year celebration. It can serve as a prophetic act of intercession, worship, repentance and re-alignment with YHVH. It is also a form of spiritual warfare. "Dream" with me, for a moment. What might possibly happen if on Yom Teruah, Holy Spirit-filled shofar blasting resounded across Israel and the nations? What kingdom breakthroughs could transpire if His people around the world gathered in their respective nations, in unity by the Spirit, and sounded trumpets for a day to affirm covenant with YHVH, declare Yeshua's kingship and posture themselves for Kingdom advance?
In addition to all the above, Yom Teruah is a prophetic foreshadow of Messiah's return and resurrection of the dead. When Yeshua comes to earth, heaven's trumpets will sound loudly (1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Cor. 15:52, Matt. 24:30-31). Some believe that on a future Yom Teruah, followers of Yeshua will be caught up in the air to meet Him. Others say Yom Teruah is the day on which He will physically return to judge humankind. Still others say both could take place simultaneously.
Observant Jews who do not believe in Yeshua (and some who do) have traditionally regarded Yom Teruah as a day of judgment. It is said that heaven contains books in which every person's words and deeds are recorded. There are also books of life and death, and all are opened on Yom Teruah. On Yom Teruah, God carefully reviews the books. Some rabbis believe Satan is given access to heaven's court on Yom Teruah. There he stands and accuses humankind, proverbially throwing the book at us. God hears Satan's case, then gives us 10 days to repent of our sin. Ten days later He closes the books and seals our destiny for the upcoming year. The day of sealed or final judgment is known as Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26)
Such a scenario could well foreshadow the end of this age. After followers of Yeshua are caught up to join Him in the marriage supper of the Lamb, those remaining will have 10 days, so to speak, to turn to God before they are judged. If this is so, the trumpet call this Yom Teruah offers an ideal time to praise God for the gift of forgiveness of sin and to pray for the salvation of others. He desires that none perish, but that all gain everlasting life. Pray especially for Israel's salvation as our people gather in synagogues this Yom Teruah, read His Word and leave hoping to be inscribed in God's book of life.
Yom Teruah is a day to hear, and then do, what the Spirit is saying through the shofar. It is a day to engage with fresh revelation of and from God. It is a day to celebrate a fresh start—and new year, if you will. I encourage you to eat the scroll that is trumpeted on Yom Teruah, and then, feel free to enjoy your apples and honey, too!
Sandra Teplinsky has been in Messianic Jewish ministry since 1979. She is president and founder of Light of Zion, a Messianic outreach to Israel and the church based in Jerusalem.
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The blowing of the Shofar. The Bible refers to Rosh Hashana as Yom Teruah -- the day of sounding the shofar. It's a day of shofar blasts, a day of judgment, a day of coronating God as our King. (Flickr/Creative Commons)
Jonathan Cahn: I Believe a Shaking Is Coming That Strikes the Financial Realm, Economic Realm and Even ...
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For Israel and the Jewish people, the High Holy Days this year mark the end of a significant seven-year cycle and a rare fourth blood moon. Some believe that combination could have a huge impact on the world.
That's why many Christians and others believe that this September could be significant in Jewish, American and world history.
The Bible tells the Jewish people to sow the land and reap its produce for six consecutive years. Then, on the seventh year, they're commanded to let the land lie fallow.
"Shemitah means the sabbatical," Rabbi Tuly Weisz told CBN News. "There's a year of rest for the land of Israel and for people all over the world."
Israel keeps the shemitah every seven years. It ends on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Elul, which this year falls on Sunday, September 13.
Weisz says many non-Jews are also paying close attention this year.
"People from all over the world who've never heard of shemitah are all of a sudden looking and trying to explore what is the significance of shemitah because of all the global events that are happening that seem a bit unusual," he said.
Author Jonathan Cahn raised the idea of the shemitah's connection to the global economy in his book, The Mystery of the Shemitah, which warns of trouble ahead for America.
"I believe a great shaking is coming to America and the world but America. I believe a shaking is coming that strikes the financial realm, economic realm and even be a shaking that's greater than that," Cahn said on The 700 Club this week.
He and others believe there's a correlation between financial downturns in the United States and the end of the shemitah year.
"[In] 1980 you have recession and then the stock market collapses; you have '87 stock market collapses and the shemitah of that, and you have 'Black Monday' the worst point percentage crash in history," Cahn explained. "Shemitah of 1994, the bond market collapses, called the bond market massacre—greatest in history; 2001 you have the stock market collapsing, recession. You have the greatest point crash in world history and you have 9/11, which is the shaking. Shemitah also means shaking."
The end of the Hebrew month of Elul ushers in the start of the Jewish High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah.
"The Bible refers to Rosh Hashanah as Yom Teruah—the day of sounding the shofar blasts. It's a day of shofar blasts, a day of judgment, a day of coronating God as our King," Weisz said.
And 10 days later comes Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
"Yom Kippur in the Bible is the day of judgment, the day of tshuvah, the day of atonement, the day of forgiveness," Weisz continued. "It's a day we spend in synagogue fasting, not eating or drinking for a 25-hour period, and a day that is spent in prayer and in repentance."
But God didn't leave His people without hope. Within a few days, the joyful Festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins.
This year, as a result of the lunar eclipse, there's a rare blood moon on the first night of Sukkot. It's the fourth blood moon on a Jewish holiday in two years.
"It happened only four times in the last 500 years," Weisz explained. "The last tetrad to occur on the Jewish festivals before this one was in 1967, the one before was 1948 and the one before was all the way in 1492. And those are major years in Jewish history and in the history of the world."
Those dates include the birth of the modern State of Israel, the reuniting of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain hundreds of years ago.
That's led many to say God is judging the world and the Jewish people, but Weisz sees it differently.
"It's our belief that the blood moons are a cause of celebration, where God is giving signs to the world and signs to the Jewish people that He is doing something great for us and for the world. So it's a sign of excitement, it's a sign! The blood moons are a sign of excitement and they're a sign of Messianic advancement," he said.
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Today (Tuesday) at sundown is the beginning of Elul 29 and the 29th day of Teshuvah - The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) begins tomorrow night (Wednesday) at sundown.
The month of Elul on the Hebrew calendar has 29 days. The seventh month on the Hebrew Civil Calendar is the month of "Tishri" - with Yom Teruah occurring on Tishri 1, Yom Kippur on Tishri 10, and Sukkot on Tishri 15.
Do you know how many days the month of February has? Sure you do - that's an easy one - "28 days", except for leap year when it has 29. Well, how many days does September have? ...or July? Those are always a little tougher, at least for me, so I rely on an old poem I learned as a child. "Thirty days hath September, April, June and November, All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone, And that has twenty-eight days clear, And twenty-nine in each leap year."
The beginning of each Jewish lunar month is based on the appearance of the new moon.Carolyn & I actually wrote a little song years ago to memorize the Hebrew months - those of you who have participated in our Aleph-Bet classes through the years have heard it. "Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tamuz, Av and Elul".
The months have either 29 or 30 days ... alternating. 30-Tishrei
29-Cheshvah
30-Kislev (but sometimes 29)
29-Tevet 30-Shevat
(Leap Year month of Adar I is added here 7 times in the 19-year cycle) 29-Adar 30-Nisan 29-Iyar
30-Sivan
29-Tamuz
30-Av
29-Elul
We have a Leap Year every 4 years on our calendar and an extra day is added to the month of February (February 29th). The Jewish Calendar has an extra monthduring its Leap Year. An extra month, Adar I, is added after the month of Shevat and before the month of Adar in a Leap year. A Jewish leap year occurs 7 times in a 19-year cycle. The 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years are leap years in this cycle.
Israel has a Religious Calendar and a Civil Calendar. The Religious Calendar begins with Nisan and runs through Adar. The Civil Calendar begins with Tishrei and runs through Elul.
God's Calendar is actually the Jewish Religious Calendar.
Exodus 12
2 This month (Nisan/Abib) shall be unto you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
The Feast of Trumpets is called Rosh Hashanah in Israel (and many places around the world) - because Tishrei 1 is the beginning of the Civil Calendar (not the Religious Calendar). Rosh Hashanah actually means "Head (or Beginning) of the Year". Since Tishrei 1 is not the "Head of the Year" on God's Calendar, we usually call the Feast of Trumpets by what we believe is its more appropriate name - Yom Teruah (Day of Shofar Sounding - Day of the Awakening Blast - Day of Trumpets).
So, why the Jewish calendar lesson? It's impossible to fully understand scripture without understanding the Jewish calendar. I love the Hebrew calendar and I know you will, too, as you become more familiar with it. It is important to Him! The Festivals are His appointments. There are no random dates on God's Calendar.
Now, let's take a closer look at Yom Teruah ...
One reference in Scripture for Yom Teruah is found in Numbers 29. The weekly Sabbath (as you know) is from sundown Friday night till sundown Saturday night, but this scripture in Numbers 29 tells us that Tishri 1 (Yom Teruah) is also a Sabbath - "you shall do no servile work" (no public form of work providing wages). This means that there will also be a Festival Sabbath this week from sundown Wednesday night till sundown Friday night (two days of Yom Teruah that count as one long day) - then the weekly Sabbath from Sundown Friday night till sundown Saturday night. (That means that this week, the Sabbath days are from sundown Wednesday till sundown Satruday.)
Numbers 29
1And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
Psalm 144
15…happy is that people whose God is the Lord
As we continue to seek the Lord during the final days of the month Elul and "Teshuvah", Return to Him with all our hearts, 1 Corinthians 10, Psalm 145, and Psalm 51 offer some encouraging words to us.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Psalm 145
8The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy
14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
19He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy
Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; Wash me and I will be white as snow.
White garments represent being in a state of spiritual preparedness.
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Let your garments be always white...
Thank You Abba for the cleansing power of the blood of Your Son, Yeshua, in our lives. Continue to work in our hearts - drawing us ever closer to You. B’Shem Yeshua (In the Name of Yeshua) - Amen!
This evening (Thursday) at sundown is the beginning of Elul 24 and day 24 of Teshuvah. Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah is in 6 days.
Carolyn and I experienced our first Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) service in 1991. We had gone to a weekend seminar in Colombia, SC, sponsored by Morning Star Drama & Dance Ministries and its founder, Helen Cregger. The purpose of the weekend conference was to teach us about the three fall festivals - which we knew very little about at that time. We had been asked to bring white clothing to wear Saturday night, the night we would be celebrating Yom Teruah. I must tell you that it was an impressive sight when we walked into the conference room and there were hundreds of people all dressed in white. They gave all the ladies white veils and all the men white kippahs as they entered the doors. Singers, musicians, and the congregation sang, dancers danced, actors acted out their parts of the story that told of the catching away of the bride of Messiah on Yom Teruah. At one point they brought long pieces of silk fabric over the congregation, representing the chuppa or wedding canopy. What a wonderful experience it was. One of the Hebrew words for "Feast" is "Mikra" which means "Rehearsal". What a wonderful way to learn more about the Hebrew roots of your faith, and God's time-line that is so clearly pointed out in the Festivals of the Lord.
Understanding the Biblical Festivals has been a wonderful journey. One of my favorite parts of Yom Teruah is understanding the Marriage-Relationship we have with the LORD.
Hosea 2:19:20
I will betroth you to me forever, I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
Hosea 2 says that we've been betrothed to Him - and the various aspects of the ancient Jewish wedding parallel our own marriage relationship with Messiah Yeshua. The Betrothal - The Bride Price - The Wedding Contract - The Bride's Consent - The Wedding Garments - The First Cup of Wine - The Wedding Gifts - all tell the story of our current marriage relationship with Him. The Catching Away - The Marriage Chuppa (Canopy/Chamber) - The Second Cup of Wine - and The Wedding Feast all point to the future aspect of our marriage relationship with Yeshua.
Beit Yeshua shared "The Ancient Jewish Wedding Parallels Drama" as part of our Sukkot Celebration in 2012. Check out the photos at:http://curtis.loftinnc.com/Yom_Teruah.htm
1 Corinthians 15
51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Abba, Thank You for Your love for us. Thank You for continuing to work in our hearts and lives. As we approach Yom Teruah, make us more sensitive to Your Voice & Your Ruach (Spirit), make our ears a-tuned to the sound of the shofar. Prepare our hearts to stand before you with clean and white wedding garments. Take our eyes off of ourselves, our troubles, cares and worries, and turn them toward You. Draw us ever closer to Your presence as you continue to work in our lives. B’Shem Yeshua.
