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Israel’s 7 Apocalyptic Days
The envoys (apostles) never said that the seven Biblical Feast and Festival Days were dusty archives of events long forgotten! They said they are prophetic signs of “things to come”! The modern Israelite nations have almost entirely lost the knowledge of not only their Scriptural heritage, but also the truth that ALL Twelve Tribes of Israel are to have an “everlasting covenant” with Elohim (God). This chapter explains, via the Biblical Feast Days, why it is that only the Israelite nations (nations largely physical descendants of Jacob/Israel) will suffer the prophesied “Great Tribulation”. The penalty for not keeping our covenant will be inflicted on all 12 tribes (nations) of modern Israel by the hands “of the people” who we were supposed to set an example for! (Deuteronomy 4:5-10). The other nations will suffer during the Great and Awesome Day of Yehovah 
A Mustard Seed Will Shock the World!
There is an Everlasting Kingdom coming. It already exists, but presently it is not what you think it is. Late into the next Jubilee year it will begin to overtake the whole world, but it won’t happen all at once. Here is how Yeshua explained it:
Mark 4:30-33 He said, “What could we compare Yehovah’s Kingdom to? What parable would illustrate it? 31 It is like a single mustard seed sown in the ground. It’s the smallest seed you sow in the ground. 32 Yet when it is sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the other garden plants. It puts out branches large enough for birds to nest in its shade.” 33 Yeshua gave the people many such parables to listen to and consider.—The Gabriel Bible
Did Yeshua really give us a blueprint for the future? The Kingdom is usually thought of as overtaking the entire earth by storm—once Yehovah sets foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4-5)
Optimists think that Yehovah, (the Lord) will be “King over all the earth” as soon as He sets foot on the Mount of Olives, and that He’ll make short work of conquering “earth” at the end of the age. And in fact virtually every Bible translation says exactly that in Zechariah 14:9, as the first 25 versions do here. The only version to get it right that I saw there was Young’s, because he was consistent. (I’d bet he likely wanted to make an exception.) The confusion remains because the word “earth” does not have a unique Hebrew equivalent. Translating eretz as “earth” more often than not doesn’t even make any sense, depending on the context. But the next verse, Zechariah 14:10, provides the context. In almost the same breath eretz is translated as “land” by the vast majority of the versions that had just translated eretz as “earth”. Two of the above linked versions were consistently wrong, using “earth” in both verses.
Interestingly, the “He” of verse 10 on the Mount of Olives is identified in verse 9 as YHVH”, and the lexicon is at least honest enough to admit: “Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-vaw')”, (Yeshua is named Yehovah, as well). So when Yeshua returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11) it will be for the Battle of Armageddon. Then shortly after Yehovah conquers the land of Israel in Zechariah 14, the battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 & 39) will still take place during the Jubilee year, just a little later.
For the Parable of the Mustard Seed to be a true glimpse of the future, you’d have to admit that the first order of business for Both Father and Son when they first arive is to cut off the head of the snake, so to speak. Notice in verse 9 below that the Ancient of Days takes one of the thrones first, then in verse 13 we see Someone who looked quite Human “coming with the clouds of the sky” and “they escorted Him” into the presence of the Ancient of Days”:
Daniel 7:9-13 I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair on His head was like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, and its wheels were like blazing fire. 10 A river of fire flowed out from before Him. Millions served Him, and one hundred million stood before Him. The court 'convened', and the books were opened.
11 I kept watching due to the boastful voice that the horn [Antimessiah] spoke with—I watched until the wild beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and 'thrown' into the blazing fire. 12 As for the other wild beasts, their sovereignty was taken away, but their lives were prolonged [3] for a period of time. 13 In my vision that night I saw what looked like a Human Son [man] [4] coming with the clouds of the sky [or of heaven], and as He was approaching the Ancient of Days, they escorted Him into His presence.
[3] These beasts are alive and kicking (not ancient history) when Yeshua meets up with the Ancient of Days in the very next verse! [4] Messiah in the form of a human being: See all the commentaries on this page.
Feast days, New Moons and Sabbaths, Foreshadowing the Future
The most frequent response I hear from Christians when I mention that I celebrate the Feast Days is Colossians 2:17. It is used as a hammer.
English “translations” of Colossians 2:17 have been deliberately twisted beyond recognition to conceal a very astonishing truth. Every single mainstream English Bible has added at least one word between “body” and “Christ”, totally obliterating the meaning. Shadowy errors unfailingly accompaniy this verse, unanimously perpetuated by enemies of the truth. How is it that all of these translations—without exception—add various diverse wording to this particular verse? This is evidence that they are all revisions rather that fresh “Newly Tran-lated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Tran-lations diligently compared and reui-ed, by his Maiesties -peciall Cõmandement” (KJV original 1611 intro). Even the Tyndale, made c. 1522–1535, tho incomplete because the Church burned him at the stake, added to this verse, supposedly for clarity.
I even looked up the late fourth century Volgate translation wording, and there does not appear to be an “is” between body and Christ there, tho it shows up in the English translation:
The more honest versions italicize added words to indicate that their wording is not really there, and the vast majority of the time it reflects truly implied words that would be understood by people reading from the original languages. Other more honest versions put their clarifying words in [parenthesis].
But we need to read this without adding anything, because it has always made sense in both Greek and English without any modifications, and all of these contorted embellishments are added to “degrade your mind”, they literally make no sense!
Before proceeding, here is what is being said without modifications. Then I’ll get to the specifics.
Colossians 2:16-19 So don’t allow anyone to pronounce judgments against you about eating and drinking, or about various aspects of the Feast days, New Moons and Sabbaths 17 that foreshadow things in the future, other than for the body of Messiah . 18 Don’t let anyone’s desire to degrade your mind subject you to bondage, so that you subject yourselves to the religious practices of 'angels', while they elaborate about gods that they haven’t really seen, being arrogantly inflated in their carnal thoughts, 19 rather than holding onto the Head, the One who frames and constructs the whole body with joints and ligaments, and grows as Yehovah causes it to grow.
Here’s a long list of mainstream and lesser known versions from Biblehub.com that all [but one, from someone I happen to know] tampers with the simple text. The only point being made is that only the true “body of Messiah” has any business counseling you in regard to these Torah you can’t always be certain of finding wise council there. The “other Jesus” (
2 Corinthians 11:4) is often worse than agnosticism; requiring various degrees of unlearning just to rise to zero.
The other Biblical references to the “body of Christ” (Messiah) all make plain sense as-is and are never corrupted.
But there is even another modern attempt to deceive: the very word bodyc (soma), which always just means body in Greek is corrupted in most modern versions to read as “reality” or “substance”. Had this remotely been what was meant, there is a Greek word that precisely means both of those things: Hypostasis (anglicized) (aka hupostasis in Koine Greek). Interestingly hypostasis, as used today means: “any of the three persons of the Godhead constituting the Trinity especially the person of Christ in which divine and human natures are united ... [and] A sedimentary deposit, especially in urine.”
I was disfellowshipped from the Worldwide Church of God in 1993 for pointing out the non-Greek definition of hypostasis as soon I heard the new buzz word.
Now, Back to the Future
Matthew 24:29 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TIME OF THE TRIBULATION the sun will be darkened and the moon won’t shed her light and stars will fall from the sky [See footnote on Isaiah 34:4], and the miraculous power of the skies will be shaken.
Elohim never explained to ancient Israel what the seven annual “Sabbath” Days (both moed & chag) represented. Can you imagine being instructed to celebrate special days without knowing what made them special? Actually, Elohim still requires His people to celebrate these days, and He has provided us with numerous indications as to what they have always signified. There has never been a time when these special days have been more relevant! To my astonishment as I began to study the Seven Biblical Feasts AND Festivals listed in Leviticus 23, I realized that they portray seven phases of the apocryphal events soon to occur!
Just as astonishing is the amazing accumulation of historical evidence demonstrating that the 12 tribes of Israel are the forbearers of the modern, primarily “former” Christian nations of Israel. These nations are the entire focus of all the Biblical prophecy. The other nations are only mentioned as they interact with the Israelite nations. For the most part this website considers the identities of the modern Israelite nations to be a given, but for those new to that understanding, overwhelming evidence is available from the Brit-Am website.
Here are a few significant clues to the concept. The information contained in these pages might well create the desire within you to search out these truths if you have not already done so! I’ll begin with three Biblical references to the fact that Israel is not simply a footnote in history:
Genesis 17:5-7 You’ll no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I’ve made you the father of very many nations. 6 I’ll make you exceedingly fruitful. Your descendants will establish many nations. Kings will be descended from you. 7 I’ll establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, thruout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be your Elohim and the Elohim of your descendants after you.
By the time of the envoy James, Israel was already resembling a “multitude of nations”:
1 From “James” [Yakub, “Jacob”], a servant of Yehovah and of our Sovereign Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion [Gr. diaspora] among the nations. GreetingsThe British Commonwealth was a high point in Israelite history. There is much historical documentation concerning this amazing, but little known story.
Ephestians 2:12 At that time you were separated from the Messiah and alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and aliens to the promised covenant, you had no hope and you were essentially the atheists [Gr. a-theos: without theos] of the world.
Ephraim’s descendants settled in the British Isles, “mixes himself with other nations” (as has the U.S. as in Exodus 12:37-38), but the British have already lost Superpower status. (Incidentally, the word Brit-ish in Hebrew can be translated as “covenant people”, since they once were. Phonetically it is ber-eeth’ & eesh).
Hosea 7:8-9 Ephraim mixes himself with other nations. Ephraim is a pancake not flipped over. 9 Foreigners have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t even know it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, and he doesn’t realize it.
Virtually always commentators place statements like this Hosea quote in the past, noting the original destruction:
Around 722 B.C, the Assyrians invaded and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. In 568 B.C., the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the first temple, which was replaced by a second temple in about 516 B.C.
People simply don’t have a clue that in the next go around, “the lost 10 tribes” and modern Israel will both be defeated within one month!
Hosea 5:5-7 Israel’s arrogance testifies against him. So Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their wickedness, and Judah along with them. 6 They’ll go with their flocks and herds to seek Yehovah, but they won’t find Him. He has withdrawn from them. 7 They betrayed Yehovah, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now on a New Moon they’ll be devoured along with their fields.
Between Ephraim and Manasseh (the American and British Empires) the nations of the world have been greatly burdened, (like being forced to buy real goods in dollars printed out of thin air), but that is coming to a screeching halt, and the curses of Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are substantially a result of that—making enemies around the world will end in our demise.
Those curses are only getting started. Yet the blessings for those Israelites who are allowed to survive the coming Tribulation period will be enormous!
Genesis 18:17-18 Yehovah asked, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? 18 since Abraham will certainly become an important and populous nation, and every nation on earth will be blessed thru him?
The new age of never ending prosperity and blessings is about to begin. Yet there will be complicating labor pains before Israel is “born again” in the “age to come” (Mark 10:29-30). And tho the world is to indeed be blessed by Israel in the future, Israel will be doubly blessed.
Isaiah 61:5-9 Foreigners will tend your flocks; they’ll farm your land and work your vineyards. 6 And you’ll be called the priests of Yehovah, people will call you the ministers of our Elohim. You’ll savor the wealth of the nations. You’ll change places with them. 7 Your shame will be replaced with a double inheritance, and instead of humiliation you’ll shout for joy over your territory. So in your land you’ll own twice as much as the other nations. You’ll have everlasting joy. 8 “Because I, Yehovah, love justice. I hate robbery and injustice. I’ll certainly give you your compensation, and I’ll make an EVERLASTING COVENANT [i.e. The New Covenant] with you. 9 Your descendants will be revealed [2] among the nations, and their descendants among all ethnicities. Everyone who sees them will acknowledge that they are the descendants of the people who Yehovah has blessed.” [Today His people are scorned by the nations].”
[2] Compare to Isaiah 34:8 & Isaiah 63:4.Today His people are scorned by the nations, yet most of even [war torn] Judah needs the “lost” tribes of Israel to be revealed to them!
It isn’t the purpose of this chapter to prove that people should celebrate the seven annual Biblical Feast and Festivals today. Because there are many articles available about that—such as this one. Yet by better understanding their prophetic significance, I hope to create within you an appreciation of their value to your relationship with Elohim. I am only building on the foundational premises of those few who have long recognized who Israel is in prophecy and the importance of celebrating the Biblical Feast and Festival Days. For those who understand that the seven annual Feast and Festival Days (there is a difference) are for us now, devotion should urge us to determine the true significance of these memorials in our lives, without “memorializing” fabricated events. This chapter endeavors to reveal the present generational significance of these special ('holy') convocations now, rather than wait for history books to explain their meaning and their timing retroactively!
(Here are some links to free web books concerning America, Britain & Israel in Prophecy: In Genesis 17, Elohim promised that Abraham would be “a father of many nations”, promising “an everlasting possession” by “an everlasting covenant”. In Genesis 49, Abraham prophesied concerning all twelve of his sons “what will happen to you in the last days”. The chronicle even extends to New Jerusalem, where the very gates (Revelation 21:12) mention “the 12 tribes of the children of Israel”. This astonishing compilation of books explains Elohim’s view of this enigmatic topic in a way that could easily change your world view forever. Find America, Britain and the rest of the “Lost 10 Tribes” in the pages of your own Bible!)
The fact that the modern Israelite nations have almost entirely lost the knowledge that they were to have an “everlasting covenant” (1 Chronicles 16) with Elohim is the very reason that only the Israelite nations will suffer the prophesied “Great Tribulation”—and the penalty for not living by that covenant will be inflicted on Israel by the very people they were supposed to lead into righteousness! (As explained in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.)
Deuteronomy 7:9-15 So remember that Yehovah your Elohim is the only Elohim, the faithful Elohim. He keeps His covenant with enduring love for a THOUSAND GENERATIONS [50,000 years?] of those who love Him and obey His Commandments. 10 But He repays those who hate Him in person, destroying them. He won’t be slack with anyone who hates Him. He’ll personally repay them. 11 So you must obey the Commandments and the unchanging tenets and the regulations that I give you today.
12 “Then if you heed these regulations and faithfully obey them, Yehovah your Elohim will faithfully keep His covenant with you that He swore to your ancestors. 13 He’ll love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He’ll also bless your children and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, your olive oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flocks in the land that He swore to give to your ancestors. 14 You’ll be blessed more than any other people; there won’t be an infertile male or female among you or your livestock. 15 Yehovah will keep you free from every disease. He won’t subject you to any of the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will impose them on anyone who hates you.
The nations of the world were and will again see blessings heaped on “all Israel” (Romans 11:25-26 + Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and ask:
Deuteronomy 4:7-9 What other great nation is there that has their gods as near to it as Yehovah our Elohim is to us whenever we call on Him? 8 And what great nation is there that has unchanging tenets and regulations as righteous as this whole Torah that I’m setting before you today? 9 “But you should be careful, and watch yourselves closely, so that you don’t forget the things that you saw with your own eyes. Don’t allow these memories to escape from your mind as long as you live, but pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
The Feast and Festival Days were designed to have different symbolisms for different eras. For example the Passover used to only signify the Exodus, but today Passover represents Yeshua’s (Jesus’) death in our place:
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Clean out your old leaven so that you can be a new batch of dough, as you are unleavened. The Messiah, our Passover, was offered in our place. 8 So let’s celebrate the Feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and bitterness, but with the unleavened bread of purity and dedication.
The Exodus PASSOVER in Reverse—The Coming Captivity!
You may have heard of the “Second Exodus” or the “Greater Exodus”, but there will also be a Reverse Passover:
Hosea 9:1-9 Israel, don’t rejoice with jubilation like the other nations, because you have gone whoring, forsaking your Elohim. You loved your profits from prostitution on every threshing floor. 2 The threshing floor and the wine press won’t feed them, and the new wine will fail for them. 3 They won’t remain in Yehovah’s land. But Ephraim [never inclusive of the Jews] will return to Egypt, and they’ll eat unclean food in Assyria. 4 They won’t pour drink offerings to Yehovah, and their zebakim won’t please Him. Their bread will be like mourners bread, anyone who eats it will be defiled since their bread will only satisfy their own hunger. It won’t come into Yehovah’s 'Temple'.
5 What will you do on the appointed Festival day [Passover], on the day of Yehovah’s Feast? 6 Even if they escape the destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them! Thistles will take over their treasures of silver, and nettles will overrun their tents. 7 The days of accountability have come. The days of compensation have come. Israel will know that their prophets are fools and their 'inspirational men' are insane, because of the vast number of your sins and the great hatred. 8 Ephraim is a watchman with my Elohim, but the prophet is a fowler’s snare, awaiting their every path, and hostility in the house of his Elohim. 9 They’ve deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He’ll remember their wickedness. He’ll punish them for their sins.
Yet in the near future, Passover will call to mind a living “righteous Branch” (Yeshua) and another Exodus, not just from Egypt: “I’ll bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the remotest parts of the earth:
Jeremiah 23:5-8 The days are coming,” Yehovah says, “when I’ll raise up for David a righteous Branch. He’ll be a King who rules wisely, and do what is fair and right thruout the land! 6 In his lifetime Judah will be delivered and Israel will live in safely. This is the name that He’ll be given: ‘Yehovah Our Righteousness!’ 7 “That’s why the time is coming,” says Yehovah, “When people will no longer say, ‘As Yehovah lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.’ 8 Instead, they’ll say, ‘As surely as Yehovah lives, who brought about the 'exodus' of the descendants of the House of Israel from the North Country, and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ They’ll live in their own land!”
The Seven Annual Sabbaths: Milestones of the Second Exodus!
PART 1 IS ONLY A THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF WHAT IS TO HAPPEN ON EACH OF THE SEVEN ANNUAL SABBATHS, AS FURTHER DETAILED IN PARTS 2 thru 7.
This is my understanding of what Israel’s Seven Apocalyptic Days represent at the end of this age, particularly regarding the Jubilee year that ends the first 6,000 years since Adam (the 120th Jubilee year).
In this series I hope to make the case for the Second Exodus happening between Passover and the Day of Atonements. Could Daniel 12 explain the significance of the Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread? There we have a 1,260 day period (the Great Tribulation), a 1,290 day period (calling attention to the 30 days following), and a 1,335 day period (indicating yet another 45 days). Verse 12 says, “Blessed are those who wait for and attain the 1,335 days.”
Yeshua’s Supper and the Days of Unleavened Bread should be preceded by a period of self examination. We are to ernestly spend time looking to reduce the spiritual leaven (sin) in our lives, moving in the direction of neutrality in that regard 1 Corinthians 11:24-32. Then during the Feast days we should be looking for ways tp backfill the void with righteousness .
(The New Covenant has not been enacted yet, but it soon will be!)
In that regard, the Days of Unleavened Bread are about another literal captivity of the unrecognized nations of Israel, eating the unleavened “bread of affliction” (Deuteronomy 16:3), right up until Israel’s soon Exodus toward the New Israel.
(Much of the information on the Everlasting Kingdom site are relevant to all seven of the annual Sabbaths being literal end time milestones in prophetic fulfillments, as well as some of the better known historic fulfillments. As the end approaches, I hope that you’ll consider:
(Yeshua’s historic Last Supper is described in Chapter 2: Did Yeshua’s Supper Replace the Passover?)
(Yeshua’s historic Passover is described in Chapter 3: “Messiah {Christ} Our Passover”?)
But their end time relevance has never been as pertinent as it is right now as we will literally experience them!
Pentecost 32/33 AD?
I believe that preparations for the twelve modern nations of Israel’s journey to their ancient homeland following their captivity will begin to take shape on Pentecost (as it was meant to happen after the exodus of 1446 BC). It’s a long and treacherous trip. Israel, as a warrior bride will ultimately reconquer their land. The resettlement will be finished during the very next Jubilee year. Most of the reoccupation will be initiated on the Day of Pentecost after members of all 12“pack their bags” for trip to the still promised land (Ezekiel 20, especially 33-48). This Jubilee period is when “Each of you can return to your own property, and each of you can return to your own clan” (Leviticus 25:10). The Firstfruits in question are the first whole generation of Israelites to return to Yehovah since the destruction of ancient Israel. Interestingly some of Judah, one of the 12 tribes, officially regained part of the ancient homeland on Pentecost of 1948 [Substantiated below: See Note], but that is not the everlasting reoccupation described in Isaiah 65 & and 66 and here. But the “Year of Redemption” will soon arrive (Isaiah 63:4). The 1948 resettlement will fail (Isaiah 63, particularly verse 18, and Isaiah chapters 3 & 10!)
In 1948, the call for freedom started on Pentecost (using the original calendar), but well after 70 years it still remains a very precarious freedom on the brink of disaster. But there will be absolutely no labor pains associated with the rebirth of the twelve tribes during the Second Exodus of the coming Jubilee year—what starts on Passover (again) will be coming into fruition on the Day of Atonements! And the grand finalle is Gog and Magog being taken out of the way on thr Eighth Day; sort of like Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea. Beginning at the recently built Third Temple, the only painful sounds heard will be “the sound of Yehovah paying back His enemies”:
Isaiah 66:6-8 The sound of an uproar from the city, and noise from the 'Temple'. It’s the sound of Yehovah paying back His enemies. 7 “Before she has any labor pains, before any pain, she will give birth to a son! 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such a thing? Can a country be born in one day? Can a nation be born instantly? Yet as soon as Zion has labor pains, she’ll give birth to her children!
Jeremiah 31:8-12 I’ll bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the remotest parts of the earth. Blind and lame people will return as well as expectant mothers and women in labor. A huge crowd will return here. 9 They’ll come with tears of joy, praying as I bring them back. I’ll lead them beside streams of water in a straight path, so they won’t stumble, because I’m a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 “You nations, hear the Word of Yehovah, and announce it in the distant lands beyond the oceans! [Commentary]. Proclaim: The One who scattered Israel will regather him, and protect him like a shepherd does his flock. 11 Yehovah has paid the ransom for Jacob, and reclaimed him from those too strong for him. 12 They’ll come and shout for joy in the elevated place [or height] of Zion. They’ll be beaming over the goodness of Yehovah, over the grain, the new wine, the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd. Their lives will be like well watered gardens, and they won’t ever be sorrowful again.
Again, as in the exodus from ancient Egypt, all twelve tribes will head home:
Isaiah 66:20-25 “Is Ephraim [representative of the ten non-Jewish tribes] My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him and passionately yearn for him. I’ll surely have mercy on him,” says Yehovah. 21 Set up road signs, make guideposts. Start thinking about the highway, the same direction that you left from [when ancient Israel was defeated]. Return, virgin Israel, return to your cities. 22 How long will you wander from here and there, you apostate daughter? Yehovah has created a new thing in the land, a weak woman will 'overpower' [Clarke’s] a strong man.”
23 This is what Commander Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel, says: “After I return them from captivity they’ll once again repeat these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, ‘Yehovah bless you, home of righteousness, 'special' mountain.’ 24 Judah and all its cities will live there together, along with homesteaders and those who follow their flocks. 25 I satisfy those who are weary, and I refresh everyone who is faint.”
Did Pentecost 1948 Begin a 70-80 Year Long Countdown?
I recently thought so, and had since I had heard about it as a child.
New 2023 Pentecost segment from Chapter 44: One night as I lay half awake pondering Moses being 80 years old at the time of the Exodus, I wondered what would happen if I counted backwards from when I believed the second Exodus would begin (this was when I was counting two millennial days {2,000 years} from when Yeshua began his ministry, rather than when it ended at the cross.) This involves the possibility that the King of the North will have his hands too full to deal with any escaping Israelite slaves in his domain: Daniel 11:36-45! After counting backward I arrived at 1948, I then reasoned that if 1948 were that significant, then a Feast day would most likely be involved. I had no idea which month the independence of the Jewish state came into being, just somewhere between January and December. That dead end search ended up with my finding out about the actual 1948 Day of Pentecost! The reason I didn’t have a better grasp of the timing was because I had never considered 1948 especially prophetically significant (other than for the supposed 70-80 year countdown)! My reasoning about the less than prophetically profound existence of modern Jewish state is found in the opening paragraph here:
Generation Nation that began on Pentecost of 1948 is fulfilling Biblical prophecies, then maybe you are part of the vast majority of Christians who seldom read the Bible! That ‘Israel’ is not remotely the Israel detailed in hundreds of verses of Bible prophecy. Unfortunately, it will be essentially driven into the sea, but quickly replaced by a much larger Israel!
That response is found in my extremely dire but Scripture laden response to people I have known who wonder: Should Messianic Believers Move to Israel Now?
But back to the date. Upon searching the web it took a couple of hours to find anyone who made the connection of Pentecost in 1948 and Israeli Independence Day, but even the first commentator didn’t explain the many weeks of separation between May 14/15, so often cited, and Pentecost. The source said that the commonly accepted day of Pentecost (in the wrong month) that year was close enough that Pentecost must be associated with the formation of modern Israel [Judah]. Now determined to find a true connection, if there were one, I searched until I found it. I knew May was within striking distance of Pentecost and I searched for someone to have applied the actual Biblical calendar to the question since once about every dozen years the Jewish Hillel 2 calendar is an entire month off, as my website details. But I had only been watching since 2000; I had not seen any previous dating. So here are two references I found:
“In 1948, 2016, 2019, 2024, and 2027, the Jewish calendar begins the New Year too late, thus the harvest of the firstfruits (barley) on Nisan 16 (April 23-29) would be about a month too late, and the barley grain would fall to the ground before then, making the offering of the firstfruits sheaf (see Omer) in the Temple difficult. God’s calendar, on the other hand, reveals a connection to particular historical events. For example, the state of Israel was established on May 14, 1948. This corresponds to the 5th of Iyyar (in the 2nd month) according to the Jewish calendar and has no special significance because the Israelites [Jews] moved the first month of the year back. But according to God’s astronomical calendar it has a very high significance, because the foundation of the state actually took place on the 4th of Sivan (in the 3rd month), i.e. directly before the feast day of Pentecost (May 15/16, 1948), which indicates a renewal or rebirth of Israel.”
“President Truman recognized the provisional Jewish government as the de facto authority of the Jewish State on May 14, 1948. The U.S. delegates to the U.N. and top-ranking State Department officials were angered that Truman released his recognition statement to the press without notifying them first. On May 15, 1948, the first day of Israeli Independence and exactly one year after UNSCOP was established, Arab armies invaded Israel and the first Arab-Israeli war began.”...
“Statehood began after the weekly Sabbath, after sundown; Pentecost, a ‘Sunday’! “The ceremony was held in the Tel Aviv Museum (today known as Independence Hall) but was not widely publicized as it was feared that the British Authorities might attempt to prevent it or that the Arab armies might invade earlier than expected. An invitation was sent out by messenger on the morning of 14 May telling recipients to arrive at 15:30 and to keep the event a secret. The event started at 16:00 (a time chosen so as not to breach the sabbath) and was broadcast live as the first transmission of the new radio station Kol Yisrael.”
A good number of people associate the year 1948 with “the Fig Tree Generation”—said to last 70-80 years, yet only an extreme minority (two of us?), associate the creation of the State of Israel with the very day of the annual Feast of Pentecost! Of course most people don’t even recognize that Pentecost is a commanded annual celebration (Leviticus 23:15-22). Too bad they don’t know that the actual first day of the existence of the modern Jewish State—May 15, 1948, is Pentecost—always a Sunday, starting just after sundown that date! How could that be? The answer as was just mentioned is that the modern Jewish calendar is randomly off by an entire month, and 1948 just happened to be one of those random years! I’ve been celebrating Pentecost since 1973. I wanted to celebrate the Feasts since about 1966 but at fourteen I didn’t occur to me to celebrate alone, and besides, I was unaware if any Christians cared to.
Seventy years after 1948 brought us to 2018 years, and in hindsight Yeshua did not return. Eighty years after 1948 will bring us to 2028 [and now the math for Yeshua returning by 2028 hasn’t worked out for some time now]. Here is a better than usual explanation of the Fig Tree Generation theory (that doesn’t add up} and what I once thought would follow 80 years AFTER 1948—2028, but please ignore the rapture stuff in this link! Also note that no source I know of describes the Day of Yehovah “the Lord” (Jubilee year), as the year FOLLOWING the so-called “last 7 years”, as my proposal does. The map is very interesting, as are the two comments by Brandon.
The Day of Trumpets actually represents the triumphant return of both Yehovah and His Messiah (“The Lord and His Christ”) to Jerusalem, to reclaim Their earth. This is well documented in Daniel 7, but virtually unknown. The Day of Trumpets is the fulfillment the trumpet plagues of Revelation, they declare war! This time is referred to in nearly thirty prophecies as “The Day of Yehovah”. At the very same time that Israel is coming out of the Great Tribulation (Isaiah 27:13) the rest of the world is about to enter the Day of Yehovah! It is the final year of the sixth millennia—the Jubilee year, better known as “Judgment Day”!
On the very Day of Atonements during the Jubilee year,“liberty thruout the land” is actually first achieved:
Leviticus 25:9-10 Then you will sound the shofar [Literally “shofar shofar”, not Jubilee] [2] on the tenth day of the seventh moon, on the Day of Atonements you’ll sound the shofar alarm thruout your entire land. 10 You’ll dedicate the fiftieth year, and shout liberty thruout the land to all of its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you, and each of you can return to your own property, and each of you will return to your own clan.
[2] The KJV wrongly says “trumpet of the jubile[e]”, in agreement with the Jewish custom of beginning years in the seventh month—a practice begun in Babylonian captivity. But an upcoming Jubilee was originally to be announced on the Day of Atonements of the seventh Shemitah year (the 49th year).The Day of Atonements is the day when Yeshua put a target on His back! In Luke 4:18-19 Yeshua announced “the Acceptable Year of Yehovah” as per the instruction of Leviticus 25:8-12. Who knew that both Protestant commentaries and Catholic sources acknowledge that “the Acceptable Year” He chose was a reference to the Day of Atonements and the Jubilee Year? Do you remember how His audience responded to His statements? They tried to throw Him over a cliff outside of the city (Luke 4:29)—exactly what the Jews were (wrongly, keyword: cliff) doing every year to the azazel goat that symbolized the One who makes atonement for their sins that very day (Leviticus 16:10)! This is all in the context of His being led into the wilderness (as the Greek implies “like an animal”) for the 40 day fast that immediately preceded His ministry—another clue that He was the azazel!
The Book of Joel, just 3 chapters long, is all about the latter day fulfillment of the Day of Atonements (i.e. Joel 1:14-15). Furthermore, the Day of Atonements is spiritually analogous to a Jewish Ketubah: a Prenuptial agreement where the Bride-to-be is given a bill of rights and the Husband-to-be guarantees in writing to reward her faithfulness. Exodus 19:3-9 is the trial run of the first marriage agreement that failed. This is the fulfillment of the goal all along: for Israel to be one nation under Elohim in the Promised Land (not just a secular encampment under continual attack)!—It’s just taking a lot longer than 40 years in the wilderness! This is what we would call an engagement period. It is exactly analogous to Exodus 19 in the First Exodus:
Exodus 19:5-11 So if you’ll diligently obey My voice, and obey My Covenant, then you’ll be My treasured possession out of all the nations, tho the entire earth is Mine, 6 and you’ll be My Kingdom of priests, and a 'chosen' nation.’ This is what you’ll say to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and called for the elders of the people, and presented to them everything that Yehovah had commanded him to say. 8 All the people answered together, “We will do everything that Yehovah has said.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to Yehovah. 9 “Yehovah told Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, so the people can hear when I speak with you and believe you forever!” Then Moses told the words of the people to Yehovah. 10 Yehovah said to Moses, “Go to the people, and dedicate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing, 11 and be ready for the third day, because on the third day Yehovah will come down on Mount Sinai in view of all the people.
THE SECOND EXODUS: Israel’s Coming Shotgun Wedding
Ezekiel 20:33-38 As surely as I live,” declares the Sovereign Yehovah, “I’ll rule you with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I will be your King! 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. [1] 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1, Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, declares the Sovereign Yehovah. 37 I’ll make you pass under the shepherd’s rod, and I’ll bind you in a [New] Covenant, 38 and I’ll purge out the rebels from among you and those who disobey Me. I’ll bring them out of the land where they were living, but they won’t enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll realize that I am Yehovah.
[1] More on this shotgun marriage is found in Ezekiel 16:59-63 and Jeremiah 31. But in this wedding, anyone opposed to the ceremony is under the gun!
This day annually marks in advance “Armageddon”, a critical date during the year long Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”) (Isaiah 34:8).
The Feast of Tabernacles, seven days in length, on a macro scale is an overview of the saga of Israel covering the entire 7 year journey mentioned in Daniel 9:27 (covered in Daniel’s Mysterious Seventy “Weeks” and Jubilee 2032/2033 AD.) Deuteronomy 31:10-11 directly associates Tabernacles with 7 years (a Sabbatical cycle). This period is a trail of tears. Yet this rocky trail leads to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in the Promised Land on a micro scale—within eight days! The traditional Jewish seven day wedding ceremony will begin to have real meaning when this particular wedding begins to be commemorated every year! Humanity is about to enter into what Yeshua referred to as the “world to come”. However that momentous event won’t be realized until there is a New Heaven and a New Earth punctuating this very Jubilee period! (There is no 1,000 year wait: Isaiah 65 & 66.) All of Elohim’s people will live in sukkas (tabernacles): temporary shelters, tents or huts seven days each year. We await our permanent home in New Jerusalem. If you aren’t ‘tabernacling’ in sukkahs once a year now, you’ll have to later—as survivors of the Great Tribulation (assuming you do survive)! (Zechariah 14:16-21). There will be a shotgun wedding of a different sort, where individuals can be part of Yeshua’s Bride in the New (Marriage) Covenant, or go wandering off into the wilderness, as clearly explained in Hosea chapters 2 & 3 and Ezekiel 20:30-42, and anyone opposed to the wedding gets well, the ‘shotgun’.
The First Day of Tabernacles: The Temple is an integral part of Elohim’s future plans. The nine chapters of Ezekiel (40-48) that deal with it are quite detailed. The restart of the temple services on the first day of the tumultuous seven year long period, after having ceased to exist for so many centuries is quite significant prophetically, if for no other reason than we will be able to determine without any doubt when the Everlasting Kingdom will arrive by the dates given to us in the book of Daniel. The secular nation of Israel will accept a contract with the Beast. Animal zebakim (sacrifices) will be begun again but cease after exactly 1,260 days (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11), marking day number one of the Great Tribulation.
But toward the end of the Tribulation period, the first wave of Second Exodus immigrants may even be nearing the land of Israel. I would expect that during the Feast of Tabernacles of that first Jubilee year with members of all twelve tribes being back in the land (Ezekiel 48) in supernatural peace and security, and no need to even build a wall (Zechariah 2:3-13), it will be a Feast to commemorate.
Zechariah 8:22-23 Many people and strong nations will come seeking [searching for, to consult] Commander Yehovah in Jerusalem, and pray to Yehovah!’” 23 “Commander Yehovah says that at that time, ten men from every language and nation will take hold of the 'tzitzits' [“tassels”] of a Jew, and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we’ve heard that Elohim is with you.’
Considering the enormous size of “Ezekiel’s” Temple (Ezekiel 40 thru 48), and for the sake of expediency, it is no wonder that Yeshua may build it supernaturally (as without help: Zechariah 6:13); but the Temple should not be confused with New Jerusalem hovering above (Isaiah 4:1-6) that contains no Temple (Revelation 21:22). Looks like the Millennium will be off to a terrific start!
After the next Jubilee, cyclical historical errors will cease to repeat themselves.
Meanwhile, during Jubilee year 6000, as the newly reformed twelve nations of Israel are enjoying wonderful wedding blessings, and the year of rest promised to newlyweds, the enemies of Israel who tried their best to exterminate her will be enduring the year long “Great And Awesome Day Of Yehovah!” (the “Lord”) Now is the time for payback!
Isaiah 34:8 It is the Day of Yehovah’s Vengeance, a Year of Payback settling the dispute (retribution) over Zion!
The Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles: No sooner than Israel has had their Master plan of existence revealed, the next phase is revealed: The meaning of the Last (7th) Day of the Feast of Tabernacles could not have been understood until Yeshua explained it on the very occasion of the Last Day of the Feast (John 7:37-40). His discourse on that Feast Day solved the mystery of the significance of the day! Just as Israel is getting it’s own act together, Yeshua will announce that worldwide conversion is coming. Yeshua spoke of the special (holy) spirit being given, yet is was “not yet given” to His Assembly—in fact none of the Assembly (“the Church”) was redeemed until the Pentecost after He died. In a similar way, when the announcement to the other nations of the world comes that Satan has been removed and that an Everlasting Kingdom has begun, the universal presence of the 'special' spirit may still “not yet” be extant.
The grand finale events of Biblical prophecy for Israel will all occur during the amazing Jubilee year, the year following the seven year long shemitah event of Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 11:2-3; year 6000. This is the happily ever after part of the story, the “Year of Redemption”. Israel has finally begun to live Elohim’s way of life in earnest, and just in time.
The Jubilee Year is also “the Great and Awesome Day of Yehovah”. The survivors of the other nations must still be educated, even under duress. Evangelists will likely reach out to the world right after the dust of Gog and Magog begins to settle. But no one who experienced the Second Exodus will need to be taught about Israel’s New Covenant “because they’ll all know Me”.:
Jeremiah 31:34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, or ask, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord], because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.”
Obviously during year 6001 the neighboring nations will be preparing to “celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles”:
Zechariah 14:16 Then everyone who is left behind [survivors] from all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship Commander Yehovah and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
This won’t happen during Israel’s Jubilee, but after the dust settles after Gog and Magog, worldwide evangelism will begin in ernest. Maybe all of the world’s idols etc will be vaporized as a sign.
As the Seventh Day of the Feast of Tabernacle is ending, and as Year 6000 is about to close, with only Hebrew months 8 thru 12 remaining, there is only one more prophetic event remaining. Hundreds of millions of Israel’s enemies will be supernaturally eliminated during the fall festival season. Soon the “Time of Vengeance, a Year of Payback settling the dispute over Zion” (Isaiah 34:8) will be over. Israel’s enemies are vanquished following the seven rambunctious and painful years that precede this time. Elohim’s truth will begin to flow everywhere like living water following the preparatory events of this year. This is when the survivors of the twelve tribes of Israel will become the Messiah’s Bride (again). This is when Zion (Jerusalem) is liberated from the grasp of the King of the North, it will become the world’s Capitol city!
In seven months, the world will have been conquered with five months left to prepare for the first New Moon of the seventh millennium. Soon “the completion of the times when everything that Yehovah has spoken by the mouth of His 'cherished' prophets from antiquity is completed”, as Acts 3:21 originally said. Almost every prophecy will be completed by the end of the final eight year long period. The transition from the Last (seventh) day of the Feast of Tabernacles to the Eighth Day occurs in a split second.
People are unaware that this “awesome” Seventh Day, hidden in the book of Leviticus brings to a close the Year of Judgment!
The Eighth Day: Very soon survivors from “many nations” will arrive in Jerusalem and learn about our awesome Elohim.
Zechariah 8:23 Commander Yehovah says that at that time, ten men from every language and nation will take hold of the 'tzitzits' [“tassels”] of a Jew, and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we’ve heard that Elohim is with you.
How might these detested enemies be involved in smoothing things over with the victorious Israelites?:
The Bride’s Children
Isaiah 49:18-23 'Look' around and see all Zion’s children gathering together and returning to You. ‘Yehovah says, As surely as I [the Husband, Isaiah 54:5] live, You [Zion/New Jerusalem] will adorn yourself with them all like jewelry, and put them on you like a bride does [Revelation 21:2]. 19 “As for your desolate places and your devastated land—surely now you’ll be too small for the inhabitants [tho 2/3rds of the local Jews had just died: Zechariah 13:8], and those who engulfed you will be far away. 20 The children of your bereavement will yet again say in your ears, ‘The place is too small for me, give me a place to live.’ 21 Then you’ll ask yourself, ‘Who has begotten these children for me since I was bereaved of my children and barren, exiled, and became a wanderer? Who raised these children? We were separated! Where did these children come from?’” [a special resurrection?] 22 The Sovereign Yehovah says: “I’ll 'wave' My hand in a summoning gesture to the nations, and they’ll bring your sons in their 'arms', and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. 23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers, they’ll bow down to you with their faces to the ground, and lick the dust at your feet, and you’ll [finally] realize that I am Yehovah. Those who anticipate My arrival won’t be disappointed.
The Mediator Set This Plan In Action
Most Christians believe that they are presently living under the terms of the New Covenant. After all, Yeshua’s envoys (apostles) mention it quite a few times in passing—every reference is explained here. And Yeshua shed His life blood to release Israel “from the [literal] bondage of sins”, but in His next breath, He said that cause for celebration would have to wait until “the Kingdom of Yehovah” is established (which immediately follows the Second Exodus.
Matthew 26:28-29 This is My blood of the New Covenant [3] that is poured out on behalf of many to release them from the bondage of sins. 29 I’m telling you that I’ll no longer drink any of the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink a new kind [4] [5] with you in the Kingdom of Yehovah.
[3] Most modern translations omit the word “new” here, siding with a tiny minority of Greek texts. Some few others say “renewed” here, claiming that the original Hebrew source of the term in Jeremiah 31:31 is “renewed.” Yet only the root word there is “renew” “khaw-dawsh’ is new, while chadash khaw-dash’ (with a different vowel point) is renew, such as “renew {02318} the face of the earth” or “renew {02318} a right spirit within me.” Nevertheless, there are no specified differences between the covenants other than the promised land being an eternal thing. [4] Compare the traditional “drink it anew” of v.29 with Luke 5:39. [5] The timing and circumstances of v.29 are explained in Did the “lord’s Supper” Replace the Passover?Jeremiah 31 records all of the precise terms of the New Covenant, and it is plain to see that none of those terms are even possible until Israel and Judah are back in the land!
The Second Exodus is absolutely necessary to bring about the conditions of the New Covenant, and the entire chapter of Jeremiah 30 provides even more about this same event. In fact the first 29 chapters of Ezekiel are primarily about the restoration of Israel:
Jeremiah 30:3 & 11 The time is coming when I’ll bring My people Israel and Judah [1] back from captivity. I’ll bring them to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they’ll take possession of it,’” says Yehovah... 11 I’m with you to save you,” Yehovah says. “I’ll completely destroy all the nations where I had you 'exiled', I won’t completely destroy you. I’ll discipline you in just measure, but I can’t let you go unpunished.”
[1] “bring again ... captivity of ... Israel and Judah—the restoration not merely of the Jews, but also the ten tribes together forming the whole nation (Jer 30:18; Jer 32:44; Eze 39:25; Amos 9:14, 15). ‘Israel’ is mentioned first because its exile was longer than that of Judah. Some captives of the Israelite ten tribes returned with those of Judah (Luke 2:36; ‘Asher’ is mentioned). But these are only a pledge of the full restoration hereafter (Rom 11:26, ‘All Israel’). Compare Jer 16:15. This third verse is a brief statement of the subject before the prophecy itself is given”—JFB
In the course of time, Yeshua came on the scene and became the “Mediator” of the New Covenant. The mediation was accomplished by His death. He is no longer mediating, as many assume; that would require Him to die continually!
Hebrews 9:15 This is the reason He became the Mediator of the New Covenant—so that by means of death He could become the ransom payment for those who are breaking [1] the first [original] covenant, so that those who are called to the eternal inheritance can receive the promise.
Following His death, His promise of redemption spread beyond the people of Israel. He was no longer dealing directly with humanity on a national level. Today, and for the last nearly 2,000 years, Elohim has been dealing with humanity on an individual basis.
[1] Most of this description, including the first covenant comment and comments in chapter 10 are better rendered in the present tense (despite modern translations), because there were Temple services until 70 AD, and the Jeremiah 31 covenant is still future!
(Scripturally a “service” refer to animal zebakim [sacrifices]—so if you have “church services”...)
Acts 10:34-37 Then Simon said, “The truth is, I now realize that Yehovah doesn’t discriminate between people. 35 He accepts anyone who reverences Him and lives righteously from every nation. 36 This is the Word that He sent to the descendants of Israel, announcing to them peace and rest by Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah. He is everyone’s Sovereign. 37 You are familiar with 'what happened' thruout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the immersion that John heralded...
Yet Elohim never abandoned His original intention for the people of Israel. Israel is still destined to be the example for the other nations, but she will have to learn some harsh lessons first—and there will be many “born again” (made into spirit) “teachers” there to sustain the advancement. For the last 2,000 years much of Elohim’s focus has been with “the Israel of Elohim (God)” (Galatians 6:15-16), which is not an ethnic nation but a spiritual one with many non Israelite members “grafted in” (Romans 11:13-21). However, Yeshua, and we His disciples will not “taste” the fruition of His Passover commemoration until “that day” when the Kingdom of Elohim is set up “on earth as it is [now] in heaven”.
Yet Elohim will greatly honor the New Covenant with survivors of Israel:
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Yehovah says: “The time is coming [1], when I’ll make a New [marriage] Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. 32 It won’t be like the [marriage] Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband,” says Yehovah. 33 “In this [marriage] Covenant that I’ll make with the House of Israel after those days,” Yehovah says, “I’ll put My Torah in the very hearts. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, or ask, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord]
, because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. [No more evangelism!] “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.[1] Jeremiah 30 and 31 are one long prophetic monologue about the events to occur as a result of the Second Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8), when all 12 tribes of Israel return to the land (not just the Jews!) AND The Time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—better known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:1-22). Not one verse of this 2 chapter prophecy has been fulfilled, and the Torah is only written on a few scattered hearts. So why single verse 33 out of all this immense futuristic context?
“Born again” “teachers” will keep Israel, and soon afterward the rest of the world, on track:
Isaiah 30:19-21 The people of Zion, living in Jerusalem will no longer cry. He’ll surely be merciful to you at the sound of your cry. When He hears you, He’ll answer you. 20 Even tho Yehovah gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers [yes, it’s plural] won’t be hidden any longer. You’ll see your teachers with your own eyes. [Commentary] 21 When you stray to the right or to the left you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right path [Targum], follow it.” [1]
[1] The adage is said to be from when shepherds saw nothing but tails waging and they had to shout from behind since the sheep were straying. In the kingdom of Elohim, when Israel begins to stray, spirit born shepherds will be there to intervene immediately. On leading sheep.
A major assumption among every church (most of them are “exclusivist churches”) that I am aware of, that celebrates the seven annual Feast Days, is that they accept the idea that the Orthodox Jewish calendar should be used for determining when the Biblical Feast and Festival Days are to be observed. [2009 Note: It’s better now in the Pacific NW.] Totally ignored is the fact that these same Jews freely acknowledge that their ancestors greatly altered their method of determining when the Biblical Feast Days are to occur—under pressure from the Roman Government in the fourth century. (There is a small stir underway to reverse this within Israel’s Hebrew University.) This can be easily researched within the many volume Encyclopedia Judaica. Abandoned were the Scriptural standards of observing actual new moons to determine the first day of the month, and beginning new years in association with the barley harvests to avoid “calendar drift”. In addition to the in depth information on the Biblical Feast Days on this site, I believe that there is a hidden Festival message in the book of Hebrews explained in The Biblical Feast Days of Hebrews 6! I will only raise one point in this regard: the word translated as “seasons” in Genesis 1, of the more popular Bible translations, is quite misleading—and deliberately, I believe. That Hebrew word is “moed” which is used to signify a Feast Day. It literally means an “appointed place, appointed time or meeting”. Genesis 1:14 Then Elohim said, “There should be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They’ll signal 'Appointed Festivals', days and years. Below the KJV got it wrong with both applications of “moed”. Leviticus 23:4 These are the feasts [Appointed times
“Feast” and “Festival” are not synonymous. There are seven annual Biblical appointed Days in a year, three of them are Feasts.
The next verse actually uses the Hebrew term for “feast”.
Exodus 23:14 Three times a year you must celebrate a Feast to honor Me.
The Biblical Feast Days are a part of Elohim’s ancient plan. They didn’t just show up haphazardly at the time of the Exodus any more than Elohim’s other instructions:
Genesis 26:5...because Abraham obeyed My voice, and obeyed My requirements, My Commandments, My unchanging tenets and My Torah instructions
When I learned that the Scriptural parameters are not remotely considered in the “revised” Jewish calendar, and that most of the Jewish and Christian sects do not even care—only offering lame excuses—I made the personal changes necessary to please Elohim. I had only assumed that the days that I was celebrating were acceptable with Elohim. This chapter examines a second assumption about Elohim’s Biblical Feast and Festival Days: Are the symbolic meanings of these days centered on the church)? All of the Christian annual Sabbath observing groups that I am aware of assume that the Feast and Festival Day symbolism is centered on “the church”. The more exclusivist groups naturally assume that these days solely concern their corporate bodies.
In essence, the Biblical Feast Days have been both counterfeited and mystified! Even some of those still making a showing are “full of blood.”
Isaiah 1:9, 14-15 If Commander Yehovah hadn’t left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah... 14 My Word* hates YOUR New Moons and YOUR appointed feasts. They’ve become a burden to Me. I’m tired of enduring them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I’ll hide My eyes from you. Even if you continually pray, I won’t listen because your hands are covered with blood.
Abraham’s Family Tree
The Bible is a book about Abraham’s extended family. Genesis 49 is a prophecy describing the end time state of affairs of his family!
Genesis 35:11 Elohim also told him, “I’m the Conqueror. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a Commonwealth [or Assembly] of nations will come from you. Kings will be among your 'descendants'!
Genesis 49:1-4 Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what you [your descendants] will encounter in the last days. 2 “Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to your father Israel. 3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the very first of my virility, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you won’t remain preeminent...
The chapter goes on to describe identifying characteristics of all twelve of his son’s tribes (now nations).
It’s the Twelve tribes of Israel!
Virtually every prophecy between this first book of the Bible, and the last one, centers on the physical descendants of Israel. “The church” plays a much smaller part in Bible prophecy than it would have you imagine! Upon closer examination of the prophecies, it should be readily apparent that the prophecies have always centered on Israel, yet virtually every “authority” tries to force “the church” onto center stage, and thwart Elohim’s entire prophetic message! This is comparable to Jacob (who became Israel) stealing the birthright from his brother Esau, except that in this situation Israel is truly the firstborn, and Elohim won’t permit “the church” to take that role away from him!
Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first figs of the season. But they came to Baal Peor and dedicated themselves to shamefulness. They became as detestable as their dearly loved idol.
Firstfruits, like firstborn, simply signifies the first offspring of a living thing. Symbolically, it is usually Israel—not really “the church”.
Exodus 4:22 Then you can tell Pharaoh, ‘This is what Yehovah says, ‘Israel is My firstborn son...
Jeremiah 31:9 They’ll come with tears of joy, praying as I bring them back. I’ll lead them beside streams of water in a straight path, so they won’t stumble, because I’m a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.
Note who is “firstborn” now! Even the firstborn status, in reference to national privileges, was prophesied to change over time!
The illustrative or symbolic meanings of the Biblical Feast Days are transitional! This is a key point to understanding the prophetic significance of the events that they portray. They really are “a shadow of things to come”! A shadow is inherently connected to something very real. This figurative shadow of things to come is an outline or sketch of the fulfillment of Elohim’s purpose: “... and you will be My Kingdom of priests, and a special nation’. These are the words that you will say to the descendants of Israel”. (Exodus 19:6) This shadow, to Paul, meant that the primary focal point of the Biblical Feast Days still pictures future events, rather than pointing backward to things about ancient Israel or even things concerning the Assemblies, that were relevant as he spoke! It NEVER says “only the FALL feast days are shadows of things to come”.
Revelation 5:9-10 They were singing a new song: “You deserve to take the book and to open its seals, because You were slain and have purchased us for Yehovah with Your own blood, out of every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and You made them kings and priests for Yehovah, and they’ll rule as kings on the earth.
Certainly spiritual Israelites are enjoying Elohim’s blessings, at this very moment, as Paul was explaining to non Israelites in Romans 11, yet even as he was explaining that ancient Israel had blown the great opportunity to be those kings and priests (Exodus 19:5-6), he explained that there would be a spectacular recovery.
Romans 11:25-27 Friends, so that you won’t be presumptuous, I want you to know of this hidden mystery—that a degree of spiritual blindness has overtaken Israel until the full complement of nations can come in, 26 and then all of Israel will be saved [alive]. As the Scriptures declare, “A Savior will come from Zion and turn Jacob [the “lost” ten tribes] from sinfulness.” 27 “And THEN [4] they will have My [NEW] COVENANT, after I have forgiven their sins.
[4] The house of Israel and the house of Judah have not lived under a Covenant since the ancient captivity, but that is about to change (Jeremiah 31:31-34)! The Greek totally obscures the matter of timing by substituting “this” for “then”! See The New Covenant—Soon to be Implemented!
Paul went on to explain, in the next verse, that Israel was presently an enemy of the Good News, but that these elect were destined to become “beloved”!
Romans 11:28 Now in regard to the Good News, they are enemies as far 'as you are concerned', but in regard to selection for favor, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors.
The Most Corrupted Passage in the Bible?
The entire purpose of this seven part series is to demonstrate the extreme relevance of the annual Sabbaths. But every mainstream “translation” of Colossians 2 is hell bent on nullifying them!
All 46 versions listed here have tampered with the simple text that explains that only the true “body of Christ”, the “true church”, has any justification for admonishing you in regard to these Torah issues (or anything else Biblical)! Check a Greek interlinear for the uncorrupted truth. Christianity frequently tampers with Bible translation!
The tampering, at its simplest is the addition of the word “is”. This one simple added word completely obliterates the verse, changing it from a profound statement to jibberish. More honest translations italicize any added words to indicate that the word, while absent in the original language, is thought to clarify the meaning.
The King James Bible:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
The Berean Literal Bible:
“which are a shadow the things coming. But the body is of Christ.”
Every mainstream translation I have seen adds at least one word between “body” and “Christ”, sometimes several words, always to deliberately prevent the truth from shining thru.
Here is my anything but mainstream rendering:
Colossians 2:16-17 So don’t let anyone pronounce judgments against you about eating and drinking, or about various aspects of the Feast days, New Moons and Sabbaths 17 that foreshadow things in the future, but [or “except for”] the body of Messiah.
(As this personaly relates, I lost one Job for attending the Feast of Tabernacles in 1974 and six more jobs over the next few years for keeping ths Sabbath. (All of these employers were made aware that I wouldn’t be working Sabbaths before I hired on.) I learned that I was put on a Marion County Ohio black list when I was told, “We don’t hire your kind around here”. I was forced out of a church “franchise” that I actually oversaw for seven years, over the issue of new moons, once I began celebrating the annual Sabbaths based on them—without ever urging even my own wife to follow my example. And eating kosher was a big deal for me at the dinner table as a teen. But I’m not fond of boose so that one point was never an issue. All ended well as I became self employed for 36 years.)
From the very first English Bible this cursed (Revelation 22:18-19) deception has existed to alter the text of Colossians 2:16-17 in order to discredit the observance of Yehovah’s Feasts and Festivals, etc. Tyndale created “an English style of Bible translation, tinged with Hebraisms, that was to serve as the model for future English versions for nearly 400 years, beginning with the King James Version of 1611.” But his Catholic background tainted his objectivity in this instance: “Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ.” Perhaps Tyndale, having been an English priest sincerely believed he was doing a service with this modification, tho he was strangled and burned at the stake by “the church” for his translation. But that corruption has been passed on by every “translator” since then without comment defines conspiracy—they have all “been in on it.” If two kids sitting side by side during a school test come up with the same exact bizarre answer, you know that something aint right. To Tyndale’s credit, he did expose the pagan etymology of the word “church”, a primary reason for his martyrdom.
The Greek word soma is translated as “body” 70 times in the “The Testimony of Yeshua” (Misnamed The New Testament”), and with many translations at least the word “body” is correctly translated 100% of the time. But there are 20 online versions listed here that make a single deliberate exception, so as to totally destroy any remnant of the intent of Colossians 2:17. This is obviously a conspiracy because nothing in the Greek implies this. It rather, supports my view that there are no new truly new English translations—they are all revisions of revisions from the first complete English Bibles.) Starting with “the Coverdale Bible, which became the first complete printed Bible into English when it was published in 1535.” But Coverdale was “Not yet proficient in Hebrew or Greek, he used Latin, English and German sources plus the translations of Tyndale himself.” So Tyndale’s error remained. And none of the Heritage commentaries call this out!
The book of Colossians 1:18,24; 2:17,19; 3:15 leaves no doubt that the “body”, as in “the body of Christ” (the Messiah) means the body of believers in the Messiah.
The other four references to “the body of Christ” would also make no sense with an “is” stuffed into them:
Even the Tyndale of 1525 AD added and subtracted words: “Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink: or for a piece of an holyday, as the holyday of the new moon or of the saboth daye, which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in ofChrist.
Actually, the word often mistranslated, as “substance” in verse 17 is the same word as “body” in verse 19. And the word “is” (or something else) is always wrongfully inserted. The meaning, so apt to be lost with this slight of hand, is that you should not let anyone judge you regarding the celebration of Elohim’s Biblical Feast Days except for your spiritual family—literally, “the Body of the Messiah”! Listen to the body of Messiah; you may learn something. Yet even when the true Commandment keeping body of Messiah is divided, there is room for discussion, but outside of that, antinomian “Christian” criticism is far more likely to be harmful than helpful.
I have personally had people judge me on “eating” kosher, “Feast days, New Moons and Sabbaths”, but not “drinking” which would complete the list. I lost my job at Armco Steel in 1974 for attending the Feast of Tabernacles. I was fired six other times over the Sabbath, even tho I had told all of those employers in job interviews that I would never work on the Sabbath. Dozens of other companies in Marion county Ohio simply denied me employment either because I told them up front about the Sabbath or, as I learned, they found my name on the local “black list” before any interview. I did win two civil rights suits years ago when Sabbath keepers were protected—Tecumseh Motors told me “We don’t hire your kind around here”. After that I moved out of Marion county and went on to become a self-employed house painter for 34 years, with hundreds of consecutive “A” ratings on Angie’s list.
I was also branded as a “calendar traitor” in a “Church of God” “franchise” that I had been the host of between 1993 and 2000, when I learned that the annual Sabbaths should be determined by counting days from the “new moon”! (Not that I had even brought up the subject with anyone.) After seven consecutive Sabbaths of being browbeaten from the pulpit I just quit attending. The ministry evidently preferred that to disfellowshipment. Lemonaid! This resulted in Everlastingkingdom going online, and I had five months a year of bad weather to work on my website!
Annual Sabbaths, Multiple Lessons Over Time
Here is a perfect illustration of the fact that the Biblical Feast and Festival Days will represent different things to different people at different times. Even children will want to understand why they commemorate a “memorial” occasion. Here is a simple explanation that Elohim told Israel to tell their descendants before the first Passover commemoration even happened—it was meant to be a prophecy for their immediate future!
Exodus 12:25-27 Once you’ve entered the land that Yehovah will give you, as He has promised, you’ll commemorate this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 Tell them, ‘It’s the Passover zebak [sacrifice] to Yehovah, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and spared our houses.’” Then the people knelt down and worshiped.
This is what the Passover meant to ancient Israel. It involved leaving the land of slavery and moving to the Promised Land. That’s why Jeremiah mentioned the second Exodus in Jeremiah 23:7-8
The Passover was the event that separated ancient Israel from Egypt. Ancient Israel had no concept of a Savior who was to die for us. Once the firstborn of Egypt were slain on the night of the Passover, Pharaoh had finally become convinced that they could not endure another plague from Elohim. This event, which was immediately instituted as a “memorial”, initiates the first of seven Biblical Feast Days that Israel was to celebrate annually, as listed in Leviticus 23.
Exodus 12:14 This day will serve as a memorial. You must celebrate [chagag] it as a Pilgrimage Feast [chag] to Yehovah, a perpetual regulation.
“Memorial”, in Hebrew as in English, literally means “a reminder or remembrance”, so to ancient Israel they looked backward to the meaning of this day. Humans memorialize their special occasions only after they have already happened, but Elohim can “remember” things that we have yet to experience. Elohim’s Biblical Feast Days are one of the most important things that He has instituted. Elohim has declared “the end” of this age from “ancient times”, thru many prophecies as well as the Biblical Feast Days that commemorate the high points. Those who commemorate the Biblical Feast Days are far more apt to be aware of Elohim’s ancient plan, that could even save their lives in years to come.
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the events of antiquity, because I’m Elohim, and there is no other, I’m Elohim, and there’s no one like Me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that haven’t been done yet. I say that My purposes will be established, and I’ll do the things I delight in.
Later Yeshua made Passover into something way more inclusive and profound. There’s no need to expand on that here.
But what very few people are aware of is that a coming Passover will set in motion yet another exodus, a Second Exodus. No longer will the Red Sea Exodus be a focal point for Israel. From that point forward the Second Exodus is a monumental benchmark in time!
Isaiah 11:6,7,11 When That Day Comes, wolves will live with lambs, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves, young lions and fattened calves grazing together, and little children will lead them. 7 Cows and bears will graze together, and their young ones will lie down together. Lions will eat straw like oxen... 11 When That Day Comes, Yehovah will extend His hand a second time to recover the survivors of His people from Assyria [Iraq/Turkey], Egypt, Pathros [Upper Egypt], Cush [Ethiopia or Sudan], Elam [SW Iran], Shinar [Babylon], Hamath [Upper Syria] and from the islands of the sea.
Yeshua is spoken of as the “beginning and the end”, (Revelation 1:8). Could this be a statement that is portrayed within the Biblical Feast Days? He was killed from the “foundation of the world”; so Passover would certainly be a beginning. There is no end of the Kingdom (Isaiah 9:7), so what “end” is spoken of? Might it refer to the end of this evil age, represented by the mysterious Eighth Day? (Leviticus 23:36-39)
Wouldn’t the “shadow of things to come” have to refer to things to come before the end of the age? If so, then these things are left for the end time. Of course I think it’s likely that significant events within the coming Kingdom of Elohim will also occur on these memorial dates as well, but we have very few clues about the next age.
We know that the Biblical Feast Days have an ancient history; you may also know that they have had a relevance concerning the followers of Yeshua. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 “keep the feast”.
However, they also fulfill the “things to come” part to occur during this very generation. These seven “memorials” will we covered, one by one, shortly.
The ancient twelve tribes of Israel perhaps never even considered that the Passover would eventually take on an entirely new meaning having virtually nothing to do with the death of first born Egyptians. It is common knowledge among the 'chosen ones' (saints) that Passover has dual meanings: separate symbolic significances for separate ages. Little considered tho is that there is still another fulfillment of Passover, as well as all of the other six Annual Sabbath Days! The Biblical Feast Days represent things past, present, and future—alpha to omega. Nevertheless, there are events in the end time story of Israel that often represent the primary fulfillment of the days because our generation will witness the culmination of Elohim’s plan that has been in the works since before the beginning!
This seven part chapter is a summarized presentation of the “end time”, or “latter day” time line, as I presently understand it—“explained” within the framework of the Annual Sabbath Days, that were mandatory for ancient Israel and are a privilege and duty for us today. One thing is certain; I’ll see some things differently in the future, like I did in 2006 when I realized after 24 years of doing Passover wrong, that I also needed to understand what I learned as I researched: Did Yeshua’s Supper Replace the Passover? And “Messiah our Passover”]
Passover & Unleavened Bread
It goes without saying that the Early Assembly (Church) witnessed the staggering events fulfilled in connection with the Yeshua’s Supper and Passover. This makes the previous Passover ceremony of the Exodus serve as a pattern for the next Passover fulfillment. Nevertheless, the event really was a continuation of a plan that will be exactly seven millennia in fulfillment. There is to be another great aspect of the Passover story that will incorporate the physical salvation aspects of the first Passover with the spiritual salvational aspects of Yeshua being our literally dead Passover Lamb. The next great Passover will involve the living Passover Lamb, our Redeemer (Revelation 19:9) coming with a cavalry of white horses (verses 11 & 14), conquering and ruling the world!
This KING OF (other) KINGS AND SOVEREIGN OF (other) SOVEREIGNS (verse 16) will replace today’s kings and captains of thousands (verse 18) who will become buzzard feed (verse 21)!
Revelation 13:8 Everyone who lives on earth, whose names are not [not ‘were not’] written in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world will worship him. [meaning their names were erased!]
Altho Judaism never expected for the “redeemer” to do the things that He did, and rejected Him, they were nevertheless aware that a redeemer would come because of “their” Scriptures:
Job 19:25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. And that in the end He’ll stand on the earth.
Psalm 78:35 They remembered that Elohim was their Rock, and that the Most Supreme Elohim was their Redeemer.
Isaiah 44:6 This is what Yehovah, the King of Israel [the Father] AND His Redeemer [the Son], Commander Yehovah, says: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no Elohim besides Me.
Yeshua, the our Redeemer, will soon give us a Kingdom—compensation to His faithful followers who obey the Commandments.
Revelation 22:12-14 I’ll come suddenly! My compensation is with Me to pay everyone according to what they’ve done. 13 I’m the Aleph and the Tau, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who obey His Commandments [2]. They’ll have access to the Tree of Life and be permitted to enter thru the gates into the city.
[2] The Wescott & Hort versions of Revelation (most modern versions) satanically substitute “wash your robes” for “obey the Commandments”, unlike the Peshitta and the Majority text versions (the KJV “family”). See Matthew 19:16-19.
Contrary to popular thought, Passover is not a day; it is an event that precedes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I refer to these events together, as is done in the following three passages. People often said “Passover” when they technically were referring to the Passover event AND the seven days of Unleavened Bread that followed.
Mark 14:1 It was two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the Torah teachers were bent on finding a scheme to arrest Him and kill Him.
Luke 22:1 The Feast of Unleavened Bread that is called the Passover was approaching.
Luke 22:7 The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived when it was time to offer the Passover lamb.
For anyone wanting to read about the Days of Unleavened Bread, Exodus 12 is the place to begin. The following correlation, unless I’m greatly mistaken, begins a story that is quite fascinating, disturbing and thrilling. This is the very beginning of the story of Israel’s Feasts.
Exodus 12:14-17 This day will serve as a memorial. You must celebrate [chagag] it as a Pilgrimage Feast [chag] to Yehovah, a perpetual regulation. 15 ‘You must eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day [Preparation day] you must remove the leaven from your houses, because anyone who eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day will be ‘banished’ from Israel. 16 On the first day you must have a special assembly, and on the seventh day another special assembly. No work will be done on those days, other than making your meals. That’s all you can do. 17 “You must celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this commemorative day I brought you out of the land of Egypt like an army. So you’ll celebrate this day thruout your generations as a perpetual regulation.
During the Second Exodus, after the shock and awe when Elohim has Israel in the wilderness, He will plead His case with her again!
Ezekiel 20:34-38 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1, Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, declares the Sovereign Yehovah. 37 I’ll make you pass under the shepherd’s rod, and I’ll bind you in a [Kimchi] [New] Covenant, 38 and I’ll purge out the rebels from among you and those who disobey Me. I’ll bring them out of the land where they were living, but they won’t enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll realize that I am Yehovah.
The following reference highlights the fact that a memorial was already planned out in advance of the Exodus—or was the “same day” occurrence only coincidental?
Exodus 12:40-42 Now the length of time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 Then at the end of the 430 years, that commemorative day [2], all of Yehovah’s people marched out of the land of Egypt like an army. 42 It is a night of vigil for Yehovah, for having enabled them to leave the land of Egypt. This night is to be celebrated by all of Israel to honor Yehovah; a vigil for every Israelite thruout their generations.
[2] “This is what many are unaware of, that the use of this term suggests a reference to something from the past. When we see the words, “the selfsame day”, we ought to ask ourselves, the self-same day as what? The use of this term suggests the anniver- sary of some event. This NEW event, happening on the selfsame day, occurred on the anniversary of some prior (and related?) occurrence. That realization enhances the significance of the state-ment for us. This is evident in places, such as Exodus 12:41, which reveals that the Exodus from Egypt began on the very anniversary of when God formally and irrevocably Footnote confirmed the Covenant by oath with Abram, the same occasion in which a prophecy of the Exodus was given, four centuries earlier! Many have assumed this reference in Exodus 12:41 suggests the Children of Israel left Egypt ON the same day they ate the Passover. Though these two things were in close proximity, that wasn’t the point at all!
This “night of solemn observance” or “night of watching” is the Passover! It commemorated the Exodus. But the significance of the Second Exodus will be a drastically bigger event!!
So Again, Be Expecting The Next Exodus!
