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| Shofar’s Last Call: Fall Feasts
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By YWGO
In late August and early September time frame the month of Elul on the Hebrew calendar, the sounds of Shofars are heard around the world. Their call beckons the countdown to end the current Jewish year. It brings in the Fall Festivals celebrated in the 7 month of the Bible calendar called:
1. Trumpets-(Rosh Hashanah)-Elul-Tishri- September
2. Atonement-(Yom Kipper)-Tishri-September October
3. Tabernacles-(Sukkot)-Tishri-October
On those High Holy Days, in ancient times the number seven is seen several times in the sacrifices and High Sabbaths to Adoni Elohim. It symbolizes the perfect number, rest, and Creation. These Hebraic scriptural hints and nuances are seen throughout the holidays. They reference Messianic symbols that refer to Yeshua’s fulfillment of the Spring feasts as the perfect Atonement, Peace through His blood, Falling of the Holy Spirit, and future judgment of the world under His New kingdom.
I. SHOFARS CALL: RECALL, REVIEW, REPENT, READ HIS TORAH, RESTORE
The month of Elul is a preparation month for these upcoming holidays. The number "40" means purification in Jewish culture. A "40 day penance" focus is put on recalling, reviewing, and repenting of past and present sins. In some Jewish communities there will be fasting and ritual immersions for purification. The word "tesuva" refers to-repentance or turning back too Adoni Elohim's ways. Much of bulk of this penance is by reading Torah, praying, asking for forgiveness and making restitution for bad choices and mistakes. People get their earthly and heavenly relationships in order before Elohim (God). Furthermore, the end of the year symbolizes one’s appointment with God on judgment Day. Every believer meditates on meeting God in person and hoping to have their name written in “The Book of Life” (Psalm 69:28, Hosea 14, Luke 10:20, Philippians 4:3 Revelation 12: 1, 20:12, 15).
“Rosh Hashanah” means “Head of the Year”. It’s Hebrew name is Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar. It is cited on the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) cycle. The mood serves as symbology of Israel’s cycles. It is also known as Day of Remembrance and Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25). This High Holy Sabbath day is spent in prayer and fellowship (Num 29:1). Many people celebrate this as a "new civil Hebrew change" or “New Year” event. Giving honor to God for His grace in carrying us through to the next year.
The shofar was used to announce the sacrifices (Num 10:10). This day calls attention to the next of the highest holy days—the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Sukkot. Elohim told Moses and nation of Israel to make silver trumpets and rams horns called shofars (Num. 10:2 & Josh. 6:8). He commanded Israel to blow the trumpets and shofars at specific times. The scriptures show they were used to:
• Proclaim God’s visits (Ex. 19:16-20).
• Worship (1 Chronicles. 15:24-29, Psalms 98:6, John 19:1).
• Coronation of israel's Kings (1 Kings 1:34 Psalms 21:1-21:13 & Hebrews 2:7).
• Signal for war (Judges 3:27).
• Declare Appointed times and seasons (Lev. 23:24 & 25:9 Judges 3:27).
• Hint cycle of the New moons-(Psalms 81:3).
• Symbols of typology and foreshadowing events(Rev. 1:10 & 8:2).
• Warn of Danger (Amos 3, Ezekiel 33:1-6, Joel 2 & Rev. 8-10).
• Call for Regathering (Num.10:3 & Judges 3:27).
• Summon living and dead (Matt 24:30-31, 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Cor 15:51-52).
II. SHOFAR’s CALL: GOD's WARNING TO REPENT AND TURN TO YESHUA
Ravi Yechiel Eckstein noted in Journey to Zion, Jewish High Holidays article 2008, mentioned From Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur, there are 10 days of Penance. Over 100 blasts each day call the people to repent as a warning before Yom Kippur symbolized also a judgment day for sins.
These days are also called “days of awe”. During this time the reading of Akeidah-“the binding of Isaac (Gen.22) is focused on. Isaac is one of the Old Testament symbols that foreshadow Yeshua’s fulfillment of being “the sacrifice” for the believer’s sins. This is a remembrance of God’s grace and promises to Abraham, friend of God and Patriarch of Faith. All the nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen. 22:18 & Galatians 3:28).
For sinners and believers, this period represents a wake up call and time to repent. For the sinner it stands as a time to consider God, His laws and their acknowledgement of Him, their sins in transgressing His Torah and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as the only atonement for their sins (John 3:16 & Acts 2:38). For the unbelieving Jew toward's Messiah of 2000 years ago;who is presently in Heaven; it is a call to come to become a complete Israeli through Yeshua’s atonement and New Covenant; whom was spoken about in the Torah and by the prophets (Gen.3:15, Gal.4:4, Duet.18:15, John 7:15-17, Acts 2nd chapter, Isaiah 7: 14 and chapter 53, 1 John 2:2). "He is the Akeidiah" (John 3:16).
For believers in Yeshua it is a time to walk a narrower path with Yeshua, turning away from sins that degenerate us and seek to die more to the will of the Holy Spirit as he regenerates us in Messiah’s image (Hebrews 10:19-39, Galatians 2:20-21 & 1 John 1:9). In essence, our repentance from sin witnesses that God is the only true source for all our needs and o dependence upon God to set us by His Son Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
III. SHOFAR’s CALL: TO YESHUA'S ATONEMENT ON THE CROSS (EXECUTION STAKE)
After the ten day last call for repentance. This 10th day called Yom Kippur “Day of Covering” symbolizes Judgment Day or the Last Day (Lev 23: 26-32). Many will use it to fast and mourn for their sins; Ravi Yechiel Eckstein noted in Journey to Zion, Jewish High Holidays article 2008 that this Holiday is the Sabbaths of Sabbaths. These scriptures are read: Lev 16, Numbers 29 7-11 and Isaiah 57:14-58 and Duet. 6:4 are read. At the end of the day is the last trumpet call for repentance.
On this day, before the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, a sacrifice using a goat bearing their sins was sent into the wilderness. It was made to “cover” the nation’s sins once a year (Lev. 16:14). The Spring Festivals promote the fact that atonement sacrifice has been made for all. (Lev. 17:11, John 3:16 &11:50-52 and book of Hebrews).
It must be noted that there is only one way for anyone’s sins to be atoned for based on Torah principals. Dr. Louis Goldberg’s notes in his book “Are there two Ways to Atonement?”, that substitution, identification, death, and exchange are vital for Israel’s atonement.
Based on Torah principles, YESHUA Ha Mashicah fulfilled it once and for all. Atonement cannot be based on traditional regulations, self help philosophy, or good works. Adoni Elohim’s Torah atonement, as prophesized in scripture was fulfilled by the blood of Yeshua as our High Priest and Passover Lamb. This is the Good News to Jews, Lost Tribes, and Gentiles.
These holidays in the Fall represent a final call to Yeshua’s sacrifice already made in these days of grace that will end “On that Day” referred to in bible where the dead in Christ shall rise (Hebrews 9). The High Priest sprinkled the blood 7 times on the alter; therefore Yeshua’s sacrifice was the perfect sacrifice and covering from God’s wrath.
IV. SHOFAR'S CALL: TO SHABBAT-REST AND RULE WITH YESHUA
After the 5 days of Yom Kippur, Sukkot begins. It is known by various names also: Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths, Feast of Engrafting, Feast of Ingathering, and Festival of he Lord (Lev. 23:33-34 & Exodus 23:16). During this final holiday, believer’s communities build a temporary “hut like dwelling” out of natural materials. It is can range from congregational size to the small structure in the backyard. For 8 days believers fellowship and have meals and simulate living in them as did our ancestors (Duet. 31:9-13 & Num. 29). This structure symbolizes remembrance and meditation on:
• 40 days of purging in the wilderness.
• Provision of God Only during those years.
• Yeshua is the prosperity and protection.
• Our time on this earth in these bodies is temporary.
• Seeking atonement for sins.
• Rejoicing in our sins being forgiven.
• Yeshua dwells with us.
• Yeshua tabernacled with us and is in us.
On the final day of Sukkot (Lev. 23:36) there is a ceremony called Hossanah Rabbah, Sh’mini Haeretz or “Great Day” of the Feast. Barney Kasdan, God’s Appointed Times, a Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holidays, 1993 outlined that historically during the second Temple period this celebration became part of prayer for the latter rains and the use of fresh water from a natural source and wine being poured out. It would be time of high celebration where the Psalms 113-118 were sang and the people waved intertwined branches and palms (Lev. 23:40-44 ). They would focus on God saving them. This would account for scriptures such as: (Isaiah12:3, 44:3 & Zechariah 10:1).
Yeshua showed up at this ceremony (John 7:37- 41). Could you imagine, Him being there while they called out for God to save them? Then it would explain His strong emotional response…. He let them know clearly that “He was the “giver of new wine and living water, the Holy Spirit! (1 John 5:7-11). HE WAS THERE!
V. SHOFAR’s CALL: PROPHECY
The other Spring Feasts are already fulfilled by Messiah’s first visit as Ben Yosef the suffering servant and High Priest. The next visit will be as Ben David the Warring Judge and King. God offers a last day’s period of time for repentance of sin in the book of revelations. In the Book of Revelations, the shofar’s represent those warning calls after each plague. On the last trumpet, the living and dead believers are called up to be with King Yeshua. Daniel 8:19, 11:27, 29 &35 note the end will occur at the time appointed or appointed time-moedim. This infers a chosen feast or time and seasons. This would mean a final and eternal setting apart or sanctification of the believers (1Thess. 5:1) .
The Shofar is a sign that He will gather His elect from the 4 corners of the earth (Matt 24:31). His “Elect” are those whose names are in the Book of Life. They are “over comers and labors of the Gospel of Yeshua” (Revelation 3:5; 12:9-12, Philippians 4:3). Sinners, those deceived into worship and taking the anti-Christ mark are not in there (Exodus 32:33, Revelation 13:8, Rev. 21:27 & Rev. 17:8).
After the Shofar is blown, the final holiday of Sukkot also represents the Fall season when the later rains come to Israel and their agricultural harvest. This season represents the foreshadowing of Holy Spirit falling and end time harvest of Israel and the Gentiles into one House called Zion. (Isaiah 12:3, Joel 2:29, Zechariah 14:16-18 and Rev. 21) note the Millennium reign of Yeshua.
In the ceremony of Sukkot, 4 species of agriculture are described as important for rejoicing in worship (Lev. 23:40-44).
• Palm trees
• Leafy trees
• Willows brook
They seem to represent the House of Yeshua made up of Jews, Lost Israel, and Gentile believers. They were grown from different terrain and environments, yet watered by the same Sprit of Messiah. Like the Sukkot, they are materials engrafted into His House of ZION (Ezekiel 36, Rev 7 & 14 , Romans 11:17-24 Galatians 3).
What a “Great Day” it will be to rejoice as a pilgrim whose name is noted in His "Lamb's Book of Life" and passing over eternally into the Promised Land to be with Messiah forever.
VI. SHOFAR'S’s CONCLUSION
The shofars call is a last day’s call for repentance. It's a time for looking inside and reviewing ourselves with His words in open honesty, acknowledgement of them, and our confession of the lack of ability to save ourselves from our sins. It calls us to turn from those sins, back to GOD’S way and eternal plan of restoration through Yeshua. The new moon serves as a forecast for Israel and gate way though Yeshua to new birth. These Fall feasts give a projection and practice for Yeshua’s 2nd Return and final atonement. He will send the later rain and harvest those ready for Him. Just as certain people during the 40 years died out in the wilderness, our life span and “The Endtime Tribulation period” represent a sorting of who will make it to the Promised land. There was only certain names in Caleb’s book that crossed over. Let’s learn the lesson Yeshua is teaching us from the foreshadowing of His appointed times.
Want your name in the LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE? (Acts 2:38)
VII. SHOFAR'S CALL TO PRAYER:
“Dear Yeshua, I am sorry for my sins, I turn away from sin. I believe that you are the Messiah-Son of God who suffered, died for me on the cross and rose from the dead. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thanks for writing my name in your Lambs book of Life. Heal my life. I commit myself to you. Help me to find a true believing fellowship for baptism and discipleship. Amen”
References
1. KJV Bible
2. Net Bible
3. Ravi Yechiel Eckstein noted in Journey to Zion, Jewish High Holidays article, 2008.
4. Dr. Louis Goldberg’s, “Are there two Ways to Atonement?”1990.
5. Barney Kasdan, God’s Appointed Times, a Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holidays, 1993
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Posted by YWGO on 2008-09-23 11:04:28 | Rating: | Views: 136
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TURNING TO THE LORD IS JOY EVERLASTING
AMEN
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Posted by good_news
on 2008-09-23 14:20:39
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Praise Elohim !!! Almighty God Creator of all
Thank you for the Blessed teaching Brother Glory!!
Agape
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Posted by Christianthoughts
on 2008-09-23 18:34:31
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