Archive for new moon festival

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, 5784, 2023

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 13, 2023 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

The shofar is blown 100 times on the Feast of Trumpets. There are three different sounds (Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah). Each is blown three times for a total of 9 blasts. This pattern is completed 11 times for a total of 99 blasts. The last blast is set aside. It is the longest and loudest. It is known as the “Last Trump”. References provided by (El Shaddai Ministries).

~

The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the “Hidden Day”. 

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.

~

Remember, Jews visit cemeteries during the Hebrew month of Elul. Jewish belief and tradition are the resurrection of the dead will occur during the period of Teshuvah. Specifically, the resurrection of the dead is to occur on the New Moon holiday of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets.

~

What is the Apostle Paul telling us in Colossians 2?

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

This is not some Old Testament warm and fuzzy tradition. God has a point and a reason. He has not forgotten and He does not play dice. God has singled out this appointed holiday for a purpose. Judaism has been rehearsing this holiday for thousands of years since Moses.

Observations regarding the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2.

  1. Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah is a legal Feast per the Mosaic Law.
  2. This is the only New Moon Festival.
  3. The day is legally a day of rest or a Sabbath regardless, even if it is not Saturday, the legal Sabbath day of the week.
  4. This Hebrew year, 5784 or 2023 on our Western Calendar, it is possible for the new moon to be seen on a Sabbath. The calculated day is for the new moon on Sabbath.

…things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Of the seven times (number of completeness and perfection) the original Greek word skia/σκιά is used in the New Testament, it is consistently translated as “shadow“. Paul is telling us, something is coming on this day.

Jesus is the one casting the “shadow“. The shadow in the Greek has a looming presence. In the future, Christ is doing something on this day.

Be ready every day. Christ is doing the heavy lifting by raising believers to meet Him in the clouds. Resurrection and rapture on the Feast of Trumpets???

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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There Shall Be Seven Weeks: Feasts (Trumpets/Teruah, The Only New Moon Feast)

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 8, 2021 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25b …there shall be seven weeks…

The context of this series of posts is the course of the Jewish people for the initial 49 years of the 483 year period communicated from the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt post exile. These events are covered in Nehemiah 8-13. Israel is returning to God’s Law. The focus is on God’s appointed holidays. This week, the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah is the topic. Many know the day as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish civil New Year. This is the last of three posts on the initial Fall Feast.

God operates on a lunar calendar. Jews have utilized the following procedure every month for thousands of years. It is called Rosh Chodesh which means “head of the month”. At the end of a lunar cycle, the moon is dark and is not seen for 2-3 days. So, the new moon could be identified during this 2-3 day period …of that day or hour no one knows…

By God’s standards, determining the new moon is not a mathematical calculation as we do today.

By His definition, a new moon is proclaimed when the first little sliver emerges from a darkened moon. It is a tiny crescent that is noted briefly at sunset on the western horizon. The month begins at the sighting of the new moon. Two witnesses have to confirm the sighting. Upon agreement, the two witnesses report to the high priest. When the new moon is confirmed, the trumpet (shofar/ram’s horn) is blown.

It is not hard to see how humanity’s time keeping system is different than God’s. It is easy to see how the concept of time is likely different and not on the same page. God marks time from month to month on a lunar calendar.

There are people who are trained witnesses to identify the new moon. They are outside of Jerusalem when the moon goes dark and they are looking for the tiny sliver to emerge. If you are interested, see this website. http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

Why two witnesses? This concept is part of Jewish law. 

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Creation of Time: The Calendar

In the future, God will have two people bear witness to the world that humanity is sinful. With these two witnesses, He is establishing a legal declaration of evidence. If God is wrong and lying about humanity, He would bring judgment accordingly upon Himself per the law stated above. 

Revelation 11:3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Two or more witnesses to the new moon are legally establishing as fact per the law. It is about truth, character, morality and verification before God, not math.

You can know the holiday …of that day or hour no one knows… only the Father knows when the new moon is official and the holiday begins.

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There Shall Be Seven Weeks: Feasts (Trumpets/Teruah, Many Names)

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 1, 2021 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25b …there shall be seven weeks…

The context of this series of posts is the course of the Jewish people for the initial 49 years of the 483 year period communicated from the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt post exile. These events are covered in Nehemiah 8-13. Israel is returning to God’s Law. The focus is on God’s appointed holidays. This week, the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah is the topic. Many know the day as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish civil New Year. This is the second of three posts on the initial Fall Feast.

Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

Image: Getty

The shofar is blown 100 times on the Feast of Trumpets.  There are three different sounds (Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah). Each is blown three times for a total of 9 blasts. This pattern is completed 11 times for a total of 99 blasts. The last blast is set aside. It is the longest and loudest. It is known as the “Last Trump”. References provided by (El Shaddai Ministries).

This holiday has many different names. Some of the names are listed below. Jewish tradition has Rosh Hashanah as the birthday of the world and the head of years.

It is known as the “Coronation of Messiah”. Traditionally, kings of Israel have been appointed on Yom Teruah. King David was coronated on this new moon holiday. Israel’s Messiah comes from the lineage of King David.

Psalm 47 O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.

God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

It is known as the “Hidden Day”. Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.

~

It is known as the “Wedding of the Messiah”.  Joel 2:15-16 Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.

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New Moon!!! Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah Declared, Tishri 1, 5781/2020

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , on September 18, 2020 by paulthepoke

Compliments of http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

Shalom Y’all!

The New Moon was sighted this evening, Friday, September 18th, 2020 by many observers who were looking this evening…

Reports received from various observers in Israel:

“Moon sighted (naked eye) at 6:51 (then lost to sight, then seen again) from Poriya Illit by Becca Biderman.”

“From Jerusalem at 6:54pm by Devorah Gordon, followed by Rebeca Corlan, Ion Corlan, Cristian Pricop, Dawn Austin, Grant and Reidar.”

This means sunset on Friday, 18 September 2020 marks the beginning of the new month and the Feast Of Trumpets!

Sighted By: Denis, Maureen Chkolnik. Yoel Halevi and his son. Becca Biderman…. Rebeca Corlan, Ion Corlan, Cristian Pricop, Dawn Austin, Grant and Reidar.

Date Sighted: Friday, September 18th, 2020.

Time Sighted: 7:06pm Jerusalem, Israel time.

Biblical Hebrew Month: This will be the Seventh Biblical Hebrew Month, also known as Tishri or Ethanim.

The Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah begins at sunset Friday, September 18th 2020.

Atonment/Yom Kippurim: Monday, September 28th
Tabernacles/Sukkot: Saturday, October 3rd – Friday, October 9th
Last Great Day of the Feast: Saturday, October 10th

Have a very blessed and happy Feast season!
Chag Sameach!!
~ Brother Mark Harris

photo: pinterest

http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

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The Feast of Trumpets and the Rapture of The Church

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2019 by paulthepoke

Featuring Mike Brotherton

Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah begins Sundown September 29 thru Sundown October 1, 2019. It is believed by many to represent the coming of the Groom for His bride. There are other “theories” but I lean toward the Feast of Trumpets.

1. All the Spring Feasts were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming and on the exact day of the feast. All the Fall Feasts picture the second advent. And the Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts picturing the rapture.

2. The Feast of Trumpets is when the “last trump” of the rapture of 1 Corinthians 15 is blown. 99 short blasts are blown. Then there is one long final blast known as the “last trump”. 1 Corinthians 15:52 …in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

3. The Feast of Trumpets is known as the Wedding of the Messiah. The Church is the Bride of Christ. The rapture is when the Church is caught up to Heaven to be wed with Christ.

4. The Feast of Trumpets happens on a “new moon”, which is 29.5 days after the last one. This means it might occur on the 29th or 30th day, nobody knows for sure. “Of that day or hour no man knows” is an expression referring to this feast, and thus, the rapture.

5. “Of that day or hour no man knows, but my Father only” is an expression used by a Jewish groom when asked when his wedding will be. He says this because it is his Father that will tell him when his preparations on the bridal chamber are completed and it is time. Again, the wedding pictures the rapture.

6. The “Open Door” of the rapture in Matthew 25, Revelation 3, & Revelation 4:1 is a symbol of the Feast of Trumpets. Ezekiel 46:1 “Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

7. We are told that the new moon and the Feasts of the Lord are a shadow of things to come in Colossians 2:16,17. Since the Feast of Trumpets is the only Feast of the Lord that falls on a new moon, we should take particular note. Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

8. There are 10 Days of Awe in between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These picture the years of tribulation. (I believe there will be 10 years of tribulation. Although not all are included in the 7 years thought to be THE TRIBULATION. The seal judgments are not part of what is referred to as the tribulation period. They are pre Daniel’s 70th week.)

Atonement pictures Satan being defeated and cast away at the end of tribulation. If you add the two day Trumpet’s feast, and the Day of Atonement, the 7 Days of Awe are “ten days of tribulation” which might be referred to in Revelation 2:10. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

9. In the Jewish Wedding, a marriage takes place over a period of time known as the “bridal week”. During the bridal week, the groom and bride have sex in the bridal chamber. At the end of the week, there is a marriage supper. Compare Judges 14, Revelation 19, and Genesis 29:22-28. This bridal week will be the tribulation week on Earth, while the bride of Christ is in Heaven.

10. The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the Coronation of the Messiah. Then He will start reigning as king, thus the beginning of the “Day of the Lord”, which includes the tribulation.

11. In the Jewish Wedding, the groom is at his Father’s house.

12. It is also time for the Bema judgment, or the judgment of the works of the righteous, and judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.

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Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah: Jesus Casts a Shadow

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture, Resurrection with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on September 18, 2016 by paulthepoke

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

“Judge” or krinos in the Greek: The action of the verb is continuous.

Meaning of krinos: to approve, esteem, to prefer; to be of opinion, deem, think; to determine, resolve, decree; to go to law, have suit at law.

Do not let any one pass judgment or censure continuously. It is not any one’s place to scoff or mock the practice of God’s appointed holidays. The food of the festival include round challah bread, apples dipped in honey, and pomegranates.

Apples are dipped in honey and eaten for the promise of a “sweet year”.

Tradition has a round challah bread for the Lord as King.

Jews symbolically throw their sins into the river or a body of water. They rid themselves of sin.

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Rosh_Hashannah/rosh_hashannah.html

There is only one new moon festival or God appointed holiday in the Mosaic Law. It is Yom Teruah. Christians refer to this as the Feast of Trumpets.

Numbers 29:1 and Leviticus 23:23-25 state the appointment is a Sabbath Day of rest…you shall do no laborious work.

The Apostle Paul states these elements are a mere shadow of what is to come. The Greek word for “shadow” is skia. It means: an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object.

The Feast of Trumpets is a shadow cast by Jesus Christ.

…the substance belongs to Christ. Toward who do we cast our sins? Who is our King? As believers, we will rule and reign with Him in the Kingdom to come (Revelation 1:6, 3:21, 20:4, 20:6, 2 Timothy 2:12). We are baptized in Christ as believers (Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:3).

Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.  You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”

The Hebrew people have been practicing the appointment every year for approximately 3,500 years on the first day of the seventh month per the Mosaic Law. The Feast of Trumpets is the only new moon holiday on God’s calendar. Yom Teruah is set aside by God with prophetic implications. The Feast of Trumpets is a promise for the future.

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Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 3

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 28, 2014 by paulthepoke

On Thursday, September 25, 2014, Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year was proclaimed on the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish New Year or Yom Teruah was not proclaimed by some in Israel until Saturday, September 27, 2014 on the Gregorian calendar. The New Year and new month (Hebrew month of Tishri) did not start until Saturday on the Sabbath. The terms Rosh Hashanah, Feast of Trumpets, Yom Teruah, Jewish New Year, Hidden Day, New Moon Festival are synonymous. WHAT?!?!

God operates on a lunar calendar. Jews have utilized the following procedure every month for thousands of years. It is called Rosh Chodesh which means “head of the month”. At the end of a lunar cycle, the moon is dark and is not seen for 2-3 days. So, the new moon could be identified during this 2-3 day period …of that day or hour no one knows…By definition, a new moon is proclaimed when the first little sliver emerges from a darkened moon. It is a tiny crescent that is noted briefly at sunset on the western horizon. The month begins at the sighting of the new moon. Two witnesses have to confirm the sighting. Upon agreement, the two witnesses report to the high priest. When the new moon is confirmed, the trumpet (shofar/ram’s horn) is blown. It is not hard to see how humanity’s time keeping system is different than God’s. It is easy to see how the concept of time is likely different and not on the same page. God marks time from month to month on a lunar calendar.

There are people who are trained witnesses to identify the new moon. They are outside of Jerusalem when the moon goes dark and they are looking for the tiny sliver to emerge. If you are interested, see this website. http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

Why two witnesses? This concept is part of Jewish law. Deuteronomy 19:15-21 A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

If this concept was applied today, would society be different? Would people spread lie(s) about other people if they knew the consequence would the punishment of the lie(s) they were spreading?

In the future, God will have two people bear witness to the world that humanity is sinful. With these two witnesses, He is establishing a legal declaration of evidence. If God is wrong and lying about humanity, He would bring judgment accordingly upon Himself per the law stated above. Revelation 11:3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Two or more witnesses to the new moon are legally establishing as fact per the law.

You can know the holiday…of that day or hour no one knows…only the Father knows when the new moon is official and the holiday begins.

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Trend Update: Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, September 2014

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Rapture, Resurrection, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 24, 2014 by paulthepoke

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

The Feast of Trumpets is the only new moon holiday on God’s calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, the head of years. This year, 2014 on the Gregorian calendar, the holiday begins on September 24, 25, or 26. Yom Teruah is declared when the crescent of the new moon is observed by two witness and confirmed by the high priest. By definition, it is a holiday no one knows the day or hour.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Yom Teruah is set aside by God with prophetic implications. The Feast of Trumpets is a promise for the future. Jesus is the reason. Resurrection and rapture, He makes it happen. The issue may not be the hour or the day. The issue may be the year…

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Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 2

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2014 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.  You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’”

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

The shofar is blown 100 times on the Feast of Trumpets.  There are three different sounds (Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah). Each is blown three times for a total of 9 blasts. This pattern is completed 11 times for a total of 99 blasts. The last blast is set aside. It is the longest and loudest. It is known as the “Last Trump”. References provided by (El Shaddai Ministries).

This holiday has many different names. Some of the names are listed below. Jewish tradition has Rosh Hashanah as the birthday of the world and the head of years.

It is known as the “Coronation of Messiah”. Traditionally, kings of Israel have been appointed on Yom Teruah. King David was coronated on this new moon holiday. Israel’s Messiah comes from the lineage of King David.

Psalm 47 O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.

 God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

It is known as the “Hidden Day”. Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.

It is known as the “Wedding of the Messiah”.  Joel 2:15-16 Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.

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Isaiah 1:12-15 Rest Means Rest!

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , on October 18, 2010 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 1:12-15 When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards?  Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable!You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.

The focus of this study is the origin and intent of the religious works in the following verses. These include the burning of incense, new moon festivals, the Sabbath, and prayer. Again, these people are going through the motions and the Jews do not take these seriously. It is a broken record, but these folks are living a lifestyle of sin.

What is the relevance of incense? Revelation 5:8b makes it very clear what incense is. It is prayer. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). The imageryis the ascension of smoke is like a prayer being offered up to God. This same idiomatic language is noted in Psalm 141:2. Incense is the symbol for prayer. The directions for making and using incense are noted in Exodus 30:34-35. Incense is to be made in a specific manner and is to be used only in a sacred manner. If used inappropriately, the guilty party is to be cut off (DEATH!) from the people.

New Moon Festivals: These festivals were celebrated every month as prescribed by a lunar calendar. Sacrifices and offerings were a part of the festival and as noted in Numbers 28:11-15. Trumpets were blown (Numbers 10:10) and business was not conducted (Amos 8:5).

The Sabbath has taken on many meanings to the Jewish people. In Genesis 2:2-3, God rested on the seventh day after creation. The Sabbath is a reminder of the God’s rest. This day is practiced with rest and work is not to be completed. Exodus 20:8-11 “Rememberthe Sabbath day to set it apart as holy.For six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you,or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates.For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. That sounds a bit extreme in today’s culture. God takes this very seriously and he is interested in obedience. Look at Exodus 31:14. So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed,if anyone doesanywork on it, then that person will be cut off from among hispeople. Just in case there is any confusion about the penalty, death is explicitly stated emphatically two times in the verse. The phrase “cut off” in the Hebrew is another way to express death.

The last of these is prayer. Plain and simple, prayer is a conversation or dialogue between a person and God. In verse 15, you can see the person stretching their hands out and leaning their head back and closing their eyes to the heavens (much the same way as viewed on television with today’s “miracle workers” and “healers”). God’s response, He literally closes His eyes and ears to the petition. Why, because their hands are covered with blood. In the final analysis, God hates religion.

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