Understanding the 10 Days Of Awe

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Jun 20, 2008

Sighted Moon News Letter 5844-012
17th day of the Third month 5844 Years After Creation


June 21, 2008

Shabbat Shalom Family and Friends,
We have now covered the five curses of Lev 26 which are being applied to Israel. We have shown you, who Israel is in these modern times. We have also shown you through extensive studies, who the Beast is and those countries that now are forming to make up this empire, and the final shape of the Beast as she joins forces with the Arab nations.

Brethren, a couple of weeks ago I had a letter from England which said that these News Letters are an absolutely must read each week.

I would like you to read the next e-mail I just received. I have edited some parts.


In The Mail

Blessings to you Ditchdigger:

I viewed your video, parts 1 and 2. The information you presented was riveting to say the least. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will watch it again, several more times, and tell similar-minded friends about it. I have shared sighted moon dot com with several friends – my “Hebrew Roots” friends and a few Seventh day Adventists. No real takers on observing the Feasts yet, by the SDA’s, but several were interested enough to want to join us on a Sabbath eve dinner and Torah reading.

Video Thoughts: I was glad I had read a lot of the content on your Website before seeing it, since so much information was presented. You mentioned in the past you have had to bring a lot of people up to speed, feeding milk, before meat could be assimilated by your audience. The video was information-packed. So much so, that you might consider breaking the subject up into smaller bite-sized pieces if you do another. I don’t know how that works out financially for you. How can you continue doing this for nothing? Do not understand! (Do not muzzle the ox that treads the grain, comes to mind)

Even though I often don’t agree with some things you believe, nevertheless,
I find precious nuggets of spiritual truth I overlooked in your message, so I take what I need and leave the rest. I greatly admire your integrity and honesty.

As in the days of Noah, the door of the ark is not yet closed, but time is short. It will be closed soon, and people will not realize it is too late.

At the same time, I see many of those, such as yourself, and those of the so-called Hebrew Roots, Sacred Name movement as end time messengers, Last
Day Apostles if you will. You and many others like yourself are members of the 144,000, calling the world to fear Yah and keep his commandments – all of them – Land Sabbaths and the Jubilee’s included. Though few listen, keep shouting.

As you say “Times Up.”

Thanks for your great effort for all you do. Never doubt you are being used by our Father, and what you do is making a difference.

Oregon.

Brethren these News Letters are written to break down into smaller more digestible, portions for you of the DVD. The DVD does have a ton of information and is over whelming to many who watch it. You do need to be brought up to speed, which is why I do the News Letter.

On June 15 this past week was Shavuot, Pentecost. We were to have an online service in which people who had shown interest were invited to join. We had technical difficulties at the start, and could see some trying to join but we were unable to make it happen. I do apologize.

We did solve our problems and shared the Jubilee message with about 15 people in California while I was at my home in Ontario Canada. With questions and a lightening strike which caused us to have to reconnect, the meeting lasted about 4 hours. It was free to all who took part. And we had some very interesting questions and the presentation caused some to have to rethink what they know about prophecy.

One lady asked a very sincere question. It went along like this. I keep the Sabbath, and the Holy Days according to the Sighted Moon and the Barley being Aviv. Are these curses going to affect me, even though I don’t keep the Sabbatical or Jubilee years.

I knew she was concerned about the curses that are coming, which say they will rob you of your children and famine and war and captivity and cannibalism. But she was thinking as we all do. I am doing my part, it should be enough. Right?

I answered her by saying this.

In 586 BC the tribe of Judah and Levi and Benjamin were all keeping the Holy Days according to the Sighted Moon, and we know they kept the Sabbath. Things were not perverted until after they were taken into captivity.

But the fact remains they were taken into captivity and were killed in war and starved in the siege. And Daniel quotes Jeremiah who says that they went into captivity for not obeying and keeping the 7th year Sabbatical and the Jubilee years. They had not kept 70 of them, which means they had not kept a sabbatical year for over 427 years, or from the time of King David. We in this land do not keep the Sabbatical years and we are going to suffer the consequences of not doing so.

Some of us are getting ready to keep the Sabbatical year starting at Aviv in the spring of 2009. We do not know what the blessings will be. We will only find out if we keep the Sabbatical year. If we do not then we can plan on being involved in the curses of famine and drought, pestilence and death of family members and war and captivity.

Scriptures say that Abraham believed and it was counted as righteousness to him.

Ro 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Ro 4:9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
Ro 4:13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Ga 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Jas 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

What about you? Do you believe the things I am showing you about the Jubilee? Are you taking any action or just sitting back and relaxing?

When Yeshua closed the door on the Ark of Noah, the rest of mankind had heard the message. They did not think it could happen, because it had never rained before. Even Noah’s own family might have thought he was nuts. Noah alone was righteous. But once that door was closed and the rains came many of the people then came and pounded on the ark begging to be let in. It was too late. It was just too late!

Now what will history record about you, that you acted and saved your family, or that you just went back to watch another no mind TV program. It is time to choose now.

These News Letters are written to warn you of what is just around the next corner. Will you add your loved ones to the e-mail list or tell them to come and read these articles. As the writer above has said he keeps inviting others to the web site. And he has not been charged, nor is he bugged constantly to give money. No this is Yahweh’s site. He is the one providing for it. All you have to do is study to find your self approved. Please share this message with you family and friends and church brethren forum groups, on YahSpace His Space and any other space where biblical subjects are discussed. No matter what denomination they are. You do not know who Yahweh is calling. He is waiting for you to plant the seed. Once you do HE will water it.

Speaking of planting and watering, tonight the news said that Iowa supplies the most corn of all the US states. The levy that broke this week and allowed the Mississippi to over flow its banks has wiped out 15-20% of the corn fields in Iowa.

As I have shown you in the past Famine Pestilence and sword seem to come one right after another. Please read the past News Letters to learn more on this. Famine is stalking the earth as we speak. Food prices for corn and wheat are at all time highs. Ignoring the causes does not solve the problem.

I also was sent this note from Kenya this week.
We do print the newsletters you send and one of the named [withheld], got a new revelation from them and During Pentecost last Sunday, he was trying to draw an analogy between Pentecost and the Jubilee Year. He was very convincing, I can assure you people here are committed to the truth and are very much willing to learn.

You too might be surprised at what each of these news letter might teach you, whether you agree with all I say or not.

This weeks News Letter is possibly a review for some. But it is necessary to understand this one in order to grasp the things I will teach you next week.

The 5 curses as explained in Leviticus 26 are the curse of Terrorism, followed by the second curse of Drought and Famines, the third curse of Pestilence, and the fourth curse of the sword, and the fifth curse of Captivity and Cannibalism which we covered last week. As you understand these things more and more scriptures will fall into place and begin to make complete sense.

This is why Israel is not mentioned as a force in the last days. She will have been destroyed and taken into captivity by the beast power. Many groups teach that the USA is the Beast. Speaking bluntly, they are deceived. The USA and England are about to be over thrown by the Beast power which they consider a friend. Please see our studies on the Beast from this winter.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of Yahweh; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of Yahweh? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Peter was quoting Proverbs 11:31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Last Sabbath a brother who had been in Israel with me called and we talked for a very long time. It was very enjoyable for me. Last weeks News Letter had stirred him. He was thinking about the things I had said and about how many were going to die in the USA. It was a very sobering large number who would die. He mentioned Ezekiel in relation to last weeks News Letter. Read Ezekiel now in case I did not quote him before.

Ezekiel 5: 1 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel. 5 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. 6 She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’ 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’– 8 therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. 9 And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations. 10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds. 11 Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. 12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 13 ‘Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them, and I will be avenged; and they shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them. 14 Moreover I will make you a waste and a reproach among the nations that are all around you, in the sight of all who pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ “

A third by fire, one third by sword, and the remaining third go into captivity who are to be killed by the sword while in captivity. Some will be tucked away and then some of the ones tucked away will be thrown into the fire.

But how many of you caught the subtleness of Yahweh. He told Ezekiel to use the sword as a razor. We are told that Assyria is that hired razor in Isaiah 7:18 And it shall come to pass in that day That the Lord will whistle for the fly That is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 They will come, and all of them will rest In the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, And on all thorns and in all pastures. 20 In the same day the Lord will shave with a hired razor, With those from beyond the River, with the king of Assyria, The head and the hair of the legs, And will also remove the beard.

We have shown you much about Assyria in great detail and I am not going to rehash this now.

Before we get started just take a look at the number of scripture where Yahweh tells us He will send Famine (which is Drought), Pestilence and sword. These are the second, third and fourth curse, of Lev 26. I will just list them for you. There are 23 versus.

2 Chronicles 20:9 ‘If disaster comes upon us–sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine–we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

Jer 14:12 “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

Jer 21:7 And afterward,” says the Lord, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence and the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword. He shall not spare them, or have pity or mercy.” ‘

Jer 21:9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him.

Jer 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, till they are consumed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’ ”

Jer 27:8 And it shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,’ says the Lord, ‘with the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Jer 27:13 Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Jer 29:17 thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.

Jer 29:18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth–to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

Jer 32:24 Look, the siege mounds! They have come to the city to take it; and the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword and famine and pestilence. What You have spoken has happened; there You see it!

Jer 32:36 “Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:

Jer 34:17 “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’ says the Lord–‘to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.

Jer 38:2 “Thus says the Lord: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’

Jer 42:17 So shall it be with all the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to dwell there. They shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. And none of them shall remain or escape from the disaster that I will bring upon them.’

Jer 42:22 Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to dwell.”

Jer 44:13 For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence,

Eze 5:12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

Eze 5:17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

Eze 6:11 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, ‘Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.

Eze 6:12 He who is far off shall die by the pestilence, he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine. Thus will I spend My fury upon them.

Eze 7:15 The sword is outside, And the pestilence and famine within. Whoever is in the field Will die by the sword; And whoever is in the city, Famine and pestilence will devour him.

Eze 12:16 But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Eze 14:21 For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem–the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence–to cut off man and beast from it?

He does not change. He is the same today and for ever. So are His punishments. And this has been what we have been showing you with the curses of Lev 26. Do you believe the bible or not? Is this stuff coming or not? The choice you make will affect the lives of your loved ones and family. Whether they live or die, is going to be up to you. Are you ready for this?

The question is now, what is next after Israel is taken and put into captivity?

For some time I pondered this and it was not until I began to consider the Holy Days and what each one means, that I was able to understand this whole thing.

Yeshua came and was killed at Passover. We are to put sin out of our lives which is what we do symbolically when we put leaven out of our homes which is represented when we keep the Days of Unleavened Bread. The Law or Ten Commandments were given at Pentecost and so was the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. Most of us know these things about the spring Holy Days.

But, what about the fall Holy Days? How do they figure into the over all plan of Yahweh? And how do they tie into the Jubilee cycle? This weeks and next weeks studies are going to be very interesting.

Have you considered Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Why are we not commanded to go up for the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement? Why are they excluded?

To help show this in chart form, please go to the charts and look at them as I explain these things to you. Sightedmoon Chart Archives

Before I understood the things I have been explaining to you in these News Letters, Yahweh had shown me that the Jubilee year and Pentecost had the same or similar meanings. One was after 50 days, and the other was after 50 years.

Pentecost was the wave offering of the two loafs. The only other wave offering was that of the sheaf offering, which was shortly after Passover. Again I refer you to the article Pentecost Hidden Meaning. It has been getting much attention lately.

In this article I show you that when Yeshua was raised from the dead He lead a host of saints to Heaven with Him as First Fruits. Notice more than one fruit. I go on to show you that the Wave offering at Pentecost are the rest of the Saints being raised up after the Tribulation. Both wave offerings are part of the first resurrection. The resurrection of the saints. The Eighth day Feast which comes after the Feast of tabernacles is also representing the Great White Throne judgment on the rest of mankind at the end of the age.

We have here two Holy days, with similar events pictured to take place on these Holy Days, the resurrection of the saints at Pentecost which began with the start of the counting of the Omer, the second resurrection, with the end of the age and the resurrection of all men.

This is also what the Jubilee pictures. The redemption of mankind by the Messiah, Yeshua.

Stop and think a moment. The whole plan of Yahweh is for what? It is to bring all men to the salvation of Yahweh. All the Holy Days and all of the Bible are for this purpose.

There is another example written in the stars for those who are willing to look up at night. What we call the little dipper is in fact known as the little bear and is mentioned by Yahweh in Job.

Job 38: 31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? 32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? 33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Job 9: He alone spreads out the heavens, And treads on the waves of the sea; 9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

The big dipper was known as the big bear. The little bear represents those resurrected saints who went up with Yeshua after His crucifixion. Have you never asked what happened to those Saints who came out of the grave at the death of Yeshua? Were they to die a second death? No. Then where did they go? Paul says He, Yeshua, lead a host of captives with him.

Here is a quote from Pentecost Hidden Meaning,

The consecration of the first fruits sanctifies the whole harvest, since the part stands for the whole. As Paul puts it, ” If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump” ( Rom. 11:16) By the symbolic gesture of consecrating the first fruits, the whole of the harvest was consecrated to Yahweh.

The idea that the consecration of a part exercises a sanctifying influence on all is applied in the bible to the plan of salvation “Israel was holy to the Lord, The first fruits of His harvest” (Jer. 2:3 Hos. 9:10 ), because it was called by Yahweh to exercise a sanctifying influence on all nations. Similarly, as Christians, we are “a kind of first fruits of His creatures: (James 1:8), because we are called to be a sanctifying influence in the world. Those who arose from the dead at the time of Yeshua’s resurrection became the first fruits, that is, the pledge of all those who will rise at the time of Yahshua’s return ( Matt. 27:52-53; Eph.4:8; 1 Thes. 4:13-18). The 144,000 saints who follow the Lamb are: the first fruits for Yahweh and the Lamb” ( Rev. 14:4).

Paul specifically calls Yeshua’s resurrection the first fruits of those who will rise from the dead. “20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1Cor.15:20-24)
In this passage, Paul speaks of Yeshua twice as “the first Fruits,” not only to indicate that He was the first to rise bodily from the grave, but also that by so doing He fulfilled the offering of the first fruits. At Passover and Pentecost. We have noted that the omer of the sheaf of Barley was waved before Yahweh, by the priest as a pledge of the full harvest that would follow. The ceremony was performed on the day after the weekly Sabbath at about 9 AM, Sunday Morning. ” The wave sheaf offering, specifically the roasted omer of grain, with salt and frankincense, was a type of Christ, the “first fruits” or pledge, of the great harvest that will follow when all the righteous dead are raised at the second coming of Yeshua ( 1Cor. 15:23, 1 Thes. 4:14-16). Yeshua rose from the dead on the eve of the very day that the wave offering was presented in the Temple ( Lev. 23:14, Luke 23:56, 24:1) As the first sheaf was a pledge and assurance of the ingathering of the entire harvest, so the resurrection of Yeshua is a pledge that all who put their trust in Him will be raise from the dead.

Please take note. The Priest did not present before Yahweh just one head of grain, but a whole omer of Barley. Salted and Frankincense were also added. Similarly Yeshua did not come forth from the grave alone, for “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matt. 27:52) Paul tells us that when Yeshua “ascended on high he led a host of captives” ( Eph. 4:8 RSV). Those who were raised at Yeshua’s death and came “out of the tombs after His resurrection” (Matt 27:53) ascended with Yeshua to heaven as trophies of His powers to resurrect all who sleep in the grave. Just as the Omer of Barley was a pledge of the coming harvest, so the saints that Yeshua raised at the time of His death are a pledge of a future harvest of Saints.

These Saints are the little bear. The big bear or big dipper represents the next resurrection. I should say the completion of the first resurrection which is completed at Pentecost, and is shown to us in the wave offering of the two loaves. Notice they have leaven in them.

The constellation of Cancer is today depicted as a crab. Historically it was depicted as a sheep fold and contained sheep and donkeys. This constellation is representative of the protection given to those who follow Yahweh. In it is a star called the secret place. The next constellation in this series is the Ship Argos which represents the final resurrection of man at the end of the ages or the great white throne judgment. The redemption of all mankind which is what the Jubilee represents.

What I am showing you here is this. The Jubilee cycle, and Pentecost and the Eighth Day of the Feast are all similar in meaning and teachings. As shown to us in the stars, and in scripture.

From our studies we have learned that the last Jubilee year was 1996. This would make the 120th Jubilee to end on 2045.

Because the Jubilee and the Eighth day of the feast are similar in the redemption of all mankind, one day I put them down on a piece of paper and began to work backwards from 2045.

If you would look at the charts at Sightedmoon Chart Archives and open up Jubilee charts. It would be good for you to download this and print off a color copy for yourself, so you can reference it. Please, you have my blessing to do so. In fact make many copies and give them to everyone you can.

On sheet one scroll to the bottom where I have the year 2045. Beside it is the Eighth day feast. This is also the Jubilee year.

The 49th year is represented by the 7th day or the Last Great day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven day feast so we count back seven years and we are at the year 2038. Five days before the Feast is the Day of Atonement so five years before 2038 is 2033. The Feast of Trumpets is 10 days before Atonement so we count back 10 years and we come to the year 2024.

This exercise was interesting when I first did it. But I had not figured out that the curses of Lev 26 started at the Jubilee year in 1996. Later I did come to this understanding and plotted the curses from 1996 to 2023 as you can see on the chart starting at the top and coming down. This is what we have just covered these past five weeks.

It took some time before I was able to find the connection between the curses of the first 27 years which are at the top of the Jubilee chart and the Holy Days which are at the bottom.

The answer is the most remarkable thing I have come across. It is truly an inspirational teaching.

Take a look at your chart. Each of the curses was slated for seven years in duration before the next curse was added to the previous one. The curse of the sword would be finished by the Sabbatical year of 2023, but because there are prisoners of war in every conflict I over lapped the captivity stage by a couple of years.

If we start the captivity on an exact date of 2024, and it was right after the sword, then we would have the captivity start in the year of 2024 and it would run for 7 years, up to 2031 to fulfill the curse of Lev 26:27.

But at the end of seven years what is to happen to Israel then. She is just a remnant at this time. A tenth of what she was a few years before.

The Answer comes from a simple understanding of Jewish teachings. And from an understanding of the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement and the time period between these two feast days.

 

Lets first explain the meaning of the Feast of Trumpets.

From last years News Letter THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS WHY JUDAH DOES NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF THIS DAY

The Feast of Trumpets begins the ten days of awe which end with the day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. They are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.

From a Jewish perspective, one of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that Yahweh has books that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, (This is what the Jews call the Head of the Year. But the scriptures say the beginning of the year is Aviv, not the seventh month) but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter Yahweh’s decree. The actions that change the decree are teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah, repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity). These “books” are sealed on Yom Kippur. This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting during this time of year, “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

Among the customs of this time, it is common to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year. The Talmud maintains that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and Yahweh. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.

Work is permitted as usual during the intermediate Days of Awe, from 2nd day of the Seventh month to the 9th day of the seventh month, except of course for Shabbat during that week.

From karaite Korner we have the following

Yom Teruah is a holiday on the 1st day of the Seventh month (Tishrei). The Rabbis wrongly call it New Years (Rosh Hashannah) when really it is a Day of Shouting (Teruah) in prayer to God.
On the 1st day of the Seventh month (Tishrei) the Torah commands us to observe a “Day of Shouting” (Lev 23,23-25; Nu 29,1-6) on which work is forbidden. This holiday is widely known today by the Rabbinic misnomer “Rosh Hashannah”. The Bible never calls this holiday Rosh Hashanah but instead variously calls it Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting) and Zicharon Teruah (Remembrance Shouting). The Rabbis renamed the holiday Rosh Hashana (New Years) claiming that the Jewish year actually begins in Tishrei. The absurdity of this claim is immediately apparent since the Bible refers to this holiday as falling out in the Seventh month (Tishrei is a later name never used in the Torah). How could New Years fall out in the Seventh month!

The actual beginning of the year is described in Ex 12,2 which states “This month will be for you the beginning of months; It is first of the months of the year”. After this explicit statement the Torah proceeds to describe the ceremony of the Passover sacrifice which is to take place in this First month. Similarly, Lev 23 and Nu 28 list the holidays and both passages describe Passover in the First month and Yom Teruah in the Seventh month. Thus there can be no question that the “beginning of months” mentioned in Ex 12,2 refers to the first of Nissan (in which Passover is celebrated) and not to Yom Teruah which takes place in the Seventh month.

The Rabbis claim that later in the Tanach Yom T’ruah is referred to as Rosh Hashanna. Indeed, the expression Rosh Hashannah does appear in Ez 40,1 which reads “In the beginning of the year (Rosh Hashannah) on the tenth of the month”. The fact that Ez 40,1 refers to the tenth day of “Rosh Hashannah” makes it clear that the reference here is to the entire First month and not to the first day of the year. Even if Ezekiel is referring to the 1st day of the 1st month there is no justification to say he is referring to anything other than the 1st day of Nissan (First month).

Undoubtedly the Rabbis felt a need to associate Yom Teruah with New Years because they felt uncomfortable that the Bible does not give us a reason for celebrating this holiday as it does for all of the other Biblical holidays (such as the Exodus for Hag Hamatzot and Harvest for Shavuot). However, the true nature of Yom Teru’ah can be adduced from its name. In the Bible “Teruah” means to make a loud noise either by blowing a horn (e.g. Shofar Lev 25,9; Silver Trumpets Nu 10,5-6) or by shouting in prayer (Ps 100,1). The purpose of Yom Teru’ah then was probably to shout to YHWH in prayer similar to the idea commonly expressed in the Psalms such as “Shout unto God with a singing voice!” (Ps 47,2) which uses the same verbal root as “Teruah”. The Rabbis claim that this noise making can only be done with a Shofar (ram’s horn). There is no Biblical evidence for this assertion and on the contrary as has been shown the word ‘Teruah” can indicate various methods of noise making from shouting in prayer to blowing on the Silver Trumpets (Nu 10) all of which the Bible describes as acts of worshipping YHWH (see also Psalm 150).

 

Biblical Verses which mention Yom Teruah:

In Lev 23,23-25 “And YHWH spoke unto Moses saying, Speak to the Children of Israel saying, In the Seventh month on the first of the month will be a day of rest (Shabbaton) for you, a Remembrance Shouting, a holy convocation. You shall do no work and you will bring a fire sacrifice to YHWH.”

In Nu 29,1-6 “And in the Seventh month on the first of the month will be a holy convocation for you; you shall do no work, it will be a Day of Shouting for you.
[List of Sacrifices for Yom Teruah].”

In Amos 8,4-5 “Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, that make the poor of the land to fail, Saying, When will New Moon Day pass that we may sell our grain, and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying with deceitful balances?”

From the Jewish sources above, we see that they have no real idea why we keep this day, as we just read in the Karaite Korner. [ they felt uncomfortable that the Bible does not give us a reason for celebrating this holiday as it does for all of the other Biblical holidays ] Until I was preparing this News Letter I did not know that.

This then is very similar to when the Jewish people were keeping Passover and again did not know the meaning of those days. So that when the Messiah came they did not recognize Him and killed Him.

Let us then with out prejudice read what the United Church of God says about this day.

 

The Feast of Trumpets: A Turning Point in History

The Feast of Trumpets introduces the autumn festivals-representing the culmination of the present age of man and the beginning of an incredible time during which God will play a much more direct part in world events. The previous festivals constitute personal responses to the workings of God in the people He calls and chooses. But the Day of Trumpets heralds the intervention of God in the affairs of humanity on a global basis. This Holy Day represents a dramatic turning point in world history.

This particular festival also marks the beginning of the third and final feast season (Exodus 23:14; Deuteronomy 16:16), which includes the final four Holy Days of the year.

 

The return of Yeshua

The Feast of Trumpets depicts nothing less than the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish the Kingdom of God! The book of Revelation reveals a sequence of earth-shaking events depicted by angels sounding a series of seven trumpet blasts. The seventh angel’s sounding of the last trumpet signifies that “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). The return of Jesus Christ stands as the final and most significant event associated with the blowing of the prophetic trumpets. Of all the prophecies in the Bible, this one surely heralds the most exciting news possible for this weary, sin-filled world!

The Feast of Trumpets also marks the future fulfillment of the many Old Testament prophecies that speak of a Messiah coming as a king who will rule with power and authority. The concept of a conquering Messiah was on the minds of the apostles immediately after Jesus” resurrection. When He appeared to them in those early days, they asked questions such as: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6).

Even in His earthly ministry, Jesus had spoken of distinctions between His first and second coming. When Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, questioned Jesus just before the crucifixion, Jesus stated clearly that He had not come to rule at that time.

My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told the government official. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered in the affirmative: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:36-37).

After Christ’s resurrection, the apostles excitedly anticipated the fulfillment of Jesus promises. They were aware of messianic prophecies such as Isaiah’s that describe a time during which “the government will be upon His shoulder” and “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

In answer to the apostle question when they asked Him if He would soon establish the Kingdom, Jesus told them they were not to know “times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7). Instead, Christ told them to focus on spreading the gospel, the good news-throughout the world. Later, in due time, the apostles realized that Christ’s second coming was not necessarily imminent.
Numerous scriptures describe the saints as eagerly looking forward to Christ’s return. Why the symbolism of Trumpets?

The excitement of this Holy Day, picturing these monumental events, is captured in the symbolism of this festival. Ancient Israel celebrated it with “a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts” (Leviticus 23:24, NIV).

What is the significance of the dramatic sounds accompanying the observance of this day? To help us understand the symbol of trumpets, let’s take a brief look at the use of that musical instrument in the Bible.
God instructed ancient Israel in the appropriate use of trumpets to communicate important messages. The sounding of one trumpet meant a meeting of the leaders of Israel. Two trumpets sounded to call a gathering of all of the people (Numbers 10:3-4). God also used a trumpet to herald His meeting with Israel when He descended upon Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16).

Trumpets could also sound a warning. Numbers 10:9 states, “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets.” In this case the trumpets resounded a warning of impending danger and imminent warfare.

Trumpets could also furnish a festive sound: “Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets … and they shall be a memorial for you before your God” (Numbers 10:10).

With their ability to transmit sound over great distances, trumpets were excellent instruments for attracting people’s attention. In connection with this Feast Day, Psalm 81:3 exhorts: “Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day.”

Amplification of trumpets meaning

The writers of the New Testament revealed additional understanding of the significance of the blowing of trumpets. Notice Paul’s description of the return of Jesus Christ: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Paul also spoke of the day when the first fruits pictured by Pentecost will be resurrected to immortal life. In 1 Corinthians 15:52 he says this will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”

The apostle John associated the blowing of a trumpet with Christ’s return when he wrote, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15). These passages dramatically attest to the significance of the Feast of Trumpets.
Although the Trumpets festival isn’t mentioned by name in the New Testament, we have no valid reason for assuming that this Holy Day should not be kept. On the contrary, the early Church used the Hebrew scriptures as their foundation for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16). Like the Ten Commandments (James 2:10-11), each of Godâ’s festivals is intimately and intricately related to the others. By keeping all of them, we can understand God’s remarkable plan for humanity as it unfolds. We should not ignore some of His Holy Days while observing others.

Yeshua’s Prophetic Teaching

Near the end of Christ’s physical ministry, the apostles asked Him about the end of the present era. Notice Matthew 24:3: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Earlier, Daniel had prophesied about the establishment of the Kingdom of God and how the saints, or God’s people, would inherit that kingdom (Daniel 2:44; 7:18). Like the disciples, however, Daniel did not understand when the Kingdom would come.

Nonetheless, Jesus began to explain the events that would lead up to His return. Jesus explained a prophecy that had been “closed up and sealed” since Daniel’s day (Daniel 12:9). In Matthew 24 Jesus Christ described to His disciples religious deception, wars, famines, disease, earthquakes and other calamities (verses 4-13). He characterized the time of His return as an era of hatred and lawlessness. In this setting Jesus said, “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14).

More details in the book of Revelation

Later Jesus Christ revealed many more details about this pivotal time. The book of Revelation is described as “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). Here Christ repeated through the apostle John the same events He had described to His disciples decades earlier. Now, however, Jesus used the symbolism of a series of seals

He would open one by one (Revelation 6).

After this, at the beginning of God’s wrath against the disobedient nations, Jesus prophesied seven plagues to be poured out upon a sinning world, with a trumpet blast announcing each (Revelation 8-9). Finally God will send two “witnesses,” or “prophets,” to proclaim His truth to a rebellious world (Revelation 11). Tragically, this godless society will reject these two people of God and kill them (verses 7-10).
These dramatic events set the stage for the seventh angel’s trumpet sounding and Jesus Christ’s return to assume ruler ship over the governments of the earth (Revelation 11:15).

Of this same scenario, Matthew 24 says that “immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (verses 29-31).

Unprecedented events at Christ’s return

Incredibly, when Jesus Christ returns to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the nations of the earth will gather to fight against Him (Zechariah 14:1-4). Revelation 19:19 describes this impending battle: “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him [Jesus Christ] who sat on the horse and against His army.”

Why would anyone want to fight the Messiah? The armies will try to destroy Christ because Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). The devil’s influence will inspire the nations to fight against Christ when He returns. (The next chapter reveals how God will deal with Satan’s deception.)

The Feast of Trumpets also signals a resurrection of the dead. The apostle Paul spoke of this event: “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:21-23).
Paul further explained: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), immediately followed by the people of God who are alive at that time (verse 17).

Revelation 20:5 describes this as the “first resurrection.” This change to immortal life was the hope of early Christians and remains the fervent hope of those who understand God’s plan.

In the book of Romans, Paul describes this resurrection as a glorious deliverance from bondage: “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God, because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God; And not only they, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:19, 21, 23).

 

We see that, even though tragic events lie ahead, the good news is that God will intervene to save humanity and guide mankind into His way of life.
Jesus Christ will return to establish God’s millennial rule, bringing His perfect government to earth. This is the wonderful, inspiring meaning of the Feast of Trumpets. Christ taught us to pray “thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10, KJV).
How urgently we need the answer to that prayer!

Taken from http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/pointinhistory.htm

It is just before this time that the events of the world are so terrible that our brother Judah will shout out to our Messiah saying Yah Shua which means Yah (God) Shua (save us).
Yeshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. Jesus is what the Greeks called Him which does not mean anything.

What an incredible time this event will herald in. This is why Judah does not know the meaning of this day, because most of the explanations come from the teachings of Yeshua whom they do not at the moment recognize.

Preparing For Yom Kippur – Review and Comment

The holiest day of the year is devoted to prayer and introspection. Although similar to Tisha B’Av as regards the restrictions against: eating, drinking, washing, using ointments, marital relations, and wearing leather shoes; the mood of Yom Kippur is totally different. Tisha B’Av, which is the ninth of Av, and is the fast that commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples. Those two events occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same date is a sad day steeped in the memories of past tragedies and calamities. Yom Kippur is a solemn day, filled with the hope for forgiveness and the elation of a renewed relationship with both G-d and man.
Yom Kippur is the only biblically ordained fast day

From Nazarene Israel
The Day of Atonements (Yom Kippur)

The tenth day of the seventh month is called by several names, but it is usually called Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. However, the Torah actually calls it Yom HaKippurim  or ˜The Day of the Atonements (plural).”

The Day of the Atonements is the most set-apart day of our year. YHWH tells us not to do any work at all on this day, for YHWH promises to cut off anyone who does not make this a day of complete rest.

Leviticus 23:26-32
26 And YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying:
27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of the Atonements. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to YHWH.
28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonements, to make atonement for you before YHWH your Elohim.
29 For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.
30 And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.
31 You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32 It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”

Yom HaKippurim is called “the Fast” at Acts 27:9, because it is traditionally observed by abstaining from both food and water for twenty-four hours.

Ma’asim (Acts) 27:9-10
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Shaul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”

However, while fasting is a good way to afflict one’s soul, the commandment is not necessarily to fast, but rather to afflict one’s soul from the evening ending the ninth of the month, to the evening ending the tenth.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:32
32 It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”

While fasting can lead to desirable spiritual benefits, let us recognize that it is not always medically appropriate for diabetics, intensive care patients and/or nursing mothers to fast. If one’s medical condition precludes fasting, then other forms of self-affliction, such as wearing sack cloth next to the skin, still fulfill YHWH’s commandment to afflict our souls.

Numbers 29:7-11 gives a second witness that we are to abstain from all forms of work on this day. It also gives us a list of the sacrifices YHWH expects the priesthood to offer on Yom HaKippurim, whenever a Temple or Tabernacle stands.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 29:7-11
7 “On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a set-apart convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work.
8 You shall present a burnt offering to YHWH as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish.
9 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;
11 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.”

Hebrews 9:7 tells us these sacrifices were to atone for sins the people committed in ignorance.

Ivrim (Hebrews) 9:7
7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance….

However, the High Priest also sent a scapegoat forth into the wilderness.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16:1-34
1 Now YHWH spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aharon, when they offered profane fire before YHWH, and died;
2 And YHWH said to Moshe: “Tell Aharon your brother not to come at just any time into the Set-apart Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
3 “Thus Aharon shall come into the Set-apart Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering.
4 He shall put the Set-apart linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are Set-apart garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.
6 “Aharon shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.
7 He shall take the two goats and present them before YHWH at the door of the Tabernacle of Meeting.
8 Then Aharon shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for YHWH and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aharon shall bring the goat on which YHWH’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.
10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before YHWH, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
11 “And Aharon shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.
12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before YHWH, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.
13 And he shall put the incense on the fire before YHWH, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die.
14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.
16 So he shall make atonement for the Set-apart Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
17 There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Set-apart Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.
18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before YHWH, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19 Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Set-apart Place, the Tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat.
21 Aharon shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.
22 The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.
23 “Then Aharon shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Set-apart Place, and shall leave them there.
24 And he shall wash his body with water in a Set-apart place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.
25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
26 And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
27 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Set-apart Place, shall be carried outside the camp. And they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal.
28 Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
29 “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.
30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before YHWH.
31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
32 And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the Set-apart garments;
33 then he shall make atonement for the Set-apart Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34 This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as YHWH commanded Moshe.

While extremely controversial, since the scapegoat was sent forth to bear “all” the sins of the people, some scholars believe the scapegoat even served to atone for sins that had been committed intentionally, provided the sinner had later repented of his sin (as in the case of King David’s infamous sin with Bathsheba). The Talmud tells us that the people knew when their sins had been forgiven, for the High Priest tied one piece of scarlet wool on the horns of the scapegoat, and then YHWH would supernaturally cause this piece of scarlet wool to turn white when He had forgiven their sins.

Isaiah 1:18
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says YHWH. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

According to the Talmud, a second piece of wool was tied first to the door of the Temple, and then later to a rock, so that those in the Temple would also be able to see when YHWH had forgiven his people.

R. Nahman b. Isaac said it was the tongue of scarlet, as it has been taught: Originally they used to fasten the thread of scarlet on the door of the [Temple] court on the outside. 28 If it turned white the people used to rejoice, 29 and if it did not turn white they were sad. They therefore made a rule that it should be fastened to the door of the court on the inside. People, however, still peeped in and saw, and if it turned white they rejoiced and if it did not turn white they were sad. They therefore made a rule that half of it should be fastened to the rock and half between the horns of the goat that was sent [to the wilderness].
[Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 31b, Soncino Press]

The Talmud also tells us that forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the scarlet thread stopped turning white. It now remained red, indicating that YHWH was no longer forgiving His people their sins.

For forty years before the destruction of the Temple the thread of scarlet never turned white but it remained red.
[Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 31b, Soncino Press]

Tractate Yoma 39b gives us a second witness that for the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the “crimson-coloured strap” no longer turned white.

Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [For the Lord] [sic] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white; nor did the westernmost light shine; and the doors of the Hekal would open by themselves, until R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: Hekal, Hekal, why wilt thou be the alarmer thyself?5 [Babylonian Talmud Tractate Yoma 39b, Soncino Press]

If the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, forty years prior to that date puts the cessation of this miracle circa 30 CE, which is when many scholars believe Yeshua died for our sins, and was raised again the third day.

[Sighted Moon has proven this year to be 31 CE. This ceremony was Atonement in 30 CE. Six month later was Passover when Yahshua was killed.]

The Talmud contains many different sorts of entries, some of which seem factual, and many of which seem controversial. However, if this particular miracle as recorded in Talmud is to be believed, it seems it could only have been a sign from YHWH, showing His people that Yeshua really was their Messiah, and that the blood of mere bulls and goats would no longer be enough to cause Him to forgive His people’s sins.

From http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HD/HD.pdf

The Day of Atonement:
Removal of Sin’s Cause
and Reconciliation to God
We have already seen-through the symbolism involved in the Passover that Christ’s shed blood atones for our past sins. In fact, atonement means reconciliation. The Day of Atonement symbolizes the reconciliation of God and all humanity.

If we are reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice, why do we need another Holy Day to teach us about reconciliation? If we are already reconciled, why do we need to fast, as commanded on the Day of Atonement? (Leviticus 23:27; Acts 27:9). What is this day’s specific significance in God’s master plan for the salvation of mankind?

The Day of Atonement and Passover both teach us about the forgiveness of sin and our reconciliation with God through Christ’s sacrifice. However, although the Passover is personally and (for the time being) individually applied to Christians whom God has called in this age, Atonement carries immediate universal implications.

Moreover, the Day of Atonement pictures an essential additional step in God’s salvation plan not to be found in the symbolism of the Passover. This step must take place before humanity can experience true peace on earth. All people suffer the tragic consequences of sin.

But sin doesn’t happen without a cause, and God makes this cause clear in the symbolism associated with the Day of Atonement.

Satan the author of sin

The Day of Atonement involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures the removal of the primary cause of sin—Satan and his demons. Until God removes the original instigator of sin, mankind will simply continue to fall back into disobedience and suffering. Although our human nature has a part to play in our sins, Satan the devil bears great responsibility for influencing mankind to disobey God.

Even though many people doubt the existence of a devil, the Bible reveals Satan as a powerful, invisible being who can sway all mankind.

Revelation 12:9 tells us that his influence is so great that he “deceives the whole world”

The devil blinds people to the understanding of God’s truth. The apostle Paul explained this to the Corinthians: If “our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Paul also teaches us that Satan has influenced every human to walk in the ways of disobedience.

He notes that those called into God’s church “once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

Paul warned the Corinthians that Satan can present himself as righteous, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Jesus Christ plainly stated that Satan introduced sin and rebellion into the world. In John 8:44 Christ made this plain to those who were antagonistic to His teaching: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Tying these scriptures together lets us see the power and the influence of Satan. Paul warned us to beware of the deceitful methods of the devil:”But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning; your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 11:3, NIV).

Christians who struggle to resist Satan and stop sinning fight a spiritual battle against the devil and his demons. Paul explains: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB).

Paul further explains here that Jesus Christ will deliver us from the influence of the devil (verses 13-18). Of course, God is much more powerful than Satan, but we must do our part by actively resisting the devil and the pulls of the flesh. The Day of Atonement looks forward to the time during which Satan’s deception will be removed and he will no longer be free to influence and deceive mankind (Revelation 20:1-3).

Old Testament symbolism

Leviticus 16 describes God instructing ancient Israel to observe the Day of Atonement. Although, since the sacrifice of Christ, no need remains for animal sacrifices, this chapter adds significantly to our understanding of God’s plan.

Notice that the priest was to select two goats for a sin offering for the people, and he was to present them before the LORD (verses 5, 7).

Aaron, the high priest, was to cast lots to select one”for the LORD” which he was to offer as a sacrifice (verses 8-9). This goat represented Jesus Christ, who would be slain to pay the penalty for our sins.

The other goat served a completely different purpose: “But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness” (verse 10). Notice that this goat was not to be killed. The high priest was to “lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelite  ”all their sins and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert” (verses 21-22, NIV).

The priest chose by lot the “scapegoat,” or Azazel, as the word appears in the original Hebrew. Many scholars identify Azazel as the name of a demon inhabiting the wilderness (Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 1, p. 326). The Azazel goat represents Satan, who bears the responsibility for the sins of humanity (verse 22) because of the deception he has foisted upon mankind.

The high priest laid hands on this goat and confessed over it the wickedness, rebellion and sins of the people. Why did he do that? As present ruler of the world, the devil bears responsibility for his perversity in beguiling and coercing humanity to sin. “The sending of the sin-laden goat . . . signified the complete removal of the sins of the people and the handing them over, as it were, to the evil spirit to whom they belonged” (The One Volume Bible Commentary, p. 95).

A scapegoat, in modern usage, is someone unfairly held responsible for the mistakes of others. However, the modern English word scapegoat cannot properly be applied to Satan; the devil is not a scapegoat in the modern sense of the term. (Although some Bible versions use the word “scapegoat” Green’s Literal Translation more accurately calls it the “goat of departure.”) Rather than unfairly bearing the blame for sin, Satan will be held justly accountable for his own deliberate actions by which he has led humanity into sin for thousands of years.

The symbolism of the live goat parallels the fate of Satan and his demons, whom God will remove before Jesus Christ’s millennial rule is established. The book of Revelation describes this event: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished . . .” (Revelation 20:1-3).

Thus the devil and his demons, who for thousands of years have led mankind into every evil deed imaginable, will be removed to a place of restraint (verse 4). Complete global reconciliation to God cannot occur until the source of so much sin and suffering Satan is removed.

The modern application of this festival

Now notice specific instructions on when and how we are to keep this festival. “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement” God says. “It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls . . .” (Leviticus 23:27).

How do you “afflict your soul” on this day? Afflict comes from the Hebrew anah, which means “to be afflicted, be bowed down, be humbled, be meek” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, “To Be Humbled, Afflicted”). The same word is used in connection with fasting in Psalm 35:13 and Ezra 8:21. Fasting means abstaining from food and drink (Esther 4:16).

Why does God tell us to fast during this specific 24 hours? Fasting expresses our humble desire to draw closer to God. The Day of Atonement represents a coming time of reconciliation during which, with Satan banished and the world having been devastated by the horrific events leading up to this time, a humbled and repentant humanity will at last be reconciled to God.

Few understand the proper reasons for fasting. Fasting is not to bend God to our will. We don’t fast to receive anything from God except His abundant mercy and forgiveness for our human weaknesses. Fasting helps us remember how temporary our physical existence is. Without food and water, we would soon perish. Fasting helps us realize just how much we need God as the giver and sustainer of life.

We should always fast on the Day of Atonement in a repentant frame of mind. Notice Daniel’s exemplary attitude while fasting: “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession” (Daniel 9:3-4).

The early Church kept the Day of Atonement. More than 30 years after Christ’s death, Luke still referred to the time and seasons by mentioning this day, stating that “sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over” (Acts 27:9). Almost all Bible commentaries and dictionaries acknowledge that “the Fast” refers to the Day of Atonement.

Yet another important lesson comes to us through the Day of Atonement. We have already seen that the slain goat represented the sacrifice in our place of Jesus Christ, who took on Himself the death penalty we have earned by sinning. But Jesus Christ did not stay dead; He came back to life. What does the Day of Atonement teach us about Christ’s role after His resurrection?

Leviticus 16:15-19 describes a solemn ceremony that was carried out only once each year, on the Day of Atonement. The high priest was to take the blood of the slain goat into the Holy Place “the most sacred part of the tabernacle” and to the mercy seat. The mercy seat was symbolic of the very throne of Almighty God. The high priest acted out the function Christ performs for repentant Christians. Having ascended to the very throne of God by the blood of His sacrifice, Christ intercedes for us, as He has since His resurrection as our High Priest.

The book of Hebrews makes this symbolism clear. “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this [physical] creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12).

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we enjoy direct access to the true mercy seat, the throne of our merciful, loving Creator. This was dramatically and miraculously demonstrated at the moment of Christ’s death, when “the veil of the temple,” covering the entrance to the Holy Place, “was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38). This massive curtain over the entrance to the Holy Place was torn asunder in a dramatic testimony to the access we now have to God’s throne.

Many verses in Hebrews mention Christ’s role as our High Priest and intercessor. Because of His sacrifice for us, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The Day of Atonement thus pictures the loving reconciliation we have with God, made possible through Christ’s sacrifice. It also shows the remarkable truth that Satan, the author of sin, will eventually be removed so that humanity can at last attain reconciliation with God on a universal basis.

The Day of Atonement serves as a vital preparatory step in anticipation of the next milestone in God’s glorious Holy Day plan, beautifully depicted by the Feast of Tabernacles.

Brethren, these two Holy Days have huge meanings in relation to the Sabbatical years. Print off that chart and be ready for next weeks News Letter. Consider what was said this week and be ready for a huge new understanding.

Shalom
Joseph F Dumond
www.sightedmoon.com

To write send e-mails to admin@sightedmoon.com

 

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