ebdomades
εβδομάδες N-NPF (noun, nominative, plural, feminine)
εβδομάδας N-APF (noun, accusative, plural, feminine)
εβδομάδος N-GSF (noun, genative, singular, feminine)
εβδομάδων N-GPF (noun, genative, plural, feminine)
εβδομας N-NSF (noun, nominative, singular, feminine)
Accusative: direct object; motion toward; time: "how long".
Dative: indirect object, "to"; also location, "in" or "at"; instrument, "with".
Nominative: subject; predicate nominative
Genative: possession, "of"; also origin or separation "from".
The phrase "periods of seven" is the Greek word: εβδομάδες
Now... let's examine how ebdomades is used in Daniel 9.
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εβδομάδες - "periods of seven"
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city,
[LXX] Dan 9:24 Seventy εβδομάδες [periods of seven] were rendered concise upon your people, and upon the city holy...
Dan 9:25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
[LXX] Dan 9:25 And you shall know and perceive, from the delivery of the word to respond and to build Jerusalem until the anointed one leading - εβδομάδες [periods of seven] seven, and εβδομάδες [periods of seven] sixty-two again shall be built the square and wall in straits of the times.
[LXX] Lev 25:8 And you shall count out to yourself seven rests of years, seven years seven times. And they will be to you seven εβδομάδες [periods of seven] of years, nine and forty years.
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εβδομάδας - "periods of seven"
Dan 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
[LXX] Dan 9:26 And after the εβδομάδας [periods of seven] sixty-two shall be utterly destroyed the anointing and judgment is no longer in it. And the city and the holy place he shall corrupt with the one taking the lead to the one coming and they shall be cut off as in a flood and until the end of war being terminated he shall order in extinctions.
[LXX] Dan 10:2 In those days, I Daniel was mourning three εβδομάδας [periods of seven] of days.
[LXX] Lev 23:15 And you shall count to yourselves from the next day of the Sabbaths, from the day which ever you should bring the sheaf of the increase offering seven εβδομάδας [periods of seven] entire
[LXX] Deu 16:9 Seven εβδομάδας [periods of seven] entire you shall count out to yourself with the beginning of your sickle upon the harvest you shall begin to count out seven εβδομάδας [periods of seven].
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εβδομάδος - "period of seven"
[LXX] Dan 9:27 And he shall strengthen covenant with many εβδομάς [period of seven] one; and in the half of the εβδομάδος [period of seven] shall be lifted away sacrifice and libation offering, and upon the temple an abomination of the desolations will be; and until the completion of time, completion shall be given unto the desolation.
[LXX] Lev 23:16 until the next day of the last εβδομάδος [period of seven] you shall count fifty days, and you shall bring sacrifice offering a new to the LORD.
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εβδομάδων - "period of sevens"
Dan 10:3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.
[LXX] Dan 10:3 Bread of desirable I ate not and meat and wine did not go into my mouth and an anointing I did not anoint with until the fullness of the three εβδομάδων [period of sevens] of days.
[LXX] Num 28:26 And the day of the new produce, whenever you should bring sacrifice a new produce to the LORD των [of the] εβδομάδων [period of sevens] summoning a holy it will be to you. All work servile you shall not do.
[LXX] Deu 16:10 And you shall observe the holiday εβδομάδων [(of the) period of sevens] to the LORD your God, as your hand is strong in as much as should give to you in so far as he blessed you the LORD your God.
[LXX] Deu 16:16 Three times of the year shall appear every male of yours before the LORD you God in the place in which ever should have chosen the LORD in the holiday of the unleavened breads, and in the holiday των [of the] εβδομάδων [period of sevens], and in the holiday of the pitching of tents. You shall not appear in the presence of the LORD your God empty.
[LXX] 2Ch 8:13 according to the reckoning, day by day, to offer according to the commandments of Moses on the Sabbaths and at the months and in the holidays three times during the year - in the holiday of the unleavened breads and in the holiday των [of the] εβδομάδων [period of sevens] and in the holiday of the tents.
Daniel 3
In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________
Below are just the highlights of Daniel 3 and it would be good for you to read the whole chapter in your Bible.
This could be viewed as a foreshadowing of what's to come for Christians during Daniel's 70th Week at the hands of Antichrist.
We're going to be expected to worship the beast and the image. There will only be two acceptable choices.
[1] Accept his mark and worship the beast and the image, or...
[2] ... refuse both and face the consequences.
Just as in this case of Daniel 3, there may be others watching on in expectation of our choice.
I think it's interesting that "at the sound of the music" they are all commanded to fall and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar has constructed. It should remind you of Islam's same practice in the Middle East and how they pray at certain hours while the music is broadcast over the city.
Also, I just want to point our that the image of gold is not of a man, nor of Nebuchadnezzar himself... it is tall and thin, as an obelisk shape... note the size in Dan 3:1 (90' x 9').
Certain Chaldeans seem to be jealous of these "certain Jews" (Dan 3:12) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego's and their new role in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian court. If you'll recall the three were promoted along with Daniel after the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2.
The Chaldeans point out to Nebuchadnezzar that he had decreed a law and that when the music was heard, everyone was to bow down and worship the golden image, however certain members of his own court were not doing so.
Dan 3:11-12 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
This fills Nebuchadnezzar with rage, and he sends for the three and asks them if this is true. Just to make sure, he gives the three an opportunity to do so in front himself, almost like a second chance:
Dan 3:15 "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
One of my favorite responses in all of Scripture:
Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
This filled Nebuchadnezzar with even more rage. We see in Dan 3:19 that his facial expression changed... almost as if he expected a different response from the three. Nebuchadnezzar orders that the furnace be heated up to maximum and commands his warriors to tie the three up and cast them into the furnace.
The fire was so hot, that it killed the men who carried them up to the furnace.
Dan 3:23 makes a point to inform us that the three fell into the furnace "still tied up".
Dan 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"
I would imagine he was astonished! We're also told that everyone around also witnessed the above. This was no doubt, a very strong witness and Jehovah was given all the glory on that day!
The fourth is likely what theologians refer to as a "Christophony" which is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament.
No matter what fiery trial we may go through in this life, Jesus will be right there with us in the midst of that trial just as He was with the three in the furnace.
It is often a temptation, when trials come to doubt, and/or get angry with God and move away from Him... but - if we decide to use the trial as a reason to draw even closer to God, He will be nearer than ever before. When we are at our worst, He is at His best, but we must not run away from our trials... we must face those trials head on.
God does not want to yank us out of those trials, but go through them with us. Why? So that we learn from Him... he will break those bindings, just as the three were bound, and He will be right there with us as we go through our furnace.
Once we learn that lesson, what could possibly stop us?
Isa 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
This also had a positive impact on Nebuchadnezzar and all that were there that day.
Dan 3:28-30 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way. Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
There are many lessons to learn from the Book of Daniel and this is one of my favorites.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________
Below are just the highlights of Daniel 3 and it would be good for you to read the whole chapter in your Bible.
This could be viewed as a foreshadowing of what's to come for Christians during Daniel's 70th Week at the hands of Antichrist.
We're going to be expected to worship the beast and the image. There will only be two acceptable choices.
[1] Accept his mark and worship the beast and the image, or...
[2] ... refuse both and face the consequences.
Just as in this case of Daniel 3, there may be others watching on in expectation of our choice.
I think it's interesting that "at the sound of the music" they are all commanded to fall and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar has constructed. It should remind you of Islam's same practice in the Middle East and how they pray at certain hours while the music is broadcast over the city.
Also, I just want to point our that the image of gold is not of a man, nor of Nebuchadnezzar himself... it is tall and thin, as an obelisk shape... note the size in Dan 3:1 (90' x 9').
Certain Chaldeans seem to be jealous of these "certain Jews" (Dan 3:12) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego's and their new role in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian court. If you'll recall the three were promoted along with Daniel after the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2.
The Chaldeans point out to Nebuchadnezzar that he had decreed a law and that when the music was heard, everyone was to bow down and worship the golden image, however certain members of his own court were not doing so.
Dan 3:11-12 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
This fills Nebuchadnezzar with rage, and he sends for the three and asks them if this is true. Just to make sure, he gives the three an opportunity to do so in front himself, almost like a second chance:
Dan 3:15 "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
One of my favorite responses in all of Scripture:
Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
This filled Nebuchadnezzar with even more rage. We see in Dan 3:19 that his facial expression changed... almost as if he expected a different response from the three. Nebuchadnezzar orders that the furnace be heated up to maximum and commands his warriors to tie the three up and cast them into the furnace.
The fire was so hot, that it killed the men who carried them up to the furnace.
Dan 3:23 makes a point to inform us that the three fell into the furnace "still tied up".
Dan 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"
I would imagine he was astonished! We're also told that everyone around also witnessed the above. This was no doubt, a very strong witness and Jehovah was given all the glory on that day!
The fourth is likely what theologians refer to as a "Christophony" which is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament.
No matter what fiery trial we may go through in this life, Jesus will be right there with us in the midst of that trial just as He was with the three in the furnace.
It is often a temptation, when trials come to doubt, and/or get angry with God and move away from Him... but - if we decide to use the trial as a reason to draw even closer to God, He will be nearer than ever before. When we are at our worst, He is at His best, but we must not run away from our trials... we must face those trials head on.
God does not want to yank us out of those trials, but go through them with us. Why? So that we learn from Him... he will break those bindings, just as the three were bound, and He will be right there with us as we go through our furnace.
Once we learn that lesson, what could possibly stop us?
Isa 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
This also had a positive impact on Nebuchadnezzar and all that were there that day.
Dan 3:28-30 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way. Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
There are many lessons to learn from the Book of Daniel and this is one of my favorites.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
The Last Trump
In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
The Feast of Trumpets is filled with the sound of many trumpet (shofar) blasts. The shofar is an important part of Jewish culture and is used as a form of communication.
Edward Chumney tells that among those many trumpet blasts, three were of particular importance. The shofarim are three primary trumpets denoting major events in God's redemptive plan. There are known as the [1] first trump, the [2] great trump, and the [3] last trump.
[1] The first trump is associated with, and was blown by God on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai (Exo 19:19).
[2] The great trump (shofar HaGadol) is associated with and is blown on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Isa 27:13 It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the Holy Mountain at Jerusalem.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
[3] The last trump is associated with and is blown on Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets). The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the Feast of the unknown, or hidden day. The Biblical name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
While the Feast of Trumpets is filled with the sound of many trumpet blasts, the last trump is unique and distinct from all others. It is the greatest and longest trumpet blast blown at the feast.
In this trumpet blast was the joyful message announcing the hope of redemption. The blast also anticipated the immediacy of the ten Days of Awe - days of reflection and intense repentance, and judgment preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
The dominant message of the last trump was to "wake up from your sleep, your Messiah is coming, the resurrection is near at hand" (Edward Chumney).
The effect of this "wake-up call" is seen throughout Scripture:
Isa 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.
Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Rom 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
Eph 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
This "rise and shine" awakening will occur at the last trump:
1 Cor 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.
1 Th 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Some confuse this last trump with the seventh trump of Revelation.
First, Paul's writings preceded John's recording of the Revelation by about 40 years. Paul did not anticipate what John would record in the Revelation regarding the seven trumpet judgments.
While true, Paul was given special insight he also noted that this last trump signals the catching up of believers:
Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
The angels are then given the judgment trumpet, after the seventh seal is opened. Note - they do not sound them yet, they are only given the trumps:
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
These seven trumpets are all trumpets of God's wrath, of which believers will not endure.
Isa 26:20 Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
The last of these seven wrath trumpets blows at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th week on the Day of Atonement as the great trump listed above.
The seventh trump heralds in the reclaiming of this earth by Christ:
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever [eons of the eons]."
Paul, having been schooled in rabbinical teachings and Jewish tradition, knew full well the implication of his statement. He was referring to the last trump at the feast of the unknown day... the last trump has always been synonymous with Yom Teruah.
This trump will signal our redemption and the beginning of the Day of The Lord... God's wrath.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
The Feast of Trumpets is filled with the sound of many trumpet (shofar) blasts. The shofar is an important part of Jewish culture and is used as a form of communication.
Edward Chumney tells that among those many trumpet blasts, three were of particular importance. The shofarim are three primary trumpets denoting major events in God's redemptive plan. There are known as the [1] first trump, the [2] great trump, and the [3] last trump.
[1] The first trump is associated with, and was blown by God on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai (Exo 19:19).
[2] The great trump (shofar HaGadol) is associated with and is blown on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Isa 27:13 It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the Holy Mountain at Jerusalem.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
[3] The last trump is associated with and is blown on Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets). The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the Feast of the unknown, or hidden day. The Biblical name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
While the Feast of Trumpets is filled with the sound of many trumpet blasts, the last trump is unique and distinct from all others. It is the greatest and longest trumpet blast blown at the feast.
In this trumpet blast was the joyful message announcing the hope of redemption. The blast also anticipated the immediacy of the ten Days of Awe - days of reflection and intense repentance, and judgment preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
The dominant message of the last trump was to "wake up from your sleep, your Messiah is coming, the resurrection is near at hand" (Edward Chumney).
The effect of this "wake-up call" is seen throughout Scripture:
Isa 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.
Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Rom 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
Eph 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
This "rise and shine" awakening will occur at the last trump:
1 Cor 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.
1 Th 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Some confuse this last trump with the seventh trump of Revelation.
First, Paul's writings preceded John's recording of the Revelation by about 40 years. Paul did not anticipate what John would record in the Revelation regarding the seven trumpet judgments.
While true, Paul was given special insight he also noted that this last trump signals the catching up of believers:
Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
The angels are then given the judgment trumpet, after the seventh seal is opened. Note - they do not sound them yet, they are only given the trumps:
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
These seven trumpets are all trumpets of God's wrath, of which believers will not endure.
Isa 26:20 Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
The last of these seven wrath trumpets blows at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th week on the Day of Atonement as the great trump listed above.
The seventh trump heralds in the reclaiming of this earth by Christ:
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever [eons of the eons]."
Paul, having been schooled in rabbinical teachings and Jewish tradition, knew full well the implication of his statement. He was referring to the last trump at the feast of the unknown day... the last trump has always been synonymous with Yom Teruah.
This trump will signal our redemption and the beginning of the Day of The Lord... God's wrath.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
Jewish Feasts - 70th Week Timeline
In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
Given all the clues from the Revelation, the Olivet Discourse, Apostles, and the Prophets you should be starting to see our future unfold. Not only the events themselves, but also the timing of those events. Scripture gives us everything we need to sort this out.
At this point in my studies, I'm confident that we can know the approximate timeline for the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week, the middle of that week, the timing for the harpazo, when God's wrath will be poured out, the conclusion of the 70th week, and the inauguration of the Millennial Kingdom and several other upcoming events.
Note that I say "approximate" above!
We have to consider not only the official sighting of the sliver of the new moon for Yom Teruah, but also an intercalary 13th month (30 days) that comes into play every third year (or so) on the Jewish calendar - it's a type of "leap-month" to account for seasons, much like our "leap-year" that occurs seven times every nineteen years.
This will come into play when we get to:
Dan 12:11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
1,260 days + 30 days = 1,290 days
It was all given to us in Scripture.
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.
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Day or Hour
In Jewish Feasts - Part 3 we discussed:
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Mat 25:13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
In Part 3 we discussed how the statement above is a Hebraic idiom for Yom Teruah - The Feast of Trumpets which falls on Tishri 1.
It is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar referred to as the Sabbath of months.
Yom Teruah in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
It is Rosh HaShanah - the head of the year.
It is referred to as the Hidden Day.
In the Talmud it is called Yom haKeseh - the day of concealment.
It is the first of the three fall feasts (appointed times) and I believe Jesus was giving us a very clear clue as to when the rapture (harpazo) would occur.
Because of the timing and uncertainty of the new moon we can't know the exact day and hour... which is why this feast is celebrated over a period of two days - to allow for that uncertainty of when the sliver of a new moon would be witnessed and announced.
Only the Father knows when that will be as it is His appointed time.
We cannot know the exact day and hour, but I believe it will occur on one of the two days of Yom Teruah... the Feast of Trumpets - "at the last trump":
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Note that this trump is not one of the seven trumpet judgments... we'll get to the specifics of the last trump in the next blog and you'll clearly see that Paul was referring to Yom Teruah and not the seventh judgment trump of Revelation.
Rev 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.
If we know when the harpazo occurs, we also know when the seventh seal is opened, and God's wrath begins.
The sixth seal marks the harpazo and the seventh seal marks the beginning of the Day of The Lord. The seventh seal will occur on the same day as the harpazo. When it is opened, there will be approximately 30 minutes of silence:
Rev 8:1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Zep 1:7 Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.
The angels will be given the trumpets and God's wrath of the seven trumpet judgments will shortly begin:
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
We know that the fifth trumpet lasts for a period of five months which will be part of the one year and ten days:
Rev 9:5 ... to torment for five months...
Also occurring will be the bowl judgments which are more severe than the trumpet judgments and come towards the end of the 70th week... likely during the final ten days of awe just before, and concluding with Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.
Rev 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
The sixth bowl will prepare the highway to Armageddon for the kings of the east:
Rev 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
The seventh bowl signals "it is done" (Rev 16:17) and the seventh trumpet signals the beginning of Jesus reign on earth (Rev 11:15).
You may have noticed me mention a very specific "length of time" above.
We know the length of time that God's wrath will last is 1 year and 10 days.
How do we know this?
Jesus said:
Mat 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
There are several clues given to us from Noah's flood.
Jesus also said:
Luk 17:28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot:
There are clues given us in the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah.
Luk 17:30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
What are the important clues given to us concerning Noah and Lot?
When Noah was rescued and entered the ark - judgment came on the same day (also see Gen 7:11-13 below):
Luk 17:27 ... until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
When Lot was rescued and left Sodom - judgment came on the same day.
Luk 17:29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Is there another clue from Noah?
How long was Noah on the ark before he set foot on earth again?
How long did God's wrath of the flood prevail?
Gen 7:11-13 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark...
We can see above that the deep burst open, and the rains came on the 17th day of the second month and they entered the ark that same day.
It rained for 40 days and nights, but they were protected in the ark much longer than that:
Gen 8:13-16 Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
Then God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
They were protected from the flood for exactly one year and ten days.
Might this be another clue?
It is...
One year and ten days from the harpazo of the Church, at the last trump of Yom Teruah, brings us exactly to another Jewish feast (appointed time)...
Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement.
The Day of Atonement is known as The Day. The only day when the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
God's wrath of Noah's flood lasted exactly one year and ten days as will His wrath at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th week... it will conclude on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the second of the fall feasts.
Noah and his family were protected in the ark just as we'll be protected in Heaven with Christ during the Day of The Lord and His wrath.
Mat 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
There's another interesting Scripture I'd like to point out:
Deu 24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be FREE AT HOME one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.
As believers, we are not appointed unto God's wrath:
Isa 26:19-20 Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
Psa 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.
The Bride of Christ will be enjoying His presence in Heaven for one year before...
... we return with Him for the Battle of Armageddon.
Jesus alone will defeat Satan and his armies, but we will be following Him:
Rev 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He judges and wages war.
His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
75 days later the Millennium Kingdom will be inaugurated.
Why 75 days?
If you'll recall from Part 3 we learned about Hanukkah.
Hannukah is celebrated 75 days after the Day of Atonement.
This was the length of time allotted to purify the Temple after Antiochus Epiphanes (foreshadow of Antichrist) had desecrated it (you can read about this in the apocryphal books of Maccabees).
The Temple was re-dedicated after this 75 days which brings us exactly to Hannukah, and...
... the 1,335 days of:
Dan 12:12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
Daniel's 70th week = 7 years.
First half, "beginning of birth pangs" = 3.5 years (1,260 days).
Second half, "great tribulation" = 1,260 days and ends.
1,260 days + 75 days = 1,335 days.
The 75 days are the days of preparation and purification culminating in the dedication of the Millennial Kingdom.
Now for some more interesting numbers.
Since we know Daniel's 70th week ends on the Day of Atonement, it must also begin on the Day of Atonement seven years prior.
If Daniel's 70th week begins on the Day of Atonement, what occurs exactly 3.5 years after the Day of Atonement?
The Passover lamb is selected in Nisan 10, inspected for spots and blemishes for four days, and is sacrificed on Passover (Nisan 14).
On the following day, Nisan 11, is when Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem identifying Himself as the Messiah and the Passover Lamb...
Is it any wonder that Antichrist makes his "grand entrance" during this sacred feast also?
It is not a coincidence that Antichrist, as an anti-mirror of Jesus, reveals himself at the same appointed time and sits on the Throne of the Temple in Jerusalem... defiling the Temple with his "spots" and "blemishes".
To do so, on such a Holy feast as Passover will be astonishing to all of Israel and the world... you might say it will be a desolating abomination.
Dan 11:36 Then the king [Antichrist] will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.
This is the midpoint of Daniel's 70th Week when the false covenant with Israel will have been broken and the 3.5 year great tribulation period will begin.
Dan 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
God's wrath will begin at the seventh seal, last for one year and ten days, and then the indignation will be finished. National Israel will finally see their Messiah.
How fitting for Israel to have their sins fully atoned for on the very Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)!
We know that the entire length of Daniel's 70th Week has been set aside for Israel to "finish the transgression" and to "make atonement for iniquity":
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
This will all come to an end on that day... The Day.
Jesus will make quick haste at the Battle of Armageddon and Daniel's 70th Week will come to a conclusion!
Jewish Calendars
This might be too much information, but I want to include a brief summary for my own future reference.
The Jewish calendar is a tricky thing... I won't bore you with the details but can assure that the algorithm that Hillel II formulated can cause big problems. The Hillel II lunar-solar calendar (360 AD) is the pre-calculated calendar used in Israel today. This is not the calendar described in the Bible.
On top of that there are two Hebrew calendars... civil and religious. To add to the confusion even more, there are actually four calendars according to Jewish tradition. There are also Sabbath years (seventh year for land rest beginning in the seventh month - Tishri) and Jubilee years (50th year after seventh sabbath year).
With the addition of the Jewish "leap-month", seven times every nineteen year cycle, the difference between a lunar year and solar year, etc. a problem arises in declaring a new moon earlier than the actual crescent of the new moon appears.
Timothy J. McHyde gives a fuller explanation that can be summed up as:
" ... the calculated Jewish month starts one to three days ahead of the observed Hebrew month. Thus, the Jewish Tishrei 1 / Rosh HaShanah is not ever likely to fall on the Biblical Tishrei 1 / Day of Trumpets from which the holiday is derived...Thus, the [present] Jewish calendar gives you a different reckoning of times than what was in use in the first century when Jesus kept the feasts."
Thankfully, God gave Israel seven appointed times (Leviticus 23) and a new calendar (Exodus 12).
Exo 12:2 This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.
All the feasts are figured from the religious calendar.
A Biblical year is denoted as a 360 day period and a month as 30 days. We see this repeated within Scripture and this is referred to as the Prophetic Calendar.
For example a five-month period of Noah is noted as 150 days (Gen 7:11, Gen 7:24, Gen 8:3-4).
You can also note all of the references from Daniel and Revelation (42 months, 1,260 days, 3.5 years, etc.) as all being equivalent.
The Biblical calendar is based off of barley and when it reaches the stage of ripeness called Abib, and the visibility of the first new moon after ripening. The first visible moon following the ripening becomes the first month of the year and is called Nisan (Aviv).
The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 months dependent upon the Abib (ripeness of the barley).
This is why it is important to check the ripeness of the barley (in Jerusalem) in the 12th month. If the barley is Abib (ripened) then the following new moon declares the new year. If the barley is still immature then a 13th leap-month (Adar Bet - second adar) is added to the Biblical calendar.
That might have been too much detail, but it's important to understand.
Of course, there are many other controversies surrounding the calendar, but I will not post all of those here. There are many great resources online and in book form which all get into the fine details... some of which are absolutely fascinating to read!
The point of this is to state that the exact day and hour cannot be absolutely known...
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
We may not know the exact day and hour, but we certainly have a good idea of what to watch for!
When we see the events of Daniel 8 begin to take center stage, I'll be watching for the false covenant with Israel on the Day of Atonement which will signal the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week.
There is also an online calendar which is based off of the Biblical calendar guidelines and the given procedures that God instructed. It is called the "Karaite Calendar". If you Google it, you'll find it... it's the calendar I personally am keeping an eye on!
I love this quote from an unnamed author:
His calendar is marked in the stars, kept by the moon, observed by the sun, and ordered in the rotation of the earth. All of His important dates are written in advance, His feasts, celebrations, Sabbaths and epoch changing events.
We can rest assured in the One Who sits on the Throne... everything is in His time... not ours.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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Given all the clues from the Revelation, the Olivet Discourse, Apostles, and the Prophets you should be starting to see our future unfold. Not only the events themselves, but also the timing of those events. Scripture gives us everything we need to sort this out.
At this point in my studies, I'm confident that we can know the approximate timeline for the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week, the middle of that week, the timing for the harpazo, when God's wrath will be poured out, the conclusion of the 70th week, and the inauguration of the Millennial Kingdom and several other upcoming events.
Note that I say "approximate" above!
We have to consider not only the official sighting of the sliver of the new moon for Yom Teruah, but also an intercalary 13th month (30 days) that comes into play every third year (or so) on the Jewish calendar - it's a type of "leap-month" to account for seasons, much like our "leap-year" that occurs seven times every nineteen years.
This will come into play when we get to:
Dan 12:11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
1,260 days + 30 days = 1,290 days
It was all given to us in Scripture.
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.
____________________
Day or Hour
In Jewish Feasts - Part 3 we discussed:
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Mat 25:13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
In Part 3 we discussed how the statement above is a Hebraic idiom for Yom Teruah - The Feast of Trumpets which falls on Tishri 1.
It is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar referred to as the Sabbath of months.
Yom Teruah in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
It is Rosh HaShanah - the head of the year.
It is referred to as the Hidden Day.
In the Talmud it is called Yom haKeseh - the day of concealment.
It is the first of the three fall feasts (appointed times) and I believe Jesus was giving us a very clear clue as to when the rapture (harpazo) would occur.
Because of the timing and uncertainty of the new moon we can't know the exact day and hour... which is why this feast is celebrated over a period of two days - to allow for that uncertainty of when the sliver of a new moon would be witnessed and announced.
Only the Father knows when that will be as it is His appointed time.
We cannot know the exact day and hour, but I believe it will occur on one of the two days of Yom Teruah... the Feast of Trumpets - "at the last trump":
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Note that this trump is not one of the seven trumpet judgments... we'll get to the specifics of the last trump in the next blog and you'll clearly see that Paul was referring to Yom Teruah and not the seventh judgment trump of Revelation.
Rev 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.
If we know when the harpazo occurs, we also know when the seventh seal is opened, and God's wrath begins.
The sixth seal marks the harpazo and the seventh seal marks the beginning of the Day of The Lord. The seventh seal will occur on the same day as the harpazo. When it is opened, there will be approximately 30 minutes of silence:
Rev 8:1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Zep 1:7 Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.
The angels will be given the trumpets and God's wrath of the seven trumpet judgments will shortly begin:
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
We know that the fifth trumpet lasts for a period of five months which will be part of the one year and ten days:
Rev 9:5 ... to torment for five months...
Also occurring will be the bowl judgments which are more severe than the trumpet judgments and come towards the end of the 70th week... likely during the final ten days of awe just before, and concluding with Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.
Rev 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
The sixth bowl will prepare the highway to Armageddon for the kings of the east:
Rev 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
The seventh bowl signals "it is done" (Rev 16:17) and the seventh trumpet signals the beginning of Jesus reign on earth (Rev 11:15).
You may have noticed me mention a very specific "length of time" above.
We know the length of time that God's wrath will last is 1 year and 10 days.
How do we know this?
Jesus said:
Mat 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
There are several clues given to us from Noah's flood.
Jesus also said:
Luk 17:28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot:
There are clues given us in the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah.
Luk 17:30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
What are the important clues given to us concerning Noah and Lot?
When Noah was rescued and entered the ark - judgment came on the same day (also see Gen 7:11-13 below):
Luk 17:27 ... until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
When Lot was rescued and left Sodom - judgment came on the same day.
Luk 17:29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Is there another clue from Noah?
How long was Noah on the ark before he set foot on earth again?
How long did God's wrath of the flood prevail?
Gen 7:11-13 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark...
We can see above that the deep burst open, and the rains came on the 17th day of the second month and they entered the ark that same day.
It rained for 40 days and nights, but they were protected in the ark much longer than that:
Gen 8:13-16 Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
Then God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
They were protected from the flood for exactly one year and ten days.
Might this be another clue?
It is...
One year and ten days from the harpazo of the Church, at the last trump of Yom Teruah, brings us exactly to another Jewish feast (appointed time)...
Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement.
The Day of Atonement is known as The Day. The only day when the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
God's wrath of Noah's flood lasted exactly one year and ten days as will His wrath at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th week... it will conclude on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the second of the fall feasts.
Noah and his family were protected in the ark just as we'll be protected in Heaven with Christ during the Day of The Lord and His wrath.
Mat 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
There's another interesting Scripture I'd like to point out:
Deu 24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be FREE AT HOME one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.
As believers, we are not appointed unto God's wrath:
Isa 26:19-20 Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
Psa 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.
The Bride of Christ will be enjoying His presence in Heaven for one year before...
... we return with Him for the Battle of Armageddon.
Jesus alone will defeat Satan and his armies, but we will be following Him:
Rev 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He judges and wages war.
His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
75 days later the Millennium Kingdom will be inaugurated.
Why 75 days?
If you'll recall from Part 3 we learned about Hanukkah.
Hannukah is celebrated 75 days after the Day of Atonement.
This was the length of time allotted to purify the Temple after Antiochus Epiphanes (foreshadow of Antichrist) had desecrated it (you can read about this in the apocryphal books of Maccabees).
The Temple was re-dedicated after this 75 days which brings us exactly to Hannukah, and...
... the 1,335 days of:
Dan 12:12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
Daniel's 70th week = 7 years.
First half, "beginning of birth pangs" = 3.5 years (1,260 days).
Second half, "great tribulation" = 1,260 days and ends.
1,260 days + 75 days = 1,335 days.
The 75 days are the days of preparation and purification culminating in the dedication of the Millennial Kingdom.
Now for some more interesting numbers.
Since we know Daniel's 70th week ends on the Day of Atonement, it must also begin on the Day of Atonement seven years prior.
If Daniel's 70th week begins on the Day of Atonement, what occurs exactly 3.5 years after the Day of Atonement?
The Passover lamb is selected in Nisan 10, inspected for spots and blemishes for four days, and is sacrificed on Passover (Nisan 14).
On the following day, Nisan 11, is when Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem identifying Himself as the Messiah and the Passover Lamb...
Is it any wonder that Antichrist makes his "grand entrance" during this sacred feast also?
It is not a coincidence that Antichrist, as an anti-mirror of Jesus, reveals himself at the same appointed time and sits on the Throne of the Temple in Jerusalem... defiling the Temple with his "spots" and "blemishes".
To do so, on such a Holy feast as Passover will be astonishing to all of Israel and the world... you might say it will be a desolating abomination.
Dan 11:36 Then the king [Antichrist] will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.
This is the midpoint of Daniel's 70th Week when the false covenant with Israel will have been broken and the 3.5 year great tribulation period will begin.
Dan 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
God's wrath will begin at the seventh seal, last for one year and ten days, and then the indignation will be finished. National Israel will finally see their Messiah.
How fitting for Israel to have their sins fully atoned for on the very Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)!
We know that the entire length of Daniel's 70th Week has been set aside for Israel to "finish the transgression" and to "make atonement for iniquity":
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
This will all come to an end on that day... The Day.
Jesus will make quick haste at the Battle of Armageddon and Daniel's 70th Week will come to a conclusion!
Jewish Calendars
This might be too much information, but I want to include a brief summary for my own future reference.
The Jewish calendar is a tricky thing... I won't bore you with the details but can assure that the algorithm that Hillel II formulated can cause big problems. The Hillel II lunar-solar calendar (360 AD) is the pre-calculated calendar used in Israel today. This is not the calendar described in the Bible.
On top of that there are two Hebrew calendars... civil and religious. To add to the confusion even more, there are actually four calendars according to Jewish tradition. There are also Sabbath years (seventh year for land rest beginning in the seventh month - Tishri) and Jubilee years (50th year after seventh sabbath year).
With the addition of the Jewish "leap-month", seven times every nineteen year cycle, the difference between a lunar year and solar year, etc. a problem arises in declaring a new moon earlier than the actual crescent of the new moon appears.
Timothy J. McHyde gives a fuller explanation that can be summed up as:
" ... the calculated Jewish month starts one to three days ahead of the observed Hebrew month. Thus, the Jewish Tishrei 1 / Rosh HaShanah is not ever likely to fall on the Biblical Tishrei 1 / Day of Trumpets from which the holiday is derived...Thus, the [present] Jewish calendar gives you a different reckoning of times than what was in use in the first century when Jesus kept the feasts."
Thankfully, God gave Israel seven appointed times (Leviticus 23) and a new calendar (Exodus 12).
Exo 12:2 This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.
All the feasts are figured from the religious calendar.
A Biblical year is denoted as a 360 day period and a month as 30 days. We see this repeated within Scripture and this is referred to as the Prophetic Calendar.
For example a five-month period of Noah is noted as 150 days (Gen 7:11, Gen 7:24, Gen 8:3-4).
You can also note all of the references from Daniel and Revelation (42 months, 1,260 days, 3.5 years, etc.) as all being equivalent.
The Biblical calendar is based off of barley and when it reaches the stage of ripeness called Abib, and the visibility of the first new moon after ripening. The first visible moon following the ripening becomes the first month of the year and is called Nisan (Aviv).
The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 months dependent upon the Abib (ripeness of the barley).
This is why it is important to check the ripeness of the barley (in Jerusalem) in the 12th month. If the barley is Abib (ripened) then the following new moon declares the new year. If the barley is still immature then a 13th leap-month (Adar Bet - second adar) is added to the Biblical calendar.
That might have been too much detail, but it's important to understand.
Of course, there are many other controversies surrounding the calendar, but I will not post all of those here. There are many great resources online and in book form which all get into the fine details... some of which are absolutely fascinating to read!
The point of this is to state that the exact day and hour cannot be absolutely known...
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
We may not know the exact day and hour, but we certainly have a good idea of what to watch for!
When we see the events of Daniel 8 begin to take center stage, I'll be watching for the false covenant with Israel on the Day of Atonement which will signal the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week.
There is also an online calendar which is based off of the Biblical calendar guidelines and the given procedures that God instructed. It is called the "Karaite Calendar". If you Google it, you'll find it... it's the calendar I personally am keeping an eye on!
I love this quote from an unnamed author:
His calendar is marked in the stars, kept by the moon, observed by the sun, and ordered in the rotation of the earth. All of His important dates are written in advance, His feasts, celebrations, Sabbaths and epoch changing events.
We can rest assured in the One Who sits on the Throne... everything is in His time... not ours.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
Jewish Feasts - Pattern of Seven - Part 3
In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
In Part 2 we looked at the four spring feasts of Leviticus 23. These are God's appointed times and they paint a picture for us to recognize the timing of His events.
The spring feasts specifically point to the first advent of Jesus.
Below, we'll take a look at the three fall feasts and how they point the second advent of Jesus.
These feasts, proclaimed by the Prophets of old, the teachings of Jesus, and the Apostles will be fulfilled as described in the Revelation:
Rev 15:3-4 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and True are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are Holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your Righteous acts have been revealed."
_______________________
[5] The Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah; Rosh HaShanah
See Numbers 29:1-6
The Feast of Trumpets is celebrated on Tishri 1 (our September/October), which is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Tishri is often referred to as the Sabbath of Months.
Rosh HaSshanah means "head of the year".
The Biblical name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
Although it is declared as Tishri 1 it is actually an uncertain day as it is based on the witness of a visible new moon. The visible sliver of a new moon begins the first day of a lunar month.
Having said that, notice what happens...
Mat 25:13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
The precise day and hour which begins this feast is unknown until the new moon is first sighted.
This sighting required the collaboration of separate sightings by designated observers to the head of the Sanhedrin (called the Nasi). He would be the one to declare the start of the Feast of Trumpets.
This would cause the trumpets to begin to blow, which would begin the celebration.
Since the beginning was uncertain, because of the timing of the new moon, this feast is also referred to as the Hidden Day. The Talmudic name of Yom HaKeseh, which means, "the day of concealment".
It is the "day of concealment" because it is when we will be concealed from God's wrath:
Psa 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.
Isa 26:19-20 Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
Prophetically, Jesus alluded to the uncertainty of this feast day and that the Father alone would declare the day of Jesus coming.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
From Edward Chumney, of Hebraic Heritage Ministries International:
Because Rosh HaShanah [Feast of Trumpets] was understood to be the hidden day, this statement by Yeshua [Jesus] is actually an idiom for Rosh HaShanah. Thus it should be given as proof that He was speaking of Rosh HaShanah because Rosh HaShanah is the only day in the whole year that was referred to as the hidden day or the days that no man knew.
Because of this uncertainty of the correct day (new moon), this feast is celebrated over the course of two days... Tishri 1 and 2. It is the only feast that is celebrated over the course of two days and signals the beginning of a new year...
More from Edward Chumney:
The problem of Rosh HaShanah is heightened by the fact that it falls on Rosh Chodesh, the new moon itself. Therefore, even in Jerusalem ... it would have been difficult to let everyone know in time that the New Year had begun. To solve this problem, a two-day Rosh HaShanah was practiced even in Israel. Creating a two-day Rosh HaShanah was also intended to strengthen observance of each day; in the rabinnic view, the two days are regarded as a yom arikhta, one long day.
The ram's horn [shofar] was blown at the Feast of Trumpets to awaken the people from slumber to prepare them to meet with God on the High Holy Day.
The shofar is blown 100 times to ensure that it is blown often enough, and with the proper sounds, to satisfy God's requirements and to alert the Jewish people to the significance of the upcoming Day of Atonement. This Day of Atonement occurs 10 days later and is our next feast: Yom Kippur.
The last trumpet was the longest and loudest of the trumpet blasts. It speaks of redemption, deliverance, and God's intervention to subdue the enemies of Israel.
1 Cor 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.
The month prior to Tishri is Elul.
Each morning of the 30 days of Elul the shofar was blown to warn the people to repent and return to God. These 30 days, plus the 10 days leading to Yom Kippur makes for a total of 40 days.
These 40 days parallel the amount of probation time given to Ninevah (Jonah 3:4), and the forty years of Israel's probation period in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.
Further evidence supporting the harpazo with the shofar is found in ancient Jewish tradition which holds that the resurrection of the dead will occur on the Feast of Trumpets. Jewish gravestones are often engraved with a shofar reflecting this long-held tradition.
Paul knew full well of this tradition, and repeated it again in his letter to the Thessalonians:
1 Th 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
[5a] The Days of Awe
Beginning with the Feast of Trumpets and ending with The Day of Atonement (our next feast) are 10 days set aside as High Holy Days. These 10 days are known as The Days of Awe.
These are 10 days set aside for intense Spiritual preparation and repentance. Based on Jewish tradition, these 10 days are viewed as God's Judgment Day, sometimes referred to as Israel's Dark Days and the begin immediately following the last trumpet.
Joe 2:1-2 Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My Holy Mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so there is a great and mighty people; there has never been anything like it, nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
Amo 5:18-20 Alas, you who are longing for the Day of the LORD, for what purpose will the Day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?
The Prophets of old certainly understood that these Days of Awe were to be a time of God's wrath, but also a time when His wrath brings Israel back to Himself.
The Days of Awe are also a pre-requisite to the return of Jesus. The national repentance of Israel will bring about their remorse, and they will finally repent of their sin and finally receive their Messiah.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, You shall not see Me henceforth, until you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
Zec 12:10 "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."
The 10 Days of Awe in the end time will be horrific for national Israel. God's wrath will bring them to their national repentance on the final Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur.
[6] The Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur
Again, depending on the timing of the new moon, this feast is celebrated 10 days later (~ Tishri 10/11).
The Day of Atonement is known as The Day.
It is also the day in which the great trump is blown.
Isa 27:13 It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the Holy Mountain at Jerusalem.
It is a most Holy Day - the only day of the year in which the high priest, adorned with his holy garments, enters in to the Temple's Holy of Holies... into God's presence with a blood sacrifice to atone for the people's sin.
When he came out of the Holy of Holies alive, the people rejoiced for they knew their sin had been forgiven for that year and that God would continue to bless them.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
It is also during this feast that defilement is purged from the shrine and the people. During this ceremony the scapegoat, azazel is sent into the wilderness and tossed off a cliff. Azazel is understood to be a picture of Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10).
At the conclusion of Daniel's 70th Week the Antichrist and false prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:20) and Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Rev 20:2).
Prophetically, the Day of Atonement looks forward to the end of Daniel's 70th Week when Satan's forces are met with God's wrath.
Messiah will come on their behalf to deliver them and to restore them nationally under the New Covenant:
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place."
If we're looking for Daniel's 70th Week to end on this day, then it must also begin on this day seven years prior.
Daniel's 70th Week begins with the confirmation of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel. If you've read my other blogs, especially those on Daniel, then you're already familiar with what I'm talking about.
Dan 9:27 "And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week [7 years], but in the middle of the week [3.5 years] he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
Beginning of the seven years:
Isa 28:14-18 Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception."
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the secret place.
Middle of the seven years [3.5 years later]:
Your covenant with death will be canceled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.
[7] The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) - Sukkot
See Leviticus 23:36
Five days after the Day of Atonement (~ Tishri 15-21) the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated. This feast continues for seven days after "the ingathering" (Deu 16:13), plus an extra day known as the Great Day, or Shemini Atzeret (literally, assembly of the eighth day).
Sukkot is called the "season of our joy". Sins have been forgiven and the experience of joy when walking with God. This speaks to the coming Millennial Kingdom.
During this period, observant Jews live in temporary huts (booths - sukkahs) as a reminder of their forefathers wilderness journey during their exodus from Egypt. Tabernacle refers to "temporary dwelling place".
One of the ceremonies associated with this feast has the high priest pouring water, collected from the Pool of Shiloam, onto the Altar within the Temple. This is meant to invoke God's blessing on the nation and provide life-giving water.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus fulfilled the hopes of the worshipers of His day by proclaiming Himself as the One to Whom these ceremonies pointed:
Joh 7:37-38 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
Another of the ceremonies associated with this feast is the nightly illumination of the Temple representing the Shekinah Glory.
Prophetically, this represents the coming Messiah as the Light of the World.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus fulfilled the hopes of the worshipers of His day by proclaiming Himself as the One to Whom these ceremonies pointed:
Joh 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
The Feast of Tabernacles is recognized as God's great ingathering of the final harvest. It anticipates a time when Jesus will "tabernacle", or dwell among men... which He will - during His Millennial Reign.
These are the seven feasts of Leviticus 23... they perfectly picture the past milestones of Jesus as well as the upcoming events surrounding His second coming.
___________________
Two Additions
There are two additional holidays added to the Jewish calendar, celebrated during the time of Jesus' first advent.
[1] The Feast of Dedication - Hanukkah (Kislev 25)
This feast falls 75 days after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
If you've been reading my blogs, this number (75) should be ringing a bell!
Dan 12:12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
After the Jewish victory over Antiochus Epiphanes in 165 BC, the defiled Temple needed to be purified and re-dedicated. You can read about these events in the Old Testament Apocrypha of First and Second Maccabees.
The Feast of Dedication, also referred to as the Feast of Lights, celebrates the purification and re-dedication of the Temple. This is why Hanukkuh is a time celebrated with lighting the candles of the Menorah and lasts for eight days... one candle per day.
Joh 10:22-25 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the Temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me."
Antiochus Epiphanes is a foreshadow of the coming Antichrist who will once again defile the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus will do away with Antichrist when He returns, but the Temple will remain defiled until the process of purification and re-dedication has occurred... at Hanukkah, when the New Millennial Temple is dedicated (Ezekial 40-47).
[2] The Feast of Lots - Purim (Adar 14)
This feast is celebrated one month before Passover of the following year.
The Book of Esther contains the historical events of Purim (Lots).
Haman (Edomite), who we've discussed in other blogs, through lots (Est 9:24) determined to destroy the Jews on Adar 13. His desire did not go as planned and the Jews were saved (Est 9:18-32).
Purim then celebrates the preservation of the Jews on Adar 14 - the day after their aborted destruction.
____________________________________
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
In Part 2 we looked at the four spring feasts of Leviticus 23. These are God's appointed times and they paint a picture for us to recognize the timing of His events.
The spring feasts specifically point to the first advent of Jesus.
Below, we'll take a look at the three fall feasts and how they point the second advent of Jesus.
These feasts, proclaimed by the Prophets of old, the teachings of Jesus, and the Apostles will be fulfilled as described in the Revelation:
Rev 15:3-4 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and True are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are Holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your Righteous acts have been revealed."
_______________________
[5] The Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah; Rosh HaShanah
See Numbers 29:1-6
The Feast of Trumpets is celebrated on Tishri 1 (our September/October), which is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Tishri is often referred to as the Sabbath of Months.
Rosh HaSshanah means "head of the year".
The Biblical name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means "the day of the awakening blast".
Although it is declared as Tishri 1 it is actually an uncertain day as it is based on the witness of a visible new moon. The visible sliver of a new moon begins the first day of a lunar month.
Having said that, notice what happens...
Mat 25:13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
The precise day and hour which begins this feast is unknown until the new moon is first sighted.
This sighting required the collaboration of separate sightings by designated observers to the head of the Sanhedrin (called the Nasi). He would be the one to declare the start of the Feast of Trumpets.
This would cause the trumpets to begin to blow, which would begin the celebration.
Since the beginning was uncertain, because of the timing of the new moon, this feast is also referred to as the Hidden Day. The Talmudic name of Yom HaKeseh, which means, "the day of concealment".
It is the "day of concealment" because it is when we will be concealed from God's wrath:
Psa 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.
Isa 26:19-20 Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, My people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course.
Prophetically, Jesus alluded to the uncertainty of this feast day and that the Father alone would declare the day of Jesus coming.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
From Edward Chumney, of Hebraic Heritage Ministries International:
Because Rosh HaShanah [Feast of Trumpets] was understood to be the hidden day, this statement by Yeshua [Jesus] is actually an idiom for Rosh HaShanah. Thus it should be given as proof that He was speaking of Rosh HaShanah because Rosh HaShanah is the only day in the whole year that was referred to as the hidden day or the days that no man knew.
Because of this uncertainty of the correct day (new moon), this feast is celebrated over the course of two days... Tishri 1 and 2. It is the only feast that is celebrated over the course of two days and signals the beginning of a new year...
More from Edward Chumney:
The problem of Rosh HaShanah is heightened by the fact that it falls on Rosh Chodesh, the new moon itself. Therefore, even in Jerusalem ... it would have been difficult to let everyone know in time that the New Year had begun. To solve this problem, a two-day Rosh HaShanah was practiced even in Israel. Creating a two-day Rosh HaShanah was also intended to strengthen observance of each day; in the rabinnic view, the two days are regarded as a yom arikhta, one long day.
The ram's horn [shofar] was blown at the Feast of Trumpets to awaken the people from slumber to prepare them to meet with God on the High Holy Day.
The shofar is blown 100 times to ensure that it is blown often enough, and with the proper sounds, to satisfy God's requirements and to alert the Jewish people to the significance of the upcoming Day of Atonement. This Day of Atonement occurs 10 days later and is our next feast: Yom Kippur.
The last trumpet was the longest and loudest of the trumpet blasts. It speaks of redemption, deliverance, and God's intervention to subdue the enemies of Israel.
1 Cor 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.
The month prior to Tishri is Elul.
Each morning of the 30 days of Elul the shofar was blown to warn the people to repent and return to God. These 30 days, plus the 10 days leading to Yom Kippur makes for a total of 40 days.
These 40 days parallel the amount of probation time given to Ninevah (Jonah 3:4), and the forty years of Israel's probation period in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.
Further evidence supporting the harpazo with the shofar is found in ancient Jewish tradition which holds that the resurrection of the dead will occur on the Feast of Trumpets. Jewish gravestones are often engraved with a shofar reflecting this long-held tradition.
Paul knew full well of this tradition, and repeated it again in his letter to the Thessalonians:
1 Th 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
[5a] The Days of Awe
Beginning with the Feast of Trumpets and ending with The Day of Atonement (our next feast) are 10 days set aside as High Holy Days. These 10 days are known as The Days of Awe.
These are 10 days set aside for intense Spiritual preparation and repentance. Based on Jewish tradition, these 10 days are viewed as God's Judgment Day, sometimes referred to as Israel's Dark Days and the begin immediately following the last trumpet.
Joe 2:1-2 Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My Holy Mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so there is a great and mighty people; there has never been anything like it, nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
Amo 5:18-20 Alas, you who are longing for the Day of the LORD, for what purpose will the Day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?
The Prophets of old certainly understood that these Days of Awe were to be a time of God's wrath, but also a time when His wrath brings Israel back to Himself.
The Days of Awe are also a pre-requisite to the return of Jesus. The national repentance of Israel will bring about their remorse, and they will finally repent of their sin and finally receive their Messiah.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, You shall not see Me henceforth, until you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
Zec 12:10 "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."
The 10 Days of Awe in the end time will be horrific for national Israel. God's wrath will bring them to their national repentance on the final Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur.
[6] The Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur
Again, depending on the timing of the new moon, this feast is celebrated 10 days later (~ Tishri 10/11).
The Day of Atonement is known as The Day.
It is also the day in which the great trump is blown.
Isa 27:13 It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the Holy Mountain at Jerusalem.
It is a most Holy Day - the only day of the year in which the high priest, adorned with his holy garments, enters in to the Temple's Holy of Holies... into God's presence with a blood sacrifice to atone for the people's sin.
When he came out of the Holy of Holies alive, the people rejoiced for they knew their sin had been forgiven for that year and that God would continue to bless them.
Lev 16:30-31 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
It is also during this feast that defilement is purged from the shrine and the people. During this ceremony the scapegoat, azazel is sent into the wilderness and tossed off a cliff. Azazel is understood to be a picture of Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10).
At the conclusion of Daniel's 70th Week the Antichrist and false prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:20) and Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Rev 20:2).
Prophetically, the Day of Atonement looks forward to the end of Daniel's 70th Week when Satan's forces are met with God's wrath.
Messiah will come on their behalf to deliver them and to restore them nationally under the New Covenant:
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place."
If we're looking for Daniel's 70th Week to end on this day, then it must also begin on this day seven years prior.
Daniel's 70th Week begins with the confirmation of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel. If you've read my other blogs, especially those on Daniel, then you're already familiar with what I'm talking about.
Dan 9:27 "And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week [7 years], but in the middle of the week [3.5 years] he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
Beginning of the seven years:
Isa 28:14-18 Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception."
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the secret place.
Middle of the seven years [3.5 years later]:
Your covenant with death will be canceled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.
[7] The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) - Sukkot
See Leviticus 23:36
Five days after the Day of Atonement (~ Tishri 15-21) the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated. This feast continues for seven days after "the ingathering" (Deu 16:13), plus an extra day known as the Great Day, or Shemini Atzeret (literally, assembly of the eighth day).
Sukkot is called the "season of our joy". Sins have been forgiven and the experience of joy when walking with God. This speaks to the coming Millennial Kingdom.
During this period, observant Jews live in temporary huts (booths - sukkahs) as a reminder of their forefathers wilderness journey during their exodus from Egypt. Tabernacle refers to "temporary dwelling place".
One of the ceremonies associated with this feast has the high priest pouring water, collected from the Pool of Shiloam, onto the Altar within the Temple. This is meant to invoke God's blessing on the nation and provide life-giving water.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus fulfilled the hopes of the worshipers of His day by proclaiming Himself as the One to Whom these ceremonies pointed:
Another of the ceremonies associated with this feast is the nightly illumination of the Temple representing the Shekinah Glory.
Prophetically, this represents the coming Messiah as the Light of the World.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus fulfilled the hopes of the worshipers of His day by proclaiming Himself as the One to Whom these ceremonies pointed:
The Feast of Tabernacles is recognized as God's great ingathering of the final harvest. It anticipates a time when Jesus will "tabernacle", or dwell among men... which He will - during His Millennial Reign.
These are the seven feasts of Leviticus 23... they perfectly picture the past milestones of Jesus as well as the upcoming events surrounding His second coming.
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Two Additions
There are two additional holidays added to the Jewish calendar, celebrated during the time of Jesus' first advent.
[1] The Feast of Dedication - Hanukkah (Kislev 25)
This feast falls 75 days after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
If you've been reading my blogs, this number (75) should be ringing a bell!
Dan 12:12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
After the Jewish victory over Antiochus Epiphanes in 165 BC, the defiled Temple needed to be purified and re-dedicated. You can read about these events in the Old Testament Apocrypha of First and Second Maccabees.
The Feast of Dedication, also referred to as the Feast of Lights, celebrates the purification and re-dedication of the Temple. This is why Hanukkuh is a time celebrated with lighting the candles of the Menorah and lasts for eight days... one candle per day.
Joh 10:22-25 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the Temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me."
Antiochus Epiphanes is a foreshadow of the coming Antichrist who will once again defile the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus will do away with Antichrist when He returns, but the Temple will remain defiled until the process of purification and re-dedication has occurred... at Hanukkah, when the New Millennial Temple is dedicated (Ezekial 40-47).
[2] The Feast of Lots - Purim (Adar 14)
This feast is celebrated one month before Passover of the following year.
The Book of Esther contains the historical events of Purim (Lots).
Haman (Edomite), who we've discussed in other blogs, through lots (Est 9:24) determined to destroy the Jews on Adar 13. His desire did not go as planned and the Jews were saved (Est 9:18-32).
Purim then celebrates the preservation of the Jews on Adar 14 - the day after their aborted destruction.
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Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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