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| October, 2024 (5785) | No. 39 |
SHABBAT SHALOM SERVICE
Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur
SHABBAT SHALOM TO SHALOM FAMILY AND WEBSITE VIEWERS
Mrs. Ari D. Hidalgo
Savannah Chapel Shabbat Bulletin
October 19 2024 - 17 Tishri 5785
Saturday at 10:30 am
Song: Havenu Shalom Alechem - Congregation
#1 Page 11
Brechat Haner - Candle Blessing:
Page 8
Song: Sh’ma Yisrael (Hear O Israel) #2, Page 12
And now together let us
recite: Mark 12: 29-31 (Brit Ha Dashah)
Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 (Torah) and Romans 1:16,17 - Pages, 8,9
Psalm of the day: Psalm 119
Prayer Time & Sharing:
Congregation
Song: ‘Ki Eshm’ra Shabbat (Safeguard The Sabbath)
#58, Page 78
Congregation
Recite: Matthew 12:8-13, Page 78
SUKKOT
By Dr. Elias E. Hidalgo
WE FIND ITS ROOTS
SUKKOT IS A HEBREW LANGUAGE TERM FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TORAH (LAW), MEANING 'BOOTHS', AND, WE FIND ITS ROOTS IN LEVITICUS 23: 33 - 44, WHERE THE ALMIGHTY GOD COMMANDS
HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL TO KEEP AND OBSERVE THIS FEAST OF THE LORD FOR SEVEN DAYS.
LEVITICUS 23: 33 - 44
33: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
34: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
35: On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
36: Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
37: These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
38: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
39: Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
40: And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
41: And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
42: Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
44: And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF GOD HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THIS GLORIOUS WEEK OF HARVEST EVERY YEAR, FOR OVER THIRTY-FIVE HUNDRED YEARS, THAT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THREE HIGHLIGHTS
TO THIS WONDERFUL FEAST OF THE LORD CALLED SUKKOT, ALSO KNOWN AS, THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
IT'S BEGINNING, IT'S BLESSING, AND, IT'S BOUNTY
IT'S BEGINNING
DURING THE TIME OF ISRAEL'S EXODUS FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, AS THEY TRAVELED IN THE SINAI DESERT, THE LORD SPOKE OFTENTIMES TO HIS SERVANT MOSES TO INSTRUCT THE JEWISH PEOPLE AS TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY TO JEHOVAH, THEIR REDEEMER.
THE LORD BROUGHT THEM
THE LORD BROUGHT THEM THROUGH MANIFOLD TESTS AND TRIUMPHS DURING A PERIOD OF RENEWAL AND REBUILDING FROM A MERE SEVENTY SOULS THAT ENTERED EGYPT UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE WITH OVER TWO MILLION (PLUS), FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS LATER.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS A REMINDER TO ISRAEL DURING THEIR JOURNEY, 'That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt:', AS THEY DECLARED THE FOLLOWING CRY IN REFERENCE TO THE LORD, 'I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD'.
IT WAS TO BE A FEAST OF BRINGING GIFTS UNTO THE LORD GOD IN THE FORM OF 'BURNT OFFERING, AND A MEAT OFFERING, A SACRIFICE, AND DRINK OFFERINGS'. ALONG WITH 'BOUGHS OF GOODLY TREES, BRANCHES OF PALM TREES, AND THE BOUGHS OF THICK TREES, AND WILLOWS OF THE BROOK;'
REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD
THEY ALSO WERE COMMANDED TO REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD, THUS TODAY JEWISH INDIVIDUALS REJOICE, REMEMBER AND REVERENCE THE LORD THROUGH THEIR OBSERVANCE OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
IT'S BLESSING
FIFTEEN HUNDRED YEARS LATER
APPROXIMATELY 1,500 YEARS AFTER THE INCEPTION OF SUKKOT, WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE DAYS OF Y'SHUA (JESUS), AS WE READ IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN, CHAPTER SEVEN;
'AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS WALKED IN GALILEE: ... 'NOW THE JEW'S FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS AT HAND.'
WE READ IN OUR TEXT, THAT JESUS, 'WENT ... UP UNTO THE FEAST' (VERSE 10), AND, 'ABOUT THE MIDST OF THE FEAST' (VERSE 14), THAT IS, AROUND THE THIRD OR FOURTH DAY, HE 'WENT UP INTO THE TEMPLE, AND TAUGHT'.
THEN, 'IN THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST,', WE READ IN JOHN 7:37-38, THAT,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
THESE WONDERFUL WORDS, 'COME UNTO ME' ARE DEVELOPED FURTHER IN MATTHEW 11:28-30,
28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
AS MANY AS RECEIVED
JOHN 1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
WE HAVE SEEN, BRIEFLY, SUKKOT, THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, IT'S BEGINNING AND IT'S BLESSING, NOW WE WILL LOOK INTO IT'S BOUNTY.
IT'S BOUNTYIN CONCLUDING OUR THREEFOLD HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, WE ARE BROUGHT TO THE LAST BOOK OF THE HOLY BIBLE, THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 21: 1 - 5,
1: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, 'the tabernacle' of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT WAS THE BIBLICAL HEBREW WORD FOR TABERNACLE USED IN LEVITICUS 23? IF YOU SAID, 'SUKKOT', YOU ARE CORRECT, NOW, THE GREEK WORD USED FOR TABERNACLE IN JOHN CHAPTER 7 IS, 'SKENOP', AND, IN OUR LATEST TEXT, REVELATION 21: 3, IT IS, 'SKENE'. THIS GIVES US A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE SPEAKING OF THE SAME ISSUE, AND THAT IS, 'A TABERNACLE' OR 'BOOTH', WITH ONE EXCEPTION, IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THE TERM TABERNACLE ALLUDES TO A PERSON, AND THAT BEING THE PERSON OF, 'THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END', WHOM WE KNOW TO BE, Y'SHUA HA-MASSHIACH ADONAI, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AS WE READ IN REVELATION 1: 5 - 8,
'Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
AFTER THESE EVENTS
AFTER THESE EVENTS, THE GATHERING (RAPTURE), THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, THE RETURN OF MESSIAH TO THIS EARTH, THE REDEMPTION OF ALL ISRAEL, THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM, THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF SATAN, THEN, ... WILL ETERNITY BE USHERED IN, AND OUR BLESSED MESSIAH WILL RULE AND REIGN FOREVER MORE AND WE WILL BE WITH OUR 'TABERNACLE', AS HE WILL,
'wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.'
THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THINGS
PSALM 103: 1 - 5
1: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5: Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
YOM KIPPUR
THE BIBLICAL JEWISH WORDS
THE BIBLICAL JEWISH WORDS 'YOM KIPPUR', ACTUALLY MEANS, 'DAY OF ATONEMENT' (OR, COVERING), WHICH COMES FROM TORAH (THE BOOKS OF MOSES), SPECIFICALLY, IT IS FOUND IN:
LEVITICUS 23: 26 - 32
26: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27: Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
28: And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
29: For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30: And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31: Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32: It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
YOM KIPPUR
YOM KIPPUR, FALLS, ACCORDING TO THE MODERN DAY JEWISH CALENDAR, ON THE TENTH DAY OF TISHREI (THIS YEAR, IT FALLS ON THE NINTH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2008).
IT IS ONE OF SEVEN 'FEASTS OF THE LORD' THAT ARE FOUND IN THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. HERE IS A LIST OF THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER:
1) SHABBAT, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'THE SABBATH'
2) PESACH, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'PASSOVER'
3) BIKKURIM, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'FIRST FRUITS'
4) SHAVUOT, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'PENTECOST'
5) ROSH HA-SHANAH, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'HEAD OF THE YEAR'
6) YOM KIPPUR, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'DAY OF ATONEMENT'
7) SUKKOT, ALSO KNOWN AS, 'THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES'
THE ACTUAL SCRIPTURES
NOW, LET US LOOK INTO THE ACTUAL SCRIPTURES THAT REVOLVE AROUND YOM KIPPUR.
FIRST OF ALL, THE ABOVE HOLY DAY IS CELEBRATED AND OBSERVED THROUGHOUT WORLD JEWRY AS A VERY SACRED AND SPIRITUAL EVENT THAT EMBODIES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS EARTHLY PEOPLE, ISRAEL. IT HAS BEEN PART AND PARCEL OF JEWISH LIFE SINCE THE DAYS OF MOSES, FOR ALMOST THREE AND A HALF MILLENNIUM.
SECONDLY, WE FIND THAT IN OUR SCRIPTURAL TEXT, THE WORD 'ATONEMENT' IS FOUND 'THREE TIMES', WHICH GIVES US AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT GOD PLACES ON BEING CLEANSED AND FORGIVEN. NOW, BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A CLEAR CUT RECIPE THAT IS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT TELLS US IN ALL SIMPLICITY AS TO THE REQUIREMENTS AS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS, CHAPTER 17 AND VERSE 11,
11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
DID YOU NOTICE
DID YOU NOTICE THAT THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE REQUIRES THE ADHERENT THEREOF TO, BRING BEFORE THE LORD A 'BLOOD SACRIFICE' IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE COVERING OR ATONEMENT NEEDED. WELL, AS WE CONNECT THE DOTS, IT IS VERY EASY TO SEE THAT IN ORDER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FROM GOD THERE NEEDS TO BE THREE THINGS, ACCORDING TO OUR PASSAGES:
1) A BLOOD SACRIFICE
2) A PRIEST TO OFFER THE ATONEMENT
3) AN ALTAR (THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY LAW)
THE GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD NEWS
THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS IS THIS: SINCE THE YEAR 70 A.D., WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, THE THREE BASIC SCRIPTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING 'THE ATONEMENT' HAVE BEEN LOST, THAT IS, IN THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING THE HOLY CITY;
1) THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED
2) THE PRIEST HOOD WAS ABOLISHED
3) THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM CEASED
THEREFORE, A TRUE AND BIBLICAL 'ATONEMENT' HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE, BUT, LIKE IN ALL LIKE MINDED SITUATIONS, SUBSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN CREATED BY MAN. TODAY WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF WORLD JEWRY, THREE THINGS HAVE 'MAGICALLY' REPLACED GOD'S REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY ARE:
1) TEFILLAH (PRAYERS)
2) TESHUVAH (REPENTANCE)
3) TSEDAKAH (GOOD DEEDS)
THE PROBLEM IS
THE PROBLEM IS, HOW MANY 'PRAYERS', AND HOW MANY TIMES OF 'REPENTANCE', AND HOW MANY 'GOOD DEEDS' MUST A HUMAN BEING BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN ORDER TO RECEIVE 'THE ATONEMENT'. WELL, THE ANSWER IS CLEAR, IT CAN NEVER BE DONE.
THE GOOD NEWS
THE GOOD NEWS HAS ALWAYS BEEN BEFORE US, SINCE THE DAYS OF Y'SHUA HA-MASSHIACH ADONAI (THE LORD JESUS CHRIST). HE ALONE BECAME OUR PERFECT ATONEMENT, WHEN HE FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS AS SET FORTH BY GOD HIMSELF. IN OUR SUBJECT MATTER, 'THE DAY OF ATONEMENT', A BLOOD SACRIFICE IS REQUIRED, AND AS WE KNOW, THE MESSIAH OF ISRAEL, SHED HIS BLOOD TO COVER OR ATONE FOR ALL OF OUR SINS, WHEN HE IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL DIED ON A CROSS, WAS BURIED AND ON THE THIRD DAY ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
GLORY TO GOD
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, THAT WE CAN BE SURE THAT YOM KIPPUR IS OURS TO ENJOY, BECAUSE, THE PAYMENT HAS BEEN PAID AND THE PRIZE HAS BEEN WON, NAMELY, LIFE ETERNAL, 'THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD' (ROMANS 6: 23B).
THERE IS NO NEED TO WONDER
THERE IS NO NEED TO WONDER IF 'THE ATONEMENT' IS OURS, FOR WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE FROM GOD HIMSELF, AS RECORDED IN:
ROMANS 5: 11, 'AND NOT ONLY SO, BUT WE ALSO JOY IN GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM WE HAVE 'NOW' RECEIVED 'THE ATONEMENT'.'
THANK YOU LORD THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO WONDER OR GUESS WHETHER WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH ONE OF YOUR FEAST DAYS, CALLED, 'YOM KIPPUR', FOR NOW WE KNOW, THAT OUR SINS ARE FORGIVIN AND WE HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD.
Y'SHUA (JESUS) OUR LORD HAS BECOME OUR, PRIEST AND SACRIFICE TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
HEBREWS 9: 11-12
11: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
MAY THIS YOM KIPPUR BE YOUR DAY AND TIME OF ATONEMENT BEFORE EL SHADDAI (THE ALMIGHTY) GOD. AMEN.
ROSH HA-SHANAH
(THE JEWISH NEW YEAR)
By Dr. Elias E. Hidalgo
THE TERM ROSH HA-SHANAH
THE TERM ROSH HA-SHANAH ACTUALLY MEANS 'THE HEAD OF THE YEAR', AND ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH CALENDAR IT FALLS ON THE SEVENTH MONTH (TISHRI). THIS YEAR (2015) IT IS OBSERVED ON THE 13th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH BEGINS THE YEAR 5776, ACCORDING TO TRADITION.
NOW ISN'T THAT ODD, THAT A NEW JEWISH YEAR WOULD BEGIN ON THE SEVENTH MONTH. ONE WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD FALL ON THE 'FIRST' MONTH?
WELL, ORIGINALLY, THE ABOVE DAY, ACCORDING TO THE HOLY BIBLE AS FOUND IN LEVITICUS 23: 23-25, IS ACTUALLY CALLED, 'THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS', WHEN THE 'SHOFAR' (RAMS HORN) IS BLOWN AND A HOLY CONVOCATION (GATHERING) IS CALLED, IN ORDER FOR THE PEOPLE TO WORSHIP AND EXALT THE ALMIGHTY LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, WHOM WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND TO BE, Y'SHUA HA-MASSIACH ADONAI, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
YEAR AFTER YEAR
YEAR AFTER YEAR JEWISH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD OBSERVE AND REMEMBER ROSH HA-SHANAH AS A MOST SACRED DAY, AND A TIME TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THEIR SINS AND TRESPASSES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
IN LEVITICUS 23: 25, WE ARE TOLD, "YE SHALL BRING AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO THE LORD.", THAT IS, A BLOOD ATONEMENT. THUS, ON THIS DAY SINCE THERE IS NO LONGER A TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, NO PRIESTHOOD, AND NO SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM, TRADITION HAS EVOLVED INTO THE FOLLOWING SUBSTITUTION: THE GATHERING OF INDIVIDUALS NEAR A BODY OF WATER, AND SYMBOLICALLY, THEY CAST THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. BUT NOTICE, THERE IS NO 'BLOOD ATONEMENT', WHICH IS REQUIRED BY TORAH (THE LAW).
AND AS A RESULT
AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT ONE’S SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND THE REASON BEING THAT THE HOLY BIBLE ITSELF RECORDS THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
WE READ IN LEVITICUS 17: 11, "FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD: AND I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU UPON THE ALTAR TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS: FOR IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL".
FOR US TODAY, AS JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH INDIVIDUALS, THAT NEED ATONEMENT AND THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID, THE ATONEMENT HAS BEEN MADE, THE OFFER OF SALVATION IS EXTENDED TO ALL, "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD." (JOHN 3: 16-18).
IS THERE A SCRIPTURE
IS THERE A SCRIPTURE THAT RELATES TO THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR?
YES, IN EXODUS 12: 2, "THIS MONTH SHALL BE UNTO YOU THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS: IT SHALL BE THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR TO YOU."
CLEARLY, THE LORD GOD ANNOUNCES A NEW YEAR FOR HIS PEOPLE (ISRAEL), WITHOUT ANY EQUIVOCATION, AND IT FALLS AT THE OUTSET OF THE FEAST OF PESACH (PASSOVER).
ISN’T THAT INTERESTING?
ISN’T THAT INTERESTING? WHAT THE ALMIGHTY GOD HAS CALLED THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR, MEN HAVE CHOSEN RATHER TO CALL THE SEVENTH MONTH, THE FIRST? THINGS OF THIS NATURE ALWAYS REMIND ME OF THE FAMOUS ABBOTT AND COSTELLO PARADOX, 'WHO'S ON FIRST?'
NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG
NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD OBSERVE AND REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH AS THE HOLY BIBLE TELLS US, AS THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS, AS A SPECIAL DAY, A SABBATH DAY, A NO SERVILE DAY, A SERVICE DAY IN HONOR OF OUR LORD AND GOD, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB. AND AS WE REJOICE IN THIS WONDERFUL DAY, WE SHOULD BLOW THE TRUMPET (HA-SHOFAR), TO ANNOUNCE THE FACT THAT THE 'OFFERING MADE BY FIRE' HAS BEEN OFFERED AND ACCEPTED BY THE LORD IN THE PERSON OF OUR BLESSED MESSIAH, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THROUGH HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION.
LET US HEAR
"LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. FOR GOD SHALL BRING EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, WITH EVERY SECRET THING, WHETHER IT BE GOOD, OR WHETHER IT BE EVIL." (ECCLESIASTES 12: 13-14).
"HE HATH SHEWED THEE, O MAN, WHAT IS GOOD: AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF THEE, BUT TO DO JUSTLY, AND TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD?" (MICAH 6: 8).
"COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT." (MATTHEW 11: 28-30).
WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT NEARLY THIRTY-FIVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO AS RECORDED IN THE HOLY BIBLE, THE LORD GOD SPOKE TO MOSES, AS WRITTEN IN LEVITICUS 23: 24 - 25, SAYING, ... SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, SAYING, IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, SHALL YE HAVE A SABBATH, A MEMORIAL OF BLOWING OF TRUMPETS, AN HOLY CONVOCATION. YE SHALL DO NO SERVILE WORK THEREIN: BUT YE SHALL OFFER AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO THE LORD ...
IMAGINE, SOMETHING SAID SO LONG AGO, IS STILL REMEMBERED AND COMMEMORATED TODAY.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH, 2015 AS THE SUN BEGINS TO SET IN THE WEST, A GREAT EVENT WILL BE TAKING PLACE: ROSH-HA-SHANAH (ALSO KNOWN AS THE JEWISH NEW YEAR).
JOIN ME AS WE THINK UPON THIS WONDERFUL DAY. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE JEWISH NEW YEAR 5776.
HOW INTERESTING THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE ISRAEL A CALENDAR (CIVIL) TO GO BY. DID YOU NOTICE THAT IT BEGINS ON THE SEVENTH MONTH?
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST MONTH OF THE RELIGIOUS CALENDAR IS THE MONTH 'NISSAN' WHICH AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, IS THE MONTH UPON WHICH WE CELEBRATE PESACH (PASSOVER).
NOW, BACK TO ROSH HA-SHANAH WHICH LITERALLY MEANS, 'HEAD OF THE YEAR'.
IT IS TO BE CONSIDERED A SABBATH (A DAY OF REST), AND, A SACRIFICE BY FIRE IS TO BE BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD. LASTLY, NO SERVILE WORK IS TO BE DONE ON THIS DAY.
JOIN ME AS WE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING IN REMEMBRANCE OF ROSH HA-SHANAH.
THE SABBATH:
SABBATH MEANS 'REST', AND WAS INSTITUTED BY THE ALMIGHTY GOD IN GENESIS 2: 1 - 3, ... THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE FINISHED, AND ALL THE HOST OF THEM. AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD ENDED HIS WORK WHICH HE HAD MADE; AND HE RESTED (SHABBAT) ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORK WHICH HE HAD MADE. AND GOD BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY, AND SANCTIFIED IT: BECAUSE THAT IN IT HE HAD RESTED (SHABBAT) FROM ALL HIS WORK WHICH GOD CREATED AND MADE ...
THE ALMIGHTY GOD HAD A SHABBAT (REST). NOW IN OUR TEXT IN LEVITICUS, HE COMMANDS A DAY OF REST (SHABBAT) AS THE CIVIL NEW YEAR BEGINS.
IN HEBREWS 4: 9, WE READ ... THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST (SHABBAT) TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD ...
ALSO, IN HEBREWS 4: 10, WE READ ... FOR HE THAT IS ENTERED INTO HIS REST (SHABBAT), HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS ...
THEREFORE, AS WE REMEMBER THE FEASTS OF TRUMPETS (ROSH HA-SHANAH), LET'S DO SO IN REST (SHABBAT) BEFORE OUR LORD, FOR HE AS THE ETERNAL ONE HAS GRANTED US LIFE FOREVERMORE THROUGH Y'SHUA (JESUS) OUR LORD AND MESSIAH.
THE SACRIFICE:
IN ORDER FOR US TO COMPLETE OUR REMEMBRANCE OF ROSH HA-SHANAH A SACRIFICE (OFFERING) BY FIRE IS TO BE BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD. SINCE THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL WAS DESTROYED IN 70 AD, AND WITH IT'S DESTRUCTION THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM CEASED AND THE PRIESTHOOD ALSO WAS DISCONTINUED. HOW THEN CAN WE HONESTLY BRING A SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD DURING THIS GREAT FEAST DAY?
THE ANSWER, I BELIEVE LIES IN THE FACT THAT OUR MESSIAH HAS BECOME THE BURNT OFFERING THAT WE CAN OFFER UNTO GOD. WHEN Y'SHUA (JESUS) DIED ON THE TREE, WAS BURIED AND ON THE THIRD DAY ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HE PAID THE FULL PRICE OF THE BURNT OFFERING, THAT WE IN TURN, CAN OFFER ON THIS MOST HOLY DAY.
WE READ IN HEBREWS 9: 27 - 28, ... AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT: SO CHRIST (THE MESSIAH) WAS ONCE OFFERED TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; AND THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM SHALL HE APPEAR THE SECOND TIME WITHOUT SIN UNTO SALVATION ...
THE SERVILE WORK:
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, THE LORD DESIRES OUR SEPARATION FROM AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE EVERY DAY WORK SCHEDULE THAT WE ALL KNOW SO WELL. THAT IS, AWAY FROM ANY SERVILE (REGULAR WORK) WORK, SO THAT WE CAN DEDICATE OUR SELVES TO HIM AND HIM ALONE.
AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL, WHEN I READ AND THINK ON SCRIPTURES, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO POINT ME TO MY BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOUR, Y'SHUA (JESUS) THE MESSIAH. THEREFORE, EVEN IN THIS SUBJECT OF NO SERVILE WORK, I THINK OF JESUS.
WE READ IN PHILIPPIANS 2: 5 - 11, ... LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME: THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH; AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER ...
IN CONCLUSION, WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE ROSH HA-SHANAH SO MUCH BETTER, IF WE OBSERVE AND KEEP THIS FEAST DAY AS WE REST (SHABBAT) IN OUR LORD Y'SHUA, ACCEPT THE ETERNAL BURNT OFFERING THAT HE MADE FOR US BY RECEIVING AND BELIEVING ON HIM, AND ULTIMATELY WE CAN SURELY RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED NOT DO ANY SERVILE (NATURAL WORK), FOR OUR MESSIAH HAS GIVEN TO US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH A NEW BEGINNING ON THIS NEW YEAR OF 5776.
MAY THE LORD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH AS YOU WALK THIS LIFE'S JOURNEY WITH THE LORD BY YOUR SIDE AS YOUR REWARD AND RE-REWARD.
Palestine vs. Israel
as the Name of the Holy Land
By Dr. Thomas McCall
During the last few centuries, the world, Christians included, has fallen into a bad habit. We have bought into some early Roman propaganda. We have used the name Palestine, which Roman Emperor Hadrian placed on the country of Israel in 135 A.D., for so long that it has become common usage. This would be as incorrect as calling the Russia of today the "Soviet Union" or referring to Berlin as "East Germany". The thoughts below by our ministry's senior theologian, Dr. Thomas S. McCall, completely explore the subject. If you know somebody who's fallen into this habit, please share this article with them. - Zola
Current Propaganda's Use of Palestine
There is a propaganda war going on now with regard to the term "Palestine". At one time it might have been argued that Palestine was an innocuous designation of the Middle Eastern area, that is generally thought of as the Holy Land. During the last few decades, however, the term Palestine has been adopted by Arabs living in Israel in the area west of the Jordan River. It is specifically employed to avoid the use of the name Israel, and must be considered an anti-Israel term. In all Arab maps published in Jordan, Egypt, etc., the area west of the Jordan River is called Palestine, without any reference to Israel. Palestine is the term now used by those who want to deny the legitimate existence of Israel as a genuine nation among the family of nations.
The term now adopted by the political entity within Israel that is gradually obtaining more and more pockets of territory through the "peace process", is the PA (Palestinian Authority). Although it must deal daily with Israeli officials, the PA hates to use the term Israel in any of its communications.
Palestine, therefore, must now be considered a political propaganda term with massive anti-Israel implications. The world press uses the term to question the legitimacy of modern Israel. Christians also have used the term Palestine for centuries in referring to the Holy Land. In earlier times this might have been excused (although biblically questionable) because of its common usage. In light of the current propaganda war against Israel, however, Christians must now re-evaluate the term Palestine and consider whether it is biblically, theologically or prophetically accurate.
Biblical Use of Palestine
The term Palestine is rarely used in the Old Testament, and when it is, it refers specifically to the southwestern coastal area of Israel occupied by the Philistines. It is a translation of the Hebrew word "Pelesheth". The term is never used to refer to the whole land occupied by Israel. Before Israel occupied the land, it would be generally accurate to say that the southwestern coastal area was called Philistia (the Way of the Philistines, or Palestine), while the central highlands were called Canaan. Both the Canaanites and the Philistines had disappeared as distinct peoples at least by the time of the Babylonian Captivity of Judea (586 B.C.), and they no longer exist.
In the New Testament, the term Palestine is never used. The term Israel is primarily used to refer to the people of Israel, rather than the Land. However, in at least two passages, Israel is used to refer to the Land:
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. (Matt. 2:20-21)
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say to you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man shall have come. (Matt. 10:23)
The first passage is when Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned from Egypt to Israel, and the second has reference to the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the Land of Israel. Jesus, Matthew and the angel speaking to Joseph use the term Israel with reference to the Land, even though the term was not then recognized by the Roman authorities.
It is clear, then, that the Bible never uses the term Palestine to refer to the Holy Land as a whole, and that Bible maps that refer to Palestine in the Old or New Testament are, at best, inaccurate, and, at worst, are a conscious denial of the biblical name of Israel.
History of the Term Palestine
Where did the term Palestine originate from? How did the world and the church get into the habit of calling the land of Israel "Palestine"? One of the guides we use in our tours to Israel is Zvi Rivai, an Israeli Messianic believer, who has done considerable research on this subject. Zvi informs us that before 135 A.D., the Romans used the terms Judea and Galilee to refer to the Land of Israel. When Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the Roman government struck a coin with the phrase "Judea Capta," meaning Judea has been captured. The term Palestine was never used in the early Roman designations.
It was not until the Romans crushed the second Jewish revolt against Rome in 135 A.D. under Bar Kochba that Emperor Hadrian applied the term Palestine to the Land of Israel. Hadrian, like many dictators since his time realized the propaganda power of terms and symbols. He replaced the shrines of the Jewish Temple and the Sepulchre of Christ in Jerusalem with temples to pagan deities. He changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitalina, and changed the name of Israel and Judea to Palestine. Hadrian's selection of Palestine was purposeful, not accidental. He took the name of the ancient enemies of Israel, the Philistines, Latinized it to Palestine, and applied it to the Land of Israel. He hoped to erase the name Israel from all memory. Thus, the term Palestine as applied to the Land of Israel was invented by the inveterate enemy of the Bible and the Jewish people, Emperor Hadrian.
It is interesting to note that the original Philistines were not Middle Eastern at all. They were European peoples from the Adriatic sea next to Greece. It may have pleased Hadrian to utilize this Hellenistic term for the Jewish land. In any case, the original "Palestinians" had nothing to do, whatsoever, with any Arabs.
Christian Adoption of the Term Palestine
One of the first Christian uses of the term Palestine is found in the works of the Church historian Eusebius, who lived in Caesarea. He wrote around 300 A.D., as the Roman persecution of Christians was ending and the Emperor Constantine began to accept Christianity as legal. Eusebius did not accept Hadrian's designation of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitalina, but he did use Hadrian's term Palestine. Eusebius considered himself to be one of the bishops of Palestine. Thus, the anti-Israel, anti-Christian name of Palestine was assimilated into the Church's vocabulary as the Byzantine Empire was being established.
The Church has, since that time, broadly used the term Palestine in literature and in maps to refer to the Land of Israel. It should be noted, however, that the Crusaders called their land the Kingdom of Jerusalem. When the British received the mandate after World War I, though, they called the land on both sides of the Jordan River, Palestine. This became the accepted geo-political term for several decades, and those who lived in the land were called Palestinians, whether they were Jews, Arabs or Europeans.
Even evangelical Christians who believe in the future of Israel have used the term Palestine. The New Scofield Reference Edition of the Bible has maps in the back entitled "Palestine under the Herods". There never was a Palestine under the Herods. This is a serious misidentification. It would be something like looking at a modern map of Texas and having it titled "Mexico in the Twentieth Century".
The MacArthur Study Bible published just last year contains a map called "Palestine in Christ's Time" There are numerous references in the notes to something called first-century Palestine.
It appears that Bible-believing Christians have either knowingly or unwittingly followed the world, pagans and haters of Israel in calling Israel by the anti-Israel term Palestine. It is found throughout Bible maps, Bible commentaries and textbooks.
Reprinted with permission from Zola Levitt Ministries, Inc. and www.levitt.com Map by Rev. Jack A. Molloy
The Aaronic Blessing - Congregation
Numbers 6:22-26, Page 10
Song: Shalom Chaverim - Congregation
#3, Page 13
Shabbat Shalom!
PEACE
IS AN ENGLISH WORD THAT MEANS
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