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The Rehearsal Dinner
During this Pesach seder, my son said he was enlightened to several concepts. This is powerful because he has been celebrating Passover since his birth so whatever jumps out at him is something that should be discussed.
“When the time came, Yeshua and the emissaries reclined at the table, and he said to them, “I have really wanted so much to celebrate this Seder with you before I die! For I tell you, it is certain that I will not celebrate it again until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 22:14-16).
After reading the above verse, he commented that he had never seen that Yeshua would not celebrate the Seder again until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God. The Amplified Version says “I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Both versions are clear that Yeshua will be celebrating the Passover Seder again. This fascinated my son especially because he realized that the fullness of the feast will only be realized in the Kingdom.
I am sharing this because after our Seder, I was doing a little studying in Matthew 22 about the wedding feast and the phrase, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” With the context around this verse, it cannot be the correct translation. The verse should read, “Many are called, but few choose.” The Complete Jewish Bible even uses the word, ‘invited’ to convey the idea that many are ‘invited’ to the wedding feast, but ‘few choose to come.’
This Passover was unique because it was held in the midst of a ‘plague.’ At the first Passover, the Israelites took refuge from the tenth plague in their homes under the ‘blood of the lamb’ while the LORD ‘passed over’ them and took the lives of the firstborn of Egypt. Yeshua used the memorial of Passover to explain his impending death as the firstborn of Elohim, but with the words from Luke, he was also giving his disciples prophetic vision. He would celebrate the Passover again in the Kingdom to come, the coming Kingdom, His Kingdom.
This year for me had a unique twist as well. After reading the weekly portion in Jeremiah, my spiritual eyes suddenly began to see the separating of the sheep and the goats – those who follow the Shepherd of Isra’el and those who continue onward with the doctrines of men rooted in other gods and goddesses and false religions.
Those who follow the Shepherd of Isra’el, do what he did. They keep the feast of Passover as Sha’ul instructed the believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:6-9). These sheep understand that Passover not only has the earthly vision of being removed from Egypt and delivered from death to life, but that there is more to come. There is a Kingdom with a King and a Wedding Feast, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.
The goats do something else. The goats are something else.
Passover in our day is just a mikrah or rehearsal dinner. Many are called, but few choose to rehearse. When the wedding feast comes, they may be the guest who is wearing the wrong clothes and be “bound hand and foot, and thrown outside in the dark!’ In that place people will wail and grind their teeth ….”
Yeshua didn’t fulfill Passover to end it, he fulfilled it so he could bring it to its fullness in the coming Kingdom. Until that days comes, Passover is to be remembered and celebrated even by those who have the ‘blood of the Lamb’ on their hearts. It is the evidence that it is there and they follow the Shepherd.
The Israelites left Egypt after their Husband redeemed them. Then they fell away from honoring and obeying Him and they lost their marriage covenant. They began worshipping other gods until Jeremiah had to be told by Elohim Himself to stop praying for them because He wouldn’t listen to the prayers. Many today – many – leave their Bridegroom after he redeems them and lose their marriage covenant. They do not prepare for his return. They do their own version of holy days instead of that which is instructed even in the new testament.
My son’s observation was timely. Only a few months ago he was talking to me about the Kingdom and that he had never heard much about that before. He must have been daydreaming during our daily Bible studies while he was growing up, but ‘for such a time as this,’ his eyes saw the vision of the Kingdom in Yeshua’s words at this Passover seder.
There is a coming Kingdom. The Bridegroom is returning for his prepared Bride. There is a Wedding Feast of the Lamb. Some will be there; some will be thrown out. Still, there is a rehearsal dinner every Passover for those wanting to be part of the Bride as a reminder to ‘make herself ready’ for her Bridegroom is returning soon. There is time, but this year it seems closer than ever.
© 2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.
Revelation Chapter 1 – Unveiling Yeshua
“This is the revelation which God gave to Yeshua the Messiah, so that he could show his servants what must happen very soon. He communicated it by sending his angel to his servant Yochanan [John], who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah, as much as he saw. Blessed are the reader and hearers of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things written in it! For the time is near!” (Revelation 1:1-3).
The word ‘revelation’ in this passage means something ‘hidden’ is being ‘revealed.’ I like to think of the ‘revelation’ in this book as the ‘unveiling of Yeshua’ at the end of days. Yochanan had the distinct privilege of seeing this unveiling and writing it down with his unique understanding of the ‘days, times, and seasons’ as well as the history of his own people.
The book of Revelation begins with Yochanon on an island called Patmos. He had been exiled from Roman-controlled Palestine (Isra’el) because of his testimony to the Word of Elohim and his faith in Yeshua of Nazareth as the Messiah of Isra’el. As he prepares to leave this world for the world to come, he an encounter with Yeshua. This encounter takes him to the last days of this present world, the Millennial Kingdom, and into the new heavens and earth. It must have been comforting for him to see the prophecies of the ancients being fulfilled. It must have been an honor to be given the privilege of writing down the ‘unveiling’ of Yeshua for those who would live in the ‘Day of the Lord.’
A Blessing
Revelation often instills fear in its readers because it has some disturbing and confusing imagery. Yet, Yeshua does not want anyone to be afraid to read what Yochanan wrote. A blessing is promised for reading, hearing and obeying the words of this prophecy. Imagine the blessing from actually understanding the prophetic words in its cultural context and original language will bring! Because I want to be as authentic as possible, I will use Hebrew words and names throughout my study. This helped me to keep the Scriptures in their original perspective; I pray it adds a new dimension to your study too. I also enjoy using the meanings behind the original Hebrew letters to form a Hebrew Word Picture of a word that gives a little different view of the word.
The Hebrew word for blessing is barak and means ‘to kneel.’ There is also a nuance to barak that means ‘to bring a gift.’ So, when we read and obey the words of this prophecy, we are effectively kneeling and receiving a gift from the Creator of the Universe, our Heavenly Father.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Blessing – baruck – ברך
Bet is a ‘house’ and means ‘home or family’
Resh is a ‘head’ and means ‘authority’
Kaf is an ‘open hand’ and means to ‘open’
Baruch – Family authority [the Father] opens [the way for a gift]
The Hebrew word ashrei is actually used in this passage for ‘blessed’ and means ‘happy, blessed, praiseworthy.’ With this knowledge, why wouldn’t anyone want to read and obey the words of ‘the unveiling’ and be worthy of praise?
Happy – ashrei – אשרי
Alef is an ‘ox’ and means ‘first or strong’
Shin is a ‘tooth’ and means ‘consume’ and may represent the Skekinah of Elohim, His divine presence
Resh is a ‘head’ and means ‘authority’
Yod is a ‘closed hand’ and means ‘finished work
Ashrei – The first, strong consumes the authority is a finished work
The Greeting
The greeting of this letter is from Yochanan who is writing to the seven Messianic communities in Asia. With specific descriptions and numerous Scriptural witnesses, he makes clear the revelation is not from him, but from Messiah Yeshua and the Father.
He bears witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah. These two witnesses describe those who are sanctified, made holy by Elohim. These are the two characteristics that describe God’s people in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12. It is the people who obey Word of God and have a testimony of Yeshua who will need to persevere through the events found in Revelation.
The Hebrew for ‘Word of God’ is dvar Elohim. Dvar can refer to a written word, a spoken word or even a thing. In the beginning, Elohim ‘spoke’ a dvar and the heavens and earth were brought into existence. His dvarim (Deuteronomy)were written down by Moshe as commandments. The dvar that was with Elohim and the essence of Elohim in the beginningtook on flesh in the person of Yeshua who fully lived out the dvar of his Father (John 1:1-2, 14, Colossians 1:15).
A testimony is defined as a ‘formal written or spoken statement, especially in a court of law.’ Yochanan wants those who read, hear and obey what is in his vision to understand this is his testimony, his word of truth – dvar emet – presented to him by Yeshua.
Glorified Described
“Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth’s kings” (Revelation 1:4-5).
Within the first verse of the greeting is the Hebrew word chesed meaning ‘lovingkindness’translated as ‘grace.’ Shalom is an interesting Hebrew word that means more than just ‘peace.’ In its Hebrew Word Picture it means “the destruction of the One who causes chaos.”
Hebrew Word Pictures
Peace – shalom – שלום
Shin is a ‘tooth’ and means ‘consuming’
Lamed is a ‘shepherd’s staff’ and means ‘leader prods’
Vav is a ‘nail’ and means ‘to bind’
Mem is ‘water’ and means ‘chaos
Sshalom – The consuming of the leader prodding and bound to chaos
From the beginning in Genesis, there has been the promise of the ‘seed of woman’ destroying the one who deceived the world into sin. The entire book of Revelation reveals Elohim’s judgment on the world and His final reckoning with the Adversary – the one who has caused all of the chaos throughout the history of the world.
The Seven-fold Spirit of Elohim
The Hebrew word for ‘spirit’ is ruach and means ‘wind’ or ‘breath.’ Ruach is found in Genesis 1:1 when the ruach elohim – ‘breath of Elohim – hovered over the waters. The Hebrew phrase actually uses the word for ‘brooded’ as one would see a hen brooding or incubating her eggs before they are born.
“The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God – ruach elohim – hovered over the surface of the water” (Genesis 1:2).
In the Gan Eden (Garden of Eden), Adam and Chavah (Eve) walked in the ‘cool of the evening.’ which properly translated from the Hebrew is they ‘walked in the wind of the day.’ In other words, they walked in the ‘breath’ of Elohim basking in His presence. (Note: even the Complete Jewish Bible mistranslates hayom which means ‘day’ not evening. Haerev would be ‘evening.’)
“They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden” (Genesis 3:8).
When Elohim created the animals and Adom, he put a ‘spirit’ within them. This ‘spirit’ is an animal spirit called a nefesh that lives by instinct and flesh desires. It is not a ‘spirit’ that seeks its Creator. It doesn’t have personal awareness nor does it have the ability to reason. It just exists in the physical realm. This nefesh gains knowledge from its flesh voice and the voices of men. This ‘spirit’ is what drives men to the sins of ‘lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life.’ This is the man Sha’ul (Paul) refers to as ‘the old man’ who is hostile to Elohim and whose life ends in death.
When Elohim breathed the ‘breath’ of life into Adam, it was His ‘breath,’ his ‘holy wind’ or the Ruach haKodesh. This ‘breath of life’ spirit is called the neshama. It seeks a relationship with its Creator. The neshama is self-aware and seeks spiritual nourishment ‘like the deer pants for living water.’ This neshama gains wisdom from listening to the voice of Elohim. Sadly, for Adam and Chavah and all mankind, they sinned against Elohim by listening to their fleshly desires and lost the ability to ‘hear’ His voice carried on the wind.
“Adam, the first man, became a living human being; but the last “Adam” [Yeshua] has become a life-giving Spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45).
“The Spirit of Adonai will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fearing Adonai— he will be inspired by fearing Adonai” (Isaiah 11:2).
Halleluyah, there is a ‘last Adam’ or the begotten Son of Elohim. He was conceived through the ‘breath’ of Elohim and born into this physical world. However, because of the ‘holy wind’ in his neshama, he listened only to His Father’s voice. He had the blessing of the Ruach haKodesh rest on him in its fullness of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and reverence for Elohim.
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force. On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being, he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death — death on a stake as a criminal! Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name; that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow — in heaven, on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is Adonai — to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).
This ‘last Adam,’ Yeshua, left his heavenly position and became a human being. He humbled himself to the point of having to die like a criminal. But now, he is risen and exalted above all other places and given a name above every name. Through his faithfulness, the Ruach haKodesh was poured out so that those who trust in him and are born again of ‘the wind’ and water may have the blessing to hear the voice of their Creator again.
Faithful Witness
Yeshua is the faithful witness to the hope of the coming Kingdom. In Jeremiah 42:5, the children of Isra’el claim that whatever Elohim tells them to do, they will do. If they don’t, He will be the faithful witness against them. This time of judgment is also known as the ‘time of Jacob’s Trouble.’ It is during this ‘trouble’ that the faithful witness will judge his own people for their disobedience, but also deliver them through it.
“How dreadful that day will be! — there has never been one like it: a time of trouble for Ya’akov [Jacob], but out of it he will be saved” (Jeremiah 30:7).
Firstborn from the Dead
This is an allusion to the Feast of Firstfruits and the hope of the resurrection. As Sha’ul told the Corinthians, Yeshua was the firstfruits of those raised from the dead. As there is a firstfruits resurrection, there will be two other resurrections – one of the redeemed and the second of all the dead (Revelation 20:5,12).
“But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died…. But each [person] in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming… (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23).
“Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence” (Daniel 12:2).
Ruler Over Kings
Yeshua is the ruler of earth’s kings. At his death, Yeshua was given the title ‘King of the Jews,’ but when he returns to set up his eternal Kingdom, he will be King of kings and King over all the earth.
“Then Adonai will be king over the whole world. On that day Adonai will be the only one, and his name will be the only name” (Zechariah 14:9).
“Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name; that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow — in heaven, on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is Adonai — to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11, Isaiah 45:23).
“Then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24).
The Deliverer
The message of deliverance through Yeshua is one of love, being freed from the bondage of sin through his righteous life and sacrificial blood. Even more is his call to be born again into his Kingdom as a priest for his Father. As part of this royal priesthood, we give glory to the one who rules forever.
“To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim [priesthood] for God, his Father — to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:4-6).
“In turn Adonai is agreeing today that you are his own unique treasure, as he promised you; that you are to observe all his mitzvot [commandments]; and that he will raise you high above all the nations he has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as he said, you will be a holy people for Adonai your God” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19).
“But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Hebrew Word Pictures
Priests – cohanim – כהנים
Kaf is an ‘open hand’ and means to ‘uncover’
Hey is a ‘window’ and means ‘to reveal’
Nun is a ‘fish’ and means ‘life’
Yod is a ‘closed hand’ and means ‘finished work’
Mem is ‘water’ and means ‘chaos’
Cohanim – Uncover and reveal the life that finishes the work of chaos
A Vision of Return
“Look! He is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him including those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him” (Revelation 1:7).
Yochanan quotes both the prophets Daniel and Zechariah who describe the return of Messiah. He puts them into the context of the end times vision of the unveiling of Yeshua.
“I kept watching the night visions, when I saw, coming with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence” (Daniel 7:13).
“And I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10).
The prophecy in Zechariah is an allusion to Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. It is on this ‘appointed time’ in the future when Yeshua returns in the clouds that all of ‘veiled’ Isra’el will mourn for the one they pierced. Also at that time, the prophecy that all Isra’el will be saved will culminate (Romans 11:26). These quotes from the prophets give a specific time for coming events.
The Day of the Lord
“I came to be, in the Spirit, on the Day of the Lord; and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet …”(Revelation 1:10).
This verse stumbles many people’s eschatology because of a misunderstanding of the ‘Day of the Lord.’ Many interpret this phrase to mean that on the ‘first day of the week,’ Sunday, Yochanan was in the Spirit. However, this idea comes from years of catholic theology that changed the ‘Sabbath to Sunday‘ and made the ‘first day of the week’ into ‘the Lord’s Day.’
If the ‘Day of the Lord’ was a specific day of the week, it would be the Sabbath as Yeshua himself said he was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). If‘The Lord’s Day’ was any day that Yeshua is Lord, then it would have to be the seventh and not the first.
Yochanan was a Jew and well-versed in Hebrew and Aramaic; in fact, he wrote his vision in Aramaic which was translated to Greek. To him the phrase en teé juriake´heem´ra, translated ‘the Lord’s Day,’ was a time period spoken of by the prophets or the time from when Elohim’s judgment of earth and mankind begins and continues through the 1000-year reign of King Messiah (2 Peter 3:8). Accordingly, the ‘Day of the Lord’ is not a ‘day’ on which someone should wish anyone a “Good Lord’s Day” or “Happy Day of the Lord.”
“Oh no! The Day! The Day of Adonai is upon us! As destruction from Shaddai it is coming!” (Joel 1:15).
“Woe to you who want the Day of Adonai! Why do you want it, this Day of Adonai? It is darkness, not light” (Amos 5:18).
“Howl! for the Day of Adonai is at hand, destruction coming from Shaddai…. Here comes the Day of Adonai, full of cruelty, rage and hot fury, to desolate the earth and destroy the sinners in it.” (Isaiah 13:6,9).
The ‘Appointed Time’
The ‘appointed seasons’ or mo’edim were created by Elohim on the fourth day of Creation with the sun, moon and stars governing the times. The ‘seasons’ were given ‘appointed times’ explained in Leviticus 23. All of the spring mo’edim were fulfilled by Yeshua on the exact day and time as outlined in the Feasts of the Lord. The next ‘appointed time’ needing to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah.
“Adonai said to Moshe, ‘Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar” (Leviticus 23:23-24).
Yom Teruah is a holy gathering or mikra which means ‘rehearsal.’ It is to be announced with blasts on the shofar as a day for remembering, but what is to be remembered is not mentioned. In other words, the ‘appointed time’ of Yom Teruah is for remembering something that will happen in the future that has not happened before.
The voice-sound of the shofar implies the vision given to Yochanan begins on the Feast of Trumpets as Yeshua’s way to prepare his people spiritually for the coming ‘Days of Awe.’ The ten ‘Days of Awe’ are a time of repentance and preparing oneself to stand before the throne of Elohim on the final ‘day’ when books are opened, every personal deed is revealed, and final judgment is rendered on the Day of Atonement.
“A stream of fire flowed from his presence; thousands and thousands ministered to him, millions and millions stood before him. Then the court was convened, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10).
“And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12)
The Beginning and the End
“I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’” says Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, the One who is, who was and who is coming” (Revelation 1:8).
This is another verse that translators change from Aramaic/Hebrew into Greek. Again, it not only messes with understanding the beginning from the end, it takes away a unique part of the Hebrew Scriptures that unveil Yeshua in practically each sentence.
The two letters that begin and end the Hebrew alphabet are the Alef and the Tav – את. These two letters create a small world, ‘et’ that is found throughout the Bible. Some give it a grammatical meaning as a noun modifier, but in general it has no specific meaning.
Look at Genesis 1:1 in the Hebrew read right to left:
בראשית ברא אלהים את השמימ ואת הארץ
Transliterated: Beresheet bara elohim et hashamayim vet haeretz.
Notice the two-letter word ‘et’ or the aleph and the tav? This is what Yeshua is referring to in Revelation 1:8. He is the ‘alef and the tav’ that is found between the first words in Genesis and between 1000s of words in the Hebrew Scriptures. By saying he is the alef and the tav, he is revealing himself in every page of the Bible. He is saying he is the beginning and the end of everything from Genesis through Revelation.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Et – את
Alef is an ‘ox’ and means ‘first and strong’
Tav is a ‘crossed sticks’ and means ‘sign’
את – The first, strong sign
Many suggest that the first sign is the cross because of the ‘crossed sticks’ in the ancient letter of Tav. However, I believe there is more to the et than just the cross. It is the beginning and the end, the creation of the universe to the re-creation of the universe. It is also connected with the “God of heaven’s armies’ of which Yeshua is the Commander in Chief. I believe that the words ‘alef and tav’ in this instance is the ‘first strong sign’ of Yeshua’s revealing will include his arrival with his heavenly armies.
Menorahs
“I saw seven gold menorahs; and among the menorahs was someone like a Son of Man …” (Revelation 1:12)
Yeshua is standing among seven gold menorahs. The Amplified Version and New International says ‘seven golden lampstands.’ The King James Version says ‘seven golden candlesticks.’ Though ‘lampstand’ could be an acceptable translation for menorah, candlesticks is a stretch.
The Golden Menorah created for the Tabernacle and placed in the Temple was made of pure gold. It was filled with pure olive oil, not candles. It was designed from what was in heaven and shown to Moshe on the mountain. The Golden Menorah was made through divine intervention and has become synonymous with Isra’el and the Jewish people. In the first century, these Asian congregations would have been comprised of Jews and non-Jews. Translating the word ‘menorah’ into ‘candlestick’ is just one subtle way to separate the Jewishness of the message from the message.
According to Yeshua, the seven gold menorahs represent the seven congregations that will receive a message from the angel or messenger of that congregation. Each of the seven congregation shines as a menorah into the darkness of the world. Seven is the number of completion symbolizing that the revelation given to Yochanan will happen as prophesied and is complete.
The Appearance of Yeshua
Yeshua was “wearing a robe down to his feet and a gold band around his chest.His head and hair were as white as snow-white wool, his eyes like a fiery flame, his feet like burnished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing waters.In his right hand he held seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1:13-16).
His Hair
Wool was used with hyssop to sprinkle blood on the children of Isra’el and the Torah when Moshe instituted Elohim’s covenant with Isra’el in the wilderness. Wool and linen are not to be blended together in a garment.
Wool comes from lambs. How appropriate for the Lamb of God to have wool-like hair! Wool could also be symbolic of being cleansed from sin by the Lamb. Having a head and hair white as snow-white wool could also be the evidence that Yeshua overcame sin and death so that our scarlet crimson garments could also turn white as snow and wool.
White represents purity and being undefiled. Only a pure and undefiled person is righteous enough to lay down their life and become an atonement for the corrupt and unholy. White also represents being worthy and only Yeshua is worthy of such a righteous act.
“White hair is a crown of honor obtained by righteous living” (Proverbs 16:31).
Yeshua has ‘eyes like a fiery flame.’ In Hebrew the word for fire is esh and means ‘flashing or blazing.’ Yeshua’s eyes blaze and flash. Perhaps ‘fiery eyes’ suggest that in his glorified state, Yeshua refines the heart and minds of his people with just one look.
“I have made you a refiner and tester of my people, to know and test how they behave” (Jeremiah 6:27).
“But who can endure the day when he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like the soapmaker’s lye” (Malachi 3:2).
“For Adonai your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24).
Hebrew Word Pictures
Fire – אש – esh
Alef is an ‘ox’ and means ‘first and strength’
Shin is a ‘tooth’ and means ‘consumes’
Esh – The first and strength consumes
His Feet
Yeshua’s feet were like “burnished brass refined in a furnace.” For me this is two-fold. First, Yeshua as a man went through the refining furnace of suffering until he died on the cross. His suffering taught him obedience. If we seek to be like him, our sufferings should also bring obedience to the Word of Elohim.
“Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings” (Hebrews 5:8).
Second, I see Yeshua becoming ‘burnished bronze’ from standing in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abedigo in Babylon, from standing with any of his people when they go through the fiery furnace of suffering for righteousness sake. Just like the three young men in the furnace came through the suffering and lived, they attained a type of resurrection of the dead.
“Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death, so that somehow I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead” (Philippians 3:10).
His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. According to King David, the sound of rushing waters is evidence of the power and splendor of El Elyon (God Most High).
“The voice of Adonai is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Adonai over rushing waters, the voice of Adonai in power, the voice of Adonai in splendor” (Psalm 29:3-4).
“More than the sound of rushing waters or the mighty breakers of the sea, Adonai on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:4).
Out of Yeshua’s mouth comes a double-edged sword. This is the living Word of Elohim being used to divide the soul and spirit. It is being used to judge iniquity in the heart of the inner man.
“See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4;12).
Prophets and Yeshua
Daniel had many dreams and visions while living in Babylon and he wrote them down as commanded. One vision included seeing the Ancient of Days seated on his throne.
“His clothing was white as snow, the hair on his head was like pure wool” (Daniel 7:9).
Ezekiel had a vision of the throne of Elohim. Above a throne that appeared to be a sapphire, appeared a person.
“Gleaming, amber-colored fire radiated from what appeared to be his waist upward. Downward from what appeared to be his waist, I saw what looked like fire, giving a brilliant light all around him. This brilliance around him looked like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day” (Ezekiel 1:27-28).
Yeshua takes Kefa (Peter), Ya’akov (James) and Yochanan to a mountain where he meets with Moshe and Elijah. He is transformed into glory for those few moments and “his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became as white as light” (Matthew 17:2).
This would be the second time Yochanan sees Yeshua in his glory with a shining face and white clothing. The first time he, Kefa and Ya’akov saw Yeshua’s glory, they believed the Millennial Kingdom had arrived and it was the ‘appointed time’ for the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. This time, however, he falls down at Yeshua’s feet like a dead man.
The Living One
“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, but look! — I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Sh’ol [Hades]”(Revelation 1:18-19).
Spiritual death came to mankind ‘in the beginning’ when Adam sinned and was forced out of Eden. Physical death accompanied spiritual death though not immediately. Because of Adam, every human born into this world is spiritually dead and separated from Elohim. It is only through Yeshua that the relationship between man and his Creator are restored. And, it can only be restored because Yeshua died, conquered death and remains alive forever and ever.
“Should I ransom them from the power of Sh’ol? Should I redeem them from death? Where are your plagues, death; where is your destruction, Sh’ol?” (Hosea 13:14).
“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Because he paid the wage of sin and death for us and then overcame death, Yeshua holds the keys to Death and Sh’ol or Hades. Hades can refer to the powers of evil that Yeshua had to contend with. Along with being a god of the underworld, Hades motive of operation was Death and a place of darkness where the unrighteous are taken. This place is described in Scripture as the ‘outer darkness’ where there is ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“He will guard the steps of his faithful, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. For it is not by strength that a person prevails…” (1 Samuel 2:9).
“Moreover, I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west to take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven with Avraham, Yitz’chak [Isaac] and Ya‘akov. But those born for the Kingdom will be thrown outside in the dark, where people will wail and grind their teeth!” (Matthew 8:11-12).
“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark!’ In that place people will wail and grind their teeth…” (Matthew 22:13).
“You will cry and grind your teeth when you see Avraham, Yitz’chak [Isaac], Ya‘akov and all the prophets inside the Kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside” (Luke 13:28).
What or where is ‘outer darkness?’ Specifically, it is complete separation from Elohim. In the beginning, Elohim said, “Let there be light.” There was light and the light was good. He also separated the light from the darkness. This suggests there is still a place of ‘outer darkness’ in the created realm for those who utterly reject the Creator and the way He provided to enter into and remain in His Light.
“The wicked plots against the righteous and grinds his teeth at him…” (Psalm 37:12).
“With ungodly mocking and grimacing, they grind their teeth at me. (Psalm 35:16).
“On hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts and ground their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54).
“Weeping and gnashing of teeth” is an idiom that brings forth the idea of anger and severe pain brought on by regret. It will become the end and eternal result of people who heard the truth of salvation and mocked it, had the Word of Truth and rejected it, or even were taught the commandments of Elohim and willingly chose to disobey and rationalize their disobedience. The unrighteous, wicked, lawless will weep and gnash their teeth at the righteous who obtained eternal life rather than eternal death in the lake of fire.
Death and Sh’ol
Yeshua holds the keys to Death and Hades. Keys are essential to opening and closing doors or gates, but also understanding the ‘key’ is crucial to discerning the door or gate.
Caesarea Phillipi was known for its immoral pagan practices. It was filled with shrines and idols erected to fertility gods and goddesses. Near the city was a cave known as the “Gates of Hades” or the “Gates of Hell.” It was believed that fertility gods and goddesses like Astarte (Easter) would go into this cave and sleep through the winter. In springtime, pagans would hold ceremonies to encourage the gods to ‘come back to life,’ or resurrect themselves.
It was in this pagan city near the cave that Yeshua asked his disciples who they believed he was. Kefa confessed that he believed Yeshua is the Messiah of Isra’el, the Son of Elohim. Kefa’s confession of faith also included the hope of resurrection since he knew about the beliefs of the pagan people within this city. In order for there to be a true resurrection, Death and Sh’ol would have to be defeated. Yeshua responded to Kefa,
“How blessed you are! For no human being revealed this to you, no, it was my Father in heaven. I also tell you this: you are Kefa,” [which means ‘Rock,’] “and on this rock [of faith] I will build my Community, and the gates of Sh’ol will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:16-18).
Write a Record
Yochanan is commanded to write down everything he sees both in the present and in the future. Yeshua also reveals the ‘mystery’ of the seven stars and seven menorahs. The seven stars are the seven messengers to the congregations in Asia minor; the seven menorahs represent each of the Congregations: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Revelation 2 – Community of Ephesus
©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.
Happy Tu B’shvat!
Today is Tu’B’shvat or the Biblical New Year for Trees! It is like Arbor Day in the US; however, it is based on Leviticus 19 for determining the age of a tree and when you may eat its fruit. It has become customary on this day to plant a new tree as well.
“When you enter the land and plant various kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruit as forbidden — for three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising Adonai. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you; I am Adonai your God” (Leviticus 19:23-25).
From a spiritual perspective, Tu B’shvat could be likened to Yeshua’s Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. The seed of the message of the Kingdom falls on different soils creating a different root system. Some seeds are stolen, some take no root and wither up and die, others become choked out. Those seeds that fall on rich soil, take root and grow. As each year passes, the seed transforms into a fruit-bearing plant, being nurtured and pruned by the Father. The firstfruits are holy to Elohim. The next fruits producing 100 or 60 or 30 times that which was sown – bring forth nourishment to the owner of the tree and to everyone around.
“Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah — to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11).
So, while growing in grace and knowledge of the Kingdom of Yeshua, consider planting a tree in Israel. There are several places that offer this way to obey the command in Leviticus and help each of us to remember to bear fruit for the Kingdom in everything we say and do.
“So that you may live lives worthy of the Lord and entirely pleasing to him, being fruitful in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.
Passover and Yeshua
“When the time came, Yeshua and the emissaries reclined at the table, and he said to them, “I have really wanted so much to celebrate this Seder with you before I die!” (Luke 22:14-15).
In the recent years, I have begun to hear believers in Yeshua say that he didn’t actually celebrate the Passover with his disciples. After all, how could he be the sacrifice and celebrate the ‘appointed time’ with a sacrifice? There are big-name ministries suggesting that he celebrated at another time and even creating whole feasts because of this idea which ultimately makes null and void Yeshua becoming the ‘sacrificial lamb’ at Passover. The confusion lies in the many traditions that have developed over the centuries regarding Passover coupled with a lot of ignorance and even some arrogance from the nations who have joined Isra’el by separating themselves from the Jewish people, the natural branches.
Did Yeshua really celebrate Passover with his disciples? I tend to take the Scriptures more literally and when Yeshua says that he really wanted to celebrate this particular Passover with his disciples, it was what he meant and did. He was not wishful thinking (another argument I have heard). As indicated by Sha’ul, Yeshua actually celebrated the Passover, was betrayed and then died.
“For what I received from the Lord is just what I passed on to you — that the Lord Yeshua, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; 2 and after he had made the b’rakhah [blessing] he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this as a memorial to me”; likewise also the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant effected by my blood; do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
In the beginning, God created days from evening to evening. This means that a ‘day’ actually began at sunset. This year, 2020, Passover is April 8 and sunset begins at 7:03 p.m. in Jerusalem (for those who need specifics). That’s when the ‘day’ begins and at the next sunset 7:04 p.m. that ‘day’ will end.
In the days of the Temple during that 24-hour time period, there were two sacrifices – the morning sacrifice and the evening. The evening sacrifice was actually done at 3 p.m. before the next day began. So, with this little bit of knowledge, let’s look at the Passover, the original one in Exodus.
Egypt
When Moshe told the Israelites to take a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts, it would have had to be before sunset on the 14th day of the month. Why? Because by sunset beginning the 14th day of the month, the families should have been their homes with the blood on the doorposts, eating the lamb, the unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. They would have remained in their homes until morning after God delivered the last plague upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn.
Sometime during the daytime of the 14th, Pharaoh told Moshe to leave, to take the Hebrews/mixed multitude and get them out of his country. They loaded up their belongings, took plunder from the Egyptians and left the land of their slavery. By the evening, they were heading toward freedom and the Land of Promise. The memorial to this specific event is the 15th day of the month (Exodus 12). Hence days of Matzah when their bread didn’t rise.
Jerusalem
Fast forward to the Passover of Yeshua. In Luke 22:8, he told his disciples to go prepare for the Passover. Everyone who celebrates the Biblical holy days knows the daytime before the sunset arrives is known as a ‘preparation day.’ So on or around 3 p.m. on the 13th day of the month, there was a sacrifice of a lamb for the seder meal, the sacrifice of preparation.
After sunset, beginning the 14th day of the month, Yeshua reclined at the table with his disciples. He shared one cup of wine with them and they shared it with each other. He explained the sacrifice required to institute the promised new covenant with a second cup of wine and unleavened bread. During the evening meal, Judas leaves. Yeshua and his disciples spend the evening on the Mount of Olives. They sleep. He prays. Judas returns with soldiers who take him to the Sanhedrin to be tried as a criminal, blasphemer.
During the early morning hours, the leaders of Isra’el take Yeshua to Pilate who washes his hands of the ordeal and sends them to Herod. Herod sends him back to Pilate who offers Barabbas to be killed, but the people cry out for Yeshua’s death. By noon, he is taken to Golgotha and hung on the cross. He dies, as the Passover lamb of God, at the evening sacrifice on the 14th day of the month, 3 p.m. Voilá. He can celebrate the Passover and be the sacrificial Lamb.
Because it is ‘preparation day’ for the sabbath of Unleavened Bread, he is removed from the cross and buried quickly. As a memorial to the days of Matzah, our sinless Savior is set free from this life to become in three days’ time the Firstfruits of those who are raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). The mention of Sabbath in Luke 22 regarding Unleavened Bread cannot be the weekly Sabbath. If it had been, Yeshua would not have been in the tomb three days and three nights and would have effectively nullified his own prophecy using Jonah in the belly of the whale. The sabbath mentioned is the ‘sabbath’ of the beginning of Unleavened Bread as the Feasts of the LORD were called ‘sabbaths’.
In order for Yeshua to fulfill the ‘appointed times’ of his Father, he had to celebrate/become them as they are written in the Scriptures. Though there are many variations today, like Matzah and Passover being one unified celebration, how it happened in the time of Moshe must concur with the memorials described in the Scriptures for Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection.
“Go into the city, to so-and-so,” he replied, “and tell him that the Rabbi says, ‘My time is near, my talmidim and I are celebrating Pesach at your house” (Matthew 26:18).
The word ‘time’ in this verse is the Greek kairos and means ‘opportunity,’ ‘fitting time,’ or ‘season.’ The NIV translates the the word as ‘appointed time,’ following the idea of ‘season’ or moed pointing to the Feasts of the LORD. The Amplified Bible states clearly that Yeshua is to keep the ‘appointed time’ of Passover with his disciples.
“He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time [to suffer and atone for sin] is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples” (Matthew 26:18 AMP).
In These Days
With so many non-Jews entering the Commonwealth of Isra’el, it is important to know and understand the Scriptural foundation for the Feasts of the LORD and Yeshua’s centrality to them all. It is also important to know and understand the Jewish traditions that have developed over the centuries and discard them if they nullify a commandment (Mark 17, Isaiah 29:13). However, it is also important that when non-Jews begin to discern the difference between helpful traditions or nullifying traditions that we do not create new traditions or doctrines that effectively nullify the very commandments we are trying to obey.
For example, without a Temple there can be no sacrificial lamb. This doesn’t mean you can’t eat lamb at Passover, but it does mean you should not sacrifice a lamb for Passover. There is only one place for sacrifice and that is the Temple in Jerusalem. Until there is a Temple in Jerusalem, no sacrificing lambs or goats or anything else. Another example, when the Hebrews ate their Passover meal, they were told to have their staffs in hand and sandals on their feet in order to leave quickly. By the time of Yeshua, the children of Isra’el reclined at their tables because they were no longer enslaved. To wear sandals and hold a staff is a wonderful teaching tool, but if we have been set free from sin and death through the blood of the Lamb, we should relax and enjoy the seder, even reclining if you are so inclined.
Finally, may we never forget that Isra’el was called to be a light to the nations and from them came the Light of the World. It is possible to embrace the traditions of the Jewish people (without breaking any commandments) and learn more about the God of Isra’el and His Son, Yeshua of Nazareth by celebrating the Passover with a seder. As non-Jews, we are called to make them envious of the Light of the World, and we cannot do that if we are implementing all manner of nonsense into the ‘appointed times’ as they were given by Elohim.
“Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed. So let us celebrate the Seder not with leftover hametz, the hametz of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah of purity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.