Tentstake Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘John 7’

“Next the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

“A river went out of ‘Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided into four streams. The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. The name of the second river is Gichon; it winds throughout the land of Kush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that flows toward the east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates” (Genesis 2:10-14).

The revelation to Yochanan continues with the ‘river of life,’ flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the beginning at the creation, there was a river that went out of Gan ‘Eden and watered the garden. It divided into four streams or water sources: Pishon, Gichon, Tigris and Euphrates.

The name Pishon in Hebrew means ‘press on, break forth and spring forward.’ Some scholars believe this river originated from a spring and created a type of delta. The Pishon flowed through Havilah where there was gold, pure gold. Havilah means ‘to whirl in a circular motion’ in Hebrew. It also means ‘sand.’

The Gichon in Hebrew means ‘bursting forth.’ It is also the name of a spring near Jerusalem, the Gichon spring from where the priests gather water for the festival of Tabernacles. The land of Kush today is considered Ethiopia.

The Tigris in Hebrew is hiddekel and means ‘rapid.’ This river flowed east toward Assyria or northern Mesopotamia. This river rises in the mountains of Armenia and flows southeast.

The Euphrates in perat and means ‘fruitful.’ This is the longest river of western Asia and also comes out of the Armenian mountains and flows into the Persian Gulf.

“On that day, fresh water will flow out from Yerushalayim, half toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, both summer and winter. 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 14:8-9).

In some capacity these rivers and springs continue to exist today, if not in name only. The prophet Zechariah then prophesies about the Millennial Kingdom and a river of fresh water flowing out of Jerusalem. According to Ezekiel (chapter 47), the river will bring life to the Dead Sea. At that time, Yeshua will be King over the whole world and his name the only name.

Recently, I read a question from someone about the location of the ‘beast government’ or something similar. The response was that there will be an earthquake when Yeshua returns, an earthquake that will change the geography of the whole earth so what we see and know now will change drastically. So, even though the geographical names may remain the same, the actual geography may not be the same. This concept also covers what the earth was like before the flood and what it was like after.

When there is the ‘new heaven and new earth,’ the River of Life will flow again. It will flow from the life-giving throne of Yeshua. His throne will be in the New Jerusalem where kings of the earth will bring their splendor. The river flowing from Jerusalem in the Millennial Kingdom will be the beginning of the restoration of Paradise that follows in the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven.

“Between the main street and the river was the Tree of Life producing twelve kinds of fruit, a different kind every month; and the leaves of the tree were for healing the nations — no longer will there be any curses.”

Between the main street of pure transparent gold and the River of Life is the Tree of Life or the Etz Chayim. Because Adam and Chava ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, mankind has only had a ‘taste’ of the fruit from the Etz Chayim. But, now the Tree of Life will be the food source for the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem.

According to Judaism, the Etz Chayim is the Torah. This concept comes from Proverbs 3 in which King Solomon reminds his son that the commandments of Adonai impart life, peace, grace, truth and ultimately wisdom. It is the wisdom learned from Torah that is the Etz Chayim.

“She [wisdom] is a tree of life to those who grasp her; whoever holds fast to her will be made happy” (Proverbs 3:18).

With the Etz Chayim in the middle of the city, there is no longer a need for Torah. This is why Yeshua says that Torah will not be removed until glorified men and women can eternally eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.

The Etz Chayim produces 12 kinds of fruit, a different kind every month. These fruits will be edible and I speculate that the fruits will include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – the fruits of the Spirit. I also believe they will fruits that direct the way of living an eternal holy life. It could be considered a “New Jerusalem” halacha.

In the beginning, Adam and Chava were told to be ‘fruitful and multiply.’ Perhaps bearing monthly ‘fruit’ will include child bearing in the way it was meant to be before sin and death entered the world. Whatever the specifics of the fruit, it will sustain eternal life.

The leaves of the fruit on the Etz Chayil will heal the nations. The prophet Ezekiel talks about the leaves on the trees that will also have ‘healing’ properties.’ The Hebrew the word for ‘healing’ in Ezekiel is teruphah meaning ‘medicine.’ The Hebrew word for ‘heal’ in Revelation is marpha and means ‘healer’ in the sense of ‘faith healing’ or ‘alternative medicine.’

“On both riverbanks will grow all kinds of trees for food; their leaves will not dry up, nor will their fruit fail. There will be a different kind of fruit each month, because the water flows from the sanctuary, so that this fruit will be edible, and the leaves will have healing properties” (Ezekiel 47:12).

In the days before ‘western medicine,’ leaves from herbs and trees were used for healing purposes. In Biblical times, olive leaves were used to heal the skin and reduce fevers. Willow leaves and bark reduce pain. Comfrey leaves are used for muscle sprains, bruises and inflammation. Essential oils have become very popular and many of these oils are made from the leaves of plants. Dr. David Steward wrote a fascinating book entitled, Healing Oils of the Bible which describes the healing properties of the many oils mentioned in the Bible.

Yet, why do the nations need ‘healing’ in eternity where there is no pain or sorrow? The Greek word for ‘healing’ in this verse is therapeia and means ‘attention, medical service.’ A deeper look into the word gives the unique purpose of glorifying Adonai in a healing capacity. The ‘healing’ leaves may have a two-fold purpose: to heal the kings of the nations that remain mortal and to ensure not just eternal life, but also eternal health.

Using both the Greek and Hebrew words, the leaves will be used as a type of ‘faith healing’ by the El Rapha or the God of Healing, Yeshua, in order to glorify Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh.

Hebrew Word Pictures

Etz Chayil or אץ חיל

Aleph is the picture of an ‘ox’ and means ‘first, strong.’

Tzade is a picture of a ‘fishhook’ and means ‘to draw toward.’

Chet is a picture of a ‘fence’ and means ‘to protect’ and ‘inner room.’

Yod is a picture of a ‘closed hand’ and means ‘finished work.’

Lamed is a picture of a ‘shepherd’s staff’ and means ‘one who leads.’

The Etz Chayil or Tree of Life: ‘the first strength to draw toward the inner room, the finished work of the one who leads.’

“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

The servants will worship the El Elyon, the El Shaddai. They will see His face in the ‘face of the Yeshua.’ In the Hebrew, the Alef Tav is placed between ‘see’ and ‘face’ bringing Yeshua into the vision. His name, the yod hey vav hey, will be on their foreheads which is part of the reward given to the congregation in Philadelphia.

“Night will no longer exist, so they will need neither the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because Adonai, God, will shine upon them. And they will reign as kings forever and ever.”

In the New Jerusalem, there will be no day or night. There will be no lamp or the light of the sun. Yahweh Elohim will shine ‘His face’ upon those in the New Jerusalem just as He put His Name upon them in the priestly blessing.

“Speak to Aharon and his sons, and tell them that this is how you are to bless the people of Isra’el: you are to say to them, ‘Y’varekh’kha Adonai v’yishmerekha. [May Adonai bless you and keep you.] Ya’er Adonai panav eleikha vichunekka. [May Adonai make his face shine on you and show you his favor.] Yissa Adonai panav eleikha v’yasem l’kha shalom. [May Adonai lift up his face toward you and give you peace.]’ “In this way they are to put my name on the people of Isra’el, so that I will bless them” (Numbers 6:22-26).

Those who are glorified and live in the New Jerusalem will reign as kings forever and ever. This adds more perspective on the kings who will bring their splendor into the New Jerusalem. It also gives more insight as to why the ‘nations’ will need healing from the leaves of the Etz Chayil from their eternal kings.

“Don’t you know that God’s people are going to judge the universe? … Don’t you know that we will judge angels, not to mention affairs of everyday life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

“Then he said to me, “These words are true and trustworthy: Adonai, God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must happen soon. Look! I am coming very soon. Blessed is the person who obeys the words of the prophecy written in this book!”

Yeshua is returning soon with each passing day. Every word in this prophecy can be trusted because they are emet – true. It was through the spirit of prophecy that a messenger was sent to Yochanan in order to reveal events surrounding the days of Yeshua that ‘must happen soon.’

The messenger of Yeshua also states that those who ‘obey the words of the prophecy written in this book will be blessed.’ In Hebrew the word for ‘obey’ is shamar or ‘guardian’ and means to ‘watch, keep, and preserve.’ Those who keep watch, guard over, and preserve the words in this prophetic book will be blessed. Reflecting back to chapter 1 verse 3, Yeshua begins his revelation to Yochanan by stating that those who ‘read and hear the words’ of the prophecy and ‘guard over, watch, and preserve the words, will be blessed.

Accordingly, at the very end of this chapter, Yeshua issues a serious warning about adding to or taking away anything from this word of prophecy. In other words, if the prophecy isn’t guarded and protected, the consequence of such action will be a loss to a share in the Etz Chayil and eternal life in the New Jerusalem.

“I warn everyone hearing the words of the prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book .And if anyone takes anything away from the words in the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the holy city, as described in this book.”

Hearing the words of the messenger, Yochanan falls down to worship at the feet of the angel. Recently in a discussion someone asked how to discern whether a holy presence is the ‘Angel of the LORD, Yeshua’ or just an angel because both will bring on ‘fear.’ The answer given was that an angel will tell you to stand up and not to worship them; Yeshua will receive your worship.

The angel compares himself to Yochanan as a servant of Elohim along with the other disciples, the prophets and those who guard the words in this prophecy. He then says, “Kneel, bow before Elohim”.

“Then I, Yochanan, the one hearing and seeing these things, when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers, the prophets and the people who obey the words in this book. Worship God!”

The messenger of Yeshua tells Yochanan that ‘guarding’ the words of the prophecy does not mean ‘sealing’ it up so no one can read them. It is not only important that the words be ‘guarded,’ but also read. Both receive a blessing.

“Whoever keeps acting wickedly, let him go on acting wickedly; whoever is filthy, let him go on being made filthy. Also, whoever is righteous, let him go on doing what is righteous; and whoever is holy, let him go on being made holy.”

In the interim until the prophecies of judgment and restoration in the book come to pass, those who act wickedly will continue to act wickedly. In Greek the word for ‘wicked’ means ‘to act against the law/Torah“. There will be those who are lawless, anti-Torah, have the spirit of anti-christ and will continue on the direction that path leads. The Greek word for ‘filthy’ means ‘to be defiled with iniquity.’ ‘Iniquity’ in Hebrew is avon and means ‘to be guilty and in need of punishment for breaking the law.’ The iniquity in one’s heart comes out in one’s actions. There are those who will sin through immoral acts and will continue to sin immorally.

The Greek word for ‘righteous’ means to ‘adhere to divine law’ and ‘keeping the commands of God.’ Those who are righteous will gain wisdom from the Torah, the symbolic Tree of Life. They will keep the commands of Elohim from Genesis through Revelation with wisdom and understanding. The Greek phrase for ‘keep doing what is righteous’ is they will practice righteousness which means they will practice keeping the commands of Adonai as their lifestyle. They will be ‘innocent, faultless, without guilt and approved by Elohim. Those who are righteous, keeping the commands of Adonai will continue to do so.

The Greek word for ‘holy’ means to ‘be in likeness and nature of the Yeshua, different from the world.’ The Greek word is similar to the Hebrew word kadosh and suggests being ‘set apart from the world’ for Elohim. Those who have chosen to be ‘holy as He is holy’ will continue to walk in holiness, separate from the world for the purposes of Elohim.

“Pay attention!” [says Yeshua,] “I am coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give to each person according to what he has done.”

When Yeshua begins speaking again, he says, ‘Behold’ or “Pay attention!” In Hebrew the word is hineni. This word is first used in Genesis when Elohim points out all of the plants that He was giving Adam for food saying. “Look here, I’m pointing this out to you!”

The uses of hineni also means, “Here I am, send me!” It implies a complete readiness to do the will of Adonai. Joseph used ‘hineni’ when Ya’akov called him to go look for his brothers and ultimately that event began the move of Isra’el and his family to Egypt. Moshe said ‘hineni’ when Elohim called to him from the burning bush which began the deliverance of Isra’el from Egypt.

Yeshua is returning soon. When he comes he will be complete the will of his Father and bring the rewards he promised to those in the congregations in Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis, Thyatira, Smyrna, Philadelphia and Laodicea who had ears to hear what the Ruach haKodesh said to each of them.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about rewards from Adonai:

“Here comes Adonai Elohim with power, and his arm [Yeshua] will rule for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his recompense is before him” (Isaiah 40:10).

“Adonai has proclaimed to the end of the earth, “Say to the daughter of Tziyon, ‘Here, your Salvation is coming! Here, his reward is with him, and his recompense is before him'” (Isaiah 62:11).

Daniel is promised a reward at the resurrection at the end of days:

“But you, go your way until the end comes. Then you will rest and rise for your reward, at the end of days” (Daniel 12:13).

Sha’ul teaches the believers in Corinth about rewards which are based on how each person builds on the foundation. Ephesians 2 describes the foundation as the teachings of the apostles and prophets (Moshe included) and Yeshua as the Cornerstone. How each person builds and grows through the teachings of the prophets and the apostles determines their eternal reward. Some will receive a reward; others will suffer loss only to escape the fire of refinement with only their free gift of eternal life.

“Each [person] will be rewarded according to his work. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. Using the grace God gave me, I [Sha’ul] laid a foundation, like a skilled master-builder; and another man is building on it. But let each one be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. But each one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire — the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire” (1 Corinthians 3:8-15).

There is similar reward to what Yeshua teaches in Matthew 5:18-19 regarding how the Torah is taught.

“Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Genesis 15:1 promises a great reward for Avraham:

“Some time later the word of Adonai came to Avram in a vision: “Don’t be afraid, Avram. I am your protector; your reward will be very great” (Genesis 15:1).

Following are the rewards for the congregations according to the messages sent by Yeshua. Rewards have great importance in the coming Kingdom because it is important in this world to build on the foundation, grow in faith and trust, teach others the commands of Torah, and strive for the upward high calling in Messiah Yeshua and win the victory!

“Those who have ears [in Ephesus], let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life which is in God’s Gan-‘Eden” (Revelation 2:7).

“Those who have ears [in Smyrna], let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who wins the victory will not be hurt at all by the second death'” (Revelation 2:11).

“Those [in Pergamum] who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory I will give some of the hidden man. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name that nobody knows except the one receiving it”” (Revelation 2:17).

“But to the rest of you [in Thyatira], to those who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some people call the ‘deep things’ of the Adversary, I say this: I am not loading you up with another burden; only hold fast to what you have until I come. To him who wins the victory and does what I want until the goal is reached, I will give him authority over the nations; he will rule them with a staff of iron and dash them to pieces like pottery, just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities”” (Revelation 2:24-28).

“He who wins the victory [in Sardis] will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before his angels. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities”‘ (Revelation 3:5-6).

“I will make him [in Philadelphia] who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God’s city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities”‘ (Revelation 3:11-13).

“I will let him [in Laodicea] who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities”‘” (Revelation 3:20-22).

“I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

In Revelation 1:8 and 21:6 as in this verse, Yeshua doesn’t call himself the ‘A and the Z,’ the first and last letters of the Latin alphabet because he didn’t speak Latin or Old English; he also didn’t call himself the ‘Alpha and Omega’ because he didn’t speak Greek. He calls himself the ‘Alef and the Tav’ the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Though the idea of being the ‘first and the last’ letters of any alphabet may not seem important regarding language, it does when put in its Hebrew context.

Found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures are the two letters alef and tav – את – without any particular ‘meaning’ or ‘purpose.’ Some consider it a type of modifier, but its appearance within verses has no specific purpose. It is at the beginning and end of Revelation that Yeshua clarifies the purpose and meaning of those two letters – HE is the Alef and Tav, the beginning and the end. He was with Elohim in the beginning as the spoken Word; he is at the end sitting on the throne as the King of all Creation.

Hebrew Letter Pictures

These two letters also have significance in the Hebrew Letter Pictures giving more insight into who Yeshua is claiming to be.

א Alef is a letter picture of an ‘ox’ and means ‘strong or first.’

ת Tav is a letter picture of ‘crossed sticks’ and means ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’

The word picture for alef tav is: first, strong sign of the covenant.

Yeshua is the first and strongest sign of the covenant found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. He is in the beginning, in the middle, in the end. To remove those letters, to change those letters is to change his essence, his appearance, and his identity within the Hebrew Scriptures.

^“How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city!”

Another blessing is given to those who wash their robes. This is an action that individuals do – wash their robes. Sardis was rebuked for having soiled clothes. These soiled clothes could result in their name being blotted out of the Book of Life. Without one’s name written in the Book of Life, they cannot enter the gates of the New Jerusalem and eat from the Tree of Life.

Soiled clothes begins with being contaminated by the ways of the world. This requires effort on the part of the virgins to understand what it means to remain pure and holy in the world with oil in their lamps. It is gaining the understanding of what it means to live in the world, but not to take part in its lawless, pagan ways. It means to have discernment about mixing the holy and the profane, the holy and the ‘unclean.’

Sha’ul wrote to the Corinthians that he desired to present them as a pure and holy Bride, but worried some may be led astray by deceiving doctrines. It’s not an easy task to keep one’s robe unspotted from false and deceiving teachings, but one cannot begin to keep from being contaminated if they adhere to many of the doctrines taught in the modern-day church that completely contradict the Word of God. The deception began in the Garden with the serpent asking, “Did God really say?” And, it continues today with the same question, but with an answer that believes Adonai has changed his mind about His commandments, His Etz Chayil in the life of one who claims to follow His Son. Those willing to acknowledge they have soiled robes will wash their robes and remove the defilement of pagan traditions and the spots of twisted Truths. They will be considered victorious and receive the blessing of entering the New Jerusalem through its gates named after a Tribe of Isra’el. They will receive the blessing of eating the fruit from the Tree of Life.

“If it seems bad to you to serve Adonai, then choose today whom you are going to serve! Will it be the gods your ancestors [church fathers] served beyond the River? or the gods of the Emori [councils of Nicea or Laodicea], in whose land you are living? As for me and my household, we will serve Adonai [the yod hey vav hey!]” (Joshua 24:15).

“Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

For those who choose to remain spotted, not cleaning their own robe, they will find themselves outside the city gates. Outside the New Jerusalem are those who lived contrary to the teachings and instructions of Elohim, who rebelled when He spoke His Word to their heart. Perhaps the argument could be made that these people are those who have ‘eternal life,’ refused to repent and change their way of worshipping Elohim. They lose all reward and are just ‘saved’ out of the lake of burning fire and sulfur.

Those who are sexually immoral as well as homosexual may not enter the city. Those who are involved in ‘sorcery’ also must remain outside the city of eternal perfection. The Greek word for ‘sorcery’ is pharmakeia and means ‘the use of medicine, drugs or spells.’ More specifically, pharmakeia means ‘to poison’ and includes hallucinations from drugs. The noun Pharmakeus is known as pharmacist and means ‘poisoner.’ Pharmaceuticals are nothing more than ‘drugs’ given by pharmacists to ‘poison’ the human body. The vaccine given for the Kung Flu is causing hallucinations in some people along with other physical conditions. ‘Sorcery’ is always used in connection with ‘idolatry’ or placing someone or something higher than the God of Isra’el and His Word of Truth.

“I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Yeshua calls himself the ‘root’ and ‘offspring’ of David. The ‘root’ of David is the Tribe of Judah. The ‘offspring’ of David means that Yeshua came from the lineage of David’s father, Jesse, and whose grandfather was Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. He was ‘in the beginning’ as the ‘root’ and he is ‘at the end’ as the ‘offspring.’

“But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai, a shoot will grow from his roots … On that day the root of Yishai, which stands as a banner for the peoples — the Goyim will seek him out, and the place where he rests will be glorious” (Isaiah 11:1, 10).

Yeshua calls himself the ‘bright Morning Star.’ In keeping with astronomical signs throughout Revelation, the bright morning star is the planet Venus as seen just before dawn. This planet/star is a reference to the prophetic word that lights our hearts until the Day of Messiah arrives. It is the continual hope of his coming. Those in Thyatira who are victorious over the false prophetess of Jezebel and her lawless, occultic practices will be given authority over the nations and the Morning Star, Yeshua himself, as their reward (Revelation 2:27-28).

“Yes, we have the prophetic Word made very certain. You will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark, murky place, until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:2).

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come — let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.”

Isaiah 55:1 says, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water!” Yeshua quoted Isaiah when he attended the water pouring ceremony during Feast of Tabernacles. However, he directed the attention to himself and the Spirit that would be poured out after he was resurrected and glorified. Not only does the Ruach haKodesh offer living water, but also the Bride of Messiah who also has been glorified and filled with rivers of living water flowing from her inmost being to the nations outside the New Jerusalem.

“Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who trusted in him were to receive later — the Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.)” (John 7:37-39).

 “The one who is testifying to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’”

In order to establish any matter, all things must have a witness of two. Yochanan is one witness, another is the angel sent by Yeshua, and the last and most important witness is Yeshua himself. He repeats that he is coming soon to establish his return as Truth, a fact in which we can put our hope.

“Amen! Come, Lord Yeshua!“

Omein! The Hebrew word is alef mem nun and means ‘so be it!’ The first time aman appears in Scripture is Numbers 5:22. In Hebrew it literally means ‘to support or confirm, to be reliable or established, or to believe someone or something.’ From its root comes emunah or ‘faithfulness.’ Thus, the return is confirmed, reliable, established and to be believed because it was spoken by Yeshua himself.

In spite of this meaning, there is nowhere in Scripture that any prophet, apostles or Yeshua taught to end prayers with ‘omein.’ According to a footnote for Matthew 6:13, Yeshua didn’t end the Disciples’ Prayer with omein. There are some who claim that the original manuscript of Revelation also did not use ‘omein.’ This is a Greek addition to these specific Scriptures.

Hebrew Word Pictures

Alef is a picture of an ‘ox’ and means ‘first, strong.’

Mem is a picture of ‘water’ and means ‘mighty’ or ‘chaos.’

Nun is a picture of a ‘fish’ and means ‘life.’

Omein means: first, mighty life.

Come Lord Yeshua. This is the hope of everyone who puts their faith and trust in the Messiah of Isra’el. In Hebrew this phrase is Bo Mashiach. So, yes, Come Yeshua. May it be so in our day, in our lifetime.

Yeshua said to his brothers and sisters in Jerusalem that they would not see him again until they welcomed him back. So, “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai.” Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

“May the grace of the Lord Yeshua be with all!“

©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days.  The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work.  For seven days present food offerings to the LORD, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the LORD. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work’” (Leviticus 23:33-36). 

“Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.  Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete” (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).

The Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the seven ‘appointed times’ given to God’s people. In Hebrew, the Feast of Tabernacles is Sukkot meaning ‘shelters,’ sukkah is the singular ‘shelter.’ Sukkot is the eight-day fall Feast that follows the Day of Atonement. It is called the ‘season of our joy’ when everyone dances with lulavs and builds temporary shelters with roofs made from branches of trees. Like the other fall festivals, the Feast of Tabernacles has yet to be fulfilled by Yeshua. Its ‘shadow’ contains the vision of the coming Messianic Era when Yeshua will physically tabernacle with Israel and the nations in Jerusalem. The culmination of the Feast of Tabernacles will occur in eternity when there is a new heavens, new earth, and the New Jerusalem where Adonai Himself will sit on His throne and live with His people.

Hebrew Word Pictures

Booth or Sukkah, the singular of sukkot – סכה

Samech ס – A Prop means ‘to support.’

Kaf כ – An Open Palm means ‘to allow, to open.’

Hey ה – A Window means ‘to behold or reveal.’

The Hebrew word picture for sukkah: To support and allow to reveal.

Abraham’s Faith

“By faith he [Abraham] made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country;  he lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10).

Abraham was called a friend of God because he believed God. Abraham had faith in Adonai’s promise to make him a great nation through a ‘promised seed.’ Though he had to live in a sukkah in this world, he had the hope of an eternal city built by God.

Jacob’s Sukkah

“Jacob went on to Sukkoth, where he built himself a house and put up shelters for his animals.  This is why the place is called Sukkoth (shelters)” (Genesis 33:17).

When the Hebrews left Egypt, their first stop on their way to Mount Sinai was Takut, the Egyptian name for Sukkoth. Hundreds of years earlier, Jacob stopped at this exact place after he reunited with his brother Esau. He built ‘temporary dwellings’ for his family and livestock and named the place Sukkoth.

Sukkot

“You are to live in sukkot for seven days so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the children of Israel live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23:42).

In God’s command for the Feast of Tabernacles, the Israelites were to live in sukkot as a reminder of the 40 years they traveled in the wilderness and lived in temporary shelters. Throughout their generations, the nation of Israel (specifically the Jewish people) have built sukkot no matter where they have lived.

A sukkah can be built in a yard, on a porch or a balcony. It generally has three walls with all or part of its roof open to the sky. Any roof covering is usually branches from trees. Lights may be hung in the sukkah along with interior decorations such as pictures, flowers, leaves, and fruit. Some families line the interior walls with white cloth as a reminder of the ‘clouds of Glory’ that appeared over the Israelites like a sukkah as they traveled in the desert. For seven days the sukkah, the personal or family temporary dwelling place, is used for eating, sleeping, and inviting guests to share in the ‘season of joy.’

The Lulav

“On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year” (Leviticus 23:40-42). 

On the first day of Sukkot, branches from palms, willows, and myrtles along with a large fragrant citrus fruit called an etrog are bound together in what is called the lulav. This leafy bundle represents the nations of the world. On each day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the lulav is waved facing north, south, east, and west while proclaiming the coming Kingdom of God to the nations.

Several symbolic meanings have developed from these four species creating the lulav. Some believe the four species represent the name of God: yod-hey-vav-hey which is why they species are bound together as one. Others believe the fruit and the aroma of the trees relate to different people and how they respond to God’s Torah, very similar to the Parable of the Sower and how different people respond to the Word of God. Still others believe that the branches and the fruit represent the parts of our bodies, our temporary dwellings, that we are to offer to God as “instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:12-13).

The Tabernacle

“On the first day of the first month of the second year, the tabernacle was set up” (Exodus 40:17). 

The Hebrew word for ‘tabernacle’ is mishkan and this is what the Tabernacle or ‘tent of meeting’ was called in the wilderness.    

Hebrew Word Pictures

Tabernacle or Mishkan – משכן

Mem מ – Water means ‘chaos.’

Shin ש – A Tooth means ‘consume.’

Kaf  כ – A Palm or Wing means ‘cover or allow.’

Nun נ – A Fish means ‘ action and life.’

The Hebrew word picture for mishkan: Chaos consumed to allow life.

After the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt, they ended up at Mount Sinai where Moses received God’s instructions for constructing the mishkan. It took a long time for all of its posts, curtains, and holy articles to be made. Gold, silver, and bronze objects that were taken from Egypt had to be melted down, beaten, and formed into shapes. Acacia wood had to be gathered, cut, and built into boxes. Animals had to be slaughtered for their skins unique skins. Fabric had to be spun from flax and wool.

Eventually the gold, silver, and bronze became the Altar of Sacrifice, the Menorah, the Altar of Incense, the Table of Presence, and the Ark of the Covenant. Mirrors collected from the women covered the Bronze Laver for priestly washing and purification. Tabernacle coverings were stitched together and mounted on the posts. Curtains from finely twisted linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn were hung in the Holy Place. By the two-year anniversary of the exodus from Egypt, the mishkan was set up and the glory of God filled it with a cloud. Adonai had His ‘temporary dwelling’ that could be transported when He moved His people.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel continued with all their travels.  But if the cloud was not taken up, they did not travel onward until the day with it was taken up.  For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle during the day, and the fire was (in the cloud) at night, so that all the house of Israel could see it throughout all their travels” (Exodus 40:34-38).

The Living Tabernacle

Yeshua is the living Tabernacle of God’s divine presence. According to the details given in the first two chapters of Luke, it can be determined that Yeshua was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. In a ‘temporary dwelling’ outside the town of Bethlehem, the Word became flesh and was placed in a sukkah. The angels in heaven, the shepherds watching their flocks, his mother Mary, and his earthly father Joseph celebrated the birth of God’s Son. While all Israel gathered to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, Yeshua became the reason for the ‘season of joy!’

“The Word became flesh and tabernacled with us, we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth … for it pleased God to have his full being live in His Son…” (John 1:14, Colossians 1:19).

Yeshua celebrates Feast of Tabernacles in John chapter 7, though he didn’t go to Jerusalem until the Feast was half over. When he arrived and began to teach in the Temple, the people were astonished and wondered how he knew so much. He gave credit to his Father who had sent him to find the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’ and told them to search the Scriptures to know if his teachings were from God or himself (Matthew 15:24).

“So Yeshua gave them an answer: ‘My teaching is not my own, it comes from the one who sent me.  If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether my teaching is from God or I speak on my own.  A person who speaks on his own is trying to win praise for himself; but a person who tries to win praise for the one who sent him is honest, there is nothing false about him” (John 7:16-18). 

Streams of Living Water

The Levitical priesthood officiated the sacrifices in the Temple during the Feasts of the LORD and led other traditions honoring in the ‘appointed times.’ The highlight each day of the Feast of Tabernacles was the Water Pouring Ceremony. A white-robed priest carrying a golden pitcher would lead a joyful procession of people to the Water Gate and the Pool of Siloam where he filled the pitcher with water. He would return to the Temple with the filled pitcher along with worshipers singing, waving their lulavs, and dancing. When the priest arrived at the Altar, he would pour out the water. As he poured the water from the golden pitcher, he would cry out in a loud voice words from the prophet Isaiah, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

The multitude of people who gathered in Jerusalem for Sukkot would respond to his words with: “LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you” (Psalm 118).

The last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles was called Hoshana Rabbah meaning ‘The Great Salvation.‘ It was the culmination of the week-long festival and was a prophetic vision of the restoration of the Kingdom of God.

It was on Hoshana Rabbah that Yeshua responds to his nation’s cry for ‘salvation.’ As the ‘great salvation,’ he delivered a message of freedom and fullness of life in the Spirit. If the nation would repent, come to him for forgiveness, and put their faith in him, the God’s Spirit would be poured out and their spiritual thirst would be quenched. Living waters would flow from within them and they would indeed receive ‘Great Salvation.’

“Now on the last day and greatest day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, ‘If a man is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drink!  Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being.’”  (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who trusted in him were to receive later.  The Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified”) (John 7:37-39).

Our Earthly Sukkah

“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Messiah Yeshua has made clear to me” (2 Peter 1:13).

While we live on the earth, we live in an earth suit. Peter and Paul called it our earthly ‘tent.’ Our earthly ‘tent’ is mortal, decaying, and dying. It is only a temporary physical dwelling for our spirits and will one day be destroyed through death. We will return to the dust of the ground from which we came. While we live in our mortal sukkah, we know that we are naked and unclothed in the eyes of God. We cry out in our sufferings and affliction while we wait for the redemption of our bodies and receive our immortal clothes.

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 16:19-20).

Once we are born again into God’s Kingdom, our earth ‘tent’ becomes the dwelling place for God’s Spirit. He seals us with His Spirit as a guarantee that we will be released from our mortal ‘tent’ and given heavenly, glorified bodies that will never decay because they are eternal. Until that day arrives, we live in our ‘tent’ bodies by faith just as Abraham who looked forward to what is coming.

Feast of Ingathering

“Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field” (Exodus 23:16).

The Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Ingathering. This ‘appointed time’ foreshadows the time when the House of Judah and the House of Israel are gathered from the nations back to the Promised Land. The Ingathering of God’s chosen people will be so divinely inspired that it will be remembered as a ‘greater exodus’ than when the Hebrews left Egypt. The Feast of Ingathering has only just begun with a modern-day movement of Jewish people returning to the land of Israel from all the nations of the world. It is known as aliyah and means ‘going up.’

“‘Therefore,’ says The LORD, ‘the day will come when people will not longer swear, “As The LORD lives, who brought the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt,” but, ‘As The LORD lives, who brought the people of Israel out of the land to the north and all the countries where he drove them,’ for I will bring them back to their own land which I gave their ancestors’” (Jeremiah 16:14-15).

“They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month  and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written” (Nehemiah 8:14-15).

When Israel returned from Babylonian captivity in the days of Nehemiah, they found the book of Torah that commanded collecting branches to make their sukkot. In addition to branches from palms, willows, and myrtles, they also collected branches from “olive and wild olive” trees (Nehemiah 8:14-15). Because the Feast of Ingathering occurs during the olive harvest, it also becomes a ‘shadow’ of fulfillment of the natural olives and wild olives becoming the complete Olive Tree of Israel.

The first mention of the olive tree is when Noah sends out a dove from the ark and it brings back an olive leaf, a symbol of new life (Genesis 8:8). Pure olive oil is one of the ingredients for the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-23). The land flowing with milk and honey also flowed with olive oil indicating the abundance of provision in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:8). The doors of Solomon’s Temple were made from olive wood on which were carved the cherubim that guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (1 Kings 6:32). David says children are like olive shoots blessing a man’s table (Psalm 128:8). The prophets Jeremiah and Hosea call Israel “a thriving olive tree with great splendor” (Jeremiah 11:16, Hosea 14:6).

When Paul discusses the ‘Olive Tree of Israel’ in Romans 11, he sees natural olive branches and wild olive branches attached to the same tree. He tells the gentiles that they are the wild olive branches which have been grafted into the olive tree along with the natural branches of the Jewish people. When a branch is grafted into a tree, it gets its nourishment from the roots and sap of the tree. It will still bear olives, but only through its dependence on the natural tree. If the grafting doesn’t take and the branch doesn’t get its nourishment, it will die and fall off the tree.

Paul reminds the gentiles that as wild olive branches they can be cut off the olive tree if they become arrogant over the natural branches. They are to remember that the living water of the Spirit comes from the root of David, and the nourishing sap of the Hebrew Scriptures supports them both by faith. Though some of the natural branches may have been broken off due to a lack of faith, they can be easily grafted back into their own olive tree (Romans 11:13-24). 

The addition of “olive and wild olive branches” to the sukkah in Nehemiah’s time suggests that the Ingathering of Israel will not only include the natural olive branches of Israel, but also the wild olive branches of the nations who have embraced the covenant that Adonai made with Israel. When both branches of olives live by faith in Yeshua, trusting in him as the root of the tree, living water will bring nourishing sap to both branches. They will thrive with splendor as God intended for the ‘Olive Tree of Israel.’

The Millennial Kingdom

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken” (Micah 4:1, 3).

Yeshua’s teachings focused on the Kingdom of God which is the same as the Kingdom of Heaven. Though the Kingdom was near, it had not yet fully arrived and will not arrive until Yeshua has been glorified and crowned King of Kings. During a 1000 year ‘season of our joy,’ the nations of the world will come to the mountain of God in Jerusalem. Yeshua will sit on his throne in the Temple and judge the nations. The Messianic Era will join the present world and mortal men with immortal men in a unique time in history. With an iron scepter, he will rule the earth and prepare its people for his Father’s eternal Kingdom.

“After six days Yeshua took Peter, James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain privately.  As they watched, he began to change form – his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became as white as light.  Then they looked and saw Moses and Elijah speaking with him.   Peter said to Yeshua, ‘It’s good that we’re here, Lord.  I’ll put up three sukkot [temporary dwellings]  if you want – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them; and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him’! (Matthew 17:1-5).

Just days before this event, Yeshua told his disciples that some of them would not die until they saw the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom (Matthew 16:28). They waited eagerly for this Kingdom to arrive. Six days later Yeshua took Peter, James, and John up a mountain.

The three disciples watched as Yeshua transformed into his glory in front of them. They saw him speaking with Moses and Elijah. They didn’t realize they were receiving only a glimpse at the coming Kingdom, but believed that Yeshua was establishing his Kingdom rule on earth at that moment in time –– at the ‘appointed time’ of Sukkot. They sincerely believed that Yeshua was going to take up his throne in Jerusalem and reign as King of Kings. They knew the prophecies and had listened to Yeshua teach. Peter responded with great faith in Yeshua’s words about the Kingdom of God when he offered to build Moses, Elijah, and Yeshua ‘shelters’ –– sukkot.

The Eternal Tabernacle

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place (the Mishkan) is now among the people, and he will dwell (tabernacle) with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3 NIV and Orthodox Jewish Bible).

At the end of Yeshua’s Messianic reign, a new heaven and a new earth will be created. Everything from the old heaven and earth that has been decaying will pass away. The New Jerusalem will come down out of the renewed heaven and descend to the renewed earth. The New Jerusalem won’t have a Temple because Adonai will be the Temple. There will be no sun or moon to shine on it because the His glory gives it its light; its lamp will be Yeshua.

The river of the water of life will flow from the throne of God producing monthly fruit and healing leaves for the nations. The servants of God will worship Him on His throne in the city. The eternally redeemed will see His face and His name will be written on their foreheads. They will reign as kings forever and ever. When the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh will Tabernacle forever with His people.

“All of these people kept on trusting until they died, without receiving what had been promised.  They had only seen it and welcomed it from a distance, while acknowledging that they were aliens and temporary residents on the earth.  As it is, they aspire to a better homeland, a heavenly one.  This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city”  (Hebrews 11:13-15).

Abraham lived in a tent. As Abraham’s children of faith and heirs to the same promises, we also live in earth ‘tents’ like he did. Until the day of our complete redemption, we will live as strangers and foreigners on this earth. We celebrate Sukkot with the vision of our future glory by building a sukkah. As we feast in our ‘temporary dwelling,’ we identify with the children of Israel who lived in tents with the Mishkan of Adonai in their midst.

Yeshua took on the ‘tent’ of a human body to live with us. As Messiah of Israel, he will soon return to Jerusalem as King and prepare the nations for the eternal Kingdom of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. When we keep our eyes on the promises of God and the New Jerusalem, we will understand the ‘season of our joy’ and appreciate the prophetic vision of another ‘appointed time’ –– The Feast of Tabernacles.

 For more about Yeshua fullfilling the ‘appointed times,’ purchase Yeshua in His Father’s Feasts.

©2011 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing. For a hard copy of this article,  please purchase Journey with Jeremiah: Nourishment for the Wild Olive.  To learn more about the Feasts of the LORD, purchase Yeshua in His Father’s Feasts study guide and/or leader’s guide for group learning.