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The
Early and Latter Rains - the Giving of the Spirit.
<PENTECOST> |
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Written
and study by Felicia Trecek The following are the written notes of the oral tape presentation which is available upon request. YHWH likens man to agricultural produce throughout scripture. Messiah is the first of the first-fruits - the spring barley. The first resurrection of saints are likened to the first-fruits - the spring wheat. And, the second resurrection is likened to the fruits, vegetables, and grain crops during the fall harvest. This group will be very large and eclectic as represented by the more abundant various fall agricultural crops. The physical nation of Israel were to be the spring wheat, but fell short of YHWH's expectation; therefore, will now become the fall wheat crop. (Here are few references out of many: Mark chapter 4, Jeremiah 2:3, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Matthew 3:11-12, Hosea 6:11). If agricultural produce represents mankind, then the rain water also has a spiritual representation. Water represents the Holy Spirit of YHWH. The early and latter rains spiritually represent when YHWH rained and is raining living waters for His first-fruits to grow and mature, and will again rain living waters for the fall fruits to grow and mature. The living water is the Set-apart Spirit, YHWHÕs spirit. He is the very fountain from which the living water flows. Many churches teach oil represents the spirit. I donÕt possess that belief. Oil is not one of the elements that will cause a plant to grow. Oil was biblically used for anointing, and is a by-product of olives. The olive is a fruit and is a mature fruit when it is pressed for oil. Again, we are biblically likened to plants; therefore, oil must represent something else other than the Holy Spirit. My study that I am about to present is not about oil, but rather the former and latter rains upon Israel. These rains represent YHWH watering mankind, His agricultural produce. I will begin reading Deut 11:10-14. <read> In addition, Leviticus 26:3-4 reads, (v:3) "If you walk in My laws and guard My commands, and shall do them," (v:4) "then I shall give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its crops, and the trees of the field yield their fruit." YHWH specifically told the Israelites, if they kept the commandments, He would provide rain at the proper times for their crops so they would obtain a harvest. They did not need to physically irrigate their crops like they did in Egypt, YHWH would irrigate their crops in the form of rain. In the land of Israel today, they must physically irrigate their crops. Rain does not fall at the proper times biblically designated, and when rain does fall, it is not enough to maintain the growth of their crops. The Israelites are taking water from the Arabs. According to my husband Richard, who knows more than I do about IsraelÕs state of affairs; IsraelÕs big struggle and fight is over water. This is a sure sign that YHWH is not pleased with modern day Israel. Those living there are breaking YHWHÕs laws. The physical former and latter rains are withheld when YHWHÕs commandments are not obeyed. Jeremiah 5:23-25 reads, (v:23) "But this people has a backsliding and rebellious heart, they have turned aside and gone away." (v:24) "And they do not say in their heart, ÔLet us now fear YHWH our Elohim, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He guards for us the appointed weeks of the harvest." (v:25) "Your crookedness have turned these away, and your sins have kept the good from you." The physical always has a Spiritual counterpart. Therefore, likewise, the spiritual water - the living water - is also withheld from nations and individuals who do not obey YHWHÕs commandments. I want to briefly comment on verse 24 of Jeremiah 5. YHWH guarded the appointed weeks of the harvest. In other words, He did not send rain when they were in the midst of harvesting their produce. YHWH protected the harvest. If He would have sent rain during a harvest period, a whole harvest could have been destroyed - by mold for example. This too has a Spiritual ramification which will be addresses later. In Hosea 6:1-3, the latter rain allegorically will raise the physical nation of Israel. Hosea 6:1-3 reads, (v:1) "Come, and let us turn back to YHWH. For He has torn but He does heal us, He has stricken but He binds us up. (v:2) After two days He shall revive us, on the third day He shall raise us up, so that we live before Him. (v:3) So let us know, let us pursue to know YHWH. His going forth is as certain as the morning. And He comes to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth." There is much to be said about Hosea 6:1-3. Apparently, YHWH has a set process in raising-up the dead for the second resurrection. The process is a three day period. I suspect the way this verse reads, YHWH will water the dry earth by rain; specifically the latter rain. During the first two days, their bodies will germinate likened to a seed. Then, the third day, sprout out of the earth. The word "latter" is the clue to the timing of this event. I will focus on this word "latter" and also the word "former". But, first I want to read a passage in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 44:3-4 reads, (v:3) "For I pour water on the thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I pour My Spirit on your seed, and My blessing on your offspring (v:4) and they shall spring up among the grass like willows by streams of water." I want to now focus on the two words "former" and "latter" that I read in Jeremiah 5:23-25 and Hosea 6:1-3. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the Hebrew word translated into our English word, "latter" in both Jeremiah 5:24, and Hosea 6:3 is: "mal-koshe'" #4456. "mal-koshe'" means: latter rain. But this word was derived from two other Hebrew words, Strong's #'s 3953 and 3954, meaning to gather the after crop or later growth. The after crop or later growth is the fall crop. However, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the Hebrew word translated into our English word, "former" in Jeremiah 5:24 is: "yo-reh'" #3138. "Yo-reh'" means: 1) sprinkling 2) first rain 3) former rain. This former rain was / is the first spring crop - or rather the first-fruits. Specifically notice, the first definition of the Hebrew word "yo-reh'" is "sprinkling". A sprinkling is not a rain shower. This sprinkling occurred before the new testament's first day of Pentecost. YHWH sprinkled His Spirit upon selected individuals within the old testament to guide His plan forward. When a sprinkling rain occurs, it does not wet or soak a large area. The drops fall sparingly and touch only a few places. That is why, for example, Isaiah 53:2 reads, "For He", speaking of Yahushua Messiah and His first coming, "For He grew up before Him (YHWH the Father) as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground." All the ground around Messiah was spiritually dry. The ones around Messiah had not received the first rain of living water - the Holy Spirit. Now continuing... the second definition of the Hebrew word "yo-reh'" translated into our English word, "former" is "first rain". YHWH began raining His Spirit - the "first rain" - on the first day of Pentecost/Festival of Weeks in the new testament after Messiah died, rose, and ascended to heaven. This "first rain"of the Spirit can be located in Acts 2:1-4. The third definition of the Hebrew word "yo-reh'" is "former rain" and is in the past tense. As I have already explained in my first tape recording of studies, the tense of a word in the books of the prophets is very important to take notice of. As a quick repeat from the first tape, 1st Peter chapter one informs us that the scriptures were written for our understanding, from our perspective in time. The "first rain", not the first sprinkling, but the first rain began on the first day of Pentecost in the New Testament. From our perspective in time, this rain is also the former rain since it already began. As time progresses until the great and awesome Day of YHWH (the Lord), YHWH continues to rain His Spirit upon individuals whom He has chosen to be a part of the first harvest. This Hebrew word, "yo-reh'", is very appropriate because the definitions for this word are both past tense and current tense. The "former rain" and "latter rain" symbolize the pouring out of YHWHÕs Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also known as "Living Waters". As you recall in Deuteronomy 11:11-14, YHWH said, He is the One who provides the rain from the heavens. We do not irrigate ourselves. In John 4:10-14, Messiah was weary and was sitting by a fountain of water when a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Messiah asked her for a drink. Jumping into the story now, letÕs now read John 4:10-14. <read> Jeremiah 2:13 reads, "For My people have done two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water." YHWH said the Israelites did TWO evils. The first evil was that they rejected Him, the fountain of living waters. The second evil was that they hewn cracked cisterns. These cracked cisterns are the people themselves. The Living Water is the Holy Spirit, and YHWH is the fountain from which it flows. The people, these cracked cisterns, did not have the ability to hold the living water, the Holy Spirit, that YHWH could have poured in them. Their cisterns cracked because of their unbelief and disobedience (Ref. Hebrews chapters three and four.), and because they rejected YHWH and Messiah their Savior. Jeremiah 17:13 reads, "Oh YHWH, the expectation of Israel, all who forsake You are put to shame. 'Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken YHWH, the fountain of living waters.' " Anyone who departs from YHWH and His laws, will not be written in the book of life, but rather will be written in the earth. They will not DRINK from the living water which will sustain them for eternity. They will be dead and a part of the dust of the earth people walk upon. As
an overall summary of what I have said thus far... The latter living rain will begin after the first harvest, the first resurrection, AND after the planting of the second harvest. Understand, farmers do not water their crops until one harvest of produce is complete and the seeds of the next crop are planted in the ground. There are technically two periods of latter living rain as like there were / are two periods of former living rain. The first latter rain period will begin after MessiahÕs return, during the thousand year reign known as the millennium. The second latter rain period will begin after the 1,000 year millennium and the second resurrection. THE
LIVING WATER FROM BETWEEN THE MOUNT OF OLIVES Zechariah 14:6-8 reads, (v:6) "And in that day it shall be: there is no light, it is dark. (v:7) And it shall be one day which is known to YHWH, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light." Before reading the next scripture, I want to interject an explanation for verses 6 and 7. I donÕt intend to fully elaborate, but I believe it should be given explanation to understand the full picture. I will digress for a moment. We know from Genesis, a day begins at evening. Evening proceeds into night, then day break. Light represents YHWH and darkness represents Satan. The very design of a full - twenty four hour - day represents the time of Satan and the time of YHWH in sequential order. This world began with a small amount of light represented by evening. YHWH walked with Adam and gave him instruction in the garden of Eden. Adam broke the covenant, thus was banned from the garden. The time period became dark. Satan reigned and continues to reign until the breaking of day when Yahushua returns to the earth a second time. I will present one example scripture of this which is very interesting and revealing. Isaiah 8:20 reads, "To the teaching and to the witness! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because they have no daybreak." The King James renders this verse as: "To the Law and to the Testimony! if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." The LAW is His written Word, the scriptures. The words witness and testimony are law terms. When a witness is in court, on the witness stand, he gives testimony. In other words, he testifies to an event or an occurrence. Both the prophets and the apostles are the witnesses and they both gave their testimony. They testified Yahushua, the son of Joseph and Mary, came in the flesh and is the Savior for all mankind. According to Isaiah 8:20, we must possess and keep the law, and believe the witnesses and their testimony concerning Yahushua Messiah. If individuals or groups do not speak or teach according to both of these requirements: the law and the witness/testimony, they have no light, or daybreak. This means they do not possess the Son, nor the Father, and certainly not the Holy Spirit. This light and/or daybreak represents the Holy Spirit, YHWH the Father, and His Son. This needs to be understood to be able to fully understand Zechariah 14:6-8. At evening, instead of darkness, there will be light. This one day in time, the one day after Trumpets, represents a shift in power from Satan to Messiah. Messiah is light. Satan will be chained for 1,000 years. He will not be allowed to influence and project his evilness causing people to spiritually stumble. This event is speculated to happen on the day of Atonment. (Reference Revelation 20) Mankind will spiritually prosper like never before. I will now reread verses 6-7 of Zechariah 14, then continue to read verse 8. (v:6) "And in that day it shall be: there is no light, it is dark. (v:7) And it shall be one day which is known to YHWH, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. (v:8) And in that day it shall be that living waters flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea, in the summer as well as in the winter." The day will be DARK when Messiah returns, when He fights against the gentiles, and splits the Mount of Olives in two creating a massive earth quake. There will be great heaviness of heart, pain, fear, death all around, and massive destruction. (For another end time prophesy reference, read Luke 21:24-28). Afterward, when Messiah splits the Mount of Olives, Living Waters will flow outward from between the split, most likely from deep within the earth. This water will be clean, pure from pollutants and represents the Holy Spirit that will also be poured out Ņ afterward. I want to briefly mention, most of the water upon the earth will be undrinkable. It will have been polluted by the falling star called Wormwood. Revelation 8:10-11 reads, this Wormwood star will fall on a third of the rivers and the fountains of water. The fountains of water I think are the sources of water. Also, in Revelation 8:8, one third of the sea will turn to blood. When the Living Water begins to flow from between the Mount of Olives, I believe people will flock to this water for a drink. This water will sustain their very physical lives. This flow of water will begin to wash away the massive amount of blood that was shed in the great battle of YHWH at Jerusalem. The blood will be as high as a horseÕs bridle. (Reference Revelation 14:20) The day the physical Living Water begins to flow, will not be dark as was the day, but will be light. A new day begins, not with the onset of darkness, but the onset of light. This truly will be the DAWNING of a NEW DAY. This is the sign of A NEW BEGINNING for man, and the sign when YHWH begins to reign. YHWH is the light and He is the fountain from which the Living Waters flow. The time and season in the time-line of mankind when this occurs will be the fall season. The "latter rain" will be set to begin at YHWHÕs command on the very succeeding day of Pentecost. The first period of the fall crop will then begin to grow and mature for the fall harvest. This first fall crop will be the ones left alive at the coming of Messiah. There will be only one third of mankind that remain alive on earth at the time Messiah returns with His saints. (Reference Zechariah 13:8-9 and Isaiah 17:5-7.) The house of David - which are the Jews - and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will then look upon Messiah, the One they pierced and be in mourning (Reference Zechariah 12:10). The people during the 1,000 year reign of Yahushua Messiah, after His second return, will be the first fall crop. The second fall crop are the people that arise at the second resurrection, after the 1,000 year reign. (Reference Revelation 20:4-6). These people too will stand before Messiah with tears and mourn (Reference: Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 7:16-17, and Isaiah 25:8-9). PENTECOST/
FEAST OF WEEKS Pentecost represents spiritual freedom from the yoke of slavery and from the death penalty imposed because of sin. Pentecost is a spiritual jubilee!! There is a physical jubilee and a spiritual jubilee. I will explain further. Understanding the physical jubilee will make the spiritual jubilee become much clearer. Every seven years there was a release in the land of Israel. This was simply known as the seventh year release. The seventh year was a land rest and a release from debt. There were seven of these yearly releases/rests within a forty-nine year period. Then, the following year, the fiftieth year, was the jubilee year, the year of liberty. Counting the jubilee year was seven times seven, plus one just like counting for the day of Pentecost! Deuteronomy chapter 15 and chapter 31 verses 9 and 12 give instruction for the seven year release. Deuteronomy specifically commands the book of the law be read to the whole nation on every seventh year of release during the feast of tabernacles when the whole nation was commanded to appear before YHWH. This point is important to remember in understanding the big picture which I will paint for you later. Right now I am sketching the pencil outline on the canvas. Leviticus 25 beginning in verse 8 commands the blowing of the trumpet on the day of atonement during the forty-ninth year - proclaiming the jubilee the following year. The priests were to announce and proclaim liberty to the whole nation. Again, as a repeat, this proclamation and blowing was made during the forty-ninth year on the day of atonement, not during the fiftieth year. This is another point which is important to remember when understanding the big picture. LetÕs now read Deuteronomy 16:9-10 and Leviticus 23:15-16. These scriptures are the mandate for Pentecost. Deuteronomy 16:9-10 reads, (v:9) "Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. (v:10) And you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHWH your Elohim..." etc. Some people are confused with this scripture. They donÕt understand why it reads, "Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain." If you read the book of Ruth, youÕll understand the wheat harvest followed immediately after the barley harvest. The men were the ones commanded to appear before YHWH three times in the year. The women stayed behind and were the ones in the field harvesting the grain according to the book of Ruth. But, that is not to say they did not keep the feasts within their area. Leviticus 23:15-16 reads, (v:15) "And from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. (v:16) Until the day after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHWH". YHWH could have made this simple and said, count fifty days from the first day of the week. But, that didnÕt happen. YHWH purposefully coded the meaning and put the focus on the seventh day Sabbath. He said, "the day after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days" etc. Before I delve into the clues of the code, I want to call your attention to verse 16 of Leviticus 23 again. The Pharisaical Rabbinic Jews start counting from the first high Sabbath of the days of unleavened bread. They are in error. Leviticus 23:16 specifically includes the word "SEVENTH". We begin counting from the day after the seventh Sabbath. I will now elaborate, number and single out the clues to the code of Pentecost. The first clue to this code of Pentecost is the counting of seven Sabbaths in seven weeks. The focus is on the seventh day Sabbath. There are seven Sabbath rest days just like there were seven Sabbatical rest years. The second clue is both the counting of Pentecost and the jubilee year have the multiplication 7 x 7 that equal 49. The third clue is the counting of an addition one number. When counting for Pentecost, we add one day to the 49th day which equals 50. When counting for the physical jubilee, during the 49th year the jubilee is proclaimed as the following year, the one added year totalling 50. And, the fourth clue is the 49th year happens to be a seventh Sabbatical year of release as likened to the 49th day - the one day before Pentecost is a seventh day Sabbath of rest. A week consists of seven days which represents the full plan of YHWH, the 7,000 year period. But, the seventh day is the last day of the plan when all mankind will finally be given physical and spiritual rest. This day is the focus of the count. Now that we understand the day of Pentecost is a spiritual jubilee - a day / time of liberty, some new testament scriptures will have a deeper meaning. Galatians 2:4-5 (v:4) "But as for the false brothers, sneakingly brought in, who sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Messiah Yahushua in order to enslave us, (v:5) to these we did not yield in subjection, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the Good News remains with you." If you read further, youÕll see it was the circumcised people who snuck in. These people were none other than the Jews! These Jews were attempting to drag the spiritually liberated converts into their yoke of slavery! Isaiah 52:1-3 reads these people are the CAPTIVE daughter of Zion! Galatians 5:1 reads, "In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, STAND FIRM then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery." PRAISE YHWH! The Good News is SPIRITUAL FREEDOM! I want to firmly plant that in your mind. The Good News is SPIRITUAL FREEDOM! We have the POWER given by YHWH through the Holy Spirit to overcome our weaknesses to sin and become perfect as like the Messiah. With this fuller understanding, Hebrews chapters three and four might jump out at you like never before. In short and paraphrased: the children of Israel grieved YHWH for 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief. YHWH said they were unable to enter into His rest because of their unbelief and disobedience. YHWH meant they would not enter His spiritual rest found within the law. The law given on Mt. Sinai was traditionally given on the day of Pentecost, but scripture reads they did not hearken unto His voice. There yet remains a promise to enter into His spiritual rest. Hebrews 4:4 specifically reads, "For somewhere He has said thus about the seventh day, ÔAnd Elohim rested on the seventh day from all His works." Verses 6-10 read, (v:6) "Since then it remains for some to enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter in because of disobedience. (v:7) He again defines a certain day, 'Today' saying through David so much later, as it has been said, 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.' (v:8) For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. (v:9) So there remains a Sabbath Keeping for the people of Elohim. (v:10) For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim from His own." Did you catch what verse 8 read? Again, "For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that." Verse eight figuratively defines a physical rest and a spiritual rest. Joshua lead the children of Israel into the promised land after Moses died. They entered on the first High Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread according to the book of Joshua chapter 5. This day represented the first rest. But, there is another day after that. It is the last High Sabbath of the feast of unleavened bread. This day is yet to be fullfilled and is after JoshuaÕs day. However, and interestingly, understand the focus is on the seventh day Sabbath according to verses 4 and 10. The seventh and last High Sabbath day of the feast of unleavened bread has the same representation as does the seventh day weekly Sabbath. They both are SabbathÕs of rest, both are seventh days, and both end a duration of seven days. After each duration has ended, there is a new beginning. The Holy Days represent YHWHÕs plan; therefore, we can study these days and see how they are in relationship to one another to confirm a spiritual rest and new beginning. When you count the weeks for the day of Pentecost, YHWH makes you focus on the seventh day Sabbath. ItÕs the one day after that - on the first day of the week which is the fiftieth day that we celebrate SPIRITUAL FREEDOM! This is the GOOD NEWS - THE LIBERTY we have in Yahushua Messiah as Galatians 2:4-5 reads! THE
BIGGER PICTURE - SUMMARY Messiah will touch down on the Mount of Olives with His bride and split the mountain in two on the day of Trumpets, and I personally believe this day of Trumpets will be during a seventh Sabbatical year which will be the 49th year before the Jubilee. Living waters will flow out from between. Messiah will wave His hand over the water and smite it into seven streams. YHWH will bring the children of Israel back to the land of Israel from all ends of the earth. Everyone left alive after the day of Trumpets will mourn. YHWH will immediately declare, "return unto Me - even now. Tear your heart not your garment." He will then command the rams horn to be blown, and command an assembly and a fast for the day of Atonement. This atonement will be special. The rams horn is commanded to be blown, and I personally think the rams horn will be blown because it will be the time when the Jubilee will be declared for the following year. Physical and spiritual Jubilee. The Israelites will humble themselves before their Maker, relent and repent of their sins. The Feast of Tabernacles / Booths will soon follow. Everyone present in Jerusalem will stand before Messiah. He will wipe away their tears and open the books. He will open their eyes and point to Himself in the Torah. On that last Great Day, I speculate He will declare, "Anyone who thirsts, come and drink!" The following year, the Jubilee - the children of Israel will partake of Passover. They will not partake of the old covenant of their fathers, but they will be given a new covenant. And, for the first time in their entire lives, they will finally understand what it means to put sin out of their lives. Following the feast of unleavened bread, there will be a joyous, literal countdown to the day of Pentecost. I personally think this is the day they will receive the SPIRIT of LIBERATION! THE
BIGGER PICTURE Now turn and read Acts 2:16-21. <read> Verses 19-21 did not apply to the first century church. The sun did not turn into darkness and the moon into blood. There was not blood, fire and vapor of smoke. But, Peter was moved by the Spirit to say what he did on that day of Pentecost. I personally believe YHWH revealed to us - the timing when the second pouring out of the Spirit is going to take place for the fall fruits. The sun and the moon are signs before the next liberation. (Ref Joel 2:30-32.) The day of Pentecost was the day that spiritual liberation took place during the first century, and will again be the day spiritual liberation takes place for YHWHÕs fall fruits. The pouring out of the spirit will happen both during the millennium and then again after the second resurrection. There will be a break in spiritual rain during the first-fruit harvest. There will also be no rain when YHWH firmly plants His seeds for His fall crop. When His seeds are firmly planted, He will then cause the living rain to fall for the after-crop, the fall-fruits on the day of Pentecost. Now turn to Joel chapter 2 and read verses 22-28. <read> I want to call your attention to verse 28. This is the scripture Peter began reciting when he quoted the book of Joel in the book of Acts. This verse begins with saying, "And after this it shall be that I pour out my spirit on all flesh..." etc. The very words, "after this" is key. After what? The prior verse, verse 27, read "And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel." Is this the only existing condition before the spirit is poured out? Or, are there more conditions that include the verses 22-27 which I just quoted? Will their shame of the people will be taken away, and will they have a bounty harvest also? I think these are also possible conditions. One condition is for sure, they will first know YHWH in their midst. Therefore, YHWH does not plan on pouring out His spirit immediately the day of or the day after MessiahÕs return. As I continue to read additional scriptures, the events unfold, and youÕll have a fuller understanding. TRUMPETS Isaiah 12:6 specifically reads, "CRY ALOUD and SHOUT!, Oh inhabitance of Zion, for great is the Set-apart One of Israel in your midst!" Joel 3:16 specifically reads, "And YHWH shall ROAR from Zion, and give forth His voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and earth shall quake..." The Heavens will tremble and the earth shall shake out of her place. (Reference Isaiah 13:13 and Isaiah 2:17-22.) The mountain of Olives will split and living water will flow out from between. This water may be the only clean, unpolluted water that there is around in that whole area. Any other water will consist of wormwood, chemicals, and/or blood. The remnant of people left in Israel (Ref Zephaniah 3), the people who survive the colossal earth quake and YHWHÕs wrath will most likely flock to this flow of water. This living water will truly sustain peoples very physical lives. Isaiah 12:3 reads, they shall draw water with JOY from the fountains of deliverance. (Notice the word fountains is plural. The word fountain is plural, I believe because it refers to both the physical and spiritual water. We already know there is one fountain from which the physical water flows and thatÕs from between the mount of Olives.) The first evening following the day of Trumpets will be the dawning of a new day. It will be a brand new beginning for mankind. I personally believe the day of Trumpets will be on a Friday. That very Friday night will begin the seventh day Sabbath. I personally believe this is the evening that will be light that is stated in Zechariah 14:6-7 which reads, (v:6) "And in that day it shall be: there is no light, it is dark. (v:7) And it shall be one day which is known to YHWH, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light." The seventh day Sabbath will begin which symbolizes the seven thousand year millennium. When the Jews see Messiah, they will know Him. Zechariah 12:10-11 reads, they shall look upon Yahushua Messiah, the One they pierced and will mourn Him as one mourns bitterly for their only son. There will be great mourning in Jerusalem and all around the earth. Everyone on earth will see MessiahÕs might, power and esteem. His coming is likened to a lightening bolt that comes from the east and shines to the west. (Reference Matthew 24:27-31) After Messiah returns, there will be a second exodus to the land of Israel likened to the first exodus out of Egypt. YHWH shall set His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left. He is going to raise a banner for all nations and gather His people from the four corners of the earth, and they will walk along the streams of living water that flow from Jerusalem. (Reference Isaiah 11:15-16 and Jeremiah 31:8-12) Zechariah 8:23 reads, "In those days ten men from all languages of the nations take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the edge of the garment of a man, a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.' " (Note: This specific passage may also apply after the millennium and the second resurrection.) YHWH will take one from a city and two from a clan and shall bring them to Zion (Ref Jeremiah 3:14-15). YHWHÕs people will be brought out of many nations by the gentiles and taken to Israel. These gentiles will bring the sons of Israel in their arms and the daughters will carried on their shoulders. They will bring them to the land of Israel on camels, mules, and in chariots. (Reference: Isaiah 49:22-23 and Isaiah 66:20-21). Depending on the various distances these people are required to trek, they will arrive at various times into Israel. Some may arrive in time for the feast of tabernacles. Others may arrive the following year and possibly keep a late Passover. ATONEMENT The book of Joel in chapter 2 tells us about the day of Atonement in the future. I want to read verses 12 and 15, but before I do, I want to call your attention to the sequence of events leading up to verses 12 and 15. The beginning verses speak of YHWHÕs great wrath and the day of darkness. In verse 11, YHWH shall give forth His voice before His great army on that great and awesome day. In verse 12 He makes a declaration immediately following His wrath and that great and awesome day. Verse 12 reads, "Yet even now declares YHWH, turn to Me with all your heart, and with FASTING, and with weeping, and with mourning. (v:13) And tear your heart and not your garments, and turn back to YHWH your Elohim, for He shows favor and is compassionate, patient, and of great kindness, and He shall relent concerning evil." Verse 15 is the day of Atonement! "Blow a ramÕs horn in Zion, set apart a FAST, call an assembly. (v:16) Gather the people, set the assembly apart, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes. Let the bridegroom come out from His room, and a bride from her dressing room." Messiah, the bridegroom will come forth with His bride, the first resurrected saints. They will appear before this remnant assembly of people and these people will know and see the bride. I suspect, the Jews will mourn and weep for multiple reasons. One reason I believe they will weep is because they will know they WERE to be the firstborn. But, itÕs possible at that time they will finally realize they threw their birthright away as did Esau. They will humble themselves before Yahushua Messiah on the day of Atonement. This day of atonement is very special. This day will be within the 49th year of a 50th year cycle. The 50th year being the jubilee year. The 49th year will be a seventh year release, a sabbatical year. Messiah will return in this seventh year release to release the creation, giving the whole earth a land rest. And, Messiah will release the people from self-destruction, and He will release their debt. The debt is the death penalty for sin. The debt must be released before the year of liberation. On this special day of atonement within the 49th year, the law in Leviticus 25 commands the priests to blow the horn and proclaim the coming jubilee the following year. Again, notice Joel 2:15 began saying, "BLOW A RAMS HORN IN ZION! Set apart a FAST, call an assembly!" When the resurrected saints - the kings and priests of YHWH - stand before the assembly, they will proclaim LIBERTY!! SPIRITUAL LIBERTY IS AT HAND! ... REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED! The proclamation of liberty was sounded by the priests in the first covenant and, I believe, it will again be sounded by the priests within the new covenant. I visualize weeping and mourning people being baptized in the living water flowing from the Mount of Olives after their confession of sins. (Read Jeremiah 3:24-25) This baptism may be likened to the baptism of John. FEAST
OF TABERNACLES Isaiah 4:5-6 reads, (v:5) "then YHWH shall create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for over all the esteem shall be a covering (v:6) and a booth for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain." According to Joel 2 verses 21-26, YHWH will bring forth food. They shall eat and be satisfied. I suspect, the flow of living water throughout the valley lands will germinate the earth to spout forth plants (Read Ezekiel 36:8-10 and Joel 3:18). Although, they will not harvest any produce since it is a Sabbatical year and the following year is the Jubilee when no harvesting is to be done. But, people are allowed to pick and eat from the field. ItÕs unclear whether or not there will stored food or whether or not YHWH will reign manna down again during the beginning of the 1,000 years. According to Deuteronomy 31:10-13, the books of the law are commanded to be read to all of Israel and the sojourner during the feast of tabernacles during the seventh Sabbatical year. This year will be no exception. They will all stand before Yahushua Messiah. He shall wipe away their tears, open the books, and point to Himself. He will begin to teach them. Joel 2:23 reads, they shall be glad because they will be given the Teacher of Righteousness. According to Jeremiah 3:15, YHWHÕs shepherds (who are of His heart) will also feed them knowledge and understanding. These shepherds (who are of His heart) are MessiahÕs bride. I
personally believe Deuteronomy 30
will pierce their heart. I want to read verses
1-10. Now read read Deuteronomy 31:1, 9-11. At the end of every seven years, during the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles, Deuteronomy 30 will be read to the whole assembly of people. Every seven years at the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles, the year of release is announced. This will happen the year Messiah returns to this earth. The people will rejoice just as the Ethiopian eunuch rejoiced when Philip brought him the Good News. Acts 8:26-39 reads, the Ethiopian eunuch was sitting in his chariot and was reading the book of Isaiah chapter 53. He wanted to know who the lamb was that was lead to the slaughter. Philip taught Him, and immediately following, the Ethiopian man was baptized. Scriptural understanding will be given to the Israelites/Jews first. They are always first in the succession of events. Romans 1:16 reads, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah; for it is the power of YHWH unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Joel 3:12 paraphrased: the gentiles will awake and come to the valley of Jehoshaphat where YHWH will sit and judge all of them round about. The way Messiah will judge is by the law. The books of the law will be opened before them. LAST
GREAT DAY John 7:37-39 reads, (v:37) "And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yahushua stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.' (v:38) As the Scripture said, 'out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water'. (v:39) And this He said concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yahushua was not yet esteemed." John wrote this book after MessiahÕs ascension. When John wrote verse 39, He plainly understood Messiah was announcing the Holy Spirit to those who believed. However, they did not receive the Spirit immediately following MessiahÕs ascension the following year, but on the day of Pentecost, fifty days afterward. Therefore, in reality, but in figures of speech, Messiah was announcing the soon coming jubilee of rest - the day of Pentecost. Ezekiel 39:29 paraphrased: YHWH will no longer hide His face but will pour out His spirit. Joel 2:31-32 paraphrased: everyone calling on the name of YHWH will be delivered. (This is meant both physically and spiritually.) THE
NEW YEAR - THE 50th JUBILEE YEAR MessiahÕs last Passover in the new testament with His disciples I believe was a jubilee year for three reasons. First reason: Galatians 3:13 reads, "Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law." And, Messiah proclaimed release to the captives and the acceptable year of YHWH in Luke 4:16-21. According to Leviticus 25, the acceptable year was proclaimed the previous year during the 49 year. Second reason: some of the House of Judah was expecting a redeemer the year Messiah died. They were surprised to find out Messiah had been crucified. Read Luke 24:21. Why would they expect a redeemer if it was not the year of redemption? Third reason: the day of Pentecost is a spiritual jubilee. Logic dictates, this major event would happen during and coincide with a physical jubilee. I believe Messiah redeemed us the day He died and that was on the 14th day Passover. Messiah is our relative, our elder brother. He is our redeemer. YHWH is IsraelÕs Maker and original owner. He is the One that sold them, and He has the right to buy them back during the Jubilee year. They will be redeemed to YHWH, and their land inheritance will also be redeemed and be returned to the twelve tribes of Israel. Isaiah 63:4-5, 9 reads, (v:4) "For a day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. (v:5) And I looked, but there was none helping, and I was astonished that there was none upholding. So My own arm saved for Me, and My wrath upheld Me." Messiah is the right arm of His Father and it is Messiah who is the one who redeems. Verse 8 reads, "And He said, 'They are My people, children who do not act falsely.' And He became their savior." These people are the Spiritual Israelites - the children of promise (Reference Romans 9:6-8, and Galatians 4:28). Messiah became our Savior. Verse 9 reads, "In all their distress He was distressed, and the Messenger of His Presence saved them. In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them, and lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." The Messenger of His Presence is none other than the One who became Messiah. Messiah is the One who redeemed the physical nation of Israel from Egypt and will again redeem them in the future. Now read Isaiah 52:1-3, 6-15. Captive daughter of Zion represents the whole physical nation of Israel. Verse 3 reads, "For thus said YHWH, 'You have been sold for nought, and you are redeemed not with silver.' " Isaiah 52:6-15 reads, (v:6) "Therefore My people shall know My Name in that day, for I am the One who is speaking. See it is I." (v:7) "How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Zion, 'your Elohim shall reign!' " Verse 7 is in cryptic language. Messiah's feet will be the One who's feet touches down upon the mountains at His second coming. He is the one who will bring good news, proclaims liberty, and proclaims deliverance/salvation to all with His saints. Verse 8 reads, "The voice of your watchmen! They shall lift up their voices, together they shout for joy, because eye to eye they see the return of YHWH to Tsiyon." Messiah is the One to set foot on the mountain and He is called YHWH. He is the second "I AM" in the Name, "I AM that which I AM" in Exodus 3:14. Verse 9 reads, "Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For YHWH shall comfort His people. He shall redeem Jerusalem." Verse 10 reads, "YHWH shall lay bare His set-apart arm in the eyes of all the nations. And all the ends of the earth shall see the deliverance of our Elohim." Yahushua Messiah is the arm of His Father YHWH. He will been seen by every nation. Verse 11 reads, "Turn aside! Turn aside! Come out from there, touch not the unclean. Come out of her midst, be clean, you who bear the vessels of YHWH." Man was made in the God-head likeness, and the vessels are physical human bodies (Reference 2 Timothy 2:19-21). Verse 13 reads, "See, My servant shall work wisely, He shall be exalted and lifted up and be very high." Verse 14, "As many were astonished at You - so the disfigurement beyond any man's and His form beyond the sons of men - " This was Messiah during His first coming. Verse 15, "He shall likewise startle many nations. Kings shut their mouths at Him, for what had not been recounted to them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall understand." In other words, the whole world will understand the One they shall see is the Messiah whether or not they heard and understood the prophesies of His second coming event. I want to give you a few redemption scriptures. There are many many more, but you may be interested in reading a few. Micah 6:4, Luke 1:67-68, Ps 107:2, Ps 136:24, Is 1:27, Is 29:22-24, Is 44:22-24, Is 51:10-11. PASSOVER
/ FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD Jeremiah 31:31-34 reads, (v:31) " 'See, the days are coming,' declares YHWH, 'when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, (v:32) not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,' declares YHWH, (v:33) 'For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Israel after those days,' declares YHWH: 'I shall put My teaching in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. (v:34) And no longer shall they teach each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, "Know YHWH" for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' declares YHWH'. For I shall forgive their crookedness, and remember their sin no more." I want to call your attention to what Jeremiah 31:31-34 specifically wrote. YHWH will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel. The new covenant reads: "I shall put My teaching in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts." The covenant is a contract, an agreement of terms. The terms were already recorded for us to read, which allows us to know what YHWH will do for the Israelites. When the contract is agreed to, it is not the exact time in which YHWH will put His teachings in their inward parts and write them on their hearts. DonÕt confuse the contract with the Holy Spirit. A contract is an agreement between two parties. Both parties involved consent to do something. The Holy Spirit is a down payment of that contract (Reference Ephesians 1:13-14). The nation of Israel will enter into the same covenant as their forefather Abraham. Isaiah 51:1-2 paraphrased: Hearken to YHWH, you who follow righteousness and seek Elohim. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bore you. Abraham is the spiritual father of all (Also reference Galatians 3:7). And Sarah is the free woman that bore the one and only promise for the salvation of mankind. The children of Israel will partake of the wine, the covenant symbol, and of the bread, the symbol of MessiahÕs body. They will finally accept the covering of His blood, and they will finally learn what it means to really put sin out of their lives during the days of unleavened bread. THE
DAY OF PENTECOST - THE SEAL OF SALVATION Ephesians 1:13 reads, "in whom you also, having heard the Word of Truth, the Good News of your deliverance, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Set-apart Spirit of promise." Firstly, in succession of conversion, you must hear the Word of Truth. Secondly, you must believe. And, thirdly the Set-apart Spirit is given. The ancient Israelites in the wildreness at Mount Sinai heard the Word, but they did not believe - if you remember when I read Hebrews chapter four. That is where their succession of conversion fell short. You must believe the Word before you are given the Holy Spirit of rest. During this day of Pentecost, the remnant Israelites will finally believe the Word of Truth - Yahushua Messiah - and be ready to receive the Set-apart Spirit. At this very time, they too will finally be given SPIRITUAL REST !Ņ SPIRITUAL FREEDOM! I believe this event will mirror the first century and the time of the Israelites in the wilderness. Firstly, the first century converts were baptized and their sins were washed away. Secondly, the apostles, the men who were with Elohim in the flesh, partook of the covenant and accepted YahushuaÕs blood covering. Messiah's twelve apostles are the representatives for all of the Spiritual Israelites. They will sit on thones over the twelve tribes of Israel (Reference Luke 22:30). This can be likened to the marriage contract between the Israelites of ancient in Exodus 24:7-11. There were representatives for the whole nation that partook of the eating and drinking. Afterward, and thirdly, on the day of Pentecost, the Living Spirit was poured out upon them. During the time of the old covenant, the children of Israel were baptized firstly into Moses through the Red Sea. Secondly, they fully contracted with YHWH at Mt. Sinai. Afterward, and thirdly, they were given the promised land, the physical rest. The promised land was in type the forshadowment of the Spiritual rest. Yahushua (pronounced Joshua in English), the son of Nun, was never able to give them spiritual rest. Only Yahushua/Joshua, the Son of YHWH, can provide Spiritual rest. HERE
IS AN OVERALL SUMMARY After the 1,000 year millennium has ended, the second resurrection will begin, and the whole plan begins again for the second and last fall crop. I wanted to add, if you are interested, you may want to read Psalms 69, 97, 98, 107, 136. These chapters figuratively refer to the end time right before and after MessiahÕs return. CLOSING The seven day week represents YHWHÕs seven thousand year plan. According to 2 Peter 3:8, one day is like a thousand years to YHWH. The very end of the seventh day Sabbath represents the end of the one thousand year millennium and seven thousand years. Messiah ascended to heaven and was accepted on the first day of the week which represents the beginning and the very end of YHWHÕs salvational plan for mankind. This first day of the week, the second time around, foreshadows the last great day after the feast of tabernacles, the eighth day. The last great day's representation ties back into the day of Pentecost, the day of Spiritual liberation - the Spiritual jubilee. The first day of the week, also the eighth day, is the time immediately following the one thousand millennium representative of the seventh day Sabbath. I personally suspect, the second resurrection will take place right before the ending of the seventh day Sabbath as likened when Messiah was raised. As I have already quoted, Hosea 6:1-3 reads, (v:1) "Come, and let us turn back to YHWH. For He has torn but He does heal us, He has stricken but He binds us up. (v:2) After two days He shall revive us, on the third day He shall raise us up, so that we live before Him. (v:3) So let us know, let us pursue to know YHWH. His going forth is as certain as the morning. And He comes to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth." Messiah was raised the third day and so will the ones within the second resurrection. They will be raised in their order (Reference 1 Corinthians 15:23). I suspect they will be raised according to each generation to alleviate confusion. After the 1,000 year millennium which ends the 7,000 years, the last great day will occur. The last great day is the eighth day also representative of the first day of the week and Pentecost. This is the last jubilee of the entire plan for physical man. All who ever lived will have the opportunity for physical and spiritual freedom and everlasting life. All of mankind will end with Messiah and then again begin with Messiah for eternity. Messiah is the beginning and the end. The end and the beginning. He is the first and the last. The aleph and the tav. The alpha and the omega. The A and the Z. |