The Jewish Spring Festivals set forth in Leviticus 23 are Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. Each was a reminder of God's dealing with the nation of Israel as He led them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Those sacred rehearsals ALSO foreshadowed the coming Messiah's earthly ministry. Passover His shed blood, Unleavened Bread His sinless sacrifice, First Fruits His resurrection and Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit.
With the Spring Festivals complete we are left with the three Fall festivals that are recorded for us in Leviticus 23. If the Spring festivals completed the picture of Jesus' earthly ministry with the giving of the Holy Spirit, what of the Fall festivals? Maybe they highlight some FUTURE ministry of Jesus, yet to be realized. The first festival is The Feast of Trumpets, it is the beginning of the Jewish civil New Year also known as Rosh HaShanah. It is the first of the seventh month, Tishri, in the Jewish religious calendar but it marks the beginning of a new year of accountability for Israel.
Rosh HaShanah or Festival of Trumpets is heralded in with the blowing of the Shofar horn. The Shofar horn itself is a reminder to Israel that God honored Abraham's obedience in his willingness to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice by providing a ram instead, caught by his horn in a thicket. Rosh HaShanah is a call to individual and national repentance. But could the trumpet have some future significance? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV
Jesus physically left this world that He might go to prepare a place for those who love Him. We are told that when he returns for His own it will be "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." Do not be mislead into thinking that Jesus' ministry was complete with His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He is coming again for all those, Jew and Gentile, who have placed their hope in His shed blood on Calvary's Cross, and the promise of the empty tomb.
The Feast of Trumpets is a call to repentance BECAUSE Jesus is coming again. Will you be ready when the Shofar horn is blown on that great day?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
A tale of two pictures...
Two pictures from Face Book over the last couple of days. One a picture of some shoreline (on the left) with a terrible storm (on the right) rolling in. The second, a single sentry guarding the Tomb of the Unknown.
The tale of the first. Saw this one a bunch of times, it seemed to pop up everywhere. At least one version said it was hurricane Irene preparing to come ashore in North Carolina and gives credit to WILX News. There is just soooo much wrong here. 1. WILX is in Lansing Michigan, I know that cause I used to live there and I googled it. Now that does not mean the picture is not theirs, but it starts to raise doubt. 2. That is NOT North Carolina. I did a little research and saw it listed as Pensacola, Florida. Googled images for "pensacola beach" and got this website: www.buyonpensacolabeach.com/area-information.htm. It is the same shoreline from the "North Carolina" Irene photo. 3. I am not a meteorologist, but even I know that is no hurricane. There is no rotation and hurricanes are ALL about rotation. That is a sharply defined front more closely associated with a thunderstorm. And that apparently is a shelf cloud...NOT associated with hurricanes. I am just an idiot, but even I knew this was a fake, so why did it get so much mileage.
The tale of the second. An unnamed (and he probably wants it that way) soldier of the Old Guard, assigned to the Tomb of the Unknown, guarding the unidentified remains, of soldiers long since dead, in the midst of a terrible storm (Irene or otherwise), against the possibility of...who knows what, with a rifle that will take several hours to dry and clean and a uniform that will require days of attention after being soaked........seen on only a few pages thus far.
Just two questions. Why the disparity in reposting thus far? Where do such men come from?
Enough said.
The tale of the first. Saw this one a bunch of times, it seemed to pop up everywhere. At least one version said it was hurricane Irene preparing to come ashore in North Carolina and gives credit to WILX News. There is just soooo much wrong here. 1. WILX is in Lansing Michigan, I know that cause I used to live there and I googled it. Now that does not mean the picture is not theirs, but it starts to raise doubt. 2. That is NOT North Carolina. I did a little research and saw it listed as Pensacola, Florida. Googled images for "pensacola beach" and got this website: www.buyonpensacolabeach.com/area-information.htm. It is the same shoreline from the "North Carolina" Irene photo. 3. I am not a meteorologist, but even I know that is no hurricane. There is no rotation and hurricanes are ALL about rotation. That is a sharply defined front more closely associated with a thunderstorm. And that apparently is a shelf cloud...NOT associated with hurricanes. I am just an idiot, but even I knew this was a fake, so why did it get so much mileage.
The tale of the second. An unnamed (and he probably wants it that way) soldier of the Old Guard, assigned to the Tomb of the Unknown, guarding the unidentified remains, of soldiers long since dead, in the midst of a terrible storm (Irene or otherwise), against the possibility of...who knows what, with a rifle that will take several hours to dry and clean and a uniform that will require days of attention after being soaked........seen on only a few pages thus far.
Just two questions. Why the disparity in reposting thus far? Where do such men come from?
Enough said.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wrapping up the Spring festivals...
Leviticus 23 challenges Israel to rehearse God's appointed times on an annual basis. The goal is that God would be revealed to the rest of the world by what He had done and that additionally the promised Messiah would be foreshadowed in the celebrations.
The Sabbath or Shabbat was the only WEEKLY convocation or rehearsal and reminded Israel and thus the world that God created for six days and rested the seventh, we should take a break once in awhile as well. The next seven festivals were to be celebrated annually and the first four were in the Spring. Passover/Pesach reminded Israel of the lambs blood that marked their door posts but it also foreshadowed the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Feast of Unleavened Bread/HagHaMatzot was celebrated one day later and was a reminder of the flat bread that the Israelites carried with them as they left Egypt. It also pointed forward to the bread of life, Jesus Christ, whose body was broken in our place. First Fruits/Yom HaBikkurim was the third day of Passover. It was an opportunity for Israelites to bring to God the first part of their harvest in the Promised Land but it also promised that Jesus' resurrection form the dead would be the first of many. Those who trust in His atoning death cannot be held by the grave. Which brings us to the fourth festival, the last of the Spring Festivals.
Shavuot or Pentecost was a commemoration of God's giving the Torah to the people of Israel. Shavuot was to be celebrated 50 days after Passover, Pentecost means "fiftieth day". Passover marked Israel's release from Egypt. Pentecost or Shavuot, 7 weeks later, marked the receiving of the Torah and becoming a nation committed to serving God. Shavuot marked the end to the Passover season. Is it coincidence that seven weeks after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to indwell His own...on the day of Pentecost? Certainly not.
Four Spring festivals or sacred rehearsals, Passover - the blood, Unleavened Bread - sinless, First Fruits - resurrection, Pentecost - indwelling. Four rehearsals, four events in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Three fall festivals yet to look at, three events in the ministry of Jesus Christ yet to be fulfilled...stay tuned.
The Sabbath or Shabbat was the only WEEKLY convocation or rehearsal and reminded Israel and thus the world that God created for six days and rested the seventh, we should take a break once in awhile as well. The next seven festivals were to be celebrated annually and the first four were in the Spring. Passover/Pesach reminded Israel of the lambs blood that marked their door posts but it also foreshadowed the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Feast of Unleavened Bread/HagHaMatzot was celebrated one day later and was a reminder of the flat bread that the Israelites carried with them as they left Egypt. It also pointed forward to the bread of life, Jesus Christ, whose body was broken in our place. First Fruits/Yom HaBikkurim was the third day of Passover. It was an opportunity for Israelites to bring to God the first part of their harvest in the Promised Land but it also promised that Jesus' resurrection form the dead would be the first of many. Those who trust in His atoning death cannot be held by the grave. Which brings us to the fourth festival, the last of the Spring Festivals.
Shavuot or Pentecost was a commemoration of God's giving the Torah to the people of Israel. Shavuot was to be celebrated 50 days after Passover, Pentecost means "fiftieth day". Passover marked Israel's release from Egypt. Pentecost or Shavuot, 7 weeks later, marked the receiving of the Torah and becoming a nation committed to serving God. Shavuot marked the end to the Passover season. Is it coincidence that seven weeks after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to indwell His own...on the day of Pentecost? Certainly not.
Four Spring festivals or sacred rehearsals, Passover - the blood, Unleavened Bread - sinless, First Fruits - resurrection, Pentecost - indwelling. Four rehearsals, four events in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Three fall festivals yet to look at, three events in the ministry of Jesus Christ yet to be fulfilled...stay tuned.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Well this just ticks me off!
Fox news is reporting that first responders, fireman, policeman, paramedics and rescue teams have NOT been invited to the Ground Zero 9/11 10th anniversary ceremony. Ironic that so many died there that day running into what was almost certain death would not be invited. Maybe Mayor Bloomberg didn't invite them because he didn't think there were any left alive...though I doubt it.
THEN, as if to throw gas on the fire, Bloomberg has decided that there is no place for religion during the ceremonies and thus no clergy have been invited. WHAT! Apparently there is room for a mosque at ground zero, A MOSQUE, a house of worship for those whose religion incites hatred toward ALL non muslims...but no room for clergy at the ceremony. Well, at least no room for living ones, most will remember the picture of FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge being carried from the rubble, his lifeless body gently borne by fellow fire fighters. I guess the Mayor does not want people to remember that Christians were there ministering with love and compassion where muslims fueled by the Qur'an's hatred had just made so many widows, widowers and orphans.
It just doesn't get any STUPIDER than this. I promise to get back to the "Holy Rehearsals" tomorrow, but I just needed to blow off some steam.
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THEN, as if to throw gas on the fire, Bloomberg has decided that there is no place for religion during the ceremonies and thus no clergy have been invited. WHAT! Apparently there is room for a mosque at ground zero, A MOSQUE, a house of worship for those whose religion incites hatred toward ALL non muslims...but no room for clergy at the ceremony. Well, at least no room for living ones, most will remember the picture of FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge being carried from the rubble, his lifeless body gently borne by fellow fire fighters. I guess the Mayor does not want people to remember that Christians were there ministering with love and compassion where muslims fueled by the Qur'an's hatred had just made so many widows, widowers and orphans.
It just doesn't get any STUPIDER than this. I promise to get back to the "Holy Rehearsals" tomorrow, but I just needed to blow off some steam.
Thanks for reading/following. Please consider joining this blog by becoming a member. Just click the "join this site" button to the right so I'll know you're out there.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
We take a break from our regular postings for this breaking news...
The Obama administration has just confirmed that the DC earthquake occurred on a rare and obscure fault-line, apparently known as "Bush's Fault". Obama also announced that the Secret Service and Maxine Waters will continue their investigation of the quake's suspicious ties to the Tea Party. More on this story as additional innuendo and baseless claims become available...stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
And now for Yom HaBikkurim...huh?
Leviticus 23 is God's divinely directed calendar. God tells Moses and the nation of Israel to celebrate His appointed "holy convocations" or sacred rehearsals to proclaim Him among the nations. The first is the Sabbath or Shabbat, a weekly reminder of rest. The remaining 7 feasts are annual.
The first of the annual festivals is Pesach or Passover, a remembrance of how the angel of death spared the Israelites who obediently covered their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. However, it also pointed forward to a NEW passover lamb, Jesus Christ whose shed blood would redeem all who accepted it back into fellowship with God. The second annual feast is HagHaMatzot or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was celebrated the day after Passover began and was a reminder of the unleavened bread that the Israelites took with them as they escaped Egypt, unleavened because there was no time to let it rise. It also looked to the future, to the Bread of Life, to the one who was sinless (no leaven), whose body would be broken, just as the bread was, to provide for our salvation.
Which brings us to the third of the annual festivals, the Feast of Firstfruits or Yom HaBikkurim. Pesach began on the 14th of Nisan, the 15th of Nisan was HagHaMatzot and on the 16th, the 3rd day of Passover Israel was told to celebrate Firstfruits. They were to celebrate the first part of the harvest in the Promised Land, the land God promised them. Firstfruits was also meant to be the future celebration of the Messiah's resurrection. Jesus blood was shed on the first day of Passover, His sinless body, the bread, was broken and in the grave on the second day of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Then, against all odds Jesus is resurrected on Firstfruits, the third day of Passover. Three festivals, holy rehearsals that God had ordained centuries before suddenly given new life. Jesus was the first of the resurrected, the first of many, a firstfruit.
These three plus one more are Spring festivals and then there are 3 Fall festivals. What could these remaining 4 point forward to? Wasn't Jesus' earthly ministry completed in His resurrection? Check back to find out.
The first of the annual festivals is Pesach or Passover, a remembrance of how the angel of death spared the Israelites who obediently covered their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. However, it also pointed forward to a NEW passover lamb, Jesus Christ whose shed blood would redeem all who accepted it back into fellowship with God. The second annual feast is HagHaMatzot or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was celebrated the day after Passover began and was a reminder of the unleavened bread that the Israelites took with them as they escaped Egypt, unleavened because there was no time to let it rise. It also looked to the future, to the Bread of Life, to the one who was sinless (no leaven), whose body would be broken, just as the bread was, to provide for our salvation.
Which brings us to the third of the annual festivals, the Feast of Firstfruits or Yom HaBikkurim. Pesach began on the 14th of Nisan, the 15th of Nisan was HagHaMatzot and on the 16th, the 3rd day of Passover Israel was told to celebrate Firstfruits. They were to celebrate the first part of the harvest in the Promised Land, the land God promised them. Firstfruits was also meant to be the future celebration of the Messiah's resurrection. Jesus blood was shed on the first day of Passover, His sinless body, the bread, was broken and in the grave on the second day of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Then, against all odds Jesus is resurrected on Firstfruits, the third day of Passover. Three festivals, holy rehearsals that God had ordained centuries before suddenly given new life. Jesus was the first of the resurrected, the first of many, a firstfruit.
These three plus one more are Spring festivals and then there are 3 Fall festivals. What could these remaining 4 point forward to? Wasn't Jesus' earthly ministry completed in His resurrection? Check back to find out.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
And now for another Holy Rehearsal...
Leviticus 23 challenges Israel to rehearse God given holidays or festivals as a way of proclaiming Him to the rest of the world. That rehearsal can look back, forward or both. The first festival was the Sabbath or Shabbat, a weekly reminder that God created in six days and rested the seventh and so should we. The remaining seven festivals are annual and the first was Passover or Pesach.
Pesach was a reminder for Israel to look back and remember how God "passed over" Jewish homes, marked with the blood of a lamb, as he brought judgment on Egypt. It was also a rehearsal for what was to come, a passover lamb, Jesus, that came to die once for all.
The second annual festival that God ordained in Leviticus 23:6 was the Feast of Unleavened Bread or HagHaMatzot. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th day of Nisan, just 24 hours after Passover. It is a reminder that there was no time to allow bread dough to rise as they escaped Egypt after the angel of death destroyed Egypt's first born.
The leaven that was left out of the bread was a picture of sin, just as a little leaven will cause a lump of dough to become puffed up, so to just a little sin causes us to become puffed up and prideful in our own eyes. So the leaven (sin) was purged from the home and the bread they took with them was flat.
A reminder for the escaping Jews that God directed that they be sustained with a bread without leaven AND a promise that one day he would provide a sinless sacrifice, Jesus, whose body would be broken just as the flat bread was broken to feed the entire family.
Pesach was a reminder for Israel to look back and remember how God "passed over" Jewish homes, marked with the blood of a lamb, as he brought judgment on Egypt. It was also a rehearsal for what was to come, a passover lamb, Jesus, that came to die once for all.
The second annual festival that God ordained in Leviticus 23:6 was the Feast of Unleavened Bread or HagHaMatzot. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th day of Nisan, just 24 hours after Passover. It is a reminder that there was no time to allow bread dough to rise as they escaped Egypt after the angel of death destroyed Egypt's first born.
The leaven that was left out of the bread was a picture of sin, just as a little leaven will cause a lump of dough to become puffed up, so to just a little sin causes us to become puffed up and prideful in our own eyes. So the leaven (sin) was purged from the home and the bread they took with them was flat.
A reminder for the escaping Jews that God directed that they be sustained with a bread without leaven AND a promise that one day he would provide a sinless sacrifice, Jesus, whose body would be broken just as the flat bread was broken to feed the entire family.
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