Biblical Feasts Day of Yeshua

The Biblical Aviv (Abib)/Crescent New Moon Calendar Feast (Holy) Days in Your Bible Festival Moon Chapter 9 Preview: I learned about the Nazarene, Christian, Messianic (the kadishea’s) Biblical Calendar—the Biblical way to celebrate the Days that Yeshua (Jesus) celebrated, (as He added great meaning them) from a Karaite Jewish website in about 2000. Nehemia Gordon (a cuddly Anti-Messiah) carefully explained the original “Biblical calendar”—the calendar that Moses and Yeshua used to determine when to celebrate these days. That aspect was thoroly covered on his site. I am not sure how current he is on it now that he stopped doing aviv searches and new moon sightings in 2016. Why they are significant to “Whole Bible Adherents” like me is an entirely different matter—covered in great detail in my WEB Book Israel’s 7 Apocalyptic Days. Yeshua’s Supper: Top 10 on the list of Christian Errors! Yeshua’s Supper or “the Lord’s Supper” must be commemorated in the evening. The Passover is celebrated the following evening. Passover is not a 24 hour day, it is the evening when the Pascal lamb was killed. Many Christians confuse “their” Passover with the “Lord’s Supper”. Also, the Feast Of Unleavened Bread is to be celebrated for seven full days, just like the Feast of Tabernacles. Feast and Festival dates are always tentative pending the sighting of the 1st and 7th new moons. For 2018 the first new moon was just confirmed via email “minutes ago”: See Devorah Gordon’s Facebook page. The Annual Pilgrimage Feast (Chag) and Festival (Moed) dates should really be based on the Aviv New Moon calendar Is Passover Celebrated on the Wrong Night? Sanhedrin’s New Moon Witness Could Fix That. Read more. CELEBRATION  Days begin at sunset “the evening before”. Yeshua’s Supper (on “Preparation Day”): aka “Communion”, “Lord’s Supper”, “Sacrament” or “Eucharist”—but IT’S NOT Passover Saturday, March 31, 2018 (observed after sundown Aviv 13), based on the now sighted New Moon Yeshua’s Passover: Firstborn in Egypt killed; Yeshua crucified on Aviv 14 & buried before sunset. Sunday, April 1, 2018 (observed after sundown Aviv 14) 1st Day of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) Monday, April 2, 2018 Wave Sheaf/Omer Day April 8, 2018 7th Day of Unleavened Bread Also Sunsday, April 8, 2018 Pentecost (Shavuot) Sunday, May 27, 2017 Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) To be determined Day of Atonements (Yom Kippur) To be determined Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) To be determined Last Great Day (Shemini Atzeret) To be determined For information about “potential new moons” as opposed to actual visible sightings click here (I don’t know anyone doing it that way.). [When will new moons likely be sighted?] Before going any further, you may ask how the Appointed Times (Days), based on New Moons, can be determined over six months in advance, since no one can possibly see the crescent new moons in advance. One school of thought says that we must wait for actual witnesses in Jerusalem to report new moons before determining any New Moon. Strict visibility was apparently done between about 700 BC and Hillel 2 (Patriarch 330-365 AD). In ancient times virtually everyone who celebrated the Appointed Times lived in Israel. Since the Diaspora (captivity), with the twelve tribes of Israel being scattered all over the world, any witnesses who might have slipped into Israel would only be useful about as far as they could shout. Until mass communication, anyone celebrating the Appointed Times by Scriptural standards would have had to estimate the dates by local observations. I respect strict visibility advocates and have no problem befriending them—witnesses in Jerusalem—period, end of story for them—except that even they use logic, instead of visibility, to “calculate” that a month must not exceed 30 days, even under heavy cloud cover. An approach that takes into account that people all over the world need to know when the Appointed Times should be celebrated is briefly described on this link. The concept is addressed in a short letter. Here is an excerpt: “A few years ago on a particular occasion the moon should have been easily visible from Israel. Indeed, on the previous evening, the moon had already been sighted half way around the world in the US. Now there is a hard and fast rule that if the moon is visible in a given location it will be visible everywhere to the west of that location on the same latitude. So if the moon was seen in the southern United States then it has to be visible in Israel (on the following evening)”. Most of Judaism, due to being ousted from Israel by the Romans, abandoned the two sole visible factors for determining a Scripturally accurate calendar, and “temporarily” adopted a mathematically calculated calendar. This happened in the 4th century under the influence of Hillel 2. Now Rabbinic Jews still totally ignore any actual visibility of the New Moon for determining when a month begins. Secondly, they rejected annual agricultural “leap years” based on ripening barley in Israel, (since they were no longer allowed there), to determine when a 13th month is necessary to keep the years on track. Why Must We Use Deduction? Did you ever wonder why there is so little in the Bible on determining the new year. Since I began celebrating the aviv/crescent calendar in 2000 (and getting booted from the local COG splinter group I started), I have not seen any comment on this. A friend of Albert Einstein’s named Immanuel Velikovsky actually provided strong proof in his book World’s In Collision that prior to about 700 BC, every month was exactly 30 days long. This book was found open on Albert’s desk after he died. Long story short, the entire scientific community has rejected his findings—now even backed up by satellites—and swept him under the rug for rocking too many boats. So during the Exodus and for many centuries, all you had to do for a calendar was to count to 30, 12 times. So we need to keep in mind that the determination of the new moon in a timely manner (the old standard was how far a messenger on a horse can travel in a night to report a sighting) is not a Biblical standard; it was a pragmatic determination at the time it was made, made by thinking people. Had the people on the calendar court heard the year following their determination that someone had bred horses that traveled much faster, they would have revised the required distance traveled from Jerusalem. They would have said, “Hey guys, until someone invents the internet and cell phones, let’s get some of those faster horses!” Well now the wait is over, we have “horseless messengers” that can circle the earth almost instantaneously. Perhaps an hour is long enough to get the new moon reports to the “calendar court”. Since the orbital shift people have had to use judgment. So do we use the same judgment standard (horses) that was in use pre technology days? If so, unplug your computers and phones and resort to local visibility. Why not use local visibility? My wife and I always celebrate the Feasts and Festicals (there is a difference) on the same day of the week as is done in Israel—just like every other Sabbath. All Sabbaths/Feasts have to start at some place on a round earth. Some time zone has to be the first to celebrate them. That is why there is an International Date line. It’s the place on earth that each day begins, tho the one in the Pacific ocean happens to be in the wrong place. If a person accepts local new moons as being ok for determining the new moon, then several different days would be “Aviv 1” over the planet. Furthermore, some days would begin before they do in Israel and some days would begin after the day begins in Israel for those who think a day can begin in any of the 24 time zones they want it to. Likewise, several different months would be Aviv, depending on the local climate. That makes asking what day it is rather complicated! Suppose you live in the U.S; do you ever celebrate the Sabbath before they do in Israel? Never! It always comes to us with the setting sun after it is celebrated in Israel. Why switch to celebrating annual Sabbaths before Israel just because in some months you see the new moon before they do? Each of the 24 time zones has an equal shot at being in the right place on earth for sighting the moon when she first appears. Should we start days in any of the 24 different time zones, as if we were playing roulette? The Feasts must also begin in Israel and then come to all time zones following the sun. With local sighting there is no standard of what constitutes a day. Logically speaking, days must always start in the same place on the planet and end there. Is that place the International Date Line? Should China, Japan and Australia sporadically celebrate Sabbaths or Feasts before Israel? I don’t think so! I would only use local visibility after the grid (modern communication) goes down. What if Yeshua was planning to come to Jerusalem (you name the year) on the Day of Trumpets as we expect, and the 29th day of the sixth month just ended. The next new day begins with sunset—it could either be the 30th day of the sixth month, or the 1st day of the seventh month (depending on the sighted moon). The day begins but the moon is not visible anywhere in Israel, so Yeshua would be waiting for the next day. But 8 hours later, the moon appears over the U.S, and “local observers” declare New Moon day, and begin celebrating the Feast of Trumpets. Would it really be the Day of Trumpets? Did Yeshua miss His opportunity to set foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) on the Day He had been planning on for millennia? If, as I believe, Yehovah’s International Dateline belongs on the eastern border of Israel, rather than the arbitrarily designated Pacific ocean location, then anyone living either east or west of Israel at sundown—virtually the entire planet—is actually living in the “previous day”, because only a sliver of the planet has experienced the new day once it begins in Israel. But any moon witness on the same latitude observing the crescent moon prior to sundown in Israel should be able to notify Israel (and everyone else), that New Moon Day will be beginning at sundown in Israel once it does happen. I accept 30 day long months as having been fact, at least until the some time between when Israel was taken into captivity in 721 BC, and Judah was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 603 BC. In fact Bible prophecy indicates a return to the 30 day months (but not retroactively). The book of Revelation (11:2 & 13:5) describes the Great Tribulation as lasting 42 months, while Daniel said it will last 1,260 days. 1,260 divided by 42 = 30. If this is true then neither visibility nor calculations would have been necessary before the “worlds collided” about 700 BC. Counting to 30 was all that was necessary. This would account for the lack of Scriptural commentary on sighting New Moons. It is logic that dictates that visibility is necessary. Scripture does not say how many witnesses are necessary nor where the sighting (only assumed to be the Jerusalem vicinity) must take place. A fascinating article timing the birth of the Messiah to the hour is found here. The article starts out a little bothersome, but then it gets really interesting in connection with the crescent New Moon described in Revelation! Disclaimer New Moons and Aviv are the only requirements for a calendar, other than knowing what constitutes a day, a month and a year. Now about Aviv, (to determine “New Year’s Day”): Pictures of the barley may still be posted on Nehemia Gordon’s Facebook page at: Nehemia Gordon An excellent article that addresses almost every conceivable argument by those wishing to promote Hillel 2’s rabbinic calendar instead of the Biblical one can be found on the following offsite link. What about sighting the New Moon locally instead of depending on it being sighted from Israel? Better check here. Yehovah’s “Green” Calendar Plants “know” when to grow. While plant maturity can be delayed by later planting dates, maturity basically can’t be hastened by earlier planting dates. In fact some gardeners and farmers plant their spring crops in late fall, knowing that the seeds of most crops won’t germinate and grow during the winter months. The green calendar or growing season is then left up to Yehovah. It is up to Him to send the rains (and temperatures) in due season: Leviticus 26:3-5 ‘If you ‘live’ by My statutes, and obey My Commandments, actually do them, 4 then I’ll send you your rain in the right season, and the land will yield produce, and the trees in the fields will produce their fruit. 5 Your threshing will ‘continue’ until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time [Clarke’s]! You’ll eat your fill of food, and live securely in your own land. —The Gabriel Bible Various green (agricultural) calendars have been observed over the millennia. Perhaps Linnaeus read the Bible: The act of plant watching has had a long tradition and rich history. In 1750 the Swedish scientist and artist Linnaeus turned plant watching into a systematic science. He made calendars of flowering times for 18 places in Sweden, also noting the exact climatic conditions at these times. This research was the foundation of modern plant phenology which spread too many European countries and revealed, over the centuries, that some spring wildflowers are super-sensitive weather instruments. (link) Yehovah chose what we call phenology to mark the beginning of the New Year. What is that? Phenology: The name of this method is Greek for “the science of appearances”. Annual occurrences—or “appearances”—in the growth of plants and the behavior of wild animals are used to determine when cultivated plants should be sown, fertilized, sprayed, or pruned. Although the principle has been used since ancient times, it’s becoming an ever more exact science with practitioners around the world keeping detailed records of the yearly cycles in their gardens. Because this method allows nature to indicate appropriate planting times, it’s quite precise. (link) A wide range of signs are utilized, from the first open leaf and flower buds, the migration of birds to hatching insect. Coordinated efforts are being made to find more of these signs. Timings of phenological events are ideal and fascinating indicators of biological things to come. I have watched for forsythias flowering before Passover for years. Yehovah (God) told Moses to begin the year utilizing a phenologic sign He called Aviv. Aviv is not the name of a month-it is the condition of a month! The “month” of Aviv literally means: The moon (lunar cycle) with “young barley ears”. (There was no corn in that half of the world). The Online Bible Hebrew Lexicon 024 ‘abiyb (aw-beeb’) from an unused root (meaning to be tender); TWOT-1b; n m AV-Aviv 6, in the ear 1, green ears of corn 1; 8 1) fresh, young barley ears, barley 2) month of ear-forming, of greening of crop, of growing green Aviv, month of exodus and passover (March or April) Speaking of the time when Israel left Egypt: Exodus 12:2 This new moon will be the beginning of your new moons. It will be the first new moon of your year. Exodus 13:4 Today, in the month Aviv, you’re leaving. [the Exodus]. Several phenological indicator plants are mentioned during the Exodus but the barley specifies the growth stage of the plant necessary for calendrical use. Exodus 9:31-33 (The flax and the barley were destroyed, since the barley was aviv, and the flax was budding. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were destroyed, since they ripen later.) 33 Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city, and spread out his hands to Yehovah, and the thundering and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the earth. The best planting dates can’t be determined by the date on a solar equinox calendar. Millions of farmers in the past have relied on lunar cycles for the best results. However since scientists have relatively recently moved the finish line on what a new moon is—using an astrologically determined invisible conjunction rather than visible moon signs, the results have been skewed for many because of the one to two day discrepancy. Another problem with “planting by the moon” is knowing which new moon to plant in. For that you also need to use a phenological indicator. Moon sign planting is considered superstition to many people who do not believe that: Genesis 1:14 Then Elohim said, “There should be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, they should be for signs [of things to come], and Appointed Festivals [not seasons], days and years, There are substitutional methods of determining when to plant. Using historical average first and last frost dates on a solar calendar and soil temperature readings to choose planting dates works most years, but it still exposes plants to injury or death if the presumed planting dates are up to a month (moon) off. In the future everyone will be involved with their own food production. The Everlasting Kingdom will be an agriculturally based kingdom to keep people “grounded”. The Kingdom of Elohim will be an Edenic garden. Isaiah 51:3 Yehovah will comfort Zion. He’ll have compassion on all her ruin, and make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like Yehovah’s garden. Joy and happiness will be found there, thanksgiving, and the sound of music. Ezekiel 48:16-17, 19 These are the dimensions: the north side 4,500 cubits, and the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. 17 The city will have open land extending northward 250 cubits, and southward 250 cubits, and eastward 250 cubits, and westward 250 cubits. ... 19 The city workers from all the tribes of Israel, will ‘grow food’ on it. Yehovah Rejects Hybrid Plants & Animals (A short digression leading up to Determining Aviv (or Aviv) Barley) Hopefully my experiences with plants will help illustrate why I have endorsed Nehemia Gordon’s efforts to make known the Scriptural calendar requirements. During the Diaspora, (when Jews were scattered all over the world) Hillel 2 constructed a “temporary” calculated calendar, because checking on the state of the aviv in Israel and distributing the determination to the rest of the world was virtually impossible. Over the last 50 years I have spent a lot of time studying the Bible. However, because I relied too much on “professionals” to tell me what the Bible meant, I actually spent more time studying plants until 2000—when new found truth forced me to investigate what the Bible actually says. I justified limiting my Bible studies because the conclusions that I was reaching contradicted what the “true church” was telling me. I was baffled by what I was finding! Yet the biggest reason that I spent so much time studying plants was because I hoped that by doing so, Yehovah would give me a cabinet position in agriculture in the Kingdom of Elohim. No bean or pepper has ever given me any grief! I have records of the hundreds of varieties of crops that I have grown over the years. Most exciting to me are the plant varieties that I have created myself, a couple of which the Seed Savers Exchange, Inc made available to the public as public domain (meaning non patented) varieties. Yehovah has admonished us not to utilize hybrid crops and mixed breed animals. Nevertheless, hybridization has been the standard policy for all of modern agriculture since the 1950’s. Leviticus 19:19 ‘You must obey My statutes. ‘You must not crossbreed two different breeds of animals. ‘You must not sow your fields with hybrid crops or wear clothing made of linen and wool woven together. Before I talk specifically about barley I suppose that this is a good place to mention that there is an easy way to “de-hybridize” hybrid seeds. Open pollinated seeds are virtually absent from many seed sources. Essentially, you just begin saving seeds from your hybrid plants and use them the next year. There will usually be considerable variation among the offspring, that I find fascinating in itself. Any one of these could become a variety that you could put your name on, sort of like Adam did. You simply select the plants that taste the best or have other characteristics that you like and save its seeds. This variability is the plants way of returning to a variable condition. Every possible variation that is within the genes of the second generation hybrid will make itself known. The more plants you plant, the better the odds that you could find a truly superior plant to work with. Every seedling will be unique, somewhat as in nature. This feature of a natural barley plant has been criticized as “multiple stages of growth simultaneously”. Plant breeders can make the equivalent of “identical twins” out of our crops. That is the appeal of hybrids for one pass machine harvest etc., but this lack of variation puts the world in jeopardy. A single plant virus could wipe out an entire nation (or many nations) harvests of any particular major crop because all of the modern strains share so few genes that the entire food crop has the same weaknesses. In the 1970’s such a situation partially occurred in the corn crop. Much of the U.S. had corn derived from a small genetic pool; total crop failures in those inbred crops resulted from a virus. Of course now things are worse. The genetic gene pool is shrinking rapidly. I believe that part of the Deuteronomy curse could be a result of our hybridized agriculture. In corn, I select offspring for a dozen different factors for a period of years, but I get to eat all of the delicious “failures”. After only two years you start to see considerable uniformity forming among your crops. The more years that you select offspring, the more uniform the crop. Selecting the best offspring is totally unnatural, that is why a wild stand of, say barley, has so much variation built into it. When a group of plants ripens over a period of time, instead of all at once, the species has a better chance of surviving. Hungry animals will not find all of the seed available for consumption at one time; so some will mature and fall to the ground when the hungry critters are not looking. Some seed will fall when weather conditions are more favorable. Other seed will mature when birds happen by. Birds fly off and “plant” lots of seeds. Indigenous peoples the world over have developed what is known as landraces of crops. This is close to the ideal situation. While they have a fair amount of variability, they are not “varieties” as we have today. Many landraces are still in existence where the seed companies have not set foot, but the number is falling off rapidly. Europe essentially made them and family heirloom varieties illegal to own-in favor of the corporations and patented varieties, particularly hybrids. Almost everyone thinks that second generation hybrid seed is sterile, like a mule. That only happens when the parents are extremely unrelated, but still part of the same genus. Yehovah’s charge above is really giving farmers some practical advice on agriculture. This advice has essentially been followed for all of history until about 1950 when agriculture entered “apostasy”, because saving his own seed had been profitable for the farmer. The big lie is that hybrids are said to be superior. They call it hybrid vigor. Generally there is absolutely no “vigor” present! The only reason hybrids are made is to stop farmers and gardeners from saving their own seeds! Corn is one of the few plants to actually show hybrid vigor, but hybrid corn does not take up minerals from the soil, they are junk food, yet open pollinated (natural) corn makes up approximately 0% of the U.S. harvest! Now hybrid barley has hit the market. Modern farmers have been duped into becoming the slaves of the major seed producers. They are entirely dependent on seed suppliers and fertilizer companies and others every step of the way. Most still receive for their crop only what giant corporations will give them. Determining Aviv Barley: Up until 2005, everyone I knew of who celebrated the Scriptural (aviv/barley) calendar relied on new moon & aviv reports from Nehemia Gordon and his extensive experience with finding wild stands of barley in its various stages of growth. Some modern strains do not ripen at the same time as the more primitive strains used by our ancestors. This is true of virtually every crop. Adam and Eve would barely recognize anything that we eat today. For example, the Romans developed cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, brussels sprouts, kale and other crops from a single weed. That is the up side. The down side, as far as aviv is concerned, is that modern four and six row barleys generally take considerably longer to develop, because there is more plant to grow. In the case of barley, an extra month or more for the more developed strains is probably the norm. We don’t have access to the old strains of barley, so as Nehemia Gordon had been doing for years [ending in 2016], he and other volunteers search for the earliest mature barley, which is the 2 row stands of both wild and farmed varieties. There is something to be said about the wild plants. Plant breeders can easily create varieties that come on later in the season; all they have to do is save seed from the latest plants to ripen. Breeders are even well under way to creating perennial grains so that they growers would not have to plant every year—by just saving the right seeds. (No till farming, such as this uses far more chemicals.) However it would take genetic engineering (like crossing tomatoes with fish, which has been done) to create earlier strains of barley. This may not happen unless there could be an economic incentive to do so. In fact the result would be counterproductive—smaller grain. Searching for wild barley eliminates many of the variables that are present when you factor modern agriculture into the picture. Different farmers plant barley at different times, which can influence the life cycle, as does the levels of fertilization; also highly artificial. So some stands of barley may be delayed due to the activities of the farmer. Using wild barley that has reseeded itself is the ultimate way to factor Yehovah into the equation! However, goats and sheep grazing on the vast areas where barley is growing poses a significant obstacle (Uncontrolled grazing is the primary reason why we have so many deserts today!) This makes a protected nature preserve an excellent place to search. While doing a web search to find out why some people have trouble with barley as an indicator of “spring”, I quickly came across a website from a former aviv/crescent moon adherent. His skewed findings are readily dismissed when you consider that the two earliest maturing varieties that he considered were both 6 Row varieties; a type that did not even exist in ancient Israel! Pictures of both Poco and Barcott barley are on his website: http://www.users.qwest.net/~zadok1/barl2002.html As a soil science enthusiast, I know that the cultivated soils are in far worse condition than soils not raped by the greed and ignorance of generations of soil managers. In the U.S., the depth of our topsoil is only a small fraction of what it was before the first plow scarred the soil. The wild areas that have not been farmed are quite often more fertile than the fields. Even a simple soil test taken from a fence row between fields is an astonishing witness against what goes on a few feet away. Some say that only the “good ground” should be considered when looking for aviv. But the level ground is all under artificial management. It is actually the small out of the way places that would generally be the good ground—so long as it is “ground” and not stone. There is was cemetery near me that dates back to pioneer days. It has never been tilled and the entire area is raised up at least a foot higher than the surrounding area due to the thickness of the topsoil. As far as the eye can see from that cemetery, the land is flat as a pancake—and lower! Old roadsides where the topsoil has not been removed or buried by modern machinery, have suffered much less abuse than where the plow furrow begins. If it were not for the higher lead content of the soil, from decades of leaded fuels being burned there, it would be an ideal place to grow things. Even my gravel driveway is an interesting case in point. There is a distinct 18” band of grass lining all 700’ of my drive. It is a result of the stone being so close. Soils are made from stone! The minerals present in the gravel causes that strip of grass to grow twice as fast and it is twice as green. Grass is the perfect soil restorer. Ruined farmland can recover an inch of topsoil in a century if left to itself. However soil left in constant tall grasses, such as pre-1960wheat and other grains, have been known to regenerate an inch of topsoil in seven years. The so called bad soil that is growing barley or another grass is self regenerating soil. There is an attempt to justify using only cultivated barley for the aviv based on Matthew 13:5. Here is a quote about this line of reasoning: “Barley growing in stony soil is not to be used, for it experiences an artificial stimulation from the rocks holding the heat etc. Read Matthew 13:5. It springs up immediately”. OK, Here’s The Account: Matthew 13:3-9 He spoke with them at length in analogies [Strong’s #]. He said, “Look, a sower went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on very rocky ground where there was not much soil. It sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up they were scorched. Because they couldn’t take root, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns shot up and choked them out. 8 Other seed fell on good ground and produced a crop, some a hundred times, some sixty times, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Anyone who has ears should listen. Rather than the seed on the “stony soil” receiving “artificial stimulation” and flourishing, as the new view states—the parable specifies that the seeds that fell on this particular “rocky ground” were “scorched” to death by the time that the “had risen”sun because they had “no root” system! If the area “didn’t have much soil,” naturally the sprouting grains would die as soon as the rain that caused them to germinate had evaporated. This is in no way a condemnation of searching for aviv where stone is present. The book of Matthew has absolutely nothing to do with searching for aviv. The parameters for that were laid out centuries before Matthew’s birth. Yehovah did not wait for the book of Matthew to be written before providing His people with all of the information needed to determine when His Appointed Times should be kept. There are significant variations in the fertility and physical conditions of most natural fields. Soil types change significantly over the distance of a few feet. There are “sweet spots” in my one acre garden and there are poor spots. There are lower spots that get too much moisture, or too little, depending on the year. There are rocky areas and there are areas without a single pebble present. What really happened is that a sower went out into his field. This field had a variety of soil conditions, both good and bad, as does my Ohio soil which is considered to be some of the best soil in the world. Notice that stony ground was mingled with the good. Several different conditions were present in the sowers’ field! Did you notice that this field had sweet spots in it that produced “one hundred” fold, other areas produced “sixty” fold while others only “thirty” fold? Such would seldom be the case in a modern spoon fed monoculture field. The harvest is much more uniform under modern conditions because the crops are fed on artificial nutrients. This parable describes a mixture of conditions in one location, which is the common denominator of two of the lengthier parables found in the same chapter as the parable of the sower! In the parable of the tares (Matthew 13), both the wheat and the tares are in the same field. In the parable of the dragnet (also Matthew 13) both good fish and bad fish are in the same dragnet. Were the parable of the sower a factor in finding aviv, I would be looking for a field with both good and bad soil and crop conditions, rather than a beautiful clean mono cultural stand! Rather than stone being bad and forcing plants to go to seed prematurely, stone is fertilizer! I put 20 tons of sand onto a small portion of my garden one year in an experiment to counter the dense clay. It was 3” thick. I didn’t even bother to till it, I just planted into it. The crops in that soil made the identical varieties adjacent to them look like runts. So long as there is not so much stone as to crowd out the soil, and the plants, it doesn’t hurt the crop. Much is mentioned by some about the weather during the week that aviv was being searched for. The weather forecast is not a Scriptural factor for determining whether or not it is “spring” yet! In fact it is not too soon to be thinking that the weather might be turning against us: Deuteronomy 28:15-17 But if you don’t obey Yehovah your Elohim and faithfully carry out all of His Commandments and statutes that I’m giving you today, then all of these curses will come about and overwhelm you: 16 You’ll be cursed in the cities and cursed in the fields. 17 Your grain basket and your kneading bowl will be cursed. A grain crop is not the result of a week’s weather; rather, it is the result of the weather over the lifespan of the crop. If the cumulative weather is bad enough then crops will be slowed in maturing. This is Yehovah’s way of saying that it is still “winter”! So look to the GRAIN, not to the RAIN! Desert Barley? Some people object to looking for aviv in the desert areas of Israel, claiming that deserts were never meant to be agricultural areas. However we should keep in mind that Israel was never “meant” to be a desert! All of ancient Israel was Edenic: Deuteronomy 11:8-12 So be careful to obey every commandment that I’m giving you today, so that you can be strong, and go in and take possession of the land that you are about to cross into and possess, 9 so that you can continue to live in the land that Yehovah swore to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! 10 The land that you’re entering to take possession of isn’t like the land of Egypt that you left, where you sowed your seeds, and made irrigation channels with your foot for the enclosed gardens. 11 Rather, the land you’re about to enter is a land of hills and valleys, well watered by the rain from heaven. 12 It’s a land that Yehovah your Elohim cares for. Yehovah your Elohim continually watches over it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Israel will cease to be an arid country. Before it even became a desert, Yehovah, knowing the future, promised to cause the land to revert from “desert” conditions to being like “Eden” had been. Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will celebrate and blossom like a rose. The fact that barley thrives even in the desert is an indication that Yehovah knew in advance to use a plant that would always be there for us to observe. Even when virtually every other plant and animal species is absent due to the desert conditions, the barley remains! Should We Look for Aviv Barley in Micro Environments? “Some have questioned the utilization of artificial micro environments for determining the Aviv. This would be any man made factor that was not in ancient agriculture. That is quite understandable. However, the entire world is divided into micro and macro environments. Even in tiny Israel, barley comes into production over a period of about two months. Those most favored areas, that receive at least the minimum of the necessary factors for production come on first, producing what the Bible calls “the first of the firstfruits”. Exodus 23:19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land into the house of Yehovah your Elohim. ... The very term “the first of the firstfruits” implies to me that some fields are better situated for a firstfruit crop than other fields and that of these, some parts of those fields produce a crop sooner still. I have yet to see anyone attempt to define this term! Is this simple understanding too radical? Each subsequent week thruout the harvest brings on more harvest: what could be called the “second fruits” followed by the “third fruits” etc. On some weeks only a tiny portion of the harvest is ready. These areas are referred to as micro environments. Areas in which large portions of the harvest of an area go into production in a particular week can be termed “macro environments”. Actually various combinations of factors in differing environments can also produce a crop during the same time period. For example, some soils may be short on certain micro or macro nutrients, but make up for the shortage by ideal rainfall which makes the scarcer nutrients that are present more available to the plants while other fields lack ideal rainfall but have more fertile soil. If we rule out the use of “the first of the firstfruits” for determining when the month of the Aviv begins because the ground is stony or desert or on a hillside, then where do we draw the line and say that the barley is aviv? When looking for aviv barley, most searchers wouldn’t consider barley growing directly on the roadside as valid. This is due to explanation that Ruthanne Koch, an agricultural expert, contributed several years ago. She explained that the roadsides were subject to artificial growing conditions. They do look at three types of barley: a) 2-row wild, b) 2-row domesticated, c) 6-row domesticated (for comparative purposes). It is not unusual to find the domesticated varieties growing voluntarily. However, they have only seen 2-row wild barley planted in a cultivated field in one location and this in the mountains where it ripens very late (May or June!). In practice they have not ever found that the 2-row domesticated ripens at a different time than the 2-row wild. There are far greater differences within these varieties due to localized growing and climatic conditions. The 6-row seems to ripen later. You might ask if “wild barley” that no one ever harvests should be considered valid for determining the month of aviv? After all the omer is based on the HARVEST being the firstfruits of the HARVEST. Nehemia’s answer is that “Wild Barley is a fully viable and edible crop, unlike wild wheat that produces a seed too small to be useful. The wild barley is very closely related to the ancient barley grown 2000-3000 years ago in Israel and serves as a good indicator of the ripening of the Aviv. The primary difference between wild barley and ancient domesticated barley is the brittleness of the stalks; in the wild variety they break apart easier than in any domesticated variety.” The earliest fields to mature anywhere in Israel should proclaim the New Year! There is no mention of Israelites fighting over whose field would serve for establishing aviv. If there were a problem with the earliest barley being counted then we would have an admonition like this: “after the first barley is aviv, then wait a month”. All things being equal, the best soil will produce the earliest crop. We must have a standard to go by. Why move the goal post? Notes on Barley Aviv Link Barley can be divided by the number of kernel rows in the head. There are three types; two-row barley (Hordeum distichum), four-row (Hordeum tetrastichum L. and six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare var hexastichum Körn.) according to the traditional terminology...TWO ROW barley is the oldest form, wild barley having two-rows as well... Barley can still thrive in conditions that are too cold even for rye. The 1881 Household Cyclopedia adds: Next to wheat the most valuable grain is barley, especially on light and sharp soils. It is a tender grain and easily hurt in any of the stages of its growth, particularly at seed time; a heavy shower of rain will then almost ruin a crop on the best prepared land; and in all the after processes greater pains and attention are required to ensure success than in the case of other grains. The harvest process is difficult, and often attended with danger; even the threshing of it is not easily executed with machines, because the awn generally adheres to the grain, and renders separation from the straw a troublesome task. Barley, in fact, is raised at greater expense than wheat, and generally speaking is a more hazardous crop. Except upon rich and genial soils, where climate will allow wheat to be perfectly reared, it ought not to be cultivated. You may be asking what 2 row and four 4 barley is, it’s really just a matter of counting the rows of seeds. It’s easier for me to use corn pictures to illustrate the difference. Black Aztec is an ancient variety of sweet corn bred by, well, the Aztecs. It only has 8 rows on the cob. Note that you can only see about 3 rows from any viewpoint in the picture. My own multi colored sweet “landrace” corn, Rainbow Mountain, has anywhere from 10 to 14 rows on a cob. There are 5-6 rows visible from any view. Black Aztec Rainbow Mountain Rainbow Mountain Tassel Back to those variable crops for a moment: I allow considerable considerable variation in various things such as the row count, and the color of the leaves and tassels, some of which are shades of purple. I select strongly for two ears on a plant and ears that are within easy reach. Notice that I had to shoot for the sky to photograph the green tassel. This is reminiscent of earlier agriculture, as with Laban’s speckled and spotted sheep and goats amid largely brown ones (Genesis 30). Rainbow Mountain Tassel Rainbow Mountain Silk Rainbow Mountain Silk Sabbath Sunset Times Link Lon Martin 3/11/05 Dates Updated Annually Creative Commons 3.0: “One Right Reserved” Older quotes from Nehemia Gordon on Aviv and Agricultural Terraces “I have been involved in searching for Aviv [or Aviv] Barley for more than 10 years. The first modern Aviv Search was carried out in 1988. The early years entailed a great deal of study and experimentation, searching for areas in which barley was cultivated and grew voluntarily, identifying the various stages in its ripening, and carrying out detailed observations and experiments on barley in all its stages to identify the biblical Aviv. By 1997, after almost 10 years of modern Karaite Aviv Searches, a clear and solid understanding of the agricultural state of Aviv had been restored. “I often write about the two days of Aviv Search at the end of the 12th Month. These two days are the last chance for the barley to be Aviv. If Aviv is not found by the end of the 12th Month, then the following month must be counted as the 13th Month (and not as the 1st Month of the following year). While these two final days of the 12th Month are key in determining the beginning of the biblical year, in reality the Aviv Search spans more than a month, tracking the barley from its early stages of ripening before Aviv all the way through its harvest-ripe stage after Aviv. It is only by doing this every year on an ongoing basis that we can hone and refine our understanding of Aviv barley. “While the basic definition of Aviv Barley was recovered by 1997, there have been a number of major issues in recent years that have helped us make better and more accurate readings. Several years ago Ruthanne Koch, a certified crop adviser from Colorado with 23 years of hands-on experience, was invited to join the annual Aviv Search. Ruthanne has brought to light two crucial issues which I had not known about, making the Aviv Search much more accurate. “The first issue is what Ruthanne has coined “artificial micro-environments”. [Micro-environment” is an established term.] An artificial micro-environment is caused by modern man-made factors which can cause the barley to ripen earlier than it would have under Biblical growing conditions. For example, barley that grows alongside an asphalt road is in an artificial micro-environment. The heat radiating off the asphalt causes the barley to ripen much earlier than it would have under normal conditions. Obviously they did not have asphalt roads in Biblical times so we cannot consider this artificially early barley as relevant for determining the Aviv. “Another type of artificial micro-environment is created by a steep mountainside with a thin layer of soil held in place by wire mesh. This type of micro-environment can be found above roads cut into the sides of mountains; the wire-mesh prevents the soil from eroding onto the road below. In this type of artificial micro-environment, the thin layer of soil will dry out very quickly which stresses the barley causing it to ripen prematurely. Again, barley on a mountainside of this sort is not valid for the Aviv because it is growing under artificial man-made conditions that did not exist in Biblical times. “A second issue that Ruthanne brought to light is related to herbicides. When barley is sprayed by certain types of herbicides it will send the barley into stress causing it to ripen prematurely [Roundup does this to my Canada thistles in Ohio.]. Ruthanne and her husband run a crop-dusting business so identifying areas that have been sprayed with herbicide is something she does with great expertise. Why would someone spray barley with herbicide? Firstly, barley grows wild in Israel and many farmers view it a weed. Secondly, it is common in Israel to spray roadside ditches and the clouds of herbicide often float over the ditches into nearby fields. Only a trained eye can discern this herbicide damage. “I thank and praise YHWH for sending us this dedicated crop consultant who gives of her precious time to come and help those who want to uncover the precise times YHWH has appointed for His feasts. Ruthanne Koch is a Torah-keeping believer in Yeshua, and I want to thank her for coming and joining the annual Karaite Aviv Search over the last few years and hopefully for many years to come.” ++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++ Aviv and Agricultural Terraces by Nehemia Gordon and Ruthanne Koch “This year we found Aviv in a new area, near the spring of Ein Mabua, 15km east of Jerusalem. The vast quantities of lush healthy Aviv were unexpected and require further comment. I have asked Ruthanne Koch to co-author this article with him to help explain some of the agronomic conditions that made this area ideal for barley growth and determining Aviv. “One thing we immediately noticed in this area was that much of the barley was growing on an ancient agricultural terrace. Pictures of this agricultural terrace are posted here. “Agricultural terraces are found throughout the mountains of central Israel. The ancient Canaanites and later the Israelites built stepped terraces along the mountain slopes in order to grow crops on every available inch of land. Agricultural terraces consist of a stone wall built without mortar that holds back soil against the mountain slope. The terrace wall prevents the soil from eroding away into the valley below and maintains a deep nutrient-dense level seedbed. Joshua 17:15 mentions that the Children of Joseph did not have enough farmland so they were told to cut down the forests from the mountains. The Children of Joseph built many of the agricultural terraces still found all over Israel in order to utilize the deforested bare mountainsides. “The fact that many of the terraces were built by the early Israelites has been confirmed by the excavations at Malcha, the site of the Jerusalem Mall. Before the mall was built, archaeologists excavated the agricultural terraces on the proposed site and found the remains of a Canaanite village under the terraces; it was clear from the excavations that the village had been buried by the terraces shortly after it was destroyed, apparently by the ancient Israelite invaders. “Agricultural terraces would have been exactly the environments in which ancient barley was grown on the mountainsides of biblical Israel. “In the area of Ein Mabua, the ancient agricultural terraces on the southern slope of the mountain comprise a naturally occurring micro-environment, free from modern artificial interferences. This type of natural micro-environment is found all over the Judean hills. The only artificial influence at this location were the ancient agricultural terraces, which was the typical mode of agriculture in this region in ancient Israel. “This natural micro-environment combined a number of different elements which resulted in above average growing conditions. These elements included the canyon walls, which provided additional heat units to the crop as well as protection from adverse environmental factors such as high wind. The canyon also contained fertile ground as evidenced by the lush conditions of the barley with long heads, healthy stalks, and large plump Aviv kernels. All of the above elements are naturally occurring and common throughout this region making this type of micro-environment ideal for growing barley and determining Aviv.” Here is another letter from Nehemia Gordon, all of which are available here. Karaite Korner Newsletter #202 Aviv vs. the Equinox Nehemia gets requests for more information about the equinox calendar theory. The Karaite-Korner.org website has long had information dealing with the equinox error, see: Vernal Equinox and Tekufah. “As discussed in the above articles [now one], the modern equinox-keepers begin their yearly cycle at the first new moon after the vernal equinox. Ironically they base [this] on ancient Pharisee sources (Talmud, Josephus), which mention the equinox, without actually understanding the meaning of these ancient sources. The ancient Pharisees had two systems of setting the beginning of the year, only one of which took the equinox into account whereas both systems looked at the Aviv as a central factor (see Aviv Faq). The modern equinox followers also fail to understand how the ancient sources used the equinox. Simply put, the ancient Pharisee system (Talmud and Josephus) was NOT based on the first NEW MOON after the vernal equinox! Instead, the ancient Pharisee equinox system was based on the 16th day of the month that fell out after the Vernal Equinox. It was completely acceptable in the ancient Pharisee system for the New Moon of the First Month to fall out before the vernal equinox, as long as the 16th day of that month fell out after the equinox. “Ironically, based on the ANCIENT equinox system, Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin March 25, 2005, not next month as in the Hillel II calendar. This point was recently brought out by Y. Loewinger, a Rabbanite engineer who researches the ancient and modern Rabbinic calendars. Loewinger recently published a paper on the Internet entitled ‘Have We Intercalated 5765 in Vain?’ In his article Loewinger, an Orthodox Rabbanite Jew who follows the modern Rabbanite calendar, writes: “Had we not added an intercalated month this year... the first day of Passover would have fallen out on the 25th of March, 2005, 30 days before when it actually falls out [on the Rabbanite calendar]. It turns out, therefore, that according to all opinions, Passover would have fallen out... after the equinox on March 20, even if we had not intercalated the year... This intercalation is causing Passover to be celebrated this year after the Month of the Aviv” (p.2). Loewinger’s original Hebrew article can be downloaded from here. “Of course, as Karaites we follow the Aviv, paying no attention to the equinox. For more information see the link above.” More onsite Biblical Calendar reading Here Offsite: When is Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles). By Dinah Ben Mordechai [or 58 great answers to 58 stupid objections to the Biblical Aviv calendar.] The End Is the Search for Abib Barley Scriptural?     Volume 2, Chapter 10: Judgment Day—The Last Day  Google Search only search Everlasting Kingdom   Updated 3/18/2018

Should We Move to Israel Now ?

Should We Move to Israel Now? How Much Prophecy Was Really Fulfilled in 1948? If you believe that a land that calls itself Israel but does not fear Yehovah, is unfamiliar with His name, ignores His Commandments and rejects His Son Yeshua is fulfilling Biblical prophecies, then maybe you are part of the majority of Christians who seldom read the Bible! Zechariah 10:10 I’ll bring them back from the land of Egypt again, and gather them from Assyria, and I’ll bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them. —The Gabriel Bible The vast majority of Christians believe that the Jews began fulfilling major prophecies in 1948 with the Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel. But this alleged fulfillment of the “dem dry bones” prophecy of Ezekiel 37 is only a tiny foretaste of what is about to happen—after yet another holocaust and yet another enslavement! (Isaiah Chapters 3 & 4; 10; 24; 33; Ezekiel Chapters 5; 8; 9; 11; 14; 15; 16. The coming holocaust and enslavement of all 12 tribes will dwarf what happened to the tribe of Judah under Hitler. Can you honestly say that the present Jewish State really fulfills any of the prophecies about Israel living in peace and harmony, a nation filled with righteous people? (Isaiah 30:15-27; 52; 54; 60; 62; 65:17-25; 66:8-24; Jeremiah 33; Ezekiel 36; 37; Micah 4; Zephaniah 3; Zechariah 2; 8 and 13) Is there really a prophecy in the Bible about a primarily secular Jewish nation that rejects Yeshua (Jesus)? Prophetically, there will be some Jews living in a small portion of what will soon be a much larger land of Israel who survive the Great Tribulation and will be there to welcome the other tribes into the land of Israel at the time when all 12 tribes finally enter the land. However the prophecies concern a much larger piece of real estate with an entirely faithful population. Here is the outline of the real prophecy: Ezekiel 37:19-28 Tell them, ‘The Sovereign Yehovah says: I’ll take the stick of Joseph, that’s in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions, and I’ll put them with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they’ll be one in My hand! 20 The sticks that you write on will be in your hand where they can see them. 21 Then tell them, “The Sovereign Yehovah says: I’ll take the Israelites from among the nations where they’ve gone, and gather them from all around, and bring them back into their own land, 22 and I’ll make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will be over all of them, and they’ll never be two nations again, or two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or their detestable things, or with any of their rebellion, because I’ll rescue them from everywhere they’ve settled, and everywhere they’ve sinned. I’ll cleanse them so they’ll be My people, and I’ll be their Elohim.” 24 My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They’ll ‘live by’ My ordinances, and carefully obey My statutes. 25 They’ll live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren, forever, and My servant David will be their leader forever, for eternity. [Both 05704: “as long” as “time” & 05956: for eternity]. 26 I’ll make a [New] Covenant of peace with them. It will be an Everlasting Covenant with them, and I’ll establish them, and increase their numbers, and set My Kadosh Place among them forever. 27 My home [New Jerusalem] will also be ABOVE them. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 28 The nations will know that I, Yehovah, make Israel kadosh, when My Kadosh Place is among them forever. (Interestingly, when Judah finally does turn to Yehovah, the circumstances will be so profound that Egypt will be converted as well: Isaiah 19:17-25 The mere mention of the land of Judah [not all 12 tribes] will terrify Egypt, because of what Yehovah the Commander is planning against it. 18 When that day comes there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that will speak the language of Canaan [Hebrew], and swear by Yehovah the Commander. One will be called Sun City. 19 When that day comes there will be an altar to Yehovah in the center of the land of Egypt, and a monument to Yehovah at its border. 20 It will become a sign and a witness to Yehovah the Commander in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to Yehovah because of their oppressors, He’ll send them a Liberator [The Son] and Champion [Mighty One] who will rescue them. 21 When this day arrives, Yehovah will reveal Himself to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yehovah. They’ll even worship with zebakim [sacrifices], and offerings, and make vows to Yehovah and keep them. 22 Yehovah will strike Egypt with a plague, striking but then healing. They’ll turn to Yehovah, and He’ll respond to them and heal them. 23 When that day comes there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will travel to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24 When that day comes, Israel will be part of a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing amid the earth. 25 Yehovah the Commander will bless them, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My heritage.”) But Some of Us Will Return to the Land as Spirit Born Beings! Most of us are at least vaguely aware that Paul spoke of a time when the dead Believers would live again, and when the living Believers would be turned into spirits. That is very desirable with all of us, even if it contradicts the “going off to Heaven” as soon as we die theory: 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 Friends, I tell you that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of the Heavens, nor can the perishable inherit perpetuity. 51 See, I’ll explain a mystery to you, we won’t all die, but we’ll all be transformed! 52 In the smallest possible fraction of a second [Gr. atomos], while the last [seventh] shofar is sounding, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be transformed! 53 This perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 So when this perishable is clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, THAT IS WHEN the written Word will be accomplished: “Death is devoured in victory. 55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” That is the destiny of the truly righteous. They will become the kings and priests who will rule Israel and soon after, all nations on earth. (Revelation 5:10) But what is this talk about Believers going off to Israel all about? Is that better than “going off to Heaven”? Many people, particularly the people loosely called Messianics believe that the Second Exodus of Israelites should be initiated now or in the near future by their own efforts. Their claim is that the Israelites who are descended from all 12 tribes (not just the Jews) will be a righteous Bible believing people who know their Elohim (God). Indeed some have actually moved to Israel already. The following Biblical quotations will demonstrate conclusively that the Israelites who return will be totally oblivious to the Elohim of the Bible! They will come directly out of the Great Tribulation and only begin to learn who Elohim is when they are about to depart to Israel! “THEN they’ll know that I am Yehovah [Jehovah] their Elohim [God], since I caused them to go into captivity among the nations, and have gathered them to their own land...” (Ezekiel 30:28). (The majority of these Scriptures are found below.) There will not be a “saved” person among them in a spiritual sense, no, but a few million will be saved from death! Not one of them will have the kadosh (holy) spirit residing in them until after the next exodus. At the time of the battle of Gog and Magog we find the tribes of Israel just coming out of their state of unfaithfulness and rebellion: Ezekiel 39:22-29 So the House of Israel will know that I am Yehovah their Elohim, from that day on. 23 The nations will know that the House of Israel went into captivity because they were guilty, because they were so unfaithful to Me, and that I hid My face from them, and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I acted in proportion to their impurities and their their rebellion, and I hid My face from them. 25 So the Sovereign Yehovah says: Now I’ll bring Jacob back from captivity, and have mercy on the entire House of Israel, and I’ll be zealous for My kadosh name. 26 They’ll ‘accept responsibility’ for their shame, and all their unfaithfulness toward Me, when they live securely in their land, with no one to frighten them. 27 When I’ve brought them back from the nations, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and have become special to them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they’ll know that I am Yehovah their Elohim, once I’ve made them go into captivity among the nations, and then regathered them to their own land, and I’ll leave none of them behind again. 29 I won’t hide My face from them any longer, because I will have poured out My spirit on the House of Israel, says the Sovereign Yehovah. The Bride (Israel) will be the fulfillment of Hosea’s wife! Israel will not have committed themselves to Yehovah until they actually get to the wilderness border of Israel (Ezekiel 20:30-44) where the survivors of the Great Tribulation will be sifted again (Ezekiel 20:37-38) before gaining entry into the Country. Right up until this time they will be worshiping false gods. Yehovah will literally have to remove her from her baals (Hosea 2:14) and allure her back to Himself: “She’ll respond THERE as in the days of her youth, like when she came out of the land of Egypt” (v.15). Prior to going there, these Israelites must literally be taken into foreign nations as slaves (Jeremiah 30:3,10). They must witness the near extermination of their compatriots (Isaiah 11:16). When Israel arrives in the land they will not come on boats or airplanes, they will be returned to the land of Israel with the fearful aid of the survivors of their enemies “on horses, and on chariots, and on litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries” (Isaiah 66:20) following enough war to have taken us back to the (mythical) stone age. No one from this group will arrive on a cloud (1st Thessalonians 4:14-17). Fighting For You? The crux of the matter is simply this: Are the physical descendants of Israel going to literally fulfill all of the chapters of prophecies that detail this happening, or should we assume that “the church” is to figuratively fulfill them all. Are these hundreds of verses of prophecy essentially toothless? Will you succumb to Replacement Theology? The book of Revelation was written in the very late 90’s AD—decades after the Temple was destroyed and a great holocaust had taken place. The various genres of interpretation of the book are explained here. But frankly speaking, only the “Futurist” viewpoint—that everything from chapter 4 on is yet to take place, could help save you from premature or even eternal death. John cautions: Revelation 11:2-3 But don’t measure the courtyard outside of the Temple. Leave it out, because it has been given to the heathens, and they’ll trample the kadosh city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 I’ll commission My Two Witnesses. They’ll prophesy for 1,260 days, wearing sackcloth. You simply don’t want to be there when that happens! Even the Two Witnesses don’t survive this time (verse 7). Jerusalem will be the focal point of the Great Tribulation! When Yeshua’s (Jesus’) disciples asked Him about the end of the age, He didn’t say go occupy Judea—He said to flee Judea! Matthew 24:3, 15-22 When you see the sign of the detestable desolation mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the kadosh Place [the coming third Temple]—the reader must understand— 16 then those of you who are in Judea should escape to the mountain/s! 17 No one on the roof should come down to get anything out of their houses, 18 and no one in the fields should return to get their clothing. 19 But I pity pregnant and nursing mothers in those days. 20 Pray that your flight won’t be during foul weather or on the Sabbath. 21 There will be Great Tribulation then, such as has never occurred from the beginning of the world until now, and will by no means ever happen again. 22 If it weren’t for those days being terminated, no one would survive. But for the sake of the select those days will be terminated. According to the prophecies, few Israelites will survive the wars, famines and disease epidemics (Ezekiel 6:11) predicted until Yeshua personally intervenes and turns the survivors living in Jerusalem into super warriors—a warrior bride (Zechariah 12:8-10). Only after all of this will this bride begin to understand and mourn her part in Yeshua’s death (v.10-13). After this battle these Israelites will rebuild the cities that have been destroyed (Isaiah 61:4) and greatly repopulate (Jeremiah 31:27) the Middle East and beyond. They will have been spiritual widows (Isaiah 54:4), but now there will be many literal widows (Isaiah 4:1). Once educated themselves tho, they will come under an everlasting covenant (Isaiah 61:8), and they will become priests (Isaiah 61:6; Ezekiel 47:11) in Israel. (Spirit born priests will also be there (Isaiah 30:21). The identity of the “lost” tribes will be known to everyone (Isaiah 61:9). Israel will be like a bride adorned for her husband (Isaiah 61:10). The bride, Israel, will be married to the now Kadosh Land (Isaiah 62:4-5). While Israel is still actively involved in spiritual prostitution, that is still “treacherous”, “unfaithful” and “apostate”, she will get a wedding invitation from Elohim (Jeremiah 3:14)! Yehovah will heal (Jeremiah 30:17) the wounds that He had just inflicted on Israel (Jeremiah 30:14). These Israelites will not be expecting any of this, they want no part of it! (Isaiah 65:1). They are a rebellious (v.2) heathen (v.3) people who ultimately push Elohim too far (v.6). He will end up exterminating most of Israel (v.8), but save some of the better people (as in Jeremiah 24) of the lost tribes and of the Jews for seed stock (v.9). In fact, why not read the whole chapter! Caution: Don’t listen to anyone who inserts an imaginary millennium between Isaiah 65 verses 16 and 17. Save the millennium for Revelation 20. Most Christians heavily spiritualize these entire chapters away with a candy coating that in effect tells them that these chapters are about them coming out of a bad spiritual situation and ending up in a good spiritual situation. Make no mistake—the people who make the final cut, and end up living in Israel will be “good people”, they aren’t being condemned here for dishonoring their parents, murder, stealing, bearing false testimony against their neighbors, coveting or even physical adultery—all things a good conscience can prevent. Most of these people are even religious. They celebrate all kinds of counterfeit religious days—THEIR days, not His! (Hosea 2:11) The reason for the captivity of Israel is that it will take something this horrific to awaken the physical descendants of all twelve tribes of Israel out of spiritual prostitution and return them to their Hebrew roots! The person who dies with the most toys does not win. Now? Much of this information and the Scriptures referenced here are found in Who Is The Messiah’s Bride? The Scriptures given here were simply repackaged to directly call into question the mistake that some of my friends made when they tried to force Ezekiel 37’s two sticks together (16-28). Is David King yet (v.24)? Has “an everlasting covenant” been offered yet (v.26)? Has Yehovah’s Kadosh Place (New Jerusalem) arrived yet? (v.27) Does the government of Israel want you there (Isaiah 22:21-22)? Has Judah thrown out the welcome mat for Ephraim (Isaiah 11:12-13)? There are entire chapters detailing the Second Exodus; about the Day of Vengeance and “the Year of His Redemption” that Isaiah yearned for (63:4). These chapters will be quite easily understood by the people who actually live thru these events. All they will have to do then is simply read them! Hindsight is so clear. I invite you to read them yourself and see what it literally says without any sugar coating: No amount of commentary could be plainer that the unvarnished prophecies themselves. Here is an entire chapter that describes the spiritual condition of the Messiah’s bride (the bride of Christ) immediately prior to when she enters the land of Israel: Hosea 2: Call your brothers, ‘My people’! and call your sisters, ‘Loved’! 2 Contend with your mother! Contend, because she isn’t My wife, nor am I her husband. She should remove the prostitute’s makeup from her face, and stop soliciting adultery with the cleavage of her breasts. 3 Otherwise I’ll strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I’ll turn her into a wilderness, like a desert, and I’ll let her die of thirst. 4 I won’t love her children, because they are children conceived in prostitution. 5 Their mother is a prostitute. She became pregnant by her shameful behavior. She said, ‘I’ll chase after my lovers. They’ll give me bread and water, wool and flax, olive oil and drinks.’ 6 So I’ll hedge her in with thorns, and build a wall so that she can’t find her way out. 7 She’ll chase her lovers, but she won’t catch them, and she’ll look for them but not find them. Then she’ll say, ‘I’ll go and return to my first man [1], because it was better for me then than now.’ 8 She didn’t believe that I provided her with grain, new wine, and olive oil. I even supplied the silver and gold that she used for Baal! 9 So I’ll take back My grain when it ‘ripens’, and My new wine during the harvest season, and take away My wool and My linen that covered her nakedness. 10 Now I’ll expose her naked body in the sight of her lovers, and no one will rescue her from My grasp. 11 I’ll put an end to HER celebrations, HER Pilgrimage Feasts [2] [Chag], HER new moons, HER Sabbaths, and all HER appointed Festivals [Moedim]. 12 I’ll destroy her grapevines and her fig trees, that she claimed were the wages her lovers have given her, and I’ll make them a forest, and wild animals will devour them. 13 I’ll come and punish her for the times when she burned incense to the Baals, when she adorned herself with her rings and jewelry, and chased her lovers, and forgot Me, says Yehovah. 14 But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35], and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there, and the valley of Achor [trouble] as a doorway of hope. She’ll respond there, as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 Yehovah says: When that day comes, you’ll call Me Husband [Ishi] and you’ll never again call Me ‘Lord’ [Baali]. 17 I’ll remove the names of the Baals from your mouths, and you will never mention them again. 18 At that time I’ll make a covenant with all the wild animals of the plains, and the birds of the sky, and the animals that move around on the ground. I’ll abolish bows and swords, and warfare from the earth, so that everyone can rest peacefully. 19 I’ll be betrothed to you to you forever. Yes, you’ll be betrothed to Me in righteousness and in justice, in unfailing love and compassion. 20 I’ll be faithful to you, and you’ll finally know Yehovah intimately. 21 When that day comes, I’ll respond,’ says Yehovah, ‘I’ll respond to the heavens, and they’ll respond to the earth. 22 Then the earth will respond to the grain, and the new wine, and the olive oil, and they’ll respond to what happened in Jezreel [the real ‘Armageddon’]. 23 I’ll sow her for Myself in the earth, and I’ll show love to those I called ‘Not loved’ and I’ll tell those who were not My people: ‘You are My people,’ and they’ll say, ‘My Elohim’! [1] The word for ‘Husband’ and ‘man’ are the same in Hebrew—such a small vocabulary! Anyway, people were considered to be married at their betrothal, and if their “engagement” were broken off, they actually had to get a divorce—sometimes before they had even met each other (due to arranged marriages), and months to years before their marriage would have ever been consummated! So was Elohim’s marriage to ancient Israel ever consummated? [2] There is a difference between Feasts and Festivals, but this refers to HER Feasts done wrong, perhaps based on the wrong calendar or pagan substitute feasts like Christmas and Easter. Ezekiel 20:31-44 When you offer your sacrifices, making your sons pass thru the fire, you’re continuing to defile yourselves with all your idols. And you want to consult Me, House of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Yehovah,, I won’t be consulted by you! 32 What you have in mind will never happen. You think you want to be like heathens, like the tribes of other countries, serving gods of wood and stone. 33 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Yehovah, I will rule you with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I’ll be your King. 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1, Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, says the Sovereign Yehovah. 37 I’ll make you pass under the shepherd’s rod, and I’ll bind you in a [Kimchi] [New] Covenant, 38 and I’ll purge out the rebels from among you, and those who disobey Me. I’ll bring them out of the land where they were living, but they won’t enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll know that I am Yehovah. 39 As for you, House of Israel, the Sovereign Yehovah says: Go, serve your idols, but later you’ll surely listen to Me, and you’ll no longer profane My name with your gifts and your idols. 40 On My kadosh mountain, on the high mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign Yehovah, there the entire House of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will require your contributions, and choice gifts, with all your kadosh things. 41 I’ll accept you there like a fragrant aroma when I gather you out of the nations, and bring you out of the countries where you’ve been scattered, and I’ll prove Myself kadosh thru you as the nations watch. 42 You’ll know that I am Yehovah when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country that I swore to give to your ancestors. 43 There you’ll remember your conduct, and everything you did, and how you defiled yourselves, and you’ll despise yourselves when you face all the evil you’ve done. 44 You’ll know that I am Yehovah, when I’ve dealt with you for the sake of My name, rather than with regard to your evil and corrupt behavior, House of Israel, says the Sovereign Yehovah.” Isaiah 4:1-6 Seven women will grab a man in that day, and say, “We’ll eat our own bread, and cloth ourselves. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our shame.” 2 When that day arrives, Yehovah’s branch will be beautiful and splendid, and the ‘harvest’ of the land will be the beauty and splendor of the refugees of Israel. 3 Then anyone left alive in Zion, anyone who is left behind in Jerusalem will be called kadosh, everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, 4 when Yehovah has washed away the filth of the maidens of Zion, and rinsed the bloodstains from Jerusalem, by a spirit of justice, and a spirit that sets ablaze! 5 Yehovah will create ABOVE the entire site of Mount Zion and ABOVE her assemblies a cloud during the day and smoke, and a bright flaming fire during the night; because ABOVE all the splendor there will be a place of shelter. 6 There will be a sukkah [tabernacle] to provide ‘shade’ in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and shelter from storms and rain. Isaiah 54:1-10 “Shout for joy, you childless women who never had children. Break into shouts of joy, you women who have not been in labor! Because the forsaken ‘woman’ will have more children than the children of a married woman,” says Yehovah. 2 Expand your tent site, stretch your tent curtains farther out! Don’t hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deeper. 3 You’ll spread aboard to the right and to the left, and your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the deserted cities. 4 Don’t be afraid, because you won’t be ashamed or humiliated. You won’t be put to shame, and you’ll forget the shame of your youth. You won’t remember the stigmatism of widowhood. 5 Your Makers are your HUSBANDS [1], Yehovah the Commander is His name, and the Kadosh One of Israel is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of the entire earth. 6 Yehovah has called you like a deserted wife tormented by grief, like a wife rejected early in life, says your Elohim. 7 For a brief moment I let you alone, but with infinite compassion I’ll bring you back. 8 In a spurt of anger I hid My face from you momentarily, but with eternal love I’ll have compassion on you, says Yehovah your Redeemer. 9 To Me, this is like Noah’s floodwaters, when I swore that Noah’s floodwaters would never cover the earth again. And now I’ve sworn that I won’t be angry with you, or reprimand you. 10 Tho the mountains may be removed, and the hills may shake, My kindness will never leave you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken, says Yehovah, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 61:1-11 The spirit of the Sovereign Yehovah is with me, because Yehovah has anointed me to bring Good News to the afflicted. He has sent me to relieve the grief stricken, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight for the blind [1], and to set the oppressed free; 2 to proclaim the favorable year of Yehovah, and the time of vengeance of our Elohim [Yeshua (Jesus) stopped quoting here.], and to comfort everyone who mourns [due to the end time holocaust], 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them head coverings instead of ashes on their heads, the oil of joy instead of mourning, clothing of praise instead of a spirit of weakness, so that they can be called terebinth trees of righteousness, a cluster planted by Yehovah, so that they can display His splendor. 4 They’ll rebuild places desolate since antiquity, they’ll rebuild the ancestral places and places now wasted and deserted, and they’ll restore cities parched from heat, and places deserted for many generations. 5 Foreigners will tend your flocks; they’ll farm your land and work your vineyards. 6 And you’ll be called the priests of Yehovah, people will call you the ministers of our Elohim. You’ll savor the wealth of the nations. You’ll change places with them. 7 Your shame will be replaced with a double inheritance, and instead of humiliation you’ll shout for joy over your territory. So in your land you’ll own twice as much as the other nations. You’ll have everlasting joy. 8 Because I, Yehovah, love justice. I hate robbery and injustice. I’ll certainly give you your compensation, and I’ll make an everlasting covenant [i.e. The New Covenant] with you. 9 Your descendants will be revealed [2] among the nations, and their descendants among the nations. Everyone who sees them will acknowledge that they are the descendants of the people who Yehovah has blessed.” [Today, Israel is considered scum by the nations]. 10 I’ll greatly rejoice in Yehovah, I’ll be joyful in my Elohim, because He has clothed me with the clothing of deliverance, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom serving as a priest wearing a garland, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 Like the soil pushing up sprouts, and like a garden enabling things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Sovereign Yehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. [1] The phrase about blindness that Yeshua quoted in Luke 4:18 was deleted by the Masorites. [2] Currently, even Judah needs the “lost” tribes of Israel to be revealed to them. Isaiah 62:1-5 For Zion’s sake I won’t remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t remain quiet, until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her deliverance like a burning torch. 2 The nations will see your righteousness, and every king your splendor. You’ll be called by a new name that Yehovah will announce. 3 You’ll be a beauty crown in Yehovah’s hand, and a royal diadem in Elohim’s hand. 4 You’ll never again be called “Forsaken”, nor will your land be called “Desolate” again, instead, you’ll be called “Hephzibah” [Literally, “My delight is in her”], and your land “Beulah” [Literally, to marry], because Yehovah delights in you, and your land will be married to Him. 5 Just like a young man marrying a virgin, your sons will marry you [the land of Israel], and like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride, that’s how your Elohim will rejoice over you. Jeremiah 3: ‘Suppose’ a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, would he ever take her back again? Wouldn’t that land be greatly polluted? But you’ve prostituted yourself with many lovers, and now you want to come back to Me?” says Yehovah. 2 Look toward the barren heights and see. Is there any place you have not been defiled? You sat waiting for them, like an Arab in the desert. You’ve defiled the land with your prostitution and your wickedness. 3 That’s why the rain has been withheld, and there have been no ‘spring’ showers. You have the shameless look of a prostitute, and you refuse to be ashamed. 4 Even now you say to Me, ‘You are my Father; You have been my guide since I was young.’ 5 ‘Will He be angry forever? Will He remain indignant to the end?’ You have said and done as many evil things as you could.” 6 Yehovah said to me during the reign of King Josiah, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel did? She climbed every high hill and went under every green tree to prostitute herself there.” 7 Yet even after she had done all this, I thought she might return to Me. But she did’t, and her treacherous sister Judah witnessed it. 8 She saw that I divorced unfaithful Israel because of her adultery, and that I had sent her away and given her a certificate of divorce, but her treacherous sister Judah still wasn’t afraid; she also went and prostituted herself. 9 She treated her prostitution so lightly. She polluted the land by committing adultery with stones and wooden pillars. 10 Even after all this, her treacherous sister Judah only pretends to have returned to Me, not with actual determination,” says Yehovah. 11 Yehovah told me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north: Come back, unfaithful Israel,’ says Yehovah, ‘I won’t look on you in anger, because I’m the ‘Kadosh One”, says Yehovah, ‘I won’t stay angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your sins—that you’ve rebelled against Yehovah your Elohim, and have scattered your ‘favors’ to strangers under every green tree, and that you haven’t obeyed My voice, says Yehovah. 14 Come back, you apostate people’, says Yehovah because I’m to be married to you. I’ll take one of you from this city, and two from that family, and I’ll bring you to Zion. 15 I’ll give you shepherds who understand Me, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when your land is again filled with people, says Yehovah, they’ll no longer say, “The ark of the covenant of Yehovah.” It won’t come to mind, they won’t remember it or miss it, or make another one. 17 At that time they’ll call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of Yehovah’, and all of the nations will gather there in the name of Yehovah, to Jerusalem. They’ll cease to ‘live by’ their stubbon evil desires. 18 In those days the House of Judah will live with the House of Israel, and you’ll return together from the Land of the North, to the land that I gave to your ancestors as an inheritance. 19 I said how much I wanted to treat you like My children, and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful heritage of any nations. And I’ve said, “You’ll call Me, my Father, and never turn away from Me.” 20 Surely like when a treacherous wife leaves her ‘husband’, that’s how you’ve been unfaithful with Me, House of Israel, says Yehovah. 21 A voice is heard on the barren heights, the crying and the pleading of the Israelites, because they have perverted of their ways, they’ve forgotten Yehovah their Elohim. 22 Return, you apostate sons, and I’ll heal your apostasy.” “We’re coming to You, because You are Yehovah our Elohim!” 23 Surely, falsehood comes from the hills, and commotion from the mountains. The only rescue of Israel will be by Yehovah our Elohim. 24 From the earliest days of our nation the worship of that shameful one, [Baal], has consumed everything our ancestors worked for: their flocks and their herds, and even their sons and daughters. 25 We must lie down in our shame, and cover ourselves with dishonor, because we have sinned against Yehovah our Elohim, we and our ancestors. From our earliest times to this very day we have not obeyed the voice of Yehovah our Elohim. Jeremiah 23: 1-8 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares Yehovah. 2 So This is what Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd My people: You’ve scattered My flock, and driven them away. You haven’t taken care of them. Now I’m about to take care of you for the evil you have done,” declares Yehovah. 3 I’ll Personally gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I’ve driven them, and bring them back to their pastures, and they’ll be fruitful and multiply. 4 I’ll appoint shepherds over them, who will care for them, ‘My sheep’ will no longer be afraid or terrified, and not one of them will be missing,” declares Yehovah. 5 The days are coming,’ says Yehovah, ‘when I’ll raise up for David a righteous Branch. He will be a King who rules wisely, and do what is fair and right thruout the land! 6 In his lifetime, Judah will be delivered, and Israel will live in safely. This is the name that He will be given, ‘Yehovah Our Righteousness!’ 7 That’s why the time will come,” says Yehovah, “When people will no longer say ‘As Yehovah lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.’” 8 Instead, they’ll say, ‘As surely as Yehovah lives, who brought about the ‘’ of the descendants of the nation of Israel from the North Country, and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ Then they’ll live in their own land. Only after reading all of the fine print of Jeremiah 30 and 31 will a person notice that the New covenant isn’t given to today’s Believers, its given to tomorrows Israelite and Jewish unbelievers as they repent! (Jeremiah 31:31-33) Jeremiah 30: This is the message that came to Jeremiah from Yehovah, He said, 2 “This is what Yehovah, the Elohim [God] of Israel says; Write ‘everything’ that I’ve spoken to you in a book. 3 The time is coming when I’ll bring My people Israel and Judah back from captivity. I’ll bring them to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they’ll take possession of it,” says Yehovah. 4 This is the message that Yehovah revealed about Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what Yehovah says: “We have heard cries of fear and panic, not peace. 6 Now I ask: Can you see a man having labor pains? So why do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor. Why have all their faces turned pale? 7 That day will be terrible! There will never be another like it. It’s the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he’ll be saved [liberated] out of it. 8 At that time, says Yehovah the Commander, I’ll break the yoke from your neck, and snap your chains. Foreigners will no longer enslave you. 9 They will serve Yehovah their Elohim, and David their king, who I’ll cause to arise for them. 10 So don’t be afraid, Jacob, My servant, says Yehovah. Don’t be dismayed, Israel, because I’ll rescue you from the distant lands, and your posterity from the land of captivity. Jacob [1] will return, and have peace and security, and no one will frighten him. 11 I am with you to save you,” says Yehovah. “I’ll completely destroy all the nations where I’ve scattered you, but I won’t completely destroy you. I’ll discipline you in just measure, but I can’t let you go unpunished. 12 “This is what Yehovah says: Your wound is incurable, and your sickness is getting worse. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, no one to heal you, you have no healing medicines. 14 All your lovers [allies] have forgotten you. They don’t care about you because I’ve wounded you like an enemy would wound you. I’ve punished you like a cruel person would, because of your need for punishment, and your numerous sins. 15 Why do you cry over your wound? Your pain is incurable because you need to be punished. Because of your numerous sins, I’ve done these things to you. 16 But everyone who devours you will be devoured, and all of your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plundered. I will cause anyone who pillages you to be pillaged. 17 I’ll restore you to health, and I’ll heal all of your wounds,” says Yehovah. “They’ve called you an outcast, they say “No one cares about Zion.” 18 “This is what Yehovah says: I’m going to bring the captives back to Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwellings. The city will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the citadel will stand where it used to be! 19 They’ll ‘exude’ songs of thanksgiving—jubilant sounds from those who celebrate, and I’ll increase their population, and they won’t be few. I’ll bring them honor, and they won’t be insignificant. 20 Their children will be like they were long ago, and their community will be established in My presence, and I’ll punish all their oppressors. 21 Their ‘king’ will be one of their own, and their ruler will come from among them [native born]. I’ll bring him near, and he’ll approach Me. Who would risk his life to approach Me otherwise?” says Yehovah. 22 You’ll be My people, and I’ll be your Elohim. 23 Yehovah’s wrath will come like a tornado, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked! 24 The fierce anger of Yehovah won’t turn away until He has completely carried out everything He has mind. In the last days you’ll understand this. [1] This is the “lost 10 tribes” as distinct from the Jews, or collectively “Israel”: Lamentations 2:2; Hosea 10:11; Hosea 12:2; Micah 1:5. Jeremiah 31: At that time,’ declares Yehovah, ‘I’ll be the Elohim of all the clans of Israel, and they’ll be My people. 2 This is what Yehovah says: The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness. I will give rest to the people of Israel.” 3 Yehovah appeared to us long ago and said, “I’ve loved you with an everlasting love, so with unfailing love I have drawn you out. 4 I’ll rebuild you, and you’ll be rebuilt, virgin Israel. Again you’ll take up your tambourines and go out dancing joyful. 5 Once again you’ll plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit. 6 There will be a day when the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim will cry, “Get up, let’s go up to Zion, to Yehovah our Elohim.” 7 This is what Yehovah says: “Sing with joy for Jacob, and shout among the major nations, shout praises and say, ‘Yehovah, save Your people, the survivors of Israel.’ 8 I’ll bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth. Blind and lame people will return as well as expectant mothers and women in labor. A huge crowd will return here. 9 They’ll come with tears of joy, praying as I bring them back. I’ll lead them beside streams of water in a straight path so they won’t stumble, because I’m a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 You nations, hear the Word of Yehovah, and announce it in the distant coastlands. Say ‘The One who scattered Israel will regather him, and protect him like a shepherd does his flock.’ 11 Yehovah has paid the ransom of Jacob, and reclaimed him from from those too strong for them. 12 They’ll come and shout for joy in the elevated place [or height] of Zion, they’ll be beaming over the goodness of Yehovah, over the grain, the new wine, the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd. Their life will be like a well watered garden, and they won’t ever be sorrowful again. 13 Then the virgins will celebrate in the dance, along with young men and the old. I’ll turn their mourning into rejoicing, and comfort them and exchange their sorrow with happiness. 14 I’ll satisfy the priests with abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness, says Yehovah. 15 This is what Yehovah says: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter crying, Rachel crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted because her children because they no longer exist. 16 This is what Yehovah says: Stop crying out, and ‘shedding’ tears, because your work will be rewarded, says Yehovah and they’ll return from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope in your future, says Yehovah. Your children will return to their own territory. 18 I’ve surely heard Ephraim moaning to himself, “You’ve disciplined me! I was disciplined like a calf unaccustomed to a yoke. Bring me back, and restore me, because you are Yehovah my Elohim. 19 After I strayed, I changed the way I thought and acted [repented], and after I was instructed, I ‘kicked’ my ‘butt’. I was ashamed and humiliated because I carried the shame of my youth.” 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him, so My thoughts yearn for him. I’ll surely have mercy on him, says Yehovah. 21 Set up road signs, make guideposts. Start thinking about the highway, the same direction that you left from. Return, virgin of Israel, return to your cities. 22 How long will you wander from here and there, you apostate daughter? Yehovah has created a new thing in the land, a weak woman will ‘overpower’ [Clarke’s] a strong man. 23 This is what Yehovah the Commander, the Elohim of Israel, says: Once again they will use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, after I return them from captivity, “Yehovah bless you, home of righteousness, kadosh mountain.” 24 Judah and all its cities will live there together, the farmers, and the traveling shepherds. 25 I satisfy those who are weary, and I refresh everyone who is faint. 26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasing. 27 In days to come,’ says Yehovah, ‘I’ll repopulate [sow] the House of Israel and the House of Judah with ‘descendants’, and with animals. 28 Just as I have overseen their uprooting and tearing down, their overthrow, destruction and disaster, so I will oversee their building and planting, says Yehovah. 29 In those days they’ll no longer say, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge.” 30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sins, everyone who eats the sour grapes will have their own teeth set on edge. 31 The time is coming [1],’ says Yehovah, ‘when I’ll make a New marriage Covenant with the ‘nation’ of Israel and the House of Judah. 32 It won’t be like the marriage Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband, says Yehovah. 33 In this marriage Covenant that I’ll make with the House of Israel after those days,’ says Yehovah, ‘I’ll put My Torah in the very seat of their thoughts and emotions, and I’ll write it into their minds [hearts]. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, by asking, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord], because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Yehovah. I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins. 35 Yehovah says that He provides the sun to light the day and decreed the moon and stars to light the night, and He instantaneously calms [U] the raging waves of the sea—Yehovah the Commander is His name, 36 Only if these fixed conditions ever fail in My presence,’ says Yehovah, ‘will the Israelites cease to be a nation in My presence forever. 37 This is what Yehovah says: Only if the heavens above can ever be measured, and if the foundation of the earth beneath is ever found, would I reject all the Israelites for what they’ve done, says Yehovah. 38 The time is coming,’ says Yehovah, ‘when the city will be rebuilt for Yehovah, from the Hananel Tower to the Corner Gate. 39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to Gareb Hill, and then turn toward Goah. 40 The whole valley that was covered with dead bodies and ashes, and all of the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate toward the east, will be kadosh to Yehovah, it won’t ever be uprooted, or overthrown again. [1] Jeremiah 30 and 31 are one long prophetic monologue about the events to occur at the time of the Second Exodus (30:3), when all 12 tribes of Israel return to the land (not just the Jews) AND Jacob’s trouble—better known as the Great Tribulation (30:7) immediately beforehand. Not one verse of this 2 chapter prophecy has been fulfilled, including the Torah being written on anyone’s hearts (31:33)! Here is some more information, from Hosea, pertinent to the lack of character that this “Bride of Christ” to be is right now and into the near future: Hosea 1: The Word of Yehovah came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the ‘reigns’ of of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When Yehovah first spoke thru Hosea, Yehovah told him, “Go take for yourself a wife of prostitution who will have illegitimate children conceived thru prostitution, because the land commits flagrant adultery by abandoning Yehovah.” 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and bore him a son. 4 Yehovah told him, “Name him Jezreel, because in a little while I’ll avenge the blood of Jezreel on the ‘dynasty’ of Jehu, and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 At that time I’ll break the bow [military] of Israel in the Jezreel Valley. 6 She became pregnant again, and gave birth to a daughter. Then He told him, “Name her ‘Unloved’ [Lo-Ruhamah], because I’ll no longer show love to the House of Israel or forgive them. 7 But I’ll have mercy on the House of Judah, and rescue them by Yehovah their Elohim. I won’t deliver them using bows and swords, or in battle with horses and hcavalry.” 8 Now when she had weaned Unloved, she became pregnant again gave birth to a son. 9 Yehovah said, “Name him ‘Not My People’ [Lo-Ammi], because you are not My people, and I won’t be your Elohim. 10 Yet the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the seashore that can’t be measured or numbered, and then, in the location where they were told, 'You are not My people', they’ll be called ‘sons of the living Elohim’. 11 The descendants of Judah and Israel will be reunited, and they’ll appoint a leader for themselves, and flourish in the land, because the Day of Jezreel will be profound.” Hosea 3 Yehovah told me, “Go again, show love to a woman, even tho she is loved by others and continually commits adultery, just like Yehovah loves the people of Israel, tho they turn to other gods, and love offering them raisin cakes. 2 So I bought her back for Myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 Then I told her, “You must stay with me for many days. You won’t practice prostitution, and you won’t ‘have sexual relations’ with anyone, not even with me” [1]. 4 The people of Israel will go many days without a king or prince, and without ze’bakim [sacrifices], and without obelisks[?], and without ephods or household idols. 5 But after that the people of Israel will return, and be devoted to Yehovah their Elohim, and David their king. They will come trembling to Yehovah for His blessings in the last days. [1] According to Barne’s, Gill’s and Keil’s commentaries, she was to be sequestered to see if she would give up her prostitution before their relationship would move from ‘engagement’ to a consummated marriage. Even in the quixotic account of the Bride, the groom leaves her just long enough for her to be striped and beaten, because she couldn’t bother to open the door in time when he came calling! Song of Songs 5:2-8 I [the Shulamite] was asleep, but my mind was awake. A sound! My love is knocking! “Open to me, my [half] sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. 3 She replied I’ve taken off my clothes—must I put them on again? I’ve washed my feet. Should I get them dirty? 4 My beloved put his hand thru a door opening, and my ‘feelings’ were stirred for him. 5 I got up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers dripped with liquid myrrh as I pulled back the handles of the bolt. 6 I opened to my lover, but my love had already turned and gone away. I kept thinking of what he had said. I looked for him, but I couldn’t find him. I called to him, but he didn’t answer. 7 The watchmen who ‘patrol’ the city found me and beat me. They bruised me. Those guardsmen of the walls stripped off my veil. 8 Maidens of Jerusalem, swear to me, if you find my beloved, you must tell him that I’m lovesick.” If you move to Israel it will likely cost you your life! The following article from the “true church” is quite good, except for the true church part. I am well acquainted with these people and apply my Disclaimer to the site in general, but nevertheless, their article should help dissuade anyone from making a lethal move. In 2018 this 2011 article replaced the chapter called “The Beast of 2015”. I had anticipated that an event on VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) 2015 would set in motion the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 23:15-18, but it did not work out as I had speculated (I had asked for alternative viewpoints on this but never got any). My conjecture was that an evil end-time political “Tyre”, otherwise known as the Beast of Daniel, Jeremiah and Revelation could begin its rise to power after the 70 year recess mentioned had begun in, as I thought, 1945. I now believe that these four verses are not related to the end-time beast. They only refer to the ancient Phonecian Tyre that is currently buried under waves and dirt, as predicted. a This seagoing whore who did business with “all the kingdoms on the face of the earth” does indeed have resemblances to beast that will soon rule the waves of the earth in Revelation 18:9-20, and the Babylon to be burried in the sea (Jeremiah 51:42). I had intended to leave it online, until it caused confusion to a close friend. The End Lon Martin, lonwmartin@yahoo.com 9/11 Creative Commons 3.0: “One Right Reserved”     Chapter 20 is about The Seven “Churches” of Revelation   Google Search only search Everlasting Kingdom     Minor update March 24, 2018

One Day Christian Ministries

Open main menu Search EditWatch this page Day One Christian Ministries Day One Christian Ministries, formerly known as the Lord's Day Observance Society (LDOS), is a Christian organisation based in the United Kingdom that lobbies for no work on Sunday, the day that many Christians celebrate as the Sabbath, a day of rest. This position is based on the fourth (by the Hebrew reckoning) of the Ten Commandments. Day One incorporates Day One Publications (its publishing arm) and the Daylight Christian Prison Trust. Vicars, Fathers, and Deacons are exempt from this lobbying and will work on Sundays. Day One Christian Ministries Formation 1831 Website dayone.co.uk Formerly called Lord's Day Observance Society The Lord's Day Observance Society was founded by Joseph Wilson and Daniel Wilson in 1831.[1] It became the most powerful sabbatarian organisation in England, opposed to Sunday newspapers, train travel, and mail delivery.[2] According to Stephen Miller, their "clamor for change provoked a backlash", and there was conflict in Victorian England over this issue for the rest of the nineteenth century.[2] LDOS later united with other sabbatarian organisations, including the Working Men's Lord's Day Rest Association (1920), the Lord's Day Observance Association of Scotland (1953), and the Imperial Alliance for the Defence of Sunday (1965).[1] See also Edit Blue law Keep Sunday Special Religion in the United Kingdom Sabbath desecration Sunday shopping References Edit ^ a b The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources Since 1945. 2012. p. 326. Retrieved 15 August 2016. ^ a b Miller, Stephen (2009). The Peculiar Life of Sundays. Harvard University Press. p. 165. Retrieved 15 August 2016. External links Edit Official website Day One Publications, books published by the society This article about a Christian organization is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Last edited 5 months ago by Katechon08 RELATED ARTICLES Sabbath in Christianity Sabbatarianism Lord's Day Alliance Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Terms of UsePrivacyDesktop

Lord Day in Christianity

Open main menu Search EditWatch this pageRead in another language Lord's Day The Lord's Day in Christianity is generally Sunday, the principal day of communal worship. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said in the canonical Gospels to have been witnessed alive from the dead early on the first day of the week. The phrase appears in Rev. 1:10. According to some sources, Christians held corporate worship on Sunday in the 1st century.[1] The earliest Biblical example of Christians meeting together on a Sunday for the purpose of "breaking bread" and preaching is cited in the New Testament book The Acts of the Apostles chapter 20 and verse 7 (Acts 20:7). 2nd-century writers such as Justin Martyr attest to the widespread practice of Sunday worship (First Apology, chapter 67), and by 361 AD it had become a mandated weekly occurrence. During the Middle Ages, Sunday worship became associated with Sabbatarian (rest) practices. Some Protestants today (particularly those theologically descended from the Puritans) regard Sunday as Christian Sabbath, a practice known as first-day Sabbatarianism. (Some Christian groups hold that the term "Lord's Day" can only properly refer to seventh-day Sabbath or Saturday.) Sunday was also known in patristic writings as the eighth day. Biblical use Edit The phrase the "Lord's Day" appears only once in the Bible in Revelation 1:10 which was written near the end of the first century. It is the English translation of the koine Greek kyriake hemera. The adjective kyriake ("Lord's") often elided its noun, as in the neuter kyriakon for "Lord's [assembly]", the predecessor of the word "church"; the noun was to be supplied by context. In Rev. 1:10, the apostle John, used kyriake hemera ("I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day") in a way apparently familiar to his readers. Observers of first-day worship hold that this means he was worshiping on Sunday, resurrection day. Seventh-day Sabbatarians hold that since Jesus said he was "Lord of the Sabbath"[2] and that Isaiah called the Sabbath the "Lord's Holy Day"[3] then the Lord's Day is the Seventh-day Sabbath (i.e. Saturday). Both parties accordingly use this verse to lay claim to the name "Lord's Day" for their day of worship.mark 2:28 The New Testament also uses the phrase te mia ton sabbaton ("the first day of the week") both for the early morning (Mary Magdalene John 20:1) and evening (the disciples in John 2:19) of Resurrection Sunday, as well as for the breaking of bread at Troas (Acts 20:7) and the day for the collection at Corinth (1 Co 16:2).[4] Textual tradition Edit Ambiguous references Edit The term "Lord's" appears in The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles or Didache, a document dated between 70 and 120. Didache 14:1a is translated by Roberts as, "But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving";[5] another translation begins, "On the Lord's own day". The first clause in Greek, "κατά κυριακήν δέ κυρίου", literally means "On the Lord's of the Lord",[6] a unique and unexplained double possessive, and translators supply the elided noun, e.g., "day" (ἡμέρα hemera), "commandment" (from the immediately prior verse 13:7), or "doctrine".[7][8] This is one of two early extrabiblical Christian uses of "κυριακήν" where it does not clearly refer to Sunday because textual readings have given rise to questions of proper translation. Breaking bread (daily or weekly) may refer to Christian fellowship, agape feasts, or Eucharist (cf. Acts 2:42, 20:7). Didache 14 was apparently understood by the writers of the Didascalia and Apostolic Constitutions as a reference to Sunday worship. Around 110 AD, St. Ignatius of Antioch used "Lord's" in a passage of his letter to the Magnesians. Ambiguity arises due to textual variants. The only extant Greek manuscript of the letter, the Codex Mediceo-Laurentianus, reads, "If, then, those who had walked in ancient practices attained unto newness of hope, no longer observing Sabbath, but living according to the Lord's life ..." (kata kyriaken zoen zontes). A medieval Latin translation indicates an alternate textual reading of kata kyriaken zontes, informing Roberts's translation, "no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's [Day]".[9] The expanded Pseudo-Ignatian version of Magnesians, from the middle of the third century, rewrites this passage to make "Lord's Day" a clear reference to Sunday, as Resurrection Day. Pseudo-Ignatius adds a repudiation of legalistic Sabbath as a Judaizing error: "Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of idleness .... But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them. And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days."[10] Other early church fathers similarly saw weekly observance of seventh-day Sabbath sometimes followed the next day by Lord's Day assembly.[11][12] Undisputed references Edit The first undisputed reference to Lord's Day is in the apocryphal Gospel of Peter (verse 34,35 and 50[13]), probably written about the middle of the 2nd century or perhaps the first half of that century. The Gospel of Peter 35 and 50 use kyriake as the name for the first day of the week, the day of Jesus' resurrection. That the author referred to Lord's Day in an apocryphal gospel purportedly written by St. Peter indicates that the term kyriake was very widespread and had been in use for some time. Around 170 AD, Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, wrote to the Roman Church, "Today we have kept the Lord's holy day (kyriake hagia hemera), on which we have read your letter." In the latter half of the 2nd century, the apocryphal Acts of Peter identify Dies Domini (Latin for "Lord's Day") as "the next day after the Sabbath," i.e., Sunday. From the same period of time, the Acts of Paul present St. Paul praying "on the Sabbath as the Lord's Day (kyriake) drew near." However, the Lord's day is identified with the Sabbath in the Acts of John as "on the seventh day, it being the Lord's day, he said to them: now it is time for me also to partake of food."[14] Early church Edit See also: Early Christianity The Cenacle on Mount Zion, claimed to be the location of the Last Supper and Pentecost. Bargil Pixner[15] claims the original Church of the Apostles is located under the current structure. In the first centuries, Sunday, being made a festival in honor of Christ's resurrection, received attention as a day of religious services and recreation, but seventh-day Sabbath rest (based on the Jewish Shabbat, because the earliest Christians were all Jews) was still observed by "almost all churches".[11][12] Often first-day worship (Sunday morning or Saturday night) was practiced alongside observance of seventh-day Sabbath rest[16] and was a widespread Christian tradition by the 2nd century, attested in patristic writings of the 2nd century;[17][18] over time, Sunday thus came to be known as Lord's Day. These early Christians believed that the resurrection and ascension of Christ signals the renewal of creation, making the day on which God accomplished it a day analogous to the first day of creation when God made the light. Some of these writers referred to Sunday as the "eighth day". The 1st-century[19] or 2nd-century[7] Epistle of Barnabas or Pseudo-Barnabas on Is. 1:13 stated "Sabbaths of the present age" were abolished in favor of one millennial seventh-day Sabbath that ushers in the "eighth day" and commencement of a new world. Accordingly, the eighth-day assembly (Saturday night or Sunday morning) marks both the resurrection and the new creation. Thus first-day observance was a common regional practice at that time.[20] By the mid-2nd century, Justin Martyr wrote in his apologies about the cessation of Sabbath observance and the celebration of the first (or eighth) day of the week (not as a day of rest, but as a day for gathering to worship): "We all gather on the day of the sun" (τῇ τοῦ ῾Ηλίου λεγομένη ἡμέρᾳ, recalling both the creation of light and the resurrection).[21] He argued that Sabbath was not kept before Moses, and was only instituted as a sign to Israel and a temporary measure because of Israel's sinfulness,[22] no longer needed after Christ came without sin.[23] Curiously he also draws a parallel between the Israelite practice of circumcision on the eighth day, and the resurrection of Jesus on the "eighth day".[24] But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the feasts.[25] And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.[21] Tertullian (early 3rd century), writing against Christians who participated in pagan festivals (Saturnalia and New-year), defended the Christian festivity of Lord's Day amidst the accusation of sun-worship, acknowledging that "to [us] Sabbaths are strange" and unobserved.[26][27] Cyprian, a 3rd-century church father, linked the "eighth day" with the term "Lord's Day" in a letter concerning baptism. 'For in respect of the observance of the eighth day of the Jewish circumcision of the flesh, a sacrament was given beforehand in shadow and in usage; but when Christ came, it was fulfilled in truth. For because the eighth day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath, was to be that on which the Lord should rise again, and should quicken us, and give us circumcision of the spirit, the eighth day, that is the first day after the Sabbath, and the Lord's Day, went before in the figure; which figure ceased when by and by the truth came and spiritual circumcision was given to us — Cyprian, Letter LVIII[28] Origins of Sunday worship Edit Though Sunday was widely observed as a day of Christian worship by the 2nd century, the origin of Sunday worship remains a debated point, with at least three scholarly positions being taken. Bauckham has argued that Sunday worship must have originated in Palestine in the mid-1st century, in the period of the Acts of the Apostles, no later than the Gentile mission, regarding the practice as universal by the early 2nd century with no hint of controversy (unlike e.g. the related Quartodeciman controversy).[16] In the 2nd century the church of Rome lacked jurisdictional authority to impose a novel universal change of Sabbath rest from the seventh day to the first, or to obtain universal Sunday worship had it been introduced after the Christian church had spread throughout the known world.[17] Bauckham states that there is no record of any early Christian group which did not observe Sunday, with the exception of a single extreme group of Ebionites mentioned by Eusebius of Caesarea; and that there is no evidence Sunday was observed as substitute Sabbath worship in the early centuries.[16] Some Protestant scholars have argued that Christian Sunday worship traces back even further, to the resurrection appearances of Jesus recorded in the Gospel narratives where Jesus would appear to his disciples on the first day of the week.[29][30] Seventh-day Adventist scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi has argued that Sunday worship unconnected to Sabbath was introduced in Rome in the 3rd century, and was later enforced throughout the Christian church as a substitution for Sabbath worship.[31] There is evidence of early Christians simultaneously observing both seventh-day Sabbath rest and Sunday worship,[16] and Socrates Scholasticus states that 4th-century Rome had ceased to worship on Sabbath, while Alexandria held its love feasts or Eucharists on the first day, substituting it for Sabbath as kept in other churches. Edict of Constantine Edit On 3 March 321, Constantine I decreed that Sunday (dies Solis) will be observed as the Roman day of rest [CJ3.12.2]: On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.[32] Constantine's decree was most likely modeled on pagan sun worship, though it is probable that he also intended to benefit the church, which already met for worship on Sunday.[16] In the 4th century, Socrates Scholasticus stated that the Christians of Alexandria and Rome partook of the "mysteries" (the love feast or Eucharist) on the first day of the week (Saturday evening), though they also held worship meetings on Sabbath like almost all other churches.[11] By the 5th century, Sozomen stated that most churches, such as at Constantinople, met both on Sabbath and first day (Saturday evening), but that Rome and Alexandria met only on the first day (Saturday evening) and no longer on Sabbath.[12] Middle Ages Edit Augustine of Hippo followed the early patristic writers in spiritualizing the meaning of the Sabbath commandment, referring it to eschatological rest rather than observance of a literal day. However, the practice of Sunday rest increased in prominence throughout the early Middle Ages. Thomas Aquinas taught that the decalogue is an expression of natural law which binds all men, and therefore the Sabbath commandment is a moral requirement along with the other nine. Thus Sunday rest and Sabbath became increasingly associated.[33] Following Aquinas' decree, Christian Europeans could now spend less time denouncing the Judaistic method of observing the Sabbath, instead establishing rules for what one "should" and "should not" do on the Sabbath. For example, while the Medieval Church forbade most forms of work on the Sabbath, it allowed "necessary works", and priests would allow their peasants to perform the needed agricultural work in the field.[34] Modern church Edit Protestantism Edit Main article: Sunday Sabbatarianism The reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin repudiated the idea that Christians are bound to obey the Mosaic law, including the fourth commandment of the decalogue concerning Sabbath, although they followed Aquinas' concept of natural law. They viewed Sunday rest as a civic institution established by human authority, which provided an occasion for bodily rest and public worship.[35] Nevertheless, Sunday Sabbatarianism became prevalent amongst both the continental and English Protestants over the following century. A new rigorism was brought into the observance of Lord's Day among the 17th-century Puritans of England and Scotland, in reaction to the laxity with which Sunday observance was customarily kept. Sabbath ordinances were appealed to, with the idea that only the word of God can bind men's consciences in whether or how they will take a break from work, or to impose an obligation to meet at a particular time. Their influential reasoning spread to other denominations also, and it is primarily through their influence that "Sabbath" has become the colloquial equivalent of "Lord's Day" or "Sunday". The most mature expression of this influence survives in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), Chapter 21, "Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day". Section 7-8 reads: 7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. 8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe a holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. Though Sabbatarian practice declined in the 18th century, the evangelical awakening in the 19th century led to a greater concern for strict Sunday observance. The founding of the Lord's Day Observance Society in 1831 was influenced by the teaching of Daniel Wilson.[35] Jehovah's Witnesses Edit Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Lord's day begun in 1914, that was the year marked by 1st world war and has direct connection with the prophecy in Revelation (Rev 12:7). The prophecy is about the war in heaven and the ouster of Devil from heaven. Lord's day is not a single day consisting of 24 hours, but a period of time that started in 1914 which will last for sometime that includes Christ's Thousand year reign. Roman Catholicism Edit The Second Vatican Council, in the Apostolic Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, asserted that "the Lord's day is the original feast day" and the "foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year."[36] The apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II entitled Dies Domini charged Catholics to remember the importance of keeping Sunday holy and not to confuse the holiness of the Lord's Day celebration with the common notion of the weekend as a time of simple rest and relaxation.[37] Eastern Christianity Edit The Eastern Orthodox Church distinguishes between "Sabbath" (Saturday) and "Lord's Day" (Sunday), and both continue to play a special role for the faithful. Many parishes and monasteries will serve the Divine Liturgy on both Saturday morning and Sunday morning. The church never allows strict fasting on any Saturday (except Holy Saturday) or Sunday, and the fasting rules on those Saturdays and Sundays which fall during one of the fasting seasons (such as Great Lent, Apostles' Fast, etc.) are always relaxed to some degree. During Great Lent, when the celebration of the Liturgy is forbidden on weekdays, there is always Liturgy on Saturday as well as Sunday. The church also has a special cycle of Bible readings (Epistle and Gospel) for Saturdays and Sundays which is different from the cycle of readings allotted to weekdays. However, Lord's Day, being a celebration of the Resurrection, is clearly given more emphasis. For instance, in the Russian Orthodox Church Sunday is always observed with an All-Night Vigil on Saturday night, and in all of the Orthodox Churches it is amplified with special hymns which are chanted only on Sunday. If a feast day falls on a Sunday it is always combined with the hymns for Sunday (unless it is a Great Feast of the Lord). Saturday is celebrated as a sort of leave-taking for the previous Sunday, on which several of the hymns from the previous Sunday are repeated. In part, the reason Orthodox Christians continue to celebrate Saturday as Sabbath is because of its role in the history of salvation: it was on a Saturday that Jesus "rested" in the tomb after his work on the cross. For this reason also, Saturday is a day for general commemoration of the departed, and special requiem hymns are often chanted on this day. The Ethiopian Orthodox church (part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, having about 40 million members) observes both Saturday and Sunday as holy, but places extra emphasis on Sunday. See also Edit Lord's Day Observance Society Sabbath in Christianity Saint Kyriake References Edit ^ Roger T. Beckwith (2001). Calendar and Chronology, Jewish and Christian: Biblical, Intertestamental and Patristic Studies. BRILL. pp. 47–. ISBN 0-391-04123-1. ^ Mt. 12:8 ^ Is. 58:13–14 ^ The Companion Bible E. W. Bullinger Verse 1 The first day of the week = On the first (day) of the Sabbaths (plural) Greek. Te mia ton sabbaton. The word “day” is rightly supplied, as mia is feminine, and so must agree with a feminine noun understood, while sabbaton is neuter." ^ "14:1". Didache. Roberts, trans. Early Christian Writings. ^ Holmes, M. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. ^ a b Archer, Gleason L. An Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (PDF). p. 114. ^ Strand, Kenneth A. (1982). The Sabbath in Scripture and History. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. pp. 347–8. In Morgan, Kevin (2002). Sabbath Rest. TEACH Services. pp. 37–8. ^ Ignatius of Antioch. "Epistle to the Magnesians, Shorter Version". 9. Roberts, trans. Early Christian Writings. ^ Ignatius of Antioch. "Epistle to the Magnesians, Longer Version". 9. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. ^ a b c Socrates Scholasticus. "Church History, Book V". For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this. The Egyptians in the neighborhood of Alexandria, and the inhabitants of Thebaïs, hold their religious assemblies on the sabbath, but do not participate of the mysteries in the manner usual among Christians in general: for after having eaten and satisfied themselves with food of all kinds, in the evening making their offerings they partake of the mysteries. ^ a b c Sozomen. "Ecclesiastical History, Book VII". Assemblies are not held in all churches on the same time or manner. The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria. There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries. ^ Gospel of Peter Translated by Raymond Brown ^ Roberts, Alexander (1873). Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, and Revelations. 16. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. p. 446. ^ Bargil Pixner, The Church of the Apostles found on Mount Zion, Biblical Archaeology Review 16.3 May/June 1990 [1] ^ a b c d e Bauckham, R.J. (1982). "Sabbath and Sunday in the Post-Apostolic Church". In Carson, Don A. From Sabbath to Lord's Day. Wipf & Stock Publishers/Zondervan. pp. 252–98. ISBN 9781579103071. ^ a b Bauckham, R.J. (1982). "The Lord's Day". In Carson, Don A. From Sabbath to Lord's Day. Wipf & Stock Publishers/Zondervan. pp. 221–50. ISBN 9781579103071. ^ See Bardaisan (c. 154), Cyprian (c. 200), and Victorinus of Pettau (c. 280). ^ Robertson, A.T. Redating the New Testament. ^ Barnabas. "Epistle of Barnabas". 2, 15. Roberts, trans. 'And your new moons and sabbaths I cannot endure.' He has therefore abolished these things .... Ye perceive how He speaks: Your present Sabbaths are not acceptable to Me, but that is which I have made, [namely this,] when, giving rest to all things, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day, that is, a beginning of another world. Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead. And when He had manifested Himself, He ascended into the heavens. ^ a b Justin Martyr. "First Apology". 67. ^ Justin Martyr. "Dialogue with Trypho". 21. ^ Justin Martyr. "Dialogue with Trypho". 23. ^ Justin Martyr. "Dialogue with Trypho". 41. ^ Justin Martyr. "Dialogue with Trypho". 26. ^ Tertullian. "On Idolatry". 14. By us, to whom Sabbaths are strange, and the new moons and festivals formerly beloved by God, the Saturnalia and New-year's and Midwinter's festivals and Matronalia are frequented--presents come and go--New-year's gifts--games join their noise--banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself! Not the Lord's day, not Pentecost, even it they had known them, would they have shared with us; for they would fear lest they should seem to be Christians. We are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathens! If any indulgence is to be granted to the flesh, you have it. I will not say your own days, but more too; for to the heathens each festive day occurs but once annually: you have a festive day every eighth day. ^ Tertullian. "Ad Nationes". 1:13. Others, with greater regard to good manners, it must be confessed, suppose that the sun is the god of the Christians, because it is a well-known fact that we pray towards the east, or because we make Sunday a day of festivity. ^ Cyprian. "Letter LVIII". ^ Beckwith, R.T.; Stott, W. (1978). This Is the Day. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott. ^ Jewett, Paul King (1971). The Lord's Day. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ^ Bacchiocchi, Samuele (1977). From Sabbath to Sunday. Pontifical Gregorian University Press; Biblical Perspectives. ^ Given the 7th day of March, Crispus and Constantine being consuls each of them for the second time. Codex Justinianus, lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; translated by Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3 (1902), p. 380, note. ^ R. J. Bauckham (1982), D. A. Carson, ed., "Sabbath and Sunday in the medieval church in the west", From Sabbath to Lord's Day, Zondervan: 299–310 ^ Harline, Craig (2007). Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Super Bowl. New York, NY: Doubleday. pp. 28–31. ISBN 978-0-385-51039-4. ^ a b R. J. Bauckham (1982), D. A. Carson, ed., "Sabbath and Sunday in the Protestant tradition", From Sabbath to Lord's Day, Zondervan: 311–342 ^ Pope Paul VI. Sacrosanctum Concilium. December 4, 1963. ^ John Paul II. Encyclical Letter. Dies Domini. July 5, 1998. Further reading Edit From Sabbath to Lord's Day: A Biblical, Historical and Theological Investigation, D.A. Carson, editor (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1982). The Study of Liturgy, Cheslyn Jones, Geoffrey Wainwright, Edward Yarnold, SJ, and Paul Bradshaw, editors (New York, N.Y.:Oxford University Press, 1992), pp. 456–458. External links Edit Dies Domini, Pope John Paul II, On Keeping the Lord's Day Holy Sabbath and Sunday in Early Christianity, Part 3: Irenaeus, and "the Lord's Day" Francis Turretin, On the Lord's Day Last edited 3 days ago by Oshwah RELATED ARTICLES Sabbath in Christianity Biblical Sabbath Sabbatarianism Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Terms of UsePrivacyDesktop

Sabatarianism and Puritan

Open main menu Search EditWatch this page Puritan Sabbatarianism Sabbath Eve, painting by Alexander Johnston. Puritan Sabbatarianism[1] or Reformed Sabbatarianism, often just Sabbatarianism,[2] is observance of Sabbath in Christianity that is typically characterised by devotion of the entire day to worship, and consequently the avoidance of recreational activities. Unlike seventh-day Sabbatarians, Puritan Sabbatarians practice first-day Sabbatarianism (Sunday Sabbatarianism), keeping Sunday as Sabbath and referring to it as the Lord's Day. Puritan Sabbath, expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith, is often contrasted with Continental Sabbath:[3][4] the latter follows the Continental Reformed confessions such as the Heidelberg Catechism, which emphasise rest and worship on the Lord's Day, but do not forbid recreational activities.[5][non-primary source needed] However, John Calvin believed Christians were commanded to avoid recreation as well as work on Sunday in order to devote the day to worship,[6] and during the seventeenth century there was consensus among continental as well as British Reformed theologians that the entire Sabbath was to be set aside for worship.[7] Origins Edit While John Calvin's theology of the fourth commandment differed from that of the Puritans, he believed that Christians were commanded to cease from labor and recreation in order to devote the entire day to worship.[6] The Genevan Consistory during the time of Calvin regularly interviewed people for working or engaging in recreation considered inappropriate for spiritual refreshment such as hunting, dancing, banqueting, playing tennis or billiards, or bowling skittles on Sundays.[8] During the Vestiarian controversy, Reformers were spurred to develop the regulative principle of worship, a fundamental article that no corporate worship is permissible that does not have the sanction of Scripture, whether stated explicitly, or derived by a necessary deduction from Scripture.[1] By the 17th century, Puritans had applied the regulative principle to devote first-day Sabbath entirely to God, indulging in neither the labors nor the recreations common to the other six days.[1] History Edit The Sabbath Breakers by J.C. Dollman. Sunday Sabbatarianism as jure divino or divinely ordained command, in contrast to non-Sabbatarian and antinomian reliance on Christian liberty, thus was a closely linked development to the regulative principle amongst English Protestants over the 17th century.[1] Stricter observance of Lord's Day arose in England and Scotland, in reaction to the Prelatic laxity with which Sunday observance was customarily kept, which included recreations classified as lawful. Opposed also by seventh-day Sabbatarians John Traske, Theophilus Brabourne, and the Seventh-day Baptists, some Puritans stated that Sabbath was a proportion (one-seventh) rather than a particular day (either Saturday or Sunday),[1] while others further specifically identified the first day as Christian Sabbath.[9] Though there are slight differences between confessional formulations of British and continental European Reformed churches, in the seventeenth century there came to be a consensus among the Reformed that the Sabbath should be devoted primarily to the worship of God.[7] Puritan Sabbatarianism is enshrined in its most mature expression, the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), in the Calvinist theological tradition (Chapter 21, Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day, sections 7-8):[9] 7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. 8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe a holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. A recreation ground on Raasay displaying a sign "Please do not use this playing field on Sundays". Jonathan Edwards delivered three sermons on The Perpetuity and Change of the Sabbath that are central to Puritan tradition.[1] The first sermon emphasises Sabbath as an immutable, divine natural and positive law (as to proportion), while the second emphasises an alteration of "another law, which determined the beginning and ending of their working days" (as to order); the first day of creation is regarded as unknowable, and the weekday assigned to Sabbath regarded as not revealed until the Exodus.[1][10] The third sermon regards the proper keeping of Sabbath: "We are strictly to abstain from being outwardly engaged in any worldly thing, either worldly business or recreations," because "the sabbath-day is an accepted time, a day of salvation, a time wherein God especially loves to be sought, and loves to be found."[10] Reformed Sabbatarian theologian G. I. Williamson[11] accordingly suggests that "television, reading of newspapers and magazines, and engaging in sports and excursions ... are not proper to the Sabbath because 'Sabbath' means to cease from these things in order to give one day exclusively to worship and the reading of God's Word, etc." The cessation described entails all engrossing activities of the six days of the week, whether employment or recreations, and thus specifically excludes ceasing only from work while continuing favorite recreations.[9] Williamson affirms striving toward holiness, calling it a lofty goal to avoid "even thoughts and words about our worldly employments or recreations."[12] Though modern expression of Puritan Sabbath has been caricatured as being boring, organisations that promote Sabbaths as joyous, delightful appointments include Day One Christian Ministries.[13] Historical theologian R. Scott Clark has criticized the idea that distinct "Puritan" and "Continental" views on the Sabbath exist, instead arguing that the Reformed have historically agreed that recreation is prohibited on Sunday.[14] In the United States throughout the nineteenth century, Protestant moralists organized the "Sabbath reform" that pushed for stricter Sunday keeping. Their efforts prompted the enforcement of Sunday laws (often called blue laws) that legally barred a variety of activities on Sundays. The enforcement of Sunday laws gave rise to substantial church-state debates as well as minority-rights movements fueled by the resistance of Jews, Seventh Day Baptists, Catholics, and other religious minorities.[15] See also Edit Lord's Day Sabbath desecration Sabbath in Christianity References Edit ^ a b c d e f g Dennison Jr., James. "The Perpetuity and Change of the Sabbath". Ligonier Ministries. ^ Cramb, Auslan (13 April 2006). "The 'sinners' set sail for the Hebrides". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2012. ^ Marsden, George (1991). Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. Eerdmans. p. 25. ISBN 9780802805393. ^ Bromiley, G. W. "Lord's Day". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Eerdmans. pp. 158–160. ^ Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 103. ^ a b Coldwell, Chris (2007). "Calvin in the Hands of the Philistines: Or Did Calvin Bowl on the Sabbath?". Naphtali Press. ^ a b Gaffin, Richard B. Jr. (2004). "Westminster and the Sabbath". In Duncan, J. Ligon III. The Westminster Confession into the 21st Century. 1. Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus. pp. 123–124. ^ Manetsch, Scott M. (2013). Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536–1609. Oxford Studies in Historical Theology. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 131. Between 1542 and 1609, the Consistory frequently interviewed and sometimes reprimanded people for working on Sunday, whether for pruning trees, making lace, selling tripe, unloading boats, hunting birds, or moving furniture. The Consistory also disciplined people for engaging in recreational activities on Sunday that were deemed inappropriate for spiritual refreshment, such as hunting, dancing, banqueting, playing tennis or billiards, or bowling skittles. When Sunday labor was born out of service to the community rather than avarice, the ministers normally showed leniency. ^ a b c Williamson, G. I. (1978). The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes. Presbyterian and Reformed. pp. 170, 173. ^ a b Edwards, Jonathan (1839). "The Works of Jonathan Edwards". pp. 93–103. ^ Bright, Steve (2003). "Sabbath Keeping and the New Covenant". Christian Research Journal. Christian Research Institute. 26 (2). ^ Williamson, G. I. (1977) [1970]. The Shorter Catechism. 2. Tyson, Thomas, illus. Presbyterian and Reformed. p. 47. ^ Olyott, Stuart. "Why Sunday?". Day One Christian Ministries. Retrieved 25 May 2012. ^ Clark, R. Scott (2 September 2013). "Are There Two Distinct Reformed Views Of The Sabbath?". Heidelblog. Retrieved 9 September 2013. Clark, R. Scott (13 January 2007). The Law and the Sabbath. The Law of God and the Christian. Escondido, CA: Westminster Seminary California. Retrieved 9 September 2013. ^ Volk, Kyle G. (2014). Moral Minorities and the Making of American Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press. Last edited 2 months ago by Ernio48 RELATED ARTICLES Sabbath in Christianity Sabbath desecration Sabbatarianism Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Terms of UsePrivacyDesktop