The Wonderful Fall Holy Days of YHWH; our Elohim
A Study, by Yac'ob
As
we have seen from our study of the spring Holy Days; these Days of YHWH’s
choosing are set according to His calendar.
His Calendar was given millennia prior to the Roman-Gregorian calendar
which most of us are so familiar with. The first month of the Sacred
(or Set-Apart) calendar is NISAN,
which roughly corresponds with March-April. It is first mentioned in the
scriptures in Exodus/Shemoth
12: 2.
Now
that we have established the first month we can move along to the first of the
Fall Holy Days.
In
Leviticus/Wayyiqra 23: 23-25 we
find that we (the children of Israel) are to count seven months from the
beginning of NISAN. This brings
us to the month of TISHREI ! On
the first day of that month we are commanded to hold a set-apart gathering, it
is to be a day of rest, and there is to be the blowing of trumpets (or shofars).
It was also commanded that an offering be made by fire, but because the Temple
and it’s Alter have been destroyed, this is no longer possible. And because
of the perfect sacrifice of Messiah, is no longer necessary. This day is known
in the Torah as The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) or in Hebrew as Rosh
Hashanah. This feast is also found in Numbers/Bimadar
29: 1-6 where a more detailed list of the offerings and sacrifices
required, is listed. The term Rosh Hashanah
literally means “head of the year” or as we in the western
world would say, “new years”. This may seem odd to us in the western
cultures, but the Hebrew new year does not begin with the first month, rather;
it begins with the seventh month. To better understand this concept, we need
to think in terms of numerical values.
According to scriptures, what is the number of ‘completeness’? It
is the number 7 of course. Now recall which month is
TISHREI, thus we see that it is the month of ‘completeness’,
therefore completing the year.
Another
level at which we can look at this is in terms of the days of the week, both
the literal week and the millennial week.. The end of the literal 6
days of work and the beginning of the 7th (Shabbat), was marked in
ancient Israel by the blowing of the shofar. In those days a “watchman”
would stand on one of the hills outside the city and watch the sun descend
upon the horizon. As soon as the sun touched the horizon, (although some
sources claim ‘as soon as the sun had gone beyond the horizon’) the
watchman would blow the shofar, thus signifying that all business transactions
and other menial work was to desist.
Looking
at it from the millennial perspective, we understand that Abba, Elohim gave
man 6 thousand years to reign over himself. To do his own thing. But the
millennial rest begins at the outset of the last thousand years. Read Revelations
11:15; I
Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Matthew/Mattithyahu 24: 31 (It is best to
read the entire chapter 24, for the sake of clarity).
It
is this millennial aspect that we, as followers of Yashua, look forward to
with great anticipation, and therefore, as we celebrate Rosh
Hashanah, ‘the head of the year’, we visualize, and anticipate
the return of Ha Messiah (“with the sound of the trumpet”) Matt.
24: 30-31; I Cor. 15: 52. Beginning the millennial reign of The Kingdom of
YHWH.
We will notice also that this is a day when it was commanded that the trumpet,
(or shofar) be sounded. According to Talmudic
traditions, the blessing of this day was not so much the blowing of
the shofar, as it was the hearing of the shofar’s blest. Another meaning for
Tehuah is “an awakening blast or shout” which gives new meaning to Zechariah/Zekaryah
9:9 and Ephesians 5:14. Also we note that these are the last days
of repentance (teshuvah) before Yom Kippur. The 30 days prior to Trumpets is a
very important time for repentance of our sins. When we consider the deep
meaning of Yom Kippur, (or The Day of Atonement) we can understand more
clearly why this had become known as a time of teshuvah/repentance. Teshuvah
ends on Atonement.
One more aspect about Rosh Hashanah that we need to recognize is that it is
considered a time of Judgment. Again looking forward to Yom Kippur, (a time
when we become at one with Elohim) we are able to recognize that this judgment
is reserved for the saints. (This will become more obvious as we search out
the symbolic messages in The Feast of Tabernacles and The Last Great Day.) Baruch
HaShem Yahuah!! Adonai Echad!
The next of the fall Holy
Days follows 10 days latter. Of all of the Holy days, this is the most solemn
of all, and with good reason, as we shall see.
First
let us return to Lev./Way. 23:27-37. In
verse 28
we see that this as called The Day of
Atonement. To best understand why this day was to be held in a most
solemn way, we need to fully understand what Atonement means. Let’s go to
Webster’s dictionary. Atone:
a verb meaning to expiate, or make amends. Atonement:
a noun, 1) expiation, reparation. 2) the
redemption of mankind by the death of Christ.
So
we see that The Day of Atonement
is a memorial to the redemption mankind through the Atoning death of Yahshua
Ha Mashiach. But, (you may observe) Atonement was established before
Messiah! Good point! So let’s go now to Lev./Way.17:
11. Here we read that the blood (pure and clean) upon the alter is
what makes Atonement for sins. Read also Hebrews/Ibrim
9: 22.
As we consider the many sacrifices Elohim commanded in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, we begin to understand this concept of blood atonement. The problem with animal blood offered as atonement, was that it was only temporary. That is to say, it covered the current sins, but not the future sins, so blood sacrifices were needed on a continual basis.
Let’s go back and take a deeper look at the very specifics concerning the Atonement sacrifices prior to Ha Messiah.
Lev./Way. 16: 2-34 gives us those specifics, while verse
1 tells us why Yahuah had to give these instructions. Aaron, the
high priest had 2 sons who decided to take it upon themselves to go into the
Holy of Holies, The Set-Apart Place to offer incense toYHWH in a way other
then that which YHWH had commanded, (we read this in greater detail in Lev./Way
10:1 + 3.) Because they failed to obey the commands of YHWH, they
were consumed be a fire. Going back to 16:
2+29-34, these scriptures verify that we are talking about The
Day of Atonement. Now concerning the blood sacrifice. First we see
that in order for the high priest to make atonement for himself and his
family, (before he can enter the Holy of Holies), he must first sacrifice a
bull as an offering. Remember that this sacrifice only covers the high priest
and his family, 16:6. Vrs.7-22
tells us about 2 goats that are a part of the Atonement offering for the rest
of the people. As we read the instructions YHWH gives, we see that ‘lots’
are cast over the 2 goats. One is to become an Atonement offering, the other
is led before YHWH. The high priest then lays his hands upon the goat’s head
and confesses all the sins and transgressions of the people. Thus those sins
and transgressions are placed upon that goat, which is then led into the
wilderness and turned loose. This goat is known as the Azazel goat, and is
symbolic of Ha satan, who will have the atoned sins of the world, laid upon
his head. Going back to the goat, which is to become the sin offering of the
people, Vrs.9. Since the high
priest has already offered the bull as his personal sin offering, it is
obvious that that goat is thus the sin offering for the people. The high
priest was then to take the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat into
the Holy of Holies, to sprinkle it upon the Ark of the Covenant. This was
the only time of the year that the high priest was to enter into the Holy of
Holies. 16: 29-34.
Now that we have
established the basics of the sacrifices; namely that the blood of the bull,
and the blood of the goat was shed for the atonement of sins; and that the
high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies only once a year, in order
to sprinkle the blood of the sin sacrifices upon the Ark; we are ready to see
the symbolism and recognize the fulfillment of this ritual, and it’s
importance to us as followers of Messiah, Yahushua.
Let us now turn to Hebrews/Ibrim
9:11-14; 22-24; and Chpt 10: 1-25. There are several issues we need
to carefully examine here. We will start with vrs.
11 where we read that Yahushua Ha Messiah has now become our High
Priest, as High Priest He stands before Abba Yahuwah in the Heavenly Temple.
(The “more perfect Tent not made with hands.” The
Scriptures) Since; living in the human flesh, Yahushua was able to
live His life perfectly following the Torah, He has qualified to become the
High Priest. Vrs. 12 Having
become our High Priest, (and having lived Torah perfectly) He has qualified to
enter The Holy of Holies, (The Most Set-Apart Place, The
Scriptures); “once for all” (again The
Scriptures) This means that He has entered The Holy of Holies for
all time. Being Elohim, He is omnipresent, meaning He can be there and
elsewhere all at the same time. And He has done this through His own blood,
“ having obtained everlasting redemption.” Vrs.13-14.
We should also note here that at the time of Yahshua’s death the
curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place; (that room just
before the Holy of Holies; where the incense offering was offered, and where
the Table of Showbread along with the Lampstands were located), was torn from
top to bottom. This supernatural rending of the curtain was The Father’s way
of showing us that we all now have complete access to that Holy of Holies through
Yahshua. Baruch HaShem Yahushua!
Now lets move forward to Vrs.
22-24; and notice the phrase “almost all” in connection with
redemption. Does this mean that not all sin can be redeemed? Yes!
Now turn to Matt. 12:31-32. Here
we see reference to the unpardonable sin. But it is important to notice that
this is the only sin, which will not be redeemed.
The act of the Atonement sacrifice pre-Messiah, was a picture of the
Perfect Sacrifice; The Pure, and Righteous blood of Yahshua HaMessiah. Hebrews/Ibrim
9:13-14 + 10:12-14. The perfect and righteous blood of Yahshua
cleanses us for all time. But it
only does so as we confess and repent of those sins. This is a
continual process.
As we have seen so far: Abba Father, established the Holy Days with
His Chosen people, Israel: and they were to keep them perpetually, that is,
forever! Lev./Way.16: 29 “This
is to be a lasting ordinance for you”,”This
shall be for you, a Law forever”. Now, before we leave this
aspect of Atonement, there is one more ordinance concerning Atonement that we
are to observe.. Continue reading verse 29,
we are commanded to “afflict’ or “deny” ourselves. Let’s re-read Lev./way.
23:26-32. Since the written Law here is somewhat vague as to the
meaning of ‘afflict” or “deny”, we must resort to the oral traditions
or what is know as The Oral Torah, which is and has been the traditions of the
Hebrew peoples. Yom Kippur or The
Day of Atonement is traditionally a day of fasting.( “Denying”
oneself was to deny of food and drink,) this
is something everyone who was in good health was to practice. It must be noted
here that there were exceptions made to this total fast, for health conditions
and age only and usually; the priests themselves established those limits and
exceptions. Nonetheless, we are obliged to fast upon this day, and even those
who; for health reasons, cannot abstain from food and/or drink: should
consider something that they can give up, (or afflict themselves with). The
key word here is afflict or deny.
Why must we afflict ourselves? Because our Savior gave us the example, the
perfect example, of affliction. This very affliction of Yahshua, and our
remembrance of it, is the very reason that we are to hold this day in a solemn
manner.
We will now move to the last of the Holy Days festivals
ordained be Yahuah, our Adonai!
We now return to Lev./Way 23:34-35.
Here we find another festival in the seventh month. In the K.J.V. this is
called the Feast of Tabernacles; in The
Scriptures it is referred to as The Feast of Booths; The Hebrew
term used for this festival is Sukkot. All of these refer to a temporary
dwelling, which was to be erected and stayed in the duration of this festival.
As we see in verse 34 this
festival was to last for seven days. The first day is a High Day, that is to
say, it is a day of rest, when no servile work was to be done. It is also a
commanded ‘set-apart’ gathering, or as the King James words it,” a Holy
convocation” (vrs 35).
Although it is to be a seven-day festival, we notice in vrs
36 that another High Day in which no one is to work and all are to
be gathered together follows it. We will also notice that this eighth day is
to be a solemn assembly. (We will discuss that later).
In Lev./Way.23:
37-43 we are given more detail for the keeping of The Feast, while Numbers/Bemidbar
29:12-39 goes into the sacrificial aspect of Tabernacles. We notice
in Lev./Way.23: 39 that The
Feast is associated with the harvest, and in vrs
40 we find 2 interesting elements: 1) The very material for the
building of the sukkot or tabernacles is listed. 2) We notice at the end of
the verse that we are commanded to “rejoice before the Lord Your G-d seven
days”. This is the only festival with the command to ‘rejoice’. (see
also Deut./Debarim 16:14) This
Feast celebrated not only the harvest or in-gathering, but it also celebrated
Israel’s redemption from Egypt, and the dwelling with temporary dwellings
while in the days of wandering.
In the times of the New Testament (Brit
Hadashah) Sukkot was a major celebration, referred to mostly as “The
Feast”. It was a time of great celebration of food and drink. Since
provisions had been made through ‘the second tithe’, this was a time of
year when one generally had an abundance of monies. (See Deut./Debarim
14:22-27 and notice phrase
“and you shall eat before YHWH your Elohim, in the place where HE chooses to
make HIS name dwell”. Now turn to Deut./Deb.
16:15 It is obvious that these 2 scriptures are talking about one
and the same festival.) If for whatever reason, one did not have the funds
needed for this Festival, they were to depend upon those who had plenty to
share with them. We will also notice the in the above scriptures, The Levites;
who had no inheritance, were to be provided for as well.
Let us return to Lev./Way. 23:36.
Here we see that although the Feast was to be held for seven days, now we find
that there is an eighth day added to it. Now turn to Num./Bemidbar
29:35. Here we will notice that it is no longer a time of
rejoicing, but rather, we are commanded to hold it as a solemn assembly.
In John/Yochanan
7:37 we find Yahshua teaching in the Temple, and the teaching He is
giving is very relevant to the Feast..
We also notice that we now have a name for this eighth day festival. It is
referred to as “The Last Great Day”,
for it was the last day of the festival, and it was also the last High Day
until the 1st month of Nisan.
Again, not a lot of particulars are given us concerning the keeping of this
High Day.
When we take all of the Holy Days together and notice the significance of each
one, we begin to see a picture unfold before our eyes. Let us rehearse the
spring Holy Days and their symbolism.
The first mentioned Holy
Day mentioned in connection with the Feasts’ of YWHW is
Shabbat (Sabbath) WE find this
in Lev./Way. 23:2-4 where it is
listed as a weekly Feast to be celebrated unto YHWH. We also notice that it is
“a Holy convocation” (K.J.V.) ; “Set-Apart gathering” (The
Scriptures). Thus, it is a day when we are commanded to gather
together to worship, learn, and fellowship. We also find in Ex./
Shemoth 31:16-17 that the Shabbat is an Eternal
Covenant between YHWH and His people. It is in fact, a
part of the marriage covenant
made with the bride Israel at Sinai.
Now we read in Lev./Way.
23: 5 concerning Passover/Pesach,
this is held on the 14th day of the first month,
Nisan, at evening. We remember back to Ex./Shemoth
12:3-13 where the Israelites were commanded to take a yearling lamb
that was blemish free on the 10th day of Nisan.
They were to let this lamb live with them until the 14th day, when
it was to be slain. (Just as Yahshua was to live with HIS people before He was
slain.) The blood of this slain lamb was to be spread upon the entranceway of
their houses, (doorposts and lentils). The symbolism of the blood of our
Savior Yahshua, the Lamb of Elohim, is so obvious that even most Christians
accept this. Verse 14 calls this
day a memorial, and commands that it be kept throughout our generations.
In Lev./Way.
23:6 we find that immediately following Passover is The
Feast of Unleavened Bread. In verses
18-19 it states that we are to eat unleavened bread every day of
this festival, and there is to be no leaven or leavened products found
within our homes. Here again we see the symbolism to our spiritual lives. In Matt.
16:6 we see Yahshua referring to leaven, and likening it to sin. So
the symbolic picture we see is: Passover=
our sins are covered by Messiah’s blood. Unleavened Bread=a time to remove
leaven/sin from our lives/homes. We also notice on the “morrow
after the Shabbat” Lev./Way. 23:11
that the priest is to take a sheaf of the first fruits (grain) of the harvest,
vrs 10; and offer it as a wave
offering. Yahshua fulfilled this aspect of the eave offering, as He was the
first fruit of the Kingdom.
Now for the last of the spring Holy Days, Pentecost/Shavout.
Because the reckoning of the time for this Feast Day to be held is always
figured counting from the day after the Shabbat during Unleavened Bread a week
of weeks (another name for this festival is The Feast of Weeks), or 49 days;
the Shavout always comes upon the first day of the week. (The name Pentecost,
which means count fifty, comes from counting from the Shabbat rather then the
day following the Shabbat.) We again find this Feast listed in Lev./Way.
23: 16-21 along with the terms for keeping this day. Apart from the
sin offerings, there are 2 very important aspects of this day we need to
grasp. 1) It is a High Day, (meaning a Holy convocation) which is to be
kept… “ A Law forever in all your dwellings throughout your
generations.” (The Scriptures).
2) The priest was to present a wave offering, which consisted of bread, baked
from the first fruits of the grain, along with leaven. We who are called as
followers of Yahshua are considered the first fruits. (See James/Ya’aqob
1; 18) We also see another fulfillment of YHWH’s plan in Acts
2:1-21, refer to Joel/Yo’el
2:28-32. Yahshua promised His followers that the “comforter”,
the Rauch Ha Kodesh would come to them after He ascended.
John/Yohanan 14:16,25-26; 15:26; 16:7.
As we can readily recognize, the symbolic meaning of the spring Holy
Days have been fulfilled in part. And as such we begin to see The Plan of
Salvation being exposed to us. Redemption. Putting away sin. The pouring out
upon us of the Rauch HaKodesh. As we look at these spring Holy Days, we begin
to realize their fulfillment upon the ‘Set-Apart ones as a group and in each
of our lives individually. Then comes the long summer months with no Holy
Days, much like the season or age in which we find ourselves today, yet we are
rapidly approaching the fulfillment of those fall Feasts.
Now
we are ready to look at what the future brings, as the fall festivals have yet
to see this level of fulfillment.
The Feast of Trumpets, as we have seen, symbolizes the triumphant
return of our KING of kings; Yahshua HaMashiach. Matt.24:29-31;
I Corinthians 15:50-52; + Rev. 11:15. Even as in ancient
Israel trumpets and shofars were used to get the peoples attention concerning
a great event; such as war, meetings, coronations, and such; so YHWH will have
the angels sound the trumpets to this most important event. As we keep the
Feast of Trumpets, we blow the shofar and trumpets in joyful anticipation of
Yahshua’s reign.
Day of Atonement, a
day when we solemnly remember the supreme sacrifice of our Atonement Lamb. And
as that blood, so Righteous and Pure, is sprinkled upon the Ark
of the Covenant, (that covenant being a wedding covenant between
Yahshua and His bride; us) we consider how that blood gives us at-one-ment
with Elohim. We also consider Gen.2:
24; When we truly become one with Abba.
The Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day period of feasting,
rejoicing, and giving honor and glory to YHWH. A time that pictures the very
millennium itself. A time to remember the promises in Isaiah/Yeshayahu
25: 6-8; 11:1-11; Micah/Mikah 4:1-7; Zechariah/Zekaryah 8: 3-5.
Yahshua not only attended the Feast, but spent time teaching during the Feast
as well.
Jn/Yohanan 7:2-10, 14.
Yahweh
holds the Feast in such high regard that HE proclaimed that anyone; in the
Messianic millennial period, who does not go up to keep the Feast of
Tabernacles, will receive no rain, (important for the growing of food and
drink.). Zech./Zek.14: 16-21
The Last Great Day,
which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles, is a High Shabbat. A day
of rest and a Holy convocation. It is a solemn day. Why a solemn occasion?
Let’s look at what John the Revealer has to say concerning the millennial
period and we will get an idea of it’s symbolism.
Rev. 20: 4-6 speaks of the first
resurrection and how those who are a part of it live and reign with
the Messiah for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years we notice 2
important occurrences. 1) Verse 7,
satan is to be freed from his prison. 2)
Verse 5,a second resurrection takes place. These are those who are
not among the saints. Verses 8-9
tell us that satan is going to lead one last rebellion. Those in that
rebellion will include those who died in the tribulation “cursing Elohim”.
Rev. 16:9,11,21; + 9:20. Return to Rev.20:
11-15 and we see another name used for The Last Great Day; it is The
Great White Throne Judgment. So The Last Great Day pictures
wonderfully, the Day of Judgment upon all of those who were not a part of the
first resurrection and judgment of the saints.
These
are the Holy Days established by YHWH! Praise, glory, and honor be HIS
forever, Amien.