Days of Noah vs. Lot & Today.

Solomon had great wisdom and insight he said :

Everything that happens has happened before;

nothing is new,

nothing under the sun.

In Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 he wrote:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Taking this together with what Messiah Yeshua/Jesus told us confirming this fact in Matthew 24 and Luke 17:26—37 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom. 

Yeshua/Jesus said that the days of Noah and Lot would be like the days just prior to His return and the establishment of His Kingdom.

We hear this referred to many times and even more lately in light of recent events… wars and rumors of wars…

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Matthew 24:6-8

This certainly sounds like things that are happening right now….

Maybe we should take another look at what the days of Noah and those of Lot were really like and compare them? It may give us more of an indication if our days are similar to theirs.

We are told that most people will be going about their normal activities, unaware of the times. When He returns, society will be degenerate and wicked, just as it was before the Flood came. 

In the days of Noah and the days of Lot, only one family was protected. Yeshua/Jesus compared both to the End Times, so the same will be true just before His return. 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. 

The Hebrew phrase,

acharit ha-yamim – אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים

often translated,

“latter days”

refers to the “end of days, or “last days”,

mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, and points to a critical period late in human history. 

The Greek phrase “in the last days” 

ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις

also refers to the prophesied “End of Days,”.

Strong’s Hebrew: 319.

אַחֲרִית (acharith)

— the after-part, end

The Lord God told Noah and Abraham for Lot, that judgement was at hand. Yeshua/Jesus was telling us that it will be the same just before His return.

Here are some similarities and differences between the two events, as we read them, how many are in evident in the world today?

In the days of Noah wickedness was universal.

In Lots’ days wickedness was universal and we read of the five cities that God destroyed.

The events before the destruction, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness not allowing the wickedness to affect his family.

Whereas Lot moved into the wicked city of Sodom and the evil of the city vexed his righteous soul. Lot offered to give his daughters to the wicked men of the city.

God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 6:13.

God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 19:23.

Noah saw the violence that existed during this time but no violence was committed against him.

Lot saw the violence that existed during his time and experienced violence against him from the homosexual men of Gomorrah.

Regarding Family: Noah’s sons married wives who became righteous removing themselves from the wicked society.

Lots daughters were betrothed to wicked men these men were destroyed in the wicked society.

Noah and his sons and their wives were in unity in their beliefs and their work on the ark. They stood together against those who were wicked in that generation.

Lot and his family had no family unity. His sons were not even in contact with him. His daughters were influenced by the wickedness of Sodom and his wife turned back and was destroyed.

The judgment in Noah’s time lasted many days. Genesis 1:11, 8:14.

The judgment and lots times lasted only part of the day. Genesis 19:23-27.

The judgment of the flood even included the highest mountains.

The judgment on Lot’s time was only in the valleys.

Noah brought living animals out of the judgment.

No animals were saved in the location of the judgment in Lots time.

God caused His Spirit to pass over the waters to cause the waters to subside. Genesis 8:1.

There is no mention of Spirit in the destruction in Lots time.

Noah did not know that judgment was over until God told him to leave the ark.

Lot did not know when the judgment was over and he feared that there was more to come so he fled to a cave even though judgment had ended.

Noah was not vexed by evil, he found grace in the eyes of God. Genesis 6:9. God said that Noah was a righteous man in the midst of an evil generation. It does not say that Noah was vexed by their unrighteous deeds. Righteousness is defined as keeping the Commandments of God in other words keeping Torah.

Lot was vexed by evil and apparently he had not told his family to keep the way of Torah according to 2Peter 2:8. He lived in Sodom one of the five cities that were destroyed.

Noah was told to gather food for himself and the animals.

Lot was not told to gather food.

Noah knew of the coming judgment he had been told by God that the earth was going to be destroyed by a flood 100 years before it happened. Genesis 6:13. After the ark was built, God told Noah that the flood was going to start in seven days. Genesis 7:4 There was no panic just simple obedience to God’s command.

Lot did not know of the coming judgment that God was going to bring on the city until the angels came to take them out of it. Abraham knew of the coming judgment because he commanded his children to follow the ways of God, however he interceded for the righteous in the cities that were to be destroyed.

Noah did all that God told him.

Lot argued with the angels about where he was to escape to. Genesis 19:18.

Noah and his sons worked for 100 years to prepare for the time of judgment.

Neither Lot nor his family worked to prepare for the coming judgment.

Noah was warned directly by God.

Angels brought the warning to Lot.

Noah was given specific plans

Lot was not given specific plans.

Noah was told that the judgment was on the whole world.

Lot was not told that the judgment was only on the five cities so he may have believed that it was on the whole world.

Noah was called a preacher of righteousness; and He preached repentance for 100 years to all who came to mock him for building the ark.

Lot had spoken little about righteousness as we can see by the reaction of those who wanted him to bring out the angels. Genesis 19:9.

As a preacher of righteousness, Noah and his family were known to be in opposition to the accepted way of life in his time, they did not fit in.

Lot and his family were well known in Sodom. Although he did not accept the life style of Sodom, he was not known to be in opposition to it until he objected his last night there. He also offered to give his daughters, something that Noah would have never done. Lot had lived in Sodom without affecting it for good. He and his family had fitted into life as usual there, he sat at the city gates which was a sign of a leader of the city. Genesis 19:1.

Sexual wickedness was rampant before the destruction, in the form of multiple wives one for pleasure and one for reproduction. This custom had started with Lamech and had progressed to rape and seduction. This was perpetrated by the sons of the rulers who took women by force, leaving children who never knew their father. When these children grew up they brought an increase in the violence in the world. Genesis 6:1-5.

Sexual wickedness before the destruction of Sodom had increased greatly in all the five cities. Homosexual men forced themselves on all strangers who had the misfortune to enter the city. Genesis 19:5.

Noah had a very close relationship with the Lord God and did not need anyone to intercede for him.

Lot may not have been saved if Abraham had did not interceded for him. Genesis 19:29.

The door was shut by God in Genesis 7:16.

The door was shut by angels in Genesis 19:10.

All of Noah’s family were saved because they obeyed God, however, none of the world was saved because they did not obey him. All of mankind are descendants of Noah and his sons after the flood.

Lot’s sons-in-law would not leave the city so they were destroyed. Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels instructions and she was destroyed. The men of the cities were destroyed because of their unrighteous deeds. Lot and his two daughters were saved by obeying although they did argue with the angels.

Conditions at the time of deliverance: Noah and his family walked onto the ark on the day the rain came. There was no panic or confusion, just obedience to God’s commands even though the earth was covered in violence/hamas.

With Lot and his family, there was panic and confusion and there was violence in the city of Sodom as well as in the other four cities.

Noah and his entire family including his daughters in law were taken into the Ark.

Lot and his family had to flee on foot, his sons in law would not leave the city and his wife looked back and they were destroyed.

Noah sent a raven and a dove to see if the waters were receding.

Lot and his daughters had no way to know if the judgment was over.

What was saved from the destruction? Noah saved all that he needed The Lord God told Noah to bring the animals on the Ark to save them. He had all that he needed to replenish after the flood was over.

Lot did not save anything. He was saved as someone who runs out of his burning house with nothing but clothes he was wearing. All his works were burned up.

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.… 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

The Lord God made a Covenant with Noah after the flood, to never again destroy the earth by water. He used the rainbow as a sign of the covenant. Genesis 8:20-22.

No covenant was made with Lot, however the Lord God did not make a covenant to never judge the earth by fire again.

After the destruction: Noah offered a sacrifice after the flood.

Lot was fearful of continuing destruction and fled to hide a cave.

Noah knew they were the only people left on earth and that they were to be fruitful and multiply.

Lots daughters believed that they were the last three people on the earth and could only repopulate the earth through incest with their father.

Noah and his sons were commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth and they did so. Genesis 9:1.

Lot and his daughters were not commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth but they did so in a sinful way.

God put the fear of man into all animals.

Lot and his daughters were fearful. Genesis 19:30.

Wine and sexual perversion after the destruction: Noah got drunk and was unaware of what took place. ‘His nakedness was seen by his son Ham.’

Lot got drunk and was unaware that his daughters had sexual relations with him.

God remembered Noah and caused the waters to subside.

Abraham, not Lot, was remembered by God and because of this, Lot was saved from the destruction of the fire. Genesis 19:29.

Dates are given for different stages of the judgment of the flood.

No date is given for the judgment by fire.

All mankind and all nations are descendants of Noah and his sons.

All of Lot’s descendants came through him and his daughters. Only the nations of Moab and Ammon, the two enemies of Israel came from Lot.

Honor and dishonor of their descendants: Noah’s descendants through Shem were men of honor whom the Lord God used; and this included Abraham, Isaac and Jacob together with Jacob’s 12 sons. God made a covenant with all of them. Some of Noah’s descendants through Ham were cursed; this included Amalek, who God said he would be at war with until the end of time.

Lot’s descendants were dishonored and were enemies of those under the Covenant. His descendants were born through incest with his own daughters , these are the people of Moab which means: ‘from father’. The other daughter named her son Benammi, which means: ‘son of my people.’ He became the father of the people of Ammon. This is the name of the capital of the nation of Jordan. Although Lot was related to Abraham, he did not follow in his ways.

The method of destruction: water destroyed the world in Noah’s day. Water is usually a substance that brings life because life cannot exist without it. The Lord God said He will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. Judgment came from the heavens and from the fountains of the deep.

Jude 1:7. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, of punishment.

Fire destroyed Sodom and the others cities in Lots’ day. Fire brings death and purification, the judgment came from the heavens. Genesis 19:23.We know that the destruction at the end of this age will be by fire. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The extent of judgment: In Noah’s day, all animal life on the earth except what lived in the oceans and those on the Ark. Plant life recovered after the flood without any help from Noah or his family.

In Lot’s day, all life in the area of the five cities including plant life did not recover because the sulfur caused the soil to become too acidic, there is little that grows there even today.

In Noah’s day the wicked had no idea of the coming judgment, they were doing all the normal things of daily life.

In Lot’s day the wicked did not know of the coming judgment, they too were doing all the normal things of daily life.

In Noah’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.

In Lot’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.

Noah and his family were not taken out of the world.

Those who were delivered from Lot’s family were not taken out of the world.

In Noah’s day the judgment started in the daytime when the fountains of the deep burst forth. Genesis 7:11.

In Lot’s day the judgment started in the evening when the angels came, but the fire fell at dawn. Genesis 19:1.

Noah and his family could not see the judgment because they were in the ark with the window and door shut.

Lot and his family were told not to look at the judgment but his wife did, and she was destroyed together with the wicked.

Noah preached righteousness for 100 years without one convert because there was great spiritual blindness in the people.

In Lot’s day, the angels caused the wicked people to be struck with physical blindness.

Noah and his family were the only eight people out of the whole world, so the ratio of those saved to those destroyed could easily have been 1 in 1 million.

Lot and his two daughters were saved out of several small cities. The ratio could have been 3 out of 3000 or 1 in 1000 as those cities were small.

Noah and his family were transported in the ark above the mountains, they did not need to do anything to escape.

Lot and his daughters had to flee on foot over the rough ground. They had to make their own way in their own strength and could not carry much with them; they never left the surface of the earth.

After the flood, Noah and his family had a large place to live on top of the mountains. He may well have lived in the Ark after the animals had left and their home would have been 450’ x 75’ with 15 foot ceilings. Those who are righteous when Messiah returns will live in the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven.

Lot and his daughters first went to the small city of Zoar then they became fearful and ended up living in a cave with very few possessions.

Those who are unrighteous and who see Messiah returning in great glory, will try to hide themselves in caves and rocks. Revelation 6:16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,

There are too many similarities today to the days of Noah and Lot to ignore and as violence/hamas is again filling the earth and Matthew 24:12 tells us because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Many are falling away from the faith. Now is the time for our light to shine in the darkness and offer the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. It is time to tell people there is forgiveness of sin and of the grace and mercy we can receive through Messiah to restore our relationship with His Heavenly Father. Messiahs sacrificial death at calvary was on purpose to redeem us and give us eternal life.

If you have not received Yeshua/Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord and if you are not certain where your eternal future lies…make sure right now. Today is the day of salvation for we do not know the day nor the hour of His return…let’s all be ready …time is running out..

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Midweek Mannabite-The Sound of the Shofar Trumpet

Heavens Door is Open – Are You Ready To Go Home?One Day the Trumpet will sound and He will return for His Bride…If this was your last day on earth…are you ready to meet the Lord?The reason for this question is that one day one of these years, the Lord Jesus our Messiah, Yeshua Ha Mashiach will return for us, His Bride, the congregation of His body of believers. The One New Man combination of Jewish and Gentile followers of I AM that I AM – Who IS The Way The Truth and The Life.          John 14:6,

Derech Emet Chaim 

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  Matt.24:36 KJV

For those who choose NOT to get ready, Jesus promises to come as a thief. Revelation 3:3 KJV This strongly suggests He may have some knowledge as to when He is returning.Jesus was ascended at this point and was giving revelation to John.

‘Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’ 

 

The promise to watching believers is His appearing will not be a surprise.

‘But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.’ 
1 Thessalonians 5:4

Jesus made everything. He knows how it all works together. ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made’ .
John 1:3 KJV

One key may be in the Annual 7 Appointed times of the Lord.

Jesus exactly fulfilled the first 4 appointed times* when He came the first time over 2000 years ago. It is more than possible that He Will fulfill the last 3 when He returns the 2nd time.

(* SEE Previous Posts )

 For He said Matt 5:17

‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.’

 The law is the (Torah) and the Holy Scriptures (Tanakh).) and includes all The Commandments given to every believer. Being saved/born again,does not give us the right to choose which ones we will keep. Being under Grace is not a reason to do and live as we please or a license to sin.Also from the beginning in And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

 ‘But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.’  1 Thess. 5:1

Why?

Because they were very familiar of the annual appointed times.So bringing all these things together offers an interesting concept that Jesus could return for His Bride sometime around the Fall Festivals./Appointed times.

With the Spring Feasts of Messiah, we look back and rejoice over our past redemption and deliverance. In the same way Jesus fulfilled those…

with the Fall Feasts we look forward to our future deliverance and return of our King. This is a time that we prepare ourselves as His Bride and make sure we are ready to hear the Sound of the Shofar!Here’s some facts and some traditions of men regarding Rosh HaShanah. It is the head of the Jewish year, the time when God reinvests Himself in creation as He is crowned king of the universe through prayer, shofar blasts, and celebration.The man-made traditions and customs that were not derived from the Hebrew’s Holy Scriptures (Torah, Tanakh) but emerged during, and have evolved since, the Babylonian Diaspora, and have been greatly expanded upon in the Talmud (Rabbinical commentaries).

is the Jewish Civil New Year.

The words Rosh HaShanah mean “Head of the Year,” Jewish New Year. Rosh in Hebrew means “chief or head” and shanah means “year.”Rosh HaShanah is the head of the year on the civil calendar, and is also known as the birthday of the world since the world was created on this day Jewish tradition believes that Adam was created on this day (Mishnah, San Hedrin 38b). How did they decide that this was the day of the year the world was created? Because the first words of the Book of Genesis (Bereishit), “in the beginning,” when changed around, read, Aleph b’Tishrei, or “on the first of Tishrei.” Therefore, Rosh HaShanah is known as the birthday of the world, for tradition tells us that the world was created then.The number of the year changes on Rosh HaShanah. This year, we change from 5777 to 5778. The Hebrew Calendar says it is 5778 years from the creation of the world, as determined by counting back years in the Bible. The setting of this date is credited to Maimonides, who mentions it in his book, Mishneh Torah: Sanctification of the Moon, 11:6, written about 1178 CE, but it may have been in use for some time before that. This kind of numbering is called Anno Mundi meaning “Year of the World.”

ROSH HASHANAH: NAMES, THEMES, AND IDIOMS

Rosh HaShanah is referred to in the Torah as Yom Teruah, the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar (or the Day of the Awakening Blast). On Yom Teruah, the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar, it is imperative for every person to hear (shema) the shofar. The mitzvah (or biblical commandment [John (Yochanan) 14:15]), of the shofar is to hear (shema) the shofar being blown, not actually blow it yourself, hence the blessing, “to hear the sound of the shofar.”Teruah means “an awakening blast.” A theme associated with Rosh HaShanah is the theme “to awake.” Teruah is also translated as “shout.” The Book of Isaiah (Yeshayahu), chapter 12, puts the shouting in the context of the thousand-year reign of Messiah, the Athid Lavo. The Messianic era and shout is mentioned in Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 42:11; 44:23; Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:7; and Zephaniah 3:14. The first coming of Yeshua is associated with a shout in Zechariah 9:9. The ultimate shout is the rapture (natzal) in First Thessalonians 4:16-17.Whether it is by the blast of a shofar or the force of a supernatural shout, God’s goal is to awaken us!For this reason it is written, “…

Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14 NAS). The Book of Ephesians has many references to Rosh HaShanah and the High Holy Days. For example, in Ephesians 4:30, being sealed unto the day of redemption refers to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. God gave this festival to teach us that we will be judged on Rosh HaShanah and will be sealed unto the closing of the gates (neilah) on Yom Kippur.The shofar is the physical instrument that God instructed us to use to hear (shema) the sound of the shofar teaching us to awake from spiritual slumber (1 Corinthians 15:46).

THE OPENING OF THE GATESThe gates of Heaven are opened on Rosh HaShanah so the righteous nation may enter (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 26:2; Psalm [Tehillim] 118:19-20). Because the gates of Heaven are understood to be open on Rosh HaShanah, this is further evidence that the rapture (natzal) of the believers in the Messiah Yeshua will take place near or on Rosh HaShanah.

  1. Teshuvah (repentance)

  2. Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year, Birthday of the World)

  3. Yom Teruah (the Day of the Awakening Blast [Feast of Trumpets)

  4. Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment)

  5. HaMelech (the Coronation of the Messiah)

  6. Yom HaZikkaron (the Day of Remembrance or memorial)

  7. The time of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) trouble (the birthpangs of the Messiah,Chevlai shel Mashiach) 

  8. The opening of the gates

  9. Kiddushin/Nesu’in (the wedding ceremony)

  10. The resurrection of the dead (rapture, natza1)

  11. The last trump (shofar)

  12. Yom Hakeseh (the hidden day)

Rosh HaShanah is the first of the month of Tishri in the Jewish calendar.

Rosh HaShanah is the first of the ten ‘Days of Awe’ Yamim Noraim, the 10 days of atonement. 
BUT, in the Bible, Rosh haShanah lasts for only one day, and Yom Kippur is the only (solitary) day of atonement which comes at the end of the Days of Awe.

Rosh HaShanah, with Yom Kippur ten days later, are often referred to as the High Holy Days. The three High Holy Days established by God are:

1 – The first day of the Feast Of Unleavened Bread (Chag Ha Matzoh) – Passover

2 – Pentecost (Shavuot) very late in spring, fifty days from the first Sunday following (after) The Passover.

3 – The first day of the Feast Of Tabernacles (Sukkot  – 15 Tishri  (15 days after Rosh haShanah.)

     These three God-ordained High Holy Days are Annual Pilgrimages to Jerusalem. ” Ex. 23:14-17; Lev. 23; Deut.16:16

there are only GOD’S Holy Days 
which the Sons of Israel were commanded to faithfully observe 
as their form of worship of The God Of Abraham.

The Old Testament Holy Days were ordained by God as 
”Appointed Times” which He considers Holy unto Himself.

Hebrew Calendar Date.Yom Teruah, 1 Tishri 5778

Eschatologists consider Rosh haShanah (Yom Teru’ah) the most likely time that Ye-shu’a (Jesus) will return to the earth for His second coming. However we cannot discern exactly WHICH YEAR Ye-shu’a (Jesus) will return.Rosh haShanah is called “The Day That No-One Knows” 
because it is the only Hebrew Feast / Festival day that falls on the first day of a month Rosh Chodesh.

Since the first day of any Hebrew month depends on the sighting of the first tiny sliver of the next waxing moon following a new moon, no-one knows exactly when Rosh haShanah will begin until the next waxing moon is sighted and the 7th Hebrew month (Tishri) is officially declared to have begun. Discover The Significance Of Rosh Chodesh.On Rosh HaShanah, we remember the Creation of the world and we look ahead to the Judgment of God.Traditionally sweet things are eaten on Rosh HaShanah: apples and honey to express our desire for a sweet year ahead.followed by

One of the themes of Rosh HaShanah is the “Book of Life.” It is an ancient metaphor expressing the idea that we don’t know what lies ahead of us, but that God knows all.

The traditional greeting for Rosh HaShanah is L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu (l’sha-NAH toe-VAH tee-ka-TAY-vu) which means “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.” A shorter form of the greeting is Shanah Tovah which means “[Have a] Good Year” A very short greeting for the day is “Goot yom tov!” Yiddish for “Good holiday!”On Rosh HaShanah we hear the sound of the Shofar [ram’s horn.]The Fall Feasts are a Blueprint for Restoration Sacrifice, Atonement and are joyful. They also include the ingathering—this is the path along which the Fall Feasts of Israel move.

“Blow The Shofar At The New Moon, At The Covered Time For Our Feast Day. For It Is A Statute For Israel, An Ordinance For The God Of Jacob. Ps 81:3-4

This is also a reference to:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 1 Thess 4:16 KJV

 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

On Rosh HaShanah, we make a special effort to make teshuvah,* to repent of old sins and to forge new ways of living.

(*see previous post)

Many Jews around the world celebrate 2 days of Rosh HaShanah.

This year, Rosh HaShanah starts at sundown on September 20, 2017.Street sign in Jerusalem.

In essence there are two Jewish New Years – the first is the biblical one in the spring, Nissan/ Passover which is largely ignored, and the second is the morphing of the biblical Feast of Trumpets on the first day of the seventh month into a new Jewish New Year. Which this year will fall on Sept 21/22 Followed by Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement on sept 30th.

Then a weeks celebration called Sukkot or Booths or Tabernacles this begins on Oct 5 and continues through Oct 13.

Teshuvah ends with Rosh Hashanah which is the sounding of the Shofar.

Why are there 2?

The answer goes back to the 70-year time period that the Jewish nation spent in captivity in Babylon. The first deportations into captivity rounded up the distinguished young thinkers and leaders of the day. The Book of Daniel comes in here as over the period of the two and a half generation sojourn in Babylon, the Jewish people borrowed a number of technological innovations from their hosts. Among them was the use of Aramaic as a common language (the adaptation of the Aramaic script to express the Hebrew language) and a willingness to follow the Babylonian commercial calendar (the new year of which started in what is today late September).Jesus is the fulfillment of the Festivals—He is our atonement and joy, and in Him we have a new beginning and a new life.

As Paul writes, “We are a new creation in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

For believers it’s a time to rejoice and to look up for our redemption draweth nigh and be identified with the wise virgins who were ready and awaiting the return of the bridegroom. Keep your lamps trimmed and be filled with Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh for when midnight comes, we do not want to be on the wrong side of the door.And the trumpet will sound…let’s all make sure we have ears to hear it.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Matt 25:7