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- Weekly Torah Readings. Beginning on the first Sabbath after Tishri 23 (Simchat Torah), the Jews read the Torah and other writings for the entire year.
  - Torah. They read Genesis to Deuteronomy in order.
  - Haftarah (Prophets). They read a section of the Old Testament that is related to the daily Torah reading.
  - Maftir. Torah text that institutes a holiday or specifies the holiday's offerings.
- Additional Readings on Special Days. On special days they read the Maftir. These holidays are usually one day or about one week long.
  - Beginning. On the first day a Sabbath rest occurs and no work is permitted.
  - Middle (Chol Ha'Moed). The intermediate days on which certain work is allowed.
  - End. On the last day a Sabbath rest occurs and no work is permitted.
  Intermediate Sabbath. Whenever a weekly Sabbath occurs during the holidays, additional portions of the Torah are read. When the holiday Sabbath occurs on a weekly Sabbath it is called a "high Sabbath".

The Christian Perspective
The readings are Messianic, reminding the people what God will be doing for the covenant and the laws that govern their behavior at that time. They have a pattern that symbolizes the activities on the "Day of the Lord".

- Beginning (God Removes the Curse). These are events at the crucifixion. A high Sabbath occurred when Christ fulfilled the covenant and died so that we could rest from sin.
- Middle (Chol Ha'Moed). The 2000+ years of wandering between His comings.
  Intermediate Sabbath. When the eternal Sabbath merges with a temporary feast Sabbath it shows what will be accomplished when God acts to give us rest. God acts at the perfect time when there is a high Sabbath. Therefore, the crucifixion and Second Coming will be associated with a high Sabbath.
- End (Blessings). All creation has eternal rest from all the consequences of sin at the Second Coming.

The New Month
We will explore the Christian perspective first, because it will give the background for understanding the readings for the new months.

The Cycles of the Church
Birth and Growth |  | Testing and Death | Renewal
Celebration | Weeping | Return
Manasseh | Reproach | Ephraim

The Christian Perspective. These two ceremonies, Rosh Chodesh and Rosh Hashanah, celebrate the new moon. As a symbol of the woman or the church, the phases of the moon symbolize the phases of the church. The lesson on the seven churches shows how the fortunes of the church rises and falls as light and darkness fight for control. Here we see that the readings confirm the relationship between the phases of the moon and the fate of the woman and child.

- New Moon Molad (Barren Woman). The favorite wife is barren and the child is basically dead in her womb. She is also being taunted by her rival. It is a period of darkness and hopelessness. Then God blesses the woman and a child is conceived.
- First Quarter (Barren Woman). As the child grows the influence of the rival must be removed.
- Full Moon (A Child is Born). The rival is gone and the child is mature. At this point there is a test.
- Last Quarter (The Test). The test scatters the children until they are as good as dead. God promises to gather the children back from where they were dispersed.
  » New Moon (Conception). The ingathering is now a type of rebirth and the process initiates a new cycle for the next month.

Rosh Chodesh Readings
Day | Torah | Prophets
--- | --- | ---
Weekday | Numbers 28:1-15 | -
Shabbat | Numbers 28:9-15 | Isaiah 66:1-24

Rosh Chodesh Readings
These readings are said at the beginning of each month. They are about the ingathering of Israel and the birth of children.

- Isaiah 66. The reading is about the building of a house for God with clean vessels.
  Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? (Isaiah 66: 1)
  God answers His own question. The house we can build for Him is a church. The specific house is the body of a humble and contrite person.
  » The Birth of a Son. The birth will be swift and the length of trial reduced.
  Before she travailed she brought forth. Before her pain came she gave birth to a boy. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? As soon as Zion travailed she also brought forth her sons. (Isaiah 66: 7-8)
  » The Ingathering of Israel.
  "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the Lord, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord". (Isaiah 66: 20)
  Sabbath. Since Isaiah 66 is read only on a high Sabbath, it means that this final ingathering will occur when God gives us rest at the end of time.

Rosh Hashanah Readings
Day | Torah | Prophets
--- | --- | ---
Tishri 1 | Genesis 21: 1-34 | Numbers 29: 1-6 | 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10
Tishri 2 | Genesis 22: 1-24 | Jeremiah 31: 1-19

Rosh Hashanah Readings
The beginning of the seventh month is set apart as being more special than all other months. It is a prophecy about the final phase of the church when the judgment of Israel begins.

- The Barren Woman. The readings are centered around the barren woman who gives birth to an exceptional child.
  - Genesis 21 (Sarah and Isaac). Sarah conceived and bore Isaac, the Promised child. Her rival was sent away with her son Ishmael.
    » 1 Samuel 1 (Hannah and Samuel). Hannah conceived and bore Samuel who became a great high priest and her rival could no longer taunt her.
- The Test. The parent and child undergo a test and at the end the child is received back from the dead.
  - Genesis 22. Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac until God provided His own lamb.
    » Jeremiah 31. Israel was gathered in from the land where they were scattered.
    This says the Lord, "A voice is heard from Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more". (Jeremiah 31: 15)
    We now have a perfect understanding about why this text was lifted out of the chapter and declared Messianic. The entire pattern is typical of the experience of the church. But when Herod killed the babies and when Mary wept at the death of her Son, it is a picture of this cosmic battle. At the time the Promised Child was born, Herod tried to kill Him. At the time of His spiritual maturity the Romans killed Him.
    » The Return or Ingathering. In the latter days the children will be raised up and returned from the land of the enemy.
    Thus says the Lord, "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord, and they will return from the land of the enemy. "There is hope for your future", declares the Lord, "and your children will return to their own territory". (Jeremiah 31: 16-17)
  Sabbath. On the high Sabbath Christ is born in the resurrection.

The Old Life (Rosh Chodesh) | The New Birth (Rosh Hashannah)
--- | ---
Birthright | Blessing

The Return Of Ephraim
The new year is like a new beginning or a new birth for a child who squandered his youth. On the cosmic time scale, when Rosh Hashannah occurs, the children can no longer be found wasting their youth. They must be born again and return to their Father, God.
I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, You have chastised me and I was chastised, like an untrained calf. Bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the Lord my God. For after I turned back I repented. And after I was instructed, I smote my thigh. I was ashamed and also humiliated because I bore the reproach of my youth. (Jeremiah 31: 19)

- Born Again (Bring Me Back). In the month of the judgment, the prodigal son wakes up and asks his father to take him back. He has squandered his inheritance in an orgy of careless living.
- Made A Vow (Smote My Thigh). When he receives instructions, he commits to the covenant and makes the vow.
- Reconciliation. When the exiles are gathered on the last Sabbath of the Passover feast, Judah and Ephraim will be reconciled.
  Rivalry and Jealousy. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim. (Isaiah 11: 13)
  » The Jews and Gentiles. In many other lessons we prove that at the crucifixion Israel, the people of God, was split into two groups by the will of God in a careful and amazing strategy designed to defeat evil. The Jews were broken off because they gave up the covenant and squandered their birthright. They were given the task of Levites in keeping the sanctuary, laws, feasts and symbols pure. The Christians were grafted into Christ and became the keepers of the covenant. They were tasked with the priesthood and helping the High Priest.
  » The Rivalry. This division is pictured in many prophecies as the rivalry of two sons. The first born who lost preeminence were the Jews and the second son was the Gentiles. As such, Reuben and Manasseh represented the Jews. It is also represented as the rivalry of two sisters, Rachel and Leah.
  The prophecies also depict the twelve tribes as twelve stages in the experience of the church between the crucifixion and the Second Coming. Through those prophecies we know that Benjamin is pictured as the last son. He is born as the son who represents the union of these two rival children.
  » Judah and Ephraim (The Birthright and the Blessing). Here we have the rivalry represented as two sons from the northern and southern tribes. Ephraim in the north was carried off into Assyrian captivity and Judah in the south was dragged off by Babylon. Both tribes were kidnapped by kings of the north. In the other symbols, both of these sons represent the Christian phase of the church. Judah represents all those who attached themselves to Christ. He was the only faithful Son and heir of Israel and so the covenant was reestablished through Him. Every tribe will be born through Him or grafted into Him. Ephraim represents the second son who received the blessing.
  » The Two Sticks of Joseph. The birthright is automatically given at birth, but the blessing is given when the Father believes it is time. Usually it is on his death bed, like the assets in a will. The reconciliation can now be pictured as the blessing and the birthright being given to one son. This granting of both parts of the inheritance is seen in the prophecy about Joseph whose birthright is being held by Ephraim (Ezekiel 37: 19).
  This rivalry between Judah and Ephraim can be seen as the Jews and the Gentiles and between the first generation and the last. Somewhere in the matrix lies the truth about the identity of Ephraim. He is the last generation of global Israel who will accept the Messiah in far greater numbers than the first. This final nation which will be part Jews and Gentiles will receive the blessing.
  » The Last Generation. So what does this mean for the Jews if Jesus and the Christians represent both sons? The apostle Paul says that Jews will be "grafted in". The prophecies of Ezekiel show that by the time the church reaches the "Ephraim phase", that Manasseh has already been grafted in. In fact, it is Manasseh who first makes a total commitment to the Messiah that causes the great spiritual awakening at the end of time. The final turmoil in the grafting process ends with Judah. At the time the combined church reaches this stage, we will be brothers not rivals at war ready to be the light of the world as God envisioned.

  31 AD | 2000 Years | End of Time
  --- | --- | ---
  Judah | Ten Tribes | Ephraim
  Jesus | Bad Report | Elijah Message

  » Judah and Ephraim (The Two Faithful Spies). Only two faithful tribes gave a good report about the Promised Land. However, the people chose to believe the evil reports and refused to go into the Promised Land.
  - Judah (Jesus). Caleb was from the tribe of Judah. This was the first tribe in the east that represents the beginning of the exodus journey. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. At the crucifixion, He gave a good report about the Promised Land and leads the final exodus telling us to be disciples and follow Him.

    North
    Flee the North | Crucified on Mount Calvary | -
    --- | --- | ---
    ★ Dan | Asher | Naphtali
    Promised Land | Benjamin | Twelve Tribes | ★ Judah | Exodus
    Manasseh | Issachar
    ★ Ephraim | Zebulun
    | Gad | Simeon | ★ Reuben |
    Praying in Gethsemane

  - Ephraim (Christians). Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim. This is the tribe that leads the tribes in the west at the borders of the Promised Land.
    At the end of time, another good report will be given by the tribe of Ephraim. We will use it to rally the tribes to possess the Promised Land, even calling to the people of God in the north to flee out of the north.
    » Dan (Wicked). The wicked will choose to disbelieve the report and will not enter the Promised Land. Instead, they continue to go into the land of the north under the leadership of Dan, the serpent. There, they will be destroyed.
  » The Good Report (Elijah Message). At the end of time, other prophecies refer to this good report as a message that will cause a great revival. The Jews believe that Elijah will come and introduce them to the Messiah during the Passover. Jesus said that Elijah will return at the end of time to turn the people back to God.

Rachel's children in the west were the only ones who were denied their inheritance and blessings. This loss became a Messianic prophecy about Rachel weeping for her children that was fulfilled at His birth and death. These blessings were restored after great affliction.

- West: Inheritance Lost By Injustice. At His birth Rachel was weeping for the children of Bethlehem who were killed by Herod. At His arrest and imprisonment Rachel was weeping for Him. In this phase reproach was heaped upon Him and He was taken away by injustice to the north.
  Children Taken Away. Thus says the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jeremiah 31: 15)
- North (Land Of The Enemy). God promises to return them from this land and bring them back to their own borders.
  Hope. Thus says the LORD; Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears: for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in your end, says the LORD, that your children shall come again to their own border. (Jeremiah 31: 16-17)
- Detour: South West. God sets up a detour on a highway through the sanctuary.
  Signs On The Road Home. Set up waymarks, make high heaps: set your heart toward the highway, even the way which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities. (Jeremiah 31: 21)
- West: Blessings Restored. Ephraim's reproach has been removed. Here he has the blessings of Joseph.
  Repentance And Restoration. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: You turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
  Reproach. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
  Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, says the LORD. (Jeremiah 31: 18-20)
- The Everlasting Covenant. The New covenant was in force at this point.
  Written On The Heart. Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31: 31,33)

Duplicate Readings
Some readings are repeated on Passover, Succos and Shavu'ot.

Nisan 15 And Tishri 15 Presenting The Offering (Leviticus 22: 26-23:44)
A special first born Child will be offered to God.

- The Death of the Offering. Between Nisan 10 when the Passover lamb was selected as He rode through the east gate of Jerusalem on a donkey until Nisan 16 when He was resurrected, Jesus spent seven days with His mother Israel. On the eighth day, Nisan 17, He ascended to heaven to present Himself before the eternal fires of God as the offering.
  When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be accepted as a sacrifice of an offering by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 22: 27)
- The Death of the Mother. Christ was killed on 14 Nisan 31 AD but the punishment of Israel was delayed for many years. The covenant was taken away from Israel three and a half years later (34 AD), the temple was burned 40 years later (70 AD) and they were exiled from Jerusalem 100 years later (132 AD).
  But whether it is an ox or a sheep, you cannot kill both it and its young in one day. (Leviticus 22: 28)
- Thanksgiving Offering (Verse 29-30). This offering must be accepted and eaten the same day. Jesus was buried the same day that He was crucified.
- Appointed Times (Leviticus 23). Rules for keeping the feasts, including instructions on reaping the corners of the harvest and using green foliage to celebrate Succos.

We can understand why the same text is read at both feasts. On a cosmic timeline, the death of the child occurred at the crucifixion in 31 AD. The death of the mother, Israel will occur at the Second Coming. After the death, both are resurrected and taken up to God. The time between Nisan and Tishri is the eight days between the death of Son and mother.

Shavu'ot, Nisan 21 And Tishri 22: Debt Cancelled (Deuteronomy 14: 22- 16: 17)
These texts are read during the three feasts. It teaches that our debts will be cancelled after we eat the offering with God.

- Sabbath Reading (Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 15: 18). These are the additional tasks that must be done on the Sabbath to celebrate our freedom.
  At Passover we are freed from the condemnation of sin because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At Shavu'ot we are freed from the love of sin because of the companionship of the Holy Spirit. At tabernacles we are freed from a planet of sin when the Father takes us to live with Him.
  - Tithe Gathered (Three Years). At the end of every third year they are supposed to bring their tithe and rejoice before the Lord. You are to feed the Levite, the alien, orphan and the widow.
  - Meal. God chose to establish His name in Jerusalem. He gave the meal of life that we must eat.
    You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where he chooses to establish his name, The tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. (Deuteronomy 14: 23)
  - Money. You can exchange the tithe for money under certain conditions.
    If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the Lord your God chooses to set his name is too far away for you when the Lord your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. (Deuteronomy 14: 24-25)
    You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires, and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. (Deuteronomy 14: 26)
  - Debts Forgiven (Seven Years). At the end of every seven years, all our brother's debts were to be forgiven.
    » Invite The Poor. An analysis of the text suggests that there will be no poor if the rich obey God.
    However there will be no poor among you, since the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess.
    For the poor will never cease to be in the land. Therefore I command you, saying, "You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land". (Deuteronomy 15: 4)
    In verse 11 it states that the poor will be in the land, but in verse 4 is promises that we will have no poor if God blesses us. God will bless us if we are kind to the poor! The conclusion is that the poor are our test. The more a nation is poor, the more it is a reflection of the curse that is on the land because of the disobedience of the rich.
  - Slaves Freed (Seven Years). All Hebrew slaves are to be freed and paid.
    » Perpetual Slaves. However, those who loved their masters can choose to be slaves forever.
    It shall come about if he says to you, "I will not go out from you", because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you; then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise with your maidservant. (Deuteronomy 15: 16-17)
- Sabbath and Weekday Readings (Deuteronomy 15: 19 - 16: 17). We give the perfect offering when we give ourselves as a living sacrifice like our Lord.
  - Firstborn. They are to be consecrated to God and eaten every year at the place God chooses.
  - Perfect Offering.
    But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 15: 21)
  - Everyone May Eat.
    You shall eat it within your gates, the unclean and the clean alike may eat it as a gazelle or deer. (Deuteronomy 15: 22)
  - Blood. No blood is to be eaten. It must be poured out on the ground.
    Only you shall not eat its blood. You are to pour it out on the ground like water. (Deuteronomy 15: 23)
  - Feasts. All the feasts are to be celebrated. We believe that reading the details of all the feasts during Passover is another proof that all these feasts began their fulfillment at this time.
    We have always taken the position that at the crucifixion all the feasts began their fulfillment and will be completed at the Second Coming. This is not such a wild idea, because at the exodus from Egypt, they immediately were in a place named Succos and the behavior associated with Succos. They exited Egypt in Nisan and arrived in Israel in Nisan and began to dwell in booths in Nisan. Therefore, the anomaly is that in formalizing these feasts, God stretched them out over a period of seven months, placing the feast of Tabernacles in Tishri. Possibly this prophecies that Israel (Christ) tabernacled in Nisan, but the world will tabernacle in Tishri.

Readings On The Intermediate Sabbath
On the day God gives rest, He forgives the righteous and goes to war with the wicked.
Passover and Succos: Mercy and Forgiveness (Exodus 33: 12-34: 26)
The Comforter-Companion. God assures Moses that He will be his companion and He will give them rest. This is the same assurance that Christ gave the disciples when He promised that the Holy Spirit will be with them forever. He will give them rest from sin by writing the law in their hearts.

- Come With Us Lord. And He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33: 14)
- The Glory of the Lord. Then Moses said, "Show me your glory". God's reply was that His compassion is His glory. In His compassion, He passed by in the darkness, turning His back as He hid His face. Then He hid us in a rock so that He could not see our sins.

Passover: Resurrection of Israel (Ezekiel 37: 1-14 or 36: 37 - 37 :14). The subject of this reading is the resurrection of the dry bones by the Holy Spirit. Both their hopes and their bodies will be raised up.
Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold they say", "Our bones are dried up and our hope is perished. We are completely cut off." "Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it," declares the Lord. (Ezekiel 37: 11, 13-14)
Our hopes were raised after the crucifixion. Our bodies will be raised at the Second Coming.

Succos: Battle of Armageddon (Ezekiel 38: 14 - 39:16)

- Gog Attacks Israel. It triggers the wrath of God.
  Fury. It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, that My fury will mount up in My anger. (Ezekiel 38: 18)
- Great Earthquake. The seventh plague causes a great earthquake with the Second Coming and the earth splits on the Mount of Olives when He lands there at the Third Coming.
  Shaking. In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence.
  Babylon the Great Falls. The mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38: 19-20)
  The creation will be destroyed, but between the beginning of the Second Coming and the end of the Third Coming, all the evil empires, principalities and powers will collapse.
  - Fish (The Dragon of the Sea). The angels who are banished to the wicked sea.
  - Birds (The Powers of the Air). The angels who fell from heaven.
  - Beasts (Nations). Empires and nations that do the work of the dragon.
  - Creeping Things (Occult Practitioners, Wizards and Witches). Those that crawl between the three domains to do the bidding of Satan.
  - Man (Wicked People). The people who rule the domain of the earth who give access to Satan.
  - Mountains, Steep Paths, Walls (Empires and Powers). All strong, established powers who believe that they are invincible.
- War: The Battle of Armageddon. God will declare war.
  Sword. I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains, declares the Lord God, every man's sword will be against his brother. (Ezekiel 38: 21)
- Plague, Fire and Brimstone. He will fight them like He fought Pharaoh.
  Judgment. With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38: 22)
- Feast of Birds. The unburied dead will litter the surface of the earth.
  On the Open Field. You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken, declares the Lord. (Ezekiel 39: 4-5)
  The Battle of the Scavengers. When Christ was captured on the open field called the Garden of Gethsemane, this was His phase of the mighty battle that had been declared on Him. In this symbol, the people who chewed and pecked at Him during the trial and crucifixion are depicted as scavengers.
  Eagles Locking Talons. The eagle is one of the symbols of God. Here we see the camouflage battle strategy of God at work again. He dresses like the object that He is going to defeat and takes over their kingdom. Eagles have a behavior in which they will lock talons and fall to the earth and lay there for hours as if stunned. When they are touched they will release their grip and fly away. Some used to believe that this was a mating activity but it is not. Scientists do not know why. If we see the battle of Armageddon as beginning at the crucifixion and we add the knowledge that after this there was a battle in heaven where Satan was thrown out of heaven and fell to the earth, then we can see the picture of two eagles with their talons locked falling to the earth. Satan was banished to the earth and the Holy Spirit was sent to the earth to be with us (Revelation 12). So the Holy Spirit is pictured as holding Satan at bay until he is released to go and marshal his troops to continue the battle at the end of time.
  This battle is also symbolized as one snake swallowing another and a snake thrown on the ground. This is not because God becomes evil, but it is a symbol that God defeats Satan with his own tactics and by his own rules. Satan chose the battlefield and God came dressed for war.
- Raining Fire. Magog is the nation of all the wicked who surround the New Jerusalem when God rains fire and brimstone on them.
  Fire. And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety, and they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 39: 4-5)
- Cleansing the Land. The land will be cleansed and recreated. In Revelation 20-21 this is seen as a quick event. Satan and his army of wicked surrounds the city and attacks. Then fire comes down from heaven and destroys them and the world is recreated. However, Ezekiel discusses a more personal involvement.
  - Mass Destruction of Weapons (Seven Years). It takes seven years to destroy the weapons.
    Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires with them. (Ezekiel 39: 9)
  - Mass Burial of People (Seven Months). It takes seven months to bury the people. The ratio of weapons to people is an indictment of the world. We spend more on war than on peace.
    For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. (Ezekiel 39: 12)

  The Weapons of War (Ephesians 6: 11-18)
  Weapon | Good | Evil
  --- | --- | ---
  Alert | Prayer | Sleeping
  Helmet | Salvation | Deaf
  Breastplate | Righteousness | Love sin
  Belt | Truth | Lie
  Shield | Faith | Unbelief
  Shoes | Peace | War, mischief
  Sword | Word of God | Rebellion
  Arrows | Prayer | Curses

  How do we reconcile this manual version of the destruction of the wicked, with Revelation's powerful version at the hand of God? Remember that Armageddon is a war on either side of a millennium whose beginning and end look similar (resurrection, judgment, hail of fire, earthquake and war). Ezekiel must be showing details at the beginning of the millennium and Revelation 20-22 deals exclusively with the end.
  - Beginning of Armageddon (Sixth Plague). The wicked surround the righteous city and attack. God fights back with fire and brimstone and rescues and resurrects the righteous.
  - Middle (Millennium). During this period, the bodies litter the surface of the earth and are eaten by scavengers. However, the righteous are judging the wicked by gathering and examining the evidence of their deeds. Then they confirm the death sentence. This might be the seven years.
    » The Weapons of Evil. We know that God describes the attributes of righteousness as an armour. Therefore, the deeds and attributes of the wicked can also be their armour.
    » The Mark. After the year (seven months) of mighty evangelistic efforts, the mark of the beast will finally be given to separate the dead (lost) from the living. In the end the two groups of people are marked. The righteous receive the mark of God and the wicked receive the mark of the beast.
    The Buriers Set Apart. They will set apart men who will constantly pass through the land, burying those who were passing through, even those left on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search.
    Search for the Mark. As those who pass through the land pass through and anyone sees a bone, then he will set up a marker by it until the buriers have buried it in the land of Hamon-Gog. (Ezekiel 39: 14-15)
    » The Buriers. Some are set apart to constantly pass through the land and bury the wicked. These are probably the priests, disciples and evangelists who tell the world to flee from death.
    » The Search. At the end, the destroying angel will make a search for those with the mark.
    » The Bone. A bone is a symbol of a nation born out of a man. The destroyer searches for the bone because they do not want an evil nation to rise up again.
    » The Land of Hamon-Gog. This word means multitude and shows that the majority or popular opinion that causes men to travel the broad road to destruction will be buried.
    » Seven Months. Other prophecies talk about the final great effort as being complete in one year. This prophecy suggests seven months. Remember that the period of salvation is seen as occurring in seven months (Nisan to Tishrei). God always sets apart a people to point out sin and its curse and to warn of the eternal death to come.
  - End of Armageddon. God resurrects and judges the wicked. They surround the New Jerusalem and attack. So they have enough time to assemble an army and revolt. This entire process may take seven months. God fights back with hell fire, burning up the old creation before He creates the new.
  So my conclusion is that Ezekiel is a merger of all the events and his war may actually begin with the mighty evangelistic efforts before the seven last plagues.

Disarming Evil
We will be gathering and judging and destroying the concepts of hate, murder, lying, theft, rape and rebellion. The lives of the wicked are a testimony to the failure of these behaviors.

- God (7000 Years). It will take 7000 years to disarm evil. He set apart the Jewish nation to expose evil.
- Jesus Christ (7 Years). Christ disarmed the evil powers during His turn to battle. He set apart the disciples and together, they took seven years to disarm evil furing the last prophetic week assigned to the Jews.
  Christ Disarms Evil. Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross.
  Christ Buries Evil. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2: 14-15)
  Christ did the final work in seven days and waited seven weeks to mark or seal His disciples with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. So the same pattern and timetable is used to mark the good for eternal life.
  The period of the seven churches that Jesus nurtures can also be compared to seven months. They are supposed to continue His work of destroying evil.
- 144,000 (7?). The last generation will also take their turn to disarm and bury evil as we also wrestle these principalities and powers. God will set apart 144,000 people to do the task of carrying the Gospel to the whole world (Revelation 14).
  Our Opponents. "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places ..." Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
  It is even possible that the mighty evangelistic efforts at the end, coupled with the failure of the systems of the world are under indictment during the last seven years on earth. All sin now shows major consequences while the righteous are protected. No longer will we be plagued by the erroneous concepts of "safe sex" and "sexual freedom" and "unrealistic rules". In the end the wisdom of God will be evident in the form of temperance and self control. Violence and greed will also take their toll as the Darwinian concept of "survival of the fittest" shows its practical conclusion. We will survive because each man is my brother and friend.

Covenant | 7 Prophetic Years | 7 Prophetic Months | Set the Mark | Cleansed
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Battle | Disarm Wicked | Bury Wicked | Identification | Remove Evil
Warriors Set Apart |  | Chol Ha'Moed |  | Hoshanah Rabbah | Shemini Atzeret
Sin Begins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Sin Ends | Search | Perfection
God | Millennium (Evidence Examined) | Final Judgment | Wicked Attack | Hell Fire
Jesus Christ | Fulfills Covenant (27-34 AD) | Seven Last Churches | Mark of the Beast | Second Coming
Final Week (Nisan 10-16, 31 AD) | Feast of Weeks | Sealed by the Spirit | Tongues of Fire
144,000 | Testing | Evangelism | Seven Last Plagues | Second Coming

Readings For Pesach And The Feast Of Unleavened Bread

Pesach Readings
Day | Torah | God Acts | Prophets | The People Respond
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | Nisan 14 (Seder) | Exodus 12: 21-51 | Numbers 28: 16-25 | Passover and exodus | Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2-6:1; 6:27 | Elders select and circumcise firstborn
2 | Nisan 15 |  | Leviticus 22: 26-23:44 | - | 2 Kings 23: 1-9, 21-25 | Josiah cleanses the temple, then keeps Passover
? | Intermediate Sabbath |  | Exodus 33: 12-34:26 | Numbers 28: 19-25 | - | Ezekiel 37: 1-14 or 36:37-37:14 | Evangelism, resurrection
? | First Fruits | Exodus 34: 1-26 | Count 7 weeks from the time reaping begins (Deuteronomy 16: 9)
3 | Chol Ha'Moed | 1 | Exodus 13: 1-16 | Numbers 28: 19-25 | First born, unleavened bread | 2 Kings 23 :1-9, 21-25 | Let My people go! The first born donkey redeemed
4 | 2 | Exodus 22: 24-23:19 | - | Using bribes and false witnesses
5 | 3 | Exodus 34: 1-26 | - | First Fruits
6 | 4 | Exodus 9: 1-14 | - | Plagues
7 | 5 | Exodus 13: 17-15: 26 | Numbers 28: 19-25 | - | 2 Samuel 22: 1-51 | Freedom, resurrection
8 | Nisan 21 (Weekday) |  | Deuteronomy 15: 19-16:17 | A feast to the Lord on the seventh day | Isaiah 10: 32-12:6 | Righteous judgment, peace, gathering of Israel
Nisan 21 (Sabbath) | Deuteronomy 14: 22-16:17 | Jubilee, debts forgiven

- Nisan 14: The First Generation (Exodus 12).
  » The Priests Select the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12).
  - Selection (Verse 21). The elders assemble to select the Passover Lamb. The chief priests and elders assembled to discuss how they could cause the death of Christ.
  - Firstborn. Jesus was represented in all these possible range of firstborn.
    Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sta on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. (Exodus 12: 29)
    - King. He is the eternal King of Israel who was struck down.
    - Prisoner. He was captured and bound as a criminal, sent to several trials and sentenced to death.
    - Animal. He was the Lamb of God, the Lord's goat, the bull and the donkey will the burdens.
  - Midnight. At His crucifixion, the day turned into night.
  - We will All Be Dead. Like the Egyptians, the priests thought that if this one man was dead, the entire nation would be spared.
    The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "we will all be dead". (Exodus 12: 33)
  - 430 Years (Verse 40-41). Israel stayed in Egypt for 430 years. Christ was incarnate on earth for about 430 months. He spent 10 months in the womb and between 402 months from birth to crucifixion and one month after.
  - Plundered the Egyptians (Verse 35-36). They took gold, silver and clothing from the Egyptians. They plundered Christ and took all His possessions, including His life.
  - Circumcised (Verse 44-48). No uncircumcised person shall eat the Passover. Christ was literally cut off (circumcised) on the cross.
  » The Second Generation (Joshua 3: 5-7; 5:2-6:1; 6:27). The first generation wanders in the wilderness for 40 years and die out. It is the second generation that will cross over into the Promised Land.
  - Circumcised Again (The Hill of Foreskins). All the men were circumcised because the generation who were born during the exodus had never been circumcised.
    At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time." So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth [The Hill of Foreskins]. (Joshua 5: 2-3)
    When Christ died on the cross as a substitute for all mankind, He virtually created a "hill of foreskins" at the cross. Every person who believes in Him was circumcised with Him.
    Christian Perspective. In the New Testament there is a division between Peter and Paul. Paul insisted that the Gentiles did not have to be circumcised and the Jews insisted that they must be. God never resolved the issue by a clear command, but here we see a principle operating. God never changes and circumcision was necessary. The true circumcision was to be circumcised in the heart, cutting off the love of sin by the human flesh. However, we know that symbolism is important and no law will be changed until heaven and earth pass away. So who was right? They both were!
    We will all be circumcised. Paul might have recognized that the second generation can wait until three days before we cross over into the Promised Land. Then God will cut us off the earth.
  - Healed. The death of Christ healed us of the curse of sin.
    Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. (Joshua 5: 8)
    This might point to the fact that before we cross over to heaven, we will be healed of sin. At some point, the final generation will not sin.
  - Gilgal [Rolling]. Our reproach was rolled away because we were forgiven.
    Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place is called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5: 9)
  - Manna Ceased. Manna ceased the day after they had eaten. Christ is the Bread of Heaven, the manna who was gone the day after they had eaten Him up at the cross.
    The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Caanan during that year. (Joshua 5: 12)
    He died on Friday, when they would have gathered a double portion of manna. On the Sabbath, while He was dead they did not go out to gather manna and the Manna from heaven did not develop worms. On Sunday when they would have gathered manna again, He was going to heaven.
  - The Captain of the Lord's Host. Then Joshua met the Lord in the form of the captain of the Lord's host, wielding a sword. This battle stance suggests that after the children of Israel cross over into the Promised Land at Passover that there remains a battle to be fought. They conquered Jericho in a ritual that mimics the procession around the bimah (podium) during the feast of Tabernacles. The people marched around the bimah and the city once per day for six days and they marched around them seven times on the seventh day before they were victorious.
- Nisan 15: Accepting the Offering (Leviticus 22: 26 - 23: 44). This reading is also said during Tabernacles.
  » Good King Josiah (2 Kings 23: 1-9, 21-25). He was king at eight years old who gathered all the elders and people to show them that the law was being violated. He was the only king who instituted a total reformation, and cleared the land and the temple of every trace of idolatry.
  Jesus Christ cleared out the temple of the money changers and business men who were making the house of worship like a den of thieves.
  High Sabbath. On the first high Sabbath of the feast, Christ was dead. He had just cleared the temple of sin and restored righteousness to the sanctuary with His blood.
- Sabbath. The Comforter-Companion (Exodus 33: 12 - 34: 26). God brings rest and comfort to the righteous and goes to war with the wicked. He sends the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion.
- First Fruits (Exodus 34: 1 -26). This portion alone is said for the first fruits. It is also about the resurrection and the new creature that is created by the Holy Spirit.
  - Two New Stones. Israel broke the first set of stones. The new stones represent the two chambers of the new heart which will be written on again by the Holy Spirit.
  - Come Up in the Morning. This a representation of the resurrection. Jesus was raised up in the morning. Then He went up to Mount Zion in heaven and presented Himself to God after the resurrection.
  - Passed By. As our High Priest Who was formally inaugurated in heaven, God passed over our sins.
    Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and truth. Who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, Who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34: 6-7)
  - 40 Days and Nights. Moses was with God another 40 days. Christ was seen on earth with His disciples for 40 days after the resurrection.
    So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34: 28)
- Nisan 16: Sanctify Firstborn (Exodus 13: 1-16). Every firstborn belongs to God.
  You shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own, the males belong to the Lord. But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. (Exodus 13: 12-13)
  Let us analyze the treatment of the types of offerings.
  - Donkey (Unclean). Unclean animals can be redeemed or bought back. This is the only unclean animal named in this reading of the law. The reason is that the offering of Christ was also symbolized as this one unclean animal. He was the Donkey who bore our burden of sin on His shoulders and back, but we treated Him as a despised and unclean thing.
    - The Stubborn Donkey. He broke Pharaoh's neck with a strong hand. Pharaoh was unbelievably stubborn like a donkey and would not let Israel go. God had to break his neck to force him to give them up. God broke Pharaoh's neck but He redeemed Christ Who was not supposed to have any broken bones. So this donkey was redeemed with a lamb. Christ became that lamb Who can redeem all disobedient, stubborn and stiff-necked donkeys.
    - The Donkey With A Burden. Although Christ tried to resist the suffering ahead, He submitted to the burden. This donkey who was redeemed may have been symbolizd by Simon of Cyrene who helped Him to carry the cross. So redemption is pictured as lifting a burden.
  - Beast (Clean). These animals cannot be redeemed. So as the lamb, goat, bull or dove Christ had to die.
  - Man. Any human can also be redeemed, with one exception. Anything that has been set apart and given to God cannot be redeemed, it must die.
    Chosen to Die. However, a first born among animals, which as a first born belongs to the Lord, no man may consecrate it, whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's. ... Nevertheless, anything which a man sets apart to the Lord out of all that he has of man or animal or of the field of his own property, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the Lord. No one who may have been set apart among men shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 27: 26, 28-29)
  Christ could not be redeemed, He must die according to the law but not by breaking His neck or any other bones.
  No Broken Bones. It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. (Exodus 12: 46)
  So Christ became the Lamb who was not redeemed, but who redeemed the donkey. He redeemed Himself.
  » The Second Generation Remembers Passover. What should the following generations remember about the purpose and achievements of Passover. They must remember two facts which they must commemorate with two signs.
  - Powerful Hand (Verse 14). God bought us back by breaking our enemies, showing that He will buy back His sons with power, but not the firstborn of others.
    It came about when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem. (Exodus 13: 15)
    » Sign on The Hand (The Powerful Works). This sign reminds them of the powerful hand of God that delivered them.
  - What God Did When We Left Egypt (Verse 8). God made us eat unleavened bread to show that He would remove all traces of sin.
    » Sign on The Forehead (The Unleavened Brain). This sign must commemorate the other achievement that they must remember. God removes sin from our minds. He will cleanse our brain.
  » (2 Kings 23 :1-9, 21-25). The story of Josiah's efforts to remove all traces of sin applies again because we submitted our stubborn hearts and became obedient to God so that all traces of sin were removed.
- Nisan 17: Perverting Justice and Thrown to the Dogs (Exodus 22: 24 - 23: 19). The entire nation of Israel failed every single requirement of the law. On the day they were arranging for bribes and false witnesses the Torah was instructing them about the law.
  - Events on the Cross. Christ suffered the curses of the wrath of God that was to fall on the wicked.
    Wrath of God. And My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22: 24)
    Jesus had to pay back at interest what He did not borrow.
    Lending Money. If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to them, you shall not charge him interest. (Exodus 22: 25)
    They took His clothes and He had nothing to sleep in. That night He was in the sleep of death.
    Clothes Taken. If you ever take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, for that is his only covering. It is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious. (Exodus 22: 26-27)
    They cursed Jesus. He was their eternal king of Israel and also God of the universe.
    Cursing God. You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people. (Exodus 22: 28)
  - Firstborn. Jesus was the firstborn Son of God Who was offered to God after His mother separated herself from Him. Israel is the mother who is pictured as weaning her son on the day she took Him to the temple to be circumcised on the eighth day. He was offered up to God to fulfill the covenant.
    Firstborn Offered. You shall not delay the offering from the harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. You shall do the same with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me. (Exodus 22: 29-30)
    Jesus was cut off (circumcised) on the cross after He weaned Himself from Mary.
  - Thrown to the Dogs. This simple statement contains many prophecies.
    You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. (Exodus 22: 31)
    At the crucifixion, Israel did eat the flesh of their Messiah in this sequence.
    - The Field (Garden of Gethsemane). This is the field where His flesh was drained of blood while He was in agonizing prayer. But He was not torn to pieces. The law requires that all meat should be drained of blood before it was eaten. God fulfilled His own law.
      You are not to eat any blood, either of bird or of animal in any of your dwellings. (Leviticus 7: 26)
      Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water. (Deuteronomy 15: 23)
      After Gethsemane, the atonement has been made and the people could eat the Passover Lamb. In the perfect scenario, the people would have accepted Christ and then He would sit in the temple during the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread to inform them about the Plan of Salvation and that their sins were forgiven and their reproach had been removed. His teachings would have been the food that they would eat for Passover.
      I have not departed from the command of His lips. I have treasured the words of His mouth more than necessary food. (Job 23: 12)
      The only missing part of the Plan was for God to pay a ransom to Satan.
      Instead, they threw the Passover Lamb to the Gentile dogs and they ate it, receiving the covenant.
      » Covered and Ransomed. Note the significance of this. All the laws, symbols and prophecies testify that an innocent Person would die a cruel death because of sin. Yet, because "life is in the blood" (Exodus 12: 23), Christ technically gave His life in Gethsemane and fulfilled God's vision of atonement and threw our accuser out of heaven at that moment.
      So the rest of the symbols are testifying about what will actually happen in the future, not what God required. The lessons on the curses clearly show that it was our enemy who demanded the rest as a ransom. If the people had not sentenced Christ to death instead of Barabbas, the Scapegoat would have been forced to present Himself before the people and attack Christ himself.
      » The Adulterous Woman Accuses God. Like the woman caught in adultery, when God passed over He would have said, "Woman, where are your accusers?" She would have said, "There is no one Lord". Then God would have said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."
      Instead we did Satan's dirty work for him when we became the accusers of Christ after He was caught carrying our sins.
      » The Stupid Coward. This is typical of the arch criminal named Satan. He is a coward who attacks his victims when they are the weakest and tries to implicate others in his crimes. He attacked Jesus after 40 days of fasting and at the crucifixion he attacked Him after He was severely mangled and emotionally desolate. He is a lazy overachiever who covets the throne of God and he is stupid for thinking that fame and beauty alone entitled him to these things.
      » The First Yom Kippur War. We know this from the prophecy of Daniel 8. The scapegoat attacks and defeats the ram at the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. Since Christ was allowed to do His work by substitution, Satan had the right to do the same. So Satan did not appear in person to kill Christ and he was able to do his work by proxy (substitution). So Rome did the dirty work through the little horn.
    - Dogs (Romans). Then the mob gave Him to the Romans. All Gentiles were called "dogs".
    - Flesh Torn to Pieces. The Roman beasts whipped Him and tore His flesh to pieces.
    - Eating Flesh. On the cross, Israel and the Gentiles symbolically ate their Messiah.
    So His flesh was not torn to pieces in the field. It was torn to pieces after they threw Him to the dogs (Romans). After this, they ate Him. They chewed Him up, spit on Him and swallowed Him, showing contempt for their birthright. According to the law He was unacceptable as an offering to God at this time. He had been torn to pieces by the wild beasts and His death had been cruel.
    » The Discarded Birthright. When Esau carelessly discarded his birthright, at least he gave it to his worthy brother. They threw the valuable piece of meat to the dogs even though it had not been torn up in the field.
  - The Donkey. Jesus is symbolized as a donkey in many prophecies because He was viewed as unclean and lowly by the people as He bowed down to bear the burdens of our sin. He was characterized as "wandering in the field" because He walked back and forth between praying to God and coming to the disciples three times to seek some comfort and help.
    Wandering Donkey. In the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel of the Lord encouraged Him to accept the coming affliction (Luke 22: 43). As He left the garden a mob of enemies escorted Him to His trial and crucifixion (Luke 22: 48-50).
    If you meet your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. (Exodus 23: 4)
    Helpless Donkey. He stumbled and fell as He carried the cross to the place of the crucifixion and was helped by a man named Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross (Luke 23: 26).
    If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him. (Exodus 23: 5)
  - Perverting Justice. The action of the leaders, the people and His friends and family served to pervert justice. As nobody stood up for Him, it became easier to agree with the popular opinion.
    - Mob Mentality. They followed the masses and released Barabbas instead of Christ.
      You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice. (Exodus 23: 2)
      Breaking this law marks an important turning point that is memorialized in other prophicies. This marks the point where the people selected Jesus as the Lord's goat Who was killed and Barabbas as the scapegoat who was released. It marks Urechatz, the beginning of the Passover Seder when the head of household's actions were not blessed.
    - False Witness. The high priest arranged for false witnesses to testify at the trial (Matthew 26: 60).
      You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. (Exodus 23: 1)
    - Cowardly Silence. Peter denied Him and did not speak up as a witness for Him to rebut the lies.
      You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. (Exodus 23: 6)
    - False Charges. They charged Him with treason and insurrection.
      Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty. (Exodus 23: 7)
    - A Gross Miscarriage of Justice. The result was that the innocent and the most righteous of all humans, was executed.
  - Bribes. The high priest Caiaphas bribed the disciple Judas (Matthew 26: 15). The fact that they read this section of scripture was amazing to me because it means that as they read this section of the Torah God was warning them, just as He warned Pilate with a dream (Matthew 27: 19).
    You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just. (Exodus 23: 8)
    Unexplainable. The readings in Exodus 23 are unusual prophecies like the Passover seder. The seder prophesies about the order of events after the decision to crucify as made, not the order of events at the first exodus. Similarly, Exodus 23 seems out of context with the events of the Jewish perception of Passover. Why do we read laws about bribery and hiring false witnesses? These words are a bonanza for the Christian view of what occurred at Passover, yet this is the Orthodox Jewish tradition which is not contaminated by Christian ideas.
  - Hospitality to a Stranger. Jesus was the stranger from a far land, a guest from heaven whom they mistreated.
  - Six Years of Planting.
    You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same in your vineyard and your olive grove. (Exodus 23: 10-11)
    - Field (Spring Harvest). Jesus was the grain at the spring harvest, but He was threshed on the floor, trampled and scattered to the wind. Christ was the firstfruit of the grain, wine and olive harvest.
      » Six Years of Sowing. Together, Jesus and the disciples ministered to the Jews for seven years.
      » Gather in the Yield. After 3.5 years, the fruit was brought in according to another law. This was Jesus. The disciples also brought in 3000 Jews at Pentecost (Shavu'ot). However, after six years there was no yield because Jesus saw that the tree was dried up and unproductive.
      » Lying Fallow. For about 2000 years the field of Israel has been lying fallow and unproductive.
      » Needy Poor. In the beginning many Jews accepted Jesus (Yeshua) as the Moshiach (Messiah).
      » Beast of the Field (Gentiles). The covenant went to the Gentiles.
    - Vineyard (Summer Harvest). At the end of the great period of persecution when the blood of the grapes were squeezed, a revival occurred around the world. However, this harvest was trampled and martyred like their Lord.
    - Olive Grove (Autumn Harvest). At the end of time, when the Holy Spirit is poured out (oil) we must gather this final harvest according to the same rules.
    According to the law, we are to begin each harvest by first going to the Jews, then to the rest of the field.
  - Six Days of Work. These are the last six days before His burial and the six thousand years of sin.
    Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. (Exodus 23: 12)
    Jesus rested from His work on the high Sabbath.
    - Ox and Donkey (Burden Bearers). He is pictured as the ox and the donkey who bore the burden of our sins on His shoulders.
    - Son of Female Slave (Hard Worker). This is the most interest part of the statement. One would think that God has no pity for female slaves, until you see this prophecy as instructions to one specific Male slave. Israel is the woman who is enslaved in sin. Jesus Christ is her firstborn Son Who worked hard to free her, but now He must have rest.
    - Stranger (Homeless Helper). He is the Stranger from heaven Who came to relieve us from our burdens of sin and has no place to stay.
  - Males Appear Three Times. Christ was the Male who appeared before God.

    Passover (1) | Shavu'ot (2) | Tabernacles (3)
    --- | --- | ---
    | Gethsemane |  | Crucified |  | Buried |
    Substitution | Ransom Paid | Sons of God

    - Passover (Garden of Gethsemane). The Lamb of God gave His blood in the garden and was laid out on the wood of the cross. He obtained atonement for our sins and reconciled us with God by substituting Himself.
    - Shavu'ot (Lifted Up on the Cross). On Shavu'ot the people gathered at the base of the mountain while Moses went up the mountain. There, God was hidden in smoke and fire and dark clouds. Christ appeared before God on the cross with the people gathered at the base of the cross on the hill named Golgotha. Then God passed over in the darkness. He paid the ransom and suffered the curses for our sins and reclaimed us from Satan.
    - Tabernacles (Buried). Christ was broken in two and now He was living in the temporary shelters of the grave. His humanity was separated from His divinity (Afikoman). We know that while He was in the grave Satan went before God to claim His body and accuse Him of sin. The case of Christ came before God in the filthy clothes of our sins and He was pardoned and resurrected as the wavesheaf and appeared personally before God to be inaugurated as the eternal High Priest for the next seven days. He obtained the blessing and the reward and made us sons of God in the resurrection.
      » Children of God. In this example we can compare Tabernacles to baptism. When we come to God, we are buried with our sins, washed and raised to life as new creatures.
  - No Leaven. When He gave His blood in Gethsemane, He was a broken and sinless man.
    You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor is the fat of My feast to remain overnight until morning. (Exodus 23: 18)
  - Fat Offering (Verse 18). He was taken off the cross and buried before sunset.
  - First Fruit. At His resurrection, some of the dead were raised with Him as He was presented before God as the wavesheaf.
    You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God ... (Exodus 23: 19)
    Instead of bringing Him to the temple to explain the wonderful victory that had just been won in the Garden of Gethsemane, they brought Him to the temple before the Sanhedrin to be tried and executed.
  - Weaning the Goat. Jesus was formally separated from Mary before He suffered as the sin offering.
    ... You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother. (Exodus 23: 19)
- Nisan 18: First Fruits (Exodus 34: 1-26). Same readings as the day of the first fruits.
- Nisan 19: Let My People Go (Exodus 9: 1-14). God sent ten plagues to force Pharaoh to release Israel. The Passover reading only centers on the fifth and sixth plague, let us see why.
  - Warning Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Gnats, Insects. The first three plagues fell on every one, but the fourth plague only fell on Egypt. Therefore all these plagues served as a warning, and the fourth plague was the first time that they could verify that this is not an idle threat. God had visibly made a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
  - Middle Plagues: Proof of Power and Intent. These two plagues are a set of final warnings.
    5. Plague on Animals. The wicked are unclean beasts, full of sores.
    6. Soot Becomes Boils and Sores on Man. The wicked will become burnt powder and ashes.
  - Final Plagues: Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Death of Firstborn. Locusts represent war. These plagues are the same as the seventh plague which destroys the world. God comes with an army to execute a war. He comes with hailstones and darkness to kill all the wicked.
    For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. (Exodus 9: 14)
- Nisan 20: Freed From Egypt (Exodus 13: 17-15: 26). These are prophecies about the efforts of the wicked to destroy us while we are being visibly freed by God. These mortals actually believe that they can defeat the immortal God.
  - From the Wilderness to the Red Sea (Verse 17-18). Since the crucifixion, God did not lead us by a way that was constant war, He led us by a way that involved fasting and hardship until we reach an impossible dilemma. With the pursuing forces behind us and the sea before us, we have no alternative but to rely totally on God. Faith is the final test.
  - Resurrection. On the day that we are freed from the land of slavery to sin, God will take the bones of our loved ones to the Promised Land. According to Ezekiel, He will put sinews on the bones.
    Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear saying, "God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you." (Exodus 13: 19)
  - Pillar of Cloud and Fire. God protected and provided for them, portraying Himself as a formidable force.
    The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel day and night. (Exodus 13: 21)
  - Six Hundred Chariots. This number is one dimension of the infamous number, six hundred, sixty and six.
    and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. (Exodus 14: 7)
  - God Sets a Trap. God made them wander in circles, appearing helpless and confused so that Pharaoh would think that they were helpless prey.
    Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-Zephon, opposite it, by the sea." For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, "They are wandering aimlessly in the land. The wilderness has shut them in." (Exodus 14: 1-3)
  - A Division. God fights with a division among the enemy, then a scattering or crumbling.
    The Division of the Sea. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. (Exodus 14: 16)

    Egypt | Israel
    --- | ---

  - Angel. The Angel of the Lord defends them.
    The angel of God who had been going before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night. (Exodus 14: 19-20)
  - Pharaoh Pursued and is Destroyed by a Crumbling Wall. The army of Israel is scattered across the sea as the walls of the sea crumble around them.
    Confusion at 3 AM. At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of Egyptians, through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. (Exodus 14: 24)
    Death at 6 AM. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it. Then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
    Wall Falls. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh's entire army that had gone into the sea after them, not even one of them remained. (Exodus 14: 27-28)
    Wall Protects. But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exodus 14: 29)
  - Victory in Silence. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. (Exodus 14: 14)
    » Seventh Seal. In the seventh seal, there was silence for half an hour (seven days). So this must be the time when we watch silently, in awe, while God fights our battles for us.
  - The Victory Song (Exodus 15). Only God gets the credit in our great victory.
    Frozen. Terror and dread fall upon them. By the greatness of your arm they are motionless as stone. Until your people pass over, O Lord. Until the people pass over whom You have purchased. (Exodus 15: 16)
    This theme of a stone that will be frozen and shattered appears in many places in the bible.
    - Lot's Wife. She turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at all that she had lost in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    - Nabal. His heart turned to stone and he died ten days later when he learned about the hospitality of his wife. He could not bear the thought that she gave away his food.
    - Egyptians. The wicked are frozen and motionless with fear when God strikes.
    - The Wicked Heart. God softens the heart when He gives us the Spirit to write the laws into our heart. But the heart of the wicked remains as cold, and unyielding as stone.
    - The Wicked Empire. The wicked will be crumbled to powder and dust (Deuteronomy 28: 23-24).
    The Song at the Sea. This is one of the special songs that marks a great transition in history. Jesus Christ opened a path of freedom from the slavery to sin through the two streams from His body, the blood and water.
  - The Testing at the Waters of Meribah. After they saw the miraculous deliverance through the ten plagues and the Red Sea and the supernatural pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, God tested them after three days. And they failed!
    Bitter Waters. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter, therefore it was named Marah.
    They Complained. So the people grumbled at Moses saying, "What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15: 23-24)
    Healing Tree. Then He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed Him a tree, and he threw it in the waters, and the waters became sweet ... (Exodus 15: 25)
    Christ is the healing Branch Who will give us the sweet waters of the Holy Spirit to drink. The Holy Spirit heals us by writing the law in our heart so that we will be obedient to the voice of God.
    Healer. And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians, for I, the Lord, am your healer". (Exodus 15: 26)
    Faith is the final test. Let us not grumble as the first generation did. Let us remember to sing the song of victory because God will give us the sweet waters of the Holy Spirit to heal us permanently.
    The Bitter Test. This is a Messianic prophecy. The three days are His time in the "bowels of the earth". After Christ crossed us over from death to life by winning the victory in the Garden of Gethsemane, He had a bitter test. He had to face crucifixion. This bitter experience is also captured by Abraham sacrificing Isaac.
  » King David's Song (2 Samuel 22: 1-51). David is saved from the waves of death. This reading is one of the ten special songs that marks important transitions in history. The importance of this event is that Christ obtained the keys to death and Hades and He controls or has power over death through the resurrection.
- Nisan 21: Messiah's Feast (Perpetual Freedom and Celebration).
  - Celebrate (Deuteronomy 15). Bring the tithe and the firstborn to God in the third year and celebrate the feasts.
    » (Isaiah 10: 32 - 12: 6). God destroys his enemies and raises up the righteous Branch to rule a peaceable kingdom. He will gather a remnant the second time.
    Branch. Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11: 1)
    The Peaceable Kingdom. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11: 6-9)
    This is the physical description of life in the new creation. However, in the spiritual world, Jesus began this reconciliation at the cross. Jesus tamed and reconciled the wild kingdoms to the rest of the creation. In all stages, He became a wild creature in order to defeat sin. Notice that many of the wild animals that are tamed are from the vision of Daniel 7. So Christ is seen as taming all the earthly powers Who fought with Him with a young creature from the offering and the young High Priest.
    - Little Boy. Jesus is the little boy Who will lead the world to peace.
    - Lamb and Wolf. When He does His final work of eradicating sin, He is described as Benjamin, the ravenous wolf. As the Lamb, He will even tame His own desire for revenge.
    - Young Goat and Leopard. He will tame the kingdom of Greece.
    - Cow and Bear. He will tame the kingdom of Medo-Persia.
    - Calf and Young Lion. He will tame the kingdom of Babylon.
    - Nursing Child and Cobra. He will tame the dragon and the Roman empire. Before the darkness on the cross, when He was still connected to His mother, He was viewed as a wicked Man. But He had the courage to grab a hold of Satan to begin the great struggle to free us.
    - Weaned Child and Viper. In the darkness during the crucifixion, He was formally separated from His mother (weaned) and He was also judged as a snake.
    Gathering the Exiles. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah. (Isaiah 11: 12)
    Ephraim. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim. (Isaiah 11: 13)
    » Springs of Waters. On the previous day they were disappointed with bitter waters at Meribah, the next day they were at Elim with 12 springs and 70 palm trees.
    Twelve Springs. Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters. (Exodus 15: 27)
    Joy. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. (Isaiah 12: 3)
    Trust the Good and Merciful God. Then you will say on that day, I will give thanks to you, O Lord. For although you were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12: 1-2)
  - Freedom (Deuteronomy 14). All debts are cancelled and slaves freed in the seventh year. God invites the poor and disenfranchised to come to His feast.
    High Sabbath. On the high Sabbath Christ freed us from slavery to sin. On the high Sabbath at the end of time, God will free the whole creation on the earth.

Summary Of Passover Events
The readings prophesy a series of events which would continue for eight days. If we start with Nisan 10, the day the Passover lamb was selected, we find a remarkable timeline of events that coincided with what was actually occurring.

- Nisan 10: Selection (Day 1). The elders meet to select the Lamb. The priests and Judas meet to find a way to arrest Jesus. On that day the people selected Him as He rode through the east gates on a donkey.
- Nisan 11: Cleanses the Temple (Day 2). The next day He throws out the money changers.
- Nisan 12: Redeem the Firstborn (Day 3). The priests plot at Caiaphas' house two days before the feast. They literally plotted to break the neck of the firstborn, rather than to redeem Him.
- Nisan 13: Bribes and Injustice (Day 4). The priests meet Judas to finalize plans. They give him a bribe and arrange for two false witnesses.
- Nisan 14: First Fruits (Day 5). Jesus was offered to God during the feast.
- Nisan 15: Plagues (Day 6). Jesus was dead, suffering the ultimate curse of sin.
- Nisan 16: Resurrection (Day 7). Jesus was raised from the dead and raptured to heaven at the end of the day.
- Nisan 17: Debts Forgiven (Day 8). Our sins were forgiven. Jesus presented Himself to God as the wavesheaf.
- Nisan 21: Messiah's Feast (Day 12). Celebration when Jesus eats the Passover with us in the kingdom of God. The period between Nisan 17 and 21 represents the time of 2000 years between Christ and the church going up to Mount Zion.

Passover
Beginning | Chol Ha'Moed | End
--- | --- | ---
Nisan 10 | Nisan 11 | Nisan 12 | Nisan 13 | Nisan 14 | Nisan 15 | Nisan 16 | Nisan 17 | Nisan 21
Selection | Temple Cleansed | Redeem | Bribes | Killed | Dead | Raised | Debts Forgiven | Messiah's Feast
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Mount Zion

Shavu'ot (Pentecost) Readings
After we have been delivered from death and slavery, we go to Mount Zion to meet God and receive instructions, ratify the covenant and obtain our blessings. This is what Shavu'ot teaches.
In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. (Exodus 19: 1)

- Exodus (Exodus 19: 1 - 20: 23).
  - Eagle. The wilderness experience showed the life of an eagle caring for its young.
    You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagle's wings, and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19: 4)
    » Food. He even fed them with meat and manna from the above like a bird feeds its young.
    » Feathers. He covered them with a cloud, like soft downy feathers.

    Shavu'ot Readings
    Day | Torah | Prophets
    --- | --- | ---
    Sivan 6 |  | Exodus 19:1 - 20:23 | Numbers 28: 26-31 | Ezekiel 1: 1-28; 3:12; Ruth
    Sivan 7 (Week day) | Deuteronomy 15:19 - 16:17 | Habakuk 2: 20 - 3: 19
    Sivan 7 (Sabbath) |  | Deuteronomy 14:22 - 16:17

  - A Nation of Priests. God's plan was for Israel to be a nation of priests to the world, who were led by a high priest.
    And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. (Exodus 19: 6)
  - Moses Goes Up (Exodus 19: 3, 8, 20, 24). He went up four times. After the third time God came down to give the signal for the people to come up.
  - Consecrated. The people first consecrated themselves for three days.
    The Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of the people. (Exodus 19: 10-11)
  - The Trumpet Sounds. Then at the sound of the trumpet they were to go up the mountain to meet God.
    So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there was thunder and lightning flashes and thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. (Exodus 19: 16, 19)
  - At the Base of the Mountain. On the third day they stood at the base of the mountain waiting to hear the signal.
    And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. (Exodus 19: 18)
  - God Comes Down.
    The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. (Exodus 19: 20)
  - Ten Commandments. Then God spoke the Ten Commandments to all the people.
  - Intercessor. The people were afraid and asked for an intercessor. Although the original plan was for them to go up to God on the third day when the trumpet sounded they stood at a distance and appointed a mediator.
    All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but let not God speak to us or we will die. (Exodus 20: 18-19)
    They stepped back instead of stepping up.
    ... when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain. (Exodus 19: 13)
- Offer the Firstborn (Deuteronomy 15: 19 - 16: 17). They are duplicated at Passover and Tabernacles.
- Celebrate Freedom (Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 16: 17). They are duplicated at Passover and Tabernacles.
- Throne of God (Ezekiel 1: 1 - 18 and 3: 12). Ezekiel saw a vision of God on His throne a month after Shavu'ot.
  Then the Spirit took me up and I heard behind me a voice of great rushing saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place. (Ezekiel 3: 12)
- God Stands Up (Habakuk 2: 20 - 3: 19).
  But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him. (Habakuk 2: 20)
  He stood and surveyed the earth. He looked and startled the nations. Yes the perpetual mountains were shattered, the ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. (Habakuk 3: 6)
  In indignation you marched through the earth; in anger you trampled the nations. You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil to lay him open from thigh to neck. (Habakuk 3: 12-13)
- Ruth. Some groups read this story of the Gentile from Moab who asked to be part of the people of God. Christ reconciled both groups into one so that the Jews and Gentiles were officially brothers. As brothers we are not to enslave each other and we must forgive debts.

The Christian Perspective
During Shavu'ot in the year of the crucifixion, God came down upon the disciples in a pillar of fire and gave them gifts. He made them the foundation of a nation of priests. Like Moses, Jesus went back and forth three times, before the Holy Spirit came down in a mighty rushing wind. He was chosen as our intercessor until the fourth time at the Second Coming. During this interval, the Holy Spirit will write the Ten Commandments on our hearts. Then, He will take the final generation to come and meet God and they will not tremble in fear and refuse to go up in the rapture. When we hear the last trumpet, we will go up to meet God.

Sabbath: Celebrate Freedom
The crucifixion was a time when the tithe and the forgiveness of debt merged. Christ was the tithe Who was brought to God. He forgave our sins freed us from slavery to sin.

Yom Kippur Readings

Yom Kippur Readings
Day | Torah | Prophets
--- | --- | ---
Morning |  | Leviticus 16: 1-34 | Numbers 29: 7-11 | Isaiah 57: 14-58:14
Evening | Leviticus 18: 1-30 | - | Jonah 1: 1- 4: 11 Micah 7: 18-20

- Morning (Repentance). The readings are about the sin offering on the Day of Atonement and the warning to draw near to God and to sacrifice so that you can reverse the effects of wickedness in the land.
  A Day of Fasting. Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house. When you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh. (Isaiah 58: 6-7)
  Christ paid our debt of sin and brought us out of slavery. As the "Word of God" Who became flesh, He gave us His body of Words to eat, His righteousness to cover us and He is preparing a home for us in His palace. He did not hide Himself from humanity, but came in the form of human flesh to free us.
- Evening (Forgiveness). Righteousness is depicted as a covering. Yom Kippur ("Day of the Covering") is a lesson in covering sins, from the covering of light removed from Adam and Eve to the temporary covering of skin to the mercy seat.
  - Do Not Expose Sin. So these Torah readings are the most interesting, they are not simply a list of forbidden sexual immoralities. They teach that after Yom Kippur, you are not to expose the sins (nakedness) of anyone, especially your relatives.
    » The Family of God. Christ has provided a covering of righteousness for everyone. He teaches that everyone is now our brother since He has reconciled both groups into one.
  - God Saves Man and Beast. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and and their left hand, as well as many animals? (Jonah 4: 11)
  - God Loves Mercy. Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7: 18-19)

Sukkot Readings

Current Sukkot Readings
Day | Torah | Prophets | Edersheim | God Acts
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | Tishri 15 |  | Leviticus 22: 26-23: 44 | Numbers 29: 12-16 | Zechariah 14: 1-21 | Psalm 105 | Temple dedicated | Exodus plagues
2 | Tishri 16 | - | 1 Kings 8: 2-21 | Psalm 29 | Creation by sound
- | Sabbath |  | Exodus 33: 12-34: 26 | Ezekiel 38: 18-39:16 | Ezekiel 38: 14-39:16 | Resurrection Armageddon
3 | Chol Ha'Moed | 1 | Numbers 29: 17-25 | - | Psalm 50:16-23 | Judged | Wicked judged
4 | 2 | Numbers 29: 20-28 | - | Psalm 94:16-23 | Righteous stand
5 | 3 | Numbers 29: 23-31 | - | Psalm 94: 8-23 | Pit dug
6 | 4 | Numbers 29: 26-34 | - | Psalm 81: 6-16 | Rescued
7 | Tishri 21 Hoshanah Rabbah | Numbers 29: 26-34 | - | Psalm 82: 5-8 | Millennium
8 | Tishri 22 Shemini Atzeret |  | Deuteronomy 14: 22-16:17 | Numbers 29: 35-30:1 | 1 Kings 8: 54-9:1 | Deuteronomy 33-34 | Freedom | People and temple blessed
9 | Tishri 23 Simchat Torah | Deuteronomy 33-34 Genesis 1: 1- 2:3 | Joshua 1: 1-18 | - | Promised Land New Creation
This list of traditional songs is from Dr. Alfred Edersheim. The readings are from Orthodox Jews.

- Tishri 15 and 16: Leviticus 22: 26-23: 44. This is the same reading as Passover. However, the readings from the prophets are different. At Passover, we learn about Josiah cleansing the temple. At Succos the King of Peace comes to dedicate the temple that was cleansed.
  » Deuteronomy 31: 10-14. This is read every seven years.
  The Law. Then Moses commanded them saying, "At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of the remission of debts, at the feast of booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing". (Deuteronomy 31: 10-11)
  » Zechariah 14: 1-21. God makes a place on the Mount of Olives for the temple that He has dedicated.
  Mount of Olives. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half the mountain will move towards the north and the other half towards the south. (Zechariah 14: 4)
  Darkness. In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening there will be light. (Zechariah 14: 6-7)
  Living Waters. In that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them towards the eastern sea and the other half towards the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. (Zechariah 14: 8)
  Fountain. In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. (Zechariah 13: 1)
  No Curse. People will live in it and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. (Zechariah 14: 11)
  The last Sabbath of Passover is the first Sabbath of Succos. Passover readings end with the bitter waters that were made sweet. For the nation of Israel, Passover ended bitterly. Their Messiah was dead, but they did not believe that He was sent from God. Now at the end, they will begin the season of Tabernacles, recognizing the living springs.
- Tishri 16: Temple Dedicated (1 Kings 8: 2-21). Solomon, the king of peace, dedicated the temple.
- Sabbath: Exodus 33: 12-34: 26. Same reading as Passover intermediate Sabbath However, the readings from the prophets are about Armageddon, while at Passover it is about the resurrection of the righteous and the giving of the Holy Spirit.
- Sabbath. The Comforter-Companion (Exodus 33: 12 - 34: 26). This is the same reading as Passover. However the prophetic readings are different. At Passover, we read about the resurrection and recreation of the righteous. Here, we read about the destruction of the wicked.
  » Ezekiel 38: 14 - 39:16 (Intermediate Sabbath).
  - Christ (Tishri 15). Christ suffers the wrath of God.
  - The Wicked (Tishri 22). The wicked suffer the wrath of God.
- Chol Ha'Moed: Judgment (Tishri 17-20). There are no other readings because there are no examples in history that will explain this period of time. These days most likely represent the judgment of God, the righteous and the wicked. The pattern suggests that the judgment is being done in seven phases. During Chol Ha'Moed the evidence is being examined.
  Christ began the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles when He came to the east gate of the temple riding on a donkey amidst the cheering crowds and waving palm branches. He was coming to be selected and examined as God's final remedy for sin. He was selected on Nisan 10, when the Passover Lamb was chosen.

  Tabernacles Trials | Sabbath |  | Chol Ha'Moed |  | Hoshanah Rabbah | Shemini Atzeret
  --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
  Jury | Judged | Begins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Ends | Inheritance
  Universe | Sinners | Covenant | 7000 Years | Forgiveness | Earth
  Heaven | Lord's Goat | Rides a Donkey | Last Seven Days (Nisan 10-16) | Resurrection | High Priest
  Crucifixion | Seven Churches | Second Coming | King
  World | Scapegoat | Last Days | Plagues and the Millennium | Third Coming | Destruction
  Wicked | God | Third Coming | Final Judgment | Hell Fire | Death (Ashes)

  » Burden Lifted (The Judgment of God). One unique feature of this period is the diminishing number of bull offerings. Every offering remains the same until Shemini Atzeret, but the bulls decrease by one each day.
  - Bull (Priest's Sin and Guilt Offering). The bull represents both a burden bearer and an offering for the priest. It suggests that as the time progresses, the burden of sin is being lifted from the shoulders of God. At the crucifixion Christ was judged and Satan was cast out with his angels. God was judged by the unfallen universe. During the millennium, as the righteous judge the wicked and approve the decisions of God, He is being judged and vindicated by us.
  - 2 Rams (Burnt Offering). This suggests that the continual is being offered every day.
  - 14 Lambs (Burnt Offering). This suggests that the continual is being offered every day for each of the seven churches and probably during the seven millennia.
  - 1 Goat (People's Sin and Guilt Offering). Only one Person takes the penalty for sin, Jesus Christ.
  » The Selection of the Scapegoat. One important fact for the final generation is the realization that our judgment begins when the Scapegoat appears and the world is asked to examine him and choose between him and the Lord's Goat (Jesus Christ). This decision ends with the seven last plagues and the millennium where the righteous humans finally get 1000 years to judge the events of the past 6000 years. The readings of Ezekiel 38-39 suggest that perhaps we take only seven years out of the 1000 years to complete the judgment and that the final judgment after the Third Coming occurs over seven months. This actually gives the wicked enough time to plan and execute a rebellion as Revelation 20 states.
- Hoshanah Rabbah (Tishri 21). On this day they beat the willows. It is the final judgment.
- Shemini Atzeret (Tishri 22). We inherit the earth.
  - Deuteronomy 14. Same reading as last day of Pesach Nisan 21. We celebrate freedom.
  - 1 Kings 8: 54-9:1. Solomon blessed the Lord and the people for fourteen days, celebrating a double feast.
    The People Rest. Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He has promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. (1 Kings 8: 56)
    A Double Feast. So Solomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with Him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. (1 Kings 8: 65)
    We see a similar double celebration at the crucifixion.
    - Inauguration on Earth (Nisan 10-16). Jesus was anointed by Mary and inaugurated as high priest for seven days, then appeared to Mary on the eighth day.
    - Inauguration in Heaven (Nisan 17-23). Jesus went to heaven after His resurrection and returned to earth eight days later.
- Simchat Torah (Tishri 23).
  - Deuteronomy 33-34. Moses blesses the twelve tribes on the borders of the Promised Land. The people caused him to sin, so Moses was punished. He could not cross over into the Promised Land, but he had to die so that the people could see the consequences of sin. He is lifted up to the top of Mount Nebo where he surveys the land before he dies in Moab. The people weep for 30 days before Joshua takes them across the borders of the Promised Land. From the New Testament we know that Moses was resurrected and taken to heaven (Jude 1: 9). Therefore, God achieved two goals. He actually rewarded Moses out of the sight of the people and brought Him into the true Promised Land. However, the people saw that sin must be punished.
  - Genesis 1: 1-2:3. A new beginning starts with the seven days of creation.
  - Joshua 1: 1-18. God reminds him of the Shema. Every place your foot treads shall be yours. Joshua tells the people to make preparations to cross the Jordan in 3 days. He reminds the people of their covenant.
    Every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given to you just as I spoke to Moses. (Joshua 1: 3)
  Moses and Joshua. Christ is symbolized by both these men. He had to die because of the sins of the people, but God raised Him from the dead and took Him to heaven. He will return as Joshua to lead us across the Sea of Glass to the heavenly Promised Land. When He returns and His feet tread on the Mount of Olives, He will be given the earth as the permanent Promised Land.

Succos Songs
Dr. Alfred Edersheim gives a list of praise songs to sing during this season. If we compare the list of readings and songs from Edersheim to the current practice of Orthodox Jews, we get a picture of the millennium as a time of rest for the righteous and a time for the reward of the righteous and wicked.

- Exodus Plagues (Psalm 105). The seven last plagues begin the time of tabernacles, because God is hiding His people as the storm rages across the planet. This is read on the first day of tabernacles because Christ began tabernacles by riding through Jerusalem on a donkey while the people waved palm branches, only to suffering the plagues for us.
- Creation by Sound (Psalm 29). The seven thunders finishes the sound. The righteous are being recreated into the image of God.
- Wicked Judged (Psalm 50: 16-23). God makes a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked are judged. God does not listen to their appeals because they despised the covenant.
  The Wicked. But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of my statutes and to take my covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you."
  The Righteous. He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. And to him who orders his way right I will show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50: 16-17, 23)
- Courage (Psalm 94: 16-23). The righteous are courageous in adversity and God helps them.
  Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for Me against those who do wickedness? (Psalm 94: 16)
- A Pit is Dug (Psalm 94: 8-23). The wicked create their own punishment and fall into their own trap.
  Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of the law. That you may grant him relief from the days of adversity, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. He has brought back their wickedness upon them and will destroy them in their evil. The Lord our God will destroy them. (Psalm 94: 12-14, 23)
- Rescued and Fed (Psalm 81: 8-16). The righteous are rescued and they are recreated.
  Rescued. O that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways. I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. (Psalm 81: 13-14)
  Fed. I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But I will feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I will satisfy you. (Psalm 81: 10)
- Judgment (Psalm 82: 5-8). The wicked angels and men in the millennium.
  Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is you Who possesses all the nations. (Psalm 82: 8)

Special Shabbaths.
During the year, certain Sabbaths are special and other readings are added. These customs give us some insight into what Jesus is doing and serve as highlights in the Messianic saga.

Jesus is The Temple | The Temple is Destroyed and Rebuilt
--- | ---
| Shirah | Sheqalim | Zakhor | Parah | Ha-Codesh | Ha-Gadol |  | Hazon |  | Nachamu | Shuvah |  |
Song | Census Coins | Treachery | Purify | New Year | Selection | Vision | Consoled | Repent
Redeem | 30 shekels | Judas' Bribe | Temple Cleansed | Lord's Goat | Israel Broken | Holy Spirit | Israel Rests
Sold as a Ransom | Gethsemane | Crucifixion | Holy Spirit as Comforter

Christians will notice the remarkable sequence that also predicts the future events from the standpoint of God providing rest by paying all our debts.

- ♥ Preparation for Passover: (The Four Parshiyot). Four of these Sabbaths have special Torahs reading added to prepare for Passover. In this preparation, the priests were planning for the destruction of the temple or the death of the Lamb of God.
  - Shabbat Shirah (Sabbath Song). A Sabbath with one of the ten special songs, the Song at the Sea. According to tradition, there are ten special songs that express the harmony of creation and mark great transitions in history. The tenth song is the song of the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach) which will be sung at the end of days (Isaiah 26: 1).
    » The White Horse Rides (The First Seal). This is the horse that rides to victory.
  - ♥ Shabbat Sheqalim. A census of coins are counted instead of people. The money is for the maintenance of the temple. Tradition says this census occurred on Nisan 1, and this special Sabbath occurs one month before Nisan 1 on the first day of Adar or Adar II or the Sabbath before to remind them of the upcoming census.
    » Bribed with Thirty Shekels. This is the amount the high priest paid Judas to betray Jesus. It is significant that Jesus said that His body is the temple that would be destroyed for three days. This special occasion may have been the time when the priests first decided to try to destroy Him with this bribe.
    » Purchased With His Blood. The symbols of the Plan of Salvation said that when the census of the righteous was taken, only one Man was counted. His blood was used to purchase us.
    Counted and Weighed (The Value of the Messiah). I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zechariah 11: 12-13)
    Yeshua was valued at the price of sixty men. The only connection we can make so far is that it seems to be related to 600+60+6 (666) the number of man. So He was counted among the wicked. However, it is my hope that when Israel accepts the Messiah that together we can examine the traditions to discover if it means more.
  - ♥ Shabbat Zakhor. It reminds them of the treachery of Amalek and the need to blot out their memory. Jews find this command troubling because it seems like genocide.
    » Gog and Magog (The Race of the Evil Wicked). There is no mystery here and no genocide. Just as Abraham was asked to feel the pain of the suffering of God when he was told to kill his son, so too were the Jews often asked to do strange things that symbolized the strange act that God would perform in the end of days. In the final days there will only be two races of people. The righteous represented as Israel, and the wicked named Gog from the land of Magog in the book of Revelation 20. This evil race which tries to destroy Israel is represented by many races and people during the past 6000 years. Amalek was only one of them.
    » The Treachery of Judas. Like Amalek, his treachery caused him to be blotted out.
  - ♥ Shabbat Parah (Purification Sabbath). The Sabbath after Purim begins the purification and preparation needed to make the pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem for Pesach. The ritual of the cleansing of the Red heifer. It purifies the people from contact with the dead but the person who performs the ritual is temporarily impure.
    » Jesus Prepares to Return to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus left Jerusalem after the Jews tried to stone Him at the feast of Dedication before He came back on Nisan 10, riding through the east gates of Jerusalem on a donkey. Obviously, Jesus was now making the preparations to return to Jerusalem.
    » Jesus Cleanses the Temple. He clears the temple of the money changers and the commerce.
    » Jesus is Made Unclean. When Jesus cleansed us from sin, He was temporarily made unclean because He took on our sins and became sin.
    » Israel is Cleansed From Death. A heifer is a female and most sacrifices are male animals. Jesus cleaned the woman from death by dying in her place at Pesach.
  - ♥ Shabbat Ha-Chodesh. It establishes the Hebrew calendar. Read on Nissan 1 or the Sabbath before.
  - Shabbat Ha-Gadol (The Great Sabbath). It celebrates Nissan 10, when the people selected their lamb for Passover and tied them to their house until Nisan 14. The Messianic prophecy in Malachi 3: 4-24 about the return of Elijah at Pesach at the end of days is read today.
- Remembering The Temple. The temple was destroyed at the crucifixion. Since the members of the church are the living stones that will rebuild the true temple, the message of God is that we can rebuild the temple if we show true repentance.
  - Shabbat Hazon (Sabbath of Vision). Isaiah's vision of the destruction of the temple (Isaiah 1: 1-27). It occurs on the Sabbath before Tisha B'Av, and is part of the great period of mourning between the Fast of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av.
  - Shabbat Nachamu (Sabbath of Consolation). The seven readings in seven weeks from the Sabbath after Tisha B'Av to Rosh Hashanah are meant to give reassurance that the temple will be rebuilt.
    » The Holy Spirit (Comforter). The Holy Spirit is the one Who consoles us and rebuilds the temple! He writes the laws of God in our heart, leads us to repentance and rebuilds the living temple.
    » The Latter Rain. The Holy Spirit actually came at Shavu'ot (Pentecost), but this special Sabbath occurs later. We also expect the Latter Rain to occur around the Feast of Tabernacles. This Sabbath occurs about half way between when we are symbolically at our lowest point. It is possible that when the Jews respond to the Latter Rain, it will begin on this day, because the example they set stirs the rest of the church and they respond at Tabernacles in vast numbers.
    » The Fifteenth of Av. This event celebrates the end of their wandering in the desert and it is significant that it occurs during the first week of comforting.
    » The Seven Churches. It is the first of seven haftarot (readings from the prophets) starting with the Shabbat after Tisha B'Av up to Rosh Hashanah. This statement reminds us of the seven churches beginning with the death of the Jesus until the judgment.
    1. Va'etchanan (Isaiah 40: 1-26). Prepare the way for the glory of the Lord to be revealed to all flesh.
       The Lord Is Glorified. A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness. Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low. And let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley." Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. (Isaiah 40: 3-5)
       The glory of God is revealed in His care for His creation, His greatness in relation to the speck of dust that is earth, HIs wisdom knowledge and understanding and that He created the universe.
    2. Eiqev (Isaiah 49: 14 - 51: 3). The Lord will comfort forgotten Zion.
    3. Re'eh (Isaiah 54: 11 - 55: 5). An afflicted and forsaken Israel will be restored and glorified.
       Israel Is Glorified. Behold, I will call a nation you do not know, and a nation which knows you not will run to you, because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel. For He has glorified you. (Isaiah 55: 5)
       Israel was glorified at the First Coming and the Gentile nations were called.
       Israel will be glorified again near the Second Coming as all the nations stream towards the one true God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel.
    4. Shoftim - Judges (Isaiah 51: 12 - 52: 12).
       » Suffering Messiah Prophecy (Isaiah 52: 13-15 and Isaiah 53). In this time of reflection over the destroyed temple, the readings deliberately skip over one very important temple which was destroyed. The Jews no longer read this obvious Messianic Psalm which describes the destruction of His body temple.
       The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things?"
       Rebuilt. Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up".
       But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2: 18-19, 21)
    5. Ki Teitzei (Isaiah 54: 1-10). This is a prophecy about the restoration of the physical nation of Israel, not the spiritual nation of global Israel.
       "For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment. But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you", says the Lord your Redeemer.
       For this is like the days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah will not flood the earth again. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you nor will I rebuke you. (Isaiah 54: 7-9)
    6. Ki Tavo (Isaiah 60). The Lord will be glorified when His glory comes to the people.
       Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples. But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Then all your people will be righteous, they will possess the land forever; the branch of My planting, the work of My hands that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60: 1-2, 21)
    7. Nitzavim (Isaiah 61: 10 - 63: 9). The glory of Jerusalem will be a bright jewel before the nations.
    In this time of comfort, the glory of the Lord will come to the nation and comfort the people and deliver them from their enemies and their shame and raise their status among the nations.
    The period ends with Rosh Chodesh Tishri (Rosh Hashannah). This is the pattern of the fifth curse. Judgment comes when the sanctuary falls.
  - Shabbat Shuvah (Sabbath of Return and Sabbath of Repentance). The Sabbath between Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur is a time of reflection. It recognized the importance of sincere repentance and the mercy of the Creator.

The True Songs (Shirot)

Exodus of Israel | The Journey in the Wilderness | The Promised Land
--- | --- | ---
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |  | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
Night | Red Sea | Well | Moses | Joshua | Deborah | David | Temple | Solomon | New Song | Judgment | Creation
1 | Enemy Pursues | Garden | Law | Battle on the Cross | Buried | Raised | Groom | The Lamb of God Conquers
2 | Israel Purchased | Holy Spirit | Final Persecution | Bride (Kingdom of Priests) | Millennium | The New Earth
Exodus | Redemption | Armageddon | End of Days

In the history of the world there are special songs that are not ordinary melodies, they are expressions of the harmony of creation and mark monumental transitions in history (Judaism 101).
Ten Special Songs. Jewish tradition teaches that there are only ten true songs. Nine have been sung and the tenth will be sung in the end of days. There are minor variations in the composition of the list. Others mention the song of Jehoshaphat as one of the songs, but most mention the following list.
Tribe: . The blessings of the twelve tribes are related to the historical phases of Israel's experience. Therefore they also appear to be related to the experience of the songs.
The experience of Christ and Israel are related to the songs. He writes the notes, they live the melodies.

1. Song Of Israel In Egypt (Isaiah 30: 29). Isaiah confirms that a song was sung on the night of the Exodus in Egypt when they kept the first Passover.
   Tribe: Zebulun. "Rejoice Zebulun in your going forth ..." (Deuteronomy 33: 18), reflects the mood on this night.
   Christ. The lowly King Who went through the east gates of Jerusalem on a donkey ro save the world from sin.
   Israel. The nation that escaped the land of slavery to sin.
2. Song At The Sea (Shirat Ha Yam) (Exodus 15: 1-21). At the beginning of the exodus, after crossing the Red sea, this song is about our freedom.
   » Song of Miriam. This song was also sung on the same day.
   Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. The horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea. (Exodus 15: 21)
   Tribe: Gad (Raided). This is the nation that was pursued or raided and escaped when the waters parted.
   Christ. The Child Who was raided and escaped when His grave opened.
   Israel. The nation that was raided and escaped when two streams were opened up in the side of the Rock named Christ.
   » Torah Reading: Beshalach. This reading is scheduled for the righteous fruit who have been plucked from the tree in the new year for trees.
3. The Song At The Well (The Coming of the Holy Spirit). (Numbers 21:17-20). After the incidence of the fiery serpent lifted up on a stick, they journeyed to this well.
   From there they continued to Beer, that is the well where the Lord said to Moses, "Assemble the people, that I may give them water." (Numbers 21: 16)
   Then Israel sang this song: Spring up, O well! Sing to it! The well which the leaders sank, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and their staffs. (Numbers 21: 17-18)
   As a Messianic prophecy the perspective of this song is marvelous. It does not place blame for the digging of the well, but presents it as a necessary act for saving Israel.
   Jesus (Yeshua) was viewed as the evil man lifted up on a cross. He was the serpent on the stick that cured them of sin. As part of that healing, blood and water came from His side. It was the leaders and the king and the priests that dug this well!
   Tribe: Reuben. He represents the afflicted priest whose body leaked blood and water for the well of salvation.
   Christ. Blood and water came from the side of Jesus Christ when a spear dug a hole in His body.
   » Steam of Blood, Water and Oil. However, a number of other prophecies suggest that the real well that was opened occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane when blood and water were poured out in the oil press. So the stream of blood and water at the crucifixion was only a symbol of what has been turned on.
   Israel. This assembly after the well was dug predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days later at Shavu'ot.
   » Torah Reading: Chuqat. This reading is scheduled for a people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are about to be severely tested.
4. Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32: 1-43). At the end of the exodus, Moses sang this song about the inheritance of the Lord upon his completion of writing the Torah and before they crossed over into the Promised Land.
   Tribe: Issachar. We can tabernacle with God because we are covered under the tent that is the blood of Christ.
   Christ. Christ kept the law and secured our way into the Promised Land.
   Israel. He is responsible for writing the law in our hearts before we cross over into the Promised Land.
   » Torah Reading: Ha'azinu. This reading is scheduled for a sealed people who are about to tabernacle with God. King David's song is also read here and at Pesach. At Pesach it must commemmorate the Messiah's time to tabernacle as the first fruits. Here it says that our turn to tabernacle is like His if we have also died to sin with Him.
5. Song of Joshua (Joshua 10:12-13). He stopped the sun and moon for a day until Israel defeated the Amorites.
   ... O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. ... (Joshua 10:12-13)
   Tribe: Dan. During the supernatural darkness on the cross, victory over sin was won because God turned off the light so that He could not see our sins! Joshua won because God kept the light shining. In both victories the sun and moon fought for us by altering the natural course and giving light when needed.
   Christ. He defeated Satan as a dying Man. He was the Son of God submitting in the weak form of a human.
   Israel. In one prophetic day (year) the forces of evil will be defeated in the seven last plagues.
6. Deborah's Song (Judges 5). Israel defeated the mighty army of Canaan which had 900 iron chariots.
   The stars fought from heaven, from their courses they fought against Sisera. (Judges 5: 20)
   This song is about victory of women (the Church) at a battle like Armageddon. It is a further humiliating defeat for Satan who defeated the woman in Eden. Now she defeats Him while she is pregnant and in labor. The Man first defeated Satan with His hands tied, His feet nailed, His hands nailed and the crowd cheering against Him.
   Tribe: Gad (Raider). The stars of heaven are the raiding party who will part the heavens and rescue Israel and defeat her enemies. It takes two songs to represent the destiny of Gad.
   Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. (Genesis 49: 19)
   Since my analysis unexpectedly led to this conclusion, I am forced to also note that the daily Torah readings also group these two songs.
   Christ. He defeated Satan while submitting like a woman. He submitted to death. It takes two songs to represent the accomplishments of the death on the cross. Deborah and Joshua represent the death of Adam and Eve for sin. But the death is a battle on the cross in which God fought for us and was blamed for our sin.
   Israel. We will defeat the armies of the fractured iron kingdom called Babylon the Great.
   » Torah Reading: Beshalach. This reading is scheduled for the righteous fruit who are being offered to God in the new year for trees.
7. King David's Song (2 Samuel 22 or Psalm 18). David was delivered from all his enemies including king Saul.
   Tribe: Asher. His blessing represents the death of Israel.
   Christ. This is a cry of the Messiah to be delivered from death.
   Israel. Israel will also be delivered from death because of the Messiah.
   » Torah Reading: Pesach. This reading is scheduled for a people who have died to sin.
8. Temple Dedication (Psalm 30). Song at the dedication of the Holy Temple. The resurrection of the body which is the raising of the true temple of God is the monumental transition in history.
   Tribe: Naphtali. His blessing represents the resurrection.
   Christ. He is the true temple that was raised three days after it was torn down.
   Israel. Israel is the temple of God made with living stones. We will be raised and dedicated to God as a kingdom of priests.
9. Song of Songs (Solomon). A love song that indicates the love and marriage of God to Israel.
   Tribe: Simeon and Levi. The hated and unloved bride is now attached to the groom.
   Christ. Christ fulfilled the marriage contract and the covenant and is bethrothed to Israel.
   Israel. Christ returns for His perfect bride who is dressed in the white robes of righteousness.
10. The New Song (Shir Chadash). The tenth song has not been sung. It is about the coming Messiah and will be sung at the end of days. According to Jewish tradition, the tenth song will be about the ultimate redemption that is so global and absolute that will annihilate all suffering from the face of the earth (chabad.org).
    » The Song Of The Lamb. The New Testament introduces a new song that was sung after the Messiah was crucified. It may be the tenth song because the crucifixion of the Messiah began the end of days. From this moment on the greatest creative transiton in history was about to occur. God would recreate sinners with the blood of the Lamb Who was the only one worthy to redeem them with His blood.
    Victory Song (The Song of the Lamb). And they sang a new song saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and break its seals for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to our God and they will reign upon the earth." (Revelation 5: 9-10)
    The Song Of Moses And The Lamb. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty, Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15: 3-4)
    Tribe: Judah. He is the symbol of the king on the throne of David who will rule during the millennium.
    Christ. He is the Lamb Who purchased the nations with His blood.
    Israel. The final mystery is the recreation of the bride at the end of days with a song sung by the voice of God.

Two More Songs. We know that the great historical events that eradicate sin, do not end with the deliverance of Israel from the earth. So if we follow God's numerical patterns, there must be twelve songs.

11. Song At The End Of Days (Isaiah 26-27). This song covers the judgment from the Second to the Third Coming.
    Tribe: Benjamin. This is the ravenous wolf that devours the prey after the Second Coming and divides the spoil after the Third Coming.
12. The Final Song. This song is sung after all traces of sin has been eradicated and God recreates a new earth. Then the morning stars and the sons of God will sing at this creation, like they sang for joy at the first creation.
    Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me if you have understanding. When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. (Job 38: 4, 7)
    Tribe: Joseph. He is the king who will rule forever. His reign combines the scepter of Judah and Ephraim.
    Christ. God is the High Priest, creator and husband of Israel.
    The Formerly Desolated Wife. ... For your husband is your maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts, and your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54: 4)
    Israel. The kingdom of priests reigns on the earth forever with God living here permanently.

Hallel Prayer. This prayer is said at every great moment or misfortune. So is is said with every song.
The People Praise God. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your loving kindness, because of your truth. (Psalm 115: 1)
God Responds. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act. For how can my name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48: 11)

Summary Of Fall Feasts Events

Judgment | Preparation | Feast of Tabernacles
--- | --- | ---
- | Beginning | Chol Ha'Moed | End
Tishri 1 | Tishri 10 | Tishri 11-14 | Tishri 15 | Tishri 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Tishri 21 | Tishri 22
Barren | Yom Kippur | Build Sukkah | War | Cleanse | Inauguration | Judged | Freedom | Debts Forgiven
Sin Slavery | Chosen by God | Human Body | Crucifixion and Exodus | Death | Raised | Sins Forgiven
Chosen by Us | Prepares Place | Plagues | Gold | Millennium | Wicked | New Heavens and Earth
Naked | Passover | Shavuot | Tabernacles

The sequence is a timeline of the actions taken when Christ came to tabernacle with men until He returned to heaven after the crucifixion. It is also a timeline that begins with His selection for crucifixion by humans until we go to heaven to tabernacle with God.

- Tishri 1: Barren (Day 0). Israel was in darkness and barren. The Promised son had not come in 2000 years.
- Tishri 10: Lord's Goat. Jesus was selected to die as the Lord's Goat instead of Barabbas, but God had already selected Him from the foundation of the earth.
- Tishri 11-14: Build a Sukkah. A body was prepared for Jesus to come to earth and He goes to heaven to prepare a place for us while the Holy Spirit is transforming us on earth.
- Tishri 15: Plagues (Day 1). He suffered the seven last plagues for the righteous, now the wicked suffer.
- Tishri 16: Temple (Day 2). He dedicated the temple in heaven and begins to recreate His church as pure gold.
- Tishri 17-20: Millennium (Day 3-6). God is with us as we go through the final persecution and in the Millennium.
- Tishri 21: Judged (Day 7). He was judged and vindicated but the wicked are judged and killed.
- Tishri 22: Debts Cancelled (Day 8). He forgives our debts and gives us an inheritance.
- Tishri 23: New Beginning (Day 1). We start over in a new creation.

Living in the Feasts

The "Day of the Lord" (Day of Atonement)
Beginning (First Generation) | Chol Ha'Moed | End (Second Generation)
--- | --- | ---
Barren | Child | - | Killed | Passover | Bull | Lord's Goat | Shavu'ot | - | Scapegoat | Wave Sheaf Lifted Up
Sin | Sacrifices for Sin | Remove Leaven | Reconciled with God
Slaves | Exodus from the Land of Sin | Wilderness | Base of the Mountain | Go Up the Mountain
Naked | Atonement (Covering Provided) | Build Sukkah | Corrupt | House of Israel Covered
Idols | Temple Cleansed | Build Temple | Portable Temple | Temple Dedicated
Offering the Firstborn (Morning Sacrifice) | The Continual | Mother Killed (Evening Sacrifice)

All the sacrifices of all the feasts were made at one time. During this time we came to meet God at Shavu'ot, beginning with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost until the Second Coming. God first tabernacled with us when Jesus was born, then the Holy Spirit tabernacled in our hearts. So we have been tabernacled with God since the crucifixion.

- In The Beginning. Before the Promised Child is born we were living in darkness and in slavery to sin, naked, barren, worshipping idols and without hope.
- First Generation. Then the Promised Child came.
  - Firstborn Offered. He was given up for our sins and redeemed us from the hand of the enemy.
  - Cleanses The Temple. Jesus cleared the temple of those who were misrepresenting the name of God.
  - Covering. His blood provided a permanent covering for our sins.
- Chol Ha'moed: Wandering in the Wilderness. Between the crucifixion and the Second Coming, the church wanders in the wilderness as we wait to enter the Promised Land.
  - On Eagle's Wings. God carries us into the wilderness to escape the enemy (Revelation 12).
  - Slavery. We are no longer slaves, but a free nation.
  - Feast Of Weeks. This is the time of mourning as we wait for the bridegroom.
  - Remove The Leaven. Sin is being removed from the people of God.
  - Shavu'ot: The Eagle Has Landed (Latter Rain). God comes down in smoke and fire.
  - Ingathering At The Base Of The Mountain. Israel will be gathered to meet God at the base of the mountain to receive the law in our hearts. At the end of Shavu'ot we gather at the base of the mountain, anticipating the descent of God. When He comes down in fire and cleanses us. We wash our clothes and wait to ascend the mountain at the sound of the long trumpet.
  - Covering. During this long day of Atonement, God provides a covering for our sins as He cleanses our body temple.
  - Build The Sukkah. We are building the house of God (the church).
  - Cleanse And Restore The Temple. Ultimately, the people are the temple of God. He cleanses us by removing all traces of sin as part of a master plan to restore us to our former glory.
  - Apostasy (Scapegoat Appears). Ancient Israel sinned while Moses went up the mountain for the first time. With the help of their high priest they built an idol and brought an abomination among the people. The coming of the scapegoat at the end of the Day of Atonement reenacts a similar apostasy. He will corrupt the temple, that is the entire body of Christ.
    » Temple Corrupted. An attempt is made to corrupt the temple, so the righteous flee on a final exodus and become like the portable Mishkhan that Moses carried in the wilderness. But the wicked stay behind and worship a false God who is occupying a building as supreme ruler and god of the church and the universe.
- Second Generation. The second part of the continual is that the woman named Israel, the mother of the Child who was killed dies on the eighth day. They are represented by the female offering, the red heifer who cleanses Israel from death. Please understand that we are not teaching that Christ's sacrifice was incomplete or insufficient or that we can atone for our sins. We are saying that this generation dies to sin at the end of the day and becomes a living sacrifice to God by walking in the footsteps and example of their Lord.
  - War. God goes to war with the wicked in order to free the righteous.
  - Live In The Sukkah. We are protected during the Seven Last Plagues.
  - Long Trumpet. We wait for the last trumpet to ascend to heaven.
    In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15: 52)
    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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4: 16,17)
  - Wavesheaf Lifted Up. The dead are resurrected and with the living thay are lifted up in the air like the branches of the wave sheaf.
  - Covered In New Clothes (New Bodies). The nation of Israel have immortal flesh put on their bones.
    » Nakedness. The wicked are drunk and naked and the covering over the planet is removed during the millennium, exposing their dead carcasses and the disobedient angels to harm.
  - Up The Mountain (Rapture). They go up to Mount Zion to meet God in the air.
  - Debt Forgiven. Their sins have been forgiven.
  - Sabbath Rest. They have a 1000 year Sabbath rest.
  - Judgment. The wicked are judged.
  - Temple Dedicated. The people are dedicated to God as a living temple.
  - Land Restored (Jubilee). They will inherit the earth.
  - New Creation. Everything is recreated.
  - The Peaceable Kingdom. Every creature lives in peace.
  - Feast Of Tabernacles. They live with God forever.

Living Without Sin
Some parts of the feasts symbolize a time without sin.

- Unleavened Bread ("Nisan 15-21"). During these seven days, no leaven (sin) is to be in the house.
  » Crucifixion. At the crucifixion, only one Man was judged. Jesus was found without sin during the seven days of His judgment.
  » Millennium. After the Second Coming we will be perfect and can actually live without sin.
- Counting The Omer ("Feast of Weeks"). The 49 days between Passover and Shavu'ot is a time of mourning that appears to represent sorrow for sins.
- Building The Sukkah ("Tishri 11-15"). Between Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles is a five day period where the people are supposed to be occupied with building the booths and gathering the items for their lulav. Their sins are supposed to be removed on Yom Kippur so that their names remain in the Book of Life. Sins are recorded again on Tabernacles, so in the period between no sins are recorded.
  » Between the First and Second Comings. While we have a High Priest in heaven ministering for us Who has cast out our accusers, God says that He is interested in repentance not in counting our sins against us. He will wash us clean if we will accept it. So by the time of the Second Coming, those who will be condemned are those who are found hanging on to their sins.

Lessons Learned
We criticize Abraham, mourning over his mistake that has created two tragic rivalries in the present day. We even criticize the exodus generation, aghast at how they could possibly curse God three days after the miracle of the Red Sea and after the spectacular delivery from the ten plagues. We are at a loss to explain how they could worship a golden calf with the help of the high priest after less than forty days of meeting God and while God was still above them on the mountain. How could they? Surely I would never do that!
While you believe that you could never be guilty of such blatant disobedience, these stories are there to warn the generation who will complete the exodus. You will commit a more outrageous apostasy.
As the two branches of the church merge and we once again realize the importance of obeying the feasts the way the Jews have done, let us remember that they are a warning to us. God thinks that we are capable of a similar apostasy and worse. The priests read Exodus 23 at Passover and still offered bribes and perverted justice on the single most important Passover in history. What will we do at the base of the mountain when God tells us to prepare to meet Him?
Since you will be guilty of a worse apostasy, the question to ponder is not how could they have done what they did, but why? How can I avoid this tragic mistake?
As I pondered this question I thought that it must be related to the temptation caused by a basic need not being met as defined by Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Surprisingly, that was not the case. God had given them all their needs but they always compared their gifts to Egypt.

- Physiological ("Food, Water, Clothes, Shelter"). God miraculously provided food from heaven and water. Their clothes did not wear out and He provided a cooling shelter in the day and light at night. Yet it was not enough.
  » Instant Gratification. Lack of water was their first test after only three days. At Meribah they wanted water and they wanted it now. They were unwilling to suffer any inconvenience. This primal need overrode any sense of awe or respect for God who was visibly present above in a pillar of fire and cloud and had just parted the Red Sea in a spectacular rescue.
  » The Test: Deprivation. God teaches us to be satisfied with what we have.
- Safety ("Security, Health, Finances"). God miraculously protected them. He fought their battles, made their enemies afraid and protected them from the assault of nature and the diseases of the Egyptians. They took the wealth of Egypt as payment for 400 years of slavery. He took them from a life of cruel slavery and hopelessness and it was not enough.
  » Love of Egypt (Giving Pearls to Swine). The novelty of being special quickly wore off as they faced the unknown. They were willing to settle for the known evils than the unknown good. They did this by convincing themselves that slavery was not so bad. The vegetables and fruit were good. When they saw the oversized grapes of Caanan it was not enough to diminish the lust for the leeks and cucumbers of Egypt. They found other reason to yearn for Egypt.
  We are no better. Many of us do not want to go to heaven yet because we believe that there is no sex there. We want to get married here first. This is such an insult to God that I refuse to dignify it with a response. All I will say is that you should have as much as you want here because heaven is not for you. Heaven will always be a place of cabbage and onions and you will always want meat and potatoes. Your mind is too small for such a great honor. So God cannot convince you that there is so much spectacular good in heaven that in your wildest dreams you mind could never conceive of it. You would rather believe that there could be nothing better than your poison.
  » Fear of the Good (Righteousness is Boring). Although God had shown them so much attention and favor, it was a wasted effort. They refused to meet Him because they were afraid, essentially treating Him like an unclean thing.
  Fear also kept them out of the Promised Land. They chose to believe the report of ten cowards than their personal experience with God. They did not know or love their God.
  » The Test: Poverty. God teaches us to be grateful for what we have.
- Social ("Love and Belonging"). They belonged to the family of God, yet this was not enough.
  » The Influence of the Crowd. They were too easily led into idolatry and disobedience because nobody wanted to stand up to evil. Aaron was a weak high priest who did not use his influence to turn the people to obedience. Instead he wanted to be the life of the party. He wanted acceptance. Following a crowd is a symptom of cowardice and laziness. In the end, those who are lost are those who let popular opinion formulate their thinking.
  It will not be easy to swim against the tide. In the end we cannot afford to "go with the flow" even by being silent because we will be swept away by a tidal wave or we will influence others to do the wrong thing.
  » The Test: Loneliness (Stranger in a Strange Land). Moses was a stranger in Midian. When God tests the righteous, He throws them into despair and loneliness to see if they will trust Him and remain faithful.
- Self Esteem ("Status"). God made them a nation to be envied, respected and feared instead of the unimportant slaves that they had been for 400 years. But it was not enough. Their self worth was found in making bricks under the threat of a whip.
  » Jealousy. Miriam, Aaron, Dathan and the elders were jealous of him. They wanted his position but they were not qualified.
  » The Test: Reproach (Reputation Ruined). God shows us that because we are forgiven, our reputation is spotless before His eyes so His judgment is the only scrutiny that matters.
- Self Actualization ("Being the Best"). You cannot be the best when you are constantly grumbling and complaining or choose leaders who reflect your worst expectations.
  » Weak Leaders (Popularity Driven). They chose to follow the advice of bad leaders. However, Moses questioned even God when he thought something was wrong. Being the best first means doing the best.
  » The Test: Destiny. God teaches us about our destiny as a universal nation of priests.
- Self Transcendence ("Spiritual Needs"). Their God had come to meet them personally, raising their status with great signs and wonders and it was not enough. They wanted to be like everybody else.
  » Lack of Faith. They never believed or trusted God and never really wanted to know Him. So they disobeyed.
  » The Test: Faith and Trust. God teaches us that we can trust Him to be a faithful and constant companion.

Could it be that something as simple as the lack of an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude combined with a selfish preoccupation with their immediate needs became their downfall? We need to practice obedience, patience, long suffering, submission, gratitude, courage and self-denial.
Be concerned if your life is too good to be true.
If you are good at complaining, irresponsible, easily bored, crowd pleaser, passing blame and impatience you are in danger. All of this rebellion occurred in less than sixty days. We will have one year of plagues and an unknown period of hardship before the plagues begin. These answers are important for the generation which God threatens to vomit out of His mouth. If you think that you are immune, then you have already lost. God made provision for their basic needs in a spectacular way and it was not enough. We will face deprivation and abandonment that is so severe that no other generation has seen anything like it. When there are no answers, God must be enough. That is saving faith.
» The Test of the Final Generation. Before the first exodus God only tested Moses, not the people. At the ten plagues He merely demonstrated that He was trustworthy before He tested the people. Only two entered the Promised Land.
In the final exodus, the generation that triumphs will be a people that will be tested in respect to faith.
God will not begin the final journey at the seven last plagues with people who want to stay in Egypt or Babylon.

Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 | Time: 150 minutes Print: 29 pages
Copyright First Created : 9 October 2009. Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: All images and page design created by Laverna Patterson and are the property of teachinghearts. Judaism 101. URL: http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm The Temple: Its Ministry and Services. Alfred Edersheim. URL: http://philologos.org/__eb-ttms/temple14.htm Judaism 101: Special Shabbatots and the Ten True Songs. URL: http://www.jewfaq.org/special.htm