Do you really think you are "better" than others?

Do you really think you are "better" than others?

Self-righteousness = "confident of one's own righteousness, esp. when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others."

In Isaiah 64:6 we read: " But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." The term "filthy rags" that is referred to comes from the Hebrew 'ed' for filthy and refers primarily to results of a woman's menstrual cycle and the word for rags, 'beged' refers to just that, a vestment, a garment, rags, treachery. Put the words together and the result does not paint a pleasing picture but accurately describes how G-d views man's vain attempts at self-righteousness. As we can see, this Scripture does not say our EVILNESS is as filthy rags, but our RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as filthy rags!

Jesus, knowing the Law's purpose, used the Law to demonstrate our hopelessness in regards to holiness through the Law. Jesus pointed this out to us in Matthew 5:21-22, "You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder' and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." And verse 27-28: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Again we read in James 2:10, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." Indeed, the Law was given to us to dramatically prove to all that no one is righteous -- no, not anyone!

For those who want to have an appearance of "holiness of themselves", Jesus had this to say in Matthew 23:25-28, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Still want to say how much more "holy" you are because you are not doing some "bad thing" or giving more than your brethren?

If there is anything that is more destructive to Christianity, it is a person who thinks that they can be righteous by their own good works. The Bible says that all people are sinners and that none can meet G-d's standard for righteousness. Both the Old Testament and New Testament say that righteousness comes from G-d alone. Righteousness for human beings is purely on the basis of faith in G-d's promises. Accordingly, the Old Testament says that G-d would send the Messiah as the source through whom righteousness would come to mankind. The New Testament says that Jesus of Nazareth is that Messiah and that righteousness comes only through faith in Him. So, a person is declared righteous based only upon faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Old Testament even indicates that Abraham was considered righteous only because He believed G-d. The New Testament indicates that one does not become righteous by obeying G-d's laws, but only by the mercy of G-d through the sacrifice of His Son. So, righteousness for a Christian is something that is given by G-d and one can never be "self-righteous" unless they personally deny the redemptive work of G-d. When you say that any of G-d's anointed are wrong - you are slapping G-d in the face! G-d is the author and finisher of all of our faith. G-d starts a work in us and He and He alone finishes that work. G-d is the Creator we are the creation. In John 6:29 we read: "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of G-d, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." G-d said vengeance is mine - I will repay!" He does not need any help dear one!

Religious people prompted by Satan always attack whoever G-d sends and/or whatever G-d is doing - we are not fighting flesh and blood but demonic forces. When the Lord Jesus, healed people on the Sabbath. The religious leaders of the Jews ignored the benefit received by the afflicted person who was delivered, and using the law to "prove their point" said that Jesus was evil because He had healed someone on the Sabbath day. Whenever religious people attack and say that someone is wrong "in their opinion" this reveals that they have no true faith in G-d. They might be esteemed among the religious/denominational groups, but they are not esteemed by the Lord. Those who attacked Jesus did not live uprightly. They did not show mercy. They were not walking humbly with G-d and had no idea G-d was actually in their presence. Their "righteous" attempts to "keep the Sabbath" indeed were filthy menstrual rags. In as much as you have done this to the least of my brethren - you have done it unto me!

Galatians 3:1-5 (NASB)– You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Since righteousness is not from what we do, but the result of what G-d has done for us, a Christian should never act morally superior to anyone. Paul tells that we should never boast "except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus said that we should not act like we are morally superior to be noticed by others, and even indicated that doing such behavior would remove one's reward in heaven:"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1) " As I walk daily with the Lord I continually see how my brothers and sisters in Christ are harmed when they are told by other "believers" that they are "not right". Because of these demonic accusations by the religious who refuse to simply obey Jesus' commandment to love one another - there is no agreement and the love of many waxes cold. I have come to believe that of all the mischievous demonic delusions that keep men out of heaven, of all the soul-destroying snares that Satan employs to oppose Jesus church, there is none we find so dangerous, none so successful, as that of self-righteousness! Remember dear one the devil is the "accuser of the brethren"

Self-righteousness is in fact selfish pride - which is the root of all evil. Flee from this demonic inspired pride, dear one! it is fearful to see the harm that it does, and the carelessness with which it is regarded by many in the religious community . When you remember that we are all weak, sinful men, the descendants of fallen Adam, the inheritors of a corrupt nature, how dare we forget our own countless sins, shortcomings and backslidings, to begin again to trust in oneself, and to accuse and/or despise those who are our brethren according to the flesh. And Jesus spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple complex to pray ; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican (tax collector). The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, G-d, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess . And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying , G-d be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 8:9-14).

This parable tells us there was one point on which the Pharisee and the tax collector were agreed—one point which they had in common: "They both went up into the temple to pray." They were like the first worshipers recorded in the Bible - Cain and Abel, but, there was a mighty difference between the two of them—for G-d, accepted the sacrifice of the one—but rejected that of the other. Both these men, "went up to the temple to pray," and yet how fearfully the parable ends! Jesus had just been speaking of the necessity of constant prayer, in the parable of the unjust judge, and immediately, without anything happening to break the thread of His teaching on prayer, He adds the parable of these two in the Temple. Jesus adds this to show us that, however important prayer may be, we are not to suppose that all who pray will be forgiven.

All are not Israel, who are called Israel. All are not Christians who say they are. All are not acceptable worshipers who are found in the temples of the Most High or the denominational churches of the Lord. Some come as Pharisees, and some as tax collectors; some appear with a broken and a contrite heart, such as the Lord will not despise, and others with an unhumbled and self-righteous spirit, wise in their own eyes and pure in their own sight—the sacrifice of all such is abominable in the sight of G-d. Dear one, you should always try to bear in mind that "the Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance—but the Lord looks on the heart"; that to Him "all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Him no secrets are hidden!"

The PHARISEES were the strictest sect among the Jews: "I was of the strictest sect of the Pharisees," says Paul. They prayed often—which was very right—but they also made long prayers for a pretense, and they would pray at the corners of the streets where two roads met, that they might be seen by people going and coming both ways and so get a name for uncommon sanctity. The Pharisees loved the praise of men more than the praise of G-d. Our Lord said: "that they gave tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, while they neglected the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy and truth"; and He compared them "to whitened sepulchers, which outwardly appear beautiful before men—but inwardly are filled with dead men's bones and all corruption." They "made broad the borders of their phylacteries," they had pieces of parchment sewed to the edge of their long robes, on which some texts of Scripture were written, that people might see them and infer that they were great lovers of the law of G-d. They were very strict about outward purifications, and set great value on the washing of pots, brazen vessels and tables, and many other such-like things that they did. They were particularly zealous for the traditions of the fathers, and for the observation of the rites and ceremonies of the Church, and yet they often made the law of G-d void by their traditions. They were exceeding exact in the outward observation of the Sabbath—so much so that they called our Lord a sinner, and said he was not of G-d, because on the Sabbath day He had healed a man who was born blind. And for all these reasons they were held in high esteem by the people; for religious men always prefer the things of sight to the hidden things of faith, and think more of outward service than of heart; they had the uppermost places in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces, and were called of men Rabbi. In short, they got such a reputation for piety, that it became a proverb among the Jews, that if there were but two men saved, one of them must be a Pharisee. Such were the Pharisees.

But what was the character given to the TAX COLLECTORS? It was very different in every respect. They were generally Jews who were employed to collect the Roman taxes. And as the Jews always disliked to pay tribute to the Gentiles, their office as tax collectors was looked upon as disgraceful and disreputable. Besides this, it is pretty clear that they used to exact much more than their due, and to amass much wealth by false accusations, to the great disgust of their fellow-countrymen. On these accounts they were so universally notorious, that our Lord Himself tells His disciples that if any man would not listen to the church, he must be to them as a heathen man and a tax collector. The enemies of Jesus thought it a heavy charge against Him that He was a friend of tax collectors and sinners; and in one place we find the tax collectors and harlots mentioned together, as people of like reputation. Our Lord could not have chosen two examples more unlike each other than a Pharisee and a tax collector. One is of great repute with his fellow-creatures, while the other is peculiarly offensive—but who did G-d accept? Jesus did not spend a lot of time with religious people - He was a friend of sinners.

"In many things we offend all," says James. "Who can tell how often he offends? O cleanse me from my secret faults," is the language of the psalmist. "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh living be justified." But the religious Pharisee, proves himself to be a child of the devil by usurping Satan's office—he becomes an accuser of his brethren. "I am not as other men are—or even as this tax collector."Dear One, I have often heard people who call themselves Christians accuse their brethren by saying things like:: " I do not swear, drink or smoke or commit adultery. I do not chew gum in church like the others do. I am against working on Sunday. I do not drink caffeine. I do not dance or go to the movies. I do not believe in loud music. Well, at any rate I am no worse than my neighbors: I am thankful I do not drink, like such a one next door. I am no fornicator, like such a one down the way. I do not miss church altogether, like such a one who lives down the road." Listen to me, dear one: is not this the very mind of the Pharisee? You are not to touch G-d's anointed—if you judge others as this Pharisee did then you will meet with the Pharisee's reception at the hand of G-d. You are to love one another not to judge or critique one another!

Listen to the plea of the TAX COLLECTOR. "He smote upon his bosom, saying, G-d be merciful to me a sinner." He does not say "Be merciful to all sinners," thus leaving it doubtful whether he means himself or not—but "Be merciful to me," a sinner in whom there is no health, in whom there is no good thing—a sinner in thought, word and deed; and he gives the ground of his hope too, not like some among you, who hope to be forgiven without exactly knowing how or why. The words translated "be merciful," go further. They mean, "offer an atonement for me, be reconciled unto me, through the sacrifice You have appointed." Do you think he would have been offended, as some are now, if he had been called a child of the devil, utterly corrupt, full of iniquity and worthy of nothing but wrath? Far from it: he knew he was a sinner, he felt his lost condition, he made no excuses, he offered no justification, he did not talk about his temptations, he did not make excuses, he did not make great professions of amendment, as if that could make up for the past; he presented himself at the throne of grace, as he was, weary and heavy laden, casting himself on the mercy of G-d with all his iniquities, and pleading the blood of the atonement. "G-d be merciful to me a sinner." Blessed indeed are all among you who have done likewise!

"I tell you," says Jesus, "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other." The tax collector came poor in spirit, and he was justified. The Pharisee, rich in merits and self-esteem, went empty away. The penitent was not only pardoned—but justified. He had left his house heavy and afflicted by a sense of sin, he returned with joy and peace; he had asked mercy and received it, he had sought grace and found it; he had come hungering and thirsting after righteousness and he was justified. "He went down to his house justified." But the proud Pharisee, not feeling his own needs, not acquainted with his own sinfulness, had sought no mercy, and had found none, and he departed unblessed and unheard; and from the saying the "tax collector went down to his house justified rather than the other," we may fairly suppose this man of self-righteousness and self-dependence had none of that sense of favor and acceptance which the repenting sinner enjoyed.

"Everyone who exalts himself shall be abased—but he who abases himself shall be exalted." Mark these words, "everyone who exalts himself." High or low, rich or poor, young or old, it matters not; for G-d is no respecter of people, "everyone who exalts himself" and not free grace; who trusts either in whole or in part in his own righteousness and performance and not entirely in Jesus Christ—though he go to church twice a day, though he keep the letter of the Ten Commandments, though he gives everything to the poor, though he is sober and moral and decently behaved—everyone who exalts himself shall be abased and condemned, when Jesus Christ shall come to judge. Only "he who humbles himself "as a sinner before G-d and comes unto Christ, though he may have been the most wicked of transgressors, though he may have broken all the commandments, though he may have been a Sabbath-breaker, a drunkard, a thief, an adulterer, an extortioner—whatever his sin may have been, if he acts as the tax collector did, "he shall be exalted." That is—he shall be pardoned, and washed and sanctified and justified for the sake of Jesus Christ, and shall have his place with David and Manasseh and Mary Magdalene and the thief upon the cross—in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord G-d and of His Lamb.

You cannot search your heart too diligently, for this self-righteousness is the subtlest enemy of all. Beware of thinking, as the devil would have you, that this parable is for somebody else—but not you. Be sure in this way you will lose your own soul. The Pharisee was not rejected because he was a moral man—but because he was proud and self-righteous; the tax collector was not accepted because he was a sinner—but because he was eminently penitent. True repentance is necessary for all, whatever be their lives and outward conduct. It is not your morality and your virtues, O you Pharisees, which hinder your salvation—but that proud feeling of something worthy in yourselves, which prevents you from clinging simply and entirely to the cross and blood of Jesus Christ. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ “You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ “You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? “Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. “And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. “And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of G-d and by Him who sits upon it. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ “So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. “Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:13-36)

In Romans 14:10-13 we read: "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to G-d. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to G-d. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

We are to Build-up not Tear Down - The text tells us not to tear down our brethren through criticism or judgment, as this can pose a serious stumbling-block and cause irreparable damage to their faith. Among G-d’s warnings to us in scripture, there are none more somber or serious than His warning to not become a stumbling block to His followers. In Matthew 18:6 we read: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." We tend to judge others by their actions, while we judge ourselves by our intentions. We cannot rightly judge anyone else, because we do not know the contents of their heart. We should be content to judge only ourselves and seek to bring our own lives in alignment with G-d’s Word. In 1 Corinthians 11:31 we read: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."

The Profile of a Critical Spirit - The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is expressed in love to “build up,” not to tear down - it is always expressed face-to-face, never behind their back or in front of others. The person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good. They’re a complainer, usually always upset, and generally have a problem or a complaint about something. They often have little control over their tongue, their temper, and have tendencies for gossip and slander, which Paul said were sins “worthy of death” (Rom. 1:29-32). A Christian’s tongue should never be used for anything but good. In Ephesians 4:29 we read: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Satan - the Devil specializes in influencing divisive behaviors. He always uses a self-righteous. complaining, judgmental or critical attitude to stir up turmoil, dissension and strife within the body of Christ (Eph. 6:12). We must be on guard that none of us would be used as a tool of the Devil to bring accusations, harassments or discouragements upon our brothers or sisters through criticism, as the Bible warns us not to “give place” to the Devil (Eph. 4:27). Remember that Satan is specifically called “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10). Are you an accuser of the brethren dear one?

The Ministry of Encouragement - The Bible says that the reason that we are to come together is, not to criticize, but to “exhort” (encourage) one another (Hebrews 10:25). “Cursing the darkness” won’t change anything, but we must light a candle and “expose the light” of G-d’s Word. By sharing the truth of G-d’s Word, loving one another, encouraging people to live in its truth, and praying for one another - people will change. Love and encouragement is a “motivational force.” If we ever hope to bring improvement in others, we need to become people of encouragement. This is the only attitude that will change people, and our actions and words must be devoted to encouraging the spiritual progress of our brethren and Jesus' true church.

Dear One, Be not Conformed to this World - it is full of criticism - there are whole industries in our culture today that thrive on nothing more than the art of criticizing… Political commentators....Art Critics… Movie Critics… Fashion Police… Politic Pundits… Tabloid Journalism… Talk Shows… News Castors... Newspapers... Television... Magazines... books... blogs... Denominations... etc. Be daily transformed by the renewing of your Minds, pray in tongues, ask for the mind of Christ, talk with G-d, apologize, learn to control your tongue, strengthen your resolve with the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Bible doesn’t promise peace to those who discover and then dwell on the faults of others! It says that the Lord will keep them in perfect peace, whose minds are stayed on Him!



Scriptures that indicate how we can stop being self-righteous or critical of one another.

"This is my commandment that ye love one another!" (Jesus)"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)
"Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." (1 Timothy 5:19)
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25)
" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
"The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after G-d. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:2-3)
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G-d" (Romans 3:23)
"as it is written, There is none righteous, not even one;" (Romans 3:10)
"They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. (Isaiah 45:24)
"I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel. (Isaiah 46:13)
"My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. (Isaiah 51:5)
"Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane. (Isaiah 51:6)
"For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations." (Isaiah 51:8)
and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to G-d as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:13)
Is the Law then contrary to the promises of G-d? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. (Galatians 3:21)
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:5)
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of G-d has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (Ephesians 4:24)
for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of G-d. (James 1:20)
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1)
For not knowing about G-d's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of G-d. (Romans 10:3)
And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. (Isaiah 59:16-17)
The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will designate. (Isaiah 62:2)
"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.' (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.' (Jeremiah 33:15-16)
"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. (Daniel 9:24)
even the righteousness of G-d through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; (Romans 3:22)
whom G-d displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of G-d He passed over the sins previously committed; (Romans 3:25)
for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (Romans 5:17-18)so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from G-d, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30)
"YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE G-D, YOUR G-D, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS." (Hebrews 1:9)
For in it the righteousness of G-d is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Romans 1:17)
For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED G-D, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Romans 4:3)
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, (Romans 4:5)
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom G-d credits righteousness apart from works: (Romans 4:6)
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Romans 4:9)
and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, (Romans 4:11)
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; (Romans 9:30)
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11)
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:5)
By faith Noah, being warned by G-d about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of G-d in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. (Romans 9:31)
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)
For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. (Romans 10:5)
But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), (Romans 10:6)
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:10)
"I do not nullify the grace of G-d, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." (Galatians 2:21)
Is the Law then contrary to the promises of G-d? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. (Galatians 3:21)
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, (Philippians 3:9)
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of G-d; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living G-d, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to G-d, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (Hebrews 12:22-23)
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:12-13)
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
"Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. (2 Chronicles 19:10)

The Two Miraculous Feedings and the Second Exodus.

The Two Miraculous Feedings and the Second Exodus

1.) "The Feeding of the 5,000" at Bethsaida is the only miracle (apart from the resurrection) which is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15. Jesus here feeds the Jewish people - 12 tribes and twelve baskets of remnants with 5 loaves (the Pentateuch) and 2 fish (The two great Commandments). The multitude was from nearby and were with Jesus for only one day - afterward there was a storm - ("Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality." It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." - Romans 9:27-29)

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were all filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve (hand) baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full of the fragments and of the fishes. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto Capernaum on the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain alone to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea that arose, tossed with waves: for the great wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. So when the disciples had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were troubled and afraid, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Peter could have walked back) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of G-d. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. .

2.) When Jesus fed the 4,000 Gentiles in Decapolis - the multitudes sat on the ground and had been with Him for three days (we are now in the third day) and He fed them with seven loaves (The Seven Churches - Revelation 2 & 3) and a few fish. Afterwards, they collected (Second Exodus) seven big basketfuls of remnants - this miracle is found only in Matthew 18:21-39 and Mark 8:1-10 and there was no storm recorded afterwards in either of these two Gospels. Both Matthew and Mark show this feeding of the Gentiles occurred only after Jesus had fed the Jews.

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the G-d of Israel. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and saith unto them: I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these [men] with bread here in the wilderness? Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven (Revelation 2 & 3), and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples to set before [them]; and they did set [them] before the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven (big) baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala into the parts of Dalmanutha.

Jesus does not want us to come to him only for natural bread - He wants us to desire His spiritual bread. In Revelation 3:20 we read: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear (John 10:27) my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." In John 6:35 we read: "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Pentateuch - The five books of Moses. The word is a Greek adaptation of the Hebrew expression "ḥamishshah ḥumshe ha-Torah" (five-fifths of the Law) applied to the books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and indicating that these five books were to be taken as a whole. As a consequence the various books are named in Hebrew by the first significant word of the section: Bereshit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Wayiḳra (Leviticus), Bemidbar (Numbers), and Debarim (Deuteronomy); but in the Septuagint, where the different sections had already obtained a separate individuality, they are known by names roughly indicating their contents as dealing with "the beginnings of things," the "exodus" from captivity, the "Levitical" laws, the "numbers" of the Israelites, and the "repetition of the Law".

The Two Great Commandments - In Matthew 22:36 we read: “[Jesus], which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, ’You shall love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

The first is from the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:6: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our G-d is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” In Deuteronomy 6:6 we read: “These words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The Second is from Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The Jewish sage Yohanan ben Zakkai, most respected among the founders of Yavneh, taught that “loving our neighbor” means we have to take care of our neighbor’s honor as much as our own, our neighbor’s property as much as our own. Yet the ancient Israelites did not even love themselves very much. G-d called them to what is best for themselves but they rebelled, hurting themselves. Jesus raised this commandment dramatically. He said, in Matthew 5:43: “You have heard that it was said, ’You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” The Hebrew Scriptures accepted hating the enemies of G-d. In Psalm 139:21: “Do I not hate them that hate Thee, O Lord? And do I not loathe them that rise up against Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred.” Jesus changed Leviticus 19:18: “love your neighbor” to Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies,” expanding the range of our love from the neighborhood to the world. G-d loves all His covenant family; the most miserable refugee remains G-d’s image and likeness. Jesus told us, in Matthew 25:40: “As you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” The “coveting” commandments, Exodus 20:17 prohibiting near occasions of sin, prefigured our Lord’s raising several “love one another” commandments to new heights. The fifth commandment, Exodus 20:14: “You shall not kill,” became, Matthew 5:22 “Every one who is angry … shall be liable to judgment.” The sixth, Exodus 20:14: “You shall not commit adultery,” became, Matthew 5:28: “Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The eighth, Exodus 20:16: “You shall not bear false witness,” became, Matthew 5:34: “Do not swear at all … Let what you say be simply ’Yes’ or ’No.’”

In all of Torah, only ten commandments were written Exodus 31:18: “with the finger of G-d.” (See my teaching - What is Adultery?) The first three teach us how to love G-d: “You shall worship the Lord your G-d and Him only shall you serve,” “You shall not take the name of the Lord your G-d in vain,” and “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The remaining seven teach us how to love one another: “Honor your father and your mother,” “You shall not kill,” “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,” and “You shall not covet your neighbor’s property.”

The Second Exodus - "After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!'" (Revelation 18:1,2). "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and G-d has remembered her iniquities'" (Revelation 18:4,5).

Babylon (or Babel) was the capital of an ancient empire. The name means "confusion" and originates from the confusion of languages which halted the building of the tower of Babel. (And the confusion that has now halted the building of the true church.) Symbolically, Babylon represents the confusion of idolatry and false religion. "And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen! And he answered and said, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground'" (Isaiah 21:9). "Declare among the nations, Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim, and do not conceal it -- Say, 'Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed. Merodach is broken in pieces; Her idols are humiliated, Her images are broken in pieces'" (Jeremiah 50:2). "And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5). Harlotry represents unfaithfulness to the true G-d through the worship of idols and man's doctrines (Exodus 34:15,16; Leviticus 20:5; Deuteronomy 31:16; Psalm 73:27; Judges 2:17; 8:33; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-17). In all ages, Satan -- that old serpent, the enemy of G-d and man -- has deceived us with confusion and created divisions or denominations.

Israel was carried away into Babylonian captivity as punishment for its apostasy and idolatry. G-d's temple was destroyed. In Babylon, the Israelites could not worship G-d according to His word (Psalm 137:1-4). Afterwards, G-d's people were commanded to flee from Babylon and return to Zion. After 70 years of captivity, the Israelites were allowed literally to return to Jerusalem. This was on the condition that they would repent of their idolatry to restore the true religion at Jerusalem. Today we can begin the second exodus - "Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldees! With a voice of singing, declare, proclaim 'The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!'" (Isaiah 48:20). See verses 12-22. "Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD" (Isaiah 52:11). See verses 7-12.

"'In those days and in that time,' says the Lord, 'The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the Lord their G-d. They shall ask the way to Zion, With their faces toward it, saying, "Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord In a perpetual covenant That will not be forgotten"'" (Jeremiah 50:4,5). "Move from the midst of Babylon, Go out of the land of the Chaldeans; And be like the rams before the flocks" (Jeremiah 50:8). "Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He shall recompense her" (Jeremiah 51:6). "We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. The Lord has revealed our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our G-d" (Jeremiah 51:9,10). "My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the Lord" (Jeremiah 51:45). See chapters 50 and 51. "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon" (Zechariah 2:7).

Come back to Him dear one! Shalom!

The Power of Agreement and how to be perfect.

In Acts 2:1-4 we read: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Psalm 133:1-3 we read: " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

In Deuteronomy 32:30 we read: "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?"

In Ephesians 6:12 we read: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]."

In Matthew 18:19-20 we read: "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Notice the "if" and the "together" dear one.

In all the years I have walked with the Lord, I have continually observed how the deceiver works - he simply creates so many discussions, factions, opinions, prejudices, divisions, discords, theories, beLIEfs, arguments and denominational doctrines that it is almost impossible to get even two believers to agree here on earth. Everyone beLIEves they are "right" and insist the others must all agree with them. (Proverbs 13:10; 16:28; 17; 18:6-16; 22; Philippians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11; Acts 15:39; Romans 1;) (Please see - Is Christ divided?)

For many years, I watched my brothers and sisters argue if you can chew gum in church, wear some articles of clothing, have facial hair, play some type of music, smoke, drink, dance, go to the YMCA, go to movies, wash the car on Sunday, play cards, have pictures on the wall, wear makeup, build churches, etc. Souls are being lost and the love of the brethren is growing cold. There are now so many different opinions, interpretations, and doctrinal teachings and divisions even on these small issues or specks - how will we ever agree with one another on the major issues? (See - Ephesians Chapter 4) In Matthew 23:24 we read:"[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

In Hebrews 6:6 we read: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward G-d, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if G-d permit. For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of G-d, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of G-d afresh, and put [Him] to an open shame. So, how do we go on to perfection?

First of all dear one, if you did not hear it from directly from G-d (John 10:27) and have His word confirmed by two or three witnesses - keep your thoughts to yourself. G-d is not the author of confusion! Second, forgive everyone exactly as you want to be forgiven - and third, do not judge anything or anyone before it is time - that is not your job. Fourth, your job is simply to love one another - this simply means to accept one another just as you/they are. Exactly the way Jesus accepted you! Selfless love is true perfection. Always remember Hebrews 12:2 dear one - we all should be "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G-d."

Proverbs 10:12 says: “Hatred (satan) stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” In 1 Peter 4:1-11 we read: "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of G-d. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to G-d in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of G-d. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of G-d; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which G-d giveth: that G-d in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

In James 1:2-26 we read: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of G-d, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of G-d: for G-d cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Mat 7:1-5 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam (log) out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote (speck) out of thy brother's eye."

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of G-d. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

In Psalm 119:96-106 we read: "I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies : for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers : for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words (John 10:27) unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding : therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments."

Christian perfection verses:

"Be perfect, therefore, like your heavenly father is perfect." Jesus Christ Matthew 5:48
"Every good and perfect gift comes from above, James 1:17
..."perfect love drives out fear", 1 John 4:18
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me".... Matthew 19:21
"and our prayer is for your perfection". 2 Corinthians 13:9
"Epaphras, ...always labouring fervrently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect"...Colossians 4:12
John 10:11-18: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
John 15:12 -13: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Romans 5:6-8: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But G-d commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 16:3-4: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles."
Philippians 2:25-30: "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but G-d had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me."
1 John 3:16-19: "Hereby perceive we the love of G-d, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of G-d in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."

Men who were perfect in Heart:

Noah was perfect in his generation - Genesis 6:9
Hezekiah had a perfect heart - 2 Kings 20:3
Asa's heart was perfect - 2 Chronicles 15:17
Job was a perfect man - Job 1:1-8
G-d maketh my way perfect - 2 Samuel 22:33
"an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." (John 1:47) No guile as to G-d, always willing to be open to His view; no guile as to our neighbor, a conscious freedom from all evil, in thought, word, or deed, towards him: no guile as to self, no wish to think of oneself other than G-d thinks.

There Are Only Two Great Commandments!

We know it is wrong to commit adultery, to murder, to lie, to steal, and to cheat; and there are millions of other laws we should all be trying to keep. Is Christianity that complicated? Of course not! G-d's ways are often too simple for us to grasp! As a matter of fact, the whole law can be summed up into two commandments. Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." It is as simple as that! If everybody loved the Lord and each other, like Christ loved us, there would be no sin in the world! There would be no murder, no hate, no bitterness, no adultery, no stealing, no lying, no denominations, no schisms, nor any other kind of sin, if we only loved the Lord with all our heart and our neighbor as we love our own self! Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." That's right dear one! Whatever you do to others, ask yourself, "Would I like them to do this to me?" Is that such a hard rule to live by? Dear one if you really want to be perfect - Love as He did! It should not be your way but it should only be Jesus' way - He alone is the way! Do not be concerned what someone else is doing "wrong" - get yourself right first! Vengeance is mine; I will repay. saith the Lord (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35). Trust Him! Love Him! Serve Him! Serve the brethren! Shalom!

Whose Feasts are they? The Jews' or the Lord's?

Whose Feasts are they? The Jews' or the Lord's?

As we read Leviticus 23, we find that it is the only chapter in the Bible that contains all of G-d's seven feasts. "And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts."" (Leviticus 23:1-2) As you study the spiritual meaning of these feasts and you will learn of G-d's plan of salvation for all mankind. THE SABBATH: Leviticus 23:3. The weekly seventh day Sabbath, which falls on a Saturday, is a Biblical feast day. It is also listed as one of the Ten Commandments (See Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15). It is a day of rest. There are two Sabbath candles (See my teaching on the two witnesses). Even the Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar or the Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar and it clearly shows Sunday as the first day of the week.

THE PASSOVER (PESACH - עברית) AND UNLEAVENED BREAD: Leviticus 23:4-8. Let's look at Exodus 12:12-14 :"'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.' " In Leviticus 23:15-18 we read the Lord's command to eat unleavened bread seven days: "'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. "So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.' " Notice verse 18 where the command is to eat unleavened bread seven days. If you study 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 you will see that Paul not only declares that Christ is our Passover, he also affirms the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Also please study Hebrews 9:2 - 10:10 where the author clearly defines one of the pivotal doctrines of the Christian faith -- The GREATNESS and ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE of Christ's sacrifice. Jesus is the Pascal Lamb! Beware the leaven - Matthew 16:6-12; Luke 13:21; Galatians 5:9-19 and 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

Passover (Pesach) celebrates the liberation from 400 years of bondage/slavery (Exodus 12) On the 14th day of Nisan in the afternoon a special meal (the Seder) is prepared to be eaten in the evening it will include the slaughtered lamb (Exodus 12:3-10) and bitter herbs and unleavened bread (Matzoth) (1 Corinthians 5:8). Christians are set free from satan and Sin (John 8:36). The word Passover (Pesach) means to "pass over, to skip". In Exodus 12:23 the Angel of Death passed over the homes whose door frames had the lamb's blood applied on the top and sides (the cross). In Jesus blood sacrifice we have eternal life. (John 5:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19). In Exodus 12:5 we see the lamb had to be male and flawless in verse 46 no bone could be broken. Jesus was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15) and no bone was broken (John 19:31-36).

At the Seder 3 matzoth (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) are served. The middle one will be broken (Jesus' body was broken for us) in two, and one half hidden (He will come again). After the meal, the children (we must become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven - Mark 10:15; Matthew 18:2-4) are sent out to find it. Then, every member of the family eats a small piece. This half of the middle matzah is called AFIKOMEN - this word can be traced back to the Greek word afikomen (αφικωμεν). It is the first person plural aorist active of afikneomai (αφικνεομαι) and means WE CAME. THe Matzah is full of stripes and pierced just as Jesus' body was striped from the whip, and pierced by the thorns and the sword. (1 Peter 2:24; John 19:34; John 6:48, 51; Jesus had been born in the house of bread (Bethlehem) and was but in a vessel that had been designed to eat out of it (the manger). (John 12:24) The middle matzah (the afikoman), held aloft, broken, wrapped in linen, hidden away (buried) and later redeemed represents Jesus, who likely used that bread when he said "This is my body broken for you."(1 Corinthians 11:24) And Jesus was held aloft, broken, wrapped in linen and hidden and later found by the redeemed of G-d!

It is the sacrificial lamb that gives Passover its meaning. The sacrifice of the lamb is designed to remind the one who offers the sacrifice of G-d’s passing over the blood of the slaughtered animal, thereby granting redemption (Exod 12:13). This connection is so strong that Passover is actually identified with the lamb itself (2 Chron 30:15). Pesach is the lamb. The same truth applies to Kippur, which concerns the work of atonement. Indeed, the whole mechanism of atonement revolves around blood sacrifice (e.g., Lev 16: 6, 11). The Greek word "pascha" is rendered 28 times in the New Testament as "Passover". (Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8) Jesus is the innocent lamb of G-d, slaughtered for His blood that takes away our spiritual death because it cleanses us of all our sins. The Epistle to the Hebrews states that the sacrificial killing of animals could not finally take away sin, but awaited the atonement of Jesus. (Hebrews 10). It proceeds to explain that Jesus Christ offered the one sacrifice that was acceptable to G-d, and that he lives forever as the believers' intercessory high priest, replacing the entire Jewish sacrificial system and its sacerdotal priesthood. Jesus is called the "Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29 ). The main Christian view is that the Passover, as observed by ancient Israel as well as Jews today, was a type of the true Passover Sacrifice of G-d that was to be made by Jesus. The Israelites' Passover observance was the commemoration of their physical deliverance from bondage in Egypt, whereas Passover represents for Christians a spiritual deliverance from the slavery of sin (John 8:34) and, since Jesus' death, a memorial of the sacrifice that Jesus has made for mankind. In the Jewish Passover, 5 cups of wine are used. Elijah's cup is the 5th cup of wine used at Seder. This cup is not drunk but rather is symbolic of the coming Messiah. The first four cups or wine symbolize redemption and the promises made to Moses in Exodus 6:2-8: the promise to rescue Israel from Egypt, delivery from slavery, to remain a free people and a reminder that they are G-d's chosen people. The fifth cup, Elijah's cup is symbolic of the hope the coming Messiah. It was probably the third cup, which declares "I will redeem you with a demonstration of my power", that Jesus used when he declared "This is my blood poured out for you." (1 Corinthians 11:25) It was probably the fourth cup "I will make you my people" of which Jesus declared '"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20) But what about the last cup? In Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36, and John 19:30 we clearly see the sacrificed Lamb of G-d (Jesus) drinking vinegar or sour wine on the cross, from a sponge placed on a hyssop branch. The hyssop branch was symbolic of the sprinkling of the Passover lamb's blood using a hyssop branch - see Exodus 12:22. So Jesus was truly the Passover Lamb; then he said, "It is finished." That is where I believe - the last cup comes in.

Apollinaris and Melito of Sardis were both second century writers that wrote about the Christian Passover. Apollinaris, wrote: "There are, then, some who through ignorance raise disputes about these things (though their conduct is pardonable: for ignorance is no subject for blame — it rather needs further instruction…)… The fourteenth day, the true Passover of the Lord; the great sacrifice, the Son of G-d instead of the lamb, who was bound, who bound the strong, and who was judged, though Judge of living and dead, and who was delivered into the hands of sinners to be crucified, who was lifted up on the horns of the unicorn, and who was pierced in His holy side, who poured forth from His side the two purifying elements, water and blood, word and spirit, and who was crucified on the day of the Passover, the stone being placed upon the tomb" Melito's Peri Pascha ("On the Passover") is perhaps the most famous early document concerning the Christian observation of Passover. "For indeed the law issued in the gospel–the old in the new, both coming forth together from Zion and Jerusalem; and the commandment issued in grace, and the type in the finished product, and the lamb in the Son, and the sheep in a man, and the man in G-d...For at one time the sacrifice to the sheep was valuable, but now it is without value because of the life of the Lord. The death of the sheep once was valuable, but now it is without value because of the salvation of the Lord. The blood of the sheep once was valuable, but now it is without value because of the Spirit of the Lord. The silent lamb once was valuable, but now it has no value because of the blameless Son. The temple here below once was valuable, but now it is without value because of the Christ from above… Now that you have heard the explanation of the type and of that which corresponds to it, hear also what goes into making up the mystery. What is the passover? Indeed its name is derived from that event–"to celebrate the passover" (to paschein) is derived from "to suffer" (tou pathein). Therefore, learn who the sufferer is and who he is who suffers along with the sufferer...This one is the passover of our salvation". Polycrates of Ephesus, was a late second century leader who was excommunicated (along with all Quartodecimians) by the Roman bishop Victor for observing the Christian Passover on the 14th of Nisan and not switching it to a Sunday resurrection celebration. He, Polycrates, claimed that he was simply following the practices according to scripture and the Gospels, as taught by the Apostles John and Philip, as well as by church leaders such as Polycarp and Melito of Sardis.

THE FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS OR SHAVUOT/ FEAST OF PENTECOST: Leviticus 23:9-22. These verses emphasize the offering of the wave sheaf, when it is waved and why. This feast is determined by counting fifty days forward from the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread which must include seven weekly Sabbaths. "'He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.' " (Leviticus 23:11) "'And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.' " (verse 21). Compare these verses with the entire chapter of Acts 2, and you see the fulfillment of this Pentecostal Feast which holds lasting significance to the Body of Christ. (Acts 20:16: 1 Corinthians 16:8). The feast of Pentecost is also called Whitsunday especially in the United Kingdom.

Jesus' resurrection on the Feast of First fruits clearly makes Him the First Fruit (1 Corinthians 15:20). Easter, comes from the ancient pagan festival of Astarte (the ancient Phoenician great goddess of fertility, motherhood, and war, is the counterpart of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar). Astarte is also known as Astarat and Astoreth. She is an incarnation of Ishtar and Inanna. This Semitic Goddess was worshipped by the Syrians, Canaanites (today called Palestinians), Phoenicians, Egyptians and other Semitic Tribes. King Solomon built a Temple to Her as Astoreth, near Jerusalem. Astarte was worshipped as many things, to the Egyptians, She was honored as a Goddess of War and tenacity, to the Semites, She was a Goddess of Love and Fertility. Among the Greeks She was transposed into the Goddess of Love Aphrodite. In the Bible, She is referred to as "the abomination". Also known as babylonian (Revelation 17 & 18) goddess Ishtar (pronounced "Easter"). This festival of Easter has always been held late in the month of April. It was, in its original form, a celebration of the earth "regenerating" itself after the winter season. The festival involved a celebration of reproduction. For this reason the common symbols of Easter festivities were the rabbit (the same symbol as "Playboy" magazine), and the egg. Both are known for their reproductive abilities. At the center of attention was Astarte, the female deity. She is known in the Bible as the "queen of heaven" (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-25). She is the mother of Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14) who was also her husband! These perverted rituals would take place at sunrise on Easter morning (Ezekiel 8:13-16). From the references in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we can see that the true Easter has never had any association with Jesus Christ! The only time Easter is mentioned in the New testament is in Acts 12:4. It is obvious Paul was not celebrating Easter.


Shavuot (Hebrew בועות‎) means "weeks" or The Feast of Weeks. Pentecost goes back to the Greek penteconta "fifty". The Jews start counting the 50 days. Pentecost commemorates the giving of the law. The first time, Moses received the ten commandments on stone tablets and the whole law about 7 Weeks after the death of the Passover lambs in Egypt (Exodus 19). When Moses saw the golden calf 3,000 men died (Exodus 32:19-28). Jesus' disciples recieved the Holy Spirit Baptism in Acts 2 and 3000 men were saved! (Act 2:40-41; Romans 8:2) Compare Ezekial 1:4 with Acts 2:2-4. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD. (Leviticus 23,17) See my teaching on the two witnesses - they are baked with inherent sin/yeast (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Shavuot stipulates the sacrifice of seven lambs, a bull, and two rams (Lev 23:18). From the biblical perspective, these sacrifices are not mere rituals or cultural expressions of piety; they are central to the very meaning of the festivals themselves.

Historically, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of 50 days (pentecost) - reminded the Jews that G-d had instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh, let my people go so that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. (Exodus 5:1, 10:9) The feast is a reminder of the nearly 2 month trek from Egypt, through the Red Sea, and ending at Mt. Sinai where G-d issued the Ten Commandments to His new nation of Israel. The feast was held near the 5th of Silvan (the third month in the Jewish calendar.) Like the Feast of the Sheaf of First-Fruits, it was held on the “morrow after the Sabbath” In other words --- This Feast of Pentecost was celebrated on Sunday. Considering that so many special days happen on Sabbaths (Saturdays), it is interesting that G-d chose these two feasts to fall on first day of the week (Sunday). But, G-d knows the future. The Feast of First-Fruits was fulfilled at Jesus resurrection … early on a Sunday morning. The Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled on another Sunday, 50 days later. ¨ It’s amazing to realize that 1,500 years after G-d gave the 10 commandments … on that very day of the Feast of Pentecost … G-d also sent His Holy Spirit to write His Law on the hearts of believers. ¨ In Acts 7:38, the day that Moses met G-d at Sinai is called the birth of the “church in the wilderness.” On the celebration of that day, 1,500 years later, we see the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. ¨ On the day the Law was first given at Sinai, the Jews fell into sin --- and as a result 3,000 people were killed by G-d. 1,500 years later … at the Feast of Pentecost … 3,000 people were saved by G-d … and given New Life in the Kingdom of G-d. Where the giving of the Law brought death, the giving of the Holy Spirit brought life.


ROSH HASHANA or THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS. Leviticus 23:23-25; (Numbers 29:1). "Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it.' " Compare this Feast with Numbers 10:1-10, Revelation 8-11. The trumpets were to call Israel together (Ezekiel 6:24) Israel utilised two different kinds of trumpets e.g., one was long and flared and made of silver (Numbers 10:2). The other was a ram’s horn and is called in Hebrew the shofar. To celebrate the grace of G-d''s provision for Abraham, when He supplied a ram as sacrifice in the place of Isaac - at Rosh Hashanah, the shofar will sound in the Synagogues over the whole world. We have another sacrificial ram who took our place - His name is Jesus! As Jews all over the globe sound the shofar and celebrate Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets), which is a holiday that was created by G-d, it is a holiday that Jesus celebrated, it is a holiday that the first Christians celebrated, it is a holiday that foreshadows the triumphal return of Jesus. (See Is there a rapture?) The truth is that G-d has always had His most important events foreshadowed by His festivals and has always had His most important events actually fall on the dates of these festivals. For example, Passover foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and it was fulfilled on that day. Pentecost foreshadowed the giving of the Holy Spirit and it was fulfilled on that day. The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadowed the birth of the Messiah and it was fulfilled on that day. So what does the Feast of Trumpets foreshadow? It foreshadows the last trumpet that announces the return of Jesus Christ, and it seems almost a certainty that it will be fulfilled on that day as well.

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה‎) (literally means "head of the year" or "first of the year") is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim ("Days of Awe"), celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashana is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as "Zikaron Terua" ("remembrance of the blowing of the horn") On the first Rosh Hashanah in history G-d created Adam and Eve. Yes, creation had begun 5 days earlier but it was only when man had been brought into existence that G-d’s creative labor was complete. Prior to creating man G-d created everything e.g., the heavenly bodies, angels, day and night, oceans and continents, vegetation and all living creatures. Now G-d's stage was ready to watch man’s inner struggle to choose between good and evil - to choose to sere the Lord or to serve satan (Joshua 24:15). Rosh Hashanah marks the start of a new year in the Hebrew calendar (one of four "new year" observances that define various legal "years" for different purposes as explained in the Mishnah and Talmud). It is the new year for people, animals, and legal contracts. The Mishnah also sets this day aside as the new year for calculating calendar years and sabbatical (shmita) and jubilee (yovel) years. Some believe Rosh Hashanah represents the creation of the entire universe. However, according to R. Eleazar, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of man, which entails that five days earlier, the 25 of Elul, was the first day of creation of the Universe.
The Mishnah, the core text of Judaism's oral Torah, contains the first known reference to Rosh Hashanah as the "day of judgment." In the Talmud tractate on Rosh Hashanah it states that three books of account are opened on Rosh Hashanah, wherein the fate of the wicked, the righteous, and those of an intermediate class are recorded. The names of the righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life, and they are sealed "to live." The middle class are allowed a respite of ten days, until Yom Kippur, to repent and become righteous; the wicked are "blotted out of the book of the living forever." In Jewish liturgy Rosh Hashanah is described as "the day of judgment" (Yom ha-Din) and "the day of remembrance" (Yom ha-Zikkaron). Some midrashic descriptions depict G-d as sitting upon a throne, while books containing the deeds of all humanity are opened for review, and each person passing in front of Him for evaluation of his or her deeds.

The Talmud provides three central ideas behind the day: "The Holy One said, 'on Rosh Hashanah recite before Me [verses of] Sovereignty, Rememberance, and Shofar blasts (malchuyot, zichronot, shofrot): Sovereignty so that you should make Me your King; Remembrance so that your remembrance should rise up before Me. And through what? Through the Shofar.' (Rosh Hashanah 16a, 34b)" This is reflected in the prayers composed by the classical rabbinic sages for Rosh Hashanah found in all machzorim where the theme of the prayers is the strongest theme is the "coronation" of G-d as King of the universe in preparation for the acceptance of judgments that will follow on that day, symbolized as "written" into a Divine book of judgments, that then hang in the balance for ten days waiting for all to repent, then they will be "sealed" on Yom Kippur. The assumption is that everyone was sealed for life and therefore the next festival is Sukkot (Tabernacles) that is referred to as "the time of our joy" (z'man simchateinu).

Rosh Hashanah is observed as a day of rest (Leviticus 23:24) like most Jewish holidays. When not on Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah is characterized by the blowing of the shofar (in ancient times it was also sounded on the Sabbath in the Temple), a trumpet made from a ram's horn or the horn of a goat or various types of antelope or gazelle (although not from a cow), intended to symbolically awaken the listeners from their "slumbers" and alert them to the coming judgment (Matthew 13:24-43). There are a number of additions to the regular Jewish service, most notably an extended repetition of the Amidah prayer for both Shacharit and the longest Mussaf of any holiday. The traditional Hebrew greeting on Rosh Hashanah is שנה טובה shana tova [ʃaˈna toˈva] for "[a] good year", or shana tova umetukah for "[a] good and sweet year." Because Jews and the world are being judged by God for the coming year, a longer greeting translates as "may you be written and sealed for a good year" (ketiva ve-chatima tovah). It is customary that during the afternoon of the first day (second day if the first coincides with Shabbat) the practice of tashlikh is observed, in which prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one's sins are symbolically cast into the water. Many also have the custom to throw bread or pebbles into the water (Baptism), to symbolize the "casting off" of sins.All G-d wants is to be recognized and to be acknowledged for whom He truly is. The Holy Bible begins with these ten words: "In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth." So during the days leading up to Yom Kippur not only do we seriously reflect on the past year and repent for the bad things we have done but also for the good things we did not do. We must also consider what our Creator has done for us and we need to thank Him while we are praying for His merciful judgment.


YOM KIPPUR or THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. Leviticus 23:26-32. "And the Lord spoke to Moses saying: 'Also the tenth day of this seventh month month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your G-d. "For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest (Hebrews 4:6-11), and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.' " Also study Leviticus Chapter 16; Numbers 29:1-6: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 for more insight to the importance of this day. Only once a year on Yom Kippur, the High Priest (nobody else) may enter the Holy of Holies, and meet there the glory of the LORD (the Shekinah). (Hebrews 9,7) Trough Jesus’ death at the cross, the way to the Father is free for everybody at anytime: With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15,37-38).

In this second Temple there were two curtains separating between the Holy and the Holy of Holies. Each curtain was 10 centimeters (4in') thick with the height of 20 meters (22 yds)by the length of 10 meters(11 yds). The Temple curtain situated between the holy and the holy of holies was 10 meters by 20. Its thickness was approximately 8 centimeters. That would make the weight approximately between 4 to 6 tons depending on the materiel used. In fact the Talmud teaches us that it took some 300 priests to carry it to its place. This thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was known as the “veil,” it was made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn. There were figures of cherubim (angels) embroidered onto it. Cherubim, spirits who serve G-d, were in the presence of G-d to demonstrate His almighty power and majesty. They also guarded the throne of G-d. These cherubim were also on the innermost layer of covering of the tent. If one looked upward, they would see the cherubim figures. The word “veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. What was this curtain hiding? Essentially, it was shielding a holy G-d from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of G-d. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, G-d’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement. The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between sinful man and G-d, showing man that the holiness of G-d could not be trifled with. G-d’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that sinful man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into G-d’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of G-d, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins. Jesus blood covering now allows the redeemed of the Lord to enter directly into and talk with G-d.


Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים‎, IPA: [ˈjom kiˈpur]), also known as the Day of Atonement, is one of the holiest days of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Today, Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes "the Days of Awe"). Boys under the age of 13, and girls under 12, are not required to fast from sundown to sun-up. Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition, G-d inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt (Vidui). At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers oneself absolved by G-d. The Yom Kippur prayer service includes several unique aspects. One is the actual number of prayer services. Unlike a regular day, which has three prayer services (Ma'ariv, the evening prayer; Shacharit, the morning prayer; and Mincha, the afternoon prayer), or a Shabbat or Yom Tov, which have four prayer services (Ma'ariv; Shacharit; Musaf, the additional prayer; and Mincha), Yom Kippur has five prayer services (Ma'ariv; Shacharit; Musaf; Mincha; and Ne'ilah, the closing prayer). The prayer services also include a public confession of sins (Vidui) and a unique prayer dedicated to the special Yom Kippur avodah (service) of the Kohen Gadol in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

What happened on this day which caused it to be known as the “Day of Atonement”? Rashi tells us that after the sin of the Golden Calf Moshe went up Mt. Sinai twice, for 40 days each time. He came down from Mt. Sinai the second time with the second set of Tablets of the Law. He also brought Hashem’s response to what they had done. In Exodus 32:14 it states that “Hashem reconsidered regarding the evil that He declared He would do to His people.” In other words He relented from His intensions of destroying the nation and start again with Moshe. G-d forgave them. On Tishri 10 G-d forgave Israel and since that time this day became a permanent remembrance of the day that they were forgiven by Hashem on this day. In his Mishnah Torah, “Laws of Repentance 2:6” the Rambam writes: While one should scrutinize one’s behavior and repent throughout the year, during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur it is especially important to introspect and repent, as the prophet Isaiah (55:6) teaches: “Seek Hashem when He can be found; call upon Him when He is near”. On Yom Kippur Hashem is closest to man. Preceding day - Erev Yom Kippur (lit. "eve [of] day [of] atonement") is the day preceding Yom Kippur, corresponding to the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. This day is commemorated with two festive meals, the giving of charity, and asking others for forgiveness (Matthew 6:12).

Leviticus 16:29 mandates establishment of this holy day on the 10th day of the 7th month as the day of atonement for sins. It calls it the Sabbath of Sabbaths and a day upon which one must afflict one's soul. Leviticus 23:27 decrees that Yom Kippur is a strict day of rest. Five additional prohibitions are traditionally observed, as detailed in the Jewish oral tradition (Mishnah tractate Yoma 8:1):no eating and drinking - No wearing of leather shoes - No bathing or washing - No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions - No marital relations. A parallel has been drawn between these activities and the human condition according to the Biblical account of the expulsion from the garden of Eden. Refraining from these symbolically represents a return to a pristine state, which is the theme of the day. Total abstention from food and drink usually begins 20 minutes before sundown (called tosefet Yom Kippur, lit. "Addition to Yom Kippur"), and ends after nightfall the following day. Although the fast is required of all healthy adults, it is waived in the case of certain medical conditions. Virtually all Jewish holidays involve a ritual feast, but since Yom Kippur involves fasting, Jewish law requires one to eat a large and festive meal on the afternoon before Yom Kippur, after the Mincha (afternoon) prayer.

Wearing white clothing, for men a Kittel, is traditional to symbolize one’s purity on this day. Many Orthodox men immerse themselves in a mikvah (Baptism) on the day before Yom Kippur. Before sunset on Yom Kippur eve, worshippers gather in the synagogue. The Ark is opened and two people take from it two Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls). Then they take their places, one on each side of the cantor, and the three recite: In the tribunal of Heaven and the tribunal of earth, by the permission of G-d—praised be He—and by the permission of this holy congregation, we hold it lawful to pray with transgressors." The cantor then chants the Kol Nidre prayer (Hebrew: כל נדרי) in Aramaic, not Hebrew. Its name is taken from the opening words, meaning “All vows”: All personal vows we are likely to make, all personal oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established. Let our personal vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths.

The leader and the congregation then say together three times “May all the people of Israel be forgiven, including all the strangers who live in their midst, for all the people are in fault.” The Torah scrolls are then replaced, and the Yom Kippur evening service begins. Many married men wear a kittel, a white robe-like garment for evening prayers on Yom Kippur, otherwise used by males on their wedding day. They also wear a tallit (prayer shawl), which is typically worn on Shabbat and other holidays during morning services. Prayer services begin with the Kol Nidre prayer, which must be recited before sunset, and continue with the evening prayers (Ma'ariv or Arvith), which includes an extended Selichot service. The morning prayer service is preceded by litanies and petitions of forgiveness called selichot; on Yom Kippur, many selichot are woven into the liturgy of the mahzor (prayer book). The morning prayers are followed by an added prayer (Musaf) as on all other holidays. This is followed by Mincha (the afternoon prayer) which includes a reading (Haftarah) of the entire Book of Jonah, which has as its theme the story of G=d's willingness to forgive all those who repent. The service concludes with the Ne'ila ("closing") prayer, Which begins shortly before sunset, when the "gates of prayer" will be closed. Yom Kippur comes to an end with a recitation of Shema Yisrael and the blowing of the shofar, which marks the conclusion of the fast.

Dates of Yom Kippur

Sat, October 8, 2011
Wed, September 26, 2012
Sat, September 14, 2013
Sat, October 4, 2014
Wed, September 23, 2015
Note: Yom Kippur begins at sundown of the previous day.

The original rites and practices for the Day of Atonement are set forth in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus (cf. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11). It is considered to be a time for fasting, on which no food or drink are be consumed: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls...It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath." (Leviticus 23:26-27,32). This fasting is historically how the phrase "afflict your souls" has been interpreted by the Jewish community (Psalm 35:13; 69:10 and Isaiah 58:5) to mean fasting, unless one is somehow ill, and thus is already afflicted. Evening to evening means from sunset to sunset. In the New Testament, the Day of Atonement is referred to as "the Fast" (Acts 27:9). The fact that this day was referred to that way (or even at all) is an indication that it was observed by Christians after Christ's resurrection. The Bible clearly shows that so-called Jewish holy days, such as Pentecost were observed by Christians after Jesus' resurrection (Acts 2:1). An unusual ceremony related the the Day of Atonement is discussed in Leviticus 16:9-10, this passage states:"And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness." Christians who observe it note the parallels between the first of the two goats with Jesus who gets sacrificed on the cross (See Crucifixion) and the second of the two goats with Satan (the Azazel goat). The slain goat represents Jesus who actually dies for our sins. Notice Leviticus 16:15-19: "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel." Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19: "Now all things are of G-d, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that G-d was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." The goat that was killed was our Lord Jesus Christ!

Notice what happens immediately after the atoning from the death of the first goat: "And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness...And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water (baptism), and afterward he may come into the camp (Leviticus 16:20-22,26). Notice that the atonement is over after the first goat is sacrificed. The atonement is not part of the symbolism of the second goat. Please notice that it is a fit man that takes the goat into the wilderness and he has to wash himself after he has released the aza'zel goat. If the second goat represented Jesus, the fit man would have to wash BEFORE touching the goat and not AFTER releasing it. The term scapegoat is an inappropriate translation into English, as it implies that blame is being placed where blame is not due. The Hebrew term is actually aza'zel. This is a term that Jewish people have historically ascribed to a Satanic adversary. The goat that was released was Jesus Barrabbas. (See We All Must Choose)

SUCCOTH or THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES or BOOTHS. Leviticus 23:33-44; Deuteronomy 16:13; Exodus 12:31-51; Numbers 29:12-16; Zechariah 14.. The days of observance -- the 15th through 21st day of the seventh month -- that symbolize the Kingdom of G-d on earth and that it is a feast of great rejoicing. Jesus' birthday was the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles or Tishri 15. Succoth prescribes a burnt offering (Lev 23:37). This is the seventh feast, on the seventh Month and it lasts for seven days. A jewish wedding feast takes seven days. During these seven days the Jews live and eat in a Sukkah (booth, tent or tabernacle) to commemorate the 40 years Israel lived in tents in the desert. Jesus talked often about the harvest and the need for laborers to gather in the labors from the field. In Scripture, seven symbolizes completeness or perfection. On the seventh day G-d rested from his labors and creation is finished (Genesis 2:2). Pharaoh in his dream saw seven cattle coming from the Nile (Genesis 41:2). Samson’s sacred Nazirite locks were braided in seven plaits (Judges 16:13). Seven devils left Mary of Magdala, signifying the totality of her previous possession by Satan (Luke 8:2); "seven other devils" will enter the purified but vacant life of a delivered person (Matthew 12:45). In Psalm 12:6 the words of the Lord are purified seven times. There are seven shepherds of Israel. There are seven spirits of G-d (Revelation 3:1). There ae allso seven churches to overcome (Revelation 2 & 3) In the seventh year the Hebrew slave was to be freed (Exodus 21:2), having completed his time of captivity and service. Every seventh year was a sabbatical year (Leviticus 25:4). Seven times seven reiterates the sense of completeness. In the Year of Jubilee (at the completion of 7 x 7 years = the 50th year), all land is freed and returns to the original owners (Leviticus 25:10). Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, is seven times seven days after Passover. "Seventy," which is literally "sevens" in Hebrew, strengthens the concept of perfection. There are 70 elders (Exodus 24:1) in Israel. Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:12) to complete its punishment. "Seventy times seven" we must forgive (Matthew 18:22) reiterates this number seven still further. In Revelation 15:1 we read: And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of G-d."

Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October). It is one of the three Biblically mandated Shalosh regalim on which Jews and Believers make pilgrimages to pre-determined sites to worship and fellowship Temple in Jerusalem. The Holy Day lasts seven days, including Chol Hamoed and is immediately followed by another festive day known as Shemini Atzeret/The Last Great Day. The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth or tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with flora, such as tree branches or bamboo shoots. The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Throughout the holiday the sukkah becomes the primary living area of one's home. All meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many sleep there as well. On each day of the holiday, members of the household recite a blessing over the lulav and etrog, or Four species. According to Zechariah, in the messianic era Sukkot will become a universal festival and all nations will make pilgrimages annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast there.

Sukkot was agricultural in origin. This is evident from the biblical name "The Feast of Ingathering," from the ceremonies accompanying it, from the season – “The festival of the seventh month” – and occasion of its celebration: "At the end of the year when you gather in your labors out of the field" (Ex. 23:16); "after you have gathered in from your threshing-floor and from your winepress" (Deut. 16:13). It was a thanksgiving for the fruit harvest. Coming as it did at the completion of the harvest, Sukkot was regarded as a general thanksgiving for the bounty of nature in the year that had passed. Sukkot became one of the most important feasts in Judaism, as indicated by its designation as “the Feast of the Lord” or simply “the Feast”. Perhaps because of its wide attendance, Sukkot became the appropriate time for important state ceremonies. Moses instructed the children of Israel to gather for a reading of the Law during Sukkot every seventh year (Deut. 31:10-11). King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem on Sukkot (1 Kings 8; 2 Chron. 7). And Sukkot was the first sacred occasion observed after the resumption of sacrifices in Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 3:2-4; Revelation 17 & 18). In Leviticus, G-d told Moses to command the people: “On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook” (Lev. 23:40), and “You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Lev. 23:42-43).

Sukkot is a seven day holiday, with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals. The remaining days are known as Chol HaMoed ("festival weekdays"). The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah ("Great Hoshana", referring to the tradition that worshippers in the synagogue walk around the perimeter of the sanctuary during morning services) and has a special observance of its own. Outside Israel, the first two days are celebrated as full festivals. Throughout the week of Sukkot, meals are eaten in the sukkah and some families sleep there, although the requirement is waived in case of rain. Every day, a blessing is recited over the Lulav and the Etrog. Observance of Sukkot is detailed in the Book of Nehemiah in the Bible, the Mishnah (Sukkah 1:1–5:8); the Tosefta (Sukkah 1:1–4:28); and the Jerusalem Talmud (Sukkah 1a–) and Babylonian Talmud (Sukkah 2a–56b).

Prayers during Sukkot include the reading of the Torah every day, saying the Mussaf (additional) service after morning prayers, reading the Hallel, and adding special supplications into the Amidah and grace after meals. In addition, the Four Species are taken on everyday of Sukkot except for Shabbat and are included in the Hallel and Hoshanot portions of the prayer.

Hoshanot
On each day of the festival, worshippers walk around the synagogue carrying their Four species while reciting Psalm 118:25 and special prayers known as Hoshanot. This takes place either after the morning's Torah reading or at the end of Mussaf. This ceremony commemorates the willow ceremony at the Temple in Jerusalem, in which willow branches were piled beside the altar with worshipers parading around the altar reciting prayers.

Ushpizin
During the holiday, some Jews recite the ushpizin prayer which symbolises the welcoming of seven "exalted guests" into the sukkah. These ushpizin (Aramaic אושפיזין 'guests'), represent the seven shepherds of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David. According to tradition, each night a different guest enters the sukkah followed by the other six. Each of the ushpizin has a unique lesson which teaches the parallels of the spiritual focus of the day on which they visit.

Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah (also Simkhes Toreh, Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תורָה, lit., "Rejoicing with/of the Torah,") or THE LAST GREAT DAY (The Eighth Day). Leviticus 23:36. "For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire (2 Peter 3:6-7) to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. " The Lord G-d destroyed the earth by flooding it with water the first time because He was mad at man (Genesis 6:6) and the Lord will destroy the earth the second time with fire for the same reason He is mad at man! Water was a blessing until the Lord used it to destroy the earth with a flood.. This time He will seperate water H2O into hydrogen and oxgen - so the very material we use to put out fires will become fire!

The eighth day: Final feast - Simchat Torah (the Rejoicing of the Law) the weekly Torah readings are finished and start again with Genesis 1:1. In the times of the temple, a priest went to the pool of Siloam to fill a golden pitcher with water. He then came back to the temple accompanied by a joyous procession of trumpet sounds and worshipers, and poured out the water near the altar. At the same time, he recited Isaiah 12,3 ff.: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation .... On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him". (John 7,37-38) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of G-d and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ( Rev 22,1-2) see also Ezekiel 47,1-12

The holiday immediately following Sukkot is known as Shemini Atzeret (lit. "Eighth [Day] of Assembly"). Shemini Atzeret is viewed as a separate holiday. In the diaspora a second additional holiday, Simchat Torah (lit. "Joy of the Torah") is celebrated. In the Land of Israel, Simchat Torah is celebrated on Shemini Atzeret. On Shemini Atzeret the sukkah is left and meals are eaten inside the house. Outside of Israel, many eat in the sukkah without making the blessing. The sukkah is not used on Simchat Torah. Tishri 22, the day after the seventh day of Sukkoth, is the holiday of Simchat Torah In Israel. Simchat Torah,"Rejoicing in the Torah", celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. uring the evening of Simhat Torah, the last chapter of Deuteronomy is read in the synagogue followed by the beginning of the Book of Genesis. This is a very happy occasion. Jews all over the world dance joyously with the Torah - sometimes for hours. All the Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade around the synagogue seven times. This custom is called Hakafot (encirclement in English). The Hakafot are begun with the recital of "attah hareita", a collection of biblical verses in praise of G-d and the Torah. Each verse is read by the reader and then repeated by the worshipers in the congregation. After the seven Hakafot, all of the Torah scrolls are returned to the Ark except for one. Then the Torah is returned and the service is concluded. The number eight symbolises a new beginning. The eighth day of the week is the day after Sabbath. Now the work starts anew. On this day of the week, Jesus did rise from the dead. With HIM, G-d did create something new: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1.Corinthians 15,20) The number of the name Jesus (Greek ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) is 888.
Jesus' birthday was the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles or Tishri 15. Pesach was fulfilled by Jesus/Yeshua at his crucifixion on Nisan 14 in the Spring of 32 A.D. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His burial in the borrowed tomb. The Feast of Firstfruits was fulfilled by His Resurrection on Nisan 17. The Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost on Silvan 7 in the summer of 32 A.D. Please also see the teaching entitled: Seven Jewish Feasts and how they relate to our being formed in the womb.

Why did the Christian Church stop obseving these Feasts of the Lord?

All seven of these feasts have been celebrated since the day Moses gave them to us at Mt. Sinai some 3500 years ago. As we have seen, the first three of the feasts, the spring feasts, have already had their New Covenant fulfillment. They were fulfilled by Jesus Himself in his death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus fulfilled them right on the set calendar dates of the feasts. He entered Jerusalem 2,000 years ago right on the day appointed in His first coming as Messiah. He came as the Suffering Servant, riding on a donkey. Four days later, just as the Passover lambs were being killed, He gave His life blood for us on the cross of Calvary. Surely He was Israel's promised Sacrifice Lamb. Because He was crucified on Pesach He was buried that night and laid in the tomb just in time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On the third day he rose from the grave. On the Feast of Firstfruits He was resurrected as the firstfruits from the dead. Fifty days later the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 in the upper room. This happened right on the Feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit outpouring seen that day was unprecedented and glorious. The revival of Israel spread into the city of Jerusalem and thence to Judea, Samaria, and eventually to the utmost parts of the earth. Thus was fulfilled the summer Feast of Pentecost. This epic event happened right on the very day of the Hebrew calendar that saw Moses bring the Law down from Mount Sinai to the children of Israel . The Feast of Pentecost was Israel's birthday. Israel's birthday is also turned out to be the birthday of the Church! See: Gal.3:29, Rom.11, Eph.2:12-13, 1Pet.2:9 .
Clearly G-d clearly states that He wants us to remember His feasts as a statute forever throughout all of our generations. Jesus kept the Sabbath -- Luke 4:16-21; Jesus kept The Feast of Tabernacles -- John 7. Jesus surely kept Passover and Days of Unleavened bread -- John 2:13-22, John 5:1, John Chapters 13-19. Paul also kept the Sabbath. See Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4. Paul also kept the Day of Atonement, Acts 27:9. These are recorded in scripture Jesus and the apostles as well as the early first century church kept the Sabbath and Feasts. The Jews still keep most of the feast days correctly and there are many Christian groups who still faithfully observe G-d's Feasts. In fact, for the first three centuries after Pentecost, the early church kept these feasts of the Lord. But, as time went on the deceiver using religious men led the believers away from the teachings of the apostles and from the mouth of Jesus. This was due largely to the man-made doctrines and anti-semetic beLIEfs of the Roman Catholic Church which grew stronger and stronger through intimidation and threat of death. By the beginning of the fourth century, Constantine, who had become both head of the church and Emperor of Rome, forbade the recognition of anything that remotely smacked of Jewishness to the point of imprisonment and even death. An example of this can be seen by the actions taken at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. The Church, which had been commemorating the death and resurrection of Christ on the Passover day, changed the date for observing the resurrection to make it correspond with the pagan carnival Easter (Galatians 4:10-11) instead of what they considered to be the Jewish feast of Passover. By the time of Constantine the followers of Christ were divided over key doctrinal issues. On top of this, a vigorous persecution was setting in against any who opposed the teachings and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. In Volume 2 of Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church, Page 204, we read: "Tertullian, at the close of the second and the beginning of the third century, views the Lord's day (that is, Sunday, my insertion) as figurative of rest from sin and typical of man's final rest, and says: 'we nothing to do with Sabbaths, new moons, or the Jewish festivals, much less with those of the heathen.' " Page 205 of the same book, beginning of fourth paragraph: "The observance of the Sabbath among the Jewish Christians gradually ceased." Under the order of Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. a council was called for his bishops to convene a council at Nice in Turkey (modern Isnik) to discuss and to settle various church related doctrines, one of which was which day of the week was the proper day of worship. Here is an interesting passage from Volume 3 of Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church, page 405, "The feast of the resurrection was thenceforth required to be celebrated everywhere on a Sunday, and never on the day of the Jewish Passover, but always after the fourteenth of Nisan, on the Sunday after the first vernal full moon." (Passover is always on the 14th day of the first month at evening - Exodus 12:6) Near the end of the passage we read, "It is our duty to have nothing in common with the murderers of our Lord." The 4th century theologian John Chrysostom said, "The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now."anti-Semitism was the main motivation for the repudiation of the Feast of Pesach or Passover, as the Nicene letter of Constantine testifies: “It appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul.” Amazing this degree of hate - seeing that Jesus was a Jew!

If we again start to observe the Feasts of the Lord, we will make a powerful statement against the anti-Semitic voice of the denominational churches. Christians would again discover emotional and aesthetic experiences they have forgotten to enjoy e.g., the holiness of bread, which is a symbol of messianic sacrifice. Our motive in celebration should be as G-d originally intended; remembrance and honor for what He has done. G-d said his feasts were to be celebrated "forever" (Ex. 12:14, Lev. 23:21, Lev. 23:41). If G-d never changes, and we have His word on that He does not (Mal. 3:6), it is obvious that He still desires to be worshiped in this manner. The feast days retain a deep abiding meaning for the Christian since their fulfillment (not termination) is found in Jesus the Messiah. It is safe to say that the Christian has more reasons for celebrating these festivals than does the Jew (1 Corinthians. 5:7-8). The feast days contain more divine information, spiritual lessons and prophetic reflections than perhaps any subject of scripture. Subsequently, It is through our deliberate recognition and celebration of them that the riches of truth contained in them is released for our understanding.(Colossians 2:16; Romans14:5-10;) Nevertheless in Romans 14:5 we read: "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."