Secrets Of A Life Filled With Feasts

Are we living life to the full?

A moedim-chaim?

There are several scriptures where the length of our life appears to be given a specific number of years. One is in Psalms 90:10. The days of our years are three score years and ten, which equals 70 and we often this use as an indicator of human lifespan. The other sometimes referred to is in Genesis 6:3.

Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Berean Study Bible) So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

Notice this verse does not explicitly teach that mankind’s lifespan was limited to 120 years, however what are we to do with what we are allotted?

Interestingly the 120 year timeline was given 120 years prior to the flood, so maybe it was referring to the fact that humanity as a whole only had another 120 years to live before the flood came and not to the length of years that an individual could live?

Whether this is correct or not, our lives do have structure when we are His own, as believers in Messiah.

Is there is a pattern for His Ecclesia in His Moedim? (Annual appointed times for every year?)

In the cycle of life, they are not only for seasons and times of harvest in the agricultural year but they are also for remembrance and rehearsal…

They are also for indicating the promise of future prophetic fulfillment. Do the Moedim/ 7 feasts/appointed times; also have a practical application to our individual lives?

Pronounced moe-eh-DEEM – מועדים

Strong’s Hebrew: 4150. מוֹעֵד moed or Mow’ed: Appointed time, place.

There are many 7’s in the Scriptures.The KJV mentions the word 391 times.

The Gospel of Luke lists 77 generations from Adam to Jesus/Yeshua.

Important Note: the reference to words and their equivalent numbers in posts, is due to every letter in the Hebrew alphabet having a numerical value assigned to it, similar to Greek etc. (See charts below.)

(The first mobile cell phones used this same principle for texting).
MMM is NOT recommending occult based numerology and/or the use of numbers as in Horoscopes/dark arts, or connected to the magic and mysticism of Jewish Kabbalah.)
The definition of Gematria / ɡ ə ˈ m eɪ t r i ə / (Hebrew: גמטריא or גימטריה , plural גמטראות or גמטריאות , gematriot) is one of several methods of assigning a numerical value to a Hebrew name, word or phrase based on its letters.
Gematria is a type of numerological study that may be defined as one of more systems for calculating the numerical equivalence of letters, words, and phrases in a particular Hebrew text and to finding hidden meanings in the numerical values of words.

Gematria works on the premise that the letters of the alphabet can also be used as numbers, and therefore words and phrases acquire distinctive numerical values.
A well known example is that of Revelation 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of that beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six [666].

Proverbs has seven pillars of wisdom that are in the building of the house of the Lord which can now be applied to our physical bodies, as we are containers of His spirit – ruach, instead of the temple sanctuary of a literal stone building.

Torah – is the wisdom of God – understanding our life with wisdom – we are to get understanding – wisdom is for spiritual life.

The Ark of the Covenant

It was the heart of Gods’ shekinah presence.

 (Hebrew: אָרוֹן הַבְּרִית, Modern: Arōn Ha’brēt, Tiberian: ʾĀrôn Habbərîṯ),
also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a gold-covered wooden chest with lid cover described in the Book of Exodus as containing the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The covenant on stone as Daniel saw in 2:34.

The Stone cut without human hands, is the child born without human hands. 

A virgin conception! 

The stone that was cut without human hands represents God’s kingdom.

This stone will replace all the earthly kingdoms (Revelation 21:1).

The renewed covenant written on hearts of flesh as prophesied by Jeremiah 31:33

Therefore entrance into the blessings of the Covenant, must come through Messiah Jesus/Yeshua/Yahshua alone, for He is the HEART of Torah.

The first letter of the Torah is b (and a v), a Bet (בּ) (bereishit –בְּרֵאשִׁית) Genesis; and the last letter of the Torah is l, a Lamed (ל) in the word יִשְׂרָאֵל – Israel . These 2 letters together spell the Hebrew word for heart which is l-v and lev with the vowel added.

The circumcision of the flesh regulation stated previously was a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, but Christ circumcises those who have faith in Him, and this circumcision is of the heart [Rom 2:28-29] [Luke 22:20].

The seven pillars of His wisdom are continually maturing within our hearts and minds and as we become conformed to His image; this foundation gives place for the pillars of His life within us.

The pillars are integral to support the life of the spirit within. Cycling us continually towards His heart at the center of our beings. Returning to Him whenever we stumble or stray from His path.

Do the 7 pillars of wisdom perhaps also refer to the 7 Moedim?

Turn and keep on coming. Joel 2:12 AMPC. Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].

Jerusalem is built on seven hills just as Rome is, one reflecting the natural world, the flesh and the devil principles.

The other Jerusalem is the spiritual type and also reflects the shadow of that which is to come.

Even the new Jerusalem is the final dwelling place of all that is complete in shalom.

Ezekiel prophesied of the Rebirth of Israel. He gives a chronological order of events from the rebirth of Israel to the construction of the third temple (which is the end of Ezekiel prophecies).
Israel’s restoration prophesied by Ezekiel was to be physical then followed by spiritual. Ezekiel 36:36-7 Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel. 36 “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.
He prophesied of the hills!
and the people shall fill the waste cities as the flocks at the time of the great feasts covered the hills …

The 7 Moedim are an annual guide to the believer, both of that which has been fulfilled by Messiah; and also for the preparation and ongoing prophetic timeline on future events.

Taking another perspective, reveals that they also possibly hold the mystery of spiritual development, growth and maturity in each of our individual lives. Could this be one of the secrets to living a life fulfilled in the will of God?

Has God hidden the mystery of our life within the Hebrew year and His Moedim?

The annual cycle of the year begins with Passover – Pesach.

This is the beginning of our life in Him. It starts with salvation and as we receive the Lamb of God the pesach offering, our sins are taken away and we start a new life, sinless. The Power of the Passover/ pesach changes us and changes our future, our life will never be the same again. If it is, then consider if we are really walking in His provision, for out of true repentance comes the 180° turn around to go the other way the opposite direction.

The disciples, apostles, left the old way of life –leaving their nets behind them – have we left the things that held us? or have we compromised a little by simply adding Him into what we are content to remain with and want to keep and all we are familiar with? Can our families and friends see a change?? Are our lives really truly centered, focused and fulfilling the gospel word of Jesus/Yeshua? Or is our time with Him carefully slotted in and scheduled at our convenience?

The Moedim cycle of each and every year we live, presents an opportunity for reflection and change!

The power of Pesach truly releases us from bondage just as it did for the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. It ends the old life of slavery to sin and marks the beginning of a journey of life in and with God.

Pesach = Deliverance.

Set free to serve Him – willingly.

The second feast/ appointed time and level of our lives /walk/ journey with Him is our First fruits. Yom Resheet the day of first fruits the first day of the week of eating Unleavened Bread.

As we begin to walk in the power of His resurrection we begin to bear fruit in our lives.

The First Fruit of our salvation is the First Fruits of repentance and change.

First fruits of the unconditional love of the father flowing through us which pertains to life and all godliness in the image of Jesus. First fruits of the newness of life abundant, the joy of salvation and the glory of the father as we walk with Him. This is the first harvest. 

Omer count = Separation to Revelation.

Father will often separate us from old things in order to reveal to us new things and we become part of the ecclesia- the called out ones.

3rd Feast – next is our life experiences – Pentecost/Shavuot – the fire of the father in the form of the Ruach haKodesh.

Giving of the Spirit.

The promise from the Sinai covenant when Torah was first given.

He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Deep cleansing and preparation waiting on Him and learning among other things, patience!

Tarry here – we wait along the way for the infilling of the exousia, the raw power to make us ready, anointed and willing to do the works of God and to fulfill all that we have being called to be and do for His kingdom.

To go and make disciples, having first become one ourselves.

The fire burns away all the chaff from our hearts and enables the gold within to shine forth and empower us to reach forward for the next greater summer harvest in the life cycle.

The 4th harvest feast could be speaking of the harvest of our salvation as we GO forth for the fields white unto harvest but the workers are few.

Leviticus 23; Psalm 139:16

As we reap the rewards of blessing by giving life to others in sharing the true bounty of life abundant.

Fulfilling our calling in ministering both to the lost and to the Saints. 2 Cor.9:1; Heb.6:10.

This could represent the main period of our life as it continues and makes up the major content of our years.

Until we come into the fifth appointed time of our lives. Yom teruah the blowing of the shofar/ trumpet;

And then will come the time of trumpets, ‘the autumn’, ‘the fall’, of our salvation.

The golden years.

The finishing up of our reaping His harvest, the completing of its gathering in; and our time of preparation to meet our Heavenly Father.

Tying up the loose ends putting everything in order. Anything as yet left undone is quickly put in place, decently and in order. 

True shalom.

Nothing missing nothing broken, mislaid, misplaced or left undone. All is as it should be, no omissions or regrets, for soon will be upon us the remaining feasts in quick succession.

Yom kippur the day of atonement, the sixth appointed time of our life as we will stand alone before our heavenly father.

Panim al panim – face to face.

מָּנִים אֶלמָּֿנִים

Strong’s Hebrew: 6440. פָּנִים (panim or paneh) — face, faces

The Mercy Seat where the blood was sprinkled

Hebrew רחמים (pronounced rakhamim) is usually translated as “mercy.” Notice the IM! It’s actually plural in form, multiple mercies on the Ark of His Presence.

His MERCIES are new every morning!

In an earlier post we looked at Hebrew words including “face” (פנים, panim), “water” (מים, mayim), and even God (אלהים, elohim).

Then we shall behold Him, face to face. And see Him as He is. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2; Rom. 14:10

It’s not in judgment for sin for we are already acquitted. (The great white throne judgment for those who are not His own, but the Bema seat of Christ, the judgment seat of Messiah, is for the works we have done in obedience to His call.)

The Holy fire of His presence will consume all that was not of His command and reveal only the gold of that which was His will. 1 Cor. 3:12-15

This leads us to Sukkot, 

the 7th and final appointed time in

 the lifecycle of a true believer will be to live, abide and stay with Him forever.

To Tabernacle in His presence, the booths containing His presence, His joy, His love, His blessings and its ultimate conclusion,

Shemini atseret – the eighth day of Sukkoth – the completion of reading Torah and Simchat Torah – the joy of the Torah.

The Eighth Day

8 represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man’s true ‘born again’ event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.  Eight is the personal number of Jesus. When we add together the letter values of the name Jesus in the Greek we get 888.

8th day– the great last day – eternity – the prophetic Torah complete – the day that celebrates the torah called, the joy of the torah, or rejoicing of/[with the]Torah

Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה שִׂמְחַת

and the new beginning* – enter the JOY of your Lord

as He says well done you good and faithful servant – no more tears only JOY.

*Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah (also Simkhes Toreh, Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תורָה, lit., “Rejoicing with/of the Torah,”) is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (“Eighth Day of Assembly”), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar).

J udge

O ur

Y ears

Judge ourselves with JOY that we be not judged…

The Moedim and what they represent seem to be a cycle that should be an integral part of every believing ecclesia?

Although we are not to come under bondage again to the law as such; according to 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So the Moedim have value for our training.

His Word both the written word and the living Word are mirrors for us and we should hold them up in front of our lives to see if the reflection is that of Jesus/Yeshua in us, the hope of glory. He is in the Moedim, the very essence and fulfillment of them both in our lives and literally. He is the only Feast that truly satisfies.

He is the Word –

He is the Heart of the Word/Torah –

His life is The Word –

Written not on stone in an ark but on our hearts; and we are now the ark of His renewed covenant

The container of His Ruach/Spirit –

The 7 pillars of His wisdom supporting His life within –

The corner stone of our faith – not cut with hands –

We see Him as we walk through every one of His Moedim and finally to join us to Himself in the marriage of the Lamb on that last great day! Hallelujah!

Shalom shalom!

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Shavua Tov Mishpachah & Chaverim!

Have a good week Family & Friends. 

Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that you have Messiah in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. He is the fulfillment of the Moedim and truly is the Feast that will satisfy.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..

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

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

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

The Miracle of The Hammer Men

Light The Lights

חֲנֻכָּה

Chanukah/Chanukkah /Hannukkah/Hanukkah

This coming week is

חֲנֻכָּה

which begins 24 Kislev 5777 and lasts 8 days.

It is not a biblically-commanded feast/ appointed time of the Lord. (Leviticus 23.)

However it has become a permanent fixture on the calendar; maybe it is partly because there is a distinct lack of annual appointment times during the almost 6 months which include winter and also due to the fact that it falls during the annual Christmas season and people have come to associate it with a Jewish alternative of the western Christmas celebration.

For the Hebrew Israelites/ Jewish people, wintertime is a season that is supposed to be a time of preparation and a kind of dormancy period (like a hibernation) which stands between the end of Israel’s year in the autumn/fall and it’s new beginning in the spring time when the annual cycle of God’s appointed times begins again.

In fact it is not mentioned anywhere in the scriptures of the Old Testament/ Torah. Which is an interesting point, however, it is mentioned in the New Testament

The one place it is mentioned is in connection with Messiah/Jesus when he was in Jerusalem walking in the temple and could indicate that He was celebrating the remembrance or could indicate that He at least acknowledged it’s significance.

John 10:22-23

“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.”

This begs the question. Why do Jewish people who do not believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah or acknowledge the new testament/ covenant as Any kind of divine Record of truth, celebrate the season of Hanukkah?

Historically it is a factual incident which took place between the years that ended the old testament Records and when the New Testament Records begin approximately 150 years before Messiah/Jesus was born.

The event that precipitated the Chanukah commemoration occurred around 168 B.C. Jerusalem had been conquered and the Holy Temple had been defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes IV and his Syrian army.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a Hellenistic Greek king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC.

Thousands of Jews had been slaughtered and Antiochus had set up an idol in the Temple, declaring himself to be god. His coup de grâce was sacrificing a pig on the altar. 

Hanukkah also known as the festival of lights begins each year on the 25th day of the nine months Kislev according to the Jewish calendar which usually corresponds to the month of December.

Hasmonian Period (166-63 BCE)

It is based on historical events Hanukkah means the feast of dedication and commemorates the victory of Judah Maccabee (which means “hammer”) and the group of Israelites who became freedom fighters against the Greco- Syrian oppressors during the second century BC. Israel’s temple was defiled by pagan sacrifices during the course of foreign occupation.

These brave men who came to be known as the Maccabees retook Jerusalem from the invaders, the first act was to purify cleanse and rededicate the temple and this is the root of the eight day annual celebration and remembrance.

Restoring the Eternal Light

“…command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. …It shall be a statute forever to their generations…” Exodus 27:20-21

The Temple Menorah needed the oil to keep the flames alight and hence the 9 branch Menorah, called a chanukiah, is lit during the week one for each night + the servant candle the tallest central candle.

Links  below for more details of the lighting and meaning.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/who-lights-up-your-life/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/hanukkahchanukah-believers-today/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/chanukah-or-hanukkah/

Within the framework of historical events the rabbis enhanced the legend of the miraculous eight date burning of a single days supply of oil which is commonly taught and universally accepted explanation of the meaning and the purpose of Hanukkah.

This is all recorded in the Talmud tracate Shabbat 21b. The events referred to here are all verified by historical sources, except the miracle of the enduring holy oil.

So it may have happened but It may not?

The real story of Hanukkah is recorded in the ancient Jewish writings 1 and 2 Maccabees which is part of the inter-testamental manuscripts catalogue among the infamous Apocrypha.

The Apocrypha, which is a collection of writings included in the Septuagint which is the Jewish translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. It is also contained in the Latin Vulgate and was originally part of the King James Bible however many Jews and Protestant Christians do not consider the books of the apocrypha to be divinely inspired note to carry the weight of scriptural authority.

However, although 1 and 2 Maccabees are included in the apocrypha, it’s not the canon of Hebrew Scriptures but are nevertheless considered authoritative accounts as accurate historical documents.

For further study here are 2 links for PDF files of 1 & 2 Maccabees

http://www.jacksonsnyder.com/yah/manuscript-library/11-maccabees_1.pdf

http://scripturaltruth.com/PDF_Apocrypha/APOCRYPHA%202ndMACCABEES%20OF%20THE%20KING%20JAMES%20BIBLE%201611.pdf

 

The real story of Hanukkah is the story of turmoil and upheaval to the nation of Israel. It is a record of the attempted simulation of the Jewish people and the anti-Semitic spirit set against them. It is a story of sin and corruption; oppression and persecution; freedom and ultimately victory.

The heroes of Hanukkah were not motivated by loveless legalism or a misplaced religious fervor but by an overwhelming zeal for the one true God and it is a rallying cry for all who have dedicated their lives to serve the Messiah every single day of our lives and not just for one week of the year.

At the heart of this story is the account of Gods people experiencing assimilation, oppression, conviction, self-sacrifice victory and above all dedication.

Why is this relevant to Christians?

The Temple had to be restored before Messiah Yeshua could come. He acknowledged this holiday as we read in the new testament scriptures, where He rebuked the leading Jewish authorities for non-biblical aberrations. 

John 10:24 was the opening description of a discourse by Jesus the Messiah, just before He was to reveal that it is His works that bear witness of who He really is. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, ‘How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’

Few realize that this took place during the Chanukah celebration in Jerusalem. It was here in the Temple, more than 150 years earlier, that an event had taken place that was essential for Jesus to come, for it restored the Temple and Jerusalem to Israel.

Therefore, it is easy to understand why Messiah would share in the celebration even though it is not one of the commanded biblically appointed times of the LORD from Leviticus 23.

There is also a teaching that links CHanukkah with the end times and the coming of antichrist.

It behooves us all to remember the real reason for the season amid the frenzy of parties, food, drink and gifts.

This year, when we see the familiar Christmas lights let’s remember Messiah is the True light of the world and remind ourselves that we are to be the light shining into the world. Instead of miracles and merriment the father is longing for His people to return wholeheartedly to Him.

The light of the fire of His love still blazes in His heart and true shalom – peace on earth and goodwill towards men; will maintain its original and prophetic meaning for all those who will believe and receive His miracle gift of salvation in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus of whom the central servant candle the Shamash is a representation.

The Shamash reminds us that we are servants of the LORD Most High. We are privileged to carry His Name, His Light before men, bringing that light into a dark and wicked world. Just as the few men who stood for God against an evil generation.

Chanukah Blessing to the LORD as We Light the Candles

Some words to remember and focus on during this season:

Return, Restoration, Rejoice, Thankfulness, Grateful hearts, Victory, Light of the World and Servanthood.

Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Ps 97:11

 

Extra helping –

the hidden mystery –

a blueprint for the last days revealed in The season of Hanukkah – dedication or rededication – has the most amazing and specific revelation of end times ever given by the Father.

In scripture there are some things relating to end times in the feast of trumpets and the feast of tabernacles. However Hanukkah holds the most exact precise revelation of what is going to take place and also the strategy of how to overcome in those days.

Daniel prophesied of these times in the old testament saying in chp.12:7; concerning the length of the time; of the temple desecration and oppression by Antiochus. He said it will be for a time, times and half a time, which represents 3 ½ years. He further speaks prophetically in Dan 9:26 about the prince that will come and make a covenant for a week and in the middle of the week will break it middle of 7 is 3 ½.

We read how apparently Messiah celebrated the feast of dedication/Hanukkah in the new testament.

(This is a great witnessing scripture to the Jewish people concerning Messiah.)

Without Hanukkah there would be no Christmas – because without Hanukkah the faith of Israel would have been wiped out; including all the family line through whom Messiah was born.

Rev 11:1, 2 also refers to the gentiles; a time line of 42 months, which is also 3 ½ years. Rev 12:6 also refers to this Hanukkah number of 1,260 days which also = 3 ½ years..

The abomination of desolation was spoken of when the pig was sacrificed in the Temple, which was the reason there had to be a Hanukkah – a rededication.

Also in reference to Messiahs words in Matt 24:15, when you see standing in the holy place the abomination of desolation…..

(when we don’t understand the roots of some of these events, then we miss the truth behind that reference.)

All Jewish people know of these times because it’s a part of their history and it did not require further explanation when Messiah spoke of it, they understood. What He was declaring was that, what happened in Daniel, will happen again, as written in the book of Revelation, so its not a case of ‘either/or’, but both.

By saying this Messiah also seems to give a clear timeline that this will happen before He returns.

The one world system and Israel along with gentile believers will not fit in to the new world order of the antichrist and the beast system. So there will be yet another attempt to destroy all God’s people through persecution.

Hanukkah is a reflection of what is occurring today and also gives a strategy of how to overcome in the end times. The spirit of the antichrist is already working towards requiring worship of the replacement ‘god’.

Eph 2:2. according to the will of the prince of the power of this air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience,

As believers we too must turn away from compromise of the world and go to the Father by re dedicating our lives, take time to fast and pray and as we do, Father will give us the steps to take.

If the light of God is not shining through us – darkness will encroach.

The 1st important message of Hanukkah is for the believers and clearly the Word states that the antichrist will not come except there is a falling away, an apostasy.

2 Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

the changed or altered kingdom in hebrew Strong’s Hebrew: 8132. שָׁנָא (shana or shanah) — to change Phonetic Spelling: shaw-naw

לְהַשְׁנָיָה֙

Change denotes the transition that occurs between one state to another.

ə-haš-nā-yāh to change (strongs 8133) אשְׁנָ Phonetic Spelling: (shen-aw’)

Strong’s Hebrew: 8138. שָׁנָה (shanah) — to repeat, do again

This word meaning, changed, or altered kingdom, used in the Hebrew, Daniel 7:25, described what Antiochus put in place, is the same meaning referring to antichrist, who will also initiate a changed or altered kingdom, perverted, different or unnatural order; over which he can rule, pushing his agenda of the one world system.

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. 

Daniel 7:25,

Apostasy, means; to depart from revealed truth, to lead away, seduce, mislead; to defect, to blind the eyes of the people by manipulating the truth; to turn one from the truth. It speaks of a culture that once knew God and has compromised their faith, which is self evident in their lifestyle.

Congruent with a general falling away from the purity of the faith; and a tolerance for things that are against the Bible. People who are wanting a ‘new god’. It’s a rejection of the true God/Christ Messiah, and is the spirit of anti-Christ and it could not be manifest until Christ had actually come because it’s against Christ. So in that respect that spirit has only been working the last 2000 years.

Since the days of Acts until now, there has never been such a strong joining together of Israel and Christian believers.

The One New Man of Eph. 14-16.

Christ Our Peace – For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken … in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 

The name Antiochus Epiphanes; Epiphanes means. ‘god manifest’ and it is said he created the statue of Zeus to look like him. This reminds us of the image of the beast as being the same as that of end times and that he was changing and redefining things that are biblically based in society. Making himself as being god, reigning supreme over everything, so that he can do whatever he wants making new laws with no oversight or restriction.

The Zeus legend tells that Zeus took on the form of a bull and carried away a woman called Europa and it is where we get our word Europe from. Here is the representation of end time; the woman on the beast. Rev 17:5 The people of the revived roman empire which turned away from the God they once knew and worshipped. The Europe symbol of today is a woman riding a bull…

Hanukkah and the antichrist is repeating the slow change in society where people begin to call evil good and good evil. Antiochus declared the word of God illegal.

Links to events happening recently:

Assembly Bill 2943  in the California legislature intended to ban gay conversion therapy is also worded so that it could be used to ban books such as the Bible. The law has just passed the state Assembly with bipartisan support, and Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign it into law. 4/20/2018 

Has California Just Voted To Ban The Bible? link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHUvDqgZwA

No, not fake news. Here is the actual Bill and it has already passed the general assembly

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2943

The bill is aimed at the sale of goods that would encourage sexual identity change therapy. If taken to its logical conclusion, this would ban the sale of Bibles because of passages like Romans 1.

https://www.charismamag.com/life/culture/36659-will-california-go-from-banning-religious-books-to-burning-them

2 Thess. 2:3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

that day = 2 Thessalonians 2:3 read in Context. 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

That day is the coming of Messiah – Yeshua – our Lord Jesus Christ….so let us therefore

Here is the type of the remnant and the blueprint for victory.

The family of the Maccabees represent the believers who stand against the antichrist spirit and have the victory.

Hanukkah the blueprint of end-times.

1 They decided no compromise, mentally drew a line in the sand, in effect saying, from now on I’m not playing around any more. Not I’ll do it sometime later when I’m not so busy! The challenge of Hanukkah is become what you are called to be NOW.

2 They didn’t care that they were the minority; they were with God and He is bigger than any problematic situation so don’t believe the circumstances cannot be changed, they can.

3 They went against the spirit of the times. They bent their life and circumstances to fit the word of God not the other away around, by bending the Word of God to their desires. They chose not to be like, to resemble in fashion or behave like the world around them.

4 They separated themselves and prepared to engage the enemy. We too are to be separate, yet impact the world around us.

5 They become warriors and turned whatever the enemy sent back against him. Eph. 6:12-16.

And finally they carried on the war joyfully. In Maccabees we read they declared, god has chosen us to do this, and they did it even after the discouragement. Neh. 8:10 and also David encouraged himself. 1sam 30:6.

They lived by and fought by the Word. They knew their God and resisted and they cleansed the Temple’…

‘but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32b

 

Messiah will come and cleanse this world and bring everything back to the Father.

We are to be the…. 

those who smash the works of darkness.

Lights in the darkness is the symbol of the Hanukkah menorah .

End time Israel’s symbol is not so much the star of David but rather the menorah light and it is indicative of an active agent in the world.

Us!

The sum of the Hanukkah message is – God wins and if we are with God, we will always be on the winning side.

Shalom to every reader as we celebrate the light of the world.

He said…

PLEASE…

Don’t leave this page until you are certain in your heart that the Messiah Yeshua is the Light of your world..

we all need to born again from above..His Mercy and Grace are all you need…for therein is His forgiveness.

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

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

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

A keruvim cherub – not quite like we imagined? PART 2

Moses was instructed to build the wilderness tabernacle or Mishkan where the Ark of the Covenant rested, having the Keruvim on its Mercy seat.Moses and Joshua

It was to be situated in the center of the camp and the 12 tribes laid out their tents around it in the shape of a cross aligned with the 4 points of the compass.

The tabernacle reflects Gods throne surrounded by the 4 Cherubim faces N-Eagle; S-Man; E-Lion; W-Ox; found in Revelation.

Next as food for thought, are some interesting conceptual points of view, many may consider controversial topics; they are included on purpose to make us think. We have forgotten how to think for ourselves. Often taking only what is given by those who have learned from other people, who in turn were taught by people and so on; and limited within the narrow restrictions of academic and doctrinal parameters. So please don’t switch off before considering the context and scriptural references included… remembering the levels of interpretation (PARDES).

CLICK LINK FOR EXPLANATION

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-rules-of-pardes/

Daniel prophesied that at the time of the end that knowledge would increase and again that is part of the apocalypse/the revealing, of the treasures old, (things forgotten) and new, things hidden until Fathers timing is optimum.

Many may cry heresy and yet the term is defined as: any belief or theory, that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization.

A basic definition of heresy, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.”

A second definition is “dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice.”

For example, accusations of heresy have been leveled against a group of believers when their beliefs challenged, or were seen to challenge, ‘Church’ authority. Some heresies have also been doctrinally based, in which a teaching was deemed to be inconsistent with the fundamental tenets of orthodox dogma.

Interestingly if we look at the teachings of Jesus/Yeshua in the light of the above definitions, it would seem apply to Him! Just maybe He was a heretic?? Isn’t that what the Pharisees accused Him of as well as blasphemy? Hmmmm! If that’s the case being labeled as such is not entirely a bad thing!

Part 2 includes a look at the possible connection to, and an explanation of, Mazzaroth. The constellations of the stars in the heavens.

Please understand, MMM is NOT in any way advocating or giving an endorsement of new age astrology.

The Definition of astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.

We are cautioned not to look to them, or their prognostic interpretations by astrologers; and should not use horoscopes to determine our future actions. Instead, we are to look to the Father in the name of Yeshua/Jesus for our destiny is in His Hands. Having said that, lets investigate the theory in light of scripture and how it’s connected to our original topic!

מַזָּרוֹת    Mazzārōṯ,

Mazzeroth is the Hebrew zodiac.

There is a theory that each tribe’s symbol parallels a constellation. The stars, created to be “for signs and seasons” (Gen.1:14), do give directional orientation and gauging for harvest. Some, think the Mazzeroth signs may predict the coming of the Messiah.

What does the Bible say?

Psalm 19:1 tells us

The stars were set in place by the Father and He named them one by one.

“He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4).

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth” (Isaiah 40:26).

God named the stars to provide prophetic signs ordered according to their appointed times/ 7 Moedim/Feasts (i.e., “seasons”) of fulfillment.

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (oth – signifying something to come,) (Laoth – appearing as a signal), and for seasons (moed – a fixed or an appointed time), and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14). See Romans 10:18.

The message declared by the stars is that The glory of God that is “above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1), as seen in the Person and work of God the Son, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, the promised Seed of a woman, as foretold in the first Messianic prophecy. Genesis 3:15, declaring that our Savior would eventually defeat Satan (i.e., bruise the serpent’s head), though He would suffer (bruising His own heal) to redeem His people from their sins and take them safely home to heaven.

“And I will put enmity between thee [Satan, embodied in the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).

This is the central theme.

God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees where astrology, abhorrent to God (Deut. 18:10-12, Isaiah 47:13,14), had flourished. God commanded Abram: “Look toward heaven, and tell (narrate) the stars, if thou be able to number (NAME them one by one) them. And He said, So shall thy Seed be (singular, referring to Christ; see Galatians 3:16). And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:5).

Abram surely knew the star names and the exact location in the sky to start naming them. (Not numbering them as in 1-1billion). Tracing the heavens from right to left, (same direction that Hebrew is read), and beginning with constellation Virgo; he would possibly have recited words such as: “VIRGO, SUBILAH, ZAVIJAVA, SPICA/TSEMECH¹, VINDEMIATRIX, COMA, IHESU, CHRISTOS, BOOTES, ARCTURUS, NEKKAR, AGENA, TOLIMAN,” which translates to: “The virgin who carries the gloriously beautiful Seed, the Branch (Messiah), the Son who comes down to rule, the desired Son, Jesus, the Christ, the coming Shepherd, the Pierced, the despised Sin Offering, the Beginning and the End.

This was what was ‘counted to him for righteousness’, that he understood the prophetic declaration that the Father had placed in the heavenlies, ‘And he believed in the Lord;’ not simply that he could count the stars in the sky!

Job 38:31 names several specific stars (KJV). Which God Himself acknowledged in the series of questions that He asked Job, indicating that there was common knowledge of the star names among the ancient patriarchs of that age.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth (the constellations) in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” (Job 38:31,32).

The seven stars, the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, apparently symbolize the Adamic Family. This could suggest a time cycle from the Age of Leo through the Age of Pisces, and the beginning of Aquarius?

The Pleiades.

Taurus is composed of two main groups of stars; the Pleiades and Hyades. The Pleiades are a star cluster with eta (η), Alcyone, as the principal star, situated on the shoulder of the Bull, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, or M45.

In Job 38:31, the Lord is speaking directly to Job and challenges him, asking if he can bind the chains of the Pleiades—the implication being that Job cannot, but the Lord can.

Talmud ( Bavli, Berakhot, 58b ) says that it has about 100 stars, understanding the word כימה as כמאה ke’ me-ah, “about one hundred” in Hebrew.

Job 9:9 “[God] alone spreadeth out the heavens…which maketh Arcturus (Bear) and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

The Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45) is an open star cluster in the constellation of Taurus.

Bear:

5906 `Ayish, ah’-yish; or `Ash, awsh; from 5789; the constellation of the Great Bear (perh. from its migration through the heavens):-Arcturus. Ayath. See 5857.

Orion:

3685 Keciyl, kes-eel’; the same as 3684; any notable constellation; spec. Orion (as if a burly one):-constellation, Orion.

Pleiades is the Septuagint translation of:

3598 Kiymah, kee-maw’;

from the same as 3558; a cluster of stars;

i.e. the Pleiades: Pleiades, seven stars.

“By His spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent” (Job 26:13).

-Note: SERPENS and HYDRA are two examples of this.

The prophet Amos also advised, “Seek him that maketh the seven stars (literally, Pleiades) and Orion” (Amos 5:8).

The obvious familiarity of the star names in the book of Job (accepted as the oldest book in the Bible) testifies to the antiquity handed down by Adam to his descendants. Ancient star charts can be found in virtually every civilization as observed in China, India, Babylonia, Persia, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Scandinavia, and in Central America and are a witness to a single, Divine origin by their phenomenal unity. Its not coincidence.

Psalm 8:3

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon Psalm 148:3

Praise you him, sun and moon: praise him, all you stars of light. Ps 147:4

He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 5:8

Bereshit (Genesis) 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

The Torah emphasises the importance of time and keeping track of time. Therefore, keep this in mind as we look at them. The astronomical bodies are to serve as:

Signs and for seasons and for days and for years

[If there will arise among you a prophet…] and he gives you a sign

‫אוֹת

(hebrew [meaning a sign) in the heavens, as it is stated in the case of Gideon [who said to the angel]: “then show me a sign

אוֹת

 (Shoftim [Judges] 6:17), and then it says [further], “let it be dry only upon the fleece [and upon all the ground let there be dew]” (Shoftim [Judges]  6:39).

Thus we learn that anytime we see an ot,   

אוֹת  a sign,

we are looking at a reference to the celestial object.

The very first mitzva, (Commandment/instruction), given to the Israelites, concerned time and it’s calculation: for the Passover Lamb!

And The Name Ha Shem spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the 1st month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of [their] fathers a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb Shemot Exodus 12:1-4

Showing us the importance of time and the astronomical bodies.

Season:

4150 mow`ed, mo-ade’; or mo`ed, mo-ade’; or (fem.) mow`adah (2 Chron. 8:13), mo-aw-daw’; from 3259; prop. An appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; spec. a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting also a signal (as appointed beforehand):- appointed ( sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).

Years:

8141 shaneh (in plur. only), shaw-neh’; or (fem.) shanah, shaw-naw’; from 8138; a year (as a revolution of time):- whole age, long, plus old, year.

The father is the creator the adversary/hasatan/devil is the one who perverts and steals and copies he never had an original idea and the story in the heavens was perverted so we would miss it because we were told it was all rooted in the occult and forbidden knowledge.

It would seem that it is a correct statement that our destiny is written in the stars. His plan is there and Yeshua refers to the signs in the heavens moon and stars and where we will see the sign of the coming of the son of man, Look up not down when you see all these things for your redemption draws nigh.

The sons of Issachar were able to read and interpret the signs and we know the wise men saw His star in the East and knew it told of the birth of a king.

Interesting note that the scripture records that hasatan was not a fallen angel but was the anointed cherub that covereth.. Ezek. 28:14-16.

The definition of zodiac is: a belt of the heavens within about 8° either side of the ecliptic, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and most familiar planets. It is divided into twelve equal divisions or signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces).

Astronomy, (NOT Astrology) is the branch of science which deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. It is the study of the stars and of the heavens and the movements of the heavenly bodies. However the mazzaroth is biblical astronomy Numbers 13:17.

Mazzaroth – The Hebrew Zodiac and the Gospel of Salvation…. 

and so not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, there are some interesting concepts connected to the cycles in the heavens.

Definitions and explanation.

Mazzaroth meaning prognostications, found only Job 38:32, probably meaning “the twelve signs” (of the zodiac), as in the margin

Mazzaroth is a Biblical Hebrew word (מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ, LXX Μαζουρωθ, Mazourōth) found in the Book of Job and literally meaning ‘a garland of crowns’. [1] but its context is that of astronomical constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the zodiac or the constellations thereof.

Masal (Lamed Shin Mem) in Gen. 1:14 “the task of separating and ruling” (masal) are notably, also a divine role here.

4216 Mazzarah, maz-zaw-raw’; appar. from 5144 in the sense of distinction; some noted constellation (only in the plur.), perh. collect. the zodiac:- Mazzaroth. Comp. 4208.

5144 nazar, naw-zar’; a prim. root; to hold aloof, i.e. (intrans.) abstain (from food and drink, from impuruty, and even from divine worship [i.e. apostatize]); spec. to set apart (to sacred purposes), i.e. devote:- consecrate, separate (-ing, self).

4208 mazzalah, maz-zaw- law’; appar. from 5140 in the sense of raining; a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perh. as affecting the weather):- planet. Comp. 4216.

Note its’ similarity to Mazzala shown as one of the Hebrew root words for Mazzaroth.

Mazzaroth occurs twice in scripture: 

Iyov (Job) 38:31-33 “Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up [God’s] dominion over the earth?

 

The second time it is in a slightly different form:

2 Melakim (Kings) 23:3-5 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of HaShem to follow HaShem and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of HaShem all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel.

He did away with the pagan priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts.

 

 

 

The pictures found today in the zodiac were not developed by the Greeks, but were in place perhaps as early as 4000 B.C. predating even the civilizations of Sumeria.

These pictures were not merely arranged in haphazard order to aid in the tracking of the star movements, but with the purpose of depicting an epic narrative.

Authors like Bullinger and Seiss have suggested that there is a deeper meaning, one that goes beyond even the most illuminated of hidden/occult interpretations. The zodiac is a pictorial story of God’s plan of salvation on earth. (occult means hidden.)

Below some biblical meanings given to the Main Constellations and the stars within their groupings.

Constellation: Bethulah Meaning……Virgin:

Star…: Tsemech Meaning: Branch. Used exclusively of the M Messiah. Jer 23:5-6, Zech 3:8, Zech 6:12 Isa 4:2.

Star…: Zavijaveh Meaning: Gloriously beautiful. Isa 4:2

Constellation: Mozanaim Meaning……: Scales. Iyov (Job) 31:6, Eze 45:10

In The First group:

The Redeemer. “The sufferings of Christ.”

1 VIRGO  The prophecy of the promised seed. THE SEED OF THE WOMAN YESHUA THE INCARNATE SON.

Virgo, is depicted as a virgin in every ancient reference, holding in one hand abranch, and in the other a sheaf of grain, or seed, always associated with a child, “Shesh nu” in Egyptian, the desired son, the symbol of the incarnation of God on earth.

COMA. (= The desired). The woman and child the desired of all nations (in the most ancient Zodiacs). 

CENTAURUS (with two natures). The despised sin-offering.

BOOTES. The coming One with branch. 

2. LIBRA  The Redeemer’s atoning work. THE REQUIRED PRICE PAID YESHUA THE REDEEMER

Libra, the scales or in the earliest zodiacs, an altar. Its meaning is the measuring of a price. One of its stars in Arabic means, “the price which is deficient”, while opposite is a star whose name means, “the price which covers,” or atonement. Libra symbolizes the price of the conflict, the deficient works of man compared to the perfect and finished sacrifice of Jesus accomplished on the cross.

CRUX. The Cross endured. 

LUPUS. The Victim slain. 

CORONA. The Crown bestowed.

3. SCORPIO The Redeemer’s conflict. THE MORTAL CONFLICT YESHUA THE SUFFERER. SERPENS. Assaulting the man’s heel.

Scorpio,with his claws reaching out to influence the scales, is crushed beneath the foot of

Sagittarius,in the oldest pictures of the zodiac is a cherubim. This symbol is situated 1/3 rd of the way around the zodiacal circle. It had the body of both lion and bull with wings of an eagle and the head of a woman.  

OPHIUCHUS. The man grasping the serpent. 

HERCULES. The mighty man victorious. 

4. SAGITTARIUS The Redeemer’s triumph. THE FINL TRIUMPH YESHUA THE CONQUEROR

Sagittarius is the symbol of the incarnation, both God and man, animals representing the four corners of the heavens and symbolizing the aspects of God’s redemptive work on this earth, he is poised with his arrow drawn and pointed at the heart of the scorpion. Underneath him is the southern cross.

LYRA. Praise prepared for the Conqueror. 

ARA. Fire prepared for His enemies. 

DRACO. The dragon cast down. 

In The Second group: The Redeemed.

5. CAPRICORNUS  The result of the Redeemer’s sufferings LIFE OUT OF DEATH YESHUA THE SACRIFICE

Capricorn, the goat with the tail of the fish. To the Hebrews, the goat was the sin offering, Capricorn is posed with his foot under him and his head bowed, as if in death. The second half of this symbol is the tail of a fish, the most prolific creature in nature, the fish lives in the waters, symbol of life and God’s spirit. Out of the son of God’s death, comes everlasting life. 

SAGITTA. The arrow of God sent forth. 

AQUILA. The smitten One falling. 

DELPHINUS. The dead One rising again. 

6. AQUARIUS (D) The Blessings assured. BLESSINGS OUT OF VICTORY YESHUA THE LIVING WATER (SUCCOTH WATER LIBATION CEREMONY!)

Aquarius, the water bearer, the one pouring out life giving waters that symbolize God’s spirit, into the mouth of the fish.  This may have been a   reference to the instructions given to the disciples when you see the man carrying water jar follow him

PISCIS AUSTRALIS. The blessings bestowed. 

PEGASUS. The blessings quickly coming. 

CYGNUS. The Blesser surely returning. 

7. PISCES The Blessings in abeyance. DELIVERANCE OUT OF BONDAGE YESHUA THE LIBERATOR

Pisces, the fishes connected to the neck of the sea monster, one points to the center of heaven the other follows the ecliptic, the path of the earth around the sun. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

THE BAND. The great enemy, “Cetus.” 

ANDROMEDA. The redeemed in bondage. 

CEPHEUS. The Deliverer coming to loosen. 

8. ARIES The Blessings consummated. GLORY OUT OF HUMILIATION YESHU THE CROWNED LAMB. 

Aries, the lamb prepared from the foundations of the world, the unblemished sacrifice for mankind. with his foot poised to strike off the tether attaching the fishes to the neck of the sea monster. “He (Jesus Christ), came to set the captives free”.

CASSIOPEIA. The captive delivered. 

CETUS. The great enemy bound. 

PERSEUS. The “Breaker” delivering. 

The Third group. The Redeemer. “The glory that should follow.”

9. TAURUS Messiah coming to rule. HIS GLORIOUS COMING YESHUA THE JUDGE.

Taurus, the Bull. His horns, symbolizing God’s judgment, are pointed to the earth, one stabs the heal of a shepherd “Aquilla”, who holds his flock, Christ the good shepherd, received in our place God’s absolute judgment. In the bull’s neck is the Pleiades, the congregating of the judges, who come back to earth after their resurrection to judge the earth with Christ at his second coming.

ORION. The Redeemer breaking forth as Light. 

ERIDANUS. Wrath breaking forth as a flood. 

AURIGA. Safety for His redeemed in the day of wrath.

10. GEMINI Messiah as Prince of princes. HIS RULE ON EARTH YESHUA THE KING Gemini, the twins.

Castor is the suffering redeemer, and Pollux is the king. Symbols of the first and second coming of Christ.

LEPUS. The enemy trodden under foot. 

CANIS MAJOR. The coming glorious Prince. 

CANIS MINOR. The exalted Redeemer. 

11. CANCER Messiah’s redeemed possessions. HIS POSSESSIONS HELD SECURE YESHUA THE PROTECTOR.

Cancer, the crab. Originally it was the fortress, the impregnable enclosure of protection. In Egypt it was a scarab, the beetle that hatched from the ground and flew to heaven, the stronghold of the saved.

URSA MINOR. The lesser sheepfold. 

URSA MAJOR. The fold and the flock. 

ARGO. The pilgrim’s arrival at home. 

 

12 LEO  Messiah’s consummated triumph. HIS ENEMIES DESTROYED YESHUA THE VICTOR.

Leo, the great lion. “The conquering lion of Judah”, Jesus Christ, who will come again. The king that the apostle John traced back to that tribe of Israel. In his heart is the star called Regulus.

HYDRA. The old serpent destroyed. 

CRATER. The cup of wrath poured put. 

CORVUS. The birds of prey devouring.

——

This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.

The lay out of the constellations tell the good news of salvation to mankind. Most people don’t even think about the fact La Crux (the cross) was a constellation before the Romans ever invented crucifixion.

There is apparently a key to understanding the celestial zodiac is found in ancient depictions of a mythical creature called a sphinx. This is maybe because Sphinx were often placed at entrances to palaces or temples of antiquity. Wonder where they got the idea from?!

This positioning implied power, authority and protection. The bodily form of the sphinx combines two to four animals, a lion, bull or eagle with the head of a human. The sphinx has remained an important symbol in our imagination and can be found in today’s fantasy games and literature.  The combination of all four creatures in one constitutes what is described in Ezekiel and elsewhere in the Bible as a type of angel.

The keruvim כְּרוּבִים

The word kerubim/ keruvim also has a meaning of “one who prays”, or “one who intercedes.” Cherubim or Kerubim/ keruvim are an order of angel described in the Bible and ancient texts as a combination of two, or more often, four creatures, including that of a human. Both the mythical Sphinx and the scriptural cherubim are “hybrid” beings combining two to four creatures.

As Solomon declared: There is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing of which one might say, see this, it is new? It has already been for the ages which were before. Eccl. 1:10

The path of the sun among the stars is called the ecliptic. The 12 constellations that lie along the ecliptic form the Zodiac. The other constellations are divided into those north of the Zodiac and those south of it.

From one place on the Earth different constellations are seen at different times of the year. This happens because, as well as turning on its axis, the Earth is always moving around the sun, making 1 orbit each year. A star that is visible at night during 1 part of the year may appear close to the sun 6 months later; it would not then be seen at night.

Some constellations can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere and some only from the Southern Hemisphere. The constellations of the Zodiac can be seen from both hemispheres.

Taking the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac, they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.

On the fourth day God created the stars, the sun, and the moon. He created them for signs and for seasons.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The 12 star signs that orbit our equator make up what we call the Zodiac. They also corresponded to the 12 banners that the 12 tribes of Israel carried in the same order around the Tabernacle.

12 is an interesting number.  There are 12 constellations for the 12 sons of Jacob.  Each tribe in ancient Israel was represented by one of these 12 constellations.  The tribe of Levi, for example, was charged with the “balances of the sanctuary,” hence “Libra” typifies them. Judah, no surprise, is represented by “Leo,” the Lion of the tribe of Judah, since Yeshua/Jesus, THE LION of the tribe of Judah, came from that tribe.

The stars, too, were bounded according to the number of the sons of Israel.

Midrash Rabbah – Bamidbar (Numbers) 2:7. ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS (II, 2) There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag and a different color for every flag, corresponding to the precious stones on the breast of Aaron. It was from these that governments learned to provide themselves with flags of various colors. Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose color corresponded to the color of its stone. [In Aaron’s breast-plate] 

Reuben’s stone was ruby and the color of his flag was red; and embroidered thereon were mandrakes.

Simeon’s was topaz and his flag was of a green color; the town of Shechem  שכם

was embroidered thereon.

Levi’s was emerald (smaragd) and the color of his flag was 1/3 white, a 1/3  black, and a 1/3  red; embroidered thereon were the Urim and Thummim.

Judah’s was a carbuncle and the color of his flag was something like the heavens; embroidered on it was a lion.

Issachar’s was a sapphire and the color of his flag was black like stibium, (antimony), and embroidered thereon was the sun and moon, in allusion to the text, And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times. (I Chron.12:33). 

Zebulun’s was an emerald and the color of his flag was white, with a ship embroidered thereon, in allusion to the text, Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea (Gen. 49:13).

Dan’s was jacinth and the color of his flag was similar to sapphire, and embroidered on it was a serpent, in allusion to the text, Dan shall be a serpent in the way (Gen. 49:17). 

Gad’s was an agate and the color of his flag was neither white nor black but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp, in allusion to the text, Gad, a troop shall troop upon him (Gen. 49:19).

Naphtali’s was an amethyst and the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind, in allusion to the text, Naphtali is a hind let loose (Gen. 49:21). 

Asher’s was a beryl and the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves; embroidered thereon was an olive-tree, in allusion to the text, As for Asher, his bread shall be fat (Gen. 49:20).

Joseph’s was an onyx and the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes, Ephraim and Manasseh, was Egypt, because they were born in Egypt. 

On the flag of Ephraim was embroidered a bullock, in allusion to the text, His firstling bullock (Deut.33:17), which applies to Yahoshua (Joshua) who came from the tribe of Ephraim.

On the flag of the tribe of Manasseh was embroidered a wild ox, in allusion to the text, And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox (Deut.33:17), which alludes to Gideon son of Joash who came from the tribe of Manasseh.

Benjamin’s was jasper and the color of his flag was a combination of all the 12 colors; embroidered thereon was a wolf, in allusion to the text, Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:27).

The reason, then, why it is said, ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS is because each prince had his own distinguishing sign.

(Note: Some of the pictures above do not contain all the elements described.)

The Months of the Hebrew Year are also connected to the signs.

The sign of Nissan is T’leh / Aries / Ram corresponding to Judah and the faculty of speech. This is the month the Jews overcame the Egyptian deity of the ram. Judah means “thanks”, related to speech and on Passover of this month the Pascal lamb was offered.

IYAR is Shor / Taurus / Bull corresponding to Issachar (Torah scholars) and the faculty of thought. 

 SIVAN is Te’umim / Gemini / Twins corresponding to Zevulun (Torah supporters) and the faculty of motion.

Tamuz is Sartan / Cancer / Crab corresponding to Reuven (means “see”) and the faculty of sight.

AV is Ari / Leo / Lion corresponding to Shimon (means “hear”) and the faculty of hearing.

ELUL is Bethulah / Virgo / Virgin corresponding to Gad and the faculty of action. This is the month of repenting, to purify our thoughts and deeds in preparation of Rosh Hashana.

TISHRI is Moznaim / Libra / Scales corresponding to Ephraim (fruitful) and the faculty of coition. In this month is Rosh Hashana on which we are judged, and hope to merit a productive new year.

Cheshvan is Akrav / Scorpio / Scorpion corresponding to Menashe and the faculty of smell.

KISLEV is Kashet / Sagittarius / Archer corresponding to Benjamin (warriors) and the faculty of sleep

Tevet is Gedi / Capricorn / Kid corresponding to Dan (judge) and the faculty of anger.

SHEVAT is D’li / Aquarius / Water Drawer corresponding to Asher (wealth) and the faculty of taste.

ADAR is Dagim / Pisces / Fish corresponding to Naftali and the faculty of laughter.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

The true meaning of the celestial zodiac and the symbols of the ecliptic, the course the sun appears to travel the heavens, seems to have been lost to the majority of mankind. The purpose of the zodiac symbols can be understood by connecting the sequence of pictures in story form.

Take the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac and they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.

But what is that connection? What point in the circle of heaven is its beginning?

Strangely the Sphinx may hold a key! 

Sphinx in Greek means to “connect or bind together“.

A sphinx combines the head of a woman

and the body of a lion.

This fixes the beginning and ending of the celestial narrative beginning with Virgo and ending with Leo!

What about the four creatures of a cherub?

Look to four of the brightest stars in the zodiac;

Fomalhaut in Aquarius (man)

Regulus in Leo (lion)

Antares in Ophiuchus (serpent holder, or eagle) and

Aldebaran in Taurus (the bull).

All four of these stars are arranged three signs apart, in the four corners of the heavens – the four fixed signs of the zodiac. These are the four creatures which combine to form scriptural cherubim. 

One final fact about the celestial equator is crucial: namely, that it does not remain fixed, but rather possesses a slow movement known as the “precession of the equinoxes.”

This movement, we know today, is caused by a wobble in the earth’s rotation on its axis. As a result of this wobble, the celestial equator appears to change its position over the course of thousands of years.

This movement is known as the precession of the equinoxes because its most easily observable effect is a change in the positions of the equinoxes, the places where the celestial equator crosses the zodiac.

In particular, the precession results in the equinoxes moving slowly backward along the zodiac, passing through one zodiacal constellation every 2,160 years and through the entire zodiac every 25,788 years. 

The infamous account of Ezekiel ‘s wheels, often misinterpreted, is more likely a vision of the hybrid living creatures who populate the celestial narrative. Ezekiel saw four-faced cherubim and the wheels which were assigned to them, the four faces of the cardinal points of the zodiac, and a reference to their movement through the heavens.

Ezek. 1:1 – 1:19

As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright  light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.

And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.[…]  As for the form of their faces, had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another and two covering their bodies And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.

Now as I looked at the living beings ,behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings , for the four of them.The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions[…]

This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.

Interestingly there has recently been an adjustment to the 12 signs of the zodiac or mazzaroth as apparently there used to be 13. Then it was reduced to 12 when the Babylonians intentionally left out Ophiuchus, (now the “new” zodiac sign,) in order to make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar; ignoring the facts that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations and not 12.

Link to article https://www.today.com/popculture/your-life-lie-zodiac-has-changed-here-s-your-new-t103295

Apparently due to changes in the Earth’s alignment, the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NASA and NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus. between Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

It is called ophiucus and means the serpent holder.

The serpent holder keeps the serpent from getting the crown, while everything hangs in the balance. He is crushing Scorpios head while he is stinging His heal!

Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, who in earliest times was depicted as an eagle. Ophiuchus ‘s foot is stung (wounded foot, like Oedipus) by the upraised tail of the scorpion, his other foot is above the scorpion’s heart. He restrains the serpent coiled around him from taking a crown.

Ophiuchus depicts the earliest prophecy in the Bible, “I will put enmity between the serpent and the offspring of the woman, it will strike at his heel, and he will crush (the serpent’s) head.”

It is to be remembered that 12 tribes were changed as from the original 12 tribes Dan was left out. (See Rev.7) Instead, Josephs 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim were added in and Levi was left out Numbers 1 and then re-added in Rev 7. If Dan had remained there would be 13 tribes! Dan symbol is the serpent being the same as in Ophiuchus..Interesting?!

Wonderful fourfold blending –

sovereignty and humility; humanity and deity!

Ezekiel’s vision is seen again by John Rev. 4:6-8.

Most of us are likely familiar with the parallel which has often been noted between the four Gospel Accounts and the four living creatures in the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel 1:10.

The lion symbolizes supreme strength, kingship;

the man, highest intelligence;

the ox, lowly service;

the eagle, heavenliness, mystery, divinity.

In Matthew we see the Messiah-King (the lion).

In Mark we see Jehovah’s Servant (the ox).

In Luke we see the Son of Man (the man).

In John we see the Son of God (the eagle).

It needs all four aspects to give the full Truth.

As Sovereign He comes to reign and rule.

As servant He comes to serve and suffer.

As Son of Man He comes to share and sympathize.

As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem.

Face of a Man – The primary face of each of the four living creatures is that of a man. This typifies the Lord’s normal human life as seen throughout the Gospels.  On one hand He performed miracles, on the other hand He was so ordinary that people wondered, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55).

Face of a Lion – As king of the animals, the lion signifies reigning, victory, boldness, strength, and vigor.  To have the face of a lion is to aggressively stand against anything sinful or worldly. Though tender and lowly in His humanity, the Lord also expressed the face of the lion at the appropriate times.  the Lord was truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5).

Face of an Ox – The lion’s face on the right side is counter-balanced by the ox’s face on the left. The ox is a beast of burden, willing to serve, work, and sacrifice for others.  This is the Lord’s Slave-Savior life in us, as seen in the book of Mark. The Lord Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve others by giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Face of an Eagle – Throughout the Bible, the eagle signifies the soaring, transcendent, powerful divine life of God. This fourth face, the face of an eagle, is hidden in the rear. In a sense the eagle’s face is a secret, a mystery to those around us. This was Paul’s secret of sufficiency in Philippians 4:11-12. Perhaps few people may know how we can overcome so many earthly frustrations. But the buoyancy and transcendence is not of ourselves; it is sourced in the hidden divine life within us. The Lord was not suppressed by either persecution or praise. Although the Lord fed the great crowd in John 6, He immediately withdrew to a mountain alone when the people sought to exalt Him and make Him King. This was a manifestation of the face of an eagle, soaring above both tribulations and triumphs.

Summary The four living creatures in Ezekiel express Messiah in four aspects: as a man, as a lion, as an ox, and as an eagle.  

Moreover, these four faces correspond to Christ portrayed in the Gospels:

the Man-Savior in Luke,

the King-Savior in Matthew,

the Slave-Savior in Mark, and

God the Savior in John.

As the four living creatures, we can express Christ in His all-inclusiveness.

Conclusion

God created all the stars in the sky before he created man. This means His plan for the birth of Christ, the death of Christ, and salvation all came before He even created man. He knew the exact dates for all events that would ever take place. No matter what your background, God will find a way to get through to you. This could include the zodiac, the decans, the tribes of Israel, and even stones.   

Yeshua is the alef and tav – beginning and end – from Genesis to Revelation. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the ox/red heifer, the man, the eagle, all reflected in the four-faced cherubim on the mercy seat and guarding the WAY to the tree of life and the throne of the father in the heavens.

The whole story was written in the stars of the heavens when creation began and Yeshua was there.

Before Abraham was, I AM.  John 8:48-59

The layout of the tribes in the wilderness was a pattern for the 4-faced-man’s character and ministry in the 4 gospels and reflected the 4 cherubim supporting Father’s throne and guarding the tree of life and upon the chariot in which He travels. The eyes are the spirits of God watching over His creation. The flaming sword of the cherubim may also be symbolic of the sword coming out of Messiahs mouth as He returns?

The golden box, is the Ark of the Covenant, on the lid / the mercy seat were keruvim; guarding the place of the presence of God. Ezeziel and John both had visions of the keruvim who were guarding the throne of God in the heavenlies, a lion, an ox, and an eagle were the symbols of 4 of the 12 Tribes facing the cardinal points of the compass, with the corresponding mazzaroth above them in the canopy of the heavens. Placed there as an annual and everlasting sign of covenant and for the appointed seasons of the Lord which is annually rehearsed declaring the promise of a redeemer and Messiah who is the fulfillment and the end from the beginning. Completed in Yeshua/Jesus, High Priest after the order of Malki-Zedek whose breastplate held the 12 stones of the tribes and is now the revealing mystery from Genesis to Revelation. The apocalypse of the Alef and Tav; the 4 faced man of the 4 gospels in the likeness of the keruvim! Who has opened the WAY back to the Father and the tree of life.

Or maybe it’s all just coincidence???

However it is a compelling theory!

More and more we see how everything is connected all the WAY through the Scriptures.

Shalom to all Mishpachah/Family and Friends!

Please, don’t leave this page until..

you are awakened to Messiah..

we all need to born again from above..

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

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

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

Are We Boxed In?

The Ark of His Presence – Is It An Altar, A Weapon, A Throne, A Temple, A Footstool, A Box?

Sukkot begins at sundown sunday night click link for post

  https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/ 

which will give some extra information as Israel celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths which prophetically represents His presence dwelling with His people for ever when Messiah comes and He tabernacles with men.

Last week wasand central to the Yom Kippur observance in scripture is the Ark of the Covenant/Ark of the Testimony that was placed within the Holy of Holies, both in the wilderness Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Everything begins with the altar of sacrifice and prophetically foretells the offering of the final sacrifice of Messiah on the altar of the cross.

The day of Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement, was the one day of the year the high priest/Kohen Gadol would enter through those 2 golden doors going beyond the veil into the smaller area (15 x 15 feet/ 4.57×4.57 meters.) called ‘the Holy of Holies’/Kodesh haKodashim and contained ‘the ark of the covenant’.

When the doors were closed they were covered by a linen curtain embroidered with cherubim and palm trees. Picture showing size of cherubim in Solomons Temple.

He took with him the blood of the sacrifice for the sins of the children of Israel. 

He would sprinkle it on the ark of the covenant between the wings of the golden cherubim right on the part called the mercy seat.

The mercy seat is described as the footstool of God’s Throne in 1Chronicles 28:2.  Then King David rose to his feet and said:  ‘Hear me, my brethren and you my people.  I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for the building.’  (RSV)

The footstool of the throne was the place where the Lord met with the High Priest.  This covering of the Ark shows us the relationship between God and Messiah Yeshua/Jesus .

He was clothed only in a simple white linen robe made specially made for the day and wore no shoes on his feet; which were none of the usual items required for him to wear.

A white linen robe was what Yeshua/Jesus was wearing when Mary saw Him in the garden and as He is now our High Priest having placed His Blood on the Mercy Seat that begins to make more sense!

It is important to remember that there was no light source in the Holy of Holies and the High Priest had to wait for God’s presence to illuminate the room.

God’s presence in the form of His Shekinah Glory manifested between the cherubs wings, just above the top of the Mercy Seat. The etymology of the dwelling or presence of God is the Hebrew word Sh’cheenah or as we pronounce it Shekinah. Shkn .

In Rev. 22:5. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.

The Glory of the Lord or Chabod is also known as the Shekhinah.

There is a Hebrew term of relatively clear meaning for the Glory of the Lord, that being Chabod. Chabod has variants such as Ichabod meaning that the glory is departed, sometimes written I-chabod or I-kabod. Therefore, Chabod actually occurs in scripture and has relatively clear meaning for the Glory of the Lord.

Some scholars allege that the word ‘Shekhinah’ is actually a Chaldean or Babylonian term meaning ‘resting-place.’

Paleo Hebrew

Some perceive that the term Shekhinah refers to the Holy Spirit, a feminine aspect of God or even a separate female deity.

The Glory of the Lord is not the Holy Spirit and some might wish to consider that the most conspicuous mention of any form or visual manifestation of the Holy Spirit consists of its appearance as a dove.

Luke 3:21 And it came to pass, all the people having been baptized, and Jesus having been baptized and praying, that the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, *Thou* art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight

It is important to be aware that the term ‘glory‘, necessarily means light – that is to say – something that is luminous. This is a key and crucial point, that the Chabod or Glory of the Lord is light.

The Glory of the Lord frequently accompanies God’s presence and is something very similar to – but not exactly like plasma. Plasma could be described as a cloud of luminosity. Apparently, God can appear without the Chabod. While Plasma visually has cloud-like characteristics, the clouds frequently noted as being clouds and the Glory of the Lord are very separate things although at times the Plasma-like material is noted as being a cloud.

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. (JPS)

The Chabod is also similar to but not exactly the same as the aurorae that sometimes appear at the polar regions of the Earth. While these luminous phenomena do have some cloud-like characteristics, they are obviously not the same as actual clouds of moisture that did frequently, but not always, accompany the presence of the Chabod.

The Hebrew word rendered into English as ‘cloud‘, actually means ‘a covering’ derived from the aspect of clouds of water vapor covering the sky. In fact, most specific mentions of the Glory of the Lord pertain to the appearances of fire. Flames do occupy a physical space and are visually similar to luminous clouds.

Scripture records there is a Green rainbow around throne it may resemble an aurorae which is as close as we can imagine. 

God’s presence in the form of His Shekinah glory manifested between the cherubs wings just above the top of the Mercy seat. The etymology of the dwelling or presence of God is the Hebrew word Sh’cheenah or as we pronounce it Shekinah.

שכינה

The term Shekinah was many times used interchangeably with the word God. In the Jewish mind it always spoke of the fact that He dwelt in or rested upon those who merited His favor, whether an individual, a community, or the entire Jewish people.

Scholars also see the similarities between Shekinah (God’s Presence), The Holy Spirit of God (Heb. Ruach Elohim; Gr. Pneuma Hagion), and the Hebrew Bat Kol (The Daughter of the Voice, or God’s Voice).

It is interesting to examine the tradition of the Bat Kol which was the voice of God that proclaimed His will and intention, His judgments and His promises, His warnings and His commands to various people, communities, and sometimes to all of Israel. Jewish tradition always spoke of the Bat Kol. When the Torah was given at Sinai the Bible says,

Deut 4:12 “And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.”

The Bat Kal mysteriously sounded at extraordinary times and this was mentioned in Jewish tradition. For example, there is one account that indicates that at the very instant when God took away the soul of Moses with a kiss, the bat Kal rang out over the Israelite camp with the lament, “Moses is dead! Moses is dead!” It also is recognized to have given warnings or passed judgement upon evildoers as recorded in the book of Daniel: 4:28-32″ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven:’

The Bat Kol is represented in Jewish tradition by the symbol of the dove.

There is a saying among the teachers and Torah scholars that when God was not pleased with Israel’s behavior, the cherubs Wings pointed away from each other and the high priest would let the people know that God was displeased with the behavior.

The high priest placed the blood on to the Mercy seat directly under the presence of God and Israel’s sins were atoned for for another year.

The High Priest had to be pure and sin free or he would not survive the encounter with the glory of the Father’s presence.

The blood that he placed on the Mercy seat had come from the sacrifice however this sacrifice is no longer required as Yeshua/Jesus is the better sacrifice once and for all time.  Hebrews 9:23

In the same way the rebuilding of the temple is also unnecessary, as those who believe in Yeshua/Jesus understand that He was and is the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. However, it will be built in fulfillment of the prophecies in both Daniel and Revelation.

This is an extensive subject and this post barely scratches the surface but it is timely with the autumn appointed festivals of the Lord.

Taking a look at the Ark will hopefully give a greater understanding of its meaning and prophetic significance

The Ark was made following instructions given to Moses. Ex. 26 and 37.

 Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

In Exodus 31:1-6 and chapters 36 to 39, Bezalel (Hebrew: בְּצַלְאֵל‬, Bəṣalʼēl, also transcribed as Betzalel), was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant, assisted by Aholiab.

Ark in Hebrew also means box. This was not the first box that God had instructed a man to make.

Noah’s Ark was a box made of wood and covered in pitch.

The Ark of the covenant given to Moses was a box of wood covered in gold.

In Genesis 7:1 God says ‘come into the box/ark’, giving the understanding that He is already in the box and simultaneously He is with Noah. And He/God shut the door; (not Noah)! Gen 7:16.

There was only one door through which to escape the coming judgment! and as Yeshua said, ‘I am the Door‘!

The Lord shut them in.

He is still calling us to come to where He is and be in His presence and also to allow His presence to be within us.

Both boxes had to have a specific covering within and without. There is an interesting inference concerning the description of the pitch in Genesis 6:14. He said make a box of Gopher wood for yourself (not for everyone)! You will make compartments for family and animals. And will cover it within and without with pitch.

While the word is generally translated pitch, the word atonement is more appropriate although both are correct and obviously the translators used Pitch.

There are two words in Hebrew that are often translated ark.

Aron is used for the ark of the covenant means chest as in a treasure chest.

Aron is made from wood from the Acacia\ gopher\Shittim tree.

Ark of the covenant is an acacia wood chest since it was also used for storage for the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the tablets of the 10 Commandments. Note the similarity between Aaron and ARON of which Aaron became High Priest.

Another word for Ark is TEVAH and it is used for two objects:

Noah’s Ark and Moses Papyrus basket.

Noah’s Ark is tevat gofer literally a box of gopher wood.

Which was 450’ x 75’ x 45’ and took approximately 75 years to build.

Moses basket / a papyrus box, and while tevah means box, that was a huge difference in the size of the two; but it was still a box. Both Noah (& family) and Moses were boxed in.

Notice the coat of Tar or PITCH so it stayed waterproof until Pharoah’s daughter found it!

The Greek word kibotos means box but it is usually translated ark in English coming from the first translations from Latin. The Latin word is arca for both boxes.

Here is a thought provoking proposition concerning the covering of Noah’s box in Genesis/Beresheet. Always keeping in mind that there are no vowels a E I O U in the Torah scrolls only consonants.

Apparently the Hebrew does not actually say the exact words, ‘Cover it inside and out with pitch‘ but uses the K F R of the root of the word for pitch. So it reads KFR it within and without in KFR. Kefir/ kopher

גובה הצליל .

The point is, if it is referring to pitch, the substance, then all the interior it would be sticky! The reason to cover the outside with pitch is so it will stay dry and to keep the water out of the ark’s interior. How would having a coat of pitch inside prevent the water from flooding in, the full force of the water from the outside would push and separate the wood from the pitch. So there had to be an alternative reason/meaning behind this directive.

Another look at the root KFR shows that it is also a bush called camphor or henna that bears bunches of fragrant sweet smelling fruit and flowers. Maybe it was used for keeping the box/arks interior smelling fresh? Remember there were no windows, so no fresh air/ ventilation – but to be put on the outside too is not very likely.

There are however two more meanings for KFR, kafar means deny and kipper means made atonement. (As in Yom Kippur!) The two seem opposed in meaning, yet they would both make sense if applied to the understanding that the ark was constructed with God’s direction as a container for the survival of life on earth during the flood.

If we think about it, Noah is told by God that he is going to wipe out all life on the earth, with this understanding of KFR he could have been inferring ‘I want you to put your self outside of all that is around you, Deny KFR that they exist. So he is denying all those on the outside (KFR without,) for the people were denying Noah and were dismissive, derisive, with their unbelieving actions. On the inside (KFR within), to make the ark /box worthy of salvation. How? By dedicating it through an act of atonement, Kipper on the outside, coating of pitch. So all within are an atonement to the Lord = A KFR on the inside?

One final meaning of KFR is KOFER = ransom. Is it possible to think of the entering into the ark/box as a ransom for the saving/ salvation of the lives for those who made it through the flood? There was no covenant prior to the flood. Jesus /Yeshua was a ransom for many.

Ezekiel 37:1

The box of covenant and that He did indeed promise Noah and I shall establish my covenant with you; and the box was directed by God to hold the physical tablets of the covenant given to Moses.

It was made of planks of acacia wood, not plywood so it would have been very heavy. The size was 5 feet long 3 feet high and 3 feet wide.

The stone tablets were heavy as they had the whole Torah written on them.

It was covered in gold leaf, had a solid gold lid and solid gold cherubim on that lid. Then when it traveled it was covered with badgers skins; it would have waited over 1500 pounds.

It had two wood poles and was carried by four men? This would have been almost impossible. It makes one lean towards the Hebrew thought from the rabbis that the weight of the Ark was borne by God Himself; for it is said that the ark carried them NOT the other way around.

Noah was destined to bring deliverance and freedom going through God’s judgment by employing a box/ark of salvation; where His presence protected them to keep them secure and safe.

Moses was destined to bring deliverance and freedom to the children of Israel pronouncing judgment on Egypt and fulfilling the promised covenant added to Noah’s covenant and He instructed Moses to construct the Ark in which His presence could be with them. 

After the children of Israel had journeyed to Mount Sinai God told Moses on the mountain that He would pitch His tent among them on their journeys:

Exod. 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” When God revealed the pattern of the tabernacle and the WAY to approach Him He also declared exactly where He would meet Moses: Exod 25:22

Moses started life in a box/ark, to keep him secure and safe, which saved his life out of the waters of the Nile and pharaohs judgment against the Hebrews male babies.

A closer look at the ark of the covenant a box of gold.

The Ark was a 2 ½ x 1½ cubit, (3 3/4 feet x 2 1/4 feet or 1.14 x 0.68 metres), a rectangular wooden chest of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, inside and out. Its’ lid being the Mercy Seat, with the Cherubim of glory facing one another; their wings outstretched. It had a gold molding or crown around the top; (a different word in Hebrew than the rim of the table and incense altar).

There are so many images that have differing shapes those included are to highlight certain aspects., e.g. above showing detail of crown.

Ps 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!

Exod. 25:17-22 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two Cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the Cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.’

The cover or lid for the Ark of the Covenant was made of solid gold and it was called the mercy-seat, atonement cover, ark-cover. Kapparah is the Hebrew word for this. This word is from the same root as the word for atonement; at this point, the parallel between atonement and this kapparah, as well as the generic concept of covering, is exceedingly important. In fact, in Hebrew the word Kapparah or covering and the idea of atonement are more-or-less synonymous.

The way that the kapparah works is that it literally covers The Law to avert judgment for those whose sins are to be forgiven. Through the mercy-seat some obtain mercy. The kapparah is the provision for mercy. The propitiation afforded through the kapparah relied in part upon sacrifice. In other words, the kapparah shields the transgressor from The Law housed inside the Ark. The penalty for transgressing any part of The Decalogue was death. Nearly everyone that ever lived was guilty of transgressing The Decalogue so it is highly probable that simply viewing the stone tables without proper remediation would automatically result in instant death. The mechanics of the kapparah appear many times in passages such as Psalm 32:1-2.

The mercy seat or covering pointed us towards the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, and the covering of our sins with His blood.

Acacia wood is a beautiful, dense wood that comes from very fragrant and drought-resistant acacia trees that are indigenous to Africa and Arabia. In Israel, the range of the specie diminishes beyond the Negev. It is known in Hebrew as the shittah or shittum tree. Its wood is a finely grained orange wood that darkens with age and it is unaffected by insects. It is the source of natural-gum Arabic and also provides tannin.

The Mercy Seat was the lid or cover of solid gold the same size as the top of the Ark (2 1/2 cubits long x 1 1/2 cubits wide). At each end of the Mercy Seat, and of one piece with it, were two hammered gold cherubim facing one another. Their outstretched wings overshadowed the gold lid and their faces constantly looked down upon it. They were symbols of the presence and holiness of the Lord and are His chosen instruments of judgment toward any sinful approach toward the presence of the Lord and as they look upon the blood the wrath of God is appeased and they are at peace.

They represent the judgment of God.

– Their position indicates that God’s judgment upon Israel was averted because of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat

Jewish Tradition

According to the writings of the ancient sages the words of Ezekiel, “The had the hands of a man under their wings” (Ezek 1:8), refer to the hand of God which is extended beneath the wings of the Chayyoth (Cherubim) to receive penitents from the power of judgement” [Pes. 119a]

– The Cherubim are revealed by Ezekiel in chapter 1:5-10 as 4 living creatures, each one having 4 different faces, the face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.

Man- This face spoke of mind, reason, affections, and all the things that encompass a human being.

Lion- The lion was always recognized as strong, fierce, and majestic. It was the royalist of animals.

Pro 30:30 Pro 20:2.

Ox- The ox was recognized as the animal who patiently labored for his owner. He was strong, able to bear a burden, and knew its owner.

Pro 14:4 Ps 144:14 Is 1:3

Eagle- The divine bird that flew above the storms, while below there was only sorrows, dangers, and distress. A swift bird strong and powerful, never becoming weary.

Pro 30:18-19.

Is 40:31 Ps 103:5.

Ex 19:4 `

Ezek 17:3 Hos 8:1.

The Cherubim were also the same fierce creatures who guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned. They wielded a flaming sword that turned in all four directions to protect the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24).

So the outstretched wings of the cherubim were to provide a throne for the God where He would mediate His rule on the earth as a representation of the real throne in heaven:

1 Sam 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. (NIV)

When God had spoken to Moses out of the midst of the cloud upon Sinai, He also told him that He would come down to speak with him in the midst of His people. It was from the area above the Mercy Seat that He did:

Num 7:89

The Mercy Seat was where the blood was sprinkled. between the judgment angels who were looking down and when they would see the blood the wrath of God was stayed. Lev 16:11-15

And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. (Red Heifer) – He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall kill the (scape) 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.

Because of the mercy seat the tabernacle was called “the tent of meeting”. Because here God met with man:

In the New Testament this Mercy Seat or atonement cover is spoken of twice. Heb 9:2-5 Rom 3:23-26

The Greek word for Mercy Seat is ‘hilasterion’. It is used here in Romans 3:25 where Paul says (literally) that God presented Christ as a propitiation or ‘mercy seat’. This means that Jesus Christ is the mercy seat.

The Mercy Seat did not derive its worth from the purity of its gold but from the fact that it was the place where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of Yahweh.

The word for “mercy seat” is the same root for the word “atonement”. It means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse.

The Greek equivalent is the word “propitiation”.

Lk 18:13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

The word “seat” speaks of a resting place so the mercy seat was the “place of mercy or propitiation”.

The Ark was overlaid with pure gold and had a gold crown.

Because only once a year on Yom Kippur could man enter beyond the veil; there had to be a veil separating man from the holy of holies.

This was mentioned first before all the other furniture in the tabernacle. The ark was right in the center of the camp and the glory cloud was seen above the mercy seat and above the back portion of the tabernacle.

The ark rested on the dirt floor of the Holy of Holies with its four gold rings that the gold poles were inserted through and left permanently in position.

Exod 25:10-22

The Ark of the Covenant was where Gods justice and judgement toward sin was satisfied.

Ex 25:22

Josh 3:6,13

1 Sam 5:7

1 Chr 6:41

2 Chr 35:3

Ps 78:60-61

What was inside it?

The 2 unbroken tables of stone, (The 10 Commandments).

It is important to note that the ark contained the two tablets of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). Remember that God had made a covenant with Israel, but the people had broken it. In grace God renewed it and ordered that its enduring record, (the unbroken tablets) should be deposited in the holy ark. The Book of the Covenant, which dealt at length with other aspects of law and procedure, was deposited alongside the ark. But the 10 commandments were stored within the ark itself.

Exod 25:16 “And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.”

It is highly probable that the stone tables were housed inside the Ark simply to protect people from the penalty of death that automatically occurs and results from viewing the Decalogue.

The Ten Commandments more correctly called The Decalogue or The Law that God gave to Moses.

It is extremely enlightening to examine the root of the word Decalogue, which are traced from Greek and the prefix deca means ten. The suffix logue is from the root word logos ,meaning word. Therefore, Decalogue means the Ten Words. The Ark was made at Horeb near Mount Horeb and the name Horeb means the desert or mountain of the dried-up ground.” Generally, the region is called Horeb and the mountain is called Mount Horeb. The mountain was located in the land of Midian, a portion of present-day Arabia.

Consider the essence of the Decalogue, it is apparent that the Ten Words could be considered the face of the document of The Law. In fact, lawyers frequently refer to the substance or text of their documents by the term face. The Law or Decalogue inscribed into the face of the stone tables automatically brings death without atonement! It is maybe relevant, and certainly not a coincidence, that no one can look upon God’s face and live!

Ex. 33:17

Two other items were also contained within the ark. One was a golden pot/jar containing an omer (24 liters) of manna (Heb. 9:4) as a memorial of God’s provision:

Exod 16:32-33 “ThenMoses said, This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ And Moses said toAaron Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.”

It was also a type Christ who was the living bread which came down from heaven:

John 6:50-51 “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

The third item which would be added was Aaron’s rod that sprouted buds and blossoms and bore ripe almonds in a single night, authenticating God’s choice of Aaron for the priesthood. (Num 17; Heb. 9:4).

Num 17:7-8 “And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.”

Here is a A Type of Christ

The mercy seat protected man from the judgment of God represented by the judgment angels, the Cherubim. Because of the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, man’s sin and guilt were washed away and the curse of the law has no effect. The mercy seat foreshadows the Messiah.

He is our mercy seat.

He forever stands between a holy God and sinful man. Just as the sins of the whole nation were atoned for by the sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat, so also Messiah, by the shedding of His own blood atoned for the sins of the entire world.

1 Jn 2:2; Lk 22:20; Eph 2:13; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Heb 9:11-12, 28; Dan 7:9-10,13,14; Rev 5:1-13; Ps 99:1.

The ark of the Covenant was a picture of Messiah.

The Acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus. He was 100% man. God Himself became flesh and suffered the agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was weary, He thirsted, He had to learn the Scriptures and learn obedience and to hear God’s voice and be led by the Spirit as a man. Not only does the Acacia wood tell us that He was 100% man but the pure gold that over-laid the wood teaches us that He was 100% God.

Jesus said “unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins.” He used the same words (Heb. Eheyay asher aheyay) as when the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The Jewish Messiah was none other than Jehovah Himself visiting His people and becoming their savior by dying for the sins of the world and that is the etymology of the name Jesus (Heb. Y’shua ‘Yaweh has become salvation’). Jesus/Yeshua condemned the religious leaders for not recognizing “the day of their visitation.”

The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus overcame the onslaught of opposition that was set against Him His whole life by the religious leaders, the wealthy Jewish aristocracy, Rome itself, and even all the power of the enemy. He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King. According to John it was Jesus/Yeshua who Isaiah saw seated on the throne of glory with the angels crying ‘holy, holy, holy.’

The unbroken tables of stone set forth Jesus/Yeshua, as the One who perfectly kept the Law and never broke God’s Commandments.

The Bible says that He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus/Yeshua felt the pressure of temptation at its full intensity yet He never sinned. Even the look in His eye and the tone of His voice reflected the very perfections of the holiness of God Himself.

Aaron’s rod that budded also speaks of Jesus. Something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The golden pot of manna speaks of Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to bring food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying of hunger.

It all points to Jesus.

Even the golden poles speak of the ever living and ever present Savior who is with us in all our journeying and will never leave us nor forsake us. If you were to examine the history of the ark there would be striking resemblances to the ministry of Messiah Jesus our Lord:

The ark went before the people – Yeshua/Jesus went before them:

John 10:4 “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

The ark was in the middle of God’s people – Jesus is in His people:

John 14:20 “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”

The people were to follow the ark – We are to follow Jesus:

Luke 5:27-28 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

And to keep on following on, the ark was always first to lead them. It was death to those that were enemies of God. The ark brought blessings and curses.

Isa 53:2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

1 Pet 2:22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

Jn 6:32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jn 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The ark was representative of the real ark in heaven.

The cross is the ultimate and cosmic altar of the ultimate and cosmic sacrifice the Lamb of God however the altar of sacrifice was only one part of the Temple.

The cross, this altar of sacrifice is not the end of salvation but the beginning.

It’s the altar of sacrifice that gives access and the ability to enter through the temple doors, to walk beyond the veil and to stand in the holy of holy’s.

The journey begins up the altar and if this is a eternal/ cosmic altar then it gives us access to begin our eternal journey.

As our high priest, Messiah gives us access to go where we could not go before, and to enter into that which we could not enter previously, enabling us to walk along the WAY, a path that we could not walk before.

As this is a cosmic eternal altar, it gives us power to enter the realm of the holy and to be seated in the heavenly places where we are to dwell in His presence – the realms of glory.

Now today The Presence Within the Holy of Holies Dwells Within the Believer in Jesus: 

Jesus said I am the temple (Mishkan) of God. When the glory (Heb. Sh’chinah) would come down like a tornado or funnel right through the roof of the holy of holies and the Presence would manifest on the mercy seat between the cherubim after the blood was sprinkled, (the mishkan).

That Presence was what Yeshua/Jesus said dwelt within Him.

And in fact Paul said about the church, “Know ye not that you are the temple (Mishkan) of God?” We, as the body of Messiah, have the same Presence dwelling within us. God doesn’t dwell in buildings now but within His people. 

1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

The kingdom of the heavens is within you and we are the sanctuary of God’s presence on earth – the holy of holies is within us and as we follow Yeshua/Jesus the Ark of our covenant He promises – I am in you and you are in Me -filled with the shekinah of His Ruach Hakodesh we are carriers of His presence – the lights of the world.

The Tablets of the law are written on our hearts. He is the Manna, the bread of life upon which we feed and live.

Aarons staff is The staff of life it’s the shepherds crook from Ps. 23.

The staff also makes the presence of the Shepherd real to the sheep. The staff, a long stick with a crook in one end (like a walking stick), was used  by shepherds to protect and tend their flock. There was a crook at one end of the rod, and it was with this the shepherd took hold of one of the hind legs of the sheep to pull it back.

Bread is the staff of life means, food is necessary to survive.

That a staff signifies power, is because it is a support; for it supports the hand and arm, and through them the whole body; with which we are to reach the lost sheep looking for the ones to draw them into His fold.

So we are containers of all that is needed to be a disciple we are equipped as an ark of His covenant with us.

Finally, the Ark would serve as the observable sign of Yahweh’s (the Hebrew name of God) presence to the Israelites until it went missing after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The Israelites believed Yahweh to be their king, and by building it, gave them the ability to transport their monarchy were ever they went.

If Yahweh was their king/god, then He was their commander, which also made the Ark a military weapon.

(What is interesting about this is that the manufacture of not just the Ark but weapons also, took place at Mt Sinai.)

Therefore, the Israelites needed a symbol that they could look to and it put fear into the minds of their enemies.

As to its whereabouts today…There are prophesies and much speculation to that question but one thing is for certain when Father is ready for it to be found there will be an apocalypse! For it will be revealed at the perfect time for now lets be the chosen carriers of His glory every day and allow His light to shine in and through us. His blood will for ever be on the mercy seat declaring covenant fulfilled.

Don’t leave this page without knowing for absolute certain you are an ark. 

An ARON –

a treasure chest of His Presence!

Shalom Blessings for Sukkot!

click link below for more on Sukkot:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

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

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

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

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