Are We in A Divine Pause?

40th day of the Omer on the Hebrew Calendar is 25 IYYAR, it was on Thursday, May 30th.

– Divine Gaps and Pauses – בהשהייה

The 40th day also marked the day of Yeshua/Jesus’ Ascension into the Heavens.

Shamayim – שָׁמַיִם

Strongs 8064: Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-mah’-yim)

Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven.

The account of Yeshua/Jesus’ Ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.

It is plain from Scripture that it was a literal, bodily return to heaven.

 The Ascension is a mystery of faith, just like Yeshua/Jesus’ Resurrection, with which it is closely associated. The event is mentioned briefly in Mark (16:19) and Luke (24:50-53).

“This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Messiah, Ascension of, and as the forerunner of His people. Hebrews 6:20

He was the first fruit.

This event occurred 40 days

which is the 40th day of the Omer count to Shavuot (Total 50 days – Pentecost)

There is some significance to certain numbers in the Bible, however we should be discerning about trying to interpret their meanings. God did have reasons for using certain numbers over and over in the Bible, but only He may know the true reasons.

The number 40 is used 159 times. There is a general consensus among scholars that it is a number symbolizing trial, testing, or judgment. 40 also represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning. The number 40 has the power to lift a spiritual state. This seems evident in a number of places in the Bible, however, it also is used for more than that.

Every time one finds the number forty in Torah, its inner meaning is the ascent from one level to the next higher one. (Ascension!)

The letter Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, Alphabet. The letter Mem has the numeric value of forty (40).

The Mem represents the age, or time of completion.

The pictograph for Mem looks like a wave of water, whereas the classical Hebrew script (Ketav Ashurit) is constructed of a Kaf with a Vav beside it: Interesting note is that the gematria for these components equals the value for the Divine Name.

Below is a list of the ways it could be taken as a number signifying trial, testing, judgment, transition or change, the concept of renewal, or a new beginning.

Strongs #40 is Abimelek- Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-mel’-ek) – אֲבִימֶלֶךְ – meaning ‘father is king’!

When God destroyed every living thing on the Earth by flood, it rained 40 days and 40 nights (Gen 7:4,12,17).

Three men in the Bible fasted 40 days and 40 nights: Moses (Ex 34:28)(Deut 9:9,18,25)(Deut 10:10), Elijah (1 Kin 19:8), and Jesus (Mt 4:2)(Lk 4:2)(Mk 1:13).

Because Israel refused to enter the Promised Land, God condemned them to wander in the “wilderness” for 40 years (Num 14:33-34)(Num 32:11-13)(Deut 8:2)(Josh 5:6).
(God also kept their clothing and sandals from wearing out for the whole 40 years: Deut 29:5, Deut 8:4.)

The Israelites were given manna in the desert for 40 years to “test” and “humble” them (Ex 16:35)(Deut 8:3,16)

When scourging someone, they could not receive more than 40 lashes (Deut 25:3)(2 Cor 11:24).

The Israelites were in captivity to the Philistines for 40 years for doing evil (Judg 13:1). 

Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days and nights (1 Sam 17:16), until David defeated him.

Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days to “bear the iniquity” of Judah’s sins (Ezek 4:6).

God proclaimed judgment against Egypt, saying it would be desolate for 40 years (Ezek 29:10-12).

God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent or be overthrown (Jonah 3:4).

Other References:

After the flood waters had receded, and the tops of the mountains were visible, Noah waited another 40 days to open the window of the Ark (Gen 8:6).

Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah as his wife (Gen 25:20).

Esau, Isaac’s son, also got married when he was 40 (Gen 26:34).

Embalming took 40 days in early Bible times (Gen 50:3).

Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (twice!) (Ex 24:18)(Ex 34:28)(Deut 9:9,11,18,25)(Deut 10:10).

The spies that Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land were there for 40 days (Num 13:25)(Num 14:34).

One of those spies was Joshua, and he was forty years old when he went (Josh 14:7).

Moses died when he was 120 years old (Deut 34:7). His life can be divided into 3 sections of 40 years: (first 40) being born and growing up in Pharaoh’s house in Egypt (Acts 7:20-23), (middle 40) fleeing to Midian after killing the Egyptian, and living there for 40 years (Acts 7:29-30), (last 40) returning to Egypt, the exodus, and the events that followed (Acts 7:36)(Ex 7:7).

Aaron died 40 years after the Israelites had left Egypt (Num 33:38).

Three different times in Judges, the land had rest for 40 years (Judg 3:11)(Judg 5:31)(Judg 8:28).

Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Sam 4:18).

Ishbosheth became king over Israel when he was 40 years old (2 Sam 2:10).

Three kings reigned for 40 years: David (1 Kin 2:11)(2 Sam 5:4-5), Solomon (1 Kin 11:42), and Joash (2 Chr 24:1)(2 Kin 12:1).
(Saul may also be a part of this group [Acts 13:21], but this is controversial [1 Sam 13:1].)

The 10 lavers in the Temple each held “40 baths” (about 230 gal.) of water (1 Kin 7:38).

The time period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was 40 days (Acts 1:3).

The book of Exodus has 40 chapters.

The average length of a woman’s pregnancy is 40 weeks.

In other denominations observance of Lent is the 40 days before easter (not counting Sundays).

So the meaning of trial, testing, or judgment could be aligned with the Omer as days of self spiritual preparation. A gap in time, a season of a divine pause?

As a point of reference today, most technical equipment and those with Remote Control units often have a pause or hold button that will suspend action, the motor, the motion.

Or to stop the DVD video and/or replay the one we are watching. It is convenient and on our time schedule then when we are ready we continue to fit in with our plans.

We are often put

on the phone, which can be frustrating while music is played.

The Omer is like a spiritual pause.

When the disciples were

on hold – ( בהשהייה ) –

because He had said to them –

wait – שְׁבוּ־ – šə·ḇū- 

in Jerusalem

after the 49 days of the Omer, it was Shavuot and the Ruach HaKodesh came.

Then the pause was removed and the command to

go – לְכ֣וּ –lə-ḵū

replaced the command to . 

wait – שְׁבוּ־ – šə·ḇū- .

It was set in as an appointed time of preparation and an Annual rehearsal for all the generations prior to Messiah appearance.

This was a very long divine pause/gap, from it’s initiation and institution at Sinai to its fulfillment in Jerusalem. God’s timing and ways and thoughts are not like our human ones.

We often forget that after His resurrection, first fruits; the risen Messiah was seen by many. Was He with His disciples for all of the 40 days, almost 6 weeks?

Was He still teaching them in His resurrected body?

The first written reference to the resurrection is in 1Cor 15:3-12; Here is context:

 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter/Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Read verse 6 again…..how many?

he appeared to Peter/Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

It is amazing that nowhere in the 4 gospels is there a record of an appearance to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time. (The reference to brethren always included the women and children.)

The location where Yeshua/Jesus met with the disciples in the last chapter of Matthew was in Galilee on a mountain top. 

The particular mountain was not specified, although according to tradition there were two possible locations, Mt. Tabor and Mt. Hermon.

Mt. Tabor (above) is in the Jezreel Valley in southern Galilee.

Mt. Hermon in northern Galilee rises to over 9,000 feet above sea level.  Either location would have provided a safe place away from the watchful eyes of the authorities for a group of 500 or more subversive (rebel lions!) peasants to gather.

Interesting to note that the base of Mt Hermon was known as the gates of hell, because it was a pagan altar to Pan.

The followers of Yeshua/Jesus climbed the mountain and the risen Messiah appeared to them, and what did the disciples see? 

Our scripture doesn’t give us much of a clue, just one verse 17:  And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Why did some doubt? Whatever His followers saw that day must not have been totally convincing because this indicates that despite His appearance there was still some room for honest doubt, enough to be recorded.  Maybe some of them simply couldn’t believe their eyes and ears; even though Yeshua/Jesus appeared to them and spoke to them, still they doubted.

There is not much written in the Scriptures of what he taught them or did during that one month in 10 days.

However He was bridging the gap, the pause, as they counted the Omer to Shavuot/Pentecost.

Was He with them daily in Jerusalem as they met in the upper room?

We do know He was seen in Galilee.

On the morning of the Resurrection, the angel tells the women to tell the disciples that Messiah would go before them into Galilee.

“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” (Mt 28:7)

After seeing the angel on their way to tell the men, the risen Messiah met them…

9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 28:10

We might think that it would be better to remain in Jerusalem. Obviously in the city, He would have more witnesses to the resurrection.

Why did Yeshua/Jesus chose Galilee?

Maybe because Galilee served every purpose that Jerusalem couldn’t!

It was a call to faith.

Yeshua/Jesus had been warning them, prophesying that He would be killed but would rise from the dead (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34, Luke 9:22).

This would be an act of faith for them to go to Galilee purposefully to meet Him there. They would of necessity have to believe the eye-witness testimony of the women who reported that they saw Yeshua/Jesus risen from the dead.

Furthermore, they would also have to believe that Yeshua/Jesus was really going to appear to them. The location away from Jerusalem, would help to separate them from that highly emotional environment which might be seen as a place where false identifications or hallucinations might proliferate.

Instead they had time to calm their emotions as they traveled the miles to Galilee because if they were really going to meet Yeshua/Jesus in Galilee it would be the real person and not be any mirage or trick.

Those who had made the pilgrimage for  Pesach/Passover would be returning home. A remote mountain in Galilee would be a good location to meet with His disciples without chance of interruption, because He wanted to show Himself openly to all His assembled disciples. The Jews would not have permitted them to assemble in Judæa. Another reason may have been that this location would allow Yeshua/Jesus to easily choose those who were to be witnesses of His resurrection.

We saw in a previous post that the Jews of that time believed that the soul of the departed hovered around the tomb for several days after death. If Yeshua/Jesus met the disciples in Galilee then there would be no suspicion that the post-resurrection appearances were of this kind. (Cf. Edersheim, Life, II, 631). Nobody could claim that the disciples only saw Yeshua/Jesus’ ghost hovering around His tomb.

This choice in location showed His wisdom because Galilee was home. He was well aware of the disciples emotional and psychological state. Just as the two on the Emmaus Road, they were broken and in despair, probably even frightened.

Judas had met a horrible end, Thomas was alone with his doubts and depression, many were confused.

His goal was to regroup them and help rebuild their faith, bringing the fulness of His shalom to their shattered hopes.

His choice of home is echoed in the prodigal sons return home and also today when young people mess up their lives and need to know some semblance of normality and hope, going back home is their best option. Here they will most likely find that security, love and a sense of belonging/family stability that they might live more safely among their own relations …

Yeshua/Jesus was aware that taking them back to Galilee would be a positive move because in Galilee, Yeshua/Jesus had preached, and performed very many miracles there.

This would help remind them of their time with Him, the miracles, casting out demons, healing the sick, preaching to the multitudes, the victories and the successes. Taking them out of the hostile environment of Jerusalem; which was a place of conflict, where the attacks of the Jewish leaders were relentless and it was the place of turmoil, suffering and death.

The meeting in Galilee would be a more calm and friendly place; which would make it easier for them to see their new apostolic calling: to take the gospel message of the kingdoms to the uttermost ends of the earth.

These may be some reasons why He chose Galilee, because He knew best and has always known what He is doing.

The most important question is, do we believe He knows what He is doing and will we trust Him?

He does not say they should not see Him before: for they saw Him – all but Thomas – that very evening. All of them saw Him eight days later; and both times were before they went into Galilee: but this He said, to put them in mind of what He had promised them, Matthew 26:32. Also to confirm the words of the angel; and which might serve for a confirmation of the truth of these things, both to the women, and to the disciples, when they observed the exact agreement between Jesus/Yeshua’s words, and those of the angel.

Go tell my brethren;

This was significant in that He was meaning those who were not His kinsmen according to the flesh, but His disciples, who were in this relation to Him, as all the elect of God are.

Not only through His incarnation, He being their “Goel”, their near kinsman, and Redeemer, and of the same nature, flesh, and blood with them, and like unto them in all things, excepting sin. This was rather on account of their divine adoption, to which they were predestinated, and which they received through His redemption, and under the witness of the Ruach:

“And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers! his disciples For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:49,50

The disciples stood in an unique relationship to Messiah, who is the eternal Son of God, and heir of all things; and that relationship was in Him now He was raised from the dead, and had all glory given to Him. Here He declared this relationship, even when they had so recently forsaken Him;

Go, tell my brethren indicates His continued affection for them and their fellowship with Him in His glory.

It gives rise to the question did he visit His mother and brothers and sisters?? We know in 1Cor 15:7 Then he appeared to James,

But no reference to the family.

Mount of Olives –

A place of goings and comings.

Jesus/Yeshua explains that God has given Him all authority in heaven and on earth. “Go, therefore,” Jesus urges them, “and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” Matt 28:18-20.

While the disciples are still in Galilee, Jesus/Yeshua directs them to return to Jerusalem. When meeting with them in the city, He says: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; for John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this.”​—Acts 1:4, 5. exactly 10 more days after His Ascension.

Later Jesus meets again with his apostles. He leads “them out as far as Bethany,” which is on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. (Luke 24:50)

The apostles are on the Mount of Olives with the resurrected Messiah when He begins to rise heavenward.

Soon a cloud obscures him from their sight. After His resurrection, Messiah had materialized a supernatural fleshly body. But now He dematerializes the body He used on this occasion, and He ascends to heaven ‘bodily’ as a spirit creature. (1 Cor. 15:44, 50;1 Peter 3:18)

As the faithful apostles are gazing after him, “two men in white garments” appear beside them. These are materialized angels, who ask:

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?

This Jesus who was taken up from you into the sky will come in the same manner as you have seen him going into the sky.”​ 

Acts 1:10, 11.

Yeshua/Jesus left the earth without a huge public display, His faithful followers being the only observers.

Does this indicate that He will return “in the same manner”​—without public fanfare, with only his faithful followers discerning his presence in Kingdom power?

Like the thief in the night? It’s the second coming that every eye shall see Him not when He comes for His Bride/Challah.

On the top of the mount of Olives are the Church of the Ascension and the Chapel of the Ascension, both claiming to be the spot from where Jesus ascended to heaven.

The Chapel of the Ascension is actually neither a chapel nor a church but a mosque run by Muslims and a myth was made up about finding on the two footprints, which they said were made when Jesus pressed into the earth before leaping into the air.

A building was built over it and Muslim men who concede that they are Muslim only when directly questioned, charge an entrance fee to unsuspecting Christians under a sign that labels their mosque, “CHAPEL OF THE ASCENSION.

What does the Bible say about the spot from which Yeshua/Jesus ascended to heaven?

The Bible simply says that it was on the “mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.” 

Worth noting that “a Sabbath day’s journey” isn’t the distance to be covered by walking for a day. It is a specific distance of 2,000 cubits, equal to 3,000 feet, 1,000 yards or 914.4 metres.

So the location of Jesus’ ascension could be anywhere on the Mount of Olives, which is a mountain ridge that runs about 1,000 yards east of Jerusalem.

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?

This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. (Acts 1:6-12)

It seems as if we really are in a divine Gap/ Pause that has lasted over 2000 years! They all thought, including Paul, that His return was imminent.

God’s pauses are longer than ours; many of His gaps are extended beyond our life times and even generations.

We are still

on hold

since the time of Jesus/Yeshua reading in the synagogue from the scroll of Isaiah.

When He paused, at 61:2 saying, today this is fulfilled in your hearing.

He rolled up the scroll never finished the portion….

At the end of this divine gap when the pause is removed, the heavens themselves will roll up like a scroll as the rest of the verse will be fulfilled.

Is His second coming connected in some way to Shavuot/Pentecost feast?… maybe?

What we do know is He is returning for His bride – כַּלָה – kallah

Phonetic Spelling: (kal-law’) Strongs 3618

we are to be ready looking for Him.

Our prime focus must be on being spiritually prepared. which is the message of the parable of the 10 virgins. Having our oil lamps filled. The Shavuot promise was completed; the oil, the spirit, the ruach was poured out. Be-being filled, we cannot afford to relax spiritually. We know not the day or the hour and when we least expect Him…..He will come.

The signs of the times, of the return of the King listed in Matthew and Luke, are all around us and are increasing.

The long gap almost complete?

Is the pause button on the age of grace, the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled and coming to an end?

In an hour we think not …. are we ready?

 

Completion…. Is the prophetic scripture in Isaiah 61 verse 3 about to resume?

The only reason the end of the age has gone on so long is due to the patience of God. Our heavenly father is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth James 5:7

Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently until it receives the early and latter rain. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

Any unripe and premature fruit are bitter and hard, that’s exactly what James was referring to when he spoke of waiting for the precious fruit of the earth; except the fruit he spoke of was people. He is waiting for the ‘precious fruit of the earth.’

In the same way as a farmer patiently waits for the early and later rains to fall and for the harvest to ripen and be reaped, Yeshua/Jesus wants us to understand that He is waiting for ‘precious fruit.’ Every man, woman and child is precious to the Lord.

God’s promises are for us personally, but they are also for everyone who will believe. Because of this, God delays what all believers long for.

God is not slow, but patient.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is not limited by hours in a day or by the number of days in a year. 2 Peter 3:8 says that to God, “A day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.”

It is a beyond human patience – it’s the long suffering, compassionate love of a parent waiting for the child to grow up and do what they know to do. To fall in line with the program and stop being wayward children doing their own thing.

It’s time for us to grow up into the fullness of the likeness of the Son He said for us to emulate and until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

Hebrews 6:1; Ephesians 4:13-15,

It’s time to make our heavenly father smile, as we wait eagerly watching for His return; for the pause is coming to an end and the end of Is. 61:1  and verse 2 is about to begin

And all through to verse 11… righteousness and praise will spring forth before all the nations.

Isaiah 53:6. We all like sheep have gone astray.

Isaiah 56:6 seek the Lord while he may be found call while he is near

The day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn Matthew 5:4

he will give beauty for ashes and oil of joy for mourning

The garment the prayer shawl/tallit, of praise instead of the spirit of infirmity.

This word in Strongs 3544 in Hebrew is KEHEH – כֵּהֶה

Phonetic Spelling: (kay-heh’)

that truly means to be pale, dull, faint or dim is used as an expression for feeling weak, sickly, so they could be called Oaks of righteousness the planting of the Lord so he would be glorified.

(They are called Oaks, as the opposite of weak and sickly.)

Luke 4:18, 19

 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor……..

There He stopped and declared it was fulfilled in their hearing.

Indicating that He was the substance of which the ritual had been merely a type foreshadowing His Coming.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me “The Spirit of Jehovah is upon me” – The Septuagint, Vulgate, and St. Luke, ( Luke 4:18;), and a MS., and two old editions omit the word אדני Adonai, the Lord; which was probably added to the text through the superstition of the Jews, to prevent the pronunciation of the word יהוה Jehovah following.

The following is yet to be completed…

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Ver. 3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion. Isaiah 61:4-11 King James Version (KJV)

4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

While we wait and we are on HOLD…

So it would seem we are in a divine

 The anniversary of Messiahs Ascension has passed once again and the Gap to Shavuot is closing fast. One of these days the pause button will be released and the play will continue to the fulfillment of the end of this age.

What remains for us, is to be clothed in the armor of light and look up.. for our redemption draws nigh.

Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). Rom.13:11

And He is NOT slack concerning His promises…

Shalom shalom…

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

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

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

Then simply 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 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.

Revealing The Overcoming Resheet of Bikkurim

Who is The Overcoming Resheet of Bikkurim ביכורים

First Fruits – Reishit Katzir

Passover is always on 15th Nisan it begins at sundown on 14th.

Pesach is the first day of the celebration – Passover, that lasts for a week and is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day following the first day of Unleavened Bread is called Reishit Katzir the Day of FirstFruits.

It is the beginning of the harvest, sometimes confusingly called the Feast of Firstfruits.

Re’shiyth – ראשׁית

Strongs #H7225 re’shiyth, ray-sheeth’; from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit): — beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing. Pronounced ray-sheeth’

ראשׁית קָצִיר – Reishit Katzir

קָצִֽיר qasir

Strongs 7105 Katzir-קָצִיר – qâtsı̂yr

pronounced kaw-tseer’.

Of first fruits harvest, harvesting, crop, what is harvested or reaped.

קָצִיר – Katzir

In ancient times on this day, a sheaf, (an omer) of barley, (the first grain crop to ripen); was waived before the Lord in a prescribed ceremony.

This was to mark the start of the counting of the Omer, thereby initiating the 49 day countdown to the harvest festival of Shavuot – Pentecost. Lev. 23:9-12.

For the Passover Lamb to become the Sheaf of First Fruits and present Himself as the Omer, He had to give up/lay down His life and take it up again.

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Deuteronomy 26:1–11
Speak to the Israelites and say to them; “When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.  He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.  On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil— a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma— and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin[b] of wine.  You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God.  This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.  Leviticus 23: 10-14

Temple plate and scythe for the first cutting.

On this day, the priest would waive a sheaf, an Omer of green barley before the Lord as a symbolic gesture dedicating the upcoming harvest to Him.

The day following the first day of Unleavened Bread, (the day after the Sabbath – the morning the women go to the tomb), is called Reishit Katzir – 

Reishit Katzir represents the resurrection of Yeshua our Mashiach Yom HaBikkurim) whereas Shavuot, (Chag HaBikkurim), represents the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) at Jerusalem. Nisan 17 in the Old Testament – Torah.

A Note about Chag Ha-Bikkurim

Pronounced: Hahb-bik-koo-REEM

The Hebrew term bikkurim derives from the same root as bekhor – “firstborn.” A frequent synonym for bikkurim is reshit, “the first [fruits].”

Bikkurim ביכורים

literally, firstfruits

First ripe, Hasty fruit, the first-fruits of the crop

Hebrew: בִּכּוּר, bikkûr (H1061)

Pronunciation: bik-KOOR

Definition: The first-fruits of the crop.

In the torah, the general principle that the firstborn of man and beast belong to the Lord is also applied to the first fruits to ripen each agricultural season. Beginning with a sheaf of the new barley harvest, the omer on Reishit Katzir, and culminating in the celebration of PentecostShavuot. Also known as Chag HaBikkurim, which is the festival of first fruits representing the birth of the church/ecclesia; and our future glorious state as part of the coming harvest at the end of the age.

The Torah begins with the words:

Be-reishit bara Elohim et ha-shamayim ve-et ha-aretz,”.

The most popular translation of “be-reishit” is “In the beginning,” and the phrase would read, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The Hebrew word for “in the beginning” in Bereishit 1:1, could have been reishit. However, the word used was bereshit. Pronounced: beh-ray-SHEET

It is possible that the use of Bereishit (reishit with the second letter, bet, at its beginning) is significant in that, by its inclusion it may indicate a second beginning, or a recreation?

Where there may be unknown time between  verse 1 and 2 in Genesis chapter 1.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

and also where there seems to be a second reference to creation. The first story runs from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3; the second story picks up at Genesis 2:4 and runs to the end of the chapter at Genesis 2:25? Interesting thought!

The Beginning wraps the End

The End wraps the Beginning.

Isaiah 46:9-10

Genesis 1:3 God said let there be LIGHT and

John 8:12. Jesus said I AM the LIGHT.

He IS THE Beginning – 

He is the God of New Beginnings.

The Wave Offering is called Tenufat HaOmer and is performed the day after the Sabbath, (our Sunday), Yom Rishon.

Strongs 8573 – Original Word: תְּנוּפָה

Tenuphah: a swinging, waving, wave offering, offering

Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tenuphah
Phonetic Spelling: (ten-oo-faw’)

Exodus 29:24  HEB: וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

KJV: and shalt wave them [for] a wave offering before..

ephah: an ephah (a measure of grain)

אֵיפָה   (ay-faw’)

Strongs: 374 ephah

HEB: וְהָעֹ֕מֶר עֲשִׂרִ֥ית הָאֵיפָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ פ

(Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.)

6016 omer – a sheaf – עֹמֶרה

The Sheaf of firstfruits – the day after the Sabbath.

This is the day of firstfruits, the Resheet. Reishit Katzir. 

(Spelled both Reishit and Resheet)

The Wavesheaf Offering (Beginning of the Harvest/Reishit Katzir or Day of the Firstfruits/Yom HaBikkurim

The start, the beginning of the harvest. It is the time of the First grain, the first blossom of the first, new harvest. This firstfruits, the resheet, would represent all that would be reaped and gathered in during the rest of the harvest in the following days.

The first sheaf of the harvest in spring was lifted before the Lord and dedicated to Him on the day of Resheet.

How this applies to Messiah and resurrection day. They were to reap the harvest – and then bring, “THE sheaf of the First Fruits of your harvest to the priest” – notice here it does not say – “a sheaf” but rather – “the sheaf” – it is one marked off as the First Fruits of the harvest.

אֲלֻמָּה

Strongs #485

alummah: a sheaf

אֲלוּמָה   al-oom-maw’

(‘alummah, `omer, `amir)

Yeshua’s Resurrection was our FirstFruit wave offering that was pleasing to the Lord.

As He offered to the Father the early crops on what will be an overwhelming harvest at the end of this ageAcharit Hayayim.

We understand the fact that Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Cor.15:20-23

Total = 3 days and nights (Matt 12:40)

Yeshua raised on the 3rd day (Luke 24:45-6)

Yeshua/Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, after being in the tomb three days and nights.

The disciples and then encountered the risen Lord on Nissan 14, a Sunday morning (Matthew 28:1 – 10).

This means He was crucified on Nissan 14 and resurrected on Nissan 17 (the corresponding Gregorian dates for these dates vary from year-to-year).

The women came to the tomb while it was still dark. Matt 27:61. Mark 16:1-8. John 20:1-2

Pesach/Passover represents all salvation and deliverance by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

Yeshua Ha Mashiach in whose blood we are trusting that we’ve been justified.

יֵשׁוּעַ  is a verbal derivative from “to rescue”, “to deliver”.

Its root word is yasha . עַשָׁי. H3467 yasha (below) which is also the root word of salvation. H3444: עַשָׁי H3467 yasha to save, be saved, be delivered (Blue Letter Bible).

 

mashiach: anointed מָשִׁיחַ

maw-shee’-akh strongs 4899

Anointed (1), anointed (34), anointed ones (2), Messiah

Chag HaMatzot represents our sanctification as we rid ourselves of the old – שׂאר, seor, Strong’s #7603 – leaven/sin

of Egypt/world and die to the carnal flesh nature of the old man. This is represented by the burial of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and with us identifying with His death.

The Lords supper was a Passover seder the same meal that is celebrated every year. It is not simply a meal it is in fact a service.

The leader is the one who serves the Matzah/bread and all the other elements which are required.

It’s not about serving yourself at a buffet or a smorgasbord; it’s about being served and letting the leader serve you. This is clear that the Lords supper is not about serving self.

So when we sit at His table

He is the one who serves us the bread of life.

Sometimes even as believers we live to serve ourselves. However, in the Lords supper, Our Heavenly Father is saying, in effect, that He will take care of our needs. He will give us the bread of life and the new wine of joy. He wants us to sit at His table and allow Him to minister to us. Then in His love, we serve another, because it is the Lord’s supper, not a buffet.

The main focus of this post is that..

Yeshua the Messiah is our Firstfruit Bikoreem/Bikkurim

Chag Ha-Bikkurim

The Hebrew term Bikkurim comes from the same root as the word bekhor –first Born.

In the Torah there is a principle that the firstborn of both man and beast belong to the Lord. It is also applied to the firstfruits to ripen in each agricultural season.

Beginning with a sheaf of the new barley harvest (omer) on Reishit Katzir, and ends in the celebration of Pentecost Shavuot.

This is also called Chag Ha-Bikkurim – the first fruits festival, which bears repeating, also represents the birth of the ekklesia (church) the Called Out Ones.

They are not happening coincidentally, the wave offering and the resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua are linked together prophetically by the apostle Paul. 1Cor. 15:20-23

Which says that in fact Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, has been raised from the dead, the first fruits all those who have fallen asleep.

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Here Paul clearly links the first fruit offering with the resurrection of Jesus our Messiah Yeshua our Mashiach.

Yeshua/Jesus’ resurrection was like a wave offering presented before the Father, as the firstfruits of the harvest to come. Jesus/Yeshua, presented His firstfruits offering to the Father on this day.

Because it was representative of the entire harvest by it’s consecration, it encompassed every sheaf that would follow.

It took place that day after the Passover Sabbath. It was the day of new life. This was the day that also marked the beginning of spring and at the same time sealed the ending of the winter. This is a day that reveals a mystery.

This world is a fallen world. Everything is under the curse of sin and death, everything that lives also dies. It’s like the shadow of winter that hangs over it all year – but God’s will is to redeem that which is fallen; to give life in place of death.

The promise of this redemption is that one day the barrenness of winter will be broken, the cause of death will be destroyed once and for all.

The one thing that will break that winter and bring new life is the first fruits and that date HAS COME!

Some 2000+ years ago on the Day of Resheet He rose as THE first fruit, EXACTLY when the firstfruits are lifted up to the Lord.

Resurrection Day is the Day of the Resheet. And why? Because He is Resheet.

Day of the Resheet – the first fruits are raised up from the Earth.

It ended the winter of our lives and began the spring that gives new life.

Matthew 27:52 –53 the tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Yeshua/Jesus is the first begotten of the father (Hebrews 1:6)

The firstborn of creation (Col. 1:15)

The first begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5)

And is the firstfruits of those who are to be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:20-23)

Pesach/Passover represents our salvation and deliverance by the sacrifice of the lamb of God, Yeshua the Mashiach. We are justified by trusting in the blood of the Lamb of God.

Chag HaMatzot represents our sanctification as we rid ourselves of the old leaven of Egypt. (The type of the world) and die to the carnal nature. This is represented by the burial of the Messiah/Mashiach and our identification with his death.

The best part is that the Resheet/sheaf, stood for, and represented ALL that would follow. It means that as He overcame death unto life, so can we; and so can everyone who comes after the first.

Jesus the Messiah of New Beginnings. Yeshua the Overcoming Resheet of Bikkurim.

Messiah is our Passover Lamb, our Tamid. He is also our Bikkurim/the Firstfruit.  Be certain that He is in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Door/dalet of your heart/lev and let the Resheet of Bikkurim in..

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

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

It’s 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.

Afikomen – Mysterious and Hidden

Most Christian believers know what is meant by ‘taking communion’, or ‘the Lord’s supper’ or ‘the breaking of bread and drinking of wine’.

However what is not always taught is that it is rooted in, and has its’ origins in, the Passover meal of the Israelites Pesach Seder.

Also called Pesah, Pesakh – פֶּסַח and pronounced Pay-sak.

Seder סֵדֶר

pronounced SEE-dur-(seyder);

Seder is a Hebrew root word meaning order/arrangement..the same root from which the word siddur comes, meaning: prayer book.

Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan

(late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar).

Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel.

In the same way Israelites have celebrated Passover as a celebration of freedom observed by Jews everywhere.

The name derives from the story of the angel of death passing over the homes of Hebrews; when the 10th plague, the death of the first-born children, came upon the Egyptians.

However many are not aware of how it is connected and integral to the Lords supper/ communion. This is because many have not yet accepted Yeshua as Messiah. They are not aware of the implications of, and the messianic secrets revealed in the Seder and in the order sequence of the Meal itself.

It is not a sumptuous 5+ course-style banquet, but contains symbols of remembrance of the miracles that the Lord performed for the children of Israel as they were leaving Egypt.

The telling of the Passover story.

The Maggidמטיף – Hebrew: maggīdh – literally, narrator, messenger, is the highlight of the Seder

The Seder, which follows a carefully prescribed series of steps, includes a dinner of highly symbolic foods that are prepared on a Seder plate.

There are different versions and some have 14 steps and some 15.

The Sages designed the Passover Seder as 15 steps to make a participant enormously successful and the key to unlocking the code is that Passover is the time when each Jew embarks on a personal journey from slavery to freedom.

The Haggadah, which is pronounced ha-gah-da, is a small book that is used at the Passover table each year.

The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – means: The telling.

And it’s a fulfillment of the mitzvah – מִצְוָה, to each Israelite.

mitzvah – מִצְוָה

The first use is in Genesis 26:5 where God says that Abraham has “obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments (מִצְוֹתַי mitzvotai), my statutes, and my laws”.

The charge to tell your son, of the Hebrews liberation from slavery in Egypt; as described in the Book of Exodus in the Torah.

“And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.” Ex. 13:8).

Ha Laḥma Anya

מָא הָאלַחְ עַנְיָא  

‘This is the bread of affliction‘…

(literally: Behold the poor bread)

are the opening words of a declaration in Aramaic, designating the matzah as the bread of affliction and inviting the needy to join the meal.

Ha lachma anya, d’akhla avatana b’ar’a d’mitzrayim.

This is the bread of affliction, which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt.

It ends with:

This year we are here, next year may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves, next year may we be free men.

The Haggadah – הַגָּדָה – telling;

The purpose of the Haggadah

Ve-higgadta le-vinkha –

And thou shalt tell thy son,

Ex. 13:8,

The outlines of the steps of the Passover Seder.

1 Kaddesh (Sanctifcation):The word is derived from the Hebrew root Qof-Dalet-Shin, meaning holy.

Kiddush: (Blessing over wine) Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

This is a blessing over wine in honor of the holiday.
The first cup, the Kiddush, of wine is drunk, and a second cup is poured.
The 4 cups of wine, known in Hebrew as arba kosot.

2 Urechatz (Washing), A washing of the hands without a blessing, in preparation for eating the Karpas.
3 Karpas (Vegetable): A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people; the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of our slavery. Parsley is a good vegetable to use for this purpose, because when you shake off the salt water, it looks like tears.
4 Yachatz (Breaking): One of the three matzahs on the table is broken.

Part is returned to the pile, the other part is set aside for the Afikomen.

Matzot that have been placed in a white bag called a matzah tosh are taken out and shown to everyone.

The leader then says.

This Is the lechem oni – the bread of affliction – which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt.

All who are hungry – let them come and eat. All who are needy – let them come and celebrate Passover with us.

Very significant of Jesus/Yeshuas’ declaration “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35) To eat these promises is to eat this living bread and live forever (John 6:51).


5 Maggid (
The Story): A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Passover. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the seder. The Four Questions are also known as Mah Nishtanah. (Why is it different?), which are the first words of the 

The Four Questions –

Mah Nishtanah  מה  נשתנה .

Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot.

(Pronounced: Mah Nishtanah Ha-lailah ha-zeh mee-kol ha-leilot.)
Mah Nishtanah, are the first two words in a phrase meaning Why is tonight different from all other nights? usually asked by the youngest guest. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice. There are variations on the questions, however the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about Passover:
On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?
On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice?
She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?
On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining?
 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin u-vain mesubin, halaylah hazeh kulanu mesubin – מסובין?
The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company.

This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”
This original question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder.
6 Rachtzah (Washing): A second washing of the hands, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah.
7 Motzi Matzah (Blessings over Grain Products and Matzah): The ha-motzi blessing, a generic blessing for bread or grain products used as a meal, is recited over the matzah. A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten.

8 Maror (
Bitter Herbs): A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. This symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. The maror is eaten with charoses, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, which symbolizes the mortar used by the Jews in building during their slavery

9 Korech (Sandwich): some maror on a piece of matzah is eaten with some charose. The sandwich used to include a piece of the paschal offering (Lamb). As there are no more animal sacrifice, so there is no paschal offering included.

10 Shulchan Orech (Dinner): is a simple meal, gefilte fish and matzah ball soup are traditionally eaten.

11 Tzafun (
Dessert):The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as “dessert,” the last food of the meal. Different families have different traditions relating to the afikomen. Some have the children hide it, while the parents have to either find it or ransom it back. Others have the parents hide it. The idea is to keep the children awake and attentive throughout the pre-meal proceedings, waiting for this part.

12 Barech (Grace): The third cup of wine is poured, (the Ge’ullah – Redemption) and grace after meals is recited. This is similar to the grace that would be said on any Sabbath. At the end, a blessing is said over the third cup and it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Passover to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah, but historically because Jews were accused of nonsense like putting the blood of Christian babies in matzah, and we wanted to show our Christian neighbors that we weren’t doing anything unseemly).
13 Hallel (Song):Several psalms are recited. Yehallelukha Adonai Eloheinu al Kol Ma’asekha (“All Thy works shall praise Thee”) is a benediction of praise, or Nishmat Kol Ḥai (“The breath of all that lives”), is the Nishmat hymn – Birkat ha-Shir.

A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.

14 Nirtzah (Closing): A simple statement that the seder has been completed, with a wish that next year, Pesach may celebrated in Jerusalem meaning that the Messiah will come within the next year.

For believers in Messiah it is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb by His own sacrifice.

So all the elements have a particular and specific meaning to them and are significant for both the original and spiritually fulfilled Passover thousands of years apart.

The Mysterious hidden Afikomen  אפיקומן ; pronounced: ah-fi-co-men.

During the 4th part of the seder meal (called Yachatz – divide), a plate of unleavened bread is lifted up.

On it are three pieces of matzah stacked On top of each other.

The Seder leader takes the middle piece, calls out “Yachatz,” and breaks it in half.

Splitting the matzah is a memorial to the splitting of the sea.

These various understandings of Yachatz underscore that both slavery and salvation are within the broken matzah, thereby highlighting the central theme that salvation can instantly emerge from the most abject situations of suffering.

“lehecm oni”, (“Poor Man’s Bread”), the Gemarah in Maseches Pesachim (115b) derives that the matzah of seder night must be broken: “ma darko shel ani beprusa…just as a poor person eats a broken piece of a loaf, so too matzah must be eaten as a broken piece”.

Afikomen  אפיקומן means:

That which comes after!

At the Passover seder table, three matzahs are placed in a stack, inside a special bag called a matzah tosh.

Before it is broken the following is said.

This is the bread of brokenness…… 

These 3 are said to represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The middle one representing Isaac, is broken to recall how he was offered himself in sacrifice in obedience to the will of his father! The binding of Isaac is a clear picture of how Jesus/Yeshua yielded Himself to be sacrificed by God, His Father.

Consider how the Akedah provides a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God – SEH haELOHIM, who takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29.

Both Isaac and Jesus were born miraculously,

both were only begotten son’s,

both were to be sacrificed by their fathers of Mount Moriah;

both were to be resurrected on the third day. (Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:17 – 19).

Both willingly took up the means of his execution, both demonstrate that one life can be sacrificed for another –the ram for Isaac and Jesus for all mankind.

Another tradition is that the three matzot represent the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, respectively. This raises some questions; why would the priests be depicted as broken in this case? Isn’t Jesus/Yeshua the high priest of our confession? (Hebrews 3:1) Didn’t He provide eternal redemption by means of shedding His Blood in the Holy of Holies made without hands? (Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:11–12, 21–23).

Why would the symbolism of the broken priests included in the Passover Seder? Didn’t the prophet Isaiah in chapter 53 foretell that the Messiah would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed?

Could it be a reference to a broken corrupt system that Messiah came to heal in more ways than one?

In the Hebrew mindset the middle of something is it’s heart. LEV. When the middle matzah is broken it’s a reminder to all believers of how the Fathers’ heart must have been broken to see the pain that Jesus/Yeshua endured by taking our sins upon Him at the cross. We looked previously at the matzah and the stripes and the holes in it and their significance.

Remembering that like the unleavened bread, He was pure without any trace of leaven in it, as His body was without any sin. This is the LEV, the HEART of the Passover message It is the LEV – HEART of the gospel.

The larger piece of this matzah is called the afikomen. The smaller half is returned to its place between the other two matzahs, and the larger half is placed in a bag,

or wrapped in a cloth,

and then it is set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal.  It is in commemoration of the paschal sacrifice. Set aside so it does not get mixed up with the other pieces on the table.

In ancient biblical times, the Passover sacrifice used to be the last thing consumed during the Passover seder during the First and Second Temple eras. The afikomen is a substitute for the Passover sacrifice according to the Mishnah in Pesahim 119a.
The practice of hiding the afikomen was instituted during the Middle Ages by Jewish families to make the seder more entertaining and exciting for children, who can become antsy when sitting through a long ritual meal. 

The Afikomen has been part of the Passover since the second Temple times that would’ve been part of the Passover service during the time of Yeshua. The Greek word used in the New Testament is aphikomenos it is a participle that means he is coming that has definite messianic nuances.

Was it symbolic of a divine Trinity?

This is certainly possible as an image of hashilush hakodesh – the three fold/ triune nature of God; having the focus on the broken middle piece of the matzah, which is a picture of suffering Messiah Yeshua Ha Mashiach.

When we consider that this piece is taken and wrapped up and carefully hidden from view only to be discovered at the end of the Passover seder by little children.

This surely is the image of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua from the dead. It is only after partaking of the lamb of God who was slain for our transgressions and sins; do we understand and take hold of the reward given to those to seek for Him.

If so, then that which pointed to the second part of the trinity, is broken and it is even given a name – called by Afikomen.

It was saving the best until last and to be looked forward to, as something special and to be rejoiced over when found and consumed! (Very symbolic!)

The broken matzah wrapped in a cloth or napkin, was also as a remembrance of the way the Israelites left Egypt with their soon-to-be matzahs, as described in the Torah:

‘The people picked up their dough when it was not yet leavened, their leftovers bound in their garments on their shoulders.’

Depending on the family, either the leader usually the head of the household in the group hides the afikomen during the meal or the children at the table “steal” the afikomen and hide it. Not every family ascribes to the ‘stealing’ part so as not to encourage stealing as being acceptable behavior.
If the seder leader hid the afikomen the children at the table must search for it and bring it back. They receive a reward (usually candy, money or a small gift) when they bring it back to the table. Likewise, if the children “stole” the afikomen, the seder leader ransoms it back from them with a reward so that the seder can continue. 

This ransom or reward is indicative of Mark 10:45.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Yeshua/Jesus is recorded in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 referring to Himself asa ransom for many,”

When it is found they remove the cloth wrapped around it revealing the broken Afikomen. Once the afikomen is returned to the seder table, each guest receives a small portion at least the size of an olive.

This is done after the meal and normal deserts have been eaten so that the last taste of the meal is matzah.

After the broken afikomen is eaten, the Birkas haMazon (grace after meals) is recited and the seder is concluded.

It is only at this point that the Passover is complete!

Although the afikoman represents the Israelites liberation from Egyptian exile.

That redemption, however, was not a complete one, as they are still awaiting the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach.

Setting aside or hiding the larger half of the matzah reminds us that the best, the real redemption, is yet to come, still hidden in the future.

The symbolism is clear as they all would have understood the references to the broken matzah was the action taken by Jesus/Yeshua as He sat with His disciples, taking the middle piece he broke it and said;

This is My Body broken for you.

Then it was wrapped in cloth just as His broken body would be wrapped in a burial cloth not many hours later.

The broken matzah was hidden away just as His body was placed in the tomb hidden from view. Messiah has been hidden from His people for over 2,000 years and many have not found Him yet…

As before stated, the Passover Seder cannot be complete without finding Afikomen and and returned to the table so each guest can eat a piece of it. So Israel as a nation cannot find its completion without the Messiah. This signifies that the Jewish people will search for their missing Messiah, their Afikomen and they will fulfill their destiny as He is revealed to them.

Afikomen is actually a Greek word which as mentioned earlier means that which comes after.

Hebrew: אֲפִיקוֹמָן, based on Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning “that which comes after” or “dessert”) is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. a word that comes from the Greek word for “dessert.”

It is so called not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the Passover seder meal.

Zechariah 12:10 Luke 22:19; Romans 11: 25-26.

Messiah is not among His people at this point BUT.. He will be, because…

He is the Afikomen,

the One who comes after,

and He WILL come again.

Similarly as with Passover, so it is with all to whom He comes.

Only in His coming can we find our completion.

When He is found – He is the missing piece/peace/shalom; and He is the one broken for us. The Afikomen of our lives.

The conclusion,

the completion,

for we are complete in Him.

The matzah is the bread of communion, some call it the Eucharist from the Greek word Eucharista. It is in the scripture, however, it has nothing to do with the bread.

Psalm 136, Luke 22:14–23,  1Timothy 6:6–8. It is what He spoke over the bread.

Eucharista means to give thanks or say a blessing and it is what has been the traditional Hebrew Blessing for millennia. The confusion maybe because Jesus/Yeshua said it over the bread and it is not the bread itself; then tradition, doctrine and dogma take over and we miss the truth of the root meaning.

The Israelites have said this Hebrew Blessing/ Eucharista for a long time and it is called the MOTZI.

HaMotzi Pronounced: ha-MOE-tzee

The traditional HaMotzi blessing is recited before eating bread (or bread stuffs) and is one of the most frequently said of the Hebrew blessings, used for Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions:

That bread was unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is any of a wide variety of breads which are prepared without raising or leavening agents; (ingredients that cause flour to rise); such as yeast, baking soda, baking powder and beaten egg whites. 

  Known as Matzah within the Jewish community–it represents a symbolic element with great importance. Unleavened breads are generally flat breads; however, not all flat breads are unleavened.

Round Matzah bread for Passover

This is probably what Jesus/Yeshua would have said over the unleavened bread.

Hamotzi (Blessing over bread)

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, (Ruler/King or) Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Phonetic Hebrew transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-alom ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.

This is an indication that the emphasis is not the bread itself that is the most important it is the blessing of thanks that is.

Luke 12:15, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

God is the author and preserver of man’s life; goods are not.  But of the place and position and fullness of the giver in the life of the receiving believer. What is important is how much thanks we give for what we have. Spiritual poverty is worse than physical poverty.

In Messiah we are rich and prosperous spiritually because the bread, the Afikomen that He spoke the Eucharista over was the symbol of His suffering and death and He knew it and still gave thanks for it, knowing what He was about to go through.

The Power secrets of the Eucharista is in it’s meaning for Thanksgiving and those who give thanks in all things, bring the power of God into a curse and turn it into a blessing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Timothy 6:6 -8

The hidden Afikoman of eucharista is Messiah the blessing of the one….

who returned from the tomb, and will soon return to us again, the Afikomen will return to complete our Passover seder….the blessing of that which comes after.

Shalom Aleikhem Mishpachah  שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‬  מִשְׁפָחָה

Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that this Passover you have

Messiah our Passover Lamb, our Tamid in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Dalet of your heart and let the King of Glory in..

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

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

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 Pesach Dalet in Time; a Man Between 2 Realms; Yonah and The Watches of the Night.

In previous posts we have seen that the Hebrew letter Dalet, represents a door, or an opening and a place, (Hakem) of a threshold. It’s a point where one can CROSS from one place or location into another. A doorway or transition can also be called a portal.

It is where we get our English word Port from, where ships come and go to other places and destinations. Many towns have port as part of their names due to their proximity to water. It is also reflected in the French word for the door – la porte.

Sea going vessels have portholes for windows, again representing a connecting barrier and indicating two sides which are separated.

Interesting they are circular, not square and have 3 component parts which are connected into one unit.

Windows also represent a barrier and indicate a change, a threshold, and a place of passing, or looking through to a different Hakem.

Ha Makem’- ‘The Place’-המקום

We are quite familiar with the Exodus story and remember this event is inexorably linked through time to the events at Passover/Pesach. Ex.12: 21-27.

On the night of the Passover, the Hebrews were to put the blood of the Lamb on the wooden beams of their doorways. This was probably the only WAY /portal/in and out of their home, as slaves, they would have had little luxuries.

They would have then entered in through the bloodstained doorway and stayed inside their houses. When they passed through that WAY again, it would be for the last time. It would be to leave Egypt and never return.

It would be to depart from all bondage of that life of slavery and in going through the portal, they entered a new life of freedom.

They were entering a new realm and eventually a new land; with a new identity as the people chosen by the Lord when they accepted the covenant at Sinai. A people set apart – Holy, to the Lord. This is the gospel message! And the type for our lives and us both as individuals and corporately is clear.

The blood was not on the threshold, so they did not tread on it, it was on 3 sides and looked like a door.

The letter TAV also resembles a door shape.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/nail-i-am/

The last letter of the alef bet and is the symbol of the cross.

This blood marked the door transforming it into a portal – a spiritual transition point. A supernatural phenomena, enabling them to pass from the old to the new, effective in the spiritual realm for its divine purpose. This was so prophetic as, centuries later there would come the fulfillment of another Pesach, with another lamb, whose blood was shed for the world

and that blood created another supernatural portal.

The DOOR (Dalet) – THE WAY (Derech) back to the Father, spiritual reconciliation restored.

This portal transcended all previous types and shadows of His plan for He is the Dalet. He is the One between 2 realms; spanning the transition zone, the bridge. The Pesach Dalet in time that leads to eternal life.

The spiritual number 4, which is represented by Dalet in Hebrew, means message motion or world.

We should not mistake His death for a martyrs one. According to John 8:37, He came on purpose to die. It was His plan. He was a willing sacrifice, His free will choice to offer His life for ours. The key was in His deaths, reminding us that death leads to life and is not anything to be feared.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-mystery-of-in-his-deaths/

We merely exchange this body of flesh for something far better. Death has lost it’s sting of sin if we are truly saved; it’s just a simple transition through a portal in time. And Jesus/Yeshua Messiah is that Dalet.

The cross was a tree, made of wood, some translations say it was the same wood as the lintels of the Hebrews dwellings back in Egypt.

Both were marked with the Blood of a lamb.

The Romans used the cross beams as an execution stake, a most cruel, punishing death. And yet its very use became the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan to redeem all mankind.

Look at the cross from another perspective.

It’s a set of wooden beams just like those that formed the doorway, and marked with the Blood of the Passover Lamb, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua. In a sense, the cross is also a Portal… so the only Way it can truly be understood and known and experienced is BY (X) entering in.

How do we enter in?

BY (X) becoming One/Echad with Him

Unlike physical doorways into places in the earth realm/kingdom, that take us from one place to another; this doorway, this portal is the WAY to a different realm. It’s a portal leading to a new Kingdom, a new reality and a whole new existence. This door enables us to leave behind our old lives, (just as the Israelites left Egypt,) and enter into a new realm. A new chaim, a new existence, a new reality with a new King and Lord.

The door is narrow, it’s only the width of a beam of wood and we must lay down all we are carrying because the door is not wide enough for burdens to be carried through it.

But it seems like there’s no opening in the cross… that is because it is a spiritual experience. His kingdom and realm is not of this world. It is supernatural, above natural. The only WAY to know this doorway, to experience this portal, is to go through it – through Him.

Those who do, will leave the kingdoms of the world behind and enter in, to the realm of His kingdom of the heavens/shamayim; which spiritually began here, and is our equivalent of entering the promised land through the portal of His cross.

It’s the only WAY to leave what we can never leave.

It’s the only WAY to go where we could never go.

By entering the portal, the Dalet of His cross. He is the door, the portal in time, the Dalet of Pesach.

The Door of the sheep of which He was the Passover Lamb.

A Question of Jonah’s Timing.

Yonah is the name Jonah in Hebrew and means dove. The connection to Jesus/Yeshua is referenced in Matthew 12:40 and can be understood when examined from the Hebraic mindset and the Jewish way of counting days and nights. Sunset always starts the Hebrew day, it’s roots are in Genesis 1.

In Hebrew Weeks is Shavua. [שבוע] A cycle of seven days, mirroring the 7 day period of the book of Genesis in which the world is created.

The names for the days of the week, like those in the creation account, are simply the day number within the week, with Shabbat being the seventh day. Each day of the week runs from sunset to the following sunset and is figured locally.

The Hebrew calendar follows a seven-day weekly cycle and in Hebrew, these names may be abbreviated using the numerical value of the Hebrew letters,

for example ‫יום א׳‎ Day 1, or Yom Rishon ‫יום ראשון‎:

Day 1 Yom Rishon – abbr. יום א meaning first day corresponds to Sunday  ‫יום ראשון

Yom Sheni – abbr. יום ב   meaning second day corresponds to Monday   ‫יום שנ

Yom Shlishi – abbr. ‫יום ג׳ meaning third day corresponds to Tuesday יום שלישי

Yom ReviʻI – abbr. ‫יום ד׳   meaning fourth day corresponds to Wednesday יום רביעי

Yom Chamishi – abbr. ‫יום ה׳ meaning fifth day corresponds to Thursday יום חמישי

Yom Shishi – abbr. ‫יום ו׳ meaning sixth day corresponds to Friday יום ששי

Yom Shabbat – abbr. יום ש׳ meaning rest שבת, or more usually Shabbat יום שבת

Also known as Yom Shabbat Kodesh יום שבת קודש (“holy rest day”).

This means that our Friday really begins on Thursday evening at sunset. The 2nd day begins at sunset on our Friday and continues through the daytime of our Saturday. Then our equivalent of Sunday begins at sunset on Saturday and continues through Saturday night and the hours of daylight of Sunday, making the third day.

Because the Jewish system was to count any portion of daylight as a full day, then Friday a.m. through Sun a.m. would have been understood as, and seen as, 3 complete days and nights. Reference to Jonah.

 

1st Day of the 3 days: Friday (really Day 6 of the week) was sunset on Thurs. night to sunset on Friday (really Day 5 of the week).

2nd Day Saturday (really Day 7 of the week) was from sunset on Friday night to sunset on Saturday night

3rd Day Sunday (really 1st day if the week) was from sunset on Saturday night to sundown on Sunday. Resurrection that day.

He was crucified at 9am on Friday and released His Spirit to the Father at 3pm. His body was prepared for burial and interred at sunset the same day. That was the beginning of the festival of Unleavened Bread. Then on Sunday after sunrise He became the first fruits.

To help explain the hours look at The Roman versus Mosaic Time Clocks

Sundials were used prior to the numbers on a clock face that we are accustomed to.

Venetians and Germans, both under Roman Influence, developed the modern clock. According to authorities, and Roman Catholic Church Archives, (Vatican Library); the first hour of the day began at what we now call 6 o’clock in the evening – directly opposite to the God’s original time clock as described in the Bible! This was likely done by demonic spirits (Eph. 6:112) influencing leaders, in order to spiritually disorient and disempower people.

This causes confusion and made understanding the scriptures harder. God is not the author of confusion, and why would He change that which He originally set in place and said was good? When we read of the 3rd hour, it is really 9 o clock and the 6th hour is 12.

The standard Mosaic Time Clock was in use for many thousands of years and people began their days in the evening according to Genesis 1:5 and John 11:9.

It’s physical orientation was changed upside down and back to front!  We know who is responsible for that!

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isa.24:1
The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. Ps. 146:9

Theoretically by reverting back to God’s WAY of keeping time, left and right brain function would improve as so too would people’s spiritual receptivity.

In the Creation Calendar, Hebrew Hours begin at sunrise and sunset.

A Hebrew Hour occurring between sunset and sunrise is called Hebrew Night Hour.

A Hebrew Hour occurring between sunrise and sunset is called Hebrew Day Hour

Sunset occurs and the First Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the first Hebrew Night Hour.

The Second Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the fourth Hebrew Night Hour

Mid-night occurs and the Third Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the seventh Hebrew Night Hour.

The Fourth Watch begins exactly at the beginning of the tenth Hebrew Night Hour, and ends at sunrise at the end of the twelfth Hebrew Night Hour

Sunrise is always exactly at the beginning of the first Hebrew Day Hour

Mid-day occurs exactly at the end of the sixth Hebrew Day Hour

Sunset occurs exactly at the end of the twelfth Hebrew Day Hour.

The duration of a Hebrew Hour varies with the season.

A Hebrew Day Hour is shorter in duration during winter when a Hebrew Night Hour is longer in duration.

A Hebrew Day Hour is longer in duration during summer when a Hebrew Night Hour is shorter in duration.

JEWISH TIME DIVISIONS IN THE 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Jesus/Yeshua replied, ‘Are there not 12 hours in a day?’
John 11:9

Why did He say this? Is it in reference to the importance of the Hours, Days, Times and Seasons of which we are to be mindful? They all have a deep meaning and He was not one to waste words, so it must have an importance that we have not fully understood.

A Hebrew Day consists of 12 Hebrew Night Hours and 12 Hebrew Day Hours.

The midpoint of the 12 Hebrew Night Hours is called Mid-Night. The moment of Mid-night occurs exactly halfway between sunset and sunrise separating the 6th and 7th Hebrew Night Hours. 

The midpoint of the 12 Hebrew Day Hours is called Mid-day. The moment of Mid-day occurs exactly halfway between sunrise and sunset separating the 6th and 7th Hebrew Day Hours.

Between the moment of sunset at the end of the 12th Day hour and the 1st hour of the Night is called Between the Evenings or evening twilight.

At the last moment of that hour as the night begins is called Twinkling of an eye

These are the 12 Day hours of a day and what follows is what took place at each of them. As everything is connected to Messiah and speaks of Him and His fulfillment of Fathers’ plan of redemption, read with that perspective of, type and shadow, in mind and allow Ruach HaKodesh to reveal Himself to us in them.

The numbers on a Hebrew clock are the letters of the alef bet which each have numerical value. This one represents the modern clock with 12 at the top.

FIRST HOUR DAWN-8AM 
After the priests prepare the altar (Lev 1:76:1-6/8-13; Mishnah: Tamid 1:2), the first male lamb of the Tamid sacrifice is brought out and tied to the altar at dawn (Mishnah: Tamid 3:2-3:3)

Sunrise over mount of Olives.

The twice daily communal sacrifice of the Tamid is the focus of religious life for the covenant people (Ex 29:38-42Num 28:4-8). It is the only sacrifice other than the Feast of First Fruits or the Sabbath that requires a single male lamb for the liturgical service. The Sabbath requires a male lamb in addition to the Tamid lamb for each of the two Sabbath services (Num 28:9-10)

SECOND HOUR  8-9am

THIRD HOUR 9-10AM 
The incense is offered in the Sanctuary and the first Tamid lamb is sacrificed as the Temple gates open [Mishnah: Tamid 3:7; Edersheim, The Temple, chapter 7,

ROMAN TIME 9-10AM 
It is the time for the communal “Shacharit” (morning) prayer service (Acts 2:15) at the start of the 3rd hour. Individual morning prayer may be recited until noon (Mishnah: Berakhot 4:1A; Acts 10:9)

FOURTH HOUR 10-11AM

FIFTH HOUR 11-12PM

SIXTH HOUR 
The second lamb is brought out and tied to the altar at high noon. [Mishnah: Tamid 4:1]

NOON -1PM 
The second Tamid lamb is given a drink from a gold cup and remains near the altar until the time of sacrifice (Ex 29:41Mishnah: Tamid 3:4; 4:1G; Josephus, Against Apion, 2.8[105]).
Individual afternoon prayer lasts from the sixth hour (noon) to about the eleventh hour (5 PM), the length of the time from when the second lamb is tied near the altar to the conclusion of the afternoon service (Mishnah: Berakhot, 4:1C; Acts 10:9).

SEVENTH HOUR 1-2PM

EIGHTH HOUR 2-3PM

NINTH HOUR 3-4PM 
The second Tamid lamb is sacrificed [Antiquities of the Jews 14.4.3 (14:65); Philo Special Laws I, XXXV (169)]
3 PM is the second hour of prayer [Acts 3:110:9] “Minchah” (gift-offering); also called the hour of confession.

TENTH HOUR 4-5PM

ELEVENTH HOUR  5-6PM

The afternoon liturgical service is concluded with the burning of the incense (sacrifices of the two lambs is embraced by the burning of the incense, making it a single sacrifice) and the priestly benediction (Mishnah: Tamid, 6:3-7:2; Num 6:24-26).

TWELVETH HOUR 6PM-SUNDOWN

The end of the 3rd watch and the beginning of the 4th watch was signaled by a trumpet call, which occurred at the end of every watch.

This one was known as the cockcrow, as Jesus/Yeshua noted in Mark 13:35:
So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming: evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn.

Matthew 26:34, Luke 22:34, and John 13:38 all record:  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “This very night, before the cockcrow, you will disown me three times.

Cocks crow in the morning not during the night. This is the end of third watch of the night, in the time of Christ and the beginning of the tenth Hebrew Night Hour.

So it would seem He was saying that Peter would deny Him before the start of the tenth Hebrew hour, which was a full 2 hours before sunrise.

In our Lord’s time the Jews had adopted the Greek and Roman division of the night into four watches, each consisting of three hours, the first beginning at six o’clock in the evening (Luke 12:38Matthew 14:25Mark 6:48). But the ancient division, known as the first and second cock-crowing, was still retained.

The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing), and again at the dawn of day (and this is the second crowing). Mark mentions (14:30) the two cock-crowings.

Roman Horn

Matthew (26:34) alludes to that only which was emphatically the cock-crowing, the second, kok’-kro-ing (alektorophonia):

An indefinite hour of the night between midnight and morning

(Mark 13:35), referred to by all the evangelists in their account of Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:34, 74Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38). (It is derived from the habit of the cock to crow, especially toward morning.)

And is also a symbol of the Resurrection, our Lord being supposed to have risen
from the grave at the early cock crowing:

Roosters were not allowed in the city, according to Jewish ritual law. More likely, the Gospels refer to the trumpet call marking the changing of the guard at 3 A.M. This trumpet blast, heard city-wide, was called the cock-crow.

Roman signal horn.

Notice that according to St. Mark, Jesus went to the cross at the third hour, which in Jewish time corresponds to our 9AM [Mark 15:25], and according to the Gospel accounts He gave up His life at the ninth hour, our 3PM.

At the 9th hour during the temple lamb sacrifices, the same words were also shouted.

It is finished!

The Jewish day began at sundown.

sunset over old city

The daytime was divided into 12 seasonal hours, but the day division of hours was focused on the schedule of the Tamid sacrifice. 

Twelve-hour night time division. 

In Judaism, an hour is defined as (1/12), one twelfth of the time from sunrise to sunset, so, during the winter, an hour can be much less than 60 minutes, and during the summer, it can be much more than 60 minutes. This proportional hour is known as a ‘sha’ah z’manit’ (lit. a timely hour).

The daytime hours are often divided into Sha`oth Zemaniyoth or “Halachic hours” by taking the time between sunrise and sunset or between dawn and nightfall and dividing it into 12 equal hours.

Halachically, a day ends and a new one starts when three stars are visible in the sky.

The time between true sunset and the time when the three stars are visible (known as ‘tzait ha’kochavim’) is known as ‘bein hashmashot’.

The nighttime hours are similarly divided into 12 equal portions, albeit a different amount of time than the “hours” of the daytime.

(Roman night watch division was adopted after Roman occupation began in 63 BC)

THE NIGHT WATCH IN THE 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Sundown to 9PM First watch

9PM to midnight Second watch

Midnight to 3AM Third watch 

3AM to sun rise Fourth watch

Sixth to the ninth hour were the hours of darkness when Messiah was on the cross.

The Roman calendar took precedence with the Julian calendar. Julius Caesar first implemented it in 46 B.C. Since the Roman emperor’s system miscalculated the length of the solar year by 11 minutes, the calendar had since fallen out of sync with the seasons.

The Julian Calendar marked a major change from the Lunar Republican Calendar, being a Solar calendar and the predecessor of the Calendar still in use today. It was not until 1582 AD that Pope Gregory XIII decreed a modification to the Julian calendar, giving us the “Gregorian Calendar” that governs modern time.

He removed 10 days from the calendar!

In reference to Jesus/Yeshua, the year was returned to 0 and separated B.C. from A.D. We are now at 2019 A.D. It is really approx. the year 6019, if we count from Creation to Messiah 4,000+ years and then add 2019!

Gives a whole new meaning to the statement no man knows the day nor the hour.

Some other references to hours

In contrast to Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts, the book of John, as it now exists in the Greek manuscripts, numbers hours from midnight as the Romans did.

Pilate questioned  יהושע the Messiah at the sixth hour Roman reckoning according to John 19:14 which is the twelfth Hebrew Night Hour 

יהושע the Messiah sat at Jacob’s well at Sychar at the sixth hour Roman reckoning after a tiresome journey according to John 4:6 which is the twelfth Hebrew Day Hour.

A nobleman travelled the better part of a day from Cana to Capernaum and met  יהושע the Messiah at the seventh hour Roman reckoning according to in John 4:52 which is the first Hebrew Night Hour.

The disciples came to the place  יהושע the Messiah was staying at the tenth hour Roman reckoning and stayed with Him for the rest of that day according to John 1:39. The tenth hour Roman reckoning is the fourth Hebrew Day Hour.

Acts 2:15 Peter speech at pentecost/ Shavuot four these are not drunk as you assume as it is the third hour of the day. 9 AM is the hour of morning prayer how is hour three equal to 9 AM?

John 4:6 it was about sixth hour which was noon 12 o’clock this also fits with the evening morning the first day. John 4:2 1 PM the seventh hour.

Because the clock has been reversed and that was 2000+ years ago and since that time everything has been altered to benefit those under the influence of the god of this world. Primarily to hide the truth and to throw everything out of kilter. The scriptures say he will change the times and seasons, that spirit of antichrist working in the worlds systems. The opposite of and in contrary rebellion to all that which was set in place by the Lord. He is the wrong DOR, an acronym for Direct Opposite Reverse.

For example: The evening and the morning constitutes a day, not morning and evening. The english language goes from left to write instead of right to left and books are red from left to right. This is not the way that the Hebrew language is written and read.

If we follow the scripture in Matthew 20:1–6, then 9 AM is the third hour.

vs.5, six and nine are equal to 12 Noon and 3 P.M.

vs 6. 5 PM is the 11thhour.

So if the day begins at sundown which is 6 P.M. to us, with the original clock that would be 12 PM.

Then 1 AM would begin and two cycles of the clock face for 24 hours would give the 24 hours of the day.

If this is true then what we call ‘anti clockwise’ is actually not anti but correct?

We really should be vigilant because..

Time is running out so…..

Messiah is The Pesach-Dalet in Time; He is The One Between 2 Realms; and the type of Yonah is fulfilled in The Watches of the Night.

Shalom Aleikhem Mishpachah  שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‬  מִשְׁפָחָה

Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that you have Messiah our Passover Lamb, our Tamid in your life and heart as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..Open the Dalet of your heart and let the King of Glory in..

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

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

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.