21 12 21 12 12 12 12 12 12 ?

Most likely we have all heard the references to Heavens pearly gates and it may be that the image we have in our minds is something like the picture below.

A huge gate made out of a single pearl?

Our frame of reference is limited to what we know and of what we see in our physical earth realm.

What size must the oyster have had to be?

Impossible?

.. all things are possible with God!

Mark 10:27

We limit Him and ourselves by our humanity and our measures..His Ways are not ours neither are His thoughts. Is.55:8.. It’s time to stre-a-t-c-hh our spiritual muscles!

The pearl is often associated with tears because it’s believed that the pearl is formed through intrusive particles like sand, they become an agitant within the mollusk and cause discomfort/pain. It apparently secretes a substance around the particle to prevent further irritation and damage. The build up of this secretion eventually forms the beautiful pearl. If this is so, tears are then the symbols of the gates and the Way into heaven.

Pearls represent tears and if, as we have previously noted, tears bring life…

click link for more on tears https://www.minimannamoments.com/keeping-it-all-bottled-up-part-1/

..then as we enter into life through the pearl gate – the tears of sorrow turn to beautiful pearls/tears of joy.

 Ps. 30:5 in his favour is life: weeping/tears may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Tears of true repentance are essential and integral to salvation. He wipes away all tears as we enter through that Pearl/symbol.

Rev. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

It’s the last reminder of the tears we have shed in this life as we enter in to His joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Many times we have only heard what someone else says of Heaven and have not actually read the scripture references for ourselves and because if this we sometimes miss some amazing details.

Maybe each of the gates are more like this??…

Heaven is in the spiritual realm and is beyond the veil separating the dimensions and yet it exists just as solidly as anything here on earth and is in many ways more real!

How do we know that?

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Nothing in Heaven decays in any way and is eternal, whereas this earth is scheduled for renewal in the future.

According to revelation, heaven is the location of Fathers’ throne and it is also where the new Jerusalem is – are they one and the same?

What we do know is that according to Revelation, the new Jerusalem is going to come down to the earth and that is where Messiah will rule from in the millenial reign.

So it’s at least a portion of shamayim/heaven that is coming to earth. Rev 21:12-21.

The first thing that is clear, is that there is more than one pearl because, there is more than one gate to enter into the New Jerusalem.

Jerusalem

Yerusalyim/Yerushalyim

(Remember the im Hebrew suffix means more than one – spiritually speaking, there has always been more than one Yerushalyim) 

חָדָשׁ      (chadash) — new

Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-dawsh’)

חָדָשׁ

In the same pattern that there were 12 gates

into the old city of Jerusalem in Israel,

there are 12 gates into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12).

The 12 gates in Revelation 21 belong to the New Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven to the new earth (verse 10), shining with the glory of God (verse 11). John describes the city: “It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.”

The gates are most likely equal distances apart. As the structure is a square, it would make logical sense for there to be 3 gates on the north, 3 on the east, 3 on the west and 3 on the south. (Rev. 21:13).

In Revelation 21:10-12 the apostle John says “And he …showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God….It had a great and high wall and had twelve gates.”

Our natural, fallen man is excluded from New Jerusalem by the (soreg), wall (of separation), the only

WAY to ENTER IN is through THE GATE.

The pearl signifies the death and resurrection of Messiah, through whom we enter New Jerusalem. He tore down that wall which had a literal physical manifestation when the veil/curtain/wall to the Holy of Holies was rent in two. This thick veil in the temple kept everyone out of His Holy presence including the Jewish men.

Eph.2:14  (τὸ μεσότοιχον του̂ φραγμου̂). Paul asserts that Messiah has broken down the “middle wall of partition” (niv “dividing wall of hostility”) that divided Jews and Gentiles, and has made of the two, one new people/man. Paul probably had in mind a literal wall as a tangible symbol of the division between Jews and Gentiles—the wall in the temple area in Jerusalem separating the court of the Gentiles from the courts into which only Jews might enter.

He is the pearl of great price.Each of the 12 pearls speak of great price for which the Messiah/Moshiach ‘sold’ all that he had by giving His all. (Mattiyahu 13:45,46)

Messiah is the crown jewel of heaven and our entrance into the city is through His death and resurrection.

He is the Gate and as Eph. 2:14 tells us: ‘For He is our peace, who of both has made one, breaking down the middle wall of separation.’

The wall in the Temple was only a symbol of the spiritual wall that existed between Jew and Gentile, now because Messiah has broken down the wall, Jew and Gentile can step across it and worship the Lord together. This worship will be for all eternity in Heaven.

Notice the square/cube plan of the Temple blueprint above is the same shape as the New Jerusalem.

Our Heavenly Father Creator of the universe has a blueprint which seems to be recurring throughout Hi-Story.

We are seeing more and more how everything is connected.

As God declares the end from the beginning… did He plant the garden east of Eden, based on His design of the New Jerusalem? It is only new to us!

Gates are significant in scripture and in the days of the New Testament, the Israelites would enter Jerusalem for Passover/Pesach through the Eastern Gate, which led to the Temple. Also called the Golden Gate and the one which Messiah will enter on HIs return.

crucifixion and death at Pesach/Passover. Matt. 21:1-11.

By our inclusion in His death and resurrection, our old man was terminated and buried, the created part of our being was redeemed and justified, we were made alive by being born of the Spirit, and we were raised up in Messiah to walk in newness of life.

All this together is our entrance into New Jerusalem through the PEARL of great price.

Our includes All Gentile/Goyim/Nations/Tribes/Cultures/ Languages/Heathen. Mark. 13:10.  And the gospel of the KINGDOM must first be preached unto all the nations. (The ‘Kingdom of the Heavens/shamayim‘, as John preached; ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ Matt. 3:1-2).

Also that the Kingdom of God is also spiritually within us; this is the real meaning of ‘as above so below’! (As always the adversary has taken what was originally Fathers’ and perverted it.)

Before He returns, Matt. 24:14 says it shall be preached “in the whole world, for a testimony unto all the nations” (ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ εἰς μαρτύριον).

Revelation 21:21a says, “ And the 12 gates were 12 pearls; each one of the gates was, respectively, of one pearl.

Then we see 12 gates, portals, doors or entryways into the city. 

In as much as the ‘city’, is probably an entire planetary celestial object, we must now envision 12 portals or entryways into an entirely new realm, of which we have very little experience or comprehension.

These are guarded by 12 cherubim.  We saw 2 cherubim at the Garden of Eden and 4 surrounding the Throne of God. 

Are these the guardian angels (Cherubim/kerubim) for each of the 12 tribes represented by the 144,000? (Rev. 7:4-8)

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

Click links below for more on Cherubim + pictures.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/who-are-those-around-the-throne/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/keruvim-not-quite-like-we-imagined/

Because the pearl signifies the death and resurrection of Messiah, through which we enter New Jerusalem.  Revelation 21:21 gives an understanding that each gate of the Holy city is one single pearl, signifying that the entrance to the city is unique and is once for all; that is, we can enter the city only through the once-for-all regeneration accomplished by Messiah’s overcoming death and life-imparting resurrection.

The gates of pearl at the entrances to New Jerusalem, are they real?

Because they signify the death and resurrection of Messiah as our entrance into the new creation. They are far more ‘real’ or precious than any physical pearl.

The New Jerusalem, which will also be connected with the New Earth, a large portion of verses are used in describing the foundations of the city. (Hebrews 11:10, Revelation 21:14, 19)

Scripture states these foundations will be 12 in number, 12 has a significant symbolism to the Father.  **There was similar creative detail in the formation of the foundations of this earth in Genesis. The Lord of Hosts marked off its dimension and stretched a measuring line across it, which provided footings to set it, and laid its cornerstone.

(Footings could refer to magnetic properties, as in grounding or earthing as in an electrical power source; and the cornerstone refers prophetically to Messiah Jesus/Yeshua. Eph.2:20. Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, the Alef/Tav-Alpha/Omega-Beginning/End-Genesis/Revelation – the End from the Beginning).

Job 38:5“Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched … Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of …

Isaiah 45:12 KJV: I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

Most significant is the shape and size of the celestial city, which is enormous. 

Calculated at a diameter of 1,325.75 miles or 2,133.58 km across. 1,200,000 x the height of a man. It’s impossible that 2000 yrs ago a ‘precise guestimate’ was made for its length and breadth as these are = to the principals used in today’s modern engineering. These formulas based on mathematics that validate such construction, have only existed less than 80 years, highlighting the fact that the design of the New Jerusalem, is beyond our current abilities!

Here are some world maps with the New Jerusalem overlaid on different countries to give us a better understanding of its size.

Over the Middle East

Mediteranean

Over America

and Australia

According to scripture, the foundation of the Throne of the Father lies upon a crystal sea, which is the canopy over the cherubim, who in turn form the footings and the cornerstone for the Throne.

Is this a real, liquid, sea?

We know a sapphire-blue is the color of pure water, however, the great multitude of people is standing on the sea. So, this crystalline sea has to be solid enough to support a great multitude and a giant sapphire throne, and has to have the hardness similar to that of a diamond.

According to scientific research, the core building material of this earths matrix is Silicon, and at least one archangel or anointed cherub, Lucifer, was made of silicon and gold.

See in Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-17 the scripture speaks of the King of Tyre/stones of fire?..

Y’ḥezqēl   חֶזְקֵאל

Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared. Ezek.28:13.

Silicon based stones seem in large part to encompass the foundations of the New Jerusalem and silicon is the number one conductor of energy (electricity/power) and so is gold. So what is described for us is an enormous storehouse of the eternal, inexhaustible energy of HaShem, our Father, the source of all creation; who upholds all things by the Word of His power.

In Revelation 21:19, the 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem are described:

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.

 Are the stone foundations on top of one another in layers or next to each other side by side, around the base where each of the 12 tribes gates are?

The first foundation was jasper.

Jasper is a common mineral.  It can be found in many colors one is a very opaque, dense burnt-orange/red colored stone.

There is also a crystalline type of jasper, which is an emerald green color and very similar to crystal clear green Jade which is valued as a very precious stone.

According to some scholars, iaspis, (Strong’s Greek 2393) is a brilliant green crystalline structure.  John writes that the city itself had every appearance of a precious jewel, like jasper, clear as a crystal.

Is it envisioning a traditional foursquare city with foundations settling on a flat surface like the earth?  It does not appear that way because the Greek word, krustallizo, means to be clear or brilliant like a crystal, or having a crystalline matrix like a clear crystal.

The Hebrew is yashpheh, היֱשְׁפֵ        Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-shef-ay’)

(Strong’s 3471) coming from an unused root meaning to polish.

From the context of its use, we could assume that the city is constructed of gem stone quality but this type of gem is only assumed because of the similarity of yashpheh with jasper.

Until the original Breast Plate of the Hebrew High Priest is recovered, it will remain a mystery.  The Greek word for jasper is iaspis (Strong’s 2393) and it’s only translated as jasper.

So we could conclude that when looking from the exterior surface, the city will look like jasper, however there are 12 foundations of the city, the 1st and exterior surface being jasper, the 2nd being sapphire.

While considering these concepts, it’s helpful to remember that we are dealing with crystalline or minerals structures.  Each of the foundation stones has a crystalline matrix and as such, each one transmits energy in a different way.  The transmission of light (energy) will depend on the hue of the color (light frequency) that is transmitted. We looked at the rainbow and light frequencies in a previous post.

The 12

foundation stones

אבן השתייה

Even ha-Shtiyya

There are several variations of the stones names and colors due to translations and modern names. Here are some to help give a visual reference.

v.19 The 1st foundation was Jasper (in some listed as diamond/Yahalom), Jashepheh/Yashpheh-RED/GREEN

the 2nd Sapphire, Sappiyr, Leshem,  -BLUE

the 3rd chalcedony/carbunkle/garnet, Bareqeth from same word as lightning purple-blue or possibly green?

the 4th emerald, Nophek.

v. 20 the 5th Sardonyx, RED and WHITE

the 6th Sardius, Odem-RED

the 7th Chrysolite, Shoham-YELLOW like chrysolite Tarshish (Yellow). 

the 8th Beryl, Tarshish 

the 9th Topaz, Pitdah-YELLOW/BROWN

the 10th Chrysoprase/chrysoprasus, 

the 11th Jacinth or Carbunkle, REDDISH BLACK

and the 12th Amethyst, Aclamah-PURPLE.”

So, if the 1st foundation is an emerald green crystalline hue like jasper where the Throne of the Father positioned upon it, (within its midst).  Then the 2nd foundation is the brilliant blue of sapphire, the same as the foundation below the throne of God, seen as the sea of glass, clear as crystal. 

Is it possible that we are seeing described as the New Jerusalem, is another spherical body, a planet, that has its orbit along side earth during the millennium and at the end of a thousand years it will come down and rest upon the earth?

Revelation 21:1-3 – “Now I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, for the First Heaven and the First Earth were passed away.  Also there was no more sea.”

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

When John saw the Holy City descending down out of heaven, as described, he stated:

Revelation 21:10-12 – “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.  And she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

Traditional pictures of the New Jerusalem are all modeled after ancient or medieval 3-dimensional walled cities. 

None depict a crystalline structure, yet in the days of Herod, Jerusalem ancient writers described the city as shining with the brilliance of whiteness due to the gleaming temple, which was built of polished limestone.

The 12 foundations describe a huge structure, and the measurements are for a 4square or cube-like shape.

The almost unimaginable beauty of the New Jerusalem becomes clear, emerging out of the words in Johns descriptions: whose length, breadth and height are equal, yet having 12 foundations with 12 gates (or we may could call them energy portals) with height, (Greek hypsos), which interestingly suggests some kind of points or crowns, (like a a geo-magnetic structure).

The other possibility is that all the 12 foundations are Diamonds…

Taking the measurements from the ancient human cubit scale and converting into those we use today, the size of such a city would be 12,000 furlongs in height, width and length. A furlong is 220 yards, therefore, each side is 660 feet x 12,000 feet = 7,920,000 feet per side. One mile is 5,280 feet, so each side is 7,920,000 divided by 5280 feet = 1500 MILES on each side.

We are not looking for something the size of our home village, town or city! Or even a place where humans could live!

1,500 X 1,500 x 1,500 = 3,375,000,000 cubic miles for the whole city. 1,500 miles = 2,414.016 kilometers so the city would be 14,067,613,676.25 cubic km. The length and breadth would be 2.25 million square miles, (3.86 million square meters) and including the height, or the cubic size, makes this planetary sphere about 3.375 billion cubic miles or in volume about the size of the moon!

  It will be a self-radiating, there is no need of light for the Lord Himself is the source of LIGHT. Due to His being eternally self-sustaining as an everlasting source of life energy; it will truly be the center of its own heavenly solar system, or universe/shamayim. Here our Heavenly Father Himself, will dwell there with His people and His Omnipotent, all-encompassing presence, will be that in which we will abide.

This is everlasting life, this is heaven – never being separated from Him and all that He is.

Revelation 21: 15-17 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. – KJV

The new international version converts the above measurements to be 2,200km long and wide and high and 65 metres thick.

12,000 furlongs square, while the wall will be 144 (12 x 12) cubits.

To get an idea of how big this is, the average diameter of the earth is 12,742km Earth has an equatorial diameter of 12,756 km (7926 mi),

Since the height, width and length of the walls of the city of New Jerusalem is given, the best statistic to compare with our planet earth is volume. From the measurements of New Jerusalem described above the volume of New Jerusalem is 1.0648x 1010 km3.

According to calculations, the volume of the earth is 1.08321×1012 km3. This implies that the earth is 169 times larger in volume than the city of New Jerusalem! (All measurements are approximations, however we get the idea…Its HUGE!)

As for a planet that could possibly be made of diamonds… think again!

Scientists discover massive planet made of diamonds twice the size of Earth.

(Have scientists discovered a Sanctified World? George Potter) On August 25, 2011 the Reuters news agency announced that “Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.

The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbonBecause it is so dense, scientists calculate that the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be a diamond.” 

Link  to article below

https://www.space.com/18011-super-earth-planet-diamond-world.html

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Hebrews. 12:22.

There’s No ‘GPS App’ for Our Final Destination. Our Road map is in the Scriptures, so before leaving this page make certain this will be the destination at the end of your road; for His WAY is Clearly Truth and Life.

12 Pearl Gates, 12 Angels, 12 Foundations, 12 Breastplate stones, 12 Apostles, 12 Tribes. The number 12 signifies perfection of government or rule.

The 12’s of the New Jerusalem = the sign of the perfect covenant.

The Name of each tribe is written over a gate.

Does this mean it is only for the members of that tribe?

Shalom Mishpachah!

Conclusions coming in Part 2..

Please don’t leave this page without a certainty in your heart that you will one day enter in to Heaven through one of 12 gates of pearl.

Don’t put it off, the days draw ever closer to the door closing at end of this age just as it did in the days of Noah..

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

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

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

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

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.

Endings Are Simply New Beginnings

The final, 8th day, of this feast is known as

Shemini Atzaret,

(Rejoicing in the Torah scriptures)

and brings us to the end of the 7 Appointed Times of the Lord for this annual cycle.

However it is also the beginning of a new calendar cycle and comprises the time in between the last feast and the next, first feast, which is not until the Spring. 

As we come to close of the 7 Annual Appointed Times of the Lord, a few last thoughts remain including an ‘8th day’ mystery, a ‘roof revelation’ and a couple of intriguing points to ponder.

As believers it is important to see the relevance to us.  The instructions and ultimate plan of God as laid out in the old covenant/testament.

Then with the understanding and insights we gain, what we read in the renewed covenant/testament scriptures, begins to make more sense, as we see that everything in God’s Word is connected.

(Prov. 4:7 encourages us, ‘get wisdom, get understanding’.)

Every Hebrew year has two cycles or groups of holy days\ appointed times set in by our Heavenly Father. (As discussed in previous posts.) He has not changed them nor has He told us not to follow the pattern. This is because they all point prophetically to Jesus. Who Himself attended the Feasts, as well as His being their literal fulfillment. They are connected not only in their purpose and themes but also in their timing.

“You shall dwell in sukkot (huts) for seven days . . . so that you will know, for all generations, that I had the Children of Israel dwell in sukkot, when I took them out of the Land of Egypt; I am God, your God” (Lev. 23:42 -43)

 For 40 years, as the Israelites traversed the Sinai Desert prior to their entry into the Holy Land, miraculous clouds of glory surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert.

Ever since, God’s kindness is remembered at Sukkot/feast of Tabernacles and trust in His providence is reaffirmed by dwelling in a sukkah, a hut of temporary construction. Also called the feast of Booths which is the meaning of Hebrew word Sukkot,it celebrates the fall harvest with the third first fruits of the growing season. During Sukkot, and each family built a Sukkah, (which is the singular of Sukkot;) or booth, outside the home. This is an activity still practiced today. Lev. 23:39  

It is a flimsy structure of palm branches that provide little else but shade. Heavy rain would penetrate the walls and roof. The family eats all meals inside, it’s a room where visitors and strangers can come.

Sukkot Guests – Ushpizin – אושפיזין

The final, 8th day, of this feast is known as Yom haSh’miyniy’Atzaret, the 8th day assembly.  Sukkot is a holiday of immense joy, where complete trust in God is expressed, and confidence from Yom Kippur is celebrated in having received a ‘good judgment’, for the coming year. God is our ultimate protection – just as He protected the Israelites in the desert with the Clouds of Glory He will protect those who obey His Word. (Exodus 13:21).During this week Ex. 33:12–34:26; Ezek.38:18–39:16; Rev. 21:1–22:21 are read because according to teachings, this war will be waged during the month of Tishri, same month in which the holiday of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) falls.

Interestingly enough, the war that is described in Ezekiel is similar to the war described in (Zech. 14:16–17). In Zechariah we learn that the Gentiles who survive the war against Israel, will be required to keep Sukkot annually, by coming up to the Holy City of Jerusalem to worship the Lord.Sukkot in Jerusalem  at the Western (Wailing) Wall.

Gog and Magog – Challenge to the Restoration of Israel

“This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, My hot anger will be aroused.”  (Ezekiel 38:18)

Gog is a chief prince living in the land of Magog (Ezekiel 38:2).  Many scholars believe Magog refers to Russia.  The invading land of Gomer is often believed to be Germany.
Several lands in the coalition army are easily identifiable: Iran (Persia), Northern Sudan (ancient Ethiopia or Cush), Libya (Put), and Turkey (Togarmah).

The nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 will unite and come upon Israel “like a cloud that covers the land” for the purpose of looting the wealth that she has amassed in what was a desolate land only seventy years ago.

The war that is described in Ezekiel is similar to the war described in the 14th chapter of Zechariah, where we learn that the Gentiles who survive the war against Israel will be required to keep Sukkot annually by coming up to the Holy City of Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles [Sukkot].  If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.”  (Zechariah 14:16–17)

Psalm 27 presents a clear connection between Sukkot and God’s protection of Israel and those who trust in Him:

“For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle [sukkah]; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.”  (Psalm 27:5)

The word translated here as tabernacle is the Hebrew word sukkah (סכה).  When evil threatens God’s people, He will hide them in His sukkah, inaccessible from the enemy on the rock of His presence.

Now that is a promise we can trust in during these last days!
Gog and Magog are also mentioned in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) Rev. 16, in connection with Armageddon and the final battle between the forces of good and evil.

This war with Gog and Magog is not the same war described in Ezekiel 38 but a final end-time battle after the thousand-year reign of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).The Son of David, Jesus/Yeshua, will come again — this time as our conquering Messiah to defeat the invading forces forever.  All who have believed in their Savior, Yeshua, will inherit eternity in the New Jerusalem — a revived Garden of Eden complete with trees of life and pure living water that will be good to eat and drink forever.

A Roof Revelation.

An inner connection between Sukkot are the names Gog and Magog.

The Hebrew word Gog means roof and there is a huge difference between a real roof and the roof of the Sukkah which would not withstand wind and rain.

By building sturdy walls people have power to make themselves safe and secure against earthly elements and people and so are deluded and self deceived into thinking they can make themselves secure against the things from God and his power to direct matters.

They take their fate in their own hands and protect with their own strength with no need to depend on God.The war of Gog and Magog is also a battle of Gog the roof, against Sukkah, it’s a fight of the illusion of the roof which is manifest as human greatness, a pride which never allows rest. Its fight against the Sukkah truth of the joyful confidence and carefree Shalom which comes only from placing complete trust in God’s protection and faith focused on his provision alone. The word Gog when prefixed with an M is then Mgog or Magog; it expresses the concept of projecting something and represents earthly wisdom and the human philosophical notion, that man can both isolate and insulate himself against God’s heavenly power.

It has origins back in the land of Shinar when Nimrod stirred the people to build a tower that would survive another flood and so avoid God’s judgment while they lived as they pleased.

Another very interesting connection to this season is.. 

the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is called “the season of our joy” and “the feast of the nations.” With this in mind, in Luke 2:10 it is written, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings [basar in Hebrew; otherwise known as the gospel] of great joy  which shall be to all people. So, we can see from this that the terminology the angel used to announce the birth of Jesus/Yeshua, were themes and messages associated with the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).

     In Luke 2:12, the baby (Yeshua) was wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. The swaddling cloths were also used as wicks to light the vats of oil within the court of the women during the festival of Sukkot, another association with the festival of Sukkot.
In Luke 2:12 The word manger is Greek word phatn’e. It is the same word translated as stall in Luke 13:15. By seeing how the word is used in Luke 13:15, we can see that the Greek word phatn’e means a place for hitching cattle.

The Hebrew word for stall is marbek, which can be found in Amos 6:4 and Malachi 4:2. In Genesis 33:17 it is written that Jacob journeyed to Sukkoth and made booths (the word booth in this passage is the Hebrew word sukkah; the plural is sukkot) for his cattle.
Due to cultural traditions we have little idea in the west, what a manger is. In Israel a manger is a hollow space cut out of a large rock and not the wooden structure in the previous picture.

The area is filled with food usually for sheep and goats.

(This reminds us also of another place of protection  ‘I will put thee in the cleft of the rock’. Ex. 32:22)So we can see from these passages how the word booth (sukkah or sukkot) was used by Jacob for his cattle in Genesis 33:17, and how the Greek word for manger or stall, phatn’e, was also used to refer to hitching cattle in Luke 13:15. Phatn’e is the same word translated as manger in Luke 2:12, where Yeshua was laid at the time of His birth.During the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles), God required that all male Jews come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Deut. 16:16). For this reason, as well as the census being conducted, the city would have been overcrowded with people and could explain why Mary (Miryam) and Joseph (Yosef) were unable to find lodging in and around Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Lk. 2:7). Bethlehem, the place where Jesus/Yeshua was born, is only about four miles from Jerusalem.Some Bible scholars believe that this holiday is a more accurate birth date of Jesus. God is said to have dwelled (tabernacled) with the Jews as they wandered for 40 years in the desert. How appropriate it would be if our Messiah was born during this feast. This would bring insightful meaning to the Messianic name Emanuel, which means God is with us, prophesied by Isaiah (Isa.7:14)

We know our Messiah was made manifest into a temporary body when He came to earth. Is it possible He also was put into a temporary dwelling? The fields would have been dotted with Sukkot during this harvest time to provide temporary shelter animals. The Hebrew word ‘stable’ is also called a Sukkoth (Gen. 33:17). Later when the scriptures record Mary and Joseph were in a house, the time for the sukkah would have been past.Further interesting facts concerning the birth of Jesus/Yeshua occurring during Sukkot, is in Matt. 2:1. Scripture says that wise men come from the East to visit Him. The land of the East is Babylon, where the largest Jewish population was at the time of the birth of Jesus/Yeshua.

These Jews were descendants from the captivity when King Nebuchadnezzar defeated Israel and took the Jews to Babylon to serve him. Babylon is referred to as the land of the East in Gen. 29:1 and Jud. 6:3.The wise men in Matt. 2:1 were possibly teachers/rabbis. The rabbis, also called sages, are known in Hebrew as chakamim, which means wise men. The word in Matthew 2:1 in Greek is magos, which is translated into English as Magi. Magos in Greek is the Hebrew word ravmag. Ravmag comes from the Hebrew word rav, which means rabbi. It should also be noted that the Greek word magos can also mean scientist, counselor, scholar, or teacher. The rabbis were scholars or teachers of the Jewish law. Jesus/Yeshua was referred to as Rabbi, or Teacher in John 1:38,47,49; 3:2. So, it’s a possibility that the wise men were Jewish rabbis coming from Babylon to witness the birth of Jesus/Yeshua. 

“What made the rabbis make the journey from Babylon to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Yeshua?” The answer is given in Matt. 2:2, as it is written, “…we have seen His star in the east….”As we have read, one of the requirements during the time of Sukkot was to build an outside temporary shelter and live in it during this festival season. It had to be built with an opening in the roof so the people could see the stars in heaven. This is another reason why the rabbis would be looking for, and thus seeing, the star in the sky when it appeared.

In addition, there was a prophecy in Numbers as it is written, “…a star shall come forth from Jacob…” (Num. 24:17 NAS). King Herod inquired about where the Messiah would be born in Matt.2:4. (He was told in Bethlehem vs 6, based upon the prophecy in Micah 5:2.) In Matt. 2:10 it is written, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Once again, remember that Sukkot is called “the season of our joy.” In Matt. 2:2, the rabbis saw the star from the East. Salvation was seen by the Jewish people as coming from the East. Jesus/Yeshua descended from the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5). The tribe of Judah was positioned on the east side of the tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness.

Finally, in Luke 2:32, Jesus/Yeshua is called a light to the Gentiles. Once again, Sukkot is called “the festival of lights” and “the festival of all nations.”

Therefore, by studying and understanding the festival of Sukkot and the themes and messages that God desired to be conveyed during this festival, it enables us to read the Bible in a new light; and to ponder the possibility that Jesus/Yeshua may have been born during the season of Sukkot and that He is the Star we are all called to see with our (spiritual) eyes!


Sukkot (Tabernacles) is called the Feast of Ingathering. Jesus/Yeshua told us that the harvest represents the end of the age (Olam Hazeh). This is found in (Matt. 13:39; Rev. 14:15; Joel 3:13). The harvest refers more specifically to people who choose to accept the Messiah Jesus/Yeshua into their hearts and lives. (Matt. 9:35-38; Lk 10:1-2; Jn 4:35-38; Rev 14:14-18). God is gathering both Jews and non-Jews together to accept the Messiah Jesus/Yeshua into their lives. Most of the people on earth have not accepted Jesus into their lives and are in the valley of decision (Joel 3:13-14). Jeremiah sorrowed for a people who were not a part of the harvest in Jer. 8:18-22. vs. 20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” To those who do accept the Messiah, they will experience the real Sukkot (Tabernacles) during the Messianic age, the Millennium. Both Jew and non-Jew will live in the Messianic Kingdom. No doubt there will also be immortal people such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David. There will be mortal people as well who will live with them, who are the people who lived through the seven-year tribulation period, the birthpangs of the Messiah, or the Chevlai shel Mashiach, and who accepted Jesus/Yeshua into their hearts and lives. What a joy it will be living with the Messiah during the Messianic era!


Olam habah = the world to come.  …tabernacle of God is with men…” (Rev 21:1-3)

Sukkot (Tabernacles) is known as the festival of ingathering and the fruit harvest. In Rev.7:9-17, we can see those who have come through the great tribulation period and who became believers in the Messiah during that time (Rev. 7:14). In Rev. 7:15, they “dwell” with them.

Tishrei is the 7th month, the number of completion.   (Lev. 23:23–44)

The book of Revelation is filled with number 7 and has similarities to the events in this month. Tishrei begins with Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets. (Rev. 8:2; 14:7; 19:16; 20:4; 21:3; 22:5)There are 7 angels with 7 trumpets.

Tishrei also has Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment. In Revelation, judgment comes as man stands before God face to face, on Yom Kippur so too. God is proclaimed King in Tishrei and also in Revelation.  If we believe we are grafted into the Olive tree of spiritual Israel, then we are also included in the 7 Appointed Times and their fulfillment.There is reason to believe that during the time when the Temple stood, a total of 70 sacrifices were offered during the seven days of Sukkot which are celebrated in the Land of Israel.

Maybe the 70 bullocks sacrificed represented the 70 nations of the world as they were divided into by God after the confusion of languages at the destruction of the tower at Babel with Nimrod on the plains of Shinar.
Would this mean that Israel was interceding for nations of the world, not just herself?
These offerings were then considered an offering for world peace.

Tishrei closes with another day of mystery.

The final, 8th day, of this feast is known as Shemini Atzaret, Yom haSh’miyniy’Atzaret, The 8th day assembly. In Israel, the 8th day is a day that speaks of eternity and the Bible ends in Revelation with that same day, the day of eternity where we will reign forever with Him. The plans and purposes of God have only perfect ends.

The gathering of the 8th day;

The last day of the spiritual year;

The day after the end – is the day that represents the beginning of all eternity.
All Scripture is written on kosher scrolls not in books. So to understand the reference in Revelation, consider that the Torah scroll (the first five books of the Bible) has been continually unrolled throughout the year for each weeks reading. At the end of the year there is a rolling back of all that has been unrolled over the course of the year!

In Revelation it states that the heaven shall be rolled up like a scroll, this is an image written in the prophecies of revelation concerning the end of the ages. (Rev. 6:14; 20:11, 22)The sky is rolled up at the end of the present age and earth and heaven have fled away before eternity is ushered in. The old has gone, the scroll finished, for the story is completed and the day after the end, Shemini Atzeret is the 8th day and is the day forever starts, it’s the beginning of eternity.

Olam habah the world to come.Before the scroll is rolled up, the last words written are from the final reading in Deuteronomy. They are concerning the end of a particular journey.When Moses climbed the mountain to view the land of promise just before his life on Earth is complete and he goes to be with God. he was looking towards the place where the Temple would one day stand. The exact same location that Abraham had to be willing to sacrifice his only son and where Jesus would also be our sacrificial lamb.

The End Is Also The Beginning.

The journey through the wilderness is over and the Israelites are about to cross Jordan to enter the promised land with Joshua leading them.
(Joshua is a type of Jesus) and so Shemini Atzeret reminds us of the future day when our journey through the wilderness and our existence on earth will be complete and this old world will pass away to reveal the new and Jesus will lead us into our promised land.

Its clear the old must be left behind before we can enter into the new, our life here is only the journey on the way to the destination. As the scroll is rolled up, be ready to catch the first glimpse of the unfathomable glory that awaits us.

The 8th day is about resurrection and leaving the old life, a day of transcending, of breaking out of the limitations of the finite and into the realm of the infinite. Of transcending the old, overcoming the ultimate limitation, death, and thus every limitation.

The day after the end of the old life, the old existence and the power to live beyond it.

So the day of the resurrection and the day of the beginning of eternity are in inexorably joined together.The Hebrew Holy Day of Resurrection was First Fruits and the Resurrection is the First Fruits of the Age to Come. The first manifestation of the 8th day – Heaven.One last fascinating point as food for thought to ponder upon.

Several Bible scholars believe its possible that the first Thanksgiving in America was based in part on Sukkot. The Pilgrims were familiar with the Bible and the Feast of Tabernacles. They were also thankful for God’s protection in the new land. The first Thanksgiving holiday is reported to have been in October, (Sukkot is usually in this month), and lasted for three days.
The harvest of the earth is ripe …” (Rev 14:14-16) “

Messiah fulfilled an intermediate fulfillment of all three Fall Feasts at His first coming:

1.) Announcement: Yom Teruw’ah, ushering in the King.

2.) Circumcision: Yom Kippur, removal of the veil (foreskin) called “face-to-face.”

3.) Dwelling with us: Sukkot; dwelt with us in a corruptible body.Messiah will fulfill all three Fall Feasts completely at His second coming: 

1.) Husband Ushering in the Bride: Yom Teruw’ah.

2.) Husband removes veil from the bride’s face: Yom Kippur.

3.) Husband consummates the marriage with the 4th cup: Sukkot; Dwells with bride for 1,000 years of Sabbath rest. 

Peace – Shalom to all who love His Word at this season of rejoicing.

It’s time to fellowship with the King!