The Timing of Unleavened Bread vs Easter - Studying Acts 12 Verses 1 Thru 4

Yes, we see that Easter is mentioned in the Bible, but is it related to Passover or is it a pagan festival? Keep in mind this is the ONLY time easter is mentioned in the

Acts 12:1-4 (KJV)

“1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”

From this passage we see that, during the days of unleavened bread, Peter was apprehended by Herod and was put in prison. Verse 4 states that “after Easter” Herod intended to bring Peter forth to the people.

In order to understand the timing of these verses, we must first look at the timing of “the days of unleavened bread” and the timing of “easter”.

The Days of Unleavened Bread:

Passover comes first, then Unleavened Bread which is celebrated for 7 days (see Exodus 12).

Unleavened Bread lasts for 7 days, beginning on the 15th day of the first month and lasting until the 21st day of the first month - 1 full week of unleavened bread.

Passover - 6 days of eating Unleavened Bread – on 7^th day Solemn Assembly:

(Abib = Nisan – the first month of the year)

Deuteronomy 16:1-8

“1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.

3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee:

6 But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.”

7 Days eat Unleavened Bread:

Passover (Nisan 14^th – eat unleavened bread) + Unleavened Bread 6 days (Nisan 15^th – Nisan 20^th) = 7 Days eating unleavened bread. On the 1^st and the 7^th day of Unleavened Bread have a Solemn Assembly (Nisan 15^th and 21^st)...

Leviticus 23:4-8

“4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”

Numbers 28:16-18, 24-25

“16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord.

17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:”

“24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.”

Passover is an 8 day feast commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt:

Exodus 12:26-51

“26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

43 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.”

Easter:

According to Strong’s Concordance “easter” is “pascha” in Greek and means:

“the paschal festival, the feast of Passover, extending from the fourteenth to the twentieth day of the month Nisan: Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:1; Luke 2:41; Luke 22:1; John 2:13, 23; John 6:4; John 11:55; John 12:1; John 13:1; John 18:39; John 19:14; Acts 12:4.” – “the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it) -- Easter, Passover.”

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica:

“The date of Easter and its controversies

Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus was to be observed and celebrated triggered a major controversy in early Christianity in which an Eastern and a Western position can be distinguished. The dispute was not definitively resolved until the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixion on the same day that Jews celebrated Passover—that is, on the 14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan (see Jewish calendar). The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on the first day of the week, Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan. Increasingly, the churches opted for the Sunday celebration, and the Quartodecimans (“14th day” proponents) remained a minority. The Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.”

To read more about this version of easter, here is the link to the website for this encyclopedia: http://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday

How is the date for the pagan festival of easter calculated?

According to the website, “School of the Seasons”: http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/spring.html

“In ancient Rome, the 10-day rite in honor of Attis, son of the great goddess Cybele, began on March 15th. A pine tree, which represented Attis, was chopped down, wrapped in a linen shroud, decorated with violets and placed in a sepulchre in the temple. On the Day of Blood or Black Friday, the priests of the cult gashed themselves with knives as they danced ecstatically, sympathizing with Cybele in her grief and helping to restore Attis to life. Two days later, a priest opened the sepulchre at dawn, revealing that it was empty and announcing that the god was saved. This day was known as Hilaria or the Day of Joy, a time of feasting and merriment.

Sound familiar? Easter is the Christian version of the same myth. Even the name Easter is stolen. It comes from the Saxon dawn-goddess Eostre, whose festival was celebrated on spring equinoxThe date of Easter is still determined by the old moon cycle. It is always the first Sunday on or after the first full moon after the spring equinox.”

“This Christian holiday is named after a pagan goddess of spring (Eostre) and takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox (making it the only Christian holiday with lunar connections). It was named Easter in the 8th century.”

“"There is a whole metaphor in Christian tradition about bread symbolizing Easter, because you are taking the inert flour and bringing it back to life." The Greek tsoureki is a braided loaf with red eggs nestled into the plaits of the dough. The eggs are supposedly dyed red to represent the blood of Christ, but in earlier times, eggs were dyed red as offerings to Astarte and red eggs are still thrown into streams the day after Easter in Russia as offerings to the spirits.”

Here’s another quote from another website that confirms the paganism of easter:

“According to Jacob Grimm’s Deutsche Mythologie, the idea of resurrection was ingrained within the celebration of Ostara: “Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the resurrection-day of the christian’s God.”

Most analyses of the origin of the word ‘Easter’ maintain that it was named after a goddess mentioned by the 7th to 8th-century English monk Bede, who wrote that Ēosturmōnaþ (Old English 'Month of Ēostre', translated in Bede's time as "Paschal month") was an English month, corresponding to April, which he says "was once called after a goddess of theirs named Ēostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month".

The origins of Easter customs

The most widely-practiced customs on Easter Sunday relate to the symbol of the rabbit (‘Easter bunny’) and the egg.  As outlined previously, the rabbit was a symbol associated with Eostre, representing the beginning of Springtime. Likewise, the egg has come to represent Spring, fertility and renewal.  In Germanic mythology, it is said that Ostara healed a wounded bird she found in the woods by changing it into a hare. Still partially a bird, the hare showed its gratitude to the goddess by laying eggs as gifts.

The Encyclopedia Britannica clearly explains the pagan traditions associated with the egg: “The egg as a symbol of fertility and of renewed life goes back to the ancient Egyptians and Persians, who had also the custom of colouring and eating eggs during their spring festival.” In ancient Egypt, an egg symbolised the sun, while for the Babylonians, the egg represents the hatching of the Venus Ishtar, who fell from heaven to the Euphrates.”

From the website “Ancient Origins”: http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ancient-pagan-origins-easter-001571?page=0%2C1

About easter candies: http://www.goddessgift.com/pandora's_box/easter-history.html

“Chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs, marshmallow chicks in pastel colors, and candy of all sorts, most of which are given out as personalized gifts during Easter . . . these have pagan origins as well! To understand their association with religion we need to examine the meaning of food as a symbol.

The ancient belief that, by eating something we take on its characteristics formed the basis for the earliest "blessings" before meals (a way to honor the life that had been sacrificed so that we as humans could enjoy life) and, presumably, for the more recent Christian sacrament of communion as well.

Shaping candy Easter eggs and bunnies to celebrate the spring festival was, simply put, a way to celebrate the symbols of the goddess and the season, while laying claim to their strengths (vitality, growth, and fertility) for ourselves.”

On “Good Friday”:

 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism

“In an ironic twist, the Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection. There was violent conflict on Vatican Hill in the early days of Christianity between the Jesus worshippers and pagans who quarrelled over whose God was the true, and whose the imitation. What is interesting to note here is that in the ancient world, wherever you had popular resurrected god myths, Christianity found lots of converts. So, eventually Christianity came to an accommodation with the pagan Spring festival. Although we see no celebration of Easter in the New Testament, early church fathers celebrated it, and today many churches are offering "sunrise services" at Easter – an obvious pagan solar celebration. The date of Easter is not fixed, but instead is governed by the phases of the moon – how pagan is that?”

Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox.

Passover is on Nisan 14^th. Since we know that Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew calendar year, we use observations of the seasons in order to calculate when the first month would fall on the Hebrew calendar. Barley was needed for the Omer sacrifice which was offered on the second day of Passover. Passover is in the spring so the plants and trees needed to be blossoming and producing fruit. The Hebrew month starts on the night we see the first sliver of the new moon. Passover would then follow in the 14^th of this first month.

Genesis 1:14

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

Joel 2:23

“23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”

Deuteronomy 11:13-15

“13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.”

DO YOU SEE THE CONNECTIONS YET?

The enemy has taken a very holy day to Abba, Passover and Unleavened Bread, and perverted it with mixtures of paganism and fed it to those who refuse to study Abba’s Word for Truth and who refuse to follow Abba’s Torah.

2 Timothy 2:15

“15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Passover is NOT Easter!

There is no incorrect translation of the word easter instead of Passover either.

Passover is Abba’s Holy Feast.

Easter, referred to in Acts 12:4, is referring to the pagan holiday king Herod observed and celebrated, not to Passover, since it was already the days of Unleavened Bread when this happened.

Acts 12:1-4

“1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”

Abba would NEVER change the name of one of His Holy Feasts to that of a pagan name:

Exodus 23:13

“13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.”

Deuteronomy 5:32

“32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

Deuteronomy 12:30-32

“30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

31 Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

Jeremiah 10:1-2

“1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”

Matthew 28:20

“20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Mark 7:7-13

“7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Revelation 18:4

“4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

Readings for Rosh Chodesh Shevat - The New Moon Beginning The 11th Month of the Hebrew Calendar

Last night (January 10th, 2016) marked the beginning of the New Hebrew Month of Shevat!

"Rosh Chodesh" means "New Moon". Every new month of the Hebrew Calendar is marked by the first sliver of the new moon.

"Shevat" is the 11th month of the Hebrew calendar. "Shevat" means "a vessel filled with water".

This is the month Moses began reciting and explaining the Torah to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land.

Rosh Chodesh Blessing:

"May it be Your will, Yaweh our Elohim and Elohim of our fathers, that you renew for us a good month in our Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach. Amen!"

We are commanded to blow the trumpet on the new moon. This means we should also be hearing it. Play the video link at the bottom of this post to keep this commandment.

Psalm 81:1-5
"1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not."

Colossians 2:16-17

"16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

Psalm 128
"1 128 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."

Numbers 28:11-15
"11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;
13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.
14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering."

Isaiah 66
"1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

Revelation 21:1-27
"1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 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.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 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.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Revelation 22:1-5
"1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

Listen to the shofar on this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8t1r2DSxsg

Hanukkah is the Feast of Dedication

From Passion for Truth Ministries’ Post on Hanukkah:

“Hanukkah begins this Sunday evening (December 6th). Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication. It's an eight-day holiday where we remember the story of a dedicated people who refused to compromise; a remnant of believers who refused to give in and go against God's Word. A "light in the darkness" is what this holiday is all about. And every Believer should be a light in the darkness.”

The message I received from Abba about Hanukkah:

Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose the Feast of Dedication to make Himself known to the Jews in the temple (John 10)?

Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Dedication in the temple. We can see that it was winter during this festival. We can also clearly see that Jesus was in the temple walking in Solomon’s porch during this festival. Jesus clearly observed this Feast Day and was celebrating with them. We can see this in John 10:22-42.

John 10:22-23
““22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.”

But why was this Feast of Dedication such a special event that it was mentioned in the Scriptures for us to know about? We can partially answer this question by reading the following verses:

John 10:24-27, 30:
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
… “30 I and my Father are one.”

The Jews questioned Jesus asking Him if He was the Christ.
Here, the Name “Christ” in Hebrew is “Mashiach” (“Messiah” in English). “Mashiach” means “The Anointed One”. Strong’s Concordance defines “Mashiach” as “Anointed”. Brown-Driver-Briggs defines “Mashiach” as “absolute; construct; King of Israel - anointed by divine command; High Priest of Israel”.

So we see in the above passage that the Jews had doubts as to whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus was confirming to the Jews that He is the Messiah, the Anointed One, and the High Priest of Israel (verse 25). He is the Absolute Construct of God His Father (verse 30).

Jesus tells them in verse 25 that He has already told them He is the Messiah but they wouldn’t believe Him. Jesus tells them that the works He does in His Father’s Name bear witness of Who He is.

So why didn’t the Jews believe Who Jesus is?

Jesus followed Torah and observed and celebrated God’s Holy Days. Jesus followed God’s commandments, statutes, judgments, and instructions to the letter just as His Father wrote them. By this time the Jews had added to the Torah with their oral laws, traditions, and customs. They followed Torah by the letter of their fathers, not by the letter of God our Father. That is why they couldn’t see that Jesus is the Son of God, the Mashiach, the Messiah. This is why Jesus rebukes them and why the disciples and Jesus tell us to hold fast to the tradition of the Father and not the tradition of men (Matthew 15:1-3; Colossians 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 11:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:3-6).

Since the Jews couldn’t see and didn’t believe that Jesus is the Mashiach, the Messiah, they took up stones to stone Him. Jesus asks them for what works were they wanting to stone Him for, which good work from the Father did Jesus show them that they wanted to stone Him for.

John 10:31-32
“31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?”

It wasn’t for any of the works that Jesus had done, it was because the Jews thought Jesus was making himself God. They didn’t understand that, even though He was born a man, Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus quotes the Torah of God when He answers them saying “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (Exodus 4:22; Psalm 82).

John 10:33-36
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”

Jesus even tells the Jews not to believe Him if He does not do the works of His Father. He also tells them that they should believe the works He does of the Father so that they will know and believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. But the Jews still refused to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and they sought to take Him again but Jesus escaped them.

John 10:37-40
“37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.”

But many that had seen and heard Jesus talking to the Jews, and that saw His works of the Father and saw how Jesus walking in the Torah of God followed Jesus. They reasoned that John the Baptist didn’t do any miracles but John spoke of One Who would come and do miracles and they believed on Jesus there.

John 10:41-42
“41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 And many believed on him there.”

We can see from these passages that Jesus came to Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication in order to show the Jews that He is the Son of God.

But why did He come during the Feast of Dedication? What is the Feast of Dedication?

To find out why the Feast of Dedication was so significant to Jesus to declare He is the Son of God, we have to look at the history of this Feast and find out its meaning.

We see in Jeremiah chapter 25 that the people of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, did not listen to God when he sent the prophets to warn them of the consequences for their turning away from His Torah (verses 3-7). They turned away from serving God and served other gods and this provoked God to anger. In verses 8-11, God tells the families of the north (the northern house of Judah, 2 of the 12 tribes that God separated – not the southern house of Israel, 10 of the 12 tribes which God divorced) that He was going utterly destroy them and take away the voice of the Bridegroom and the Light of the Candle. He told them the whole land would be desolate and that the people would serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.

Daniel chapter 9 also speaks of this time. Daniel prayed for an answer as to what Jeremiah had said meant. While Daniel was praying, the angel Gabriel came to him to tell him what Jeremiah’s vision meant.

Daniel 9:1-2, 23-25
“1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
“23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

God promised to bring them back and rebuild the temple after those 70 years (Jeremiah 29:8-11).

After they retook the temple, it had to be cleansed because of the desecration in the temple and the sacrificed pig on the altar of God for the non-god Zeus.

Since they were unable to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) at the time they were restored to the land (but instead needed to wait that time while the temple was cleansed), when the temple was cleansed they rededicated it and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles then (for 8 days just like the Feast of Sukkot). This rededication became known as the Feast of Dedication (it was the rededication of the temple).

This is the Feast that Jesus was in Jerusalem for in John chapter 10.

The Feast of Tabernacles remembers the time the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness for 40 years in tents (booths, tabernacles). They tabernacle with God for 40 years. It is only fitting that Jesus appeared to the Jews in Matthew to proclaim that He is the Son of God, the Mashiach (Messiah) because Jesus is our Sukkah - Tent, Booth, Tabernacle (Leviticus 23:34-36).

In another sense, Jesus resides in us through the Holy Spirit. We reside in Jesus, Jesus resides in us, God resides in us through Jesus and we reside in Him through Jesus. We all tabernacle together.

1 John 4:13-16
“13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

1 John 2:1-7
“1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.”

Why was Jesus at the temple during the Feast of Dedication? What significance did Solomon's court have? What does this Feast mean?

If we are commanded to follow Jesus and do as He did and walk as He walked, we need to find out the answers to these questions...

John 10:22-23
"22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch."

Why was He at the Feast of Dedication?
John 10:24
"24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly."

He was there because the Jews doubted Who He was.

John 10:25-30
"25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one."

He came to the Feast of Dedication to tell the Jews that He is the Messiah. He told them He and the Father are One. He came to tell them He gives eternal life to His sheep and they shall never perish and no one can take them away from Him. He came to tell them He is the Light.

What is the Feast of Dedication?

We see a Feast of Dedication in 2 Chronicles, but that is not the same Feast referred to in John 10. We know this because it says in John 10:22 that "it was winter" and the Feast referred to in 2 Chronicles 7 was in the Hebrew 7th month (Tishri) which is around September which is in the fall:

2 Chronicles 7:8-11
"8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected."

The Feast of Dedication in 2 Chronicles was when the Israelites dedicated the temple to God and it was during the Feast of Tabernacles (Tents - also called Sukkot). We see from verse 9 "they kept the dedication of the altar... and the feast".

We can see connections from the Feast of Sukkot and the Feast of Dedication, celebrated in 2 Chronicles, to Jesus our Messiah...

This was the first temple built for God. Solomon built the temple for God, as his father David had wanted to do but God promised that his son Solomon would build it. After he built it, he prayed to God. We see at the end of Solomon's prayer that he beseeched God to open His eyes and ear to hear their prayers. He asked for the priests to be clothed in salvation and for them to rejoice in goodness...

2 Chronicles 6:40-42
"40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
42 O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant."

God heard their prayer and filled the temple with His glory:

2 Chronicles 7:1-3
"1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.
3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."

We can also see that God consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices. From this I can see how God consumes Jesus - showing us God is Jesus, Jesus is God.

But why did Jesus come to the temple and walk in Solomon's court?

We also see that the people of Israel sacrificed to God after He filled the temple with His glory:

2 Chronicles 7:4-7
"4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat."

Jesus was walking through Solomon's court because this is where the very first temple sacrifices were made to God. Jesus is our Sacrifice for salvation... He is our Salvation!

This was a Feast of Dedication for the temple of God. Solomon and the Israelites kept the Feast for 7 days and in the 8th day they had a solemn assembly. After the Feast, the Israelites were sent to their tents "glad and merry in heart for the goodness" God had shewed them.

But if the Feast of Dedication referred to in 2 Chronicles 7 is not the same Feast of Dedication that Jesus went to, then which one is it?

For this we need to read Jeremiah 25 and Daniel chapter 9 to see that the northern house of Judah (the 2 tribes God separated because of their disobedience to His Torah) had been exiled for 70 years in Babylon. We see in Jeremiah 29:8-11 that God promised to bring them back and rebuild the temple after those 70 years.

Well, after those 70 years, they did take the temple back, but it had been defiled by Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanies) when he erected a statue of Zeus in the temple of God and sacrificed a pig on the altar of God. After they retook the temple, it had to be cleansed because of this desecration.

They were unable to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) at the time they were restored to the land because the temple needed to be cleansed.

The temple was cleansed in the Hebrew month of Kislev. They rededicated the temple and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles on the 22nd day of Kislev. They celebrated for 8 days, just like the Feast of Dedication and the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated in 2 Chronicles 7. This re-dedication became known as the Feast of Dedication (the re-dedication of the temple and the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles they didn't get to celebrate in the 7th month of Tishri.

This is the Feast of Dedication that Jesus was attending in John chapter 10.

Jesus is our Salvation! Jesus chose the perfect place (the temple in Solomon's court) and the perfect timing (during the Feast of Dedication) to reveal Himself as the Messiah, the Light of the world, to the Jews.

This Feast of Dedication is also known as Hanukkah and is celebrated this year of 2015 on December the 6th. Won't you join me, and so many other followers of Jesus, in celebrating this special time, just as Jesus did?

By the way... Jesus was conceived during the Feast of Dedication. So He was celebrating His arrival here on earth (in Mary's womb) which shows He came to Tabernacle with us, at this time of year. Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which is what the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) also represents.

How wonderful is our Father!!! He gives us such wonderful Holy Days to celebrate His Son in such a deep, meaningful way!!! Praise Yaweh!!!