Get Understanding!

 

We have already entered into the season of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. These feasts not only incorporate important spiritual principles, but also prophetic promises that will ultimately shake the heavens and the earth in their fulfillment by Jesus, the Messiah.

It is essential that all of God's people, including the Church, walk in understanding concerning the feasts, to which the LORD attaches so much significance. This is what the LORD has proclaimed regarding the next fall feast, the Day of Atonement:

"Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month, at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."   Lev. 23:27-32

This day of atonement, according to the LORD's description above, was to have no distractions from the purpose of the day-fasting and repentance. He makes it very clear that souls hang in the balance. It is not to be taken lightly. The day of atonement was, and is, a prophetic type and shadow of the atonement for all men that was made through the blood of His own Son, Jesus. Even when the LORD saw the animal blood, which was just a faint shadow and type of the Eternal Atonement, He answered from heaven. How much more He answers the blood of His only begotten Son.
These feasts also continue to speak and promise prophetically to us of coming events, and we should understand those events, and how they are to unfold. The LORD wants His people to understand His feasts and His principles. His Word exhorts His people to get this understanding:

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth...Wisdom is the principal thing (beginning, first (fruits)); therefore get wisdom: and with all thine getting, get understanding...How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"   Prov. 4:5, 7,  and Prov. 16:16

God warns through His prophets that failure to get knowledge and understanding could be fatal:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore, I will change their glory into shame."   Hos. 4:6-7

The prophet, Hosea, quoted above, had been instructed by God to marry a prostitute, as a picture of what God's marriage to Israel had become. His own people, even His own priests, had allowed sin to multiply among them. We, the Church, have been called to be priests and kings to our God. We also have been overset by sin.

The Day of Atonement, meant to prophecy the atoning blood of His Son poured out for all time, requires our self-examination and repentance in the face of it. The nine days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called "The Days of Awe", dedicated to prayer and repentance. The whole month of Elul before the beginning of the fall feasts is a month of repentance and return, teshuvah, to God. According to the Jewish tradition, not only was the individual to examine himself, but also to gather friends to examine him for sins, that he may acknowledge them, and repent of them. The purpose of this repentance is reconciliation with our God, who desires it earnestly, and who is continually reaching out:

"Go and proclaim these words to the north, and say, "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: For I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,  and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion."   Jer. 3:12-14

The LORD describes His relationship to Israel, including the backslider, as a marriage. He is ever committed and always watching for our return. His goal is to bring us to His city, the spiritual place called Zion. He provides pastors to give us this knowledge and understanding, so we will know His heart towards us (v. 15). He sent His Son, the greatest Shepherd of all, our atonement, to teach us, and to provide this place for us eternally.
As the LORD describes His marriage relationship to Israel, it can't help but remind us of the Church as the betrothed in our relationship with Christ, becoming the Bride who has made herself ready in righteousness for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. Yet many Christians do not understand the importance of self-examination and repentance from sin. In lack of understanding, they think that the covering of the grace of God, which Jesus' sacrifice made available for us, requires nothing more from them. This is not true according to scripture:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?.....Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." 
                                                                                        Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14
During these precious feast days, the LORD is calling to us: "Get wisdom, get understanding." The feasts have nothing to do with setting dates, or predicting the end of the world, but, rather, for examining ourselves, and returning back to God. They are about the understanding of the price of the atonement for our sins, and thereby preparing for the coming prophetic events.
For our serious consideration of our relationship with Him, and for our sincere desire to be servants of righteousness rather than servants of sin (Rom. 6:16), the LORD makes this promise:
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not."   Mal. 3:16-18

May you be inscribed forever in the Book of Life.

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The High Holy Days & The Marriage Supper

 

This week, we are entering the days of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. These feasts include:

• The Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah
• The Feast of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur
• The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot

This season of fall feasts is called "the high holy days". Throughout these high holy days, there are Torah readings in the synagogues, which are followed by Haftarah (leaving, departure) selections. "Haftarah" refers to the Books of the Prophets, or nevi'im. These selections from the Prophets are usually sung, or chanted, rather than read. A large selection from the Prophet Isaiah, including 61:10-63:9, plays an important roll during these high holy days of the fall feasts. They are glorious passages of salvation and restoration. The imagery given to Isaiah from the LORD in these prophetic verses includes that of a bride, a bridegroom, and a marriage:

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as a garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations."   Isa. 61:10-11

This bridal description is an instant reminder of the verses from Revelation:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And, he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God."   Rev. 19:7-9

Both the high holy day verses from Isaiah, and Revelation also tell us about a new name which is given us:

"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."   Isa. 62:2

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it....Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God...and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Rev. 2:17, 3:12

The new name given by the LORD is set as part of the marriage theme in Isaiah. Even the land receives a new name through marriage:

"Thou shalt no more be termed (called, named) Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah ("My delight is in her"), and thy land Beulah ("Marry"): for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as a bridegroom rejoiceth over a bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."  Isa. 62:4-5

What brought about this joyful marriage, and its resulting transformation, and restoration? It is the coming of, and the work of, Salvation:

"Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh; behold his reward is with him (Rev. 22:12), and his work before him. And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken."   Isa. 62:11-12

As we can see in the verses above, the Salvation spoken of is a person (also see Isa. 63:1). This person of salvation, our Messiah, is clothed in special garments. His robe will be marked by the effects of the great battle by which He redeems those who have been held captive:

"Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the

winef(v)at? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment...and the year of my redeemed is come."   Isa. 63:2-3, 4b

This same vision of the Redeemer from Isaiah is given to us in Revelation following the marriage supper of the Lamb:

"And he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God, and the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he shall smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."   Rev. 19:13-16

We have no trouble recognizing the Person of Salvation, the Redeemer referred to in these Haftarah verses from Isaiah. He is our Jesus.

As these verses from Isaiah about a bride, a bridegroom, a wedding, and a great work of salvation and redemption are sung and chanted during the high holy days, the hopes and cries of many hearts will be ascending to heaven. The final verse sung from the Haftarah portion of Isaiah will be:

"For he said, surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Savior. In all their affliction, he was afflicted (see Isa. 53:3-5), and the angel (messenger) of his presence (face) saved them: in his love, and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare (lifted up) them, and carried (carried away) them all the days of old (perpetual, everlasting time)."  Isa. 63:8-9

 

 

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Putting the Pieces Together

 

It was never the LORD's intention that the people called by His name, the people called to be light and salt in the earth, the people purposed to do exploits (Dan. 11:32) and greater works in His name (Jn. 14:12), should be confused, ignorant, fearful or without hope (1 Pet. 3:13-15, 1 Thess. 4:13-14) regarding end time events, and His will in those events.

Jesus taught of these events in the synagogues and temple, gave revelation of them to prophets and apostles, all so that we would be informed when the time came. All of these teachings did not make Jesus popular with those who had their own agendas, but these teachings have left us with a rich legacy of foreknowledge. If we will study the Word of God, we will attain wisdom, knowledge and understanding of these events, and our role in them.

Jesus described in great detail and accuracy the events that would lead to His return. All creation will be in turmoil and distress (Lk. 21:22-25). Men will be terrified by what they will see happening:

"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken...For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."   Lk. 21:26, 35

However, because we have already been told what to expect, and what these events mean, our reactions should be different from the world's:

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh...So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, "This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled...Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   Lk. 21:28, 31-32, 36

Jesus' expectation was that His disciples would be a people of knowledge, but at the same time, warned that we were not to be involved with worldly behavior and cares, because this would have a destructive effect upon our hearts and minds:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down, burdened, grieved) with surfeiting (seized, or carried away with the effects of drunkenness and debauchery), and drunkenness, and cares (anxiety, distraction, drawn in different directions, divided) of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares (unexpectedly, suddenly)."  (v. 34).

Even Jesus removed Himself from distraction. He would teach in Jerusalem at the temple during the day, but then He would leave the activities of the city behind, and spend the night on the Mt. of Olives. In Greek, the place where He staid is described as an outdoor area of shepherds and their flocks (v. 37).

Our hearts and minds are very vulnerable to, and can be easily overtaken by, the attitudes and priorities of the world. Immediately after Jesus taught about the catastrophic events of the end times, and what our attitude through it should be, His own disciple, Judas, made an agreement to betray Jesus for money (Lk. 22:1-4). Judas had formed an attitude of offense and disrespect towards Jesus (Mt. 26, Lk. 7, Mk. 14), and had allowed these things to divert, divide, and rule his heart. Although Judas had access to all of the revelations of Jesus, instead of becoming a son of salvation, he became a son of perdition (damnation, destruction, perishing, eternal misery in hell) (Jn. 17:12).

Paul makes clear that the ways and thoughts of the world have nothing to do with us:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned...For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."   1 Cor. 2:12-14, 16

We do not seek the understanding found in the world, but we search the scriptures, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, putting together the pieces of Godly wisdom and knowledge. Rather than the information highway of the world, we receive our instruction from the Holy Spirit through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers until we grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ, a bride who has made herself ready, a light set on a lampstand, a city on a hill.

 

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Is Harvey a Sign?

 

After the terrible events of the past week, a question is being asked, "Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? Did we miss something with Hurricane Katrina, so worse came in the form of Harvey? It is appropriate to be thinking about this, especially at this time of year. This time of year is a period known as "teshuva". It is associated with the Fall Feasts of the LORD, with the return of Israel to the land, and with the return of hearts to God. We should be contemplating world events, and the signs of the times:

"It is the glory (kabode-splendor, heavy with honor) of God to conceal a thing (dabar-word, command, promise): but the honor (kabode-same as previous) of kings is to search out a matter (dabar-same as previous)."  Prov. 25:2

It is God's will and our purpose as His kings and priests, to search out these matters. Jesus scolded God's people because He wanted them to properly discern the signs of the times, but they failed to do so (Mt. 16:3).

One significant sign of the latter days, or end times, is the wickedness that prevails in men's hearts-even, unfortunately, in the Church:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep,  all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  2 Pet. 3:3-4

An attitude of scoffing at the return of Christ exists today, as it did then, and men are determined to walk in the lust of the flesh like never before. We see the connection between sinful character and the end times repeatedly in scripture, and we are strongly warned not to allow ourselves to be partakers in this evil character:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasia- defection from truth, the state, writing of divorcement) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he that now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."  2 Thess. 2:3, 7

The revealing of the evil in our own hearts that causes us to turn from God, from Christ, is directly related to the revealing of the embodiment of evil character, the Anti-Christ. The spirit of antichrist is already at work in the world (1 Jn. 4:3).

Paul connects the evil in men's hearts and perilous times:

"This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good."   2 Tim. 3:1-3

Believers in Christ should not be partaking of this same evil character that feeds the growth of evil in the end times...quite the opposite:

"...that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."  Phil. 2:15

In addition, we have been given the spiritual armor of God, for the purpose of standing in His righteousness in these evil times (Eph. 6:13).

Again, Paul exhorts:

"Be ye not therefore, partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, rather reprove them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time for the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

                                                                                                 Eph. 5:7-11, 15-17

Walking in light, and wisdom is not for our benefit only, but we can actually redeem the time that has been overtaken by evil and wickedness. We are to lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking, abstaining from fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:1, 11). We have been called to something very different in this chosen generation, because we have been called out of that darkness, and into His marvelous light. God has made us His spiritual house, His royal priesthood, a holy nation, from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue, of peculiar (of place, time, and purpose) people (v. 9).

We are called to be builders in these evil days, not destroyers, repairers and restorers of the ways of righteousness (Isa. 58:12).

As with the time of teshuva, this is the time to draw near and honor the LORD. Our ways, pleasures, and words, are to be His ways, pleasures, and words (v. 13). We are not called to add to division and strife, which is carnal, but we, the Church especially, must be laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:4, 9).

Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? In the days of tribulation upon the earth, Jesus said that there would be "distress of nations with perplexity (be in doubt, not knowing what to do, or which way to turn); the sea and the waves roaring" (Lk. 21:25). As a nation, we have turned our own way. We have trusted in ourselves, and we have turned our backs on God. There are great trials coming upon the earth, and are now here, that carnal ways and understanding cannot solve. If we, as a nation, continue to choose to rely upon those things that cannot deliver us, we will reap distress and perplexity as a result.
However, we, the Church, also are a sign in these days of wickedness. The LORD put it this way:

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."   2 Chron.. 7:14

Today, Sunday, has been declared a national day of prayer. On this day, in this teshuva season, it is good for us to remember this promise from God, and turn back to Him.

 

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