Revelation 3:1 says,
The word of him who has the seven spirits of God and seven stars ❤️ https://jewishunpacked.com/how-to-celebrate-rosh-hashanah/ 'We are coming up to the Feast of Trumpets on Sunday evening... Israelis are wishing each other "happy holidays" and getting ready to eat lots of sweet food, and hear the sound of the shofar. It's a time to look back and take stock, to remember our covenant with God and prepare our hearts for the high holidays. Why not spend time this weekend thinking back over your own walk with God, and how it all started... and praying into all that's to come!" One of the “appointed feasts of the LORD” given to Israel in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is known today as Rosh Hashanah, literally “Head of the Year.” We read about Rosh Hashanah in the Torah, the Jewish Law found in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD’” (Leviticus 23:23–25). Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, is also known as Yom Teruah or the Day of Trumpets. The word teruah means “to shout or make a noise,” so this holiday is marked by the blowing of the shofar or ram’s horn in Jewish synagogues around the world. Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri on the Jewish calendar, which usually corresponds to September or October. It always falls on the seventh new moon of the Jewish year. After the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, even though this feast day falls on the seventh month of the Jewish religious calendar, it began to be called Rosh Hashanah and became the beginning of the Jewish civil calendar. Rosh Hashanah begins a ten-day period leading up to the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These ten days are called the yomim nora’im or Days of Awe in modern Judaism. The sounding of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a wake-up blast and a sobering reminder that the time is near for the Day of Atonement. It is a call to teshuvah, which is repentance and turning back to the LORD. These ten days are ones of great introspection, heart-searching and self-examination. The sound of the shofar for the Jew was, and still continues to be, a call to examine one’s life, to make amends with all those one may have wronged in the previous year, and to ask forgiveness for any vows one may have broken. So the primary theme of Rosh Hashanah is one of repentance. During Rosh Hashanah a common greeting/blessing is “May your name be inscribed”—a wish for one’s name to be written in the book of life. Jewish people enjoy sweets on Rosh Hashanah: treats made with apples, honey, raisins, figs, and pomegranates. Eating sweet things symbolizes the desire for a “sweet” year; also included is the idea that the enjoyment of sweet things can help counter the sorrow associated with repentance. In the eating of pomegranates, some Rosh Hashanah celebrants express the wish that their good deeds will be as numerous as the seeds of the pomegranate. Others eat portions of the head of a fish or a sheep, symbolizing the desire to be “the head, not the tail” (see Deuteronomy 28:13). According to rabbinic tradition, on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of the righteous are sealed. The righteous are written into the Book of Life, These are given the ten days until Yom Kippur to exercise repentance and self-examination and then seal their fate. Then, on the Day of Atonement, everyone has his or her name inscribed into one of the two books. Like all of the Lord’s appointed days in the Hebrew Bible, Rosh Hashanah points Christians to an even greater reality. If you've placed your faith in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, you appreciate the true meaning of the call to repentance and of turning our hearts toward God of Israel. God's Word, the logos, warns of the Day of Judgment, which is yet to come, (Revelation 20:15). For those who have placed their trust in the atoning work of Jesus through His life, death, burial, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:21), their names are already written into the Lamb’s Book of Life. And now, even we believers in Jesus listen for that trumpet call, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18). A parallel reference is 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, This is the same "trumpet of God" mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Paul further states in 1 Corinthians 15:51 that God will also change believers who are still living at the time into spirit. So the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints occur in the same time period. What is the significance of the trumpet of which Paul wrote? The book of Revelation tells of seven trumpets sounded by seven angelic beings at the end of the age (the first six coming in chapters 8-9). The drama builds through each event announced by a trumpet blast until the seventh and final angel sounds in Revelation 11. His announcement is the finale, the last and greatest event: The return of Jesus Christ to inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth. "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15) This trumpet announces the coming of divine wrath and the time of rewarding God's servants (Revelation 11:18). And combined with the other verses, it's clear that Jesus descends at the blowing of this seventh trumpet-- and that this is when the saints are caught up to Him- -whether that is a spiritual or physical resurrections isn't clear- When does this occur in the timeline of end-time events? In a prophecy Jesus gave, He referred to a desecration in Jerusalem-- the abomination of desolation-- to come before the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-22). (Daniel 12:11-13), Jesus continued in Matthew 24:29: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." He said that all nations on earth would see the sign of His coming and would mourn. Then He stated that they would see Him coming with power and glory and that He would send His angels to gather His resurrected followers with a great sound of a trumpet (Matthew 24:30-31). Compare this with Revelation 6, where we find a time of terrible final martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11). This is followed by the heavenly signs Jesus was referring to and the people of the earth lamenting (Revelation 6:12-17). Notice the conclusion of the lament: "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" This corresponds to Joel 2:31, where we are told that "the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." That means that, in the book of Revelation, the trumpets blown after the heavenly signs represent the time of the Day of the Lord. -The seventh trumpet- comes at the end of this year-long Day of the Lord-- at the end of the 3 1⁄2-year period of end-time calamity. The dead in Christ are raised and living believers are changed and made immortal at this point in time. They cannot have been taken up into glory before the tribulation period. Scripture doesn't allow for a rapture of the saints to heaven for an interim of several years! Whether this is a physical or spiritual resurrections is yet to be seen. Revelation Will be a time of continuing unveiling, increasing revelation that better aligns with the book as it unfolds in real-time -Protection for the saints- We see that believers aren't taken off the earth during the Great Tribulation. But God will protect believers during this time of severe distress. The most specific reference to the protection that God promises for His people at the end of the age is in Revelation 12. Revelation 12:14 says, "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent." The times here denote years—one (time) plus two (times) plus one half (half a time), equaling 3 1⁄2 years, the period of the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord. And note that the protection is not in heaven but in the wilderness, or the desert as it's often translated. It's on the earth, not in heaven. The context tells us that at least part of God's people will suffer persecution while God protects the rest of the faithful: "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). It is possible that the result of this persecution will be martyrdom. The Bible records many ways by which God protected His people in the past, but does not reveal specifically how, where or when-- or even all of the "who"—He will protect in the end. However, we can have confidence that He will reveal what we need to know at the essential time. In the meantime, our focus must be on the spiritual preparation for Christ's return and the establishment of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:38-51). Today if you greet someone in Israel with Happy Feast of Trumpets, They'll look at you like you fell off the moon. Dive into this exciting theory of how this festival day not only points to the coming of the Lord in power to Mount Sinai but also the return of our King and Messiah to the mount of olives in power and Glory. Hopefully seeing these amazing prophecies fulfilled and foreshadowed through modern and ancient traditions will strengthen your faith and have you look with anticipation to our King’s return. Go deeper into these festivals with our articles online! https://www.oneforisrael.org/category… https://youtu.be/Tlm5bS8DAjE Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD! (Psa 117:1-2). The key word in Psalm 117 is "key" (כִּי), a Hebrew word that means "for" or "because." Why are the nations of earth commanded to praise the LORD? Because (1) the lovingkindness of God has completely prevailed over Israel (= "us") and, therefore, (2) everything God promised by the mouth of his prophets to Israel has and/or will come true. Psalm 117, the shortest psalm in the Bible, is an invitation to all nations to become avid students of biblical history and prophecy, to fall in love with the Old Testament, to discover that Israel's God doesn't bully his people into submission but loves them into submission; that trusting in God's promises isn't like pussy-footing over thin ice, but stomping with all our might upon an immovable rock. This psalm tells us that Israel's history was never intended to be a story for Israel alone because God has always desired to be praised and enjoyed by the peoples of the world! Do you desire to praise and laud God more? Then grab a cup of coffee, sit down with an open Bible, and you will soon discover that the miraculous story of God's lovingkindness and truth to Israel was written to and for you! "He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises" (Psa 98:3-4). https://www.oneforisrael.org/israel/special-interview-with-leaders-of-one-for-israel/
An eye-opening interview with Dr. Erez Soref and Dr. Eitan Bar, leaders of ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry, about some of the latest happenings in Israel! The Interviewer is Jeffery Cranford, Pastor of Church at the Red Door in California. Yeshua is coming, ready or not.
What will it be like to see Him face to face? This mighty God who calls us “friend”? Have you tried to imagine it? The idea of the “face of God” appears many times in Scripture, and can be understood to mean Yeshua himself – the visible incarnation of our invisible God. With the escalating chaos and destruction in the world, many are wondering if we might be seeing His face sooner rather than later. Many times in the gospels, Yeshua tells us to “watch” and to be ready. He tells us to look out for the signs and to be attuned to the birth pangs as the earth groans for redemption. But while the people of Israel by and large missed the time of the first visitation, expecting a conquering king (definitely not a suffering servant) is today’s church in danger of making the opposite mistake? Are we expecting an impoverished Yeshua in sandals with a lamb hoisted on his shoulders? Or the sword-wielding King of the Universe in blood-drenched garments, on a rampage of vengeance? We have become so familiar with the Yeshua of the first coming that we forget all about the very promises and prophecies that the people of Israel knew so well – that the Messiah will indeed come as a mighty warrior, to do battle and to conquer. Now God is no fan of violence. The account of Noah teaches us that the hatred and violence rampant on the earth was the main reason for the cataclysmic judgement of the flood. He is not a fan of the shedding of blood, but clearly there are times when He deems it necessary. He has priorities. For example, we can see that although he is concerned with the welfare of animals (Jonah 4:11), and cares about the spilling of their blood (the life is in the blood) he requires bucket loads of it to be shed to atone for sin, because sin is even more serious than the blood of innocent animals. One thing trumps the other. We can see it too in our own lives. We know that God does not enjoy making us suffer (Lamentations 3:33 – “He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men”). But we also know that He will allow suffering in our lives to refine us and to achieve His higher goal of conforming us to the likeness of His Son. His desire for our holiness trumps His desire to keep us free from pain. Similarly, there are priorities that He has in His heart when He comes again, and drastic times call for drastic measures. He will avenge His enemies. He will restore justice and bring in His reign of righteousness. Are we ready for that? Have we absorbed the fact that He will not come with an olive branch, but a sword? Centuries of unholy murder and bloodshed in the name of God have turned our stomachs, and this idea of violence and religion sits as easily together as orange juice and toothpaste. It seems inconceivable to the twenty-first century thinker that God could possibly endorse any kind of violence, let alone instigate it. But we if we believe the Bible, we need to adjust our mindset to align with what it teaches about the second coming. Here is the picture that God paints of the second coming: “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come.” Isaiah 63:1-4 This picture is shadowed in Genesis 49:10-11 (a prophecy for Judah) and Zechariah 9, as well as Revelation 19:11-16: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.” If this warrior king on the warpath is not who you are expecting, please adjust your mindset. Because He is coming, whether you are ready or not. "As Jewish people, most of us grow up without considering whether or not Yeshua is the Messiah expected by our people for millennia. Yet, something happened in our lives that changed each of us and caused us to rethink the usual Jewish views about Jesus. Usually, it was a series of events and ultimately the prophecies in the Tenach – the Old Testament that caused our “Storytellers” to become followers of Yeshua.
In fact, most of our people do not realize that Yeshua was born a Jew, the first believers of Yeshua were all Jews and the first messianic communities were all Jewish…they were Israelis just like me! I hope you will watch with an open mind and allow the Holy One of Israel to speak to your heart. Enjoying a personal relationship with God through the Messiah is the greatest joy of our lives and I pray that this will be true for you as well. Who knows, you might be one who begins with curiosity and concludes with faith." https://www.oneforisrael.org/met-messiah-jewish-testimonies/ ISRAEL IS EXPERIENCING A GOSPEL REVOLUTION! "The story and ministry of ONE FOR ISRAEL is part of something much larger – the miraculous restoration of the Jewish people and the miraculous unity between Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus. We are seeing not only the physical restoration of Israel after a 2000-year exile, but a spiritual revolution is taking place right in front of our eyes. Jewish people are returning to their God and accepting the Messiah in numbers not seen since the early church! Not only that, but many Arab people are coming to the Lord and many Arab believers are finding a deep unity with their Jewish brothers and sisters. ONE FOR ISRAEL exists to do ministry within this miracle. We are Jews and Arabs, together serving Messiah Jesus, sharing the Gospel with Israel and the world, making disciples, training leaders, and blessing our communities in the name of Yeshua." TOGETHER WE ARE ONE. UNITED JEWS AND ARABS, UNITED IN CHRIST With Jewish and Arab leadership and Jewish and Arab-focused outreach, we are daily living out the reality of the “one new man” – Jews and Gentiles serving Jesus and growing together. 'Our goal is to personally engage with each new believer who reaches out to us. Our team meets with Israelis every day on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to answer questions, gift them with a New Testament, and connect them to a congregation in their region. Our team is answering questions directly to seekers online in our Hebrew and Arabic outreach campaigns. We’re meeting face to face and connecting new believers with local pastors and ministers in their area. But many are unable or afraid to take that step into the local congregation and personal meetings. And that’s why our next step is so crucial. For many in Israel, meeting face to face to discuss their new faith feels impossible. Most are confused with questions and afraid others will find out. Many Israelis fear being cut off from family and friends." Our online outreach videos are viewed over 30,000 TIMES A DAY IN ISRAEL ALONE! Paul made clear in 1 Corinthians 9 that the Gospel is the same, but the approach on how he taught his Jewish brothers was drastically different than how he taught and related the scriptures to the Gentile church. It’s no different today. Our series of teachings goes deep into the questions many of us faced in our walk of faith and connects with the Jewish and Israeli society in a powerful way. We offer 2 courses for free online, “The Teachings of the New Testament” in Hebrew and “Follow Messiah” in English. We are chatting daily with seekers on Facebook and What’sApp. Discipleship is crucial to all the work we’re doing, and we’ve developed a multi-faceted approach to discipleship uniquely crafted for ministry in Israel. https://www.oneforisrael.org/podcast/ Bible Questions Answered Do you have a question about God, Jesus, the Bible, or theology? Do you need help understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any spiritual issues in your life for which you need advice or counsel? https://www.gotquestions.org/ |
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