Month 7:22, Week 3:7 (Shibi'i/Sukkot), Year:Day 5939:200 AM
2Exodus 2/40, 4th Sh'mittah - Year 49/50, USA Judgment - Day #T-5, Global Judgment - Day #T-99
Gregorian Calendar Monday 5 October 2015
Shemini Atseret 2015
The Penultimate Reset of the World
Continued from Part 7
"On the eighth day you shall have a sacred (solemn) assembly ('atsarah). You shall do no customary work" (Num.29:35, NKJV).
Introduction
Chag sameach Shemini Atseret mishpachah, shabbhat shalom and welcome to the eighth day of the Sukkot (Tabernacles) season and the last annual festival and moed (appointment) of the current biblical year, the Last Great Day!
Tarry an Extra Day
Though Sukkot (Tabernacles) ended at sunrise this morning Yahweh commanded all pilgrims to tarry or to 'hold back' (atseret) an extra day. Why this extra day? What could possibly 'top' the Marriage Supper of the Lamb which is the fulfillment of Sukkot (Tabernacles)? Why an extra one-day festival?
World's Reset and the Moment of Redemption
The final Shemini Atseret is the world's reset and will one day mark the first day of the Thousand Year Millennium or Kingdom of Elohim (God). It is the first day of a new aeon, a new age, a new dispensation. It is a moment that Yahweh's people have been eagerly waiting for. Far from being the promise of Redemption, it is Redemption's actual moment.
Zero-Plus-One Day - Presenting Yourself Before Yahweh
This year is different from all other ones and will be the last of its kind before the Final Shemini Atseret to come. On this very day as we enter a new aeon the whole of Messianic Israel - the whole of the Body of Messiah - is being reset, and with it, the world too - spiritually, mentally, psychically and physically. You will remember the vision I shared with you of the zero's. Yahweh was signalling the end of all we have done before. Today is Day #1 of the new aeon. Today those white quartz blocks I spoke to you about yesterday present themselves for cutting, shaping and polishing. We are to be reshaped, remoulded and recreated for the New Task - the Final Task before the Great Tribulation and the final Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets), Yom haKippurim (Day of Atonements) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). We are here today to present ourselves before Yahweh for our new commission, whatever that may be.
The Rainy Winter Reason - the 'Former Rains'
Traditionally, prayers are offered at Shemini Atseret for geshem or rain. Here in Sweden it is cool and damp so rain is last thing we probably would want to pray for but in the Promised Land the winter months are the rainy season (September-October) and the entire life of the land depends on that rain. If the rains - known as 'former rains' (not 'latter rains') - descend on time and in sufficient quantity, the rich soil will produce abundant crops and fruit. If it does not, the country is doomed to famine and starvation.
The Parched Summer and the Saving Dew
There is no rain during the summer months in Israel - it is the dry season. During these rainless months the earth becomes totally parched, the top soil turns into dust and is blown away by the wind and the land is turned into a barren desert. Or at least that is what would happen were it not for the dew that settles on the cool soil at night, drenching the ground with moisture. Indeed this was the way the land over the whole planet was irrigated before the huge distruption of the flood which forever changed our climate. There was no rain back then. Winter rain and summer dew are vital for the life of the land.
The Spring Festivals and the 'Latter Rains'
The cycle of the festivals reminds us of the Plan of Salvation and its several stages. The wet season during the spring festivals - the 'latter rains' - which represent the Atonement (Pesach/Passover), Repentance from Sin (Chag haMatzah/Unleavened Bread) and the freshness of the New Birth and Chayim (Life) in Messiah (Yom haBikkurim/Firstfruits) followed by the dry summer season that is marked by Shavu'ot is when we struggle to make good our promise to be obedient to Torah as we negociate the desert of trials and tribulations which marks life. All the while we grow in knowledge and experience, deepening our emunah (faith), becoming progressively more refined and pure in emet (truth). Finally we enter the autumn or fall season in which we reap the fruit of our struggles and overcoming, being rewarded with simcha or joy.
The Season of Maturing and Harvesting
The rain we need and obtain comes to us if we are true seekers of the anointing of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) and the great spiritual knowledge the Davar (Word) imparts to us. This is the season of maturing - of growing up - and of reaping its benefits. At this time we get a foretaste of what the messianic millennial world will be like.
A Seasonal Returning of Messiah in the Spirit
Though the Millennium obviously hasn't started, because Yah'shua (Jesus) hasn't physically returned and the world has not yet received its final judgment, nevertheless every year this cycle is repeated and we can see what it is we have reaped or not. This year, as I said, is very different, because it most certainly does mark a coming of Messiah - not physically but most certainly in the Ruach (Spirit). And He has come to judge the nations and to impart spiritual rain in the form of new anointings to His faithful talmidim (disciples).
A Day of Yahweh is Upon Us
Brethren and sisters, the Messianic Age has not come yet but a resetting and the formation of a new Body is most definitely under way. We are but five days away from the Mishpat Yahweh on the United States and the beginning of judgments on all the nations of the earth. This will be distressing to witness, particularly when the judgments strike our own countries. The final Day of Yahweh is not yet but a Day of Yahweh is most definitely upon us and you would have to be blind not to see it. The prophecies that speak of the final fulfillment of the autumnal (fall) festivals may not be realised in their fullness this time but we shall experience that fulfillment in part, both the judgments and the blessings. History is repeating itself but in new forms and in new ways.
Isaiah's Prophecies in Our Time
As your read the prophecies of Isaiah in the days ahead, you will see them partially realised in the form of a Great Dress Rehearsal of judgment and redemption. The "mountain of Yahweh's house" (Is.2:2, NRSV) is indeed being established, in part, like a newborn that will grow to full maturity over the years ahead. "Many people shall come" (v.3a), be drawn to it, desiring to learn and be taught the emet (truth) that they "may walk in His paths" (v.3b). You will see its beginnings very soon. Yahweh most definitely "shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples" (v.4). You will see this happen as the exploiters, war-mongers and slave-drivers are sentenced and condemned and those who sought shalom (peace) are vindicated. Those who have taken up the sword shall most definitely perish the same way (Mt.26:52). You will witness this.
The Soil Prepared and the Stones Cut
In the meantime there is today. The soil is ready. The stones are crudely cut. We stand here before Yahweh to petition Him for an anointing. We do not ask for more than we need but we do ask Him for more than we currently have. We ask for the healing of our worn out and diseased bodies. We ask for rejuventation of our hearts. We ask for a quickening of our spirits. And if we have asked amiss, we ask forgiveness, yet we believe we have great need of these things and shall be given great opportunity to serve because of these prayers being heard. We want to be the intruments of saving our families and of those in the world who are hungry and thirsty for the emet (truth). We ask for power and for protection, acknowledging that He has led us safetly thus far.
A Joy Not Yet Full and a Petition for Healing and Empowerment
Yet our simcha (joy) is not full for we grieve for those who have turned away from Him, who have broken sacred covenants in marriage and in dedication to Elohim (God). We are still in mourning in the deepest places and we desire to see our hopes and emunah (faith) vindicated. We pray for spouses, children, brothers and sisters, parents and relatives. We ask Yahweh to show mercy on them for our sakes as well as their own. We are broken and need mending.
A Prayer of Praise
Take, O Father Yah, these simple, humble blocks of quartz and energise them with your Ruach (Spirit). With one accord we declare in the singing of our hearts united in ahavah (love) and b'rit (covenant) the devarim (words) of the psalmist:
"Praise Yahweh! Praise Yahweh from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His malakim (angels); praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you mayim (waters) above the shammayim (heavens, heavenly waters)! Let them praise the name of Yahweh, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; he made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His Davar (Word); mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let them praise the name of Yahweh, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) -- of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise Yahweh!" (Ps.148:1-14, NKJV).
Conclusion
And so, brethren and sisters, we approach the end of the autumnal feasts. May the former rains come as a spiritual anointing so that we may be readied for the spring and pass triumphant through the tribulation being unleashed in judgment. May we be vindicated and the testimonies we have proclaimed not return unto us empty, but be seasoned and permeated so thoroughly through with the Ruach (Spirit) that hungry and thirsty souls will come panting for emet (truth) and deliverance. We greet our brethren and sisters across the world in the Americas, in Africa, in Asia and throughout the Europe as more and more come seeking. It is but the trickle before the flood. So be prepared in all things, in and out of season, because your voices and your example are going to be needed. Amen.
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