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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Firstfruits Passover Pentecost/Shavuot Prophets and Writings Tabernacles The Eighth Day Torah Trumpets Unleavened Bread

God’s appointments with humankind gain meaning over time – not obsolescence

A number of theologians have wondered publicly if the festivals of the LORD are relevant for today or are just historical or intellectual curiosities. Many dismiss Sukkot as either a harvest festival only applicable in the Land of Israel or only relevant with a standing temple. Let’s explore what the Bible says about the past, present and future layers of meaning in these annual appointments and how they teach us about the Messiah and ourselves.

We will look at the different layers of the festivals: past, present and future.

In a sense, they are like a wedding anniversary, on which the couple remembers all the experiences layered on top of one another since the cutting of that first wedding cake.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Yom Kippur: Day of hope in the covering and removal of our sins via blood of Yeshua

All of the Torah speaks about Yeshua. In remembering Yom haKippurim through Leviticus 16 and 23, Isaiah 58 and Hebrews 8-10, we see Yeshua as the High Priest, the goat that was slain and the goat that was cast away. We fast because this is a little token, it’s the least we can do in response to the immeasurable sufferings of the Messiah Yeshua. It’s not a day of darkness, but of hope, not just for me but for all mankind.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Kings 13:1-14:20: Chiastic prophecy of northern Israel’s exile, return

The chiastic structure in 1st Kings 13 points to the words spoken by the prophet to the pagan altar of northern Israel. That prophecy finds fulfillment in chapter 14 and 300 years later under king Yoshiyah (Josiah).

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Kings 13: Prophecies of Yeroboam’s altar, of donkey, lion, dead prophet point to Messiah

This chapter has some odd elements: a “man of God” who spoke condemnation to the false-worship altar of the now-separate northern kingdom of Israel, he got tripped up in his mission by another prophet, then his body is watched over by a donkey and a lion. Rather than oddities, these are messages from God about the coming exiles of Israel, the return from exile and the role of the Messiah.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Kings 12, part 2: Idolatry of the ego

Idols are actually as prevalent in modern times as they were back in the days of Rehoboam and Yeroboam (Jeroboam). Bowing down to a statue as a representation of a divine is not as common in our world, but what is common is spiritual idolatry — the core of physical idolatry.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Kings 12, part 1: Yeroboam leads a tax rebellion, ends up rebelling against God

As it says in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The rebellion Yeroboam (Jeroboam) started that split ancient Israel in northern and southern parts is still with us today, because the “hearts” of people haven’t changed.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Mark of a gift: Messianic meaning of circumcision

Modern society views the rite of circumcision to be backward at best and barbaric at worst. Yet, it actually is a cutting memorial of what God has cut away from the faithful — men and women — through the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).