Bashan Ministries - Blood moons

On Friday, 27 July 2018, what was said to be the longest lasting Blood Moon event occurred, lasting for 1 hour and 43 minutes.
On April 15, 2014 a total lunar eclipse occurred.

It was the first of 4 total eclipses in a series that happened again on October 8, 2014 April 4, 2015 & September 28, 2015.

Some people made major "prophetic declarations" back then about them that, in my opinion, never happened.

Was there any real significance?
Many theories and stories abound. The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Which one of them, if any, is true?”

By way of answer, let us see what the word of God says about such matters and the best starting point is at the beginning...

The beginning Times & seasons Noah Fruitfulness & blessing

When God created man in His own image and likeness, He issued a command that I believe was the first command given to man. He said-
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:2.

When Noah emerged from the ark, God issued a similar command.
Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. Genesis 9:1.

From the outset, God revealed His desire for us. It is alluded to by John, saying-
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2.

God's desire and plans for us are good. He has our good in mind. His plans for us are good plans.
...I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.

God has never changed His mind. He made a promise to us through Noah not to destroy the planet again.
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.
And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” Genesis 8:20-22.

The Blood Moons may be considered to be given as signs and seasons, but I seriously doubt if they indicate a global catastrophe of any kind. What might or might not happen withsuch events will not affect christians, because we will be gone! This is coming into eschatological or end time studies embracing the return of Jesus and we shall now briefly touch on this.

Tell us Jesus

Towards the close of His earthly ministry, Jesus went to Jerusalem and His disciples pointed out the features of the Temple to Him.
He stated that the Temple would be destroyed and this is now a historical truth. Matthew 24:1-2.
They then started asking Him questions as seen in Matthew 24:3-

When would this happen?
What would be the sign of Your coming?
What happens at the end of this age?

Jesus' first statement was one of warning.

Do not let people deceive you!
Many false Christs will come!
There would be wars.

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Matthew 24:3-6.

Notice that He said these things were not the signs of His return!
Jesus continued on a discourse about many things and spoke of false prophets who would come saying that Jesus is here or Jesus is there and told them not to believe them! See Matthew 24:23-28. We have had our fill of them and all the "prophecies" have come and gone without change.

Jesus then spoke about the sign of His coming in Matthew 24:30-31.

What we must understand that Jesus spoke of many things. This is prophecy. Some prophecies have already been fulfilled. Some are being fulfilled today and some are yet to be fulfilled.

Jesus also spoke about the prevailing conditions on earth prior His return. He mentioned the events of Noah's day and of two people in close proximity to each other, one of whom would be taken and the other left behind. The word "Rapture" does not appear in scripture, but it describes the event we believers look for.

Only two of the illustrations He used are conclusive.

One is the Church herself. He spoke of earthquakes and other events, but said that they were not definitive signs of His return. He did however clearly state-
And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (emphasis mine).

The generation in which we live is the most evangelized generation to exist. They did not have electricity, airplanes, the Internet or satellite and all these things are now common place and are used as tools to get the Gospel out!

The other sign is the nation of Israel.
Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Matthew 24:32-34.

In bible typology, the fig tree often represents the nation of Israel. He said that when this nation starts to grow (as it did in 1948) that the generation that witnessed both these events would be alive when He returns. I was born in 1942, so I could say with some degree of accuracy that I saw it start, so that implies that I will be alive when Jesus returns.

Signs

If God uses the universe comprising the sun, mooon and stars as indicators, then are events like the blood moons signs to look for and if so, what do they mean?

Blood moons Light sources Prophecy

PROPHECY:
Because many people associate the Blood Moons with bible prophecy, it behoves us to see what is meant.
Prophecy is-
1: an inspired utterance of a prophet
2: the function or vocation of a prophet specifically : the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose
3: a prediction of something to come

It thus declares the mind and will of God and relates to both present and future events. The utterance is by divine inspiration under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and, contrary to some popular beliefs, prophets still exist today and still declare by God's intentions.

The ministry and function of prophets and prophecy differ between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The utterances and revelations of Old Testament prophets looked forward in a future time.
Hebrews 1:1 states that God spoke to us by such men and women, but things changed when Jesus came.

Prophets in the New Testament are still appointed to their office, but in a different way. Their ministries should tend to be more for edification, exhortation and comfort in the Church.

Prophecy... genuine biblical prophecy is complete.
Everything is now recorded in scripture. We would be wise to heed the wod of Peter who said-
...we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Paul complemented this when he said-
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Perhaps it may be better to concentrate more onliving right before God in the here and now that to speculate on what might or might not happen. We must be prepared of course, which is why scripture is given to us... to prepare us and equip us for every good work.

Sometimes we do not see everything clearly, but it is there and as I have stated elsewhere, most such prophecies have already been fulfilled. The few that remain to be fulfilled... in the sense of future events, such as what people call End Time Prophecy are subject to much debate. It need not be so.

At the mention of this term, many people immediately think of the Book of Revelation, Armageddon, the end of the world, the antichrist, the tribulation and so on. They link what is recorded there with Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel and Daniel and whole doctrines are formed by various interpretations, forgetting several basic facts.

The first thing to remember is that the Book of revelation is all about Jesus and His plan! As John said, it is The Revelation of Jesus Christ!
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Revelation 1:1.

People can become confused when they think of all other things and this is evident when they call it the book of revelations (notice the plural). It contains certain elements of prophecy, but it really is all about Jesus.

Prophecy, especially what is often regarded as End Time Prophecy, takes on a whole new dimension when we get this right. Please remember that most prophecies, especially those relating to Jesus (some 300 to 350 or perhaps more), have already been fulfilled.

Some are being fulfilled as you read this page and there are a few others yet to be fulfilled. This may happen in our lifetime, or in an age to follow, but I believe that we are definitely in the closing phases of their fulfilment.

The bible contains various means of communication with us. It is a history book; a book of testimonials; a book that reveals the family tree of many people; a book that we could describe as a user manual that helps us to live in a modern world.
It contains types and shadows, illustrations and parables to assist us in understanding what could sometimes be impossible to understand. For example, how would a prophet of one thousand years ago describe a nuclear submarine? Would he describe it as an iron whale that swallowed men?

Jesus used such means often. When asked about certain matters, He used common and easily understood objects of events to illustrate spiritual matters. Someone asked HIm, "What is the Kingdom of Heaven like?" and He said, "It is like a seed" and the message was conveyed.

The word of God is also spiritual! It is God breathed. It must be understood by the impartation of spiritual truth, or by revelation. Good exegesis, hermeneutics and similar theological terms are OK but often lack the input from the author to give us the real truth therein. Theology is often intellectually based which is contrary to the spiritual truth that can only be gained by revelation.

When it comes to such topics like this present discussion, we can easily become side-tracked.
Look at Isaiah 55:12 as an example. It states-
you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Trees are trees! They do not have hands. Mountains cannot sing because they do not have voices. In such instances, God conveys a truth using figurative language and it is wonderful indeed. In like manner are the Blood Moons to be taken literally or are they figurative? When the bible says that the moon will be turned to blood, what does God really mean?

It may sound simplistic, but God means what He says. We miss the mark when we read things into His words to suit our personal viewpoints. When reading scripture we can take it literally or figuratively. If, in this instance, the moon literally turns into blood, we are in trouble. It it is symbolic we need to know what the illustration means and the best way to do that is to go to the source Himself! If all scripture has been given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit according to 2 Timothy 3:16, we have to allow Him to give us His understanding on what He said.
Anything else is man-made, or... intellectually based and this is where religion takes over. A preacher I know said that it takes a good theologian to mess things up. He is right! Think about it.

With regard to prophecy therefore, we must be careful in accurately dissecting it. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:15 to study the scriptures diligently and rightly divide the word of truth. If we can divide it rightly, we can also divide it incorrectly. That word divide means something like cutting a straight line with sharp incisions.

To do that we need to know some basic things and ask pertinent questions such as-

To whom is God speaking?
When did He speak?
Under what conditions or circumstances did He speak?

Error enters when we think that God is dealing with the Church, whereas He is dealing with Israel, or vice-versa.

God has a covenant with Israel what is still valid. He speaks in terms of an everlasting covenant or one that lasts for one thousand generations.
There is the New Covenant that has been made with the Church and it is totally different to those made with Israel. The church has not replaced Israel.
According to Paul, There are three classes of peoples with whom God deals. They are the Jews, the Church of God and Gentiles (see 1 Corinthians 10:32).

As for our subject matter, we need to ascertain if there really is any significance at all prophetically and if so, who is involved? There are what I call Rivers of Revelation and this brings us to the next segment.

Rivers of revelation

RIVERS OF REVELATION:
We closed the last segment with comments on correctly understanding what God has said in His word. If He created everything in existence by His word, there must be an element in it that is life producing. The word of God has to be the every expression of His character and nature. His very being has been revealed to us in what we call the bible, but all too often theologians reduce its supernatural or spiritual aspect into human logic. It cannot be done!

When the prophets of old spoke to us, they did not have the resources we do to analyse and parse words and phrases as we do. They spoke! They described what they saw, or passed on what God had told them. There was no private interpretation of it in the way modern theologians seem to fear. They had a touch of some kind from God and shared it and this is recorded for our benefit today in the bible. No one has the ability or privilege of altering one jot or tittle to suit to suit his or her theology.

Prophecy is a river of revelation. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of the experiences received when God showed him in visions and by angelic visitation many things. He wrote of one such experience as follows-

... then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side. When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. Again he measured 1,750 feet and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. Ezekiel 47:1-7.

The preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:7 wrote-
All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

The Psalmist said-
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. Psalm 46:4.

There are many rivers of truth and revelation flowing from God. They start in Genesis and continue flowing to Revelation. Genesis 2:10-14 states that there was a river parting into four heads to flow out to bless the earth and John saw the river in the city of God on a great and high mountain in Revelation 21:9-10 and 22:1-3.

These streams of truth and revelation are many and varied. They embrace everything that is theological, prophetic, types and shadows, eschatological and have practical application. Each individual stream conveys its own message; an element of truth and an element of revelation, but each individual stream is incomplete, flowing into the full ocean of God’s immense knowledge and wisdom. One such stream is the river of covenant. In the covenants there are waters that may be ankle deep, knee deep, waist high or so high one must swim in it and allow the current to sweep you along.

God is a Covenant Making and a Covenant Keeping God and He established covenant with His people in many ways but we need to see them to understand what he is like and what he is doing.

Scientists say that we blink approximately twenty-five times every minute and that each blink takes one fifth of a second. By such calculations, on a 60Km (40 Miles) journey at 60Km per hour, half of that journey would be taken with our eyes closed. That means we shall travel for 30Km with our eyes closed.

Many people travel life with their eyes closed, not fully realizing how much God has chosen to reveal Himself and how much he has for us. Much can be missed by not having our eyes open along this amazing journey that lasts for an eternity. Knowing this, God has placed certain navigational aids or beacons along the banks of the river for us to navigate from our beginning of our journey to successfully reach our destination. The Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament are some and they list the feasts of Israel.

Throughout Church history there has been a chasm of misunderstanding between the Church (the body of Messiah) and the Jewish people. Both Christians and Jews have falsely concluded that there is little real or practical connection between Christianity and Jewish life. However, often based on ignorance or false presuppositions.

There is no escaping the inherent Jewishness of Jesus.
He was a Jew living in the land of Israel and called Jews to follow him. His early followers considered themselves to be Jews who had found the promised Messiah and naturally continued the Jewish expression of their faith.

Many Christians have not understood this rich heritage on which our faith is built. Part of this heritage can be discovered in the Moeds, or God’s holy appointed festivals and seasons. The Feasts of the Lord, or the biblical holy days, teach us about the nature of God and his plan for mankind. A classic passage in regard to the holy days is found in the New Testament.
So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Chodesh or Shabbat. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah. Colossians 2:16–17.

We often refer to this passage as a message to avoid legalism, but there is another truth stated. The festivals or feasts of Israel hold tremendous lessons for us because they are shadows or models of God’s plan.

The Gospel message may be found in the Feasts of Israel and deserve much attention elsewhere. We therefore present a brief overview of them only here to determine if there really is any association with them and the blood moons, prophetically speaking.

There are some people who major on this, saying that there is real significance. It is not up to me to agree or disagree with their teachings. It is up to you to conduct your own research on the matter. I have however been asked on numerous occasions about this topic because people have become confused, even afraid of those teachings and that... is not right. God does not want us to have such emotions. He wants us to know the truth.

I present what I have researched to you for your own assessment.

Let us now look briefly at the Feasts of Israel.

The feasts of Israel

The Feasts of Israel are God's feasts. It was at his command that his people celebrate certain events each year, based on the Jewish spirutal calendar and upon the seasons. Each event is specifially addressed in the menu items at the left.

The Gregorian calendar, used by most western nations today, is a solar based calendar that was established by Pope Gregory VIII in 1582.

The Jewish calendar uses both lunar and solar movements. The months are determined by the moon, and the year is determined by the sun. The Jewish day basically is measured between sunrise and sunset.

There are 12 months in the Jewish calendar, each with 29 or 30 days.

Approximately every third year is a leap year containing an extra month. This adjustment is necessary to ensure that the major festivals stay in their appointed seasons.

Over the years the names of the months and the process of establishing the calendar has changed and the Jewish calendar is now determined by precise astronomical calculations.

The calendar was initially determined each month by the sighting of the new moon (see Numbers 10:10; Psalm 81:3).

The new moon is now called Rosh Hodesh (head of the month) and is marked in the synagogue with prayers, Torah readings, and special greetings.

By Jesus’ time, a second calendar used for civil affairs began with the month of Tishri. The first of Tishri was the civil New Year, Rosh HaShanah. The second calendar is still in use.

In Exodus 12, God established the order of the months as He issued instructions concerning Passover. This was the first Jewish calendar used to determine the holidays. Nisan (Abib) was to be the first month and mark the redemption of Israel from Egypt. Passover is celebrated in Nisan.

Adonai spoke to Moshe and Aharon in the land of Egypt; he said, “You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you.

Adonai spoke to Moshe and Aharon in the land of Egypt; he said, “You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Exodus 12:1-2.

The table below lists each feast for the years 2104, 2015 and 2016.

Gregorian Year	2014	2015	2016
Jewish Year	5775	5776	5777
Pesach (Passover)	April 15	April 4	April 23
Chag HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread)	April 16	April 5	April 24
Reishit (Firstfruits	April 17	April 6	April 25
Shavuot (Pentecost)	June 4	May 24	June 12
Rosh HaShanah (Trumpets {New Year})	September 25	September 14	October 3
Yom Kippur (Day of atonement)	October 4	September 23	October 12
Sukkot (Tabernacles or Booths)	October 9	September 28	October 17
Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication)	December 17	December 7	December 25
Purim (Feast of Lots)	March 16	March 5	March 24

אֵ֚לֶּה מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִקְרָאֵ֖י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בְּמוֹעֲדָ

These are the designated times of Adonai, the holy convocations you are to proclaim at their designated times.

This passage of Leviticus 23:4 sums up their purpose.

Over time, other events like Purim and Hanukkah (shown in grey colour above) have been added. Chanukah was not given by God on Sinai but Daniel prophesied of this in Daniel 8:9-14 and it seems that this was fulfilled in 165 BCE when the Temple was redicated. Purim celebrates the deliverance of God's people and the story is found in the book of Esther.

The festivals are thus very important both to the Jew and to Christian alike. Although originally given to the hebrews, their wonderful symbolism cannot be overlooked in the plan of God. It appears that every one of these feasts has a symbolic or prophetic fulfilment in Jesus. The Tabernacle of Moses represents Gods whole plan of salvation. The intricate detail, even to the tentpegs and ropes, speak in some way of Jesus and the atonement.

The Sabbath (Shabbat) begins on Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday at Sundown. It is perhaps one of the most misunderstood feasts of Israel, being rejected by non-Jewish people as part of the Ten Commandments and as such is legalistic or restrictive. Shabbat is really a symbol of freedom. It is a day when we can rest from our labours and this means much more than simply not working.

When God finished creating everything there is, he rested. It was not that he grew tired or weary. He rested because his work was completed.

This day of rest for us does several things. It honours God. It allows us to refresh ourselves physically and spiritually and it gives us an opportunity to have fellowship, eating and meditating on God and his word.

Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), said in Mark 2:27 that Sabbath was made for man. We are not made for the Sabbath.

When God gave us this precious day, his people were not free! They were slaves and people under bondage cannot take rest.

It is a known fact that the land should be permitted to lay fallow every seven years. Failure to do so depletes the soil with adverse results. We are made from the soil of the earth, and likewise need to replenish our resources. That is Sabbath. It may be a sign of our trust in God for our provision and rest from labours. According to Hebrews 11:6 we cannot please God without faith. The question is, “Do we really trust God?” Can we rest in him, knowing that he will provide for us in every way possible? Perhaps Sabbath is a foretaste of what is to come.

For this reason, holy brothers, marked out to have a part in heaven, give thought to Jesus the representative and high priest of our faith;Who kept faith with God who gave him his place, even as Moses did in all his house. And it was right for this man to have more honour than Moses, even as the builder of a house has more honour than the house.For every house has a builder; but the builder of all things is God.
And Moses certainly kept faith as a servant, in all his house, and as a witness of those things which were to be said later; But Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we keep our hearts fixed in the glad and certain hope till the end.
And so, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you let his voice come to your ears, Be not hard of heart, as when you made me angry, on the day of testing in the waste land, When your fathers put me to the test, and saw my works for forty years. So that I was angry with this generation, and I said, Their hearts are in error at all times, and they have no knowledge of my ways; And being angry I made an oath, saying, They may not come into my rest. My brothers, take care that there is not by chance in any one of you an evil heart without belief, turning away from the living God:
But give comfort to one another every day as long as it is still Today; so that no one among you may be made hard by the deceit of sin:
For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ; As it is said, Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart, as when you made him angry.
Who made him angry when his voice came to them? was it not all those who came out of Egypt with Moses?
And with whom was he angry for forty years? was it not with those who did evil, who came to their deaths in the waste land?
And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
So we see that they were not able to go in because they had no belief. Hebrews 3:1-19

According to Isaiah 58:13-14 blessing comes to those who delight in keeping Sabbath.

Leviticus 23:5 specifies that the festival year begins with Passover on "the fourteenth day of the first month" (Nisan 15). Please see the calendar depiction in the section About.
Passover is the Feast of Salvation. In both testaments, the blood of the Lamb delivers from slavery – the Jew from Egypt and the Christian from sin. In bible typology Egypt represents sin and the world.

In Exodus 12:5, Egypt's first born sons died while the angel of death "passed over" the Jewish homes that had the blood of the lamb on their door posts. If the blood was not applied, they were not protected. The application of the blood had to be personal.

In the B'rit Chadashah, Jesus serves as the sacrificial lamb. It is no coincidence that our Lord Himself was sacrificed on Passover. That whole passion week was intricately entwined with Passover and Jesus. See Matthew 26:2, 17-19; Mark 14:1-16; Luke 22:1-20.

In Egypt Jews marked their houses with the blood of the lamb. Christians are marked by the Blood of the Lamb. In Exodus, the blood had to be personally applied to achieve salvation and the blood of Jesus has to be personally applied today to receive salvation. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. See 1 Corinthians 5:7 and Hebrews 9:22.
The next day, Yochanan (John) saw Yeshua (Jesus) coming toward him and said, "Look! God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a feast that is often mistaken for Passover.
Although they are linked to each other, the Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts for seven days whilst Passover takes place in one 24 hour period.

In Jewish tradition the eating of unleavened bread commemorates the original Exodus from Egypt. It’s origin is found in the commandments of the Lord.
Observe the month of Abib and offer a passover sacrifice to the Lord your God, for it was in the month of Abib, at night, that the Lord your God freed you from Egypt.You shall slaughter the passover sacrifice for the Lord your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the Lord will choose to establish His name. You shall not eat anything leavened with it; for seven days thereafter you shall eat unleavened bread, bread of distress—for you departed from the land of Egypt hurriedly—so that you may remember the day of your departure from the land of Egypt as long as you live.For seven days no leaven shall be found with you in all your territory, and none of the flesh of what you slaughter on the evening of the first day shall be left until morning. Deuteronomy 16:1-4.

Their bread was not to contain any yeast. If you have baked and added even a small amount of yeast to the flour and water mixture, you should have seen that once this yeast has been added, there is no way to remove it. It spreads though out the dough that rises or multiplies. In 1 Corinthians 5:6 and Galatians 5:9 we are told that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Yeast therefore is an excellent type of sin. We often refer to original sin, or to what happened in the Garden when Adam and eve sinned. What they did there has permeated all of humanity since, spreading though all men like that leaven and infecting us through the bloodline with the sin principle Jesus came to destroy.

On the evening after Passover God told the Hebrew people exiting Egypt not to allow their bread to rise, but to knead it without leaven and eat it in haste before departure.

Modern Jews have adopted a tradition whereby they conduct a thorough search in their houses and eradicate it. Sometimes children are involved and their parents deliberately hide a small amount for them to find as they recount the Exodus story. Anyone looking for yeast like will know that it is extremely difficult to eradicate. It has been described by someone as being a hopeless case. The symbolism there is amazing. Trying to eradicate sin by ourselves is a hopeless case, so we need someone like Jesus to do that for us.

He died for our sin. If you look carefully at Jewish Matzo, you may see that it has stripes that look like bruises and is pierced through with many holes. This naturally allows for faster baking time but the symbolism amazingly points to the stripes Jesus received and the wounds inflicted as his body was pierced for us.

Jesus was beaten and bruised and pierced for our sins. He was and is the only sinless person on this planet and His body is represented by the matzo. Even in modern day Judaism, God’s plan of redemption is revealed.

We need Jesus' atoning blood to cleanse us of sins. We have to let Him come in to live inside of us, in the form of the Holy Spirit, where He can slowly find all that yeast and completely remove it.

You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving -- seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days... You shall convoke on this very day -- there shall be a holy convocation for yourselves -- you shall do no laborious work; it is an eternal decree in your dwelling places for your generations. Leviticus 21:15-16, 21

Shavu'ot, the Festival of Weeks, is one of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance. It commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits).

Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of the Torah).

The period from Passover to Shavu'ot is a time of great anticipation. Jews count each of the days from the second day of Passover to the day before Shavu'ot, 49 days or 7 full weeks, hence the name of the festival. The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu’ot.

Jews regard Passover as freeing them physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed them spiritually from bondage to idolatry and immorality.

It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah and that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time. Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant.

Shavu'ot is not tied to a particular calendar date, but to a counting from Passover. Because the length of the months were once variable to be determined by observation. Shavu'ot could occur on the 5th or 6th or Sivan.

Any form of work is not permitted during Shavu'ot.

It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavu'ot and study Torah then pray as early as possible in the morning.

It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Shavu'ot. There are varying opinions as to why this is done. Some say it is a reminder of the promise regarding the land if Israel — a land flowing with "milk and honey." According to another view, it is because our ancestors had just received the Torah (and the dietary laws therein) and did not have both meat and dairy dishes available.

Exodus 19:18-19 describes how God revealed himself through supernatural means. The mountains shook violently, there was a tumultuous noise as the rams horn blew louder and louder, accompanied by flashes of lightning and smoke enveloped the mountain. God spoke in that thunder as a prelude to his giving Moses the Ten Commandments.

Shavu'ot is also known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day. Christians call it Pentecost, remembering that First Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when supernatural events accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit who remains with us to this day.

The men of Israel were to attend the Temple in Jerusalem that happened seven weeks after the Last Supper on Passover. Little wonder that devout Jews from all over the world had gathered there to meet with The Lord. Approximately 120 believers including Jesus' mother were in that upper room when the world changed forever.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. .

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:1.

Under reconstruction

Summary

Many Christians have heard of Daniel’s prophecies, particularly those relating to the seventy-week period. There have been all kinds of stories comparing Daniel with the Book of Revelation, talking about the return of Jesus Christ, the Antichrist, Armageddon, tribulation, the rapture of the church and more.

The term rapture does not really exist in the Bible, but it is an apt description of what may be better called the snatching away or the catching away of the church. Jesus did promise that he would return. Of that there is no doubt and we are not totally certain of the precise time, although He did give us certain signs or indicators to look for.

We may not know the actual day all the hour, but we will know the season and it is the season that we look for.

Debates about end time events vary according to one's personal or denominational bias but what the Bible really says or does not say is what matters. Do we, that is, the church, escape the tribulation or are raptured sometime during the tribulation or after it? If we look closely at every other illustration in Scripture, those who are in covenant relationship with God "escape it". The flood certainly destroying the Earth, but one man and his family who were a covenant relationship with God were saved. The plagues came upon Egypt, but God's people in the land of Goshen were preserved. The Red Sea opened up for them, but destroyed the enemy.

In like manner, is it not unreasonable to expect that a God who never changes would protect his own people? The issues are that prophetic Scriptures are often mixed up and thus causing confusion. Matthew chapter 24 is a classic example.

We need to always consider the basic rules of biblical interpretation and ask the question, "To whom is the speaking and when?" Some of the things of which He spoke have already happened! The Temple in Jerusalem was indeed destroyed as history confirms.

Therefore, when we look at the prophecies of men like Daniel and link them with end time events such as in the book of Revelation, we need to look more closely into the people in question. Some of them may never relate to us at all. Some of them could refer to Israel only. Others might refer to the people who have no covenant whatsoever with God.

Some very well known preachers have taught in depth on this and similar topics. One pastor proposed that a "significant event" would happen as a result of the blood moons. He stopped short of categorically stating that it will be the rapture. In other words it was pure conjecture. Well, those events have come ang gone and no one seems to be any the wiser. Did something happen or not? Remember... a prophet is tested by his or her accuracy!

Others cite the current events in the Middle East, often referring to Daniel chapter 11 that was written approximately 2500 years ago. There is one commonality that Jesus warned us about. He said that people in the "last days" would start talking along these lines, many saying, "Christ is here or Christ is there." and so on.

My personal opinion is that we are indeed living in these last days, but I will not be so foolish as to make definitive statements as others are doing. I believe with allmy heart that I will be alive when He comes back, but I will not be so foolish as to try to date anything. I'm merely getting onwith the job He has given me and living as if His return could happen even as you read this.

My advice to you is to check what other men of God with a proven track record are saying. There is a biblical principle of determining the truth. The question to ask is, "How many other preachers are saying the same things?" After all, everything is established in Scripture by confirmation of others—at the mouth of two or three witnesses!
… the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city… Acts 20:23.

A close analysis of the Bible reveals that there is no clear direct link between Jewish holidays and end times.
Certainly the Feasts of Israel contain an immense wealth of typology.
They refer much to Jesus, Calvary and the plan of salvation and I believe that they also refer in some ways to the church and to the rapture.

The question I leave with you is this. “Are you saved?"

If so, "Do you believe that Jesus is returning?" If you could answer positively, your future destiny is set and such phenomena could merely be something given to you to get your attention. If this has happened, prepare yourself as a bride prepares herself for her great wedding day. I will close by quoting a wonderful passage of Scripture that is found in Ephesians chapter five.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Don’t participate in the things these people do.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.
And we are members of his body.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:1-33.

Keep walking by faith

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