THE FEAST OF THE FIRST DAY OF
THE SEVENTH MONTH,
A SHADOW OF EVENTS TO COME AND
A SONG TO FREEDOM!
The world has
long ago forgotten what are the feasts of Yehoah
as described by Him in the Bible and as practiced by our Lord Jesus and the
true believers of the New Covenant!
Today, we invite
you to meditate on the feast that takes place on the first day of the seventh
new moon of the year, at the time of the last harvests of the year.
For those who would like to know
more about how Yehoah has set His calendar, please
go and read the relevant article in this website.
Since the beginning of the year
which takes place with the month of Aviv, at the season of Passover, we have
been invited by Yehoah to observe and count seven new
moons. At each new moon, our star of the night is completely masked by the
earth. This phenomenon makes it quite invisible to all inhabitants on earth.
But this seventh new moon, according
to Leviticus 23: 23-24, occupies a very special place in the calendar of our
Creator since it is the occasion of a feast for all His people. But before
referring to the book of Leviticus, let us read this beautiful piece in the
Psalms:
" Sing aloud to Elohim our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the Elohim of Jacob.
2 Raise a song
and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.
3Blow
the shofar (שופר) at the time of the New Moon,
when it is completely hidden (בַּכֵּסֶה), on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the Elohim of Jacob.
5 This He established in Joseph as a
testimony,
When He went throughout the
land of Egypt," (Psalm 81: 1-6)
These verses are clear in their
original Hebrew version since it reveals how to fix this day of celebration:
the first day of a new lunation is the one when the moon is perfectly invisible
and not that of its first crescent!
For those of you who are not
convinced about the way we have translated this part of the psalm, after having
crosschecked with version in Hebrew, please send me an e-mail and I will be
very happy to try to explain in more details the reasons behind this
translation I have made.
During the feast of the first day of
the seventh month as it is described in Leviticus 23, verses 23 and 24,
Yehoah
invites us to mark this event with
joyful
shout (תְּרוּעָה).
(In the original Hebrew text, the
word תְּרוּעָה
is incorrectly translated by "to the sound of trumpets" and
must be understood as "joyful shout".)
The same word translated by shout or
clamor is also used in other places in the bible to describe a signal of war
like for instance during the take-over of Jericho (Joshua 6: 20).
Moreover, as we read in the book of
Numbers in chapter 10, verses 1 to 10, we see that Moses was invited by Yehoah to have two trumpets made of silver; it was
necessary to blow with these trumpets with brilliance or not on different
occasions among them at the new moons.
This means that on this seventh new moon, in addition to the joyful
shouts of
the children of Israel, it was also necessary
to blow in the trumpets.
But let us also observe that these
trumpets were also heralding the war, especially in order to be reminded by the
memory of Yehoah.
If we read Psalm 81 again, we see
that on this feast day,
There is also a need to blow the famous shophar
used today by the Jewish people especially on that day.
So step by step, we are starting to
see an orchestra with a chorus of shouting people on
the occasion of this party!
Reading again carefully Psalm 81, we
see that the sound of the shofar, of the trumpets and of the shout is also used
to attract the attention of our Father and obtain His protection when we are in
danger, threatened by enemies who want us to disappear. But this psalm also
expresses regret because the Children of Israel do not listen to nor walk in
the ways of their Spiritual Father, while He will protect us only if we call Him
and if we act as He asks us to do.
This feast of the new moon of the
seventh month symbolizes the deliverance of the people of Elohim from the heart
of darkness because during the new moon, it is particularly dark; indeed, the
moon is not at all visible, it does not give light during the whole night, even
not a thin crescent!
This process of deliverance has
begun at the time of Passover and the seven days of unleavened bread, when our Lord
Jesus has been qualified as our Savior to deliver us from destruction and
annihilation.
But first let us see which so
extraordinary event did occur during the first seven days of unleavened bread during
the mankind history. Pay attention that at the time of Passover and during the
memorable night that follows and even the next day and the day after, the Hebrew
are still on the soil of Egypt, the soil of Pharaoh, the king of this territory!
They are still under the threat of this cruel dictator even if Yehoah ensures their protection. The book of Exodus tells
us that on the fifteenth day of the month, at dawn, even before sunrise, when
it is still dark, the Hebrew people will leave the city and the region of
Ramses where they had lived since the time of Joseph (Genesis 47:11). The
Hebrew people therefore leave this city to go to Succoth (Exodus 12: 37-42). They
left during the night but not without having waited for dawn because the
Hebrews could not leave their homes before it became clear. (Exodus 12: 21-22)
(NB: The night begins at sunset and
ends at sunrise, meaning that it encompasses dusk and dawn as you can see in
the dictionary.)
It is only after these first events that Yehoah
offers His people one of the most beautiful gifts that can be imagined, this
gift, it's FREEDOM offered at the end of the seven days of unleavened
bread.
On many occasions we have emphasized
the value of freedom in Elohim's eyes. Elohim has in horror dictatorship and fascism, He is on the contrary the champion of a certain
form of democracy manifested by the DUTY TO MEDITATE FREELY AND
CONSTRUCTIVELY.
Many proofs of Elohim's democratic
sense exist in His Word, such as the free choice offered to the Children of Israel
and to all those who accompany them to enter the Sinai covenant.
The freedom
offered by Elohim is the one that will lead creatures to become creators just
like
their Spiritual Father.
Artists, painters, sculptors,
writers or composers may understand this need for freedom that exists among all
creators.
The satanic system currently in
place on earth is the exact opposite of that: it is a spiritual dictatorship inciting
every creature to become like its neighbor while seeking to stifle all the
potential that is in it. Satan and his empire of demons come to their ends by
playing on the map of lust that works so well for men! This satanic power is
not about creating but destroying diversity by making every man identical to
his neighbor.
Human potential, on the contrary,
aims to make everyone unique and admirable, just as precious stones are the
jewels of a crown!
Freedom
So let us read in the book of Exodus
this extraordinary moment when freedom is given free of charge to a whole nation
of former slaves:
“13 And
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see
the salvation[b] of Yehoah, which He will accomplish for you
today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more
forever. 14 Yehoah will fight for you, and you
shall hold[c] your peace.”
15 And Yehoah said to Moses, “Why do you
cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go
forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch
out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go
on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And
I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow
them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his
chariots, and his horsemen. 18 Then the Egyptians
shall know that I am Yehoah, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19 And the Angel of Elohim, who went before the camp of Israel,
moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and
stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp
of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to
the one,and
it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not
come near the other all that night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Yehoah caused the sea to go back by
a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and
the waters were divided. 22 So the
children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and
the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on
their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went
after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and
his horsemen.
24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that
Yehoah looked down upon the
army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He [d]troubled the army of the
Egyptians. 25 And He [e]took off their chariot wheels, so
that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from
the face of Israel, for Yehoah fights for them against the
Egyptians.”
26 Then Yehoah said to Moses, “Stretch out
your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back
upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the
sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it.
So Yehoah overthrew[f] the Egyptians in the midst of
the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered
the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that
came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. 29 But the
children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the
sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand
and on their left.
30 So Yehoah saved[g] Israel that day out of the
hand of the Egyptians”
(Exodus
14: 13-30)
But access to freedom is not done
anyhow! There is a specific method to follow.
The TRUTH is the essential pillar of FREEDOM
“31 Then Jesus said to
those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word,
you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free.”” (John 8: 31-32)
Here again, we must understand and seize
this key teaching in order to become free as Jesus-Christ himself, the Word who
became flesh and the champion of freedom:
“1The Spirit of Yehoah
Elohim is upon Me, Because Yehoah has anointed Me
to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted,
to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of Yehoah, and the day of vengeance of our Elohim; to comfort
all who mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of Yehoah, that He may be glorified.” 4
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise
up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the
desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed
your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your
vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of Yehoah, they
shall call you the servants of our Elohim. You shall eat the riches of the
Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of
confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they
shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8 “For I, Yehoah, love justice; I hate
robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make
with them an everlasting covenant. 9 Their descendants shall be
known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see
them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has
blessed.” 10 I will greatly rejoice in Yehoah,
my soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; For He has clothed me with the garments
of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11
For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are
sown in it to spring forth, so Yehoah Elohim will
cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61)
All this must remind us that once we
reach the seventh month, we must keep in memory all that we have learned and
heard since the first month, the month when Passover took place; we must merge
the beginning with the end.
It is at the time of Passover that Jesus-Christ
left us, at the beginning of the year as our Savior and before that he announced
a year of freedom as we read in Isaiah and as it is confirmed in Luke 4: 16-21:
“16 So He came to Nazareth, where
He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on
the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book
of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where
it was written:
18 “The Spirit of Yehoah is upon Me, because
He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the
acceptable year of Yehoah.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat
down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21
And He began to say to them,
Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
With the freedom now at hand since the coming of the Messiah and
his sacrifice, it is necessary, generation after generation, to continue the
path that will lead the believers WITHOUT ANY DOUBT to the end of the reign of the present prince
of this world and to the enthronement of Jesus the Son of Elohim.
But let us not waste time on the
road, on the contrary:
“15 See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming
the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)
Freedom to grow!
Jesus also explains to us by
parables what would happen between the moments symbolized by Passover and the
feasts of the seventh month. He teaches us that the freedom that is offered
will persist if we make good use of it by bearing fruits.
Let us read this in Luke19:
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because
He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of Elohim would
appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went
into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to
them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and
sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over
us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom,
he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called
to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16
Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a
very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second
came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise
he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I
have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because
you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you
did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out
of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an
austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23
Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have
collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and
give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him,
‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone
who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be
taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who
did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ” (Luke 19: 11-27)
If, then, we have access to freedom,
it is to make a good use of it by making it fruitful; we must bear fruits.
But let's return to the feast of the
first day of the seventh month and to the shadow of future events that it
represents.
The shadow of things to come.
Paul draws our attention to the
importance of the Holy Days because, as he says in his epistle to the
Colossians, "IT'S THE SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME"
(Colossians 2: 16-17).
The word shadow is extremely well
chosen by Paul when one thinks of its meaning: The light that enlightens those
things to come that we do not yet see, however, casts their shadow within our
reach. This shadow that we can see allows us to predict how these things will
be and that is why Paul insists that, despite the criticisms of the civilization
that surrounds us, we persevere in the observance and understanding of these Holy
Days. and their environment.
The trumpets announcing the fight.
As we have read earlier, Yehoah is asking to have this this feast be announced also
by blowing in the trumpets and we know that the same trumpets are also used to
announce the fight by which Yehoah is saving His
people.
The book of Revelation makes also
reference to trumpets on the occasion of the opening of the seventh seal and if
we pay attention to what is written in Revelation 6, verses 12 to 17, we see
that it will be a period of time particularly dark and so troubled that men
will no longer know where to find refuge.
There is a great similarity with the
blow in the trumpets at the moment of the new moon of the seventh month as if it
was “the shadow” of those of the Revelation which announce the fight that will
bring us out of this period of darkness, a period symbolized by the nights
especially dark till the new moon of the seventh month.
Then we find the opening of the
seventh seal described in chapter eight of the Revelation and it begins with
this silence of about half an hour. This silence announces the famous day of
the Yehoah, About this
subject, Revelation 8: 1 is to be compared to Zephaniah 1: 7-18.
The first four
trumpets.
So here we are at the time precisely
symbolized by this feast of the first day of the seventh month, this is the
time when the seven trumpets of the seventh seal will sound. Often the tendency
is to neglect and jump over the first six trumpets and to retain only the last
one, the seventh, the one that announces the arrival of the Messiah and the
resurrection of the dead in Christ (I Corinthians 15: 51-52); it is a
negligence because this feast symbolizes the entirety of the events related
with the seven trumpets! By the way, there is an important point described in
the first six verses of Revelation 8 that should draw our attention: Elohim will
ask His servants to act only once He has heard the prayers of all His saints
who have suffered martyrdom starting with Abel and ending with the Latter-day
Saints. This must remind us that Elohim is acting in favor of people only
if they call Him and are asking for help; that is the democracy of our Creator!
" Ask and
it shall be given you, seek, and you shall find,
Knock and it will opened unto you,"
Then comes
the first trumpet with the destruction of one third of the earth that will be
burnt (Revelation 8: 7). It is followed by the second trumpet, announcing the
destruction of one-third of what is on and in the seas (verses 8-9). At the
sound of the next trumpet, many men will die intoxicated with bitter water
(verses 10-11).
The fourth trumpet marks a turning
point in this series; it is indeed the middle one, three are before it and
three will follow it. It announces a dark period for those who have not sought for
the good, for Elohim and His knowledge and this trumpet reveals the coming of
the last three woes (verses 12-13).
It is time for us to see that this
part of the Revelation, that of the first four trumpets, is a repeat of the
prophecy against Judah of the book of Jeremiah, chapter 9, verses 1-15 . But now it will occur to the whole world. What is important
for the reader is to understand the reasons given in the book of Jeremiah that
prompted our Creator to do so. These reasons are none other than the
transgressions of his commandments; for example, to commit both physical and
spiritual adultery, or falsehood and calumny, all things leading to the total
abandonment of Elohim's law. The consequences of this are those painful events:
everything is burned and poisoned.
The darkness of the sun, of the moon
and of the stars is also echoed in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 29-30. It comes at a time when the sign of the Son of
Man will be seen and his coming is threatening mankind. This is the time of the
sacrifice of the saints that Elohim delivers to Satan just as he delivered His first-born
son Jesus. Read the following passages about these events in Daniel chapter 8:
verses 9-14 and 23-26, chapter 7: 21-26 and compare this with Revelation 13: 1
and 7-8.
Is this darkness of the sky the
consequence of the complete disappearance of the people of Elohim from earth,
of the Holy Spirit which is in them? Are not these people like many stars that
will no longer reflect on the earth the light of their Creator? Indeed, Yehoah compares His people to the light of the world set on
a hill and should not be hidden under a bushel so that it can be seen from afar
(Matthew 5: 14-16). In another passage, in the book of Revelation, churches are
also compared to candlesticks whose purpose is to enlighten the world
(Revelation 1:20).
It must also be remembered that in
Joseph's dream, he sees his brothers, those who gave birth to the tribes of
Israel, as so many stars! (Genesis 37: 8-10).
It is therefore possible to
understand that the disappearance of these stars is like a symbol for the
sacrifice of the saints who will be executed by Satan and his power in place on
earth through the beast. But if all the saints disappear, it must also be
deduced that the presence of Elohim and his Son will disappear from earth: John
tells us that Elohim and his Son have established their home in the saints
(John 14 : 23). The disappearance of this light
emitted by the saints explains the spiritual darkness that will reign over the
earth at that time, because men will no longer have access to the word of
Elohim as Amos writes (Amos 8: 9-12) .
To understand more about this
disappearance of light, I invite you to read the article on apostasy and the
appearance of the unholy man on this site.
The last trumpets and The Great Whore
Here is the moment of the last three
trumpets and the three woes that are associated with them. With the fifth
trumpet (Revelation 9: 1-2), we witness the opening of the pit of the abyss
from which emerges the famous beast that is discussed in more details in
Revelation 17: 3-8. Let us also observe that for a certain time, the beast will
be ridden by this woman whose name is Babylon the great, mother of the
prostitutes. This woman is already drunk at that time with the blood of the
saints and that of the witnesses of Jesus.
But who is
Babylon the Great who is at the origin of so much amazement for
John?
If we would discover like John who
is the Great Prostitute, we would be greatly surprised like hi,! So let us try to
discover the identity of this Great Prostitute who is already drunk with the
blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
Her identity is described throughout
the Bible and you know her very well.
The great surprise that strikes John
while discovering the identity of this woman is understandable if one realizes
that this woman is none else than Jerusalem herself, I mean her political and
religious authority and the people who are following them blindly. It is a
particularly hard for John to accept that this city chosen by his Lord to put His
name forever in the place where was His Temple is the same
one who becomes such a dominant harlot! But if you read the prophecy of Ezekiel
16 and you remember the words of our Christ in Matthew 23: 37-39, you should
become more convinced about the identity of Babylon the Great! Jerusalem, the
Great Babylon of the end times, will have the future predicted by Ezekiel and
confirmed in Revelation 17: 16-18. This harlot has had for short periods of
time the illusion of having led the world but at the end, she will understand
that it was only an illusion because in fact the beast will be the one who has
been appointed for this mission by Satan for a short period of time.
Returning to
the following account in Revelation 9: 3-4, we see that Elohim is asking for
the protection of all who are marked with His seal (His Holy Spirit); these are
the 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel, except Dan, who is replaced by a second
share for the two half-tribes of Joseph.
This special protection given by the seal is not addressed to the Church or the
large crowd. These 144,000 are the remnant of Jacob that Elohim does not
destroy, and of whom Amos speaks in chapters 8 and 9. Look especially at verse
8 of chapter 9:
" Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob."
Here, too, Elohim warns us about the
reasons for this misfortune of Israel, namely, the non-respect of the
Sabbath and new moons like for example the feast of the first day of the
seventh month, feast of joyful shout!
The fifth trumpet has therefore
announced the appearance of the beast with all the power that Satan will give
him (Revelation 13: 1-4, noting that the dragon is Satan according to
Revelation 12: 9).
This rise in power of the beast will
be with pain for a large number of men who cannot even die to escape suffering.
This is the first woe by which Elohim will subjugate most of the humanity to
the power of Satan. You must know that Elohim lets mankind go to the god of
this world that they have chosen, Satan, and they will finally discover what it
means: the most cruel reality.
The second woe, announced at the
sound of the sixth trumpet, is divided into two parts and the first is
described in Revelation 9: 13-21. This woe is a last warning given by Elohim to
people before the seventh and last trumpet. But mankind, as in the time of the
flood, will not repent and this woe will bring a war that will kill one third
of the remaining human beings.
The second part of this woe will
precede the seventh trumpet which will mark the apotheosis of the events which
precede it. Just before its repercussion, the prophecy of the two witnesses
must take place. This prophecy is conveyed according to the account of Revelation
chapter 11, and the two witnesses will accomplish their work for 1260 days by
thwarting the power of the beast (Revelation 11: 1-14). This prophecy of the
two witnesses is the second part of the second woe because it will be
accompanied by drought and many disasters caused by the power of Elohim. The
public execution of the two witnesses and their resurrection will mark the end
of the second woe and their execution will cause a great feast in the whole world
who will rejoice believing they are released. (Revelation 11:10). But this joy
will be very short!
The
seventh trumpet.
The last trumpet announces the
deliverance of those who died in Christ as well as all the creation that
endured the destructive power of Satan, the present prince of this world. The end
of chapter 11 of Revelation tells us about this event and Paul in his first
letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 51-58, tells us about the mystery
that accompanies the sound of this last trumpet: it will be the resurrection of
the dead in Christ and the transformation of the elected living people on earth
who will meet their Savior who is coming to take power on the earth.
This seizure of power will not
happen without a fierce and blind resistance from the beast and his empire in its
ultimate resurrection. But the seven vials mark the wrath of Elohim; they will
be shed by his angels and quickly annihilate this adversary (Revelation 16: 1).
The seventh vial will be for Babylon
the Great, the harlot against whom all nations will turn and whose destruction
is described in Revelation 16: 17 until the end of chapter 18. These events are
also described in Daniel 12.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.