Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on this site on 9/30/19. It was mistakenly removed. The author is the late Elder Bob Bondurant.
With the passing of Pentecost, it is now time for the fall feasts of Yahweh. According to the Old Covenant, there are four feasts recorded in Leviticus 23. However, there has been a change under the New Covenant, as found in the Doctrine of Messiah in Hebrews 6: 1-2. The New Covenant fall feasts only include Yom Teruah and Yom Gadol, the last great day. This new list pertains only to those called to be firstfruits.
Yom Teruah or the Day of Shouting begins on the first day of the seventh Hebrew month. According to the Gregorian calendar, this will be from sunset on September 29 to sunset on September 30, 2019.
Since this is the first day of the month, it is also a new moon. All Hebrew months begin with the sighting of a new moon. Yahweh’s year is different than man’s year. The year does not begin on January first, in the midst of winter. Yahweh’s year begins in the spring at the time of the vernal equinox. The vernal equinox represents the end of the sun’s circuit for the previous year and the beginning of the new year.
The sun determines the year. It is the moon that determines the start of a month. Once the vernal equinox occurs, the first new moon represents the first day of the first month of the year. According to Micah 4: 2: “the law shall go forth from Zion”. We follow the law and recognize all calendar calculations beginning with Jerusalem. Many groups use a new moon sighted in their own geographical area which is not according to Scripture.
You may be more familiar with this day as the Feast of Trumpets. You will find this in the King James Version of Leviticus 23: 24: “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, Ye shall have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.”
But now, consider Young’s Literal Translation of this same verse: “Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, in the seventh month in the first of the month, ye shall have a sabbath, A MEMORIAL OF SHOUTING, a holy convocation.” (Emphasis mine)
Young’s Literal Translation stays very close to the actual Hebrew. If the Hebrew uses a past tense, but the English translation uses the present tense, the difference is made clear in Young’s version. This is the case with Leviticus 23: 24. The Hebrew rendering is more accurate as shouting than trumpets.
For additional insights into the return of Messiah, please review the book of Joshua chapter 6. This relates what happened after the children of Israel entered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. (The Hebrew is actually Yahshua, which is the same name as the birth name of Messiah.)
After completing forty years in the wilderness, they finally entered the promised land. Their first act was to observe Passover on the 14th of the first month. They did this near the Canaanite city of Jericho. Near the end of chapter 5, Joshua (Yahshua) encountered Yahweh of Hosts. Yahweh gave very specific instructions to Yahshua as to how to conquer the city of Jericho.
This operation was to occur during a seven-day period. On the first six days, the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and preceded by soldiers, would make one circuit around the city. The priest carried trumpets and blew them each of the six days. The seventh day was conducted differently. This time the priests who bore the Ark and the soldiers marched seven times around the city. This time after the priests blew the trumpets, the people gave a shout as instructed by Joshua. (Yahshua) After the shout, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The Israelites then entered the city and destroyed it, including people and animals.
What can we learn from this? The book of Revelation describes a very similar scenario occurring when Messiah returns. Except at that event the angels are blowing the trumpets. According to 1 Thessalonians 4: 16: “For the Sovereign himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel and with the trump of Elohim: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first.” Just as Jericho was destroyed, YahwehShua will destroy the kingdoms of the earth and put away Satan for a thousand years. The destruction of Jericho and the world’s kingdoms in Revelation are worthy of a deeper study and meditation. They both are preceded by a shout. The seventh Hebrew month is preceded by a Day of Shouting. We firstfruits have much to shout about!
Notice in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16, we are told that the dead IN MESSIAH RISE FIRST. These are the 144,000 firstfruits referred to in Revelation 14: 1. This occurs in the seventh age. The firstfruits are called and sealed in the previous 6th age. The first six ages are periods of preparation for the resurrection of the firstfruits in the seventh age. Compare this to the first six circuits made by the Israelites around Jericho. That too was preparation for the major event to occur on the seventh day.
But there is even more that occurs at the return of Messiah! Yes, He is resurrecting the firstfruits, but He is also going to restore the promised land to the true descendants of Jacob. He and His angels will seek out the scattered true Israelites and lead them to the promised land. It was the right hand of Moses, Yahshua, who first led the true Israelites into the promised land. However, when Messiah returns, He, YahwehShua, will locate and lead the true Israelites into a glorious promised land. This land will extend from the Euphrates to the Nile rivers. Yahweh’s promise to Jacob is fulfilled.
Consider these Scriptures:
Ezekiel 37: 21-22, 25:
“And say unto them, thus saith the Sovereign Yahweh; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.”
Amos 9: 13-15:
“Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith Yahweh thy Elohim.”
These Scriptures are describing the TRUE Israelites! For more understanding about these 1,000 years read more of the book of Ezekiel. Those who call themselves Jews today are not of the True Israelites. When Messiah died on the tree his marriage covenant with the then Israelites was terminated. The Jews were then scattered among the nations. All twelve tribes are scattered among the nations. But Yahweh knows exactly where they are all located and will find them when he returns.
Scholars have learned more about the history of those today who claim to be Israelites descended from Abraham. Their research reveals they are actually Gentiles. Unfortunately, the world is not well acquainted with the research that shows those who claim to be Jews are in fact descendants of the Khazars. This knowledge has tremendous ramifications concerning world events. Please do not take my word for this. Do your own research. To help you get started I am listing some references:
The Thirteenth Tribe Arthur Koestler
The Jews of Khazaria Kevin Alan Brook
The Invention of the Jewish People Shlomo Sand
DNA Science and the Jewish Bloodline Texe Marrs
As you study and meditate upon this topic, keep in mind what we are told in Revelation 3: 9: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.”
The State of Israel claims to be descendants of Abraham. As your own study will reveal, there are scholars who refute this. This is a great deception being perpetrated on the world. When Messiah returns, He will reveal the TRUE physical and Spiritual Israelites. He tells us in John 14: 6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
During the 1,000 years, flesh and blood Israelites will inhabit the promised land. They will be the true Israelites, not those of the synagogue of Satan. They will live in peace and prosperity never experienced before. Following their deaths, they will be judged during the Last Great Day.
The Spiritual Israelites are the firstfruits. These 144,000 will have spiritual bodies and be like Messiah. They will die no more. Revelation 7 describes their being sealed by Elohim and describes their tribal designations. Paul describes in Romans 11 the grafting in of those who are to be firstfruits.
We of the firstfruits look forward to observing the Day of Shouting. It foreshadows our destiny. Perhaps it could be yours as well. That is up to Father Yahweh as revealed in John 6: 44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
We do not evangelize, but wait upon the Father to refer whom He will. We welcome your inquiries and will assist you in seeking baptism in the name of YahwehShua. Read the articles on this website, study, and when ready contact us.