The Time After Jacob's Trouble, Part 3

The Time After Jacob’s Trouble

Part 3, The Great Earthquake

Part 3 Preview: (Back to Part 1) Many expect a “rapture”; others expect a place of safety for the Church*). The Exodus is about to be repeated! The Two Witnesses’ message will spearhead this Second Exodus! Can one suffer thru the Great Tribulation yet not be spared from the Day of Yehovah (Yehovah)? Can you be spared both? Is there a “place of safety” for the remnant of ALL TWELVE TRIBES of Israel during and after the Tribulation? This chapter addresses the “safety” issue by raising questions that you probably never thought to ask; spanning hundreds of Scripture verses that have a direct bearing on your future. Will you escape the Tribulation entirely? “For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as [Yehovah] has said, among the remnant whom [Yehovah] calls....” (Joel 2:31)

The plan to conquer the nations of Israel has been in the works for years, largely due to an inside job, but perhaps some recklessness will alter the “evil plan” resulting in a sense of urgency that will cause the planners to blunder more than they might have. The statement: “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army.” indicates that their attack is divinely made to be premature, but they would have eventually attacked anyway. Israel will be without defensive military weaponry! This is in sharp contrast to Deuteronomy 28:52. Their weapons will have been lost in the war and God will not give His remnant people any more because they wont need them.

Ezekiel 38:11-23 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’, [a people with no military defense capability]-12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are AGAIN inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ 14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says Yehovah Elohim: On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, [which they dont up until this point] when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes. 17 Thus says Yehovah Elohim: Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in THOSE days that I would bring you against them? [God is making a distinct point of showing that after dozens of specific prophesies have already occurred, as expounded by the two witnesses, these hordes are like stupid animals, marching to the slaughter, not knowing the certainty of their demise.] 18 And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says Yehovah Elohim, that My fury will show in My face. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be A GREAT EARTHQUAKE in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, AND ALL MEN WHO ARE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH SHALL SHAKE at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and *every wall shall fall to the ground [due to the earthquake]. 21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says Yehovah Elohim. *Every man’s SWORD will be against his BROTHER. 22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, GREAT HAILSTONES, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am Yehovah.

It is extremely important to notice the significance of Ezekiel’s reference to the Great Earthquake in this context. It is necessary to compare the references pertaining to the Day of Yehovah and this Great Earthquake, because this is a primary benchmark in time, essential to correctly understanding the prophetic sequence of events. It is a very specific and unique event, accompanied by hail and the highly unusual occurrence of “Every man’s SWORD will be against his BROTHER.”

This other virtually unique occurrence is plainly identified as a Day of Yehovah prophecy in Zechariah 14:1,13.

Haggai 2:6,7,20-22 ONCE MORE [not two or three times] (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake ALL NATIONS, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory.... 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven and earth. 22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I WILL OVERTHROW THE STRENGTH OF THE [WORLD’S NATIONS]. [Israel is dwelling safely now.] I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the SWORD of his BROTHER.

Paul expounded on this event as well:

Hebrews 12:26-27 ... whose voice shook the earth, as if by a great wind; but now we have His promise, “ONCE AGAIN, I wont only move the earth, but Heaven also”. 27 By His saying, “Once more”, it indicates a major rearrangement of the things that are moved, because they were created so that the things that wont be moved can remain unchanged. GV

John tied this earthquake to “Armageddon” the “great day of His wrath” and the Seventh Bowl:

Revelation 16:16-21 They were gathered together in a place called Armageddon, in Hebrew. 17 THE SEVENTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL; and a loud voice came from the Temple, from the throne, that said, “It is done”! 18 There was lightning, and thunder, and voices; and there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, like nothing that has ever happened since people have inhabited the earth, such a widespread earthquake, and such magnitude! 19 The great city was divided into three parts. The cities of the nations fell; and Yehovah had not forgotten to give Babylon the great the cup of wine of His boiling wrath. 20 Every island vanished; and the mountains were no longer visible. 21 HUGE HAIL, a talent in weight, fell from the sky onto humanity; and they blasphemed Yehovah, because the plague of hail was so severe. GV

This “GREAT EARTHQUAKE” exactly pinpoints the timing of the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and 39: The timing is about as pinpointed as you can get.

Zechariah 14 Behold, the Day of [Yehovah] is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem [staging location: Armageddon]; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Isaiah king of Judah. Thus [Yehovah] my God will come, and all the Saints with You. 6 It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. 7 It shall be one day which is known to [Yehovah]—neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light.10 All the land shall be turned into a plain [the mountains are leveled by the earthquake] from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananeel to the king’s winepresses. 11 The people [of Israel] shall dwell in it [immediately]; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12 And this shall be the plague with which [Yehovah] will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. 13 It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from [Yehovah] will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand.

Revelation 6:12-13,17 I looked when he opened THE SIXTH SEAL, and there was A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; the sun became black, like coarse hide; and the moon became blood red. 13 Asteroids [aster] from the heavens fell to the earth, as a fig tree lets go of its unripe figs, when shaken by a strong wind. 16 and they said to the mountains and ledges, “Fall on us, and hide us from the presence of the One who sits on the throne, AND from the wrath of the Lamb; ... 17 because THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH has come; and who is able to take a stand”? GV

Ezekiel 39: And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says [Yehovah Elohim]: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says [Yehovah Elohim]. 6 And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am [Yehovah]. 7 So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, [in the Everlasting Kingdom, Israel will already know the name of their God] and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am [Yehovah], the Holy One in Israel. 8 Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says [Yehovah Elohim]. This is the day of which I have spoken. [The Day of Yehovah is mentioned about 30 times in prophecy.] 9 Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons [again Israel now has no need of military weaponry under God’s protection, in contrast to now!], both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. 10 They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says [Yehovah Elohim]. 11 It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified," says [Yehovah Elohim]. 14 They will set apart men ‘regularly’ [Literally: “continually”] employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. 15 The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. 16 The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land. 17 And as for you, son of man, thus says [Yehovah Elohim], ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: Assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 19 You shall eat fat till you are full, and drink blood till you are drunk, at My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you. 20 You shall be filled at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war, says [Yehovah Elohim]. 21 I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment [The Father and Yeshua (Jesus*) are just now coming back to Earth!], which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. 22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am [Yehovah] their [Elohim] FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. 23 The [Nations] shall know that the house of ISRAEL WENT INTO CAPTIVITY for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they ALL fell by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them. ‘25 Therefore thus says [Yehovah Elohim]: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; [This is undeniably in the immediate context of the Second Exodus!] and I will be jealous for My holy name-26 after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemy’s lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, 28 then they shall know that I am [Yehovah their Elohim], who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. 29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have POURED OUT MY SPIRIT [on who?] on the house of Israel,’ [This is the promised “New Covenant”]! says [Yehovah Elohim].

Actually, every last verse between Ezekiel 34:1 and the end of the book has to do with the time period between now and Yehovahs return, as well as with events that take place after the Kingdom of Yehovah is established, even the dry bones prophecy, as I explain in chapter 5: The Called, the Culled, and the Excused.

Joel 2 is an entire chapter about the plight of the captive house of Israel during the Great Tribulation and an incredible message of hope given during this Time of Jacob’s Trouble when it is almost over. The remnant of Israel will be given the opportunity to escape The Day of Yehovah, which is God’s punishment of the Nations for what they did to Israel!

Joel 2 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the Day of [Yehovah] is coming, for it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; surely nothing shall escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run. 5 With a noise like chariots over mountaintops they leap, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before them the people writhe in pain; all faces are drained of color. 7 They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. 9 They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. 11 The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the Day of [Yehovah] is great and very terrible; who can endure it? [Just prior to the Day of [Yehovah], the survivors will hear the horrible description of what is about to occur. Here is what they must do to avoid the punishment that God wants to heap on their enemies] 12 Now, therefore, says [Yehovah]: Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to [Yehovah your Elohim], for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for [Yehovah your Elohim]? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16 gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to [Yehovah], weep between the porch and the altar; let them say: Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ 18 Then [Yehovah] will be zealous for His land, and pity His people. 19 The Lord will answer and say to His people: Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. 20 BUT I WILL REMOVE FAR FROM YOU THE NORTHERN ARMY, [Modern Babylon] and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things. [Jacob’s trouble is ending and the Northern army’s trouble is about to begin!] 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for [Yehovah] has done marvelous things! 22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; for the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in [Yehovah your Elohim]; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you-the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of [Yehovah your Elohim], Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am [Yehovah your Elohim] and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. 28 And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of [Yehovah] shall be saved. [First physically from the “Northern Army”, then spiritually with “My Spirit”.] For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as [Yehovah] has said, AMONG THE REMNANT whom [Yehovah] calls.

There are spiritual similarities in this chapter, and others, to the remnant of Yeshua’s Assembly, much of which has been influenced by spiritual Babylon, but these are only analogies to the literal intent of these Scriptures! Joel 2 typifies the time after Jacob’s trouble. Our Israelite nations will have suffered tremendously, but will be spared from “The Great and Awesome Day of Yehovah"!

“My House Will Be Built”!

Zechariah presented an end time narrative that is packed full of significance. Here are some developments to watch for which describes the Great Escape! We begin at a time when the whole world is at ease-except for the vicinity of Jerusalem!

Zechariah 1:11-21 So they answered the Angel of [Yehovah], who stood among the myrtle trees, and said: we have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly. 12 Then the Angel of [Yehovah] answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years? 13 And [Yehovah] answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me: Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says [Yehovah] of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. 15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped-but with evil intent.

This is the time when some of God’s people will build a temple for God. The entire story on this is covered in Ezekiel chapters 40 thru 48. This does not mean just the Jews, in fact the words “Jew” and “Judah” dont even appear anywhere in the book of Ezekiel. A salient caption from that extremely detailed account is summarized by Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 43:10 Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.

Continuing Zechariah 1:16 Therefore thus says [Yehovah]: I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it, says [Yehovah] of hosts, and a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.

To further illustrate that this is a parallel account, notice the Revelation version of measuring the temple as it pertains to the time of the Two Witnesses:

Revelation 11:1 A reed was given to me, John, like a rod; and the Messenger stood, saying, “Get up, and measure the TEMPLE [1] of Yehovah, and the altar, and those who worship there.

[1] John is measuring the end time third Temple, just prior to the Two Witnesses commission (v.3). The measuring of the temple is described 29 times in Ezekiel 40-42. This would explain the previous verse: “John, you must prophesy again before many nations, and peoples, and princes, and kings”.

Notice the context. The enemies of Judah and Israel who captured them and sold them into slavery, “scattered” them. They are still a threat to be reckoned with, but notice who God is going to send to help make possible the rescue-four “common” tradesmen.

Continuing in Zechariah 1:17-21 Again proclaim, saying: Thus says [Yehovah] of hosts: My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; [Yehovah] will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem. 18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, what are these? So he answered me, these are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20 Then [Yehovah] showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said: what are these coming to do? So he said, these are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.

Continuing into Zechariah 2:1-5 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, where are you going? And he said to me, to measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length. 3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him: run, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I, says [Yehovah], WILL be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.

A “wall of fire” surrounding the many cities of Israel, is to become a place of safety! Israel will need protection from her many enemies at this time. This is not “the millennium”; this is the time of the Second Exodus! Notice:

V.6-13 Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says [Yehovah]; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says [Yehovah]. 7 Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus says [Yehovah] of hosts: He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand [we would say fist] against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that [Yehovah] of hosts has sent Me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst, says [Yehovah]. 11 Many [Israelite] nations shall be joined to [Yehovah] in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that [Yehovah] of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And [Yehovah] will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before [Yehovah], for He is aroused from His holy habitation!

Zechariah chapters 3 and 4 are exact parallels of the Two Witnesses, but that is another story. Here is the concluding remark about those chapters:

Zechariah 3:14 So he said: These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside [Yehovah] of the whole earth.

You may have heard of a highway to the twenty first century. This is the one! In the end, former enemies will blaze a trail to the doorsteps of their neighbors!

Isaiah 11:16 There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 19:23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.

Isaiah 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES CONNECTION

There is a seven day long Biblical Feast that commemorates the Exodus. It is called the Feast of Tabernacles (bottom half of page). The following passage is what Moses was commanded by God to tell Israel. What does Tabernacles commemorate? Notice verse 42-43 carefully. They were to celebrate it to memorialize the time of the First Exodus! It portrays the great escape of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. The stay in tents, or temporary dwellings, represents the makeshift housing that they used on their way to the Promised Land! Will the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) always commemorate the Exodus of ancient Israel?

Leviticus 23:34-43 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to [Yehovah]. 35 ‘On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 ‘For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to [Yehovah]. On the eighth day [commemorating a great occurrence to follow the Exodus] you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to [Yehovah]. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. 37 ‘These are the feasts of [Yehovah] which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to [Yehovah], a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day- 38 ‘besides the Sabbaths of [Yehovah], besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to [Yehovah]. 39 ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of [Yehovah] for seven days; on the first day there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest. 40 ‘And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before [Yehovah] your God for seven days. 41 ‘You shall keep it as a feast to [Yehovah] for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 ‘You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 ‘that your ‘generations’ [posterity] may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of THE LAND OF EGYPT: I am [Yehovah] your [Elohim].

Do you fully appreciate the significance of the last two verses? They reveal the true purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles. This is worth emphasizing because there are literally thousands of people who celebrate a Feast each year, who dont know its true significance, or even the exact days to celebrate it. You may be surprised to discover that, like the other Sacred Days of God, the little noticed meaning of Tabernacles has more than one fulfillment. The primary purpose for observing this great Feast is soon going to change forever! In the Kingdom the celebration will involve millions of descendants of Israel, who experienced a new Exodus—escaping the armies of the Beast, (rather than the Egyptians) as they flee to Jerusalem toward a New and much larger Promised Land!

Some teach that the Feast of Tabernacles “pictures the Millennium”. Aside from the fact that the next thousand years concludes the first “millennial week” of God’s plan for mankind, the only prominent Scriptural features of the “Millennium” are the punctuations in history brought on by Satan! It is Satan’s rebellion that will literally “mark” the conclusion of this millennium, and it will also be Satan’s final rebellion that demarcates the end of the next millennium. In fact, here is the only reference to that thousand year period in the entire Bible.

Revelation 20:6-7 Blessed and sacred is anyone who has part in this first resurrection; over them the second death has no influence; but they will be priests of Yehovah and of His Messiah; and they will reign with Them during the thousand years. 7 When the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from imprisonment; GV

Too much emphasis is placed on the “millennium”—not even a Biblical term. There is not going to be just a “thousand year reign”. Adolph Hitler proclaimed a thousand year “Reich”. The Kingdom of Elohim is an EVERLASTING KINGDOM! (Psalms 145:13, Daniel 4:3, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 7:27, 2 Peter 1:11)

Daniel 7:14 Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace THERE WILL BE NO END, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice, FROM THAT TIME FORWARD, EVEN FOREVER. The zeal of [Yehovah] of hosts will perform this.

These Feast Days were intended for all time, for all of God’s people, not just for Israel.

Jeremiah 23:5-7 Behold, the days are coming, says [Yehovah], that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, AND Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says [Yehovah], that they shall no longer say, ‘As [Yehovah] lives who brought up the children of Israel from THE LAND OF EGYPT, 8 but, as [Yehovah] lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country [Europe] and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.

I cant help but put in a plug for God’s Sabbath. Notice the things that will be established following Israel’s captivity when there are “New Heavens” and a “New Earth”: God will select some of the survivors to be “Priests and Levites”! Did you think that God was finished with them? And “from one Sabbath to another” everyone will worship God. I would seriously recommend that you check out the allegations that Sunday has ever had any merit with the God of Israel!

Isaiah 66:19-24 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the ‘Gentiles’ [nations]. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to [Yehovah] out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says [Yehovah], as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of [Yehovah]. 21 And I will also take some of them for PRIESTS and LEVITES, says [Yehovah]. 22 For as the New Heavens and the New Earth which I will make shall remain before Me, says [Yehovah], So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says [Yehovah]. 24 And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.

Egypt is not going to be totally forgotten in the next go around. However, the entire world will be commanded to keep Elohim’s Feast of Tabernacles in the Kingdom of Elohim. God takes His Feast Days seriously and will soon let it be known that He will accept no substitutions!

Zechariah 14:16-19 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, [Yehovah] of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, [Yehovah] of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which [Yehovah] strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Why wait until the next Exodus for a reason to celebrate the great purpose of the God of Israel on His Feast Days? Most people reject Scriptures such as these, will you?

Zechariah 8:22-23 Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek [Yehovah] of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before [Yehovah]. 23 Thus says [Yehovah] of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

There is much more information on God’s seven annual Sacred Days on this site.

CONCLUSION

An understanding of the salvation of Israel is the foundation of Biblical knowledge. Without this understanding your spiritual house is built on sand. Israel will have to be saved physically before she can be saved spiritually.

Romans 11:25-27 Friends, so that you wont be presumptuous, I want you to know of this hidden mystery—that mental blindness has happened to Israel, in some measure, until the Time of the heathens has occurred; 26 and then, ALL ISRAEL WILL BE RESCUED. As the Scriptures declare, “A deliverer will come from Zion, and will remove the lack of reverence of Jacob [Israel];. 27 Then they will have My Covenant, when I have forgiven their sins”. GV

The salvation of Israel is the first step into eternity for mankind. The journey since Abraham has been fraught with setbacks. “Blindness... has happened to Israel”, and it will continue until the prophecies detailed in the Scriptures have been fulfilled. However, once a trail to destiny has been blazed, other nations will follow in Israel’s footsteps.

The following Scripture is the admonition that was given to ancient Israel, after the First Exodus, just prior to the time when they were to inherit the Promised Land. Israel failed miserably. The advance knowledge of a Second Exodus, and a Second Promised Land, if you believe the Scriptures, is a great blessing. After the coming Exodus, Israel will fulfill the role that she should have fulfilled in the following text. And yes, the national statutes and judgments will again be inaugurated as explained in Ezekiel 40-48.

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which [Yehovah] God of your fathers is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of [Yehovah] your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what [Yehovah] did at Baal Peor; for [Yehovah] your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. 4 But you who held fast to [Yehovah] your God are alive today, every one of you. 5 Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as [Yehovah] my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. 6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say: Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as [Yehovah] our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this.... 13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14 And [Yehovah] commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.

The Two Witnesses will echo these words to our people declaring:

Romans 11:26-27 and then, all Israel will be Rescued. As the Scriptures declare, “A deliverer will come from Zion, and will remove the lack of reverence of Jacob. 27 Then they will have My Covenant, when I have forgiven their sins”. GV (Also Matthew 2:6, 10:5-6; 15:24; Hebrews 8:8)

Romans 11:2-5 Yehovah has not cast off the people who He predestined. Dont you know what the Scriptures say about Elijah? He complained to Yehovah against Israel, and said, 3 “Yehovah, they have killed Your prophets, and have demolished Your altars. I am the only one left; and they are searching for me, demanding my life”. 4 But what was the sacred response? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have never bowed their knees to worship Baal”! 5 Similarly, at the present time, a small fraction are left—selected by compassion. GV (Also Galatians 6:15-16; Romans 9:6)

The Hebrew Scriptures are saturated with the story of Israel. Yet the Testimony of Yeshua (“New Testament”) is also build on God’s Master plan to save all of Israel: from the beginning in Matthew to the climax in Revelation! This is the very reason for the Book! “The Church” is not the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8), or a replacement for Israel. The spiritual “Israel of God”, His Congregation thru the ages, is the all volunteer rescue team. We are in training to work under the Apostles and will literally rule over cities (Matthew 19:11-27).

Matthew 19:28 Yeshua told them, “I tell you with certainty, that as for you who have followed Me, when the Son of Man sits on His magnificent throne on the Renewed Earth, you will also sit on twelve thrones, presiding over the twelve tribes of Israel.

Judging in this instance would be in the sense of the judges who presided over ancient Israel before she had kings.

Here is what is going to happen very soon. The entire book of Revelation is about the near future (except for a few “footnotes” about Satan and the thousand years). This includes the Seven “Churches” (Revelation 2-3) and the New Jerusalem! Check the evidence—there is no 1000 year postponement!

Revelation 21:2, 10-12 I saw the sacred city, the New Jerusalem, descending from Yehovah out of the sky, like a fiancee made ready for her husband. [for the Wedding Supper].... 10 He brought me in the spirit realm to a great and high mountain, and he showed me the sacred city of Jerusalem, descending out of the sky from Yehovah, 11 having the splendor of Yehovah, as a brilliant light, resembling a very precious gem; like a jasper stone, a transparent crystal. 12 It had a massive and high wall that had twelve palacial gates, and names inscribed on them, that are the names of the twelve tribes of the descendants of Israel. GV

That pretty much covers it.

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