Hello John and Doves,
The Lord presented His Seven Feast Days to Israel
in Leviticus 23. His High Holy Days.
Three of these involve required pilgrimages to the
Temple in Jerusalem - one of those is the last and seventh
feast day that occurs on the 15th day of the seventh month
of Tishrei - The Feast of Tabernacles (or Feast of Booths
or Feast of Ingathering, or Sukkot).
Feast of Tabernacles is a harvest festival.
The last of the fruits (crops) are harvested in the
land. The Israelites were told to live in 'booths'
for seven days during this festival. During this
week of days they were to offer fire offerings of 70
bulls. The 70 bulls sacrificed on the altar were to
atone for the Jewish people.
There are five major offerings in the "Levitical
Sacrifical System" in Mosaic Law -the Burnt
Offering, the Meat Offering, the Peace Offering, the Sin
Offering, and the Trespass Offering. The Burnt
Offering was the only offering totally consumed on the
altar with nothing eaten by men. The fire consumed
the whole sacrifice. We find the laws that the Lord
gave Moses for the burnt offerings in Leviticus 1.
"...and the priest shall bring all of it (the
animal from the heard or the flock) and burn it on the
altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering made
by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord."
Leviticus 1:13
"...and thou hast made perfume with the whole ram
on the alter. It 'is' a burnt-offering to Jehovah, a
sweet fragrance; a fire-offering it 'is'
to Jehovah. Exodus 29:18
The Burnt Offering was performed to atone for the
peoples' sins against the Lord. It was also the
first offering specifically named in the Bible - this was
when Noah exited the ark and offered a burnt
offering. "Then Noah builded an altar unto the Lord;
and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl,
and offered burnt offerings on the altar." Genesis
8:20
"The Burnt Offering speaks of the highest aspect of
the work of Jesus the Messiah where he willingly offered
Himself to God as a consecration offering unto death,
dying in our place. Jesus performed this while
satisfying all of the Levitical requirements for the burnt
offering sacrifice....It pictures Christ who "gave Himself
for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God".
Ephesians 5:2
https://blogs.bible.org/the-five-fire-sacrifices-and-offerings-of-israel-introduction/
The
Five Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel –
Introduction – Bible.org Blogs
I would like to look at what the Lord says about
this feast day in Leviticus 23:30:
"Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
when you have gathered in the fruit (crops) of the land,
you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days, with
a sabbath-rest on the first day and a
sabbath-rest on the eighth day."
The Lord has added a day past the seven days!
An "eighth day" of sabbath-rest.
So there is another day added to the time of the
Feast of Tabernacles - yet it is separate from the Feast
of Tabernacles - which is seven days living in
booths. (In Leviticus 23 the Lord goes on and tells
the people how to celebrate the seven days of
Tabernacles. Note the eighth day is not included.)
So what is this "eighth day"? It is Shemini
Atzeret. Shemini is 8, atzeret is assembly - thus,
the Eighth Assembly.
This day is a holy convocation; it is a
solemn assembly - a sabbath where no work is to be done.
We know that the Hebrew letters of the alphabet,
basically, have a numerical value, a pictograph, and a
meaning (or many meanings).
If we look at each word separately - Shemini and
Atzeret - we can find much meaning in the letters.
Shemini Atzeret (שְׁמִינִי
עֲצֶרֶת
Shemini is spelled with the Hebrew letters:
shin, mem, yod, nun, and yod.
Shin (or Sheen) is a picture of three heads or
branches which represent the three worlds: 'This
World, the Messianic era, and the World to Come'. It
is considered to be the one letter God uses to identify
Himself - it is His signature. It stands for the
Name. The form of this letter depicts 'a
surge heavenward', as if beseeching God for
help and sustenance.' As directing eyes upward to
God.
Mem is a picture of waves of waters. It
refers to chaotic, destructive waters or a peaceful stream
of life-giving waters. It also refers to the word of
God (the Torah) that brings the living waters. It
alludes to the revealed and the concealed. The
concealed will be revealed by the Messiah.
Yod (or Yud) is a picture of a hand. It
refers to a mighty work or deed; it denotes power and possession.
It is 'used several times in the Torah as a reference to
life in the World to Come.' In the Talmud, it
represents 'an escalation to the height of
spirituality'. When added to a name (like changing
Abram to Abraham) it exalts or brings the person to a
higher status. It is a mark of honor, a new name.
Nun is the picture of the fish. It means life
or activity. It symbolizes God sitting on His throne
and the angels standing before Him. The Sages say this
tells of God's faithfulness in paying rewards.
This letter represents the soul attached to the body and
then released by death as it rises to return to its
original home.
Hidden in this word is a 'mystery':
'We live now in this world, but when our souls
leave for the next all will be revealed and we will
receive a new name and our reward, where we will see God
in all His power and faithfulness along with His
angles."
And this is found in so many scriptures of the
Bible:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is. 1 John 3:2
For now we see through a glass, darkly: but then
face to face: now I in part; but then shall I know even as
also I am known. I Corinthians 13:12
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. John 10:28
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give to every man according as his work shall
be. Revelation 22:12
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall
give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life. John 4:14
On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried out, saying "If anyone thirsts, let him
come to Me and drink. He that believeth on me, as
the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water. John 7:37-38
In Shemini there is a picture of the destruction of
the old with a new life to follow.
Atzeret is spelled with the Hebrew letters:
ayin, tsade, resh, and tav
Ayin is a picture of the eye. It refers to seeing,
knowing, enlightened. 'When God is seen eye to eye.'
Tsade (or Tzaddi) is a picture of the hook.
This is to catch. Refers to need or have
a strong desire. 'The tzaddik illuminates the world
by bringing the Shechinah down to dwell among men.'
It denotes the World to Come.
Resh (or Reish) is a picture of the head. It
refers to the Holy One, Blessed is He.
Tav is the picture of crossed wooden sticks.
It refers to a seal, to covenant, a sign. It is the
symbol of Truth. Truth is eternal; it can not be
nullified, as the Seal of God.
Hidden in this word is a 'mystery'. Those who
know the prince of the cross and are in covenant with Him
will be caught up and gathered to Him; where they shall
see Him face to face.
The old life will be destroyed. The new life
will begin when the body is changed to immortal.
Together these two words are the 'eighth day
assembly, a 'solemn assembly':
"In the book of Joel, the prophet calls God's
people to proclaim a solemn assembly. "Consecrate a
fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly ("atzerah") for the day
of the Lord is near (Joel 1:14) the prophet declares
it's time to gather all the inhabitants of the land.
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a
fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people...weep
and say, "Spare Your people, O Lord".
Joel 2:15
https://visualstorybible.org/teachings/solemn-assembly/
The
Solemn Assembly - "Atzerah" - Visual Story Bible
Shemini Atzeret is the 'eighth day' - "the number 8
in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new
order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when
he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life....Nisan
17 was also the eighth day, counting
inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man's
sacrificial Lamb. All this bears record of Jesus'
perfect sacrifice and His complete victory over
death."
https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8.html
Meaning
of the Number 8 in the Bible
"The number eight in the Bible signifies
Resurrection and Regeneration. It is the number of a
new beginning. Eight is 7 plus 1 and since it comes
just after seven, which itself signifies an end to
something, so eight is also associated with the beginning
of a new era or that of a new order...In the Bible there
is a mention of a feast. The Feast of
Tabernacles....the number eight associated with this feast
can show us that this feast was to celebrate a new
beginning."
http://www.astrovera.com/bible-religion/189-bible-number-8.html
The
Bible numerology code number 8
Jesus was in the Temple on Shemini Atzeret - the
last and greatest day of the festival: Now on the
last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried out, saying "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to
Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water."
John 7:37-38
Shemini Atzeret is one of the 'solemn assemblies'
named in the Bible (for the High Holy Days); it is the
least understood and most obscure of the Biblical
holidays. The other solemn assembly is the last day of
Passover.
On Shemini Atzeret the final bull is offered on the
altar - only one bull. This is representative of the
Messiah - the final sacrifice.
In referring to Pastor Dana Coverstone's dream
about September, he said that a hand wrote 'the
solemn assembly' on the September
calendar. He believes September is the time to pray
and prepare for what is coming. At the end of
September, on his calendar, he sees Jesus in the
clouds. A picture of the Rapture.
Pastor Dana says he was told to pray for three
things - the last was for 'a great harvest'. We know
the Rapture is a 'harvest'. And it is also an
assembly. A calling together of a huge number of the
followers of Christ - His saints. We are told to
pray for a great harvest - bringing as many to the harvest
as we can.
If September is the month to prepare and pray, then
maybe October will be the month of the Rapture. See
my other Doves letter today: "The Months of Elul and
Tishrei and The Solemn Assembly." Which has a
link to Pastor Dana's September dream.
The Feasts of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are
in the month of September this year. Only the Feast
of Tabernacles and Shemini Atzeret, a solemn assembly, are
in the month of October.
IF, Pastor Dana's dream is prophetic, this might be
something to look at as a possible Rapture day - maybe
finally removing it as 'the least understood and most
obscure' Biblical holidays!, revealing it's true meaning -
as we pass other dates and approach Shemini Atzeret.
This day is special to God - something prophetic
will happen on this day, imo.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
Chance
I used the book: The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet
by Rabbi Michael L. Munk for much of my information on the
Hebrew alphabet.
The Feast of Tabernacles will be fulfilled during
the 1,000 years when all will go to Jerusalem to worship
God.
"The it will be that all the nations who have come
against Jerusalem and survived will go up each year to
worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the
Feast of Tabernacles." Zechariah 14:16
But what about the 8th day? Hmmmm.