Dear Doves:

 

   In days of old when there were Temples in Jerusalem, the grape (wine) season for Israel symbolically began and ended on two significant dates. The beginning date was on Month 5, Day 15, known as Tu B' Av. Maidens (virgins) near Jerusalem would go to the vineyards and dance, to attract bridegrooms. To this day for the 12 tribes of Israel, it is a day associated with love, romance, and wedding. A theme is bride theft (harpazo).

 

   The second date was associated with the end of the grapes (wine) season. First was the earliest wine (the new wine), and later was the finest vintage with the best and last grapes. The finest vintage, the BEST WINE was the LAST WINE, the fruit of the vine. In the stories about the wedding at Cana, the finest vintage is saved for last. The last wine served is the best. Is this a prophetic clue? Perhaps. The date associated will the fullness, the completion of the grapes and wine for Israel, is Yom Kippur, about 60 days after Av 15.

 

   Here are some themes of Yom Kippur: last grapes, finest vintage of wine, the fruit of the vine, maidens (virgins) again dancing in the vineyards as earlier on Tu B' Av, attracting of bridegrooms, bride theft (harpazo), love, romance, and wedding.

 

   These themes are in marvelous contrast to other and better known themes associated with Yom Kippur: teshuvah, repentance, atonement, sorrow for sins committed, fasting, and blood covering. The color of the day worn by many is White. A bride wears white. The saints are dressed in clean white linen.

 

   Yom Kippur has a 40 day concluded motif, an Ascension Day reminder. From Elul 1 to Rosh Hoshannah, (the Feast of Trumpets), is 30 days of Teshuvah plus the 10 Days of Awe until Yom Kippur.

 

  The Master promises to drink of the fruit of the vine (fine wine) at the chuppah ( a covering on 4 posts, similar to a sukkah) at The Wedding of the Ages. See Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, and Luke 22: 18. Will only the best, the finest vintage, be served in the kiddush cup shared by the groom and bride at the heavenly chuppah at The Wedding of the Ages?

 

   Yom Kippur is only 4 days before the full moon at Tabernacles (Sukkot) Day 1 on Tishri 14 at sunset going to Tishri 15. The Feast of Tabernacles is the Grand Finale, the last, of the 7 Feasts of the Lord.  This CONCLUSION is called The Feast of Ingathering and The Feast of Harvest. The harvest is symbolically complete before Tishri 15, and represents every one of the 7 crops or species of the land of Israel. As the grape harvest concludes, the olive harvest is beginning. It is believed that the Gates of Heaven close on Yom Kippur, referred to by Paul as "The Day" after being open for ten days of THE DAYS OF AWE. Messiah/Christ has many titles. He is THE DOOR, The Gate for the Sheep. Might the Groom of the Ages appear to spirit away His bride on one of the two days in Jewish History associated with bride theft, a motif of harpazo, on Yom Kippur?

 

   Yom Kippur incorporates a marvelous and mysterious blending, a convergence of spiritual themes of intense sorrow and ineffable joy! The lead up, the prelude, to The Season of Our Joy includes the 10 Days of Awe. As Yom Kippur proceeds toward conclusion with the "afflicting of the soul"  the mood dramatically changes, as preparations are made for succah construction, sukkah decorations, etrog, and lulav. In attitude and in days of preparation, The Season of Our Joy begins earlier than technically on Tishri 15. Experiencing the JOY, ironically enough, begins with Tishri 10 to 14. Come quickly Beloved Bridegroom of Heaven!

 

With Love and Shalom,

Jean