The Fall Feasts of the LORD begin this year at sundown on October 2nd, accompanied by a Ring of Fire Eclipse that will go through Easter Island and end in Patagonia.

This eclipse is a significant sign as the year started with the American Eclipse on 4/8, and 7 months later, the trumpet blows to signify the harvest. The signs in the sky are indicating that God is going to resurrect His people for a new thing ahead as we have come to the completion of an era/age. Patagonia is actually referred by many as the “end of the world/age” due to its southern most location.

There are three Fall Feasts, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets:

“Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.  For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob”(Psalm 81:3,4).

So what is the significance of the Feast of Trumpets? The literal Hebrew translation is “a memorial of blasts.” In Hebrew, this Feast is called “Yom Teruah.”  Yom means day, but Teruah doesn’t mean trumpets.  It means a shout or blast of war, alarm or joy. So literally translated, this is a Feast that is a “Day of Blasting or Shouting.”

The Feast of Trumpets is the ONLY Feast that is celebrated on Firstfruits, tying its meaning with “firsts” and making this day the “granddaddy” of all Firstfruits celebrations. It is believed by Biblical historians that Adam was born on this day. It has also been known by the Jews as the “Anniversary of Creation.”

The Feast of Trumpets is celebrated in the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Tishrei was originally recognized as the first month of the calendar the Hebrews followed, due to the epic beginnings just described. 

However, in God’s master plan for redemption, He needed to create a separate, but intimate, calendar with the people He was in covenant with to follow so that they could become His SIGN to the nations that He was the One True God.  

This special covenant calendar was purposed to establish a pattern, purpose, timing, and union with God that set the Israelites apart from all other nations.  But it also was a witness of the sign of the “Coming One” (Jesus), as God would use the calendar to fulfill His prophetic promises.

It’s worth mentioning that the Hebrew Covenant Calendar was created when God spoke to Moses and Aaron in Ex. 12:2:

“This month (Abib/Nisan) shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first of the year to you” (Ex. 12:2). 

God followed this commandment with His instructions for Passover:

“So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.  You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance”(Ex. 12:14).

Later on when the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai, God gave instruction for all 7 Feasts after He sealed His Covenant with them and set them apart from all the other nations. The month of Tishrei became the seventh month in this new covenant calendar, rather than the first in the known civil calendar, and the first day of the harvest (blessed) season and the month in which all the Fall Feasts were celebrated.

“Therefore, all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim (Tishrei), which is the seventh month” (1 Kings 8:2).

The overall purpose of the Feast of Trumpets is to awaken God’s people with a blast of the trumpet.  What is the awakening for? The trumpet has many significant meanings in the Bible.  The trumpet was blown to signal war against the adversary:

“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies (Numbers 10:9).

It was also used to announce the king:

“Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon.  And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” (1 Kings 1:39).

The trumpet was the sound to wake up the Church:

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet”(Rev. 1:10).

All of these reasons (and there are many more) of why the trumpet is used are all united together on the Feast of Trumpets. This “dress rehearsal” shares it’s purpose of becoming the signal (/sign/proclamation/alarm/shout) to awaken us, to announce war against the adversary, to announce the return of the King, and to summon God’s people who are IN covenant with Him.  And when this Feast goes “LIVE,” it will mark the beginning of the Millennium, and the rise of the King of kings who is returning to judge the nations.

At sundown on September 3rd, we will be entering into the sixth month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar known as ELUL, which is linked to the tribe of GAD. Gad was the seventh son of Jacob and his name primarily means a “troop.” However, GAD can also be translated as: good fortune, to attack, to overcome, to invade, and to gather together.

Gad’s name alone reminds us of the “good fortune” that comes when God’s people choose to gather together in union (like a troop) with a heart of humility, repentance, and forgiveness as they wait upon the King.

GAD was known to be great warriors, taking the lead line in the battlefield. 1 Chronicles 12:8 says, “Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR, MEN TRAINED FOR BATTLE, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.”

This scripture lists “valor” as a foundational quality of God’s mighty warriors, which is having great courage in the face of opposition. Courage is increased when faith in God is greater than the threat of the enemy, a quality that is strengthened by being “battle tested.” (The summer months are known cyclically to test our flesh in the heat of fiery trials).

The Gadites were most effective when they joined the king’s forces and came under their authority and purpose.

Before Moses died, he prophesied over the tribe of Gad. “..he (Gad) administered the justice of the Lord, and His judgments with Israel” (Deut. 33:21).

The great prophet, Elijah, was from the tribe of Gad. His life illustrates the great warrior God is training for battle today. He saw, listened, and obeyed God’s righteousness, and was used to administer the judgments of God with a “sword” = the WORD of God.

In 1 Kings 18:18, King Ahab accused Elijah of being a “troubler of Israel.” Elijah boldly answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed after Baals.” It was after this encounter that Elijah challenged King Ahab to bring all the false prophets to Mount Carmel. King Ahab accepted the challenge, and invited all the children of Israel to gather together for this “spiritual battle.”

God then uses Elijah to draw a line in the sand, challenging the children of Israel to chose God or the false gods they had begun worshipping. In verse 21, Elijah spoke to the people, “How long with you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” Unfortunately, God’s people were not inclined to let go of their idolatry.

Afterwards, Elijah challenged the false prophets to a duel to prove to all observers that there was only one God Almighty. “Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God” (1 Kings 18:24). Elijah eventually called on the Lord after the false prophets fail the task. The Lord consumed the sacrifice with fire, and then had all the false prophets executed.

This is the same cry of God’s heart today: HOW LONG WILL YOU FALTER BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? God wants to see the warrior gift of Gad rise up in all of us and confront the enemy, but more importantly, he wants us to have ears to hear His rebuke so we can stop compromising and repent before judgment comes.

After Elijah’s huge victory over the enemy, we find him alone in the wilderness, fleeing for his life after Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him.  Ironically, this happened immediately after he was used by God to call down the fire of judgment on the false prophets; a huge military feat.  This fear gripped a battle fatigued Elijah after he SAW and HEARD the threat of the head of government, which became more real than the King he served.  All of the sudden, God’s ability and strength to save him dwarfed under the pressure of the threat. Can we all relate?

What happened to Elijah in this interaction? How is it he went from a man full of faith, to a man full of fear running for this life? The answer can be found in Jacob/Israel’s latter day prophesy over the tribe of Gad:

“Gad, a troop (Gad) shall tramp upon him, BUT he shall triumph at last” (Ge. 49:19).

This latter day prophecy over Gad reveals that the greatest enemy of Gad was Himself! As in the case of Elijah, he lost faith through a “victim” self-talk, even though he was a great prophet and warrior who could believe God for everyone else. How many Christians today are defeated by the fear of man or the fear of failure instead of the fear of the Lord, and their own self-talk removes them from the front lines of the battlefield to fulfill their destiny? How many Christians hear the plans and threats of all the unrighteous leaders today and are gripped by fear, focusing on the threat, rather than preparing for the fall of the Mystery of Babylon and God’s triumphant plan to restore?

Thankfully, we see in Elijah’s example that God didn’t abandon or reject Elijah in his moment of weakness. God came to Elijah in a still small voice, meeting him intimately in his time of need. As God spoke, Elijah gathered strength, humility, and the instruction of moving forward with God’s plan.  This is the heart of ELUL, and the heart that is ready to hear and meet the King of kings!

“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6).

ELUL translates substantively that God “ leaves His throne” and meets us intimately right where we are at, even in the midst of struggle, and “hang with us.”

This desire to meet us in our weakness is pictured in the New Testament through the ministry of Jesus here on the earth: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” (John 1:14).

Two thousand years later, this same Word is pictured and prophesied through the gathering of the Ecclesia, dwelling together in unity, and crying out to the LORD (Dan. 12:7). Jesus leaves His throne to come and save His people and rule with an iron fist, and manifest His glory FULLY in the earth to a world in darkness:

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘…Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev.21:3).

The word “dwelling” is actually the word for “tent” or “tabernacle.” Jesus left His throne to come and “tabernacle” among us for 33 years. Then He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit who “dwells” within us. But, this was only a guarantee of a greater inheritance to come, and the reason why we still wrestle with our flesh.

The “New Jerusalem” prophesied in Rev. 21::2 is the full inheritance to come, when death is swallowed up in victory, and the corruptible garments are exchanged for “incorruptible” garments of glory, much like the garments of glory Adam and Eve had before the fall. This vision ahead is a pictured as the “second Adam” (Christ, the Son of man), and His unified “troop” (His Firstfruits remnant) who are called to bring healing to the nations.

Historically, the two months prior to ELUL were tragic in the days of Moses. The children of Israel had built the golden calf, and when Moses returned and saw what they had done, he broke the tablets of Covenant. Moses made a call to repentance: “Whoever is on the Lord’s side-come to me” (Ex. 32:26). Those who came repented and were then given instruction to kill everyone else left, totaling 3,000 people.

Afterwards, Moses instructed the remaining people to consecrate themselves while he went to ask God to pardon them for their sin. God finally answered Moses’ plea and called Moses back up for the “do over.”

On the first day of ELUL, Moses went back up to Mount Sinai to get the second tablets of covenant.  It was during this month that the children of Israel gathered together and prepared their hearts in humility.  They understood it was the mercy of God that had given them a second chance. It is no different today. God’s MERCY will save His remnant:

“And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel in truth” (Is. 10:20).

Today, this month is symbolic of the body of Christ getting their hearts ready individually and corporately with an atmosphere of humility and thanksgiving for God’s mercy, as we await for the revolution of Jesus and His Firstfruits company (troop) to manifest in the earth.

We must never underestimate the power of prayer and unity, and the value of God’s “still small voice.” For they are God’s greatest weapons of war and the true gold we all long for.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14)

The 5th month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar begins at sundown on Sunday, August 4th, known as “AV.” The root meaning is translated “to will or to desire” but AV is literally translated as “father.” It is linked with the tribe of Simeon, whose name means “to hear and obey.” If you put all those Hebrew clues together, this month has the significance of “hearing and obeying the will/desire of the Father.”

The summer months are tied to seeing, listening, and then obeying, which produces a unified troop armed for the Lord. Last month the focus was on sight. This month it is on hearing. If Satan can get our vision and our hearing impaired from what God has said, we get off track.

Last month, the significance of the story of the twelve spies who went out was that they SAW all the giants. 40 days later, they returned to the people of Israel who HEARD two reports (Numbers 13,14). 10 spies shared all the problems and obstacles they SAW. 2 shared the promise God had given them. On the 9^th of AV, the people decided to choose the negative report they HEARD and to not believe what God had shared about the Promised Land.

“So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!” (Numbers 14:1,2).

In their unbelief, the children of Israel proceeded to make bad decisions that led to severe consequences because of what they chose to HEAR. First, they complained and cried. Then they had the idea to dethrone Moses as their leader, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” Finally, when hearing Joshua speaking the truth about God’s promise, they came up with the idea of stoning Joshua. None of these actions were pleasing to God (Numbers 14:4-10).

If it was not for Moses and Aaron interceding for the children of Israel despite their plot to dethrone their leader, the children of Israel could have been wiped out because of God’s anger. Nevertheless, it did not stop God’s judgment. None of them were able to go into the Promised Land, and all those spies who brought the wrong report died of a plague.

When God speaks, it is important we listen. Our disobedience can affect a whole community! However, our obedience can bring us (and others) into the “Promised Land.”

It is recorded in history that the 9^th of Av has continued to be a day of judgment. IN 587 BC, the armies of Babylon destroyed Solomon’s temple. In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the 2^nd temple. In 1095 AD, the 1^st crusade was launched, killing thousands of Jews. In 1290 AD, the Jews were expelled from England. In 1492 AD, the Jews were expelled from Spain. In 2005, the Jews were removed from Gaza.

The 9^th of AV incidences are NO coincidence. Cyclically, the window of destruction has opened up during this month and judgment has been released. This cycle started when the children of Israel said after the spies report, “The enemy is too strong of us. We will die!” Through their unbelief, they put themselves under a curse.

When the Jews rejected Jesus, they were “cut off” from Covenant and outside the covering of the Father. According to laws written in Leviticus 17 and Deuteronomy 29, the Jews refusal to accept the New Covenant left them subject to the debt of the law which they breached. Therefore, their curse continues to open up the door of destruction. Until they repent and believe in the Son of God slain for their sins, their generational sin of unbelief and rebellion continues on. But the Bible says, “I will give You (Jesus) as a covenant to the people (Is. 42:6).

Simeon, the tribe associated with this month, was one of two tribes that Jacob cursed in his final prophetic blessing to his sons. This was because Simeon and Levi decided to murder the men of Shechem for the rape of their sister Dinah. This vengeance was evil, and Jacob called them on it:

“Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they hamstrung an ox; cursed be their anger for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” Gen. 49:5-7

Simeon was made to be a warrior and one called as a weapon of justice in the hand of God. But when his own hand ruled Simeon, as he did so in Shechem, his passion and temper produce a work of destruction against God rather than for God.   This can be true for all of us. We can think we are going to help God out by executing justice out of a “righteous anger.” But when we do that, our character is one that kills, steals, and destroys in the name of righteousness, and we appear to be sons of the enemy of God.

Av is a month that presents to us a choice to hear God’s word and have faith and believe in the promises of God. It is also a month to remind us to keep our passions under His command by taking the time to HEAR what God has to say about the matter. We are not under the curse any longer.

Today, we are seeing and hearing a lot going on in this world. But what is God saying? Can we see all that is going on through His eyes? I encourage all of you to take time to do some listening prayer this month. God has a lot to tell us IF we stop and listen. Our history proves this month to be a month that the children of Israel heard the wrong voice because of what that they saw. So, guard your ears and declare His Word out loud so your ears hear what God is saying. And expect this month to ENTER in to the Promises and celebrate His goodness as God had intended!

The next Firstfruits begins at sundown on July 6th, celebrating the fourth month in the Hebrew calendar known as Tammuz.

Tammuz has been coined the month of “hidden sin” because of the repetitive failure of the children of Israel to trust the LORD.

It was during the month of Tammuz that the Israelites became impatient, waiting for Moses to come back with the Tablets of Covenant. In their discomfort and fear, they chose to make a golden calf to “fix things.” If it wasn’t for Moses interceding for the people, God would have “cut them off” of Covenant (Ex.32:1).

Another test that came in the month of Tammuz was when the twelve tribal leaders left to spy out the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb were the only “spies” who SAW the land through God’s promise and potential. While their “eyes” led them to share a faith-filled plan to advance, the others shared how big the problem and enemy was.

Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t pass this test as well, and chose to adopt the report of fear, which caused the hand of God to send them into the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 13, 14).

On the flip side, in Chapter 10 of Joshua, a pivotal battle is recorded during the month of Tammuz against 5 Canaanite kings who teamed up to wipe out the Israelites after their wilderness experience.

Joshua’s men were outnumbered and out of solutions with their limited resources. Joshua could have SEEN this situation and lost hope. But Joshua leaned into God for help to see things from His stance instead. God then replied,

“Do not fear them (the forces of darkness that are coming together to rule the nations), for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you” (Josh. 10:8).

Joshua had courage to believe God at His word, and the Lord assisted with what Joshua couldn’t do on his own by sending hailstones from heaven, which caused many to die.

Hail symbolically represents the sweeping away of the “refuge of lies” that enslave humanity caught under the power of evil leaders (Ex.9:26; John 8:44). Hail then represents God’s truth removing the blinders by His mighty hand to set the captives free.

“I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet; the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies”(Is. 28:17).

“Hail (truth) mixed with fire (Gods judgment) is what is shaking the nations today. Expect truth to come to the surface this month.

Joshua’s story of courage continued on in this epic battle. Needing more assistance after the hail came, he was led to pray and ask God to make the sun stand still so they could finish defeating the Canaanite kings. God answered that prayer, and the sun stood still!

“…So the sun stood still and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel” (John 10:13,14).

When the wartime was over, Joshua had defeated 31 kings. Joshua’s maturity to believe God at His Word in the midst of opposition made him one of the greatest military leader’s of the Bible. This kind of supernatural partnership with God is what Christians needs to grab hold of and model today: do what God is directing, and expect God to bring the increase in what we can’t do on our own.

The month of Tammuz is also linked to the tribe of Reuben, whose name means, “SEE, a son!” As you can summate, sight is a major theme of this month. Now the question to answer is: What kind of son is the world SEEING through our words and actions? Do they see a Joshua? Or a Rueben?

Reuben became known in biblical history as the one who lusted after his father’s concubine and lost the firstborn inheritance. This is no different than believers choosing to follow the lusts of the flesh and losing their rewards (not salvation) of an “overcomer” spelled out in the letter to the Churches (Rev. 2&3).

Reuben did have moments of courage and moral strength, but it wasn’t consistent, which gave him the reputation of being “unstable.” Unlike Joshua, Reuben went back and forth between faith and fear. This is why Jacob prophesied over Reuben these latter day words:

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength. The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. UNSTABLE as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it…” (Gen. 49:3,4).

Reuben’s life reflects the internal war believers battle to mature to be known as “sons of God” that mirror the character of Joshua. Through our acceptance to humble ourselves through God’s sanctification process, we become stable and steadfast in faith.

In Ephesians 1:18-20, the Apostle Paul took this concern to prayer for the Church:

“….that our EYES of understanding would being enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of His calling for us all, the riches of His inheritance, and the exceedingly greatness of His mighty power which He worked in Christ.”

This month we are challenged to “WORK the WORD.” We cannot forget to read, speak, and believe God’s Word above our circumstances nor be moved by what we see across the headlines.

The “working” of the word will be the necessary ingredients for Christians to become the beacon of hope the world is in need of. Summer months are known for war, but we must war with the sword of the Spirit, believing the WORD of God, and not moved by what we see the enemy doing. Our character is being tested to subdue our flesh and not join the masses gripped with fear and anger. “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).

The first chapter in the book of James sums us God’s WORD of instruction to us this month:

“If anyone of you lacks faith, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let that man not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Let’s all find joy through the heat of these summer months, believing God reigns over the nations and the schemes of the enemy, so we are a “Joshua company” in the hand of God, used to defeat the enemy.

On June 6th, the third Hebrew month kicks off known as “Sivan.” Sivan is linked to covenant, giving, mercy and alignment. This month is a month inherent “to do business with God” for His kingdom cause as we sync with His purpose.

Zebulun is the tribe associated with this month of Sivan, who was positioned on the east side of the tabernacle with the tribe of Judah and Issachar.  Judah brought to the trio the apostolic sound of praise, awakening, and an alarm to move out or go to battle. Issachar received the revelation and timing needed to navigate with wisdom and understanding. And Zebulun brought forth the supply and the place to rest and store the abundance of blessings. Jacob prophesied over Zebulun:

“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.” (Gen. 49:13)

Moses also prophesied concerning the latter days that Zebulun and Issachar would work side by side together:  Zebulun was said to rejoice in going out, while Issachar would stay in his tents:  

“They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.” (Deut. 33:18).  

Issachar’s portion was to “intercede and pray” and “gather the hidden treasures of intel.” Zebulun found joy in taking the revelation and facilitating the resources to enact on the intel. 

Zebulun was also known to profit through maritime trade.  One of their key roles was to bring forth the increase of their labor, so God blessed this tribe to fill “the storehouses.” This month is associated with both spiritual and natural provision to step into God’s kingdom cause.

When Jesus began His ministry, He went to the region of Zebulun fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9, which said that the people who had been in darkness would see a great light.  HE was PROVISION!

Zebulun was a blessed and loyal tribe to the LORD, and one who gave the gift of sacrifice.  This month is linked with GIVING; giving sacrifice, gifts, and time to the LORD.

The month of Sivan coincides with the timing of the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai. Later, God asked Moses to be His spokesman to propose to the Israelites:

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel”. (Ex. 19:4-6).

The Israelites accepted the invitation, and God revealed Himself through thunder, lightning, His voice heard amidst the glory, sealing the marriage certificate with the “tablets of the testimony” (Ex. 19).  The anniversary date of this proposal would be embedded in the Law of the Feasts of the Lord known as the Feast of Pentecost, which is why covenant is key this season.

In the New Testament, the pattern is replicated through another invitation and outpouring. After His death at Passover, followed by His resurrection, Jesus returned to visit the disciples for 40 days.  The Lord gave His disciples a personal invitation to become His apostles, and to wait in the Upper Room for the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  On the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came suddenly with an outpouring of glory, and they began speaking in tongues of fire.  

Even as God came down as fire upon Mt. Sinai, the Holy Spirit came as a fire upon the disciples on the exact same day in His Hebrew Covenant Calendar: 50 days after Passover. The difference was that the fire was no longer external as in the days of Moses, but internal! This shows a difference now concerning the new “temple” that God would inhabit. 

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)? 

It is no coincidence that Zebulun means “habitation or dwelling.”  The indwelling of His presence now through the gift of the Holy Spirit is the hope (down payment) when our own earthen vessels are first consumed with His fire and we receive our incorruptible bodies, and then the earth is filled with His glory in the Age of Tabernacles (1 Cor. 15:53-55).

God’s timing is always perfect, witnessing the Old Covenant blueprint as a shadow and type of the perfection of His covenant promise for us who are living in the days of the New Covenant. The month of Sivan continues to flow with the blueprint of an outpouring of God’s “kingdom business” with a people who say yes to His invitation.

Because of this amazing national covenant with God that has been witnessed both in the Old and New Testament during Sivan, it serves as a template for us to dive deep and into an alignment with those God has put His invitation on our hearts to come into a “covenant” relationship with for the King. Having ONE heart to serve Him and each other, sowing into these relationships will prove to bring a great harvest of blessings.

Sivan is the third month which is the number associated with completeness, and a oneness with ALEPH, our Father.  Jesus took three disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed three times. During this time of great distress, He cried out to the Father, “Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will but what You will” (Mark 14:36).   After the third time praying and surrendering all, Jesus was ready to die for our sins and trust the Father to use Him to create a way to redeem mankind. Jesus was placed on the cross on the third hour (9a.m.).  At 3p.m., He died.  There was three hours of darkness while He was suffering on the cross.

Three is a number closely associated with resurrection life as we know that it took three days and three nights before Jesus rose from the dead.  It was after His resurrection that the disciples were given the resources and ability to go “build His Stone Kingdom not made of hands” (Dan. 2:45). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit also gave the disciples comfort that the LORD was with them intimately, and opened up His storehouses of His powerful signs and wonders as they went forth.

God’s business is always centered on honoring His Covenant for a people He has chosen. His mercy covers our mistakes, and His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses. Pentecost is a time of receiving His outpouring of grace, mercy, and power so we can align with heaven and go do “business” for the Lord in establishing His Kingdom here on earth.  We cannot even comprehend the great outpouring that is directly ahead of us….IT WILL BE MAGNIFICENT!

This Wednesday evening, May 8th, we begin the second month of the Hebrew covenant calendar known as IYAR, which is translated “reflected light.” 

Cyclically, Iyar reveals a pattern of how God gave increase of His timing and strategy to align with His purpose.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Iyar was in the midst of the 50-day period of transition when the children of Israel left Egypt and began journeying to Mount Sinai.  Through their wilderness travels, God alone became their resource for healing, provision, and deliverance.  

In Exodus 15, God made Himself known as “Jehovah Rapha” the God who heals.  When the children of Israel lacked water, God cleansed the waters at Mara and made the bitter waters pure for drinking.  

Next, God came to them as “Jehovah Jireh,” the Lord who provides.  Crying out in hunger, God released “manna” or “bread from heaven” supernaturally which the Israelites found in the morning dew.   

And finally, unable to defend themselves against their attacker, God revealed Himself as “Jehovah Nissi,” their victorious defender who covers their back with His righteous hand (Ex. 15-17).

The exodus from Egypt was a significant transition in departing from the oppression of a “worldly system.” Pharaoh’s government had brainwashed the Hebrews into accepting systems of enslavement that became normal and “comfortable.” This is evident through the complaining and grumbling of the children of Israel after their deliverance. Nevertheless, God “shows up” during this transition and makes Himself known to prepare them for His glory.

Similarly, during the same 50-day calendar time period in the New Testament, Jesus “shows up” after He rose from the dead to help the disciples through their transition.  Throughout the month of Iyar, Jesus manifested Himself alive as their Healer, the “Bread of Life,” and Deliverer. Thomas the doubter and Simon Peter both experienced healing of their faith and a renewal of purpose ahead. The LORD nurtured those who would be chosen to birth the “Church Age” and gave them direction to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). 

Two thousand years later, we can expect a similar pattern once again as Jesus “reintroduces“ Himself during the shakings of heaven and earth. Pray for His miraculous healing, provision, and deliverance and instruction through the uncertainty.

The similarity between the children of Israel, the disciples waiting in the Upper Room, and the Overcomers of today waiting for the Millennium reign is that all experienced a revolution of transition, bringing forth a greater encounter of God’s glory.  At Mt. Sinai, the glory rested upon them  (Ex. 19:18;24:16-18). At Pentecost, a portion of the glory dwelt within the disciples through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). During the Millennium, believers will receive greater glory. (Rev.21:3).

The tribe of Issachar is associated with the month of Iyar. This tribe was gifted to know the timings of the Lord for the nation.  As one of the tribes who came alongside David when he was anointed as King, the Bible says in 1 Chron. 12:22-32 of Issachar, “and the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel must do.”  I believe there is an anointing this month to go deeper in our understanding of the times we are in and our faith in a Covenant Keeping God so we can go out into the world with greater authority and power.  

The Hebrew meaning of Issachar is “bringing reward.”  It comes from the root word “nasa” and means “to lift, to advance, arise, bring forth exalt or raise up.”  What better reward can we get than to humble ourselves and seek the Lord and get the treasures of seeing and experiencing the God of Covenant!

Issachar was the tribe nestled in between Judah and Zebulun on the east side of the Tabernacle.  These three tribes formed a branch to march out first when God instructed the tribes to move. Judah would be given the charge to praise and worship, but Issachar understood the timing with which they were to depart and go.  Zebulun then came alongside the two and had the ability to provide the supply or “business” of what needed to be done.

Issachar’s symbol was a humble donkey.  He gets this symbol through Jacob prophesying over his tribe:  “Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens.” (Gen. 49:14). A donkey carries the burden of a load from one place to another.  Issachar represents a strong but humble servant of God who fulfills the law of Christ spoken of in Gal. 6:2, “Bear each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  

Issachar is rewarded from the Lord for serving His people, standing in the gap and carrying their burden whether it be through prayer or practical application.  Issachar is spoken of as carrying two burdens:  one for himself and one for a “brother in need.”  Rewards for intercession as well as carrying other’s burdens that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do is priceless and brings much joy.

God’s desire is to reveal His “mysteries” so that we are armed with His story, stand as His witness, share His truth, and obey His voice. The remnant is coming into their finest hour. The Issachar intel received this month will help bridge the gap between what God’s purpose is this year, and how to accomplish His goal.

Beginning with the Feast of Firstfruits, which is always on the first day of the week following Passover (which is what we know as Sunday), God instructed the children of Israel to count 50 days (or 7 Sabbaths) to the time they were to celebrate the fourth Feast called the “Feast of Weeks;” or most commonly known as Pentecost.

“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that your brought sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths shall be completed.   Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord” (Lev. 23:15,16).

These 50 days were a significant reminder of the timespan between leaving Egypt and coming to the base of Mt. Sinai (Ex. 15-19).  

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai”(Ex. 19:1).

Years later in the New Testament, this same 50 day Feast blueprint corresponded to the time frame when Jesus visited His disciples after He was raised from the dead:  

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30,31).

On the 50th day in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself by fire after speaking to the people His proposal of marriage to the Israelites:

“And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly”(Ex. 19:17,18).

On the 50th day in the New Testament, the disciples were gathered together in the “upper room” when the Holy Spirit came upon them like fire:

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each other them” (Acts 2:2-4).

Within the 50 day blueprint, God chose to “court” the Hebrews in the Wilderness by revealing His love through His provision and protection, meeting their needs and kindling their faith in Him, even while they were complaining.

In the New Testament, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples intimately after His resurrection, showing them His hands and feet; eating, sharing, and encouraging the disciples He loved.  

So how did God reveal Himself to the Hebrews in the 50-day wilderness journey to Mount Sinai that was reflective of Christ Himself, coming in the flesh to restore that bond of love?  

One of the first ways God revealed Himself is when He performed a miracle by turning bitter waters sweet:

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree.  When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:25).

In addition, God released water in the desert:

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, so they camped there by the waters” (Ex. 15:27).

Jesus would later reveal Himself in this pattern through the New Covenant.  Those who were thirsty for truth and believed in Him would receive His living water. Christians would then have the ability to use that life flow to reach out to others with God’s love.

“And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely”(Rev. 22:17).

After God provided water in the Wilderness, the Israelites soon complained about being hungry. God revealed Himself again through the supernatural unleavened manna:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.  And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in MY law or not.”

This bread that fell from the sky, known as “manna,” would be the tool God would use to introduce the Sabbath rest, prophesying of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, whom by His sacrifice, would provide rest for all creation in heaven and earth through reconciliation with the Father.

“Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none” (Ex. 16:25,26).

Jesus would later declare that He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), and that He was our provision, telling us He was the “bread of life” for those who believed in Him:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever, and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

The third time God revealed Himself intimately in the midst of the 50-day wilderness journey was when He provided protection and strength when the Amalekites were attacking the Israelites.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek.  Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand…….So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:8,9,13).

Jesus would conquer Satan through His death and resurrection, taking dominion over the enemy permanently, and giving us the ability to have dominion over the enemy as well:

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion” (Eph. 1:19-21).

Jesus perfected the pattern “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Col 2:17).

As we can see through the whole wilderness experience and the New Testament disciples, the people God chose lost heart and complained, even after experiencing God’s miracles.  And yet, God continued to choose them.   If we know Christ, He chose us as well, not because of our faithfulness, but because He loves us, flaws and all.  As we begin to recognize how Christ IS the substance of these Feast blueprints, our hearts are moved to set aside time to give thanks and to honor our Savior.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruit” (John 15:16).

Join us as we share the “screenplay” of the Spring Feasts that is established in the Old Testament and fulfilled through Christ’s obedience as our “Sacrificial Passover Lamb.”

The Feasts of the LORD are an essential testimony of our Hebrew heritage that begins in Exodus 12 before the death plague came into Egypt. In order for death to “pass-over” the killing of the firstborn, God instructed the children of Israel to put the blood of a lamb over the door posts of their dwelling.  As they were obedient to do so, the Israelites were set free from the enslavement under Pharaoh’s leadership.

Moses then led the children of Israel out, through the parting of the Red Sea, to Mt. Sinai 50 days later. God then used Moses to ask the “Israelites” to marry Him so that they would become His “special treasure.”

“Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people for all the earth is Mine.  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Ex. 19:5,6).

After the children of Israel accepted God’s proposal, the “Groom” created a “certificate of marriage” for “His bride/nation” to abide with Him, known as the  “Tablets of Testimony.”   Signed by the finger of God Himself, these tablets were given to Moses as a sign of God’s love and His heart to be one with His people and a witness for the world to see the one true God.

“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people.  And they said, “all that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient” (Ex. 24:7).

The “Feasts” were also a part of that “marriage  certificate” that provided a pattern God established to set aside life to honor those “wedding vows.”  This pattern would prove to not only benefit and bless God’s people with proximity to His presence, but later in time, would serve as the sign and witness of Jesus, the restorer of this “marriage covenant.”

When Christians honor the Feasts today, we honor the Father who sacrificed His Son for us, and we step into our covenant heritage. The Spring Feasts provide the blueprint (screenplay) on how Jesus came to be our Savior and serve as our High Priest. Therefore, when we celebrate the Feasts, WE REMEMBER. The Fall Feasts reveal the blueprint (screenplay) when Jesus returns as a King to judge the nations, along with a wedding celebration for those who have said YES to Him.  Therefore, when we celebrate the Feasts, WE PREPARE FOR HIS ARRIVAL!

“…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood..”(Rev. 1:5)

Let’s review the Spring Feasts screenplay and how it became a “live performance” through the purpose of Jesus’s first coming.  In Ex. 12:2, God declared His Hebrew Covenant Calendar to start on the 1^st of Nisan when He spoke: “This month (Nisan) shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

Then the LORD instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel to select an unblemished male lamb on Nisan 10.  In the New Testament, we read how God selected Jesus to be His unblemished male lamb when John the Baptist prophesied as Jesus approached: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Three and a half years later, on Nisan 10,  Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and the people cried out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).

On the eve of the 14^th of Nisan, Jesus was with His disciples at the last “LORD’s Supper.”  It was here that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and broke bread (His body), and drank wine (His Blood) so they had a blueprint of REMEMBRANCE of what He would suffer, yet become afterwards, as the unblemished Lamb who was slain for our sins (Matt. 26:16).

On the morning of the 14^th of Nisan, Jesus was sentenced at 9am and crucified.  This was the same time the unblemished sacrificial lamb was bound according to the law (Mark 15:25).

At noon, three hours of darkness fell on the land (Matt. 27:45). According to the law, no one was allowed to kill the sacrificial lamb in darkness. God prevented any lamb to be slain until Jesus cried out at 3:01, “It is finished.”  After the light returned, the Passover lambs were then slain.

Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down and placed him in a tomb nearby before sundown. According to Ex.12, the “Passover” followed when they ate the lamb that was roasted by the fire with “unleavened bread.”  This they were to do as a memorial and an everlasting ordinance (Ex. 12:14).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to commence that evening and last seven days. (Lev. 23:6).  Because the Israelites left so quickly out of Egypt after the plague of the death of the “firstborn,” they left without any leaven in their bread (Ex. 12:39).  God made it easy for them to follow His instructions. Since leaven typically represents “sin” in the Bible, it foreshadowed how Jesus wiped out the penalty of “sin” through His sacrifice. He Himself had no leaven(sin) in Him because He was faithful to the Father, even while man rejected and killed Him, makes Him the most amazing Savior of the world.

The following day, the soldiers were ordered to camp out at the tomb to make sure no one stole Jesus’ body after they reported to Pontius Pilate:  

“Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise. Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.”  So the last deception will be worse than the first (Matt. 27:63,64).'”

Jesus rose before daybreak on Sunday morning.  When Mary arrived at the tomb, she found it open and empty, and the Roman Soldiers were also missing as they had already left to tell Pilate.  When the sun arose, Mary encountered what she thought was a gardener.  When she recognized it was Jesus, she wanted to touch him.  But Jesus said to her, “Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father.”

The ascension Jesus was referring to was not the event that happened 40 days later when he was seen ascending at the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:3-9). We know this because Jesus allowed the disciples to touch Him later on that evening and he was seen by many for 40 days (John 20:19,20). So Jesus must have ascended to the Father sometime AFTER He talked to Mary and then come back to be seen.  Why is this detail important?

Lev. 23:20 says of the Feast of the First Fruits, “The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord…” In 1 Corinthians 15:20, the scripture says, “Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the FIRSTFRUITS of those who have fallen asleep.”

In order for Jesus to fulfill the Feast of Firstfruits, Jesus had to present Himself to the Father at the same time the priest offered up the Firstfruits. Jesus was actually alive before the priest wave offering in the temple, but He could not present Himself “legally” alive in heaven until the third hour (9AM) when the firstfruits offering was presented.  It was then Jesus also presented Himself as the “Firstfruits” offering before the Father on His throne!

Between The Feast of Firstfruits (Resurrection Day as the Church at large knows it) and the Feast of Pentecost is 50 days in which is called Counting of Omer.  (Lev. 23:15-17) After these 50 days, the children of Israel were to offer a new grain (wheat) offering.  On Pentecost, farmers would bring the firstfruits of their spring harvest to the Lord.

The Feast of Pentecost would be patterned in the same time frame as the 50 days it took for the children of Israel to “PASSOVER” from the death plague, leave Egypt, and brought to the base of Mt. Sinai.  Recall that is when then God revealed Himself by thunder, lightning, the cloud of His presence and the sound of His voice heard by all after the acceptance of His proposal (Ex. 19).

In the New Testament, 50 days after Jesus was the Passover sacrifice, his disciples would hear the voice of God speaking in their own language out of the midst of the fire (Deut. 4:12). In Acts 2, we read that on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down like tongues of fire upon the heads of the disciples who were waiting in the Upper Room. They became the new grain offering, the “firstfruits” of the indwelling of His glory presented to the Father since they had “accepted Jesus as Savior and Covenant restorer.” Now the Law was written on their hearts and they were empowered with His truth and to hear His voice and to go forth and share the good news.

Passover was fulfilled by Jesus in the month of Nisan, according to the pattern described in Ex. 12 and Lev. 23. This is why 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Messiah has become our Passover.”  Christians today generally don’t celebrate these Feasts of the LORD simply because they don’t understand their significance to Jesus.  Some have not fully grasped they entered into this Hebrew heritage and Covenant when they accepted Jesus as their Lord. But God wants to open up our eyes to our birthright and our inheritance in His marriage Covenant.  And as we abide in His blueprint (screenplay), we begin looking like the “Bride” set apart unto Him.