ECCE

                                                                                      On the Feast of Trumpets, the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet, is blown one hundred times a day over two days. In the weeks leading up to the feast, the shofar is blown daily. The beginning of the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah meaning "The Head of the Year," is announced when the trumpet is blown at the first sighting of the new moon of the month. No one knows the hour when the new moon will be sighted, so a watch is kept in order to spot it. The days leading up to this feast and the Day of Atonement ten days later, are dedicated to examining oneself and repentance. The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts, followed by the Day of Atonement and the Feast of T...

          Advent means "the appearing, the coming."  Throughout scripture, both the first appearing and the second appearing of the Messiah/Christ Jesus are described. As we have been discussing comparing spiritual with spiritual these last few weeks, we will also compare scriptures that confirm both advents of Christ from the Old and New Testaments. Scripture says that the LORD does nothing without first telling His servants, the prophets, and that includes the two advents of Jesus.      Matthew Ch. 2 tells the first advent of the baby born in Bethlehem to Mary, and the divergent attitudes towards that miraculous event. The wise men from the east came to King Herod in Jerusalem, asking: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have followed his star from the east, and are come to worship him.' When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (Mt. 2:1-3). Why was the birth of the Messiah tro...

     The Book of Hebrews, which I believe was written by Paul, gives us examples of the heroes of faith from scripture (see Heb. 11). Paul called them a great cloud of witnesses which surround us and gave a warning: "...we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (the heroes of faith), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Heb. 11:39, 12:1-4). Our generation also has seen great heroes of faith who make up the cloud of witnesses around us: Billy...

      In discussing the dangers and tribulation connected to the end of the age and His return, Jesus also warned His disciples not to be deceived: "Take heed that no (man) deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Mt. 24:3-5, see also Mk. 13:5 ). Jesus then described the events that would come upon the earth and added: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (v. 21-22). Then He spoke again regarding deception: "Then if any (man) shall say unto you, Lo, here (is) the Christ, or there; believe (it) not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if (it were) possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you bef...

     The first mention of "faith" in scripture is found in Deuteronomy 32:16-20 in the Song of Moses. Moses told of how God's people provoked God to jealousy because they worshipped strange gods with abominations: "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not...and hast forgotten God that formed thee. And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them...And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith." The word "faith" used here is the Hebrew word and root emun/aman , meaning "trust, faithfulness/believe, assurance, stand firm."      The LORD gave a prophetic Word to His prophet, Habakkuk, saying: "...Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry ( mahah - tarry, delay, be denied), wa...

     At the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, there is a day called Simchat Torah, or "Rejoice in the Torah". Some might wonder how Israel can celebrate and rejoice in the Torah on the anniversary of a deadly terrorist attack against their nation. Since that day of attack, many people have been killed in warfare. However, despite circumstances, we can rejoice and take heed in the prophetic warnings, promises and fulfilments that we see in the Word of God.         The prophet Zechariah wrote the word of the LORD concerning the nations that would surround Judah and Jerusalem seeking their destruction. However, the LORD promises that all of the nations that come against Judah and Jerusalem will be cut in pieces against that stone. (Zech 12:1-3). We are seeing the nations turn against Israel and Jerusalem now, including proclamations issued against Israel by the United Nations.      As we see these prophecies coming to pass, and the worl...