Category Archives: Christian Life

SEEING JESUS IN THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL – LESSON 7

Christian Life, ,

LESSON 7

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to the Lord by fire, and on the eight day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do not regular work.” Leviticus 23:33-36

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The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot, is the seventh and last feast that the Lord commanded Israel to observe and one of the three feasts that Jews were to observe each year by going to “appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). The importance of the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen in how many places it is mentioned in Scripture. In the Bible we see many important events that took place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. For one thing, it was at this time that Solomon’s Temple was dedicated to the Lord (1 Kings 8:2).

It was also at the Feast of Tabernacles that the Israelites, who had returned to rebuild the temple, gathered together to hear Ezra proclaim the Word of God to them (Nehemiah 8). Ezra’s preaching resulted in a great revival as the Israelites confessed their sins and repented of them. It was also during this Feast that Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, 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 7:37–39).

The Feast of Tabernacles takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri. This was the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar and usually occurs in late September to mid-October. The feast begins five days after the Day of Atonement and at the time the fall harvest had just been completed. It was a time of joyous celebration as the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness.

As one of the three feasts that all “native born” male Jews were commanded to participate in, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned multiple times in Scripture, sometimes called the Feast of the Ingathering, the Feast to the Lord, or the Feast of Booths (Exodus 23:16;Deuteronomy 16:13). As one of the pilgrim feasts (when Jewish males were commanded to go to Jerusalem), it was also the time when they brought their tithes and offerings to the Temple (Deuteronomy 16:16).

With the influx of people coming to Jerusalem at that time, we can only imagine what the scene must have been like. Thousands upon thousands of people coming together to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance and His provision, all living in temporary shelters or booths as part of the requirements of the feast. During the eight-day period, so many sacrifices were made that it required all twenty-four divisions of priests to be present to assist in the sacrificial duties.


We find God’s instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23, given at a point in history right after God had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt. The feast was to be celebrated each year on “the fifteenth day of this seventh month” and was to run for seven days (Leviticus 23:34).

Like all feasts, it begins with a “holy convocation” or Sabbath day when the Israelites were to stop working to set aside the day for worshiping God. On each day of the feast they were to offer an “offering made by fire to the Lord” and then after seven days of feasting, again the eighth day was to be “a holy convocation” when they were to cease from work and offer another sacrifice to God (Leviticus 23). Lasting eight days, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees (Leviticus 23:40–42).

The Feast of Tabernacles, like all the feasts, was instituted by God as a way of reminding Israelites in every generation of their deliverance by God from Egypt. Of course, the feasts are also significant in that they foreshadow the work and actions of the coming Messiah. Much of Jesus’ public ministry took place in conjunction with the Holy Feasts set forth by God.

The three pilgrim feasts where all Jewish males were commanded to “appear before the Lord in the place He chooses” are each very important in regards to the life of Christ and His work of redemption. We know with certainty that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are symbolic of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Likewise, we know that Pentecost, which marked the beginning of the Feast of Weeks, was the time of Jesus’ bodily ascension. And most scholars would agree that the Feast of Tabernacles is symbolic of Christ’s Second Coming when He will establish His earthly kingdom.

There are also some who believe that it was likely during the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus was born. While we celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25, most scholars acknowledge that this tradition was begun in the fourth century AD by the Roman Catholic Church and that the exact day of Jesus’ birth is unknown. Some of the evidence that Jesus might have been born earlier in the year during the Feast of the Tabernacles includes the fact that it would be unlikely for shepherds to still be in the field with their sheep in December, which is in the middle of the winter, but it would have been likely they were in the fields tending sheep at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The strong possibility that Jesus was born at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles is also seen in the words John wrote in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The word John chose to speak of Jesus “dwelling” among us is the word tabernacle, which simply means to “dwell in a tent. ”Some believe it is very likely that John intentionally used this word to associate the first coming of Christ with the Feast of Tabernacles.

Christ came in the flesh to dwell among us for a temporary time when He was born in Bethlehem, and He is coming again to dwell us among us as Lord of Lords. While it cannot be established with certainty that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, some believe there is a strong possibility the Feast of Tabernacles not only looks forward to His second coming but also reflects back on His first coming.

The Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a special Sabbath day of rest. During the days of the feast all native Israelites were “to dwell in booths” to remind them that God delivered them out of the “land of Egypt” and to look forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin. This feast, like all of the feasts of Israel, consistently reminded the Jews and should remind Christians as well that God has promised to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and deliver them from their enemies.

Part of God’s deliverance for the Israelites was His provision and protection of them for the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness, cut off from the Promised Land. The same holds true for Christians today. God protects us and provides for us as we go through life in the wilderness of this world. While our hearts long for the Promised Land (heaven) and to be in the presence of God, He preserves us in this world as we await the world to come and the redemption that will come when Jesus Christ returns again to “tabernacle” or dwell among us in bodily form.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Tabernacles.html#ixzz2wUHk7M52

SUMMARY AND APPLICATION

The Feast of Tabernacles concludes the annual feasts, each one celebrating an aspect of Messiah’s work, culminating in His return to judge the world and to set up His eternal kingdom when He will dwell with His people forever.

The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles celebrated God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt and their sojourn in the wilderness when they lived in tents or “booths” and when God lived among them in His tent, the tabernacle.

It is also a prophetic picture of the culmination of Messiah’s work of setting up His eternal kingdom when He returns to judge the nations and to do away with Satan and his minions, and all evil forever. He will bring heaven to earth, perfecting the earth and all creation in holiness. He will fulfil His eternal plan to dwell with His people forever under His reign of righteousness and peace.

“For to us a child is born,                                                                                                                                       To us a son is given,                                                                                                                                                                    And the government will be on His shoulders.                                                                                                              And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor,                                                                                                       Mighty God,                                                                                                                                                  Everlasting Father,                                                                                                                                                Prince of Peace.                                                                                                                                                            He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,                                                                                                                     Establishing and upholding it with righteousness and peace                                                                                  From that time forth and forever.”

Isaiah 9:6-7.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4.

As children of God and members of the church of the New Covenant, we have a role to play in this betrothal period between Messiah’s first and second coming. We are to separate ourselves from everything that is evil and ungodly, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” 2 Corinthians 7:1 in order to get to know our bridegroom (John 17:3); and we are to prepare our wedding gown by doing whatever we can to alleviate the suffering of others in the disposition of our Rabbi, and we are to especially do good to the family of God.

It is a time of preparation and expectation – looking forward with eager longing to the coming of the Lord and to the establishment of His kingdom on earth so that, like the Apostle Paul we can say:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

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SEEING JESUS IN THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL – LESSON 6

Christian Life, ,

LESSON 6

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

The Day of Atonement and the      Last Day                             . 

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. Do no work on that day because the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among the people anyone who does any work of that day. You shall do no work at all.

“‘This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a Sabbath of rest for you and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following day you are to observe your Sabbath.’” Leviticus 23:26-32.

“The feasts of Israel are way-points on the pathway of the saints as they make their pilgrimage through holy history. They mark out God’s agenda for the redemption, sanctification, and ultimate witness and glorification of all his Covenant people. The chosen will be drawn out from both houses of Israel and the wider Gentile church extending out to the ends of the earth. They will be the ultimate single united remnant elect.

“As we discussed in the previous article, there are Seven Feasts of Israel. In these sacred convocations the outline of God’s sovereign plan of the ages is laid out for the Covenant people of God. The feasts, as they come into their New Covenant fulfilment, are key way points on a road map showing us where we have come thus far and also shining a light on the pathway as it leads us onwards into holy history.

“The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was instituted by YHVH-God and proclaimed through Moses at Mount Sinai. He set forth this “appointed time” as a statute forever. The Day of Atonement is the 6th feast and the most solemn day on the Hebrew calendar.

“The Day of Atonement has always marked the end of one time period in preparation for the beginning of the next. On the 10th day of Tishrei the High Priest went into the holy of holies. He sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat for himself and for all of God’s people. Since we are told in Hebrews that Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach is now our High Priest then He Himself has taken over that role. He will be officiating on that epic future Day of Atonement when it opens up. It is His blood, the blood of the promised Sacrifice Lamb that is placed on the mercy seat in the heavenly tabernacle.

“The word ‘atonement’ means reconciliation. This Day of Atonement is a settling of accounts. The Day of Reckoning is a day in which all the accounts must be settled between God and His people for that year. Every 50 years the day takes on a wider meaning as well. In the Jubilee year the Day of Atonement wraps things up for that entire 50 year economic cycle.”

What is the significance of the Day of Atonement for the Church?

There are two prophetic streams in the Old Testament that foretell the nature and work of the Messiah.

The first stream, which is most clearly seen in the Ebed Yahweh prophecies of Isaiah – the Servant of Yahweh, presented Messiah in His priestly role as both priest and sacrifice. It was this aspect of Messiah’s work that the Jews neither understood nor accepted because it did not meet their expectation of a political Messiah who would rid them of Roman oppression and re-establish the glorious Davidic kingdom of Israel. Jesus fulfilled His priestly role in His first coming, on the exact day and at the exact time the spring feasts represented Him.

The summer feast of Pentecost, when Messiah poured out the Holy Spirit on the believers, and the church, the New Testament bride of Christ was born, took place on the same calendar day as the day when God came down on Mount Sinai to propose to His people, when the nation of Israel, God’s Old Testament bride, was born. 

The second prophetic stream presents Messiah in His kingly role. The autumn feasts of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles have yet to be fulfilled when Jesus comes again to judge the earth, restore His kingdom and set up His reign on earth with His people. His coming with be announced by the blowing of the last trumpet which will signal the end of the period of grace.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52.

We are living in the period of grace between the summer Feast of Pentecost when the church was born following the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First-fruits (which were fulfilled by the Suffering Servant) and the three autumn feasts when the king will return to judge the earth and set up His eternal kingdom.

SUMMARY AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Yom Kippur is a picture of the final Day of Judgment, when the books are opened and the people of the earth are judged according to what they have done.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Revelation 20:11, 12.

God has atoned for and removed our sin through His Messiah, as pictured by the two goats offered on Yom Kippur, one sacrificed and the blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, and the other driven into the wilderness with the sin of the people on it.

The people will be judged, according to the above passage and the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-40, not by mere verbal profession of faith in Jesus but by lives transformed by His Spirit so that they reflect His nature in the way that they live in obedience and submission to Him, loving God and caring for needy people.

SEEING JESUS IN THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL – LESSON 5 Concl

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AN OVERVIEW OF THE SEVEN FEASTS

Here below is an overview of the seven feasts as they have unfolded so far.

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1. Passover              Fulfilled! (By Jesus/Yeshua at His crucifixion 
on Nisan 14 in the spring of 32 A.D.)

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2. Feast of Unleavened Bread    Fulfilled! (By Jesus/Yeshua in His burial in the tomb 
on Nisan 15 in the spring of 32 A.D.)

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3. Feast of Firstfruits        Fulfilled! (By Jesus/Yeshua at His Resurrection 
on Nisan 17 in the spring of 32 A.D.)

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4. Feast of Pentecost        Fulfilled! (By the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost on Sivan 7 in the summer of 32 A.D.)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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(A gap of 2000 years or so has allowed the Gospel, the Light of Israel
.             to go forth into the nations for the heathen Gentiles to be evangelized). (Isa.49:6) 
. 
. .    – – – – – – – – – – – –     WE ARE HERE     – – – – – – – – – – –

Now here come the three Fall Feasts of Israel. 
They will erupt into holy history in spectacular fashion. 
And the first of the three is probably just up ahead. 
Indeed the very next feast coming up for fulfillment will be,

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5. The Feast of Trumpets       Unfulfilled ….(as of yet). 
Something BIG is going to happen here. And it will happen on the first day of the Tishrei moon, on some future Rosh Hashanah, in the Autumn season of some future year.

And as we come to the last day of this age we make this discovery. 
Yes, it is the fulfillment of . . .

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6. The Day of Atonement       Unfulfilled ….(as of yet). 

The seventh and final feast, or “appointed time” is the . . .

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7. The Feast of Tabernacles    Unfulfilled ….(as of yet).
The fulfillment of this feast will see the establishment 
of the long awaited glorious 1000 year long Millennium of Messiah.

SUMMARY AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. The month of Elul, which is the last month before the Feast of Trumpets, is a time of preparation for the final trumpet blast which will herald the Day of Atonement when the nation of Israel is judged according to their obedience to the Law of God.
  2. The Feast of Trumpets is heralded by the blowing of the shofar when the new moon is sighted on the 1st of Tishri – a period of 48 hours called “the day of which no one knows the day or the hour.”
  3. The Feast of Trumpets begins the “Ten Days of Awe” which precedes the Day of Atonement when the books are opened

During the month of Elul the Israelites were to do three things:

  1. Tephilla – prayer. The essence of this prayer was to change their awareness from themselves to God and to re-attach themselves to God.
  2. Teshuvah – repentance. Repentance in Hebrew thought was to think God’s thoughts rather than their own and to return to their original nature as good. .
  3. Tsidaqah – righteous acts. They were to carry out their duty to God by being generous towards other people because God had been generous to them.

“By returning to one’s innermost self (teshuvah), by attaching oneself to G-d (tefillah) and by distributing one’s possessions with righteousness (tzedakah), one turns the promise of Rosh Hashanah into the abundant fulfillment of Yom Kippur: A year of sweetness and plenty.” (Teshuvah, tefilla and tzedaqah – by Johnathan Sachs).

During the period of our betrothal, it is the responsibility of God’s New Covenant people to prepare themselves for the return of the King and the Day of Judgment when the books are opened and the nations are judged according to their deeds.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Revelation 20:11, 12.

The bride’s preparation consists of:

Separating herself from all other men – becoming holy;

Preparing her bridal gown – righteous deeds (Revelation 19:6-8, e.g, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.” Romans 12:13; “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10.

SEEING JESUS IN THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL – LESSON 5

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LESSON 5

YOM TERUAH – THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

The Feast of Trumpets

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The very next feast due to be fulfilled.

The shofar is blown at the western wall on the new moon of Tishrei to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: “On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the Lord by fire.” Leviticus 23:23-25.

“In the autumn of the year and on the first day of the Tishrei moon trumpets are blown to announce the Hebrew holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Biblical Christians refer to it as the Feast of Trumpets. It is the 5th of the Seven Feasts of Israel.

“This 5th feast was instituted by Moses at Sinai approximately 3,500 years ago. It marks the first day of the Hebrew (civil) New Year. ‘Rosh Hashanah’ means ‘head of the year’. The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the three, yet to be fulfilled, Fall Feasts of Israel. These Autumn Feasts relate to Kingdom/political issues rather than the High Priestly/religious matters that we saw Messiah address in the spring feasts during His first coming 2,000 years ago. Back then we saw Him ride into Jerusalem on a donkey as the ‘Suffering Servant’. But when Messiah returns this next time He will come as the Conquering King. After Trumpets on Tishrei 1 comes the “Ten days of awe” which lead on to Yom Kippur on Tishrei 10 which is the Day of Atonement.

“This is the most solemn day of the year. On this awesome Day of Reckoning all accounts between YHVH-God and all His covenant people are settled. The Jubilee Year is also announced on this same tenth day of Tishri.”

http://endtimepilgrim.org/trumpets.htm

FEAST OF TRUMPETS

The Feast of Trumpets, (Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah), took place on 1st/2nd Tishri, a 48 hour day marking the beginning of the new month. It was called “the day of which no man knows the day or the hour.”  Why? Because the day began when two priests agreed that they had sighted the new moon. The Hebrews operated on a lunar calendar; each month was thirty days long and began and ended with the new moon.

During this 48-hour day, when they agreed that they had sighted the new moon, they would shout to signal to the trumpet blower to announce the arrival of Yom Teruah which would announce that the Feast of Trumpets had begun.

The month before Tishri, called Elul, was the month of preparation for the Feast of Trumpets. Every morning and evening during the month, a trumpet was blown to remind the people that the Feast of Trumpets was coming. During the month of Elul, the people would do three things:

Tephilah – prayer

Teshuvah – repentance

Tsidakah – generosity.

Tephilah

Their concept of prayer came from the first time it is mentioned in the Scriptures – Genesis 4:26. “At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.” (The law of first mention).

The letters in the word “call” mean turning the head to face the one who can bear the burden, the idea being that I turn away from my concerns to become aware of the one who can carry my burden.  The first concept of prayer was about changing my awareness from myself to God and reattaching myself to God.

Teshuvah

The word means repentance and conveys the idea that I turn away from my thoughts and think the way God thinks. This implies changing from self-consciousness to God-consciousness and will give me a different perspective on the way God sees people.

Tsidaqah

Tephilah and teshuvah must be connected to tsidaqah – generosity. I recognise that God cares about people and desires to meet their needs. I need to view myself and people from a different perspective, that God wants me to use the resources He has given me to take care of needs where I can. Tishivah is my duty because God has been generous to me.

The Month of Elul

Put this into an agricultural setting; this is a season to evaluate the seeds I have been sowing in my life, to recognise that all my choices have consequences and to review my focus to change my mind about the way I do life. Before the Feast of Trumpets comes, I need to know what seeds I am going to sow in the field of my life in the next year. The seeds I sow now will produce the harvest I would like in the future.

Therefore, for a whole month before the Feast of Trumpets, the blowing of the trumpet morning and evening reminds me that I am in a period of grace when I am still able to turn away from myself, to change my mind so that I can line up my thoughts with the way God thinks and adopt His best way to do life so that the harvest I reap will be good.

This period of time represents the time between Messiah’s first and second coming, the period of grace that prepares me for His coming when the time to repent and realign my life with His way is over.

THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

The feast of trumpets is a rehearsal feast for Messiah’s second coming when He will judge the nations according to Matthew 25 – the parable of the sheep and goats.

The blowing of the trumpet summoned the people to ten days of trial and preparation before Yom Kippur, the day when all sin was judged and atoned for. It was both a warning to repent and a reassurance of God’s mercy for those who repented.

SEEING JESUS IN THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL – LESSON 4 Concl

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THE BETROTHAL PERIOD

The Feast of Pentecost marked the birth of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and the beginning of the betrothal period which has significance for both the bride and groom.

THE BRIDEGROOM’S PREPARATION

According to Jewish custom, the groom’s task was to return to the father’s house to prepare the bridal chamber for the consummation of the marriage. When the groom’s father was satisfied with the groom’s preparation, he would give permission for the bridegroom to fetch his bride for the wedding.

Before His return to the Father’s house, Jesus assured His disciples, in the language of a marriage proposal, that He was going to prepare a place for them.

”In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.” John 14:2, 3 NIV.

THE BRIDE’S PREPARATION

During the betrothal period, the bride’s preparation was twofold:

She was to separate herself from all other men.

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, you minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2, 3 NIV.

We are called to be holy – separated from sin to God.

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

“Question: “What does the Bible say about holiness? What does it mean to be holy?”

“Answer: In 1 Peter 1:13-16, Peter writes to believers, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behaviour; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and Leviticus19:2.

“First, let’s look at God’s holiness. What does it mean that God is holy? Passages like 1 Samuel 2:2 and Isaiah 6:3 are just two of many examples of passages about God’s holiness. Another way to say it is absolute perfection. God is unlike any other (see Hosea 11:9), and His holiness is the essence of that “otherness.” His very being is completely absent of even a trace of sin (James 1:13; Hebrews 6:18). He is high above any other, and no one can compare to Him (Psalm 40:5). God’s holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes. His love is a holy love, His mercy is holy mercy, and even His anger and wrath are holy anger and holy wrath. These concepts are difficult for humans to grasp, just as God is difficult for us to understand in His entirety.

“Next, what does it mean for us to be holy? When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11and19, He was instructing them to be distinct from the other nations by giving them specific regulations to govern their lives. Israel is God’s chosen nation and God has set them apart from all other people groups. They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that God wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him. When Peter repeats the Lord’s words in 1 Peter 1:16, he is talking specifically to believers.

“As believers, we need to be “set apart” from the world unto the Lord. We need to be living by God’s standards, not the world’s. God isn’t calling us to be perfect, but to be distinct from the world. 1 Peter 2:9 describes believers as “a holy nation.” It is a fact! We are separated from the world; we need to live out that reality in our day-to-day lives, which Peter tells us how to do in 1 Peter 1:13-16.

“Finally, how can we become holy? Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Saviour (accepting His gift of eternal life). If we have not placed our faith in God’s Son alone to save us from our sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain. So, we must first make sure we are born-again believers (see John 3).

“If we truly are believers, then we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world (1 Peter 2:9). After all, we have a relationship with the living God! Then we must daily live a set-apart life, not trying to “blend in” with the world, but instead living according to God’s Word as we study the Bible and grow in it.”

http://www.gotquestions.org/holiness-Bible.html

           She was to prepare her bridal gown.

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:        “Hallelujah!                                                                                                                 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!                                                                                                  

For the wedding of the Lamb has come,                                                    and His bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen, bright and clean,                                                                                 

was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.). Revelation 19:6-8 NIV.

In Matthew 25, Jesus told three parables; one about ten virgins awaiting the coming of the bridegroom, one about a wealthy business man who entrusted his money to three servants and went on a journey, and one about the end of time when the Son of Man returns and separates the people of the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Whenever Jesus told parables in sequence, known as a string of pearls, one must look for the common thread in the parables rather than try to interpret all the details.

In all three parables the main character went away and returned.

In the first parable, the bridegroom went away to prepare the bridal chamber for his bride. Ten virgins, possible bridesmaids, awaited his return for the wedding celebration.

In the second parable, the wealthy businessman placed his money in the hands of three servants to work with and went on a journey. On his return he callsed his servants to account for what they had done with his money.

In the third parable, the Son of Man returns to the earth to take His throne and to judge the nations. The people are separated into two groups as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The standard for judging them is the way they have treated needy people who represent Him.

In all three parables the ones left behind had been entrusted with a task.

In the first parable, the virgins had to have enough oil to keep their lamps burning as they      wait for the bridegroom’s return.

In the second parable, the servants had to work with their master’s money to increase it while he is away.

In the third parable, the people of the nations were supposed to be taking care of the needs of the hungry, the stranger, the naked and the prisoner.

In all three parables, some did what they were expected to do and others neglected their duty.

In the first parable, the five wise virgins had sufficient oil to keep their lamps alight when the bridegroom came while the five foolish virgins neglected to bring extra oil.

In the second parable, the first two servants made 100% profit on the master’s money while the third servant buried the money and returned it to his master unchanged.

In the third parable, the sheep were the ones who had fulfilled their duty to the needy while the goats neglected to do anything for them.

In all three parables their actions had consequences.

In the first parable, the five wise virgins went into the wedding feast while the five foolish virgins were shut out.

In the second parable the two diligent servants were rewarded while the lazy servant was thrown outside into the darkness.

In the third parable, the righteous, i.e. those who took care of the needs of the destitute experienced eternal life while the ones who neglected the needy were sent away to eternal punishment.

The first parable is particularly relevant to understanding the bride’s preparation of her bridal gown. The “oil” does not mean the Holy Spirit as is erroneously interpreted. The five wise virgins had lamps that were full of the “oil” of righteous deeds (tsidiqah – generosity) and were ready to go into the wedding feast when the bridegroom came. The five foolish virgins tried to borrow “oil” from the other five but it was not possible because they needed to fill their lamps with their own oil. It was the virgins’ duty to ensure that they had enough “oil” to keep their lamps alight until the bridegroom arrived.

Jesus used the imagery of light in Matthew 5:14-16, light representing the ability to see the needs of others and do something about it – “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.”

The bride’s preparation for the wedding includes having a compassionate heart like her bridegroom and doing what she can to alleviate the suffering of others, not to earn salvation, but to reflect her love for and oneness with her bridegroom so that her lamp will be full of oil when He comes.

SUMMARY AND APPLICATION

The summer feast of Pentecost is a thanksgiving festival for the ingathering of the harvest.

Pentecost fell on the same calendar day as God’s proposal of marriage at Mount Sinai. God’s Old Testament bride was unfaithful to Him, and three thousand died for worshipping the golden calf.

On the day of Pentecost the church, the bride of Christ was born and three thousand were gathered in as the beginning of the great harvest. The bride is preparing herself for her eternal union with her bridegroom when He returns.