When I became aware of the Jewish calendar, I was very intrigued by the dating of how old the earth was. Whether it is accurate to the year or not, it speaks of a young earth and not the earth that could be 4.5 billion years old, give or take a billion or two. Scripture tells us Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 2:1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” We are also told, Exodus 20:11 “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” And again we are told, Exodus 31:16 “The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” No one can really explain what took place other than what we are told in scripture, so it is by faith we believe. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” The bottom line is that you live by faith and believe God’s word and everything in it. If you struggle with the creation part, you will not believe much of the rest. Your choice then is to believe the nonsense of the big boom, boom theory, as one writer described as, “The earth is thought to be about 4.54 billion years old. Along with other planets, the earth was born in the early days of the solar system, which first started forming about 4.6 billion years ago. How did the earth form? The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from material in a massive, rotating cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula.” I will just stop there, as the material (God particle) must have always been. Can we debate it, there is no need as you either believe God or you don’t and continue to look for the “Theory of Everything.” Stephen Hawking now knows (maybe not yet, but just making a point), but can’t say that he was wrong.
The God we serve just spoke and really didn’t need the six days as His word is so powerful, but he established the seven days for His purposes. Just something to ponder John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” It really is mind boggling how we humans prefer to trust other humans or idols instead of an all-powerful God who just spoke the universe into being. Can I explain God always being or even creating; no, I cannot, but I would rather believe in an all-powerful God than in some material floating around that exploded into being but doesn’t explain where the material came from. There is a joke, but not really a joke but truth that says, “An atheist scientist came to God and said, "We've figured out how to make a man without you." God said, "OK, let me see you do it." So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, "Oh, no you don't. Get your own dirt!" I look at creation as a painting. God made a painting of the universe and the day he painted it is how old it is. Now people debate how old everything is from the painting. I also believe the way God created the heavens and the earth really messes people up. “Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Marking the day God created Adam and Eve and it’s celebrated as the "birthday of the world." This year is 5786 on the Hebrew Calendar.
The other part, other than a young earth, that intrigued me was Rash Hashanah, The Ten Days of Awe and Yom Kippur that I talked about in the last blog. I admit I did not understand it as much then and said to a friend I thought, even hoped something powerful (not the rapture) would happen during this time as it has in the past. I continued to be intrigued by these High Holy Days, but I feel I understand them more now from a Christian perspective. This is what I said the other day in the last blog. {“I remember when I first became aware of Rash Hashanah, the Ten Days of Awe / Repentance and Yom Kippur. I was waiting on God, and it seemed to make sense that God could move (not rapture) in a powerful way during this time. And yes, I do believe God will move in His own timing and the church will be restored. Yes, God could move and we should be ready at any moment, but what I came to understand was that these High Holy days on the Jewish calendar all point to Jesus which I think is why I was so intrigued by them. I have written in my bible on a blank page where the Old Testament meets the New Testament and around the words New Testament I wrote, “a return to a new beginning.” Rash Hashanah is the head of the year that marks the beginning of a new year and the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance. This beginning is not just a once a year ritual, but can happen anytime. Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” That doesn’t mean the Old Testament doesn’t apply today. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Revelation 21:5 “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then you have the Ten Days of Awe / Repentance. “The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the mistakes of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur. One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that God has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter God's decree.” Obviously, this is very serious, but this seriousness should be every day. This is the Jewish perspective, but Jesus changed everything, and repentance and salvation can take place any day. Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Hebrews 3:15 “As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Sadly, in rebellion there is no awe / fear of God. Jeremiah 2:19 “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” True repentance changes everything. The false prophet who prophesied the rapture this last week should have said I was wrong and trembled in fear before God, but he didn’t but one day he will. Proverbs 6:16 “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 26:24 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
We must tremble before God. Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God,” Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” John the Baptist said, Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Psalm 47:1 “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.” Isaiah 29:23 “When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.” Habakkuk 3:2 “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” And then Yom Kippur / the day of atonement. “Yom Kippur fast day is the holiest day of the year, when we are closest to God and to the essence of our souls. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” as the verse states, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before God.” Every year the Jews continue to do this but every year they fail to repent and bow before their Messiah and King Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:14 “But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.” With Jesus, this is not just one day a year, but can be every day. John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Romans 3:21 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”}
This blog will be posted on the first day of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement for the Jews. This ritual occurs every year and year after year the veil as Paul said stays on and there is no atonement because Jesus has been rejected. It is like Israel rejecting the command Exodus 12:7 “to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Yet when they were told about Jesus, met Him and listened to Him, they rejected the Lamb of God. John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 10:24 “The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” Hebrews 2:17 “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” Matthew 27:22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
The Jews have been diligently keeping this command during Yom Kippur to no avail, but at the same time reject the Lamb of God who would actually make atonement for the sin and not just for one year at a time. Leviticus 16:29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” Romans 3:25 “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” The Jews did not receive Christ as a sacrifice of sin and their minds continue to be made dull. 2 Corinthians 3:14 “But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This rejection of their Messiah continues to this day.
Sadly, many Christians have adopted Jewish theology (dispensationalism, messianic Jews) and have blended it into the church (Zionism). An example of this is the false prophet John Hagee and his organization Christians United for Israel “a pro-Israel organization in the United States, with over 10 million members.” Many are even waiting for the third temple to be built. The third temple is already here (the body of Christ, the church) and has also been almost completely destroyed for the very same reasons the first two temples were destroyed. Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
The Jews continue to reject Jesus but still believe God has forgiven their sins. One writer said, “Indeed, although Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year, it is suffused with an undercurrent of joy; it is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day and expresses confidence that God will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness.” Part of a prayer says, “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed. How many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die….” Year after year this ritual takes place, but there is no atonement because the rejection of Jesus Christ Messiah and King continues. Sadly, the same is happening on Easter. Most believe their sins are atoned for, but they have fallen for a different Jesus and other gospels, so like the Jews their sins remain unatoned for. The only option for both Jew and the church is Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Mark 1:14 “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
