Author Archives: Natan Lawrence

Shabbat Shalom: It’s Yom Kippur (on the biblical calendar)

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Yom Kippur is a day of contradictions and contrasts: Joy and sorrow. Rewards for the righteous and judgments for the wicked rebels. Joy for the righteous when Satan and his demons, death and Babylon are destroyed by the King of kings.

Yom Kippur banner

On this day the high priest of ancient Israel went into the holy of holies of the Tabernacle of Moses (and later the temple in Jerusalem). There he sprinkled blood on the mercy seat (Heb. kapporet) and the ground seven times. Atonement was made for the high priest himself, his family as well as for all Israel. On this day the sanctuary, tabernacle, the priesthood and the all Israelites were cleansed. It represented corporate or community cleansing and entering into a deeper and more intimate relationship with YHVH.
The Passover and Day of Atonement are related though different:

  • Pesach (Passover) is the time of the sacrifice or atonement for personal sin—initial repentance from sins committed before being born again.
  • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the time of the atonement or covering of the individual’s as well as the corporate sins of Israel committed in ignorance (Heb 9:27) during the past year. On-going repentance is needed by the individual believer as well as the community of believers in order to stay in right-standing (called righteousness) before YHVH (1 John 1:9).

It is important to note that the shedding of innocent blood for the remission of sins is a central theme to both the Passover and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) events. The question may rightly be asked, Continue reading →

 

New Video: Wake Up! Look Up, Yeshua’s Coming Draws Near!

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The cry is going out to the saints of Yeshua: Wake up! Don’t be discouraged by the crazy things going on around you in the world. Yeshua is coming, the bride must prepare herself. He’s at the door of a lukewarm church and is knocking to be let in. The Bible is true, and the end times prophecies are being fulfilled. The fall biblical feasts are a prophetic picture of this, so get your spiritual house ready!

 

New Video: Sighting the New Moon

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In this video, Congregation Elim sights the new moon that determines the first day of the seventh month of the biblical calendar and the beginning of the biblical holiday of Yom Teruah (the Day of Trumpets/Shofar Blowing) 2013.

 

New Video: Yom Kippur & the Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

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Besides the Bible commanding the saints to do so, why do we “afflict our souls” (i.e., fast) on Yom Kippur? What are the spiritual benefits? How does it bring you closer to and in unity with your Creator and your fellow man? Why should fasting be part of your spiritual growth regimen? Learn how fasting makes your spirit man stronger and your flesh nature weaker — all in this video.

 

Blog Scripture Readings for 9/15 through 9/21/13

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Parashat V’zot HaBerachah — Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12
Haftarah — Joshua 1:1 – 1:18
Prophets — Zechariah 10:1 – 14:21; Malachi 1:1 – 4:6
Writings — 2 Chronicles 32:1 – 36:23
Testimony — Revelation 16:1 – 22:21

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Chag Sameach from HoshanaRabbah.orgMay you have a joyous Feast of Tabernacles (Chag Sukkot) celebration!

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 9/15 through 9/21/13.

*** This Parashah is usually read on Shimchat Torah, the day after Shemini Atzeret (The Eighth Day, following the Feast of Tabernacles). We’ve taken liberty to insert it here.

 

Preparing for Yom Kippur (Sept 17) — Why Do We Fast?

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What Is Fasting?

It [the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur] is a day to afflict your souls (Lev 16:29 and 23:27) or literally “to humble ourselves.” The word afflict is the Hebrew word anah (Strong’s H6031) meaning “to oppress with the idea of humility or meekness in mind coupled with the idea of a suffering life rather than with one of worldly happiness and abundance” (The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, vol. 2, p. 682). The JPS Jewish Study Bible translates the phrase afflict yourselves as “you shall practice self denial.” Although this verse does not specifically mention fasting as a component of Yom Kippur, Jewish understanding on the term afflict your souls is firm that this refers to fasting (the ArtScroll Tanach Series Vayikra/Leviticus Commentary, p. 404). With this view in mind, the pre-eminent nineteenth-century Orthodox Jewish sage, Samson Raphael Hirch in his commentary translates afflict your souls as “starve your vital spirits” (The Penteteuch-Leviticus, p. 678). However, there is a scriptural link to be found between afflicting one’s soul and fasting (i.e., abstaining from food). That link is to be found in Isaiah 58, which some Bible commentators believe is a reference to Yom Kippur. In verses three and eight, the terms afflict [one’s] soul and fast are used synonymously. The word for fast is the Hebrew word tsuwm (Strong’s H6684) meaning “to abstain from food.” We also see the connection between fasting and afflicting the soul in Psalm 35:13 where David states, “I humbled/afflicted my soul with fasting.”

Yom Kippur-afflict soul

Additionally, rabbinical thought teaches that Leviticus 23:27 suggests five afflictions that one must endure on Yom Kippur: no eating and drinking, no washing oneself, no anointing oneself, no wearing leather shoes, and no cohabitation. It is suggested that these five afflictions correspond to the five times the term soul/nephesh are found in this passage (i.e., verses once each in 27 and 29, twice in 30, and once in 32; see Baal HaTurim’s commentary on Lev 23:27).

Christian commentators, Keil and Delitzsch begin to connect the dots for us as to why fasting is tied to atonement. We read,  Continue reading →

 

Is Koran Burning Scriptural?

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Question: In Acts 19:13–19 we read about a public book burning of occult books. The Scriptures commend this act and reveal that as a result, “the word of God prevailed.”

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.  14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

 

In todays news we read the following:

Florida pastor arrested before he could burn 2,998 Korans

Associated Press

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/12/florida-pastor-arrested-before-could-burn-28-korans/?test=latestnews

I don’t know this pastor, but based on what I read in the Scriptures, and based on the fact the Koran is a demonic book (I have read it cover to cover), I for one will be praying for this  pastor. Will you join me?

In the mean time, take a look at one of my earlier posts entitled, “What the Koran Really Says,” at http://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/2013/06/01/what-the-koran-really-says/.

I am in no way advocating violence against Muslims. We are to love them along with everyone else for whom Yeshua died. As YHVH gives us the opportunity, we should share the gospel with them (along with all people) in a loving and powerful way as directed by the Holy Spirit. Many of them are enslaved in a demonic system and don’t know better. Pray for them.

At this point, the big question is this: If this were a Muslim cleric, or an atheist burning Bibles instead of Korans, would they be arrested? Would it make national headlines? Would anyone care besides Bible believers? I think you know the answer — sadly!

Guys, in our society, we all know that it’s open season on anyone or anything having to do with the Bible. The real enemy isn’t that human who is standing against Elohim and his Word, but the devil who is motivating them. Let’s never forget who that is!