As we celebrate YHVH’s Feast of Tabernacles followed by the Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret), here are some free resources from Hoshana Rabbah Biblical Resources that will help you to understand the past, present and future prophetic significance of these days as they relate to the life of the modern redeemed believer, disciple of Yeshua the Messiah.
In addition to all of this, Nathan will be uploading to the Hoshana Rabbah YouTube and Rumble channels as well as to Spotify and Apple Podcast the teachings that he will be giving during this year’s Sukkot celebration to those people who are part of our Oasis Elim Online Zoom fellowship. This year’s focus is on the bride of Yeshua, who she is, what her role will be in the end times along side of Yeshua the Messiah, her destiny at Yeshua’s second coming and into the millennial reign of the Messiah, who is the saints’ Heavenly Bride Groom. So please stay tuned…
YHVH’s saints are people who walk in the past, present and the future all at the same time. How is this? The saints of YHVH, who are wise and filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding, look to history to show them their roots to learn who they are, where they have come from, which in turn guides them forward into the future. YHVH’s wise children, the disciples of Yeshua also learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before them, so that they do not repeat these mistakes of the past and suffer the consequences of past failures. This understanding guides us in the present and helps to lead us forward into our future destiny, which is the anchor of our hope for tomorrow. This is why we are people of the past, present and future. The warrior bride of Yeshua as a child of the light knows her spiritual ancestry and heritage, who she is along with her divine mission and her future destiny.
One key to unlocking the mysteries of the Bible is understanding the cycles of history. Like a giant wheel that keeps turning relentlessly and irrevocably, the Bible chronicles the endless cycles of YHVH’s people as they encounter the forces of evil and darkness and either overcome it, or succumb to it. To know the past is also to understand the future. In these end times, heaven’s enemies are pulling out the stops to destroy YHVH’s plans and purposes on this earth along with his people who are executing those plans to defeat his enemies and to spread and enlarge his kingdom here below through the spreading of the gospel. Yeshua’s bride will play a pivotal role in the end times in helping to prepare the way for Messiah’s return and will be part of his heavenly army that will defeat the forces of Antichrist.
As end time warriors for Yeshua our soon coming Warrior King—the Messiah Son of David—YHVH’s saints do not have to be children of darkness who are unprepared and who do not know what lies ahead. If we read the road map of the Bible, it will guide our steps like radar through the darkness and foggy mist of the future. Yeshua’s warrior bride will know who she is and what her role and destiny will be in the end times. She will be like the wise virgins in Yeshua’s Matthew 25 parable prepared and ready for her Bridegroom’s wedding (Matt 25:1–13).
The shofar trumpet is sounding in the distance for those who have the ears to hear announcing the soon coming King of kings, the saints’ Heavenly Bridegroom (Matt 24:31 cp. 25:6). Now is the time to awaken from our spiritual sleep (Rev 3:14–22), then to exit Babylonian religious systems which are mixture of good and evil (Rev 18:4), and to make ourselves ready by repenting of the sins, and donning the white ropes of the works of righteousness to be the bride for which Yeshua is coming from his Father’s house to marry (Rev 19:6–9). Yeshua through his apostolic servants is calling his bride to awaken and be ready for his soon return.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overt take you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For Elohim did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess 5:1–11)
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom 13:11–14)
In our quest to learn more about the end times role of the bride of Yeshua, let us step back into the annals of biblical history and uncover a mystery that will enlighten us as to what is happening on earth today with regard to the epic struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. We are literally going back into history to learn about the future, for, again, like a giant wheel that goes round and round, history often repeats itself again and again. Through this, we will gain an understanding of how Yeshua’s warrior bride figures into the giant picture of the events of the last days and how she can prepare to meet her Heavenly Bridegroom. Let us begin gathering the puzzle pieces and then begin assembling them to see what the Bible reveals about this rather mysterious figure which we refer to as Yeshua’s warrior bride. So buckle your seat belts as we embark on an epic journey through several thousand years of biblical history. It’s back to the future!
Let first start in Jeremiah 30:7 where we find a rather cryptic and arcane passage that has engendered much fanciful speculation among many Christian Bible teachers. Here is the passage:
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. (Jer 30:7)
Forget the past speculations you have heard concerning Jacob’s Trouble. Instead let’s read the Bible and it will tell us. Understanding Jacob’s Trouble will unlock a treasure trove of information that will reward us with understanding concerning where we are presently at regarding the end times world as it relates to Yeshua’s bride as well as her role to play and her ultimate destiny.
Before defining Jacob’s Trouble in detail, we must first step back. Before facing Jacob’s Trouble, YHVH had to prepare his people for the face-off with evil they were about to encounter. YHVH will not leave his people defenseless and unprepared to face their enemy. He is a good and loving Father and Shepherd who goes before his children-sheep and prepares them for what is to come—IF they will follow his instructions! IF is a big word. YHVH’s protection and provision is always based on how his people respond to him. The choice is theirs. Wake up and get prepared or go back to the sleep of spiritual complacency.
The Bride of Messiah
Yeshua views the saints as his bride as do the apostolic writers. Yeshua cryptically alludes to this idea several times in the Gospels (Matt 9:15; 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Mark 2:19–20; Luke 12:25–40). Several apostolic writers openly discuss this theme in some of their writings as well.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah. (Col 11:2)
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Messiah; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto Elohim. (Rom 7:4)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of Elohim. (Rev 19:7–9)
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. (Rev 21:9)
Two Old Testament prophets also predict Yeshua’s marriage to his Israelite bride.
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know YHVH. (Hos 2:19–20)
For thy Maker is thine husband; YHVH of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the Elohiim of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isa 54:5)
The subject of humility is not a popular one but one that it’s imperative for every serious Christian to learn about and practice. But conquering pride—the opposite of humility—and learning humility is a major pathway to being in the kingdom of heaven/Elohim. My words? No! Yeshua’s words in Matthew chapter five:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.…Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matt 5:3, 5).
This teaching will challenge you in an area in which everyone struggles and show you practical steps to becoming more humble in the sight of YHVH Elohim.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
The fall biblical holiday or Holy Day called Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is like a multi-faceted diamond that is a rich in both historical and prophetic significance. Over the past 26 years, Nathan has done numerous teachings about this day, but in this shorter teaching, he succinctly distills almost everything about it down into its richest and most salient essence as it pertains to the end times believer, and how Christians can best prepare to meet Yeshua the Messiah at his second coming.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
By J. Nathan Lawrence Hoshana Rabbah Biblical Resources (HoshanaRabbah.org)
Humility. This is a beautiful treasure box with a label on it, but what is inside? We all have a sense of what humility is and know it when we see it, but can we define it? Are we humble? Perhaps. Maybe, oxymoronically we are even proud of our humility. For sure, true humility is a noble virtue albeit a rare one. The Bible gives this character trait high praises, for it is a spiritual currency that if one possesses has extreme value with YHVH Elohim. Perhaps it is even a key that unlocks the door to the kingdom of heaven. As confirmation of its high value in the eyes of our Creator, we read in his Word,
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:4)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, Elohim resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (Jas 4:6, 10)
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for Elohim resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Elohim, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Pet 5:5–6)
Again, what does the Bible mean when it speaks of being humble or humility?
The Bible teaches us that humility is more than a mere theological abstraction, or simply an individualistic and introspective reality. It is an aspect of the social order and requirement of the kingdom of Elohim (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia or ISBE, vol. 2, p. 776). Humility is something that has to be learned, so that it becomes a state of one’s heart and mind and that will then radiate out into a lifestyle which determines what a person says, as well as how one thinks and acts.
The biblical truth of justification by grace through faith speaks to the central importance and reality of humility as evidenced in Yeshua’s Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee in Luke 18:9–14. The Pharisee’s lack of humility before Elohim manifested itself as arrogance toward others, resulting in rejection by Elohim. On the other hand, the publican who humbled himself before the Almighty by admitting his sinful condition was justified in the courts of heaven. The people who know that their salvation is a result of Elohim’s grace do not act presumptuously toward others (ibid. pp. 776–777). The well-known saying, “There for the grace of God, go I,” should be front and center in every Christian’s consciousness. The ISBE goes on to say, “The reign of God constitutes a realm in which all previous ideas of prestige, privilege, and protocols are transformed. To submit to God’s kingship is to participate in a new social reality. ‘Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ (Matt 18:1). The one who submits to the rule of God” (ibid.)
The obverse of humility is pride, which like a leaky, wooden ship, seeps in and out of our every pore and is so endemic to us as to be virtually unrecognizable and undetectable as it defiles us from within. As Yeshua said,
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man. (Matt 15:19–20)
Jeremiah did not speak kindly about the natural condition of man either when he declared by the Spirit of Elohim,
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
Though, unlike pride, humility is a rare asset in man’s spiritual bank account, yet is a vital asset in YHVH’s spiritual economy and is an essential attribute if one is to have any kind of relationship with their Creator, But again, what is humility?
Biblical Humility Succinctly Defined
Let’s now define the word humility from a biblical Hebraic perspective. Humility or humbleness is a modest or low view of one’s own importance. It is “a freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and are comes from God” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary it its article entitled Humility). To the heathen Greek philosophers of the biblical era, “humility implied inadequacy, lack of dignity, and worthlessness….This is not the meaning of humility as defined by the Bible” (ibid.). In the secular world, pride in oneself not only is an accepted trait, but is expected of leaders and people of renown. As is the case here and in other areas of human understanding, the ways of Elohim are not only not men’s ways, but often the complete opposite.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith YHVH. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8–9)
YHVH Set the Example
Have you ever heard a sermon or Bible teaching on the humility of YHVH Elohim? Probably not. Neither have I. The thought of it never occurred to me until one day I heard a praise song in French the lyrics of which mentioned “the humility of God.” Initially I chaffed at this concept, but the more I meditated on it, the more it became obvious that YHVH set us the ultimate example of what it is to be humble.
For the disciples of Messiah, Yeshua is the central focal point of all biblical truth including the living example of how humility is to be walked out. Think of it. Yeshua, came from heaven, and then humbled himself and became a human, and was then murdered by the very humans he had created.
Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Elohim: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:5–8)
Moreover, Yeshua taught about and lived a humble lifestyle as a homeless itinerant preacher serving others. He then died a humble death as mankind’s Savior.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matt 11:29)
[Yeshua] riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. … if I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:4–5, 14–15)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yeshua. (Phil 2:5)
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
When it comes to humility, Yeshua blazed a new path for the world to follow, which his true disciples have been endeavoring to emulate ever since. He set aside his divine glory and power and became a lowly human. While on this earth, he came to serve, not to be served. He hung out with the lowliest echelon of people and those the powerful, rich and elite of his day disdained such as publicans, sinners, tax collectors, common working people, Roman soldiers and even demonized prostitutes. He then suffered a brutal and demeaning death, was crucified naked on a cross by the very people that in his preincarnate state had created. Yeshua was merely mirroring and in complete accord with the humility of his Father in heaven, who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Moreover, the all powerful YHVH Elohim still humbles himself in love to forgive the sinners for whom his Son died, and in the mean time demonstrates never-ending compassion, longsuffering patience with wicked and rebellious humanity, when it is in his power, and is his divine right to punish, if not obliterate defiant and hateful humans. To endure the calumny, blasphemy, rebellion and hateful vitriol of lowly humans without retaliating instantly is the expression of humility in the extreme!
Jacob’s Trouble—a phrase found in Jeremiah 30:7—is a prophetic codeword for some important end time events that will occur at Yeshua’s second coming and involve the warrior bride of Yeshua who will be the resurrected and glorified saints. Understanding the enemies that Jacob encountered when returning to the Promised Land after his exile in Babylon is a biblical road map to help the last days’ saints understand who they are and what their role is presently as Yeshua’s disciple as well as their future destiny at Yeshua’s return and subsequently in his millennial kingdom. This message along with the previous ones in this series is a wake up call to all Christians—who are the potential bride of Yeshua—to prepare herself for Yeshua’s soon coming NOW before it’s too late. This is a message to the wise virgins who have ears to hear.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
