Peter and Nancy’s Blogs | Missing Pieces

What does it mean to “find rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:29) or to “enter into His rest” (Psalm 95:11)? When Solomon (Sh’lomo) dedicated the Temple, he prayed for YHVH’s awesome power and presence to dwell over the Ark: “Arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength…” (II Chron 6:41). He wanted YHVH’s presence to come into the Temple and dwell with all the people of Israel forever, residing in the Holy of Holies. When Israel rebelled against YHVH and His Covenant, they were sent into captivity in Babylon, and the “Ark of His presence” was never returned to the Temple when it was rebuilt seventy years later.

We know that the Ark of the Covenant is where YHVH chose to rest, and that His presence was there wherever the Ark resided: in the wilderness when YHVH was leading Israel; in enemy territory where YHVH was defeating their enemies; and then in the Temple where His presence was seen and felt. When Moshe built the Tabernacle In the wilderness and communed with YHVH there, he asked YHVH to show him the Way. YHVH’s response was: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14).

When Israel no longer had the Ark in the Temple, where was YHVH’s Presence, and how could YHVH give His people rest, as He had promised in Exodus 33:14 above? We have a hint of how to be in YHVH’s place of rest in Nehemiah 8:10 where Nehemiah said to the people: “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength”. Nehemiah had been telling the people to set themselves apart (be holy) to YHVH as they were celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) for the first time in hundreds of years. Just as the Ark of the Covenant had been their strength in the First Temple times, the “joy of YHVH” was now their strength. We believe YHVH was teaching them to trust Him even more than symbols of His Presence like the Ark and its contents.

Believers in Yeshua can rightly claim that Messiah Himself has given us rest in our souls (Matthew 11:28-29). We are now the dwelling place of YHVH’s presence, as we are living tabernacles and His Holy Spirit resides within our hearts when we are baptized and filled with His Spirit.

However, YHVH has always wanted to dwell with us (Lev 26:12) as He did with Adam and Eve before the Fall: “And they heard the sound of the Lord [YHVH] God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Genesis 3:7). It is apparent from this passage that Adam and Eve had a very intimate relationship with YHVH and spent time with Him every day in the Garden.

There are many ways to seek YHVH’s presence and spend time with Him, resting in Him. We need to trust Him (Heb 3:19), obey His covenant (Heb 4:3,6; Jer 6:16; Ps 95:11), seek Him with our whole heart (Jer 29:13) and meditate on His word (Ps 1:2). YHVH’s desire to dwell with us is so strong that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem us so that we might always dwell with Him and He with us (John 3:16, Rev. 3:20). Are you dwelling in the rest that YHVH provides?

Is it Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah? What is the meaning of blood moons? Is this the beginning of the Jubilee of Jubilees? There are currently numerous arguments and speculations concerning the fall feasts and current events. As we reviewed the Scriptures (Lev 23:23-25, 25:8, Num 29:1) on keeping the feast of Yom Teruah, we began asking questions during our praise and worship time with YHVH.

The Bible indicates that this fall feast is provided so that we may rehearse the sounding of the trumpets as a warning to look inwardly to ensure that we know and are keeping YHVH’s commandments (Neh 8:2-6). Yom Teruah is not the beginning of another year, but it may signal a new beginning yet to come, the release of all the inhabitants of the land (Lev 25:8-10). Scripture teaches us that every seven years (smitah) the land must be rested and anyone in the tribes of Israel was to be released from indentured servitude. Every fifty years is a jubilee (juval) when all debts are forgiven and everything in Israel is restored and every person in Israel is released. Any land sold to another tribe is to revert back to the original tribe. All people in Israel are to be set free (Lev. 25:10). According to the reckoning of others, the next Jubilee will be the 70th Jubilee. Since years were lost during the Babylonian exile, how do we determine which is the correct year to celebrate it? How will we know?

As we reviewed the Scriptures on Yom Teruah, the shmitah and Jubilee, we began asking questions about how to correctly celebrate the appointed times and how to best understand current events. We believe that the Holy Spirit provided the following explanation. Yeshua will return amid the blowing of trumpets and shofars on the Yom Teruah before we are to celebrate the Jubilee of Jubilees (70th Jubilee). It is Messiah Himself Who will announce release to all the inhabitants not only of Israel, but all the earth. The King of Kings will judge His enemies and provide covering for His sheep on Yom Kippur. Our spiritual enemies will be confined for 1,000 years and we will be released from their torment. There will be joyous celebration and Yeshua will celebrate with us! We will then know it is time to blow the shofar on Yom Kippur to indicate the Jubilee of Jubilees. The first time Yeshua came was to provide atonement and a way for us to be released from slavery to the enemy (salvation and deliverance). The second time, Yeshua will take captive our enemies, both human and spiritual, and remove them from our presence.

We know from Scripture that Yeshua will return to a desolated world (Matt 24:29). We also know from Scripture that Israel is not to plant or harvest during a shmitah or Jubilee year. So, if there is much destruction in the land, how will people eat? Scripture tells us that Israel’s former enemies and oppressors will come bearing many gifts (Is 60:11). We believe these will be mainly people from the enemy nations who were not personally guilty of oppression against Israel. We believe the remnants of the enemy nations will be eager to reconcile with Yeshua and with Israel. Just as the Israelites took possession of Canaan and enjoyed the products of others’ labors, the inhabitants of Israel will now have the products of their enemies’ labors delivered to their doorstep (Is 60:5).

It is useless for us to try to mesh current events and Scriptural prophecy to fit into our own time frame as many people are doing now. The one thing we know for sure is that YHVH is in control and will do all that He has promised in His own way and in His own time. It is not our job to predict or even speculate how everything will play out. It is our job to be working in the harvest and doing our individual assignments from YHVH. Then, when Yeshua returns, He will find the faithful servants He expects to find (Matt 24:45-51). What will you be doing when Yeshua returns?

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the [alef] and the [tav}, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Blessed are those who do [téreó, meaning to keep, guard or observe] His commandments [entolé], that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (Rev 22:12-14).