Messiah in Rosh HaShanah & Yom Teruah Chapter 7
- Forgotten, Doubly Fruitful and the Sign of the Tav
- Changed from the Inside-out
- Tzedakah
- Day of the Shofar Blast
- Day of the Akeidah
- Mystery of the Sin Offering
- Six Traditions at Yom Teruah
- Scripture Reading
- The Great Court (the Sanhedrin)
- Yom Teruah is unique among all the Feast Days
Forgotten, Doubly Fruitful and the Sign of the Tav:
.הרימו ראשיכם, כי קרבה גאלתכם
Lift up your heads for your redemption redemption draws near.
When Father Israel adopted Forgotten (מְנַשֶּׁה) and Doubly Fruitful (אֶפְרַיִם) he reversed their birth order. He made Doubly Fruitful his firstborn son and Forgotten his second-born son. How did he do this? He crossed his arms and hands and made the sign of the Tav.
The Ancient Sign of the Tav: The Tav is the sacred twenty-second and final letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In its ancient pictographic and ideogrammatic form (אידאוגרמה) this letter was conveyed in the symbol of the crossing of two sticks. The two sticks intersected at the middle forming the configuration of a cross.
Moses and the Tav: The ancient *Tav that Moses used in his writing of the Torah of Adonai was formed in the shape of a cross that represented the coming together of two parties, unity, reconciliation, redemption, covenant, and ownership.
*See Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. The Ancient Hebrew Script – הכתב העברי הקדום
The Sign of the Tav in the Heavens: Our Messiah of Israel was crucified upon the Sign of the Tav. The Hebrew Sign of the Tav will be seen in the heavens when our Messiah returns. There will be no doubt about the true identity of the Messiah when he appears to Israel a second time as the Conquering Messiah ben David.
No longer the Forgotten Firstborn Son: Father Israel testified to the redemptive power of the Sign of the Tav when he crossed his arms over the two adopted sons Forgotten and Doubly Fruitful and changed their birth order. The prophetic end-time meaning:
Israel will no longer will be the Forgotten firstborn son.
By the sign of the Tav Israel’s sin of rejecting our own Messiah is Forgotten. Israel is now free to have the veil be lifted from our spiritual eyes so that we might see the light of the glory of our Messiah, who is the Tselem Elohim. This means:
Israel will be the Doubly Fruitful firstborn nation of the world!
The Doubly Fruitful Firstborn Son. By our faith in the Divine Redemption we no longer will be the Forgotten firstborn son. Israel will be the Doubly Fruitful firstborn son of all of the nations of the world. This will happen when the Messiah returns on Yom Kippur.
Messiah will Return to Israel on Yom Kippur: This sign of our redemption is what our people and the gentiles will see in the sky in the heavens on a yet unknown future day and observance of Yom Kippur.
The ultimate truth about the Sign of the Tav: The Tav is not a sign that you go to war with to physically “conquer” others. The Sign of the Tav represents a covenant of peace between redeemed humankind and God. In Messiah ben Yosef”s own words when arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he said:
שֶׁמָּא חוֹשֵׁב אַתָּה שֶׁאֵינֶנִּי יָכוֹל לְבַקֵּשׁ מֵאָבִי וּמִיָּד יַמְצִיא לִי יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁנֵים־עָשָׂר לִגְיוֹנוֹת מַלְאָכִים? אֲבָל כֵּיצַד יִתְקַיְּמוּ דִּבְרֵי הַכְּתוּבִים שֶׁכָּךְ צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת”? פ
“Do you think I cannot ask my Father, and He would immediately provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the words of the Scriptures be fulfilled—that it must happen this way?”
The Message: This statement underscores that our Messiah ben Yosef wasn’t being captured out of weakness or a lack of options. He had immense, unimaginable power at his disposal, but willingly chose to surrender to fulfill the scriptures and complete his redemptive mission
An Evil Horror Beyond Description: The desecration of the sacred Hebrew symbol of the Tav and what it truly represents has been an evil horror beyond description. Of the spiritual wickedness that is behind this desecration our Messiah has said:
הוא רוצח היה מראשית ובאמת לא עמד, כי אין אמת בו. מדי דברו שקר, מתוך ישותו שלו ידבר, כי שקרן הוא ואבי השקר. פ
He was a murderer from the very beginning and really did not stand, because there is no truth in him. He speaks falsely, out of his own being, that he is a liar and the father of the lie.
In truth the sign of the Tav is how Israel will inevitably prevail over the evil world system devised by the Evil One Satan. Jacob’s (יַעֲקֹב) destiny is to “Supplant” (trip up) the evil world system and replace it with the *Rule of God (ישראל).
*”Prince of God” and “God Rules”: The root s-r-r (שרר) is closely related to the Hebrew word for leadership or nobility (like sar, meaning prince, or sarah, meaning princess). Some ancient translations interpret the name as “Prince with God.”
“God Rules” and “God Fights/Contends”: Grammatically, when “El” (God) is placed at the end of a Hebrew name verb formula, it acts as the subject, implying that God will do the fighting or striving on behalf of Jacob/Israel. This means: In holy love our Father Adonai with the assistance of Sar Israel is going to liberate humankind from the rule of sin and lawlessness.
Salvation is from the Jews: God’s universal plan through Israel is to reconcile to Himself all those who will believe in His Good News of Divine Redemption and receive the Gift of Eternal Life. This redemptive plan of God was put in motion almost two millenia ago God’s Messiah ben Yosef said:
אתם משתחוים למה שאינכם מכירים, אנחנו משתחוים למה שאנו מכירים, שהרי הישועה מאת היהודים היא!פ
“You bow to what you do not know, we bow down to what we know, for the salvation is from the Jews!”
“Salvation is from the Jews!”
Israel can no longer Hide from its Destiny: We know the ancient Hebrew Sign of the Tav (Redemption) is from the Jews. It did not originate from the gentiles. We know “salvation” is from the Jews. Not the Gentiles. God’s Rule alone must save us and the gentiles by His own righteous Right Hand (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
Changed from the Inside-out:
וְהֶאֱמִן אַבְרָהָם בַּ ה’ וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה.פ
“And Abraham believed in Adonai, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”
Father Abraham was justified by faith (emunah) for He believed the promises of Adonai. Faith in Adonai requires that we repent (Teshuvah) of our sin of not believing in the redemptive value of the Korban Pesach (the Sacrifice of Messiah).
National Atonement: All Israel one day (we pray soon) shall exercise faith in the Sacrifice of Messiah ben Yosef and pray (Tefillah-תְּפִלָּה) to our heavenly Father in his name. Then all our names will ‘permanently’ remain written in the Book of Life and we shall all receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit who is the source (and guarantor) of all our works of righteousness (Tzedakah-צְדָקָה).
Tzedakah:
Reborn as a Nation and as Am Israel: When the People of Israel in the power of Keren Yeshuah do all of these ‘required’ works of faith-righteousness—repent, believe in the sacrifice, pray in the name of the Salvation of Adonai—we shall all be miraculously reborn from above by the Spirit of the Holy One.
Therefore once we have found our redemption in the Sacrifice of Messiah ben Yosef we are exempt from ever again having to prove ourselves worthy of salvation! Those of us who have put our faith in the once-in-eternity sacrifice of the Messiah foreshadowed in the temple sacrifices.
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Adonai: Blessed is the One who has thrown our sins into God’s sea of forgetfulness (ברוך הוא האיש שחטאיו נסלחו ונשכחו). Blessed is the one who has made us Doubly Fruitful in the eyes of our Father in heaven. Blessed is the Name of the Messiah Yeshua ben Yosef who is the Salvation of Adonai.
Leviticus 23:23-25:
וַיְדַבֵּר ה’ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם שַׁבָּתֹון זִכְרֹון תְּרוּעָה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִשֶּׁה לַ ה’׃
Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Adonai.”
Numbers 29:1-6:
וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ מִֽקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ יֹום תְּרוּעָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶֽם׃ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם עֹלָה לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַֽ ה’ פַּר בֶּן־בָּקָר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה שִׁבְעָה תְּמִימִֽם׃ וּמִנְחָתָם סֹלֶת בְּלוּלָה בַשָּׁמֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים לַפָּר שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים לָאָֽיִל׃ וְעִשָּׂרֹון אֶחָד לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד לְשִׁבְעַת הַכְּבָשִֽׂים׃ וּשְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת לְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַחֹדֶשׁ וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְעֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם כְּמִשְׁפָּטָם לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַ ה’׃
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you. You shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savor to Adonai: one young bull, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal-offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for the bull, two tenth parts for the ram, and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs; and one male goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you; besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering of it, and the continual burnt offering and the meal-offering of it, and their drink-offerings, according to their ordinance, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire to Adonai.
Day of the Shofar Blast:
Witnesses, Testimonies, and Beginnings: Yom Teruah is a part of the fall festival season that comes at the end of the agricultural year in Israel. As noted in the verses of the Torah above Yom Teruah is observed in the seventh month of Etanim (meaning “witnesses” and “testimonies”) which now is more commonly called Tishri (also spelled Tishrei, meaning “beginnings”). Yom Teruah is celebrated at the time of the last harvest in the autumn of the year.
תקופת השנה
“At the turn (circuit of time) of the year”
In Exodus 34:22 this season is referred to as the “end of the year” (תְּקוּפָה); hence it occurs in the regular course of the time of the year(s) (הַשָּׁנָֽה). Therefore, it must be remembered that the Scriptures specifically state that after the time of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt each year is to begin in Aviv (also called Nisan). Aviv (Nisan) is the spring month that we observe Pesach (Passover). Therefore the full circuit of the year(s) requires that rosh hashanah be marked twice:
Time mark #1. Rosh HaShanah I (Tishri 1-the seventh month) is marked at the end of the year (the fall).
Time mark #2. Rosh HaShanah II (Nisan 1-the first month) is marked at the beginning of the year (the spring).
Rosh HaShanah I and Yom Teruah mark the beginning of the moedim, the appointed times that last through the twenty-second day of the seventh month, ending on the eighth day of “extended assembly and rejoicing,” Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah that follows immediately after the seven days of Sukkot (the Feast of Booths).
Day of the Akeidah:
The Ram Sacrifice: Leviticus 23 tells us that the blowing of the Shofar is a memorial. It is a memorial of the Eternal Father’s manifestation of grace to father Abraham that occurred when on Mount Moriah when *Adonai Yireh (ה’ יראה) substituted a ram (Genesis 22) in place of Isaac. This profound historical and spiritual connection is the reason why a ram’s horn is used for the shofar.
A Call to Remembrance: Hearing the blasts of the shofar acts as a reminder to God of Abraham’s ultimate loyalty and self-sacrifice, invoking mercy and forgiveness for his descendants.
Location of Father Abraham’s Sacrifice: Mount Moriah is the exact site where the Temple was later built. Adonai Yireh (ה’ will see; He will provide) is one of Adonai’s many titles.
ה’– *Abbreviation for Adonai (Tetragrammaton).
God “Sees” and “Provides”: The term yireh (יראה) indicates the double meaning that the Holy One both “Sees” the need for a sacrifice for the forgiveness and cleansing of sin and that He personally will be the One who Provides for this sacrifice (Genesis 22:14).
The Akeidah: The ultimate sacrifice that is prophetically in view here is the substitute sacrifice of God’s only son who perfectly hears, understands, and obeys Him, this is the Son Adonai Yireh loves—-Ha-M’shiach Adonai. This is known as the Akeidah (הָעֲקֵידָה), the binding of Isaac (עֲקֵידַת יִצְחַק).
A Prophetic Role Play: The binding of Isaac is a prophetic role-play that enacts the binding and sacrifice of the Messiah (on Mount Moriah) two thousand years before it happened. Traditionally, our people remember the Akeidah at Rosh HaShanah and Yom Teruah.
The Mystery of the Sin Offering:
The Akeidah foreshadows the once-in-eternity sacrifice of Messiah by our Father Adonai that has brought Judgment Day for the sins of the redeemed already. This means justice has already been served for us through the Sacrifice of Messiah: He [Adonai] made Him [the Messiah] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of the Almighty One in him.
The Lamb’s Book of Life: We believe that the Akeidah is an explicit promise of redemption to father Abraham. The Messiah ben Yosef is the perfect fulfillment of the Akeidah of Isaac. Through his sacrifice God has both Seen and Provided for our need for cleansing from sin. We believe our names are already permanently sealedin the Lamb’s Book of Life.
בְּסֵפֶר הַחַיִּים שֶׁל־הַשֶׂה
God Saved us through Messiah ben Yosef Moshia’enu: We believe that we are not made acceptable in the sight of the Avi’ad, the Everlasting Father, by means of our own pitiful, imperfect works of righteousness. However, we do believe we are declared righteous by the works of the Messiah Yeshua ben Yosef our Savior.
אוּלָם כְּשֶׁנִּגְלָה טוּבוֹ שֶׁל ה’ מוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְאַהֲבָתוֹ אֶת הָאָדָם, אֲזַי לֹא בִּגְלַל מַעֲשֵׂי צְדָקָה שֶׁעָשִׂינוּ הוּא הוֹשִׁיעַ אוֹתָנוּ, כִּי אִם בְּרַחֲמָיו, עַל־יְדֵי רְחִיצַת הַלֵּדָה הַחֲדָשָׁה וְהַהִתְחַדְּשׁוּת בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר שָׁפַךְ עֲלֵינוּ לְמַכְבִּיר עַל־יְדֵי יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ מוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ, לְמַעַן נֻצְדַּק בְּחַסְדּוֹ וְנִהְיֶה לְיוֹרְשֵׁי חַיֵּי עוֹלָם בְּהֶתְאֵם לַתִּקְוָה.פ
But when the goodness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not because of righteous deeds we had done, but rather through His mercy—by the washing of new birth and renewal in the Spirit of the Holy One, whom He poured out upon us abundantly through Messiah Yeshua our *Savior (מוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ), so that, justified by His grace, we might become heirs of eternal life in accordance with the hope.
*”Moshia’enu: (מוֹשִיעֵנוּ) – Moshia (מוֹשִיעַ): The base word for “savior,” “deliverer,” or “rescuer”. It comes from the root yasha (י-ש-ע), which deals with physical rescue, safety, and deliverance. Nu (־נוּ): The Hebrew possessive suffix that means “our.”
When all of the goodness and kindness of Adonai our Savior (ה’ מוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ) was manifested through His Beloved Son, the Messiah our Savior (הַמָּשִׁיחַ מוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ), He saved us not on the basis of our own unsatisfactory righteousness but according to God’s own mercy (רַחֲמָיו-rachamim).
Tikvah HaChayyei Olam: By the righteous deeds of the Messiah ben Yosef we are made yoreshim (היורשים) heirs in the Tikvah HaChayyei Olam; according to the hope (promise) of eternal life.
Hope of Eternal Life, Meaning: Tikvah means hope (expectant, confident waiting), and Chayyei Olam means eternal life or the world to come.
The Context: In Hebrew “Hope” is not a wishful thought (like “I hope it doesn’t rain”). It is a inerrant, guaranteed expectation of what God has promised.
.נִהְיֶה לְיוֹרְשֵׁי חַיֵּי עוֹלָם בְּהֶתְאֵם לַתִּקְוָה
We will become heirs of eternal life in accordance with the hope.
Yoreshim – “Heirs”: The Meaning: Yoreshim (היורשים) is the Hebrew word for “heirs.” In ancient legal and familial terms, an heir is someone who has a legal right to a father’s estate.
The Context: “You do not Earn an Inheritance!” Do to what the Messiah ben Yosef did, we are legally adopted into God’s family. You do not earn an inheritance; you receive it simply because of your relationship to the Father through the Son.
You do not earn an inheritance; you receive it!
Fourteen Prophetic Sililarities: In the Akeidah we find there are many parallels between the life of Isaac and the life of Mashiach Yeshua ben Yosef. Fourteen of these prophetic similarities are:
Similarity #1. Isaac and Yeshua were both sons of promise.
Similarity #2. Both came into the world under miraculous circumstances.
Similarity #3. The births of both sons were announced by angels.
Similarity #4. The entire world is destined to be blessed through the lives of both men.
Similarity #5. Both men were beloved sons of their fathers.
Similarity #6. They were both blameless in their conduct toward their fathers.
Similarity #7. Neither son deserved to die.
Similarity #8. Both men had to carry wood materials on their backs.
Similarity #9. The judgment of both men was executed on Mount Moriah.
Similarity #10. Both were crowned with thorns; Isaac symbolically and Yeshua in actuality.
Similarity #11. Both were in their thirties at the time of their being sacrificed.
Similarity #12. Both sons did not utter even a single word of protest in their defense.
Similarity #13. Both men lived beyond the event. Messiah has been resurrected already and Isaac will be resurrected soon.
Similarity #14. Both sons undertook a “three day” journey with their fathers (on their return home) after they had been sacrificed.
Six Traditions at Yom Teruah:
Tradition #1. Torah Readings. The Torah portion for the first day of Rosh Hashanah is about the birth of Isaac. The Torah portion for the second day is on the Akeidah, or the binding of Isaac. The Musaf (additional service) includes extra benedictions added to the normal Amidah. These benedictions emphasize Adonai’s Kingship and the remembrance of our days. Also there is the call of the shofar that symbolizes the end of days when we shall usher in the Messianic Kingdom.
Day #1: Torah Reading: Genesis 21:1-34; Numbers 29:1-6 (Musaf);
Haftarah Reading (excerpts from the prophets): 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10.
Day #2: Torah Reading: Genesis 22:1-24; Numbers 29:1-6;
Haftarah Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-19.
Tradition #2. Blowing of the Shofar. There are four primary types of shofar blasts:
A. Tekiah (תקיעה) – A long single blast;
B. Shevarim (שברים) – Three short wail-like blasts;
C. Teru’ah (תרועה) – Nine staccato blasts of alarm;
D. Tekiah ha-Gadol (תְּקִיעָה הַגָּדוֹל) – A great long blast (for as long as you can blow!). The general custom is to first blow tekiah, followed by shevarim, followed by teruah, and to close with tekiah hagadol.
Tradition #3. Wearing white to symbolize purity.
Tradition #4. The Tashlich (תשליך) ceremony (casting a stone into a body of water). Tashlich is an interesting ceremony that is based on Micah 7:19 that states: “And You will cast (ve-tashlich) all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Tashlich involves prayer, confession of sin and a relinquishing, “letting go” of sin. Tashlich requires one to cast a stone into the water as a physical reminder that one’s sins are cast away into the depths of the sea (forgiven) and remembered no more.
Tradition #5. The exchange of greetings such as: shanah tova (שנה טובה) “[have] a good year;” or Le’shanah tovah techatevu, le’shanah tovah techateimu … shanah tovah.” May you be written [in the Book of Life] and sealed…[have] a good year!” (.לשנה טובה תכתבו, לשנה טובה תחתמו… שנה טובה)
Tradition #6. There are also other additional services and traditions that are observed within the Synagogue.
Scripture Readings:
Scripture Reading #1. Isaac Is Born:
Scripture Reading #2. Sarah Turns against Hagar:
Scripture Reading #3. Covenant with Abimelech:
Scripture Reading #4. Offerings of the Seventh Month:
Scripture Reading #5. Elkanah and His Wives:
Scripture Reading #6. Samuel Is Born to Hannah:
Scripture Reading #7. Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving:
Scripture Reading #8. Israel’s Mourning Turned to Joy:
The Great Court (the Sanhedrin):
The feast known as Yom Teruah is known to most as Rosh Hashanah (“Head of the Year”). However, this feast is never called Rosh Hashanah in the Scriptures (cf. our article, “Messiah in Rosh Hashanah II & Chanukkah II”).
A New Moon: Since Yom Teruah occurs on the first day of the month, it is also a Rosh Chodesh (רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ) a “new moon.” The Sanhedrin (בית דין הגדול-Beit Din Hagadol, the Great Court) sanctifies all new moons on the basis of at least the testimony of two witnesses.
Proceedings of the Heavenly Court: The Rabbis believe that the Almighty One and all His angelic hosts will wait for the Great Court to sanctify the new moon before He will commence His annual court proceedings in heaven when Adonai summons the angels as witnesses in His annual accounting of humanity’s conduct toward Him.
Yom Teruah is unique among all the feast days:
Yom Teruah can occur on Shabbat: Yom Teruah is unique among all the feast days. It can occur on the weekly Shabbat (Sabbath) so it enjoys a rather unique status among all the other feast days. Yom Teruah is the only festival in which all of the following sacrifices (from the Hebrew word korban, which means to “draw near”) can be offered:
Sacrifice #1. The Daily offerings.
Sacrifice #2. The Shabbat offerings.
Sacrifice #3. The New Moon offerings.
Sacrifice #4. The Festival offerings.
Assembling of the People before God: The sounding of the Shofar requires God’s people to assemble before Him to fulfill His great purposes. God has revealed His purposes to His people through the D’var HaShem, His Word.
The Renewal of Humankind: The new moon speaks of the renewal of man, the individual, the nation of Israel and all the nations of the earth. The renewal of the kingship of the Holy One over Israel and over the entire universe is the prophetic centerpiece of Rosh Hashanah.