1. The Torah Reading Cycles
2. A prophetic understanding of the change in reading cycles
3. Conception of Yochanan, the First Elijah to come (*Sivan 23)
4. The Birth & Circumcision of Yochanan, the First Elijah to come (*Nisan 14-21)
5. The cleansing and renewal of all Creation (making all things new)
6. The Conception of the Messiah (*Kislev 25)
7. The Messiah is the Light of the World
8. The Birth & Circumcision of the Messiah (*Sivan 15-22)
9. A never-ending testimony
10. Emet (Truth)
11. Moses delivered and Messiah fulfilled the Torah
12. The Teacher of Righteousness

The Torah Reading Cycles:

The most widespread cycle for study of the Torah in use during ancient times was the triennial cycle. It took three years from start to finish to read the Torah from the very beginning of Genesis to the very end of Deuteronomy. There is also some evidence that there was a seven year cycle and the three year cycle of reading the Torah was actually two three and one-half year segments of this seven year cycle. In modern times the annual reading cycle has become the predominant method of reading and meditating on the Torah. Previously, however, the Torah readings had their beginning and ending reference point at the end of Pesach (the eighth day of Pesach, Nisan 21). Now the benchmark ‘point in time’ for the Torah reading cycle to turn on has been moved to six months later on the day of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (in Israel the eighth day of Sukkot, Tishri 22).

A prophetic understanding of the change in reading cycles:

Please note just below (after this paragraph) that the Holy Spirit has supernaturally (and subconsciously) had our people (Israel) move the turning point of the readings of the Torah from Nisan 21 to Tishri 22 as a witness to two very important Divine acts. First, the Elijah to Come, whose name means the Grace (chen, chanan) of Adonai (the LORD) was circumcised in the spring six months before his cousin the Messiah on Nisan 21 (the original time of the new beginning for all of the Torah readings). The circumcision of the prophet Yochanan ben Zechariah was a foreshadowing of the permanent putting away of sin first and foremost in the House of Israel and secondarily in the Household of Man. This speaks of the redemption of Israel and of all humankind that would be made possible by the once-in-eternity sacrifice of the Messiah who is our Korban Pesach, the Lamb of God who took away our sin on the day of His sacrifice, on the day of Pesach.

Conception of Yochanan, the First Elijah to come (*Sivan 23):

	Hebrew Year 3755							Kohanim Divisions	Gregorian 6 BCE
Sivan	28	29	1	2	3	4	5	8. *Aviya	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	May
	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	*All Shavuot	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	9.  Yeshua	28	29	30	31	1	2	3	June
	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	10. Shechaniah	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Tammuz	27	28	29	30	1	2	3	11. Elyashiv	11	12	13	14	15	16	17

*The course of Aviya (אֲבִיָּה-“Adonai is My Father”) is the division of the priest Zecharyah who is the father of the first forerunner of Ha-Mashiach. The forerunner of the Messiah is the first ”Elijah to come.” There will be a second Elijah to come who will appear in Israel just before the return of Messiah ben David to Israel..

The Birth & Circumcision of Yochanan, the First Elijah to come (*Nisan 14-21):

	Hebrew Year 3756							Kohanim Divisions	Gregorian 5 BCE
Nisan	26	27	28	29	1	2	3	1. Yhoyariv	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	March
	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	2. Yedaya	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	*All Pesach	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	3. Charim	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Iyar	25	26	27	28	29	30	1	4. Seorim	31	1	2	3	4	5	6	April

*The forerunner of the Messiah (Yochanan, the first Elijah to come) was conceived on Sivan 23 and born at twilight on Nisan 14. The Grace-Favor of Adonai (יוחנן) was born exactly 286 days (40 weeks) after his conception. This was just in time for our (Nisan 15) Passover Seder when we welcome Elijah—the forerunner of the Messiah—into our homes as our very special “guest of honor.”

In determining the historical dates of the Festivals of Messiah we highly recommend you consult the United States Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (Spring Phenomena 28 BCE to 38 CE). This organization will provide you accurate astronomical data that will help you calculate the calendar dates of the Festivals of Israel past, present, and future (for Shavuot dating cf. Deuteronomy 16:7; Leviticus 23:9-14).

The cleansing and renewal of all Creation (making all things new):

Second, please note just below (just after this paragraph) the Messiah Yeshua, whose name means the “Salvation of Adonai,” was circumcised in the fall six months after his cousin Yochanan ben Zechariah on Tishri 22. The Messiah’s circumcision on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah speaks of an eternal age where all sin will be put away *completely and permanently. This permanent putting away of sin, however, is not just limited to redeemed humanity. This cleansing applies to all of creation. Therefore, the permanent dwelling place of the Holy One and redeemed humanity will be a new environment (creation) that is completely pure and untainted from sin.

*In the new heaven and earth the taint of even remembering sin ever existed will be completely removed.The Holy One will make all things new!

The Conception of the Messiah (*Kislev 25):

	Hebrew Year 3756							Kohanim Divisions	Gregorian 6 BCE
Kislev	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	8. Aviya	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	November
	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	9. Yeshua	19	13	14	15	16	17	25
	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	10. Shechaniah	26	27	28	29	30	1	2	December
	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	11. Eliashiv	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Tevet	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	12. Chuppah	10	11	12	13	14	15	16

The Messiah is the Light of the World:

The Messiah was conceived in Light (*Chanukkah) and revealed in light (Sukkot).

The Messiah (the Salvation of Adonai) was conceived exactly 180 days after Yochanan on Kislev 25 (חנוכה) and He was born on Tishri 15 (חג סוכות). Therefore the Messiah was conceived in Light (Chanukkah) and revealed in Light (Sukkot). He was born exactly 286 days from the day of His conception. Seven points:

Point #1.  In His first visitation to Israel our Messiah Yeshua ben Yosef ben David fulfilled all of the Torah prophecy that promised a sacrifice of redemption (Korsan Pesach) for Israel that would reconcile us to our Righteous Father who dwells in heaven, Avinu Shebashamayim.

Point #2.  Moses and the prophets foretold that Ha-Mashiach HaPalat (The Redeemer) would in His first appearance to Israel deliver us from sin (Messiah ben Yosef). Then He would ascend to heaven and remain for an unknown period of time. After this indefinite period of time Adonai would send our Messiah to us a second time.

Point #3.  When our Rabbi from Heaven returns to us (Israel) a second time then at last He (Messiah ben David) shall usher in the righteous reign of the Kingdom of Adonai here on earth. It is through the Divine Redemption of the Messiah that the Decree of Life of Adonai (foretold in the Megillah of Esther) was able to come into being. Only through the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of the Messiah, the Decree of Life (the Grace of Adonai), is the Decree of Death neutralized and our enemies permanently defeated.

The Birth & Circumcision of the Messiah (*Sivan 15-22):

	Hebrew Year 3757							Kohanim Divisions	Gregorian 5 BCE
Tishri	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	1. Yhoyariv	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	September
	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	*All Sukkot	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	2. Yedaya	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	3. Charim	22	23	24	25	26	27	28
Cheshvon	30	1	2	3	4	5	6	4. Seorim	29	30	1	2	3	4	5	October

*The birth of the Messiah occurred forty weeks after that of His forerunner, the prophet Yochanan, in the village of His ancestor King David. The Messiah was born in Beit-Lechem (בית לחם) at the first of Sukkot (Tishri 15, 5 BCE). In this way the Messiah was both conceived and born during the forty week span of time that includes both of Israel’s Festivals of LIght. Both of these festivals that symbolize the return of the eternal Light of Adonai’s Presence to dwell within (winter festival) and without the Temple (fall festival) in Jerusalem are testified to in the Megillah of Esther.

A never-ending testimony:

Today the Torah reading cycle is concluded each year on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (in Israel) and is immediately started again from the beginning on the same atzeret-extended day. This illustrates the belief that there is no end to the Torah (in its Testimony of the Salvation of Adonai), and that it must be read, recited, studied, understood and obeyed constantly, over and over again.

Emet (Truth):

The Torah reading cycle is represented in the ideogram of the single Hebrew word for Truth, “Emet.” The three Torah pictures that are included in the sacred word emet are prophetic. The three ancient Hebrew pictographs are symbolized in the three letter Torah picture sequence: Aleph-Mem-Tav:

ALEf- Ox

Letter #1.  The Alef pictograph is a Torah picture of an Ox.  Aleph is the first letter in the twenty-two letter alphabet. The sign of the first letter of Truth signifies the unlimited strength and power of the heavenly Father. So powerful is Adonai Elohim that  in the beginning He “created the heavens and the earth.” So that is where we begin in our Torah studies: We begin with the strength of Adonai Elohim who is our Creator-Father who dwells in the heaven that He made.

MEM- Living Water

Letter #2.  Mem is a Torah picture of Living Water (moving mayim; not stagnant water).  Mem is letter number thirteen in the twenty-two letter Hebrew alphabet. Mem represents water that is active and therefore, energized. Water represents the works of the Holy Spirit that comes down to earth from heaven and gives us life and refreshment. Mem speaks of the ubiquitous works of life of the Holy Spirit (evidence of His works of life are seen everywhere).

In the word ideogram of Emet the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaEmet) is represented at the relational center of the Torah picture sequence Aleph-Mem-Tav. The unlimited physical strength of the Creator, who is our Father, is matched only by His boundless Spiritual Presence and unlimited Spiritual Power. It is important to point out that what is physical will die but what is spiritual will never die.

Our spiritual being is made out of the thick fabric of Adonai’s own immortal, indestructible, invincible life.

For this reason although our physical bodies can and will die, the indestructible material of our souls and spirits can never die. Why? Because the Holy One breathed the eternal fabric of His own infinite eternal being into our ancestor Adam’s physical being. Therefore, our emerging conscious properties will outlast the life of our emerging physical properties. This means the conscious being of Adonai living in His children will outlive the physical universe. The physical substance of the physical creation will pass away but not the spiritual substance of the Father of Eternity’s spiritual creation.

The consciousness of Avi’ad that indwells His children is made out of His own eternal being. Therefore, the children of Abba Avinu are immortal, indestructible, invincible in their spiritual being.

So the temporal physical universe will pass away and we will not.

The sign of the second letter of the Hebrew word Truth, Mem, signifies the unlimited, infinite spiritual strength and power of Adonai Elohim. This means the second pictograph in the three letter sequence used to convey Divine Truth represents the actual Presence of the Holy One. The One Who dwells at the Center of all Truth (Reality) is the Kodesh Ha-Ruach. At the “Center” of eternity is the Holy Spirit and at the Center of His marvelous plan is the Redemption of Man (which just so happens to be the meaning of the third and final letter of the Torah picture sequence Aleph-Mem-TAV; i.e. the letter Tav spiritual speaks of  the “redemption” of humanity).

TAV- 2 Sticks Joined Together

Letter #3.  Tav is a Torah picture of two sticks joined together. Tav is the last letter in the twenty-two letter Hebrew alphabet. The three letter sequence Aleph-Mem-Tav (letters 1-13-22) together represents the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet and of all the Torah readings. Spiritually this means that the Truth in view here represents absolute Truth (Reality) and not proximate, temporal truth. Divine Truth is absolute and eternal (it is perfect, fixed, unchanging). Scientific truth is tentative and temporal; imperfect and constantly in need of revision. The Sign of the TAV represents the ‘’union’’ that is depicted in the symbolic form of two pieces of wood, a vertical piece and a slightly slanted horizontal piece (in the shape of a crude cross). The vertical and horizontal crossed pieces of wood speak of the Sign of “ownership,” “union,” “covenant” and “redemption.” (cf. the Sign of the TAV)

Moses delivered and Messiah fulfilled the Torah:

The completion of the Torah readings is represented in the final narrative of Deuteronomy that concerns the death of Moses. Moses’ life ministry was dedicated to his delivering the Torah of Adonai to the people of Israel. This he did faithfully. When Moses died the Torah was complete. Nothing needed to be “added” to the Torah or “subtracted” from it. All that was required was for the Torah to be heard, understood, and obeyed (fulfilled). Therefore, on Tishri 22 the cycle of the study of Torah ends with the final testimony of Moses (cf. Deuteronomy 34):

“Now Moses went up
From  the plains of  Moab to Mount Nebo,
To the top of Pisgah, which is  opposite  Jericho.  And
The Adonai  showed  him all the land, Gilead as far as  Dan,
And  all  Naphtali  and  the land of  Ephraim  and Manasseh,  and
All the  land  of  Judah as  far as the western sea,  and  the  Negev  and
The  plain  in  the valley of  Jericho, the  city of  palm  trees, as  far as  Zoar.
Then  the Adonai  said to  him, ‘This is the  land which  I  swore to  Abraham,
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  saying,  ‘I  will  give  it  to  your  descendants’ I  have  let  you
See  it  with  your  eyes,  but  you  shall  not  go  over there.’ So  Moses the servant
Of  Adonai  died   there  in  the land  of  Moab, according  to  the  word  of  Adonai.
And  He  buried him in the valley in the  land of  Moab, opposite  Beth-peor; but no
Man  knows  his  burial place to this day.  Although  Moses  was  one hundred  and
Twenty  years old when he  died, his  eye  was not  dim,  nor  his  vigor  abated.  So
The sons  of  Israel  wept  for Moses in  the  plains  of Moab thirty  days;  then  the
Days  of  weeping  and  mourning for Moses  came  to  an  end.  Now Joshua the
Son of Nun was filled with the spirit  of  wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands
On  him; and the sons of  Israel  listened  to  him  and  did  as Adonai  had
Commanded  Moses. Since that  time no  prophet has risen in Israel like
Moses,  whom  Adonai  knew  face  to  face, for  all  the  signs  and
Wonders which the Adonai sent him to perform in the land of
Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land,
And  for  all  the  mighty  power  and  for  all  the
Great terror which Moses performed in
The sight of all Israel.”

The Teacher of Righteousness:

On Simchat Torah, we read Parshas V’zos ha-Bracha. V’zos ha-Bracha is a parsha (scripture reading) of “conclusion.” It is the end of the Torah as well as the completion of the Prophet Moses’ life ministy. However it is a conclusion with a future!

The termination of Moses’ life was by definition the end of Torah. The Torah is perfected. However, what of the fulfillment of all of the demands and securing of all of the wondrous promises of the Torah? Therefore, we move on to yet another beginning. Once the written Torah was made complete the great burden of its fulfillment fell on the shoulders of Moses’ successor, Yehoshua (Joshua, Yeshua).

Prophetically the name of Yhoshua’s name is conveyed in its shortened form, Yeshua (meaning, the Salvation of Adonai). Therefore, it is important for us to note that like Yehoshua the Messiah did not come to subtract or add to the Torah. The Messiah came to fulfill the Torah.

Only the Messiah ourTeacher of Righteousness has perfectly obeyed (fulfilled) all of the Torah of Adonai.

Messiah the Perfect Man is the promised Rabbi of Heaven. He is the only one who has fulfilled all of the Law. Messiah is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven because He hears, understands, and obeys the Word of Adonai. In contrast those who have sinned and by the mercy of the Holy One been forgiven are the “least” in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Eternal One wrote the Law and entrusted its sacred contents to the care of Moses. However, Moses sinned. Moses could not fulfill the Law. And the best among us are certainly no better than Moses. All  have broken the Law given by Moses. Therefore, Adonai had to entrust the fulfillment of the Law to the sinless one who came in His (HaShem’s) Name. The Messiah came to fulfill the Law, not to break the Law. Therefore, He said:

כָּךְ יָאֵר נָא אוֹרְכֶם לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם, לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ אֶת מַעֲשֵׂיכֶם הַטּוֹבִים וִיכַבְּדוּ אֶת אֲבִיכֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם.” “אַל תַּחְשְׁבוּ שֶׁבָּאתִי לְבַטֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה אוֹ אֶת הַנְּבִיאִים; לֹא בָּאתִי לְבַטֵּל כִּי אִם לְקַיֵּם. אָמֵן. אוֹמֵר אֲנִי לָכֶם, עַד אֲשֶׁר יַעַבְרוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ אַף יוֹד אַחַת אוֹ תָּג אֶחָד לֹא יַעַבְרוּ מִן הַתּוֹרָה בְּטֶרֶם יִתְקַיֵּם הַכֹּל. לָכֵן כָּל הַמֵּפֵר אַחַת מִן הַמִּצְווֹת הַקְּטַנּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וּמְלַמֵּד כָּךְ אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, קָטוֹן יִקָּרֵא בְּמַלְכוּת הַשָּׁמַיִם. אֲבָל כָּל הָעוֹשֶׂה וּמְלַמֵּד, הוּא גָּדוֹל יִקָּרֵא בְּמַלְכוּת הַשָּׁמַיִם. אוֹמֵר אֲנִי לָכֶם, אִם לֹא תִּהְיֶה צִדְקַתְכֶם מְרֻבָּה מִצִּדְקַת הַסּוֹפְרִים וְהַפְּרוּשִׁים לֹא תִּכָּנְסוּ לְמַלְכוּת הַשָּׁמַיִם.” פ

“So also, shine your light before sons of men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to annul the Torah or the words of the prophets. I have not come to invalidate (לבטל) but to fulfill (לקים). For, amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter yud (יוד) or even one decorative stroke (תג-tag) of a letter will pass away from the Torah until everything is accomplished (בטרם יתקים הכל). So whoever violates any one of these small (minor, less weighty) mitzvot and teaches the people (to do like him) will be called least the kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. I tell you, if your tzedakah is not greater than the tzedakah of the scholars (הסופרים) and the Separated Ones (הַפְּרוּשִׁים-HaPrushim), you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

Messiah in Simchat Torah Chapter 3 >>