1. His name is Yochanan: The Grace of God!
2. Prophecy of Zekaryah ben Aaron given to the people of Israel
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 Festival of Purim and the eternal reign of the Spirit of the Holy One
   
6. The memory that evil ever existed will be “Erased”
7. Our knowledge of evil and sin will be completely destroyed
8. El Yisrael has delivered us from the Decree of Annihilation (Death)
9. The Conception of the Messiah (*Kislev 25)
10. The Messiah is the Light of the World
11. The Birth & Circumcision of the Messiah (*Tishri 15-22)
12. Chag Ha Shavuot, Sivan 6, 3755 (6 BCE)

His name is Yochanan: The Grace of God!

וַיִּמְלְאוּ יְמֵי אֱלִישֶׁבַע לָלֶדֶת וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן׃ וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ שְׁכֵנֶיהָ וּקְרוֹבֶיהָ כִּי־הִגְדִּיל ה’ אֶת־חַסְדּוֹ עִמָּהּ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ אִתָּה׃ וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וַיָּבֹאוּ לָמוּל אֶת־הַיָּלֶד וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ זְכַרְיָה עַל־שֵׁם אָבִיו׃ וַתַּעַן אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמַר לֹא כִּי יוֹחָנָן יִקָּרֵא לוֹ׃ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ אֵין־אִישׁ בְּמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר שְׁמוֹ כַּשֵּׁם הַזֶּה׃ וַיִּרְמְזוּ אֶל־אָבִיו לָדַעַת מָה הַשֵּׁם אֲשֶׁר יִקָּרֵא לוֹ׃ וַיִּשְׁאַל לוּחַ וַיִּכְתֹּב עָלָיו לֵאמֹר יוֹחָנָן שְׁמוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ כֻּלָּם׃ וַיִּפָּתַח פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ פִּתְאֹם וַיְדַבֵּר וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים׃ וַתִּפֹּל אֵימָה עַל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם וַיְסֻפַּר כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּכָל־הָרֵי יְהוּדָה׃ וַיָּשִׂימוּ כָל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶל־לִבָּם לֵאמֹר מָה־אֵפוֹא יִהְיֶה הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְיַד־ה’ הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ׃

The days were fulfilled for Elisheva to give birth, and she *bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that  Adonai had shown great kindness to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the *eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they attempted to name him Zekaryah after his father. His mother spoke up and said, “No, he will be called Yochanan!” They said to her, “No one in your family has a name like that.” They signaled to his father to know what name to call him. He asked for a tablet and wrote on it, “his name is Yochanan,” and they were all amazed. Suddenly his mouth and tongue were opened and he spoke and blessed God. Then awe fell on all of their neighbors, and these things were told throughout the mountains of Yehudah. All those who heard placed it upon their hearts, saying, “What, then, will this child become?” And the hand of Adonai was with him.

*The birth of Yochanan ben Zekaryah ben Aaron occurred at twilight, Nisan 14, 6 BCE.

**The child was circumcised on the eighth day on the final day of Chag HaMatzot, Nisan 21, 6 BCE.

Prophecy of Zekaryah ben Aaron given to the people of Israel:

וַיִּמָּלֵא זְכַרְיָה אָבִיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּנָּבֵא לֵאמֹר׃

Zekaryah his father was filled with the Spirit of the Holy One and prophesied, saying:

בָּרוּךְ ה’ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי פָקַד אֶת־עַמּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלַח לוֹ פְּדוּת׃ וַיַּצְמַח לָנוּ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה בְּבֵית דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ׃ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִי־נְבִיאָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם׃ יְשׁוּעָה מֵאֹיְבֵינוּ וּמִיַּד כָּל־שׂנְאֵינוּ׃ לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִזְכֹּר אֶת־בְּרִית קָדְשׁוֹ׃ אֶת־הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ׃ לְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וּלְתִתֵּנוּ לְעָבְדוֹ בְּלִי־פָחַד׃ בְּתָמִים וּבִצְדָקָה לְפָנָיו כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ׃

“Blessed is Adonai, El Yisra’el, for He has taken note of His people and sent them redemption. He will cause a horn of salvation to sprout for us in the house of David His servant, as He has said through His holy prophets who were from long ago: Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to carry out kindness with our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant—the oath He swore to our father Avraham, to rescue us from the hand of our enemies and to let us serve Him without fear in wholeness and tzedakah before Him all the days of our lives.”

וְאַתָּה הַיֶּלֶד נְבִיא עֶלְיוֹן יִקָּרֵא לָךְ כִּי לִפְנֵי ה’ תֵּלֵךְ לְפַנּוֹת אֶת־דְּרָכָיו׃ וּלְהוֹרוֹת דֶּרֶךְ הַיְשׁוּעָה לְעַמּוֹ בִּסְלִיחַת חַטֹּאתֵיהֶם׃ בְּחֶסֶד אֱלֹהֵינוּ וּבְרַחֲמָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם יִפְקְדֵנוּ הַנֹּגַהּ מִמָּרוֹם׃ לְהָאִיר לְישְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּלְהָכִין אֶת־רַגְלֵינוּ אֶל־דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁלוֹם׃

“And you child, will be called a prophet of Elyon for you will go before Adonai to clear His way and to teach *Derech Ha-Yeshua to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, in the kindness of our God and in His compassion by which the dawning-light will take note of us from the heights, to illuminate those who live in darkness and the shadow of death and to establish our feet on the way of shalom.”

*The Way of Salvation (דרך הישועה).

וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיֶּחֱזַק בָּרוּחַ וַיְהִי בַמִּדְבָּרוֹת עַד־יוֹם הֵרָאֹתוֹ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

The boy grew and became strong in spirit and was in the wilderness regions until the day that he appeared to Yisra’el.

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

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

*The eighth course of Aviya (אֲבִיָּה), “Adonai is My Father,” is the kohanim division of the prophet Yochanan’s father, the priest Zekaryah. A normal week of duty for the priests in the twelve divisions began on Shabbat and ended on Shabbat. Each division would serve two times per year. Zekaryah finished his first week of annual duty on the Shabbat of 5 Sivan. However, due to the fact that all of the priestly divisions served at the Temple during the three royal feasts of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, Zekaryah was required to serve an additional week from 5-12 Sivan, 6 BCE.

**Gabriel appeared to Zekaryah on the royal feast day of Shavuot (Deuteronomy 16:7; Leviticus 23:9-14), on Yom Rishon the !st day of the week, Sivan 6, 3755 (Sunday, May 21, 6 BCE).

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

	Jewish Year 3756							Kohanim Divisions	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

*Seventeen days after Gabriel appeared to Zekaryah the prophet Yochanan ben Zekaryah ben Aaron was conceived on Sivan 23. Forty weeks later Yochanan was born just after nightfall on Nisan 14.

**Eight days after his birth the infant was circumcised on Nisan 21 and his father named him Yochanan—the “Grace of God.”

Yochanan (יוחנן), whose name means the “Grace-Favor of God” was born exactly 286 days (40 weeks) after his conception. By the providence of God this was perfectly timed so that the prophet Yochanan ben Zekaryah ben Aaron was born at the same time the people of Israel were observing the Passover Seder. This means that Yochanan was born at the exact time when during the Seder all Israel welcomes Eliyahoo into our homes. For Eliyahoo, Elijah is the forerunner of the Messiah, so he is seated at our Seder tables as our national Guest of Honor.

The Festival of Purim and the eternal reign of the Spirit of the Holy One:

Jewish rabbinical tradition holds to the belief that the Feast of Purim is the only festival observance that will survive throughout all eternity. As a type of the reign of the Holy Spirit this is true. In eternity the walk in the Spirit will be normative. The supreme reign of the Holy Spirit will become the only manner of walking (living) throughout eternity. However, Purim is not set apart by God to illustrate His eternal holy days, His eternal rest.

The taint of remembering that evil ever existed will be “erased:”

God-Most High will not allow even the slightest taint of conscious remembrance of the evil one to enter into His new heaven and earth. Therefore the memory of the wicked one’s previous reign will be completely erased. In the new heaven and earth evil will be completely forgotten. Never to be brought back to remembrance again.

No crumbs of chametz allowed in God’s new House!

Therefore the taint of even remembering that sin, evil, and death ever existed at all will be banished, erased, forgotten before God’s people ever enter into the eternal age of His perfect joy. There will be no crumbs of chametz allowed in God’s new House of Righteousness. The knowledge of evil and sin will be completely destroyed. Evil will never be allowed to manifest in the New Creation of the Holy One.

The festivals that illustrate the eternal age to come are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

Of the twelve messianic festivals only two festivals actually illustrate the age of the perfect new heaven and earth. The two festivals that illustrate the eternal age to come are the festivals of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. In the new beginning of the Atzeret eighth day extension to Sukkot—the elect will rejoice forever in The Simcha-Joy of God our Father. In the eternal state Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah will occur simultaneously. We shall dwell with God in a state of perfect unity and fullness of Joy forever!

El Yisrael has delivered us from the Decree of Annihilation (Death):

In the prophetic narrative of Esther–Hadassah (הֲדַסָּ֗ה – استير) the people of Israel are miraculously delivered from physical annihilation. This deliverance is a foreshadowing of the deliverance that began when the Anointed One, the Messiah, was conceived in Nazret of Galilee in the womb of the Jewess Miryam bat David. The *conception of the Messiah occurred exactly 180 days after the conception of the prophet Yochanan (Sivan 23) at the first of Chanukkah, 25 Kislev, 6 BCE.

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 publicly 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 – inside the Temple and revealed in Light – Sukkot – outside the Temple in the Court of the Women. Hamashiach Yeshua ben Yosef ben David was born exactly 286 days from the day of his conception. Seven points:

*Chanukkah and Sukkot are both called the Festival of Light.

Point #1.  In his first visitation to Israel the 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 heavenly Father, 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. Then God would send M’shicho His Messiah to us a second time.

Point #3.  When our Rabbi from Heaven returns to us (Israel) a second time then at last he the Messiah ben David shall usher in the righteous reign of the Kingdom of God here on earth. It is through the divine redemption of the Messiah that the Decree of Life of God has come into being.This means:

Only by the Decree of Messiah’s Life can the Decree of the evil one’s Death be overcome!

The Birth & Circumcision of the Messiah (*Tishri 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

*Tishri 15 is the beginning of Sukkot.  The birth of the Messiah occurred forty weeks after that of his forerunner the prophet Yochanan. He was born in the village of his ancestor King Davidin 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 connects both of Israel’s Festivals of Light. Chanukkah and Sukkot prophecy of the return of the eternal Light of God’s Presence to dwell both inside and outside His Temple.

*His Light to the World.

Chag Ha Shavuot, Sivan 6,  Jewish Year 3755 (6 BCE):

Eight messianic insights need to be kept in mind from our study of the prophetic narrative that is found in the Scroll of Esther:

Insight #1.  The womb of the Promise of God—the meaning of Elizabeth’s name—ceased to be barren seventeen (17) days after the angel Gabriel on Shavuot, Sivan 6 (6 BCE) announced to the old priest God Rememberd—the meaning of Zechariah’s name—that his aged wife would soon be with child.

Insight #2.  The conception of the child occurred on Sivan 23 when God Remembered His Promise.

Insight #3.  Forty weeks later on Nisan 14 the Grace of God—the meaning of Yochanan’s name—was born.

Insight #4.  Eight days after his birth the forerunner of the Messiah–the prophet of the Grace of God–was circumcised and confirmed (*Nisan 21) as a son of Israel.

Insight #5.  At his son’s circumcision Zekaryah, Zechariah, ordered that his son be named the Grace of God. At that moment his muted voice was restored.

Insight #6.  For 400 years prophecy had ceased in Israel. Now, at the mention of the words grace of God a prophet was born who would once again speak the D’var HaShem, Word of God to the people of Israel.

Insight #7.  Yochanan son of Zekaryah ben Aaron was the first Elijah to come; there shall be another. Yochanan ben Zekaryah ben Aaron was the first forerunner of the Messiah of God. His name serves as a direct testimony/witness to the Messiah who is full of God’s grace and truth!

*Nisan 21. At this time, almost two thousand years ago, the Torah readings had their ending reference point, fulfillment, at the eighth day of Pesach (spring)—spring Nisan 21. Today the completion date of our readings has been moved six months out to the eighth day of Sukkot (fall), Tishri 22.  At the time of the (extended) festivals of eternity:  Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

Messiah in Purim Chapter 4 >>