Rosh HaShanah II & Chanukkah II are observed in the future on Nisan 1;

Rosh Chodesh Nisan begins sunset of Monday, April 8 and ends nightfall of Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

1. INTRODUCTION
2. Preview of Chapters 2-24
3. There are three major festivals celebrated in the Golden Age of Israel
4. These same three festivals are referred to in Ezekiel and the Besorah (Good News) of Yochanan
5. The fulfillment of Yom Kippur and Shavuot in the Kingdom of God
6. The continuation of the the observance of Sukkot
7. The permanent return of the Presence (שכינה-Shekinah) of the LORD our God
   
8. The Feast of Sukkot in the Messianic Age
9. The Egyptians and the Syrians will know GOD our Father in that day
10. When Jew and Gentile will dwell together in the unity of the Spirit

INTRODUCTION

Previously in our study of the “Messiah in Rosh HaShanah & Yom Kippur” (chapter 36), it was pointed out that the prophet Ezekiel said that in the future messianic kingdom the festival of Rosh HaShanah would no longer be celebrated in the fall (Tishri 1-2) but in the spring (Nisan 1). It was also pointed out that in the messianic kingdom the celebration of the cleansing and dedication of the second temple on Chanukkah (Kislev 25-Tevet 2) would be replaced by the celebration of the dedication of a new *fourth Temple (Nisan 1-7). The dedication of a fourth temple in Israel would occur with the consecration of the Messiah as the High Priest, Prophet and King of all the world. This installation of the Messiah, our Great High Priest (HaKohen HaGadol), Prophet, and King of Israel and of all of the nations and families of the world, will occur ‘just before Pesach’ on Nisan 8. Thereafter, the fourth temple will be annually cleansed (de-sinned) and rededicated on the Jewish calendar dates of Nisan 1 and Nisan 7 (cf. chapters 2–3). As to the fate of the third temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem:

The future third temple that will be built during the seven year time of Jacob’s Trouble will be destroyed.

This destruction will be due to its (the third temple’s) extreme desecration. For this reason no temple will ever be rebuilt on the present temple mount site in the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, in the (near) future messianic age the fourth and final Temple will not be built in the city of Jerusalem but in the sacred District of Jerusalem that will extend from the northern border of the city of Jerusalem all the way north to the ancient city of Shechem (modern Nablus). This leads us to the question:

Where will the future fourth temple be located after the occurrence of the desecration and destruction of the third temple?

The returning Messiah will build the fourth Temple in an ancient (sacred) location. The fourth and final temple of Israel will be built in Shiloh. This fourth Shiloh temple will be located at the very “center” of the (near) future sacred District of Jerusalem (cf. chapter 4).

As stated before this means that our past and present day observances of Rosh HaShanah in the fall and Chanukkah in the winter will be replaced by one new (consolidated) observance that will simultaneously celebrate both Rosh HaShanah and the annual “Dedication” of the new Shiloh Temple on the days of Nisan 1 (first cleansing of the temple) and Nisan 7 (second cleansing of the temple). What follows in the ten chapters of this document is a discussion of the scriptural foundations of this new annual holiday (cf. Ezekiel 45:1-18).

Preview of Chapters 2-24:

Section #1.  Chapters 2-4 are a look at Shiloh (שילה) the Person, Event, and Place (1, 2, 3, 4).

Section #2.  Chapter 5 presents four selected narratives from Yochanan’s Jewish Gospel (i.e. in HaBrit HaChadashah) that are related to the exact time of the first dedication of the New Temple and Festival (Nisan 1-8) and the times, thereafter, of the festival’s annual observance (Nisan 1 and 7).

Section #3.  Chapter 6 is a brief discussion of the Messiah’s twice cleansing the second Jerusalem Temple at the same time interval as when the future new Rosh HaShanah & Channukkah Festival of *Cleansing the Temple will occur (Nisan 1 and 7).

*Literally “de-sinning the sanctuary” (חִטֵּאתָ֖ אֶת־הַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ). The language of Ezekiel (45:18) clearly indicates that the atonement of Israel (cf. Yom HaKippurim 1, 2, 3, 4) has permanently been accomplished in the past. Therefore, Ezekiel reveals that in the messianic age no further annual observance of the Day of Atonement is required; only there is a “remembrance” of the fulfillment of Yom Kippur that is indicated in the annual Festival of the Cleansing of the (Fourth) Temple and in the two other royal feasts of Pesach; and Sukkot.

Section #4.  Is a twelve part study on Messiah’s teaching on the “Five Barley Loaves and Two Fishes” that is connected to the Nisan 1-8 interval of time; which is the sacred interval of time that occurs “just before Pesach.” This teaching is found in the “Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim,” Chapter 94.

Section #5.  Examines the miracle of the Messiah walking on water at the Sea of Galilee that is also connected to the Nisan 1-8 window of time; which is the sacred interval of time that occurs ‘just before Pesach.’ This teaching is found in the Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim, Chapter 95.

Section #6.  Chapter 7 is Messiah’s words to the people of Israel that were delivered to our Jewish ancestors during the Nisan 1-8 interval of time that occurs just before Pesach.

Section #7.  Chapter 8 are words the Messiah spoke to the hyper orthodox (חרדים-haredim) religious leaders.

Section #8.  Chapter 9 is Messiah’s words to his Jewish followers; which are directed at those followers of his who are the actual physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Section #9.  Chapter 10 is “Shim’on’s (Peter’s) confession of faith” and some brief summary remarks.

Section #10. Chapters 11-24 COMING SOON is a new section on the Golden Age of Israel. This is a fourteen chapter study on what the world will be like in the future messianic age.

There are three major festivals celebrated in the Golden Age of Israel:

The future messianic kingdom of Adonai (the LORD) will require (mandatory) annual attendance at three Jewish festivals. The three new Shalosh Regalim  (שלוש רגלים-royal festivals)  of Israel and the International Commonwealth of Israel will be as follows (cf. Ezekiel 45:18-25):

Festival #1.  The new Rosh HaShanah (II) & the new Chanukkah (II) will in their inauguration be observed at the same time as the dedication of the fourth temple and the installation of the Messiah as the High Priest, Prophet, and King of all of the nations, peoples, and families of the earth. This initial Dedication (Chanukkah) will occur in the Jewish Calendar from Nisan 1-8. Thereafter, the annual cleansing (de-sinning) of the Temple will occur annually on Nisan 1 (first cleansing), and Nisan 7 (second cleansing).

Festival #2.  Pesach and Chag HaMatzot as before in ancient times will be observed Nisan 14-21; instead of the present Nisan 15-22.

Festival #3.  Sukkot (Tishri 15-*21).

*It also appears that immediately following the seven-day observance of Sukot: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah will still be observed in Israel (as now) on Tishri 22.

These same three festivals are referred to in Ezekiel and the Besorah (Good News) of Yochanan:

It is interesting to note what we have found in the Besorah, the Jewish Gospel of *Yochanan ben Zebedee:

*Whose name means “Endowment of the Grace of God.”

The same three festivals that are celebrated in Ezekiel’s messianic kingdom are referred to in the Jewish Besorah of Yochanan.

In his Jewish Gospel account Yochanan refers to Pesach and Sukkot and a third “unknown feast” that is simply referred to as a festival of the Jews. For contextual reasons we believe this (mystery) feast to be the feast of Rosh HaShanah. The whole of the narrative that surrounds this unknown (yet future) third feast is about spiritual events that are directly related to Rosh HaShanah. These are:

Event #1.  The Proceedings of the Heavenly Court;
Event #2.  The declaration of who will preside as HaShofet (Judge) over the living and the dead;
Event #3.  Rosh HaShanah (Tishri 1-2);
Event #4.  The Ten Great Days of Awe, Yamim Noraim (Tishri 1-10);
Event #5.  Who is sealed and declared righteous and will not be judged;
Event #6.  The resurrections of the righteous and the unrighteous; and
Event #7.  The “five” witnesses of Messiah, whose testimony for Messiah Yeshua and against his detractors will be entered into the formal record of the actual Proceedings of the Heavenly Court.

What this means today: for years now many scholars have attempted to explain what Jewish festival template the Beloved Disciple Yochanan ben Zebedee was using in his besorah of the Testimony of the Messiah. Most of these efforts have centered around a possible connection between Yochanan’s Jewish Gospel and an ancient first century (BCE) Jewish one or three year lectionary; that was a first century guide to the daily recommended Torah and Haftarah scripture readings.

Thus far none of these efforts have been deemed successful. As for us, we believe the best place to search for the answer is in the Tanakh. In fact we believe the answer to the riddle of what festival scripture reading template the Beloved Disciple was using is found in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel. We are certain that Yochanan (John) son of Zebedee was using the last days Jewish festival calendar that is described in Ezekiel’s messianic vision of the three required festivals (שלוש רגלים) that will be celebrated in the future Golden Age of Israel. It is also important to note that in the Four Jewish Gospels of the HaBrit HaChadashah:

Messiah twice cleanses the Temple just before Pesach; just as Ezekiel depicts it in his vision of the Nisan 1 & 7 first and second Temple cleansing(s),

The first cleansing of the Temple occurs at the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah just before Pesach and his last (second) cleansing of the Temple occurs at the conclusion of his ministry; also just before Pesach.

Note: The two separate times the Jerusalem Temple was cleansed (purified, de-sinned) by the Messiah Yeshua both occured in the month of Nisan just before the observance of Pesach. Similarly in the messianic age the observance of the cleansing of the Shiloh Temple will annually occur just a week (Nisan 1 & 7) ‘before Pesach’ (Nisan 14-21).

The Fulfillment of Yom Kippur and Shavuot in the Kingdom of God:

In the messianic age all Israel will be saved!

Why did the prophet Ezekiel and Yochanan ben Zevedi (יוחנן בן זבדי), the spokesperson for the shlichim (sent ones), both leave out of their sacred writings the very important festivals of Yom Kippur and Shavuot? The simple reason is because in the messianic age all Israel will be saved. All Israel will finally have experienced both the permanent atonement, the once-in-eternity forgiveness of the sins of our people and our nation, and the permanent return of the presence of the Spirit of Holiness–His indwelling of all His children of Israel.

In short, the purpose of the two festivals of the Day of Atonement and Shavuot will have been completely fulfilled when Israel as a people and nation come to fully understand that the Messiah Yeshua son of David is the promised one who God sent to us in His Name to redeem us; and to endow us all with His indwelling presence; the gift of eternal life.

The continuation of the observance of Sukkot:

Once Messiah has returned to earth as the conquering Messiah son of David and established his messianic kingdom of Israel, with its international center of worship at the *fourth Temple located in Shiloh, the reformed festival calendar of Ezekiel (פסטיבל לוח השנה הדתי של הנביא יחזקאל) will then be in use (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). What do we conclude from this yet future religious calendar of Ezekiel?

We should trust God to purify us solely by the atoning sacrifice of His Messiah; and not by our own vain (failed) efforts to purify ourselves .

*The fourth temple is the Millennial Temple. The reign of the messianic kingdom of Israel will last for a thousand years. This final Temple will be located in Shiloh. It will be located in a large sacred district of Jerusalem that will be located to the north of the city. The place name Jerusalem is both the name of the city that is the foundation of the entire area and it is the name of the entire sacred area as a whole, therefore this (approx.) 50 X 50 mile area is called—the sacred district of Jerusalem.

Festival #1.  New Rosh HaShannah (Nisan 1) & New Chanukkah-Cleansing and re-dedication of the Temple (Nisan 1 & 7).

Festival #2.  Pesach (Nisan 14-21).

Festival #3.  Sukkot (Tishri 15-21).

Therefore, the festivals of Pesach and of Sukkot will continue to be observed in the messianic kingdom. The festival of Pesach is celebrated in remembrance of the once-in-eternity atoning death of the Messiah, who is our korban Pesach forever. The continuation of the observance of Sukkot is a fulfillment of the restoration promise of Adonai our God to return to earth and “tabernacle” with us (Israel) and to “bring in” (hachnasat orchim) all of the gentile nations and peoples of the world into the International Commonwealth of Israel (1, 2, 3).

The City of Shalem and the Holy Mountain of Adonai Tzevaot.

Description #1.  “Thus says Adonai, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth (Yerushalayim Eer-HaEmet), and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain” (ve-Har Adonai Tzevaot Har HaKodesh).”

Description #2.  “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their Al-Mighty One, and they will be My people.”

Description #3.  “Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, for the Adonai of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders.” Therefore, after the Messiah’s return from heaven to earth (Israel) the Spirit of the Holy One dwelling with Israel will take the form of His renewed Presence in the Temple. The prophet Isaiah tells us that a greater display of the Presence of the Holy One will be witnessed than at any other time or at any other Temple in the past:

A canopy of God’s glorious presence will cover the entire area of Mount Zion as a cloud by day and a flaming fire by night.

Description #4.  “Then Adonai will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a *canopy (chuppah).”

*The canopy (chuppah) of God’s glory in this verse is stated in the next verse to be a sukkah (shelter) from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain:  “And there shall be a tabernacle (sukkah) for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge (machse), and for a covert (mistor) from storm and from rain. This wording connects the experience of deliverance from the Pharaoh in Egypt in the past and temporary man-made shelters with deliverance from the Pharaoh of the Great Tribulation (to come) caused by the anti-Messiah in the future.

After our people of Israel are delivered from the wicked Pharaoh to come, God will give His people permanent sanctuary by His Presence returning to Israel; not just to indwell the fourth temple but also all of the hearts of His people. Therefore, at the conclusion of the seven year time of Jacob’s Trouble the Shekinah Glory of HaShem will be seen over the Shiloh Temple (1, 2, 3). Then will the Spirit of God indwell all of the hearts and minds of His people forever. So then the prophecy of Ezekiel will be fulfilled (43:1-9):

“Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; and behold, the glory of Elohei Ysra’el (My God of Israel) was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. And the glory of HaShem came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of HaShem filled the house. Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. He said to me:

“Ben Ha’adam, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.”

“And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die, by setting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them put away their harlotry and the corpses of their kings far from Me; and I will dwell among them forever.”

The permanent return of the Presence (שכינה-Shekinah) of the LORD our God:

Therefore, Jeremiah declares the result of the permanent return of the Presence of the Holy One to Israel:  Jerusalem and the Sacred District that it is attached to it will become the throne of God and all the nations of the world will be gathered to it (Jeremiah 3:12b-22):

“Return, faithless Israel,’ declares Adonai;
‘I will not look upon you in anger.
For I am gracious,’ declares Adonai;
‘I will not be angry forever.
‘Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Adonai Elohekha
And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares Adonai.
‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares Adonai;
‘For I am a Master to you,
And I will take you one from a city and two from a family,
And I will bring you to Zion.'”

 “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.”

“It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares Adonai, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of Adonai.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. At that time they will call Jerusalem the ‘throne of Adonai’ (kise’ Adonai) and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of Adonai Elohekha; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.”

“You shall call Me, Avi” (My Father).

Then I said, “How I would set you among My sons
And give you a pleasant land,
The most beautiful inheritance of the nations!”
And I said, “You shall call Me, Avi,
And not turn away from following Me.”
“Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover,
So you have dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel,” declares Adonai your God.

“Return, O faithless sons.”

A voice is heard on the bare heights,
The weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel;
Because they have perverted their way,
They have forgotten Adonai .
“Return, O faithless sons,
I will heal your faithlessness.”

“Behold, we come to You;
For You are Adonai our God.”

The Feast of Sukkot in the Messianic Age:

The Feast of Sukkot in the Messianic Age will serve as the instrument to universally unite the nation and people of Israel with the Gentile nations and peoples together into a single united Commonwealth of Israel. Ruling over this kingdom will be the Messiah our sovereign ruler who is appointed by the Holy One to be the Judge (HaShofet) over all of the peoples and nations of the earth (1, 2, 3). Through the rule of M’shico (His Messiah):

HaShem will be King over all the earth; in that day HaShem will be the only One, and His Name the only One.

“And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem [and its sacred district , where at its center the holy Temple resides] to worship the King, the Adonai of hosts, there will be no rain on them.”

At this time our people of Israel will fulfill our destiny to be a “light to the nations.”

Our nation of Israel will be a nation of humble priests and kings who will act as Servant-leaders to all of the Gentile nations, peoples, and families of the world. People from all of the Gentile nations of the world will regularly come to woship Adonai our Father and our God in the (center) of His Sacred District of Jerusalem. At that time:

Israel shall extend hospitality (Hachnasat Orichim) to the Gentile nations and peoples (Bring in the Guests).

Therefore, in those days ten gentile men from all the nations will grasp the garment of one Yehudi (Jew) [to receive favor and blessing from Adonai Avinu], saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Therefore, the Gentiles will know that we (Israel) are there in to humbly help (serve) them; not to pridefully lord it over them or hurt them in any way (cf. 1, 2, 3, 4):

And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Adonai,
To the house of the Elohei Ya’akov;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of Adonai from Jerusalem.

“For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of Adonai,
As the waters cover the sea.”

The Egyptians and the Syrians will know GOD our Father in that day:

In the future international Commonwealth of Israel, the nations of Egypt and Syria are elevated to a special status (Isaiah 19:24-25), making them co-participants in both the obligations and benefits of the Temple (cf. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6):

“Blessed is Egypt My people and Syria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance!”

“In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Adonai Tseva’ot (the Adonai of hosts)  has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Thus Adonai our Father and our God will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Him in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will “make a vow to Adonai and perform it. The tribute gifts required by the Gentile nations (Zechariah 14:14) will accrue to Messiah’s Shiloh Temple in such a way as to fill it with abundance, assuring that the Gentiles are seen as full worshiping-participants in the kingdom of Adonai (1, 2, 3).

“And the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance.”

“At that time I will bring you in,
Even at the time when I gather you together;
Indeed, I will give you renown and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”
Says Adonai.”

When Jew and Gentile will dwell together in the unity of the Spirit:

“For thus says Adonai Tseva’ot (the Adonai of hosts) , ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says Adonai Tseva’ot. ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares Adonai Tseva’ot. ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Adonai Tseva’ot, ‘and in this place I will give shalom,’ declares the Adonai Tseva’ot.”

“I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.”

Therefore, all that the Holy One has purposed and planned through His provision for His people will finally be fulfilled and celebrated in the Millennial Feast of Sukkot. The future feast will openly demonstrate the unity that the Holy One desires: When Jew and Gentile together will bow to the Messiah of HaShem as our Melekh HaMelakhim (מלך המלכים-King of kings) and Adonei Ha-Adonim (אדון האדונים-Lord of lords):

Then shall the LORD of all of the feasts dwell with us forever.

“Behold, the tabernacle of the LORD is among men, and they shall be His people, and the LORD Himself shall dwell among them.”

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Messiah in Rosh HaShanah II and Chanukkah II Chapter 2 >>