1. The end of the Harvest Season
2. In the month of beginnings…
3. Customs on Rosh Hashanah
4. Terms related to Rosh Hashanah
5. Secret of the “Joy of Return”
6. The Shofar of Elohim and the voice of the angelic messenger
7. High Holy Days of the Fall
8. Who is your Rabbi?
   
9. Message in the Middle #1, “The Inception” (התחלה)
   
10. The false-rabbi will be thrown out of heaven!

 The end of the Harvest Season:

In the Jewish calendar there are seven ecclesiastical months and twelve secular months. The seventh and final month of the sacred year is Tishri. The lunar month of Tishri corresponds to the end of the harvest season in the Holy Land (around September and October).

In the Scriptures we learn about the ultimate harvest season, how the Messiah will triumphantly return to earth in the month of Tishri.

When our Messiah returns He shall be accompanied by the Shekinah, His holy angels, and a host of glorified (resurrected) righteous ones. When the Messiah returns to Israel from heaven He shall establish the blessed kingdom rule of Adonai over all the nations and peoples of the earth. This international rule shall come into being through Adonai our Father making one great family out of two peoples: Jew and *Gentile.

*The Gentiles are grafted into the family tree of father Abraham by their faith in our Messiah (Mashiach HaElohim). In hope against hope our father Abraham believed Adonai, so that he might become the father of many nations (1, 2, 3) according to what Adonai had promised. As it is written, “a father of many nations I have made you:”

ולא־יקרא עוד את־שמך אברם והיה שמך אברהם כי אב־המון גוים נתתיך׃

וְלֹא־יִקָּרֵ֥א עֹ֛וד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ֖ אַבְרָ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה שִׁמְךָ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֛י אַב־הֲמֹ֥ון גֹּויִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃

“No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of many nations.”

In the month of beginnings…

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of a ten-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance (עשרת ימי תשובה‎‎–Aseret Yemei Teshuvah). On the day before Rosh Hashanah (called ערב ראש השנה-Erev Rosh Hashanah), the orthodox men of the House of Israel undergo a  mikveh (מקווה or מקוה-mikvah, a ritual bath). On this day the parokhet (פרוכת-the ark cover) in the synagogue is changed to a plain white cloth. The plain white cloth indicates purity.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Yamim Noraim (ימים נוראים‎‎), the Ten Great Days of Awe. This is a time that prophetically speaks of the destiny of the righteous, the tzaddikim (צדיקים), whose names are written in the Book of Life and the destiny of the wicked, the resha’im (רשעים), whose names are written in the Book of Death. People are inscribed in either book by the closing service of Yom Kippur (the tenth day following Rosh HaShanah). Therefore, there are ten highly symbolic days (Tishri 1-10) allotted for the people of Israel to repent (to do Teshuvah) before our fate is ‘Sealed.’

*Traditionally there are two chances to have one’s name put in the Book of Life (ספר החיים-Sefer HaChaiim) and sealed for the coming year: the first opportunity is to have your name sealed (on time) by Rosh HaShannah; then there is a “second chance” opportunity that is offered until the closing of the gate ceremony that occurs (late) up to the time of the very end of the observance of Yom Kippur (נעילה-Ne’ilah). Therefore, by the end of the closing observance of Yom Kippur it is believed that everyone’s name is sealed in one of the two books.

Customs (minhagim) on Rosh Hashanah:

Custom #1.  Erev Rosh Hashanah:  One day before Rosh Hashanah the orthodox men of the House of Israel undergo a mikveh (ritual bath). On this day the parokhet (ark cover) in the synagogue is changed to a plain white cloth. The plain white cloth indicates purity.

Custom #2.  Candle lighting and kiddush:  As with all the Jewish holidays candles are lit just before the start of the holiday. *Kiddush (קידוש) is also said over the wine. Dipping apples (or challah, bread) in honey before eating the holiday meal offers up the wish for a “sweet year” ahead.

*Kiddush literally means sanctification. It is the blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

Custom #3.  Round challah loaves: These loaves are shaped like crowns to suggest the kingship of the Holy One and as a reminder of the *crown of righteousness that comes to those who obey Adonai. Often these “crown challah” loaves are sweetened with honey and raisins.

*In the future there is laid up a crown of righteousness for those of us who love the Presence of Adonai, who have poured out our lives as a sacrificial thank offering (drink offering) to Him.

Custom #4.  Tashlich (תשליך):  On Tishri 1, during the afternoon, the ritual of “tashlich” or “casting off” is performed. This is a ceremony in which one’s sins are symbolically cast into a body of water. This represents our sins being cast into the sea of forgetfulness (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Often Micah 7:18-20, Psalm 118:5-9, and Psalms 33 and 130 are recited during the Tashlich ceremony:

“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast (tashlich) all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

We are called to clothe ourselves with humility. For the Holy One is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, we must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the Almighty that He may exalt us at the proper time. We are casting all of our anxiety on Adonai our Father. Why should we cast all of our anxiety on Him?  Because Abba our Father “cares for us.”

Custom #5.  The Sounding of the Shofar (השופר-the ram’s horn) and the Chatzotzrot HaKesef (חצוצרות הכסף-the silver trumpets): These instruments were used to signal camp movements during the journey to the Promised Land and by the Levites during various Tabernacle/Temple ceremonies and rituals (i.e. the offering of animal sacrifices), and during times of warfare (1, 2, 3).

Custom #6.  Celebrating the Kingship of Adonai our Father: Psalm 47 celebrates the Kingship Adonai Elohim that mentions the “shout” (תרועה-teruah) and shofar blast of His coronation:

“Adonai Eloheinu has ascended with the Shout of a Teruah, He has ascended on His throne as King of all the earth, He has ascended with the joyful coronation sound of the Shofar!”

The shofar sound awakens us to the joyous fact that the Holy One is King over all the earth (Psalm 89):

אשרי העם יודעי תרועה ה’ באור־פניך יהלכון׃

אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יֹודְעֵי תְרוּעָה ה’ בְּֽאֹור־פָּנֶיךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃

How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound (תְרוּעָה-teruah), O Adonai they walk in the light of Your Presence.

כי־ה’ עליון נורא מלך גדול על־כל־הארץ׃

כִּֽי־ה’ עֶלְיֹון נֹורָא מֶלֶךְ גָּדֹול עַל־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Adonai Elyon (the LORD Most High): He is Melekh Gadol al-kol-ha’aretz. (He is the Great King over all the earth!)

Terms related to Rosh Hashanah:

Term #1.  Teshuvah (תשובה):  Literally “returning;” a Hebrew term for repentance. Teshuvah means an “answer” to a shelah (שאלה) or a question. It is a response to the call of the Almighty One.

Term #2.  Cheshbon ha-nephesh (חשבון הנפש):  Self-examination and soul searching for purposes of performing confession (וידוי-viduy); recognizing our sin as a sin (הכרת חטאה-hakarat chata’ah); showing remorse and regret (חרטה-charatah) for our sin. In other words, recognition of sin (הכרה בחטא) and acceptance of responsibility (קבלת אחריות) are required; this includes the custom of first asking a wronged person’s pardon in order to be forgiven by Adonai on the Day of Atonement.

Term #3.  “Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem” (לשנה טובה תכתב ותחתם): This phrase is a customary greeting before the Jewish New Year and means “May you be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life).” When greeting a female, this is modified to “Leshana tovah tikatevee v’tichatemee” (לשנה טובה תכתבי ותחתמי).

Term #4.  Erev Rosh Hashanah (ערב ראש השנה):  The evening before Rosh Hashanah is marked by additional services at the synagogue.

Term #5.  Yom Teruah (יום תרועה): The “Feast of the Sound of the Shofar” and progenitor of Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah Teruah means a loud groaning sound (too deep for words) that is produced by the blowing of the shofar (תקיעת שופר–Leviticus 25:9), accompanied by the piercing sound of the silver trumpets (Numbers 10:5-6; silver symbolizes redemption) and by the people *shouting (Psalm 100:1).

*Shouting is a way of conveying to the Holy One the high intensity of one’s prayer (petition) to Him. This is similar to the idea expressed in the Psalms such as “Elohim has ascended with a teruah (shout), Adonai wih the sound of a shofar” (cf. Psalm 47).

Term #6.  Yom Ha-Zikaron (יום הזיכרון):  The “Day of Remembrance” (Leviticus 23:24) in reference to the commandment to remember to blow the shofar (teruah) to coronate Adonai as King of the Universe. The blast of the shofar is meant to awaken us to the Presence of Adonai our King.

Term #7.  Yom Ha-Din (יום הדין):  The “Day of Judgment.”  This is a reference to when the lives of all humanity are examined by Adonai our Ha-Shofet (השופט-the Judge). Once a year in the fall Adonai our Judge opens three books. In the first book the righteous are inscribed for life in the coming year; in the second book the wicked are inscribed for death; but in the third book the names of those who are not easily classified (i.e., most people) are temporarily inscribed. These people then have ten days to repent before their fates are sealed on Yom Kippur.

Term #8.  The Shofar (השופר):  A ram’s horn blown on the Jewish New Year and other special occasions. The shofar is also called keren shel hayil (קרן של האיל-Horn of the Ram).

Term #9.  Ba’al Tekiah (בעל תקיעה):  One who is expert at sounding the shofar during the Rosh Hashanah services.

Term #10.  Tekiat Shofar (תקיעת שופר):  The sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) at the beginning of the New Year services and at the conclusion of the Day of Atonement.

Term #11.  Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (עשרת ימי תשובה):  The Ten Days of Repentance from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, otherwise called the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim).

Term #12.  *Shabbat Shuvah (שבת שובה): The Sabbath that falls during the Ten Days of Repentance. Shabbat Shuvah is called the “Shabbat of Return” because its special haftarah reading begins with the words Shuvah Yisrael, “Return O Israel,” from the prophecy of Hosea (14:2-10).

Secret of the “Joy of Return:”

*The joy of return (שמחת השיבה):

אין שמחה גדולה יותר משיבתו של יהודי אל אבינו שבשמים. לכן, כאשר יהודי חוזר אל ה ‘אלוהינו וחוזר לדבוק בו, הוא מביא שמחה, שמחה, שמחה – שמחה אינסופית. זו מהותה של ראש השנה ויום תרועה: התשובה בימים זו היא במדרגה גבוהה מזו של שאר עשרת ימי תשובה. זו תשובה עליונה יותר, תשובה שבאה מתוך שמחה עצומה. ביום הזה מתעלה יהודי ומגיע לדבקות עצומה עם הקב”ה, ואז הוא מאושר לחלוטין ומלא שמחה גדולה. זה  “השמחה הגדולה” – “קהל גדול ישובו הנה” – בגאולה האמיתית והשלמה תיכף ומיד ממש. לכן כתוב:  פ

There is no greater simcha (joy) than a Yehudi’s return to Avinu Shebashamayim (our Father in heaven). Therefore, when a Yehudi (Jew) returns to the Lord our God and returns to cleave to Him, He brings joy, joy, joy – endless joy. This is the essence of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Teruah: The return on these days is at a higher level than the rest of the Ten Days of Repentance. This is a higher response, a response that comes from a tremendous joy. On this day a Yehudi ascends and reaches a great deal of devotion to God and then he is completely happy and full of joy and this is the “great joy” – “a great congregation will return here” – in the real and complete redemption immediately (מיד-instantly). Therefore it is written:

הנה סוד אגיד לכם: לא כלנו נמות, אבל כלנו נשתנה בן רגע וכהרף עין בשופר האחרון, שכן יתקע בשופר והמתים יקומו בלי כליון ואנחנו נשתנה.  פ

Here is a secret I will tell you: not all of us will die, but all of us will change in a moment and in the blink of an eye at the last shofar, for He will blow the shofar and the dead will rise indestructible and we will be changed.

שכן האדון עצמו ירד מן השמים בקריאה של פקדה, בקול שר המלאכים ובשופר אלהים, והמתים השיכים למשיח יקומו ראשונה. אחרי כן אנחנו הנשארים בחיים נלקח יחד אתם בעננים לפגש את האדון באויר, וכך נהיה תמיד עם האדון. על כן עודדו זה את זה בדברים האלה.  פ

For the Lord (האדון-HaAdon) Himself will descend from heaven with a shout (בקריאה של פקדה-*command of His subordinate) in the voice of the angelic messenger (בקול שר המלאכים) and the Shofar of God (שופר אלהים), and the dead who are (השיכים-anointed ones) in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are left alive will be taken up (ascend) with them in the clouds (עננים-ananim) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Shofar of Elohim and the voice of the angelic messenger:

*The shout of the Shofar of Elohim (שופר אלוהים) is sounded forth by the Messiah. It is the Breath of the Spirit of the Holy One that raises the dead and not any created being. The voice of the archangel is to command the holy angels to immediately assemble before Messiah as an honor escort. Gabriel (גבריאל) is the angelic emissary of the Messiah. He is the angel who “stands in the Presence” of Adonai, who has already announced the coming of the Messiah to three very privileged Yehudim: the prophet Daniel; the priest Zechariah ben Aaron; and the highly honored Jewess Miryam bat David, the mother of the Messiah. The honor guard of angels ordered by Gabriel will accompany the Messiah in his mission to claim His followers and take us immediately to our Father’s house in heaven (cf. more on this subject matter later in chapters 9 through 12).

High Holy Days of the fall:

In the fall month of Tishri (תשרי-Tishrei; meaning “beginnings”), the high holy days of the New Year (ראש השנה-Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (יום כיפור-Yom Kippur) are celebrated along with the additional festivals of Booths (חג סוכות-Sukkot), the Eighth [day of] Assembly (שמיני עצרת-Shemini Atzeret) and the Joy of Torah (שמחת תורה-Simchat Torah).

These five observances include both a time of somber, solemn reflection upon one’s relationship with the Almighty leading up to Yom Kippur (Tishri 1-10) and they also include the most joyful time of the year, the Festival of Sukkot (Tishri 15-21). The Festival of Sukkot occurs just five days after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

So sacred are the solemn days of reflection (Tishri 1-10) that they have been called the Ten Great Days of Awe (Yamaim Noraim). During this time our people must give an account of whether we have been faithful to the Holy One during the past year, sincerely repent of our sins, and recommit ourselves anew to loving Adonai with “all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)):

ואהבת את ה’ אלהיך בכל־לבבך ובכל־נפשך ובכל־מאדך׃

Who is your Rabbi?:

Part of the process of Teshuvah is reflecting on our past failures; learning from the lessons of the past. The biggest failure of all can be wrapped up in one question, “Who is your Rabbi?”

Point #1.  The Fall of Man occurred because Adam and his wife chose to “hear” (and obey) the voice of the crafty Serpent instead of Man “hearing” (and obeying) his one true Rabbi (Teacher), the Eternal God (Elohei Kedem), our Father Adonai (Adonai Avinu).

Point #2.  Therefore, each year at the birthday of the earth and the Creator’s coronation day: Elohim HaShofet (God the Judge) sits on His Throne in Heaven as Judge and reviews in the presence of His angels the activities of man during the previous year (cf. Job 1:6).

Point #3.  This period of review occurs from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur (Tishri 1-10). Jewish tradition has it that on the 25th day of Elul (the first day of creation) the world came into being. Just six days later on the first of Tishri (the sixth day of creation) Adam (man) and his wife (woman) were created (Tishri 1). It is also believed that on the very same day that Adam was created that he listened to the voice of Satan and fell into disobedience (Tishri 1). This happened at the mid-point of the cool of the day that is the Tenth Hour (around 4 p.m.). So, the fall of Adam is believed to have occurred on the calendar day of Tishri 1 that is on the fall feast day of Rosh HaShanah that is the first day of the Ten Days of Awe, Yamim Noraim (cf. Tishri 1-10).

Point #4.  Adam’s sin of disobedience occurred in the cool of the day (Tishri 1)  when the declining position of the sun relative to the Garden of Eden (גן עדן) caused a cooling in the garden’s local temperature (i.e. Hebrew hours: 9, 10, and 11; Secular hours: 3, 4, and 5 p.m.).

Point #5.  In spite of the evil one’s temporary success in causing the first Adam to sin, it is believed that through HaAdam HaAcharon (אדם האחרון-the Last Adam; i.e. the Messiah) the wicked one will ultimately be thoroughly defeated. At this near future time his annual access to the Heavenly Court will be denied; and, therefore, his accusations against the brethren will be brought to an end.

Point #6.  Like wicked Haman, in the book of Esther, the evil one will one day (may it be soon) be thrown out of the presence of the King (Esther 7:1-10; cf. “Messiah in Purim“). Therefore, the evil one will be permanently thrown out of heaven down to earth; where after a time he shall be made to dwell forever in the lake of fire (אגם האש).

______________________________________________________________________

Message in the Middle #1, “The Inception” (התחלה):

Do you like to watch movies? We do. From time to time we will put a movie message in the middle of our festival narrative.  Why? Because we like movies and we are convinced that some movies have messages that are relevant to our studies about the Festivals of Messiah. Every now and then some of the popular movies we watch can actually communicate deep spiritual truths. Inception (התחלה) is just such a movie. In the movie Inception (2010) the question is posed:

“What is the most resilient parasite? A bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm?” The answer that is given is an “idea.”

An idea is “resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate: an idea that is fully formed, fully understood that sticks.” Nothing could be more true. The real killer of man is not deadly germs, infectious materials, physical diseases—-the real killer of man is thoughts!

The father of the human race Adam died because he foolishly accepted a deadly, infectious thought into his consciousness.

The Torah reveals this infectious thought brought death into human existence. What was the source of the deadly thought? The source of the deadly thought was the evil one—-a very powerful fallen angel.

The inception of the evil one’s deadly knowledge into our conscious bloodstream caused us to lose the gift of immortality.

What was the infectious thought the evil one planted in us? It was the “knowledge of evil.” The knowledge of evil is like a parasitical entity, an antagonist living within the host organism of redeemed humankind. It possesses no legitimate life of its own. It just lives off the life of the ‘host’ that it attaches itself to.

Some parasites are deadly. They can kill you. The knowledge of evil is such a parasitical entity. Its forceful and resilient contagion thus far has led to the spiritual and physical death of every member of the human race. A large number of philosophers and even theologians believe the knowledge of evil contributes some value to the human race. They wrongfully believe it is a necessary compliment to the knowledge of good. This is absurd. How has anyone ever benefited from the experience of evil?

In truth, the inception of evil has only hurt the human race. Who needs it? We don’t. Why not just be consciously good all the time?

In truth we ought to think of this disastrous infectious event, the inception of evil, as a monstrous immunological failure. What a nightmare the wrong kind of knowledge can be. The contagion of bad thoughts has led us to the brink of disaster. Now we have nuclear and biological warfare to worry about. Adam was told he could consume the fruit of any of the trees in the garden; however, he was restricted from eating the fruit from just one tree: “Just don’t eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:”

ויצו ה’ אלהים על־האדם לאמר מכל עץ־הגן אכל תאכל׃ ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו כי ביום אכלך ממנו מות תמות׃ ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו כי ביום אכלך ממנו מות תמות׃

וַיְצַו ה’ אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָֽאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵֽץ־הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵֽל׃ וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טֹוב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי בְּיֹום אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ מֹות תָּמֽוּת׃ וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ טֹ֣וב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּיֹ֛ום אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מֹ֥ות תָּמֽוּת׃

Adonai Elohim (the LORD God) commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die (a day-יוֹם of death-מוּת).”

The good (tov-טוֹב) was ok. The evil (ra’-רַע) was not. The mixture that the evil one made was not a good idea. It was a bad idea. The Creator wanted Adam to be like Him, good all the time. The enemy of our souls wanted Adam to be like him, a mixture of good and evil. The evil one invented evil. He did not invent good. His contagious knowledge is parasitical:

The knowledge of evil sourced in the evil one parasitically lives off the knowledge of good the Creator made.

The evil one’s teaching is not complimentary to the Holy One’s teaching. His teaching is at war with that of the Creator who made him. This angel of light is the false, phony- rabbi. He is “Abaddon” (אבדון). He is the rabbi of “death” and “destruction.” We would all be better off if we would completely get rid of all of his disgusting thought life—-his knowledge of evil.

In the science of immunology there is self and non self. To stay alive you have to have a good immune system. You have to be able to differentiate between what is the host organism (self) and what is an antagonist (non self). If your immune system fails to identify, reject-destroy, the deadly antagonist then you can be invaded and then the invalid “not the real you” will spread its disease all around the real you and make you very sick and quite possibly even kill you. Consciousness is like that:

If you are not vigilant then an antagonist thought can sneak into your consciousness, incubate, grow, take control, and even kill you.

Invading diseased thoughts can globally grow into our individual and collective intellect, will, and emotions. These evil (parasitical) thoughts, feelings, and impulses can behaviorally outlet through our behavioral and relational life: spreading its (unconscious and conscious) contagion to others; even to those we love.

“אל תאצרו לכם אוצרות עלי אדמות, במקום שהעש והחלודה משחיתים והגנבים חופרים וגונבים. אצרו לכם אוצרות בשמים, במקום אשר עש וחלודה לא ישחיתו וגנבים לא יחפרו ולא יגנבו; כי במקום שאוצרך נמצא, שם יהיה גם לבבך.”  פ

Interestingly, the main character in Inception (התחלה) Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) tells us that when it comes to protecting the treasures of our consciousness (אוצר בשמים-treasures of heaven) we need to be concerned about two possibilities. First, we must be concerned about our good thoughts being “stolen.” This is called an “extraction.” Second, we must be concerned about someone inserting a bad thought into our consciousness. This is called an “inception.”

ויאמר הנחש אל־האשה לא־מות תמתון׃

יֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־מֹ֖ות תְּמֻתֽוּן׃

In the case of an inception you must be concerned about another person inserting his thoughts into your unconscious as well as conscious self. So what do you do when the thief puts his unwanted, antagonist thoughts into your unconscious? In this unfortunate circumstance, Cobb explains, it is possible for another person to put his thoughts into the unconscious part of your brain so that he gains a powerful foothold of control over your thoughts, feelings, and decisions.

In the movie Inception (התחלה) there is a big sales pitch. Cobb is the one who expertly and persuasively makes the pitch. He claims he knows all the ‘tricks’ to doing extractions and inceptions. So his great offer is that if you want your conscious and unconscious property to be kept safe you better ‘hire’ him. However, his expert help will only be made available to you if you completely trust him with all your conscious treasure. For Cobb to help you, you will need to give him complete access to “all” of your thoughts and secrets (your intellectual property); then he will be able to “teach” you how to protect yourself better than you could have ever hoped, dreamed or imagined.

At the beginning of human history our ancestors listened to and acted on such a sales pitch. Look where it got us. We hired the wrong teacher. Whose your Rabbi? We say let’s fire the evil one and beg our first Teacher to take us back. Then we can finally exodus out of this mess the evil one made and ‘return’ to the loving reality that we once joyously knew:

Let us return to the unspeakable joy of actually seeing and relating to our heavenly Father again, *Face to Face!

*Final note: In the movie Inception (התחלה) Cobb cannot see his beloved children’s faces when he is in the Unreality (בלחוות את השקר). However, when he is in the Reality (בלחוות את האמת) he can see the faces of his beloved children and his children can see his face—- “Face to face” (פנים אל פנים).

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 The false-rabbi will be thrown out of heaven!

What is the ultimate fate of the crafty Serpent (הנחש) who first infected humanity with his knowledge of evil? In the not too distant future the Messiah will return to from heaven to Israel. He will immediately put down the rebellion of humankind against God in one day.  Then the wicked one will be thrown down into the bottomless pit; where he shall remain for a a period of one thousand years. Then Israel will be restored to the fulfillment of all Adonai’s promises to our fathers and the prophets.

However, at the close of the millennial age (the thousand years rule of the Messiah) the Accuser (השטן) will be let out of the bottomless pit to lead one last final, futile (for one day) attempt to overthrow the rule of Adonai our Father. This final failed attempt will occur on the day of Tishri 10 (Yom Kippur). After his last failed attempt to overthrow the rule of Adonai Elohei Yisrael the evil one will finally be permanently judged. 

The final judgment of the evil one will occur at the Great White Throne Judgment that will follow immediately after the thousand years reign of Messiah on earth has concluded (cf. Messiah in Yom Kippur). Then will the Accuser (השטן), who is a persecutor (הרודף-the pursuer) of the brethren (Yehudim), be thrown into the eternal Lake of Fire, where he will dwell in righteous judgment forever.

Messiah in Rosh Hashanah & Yom Teruah Chapter 5 >>