Elisha Vision – Commentary

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Matthew 24:34-36

Yom Kippur and the coming of the Messiah are closely related, more than you know.

But first, did you hear the one about the long-awaited Messiah finally arriving in Jerusalem? The Mayor of Jerusalem goes out to meet him and welcomes him to Jerusalem. But the mayor says: “I just have one question. Is this your first or second visit?”

Jews believe he has not come yet. But Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah who came 2,000 years ago to become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world to all who receive Him, especially the Jews.

So what does Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, have to do with the coming? Jesus in the above quote from Matthew 24 was saying exactly when He would come. Most Christians believe He was obscuring the timing with His answer. On the contrary, He actually gave a broad hint of the timing. The phrase “no man knows the day or hour” was almost a cliché’ in Jesus’ day. It was a common expression among the Jews of that day referring to the timing of the Fall Feasts of Yehovah. These were Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Tabernacles. (For my teaching on the Feasts, please listen to my radio interview for ten minutes on each of the seven Feasts.)

Present day Rabbinic Judaism uses a fixed calendar with arbitrary conditions that actually causes it to miss the Biblical timing. This year it is Friday night and Saturday September 13-14. However, the Biblical calculation was far easier. Yom Teruah or Trumpets, begins on the first sighting of the new moon in the seventh month. This year that was observed in Jerusalem on the evening of 9/7, which makes Yom Kippur (the tenth day from the sighting) on Sept 16-17. (Using the Biblical method to figure it is a characteristic of Karaite (Bible believing) Jews. Here is a link to Nehemiah Gordon, a leading Karaite).

So what? Well, I believe Jesus was telling His disciples He would come during the Fall Feasts.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52

There are five elements that make the actual day or hour unknowable.

1. The confusion caused by the arbitrary Rabbinic calendar.

2. The actual day of sighting the new moon could vary by weather conditions, cloud cover, etc.

3. Even the hour could vary if the evening started cloudy early and cleared up later, for example.

4. The “last trumpet” could refer to the last shofar during Yom Teruah (trumpets) beginning the Fall feast.

5. Or, the “last trumpet” could refer to the trumpet sounded at the end of Yom Kippur.

Therefore, even though the day or hour is unknown, I believe Jesus was speaking clearing to His disciples that He would come during the first ten days of the Fall Feasts, which then leads to Tabernacles where God will live with men and celebrate the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

May it be this year, Yeshua ben Yehovah – Jesus Son of God – Yeshua haMashiach – Jesus the Messiah!

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists      (READ MORE)