Elisha Vision – Commentary

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. But both believe the Messiah is coming soon!

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

Which generation will not pass till all is fulfilled? If you study Matthew 24 and Luke 21 you will find the only time specific reference is the status of Jerusalem. Jesus prophesied its downfall: “It will be trodden down (ruled) by the gentiles.”

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

So, Jerusalem’s fall would last UNTIL. That is a timing word. We now know when the “until” happened. It was June 1967 that Israel regained sovereignty over Jerusalem from the gentiles. This restoration followed the scattering to all nations. This is all now in our rear view mirror. It’s history. Therefore we are the generation that will not pass away till the Messiah comes!

Jesus said exactly when He would come. Most Christians believe He was obscuring the timing with His answer. On the contrary, He actually specified 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.)

The Fall feasts begin with Trumpets or Yom Teruah This year it is officially Sunday sundown to Tuesday sundown, September 9-10. This is an arbitrary fixed date set by Rabbinic Judaism. However, the Biblical commencing of  Yom Teruah or Trumpets, begins on the first sighting of the new moon in the seventh month from Jerusalem. (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, specifically Trumpets.

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 even 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