Photo: Welch Spring, MO—a river coming out of a rock!
Well, nothing took place on Atonement on October 25 that overtly evidenced a signet ring or the beginning of ministry, which we hoped to see. So what now?
First, I have often related that seeking to know the future in advance, what Yahweh will do, is like driving a car down a road with the front window painted over. You have hope of where you are going and what will be ahead. You even read and see the promises of what lies ahead. And you read in the Scriptures what others have done in like courses that speak about this journey it seems you are on. While you do all these things and drive by faith and seek to know the ways of Yahweh, the fact is you are limited to seeing clearly in only two directions—out the side windows as to where you presently are, and in the rearview mirror where you have been.
While nothing of overt substance took place on Atonement, one prophetic testimony did occur that was encouraging to me. I will not describe it, but it clearly attested to an effectual death and victorious resurrection, defeating Satan, which is what we need—a completed baptism. In fact, the experience was even a door, welcoming me to this baptism. But again, it in itself was prophetic and not substance.
Also, Kyle Nixon called me the next day, and in the course of the conversation reminded me of an intercession we performed during Tabernacles, 2000. He noted that on the seventh day we quoted from Psalm 118:25, “O Yahweh, do save, we beseech You; O Yahweh, we beseech You, do send prosperity!” This encourages me, for on the morning of Atonement, I awoke with Psalm 118:24 on my mind. I am not a Psalms person, so this was not typical. That passage reads, “This is the day which Yahweh has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I still look for and hope in that rejoicing. If you read the preceding verses, quite significantly, this rejoicing is by virtue of laying the cornerstone, which we hope Yahweh is doing at this time.
So what is yet before us? Considering that Yahweh operates off of feast days, this leaves the coming days of Tabernacles as hopeful fulfillments or evidences. I have said before, if nothing happened at Trumpets or Atonement, I would have to wait and watch through Tabernacles; and as you will read, I have reason to hope in these days. But again, is all of this a guarantee? Only in Yahweh.
Being honest with our assessment at this time, we did see undeniable evidence at Trumpets, evidence that even had connections going back to the year before. And don’t forget the testimony of Fay, Gustav, and Ike—the serpent turning into a rod and bringing forth the promised Son. And as I just mentioned, there was indeed a prophetic testimony that took place on Atonement regarding death and resurrection—baptism. So, let us now consider Tabernacles.
Tabernacles begins on October 30, and like Unleavened Bread is a seven-day feast, running through November 5. This is followed by the eighth Last Great Day, a holy convocation on November 6. Let us look at some of the unique things about this feast.
First, it speaks of Yahshua tabernacling among man. As addressed in Ascending Alive, the first day of Tabernacles/Booths would mark the return of Yahshua with the born-from-above two-part Remnant.
Also testified regarding Yahshua and this feast, in John 7:3-4 we see that His brothers were urging Him to go into Jerusalem for Tabernacles/Booths. They said to Him:
“Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
He answered them:
“My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. . . . Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come” (John 7:6-8).
Yet despite saying this (the same thing He told Mary in John 2:4), in verse ten we read that He went ahead and went up to the feast, not in an apparent manner, but in secret. Verse fourteen then tells us that when it was the middle of the feast, He went up and began to teach. So, despite saying that He would not go, He did indeed go, and in the middle of the feast began teaching.
Now for a most important matter, and this will require your thoughtful consideration. We have noted that Yahshua’s ministry began at Atonement in the middle of the final seven-year “covenant with the many” (Daniel 9—read The Great Tribulation
Another significant event during that feast occurred on the eighth day, the Last Great Day of holy convocation. On that day, Yahshua stood and cried out:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’ “ (John 7:37-38).
John then explained that “this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Obviously, Yahshua knew exactly what He was testifying by His actions and what He spoke pertaining to this Tabernacles. He was walking out the seven years of the covenant, as well as testifying to the former rain. This eighth-day statement spoke of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the completion of His three-and-a-half year ministry period. More on this important matter.
In both the covenant, as well as the testimony of this Tabernacles, Yahshua’s three-and-a-half-year ministry period is clear; but let’s now look closer at the preceding Elijah period. We know that the former three and a half years of that covenant with the many are the time and work of the Elijah. Relative to this, it is quite significant and revealing that Yahshua did indeed go to that Tabernacles feast during that like period (i.e., three and a half days), but in secret. Is this not a reference to the Elijah who stands in His place to prepare His way—being Yahshua, but in secret? Quite so. (We might note here that in like manner Yahweh God came to earth as well, but in secret—in a Man, His Son.)
Let us now ask some very important questions that arise from these events and matters. First and foremost, why did Yahweh testify to a Passover Pentecost fulfillment at a Tabernacles eighth day? Also, why is His covenant with the many evidenced specifically with Tabernacles? Furthermore, what does all of this have to do with what Yahshua said about the issue of whether it was His time and with showing Himself to the world? These are exceptionally important questions as we approach the first ever Tabernacles to be held under the New Millennial Calendar.
This first question begs an answer—Why did Yahweh testify to a Passover Pentecost fulfillment at a Tabernacles eighth day? To begin with, we know that the eighth is a Moses work, and the ninth is the Elijah. It is important to realize that what Yahshua spoke on that Tabernacles eighth day, was fulfilled on Pentecost in the Moses first Remnant. In this regard, this obviously had to have been a legal Tabernacles work, even though it was fulfilled on a Passover Pentecost. Thereby, with the former rain being a legal Tabernacles eighth, the latter rain would be a Tabernacles Pentecost Elijah ninth. Tabernacles Pentecost will be December 26, 2008.
So we see that Yahweh is effecting this legal 7–1–1 Tabernacles testimony, evidencing the uniting of the two Remnant: Christianity – former rain – latter rain. (By the way, Passover is a split-Remnant 1–7–1 pattern.)
But this raises yet another important matter. We know that the first Remnant was early, but legally is and will be a part of the Tabernacles work of building the new heavens and new earth in the Millennial Reign. Thus, we see this evidenced in this Tabernacles eighth-day promise that was fulfilled on a Passover Pentecost. Their fulfillment was at a leavened Passover Pentecost; but, it is legally regarded as an eighth-day Tabernacles kingdom-building work. Amazing!
This would answer the question as to why Yahweh’s covenant with the many is evidenced specifically with Tabernacles. Because Tabernacles is the feast whereby Yahshua’s kingdom can be built upon this earth. The Passover work that He carried out was an early work, an out-of-season work, even a death work that brought forth two loaves, 2,000 years, of leavened bread. But, it is His Tabernacles work—which we are now entering into—that will effect the long awaited and much needed establishment of His kingdom on this earth.
Of course all of this points to where we are today. With the flip on Trumpets, October 16, 2008—where Trumpets and Tabernacles are now the first of the year—the new heavens and new earth can be built. And though the first Remnant was before the time and had to take their place in the preceding wilderness period, they are regarded as a part of this Millennial Tabernacles work—the eighth Last Great Day.
This leads us to our third question: What does all of this have to do with what Yahshua said about the issue of whether it was His time and with showing Himself to the world? If we are right in what we are seeing about the flip and all these related matters, it is indeed the time for Yahshua to reveal Himself to the world. And with this examination of Tabernacles, we see how amazingly relevant this living parable involving Yahshua is. This, of course, gives us great hope.
What then could all of this possibly mean for the days of this coming Tabernacles? We clearly see the compelling patterns and the testimonies, so could something specific be evidenced October 30 through November 6? The answer—with hope, Yahweh knows. We have eyes to see the amazing significance of these days, and we will watch. I have a specific hope, and we do hope that this feast will evidence that His time is now “here” (vs. 6), that His time has now fully come (vs. 8), and that He will show Himself to the world (vs. 4), first in the Elijah.
We take hope in what we have seen and experienced thus far, and will consider other revealing testimonies in this writing. But even so, we recognize that we drive this car with the front window painted over. All of this that is taking place and what we are seeing are indeed things we must consider as we travel down this road that the first Remnant once traveled. Certainly, we will soon see what these things hold for us, His second Remnant.
Have you noticed that everybody wants to discern the future—whether they watch the stock market, are a sports fan, watch horse races, have a concern for political races, a weatherman, fighting a terminal illness, or even seek to raise one’s children so as to improve their chances in this world? Me, I am no different. But my concern is for the kingdom of heaven coming to this earth and correcting this vast mess we have today. As we look out our side windows and in our mirror, we take hope for what lies ahead. Yet in the end, we as the second Remnant will see His back, what He has done—a side-window view. But at least we see what He is doing, and are no longer hidden in the cleft of the rock with His hand over us.
And why shouldn’t we seek to know what is at hand and before us? Yahshua said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be calm, for the sky/heaven is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky/heaven is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky/heaven, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:2-3). This is what we are trying to do—discern the signs of the times.
But let us ask here: When is the sky ever red in the morning or evening indicating the weather? This makes absolutely no sense naturally. When does the sky turning red ever indicate both calm and stormy weather? It doesn’t. Given this fact, undoubtedly the Pharisees and Sadducees would have been scratching their heads over this statement, wondering what He meant.
It seems rather obvious that the heaven turning red that Yahshua was talking about was the red of Satan in the kingdom of heaven. This is the very color we have been seeing regarding Satan—the color that Chris saw Peter in and the color of the being in front of my house just days before Trumpets.
When was heaven red in the evening? When the night was coming and no man could work—when Yahshua said that He was the light of the world and would be going away (John 9:4-5). This is when the heaven was red—when Satan took the place of the Son of God. Did this then bring calm? To the contrary, it brought calamity and loss!
And when would this red go away? When is Satan put away? At the end of the 2,000 year period, at the break of day, when he is bound for 1,000 years. So what then is the error regarding the third 1,000 year period of the church? The error would be if Elijah did not come and there would be the third hour of darkness. Yahweh would carry out wrath, and it would be, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken us?” But, the kingdom of heaven cannot be red in the morning.
So to the contrary, it cannot be calm if the heaven is red in the evening. And who could endure the day if in the morning the heaven is allowed to be red? So you ask: Why then did Yahshua say that the Pharisees and Sadducees said this? For the same reasons that Christians speak the same. Neither realize that there was no calm when Yahshua left—darkness came and the kingdom of heaven turned red. Nor do they realize the absolute necessity of Elijah removing the red from the kingdom of heaven.
Thus we see that Yahshua was telling a parable about the error regarding Satan and the inability of men to discern the kingdom of heaven. I trust that the Elijah does indeed understand this parable, and thereby understands the “signs of the times.”
The middle of Tabernacles, 2008, where Yahshua began to teach and we hope Yahweh will begin a work among us that will show His Son to the world, is November 2. Let me share some hope regarding this date.
The fact is that Yahshua was baptized two times—in type by John the Baptist, and in reality by Judas Iscariot. When He was baptized by John, after coming out of those waters He then went away for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. In contrast, when He was baptized by Judas, after coming out of those waters of death He then went away to heaven for eight days (John 20:26).
Yahshua’s death led the church into the wilderness, evidenced after His baptism by John. On the other hand, He attested to yet another work that is marked by the completion of eight days—an Elijah ninth work that reverses the curse. Yahshua was baptized by John on Atonement. If you count from the Atonement we just acknowledged, marking the passing of a like eight days; very noteworthy, this brings you precisely to November 2—the middle of Tabernacles when Yahshua began to teach the people, the very thing He did when He returned from heaven after eight days.
Therefore, there is hope that after this legal wait equivalent to Yahshua going to heaven to restore the kingdom of heaven and man by virtue of the Nazirite vow, He could indeed begin a like work on this ninth day from Atonement and in the days following.
There is one other item that gives me hope for some Tabernacles fulfillment or evidence. In addition to November 2 being the middle of Tabernacles, it is also daylight saving time. Why is this hopeful? In the mid 1970s, I attended a Christian men’s fellowship meeting in which I was responsible for its organization. However, when I arrived, the meeting had already started. I had forgotten that it was daylight saving time. This was in the fall, just as it is now.
After taking my place at the head table, Yahweh gave me a vision. It was very unique, and had nothing to do with that particular moment. I never forgot either the vision or its occasion on daylight saving time.
I will not relate the entire vision, but in it a rushing river came out of the background, came towards me, turned, and then continued on. I then jumped into the river, and it lifted me up to its headwaters. The front of this river had the appearance of a large wave that would crash onto the land, but never crashed. I was riding on the very top of the wave, feeling its every movement as it turned to the right and the left as it coursed its way. It was there that the vision was over.
Today, I take hope that that vision about a rushing mighty river was given to me on the day of fall daylight saving time. Only four days following November 2 will be the eighth Great Day when Yahshua said that rivers of living water will flow—November 6. I would certainly welcome this in my life.
Regarding this promise, let’s look at another testimony concerning this eighth-day holy convocation. We will begin by making a very revealing examination of this important day as uniquely evidenced in the Old Testament.
Noted in The Key to Their Understanding, page 5, Kings speaks to/of Christianity and Chronicles speaks to/of the Remnant. In this regard, at the time of the dedication of Solomon’s temple—a type of the kingdom of heaven Yahshua will build on this earth—we find a very revealing Bible contradiction.
On this all-important eighth day where Yahshua promised that rivers of living water would flow, in Christianity 1 Kings 8:66 we read, “On the eighth day he [Solomon] sent the people away.” Therefore, you will notice that they did not celebrate the eighth-day holy convocation.
In clear contrast however, in Remnant 2 Chronicles 7:10 we read regarding the identical event, “on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he [Solomon] sent the people to their tents.” The eighth day of Tabernacles is on the twenty-first; therefore, in 2 Chronicles the people did indeed celebrate the eighth-day holy convocation.
What then is this telling us? It tells us that Christianity does not experience the eighth-day promise of the rivers of living water flowing out of their innermost being, but that this promise is given specifically to the Remnant. We have already noted that the first Remnant received this promise, and obviously the latter rain will be given to the second Remnant as well.
As a legal Moses work, I would welcome receiving the Holy Spirit on that day as a legal testimony of the former work. I would hope so.
We look to Yahweh to fulfill the Tabernacles public work of Yahshua, coming into this Jerusalem-above work, and show Himself to the world, beginning through Elijah.
Ever moving forward in hope, and intently watching out my side windows.