Dear John, Dan, and all Doves,
      Elul 1 about 8-15-07 begins a process which goes to the Feast of Trumpets and then 10 more days of more intensive repentence until Yom Kippur, the annual solemn day of atonement. The Christ /Messiah would have fasted on this day each year. It is the only day when anyone was commanded to fast anywhere in the Scriptures. There is a phrase for it, you are to afflict your souls. He said something enigmatic about fasting in Matthew 9:15."Can the wedding guests mourn when the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast." This is an event with verbs in future tense. He seems to be talking about a generation far beyond the apostles of that time. Yet upon His reappearance will not the fasting end and we be in joy supreme? Next he speaks of wineskins. new wine, and The Wedding? Just after the 10 Days of Awe  of Trumpets to Yom Kippur comes the Feast of Tabernacles or Tents. Succot is often called the Season of Our Joy.  Will something mementous happen between 9-12 to 14 followed by Smyrnans released from prison-like sufferings 10 days later to join Philadelphians on Yom Kippur as the fast ends and the joy supreme begins? Will the Beloved Bridegroom arrive and stop the fasting and mourning this year? May we watch and prepare each day now. The new wine and wineskins are nearly ready.

With Love and Shalom,
Jean Stepnoski