Dear Doves,
 
      When we look to the concluding day of The Spiritual Year for Israel, technically the last day is Adar 29, month 12 and day 29. (Some years a month is added, so the last day is Adar II, day 29). Yet, which day appears far more momentous spiritually, Tishri 22 or Adar 29? It appears to be the far more important last day on Tishri 22, Shemini Atzaret, month 7 and day 22 of the Spiritual Year for Israel.
      Tishri 22 was a Yom Tov, a Shabbat, the last Feast of the Lord Shabbat of the year, the last day of the 7 Feasts of the Lord, the last day of the 3 Pilgrimage Festivals. On this day, the last of sacred convocations of the year, the High Priest and priests sent the people home. Home for the rest of the year. Conclusion. The pilgrims were not commanded in the Torah to return to Jerusalem until the next Spiritual Year began in the month of Nisan, But what of the months from Tishri 22 until Nisan? These were the months of BEGINNING AGAIN. The growing season of olives was the only crop of Israel of the 7 to come due after Sukkot. By Sukkot the finest grapes came to harvest, for the finest wine, the best vintage. With the new olives, at mid Tishri, was the new and fresh olive oil for the lamps to light the way to a wedding. The merchants would have olive oil to sell again.
      The Messiah/Christ in The Book of Revelation calls Himself the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the ending, the Aleph and the Tav). Sukkot at Shemini Atzeret on Tishri 22 celebrated the complete growing season and The Harvest, The Ingathering. Then the next growing cycle began, to which the 7 Feasts of the Lord are linked to the land of Israel. The beginning began with the rains of Autumn and Winter, the rainy season. This beginning again was critically important, for without enough rain, there would be poor crops. There was no irrigation. THE NEW YEAR AGRICULTURALLY BEGAN WITH RAIN, NOT SEEDS! So the calendar ending in Adar or Adar II does not tell the all important story of another set of beginnings and endings, critically important agriculture, from Tishri to Tishri.
      The 7 Feasts of the Lord are moeds. appointed times, and rehearsals. Each points to Messiah/Christ. The composite is complete with Sukkot at Tishri 22, Shemini Atzaret. Is the ending of Sukkot in 2012 the ending of the "bringing in of the gentiles" associated with themes of completion, ingathering, and harvest? Remember the link to the family Noah, the number 8?
      A word of caution. The conclusion of Shemini Atzeret, Tishri 22 and the 8th day, and the true last day of Sukkot will be worldwide one day after Israel concludes it. This extends it to the ending of Tishri 23 for Israel, the date of Simchat Torah. It will be 10-8 to 9-2012. Originally on Shemini Atzaret, the last words of Deuteronomy 32 were read and the Torah began again at Genesis 1:1. It was the original day for rejoicing in the Torah. It is later that the themes of Simchat Torah were extended to Tishri 23, not commanded in the Torah. We shall see.
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean