We are coming around again to the end of the
biblical Festival cycle - Shemini Atzeret is the last
day. So this will be my "obligatory "but, wait,
there's still Shemini Atzeret' letter - following Lisa
Taylor's example with "There's Still Tabernacles" letter.
:)
This feast day, the Eighth Day or Shemini Atzeret
is a mystery to the Jews. They don't have anything
historically to connect it to. Even in its name is
hidden a mystery. It is referred to Jews as 'the
forgotten festival'. "It is often understood as
being entirely superfluous."
Shemini
Atzeret: The Forgotten Festival | My Jewish Learning
Will this Shemini Atzeret be our Rapture day?
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians he wrote, "Behold, I
shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed." 1Cor 15:51-52
Paul calls this incredible happening a
"mystery". And Shemini Atzeret is a mystery to the
Jews. God spoke to Moses (Leviticus 23) and said
that these holy days, these "seasons" are His appointed
festivals. On these days He has appointed certain
things to happen. They are prophetic.
These appointed festivals or seasons are
interconnected to the new moon. Genesis 1:14, the
moon serves as signs for seasons or festivals. The
festivals and new moon ceremonies - "are a shadow of
things to come.." Colossians 2:17
Shemini Atzeret is the eighth day - it follow the
seven days of Feast of Tabernacles. "On the eighth
day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an
offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a solemn
assembly; you must not do any regular work."
Leviticus 23:33 The Lord's ordinance makes this
eighth day just as important as the other 7 High Holy
Days. It's a sacred assembly, there's a fire
offering, and they are to do no work. For
example: Feast of Trumpets is also a sacred
assembly, there's a fire offering and they are to do no
work.
In Leviticus 23:36, we see that It is a day added
by the Lord after the seven days of Feast of Tabernacles
is complete. It is separate from the Feast of Tabernacles
- which is seven days of living in booths.
So what is this "eighth day"? It is Shemini
Atzeret. Shemini is '8', atzeret is 'assembly' -
thus, the 'Eighth Assembly.'
We know that the Hebrew letters of the alphabet,
basically, have a numerical value, a pictograph, and a
meaning (or many meanings).
If we look at each word separately - Shemini and
Atzeret - we can find much meaning in the letters.
Shemini Atzeret (שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת
Shemini is spelled with the Hebrew letters:
shin, mem, yod, nun, and yod.
Shin (or Sheen) is a picture of three heads or
branches which represent the three worlds: 'This
World, the Messianic era, and the World to Come'. It
is considered to be the one letter God uses to identify
Himself - it is His signature. It stands for the
Name. The form of this letter depicts 'a
surge heavenward', as if beseeching God for
help and sustenance.' As directing eyes upward to
God.
Mem is a picture of waves of waters. It
refers to chaotic, destructive waters or a
peaceful stream of life-giving waters.
(Remember Jesus offered living waters at the Temple - this
was on this day.) It also refers to the word of God (the
Torah) that brings the living waters. It alludes to
the revealed and the concealed. The concealed will
be revealed by the Messiah.
Yod (or Yud) is a picture of a hand. It
refers to a mighty work or deed; it denotes power
and possession. It is 'used several
times in the Torah as a reference to life in the World to
Come.' In the Talmud, it represents 'an escalation
to the height of spirituality'. When added to a name
(like changing Abram to Abraham) it exalts or brings the
person to a higher status. It is a mark of honor, a
new name.
Nun is the picture of the fish. It means life
or activity. It symbolizes God sitting on His throne
and the angels standing before Him. The Sages say this
tells of God's faithfulness in paying rewards.
This letter represents the soul attached to the body and
then released by death as it rises to return to its
original home.
Hidden in this word is a 'mystery':
'We live now in this world, but when our souls
leave for the next all will be revealed and we will
receive a new name and our reward, where we will see God
in all His power and faithfulness along with His
angles."
And this is found in so many scriptures of the
Bible:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is. 1 John 3:2
For now we see through a glass, darkly: but then
face to face: now I in part; but then shall I know even as
also I am known. I Corinthians 13:12
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. John 10:28
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give to every man according as his work shall
be. Revelation 22:12
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall
give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life. John 4:14
On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried out, saying "If anyone thirsts, let him
come to Me and drink. He that believeth on me, as
the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water. John 7:37-38
In Shemini there is a picture of the destruction of
the old with a new life to follow.
Atzeret is spelled with the Hebrew letters:
ayin, tsade, resh, and tav
Ayin is a picture of the eye. It refers to seeing,
knowing, enlightened. 'When God is seen eye to eye.'
Tsade (or Tzaddi) is a picture of the hook.
This is to catch. Refers to need or
have a strong desire. 'The tzaddik illuminates the
world by bringing the Shechinah down to dwell among
men.' It denotes the World to Come.
Resh (or Reish) is a picture of the head. It
refers to the Holy One, Blessed is He.
Tav is the picture of crossed wooden sticks.
It refers to a seal, to covenant, a sign. It is the
symbol of Truth. Truth is eternal; it can not be
nullified, as the Seal of God.
The old life will be destroyed. The new life
will begin when the body is changed to immortal.
Together these two words are the 'eighth day
assembly, a 'solemn assembly':
Shemini Atzeret is the 'eighth day' - "the number 8
in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new
order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when
he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life....Nisan
17 was also the eighth day, counting
inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man's
sacrificial Lamb. All this bears record of Jesus'
perfect sacrifice and His complete victory over
death." https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8.html
Meaning
of the Number 8 in the Bible
"The number eight in the Bible signifies
Resurrection and Regeneration. It is the number of a
new beginning. Eight is 7 plus 1 and since it comes
just after seven, which itself signifies an end to
something, so eight is also associated with the beginning
of a new era or that of a new order...In the Bible there
is a mention of a feast. The Feast of
Tabernacles....the number eight associated with this feast
can show us that this feast was to celebrate a new
beginning." http://www.astrovera.com/bible-religion/189-bible-number-8.html
The
Bible numerology code number 8
Jesus was in the Temple on Shemini Atzeret - the
last and greatest day of the festival: Now on the
last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried out, saying "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to
Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water."
John 7:37-38
Shemini Atzeret is one of the 'solemn
assemblies' named in the Bible (for the High Holy Days);
it is the least understood and most obscure of the
Biblical holidays. The other solemn assembly is
the last day of Passover.
A
"solemn assembly" was called by a king or a prophet or
religious leader when "destruction was at the door"...there
would be a remnant or a leader who would recognize both
their imminent danger and the source of their
deliverance. They would call for a solemn assembly
and turn to God. On this day, "they would offer a
sacrifice and seek God's face. They would not do
any work that day, but stop everything to seek God's
face."
A
Call to Solemn Assembly
Will
we be called to meet the Lord in the air, for His
"solemn assembly" where we shall see His face in the
Rapture and the Believers will be the first to worship
the Lord in Jerusalem?
Will
the Rapture be on the mystery day, Shemini
Atzeret? The day we drink of the "living waters"
that Jesus offers?
We know that the Lord will soon call a
"solemn assembly" in the clouds! An assembly
called "when destruction is at the door"!
Maybe this day has been a "mystery" to the Jews -
but there is the possibility it will become
THE "mystery" day Paul told us about.
Pray for
the peace of Jerusalem!
Marantha!
Chance
Shemini Atzeret is
sunset October 6 to sunset October 7.
With the new moon
sighting:
Shemini
Atzeret is sunset October 7 to sunset October 8.