Hello John and Doves,
 
Shemini Atzeret is called 'The Last Day".  Could this day be THE 'Last Day'?  This is the anniversary of the Hamas/Palestinian attack on Israel.
 
Last year, October 6, 2023, on Shemini Atzeret, Hamas and other Palestinians attacked Israel in a brutal massacre.
 
Shemini Atzeret is in Leviticus 23.  The Lord said, "On the eight 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."  Lev 23:36   It is the day following the seven days of Feast of Tabernacles.  It is considered 'the last' day of Tabernacles - 'the last great day' or 'the Eighth Day'.  
 
It is a special day to the Lord and warrants it's own 'celebration' separate from Feast of Tabernacles.
 
In John 6:54, Jesus said, "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."  And John 6:39, Jesus said, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise them up at the last day."  And John 6:44 Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:  and I will raise him up at the last day."  And John 11:24, Martha said to Jesus, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
 
WHEN is 'the last day'?
 
Shemini Atzeret is a mystery day to the Jews..and Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians wrote, "Behold, I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."  1 Corinthians 15:51.
 
Shemini Atzeret, using the sighting of the new moon, is sunset October 25th to sunset October 26th.  (on the Chabad calendar, it's sunset October 23rd to sunset October 24th)
 
 
Here's my letter from last year on Shemini Atzeret: (note dates are for 2023)
The Mystery in Shemini Atzeret: The Eighth Assembly
 
Hello John and Doves,
 
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.
 
Hidden in this word is a 'mystery'.  "This is the mystery that is found in the pictographs of Atzeret.  Those who know and experience the Prince of the Cross will be caught up and gathered to Him".... where they shall see Him face to face.
The Mystery in Shemini Atzeret: The Eighth Assembly | Living Word Discovery
 
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':  
 
"In the book of Joel, the prophet calls God's people to proclaim a solemn assembly.  "Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly ("atzerah") for the day of the Lord is near (Joel 1:14)  the prophet declares it's time to gather all the inhabitants of the land.  "Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people...weep and say, "Spare Your people, O Lord".  Joel 2:15  https://visualstorybible.org/teachings/solemn-assembly/
The Solemn Assembly - "Atzerah" - Visual Story Bible
 
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