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Friday, September 20, 2013

War And Spiritual Warfare: Is This The True Meaning Of Sukkot?

I understand why we celebrate Passover, First Fruits, and Unleavened Bread. These festivals correspond to the first coming of Yeshua. Pentecost/Shavuot is a shared celebration of the giving of the Torah, and receiving God’s Spirit. Rosh Hashanah is about crowning the soon-coming Messiah, and Yom Kippur is about repenting for our sins, and our communities’ sins. Then, we celebrate Sukkot, where we do odd rituals for no apparent reason. I would like to know why? I attend services and visit sukkas every year, and I don’t get it. Sukkot makes no sense to me. (I’m kidding.)  

Why do we purchase Lulavs and Etrogs for Sukkot? What do these items resemble?
On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of ADONAI your God for seven days Leviticus 23:40 (CJB)

 (Do these items look like a sword and a stone to you?)

And why do we wave Lulavs like little girls? Because we don’t understand the warfare involved in the actual fight yet to occur. We need to read the following three passages in one sitting.

Why do we cite Gog and read Ezekiel 38-39 during Sukkot? HaShem is warning us that this festival is related to the Gog war. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1019866/jewish/Shabbat-Chol-Hamoed-Haftorah-in-a-Nutshell.htm

Why do we read Zechariah 14? HaShem is telling us that—after the victory in the Gog war—we will always celebrate the victory together, or receive a curse.
Why should we also read Revelation 19? Ezekiel, Zechariah, and John are all describing the same war in similar terms.
Why do we scream Psalm 24, like we need our mighty king right now?

By David. A psalm: The earth is ADONAI's, with all that is in it, the world and those who live there; for he set its foundations on the seas and established it on the rivers. Who may go up to the mountain of ADONAI? Who can stand in his holy place? Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who don't make vanities the purpose of their lives or swear oaths just to deceive. They will receive a blessing from ADONAI and justice from God, who saves them. Such is the character of those who seek him, of Ya'akov, who seeks your face. (Selah) Lift up your heads, you gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can enter! Who is he, this glorious king? ADONAI, strong and mighty, ADONAI, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can enter! Who is he, this glorious king? ADONAI-Tzva'ot he is the glorious king. (Selah) Psalm 24 (CJB)
Why do we read Psalm 118?

Analytics: Hemmed in [distress], nations all surrounded me, surrounded me on every side, bees, fire, thorns, Adonai cut them down, like bees, salvation [Yeshua], struck powerfully, salvation [Yeshua], tents, save us please Adonai!
Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever. Now let Isra'el say, "His grace continues forever." Now let the house of Aharon say, "His grace continues forever." Now let those who fear ADONAI say, "His grace continues forever." From my being hemmed in I called on Yah; he answered and gave me more room. With ADONAI on my side, I fear nothing -what can human beings do to me? With ADONAI on my side as my help, I will look with triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in ADONAI than to trust in human beings; better to take refuge in ADONAI than to put one's trust in princes. The nations all surrounded me; in the name of ADONAI I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side in the name of ADONAI I cut them down. They surrounded me like bees but were extinguished [as quickly] as a fire in thorns; in the name of ADONAI I cut them down. You pushed me hard to make me fall, but ADONAI helped me. Yah is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.  The sound of rejoicing and victory is heard in the tents of the righteous: "ADONAI's right hand struck powerfully! ADONAI's right hand is raised in triumph! ADONAI's right hand struck powerfully!" I will not die; no, I will live and proclaim the great deeds of Yah! Yah disciplined me severely, but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter them and thank Yah. This is the gate of ADONAI; the righteous can enter it. I am thanking you because you answered me; you became my salvation. The very rock that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone! This has come from ADONAI, and in our eyes it is amazing. This is the day ADONAI has made, a day for us to rejoice and be glad. Please, ADONAI! Save us! Please, ADONAI! Rescue us!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI. We bless you from the house of ADONAI.  ADONAI is God, and he gives us light. Join in the pilgrim festival with branches all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I thank you. You are my God; I exalt you. Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever. Psalm 118 (CJB)

Why is everything about Sukkot warfare-related and eschatological, but unstated? (It seems like Sukkot belongs in my warfare-related eschatological trilogy, but why?)
My opinion: During the service yesterday, I prayed for discernment about Sukkot. Then a mental picture became very clear to me (not a dream or a vision). Sukkot may be about celebrating a battle that soon could occur.

I visualized the camp of Israel—cast out of Jerusalem during the last 1,260 days of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble—wandering out in the plains of Har Megiddo. They have no food, they have no water, they have no weapons, and they are surrounded by Gog and his evil forces of men and demons. They are destitute, so they begin to quarrel. Then…finally, they turn to HaShem. They begin to pray Psalm 24 and 118 fervently while holding what appear to be swords and stones, their Lulavs and Etrogs. Then, out of sheer desperation, they begin to wave the only weapons—weapons of the spirit—waving Lulavs and Etrogs at their enemies, seen and unseen, imploring HaShem to wipe out their enemies. He destroys the forces of Gog. Nothing they do physically helps their plight; rather, everything HaShem does—out of their desperation—saves them. It will take seven years to cleanse the remains of Gog and his mercenaries.
Forever more, the Battle of Gog will be celebrated during Sukkot by waving Lulavs like swords, and pretending Etrogs are stones. All the nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate HaShem’s victory over Gog, and the Israelites pitiful weaponry.

Shalom and Chag Semeach!

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