By Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)
The Torah speaks about appointments between HaShem and the Bne Israel. As we shall see, these appointments, in time and space, are prophetic. They put the righteous man in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things, for every significant event of the future. As such, these appointments are extremely important!
In this study I would like to examine HaShem’s appointments. Lets start by examining the Hebrew word for appointment:
4150 mow`ed, mo-ade'; or mo`ed, mo-ade'; or (fem.) mow`adah (2 Chron.
Here is the first time we see this word, moedim, in the Tanach[1]:
Bereshit (Genesis) 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in
the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve
as signs to mark seasons
and days and years, And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give
light on the earth." And it was so.
This passage indicates that our appointments with HaShem are determined by the sun, moon, and stars. Each of the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Succoth), for example, occur during a full moon. Additionally, Purim, and Tu B’Shevat, Tu B’Av also occur during a full moon. In addition to those festivals that occur during the full moon, we also have two festivals that occur during the new moon: Rosh HaShana and Rosh Chodesh. This idea, of appointments based on the luminaries is repeated in the Psalm to indicate this relationship of an appointed time marked off by the moon:
Tehillim (Psalms) 104:19 The moon marks
off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.
Not only are the festivals themselves, appointments with HaShem, but HaShem has arranged for major prophetic events to also occur during these festival appointments. In this next passage, we find the annoncement of Isaac’s birth, and the birth itself, both occurred on Passover, as we can see in this next passage.
Bereshit (Genesis) 17:19-21 Then God said, "Yes, but your wife
Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.
I will establish my covenant with him as an
everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have
heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly
increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve
rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will
establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."
Chazal indicate that Isaac went to the akeida on Passover. This is particularly interesting because the only other human sacrifice in the Bible, was the binding of Yeshua, which also occurred on the eve of Passover. Thus we find that our appointments prophesy of future events.
Bereshit (Genesis) 18:10-14 Then HaShem said, "I will surely
return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a
son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was
behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and
Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed
to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will
I now have this pleasure?" Then HaShem said to
Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now
that I am old?' Is anything too hard for HaShem? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a
son."
Not only did the announcement of Isaac’s birth occur on Passover, but the birth of Isaac also occurred on Passover, as we can see from this next passage.
Bereshit (Genesis) 21:1-3 Now HaShem was gracious to Sarah as he had
said, and HaShem did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and
bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very
time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son
Sarah bore him.
I took the time to list every Biblical event on the day and month that it occurred, in a study titled FEASTS. From this list, it has become apparent that every major Biblical event occurred in relationship to our appointments with HaShem. In addition, most of these past and future events are mentioned in the Machzor and Siddur that we use for our prayers.
This word moed is often translated feast. HaShem's feasts are appointments with HaShem. The major festivals are recounted in order in the following passages:
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:4-7 "'These are HaShem’s
appointed feasts, the sacred
assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed
times: HaShem’s Passover begins at twilight
on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the
fifteenth day of that month HaShem’s Feast of
Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without
yeast...
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15-16 "'From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave
offering, count off seven full
weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then
present an offering of new grain to HaShem.
Vayikra (Leviticus)
Vayikra (Leviticus)
Vayikra (Leviticus)
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:37 ("'These are HaShem’s appointed feasts,
which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to
HaShem by fire--the burnt offerings and grain
offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day.
In addition, Chazal teach that the festival of Chanukah is alluded to, in Leviticus 24. Elsewhere, we find that other passages also call the festivals, appointments.
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:10-11 Then Moses commanded them: "At the end
of every seven years, in the appointed time
of the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, When all
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 33:20 Look upon
Some folks would tell us that the festivals no longer have meaning because HaShem hates our festivals. The following passage seems to vindicate this perspective:
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 1:13-14 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New
Moons, Sabbaths and convocations--I cannot bear
your evil assemblies. Your New Moon
festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a
burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
The above passage says clearly that HaShem hates our (as opposed to HaShem's) festivals (moedim). Chazal indicates that the above passage speaks to the festivals that were set up to replace HaShem’s festivals, during the time of the divided kingdom. Chazal understood that when we celebrate HaShem’s festivals, in His way, at His time, then He is pleased.
HaShem also has an appointment for war:
Yahoshua (Joshua) 8:12-14 Joshua had taken about five thousand men
and set them in ambush between
The battle for AI took place during the period of the counting of the omer, the period that leads us from Passover to Shavuot.
In this next passage, we see an appointed time for a battle. The outcome of this battle was the near eradication of the tribe of Benjamin. As a result of the rape and death of the concubine at Gibeath, the other tribes pledged to withold their daughters, as wives, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Shoftim (Judges) 20:36-39 Then the Benjamites saw that they were
beaten. Now the men of
This sad series of events was finally resolved on Tu B’Av, the happiest day of the year. Check out that study if you would like to know the rest of the story.
The following verses are concerned with the end times which will occur during the festivals. They prophesy of these future events. If you want to know what you are to do in anticipation of the end times, then you will need to carefully study the machzorim and siddurim which provide the details about these future events. If you celebrate the festivals according to ways that Chazal detail in the oral law, then you will be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things when these events occur. Now that is a practical application of prophesy.
Daniel
Daniel 11:25-27 "With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage
against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large
and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots
devised against him. Those who eat from the king's
provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will
fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on
evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail,
because an end will still come at the appointed time.
In this next passage, we will see that the appointed time is phrased to allude to three and a half time periods. It could be referring to three and a half festivals. How can that be? Consider that during Tishri we have Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Succoth, and the “half” festival of Shemini Atzeret. Shemini Atzeret is a part of Succoth and it is also part of an independent festival. These three and a half festivals occur during a twenty-three day period.
Another possibility is that this time period alludes to the triennial Torah reading cycle of three and a half years. This is particularly appealing because the entire Torah scroll is unrolled during this time period. In addition, we have learned elsewhere that the reading of these passages prophesies about events to occur during the week leading up to when the passage is read. It is beyond the scope of this paper, though, to resolve this issue.
While we are on the subject, it is worth noting that HaShem has given us specific Torah and Haftarah (Ashlamatot) passages to be read on each of the festivals. These festival readings are prophetic and speak of past and future events that are associated with the festival in which it is read.
Daniel 12:6-7 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters
of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are
fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the
river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven,
and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times
and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all
these things will be completed."
Is the above time period 3.5 millenniums, 3.5 years, 3.5 festivals, or are we speaking about the ancient, prophetic, triennial Torah cycle of three and a half years? I believe that the triennial Torah cycle is the only answer which agrees with what we find in the book of Revelation, but we will write about that connection in a future paper.
So, lets finish looking at these end time appointments:
Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
Tehillim (Psalms) 75:1-8 {For the director of music. [To the tune
of] "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A
song.} We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men
tell of your wonderful deeds. You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly. When
the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.
<Selah> To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,' and to the wicked, 'Do
not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.'" No one from
the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a
man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. In the
hand of HaShem is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it
out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to
its very dregs.
Our appointments with HaShem prophesy about specific future
events as well. In this next pasuk, we have feasts
being celebrated in a Temple which has not yet been
built because it is too big for
Yechezchel (Ezekiel) 45:17 It will be the duty of the prince to
provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings at the
festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths--at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin
offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings to make atonement for the
house of
Notice that the prince will be bringing the offerings, including a sin offering, in the future. This effectively puts the lie to those who say that Yeshua ended the sacrificial system. This passage teaches us that these future offerings are different from the offerings as outlined in the Torah, and that they are brought by the righteous prince. Some have said that this prince is the Mashiach.
In this next passage, we encounter another prophecy concerning the four major fasts. The Prophet indicates that these times of mourning will become time of joy. As an example, Chazal teach that Mashiach will become known (born) on Tisha B’Av, the most solemn and mournful of the four fasts. Thus the joy of the revelation of the Mashiach will eclipse the mourning of Tisha B’Av. What makes this prophesy particularly facinating is the fact that Tisha B’Av is the date when both Temples were destroyed; and as we have learned elsewhere and in our study of Tisha B’Av. We have also learned that Mashiach is the Temple!
Zechariah
Concerning the Tabernacle, we have a very unusual use of moed. It is used 140 times! The usage suggests that our appointments with HaShem take place in time and in space. In time, at the festivals, and in place, at the Temple (Tent of Meeting):
Shemot (Exodus) 27:21 In the Tent of Meeting,
outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are
to keep the lamps burning before HaShem from evening till morning. This is to
be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
There are only two uses of moed, appointments, throughout the scriptures. It is used to speak of festivals and it is used to denote the place where we celebrate the festivals. The Hebrew word moed, is used only in these two ways.
The Temple in heaven is also called the appointed place (moed):
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning
star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid
low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will
ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars
of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of
the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."
Tehillim (Psalms) 74:1-4 {A <maskil> of Asaph.} Why have you
rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of
your pasture? Remember the people you purchased of old, the tribe of your inheritance,
whom you redeemed--
In this next passage we see both uses of moed, as the place of the appointment and as the time of the appointment.
Eicha (Lamentations) 2:5-7 The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed
up
As we learned earlier, Passover is an appointment with HaShem:
Shemot (Exodus) 13:6-10 For seven days eat
bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to HaShem. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing
with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere
within your borders. On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what
HaShem did for me when I came out of Egypt.' This
observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and
a reminder on your forehead that the law of HaShem
is to be on your lips. For HaShem brought you out of
Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed
time year after year.
Shemot (Exodus)
Shemot (Exodus) 34:18 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this
at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came
out of
Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:2-3 "Have the Israelites
celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Celebrate it at the appointed
time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,
in accordance with all its rules and regulations."
Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:7 And said to Moses, "We have become
unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be
kept from presenting HaShem’s offering with the other
Israelites at the appointed time?"
Bamidbar (Numbers)
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:5-6 You must not sacrifice the Passover in any
town HaShem your God gives you Except in the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name. There you must sacrifice the
Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on the anniversary of
your departure from Egypt.
II Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 8:12-13 On the altar of HaShem that he had built in
front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt
offerings to HaShem, According to the daily requirement for offerings
commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual
feasts--the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of
Tabernacles.
II Divre Hayamim (Chronicles) 30:21-22 The Israelites
who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of
Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing,
while the Levites and priests sang to HaShem every
day, accompanied by HaShem’s instruments of praise. Hezekiah spoke
encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service
of HaShem. For the seven days, of the feast, they ate their assigned
portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised HaShem, the God of their fathers.
The Hebrew word, moed, is used in reference to the Lord's Passover, seven times in the Torah and nine times in the Tanach. With the exception of a reference to Succoth, below, there is no other feast which is called by name, and references the Hebrew word, moed. None! This suggests that Passover is the preminent appointment. One can see this clearly when they review all of the past and future events that fall in relationship to Passover, as I have documented in my study titled: Feasts. This study contains no comments, only one event after another. This was done for brevity and also to allow each reader to find his own relationships, and there are many!
In the Nazarean Codicil we have the following appointed times in reference to Passover:
Matityahu (Matthew)
Matityahu (Matthew) 12:1 At that time
Yeshua went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.
His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.
Matityahu (Matthew) 26:18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed
time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples
at your house.'"
The Hebrew word moed is also used with a direct reference to Succoth:
Hosea 12:9 "I am HaShem your God, [who brought you] out
of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts.
In the Nazarean Codicil we have the Greek word, kairos, used in the Septuagint to translate moed:
2540 kairos, kahee-ros'; of uncert. affin.; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:-X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. Comp. 5550.
--------------- Dictionary Trace ---------------
5550 chronos, khron'-os; of uncert. der.; a space of time (in gen., and thus prop. distinguished from 2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from 165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extens. an individ. opportunity: by impl. delay:-+ years old, season, space, (X often-) time (-s), (a) while.
Note that this Greek word speaks to a particular time, not time in general.
Moed is also used with reference to the time of the Lord's return. This suggests that His return will occur on a festival, in Jerusalem. It will truly be an appointment with The King, at His coronation, in Jerusalem!
I Thessalonians 5:1-11 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to
you, For you know very well that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and
safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a
pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you
like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not
belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who
are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at
night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on
faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation
as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive
salvation through our Lord Yeshua Mashiach. He died for us so that, whether we are awake
or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Luqas (Luke) 21:5-36 Some of his disciples were remarking about
how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and
with gifts dedicated to God. But Yeshua said,
"As for what you see here, the time will come when
not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown
down." "Teacher," they asked,
"when will these things happen? And what will be the sign
that they are about to take place?" He replied: "Watch out that you
are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The
time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do
not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come
right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful
events and great signs from heaven.
"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They
will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you
will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This
will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry
beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom
that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be
betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put
some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will
gain life. "When you see Jerusalem
being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let
those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out,
and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of
punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be
in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great
distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword
and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.
The above usage of kairos, appointment, suggests that we do not always keep watch, but rather that we keep watch at all of the appointed times, we must keep watch during the festivals. This is emphasised in the following passage.
Matityahu (Matthew) 24:42-47 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But
understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the
thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be
broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an
hour when you do not expect him. "Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food
at the proper time? It will be good for
that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the
truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
In the above passage we see that the appointment will occur during the festival of Rosh HaShana, as we explored in our study titled: Knowday.
Marqos (Mark) 12:1-11 He then began to speak to them in parables:
"A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the
winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers
and went away on a journey. At harvest time
he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the
vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he
sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head
and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He
sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. "He had one
left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will
respect my son.' "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir.
Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be
ours.' So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
"What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those
tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven't you read this scripture: 'The
stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; The Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
II Luqas (Acts) 1:4-9 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do
not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak
about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together,
they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to
Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for
you to know the times or dates the
Father has set by his own authority. But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses
in
Matityahu (Matthew) 8:28-32 When he arrived at the other side in the region
of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They
were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with
us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us
before the appointed time?" Some distance
from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Yeshua, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd
of pigs." He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into
the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died
in the water.
Matityahu (Matthew) 13:24-30 Yeshua told them another parable: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the
wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds
also appeared. "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't
you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' "'An
enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to
go and pull them up?' "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling
the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until
the harvest. At that time I will tell the
harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then
gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
In the following passage, Matthew speaks of a festival that takes place near to winter time. Sometimes it is celebrated during winter and sometime before winter. This festival is Chanukah.
Matityahu (Matthew) 24:20-22 Pray that your flight will not take place
in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be
great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world
until now--and never to be equaled again.
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of
the elect those days will be shortened.
Marqos (Mark) 13:29-33 Even so, when you see these things
happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth,
this generation will certainly not pass away until
all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will never pass away. "No
one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Luqas (Luke) 21:7-9 "Teacher,"
they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" He replied:
"Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name,
claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is
near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be
frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right
away."
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed
are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
II Thessalonians 2:1-8 Concerning the coming of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach and our
being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, Not to
become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed
to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't
let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the
rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to
destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is
called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you
remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you
know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness
is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so
till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord Yeshua will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming.
Revelation 11:16-19 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated
on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, Saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations
were angry; and your wrath has come. The time
has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and
your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great--and for
destroying those who destroy the earth." Then God's temple
in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen
the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of
lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Revelation 12:10-14 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and
the authority of his Mashiach.
For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink
from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell
in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to
you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." When the dragon saw that he
had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the
male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she
might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken
care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.
Daniel 12:6-7 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters
of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are
fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the
river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven,
and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times
and half [a time]. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken,
all these things will be completed."
Revelation 22:8-10 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these
things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he
said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your
brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship
God!" Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of
this book, because the time is near.
Luqas (Luke) 21:20-28 "When you see Jerusalem
being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let
those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out,
and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment
in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those
days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in
the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be
taken as prisoners to all the nations.
Mashiach also has an appointed time, a moed:
Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17-18 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Yeshua and asked, "Where do you want us to make
preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed
time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples
at your house.'"
So, when was Yeshua’s appointed time, in the above passage? Surely we must say Passover, as He dies at the exact same time that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered. This appointment is reiterated in the following passages:
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Mashiach died for the ungodly.
Marqos (Mark) 1:14-15 After John was put in prison, Yeshua went into
Marqos (Mark) 10:28-30 Peter said to him, "We have left
everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Yeshua
replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or
father or children or fields for me and the gospel
Will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children
and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
Luqas (Luke) 12:54-56 He said to the crowd: "When you see a
cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you
say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret
the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to
interpret this present time?
Luqas (Luke) 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem
and saw the city, he wept over it And said, "If
you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now
it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will
build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They
will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Yochanan (John) 7:1-9 After this, Yeshua went around in Galilee,
purposely staying away from
I Tzefet (Peter) 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Yeshua Mashiach! In his great mercy he has given us new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection
of Yeshua Mashiach from the dead, And into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven
for you, Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Matityahu (Matthew) 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Yeshua
and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from
heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair
weather, for the sky is red,' And in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for
the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the
sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
A wicked and adulterous generation
looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of
Jonah." Yeshua then left them and went away.
II Luqas (Acts) 3:18-24 But this is how God fulfilled what he had
foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Mashiach
would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins
may be wiped out, that times of refreshing
may come from the Lord, And that he may send the Mashiach, who has been
appointed for you--even Yeshua. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for
God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from
among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who
does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
"Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have
foretold these days.
Ephesians 1:7-10 In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace That he lavished on us with all wisdom and
understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his
good pleasure, which he purposed in Mashiach, To be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to
bring all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head, even Mashiach.
I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will
bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's
hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Concerning prayer:
Ephesians 6:13-18 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so
that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of
truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in
place, And with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray
in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
So, when are the appointed times for prayer? Notice when Daniel prayed:
Daniel 6:10-13 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went
home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.
Three times a day he
got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done
before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God
for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree:
"Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who
prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions'
den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be
repealed." Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from
From this we understand the custom of praying three times a day: in the evening, the morning, and in the afternoon. Curiously these are the same times when the Temple had prayer and when Jews around the world, still pray today. These prayer times, in the synagogue, will be recited by those who are in the right place, doing the right thing.
Miscellaneous usage of appointed times and place:
II Luqas (Acts) 24:24-26 Several days later Felix came with his wife
Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke
about faith in Mashiach Yeshua. As Paul discoursed on righteousness,
self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's
enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient,
I will send for you." At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer
him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap
destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to
all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Bereans (Hebrews) 11:13-16 All these people were still living by faith
when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such
things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been
thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing
for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
John the Baptist was born at Passover, so:
Luqas (Luke) 1:8-20 Once when Zechariah's
division was on duty and he was serving as priest
before God, He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to
go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for
the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to
him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw
him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him:
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has
been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him
the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice
because of his birth, For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is
never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the
Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel
will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in
the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers
to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make
ready a people prepared for the Lord." Zechariah asked the angel,
"How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in
years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of
God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And
now you will be silent and not able to speak until
the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come
true at their proper time."
What make the birth of John the Baptist on Passover so interesting, is the fact that at the Passover seder, we specifically open the door and look for Elijah, whose return is expected on Passover. And, as we all know, Yeshua told us that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come, in Matthew 11:12-14. Thus we see John the Baptist, alias Elijah, came on Passover, at eactly the appointed time foretold so long ago. Those who are celebrating the seder, will have the ability to see the return of Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord. They will be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things. Wow!
Luqas (Luke) 4:9-13 The devil led him to Jerusalem
and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from
here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to
guard you carefully; They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not
strike your foot against a stone.'" Yeshua
answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When
the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Luqas (Luke) 12:58 - 13:1 As you are going with your adversary to the
magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off
to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw
you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last
penny." Now there were some present at that time who told Yeshua about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed
with their sacrifices.
II Luqas (Acts) 13:6-12 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Yeshua, Who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of