Something Truly Amazing About Today

I am going to take a short hiatus from my current series and focus on something truly remarkable about this day. The obvious is that it is Firstfruits and thus the day Messiah Yehsua became the Firstfruits of the resurrection. But what I am about to share is also truly amazing and generally overlooked entirely!!

Since we have no Temple to offer the Firstfruits in our current age, I thought I'd post something we can all look forward to on this Day of Firstfruits, when Messiah Yeshua/Jesus historically became the "Firstfruits of many brethren". The day will come when the Commanded Feasts will be a joyful celebration for all nations, people, tribes, and tongues.

Wanna' know when?

In a way, perhaps this serves as my offering? Like the widow's 2 mites. In today's terms that's a little more than the proverbial 2 cents. It's more like about $0.91. Guess I can't pass the buck on this one, it's not quite a dollar.

Silliness and puns aside, I'd like to encourage every believer to read this as it truly is amazing how perfectly God's Word shows us things to come when we dig them out deeply enough and use a solid basis for keeping our research honest and on track.

Chag Saeach mishpocha!!

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Zech 8:19-23

19 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace 20 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. 21 The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing 23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

Let's do an analysis of Zechariah 8:19-23 based on the four principles of hermeneutics shown in the uploaded image.

First, let's identify the Four Primary Principles of Hermeneutics.

a. Scripture defines Scripture

b. Context is found through Intent

c. Intent reveals what the author meant

d. Clear passages can simplify the obscure

Second, we'll analyze Zechariah 8:19-23:

Verse 19 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace. Verse 20 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. Verse 21 The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the LORD to bless us. Let’s worship the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ Verse 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing. Verse 23 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Now how about we apply the 4 Primary Hermeneutical Principles:

Context:

Historical Context: Zechariah prophesied after the Babylonian exile (around 520-518 BC) to the returning remnant in Judah. They were rebuilding the temple amidst discouragement and opposition. Chapters 7-8 address questions about continuing the 👉fasts👈 that commemorated national disasters (destruction of the first temple, assassination of Gedaliah, etc.). Zechariah shifts from addressing the fasts to painting a picture of future restoration and blessing for Jerusalem and Judah. These fasts were never implemented by YHVH. That doesn't make them evil, it just doesn't make them commands. So Abba is reassuring them they WILL have something to celebrate at the Feasts which He did command.

Literary Context: Zechariah 1-8 focuses on restoration and encouragement for the temple builders. Zechariah 9-14 shifts to a more explicitly messianic and eschatological focus, describing future judgment and salvation involving the nations. Chapter 8 culminates the message of restoration, describing a future Jerusalem where God dwells, attracting the nations.

Cultural Context: Fasting was a sign of mourning and repentance. The promise that these fasts would return to the Feasts signifies a complete reversal of fortune and a time of immense joy and divine favor. Seeking the Lord in Jerusalem was central to Jewish worship. The idea of nations coming to Jerusalem to worship YHVH was a prophetic hope (Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-3).

Scripture Interprets Scripture: "Old Testament" Parallels: Isaiah 2:2-4, 60:3-14; Micah 4:1-3; Jeremiah 16:19, and Jeremiah 31:31-34 all speak of a future time when Jerusalem is exalted, God's law goes forth, and nations come to learn from and worship YHVH. These passages reinforce the idea of a future, universal global pilgrimage to Jerusalem centered on God's presence. Clearly this has not yet happened. So whether simply prophetic or Eschatalogical can't really be determined by this passage alone.

"New Testament" Fulfillment/Clarification: The NT speaks of the inclusion of Gentiles (nations) into God's people through faith in Messiah Yeshua (Acts 10-11, 15; Romans 2:13-16 & 9-11; Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:28-29). The Ekklesia (not church) is described as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:19-22), and believers offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5). Though we also see in Acts 21 that Paul was sacrificing for himself and supplying a sacrifice for 3 others and Ezkeliel 40-48 shows they will.occur throughout the Millenial Kingdom. Revelation 21-22 describes the New Jerusalem where God dwells with His people ("Jew" plus Gentiles in Covenant) eternally. However, the specific imagery of nations physically going to Jerusalem and grabbing the corner of the Prayer Shawl of a Jew points to something more specific than the current church practices.

There are clearly specific historical fasts that have become joyful feasts for the house of Israel and Judah.

Many peoples and strong nations physically travel to Jerusalem on religious pilgrimages.

They all claim to explicitly seek the Lord of hosts (YHVH).

Gentiles ("ten men from the nations of every tongue") will physically seek out a Jew because they recognize God is with them.

The language points to a tangible, geographical reality centered on Jerusalem and involving ethnic Jews and distinct Gentile nations. While spiritual applications exist, the literal sense suggests a future restoration involving Israel and the nations converging on Jerusalem. Something that is distinguishable from the varied religious pilgrimage(s) we.witness today. It involves a desperate seeking out of "Jews" to find the truth God entrusted to them. He use them to bring His Word and has used them to preserve His Word. Don't overlook the fact that even the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in Israel, this is not small eschatological detail.

Intent reveals context: Zechariah's prophecy builds on earlier promises of Israel's restoration and the nations' inclusion.

The "New Testament" reveals how the nations begin to be included – through Yeshua and the Holy Spirit, forming the Ekklesia. Which points directly at a literal fulfillment involving (and dependent upon) portions of national Israel and Jerusalem as prophesied in the "Old Testament". Those whose faith in Yeshua has caused them to not be cut off - Romans 11.

Shall we evaluate the Possible Timeframes:

Past Fulfillment - has this already occurred?

Possibility?: Some elements, like the reversal of fortune from exile and the initial inclusion of Gentiles into the early body of believers (Cornelius, etc.), could be seen as 👉partial👈 fulfillments. Gentiles did seek God because they saw His presence with the Jewish apostles and believers.

Limitations (based on our Hermeneutics): The full picture of many peoples and strong nations coming to Jerusalem specifically to seek the Lord, and the fasts returning to a full celebration through the Feasts for Israel and Judah, doesn't seem to have occurred historically on the scale described (Literal, Context). The conditions described (universal peace, God's manifest presence recognized globally) haven't been fully met.

Present Fulfillment - is it happening now? Possibility: Gentiles currently come to faith ("seek the Lord") through the gospel message shared by believers (spiritual descendants of Abraham, including Jews and Gentiles in the Ekklesia). Believers experience joy instead of mourning (transformation of fasts spiritually). All are commanded to continue in the Feasts even as Paul instructed Gentiles in 1 Corinthians 5:8.

Limitations: The tone of Zechariah 8:19-23 is one of peace, joy, blessing, and God's manifest presence attracting worshipers, which contrasts sharply with descriptions of the Tribulation (Context, Literal). This view often requires spiritualizing "Jerusalem," "Jew," and the physical gathering of "nations" (Conflicting with a Literal Interpretation). While spiritually true that God is with His Ekkelsia, the specific "OT" language focuses on ethnic Israel, physical Jerusalem, and distinct nations in a way not fully realized yet.

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Could it be that this will be accomplished during the Tribulation period?

Possibility: Unlikely. The Tribulation is generally described as a time of unprecedented judgment and distress (Jeremiah 30:7 - "the time of Jacob's trouble," Matthew 24:21), not peace and joyful feasts and nations flocking to Jerusalem to worship in peace.

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Future - Post-Tribulation (Millennial Kingdom):

Possibility: This view aligns well with many prophetic texts (Isaiah 2, 11, 60; Micah 4; Ezekiel 40-48; Revelation 20:1-6). It posits a time after Christ's return when He reigns from Jerusalem, Israel is restored, righteousness and peace prevail, and the nations come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. The fasts commemorating past tragedies would naturally return to the commanded Feasts (as is implicitly prophesied in Zechariah 14:16-19. In this era of fulfillment and blessing seems the most likely. Gentiles recognizing God's presence with the restored Jewish people fits the imagery.

Alignment with Hermeneutic Principles: This interpretation honours the Literal sense of nations coming to Jerusalem and seeking God with the Jews. It fits the Context of restoration and future glory following judgment. It harmonizes with other Scripture (both "OT" prophecies and "NT" hints of a future kingdom reign). It fits with God's having revealed His plan across all of Scripture and not just an isolated instance/passage by seeing a future fulfillment stage for "OT" prophecies concerning Israel.

Future - Eternal Kingdom (New Heavens/New Earth/New Jerusalem):

Possibility: Revelation 21-22 describes the nations walking by the light of the New Jerusalem and kings bringing their glory into it (Rev 21:24-26). This is the ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people (from all nations) forever.

Limitations/Distinctions: While the ultimate fulfillment, the specific language of Zechariah 8 ("take hold of the corner of the garment (likely a tallit/prayer shawl) of a Jew," specific historical fasts returning to the commanded Feasts for the house of Israel and Judah) seems to point more specifically to a time when ethnic distinctions, though harmonious, still exist, and the specific history of Israel is remembered and transformed. Making this far less likely, though still possible. It aligns better with Millennial expectations than the eternal state where some distinctions might be seen as superseded (Galatians 3:28 applied eternally). The Millennial Kingdom is often seen as the transition/bridge where these OT promises find specific fulfillment before the eternal state.

Conclusion - Most Likely Timeframe:

Based on applying the four primary hermeneutical principles:

The prophecy is given post-exile, looking towards a future, complete restoration far exceeding the return from Babylon.

Numerous "OT" prophecies describe a future golden age centered on Jerusalem with nations participating, while the NT doesn't negate this, it adds the layer of the entire Ekkelsia (not church) and eventual eternal state.

The plain sense points to a physical gathering of nations in Jerusalem, interacting specifically with Jews, returning specific historical fasts back into the Commanded Feasts. Later revelation confirms the inclusion of Gentiles and points towards a final eternal state, but many "OT" prophecies await a specific fulfillment related to Israel and Jerusalem, often associated with a Millennial kingdom.

The interpretation that best incorporates these principles points to a future time, most likely the Millennial Kingdom following the return of the Tribulation period and return of Yeshua. This allows for a literal fulfillment of nations coming to the physical Jerusalem to worship God in the presence of a restored Jewish people (Literal, Context).

It fulfills the numerous Scriptural promises (like Isaiah 2, Micah 4) of a peaceful kingdom age where God's law goes forth from Zion (Scripture Defines Scripture).

It represents a further stage in God's plan, building upon the current age. (Intent Reveals Context).

The transformation of specific historical fasts into the Commanded joyful Feasts makes most sense in a time when the sorrows they represented are fully and finally overcome in a restored Israel (Context, Literal).

While elements might find partial, "spiritual" fulfillment in the current age, and ultimate fulfillment in the eternal state, the specific details of Zechariah 8:19-23 align most closely with the prophetic picture of the Millennium. I can hardly wait until we have all endured until the end and find ourselves in the Marrigae Supper of the Lamb, hopefully all who read this will also be a member of the Bride but either way the return of the Commaneded Feasts for all of the world, will be a forced issue then, I for one, prefer to submit now therefore opening the doors of blessin upon my life in this life. His provision and protection. Being a true threat to the antiMessiah's regime (Revelation 12:17), and being able to freely enter and leave the New Jerusalem to visit with my Savior (Revelation 22:14). There simply is no evidence to support that we live in a mythological time when His Commands are not relevant to every believer. I wish it were so, as many currently fall into the Matthew 5:19 or 7:21-23 categories. Which truly breaks my heart and keeps me awake some nights.

SIDE NOTE: I am trusting each of you to look up the citations I have made and determine their proper context using hermeneutics just as I have. There will be a price of Judgement in the Millennial Kingdom for not going up to Jerusalem for the Feasts. Sukkot/Tabernacles is specifically mentioned, but because that Judgement is about rain and crops, we need to understand it implies all of the 3 Commanded Feasts because Israel gets early and latter rain for its planting and harvesting seasons. The early rain happens in the Fall when they sow and it helps the seeds germinate quickly and begin to grow. Mosr crops are harvested in the Spring and there is another rainy season that typically comes in time for a last birst of growth before the produce ripens. It causes another growth spurt so that the people are not harvesting tiny produce. Bitnin contrast, the midwestern US (where I am) doesn't have two rainy seasons because it gets periodic rains throughout the year. So, in our case here, if it were written directly to us, the Scripture would say something more along the lines of "the rain will not come when needed most". This is just one example of learning to use Hermeneutics to determine intent and then extrapolating the implication for our specific circumstances.