TESHUVAH - Days of Turning and Repentance
(Dates for 2015-depending on the observance of first sliver of the New Moon)
Teshuvah is the Hebrew word assigned to the 40 days preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of the Covering or Atonement starting with the 1st day of the month of Elul.
The Teshuvah period begins on the evening of the new moon sighting which will start the month of Elul around 17 August 2015 on the Jewish Calendar ending on Yom Kippur around 25 September 2015. (These dates are based on simulations when the new moon of the 6th and 7th Jewish months will be seen and may vary by one day.)
The first 30 days ending on Yom Teruah around 15 September 2015 is generally known as the Time of Repentance. The last 10 days are known as the Days of Awe, also called the time of Jacobs trouble.
(Again our dates are determined by the observance of the first slither of the new moon)
Look at the Hebrew: Teshuvah - The root word is the Hebrew "shoov" which means to return. It combines both aspects of forgiveness: turning from evil and turning toward good. The Jews make restitution during this period with those they have offended. Ridding oneself of guilt is a goal of Teshuvah. Repentance, however, only applies to transgressions committed against God. To receive forgiveness from offenses committed against fellow man, compensation must be made and a plea for forgiveness.
Psalm 27 is recited daily throughout the month of Elul.
Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light" refers to the festival of Yom Teruah. "And my salvation" refers to Yom Kippur. Verse 5, "For He will hide me in this tent" refers to the Feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles.
Beginning on the second day of Elul (18 August 2015) until the day before Yom Teruah the shofar blows every day as a warning to "return to God in repentance." With this warning comes impending judgment for disobedience.
The 10 days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur represent the Tribulation on the Earth that will purge the Earth of evil. If you count only the days from the close of Yom Teruah (a two-day feast) until the beginning of Yom Kippur, they total seven, the number of years in the Tribulation itself. This is called the "Time of Jacob's Trouble," and the "Days of Awe," and will be a time such has never been seen on the earth.
It is imperative that man repent and return to the Lord before the time of Jacob's trouble, so that he might be "hidden" in that day. (READ PSALM 27:5)
"For in the time of trouble (referring to the Time of Jacob's Trouble), He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His Tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." This is the Nastal i.e. the Rapture of the Bride who has made herself ready.
Prophet Isaiah also referred to this "hiding away" in chapter 26, verses 20-21:
"Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little while, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity;"
NOTE: The Hebrew word for "indignation" in this verse is "zah-ham." Its literal translation means "God will froth at the mouth at his displeasure with sin." The great tribulation at the end of the age will indeed be a time such has never been seen on the earth before....the wrath of God poured out in fury.
We should all pray as Yahushua (Jesus) admonished us to do regarding the coming Tribulation:
"Watch, therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:26)
It is in this frame of mind that Jews begin to turn from their sin and to toward the Lord that they, too, might be found worthy to have their names written in the Book of Life on the Day of Yom Kippur.
Other warnings of judgment call for "Teshuvah" come from the mouths of the prophets:
FROM THE PROPHET JEREMIAH
"Return (Teshuvah), O backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I will not cause My anger to fall upon you; For I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your sin, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God...and you have not obeyed my voice...Return (Teshuvah), O backsliding children, says the Lord, for I am betrothed to you...and I will bring you to Zion..." (Jeremiah 3:12-15)
FROM THE PROPHET JOEL
"Blow the shofar in Zion (REMEMBER, the shofar is blown everyday during the time of Teshuvah) and sound an alarm in My holy mountain...Now therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me (Teshuvah) with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and with mourning... Return to the Lord, your God (Teshuvah)..." (Joel 2:1 and 12-13)
FROM THE PROPHET HOSEA
"Come and let us return to the Lord (Teshuvah); For He has torn but he will heal us..." (Hosea 6:1)
FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL
"Thus says the Lord God, ‘Repent, turn away (Teshuvah) from your idols and turn your faces (Teshuvah) away from all your abominations." (Ezekiel 14:6)
FROM THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Return to Me (Teshuvah) and I will return to you (God makes Teshuvah)...Do not be like your fathers to whom the former prophets preached saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: Turn now from your evil ways (Teshuvah) and from your evil deeds.' But they did not hear nor did they heed Me, says the Lord." (Zechariah 1:3-4)
From the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) we read:
FROM THE PROPHET JOHN, THE BAPTIST
"...Repent (Teshuvah), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)
Not only was this during the time of Teshuvah, but from his very words, we can know this was the eve of Yom Kippur. It was the final call for repentance before the Day of the Covering of sin (Yom Kippur).
FROM THE APOSTLE PETER (Shimon Kiefa)
"Repent, therefore, (Teshuvah) and be converted (to be turned away from--again, Teshuvah) that your sins my be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
Again, this is a picture of the time of Teshuvah just prior to Yom Kippur, for it was on the day of Yom Kippur that sins were blotted out. But under the New Covenant, we do not have to wait for Yom Kippur...Today is the day of salvation.
We should always walk in an attitude of Teshuvah. The Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st John 1:9)
TESHUVAH FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION
A MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Rev. 2 - CHURCH AT EPHESUS-- Lord acknowledges all the good works, BUT
a. "You have left your first love. Therefore, repent (Teshuvah) and do the first works. What are they?
(See Matthew 22:37) "Sh'ma" of Deut. 6:5 ‘You shall love the Lord...this is the first commandment... first mitzvoh... Torah is the first works and the first love. Yahushua (Jesus) is the Torah... He is the Word made flesh.
Vs. 5 Repent (Teshuvah), lest Yahushua (Jesus) removes your lampstand--your Menorah. Rev 1:20 refers to the 7 churches as the 7 menorah of God. Read Matt: 5:14-19:
- You are a Menorah
- All may see your good "works" -- first works
- Fulfilled Law and Prophets (Give a proper interpretation)
- Whoever teaches Torah will be called "Great" in the Kingdom - 1st works
Vs. 7 "Let him who has an ear..." He who overcomes...(subdue, conquer flesh) they will eat from the tree of life (Keep your place in Revelation 2 and turn to Revelation 22:14) Who gets to eat from the tree of life? Torah is the means to overcoming in this life.
Vs 8 CHURCH AT SMYRNA - This Church represents Believers who are persecuted and martyred -especially during the Tribulation.
Vs 10 Tribulation 10 days -- Jewish idiom for the original 10 days of Teshuvah between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur. Be faithful to the end (to the end of Jacob's Trouble) Be faithful to the end...
Vs 11 Let him who has an ear....to him that overcomes
Vs 12 CHURCH OF PERGAMOS -
Vs 14 Doctrine of Balaam who Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality
Vs 16 Repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 17 He who has an ear to hear....and to him who overcomes will I give...
Vs 18 CHURCH OF THYATIRA
Vs 20 Jezebel Spirit --same as doctrine of Balaam -- eat things sacrificed to idols and commit immorality
Vs 21 She was given a season (in Greek) to repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 22 She and those with her will be cast into great tribulation for not repenting
Vs 26 He who over comes will I give...
Vs 29 Let Him who has an ear to hear...
Chapter 3 - CHURCH OF SARDIS
Vs. 3 Hold fast and repent (Teshuvah) -- Thief in the night suggests that some will miss the Rapture
Vs. 4 Some have defiled wedding garments
Vs. 5 He who overcomes...
Vs. 6 He who has an ear to hear...
Vs. 7 CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA - The Church of who know how to love like our Lord.
Vs 10 Because you've kept My commandment (Torah) to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial (Tribulation) which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.
Vs 12 He who overcomes
Vs 13 He who has an ear to hear...
Vs 14 CHURCH OF LAODICEA
Vs 15 Works are neither hot nor cold--no commitment to Torah
Vs 19 Repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 21 To him who overcomes...
Vs 22 He who has an ear to hear...
With that we enter the Door, that is the Messiah...
CHAPTER 4 -- "After this I looked, and, behold, a Door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 'Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.' 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the Throne."
This is a Hebrew idiom for the day of Yom Teruah, and the beginning of the 10 days of awe.
Do You Hear The Call?
Then Teshuvah-Repent, Return to God - the "Aleph & the Tav"!
And enter the Door-Messiah, the only Door God has opened for you!!!
