Part Four
The Birth of the Son of God
THE Jewish MESSIAH’S BIRTH ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL CALENDAR
There is an incomparable gift of knowing Messiah’s birth on its true day according to the Holy One’s prophetic plan and biblical calendar. It is possible, by looking at the Holy Scriptures more carefully, that one can ascertain the actual season of the Savior’s birth. As Luke begins his Gospel account he explains the birth of John the Baptist. John’s parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth, were of the tribe of Levi, the ordained priestly tribe (Leviticus 3:12,41,45). Zachariah was a priest, and he served at a particular time of the year. King David divided the levitical priests into twenty four groups (I Chronicles 23:4-6), with each group serving two consecutive Sabbaths so that continuous service in the Holy One’s Temple in Jerusalem would be maintained throughout the year. It is written, Zachariah was of the “division of Abijah,” this division (also called Course as seen in the chart) served as the 8th group (Luke 1:5, I Chronicles 24:10). Before we can determine the time of year Zachariah’s division (Abijah) was in service, we need to understand the Almighty’s Biblical calendar. During Israel’s miraculous Exodus, because of the lamb’s blood sparing them from the angel of death, the wonder working God of Israel said to His people, this month is to be “the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:1,2). He gave this command to Moses and Aaron during the Passover season, springtime, the month of Aviv - (March/April) (Exodus 13:4). Since Zachariah belonged to the eighth division (course), he would have served on both the 15th and 16th Sabbaths of the year, in the fourth Biblical month of Tammuz - (June/July). The biblical calendar is based on the moon/lunar calendar, unlike the world’s Gregorian calendar which is based on the sun.
In the month of Tammuz (June/July) Zachariah was serving in the God of Israel’s holy temple. An angelic messenger, Gabriel appeared to him. He proclaimed in the Hebrew language, “… your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John (Luke 1:11,13). Both Zachariah and Elizabeth were well along in years, and Elizabeth was barren (Luke 1:6) “When the days of Zachariah’s priestly service were ended he went back home, and Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for 5 months” (Luke 1:23,24). This advances us to the month of Chislev - (November/December). Now in the sixth month Tevet - (December/January), of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel appeared to the chosen Jewish virgin Mary (Miryam), announcing in Hebrew, “behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Yahshua (often pronounced Yeshua, Hebrew for salvation). His original Hebrew name Yahshua, means “YAHveh is salvation” - YHVH the Hebrew consonants for the God of Israel’s proclaimed name (see Exodus 3:15) (Luke 1:26,31). Gabriel also brought Mary the news that her relative Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age, and was now in her sixth month of pregnancy (Luke 1:36). In about three months, in the month of Aviv - (March/April), her baby would be born.
When Gabriel brought the exciting news to Mary about her relative Elizabeth, “without delay she hurried to the town in the hill country of Judah” where they lived (Luke 1:39). When Mary entered Elizabeth’s presence, John leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. At that moment Elizabeth exclaimed to Mary, “Among all women, you are most blessed! And how blessed is the child in your womb” (Luke 1:41). This proclamation and John's leaping for joy, affirmed to Mary that she was already with child. These events took place in the cold wintry month of Tevet - (December/January).
(The Course number and Clan Leaders are taken from I Chronicles 24:7-18, followed by the Biblical and corresponding Roman months. The Biblical months can be found in the following Scriptures; Exodus 13:4; I Kings 6:1,38; I Kings 8:2; Ester 2:16; 8:9; Ezra 6:15; Nehemiah 11; 2:1; 6:15; Zechariah 1:7.)
"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Yahshua, for He will save His people from their sins.” The long awaited Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world arrived in the month of Tishri - (September/October), the seventh month of the God of Israel’s Biblical calendar
- Matthew 1:20-21, Leviticus 23:39 -
Mary was born of the tribe of Judah, and of the lineage of King David. As a young obedient Jewess, she was betrothed to Joseph also of the tribe of Judah (Luke 2:4, 1:32; Psalms 132:11; Romans 1:3). When Joseph found Mary to be with child he had difficulty accepting her miraculous story (Matthew 1:18-19). The Holy One of Israel intervened by again sending the angel Gabriel, this time to speak to Joseph in a dream. The angelic messenger said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Yahshua, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). The long awaited Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world arrived in the month of Tishri - (September/October), the seventh month of the God of Israel’s Biblical calendar (Leviticus 23). The autumn month of Tishri was especially highlighted, it is a time of the concluding three holy feasts on the biblical calendar. The seventh, and final holy day, is the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), also called the Feast of Booths. Long before His birth, Isaiah prophesied, “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Leviticus 23:36; John 7:37, Isaiah 9: 6). The God of Israel “sent His only begotten Son” to become the sacrificial “Passover Lamb” (John 3:16). The Son of God, the Almighty Conqueror came in bodily form as the “Son of Man” to rescue His people from sin and eternal death. In infinite loving mercy Yahveh [the Lord] put on robes of salvation, namely a human body, and came to earth to first save His people Israel and included the Gentiles who, along with believing Israel, would be set free from bondage to Satan and their sin nature (Romans 1:16, John 4:22, Matthew 15:24). Although Scripture regarding the exact day of Messiah’s birth is not expressly stated, we do know from deductive study of Scripture, that Yahshua (Jesus) was born in the month of Tishri. We can also infer that Yahshua was most likely born on the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, Tishri 15 (September/October).
The book of Revelation concludes with the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them."
- Revelation 21:3 -
This last great biblical feast is also called the Feast of Great Rejoicing, which expresses this outpouring of joy from heaven to earth. We read that the mighty angels rejoiced, and the shepherds rejoiced, and the angels announced to the shepherds the Good News, “that will bring great joy (rejoicing) to all people” (Luke 2:10). The reality that Yahveh the Holy One of Israel came to earth as Yahshua (Jesus) to dwell (tabernacle) among men, is the reason for our utmost faith and infinite rejoicing. Yahshua (Jesus) willingly left the splendor and glory of His heavenly kingdom to indwell the earthly body that was divinely prepared for Him (see Hebrews 10:5). The Feast of Tabernacles speaks of His incarnation: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of an only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is also in remembrance of Yahveh’s (the Lord’s) provision of shelter for Israel during her wilderness journeys. Messiah’s promised blessings of a place prepared for us in His messianic kingdom will be fulfilled when the redeemed righteous remnant, of Jews and Gentiles, dwell in His eternal presence forever (John 14:3). The book of Revelation concludes with the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. We read John's words of inspiration and eternal hope, “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” … I am … the beginning [His birth] and the end [He lives eternally with His righteous redeemed remnant forever in the Father’s holy eternal kingdom] … He who overcomes [the flesh, the sin nature, and the worldly temptations] will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be My sons and daughters” (see Revelation 21:3-7).
Understanding the biblical calendar, the Almighty’s appointed times, brings us a more vivid portrait of our Savior’s birth, death, and resurrection and magnifies His walk on earth leaving us an example to follow in His footsteps. The biblical calendar is a gift for both Jews and believing Gentiles, that together, they will know, love, and worship the God of Israel and His Son, the Jewish Messiah, “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is so important, we read in the Scripture it will be eternally celebrated in the millennial kingdom. It is written, “Any who are left of all the Gentile nations”, who survived the war against Jerusalem and the all conquering King of kings will have to appear before Yahveh, the Mighty One of Israel “from year to year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) (see Zechariah 14:16-18). Let us begin on earth to recognize and celebrate this eternal season, when the Holy One came to “dwell among men” in its proper biblical time on His Father’s calendar, which will be the only everlasting calendar!
IN CONCLUSION:
You can say Christmas honors our Savior’s birth,
But the biblical calendar honors His birth in the season that He fulfilled it.
You can say Christmas holds your family together,
But it holds your family together not in bonds of love for the truth
But in bonds of love for a tradition.
It is to be our utmost joy and blessing to walk in the purest brightest light of truth, following Yahshua (Jesus) and Him alone without embracing any mixtures or compromises
You can say it will disappoint our children. If your children have a love for the truth, which all God’s children must have a love for the truth, then you will rejoice to exchange (extract) the precious from the worthless and receive something greater called, uncompromised truth. (see Jeremiah 15:19) It is to be our utmost joy and blessing to walk in the purest brightest light of truth, following Yahshua (Jesus) and Him alone without embracing any mixtures or compromises. It is the flesh and the power of “the prince of this world” seducing and enticing us, as he did our first parents in the Garden of Eden, to want something other than all that Yahveh has given us with His abiding holy presence. (Ephesians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:4)
Yahshua (Jesus) warned, “Be careful that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4) Don’t believe and go for Satan’s lie, “Did God really say that?” and “lose your secure position” in Yahveh’s glorious presence. (2 Peter 3:17) Any lie we refuse to let go of once we “come to a knowledge of the truth”, it becomes sin and will separate us from our Heavenly Father, because it speaks loudly that we do not “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” (1 Timothy 2:4, Matthew 5:6) Instead of being filled, we grieve the Holy Spirit who departs when we know the truth and we reject it for an unholy mixture of truth with lies. It is written, “No lie comes from the truth” and Yahveh has given us warning that “He is holy and among those who approach Him, He will show Himself as holy.” ( 1 John 2:21, 1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 10:3)
We need to get these unholy seeds out, their root system, and the unholy fruit of the unholy mixtures called in our sight “holy holidays”. We need to uproot them and see the fullness of truth as the greatest gift. Yahshua (Jesus) the Son of Yahveh was born, died, and resurrected fulfilling specific biblical feasts that were a foreshadowing and portrait of Him, thus making Himself known to His Jewish brethren and then to all the Gentiles who would receive Him who is “the way, the truth, and the life” and He is “the light for revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel.” (John 14:6, Luke 2:32) We have got to consider the source and Yahveh is showing us what the source is. He grieves over it. Yahshua (Jesus) warned about His pure harvest field and how His enemy would come and sow weeds behind Him. His enemy! If it is our Savior’s enemy who sowed these seeds, why do we want to deny the truth so that we can hold on to Satan’s falsehood? (See Matthew 13:24-30) Let us rid ourselves and put on the altar that which is grievous in Messiah’s sight, so that we can love and worship our God and Savior in spirit and uncompromised truth. Yahshua (Jesus) wants to give us more of His indwelling, infilling, abiding glorious presence, but He cannot do it as long as we hang on to that which is unholy and a mixture, which grieves His Holy Spirit. May He bless each one of us to do what is right in His holy sight.
