Shemini Atzeret a New Beginning, by CMY

[Mevaser]

Shemini Atzeret a New Beginning, by CMY
http://www.cmy.on.ca/toraportions200...im/atzeret.htm (Online version)
Congregation Melech Yisrael, Toronto, Canada
Shabbat 22 Tishrei 5764, October 18, 2003
http://www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net

This week's Reading list:
* Devarim / Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17
* Bamidbar / Numbers 29:35-30:1
* Alef Malechim / I Kings 8:54-66
* Yohanan Markos / Mark 12:28-33

Reading this week's Parasha, you are left wondering, "what does it have to do with Shemini Atzeret, after all this day is not even mentioned in the reading?" That is true! This Torah portion, which we read for Shemini Atzeret deals primarily with the korban (draw near) offerings for the moedim (feasts of the L-rd), and it gives us a summary of the moedim previously explained in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23, ending with the moed Sukkot. However only after we read the special portion for this week in Bamidbar, where Shmini Atzeret is clearly mentioned, do we make the connection between these two readings. The reason we can make this connection is because after reading Bamidbar we can see that the two holidays Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret are connected, yet separate. This separated connection as you will, is expressed very clearly in the following Scriptures, which are not included in this weeks readings but which I think are very germane to our understanding of this set apart but connected day of Shemini Atzeret.

Vayikra / Leviticus {23:36} Seven days you shall offer an korban made by fire to HaSHEM: on the eighth day shall be a kadosh (holy) convocation to you; and you shall offer an korban made by fire to HaSHEM: it is a solemn assembly; you shall do no servile work......{23:39} However on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of HaSHEM seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.

Are you confused? Well if you are, you have every right to be. In these Scriptures Sukkot, we are being told, is to be celebrated for seven days, however there is an eighth day which is to be set aside as a Shabbat Gadol (High Sabbath) in which korbanot offerings are to be made to HaShem and no work is to be done. What is the meaning of this eighth day and what association does it have to the moedim especially Sukkot?

The Talmud, which is a compilation of rabbinical commentaries on the Torah and Midrashim, which are a compilation of allegories or rabbinical discussions on the commentaries, teaches in Avodah Zarah 9A (a chapter in the Talmud) that the world as we know it today will exist for six thousand years. Each thousand it says, corresponds to a day of the week. Upon completion of the six thousandth years, Talmud goes on to say that the world will enter a totally different stage of existence, corresponding to Shabbat. The Mashiach (Messiah) it teaches will come sometime before the end of the year six thousand and set up His Kingdom and the world will enter into its long awaited Shabbat rest. This teaching is widely circulated in Messianic believing circles as well, mainly because it corresponds to the following Scripture:

Hitgalut / Revelation {20.4} And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yeshua, and for the word of G-d, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Mashiach a thousand years.

The prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) also tells us of a time to come when the world as we know it will no longer exist, flora and fauna will return to their pre-flood state and the world will be ruled over by the Mashiach:

Yeshayahu / Isaiah {11.1}And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: {11.2} And the spirit of the L-RD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L-RD; {11.3} And shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the L-RD: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: {11.4} But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked. {11.5} And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins. {11.6} The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. {11.7} And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. {11.8} And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. {11.9} They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the L-RD, as the waters cover the sea. {11.10} And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Nations seek: and His rest shall be glorious.

What is this rest Yeshayahu was talking about? It is none other than the seven thousandth year, which is the year represented by the Feast of Sukkot. It is for this reason Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Zeman Simchateinu - The Time of our Rejoicing). Mashiach will have returned to earth and He will be tabernacling with His people for one thousand years. Seven is HaShem's number of completion and perfection. The moed of Sukkot is a picture of this period, therefore it represents the culmination of the world as we know it and the establishment of the one thousand year sabbatical period with Melech Mashiach (King Messiah). The earth will finally get the rest HaShem has promised it so that there will be universal peace and a real new world order under the Mashiach.

Zacharyah / Zechariah {14.9} And HaShem shall be Melech over all the earth: in that day shall there be one L-RD, u'Shmo echad (and his Name one).

So where does Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day fit into all of this? Well the answer to that question cannot be found in Torah, however there is an indication of its association to Sukkot in the Tanach (Hebrew Scripture). Most of the prophets of the Tanach did not see beyond the age of Mashiach, they only saw or should I say, were show by Hashem, up to and including the Messianic Age. However there was one prophet in the Tanach who did see beyond and it is from him and the Brit Chadasha where the answer to our question can come.

Eight by the way is HaShem's number of new beginnings, so Shemini Atzeret therefore must have something to do with new beginnings. Let us take a look at some Biblical new beginning events, which took place on the eighth day. For example in Torah on the eighth day, an ox or a sheep could be taking from its mother and offered unto the L-rd. On the eighth day, a male child is circumcised. On the eighth day, a leper who was healed could be pronounced tahor (clean). On the eighth day, a person who took a Nazarite vow and was accidentally was defiled was cleansed. On the eighth day after Aharon and his sons stood at the entrance to the Mishkan (Tabernacle in the wilderness) they were consecrated for service. In the Tanach Shlomo (Solomon) completed the construction of the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) on the eighth year in the eighth month. I could go on, for there are many others but I think we get the point. Eight is HaShem's number of new beginnings. Therefore what is the new beginning associated with Shemini Atzeret? The prophet Yeshayahu gives us that answer:

Yeshayahu {66.22} For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says HaShem, so shall your seed and your name remain.... {65.17} For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.... {60.18} Violence shall no more be heard in your land, wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. {60.19} The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: but HaShem shall be unto you an everlasting light, and your G-d your glory. {60.20} Your sun shall no more go down; neither shall your moon withdraw itself: for HaShem shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.

Yeshua's talmid (apostle) Yochanan was given the identical vision, however in keeping with the progressive illumination of the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant) through Yochanan we are given some additional details about this Shemini Atzeret.

Hitgalut / Revelations 20:7 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 20:8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 20:9 They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the holy ones, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from G-d, and devoured them. 20:10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 20:11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 20:12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Sheol gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 20:14 Death and Sheol were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 20:15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. 21:1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 21:2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from G-d, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband... 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the L-rd G-d, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 21:23 The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of G-d illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

What significance therefore does this have for us today? I think Yeshua's talmid Kefa (apostle Peter) has that answer for us.

Kefa Beit / 2 Peter 3:5-13 3:5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of G-d; 3:6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 3:7 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 3:8 But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the L-rd as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9 The L-rd is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 3:10 But the day of the L-rd will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 3:11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of G-d, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Yaacov) Farber

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