Rosh Chodesh / New Moon
The lunar month, or synodic month, is an average of 29.53 days long [ref]. This is how long it takes for the Moon to go completely around the Earth as the Earth goes around the Sun. Moon phases, or lunar phases, as the Moon goes around the Earth are shown below in the picture [ref].
A lunar year lasting 12 months has about 354 days (29.53 x 12 = 354.36). A solar year, or tropical year, is about 365 days (365.24) [ref]. So, the lunar year is about 11 days short of the solar year. This means after 3 years the lunar year will be 33 days behind the solar year. If an extra 13th month is added to the lunar year, the lunar year will catch up to within 3 days of the solar year. This is why a 13th month is added to a lunar year every 2 to 3 years. These are just a few facts about the Moon that help us to understand a New Moon.
The New Moon is now days considered the same as the astronomical new moon. This is not what is being talked about in the Bible. The astronomical new moon is when you can not see the Moon, the Moon is dark; the first light of the Moon seen after an astronomical new moon establishes the Biblical New-Moon/Rosh-Chodesh & 1st day of the month that occurs at sunset [ref] [ref]. A Hebrew day goes from sunset to sunset (Lev 23:32). Since the lunar month is an average of 29.5 days, lunar months will sometimes have 30 days and sometimes have 29 days. (Just a note: a 29.5 day month is an average, months can be shorter or longer, I have seen a month with 28 days [if I find it, I will post it here].) Also, If there are 29 days in a month, the month may have 30 days if the weather does not allow for the Moon to be seen on the 29th day. As far as the 13th month being added, there has to be barley ready to harvest for Yom haBikkurim (Day of the First Fruits) (Ex 9:31; 12:1; Lev 23:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14); so, this is the main timing event for the the first month of ha’Aviv/ha’Abib (Nisan) [ref]. If the barely is not ready for Yom haBikkurim, a 13th month has to be added so the barley will be ready on the 1st month of ha’Aviv/ha’Abib (Nisan).
If we want to understand what a New Moon is, we need to understand more about the Moon. (If you have read Dalet, Yod, the Marriage, and the Wedding articles of WhyAlive, you will already understand most of this. This will just be bringing everything together. If you have read all the material before you can skip down to the red dividing line.)
(This section between the white lines is from the Dalet article.)
The light, representing the LORD, that was made and separated from the darkness on Day One of Creation was brought together on the 4th day into two (bayit/tabernacle) physical spheres (see Symbolism of Shape), the Sun and the Moon, to represent the LORD the SON YESHUA ha’MASHIACH (JESUS the MESSIAH/CHRIST), who is both fully man (represented by the Moon) and fully GOD (represented by the Sun) in physical form (Gen 1:3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) (Mal 4:2; Isa 60:19, 20; Luk 23:45; Mt 17:2; Mrk 16:2; Rev 21:23). The circle and sphere have no beginning or ending point, just as the LORD has no beginning or ending. The Sun being gas represents the spiritual nature of YESHUA the LORD; while the solid Moon represents YESHUA in the flesh. The Sun and Moon appear to be the same size, representing the same person of YESHUA.
YESHUA is the First and the Last, the Aleph and Tav in Hebrew (Alpha and Omega in Greek), a title given to the LORD who has no beginning or end (Rev 22:13). The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, ‘Aleph, has a number value of “1”; while the last letter of the Alephbet, Tav, has a number value of “400” [ref]. Using the circumference of the Moon as one unit (10,921 km = 1), the Sun’s circumference is 400 units (Suns radius = 695,500 km, Sun’s circumference=2πr=4,369,955 km) (4,369,955/10,921=400.14). The length of the Sun’s circumference is 400 times longer than the circumference of the Moon. So, the Sun and the Moon that represent YESHUA ha’MASHIACH also represent HIM as being the First and the Last.
(This section between the white lines is from the 7th Step of 12 Steps; 4th Step of 8 Steps: Ketubah (started) Marriage article.)
Jhn 1:1, 14 talks about YESHUA being the Word, “and the Word became flesh” (Jhn 1:14). We know the Word is also the Ketubah/Marriage-Contract. The Sun and the Moon were made on the 4th Day of Creation (Gen 1:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). So, if the 4th Day of Creation is to be the 4th step of the 8 steps of marriage, then the Sun and the Moon in Shamayim/the-Heaven(s) have to represent YESHUA/the-Word in Shamayim/the-Heaven(s) with the FATHER. The Ketubah would then be represented in the Sun and Moon as the marriage covenant seen on ‘Aretz/Earth and being from the FATHER in Shamayim/the-Heaven(s). In Psm 19:4, 5, the Sun is represented as the Groom/YESHUA “coming out of HIS chuppah” (Psm 19:5). Psm 84:11 likens the Sun to the LORD. Psm 89:36 makes YESHUA’s throne to be like the Sun. Jhn 8:12; 9:5 states YESHUA is the “Light of the world.” Mt 4:16 points to YESHUA being a Great Light, the same title for the Sun and the Moon in Gen 1:16. And, Mal 4:2 is using the Sun in place of YESHUA, the Son of Righteousness. If “GOD is Light” (1 Jhn 1:5), then that Light being born into physical form would be like the LORD being born as the man of YESHUA.
So, the Sun and the Moon represent the LORD-the-SON/YESHUA/the-Light-of-the-World/the-Word/the-Ketubah/the-Marriage-Contract. Gen 1:14 even states the lights (Sun & Moon) are to be for signs (H226). The Hebrew word for signs is Aleph-Tav with the Hebrew letter Wav/Vav (H2053) in the middle as a vowel. Wav (H2053) is the 6th Hebrew letter representing a hook/joiner or the flesh of a man which is a tabernacle where the SPIRIT of the LORD is joined with the spirit of man (1 Cor 6:19) [ref] [ref]. So, the Sun and the Moon are to be “signs”: physical/flesh representations of the the man of Aleph-Tav, WHO is YESHUA. And, in Gen 1:16, 18 we find the Sun and the Moon are made “to rule the day … and … the night” (Gen 1:16) and “to govern/reign/rule in/by day and in/by night” (Gen 1:18). And so, YESHUA, WHO is represented through the Sun and Moon, has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth and will rule the day (and those of the day) and the night (and those of the night) forever (Mt 28:18; Rev 11:15). HE will rule through and with HIS Word/Scripture/Law/Ketubah (also represented by the Sun and the Moon) that will never pass away (Mt 28:35).
If the Sun and Moon are also representing the Marriage Contract, where is the writing on the Sun or Moon?
(This section between the white lines is from the Yod article. If you would like to understand this section better, you can read the Ancient Hebrew section.)
Now, let us look at the ear.
If you have read The Skull and The Flesh, you know there is a man with raised hands in the ear that matches the 10th Hebrew letter of Yod.
The outline of the person in the ear above is the same outline that is below on the Moon.
And, I believe that looks like a sun above the head. YESHUA is represent as the Head and the Sun; and in Revelation, YESHUA’s face/head is shining like the Sun (Rev 1:16). There also seems to be a Moon over by the hand. And, the hand and the Moon both represent the Church/Body-of-YESHUA. Also, the hand where the fingers would be are cubed just as they are on a person’s hand. Those fingers have 12 sections to represent the foundational 12 tribes of Yisra’el/Israel and the 12 Apostles of YESHUA. And, the length and width of that cubed area in the hand of the Moon is the same as the length of Yisra’el/Israel.
Blessed be the LORD, our GOD, KING of the Universe, the One holy LORD to WHOM belongs praise and glory and honor forever and ever.
(This section between the white lines is from the 7th Step of 12 Steps; 4th Step of 8 Steps: Ketubah (started) Marriage article.)
That Hebrew letter that is writing on the Moon is the Hebrew letter Yod. Yod has the meaning of “The LORD’s Hand of Power lifting into HIS hand (presence) the LORD’s Family (in covenant relationship with HIM) from exile/sin by the Arm of the LORD (YESHUA) with praise” (see Ancient Hebrew Map). (That was written several years ago without my understanding of the Moon representing the Ketubah.) That sounds exactly like a promised covenant between the LORD and the-Bride/the-Church written on the Moon like a ketubah. The Yod points to the Arm of GOD. It is the Arm of GOD that lifted Yisra’el/Israel out of Mitzrayim/Egypt.
The pharaoh’s land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) (H4714) is similar to the Hebrew word metzarim (H4712), which is the plural of pain/anguish/distress and symbolizes the unclean world full of sin and death we are to flee from with the help of the LORD as HE lifts us up out of the slavery from the world and sin to bring us to HIMSELF just as HE brought the Sons of Yisra’el/Israel out of Mitzrayim/Egypt. The LORD did this with 4 promises (that go with 4 cups of wine) that are taught throughout a Pesach/Passover sedar when remembering when the LORD brought Yisra’el/Israel out of Mitzrayim/Egypt on Pesach/Passover. They are “I will bring you out from under the burdens of Mitzrayim/Egypt,” “I will deliver/rescue you from their bondage/labor/work,” “I will redeem you with a stretched-out/spread-out arm/zero’a (H2220)” (the 3rd promise and cup), and “I will take you to ME as MY people” from Ex 6:6, 7. Then, every time a plague is brought upon Mitzrayim/Egypt, Mosheh (Moses) or ‘Aharon (Aaron) are told to use their staff/rod/scepter and raise/stretch-out their yad/hand (Ex 7:17; 8:5, 6, 16, 17; 9:22, 23, 29; 10:12, 13, 21, 22). This is true until the last plague when all the people are to eat the Pesach/Passover lamb with their staff in their hand (Ex 12:11). And, Exodus 7:17 reads, “Now says the-LORD/YEHOVAH, ‘By this you will know that I (am) the-LORD/YEHOVAH; look, I will strike in/by/with (the) rod/staff/scepter which/who/that (is) in/by/with MY yad/hand upon the waters…” Mosheh/Moses is the one holding the rod/staff/scepter (Ex 7:15), but it is the LORD speaking? Then, the LORD says, “Say to ‘Aharon/Aaron, take your rod/staff/scepter and stretch out your yad/hand upon (the) waters…” (Ex 7:19). The LORD is calling ‘Aharon/Aaron HIS yad/hand and at the same time making ‘Aharon/Aaron a representation of HIMSELF. We know ‘Aharon/Aaron becomes the high priest that represents YESHUA the Hand/Yad/Arm. Mosheh/Moses was a shepherd (Ex 3:1). And, the rod/staff/scepter are being spoken of as representing each other. So, the high priest and the rod/staff/scepter and the yad/hand/arm are all representing YESHUA. And, YESHUA is our Shepherd (Heb 13:20). By using the rod/staff/yad/hand to bring the plagues, the LORD delivered Yisra’el/Israel out of Mitzrayim/Egypt with a mighty arm/hand that represented HIMSELF and the Body/Church (‘Aharon/Aaron/Mosheh/Moses/Son’s-of-Yisra’el) working together. This is why when Mosheh/Moses threw the staff/rod/scepter on the ground it became a serpent (Ex 7:9, 10); because, YESHUA came down from Shamayim/Heaven(s) to the earth/ground and became like a snake (take on our sin and its death). Now, if we look at all these items that are representing YESHUA, they all look similar. The seed with root looks like the snake that looks like a rod/staff/scepter that looks like the arm with a hand. This is why in Psalms 23:4 it is “YOUR Rod and YOUR Staff” that “comfort me.”
The word zero’a (that is in the 3rd promise of Ex 6:6 that makes up the 3rd cup of wine that is the communion representing the blood of the marriage covenant of YESHUA) is also what is called the Pesach/Passover lamb on the Pesach/Passover seder plate and is the “Arm” of the-LORD/YEHOVAH spoken of in Isa 53:1 that refers to YESHUA. YESHUA is the Pesach/Passover Lamb WHO will/has bring/brought us out from under the burdens of the world (Jhn 15:19), will/has deliver(ed) us from the bondage of the sin of the world (Rom 7:14, 24, 25), will/has redeem(ed) us through HIS sacrifice as the Pesach Lamb on the Cross with stretched-out arm (Gal 3:13), and will/has take(n) us to HIMSELF as a People/Family-of-the-LORD (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 21:3).
“And said GOD/ELOHIM, “be luminary/lights/chandelier in/with/on/by expanse/firmament/visible-arch-of-sky (of) Hashshamayim/Heaven(s) for/to divide/separate bayin/between/byn (H996) the day and bayin/between/byn the night, and they be for/to signs/signals/marks/miracles/monuments/flags (H226) and for/to mo’adim/seasons/appointed-times/festivals/assemblies/meetings (H4150) and for/to days/times/periods/space-of-times (H3117) and years/[to-repeat/do-again/change/alter] (H8141)/[H8138]” (Gen 1:14).
Mo’adim (H4150), meaning “seasons/appointed-times/festivals/assemblies/meetings,” is also translated as “congregations” in some translations, but this is only for the Tabernacle when it is called the “Tent of the Congregation,” which can be translated the “Tent of Meeting/Assembly.” Mo’adim are also what the LORD’s holidays/festivals are called (Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4). As we have been and are establishing, the LORD’s feast/holidays are anniversary days of the steps of the marriage HE has with HIS Bride the Church.
We established the Light is representing the LORD. Gen 1:5 states, “And HE called/proclaimed, GOD/ELOHIM, onto/for/to (H7121) Light, “Day,” and onto/for/to darkness/obscurity/misery/destruction/death/wickedness HE called/proclaimed night/a-turning-away-from-Light/adversity …” The Light that represents the LORD is being called or proclaimed as “Day.” What is a “Day”? YESHUA stated there was 12 hours to a “Day” in Jhn 11:9. It is the daylight during the time ‘Aretz/Earth takes to rotate once in 24 hours. The Sun and its light that forms the daylight called “Day” are representing the unchanging LORD (Jam 1:17; Psm 55:19; Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8). ‘Aretz/Earth is representing man from where man came from, its dirt/dust (Gen 2:7). It is ‘Aretz/Earth that turns away from the light or toward the light, just as man turns away from the LORD or toward the LORD. The LORD and the light were and are the same and unchanging. But, the term “Day” is a part of the turning of ‘Aretz/the-Earth. It is as though the LORD is proclaiming the Light/LORD would be proclaimed as a man. Not any man, but a man of light, a righteous sinless man. And so, YESHUA the LORD was and is proclaimed as the Light of the World, a righteous and sinless man (Jhn 8:12; 1 Jhn 3:5; Heb 4:15).
The night is representing anything without the light of GOD: evil, death, sin, and those who are one/united with the darkness. To divide between the light/day and the night/darkness is to separate the two and set apart the light as holy (qadosh/kadosh (H6942) means “holy/set-apart”). This setting apart is what the LORD did with Yisra’el/Israel when HE was establishing a marriage covenant with them (Lev 20:26). Even the the word “Hebrew” (H5680) means “the one from beyond.” A covenant/agreement was established by dividing a sacrifice in two and walking between them as shown when the LORD formed a covenant with ‘Abram in Gen 15:9, 10, 11, 17, 18. The Hebrew word for “son” is ben (H1123) spelled in Hebrew “bn”. If YESHUA is the SON that is the Sacrifice for the world (Jhn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Jhn 4:10; Jhn 3:16), then the SON was divided for the LORD to form a covenant with man. The Hebrew word for between is spelled “byn” (H996). So, “bn” or “son” has been divided by the Hebrew letter Yod. The statement in Gen 1:14 is “be (the) Lights/Sun&Moon to divide the-SON-with-a-Yod/between the day and divide the-SON-with-a-Yod/between night.” And, on the Moon that represents the SON is a Yod in the middle.
Gen 1:14 states, “… and for days and years.” Why are months left out? What is a year? A year is the time it takes ‘Aretz/Earth to go around the Sun once. Once again, the Sun is the one unchanging to ‘Aretz/Earth that moves around it. A day is like a year (Lev 25:2, 3, 4; Num 14:34; Ezek 4:6). Both the day and the year are based off ‘Aretz/the-Earth rotating/turning or going in a circle around the Sun, where a month is about the Moon going around ‘Aretz/Earth one time in a month. If one day is like a man, then days is like many men and years is like many generations of men as a year has many days. Psm 61:6, Psm 102:24, and Joel 2:2 (the word translated “for” at the end of the verse is “years”) all point to years representing generations (of men). So, the statement of “and they be for signs/physical-representations-of-the-man-of-Aleph-Tav-WHO-is-YESHUA and for appointed-times/the-LORD’s-festivals-&-anniversary-days-of-the-steps-of-the-marriage and for days/men and years/their-generations” sounds more and more like a marriage between the LORD the SON, YESHUA, and men and their generations who accept HIS marriage proposal.
(This section between the blue lines is in the 4th Wedding Step of the Bride Circling the Groom.)
During the wedding, the groom enters under the chuppah/huppah/wedding-canopy first as head of the home. The bride then comes and circles the bridegroom seven times under chuppah/huppah. This seems to be an ancient custom. The chuppah/huppah is like the mountain under a thick cloud where the Sons of Yisra’el/Israel said “we do” to the LORD (Ex 19:8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20; 24:3, 7). They also circled Mount Sinay/Sinai before saying “We do” [ref] [ref]. The bride coming to the groom is like the Church coming to YESHUA as HE brings them into the clouds in the promised Kingdom of Heaven, which is also like when Yehoshua/Joshua brought Yisra’el/Israel into the Promise Land. When Yisra’el/Israel entered the Promise Land, they circled Yericho/Jericho seven times (Josh 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). You can not see it in the English, but Yericho (H3405) is spelled two ways, Y-R-Y-CH-U or Y-R-CH-U. Y-R-CH is the Hebrew word (H3394) that means “Moon.” The “U” can be the suffix “HIS.” So, Yericho can mean “HIS Moon.” The Moon points to YESHUA as the LORD/GOD in the flesh of a man as discussed above.
The other spelling of Yericho has R-Y-CH, which is the Hebrew word riach (H7306) “to smell” or reach (H7381) “fragrance.” The prefix/suffix of “Y-_-_-_-U” is “they will” or “they will be made.” So, the Y-R-Y-CH-U spelling can mean “they will be made fragrant” or “they will smell.” Also, with the circling of 7 times compared to the seven fold SPIRIT [ref], the Hebrew word for the SPIRIT of R-U-CH that is Ruach (H7307) comes to mind. The difference between R-U-CH for the SPIRIT and R-Y-CH for “fragrance” is a vowel. “U” represents a person, as in the Person of the LORD the SPIRIT [ref]. The Yod, “Y,” represents “the Body-of-YESHUA/the-Church being brought into the House/Tabernacle of the LORD in HIS presence, as represented by the arm/Yod, and to be joined with the LORD” [ref]. So, moving from the “U” of R-U-CH to the “Y” of R-Y-CH is like the Church being surrounded and filled with the SPIRIT. So, the circling of Yericho/Jericho 7 times can mean “the Bride/the-Church being brought into the House/Family of the LORD/YESHUA/the-Moon/the-Groom in HIS presence to be joined with and surrounded by the LORD the SPIRIT being made fragrant (in the righteousness of the LORD).” SS 8:9, 10 compares the bride/wife to a wall and Rev 21:2, 3, 14 shows how the Church/Bride also makes up the foundation with Rev 21:9, 10, 11, 12 also calling the Bride/Wife a wall. Yisra’el/Israel/the-Church circled the city of Yericho/Jericho 7 times and the walls of the city were brought down. So, as the bride is circling the groom, the walls set up against her are being broken down while at the same time the bride is being established as the foundation and wall of the new house/family that is being established in the union of the groom with the bride. We also find in the Song of Songs (which compares the groom with the LORD and the bride with the Church) the word for bride is written 7 times.
This step of the wedding was brought up in the 7th step of 12 steps or the 4th step of 8 steps of the marriage. The 7th day of the week is a day of rest called the Shabbat/Sabbath, and the 7th year is a year of rest for the land called the Shemiththah (Shemitah) (Ex 20:8, 9, 10, 11; Lev 25:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). A day is like a year (Lev 25:2, 3, 4; Num 14:34; Ezek 4:6). Both the day and the year are based off the Earth rotating/turning or going in a circle around the Sun. And, since the 7 years of a Shemiththah/Shemitah would be the Earth circling the Sun 7 times, we can see how this is like the Bride (Earth) circling the GROOM (Sun) 7 times. Since the day is like a year, the 7th day Shabbat/Sabbath is like the 7 year Shemiththah/Shemitah. We have been going over how the 6th Day of Creation is the 6th of the 8 steps of marriage. In the Timeline, it was explained how ‘Adam sinned the same day he was created because he had just named all the animals, then woman was made on the 6th Day, and then they sinned before ‘Adam gave his wife a name (the LORD and ‘Adam keep saying “the woman” as though she does not have a name, but the LORD states ‘Adam’s name instead of saying “the man”) (Gen 2:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 1:27, 31; 3:6, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20). This means the verses of Gen 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 that contain the 7th Day Shabbat/Sabbath are right in the middle of the verses about the 6th Day of Creation (Gen 1:24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 31; 2:7 to all the way through the 3rd chapter). It is like the 7th Day Shabbat/Sabbath representing the circling of the groom by the bride is being represented in the wedding of the 6th Day of Creation.
The whole chapter of Leviticus 16 is about Yom Kippurim (when Mosheh/Moses delivered the 2nd set of Two Tablets). The blood of the bull for the sin offering is for the High Priest and his family (Lev 16:11), and the blood of the goat for the sin offering is for the people of Yisra’el/Israel (Lev 16:15). In the steps of the process, Lev 16:18 combines the blood of the bull and goat together so all the Bride/Church is represented [Mishnah Yuma 5:4]. Then, we find in Lev 16:18 the blood representing the Bride circles/saviv/sabib (H5439) the golden-altar/altar-of-incense in the Holy Place [Mishnah Yuma 5:5]. This circling is only done once, but what is interesting is the Hebrew word for “circling” is exactly 7 words away from the Hebrew words for “seven times” (Interlinear: Lev 16:18 and Lev 16:19, Hebrew is read right to left. The Hebrew word for “circling” is the last word of verse 18.). The “circling” is seven words from “seven” if we include “circling” in the count. The “circling” is seven words from “times” if we exclude “circling” from the count. So, what is the golden altar that is being circled ‘seven times’? The blue part of this discussion of this step of the wedding will show that the golden-altar/altar-of-incense is a tabernacle representing YESHUA, the Tabernacle/Body of GOD, that is standing at the door (veil of the Holy of Holies, which is where the golden altar stands) (Jhn 10:7, 9; 14:6; Rev 3:20; 21:3; Jhn 1:14, the word “dwelt” (G4637) in Jhn 1:14 is “to-tent/tabernacle”). You can continue to the next part, if you do not want the details. But, all this means that there is a representation of the Groom being circled by the Bride in the wedding day of Yom Kippurim as established in the Exodus from Mitzrayim/Egypt.
These are the details: You will need to watch the Heaven and Hell Movie, as most of this material will be pulling from that material. The golden-altar/altar-of-incense is 1 cubit/’ammah wide and 1 cubit/’ammah long and 2 cubits/’ammatayim tall (Ex 30:1, 2). From the movie, you know the Holy Place is in the same shape as the golden altar, the golden altar is just scaled down and sitting vertical instead of horizontal. The golden altar is the only item in the Tabernacle that has dimensions that are in the same ratio as the Tabernacle/Holy-Place. The Holy Place is a representation of Geenna/Gehenna/Lake-of-Burning-Fire-and-Sulfur that is in the Earth and so is earthly/physical in nature. Also, in the article “The Flesh” (2nd part to “The Skull“) along with the movie, we can understand the Holy of Holies is cubed and is a representation of the City of Heaven that is a part of Heaven. As the Heaven is also the sky and spiritual represented by the sky, the golden altar could be seen as a complete Tabernacle with a visible physical Holy Place below and an invisible spiritual Holy Place above. Then, this golden altar tabernacle is standing in front of the veil/door to the Holy of Holies, the same veil/door that ripped when YESHUA died on the Cross to allow a Believer to enter into the presence/face of the LORD in the Holy of Holies that is/will-be the City of Heaven.
Also, it would take 7 months for the Bride as represented by the Moon to circle the body of the Groom as represented by the Earth. The LORD’s holidays start in the spring on the 1st month with Pesach/Passover (Ex 12:2, 3, 11), and Yom Kippurim is 7 months later in the fall (Lev 23:26), right on time for the Bride to be represented as circling the GROOM 7 times by the wedding day.
Why 7? Besides the 7 fold SPIRIT being involved, the Hebrew word for 7 is sheva’ (H7651). A Hebrew word with the same spelling but different memorized vowels is shava’ (H7650) that means “to swear/take-an-oath.” So, as the bride/wife is circling 7 times she is proclaiming an oath to be in union and a part of of the house of the groom.
Right at the beginning of Revelation we see 7 lampstands representing the Church/Bride circling the SON/GROOM (Rev 1:12, 13, 17, 18, 20). And Rev 3:20 states, “I stand at the door.”
Now, we can see why “month” is not in Gen 1:14, because the month is about the Moon circling ‘Aretz/the-Earth, which will be explained later. Gen 1:14 is about the marriage where the Bride/the-Church/Earth/’Aretz turns from sin and darkness toward the SON and circles the GROOM/SON/Sun 7 times in an oath to HIM. And, since 7 years would be circling the Sun 7 times, we can see how this is like the Bride circling the GROOM 7 times and why that is important and a part of the wedding/marriage. Like the 7th day of the week being a day of rest called the Shabbat/Sabbath, the 7th year is a year of rest for the land called the Shemiththah (Shemitah) (Ex 20:8, 9, 10, 11; Lev 25:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). So, now we can see one way the Shabbat and the Shemiththah point toward the marriage covenant of the LORD with the Church.
As stated in step 3 of the 8 steps of marriage, on the 6th Day of Creation, GOD made/created man in the LORD’s image with a mind/heart, body, and spirit when the LORD breathed the Breath of GOD into the man’s nostrils (Gen 1:26, 27; 2:7). The LORD at this point has come face to face with man, talking with him for the 1st time, and the man has a perfect sinless glorified body redeemed from ‘Aretz/the-Earth (was not until man sinned and fell that this changed). We know this time of the 6th Day of Creation started the beginning of the year in the fall (what is now called Rosh-ha’Shanah/Head-of-the-Year/New-Year’s-Day), because during the time of Noach/Noah, 5 months in the Scripture had 150 days starting with what was the 2nd month of the year (Gen 7:11; 8:3, 4); and, during the winter is the only time of year there are sometimes 30 day months back to back. This means ‘Adam had to be born the 1st month of the year in the fall time. The Moon was created with the Sun on the 4th Day. The Sun and Moon appear together in the sky/Heaven(s)/Shamayim at an astronomical new moon. As the astronomical new moon is dark for about a day, the Moon was not seen until the 5th Day of Creation at sunset, making the 6th Day of Creation a New-Moon/Rosh-Chodesh, or the 1st day of what at that time was the 1st Month. The beginning of months changed to the spring during the Exodus (Ex 12:2).
After 3 days when Yisra’el/Israel was prepared/sanctified/purified/pronounced-clean, the LORD came down from the mountain after the sound of a shofar/ram’s-horn-trumpet was heard within the darkness of the thick cloud/smoke (Ex 19:10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20; Heb 12:18). Then, the LORD spoke to the people at the same time the shofar trumpet sound was heard (Ex 19:19; 20:18, 19). The voice of the LORD is like the shofar trumpet sound, and the shofar trumpet sound represents the LORD’s voice (Rev 1:10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18).
Silver trumpets had to be made to be blown when the LORD would have Yisra’el/Israel move camp (Num 10:2). These trumpets would have been made and sounded before Yisra’el/Israel moved from Mount Sinay/Sinai when the Angel of the LORD led them to the Promise Land. So, we have the trumpet sounded before the SON/YESHUA comes after the House of the LORD is finished. The last of the 7 soundings of the trumpets listed in Numbers 10:10 is to sound the trumpets “in/on (the) day (of) your gladness/joy and in/on your mo’adim/seasons/appointed-times/festivals/assemblies/meetings (H4150) and in/on (the) beginning/head (H7218) (of) months (H2320)…” The beginning of a month being called Rosh-Chodesh/a-New-Moon. Yom Teru’ah is the only one of the LORD’s feasts/holidays that is on a Rosh-Chodesh/New-Moon and is on the 1st day of the 7th Month of ha’Ethanim/Tishri (Lev 23:24, 25; Num 29:1). Since the beginning of months moved to the spring, the 1st day of the 7th Month falls on Rosh-ha’Shanah/Head-of-the-Year/New-Year’s-Day. Yom Teruah is the LORD’s festival of blowing shofar trumpets (Lev 23:24; Num 29:1). Since Rosh-Chodesh/a-New-Moon had to be seen and verified by two witness, no one knew the day or the hour of Rosh Chodesh [Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 2:6]. So, Yom Teru’ah is sometimes called “the day you do not know the day or the hour” [ref]. The shofar trumpet is also sounded when the LORD, KING of the Universe, comes before men (2 Chron 5:12, 13, 14; Psm 98:6) and when a person becomes a king (1 Kgs 1:34, 39; 2 Kgs 9:13; 11:14; 2 Chron 23:12; 2 Sam 15:10). Because the first time the LORD spoke to man was on Yom-Teru’ah & Rosh-Chodesh/a-New-Moon & Rosh-ha’Shanah/Head-of-the-Year/New-Year’s-Day, this festival/holiday/mo’adim/appointed-time of blowing shofar trumpets is remembering the coming and the voice of the LORD GOD our KING, YESHUA, WHO brings us gladness/joy on the day we do not know the day or the hour with the blowing of the trumpet (Mrk 13:32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37).
During Creation, it is on the 7th “And, said GOD/ELOHIM” (like the 7th trumpet) that the LORD states in Gen 1:24 “to go-out/come-out/exit/go-forth” that in Hebrew is yatza’ (H3318). The first time yatza’ is used is in Gen 1:12 when the Seed that represents YESHUA goes to the Heaven(s) in the 5th/4th/6th step of the 12 steps or the 3rd step of the 8 steps of marriage (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15, 24). The first living flesh that was to “come” to ‘Aretz/the-Earth on the 6th Day after the 7th “And, said GOD/ELOHIM” was the behemah (H929) meaning “livestock/cattle/4-legged-domestic-animal.” It is the 4 legged (related to Dalet) livestock animals of the bull/ox, ram/lamb, and goat that are used for the sacrifices that represent the sacrifice of our LORD YESHUA (Lev 1:2, 3, 5, 10; Heb 10:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). We find in Gen 2:19 that the animals “to go-in/enter/come/go/come-in” (H935) to man/’Adam. So, after the shofar trumpet voice of the LORD being heard for the first time on the 6th Day, the representation of YESHUA comes to mankind on ‘Aretz/Earth.
YESHUA said HE had to leave to go to the FATHER to prepare a room for the Believer and would one day come back in the clouds at the last trumpet to carry away HIS Bride/the-Church to the Wedding (Jhn 14:2, 3; 1 Thes 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17; Acts 1:11). This being carried-away/caught-up/seized/snatched used in 1 Thes 4:17 is called in Greek harpazō (G726), which is where the word “rapture” comes from. This is also the time the Believer will receive a renewed glorified sinless body (1 Cor 15:50, 51, 52, 53; 2 Cor 5:1).
The part where the groom comes for the bride and the bride comes out to the groom and then the groom take the bride back to a house/room/tent built onto his family’s/father’s house can be seen when the servant of Avraham/Abraham/the-father announces he has come to take wife for the son (Gen 24:1, 37), then Rivqah/Rebekah goes to the son Yitzchaq/Isaac (Gen 24:58, 61) who has already come out from his father’s house (Gen 24:62, 63) and the servant states the son is the coming to meet her (Gen 24:64, 65), and the son takes her back to his mother’s tent, a house/room/tent built onto his family’s/father’s house (Gen 24:67). This is also seen in when Mosheh/Moses as servant of the LORD goes to the Sons of Yisra’el/Israel in Mitzrayim/Egypt and announces he has come to take them back to the LORD (Ex 3:10, 12; 4:29, 30), Yisrae’l/the-Bride goes to the mount of the LORD/the-Groom and the LORD the SON comes down the mountain (from the Heaven[s]) to meet them and than takes them up the mountain to eat a marriage supper with them (Ex 19:1, 2, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20; 24:1, 9, 10, 11). We know it is the LORD the SON WHO comes down the mountain because the SON is the one with a body and can eat and drink [ref]. We find the same events occur when YESHUA the SON comes back for HIS Bride the Church. There is an announcement by a servant of the LORD the Son has come, the SON comes from HIS FATHER’s House, the Bride the Church is caught up to the SON, an HE takes the Bride to the FATHER’s-House/Heaven for the wedding and wedding supper (1 Thes 4:16, 17; Jhn 14:2; Rev 14:14, 15, 16; 19:7, 9).
A side note on the timing of the “rapture”: The rapture event is actually listed in Rev 1:7; could say Rev 7:9; in Rev 11:11, 12; in Rev 14:14, 15, 16; could say Rev 19:1, 6, 7, 8, 9; and in Rev 20:4, 5, 6. So, you can see how this might create some confusion. It will happen, regardless of when. Some say we can not know when it will happen pointing to verses like 1 Thes 5:1, 2, and others say we should know pointing to verses like 1 Thes 5:4, 5 and Mt 16:2, 3; Luk 12:56.
(This section between the white lines is from the 1st Step of Veiling of the Wedding article.)
Badeken/Veiling
(1st Step of Wedding)
The Bride is veiled before coming to the Chuppah/huppah, just as Rivqah/Rebekah veiled herself before seeing Yitzchaq/Isaac (Gen 24:65). What is a veil? From Gen 24:65, we could just say it is any covering. But, the specific body part that is being covered with a veil is the face [ref]. There seems to be several types of veils listed in Scripture [ref]. The tsa’ip (H6809) of Gen 24:65; 38:14, 19 is a veil that wraps around. The maseveh (H4533) of Ex 34:33, 34, 35 seems to be some type of covering/mask for the face of a man. The ‘athah (H5844) of Lev 13:45 seems to be to cover the mouth with a hand/covering for sickness rather than a veil. The tsammah (H6777) of SS 4:1, 3; 6:7; Isa 47:2 is a woman’s veil of the face that may be more like the wedding veil of today. The re’alah (H7479) of Isa 3:19 is related to the word ra’al (H7478) meaning “trembling” and the Arabic related word ra’al (H7477) meaning “quiver/shake” pointing to a veil that is thin hanging down that quivers/trembles/shakes (so like the tsammah from a foreign perspective or maybe like the modern Arabic veil worn at all times). The radid (H7289) of SS 5:7; Isa 3:23 is a large veil that may be more like a shawl. All of these fall under veil because they are covering the face.
There is another word translated veil/curtain called in Hebrew the paroketh (H6532). Paroketh is only used for the veil/curtain between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place (Ex 26:33). So, should it be called a veil? The LORD’s face is in the Holy of Holies over the mercy seat (Ex 26:33, 34; 25:17, 21, 22; Lev 16:2). But, what was this veil/curtain for? Lev 16:2 states no one was to enter into the Holy of Holies inside the veil unless done a certain way or they would die. This is right after 2 people died from the fire of the LORD coming out of HIS holy presence and burning the unholiness before HIM in Lev 10:1, 2. So, a man’s unholy condition requires the veil to be in place so the man will not die by the fire of the holy LORD. Since it was man who’s sin causing the need for the veil, this is like the man/Church/Bride placing the veil upon themselves.
From the very beginning in Gen 1:2, darkness like the covering of a veil was upon/over the face/surface of the Earth (Gen 1:2). As man came from the dirt of the Earth, it is like a veil was upon man from the beginning. Creation and the LORD bringing the earth that is man to HIMSELF is like a marriage ceremony of unveiling the Bride/earth/man to be with the Groom in the Light of the LORD.
The hakkapporeth/mercy-seat is the lid for the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:19, 20; 37:8, 9). The hakkapporeth is the singular form of the Hebrew word translated in English as propitiatory/the-mercy-seat (H3727) with the Hebrew word hakkippurim (H3725) being the same Hebrew word with different vowels in the plural form meaning atonements. ‘Yom Hakkippurim’ is the Hebrew phrase for the ‘Day of Atonements’ (Lev 23:27). So, this lid of the Ark of the Covenant can be called the-propitiatory/the-atonement/the-covering-over/the-mercy-seat and is where the blood from the Yom-Hakkippurim/Day-of-Atonements sin offering/sacrifice was sprinkled to make atonement for all of the people (Lev 16:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17). And, YESHUA is called the Propitiation/Atonement/covering-over of our sin (1Jhn 2:2; 4:10; Rom 3:25;). “The wages/salary/reward of sin/missing-the-mark/failure is death” (Rom 6:23). YESHUA paid the wages of our sin to redeem us from death and cover-over our sin. This means the lid of the Ark of the Covenant is representing YESHUA, the Groom. The mercy-seat/hakkapporeth (Groom representation) also has a face that is separated from the people by the veil/paroketh as shown in Lev 16:14.
YESHUA’s body/flesh also represents the veil (Heb 10:20). We have shown in the Marriage article, the Sun and the Moon represent YESHUA. The Moon (representing HIS flesh/body/Body-of-YESHUA that came from the Sons of Yisra’el/Israel having 12 [13] tribes) goes around the Sun 12 [13] times in a year (12 full months and a partial month that can be [or not be] counted as a 13th month in a solar year and is counted if a 13th month is added as a leap month to a lunar year). The Sun represents YESHUA in HIS glory as we can see HIS “face” is like the “Sun” in HIS revealed divine glorified state in Mt 17:2; Rev 1:16; Rev 10:1 with Mal 4:2 using the Sun to represent YESHUA. And, the Earth represents man/mankind that came from the earth and was made from the earth. From Jhn 9:4, 5, when YESHUA was on the Earth was a time of day when the Light was in the world; when HE left to be in Heaven, darkness began. This was not full darkness, as the Believer has YESHUA in them and is called the light of the world (Gal 2:20; Mt 5:14). The Believer is seated in heavenly places and is like the stars of the night as promised to Abraham (Gen 22:17; Eph 2:6). As the Believer is also in YESHUA (2 Cor 5:17) and both YESHUA and the Body-of-YESHUA/the-Church are seated in heavenly places (Eph 1:20; 2:6), the Moon in the Heaven(s) represents both the body of YESHUA and the Body-of-YESHUA/the-Church. But, just as the Moon has a time of full darkness during the month (called an astronomical new moon), there will be a time of darkness that is coming when no work can be done as stated in Jhn 9:4. Of course, the darkness of sin and its death representing man that has turned away from the light of the LORD is represented in the half of the Earth that has turned from the light of the Sun to the darkness of the night. And, the half of the Earth in light of the Sun during the day is representing man that has turned away from the darkness of night toward the light of the LORD. A solar eclipse happens during the day when the dark Moon (flesh/body/Body-of-YESHUA/YESHUA-WHO-has-taken-on-our-sin-and-its-darkness) like a veil comes between the Sun (Groom) and the Earth (mankind who are seeking the LORD in the light of the day) covering the Earth in darkness like a bride who veils herself in darkness before her groom. All authority has been given to YESHUA in Heaven and upon the Earth (Mt 28:18). As YESHUA became a man made from the dirt of the Earth and YESHUA is in the Believer’s unholy body represented by the same Earth (Rom 8:10), the Earth can also represent the man of YESHUA in the Body/the-Church. It was after YESHUA died on the Cross and arose to the right hand of the FATHER that night started. So, in the darkness of night, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon (the Bride of YESHUA in CHRIST seated in the Heavens) is veiled by the shadow of the Earth (YESHUA’s taking upon HIMSELF a man’s body, his sin, and his death upon the Cross) from the light of the Sun (Groom). The veil/paroketh is then removed from the Bride (Moon) after YESHUA’s death (YESHUA was buried on the night of the full Moon when a lunar eclipse is possible [ref: Timeline (coming soon maybe)]). The Earth is representing the Believer in their flesh while the Moon is representing the Believer in their spirit that is seated in heavenly places. As the Moon goes around the Earth, the Moon/Body-of-YESHUA/the-Bride is veiled in darkness depending on the Earth’s position. We call this the Moon’s phases. As the Earth/man’s-body is farther from the Sun/LORD than the Moon (so the body is more unholy), the Moon/Bride is fully veiled (astronomical new moon). As the Earth/man’s-body is closer to the Sun/LORD than the Moon (a body more sanctified and holy), the Moon/Bride is more and more unveiled (moving toward a full moon). This is as “if a-person/one shall have turned to the LORD, the veil is taken-away/cast-off” (2 Cor 3:16). And, 1 Cor 13:12 speaks of then we will see the LORD face to face, but for now it is partially veiled.
As noted above during the betrothal, the Jewish husband and wife used to be separated for a year or more. Nowadays, the husband and wife are separate for 1 to 7 days, and on the day of the wedding, the husband veils the bride so he does not end up with a different wife like Ya’aqov/Jacob did (Gen 29:23, 25) [ref]. It was and is fear that changed this step. The example we have in the Scripture is the bride veils herself, not the groom. We see this with Rivqah/Rebekah in Gen 24:65. We also find Mosheh/Moses on Yom Kippurim placing a veil on his face like a bride when he was before the people, but then the veil is removed when he is before the face of the LORD (the LORD being like the groom) (Ex 34:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35). The English translations of Ex 34:34 have a “he,” as in Mosheh/Moses, taking the veil off, but the “he” could just as easily be “HE,” as in the LORD took the veil off. This does not occur in the Hebrew when Mosheh/Moses is putting on the veil; it is definitely Mosheh/Moses putting on the veil.
(If you came to this section from a link, you may want to start at the beginning of this article if the material does not make sense.)
As noted above, both CHRIST and the Church are represented by both the Earth and the Moon. How can that be? The Moon is representing the spirit of the Believers seated in Heaven with CHRIST WHO’s body is seated at the right hand of the FATHER in the Heaven(s), and so YESHUA’s body is also being represented as the Moon (Eph 1:20; 2:6). Man including the Church in his fleshly body is represent by the Earth, while CHRIST is represented by the Earth in that HE became a man of flesh and took upon HIMSELF our sin and its death. As the Sun represents the spiritual nature of CHRIST in the Heaven(s) and the Moon represents the physical nature of CHRIST in the Heaven(s), then YESHUA as a Heavenly sacrifice is being divided with the Earth representing man walking (with CHRIST in HIS death) between the divided sacrifice to establish an-oath/covenant through CHRIST’s sacrifice. As the circling by the Earth occurs 7 times from the betrothal represented in the 1st Month through Pesach/Passover to the wedding represented in the 7th month in Yom Kippurim, the walking through the middle of the sacrifice to establish the oath is being further confirmed in being done 7 times where 7 is an oath/covenant. As the Sun and Moon are divided with the Earth walking through the middle occurs during a Full Moon when a lunar eclipse can occur, it was also on the 14th day of the 1st Month that YESHUA died on Pesach/Passover taking on our death and was buried on the night of the 15th day with these events occurring during the event of the Full Moon when the shadow/death of Earth can be cast upon the Moon making it blood red in color like a sacrifice is being represented upon the Moon (the representation of the flesh/body of YESHUA) [ref] [ref]. But, also because the Church died and was resurrected in YESHUA’s death and resurrection, the Church is also represented as the Moon participating in the bodily sacrifice of YESHUA.
(This section between the white lines is from the 5th Step of Unveiling of the Wedding article.)
The Unveiling
(5th Step of Wedding)
The LORD’s presence is given as “above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are over the ark of the testimony” (Ex 25:22) in the Holy of Holies behind the veil (Ex 26:33). This is the veil that was ripped in two when YESHUA died on the Cross as though He was removing the veil from those who would join the family of GOD and say “I do” to Him becoming their LORD/GOD/KING/Husband (Mt 27:51; Mrk 15:38; 2 Cor 3:16). So, it is the bride who veils herself as Rivqah/Rebekah did and the groom/husband who removes the veil at this time. It was only on Yom Kippur, the Wedding Day, that the veil to the Holy of Holies could be opened for the High Priest to enter (on behalf of the Bride/LORD’s-people/Church) before the presence of the LORD. So, we have the LORD as the Groom appearing to remove the veil from a bride represented in Mosheh/Moses on the day of Yom Kippurim after bringing the Ketubah/Ten-Commandments/Two-Tablets from the LORD; then, at that time the Covenant/Ketubah is read before the people (Ex 34:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 35:1).
If we are looking at the unveiling of the bride from the perspective of the phases of the Moon (the Moon representing the Body-of-YESHUA/the-Bride), the dark-moon/astronomical-new-moon would represent being fully veiled and the first light of the Moon (actual New Moon) would represent the beginning of the unveiling. Since the 6th Day of Creation was also a Rosh-Chodesh/New-Moon (as established in the 9th step of 12 steps or the 6th step of the 8 steps of marriage), the wedding of the 6th day of Creation has the beginning of the unveiling represented in the Rosh-Chodesh/New-Moon. The phases of the Moon also have an interesting occurrence. The wedding day of Yom Kippurim is on the 10th day of the month. This would correlate to the phase of the Moon on the 10th day after Rosh-Chodesh/the-New-Moon. This photographer’s website shows the Moon phases for each day of the month. We are interested in the photos of a 73-79% Moon that falls on the 10th day of a lunar month. It is on the 10th day we can see the sun (that represents the face of YESHUA the Groom) that is on the Moon. We find that on the 10th day (same as Yom Kippurim wedding day) the veil of darkness is removed to see the face of the sun that is on the Moon.
If the 6th Day of Creation is about the wedding, where is the veiling and unveiling? The Sun’s corona looks like the iris of the eye during an eclipse, with the Moon looking like the pupil of the eye.
GOD is Light (1 Jhm 1:5). If we have seen YESHUA, we have seen the FATHER (Jhn 14:9). The Scripture, called the Word, allows us to understand GOD. YESHUA is the Word that has become flesh (Jhn 1:1, 14). It is through YESHUA that a person can focus and see the nature of the LORD GOD. The Moon represents the body of YESHUA from WHOM we understand GOD. The pupil of the eye is like the Moon. So, the pupil would also represent YESHUA in the flesh. It is through the pupil (Moon/Yeshua in the flesh) that a person can focus and see the colors (nature) of the light (the LORD) (Heb 1:3). The iris would be like the light of the Sun. The white light of the Sun has the colors of the rainbow, with the rainbow being a full circle [ref]. And the circle of the iris is made with the colors of the rainbow with the iris color being red, orange, brown, amber/yellow/gold, hazel, green, blue, or violet [ref]. From “The Skull” article, we learned the backside of YESHUA with HIS arms and hands held up crucified on the Cross can be seen in the Skull.
This would leave the place where the eyes are on the head in the position of the space/sky between the arms and the head/neck. So, we can see that the iris and pupil that represent the Sun and the Moon are in the area on the head that represents the sky where the Sun ad Moon are supposed to be. This means the white of the eyeball could be compared to the clouds in the sky. The eyelid then becomes a veil that is closed bringing darkness to the person closing them or opened to see the light representing the LORD. This means when the LORD caused lethargy/deep-sleep (H8639 from Gen 2:21) to fall upon Adam and Adam closed his eyelids in sleep, Adam veiled himself like a bride before the LORD/GROOM during the 6th Day of Creation wedding (Gen 2:21). Sleep represents death (Jhn 11:11, 12, 13, 14). So, just as YESHUA died on the Cross to open the veil/paroketh to HIS Bride the Church (Mt 27:50, 51), Adam symbolically died when he fell asleep to open the veil/eyelids to his bride, Chavvah/Eve (Gen 2:21, 22, 23, 24). This is why right after the event of Adam closing and opening his eyes Gen 2:24 speaks of the marriage/wedding of a man leaving his father and mother to be joined to his wife, a pronouncement of husband and wife after Adam and Chavvah/Eve where joined together in marriage. But, the first unveiling of Adam (represented as a bride) was by the LORD (represented the Groom) in Gen 2:7 when Adam/man was first brought to life.
The first word of the book of Revelation in the Bible is the Greek word apokalypsis which is where the English word apocalypse comes from. The word apokalypsis (G602) means “revelation” from where the book of Revelation gets its name, so the book could have been called Apocalypse. The word apokalypsis (G602) also means “to uncover/reveal/unveil.” A retranslation WhyAlive style of the first verse of the book of Revelation reads, “(The) Unveiling/uncovering/revealing/revelation (of) YESHUA/JESUS (the) CHRIST/MESSIAH which/that/who GOD gave/offered HIM to exhibit/show/point-out/make-known to-the/the servants/slaves/bond-servants of HIM what/who/which is/are necessary/inevitable/a-duty/proper to come-into-being/be-born/become/come-about/happen/come-to-pass/take-place in/with haste/quickness/speed/immediacy and HE made-it-known/signified-it/gave-a-sign-for-it having sent (it) through/on-account-of/because-of the angel/messenger of HIM to the servant/slave/bond-servant of HIM, John/Ioannes/Yochanan.” It seems Rev 1:1 could state, “The unveiling of YESHUA the CHRIST, which GOD gave HIM to exhibit HIS servants who are necessary to come into being with speed, and made it known having sent it through HIS angel to HIS servant John.” This sounds like a wedding unveiling of Believers/the-Bride by YESHUA the Groom done in haste with speed. This means Revelation/apocalypse is not something for the Believer to fear, but something to be excited about. This is the time of the unveiling and the wedding of the marriage of the LORD and HIS Bride, the Church (Rev 9:7, 8, 9).
All that to state, the Moon represents both the body of YESHUA HIMSELF as the GROOM/HUSBAND from the 12/13 Tribes of Yisra’el/Israel and the Body of YESHUA the Church as the Bride/Wife made up of the 12/13 Tribes of Yisra’el/Israel as a wall that circles the GROOM with a foundation of the 12/13 Apostles built upon the Corner Stone of YESHUA. The GROOM died and arose to break down the old wall of our sin and its death to establish a new union of the GROOM and the Bride through the New-Covenant/Ketubah also represented by the Moon that represents the Word in flesh. The New Moon then represents the beginning of that union; the first light of that union. This is why it is related to the 6th Day of Creation when the LORD joined with man and made him alive. The beginning of the marriage and wedding are being represented in the first light of the Moon known as the Rosh-Chodesh/New-Moon from the first light of the 1st Month through Pesach/Passover to the circling 7 times of the Moon around the Earth in 7 months until the 1st light of Yom-Teru’ah/Day-of-Trumpet-Blast that represent the coming of the GROOM to rapture HIS Bride to HIMSELF at the Last Trumpet at an unknown day and hour.
From 2 Kgs 4:23 and Isa 66:23, the New Moon is being compared to the Shabbat/Sabbath. Isa 1:13 states there is a calling of assemblies for both the New Moon and the Shabbat/Sabbath. Ezek 46:1 states the new future Temple’s east inner court gate will be shut for the 6 working days of the week but open on the 7th day of the week called the Shabbat/Sabbath and is also open “on (the) day (of) the New-Moon/month.” This is showing the New Moon is a rest day instead of a day for working. Then, in Amos 8:5, the people were asking the same question of the Shabbat/Sabbath as they were asking of the New Moon, that is could they work and sell again, showing once again the New Moon is a Shabbat/Sabbath like many of the other Feasts of the LORD. So, the New Moon is a Shabbat/Sabbath of no working and selling when there should be a gathering of the Church. What is the reason to not work and to rest on a Shabbat/Sabbath/LORD’s-Holiday? If you have read the Marriage article, you know all the LORD’s Feasts/Holidays/Sabbaths are anniversaries of wedding/marriage of HIM and HIS Bride, the Church. This marriage, union of the LORD and man, frees/saves man from his sin and its darkness and death (Rom 6:18). Rest is given to man from the darkness and death of his sin. This is not a rest from righteousness but from the works of the flesh. Spiritual work of righteousness still continues as the LORD WHO is good and righteous is always at work (Jhn 5:17). This is why the priest in the Tabernacle/Temple worked more sacrificing more sacrifices on the days of rest.
But, why bring all this up with New Testament verses like Col 2:16? Let us retranslate that verse.
Therefore/then/so, (do) not (let) anyone/someone judge/condemn you in/with (regard) to eating (G1035) and in/with (regard) to drinking (G4213) either in/with respect/part/portion to (a) Feast/holiday or New Moon or Sabbaths.
Col 2:16
Notice, the verse above is about eating or drinking on a Feast or New Moon or Shabbat. It is not about the Feast or New Moon or Shabbat. If it was about food, the Greek words for food like brōma (G1033) or trophē (G5160) could have been used instead of brōsis (G1035). There really is no Old Testament laws about drinking or not drinking on the LORD’s Holidays, except in the event of a Nazarite vow detailed in Num 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. This leads us to understand this verse about some pharisaical teaching of man (not about GOD’s Instruction/Law). And, this is exactly what is stated in Col 2:21, 22 if you are reading Col 2:16 in context of the surrounding verses. There is even today in our time a Jewish man made rule of not fasting on a Shabbat/Sabbath [ref], which is a misinterpretation of Isa 58:13. Man made rules like this and others are more than likely what is being discussed in Col 2:16 as can be understood from Col 2:21.
But what about other verses in Romans 14 and Galatians 4. The same thing happens when these verses are read in context. There is a very good discussion already written about this material found at these links: Rom 14:5, 6 & Gal 4:10. So, the question becomes why would any Believer not want to celebrate the anniversary days of the LORD’s marriage and wedding with us the Bride who are Believers.
One last question. Why, if the New Moon is a Shabbat is it not plainly listed as a Sabbath like the other holidays of the LORD?
(Between the white lines comes from Timing a Wedding found in the Marriage article.)
If you read about the Jewish Wedding, you will find Jewish tradition does not allow the wedding to occur on the LORD’s holidays [ref]. What should be our conclusion on this matter? Yom Kippurim is the only one that represents the wedding day, and all that is required on Yom Kippurim would not allow for an earthly wedding to occur (one example is you could not eat the marriage supper on Yom Kippurim). You would be trying to celebrate an anniversary of a future wedding to the LORD while having a wedding with your spouse at the same time. Yom Teru’ah does point to the beginning of the wedding and is the day Adam and Chavvah/Eve got married as explained above. But, again having a wedding on that day would not work as it is a day of rest to and for the LORD and our union with HIM (Lev 23:24, 25; Num 29:1).
There is one of the LORD’s holidays that a wedding is allowed to be on though. That is on Rosh-Chodesh/Head-of-the-Month/New-Moon, which is a type of Shabbat/Sabbath according to Amos 8:4, 5 with no buying and selling [ref] (Num 10:10; 28:11). Since Yom Teru’ah is a Rosh Chodesh, a Rosh Chodesh wedding would point to the wedding we have with the LORD. One of the reasons you can not get married on Shabbat/Sabbath is there is a legal transaction and money is exchanged [ref], would this not also be true for a marriage on a Rosh Chodesh? I would say yes, if you are having a one day marriage with the betrothal included. Even YESHUA paid the betrothal price (death on the Cross) on the 14th day of the 1st month, which is not a Shabbat. But, if you have already signed everything for the betrothal, exchanged money, and placed the ring on the bride’s right index finger for the betrothal, then the union of husband and wife is the only thing occurring on the wedding day that is placed on a Rosh Chodesh.
So, what if the LORD knew by not plainly stating the New Moon was a Shabbat that the Jews would continue to have weddings on New Moons. This means many Jewish grooms would be sent out by their fathers during the time of the New Moon to have a New Moon wedding. This also means a trumpet/horn/shophar would have been blown to announce the coming of the groom for his bride who did not know the day or the hour he was coming even if she expected he would come during a New Moon, since the day and hour of the announcement of the New Moon was also unknown (see the Marriage article). So, then the Jews would be representing the Jewish KING YESHUA’s coming to rapture HIS Bride to HIMSELF at the trumpet’s announcement at a time of which the day and hour are unknown.
This is just a note that may be expanded later:
Some state the exact Hebrew words of Rosh-Chodesh/New-Moon do not occur in Scripture. This is a false statement as Num 10:10 is one place it is used. There are others as well.