“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation’” (Lev. 23:23,24)
The twelve months of the Hebrew calendar are important for us to understand. There are two different calendars given to us by God. The first is known as the civil calendar. It is referenced in the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Exodus 12. The first month in the civil calendar is called Tishrei. On the first day of Tishrei, Rosh HaShanah is celebrated commemorating the first day of a new year. Rosh HaShanah means “Head Of The Year.”
The second calendar is called the religious calendar. The religious calendar is referenced from Exodus 12 to Revelation 22.
We may wonder why God gave two calendars. These calendars were given to help us understand His feasts and set times. We, who know the Lord, also use two calendars in that we experience two birthdays. Our physical birthday is as the “civil calendar” and the day we are born again and receive the Messiah begins our use of the “religious calendar.”
FROM ELUL TO TISHREI
In five days, we will be entering the Eve of Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah). For several weeks at OTC, we have been studying the month of Elul, Restoration, Re-Set, Repentance, Breaking of Old Cycles and, of course, considerably more. We have been in a special season called “Teshuvah” where we are to take time to examine ourselves and see where we need to turn or what we must adjust. We have been given instruction to prepare ourselves to enter into this upcoming new season and new year, 5783. Many believe that the year 5783 will be a year of great recompense and justice for God’s people.
THE OPENING OF THE GATES
Rosh HaShanah, the first day of the month of Tishrei has many different names and themes. One of the names for Rosh HaShanah is “THE OPENING OF THE GATES.” It is believed that the gates of Heaven are opened on this day. In Psalm 118:19-20 we read “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I WILL GO THROUGH THEM, and I will praise the Lord.” This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter.
The only people who can go in and out of these gates and THE gate are the “righteous ones.” As we are in this season, we must judge ourselves. Thankfully, we are able to go into the courts of the LORD. But, we can only enter one way, and that is by entering with thanksgiving and praise. We must have clean hands and a pure heart. We must not backbite or slander our neighbors. We must honor those who fear the LORD; and as we do these things, we will not be moved.
