 The new year is approaching and I’m anxiously anticipating the Spring season to come about. It may sound odd for most to hear that the new year is approaching when majority of the world just observed the “new year” on January 1st. Yes, that was the new year according to the Gregorian Roman Calendar, but not according to the Creator of all, YHWH. He set His time perfectly from the very first week of creation. He created the sun and moon to help us know “what time it is.” (Genesis/Bereshith 1:14). I never understood the significance of it or that I was completely out of sync with His timing until I was years into my journey on the Covenant path. In fact, what really got my attention was when I had read that the forces of darkness “intends to change Appointed Times and Law” (Daniel 7:25). Appointed Times (like the new year and Passover for examples) are just as they are described - specific times appointed by YHWH. They must be considerably important for the enemies of YHWH to try and change them. Being in sync with YHWH is critical as we learn from the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew/Mattithyahu 25: 1-13). Five were considered foolish because they were not prepared. While all had slumbered and slept, when the call was made that the Bridegroom was coming, all rose to meet Him but only half of them were prepared and had oil to light their lamps. It wasn’t until I studied the TaNaKh (Tanak) - which are the scrolls compiled into what we know as the “Old Testament” - that I understood what having our “lamps lit” meant. Amazingly, the answer is clear as we read the following verses… “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn, and I confirm, to guard Your righteous right-rulings.” Psalms (Tehillim) 119:105,106 “For the Command is a lamp, and the Torah a light, and reproofs of discipline a way of life.” Proverbs (Mishle) 6:23 YHWH’s Word, His Torah, His loving instructions, and Commands are the light that guide us on the path back to the Father. Yahushua our Messiah is also described as the Word/Torah in the flesh who is the Light and in Him is Life. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All came to be through Him, and without Him not even one came to be that came to be. In Him was Hai (life), and the Hai was the Light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John (Yohanan) 1:1-5 Having our lamps lit shows our Bridegroom (Yahushua) that we have prepared ourselves, that we are ready to enter the Wedding Feast as “good and faithful servants” Matthew/Mattithyahu 25:23). So how can we be a good and faithful servant? Cleary, by following His instructions. One of those instructions is repeatedly taught throughout all of Scripture - the instruction to be set-apart from this world, to distinguish between what is clean and unclean in the eyes of YHWH (Leviticus 19:2, 20:26 / Deut 6:23 / Psalms 101 / Matthew 5:48 / Rev 18:4). There are two previous study blogs I wrote about this very subject. These studies may help you as we continue this discussion of Passover vs. Easter. "Time to clean house" & "Identifying a god" Understanding Passover Most are familiar with the story of the Exodus from Egypt. After nine plagues aimed toward Pharoah and his people, it was finally time for the last and final plague before the redemption of the children of Yisra’el. It was critical that Yisra’el follow YHWH’s instructions in order to be set-apart and not experience the wrath of YHWH which was about to take place, the death of the first-born throughout the land. Here is an excellent example of those who followed His instructions (lamps lit) and those who did not. Those who revered YHWH and honored His directions did as they were told. “And YHWH spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt), saying, ‘This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. Speak to all the congregation of Yisra’el, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to each man’s need you make your count for the lamb. Let the lamb be a perfect one, a year old male. Take it from the sheep or from the goats. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Yisra’el shall kill it between the evenings. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat. And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire – with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire, its head with its legs and its inward parts. And do not leave of it until morning, and what remains of it until morning you are to burn with fire. And this is how you eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Pesah (Passover) of YHWH. And I shall pass through the land of Mitsrayim on that night and shall smite all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, both man and beast. And on all the mighty ones of Mitsrayim I shall execute judgment, I am YHWH. And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let the plague not come on you to destroy you when I smite the land of Mitsrayim. And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a Festival to YHWH throughout your generations – observe it as a Festival an everlasting Law.” Exodus (Shemoth) 12:1-14 It seems clear there were specific instructions that needed to be followed so they could be “covered” or protected from YHWH’s wrath. This was no small thing; it was a matter of life or death. The instructions were important, the timing was important and YHWH seeing the “sign” of the blood determined the outcome. Sadly, I’ve seen a meme circulate every year starting around this time that says, “He didn’t check inside to see who was worthy, He checked the blood on the doorpost”. This thought process can be very misleading if we do not grasp that those inside were obedient to the Father’s instructions. If they had not done as they were commanded, their first-born would have been dead, just as the Egyptians. While I do understand that it is only through the blood of Yahushua (He is the door – John 10:9) that we can approach the Father and have eternal life, we must embrace the whole of His Word and know that only through Yahushua’s blood do we have a chance to be good and faithful servants. Obedience plays a key role here which I believe many overlook. Notice it was obedience coupled with the blood “covering” on the doorpost. Belief also played a huge part. They had to believe the promises of YHWH that if they obeyed His instructions, He would then see the blood and pass by causing no harm to those inside. So, those who believed YHWH’s Word followed His instructions. Please take note of belief coupled with obedience as we will discuss it further in this study.  The Passover Lamb Much time had passed from the Passover in Egypt (1437 BCE) until the Appointed time had come for the Lamb of Elohim, Yahushua ha’Mashiach to be slain (Passover Day 34 CE). Up until that time, there were countless ups and downs as the children of Yisra’el wavered in their faith and obedience (depending on the generation and leaders) and many had succumbed to the nations’ ways around them. While the Levitical Priesthood was in place to temporarily cover sin, it was only momentary, and it was not perfect (Hebrews 7:26-28). The prophetic writings were now about to come to pass. Here is one example of prophecy regarding Yahushua in Isaiah (Yeshayahu): “For He grew up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or splendor that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should desire Him – despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and knowing sickness. And as one from whom the face is hidden, being despised, and we did not consider Him. Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our wickednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And YHWH has laid on Him the wickedness of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, but he did not open His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the shearers is silent, but He did not open His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgement. And as for His generation, who considered that He shall be cut off from the land of the living? For the transgression of My people, He was stricken. And He was appointed a grave with the wicked, and with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was deceit in His mouth. But YHWH was pleased to crush Him, He laid sickness on Him, that when He made Himself an offering for guilt, He would see a seed, He would prolong His days and the pleasure of YHWH prosper in His hand. From the suffering of His life, He would see light and be satisfied. Through His knowledge My righteous Servant makes many righteous, and He bears their wickednesses. Therefore, I give Him a portion among the great, and He divides the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His being unto death, and He was counted with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 53:2-12 Notice that Yahushua is described as a Lamb being led to the slaughter. Further, Isaiah prophesies that through the suffering of His life, He would see light and be satisfied. So just as YHWH saw the blood on the doorposts, He also saw the blood of the slain Lamb of Elohim, Yahushua ha’Mashiach as light and the transgressions of many are covered by that light. Yahushua is also described as the Lamb of Elohim in other verses. “On the next day Yohanan (John) saw Yahushua coming toward him, and said, ‘See, the Lamb of YHWH who takes away the sin of the world!” John (Yohanan) 1:29 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.” And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the qodeshim (set-apart ones). And he said to me “Write, Baruk (blessed) are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ “ And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.” Revelation 19:7-9 Also, Yahushua states during the Passover meal, the following: “And taking bread, giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise, the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the Renewed Covenant in My blood which is shed for you.’ “ Luke 22:19,20 Since walking out my faith and embracing what it means to be set-apart (obedience to His Word) and living my life according to His directions – many have asked if I still sacrifice animals. While I appreciate the sincerity of those who truly want to know, I can easily discern seeking hearts from those who use “sacrifices” as a rebuttal to my convictions and justification of their lawlessness. However, it also shows me who desires to study His Word and who has yet to do so. The letter to the Hebrews is very clear that Yahushua does perfect the Levitical Priesthood by being the ultimate sacrifice and our High Priest. He was the perfect (without blemish) slaughtered Lamb who conquered death and will be our future reigning King in His second coming. He had taken the old Covenant which had been broken by the people and renewed it (not replacing it but refreshing it) just as He was prophesied to do. “Then He said, ‘See, I come to do Your desire, O YHWH.’ He takes away the first to establish the second. By that desire we have been qadosh (set-apart/sanctified) through the offering of the body of Yahushua ha’Mashiach once for all. And indeed every kohen (priest) stand day by day doing service, and repeatedly offering the same slaughter offerings which are never able to take away sins. But He, having offered one slaughter offering for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of YHWH, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being qadosh. And the Ruah ha’Qodesh (Set-apart Spirit) also witnesses to us, for after having said before, ‘This is the Covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says YHWH, giving My Laws into their hearts, and in their minds, I shall write them.’ And ‘Their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall remember no more.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a slaughter offering for sin.” Hebrews (Ibrim) 10:9-18 Let’s examine all the words underlined. “He takes away the first to establish the second”. He takes away the first what? That is clear as we read on that the priests had to perform that sacrificial service daily and repeatedly where Yahushua’s sacrifice was once and for all. And by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being set-apart. Recall that being set-apart is to be covered by the blood of the Lamb, to be clean and to stay clean. Further there is a coupling of the blood with obedience as John quotes from Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) 31:31-33 - YHWH establishes the Renewed Covenant through His Son where YHWH will write His Laws (Torah) into their hearts and in their mind. Thus, taking away the first (Covenant written on stone) to establish the second (Renewed Covenant written on our heats and in our minds). Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a slaughter offering required for sin. How wonderful and how beautiful!! However, there are many who need to take heed. The sacrifice of the Lamb of Elohim does not give us a license to sin. Verses later, the letter to the Hebrews is very clear on this point. “For if we sin purposefully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Ben (Son) of YHWH underfoot, counted the blood of the Covenant by which he was qadosh and common, and insulted the Ruah of favor?” Hebrews (Ibrim) 10:26-29 Can we fall short? Yes, we all fall short, but the key is whether it’s purposefully - knowingly disregarding or breaking His Commands, thus possessing a rebellious heart, and choosing to live in sin. Only through true repentance from the condition of that heart, will we then be forgiven. Scriptures make it clear that Yahushua became the ultimate sacrifice for many. He never said He takes away all the instructions (Torah/Commands) of how to live for YHWH, in fact He states the exact opposite. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Nebi’im (Prophets). I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the shamayim (heavens) and the earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.” Matthew (Mattithyahu) 5:17,18 Sadly, most assume that the English word “complete” or in some translations “fulfill” means to destroy or do away with. If that were the case, then Yahushua would be contradicting Himself from the previous sentence, that He “did NOT come to destroy the Torah.” The better English translation for complete or fulfill is “to fill up with meaning” or “to fully preach” as defined from the Greek word pleroo. Also, we can all agree that both the earth and the heavens are still here, thus the Torah remains. So, more accurately defined, the Lamb of Elohim came to fully preach the Torah. Remember His sheep had gone astray. They were doing their own ways and following the ways of the nations around them, and not following the ways of YHWH. That is why Yahushua is also described as the Shepherd. He came to lead the lost sheep back into the fold. Those sheep need His blood to cover them from the wrath to come and they need to follow the Shepherd to be accepted into life with Him and the Father. Notice Yahushua stating who He came for in Matthew. “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’el.” Matthew (Mattithyahu) 15:24 Let’s also recall in Isaiah chapter 53 (quoted earlier) that “We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way” thus needing the Shepherd to gather us back to the Word, the righteous instructions of Elohim. To be children of Light, we must be walking in the Light. The gospel of John goes into more detail: “He who believes in Him is not judged, but he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only brought-forth Ben (Son) of Elohim. And this is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their works were wicked. For everyone who is practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his works should be exposed. But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, so that his works are clearly seen, that they have been wrought in Elohim.” John 3:18-21 These verses are very heavy and full of information. Here again, Yahushua is described as the Light and remember the Torah is also described as Light. Also, it states that men loved darkness and their works were wicked thus they hate the Light as it exposes their dark deeds. This is clear that if the Light is Yahushua (the Torah in the flesh) then the darkness has to be lawlessness, living in sin (1 John 3:4). Yahushua is also clear about turning from darkness to light during His encounter with Paul (Shaul) on the road to Damascus. Notice what Paul is explaining to Agrippas, Phestos and those in attendance regarding what Yahushua instructs him to do in the book of Acts. “I am Yahushua, whom you persecute, but rise up, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of what you saw and of those which I shall reveal to you, delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and the authority of Satan to Elohim, in order for them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are qadosh (set-apart) by belief in Me.” Acts 26:15-18 Here again, we see a distinction and separation between darkness and light, not a mixing of the two. Paul then assures them that he did as he was instructed to do and that he has been declaring that “…they should repent and turn to Elohim and do works worthy of repentance.” Acts 26:20 We can clearly see how Yahushua feels about lawlessness in Matthew when He states, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai (Master, Master),’ shall enter in the reign of the shamayim, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the shamayim. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, have we not nabu (prophesied) in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!” Matthew (Mattithyahu) 7:21-23 So, to know Him is to obey Him. “And by this we know that we know Him if we guard His Commands. The one who says ‘I know Him,’ and does not guard His Commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever guards His Work, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. Beloved, I write no fresh command to you, but an old command which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the Word which you heard from the beginning.” 1 John (Yohanan) 2:3-7 “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.” John (Yohanan) 3:36 Note: John 3:36 is talking about the coupling of both belief and obedience. In addition, James teaches that you can’t have one without the other. You need both to be set-apart and walk in the Light (James 1:22-25; 2: 12, 14, 17-26).  What is Easter As a little girl “Easter Sunday” was a normal tradition of waking up to a big breakfast, getting dressed into my new Easter dress with matching hat, going to church to watch a dramatization of the death and resurrection of “Jesus”, then participating in an Easter-egg hunt or playing a game where my parents hid an Easter basket somewhere in the house and like a treasure hunt, I had to find it. It was always filled with a bunny shaped chocolate, plastic eggs (that usually had candy, and/or coins and dollar bills) along with a stuffed animal that was… yep, you guessed it – a bunny. Looking back, I know my parents partook in that tradition every year without fail because they loved me and it’s what they grew up doing. While the intentions do come from the heart, it wasn’t until my adult life that I had examined the origins and shockingly discovered that this holiday (among others) was designed to feel good. Even more astonishing was that this “feel good” tradition was set in place by the deceiver of all, the enemy of YHWH. It is very easy nowadays to research the origins of the traditions our culture has embraced and grown to love. With little effort we can search for the “origins of Easter” and the true meaning/purpose behind it. Below are a couple excerpts from one of my books and a previous blog: “Have you ever heard about the ancient ritual where pagan priests of Ishtar and Tammuz would have sex with virgins? After giving birth in the spring they would sacrifice those babies on an altar at sunrise and dip eggs in their blood? It all had to do with the fertility goddess and sun-god worship. Ever wonder why (in the spring) we all decide to color eggs, are flooded with rabbit decor (fertility animals) and have “sunrise” service? You may know it now as Easter (another name for Ishtar). It has absolutely nothing to do with our Messiah’s resurrection. He was our Passover (Pesach) Lamb and we are to be observing Passover (and on the correct date) not pagan satanic Easter…” - Turn and Be Saved “It wasn’t until I experienced personal tragedies in my life that I was awakened (humbled) to search for His truth with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Through my studies, for example, I found that the pagan holiday of Easter replaced the Scriptural appointed time of Passover. The Passover (which we are commanded to honor and rehearse every year) is for the remembrance of the Covenant people being redeemed and separated (passed over) through the blood of a pure (unblemished) lamb on their doorposts, while also acknowledging our Messiah Yahushua as the Passover Lamb. His blood sacrifice atoned for our sins thus allowing us to escape the bondage of sin (which leads to death) and be redeemed to everlasting life with Him. It is no coincidence that He died on Passover day, considering the fact that He was our Passover Lamb. Sadly, Passover has been forgotten and replaced by the false holiday of Easter brought to us by Babylonian sun-worship. The title Easter comes from the name of the goddess Ishtar. “Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was held. It was known as Ishtar’s (Easter) Sunday, and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs, since it was a fertility rite. Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz [her son] was killed by a pig, that a pig (ham) must be eaten on that Sunday.” Pagan Holidays – Todd D. Bennett Furthermore, it was an ancient ritual where the priests of Ishtar would have sex with virgins on an altar. The following year, they would sacrifice those 3-month-old babies on that altar during the “sunrise service” and dip eggs in the child’s blood. It is no coincidence that today (on the same sun-day as the ancient heathens) countless people dip eggs in coloring, decorate with rabbit décor (fertility animals) and celebrate “sunrise service”. Sadly, it seems acceptable in our culture to celebrate this stewed pot of abominations, when “we” (not YHWH) change the meaning to the resurrection of “Jesus.” After being educated on the roots of Easter, we can clearly see it has nothing to do with our Messiah nor His resurrection. Again, Yahushua was our Passover Lamb, and we are to be observing Passover (and on the correct date – the 14th day of the 1st Hebrew month - Leviticus 23:5), not pagan satanic Easter.” – blog - “Identifying a god” Below is another link to a quick video of Todd Bennett explaining one of the actual sites in Jerusalem where the sacrifices at sunrise on Easter would occur. Jerusalem and the Holy Land is littered with these pagan sites. This video was literally off the cuff as Victor and I were walking around Jerusalem with Todd during the week of Unleavened Bread in 2019. After a few sites checked off our list, we came across this one and I decided to hit record on my phone as Todd began to describe the details of this site. Should Christians Celebrate Easter - YouTube Video Synchronizing Part of our inherited Easter tradition involves the justification that we can participate in the rituals of Easter if we also recognize the “Christian meaning” of this holiday, the resurrection of “Jesus”. While it does sound pleasant from the outside (justifying our participation by simply changing the focus and meaning into something “good”) the question should remain, how does YHWH feel about it? Does He support the belief that we can change things and make them “good before our eyes” to suit our ways? If we change (re-label and re-package) them to satisfy our justification of participation (something we know was once evil in the past) does it then also change into something good in YHWH’s eyes? There is no mistaking how YHWH feels about mixing evil with good or darkness with light. Or to go even deeper, to try and make evil into good and darkness into light. In fact, He is so clear and adamant about this subject, He warns of this very thing all throughout the Torah and the Prophet writings. Furthermore, the writers of the “New Testament” are also very adamant about this subject. “Guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them…and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’… All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it – do not add to it nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy (Debarim) 12:30-32 “And do not bring any abomination into your house, lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is accursed.” Deut (Debarim) 7:26 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!” Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 5:20,21 “My being hates your New Moons and your appointed times, they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread out your hands, I hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I do not hear. Your hands have become filled with blood.” Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 1:14,15 “Her kohenim [priests] have done violence to My Torah and they profane my qodesh [holy] matters. They have not distinguished between the qodesh and the profane, nor have they made known between the unclean and the clean. And they have hidden their eyes from My Shabbathoth, and I am profaned in their midst.” Ezekiel (Yehezqel) 22:26 “No, but what the gentiles offer they offer to demons and not to Elohim, and I do not wish you to become sharers with demons. 21 You are not able to drink the cup of the Master and the cup of demons, you are not able to partake of the table of the Master and of the table of demons. 22 Do we provoke the Master to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? – 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 14“Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 15And what agreement has Mashiach with Beliya’al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16And what union has the Mishkan [dwelling place] of Elohim with idols? For you are a Mishkan of the living Elohim, as YHWH has said, ‘I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.’ 17Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says YHWH, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Because her sins have piled up to reach the heaven, and Elohim has remembered her unrighteousness.” Revelation 18:4,5 The above verses are only a handful from the list I’ve found in Scriptures. A couple points seem to be clear:
We are commissioned to be set-apart, to be children of Light and in order to follow Yahushua, we will have to unfollow the world. We do that by dropping the filth and start walking on the Covenant Path.  Walking the path I had zero difficulty dropping the pagan/satanic traditions that I had previously loved and embraced. It was very easy and even felt freeing as I felt closer to YHWH immediately. My only confusion was to ask, what do I do now? How do I keep His Appointed Times? I read a lot in Scripture about the priests’ duties during those times and how many animals they had to sacrifice. Well, there is no longer a Levitical Priesthood, there is no temple building and Yahushua fulfilled the promise of the coming Lamb of Elohim. So, what do I do now? Learning YHWH’s Appointed Times is quite fun and an amazing journey. I continue to learn the significance of them as I practice and rehearse them each year. As my beloved Covenant Sister, Stacey says, “we learn by doing.” So, while we might not know everything, it is understandable as we are all “coming our of her” (Babylon) and that is part of the journey on this wonderful path toward Him. First things first, the importance of being in sync with YHWH’s calendar/timing. Sadly, there are many calendars out there with a wide variety of beliefs. Some only go by the moon, some only the sun, some add mathematical configurations and others even look at crops to determine time. This can easily get most seekers confused and discouraged so it is vital that we stick to Scripture and YHWH’s directions and not men. Through my years of research and study I’ve come to appreciate and concur with www.torahcalendar.com as they adhere to the instructions in Scripture of using the “2 great lights” to reckon time (Genesis 1:14, Psalms 104:19). The folks at Torah Calendar have many resources, articles, historical accounts, etc. to help those who desire to be in sync with our Creator. While it is so much information and it can get overwhelming, I’ve taken the approach of one subject at a time. I have been observing and testing the site for a handful of years, and they have been on point every month regarding the Renewed moon, New year, and Appointed times. Not knowing how long we will have the internet and these resources at our fingertips, I have printed many articles and have even printed out the calendar dates up to 2025 thus far and continue to match up their listed Appointed Times while literally, looking up. YHWH is our ultimate guide and Teacher so it is critical that any assistance we receive from others should always, without fail, match YHWH’s Word. Below are also very helpful tools from our resources page and the Torah Calendar website: Calendar Confusion – by Todd D Bennett Seven Calendars - which one are you observing? 2022 Appointed Times Calendar Once we get the timing set, how do we rehearse Passover? Well, being that we are all still in “Babylon”, we do the very best we can. While we strive to do it perfectly, the key is that our hearts are “all in”. We rehearse with joyful and humble hearts knowing YHWH examines our hearts and intentions and we can’t go wrong if we desire to please Him. He promises to reveal Himself to those who diligently seek and revere Him. The fact that He knows our heart should never be used as an excuse to continue in sin. He truly DOES know our heart, and those who are truly seeking to please Him are the ones He pours His great mercy upon. “Truly, then, having overlooked these times of ignorance, Elohim now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom he has appointed, having given proof of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30,31 Incredibly, the set Appointed Times (recall the 5 wise virgins who were prepared with their lamps lit) are intimately connected with the end of days and the coming of Yahushua ha’Mashiach. The process of understanding His set time is truly astounding and eye-opening as we discover the restoration plan of YHWH and how it all connects. However, when being new to the Covenant walk, we can feel a bit lost at first. For Victor and I’s first Passover rehearsal we were not sure how to observe it and we were alone, but again our hearts were in it, and much prayer. We ate roasted lamb and bitter herbs then watched Passion of the Christ because we really didn’t know what else to do but knew we wanted to keep our focus on Yahushua. As the years passed, we implemented an insightful booklet to read during Passover Seder called "Messianic Passover Haggadah" written by Todd Bennett, which really helped keep our focus on the reason for Passover - the importance of understanding the connection between the Exodus and wedding and redemption of Yisra’el and how it ties together with Yahushua, our future wedding and redemption. Years later, we had the honor of going to Jerusalem during Passover and Unleavened Bread in 2019. It was amazing and I could clearly see the significance of the Yisra’elites traveling to Jerusalem each year for the Pilgrimage Feasts (Unleavened Bread, Shavuot, and Sukkot). I did not want that time in the Holy Land to end and since then I’ve longed to return. Even if we can no longer travel there (due to governmental controls and regulations), I know our day is coming when we will be regathered by the messengers and finally be home with our Bridegroom. I also highly recommend an excellent book, The Appointed Times – here is a brief explanation of it - “Todd D Bennett explores thousands of years of Christian and Jewish tradition concerning the Creator’s Calendar and the Appointed Times, often misunderstood to be exclusively Jewish Holidays. This eye-opening study examines the importance of knowing and understanding the Creator’s Calendar as well as the purpose and significance of the Appointed Times which are essentially rehearsals intended to guide those in Covenant with the Creator on the path toward restoration.” Amazingly, most of the world and even those who claim to serve Him seem to celebrate and honor every “holiday” under the sun, except the ones written in Scripture. I hope readers will recognize the designed imposters (traditional pagan holidays) and have their hearts yearning for the truth, His truth. I pray all these helpful resources are embraced and studied by those who are diligently seeking YHWH and His ways. I pray you take action to joyfully drop the inherited lies and traditions that are designed to separate us from YHWH, and eagerly incorporate the observance of His Appointed Times. We should all desire to know Him more, long to draw closer to Him and to be good and faithful servants. “And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a Festival to YHWH throughout your generations – observe it as a Festival, an everlasting Law.” Exodus (Shemoth) 12:14 “And when they asked him [Paul] to stay a longer time with them, he declined, but took leave of them, saying, ‘I have to keep this coming Festival in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) by all means…” Acts 18:21  Comments are closed.
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