Ethanim: Out With the Old, in With the New

Guest post by Richard Gray. This is the final installment in a series on the fall holy days.

 Ethanim is the Biblical name for the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar (1 Kings 8:2). It is Strong’s #388 from #386. “perennial, constant, especially used of water. A perennial stream constantly flowing” (Gesenius). “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty [386, ever-flowing] stream” (Amos 5:24). Pure water is a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit. As water is essential for life, the Holy Spirit is essential for eternal life.

The seventh month will be the first opportunity to receive salvation for those who never had that opportunity during the 6,000 years of man. On the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (temporary dwellings) the final judgment will occur. On the 21^st of Ethanim, on the sixth day of the week. “…the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Everything that God created on the six days of creation will be destroyed.  

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and its inhabitants shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness will never end” (Isaiah 51:6). The inhabitants that die are those who never repented of their ways: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment [eternal death]: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).

The only day of the week that will remain is the Sabbath day.

“And I [John] saw a new [2537, of a new kind; unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of] heaven and a new [2537] earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

The fulfillment of the eternal Sabbath rest will be the greatest event in the history of mankind! However the churches of God barely give it any lip service. They seem to be more interested in the things of this world that will be destroyed. Perhaps that is why they don’t have a problem with doing some of the same things on the Sabbath that they would on a common day.  

From the beginning God’s plan pointed to this day. On the seventh day of creation, “…God ended [3615, completed, finished] His work…And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified [6942, set apart as holy] it…” (Genesis 2:2, 3). On the seventh annual holy day, the Sabbath day. the Creator will say. “…Behold, I make all things new…And He said to me, It is done [1096, to come into being, to transition from one realm to another]…” (Revelation 21:5, 6).  The transitioning from the physical realm to the spiritual realm will have been completed. This is the Last Great Day!

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. He that believes on Me…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe in Him should receive…” (John 7:37-39). The ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ statement will be in the Kingdom of God. “…I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of water of life freely” (Rev. 21:6).

The Most Holy Place

The New Jerusalem is “…foursquare, and its length is as large as the breadth…twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the height and the breadth of it are equal” (Revelation 21:16). The New Jerusalem is a cube. The only cube in scripture is the Most Holy Place. In the tabernacle it was 10³ cubits, and in Solomon’s temple it was 20³ cubits, and the New Jerusalem is 12,000³ furlongs, or about 1500 miles cubed. 

The cube, not the pagan pyramid as taught by the churches, is God’s form of government. He dwells in the midst of His people. Men like to rule from the top of the pyramid, because this gives them great authority over the people. But, “…whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). You leaders might want to humble yourselves, and come down from the top of the pyramid now rather than being forced to later.

The End of Days and Seasons and Years

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the people which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” (v. 23-25). The sun and the moon were created “…to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14). 

There will be no need of the sun and moon to determine days, seasons, and years because it will be the eternal Sabbath. The seventh day will never end. The annual holy days will no longer be observed, because they will have all been fulfilled.

Jesus said, “…Till heaven and earth pass [3928, perish], one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). Once everything is accomplished, there will be no need to continue observing the days that lead to the Last Great Day.

No More Sea

John said, “there was no more sea.” Why will the seas cease to exist? Seas are the cesspools of the earth, and they represent carnal man and the way of this world. The false worship of the world is represented by “…the great whore that sits upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication….The waters…where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Revelation 17:1, 2, 15). 

In order to be saved, you must come up out of the sea, which is pictured by baptism. Jesus said to His disciples, “…Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). In a parable about the Kingdom of God, Jesus said, “…[T]he kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore…and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-50).

Once the good are gathered and the bad are cast away, the fishing expedition is over forever. Those who are saved will be changed, because “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption….So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50, 54).

“He that overcomes [3528, to vanquish, subdue, prevail] shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Rev. 21:7). Overcoming our human nature is spiritual warfare that requires courage to keep battling no matter what, for the victory will be great.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:7, 8). That which the seas represent will be destroyed, and there will be no more sea.

 

The River of Water of Life

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:1-5).

 

The Invitation to Life

“Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie…. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (vv.14. 15, 17).