Building on the Foundation

  King Solomon wrote, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1). He expressed a similar thought in Eccl. 7:1. Indeed, a good name means everything in the business world. Many companies spend millions, even billions, of dollars to build a respected brand, a brand that sets them apart from their competitors. A brand is simply a good name. And who has a better name than God does? What name could be more worthy of honor than God’s name? For this reason, in the Ten Commandments, God tells us not to take His name in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11). Those who profane or use God’s name lightly, through word or deed, are subject to God’s judgment: “For the LORD [YHWH] will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” In the Old Testament, “name” is the Hebrew word shem (Strong’s # H8034). According to the Hebrew lexicons, it means not only “name,” but also mark, reputation, fame, honor, glory, authority, and character. ...

  The purpose of this post is to provide a glimpse into the practical application of the Hebrew Calendar.   Note: The Hebrew year begins on the day of Trumpets, ( the first day of the seventh month ) and yet the month that Passover falls in is said to be the first. Click here for an explanation.   Converting the dates of the Holy Days to Gregorian. The Hebrew year 5784 begins on the Gregorian date: Saturday, September 16, 2023. It runs through the winter, spring and summer and concludes on October 2, 2024.  This places the Day of Trumpets in 2024 on Thursday, October 3rd.   On the Hebrew calendar the months 1-7  (the month that contains Passover through the month that contains the Fall Holy days) alternate 30, 29, 30, 29 days. This means that the first day of the first month will be 177 days before the feast of Trumpets. 30 + 29 + 30 + 29 + 30 + 29 = 177.  If we wish to find the Gregorian date for the first day of the first month, there...

  The third annual holy day that God has given us is Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). This holy day is unique from the others in that there is no specific date given on the Hebrew Calendar for its observance. And yet, as we read in Lev. 23, it is on the list that God commanded Moses saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts [appointed meeting] of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations [sacred assembly] , these are My feasts’” (Lev. 23:2). God did not leave us wondering how we are going to know when His sacred appointment is. Instead of giving us a date, He gave us very simple instructions on how to arrive at the correct date. Even though the instructions are very simple, they have still been the cause of a lot of confusion among the brethren. This is most unfortunate as we read in 1 Cor. 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” I believe God's instructions are ver...