The world is shaking. There is a period in the Jewish calendar known as the “Ten Days of Awe” or “Terrible Days” if you translate it literally. It is the time between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, and it’s a time of preparation to come before God with reverent awe, holy fear and trembling.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are called “Haredim” in Hebrew, which means those who tremble at God’s word. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31).
The anonymous author of the book of Hebrews understood this well. It is quite possible that he was one of the many priests who came to faith early on as Luke describes in Acts 6:7. In chapter 12 he describes the same holy fear and awe, the pinnacle of which was experienced by the Israelites at Mount Sinai:
“For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
… At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:18-24, 26-29)
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and points prophetically to Judgement Day. It is a day provided by God to deal with Israel’s sin, because despite our sin, He still wants a relationship with us. Thanks to Yom Kippur each year, forgiveness and covering for sin is given for free. The High Priest does all the hard work and the innocent animals are sacrificed, bearing the sin of the community and taking it away for good.
However, instead of Yom Kippur being a day of absolution, many now see it as a day when God makes His decision about us for good or bad, like the emperor giving thumbs up or thumbs down.
People wish each other “chatima tova!” which roughly translates to a wish that God signs off on you in a positive way for the coming year. Many spend time in introspection and repentance, confessing their sins to each other and also to God. The synagogues will be packed.
It all mirrors the Day of the Lord which looms. No one knows the day or the hour, but we all see the signs. The earth is being shaken to the core. Everything is being shaken, and the gauntlet has been thrown down. We are coming closer and closer to Judgement Day. Yeshua gave His disciples a preview:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)
The day is also spoken of by the Hebrew prophets, such as Joel:
“Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.”
(Joel 3:14)
This prophecy about the nations being gathered to make their decision is speaking about their decisions regarding Israel. God has been removing the middle ground on this issue for some time. Israel is like a litmus test, revealing the condition of our hearts.
“Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)
“I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.” (Joel 3:2)
…Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14)
Israel will be used as a threshing sledge (Isaiah 41:15), to divide the peoples. Genesis 12:3 also shows this division based on our response to Israel: blessing those who bless and cursing those who curse.
“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
We shouldn’t be surprised that God’s end time purposes being carried out in Israel should be hotly contested. Events are lining up just as God said they would be, and evil hates it. But don’t worry, He has overcome the world.
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:6-7)
Picture by Anastasia R. on Unsplash
