The Second Exodus, the Appointed Times and what it means to be “wise”
Published by Rob Skiba January 26, 2015 at 5:49 PM
This is the 5th year for us studying the Torah and we are about 13 chapters into Exodus right now. It NEVER ceases to absolutely AMAZE me what YHWH continues to reveal through Moses! I will write more in the days ahead. For now, I just want to focus on what it means to be “wise,” because it certainly plays a major role in the Last Days.
Daniel 12:
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Considering what Daniel wrote, it is important to note that Revelation is just an amped up repeat of Exodus:
As you can see, with the exception of gnats and flies the plagues listed in the Book of Revelation are virtually identical to those of the Book of Exodus. Of course, where Revelation lacks gnats and flies, Exodus lacks massive earthquakes, mountains and asteroids falling out of the sky and some of the other horrors of The Seven Year Tribulation Period. But you get the point. The similarities are definitely there! Revelation appears to depict an amped up replay of Exodus! So, if the plagues are so similar, might not the escape from them be as well?
Look at Daniel 12 again. When does Michael “stand up” or “rise” and for what purpose? I believe he “rises” to leave his military post as protector of the land of Israel to go fight the war in Heaven. At that time, there will definitely be “a time of trouble such as never was”ever before or will be again…
Revelation 12:
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
In the Book of Exodus, the nation of Israel was rescued from the clutches of the false gods of this world. She was “saved” from Egypt. She went through the waters of the Red Sea and came out the other side, having avoided a “tribulation” at the hands of the Egyptians. And then God took Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai and presented the marriage vows to His new bride.
When put like that, it is not hard to see some amazing parallels between the Book of Exodus, Yeshua’s “Parable of the Ten Virgins” and the events written about in the Book of Revelation. What if that is not just a coincidence? What if we are looking at a literal repeat of Exodus? What if we are about to participate in a second or Final Exodus? If so, what will that look like and how will it happen? I believe Paul gives us the answer:
1 Corinthians 10:
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Paul is telling us that the stories of the Torah are there for EXAMPLES, written for the benefit of those “upon whom the ends of the world are come.” This has caused me to look at ALL of Yeshua’s parables a lot closer and to re-examine all of my former “End Times” beliefs.
In a Last Days context, Daniel wrote about the “wise” shining brilliantly. So, what does it mean to be wise according to the Scriptures? Let’s start by looking at the Parable of the Ten Virgins…
Matthew 25:
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Notice Yeshua says that the “wise virgins” took oil in their vessels with their lamps. What is that all about anyway?
Oil is often associated with the “anointing” or the Holy Spirit. We are known as “clay vessels” in the Potter’s hands (see Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:4-6, Romans 9:21 and 2 Corinthians 4:7). I believe all 10 virgins are Believers because only Believers are “pure” having been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and Believers are the only ones actually waiting and looking for the return of the Bridegroom that is our Savior. So, in my opinion, no one else fits the descriptions Yeshua is giving. If this is true, Believers have the Holy Spirit within their vessels, so what’s going on with those who don’t have enough in this parable? How can one be a Believer without the Holy Spirit? You can’t! So, what if this little story is actually tied to something that Yeshua had said earlier in His ministry?
Matthew 7:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The word “iniquity” comes from the Greek word “anomian” which is “lawlessness” [ http://biblehub.com/greek/458.htm ] So, here you have a group of people who thought they were “Believers”, who claimed to have been followers of Him, speaking prophecy, casting out demons and doing miracles, yet they were classified as those who practice lawLESSness (unfortunately, this sounds like a lot of “Christians” these days). Yeshua said that only those who “do the will of the Father in Heaven” are getting into the Kingdom. In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, He tells those who don’t have oil with their lamps that He never knew them.
1 John 2:
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Is John writing about the same crowd Yeshua was referring to in the accounts given above by Matthew? Looks to me like he is referring to those who say they “know Him” and yet don’t keep the commandments.
In the parable, notice Yeshua said the foolish virgins took their lamps, but no oil with them. But of the wise, He said that they took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Salvation issues aside, it seems to me the focus in both cases is not so much on the person but on the lamp. Or maybe there’s another way to look at this. What if the parable is talking about oil in terms of an “anointing” – or in this case, a lack thereof? Meaning, they are carrying lamps without an anointing or the fuel necessary to illuminate (or understand) the lamp. If so, what then do the lamps represent? It has become my strong belief that the lamp represents two things: the complete Bible, which is meant to be a lamp unto our feet and a light onto our path (Psalm 119:105) and the Menorah, which was the seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple that was another vessel that was full of oil.
After 5 tears of studying the Torah, I am fully convinced that the 7 moedim (“appointed times”) are symbolized by each branch of the Menorah. A good explanation of these moedim can be found here: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Introduction/introduction.html and of course, they are all summed up in Leviticus 23. Essentially, from Creation to Eternity, God’s entire plan is ingeniously woven into and revealed through the nature and timing of these seven annual appointed times (in addition to the weekly Sabbath). Each one is like a “dress rehearsal” to prepare us for the “Big Show,” with each represented as different “acts” in God’s Divine Play. To know the moedim is to know your “lines” and the parts we are to play in the Master’s Script. The lead actor is Yeshua. He knows His lines well. And He plays His part exactly according to the Script.
On Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses the Script and commanded the people to learn it and practice it. If they did, they would know the timing and exact nature of each of God’s Divine Acts, and most notably the works of Yeshua. The names and dates of each annual appointed time are:
- Passover – Nisan 14-15
- Unleavened Bread – Nisan 15-22
- First Fruits – Nisan 16-17
- Pentecost – Sivan 6-7
- Trumpets – Tishri 1
- Atonement – Tishri 10
- Tabernacles – Tishri 15-22
Everything God did in the Bible, lined up with those Appointed Times! Thus, everything Yeshua did also had to line up! Therefore, if history and the Bible have anything to say to us, it is that the future “Acts” of our Messiah will also line up with God’s moedim. Yeshua fulfilled each of the Spring moedim (the first 3) and His Spirit came and fulfilled Pentecost. We are still waiting for the fulfillment of the Fall moedim (the last 3).
This past Shabbat, our homegroup leader, Kevin Roberts put the Spring and Fall moedim up on a whiteboard to show some interesting parallels. Below is an elaborated recreation of what we have been seeing (note: I do not claim to be an expert, so this chart is subject to potential changes as it only represents my current understanding):
If my current, working theory is true, then the five “wise virgins” are Believers with “illuminated lamps” – celebrating and possessing an understanding of the “appointed times” of God as laid out in the Torah and knowledgeable in both the Old and New Testaments of their Bibles, thus having a lamp that has shown them the way.
I believe this represents those who worship God in “Spirit and in Truth.” I think most Believers have the Spirit but they lack the full measure of Truth that comes only from God’s COMPLETE revelation as given in both Testaments! Only by understanding both can we be sober, awake and knowledgeable about what is to come. In other words, we are to be watching and ready for when our High Priest sneaks up on us like a “thief in the night” to check and see if we’ve been obedient and have kept the fire burning (see Leviticus 6:8-13)!
Here is another interesting parallel to ponder. If we think of the lamp as the Torah and the oil as the Holy Spirit, consider the similarities of God’s work during the Exodus as compared to the work of Yeshua:
Here we see that the oil of the Son’s work illuminates the lamp of the Father’s work! I could write a lot more about this, but I think just that simple comparison reveals much. Study the Torah and the moedim to understand more and to clearly see what Yeshua did to fulfill so much of the work His Father began with the Israelites in their time of Exodus and wanderings in the wilderness. I promise, if you do, you will will become very excited by what you discover! And I believe you will be better prepared for the days ahead – as opposed to those who are asleep, unaware and not ready. They will be found unprepared in that day.
“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
– Matthew 25:10
To test my theories regarding the ideas related to the coming Second Exodus and what it means to be “wise”, I present the following Scriptures for your careful consideration:
Deuteronomy 4:
1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
4 But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 111:
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalm 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Proverbs 1:
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 3:
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Proverbs 9:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Proverbs 15:
29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Indeed, humility is about doing things YHWH’s way, and not our own!
Proverbs 28:
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Seems to me, the beginning of verse 7 cannot be any clearer.
Ecclesiastes 8:
1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
2 I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it here again: I love Paul! He knew the Torah inside and out and he passed the Deuteronomy 13 test with flying colors. When he understood the full “Gospel of the Kingdom” he could only rejoice…
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Paul had a “solid foundation” when looking at the events surrounding Yeshua. He was thus able to use the “wisdom from above” most effectively in “searching the Scriptures” to discern truth. In addition to his profound knowledge of the Torah, he would have also known…
Isaiah 11:
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
Paul understood the “Branch” that would spring forth from the “stem of Jesse” and that this “rod” would walk in the “wisdom” of YHWH. Therefore, I have to believe Paul would have HARSH rebuke for those who want to use his writings to try and teach against obedience to YHWH’s Law. In full agreement with the Prophets, he also would rebuke those who would rather try to gain wisdom from the world…
Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Jeremiah 9:
23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1 Corinthians 2:
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
How do we “love Him” according to the Scriptures? The words of the Apostle John are laid out for us quite clearly in 5th Grade reading level English…
1 John 5:
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Again, Paul tells us the wisdom of this world is foolishness…
1 Corinthians 3:
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
James gives the contrast, by explainging what the wisdom that comes from above is like…
James 3:
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Thus, it should go without saying that “wisdom” comes from fearing and obeying YHWH. Anything else is foolishness and sin. Most who claim to be Believers think we are rapidly approaching the time of Christ’s return. I believe this will happen at the time of the Second Exodus. If so and we wish to be prepared for it, then now more than ever I believe we need to be “wise” according to the Scriptures.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
– Rob Skiba
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