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Star out of Jacob
Numbers 24:17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
Not at Christmas, but at Tabernacles

When was Jesus Born?
Jesus was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles,
in the fall of the year. To be exact, He was born on Tishri 15,
which this year is the eve of October 13th and the day of October 14th, 2008 .

This birth date rotates with the Jewish calendar, so that means
that next year, 2009, it will be on a different date on our Gentile calendars. ( see "Calendars" at end of article )
It might be easier to remember to simply say that Jesus' birthday is the first day of the feast of Tabernacles
(Booths, Succoth, Ingathering).

The Feast of Tabernacles is a 7 day feast where the people make booths, or shelters, to remind them of life's temporary dwelling. It would be similar to our putting up tents and camping for a week. Then when the week was over, there would be a reluctance to let the holiday go. So God added a special extra 8th day.
Well, that worked out so well that the people said, "just one more" and
what started out to be 7 days, turned out to be a full 9 days. It was so filled with joy, happiness, fellowship and good times that it was called ,
"The Season of our Joy"..."Zeman Simchateinu".

THEN
Now originally --in the Sinai desert--the Orthodox Jews commemorated festival events while dwelling in their booths (tents) .
Their forefathers dwelt in booths, or tents, while sojourning in the desert.
The making of a booth at the feast of Sukkot reminds the Jewish people of their origins.

It hasn't been until very recently that the Messianic Jews recognized Yeshua-Jesus in this holiday.
Seikman: Prophetic Fulfillment of Yeshua's Birth---The Birthday of a King
http://www.familybible.org/Articles/Messianic/Birthday.htm
God had provided this special time to be observed for thousands of years in a traditional fashion. But the day finally came when the feast of Tabernacles would be renowned for the birth of the Son of David, Yeshua Jesus, and that would take the primacy. That time is now.

Click here for the song: "BIRTHDAY OF A KING" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/i/birthday.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/bdking.htm

As for we Gentile-Christians, well, we're still new to learning about our Jewish Roots and all the jewels hidden for us in the Scriptures. These gems are now coming to light. And like miners reveling in newly found treasure, we are as excited as the Messianic Jews---our true brothers---in these hidden secrets, now revealed.

WHERE IN THE SCRIPTURES ?

First of all, WHERE does it say that Yeshua Jesus was born in the fall of the year?
A good question. Because there was NO POSSIBLE WAY for that question to be answered unless the Jews read the New Testament, and the Christians STUDIED the Old Testament. Isn't Yeshua Jesus 'Wonderful'
(Isaiah 9:6)!!
He compelled us to need each other in order to arrive at the fullness of truth.
They couldn't do it without us, and we couldn't do it without them. Ingenious!
"How good it is when brethren dwell in harmony" Psalm 133

Greg Killian has researched this material very well. Here is his excellent Scriptural proof of the Birth of Jesus on
the First day of Tabernacles.
"Birth of Yeshua Jesus during Succoth"
http://www.betemunah.org/birth.html

The following information was given by "Shalom/Peace" on the wedg Message Board:
John the Baptist conceived ... Luke 1:5-25
Jesus conceived .... Luke 1:26-55
Birth of John the Baptist .... Luke 1:56-80
Birth of Jesus (Yeshua) .... Luke 2

Jesus' date of birth....Tishri 15 (First day of Sukkot)
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) celebrated from Tishri 15 to Tishri 22.

Both Eddie Chumney of Hebraic Heritage, and Haydid Ministries have excellent resource sites concerning our Hebraic roots.
"The Birth of Yeshua during Sukkot"
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/1046/9710/971017_a.html

In Mr. Chumney's article we are given the best motive of all for being more accurate about Messiah's birth. Eddie reminds us:
"If with all your heart ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever surely find Me"Jeremiah 29:13
and we are to "worship God in spirit and in truth "(accuracy) John 4:24
We highly recommend downloading his site:
"The 7 Festivals of the Messiah"
http://www.hebroots.com/heb_root.html

http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/away.htm

"Away in a manger-- http://www.cyberhymnal.org/top/topics.htm?xmas.htm --( Luke 2:7 ), within a sukkot
the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the skies look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the lulavim".

INCARNATION of EMMANUEL ( God-with-us )

A "manger" is a "feeding trough". Most likely a newly-made, unused trough substituted for a crib. This emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the Bread of Life ( John Chapter 6 ), born in
Beth' lehem "the house of Bread". http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm
"Manger" does not mean stable. The emphasis here is upon the source of nourishment, not the housing.

"I AM the Living Bread which came down from heaven:
if any man eat of this Bread he shall live forever:
and the Bread that I will give is My flesh (incarnate-Immanuel; the flesh-clothed Deity),
which I will give (crucifixion-sacrifice-oblation) for the life of the world (salvation to those who ask)."
John 6:51 ( John 6:35 , 41, 48, 50, 51, 58 )

AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCE

In "Birth of Yeshua", Mr. Gascoigne reminds us that Sukkot is a festival when representatives from
all the nations come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles during Christ's millennial reign Zechariah 14:16. Because this is a festival of 70 Bulls for 70 nations (see "Season of our Joy") it is considered a global celebration.
Song: "Joy to the World" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/o/joyworld.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/joy.htm

That is why the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on the hill, " I bring you good news
of great joy (Simchat Rabba) that will be for all the people" (all nations) Luke 2:10
Song: "Angels From the Realms of Glory" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/f/afrglory.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/regentsq.htm
Mr. Mike Gascoigne also gives us a timeline that is more accurate than what we're accustomed to.
http://www.annomundi.com/bible/birth_of_yeshua.htm
Messiahmas http://www.annomundi.com/bible/birth_of_yeshua.htm 4 authors
The true meaning of Christmas http://www.annomundi.com/bible/christmas.htm

To understand all the deeper meanings behind the passages in Scriptures that we've read and heard for years, is very enlightening.

"HAG SAMEYAH".....rejoice

"Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people...praise the Lord all ye Gentiles; and laud Him, all ye people"
Romans 15:10,11

For God's people, Succoth is celebrated with so much joy, that just to say,
"The Feast" (Ha'hag) refers to "Succoth".
To wish one joy at this season, the usual greeting is
"Hag Sameyah"....meaning "Joyous Feast Day"; or "chag-sameach"
http://shemtovtaamtov.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/chag-sameach-happy-sukkot/
www.toad.net/~kolami/html/sukkot.html
This is akin to our "Merry Christmas".
Song: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/godrest.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/godrest.htm

ADVENT

It is notable that there is not a long prelude of liturgical days leading up to Jesus' birth. In other words, in traditional Christianity, Christmas preparations begin months before the holiday. The expectation and excitement accelerates as we near THE day.
(Commercialists have seized upon this, and it has become the e-commerce holiday of the year too).

Yet in the true Biblical feast of Jesus' birth, you can have no more than 4 liturgical days of preparation. Perhaps these four days signify the 4,000 years that mankind has waited for "the Seed" promised in the Garden of Eden that would bruise the head of the serpent ( Jesus would victoriously conquer Satan three times ).
Genesis 3:15
At the cross Yeshua won spiritual dominion over Satan for all true Believers.
At Armageddon, Jesus will vanquish Satan physically.
After the Millennial reign of Yeshua and for all time, Satan will be eternally damned in hell.

From the most solemn and profound day of the year, Yom Kippur to the beginning of Booths, there is only 4 days. The solemnity and sobriety of Teshuva-Elul and the Days of Awe can not lend itself to the spirit of Booths.
One must wait for the proper time. "In the fullness of time " -- Galatians 1

Songs: "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/emmanuel.htm

and "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/m/comtlong.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/comethou.htm

We believe this short 4 day preparation period is so that we will not get into the hype that Christmas has become.
The only preparation we really need is to have our hearts as a booth prepared
for Emmanuel to dwell in (Isaiah 7:14). Our hearts are made ready during Elul and the High Holy days:
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain (government) and hill (religion)
shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways
shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Yeshua)."
Luke 3:4-6

Song: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (2,000 + years ago) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itcameup.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/midniteclear.htm
And just like at Christmas, there are special foods to be eaten during the Feast of Tabernacles, there are special decorations to be put up in the booths, greetings are given and there is much much joy. After all,
" 'tis the birthday of a King" as the Christmas song says.
Matthew 5:35

Dale Evans ( now dwelling --Tabernacling-- with God in heaven) gave a heart-warming testimony of how each year on Jesus' birthday, she made a special birthday cake. Then she and her family would gather round the beautiful cake that was lit with one bright candle, and sing "Happy Birthday Yeshua". That is a wonderful way to honor our Lord ....... from the heart.

Since we are a "sugarless" home, we plan to celebrate with trail-mix, something very similar to the raisins and fig-cakes that Abigail made for David. 1 Samuel 25:18
Song: "Feliz Navidad" http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/feliz.htm
' I want to wish You a Happy Birthday, .from the bottom of my heart.'
http://www.brave.com/bo/lyrics/feliznavi.htm

CIRCUMCISION-COVENANT...Genesis 17

Now when the week long celebration of Sukkot is over, there is a special 8th day added, called "the assembly of the 8th day"..."Shemini Atzeret". (Leviticus 23:36).
On this day, prayer is made for rain and a good harvest in the coming year.

And ALSO on this day, Messianic Jews have calculated that this was the day
that Jesus was circumcised. (Luke 2:21).
This was the "circumcision of truth" spoken of in Romans15:8
"Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God,
to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers."

Christ also submitted Himself to circumcision so that we could put off the sins of the flesh. Colossians 2:11
The more profound truth within circumcision is the cutting back of our wayward hearts.

We are to be circumcised in heart ( our spirit and our attitude):
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked". Deuteronomy 10:16.
"And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed,
to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
that thou mayest live" Deuteronomy 30:6
(see also Jeremiah 4:4; Romans Chapter 2; Philippians 3:3)

We can no longer be unwilling to yield to God's Holy Spirit and truth, as were the Sanhedrin in Stephen's day Acts 7:51..
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears , ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did,
so do ye." (not open minded to the truth) Jeremiah 9: 25, 26

It is worthy to note that on this day of Yeshua's circumcision, was the first time that the blood of the God-man was shed upon earth.
It was shed on the same day that Jesus was officially given His name here on earth ... that of "Jesus",
meaning "Savior" -- Our Savior who would save us from ourselves ( sin) by His shed blood. (atonement)
There is power, wonder-working power, in applying Jesus' shed blood and His Holy Name ( HaShem) to our circumstances in life.
These are the things we ponder and meditate upon on the eight day of Sukkot , "Shemini Atzeret".

"AND THE WORD WAS GOD" John 1:1

We now come to the final day of this joyous feast.
On the 9th day of this festive season we celebrate the WORD, "Simchat Torah".
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the WORD was God." John 1:1
"The Word" http://yeshuatyisrael.com/life002.htm

"And the WORD was made flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us." John 1:14

On this day we renew our determination to read God's Holy Word each day for a year, until the next Feast of Tabernacles. Colossians 3:16....
"Let the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; (tabernacle in you richly)

So now we see the deeper layers embedded within the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was prepared long before the baby came. But when Emmanuel came and dwelt amongst us, the awareness of that realization has now taken precedence over the former meanings.
Jesus is more important than the patriarchs, Moses, or any of the prophets.
"Before Abraham was, I AM" John 8:58
Jesus is God Almighty. John 20:31; Revelation 1:8
"I and My Father are one" (ekkod) John 10:30

CONCEPTION .....Luke 1:24 and Matthew 1:18

As D. Hargis points out in his thorough essay entitled,
"Biblical Dates for Messiah's Conception and Birth"
www.messianic.com/articles/dates.htm
CONCEPTION is the key issue. If God had not decided to become flesh, and to be actually conceived in the womb of Mary, Redemption would not have taken place.
So CONCEPTION , or Incarnation, is basic to the joy of Succoth.

It can be calculated that conception took place at the time of Hanukkah....
The Festival of Lights. How appropriate, since Jesus is the Light of the World.
John 8:12 " I AM the Light of the world"

SECOND SUCCOTH

Hanukkah is also called " Second Sukkot" .
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/1046/9710/971031_b.html
The prayers recited during Hanukkah use some of the words Mary said when visited by the angel Gabriel.
She referred to herself as the "handmaid" of the Lord. And her will was surrendered to the will of the Word.
(from the Jewish Daily Prayer Book)

She also refers to herself as the "His handmaiden" in "The Magnificat"...
Hear the joy of Mary in accepting the Gift of God:

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced (simchat)
in God my Savior.
For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden:
for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me "Blessed".

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.
And His mercy (chesed...hesed) is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
He hath showed strength with His arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away."
He has helped His servant Israel (Jacob), in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever." Luke 1:46-55

In this prayer, all three patriarchs are referred to: Abraham, Jacob (Israel) and even Isaac...which means "Laughter, joy, rejoicing" (line 1)

Mary (Miriam) was given the singular privilege of being the mother of Yeshua-Jesus. Henceforth she will
always be regarded as being highly favored by God through all generations. Yet this privilege of giving birth to the God-man Yeshua is excelled by the fact that Mary was Born-Again in Yeshua (Acts 1:14...John Ch. 3).
Whether for Mary or for ourselves, to be Born-Again in the blood of Yeshua the Lamb is the highest honor of the Redeemed. Revelation 5: 8,9

Song: "Once in Royal David's City" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onceirdc.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/once.htm
and "Mary's Boy Child"
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/maryboy.htm
http://www.carolingcorner.com/mary.html

Since Conception is of such prominence, it seemed good unto the Lord to allow the Church 2000 + years to celebrate with outdoor-lights the season of Jesus as the Light of the World. Eventually, there will be no more "Christmas", although it is still a good season to witness about Our Lord.
Instead, in a few more years --- at the return of Messiah --- we will be rejoicing, along with all of Israel, at the commemoration of the birth of Yeshua in the fall on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

I SURENDER ALL

As we grow and mature in these concepts, we will eventually surrender our traditional Christmas to celebrate Hanukkah as the Feast of Lights.
(John 9:5 "As long as I AM in the world, I AM the Light of the world.").

And we will have arrived at the fullness of the truth when we can consider giving up Christmas altogether and celebrate the Birth of Christ at Sukkot. But traditions die hard. It most likely will take the return of Jesus Christ Himself to finally set the record straight for those who are reluctant to let go of Christmas.
The only hinderance in celebrating Yeshua-Jesus' birth at this time is Tradition.
Colossians 2:8
Here are Christ's thoughts on Tradition: Matthew 15: 3, 6: Mark 7: 8, 9, 13

For now, we at Apocalyptic Hope will accentuate Tabernacles as Jesus' Birthday, and then regard His nativity at traditional-Christmas as a time of great witnessing. We must make full advantage of every opportunity afforded us, while there is yet time. That is God's will for us.

We're glad to honor Christ's birth NOW, after the holy season of Teshuvah, and during the gladsome time of earth's harvest. After all, Jesus is our cornucopia of grace and mercy. His horn of plenty wrought Salvation for the blood-bought redeemed. " the horn of my Salvation " Psalm 18
Song: "What Child is This?" http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/greens.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/whatcist.htm

and " I Wonder as I Wander" http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/iwonder.htm
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/v/vanessa+williams/i+wonder+as+i+wander_20143508.html

TRANSFIGURATION during Tabernacles
The revealing of Yeshua's Shekinah -glory to man
Song " Gloria in Excelsis Deo " ( Glory to God in the Highest" ; El-Elyon)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/n/angelswe.htm

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see http://www.carols.org.uk/hark_the_herald_angels_sing.htm
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/hark_the_herald_angels_sing.htm

Lastly, it should be mentioned that the Transfiguration of our Lord took place during the Season of Tabernacles.
Matthew. 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-10 and Luke 9:29***also see below
The Transfiguration reminds us that we will someday trade these earthly tents for beautiful glorified bodies to dwell forever in the Heavenly Jerusalem with Him "and so shall we ever be with Lord."
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
Just to BE with Him is real true SIMCHAT, JOY!

2 Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (sukkot) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
(see all of 1 Corinthians 15 , and 2 Corinthians 5)
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, " Then we will be "changed from glory to glory" by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like the song says, "We've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun!"

EL OLAM ( God-- from age to age...from vanishing point to vanishing point...eternal)

So on Messiah's birthday, we think not about the passage of time like we do with our birthdays, but we heed His message within the Transfiguration. And that is: to look to the time when we will have glorified bodies and be with our Yeshua.
"And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6

Every day we're getting closer.



More Nativity Songs: http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/christmas.html

More information
Circumcision and Shemini Atzeret http://www.betemunah.org/shemini.html
Greg Killians Homepage http://www.betemunah.org/


Transfiguration and number 8 http://www.betemunah.org/eight.html
Succoth http://www.betemunah.org/succoth.html
Bill Somers http://www.etpv.org/bills_page/tbrncles.html

5 year Jewish Calendar --- to 5772 http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday0.htm ... Scroll to bottom of page
Printable Hebrew Calendars to 5776 http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/ss/cal_tenyear_3.htm
Calendar 5769 http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/calendar/5769.html



***Acccounts of the Transfiguration:

Luke says "8 days", while Matthew and Mark say "6 days". Matthew and Mark were
most likely counting within the beginning and ending dates, whereas Luke counted both the beginning and ending dates along with the interim days.

For instance, if I say "I saw you 6 days ago" that could mean
S, M, T, W, Th, F, Sat, Sun.
that on Sun. there had been 6 days since I last saw you. I would not be counting the beginning and ending dates.

OR

I might say on Sunday, "Do you realize it's been 8 days since we last saw each other ?"
S, M, T, W, Th, F, Sat, Sun
and I would be counting the day I said that, plus the exact day I last saw that person.

One is counting exclusively (6) and the other is counting inclusively (8)

Jewish Feast Days to follow:
SUKKOT.....eve of October 13 through October 19th--2008
Hoshana Rabba.... October 20, -2008............Infilling of the Holy Spirit
Shmini Atzerat... October 21st, 2008...........Praying for Rain
Simchat Torah / Simchat LOGOS .... October 22, 2008 (Israel) and Oct. 23rd (Diaspora)- 2008
Rejoicing in God's Holy Word ... the Bible ... all 66 books

Hanukkah...eve of December 22nd through December 29, 2008

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