Why do we purchase Lulavs and Etrogs for Sukkot? What
do these items resemble?
On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm
fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of
ADONAI your God for seven days Leviticus 23:40 (CJB)
And why do we wave Lulavs like little girls? Because
we don’t understand the warfare involved in the actual fight yet to occur. We need to read the following three passages in one sitting.
Why do we cite Gog and read Ezekiel 38-39 during Sukkot? HaShem is warning us that this festival is related to the Gog war. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1019866/jewish/Shabbat-Chol-Hamoed-Haftorah-in-a-Nutshell.htm
Why do we read Zechariah 14? HaShem is telling us
that—after the victory in the Gog war—we will always celebrate the victory together,
or receive a curse.
Why should we also read Revelation 19? Ezekiel, Zechariah, and John are all describing the same war in similar terms.
Why do we scream Psalm 24, like we need our mighty king
right now?
By David. A psalm: The earth is ADONAI's, with all
that is in it, the world and those who live there; for he set its foundations
on the seas and established it on the rivers. Who may go up to the mountain of
ADONAI? Who can stand in his holy place? Those with clean hands and pure
hearts, who don't make vanities the purpose of their lives or swear oaths just
to deceive. They will receive a blessing from ADONAI and justice from God, who
saves them. Such is the character of those who seek him, of Ya'akov, who seeks
your face. (Selah) Lift up your heads, you gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter! Who is he, this glorious king? ADONAI,
strong and mighty, ADONAI, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can enter! Who is
he, this glorious king? ADONAI-Tzva'ot he is the glorious king. (Selah) Psalm
24 (CJB)
Why do we read Psalm 118?
Analytics: Hemmed in [distress], nations all
surrounded me, surrounded me on every side, bees, fire, thorns, Adonai cut them
down, like bees, salvation [Yeshua], struck powerfully, salvation [Yeshua],
tents, save us please Adonai!
Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace
continues forever. Now let Isra'el say, "His grace continues
forever." Now let the house of Aharon say, "His grace continues
forever." Now let those who fear ADONAI say, "His grace continues
forever." From my being hemmed in I called on Yah; he answered and gave me
more room. With ADONAI on my side, I fear nothing -what can human beings do to
me? With ADONAI on my side as my help, I will look with triumph at those who
hate me. It is better to take refuge in ADONAI than to trust in human beings; better
to take refuge in ADONAI than to put one's trust in princes. The nations all
surrounded me; in the name of ADONAI I cut them down. They surrounded me on
every side in the name of ADONAI I cut them down. They surrounded me like bees
but were extinguished [as quickly] as a fire in thorns; in the name of ADONAI I
cut them down. You pushed me hard to make me fall, but ADONAI helped me. Yah is
my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. The sound of rejoicing and victory is heard
in the tents of the righteous: "ADONAI's right hand struck powerfully!
ADONAI's right hand is raised in triumph! ADONAI's right hand struck powerfully!"
I will not die; no, I will live and proclaim the great deeds of Yah! Yah
disciplined me severely, but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of
righteousness for me; I will enter them and thank Yah. This is the gate of
ADONAI; the righteous can enter it. I am thanking you because you answered me;
you became my salvation. The very rock that the builders rejected has become
the cornerstone! This has come from ADONAI, and in our eyes it is amazing. This
is the day ADONAI has made, a day for us to rejoice and be glad. Please,
ADONAI! Save us! Please, ADONAI! Rescue us!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI. We bless you from the
house of ADONAI. ADONAI is God, and he
gives us light. Join in the pilgrim festival with branches all the way to the
horns of the altar. You are my God, and I thank you. You are my God; I exalt
you. Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever.
Psalm 118 (CJB)
Why is everything about Sukkot warfare-related and eschatological,
but unstated? (It seems like Sukkot belongs in my warfare-related
eschatological trilogy, but why?)
My opinion: During the service yesterday, I prayed for discernment
about Sukkot. Then a mental picture became very clear to me (not a dream or a
vision). Sukkot may be about celebrating a battle that soon could occur.
I visualized the camp of Israel—cast out
of Jerusalem during the last 1,260 days of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble—wandering
out in the plains of Har Megiddo. They have no food, they have no water, they
have no weapons, and they are surrounded by Gog and his evil forces of men and
demons. They are destitute, so they begin to quarrel. Then…finally, they turn
to HaShem. They begin to pray Psalm 24 and 118 fervently while holding what appear to
be swords and stones, their Lulavs and Etrogs. Then, out of sheer desperation,
they begin to wave the only weapons—weapons of the spirit—waving Lulavs and Etrogs
at their enemies, seen and unseen, imploring HaShem to wipe out their enemies. He
destroys the forces of Gog. Nothing they do physically helps their plight;
rather, everything HaShem does—out of their desperation—saves them. It will
take seven years to cleanse the remains of Gog and his mercenaries.
Forever more, the Battle of Gog will be celebrated
during Sukkot by waving Lulavs like swords, and pretending Etrogs are stones.
All the nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate HaShem’s victory over Gog,
and the Israelites pitiful weaponry.
Shalom and Chag Semeach!
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