New Years

So, when is the Jewish New Year? Did you know that God specifically tells us in the Bible when the New Year is to begin? The SPIRITUAL New Year begins in the Jewish month of Abib, which is the month of March/April. The beginning of the new year was established by God the day before the first passover, when the children of Israel were about to be set free from their slavery to Egypt. So it has been God's plan for the Passover to be celebrated in the first month. God named the month "abib" which means "fresh, young barley" or "the greening of the crop." It is the month of new birth.

But the Jewish people have celebrated New Year in the seventh month since their captivity in Babylon. Rosh Hashana is now the "Jewish New Year." It is celebrated in the month of "Tishri," which is the Babylonian name for beginnings. This is the month September/October. The feasts (as instituted by God) celebrated in this month all point to completion, not beginnings. The Feast of Trumpets is symbolic of the final trumpet, which will be at the last day. The Day of Atonement is symbolic of the ingathering of the nation Israel. And the Feast of Booths is symbolic of the final harvest.

The seventh month of the Babylonian calendar is Nisan. This would correspond to Abib, which is now the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Nisan is the word for "their flight." This is an appropriate term, since it was in the month of March/April that the children of Israel fled from Egypt for the promised land. It is also the month that they departed from Babylon to return to their land.

Here is the spiritual point I want to make regarding all this: God wants us to enter His kingdom in the first month, not the seventh! It was at the first Passover that the Jews (and God-fearing Egyptians) placed the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses in order to avoid the judgment of God on the first-born. It was at the Passover that the fulfillment of this symbol occurred when the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) was shed for the forgiveness of sin. It was at this Passover that the veil of the Temple was torn, symbolizing that access to the holy of holies is now available. The day of salvation is available NOW (click IMMEDIATELY). We are to enter when the barley is green. In the spiritual month of Abib. Do not wait for heaven until the seventh month!

Ex. 12:2 - God's New Year's Party

Lev. 23:24 - At the last trumpet

Heb. 12:19 - The trumpet of judgment

1 Thess. 4:13 - The trumpet of God - Rise up!