We are going to begin where we left off in Part 17 and talk about what happens to those who follow the false messiah and the false prophet. We know that they were thrown into the lake of fire alive, but those who followed them were killed and the “birds filled with their flesh’ (Rev 19.21). Now, on Yom Kippur, when the people learned that the L’Azazel goat was dead and the cloth turned white, the people would rejoice. People have been camping in tents and Sukkah’s on the west slope of the Mount of Olives. Once news reaches them, a red cloth is replaced with a white cloth on the Royal Stoa of the Temple Mount. Then everyone begins to sing and dance, rejoicing in the news that redemption had come. It will be the same thing here, when the redeemed hear that the false messiah is dead. All those who have rejected the Messiah will be killed, as we have mentioned, and this begins what is called the “Feast of Leviathan” referring to the Azazel goat, or the false messiah (Rev 19.14-18′ Job 41.6; Ezek 29.1-7; Ezek 32.1-8; Luke 17.37). Everyone who is alive at the coming of Yeshua will be going to a supper. The wicked will go the Feast of Leviathan and the righteous will go to the Wedding Supper (Isa 25.6; Zeph 1.7). The term used to describe an impending disaster or doom is using the picture of birds gathering to feast on all the dead corpses. Israel is a crossroads for migrating birds and at times there are more birds in Israel than anywhere. In Jer 7.28-34, Jer 19.1-15 and IsF 66.24, we have this “Feast of Leviathan” referred to also. In Joel 3.1-2 we have the “valley of Jehoshaphat” which is another name for Tophet. This is where the Hinnom Valley meets the Kidron Valley, south of Jerusalem. The meaning of Jehoshaphat is “the Lord is Judge” and it is also known as the “valley of decision.” This will be the place of judgment. So, we have the site for the judgment spoken about in Matt 25.31-46 called the “Judgment of the Sheep and Goats, or the “Warrior Judgment.” This will take place between Tishri 10, Yom Kippur, and Tishri 15 (first day of Sukkot) in what is called Tophet. Yeshua has returned on Tishri 10 and the unbelievers are being gathered by the angels and brought to this place. Yeshua will be sitting on the Mount of Olives during this judgment. The believers are being gathered also and are coming to Jerusalem for the festival of Sukkot and the Wedding Supper. It is possible that we will participate in this judgment as judges (1 Cor 2.16, 13.9-12). For now we know “in part” but then (in our glorified bodies) we will have the “mind of Messiah” and will be able to discern who is a believer and who is not. But, the Lord doesn’t need our help either, and the two groups will be judged either way.
When we get to the “valley of decision” who is who isn’t a believer will be known. If one arrives in the first group, it is not a good sign. There are several applications to Matt 19.28-30; Matt 24.38-41 and Luke 17.33-37. The first group to arrive will be the unbelievers who have survived the Birth-pains. They will be last (killed, lost forever) and await the “last” judgment, called the second death in Rev 20.11-15. Israel is “last among the nations” now but will be the first, or greatest (Isa 60.22). The works of the last group will not be known until the first group’s works are looked at first. Now, the haftorah reading for Yom Kippur is Isa 57.14 through 58.14. These verses deal with the what we learn in Matt 25.31-46, the judgment of the Sheep and the Goats. They came to know the Lord and they carried out his works, especially “these my brethren.” Remember the lots on Yom Kippur? The “lot” for the goat “L’Adonai” meaning “to the Lord” came up in the right hand, and so do the righteous in Matt 25.34. The lot for “L’Azazel” meaning “to Azazel” came up in the left hand, and so do the wicked in Matt 25.41. The unbelievers are like “their father” the devil in John 8.44. They refused to help the Jews who were fleeing the false messiah, or any believer who needed help during the Birth-pains. They are like Nabal, whose name means “a fool, a “rasha” or wicked person in 1 Sam 25.1-42, and is a picture of this judgment. Nabal refuses to help David and he prepares a banquet “like a feast for a king.” This is an allusion to Roah ha Shannah. But it came about that Abigail went to tell Nabal that David was coming after him for not helping, and he had a heart attack and became paralyzed. Ten days later, an allusion to Yom Kippur, the Lord came and struck Nabal dead. This judgment and separation in Matt 25 pictures the two goats in the Yom Kippur ceremony. Modern psychology places man at the center of all things. God’s psychology pictures man as the moon, reflecting the light of the sun, and revolving around it, who is the Messiah (Psa 19.4-6; Mal 4.2). We reflect and revolve around God, relating everything through him back to our own life. The environment does not lead to righteousness and lawful behavior, contrary to modern psychological teachings. Israel was in the wilderness, protected, fed, clothed and watered by the Lord and yet they rebelled. Rev 20.7-10 says that the nations will rebel against the Lord after the Messianic Kingdom is over. They had been living in a supernatural environment and yet rejected the Lord, the Messiah who has been living among them and his Torah.
Matt 22.1-14 is a Wedding Supper Aggadah (story given to illustrate a truth). The supper takes place after a Shavuah (a “seven”), called a bridal week. It takes place at the home of the father of the Bride. Likewise, we will return to earth with the Bridegroom at the end of seven years (the Birth-pains) and the supper will begin after the judgment of the sheep and the goats, on Tishri 15, the first day of the festival of Sukkot. Isa 27.12-13 relates to the redemption and the “great trumpet” (the “shofar ha gadol”) that is blown on Yom Kippur, ending the dispersion and the coming home of the exiles to Jerusalem. There are several concepts related to the redemption. We know from Luke 2.8-10 that the “basar” or good news, the “gospel” is being preached, which is the coming of the Messiah. The “basar” or gospel is not limited to what we have today, which is “believe that Yeshua died for you, was buried and rose again.” It is much more than that. The “Gospel (Basar) of the Kingdom of Heaven” was proclaimed before Yeshua. It was preached to Abraham (Gal 3.8) and to Israel in the wilderness (Heb 4.1-6). Yochanon, Yeshua and the Shaliachim (apostles) proclaimed it also (see the teaching called “The Basar” on this site for more information). In Part 19. we will briefly discuss what the “basar” or “gospel” is and begin to understand what they were proclaiming and what was understood by those hearing them. Remember, biblical eschatology is the study of the Messiah and the Redemption and we will continue to bring out concepts related to this and the second coming of the Messiah.
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