Category: Resource Notes

Today, September 20, marks the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, and the beginning of the holiest portion of the Jewish calendar known as the Days of Awe.

This year we have been responding to a call from God to pray through the 40 day Hebrew repentance season of Teshuvah which began with the Great American Eclipse on August 21. For the first eleven days, from August 21 to August 31 we prayed for personal repentance based on the literal meaning of Teshuvah as a return to the presence of God. From September 1 to September 10 we prayed for the unity of the Church as shown in the sign of the Eclipse when the Moon, representing the Believers, (Psalm 89:37) is united with the Sun, representing Christ (Psalm 89:37). Then, from September 11 to September 19 we prayed for the healing of our land, remembering that the darkness of the Eclipse represents the darkness and judgment of the Day of the Lord (Amos 5:20).

The last ten days of Teshuvah begin with the feast of Trumpets, which prophetically represents the Day of the Lord, Christ’s Second Coming. These ten days are truly “Days of Awe” because they began with the awesome prophecy of the return of Jesus in the feast of Trumpets and end with the Day of Atonement, an awesome picture of God’s judgment. These ten days are the climax of our time to repent for the failures of ourselves, our churches, and our nation, and to return to the Presence of God.

• September 20: Trumpets: The Second Coming (Matt. 24:29–31)
• September 21: Resurrection of the believers (1 Cor. 15:50–58; Rev. 20:4–6)
• September 22: On this date the sun leaves the judgment constellation of Leo and moves into the constellation Virgo, the Virgin, the beginning point of the revelation in the Heavens. It pictures the promise of Genesis 3:15 to bring the Seed of Woman (Christ) who will be bruised in the heel (the Cross) and crush the head of the serpent (Satan). In the western sky stands the constellation Bootes, “the coming one,” associated with Virgo, which pictures one “like the Son of Man,” Christ, who will harvest the Earth when He returns (Rev. 14:14–16). This is one of the many signs in the sun, moon, and stars that say Jesus is coming back.
• September 23: Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:12–17)
• September 24: Be ready (Matt. 24:36–51)
• September 25: Rising in the northeast in the early evening is the constellation Perseus, the Breaker, which represents the triumph of Christ over the men and nations opposing Him when He returns. The judgment of the head of the nations, the Antichrist, is shown by the star Algol, “evil spirit,” which is pictured as a severed head held by Perseus (Rev. 16:13–14).
• September 26: Judging our works (1 Cor. 3:11–15)
• September 27: The sheep and goats (Matt. 25:31–46)
• September 28: The great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:11–15)

On Friday, September 29, the Teshuvah season ends with the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, when observant Jews prayed that their sins would be forgiven and their names would be found in the Book of Life. Thanks to Jesus, we can rejoice on Yom Kippur because we can be certain that our sins are forgiven and that our names are written in the Book of Life:

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and
scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy;
nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the
spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven.—Luke 10:19–20

Today’s heated debate about immigration for children serves as an ironic reminder of the millions of aborted children whose loss makes immigration a necessity for the U.S.

Infanticide and abortion have always been with us, and it was not until the 1870’s that the American Medical Association led the fight to outlaw abortion in the U.S. However, abortion advocates fought back, with Planned Parenthood organizers wanting to abort black children for racial reasons and others wanting to abort babies for genetic or racial purity. Finally, with the sexual revolution and rise of Feminism, abortion was forced upon the U.S. by our Supreme Court in 1973. As a result, we’ve lost about 60 million American babies.

With the advent of legalized abortion and sexual “Freedom”, the birth rate in the U.S. and the Western World began to fall. As the birthrate in one country after another continued to fall, the birthrate dropped below population replacement rates. As a result, these countries are experiencing declines in population, a phenomenon known as Demographic Collapse. At the same time, the average age of the population is increasing, leaving fewer workers to meet the needs of society.

Demographic Collapse, in addition to being a spiritual and human tragedy, is an economic disaster. A shrinking population means that economic growth is reversed, causing stagnation and then contraction. Economic contraction means lower tax collections and a reduction in national finances and power. Even worse, the decrease in young workers means that social welfare programs such as government funded retirement and medical benefits become unsustainable. So societies which murder their own children are actually killing their own future.

The process of Demographic Collapse in the U.S. has moved more slowly for one simple reason: immigration. Immigrants tend to be younger and therefore productive, adding to economic growth and paying into our government welfare systems. Skilled immigrants have helped the U.S. maintain its technological edge, while unskilled immigrants form the backbone of our agriculture, construction, and other industries. As far as America is concerned, increased immigration is the price we must pay to replace the millions of babies we have aborted.

As Christians we must look at America’s immigration problems from the perspective of the Kingdom of God. After all, the world’s mission fields are coming to our neighborhoods, and we will have the opportunity to love them into the Kingdom. Many Latin American immigrants are already Christian, with strong family values, and we should reach out to them to help them assimilate and strengthen the Kingdom in America.

Let us never forget God’s command to treat the aliens among us fairly. This is especially true for the “dreamers”, the innocent children of illegal immigrants who have known no other home.

Let us pray that God will save America from Demographic Collapse, and ask for His wisdom to solve our immigration problems.

Beginning with the Great American Eclipse on the first day of the Jewish repentance season of Teshuvah, we began praying through the 40 days of Teshuvah.

From August 21 to August 31 we prayed for personal repentance in keeping with literal meaning of Teshuvah: to return to the presence of God. For the next ten days, September 1 to September 10 we are praying for Church unity, as shown in the sign of the Eclipse as the Moon, representing the Believers (Psalm 89:37) is united in the sun, representing Christ (Psalm 19:4) as a picture of John 17:20-23.

But the Dark Sun is also a reminder of the darkness of the day of the Lord (Amos 5:20), and Judgment for sinners. In the heart of the August 21 Eclipse, at Kansas City, clouds and rain covered the Eclipse, bringing only darkness and flooding, and foreshadowing the flooding which was soon to come with Hurricane Harvey. We are in a season of prayer, and also in a season of Judgment, as God is interrupting our daily routine so we can consider our ways. For those who ignore the Teshuvah journey of repentance, God sends judgment to bring repentance (Isaiah 26:9).

Nineteen years ago Prophet Chuck Pierce warned the Church to repent during Teshuvah of 1998 or face daunting challenges from lawlessness and the rise of Islamists within three years. During Teshuvah of 1998 president Bill Clinton was exposed as a liar and abuser of power, but his lawlessness was loosed upon the land as politicians in his party refused to hold him accountable. Exactly three years after the special prosecutor made the announcement about Clinton, the Islamists rose to kill almost 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001.

Beginning with September 11 and continuing through September 19, we will pray for the restraint of evil and the healing of our land.
• September 11: We repent for the nation (Isaiah 9:8–10; scriptures about defiance against God, spoken
rebelliously by United States leaders as they refused to repent after the 9/11 attack)
• September 12: Blessings and curses (Deut. 28)
• September 13: Healing the land (2 Chron. 7:14)
• September 14: Humility (Matt. 23:12)
• September 15: Bringing heaven to Earth (Matt. 6:10)
• September 16: Praying in confidence (1 John 5:14–15)
• September 17: Protection in God’s presence (Ps.27)
• September 18: Bless and curse not (1 Peter 3:9)
• September 19: Friends of God (John 15:14)

We are praying that the Church will heed the warning of the darkness and flooding in Kansas City during the Eclipse. We ask you to consider joining us in Kansas City on October 24-26, 2017 as we bring the Church together to push back the darkness. See Kairos2017.com for more information.

“Only a united Church can heal a dived nation” –Lou Engle

On August 21, 2017 the nation watched in awe as the Great American Eclipse made its way across the country. It was also the beginning of the Jewish repentance season of Teshuvah.

For us the Eclipse was a sign of God’s call to pray for repentance, Christian unity, and healing our land. The symbolism of the Eclipse, where the Moon, representing the Believers and the Bride of Christ (Psalms 89:37), joins with the Sun, symbolic of Christ the Bridegroom (Psalm 19:4), calls to us to pray that the Church will be untied in Christ. See our website www.Teshuvah 2017.com for more information.

During the second ten days of Teshuvah, from September 1 to September 10, we will be praying for God’s people and the healing of the broken body of Christ as God’s people come together united in Christ.

• September 1: The blessings of unity (Ps. 133)
• September 2: Unity in Christ (John 17:20–22)
• September 3: Accepting our brothers (Rom. 15:5–7)
• September 4: Do not judge (Rom. 14:13; Luke 6:37–38)
• September 5: Divisions (1 Cor. 3:1–9)
• September 6: Evangelism through unity (John 17:23)
• September 7: Watchmen warnings (Ezek. 33)
• September 8: Appealing to all (1 Cor. 9:27)
• September 9: Salvation for Israel (Rom. 11:11–32)
• September 10: Messianic Jews and the Toward
Jerusalem Council II (Acts 15)

We are also asking Christians to act on their prayers by participating in interdenominational meetings to demonstrate visible unity. We ask you to consider one such meeting on October 24-26, 2017 in Kansas City as we fan the embers of revival from the great Charismatic Interdenominational meeting of 1977 (See www.Kairos2017.com for more information).

Pray for healing the broken Body of Christ, so the world will know Him (John 17:23).

Today, August 21, the 40 day Jewish season of repentance begins with the Great American Eclipse.

The Eclipse presents a glorious picture of Teshuvah’s admonition to return to the presence of God as the Moon, symbolic of the believers and the Bride of Christ (Psalm 89:37), joins with the Sun, symbolic of Christ the Bridegroom (Psalm 19:4). At the same the darkness of the Eclipse, reminiscent of the Day of the Lord (Amos 5:20), illustrates the Teshuvah warning of coming judgement for sinners.

Teshuvah presents all of us with the choice of life or death, blessings or curses as described in Deuteronomy 31:19, 20. The position of the Teshuvah Eclipse in the Heavens shows the same choice. During the Eclipse, the stars will become visible, with the stars of the constellation Leo to the East of the Eclipse and those of Cancer to the West. The constellation Cancer, meaning “The Holding Place,” represents the home of God’s people which is commonly known as Heaven. The constellation Leo, representing Christ as the Lion of Judah, pictures God’s judgment which we commonly describe as Hell. Thus, the Teshuvah Eclipse illustrates the choice between life and Heaven on one hand, and death and Hell on the other.
During the first to ten days of Teshuvah, from the August 21 Eclipse date to August 31, we invite you to join with us in praying for personal repentance, and choosing life:

August 21 – Deuteronomy 31:19, 20: Choose Life.
August 22 – Mathew 4:1-11 and John 14:32: The victorious 40-day Teshuvah Journey of Jesus.
August 23– Romans 8:12-15: We are Children of God
August 24 – Deuteronomy 8:1-5: Faith
August 25 – Romans 8:1, 2: No Condemnation for those in Christ
August 26 – Deuteronomy 6:17-26: Obedience
August 27 – John 1:19: Forgiveness
August 28 – Deuteronomy 6:4-15: Love God
August 29 – John 14:23 Love brings obedience and peace
August 30 – Tonight in the early evening look up to the Zenith and find the star Vega, meaning “He Shall Be Exalted”, in the constellation Lyra, The Harp, which pictures a dove and a harp and speaks of the role of worship in exalting Christ. Our solar system is moving toward Vega at 40,000 miles per hour, illustrating that we are destined for worship. So enter into His presence with worship and celebrate your destination.
August 31 – Galatians 2:8-10: Make sure you have received salvation by grace to achieve your destiny.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life. –Deuteronomy 30:19-20

On August 21, 2017 we believe that God is calling America to begin 40 days of prayer for repentance, unity in Christ, and healing our land.
There will be a sign in the Heavens on August 21, 2017, the Great American Eclipse, running across America from Oregon to South Carolina, announcing God’s call. August 21 is also the first day of the Jewish season of Teshuvah, a 40 day season of repentance and return to God leading up to the Day of Atonement.
We believe that we should respond to God’s call with solemn assemblies on August 21. Some may feel led to pray and read through the Bible, while others may make a pilgrimage to pray along the Eclipse path. Intercessors across America will be praying in a solemn assembly similar to one outlined below:
I Understanding the invitation and the warning
1. Teshuvah:
• To return to the presence of God
• 40 days of prayer beginning with the sign of the Great American Eclipse on August 21 and ending on the Day of Atonement, September 29.
• Traditional scriptures: Psalm 27 and Ezekiel 33.
2. The sign of invitation to Unity in Christ
• Moon, symbolic of the Bride (Psalm 89:37) moves into the Sun, symbolic of Christ the Groom (Psalm 19).
• Psalm 27: Dwell in the house of the Lord to see His goodness.
3. The sign of warning to sinners
• Eclipse shadow symbolic of darkness of the Day of the Lord (Amos 5:20)
• Ezekiel 33: Watchmen to warn sinners or be held responsible.
• Ezekiel 33: Sinners to turn from sin to live

4. View the eclipse (live or on media) while praying Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose Life

II Prayer for Personal Repentance
1. Follow Jesus in His Teshuvah journey ( Mathew 4:1-11)
2. Repent of doubt (Deuteronomy 8:1-5):
• About who you are- A child of God
• About God’s ability to provide for you
• Leading to pride that denies the need for God’s provision
• Undermining your faith
3. Repent of presumption (Deuteronomy 6:16-26)
• About testing God
• About disobedience to God’s commands
• Undermining your prosperity and your very life
4. Repent of selling out (Deuteronomy 6:4-15)
• About serving other “Gods” in your life
• About loving the world
• About forgetting God’s faithfulness
• About breaking God’s heart by not loving Him.

5. Thank God that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess them (1 John 1:9)

III Prayer for the Church to be united in Christ.
1. Agree with Jesus’s prayer in John 17:20-23
• All who believe will be untied in Christ
• May they have unity so the world will believe
• May they have the glory given by Christ to be united
• May they be in unity so the world will know that God loves the believers
2. Christians accept one another (Romans 15:7)
3. Repent of the scandal of division
4. Repent of thinking that unity is the same as uniformity
5. Accept the gifts of other Christian traditions
6. Learn to experience unity in diversity
7. Bless the Church with the blessings of unity

IV Prayer to heal our land
1. Acknowledge that the Church is to blame for America’s problems because God’s people have not obeyed God’s instructions in 2nd Chronicles 7:14.
2. Ask forgiveness for pride and failure to portray the love of God in our generation
3. Pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
4. Seek God’s face and His presence to know Him and become His partners in bringing His plans to pass.
5. Turn from our wicked ways.
• Repent and come into visible unity
• Bless and curse not
• Transcend politics and renounce division
• Repent of complacency

These are dangerous times for America, and it is up to God’s people to pray for healing our land and revival.
We invite you to answer God’s call and pray with us on August 21 and then through the 40 Days of Teshuvah 2017.
For more information go to our website at www.Teshuvah2017.com or download our book Teshuvah Eclipse at https://www.dropbox.com/s/835gr2gnzg1labn/Teshuvah%20Eclipses.pdf?dl=0.

With the Great American Eclipse less than two weeks away, many are wondering how eclipses were viewed in the Jewish tradition.

The Jewish website Chabad.org has published a report by Rabbi Yehuda Sharpin entitled “Does Judaism see Solar Eclipses as Bad Omens” to answer this question.

To start with, the Talmud does in fact state that an eclipse Is a bad omen for the world, a darkness coming because of sin. However, the ancient Jews knew that eclipses were natural phenomenon and could even predict them. The Rabbis viewed eclipses as warnings against sin and judgment. Some held that eclipses were an opportunity for prayer and introspection.

In Genesis 1:4 the Sun, Moon, and stars are called signs for the appointed times, and the Jewish commentary on the Torah includes eclipses as signs. Another interesting scripture is Jerimiah 10:2, which tells Israel not to be terrified by the signs in the sky even though the nations are terrified. According to the sages the sign of the eclipses holds no fear for those who act properly.

We find ourselves concurring with most of these Rabbinical beliefs about eclipses. We understand eclipses to be signs from God not only because of Genesis 1:14, but also as signs to the Church as announced by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21). For believers, we agree that eclipses are times of prayer and introspection, a time to unify in Christ as shown by the symbol of the Moon, representing Believers (Psalm 89:37), joining in the Sun, representing Christ (Psalm 19). We also agree that for non-believers eclipses are a warning of judgment to come and therefore and are fearful omens.

Those themes of prayer and introspection for Believers and fear of judgment for non-believers are heightened during the 40 day Hebrew season of Teshuvah which begins with the Great American Eclipse on August 21 and ends 40 days later on September 29, the Day of Atonement. The world Teshuvah literally means “to return to the presence of the Lord”, and the Psalm associated by the Rabbis with Teshuvah, Psalm 27, speaks of the blessings of dwelling in God’s presence. On the other hand, the second scripture associated with Teshuvah, Ezekiel 33, warns believers of punishment for failure to warn sinners, and warns sinners of judgment to come. Thus, Teshuvah is an invitation to intimacy and a warning of judgment.

We invite you to join with us in a solemn assembly on August 21 during the Great American Eclipse and in prayer for repentance, Church unity, and healing our land during Teshuvah. For more information see our website at www.Teshuvah 2017.com or read our recently published book Teshuvah Eclipses.

And don’t forget to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.