TO PREPARE FOR GOD - TO REPENT BEFORE GOD

TO PREPARE FOR GOD - TO REPENT BEFORE GOD
Andre Widodo
© ORI

During the Biblical month of ELUL, we always be reminded to the message from Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist). His message was "REPENT".

Mat 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, PREPARE [ετοιμαζω - HETOIMAZO] ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Of course, we know what the word "PREPARE" really means in English. Definition from Merriam Webster English Dictionary: "PREPARE" is "TO MAKE READY; TO GET READY; TO PUT IT TOGETHER".

But is that reallt what Yochanan really meant when he was preaching in Matthew 3:3?

Let us look at the Greek word for "PREPARE".

G2090. ετοιμαζω HETOIMAZO; from 2092; to prepare: — prepare, provide, make ready. Compare 2680.
AV (40)- prepare 29, make ready 10, provide 1; to make ready, prepare to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready metaph. drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings.

The Greek word for "PREPARE" is [ετοιμαζω - HETOIMAZO] and it means "TO MAKE READY; TO PROVIDE; TO PREPARE".

It doesn't explain anything!

"PREPARE" = "TO MAKE READY; TO PROVIDE; TO PREPARE".

In fact, the English definition of the word "PREPARE" has influence from the Greek. We can see how the Greek's influence or the Hellenis' influence has been rooted deeply in our mind without we realize it.

Let us see the Hebrew word for "PREPARE".

Isa 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, PREPARE [פָנָה - PANAH] ye the way of Y-H-V-H, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

H6437. פָנָה PANAH; a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i. e. appear, look, etc.: — appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, x corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), x right (early).
AV (135)- turn 53, look 42, prepare 6, regard 4, respect 4, look back 4, turn away 2, turn back 2, misc 16; to turn ( Qal) to turn toward or from or away to turn and do to turn, decline ( of day) to turn toward, approach ( of evening) to turn and look, look, look back or at or after or for ( Piel) to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away ( Hiphil) to turn to make a turn, show signs of turning, turn back ( Hophal) to be turned back.

Now we can see the clear message of Yochanan in Matthew 3:3 when he was preaching "PREPARE". Yochanan's message was "PREPARE" in English, but in Hebrew actually is "TURN BACK; TURN AWAY; TURN TOWARD".

His message was "PREPARE" = "REPENT; GO BACK; TURN BACK" = "REPENTANCE".

This shows how deep the Hebraic root of our faith really is.

In the next few days (another 8 days) we will be having FEAST YOM TERUAH or FEAST OF TRUMPETS or ROSH HA'SHANAH.

What do you know about YOM TERUAH?

Exo 19:19-20
And when the voice of the TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR] sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And Y-H-V-H CAME DOWN upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and Y-H-V-H called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses WENT UP.

The voice of TRUMPET is a sign that the KING is coming. on Mt. Sinai, Y-H-V-H CAME DOWN with the voice of TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR].

Another verses:

Rev 1:10-11
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR], Saying, I AM "ALEPH and TAV", "ALPHA and OMEGA", "THE FIRST  and THE LAST".

When Yochanan heard a great voice as TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR], he saw YESHUA.

So, what do you expect from the FEAST YOM TERUAH?

1Th 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR] of God: and the dead in Mashiach shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Co 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMP [TEKIAH HA'GADOLAH]: for the TRUMPET [שׁוֹפָר - SHOPHAR] shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We expect 1Th 4:16-17 in the FEAST YOM TERUAH. We expect 1Co 15:52 in the FEAST YOM TERUAH. We expect a RAPTURE in the FEAST YOM TERUAH.

But, doesn't the Bible say we don't know the hour and the day?

Mat 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

It is true. We don't know the hour nor the day.

YOM TERUAH is a FEAST that is celebrated in 2 days. It is celebrated on 1 Tishri (17 September 2012) and 2 Tishri (18 September 2012). We do NOT know on what day our Lord YESHUA is going to come. He could come on 1 Tishri, or He could come on 2 Tishri. We do NOT know. And also we do NOT know at what hour. That's why our Lord in Matthew 25:13 says, "WATCH THEREFORE".

We know the RAPTURE will took place on YOM TERUAH, but we do NOT know what day and what hour.

Besides of that, the FEAST YOM TERUAH is also known as the FEAST WE DON'T KNOW THE DAY OR THE HOUR.

Rabbi Sha'ul says,

1Th 5:1-4
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

For them who are in darkness, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. But we are not in darkness. We are in His TORAH. We know and understand His times and seasons. We know His calendar. We know His FEASTS, so that day should not come as a thief.

Keep in His TORAH. Keep in His INSTRUCTIONS. In YESHUA's Name our Messiah. B'Shem Yeshua HaMashiach.