I thought of something ya'll might find interesting this morning. Romans 11:11 "I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. "
Our salvation has come to us Goyim to make the natural children of God jealous. Would the 15th of Av be a good date to make the Jews jealous? I think so. The ninth of Av would increase their mourning, but that really isn't the purpose of Daniel's 70th week - it's to bring the Jews into relationship with their Redeemer. As Roman's 11:13-14 says " Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. "
The historical correlations of the fifteenth of Av are as follows:
It is the end of dying in the wilderness (1274 BC) In wake of the incident of the "Spies," in which the generation that came out of Egypt under Moses' leadership demonstrated their unpreparedness for the task of conquering and settling the Holy Land, G-d decreed that entire generation would die out in the desert (see "Today in Jewish History" for Av 8 and Av 9). After 38 years of wandering through the wilderness the dying finally ended, and a new generation of Jews stood ready to enter the Holy Land. It was the 15th of Av of the year 2487 from creation (1274 BCE).
At the moment of the Rapture, it is the end of our dying in the wilderness of this world.
It is the end of the ban on marriage between the different tribes (13th Century BC) . In order to ensure the orderly division of the Holy Land between the twelve tribes of Israel, restrictions had been placed on marriages between members of two different tribes. A woman who had inherited tribal lands from her father was forbidden to marry out of her tribe, lest her children -- members of their father's tribe -- cause the transfer of land from one tribe to another by inheriting her estate (Number 36). This ordinance was binding only on the generation that conquered and settled the Holy Land during the 14-year period 2488-2503 from creation (1273-1258 BCE); when the restriction was lifted, on the 15th of Av, the event was considered a cause for celebration and festivity.
We, a mixed tribe of mostly gentiles, are due to marry the Son of David - a different tribe.
The Tribe of Benjamin is readmitted into the community of Israel (1228 BC) Av 15 was the day on which the tribe of Benjamin, which had been excommunicated for its behavior in the incident of the "Concubine at Givah," was readmitted into the community of Israel (as related in Judges 19-21). The event occurred during the judgeship of Othniel ben Knaz, who led the people of Israel in the years 2533-2573 from creation (1228-1188 BCE).
We (the new youngest tribe of the Family of God) will be visibly and inarguably a part of the Community of God. No more nominal members, no more sectarian infighting. We will be One as our Beloved and Father are One.
Jeroboams roadblocks removed (574 BC) Upon the division of the Holy Land into two kingdoms following the death of King Solomon in the year 2964 from creation (797 BCE), Jeroboam ben Nebat, ruler of the breakaway Northern Kingdom of Israel, set up roadblocks to prevent his citizens from making the thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judea. These were finally removed more than 200 years later by Hosea ben Eilah, the last king of the Northern Kingdom, on Av 15, 3187 (574 BCE).
There is a physical barrier preventing us from embracing Him Whom we love as we are in the world and He is still in heaven. But on that day the barrier will be removed and we will worship Him face to face.
Matchmaking Day - In ancient Israel, it was the custom that on the 15th of Av "the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in borrowed linen garments (so as not to embarrass those without beautiful clothes of their own)... and dance in the vineyards" and "whoever did not have a wife would go there" to find himself a bride (Talmud, Taanit 31a).
Our Bridegroom will come down and find Himself His Bride, dressed in fine linen garments (not our own filthy rags).
The Day of the Breaking of the Ax - When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, the annual cutting of firewood for the altar was concluded on the 15th of Av. The event was celebrated with feasting and rejoicing, as is the custom upon the conclusion of a holy endeavor, and included a ceremonial breaking of the axes which gave the day its name.
And on that day we will cease from adding more wood, hay and stubble to our lives. No more unGodly things to be burned up. A day to be celebrated with feasting and rejoicing.
The world won't recognize all the nuances of the fifteenth of Av, but the practicing Jew will recognize that it was a fitting day. If it happens. It's certainly not a required day, but it would be an appropriate day. It is a good day to fly.
fair use for educational and discussion purposes - historical data from:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?tDate=8/3/2012
