Praying Through Teshuvah

 

The first day of Teshuvah 2017 will feature the spectacular U.S. total Eclipse. We hope that many make the pilgrimage to experience the Eclipse in person or at least view it on media outlets which will carry the event. Even more, we hope that many will take the 40-day Teshuvah Journey to return to God, pray for God’s people, and pray for healing of our land.

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 days from the August 21 Eclipse date to August 31, we invite you to join us in praying for personal repentance, reversing the curse, and choosing life: 

  • August 21 – Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose Life. 
  • August 22 – Matthew 4:1-11 and John 14:30: 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 – 1 John 1:9: 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 – Ephesians 2:8-10: Make sure you have received salvation by grace to achieve your destiny. 

Associated with the Heavenly constellation of Cancer are two constellations which represent God’s people. In the northwestern sky after Sunset is the constellation we call Big Dipper, but which the Israelites called “The Assembly.” This is the same name as the Greek word for the Church, and the meaning is confirmed by its stars Alkaid, “The Assembly,” and Dubeh Lachar, “The Latter Herd.” At the top of the sky the other constellation, known popularly as the Little Dipper, is really “The Lesser Sheepfold.” It represents those believers before Christ came, who are named by the star Kochab, “Waiting on Him Who Comes.” God’s plan to unify the believers is shown in the constellation Pisces, The Fish, a picture of two fish representing the Jews and the Gentiles, which are joined together by the unifying constellation “The Band.”

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 – Psalm 133: The Blessings of Unity 
  • September 2 – John 17:20-22: Unity in Christ 
  • September 3 – Romans 15:5-7: Accepting Our Brothers 
  • September 4 – Romans 14:13 And Luke 6:37, 38: Do Not Judge 
  • September 5 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9: Divisions 
  • September 6 – John 17:23: Evangelism Through Unity 
  • September 7 – Ezekiel 33: Watchmen Warnings 
  • September 8 – 1 Corinthians 9:27: Appealing to All
  • September 9 – Romans 11:11-32: Salvation for Israel 
  • September 10 – Acts 15: Messianic Jews and Toward Jerusalem Council II.

Beginning with September 11 through September 19, we will pray for the restraint of evil, and the healing of our land.

In the early evening of September 11, the 16th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks on America, the stars will present a vivid picture of God’s dealings with the rebelliousness of men and nations. In the southwestern sky stands the constellation Scorpio, The Scorpion, which is a picture of rebellious men. (See Ezekiel 2:6, Luke 10:18) Standing just above Scorpio is the constellation Ophiuchus, The Serpent Held, a picture of a giant man, Christ, who is restraining a serpent, Satan, and is poised to crush the scorpion underfoot. Finally, above Ophiuchus is the constellation Hercules, The Mighty Victor, showing a man, Christ, who is punishing a three-headed serpent which represents the rebellious nations. The Heavens show us that the Lord will restrain evil but will also punish rebellious men and nations.

  • September 11 – Isaiah 9:8-10: Scriptures about defiance against God, spoken rebelliously by U.S. leaders as they refused to repent after the 9/11/2001 attack. We repent for the nation.
  • September 12 – Deuteronomy 28: Blessings and Curses 
  • September 13 – 2 Chronicles 7:14: Healing the Land 
  • September 14 – Matthew 23:12: Humility 
  • September 15 – Matthew 6:10: Bringing Heaven to Earth 
  • September 16 – 1 John 5:14, 15: Praying in Confidence 
  • September 17 – Psalm 27: Protection in God’s Presence 
  • September 18 – 1 Peter 3:9: Bless and Curse Not 
  • September 19 – John 15:14: Friends of God

The last ten days of Teshuvah cover the period from the Feast of Trumpets, known more
popularly as Rosh Hashanah, “The Head of the Year,” through the Day of Atonement. This period is considered by the Jews to be a time of heightened importance and is called “Days of Awe.” The prophetic understanding of these feasts is truly “Awesome,” as the Feast of Trumpets is believed to represent the Second Coming of Christ and the Day of Atonement represents God’s judgment.

  • September 20 – Trumpets – Matthew 24: 29-31: The Second Coming 
  • September 21 – 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, Revelation 20:4-6: Resurrection of the Believers 
  • September 22 – On this date the Sun leaves the judgment constellation of Leo and moves into the constellation Virgo, The Virgin, which is the first book of the Star Bible and 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 (Revelation 14:14-16). This is one of the many signs in the Sun, Moon, and Stars which say Jesus is coming back. 
  • September 23 – Revelation 22:12-17: Come Lord Jesus 
  • September 24 – Matthew 24:36-51: Be Ready 
  • 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 Anti-Christ, is shown by the star Algol, “Evil Spirit,” which is pictured as a severed head held by Perseus (Revelation 16:13, 14). 
  • September 26 – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15: Judging our works
  • September 27 – Matthew 25:31-46: The Sheep and Goats
  • September 28 – Revelation 20: 11-15: The Great White Throne Judgment.

On Friday, September 29, the Teshuvah season ends with the Day of Atonement, also
called Yom Kippur. We have prayed earnestly for the healing of the broken Body of Christ and the healing of our nation at this Kairos appointed time. In the end the Church and the nation must choose life or death, blessings or curses, and we will have to wait and see what the outcome may be.

You, on the other hand, can control your own level of spiritual power by making the Teshuvah Journey back to God and uniting in Christ. When Jesus sent out 72 believers into a dark land of stubborn, sinful people to preach and heal, they were amazed at the power they had. Their evangelistic ministry produced the only Biblical record of a dark principality, Satan, falling out of the Heavenly places (Luke 10:1-20).

As you reach the end of your Teshuvah Journey and take stock on the Day of Atonement, remember the Heavenly image of Jesus restraining the Snake and preparing to crush the Scorpion in the constellation Ophiuchus. Be encouraged by the words that Jesus spoke to His 72 Evangelists:

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10:19, 20).
 

What is a Teshuvah Eclipse?