This Fall is shaping up to be a doozy.  It is clear that we are not living in times that are ‘business as usual.’  Rather, the nations rage and they are wildly straining against the Lord’s Anointed.  Following is our best response and preparation for this fast coming season of uproar.

Forty Days of Repentance, Reconciliation, and Restoration

Originally posted here.

(From the Evening of Sept 3, 2016 to the evening of October 12, 2016)

Repentance, reconciliation, and restoration are all elements of the journey of the bride. It is at this time, starting with the first of Elul, that BYNA has chosen to focus on this part of the journey of the bride that began at Passover and continues through the cycle of Festivals. In ancient times, the bride had to make herself ready for the arrival of her husband. The betrothal period was the time that she would begin to look within to see how she could present herself as an acceptable bride to her husband. She knew that she would no longer be living in her father’s house, but she would be leaving all to be with her husband. These forty days from Elul 1 to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) are part of that betrothal period and are known as the season of repentance. The journey culminates in a final day of purification at Yom Kippur and the wedding ceremony under the Chuppah at Sukkot. One day, at the end of one of these cycles, this Festival Journey will ultimately crescendo in the return of the Groom, Messiah Yeshua, to righteously govern over the nations and will result in the nations acting righteously and praising the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Isaiah 61:9-11 Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD has blessed.” 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth produces its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring out; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring out before all the nations.

So the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is, at this time, bringing Jacob back to Himself (ref. Isaiah 49:5) and He will prove faithful to once again raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel (ref. Isaiah 49:6). Through repentance and reconciliation (ref. Isaiah 49:9), He will raise us up to inherit our desolate heritage (ref. Isaiah 49:7-8). It is through this purification process that He asks us to appear to Him as a bride.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 17 Your children make haste; your destroyers and those who made you waste shall go out from you. 18 Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live,” says the LORD, “you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and dress yourself with them, like a bride.”

Please consider joining us as we prepare our hearts for these 40 days.

May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you.

The Elders and Executives of B’ney Yosef North America

For additional information and discussion with two of BYNA’s Elders concerning this initiative, please check out this broadcast from the Remnant Road on Hebrew Nation Radio.