Study Guide #1

God’s Appointed Times

Study Guide

In this study series, we present the concepts and evidence for what we have been studying, then pose questions we hope will emphasize helpful ideas, sparking discussion.

This study series focuses on our marriage with God, the wedding rehearsal events, and how our free will is preserved while being God’s partner. We believe that all of the appointed times (God’s festivals listed in Leviticus 23) have meaning and great significance for today and at the end of the age. We believe that the times listed in Daniel 9 all have a meaning at the end of the age. These studies lay the foundation for why we believe this.

Please visit our website, servantsvoice.com, for a link to each of our studies and study guides.

In the Beginning

We start in the beginning.

Genesis 1:1-5 NET In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (2) Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. (3) God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light! (4) God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.

?? What did God create on the first day?

Next we look at what God created on the fourth day.

Genesis 1:14-19 NET God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, (15) and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” It was so. (16) God made two great lights — the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night. He made the stars also. (17) God placed the lights in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth, (18) to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. (19) There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.

?? What did God create on the fourth day?

?? What was the difference between what God created on the first day and the fourth day?

We suggest that, on the first day, God created the earth. And, on the fourth day, God set the orbits of our sun, earth, and moon such that they became the mechanisms in God’s clock. Let’s see what the evidence is for this idea.

Look at Genesis 1:14 in multiple translations. We want to first focus on the word we have underlined.

Genesis 1:14-19 NET God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be as signs to indicate seasons and days and years,

Genesis 1:14 LEB And God said, “Let there be lights in the vaulted dome of heaven to separate day from night, and let them be as signs and for appointed times, and for days and years,

Genesis 1:14 ESV And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,

Genesis 1:14 CEV God said, “I command lights to appear in the sky and to separate day from night and to show the time for seasons, special days, and years.

Interlinear

Now, let’s look at it in Hebrew. Please do this yourself. Use an interlinear Bible. You can find multiple online. Here, we will show you how to use BlueLetterBible.org

Go to their site. In the search bar at the top, type in ‘Genesis 1:14’ and then select the translation of your choice. Hit the enter key or the right triangle on the screen. You may find it helpful to view some of the videos that people have created to show how to use these powerful tools. https://7sevens.link/BLBhow Note that the mobile version uses the + sign that you will want to click on to expand things.

This link will take you to a much slower and detailed tutorial.

If you open Blue Letter Bible, you will see something like this:

Now, click on the ‘Tools’ button next to the verse. This will open the interlinear version that gives us the English word, the Strong’s number, the Hebrew word, and a speaker button we can click on to hear how it is pronounced in Hebrew. If we scroll down until we find the phrase “and for seasons,” we can see that the word we are focusing on is H4150 and how the Hebrew is pronounced in English — môʿēḏ. You can click on the speaker button for help with the sound. A man named James Strong assigned an H number to every Hebrew word found in the Bible and a G number to every Greek word. It was an incredible service that was first published in 1890. It is a system that is still used today.

If we click on ‘H4150,’ it will open more information about the Hebrew word. It will tell us how many times the word is used in the Bible and the different ways it was translated in the King James Version. For H4150, môʿēḏ, we can see that, of the 223 times it is found in the Bible, there are 150 times where the KJV translators chose to translate it as “congregation.”

Next, we can see an outline of how the word was usually used.

Below Strong’s information, we will often find at least one lexicon helping us define the word. For this word, we find the most popular lexicon, the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon. This gives us the definition of the word. Lexicons will often source definitions from places other than the Bible.

Here, we find that môʿēḏ means appointed time, place, meeting.

If you continue to scroll down, you will find another Lexicon called the Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon. Expand that and note the four definitions that are appropriate for the word môʿēḏ.

?? What are the definitions of môʿēḏ as given by the Gesenius lexicon?

Keep in mind that the King James Version uses language that was common in the year 1611. The English language has changed a bit since then.

Now that you know what the Hebrew word môʿēḏ means, how would you translate Genesis 1:14?

Every translator has to make multiple choices on how to convey ideas from one language to another. Each one brings their own perspectives and tries their best to honor God in their work. Be happy that there are many different translations. When they all translate a passage exactly the same way, then it is likely that the meaning is clear. If you find a passage where different words are used, then consider the idea that each of them adds another layer of understanding.

Genesis 1:14 tells us that the interaction of the stars, sun, moon, and Earth are used by God to mark the “appointed times” to “signal” when His followers are “to assemble” “at the place of assembly.” The môʿēḏ conveys all four of those ideas.

An appointed time
To Assemble
At the place of Assembly
Appointed sign, signal

This, of course, raises the question: what are the appointed times set by God?

God is kind to tell us exactly what they are and when they are to be observed.

One way of finding these is to look at every instance of môʿēḏ in the Bible. If we read through each, we find an explicit definition of each môʿēḏ given in Leviticus 23.

Every place we see H4150, we know that the Hebrew word is môʿēḏ. As you can tell, the translators used several different words when translating môʿēḏ. What you see above is based on the King James translation. It is what Strong used in 1890 and what is still used.

?? What English word for môʿēḏ is used in Leviticus 23:2?

?? What two English words for môʿēḏ are used in 23:4?

?? What English word for môʿēḏ is used in 24:3?

Leviticus 23 has a clean list in one place of each môʿēḏ of God.

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:3

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:4-8

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:9-14

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:15-22

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:23-25

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:26-32

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:33-44

?? What is the môʿēḏ of God in Lev 23:39

These appointed times are set by God and marked on a calendar created by God that can be observed by everyone, no matter where they live and throughout all time.

The appointed times were given to Israel when they were at Mt Sinai after the Exodus.

The appointed times were both commemorative and prophetic. We believe that they were prophetic of events that would happen when Jesus came to Earth to demonstrate what the law of love means. We believe that they are also prophetic of events that will happen at the end of the age. These studies lay the foundation for why we believe this.

Before we look at the evidence for the commemorative and prophetic nature of the appointed times, it will be helpful to have a few more definitions in your quiver.

Hebrew Words

In the Blue Letter Bible, you can search by chapter and verse, by word, and by Strong’s H and G numbers.

(מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – Appointed Time – H 4150

We have already looked at the Hebrew word (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ in the examples we give above. To summarize, môʿēḏ means a specific time and it usually means the appointed times that God revealed at Mt Sinai.

If you search for H226, you will find the entry for ‘ôṯ.

(אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – Signal – H226

The root word (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ is pronounced “oat” and has several uses. It can mean signal, sign, mark, letter, or token. The Bible usually uses the English word “sign” when translating (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ. The concept of (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ is associated with taking action that will signal an agreement or commitment or to provide surety for a promise.

(מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’ – Reading or Rehearsals – H4744

The Hebrew Bible is called the (מִקְרָאֵי) Miqrā’. It is pronounced “mik-raw.” The word “miqrā'” means – “reading” or “that which is read.” It also means to “rehearse” something. It also means “to assemble.” In modern Hebrew, the word means “Hebrew Bible.”

The Hebrew Bible – “Tanakh” is an acronym made from the first Hebrew letter of each of the Masoretic Text’s three traditional divisions: Torah (literally ‘Instruction’ or ‘Law’), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) — hence ‘TaNaKh.’

The three-part division reflected in the acronym “Tanakh” is well attested in the rabbinic literature. During that period, however, “Tanakh” was not used. Instead, the proper title was “Mikra” (or Miqra, מקרא, meaning “reading” or “that which is read”) because the biblical texts were read publicly. The acronym “Tanakh” was first recorded in the medieval era. “Mikra” continues to be used in Hebrew to this day, alongside “Tanakh,” to refer to the Hebrew scriptures. In modern spoken Hebrew, they are interchangeable.

The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon defines (מִקְרָאֵי) “miqrā'” as: מִקְרָא miqrâʼ, mik-raw’; from H7121; something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal:—assembly, calling, convocation, reading.
Most translators choose to use the word “assembly” or “convocation” for (מִקְרָאֵי) “miqrā’.” As you read various places in the Bible where the word (מִקְרָאֵי) “miqrā'” is used, consider translating it as:

Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
Reading
Rehearsals
Assemble

(מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) miqqdash – Sacred place – H6942 (qāḏaš is the root word)

Most translators use the English word “sanctifying” in place of (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) “miqqdash.” The word (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) “miqqdash” means a “sanctuary.” If it is God’s sanctuary, it is a sacred place. When we allow God to make His home in us, we become God’s sacred sanctuary. A sanctuary without God is not a holy place. When we see the word (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) “miqqdash” – sacred place, in the verses we will look at, (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) “miqqdash” is replaced with “sacred place.”

Your definitions

We now have four Hebrew words for which we know the definitions.

After looking at what the lexicons say the words mean and after looking at the various ways the translators have translated them, please define each of the four words in your own words. Knowing each of these will be helpful.

In your own words, describe what each of the following words mean.

(מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ –

(אוֹת) ‘ôṯ –

(מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’ –

(מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) miqqdash –

The God of Time

The God of the universe uses time as an integral part of how He wants to be worshiped. God states that those who love Him will rest and do no work on some of the appointed times throughout the year. We exhibit our relationship with God by honoring the Sabbaths marked on God’s calendar. Those who exhibit these signals are considered special by God and are made a sacred dwelling place for God.

Sabbaths

For each of the appointed times which are described as Sabbaths? What kind of work is permitted on each?

Every 7th day | Exodus 20:20, 31:13; Leviticus 23:3 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Passover | Leviticus 23:5 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Unleavened Bread | Leviticus 23:6-8 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Firstfruits | Leviticus 23:9-14 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Feast of Weeks | Leviticus 23:15-22 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Feast of Shouts | Leviticus 23:23-25 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Day of Atonement | Leviticus 16; Leviticus 23:26-32 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
Feast of Booths | Leviticus 23:33-43 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?
The 8th Day | Leviticus 23:39 | Is it a Sabbath? | What kind of work is permitted?

The Sabbaths are covenants with God. Those who have a relationship with God will spend time with God on the times He has specifically appointed for His interactions with us.

Using Our Four Hebrew Words

This is a compilation of some of the passages that use the words we have learned.

Genesis 1:14 LEB And God said, “Let there be lights in the vaulted dome of heaven to separate day from night, and let them be as (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – Signals and for (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – Appointed times, and for days and years,

Light was made on the first day of Creation. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”

A spinning Earth revolving around our sun creates our concept of “day and night.” On the 4th day of creation, the sun, moon, and stars were tuned as a clock that God uses to signal appointed times that God calls sacred.

The sun-earth interaction is the clock God uses to mark days, years, and appointed times.
The moon-earth interaction is the clock God uses to mark months and appointed times.
The stars are used to help us synchronize the solar and lunar clocks as well as to recognize the end of twilight and the beginning of night.

In future studies, we will explore how the sun, moon, and stars show us when the Sabbaths begin and end, when the months begin, and when the year begins. Understanding the Biblical evidence for each of these can further develop our relationship with God. Participating in what God has shared with us becomes a signal of our relationship with God.

The Sabbaths of the Lord are the (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal that those who keep them love Him. Consider each of these passages in multiple translations.

Exodus 31:13 LEB “And you, speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, because it is a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal between me and you throughout your generations, in order to know that I am Yahweh, who (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) miqqdash – sacred place you.

Ezekiel 20:12 TLV I also gave them My Shabbatot, as a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal between Me and them, so that they would know that I am Adonai who made them a (מְקַדְּשָֽׁם) miqqdash – sacred place.

Ezekiel 20:20 NET Treat my Sabbaths as holy and they will be a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal of our relationship, and then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”

?? What does it mean for God to make you a sacred place as Exodus 31:13 and Ezekiel 20:12, 20 describe?

During the Exodus, the Hebrew was to bring a lamb to the home four days prior to Passover. (Exodus 12:3.) Then, on Passover (the 14th day of the first month; see Leviticus 23:5), the lamb was to be killed and its blood spread on the entry to the house. This was to signal to the Lord and to others that the occupants of the home were following His instructions. That signal was noted by God when the 10th plague fell. Those who followed the instructions were spared because they had signaled their obedience by performing the required action, demonstrating their relationship with God.

Exodus 12:12-13 LEB “And I will go through the land of Egypt during this night, and I will strike all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human to animal, and I will do punishments among all of the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. (13) And the blood will be a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – Signal for you on the houses where you are, and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you, and there will not be a destructive plague among you when I strike the land of Egypt.

God says that the Sabbaths of the (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – appointed times are a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal of those in whom He will choose to make His home.

During the Exodus, the blood of the lamb on the doorposts was a signal seen by God and others.

?? According to Exodus 12, what happened to the households that did not exhibit the blood of the lamb?

?? According to Ezekiel 20, what are the Sabbaths a (אוֹת) ‘ôṯ – signal (mark) of?

Genesis told us that God uses the sun, moon, and stars to signal the appointed times. Leviticus tells us what the appointed times are.

Leviticus also tells us what the purpose of the appointed times are.

Refer back to the definitions we studied for the word (מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’. Miqrā’ is the Hebrew word for the Tanakh, the Old Testament (the collection of sacred writings from Genesis to Malachi). Miqrā’ also means to read, specifically to read the Miqrā’. Miqrā’ also means to rehearse. Leviticus 23:2 tells us we are to miqrā’ the appointed times — that is, to read them and to rehearse them.

Leviticus 23:2 LEB “Speak to the Israelites, and say to them, ‘The (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – appointed times of Yahweh that you shall proclaim are sacred (מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’ – times to assemble, read the Bible, and to rehearse; these are my (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – appointed times.”

At creation, God put in place the mechanism to identify when the appointed times/rehearsals would be. At Mt Sinai, during the Exodus from Egypt, God revealed the appointed times and called on His followers to assemble for, read about, and rehearse the appointed times. The reason for assembling, reading, and rehearsing is to become like Jesus. Participating in the appointed times will allow us to recognize Jesus when He comes and not be deceived by the imposter who is also coming. Assemble, read, and rehearse the appointed times so that you will recognize the anointed one at the end of the age and not be deceived by the imposter.

The (מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’ – assembling/reading/rehearsing are to be practiced weekly and at appointed times throughout the year. The rehearsals illustrate the marriage events from the betrothal to the celebration at the end of the consummation. The (מִקְרָאֵי) miqrā’ predicted that:

Jesus would die on the Cross on Passover at the same hour that the Passover lamb is sacrificed in the rehearsal.
Jesus would be laid in the tomb at the beginning of the Unleavened Bread rehearsal.
Jesus would be resurrected on the day of the Firstfruits rehearsal.
The Holy Spirit would make a dramatic appearance on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) rehearsal. Then, thousands of people scattered from Jerusalem, spreading the gospel to many different parts of the world.

?? On what môʿēḏ – did Jesus die on the Cross?

?? During what môʿēḏim – did Jesus rest in the tomb?

?? During what môʿēḏ – was Jesus resurrected?

?? During what môʿēḏ – was the Holy Spirit poured out?

?? During the last year of Christ’s life on Earth, what môʿēḏim occurred after Jesus died?

The prophetic meaning of the appointed times did not end at the Cross. The times appointed by God at Mt Sinai, that God instructed His followers to observe annually by assembling, reading, and rehearsing, were performed as rituals for over a thousand years. They were prophecies.

Passover – Jesus died
Unleavened Bread – After the Cross, this môʿēḏ met one of its prophetic fulfillments – Entombment.
Firstfruits – After the Cross, this môʿēḏ met one of its prophetic fulfillments – Resurrection.
Pentecost – After the Cross, this môʿēḏ met one of its prophetic fulfillments – The Holy Spirit empowered those waiting for the appointed time they’d rehearsed annually since the Exodus.

None of these appointed times were done away with at the Cross. Jesus did not abandon the significance and meaning of the 7th-month appointed times. All appointed times continue to have meaning today and are a part of the rehearsal command for a reason. God will again interact with humanity on each of these môʿēḏ.

The 7th month (מוֹעֵד) môʿēḏ – appointed times are:

Feast of Shouts (Trumpets)
The Day of Atonement
The Feast of Booths (Tabernacles)
The 8th Day

We will look at the 7th-month appointed times in a future study. We will explore how all of the appointed times have an application at the end of the age and that this is why we are still asked to participate. God creates a covenant with those who put the blood of the appointed times on the doorposts of their heart. It is participating in these rehearsals that God recognizes as our signal of loyalty to Him.

?? Is the weekly seventh day Sabbath one of the môʿēḏim?

?? Do you think you are adopted into God’s family of chosen people?

?? Do you claim the promises given to God’s family of chosen people?

?? Are the blessings and curses applicable to only the Jews, or are they also applicable to those who claim to be a part of the family through adoption? Deuteronomy 11:26-28 and Deuteronomy 28

?? Does the Bible say that the môʿēḏim are a signal of your relationship with God?

Conclusion

The sun, moon, and stars are the clock and calendar that God put in place at Creation to signal the times that God says are important. Those appointed times are identified in Leviticus 23. The times include weekly and annual Sabbaths that God says are important for His followers to remember in the same way it was important to put blood on the doorway prior to the 10th plague on Egypt. Following His instruction indicates a willingness to partner with God for eternity. The appointed times are signals of our relationship with God.

The special and appointed times that God instructs His followers to proclaim and observe are rehearsals. The appointed times are prophecies that told us when God would interact with humanity in a dramatic way when Jesus was on Earth. They are also prophecies that tell us on what days of some future year when God will again interact with humanity in dramatic ways. They are rehearsal dates for God’s bride to prepare for eternity with our Creator.

Please visit our website for a link to each of our studies and study guides.