The Fourth Month for some, the tenth month for others
During the month of Tammuz Moses broke the ten commandments and the idol of the golden calf was erected. Jeremiah states that the walls of the first temple were breached on the 9th of Tammuz.
We also have the fast of the 17th of Tammuz.
The
17th day of Tammuz is a fast day. This fast is referred to in the Bible (Zechariah 8:19).
The Mishna Taanit 4:3 (Oral Law) lists five tragic events of Jewish history that happened on the 17th of Tammuz:
- Moses smashed the first tablets on seeing the golden calf.
- During the period of the first Temple, the besieged population of Jerusalem could not obtain an animal for the daily sacrifice.
- The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans during the second Temple period.
- Apustamus, a Roman officer, burnt a Torah scroll.
- An idol was placed in the holy Temple.
The 4th day of Tammuz
Zechariah 7:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
This word is a rebuke to the hypocritical practice of Israel. God tells them that all those things they were doing supposedly for Him were hypocrisy because they were not executing true judgment or showing mercy and compassion.
The 9th day of Tammuz
Jeremiah 39:2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.
Jeremiah 52:6 And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
Both of these days indicate severe judgement for those who allowed the temple to be polluted and who did not treasure the word of God.
The permutation of the four-letter name of God (the Tetragrammaton) through which divine energy flows to the world is HVHY (
hey vav hey yud) in Tammuz, emerging from the final letters of the passage in Esther ( 5:13)
zeH enenV shaveH leY, spoken by Haman. The order is the direct reverse of the Name’s regular form, YHVH. This is a sign of the stricture and judgement hanging over this tragic month until the Messianic era.
Sight is the bodily function that must be rectified during Tammuz. The majority of the time that Moses’ spies spent in the holy land was during the month of Tammuz. They saw the land with eyes that lacked faith, eventually bringing back an evil report that cost the people 40 years of wandering in the desert. The tribe associated with Tammuz is Reuven, whose name means ‘see a son’, and is derived from the sense of sight.
Tammuz is the saddest month in the Jewish calendar. In order to fix Tammuz, Jews need to repair their eyes, in order to gain messianic sight of the rectified future.
Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Compare Genesis 8:5 with Genesis 4:7
Genesis 8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
The tenth month means authority, completeness of order, and responsibility. Some see this meaning union or collection. Some see this as God's authority over mankind and the divine completion. Others associate the number with holiness. However, the tenth month became the fourth month after the month of Nisan became the first month.
Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
The number four is associated with the door. The first mention of the door is that "sin is at the door". It is the saddest month of the year.
So then put these two thoughts together and you have the pre tribulation rapture (the tenth month) but for those who are left behind it is the fourth month.
The word "door" is used three times in Revelation. Philadelphia is told that the Lord has set before them an open door. With Laodicea the door is closed and Jesus is on the outside knocking. Then Revelation 4:1 it says that John saw an open door in heaven. Chapter 4 is a very clear reference to the rapture and when we put Philadelphia (the church that is raptured) with Laodicea (the church that is vomited out of the Lord's mouth) we see one had an open door and one had a closed door. The Lord placed an open door for Philadelphia to speak the word and preach the gospel and they took it. As a result at the rapture the door was open in heaven for them. Laodicea on the other hand shut the door on the Lord, locking Him out of the church and as a result during the rapture they were locked out of the heavens. If the door is open for you then on Tammuz 1 you would be raptured, if it were closed to you then the month of Tammuz would be the saddest month of the year.
James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
This is the month the judge will stand. To receive a reward is a judgement and to suffer loss is a judgement.
1Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
The rapture of the church will be the opening of a great and effectual door for the gospel for those who are left behind.
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
This is a response to "when will these things be" which was in response to the Lord saying not one stone will be left upon another. Sure enough, the attack on the temple began in Tammuz. So then if the Lord tells us the end from the beginning we can expect the war on Israel in Ezekiel 38 to begin in the fourth month too, the saddest month of the year.
Mark 11:4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
Why do you need to tell us the colt was tied by the door? Why not just tell us the colt was tied (Matt 21:2 and Luke 19:30)? This colt is used for Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem after raising Lazarus from the dead (the pre tribulation rapture). To be by the doors is to be "at the doors".
During the Passover which may depict all the believers who are in Egypt during the tribulation, the Lord passes over the houses with the blood on the door. There are several criteria to be raptured, you cannot be an evil servant but you must be the good servant looking for your Lord's appearing, you cannot be the foolish virgin but must be the wise virgin with the vessel filled with oil, you must have a relationship with the Lord and you must have invested the talent He gave you so that He receives what is His with interest. However, to have the death angel pass over your house all you need is to have the blood on your door. If you confess your sins and ask the Lord to forgive you and wash you with His blood you will be covered and protected from the death angel. But that is hardly the requirements to be raptured.