Do You Believe There Will Be A Rapture?

[eduardo89]

He didn't say "spirit", he said "breath of life or breathe". The Greek word translated “air” is aer, which also means to breathe or respire. It refers to our spiritual body, our “breath” of life.

No, the Greek word for air is αέρα.
The Greek word for breathe/respire is αναπνέω.
The Greek word for wind is άνεμος.
The Greek word for spirit is πνευμα.

They are not the same words.

επειτα ημεις οι ζωντες οι περιλειπομενοι αμα συν αυτοις αρπαγησομεθα εν νεφελαις εις απαντησιν του κυριου εις αερα και ουτως παντοτε συν κυριω εσομεθα

The word used is αερα, which means air.

 

[erowe1]

He didn't say "spirit", he said "breath of life or breathe". The Greek word translated “air” is aer, which also means to breathe or respire. It refers to our spiritual body, our “breath” of life.

But your own evidence shows that what you're saying is false. You yourself posted the definition of aera, and it meant "air," not breath of life.

"Breathe" is not a noun, like aera is, it's a verb. The Greek verb aemi means to breathe, but the verse doesn't use the verb aemi, it uses the noun aera.

ETA: By the way, in post #3 you did say that it referred to your spiritual body.

Obviously 1 Thessalonians is referring to people being caught up into the air, as in the sky. I don't see any other way to take it. Even if you could interpret "aera" to mean "breath," how could it possibly mean that in the context of 1 Thessalonians 4:17? "We who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the breath"? Huh?

 

[Terry1]

From what I have found through the interpretation of the "breath of life" is this is the soul/spirit of man and animals both. Genesis and Leviticus both confirm that. In Genesis, God breathed into Adam and he became a living soul. In Leviticus, the blood of the animals was never to be eaten or consumed because it contained the life of the soul/spirit. That is why it was supposed to be separated from the animal sacrifice and poured out into the ground a specific way.

 

[donnay]

But your own evidence shows that what you're saying is false. You yourself posted the definition of aera, and it meant "air," not breath of life.

"Breathe" is not a noun, like aera is, it's a verb. The Greek verb aemi means to breathe, but the verse doesn't use the verb aemi, it uses the noun aera.

ETA: By the way, in post #3 you did say that it referred to your spiritual body.

Obviously 1 Thessalonians is referring to people being caught up into the air, as in the sky. I don't see any other way to take it. Even if you could interpret "aera" to mean "breath," how could it possibly mean that in the context of 1 Thessalonians 4:17? "We who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the breath"? Huh?

In the breath of life--with Christ. We will be changed--incorruptible (spiritual body), after the seventh trumpet sounds. Every living being will be changed into the spiritual body then. Not being scooped up in a rapture as many false doctrines have interpreted.

@3:44 listen closely to what he says...

 

[Kevin007]

If you read Israel and the Church as being two separate entities than you've missed the boat, and one of the most fundamental teachings of the New Testament just went right over your head. In the Romans 11 St. Paul's uses the illustration of an olive tree to make his point. He compares the Church to a tree that has its roots in the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), and its trunk representing the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament. No tree trunk grows upward into infinity. At some point it must sprout branches, and so St. Paul's "olive tree" does the same. These branches make up the modern Church in Jesus Christ. Some branches are Jewish Christians. Many branches are Gentile Christians. Both are precious in the eyes of God. This is the "Israel of God."

The Church is Israel. There is no other Israel today, in a Biblical sense, than the Church. The Church is also Zion. There is no other Zion, in a spiritual sense, than the Church. The Church is also the New Jerusalem. There is no other "Jerusalem," in a spiritual sense than the Church. This is a fundamental teaching of the New Testament. Without this understanding, everything becomes convoluted.

what in the world are you talking about? Israel is Israel and the Church is the Church- 2 very distinct entities.

 

[Kevin007]

Fruchtenbaum summaries the distinction between Israel and the church as follows:

The first evidence is the fact that the church was born at Pentecost, whereas Israel had existed for many centuries. . . .
The second evidence is that certain events in the ministry of the Messiah were essential to the establishment of the church- the church does not come into being until certain events have taken place. . . .
The third evidence is the mystery character of the church. . . .
The fourth evidence that the church is distinct from Israel is the unique relationship between Jews and the Gentiles, called one new man in Ephesians 2:15. . . .
The fifth evidence for the distinction between Israel and the church is found in Galatians 6:16. . . .
Perhaps one more observation can be made. In the book of Acts, both Israel and the church exist simultaneously. The term Israel is used twenty times and ekklesia (church) nineteen times, yet the two groups are always kept distinct.[12]

[url]http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/TheIsraelOfGod.html
[/URL]

 

[donnay]

Matthew 24:37-41 (Jesus speaking) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, THEY (the wicked) were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And THEY (the wicked) knew not until the flood came and took THEM (the wicked) ALL AWAY; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

THEY and THEM are clearly the WICKED (ungodly unbelievers).

Verse 40 - Then shall two be in the field, the (WICKED) one SHALL BE TAKEN, and the other left.

Two shall be grinding at the mill; the (WICKED) one SHALL BE TAKEN and the other left.

Luke 17:26, 27 and 34-36 (Jesus speaking) As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the day of the Son of Man. THEY (the WICKED) did eat, THEY (the WICKED) did drink, THEY (the WICKED) married wives, THEY (the WICKED) were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed THEM (the WICKED) all.

...I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed,; the (WICKED) one SHALL BE TAKEN (destroyed) and the other left.

Two women shall be grinding together; the (WICKED) one SHALL BE TAKEN (destroyed) and the other left.

Two men shall be in the field; the (WICKED) one SHALL BE TAKEN (destroyed) and the other left.

RAPTURE believers think THEY will be the ONE TAKEN. If you think YOU will be TAKEN, lets see what Jesus says will happen to you.

Luke 17:37, Jesus answers the disciples question of what happens to the TAKEN ONES. Jesus said, WHERE THERE IS A DEAD BODY, THERE THE VULTURES WILL GATHER.

2 Peter 2:5 (Peter speaking) (God) saved (kept safe) Noah...bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly (WICKED).

Matthew 13:24-30 The parable of the wheat and the tares. Gather together FIRST THE TARES. Jesus continues, The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they will gather OUT of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity....

Luke 17:29,30 (Jesus speaking) ...(in) Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed THEM ALL. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. THE WICKED were destroyed, once again.

Matthew 13:47-50 (Jesus speaking) Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but THREW THE BAD AWAY. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and SEVER THE WICKED from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire...

Once again the GOOD remain and the BAD are thrown away. THE WICKED TAKEN and destroyed "from among the just," who remain on the earth.

I Thessalonians 5:3 (Paul speaking) For when THEY (THE WICKED) shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction shall come upon THEM...and they shall not escape.

Matthew 24:21,22 and Mark 13:19,20 (Jesus speaking) For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved (survive); but for THE ELECT's sake whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days.

How can there be THE ELECT during this time IF they went in THE RAPTURE?

ELECT is also mentioned in Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1

Proverbs 2:21, 22 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall REMAIN in it, but THE WICKED shall be cut off (taken/destroyed) from the earth and the transgressors shall be rooted OUT of it.

Psalm 145:20 The Lord preserveth ALL that love him; but ALL THE WICKED He will destroy.

Proverbs 10:30 The righteous shall NEVER be REMOVED;

Proverbs 11:31 The righteous shall be recompensed IN the (world) earth...

Psalm 101:8 I (God) will early (first) destroy THE WICKED of the land...

Psalm 119:119 All THE WICKED of the earth you discard (throw away) like dross.

Proverbs 25:4,5 Take AWAY the dross from the silver...Take AWAY THE WICKED from before the King...

Isaiah 5:24 and 29:5 The flame consumeth the chaff (WICKED).

Job 21:18 THEY (THE WICKED) are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth AWAY.

Job 38:13 (Speaking to God) ...take hold of the ends of the earth that THE WICKED might be shaken OUT of it.

Malachi 4:1 For behold the day cometh...and all that do WICKEDLY, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up...

Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land (earth) and dwell therein FOREVER.

Psalm 37:9-11 For evildoers (WICKED) shall be cut off (destroyed); but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth.

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger...and He shall destroy the sinners thereof OUT of it (the earth).

Psalm 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed OUT OF THE EARTH (world), and let the wicked be no more.

Psalm 52:5 God shall likewise destroy THEE (THE WICKED) forever; He shall take THEE AWAY, and pluck THEE OUT of thy dwelling place.

The above are just some of the Scriptures that make it CLEAR that the righteous STAY, and THE WICKED GO.

Ezekiel 9:4-6 and Revelation 9:3,4 talk about THE WICKED being destroyed in the midst of the RIGHTEOUS.

http://www.demonbuster.com/rapture.html

 

[erowe1]

In the breath of life--with Christ. We will be changed--incorruptible (spiritual body), after the seventh trumpet sounds. Every living being will be changed into the spiritual body then. Not being scooped up in a rapture as many false doctrines have interpreted.

But that's not what aera means, as your own sources show.

 

[donnay]

But that's not what aera means, as your own sources show.

Word: ahr

Pronounce: ah-ayr'

Strongs Number: G109

Orig: from aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient):--air. Compare 5594. G5594

Use: TDNT-1:165,25 Noun Masculine

Heb Strong: H7834

1) the air, particularly the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air
2) the atmospheric region

KJV W/ STRONGS BIBLE - 1 THESSALONIANS 4:17

4:17 Then 1899 we 2249 which 3588 are alive 2198 5723 [and] remain 4035 5742 shall be caught up 726 5691 together 260 with 4862 them 846 in 1722 the clouds 3507, to 1519 meet 529 the Lord 2962 in 1519 the air 109: and 2532 so 3779 shall we 2071 0 ever 3842 be 2071 5704 with 4862 the Lord 2962.

http://www.godrules.net/library/kjvstrongs/kjvstrongs1the4.htm

 

[erowe1]

KJV W/ STRONGS BIBLE - 1 THESSALONIANS 4:17

4:17 Then 1899 we 2249 which 3588 are alive 2198 5723 [and] remain 4035 5742 shall be caught up 726 5691 together 260 with 4862 them 846 in 1722 the clouds 3507, to 1519 meet 529 the Lord 2962 in 1519 the air 109: and 2532 so 3779 shall we 2071 0 ever 3842 be 2071 5704 with 4862 the Lord 2962.

http://www.godrules.net/library/kjvstrongs/kjvstrongs1the4.htm

Doesn't all that just confirm exactly what I said? The word aera means air, and never means breath of life.

This is completely against what you said in post 84 and others here.

 

[jessahick]

Pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib.... don't matter what you call it really....but the most dangerous thing of all would be, imo, just sitting round waiting fer Jesus to come whisk you aways...cuz that ain't agonna happen til the 7th trumpet. An awful lot of horrible things will happen & be witnessed by the people on this earth before that 7th trumpet sounds with the voice of the archangel. An awful lot of folk are gonna fall hook, line & sinker for the false one who must appear first & do his "wondrous" works.

1 Thessalonians 4:26 tells us exactly when any sort of rapturous event will happen- with the voice of the archangel & the trumpet of God. Now when does that happen? The trumpet of God is the 7th trumpet, ain't it? And that would be nearin towards the end of the trib period, if judgments are going in order.

That verse in Revelation is soooo often taken out of context & the verse is not even completed, which is a bothersome thing in and of itself. The voice was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this". He isn't talking to us, we are being told his story- what he saw & heard. I never understood how folk got "I'll fly away" outta that one. Very wishful thinking & mayhap rightfully so.

I've long wondered about this rapture theory--which, btw, diehards rapturists are as vicious as evolutionists are about that theory -- don't even bother with them Donnay, if their hearts are hardened, you know cuz they'll come out swinging hard & disparaging your sources as being something evil. That's your cue. Back to the rapture theory-with-a-little-t..... wasn't it some crazy lady hallucinating that first described the rapture?? Was that who Darby was? LOL. Of course, no one wants to be around through the tribulation, no one wants their kids to be around for that stuff either. It's only natural that the idea would catch on like wild-fire.... imagine! The world falls to sh*t & everyone is wondering when they're gonna get the heck outta here.... where-oh-where did their rapture go? When the false messiah comes, he'll be mighty appealing to a LOT with wavering faith.

I Corinthians 15:50-58 tells us we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (God's trumpet) There's yer rapture.

I really enjoyed that Arnold Murray preacher.....reminds me of an old pastor me & hubby had about 15 years ago by the name of Sam. The 2 of them share similar teachings. Breaks it down simple like, without trying to sound all-scholarly, pompous, or arrogant --which is indicative of one who isn't stuck on their own personal glory, whose focus is on the Truth of theWord. But what the heck do I know? I'm just a hick. A hick who has returned after a 4+ year break from forums.

 

[donnay]

Well Jessahick, a few of my friends, who are Baptist, believe they will be whisked away in a Rapture. It's a shame so many people will be deceived by the Anti-Christ.

 

[Miss Annie]

Whether we agree or disagree on a topic such as the rapture I think is so insignificant. We can still looooooovvveeee each other!
I am a believer in the rapture. I have looked at it from all sides, frameworks and timelines.
I used to be a midtrib believer because of the references to the seventh trumpet in Revelation. But have since studied more and more. Including the feasts, especially the feast of trumpets and the Jewish wedding. There is a HUGE relevance there because we ARE the bride of Christ. When one studies those two subjects in conjunction with one another, its hard to come to any other conclusion.

 

[donnay]

Whether we agree or disagree on a topic such as the rapture I think is so insignificant. We can still looooooovvveeee each other!
I am a believer in the rapture. I have looked at it from all sides, frameworks and timelines.
I used to be a midtrib believer because of the references to the seventh trumpet in Revelation. But have since studied more and more. Including the feasts, especially the feast of trumpets and the Jewish wedding. There is a HUGE relevance there because we ARE the bride of Christ. When one studies those two subjects in conjunction with one another, its hard to come to any other conclusion.

Hi Miss Annie!

What particular scriptures are you referring too?

 

[GunnyFreedom]

this same Pastor Murray?

https://www.raptureready.com/who/Arnold_Murray.html

He is a false teacher- beware! Please read my long post. It contains 100% truth.

In my experience, Arnold Murray is just about the only mainstream preacher who has nearly the exact same understanding of the Faith as I do. I arrived at my conclusions under the direct tutelage of the Holy Spirit and straight from the Holy Word of God. I am far more inclined to dismiss anybody who calls him a heretic than I am to consider their complaint. I do not agree 100% with Murray, as both he and I are humans, this is natural, but I will take the teachings of God and scripture over the teachings of men, thank you very much.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Doesn't all that just confirm exactly what I said? The word aera means air, and never means breath of life.

This is completely against what you said in post 84 and others here.

Considering that my plans for next week are still largely up in the air, I am guessing that there may be some mistaking of idiom that is distracting from the central point of the passage, the timing as opposed to the location.

 

[Miss Annie]

Hi Miss Annie!

What particular scriptures are you referring too?

Hi Donnay!!
God gave the feasts in Leviticus 23.
There are spring feasts, which have already been fulfilled by Jesus.
Passover - fulfilled by Jesus death
The feast of unleavened bread - fulfilled at his burial
Feast of First Fruits - fulfilled at his resurrection
Feast of Pentecost - fulfilled at the coming of the Holy Spirit
Then there are fall feasts, which have not yet been fulfilled by Jesus.
The feast of Trumpets - will be fulfilled at the rapture
The feast of Yom Kippur - will be fulfilled at Christ's second coming
The feast of Tabernacles - Will be fulfilled at the Jesus creation of the Millennial Kingdom

Here is the best teaching that I have found on the feasts. The first is a teaching on the Spring Feasts, from Passover to Pentecost.
You will see the guy has other teachings on the Fall Feasts as well, and by the time you watch the first one, you will be jumping up and down to watch the rest, at least I was. LOL.



Adding in also the Feast of Trumpets video

 

[jessahick]

Donnay- Unfortunately that will happen to a lot of folk, my friends as well as yours. All we can do is is live it & preach it & live it some more. But, according to the Scripture, even if they are deceived, God knows their hearts & He is the one who judges- if they weren't taught the Word in this life, but they were oh-so close to getting it (or however God decides lol), they'll have a chance to hear the Word during Christ's 1000 year reign. We can do the best we can with some folk, then we have to know when to brush off our feet & walk away knowing we did our best to educate, illustrate & demonstrate what we have learned from going through the Word chapter by chapter & verse by verse. We can do our best, then no more. Either their ears will hear & their eyes will see or they will see it & not understand it. Can't tear ourselves up over it.

Miss Annie- of course different beliefs in regards to the specific details of the rapture theory are not necessary or integral at all for Salvation. Can you see it is exactly that--out of looooovvvveee for people that Donnay strives to bring light to Truth-where ever that may lead her? That according to those verses in Corinthians & Thessalonians the rapturous event is each of us being changed where we sit right now from this earthly human body into our spiritual body & not some great gathering up in the sky singing the Hallelujah chorus....those waiting around fer that are very likely to be deceived when things get real ugly & that's who/what Donna cares about. Because she loooovvvveeess people. That came through pretty clearly in the few threads here I've delved into, her caring that is.

Donnay- the 1912 International Biblical Dictionary explains- "The Feast of Trumpets is the feast of the new moon, which fell on the day of Tisri. It differed from ordinary festivals of the new moon in several important particulars. It was a day of solemn rest from ordinary labor and a hole convocation was held. Instead of the mere blowing of the trumpets of the temple at the time of the offering of the sacrifices, it was "a day of blowing trumpets." The sacrifices for the first day of the month were doubled on the first day of the 7th month except for one young bullock. It has been debated as to whether Psalms 81, one of the songs of Asaph, was composed expressly for the Feast of Trumpets. The psalm is used in the service for the day by the modern Jews. " Ref Num 29:1, Lev 23:24, Num 28:11-15 & 29:1-6. Under Festivals it explains that it is the 7th new moon (of the year).

I don't know what the connection is except that God really likes the #7.....but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a connection. God's so dang neat! Hey! Really cute smileys here.

 

[Kevin007]

Pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib.... don't matter what you call it really....but the most dangerous thing of all would be, imo, just sitting round waiting fer Jesus to come whisk you aways...cuz that ain't agonna happen til the 7th trumpet. An awful lot of horrible things will happen & be witnessed by the people on this earth before that 7th trumpet sounds with the voice of the archangel. An awful lot of folk are gonna fall hook, line & sinker for the false one who must appear first & do his "wondrous" works.

1 Thessalonians 4:26 tells us exactly when any sort of rapturous event will happen- with the voice of the archangel & the trumpet of God. Now when does that happen? The trumpet of God is the 7th trumpet, ain't it? And that would be nearin towards the end of the trib period, if judgments are going in order.

That verse in Revelation is soooo often taken out of context & the verse is not even completed, which is a bothersome thing in and of itself. The voice was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this". He isn't talking to us, we are being told his story- what he saw & heard. I never understood how folk got "I'll fly away" outta that one. Very wishful thinking & mayhap rightfully so.

I've long wondered about this rapture theory--which, btw, diehards rapturists are as vicious as evolutionists are about that theory -- don't even bother with them Donnay, if their hearts are hardened, you know cuz they'll come out swinging hard & disparaging your sources as being something evil. That's your cue. Back to the rapture theory-with-a-little-t..... wasn't it some crazy lady hallucinating that first described the rapture?? Was that who Darby was? LOL. Of course, no one wants to be around through the tribulation, no one wants their kids to be around for that stuff either. It's only natural that the idea would catch on like wild-fire.... imagine! The world falls to sh*t & everyone is wondering when they're gonna get the heck outta here.... where-oh-where did their rapture go? When the false messiah comes, he'll be mighty appealing to a LOT with wavering faith.

I Corinthians 15:50-58 tells us we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (God's trumpet) There's yer rapture.

I really enjoyed that Arnold Murray preacher.....reminds me of an old pastor me & hubby had about 15 years ago by the name of Sam. The 2 of them share similar teachings. Breaks it down simple like, without trying to sound all-scholarly, pompous, or arrogant --which is indicative of one who isn't stuck on their own personal glory, whose focus is on the Truth of theWord. But what the heck do I know? I'm just a hick. A hick who has returned after a 4+ year break from forums.

the last trump and seventh trumpet are 2 different things. You are incorrect.


It is clear that the last trump (the trump of God) is about believers. More specifically, it is about the removal of believers (the Church) from the earth in the Rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-53). The last trump on the trump of God will sound, the deceased believers will be raised (like Jesus, Lazarus and the Old Testament saints who were dead, buried and raised from the dead), the living believers will be changed (like Enoch and Elijah) and the entire Church will be caught up (or Raptured) into heaven at the same time. But the passage about the seventh trumpet is about unbelievers. More specifically, it is about those who are not in the Church (Rev. 11:15-19). When the angel blows the seventh trumpet it will cause anger on earth, lightening, thunder, an earthquake, great hail, and it will lead to the seven last plagues.

The last trump (the trump of God) will be an act of grace. It will call the undeserving Church into heaven. But the trumpet blown by the seventh angel during the Tribulation Period will be an act of wrath. It will signal divine judgment upon those on earth.

The last trump (the trump of God) will probably be blown by God (I Thes. 4:16). The seventh trumpet will be blown by the seventh angel (Rev. 11:15).

BTW Darby didn't invent the rapture. The rapture has a long history of Church Fathers. The rapture, the "catching up" (harpazo) was revealed by Paul the apostle. It is a mystery he gave us through Holy Spirit inspiration, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. The Rapture was not the concoction of John Darby, who picked up this teaching, and gave it improved order of presentation centuries after the doctrine was believed and taught by the early church fathers (first two centuries AD).

 

[Miss Annie]

Donnay- the 1912 International Biblical Dictionary explains- "The Feast of Trumpets is the feast of the new moon, which fell on the day of Tisri. It differed from ordinary festivals of the new moon in several important particulars. It was a day of solemn rest from ordinary labor and a hole convocation was held. Instead of the mere blowing of the trumpets of the temple at the time of the offering of the sacrifices, it was "a day of blowing trumpets." The sacrifices for the first day of the month were doubled on the first day of the 7th month except for one young bullock. It has been debated as to whether Psalms 81, one of the songs of Asaph, was composed expressly for the Feast of Trumpets. The psalm is used in the service for the day by the modern Jews. " Ref Num 29:1, Lev 23:24, Num 28:11-15 & 29:1-6. Under Festivals it explains that it is the 7th new moon (of the year).

I don't know what the connection is except that God really likes the #7.....but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a connection. God's so dang neat! Hey! Really cute smileys here.

The Feast of Trumpets was also know as "The feast which 'no man knows the day or the hour'" because it was celebrated at the sighting of the new moon. There would be people go up on the high hills to watch for the first sighting of the new moon to know when the feast would begin. At the first sighting they would set fires on the high hills and the others would see the fires and know it was time to begin the feast!!!