Paul’s Shipwreck, The Rapture, Atzeret on 8th Day of Hanukkah
Understanding prophecy is like solving a Rubik’s Cube that has been throughly scrambled (for your convenience, of course). You have to align and properly interpret dozens of Scriptures. Changing how you interpret one verse is like spinning part of the cube, it brings other sides that were previously solved out of alignment. If you have the wrong calendar interpretation then nothing will ever align perfectly. On the other hand, if everything starts to align, then you just might have found the right calendar.
Many people get one side of the cube to line up and “declare victory”, ignoring the inconvenient mis-matched squares on the other parts of the cube. I am guilty of ignoring certain squares and the result was a failed interpretation of October 9th. Then I was moved the the date the flood started and landed around November 19th, but had to ignore everything that pointed to an Atzeret. Given the number of biblical clues, there is only one answer that can truly solve them all.
We are all guilty of reassembling scripture to paint a picture and ignoring the “extra parts” that don’t quite fit in, hoping our understanding is good enough and that “some how”, “some way”, those things we couldn’t factor in will be explained later.
And of course people (myself included) who study scripture and present their findings are like this meme:
After getting a date wrong, we will disassemble and re-assemble the scriptures to get another guess, but this time with different parts missing.
In the past I ignored his return “on the full moon” (Proverbs 7), and also ignored us being raised on the 8th day of the week (assuming the 8th day of tabernacles was close enough). I also ignored the issues with 1260 days which never quite fit. I even ignored the “Days of Noah”. Instead I focused on the Atzeret, but ignored that the 7th day of Unleavened Bread was also an Atzeret. I ignored the 42 months of gentiles trampling Jerusalem. I even forgot that if the midpoint was summer, the start must be winter! These are a lot extra parts to be left out or Rubik’s squares that need to be rotated into position without invalidating all the evidence for the Atzeret and “the last day”.
You see, most people have “many different theories” that account for some but not all of the facts. They can rationalize Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, 1st day of Hanukkah, and every other feast day. The theories are mutually exclusive which means if scripture were fulfilled by any one of the theories other parts of scripture would appear to be falsified. But, Yeshua says Scripture cannot be broken; therefore, the answer must be consistent with all scripture.
It is for this reason that I will do my best to present an interpretation that accounts for every aspect of the prophecy. If there are any left over parts I will do my best to point out what I failed to include. If I am wrong, then all other theories must account for parts I have already addressed.
Paul’s Ship Wreck
In a previous video I did a study on every use of the word “Island” in the bible. It is used in 9 different verses, mostly in Paul’s Ship Wreck.
I was curious about the meaning of “islands fled” in Revelation. It was during this study that I first connected Paul’s shipwreck to the rapture. This story has even more clues for us today. Let’s review the relevant scriptures.
And every island fled to safety, and mountains (nations) were not to be found. — Revelation 16:20
And the sky departed as a scroll when it is rolled together (the nuke); and every mountain (nation) and island (innocent) were moved out of their places. — Revelation 6:14
The first use of the word Island comes from the book of Job.
When men are cast down (fall of Babylon), then thou shalt say, There is lifting up (rapture); and he shall save the humble person.
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands. — Job 22:29–30
There are many uses of the word Island in Paul’s Journey.
Paul’s Journey Timeline
- The fast was over (after Day of Atonement),
on the 10th day of 7th month - Almost Winter
And because the port was not fit to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice (dark red), and there to winter (take cover); — Acts 27:12 - But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon (a tribulation, nor'easter, whirl wind at just before winter).
- And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared (Revelation), and no small tempest (major tribulation) lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
- And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only loss of the ship (they were on a ship of Adramyttium, meaning court of death, Acts 27:2).
- For there stood by me this night the angel of God (Daniel 12)… Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar (symbolic of God) and, lo, God hath given you all them that sail (travel, follow) with you.
- 14 days tossed in storm without food (effectively rules out Tabernacles Atzeret, which is 12 days from Atonement)
But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria.
8. about midnight the shipmen surmized/thought that they drew near to some country. And sounded (measuring depth, but interesting pun on sound/cry), and found it 20 fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it 15 fathoms.
Strong’s Concordance (2015), epiphánei, “an epiphany”, a means appearing, manifestation, glorious display, in the NT, 2015 (epipháneia) occurs six times, always used of Christ’s coming.
And running under a certain island which (they thought) was called Clauda (Enclosure, Safe Haven)
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita (honey-sweet; calm).
And we were in all in the ship (following Paul) 276 (immutable) souls. — Acts 27:37
And after three months we departed (rapture) in a ship of Alexandria (meaning defend and protect), which had wintered (taken cover) in the isle (of the innocent, honey-sweek; calm), whose sign was Castor and Pollux (Gemini). — Acts 28:11
This verse could hint at “third month (moon)” and sign of Gemini. The 3rd month from the Head of the Year (Rosh Hashanah), is the 10th month from Abib. The “Sign of Gemini” and mention of winter is further confirmation.
Summary of all uses of Island in the Bible
There are far too many symbolically meaningful clues in the details of Paul’s shipwreck for it to be mere coincidence. Considering the expense of paper and copying letters, this story surely has much more meaning than the surface level for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Raised on the 8th Day of the Week (1st Day)
Yeshua was raised on the 8th day of the week, which is otherwise known as the 1st day of the week. More specifically he was raised at the very start of the 8th day, at first light. The Biblical meaning of the number “8” means new beginning and regeneration. All of this points to an expectation of Rapture / Resurrection on the 8th day.
When searching for the rapture resurrection event there are countless verses that provide “constraints” on the day. I have previously covered 5 prophecies that provide exact year counts from proven historical dates and align perfectly with a tribulation from 2024–2031. These are the “macro-constraints” for which there is little/no room to deviate. Those who have moved on to summer 2025 have some major contradictions to resolve as they have thrown out the entire frame of the car or given up on the very shape of the Rubik’s cube and breaking it apart.
Then we have the micro-constraints, such as Proverbs 7:19 which tells us to expect it on the full moon
For my husband (bridegroom) is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home. — Proverbs 7:19
And Joel 2:15–16 which implies an Atzeret
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call an Atzeret; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders. — Joel 2:15–16
And finally we are told to consider the Days of Noah which really narrows down to about 18 potential dates mentioned in the story across the Septuagent and Masaretic texts. Most people look at the start of the flood, but the 1st day of the 10th month is when the tops of the mountains were visible. This is another way of saying the “heads of the nations came face to face” or the “best/chosen of the nations”.
We also have the Transfiguration which can be viewed as a vision of the rapture which took place “on the top of a mountain” and made a reference to “tabernacles” after about “8 days”.
Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of His [c]decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep (long time dead); and when they were fully awake (resurrected), they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is [e]My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 36When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. — Luke 9:28…
When I first discovered the Atzeret I noted that all references but one referred to the Day of the Lord or Tabernacles. Only Deuteronomy 16:8 referred to the 7th day of Unleavened Bread. I assumed that exception indirectly referenced the fall of Jericho, a type and shadow of the Day of the Lord.
I recently discovered that Israel became a nation on the eve of the 7th day of Unleavened Bread, the Atzeret and 8th day of… second Passover. This timing then foreshadows the midpoint of the tribulation occurring on the same Atzeret of second passover, and from that date we can go backward 1260 days to arrive at the eve of the Atzeret of second Tabernacles (aka Hanukkah).
Then I realized that the first and second Passover Atzeret is always on the 6th day of the week. The Tabernacles Atzeret is always on the 7th day of the week and the Hanukkah Atzeret is on the 1st/8th day of the week on years when the 9th month has 30 days. On years when the 9th month has 29 days it pushes the Atzeret of Hanukkah to the 2nd day of the week.
The end result is that the only time the 8th day Atzeret lines up with the 8th day of the week is Hanukkah about 50% of the years. The only Atzeret that is aligned with a Full Moon is Hanukkah. The only Atzeret aligned with the Day’s of Noah is Hanukkah.
If you were to adopt a sliver moon calendar, then the Atzeret will never fall on a full moon. This leaves you with a missing piece regardless of how you assemble everything else.
Prophetic Conclusion
Taken together we have, the eve of Chanukkah’s Atzeret, on Full New Moon Day, which is the 1st day of the 10th month as in the Day’s of Noah, the 3rd moon with sign of Gemini as described by Paul, and exactly 1260 days from the midpoint of the tribulation on the 8th anniversary of Israel’s creation.
Midnight of December 16th in Israel, is mid-afternoon on December 16th in the USA. An abundance of scripture points to December 16th/17th just before the start of winter.
I am not a prophet, I have not heard a voice, and I am not saying “thus saith the Lord”. I pray always that the Holy Spirit would teach me all things and bring all things to remembrance.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. — John 14:26
If the Holy Spirit is working through me, then it is by subtle insights and connections that I cannot easily distinguish from my own thoughts. If anything is correct I give all credit to Yah, and anything that is wrong I take full blame for it.
Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly/consistently/straightly cutting the word of truth. — 2 Tim 2:15
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ — Luke 8:9
Parable of the Sower
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture (spirit). 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear (understand).”
What does “he who has ears to hear” phrase mean? Let’s let scripture define scripture.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. — Proverbs 28:9
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding. — Proverbs 28:7
11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast perseverance. — Luke 8
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. — Revelation 14:12
What is the “Word of God” at the time that Yeshua spoke this Parable? Is it not the Torah? Many hear but never grow (believe). Others believe for a while and fall away when tested. This example clearly demonstrates that “once saved, always saved” is false, because the text clearly indicates that they did truly believe for a period of time.
The good soil, requires holding fast and bearing fruit. A mental “belief” produces no fruit, but belief plus action does produce fruit. Those who fail to produce fruit are cursed and thrown into the fire.
Seeing a fig tree beside the road, Jesus went to it, but there were no figs on the tree, only leaves. So Jesus said to the tree, “You will never again have fruit.” The tree immediately dried up. When his followers saw this, they were amazed. — Mat 21:18
Shortly after Yeshua says:
But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” — Luke 8:21
- Confess you are a sinner, and that sin is breaking His law, as He gave to Moses
- Repent (turn) from your sin and do your best to avoid it (keep the law)
- Call on His name to make Atonement for your Sin as our High Priest
We may have just 7 days left. At this point we are all like the thief on the cross with nothing we can “do” to earn our salvation. We can never do enough to repay the debt caused by our sin, which is why salvation is a free gift for those who desire stop falling into debt by keeping his law with all of our heart, mind and soul. That is how we show him love.
If you deny and profane His law, then you are denying Yeshua because He is the Word made flesh. If you say you don’t have to keep it, that it has been done away with, then you will be the least or nothing in the Kingdom of God. Take what time you have left and worship Yah by serving Him and keeping His commands as best you can.
