Elul as a Messianic Advent Season

Elul, the sixth month in the Biblical calendar, will begin tonight as the sun sets. In Jewish tradition, the sixth month is a time of introspection and personal stock-taking. Like Friday, the sixth day of the week, is a day of preparation (Matt 27:62, Mark 15:42) for the seventh day, Shabbat, Elul, the sixth month, can be a month of preparation for the seventh month, Tishrei, the month of the Fall Festivals.

In Messianic tradition, the first of the Fall Festivals, Yom Teruah, the Day of Blowing Shofars (Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1), is a picture of the return of Yeshua heralded by the trumpet, or shofar, of God (Exod 19:16; Deut 30:4; Isa 27:13; Zech 9:14; Matt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16; Heb 12:19; Rev 8:2; 11:15). Sukkot, the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:33-44; Deut 16:13, 16; Ezra 3:4; Neh 8:14; Zech 14:16; John 7:2), is a time when Messianic communities recognize the birth of Yeshua (Matt 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20, John 1:14). Both of these events are commemorated in the Christian season of Advent, which is observed over the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Advent (adventus) is the Latin translation of the Greek word parousia which means “coming” or “arrival”. While the initial focus of the early church was on the return of Yeshua, the name Advent was given to this season during the Middle Ages when the church shifted its focus to the past and the birth of Messiah. While we have abandoned the pagan elements of Advent and the Christmas season, we do find the themes of this tradition meaningful for all believers.

With these thoughts in mind, this year, I’m going to try and sell to my Christian family and friends that Elul is a Messianic Advent Season, based on Scripture. Maybe they’ll join us at our festivities.

Rosh Chodesh Elul
(Head of the New Month [or Moon] of Elul)
TORAH: Numbers 28:1-15