Prosabbaton
Have you ever heard preachers and teachers say, “One word from Yahweh will change your life!”? Take that to heart and read over the title to this post a few more times, Prosabbaton. This word is an ancient Greek way of saying “the 6th day of the week”, or get ready for Sabbath. The English translation of this word is, foreSabbath, or possibly Erev Shabbat, or the day before the Sabbath, or readiness day before Sabbath, which we know as Friday on the Gregorian calendar. This little pearl of a word is found only one time in the New Testament. This word is found just hours after Yahshua, our Redeemer, Master, and King, instituted the New Covenant, and just minutes after He ratified the New Covenant with His own blood. This word is only found in the first Gospel ever written, Mark 15:42 HRB “And it becoming late afternoon already, since it was the preparation, that is, the day before a Sabbath.” (Compare Luke 23:54) That whole phrase, “the day before a Sabbath”, is just one Greek word, Strong’s # G4315, prosabbaton, only written this one time in the entire Scriptures.
I’ve been reading, studying, and teaching Yahweh’s word for just over 41 years now, and this is the first time my study spade turned over this gem in Yahweh’s word. This is a New Covenant word, a New Testament word. This one little word should send shock waves through the heart of every believer, Christian, Messianic, Sunday go to meeting, or Sabbath observant, no matter. Look at the context in which this little word is used. It’s Yahshua’s once in a lifetime burial service! Why did Mark make mention of the fact that it was late afternoon on the 6th day of the week? Because of the great respect he had for Yahshua and for the Shabbat! Disciples buried Yahshua rapidly, but carefully, in the late afternoon of weekday 6, so NO ONE, Jews, Romans, or Christians, would have to bury Yahshua on Shabbat!! Is that not tremendous respect for Yahweh’s Fourth Commandment, under the NEW COVENANT?
Friends, this is a picture of Torah in action under the NEW COVENANT! Yahshua said He came to fill up Torah completely, not do away with it. Matthew 5:17 HRB “Do not think that I came to annul the Torah or the Prophets; I did not come to annul, but to fulfill.” Look at this story again and again. Yahshua rested in death on Shabbat! Father Yahweh and Yahshua planned this whole crucifixion/redemption thing from eternity, so Yahshua would be executed on purpose on weekday 6 and rest in death on Shabbat. That should rattle your spirit to its core and on into eternity! Yahweh executed Yahshua’s execution excellently EXACT, in every minute detail, to the very second and minute of each day involved.
Yahshua not only became the calendar, He became, and is, the LIVING TORAH. He wants to be the living Torah in your life. If I were a pastor, or Christian leader of any kind, I would never attend another Sunday worship service. I would immediately switch my church to Saturday, Sabbath observance and worship. This week, now, today!! Unfortunately for us today, we live in the Laodicean church age, at the end of time, when the Church is apostate. The Church as a whole does not care enough about Yahshua, His Word, His calendar, or His Sabbath rest day. Too bad for them, because that one little word, prosabbaton, will change your whole life, if you let it. Yahweh, Yahshua, or the Holy Spirit, will never force their commandments on you. They are actually suggestions, not commandments, John 14:15 HRB “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” So, do you love Him, or do you just say you love him?
Yahshua DID NOT NAIL the Sabbath to His Execution Stake. The first New Covenant disciples knew that. Look at the story in Luke 23:54-56 HRB “And the day was setting and the Sabbath was approaching. 55And having followed, also the women who were accompanying Him out of Galilee, watched the tomb, and how His body was placed. 56And returning, they prepared spices and perfume. And indeed they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.” The early New Covenant disciples KNEW Yahshua had not nailed the Sabbath, the Fourth Commandment, to His cross. They rested on the Sabbath, because they LOVED Yahshua! The only things Yahshua nailed to his Execution Stake, were the commandments that were against us, Colossians 2:14 HRB “and, by his mandates, he cancelled the legal contract of our sins, which existed against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His torture stake.” The Sabbath is NOT against you, the Sabbath is FOR you. Mark 2:27 HRB “And He said to them, The Sabbath came into being for man’s sake, not man for the Sabbath’s sake.” Good grief, who doesn’t need more and better REST!?!
I’ve only been observing Shabbat for the past 11 years or so, and it has changed my life. It’s turned my life upside down and inside out. But this one little word, prosabbaton, this word is a SCAPEL, that I hope Yahshua will use to circumcise the hearts of every man, woman, and child on this planet!! I’m placing this pearl in my spiritual pouch and holding onto it for eternity. This word is unleavened bread, chew it up, swallow it, digest it, it is spiritual nutrition we all need. It will help make you whole again.
Go ahead, be bold, you have my permission to print this study out and nail it to the door of your church today. Anyone up for a Third Great Awakening?
Blessings,
Gene Benjamin II
April 16, 2014 AD
Unleavened Bread