IS THERE MORE TO THE BARLEY/EQUINOX CONTROVERSY THAN FIRST MEETS THE EYE?

If we back off from the details of the barley vs. equinox controversy and
take a look at the big picture, it is interesting and disturbing to notice
that virtually all who oppose the use of green ears of barley in the Land
of Israel to determine the first month of a new year, but prefer instead to
use their computers, calendars, and astronomical charts to determine the
first month .... are also loath to
acknowledge the prophetic significance of the return of the Jews to the
Land of Israel, probably the most prophetically significant event which has
taken place in our lifetime! The list of excuses offered to justify this
cognitive failure is lengthy:

*those aren't real Jews who have returned to Israel, those are Edomites
*those aren't real Jews who have returned to Israel, those are Ashkenazies
*those aren't real Jews who have returned to Israel, those are Khazars
*Israel today is full of atheists, homosexuals, and drug addicts, and
couldn't possibly develop into something spiritualy important
*since the Messiah was crucified there, the Land of Israel is no longer the
Holy Land and whatever happens there has no prophetic significance
*those are real Jews who have returned to Israel, but they are no longer
the Chosen People because they crucified the
Messiah, so whatever they do has no prophetic significance
*those are real Jews who have returned to Israel, but they are no longer
the Chosen People because they crucified the
Messiah, so they have lost any Scriptural claim to the Land of Israel which
they may once have had
*after the Messiah's first advent, the whole earth has become the Promised
Land
*after the Messiah first advent, all who follow Him become the Chosen People
...........and the list goes on and on, with new excuses and
rationalizations added on an on-going basis.

Those who bank on one or more of these excuses would be advised to recall
the words of Shaul/Paul, who reminds us that "the gifts to and calling of
(the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the Chosen
People) are irrevocable/ without repentance" (Romans 11:29, brackets
supplied) .... and the words of Almighty Yahuah Himself, Who declares
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round
about, when they shall be in seige both against Judah and against
Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all
people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though
all the people of the earth be gathered together against it .... and it
shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations
that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:2,3,9).

Last day events may not be unfolding according to the tightly scripted and
charted scenario developed by the church fathers (and mothers) of your
particular persuasion, but rest assured that last day events are in fact
unfolding exactly as the Ruach ha Kodesh/the Holy Spirit inspired the
prophets of Israel to describe them thousands of years ago. And woe to
those who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the significance of what is
taking place before our very eyes in the Land of Israel; they've picked a
fight with Someone they cannot beat! As Yahuah reminds us, He will count as
insignificant and unimportant those who regard the descendants of Abraham
(through Isaac and Jacob) as insignificant and unimportant (Genesis 12:3).

Before it's too late, I would strongly recommend for these dear souls a
therapeutic dip in the muddy waters of the Jordan River. If perchance
Almighty Yahuah would permit those waters to miraculously wash the scales
off their eyes so they could SEE .... many issues would be approached
differently, including the role of a crop that ripens IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL
to indicate the beginning of a new year and a new cycle of appointed times,
all of which have met or are destined to meet their reality/"fullfillment"
with the PHYSICAL descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the LITERAL
Land of Israel, and at the LITERAL city of Jerusalem!