Peter’s Denial: Before “the Rooster” or “the Morning Proclamation”?

All of us have read Peter’s denial of Messiah in the Gospels, but an interesting fact about the historical background of the Temple and this recorded event in the gospels could be very well pointing to showcase that all of the four gospels were in fact written originally in Hebrew.

The Gospel Accounts
All of the gospel accounts agree that Yeshua‘s trial in front of the Jewish leaders had come to a conclusion by the time of the “cockcrow”.

Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Mar 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Joh 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

Historical issues with the Gospel account
Although all of the Gospel authors mention the “cockcrow”, Historically, no fowls were allowed in or around Jerusalem when the temple stood. The restriction may have been instituted to reduce the noise or annoyance once Temple ordinances were enacted. The Mishnah which records the background and history of the temple period says the following:

It is forbidden to rear small herd animals in the Land of Israel, but it is permitted to rear them in Syria or in the wildernesses of the Land of Israel. It is forbidden to rear fowls in Jerusalem because of the “Holy Things” Mishnah Bava Kamma 7:7

The “Cock’s Crow” inside the Temple precinct

But in another section, the Mishnah records (in contradiction to what we saw above) that there was a “cock’s crow” in Jerusalem which signaled a particular time to enact certain temple activities. It records the following:

Every day they would remove [the ashes from] the altar at the cock’s crow(מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר) or close to that time, either before or after. But on Yom HaKippurim from midnight, and on the festivals at the [end of the] first watch; And the cock’s crow(מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר) would not arrive before the Temple court was full of Israelites. Mishnah Yoma 1:8

Anyone who desired to remove the ashes from the altar used to rise early and bathe before the superintendent came. At what time did the superintendent come? He did not always come at the same time; sometimes he came just at cock-crow(מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר), sometimes a little before or a little after. The superintendent would come and knock and they would open for him, and he would say to them, let all who have bathed come and draw lots. Mishnah Tamid 1:2

Once, Rabban Gamliel and the elders were reclining in the house of Boethus ben Zonin in Lod, and they were occupied in studying the laws of Pesach all that night, until the cock crowed(מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר). They lifted the table, made themselves ready and went to the house of study [to pray]. Tosefta Pesachim 10:12

The Cock-crow mentioned here in these historical documents is not of a fowl as the words used here is “miqerot hagever” (מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר) which means “Proclamation of the Man”, and may have been referred to as the Cock-Crow because of the timing of the call. This is thought to be a call signifying the end of the night watch, and the start of the final watch also known as the Third Watch. We see this in the gospel accounts as follows:

Mar 13:34,35 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Luk 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

The cockcrowing mentioned above is used as one of the watches; The First Watch starting at evening (around 6pm), The Second Watch at midnight (12am) and The Third Watch also called cock-crow (around 3am to 4am).

In fact the Greek words used in the Gospel accounts of Peter’s Denial and Luke 12:38 is “alektor” (ἀλέκτωρ) and “fonay” (φωνή) can mean the voice of the rooster/chanticleer or one who sings/chants which could very well be connected to the Temple Services very easily.

Conclusion
If the “miqerot hagever” (מִקְּרוֹת הַגֶּבֶר) which means “Proclamation/call of the Man” is in fact connected to the Temple activities as seen above, we can easily assume that the use of the word “cock-crow” (alektorophōnia) could have been a misunderstanding / mistranslation of the “Proclamation made at the third watch” or simply a direct translation which later translators of Greek who did not know about the Temple Services used unwittingly. If so, it is most probable that all of the four Gospels were written in Hebrew and that there are many more such nuances and details lost in translation throughout the ages.

Will Yeshua’s Second Coming be known to us? or will He come as a thief in the night?

As we have studied earlier, The Feast of Trumpets is known and believed to be the Prophetic appointment when our Messiah is going to return. We already know that the New Testament proves that He died on the day of “Passover“, was Resurrected on the day of “First fruits” and the Holy Spirit was sent as promised on the day of “Pentecost“. The next or 4th Prophetic Appointment(which is yet to be fulfilled) amongst the Feasts that are given in Lev 23, is the Feast of Trumpets.

But there is a valid question raised among believers regarding this appointment. This question is Whether we can actually know when He is going to return, as in some places He told the disciples that “no one can know of what day or hour it is going to be” & other places it is equaled to a “thief in the night”. Thus, some question and even refuse to believe the Prophetic Appointment which is known as the “Feast of Trumpets” would be the day of His return. This was an interesting question that personally, I also had, as I was researching and doing my own studies. It is an important question which needs to be addressed and answered, as we have all been taught that no one can know when he is going to return.

There are a few verses in the New Testament which are used to prove the fact that the Second coming of Christ is a completely hidden event which could happen at any day. We will review a few of these verses today, and see whether there is anything that is overlooked or misunderstood.

Please note that even though the Scriptures point at the fact that Yeshua(Jesus’ true name) will return on the Feast of Trumpets, it is impossible “to know for sure” which year He will return, beforehand. But it is my understanding that we will be able to see the signs both on the Earth and in the Heavens, and we will be able to WATCH for His coming as it approaches. If you have read the study on the Feast of Trumpets, you would already know that “WATCHING” is a key message behind this Appointed time.

Examining Mat 24:36 – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Reading this verse, we need to ask a critical question. What is the day and hour Yeshua is talking about? Is it the Day of the Second Coming? Or is it something else?

Let’s read verse 35&36 together. Yeshua tells the disciples “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”. But of which day? Is He talking about the Second Coming or the day the Heaven and Earth pass?

Furthermore, in the next few verses(37-39) Yeshua says that His return will be like the days of Noah. An important thing to note about this parallel is that the people who drowned in the flood were sinners/unbelievers. The Flood overtook the people who were not ready for God’s Judgement, while Noah knew beforehand and he was ready. God even notified Noah, the day that the flood was going to start, a full week before it happened (Gen 7:4). If we are waiting for the day like Noah, ready, with eyes wide open, how can it overtake us?

Examining 2Pet 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Peter seems to be telling the readers that Yeshua will be coming without warning, like a thief. As Peter does not explain his thoughts any further, let us read the similar words of Paul in 1Thes 5:2. It reads, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” Paul says the same thing as Peter; Christ will indeed return as a thief in the night. But let us continue our reading to the next few verses.

In verse 4-6, Paul says “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

Reading Paul’s explanation, we understand that “The Day of the Lord” will not be known by people who are in darkness. It will come as a thief to people who are not “Watching”.

These words agree with Yeshua’s words in Mat 24:37 about the Second Coming resembling the days of Noah. The judgement does not overtake the people eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of His prophecies. Furthermore, Paul’s words in 1Thes 5:1-6 agree again with Yeshua’s words written down in Rev 3:3 which read, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. As we see again, He will come as a thief in the night, to all who are not ready and DO NOT WATCH.

This further agrees with the parable Yeshua gave in Mat 24:43 which says “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” If the man of the house watched, he would not be surprised.

Whomever does not know God’s times and appointments given in Scripture, will surely be surprised at the claims made in this post. Luke 24:27 says that Yeshua explained the things concerning himself in the Scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets, to the disciples. Understanding God’s Prophetic Calendar and Appointments (which are written by Moses) is an important piece of the puzzle, in figuring out and keeping watch for His return. If one does not know His Word, how can he/she be ready for its fulfillment?

Conclusion
As we have seen, the question of whether or not we can know of the day in which Christ will return, is an all important one. Even though we do not know the exact year, day and hour in which the Second Coming will happen, it will surely happen on the Prophetic Feast of Trumpets. He will return fulfilling God’s Word and His Appointed time of Trumpets, just as he fulfilled Passover, Firstfruits & Pentecost. Yeshua himself has given us so many signs to look out for. Not only Yeshua, but all of the prophets have given clues of what should expire before His return. And out of all of these signs and prophecies none other is more important than the “Prophetic Appointments” known as the Feast days “God Almighty has spoken of” in the Scriptures.

We need to “WATCH”, so that we are not overcome and taken by surprise, on that day. And not only watch, but sound an alarm asking people to wake up and get ready. Let us be like Noah, ready and waiting for the fulfillment of all that God has spoken of, and may He provide us with the grace to warn the people around us, of the judgement of the world, which is at hand.