A Festival of Bible Prophecy: The Seven Jewish Feasts‏

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Leviticus 23 provides a detailed description of the Festivals of the Lord which were appointed times established as yearly rehearsals, teaching both historically and prophetically the whole plan of God concerning the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of man...

A Festival of Bible Prophecy: The Seven Jewish Feasts
 

The first four feasts have been fulfilled and the Jewish community celebrates them historically. They are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). These four Spring Feasts are considered to be an interrelated whole where Pentecost is the completion of the process begun at Passover:

• Passover – pictures the Death of Jesus Christ
• Feast of Unleavened Bread – pictures the Burial of Jesus Christ
• Feast of First Fruits – pictures the Resurrection of Christ
• Feast of Weeks – pictures the Descent of Holy Spirit & the birth of the Christian Church

While the first four Festivals occur in close proximity, an entire season passes before the Fall Feasts begin. This long period represents the dispensation of grace - represented by the Christian Church - in which we now live. The last three feasts - Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles - are celebrated in the Fall season and are yet to be fulfilled; therefore, they remain prophetic in nature:

• Feast of the Trumpets – pictures the Rapture of the Church
• Feast of Atonement – pictures the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
• Feast of Tabernacles – pictures the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ

Since Jesus Christ has fulfilled the first three Jewish feast days in the proper day sequence, we can be assured that He will also fulfill the last three Jewish feast days in the proper day sequence.
The Feast of Trumpets may soon find its prophetic fulfillment.

Here are some references as to why the Rapture of the Christian church may occur during this next Festival:

• All the Spring Feasts were fulfilled at Christ's first coming, and on the exact day of the feast. All the Fall Feasts picture the Second Advent, and the Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts - picturing the Rapture of the Christian church.
• The Feast of Trumpets is when the "last trump" of the Rapture spoken of in 1st Corinthians, chapter 15 is blown.
• The Feast of Trumpets is known as the Wedding of the Messiah, and the Christian Church is the Bride of Christ. The Rapture is when the Christian Church is caught up to heaven to be wed with Christ.
• The Feast of Trumpets happens on the "new moon", which is 29.5 days after the last one, meaning it might occur on the 29th or 30th day - nobody knows for sure. "Of that day or hour no man knows" is an expression referring to this Feast, and thus, the Rapture.
• "Of that day or hour no man knows, but my Father only" is an expression used by a groom when asked when his wedding will be. He says this because it is his Father that will tell him when his preparations on the bridal chamber are completed and it is time.

Again, the wedding pictures the coming Rapture:

• The "Open Door" of the Rapture in Matthew 25, and Revelation 3, & Revelation 4:1 is a symbol of the Feast of Trumpets. "Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened” - Ezekiel 46:1
• In Colossians 2:16-17 we are told that the new moon and the Feasts of the Lord are a shadow of things to come. Since the Feast of Trumpets is the only Feast of the Lord that falls on a new moon, we should take particular note.
• There are seven days of awe in between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These seven days picture the seven years of Tribulation. Atonement pictures Satan being defeated and cast away at the end of the Tribulation. Interesting note: If we add the two-day Trumpets feast and the Day of Atonement, the seven days of awe may represent the "ten days of tribulation" (2 + 1 + 7 = 10) spoken of in Revelation 2:10.
• In the Jewish Wedding, the groom comes for his bride "like a thief in the night" to take (seize/Rapture) her away and into the bridal chamber for the bridal week at his father's house.
• The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the coronation of the Messiah, when He will start reigning as King, thus the beginning of the "Day of the Lord", which includes the Tribulation.

In Conclusion:

God’s plan for humanity is clearly found in Leviticus 23 through the establishment of the Seven Feasts. The number seven throughout the Bible represents completeness. Just as seven days finish a weekly cycle, so could seven festival occasions complete the work of God on Earth, as reveled in His supernatural Word!

Blessings on your studies and involvement in understanding and sharing the Truth!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

 

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