Blessings Friends,
In my last two blogs I’ve been looking at Nehemiah 8, the seven Jewish feasts, and how they relate to the Rapture and the final judgment.
Leviticus 23:2 tells us:
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’”
In other words, it was not man who ordained these sacred feasts, but God, himself. It’s important to know this if we are to understand the meaning of each feast and how they relate to events in history—and the future. If they were invented by man, events in history could be twisted to suit man’s purpose as opposed to revealing the glory and sovereignty of our Great Creator.
That being said, a measure of faith is still required to believe that all scripture is the inspired Word of God. Without the revelation of The Holy Spirit, it is impossible to see The Truth.
Also, in a previous post, I said there were no trumpets mentioned on that first Feast of Trumpets after Judah’s return from captivity. Although I gave some possibilities as to why this was, I failed to mention that, when the first day of this feast falls on a Sabbath, there are no trumpets sounded, as carrying a shofar is considered labor. An interesting fact, though we aren’t told whether this feast in Nehemiah fell on a Sabbath.
Now, picking up where I left off, The Feast of Trumpets normally lasts for two days. According to Hebrew for Christians, this was because of the difficulty in determining the exact day of the new moon. I have also told you that that first day ushers in The Days of Awe or Repentance, culminating in The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), or judgment. This day foreshadows Christ’s return to Earth with the Saints for the final judgment.
However, in Nehemiah 8:13-18 we read that on the second day, the priests and Levites who gathered to read and understand The Word, rediscovered the Feast of Tabernacles commanded by God, and ushered the people right into that feast.
What is The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)?
This is a seven day feast, where the people were commanded to build hastily constructed huts in which to take their meals during the feast. This is to commemorate how Israel lived 40 years in the desert. Later it became associated with the fall harvest. Most importantly, since it directly follows the Days of Repentance, it is a time of great rejoicing at the reconciliation with The Creator.
This is the only feast which we will continue to celebrate in new millennium. Zechariah 14:16:
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”
My point in this study has not been to persuade nor dissuade anyone concerning the Rapture, but merely to share what The Lord revealed to me as I studied. There is so much material in The Word on the subject, and perhaps I’ll get to it someday. For now, however, I will boil down the information I have given into one exciting conclusion.
Revelation 2:10 tells us:
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
There are ten days from the first day of The Feast of Trumpets to The Day of Atonement.
The book of Daniel tells us that the Great Tribulation will last for seven years. There are seven days between the second day of the Feast of Trumpets and The Day of Atonement.
In this way, the last three Feasts of Messiah are the perfect picture of the end of the present age, as King Jesus returns with His saints to judge those left on Earth after the Great Tribulation and end Satan’s reign of terror.
Zechariah 14:5:
“Thus the Lord my God will come,
And all the saints with You.”
If you remember, the people of Judah didn’t partake of The Days of Awe or The Day of Atonement. They were celebrating . . . as if they were at a wedding feast . . . . But, even that is not what really excited me.
What excited me was that first day of The Feast of Trumpets. People crying out for God’s Truth, receiving it, and through their repentance, reconciling with God The Father.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this was in fact the first great revival. And that got me thinking. If The Word could bring such a change of heart back then, isn’t it possible that before that last trumpet sounds, The Holy Spirit will move, stirring up the greatest revival the world has ever seen?
Imagine, people all over the world, filled with The Holy Spirit, loving God and one another in perfect unity, and the healings and miracles that would result! Imagine all of the lost souls brought into The Kingdom!
I know God is more than capable. It’s certainly worth thinking about. It’s certainly worth praying about!
I’m praying for revival. I hope you will join me.
Insights, questions, and comments are welcome!
God’s grace and peace be yours,
Rebecca
