In a previous teaching we discussed the term “rapture”. Today we will expand on this topic. Using Scriptures we will examine what the Bible shows us regarding Old Testament shadows and how they are linked to near future events. As we mentioned before, the Bible is “alive”. Things and events that were written centuries ago can apply for us today and tomorrow. We begin exploring 7 feasts the Lord commanded the Israelites to do on a yearly basis. Interestingly enough, the number 7 is the number for perfection. God does not do anything that does not have meaning.
* Feasts of the Lord *
- Feast of Passover
- Feast of First Unleavened Bread
- Feast of First Fruits
- Feast of Pentecost
These first 4 feasts are celebrated in the spring time. We would like you to see the spiritual aspects of these feasts as we list them with their spiritual connotations from the Gospels and New Testament.
Feast of Passover – a sacrificial lamb (Jesus) was sacrificed
Feast of First Unleavened Bread – Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35)
Feast of First Fruits – Jesus was the first fruits among the dead
Feast of Pentecost – this is where the church was born. It received power of the Holy Spirit.
* Passover and Unleavened Bread *
The first two feasts are done in the same month. If we remember the last supper was the night before Jesus was crucified. All of Israel had gathered to eat the Passover Meal. On the first day, the disciples gathered to break bread with Jesus. We know that the symbolic breaking of the bread was his body being broken for us and he became the sacrificial lamb.
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? Matthew 26:17 KJV
* First Fruits *
Jesus is considered to be the first fruits to God the Father. He was the first born of the dead. God rose him from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 KJV
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV
* Pentecost *
The feast of Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the passover. 7 Sabbaths would pass before this celebration took place. We know that Jesus ascended into heaven after spending 40 days with the disciples teaching about the Kingdom. He ascended 10 days before the Feast of Pentecost.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 KJV
These 4 feasts as mentioned before occur in the spring. The last 3 occur around September or October of the same year according to the Hebrew calendar. Now we will observe how the last 3 feasts paint a picture of near future events that still need to happen for us. All the feasts are found in Leviticus 23:23-44.
* Feast of Trumpets *
The feast of trumpets is a two day feast that starts from sundown of the first day and ends at sundown on the second day. This feast has been kept for over 3000 years. In the Old Testament the priests would blow the shofar a series of 9 times in 11 sessions totaling 99 times. The 100th blast would be the longest.
If we look in the New Testament we will see a similar event of a long blast of a trumpet. In this event the dead in Christ will rise first and be joined with Jesus. This would mark the second coming of the Lord and a new beginning.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV
Although the Jews have different names for the feasts they show us they have the same meaning. The feast of trumpets refer to the head of the year or another way of saying, “new year”. It is called “Rosh Hashanah” in the Hebrew language. According to the Jewish calendar God created Adam and Eve in 5781.
The Jews also have a saying – Yom Teruah – which means the day of the awakening blast. This refers to the shofar blast for the resurrection of the dead.
Yom HaZikeron – in the Hebrew language it is the day of remembrance. In the book of Luke in chapter 17:35 two people are present and one taken describes a selective rapture. God remembers who is His. He remembers who made a decision to be with Him.
The Jews call the feast of the trumpets the wedding of the Messiah. Customarily, the groom to be would leave his house to go to the bride’s house with the payment for her family and he would sit down and have a glass of wine to seal the deal. He would tell his bride he would not drink again until he went to his father’s house.
When the groom went home to build a new room for his bride he could not go back to her until his father gave him permission. The father had to approve of the addition before he would return. Typically, he would return a year later. This should sound familiar because it was the same steps Jesus has taken to prepare a room for his bride as well as telling his bride he will not drink the wine until we are together with him in his Father’s house.
* Feast of Atonement *
The feast of atonement happens 10 days later. It is a time of fasting and repentance where an offering is made by fire. Symbolically, this would be a time when the Lord Jesus will be cleansing the Temple Mount, cleansing Jerusalem and defeating of the enemies of God.
* A Thousand Years *
According to what we find in the scriptures, there will be a thousand years between the feast of trumpets and the feast of atonement. Once the Lord has returned he must rule and reign for a thousand years with his saints. We find this in Revelation 20:4. Once Satan is loosed again to gather the enemies that will side with him he and his followers will be devoured with fire. Then, the Father will pronounce final judgment over his enemies at the great white throne.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Revelation 20:7-9 KJV
* Final Judgment for the enemies of God *
Before the feast of tabernacles occurs there needs to be a riddance of disobedience. A purification needs to be made in order for the Father to dwell together with the followers of Christ. All the enemies of God must be destroyed in order for him to physically be with us. Once the Lord rids his enemies forever Jesus will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father, then the Father can come dwell with us on earth.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:11-12 KJV
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (God the Father) that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 KJV [parenthesis added for explanation]
* Feast of Tabernacles *
This feast occurs 5 days after the atonement feast and it would last 7 days. It is the last feast to end all feasts in the 7th month. In this feast the Jews would build a tent/booth and dwell in it. Symbolically, this would represent when all the believers will dwell with God forever. This is the final event we have all be waiting for.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3 KJV
I can see these feasts are a type of dress rehearsal for the real, final, future events. When the veil will finally be removed from their eyes they will see all they have been doing for centuries is exactly what is happening when the Lord returns.
From our study we can observe 4 of these feasts have already occurred. The spring feasts have been completed and they were fulfilled a little over two thousand years ago. The last 3 feasts still need to happen. The 5th feast, which is the feast of trumpets, is about to be fulfilled shortly and from the information we have gathered so far there will be a thousand years before the 6th feast is completed. There are many signs that show believers the time is approaching fast. Tell others what the Spirit is revealing to his people. The mysteries of God are reserved for his children to know. The Spirit of the Lord is delivering meat in its due season.
