Jeff Hammond

Matthew 24:36-39,
"Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

Noah knew the season and was prepared while not knowing the actual day, but the world were totally ignorant and continued on in unbelief:
These verses tell us that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return but it also tells us that we are not ignorant of the times or seasons that that Day would overcome us as a thief in the night, 1Thes.5:1-4,

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief."

When it comes to the Three Feasts of Israel (Deut.16:16) and our experience in Christ, the Feasts (Leviticus 23) reveal our spiritual journey. The Feasts were prophetic of what we, God's people, would experience.

PASSOVER (Ex.12) prophesied salvation by the blood of the Lamb (1Cor.5:7-8) and is fulfilled in our accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior i.e. when we are born again. It is our new beginning just as it was for Israel - Ex.12:1-2; 2Cor.5:17. We are encouraged to "keep the Feast".

PENTECOST (Ex.19; Ex.32) prophesied God's people being equipped with the revelation of His Word and with the power (Holy Spirit) of His presence. OT Israel failed to receive it due to worshipping the golden calf and 3000 died but the NT Church received it and 3000 were saved, Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:41. This is why after 30AD the Gospel spread with such power around the 1st Century world.

TABERNACLES (Lev.23:24-44) was supposed to be celebrated in the 7th Month in the Promised Land. Israel's worship of the golden calf and it's consequent lack of faith (Num.14) meant that they could not complete their journey and had to wander for 40 years until the generation of unbelief had passed away. There had to be a Joshua generation before they could enter in, even if not fully (Josh.1-2; Heb.4). The Church still has not entered into its Tabernacles. We are still looking by faith to it's arrival. Tabernacles consisted of 5 major parts - (1) Blowing of Trumpets - 1st Day of 7th Month - signalling 10 days of preparation - Lev.23:24; Num.10:1-10; Rev.1:10; Rev.2:10 cp.John 7:2-13 (2) Day of Atonement, on the 10th, when the High Priest completed their cleansing - Lev.16; Lev.23:27-32; Num.29; Rev.8:1-5; cp.John 7:14. (3) Four Days of Final Harvest - 11th-12th-13th-14th - Lev.23:16; Deut.16:13. (4) Seven Days of Booth Dwelling - Lev.23:39-42; Num.29:12 cp.Rev.12. (5) Eighth Day, the great and final day of the Feast as they entered into a new cycle or era, Lev.23:36; Num.29:35 cp John 7:37-43; Rev.19.

As the early Christians needed to look by faith to the fulfillments of Passover and Pentecost, so we today need to look by faith for the fulfillment of the final feast, Tabernacles.

However, when we look at the final Feast with its various prophetic aspects, it doesn't seem appropriate to think of the Feast of Trumpets (the first part) to be when Christ returns. He will not return until after the harvest is complete and after all is fulfilled (Mat.13:39; 24:14; Acts 3:20-21). And the great Day of His appearing would seem to be what is called the Eighth Day, the day Jesus made His public appearing at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:37-43.

We know Christ's sacrifice has fulfilled all sacrifices and there is no more offering for sin, so we wait with eager expectation for His coming and the fulfilling of our spiritual journey, after the harvest, after the exodus into booths (Tribulation period - Rev.11-13) and then the great day, the last day of the Feast when He makes His public appearing!! Come, Lord Jesus!

September 28 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Zahari Schtonov

No One Knows That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:36
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."

September 28 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

D W Supporter

Bear in mind that the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah. They are still waiting for Him to arrive. The Second Coming is after the Tribulation, not before.

It is absolutely unnecessary for a born-again Believer in Jesus as Savior and Lord (and who, by the way, recognize that He was, indeed, the Jewish Messiah) to observe any Jewish feast whatsoever. If you'd like to observe them, do so. Just don't attach any significance to your relationship to Jesus as Savior.

This year the Feast of Trumpets was on 5 September. Next year it is on 25 September.

September 28 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report