|
Appointments with God
Many Christians are discovering the many prophecies revealed in the seven (7) feasts that God commanded His people to celebrate. Although the feasts are mentioned in numerous chapters, only one chapter lists all seven in order—Leviticus 23.
Leviticus 23:1-2 – “And the LORD [Yahweh] spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: The LORD'S appointed holy days that you shall designate as holy convocations. These are My appointed holy days…’” The word “appointed” is moedim, which means a definite or fixed meeting. God was telling His people that He was making appointments to meet with them, seven times a year. Why? For a holy “convocation.” What’s that? Well, besides a public meeting, it is a REHEARSAL. Rehearsal? For what?
Well, Christians are discovering that these seven feasts are not only historical reminders of what God has done for His people, but they are also PROPHETIC of what He will do in the future. The seven feasts fall into two categories: four in the spring, and three in the fall.
In past articles we talked about how the Spring Feasts (Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)), had significant relevance to Yashua Messiah’s (Jesus Christ’s) first coming.
In brief review of the Spring Feasts:
 1. On Passover, Yashua, the Lamb of God, died;
2. During Unleavened Bread, the Bread of Life was buried in the heart of the earth as the women put their matzoh into the ovens;
3. On the Feast of First Fruits, the “First Fruits of our resurrection” (I Corinthians 15:20-23) rose from the dead; and
4. On the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) God sent His Spirit.
The Fall Feasts, as many Christians are understanding, are prophetic of the time when Messiah comes to establish His physical kingdom on earth (called the Messianic Age). All three feasts occur during the Hebrew month of Tishri, which means “Look Up.” So let’s look at these Fall Feasts, which foreshadow the coming of Messiah.
5. Feast of Trumpets
Feast of Trumpets is September 9, 2010
Feast of Trumpets is also called Rosh HaShanah (Hebrew for Head of the Year) as well as "The Last Trumpet." According to Jewish history, this is the beginning of the year as established when Adam was created and perpetuated through the Patriarchs. How could this feast be prophetic? Here’s a clue: It’s called “The Day that No One Knows.” No one knows when that Feast Day occurs exactly, because it depends on when the sliver of the new moon is viewed in the sky. If you’ve ever watched the moon phases, you remember that between the Waning Gibbous and the Waxing Gibbous there are several days of total darkness, when the moon is not visible. The Feast of Trumpets begins when that little sliver is seen by two witnesses. At that point, the trumpets (shofars) are blown to announce the new month.
So, if I told Americans, “I’ll come to your house on ‘Turkey Day,’” they would expect me on Thanksgiving Day. Therefore, is it possible that when Yashua said that “no one knows the day or hour” when He will come, could he have been giving a clue?
The Jewish people expect the Messiah to come when the Trumpets are sounded:
• Zechariah 9:14 – “Then the LORD will appear over them … and the LORD God blow the shofar.”
• Isaiah 27:13 – In the Day of Lord – “a great shofar will sound”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - Even the Apostle Paul hinted at this when he said: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet (shofar) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
The theme of the Feast of Trumpets is “The King is Coming!”
6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Yom Kippur is September 18, 2010
The Tenth Day of the same month is the most holy day of God’s year. When the tabernacle and then Temple were standing, on this day, the most holy person (the high priest), went into the most holy building on the earth (the Temple), into the most holy room (Holy of Holies), and sprinkled the blood of a bull and a goat on the most holy object on the earth (the Ark of the Covenant) to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel.
God commanded Moses to take two identical goats. One goat would be sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of the Ark. Then the high priest would lay his hands, transferring the sins of the nation, on the head of the second goat. This goat, God instructed, was let loose in the wilderness.
Alternate Process: Yom Kippur is September 18, 2010Jewish history says a crimson wool rope was tied to the neck of the goat to be released, and a portion of that red wool was tacked to the door on the Temple. It became customary to take the goat to the wilderness and push him off a cliff (to ensure his death). What is fascinating is that Jewish history, as well as Flavius Josephus, says that each year, when the goat died in the wilderness, the crimson wool turned white, both in the wilderness and in the Temple. That is the significance of Isaiah 1:18 – “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
What I find fascinating is that Jewish history records that every year the red wool turned white…UNTIL forty (40) years before the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Could there be a connection between Yashua’s death in approximately 30 A.D. and God’s not accepting the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement? Read Hebrews 10, talking about the Day of Atonement, to see the possible connection.
How is this day observed today without a Temple? Since God gave specific instructions that on this day no one was to work (Leviticus 23:28) and since this is the only day that God specifically commanded His people to fast (Leviticus 23:29), Yom Kippur is set aside for Bible study, self examination, repentance, and recommitment. Typically the book of Jonah is read, as well as Daniel 9.
How is this day prophetic of Messiah’s coming? Well, the Jews have known since the beginning that this day is Judgment Day. Yashua gave a lengthy teaching about this day in Matthew 25, when He will separate “the sheep from the goats.” Would you consider taking that day off and meeting with God in the Scriptures?
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
Tabernacles is September 22-29, 2010
This is the feast of “Great Joy!” God commanded His people to dwell in tents or temporary buildings for seven days…to remind them of that they lived in tents when He took them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:43). WE are reminded that He freed us from slavery to sin AND that our bodies are just temporary dwellings. As Brumley’s song says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.”
Alternate Process: Tabernacles is September 22-29, 2010This is the one feast that the Scripture says is for the Non Jews (“Nations” or “Gentiles”). The long list of Temple sacrifices that God instructed to be offered totaled seventy (70), a number that Biblically represents the 70 nations after the flood (Genesis 10).
The Gospel of John, chapters 7 through 10, gives great detail of Yashua at the Feast of Tabernacles. The more you learn about this feast, the more you will understand that important section of John.
For example, part of the Feast included the Water Libation Offering, where the priests would go down to the Pool of Siloam, draw water, and take it in a joyous procession up to the altar in the Temple. This water offering was symbolic of the dependence on God for the fall rains, so necessary for crops. What is interesting is that this water is mixed with a wine offering. Is it a coincidence that Yashua’s first miracle was turning water into wine (John 2)?
When this water was drawn, they would recite: “You shall draw water with joy from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). What’s fascinating is that the Hebrew says from the wells of “YASHUA”….Jesus’ Hebrew name!! And while the priests were drawing this water, Yashua stood up and said: “I am the living water!” (John 7:38).
Another significant part of the Feast is the Feast of Lights, where huge menorahs, approximately 30 feet high, were lit every night. It was at that same time that Yashua stood and pronounced: “I am the Light of the world!” (John 8:5). The light from these lamps could be seen in nearby towns, even down to Bethlehem.
 During this time of year, the priests’ garments were torn into strips to be used as wicks for these huge lampstands. The Jews called these strips “swaddling.” Is it a coincidence that the Light of the World was wrapped in swaddling cloth strips when He was born?
Text Box: From Temple Institute in Jerusalem www.templeinstitute.orgHere’s another connection: Another name for these tents were also called “Mangers.” So, perhaps the most famous Sukkah (tabernacle) in human history was in Bethlehem. There is strong Biblical evidence to support that it was at this time of year that Yashua was born (but that’s another article).
The theme of this Feast is Tabernacling with God, and God with us. John 1:14 says: “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” Prophetically, this Feast looks forward to the time that God will dwell with His people, described in Revelation 21:3--“…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.”
More than any of the Feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles looks back to leaving Egypt and looks forward to God tabernacling eternally with His people. And each year, many of His people have, what I call, a “holy campout.”
So, what does this have to do with ME, a Non Jew? A very significant passage talks about this is Zechariah 14. If this article spurs you to read only one passage in the Scriptures, I pray you will read Zechariah 14. This chapter describes the Day of the LORD when all the nations will come up against Jerusalem. Then the LORD Himself will come down on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 12:10 says that when “they look upon me whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him.” And then “the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (14:9). Zechariah 14:16-19 changed my life!! It clearly specifies that during the Messiah’s rule, even the Gentiles must celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles! Today, in Israel, thousands of Non-Jews go to Jerusalem to celebrate this Feast, because it’s a Feast for Gentiles.
Now, here’s the question: IF in the past God told His people to celebrate HIS feasts forever, and IF we are going to be required to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the future Messianic Age, WHY DID WE STOP?
I tell my students: Don’t ask WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?). Instead DWJD! (DO What Jesus Did!) Then we will understand Him and the Scriptures as God intended.
All of God’s Feasts are saturated with prophecy of the Messiah’s coming. This is just the tip of the iceberg…something cool to think about on a hot summer day!
Thousands of years ago, God set an appointment to meet with YOU, if you are one of His people. He will show up…will you? |
