The Seven Feasts of Jehovah: 5th Feast

Introduction

Key Bible Passages

Lev 23:24-25, Num 29:1-6, also Isaiah 18:3
John 12:24, Acts 15:14, Rom 11:25,

Overview

The announcement that the long hot summer is finished, with the first of the Autumn rains is about to begin, is with the Feast of Trumpets:

• It is a time of rejoicing, a time of hope, and a time of thanksgiving, but leads up to the solemn Day of Atonement.
• It opens the civil new year.
• It is Jewish in nature, looking forward to the Day of the Lord: speaks of the ingathering of the Jewish remnant.
• For a Christian, it gives confidence in the prophecies that tell of the coming of Christ for His church.

Relation to Seasons

The Long Hot dry summer

Between Pentecost and the first of the feasts in the Autumn (4 months), there is a long dry summer. This has much significance. It began at Pentecost where the disciples went out to: Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

This time or dispensation is clearly that of the Church, with its full mystery revealed (the mystery of Christ, . has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body (Eph 34-6)). The "long hot summer" speaks of the times of the Gentiles (Acts 15:14), the day of grace (Eph 2:8), the day of the Church.

During the 4 month break between feasts the people would have been reaping their fields and gathering in their crops (sheaves). Like the farmers during this time the Lord is also reaping His crops, and gathering His grain (Matt 9:37). Jesus was the corn of wheat that must first die (John 12:24) to bring forth much fruit. This has occurred, and now is the day of salvation. The interval corresponds to the gathering of those that have been redeemed from this world. (The church is composed of those called out, as the world "wax worse and worse" 2 Tim 3:13).

• Pentecost is both Jewish and Gentile in nature: two loaves, leavened, but baked (ie the leaven is dealt with), compare with

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (KJV)

The Latter Days

This corresponds to the end of the long summer and hence corresponds to the time when Israel turns to the Lord

Deut. 4:30 (NKJV) 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice

Also Isaiah 2:2, Hosea 3:5, Micah 4:1

Leviticus 23:22

This single verse stands out from all the other texts, because at first glance it appears that perhaps it does not fit into the context. But the picture is clear: the field is the world (Matt 13:38), the corners of the field tell of the "uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8) - the poor and stranger (The corners were left for the destitute to gather - See Ruth). The gospel is to be taken to the uttermost parts, to the poor and stranger.

The Early Rain[1]

Deut. 11:14 (NKJV) then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

See also Joel 2:23.

Also Isaiah 2:2, Hosea 3:5, Micah 4:1

Rain in scripture speaks of the working of the Holy Spirit. Elijah prevented rain by praying in the presence of the apostate King Ahab (James 5:17). After killing the prophets of Baal (belonging to Jezebel, Ahab's wife), rain came. The adulteress and wicked people had the latter rains withheld at the time of Jeremiah who prophesied the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:3).

It is the sinfulness of man that prevents the work of the Holy Spirit - the work of God cannot flow unless man repents (Jeremiah 5:24-25). The downfall of our nation probably began its rapid declension when scripture was withdrawn from classrooms and the nation stopped acknowledging God.

The latter (spring rain) has come, Israel waits for the former or early rain (autumn) because she has rejected her Messiah (Joel 2:3), although in part, the Joel prophecy has been fulfilled in that we have the blessing of the Holy Spirit poured out.

Deut. 4:30 (NKJV) 30When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice

The Feast

First day of 7^th month - new moon (month of Tishri).

Purpose

Biblically the feast is a reminder: "to be remembered before the LORD [their] God (Num 10:9-10), to the Israelites that their lives belong to God, and to remember the great promises (covenant) God has made with Israel (Isaiah 27:13). Today the feast is called Rosh Hashanah and is the Jewish New Year. Along with Yom Kippur (Atonement) the days are called the "Days of Awe", as an individuals fate is inscribed on Rosh Hashanah (the judgement concerns earthly matters not eternal destiny) and sealed on Yom Kippur for the coming year. The days in between are referred to as the "Ten Days of Penitence".

Key Elements (See Lev 23)

• First day of seventh month, at new moon (Numbers 29:6)[2]
• A holy convocation, a holy Sabbath, with no customary work (making it a unique first day of month).
• Trumpets shall be blown
• Offerings: Burnt, grain, sin offering, regular family offerings including drink offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord.
• It speaks of praise (Ps 81)

What is it?

It is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Two silver trumpets were made by Moses, as commanded by God (Num 10:2), and were used to call the assembly together, for journeying, and in the event of war (Num 10:9). The feasts was one of remembrance. It corresponds to:

.. when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. :... 7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered .to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion. Isaiah 18:3-7 (KJV)

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:13 (KJV)

The Principal Antitypes

The Feast is post-Church, and hence speaks in prophetic terms. In Deuteronomy Moses delivers the final warnings of the Lord - disobey and you will lose the land. Deuteronomy (30:1-6) speaks of the process of reversing this, in three parts:

1. Repentance,
2. Israel's regathering,
3. Israel revival.

This Feast speaks of the ingathering of Israel.

• The covenant will be revived.
• Israel will remember with shame (Ez 16:63); see also Revelation 7.

The great trumpet foretells the return of worship of the Lord: Isaiah 27:13

Isaiah. 27:13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

The Ingathering

Matt. 24:31 (NKJV) 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Ezek. 16:60-62 (NKJV) (Key passage)

"Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you 61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

Compare this with Romans 11:1-2, Rev 7

Isa. 18:3-7 (NKJV) All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it; And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it.

Isa. 27:13 (NKJV) So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown;.

Zech. 10:8 (NKJV) I will [signal NIV] whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased.

Num. 10:9 (NKJV) "When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

Israel is not forgotten

Covenants

• Genesis 12
  God and Abraham: God promises Abraham, personally: a land; a nation, a name, a blessing to the earth.
• Genesis 12:7, 13:14-17 & 15:18
  Covenant made: the land promised (see also Ex 6, 24). This covenant is confirmed Deuteronomy 30, Ezekiel 16:59-63
• Genesis 17
  God and Abraham: God promises, an everlasting covenant, a people, nations, a land. The sign is circumcision
• Exodus 19:5
  God and Israel, requiring obedience to the law: a holy nation.
• 2 Samuel 7:11-16
  God and David: a kingdom to be established forever (this is repeated).

A new Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34: Replaces the covenant that required obedience to the written law - the law will be written on the hearts instead, and is fulfilled by Christ. (This is partially in place, for the Christian, who is in union with the Holy Spirit). This does not negate the need to obey God - the Jew obeyed because he had to (death reigns); the Christian obeys because he loves God (grace reigns):

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)

Note also this covenant does not replace the Abrahamic nor the Davidic covenants, only that of the law.

God remembers His covenants

• Exodus 2:24 Israel remembered in Egypt - see Genesis 15:13.
• Psalm 105:8"He remembers His covenant forever".
• Ezekiel 16:60 God will remember His covenant, although the people have forgotten God.
• Luke 1:72 Zacharias prophesies of the fulfilment of the covenant.
• Isaiah 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child [the covenant], And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I [Jehovah] will not forget you.

The promises

• The promises involved to Israel were unconditional; (she couldn't forfeit these);
• God has not finished with Israel: The Book of Romans spends three chapters on this topic (9, 10, and 11).
• Daniel's Seventy Week prophecy outlines the role of Israel after the Church "interval". The Church is absent in the first 69 weeks (it is a mere mystery), nor is it on earth in the 70^th week. The Church appears in between the 69^th and 70^th week.
• Jesus is to take David's Throne - this is still to occur, and occurs in the context of Israel, the nation. (Luke 1:27)

Note that the nation of Israel appears ~75 times in the New Testament, chapters 4-20 of Revelation is Jewish-.

The evils of the replacement theology is best epitomised by the holocaust.

Israel

Has been rejected, but not absolutely (Romans 9-11): "God has not cast away His people" (Rom 11:1). The sidelining of Israel occurs until the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (Rom 11:25). "And so all Israel will be saved..".

Note chapter 7 of Revelation - these numbers are literal, the people are real people, and they all arise from Israel (Noting the mythology of the 10 lost tribes has confused some).

Nation Israel will repent, ushering in the coming of Messiah (Ezekiel 36:22-24, Zechariah 12:10).

Application

• The mystery of the Church revealed.
• The substance of the hope for which we hope for is imminent.

For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Heb. 10:37 (NKJV)

• Jesus parting words were: "Surely I come quickly"
• Christians - are waiting for a shout not a trumpet:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thess. 4:16 (NKJV)

What a day of joy and gladness will this be for the church.