About 1500 years before Jesus came to earth, God gave the Jewish people seven feasts which mapped out his timetable for the world.
God told the people these feasts were ‘rehearsals’ of his plans (Leviticus 23).
The feasts can be divided in two groups, spring and fall. The spring feasts happen three days in a row.
They are; the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First-fruits. Together these three feasts taught the truth of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus called himself the Passover Lamb, Bread from Heaven and the First-fruits from among the dead.
Jesus fulfilled the first three feasts right on time.
Fifty days after Jesus arose came the feast of Pentecost.
This feast celebrated the hot eastern wind that ripened the wheat for harvest. Jesus fulfilled this feast by sending his Holy Spirit to ripen the hearts of all nations that they might enter the harvest of salvation. Once again, Jesus fulfilled this feast right on time.
The three fall feasts are yet to be fulfilled. Because the first four were fulfilled right on time we can be assured that the last three will be also.
These are, the Feast of Trumpets, the Days of Awe and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The feast of Trumpets begins on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year which falls on Sept. 29 and 30 this year. On this day, trumpets are blown at all day long to call people to repent and prepare to meet God.
It foreshadows a day when Jesus will descend from Heaven with a trumpet blast and gather his people to Heaven. Immediately afterwards the Days of Awe will begin, also known in the Bible as a seven year period called the Great Tribulation.
This ends with a final war called Armageddon and with the return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign from Jerusalem, his holy city, bringing in everlasting peace upon earth.
Jesus foretold that the fall feasts would kick off once Israel is back in her land.
This September may or not be the year Jesus returns, but while we celebrate that promised event, the important question for all of us is: are we ready to meet Jesus today? May this Rosh Hashanah hold new meaning for you.
Happy Rosh Hashanah.
