SDA & Messianic study of the Feasts

[visionary]

In Temple times, the priesthood sounded three trumpet blasts every morning to announce the opening of the Temple gates. So too, it is believed, that the first trumpet blasts of the Feast of Trumpets announce the opening of the gates of Heaven. THink about the three angels' message..

This is traditional Feast of Trumpets image is fully employed in

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

In this tradition, the gates of Heaven are opened to receive our prayers of repentance and remain open until the conclusion of the Day of Atonement. This will be our opportunity to be shown the things which must be hereafter, the soon to come to pass in the last hours of earth’s history. Those things that we need to know and understand to be able to stand in the last days. The Day of Atonement service is concluded with one long trumpet blast which announces that the gates of heaven have closed and judgement is complete. Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of the need to repent before judgement is made. Since the two witness are preaching repentance, it would not be surprising that they start at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

True repentance, deep thorough and sincere will bring a gift from God. It is one of the prized gifts that a believer can receive and it is the gift of the Holy Spirit, so necessary in its fulness in the last days of earth’s history. Keep on repenting until the Lord blesses you with this gift.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

It will be worth it, for it will such a refreshing experience after living in this sinful world, to have a taste of heaven, to experience Holiness, to eat of the Hidden manna, and there is no sin worth keeping in comparison to the blessings provided if you would just give up those favorite sins.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

 

[visionary]

Trumpets were also used for Coronation Ceremonies. In the Scriptures, the trumpet is sounded at the coronation of a king. The trumpet announces the newly crowned King and proclaims his ascent to sovereignty. It is well illustrated in the coronation contest for David's throne.

1 Kings 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"

Only the King of Kings can take The Book out of the Hand of God. As one of the elders told John the Revelator, the Lion out of the tribe of Judah, and the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Revelation 5:7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

So the coronation of the King of the Universe, our Lord Yeshua could occur during the Feast of Trumpets or on the Day of Atonement when He is handed all dominions.

Psalm 47:5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalm 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

The last message pure and swift riding and striking the heart with arrows of convictions dead on the by the one who has been given the crown.

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he by the one who has been given the crown.

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

According to ancient Jewish tradition, the first day of the seventh month is the yearly anniversary of God's completion of creation. As such, it is also the New Year's Day of the Biblical Calendar. This New Year's Day aspect is reflected in the festival's common Hebrew name: Rosh Hashanah. The first day of the seventh month marks and remembers the anniversary of the completion of creation as well as the day that Yeshua becomes King over the new creation in us. Yeshua never denied that He was the King of the Jews or the Universe.

 

[visionary]

Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on the Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of the coronation of the King of the Universe, and it symbolizes our acceptance of God as King. As with any Kingdom, the law of the land is pronounced and proclaimed throughout the kingdom and to all the citizens.

Nehemiah 8:1-3 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Nehemiah 8:11-12 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

It was at Mount Sinai when God descended upon the mount in Exodus 19, that there was a heavenly trumpet sounding loud and long. The sound of the trumpet at Sinai was one of the miraculous signs that accompanied the giving of the Ten Commandments and the invitation to covenant with God. Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of that day at Mount Sinai when Israel accepted her covenant with God. Later when Joshua came to the promised land, it was lead by the priests carrying the ark of the covenant with seven trumpets blowing.

Joshua 6:6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

 

[visionary]

Trumpets were used to give warnings. In ancient Israel, a watchman blew a trumpet to sound an alarm when danger was approaching, just the way civil defense sirens are used in our modern world for natural disasters like tornados approaching and invasions. When the Israelite heard the sound of the trumpet, he knew to take note of some imminent danger. Ezekiel employs this image by comparing the words of the prophets to the sound of the trumpet warning. These warning in the form of trumpets from God are not to be trifled with. It will be on your own head for not taking warning seriously.

Ezekiel 33:4 The listener who heard the voice of the trumpet and did not taking warning, and a sword came and took him, his blood will be on his own head."

If a person heard the words of the prophet but did not take warning from them, it will be his own fault when the trouble comes. The sound of the trumpet on Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of the need to take warning from the words of the prophets.

 

[visionary]

The Feast of Trumpets is usually now observed on not one but on two consecutive days. The (Jewish) day begins at sundown and ends just before sundown the next day. Similarly, the months were calculated from the New Moon. The only Feast of Trumpets is the only feast that is set apart based the time of the new moon. Since Feast of Trumpets is the only appointed feast that begins on the first day of the month that makes it easy to know. As we are trying to narrow the field as to when is the soon return of Yeshua, it is important to remember what Yeshua said,

Matt 24:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

The next verse tells us He is speaking about the day of His coming. No one knew for sure whether the New Moon (the first day of the new month) would fall at the end of the 30th day or the 31st day. They had to wait until they saw the moon's crescent. We know that the Lord's coming will be signaled by a trumpet blast, the sound of a ram's horn. In the same way, the sound of the ram's horn ushers in the Feast of Trumpets. This is why this festival is celebrated for two days because of the uncertainty of the correct calendar day. Each new month was solemnly proclaimed to begin by the priests only after two witnesses testified to the appearance of the crescent of the moon.

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The trumpet was blown as a battle cry during sieges and assaults. When the soldiers heard the trumpet, they knew to initiate the attack. The prophets invoke the battle cry of the trumpet as they repeatedly warn of the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

 

[visionary]

Watchman blew a trumpet to sound an alarm when danger was approaching a city. When the city inhabitants heard the sound of the trumpet, they were frightened of what unknown danger might be about to befall them. Amos employs this image of the fear inspired by the trumpet blast when he says,

Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?

 

[visionary]

The danger which approaches on Feast of Trumpets is God himself as he readies the heavenly court for judgement. In Jewish observance, the intervening days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called the "Awesome Days."

Ten days of awe...

Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life

 

[visionary]

On the Day of Atonement, there will be the coming of the Lord to His temple, your mind. The second coming, and the coming of the Lord to His temple, are distinct and separate events. The Day of Atonement is the coming to His temple and the Feast of Tabernacles is the second coming. The coming of the Lord to His temple, Malachi foretells as the judgment. Before the Lord comes to the temple, he will send “my messenger” to prepare the way just as John, the Baptist prepared the way with a call to repentance before Yeshua began His ministry. Malachi with these words prophetically pointed out that this coming will be harder to abide by for some. It will be for the believers, the messenger of the covenant that they have waited for:

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts

 

[visionary]

Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance to fear God.

Zephaniah 1:14-16 The day of the trumpet is a day of wrath, darkness, gloom and alarm.

Indeed, it is the Day of the LORD. Because the Feast of Trumpets is the New Year's Day (that is the anniversary of the creation) it is also the end of the heavenly fiscal year. As at the end of our calendar year, New Years Day is the day when the ledgers must be settled. On the Feast of Trumpets, the books of judgement are opened and all the deeds of each person are reviewed by the heavenly court for judgement. Ten days later, on Day of Atonement, everyone's name will be written and sealed for final judgement in either the Book of Life or the Book of Death.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea 3 saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, til we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

 

[visionary]

On the Day of Judgment, Day of Atonement, the righteous are written in the Book of Life. The wicked are written in the Book of Death. The intervening days between Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement are traditionally regarded as prime-time to sway the heavenly court's decision through serious prayer, repentance and acts of charity.

Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir thou knowest, and he said to me, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on the Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of Judgement at the hands

 

[visionary]

Therefore, the sound of the trumpet on Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of the ultimate ingathering.

Ezra 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

Remember Ephesians chapter 4 where it says this will not happen till we come together as a perfect man.

 

[visionary]

In his letter to the believers at Colossians, Paul states that all of the Biblical Festivals are "shadows of things to come, the substance of Christ." (Colossians 2:16,17). From the above list, it is obvious that the fall feasts are about the things to come. The list of remembrances reads like a synopsis of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic expectation. The warning of impending judgment, the call to repentance, the fear of the Day of the LORD, the Ingathering of Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple, the final judgment, the resurrection of the dead and the coronation of the King are all familiar prophetic themes which both Jewish and Christian communities associate with the coming of Christ. It is clear that the Festival is ripe with end-times implications.

 

[visionary]

For more trumpet references and purposes
Trumpets Used to Notify, Warn or Assemble Israel for War,
Numbers 10:2-9 ; Jeremiah 4:19 ; Amos 3:6 ; Numbers 31:6; Judges 3:27; Judges 6:34, 7:8-22 ; I Samuel 13:3
Trumpets Used as a Sound of Peace, End of Strife
II Samuel 2:28, 18:16, 20:22.
Trumpets Signified Crowning a King, or Revolt
II Samuel 15:10; II Samuel 20:1; I Kings 1:34, 39; II Kings 9:13; II Kings 11:12, 14
Trumpet Used in Temple Worship
II Chronicles 5:3, 12-14, 7:6; Ezra 3:6, 10, 11; I Chronicles 15:24, 16:42
God's Voice is Full of Awesome Power, Like a Trumpet
Revelation 1:10-11 ; Revelation 4:1 ; Psalm 29
God's Trumpet-Like Voice at Mt. Sinai
Exodus 19:16, 19; Exodus 20:18 ; Hebrews 12:18-29
Trumpets and LORD's Judgment Day
Joel 2:1, 2, 11 ; Zephaniah 1:6-7, 14-18; Psalm 98:6, 9
Message of Day of Trumpets is that We Should Repent
Joel 2:1, 12-13
All the Fall Feasts incorporate the trumpet... Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles
Joel 2:15; Lev. 25:9

 

[GuardianShua]

Thanks for sharing that with us Visionary. I see that you were inspired to do some writing.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

Actually, I think it would be great if Messianic's and SDA's got together more and learned from each other. I mean we really do have more in common that any two other faith groups. BTW Vis you blew me away with your EGW quotes. I mean I had no idea you had knowledge of her. And boy, you picked some great quotes too!

Do you think that the Churches of God would have anything to contribute to this discussion, considering that it was through the ministry of a Church of God minister (Herbert Armstrong) that observance of the feasts was revived in Christianity?

 

[visionary]

You may.. the observance of the feasts is the subject .. especially their role in the "shadow of things to come".. and I am sure that you have some imput you would like to share with us.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

Passover:
Observed in commemoration of Christ's death on the cross which justifies the believer, as Christ is symbolized by the Passover lamb. Observed in abbreviated service on the evening of 14 Nisan in the manner instituted by Christ his last night on earth, with an abbreviated service, footwashing and the partaking of bread and wine.

Feast of Unleavened Bread:
Symbolizes the sanctification of the believer in the putting of sin out of our lives. For the seven days no yeast or baking soda is consumed or kept in the home. Leavened products are removed from the home prior to the beginning of the feast. Services are held on the first and last days of the feast, with special Holy Day offerings given on the last day.

Pentecost:
Indicates the beginning of the New Testament church and the calling of the members of the church, who are the firstfruits of salvation in God's salvation plan. Observed seven weeks after the day after the first weekly Sabbath after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This always falls on a Sunday. A service with a Holy Day offering is held on the day of Pentecost.

Feast of Trumpets:
Foreshadows Christ's return and the first ressurection, in which those whom God has called into His church are raised. A service is held.

Day of Atonement:
Represents the casting of the guilt for sin upon Satan, who is symbolized by the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. Members fast from sunset to sunset. A service with a Holy Day Offering is held.

Feast of Tabernacles:
Foreshadows the coming Millenium in which God's Kingdom comes to earth. Observed at various Feast of Tabernacles sites set up around the world. Services are held daily during the Feast.

Last Great Day:
Immediately following the seven day Feast of Tabernacles, it foretells the second ressurection, in which all those who were not called in this age will be raised up to hear the gospel. A final service is held prior to departure from the Feast of Tabernacles site.

 

[visionary]

Feast of Trumpets:
Foreshadows Christ's return and the first ressurection, in which those whom God has called into His church are raised. A service is held.

Interesting that you would have the Lord return then.. could you give me reasons as to why?

 

[visionary]

Feast of Trumpets:
Foreshadows Christ's return and the first ressurection, in which those whom God has called into His church are raised. A service is held.

This is where you and I differ

There are a few reasons why I see differently.

1.) God always does things at the last moment... just a character trait of His.
2.) Just as it was with the first coming.. 3 1/2 year ministry then the feasts are fulfilled.. so it will be again for the fall feasts

and last but not least

3.) The Day of Atonement itself tells

a.) The High Priest ministry in the Most Holy
Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD

b.) The cleansing of sins from the sanctuary
Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed

c.) The scapegoat
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition

d.) Silence during the time when the High Priest is in the Most Holy
Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

That is just a few reasons the Lord can't come... He is busy.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

"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 Cor. 5:52

This is a description of the first resurrection, which occurs upon Christ's return.