Students of the Bible know the feasts of Israel have prophetic meaning for the church era. What was a ritual to the Israelites in these feasts, became a reality to those who put their trust in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. The many shadows of the Old Testament were fulfilled in Christ in the many ways that He serves as Saviour, High Priest, and coming King.
Passover was first celebrated when the Israelites were led out of Egypt, ending their slavery and starting their journey to freedom. A lamb had to be killed, and its blood smeared on the doorposts of their homes as a sign for the angel of death to “pass over” their homes. This feast was also a foreshadow of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who shed His blood during Passover, to save us from eternal death.
Pentecost was first celebrated when the first harvest was reaped by the Israelites in their own country. The New Testament Pentecost welcomed the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and the subsequent ingathering of the first souls who responded to Peter’s explanation of what happened in the Upper Room. Three thousand people were saved and baptized that day, and many more did since that day.
The harvest is still being brought in, but a day will come when the last Gentile will bow the knee to acknowledge Jesus as Saviour. This brings us to the Fall feasts of Israel: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Prophecy students regard the fall feasts as “high watch” days as a very possible time for the rapture of the church to take place, especially the Feast of Trumpets.
Since so many signs of the last days are now converging, the Feast of Trumpets, celebrated from September 24-26th year, was seen as a high probability for the rapture to happen. It would have been wonderful, of course, but, well, we are still here.
There is a little detail that was overlooked by those who actually called that day for the rapture:
…the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of… Matthew 24:50
Jesus spoke this parable to explain that He will not come on a day that everybody is looking for Him; for that reason we can, almost with certainty, say He will not come on one of these feast days. Another very special event did not happen on any feast day, namely His ascension into heaven. It was also unexpected because we read the disciples thought He would establish the kingdom to Israel now that He rose from the dead. (Acts 1:6)
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
Yes, Jesus will come back on the clouds to receive us to Himself, as He said in John 14:3. We do not know when I will happen, and no one will be able to predict that date, but it will happen at the right time.
There is some disappointment because we are still here, and it is understandable. Life in this broken world that is so bent on its own destruction is not easy, and it is about to get a lot worse. Evil men make evil plans for our world, driven by their own greed, and put into action one step at a time.
Deception, lies, fraud, and every other wicked thing is ramping up, and distract most people from what is actually happening in real time. State-sponsored propaganda ensures the masses stay asleep. Believers know we have work to do, even while dark shadows are falling around us. All the while God is waiting patiently for the last Gentile to come in before the door of grace finally closes:
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
So many under us are getting weary of waiting, some even giving up their hope, and fix their eyes on a future in the world again. Jesus warned us against this attitude:
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Matthew 24:45
Our work is to hand out spiritual food until Jesus comes back. Our witness, testimonies, encouragement, prayers, lifestyle, etc. must continue. I once spoke to a prominent church member about the days ahead of us, but he was quick to dismiss it with the same excuse that Peter mentions in his letter:
“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4
Jesus wants to find us busy when He comes:
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. Matthew 24:46,47
There is an eternal reward waiting on faithful servants! Paul speaks about it in 2 Corinthians 5:10. Let us therefore continue to do what the Lord told us to do, and be faithful about it, even if we are weary of swimming upstream.
But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51
The coming of the Lord to take us home with Him as His bride, is our blessed hope. This world is not our home, which is why we live here as sojourners. We do not become attached to anything the world has to offer because we know it is passing away — even before our very eyes. Its days are clearly numbered. We do our work while listening for the sound of the last trumpet.
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Luke 12:37,28
Keep working and watching!
