September 2017
The Fall Feasts: The Prophetic Picture
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Rosh HaShanah: The Feast of Trumpets
Yom Teruah, or The Feast of Trumpets, in Leviticus 23 is commonly called Rosh HaShanah or Jewish New Year. When the Jewish people came out of Babylonian captivity, they adopted the Babylonian civil New Year, occurring in Tishri, as their own. Corresponding with September, Tishri is a Babylonian word meaning “beginning.” Jewish tradition purports the blowing of trumpets is a reminder of the shofars used by Joshua and the Israelites at Jericho and the ram which Abraham sacrificed in place of Isaac. (Shofars are made from ram’s horns).
The feast of trumpets points forward to a time when Israel will be gathered back to the land (Isaiah 27:13). Biblically, the Feast signifies the ‘sounding of the shofar or trump of God’ when the Body of Messiah will be gathered with Messiah in the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Thessalonians 4:16-18). Because none of us knows the exact time of this future blowing of the trumpet, this feast should motivate us to readiness and service.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
The next feast is Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. Traditionally this is a time for Jewish people to “get right with God” individually. Biblically it is a day for Israel to be restored to God as a nation when they trust in the Messiah (Leviticus 16 an 23:26-32). This will come about through the tribulation period, or “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Anti-Semitism will reach an all time high as all the nations of the world come against Israel in an attempt to once and for all destroy the Jewish people. This time will prepare Israel for the coming King Messiah and His kingdom. At the end of the Tribulation period, the Jewish people will “look to Me (Messiah), the One they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10). In that day Israel will receive “cleansing from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1); “the stone which the builders rejected shall be the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22); the great confession of Israel will be lamented, “all we like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on Him (Messiah) the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 5:6). In that day, a nation shall be born in a day and “thus all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26)! Thus Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, reminds us the gathering of Israel is coming.
Sukkot: The Feast of Booths
The final feast is The Feast of Booths, Tabernacles, or Sukkot found in Leviticus 23:33-43. For the entire week of Sukkot, people build and live in “booths (sukkot).” These purposely frail structures picture our frailty when leaving Egypt and our total dependence on the Lord for provision and protection. Today as well we are to be “living pictures” of Messiah, our Booth. In Him we have our full provision and protection forever (John 7:37-39, Romans 8:1).
The feast is also called the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). Today it is celebrated as a final harvest festival and is accompanied with great joy in the provision of God for His people. Zechariah prophesied that one day the nations will be ingathered to Messiah (14:2, 12-15). They will honor the King of kings, the Messiah of Israel, by celebrating the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem each year (16-19).
In the Fall Feast season, we see the seventh month as the time when God completes His redemption plan through the gathering of the Body (Feast of trumpets); the gathering of the nation of Israel (Day of Atonement); and the gathering of the nations (Feast of Booths).
In light of the prophetic picture of His plan, shouldn’t we share His Word with all who have ears to hear? Certainly to the Jew first (Romans 1:16-17)?
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Traditions of Uncertainty
"The Fall Feasts: The Prophetic Picture" by Sam Nadler
The first four feasts of the Bible, Passover through Shavuot, occur in the Spring. They typify our salvation in Messiah Yeshua (I Corinthians 5:7). The number seven indicates completion. Hence the feasts of the seventh month are a prophetic picture of the Lord’s final work of redemption in the final three feasts.Rosh HaShanah: The Feast of Trumpets
Yom Teruah, or The Feast of Trumpets, in Leviticus 23 is commonly called Rosh HaShanah or Jewish New Year. When the Jewish people came out of Babylonian captivity, they adopted the Babylonian civil New Year, occurring in Tishri, as their own. Corresponding with September, Tishri is a Babylonian word meaning “beginning.” Jewish tradition purports the blowing of trumpets is a reminder of the shofars used by Joshua and the Israelites at Jericho and the ram which Abraham sacrificed in place of Isaac. (Shofars are made from ram’s horns).
The feast of trumpets points forward to a time when Israel will be gathered back to the land (Isaiah 27:13). Biblically, the Feast signifies the ‘sounding of the shofar or trump of God’ when the Body of Messiah will be gathered with Messiah in the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Thessalonians 4:16-18). Because none of us knows the exact time of this future blowing of the trumpet, this feast should motivate us to readiness and service.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
The next feast is Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. Traditionally this is a time for Jewish people to “get right with God” individually. Biblically it is a day for Israel to be restored to God as a nation when they trust in the Messiah (Leviticus 16 an 23:26-32). This will come about through the tribulation period, or “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Anti-Semitism will reach an all time high as all the nations of the world come against Israel in an attempt to once and for all destroy the Jewish people. This time will prepare Israel for the coming King Messiah and His kingdom. At the end of the Tribulation period, the Jewish people will “look to Me (Messiah), the One they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10). In that day Israel will receive “cleansing from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1); “the stone which the builders rejected shall be the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22); the great confession of Israel will be lamented, “all we like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on Him (Messiah) the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 5:6). In that day, a nation shall be born in a day and “thus all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26)! Thus Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, reminds us the gathering of Israel is coming.
Sukkot: The Feast of Booths
The final feast is The Feast of Booths, Tabernacles, or Sukkot found in Leviticus 23:33-43. For the entire week of Sukkot, people build and live in “booths (sukkot).” These purposely frail structures picture our frailty when leaving Egypt and our total dependence on the Lord for provision and protection. Today as well we are to be “living pictures” of Messiah, our Booth. In Him we have our full provision and protection forever (John 7:37-39, Romans 8:1).
The feast is also called the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). Today it is celebrated as a final harvest festival and is accompanied with great joy in the provision of God for His people. Zechariah prophesied that one day the nations will be ingathered to Messiah (14:2, 12-15). They will honor the King of kings, the Messiah of Israel, by celebrating the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem each year (16-19).
In the Fall Feast season, we see the seventh month as the time when God completes His redemption plan through the gathering of the Body (Feast of trumpets); the gathering of the nation of Israel (Day of Atonement); and the gathering of the nations (Feast of Booths).
In light of the prophetic picture of His plan, shouldn’t we share His Word with all who have ears to hear? Certainly to the Jew first (Romans 1:16-17)?
READ MORE
Traditions of Uncertainty
For most Jewish people, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are a time of uncertainty. Let’s examine some traditional views and rabbinal teaching.. (Continue to read more...)
"Traditions of Uncertainty by Sam Nadler
High Holy Days Customs & The ScripturesAs we prepare our hearts to pray for Jewish friends and neighbors during the High Holy Days, it may help us to understand how many Jewish people approach this season. At first glance it may seem this is a time of rejoicing. For those of us who have trusted in Messiah’s atonement, the Day of Atonement is certainly a reminder of complete forgiveness and new life in His perfect sacrifice for our sins. For most Jewish people, the High Holy Days of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are a time of uncertainty. Let’s examine some traditional views and rabbinal teaching from the Talmud to see why.
Customarily Rosh Hashana is “Judgement Day” when God evaluates who will be found worthy of life and who is not. Judgement based on deeds and only the thoroughly righteous are assured of life in the world to come. Those who are neither thoroughly righteous nor thoroughly wicked are the intermediate. They are given an opportunity to “prove themselves during the ‘ten days between New Year and the Day of Atonement” (Rosh HaShanah 18a). In the Talmud it is stated, “the entire sustenance of man [for the year] is fixed for him from New Year’s [festival] to the Day of Atonement…these days are known as ‘the ten days of Penitence.” (Beitzah 16a)
What happens during the ten ‘days of awe?’ The Talmud gives further insight.
“Three books are opened [in heaven] on New Year, one for the thoroughly wicked, one for the thoroughly righteous, and one for the intermediate. The thoroughly righteous are at once inscribed definitively in the book of life; the thoroughly wicked are at once inscribed in the book of death (iin the future world, i.e., of the soul). The doom of the intermediate is suspended from New Year until the Day of Atonement; if they deserved well they are inscribed in the Book of Life; if not, they are inscribed in the book of death.” (Rosh HaShanah 16b)
During these ‘ten days of awe,’ the religious Jew will attempt to do as many good deeds as possible to merit life for the next year and in the world to come. On Yom Kippur the Jewish community fills synagogues confessing sins and beating their chests hoping they have done enough to merit forgiveness and life. Does it help? Is one ever certain he has done enough? Is there truly forgiveness and restoration with God? Listen to these words of one of Judaism’s greatest rabbis:
“When Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai fell ill, his disciples went to visit him. When they saw them, he began to weep. His disciples said, ‘Mighty Hammer! Why do you weep? He replied, “If I were being taken today before a human king who is here today and tomorrow in the grave, whose anger if he is angry with me does not last forever; who if he imprisons me does not imprison me forever; and who if he puts me to death does not put me to everlasting death; who I can persuade with words, and bribe with money, even so I would weep. Now I am being taken before the supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, who lives and endures forever and ever, whose anger, if He is angry with me it is an everlasting anger; if He imprisons me, it is forever; if He puts me to death, puts me to death forever; and who I cannot persuade with words or bribe with money, nay more, when there are two ways before me, one leading to Paradise and the other to Gehinnom [Hell], and I do not know by which I shall be taken, shall I not weep?” (Berachoth 28b)
While traditions emphasize our works to attain forgiveness from God, the scriptures forbid us to work for or trust in our own works for forgiveness, particularly on the Day of Atonement: “you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement; to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. Any person who does any work on that same day, I will destroy from among his people.” (Leviticus 23:28-30)
Throughout the Bible, atonement and forgiveness is based on the principle of substitutionary sacrifice and faith rather than works. In agreement with Moses, Rabbi Shaul (Paul) wrote to the believers at Ephesus: [forgiveness] is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9; see also Genesis 15:6) Consider the contrast between trusting in man’s tradition and trusting in God’s word. We who have trusted Messiah can confidently say we are forgiven not because of our own deeds, but because of Messiah’s one great deed: full atonement.
Please pray for the Jewish people during the High Holy Days to hear the Good News of complete atonement and assurance in Messiah Yeshua. Shalom!
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Upcoming Events
High Holy Day Services
Sam NadlerSam's Speaking Events:
- September 10, Christ Covenant, Shelby, 10:30am
- September 17, Woodlawn Baptist, Charlotte, 5pm
- September 20, Hope of Israel, Rosh HaShana Service,7pm
- September 21,Hope of Israel, Rosh HaShana, 10:30am
- September 24, Boger City Baptist, Lincolnton, 8:30am
- September 29, Hope of Israel, Kol Nidre Service, 7pm
- September 30, Hope of Israel Yom Kippur Service,10:30am
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God’s redemptive plan is unveiled through the Feasts of Israel from Passover through the Feast of Tabernacles. Discover how these appointed times of God are still relevant for our lives today as they illustrate what Messiah has done for us, and what He has yet to do! Dive in for an in-depth and fascinating study that will deepen your understanding of God’s Word as you see His plan in a whole new light. In these six 30-minute sessions.
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