Most Christians
don’t know about the Fall Holidays of ancient
Israel; Trumpets
(Rosh Hashanah), Day
of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles
(Sukkoth). If the spring festivals so clearly
prophesied the first coming of Messiah, it stands
to reason that the fall festivals are also prophetic
of His second coming. The way these holidays
are celebrated reveals specific information
of the way they will be prophetically fulfilled.
Preparations for
the Fall Holidays begin a full month in advance.
On the Jewish calendar is a forty-day season
called Teshuvah (return or repentance.) It begins
on Elul 1 and ends on the Day of Atonement (Tishri
10). This forty-day season is a time for one
to annually examine his life and restore relationships
between God and man. The first thirty days of
this season are the thirty days of the month
of Elul. The last ten days of this forty-day
season are the Feast of Trumpets and Day of
Atonement, or the ten High Holy Days (Days of
Awe).
The Jews start
the celebration of the Fall Holidays thirty
days prior to the Feast of Trumpets, which falls
on the first day of the seventh month. For thirty
days the shofar is blown every morning in the
Synagogue to remind the people that the holy
days are approaching, and that they should prepare
themselves. Their preparation consists of confessing
their sins and seeking forgiveness, and going
back to fix mistakes made during the year. The
ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) are called the
Days of Awe.
The long period
between The Feast of Weeks and the Feast of
Trumpets is symbolic of the long period between
the formation of the church at the Feast of
Weeks and the regathering of Israel to the trumpet
blast calling all born again believers (see
illustration).
Feast
of Trumpets/ RoshHashana
The Feast of Trumpets
(Rosh Hashanah) is the Jewish New Year, and
begins the high Holy Days in the seventh month (corresponding to September or October).
It is a celebration of the spiritual birthday
of the world or creation, and is celebrated
with blowing of the trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25).
The Feast of Trumpets is a powerful prophetic
look at the final days and Messiah’s return.
Jewish eschatology teaches that on the Day of
Atonement after six thousand years are complete,
the Day of the Lord will come. On that day the
shofar will sound and the righteous will be
resurrected (Rev. 3:7-11).
The
Day of Atonement /Yom Kipper
The holiest day
in the Jewish year (a fast day not a feast day),
the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), is spent
in fasting, prayer, and confession. This was
one gracious day a year given by God that each
individual could receive forgiveness. The high
priest enters the holy of holies to make atonement
for the nation by sacrificing an animal (Lev.
23:26-32). Jesus has provided our atonement,
“for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23) and
are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Him.
Feast of Tabernacles / Sukkoth
Feast of Tabernacles
(Sukkoth or Booths) is celebrated Tishri 15
as outlined in Leviticus 23:33-43. This seven-day
harvest festival, during which the Jewish people
are told to live in “booths,” or temporary
shelters, is a reminder to future generations
of how the Israelites had also lived in booths
when God delivered them out of Egypt. A number
of Christians believe this is the date of Christ’s
birth when He came to “tabernacle among
us.” We should look forward expectantly
to the Feast of Tabernacles, just as we look
forward to the coming of the Messiah to bring
His government, His Kingdom, and His laws (Mic.
4:1).
Excerpts from the book A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays
