Future Events as Revealed by the Feasts of Israel
Year of Prophecy: 1332 BC (Leviticus 23, 25)
Year of Fulfillment: Still in the future
Time until fulfillment: >3354 years (not yet fulfilled)
As noted in previous posts, there were three feasts which occurred in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. They, too, had practical application to the nation of Israel when they were first instituted, but they also referred to future events that are also in our future today. These are discussed in this post.
Beginning of the Tribulation (the last 7-year period prior to Christ’s 2nd Coming)
The Remembrance of Israel as Foreshadowed by:
Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah (1st day of the seventh month: Lv 23:23-25)
The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the Feast of Remembrance or the Feast of Memorial and is known by modern Jews as the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). The Jewish New Year celebration probably reflects the Jewish civil calendar rather than the sacred one since the month in which the Passover occurs was originally instituted as the first month of the Jewish year (Ex 12:2). This feast occurs on the first day of the seventh month. The times of its celebration recorded in scripture are few (1Ki 8:1-66 and 2Ch 5:1-7:10; Er 3:1-5; Ne 8:1-9:38), but each event was a memorial to remember what God had done for them. Each of these occurrences had the following events in common: the people gathered and acted as a nation, they gathered in Jerusalem near the Temple, they renewed their covenant relationship with God, they began sacrifices, they celebrated the feasts, and God responded to the people on a national level. In each event, the nation of Israel was asking God to remember them and to restore His relationship with them, as Jeremiah pleaded to God for His remembrance of Israel and to “renew our days as of old” (La 5:21).
As mentioned in prior posts, the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) was the beginning of the Church Age at which time Israel as a nation was temporarily set aside until the required number of Gentiles are saved (Ro 11:25). At that point, the rapture (or The Receiving) occurs, and all Christians are removed from the Earth. God then “remembers” His covenant with Israel (Ro 11:26; Jr 31:33-34) and His main focus is back on Israel as a nation. There is probably an unspecified period of time between the rapture and this “remembrance” of Israel since the first is a focus on the Church and the latter is a focus on the nation of Israel. During this time, 144,000 Jewish people will be saved and act as evangelists to their fellow Jews and to the world at large (Rv 7:4-8, 14:1-5). Therefore, this feast is symbolic of the beginning of what is known as the Tribulation Period.
Christ’s 2nd Coming as Foreshadowed by:
Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (10th day of the seventh month: Lv 23:26-32)
This feast was different from the others in that it was first for contrition and then celebration (Lv 23:32). This was the day the high priest made a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people (Lev 16). The atonement was a cleansing of both the items used in the ceremony (Holy of Holies, Tabernacle, and brazen altar) as well as individuals (priests, high priest, all the people) indicating atonement was not just a covering of sin, but a cleansing of sin as well. Today, the focus is on the individual rather than a nation, and during the 10 days prior to the Day of Atonement (called the Ten Days of Penitence), one is strongly encouraged to repent: prayers are said, good deeds are done, and fasting is common.
These actions of the high priest in Leviticus pointed toward what Christ was to do for mankind. Atonement is a process instituted and initiated by God. Christ has redeemed us by addressing the price, penalty, and condemnation of sin which separates us from God (Jn 3:16-18). This action has to be done by a third party. Just as Boaz operated as a kinsman-redeemer to redeem Ruth (Ru 4), Christ operated as our redeemer to pay the debt owed to God to redeem us from sin (Cl 1:14). Christ became our propitiation (appeasement) by addressing the righteous wrath of God, for God is holy and expects us to be the same (Lev 11:44). Christ’s death on the cross satisfied God, appeased His wrath, and allowed us to become clean and useful to God (Ro 3:25, 1Jn 2:2, 4:10). Christ reconciled us by addressing our stand with God. Christ’s death on the cross restored the fellowship between us and God (2Co 5:18-19). The path to be reconciled is now open, yet we must accept it (Ro 6:23; Cl 1:20). Christ cleansed us by addressing the domination of sin. Christ’s death on the cross removed sin’s domination over the old nature (2Co 5:17) and as we confess the sin, God performs the cleansing from the sin (1Jn 1:9).
Since atonement also involves inanimate objects and allows them to be used in service to God, Christ will utilize this aspect of atonement for Israel at a future time and make the nation of Israel useful for God’s service. This will occur at the Second Coming of Christ at which time Christ will reconcile and restore the relationship between Himself and Israel (Zc 12:10 - 13:9).
Tribulation, Great Tribulation and Antichrist
These are not part of the feasts, but occur between the last two sections just mentioned. The chronological time between the “awakening of Israel” after the rapture and the resorted relationship of Israel back to God is the time of the Tribulation. It has its beginning sometime after the rapture when the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel (Dn 9:27). The Antichrist is the one whom Satan uses to set up a one-world government and attempts to destroy all those who oppose him (Dn 7:15-25). At the end of 3½ years, the Antichrist will revoke his covenant with Israel and desecrate the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem with his own image (Dn 9:27) and seek to destroy all of Israel (Jr 30:4-7; Rv 12). The last 3½ years will be a time of great trouble for Israel (Jr 30:5-7; Zp 1:14-18) with natural calamities never before experienced (Hg 2:6-9; Rv 8:6-13) and is therefore termed “Great Tribulation.” Those in Jerusalem will be pushed to the brink of annihilation (Zc 14:1-2). They have no place to turn but to call upon their Messiah who comes to fight for them (Zc 12:5, 14:3-5), and they recognize the true identity of their Messiah (Zc 12:10-14), the one pierced—Jesus Christ (Jn 19:37; Rv 1:7).
The Millennium Kingdom (1000-year reign of Christ on Earth) as Foreshadowed by:
Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot (15th to 21st day of the seventh month: Lv 23:33-43)
Although this feast had an agricultural connection (Dt 16:13-17), this did not seem to be its main emphasis, and it did not seem to really be about the 40-year wandering of Jews due to the emphasis on celebration (Lv 23:39-41; Dt 16:13-15), and the elements of the booths’ construction (Lv 23:40). Therefore, it was likely more about God’s provision for them rather than their lack during their time of wandering, and pointed to the time of future rest which they did not have in the wilderness. Although entering the Promised Land served as a type of rest for Israel from their wanderings (Js 23:1), the book of Judges points out the temporary nature of this ‘rest’ (Jd 2:10-19). There was a more permanent rest to which this feast pointed (Hb 4:8-11). After Christ returns to earth and destroys Israel’s enemies at His second coming (Is 63:1-6; Zc 14:3, 12-14), removes the unrighteous (Mt 24:36-51), and sets up His earthly 1,000-year kingdom (Zc 8:3, 14:9; Rv 20:4), Israel will be the one favored of all people and will enjoy the rest they have not had all during the nation’s existence (Zc 8:4-22). This feast will also be celebrated during this time—not only for Israel but for everyone (Zc 14:16-21) since spiritual cleansing will be an emphasis to all those dwelling on the earth during this time (Zc 14:8, 16, 21).
The New Heavens and Earth as Foreshadowed by:
The Jubilee (Lv 25:1-55)
In the seventh month of every 49 years (seven Sabbaths of years, Lv 25:8), on the Day of Atonement, the 50th year was consecrated and liberty was proclaimed (Lv 25:10). All property was to be returned to its original owner, and all people were to return to their own clans (Lv 25:10). One was not to sow or harvest during this 50th year (Lv 25:11-12). Jubilee was to be used to determine the value of land and property that was sold. One was to ascertain when the next Jubilee was to occur and base the price on the number of years until the next Jubilee, because both land and property (including individuals who had sold themselves in order to live) would return to their owners or clans during the year of Jubilee (Lv 25:14-17).
Although this is not a formal feast as were the others, this does tie into the other feasts and to the regular Sabbath (Lv 23:3). Before explaining the feasts in Leviticus 23, God stated to not forget the pattern established back in the beginning (Gn 2:2; Lv 23:3). As the Sabbath of rest of creation pointed to the completion of creation (Gn 2:1), to the rest (or satisfaction) God had in His creation (Gn 2:2), and to the perfect state of God’s creation (Gn 1:31), so the Sabbath year of rest (Jubilee) points to the end of history when all will be returned to the perfect state God had in the beginning and we will be forever with the Lord (2Pt 3:13; Rv 21:4-7).
In Leviticus 25, the Jubilee required all land and people be returned to their original owners and clans (Lv 25:10). This Jubilee also points toward the new heavens and earth where the eternity of rest (Hb 4:9) is entered and the original, perfect state is again attained. The present earth cannot enter because of sin. Just as our spirits groan and wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies (Ro 8:23), so does all of creation (Ro 8:22) because of the sin imposed upon it by Adam (Ro 8:20). It, too, can be liberated from the bondage of decay to which it is now subjected (Ro 8:21). Knowing God is unique and devoid of sin (Lv 19:2), and demands even inanimate objects of worship to be cleansed from sin (Lv 16:16), the earth cannot enter into eternity in its present state. God will therefore cleanse the earth with fire so that His righteousness can dwell there (2Pt 3:10, 13).
What a rich heritage God gave to the Jews. One day, all of this can be your heritage as well. Everyone wants a bright and promising future. God is providing it, are you going to accept it?
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens