TRUMPETS, DAY OF ATONEMENT, TABERNACLES
Leviticus 23:23-44
INTRODUCTION
The Jews were commanded to celebrate three of the Feasts in Jerusalem each year – Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
There are several levels of fulfilment for the feasts – In the lives of Israelites – In the life of Jesus – and in the life of the believer, and with the Autumn feasts also a future prophetic significance.
The three Autumn Feasts are the Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
This year, 2005, they are celebrated – Trumpets – 4 th October; Day of Atonement – 13 th October; Feast of Tabernacles 18 th to 24 th October.
The Jewish nation is still part of God’s plan. Romans 11
In the life of Jesus these feasts point towards the end times, to Jesus second coming, and have yet to be fulfilled. They point the believer to a future hope. None the less there are still practical applications in our Christian walk that we can apply to our lives today.
The Feasts are a kind of visual aid for us that give us glimpses of God and can enrich our lives as believers as God opens our eyes so we can see the truth that is contained within them. They should always point us to Jesus, the foundation of faith.
Remember, the aim of this study is to discover God’s heart towards us as believers in the teaching of the Feasts.
- FEAST OF TRUMPETS – Rosh Hashanah - Jesus has defeated the enemy
Leviticus 23:24&25
- In the month of Elul begins a 40 day season of repentance
- 30 days into this season on Tishri 1 falls The Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (civil)
- The Jews use 2 types of trumpet , a silver trumpet Numbers 10:1-10 and a ram’s horn trumpet, the shofar
- On the Feast of Trumpets the shofar is the principle trumpet, and it is celebrated by the blowing of trumpets throughout the day.
- The blowing of the shofar is a call to God’s people to awake, it was only used on very solemn occasions when war was waged on a dangerous enemy eg. Joshua at the battle of Jericho
- A feast of joy and thanksgiving to God
- At the cross Jesus defeated the enemy Col2:13 -15
PERSONAL APPLICATION
- The closer we walk to Jesus the more our spiritual battle intensifies. We become a threat to the enemy.
- Jesus has defeated the enemy, and wants us to walk in the good of what he has done, to defeat the enemy in our lives, and live in his victory.
- Eph 6:10-17 Defeating our inner enemy, the devil – the full armour, each piece of armour represents Jesus. The book of Ephesians has many links to the Feast of Trumpets.
- Wake up - God is calling us to awaken from our spiritual sleep and stir ourselves up, he is coming soon and we need to be prepared.
- Can you hear the call of God on your life?
FUTURE PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
- The autumn feasts are very much linked with Jesus second coming.
- 1Thesalonians 4:16-17;1 Corinthians 15:51-The resurrection of the dead and the rapture of believers. Jesus is coming back for those that are his.
- The common greeting of this day is “May you be inscribed in the book of life!” and the day is also linked to the day of judgement.
- DAY OF ATONEMENT – Yom Yippur - Jesus purifies his bride
Leviticus 23:27-32
- Yom Kippur was the most solemn day of the year, a day of fasting and prayer. Isaiah 58:1-12
- The High Priest enters the Holy of Holies to atone for the sin of himself, the nation, and the people.
- This was the only day in the year that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies and there he met face to face with God.
- Atonement means to cover; their sins were covered by the blood of the innocent substitutionary sacrifice. Their sins were cleansed.
- The nation waited outside to see if God would accept the sacrifice. If the sacrifice was accepted, the mood shifted from solemnity to joy. It was a day of cleansing and the people could make a fresh start.
- There was a restoration of fellowship with God
- On the cross Jesus became our innocent substitutionary atoning sacrifice. He died in our place. Isaiah 53:4-6
- When Jesus was crucified at Calvary the curtain in the temple that separated God and man was torn in two, from top to bottom, the sacrifice was acceptable to God.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
- The way to God is open, and we are also acceptable to God.
- 1 John 1: 8&9 . Our sin has been atoned for and we can know a restoration of fellowship with God, not just once a year, but daily, moment by moment!
- Jesus has ascended into heaven and become our High Priest. Hebrews 4:14-16
- Sanctification - Job 23:10 When gold is being purified it is heated up to a high temperature, all the impurities rise to the top and can be skimmed off. It is then purer and of greater value.
- Jesus is purifying his bride to make her ready for his return, he is the coming bridegroom Ephesians: 5:25-27 We shall be without spot or wrinkle!
- We shall go through trials, but we are being purified, God is with us through the trials, and he will ensure that we do get through them, he won’t give us more than we can cope with.
- Yielding ourselves to God, so we may live face to face in his presence.
FUTURE PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
- This is linked with the Second Coming of Jesus. Revelation 1:7
- A Jewish wedding ceremony has much to teach us about these Autumn feasts, and has strong links to this teaching.
- It was reckoned that, the Jewish New Year was the time when Adam was created, and his bride, Eve, was taken from his side, his rib.
- For us as the Christian Church, the Bride of Christ, we were taken from Jesus side, when his side was pierced and his blood shed, when he hung on the cross.
- THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES – Sukkot - Jesus our coming King
(Ingathering) Exodus 23:16; Leviticus23:34-43
- This feast speaks of God’s protection and guidance in the wilderness
- The people lived in temporary dwellings. To celebrate the feast, tabernacles or booths are made and lived in for seven days
- This also marks the time when the tabernacle was built in the wilderness. Ex 25:8 God’s presence was marked by a cloud by day time and a pillar of fire by night.
- It renewed their commitment to God and their trust in his guidance and protection
- The people entered the Promised Land with Great rejoicing
- Israel had passed through the season of repentance and redemption and this was a holiday of rejoicing and celebration – the joy of knowing your sins were forgiven, and the joy of knowing God, and having a daily walk with him.
- One of the daily ceremonies was the celebration of water pouring: Every morning there was a joyous procession to the pool of Siloam, with music, headed by a priest with a golden pitcher. At the same time there was a procession to the Kidron Valley to collect Willow branches which were made into a canopy over the altar of burnt offerings. The priest retuned with the pitcher of water, through the Water Gate, and with a trumpet blast poured the water on the altar, while the people sang “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” Isaiah 12:3
- Jesus, the water of life, was the fulfilment of this feast. John 7:37-39. The last and greatest day was also known as the great Hosanna. Jesus promises us living water, flowing from our inmost being.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
- A renewed commitment to God
- He wants us to dwell with him and trust in his provision, his guidance and his protection in our day to day lives.
- Phil 4:6&7. Applying this feast to our lives we can cease struggling in our own strength and allow Jesus to live through us.
- Experiencing a daily rest in Jesus, spiritually, by faith. Hebrews 4:9-11. When I try to be a Christian in my own strength, I fail, but when I allow him to work through me then I accomplish the things he desires.
- In a dry country which at this time had probably had only a few light showers - “The early rains,” water was a precious commodity; the pouring out on the altar was very much an act of faith, that God would bring the latter rains. Rain is always a symbol of God’s blessing. When by faith we put our trust in him to fulfil his promises to us, we are enabled to live in the good of that spiritual rest. The water from our inmost being that Jesus referred to was the Holy Spirit pouring from us. When we live in the power of the Holy Spirit we can live the life that Jesus intended for us to live, and others will have their lives changed in the process!
- Living in the good of our promised land.
FUTURE PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
- It was at the end of the fruit harvest and was a kind of harvest festival, it was also known as the Festival of Ingathering pointing us to end times.
- Jesus, our coming King will return to the earth, and having been raptured, we shall then return with him.
- Our bodies here on earth are temporary dwellings, one day we shall have a glorious resurrection body!
- Revelation 20:1-6. Millennium reign of Jesus (not to be confused with our current millennium)
- Many believe that just as Jesus First Coming, was not only a fulfilment of the Spring Feasts, but also coincided perfectly with them time wise, so with his Second Coming it will coincide with the timing of the Autumn Feasts.
- It is like there has been a long hot summer period between Pentecost and the Autumn feasts, so there has been a long period between Jesus First Coming and his Second Coming. Although we do not know when it will be, we can see there are many Biblical pointers to it being quite close.
- Matthew 24:36-44. We do not know exactly when Jesus will return but we can rejoice in the glorious hope that these Feasts promise.
CONCLUSION
The Feast of Trumpets – Jewish New Year – Jesus has defeated the enemy – Jesus will come again for believers – We are called to awake - We can overcome the enemy – The rapture – We are called to be ready
The Day of Atonement – The High Priest entered the Tabernacle and later the temple to atone for the peoples sin, once a year, there he met face to face with God. – Jesus atoned for our sin, he became our High Priest – The second coming – We are Jesus' bride – he wants us to be without spot or wrinkle!
The Feast of Tabernacles – God’s protection and guidance in the wilderness – Jesus is the water of life, he alone can satisfy our thirst – We are to live in Jesus and experience his rest – Jesus will return and reign for a thousand years – we shall rule and reign with him
There is to be a great feast, which God is preparing for us. - The Wedding of his beloved Son Jesus and his beautiful bride, the Church. Revelation 19:6b-9
Have you got your invitation ready?
Bibliography
1 p 50&51 The Seven Festivals of the Messiah – Edward Chumney – Destiny Image
2 p 51&52 The Seven Festivals of the Messiah – Edward Chumney – Destiny Image
Jesus in the Feasts of Israel – Richard Booker – Destiny Image
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