Subject: How can Christ return be imminent? |
Bible Note: I also think the Lord told us to "watch" because it will stengthen our faith... as we see His prophecies fulfilled. A while back I was involved in a study of the Feast Days of the Lord (given to the Israelites BY GOD). It was very interesting, especially since 4 of those Days have literally been fulfilled during Christ's first coming; each on the exact corresponding Jewish Feast Day. The first time they occurred to protect and save Israel, and were then to be celebrated by the Israelites as a remembrance and also a forshadow of how "God-saves" (complete plan of redemption). Now I don't know what year, and since even the Hebrew calendar has been changed I don't think we can KNOW the actual DAY of those Feasts to come either. But it is interesting that they will/should occur on the actual fall Feast Day in the future. 1. PASSOVER OT. In remembrance of the first Passover, the Israelites were to use two sacrificial goats, one as a blood sacrifice for sin and the other one as the scapegoat. NT. Jesus' death on the cross was a literal fulfillment of Passover, when His blood was shed on the cross for our sins, and He was our scapegoat in taking on the penalty for our sins. 2. FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD. OT. It was celebrated by eating ONLY unleavened bread. (In scripture unleavened bread represents corruption. It is the agent that causes fermentation.) NT. Christ fulfilled this feast day when His body did not decay (corrupt) in the grave. 3. FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS. OT. The firstfruits (first sheaf of the harvest is cut) and presented to the Lord. The Lord's acceptance of this gift is an "earnest", or a pledge on His part of a full harvest. NT. This was fulfilled in Christ's resurrection from the dead (firstfruit from the dead), when He went to the Father (John 20:17). The Father's acceptance of Christ as the firstfruit, means that there would be a full harvest in season. 4. FEAST OF WEEKS. OT. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments written on stone. It was celebrated by having the people bring 1) firstfruits of the fall harvest, and 2) two loaves of LEAVENED bread. NT. The Holy Spirit was given on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and God began writing His Commandments on men's hearts (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 10:16). The "firstfruits of the fall harvest" represented the apostles in that upper room, and the "two loaves of leavened bread" represented the JEWS and the GENTILES, both still having sin in their midst (not having been perfected yet). 5. FEAST OF TRUMPETS. OT. This feast was celebrated using a "shofar" [special trumpet), which had two separate functions. One was to call a solemn assembly, when Israel was to be summoned to God's presence (Ex. 19:13,17,19; Num. 10:2), and also when under divine direction, Israel was to go to war (Num. 10:9; Jud.7; Jer. 4:19-21). NT. The Feast of Trumpets represents the second coming of the Lord to rapture His church and judge those left on the earth. (The church will be raptured and the Lord's wrath will commence on the earth.) 6. DAY OF ATONEMENT. OT. This is celebrated with the high priest offering sacrifices for himself and the people's sins that were committed in ignorance (Heb. 9:7,8). NT. Jesus mentioned this event in the Olivette discourse, where He speaks of separating (judging) the sheep (those who committed unintentional sin) and the goats (those who committed intentional sin)[Matt. 15:31-34]. Christ's atoning sacrifice will then be made available to the survivors of the great tribulation (Isaiah 24:6) who will physically enter the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. 7. FEAST OF TABERNACLES. OT. This was celebrated by each family erecting a little hut or booth, hanging samples of the fall crop on the structure to acknowledge God's faithfulness in providing for His people. It is an 8 day feast, the 8th being primary. On that day there was a large procession from the Temple Mount to the Pool of Siloam where a pitcher was filled with water. They then proceeded back to the Temple Mount. Since the rains usually stop in March in Israel, there is no rain for almost 7 months. If God does not provide the "early" rains in October and November, there will be no spring crop and famine would be at the doorstep. This ceremony was to invoke God's blessing on the nation by providing life-giving water. NT. This feast represents the gathering of God's children and the rivers of living water that would be available to them continually (John 7:37,38). This feast day represents Christ's millenial kingdom, when Christ will tabernacle with men. The Bible says that Christ was foreordained before the creation of the earth to save those who believe (1Pet. 1:20,21), and I think the Feast Days that God commanded Israel show that His entire plan of salvation was clearly laid out from the very beginning. There |