Feasts and the 2nd Coming

On another forum, it was suggested that Feasts days might predict the time of the 2nd Coming. I answered as follows....

I think the Law was bound up in Christ's earthly ministry, and not in his 2nd Coming. For that reason, Christ fulfilled Passover, which was under the Law, by dying *apart from the Law.* In other words, the fulfillment was under a completely different system which the Law only foreshadowed. The fulfillment was different than the foreshadowing.

If so, then there is no necessary attachment between what was required under the Law and what Christ did to redeem us from our sins. The only connection is in the severance of the system of Law for a system it portrayed that was better than itself. One had to lead into the other.

Thus, Passover led directly into Christ, the Passover Lamb. And Christ's death fulfilled not just Passover but all of the Feasts at the cross. That's why we have something happen on the Day of Pentecost right after the cross which was *not* actual Pentecost under the Law. It just coincided with Pentecost, to show how Christ fulfilled both Passover and Pentecost.

And Christ's death also fulfilled the Day of Atonement by providing on the cross atonement for all sin. And so, all 3 Feasts connected with Christ's earthly ministry and death on the cross. That was the fulcrum separating the OT from the NT.

Fulfillment of the 2nd Coming is just the 2nd Act in what Christ performed on the cross. And it will happen when the Jewish nation comes to its final judgment, in preparation for their national restoration. We see that in the restoration of the State of Israel.

And we also have the Roman State evolved into a set of nations in Europe who are experiencing the predicted apostasy from the Christian faith. Furthermore, we've developed the technology necessary to build this European State into a world superpower, capable of propagandizing and manipulating the world into worship of Antichrist.

We're very close, but these are the signs we were given in Daniel and in the book of Revelation, as well as in 2 Thes 2. I don't see any necessary connection to Jewish Feast days under the Law that were already fulfilled at the cross?

I’ve heard people talk about this connection but honestly don’t understand it. I see a pattern in the feasts but I haven’t understood what people are saying about the connection to the gospel and return of Christ in the seven feasts.

again I do see a pattern but to
Me it’s like the rest of the law it’s all a pattern Moses was shown on the Mount for things that would be brought to fulfillment far later in the messiah.

I’ll be following this thread and hope someone can explain the connections with some scripture because I’ve never really grasped exactly what others are seeing in the feasts. And I often get lost when scripture isn’t presented

Here's how I understand it (or at least relatedly)... briefly...


Whereas Colossians 2:16-17 is basically making the point that "feast"... "new moon"... "sabbaths" are not things that we ('the Church which is His body') are to "observe"... verse 17 is still saying ('in regard to' these [per v.16]):

"17 which [plural] ARE [present tense indicative, plural] A SHADOW [singular; G4639 - 'an outline'] [of] the things [plural] coming [present tense participle, plural]..."




Many of us see Zech14:16-19 (re: 'the feast of Tabernacles'), for example, to be a part of what those in the earthly MK age (i.e. 'IN THAT DAY,' the broader sense of 'the DOTL') will be instructed to "keep," yearly ('from year to year'). I personally think that was His "BIRTH" day (Jn1:14a Grk, and others...).

But even before the MK age commences, I see some "connections" of some things being pertinent DURING the TRIB yrs... where (as one small example--among other examples of "time-stamp" indicators) Revelation 8:1-5 describes things associated only with "the Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur"... [and where v.13 is connecting the '3 Woes' with the last '3 Trumpets' of the Trib yrs (Trumpets 5, 6, 7, in the SECOND HALF of the '7 yrs'--well, with the '5th Trumpet' being the MID-trib point, so from there...)]



In summary, I am not among those who see a "fall-to-fall" Tribulation Period (though I do see it as '7 yrs' total)... Instead, what I see (derived from scripture, that is), is a "spring-to-spring" Tribulation Period (the '7 yrs')... for these reasons among many other reasons I find.

The "[which are] A SHADOW [of] the things COMING" (as pointed out at top ^ ) involves both the TRIB things and the MK things, from what I see.

Just my two cents. = D

The thing is the feasts were not about the law they were about the revelation of Jesus and were prophetic feasts not mere traditions.

God never does things half way and Jesus came and fulfilled the first four freasts in the exact way they were meant to be fulfilled and done they were all about him on earth leading up to his death.
I believe the feast of trumpets is the feast you are refering to and it is easy to see why it of all the feasts would predict when he comes for us because Jesus used many wedding references surrounding this feast it was custom for the bridegroom to go away and prepare a place for his bride he didn't know the day or hour in which he could come for his bride the father of the bridegroom had to decide and the place prepared was only up to the father whether or not it was good enough only then would the father fo the bridegroom say he could go and snatch his bride

The day and hour that no man knows if you didn't know is exactly how the feast of trumpets works back then they didn't have google or calanders to look up when the feast day was they work on a lunar calendar not a solar one like us and they used the cycles of the moon to know when this day was however because of how the moon works they never knew the exact day in which the feast was to take place and the feast of trumpets is usually within a two day period in which it would be decided that this was the day to celebrate it.

The feast of trumpets is also the only one in which a bridegroom is often used in to come for his bride as it was traidtion for a trumpet to sound when the bridegroom would come for his eagerly waiting bride and Jesus used many wedding references in his coming back and I think this is because he was speaking to the hebrews in a manner they would know and understand using tradtions and references they would know well

If this feast day had to do with the law in any way he would have made it so in his speech but he didin't and the artistry of a glorious and beautiful wedding in his second coming is just to on point to dismiss as being fulfilled already. I have to be honest that I hope the feast of trumpets is not the only way he will come for us as I have longed to be with him deeply so much so it becomes torture and if the feast of trumpets comes and goes that just means another year of waiting as opposed to he could come at any day or hour but he said to keep watch and gave us many clues to know the time and season and with all the wedding references I have to think the feast of trumpets could very well be the day he was refering to

Predict the time? No, I do not believe there is any way to predict the time of the DOTL. The Rapture is the necessary precursory event to the revealing of the man of sin which kicks off the DOTL, and there is no sign whereby we can predict the Rapture....it can come at any moment.

Overall, the general consensus is that the Spring Feasts were anticipatory (now commemorative) of the Lord's first Advent and the Fall Feasts are anticipatory of Christs Second Coming. Makes a lot of sense upon introspection.

Col 2:16-17
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days which are a shadow of things to come.

Interestingly, the conquest of the land by Joshua has many interesting parallels to the Book of Revelation. A study worth your time.

Joshua as a Model?

It is interesting to notice the parallels in design between the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation. Joshua's name is in Hebrew; in Greek it could be rendered "Jesus." Joshua's mission is to dispossess the usurpers from the Land on behalf of God's people; in Revelation, Jesus' mission is to dispossess the Planet Earth of the usurpers.

Joshua initially sends ahead two witnesses. (We call them spies, but all they accomplished was getting a Gentile woman saved.) The two witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11 are a prominent element.

In the initial attack on the Amorite capital of Jericho, every rule of the Torah was violated: the Levites were exempt from military duties, yet they lead the procession. They were to do no work on Sabbath Day, yet here they march around Jericho once a day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day! They are to keep silent until the final trumpet blast, etc. It is interesting that the Seven Trumpets in Revelation are introduced after a strange silence.

The opposing kings align themselves under a leader who calls himself Adoni-Zedek ("The Lord of Righteousness"), who is ultimately defeated with signs in the sun and the moon at the battle of Beth Horon.6 The defeated kings hide in caves, etc.

It seems that in Revelation we have the final "Joshua," dispossessing the Planet Earth of its usurpers on behalf of God's people in a manner that is remarkably parallel.

Agree that the Lord Jesus was probably born (incarnated, came or arrived) in the fall, perhaps on first day of the Feast of Tabernacles....

Great study material from Barry. Explodes a lot of myths. A must watch.

Yes, that's been my experience also. We're told that the Law provides a secret pattern for those "with eyes to see" who can use it to predict the future. This is nothing better than fortune telling, or crystal ball reading. Someone always claims to have the "secret key" to unravelling the riddle of future prophecy!

I think you're exactly right. The pattern of the Law was designed to show our necessary atonement in Christ. Whereas the Law was a form of stop gap measure, providing temporary atonement, Christ came to bring lasting atonement, or eternal life.

Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles were all designed to bring Israel atonement through the calendar year, so that the Jewish People would remain in covenant with God until Christ could come. All of these celebrations were fulfilled in Christ's earthly ministry and death on the cross.

Christ's death initiated a brand new covenant, and fulfilled the Mosaic Law--it was not part of the Mosaic Law, but a different covenant entirely. The old covenant could not provide what Christ provided in his new covenant.

We must sing a "new song!" We can get nostalgic for Jews in their celebratory remembrances of Passover, etc.--in their coming out of Egypt and into covenant with God at Sinai. But Paul made it clear that the Law was purely a foreshadowing of what Christ did on the cross.

We must never cheapen what Christ alone did on the cross. We must never revert back to that which only had a temporary purpose, which could not for all time cleanse of sin, which is what Hebrews said. The only thing that matters now is Christ, who is the sum total of all that the Law foreshadowed. He is all we need. He is eternal life, if we choose him and live for him.

Nowhere in the Scriptures is it taught that Christ's 2nd Coming can take place "at any moment," nor that the Rapture of the Church can take place *today.*

Polls and popular convictions are not Bible doctrines. At one time the popular Christian view was Arianism, which came to be viewed later as a heresy.

I do think that may help in understanding the book of Revelation. But it has nothing to do with helping us predict times and seasons. I trust that's not your concern here?

But you did provide some interesting parallels. Thank you!

The three fall feasts are a prophecy of the second coming of Christ, you are trying to make them be something that has no basis in scripture.

These are not "Jewish feast days" for they tell of Christ and that is not Jewish for the Jews deny that Christ came to earth. The fall feast days are Christian, telling of Jesus.

It is amazing how bits of truth can be twisted until they become untruths! Satan always does this, it was how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. It was true that God provided food and protected man, but not true that Christ should turn stones to bread or jump from a high place.

Passover prophesied Christ, the feast of Shavuot became Pentecost when the law was written on our hearts, The feast of Tabernacles prophesies the new Jerusalem. Not "designed to bring atonement". It is only through Christ that atonement or forgiveness has ever been given.

The Fall Feast of Tabernacles wasn't a prophecy at all. It was a seasonal observance looking forward to the atonement of Christ. It was a "foreshadowing," as Paul put it. You may or may not want to call that a "prophecy," but it certainly wasn't a prophecy of the 2nd Coming.

Perhaps you wish to view the age of mortal mankind before the 2nd Coming as a metaphorical "year," in which the Spring begins the time of planting, and Fall concludes the time of Harvest? That may be legitimate, but I don't see anywhere in the Scriptures where the Apostles referred to the Jewish Feasts as a prophecy of the 2nd Coming?

I don't know how you can refer to the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles as not being "Jewish feast days?" That's precisely what the Bible calls them!

Is everything you don't agree with "Satan?" If so, you're extremely immature! Some things we will simply disagree on because we have different information and see things differently because we come from different backgrounds. Think twice before you call a brother "Satan," if that's what you're doing?

The Bible calls these three gatherings "feasts," and so that's what I call them. There is nothing, that I know of, in the Bible that says the feasts are prophecies, except that we are told the *entire Law," which includes its feasts, refers to Christ. It was all fulfilled at Christ's atonement, because on the cross Jesus said, "It is finished."

The 10th day of the 7th month feast was the Day of Atonement. And so, I say that it was fulfilled on the cross, when Jesus atoned for the sins of the world. I refer all 3 observances of the 7th month as a single feast because the Bible refers to "3 main feasts." The 3rd feast are the 3 observances in the 7th month, and they are grouped as one.

To say that my opinion is "satanic" is about as immature as you can get, brother. Please cease and desist, if you wish to discuss this at all?

Blik he did turn the stones into bread we are the stone not shape by human hands.And that was a challenge from the from the rascal.

Do you thing the fall feast days are about Christ? God wanted the Jews to accept Christ, but did they?

We accept Christ, do you think God wants us to reject celebrating His plan of salvation for us? The feasts give us God's plan of salvation.

I don't see the Feasts giving any kind of plan of Salvation, except that they show God's continuing desire to keep Israel in fellowship with Himself. And in making sacrifices they acknowledge their need for mercy. I suppose that's a "plan of salvation?"

The feasts tells us Christ will come again to judge us and his people will be saved. That is salvation. The feast of Atonement is the day to celebrate that the righteous is saved. Tabernacles is about the new Jerusalem the saved people will live in. It is ALL about salvation.

The kingship of Israel is replaced by the kingship of heaven that Christ brought in. No longer does it require earthly type work like cutting foreskin, in the kingship of heaven God speaks to us through our hearts. Your 'keep Israel" comment does not explain this fact of the Lord.

The problem with that is, the Feasts were not given to us initially, but were given to Israel in the OT era, before they knew much anything about Christian Salvation. What we know now speaks of Christian Salvation. But that was not the initial purpose of the Feasts. They kept Israel in covenant with God, maintaining a fellowship with Him through a temporary system of atonement, through a temporary priesthood, through a temporary temple worship.

Now that the OT system is gone, we can look back and see that it was a stop gap measure, intended to "buy time" until Christ could come and bring permanent salvation to God's People. You have it running in the opposite direction. The understanding came later. The original purpose did not include all of that information.

Whether you agree or not, I believe that the Law was designed to keep Israel in relationship with Himself. That's why the Law--to give Israel the knowledge of righteousness, so that they would know God, fellowship with Him, and not come under judgment by Him.

I agree that circumcision is no longer necessary for Jews. It was never necessary for non-Jews, who weren't under the covenant God had with Israel.

The Kingdom of God has always had an earthly counterpart, through which the Kingdom of heaven operated. It operated through the Davidic kings, and I believe it still operates through Christian nations.

But the eschatological Kingdom of God remains in heaven, and is only "near"--not *here.* Until it actually comes, Christ's heavenly Kingdom operates invisibly, spiritually through whoever on earth are operating by its principles.

People have always been trying to predict the Lords Second Coming.

Today we see those who are desperate to have a pre-trib rapture use the Seasonal Feasts to declare His Coming.

But what did our Lord say about that? Did He tell us to follow the OT Feasts and Seasons?

After HE fulfilled the Will of the Father He said to the Disciples this:

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Why did our Lord say this? Because CHRIST is the fulfilment of ALL the Feasts and Seasons.
Therefore the Father now waits until the Time is Right in His Eyes.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:35

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord [f]is at hand. James 5:7