THE FEASTS OF THE LORD (part 2)

THE
FEASTS OF THE LORD (part 2)

In
part 1 we covered the first four spring feasts, Passover, Unleavened
Bread, and First Fruits, these 3 were all tied together closely, then
were followed 50 days later by Pentecost. As we noted Jesus fulfilled
these first three by His death, burial, and resurrection, and of
course Pentecost was fulfilled when the new group of followers of
Jesus were baptised in the Holy Spirit as recorded in (Acts 2:1-4)

In
this second part we will look at the three fall feasts 5/ Feast of
Trumpets (Rosh Hoshanna), 6/ Day of Atonement, 7/ Feast of
Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths. These all fall in
late Sept or early Oct according to our calendar. In part 1 we
mentioned that these feasts were given to God's chosen nation of
Israel, and they correspond exactly to the seven stages of spiritual
growth we go through on our way to spiritual maturity. The Christian
life is progressive. It starts with the forgiveness of our sin, by
accepting Jesus as our Savior, as we saw accomplished in our looking
at the real meaning of the four spring feasts. It progresses from
this "new birth", all the way to a "glorious
perfection"!

In
the OT the Feast of Trumpets were sounded to prepare His people for
what was going to happen in the days ahead. Trumpets were always used
to get their attention. In the NT times in which we live, the message
should be the same, prepare for the spiritual battles and conquests
that lie ahead of us as we prepare for the second coming of Jesus.
Because of certain teaching that Jesus could come at "any
moment" to "catch away" the church in a
"Pretribulation Rapture", the church, by and large, are not
preparing themselves for what is ahead of us. Every time the Holy
Spirit starts to move towards drawing His people into a closer
relationship with Jesus, all they can think of is that the rapture
must by near at hand. Some people even teach that this Feast of
Trumpets will be the rapture, instead of pressing on to a fuller life
of holiness and surrender. (1 Peter 1:13), (Phil 3:12-215), (Heb
6:1-3).

Next
comes the Day of Atonement, which was a picture of the purifying
process by which God is getting His Church ready to become the Bride
for His Son. This will require a certain amount of suffering. (1
Peter 4:12-17). This suffering for refinement is a preparation for
a great revelation of God's glory to us and in us! The Feast of
Tabernacles is the final and most joyous of all the seven Feasts,
when they celebrated the full harvest. Pentecost was a celebration of
the early harvest of grain like barley, but Tabernacles comes only
after all the crops were safely gathered into their barns. For
believing followers of Jesus in these last days we should look
forward to the fulfillment of these fall feasts with great
anticipation, knowing they are meant to prepare us for the glorious
appearing of our Lord in the clouds! (Acts 1:9-11)

This
is only a very brief description of these "Feasts of the Lord"
and an outline of how they were a picture of the process of our
growth to spiritual maturity. I trust it might create a hunger in all
of us who claim to be followers of Jesus, to press on to know Him
better, so we will be ready! (1 John 3:2)

The
new birth is only a beginning; Pentecost, or the baptism with the
Holy Spirit, is not the end as some people teach; but we need to
prepare for the glory that is soon to be revealed. As Paul exhorted
in (Rom 2:7) "He will give eternal life to those who keep
on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that
God offers" (NLT)

Sincerely
submitted.

Dave
Jamer