The Fall Feasts (Part 1) - Sounding the Alarm to Return, Repent, and Rejoice!
by Messianic Pastor Lita Theodos
God is sounding the alarm for His bride, the church to make herself ready for her Bridegrooms’ return. Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah is our Bridegroom and the wedding of the Lamb is fast approaching. Are we ready? Over the last 2,000 years the church has gotten away from its’ Jewish roots. It has lost sight of its’ original Jewish customs and celebrations that clearly reflect how Christ’s bride can make herself ready.
Israel and the church are connected. As we approach the end of the church age the Lord is once again moving among His ancient people (Luke 21:24). Time is short! The church needs to have a love and appreciation for the Jewish people because God allowed Israel to be hardened in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come (Romans 11:25-26). In order for the church to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, have a heart for Israel, witness and intercede for the Jewish people it must have knowledge of its’ Jewish heritage.
God instituted the Feasts so that we would not only remember the miracles that He did for us but also understand prophesy unfolding so His bride could make herself ready for her Bridegroom’s return. Just as a bride and groom desire to know each others heritage, they also bring the richness of that heritage into the wedding ceremony and marriage. It is important for the church to do the same.
The Feasts clearly point to our Messiah, His character and His love for us. There are seven major Feasts.
Each one has a prophetic meaning and together reflect God’s plan for salvation and redemption. In this article and the one following next week we will discuss the Fall Feasts or the High Holy Days as the Jewish community refers to them.
God is sounding the alarm for His bride, the church to make herself ready for her Bridegrooms’ return. Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah is our Bridegroom and the wedding of the Lamb is fast approaching. Are we ready? Over the last 2,000 years the church has gotten away from its’ Jewish roots. It has lost sight of its’ original Jewish customs and celebrations that clearly reflect how Christ’s bride can make herself ready.
Israel and the church are connected. As we approach the end of the church age the Lord is once again moving among His ancient people (Luke 21:24). Time is short! The church needs to have a love and appreciation for the Jewish people because God allowed Israel to be hardened in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come (Romans 11:25-26). In order for the church to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, have a heart for Israel, witness and intercede for the Jewish people it must have knowledge of its’ Jewish heritage.
God instituted the Feasts so that we would not only remember the miracles that He did for us but also understand prophesy unfolding so His bride could make herself ready for her Bridegroom’s return. Just as a bride and groom desire to know each others heritage, they also bring the richness of that heritage into the wedding ceremony and marriage. It is important for the church to do the same.
The Feasts clearly point to our Messiah, His character and His love for us. There are seven major Feasts.
Each one has a prophetic meaning and together reflect God’s plan for salvation and redemption. In this article and the one following next week we will discuss the Fall Feasts or the High Holy Days as the Jewish community refers to them.
Reverend Lita Theodos is a Jewish believer and is the founder and director of Living Waters Ministries, a Messianic, worship dance, teaching and healing ministry. She co-pastors with her husband, Kerry who is Greek and together as Jew & Greek they represent the “One New Man”. They have a Training & Resource Center in Belleville, NJ where they have teachings and offer a wide selection of Messianic and worship resources. Beginning Sat., Nov. 1, 2014 they will be starting a Messianic fellowship and Torah bible study (1st & 3rd Thursday evenings) etc. in Newark, NJ. Call (973) 661-5217 (sorry, no texting) or email livingwatersmin@msn.com for schedule of services, events, directions, and other information.
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The Fall Feasts are a great time of preparation, a time to reevaluate your walk with God, your priorities etc. God is saying through them to return to God, repent of your sins and to rejoice in your salvation. The first Fall Feast is known biblically as the Feast of Trumpets or the Day of Blowing the shofar (Yom Teru’ah) and traditionally as Rosh HaShanah (meaning Head or Beginning of the Year) which is the civil Jewish New Year. It will begin sundown Wed., September 24th through sundown Fri., September 26th. This is the beginning of Tishri, the seventh month according to the Jewish biblical calendar or the first month according to the civil calendar. Traditionally, the observance will last for 2 days.
The main theme of this Feast is to stop what you are doing, re-examine your walk with God, return to Him humbling yourself and repenting of any sins. In Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6 the Israelites were commanded to gather for worship, not to work and to blow trumpets on this day. Trumpets or the shofar (ram’s horn) have a special significance in the Bible. In Leviticus 25:8-10, during the Feast of Trumpets, the blowing of the shofar ushered in the Jubilee (Sabbath) Year, a time of great celebration and restoration when liberty was proclaimed throughout the land. Trumpets were also used to remind the people to be obedient to God, bring the community together and to break camp as God commanded to Moses in Numbers 10. In addition, they were used at festivals of rejoicing and as illustrated in the story of Joshua at Jericho when going into battle. The most important and extremely powerful use of the trumpets is to usher in God’s presence. Exodus 19 describes how the trumpet was sounded to announce God’s presence to the community of Israelites at Mount Sinai after God met with Moses. It states that there was a loud trumpet blast causing everyone in the camp to tremble. |
The ram’s horn has been special to God ever since Abraham’s son Isaac was spared from dying when a ram was caught in the thicket by it’s horns. This ram was used as a substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac because of Abraham’s trust in God’s promises (Genesis 22). Therefore, when we heed the call of the shofar in our lives, trust God, turn from anything that would hinder our walk, allowing Jesus, the Horn of our Salvation, to catch us with His sacrificial love we will have victory as well as joy knowing that our Lord is sovereign, working all things out in our lives for His good (Romans 8:28). Then we will truly sense God’s presence in our lives.
In the last days the shofar is associated with the Rapture. When the great shofar sounds regathering the believers and announcing the Lord’s return, the dead shall rise first, then the living believers to meet Jesus in the clouds (1Thessolonians 4:16-17).
Prophetically, The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of the end of the church age and the coming of the Lord. Will you heed the sound of the shofar in your life? God is calling His bride to stop her ungodly ways and return to Him, her first love, for the wedding of the Lamb is soon approaching!
In the last days the shofar is associated with the Rapture. When the great shofar sounds regathering the believers and announcing the Lord’s return, the dead shall rise first, then the living believers to meet Jesus in the clouds (1Thessolonians 4:16-17).
Prophetically, The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of the end of the church age and the coming of the Lord. Will you heed the sound of the shofar in your life? God is calling His bride to stop her ungodly ways and return to Him, her first love, for the wedding of the Lamb is soon approaching!