What Is The Relationship Between The Feast Of Trumpets, Or Rosh Hashanah, And The Rapture Of The Church?
The Seven Feasts of Israel had a particular importance in the timeline of Jesus as He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. Jesus was specifically following a pre determined schedule that would permit Him to die on the exact day the Passover Lamb was sacrificed. Jesus rose from the dead on the exact day the Feast of Firstfruits was observed. Jesus birthed His church on the precise day that the Feast of Pentecost called for.
After a four month “Harvest Period,” observed by the Jews, A trumpet is blown and God’s people gather as one before the Lord during the Feast of Trumpets.
For the Jews, and Israel, Sunday, September 29, 2019 begins the Feast of Trumpets at 6 pm and continue until 6pm on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.
According to astronomical data, the New Moon of September, which is the real determining factor for when The Feast of Trumpets occurs, begins at 9:26 pm in Jerusalem, on Saturday, September 28, 2019. The officially recognized beginning in Israel, will not occur until 6 pm, Sunday, September 29, 2019, and continue until Tuesday evening, October 1, 2019, at 6 pm.
Because Trumpets begins at 9:26 pm, Saturday night and Israel recognizes the beginning of the Feast at 6 pm on Sunday, and this Feast will last during a two day cycle, it is impossible to predict exactly when Jesus might come for the church, if He will come for us this year. “No man knows the day or the hour“
We Mark The True Start Of This Feast Day From Jerusalem, Israel
According to the above astronomical data for the true beginning of the New Moon, the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets will begin at 11:26 am in Los Angeles, on Saturday, September 28, and 2:26 pm in New York, on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
Jesus never said that we will not know when He is coming, He told us that we won’t know the specific day or the hour. When we understand that the time of His arrival will be at different times of the day and even on different days, depending where we are located in the earth, we realize what He was saying. There is no possible way that we can know the precise time or day when He will come.
See The essay that explains why Jesus said: “No man knows the day of the hour.” This is what the Jews called the Feast of Trumpets at that time.
Hear Rob’s Audio Study: “Are You Ready For The Rapture?”
Part 2 Of The Above Study: “The Rapture Of The Church”
This means that Jesus could possibly come anytime during this two day period, if this is the time when He has determined to return. When Jesus fulfilled the other four feasts of Israel, at His first arrival on earth, He fulfilled these on the precise day that the particular feast was called for, and in the precise manner that God determined.
The Beginning Of The Feast Is Determined By Two Witnesses
The way in which the witnesses could mark the beginning of the new moon, was seen in an event that took place just prior to the total blackness of the new moon. Immediately before the moon enters its new phase, a thin sliver of moon is observed along the edge, called “the horns of the moon.”
Once the two witnesses had been thoroughly evaluated for their truthful account of the new moon, the President of the Sanhedrin would announce the beginning of the “Rosh Chodesh,” (new month), with the words: “Sanctified.” Following his proclamation, all the people would answer: Sanctified.”
Because no man knew the day or the hour for the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets, this became its secondary name. When Jesus said: “But of that day and hour no one knows,” this precise process for determining the beginning of this feast was what He had in mind.
It is for this reason that we cannot say precisely, what day or hour that Jesus will return for His church, at the Rapture.
For the Jews, and Israel, Sunday, September 29, 2019 begins the Feast of Trumpets at 6 pm and continue until 6pm on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.
If You Are One Who Is Watching For The Return Of Jesus, This Is A Good Time Of The Year To Watch For His Return
- The Rapture Of The Church
- Is There A Candidate For Antichrist In The World Today?
- Why The Rapture Is Called: “No Man Knows The Day or the Hour”
- Will Jesus Come For Us Now?
- The Book Of Revelation Audio Commentary
- The Rapture Of The Church Audio Study
First of all, I am not setting a date for the return of Jesus, but calling attention to a time when we should be more vigilant to watch for Jesus’ arrival for His church. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the first four Feasts of Israel, on the precise days these events were called for. The fifth Feast is the Feast of Trumpets, which, when we examine all of the evidence that Jesus left for us, gives us credible reasons to believe that He may come for His church during Rosh Hashanah, if He is planning to also fulfill the Feast of Trumpets.
This article examines, in detail, the specific events and requirements of the Seven Feasts, and how Jesus was ordering His life to fulfill each of the first four Feasts of Israel. The only reason that Jesus would do this, is that He was planning to return for His church during the two day window of the Feast of Trumpets.
The Seven Feasts
Certain days of the year play a critical role in the fulfillment of the prophetic word of God. We learn that after 400 years of slavery under pharaoh, the children of Israel departed Egypt on the 15th day of the first month (April). This is the same day that Jesus lay in the tomb after being crucified on the 14th day of the first month, Passover.
On the 10th day of the first month (April), the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river with Joshua and entered the land God had promised them when they departed Egypt. When we arrive at the New Testament, we see that it was also the 10th day of the first month when Jesus came to Jerusalem to announce to the world that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus waited until this day, when on many occasions before, the disciples had urged Him to go to Jerusalem and declare who He was. The Lord has ordained certain days in which He would fulfill His prophetic word.
See The New Book: “The Feast Of Trumpets And The Rapture”
We discover that the day Jesus came into Jerusalem as the Messiah was also the precise day the lamb for Passover was brought for inspection. If the lamb was found to have any defect, he could not be offered to cleanse the people of their sins. Jesus came to Jerusalem as the Messiah on this day. He presented Himself as “The Lamb of God” and allowed the world to inspect Him. Jesus was without sin, perfect in every regard. Being perfect, He was able to offer His life for the sins of the world just four days later, on Passover, when He was crucified as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
As we examine the important Feasts of Israel, we discover that they are really the Feasts of the Lord. These days of observation were extremely important for Israel. It is by the fulfillment of each of these seven feasts that we see the purpose and ministry of Jesus as He came to earth the first time, the second time, and the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning every person.
The Messiah will fulfill all seven Feasts of the Lord.
Old Testament Prediction:
Leviticus 23:1-2 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’ ”
New Testament Fulfillment:
Passover:
Mark 14:1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Jesus by trickery and put Him to death.
Firstfruits:
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Pentecost:
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Four months of Harvest (interval):
John 4:35 Do 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!”
Trumpets:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Atonement (afflict your souls):
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Tabernacles:
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
The Real Purpose Of The Feasts:
The key to understanding these seven feasts is to define who the LORD is, in the term: “The Feast of the LORD.”
When we examine the chapter, Coming as a Shepherd, that concerns Psalm 23, we notice that the LORD (all caps) is called “my shepherd.”
Psalms 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd….”
- In the Old Testament, the term “Lord” in Hebrew is Yahweh.
- In the New Testament, the word “Lord” in Greek is Kyrios.
Kyrios is often used as a polite way to address a person such as when we address a man today as “sir.” It can also mean “master” as in one who rules over a servant or slave. Any person who was able to speak Greek, during the time Jesus was here on the earth, understood that the New Testament word “Lord” was the same as the Old Testament word “Yahweh.” The Lord was understood to be the Creator and Sustainer of all life. There are several places in the New Testament where the translation of Lord as Jehovah is used to describe Jesus Christ. Clearly, the New Testament translators intended that we understand Jesus is the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ (Messiah) the Lord (Yahweh).
“Today, in the city of Bethlehem, the baby that has been born is the Messiah, who is God Himself.” This is why the shepherds were so amazed at the angel’s statement.
With this in mind, we understand that when the Lord told Moses that these seven feasts are the Feasts of the LORD, the reference is to the coming Messiah. Since these are the Messiah’s feasts, we will investigate whether Jesus fulfilled these special events, and confirm whether or not He is the object of the prophecy of Leviticus 23:1-2.
Passover was the first feast God instructed Israel to keep every year, on the fourteenth day of the first month in the Jewish calendar (April). The following day, they were to observe the feast of Unleavened Bread. Then three days later, the feast of First Fruits. Fifty days after this, they were to observe the feast of Pentecost.
There are seven feasts Israel was to observe, from the Book of Leviticus Chapter 23, and each one of these feasts has a counterpart in the prophecies Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament.
The Seven Feasts Of Israel
In the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, the Lord commanded Israel to observe seven feasts or festival days.
- Passover
- Unleavened bread
- First Fruits
- Pentecost
- Trumpets
- Atonement
- Tabernacles
When Jesus came into the world the first time, He perfectly fulfilled the first four of these Feasts on the precise day they should be fulfilled and with the exact requirements that each of these feasts called for. Matthew said, on seventeen occasions, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying.
Matthew 21:4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying…
Jesus understood that He was purposely fulfilling these seven feasts. The question is: Why? What do these feasts of the Lord have to do with Jesus’ appearance on earth and His return at the end of the age?
Jesus fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost perfectly. Why did He stop at Pentecost and not also fulfill Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles?
Remember that Jesus not only fulfilled the first four feasts on the exact day the feast was called for, but He also fulfilled all of the details each feast required. Because of this, I believe that when Jesus returns for His church at the Rapture, He will do so during the next feast after Pentecost—the Feast of Trumpets. It is my opinion that the feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah will be fulfilled by the coming of Jesus for His church.
It is important to understand that the Jewish day begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until 6:00 p.m. the following day. When the Bible states that Passover begins on a particular day, this means that the feast will begin at 6:00 p.m. and continues for seven days, ending at 6:00 p.m. on the seventh day.
We Often Speak Of The Next Major Prophetic Event We Are Watching For As “The Rapture Of The church.”
According to the Hebrew scriptures, the prophecy that will signal the Lord’s return is near is from the prophet Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37.
Ezekiel 36:24 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. (NLT)
After 70 A.D., the Jews of Israel were deported to the nations of the world. For the past 2,000 years, they have remained in exile from their own country, in fulfillment of Jesus prophecy, #13. Before the Rapture and the Tribulation can take place, Israel must be back in their land once again. According to Ezekiel Chapters 36 and 37, in the last days the Jews will return to their own land, in preparation for the seven-year Tribulation. During these final seven years, the nation of Israel will come to a knowledge of their true Messiah.
The prophecy of Israel’s return to their land was fulfilled on May 14, 1948, when Israel became a nation for the first time in two millennia. From that time forward, there were no other prophetic events required before Jesus could return at the Rapture to remove His church from the earth.
The fulfillment of the first four of these feasts are closely linked to the return of Jesus for His church. Jesus fulfilled the first four at His first coming to earth; He will fulfill the last three at His return.
The seven feasts God commanded Israel to observe are found in the Book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 23
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. 3 “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. 4 “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. 5 1. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover. 6 And 2. on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.’ ” 9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, 3. then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. …it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 23
15 4.“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. 17 You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD
23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 5. ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’ ” 26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “Also 6. the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.
33 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 7. ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it.36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. 37 These are the feasts of the LORD .
Exodus Chapter 12 defines the specific details of the Prophecy of the Passover Lamb.
The Lamb Will Be Examined From The 10th To The 14th Day
Exodus 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: “On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Jesus announced His arrival as the Messiah on the 10th of Nisan.
Matthew 21:8-11 …And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
The Lamb Will Be Sacrificed On The 14th Day Of The Month
Exodus 12:6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.
Jesus was crucified on the 14th day of Nisan:
Matthew 26:2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
You Must Take Your Own Lamb
Exodus 12:4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.
Jesus is the Lamb who takes away all our sins:
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
The Lamb Must Be Without Blemish
Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Paul wrote that Jesus is without sin:
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Peter testified that Jesus is without sin:
1 Peter 1:18-19 “…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Jesus claimed to be without sin:
John 8:46 Which of you convicts Me of sin?
The Lamb Is Killed At Twilight
Exodus 12:6 …. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
Jesus was killed at twilight:
Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
The Blood Of The Lamb Must Be On Your House
Exodus 12:7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
You must personally receive Jesus as your Savior:
Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
You Must Eat The Flesh Of The Lamb
Exodus 12:8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Jesus said that we must eat His flesh, if we will be saved:
John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”
The Blood Shall Be For A Sign
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
Jesus’ blood is a sign upon our life that removes all judgment:
1 John 1:7 “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Not One Of The Passover Lamb’s Bones Shall Be Broken
Exodus 12:46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones.
Not one of Jesus’ bones was broken:
John 19:31-35 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
The Feast of Passover
The lamb for the Passover sacrifice is examined on the 10th day of the month of Nisan, the first month in the Hebrew calendar, our month of April (Exodus 12:3). This was the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey—Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 A.D.—to be examined before He would die four days later, on the precise day that Passover Lamb would be sacrificed.
Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem on April 6, 32 A.D. was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy of a command given, followed by 173,880 days, when the Messiah would come to Israel. On March 14, 445 B.C., Artaxerxes gave his decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. The day Jesus rode into Jerusalem was the fulfillment of this prophecy from Daniel Chapter 9. For more on the details of this important prophecy, see Arrival of the Messiah.
According To The Book of Exodus:
- The lamb must be examined for defects on the 10th day (Exodus 12:3).
- The Passover lamb must be a male (Exodus 12:5).
- He must be spotless or perfect (Exodus 12:5). Jesus is perfect, without sin: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
- He must be killed at twilight on the 14th day (Exodus 12:6). This was early evening, the time when Jesus was crucified: And About the ninth hour (3 p.m.) Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” (Matthew 27:46).
- The whole assembly of the congregation shall kill it (Exodus 12:6). The Jews who were gathered before Pilate declared that Jesus’ blood would be upon them: Let His Blood be upon us and our children (Matthew 27:25).
- The blood shall be for a sign (Exodus 12:13). “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
- Not one of His bones shall be broken (Exodus 12:43, 46).
Comparing the text of Exodus, describing the Passover Lamb with the New Testament narrative of Jesus’ fulfillment of Passover:
- Exodus 12:13: When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
- Romans 3:25: …by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.
- Exodus 12:13: The plague shall not be on you to destroy you.
- Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Exodus 12:14: This day shall be to you a memorial.
- Luke 22:19: …And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
The Feast Of Unleavened Bread
This feast begins immediately after Passover (Exodus 12:6).
- Unleavened bread is bread without yeast.
- Yeast is a picture of sin.
- Yeast, even in small amounts, will permeate the whole lump of dough.
- Bread without leaven or yeast will not raise.
- Jesus is The Bread of Life.
- Jesus is without sin/leaven.
- After Jesus was crucified, He lay in the tomb un-raised.
1 Peter 1:18-19 “…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Jesus fulfilled the feast of Unleavened Bread by remaining without sin and not raising from the dead on this day.
The Feast Of Firstfruits
- Firstfruits began exactly 3 days after Passover (Exodus 12:10).
- Jesus died on Passover and then raised to life 3 days later, on the feast of Firstfruits.
- Paul said that when Jesus died and rose, He became the Firstfruits of those who have died believing in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:20 ..But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s.
In Other words:
- When Jesus died, He forever defeated death.
- When Jesus rose from the dead, He would never die again.
- When anyone dies, who has trusted in Jesus for their salvation, they will also be raised to life, never to die again.
Jesus was the Firstfruits (the first to rise from the dead) of all those who will also never to die again. We, in our own order—when Jesus returns for His church—will also rise, never to die again. This means that Jesus also perfectly fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits on the exact day it should be observed.
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He was very specific in telling the disciples that they should wait for the promise of the Father, in Jerusalem. Precisely 50 days after He was resurrected, the disciples were in the upper room, on the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to inhabit every believer.
The Feast Of Pentecost
- 50 days after Passover (Exodus 12:15)
- Jesus fulfills Pentecost by sending the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
- The Church was born on Pentecost (Acts 2).
Examining the narrative of the New Testament, we notice that fifty days after Passover, Jesus birthed His church on the specific day the feast of Pentecost should be observed.
Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, Jesus commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost (Pent=50) had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood before the gathered crowd from many nations. He declared to those who were before him that Joel’s prophecy, that the Holy Spirit would be poured out in the last days, was being fulfilled at that very moment.
Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel…”
The Harvest
From Pentecost until the feast of Trumpets, there is a four-month interval called the harvest (Leviticus 23:22). This is the period of time when Israel would harvest all the crops that have been grown during the summer months. Jesus made reference to this harvest in His statement to the disciples regarding the gathering of believers into the Lord’s church, which Jesus called His harvest.
Matthew 9:37-38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
It is certain that the harvest—between Pentecost and Trumpets—is the same Harvest period Jesus is speaking of here in Matthew Chapter 9. This is the time when the Lord will bring into His Church all those who will be saved. You are saved when you believe that Jesus died for you, and confess with your mouth that He is your Lord and Savior. This “Harvest” is the period of prophetic history we are living in today. We are waiting for the Trumpet to sound and the voice of the Lord to call us to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
When the Harvest is complete, and all those who will come into Jesus’ church is complete, the Feast of Trumpets will occur. At that time Jesus will return for His church, fulfilling the 5th feast of the Lord.
The Feast Of Trumpets
At the end of the summer harvest, when it is time for all of God’s people to be gathered together into one place, they begin this gathering by the blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn), a Trumpet blast.
“…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God…”
The text of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 gives us a vivid description of what will happen at the moment Jesus returns to earth from heaven, to retrieve His church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
In these 6 verses of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul confirms:
- Verse 13: He does not want us to misunderstand the doctrine of the Rapture; this is why he is expounding on the details of what will take place.
- Verse 14: Paul’s explanation includes a description of what has happened to all those who have already died believing in Jesus as their Savior: When Jesus returns, He will bring with Him all those who have already died. It is important to notice that the people who have died have been with Jesus in heaven, not in purgatory or in a soul sleep. The term “those who sleep in Jesus” was a polite way of saying that a loved one had died.
- Verse 15: Those who are alive on the earth at the time Jesus returns will not rise to meet the Lord ahead of those who have died.
- Verse 16: How the Rapture will happen: Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, a likely similarity to the shout given during a traditional Hebrew wedding that signals the coming of the Bridegroom. The shout will be made by one of the archangels such as Michael or Gabriel. The sound of a trumpet or shofar will be heard. The shofar was blown in Israel as a signal for the people to gather together.
- First, those who have already died will rise, in their new bodies, from the grave or wherever they have been placed after death. (We know today that a person’s body can completely be reconstructed from just one cell that contains all of the DNA material necessary to build an entirely new body.)
- Remember, Jesus said He is bringing with Him every person who has died believing in Him. This confirms the scripture: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus is bringing the spirits of all those who have died believing in Him and have been with Him in heaven since their death. These persons will be joined at the Rapture with their new glorified body, being raised first to meet Jesus in the air.
- Verse 17: Finally, those of us who are alive when Jesus returns will also rise to meet the Lord in the air, while we are still alive. We will be transformed from mortal to immortal, receiving a brand-new eternal body, similar to the body Jesus displayed after His resurrection. (A complete description of this new body is given in 1 Corinthians 15) .
- It is important to understand that the living Christians will be transported into the outer atmosphere to meet Jesus. These believers who are alive at the time Jesus returns at the Rapture are a unique group of people who will never taste death. In the same way that Enoch was raptured to meet the Lord while alive.
- Both groups of believers will meet Jesus in the air, in the atmosphere above the earth. The Rapture is not the second coming. The second coming of Jesus will not occur until the end of the seven-year Tribulation, when Jesus returns with His church. (See Revelation Chapter 19)
- The fact that Jesus returns at the end of the seven-year Tribulation with His church is evidence that the Rapture must occur before the Tribulation begins.
- Verse 18: The words of these scriptures are given to us, as Jesus’ church, while waiting for the return of our Lord, for the purpose of bringing us comfort. Paul wrote these words of comfort and encouragement so that we would understand that Jesus can come for us at any moment. He will take us to heaven before the time of God’s wrath, which will be poured out during the seven-year Tribulation.
For a detailed look at the important event called The Rapture, see the book; “These Things Were Written: An Expositional Treatise Of The Life, Death, And Resurrection Of Jesus.”
As the Messiah, Jesus will fulfill the feast of Trumpets at His return for His church. He will fulfill the remaining two feasts after His return.
Jesus Became:
- The Passover Lamb, who is sacrificed on the 14th day of the month, when Passover was observed.
- He lay in the ground, un-raised, to fulfill the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- He rose three days later to fulfill the Feast of Firstfruits.
- Fifty days later, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to birth the church on the Day of Pentecost.
- Jesus said that He was the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). He defined the harvest as the period of time from Pentecost until He returns.
The Questions We Should Ask:
- Was it an accident that Jesus fulfilled each of the first four Feasts on the precise day and in the precise way they should be fulfilled?
- If Jesus purposely fulfilled each of the first four feasts, it is also certain that He will return to fulfill the last three.
After this current harvest period that we are living in today, between the 4th and 5th Feasts, Jesus will return for His church in fulfillment of the 5th feast—Trumpets. It is certainly reasonable that this will be in fulfillment of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
The Feast Of Atonement:
The sixth feast, The Feast (also called Day) of Atonement, will be fulfilled during the seven-year Tribulation period.
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The Feast Of Tabernacles:
The seventh feast will be fulfilled by the establishment of Jesus’ kingdom on the earth for one thousand years.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
The Return Of the Lord
The reality that Jesus purposely sought to fulfill the first four feasts, by His death and resurrection, is a stunning revelation when we consider that the LORD created these feasts, in Leviticus 23:2, designating them as “My feasts” for the purpose of a future fulfillment. Jesus came to earth as the Messiah and displayed His incredible control over time and every event, to ensure that each of the first four feasts were perfectly fulfilled by Him.
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’ ”
Understanding that Jesus used these seven feasts to illustrate His death, resurrection, and return for His church (at the Rapture) is extremely exciting. As we realize that we are now in the Harvest Period—between Pentecost and Trumpets—it is certain that Jesus could return for His church at any moment. Jesus will return to fulfill the fifth feast during the Rapture, when He will take us home to be with Him before the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation begin.
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Categories: Believers Removed before Tribulation, Building the Third Temple, Building the Third Temple, Israel in the Last Days, Jesus Church, Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus, Rapture during Rosh Hashanah, Robert Clifton Robinson, Rosh Hashanah and the Rapture, The Time and Season of Jesus Return, The Tribulation Period, Watching for Jesus return
Robert Clifton Robinson 
Hey, Rob,
I have a question/problem I’d like to ask about, but before I do, just a note about myself so you’ll recognize that my desire is to rightly divide the Word of Truth and be able to put a “thus saith the Lord” behind my understanding of the feasts. I am a dispensational, young earth, pre-trib, KJV, unreformed, conservative Baptist. I hope that concisely and accurately describes my theological grid.
Here’s my question/problem. If Jesus fulfilled the Spring feasts “to the day,” (which He did, of course), why is He not fulfilling the Fall feasts “to the day”? By that, I mean all in the same season, just like He did the first time.
It seems to me if we are going to take prophecy literally (and I do), that a literal fulfillment of the Spring feasts all in the same season requires that the Fall feasts be fulfilled all in the same season.
Have you thought through this? If so, how have you solved this apparent contradiction in fulfillment methodology? I truly hope this question/problem is received in the spirit in which it is asked – not “snarkiness,” but in a genuine desire to have my (and your) iron sharpened.
Dave
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Dave,
You are correct. Jesus fulfilled the first four Feasts on the exact day, and in the precise way they must be fulfilled. I have written many essays on this subject and have a book that is specific to this important topic. The following is an essay that details the seven Feasts of the Lord:
The Prophetic Fulfillment of the Seven Feasts of Israel by Jesus
Blessings!
Rob
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Rob,
Thank you so much for your quick reply. Thanks also for pointing to your excellent article “The Prophetic Fulfillment of the Seven Feasts of Israel by Jesus.” I sincerely hope you won’t consider me rude, though, if I point out you didn’t answer my question. I do appreciate this forum to ask it.
In the article “The Prophetic Fulfillment of the Seven Feasts of Israel by Jesus” you make these statements:
“The Questions We Should Ask:
“1. Was it an accident that Jesus fulfilled each of the first four Feasts, on the precise day and in the precise way that they should be fulfilled?
“2. If He purposely fulfilled each one, then is it not also certain that He return to fulfill that last three?”
I have a third question that should be asked which wasn’t addressed in your reply, nor in the article itself. Here it is: If Jesus fulfilled the Spring feasts successively ‘to the day’ (which He did, of course), why is He not fulfilling the Fall feasts successively ‘to the day’? By that, I mean all in the same season, just like He did the first time.
Dave
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Dave,
Jesus will fulfill the Fall Feasts in the Fall. His return for His church will take place during Rosh Hashanah, Sept-Oct, followed quickly by Atonement, the Tribulation, and seven years later, Tabernacles, the establishment of Jesus’ kingdom when God lives with us.
Why does he have to fulfill all the Fall Feasts in the same year?
There are many prophecies of the Old Testament that have an early and later fulfillment, hundreds of years apart. Isaiah 61 contains this principle. Jesus read from the text and said that He came to fulfill the “acceptable year of the Lord,” but stopped there. He did not read the rest of the text that says, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” This is because at His first arrival He was fulfilling the first part of the sentence, to proclaim the acceptable time for salvation; at His return, He will fulfill the rest of the sentence, the time of God’s judgment.
There is no indication anywhere in the scriptures that it is necessary for God to fulfill most prophetic events, all at the same time. In most cases, He does not do this.
Remember that how the Lord does things is His business; believing them is ours.
Blessings!
Rob
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Rob,
Again, my thanks for the speed of your response. My question was/is ” If Jesus fulfilled the Spring feasts successively ‘to the day’ (which He did, of course), why is He not fulfilling the Fall feasts successively ‘to the day’?” By that, I mean all in the same season, just like He did the first time.
You answered my question with a question: Why does he have to fulfill all the Fall Feasts in the same year?
Let me attempt to answer your question: because He did so in the Spring.
As I attempt to study the Bible, I aim for a consistent hermeneutic, as I am sure you do as well. I believe in the Isaiah 61 gap you mentioned. I also believe that the coming on each side of the gap is literal, and not one literal and one figurative; a consistent application of the prophecy. Of course God can do anything He wants, and I’ll believe it. My problem is not with Him; it is attempting to understand the literal fulfillment of the Fall feasts. My issue seems to be with a consistency in interpretation.
You may not think so at this point, but not only do I want to believe this, I do believe it (at least the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational timeline). I just don’t understand the “thus saith the Lord” behind it.
If the Fall feasts are just as literally fulfilled as the Spring feasts, shouldn’t they all be fulfilled in the same season – just as the first ones were? Or is consistency in this fashion unnecessary. If so, why?
Dave
**NOTE: while I’ve been dialoguing with you about this question, an answer is beginning to formulate in my thinking. Let me write this down, as much for my own benefit, as the benefit of this discussion.
The FIRST coming of the Lord occurred all at one time – therefore, the Spring fulfillments were all at one time. The SECOND coming of the Lord is not all at once; it is actually in two phases (a pre-trib rapture and an end-trib appearance at the Battle of Armageddon). Since these two comings are separated by at least seven years, this means that the Fall fulfillments will also be in phases, and not successive.
If this is so (and I can certainly see that), I’ll need to keep thinking about how The Day of Atonement is fulfilled on the exact day of The Day of Atonement.
Does this also mean that the beginning of The Millennium is going to coincide with commencement of The Feast of Tabernacles?
One more note: if you don’t want to clutter up this section of your blog, but would be amicable to continuing this discussion, please feel free to send me email.
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Great application and superb thoughts Dave! Thank you for sharing your wonderful observations.
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Dear Mr. Robinson,
On September 8, 2018, you were kind enough to post my email wherein I had given witness to Acts 2:17:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall Prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:…”
In my witnessing, I described the two Rapture dreams I had over two distinct periods of my life.
In this new email here, please allow me to share with you a life-changing event which happened to me on February 2, 2020. It pertains to the very next verse (Acts 2:18):
“And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall Prophesy:..”
About five weeks ago, I was taking stock of my prayer life. I could not recall ever praying to Father God to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. I seized the moment and prayed:
“Father,
Please let me be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
In the Name of Lord Jesus Christ”
And then, about three weeks later on Saturday evening, February 2, 2020, about 7 PM, I closed the computer for the night. I went into the kitchen and began to experience a phenomenally powerful sense of love flowing out of me and into me. My sense of “self” was not present. I felt so vividly alive, feeling actually ‘real’! I felt the Love of God. And I felt the Love for God. I felt “in one” with Creation. The love flooding out from me was ever so real, vibrant, unmistakable. And I was conscious of the love pouring from me.
I had also a sense of “everlasting-ness” and assurance and peacefulness. The magnitude, the completeness, and the saturation of this Love was pure joy. I knew then and there that this Love is that “touchdown” or “home-run” that we seek.
This was intense! While the event was about three minutes, I remember hugging my cat who was on the kitchen counter. I then went onto the back porch and saw the maple tree and backyard vegetation, and the sky, and had the thought of the permanence of God and His Creation. At this moment I had a pronounced sense of unity in fellowship.
The event subsided and I realized that something special had verily happened. I am still trying to wrap my mind around the enormous implications of this event. God is alive and present. The Word of God is real and true. As I couple this event with my Rapture dreams, I sit here thanking God. Please ponder the word “flabbergasted” because that is how I feel.
I am 65 years old and never had this event before.
I am witness to Acts 2:18.
Sincerely,
Steve Rodak
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Thank you Steve for sharing your incredible experience.
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Excellent and so glad so many know this! Seems to me that Feast of Trumpets has to be the season but again, we shall see. It is what I believe for sure.
I too was watching and hoping for this year. In His perfect timing!
Revelation 3:3 says that if we don’t watch we won’t know the hour. This infers that if we do watch, we will know the hour! Woohoo!
No one knows when that hour will be but when it does approach, obviously those who are watching will see it coming! What a promise.
Part of watching is knowing His word and being approved because of your study. Watch and pray…
In Christ,
Cheryl Arnold
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Good day. Today is the 30 September 2019. The time is now about 12:30pm in South Africa. Today is the Jewish New Year. Creation of the first day. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The feast of the Trumpets. My name is Daniel. I agree 100% with Pastor Rob layout of the rapture. We are waiting for the coming of our Lord. Be ready. Blessings.
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Agreed! Seems to me it has to be Feast of Trumpets. The 7 Feasts describe every prophetic event in great detail and have happened on the exact day and Pentecost was last fulfilled day.
Maybe next year!
Revelation 3:3 Jesus tells us to watch. If we don’t watch we won’t know but if we do watch we will know the hour.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
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Rob, my name is Lee Silber I am a jewish believer in Jesus , as were Peter, Paul, James, John, I read above in the comments, that Ola said Jesus will take her;& his saved believers (us), in the rapture September 30 at 7:20 am eastern standard time, Ola’s time, and my time; as I live in Florida City, Fl. I believe it, our saviour and Lord will take us Rob too heaven in the rapture 7:20 am Monday September 30, Rosh Hashanah, if you agree that Monday 7;20 am you, me, born again saved believers in Christ, will guaranteed be in heaven Monday September 30, 7:20 am in the rapture Rob contact me leesilber6@gmail.com 786-728-7589, Jesus bless you and your family now and when the rapture happens supremely Lee!!!!!!!!!!
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Hello Lee,
I share the excitement with you over our Lord’s return. However, we cannot know the specific day or hour when that event will take place. Every person who has sought to predict a specific day or hour in the past has been wrong. It is a good idea to watch and wait and understand that very likely Jesus will come during the two day Feast of Trumpets, but we cannot know exactly when in those two days.
Also, this is my 44th year watching for Jesus to come for us. It is important to not lose this excitement if this is not the year He has chosen to come for us. We must wait and watch until the very end of our life and always believe He could come for us at any moment.
Maranatha!
Rob
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I was very disappointed when the Feast of Trumpets passed and Jesus didn’t return, But then I came across the You Tube video ” The October Surprise” which proved that the Jewish people have the feast a whole month too early. The actual feast day should be Oct 10th or there about. Sooooo.. ,Sit tight there is still hope that we will be leaving in 2018 after all.!! God Bless. Even so come Lord Jesus.
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I understand your disappointment Bernie, but remember, Jesus is coming again. We don’t know when, but we know He cannot lie and when everything is ready, Jesus will not delay.
The Feast Of Trumpets is the best candidate for the return of the Lord. If not this year, perhaps next year.
It is also possible we may have the whole thing wrong and He will come on a day no one expects.
It’s best to be ready everyday.
Maranatha!
Rob
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I too believe the Rapture is the fullfilment of the Feast Of Trumpets and that is not setting a “date” there have been 2018 so far, hope it’s this one..I haven’t sold my stuff and put on an assension robe and sat on the roof. Funny how some are huh.
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I greatly appreciate you brides of Christ for this article. It’s the real truth for whoever believes and trust in the Lord God. I encourage my other brothers to re-read the article alongside their bibles.
Please be blessed.
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Dear Mr. Robinson:
Your essay is excellent! I believe my discovery of your article today, September 8, 2018 is more than a coincidence. I feel compelled to offer my testimony on your site, and so here it is:
I need to reference Acts 2:17: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall Prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:…”
I am 64 years old. Circa 1985 when I was about 30, my spirituality was still very dormant. I had never read the Bible back then, had no idea of End Time eschatology, and did not know the difference between the Old and New Testaments. I had a distant understanding of Lord Jesus Christ. I had a foggy knowledge of where Jerusalem was on the map.
Yet, in 1985, I had a vivid Rapture dream, in crystal detail, in technicolor. To this very day, it remains burned in my conscious mind. I saw in the dream rivers of humanity flowing toward a brilliant source of light. In the blueness of the sky, I was bouncing on a pogostick, joyfully saying “Let’s see how high I can bounce!”
Fast forward now to this past February 4, 2018. I had a second Rapture dream, equally clear, detailed, and in technicolor. As I stood atop a Ferris wheel in my backyard, I felt the Power of God as He pulled His Creation from earth. I felt the tug as I watched everything vaporizing in a whirlwind. And I clearly remember me saying, “Lord, please take me too!”
I have had countless number of dreams during my lifetime, yet I find it curious that these two Rapture dreams stand out over two different developmental stages of my life.
Thank you for listening. I believe my experience is testimony of Acts 2:17.
Sincerely,
Steve Rodak
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Thank you Steve for your heartfelt comments and testimony. I sincerely enjoyed reading your words.
If our Lord comes soon, I look forward to meeting you as we are all gathered together.
I would be interested to hear your salvation experience and how it happened.
Blessings,
Rob
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This is Bobbie Costar’s Rapture dream. She’s posted it on Youtube:
“When I was around 15 years of age the Lord came to me and told me I would not see the age of 50. Well I thought I guess I will die before I turn 50. Okay I have years so no problem. I thought about it here and there throughout my lifetime but I had years to go.
As I was raising my children I thought about it and thought ,well they will be grown and be able to live without me. Right after that I was given a dream. In this dream an angel came to me in a kitchen I had never seen. He asked me if I wanted the things of this world or the things of God.
I in return said this world has nothing to offer me. The Angel then replied and told me that when the horn blows be ready. The Angel left me and the horn blew then I was taken. I knew then I would be raptured instead of dying before I turned 50. April of this year I was given another dream.
This time it was Emmanuel “God with us” he called me. The Lord said that he had a very expensive gift for me but it wasn’t here yet. I awoke and asked him what he meant by the dream. The Lord came to me through the day in bits and pieces.
The first time he came he asked me ” What do you get for your birthday?” Gifts. He went quiet. Then later in the day he came again and said ” What is the most expensive gift I could give to you?” Well you dying on the cross was priceless. He said, But I have done that. “What else could I give you?” I said that the rapture would be priceless as well.
The Lord went quiet again. He came again later in the day, but this time he proclaimed ” BEFORE TWILIGHT OF YOUR BIRTHDAY I AM COMING FOR MY BRIDE!” Okay now my birthday is just another day to me. If I’m lucky my kids might take me to dinner or I will get a birthday phone call. So I asked the Lord what’s so important about my birthday?
The Lord told me to look it up. So I did. To my surprise my birthday is on the day of FEASTS OF TRUMPETS. September 30th at 10:36 in the morning after twilight. This will also be my 50th birthday and I have moved to the house with the kitchen in my rapture dream…”
This is OLA ILORI’S timeline analysis:
9:00 AM in Jerusalem on the 30th of September 2019 is 1:00 AM where Bobbie lives in the United States.
12:00 Noon in Jerusalem on the 30th of September 2019 is 4:00 AM where she lives.
3:00 PM in Jerusalem on the 30th of September 2019 is 7:00 AM where she lives.
Bobbie was told that: “BEFORE TWILIGHT OF YOUR BIRTHDAY I AM COMING FOR MY BRIDE”
On Bobbie’s birthday, twilight, is at 7:20 AM in the morning.
Based on the above information we should be expecting the Rapture to occur, either in the morning [9:00 AM], or at 12 Noon, or in the evening [3:00 PM] according to Jerusalem’s time, on Monday the 30th of September, 2019!
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Maranatha Come Lord Jesus!!!! I loved your article. Let’s look up our redemption draws nigh!
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Thank you Tracy, I am also excited to see what the next two days may bring…
I just wrote a new article you may be interested in, called “Will Jesus Come For Us Now?”
At this link:
Blessings,
Rob
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well said brother. New moon of september 9th is definitely a high watch day. The feast of Yom Teruah is definitely a day of shout, trumpet by definition and the next fulfillment of the feast days of Yahweh. I have been watching for the past 7 years and i can confidently say the feast of trumpets is our day of concealment (new moon). right after that the peace deal will be signed and the man of perdition introduced. Yahshua said His people will know His coming. I pray for those who speak ill of people who prophecy, study the Word and look forward to His coming because this is what we all are supposed to do. I am not gonna refer to any bible verses for my statements as those who read this comment very well knows what i am talking about. The sacrifice made and free gift to salvation given. It’s now your choice !! Shalom Elechim
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Thank you, this was very helpful. I hope it’ll be this year! Personally, I think being 70 years from the official reinstatement of Israel makes this year a highly likely candidate… although I won’t get too bent out of shape if we have to wait longer.
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I agree, the events in Israel and the condition of hearts all over the world make this year especially exciting for the coming of our Lord. I wait in hope along with you.
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What about the son of perdition? I thought he showed up first along with the great apostasy before Jesus shows up for His Bride.
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Before Jesus comes for His church, Paul wrote that many will turn away from Jesus (apostasia). This will happen in the years before the rapture. Jesus said that when He comes for His church, “will I even find faith?”
Paul wrote to Titus and said that as Jesus’ church, we are waiting for the “Glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” not the appearance of the antichrist.
The seven year Tribulation is a time of Jesus’ wrath upon the earth. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians that those who have placed their trust in Jesus “are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation.”
It is a false doctrine that the church must be purified by the judgements of the seven year Tribulation. Jesus’ death for us on the cross, took away all our sins and made us perfectly ready for heaven. There is no additional work that any believer needs to do to add to what Jesus has already done for us. Paul wrote in Colossians that “we are complete in Christ.”
This false doctrine that states that we must be purified before Jesus comes for us, is a distortion of the Grace of God, insinuating that Jesus’ death was not sufficient. It is a lie. Every believer will depart this earth before the Tribulation begins, because Jesus’ death for us has made is ready for heaven.
For this reason, those who love Jesus, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, will be taken out of the world, before the antichrist, the “son of perdition,” is revealed. After Jesus removes us, the Holy Spirit will allow the antichrist to make his entrance into the world. He will sign a peace plan between Israel and the surrounding nations for seven years. At the mid-point of the seven years, the antichrist will enter the newly built temple and proclaim that he is God, commanding the world to worship him.
This event is called by Jesus and Daniel as the “abomination of desolation.” It will begin Revelation chapter 6:3, the opening of the seven seals, and continue with the seven trumpets, and the seven bowl judgments, up till Revelation chapter 18. These plagues upon the world will last for 1,260 days. During this time, 2/3rds of the people on earth will die by these 21 judgments from the Lord Jesus.
At the end of the seven years, Jesus will return with those He removed before the seven year Tribulation began, and start His 1,000 year kingdom. During that time, the devil, the antichrist, and all those who worship him, will be held in the center of the earth.
Thanks for asking a great question. Hope my answer helps.
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Excellent article. No date setting – just Biblical facts. I now want to study these feasts more in depth. Thank you for this very enlightening lesson.
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Thank you Mary for taking time to make your comment.
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I was really enjoying this site until I found this “rapture date setting blurb”. Very disappointed to see that you have joined the long list of gullibles bent on making a mockery of God and His people by date setting the rapture. Should we all sell up now? Have you sold or given away all your possessions and chosen the perfect geographical position for a glorious lift off? What a crying shame. Just do us a favor, if your wrong, apologise when your lift off date expires and try now to do what all other date setters before you have done. That is, make excuses and set another date, then repeat the process when the reviewed date fails.
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Dear Wayne,
It is regrettable that you didn’t read the article. If you had you would see that I did not set a date for the return of Jesus for His church. In all of my 31 books and 1,550 articles, I never set a date for the return of Christ for His church.
A few points to consider:
1. We do know the exact date for the return of Jesus with His church at the end of the seven year tribulation; 1260 days after the “abomination of desolation,” described by Jesus.
2. We do know that Gabriel gave Daniel the precise day that the Messiah would come to earth the first time.
You can read this article about the first arrival of Messiah HERE
Rapture: Time of Jesus’ arrival for His church is unknown. We can know the “times and the seasons.” Jesus scolded the Pharisees for not recognizing the times and seasons of His first arrival, in fulfillment of Daniel 9.
Second Coming: Time of Jesus’ arrival with His church, will be at the end of the 1,260 days from the Abomination of Desolation, that occurs at the midway point of the seven-year Tribulation.
These clear differences between the Lord’s two appearances in the last days makes it certain that there are two separate returns of Jesus. One, in which the timing is unknown that will take place in “the air,” at the Rapture. The second, a physical return with His church, at the end of the seven years described by Daniel as the 70th week of Daniel, and by Jesus as the “Great Tribulation.”
The Rapture will happen in close proximity to the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation.
Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
The Second Coming will occur a time certain—at the end of the seven-year tribulation (1,260 days from the Abomination of Desolation).
1. Abomination of Desolation, mid-way in the seven year peace plan.
2. Add 1,260 days to determine the end of the Great Tribulation.
3. Add 30 days for the Judgment of the Nations by Jesus.
4. At 1,290 days, the Millennium kingdom of the Messiah begins.
When the Abomination of Desolation is announced at Jerusalem, the Great Tribulation begins. Start counting: 1,260 days later, Jesus returns to earth at the Mount of Olives, with His church.
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)…
Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
The return of Jesus with His church at the end of the 1,260 days.
Revelation 19:11-16 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The 30-day period, when Jesus judges the nations to determine the nations which will be permitted to enter into the Kingdom age of the Messiah
Matthew 25:31-32 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
When Jesus returns at the end of the seven-year Tribulation, this is when the Battle of Armageddon will occur.
Revelation 16:16 And they gathered them (The massive army) together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
I am curious if you believe the doctrine of the Harpazo? (Rapture) from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
There are two links near the beginning of this article to specific articles for the Rapture, whether it is taught in the New Testament, and why Jesus referred to this time as “no man knows the day or the hour.” I will place these links here:
The Rapture
“No man knows the day or the hour”
Rob
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We will never know, ever. It is now 6:35 AM on October 1st, the rapture didn’t happen…..so now what?
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This is my 44th year watching for the return of Jesus. Back in the 70’s we really thought that Jesus would come for us then. We learned that He will come when everything is ready. Jesus does not mark time by days and years, He marks it by grace and mercy. Peter wrote that the Lord is waiting for people to get saved, this is why it seems His return seems to take longer than we expected.
If Jesus had come in the 70’s as we imagined then, many people would not be saved today. It is because the Lord is so loving and patient that He waits for those who still need salvation.
Our task is to watch and wait for His return and do the work He called us to; to tell everyone about Jesus and what He has done. To tell them that He wants them to be saved and this is why He has not come yet.
Jesus came the first time; He will come again as He promised. He cannot lie and so we must continue to trust Him.
Do not be disappointed. The Lord has given us more time to live for Him and tell others about Him. For this we will be grateful, and continue to watch for His return.
I do believe that we are very close to His return, by all the events that are now taking place. I still believe that the Feast of Trumpets is likely the correct time for His return. As I have written in several articles and books, we do not know the time for certain. All we can do is study, watch and wait.
Be blessed friend our Lord is faithful and He will will come again. Continue to watch and don’t lose your excitement or be discouraged. One of these days you and I will meet Him in the air and then we will always be with the Lord!
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“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that the end is near, right at the door.”
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Here’s what funny. Tell me in one place where God tells us not to set dates? In fact, we are told to be on high alert when we see that day approaching. What day? It seems like Paul is date setting without mentioning the specific day. Or does he tell us? The Last Trump is only blown on the Feast of Trumpets. I guess that make Paul a date setter. “No one knows the day or hour”, “Last Trump”, “10 virgins”, “the thief in the night”, “The Day of Concealment”, “The Messiah’s Wedding”, and “The Twinkling of an Eye” are all idioms for the Feast of Trumpets. Remember, Jesus speaks in parables to hide things from the wicked. Don’t be one of the foolish virgins otherwise He will come at a time when you don’t expect. He says if you aren’t watching He will come at an hour you do not expect, therefore if you are watching He won’t. Is Jesus a liar? Not at all. Many lack understanding yet are the first to give their opinion. Proverbs 18:13 “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”
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