Rabbinical Teaching -vs- Scriptures
Many in the Body of Christ were anticipating the 1 Thessalonians 4:16 catching away this past Feast of Trumpets, including me. Thankfully, the watchmen have not stopped searching the Scriptures and further study by the guys at Unsealed revealed that our assumption of a Feast of Trumpets rapture was influenced by rabbinical teachings.
What do I mean?
Well, in a sense, every feast is a feast of trumpets because there is blowing of trumpets at all the seven festivals. If you read Leviticus 23 you will see that God never said that the shofar had to be blown specifically 100 times during Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets)—it is a manmade tradition:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. - Leviticus 23:23-24 KJV
So that throws out what I was taught that the 100th shofar blast was THEE last trump. Yes, ‘the last trump’ is an idiom that refers to Rosh Hashanah but it is NOT God’s last trumpet or “the trump of God” referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: - 1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV
2017 was the first time Jews collectively celebrated the Jubilee since before Christ. |
The Jubilee
Numbers 10:10 describes how chatsotsrah (man-made
trumpets) were blown over all of the offerings and sacrifices made on the moedim, thus in a certain sense every moed is a "Feast of Trumpets". Since
Tabernacles is the last appointment, you could make an argument that it is the
time of the last trumpet. However, the chatsotsrah is not the
trumpet of God and these trumpets are only blown over sacrifices and offerings
- they are not a general call to the people.
Is the trumpet of God ever sounded on a moed? Yes, and in fact it's the appointment that has been most overlooked as a template for the rapture: the Day of Atonement. According to Leviticus 25:9, the shophar is sounded "throughout all the land" on the Day of Atonement announcing the Year of Jubilee. In the Torah itself only one moed is explicitly identified with the trumpet and it's Atonement - and only on the Year of Jubilee. Thus at the end of every Jubilee cycle the shophar is blown throughout all the land announcing the Jubilee year.
Is the trumpet of God ever sounded on a moed? Yes, and in fact it's the appointment that has been most overlooked as a template for the rapture: the Day of Atonement. According to Leviticus 25:9, the shophar is sounded "throughout all the land" on the Day of Atonement announcing the Year of Jubilee. In the Torah itself only one moed is explicitly identified with the trumpet and it's Atonement - and only on the Year of Jubilee. Thus at the end of every Jubilee cycle the shophar is blown throughout all the land announcing the Jubilee year.
. .
. Remember that according to Leviticus 23:27, the Day of
Atonement is not only a moed, but also a miqra - a sacred assembly. God's people are
gathered together. And guess what else is significant about Atonement?
It is the only day of the year when mankind has access to the Holy of
Holies, which is why Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day in Judaism.
. .
. It has long been thought that Christ's visible second coming would occur on
the Day of Atonement, but based on this additional evidence, perhaps the
rapture will occur on that day, as well. As the only day when Heaven is opened, it could be the day
the Church enters Heaven and also the day Christ and the Church return from Heaven. The Day of Atonement might then be a template and
encapsulate the entire Tribulation period - the Day of the LORD. [Highlighting
added.] Putting
the Pieces Together/Unsealed.org
The Overlooked Appointment section of the above Unsealed
article gives a summary of points in favor of a Yom Kippur rapture and also
gives evidence that this weekend’s Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement could mark the
Jubilee!
Bible Prophecy Girl made
a strong point about the Jubilee emphasizing two scriptures:
In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom it was bought, the one whose land it was.
Leviticus 27:24
For we are co-workers in God’s service;
you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9
Feast of Tabernacles
As I
wrote beforehand, every feast includes the blowing of a trumpet. Unsealed
points out that it is uncertain whether Psalm 81:3 pertains to Passover or
Tabernacles:
Blow up the trumpet in the new
moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. - Psalm 81:3 KJV
If
instead this verse speaks about Tabernacles, then you might be able to argue
that Tabernacles is actually the last trumpet.
Tabernacles has always been one of the "big three" moed to watch in regards to the rapture, along with Yom Teruah and Pentecost. Here is further study on why Tabernacles might fit. Putting the Pieces Together/Unsealed.org
Tabernacles has always been one of the "big three" moed to watch in regards to the rapture, along with Yom Teruah and Pentecost. Here is further study on why Tabernacles might fit. Putting the Pieces Together/Unsealed.org
Rapture not on a Moed?
Over
the years I have gone back and forth as far as whether the rapture had to be on
an appointed festival or not. Gary of Unsealed states that the rapture does not
have to be on a moed
since Jesus’ ascension was not on one of the moedim. The point is, of
course, we should not turn back like Lot's wife
but stay on our watch!
The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. - 2
Peter 3:9-10 KJV
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that
ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace,
without spot, and blameless. - 2 Peter 3:14 KJV
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye
know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error
of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and [in] the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and
for ever. Amen. - 2 Peter 3:17-18 KJV
Caveat: I do not necessarily agree
with all the beliefs of anyone whose material I reference. I seek to be led of
the Spirit of God as to the sources I use, however, even Spirit-filled
Christians only 'see in part' as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:12.