Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Feast of Trumpets 2017


Feast of Trumpets 2017                             September 21, 2017 

A Day of blowing of trumpets – play the sound 

Israel’s festival cycle runs with the agricultural year in the land and as we approach the end of the season, along with the harvest, of course, grow the tares, which are weeds that look like wheat, but have no fruit.  The end of the season will happen with the sounding of the shofar (trumpet) blast on Rosh HaShana (the civil New Year) or Yom Terurah (Feast of Trumpets) which occurs on the same day. 

On this day the high priest was to blow a trumpet. Not just an ordinary trumpet, but a special one made out of a large ram's horn. It was called a shofar. You could not play a tune on it; all it could do was giving out one piercing blast. 

Shofar: hollowed-out curved ram’s horn trumpet, signified a warning, an alarm of war   

Spiritually, as we wait, the harvest continues to mature and made up of wheat and the tares.   

Matthew 13:29-30 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." 

As we mature, we will know the difference when the final harvest comes. 

Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him. 

The wheat heads will be heavy and bowed low with their goodness and blessing; the empty heads of the tares will be lifted high.

Today evil people are becoming more and more evil while the Saints grow in grace and knowledge and bow before our Creator God. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 

Do we realize that when the trumpet sounds it will be too late for change.  The last trumpet will bring an end to this creation or age and warfare will come.  The Lord Jesus will receive His crown when the Seventh Trumpet sounds and with it, all the authority in the universe.   

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 

Jesus return will not be welcomed by the armies and the leaders of this world. In fact, the coming of Christ is accompanied by a time of war. The  "kingdom of the world" will not willingly yield to nor submit to Jesus Christ and Jesus will have to make war. 

Revelation 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 

The Feast of Trumpets foreshadowed certain aspects of the ministry of Jesus Christ, one aspect is the blowing of trumpets to the future Day of Judgment.  

Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 

Joel goes on to describe the firestorms of nuclear war (verses 2-10) erupting on the earth, like we mention last time. 

Jesus our Lord will return to the earth,  

1 Thessalonians 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 

Jesus literally touching down on the Mount of Olives across from the Temple Mound in Jerusalem. He will instantly destroy all the armies gathered to fight at the Jezreel Valley in what is referred to as the “Battle of Armageddon.” 

Zechariah 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. 

All will bend a knee to Jesus, our Messiah 

Romans 14:11 For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD." 

The last trumpet have not sounded yet, so we are blessed with a time of growing and maturing and still able to repent and ask for forgiveness, still bear fruit.  Once the trumpet sounds, we will be changed to Spirit. 

Before we go any further, we observe the Feast of Trumpets because God clearly commands us to: 

Leviticus 23:23-24 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (24) "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: '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. 

Convocation just means a "meeting" or "assembly." 

Numbers 29:1 'And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. 

The Feast of Trumpets pictures the time when Jesus Christ steps into our world and imposes His Kingdom in place of every human government and Jesus return will not be welcomed by the armies and the leaders of this world.  The Day of the Lord. 

Zephaniah 1:14-18 The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. (15) That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, (16) A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.  

(17) "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse." (18) Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land. 

Joel 2:30-31 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. (31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.   (here is the Blood Moon) 

The Blowing of Seven "Trumpets" A Day of Blowing of Trumpets 

According to the book of Revelation, the soon-coming "Day of the LORD" will be divided up into "seven trumpets" -- seven angels will blow seven trumpet blasts, and these will introduce seven plagues that God will send on the earth.  The apostle John writes: 

Revelation 8:6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.   (Warnings from God to repent) 

The Seventh Trumpet – Major war  

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"  (Jesus returns in power) 

Revelation 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 

The Father will send His Son, Jesus the Messiah, to the earth to save mankind from nuclear mass destruction, to end human misery and suffering, to usher in peace, happiness and joy for all mankind. 

Revelation 19:13-16  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.  (we will be 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. 

This explains why Jesus robe is dipped in blood and wielding a sword that will  "strike the nations.  (before His feet is on Mount of Olives) 

Isaiah 63:1-4  Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— "I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."  (2)  Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?   

(3)  "I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes.  (4)  For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.  (Petra) 

It also pictures the resurrection of what is called in the Bible the "dead in Christ"   (when Jesus returns in Power and what He does) 

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.    (those who have died in the faith) 

(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. 

(17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.  (what a miracle, these are comfort and encouraging words)

We are changed to a glorified spirit life—becoming spirit beings in the family of God.   Members of God's Church, body who are still living and died when Christ returns will be changed on that day. (will be a great cheer from us) 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—  (we all like a good mystery) 

(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."   (Hosea 13:14) 

(55) "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

Jesus  stated that He Himself would raise and gather His followers or Saints at this future time  

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Matthew 24:30-31 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

A memorial of blowing of trumpets is the sign of the return of Jesus. 

Jesus will fulfill the fall holy days by coming on the Feast of Trumpets to catch away His Bride to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven.  

John 14:2-4 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know." 

We know the real power on the earth is Satan the Devil and he will be replaced when Jesus returns to the earth.  This will be covered by the Day of Atonement. 

Interesting side However, unlike the Feast of Tabernacles, there is no command that the Feast of Trumpets must be kept in a specific location—what we call a "Feast site." We are free to keep the Feast of Trumpets in our home church locations.  

This feast symbolizes a vast turning point in world history. It pictures the  changeover between the age of man, of darkness, and of Satan to the age of God, the World Tomorrow, the Millennium, and the Kingdom of God. 

This is why we are here to celebrate this day, the Feast of Trumpets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Last Great Day - the Eighth Day 2017


Last Great Day - the Eighth Day 2017      September 16, 2017   
 

The Eighth Day: 

Following the Feast of Tabernacles is a final High Day. It's designated as an Eighth Day, different from the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles but included as part of the Feast of Tabernacles.  It is known as the Last Day of the Feast, or as I was taught, called Last Great Day.  Meaning, the 8th Day is a Holy Day in its own right and the end of FOT, but separate High Day. 

Leviticus 23:36 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. 

Leviticus 23:39 'Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest. 

Numbers 29:35 'On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work. 

The 8th day is called Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly). 

In ancient times, the Feast of Tabernacles (FOT) starts with a water-drawing ritual, which by pouring out the remains of last year’s water symbolized faith that the coming year’s rains would fall just in time. 

Since Jews were celebrating the FOT and did not want rain during the feast, because they lived in booths.  The prayer for rain in their prayers was made on the 8th Day, in which the Jews ask God not only for rain but for the right amount of rain to be a blessing and not a curse; rain that will take care of the a people with fertile crops, not drown them in a major flood. 

On this 8th Day it was also the custom and tradition to draw / fetch water from the fountain or pool of Siloam, some of which they drank with loud shout of praise and thanksgiving, and some was poured on the altar, while they sang from one location to another of joy. The priest filled a golden vial with water from the fountain of Siloam, which was borne with great seriousness, attended with the noise of trumpets, through the gate of the temple, and being mixed with wine, was poured on the sacrifice on the altar 

Isaiah 12:3-4 You will draw water joyfully from the wells of salvation. And you will say at that time:  (4)  "Give thanks to the LORD; call on his name. Make known his actions among the nations. Proclaim that his name is exalted.  

Rain, of course, is made up of water, descending from the skies.  It is a type of the Holy Spirit of God.  Comparing God's Spirit to rain, the prophet Joel writes, 

Joel 2:28-29 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. (29) And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 

Isaiah the prophet wrote: 

Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 

Jesus gives us the living waters:  Samaritan women 

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." 

On the 8th day, the Jews would parade seven times around the altar while the people recited Psalms 118 with trumpets through the gate of the Temple, in memory of the seven times around the walls of Jericho.  

Psalms 118:25-26 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. (26) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. 

Perhaps at the very moment that the priest was pouring water on the altar, Jesus' voice rang out: If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

Let’s now turn to, find what Jesus said about this day 

John 7:2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 

The FOT was for 7 days but the feast was continued for eight days, and the eighth or last day was the most important, and was called the great day of the feast, and is the closing scene to the FOT.  On this day they finished the reading of the law, which they begin at the beginning of the feast.

There is some disagreement over this day, but this is the way I see it.  We may see it different.  The 8th day was all about water and this is what Jesus said.  It is not really clear.  So what happens on the 8th Day.
Rivers of Living Water

John 7:37-38 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.   

(38)  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."   (if anyone - All people) 

Living Water, what is this. 

John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Jesus was not talking about physical thirst here. He was revealing that if any man have spiritual thirst, and believes on Him, he can come to Jesus and drink in the Holy Spirit.  Living waters. 

A NEW BEGINNING 

The 8th Day, then, represents the completion of the FOT, and the beginning of LGD, according to God's Plan.  It represents a NEW BEGINNING.  This "new beginning" requires "rain" -- a type of the Spirit of God poured out in order to produce a new crop and a new harvest!  

The 8th Day represents the beginning of a new RAINY SEASON, during which the earth is nourished by rain from the heavens.  Spiritually, then, it represents the pouring out anew of God's Holy Spirit and the looking forward to a NEW HARVEST for the Kingdom of God! 

After the lake of fire, a new heaven and a new earth will appear. The new earth will become the headquarters for all future projects of the God Family is one of the things this 8th Day represents. 

Let’s look what John said, “New Heavens and a New Earth” 

Revelation 21:1-4 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.  

New Jerusalem come down out of heaven to the earth, and become the capital of the Kingdom of God 

(2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (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. (Think, the Father is with us) 

(4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 

We  found that the 8th Day is a “New Beginning” when Jesus creates new heavens and a new earth.  Jesus told John: 

Revelation 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."   (a new beginning – all things new) 

Fountain of the water of life 

Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.  (Jesus Same words – Holy Spirit) 

Revelation 21:7-8 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (8) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 

Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.  (burn then up) 

Malachi 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.  (ashes under the soles of your feet) 

John then describes the “holy city,” the New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."

Revelation 21:10-16  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

(11) having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. (12) Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.  

(14) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

(16) The city was square: its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with his rod, and it was about 1,374 miles long. Its length, width, and height were the same. (17) He also measured its wall. According to the human measurement that the angel was using, it was 252 feet. 

Revelation 21:22-23 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple. (23) The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.  (No Temple – We are the temple of the Holy Spirit) 

Notice: Outside this city, in the magnificent New Earth, will dwell ALL THE NATIONS OF MANKIND that will be SAVED, and given immortality and eternal life!  

Revelation 21:24-27 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. (25) Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).   

(26) And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

(27) But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 

New Heavens and a New Earth, Isaiah the prophet describes 

Isaiah 65:17-19 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. (18) But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. (19) I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.  (New Beginning) 

What did the Apostle Peter say: 

2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  

(12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

God will share with us, His creation 

Isaiah 66:22-23 “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. (23) And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.

(still observe the Sabbath)

Revelation 22:3-5 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.  

The Father and Jesus will be here on the earth. 

(4) They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (5) There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. 

Revelation 22:13-14 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (14) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 

Revelation 22:15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.  (Ashes under out feet) 

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (water of life) 

Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 

The Last Great Day or the 8th Day pictures a New Beginning when the New Jerusalem comes down and the Father and our Elder Brother will make Their home on the earth.  

Then, this is exciting 

Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Psalms 8:6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 

Hebrews 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 

Remember, this is speaking of the “world to come”—not today’s world.

Hebrews 2:8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 

The “all things” must include heavenly, as well as earthly things 

But now: indicates that the delay is only temporary. 

This mean specially the animal world, but is here applied to the universe

In the Moffatt translation of the Bible renders the Greek word translated “all things” as “the universe.”  

In other words, for those willing to believe what God says, he says that he has decreed the entire universe—with all its galaxies, its countless suns and planets—everything—will be put under man’s subjection. 

But wait a moment! Before you disbelieve, read the next words in the same eighth verse:  

“But now we see not yet all things [the endless universe] put under him [man].” Most of the translations experts means man. 

This is one of the greatest miracles of all time, what we will be doing in the future.