What the Future Will Bring: The Fulfillment of Three Fall Festivals
Where do we go from here ?
The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, together they form the Fall Festivals on God’s Calendar. In the book Wake Up! we describe how two thousand years ago Jesus Christ fulfilled the meaning of the Spring Festivals precisely on the calendar day of these festivals; in timing and in every detail. He came to reveal the true meaning of these Festivals. For this reason, we believe that the Fall Festivals also will be fulfilled in detail on their calendarday around His Second Coming. We will see as well that each of these Festivals points to an aspect around this Great Event. Therefore, they are not exclusively Jewish Festivals, since Christ is positioned in the center of these Feasts
The Old Testament is filled with images, which at that time were already foreshadowing the things to occur around the coming of the Christ. He would make all these traces, which in the Old Testament weren’t yet clear that they pointed towards Christ, become a living reality by connecting them with Himself. At the end of the Romans letter [1] Paul explicitly refers to this:
“(…) in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith…”
When you acquire more detailed knowledge about these Festivals, the blueprint of God’s Salvation Plan becomes visible. As a result, you will start to appreciate the living reality of Christ in the New Covenant so much more. So, in the Old Testament God already showed us what the future will hold; how the Messiah would come, and how He would return. During His First Coming, He came as the Passover Lamb for the salvation of sinners, but the Fall Festivals show us that He will return in the near future, just as He said.
While reading the next three articles about the Festivals, do pay specific attention to the New Covenant Meaning of each of these Festivals. Some people have the tendency to restore the tradition of these Festivals with the aim to return to the so-called Jewish roots, but if we celebrate them mainly as Jewish Feasts, there is a good chance that we will not recognize Christ in them. Those who are inspired by Judaism in that context, need to be careful not to become detached from Christ, is Paul’s warning.
True Olive Tree
The true Root of the Noble Olive is not Judaism or the Jewish People, but the person of Christ. He was already present in the Old Testament and the very last chapter of the last Bible book clearly points toward Him. Although we can still learn in some areas from Jewish traditions, we are first of all instructed to view these Festivals in the light of the New Covenant. With the help of the Holy Spirit, this will enable us to express their true meaning in our lives. In short: we see Christ and God’s plan of salvation in all the Festivals of God. While studying them we sense traces of their meaning, while always discovering the reality in Him, as He is the One portraying these traces. The Festivals also have prophetic significance; the exact fulfillment of the Spring Festivals is a proof thereof. However, the Fall Festivals prepare us for the Second Coming of the Messiah.
The Feast of Trumpets: the arrival of the Bridegroom as He comes for His Bride
The Day of Atonement: The Second Coming of Christ as King of kings
The Feast of Tabernacles: The Kingdom of Peace, His eternal Reign on earth.
We are instructed to be ready for His coming, every day. Understanding the genuine meaning of these Festivals in the New Covenant, will help us prepare and adjust our priorities accordingly. In the following three articles we will have a closer look at each of the three Feasts and explain this in more detail.
In case you find it difficult to explain the Biblical Festivals to friends and family, do point them to this newsletter. In the explanation, we always try to give understanding to those who didn’t have a chance yet to read the book Wake Up!
[1] Rom 16:25,26 (NIV)
