Post by Tom Green on Feb 21, 2007 11:52:16 GMT -5
Where We Are Prophetically
God gave the nation of Israel seven feasts to celebrate throughout the year. The future prophetic calendar of God is hidden in the timing and events surrounding the feasts of Israel. The seven feasts are:
The Feast The Date The Theme
Passover Month 1, day 14 Coming out of Egypt
Unleavened Bread Month 1, day 15 No time to prepare leavened bread
First Fruits Sabbath after Passover Presenting the barley harvest
Pentecost 50 days after Unleavened Presenting the
Bread wheat harvest
Trumpets Month 7, day 1 The New Year
Atonement Month 7, day 10 Atonement for sins
Tabernacles Month 7, day 15 Israel living in tents for 40 years
The following prophetic events have occurred during the feasts of Israel:
The Feast The Prophetic Fulfillment
Passover Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God.
Unleavened Bread Christ was buried in the tomb.
First Fruits Christ arose from the dead.
Pentecost The birth of the church
As stated in our Rapture Revelation series, I believe many of the major future prophetic events will fall during the seasons of the three fall feasts: Rosh HaShannah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).
The Month of Elul
There is a time period few Christians are aware of, known as the 40 days of Teshuvah. The word Teshuvah means “repentance and awakening.” It begins on the first day of Elul, and ends on Tishri 10. This 40-day period is divided up into four sections:
1. The 30 Days of Elul
During this time, the message of repentance is proclaimed. The Jewish people greet one another with the phrase, “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.”
2. The Day of Rosh HaShannah
The trumpets are blown to announce the New Year, also called Rosh HaShannah. This is said to be the time when people are to determine their spiritual fate.
3. The Days Between Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur
During this time, the gate of heaven is open and people can repent to God and have their names inscribed in the Book of Life. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, their fate is sealed.
Note that there are 30 days of Elul, one day for Rosh HaShannah and eight days between Rosh HaShannah and the Day of Atonement, which concludes Teshuvah. This is a total of 40 days. During these 40 days, the emphasis is for people to wake up, repent and prepare for the day when God will set the judgment in heaven!
4. Living Now at Pentecost
The church was born on the Day of Pentecost and has been living at the feast of Pentecost since Acts 2! The Book of Acts is the only New Testament Book that does not have a closing—it ends abruptly. I believe this is because the final chapter, Acts 29, is being written during the entire church age, including today!
Many liberal theologians and ministers teach that certain gifts of the Holy Spirit and various manifestations of the Holy Spirit ceased shortly after the birth of the New Testament church. They point out that when the canon of Scripture was compiled in the third century, there was a rapid decline of the miraculous signs and wonders that were common in the first century church.
The theory is that when the Bible was completed, there was no more need in the church for healings or miracles.
I point out that the church is now living at Pentecost, the fourth feast; but we are heading rapidly toward the fifth feast, the Feast of Trumpets. This feast speaks to us of the Rapture of the church. There are approximately four months between Pentecost and the fall feasts. Pentecost is celebrated in early summer, and Trumpets begins in early fall.
During this four-month period on earth, it can be very dry in Israel. As the time for the fall feasts draw near, the climate changes and autumn rains soon begin.
The Sign of the Rain
Rain represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures reveal that the Lord will come as rain to the earth. Hosea 6:3 says: “He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” James reveals that the Lord will delay His return until He first receives the early and latter rain (outpouring) on the earth:
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain (James 5:7).
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).
As we prophetically come closer to the time of the Lord’s return, nations will hear the gospel (Matthew 24:14), and multitudes will experience the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, alluded to in the prophecy as the early and latter rain. In fact, we are in the greatest outpouring of God’s Spirit since the time of the first-century church. In our own ministry, we are seeing more people baptized with the Holy Spirit than at any other previous time.
Back to the 40 Days of Teshuvah
The season of awakening and repentance begins one month before the Feast of Trumpets. If we are moving from Pentecost, the season of the church age, to Trumpets, the season of the Rapture, then we must pass through the season of awakening and repentance. I believe that, prophetically, we are now living in the time of Teshuvah, where God wants His people to awaken and repent.
The same sins that are in the world are also in the church. Doubt and unbelief can be found in so-called Christians. God’s people must repent of pride, jealousy, unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, and other works of the flesh.
God Is Dealing with America
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that on September 11, America received a “wake-up call from hell.” I believe it was also a wake-up call from God. The Almighty has been very patient with America, yet so many people have blasphemed His name, murdered babies created in His image, and mocked His Son and the precious gospel. It is now time to wake up and repent!
Those who repent will enter through the open gate of heaven (Revelation 4:1). Those who refuse will have the door closed to them, and will be shut out of the Kingdom (Matthew 25:10). It would be wise for us to turn our hearts and attention toward God, awake and repent. This is the season we are in!
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
God gave the nation of Israel seven feasts to celebrate throughout the year. The future prophetic calendar of God is hidden in the timing and events surrounding the feasts of Israel. The seven feasts are:
The Feast The Date The Theme
Passover Month 1, day 14 Coming out of Egypt
Unleavened Bread Month 1, day 15 No time to prepare leavened bread
First Fruits Sabbath after Passover Presenting the barley harvest
Pentecost 50 days after Unleavened Presenting the
Bread wheat harvest
Trumpets Month 7, day 1 The New Year
Atonement Month 7, day 10 Atonement for sins
Tabernacles Month 7, day 15 Israel living in tents for 40 years
The following prophetic events have occurred during the feasts of Israel:
The Feast The Prophetic Fulfillment
Passover Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God.
Unleavened Bread Christ was buried in the tomb.
First Fruits Christ arose from the dead.
Pentecost The birth of the church
As stated in our Rapture Revelation series, I believe many of the major future prophetic events will fall during the seasons of the three fall feasts: Rosh HaShannah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).
The Month of Elul
There is a time period few Christians are aware of, known as the 40 days of Teshuvah. The word Teshuvah means “repentance and awakening.” It begins on the first day of Elul, and ends on Tishri 10. This 40-day period is divided up into four sections:
1. The 30 Days of Elul
During this time, the message of repentance is proclaimed. The Jewish people greet one another with the phrase, “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.”
2. The Day of Rosh HaShannah
The trumpets are blown to announce the New Year, also called Rosh HaShannah. This is said to be the time when people are to determine their spiritual fate.
3. The Days Between Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur
During this time, the gate of heaven is open and people can repent to God and have their names inscribed in the Book of Life. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, their fate is sealed.
Note that there are 30 days of Elul, one day for Rosh HaShannah and eight days between Rosh HaShannah and the Day of Atonement, which concludes Teshuvah. This is a total of 40 days. During these 40 days, the emphasis is for people to wake up, repent and prepare for the day when God will set the judgment in heaven!
4. Living Now at Pentecost
The church was born on the Day of Pentecost and has been living at the feast of Pentecost since Acts 2! The Book of Acts is the only New Testament Book that does not have a closing—it ends abruptly. I believe this is because the final chapter, Acts 29, is being written during the entire church age, including today!
Many liberal theologians and ministers teach that certain gifts of the Holy Spirit and various manifestations of the Holy Spirit ceased shortly after the birth of the New Testament church. They point out that when the canon of Scripture was compiled in the third century, there was a rapid decline of the miraculous signs and wonders that were common in the first century church.
The theory is that when the Bible was completed, there was no more need in the church for healings or miracles.
I point out that the church is now living at Pentecost, the fourth feast; but we are heading rapidly toward the fifth feast, the Feast of Trumpets. This feast speaks to us of the Rapture of the church. There are approximately four months between Pentecost and the fall feasts. Pentecost is celebrated in early summer, and Trumpets begins in early fall.
During this four-month period on earth, it can be very dry in Israel. As the time for the fall feasts draw near, the climate changes and autumn rains soon begin.
The Sign of the Rain
Rain represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures reveal that the Lord will come as rain to the earth. Hosea 6:3 says: “He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” James reveals that the Lord will delay His return until He first receives the early and latter rain (outpouring) on the earth:
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain (James 5:7).
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).
As we prophetically come closer to the time of the Lord’s return, nations will hear the gospel (Matthew 24:14), and multitudes will experience the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, alluded to in the prophecy as the early and latter rain. In fact, we are in the greatest outpouring of God’s Spirit since the time of the first-century church. In our own ministry, we are seeing more people baptized with the Holy Spirit than at any other previous time.
Back to the 40 Days of Teshuvah
The season of awakening and repentance begins one month before the Feast of Trumpets. If we are moving from Pentecost, the season of the church age, to Trumpets, the season of the Rapture, then we must pass through the season of awakening and repentance. I believe that, prophetically, we are now living in the time of Teshuvah, where God wants His people to awaken and repent.
The same sins that are in the world are also in the church. Doubt and unbelief can be found in so-called Christians. God’s people must repent of pride, jealousy, unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, and other works of the flesh.
God Is Dealing with America
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that on September 11, America received a “wake-up call from hell.” I believe it was also a wake-up call from God. The Almighty has been very patient with America, yet so many people have blasphemed His name, murdered babies created in His image, and mocked His Son and the precious gospel. It is now time to wake up and repent!
Those who repent will enter through the open gate of heaven (Revelation 4:1). Those who refuse will have the door closed to them, and will be shut out of the Kingdom (Matthew 25:10). It would be wise for us to turn our hearts and attention toward God, awake and repent. This is the season we are in!
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).