THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

The Feast of Trumpets (Lev 23: 23-25) introduces the autumn festivals during which period of time God will send Christ back to earth to govern all the nations of the world. This coming establishment of the kingdom of God - the very heart of the gospel message of Christ - will commence the Millennial Age when God will intervene in the affairs of man throughout the whole earth. Satan will be put away for a thousand years under the restraining order of God. This Holy Day will commence the turning point in the history of mankind as the good news of the establishment of divine government on earth where peace, prosperity and righteousness based on God's law will prevail.

This Feast celebrates the heralding of the final prophetic trumpet that depicts the return of Jesus Christ to earth as the ruling King. It is the good news for this sin-filled wretched world that will finally see Satan dethroned as the god of this world and Christ enthroned as the King of the whole earth (Rev 11:15)! Hence, the Feast marks the future fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming as the King who will rule with power and authority.

In His earthly ministry, Christ did make a distinction between His first and second coming. Before Pontius Pilate at His trial, Christ told him that He had not come to rule at that time. ' My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight (indicating at His second coming the angels will come with Him to destroy those who oppose His rulership), that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence... To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.' (The truth is that His first coming was to deliver the Gospel message of the kingdom of God and to build the church that will form the Family of God to help govern the kingdom when He returns).

Just before Christ was to ascend to heaven, the apostles last question for Him was when is He going to establish the kingdom of God. Christ told them that 'It is not for you (the disciples and true believers) to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power' - Acts 1:7. Instead, Christ told them to focus on spreading the Gospel of the good news of the coming kingdom. Note that just two verses earlier, Christ told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, which is at Pentecost -' not many days hence'. Pentecost is the birth of the Christian church in 31 A.D. Yet traditional Christianity largely believe that the kingdom of God is synonmous with the church - which is contrary to what Christ taught!

The Feast of Trumpets also signals the resurrection of the dead. It is recorded for us in 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 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.' The Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth and all true believers will be with Him on planet earth with the Headquarters of His kingdom in Jerusalem - not in heaven! The Apostle Paul initially believed that Christ would return in his lifetime, hence the use of the word 'we'. This is the first resurrection mentions in Revelation 20:5 for which the second death (at the lake of fire) has no power because those resurrected will be changed to immortal spirit being.The writer of Hebrews term this 'a better resurrection' - Hebrews 11:35. This is the blessed hope of all true believers who understand the Master Plan of God.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:18-23 that all creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God as all are in bondage due to sin of corruption. Although tragic events lie ahead of the cataclysmic events of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, what lies beyond is the good news that Christ will return to restore mankind and the whole earth into God's abundant way of life, with the establishment of His perfect government on all the earth. The Feast of Trumpets is also a time to remember Christ command to pray, 'Thy kingdom come' - Matthew 6:10.





 

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

The Feast of Firstfruits or Pentecost is the third annual Sabbath described in Leviticus 23:9-22. It is commanded by God to be observed forever (Lev23:14,21). The New Testament church keeps this Festival every year, so did Christ and His chosen disciples. It is also known as the Feast of Weeks with its name derived from seven weeks plus one day to make fifty days - Pentecost. The Jews remember this festival as the 'shavuot' in Hebrew, and revealing of God's law at Mount Sinai. However, Pentecost is not just about keeping of the letter of the law, but the spiritual intent of God's laws. Only a clear understanding of the seven feast day will enable one to understand the purpose of human life.

God chose the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Christ ascension to heaven, to pour out His Holy Spirit on the 120 believers gathering at the upper room to pray and wait upon God (Acts 1:15). The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them when thy began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterances (Acts 2:1-4). The crowd of visitors who gathered at Jerusalem hear the speech of the disciples in their native tongue (language) - demonstrating the presence of the God's Spirit upon His chosen disciples. God shows that His true church are those whom He has called and are empowered with the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of God's Spirit on His disciples made it possible for the church to express God's commandments of love to the sick and dying world (John13: 34-35).

In the ancient land of Palestine, there was an early small 'spring' grain harvest and a larger 'fall' harvest - signifying that God is now calling a small group of people (represented by the spring grain harvest) to form His church. The larger fall harvest to come will be when Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth and all of mankind will learn of God's truth to be given the opportunity to receive eternal life. God is now dealing with His true church - for judgment must begin with the house of God (1 Pet 4:17) - to prepare them as the royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9) to teach the multi-billions living and resurrected during the Millennium.

The Day of Pentecost signifies the founding of the church of God in A.D. 31 and the gifts of God's Holy Spirit to the church to empower those who are called  as the firstfruits (James 1:18). The purpose of this is to train a small group of those who are called in the church age and be empowered with God's Holy Spirit to do His work on earth and later to assist Christ in reaping the great harvest (the 'fall' harvest) during the Millennium. Those who obey and do His will will be amply rewarded (Rev 3:21; 22:12).

The smaller spring harvest did not begin until the high priest offer the wave sheaf offering for God to accept. Similarly, the harvest of the firstfruits did not happen until Christ was accepted by God as the First of the Firstfruits ( the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep - 1 Cor 15:20). The Ten Commandments was given by God on  Mount Sinai on the Feast of Pentecost. Although it was written in stone (Exodus 31:18) when first given to Moses, the New Testament church is commanded to have the spirit of the laws written on the tablet of their hearts (Jer 31:33).

Make no mistake, only those whom God has called and who obey His commandments will be given the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) to be empowered for transformation within and even to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). They that were called and obeyed (chosen) will be given to rule over cities when the Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth (Luke 19:12-19). True believers are commanded to pray 'Thy kingdom come' (Matt 6:10).