Ready or Not - the Trumpet Will Sound! 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 Rosh HaShannah – The Feast of Trumpets

At the sound of the Trumpet: Ex 19:16,19 God called the people to encounter His awesome presence Lev 23:24They rejoiced in their God at His sacred assemblies Num 10:2The people were called to assemble to break camp and set out Josh 6:3-5,20The walls of Jericho fell 1 Ki 1:34A new king was installed Ne 4:18-20The people were called to prepare for battle Is 27:13God’s scattered people were summoned back to their own land Jer 6:1 The people were warned to flee the enemy’s attack Matt 24:30-31The Second Coming of Christ will be announced Rev 8, 9, 10Judgments will be released over the earth Rev 11:15,17Christ’s reign over all the kingdoms of this world is proclaimed 1 Co 15:51-52; 1 Th 4:16 Believers in Christ will be caught up with Him and changed into immortal bodies Ps 150:3Trumpets are also a musical instrument used to praise God

Seven Feasts of the Lord: God’s plan of redemption God has revealed His plan of redemption through seven annual feasts described in Leviticus chapter 23. The Hebrew word ‘moedim’ means God’s appointed seasons, special times when He acts.

The Feast of Passover - ‘Pesach’ The Passover celebration commemorates the time when the Jewish people were delivered from slavery in Egypt. They put the blood of the lamb on the lintels of their doors and they were protected as the angel of death passed over. Passover points to the Messiah as our Passover lamb, whose blood would be our salvation.

The Feast of Passover – Christ is crucified “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7 Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover … at the same time that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread – a Sinless Sacrifice Bread without yeast was eaten as the Israelites were in a hurry to leave Egypt. They were told to remove yeast (leaven), a sign of sin from their houses. Pointed to Messiah’s sinless life, making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The lines and holes in the Matzah remind us of the stripes on Jesus’ back and his pierced hands and feet, through which we are healed.

The Feast of First Fruits Points to the Messiah's resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to Him as the "first fruits from the dead.“ I Corinthians 15:20

The Feast of Pentecost - ‘Shavuot’ Also called the Feast of Weeks [celebrated 7 weeks after Passover] This feast pointed to the great harvest of souls, both Jew and Gentile (One New Man represented by two leavened loaves), that would come into the Kingdom of God during the Church Age. The Church was born on this day when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit and 3,000 souls were saved as Peter preached. The Jewish people consider Shavuot to be the anniversary of the giving of the Law of Moses.

The four Spring Feasts are a picture of the First Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, including His death, resurrection and gift of the Holy Spirit. EARLY SPRING FEASTS – already fulfilled: Passover – Christ is crucified as the Passover Lamb Unleavened Bread – Christ is the sinless sacrifice First Fruits – Christ is resurrected as the first fruits LATE SPRING FEAST – already fulfilled: Pentecost – Holy Spirit comes and the Church is born

The three Fall Feasts are preparation for the glorious Second Coming of Christ which is yet to occur! FALL FEASTS: Feast of Trumpets – Rosh HaShannah Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot

Feast of Trumpets – Rosh HaShannah The beginning of the Jewish Civil New Year Rosh Hashannah occurs on the sighting of the new moon which marked the first day of the 7 th month. The Jewish authorities would keep watch for the sighting of the moon and would blast the trumpet to alert the people. It points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet.

Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur The holiest day on the biblical calendar The Jewish remnant will "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah. Zech 12:10 and Rom 11 Prophetically points to the Second Coming of Jesus.

The Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot A joyful 7 day festival when the people celebrate in temporary shelters remembering their wanderings in the desert Represents the Lord’s desire to dwell with/in His people. John 1:14 Points to the Lord's promise that He will once again tabernacle with His people when He returns to reign over all the world! Micah 4:1-7 Building a “Sukkah”

We are entering the time of the Fall Feasts - the season of readiness for the Second Coming of Christ The time is short. His return is soon upon us. The trumpet will soon sound. The Lord’s question for us all … – Are you ready to meet Jesus right now? – Are there things you would regret? – Are there things you would have missed? – Are there things left undone?

We are entering the time of the Fall Feasts - the season of readiness for the Second Coming of Christ How to be ready: – Be a follower of Jesus and follow Him closely – Be prayed up at all times – Be in His Word daily so He can speak to you – Repent of sin quickly, forgive quickly and keep your heart pure – Soak in His presence and let Him permeate your being – Pay close attention to the direction He gives you in this final season of time – He wants to flow out of you and you must be ready …