Summary: Some say that there is no understanding of Bible prophecy without understanding the Festivals and their typology and patterns.

Since the early 1800s, when replacement theology found a foothold in the Church, some believe that once a person ‘grasps’ the meaning of the ‘festivals in the Bible,’ they will begin to understand the prophetic future of Jesus’ return with perfect clarity, and specifically a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Some say that there is no understanding of Bible prophecy without understanding the festivals and their typology and patterns. The Bible does reveal that Jesus is:

- the "Passover" Lamb whose shed blood cleanses us from "all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

- the "Unleavened Bread." He never sinned and was spotless. (John 6:53-58)

- the "First fruits" via His resurrection for all Born-Again Christians when they die and all things to come. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

In the Old Testament, the Jewish prophet Amos wrote that God declared He would not do anything without first revealing it to His servants, the prophets.

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7 NIV).

From Genesis to Revelation, God provides a continuous picture of His entire plan for humanity. One of the most profound prophetic pictures is outlined in the Jewish festivals, also known as feasts (Heb: ‘moed’ — meaning appointed time, meetings, assembly, holy convocation, or festival).

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” (Leviticus 23:2 NIV)

“The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month, the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days, you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.” (Leviticus 23:4-8 NIV)

The seven annual festivals of Israel are still celebrated at set times over a seven-month period because they demonstrate the work of redemption through the promised Messiah. The Priests sacrificed Passover lambs on the 14th day of Nisan, and the first day of Passover was the 15th. The Festival of First Fruits was celebrated on the third day, which is the 16th of Nisan and the same day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead!

1. Festival of the Sabbath (Shabbat)

“There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:3 NIV)

All of the Festivals began and ended with a “Sabbath rest,” and the Jews were commanded not to do any customary work on those days. The weekly Sabbaths and the special Sabbaths that were to be observed as part of the Jewish feasts point to the ultimate Sabbath rest, found only in Jesus through faith in His sacrificial work on the Cross.

2. Festival of Passover (Pesach) and Unleavened / Leavened Bread (Chag Hamotzi)

The Passover Festival commemorates the last plague in Egypt when the Angel of Death “passed over” the children of Israel. They took a bundle of hyssop, dipped it into the blood in the basin at the threshold, and applied the blood of the lamb to their door lintels from bottom to top, then the two sides of the frame (Exodus 12). This motion formed a cross.

The Passover Festival points to the Messiah as the Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), whose blood would be shed for the sins of all humanity. Jesus was crucified during the time of the Passover observance (Mark 14:12). He is described as a “lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19 NIV) because His life was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Just as the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, the death of Jesus marks the release from the slavery of sin (Romans 8:2).

When John the Baptist said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NIV), he understood the Old Testament reference. In the New Testament, Jesus was born in a lowly stable, visited by Shepherds, and ultimately led to being sacrificed because He was the sacrificial lamb sent for us. His death allows the judgment every person deserves to pass over them.

“On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast.” (Leviticus 23:6 NIV)

This seven-day Festival begins on the day following the start of Passover. When the Israelites left Egypt, they had no time to add leaven (yeast) to their bread. It is during this time of year that they reflect on the hardships in Egypt and how God freed them from captivity by eating nothing that was leavened, as it represents sin and decay in the Bible that similarly affects our lives. Just as yeast is added, it becomes part of the bread.

The Jews were constantly sacrificing unblemished animals to atone for sin, which was temporary. Only the Messiah, Jesus - the perfect, sinless sacrifice - could offer a permanent solution. The unleavened bread represents His sinless life and that He is the perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus’ body lay in the grave during the first days of this festival, like a planted wheat seed waiting to burst forth as the bread of life. Jesus declared:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 NIV)

As the bread of life, Jesus not only removes our sins but also provides nourishment for our spirits!

Leavened Bread

God’s plan to save humanity included more than the Jews. Through Jesus, this plan was revealed.

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV)

3. Festival of First Fruits (Yom habikkurim)

“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.” (Leviticus 23:9-14 NIV)

The Festival of First Fruits is the first of three Jewish Harvest Festivals held to thank and honor God for all He provides. It is symbolically mentioned in the New Testament seven times. It occurs on the 16th of Nisan, three days after the Passover and the second day after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The people were expected to bring a burnt offering, a meal offering, which was the first harvest of grain to the Lord, including two leavened loaves of bread, and a drink offering (Deuteronomy 26:1-10). This event pointed to the Messiah’s resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on that day.

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV)

Jesus is the first fruit of the dead and represents the first of the great harvest of souls that will resurrect into eternal life because of the new covenant in His blood. He put the Harvest plan in place when He told the Disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5 NIV)

4. The Festival of Weeks (Shavu’ot - Pentecost)

“Count off fifty (Heb: ‘chamishshiym = 50 days) up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:16 NIV)

The Festival of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, occurred fifty days after the beginning of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The arrival of the Holy Spirit on that day marked the beginning of a great harvest, with 3,000 Jews responding to Peter’s first proclamation of the Gospel and coming to trusting-faith in Jesus, and the universal Church was born. The message of the Gospel spread to both Jews (represented by the unleavened loaf of bread) and Gentiles (represented by the leavened loave of bread), signifying that the harvest was extended to everyone!

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20 NIV)

5. Festival of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah)

“The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:24-25 NIV)

This is the first of the Fall Festivals. God commanded His people to gather and commemorate the decree with trumpet blasts as a call to rest. Regular work was prohibited, and both men and women presented a food offering to God.

Some believe that this day points to the Rapture of the Church, as it is associated in the Bible with the blowing of a loud trumpet when Jesus appears in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church, before establishing the Millennial Kingdom.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV)

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52 NIV).

Once He returns, there will be a wedding festival and celebration.

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9 NIV).

The "Festival of Trumpets" is not the Bride of Christ going home to the Father's house (John 14:1-6), nor is it a "trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15.51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4.16; Revelation 4:1), nor is it seen indirectly in Revelation 12 when the "child" is caught up. This is a “vision” which is strongly symbolic. The male child represents Jesus, and not the Church, because Jesus alone will eventually rule all nations "with a rod of iron" (Revelation 19:15). Christians are not the child, but they are "in” Christ.

The symbolic "woman" clearly represents Israel and suggests she could be Mary, the human surrogate mother of Jesus, but also Eve, the "mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20). In His human birth, Jesus, God the Son, also became "the Son of man" (Acts 7:56; Revelation 1:13). The Red Dragon is identified with satan, who seeks to devour the woman's male child, but God caught up the child to His throne, referring to the ascension of Jesus after His resurrection.

The vision dramatizes the long warfare between the great dragon (i.e., satan / the devil - Revelation 12:9) and the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). The woman is given two wings of a great eagle to protect her. In the vision, the "man child" will have been "caught up" (i.e., "raptured") to Heaven, and the dragon and his angels "cast out" to earth (Revelation 12:5-9). But when Jesus returns from Heaven, all Christians, living and dead, will also be "caught up" to meet Him in the air and thus may well be included in the man-child of the great "sign."

There has been continuous warfare between the seed of the serpent and the spiritual seed of the woman. The dragon is forever "wroth with the woman" and with "the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). But Jesus will finally prevail and cast satan into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

Jesus said He saw satan “fall from Heaven like lightning from heaven” before the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because of his pride, arrogance, and rebellious nature (Luke 10:18 NIV - also Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18 - Please note that these verses directly refer to kings on the Earth).

The devil will eventually make war against Israel, trying to destroy her (the enemy knows his time is short.

“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:1-3,10 NIV)

It also reveals that God will protect Israel (the woman) in the wilderness.

“The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.” (Revelation 12:14 NIV)

Israel will be protected from the devil for "a time” = 1 year; “times” = 2 years; “half a time” = one-half year; for a total of 3 1/2 years.

“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9 NIV)

John the Beloved sees a vision of a woman "clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1 NIV). The vision is very similar to the description that Joseph gave of his father Jacob (Israel) and his mother and their children (Genesis 37:9-11). The twelve stars refer to the twelve tribes of Israel, which means the woman in Revelation 12 is Israel because Jesus, the son of David, came from Israel and brought forth Jesus.

The woman is pregnant with a male child who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and to His throne (Revelation 12:2-5). Clearly, this is describing Jesus, who ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and will one day establish His kingdom on Earth (Revelation 20:4-6), where He will rule it with perfect judgment (the “rod of iron”) (Psalm 2:7-9). While it is true that Mary gave birth to Jesus, it is also true that Jesus, the son of David from the tribe of Judah, symbolically came from Israel. In a sense, Israel gave birth - or brought forth - Jesus, the Christ.

Halfway through the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set up an image of himself in the Temple that will be built in Jerusalem. This is the abomination that Jesus spoke of (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel, and the nation has to flee for safety (See Matthew 24; Daniel 9:27). This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing into the wilderness for 1,260 days (42 months of 30 days each) and to the future time called the Great Tribulation. The simple biblical truth is that the Festival of Trumpets is observed over two days, which makes it difficult to be date and time-specific and, therefore, does not in any way relate to the Rapture of the Church because it is a sign-less event that could happen at any time. Jesus said;

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ (Mark 13:32 NIV)

6. Festival of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

“The Lord said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:26-32 NIV)

To make “atonement” means to make restitution for wrongs committed. This day serves as a time of humility and repentance, allowing the Jewish people to right their hearts, consciences, and lives before God.

The observance involved the sacrifice of animals as the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. However, what the High Priest did could only be an annual payment for sins.

Some believe the Festival of Atonement points to Jesus' Second Coming when He returns to Earth. This event will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:1-6,25-36). God had promised that there would be one who could atone for their sins permanently.

“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12 NIV)

“But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.” (Leviticus 16:10 NIV)

The bull and one of the goats were an offering of thanks, but the “scapegoat” took on their sins and was sent into the wilderness. The Hebrew word “scapegoat” is ‘Azazel,’ which means the goat that is sent away into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the people's sins.

On the Day of Atonement, two goats were selected: one for the Lord and the other for Azazel. The high priest would cast lots to determine which goat would be sacrificed and which would be sent into the wilderness. The word has been interpreted as a place, a demon (the devil himself), or a powerful symbolic representation of sin and guilt being removed from the people, emphasizing God's provision for atonement and forgiveness. This ritual underscored the holiness of God and the need for purification and reconciliation.

Just as with the ‘scapegoat,’ the Jewish leaders condemned Jesus, as He carried the sins of all mankind and was led out of the city to be crucified.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 NIV)

The death of Jesus on the Cross forgives and pays for every human being's debt, and the Festival of Atonement is no longer needed. Every person who repents of their sin and receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior is appropriating His forgiveness.

The Festival of Trumpets is also known as the Wedding of the Messiah, and the Church is the Bride of Christ. The Rapture is when the Church is caught up to Heaven to be wed with Jesus. It happens on the “new moon,” which is 29.5 days after the last one, meaning it might occur on the 29th or 30th day.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36 NIV)

There are seven days between the Festival of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, which is why some people say it is a picture of the seven-year Tribulation period.

7. Festival of Tabernacles or Booths (Sukkot)

"The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work." (Leviticus 23:33-36 NIV)

The Festival of Tabernacles celebrates God's provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness after the day of Atonement. During the seven days, people lived in temporary structures like they did in the wilderness. God was with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple called the Tabernacle, so the festival also celebrates His presence as He tabernacles (dwells) with us.

"Behold, the virgin will hold in womb, and will bring forth a son, and they will call His name Immanuel" which is, being translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23 BLB)

Jesus put on a temporary tabernacle, a human body, to dwell on the Earth and offer Himself as a sacrifice. This act of divine love and sacrifice was not just for a select few but for all humanity.

This Festival also points to the promise that Jesus, God the Son, will gather with His people.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4 NIV)

Some believe that this festival day points to the promise that Jesus will once again "tabernacle" with His people when He returns to reign over all the world.

"In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. "In that day," declares the Lord, "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation." (Micah 4:1-7 NIV)

Conclusion

The first four of the seven festivals (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Weeks) occur during the springtime, which Jesus already fulfilled in the New Testament. The final three holidays (Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles) occur during the fall, all within a short fifteen-day period.

While the first four festivals occur in close proximity, an entire season passes before the fall festivals begin, which lasts for three days in total (two days for Trumpets, seven days between these festivals, and one day for atonement). Some believe this long period can represent the dispensation of grace that we now live in (a.k.a. Church Age). The last three festivals, 'Trumpets' (Rosh HaShanah), could picture the taking away of the Church just before the Millennial Kindom is set up, 'Atonement' (Yom Kippur) pictures the Second Coming of Jesus, and 'Tabernacles' (Sukkot) pictures the Millennial Reign of Jesus. Each of these is celebrated in the Fall season and is yet to be fulfilled, so they remain prophetic in nature. The "Festival of Tabernacles" is completed when Jesus returns to Earth. He will "tabernacle" with His people and rule for 1000 years.

Proper biblical Hermeneutics, using Grammatical-Historical interpretation, must be consistently applied when studying the Bible, which clearly shows that God's program for the Church fulfills none of Israel's festivals. It must be noted that the Festivals are part of the Law. The Church has been given the Lord's Table as the Festival they are to celebrate "from now on until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18 NIV).

Attempting to explain that the Church is fulfilling any of the Festivals is practicing "replacement theology," which it clearly does not. Nowhere does the New Testament speak of the Church fulfilling the Festivals, which are fulfilled only by them, which means that the Festival of Trumpets cannot be a prediction of the Rapture of the Church. Israel's fifth festival simply does not give any insight into the day of the year on which the Rapture will occur.

Three times, the Bible says that God's plan for the Church age was not revealed in the Old Testament. Therefore, things related to God's plan for the Church could not have been declared, which would exclude the possibility of seeing the Church fulfill prophetically any of Israel's Festivals on the basis of these statements and would exclude any 'Rapture' date-setting schemes that are built upon revelation given for God's plan for Israel (See Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:4-8; Colossians 1:25-27). If it were true that the Church fulfills the Festival of Pentecost, then it would also follow that the 'Rapture' would have to occur on the day that Festival is celebrated.

The Biblical truth is that the Church does not fulfill any of Israel's Festivals that have been and will continue to be fulfilled in relation to Israel. The seven appointed times were given as a typical presentation of the commitments made to Israel in the Abrahamic Covenant and those that amplified it, not the Church. As these can be fulfilled only by Israel, the typology of the Festivals can relate only to that nation.

The Church is also not revealed in the typology of any of the Festivals. It is related to them in the same way it is related to unconditional covenants made to Israel. It benefits from God's fulfillment for that nation, but it is distinct from it. They do serve as a specific typological prophecy picturing God's plan of redemption for His people, Israel. When God fulfilled the first four Festivals, He provided everything necessary for Israel to enter into literal kingdom blessing: redemption, separation, resurrection, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Israel's rejection of these, however, made a national change of heart necessary before the Kingdom could be established. Foreknowing this, God included the Festivals of Trumpets and Day of Atonement in the annual cycle.

The Festival of Trumpets predicted God's alerting of the nation to the impending event that would bring about repentance. The Festival of the Day of Atonement did not predict the death of Jesus, which had already been typified in the Passover, but the new reaction of Israel to the Redeemer's death. This change will take place when the believing Remnant repents during the Tribulation period. The event that fulfills this sixth Festival is identified as God's intervention to save Israel from destruction as Gentile armies attack Jerusalem. Israel as a nation officially rejected, in turn, each spiritual provision offered by God and made available through the fulfillment of the first four festivals. The Paschal Lamb of God, pointed out by John the Baptist, was rejected as an imposter. The resurrection of Jesus, as it answered to the Festival of First Fruits, was suppressed in its proclamation through bribery.

“When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money“ (Matthew 28:12 NIV).

Finally, the coming of the Holy Spirit was rejected at Pentecost as the Jews accused the Apostles of being drunk. Peter responded by quoting Scripture:

“These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:15-21 NIV)

God had done all He could for Israel until they repented as a nation. Peter's second sermon in Acts 3 was significant because it reemphasized the condition of the millennial blessing already laid down in the Old Testament but as yet unfulfilled.

Of the utmost importance here is the fact that with the shedding of the blood of Jesus to take away sin and with the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the life of the Redeemed, all of the spiritual requirements for the Millennial Kingdom had been met as far as God is concerned. But His provision could not be operative until mankind appropriated it. This point cannot be overemphasized, for it is not only the reason for the delay in the fulfillment of the final three festivals; it is the basis for understanding the relationship of the Church to them. The first four festivals (the Spring cycle) were fulfilled at the time of Jesus' first coming, and the final three festivals (the Fall cycle) will be fulfilled in relation to His second coming.

Christians are to maintain a lifestyle of watching and waiting for the imminent return of Jesus. They should live their life as if Jesus is coming today and plan their life as if He isn't returning for 100 years.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. "It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you." (Titus 2:11-15 NIV)

The facts are that the 'Rapture' of the Church is a sign-less event. All the highly speculative and creative eisegesis of Scripture, the twisting of the Bible into a pretzel to fit prophecy and date setting, and putting Christians in positions of power throughout the world will not force Jesus to return sooner. When He does return, He will complete His plan for Israel, as anticipated in the Festivals of Israel.