This article has been written by a reader as part of a series of studies that present varied interpretations of different aspects of eschatology. It is an area where there are many different viewpoints, and we want to encourage healthy and constructive discussion and thought. We encourage readers to reflect on the various studies put forward, and we very much welcome comments that are made in a respectful and thoughtful manner that reflects the brotherly love we should have for one another. If you wish to contribute an article to this particular series, then you can find our guidelines here. This is the fifth in a series looking at the timing of the rapture. You can find the others here. 

This article is being written a few days before Passover and Easter, which this year almost coincide. The word ‘Easter’ is not found in our Bibles, except in one place in the Authorised (King James) Version, due to a mistranslation¹ . Passover is found in the Bible over seventy times and is usually regarded as being a ‘Jewish Feast’. In Leviticus 23:2 God describes Passover and the other sacred assemblies as “My appointed feasts”. The Hebrew word used here literally means ‘appointed times’², so God is here giving his chosen people the times he wants to meet with them.

In Leviticus 23 the weekly appointment of the Sabbath is followed by the seven ‘feasts’ of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

The first three of these are grouped together and all occur in the first month (Lev 23:5). We see the fulfilment of these appointed times in the death, sinless life and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Spring Feasts

Passover The crucifixion of our Lord took place at the same moment of time as the spotless Passover lamb was being sacrificed, just across town from Gethsemane, at 3pm on Passover eve. He became our sacrifice for all time.

Unleavened Bread The yeast could be said to represent both the wrong teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but also sin. Hebrews 4:15 reads “we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.” Yet at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Messiah who had been without sin took our wrongdoings, at his crucifixion and during his descent into hell, removing the “leaven” from us.

First Fruits Jesus’ resurrection is described in 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

If Jesus has fulfilled these first four feasts at their appointed times, then we should expect him to fulfil the last three feasts also at their appointed times, which are linked together.

 So the first three appointed times have been fulfilled precisely by Jesus Christ at His first coming. The fourth date in God's diary is the Feast of Weeks, which we normally refer to as Pentecost as it occurs fifty days after Firstfruits (Lev 23:15-16). This was fulfilled as the moment when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon his followers in Jerusalem, as he promised to do (Acts 1:4-5).

If Jesus has fulfilled these first four feasts at their appointed times, then we should expect him to fulfil the last three feasts also at their appointed times, which are linked together.

A trumpet call

Trumpets occurs on the first day of the seventh month (Lev 23:23-24). Here in the TANAKH³ it says nothing about how this day is to be celebrated other than the instruction that trumpets are to be blown. In Matthew's account of the teachings of Jesus regarding the end of the age he says that Jesus, the Son of Man, “will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31). Paul also refers to this event in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 when he writes, “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.”

A corporate repentance

Leviticus 23 continues by describing the Day of Atonement, which is on “the tenth day of this seventh month”, just a week after Trumpets. Even today, this is the most holy day in the Jewish calendar, when the community come before God to remember their corporate sins. Leviticus 16 records the actions of the High Priest on this day. It is all because of “the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been”. (Lev 16:16) It is thus a time of sincere introspection by the Jewish people, an acknowledgement of their corporate sinfulness and expressing a desire to do better next year.

In the book of Zechariah, the prophet describes a future occasion when such a corporate repentance will take place. “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zech 12:10)

These scriptures have led me to the conclusion that the rapture of the church, the national salvation of the Jewish people and the return of Jesus Christ will all take place within one month in fulfilment of the appointed times of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

This seems to be the event that Paul speaks about in Romans 11:25-27 “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’”

Jesus’ return

The final appointed time mentioned in Leviticus 23 is the Feast of Tabernacles, which begins a few days later on the 15th day of the seventh month and lasts seven days (vv33-34). This is the time for the Lord Jesus Christ to return to planet earth. In John's gospel, referring to the first coming of Jesus, he writes “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (literally ‘tabernacled’) among us.” (Jn 1:14) He will return to live among his people, comprising both Jews and Gentiles. Revelation 1:7 says “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”

Rapture, salvation and return

These scriptures have led me to the conclusion that the rapture of the church, the national salvation of the Jewish people and the return of Jesus Christ will all take place within one month in fulfilment of the appointed times of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

Some will argue that this idea contradicts Matthew 24:36, where Jesus says, “No-one knows about that day or hour ...” We need to remember that God is well able to adjust the length of a day, as is recorded in Joshua 10:13 and Isaiah 38:8, and we certainly don't know from scripture the year when this will take place. These details are all in God's diary and he will keep His appointment here on earth. We need to be ready for whenever that is.

I pray that these thoughts will help us understand the times we are in and bring us back to the Hebraic roots of our Christian faith.

Notes

¹ In Acts 12:4 the Greek πάσϰα (PASCHA) is translated 'Easter', whereas elsewhere it is translated 'Passover'.
² The Hebrew word used is מועדי (MOED), plural MOEDIM.
³ TANAKH is the name by which the Hebrew scriptures are known, usually referred to as the Old Testament.