-------Rosh Hashanah - Days of Awe-------

"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.' " Thus begins the Jewish feast known as the feast of trumpets. Leviticus 23:24 - 25

Prophetically and biblically this feast is very significant for both the Christian and Jew. All the Jewish feasts represent a picture of the work of Jesus Christ on Earth. All the major events of the first coming of Christ occurred in the spring on a Jewish feast day. Israel was celebrating the feast of Passover when Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as the King of Israel. Passover is the feast that celebrates and remembers the time when the Israelites took the blood of an unblemished lamb and painted a cross of blood above their doors so the angel of death would pass over them that evening. Jesus became our sacrificial lamb during the feast of passover. It is the blood of His sacrifice that frees us from the penalty of sin thus giving us everlasting life even though our bodies perish.

Jesus was buried during the feast of unleavened bread. Leaven represents sin and unleavened bread is symbolic of a man who is without sin or had their sins washed away. The unleavened bread is symbolic of Jesus, the man who was buried without ever committing a sin in His life.

The third Jewish feast is the feast of firstfruits and Jesus was resurrected during this feast. 1 Cor. 15:20 states: But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

The fourth Jewish feast is the feast of Pentecost which occurs 50 days after the feast of passover. This is when God sent us the Holy Spirit who indwells all who place their trust in Christ. As we can see, all of the significant events of the first coming of Christ occurred during a Jewish spring festival. There are 7 Jewish feasts associated with Bible prophecy. The first four are in the spring and the last three are in the fall which brings us to Rosh Hashanah - the feast of trumpets.

In our country, the new year begins on January the 1st. Rosh Hashanah is a type of New Year's day for the Jewish culture. It begins a ten day period known as the Days of Awe. What is the next major event scheduled to occur in Bible Prophecy concerning Jesus Christ? It's the time he blows the trumpet to call His church home. This is called the "Rapture" which comes from the Greek word "rapio" which means a snatching away.

Since all of the major events of the first coming of Christ occurred on a Jewish feast day in the spring and the remaining feast days are in the fall, does it not make sense to believe that it is very likely that all of the major events of the second coming will occur on a Jewish feast day in the fall?

This year Rosh Hashanah began on Oct. 4 and will last until Oct. 13. This ten day period is known as the days of awe or the days of repentance. This is the time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent of them before the next Jewish feast known as Yom Kippur - the day of atonement or judgement. I find it interesting that many of the hurricanes and earthquakes occur during the time of repentance and atonement.

The Jewish tradition is that this 10 day period is when God makes decisions that will affect you for the next 12 months. He writes down in a book who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life. It is our actions during this ten day period that alter God's decree. In other words, if you are a Christian then the 10 day period beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur is the time to bring your petitions before God in prayer. Who are you burdened for? What problem has been weighing you down? Now is the time to pray to about it. This concept is not taught in churches and it should be. It's part of the bible.

The Days of Awe is this 10 day period in which the heavenly courts are opened up to the inhabitants of the Earth. When the rapture occurs, again it is the heavens which are opened up to receive the inhabitants of the earth and then the heavenly court will decide on which role each Christian will have in heaven. What we do in heaven is determined by what we do here on Earth. Some will be rewarded more than others and have more responsibility.

Yom Kippur follows the Days of Awe. When the rapture occurs, those who have rejected Christ will be left behind and will atone for their sin through judgement. You can read about these horrible judgements in the book of Revelation.

The last feast is the feast of tabernacles. This is when the harvest is brought in and the good wheat is separated from the chaff. This occurs after the day of atonement which is exactly what the book of Revelation says will occur at the end of the 21 judgments on earth. Christ could very well return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords during the feast of tabernacles! Maranatha!

-------Demon Encounter-------

Another reader has shared an encounter with the unknown. You have to decide for yourself whether the story is true or false. This story illustrates the point that there really are demonic spirits which the bible teaches. Here it is:

Every time I pass this old abandoned, creepy house, there is a 50's car in the driveway. One time when I was walking my dog, Pudding, past it, he started barking, and looking all confused, and protective. He stared straight at the car, and began to growl and snarl furiously. I asked, "Whats the matter, Pudding?!", then i looked at the car, myself. I saw a pale faced man sitting in the driver's seat, looking like he was going to drive away.His body was facing forward but his head was turned all the way around........looking at me and Pudding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He got a serious face on and twisted his body back to normal and reached for me and my dog.I almost screamed out loud but I didn't. I just ran away as fast as possible back to my house. I've always felt so scared and cold every time I pass that old house and running past is the best way I pass that old,creepy, abandoned house. Trust me, I would never lie about this and ever since my friend told me about spirits I've become more serious than ever and I want to know why that man is there.

Well, readers, what do you think?

Copyright 2005 by Gary Goodworth