The first fall festival is Rosh Hashanah and has not yet been prophetically fulfilled. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day feast that begins on Tishrei 1. In 2011, the festival begins the evening of Wednesday, September 28 and ends on the evening of Friday, September 30.
The Hebrew word "Rosh" means "chief", and the word "Shanah" is translated "year". It is the first day of the Jewish civil calendar. This day is known as the birthday of the world, the day Adam was created by God.
Just as we have several names for the same holiday, the Jews have several different names for Rosh Hashanah.
The Day of Judgment (Yom HaDin)
This is the day that the whole world is judged, and those who are deemed righteous (clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith) will escape the terrible time of tribulation facing the rest of the world.
Feast of Trumpets - Day of the Awakening Blast (Yom Teruah)
On Rosh Hashanah, it is important to hear the blast of the shofar, or ram's horn (the last trumpet), which will awaken both the dead in Christ and those who are alive in Him to rise up and meet the Lord in the air. (See 1 Corinthians 4:15-18).
Some other names identified with Rosh Hashanah include: the Coronation of the Messiah (Ha Melech)in heaven, the time of Jacob's trouble (tribulation period) on earth, and the wedding ceremony in heaven when the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, comes for His bride, the Church (see Matthew 25:6), and the Hidden Day.
Rosh Hashanah is the one festival in the year known as the long day. Since it was a new moon festival, it was determined that it could take two days to confirm exactly when the moon would appear so the festival date could be confirmed. As a result, this festival also became known as the day on which no one knows the day or the hour. So when Jesus made this statement as He spoke of His return, the typical Jewish listener probably associated His statement with the festival of Rosh Hashanah. Based on Jesus' other statements, it's clear Jesus was not saying we should not be watching and be alert for His return. In fact he gave us many signs to look for so we would know the times when they appeared.
It is clear that God wants to remove His people from the world before the seven years of tribulation spoken about in Daniel 9:27 (see 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Luke 21:36, and Revelation 3:10). The purpose of the tribulation period is not to test Christians. It is designed to test both the Jews and Gentiles who do not belong to Christ on the Day of Judgment (Rosh Hashana). Those who must go through the tribulation will find themselves in the Days of Awe, where God's judgments are poured out on the world. These judgments are well described in Revelation.
Since the next festival of the year, Yom Kippur, represents the second coming of Christ in glory and power to destroy His enemies and reign for the next thousand years, the time period in between the two festivals must include the seven year tribulation period.
Are you ready for His return?
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