YT...great posts, but I've got to jump in here and respond. You asked, "Why guess a Jewish holiday for the rapture of the mostly Gentile Church?" For the simple reason found in the following Scripture: "But if some of the branches (Jews) were broken off, and you (Gentiles), being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree...." (Romans 11:17 NASB)Another thing that might help your understanding is this paragraph (pgs 6 & 7) taken from Edward Chumney's book THE SEVEN FESTIVALS OF THE MESSIAH:
- Traditionally, non-Jewish Bible believers understand the festivals to be exclusively Jewish feasts. However, Leviticus 23:1-2, 4 tells us very clearly that these are festivals of the L-rd. In reality, G-d in His divine wisdom instructed us that these festivals are for both Jew and non-Jew, and are to be celebrated jointly with each other (Deut 16:10-11, 14-16). In Deuteronomy 16-11, 14, the word translated in English as "stranger" is the Hebrew word ger, which means the non-Jew (Bible-believing Gentile) who has joined himself to the Jewish people. Therefore, the L-rd is the Host of the festivals and all Bible believers are His invited guests."
So continuing that thread...4 out of 7 feasts have already been fulfilled...3 remain (Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles). Some of the names, themes, and idioms for Feast of Trumpets, Rosh HaShanah, are as follows:
- Teshuvah (repentance).
- Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year, Birthday of the World).
- Yom Teruah (the Day of the Awakening Blast / Feast of Trumpets).
- Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment).
- HaMelech (the Coronation of the Messiah).
- Yom HaZikkaron (the Day of Remembrance or Memorial).
- The time of Jacob's trouble.
- The opening of the gates.
- Kiddushin/Nesu'in (the wedding ceremony).
- The resurrection of the dead (rapture, natzal).
- The last trump (shofar).
- Yom Hakeseh (the hidden day).