Renee M (29 Jan 2013)
"7th day of Tabernacles = 7th day of Passover"

 

7th day of Tabernacles = 7th day of Passover

The 7th day of Passover is the mirror image of the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Both festivals last for 7 days and start on the 15th day of the first month (Nisan and Tishri). On every one of the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests formed in procession, and made the circuit of the altar, singing: “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!!” (Psalm 118:25). But on the seventh, 'that great day of the feast,' they made the circuit of the altar seven times, remembering how the walls of Jericho had fallen in similar circumstances, and anticipating how, by the direct interposition of God, the walls of heathenism would fall before Jehovah, and the land lie open for His people to go in and possess it. On the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, they reenact the Battle of Jericho by walking around the altar 7 times while singing with a loud voice the song of redemption and salvation in the Hoshanna prayers. At this time the people also waved their palm branches while the Levites chanted the Hallel (Psalms 113-118). At the conclusion of the seventh circle, they took the willows which had been placed at the altar as part of the temple ritual for the day, and struck the willow branches onto the ground around the altar. This Battle of Jericho actually took place on the 7th day of Passover.

On the 7th day of Tabernacles, the people would leave their tents that they had been living in for 7 days and go to their permanent homes. This represents the believers in Christ leaving their earthly bodies, also referred to as tents, and going to their permanent homes. 2 Corinthians 5:4 - For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Below are illustrations from the Bible and Jewish traditions that point to the Rapture taking place on the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Since this Feast is the "mirror image" of the 7th day of Passover and both feasts take place for 7 days starting on the 15th day of the "first" month, then what we see on the 7th day of Tabernacles also applies to the 7th day of Passover.

  The Scrolls are Opened

The last day of the Feast of Tabernacles is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and read at night.  When the ark is opened, all the worshipers leave their seats to dance and sing with all the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that often lasts for several hours and more.

The ark being opened refers both to Noah's "Ark" as well as the Ark of the Covenant being opened on that day. An angel asks in Revelation 5:2, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” Jesus is worthy to open the scrolls taken out of the Ark and begin the Tribulation, and Revelation 6, with the seals opening. 

 

  Battle of Jericho and the Feast of Tabernacles

On every one of the seven days  of the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests formed in procession, and made the circuit of the altar, singing: “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!!” (Psalm 118:25). But on the seventh, 'that great day of the feast,' they made the circuit of the altar seven times, remembering how the walls of Jericho had fallen in similar circumstances, and anticipating how, by the direct interposition of God, the walls of heathenism would fall before Jehovah, and the land lie open for His people to go in and possess it.

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war; and go round about the city once.  Thus shalt thou do SIX DAYS.  And seven priests shall bear before the ark (of the covenant) seven trumpets of ram’s horns: and the SEVENTH DAY ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and WHEN YE HEAR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET, all the people shall SHOUT WITH A GREAT SHOUT; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ASCEND UP every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:3-5).

And they utterly destroyed ALL that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword … And they BURNT the city with FIRE, and ALL that was therein” (Joshua 6:21-24).

The strange thing is that the events of Jericho happened in the Spring, at the Passover festival. So even the Israelites aren’t sure why the do this reenactment of the Battle of Jericho during the Feast of Tabernacles.

God miraculously SAVED only “one house” of people out of the Jericho before its destruction.  This heralds the “rapturous event of the righteous” of Christ’s house. “Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and ALL that are with her in her HOUSE” (Joshua 6:16).

Here, it is good to keep Leviticus 23:42-43 in mind. In other words: The Scriptures state that the seven days of the Feast of booths symbolized the forty desert years after the Exodus. But, it is easy to see that the end of that feast’s seventh and last day, the “great” one, obviously symbolized the time when the Israelites’ desert-sojourn came to its end – the time when they crossed over the river Jordan and entered the Promised Land.

So, the seven days of the Feast of booths in themselves pictured the desert years, but the end of the seventh and last day pictured the event in the days of Joshua when the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land. This was also echoed in the temple rituals. It was because of those rituals, and what they symbolized, that the seventh and last day came to be called “the great one of the feast”.

Did that “last great day” have a forward-looking symbolism of some kind? Literally, it pictured the event in the days of Joshua when the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land. But, let us not forget that in New Testament times, the saints are on our way to a better Land, the one of Hebrews 11:16 – “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

 

 Noah and the Ark

We know that we can view Noah as a type or pattern because Jesus Himself has stated as much:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”  Matthew 24:36-41.

The Bible also likens the end-times to a flood:

“After the sixty two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.  The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.”  Daniel 9:26.

So, it is worth giving Noah and his Ark a closer look. "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account." Ecclesiastes 3:15.

 

Seven Days in a Tabernacle

In celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews were directed to build temporary shelters and to live in them for seven days. On the eighth day, they were to hold a sacred assembly before the Lord.  See Leviticus 23:33-43. According to Nehemiah 8:14-15, the Israelites used tree branches to build these tabernacles.

The Ark was one big tabernacle – a temporary dwelling place made out of wood. And inside, Noah was told to make rooms in it.

"So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out." Genesis 6:14.

These rooms were for both people and animals. This is significant because the first mention of the word "sukkah" (i.e. tabernacles) is in reference to livestock shelters.  "Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth." Genesis 33:17. So, the Ark itself contained numerous shelters or tabernacles.

"The Lord then said to Noah, 'Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.  Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.  Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.'"  Genesis 7:1-4.

I believe that God was establishing a pattern – one that seems to resonate with the Feast of Tabernacles. On the 7th day, God sent the judgment and Noah and his family were saved.

 

 The Ark, the Tabernacle and the New Jerusalem

There is a similarity in the dimensions between Noah’s Ark and the Tabernacle. Both are rectangles. The court of the Tabernacle was 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 5 cubits high.  The Ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.” Noah’s Ark is recognizably boat shaped, each deck of which was the same height as the tabernacle and three times the area of the tabernacle court. Consequently, Noah and his family entered a type of tabernacle when they sought safety in the Ark.

Likewise, the dimensions of the New Jerusalem and the Holy of Holies (a room inside of the Tabernacle of the Wilderness) are perfect cubes. The New Jerusalem is 12,000 stadia in length, width, and height. See Revelation 21:16. And the Holy of Holies in the Temple was 20 cubits in length, width, and height. See 1 Kings 6:2.

So, we will dwell in the New Jerusalem with God – in an eternal Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle of God. Like the Ark, it will have rooms prepared for us. (In my Father’s house are many rooms.”  John 14:1)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."  Revelation 21:3-3.

It is fitting then for us to enter into our heavenly tabernacle on the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

Psalm 27

"Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: HIDE YOURSELF as it were for a little moment, UNTIL THE WRATH is over. For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place TO PUNISH THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH FOR THEIR INIQUITY: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" (Isaiah 26:20, 21).
  
Psalm 27:5 tells us WHERE He hides us:
 
"For IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS TABERNACLE (besukkoh): IN THE SECRET PLACE of his tabernacle SHALL HE HIDE ME; he shall set me up UPON A ROCK".  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will TAKE ME UP then shall the Lord GATHER and REMOVE me" (Psalm 27:10).
 
Psalm 27 is read on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

 BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify A FAST, call A SOLEMN assembly (clearly, Yom Kippur):

GATHER the people, sanctify (SET APART) the congregation (kahal, Church), assemble the elders, GATHER the children, and those that suck the breasts:

LET THE Bridegroom GO FORTH FROM HIS CHAMBER, AND THE Bride OUT OF HER CLOSET" (LAST day of Sukkot, known as Hoshanah Rabbah) (Joel 2:15, 16).

  The word used here for "gather" in Hebrew is asaph. It's the VERY SAME WORD used in Exodus 23:16; 34:22 to refer to Sukkot as "the Feast of INGATHERING", ha asiph.

Joel BEGINS with an unmistakable reference to Yom Kippur, followed by a reference to Sukkot (the Feast of ha asif, THE GATHERING), followed by a reference to the final 7th day of Sukkot, when the Bridegroom and Bride emerge from the wedding chamber.

The Bridegroom and Bride are unequivocal references to Christ and His Church (Matthew 25:1-12).
 
The Feast of Sukkot lasts 7 days which is PRECISELY the number of days that biblical weddings were celebrated (Genesis 29:27; Judges 14:10-12).

 

ARK BROUGHT TO THE TEMPLE

Sukkot is the day when the Ark was brought into Solomon's Temple and when God's Glory (Shekinah) MANIFESTED IN its Holy of Holies (2 Chronicles 5:14 7:8-18).


"The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:“He is good; His love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God." 2 Chronicles 5:11-14

Presently, there's NO TEMPLE in Jerusalem. Born-again believers ARE God's Temple (1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

If God's Glory manifested in a temple made of stones on Sukkot, SHOULD IT NOT MANIFEST in His Temple made of LIVING STONES ON THAT DAY making us glorious and immortal? (1 Peter 2:5).

God's Word PROMISES that the Glory of the latter House (or temple, His Church) SHALL BE GREATER THAN THE FORMER (Haggai 2:9). He made this promise to Haggai on the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

  Pool of Siloam

In Jesus’ day, the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles began at the Pool of Siloam, with a joyful musical procession called Simhat Beit HaShoevah or The Rejoicing of the Water-Drawing.

During the ceremony, a designated priest, surrounded by jubilant worshippers, would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and carry it in a golden pitcher up the hill to the Temple altar. A blast of trumpets would announce his arrival. The high priest would then pour the Siloam water into one silver basin while wine was poured into another. To the accompaniment of flutes, the priests would sing “Hallelujah” (the Hallel). The celebration was based upon Isaiah 12: 3, “With joy ye shall draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Remember, it is during the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus, in the Temple courtyard, spoke of the promise of living water. Jesus may have pointed to the golden pitcher as he cried out, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." (John 7: 37)

This is the same pool where a man who was blind from birth was told by Jesus to go wash in. “Go, wash in the Pool of  Siloam,” Jesus said. The man did as he was told, and he was able to see. 

We have all been blind from birth, unable to see our precious Lord and Savior with our eyes. But on that day, He shall open our blind eyes and we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

 

 Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Jesus said: "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Hashanna Rabba  -  The Great Hosanna

On the last day of the feast (21st Tishrei), the day of the Great Hosanna was celebrated.  It was the climax of the day that was the climax of the whole season of feasts/holy days (Hosanna translates as "Save Now").  The people prayed especially for GOD'S salvation through Meshiach / MESSIAH - (the anointed one).

A joyous crowd assembled, carrying palm branches a couple of meters in length. It was said to resemble a forest in motion if seen from a rooftop. There was silence in the crowd as the priest said the Hallel (praise) Psalm 118, to which the people responded at every line with Hallelujah. The people processed seven times around the altar.

As they got to verses 25-29, they joined in with the words "Hosanna, make thy salvation now manifest, o Lord" and "O Lord send now prosperity" and they would wave their palm branches. As they reached the words  "Baruch haba bashem Adonai"  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD", the godly would greet the coming Messiah in their hearts, knowing it applied to Him.

The joy of this celebration became proverbial. "He that has not seen Simchat bet ha Sho'ebhah has not seen joy in this life". It was on this "last great day of the feast", the day of messianic expectation, that Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). He offered living water to anyone who would believe and accept him. He was saying "Look to me and be saved - I AM the great Hosanna". What Jesus was trying to tell us is that the next time He comes (at the Rapture), when WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE, the next time we will get to SEE HIM will be when the people say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." The only time the Jewish people recite this verse from Psalm 118 is on the last day of Tabernacles!

Right after the Lord made His first Triumphal Entry and the people cried "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!", He told us that we would not see Him again until the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, when once again the people cry, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" 

 

Jesus goes to the Feast of Tabernacles

When the Feast of Tabernacles drew close, Jesus' brothers suggested that He do miracles in Judea (John 7: 2-5). "Go where more people can see your miracles" they scoffed. If you're so great, prove it to the world!" For even his brothers didn't believe him. His brothers are symbolically like the Jews of modern time who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus told his brothers that His time had not yet come, and He told them to go up to the feast by themselves. Jesus then waited to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.

John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

When Jesus finally did go to the Feast of Tabernacles, He waited until the last and greatest day and tells us to COME TO HIM on that day. "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17).

Again in Revelation 22, we see the Spirit telling us to COME and drink from the water of life, a clear reference to what Jesus spoke on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Revelation 7: 17: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:9-17 is the description of the Rapture of the Church taking place on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

Revelation 7 and the Feast of Tabernacles Rapture

Revelation 7:14 And he said, “These are they who have come (erchomai) out of (ek) the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Come - Greek word is erchomai - can also mean, "arrive at" or "to go", synonym is "choreo" meaning "separation", "change of place", another synonym is "bathmos" meaning “to go away”.

Out of - Greek word is ek - can mean "out of" OR "AWAY FROM”. This verse could also be translated, "These are those who have arrived at, but separated or went away from the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.“

This is a HUGE difference from "come out of", which insinuates that they have already gone through the great tribulation. I believe the correct interpretation for this verse is "went away from", not "came out of". With that in mind, let’s look at what Revelation 7:9-17 is saying about the Rapture on the 7th day of Tabernacles in 2012:

Revelation 7:9-17 "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, "These are those who have gone away from (or arrived at but went away from) the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in his temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. On the "last and greatest day" of the Feast, the people gathered at the Temple, bearing palm branches in their right hand and citron fruit [for their sweet fragrance] in their left hand.  As the water and wine was poured out, the priests sang the Hallel psalms, remembering God's mercies and praising Him for His greatness.  As the singing drew to a close, the people vigorously shook their palm branches [representing the Lord SHAKING the heavens on the earth on this day] toward the altar, with the intent of reminding God of His promises. 

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The word “Salvation” here means deliverance, preservation, or safety, exactly what happens at the Rapture. This last day of the Feast of Tabernacles was called the “Day of the Great Hosanana” meaning “save us now”!

“They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in his temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence.”  The Greek word here for shelter is “skenoo” and means to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), to tabernacle with.

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.” Jesus told all who were thirsty to COME TO HIM on the last day of Tabernacles.

The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.”  They escape the Great Tribulation where the sun is scorching those left behind. Revelation 16:8-9 says, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.”

 He will lead them to springs of living water.”  On the last day, that great day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

 

Nuclear War and the Feast of Tabernacles

Fire offerings were presented to the Lord on everyday of the Feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah prophesied about a “fire offering” and described it as a nuclear missile in the book of Zechariah 5:1-9: I, Zechariah, looked up and saw a flying scroll in the sky. And the angel that was showing me these things said, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll; 34.3 feet long, and 5.5 feet in diameter." Then he said, "This is the curse that will afflict the entire land of Israel.  Every one that steals and every one that swears falsely by my name will be destroyed by it.  And I will bring it forth, says YHWH T'zavaot. This flying scroll that you see, will completely consume the timbers and stones of the house of the thief, and he that swears falsely by my name.“ Then the angel said, "Look up and see what this flying scroll is." And I responded, "What is it?" And he said,

"This is a container that flies." He said, "Furthermore, this is their appearance throughout the whole earth." Then I saw a mass of lead and a fire offering, as it was lifted up and secured in the container. And he said, "The fire that you see being put in the container, is an evil fire offering." Then he secured the fire offering in the container and put the lead mass in the opening. Then I looked up and saw as two fires came out of the container, and the fires caused the wind to lift the container by its 'stork like' wings, from the earth into the sky.   

 

A Bride Catching Festival

Judges 21:19-25 deals with the time that the Tribe of Benjamin was permitted to seize wives as they are dancing at "the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh." (Shiloh is the place where the Tabernacle of Moses was set up in Joshua 18:1. It was still there when the narrative in Judges takes place.) The text tells us that the girls are dancing in a vineyard, so the festival is likely to be connected to the end of the grape harvest, or Feast of Tabernacles. 

Furthermore, since the men of Israel were required to go to Shiloh to observe the Pilgrimage Festivals while the Tabernacle was there, it is quite possible that festival was the Feast of Tabernacles.  (Later, when the Temple was built in Jerusalem, Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem.)

There may be a hidden pattern in the narrative. According to the Bible, the Tribe of Benjamin had offended the Israelites by their unwillingness to surrender fellow Benjamites who had committed a heinous crime. A conflict ensued between the two sides resulting in the deaths of the entire Tribe of Benjamin, with the exception of 600 fighting men. According to Judges 20:47: "But six hundred men turned and fled into the desert to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months."  Now, the Israelites had made an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to any Benjamite.  Consequently, they realized that the tribe of all men was bound to die out.  Regretting their vow, but unable to break it, they devised a plan to get wives for the remaining 600 Benjamites.  First, they determined that no one from the camp of Jabesh Gilead had assisted them in the war.  So they put that entire camp to death, except for 400 virgin girls.  Then they took the girls to Shiloh and sent an offer of peace to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon, who accepted the women as wives.  

Then they told the remaining 200 men to go to an annual festival of the Lord at Shiloh.  "So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, 'Go and hide in the vineyards and watch.  When the girls of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, then rush from the vineyards and each of you seize a wife from the girls of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin. When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, 'Do us a kindness by helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war, and you are innocent, since you did not give your daughters to them.' So that is what the Benjamites did.  While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife."  Judges 21:20-23.

Perhaps this strange story about the snatching of brides is prophetic.  Perhaps its timing, during the grape harvest, gives us a clue to the timing of the Rapture.  Judges 21:23 uses an interesting Hebrew word for "took" – it is "nasa." It means "to lift up."  It is the same word used in Genesis 7:17 to describe the lifting of Noah's Ark during the Flood.

"For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth."  Genesis 7:17.

Please notice that the 600 Benjamites obtained wives in increments of 400 and 200.  First through killing, and second through a bride snatch.  If you add an extra zero to 600, 400, and 200, you can see the timeline of 6000 years of human history.  During the initial 4000 years, God obtained a wife through killing or the sacrificial system.  After the final 2000 years, Christ will obtain His wife through a bride snatch – the Rapture.

The name Benjamin translates to "son of the right hand."  Jesus Christ is the ultimate Son of God's right hand.  "Jesus replied, 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"  Matthew 26:64.  The 600 Benjamites initially fled to the "rock of Rimmon." Rimmon is Hebrew for "pomegranates."  The fruit is connected to only the High Priest. Jesus is not only our High Priest, but He is also our Rock.  The Benjamites stayed at Rimmon for four months before they seize their wives at Shiloh where the Tabernacle is located. There are four months between the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus said, “Do you not say 4 months until the Harvest? Pentecost was the beginning of the wheat harvest and the Feast of Tabernacles is the harvest at the end of the age.

 

Pattern from the Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is discussed in three out of the four Gospels: Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-3; Luke 9:28-36.  The accounts are all similar: Jesus, Peter, James and John go up a high mountain where Jesus is transfigured before them.  Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear in “glorious splendor.” (Luke 9:31.)  A cloud envelopes all of them and they hear the voice of God. Peter says something that may connect the Transfiguration to the Feast of Tabernacles; he asks if they should build 3 tabernacles. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Matthew 17:4

This statement may also give us insight into the timing of the Rapture, because there seems to be a parallel between the Transfiguration and the Rapture passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:  “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.”

At the Transfiguration, Moses represents the dead in Christ because he experienced death.  Elijah represents those who are alive at the time of the Rapture because he never experienced death.  They, the dead and the alive, join Jesus and are transformed. Also, Old Testament saints and New Testament saints are together during this event as represented by Moses, Elijah, and the three disciples.  

Although they are not in the air, they are on a “high mountain.” (Matthew 17:1.)  A cloud envelopes them and they are with the Lord in the clouds.  Lastly, the voice of God is heard, and we know from other scripture that the voice of God is like the sound of a trumpet. (See Revelation 1:10 and 4:1.)

The Transfiguration appears to be a rehearsal for the Rapture. It is also an indicator for its timing. "And AFTER SIX DAYS Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart." Why POINT OUT in all three Gospels that this happened "AFTER SIX DAYS"? What comes during the Feast of Tabernacles AFTER 6 DAYS? (ON THE 7TH DAY)??? Hoshanah Rabbah (meaning THE GREAT SALVATION).

The Transfiguration is also showing the timing of the start of the two witnesses. Revelation 11:6: "They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” Who was the one person in the Old Testament that shut up the heavens so that it did not rain? Who was the one who turned water into blood? This is a reference to Elijah and Moses, the 2 that came down on the mountain to meet with Jesus and then Peter says that He will make 3 tabernacles for them. The Tribulation Saints (Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians) will have the anointing of Elijah and Moses during the Great Tribulation and go forth to do many great signs and wonders. Once again, the Scripture is pointing us to the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles as the Rapture and also the starting of the ministry of the 2 witnesses of Revelation. It is the beginning of the 1260 days of the ministry of the 2 witnesses (left behind Christians – both Messianic Jews and Gentile believers) and also the beginning of the 1260 days that the woman is given wings of an eagle to fly to a place prepared for her.

 

The Wedding and the Jewish Bridegroom/Bride 

Before Jesus left earth at his first advent, he gave his beloved disciples a most precious promise. It was the promise of a Jewish bridegroom to a bride: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Jesus’ disciples knew the words because they were the traditional words of a man to his bride at the time of engagement, or betrothal. After those words, there was a time of great anticipation, and much work to accomplish. The bridegroom would “prepare a place” for his bride by building on to his father’s house a dwelling for the new couple, and plan for a seven-day wedding feast. Meanwhile, the bride planned for her move to a new home when her bridegroom would return, and prepared her special attire for the occasion.

The return of Christ to take his bride is referred to in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. After a long engagement, up to a year or more, the day would come when the bridegroom would snatch away his bride in a romantic nighttime procession.

Perhaps Paul had this custom in mind when he wrote, “We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ... so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).  

The virgins were close friends of the bride. They were to be ready when the bridegroom, at the direction of his father, would come to retrieve his bride and return for the marriage feast. This happened during the night, keenly anticipated, yet suddenly, at a time unknown. When awakened, these friends of the bride would trim their lamps and attend to the bride while proclaiming to the people that the groom had arrived to snatch away his bride and commence a week-long celebration. 

The presence of the bridegroom was initially alarming, waking the town’s people with the sound of a shofar and loud voices, proclaiming “behold the bridegroom,” he has returned for his bride. A wedding processional would emerge starting with the close friends of the bride and bridegroom and eventually extend an invitation to the marriage feast to all the people. With torches in hand, the sound of a trumpet and shouts of excitement and joy, it was a festive night. In other ways it was quite disconcerting to those who were suddenly awakened and then tried to fall back to sleep in spite of the celebration going on in their streets. This sudden march of loud people in the middle of the night was the only method of invitation to the week-long event commencing in earnest the next morning.

Once the procession reached the bridegroom’s home, after an intimate midnight celebration with friends and servants, the happy couple entered the nuptial chamber to celebrate their union. The bride remained in their private room for seven days enjoying the exclusive company of her groom, still attended by her friends (the virgins). During this time, the groom, his family, friends and servants would attend to the guests. The bride would be revealed to waiting guests at the end of seven days. In some cases the identity of the veiled bride was unknown until the last day of the feast. The bride is revealed to the universe on the LAST DAY of the FEAST. Romans 8:19: The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

“The heavens are proclaiming the glory of Yah; and the expanse is declaring the work of His hand. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, and there are no words, their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He SET UP A TENT for the sun, and it is like a BRIDEGROOM COMING OUT OF HIS ROOM, It rejoices like a strong man to run the path.”

 

The Birth of Jesus Christ 

Many scholars believe that Jesus was born in the fall. It is likely, then, that His birth is prophetically connected to one of the three fall feasts. If Jesus was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, His birth and circumcision would coincide with the exact days that people were required to assemble for that Feast. See Leviticus 23:35-36. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph literally lived outside in a temporary structure, a place for animals, during the time of His birth. "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:7.  We find out in Genesis 33:17 that Jacob made booths or shelters for his cattle; the Hebrew word used for those booths is the same word used for the Feast of Tabernacles – "succoth." Think about that! Jesus actually complied with the mandate to live in a tabernacle at His birth.  So, whenever you see a nativity scene in someone's yard at Christmastime, remember that you are seeing a Jewish family living outside in a temporary structure. Which is exactly what happens every fall during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Two significant things happened to Jesus Christ on His eighth day: “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.”  Luke 2:21. He received His name Jesus and He was circumcised.

Circumcision is the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant that God made with the Jews: “Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you …. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.” Genesis 17:10-13.

There may be a connection between this and the Church of Philadelphia of Revelation 3:7-13.  Philadelphia is the church that God promises to “keep from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”  Revelation 3:10. Its members are associated with those who will participate in the Rapture. Philadelphia is told the following: “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.  Never again will he leave it.  I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”  Revelation 3:12. Revelation 3:12. 

“For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-5


http://jesusiscoming2015.webs.com/whenistherapture.htm

March 31 / April 1, 2013 Rapture? A look at the 7th day of Passover (parts 1-3)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1rJcN7jlzU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ci6DG0NdTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OXPYH_A9sM