Rowina,

This year I didn't post much on Tu B'Av, but in previous years I wrote quite a lot.  I believe Tu B'Av is indeed worthy

of our heightened expectation.  It is when the virgins put on white dresses and danced in the vineyards to attract a husband.  It was called the happiest celebration of the year.  It is when the tribe of Benjamin (who couldn't get brides from among the other tribes at any other time of the year) was allowed to snatch brides and carry them off.  This was originally a celebration commemorate when the Jews who wandered in the wilderness would no longer sleep in their graves, cross the Jordan and be led by Joshua into the promised land.  A beautiful parallel to the rapture isn't it.  There other parallels I've not touched on here.

 

Each year when Tu B'Av draws near, I look for the rapture. But when it doesn't occur then, I watch to see if it comes on another feast date.  Here's what I think.  There are some similarities (parallels) to the rapture in nearly all the feasts.  It's just that each of the different elements of Tu B'Av stick out as the most similar.

 

The difficulty is that we just can't be completely sure of the timing...at least not yet.  There is only one thing I am sure about.  When we get really close to the actual rapture event we will all be sure of it.  Even the unprepared!  All 10 virgins in Jesus' parable knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Groom was coming.  Five were ready and five were not, but all 10 knew He was coming!  So if there is divided opinion about this feast day or that feast day, then I guess we are still not there yet.

 

Until then, we watch, wait and pray.  We study the scriptures and observe the signs.  We make ourselves ready and try to tell others that Jesus is coming soon.  If there's one thing I am absolutely certain about... it's that when the rapture draws close we ( prepared and unprepared Christians) will all know it. 

 

YBIC

Bruce Baber