As we prepare to remember Passover, I am reminded that it also contained two other equally important feasts; Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. In fact Passover began a countdown of sorts to the first of God’s supernatural harvests. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the next day after Passover and the Feast of First Fruits began on the next Sunday, which was usually 3-7 days later depending on the year. First Fruits marked the first of the annual harvests and a sheaf of barley was waved before the LORD in thanksgiving for the coming harvest. Prophetically, Jesus was raised from the dead on this exact feast day and represents the first fruit of the harvest of souls to come. Fifty days later the second of the annual harvest days occurred – Pentecost. This harvest marked the bringing in of the wheat harvest. Prophetically it represents the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit, spoken of by the prophet Joel as the ‘former rain’. Christians recognize it as the beginning of the New Testament Church. This marks the end of the Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost) and there is a long period of time before the Fall Feasts of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles begin. Prophetically, this time between the Spring and Fall Feasts represents the Church age and the Diaspora of the Jewish people.
In this Blood Red Moon cycle, we are about to celebrate Passover and next will be the Feast of Trumpets, which will be marked with a complete eclipse of the sun. Trumpets marks a time of alarm and war and the intervention of the Lord into the affairs of men. The fact that a major eclipse of the sun also occurs should alert us all to the possibility of the soon outbreak of war between the nations and Israel. Closely following is Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, a time of God’s judgment being meted out. This is also the end of the seventh consecutive Shemitah, or Sabbath year, and the beginning of the Year of Jubilee. Will this mark a time of financial collapse in the United States and other nations of the world? Finally, we come to Sukkot, or the Feast of tabernacles, which marks the third and final harvest of the year and is known as the fruit harvest. Jews build temporary outside shelters to commemorate their wilderness travels after Exodus and decorate them with various fruits from the final harvest. It is a time of great joy for the harvest and for the rest from the rigors of harvesting which follows.
Prophetically revealed in these seven Feasts of the Lord are three major harvests, each accompanied by great outpourings of the Holy Spirit: First Fruits, which highlights the resurrection of the dead; Pentecost, which highlights the ‘former rain‘ and the establishing of the Church; and Tabernacles, which highlights the ‘later rain‘ and the final in-gathering of the harvest season.
What does this mean to us? Certainly, we can expect troubling times among the nations:
- Islamic turmoil and threats against Israel and the possible outbreak of war;
- Russia continuing to flex its military muscle threatening further expansion into the Baltic states;
- China taking advantage of American leadership weakness by expanding its military and financial strength;
- European financial troubles and the formation of new European structures;
- American decline as its leadership destroys its foundations and its own people continue their rebellion against God and His principles. God’s warning judgments that began in 2000 will continue probably collapsing its financial gods.
- The Holy Spirit will be poured out in great measure upon those who are seeking God and seeking to do His will. In the midst of great trouble, there will be great harvest for the kingdom of God. God will not be building big-name ministries but will be building His kingdom and preparing His people for the judgments coming.
- The nation of Israel will be tested in the wars to come (Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38) but while many will perish there will be a turning back to the LORD and their eyes will be opened to see their Messiah, Yeshua.
You must decide for yourselves if my analysis is correct or not. But, one thing I know – these will be troubling times and God is speaking for people to prepare. God has given only one way to safety and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ. I pray you find it.