The Rapture on Rosh Hashanah

Here is an encouraging letter from Carl Worline at 5 Doves to stay extra alert and watchful to this coming Sept - Oct. for our Blessed Hope! :popcorn

The Rapture on Rosh Hashanah

By Carl Worline

Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets (and by many other names as we shall soon see) is the fifth of seven Jewish holy days known as moedim (plural for moed).  It is also the next moed to be fulfilled.

Rosh Hashanah is unique because there is no explicit reason given in the Torah for its observance, other than to “rest” and to sacrifice.  It was a “mystery” that was only revealed in the Bible much later when Paul said:

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Rosh Hashanah is a day of rest where no ordinary labor is to be performed.  It is considered to be the day to rest in the finished work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives.  It is the day when all of our earthly struggles are over.

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of 10 days of intense spiritual preparation for the Day of Atonement.

Jewish tradition holds that Adam and Eve were created on Rosh Hashanah, which is Tishrei 1.  Some also believe that this was the day on which Jesus was born.

Rosh Hashanah is known as the birthday of the world since the world was created on this day according to the Talmud (Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 11a).  The first words of the Book of Genesis (Bereishit), “in the beginning,” when changed around reads, Aleph b’ Tishrei, or “on the first of Tishrei”.  Therefore, Rosh Hashanah is known among the Jews as the birthday of the world.

Some traditions hold that the gates of heaven are opened on Rosh Hashanah for a short time so that the righteous nation may enter.

There are 4 New Years on the Jewish calendar.  Rosh Hashanah occurs on Tishrei 1 and is the New Year of years.  Rosh Hashanah is also the New Year for sabbatical years and jubilees, as well as for the sowing and harvesting of crops.

Rosh Hashanah came to be known as the Feast Where No Man Knows the Day or Hour because it commences on a new moon rather than a full moon.  A new moon is when the moon is totally dark, giving off no illumination.  With anything less than an absolutely clear sky it is impossible to tell when the moon is at its darkest and it takes at least 2 visual sightings of the first thin crescent to confirm the new moon.  Therefore, it is difficult to predict when this actually takes place.

The new moon was sanctified when two witnesses saw the first sliver of the new moon and attested to it before the Sanhedrin in the Temple.  This sanctification could happen during either of two days, depending on when the witnesses came to the Temple.  Rosh Hashanah is observed over the two-day period of Tishrei 1 and Tishrei 2 due to uncertainty about celebrating it on the correct day.  These two days are regarded as yoma arikhta, one long day.

If you were to say to any good American “Come on over on Turkey Day and we will watch the game together on TV,” he would immediately know you were referring to Thanksgiving.  Mention the day that nobody knows the day or hour of to any good Jew and he would instinctively know what day you were referring to as well.  That day would be Rosh Hashanah.

Jesus referred to the day that no man knows the day or hour of 4 times during the Olivet Discourse in reference to His return:

·      Matthew 24:36

·      Matthew 24:42-44

·      Matthew 24:50

·      Matthew 25:13-15

Since Jesus repeatedly used variations of the phrase that no man knows the day or hour in connection with His return, many believe that the rapture will occur on Rosh Hashanah of some year.

Jesus also repeatedly used the analogy of the Jewish wedding to the Rapture of the Church.  In Jewish wedding tradition it is customary to respond to a question of when the wedding will occur with “I do not know the day or the hour.  Only my father knows.”  This is because the bride’s father sets the date of the wedding when he is satisfied that all things are ready.  When the wedding day approaches the father gives the all clear and the groom comes with a shout and a trumpet blast to claim his bride.  Then the groom takes her away to their new home for 7 days of rejoicing.

Rosh Hashanah is the only Jewish feast (moed) where the moon is hidden.  The moon is an allusion and represents the Bride of Christ.  The moon does not give off any light of its own.  It only reflects the light of the sun.

Rosh Hashanah is the only feast where the blowing of trumpets is a central theme.

Paul told us very clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that the rapture will occur “at the Last Trumpet.”  In the Bible, Pentecost is known as the first trumpet.  Yom Kippur is known as the great trumpet.  Rosh Hashanah is known as the last trumpet.

Because the last trumpet is only blown on Rosh Hashanah and because the apostle Paul specifically mentions that the Rapture of the believers in Christ will take place at the Last Trumpet, Paul was giving a clear understanding (I believe) that the Rapture of the believers will happen some year on Rosh Hashanah.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye , at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

During Rosh Hashanah trumpets are blown for 30 days leading up to the feast, and finish with the blowing of “the Last Trumpet.”  On each of these 30 days, the shofar is blown 100 times (3 distinct sounds blown in sets of 9 and repeated 11 times, for a total of 99).  The last sound is a long blast, and is always referred to as “the Last Trumpet.”

Another name for Rosh Hashanah is “The Day of the Awakening Blast.”  Here, the word “blast” is referring to, I believe, the blast of the Trumpet of God.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

In addition to blowing trumpets on this day and on each day leading up to this day, Jewish beliefs, customs, and traditions also include shouting on Rosh Hashanah.  Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom Teruah, The Day of Shouting.  Notice in the verses above from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of an archangel.

Jewish beliefs, customs, and traditions are important because the Bible tells us that the Jews are God’s chosen people.  Jesus was a Jew and, in the Bible, He told us that He was sent to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.  We must also keep in mind that the Jews do not believe that Jesus is their Messiah (except for a small minority of messianic Jews).  Therefore, it is very significant to note that when Judaism confirms something in Christianity, it should be considered a special confirmation.

As I mentioned above, Rosh Hashanah is known by many names.  One of these traditional names is “The Day of the Resurrection of the Righteous Dead.”  I find the idea of the Jews believing in a day for the resurrection of the righteous dead to be very interesting.  They know that this day will come.  They just do not realize that it will be that of the Rapture of the Church.

Another traditional name for Rosh Hashanah is The Hidden Day, The Day of Concealment, or The Day of Hiding (as in hiding the bride from the tribulation).

Your dead will live; their corpses will rise.  You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is the dew of dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.  Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while, until indignation runs its course.  For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed, and will no longer cover her slain(Isaiah 26:19-21).

Rosh Hashanah is sometimes referred to as The Day of Remembrance, The Day of the Opening of Books, and The Day of Judgement.  All of these Jewish beliefs and customs fit perfectly with the Christian idea of a yet future Rapture of the Church.

Lastly, there is one more aspect of Rosh Hashanah that strongly implies a rapture on this Jewish holy day.  Rosh Hashanah is known among Jews as The Day of the Wedding of the Messiah (Ha Kiddushin/Nesuin) and The Day of the Coronation, or Crowning of the Messiah (Ha Melech).  Likewise, Jesus and Paul both likened the Rapture of the Church to a Jewish Wedding.

So, why is it that we are only now beginning to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together?  Why are we only now beginning to understand this End Times mystery?  It would seem that nobody before us was clever enough.  Even the prophets who were the first to record them did not fully understand.  The prophet Daniel complained about this to the angel Gabriel, who was the one who revealed them to Daniel:

As for me, I heard but could not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.  Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.” (Daniel 12:8-12).

Daniels words (and I believe the words of many others) were concealed and sealed up until the End Time.  We are now in the End Time.

I believe that Jesus and Paul told us both directly and indirectly to look for the Rapture of the Church, the Blessed Hope, to occur on Rosh Hashanah of some year.  Will it be this year?  I dearly hope so.  There are so many signs of an imminent rapture in front of us at this very moment that it has become practically impossible to see the road ahead of us.  Every indication says we are in the very Last Days of the End Times.

Rosh Hashanah for 2019 begins at sundown in Jerusalem on September 29th.  It ends at sundown in Jerusalem on October 1st.

Are you ready??

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