The three fall feasts.
The fall season is now upon us and with it comes three major Jewish holidays that have great prophetic significance for us as believers. The three fall feasts are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Each of these feasts has a universally accepted meaning to Jewish people in general, but to those who have received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, there is a deeper, more prophetic meaning. Let’s look at each of them in turn and pray into the prophetic meaning of each of these holidays on our day of fasting and prayer. Interestingly, our October day of fasting and prayer falls on one of them – Yom Kippur!
ROSH HASHANAH is the Day of Trumpets (Sept 25-26). It is widely celebrated in the Jewish world as the civil new year, and is the entranceway into the ‘Days of Awe.’ The blasts of the shofar is the wake-up call to repent before it is too late. Even those of us who have received salvation need to be shaken out of our complacency and pushed to higher levels in Messiah. As believers though, we are desperately awaiting that time when the Lord Himself will return to this Earth. Scripture states in that the “Lord himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar; those who died united with the Messiah will be the first to rise; then we who are left still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17)
The blast of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah will signal the end of the world as we know it. And then, “It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) So we approach the Day of Trumpets with godly fear and repentance.
YOM KIPPUR is considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (Oct 4-5), after Shabbat (Sabbath day of rest). This is the day in which atonement for our sins is made before the Lord by Jewish people. It is a day of somber reflection, prayer and fasting. In ancient Israel, after the high priest sacrificed the bull and goat for the sins of the people, a second goat, known as the scapegoat, was taken by the high priest. He would lay both hands on its head and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites and put them on the goat’s head. He would then send the goat away into the desert to a solitary place. (Leviticus 16:20-22)
As believers, we know, of course, that our atonement is Jesus himself. It is only through His sacrificial death on the cross that we can receive forgiveness of sins. He is the scapegoat, sent to die outside the camp for all our wickedness and rebellion. It was all placed on His head, thus causing Him to die the most horrible death in all human history. The atonement of Jesus reaches backwards and forwards so that every person who has ever existed can repent before God and be saved. What an awesome thing!
SUKKOT, or the Feast of Tabernacles (Oct 9-16), is the most joyous celebration of all. The Lord commanded the Israelites to build booths and live in them for seven days: 42 For seven days you must live outside in little shelters. All native-born Israelites must live in shelters. 43 This will remind each new generation of Israelites that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I rescued them from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:42-43, NLT)
Jewish people are also commanded, “On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees—palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the Lord your God for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:40, NLT) Sukkot is the ingathering; it’s the time to remember how the Lord provided for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert for forty years.
Prophetically, though, Sukkot points us to the time when God will dwell with us in the holy city, Jerusalem.
This is what the Lord says: “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain. (Zechariah 8:3, NLT)
Imagine what it will be like when the Lord returns to this earth and sets up His throne and all peoples stream to Him! “And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped. (Zechariah 14:9, NLT) Now we need to be commanded to be joyful, then there will be no holding back the exaltation!
Our bodies are temporary structures, like the booths at Sukkot. A day is coming when we will be given new bodies, we will realize eternity, and the Lord will be with us always. “For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17, NLT)
Let’s fast and prayer into the significance of these fall feasts as it relates to the work of the kingdom of God on earth now!
Prayer Points
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Leviticus 16:20-22; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 7:17
Thank the Lord for allowing you to participate in this month’s day of fasting and prayer Today is Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement); Praise the Lord.
1 John 1:9 – Confess any known and unknown sins.
Praise the Lord for bringing you and your household through the first nine months of the year 2022.
1 Thess 4:17 – Father, I thank You for my future with You in eternity. I thank You for the hope it gives me to live now. (praise Him)
Leviticus 16:21 – Father, I thank You for the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I don’t take it for granted. (pray this fervently)
1 Thess 4:16 – God of Hosts, I ask that my household and I would not be found wanting when the SHOFAR sounds. Oh Lord, save us. (pray this fervently)
God of Hosts, I ask that PPT and the church would not be found wanting when the SHOFAR sounds. (pray this fervently)
1 Thess 4:17 – Jesus, strip myself, my household, PPT and the church of any hindrances, obstacles, pediments, attitudes, habits and behaviours. I affirm that I am heaven bound. (pray this fervently)
Isaiah 53:5 – Father, grant me access to all the benefits and power of the atonement of the sins of mankind by Jesus.
Isaiah 53:5 – Father, grant PPT and the church access to all the benefits and power of the atonement of the sins of mankind by Jesus.
Zechariah 14:9 – Elohim, I ask of You in Jesus name to reign in my life, household, PPT and the church.
Zechariah 14:9 – Jehovah, I ask of You in Jesus name to reign in our land, reign in our culture, O Lord reign Jesus reign. (pray this fervently)
Rev 7:17 – Lamb of God, shepherd me, my household, PPT and the church guide us to the springs of Life in this season. (pray this fervently)
Pray for all the PPT supported missionaries. Pray for the Woods family for God’s comfort and strength.
Prayer Declaration
As we are into the last quarter of 2022, with a heart of gratitude, I say, thank you Great God of wonders. Jehovah Ebenezer, this is how far you have brought me, my household, and PPT. Father, I thank you for the future because you are Jehovah Shammah, the Lord that is always there. You have been with us from the beginning of 2022 and your assured presence will continue to be with us going forward.
Lord, I decree that your assured presence will give us hope to live and not be afraid of the future. Jehovah Jireh, I thank you that you will make available to us all the benefits of your providence. Jehovah Nissi, I shout Hallelujah for the seen and unseen victories that have come my way this year.
I decree that my life will diffuse the fragrance of victory daily in this quarter. I decree that PPT households will diffuse the fragrance of victory daily in this quarter. Elohim I appreciate you. PPT appreciates you. Jehovah Raah, the Lord my shepherd I thank you that in this quarter, you will guide me, my household and PPT to the springs of life, fulfillment, grace, healing, joy, and peace in Jesus name and so shall it be.