Former & Latter
Feast of Trumpets
Passport Destination No. 5
God's Plan for Protection
God grants protection to those who are ready and watching for Him
Story Destinations:
Noah and the Flood
& The Parable
of the 10
Virgins
On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord. Leviticus 23:24-25
Protecting Noah
If you knew a catastrophic flood was coming, wouldn't you do anything and everything possible to get you, your family, and your children on the ark?
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It is shocking to me that only one family believed God meant what He said when He said He was going to send a worldwide flood.
As the saying goes, "there is nothing new under the sun", so history has a way of repeating itself. Just as the world mocked Noah's God-given escape plan in preparation for a worldwide event, so the world mocks those who prepare for the return of Yeshua, Jesus in these end times.
When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:37-39
Did you see those 3 saddest words in the above scripture? "People didn't realize." Might we hear those words repeated when the tribulation floods the earth? Why didn't more people realize the severity of the situation and get on board with the truth?
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Feast of Trumpets is a mysterious day. Because it is the only feast to begin on a new moon, it is unknown when that new moon will actually appear and be sighted. For this reason, the Feast of Trumpets is called the unknown day and hour. But, one thing is for sure. Once it arrives, it most definitely becomes known to all just like when it began to rain and the earth released its floodwaters. From the sharp shrills to the deep bellows of the shofar (trumpet), the feast is announced throughout the entire city. The blasts continue all day and all night. But, imagine if no one was waiting and watching for that new moon? Surely, the feast belongs to the LORD and would go on with or without everyone since He is never late to His own appointments. One day, perhaps very soon, the Feast of Trumpets will conclude with one long, loud, last trump and the dead in Christ will rise and those who remain will be caught up in the air to be with the LORD (1 Corinthians 15:52).
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I grew up being taught that no one knows the day or the hour of the LORD's return. That is a true statement but one that has become highly misunderstood and misused. While we can't possibly know the exact day and hour, we were given signs to look for and we were given the season and feast to anticipate so that it would not be a surprise. If you believe the LORD's return will be a surprise, the Bible refers to you as one who belongs to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)!
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Not everyone who says "LORD, LORD" will enter the kingdom. Another sad and sobering reason to wake up and be ready. The parable of the 10 virgins uncovers the reason why it is so eternally important to not pride yourself as a bride betrothed to Yeshua, Jesus, but to actually live and walk in a state of wakeful, watchful readiness and wisdom to discern where your source of oil comes from.
Parable of the 10 Virgins
Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.
Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
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So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Matthew 25:1-13
I don't like everything in the Bible...there, I said it. I don't always see the grace cohabitating with justice, love dwelling with wrath. But God's ways are beyond our comprehension and we would be a lot better off if we trusted God over trying to understand God. This parable is so disturbing because it argues it is not enough to simply claim to know the LORD or even be betrothed.
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There are numerous interpretations of this parable, all trying to explain the where, what, why, and how. But here are a few key takeaways:
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Ask for wisdom! Be a wise virgin. Those who ask for wisdom are granted wisdom (James 1:5).
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Bring extra oil! Be prepared physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Faith is a marathon, not a sprint. The spirit of the antichrist will do everything to weigh you down and burn you out. Know where lasting oil comes from, go only to the LORD for refills.
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Beware of merchants! The world is full of compromises, empty promises, and many who will try to sell you distractions and solutions. Don't lose your soul for the sake of trying to save your life (Luke 17:33).
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Keep watch! Look for the LORD's return, don't just say and know it will happen one of these days. Seek to understand the times and seasons to avoid being deceived.
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No matter what generation is alive at His return, all who eagerly look for His appearing are promised a specific reward...the crown of righteousness! Let no one take your crown away with temptations to waiver in the waiting or give in to the fears of this world instead of living in obedience to God (Revelation 3:11).
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
As the tribulation draws close, we will not board a boat for protection from a worldwide flood. Rather, the ark is our groom, Yeshua, who will come to get us before the worldwide tribulation. Wake up and get ready! The last trump is going to sound on a Feast of Trumpets very soon.
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Attention all family members...Now is the time to get those passports out and look at your Feast of Trumpets itinerary. You will see a list of suggested destination experiences for you and your family to choose from and complete in order to earn your Trumpets stamp. Enjoy this journey together and check back here when you are ready to plan your next Biblical holiday destination. Remember to contact your tour guide (me!) if you have any questions along the way.