Yom Teruah (Day of the Shout / Feast of Trumpets)
In Leviticus 23:24 the Lord tells us that this day is to be a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar; we are not to do any kind of ordinary work and we are to bring an offering made by fire. During this time, as we offer ourselves as a burnt offering (complete surrender and devotion to the Lord) we are remembering the Lord’s faithfulness and his promises, and he is remembering us. The Lord instructs us to announce this day with a blast on the shofar. In obedience to the Lord’s instructions we are being prepared for the day when the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with the trump (shofar) of God and call up all who belong to him, the dead first and those who remain alive (1Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The sound of the shofar calls for us to awake, pay attention and get into position. When the shofar is sounded there is always an action that follows, the walls of captivity are broken down (Joshua 6:2-5, 20), the enemy is reminded of his defeat (Judges 7:19-21), judgment of sin (Ezekiel 33:3-6), establishment of a king (1 Kings 1:34), declaration of a new beginning (Psalms 81:3), worship and praise to Adonai (Psalms 47:5-6; Isaiah 27:13), warning of the coming Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1), judgment on the earth (Revelation 8:6-9, 16) and the establishment of God’s Kingdom (Revelation 11:15). The shofar is a foreshadow of Yeshua (Keren Yeshuah) who is the Horn of Salvation (Psalm 18:2). Yeshua is the mighty deliverer who was made a ransom to liberate all who would surrender to God and put their trust in him (Luke 1:69). His name alone (which means salvation) has defeated Satan. He stands as Judge over all (John 5:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10). Yeshua is coming back as a conquering King and there will be a new beginning (Revelation 11:15).
As we celebrate Yom Teruah we are exalting Yeshua as King over our lives and we are worshipping and praising him for delivering us from the captivity of sin and for his victory over the Adversary.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
The High priest was to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the ark cover and in front of the ark to make atonement for the uncleanness of the people amongst the Holy place, the Tent of meeting, and the Altar (Lev. 16:15-19). The High priest was also instructed to sacrifice two goats one was “Adonai goat” and the other was “Azazel goat” (Lev. 16:5-10). The goat for Adonai was to be sacrificed to make atonement for the sins of the people and the goat for Azazel was offered to make atonement by carrying the sin of the people away into the wilderness, where it was left to die. Adonai declared that on this day the people would be forgiven, cleansed and that righteousness would be restored to the people and the land (Lev 16:32-34).
Yom Kippur is a foreshadow of the justice and retribution Yeshua bestowed to us. Yeshua was our High Priest, the mediator between man and God, as he shed his blood and placed it on the Ark Cover of heaven, opening the way back to YHVH (Matt. 27:51, 1Tim. 2:5, Heb. 10:19-20). Yeshua was our substitute as “Adonai’s goat” by offering his sinless life and atoning blood to bear the sins of the world. Yeshua took our death and gave us his life, offering forgiveness and restoration to all who accept his Salvation (Rom. 3:25-26, 1 Peter. 3:18). Yeshua was also our sin bearer as “Azazel goat” when he carried our sins in his body, died on the stake and was place in the tomb. Removing the curse of sin from amongst us (Matt. 13:41-42, 1 Cor. 15:54-55, Col.2:14-15, 1 Peter 2:24).
As we celebrate Yom Kippur, we give thanks to God for His perfect sacrifice that enables us to enter into His very presence; not limited to entering in just once a year, but now having access every day of the year. We acknowledge God as The Judge and the Source of Justice that allows us to walk in freedom and victory, compelling us to examine ourselves and sever all ties to sin. It is a time for us to reflect on the faithfulness of God and reaffirm our commitment to follow Yeshua whole-heartedly. Yom Kippur is also a rehearsal, a time to set our sight on that Great Day when Yeshua returns to utterly destroy all sin and uncleanness from amongst us, bringing a new heaven and a new earth. Where all whose name is written in the Book of Life will live, thrive and sing praises to our Redeemer Yeshua in the very presence of God forever! (Matt. 13:41, 2 Thess. 1:6-10, Rev. 21:22-27)
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacle)
The feast is described in Scripture in Ex 23:14-17, Lev 23:33-44, Num 29:12-39, Deut 16:13-15, Ezra 3:4 and Neh 8:13-18. Sukkot is a reminder of Yahweh’s constant presence in that He goes forth with His people. He is faithful in that He will never fail nor abandon His children (Deut 31:6) because they will dwell with Him forever. Sukkot is also a picture of the harvest-gathering of all who believe in the Messiah and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb when the Bride of Messiah will joyfully dwell with the Bridegroom in His kingdom (John 14:2-3).
The Feast of Sukkot is also a foreshadow of Messiah Yeshua in that He and He alone is the Tabernacle (Luke 12:28-36), the only way of redemption through which we come to dwell with The Father, Yahweh (John 14:6-7, 23). The design of the Tabernacle was perfect and a picture of Messiah Yeshua, He who is without sin and in whom the fullness of God dwells (in all holiness and righteousness). And just like when the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:33-35), The Father, on behalf of the Son Yeshua, sends the Ruach HaKodesh to dwell with those who love Yeshua and keep His commands (John 14:15-18).
Just as Israel was commanded to joyfully celebrate their deliverance in the Feast of Sukkot, we too can rejoice in the deliverance from our enemies and surrender in repentance to the sanctifying work of the Ruach HaKodesh. Our Father is faithful and “has resolved to give us the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32)!
| Feast 5782/5783 | Day | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanukkah | Friday (6th day) | December 3rd | 6:30 pm |
| Passover (Seder) | Shabbat (7th day) | April 16th | 3:00 pm |
| Unleavened Bread | Shabbat (7th day) | April 16th | 3:00 pm |
| First Fruit | Shabbat (7th day) | April 16th | 3:00 pm* |
| Shavuot | Sunday (1st day) | June 5th | 3:00 pm* |
| Yom Teruah | Monday (2nd day) | September 26th | 6:30 pm* |
| Yom Kippur | Wednesday (4th day) | October 5th | 6:30 pm |
| Sukkot | Wednesday (4th day) | October 12th | 6:30 pm |
| Hanukkah | Friday (6th day) | December 23rd | 6:30 pm |