The Hidden Day

" It is to the glory of God to conceal a matter, but to the glory of kings to search out a matter."
                                                                                                                               Proverbs 25:2

     The days in which we live are no less than fascinating! If you were to open your Bible and place the headlines of the news, side by side, the two are becoming essentially indistinguishable. There are many prophetic signposts that are being fulfilled now on an increasingly frequent trajectory: wars and rumors of wars, persecution of believers, weather careening out of control, sin abounding, rejection of Israel, and for the first time ever the gospel is being preached throughout the world!
     The reason God gave us prophetic signposts was so that we could discern the fact that Jesus will be returning soon to this earth to gather those people who belong to Him. We are barreling closer and closer to the end of this age, which will ultimately climax in the complete chaos of the seven year tribulation and the second coming of Christ.
     Many Biblical scholars, who are far above my pay grade, cannot definitively agree if the rapture will occur before the tribulation, at the mid-point of the tribulation, or at the end of the tribulation which also coincides with the second coming of Christ. However, for several reasons (not the least of which is hope), I believe that Jesus will rapture the Church prior to God's judgment being unleashed upon this earth. As beloved children of God, we are not destined to endure His wrath and judgment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
     No one can ever know with certainty when The Lord will return but there are definitive patterns that we can recognize Scripturally and throughout the life of Christ. One pattern is noted in the Jewish Feast days. Christ was crucified on the Feast of Passover, buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and raised on the Feast of Firstfruits. It is reasonable to assume this pattern will continue.
     There are two Scriptures that speak of the rapture that also reference a trumpet sound (1 Corinthians15:51-52 and 1Thessalonians 4:13-18). Because of these references, there are many who believe that Jesus will return for His people on the Feast of Trumpets, which is also called Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year). This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on September 25 through September 26th.
     Rosh Hashanah is also called 'the hidden day'  because it is actually celebrated for two days because of the uncertainty about observing this holiday on the correct calendar day. It is the only holiday celebrated for two days in Israel. The reason it is shrouded in uncertainty is because it actually falls on Rosh Chodesh, which is the new moon itself. Therefore, it is completely impossible to know exactly when the New Year begins. According to rabbinic tradition, the two days are observed as one long day (yoma arikhta) to rectify this uncertainty. Within the Feast of Trumpets, God has actually hidden a day!
     Will Jesus return this week? I have no earthly idea! I do know that the night is coming and I do know that God wants us to be prepared. In Matthew, Chapter16, Jesus calls the religious leaders foolish and hypocritical because they cannot even discern the times in which they live. In Matthew, Chapter 24, Jesus teaches the disciples how to tell time...
     In a Matthew, Chapter 25, Jesus differentiates between those believers who are wise and those who are foolish. All Christians would profess to follow Jesus, honor Jesus, and be waiting for His return. Herein, lies the distinction: what we profess with our lips versus the reality in our hearts and lives. The sincere Christians are truly wise in the affairs of their souls and know that true grace is the source of their salvation. Wisdom portends that the light of Christ within us would shine continually before all men, especially as we see that glorious day approaching...
     If we are not intentional and resolute during these times in which we live, we will become careless. Carelessness precipitates spiritual decay. The Bible tells us that many will procrastinate and seek admission into heaven when it is too late and the door is shut. This becomes increasingly easier to do when we witness extreme atrocities on a daily basis. Justification of our disobedience requires no effort whatsoever when we can always point to another whose sin situation is more grave than our own.
     Peter exhorts us,
"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace , without spot and blameless; and consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation- as also our beloved brother, Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has also written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall away from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
                                                                                                                                     2 Peter 3:14-18
     The day of The Lord is at hand! Every day that passes hastens us toward the conclusion of God's Kingdom Calendar. Because the time is late, we need to live in the light of His return. We need to intimately know Jesus as both our Lord and our Savior. We need to live our lives with no regrets! We need to become radically obedient! We need to be a light to those who do not know Jesus. We need to minister to our families and our friends. All the while, we need to train our ears to listen for the heavenly blast that originates from God's holy trumpet!!!

                                           HAVE A BLESSED ROSH HASHANAH !!!!!

"No one knows the day or the hour..."          ( Matthew 24:36)