Here we are again, on the threshold of the Fall Feasts on the Jewish or Hebrew calendar.
Could this be the autumn that ushers in the return of Yeshua (Jesus) to catch away His Bride? It certainly could be!
Many Bible prophecy teachers believe that when Yeshua does return, it will be during the Fall Feasts. And I agree!
You see, the Spring Feasts prophetically pointed to Yeshua’s first coming. The Fall Feasts clearly point to His second coming. Thus, the consensus for the leading candidate for the Rapture or “great catching away” is Rosh Hashanah, also called the Feast of Trumpets.
Of course, I don’t set dates or make predictions.
The fact is, Yeshua may return at any moment — whenever the Father gives the signal that it is time for the Bridegroom to go retrieve His Bride for the wedding feast.
Nevertheless, my sense of expectancy and excitement always rises as we enter this season. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on October 2.
In ancient Israel, the new year celebration of Rosh Hashanah (which means “head of the year”) was a day of 100 shofar blasts and shouts of praise.
Paul revealed that the Rapture would be announced by both of these signals:
For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds ...
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 TLV
For devout Jews, Rosh Hashanah is a time for introspection and repentance. Of course, there are many traditions associated with the observance of Rosh Hashanah. These include:
- the eating of apples dipped in honey (signifying the hopes for a sweet new year);
- and greeting others with a hearty Shanah Tovah, which means, “ a good year!”
Such observances are common, even among non-observant Jews. The seriously observant, however, also participate in a ritual called the tashlikh.
Like most of the other features and facets of the Old Covenant rituals, it has a clear and exciting fulfillment in the New Covenant.
Many are unfamiliar with this particular Rosh Hashanah ritual. But I believe the tashlikh ritual can hold a special message for you and me right now.
Cleansed by Water
Whereas many traditions surrounding the Feasts of Israel are communal affairs — celebrated with family and friends around large tables — the tashlikh must be done alone, as an individual.
The ritual is performed on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. And it requires standing next to a clear, flowing stream or river.
While reciting Scripture-based prayers, pebbles or little pieces of bread are tossed into the water, signifying the casting off of sins into God’s mercy and forgiveness.
One of those prayers is based upon Micah 7:18-19 and points powerfully toward the forgiveness of sin that would one day be purchased by Yeshua:
Who is a God like You pardoning iniquity, overlooking transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy ... and You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (TLV)
Isn’t it beautiful the way even the smallest details of the Old Covenant Feasts invariably point to New Covenant realities? Aren’t you grateful for the cleansing mercy available to us through Yeshua’s sacrifice?
Life-Giving Water
Right now, even as I’ve been writing to you about the tashlikh, I’ve been quite mindful that a Jewish Voice medical outreach team has just returned from ministering to poor but precious people in Hosanna, Ethiopia.
The cleansing water reminds me that our team distributed hundreds of personal and family water filtration devices so these very special people can experience the life-giving blessing of clean water.
We do this in every medical outreach that Jewish Voice conducts among the many scattered Tribes of Israel.
The tashlikh’s focus on forgiveness of sin also points me to another key facet of our medical outreaches.
As always, each person among the thousands we’ve helped and blessed this year has had an opportunity to hear the Good News of forgiveness, peace, and wholeness in Yeshua.
This is the hidden message of tashlikh! You see, another commonly used tashlikh prayer comes from Isaiah 11:9:
... for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Adonai, as the waters cover the sea. (TLV)
Do you see it? Your gracious gifts of support for Jewish Voice make you a part of bringing the knowledge of the Lord to countless people — not only through our medical outreaches like the one we just completed — but also through our global media efforts.
You are helping us cover the earth with the knowledge of the Lord!
Right now the needs have never been more urgent and the opportunities never more exciting.
That’s why I’m hoping you’ll keep your connection to Jewish Voice strong as we go through the Fall Feasts and right through to the end of the calendar year. Time may indeed be very short. We must do ALL we can, WHILE we can.
That’s why I am asking you to make a special Rosh Hashanah gift toward the effective, global, Yeshua-honoring outreaches of Jewish Voice today.
As you do, I have personally selected some resources we would love to send you as meaningful and inspiring tokens of our gratitude.
For any gift of support right now we’ll rush you my DVD presentation titled Celebrating Rosh Hashanah — Yom Teruah. I’m confident it will both expand your understanding of this significant Feast and deepen your love for the returning Messiah to whom it points.
If you’re able to share a gift of $100 or more, I have a whole bundle of resources illuminating the Feasts of Israel to send your way.
This bundle includes our brand-new 2017 Jewish Voice calendar featuring striking photography and information concerning next year’s Jewish Feasts and holidays.
An Exciting and Beautiful New Treasure
Finally, if God has blessed you with the means to share a gift of $275 or more today, we’d love to send you a very special new “thank you” gift in addition to everything I just mentioned.
It is our new edition of the Torah — the first five books of the Bible — beautifully rendered with color engravings and decorative motifs.
The book itself is shaped to resemble the traditional interpretation of the two tablets of stone on which God wrote the Law.
Inside, the original Hebrew text of the five books of Moses is presented side by side with the English translation.
Celebrate Mercy
Here as we approach Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Fall Feasts, just a few days from now, let me encourage you to be mindful of the spirit of the tashlikh as seen in the light of the New Covenant.
May you be filled with gratitude to Yeshua for the forgiveness and cleansing He made available through His sacrifice.
I’m hoping you will also remember that millions of Jewish people are waiting to hear about and receive that same mercy.
Your best gift today will make you a part of making that miracle happen.
Will you share a gift today to help meet this special need — even as Jewish Voice also conducts and continues a variety of other outreaches around the world?
