SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES PRESENTS


The Truth About Judgment

By Frank Brown


Yahshua said that many are called, but few are chosen. He said strait (difficult) is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be who find it. He also said, "fear not, little flock,…" and "where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them."

These scriptures, and many others, seem to indicate that only a very small portion of humanity will ever receive salvation. Even Yahshua Himself, Who had all knowledge, and was undoubtedly the best speaker ever, had only about 120 followers at the time of His death, after preaching for 3-1/2 years.

And, as we look around us in this present evil world today, it should be obvious to all that if there is a conflict between the forces of good and evil - between Satan and his demons on one side, and Yahweh and His angels on the other - that Satan is winning the war, hands down. Ever since Eve was taken in by the serpent's lie, man has rushed head-long to follow his pernicious ways.

This leaves us with about three scenarios for mankind's future. (1) Only a very few will ever be saved, and the rest, the vast majority, will be cast into the lake of fire, or (2) There is another way. Man will be judged only on what he knew, and how well he did with that knowledge. If he was a pretty good Joe, he'll be "ok," or, (3) There is more than one judgment, and we will be judged, every man in his own order.

If you are a serious Bible student, you know that only the first and third of these is worthy of serious consideration. Number Two is false on the face of it. If there is another way to salvation, Yahshua would have died in vain.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We will ALL be judged, but everyone in his or her own order.

Just what IS judgment, anyway? There is a great deal said about it in the pages of the Bible, and yet people easily misunderstand this important subject. Is it something that will take place in a single day? Do we line up and move forward one at a time, with an increasing dread as we approach ever closer and closer to the judgment seat to face our Maker?

Or, is judgment, rather, a process that takes place over a period of time? And is there more than one judgment? If so, how many, when, what is their purpose, and who will be in them?

                  We are Firstfruits

I believe Yahweh's spiritual plan of salvation is shown in the physical harvest season festivals He gave to ancient Israel. Israel was to be a light and an example to the nations around them; they were to be a firstfruits:

Jeremiah 2:3, Israel was holiness unto Yahweh, and the firstfruits of his increase: ….

They failed in their mission, and Yahweh made provision for those of us called under terms of the New Covenant to receive the Holy Spirit so that we can keep His laws with a spiritual intent (Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Hebrews 8:6-10, with Acts 5:32).

We are now Yahweh's "firstfruits," James 1:18, of His own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Yahshua is the first of the firstfruits, the first of many brethren (Romans 8:29).

Firstfruits is that part of a crop that ripens first; the latter harvest is to follow.

The first of the firstfruits was offered to Yahweh through the Levitical priesthood (Exo. 23:19). Yahshua fulfilled that when He died and was resurrected. We are now His Spirit-begotten brethren, and when He returns, we will be Spirit-born into His Kingdom.

It is obvious that not everyone is now being called. Billions and billions of people have been born, lived and died, without once ever hearing the Name of Yahshua their Savior, let alone obeying Him. Not even all those who heard the Savior Himself speak were being called at that time.

Mark 4:9-12: And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of Yah: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

This is specific language that is hard to be misunderstood. Either their time had not yet come, or Yahshua was practicing respect of persons. Would He have spoken in such a way that they couldn’t understand, if it would have doomed them to be forever lost? Are they hopelessly lost? Let's read a few more related scriptures:

John 12:37-40, But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Yahweh, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of Yahweh been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

This is a hard saying to some, especially in light of the scripture in II Peter 3:9 that says: Yahweh is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. How could He purposely blind some, and at the same time not be willing that any should perish? Remember, these people whom He blinded are long-since dead and buried. The answer is to be found in the last part of Romans 10, and all of chapter 11. Read and study these two chapters. To conserve space, I will quote only a few pertinent verses:

Romans 11:1, I say then, Hath Yahweh cast away His people? Yahweh forbid…." Vs. 5, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (We are that remnant, the elect - the firstfruits).

Verse 7, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, Yahweh hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day."

Verse 11, I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Yahweh forbid: But rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Verse 23, And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for Yahweh is able to graff them in again.

 

If they are now dead, when shall they not "abide still in unbelief," and be grafted in, if not after they are resurrected?

Romans 11:25-26, For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened ot Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away unrighteousness from Jacob:

Verse 32, For Yahweh hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of Yahweh! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

Judgment Is…

Based upon these, and many more scriptures, I believe that Judgment is a period of time that begins when a person first receives saving knowledge and repents (when his eyes are opened to the truth), and accepts Yahshua's sacrifice to pay for his past sins. It then lasts until he or she either dies, or is changed at Yahshua's return, at the first resurrection. This is the resurrection of the Just. Luke 14:14, And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

If we, you and I, have truly repented, then we are now being judged. 1 Peter 4:17, For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of Yahweh: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of Yahweh?

Romans 14:10-12, But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. For it is written, As I live, saith Yahweh, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to Yahweh. So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to Yahweh.

We, the elect according to grace, are doing that NOW. We bow our knees to Him in prayer; we confess Him with our tongues; we are giving account of ourselves day by day to Yahweh.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of Yahweh, that we should not be condemned with the world.

If we judge ourselves properly, if we keep our bodies under subjection, if we "fight the good fight," as Paul said, then we will be in the first resurrection, raised up as a spirit being at Yahshua's return. This is a better resurrection (Heb.11:35). Those who will be in the second resurrection are not promised rulership with the Messiah, as are those in the first. (1 Corinthians 6:2, Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world?…") See also Revelation 3:21.

The Second Resurrection

When will these saints rule with the Messiah in His throne? When will we judge the world? Let's go to Revelation 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:…", "…and they lived and reigned with the Messiah a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of the Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

So we see that the saints will reign (and judge) with the Messiah during the 1,000 years. We will also judge after this period of 1,000 years is over. Notice what we just read: the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. The saints in the First resurrection, plus the rest of the dead in the second resurrection, equals every one who was ever born. And those who were not in the first resurrection, are yet to be judged. They are not being brought up out of their graves merely to be cast into the lake of fire. Notice what Yahshua Himself had to say on this subject:

Matthew 10:15, Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 11:22, But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Mark 6:11, And, whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when he depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Now, we know that Sodom and Gomorrha had been destroyed hundreds of years before, in Abraham's day. Tyre and Sidon were gentile cities on the Mediterranean coast. Sidon still exists today, but the original Tyre was destroyed according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 26, although a small, insignificant village remains near the site, according to Peloubet's Bible Dictionary.

The point is, these people, who have been dead for hundreds of years, are going to come up in a resurrection that is distinctly different from the first one, and a thousand years later, to be judged! We are the first-fruits; they are the latter harvest.

1 Corinthians 15:20, But now is the Messiah risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in the Messiah shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: The Messiah the Firstfruits; afterward they that are the Messiah's at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to Yahweh, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

"Every man in his own order," first Yahshua, the first of the firstfruits (in 31 CE), then those in the first resurrection, the firstfruits (now called "the Elect," "the Election," "the Saints," "the Little Flock," etc), at His second coming. Then, after the 1,000 years is finished, the rest of the dead are to be raised back to life. And why? To be judged. They will all be given knowledge of salvation and how to attain it. Their "day of salvation," their period of judgment, will begin at that time. There is a verse of Scripture that indicates this period of time will be about 100 years.

Isaiah 65:20, There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

There will be no premature deaths during this period, and those who repent and overcome during this period of time, the 100 years, will be blessed with eternal life. But the unrepentant sinner will die the second death in the lake of fire at the end of this judgment period.

Yahshua said plainly that the Sodomites, the Gomorrhans, the Sidonians and Tyrians, would fare better in this resurrection, in this final judgment period, than the Israelites who had rejected Him. If they were only being resurrected to hear a death sentence pronounced, and to be cast into the lake of fire, how could this be "more tolerable" than what was to befall those Jews? Was Yahshua speaking literally? Or were His words wrongly reported? I for one think He meant exactly what He said.

Some say that NOW is the only day of salvation, based on 2 Corinthians 6:2 (For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.).

This is quoted from Isaiah 49:8, which says, Thus saith Yahweh, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Note that the Old Testament quote says, "…in A day of salvation…", not THE day. Those in the FIRST period of salvation will be preserved; given for a covenant of the people; to establish the earth under the Messiah our King, and prepare it for those who will follow us to cause them to inherit what had become "desolate heritages."

This is the time when Yahweh will again set His hand to save Israel; when they will finally receive their inheritance (Isaiah 11 and Romans 11). And they will find that they are to share that inheritance with the Gentiles. All who have ever lived who have repented and accepted Yahshua's sacrifice for their sins will be included.

Some often refer to this as a "second chance" doctrine. But if so, when was their "first chance?" If Yahweh Himself is responsible for their blindness, when was their opportunity for salvation? And what about the billions who have been born into the Gentile world, lived out their lives and died, without ever once hearing the Name of the Savior of the world, much less His saving message? Would a fair Elohim exact the death penalty upon someone who had done the best he or she knew during their lifetime, but simply had never had opportunity to hear the message of salvation? Doesn't it seem fair that all should have an opportunity to learn about salvation?

Some say that because their ancestors knew the truth at one time in the past, they too could or should have known. But we are not to die for some one else's sin. Deuteronomy 24:16, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Some quote Hebrews 9:27 (And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment) as proof that there is no opportunity for salvation beyond the grave. If we die in an unsaved condition, they say, we are doomed to the lake of fire when resurrected. But let's analyze what the writer is telling us, in light of other scriptures.

Romans 6:4, Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12-13, Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of Yahweh, who hath raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;…"

Our "old man" dies at baptism, just as surely as a carnal man dies at the end of his physical life. When we are pulled up out of that watery baptismal "grave," we are a new person.

Romans 6:6, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in the Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 8:9-11, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Yahweh dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of the Messiah, he is none of His. And if the Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Yahshua from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up the Messiah from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

When all this takes place, we are then in the Body of the Messiah, and our judgment period begins (1 Peter 4:17, quoted earlier). We have died once, at baptism, were raised to newness of life, and are now being judged. If we turn back, we get no second chance. There is no such thing as a "second chance." If one who turns back lives his life without ever repenting, he dies at the end of his life, and is then resurrected after the 1,000 years for a certain looking forward to of judgment.

Heb 10:26-27, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Even though it is Yahweh's wish, in His love and mercy toward us, that all should be saved, there have been, there now are, and there will be, those who will not repent, even after learning the truth about salvation. They will suffer the second death.

Revelation 2:11 tells us that those who overcome will not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 20:6, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of the Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:14, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

These scriptures fit in perfectly with what we read in Malachi 4:1-3, For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Yahweh of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith Yahweh of hosts.

Let us now examine and compare two Scriptures, both spoken by Yahshua Himself:
First, Matthew 24:31,
And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. This is referring to His coming to establish the 1,000-year kingdom, when the first resurrection will take place.

Now, Matthew 25:31 to the end of the chapter:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Master, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Master, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

These verses are referring to the time AFTER the 1,000 years has ended, AFTER the second resurrection has taken place, at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-12.

In comparing these two verses, we find that there is a difference. In Matthew 24:31, the Elect are gathered from every direction; from all parts of the earth. Nothing is said of the unrighteous. Only the Saints are gathered at the sounding of the last trump. That is when the righteous dead are raised, and the righteous living are "changed in an instant."

1 Corinthians 15:51, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This takes place at the first resurrection.

But in Matthew 25:31, we find the nations gathered before His throne. Look at verses 31 through 34 again: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

These events take place at the second resurrection, over 1,000 years after the first one. We also read of this in Revelation 20:7-10, where we find that the 1,000 years has ended, Satan has made one last desperate attempt to overthrow Yahweh. He is thrown into the Lake of Fire where the beast and the false prophet were cast over 1,000 years earlier (Rev. 19:20). Notice here, "are" is in italics. That means it was added to the text by translators. They are not still in the lake of fire at this time. Being human, they have long since been burned up. It is Satan and his demons that will be tortured day and night, not human beings.

Notice especially that Revelation 20:11-15 records the same events as Matthew 25:31-41. He sits on His throne: All nations are gathered before Him, the "dead" who have been resurrected. The books are opened. The first Book is the Bible, out of which we shall all be judged, and the second book is the Book of Life. If the saints have already been judged, and have been in the Kingdom for 1,000 years now, why do you suppose the Book of Life is being opened again? In view of all the supporting scripture we have seen, is it not reasonable to conclude that it is to ADD the names of those saved during this time of the second judgment, called the Great White Throne Judgment?

They are all judged according to what they have done. Then a separation takes place. We see the fate of those whose names were NOT found in the Book of Life. In both Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:15, they are thrown into the Lake of Fire. It is at this time that their ashes are trodden down by the feet of the righteous (Malachi 4:3).

Immediately after this, we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, and Yahweh Himself will dwell with mankind, Rev. 21:1-3.

Conclusion

To sum up, we are called to be firstfruits of Yahweh's harvest of souls. The firstfruits are only the beginning of a harvest, not the entire crop. We are now the "little flock," the "elect," the "saints," and Yahshua's bride to be. If we endure to the end, we will be changed at the First Resurrection to Spirit, and will work with Him throughout the 1,000 years, ruling over the physical nations, and preparing the earth for the great general harvest, the second resurrection.

It takes place at the END of the 1,000 years. Everyone will be given opportunity to know and follow Yahweh's Royal Law of Love; to repent of breaking that Law and accept Yahshua's blood sacrifice as an atonement for their sins.

But some incorrigibles will not. Some will refuse to repent in spite of everything. these are the ones who will be cast into the lake of fire and burned up. They will truly become ashes under the feet of the righteous, just as Malachi prophesied.

Don't you be one of them. Let's make our calling and election sure. Some have said that if this scenario is correct, there would be no incentive to repent now. Everyone would just "live like the devil now" and wait for the second resurrection. But there IS plenty of incentive to want to be in the first one. It is called a "better resurrection." We are promised rulership with the Messiah, among other things.

And think of THIS scenario: If you know the truth NOW, and you reject it, you will have HAD your chance - your opportunity for salvation. You will be doomed. Hebrews 10:26-31 warns us. Read this, and pray that you will be accounted worthy to escape all these things.

But if you repent, accept Yahshua's sacrifice as payment for your past sins, and then overcome to the end, you not only will live better in this life, serving Yahweh and your fellow-man, but you will also reap the rewards of being in that better resurrection.

1 Corinthians 2:9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Yahweh hath prepared for them that love Him.

Perilous times are coming. In fact, they are here now. Let us be diligent to make our calling and election sure. Let us "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." Take heed that no man deceive you. Remember that our own hearts are "deceitful above all things, and terribly wicked." Do not let your own carnal mind deceive you. Exercise His Spirit that is within you, if you have truly repented (Acts 2:38). Yahshua said, in John 5:39, Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me.

The Resurrection from the Dead is our only hope for the future - our only hope of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:12-22). Let us not take this tremendous gift lightly. ~ fb

 

The Holy Days and the Plan of Salvation

 Briefly, here is the Plan of Salvation as depicted in Yahweh's annual Holy Days: (Read about these Holy Days in Leviticus Chapter 23 and other places)

Passover: Yahshua's sacrifice to pay the penalty of death that we have incurred by our law-breaking (1 Cor. 5:7-8). Occurs on the 14th of the First Scriptural Month.

Days of Unleavened Bread: Depicts our coming out of sin; accepting Yahshua's sacrifice and Yahweh's grace. Discarding false doctrine, accepting true doctrine. The Wavesheaf, the Firstfruits of Harvest, was offered during this time (Barley Harvest).

Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): Comes 50 days after Sabbath of Unleavened Bread; depicts giving of the Law at Sinai (Exodus 20), and the sending of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), so we can keep the Law with a Spiritual intent (Jeremiah 31:31-33).

Feast of Trumpets: The first day of the Seventh Scriptural month; pictures our listening for the sound of the last trump, heralding the return of Yahshua the Messiah to establish His 1,000 year Kingdom here on this earth (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Matthew 24:29-31). The First Resurrection will occur at His return. It is thought by many scholars that Yahshua was born on the Feast of Trumpets, and that He will return to earth on that Day in the near future.

Day of Atonement: The Tenth day of the Seventh Month; it is a time of fasting, "afflicting our souls," not eating or drinking for the 24-hour period from evening of the 9th day until evening of the 10th day. It pictures our sins being covered, and a reconciliation between Yahshua and His bride, who has made herself pure. (Lev. 16, Lev. 23:27-32; Luke 14:16-24). The wedding of the Lamb and His bride (Rev. 19).

Feast of Tabernacles: Celebrates Israel coming out of Egypt, a type of sin, and living in tabernacles (tents, booths) during their sojourn in the wilderness; celebration of reading of the law in anticipation of Yahshua's millennial rule. A time of separating from the world and living in harmony and peace (John 7:2-36). Fall harvest time.

Last Great Day: The "8th day of the Feast," the day following the Feast of Tabernacles. The last High day of the year. Symbolizes the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20, the Final Judgment which is also depicted in Matthew 25:31 to end of chapter.

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