Because the Most High God is in control and does not operate randomly, many Christians are anticipating going to meet the Lord Jesus in the air (the Rapture) on a designated feast day. I agree with this belief. The three most likely candidates are Resurrection Sunday, Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets.
High on this speculative list is the Feast of Trumpets, also called the Jewish secular New Year, which usually occurs in September. In 2022 it will fall on September 26th. Because of the prophecy of the Church being called with a shout and the trumpet of God (I Thessalonians 4:16-17), the Feast of Trumpets just “fits.”
The Lord gave Moses instructions to observe seven specific “feasts.” This is found in Leviticus chapter twenty-three and elsewhere. The Hebrew word translated as “feast” is moed (Strong’s H4150), and it means an “appointed time.” The Lord has seven specific, appointed times. They are:
The first four are considered “Spring” feasts and the last three are “Fall” feasts. There is a great deal of symbolism in that simple fact; Spring – the beginning, Fall – the final harvest.
The first four appointed times have been fulfilled by the Lord Jesus and the Church. Jesus was the Passover Lamb. Jesus fulfilled Unleavened Bread. Leavening symbolizes sin because of how it works its way through the dough. Jesus was without sin, without “leavening.” Jesus was the Firstfruits of the grave. (I Corinthians 15:20) Pentecost began the Church Age.
All of these appointed times were historically fulfilled two-thousand years ago, and on the correct date, and all in the same time period (fifty-four days). Here is where I find a stumbling block. If the same criterion is applied to the Fall feasts, then Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles must be fulfilled on the correct dates and in the same time period (Tishri 1 through Tishri 15 – sixteen days).
When the “beast,” or the person we call the Anti-Christ emerges, he will be given authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13:5) The Two Witnesses will resist the beast for 1,260 days, or forty-two months. If the Church is to be called home before the events of the Tribulation, which I believe is correct, there must be at least forty-two months, or three and one-half years before the Lord Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
If the Church is raptured on the Feast of Trumpets, the remaining appointed times, Atonement and Tabernacles cannot be fulfilled within the same fifteen-day time period.
If … the precedent of the Spring feasts being fulfilled within the same time period is applied to the Fall feasts, then it is not possible for the Church to be raptured on the Feast of Trumpets. This leaves the Day of Pentecost.
But, if … the precedent of the Spring feasts being fulfilled in the same period is not correct, then the Feast of Trumpets is a great candidate for the wonderful day the Lord Jesus calls us Home.
All of the above is based on the idea that the Lord will perform the astonishing (to the world) feat of snatching up His Church on a prescribed feast day. That may not be correct. The picture of a pregnant woman is used several times in connection with the End Times. A pregnant woman knows that she is pregnant, but she does not know the day or hour of her delivery. And neither do we.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!