Christians have ignored Rosh Hosanna and Yom Kippur because they refer to the end times. Many Christians assume that believers will be caught up to be with Christ when the trumpet sounds and only unbelievers will go through the Tribulation. However, believers must be ready as Jesus states in the parable of the virgins and the marriage feast, and they must be serving Him as Jesus states in the parable of the sheep and the goats, or they will not rise with Christ and will have to face the Tribulation. Therefore, we must be ready every day for we do not know when our time on earth will end. Many will die before Christ comes back and their fate will be sealed forever. In addition, non-Christians will face the Tribulation if we don’t reach them for Christ. Therefore, it is very important for Christians to continue to be reminded of the Second Coming. (see “Before Your Eyes” in “Understanding the Path We Walk” for further explanation)
Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category
Rosh Hosanna Sept-25-27, 2022
Rosh Hosanna signals the beginning of the celebration of the Fall harvest which is the final harvest of the year. After the first day when good people are rewarded. The rest have ten days to repent. This parallels Revelation where the trumpet sounds, Jesus returns and collects His chosen people, and then begins the tribulation where the rest will have one final chance to repent before the close of the final harvest of the elect. This celebration has not been fulfilled but whenever it is, it will probably occur on Rosh Hosanna. Never-the-less, we need to be ready every day because we never know when we will pass out of this world into the next and seal our fate for eternity. (For more on the holidays, see “Before Your Eyes” in “Understanding the Path We Walk”) and Udemy course Celebrations- Promo https://youtu.be/KuLA6uQTqhg
Course URL https://www.udemy.com/course/christian-celebrations/?referralCode=D706C0B4E96819B18699
9/11 remembered
There were very few references to 9/11 this year. Each year there are less. Many do not realize that Sept 11, 2001 was on Rosh Hosanna. It is a Jewish holiday celebrating God’s restoration of the earth. God will not allow the evil around us to continue forever. He is very patient, waiting as long as possible so that all who come to Him can be saved, but one day His patience will end and He will return to restore the earth to the former glory it had when He created it. Rosh Hosanna begins with the blowing of the trumpet warning of God’s judgement. The trumpets blew that morning as the Jews read the Scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14. (which reads, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” No one realized that terrorists were boarding planes to take out the twin towers and the Pentagon, but God knew and used it to issue a warning. While the terrorists were boarding the plane, trumpets were blowing all up and down the east coast. While there was a great outpouring of faith after 9/11, it was temporarily and since then, it has decreased and many have forgotten. One day Christ is coming back and if we aren’t ready, it will be too late. However, 3000 people woke up that morning expecting a day like any other day, but they died that day and their fate was sealed forever. Some will go to heaven and some will go to Hell. If Jesus comes or you die today, your fate will be sealed, you won’t get a second chance. Will you go to heaven or Hell? If God’s people obey the Scripture and turn back to God, He can still heal this land. The Jews had that choice when Christ came before. They rejected Him and faced over 1900 years of exile. What will America decide?
Celebrations
Many people ask me why I celebrate the Christian holidays. There are good reasons.
See course promo on You Tube at https://youtu.be/KuLA6uQTqhg
Video-study course-Christian Celebrations-promo
I have a course on Basic Christian Beliefs for new Christians and as a refresher for long-time Christians, which is posted on Udemy.
It is available by posting the following link in your browser.
https://www.udemy.com/course/christian-celebrations/?referralCode=D706C0B4E96819B18699
Second Sunday of Pentecost -Trinity Sunday-B-June 12
The season of Pentecost occurs during the summer and today is a time when the church reaches out through special ministries to reach those who don’t know God that they may see God’s love and turn to Him. The zeal of the church in its ministry testifies to the presence of the Holy Spirit in it just as the tongues of fire testified to the presence of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost after Jesus rose from the dead. The church’s goal should be to be a witness to God’s love and to introduce unbelievers to the love of God in the hope that they will desire that love and turn to Christ for their salvation. The church’s main emphasis should be to reach out to those around it, conduct charity, and minister to the needs it finds. While these should be carried out all year round, Pentecost should be used to expand the church’s outreach.
Pentecost Sunday-June 5
Many churches celebrate Pentecost, the second major celebration, on the 50th day after Passover (according to Jewish tradition) which is a Thursday, but some churches start the count of 50 days with Easter and celebrate it on the seventh Sunday after Easter. The color is Red, symbolizing the fire of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples, there appeared tongues of fire over them Acts 2:1-6. Pentecost was a time when the Jews celebrated the giving of the Law to Moses and predicted when God would write His law in our hearts. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost fulfilled the prophecy as the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and dwells in us, teaching us God’s Law, and guiding us in doing all that God would have us do, helping us carry out God’s will. Pentecost occurs during the harvest of the first fruits and is considered the birth date of the church. It was fulfilled when many who witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit joined the church and became the first fruits of the Gospel.
Ascension Sunday-May 29
Ascension Sunday reminds us of Christ’s ascent to heaven and is the prelude to Pentecost when the church should be launching its summer evangelistic efforts. Before it starts, the church should be clear on it’s mission. After Jesus rose from the dead and showed Himself to His disciples, He appeared to them in Galilee-Matt. 28: 16-20. He gathered them and told them to go and make disciples of all nations. A disciple is a student who is training to follow his master. We are to seek the lost and lead them to the Lord. Once they receive Christ, we are to baptize them, symbolically illustrating their death and resurrection in Christ. Then we are to teach them to do all that Christ has commanded us. That involves active training, not the passive attendance which is common in many churches today. Every church board should open every meeting with the questions “What can we do to win souls?” and “What can we do to train our members to be better disciples?” Now is a good time to finalize plans for a summer campaign to reach those who do not know Christ.
Eastertide-Apr 18
Eastertide is a time when we celebrate that Christ has freed us from the power of sin and death and begin to prepare to serve Him. Eastertide stretches 50 days from Easter (first day, first Sunday) to Pentecost. Jesus told His disciples to wait until they received the Holy Spirit. We cannot do it in our own strength and without divine guidance, so Eastertide is a time of seeking God’s will for us. It is not done in seclusion, but should be done through prayer with the church gathered to seek God’s will together. Eastertide begins the transition from emphasis on a serious reflection on our personal relationship with God to a joyous celebration of the resurrection of Christ by the body of Christ (His church). The church should spend Eastertide helping members draw together in unity and find their gifts.