Rosh Hashanah: Prophetic Insights and Urgent Readiness

Devotional

Day 1: The Rapture—A Promise for All Believers

The rapture is not reserved for a spiritual elite, but is the blessed hope for every person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is not about levels of faith or spiritual achievement, but about being found in Christ—dead or alive, all who belong to Him will be caught up together to meet the Lord. The transformation will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of an eye, and we will forever be with Him. This assurance should fill us with hope, not fear, and motivate us to live steadfastly, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing our labor is not in vain. [01:18:36]

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV):
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to be encouraged by the hope of the rapture? Can you reach out to them today and share this assurance, reminding them that in Christ, we all have the same promise of being with Him forever?

Day 2: The Feasts—Shadows Pointing to Christ

The appointed feasts of the Lord, as described in the Old Testament, are not merely Jewish traditions but prophetic rehearsals that find their true fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Each feast is a shadow, a rehearsal, pointing to a greater reality—Christ Himself is the substance. The church is called to understand these times not as ends in themselves, but as invitations to deeper worship, preparation, and anticipation of what God is bringing to completion in Christ. Our worship and observance are not empty rituals, but responses to the finished work and ongoing promises of Jesus. [24:59]

Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV):
"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

Reflection: In what ways have you treated spiritual practices as mere rituals? How can you intentionally shift your focus this week to see Christ as the substance and fulfillment of all your worship and devotion?

Day 3: The Decade of the Mouth—The Power of Your Words

We are living in a prophetic season, a decade the Jewish tradition calls the "decade of the mouth," where the words we speak carry weight and creative power. The Hebrew calendar points to this as a time when what you declare manifests, and Scripture affirms that life and death are in the power of the tongue. In these days, especially during seasons of awe and repentance, we are called not to be silent or negative, but to prophesy blessing, declare God’s promises, and use our mouths to align with heaven. Let your words be instruments of faith, hope, and transformation. [01:02:59]

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV):
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have spoken negatively or with doubt? Today, intentionally replace those words with declarations of God’s truth and blessing over that situation.

Day 4: The Urgency of Repentance and Preparation

The season between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as the ten days of awe, is a prophetic window for repentance, reflection, and preparation. There is no time to repent after the trumpet sounds; the time is now to be real with God, to turn from sin, and to live as those who are truly born again. This is not about fear, but about responding to the mercy and patience of God, who is still holding His breath, giving us one more opportunity to align our lives with His holiness and love. Let this urgency move you to make things right with God and with others. [53:34]

Acts 3:19 (ESV):
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin, relationship, or area of compromise that you need to bring before God today? Take time to repent and, if needed, seek reconciliation with someone before the day ends.

Day 5: Living as the Image—Responding to God’s Initiative

You are made in the image of God, called not just to reflect Him passively, but to actively respond to His initiative. Just as the image in a mirror moves in response to the object, so your worship, creativity, and love are responses to what God has already done. You love because He first loved you; you create because He is the Creator. Your life is a rehearsal for eternity, a preparation for the fullness of God’s presence. Let every act of worship, every creative expression, and every relationship be a conscious response to the One who has already moved toward you in grace. [16:41]

1 John 4:19 (ESV):
"We love because he first loved us."

Reflection: How can you intentionally mirror God’s love or creativity in a practical way today—whether through a word, an act of service, or a creative expression—so that your life becomes a living response to His initiative?

Sermon Summary

In this teaching, we explored the prophetic and practical significance of Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets, and its deep connection to the rapture and the end times. We began by addressing the recent wave of rapture predictions and the confusion that often arises from misreading the Hebrew calendar and misunderstanding the nature of biblical prophecy. The emphasis was placed on the fact that no one knows the exact day or hour of Christ’s return, and that the feasts of the Lord are not Israel’s alone, but God’s appointed times—shadows pointing to the substance, which is Christ.

We delved into the Hebrew calendar, unpacking the prophetic meaning of the current year, 5786, and the “decade of the mouth,” highlighting the power of our words in this season. The structure and symbolism of the Jewish feasts were explained, showing how Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits have already been fulfilled in Christ’s first coming, while Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles point to future events, with the church currently living in the “Pentecost” season.

A key insight was the distinction between the shofar and the trumpet: the shofar calls to repentance, while the trumpet calls to assembly or war. The blowing of the shofar during Rosh Hashanah is not just a ritual, but a prophetic rehearsal—a call to prepare, to repent, and to align our lives with God’s purposes. The ten days of awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were presented as a window for deep reflection, repentance, and prophetic declaration, urging us to use our words to bless, prophesy, and align with God’s will.

We also examined the biblical teaching on the rapture, clarifying that it is not a reward for spiritual elites but the blessed hope for all who are in Christ. The rapture is both resurrection for the dead in Christ and transformation for the living, occurring in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The urgency of the hour was stressed—not to predict dates, but to live ready, to pursue holiness, to evangelize, and to respond to the Spirit’s call while the “trumpeter” still holds his breath.

Ultimately, the call is to steadfastness, to abound in the work of the Lord, and to recognize that our worship, our repentance, and our proclamation are rehearsals for the greater reality to come. The time is short, the trumpet is sounding, and now is the season to make things right with God and with one another.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Appointed Times Are Shadows Pointing to Christ The feasts of the Lord, including Rosh Hashanah, are not merely Jewish traditions but divine appointments that serve as prophetic rehearsals. Each feast is a shadow, with its fulfillment found in Christ. Understanding these patterns helps us see that our worship and spiritual practices are not ends in themselves, but responses to the reality already established in Christ, calling us to live in anticipation and alignment with His purposes. [24:59]
2. The Power of the Mouth in the Decade of the Mouth We are living in a prophetic season where the words we speak carry unusual weight. The Hebrew year 5786, within the “decade of the mouth,” challenges us to use our speech to bless, prophesy, and declare God’s promises. In the ten days of awe, especially, we are urged to avoid negative or idle words and instead fill the atmosphere with faith-filled declarations, shaping our reality in agreement with God’s will. [62:59]
3. The Rapture Is Both Resurrection and Transformation The biblical concept of the rapture (harpazo) is not just about being “snatched away,” but encompasses both the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the transformation of the living. This event will happen in an indivisible moment, leaving no time for last-minute repentance. It is not reserved for spiritual elites, but for all who are truly in Christ, reminding us to live in readiness and assurance, not fear or speculation. [82:17]
4. The Urgency of Repentance and Evangelism The blowing of the shofar is a call to repentance and preparation, not just for ourselves but for the world around us. There is an urgency in this season to make things right with God, to pursue holiness, and to reach out to those who do not yet know Christ. The “trumpeter” is holding his breath, giving us a window of mercy to respond and to bring others into the kingdom before the final note is sounded. [74:44]
5. Our Worship and Service Are Rehearsals for Eternity Everything we do in worship, service, and community is a rehearsal for the greater reality of God’s kingdom. The feasts, the music, the prophetic acts, and even our daily obedience are not the main event, but preparations for the eternal vocation of worship and fellowship with God. This perspective calls us to approach every act of devotion with intentionality, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. [24:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:58] - Addressing Rapture Predictions and Calendar Confusion
[02:46] - Different Eschatological Views Explained
[04:58] - Progressive Fulfillment and Prophetic Patterns
[09:40] - Community Announcements and Book Launch
[13:24] - The Purpose and Posture of Worship
[16:00] - Imago Creativa: Reflecting God’s Image
[19:01] - The Theology of Worship and Music
[21:03] - Rehearsal, Convocation, and the Meaning of Feasts
[24:59] - Feasts as Shadows and the Church’s Role
[30:45] - The Shofar, Trumpet, and the Prophetic Calendar
[43:55] - Names and Meanings of Rosh Hashanah
[52:32] - The Month of Elul and Preparation
[62:59] - The Ten Days of Awe: Prophetic Declarations
[67:38] - The Four Trumpet Blasts and Their Significance
[74:44] - The Urgency of the Hour and Evangelism
[82:17] - The Rapture: Resurrection and Translation
[84:59] - The Jewish Wedding Analogy and Judgment
[98:45] - The Coming of the Lord vs. The Day of the Lord
[103:23] - The Restrainer and the Revelation of the Antichrist
[108:10] - Call to Repentance and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Leviticus 23:23-25 (ESV) — > And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV) — > But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV) — > Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Observation Questions

According to Leviticus 23:23-25, what are the key elements of the Feast of Trumpets, and what is its purpose?
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, what two groups of people are mentioned in relation to the rapture, and what happens to each group?
The sermon explained that the feasts are “shadows” pointing to Christ, not just Jewish traditions. How does Colossians 2:16-17 support this idea?
The sermon described the difference between the shofar and the trumpet. What is the significance of each, and how are they used differently? [[30:45]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon emphasized that “no one knows the exact day or hour” of Christ’s return, and that the feasts are God’s appointed times, not just Israel’s. Why is it important for believers to avoid date-setting and instead focus on readiness? [[43:55]]
The “decade of the mouth” was highlighted as a prophetic season where our words carry unusual weight. What does it mean to “align our words with God’s will” during this time, and why might this be especially important now? [[01:02:59]]
The rapture was described as both resurrection for the dead in Christ and transformation for the living. How does this understanding affect the way we view our hope in Christ and our daily lives? [[01:22:17]]
The blowing of the shofar is a call to repentance and preparation. How does this ancient practice relate to the urgency of repentance and evangelism in the church today? [[01:14:44]]

Application Questions

The sermon taught that the feasts are “rehearsals” for the greater reality to come. In what ways can you treat your worship, service, or spiritual practices as preparation for eternity, rather than just routine? [[24:59]]
During the “ten days of awe,” the pastor encouraged the group to use their words to bless, prophesy, and declare God’s promises. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to change the way you speak? What is one faith-filled declaration you can start making this week? [[01:02:59]]
The urgency of the hour was stressed—not to predict dates, but to live ready, pursue holiness, and evangelize. What is one practical step you can take this week to “make things right” with God or with someone else? [[01:14:44]]
The sermon said, “the trumpeter is holding his breath,” giving us a window of mercy. Who in your life needs to hear the gospel, and what is one way you can reach out to them before the “final note is sounded”? [[01:13:24]]
The rapture is not a reward for spiritual elites but the blessed hope for all in Christ. Are there areas where you struggle with assurance or feel unworthy of this hope? How can you remind yourself of the truth of God’s grace? [[01:22:17]]
The “decade of the mouth” challenges us to avoid negative or idle words. What is one habit or pattern of speech you need to break, and how can the group support you in this? [[01:02:59]]
The call is to steadfastness and to abound in the work of the Lord. What is one area of service or ministry where you feel called to “abound” more, and what would it look like to take a next step? [[01:38:45]]

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