The Feasts hold a wealth of beautiful types and templates. Notably, there are ten days between the Day of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. These are called the Days of Awe. The Day of Trumpets is a two-day feast with seven more days leading to the tenth day of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. What picture might then come to mind with the Day of the Shofar’s blast, followed by Days of Awe, and then a final Day of sealed judgement? I see the Rapture, resurrection, seven-year tribulation, and the great Day of the Lord.
Parallels in Jewish Tradition
Jewish writings paint a remarkably similar picture of this season to descriptions of the tribulation found in the Book of Revelation. The Talmud says that on the Day of Trumpets, books are opened in heaven, one for the righteous who are inscribed unto life, one for the wicked whose fate is sealed, and one for the intermediaries who are neither righteous nor wicked. Those in between have their judgment deferred until the end of the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur. The writings then implore them to repent in that sacred time. (Babylonian Talmud, Masechet Rosh Hashanah 16b)
Parallels in the New Testament
Similarly, the Book of Revelation describes three states: the righteous, who are written in the Book of Life; the wicked; and those who miss the coming of the Lord and find themselves living in the tribulation. These must stand firm and repent before the end of the seven-year Tribulation by not bowing before or taking the Mark of the Beast.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:12 NKJV
“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4 NKJV)
A Call for Repentance
What lesson can we draw from this? As the sun sets, in about two hours, the nation of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide will pause for reflection and repentance. Similarly, each of us are rushing toward our own Yom Kippur, when we must account for our lives. The crucial question will be, “Is my name written in the Book of Life?” As Yeshua has declared, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12 NKJV) If you feel burdened by sin, this Yom Kippur is your opportunity to seek forgiveness through Him, the only One who can inscribe your name in the Book of Life.