Page 8 - April 2023 - Truth & Tidings

Introduction and they which have pierced him, and all
The Feast of Trumpets foreshadows the tribes of the land shall wail because of
the regathering of Israel. Having been him” (Rev 1:7 JND). Graphically, Zecha-
reassembled in her land, there will then riah depicts every family convulsed with
be national repentance, as pictured in the grief: “And the land shall mourn, every
Day of Atonement. A repeated order for family apart” (Zec 12:12). The repentant
that solemn day was, “Ye shall afflict your nation will then benefit from the Messiah’s
souls” (e.g., Lev 23:27). 1 sacrifice, for “in that day there shall be a
Sifting fountain opened to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for
The foregoing assumes that after the sin and for uncleanness” (13:1). They will
Church Age God will resume dealings then admit the shocking offense of their
with Israel. Presently, the nation is experi- forefathers in rejecting the Christ. They
encing a divinely imposed blindness; that had perceived Him to be “stricken, smit-
blindness is neither total nor final (Rom ten of God, and afflicted” on account of
11). It is not total, exemplified in the fact blasphemy. Now they will comprehend
that Paul got saved, and illustrated from the true reason for His suffering: “He was
Elijah’s day, when 7,000 refused to bow to wounded for our transgressions, he was
Baal (vv1-10); this blindness is “in part” bruised for our iniquities” (Isa 53:4-5).
(v25). It is not final; it is in place only Salvation
“until the fulness of the Gentiles be come
in” (v25). The blindness will be lifted, and It is then that “all Israel shall be saved”
in tribulation days many from the nation (Rom 11:26). It is then that their “fall” will
will be genuinely blessed (e.g., Rev 7:1-8). give way to their “fulness” (v12). It is then
that “a nation [shall] be born at once” (Isa
After the Lord’s appearing, Jews in 66:8). It is then that the iniquity of that land
general will leave their adopted lands shall be removed “in one day” (Zec 3:9).
and head for Israel, but only true believ- Leviticus 16 outlines the elaborate
ers will be admitted to enjoy kingdom sacrificial ritual connected with the Day
blessing. There will be a sifting process of Atonement, but chapter 23 makes the
“in the wilderness” (Eze 20:35). Among simple statement, “Ye shall ... offer an of-
the immigrants there will be “the rebels” fering made by fire unto the Lord” (v27),
who “shall not enter into the land of Is- followed by the instruction, “Ye shall do
rael” (v38). Unbelief debarred a previous no work in that same day” (v28). Obvi-
generation from entering Canaan (Heb ously, chapter 16 anticipates the cross,
3:19), and these too will experience divine whereas, within the structure of the feasts,
judgment. chapter 23 sees the day as foreshadowing
Sorrow Israel’s repentance. The reference to the
Genuine Jewish believers will “afflict offering demonstrates that while afflicting
their souls,” for “every eye shall see him, their souls will be necessary for their resto-
¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV ration, the foundation of their blessing will
unless otherwise noted. be the sacrifice of Christ. The ban on “any

104 TRUTH kTidings April 2023