Wise Virgins and the Rapture on Feast of Trumpets, September 18th
Feast of Trumpets is one of the most popular watch dates for a Rapture, largely because of 1 Corinthians:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 51,52
This surface level understanding looks straight forward, until you start to dig into scripture and discover that trumpets are blown on every feast day and we are given no clear indication what the sequence of trumpets is.
We need to clear up a major misconception, the Feast of Trumpets has nothing to do with Trumpets. It is known as Yom Terua, Day of Shouting.
Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, ye have a sabbath, a memorial of shouting, a holy convocation; — Lev 23:24
So while we may call it Feast of Trumpets by tradition, that is a result of the King James translation. It is really a memorial (or remembrance) of shouting. Once you identify the real nature of the day is only indirectly related to trumpets it loses all connection to the Last Trumpet.
People also look for the fall feast days to be fulfilled in order. Since Pentecost was the last feast day, they look to Feast of Trumpets to be the next event. They also expect the next event to be the Rapture.
But what if the Rapture isn’t the next event on the prophetic timeline? What if Feast of Shouting means something else? What if it is the sealing of the 144,000 before the great multitude appears in the rapture?
Parable of Ten Virgins
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry (shout, trumpet, blowing) made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
This parable gives us some key insights into the timeline of events upon his return. The first thing to notice is that everyone is asleep, the wise and the foolish. Then comes the midnight cry, or shout!
This shout is what wakes up the Virgins and what is the first thing they tend to? Their oil. Some have oil, but others do not. They have to go out and buy New Oil! And that is the next clue. The Feast of Shouting is also known as the Feast of New Oil or First Fruits of New Oil. There are four first fruits: Barley (Passover), Wheat (Shavout), Wine (Pentecost), and Oil (Yom Terua). Oil is stored in Rams Horns. There are 7 weeks between each of first fruits feast.
We know this wasn’t the rapture, because that happens in an instant and the Virgins clearly had time to hear, talk, and go out. And while they were going the bridegroom came which indicates that the bridegroom comes a short while after the shout goes out. Long enough for them to walk away and not be present.
So why 10 virgins? Why not 2 or 7? I am speculating here, but I think the number 10 represents the 10 days of Awe before the Day of Atonement, the day when we are judged and our sins are forgiven and the Jubilee declared.
There is a very real possibility that our fate could be sealed on the Day of Atonement, 12 days before the actual Rapture event. Anyone who waits too long may miss the registration.
Oil is Used to Anoint the 144,000
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” — Revelation 6:6
I believe the oil and the wine are those anointed and empowered by the spirit to witness.
Do not harm the land or sea (masses) or trees (nations) until we have sealed (with oil) the foreheads of the servants of our God. — Revelation 7:3
All of that said, I think the biggest reason we cannot see a rapture yet is because debts/sins are not forgiven until the Day of Atonement. It is on the Day of Atonement that the Jubilee is proclaimed. Any rapture prior to the Day of Atonement would be premature.
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
The fact that they are holding palm branches in their hands is the key that they come from the Feast of Tabernacles.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly (Atzeret, 7/22): Gather/Rapture the People.
I think scripture is very clear about what has to happen and those who are looking for parallels in other feast days are likely engaging in rationalizations based upon a desire to be raptured sooner rather than later. When you are attached to outcomes it blinds your ability to interpret scripture because your brain will rationalize without you even realizing it. Linking to Feast of Trumpets based largely on how its name appears to connect to the Last Trumpet only in the English is the ultimate stretch.
