Jesus is worthy of praise and worship....

....because He perfectly completed God's Counterintuitive Plan for our salvation through His life, death, and resurrection, ....ransoming us from sin and death.  Jesus did everything He came to do for us who believe.... John 18:37, 19:28,30

Though he was God, (John 1:1,4)
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to. (John 1:14)

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)

When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God (Mark 14:36)
and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Matt 27:35, 46; Heb 12:2)

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor (Rev 1:7,8)
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, (Rev 19:16)
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, (Rev 5:13)
to the glory of God the Father.
    —  Philippians 2:6-11 NLT

BEFORE the Cross and Resurrection ....John 14:29

Jesus told His disciples about "God's Plan"

The Father loves me because I SACRIFICE MY LIFE SO I MAY TAKE IT BACK AGAIN.  No one can take my life from me.  I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I HAVE THE AUTHORITY to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.  For THIS IS WHAT MY FATHER HAS COMMANDED.
  — John 10:17-18 NLT
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Jesus' Prophetic Fulfillment of Biblical Feasts

In Leviticus 23, God appointed 7 feasts to celebrate "remember our relationship" events in Jewish history.  In God's eternal timeline they have prophetic meaning.  These feasts foretell the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, in specific relationship to His death, resurrection and return.  Simply put, they are GOD'S CALENDAR for the ORDER AND DETAILS of the most significant events in the history of the world!  

All 4 SPRING feasts were fulfilled EXACTLY in Jesus' first coming 2000 years ago, and deal with the death and resurrection of Christ, and sending of the Holy Spirit. The 3 FALL feasts deal with events at the end of the age including the Rapture, the Second Coming of Christ, and the long awaited Messianic Kingdom on earth.  Laid out by God, these 7 feasts speak of the total work of Christ to redeem mankind. *

Illustrated above, there is a "Harvest Time" period between the Spring and Fall feasts. The Feast of Trumpets commemorated the end of the agricultural year, ....when workers would come in from the fields and celebrate the end of harvest.  The blowing of trumpets on the first day of the new year heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement ....and a call to introspection and repentance. ‍

TODAY, ....this "Harvest" period is called the "Church Age" ....signifying where we are in God's timeline of history (Matthew 28:18-20).  IN GOD'S TIMING, we are living between the feasts of PENTECOST fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came as Jesus foretold (Acts 1:8) ....and TRUMPETS when the Church is Raptured

Fulfilled prophecy validates God's Word as TRUTH we can trust....
‍

Let's talk about the Spring Feasts....

(....following from Echoes of His Presence by Ray Vander Laan
with Judith Markam; published Focus On The Family, c.1996)

‍"Though Jesus lived a pure life (2 Cor 5:21), perfectly obeying the Law, which no other man had ever done or ever could do, HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY WERE ALSO A FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PROMISE centuries before to the Jewish nation.  Thus, Jesus' redemptive work (Mark 10:45; Eph 5:2; 1 John 4:10) was carried out ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF FEASTS that God had set in place with His people Israel. (Lev 23:1-2,3-43,44)

"Not only did Jesus come into Jerusalem on the day the sacrificial lamb was traditionally chosen, but He was also sacrificed on the cross during PASSOVER, the first of the great Jewish feasts. He was buried at the beginning of the FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, the feast that, among other things, offered thanks to God for the life — the bread — He provided from the earth.  ...And He rose on the FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS, the feast that celebrated the beginning of the harvest.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  —  1 Corinthians 15:20-21 NIV

‍"Finally, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on PENTECOST, fourth of the seven Jewish feasts."   See John 14:15-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-12

‍(....end quote from Introduction to Echoes of His Presence)

Today's Church Age ‍

We are living in that period of time between the feast of Pentecost fulfilled by the Holy Spirit and birth of the Church in Acts 2:38-41 and the feast of Trumpets to be fulfilled with Jesus' imminent Rapture of the Church.  Today as the Church (Believers, Body of Christ), we are commissioned (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) to advance God's Kingdom (1 Cor 1:21; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
....by TELLING OUR STORY of being Born Again to New Life in Jesus.

Why does fulfilled prophecy matter?

See Num 23:19; Isa 55:11; Ps 145:13; Heb 10:23; 2 Cor 1:20

(....following from Prophecy Is The Bible's Build-In Certificate Of Divine Authenticity by Todd Hampson; published Harbinger's Daily online *)

"Bible prophecy is God revealing history in advance before it happens, as a prediction, a warning, or a directive (Isa 46:9-10). It was written down centuries early so anyone can check the record. And it is the one line of evidence the Bible offers that a skeptic can examine without first having to believe.

"That last part is worth sitting with. Most claims about God require some measure of trust up front.  Prophecy is different. You can read what was written, look at what happened, and decide for yourself.

"That changes how you read the Bible.  You are no longer holding a religious text you have to defend.  You are holding a document that has already delivered on hundreds of specific promises.

‍"Bible prophecy is evidence God wrote down in advance so anyone could check it. About 28 percent of the Bible was prophecy when it was written, roughly 80 percent of it has already been fulfilled to the exact detail, and THE FULFILLMENT RATE ON EVERYTHING PAST IS 100 PERCENT.  ....That track record is what makes fulfilled prophecy the most compelling reason to trust that the Bible is from God."

‍(....end quote from Harbinger's Daily)

On Resurrection day, Jesus appeared to His disciples....

and said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you (before the Cross and Resurrection): Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me
in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
    — Luke 24:44 NIV

When the Bible delivers on 80 percent of what it promised with a perfect 100 percent record, the remaining 20 percent stops feeling like a gamble ....and STARTS FEELING LIKE A MATTER OF TIME.

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Fall Feasts point to our FUTURE with Jesus

From the Old Covenant to the New Covenant
‍(Jer 31:33-34; Luke 22:20; Heb 9:15),
‍God provides prophetic pictures of His entire plan
for mankind ....as outlined in the Lord's appointed FALL feasts of Leviticus 23.

TRUMPETS

See Leviticus 23:24  Many believe this feast points to Rapture of the Church when Jesus comes to take away His bride, the Church, from earth and takes us to Heaven (John 14:1-3) for the wedding feast described in Rev 19:6-9.  Jesus does this to protect Believers (Rev 3:10) ....from God's righteous judgment that will be poured out on the earth, during a 7 year period known as the Tribulation.  The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with blowing of a loud trumpet (1 Thess 4:16-18; 1 Cor 15:52).

‍Tribulation between TRUMPETS and DAY OF ATONEMENT ‍

Following Rapture of the Church and as detailed in Revelation 6-18, there is a 7 year period called the Tribulation marked by various divine judgments, natural disasters, and terrible plagues.  Jesus said, “For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world...." (Mark 13:19; Matthew 24:21).

DAY OF ATONEMENT

See Leviticus 23:27  Jesus has already made atonement for all believers (Jew and Gentile alike) on the cross.  Following the Tribulation, many believe the next festival points prophetically to Jesus' Second Coming, when the Jewish remnant recognizes Jesus as their Messiah.  That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as Messiah (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:1-6, 25-27).

TABERNACLES ‍

See Leviticus 23:34  Symbolizes God's dwelling among His people, fulfilled in Jesus.  Many believe that this feast day points to the Lord’s promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people when He returns to reign over all the world ....and the long awaited Messianic Kingdom on earth (Micah 4:1-7).

Let's talk about "before the Rapture" and us being....

Born Again to New Life with Jesus NOW
‍

God's Counterintuitive Plan

....requires our "spiritual birth" through Jesus (John 14:6)....

THROUGH CHRIST YOU HAVE COME TO TRUST IN GOD. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. ....YOUR NEW LIFE will last forever because IT COMES FROM THE ETERNAL, LIVING WORD OF GOD.
   — 1 Peter 1:21-23 NLT

TODAY, ....a "Born Again" ....Christ-centered life is lived in continual fellowship with God, seeking the INDWELLING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 14:25-26; Romans 8:26; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:16,22-23) as our Source of life and blessing, ....our Helper in making every day choices.  

The abundant life Jesus gives is not about material possessions or accomplishments; it is about knowing God, being in Him, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.  ....Ephesians 3:16-19; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Therefore....

So then, since we have a great High Priest Who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.  SO LET US COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF OUR GRACIOUS GOD. There we will RECEIVE HIS MERCY, and we will FIND GRACE TO HELP US when we need it most.
    — Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT

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And we know God's plan is for us to be in Heaven....

....living with Jesus for rest of ETERNITY

‍The Rapture of the Church (Believers in Christ) is the imminent coming event where Believers are taken up to meet Jesus in the air ....to join Him in Heaven for the "wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:6-9).  Jesus does this (Rev 3:10-11 ESV) in order to make way for God's righteous judgment to be poured on the earth, during a 7-year period known as the Tribulation in Revelation chapters 6-18.

The Rapture is described in 1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:50-54.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.  For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God....
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 NLT

....continuing....

....First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be "caught up" (Greek word "harpazo", Strongs G726, from which we get the word "Rapture") in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Then WE WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER.  So ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER WITH THESE WORDS.
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NLT

Physical bodies transformed to spiritual bodies

Recall our conversation in Chapter 8.1....

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die....
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory....  ....What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
 
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!  It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.  For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.  For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
    — 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,50-54

....also Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; and 1 John 3:2

....and, as Jesus said....

"I am the resurrection and THE SOURCE of all (SPIRIT) LIFE; THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME will live even in (PHYSICAL) death.  Everyone who lives and believes in Me WILL NEVER TRULY DIE.  Do you believe this?"
    — John 11:25-26 The Voice

‍

Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord

Following the 7-years of Tribulation recorded in Revelation chapters 6-18....

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself.  He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God.
 
The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.  From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.  On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
    — Revelation 19:11-16 NLT

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"Reverence" and "Awe"  describe this moment!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the One Who is, Who always was, and Who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
    — Revelation 1:8 NLT

‍

"Maranatha!"  

....Come, O Lord!

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Family & Friends....

There is much more God has told us about His purposes for other coming End Times events, including the Judgement Seat of Christ, Millennial Reign, Great White Throne Judgement, creation of a
‍New Heaven and New Earth, and more.

These prophetic events are beyond our focus in this Book,
so do Bible and online searches to learn about them.

‍Because our focus TODAY AS JESUS' DISCIPLES
....IS LIVING NOW IN HIS PEACE, and
....BEING READY FOR and SHARING THE HOPE OF
....JESUS' IMMINENT RETURN to Rapture His Church.

TODAY, writing this disclipleship study as an interactive Book is my assignment to ask questions, ....and share a lot of scriptures, because....

Life's Core Learning Goal

....is to "EXPERIENCE KNOWING GOD" ....and to GET and KEEP OUR LIVES in loving, intimate RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.

You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning
more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more
and more like Christ who created this new life within you.
    — Colossians 3:10 TLB

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‍

And there is sooo much more to know about Jesus!

Keep studying your Bible.  Read it daily.  ....And read what others have written in books and study guides and blogs and websites ....telling their life's experiences with our Lord.  ....The more you seek to know Jesus, the more there is to learn about our Savior, Lord and Friend.

As scripture says,....

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one
of them were written down, I suppose that even
the whole world would not have room for the
books that would be written.
    — John 21:25 NIV

.......Perhaps some day, you will write your own book
about life with Jesus.  I'd like to read it.  ....SMILE....

‍

^{* Credits: Transfiguration, Rapture, and Second Coming images anonymous, found on several blog sites / image of the 7 Biblical feasts from YouTube video titled "Prophetic Fulfillment of the Biblical Feasts" by Living Strategically / Rapture of Believers image from WallpaperCave com / text for Prophetic Fulfillment of Biblical Feasts from jesusplusnothing com and GotQuestions org / text for Feast of Trumpets adapted from GotQuestions org / "Why does fulfilled prophecy matter" text from Prophecy Is The Bible's Build-In Certificate Of Divine Authenticity by Todd Hampson; published Harbinger's Daily online, August 6, 2026 / Jesus photos from The Chosen}