In another article, Lessons from the Duck Yard, I stated that the Lord's program for the end times can be found summarized in Isaiah chapter 1:24-28
25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
26. And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
27. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
28. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed (Isaiah 1:24-28).
I have found another short summary, even shorter than the above one, that has some interesting features I'll share with you. It is Mathew 9:1 , where speaking of Jesus, it states: "And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city."
Each part of this verse answers to a phase of the end times, and also corresponds to one of the three major feasts of the Lord. These are Tabernacles, Passover and Pentecost.
Now this is one of those insights that come all at once in a flash in inspiration. In order for that to happen, The Lord has to lay a lot of foundation.
Let's take the third part first. He came into his own city. In this case the reference to the New Jerusalem which the prophet John saw coming down from Heaven as a bride prepared for her husband. Thus the City is the Bride! So entering the city is the same and celebrating the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This of course is at the end of Revelation. The marriage is the fulfillment of the marriage covenant, God's covenant and promise to his people. This corresponds with pentecost because it was on pentecost, after the children of Israel came out of Egypt, that God gave them the Law on Mt. Sinai. And it was on pentecost, after Jesus resurrection, that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Church. So pentecost is linked with the covenant. The covenant is a marriage covenant. And fulfillment of that covenant comes at the marriage supper, after Jesus Second Coming. All this is contained in the phrase: and came into his own city."
The second part, passover, speaks of the Second Coming. The Key features are the Lord's judgment upon satanic powers, darkness coming upon the land and the resurrection.
Judgment
- At the first passover, the Lord slew the firstborn of Egypt, and he also judged their "gods".
- At the passover, when Jesus laid down his life, He told us, the prince of this world is judged.
- When the Lord returns in his glory at the second coming, He will first bring judgment on the heavenly powers.
- When the Lord slew the firstborn of Egypt and judged their gods, he went out at midnight.
- When Jesus was crucified, darkness fell upon the land from the 6th to the 9th hour.
- When the Lord comes again in his glory, the sun will turn black and the moon will not shine.
- The people of God coming out of Egypt and passing through the Red Sea is a type of resurrection.
- Jesus own resurrection and that of the old testament saints followed his death at passover.
- When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ shall rise!
The first part, he entered into a ship, is connected with Tabernacles. Here are the key features of tabernacles:
On the Day of atonement, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to meet with the Lord. Thus that was when the Lord came to the temple!
On the first feast of tabernacles, Moses came down from Sinai the second time and had the people begin construction of the tabernacle of the Testimony. It was completed just prior to Passover.
On the 8th day of tabernacles, Hagaii gave his second prophecy, and the people began to build the second temple. It too was completed just prior to Passover.
On the 8th day of tabernacles, Jesus revealed himself to Israel, saying If any man thirst, let him come unto me….
What all this is saying it that the essence of tabernacles is God coming to the temple and revealing himself. The Temple is the Church. The Church is the Ship. All this is contained in the phrase: And he entered into a ship.
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city."
This is saying
a: Jesus will come and reveal himself to the Church. This is the beginning of the Book of Revelation. Tabernacles
b. This starts a process [building His spiritual temple] that will culminate in the Second Coming, Revelation 19. Passover
c. The Lord's final aim is to be united with his Bride, Revelation 21. Pentecost.
Each of the three feasts have had partial fulfillment's in the past, in these last days, they will be completely fulfilled.