Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. I live in Orlando, Florida, where fall weather doesn’t arrive until November or December, but this is by far my favorite season. Since Florida doesn’t experience all the colorful changes that are seen in the trees up north, my family and I usually travel to states such as Massachusetts, Maine, New York, or Vermont see the gorgeous hues of yellow, orange, red, and even purple.

Every time I gaze upon those beautiful colors, I am reminded of the Fall Feasts that are mentioned in the Bible. Also known as the High Holy Days, these appointed times on the biblical calendar bring me back to the truth of Jesus’s words.

“Behold, I am coming soon,” Revelation 22:12.

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” Hebrews 9:28.

No one knows when Jesus will come back, but I have always wondered if he might return on one of the Fall Feasts someday in the future. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) occur every single year at the appointed time on the biblical calendar and all three of them are a shadow of Jesus Christ. I won’t go into all the symbolism in this blogpost, but you can always read these older posts here, here, and here if you want to learn how Jesus is seen in each biblical feast. Keep in mind that since these are older posts, the dates for the High Holy Days will be from previous years and will not coincide with this year’s dates on the Gregorian calendar. (The appointed times of these three feasts change on our Gregorian calendar each year, but they occur at the same time on the biblical calendar.  Regardless of the dates, the information in the posts will help you understand how each Fall Feast points directly to Jesus.)

THE SEASON OF ELUL

For today’s post, I want to focus on the season that precedes the Fall Feasts (High Holy Days), which is called ELUL. The etymology of this word is related to the harvest and the idea of separating good from bad, similar to threshing grain.

This year the Hebrew month of Elul will begin at sundown on August 24, 2025 and last until sundown on September 22.

Keep in mind that on the biblical Hebrew calendar a new month begins at the appearance of the new moon—- thus the month of Elul will begin when the new moon appears.

Back in ancient times, they didn’t have the technology we have today to detect the new moon’s appearance so they had to rely on witness testimony. People would observe the sky for the first sliver of the new moon after the dark moon phase. Once the new moon was sighted, at least two reliable witnesses would report their observation to the Sanhedrin (Jewish authorities) who would question them to make sure they had really seen it. If accurate and reliable, this news of the new moon sighting had to be communicated throughout Israel. A system of signal fires would be lit on mountaintops to alert everyone. This was very important because all biblical holidays were observed according to the lunar cycle. Sometimes, the news that the new moon (new month) had arrived would not get to every community at the same time. This is why many Jewish holidays (feasts) and appointed times are celebrated for two days, or for an extra period of days. Hold on to this information because it will become important later in this post!

A Time of Repentance

The entire month of Elul is known as the days of repentance as believers are called to meet with the Creator (God/Jesus). In synagogues around the world, a ram’s horn (shofar) will be blasted each day of Elul, except for the last day which precedes Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets)—according to tradition this is meant to confuse Satan so he doesn’t know the day or hour when the appointed time will occur.

The piercing sound of the shofar is a powerful blast reminding those who follow God/Jesus to wake up! Now is the time to take an inventory of one’s life, and investigate the state of one’s heart. More than anything, it’s a call to deep repentance for sins that have gained a foothold. At the end of the month of Elul (which lasts 29/30 days), the believer should have spent considerable time reflecting and drawing closer to God/Jesus.

While observing Elul is typically done by Jewish congregations of both Orthodox and Messianic believers (Messianic Jews have received Jesus as their Savior), it is also observed by non-Jewish Christians who see the connection to Jesus and his future return.

The King is in the Field

Hebrew tradition teaches that the King (God/Jesus) is in the field during Elul because it’s the season of the harvest. This time of repentance occurs right before the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah. On this particular feast day, the trumpet (ram’s horn/shofar) will be sounded 100 times, which signals the beginning of a new civil year. In fact, it’s known as New Year’s Day in Judaism. While most of us celebrate New Year’s on January 1 each year on the Gregorian calendar, the Jewish people celebrate it on Tishri 1 on the biblical calendar. Every year the Feast of Trumpets (New Year’s Day) will arrive in the Fall (September/October).

A ram’s horn, or shofar

Will Jesus Come Back on a Feast Day?

Many biblical scholars believe Jesus could return at the Rapture on the Feast of Trumpets some day in the future. Keep in mind this feast occurs every single year so even if we wanted to guess that Jesus could return at this appointed time, we still wouldn’t be able to pinpoint an exact date or year. Nonetheless, observing the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, reminds us that the King will return someday as the trumpet sounds. Whether or not it will be on this particular feast day, only God knows.

The Feast of Trumpets is also known as Yom Teruah, or the day of the trumpet blast. This reminds me of a wonderful verse…

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed,” 1 Corinthians 15:52

Interestingly enough, 100 trumpet blasts are sounded on the Feast of Trumpets and the 100th blast is called the last trump.

Another curious fact about the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) is that it’s the only feast (appointed time of the Lord) that doesn’t have an exact start time. This is why it’s referred to as “The Feast of which no one knew the day or the hour.” It was also called “The Hidden Day” or “The Day of Hiding.”

Psalm 81:3 says, “Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the concealed time, on our feast day.”

If you look at various translations, most of them leave out the “concealed” part. But if you break down the verse on Blue Letter Bible you can see that it says “in the time appointed,” which is the word kece (also spelled keh-seh or kese). The root word of kece is kasa which means to conceal or cover.

So on Rosh Hashanah, the trumpet is blown on a day that is “hidden or concealed.”

The reason for this goes back to what I shared with you earlier about the new moon. This phase of the lunar cycle is extremely difficult to see because the sliver is almost invisible when it first begins. In essence, the moon is hidden. This is why the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) is celebrated for two days and is considered a mysterious feast.

“Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.”  Isaiah 26:20

“Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you— protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.” Zephaniah 2:3

Some biblical scholars believe that the Bride of Christ will be hidden away during the Tribulation as God’s wrath is unfolding on earth. This reminds me of the story of the Hiding Place where Corrie ten Boom and her family hid the Jewish people in a secure place in the wall so that the wrath of the Nazis would not touch them.

The start times of the other Feasts of the Lord such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) begin at the full moon which is easy to track and see. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) begins exactly 50 days after Passover which is simple to count. The Day of Atonement arrives ten days into the new month of Tishri and by this time, the moon is very visible.

When it comes to the Feast of Trumpets, which arrives at a “hidden time,” some Messianic Rabbis believe that when Jesus said “no man knows the day or the hour,” of His return at the Rapture, he is referring to the Feast of Trumpets (the Feast of which no one knew the day or the hour, also called the Hidden Day).

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

The Ancient Jewish Wedding

Interestingly enough, according to ancient Jewish wedding customs, the bride did not know when her groom would come to get her. She had to always be ready because it would be at a “hidden time.” While she waited, the groom would be at his father’s property where he would build and prepare the home that they would live in. Back in biblical times, a groom and his bride would go and live on the father’s property instead of finding a place of their own. Many times a room was built onto the family home which was owned by the father. Here is an article that explains about the father’s house.

When the father saw that the home (room) was finished to the right specifications, he would tell his son to go and fetch his bride! This is why Matthew 24:36 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

When the groom was finally on his way, the trumpet would be blasted by the wedding party and the bride would hear the piercing sound. She would be ready with her oil lamp (in case it was in the middle of the night) and rush out to meet her groom. She would be lifted up high on a chair as she approached her husband. This is a picture of what the Rapture could be like when Jesus returns for his bride.

John 14:1-4 is an illustration of the Jewish wedding:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions (rooms); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Of course, as I said before, only God (the Father) knows when Jesus will return for his Bride. Personally, I would always be ready because the truth is that we could die before the Rapture so our souls must always be prepared. Also, while we have lots of amazing info about the Feasts of the Lord, we don’t know exactly how it will all unfold. Biblical scholars don’t agree on the details. I suppose there are some things that are part of the mystery…

Now let’s get back to Elul because this season comes before the Feast of Trumpets and the other fall feasts.

 Elul Prepares the Way

Elul is considered a time of preparation because it precedes the High Holy Days, which are all shadows of what’s to come in the future.

Each year during Elul I usually do something to observe the season. Most times, I spend the month praying with more introspection. I also journal my prayers throughout the season as I focus on the sins and burdens that the Holy Spirit brings to mind. The awesome thing about Elul is that it’s not just a time of targeting the sins that have plagued our year, it’s also about unloading our cares and burdens. In truth, sins can be like heavy rocks on our backs, but Jesus wants to carry that weight for us. He also wants to carry our worries, insecurities, and all the things that keep us up at night.

Keep in mind that it’s not a requirement to observe Elul. If we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are covered by his blood and we do not have to “earn points” or grace through any type of work. Jesus paid the price in full for us when He died on the cross. But the season of Elul gives us the opportunity to draw closer to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit do some much needed “fall cleaning” of our hearts so we can start the new year afresh. At this time, we can also look forward to the return of Jesus one day because we understand that the Fall Feasts point to Him.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

To observe Elul this year I am going to participate in an event led by former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. It is called 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting and it will begin on the first day of Elul, August 24, 2025, and last all the way to the end of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This is a virtual event on Zoom and anyone can participate.

Each day there will be an opportunity for fellowship with others who are also on the Zoom, as well as scripture reading. Additionally, there will be lots of prayer, in particular for the nations of the world and the direction of our country. You can see the schedule by clicking on this link. Recently Michele Bachmann appeared on Understanding the Times where she explained why it’s important for our nation to engage in prayer, fasting, and repentance.

National Repentance Vs. Individual Repentance

On the last day of Elul (September 22), the sun will set and as soon as this happens, the Feast of Trumpets begins (September 22 in the evening). The Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur), will arrive 40 days after the season of Elul begins. This year, the Day of Atonement will arrive on October 1, 2025 at sundown, lasting until sundown October 2.

Yom Kippur is observed ten days after the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and this appointed time is tied to national repentance. Whereas the Feast of Trumpets signifies individual, personal repentance, the Day of Atonement revolves around a nation’s sins. In the case of ancient Israel, the High Priest had to go into the Holy of Holies on one day of the year and that was on the Day of Atonement. He pleaded for the sins of the nation and prayed that God would forgive all of them for that year. If God forgave the nation’s sins, things would go well for Israel. If not, they would be under judgment and things would begin to deteriorate.

The reason Michele Bachmann is doing this event is because she’s drawing attention to the need for national repentance. Like Israel, our nation was formed through the providence and hand of God. We are a unique country because our Constitution is based on biblical principles. Our system of government, which protects freedom of speech, religious freedom, and personal liberty, is also modeled after the Bible. Of course, these rights have been threatened with great veracity in the last ten years as liberalism has become like a virus that’s difficult to eradicate.

Will Israel Recognize Jesus as Messiah on Yom Kippur in the Future?

Biblical scholars believe that someday in the future on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the nation of Israel will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah. This will happen after the Seven-Year Tribulation–a time where they are threshed like wheat. Remember that Elul and the Fall Feasts are likened to the harvest time, where grain is threshed and separated. A tribulum is a threshing sledge used in ancient times to separate the grain from the stalks after harvesting. There are sharp stones on the board which are pulled across the grain to thresh it. Pressure is put on the grain as it is twisted and torn up underneath the sledge.

During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will exert great pressure on the Jewish people as well as the world as he enforces his demonic rule. Untold numbers of people will be killed during his reign. The Antichrist will have a special hatred for the Jews, many of whom will refuse to worship him. In the end, those who survive the Tribulation will finally recognize and receive Jesus as their King and Savior. Could this happen on Yom Kippur someday in the future? Only God knows, but this Feast contains shadows of this possibility.  

The Time to Repent is NOW

Certainly, the United States of America is in great need of national repentance. Some people believe that with President Trump in office, we’re out of the woods. While President Trump has certainly been fighting to restore biblical principles and ideals in many areas, our nation is still very much steeped in sin. We must never let our guard down and continue to intercede for our country and its leaders.

The National Sin of Abortion Stains Our Nation

Our nation still allows the murder of innocent babies, though I am thankful that since the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, we have less states that participate in this barbaric practice where babies are either vacuumed out of the mother, dissected inside and outside of the womb, stabbed with medical tools, or given injections to stop their tiny hearts.

As of May 28, 2025, the Guttmacher Institute reported that states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia have near-total bans on abortion. This is an answer to prayer. Actually, faithful Christians have been fasting and praying for over 50 years in the hopes that abortion would be banned all over America! 

Currently at least 28 states have abortion bans based on gestational duration. Seven states ban abortion at or before 18 weeks of gestation, and 21 states ban abortion at some point after 18 weeks. Nine states and the District of Colombia do not restrict abortion on the basis of gestational duration.

Since we still have many states that engage in abortion, we must continue to fast and pray as this puts us under judgment. We must fight the good fight until abortion is completely eradicated in our nation.

The abortion bans and restrictions that have come about since the overturn of Roe vs. Wade have made many liberals very angry and they continue to rage against what they believe is a “tyrannical system” taking away their “right” to kill an innocent baby. Since many women have lost access to abortions in their state, they are turning to abortion pills, or chemical abortions to get the job done. They can get these pills through the mail and perform the abortion in the comfort of their home.

In the past, surgical abortions were responsible for the majority of abortion deaths. For example, in 2001, only 6% percent of abortions were performed using chemicals such as mifepristone and misoprostol. By 2017, the number had risen to 39%. In 2022, however, at least 58% of reported abortions were chemical abortions (though this number is likely higher given that certain jurisdictions do not report to the CDC). By 2023, the percentage has risen to 63% and that number is still climbing.

As a nation we are reaping what we’ve sown because those abortion pills, and the innocent babies who are murdered, are ending up in the water that we drink.

Recently I wrote an article called Abortion Tainted Water based off a groundbreaking report released by Liberty Counsel titled Abortion in the Water. This shocking report highlights the horrors of this national sin.  HERE IS A LINK TO LIBERTY COUNSEL’S SPECIAL REPORT

Inside Liberty Counsel’s report it states:

“As it relates to harm for women, like other pharmaceuticals known to cause adverse effects on our ecosystem, mifepristone forms active metabolites. These metabolites may retain the therapeutic effects of mifepristone even after being excreted by humans and passing into wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), most of which are not designed to remove them. Unfortunately, having passed through WWTP, some pharmaceuticals have been found in America’s drinking water.”

Shockingly, one estimate shows that as much as “40+ tons of chemically-tainted medical waste–human tissue, placenta, and blood (aborted babies and related byproducts) are flushed into our waterways.” Even though wastewater treatment plants are not supposed to be processing these remains, the problem is that a “myriad of state laws” that regulate human remains do not always apply to aborted babies. Of course, these precious babies ARE HUMANS.

The Bodies of Aborted Babies Have Been Found in Wastewater Treatment Plants

While there are some laws that are designed to prevent the remains of innocent children from entering the water treatment system, some abortion providers ignore those laws. In fact, “numerous babies have been found in wastewater treatment plants.” Sadly, whistleblowers have described body parts of babies that are tossed into “garbage disposals,” allowing the remains to go down the sink and into the water system.

The most disturbing aspect of the chemical abortion process is that, in many cases, the remains of the babies are flushed away like common excrement not just in doctor’s offices, but in the homes of women.

In 2025, it’s a sad fact that in the United States, some women are able to access abortion pills by simply opening their mailboxes. Women can perform their own “at-home” abortions and then dispose of their baby’s remains. While most women are told they will only see blood and clumps of tissue, the reality is that many end up seeing a tiny, intricately formed baby. In that moment, they come face-to-face with the consequences of their actions.

When a chemically-aborted-baby’s remains are flushed down the toilet, it not only sends chemicals and human remains into the water system, but it also perpetuates the idea that the lives of the unborn are as insignificant as human waste.

 Imagine how God feels knowing that we are flushing innocent babies down the toilet!!!!!!!!

The fact that we are now using water tainted with the sin of abortion to drink, bathe in, wash our clothes, and sustain human life is a big clue that we need to repent as a nation! Certainly, the month of Elul is a great time to do this!

There are other national sins that need repentance as well. For instance:

  • Our nation’s laws that uphold gay marriage are not pleasing to the Lord. Marriage is between one man and one woman.
  • Our nation’s adherence to the LGBTQ culture and lifestyle is an abomination to God—we are seeing push-back on this, but we must keep praying and fighting against this. We should be praying for the repentance of all those caught up in this lifestyle as many are confused and lost.
  • Many people in our country are obsessed with self-love and pride. Social media fuels this phenomenon. This sin turns people toward themselves instead of God.
  • The New Age movement is prominent in our culture and schools. Youth and adults are turning to divination through Tarot cards, psychic readings, Ouija boards, and channeling. Many are drawn to yoga, crystals, wicca, and all sorts of nature worship. Some of it is more subtle as key concepts such as “mindfulness,” “manifesting,” and “self-actualization” are promoted to make people rely on their inner self or the “universe’s calling” instead of Jesus. This is popular on social media and You Tube. Netflix and popular TV series are full of New Age practices and actively promote them.
  • Our nation continues to promote pharmaceutical products that are killing people such as the Covid-19 mRNA shots. We are also still giving vaccines that contain aborted fetal cell lines (see info here). Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doing his best to fight against this, but he is up against a huge behemoth! We need to keep praying for the vaccine cartel to fall and for people like Kennedy and those in the MAHA movement to be successful in their quest to stop these harmful products.
  • Our nation is also building up a massive artificial intelligence infrastructure that could lead to heavy surveillance and tracking when put in the wrong hands. Additionally, we are continuing our pursuits of genetic modification– AI is the tool that moves this agenda forward. The overarching goal is to overcome the human condition and pursue immortality using manmade technology. In essence, we are trying to let AI become our god. As we continue to create newer, more advanced technology, we are getting closer to the future Mark of the Beast. This needs a lot of prayer.
  • Some of our nation’s leaders are turning to socialism and openly rejecting biblical principles. Recently at the Democratic Socialist convention it was stated that the nuclear family is “an inherently repressive, racist, hetero-sexist institution that functionally reinforces and produces capitalism.” Currently there are two democratic socialist candidates for mayor in the U.S. who are gaining support. In recent months we have seen protests around the nation in places like Los Angeles, as well as on many college campuses. This is a taste of socialism because these protesters (many of which are paid) are touting social causes as the reasons for their “resistance.” Many are marching for Palestine, which is really marching for terrorists! Others want the borders left open so anyone can come into the country. These are all tactics used in socialism (which eventually becomes communism). Socialism is an economic system enforced by the government that would allow radical liberalism to flourish through unrestricted abortion, LGBTQ indoctrination, a poorly regulated drug and porn industry, as well as lax enforcement on crime. It would also come with heavy censorship, expensive social programs, and exorbitant taxation.  It’s a system that comes from the mind of Karl Marx, who wrote the Communist Manifesto. Marx wanted to dethrone God and abolish religion, the nuclear family and private property. In essence, socialism/communism is Satanic!
  • Our schools and universities are pushing socialist rhetoric when they teach lessons that glorify socialism as a way to bring about equality and “equity.” Socialism/Communism has never brought anything good to any country! It has always led to tyranny, starvation, and death.
  • There’s a lot of antisemitism in our nation right now, especially among young people. Social media and the legacy news outlets continue to spew lies about Israel and the Jewish people. After the attacks on October 7, 2023, much of the world has turned their backs on Israel. In the United States we are seeing people who are standing in solidarity with Hamas (terrorists) instead of the Jewish people. This does not sit well with God who expects us to bless and protect them. We don’t have to support everything Israel does, but we are called to love them and know the plan that God has revealed in the Bible for their future restoration under Messiah Jesus. Sadly, we are seeing some of our nation’s Leftist leaders calling for a Palestinian state. God says the land belongs to Israel and we must not support the division of the land.

These are just some of the reasons we should pray for our nation.

Do we only do this during Elul and at Yom Kippur? No, we can do it anytime, but this is an appointed time on the biblical calendar so why not meet with Jesus during this season?

As Elul arrives this year on August 24, take some time to meet the King in the field. Every year I like to go to the beach and throw shells or rocks into the ocean or a body of water. Each shell or rock represents a sin or burden in my life that I am giving Jesus to carry. As I toss it into the water, I remember that the Living Water carries all my transgressions away.

Elul will last until nightfall on September 22 and then the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) will arrive immediately afterward when the sun sets. I am looking forward to the day when I hear the trumpet sound and Jesus returns to take me home. The Bible says we should always be looking up and longing for His return. I don’t know when that will be, but the season of Elul and the High Holy Days remind me of this great promise.

I pray for many blessings for you and your loved ones during this amazing season. One day I will see you when that trumpet sounds!!!!