Hello John and Doves,

 

The Rapture is a type of 'solemn assembly'.  A calling and gathering of the saints - both those that have died and those that are alive - at the trumpet blast, to be with the Lord in the clouds.  This will happen on an appointed day - a day designated for this holy event.

 

A solemn assembly or sacred assembly is a gathering of the people for a sacred feast, festival or holy occasion.  

 

It also means an appointed time and "a day of restraint'.  

 

Solemn Assembly comes from the root word meaning to restrain.

 

And when the restraint is removed.....

 

2 Thessalonians 2:7:  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:  only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.  

 

Here are 2 examples of solemn assemblies associated with the Seven High Holy Days or Festivals.  The seventh day of Passover/Unleavened Bread - Deuteronomy 16:8  "For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold a solemn assembly to the Lord your God and do no work".  And the "eighth day" following the Feast of Tabernacles - Leviticus 23:36  "You are to present a fire offering to the Lord for seven days.  On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present a fire offering (or burnt offering) to the Lord.  It is a solemn gathering; you are not to do any daily work."

 

Also, special solemn assemblies can be called, as when the prophet Joel called the people together for fasting because of a plague of locusts.

 

The "eighth day" is Shemini Atzeret.  Shemini means eighth.  Atzeret comes from the Hebrew root meaning to "hold back or tarry".

 

In Numbers 10:10:  "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God:  I an the Lord your God."

 

So there is a blowing of trumpets on Shemini Atzeret.  This is the last Biblical holy day of the seventh month.  It ends the Seven Festivals of the Lord, and then they start over with Passover next year.

 

So Shemini Atzeret is the very last day of the moedim - quite literally 'the last trump'.  It is on 22 Tishrei, October 9/10 this year.

 

Shemini Atzeret is a mystery- very little is known about this day - it's an obscure Biblical holiday:

 

It is said:  What's the easiest way to stump a Reform Jew?  Ask him to explain Shemini Atzeret.

 

What's the easiest way to stump an Orthodox Jew?  Ask him to explain Shemini Atzeret.

 

The Jews see this day as 'an extra day of fellowship with the Lord, a "lingering time with the Lord" during Sukkot.

 

So a solemn assembly has to do with 'restraining' and Atzeret has to do with 'tarry'.  Both words that come up in our watching for the Rapture.  People often comment about 'the Lord tarrying'.  And we know something/someone is 'restraining'. 

 

"..Shemini Atzeret seems to prophetically foreshadow our joyful lingering in the presence of Adonai forever."  https://news.kehila.org/the-mystery-of-shemini-atzeret-gods-post-sukkot-feast/
God’s post-Sukkot Feast: Shemini Atzeret

 

Another day on the 'watch list'.

 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

 

Maranatha!

 

Chance