In previous studies I’ve been discussing the Old Testament support of what Jesus claimed in Matthew 16:27-28, where he said he would come in the glory of the Father and reward every man according to his works (v.27). That’s resurrection! In other words, Jesus predicted that when he came in the glory of the Father all the dead, the just and the unjust would arise, and they would be judged according to their works. Some might debate as to how long after Jesus’ coming that would occur, but here’s the real surprise. Jesus said in the next verse (v. 28) that all this would occur in the lifetimes of some who listened to him speak those words on that day in the first century AD. That’s the dilemma all futurists have, and they **must** separate verses 27 and 28 with a huge gap in time in order to maintain their eschatology.
What I want to consider in this study of Matthew 16:27-28 is how its interpretation is affected by the Jewish Feast Days or Holy Days of Leviticus 23, especially the fall Holy Days, namely, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles. They were ten days (Feast of Tabernacles was an 8 day festival), which were set apart in the 7th month of the Jewish calendar.
Trumpets were used for more than one reason and for more than one Holy Day, but it was especially true that trumpets were significant on the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets were used to announce the coming of the Lord on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:13, 16, 19; 20:18). David used the trumpet to lead the ark into Jerusalem (2Samuel 6:15), and Absalom used it to announce he was king in Israel (2Samuel 15:10), and it was used again to announce the reign of King Solomon (1Kings 1:34, 39). It appears that the Feast of Trumpets foretold the coming of Israel’s King in power and glory in his Kingdom.
The Day of Atonement was a day of national mourning. It was THE fast day. There were other fast days in the year, but this was the only one commanded by God to be kept annually. Upon this day the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and atone for the sins of Israel. It seems to be the day which foretold judgment. Lots were cast to judge between two goats. One was sacrificed, while the other was led into a desert place and set free. It was a day of repentance and a day of judgment.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a national day of rejoicing in the fruits the Lord had given. Jesus used the harvest to point to the end of the age, when resurrection would occur, and the righteous would be brought into his barn, while the unrighteous would be punished (cf. Matthew 13:36-43). It symbolized resurrection and the receiving of God’s blessings (rewards). However, attached to the end of this festival was a Sabbath day called by John, the Great Day of the feast (John 7:37). Except for this passage of scripture the term great day always refers to the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:14; Jude 1:6; Revelation 6:17; 16:14). So, it seems resurrection is attached to the coming of the Day of the Lord.
Here’s my point. We are told that the Law has been done away. However, Jesus declared in Matthew 5:17-18 that he came to fulfill all that was in the Old Testament, and until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle would pass from the Law. If the judgment has not occurred, if the resurrection has not occurred, if the Day of the Lord has not come, if Jesus did not come in great glory and great power in his Kingdom, then the Law, i.e. the Old Covenant, is still valid. If the Law / Old Covenant is still valid, God is still dealing with the nations through the Jews, not the Church! Now, notice what Paul claims about these days:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)
Paul claims these days **are** (present, indicative, active), that is they were at the time of Paul’s writing shadows of things (mello; G3196) about to come. Not only were they shadows of things to come, but they foretold things **about to come**, that is those things were near to fulfillment in Paul’s day. What was near? – the Day of the Lord, the coming of Christ in power in the Kingdom, judgment and resurrection and rewards according to one’s works. In other words, these things were not yet fulfilled in Paul’s day, but were about to be fulfilled, according to Paul. This means, according to Jesus, that the keeping of these days were still valid, the Old Covenant was still in force, because “not on jot, not one tittle would pass from the Law until all things were fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18)
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