The Jewish autumn holy days—The Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles—carry profound prophetic significance, pointing not only to Israel’s history but to the culmination of the age as described in the book of Revelation.
These feasts are often called the “end feasts” because they occur at the close of the sacred year, symbolizing both judgment and restoration. As Jonathan Cahn explains, “These autumn feasts come at the end or the close of the sacred year of God. They are the closing. And prophetically, these days speak about the closing of everything, the closing of the age.”
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The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, begins on the 15th day of the seventh month. It commemorates God’s provision during Israel’s wilderness journey, when His presence accompanied them in the valleys, mountains and streams. Symbolized through the lulav—palm, myrtle and willow—and the etrog (citron), this feast reminds believers that God is with us in every circumstance. “The palm in the valleys, God was with us. In the low places of our life, He never left us. And then the myrtles in the rocky and rough places that we went through, God was with us… And then the etrog… represents the promised land that we remember in our journey. We are heading to the promised land,” Cahn emphasizes.
Trumpets, celebrated at the start of the seventh month, serve as both a warning and a call to repentance. “The trumpets say, ‘Get ready cuz you’re going to stand before God. Get ready for the day of the Lord,’” Cahn notes. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, mirrors this ultimate judgment. “Yom Kippur is the day when sins are dealt with, judged or removed… it’s the only day when man can go behind the veil and where God’s presence is,” Cahn says, highlighting the intimacy and finality of God’s judgment.
As Cahn points out, Revelation parallels these feasts, guiding believers behind the veil into the presence of God. From the opening visions of Revelation 4 to the final chapters describing the New Jerusalem, the book unveils a spiritual reality where sin is judged, God’s people are cleansed, and His kingdom is established eternally. “The end of the Bible… opens up the veil to the new Jerusalem. And do you know what the proportions are of the New Jerusalem? They’re the same proportions of the Holy of Holies. It’s like one big heaven, one big Holy of Holies. Everything filled with the presence and glory of God,” Cahn explains.
The autumn feasts also foreshadow Israel’s ultimate recognition of Messiah. Just as the high priest approached the altar on Yom Kippur, Israel will one day come to the cross. “On Yom Kippur, the priest comes to the altar. Who were the first people who are called to be priests of God? Israel… When Israel comes to Messiah, they’re going to come to the cross. There will be blessings to the world,” Cahn says. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promise: His dwelling with His people. Revelation confirms this vision with the tree of life, the river of living water and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, signaling eternal life, restoration and joy.
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As Cahn concludes, “Tabernacles is the God who tabernacles with us… When we’re in heaven, we’re going to look back like they did on Tabernacles and say, ‘Lord, thank you for being there in that valley… You never left me. You worked all things for good.’” The autumn feasts are not merely historical celebrations—they are prophetic shadows of the eternal kingdom that awaits, guiding us to Jerusalem and to God Himself.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
