THE OPENING OF THE GATES
The opening days of Tishrei are known as “The Days of Awe” or “The Awesome Days.” Going from the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur); there are ten days. The Jewish teachers say, when the Shofar is blown on the Feast of Trumpets, the Gate of Heaven is opened. During this time you pray your prayers, repent, call on the Lord, or cry to the Lord. You have ten days for God to give you a good decision. On the tenth day (The Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur) God seals the fate of every person.
In other words, when the Gates of Heaven are opened; a person can repent before God and have their name inscribed in the Book of Life. When this time has concluded, on Yom Kippur, their fate is sealed by God.
Once the Feast of Trumpets was concluded, then the High Priest would go into a chamber in the Temple for seven days. He was to prepare before entering the Holy of Holies. He was away from the people. He was hidden until the Day of Atonement when he would come out and perform the Yom Kippur ceremony determining whether Israel had been forgiven of sin or whether Israel would suffer judgment.
Another picture of the church’ who will be taken away or hidden from God’s wrath. The priest was hidden in a secret chamber in the Temple. The church will be hidden away in the Heavenly Temple.
During the Opening of the Gates, the people would also decide if they were going to serve God or not. It is a time to decide whether or not one wants their name inscribed in God’s book. Thus the greeting of Rosh Hashanah, ““Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem” which means, ““May you be written and sealed for a good year.” The patterns and themes of this day are mind boggling! How many more ways can God say it?
During the Days of Awe, the doors of heaven are opened. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the decision is made. After the Great Trumpet blast of Yom Kippur, the gates are closed.
In Rev. 4:1, the door was open, and John was caught up. The door is then closed as God comes out to judge the world. We go through this door – into heaven until the indignation is past but only if we have made a good decision.
for those who are interested 