The Seven Feasts of The Lord

The Seven Feasts of The Lord

Collin Leong. 5/10/2023

Introduction

In God's law given to Moses, the Israelites are to attend 7 "feasts" annually. These feasts are:  Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot), First Fruits (Bikkurum), Harvest/Pentecost (Shavuot), Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). 

These are found in Leviticus 23. These feasts are the "appointed times" for the Jews to proclaim as holy convocations (formal assembly of people).  The "appointed times" has a double meaning. It is not just for the annual holy rituals for the Jews, they also symbolize the redeeming plan of God for the Jews and all nations over the next thousands of years. It symbolizes how God will do this through His Son, Jesus Christ, who will come over 1270* years later after the writing.

In this short article, I won't detail the practices of each feasts. You can read that in the Bible or other commentaries. I'll focus on how they point to Jesus Christ from the time He was crucified until the time when he return again to reign on earth. 

In our present overview, the first four spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost had been fulfilled by the first coming of Jesus Christ. The next 3 autumn feasts (Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles) represents Jesus when he comes back again. Symbolically, we are living in the Pentecost period or "harvest" period, in the summer period. 

1) Passover (Leviticus 23:5) - In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. 

The first Passover happened in Egypt. "For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; but when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you." (Exodus 12:23)

You can read in Exodus that Moses went to Egypt to free his people from slavery. The Pharaoh would not let them go, even after 9 plagues that were poured on Eqypt. Finally, God asked every Israelites to kill a lamb and take it's blood to paint their doorposts. They are to stay inside their house that night. At midnight, God took the lives of the first born of all families that do not have the blood on their door.  Exodus 12:30 says "And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead."

The feast of Passover is the story of Our Redemption. At that time, the Jews need to be redeemed from slavery. For all of us (including the Jews today), need to be redeemed from sin, for God is Holy. We cannot be with God if we are not redeemed from our sins.  

We can never redeem ourselves no matter how hard we try, just as the plagues cannot redeem the Israelites from slavery. The only way to be redeemed is for someone to be sacrificed for us, just as the lamb had to die to give the Israelites their freedom. 

The lamb represents Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth and died on the cross for us. He died the eve of Passover, the same time when the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb on 14th day of Nissan, before the Passover feast begins. 

Furthermore, God commanded that the lamb's bones should not be broken: "It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones." (Exodus 12:46)  During crucifixion, the soldiers will break the legs of the criminal after several hours. This is to accelerate the death of the criminal, as he will not be able to push himself up in order to breath. Within a couple of hours, he will die from asphyxiation. However, Jesus legs was not broken as the soldier found that he was already dead. Instead, he jabbed his side with his spear to make sure he is dead.  Jesus fulfilled this prophecy - something that he has no control of. 

2) Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:6) - And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 

Leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible.  Jesus said "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6). Paul also said "Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor 5:8)

The Unleavened Bread feast takes place on the next day of Passover.  During the feast, they were asked to throw away all the leaven in their house. They will bake the bread without leaven, and they will eat the bread for 7 days. 

This feast is representative of justification that Jesus brought to us with his blood. Jesus was without sin and therefore was a blameless and perfect sacrifice for our sins. When someone believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, he is justified - "just-if-I have no sin", and all the leaven in us have been thrown away. 

Along with justification comes sanctification. The Holy Spirit will dwell in our hearts and begins the sanctification process. Paul said: "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrew 10:10

In addition, the feast will last for 7 days. "Seven" represent "fullness" or "completeness" in the culture of Israel. Seven is spelled with the same consonants of the Hebrew word "complete/full".  Though we were justified, we are not yet perfect. The process of sanctification is the process of making us closer to perfection and to live more like Christ; however, it is a process that will take all our lifetime.

As Paul said: ".... that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)  He is not finished with me yet!

3) First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10,11) – "When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted." 

The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to “promise to come.” For the Israelites, they see the feast as a request for God's promise to give them a good harvest season.

However, for believers, the first fruits festival pointed to Christ's resurrection. How do we know?  If Jesus died during the Passover, then His resurrection on the third day would have fallen on Nissan 16 - which is the Feast of First Fruits. Paul also refers to him in 1 Corinthians 15:20 as the "first fruits from the dead."

Symbolically, this festival implies that God promised a good harvest of souls after Jesus was offered to God. God accepted His sacrifice because He resurrected Jesus. With the resurrections, Christ has defeated death and He opens the door to everyone for the forgiveness of sin. 

"Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55)

Paul admitted that without the resurrection of Christ, our faith is useless. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Cor 15:14)  Christ was the first to resurrect, and assures us that believers will also be raised from the dead as well.

God did what he promised - when the gate for forgiveness was opened, Christianity grew to become the top religion on earth, until to this day.  As believers, we are commissioned to be harvesters for God.** 

Do you know that believers in Christ are also called firstfruits as well? 2 Thess 2:13 said: "... brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."  If we are the first fruits, and God asks us to offer the first fruits, doesn't it mean we are to offer ourselves to God as well? 

4) Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16) - You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.

"Shavuot" means "weeks" in Hebrew and it reflects the 50 days it will occur after the first day of Passover Sabbath (seventh Passover), usually late May to early June. Pentecost is often used by Christians as it is the Greek language that means "fiftieth." But it is also called the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest. 

Historically, Shavuot had agricultural significance, marking the wheat harvest in Israel. People would bring their early harvest to the Temple as an offering of gratitude to God for the harvest. People engaged in various ritual practices, including communal meals and the reading of the Book of Ruth, a book associated with the harvest and redemption of Ruth when Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer, decided to marry her. This act of marriage serves as a form of redemption for Ruth and Naomi, ensuring their security and future welfare. As you may know, our kinsman-redeemer is Jesus Christ Himself, who is presented as the Church's bridegroom. (Revelation 19:7-8)

This festival represent the birth of the Church and the harvest of spiritual souls. The apostles and other followers of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Shavuot when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the form of "tongues of fire."

"And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:3-4)

The apostle speak the foreign languages of all the visitors who visited Jerusalem for the festival.  As the gospel were told in their own language, 3000 of them accepted Christ as their savior and was baptized, and the church began to grow and spread. This the beginning of the harvest, and the harvest period continues until today. 

Jesus said: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”  Matthew 9:37-38

Are we putting effort in sowing seed, watering the plant, and harvesting the souls for Jesus? We don't have much time left before the harvest is over. 

5) Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24) – "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation."

The Feast of Trumpet is the first of fall feasts. It is considered a time of reflection and repentance. During the Ten Days of Awe that follow this feast, individuals seek to reconcile with God and others, asking for forgiveness for their shortcomings in the past year.

A central element of this feast is the sounding of the shofar, a hollowed-out ram's horn. The shofar blasts serve as a wake-up call, symbolizing the call to repentance, awakening the soul, and reminding people of God's sovereignty and authority. 

In the new testament, the sound of Trumpet is related to the rapture of the Church. 

In 1 Thess 4:16-17, it said: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Paul also said this in 1 Cor 15:52: "... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.... will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."

There are many trumpets mentioned by the bible. The trumpets in Revelation (Rev 11:15) or the trumpet Jesus spoke of (Matthew 24:30-31).  But this would mean our rapture is at the end of the 7 year tribulation. However, I don't think God will let us suffer the tribulation before bringing us to heaven. It is also unlikely the rapture will happen when the shofar is blown, for it would mean we know when rapture will happen - during the Feast of Trumpets. 

We do not know when the rapture will happen, but it is importance of being spiritually prepared and living in a state of constant readiness for His return and observe the events associated with the end times, rather than trying to predict or pinpoint an exact date or time.

6) Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) – “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD."

Atonement refers to the act of reconciling or making amends for wrongdoings or sins. This is done through offerings and repentance, or other means aimed at restoring a broken relationship between individuals or with God. 

The word "afflict" was mention three times in this Yom Kippur passage. Jewish individuals engage in acts of self-affliction as a way to express remorse for sins, seek atonement, and demonstrate devotion to God. They do this by fasting, self-denial, humbling themselves and with deep repentance.  

Leviticus 16:20-22## describes the ritual involving the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. The high priest would place the sins of the people on the scapegoat, which was then sent into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal and forgiveness of sins.

This event points to the Reconciliation of the Jews to Jesus Christ after the Great Tribulation. 

The scapegoat is a representation of Jesus Christ, who took our sins on himself and was taken outside the city wall, and was crucified at Golgotha. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).

Interestingly, the bible says that it was Jesus who had provided atonement for us. (See Rom 3:5 as well). We are unable to atone for ourselves, even if we want to.  Though Jesus have already atoned their sins for them, majority of the Jews rejected his gift. 

When Jesus comes again, they will recognized Jesus as the scapegoat that they sacrificed. 

Zechariah 12:10 says: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."

Revelation repeats what Zechariah has said: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him."  (Revelation 1:7)

They will only recognize Jesus as their Messiah during his second coming, at the end of the tribulation. They will indeed afflict themselves for what they have done, and for refusing to believe in Him.

7) Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34) – Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days.

In the days of the Exodus, when the Israelites escaped from slavery from Egypt, Moses built tabernacles as a holy place for God to be with the people. The feast is to remember those days. "Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."  (Leviticus 23:42-43)

During this feast (also known as the Feast of Booths), the Jews built temporary structures made of branches, leaves, and other natural materials. Families eat their meals, study, and sometimes sleep in the sukkah during the festival. Prayers and blessings are recited during the Festival of Sukkot, thanking God for His provision and protection, both historically and in the present day. 

However, the bigger picture is not a remembrance of the past, but represents Jesus' future reign over the earth for 1000 years, after the tribulation is over. (See Rev 20:1-6; Zechariah 14:9)

The festival also marks the conclusion of the agricultural year and the harvest season in Israel. The "end of harvest" also reflects the end of God's grace for mankind after the rapture of the church. Those who are left on earth will go through the entire 7 year tribulation, but many will believe in Christ. 

It is even stated in Leviticus 23:39, that the festival of booths will happen "after you harvest all the produce of the land" (NLT).  That is, Jesus will come and save the tribulation believers and the Jews before He rules the earth. That is the last harvest.

Those unbelievers who attacked Jerusalem will need to go to Jerusalem annually to worship the King - not to be punished - but to celebrate Feast of Tabernacles! "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles." (Zech 14:16)

One day, all the knees will bow to the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

8) New Heaven and New Earth 

In Leviticus 23:36b, it says "and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work."

I believe this special "closing" day is to close the tabernacle festival. Why is there a need to close this festival, when the other festivals were not physically "closed?"  I have not done any study on this, but I believe it symbolize the closing of the current heavens and earth. Everything that needs to be done has been done, from the Sacrifice to the Reign. This is the end and the completeness of God's redemption plan. This will happen after the 1000 years of Jesus reign on earth.

In Revelation, the God "closed" the scriptures by creating a new heaven and a new earth. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."  (Revelation 21:1)

Even the temple that stood the 1000 years will be gone. "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."  (Rev 21:22-23)

Conclusion 

The Feasts of the Lord is not only rituals for the Jews, but they are messages that points to the Messiah and the plan that God have for Israel and the nations. It is wonderful to see how God redeemed us and also redeemed Israel. As Paul prophesied:

 ".... I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.'"  (Romans 11:25-26)

It is amazing how Jesus has accomplished the first 4 prophecy perfectly, and we believe he will fulfill the remaining 3 when he comes back again. These prophecies were written more than 1300 years ago before Jesus was born. How can anyone think that Jesus is only a man and good teacher?

Amazing and Everlasting Love of God to Mankind!

Epilogue

One of the pastors of a certain church was doing a series of on-line training on Revelation. He said that the Feast of Tabernacle will be practiced when Jesus comes back. He said we should also practice the Feast of Tabernacle today. I find that puzzling, and I message him privately to say that this will happen after Jesus return, and no where in the New Testament that said we need to practice any of these festivals today. (In fact, the Feast of Tabernacle is only applicable to the people who attacked Israel)

He said that Jesus practices the feasts, why shouldn't we? I told him that at the time of Moses, God dispensed the law for them to follow. So Jesus practiced the law. But after Jesus was resurrected, God dispensed his Grace for us. We are free from the custody of the law, so we no longer practice the law nor the feasts.  (Galatians 3:23-25) 

In fact, in the new testament, several "law" rules were disposed of, such as enabling us to eat non-kosher meet or food offered to idols, and the elimination of animal sacrifices (that cannot forgive our sins.) The early church meets on Sunday rather than Sabbath day (Saturday).  

He told me to do further study on this. That is why I wrote this blog as part of my research. 

During the dispensationalism of grace, we are saved by faith through the grace of God. not by works or ritual. (Ephesians 2:8-9). We only have only three key commandments from Jesus - to love God and one another, to remember him through the communion, and to make disciples of all nations. 

Colossians 2:16-17 tells us, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” 

I met people from a church that practices Passover and sabbath on Saturday. Some people say they are cults. However, there's no need for us to judge. As long as they have accepted Jesus as their savior, they have eternal life. There are no rules in the New Testament that prevent a Christian from following any part of the law. It is up to their own conscience. (1 Corinthians 8:4-13)

 Footnotes

1.  *Leviticus was written by Moses. The year of Moses death varies from 1478BC to 1271BC depending on different sources. I used the later death of Moses to estimate Jesus birth after Leviticus was written. 

2. ** We know, of course, that in truth Christianity is not a Religion where people seek after God with good works; rather, it is a Relationship with God and it was God that sought after us with His grace and everlasting love. 

4. ## “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. (Lev 16:20-22)

5. % "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." Zechariah 14:9;  "they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." Rev 20:6

6. & - note that during Christ's 1000 years rule, there will be a new form of worship. It is described in Ezekiel 43-46.