And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Leviticus 23:2
The Old Testament furnishes us with the shadow of things to come (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1). For one who love the Lord, understanding His concern for the welfare of mankind and his dealings with his chosen people is to understand the Lord himself and in particular what grace is. Furthermore, understanding the connection of the Old Testament with the things of New Testament enables a true searcher of Scripture to be fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14). A study of the Law is to reveal the true nature of God and His working towards us: a lost people, redeemed from everlasting destruction into everlasting life, as heirs to the Father. The typography of the Seven Feasts of Jehovah reveals the path Christ took to purchase and sanctify His chosen people, and reveals the glorious moment of “being with Him”. It does this by looking forward to a future time of restoration of His people, both Jew and Gentile.
The feasts emphasise the shedding of the blood of the lamb that enabled redemption from the bondage of sin, the resurrection of Christ as the First-fruits and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We see the future foretold, with the awaking of the remnant of Israel, their repentance and restoration and the blessing of the poor and strange, all of which manifests the glory and blessedness of the kingdom of God.
Cycle 1: The Christian life begins with the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savour (whose blood can save us), and as a believer, turning away from the things of this world (Egypt) and the living a life, holy and pleasing to God, which means without sin (no “leaven”); this can only be achieved if led by the Holy Spirit, which was sent at Pentecost.
Cycle 2: There remains a rest for the people of God (see Hebrews), therefore, get on with life, don’t be timid or lazy (i.e. don’t spend a life at ease)[1], but look forward to the day when we will be physically at rest, in the presence of God [2].
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. Hebrews 10:1 (NKJV)
Feast |
Action |
Antitype |
NT Reference |
---|---|---|---|
Passover | Blood sprinkled | The Lords death | 1 Corinthians 5:7 |
Unleavened bread | Passover eaten | Communion of Saints | 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 |
First fruits | Sheaf of first fruits waved | Christ’s resurrection | 1 Corinthians 15:20 |
Pentecost | Two loaves waved | Holy Spirit Sent | Galations 3:28 |
Trumpets | Trumpet blowing | Christ return to His land | 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 |
Day of Atonement | Blood atonement | Repentance of Jews | Heb 9:28 |
Tabernacles | Dwelling in booths | Millennium | Revelation 20 |
Note that in each action many other 'types" can be found, for instance, in the atoning sacrifice, which Christ has done, once for all, the Passover lamb, being Christ Himself. |
March/April | May/June | July | Aug | Sept/Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early rain | The long hot Summer | Late rain | ||||||||||
Nisan | Iyar | Sivan | Tamuz | Ab | Elul | Tishrei | Marches-van | Kislev | Tevet | Shebat | Adar | |
Abib† | Ziv | Sivan | Tammuz | Av | Elul | Ethanim | Bul | Kislev | Tebeth | Shevat | Adar | |
Passover (14) Unleavened Bread (15-21)* Firstfruits (16) |
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (6)* | Trumpets (Jewish New Year) (1) Day of Atonement (10) Tabernacles (15-21)* |
||||||||||
*All men had to attend in Jerusalem (Deut 16:16, Ex 23:14) † Some alternative names/spellings for the months of the Hebrew calendar |
Note that in each action many other “types” can be found, for instance, in the atoning sacrifice, which Christ has done, once for all, the Passover lamb, being Christ Himself.
There are seven feasts and the Sabbath, which is often missed. It is the Sabbath rest that the people of God look forward to (Hebrews 4:9).
Note Leviticus 23:3 – although the Sabbath is included with the feasts, the text makes it clear that the ordinances of the seven feasts begins here: “these are the feasts of holy convocation”. The word convocation should not be missed. It means a holy gathering or get-together, a community event and hence the Feasts were orientated towards family as in Passover evening, or community either in individual settings or in Jerusalem.
The Sabbath portraits the dealings of God in grace with His people, with its principal significance in the rest which remains for the people of God. Mentally a Christian can be at rest – we can enter into it in spirit, but physically this is yet to happen.
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:9, 10 (NKJV)
Our rest, holiness, fellowship etc. is rests ONLY is on the saving grace of God
Passover begins with God choosing His people:
God was to bestow an unmerited blessing: For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 (NKJV)
The reason and objective of Passover are explained in Exodus 1:13 & 14 with the benefit explained in Exodus 6:6 & 8. In Egypt prior to the exodus Israel was:
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
"God is in none of his thoughts." Psalm 10:4, 'when they come and say "what is His name?"' Exodus 3:13.
"My people have been lost sheep." Jeremiah 50:6
"Wretched, miserable, poor , blind, naked..." Revelation 3:17
"Put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt…" Joshua 24:14
Note verse 7 – where no manner of servile work was to be done during this holy convocation. This is repeated in verses 8, 21, 25, 25 and 36. In this, feasts were instigated to demonstrate the grace of God towards Israel who were saved out of bondage from Egypt. They no longer were slaves. Nor is a Christian a slave to sin (see all of Romans 6). He does not toil in servile work and has ceased from manual labour (ceremonial law) but partakes in Christ. Servile work is what the priests did in order to fulfil the ceremonial law – which Christ has complete and sat down to rest.
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 10:12 (NKJV)
In summary Israel was being ruled by an evil King, who could not be trusted – a great monster – (Ezekiel 29:3) and God was against him (Ezekiel 19:10).
For a Christian, the Passover undoubtedly speaks of the slain Lamb of God, whose blood redeems us from everlasting darkness, or death.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1 (KJV)
Christians must actively remove sin or corruption or corrupting influences from their life. The Jews had to actively clean their homes in preparation for this Festival. Paul says “I die daily”.
.. He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)
The first fruits is the example what was to come – it is equivalent to the great harvest that Jesus speaks of in the gospel, of whom Christ was the first fruit, by virtue of being the first born, among the dead. (Col 1:8, Rev 1:5 – note both Paul and John use the same imagery). Hence the Feast offerings prefigures the perfect glorious work of Christ in fulfilling the work to the glory of the Father, along with the joy of His voluntary death on the Cross, together with the prefigurement of the redemptive work of Christ, the Passover lamb, and the spotless life (unleavened) of Christ as our example.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV)
In redemption we have the display of grace and mercy, abundant beyond all understanding: however, with the comprehension due to Christ living within our hearts:
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; ….may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)
In obedience we live a life unleavened – in the strength of the Holy Spirit – “I die daily” is what Paul says.
In the first fruits we have Christ. It is proof that Christ was accepted by God as the propitiation (the one who turned aside the wrath of God from those who believe) for our sins. Hence, its elements include the first of the crop, but also the sacrifices indicating the perfectives of Christ’s sacrifice (1 John 4:10).
The Feast of Weeks represents the Church presented in all the value and excellencies of Christ, because it is by Christ that we are united to Him (are with and in Him), through the freewill work He wrought on the cross, being the mystery revealed, uniting Jews and Gentiles.
The first fruits of the Spirit given at Pentecost (Rom 8:23): The Holy Spirit, who is He and what is His Work, in relation to Pentecost.
To realise our position of being with and in Christ and that we are no more in the fallen (first) Adam nor are we of the world, but we are in the second Adam - Christ. This must but give us great comfort, and great hope.
The feast points to the mystery of the Church revealed and the fact that the substance of the hope for which we hope for is imminent.
For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Hebrew 10:37 (NKJV)
Jesus parting words were: “Surely I come quickly”.
Christians – are waiting for a shout not a trumpet:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
What a day of joy and gladness will this be for the church?
Atonement means covering, and was the day the sins of the nation were covered, or atoned and essentially deals with uncleanness (Leviticus 16 verses 16, 19), and was a day of confession. It was (past tense, as Jesus Christ fulfils this feast) the means by which sin, especially sin of the conscious is dealt with. It portrays the futility of man and the perfection of Jesus who obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) and cleansed our conscience from dead works (Heb 9:14), having sprinkled blood (Heb 12:24 etc) once for all.
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. (Jeremiah 8:20)
They will mourn the one whom they have pieced (Zech 12:10-14).
See also Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9 and 10.
Christ fully met the needs of atonement on the cross and in it we see the worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are therefore assured that the guilt of sin has been entirely dealt with by Christ.
It is the blood of Christ that ensures salvation of the Church. All rests on the blood He shed at the cross: it is the blood which speaks peace to our heart and to our conscience.
The Day of Atonement speaks of “rest” to Israel when they (eventually) mourn Him they pieced.
The festival of first fruits reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20…), who defeated death, and those of His at His coming will be taken to be with Him. (These verses also remind us that Christ will rule the earth, and His enemies will be dealt with). Are You Saved? The harvest is at hand. ARE YOU A HARVESTER? Satan rules now, but Christ will come, first for His saints, then a little later to judge and then rule the earth.
Year 5784 (2023) | Description | Verse | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|
Sunset of Monday 6 March until nightfall of Tuesday, 7 March 2023 14 Adar |
Purim | Esther 9 | Celebration of the providence of God over his people on the eve of their planned destruction. |
Sunset of Wednesday, 5 April until nightfall Thursday, 13 April 2023 15-22 Nisan |
Passover (Pesach) | Leviticus 23:4-8 Deut 16:6 Exodus 6:6-7 Exodus 11-12 |
A people under bondage requiring rescuing: Egypt The Lamb The Blood The Passover feast |
Jesus Christ our Passover lamb | 1 Cor 5:7 Heb 4:15 2 Cor 6:16 |
The antitype: Our Lamb Our priest, Our sacrifice | |
Unleavened Bread | Deut 16:3 1 Cor 5:7-8 |
Unleavened bread for 7 days Feast for the redeemed Old leaven and new A type of the life of a believer – communion of saints |
|
First fruits (the wave sheaf) | Lev 23:9-14 Num 18:12 Exodus 23:19 |
The first fruits of the harvest is the Lords The land flowing with milk and honey Type: Christ resurrected |
|
Christ the First Fruits | 1 Cor 15:20 1 Cor 15:23 |
What must we do to be saved ( Acts 16:30) Hope in Jesus Christ, risen from amongst the dead The sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice found in the sheaf of first fruits, waved |
|
Sunset Thursday 25 May until nightfall Saturday 27 May 2023 6-7 Sivan |
The feast of Weeks (Shavuot) | Leviticus 23:15-22 Ex 23:16 Num 28:26 |
The feast of weeks (festival of Revelation) Two wave loaves The leaven, but baked The timing of the feast, a voluntary offering |
Pentecost | Acts 2:1 Galatians 3:28 Acts 15:14 Rom 11:25 |
We are all one in Christ Jesus – there is neither Jew nor Greek… The Holy Spirit The mystery of God revealed in the Church The present interval - Summer |
|
Sunset of Friday, 15 September until nightfall of Sunday, 17 September 2023 1-2 Tishrei 5784 |
The feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) | Lev 23:24-25 Num 29:1 Isaiah 18:3 John 12:24 Acts 15:14 Rom 11:25 |
The present interval – the day of Grace. A time of little rain. Jews return to their land The time to come – ever present with the Lord |
A great sound of a Trumpet | Matt 24:31 1 Cor 15:51-52 1 Thess 4:16 |
The type - the day of rain, The type – trumpets The awakening of Israel The coming of the Lord |
|
Sunset of Sunday, 24 September until nightfall of Monday, 25 September 2023 10 Tishrei |
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) | Leviticus 16; 23:26-32 Numbers 29:7 |
The types in the atonement. The holiest place The sacrifices |
Christ offered once | Hebrews 9:28 Hebrews 5, 7 & 10 |
Repentance of Jews The superiority of Christ over the law 'Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world' |
|
Sunset of Friday, 29 September until nightfall of Friday, 6 October 2023 15-21 Tishrei |
Tabernacles (Sukkot) | Deut 16:13 Lev 23:27 Matt 6:10 Rev 14:14-20 |
Millennium - a time of joy and rejoicing The corn, The wine, The wrath of God |
Sunset of Friday, 6 October until nightfall of Sunday, 8 October 2023 15 - 21 Tishrei |
} Shemini Atzeret | } Other Jewish, non-sacred feasts e.g. Rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem | |
} Simchat Torah | |||
Sunset of Thursday, 7 December until nightfall of Friday, 15 December, 2023 22 - 23 Tishrei |
Chanukah | ||
1023 dates from < https://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/holidays.htm > |
The Jewish calendar is confusing because it initially followed the seasons and phases of the moon. Hence their names were just descriptions of what was happening eg “Abib” meaning sprouting (corn), the first month, “Bul” meaning rain the 8th month. In Exodus 12:2 God demanded that the month of the Passover become the first month of the new year and was called Abib meaning “ear of corn” but after the captivity was called Nisan meaning ”beginning” e.g. Nehemiah 2:1. However, a glance at the Jewish calendar shows that new year (Rosh Hashanah) is celebrated in September or October in the month of Tishri. This is because there are two systems – one religious and one civil. This discord probably occurred after the exile. The beginning of each month was determined by the new moon and to account for the uneven number of lunar months in a year certain leap months were added periodically. This added further confusion, due to the complex rules applied to “leap months”.
The number seven is symbolic from the very first chapter of the bible and continues from the creation through to the judgements of God found in Revelation. Essentially it means completeness. Seven dominates our lives and dominated the lives of the Hebrews not only in their week, but also the Feasts that broke up the seasons. We see the Sabbath as being the seventh of the week, Pentecost is seven weeks after the beginning of the ceremonial year. The seventh month is the most sacred month celebrated by the Feast of Trumpets followed by the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Every seventh year is a Sabbath year, and the year of Jubilee year was seven lots of seven years (which apparently was never celebrated – see Daniel).
The year was divided into two cycles, defined by the Feasts: Passover to Pentecost, Pentecost to The Tabernacles, with three annual visits to the temple (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles). They needed to be present to offer a sacrifice and without being present the sacrifice could not be offered. However, since it was impossible for everybody to attend (except perhaps in the wilderness where the encampment was around the tabernacle) 24 ‘courses’ of men were set-up who represented Israel (1 Chronicles 23 etc).
The Hebrew calendar worked in lunar months, which if not corrected would have led to the month of Nisan not falling in spring. Hence leap-months were introduced and from time to time, according to a set of practices, a thirteenth month (Ver-Adar) was inserted after the twelfth month and before the first. The practice ensured a Sabbatical year was never a leap year.
The phenomena from which the days were counted was the appearance of the new moon. This allowed for the creation of a system to observe and declare the presence of a new moon, along with a communication system to ensure all, especially those in Jerusalem, learnt of it.
[1] Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; Psalm 73:12
[2] There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9
[3] Christians need to realise that observance of the feasts are not required, (because Christ fulfilled the law), however, the early church did observe Passover. Also note that Passover observed by the early church in Acts is not the Easter Christendom observes now, that latter being a pagan festival, borrowed by the Church of Rome from Babylon along with “Lent”.
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