The Fall Feasts

We have covered a LOT of ground, haven’t we? Timeline of the feasts. Jewish calendar. Sacred seasons. Commemorative reasons for the spring feasts. Prophetic significance.

The feasts. Appointed times. The LORD’S appointed times. Celebrations with a purpose. Weekly Sabbath. Jesus is our rest. Passover. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Unleavened Bread. Jesus takes our sin away and He had to die so that we could live….He is the First Fruit….we are the fruit that follows. Pentecost - giving of the Law brought death but the giving of the Spirit birthed the church.

Spring feasts. Remember what God has done…reflect on the prophecy fulfilled.

On the calendar, three months follow the Spring feasts. Then comes Tishri (lines up with September/October on our Gregorian calendar). And the fall feasts commence!

Let’s look at how they are explained in Leviticus 23:23-44…

The Feast of Trumpets

23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 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. 25 You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”

The Day of Atonement

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 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[a] and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lordyour God. 29 For whoever is not afflicted[b] on that very day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

The Feast of Booths

33 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths[c] to the Lord. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 36 For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.

37 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, 38 besides the Lord's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord.

39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lordseven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40 And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

44 Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the Lord.

So there we have it. In the 7th month (Tishri), the Jews were commanded to celebrate three times - Tishri 1 - Feast of Trumpets; Tishri 10 - Day of Atonement; Tishri 15 - Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). Explaining what the holidays are based on is the simple part. Grasping what they may mean prophetically, uh, not so much. SO let’s begin with what the feasts commemorate…..

Feast of Trumpets

On the first day of the 7th month, God commanded His people to gather for a sacred assembly. This day was observed to point to an ingathering of the nation of Israel. A sacred assembly and a day of rest commemorated with trumpet blasts and sacrifices, this holiday also pointed to when God provided the ram as a substitute for Issac and was seen as the announcement of impending judgment. This specific trumpet used was a ram’s horn (“shofar”) and was blown throughout the day in a series of four different sets of blasts. Even the order of the trumpet blasts was significant - the blasts were calling for the people to listen to the voice of God and sounded the theme of suffering, repentance, triumph, and joy.

So all through the day, at regular intervals, these trumpets were sounded, proclaiming God’s presence among His people, calling for them to harken to His voice, and anticipating the upcoming feast - the Day of Atonement.

This HOLY day is currently referred to as Rosh Hashana and is seen as the beginning of the New Year for the Jewish people. (Remember what we learned about civil vs. religious calendar). The term “Rosh Hashana” literally means “head of new year”.
This day was seen as a new beginning, a time to prepare for what lies ahead and especially to get oneself ready to be made right before God. In fact, the days between the two feasts of Rosh Hashana and The Day of Atonement are referred to even now as “The Days of Awe”. It is during this time that people are to reflect on their lives and standing before The Great Jehovah. For nine days, people are given the opportunity to repent and become acceptable to God, hoping to have their names written in the Book of Life.

Then Tishri 10.

The Day of Atonement

Often referred to as Yom KIppur, this is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. After the ten days of awe, when God’s people were to examine themselves and repent of their sin, this was the one day each year that the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifices to atone for the sins of the entire nation. The Holy of Holies was the inner sanctuary of the Temple, inaccessible to mankind except for this one day per year for the High Priest, because it was here that the Holy Spirit of God dwelt.

The high priest would first bathe and then put on white undergarments and a white tunic. Then he prepared the sacrifices. He offered a bull for the sin of himself and his house, and then took a censer with burning coals and incense into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled some blood from the bull on the ark of the covenant. We will see the significance of these things in the next post but pay close attention to this next action - two goats were chosen for the Day of Atonement. The High Priest sacrificed one and sprinkled some of its blood on the ark of the covenant; the other became the "scapegoat" . He then came out of the tent, put his hands on the head of the scapegoat and confessed the sins of the people over it. The goat was then taken out into the wilderness and released. The high priest would leave his white clothing in the tent of meeting, bathe again, and then put on his regular priestly apparel.

The need for two goats illustrates the need for propitiation (the slaughter of the one as a sin offering to appease the wrath of God) and the need for expiation (the removal of sin so that it was forgotten and no longer clung to the people, carried out by the scapegoat). The two goats symbolized both propitiation and expiation and together illustrate what atonement means.

This day, which also marked the end of the annual harvest, was viewed by God’s people as the day their fates were sealed….the books were closed. Many Jews believe that their Messiah will come on this most holy day of their calendar.

The Feast of Booths (tabernacles)

Celebrated on Tishri 15 and continuing for a week, this feast commemorated the time that the people of God spent in the wilderness, living in temporary dwelling places. Thus, in remembrance, the people were to construct “booths” or “tabernacles” to live in during these seven days. (Although we are accustomed to hearing the word “tabernacle” describe the holy sanctuary, it literally means “movable/temporary dwelling place”). This was a joyful celebration, giving thanks for God’s provision not only in the wilderness during the time of Moses but also for the harvest just gathered in. In fact, many American history scholars believe this was the basis for the celebration of the Pilgrims in 1621, or what we call “The First Thanksgiving”.

The Jews observed this HOLY day with great joy and enthusiasm. At the time of Christ, this feast included elaborate water and light displays to symbolize the presence of God among His people.

Wow. This is a lot of information. And we haven’t even gotten to the ways these feasts may be fulfilled prophetically! We will do that next time.

Thanks for reading.

Spring feasts - prophetic fulfillment - part 3

Spring Feasts

Passover.

Unleavened Bread

First Fruits

Now, the Feast of Weeks…Pentecost

If you’re familiar with the New Testament, that word “Pentecost” probably rings a bell. We associate it with a very significant event described in the book of Acts. But the word “pentecost” just means “50” and it originally referred to this Old Testament feast because God commanded that it be observed seven weeks after the feast of first fruits on the 50th day. Therefore the feast is termed The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost and we find it explained in Leviticus 23:15-22

15 “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 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. 17 You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord. 18 And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 19 And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings.20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. 21 And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.

22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

7 weeks.

50th day.

Dedicating the wheat harvest to the Lord. Expressing gratitude for the first sheaves…and trusting Him to bring in the rest.

This feast was commemorating the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, when God established His covenant with His people. They promised to obey Him…and it was also a remembrance of the disobedience of those same people when Moses came down from the mountain to discover them worshiping a golden calf…and 3000 died as a result (Exodus 32:28)

How does Jesus fulfill this feast?
I am so glad you asked!

Matthew 3:11,12 records John as saying that the Spirit is coming and He will gather His wheat into the barn. (The Spirit…the wheat…note that significance)

Acts 1:4-8 - Jesus says POWER is coming…and the very next chapter tells us that indeed it does come! Acts 2:1-4 describes for us how the Holy Spirit was given in a powerful demonstration….and it happened on this very feast day celebration!

WOW.

And on this very day, commanded as observance of the giving of the Law, when about 3000 men perished because they failed to keep the Law, read what Acts 2:38-41 tells us -

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Did you get all that? WOW! Because we can’t keep the Law, God gives us the Holy Spirit to live like Jesus in us….on the day set aside to observe the giving of The Law.

And on that same day, when about 3000 died because they failed, God through the gift of His Spirit added about 3000 souls…and the Church was birthed.

WOW. Just WOW!

Sisters, there are no coincidences under God’s rule. Every word of Scripture, every move of Jesus, every jot and tittle of the Law are intentional and divine. God set forth the standards of His glory and drew us to Himself. We could not attain to His perfection which was no surprise to Him. He not only knew it all along, He planned it from before time began and provided The Only Way to be in an eternal relationship with Him…through His perfect Son, the spotless Lamb of God. Who loved us and fulfilled every requirement of the Law on our behalf. Who is the scarlet thread that runs throughout the Old Testament and is the glorious focus of all the HOLY days God ordained. These feasts are the picture God gave the Israelites so they would know their Savior would come.

But they were blind and could not recognize Him when He arrived.

We have the spectacular advantage of being on this side of history and being able to look back and see that, indeed, the Savior has come. He lived, in perfect fulfillment of every law God requires. He died, as the glorious provision of the perfect sacrifice. And He lives, even now, preparing the Eternal Home for His Bride, ever interceding for us, making us to be beautiful and without blemish, ready to be presented to our Groom on that glorious Day.

Hallelujah and amen!!!!!!!!!!!

One last thing (I say that alot, don’t I?) That last verse in this portion about the Feast of Pentecost. If you missed the earlier post on that, I think you’d enjoy reading it. It’s called Margin. Check it out. And thanks for reading. See ya next time!

The Spring feasts - prophetic fulfillment, part 2

Let’s catch ourselves up to speed.

Passover - Nissan 14

Feast of Unleavened Bread - Nissan 15

Feast of First Fruits

Let’s go to Leviticus 23:10-14 and see what Scripture tells us there before we see how Jesus fulfills this feast, too.

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 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, 11 and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.12 And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. 13 And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin 14 And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. “

First, let me say that there is more in here than I can grasp. The exact measurements and instructions are definitely included by divine design but I am focused on the other aspects of this part of the Passover/Unleavened Bread week of celebration. Specifically, the day after the Sabbath following Passover. That would be on our Sunday.

We see that God tells them - when you come into the land…and reap a harvest. That tells us that this feast was not celebrated while God’s people were wandering in the wilderness. This was only after they entered the Promised Land. It was so they could celebrate the first of the barley harvest …and dedicate the rest of it by faith to the Lord.

Interesting to note - barley, the first grain of the season to be harvested, was considered the food of the poor. Remember that. And Jews were not to touch the barley until the first sheaf (representing the whole harvest) had been present to and approved by the priest. Remember that, too.

Are you already thinking about what happened the first day (Sunday) after the Sabbath after Passover?

Jesus rose from the dead! Yes hallelujah and hooray!

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had already been taken away from the tomb (John 20:1) He is not here for He has risen, just as He said (Matthew 28:6)

The lamb that was slain, the kernel of wheat that died and was buried in the ground…AROSE FROM THE DEAD! He is alive! And He arose on the day that the Feast of the First Fruits was celebrated because But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep I Corinthians 15:20

He is the first fruit of the divine harvest of God, the first to be alive after being dead…and the promise of a greater harvest to come.

Does that not make you want to scream hallelujah? WOW! If that doesn’t light your fire, then, my sweet sister, you got wet wood!

This resurrection took place on the first day of the week - and that is why we as New Testament believers gather to worship on Sunday —to celebrate our risen Savior, the FIRST FRUITS of God’s harvest!

Couple of intriguing things to note….remember what I said about barley being the food for the poor? Check out Matthew 5:3… Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. And the verse from the last post John 6: 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, 

How about that? Feast of first fruits…barley…the food of the poor…we must be poor spiritually and eat the living bread in order to have the Kingdom of Heaven. WOW!

And that thing about not touching the grain until it had been presented to and approved by the Father….check out John 20:17 - Jesus said to her (Mary) “Stop clinging to Me for I have not yet ascended to the Father but go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God”

Whaaaaaaaat?

As Mary discovers Jesus outside the empty tomb, she reaches to embrace Him but Jesus stops her. That always struck me as cold or something. I mean, it seemed perfectly normal to me for her to want to hug Him in delight! So why did Jesus say she couldn’t?

Well, now that we know about the Feast of the First Fruits, we understand! The people could not touch the barley until it had been presented to and approved by the priests - since Jesus perfectly fulfills all requirements of the Law, He could not be touched by the people until He had ascended to the Father and received His approval! This happened while Mary ran to tell the disciples what she had seen and a few hours later, the rest of John 20 tells us that Jesus not only appeared to the Father but He invited them to touch Him and see that He was real!

Wow! Just WOW!

OK, last Spring Feast. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits.

But it’s gonna have to wait til tomorrow. All this writing has worn out my computer and it needs to rest.

See you next time :)