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When God delivered the children of Israel out of
bondage in Egypt, He gave them His Appointed times to
keep and to proclaim each in their season. The weekly
Sabbath was the first appointed time, then he introduced
them to His annual Holy Days and the Festivals of the
Lord. Three times a year Israel was to come before the
Lord to keep these Feasts. These three seasons were
associated with three harvests beginning with the Spring
harvest of Barley. The divine appointments during this
time are the Passover service and the Seven Days of
Unleavened Bread. Early Summer brought about the Wheat
harvest and the observance of Pentecost. (called the
Feast of Weeks in the O.T.) In the Fall during the
harvest of the Vine and Produce, the Feast of Trumpets,
Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great
Day were commanded to be celebrated.
To
a non-Christian Israelite, the Passover commemorates the
death Angel passing over every Hebrew home in Egypt
which had the blood of a lamb upon its doorposts. To a
Christian, the Passover commemorates the death of Jesus,
the true Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the
world. To a Jew or Israelite, the Feast of Unleavened
Bread commemorates God delivering them out of Egypt so
quickly that their bread did not have time to leaven and
rise. To a Christian, the Days of Unleavened Bread is a
celebration that the true Passover Lamb has made the
believer unleavened, that is, without sin. (leavening is
used as a symbol for sin) To an understanding Christian,
the seven annual Holy Days of the Lord reveal God’s
great plan of salvation. Are the Holy Day Festivals of
the Lord for Christians today? Did the early Church
observe these Feasts? Will all the nations keep these
divine appointments during the millennial reign of
Christ? Bible
Translation: NASV
Commentary: It
is a common claim by Christians who reject the idea of
observing the annual Biblical Festivals, that they are
not a part of the New Covenant and were “nailed to the
cross” with Jesus. Many Christian teachers say that the
Holy Days were among the Laws “added because of
transgressions.” Not only is this not found in
Scripture, it makes no sense. Would God “add” to Israel
celebrations, -times of rejoicing before the Lord,
because they sinned? Isn’t that like rewarding one of
your children with a party because he did something
wrong? The Biblical Feasts of the Lord were given as
blessings to Israel, does it fit God’s character for Him
to add a blessing because of sin?
Let’s look at some of the Laws we know were added
because of transgressions. “An eye for and eye and a
tooth for a tooth.” Why would God add such Laws?
Obviously, because people were mistreating one another
and adding this Law protected would-be victims and
impressed upon people that they should care as much
about their neighbor as themselves. This Law, which
carried a penalty was added because of transgressions
taking place. God was saying, if you harm someone else,
by Law you will suffer likewise. It is ridiculous to say
the Holy Days exist as a penalty for transgressions.
THE BIBLICAL HOLY DAYS IN ORDER
PASSOVER: On
the 14th day
of the 1st month
of the Hebrew Calendar - falls in the Spring. Passover
Services are held but Passover is not a Holy Day. (High
Sabbath)
FEAST OF UNLEAVENED
BREAD: Begins
on the 15th day
and lasts seven days. The 1st and
the 7th day
are Holy Days with assemblies and offerings.
PENTECOST: In
the O.T. it was called the “Feast of Weeks.” It always
falls on Sunday because 50 days are counted from the
weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Usually falls in June. Pentecost is a Holy Day with a
holy convocation and offering to the Lord.
FEAST OF TRUMPETS: On
the 1st day
of the 7th month
(Hebrew Calendar). Usually falls in September or October
on the Gregorian Calendar. Trumpets is a Holy Day with a
convocation and offering.
DAY OF ATONEMENT: On
the 10th day
of the 7th month.
A complete fast to the Lord. No food or water is to be
partaken of during this 24 hour period. Atonement is a
Holy Day with a holy assembly and offering to the Lord.
September or October
FEAST OF TABERNACLES: Sometimes
referred to as the “Feast of Booths” because God
commanded that the people stay in temporary shelters
called “booths.” The first day falls on the 15th day
of the 7th month
and is holy with a convocation and offering to the Lord.
This festival lasts seven days. September or October
LAST GREAT DAY: Immediately
follows the Feast of Tabernacles and is sometimes called
the “Last Great Day of the Feast.” There is a holy
assembly with an offering to the Lord.
THE HOLY DAYS
BEFORE CHRIST
Genesis 1:14 / Exodus 12:1-13 / Leviticus 23 /
Deuteronomy 16: /
❖ God said “Let there be lights. . .for signs and for __________ and
for _______ and _______.”
Scripture__________
Commentary: Notice
that God created the sun and the moon to identify
“days”, “seasons” and “years.” The Feasts of the Lord
are determined by these signs. On the Hebrew calendar
the first day of each month is determined by the Lunar
phase. The first faint crescent of the moon is the first
day of each month. This means that the 15th day
of each month has a full moon. By contrast, in the
Gregorian calender which we use now, is strictly a solar
calendar and the moon phases has no bearing on its
calculation. The Biblical Holy Days must be determined
by using the Hebrew Calendar or the Lunar phases. As we
will see, God said that they must be proclaimed in their
“season” and on the right “day.” Though it was thousands
of years from the creation week to the time that God
gave His Feasts to Israel, He had set the lights and
signs for calculation of these times at creation. This
reveals to us that the Holy Day Festivals were in God’s
plan for mankind from the very beginning.
❖ While in Egypt God told Moses -“This month shall be
the ____________ of
months for you.”
Scripture__________
❖ God told the Israelites to kill and eat the Passover
Lamb on the __________ of
the first month.
Scripture__________
❖ The Festivals are “the ___________ ________
of the Lord.”
Scripture__________
❖ What Festival begins on the 15th day
of the first Hebrew month? ______________________
Scripture__________
❖ How long does this Feast last? __________
Scripture__________
❖ Which two days of this Feast are holy? _______
________
Scripture__________
❖ The next Festival is called the Feast of Weeks in the
O.T., what is it called in the N.T.?________
Scripture__________
❖ From the weekly Sabbath during Unleavened Bread, one
must count ____ days
to Pentecost.
Scripture__________
❖ The first Feast in the Fall is __________ on
the first day of the seventh Hebrew month.
Scripture__________
❖ On the tenth day of the seventh Hebrew month is the ______ of
____________
Scripture__________
❖ On the fifteenth of the seventh Hebrew month begins
the ________ of
____________
Scripture__________
❖ “Every man shall give as he is able. . .they shall not
appear before the Lord ________
_______”
Scripture__________
❖ Are the Feasts of the Lord a time of celebration? __________
Scripture__________
❖ Are the Feasts of the Lord a time for rejoicing? __________
Scripture__________
❖ There are seven annual Holy Days during these Feasts,
is servile work allowed? __________
Scripture__________
DID JESUS KEEP THE
FEASTS OF THE LORD?
Luke 2:39-52 / John 2:23 /
John 7:37-39
❖ Did Jesus and His parents attend the Feast in
Jerusalem? __________
Scripture__________
❖ Was it their custom to do so each year? __________
Scripture__________
❖ During His ministry, Jesus went to Jerusalem to keep
the __________
Scripture__________
❖ “Now on the last day, the great day of the Feast,
Jesus ________ and
cried out. .”
Scripture__________
DID THE EARLY CHURCH KEEP THE
FEASTS OF THE LORD?
Acts 2:1-4 / Acts 18:21 (KJV) / Acts 20:1-6 / Acts 20 16
/ 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 / 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 / 1
Corinthians 11:20-34 /
❖ The Church was keeping the day of _____________ when
the spirit fell as tongues of fire
Scripture__________
❖ Was Peter and the early Church keeping a Feast of the
Lord? __________
❖ The Apostle Paul said, “I must by all means keep this __________ in
Jerusalem.” (KJV)
Scripture__________
❖ Does this show that Paul kept the Feasts of the Lord? __________
❖ Before arriving at Troas, Paul and his companions
celebrated the a Feast at _____________
Scripture__________
❖ Paul was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem to celebrate
the day of _____________
Scripture__________
❖ Paul told the Corinthians that he would remain in _____________ until
Pentecost.
Scripture__________
❖ Does this show that the early Gentile congregations
understood the Feasts? __________
❖ Paul told the Corinthians, “Let us celebrate the ___________ not
with old leaven. . .”
Scripture__________
❖ “Let us celebrate the Feast. . .with the ____________ ___________
of sincerity and truth.”
Scripture__________
❖ Wasn’t Paul making a clear reference to the Feast of
Unleavened Bread? __________
❖ Wasn’t this Apostle of Jesus Christ instructing
Gentile believers to keep a Feast? _______
❖ Paul said to celebrate the Feast -for Christ our _____________ has
been sacrificed.
Scripture__________
❖ Did Paul teach the Corinthian Church how to properly
keep the Passover? __________
Scripture__________
❖ He told them to partake of the bread and the __________ symbolizing
Christ’s Body and His Blood.
Scripture__________
❖ Is this commemoration of the Lord’s death the
Passover, or the Lord’s Supper? ____________
Scripture__________
❖ When we meet together for this observance it is not to
eat the _________ ___________
Scripture__________
Commentary: Jesus
had commissioned His Apostles to go to the whole world
with the Gospel message, and to teach those who receive
it what He had taught them. By these Scriptures we see
that not only were His Apostles still keeping the Feasts
of the Lord, (with new meaning) but they were
instructing the Gentile converts to do the same. We see
that the Apostle Paul planned his journeys around the
Holy Days as well. And we see that it was no longer
necessary to travel to Jerusalem to keep them.
THE FEASTS AFTER THE RETURN OF
JESUS IN GLORY
Zechariah 14 / Isaiah 66:22-23
❖ The Lord will be __________ over
all the earth, in that day the Lord will be the only
One.
Scripture__________
❖ The Nations who survived the Tribulation will
celebrate the __________of
Booths (Tabernacles)
Scripture__________
❖ What happens if a nation will not come up to keep the
Feast? _________________________
Scripture__________
❖ Will God punish those who do not celebrate His Feasts
during the Millennium? __________
Scripture__________
❖ “And it shall be from new ________ to
new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath all Mankind will
come to bow down before Me.”
Scripture__________
Commentary: What
we have found in our study, is that God planned the
observance of His Holy Days and His Festivals from the
beginning of Creation. This is one of the reasons given
as to why He placed the sun and the moon in the heavens.
After claiming a people for His own possession, He
revealed to them His Appointed Times and commanded that
they keep and proclaim them each in their season. We
have seen that the original Apostles of Jesus and the
early Church kept the Biblical Holy Days. And we see
that after Jesus establishes His righteous rule on the
earth, He will require all nations to celebrate the
Feasts of the Lord.
THE FEASTS REVEAL GOD’S PLAN OF
SALVATION
Have
you ever wondered about all the people who have lived
and died since the beginning who never had an
opportunity to know God or His Savior? Are they forever
lost and destined for the Lake of Fire? Remember, Jesus
said that even Tyre and Sidon would rise up at the
judgment and condemn Jewish cities who did not receive
Jesus and His message. Tyre and Sidon were so wicked
that God destroyed them, yet there is still hope for
them in the resurrection and judgment of the dead. The
Holy Day Festivals are centered around three seasonal
harvests, the barley,
the wheat and
the vine
and produce. These harvests each represent a
harvest of souls and reveal God’s plan of salvation.
PASSOVER: Since
all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God,
His plan begins with the Passover. Jesus is the
Passover. He is the true Lamb of God which was slain
before the foundation of the earth. There can be no
salvation without Jesus. Even His name “Yeshua” (Heb.)
means “Salvation.” Jesus is the Firstfruit of the
firstfruits (the Church) of the barley harvest. The
Priests were instructed to gather a sample of the barley
harvest and wave it before the Lord to be accepted, this
was called the “Wavesheaf.” After God accepted the
wavesheaf offering then the rest of the barley could be
harvested. Likewise, after Jesus was accepted by the
Father, His followers could be harvested.
FEAST OF UNLEAVENED
BREAD: Is
a celebration of the fact that Jesus, our Passover has
made us unleavened, that is, without sin. Paul told the
Corinthians that they were in fact already unleavened
because Christ was sacrificed. The duty of the Christian
is to remain sinless and live holy lives before the
Lord. God knows we will fall short at times, which is
why Jesus stands at the altar for us with His own
atoning Blood. Seven days unleavened bread is to be
eaten - no leaven is to be eaten. Seven represents
perfection or completion. To a Christian it means
remaining faithful for the duration of their life. The
faithful saints who have gone before us from ancient
times to the saints who will be martyred during the
Tribulation, are all a part of this harvest of souls.
These are the first-fruits who will rise up in glory at
the return of Jesus.
PENTECOST: Though
only a remnant of Israelites received the Gospel, Paul
said that eventually Israel would be saved. This Feast
represented the future salvation of Israel. This is the
Wheat harvest.
FEAST OF TRUMPETS: Is
the first Holy Day of the Fall Festivals. It pictures
the return of Jesus to rule the earth. God commanded
that trumpets be blown on the first day of each month,
this Festival begins at the seventh trumpet blast. The
Scriptures say that Jesus comes in all of His glory at
the seventh trump.
DAY OF ATONEMENT: Represents
the time when Satan will be removed from power and bound
for a thousand years. The people of the earth will now
be At-one-ment with God. Reconciliation at last.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES: This
pictures the Millennial reign of Christ on earth and the
establishment of the Kingdom of God. A time of peace and
plenty, and a time when all people will know the Lord
and learn His Ways. This is the harvest of the vine and
produce. Allegorically, it represents the people who are
left after the Tribulation and ultimately most of those
who will be raised in the second resurrection which
occurs after the Millennium.
LAST GREAT DAY: Actually,
the eighth day of Tabernacles. This represents the Great
White Throne Judgment of God. It is the time immediately
after the Millennium when Satan is cast into the Lake of
Fire and the second resurrection takes place. Revelation
20 says that the Bible will be opened to their
understanding and they will eventually be judged by
whether they follow the Word or not. This day, along
with Tabernacles, represents the third great harvest of
souls completing God’s plan of salvation. |
