Feasts and Holy Days
We observe God’s annual holy days as set forth in Leviticus 23 and as observed by Jesus, his apostles, and the New Testament Church. The holy days are annual Sabbath days, so they may fall on any day of the week (except Pentecost, which always falls on a Sunday). The Feasts of the Lord were established around the times of the harvest with the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread coming in the early spring, the Feast of Pentecost is late spring/early summer, and the remaining holy days are fall festivals during the time of gathering the harvest. All of the holy days of the Lord are commanded convocations, and all have a rich history and great meaning for the days ahead.
Passover and The Days of Unleavened Bread
The Passover is to be observed in the spring of the year, and we observe this day as set forth by Jesus when he ate the Passover with his disciples prior to his crucifixion and death. Jesus implemented new symbols and revealed that the Passover is now to be kept with the washing of each other’s feet and the taking of bread and wine. Passover symbolizes Jesus as the Lamb of God giving of himself for us so our sins could be forgiven and we could be redeemed from death. (Exodus 12, Leviticus 23:5, Exodus 12:14, John 13:1-15, Luke 22:7-20, Mark 14:22-26, Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). The Passover is not a holy day, but it is a commanded convocation that is observed the evening before the Days of Unleavened Bread begin. The Days of Unleavened Bread are for seven days, and the first and last days are holy before the Lord and are commanded convocations. As commanded, we are to eat unleavened bread for seven days. These days represent the partaking of our Lord Jesus, of putting him solely in our life as Lord and Master. The Days of Unleavened Bread teach us that we must remove and avoid sin and instead obey God in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are to walk in the light of heaven and to be pure in all of our ways.
(Exodus 12:15-20, Leviticus 23:6-8, Numbers 28:17-25, Mark 14:1, Luke 22:1-6, Acts 12:3, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
The Feast of Pentecost
This festival is known by several names in the Bible and is known as the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16), and the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22) based upon the instruction to count fifty days from the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Seven Sabbaths are to be completed (49 days), and on the day after the seventh Sabbath is the Feast of Pentecost, therefore Pentecost always falls on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. Instruction for counting fifty is found in Leviticus 23:15-16. In the New Testament it is known as Pentecost which means “fiftieth.” It is believed that the ten commandments were given at Mount Sinai on the Day of Pentecost, and a great miracle occurred on the Day of Pentecost when the Lord God gave his holy spirit unto those gathered to celebrate his holy day, as seen in Acts 2. The holy spirit of the Lord seals us as part of his first fruits and makes us heirs unto the Kingdom of God. The Feast of Pentecost is the feast of the first fruits, and the resurrection of the saints shall occur on the Day of Pentecost when the seventh trumpet sounds, and the dead in Christ will be resurrected and shall rise up to meet Jesus in the clouds.
(Leviticus 23:10-21, Matthew 24:30-31, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
The Feast of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall holy days, and it signifies the return of Jesus unto the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Jewish people call this day Rosh Hashanah, and it is the beginning of their new civil year. The saints that shall be resurrected in the first resurrection shall prepare for battle during the time between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets. It is on the Feast of Trumpets in the future that Jesus and his saints shall come unto the earth to defeat the armies of man gathered at a place called Armageddon and the armies of Satan and his demons. The holy days of the Lord reveal his great plan for mankind, and the Feast of Trumpets is the day when the Lord shall fulfill the great promise he made during his time on earth, and he shall return and establish his Kingdom without end.
(Leviticus 23:23-25, Acts 1:9-11, Zechariah 14:1-4, Revelation 16:12-16, Revelation 19:11-21)
The Day of Atonement
This is a day of fasting and deep repentance that in the Hebrew language is called Yom Kippur which means, “Day of Atonement.” It is a day of great power and significance and was observed by the nation of Israel. Many mistakenly refer to the holy days of the Lord as “Jewish Feasts,” but they are the feasts of the Lord given for all mankind and they reveal his great plans for all mankind. A detailed description of the events on the Day of Atonement is found in Leviticus 16:8-34. Further instruction is given in Leviticus 23:26-32, and it is here that the instruction is given that the Day of Atonement is to be a day of fasting and a day where no work is to be done. In these verses we see that the Day of Atonement is to be observed from sunset to sunset, and during this twenty-four hour period we are to “afflict our souls,” which means a day of fasting where no food or drink is taken in. The future significance of this day is found in Revelation 20:1-3, for it is on the Day of Atonement that Satan and his demons shall be cast into the pit. The Day of Atonement is a day of prayer and a day to bring forth deep repentance to be reconciled unto the Lord by the power of the blood of Jesus.
(Numbers 29:7-11, Romans 5:6-12, Hebrews 9:11-14, Hebrews 9:21-26)
The Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the fall festivals, and like the Days of Unleavened Bread is for seven days with the first day being a holy day, but as was the pattern in the Old and New Testament we gather for seven days as commanded in Deuteronomy 16:13-15. The Feast of Tabernacles represents the millennial reign of Jesus after his return and after the binding of Satan and his demons on the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles shall be observed by all living upon the earth during the days of the millennium as spoken of in Zechariah 14:16-19, and it shall be a time of restoration and great joy as the Lord and his saints prepare for the second resurrection of the dead that comes after the first one thousand years is completed, as seen in Revelation 20:5. For the duration of the Feast the people lived in temporary shelters, and we follow this example and gather together in a place of the Lord’s choosing, and we live in temporary dwellings such as motels, condos, or homes. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the most joyful times of the year in the days of the Israelites, and it is still true today for those who observe this most wonderful Feast.
(Leviticus 23:33-44, Numbers 29:12, Ezra 3:4, Isaiah 2:2-4, John 7:2-10, John 7:37-38, Acts 18:19-21)
The Feast of Kindness
Immediately following the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles there is a holy day with a commanded convocation. It is commonly referred to as the Last Great Day, and is separate from the Feast of Tabernacles. The Lord has revealed unto us that this day represents his great kindnesses unto the world and it is known unto us as the Feast of Kindness. As with the other holy days of the Lord, it is a day to refrain from work and to gather together to worship the Lord. The Feast of Tabernacles represents the first one thousand years of the reign of Jesus, and seven is the number for completion. In Biblical numerology, the number eight is for resurrection and new beginnings. The second resurrection will begin on the Feast of Kindness, but it will not all be at once as the first resurrection of the saints will be. The second resurrection will occur over the second one thousand year period. Kindness is the fruit of the Feast of Kindness, for in his kindness and mercy the Lord shall resurrect all who have died and were not a part of his first fruits resurrection, and all shall be taught and all shall have the opportunity to live a life according to the ways of the Lord. The world shall be at peace and the perfect Kingdom of the Lord shall be established, and later the Lord God himself shall dwell with us as seen in Revelation 21:2-5. The holy days of the Lord reveal his marvelous plan and each has great meaning.
(Leviticus 23:33-37, Numbers 29:35-39, 2 Chronicles 7:8-10, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Revelation 20:4-5)
