Biblical Feast Days

THE FEASTS OF THE LORD IS GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION, HIS BLUEPRINT FOR SALVATION, REVEALED IN THE HOLY DAYS, CALLED THE ANNUAL SABBATHS OR THE BIBLICAL Cycles – Seasons – Rhythms or HOLIDAYS

As we open our Bibles to the first book, God, in His Wisdom, is attempting to reveal eternal truth. The Book of Genesis contains every major truth in its seed form. The word “seasons” is one of those Truths. It reveals the annual Feasts of the Lord, Holy Days or Seasons of God, which begins in the first month of the Jewish calendar and end in the seventh month. Every [major] biblical Truth can be placed within or under the category of one of the feast of the Lord (as you shall see, keep reading). As Passover is the beginning of the Annual Seasons or Festivals of the Lord, or God’s Rhythm of Life for worshipping Elohim (God of Creation), its fulfillment is also the beginning of the Great Plan of Yahweh, our Elohim, which reveals salvation. The fall festivals reveal the rest of salvation so we can worship Elohim better. They are near the end of the spring, just before summer and the fall seasons. The word “season” can easily be translated as “festival.”

The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible gives us some understanding of the word “season,” as in Genesis 1:14.

4150. . . . an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; spec., a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).

After looking at the definition for the word season, it looks like God definitely had the Festivals or Feast Days in His mind at Creation. It also seems as if He was mindful of a set time [day] to worship, with a definite purpose for a group of people who did not exist at that time (Ephesians 1:3-12). As we read God’s Word, we can see that the Plan of God was in His mind before creation. And He is carrying out that plan on the very days that are outlined in Leviticus 23 wrapped up in the word season in Genesis 1:14. God saw the end from the beginning. He is the first and the last (Isaiah 41:4, 26). Before God created the first man, He had the annual Feasts, His people, the day(s) and how to worship Him already planned.

Read Genesis 1:14 New Jerusalem Bible

God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years.

Genesis 1:14 Today’s English Version

Then God commanded, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin.

Genesis 1:14

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [the yearly seasons called the Feasts of Yahweh], even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.

Ephesians 1:4

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy [set apart] and without blame before Him in love.

As you see, without a doubt, the festivals, Holy days or the annual Sabbaths, were revealed through the Hebrew word “seasons” by God to reveal His eternal power that is clearly seen in the Plan of Salvation for the redemption of His people.

  • As the beginning of the annual holyday cycle in the Springtime (March-April) the congregation observes the Passover (Pesach), according to the Grace of God out of faith, which reviews and pictures the sacrifice of (Jesus Christ) Yahshua Messiah as seen in John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, and Romans 3:24-26. This day is a day for all true Believers in Messiah to prepare for the seven days of Unleavened Bread as God commanded the Jewish people. On the end of this 14th day at evening the Messiah became our sacrifice, and this day is also when lambs were offered by the priest in the Temple. On the 14th day at evening is when the Passover Seder is to be eaten (Exodus 12:6, 18). This is the fulfillment of Leviticus 23:4, 5 and Exodus 12th and 13th chapter. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles said: For indeed Messiah, our Passover was sacrificed for us [Jews and Gentiles too]. Let us therefore keep the Feast …not do away with it (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)! The Passover is seen in the history of the early church in the book of Acts (12:4) and referenced in Hebrews 11:28. The Passover belongs to Yahweh, not Jews (Leviticus 23:2, 4-5). It is commanded by Yahweh God to be kept, not Jews. The Passover is a memorial of Messiah’s death, not Jews, and it is to be kept forever – by Jews and Gentiles that believe in the one true God and Messiah! Read Exodus 12:14, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

  • Immediately following that which is symbolic of the death of Messiah, which opened the way for personal salvation – congregational members observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag Hamatzah).

    Before this season, which lasts for one week in the Bible, people clean their homes of all leavened products. These leavened products, according to the Bible, are to be seen symbolically to represent sin by the “puffing up” capacity of yeast and leaven (1Corinthians 5:6-8). As people in the Bible clean their homes, this process physically reminds them and us of the putting out, or removal of sin from a Believer’s life. The time of refraining from eating leavened products emphasizes annually how Believers should live apart from sin and follow God’s way of life.

    Paul the Apostle gives us a good clue how to keep this feast symbolically …Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (congregation)? Therefore purge out the old leaven [your old lifestyle], that you may be a new lump [person], since you truly are unleaven [without sin because of messiah’s atonement, you are clean – freed from sin through Messiah’s Blood and Word (Romans 3:25; John 15:3)]. For indeed Messiah, our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the [literal] feast [of Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread], not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. The feast of Unleavened Bread is seen in the history of the early church in the book of Acts (12:3; 20:6).

  • Within the week of Unleavened Bread, there is a day called First Fruits (Yom Habikkurim) that pictured Messiah’s Resurrection from the dead (1Corinthians 15:20, 23; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18). This is a fulfillment of Leviticus 23:9-14. It is symbolic of the First fruits of the Barley Harvest. Messiah’s resurrection is the foundation which all New Testament teaching is built.

  • Next the congregation observes Pentecost (Feast of Weeks – Shavuot) a one day event that commemorates the giving of God’s Holy Spirit to his congregation – the Body of Messiah (Acts 2:1-21; Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:31-34) and the giving of the law of God (Ten Commandments) on the first Pentecost in Exodus 19th & 20th chapters in fulfillment of Leviticus 23:15-22. Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh (symbolic of the ruler of this world – Satan), “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a Feast (Pentecost) to Me… (Exodus 5:1). Pentecost is seen in the history of the early church in the book of Acts (2:1; 20:16).

  • The conclusion of the festival season (autumn in the Northern hemisphere – (September/October) begins with the observance of the (Yom Teruah) Feast of Trumpets – which is also known as the Head of the Year – Rosh HaShanah on the Jewish calendar (Leviticus 23:23-25) a day that pictures the Day of the Lord and Messiah’s second coming and the resurrection of the saints (Mathew 24:27-31; 1Thesolians 4: 13-17; 1Corinthians 15:52; Revelations 19:11-21; Zechariah 14:3-9). According to the Bible, powerful blast from a divine trumpet announces the intervention of God in world affairs and the second coming of Yahshua Messiah (1Thessolians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelations 11:15-19).

    God Almighty is blowing the trumpet of truth through the voice of men and women, who are truly of God, are you hearing the trumpet sound (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 33:1-9; Revelation 1:10; 4:1).

  • Nine days later, the church observes the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:26-32) a day of fasting (Acts 27:9 Amp) that pictures the time when Satan and forces of evil will be bound at the beginning of Messiah’s coming one thousand year long reign (Revelations 20:1-3). The Day of Atonement is seen in the history of the early church in the book of Acts (27:9 Amp). Then five days later, the first seven-days of feast of tabernacles (Sukkot) and the last great day or eighth day of tabernacles (Sukkot) completes the season. The former depicts the time when Yahshua will set up and lead a world ruling government referred to in the Bible as the Kingdom of God. The Bible teaches that during that time Satan will not be permitted to sway humanity from God’s way of life (Revelations 20:1-6). The Prophet Zechariah prophesied by the Spirit of God in his book that the feast of Tabernacles would be kept during the [one thousand year] rule of Messiah on earth (Zechariah 14:16-19).

  • The Last Great Day or eighth day of tabernacles pictures a time when all those that did not rise from the dead in the first resurrection changed from natural to spiritual to rule with Messiah will rise from their graves as natural human beings to be judged. This is called the “Great White Throne Judgment” (Revelation 20:7-15). After this, the New Jerusalem will come out of heaven and God the Father will dwell with men forever (Revelation 21st and 22nd chapters).

  • In addition, the congregation keeps the weekly Sabbath (Shabbat) from Friday evening to Saturday according to how the day starts in the Bible (Genesis 1:5, 8,13,19,23, 31) a time of rest and spiritual reflection. The Sabbath points back to creation and it also points to Passover, symbolic of our deliverance from sin [Egypt]. Then it points forward to the second coming – Millennium rule of the Messiah, six days (2 Peter 3:8) men are to do their own work and the seventh day (Revelation 20:4-5) is the Lord’s (Deuteronomy 5:12-15).

    Six thousand years, man and Satan are doing their own work and the seven thousandth year is the Lord’s Day (Millennium), the rule of Messiah (Hebrews 4:1-11; Revelation 20:4, 2 Peter 3:8).

    The Sabbath is seen in the history of the early church many years after Messiah went back to His Father in heaven, it is seen in the book of Acts (1:12; 13:14, 27, 42, 44 LB; 14:1 Amp; 15:21 Amp; 16:13 Amp; 17:2 LB; 18:4, 11 Amp; 24:14 Amp; 25:8 Amp; 28:17; Luke 23:55-56). Isaiah prophesied by the Spirit of God that the Sabbath was going to be in millennium rule of Messiah and the new heaven and new earth (66:22-23).

Meeting Needs By Giving People Understanding Of The Word

The Bible contains much more than prophecy and philosophy. Perhaps surprisingly, the Bible also provides sound guidelines for promoting good physical and mental health. In keeping with its commitment to live by every word of God, the church follows the biblical dietary guidelines.

The Word of God also provides useful and practical information that helps people for marriage, positive family life, child rearing, being a good manager of your money, successful business relationships and transactions, and such. The Bible covers every area that deals with the needs of mankind and to teach him to live a life overcoming anything through (Jesus) Yahshua the Messiah.

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