There are 7 major FEASTS of the Bible. God's Chosen People the Jews have celebrated them since Moses was given the instructions from the Lord. 4 of the 7 feasts have been LITERALLY fulfilled. There are still 3 to be fulfilled.
There are 3 spring feasts and 3 fall feasts. The feast in the middle is "Pentecost" and that has been fulfilled with the New Testament Believers. Jesus fulfilled the first 3 with his life, death and resurrection. We can indeed expect the last 3 feasts to be fulfilled with His Glorious Second Coming.
The Feasts are still celebrated today by the Jewish people. The Messianic Jews also celebrate the feasts but they do so with an understanding of the fulfillment and yet have an expectancy that the last 3 feasts will be fulfilled. Some Christians today even celebrate these feasts. I am not saying whether you should indeed celebrate these feasts BUT you do need to know about them.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah. ~Col 2:16-17~
The Annual Holy Days can be divided into two main groups, Spring, and Fall, which are separated by a period of time. Jesus fulfilled the first part of God's feasts. It would seem that we are living in the time between the two Feast periods, and that Jesus will fulfill the second half of the Feasts very soon. Jesus fulfilled all of the Spring Festivals on the exact dates of the Jewish calendar.
Will He return, and fulfill the Fall Festivals on the exact dates of the Jewish calendar?
The Seven Major Jewish Feasts
Pesach (Passover)
Related Bible References: Leviticus 23:4-8; Exodus 12:1-17; 1 Cor 5:7b; Exodus 12: 24,26-27; Exodus 2:23-24; 6:5-8; 13:3,14
Celebrated: "Jewish Calendar Dates for 5765"
Symbol: BLOOD Remembers the Exodus from Egypt. A great time to have one of our "Messiah in the Passover" programs. Remember Israel's deliverance from Egypt.
Reading: Song of Solomon
Fulfillment: 1 Cor 5:6-7; John 8:34; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:5; Galatians 4:3-5,9; 5:1; 2 Peter 2:19; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 1:36; John 13:1-16 & Luke 22:13-20
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Feast of Unleavened Bread - (Hag Ha Matzah)
Related Bible References: Exodus 12:15-20; 1 Cor 5:7-8 & Leviticus 23:4,6-14
Celebrated: one week -- Nisan 15-21
Symbol: Matzah. A week of eating bread made without yeast (Matzah), to remember how God brought the Isrealites out of Egypt in haste.
Fulfillment: 1 Cor 5:6-8; Acts 12:3-4 & Acts 20:6
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First Fruits - Yom HaBikkurim
Related Bible References: Leviticus 23:7-14
Celebrated: Nisan 16 The day after the Sabbath.
Symbol: Known as the Feast of First Fruits. Presenting a sheaf of the first harvest. Jesus' resurrection: He is "the firstfruits" from the dead (1 Cor 15:20,35). Harvest Offering First day after the Sabbath after Passover (Sunday) Leviticus 23:9
Reading & Fulfillment: 1 Cor 15:20-21 |
Shavuoth -
(Feast of Weeks - Pentecost
Related Bible References: Leviticus 23:9-22 & Deut 16:9-12
Celebrated: "Jewish Calendar Dates for 5765"
Symbol: It celebrates the time of the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. From Acts 2:1-41, this holiday is a celebration of the birthday of the church. Holy Spirit was given the Day of Pentecost..... "and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" -- Acts 2:1-13. Harvest
Offering Fifty Days (hence: Pentecost) after Passover.
Reading: Ruth
Fulfillment: Acts 2:1-13 & Acts 26:23 |
Rosh Hashanah - (Feast of Trumpets)
The Jewish New Year
Related Bible References: Leviticus 23:23-25
Celebrated: Tishri 1
Symbol: Celebrates the beginning of the Jewish Civil year. It is both a time of rejoicing as well as a holy occasion (see Nehemiah 8:2, 9-12). The Shofar (Ram's horn Trumpets are blown to proclaim a gathering for worship. A trumpet is often a symbol of war. It is also a symbol of calling together or gathering. There are two different "schools of thought", so to speak on how it will be fullfilled, either The Feast of Trumpets is representative of The Second Coming of Jesus Christ or The Rapture.
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Yom Kippur - (Day of Atonement)
Related Bible References: Leviticus 16:1-34 23:26-32 & Isaiah 34:5-6
Celebrated: 10 Tishri
Symbol: Is the holiest day of the Jewish year. A time to consider Jesus as our atonement. Sacrifices for sins of the nation. Hebrews 9 & 10 and Romans 5:10,11. Some believe that this will be fulfilled by The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. |
Succoth - (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths)
Related Bible References: Leviticus 23:33-44; Neh 8; Zechariah 14:16-19 & Zechariah 14:1-4, 9
Celebrated: Beginning at sunset. Lasts 7 days. Tishri 15-21
Symbol: Sukkot recalls 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, living in tents (booths) and worshiping in a portable tabernacle. Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Ingathering - a wonderful harvest holiday. Wanderings in the Wilderness. Feast of Tabernacles Temporary Booths are constructed to remind Israel of the Wilderness wandering. A Lulav of Palm Branches are waved ushering the Kingdom. This feast consists of seven days with the first day being a Sabbath. Concludes and on the 8th day The Last Great Day (of the Feast) is celebrated. See John 7:37-38. Some believe that this will be fulfilled by the Millenium Reign of The Lord Jesus on earth.
Reading: Ecclesiastes |
Two more Feasts but not part of the Major Seven:
Hanukkah - (Feast of Dedication)
Related Bible References: Daniel 8:13-14 & John 10:22-23
Celebrated: 25 Kislev
Symbol: Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC, and Hanukkah holds great meaning for Christians today. |
Purim - (Feast of Lots)
Related Bible References: Book of Esther
Celebrated: Celebrated 14 Adar.
Symbol: Commemorates the story of Esther when King Ahasuerus denounced Haman's plot to annihilate the entire Jewish population of Persia. Purim is a joyful celebration of thanksgiving for Esther's courageous acts and God's faithfulness. |
* The observance of all Jewish Holidays begins at Sundown on the preceding evening and ends at sundown on the days listed.
