The Feasts

Regarding Israel's Holy Feasts, there was great significance to these seven annual events. A study of them can be quite fascinating, with regard to the history, the prophecies and the promises pertaining to the nation Israel. - LD

"These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times." Leviticus 23:4 ESV

(1) Leviticus 23: 4-5. *The PASSOVER. (Heb. pesah. ‘a passing over’). Nisan • 14–21 • Mar.–Apr. • Ex. 12:43–13:10; Matt. 26:17–20. This memorialized redemption from Egypt, when the Lord passed over the blood-covered dwellings of Israel. This was the first feast, basic to all the rest, as all spiritual blessing rests on sinful man’s redemption by Christ (1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 1:19) ‘our Passover lamb, [who] has been sacrificed.’

(2) Leviticus 23:6-8. UNLEAVENED BREAD. (Day after Passover) Redemption is to be followed by a holy life and walk (1 Cor 5:7-8; 2 Cor 7:1; Gal 5:7-9). Communion with Christ, the unleavened Bread, will result in separation from evil (leaven, or yeast) .

(3) Leviticus 23:9-14. FIRSTFRUITS. ( Firstfruits or Weeks) • Sivan • 6 (50 days after Passover) • May–June • Deut. 16:9–12; Acts 2:1 These typify Christ in resurrection (the first fruits) and those who are saved at Christ’s appearing (1 Cor 15:23; 1 Thess 4:13-18).

(4) Leviticus 23:15-22. *PENTECOST. Sivan • 6 May–June • Deut. 16:9–12; Acts 2:1 This occurred 50 days after the Feast of First fruits, 15-16. The new meal offering, 16, looks forward to the church. The two wave loaves (a loaf, not a sheaf of separate grains) ‘baked with yeast,’ 17, anticipate that aspect of it in which Jew (Acts 2) and Gentile (Acts 10) are united in a genuine spiritual union (1 Cor 12:13) by the advent of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:1-4).

(5) Leviticus 23:23-25. TRUMPETS. Rosh Hashanah • Tishri • 1, 2 • Sept.–Oct. • Num. 29:1–6 Day of Atonement,
The blowing of trumpets after the church’s ingathering furnishes a picture of Israel’s age-end regathering from her long worldwide dispersion (Mt 24:31; Isa 18:3, 7; 27:12; 58:1-14; Ezk 37:12-14).

(6) Leviticus 23:26-32. Day OF ATONEMENT. Yom Kippur • Tishri • 10 • Sept.–Oct. • Lev. 23:26–32; Heb. 9:7
This solemn occasion prefigures the repentant sorrow of Israel at the time of her conversion at the second advent of Christ. This is the same day described in Lev 16 (cf. Zech 12:10-13:1). This was and is the spiritual highlight of the Jewish calendar year.

(7) Leviticus 23:33-44. *TABERNACLES. (Booths or Ingathering) • Tishri • 15–22 • Sept.–Oct. • Neh. 8:13–18; John 7:2 Dedication (Lights), Hanukkah • Chislev • 25 (8 days) • Nov.–Dec. • John 10:22 Purim (Lots) • Adar • 14, 15 • Feb.–Mar. • Esth. 9:18–32
This is the last and great harvest home festival of the Jewish year. It foreshadows Israel’s kingdom rest after regathering and spiritual conversion. It is commemorative of redemption out of Egypt, 43, and prophetic of the restoration of the kingdom over Israel

*The three major feasts for which all males of Israel were required to travel to the Temple in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14–19). Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

Unger, Merrill F.; Unger, Merrill F. F. (2005-04-01). The New Unger's Bible Handbook (Kindle Locations 3209-3227). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Dates are from Nelson, Thomas (2006-04-11). Open Bible, NKJV (Kindle Locations 116817-116829). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Just as in the Church Age, doctrine is built upon doctrine, we see that Israel's holy feasts sometimes overlapped, showing the interdependence of God's grace provisions for His people. We get the whole plan from learning the whole Bible...precept upon precept. If we Christians dismiss these important commandments because we are of grace, not law, we miss the fantastic beauty and symmetry of the written Word as our Lord has established it; a perfect tapestry of life, both eternal and temporal, as only God Himself could have woven it. - LD