The world of Christendom embraces holidays that are built on non-Christian traditions. Yet the Bible reveals the entire plan of the saving grace of Jesus Christ in the Festivals of God that were given to Israel when they left Egypt. Let’s first identify these days and then look to the Christian events of which they were a foreshadow.
SEVEN ANNUAL FESTIVALS
1. PASSOVER Leviticus 23:4-5 ESV "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. (5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover.
2. FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
Leviticus 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. (7) On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.
3. FEAST OF PENTECOST ALSO CALLED THE FEAST OF WEEKS (COUNT 50)
Leviticus 23:15-16 ESV "You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. (16) You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.
4. FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Jews call it Rosh Hashanah)
Leviticus 23:24 ESV "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.
5. DAY OF ATONEMENT (Jews call it Yom Kippur)
Leviticus 23:27-28 ESV "Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. (28) And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.
6. FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Jews call it Sukkot)
Leviticus 23:34 KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
7. THE LAST GREAT DAY (Jews call it Shemini Atzeret: The Last Great Day
Leviticus 23:36 KJV Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
It was on this Festival Day that Jesus stood up and proclaimed…
John 7:37-38 KJV In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Within the seven annual Festivals, there are seven annual Sabbaths or days of convocation; holy days.
SEVEN ANNUAL SABBATHS OR HOLY DAYS (Days of Convocation or Meeting)
1. 1st Day of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:7)
2. 7th Day of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:8)
3. Pentecost or Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22)
4. Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24)
5. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)
6. 1st Day of The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-35)
7. The Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:36)
THE SEVEN ANNUAL FESTIVALS PICTURE GOD’S COMPLETE PLAN FOR SALVATION
Just before Israel left Egypt, God told Moses that this month is the beginning of the year. Passover would mark this month in the future and tell us today when that month is.
Exodus 12:2-3, 6-7, 11 KJV This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (3) Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (6) And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (7) And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (11) And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
1. Passover pictures the death and burial of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. It also pictures our baptism when we die to sin and come under the redeeming and reconciling blood of Jesus. Our sins our passed over and we are saved from the penalty of sin. STEP ONE FOR A CHRISTIAN IS REPENTANCE, STEP TWO IS BAPTISM. SEE PENTECOST UNDER No. 3 & Acts 2:38
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the Christian putting sin out of their life and taking on holiness or righteous behavior. Paul calls holiness, the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:8 KJV Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3. Feast of Pentecost pictures the start of the Christian Church and receiving the Holy Ghost; both of which, every Christian needs in order to be able to walk in holiness (the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth). The Christian Church was started on the Feast of Pentecost about 31 A.D.
Acts 2:1 KJV And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
STEP THREE IS RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST (NECESSARY TO LIVE IN HOLINESS & FOR SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S KINGDOM)
4. Feast of Trumpets pictures the resurrection of the Saints at/and the return of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelation 11:15 KJV And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
THE RESURRECTION WILL BE THE COMPLETION OF THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE THAT STARTED WITH BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST AND CULMINATES AT CHRIST’S RETURN AND THE CHANGING OF OUR BODIES INTO SPIRIT AT THE RESURRECTION
5. Atonement pictures Satan the Devil being bound for a thousand years and all sin being placed on its originator’s head; the fallen Lucifer/Satan/The Devil/Adversary.
Revelation 20:1-2 KJV And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
6. Feast of Tabernacles pictures the millennial rule of the Saints with Christ for 1000 years.
Revelation 20:4 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
7. The Last Great Day pictures the White Throne Judgment and the completion of the plan of salvation; which is salvation for the righteous and damnation for the wicked.
Revelation 20:11-15 KJV And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The LORD is an on time God. He has a plan that is mapped out in His WORD. The entire plan of salvation was foreshadowed by His Festivals given to ancient Israel. It all began with Abraham. God has placed a significance; on certain numbers like 3, 7 and 12. We need to know God’s WORD.
Anointings is a sponsored ministry of Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156 Bro. Thomas C. Blake CareMinister.Org Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014 Copyright © 2011 This page is produced and maintained by |
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