WHAT ARE THE 8 FEASTS?
Jesus Christ came to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15). This is shown in the eight appointed times which are His holy convocations. They are;
The weekly seventh day Sabbath of complete rest, and the seven annual Feasts of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Wave Sheaf Offering, or Pentecost (also called Feast of Harvest), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The holy convocations, or appointed times (Strong's Concordance #H4150), can also be called “Feasts” of the Lord. They are given to us in the law of Moses in (Ex 20:8, 23:14-17, 34:10-23, Lev 23, Jn 5:46-47 NASB throughout). These times are holy to the Lord for His people.
The word 'convocation' is Strong’s #4744 is from S#7121. Strong’s Definitions shows this Hebrew word ‘mik-ra’ can mean “a rehearsal.”
These feasts picture Jesus as our Deliverer, and through these weekly and annual feasts we see how He provides for our salvation as we grow into His family (1Cor10:1-11). We do this by feasting on His spiritual food in its appointed time(Ps104:27). We are to feast on the good news of redemption provided by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
Thus we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood (Jn6:53).
WHY KEEP THE FEASTS?
The Israelite people are pictured in bondage before the first of the Lord’s appointed times, the Passover (Ex Ch 1-12). They were crying out to God from their helpless position (Ex3:7). Then God delivered them out of bondage in Egypt (Deut 5:15).
Many aliens wanted to join Israel after seeing the signs and wonders (Ex 12: 38, 49, 19:4-6, Num 15:14-16, 1 Cor 2:1-5). Paul describes the aliens joining Israel as “wild olive branches” being grafted into a “cultivated olive tree,” (Rom 11:24).
These cultivated people are those who sought to know the Lord and honor His laws with all their heart. Those who honored any man made traditions in place of the Lord’s commands worship Him in vain (Mark 7:6-9)!
We need to realize we are in bondage to the schemes of the devil, against the powers and world forces of darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12, and see Adam and Eve’s Simple Choice below).
We need to be strong in the Lord by trusting in His delivering us, and Resting in His victories for us.
Jesus tells us three times that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. In the Sabbath rest of the Spring Feast of Passover, we see the Lord’s deliverance followed by a seven day feast of unleavened bread.
The weekly Sabbath rest reminds us often that He is the only One who can deliver us and we must rest in His work of deliverance.
WHAT TO LEARN FROM THE FEASTS?
Just as Paul taught in the New Testament, the Festivals teach the ministry of condemnation and the ministry of the spirit ( 2Cor 3:7-8).
Let us now walk through each of the eight appointed times and see how they can apply in our lives to give us the hope of forgiveness, repentance, and salvation. The “Romans Road” is a popular simplified outline for salvation, but we shall see that it does not place emphasis on repentance nor focus on some things such as purifying ourselves from defilement of flesh and spirit (2Cor7:1) as the Lord does.
When we rest with Him at His eight appointed times we can learn His Laws which He used to order the universe (means “one law”). We can not ignore His laws and show loyalty to man’s traditions and expect to be blessed with Jesus’ inheritance. He wants us to learn His ways so we can live with Him, be His people and inherit eternal life (Gen 17:7-9, Ex 19:5-7, Gal 3:19-22).
The Lord says, “These are the appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations:”
SABBATH This is the first of the Lord’s appointed times. It is a weekly feast. We are to Rest with the Lord on this day and realize physical and spiritual separation from the world. When we see how hard our bondage is - then we can see our need of God’s help. His sacrificial death is the only way we can be delivered from the condemnation of the law (Gen 2:17, Ezek 18:4-9, see “Adam and Eve’s simple choice” link below).
These appointed times are to be sacred public declarations, or rehearsals, of our rest in Jesus Christ’s work for us. These festivals show us how He prepares His people to bring us to our inheritance (Jesus) [ Ex 33:3,5, Heb 11: 2, 13-16, Gal 3:29]. We can rest in our striving for righteousness because - He paid the price for our sin at Passover - with His blood and declared that we are righteous through our faith in Him. "The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, Gal 3:24).
Christ in you the hope of glory (Col 1:27).
PASSOVER The first annual appointed time is the Feast of Passover. The Egyptian Pharaoh would not let God’s people go free to worship the Lord (Ex10:24-28), so the Lord decreed that every first born son in the land was to die (Ex11:4-7). This feast recalls how the Lord called for his people to sacrifice an animal without defect to be substituted for the death of any firstborn sons (Ex12:3-13, Rev7:14, 12:11). The people were to put blood of a substitute lamb on the door of their house to be delivered from the Lord’s death decree.
Examples of people going astray because of eating someone else’s bread, or teachings other than our Lord’s are;
1- Adam and Eve were ashamed because of following the teachings of the serpent instead of God’s teachings (Gen3:1-7), and they hid themselves (Gen3:8).
2- God’s people turned away after following Him in the Exodus (Heb3:6-19).
3- God’s people turned away after 70 yr. exile and wouldn’t return to His ways and to His promised land because they liked Babylon’s ways better.
4- God’s people consulted mediums and spiritists instead of consulting their God (Is 8:19-20).
5- God’s people hewed broken cisterns that can hold no water rather than drinking from the fountain of living water, their God (Jer2:13).
In scripture, we find the idea of a new beginning represented by the number 8. So we are presented with the idea of the Feast of Unleavened Bread teaching us a new life of awareness to the sin in our members (Rom 6:23, 7:7) or bringing us the bad news of condemnation of death due to sin (Gen2, Ezek18).
The Feast of Tabernacles also teaches of a new beginning (2Cor5:17, 6:14-7:1) and a new life of growth producing fruits of the Holy Spirit as He lives in us. Both the Spring and Fall Festival Periods teach new beginnings, identified by the number 8. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a new beginning when we confess our sinfulness, and the Feast of Pentecost is a new beginning when we cleanse ourselves to make a house for the Father, Savior, and Holy Spirit as the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn14:16-24). This is a new beginning, coming to understand our condition and our need of redemption.
The 7x7 pattern is also used to count to a jubilee year – the year of release from the bondage of debt and servitude (Lev25: 10). Also, the rental value of cropland diminished as the jubilee year of release draws near (Lev25:15, 16). A person was to continue examining himself to the unleavened word of God after eating the Unleavened Bread of God’s Law, and examine himself to the Wave Sheaf of first fruits, Jesus (1Cor11:28-31), during the count down to the Spring Harvest Festival. Jesus is the perfect manifestation of the law (or the goal of the law – Jn1:14-17, Rom10:4). A person should see that he comes up short of the glory of God (Rom3:23).
We are like cropland. Jesus taught that our heart is like soil in the parable of the sower (Mt 13:3-23). We must cultivate it to control conditions from becoming thorny or rocky (Mt 13:20-22). In the Jubilee symbolism, the value of the crops of our heart would become less as time shortens nearing the Harvest – if we judge the heart rightly. We begin to see the shame of our condition. We are impure and puffed up – of little value. Therefore these Spring Festivals suggest the ministry of condemnation that Paul speaks about in 2 Cor 3:8 and 9.
During this ministry of condemnation we must not fail to see God’s Grace. He accepts sinners that repent, but does not accept people who think they are righteous! In His acceptance of the first fruits of the Spring harvest we see the Good News that we can be accepted if we are in the wheat crop – not the tares (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43). In life we choose whether we will become wheat instead of tares. If we eat of His laws and compare ourselves to Him we will not be puffed-up, or be leavened. He wants us to be unleavened from pride. We must see and confess our shame.
God knows we are not pure. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ( Is1:1-31, Rom3:11-23). He knows this but some of us do not. These pictures and several scriptures show we are sinners. “You were dead in your trespasses and sin,” Eph 2:1, “Abraham was as good as dead,” Rom4:19, “We died to the law,” Gal 2:19. He wants us to realize that we have sinned and are prideful (1 Jn 2:16), and see we are condemned by the law. From these scriptures we can see one of the most important bible themes is that God brings forth life from the dead. Also see Jer 2:35, 3:13).
Scripture used the word “nakedness” (Strong’s #6172) to mean nakedness, disgrace, shame, or uncleanness. The beneficial truths such as shame, as part of the plan of festivals, are relevant today. Shame is recognized by another popular mind;
Dr. Joyce Brothers, article in a Parade Magazine Article dated 27 Feb 05:
“Adam and Eve were ….ashamed of having gone against the will of God.” “Certain types of shame can be beneficial. Good shame is an experience that is instructive. Positive shame occurs when we see ourselves as we really are.” “Maybe it’s time to invite the useful aspects of shame back into our culture.”
God knows we still sin, therefore, He told us to present a leavened offering at the end of the Feast of Harvest (Lev 23:16-17). An impure offering is all that we are able to give.
The CONFESSION We are told specifically twice (in Lev 23:2 and 4) to make a declaration at all of the Lord's appointed times. Describing the Feast of Harvest in Lev23:21, we are especially told to make a proclamation again. Why call out again a special reminder of a proclamation for this day and not the others? This special declaration is emphasized in addition to the announcements of all the Festivals. None of the other appointed times remind us to make a special declaration.
I submit that this extra emphasis was to declare that we see our sinful, leavened, or puffed-up condition. This is not just another announcement of the individual appointed time. This is a confession after examining ourselves, after comparing the perfect wave sheaf –the Son of God – our Unleavened Bread - our Righteous Deliverer and Savior Jesus - to the condition of our own imperfect (unrighteous) sheaf.
This happens after we have eaten God’s Unleavened Bread, which is His Law, which is His Son (Jn 6:32-58). Then we will see our leavened, puffed up, sinful condition compared to the Righteous, Holy Standard (Rom 7:12).
In Egypt, His first followers acknowledged the condemned status of their firstborn by applying the lamb’s blood to the door of their house to appease God’s wrath.
Before disagreeing with this explanation of the idea behind the special proclamation of the “Harvest Festival,” or “Feast of Weeks,” realize that this sequence of pictures from the Exodus parallels 1 John 1:5-9 in the New Testament;
Consider the description of the Exodus where God’s people followed the pillar of fire going before them as the Lord led His people out of Egypt, or darkness. Read Exodus 13 and 14, and then read in 1 Jn 1:5-10;
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (world, lust, flesh), and atoned for -- and anointed as a king and priest (1 Pet 2:1-10)!
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (world, lust, flesh), and atoned for -- and anointed as a king and priest (1 Pet 2:1-10)!
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (
A 7 day period represents attaining spiritual completeness. A new beginning represented by the eighth day would follow. The 8 day feast at the end of the Lord’s Festival Plan of Salvation means that we have been prepared for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to make Their abode in us (Jn 14:16-17, 23). This new beginning is the new birth Peter writes about in 1 Peter Ch 1.
The Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the Lord coming to make His abode with us. In fact, history supports that it is at this time of year when it is most likely that Jesus the Christ was born. You are to feast on our Lord when He comes to make His abode in you. We must continue to come out of the “world,” (1 Jn 2:15, 16).
In the big picture of the plan of salvation we have been shown grace. Then we are to respond to the grace to show we are repenting. Jesus told His disciples, “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no life in you.”
"O taste and see that the Lord is good," (Psalm 34:8).
The festival plan which pictures His salvation uses “FEASTS” because it is this plan we must eat to see how to enter God’s rest. The GOOD NEWS saves us from the BAD NEWS!
CONCLUSION
Remember the opposite numerical patterns. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread includes the pattern of 1 + 7 days and is found in the Spring Festival Period. This is reverse of the pattern found in the Fall Festival Period which includes the Feast of Tabernacles where we find a 7 + 1 day pattern. These patterns are to show that we are spiritually complete – first in our sinful uncleanness, and finally by following the Lord’s plan for salvation we can be spiritually complete in His Righteousness.
These help us see the Lord’s grace is needed all of our life as we personally restore fellowship with our Lord. This is done as we grow in "trust grounded obedience," or as our “obedience of faith," as Paul described our life after we know to accept Jesus’ redemption (Romans 1:5, 16:26). This is our deliverance from the bondage of sin, and our growth in producing fruits of the Spirit, and righteousness.
The plan of salvation seen through scripture in the Old and New Testaments becomes apparent when we look at the pattern of days which the Lord declares as sacred “appointed times,” rather than man made church declared holidays, which were built around man made religious ideas to celebrate as fun for children.
This Bible Study shows why the adversary of our Lord would substitute other holidays to remove these teachings from the church.
Remember, these holy convocations are also teaching ceremonies to help us see Jesus is our redeemer and our righteousness (Jer 23:5-6).
Jesus taught; “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his own life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24, 25).
SEE CHART FOLLOWING:
See Links;
ADAM AND EVE'S SIMPLE CHOICE - THE SAME AS OURS TODAY THE LORD'S COVENANT
Jesus Christ came to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15). This is shown in the eight appointed times which are His holy convocations. They are;
The weekly seventh day Sabbath of complete rest, and the seven annual Feasts of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Wave Sheaf Offering, or Pentecost (also called Feast of Harvest), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The holy convocations, or appointed times (Strong's Concordance #H4150), can also be called “Feasts” of the Lord. They are given to us in the law of Moses in (Ex 20:8, 23:14-17, 34:10-23, Lev 23, Jn 5:46-47 NASB throughout). These times are holy to the Lord for His people.
The word 'convocation' is Strong’s #4744 is from S#7121. Strong’s Definitions shows this Hebrew word ‘mik-ra’ can mean “a rehearsal.”
These feasts picture Jesus as our Deliverer, and through these weekly and annual feasts we see how He provides for our salvation as we grow into His family (1Cor10:1-11). We do this by feasting on His spiritual food in its appointed time(Ps104:27). We are to feast on the good news of redemption provided by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
Thus we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood (Jn6:53).
WHY KEEP THE FEASTS?
The Israelite people are pictured in bondage before the first of the Lord’s appointed times, the Passover (Ex Ch 1-12). They were crying out to God from their helpless position (Ex3:7). Then God delivered them out of bondage in Egypt (Deut 5:15).
Many aliens wanted to join Israel after seeing the signs and wonders (Ex 12: 38, 49, 19:4-6, Num 15:14-16, 1 Cor 2:1-5). Paul describes the aliens joining Israel as “wild olive branches” being grafted into a “cultivated olive tree,” (Rom 11:24).
These cultivated people are those who sought to know the Lord and honor His laws with all their heart. Those who honored any man made traditions in place of the Lord’s commands worship Him in vain (Mark 7:6-9)!
We need to realize we are in bondage to the schemes of the devil, against the powers and world forces of darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12, and see Adam and Eve’s Simple Choice below).
We need to be strong in the Lord by trusting in His delivering us, and Resting in His victories for us.
Jesus tells us three times that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. In the Sabbath rest of the Spring Feast of Passover, we see the Lord’s deliverance followed by a seven day feast of unleavened bread.
The weekly Sabbath rest reminds us often that He is the only One who can deliver us and we must rest in His work of deliverance.
WHAT TO LEARN FROM THE FEASTS?
Just as Paul taught in the New Testament, the Festivals teach the ministry of condemnation and the ministry of the spirit ( 2Cor 3:7-8).
Let us now walk through each of the eight appointed times and see how they can apply in our lives to give us the hope of forgiveness, repentance, and salvation. The “Romans Road” is a popular simplified outline for salvation, but we shall see that it does not place emphasis on repentance nor focus on some things such as purifying ourselves from defilement of flesh and spirit (2Cor7:1) as the Lord does.
When we rest with Him at His eight appointed times we can learn His Laws which He used to order the universe (means “one law”). We can not ignore His laws and show loyalty to man’s traditions and expect to be blessed with Jesus’ inheritance. He wants us to learn His ways so we can live with Him, be His people and inherit eternal life (Gen 17:7-9, Ex 19:5-7, Gal 3:19-22).
The Lord says, “These are the appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations:”
SABBATH This is the first of the Lord’s appointed times. It is a weekly feast. We are to Rest with the Lord on this day and realize physical and spiritual separation from the world. When we see how hard our bondage is - then we can see our need of God’s help. His sacrificial death is the only way we can be delivered from the condemnation of the law (Gen 2:17, Ezek 18:4-9, see “Adam and Eve’s simple choice” link below).
These appointed times are to be sacred public declarations, or rehearsals, of our rest in Jesus Christ’s work for us. These festivals show us how He prepares His people to bring us to our inheritance (Jesus) [ Ex 33:3,5, Heb 11: 2, 13-16, Gal 3:29]. We can rest in our striving for righteousness because - He paid the price for our sin at Passover - with His blood and declared that we are righteous through our faith in Him. "The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, Gal 3:24).
Christ in you the hope of glory (Col 1:27).
PASSOVER The first annual appointed time is the Feast of Passover. The Egyptian Pharaoh would not let God’s people go free to worship the Lord (Ex10:24-28), so the Lord decreed that every first born son in the land was to die (Ex11:4-7). This feast recalls how the Lord called for his people to sacrifice an animal without defect to be substituted for the death of any firstborn sons (Ex12:3-13, Rev7:14, 12:11). The people were to put blood of a substitute lamb on the door of their house to be delivered from the Lord’s death decree.
Today, we need the Lamb’s blood on us to be delivered from our earthly house of sin in our members (Rom6-8:1, 2Cor4:10-11, 1Jn1:7), and begin our ‘exodus’ to our spiritual house of promised blessings and opportunity. Peter exhorts us to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood (1Pet1:1-2). Follow the sprinkling of blood through the bible. It was on the skin covering the Lord gave Adam and Eve to cover their Nakedness. It was applied to the doorpost of the house. It was sprinkled on the altar of sin offerings in the temple. It was sprinkled in the Holy place of the temple on the top of the arc of the covenant where the tablets of law were contained.
When the Lord judges His people by the law, He sees it through the blood stained mercy seat on top of the ark. Today, our bodies are the temple of the Lord (1Cor6:19), and our hearts are to have God’s law written on it, and we are to be sprinkled with His blood. In the NT we find Satan, rather than Pharaoh, not wanting to let us go to fellowship with the Lord. Only those who apply the blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God to their house are redeemed from the curse of the law.
FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD The second annual appointed time is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Scripture tells us that God’s law is unleavened bread (Ex13:7-9). We learn that Jesus, called The Word of God, is the bread that came down from heaven (Jn 6:32-35). He is humble, not puffed-up, sinless - "unleavened." We are to eat Jesus – the Word of God personified (Jn1:1, 14). The Lord taught us to pray daily “Father, give us this day our daily bread,” (Mt6:11).
Examples of people going astray because of eating someone else’s bread, or teachings other than our Lord’s are;
1- Adam and Eve were ashamed because of following the teachings of the serpent instead of God’s teachings (Gen3:1-7), and they hid themselves (Gen3:8).
2- God’s people turned away after following Him in the Exodus (Heb3:6-19).
3- God’s people turned away after 70 yr. exile and wouldn’t return to His ways and to His promised land because they liked Babylon’s ways better.
4- God’s people consulted mediums and spiritists instead of consulting their God (Is 8:19-20).
5- God’s people hewed broken cisterns that can hold no water rather than drinking from the fountain of living water, their God (Jer2:13).
Finally, at the end of scripture (Rev13:15, 16), we see that following Satan causes a mark on the forehead and hand which is a counterfeit of the mark the Lord looks for, as Exodus 13:9 speaks about in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We must always have the Law of the Lord in our foreheads and in our mouths, and as the work of our hands. We will also have the Lord’s mark on our forehead if we sigh and groan over the abominations which are being committed in the midst of the Lord’s temple (Ezek9:4). This temple can be the Lord’s church and can mean in our bodies!
As we follow Jesus, as the people did on the exodus from Egypt, we are to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, to become disciples and to discipline ourselves to His ways (Mt11:29,30, Lk6:40). We are to repent, to stay free and not be taken prisoner again (Col2:8). We must only eat of His word, not others’ teachings. Jesus said; “If you abide in My word then you are disciples of mine,” (Jn 8:31, 32).
Numerical Key of Spring and Fall Festival Patterns: The Passover and 7 days of Unleavened Bread include the pattern of (1 + 7 days) which is found in the Spring Feast period. This is the reverse of the pattern found in the fall feast period. The fall Feast of Tabernacles is 8 days also, but (7 days + 1) instead. The fall pattern is the same as all the other cleansing ceremonies of Leviticus Chapters 12 – 15, which is 7 days cleansing + an 8th day of atoning sacrifices. When we see the opposite pattern, think of the opposite meaning - the opposite of a cleansing pattern. We will call this a “defilement ceremony” because we learn of the condemnation charged to us. (See chart at end of study).
As we follow Jesus, as the people did on the exodus from Egypt, we are to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, to become disciples and to discipline ourselves to His ways (Mt11:29,30, Lk6:40). We are to repent, to stay free and not be taken prisoner again (Col2:8). We must only eat of His word, not others’ teachings. Jesus said; “If you abide in My word then you are disciples of mine,” (Jn 8:31, 32).
Numerical Key of Spring and Fall Festival Patterns: The Passover and 7 days of Unleavened Bread include the pattern of (1 + 7 days) which is found in the Spring Feast period. This is the reverse of the pattern found in the fall feast period. The fall Feast of Tabernacles is 8 days also, but (7 days + 1) instead. The fall pattern is the same as all the other cleansing ceremonies of Leviticus Chapters 12 – 15, which is 7 days cleansing + an 8th day of atoning sacrifices. When we see the opposite pattern, think of the opposite meaning - the opposite of a cleansing pattern. We will call this a “defilement ceremony” because we learn of the condemnation charged to us. (See chart at end of study).
In scripture, we find the idea of a new beginning represented by the number 8. So we are presented with the idea of the Feast of Unleavened Bread teaching us a new life of awareness to the sin in our members (Rom 6:23, 7:7) or bringing us the bad news of condemnation of death due to sin (Gen2, Ezek18).
The Feast of Tabernacles also teaches of a new beginning (2Cor5:17, 6:14-7:1) and a new life of growth producing fruits of the Holy Spirit as He lives in us. Both the Spring and Fall Festival Periods teach new beginnings, identified by the number 8. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a new beginning when we confess our sinfulness, and the Feast of Pentecost is a new beginning when we cleanse ourselves to make a house for the Father, Savior, and Holy Spirit as the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn14:16-24). This is a new beginning, coming to understand our condition and our need of redemption.
See Chart at end of article.
The eight feasts give us the idea of a new beginning as we become a new creation (2 Cor 5). After trying to observe the seven annual feasts that show our spiritual growth, we must see the Good News of the additional one feast concerning what Jesus has done for us - He invites us to Rest in His finished work of Salvation (Luke 24:44 - 47).
In 2 Corinthians 3:8, 9 and Colossians 2:13, 14 Paul describes the ministry of condemnation. We have enmity against us in decrees for breaking God’s laws – death decrees – or recorded sins. Other references to this record are; “The soul who sins will die,” ( Ezekiel 18:4), and “In the day that you eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will die,” (Gen 2:17). Paul describes two ministries; that of the Law and that of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:8, 9). The Law, or ministry of condemnation, brings an awareness of violations, or transgressions and impurity to God’s ways (Romans 3:20, 4:15, 5:13, 20, 7:7), thus showing we are defiled, or sinful.
This Spring Feast pattern should bring a self examination and awareness of condemnation, comparing ourselves to God’s standard (1Cor11:28-32). How do we know we are sinners? By eating God’s law and examining ourselves. This is the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex13:9, Jn5: 45-47, 1Cor5:7, 8, Rev10: 9, 10).
The eight feasts give us the idea of a new beginning as we become a new creation (2 Cor 5). After trying to observe the seven annual feasts that show our spiritual growth, we must see the Good News of the additional one feast concerning what Jesus has done for us - He invites us to Rest in His finished work of Salvation (Luke 24:44 - 47).
In 2 Corinthians 3:8, 9 and Colossians 2:13, 14 Paul describes the ministry of condemnation. We have enmity against us in decrees for breaking God’s laws – death decrees – or recorded sins. Other references to this record are; “The soul who sins will die,” ( Ezekiel 18:4), and “In the day that you eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will die,” (Gen 2:17). Paul describes two ministries; that of the Law and that of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:8, 9). The Law, or ministry of condemnation, brings an awareness of violations, or transgressions and impurity to God’s ways (Romans 3:20, 4:15, 5:13, 20, 7:7), thus showing we are defiled, or sinful.
This Spring Feast pattern should bring a self examination and awareness of condemnation, comparing ourselves to God’s standard (1Cor11:28-32). How do we know we are sinners? By eating God’s law and examining ourselves. This is the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex13:9, Jn5: 45-47, 1Cor5:7, 8, Rev10: 9, 10).
THE WAVE SHEAF OFFERING After the people entered the Promised Land, they were to observe the Wave Sheaf Offering (Lev23:9-14). The first fruits of the grain harvest would be cut and offered on the day after the Sabbath, which is widely accepted to be the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the tomb and ascended to heaven and was accepted as first fruits offering (Jn20:1, 18, 1Cor15: 20-23).
This Wave Sheaf represents Jesus Christ. It showed the significance of Jesus Christ being our First Fruits (1Cor15:23). It also represents the lamb slain and eaten at the Passover night to spread blood on the doorposts of their homes. The lamb offering also represents the lamb chosen to be sprinkled on the arc of the covenant during the Atonement Day feast.
Jesus Christ was the First Fruits of all those who follow Him and worship Him and want to be included in the final wheat harvest pictured in Mt 13:40-43. He was accepted by God as the wave sheaf of the spring wheat harvest. We are supposed to be the wheat crop that follows – growing among the tares of the world (Matthew 13 parables).
It is interesting that most people forget to observe this appointed time, or replace it with a man made day, because it does not require a rest day! Spiritually we must rest in Christ for our acceptance in heaven. A wave offering is an appeasement before the Lord, to appease His wrath against sin and make peace by atoning for our sins. The word “wave’ should be translated as ‘lift up or elevate’ which could picture a type of resurrection, (Bill Bratt, in “Jesus Fulfilled the Wave Sheaf Offering.”)
In Leviticus all the offerings that men would offer as wave offerings were without defect, and the wave sheaf of grain is the offering to God, waved as an appeasement and sign of peace, in hope that the whole harvest would be accepted. Today armies still wave a white flag as a surrender gesture.
The Feast pictures Jesus, the Word of God which we are to eat (Jn16:33-58). This wave sheaf was not broken, ground, leavened or baked into a loaf as an offering. Jesus did not have any bones broken or sin in Him (Jn19:36, 1Jn3:5). The wave sheaf and the Feast of Unleavened Bread give us the picture of unpuffed pure grain to eat. Scripture pictures leaven as pride. Jesus’ offering is the opposite – humble (Phil2:1-8).
FEAST OF HARVEST This was also called the Feast of Weeks, and is now commonly called the Feast of Pentecost. The Lord’s early followers counted to the Harvest Feast by counting seven Sabbaths (7x7 days) from the day the wave sheaf was cut (Lev23:15, Dt16:9) to the day after the seventh Sabbath, or 50 days. This represented a judgment of our condition. Why is this so?
It is interesting that most people forget to observe this appointed time, or replace it with a man made day, because it does not require a rest day! Spiritually we must rest in Christ for our acceptance in heaven. A wave offering is an appeasement before the Lord, to appease His wrath against sin and make peace by atoning for our sins. The word “wave’ should be translated as ‘lift up or elevate’ which could picture a type of resurrection, (Bill Bratt, in “Jesus Fulfilled the Wave Sheaf Offering.”)
In Leviticus all the offerings that men would offer as wave offerings were without defect, and the wave sheaf of grain is the offering to God, waved as an appeasement and sign of peace, in hope that the whole harvest would be accepted. Today armies still wave a white flag as a surrender gesture.
The Feast pictures Jesus, the Word of God which we are to eat (Jn16:33-58). This wave sheaf was not broken, ground, leavened or baked into a loaf as an offering. Jesus did not have any bones broken or sin in Him (Jn19:36, 1Jn3:5). The wave sheaf and the Feast of Unleavened Bread give us the picture of unpuffed pure grain to eat. Scripture pictures leaven as pride. Jesus’ offering is the opposite – humble (Phil2:1-8).
FEAST OF HARVEST This was also called the Feast of Weeks, and is now commonly called the Feast of Pentecost. The Lord’s early followers counted to the Harvest Feast by counting seven Sabbaths (7x7 days) from the day the wave sheaf was cut (Lev23:15, Dt16:9) to the day after the seventh Sabbath, or 50 days. This represented a judgment of our condition. Why is this so?
The 7x7 pattern is also used to count to a jubilee year – the year of release from the bondage of debt and servitude (Lev25: 10). Also, the rental value of cropland diminished as the jubilee year of release draws near (Lev25:15, 16). A person was to continue examining himself to the unleavened word of God after eating the Unleavened Bread of God’s Law, and examine himself to the Wave Sheaf of first fruits, Jesus (1Cor11:28-31), during the count down to the Spring Harvest Festival. Jesus is the perfect manifestation of the law (or the goal of the law – Jn1:14-17, Rom10:4). A person should see that he comes up short of the glory of God (Rom3:23).
We are like cropland. Jesus taught that our heart is like soil in the parable of the sower (Mt 13:3-23). We must cultivate it to control conditions from becoming thorny or rocky (Mt 13:20-22). In the Jubilee symbolism, the value of the crops of our heart would become less as time shortens nearing the Harvest – if we judge the heart rightly. We begin to see the shame of our condition. We are impure and puffed up – of little value. Therefore these Spring Festivals suggest the ministry of condemnation that Paul speaks about in 2 Cor 3:8 and 9.
During this ministry of condemnation we must not fail to see God’s Grace. He accepts sinners that repent, but does not accept people who think they are righteous! In His acceptance of the first fruits of the Spring harvest we see the Good News that we can be accepted if we are in the wheat crop – not the tares (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43). In life we choose whether we will become wheat instead of tares. If we eat of His laws and compare ourselves to Him we will not be puffed-up, or be leavened. He wants us to be unleavened from pride. We must see and confess our shame.
God knows we are not pure. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ( Is1:1-31, Rom3:11-23). He knows this but some of us do not. These pictures and several scriptures show we are sinners. “You were dead in your trespasses and sin,” Eph 2:1, “Abraham was as good as dead,” Rom4:19, “We died to the law,” Gal 2:19. He wants us to realize that we have sinned and are prideful (1 Jn 2:16), and see we are condemned by the law. From these scriptures we can see one of the most important bible themes is that God brings forth life from the dead. Also see Jer 2:35, 3:13).
Scripture used the word “nakedness” (Strong’s #6172) to mean nakedness, disgrace, shame, or uncleanness. The beneficial truths such as shame, as part of the plan of festivals, are relevant today. Shame is recognized by another popular mind;
Dr. Joyce Brothers, article in a Parade Magazine Article dated 27 Feb 05:
“Adam and Eve were ….ashamed of having gone against the will of God.” “Certain types of shame can be beneficial. Good shame is an experience that is instructive. Positive shame occurs when we see ourselves as we really are.” “Maybe it’s time to invite the useful aspects of shame back into our culture.”
God knows we still sin, therefore, He told us to present a leavened offering at the end of the Feast of Harvest (Lev 23:16-17). An impure offering is all that we are able to give.
The CONFESSION We are told specifically twice (in Lev 23:2 and 4) to make a declaration at all of the Lord's appointed times. Describing the Feast of Harvest in Lev23:21, we are especially told to make a proclamation again. Why call out again a special reminder of a proclamation for this day and not the others? This special declaration is emphasized in addition to the announcements of all the Festivals. None of the other appointed times remind us to make a special declaration.
I submit that this extra emphasis was to declare that we see our sinful, leavened, or puffed-up condition. This is not just another announcement of the individual appointed time. This is a confession after examining ourselves, after comparing the perfect wave sheaf –the Son of God – our Unleavened Bread - our Righteous Deliverer and Savior Jesus - to the condition of our own imperfect (unrighteous) sheaf.
This happens after we have eaten God’s Unleavened Bread, which is His Law, which is His Son (Jn 6:32-58). Then we will see our leavened, puffed up, sinful condition compared to the Righteous, Holy Standard (Rom 7:12).
In Egypt, His first followers acknowledged the condemned status of their firstborn by applying the lamb’s blood to the door of their house to appease God’s wrath.
Before disagreeing with this explanation of the idea behind the special proclamation of the “Harvest Festival,” or “Feast of Weeks,” realize that this sequence of pictures from the Exodus parallels 1 John 1:5-9 in the New Testament;
Consider the description of the Exodus where God’s people followed the pillar of fire going before them as the Lord led His people out of Egypt, or darkness. Read Exodus 13 and 14, and then read in 1 Jn 1:5-10;
“God is light, and in Him there is not darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son (the Passover Lamb) cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (we remain in Egypt).
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” John saw the purpose of the Spring Festivals and the pattern which is opposite of a cleansing ceremony.
From “Jack: The Life of C. S. Lewis” p277, George Sayer, Crossway Books, 1941:
“Lewis wanted to talk about the law of nature, or objective right and wrong, because in modern England the New Testament assumption that people believed in natural law and knew that they had disobeyed it was no longer accurate. The first step….was to help people recover a sense of guilt.”
When we realize this “bad news” of sin in our members by observing the spring “Condemnation ceremony,” like Paul (Rom 7:14-23), we hunger and thirst after some “GOOD NEWS” – the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ came to save sinners. We must come to realize we are sinners – law violators, to be harvested by Him. We must call out; “Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this bondage of sin? Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (read Rom 6:1- 8:1). See Feast of Pentecost which includes this summary.
After we believe in Jesus as our Deliverer, we will see Him from the eyes of one of His disciples and He will give us a comforter – the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey. This is just as Israel had His Spirit to guide them (Ex32:34, 33:14). The Spirit convicts us of sins, righteousness, and judgment, and guides us into all truth.
The rest of our journey to become as our teacher, Jesus, is for purifying ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit while still living in the world (Jn17:14, 15, Rom12:1, 2, 2Cor7:1). We must avoid ways and teachings other than those from Jesus, our Teacher. The bible is full of examples of some who followed the Lord’s teachings, and there are examples of some who followed other’s teachings and were led to sin and spiritual death ( Adam and Eve, Saul, Solomon, Judas).
The SECOND HALF of the Festival Year
As the Lord gives the Holy Spirit to confessing sinners after the Feast of Harvest, or Pentecost, we should begin to produce fruits of the Spirit (Gal5:22, 23 John16:7-14). After the summer season of growth, the Lord will look at us to see if we bear fruit to gather at the second harvest in the fall (Ex23:16, Jn15:1-8).
We see the Lord’s Grace continuing through His Plan of Salvation to draw us into growth and purification of our souls. We should yield our will and our life over more to the Lord out of gratitude for all He has revealed to us about our relationship with Him, and for His delivering us from the bondage of sin. If we have no fruit, we will be cut out from His people (Jn15:2, 6).
FEAST OF TRUMPETS announces to us to gather and convene an assembly (Num10). This gives us hope of harvest if we heed the warning signs and signals. We are to be ready to gather at the Lord’s appointed time – the calling of a solemn assembly. In Revelation the trumpets announced coming judgment - either to condemnation or to eternal life – we are called to battle - our choice (Num 10:2-10, Dt 30:15-18, Jn 3:16, Eph 6:12).
DAY OF ATONEMENT is the next appointed time. Two goats without defect are required as sin offerings since they picture Jesus. One is to provide a blood covering for our sins. In this ceremony from Leviticus Ch 16, blood is sprinkled on the arc containing God’s law.
In the New Covenant Jesus Christ’s blood must be sprinkled on our hearts, where the God’s Law is to be written (Heb8:10, 1Pet1:3). We must accept the “covering” that Jesus provides. (The covering is the “Atonement”) (Strongs #3722). Jesus provides the covering, just as Adam and Eve accepted a covering for sin, which would have been a blood stained skin. We must trust in Jesus’ Righteous Sacrifice to redeem us from our death sentence, and also to bare away the guilt of sin, like the second goat in Atonement Day ceremony, to appease God’s wrath. Read about the propitiation, or appeasement in (Lev 16:2,13-15, Rom 3: 24, 25).
The people were to humble their souls, or deny themselves, on the Day when the Lord provided Atonement to cover their sins (Lev23:27-32). It is a day of complete rest from work. This was a state of denying everything to themselves. This would help them to hunger for the atonement from God, for which they have come to see the need. After learning from the previous appointed times of the year the people would see more clearly the need of having their uncleanness and their transgressions covered.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” John saw the purpose of the Spring Festivals and the pattern which is opposite of a cleansing ceremony.
From “Jack: The Life of C. S. Lewis” p277, George Sayer, Crossway Books, 1941:
“Lewis wanted to talk about the law of nature, or objective right and wrong, because in modern England the New Testament assumption that people believed in natural law and knew that they had disobeyed it was no longer accurate. The first step….was to help people recover a sense of guilt.”
When we realize this “bad news” of sin in our members by observing the spring “Condemnation ceremony,” like Paul (Rom 7:14-23), we hunger and thirst after some “GOOD NEWS” – the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ came to save sinners. We must come to realize we are sinners – law violators, to be harvested by Him. We must call out; “Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this bondage of sin? Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (read Rom 6:1- 8:1). See Feast of Pentecost which includes this summary.
After we believe in Jesus as our Deliverer, we will see Him from the eyes of one of His disciples and He will give us a comforter – the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey. This is just as Israel had His Spirit to guide them (Ex32:34, 33:14). The Spirit convicts us of sins, righteousness, and judgment, and guides us into all truth.
The rest of our journey to become as our teacher, Jesus, is for purifying ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit while still living in the world (Jn17:14, 15, Rom12:1, 2, 2Cor7:1). We must avoid ways and teachings other than those from Jesus, our Teacher. The bible is full of examples of some who followed the Lord’s teachings, and there are examples of some who followed other’s teachings and were led to sin and spiritual death ( Adam and Eve, Saul, Solomon, Judas).
The SECOND HALF of the Festival Year
As the Lord gives the Holy Spirit to confessing sinners after the Feast of Harvest, or Pentecost, we should begin to produce fruits of the Spirit (Gal5:22, 23 John16:7-14). After the summer season of growth, the Lord will look at us to see if we bear fruit to gather at the second harvest in the fall (Ex23:16, Jn15:1-8).
We see the Lord’s Grace continuing through His Plan of Salvation to draw us into growth and purification of our souls. We should yield our will and our life over more to the Lord out of gratitude for all He has revealed to us about our relationship with Him, and for His delivering us from the bondage of sin. If we have no fruit, we will be cut out from His people (Jn15:2, 6).
FEAST OF TRUMPETS announces to us to gather and convene an assembly (Num10). This gives us hope of harvest if we heed the warning signs and signals. We are to be ready to gather at the Lord’s appointed time – the calling of a solemn assembly. In Revelation the trumpets announced coming judgment - either to condemnation or to eternal life – we are called to battle - our choice (Num 10:2-10, Dt 30:15-18, Jn 3:16, Eph 6:12).
DAY OF ATONEMENT is the next appointed time. Two goats without defect are required as sin offerings since they picture Jesus. One is to provide a blood covering for our sins. In this ceremony from Leviticus Ch 16, blood is sprinkled on the arc containing God’s law.
In the New Covenant Jesus Christ’s blood must be sprinkled on our hearts, where the God’s Law is to be written (Heb8:10, 1Pet1:3). We must accept the “covering” that Jesus provides. (The covering is the “Atonement”) (Strongs #3722). Jesus provides the covering, just as Adam and Eve accepted a covering for sin, which would have been a blood stained skin. We must trust in Jesus’ Righteous Sacrifice to redeem us from our death sentence, and also to bare away the guilt of sin, like the second goat in Atonement Day ceremony, to appease God’s wrath. Read about the propitiation, or appeasement in (Lev 16:2,13-15, Rom 3: 24, 25).
The people were to humble their souls, or deny themselves, on the Day when the Lord provided Atonement to cover their sins (Lev23:27-32). It is a day of complete rest from work. This was a state of denying everything to themselves. This would help them to hunger for the atonement from God, for which they have come to see the need. After learning from the previous appointed times of the year the people would see more clearly the need of having their uncleanness and their transgressions covered.
The Atonement Day pictured the need for us to be humbled by the blood sacrifice required to purify even the altar where our sin sacrifices are made. Today, we must sacrifice ourselves. See the picture in the short book of Philippians in the New Testament. Most people observing the Day of Atonement try to fast to weaken their will.
The idea of leavened bread is very important in scripture. Bread with leavening puffs up. Unleavened bread is not puffed up. The Lord wants us to be humble, not prideful, or puffed up. He wants us to eat of the teachings that will be examples of humility, not pride. That is why He says to eat of His flesh and blood, they are humble fruits. That is why He says to humble our selves on the Day of Atonement. We must go through humility to see the Atonement that we need before the Lord, just as we must be born again with the Holy Spirit to see the Kingdom of God (Jn 3:3 born again from above, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14).
FEAST OF TABERNACLES is the last of the fall festivals. The description in
The idea of leavened bread is very important in scripture. Bread with leavening puffs up. Unleavened bread is not puffed up. The Lord wants us to be humble, not prideful, or puffed up. He wants us to eat of the teachings that will be examples of humility, not pride. That is why He says to eat of His flesh and blood, they are humble fruits. That is why He says to humble our selves on the Day of Atonement. We must go through humility to see the Atonement that we need before the Lord, just as we must be born again with the Holy Spirit to see the Kingdom of God (Jn 3:3 born again from above, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14).
FEAST OF TABERNACLES is the last of the fall festivals. The description in
Leviticus says; “Celebrate the 7 day feast, with a rest day on the 1st and 8th days,” (Lev23:33-39). This description of days should catch our attention! It should remind us all of the cleansing ceremonies in the law. All the cleansing ceremonies for a person use 7 days + 1 day, to add up to 8 days, for a new beginning. They are for cleansing uncleanness.
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (world, lust, flesh), and atoned for -- and anointed as a king and priest (1 Pet 2:1-10)!
FEAST OF TABERNACLES is the last of the fall festivals. The description in
Leviticus says; “Celebrate the 7 day feast, with a rest day on the 1st and 8th days,” (Lev23:33-39). This description of days should catch our a FEAST OF TABERNACLES is the last of the fall festivals. The description in
Leviticus says; “Celebrate the 7 day feast, with a rest day on the 1st and 8th days,” (Lev23:33-39). This description of days should catch our attention! It should remind us all of the cleansing ceremonies in the law. All the cleansing ceremonies for a person use 7 days + 1 day, to add up to 8 days, for a new beginning. They are for cleansing uncleanness.
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (world, lust, flesh), and atoned for -- and anointed as a king and priest (1 Pet 2:1-10)!
FEAST OF TABE ttention! It should remind us all of the cleansing ceremonies in the law. All the cleansing ceremonies for a person use 7 days + 1 day, to add up to 8 days, for a new beginning. They are for cleansing uncleanness.
One of these ceremonies is the leper cleansing ceremony, which significantly occupies the exact center of God’s Law – the middle chapter, of the middle book of the five books of the Law. The cleansing ceremony for a leper, or Old Testament sinner, was 7 days of cleansing + an 8th day for atonement offerings and anointings of the type that were given to kings and priests. In the NT, a sinner is to be cleansed – to be separated from defilement (
A 7 day period represents attaining spiritual completeness. A new beginning represented by the eighth day would follow. The 8 day feast at the end of the Lord’s Festival Plan of Salvation means that we have been prepared for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to make Their abode in us (Jn 14:16-17, 23). This new beginning is the new birth Peter writes about in 1 Peter Ch 1.
The Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the Lord coming to make His abode with us. In fact, history supports that it is at this time of year when it is most likely that Jesus the Christ was born. You are to feast on our Lord when He comes to make His abode in you. We must continue to come out of the “world,” (1 Jn 2:15, 16).
In the big picture of the plan of salvation we have been shown grace. Then we are to respond to the grace to show we are repenting. Jesus told His disciples, “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no life in you.”
"O taste and see that the Lord is good," (Psalm 34:8).
The festival plan which pictures His salvation uses “FEASTS” because it is this plan we must eat to see how to enter God’s rest. The GOOD NEWS saves us from the BAD NEWS!
CONCLUSION
Remember the opposite numerical patterns. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread includes the pattern of 1 + 7 days and is found in the Spring Festival Period. This is reverse of the pattern found in the Fall Festival Period which includes the Feast of Tabernacles where we find a 7 + 1 day pattern. These patterns are to show that we are spiritually complete – first in our sinful uncleanness, and finally by following the Lord’s plan for salvation we can be spiritually complete in His Righteousness.
These help us see the Lord’s grace is needed all of our life as we personally restore fellowship with our Lord. This is done as we grow in "trust grounded obedience," or as our “obedience of faith," as Paul described our life after we know to accept Jesus’ redemption (Romans 1:5, 16:26). This is our deliverance from the bondage of sin, and our growth in producing fruits of the Spirit, and righteousness.
The plan of salvation seen through scripture in the Old and New Testaments becomes apparent when we look at the pattern of days which the Lord declares as sacred “appointed times,” rather than man made church declared holidays, which were built around man made religious ideas to celebrate as fun for children.
This Bible Study shows why the adversary of our Lord would substitute other holidays to remove these teachings from the church.
Remember, these holy convocations are also teaching ceremonies to help us see Jesus is our redeemer and our righteousness (Jer 23:5-6).
Jesus taught; “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his own life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24, 25).
From the plan set forth through these appointed times, or feasts of scripture we can learn we have violated God’s law and are condemned to die. This is the bad news.
However, if we confess our sins (Rom 10:9, 1 Jn 1:9) we can be reborn spiritually. This is the Hope of the Gospel because Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to scripture, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day, according to scripture. We are saved if we cling to this Good News (1Cor15:1-4).
However, if we confess our sins (Rom 10:9, 1 Jn 1:9) we can be reborn spiritually. This is the Hope of the Gospel because Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to scripture, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day, according to scripture. We are saved if we cling to this Good News (1Cor15:1-4).
This plan of salvation explains the Good News of salvation provided by Jesus Christ. The salvation is explained by the seven feasts. They are called feasts so that we will be attracted to eat this part of His word (Jn 6:53-56). Peter writes that when we come to Him we are built up as a holy priesthood (1 Pet 2: 5).
Like the priest in the Old Testament sanctuary we must eat of the sin offering by which atonement was made (Lev 8:31). “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2 Cor 7:1).
A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).
The Festival Plan of scripture is for our spiritual growth. To become as Jesus – consider how we grow by feasting on Him in these appointed times. Consider each time as a thought picture on which to feast. Jesus tells us to eat His flesh (the Word of God) and drink His blood.
Sabbath - “If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
Passover - a deliverance from the death decree of sin offered for following the Lord’s Teachings, putting faith in the Lord’s blood sacrifice.
Feast of Unleavened Bread - eat only from the unleavened bread of scripture which has come down from heaven, to learn God’s true ways of how we should live in humility before Him.
If we compare ourselves to the Lord’s words, we should see the great need we have of a Redeemer.
If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Wave Sheaf Offering - The Christ was accepted as a pure offering of the first fruits of the harvest of all mankind who would follow Him.
Feast of Harvest - is also called the Feast of Weeks - or the Feast of Pentecost. If we examine ourselves according to His Law, we should see our need to confess that we fall short of the glory of God.
If we declare that we are sinners and only have a leavened gift to offer, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a guide and teacher and comforter.
Feast of Trumpets - we are told of the coming battle and judgment. So we should want to drive out all defilement from our hearts and lives.
Day of Atonement - we see how our sins are covered and their remembrance is removed, so we are safe from God’s wrath through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Feast of Tabernacles - we cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit so that Jesus and His Father will come and make their abode in us.
Then we will be His people and He will be our God.
Like the priest in the Old Testament sanctuary we must eat of the sin offering by which atonement was made (Lev 8:31). “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2 Cor 7:1).
A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).
The Festival Plan of scripture is for our spiritual growth. To become as Jesus – consider how we grow by feasting on Him in these appointed times. Consider each time as a thought picture on which to feast. Jesus tells us to eat His flesh (the Word of God) and drink His blood.
Sabbath - “If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
Passover - a deliverance from the death decree of sin offered for following the Lord’s Teachings, putting faith in the Lord’s blood sacrifice.
Feast of Unleavened Bread - eat only from the unleavened bread of scripture which has come down from heaven, to learn God’s true ways of how we should live in humility before Him.
If we compare ourselves to the Lord’s words, we should see the great need we have of a Redeemer.
If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Wave Sheaf Offering - The Christ was accepted as a pure offering of the first fruits of the harvest of all mankind who would follow Him.
Feast of Harvest - is also called the Feast of Weeks - or the Feast of Pentecost. If we examine ourselves according to His Law, we should see our need to confess that we fall short of the glory of God.
If we declare that we are sinners and only have a leavened gift to offer, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a guide and teacher and comforter.
Feast of Trumpets - we are told of the coming battle and judgment. So we should want to drive out all defilement from our hearts and lives.
Day of Atonement - we see how our sins are covered and their remembrance is removed, so we are safe from God’s wrath through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Feast of Tabernacles - we cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit so that Jesus and His Father will come and make their abode in us.
Then we will be His people and He will be our God.
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ADAM AND EVE'S SIMPLE CHOICE - THE SAME AS OURS TODAY
