Leviticus 23:2-3 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
In a Baptist church when we hear “Let’s have a feast” our brains almost immediately think of a potluck supper (Baptist Buffet). However, if you were Jewish it would mean great preparations were being made for a special day and week. Each of these feasts were associated with an agricultural life of sewing and reaping. This was often referred to as Israel’s liturgical (Religious worship) calendar.
There were a total of seven feasts. There was Passover and unleavened bread in the month of April. In June “Pentecost” and First Fruits was celebrated. Then in September / October they celebrated the Feasts of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacle (booths). The Jews ordered their life or even military campaigns around them. Perhaps the most amazing thing about those feasts is that each of them prophetically point to the Messiah, Jesus.
In April the feasts of Passover and unleavened bread reminds us that Christ is our Passover, who was sinless (unleavened). In May/June we’re reminded that the feasts Pentecost and First Fruits point to the post ascension work of Christ with the beginning of the Church age and first souls.
Finally we see in the Fall Harvest, Feasts the Feasts of Trumpet, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles (tents, booth). These final three feasts have yet to be fulfilled in Israel’s prophetic religious calendar.
We all anxiously await for the mighty angel to blow the trumpet and gather Christ’s bride to the church to go to His Father’s house. Israel awaits their “Yom Kippur”, day of atonement when Gentile rule is put down and their sin of rejecting Messiah Jesus has fully forgiven them and they are restored to His protection (Tribulation).
Finally, Israel awaits, like we the church, to dwell or Tabernacle together in peace under the rule of Messiah King Jesus in Jerusalem.
Next Year Jerusalem!