Austin Bible Church
The Jewish feasts listed below were applicable to the Jewish Age, therefore, only legitimate before the Church Age began and before the Canon of Scripture was completed in 96 AD. Lev. 23.
“The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:” (Leviticus 23:1-2, NASB)
The Sabbath
The Sabbath was celebrated every week on Saturday as a day of rest in recognition of all that God has provided in His grace. Lev. 23:3.
“‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3, NASB)
Feast of the Passover
The Feast of the Passover represents Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross as the basis for our redemption and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The Feast of the Passover was celebrated on the 14th of April and was one day in length. “Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old” in Exodus 12:3-6 represents our Lord Jesus Christ who was perfectly sinless in His humanity. Christ died on the last Passover. 1 Cor. 5:7; Lev. 23:5; Deut. 16:1; Exodus 12:3-6.
“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7, NASB)
“‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.” (Leviticus 23:5, NASB)
““Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.” (Deuteronomy 16:1, NASB)
““Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household. ‘Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb. ‘Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. ‘You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.” (Exodus 12:3-6, NASB)
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Feast of Unleavened Bread spoke of fellowship with the Lord. This was one week in duration and was celebrated on 15-27 April. Lev. 23:6-8.
“‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. ‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. ‘But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’““ (Leviticus 23:6-8, NASB)
Feast of First Fruits
Feast of First Fruits represents Jesus Christ’s resurrection and subsequent resurrection of all believers. It was celebrated on Sunday, 18 April before dawn each year which was on the first Sunday in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was a gift offering. Jesus Christ rose again on the Feast of First Fruits. Lev. 2:12; Lev. 23:9-14.
“‘As an offering of first fruits you shall bring them to the LORD, but they shall not ascend for a soothing aroma on the altar.” (Leviticus 2:12, NASB)
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. ‘He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. ‘Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the LORD. ‘Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine. ‘Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.” (Leviticus 23:9-14, NASB)
Feast of Pentecost
The Feast of Pentecost signaled the beginning of the Church Age and celebrates the power of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost means 50 days. The Holy Spirit indwells all Church Age believers. It occurred 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits. It began the 5th Cycle of Discipline of Israel and its ultimate dispersion in 70 AD. It was celebrated each year on Sunday, 6 June. Lev. 23:15-16.
“‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. ‘You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-16, NASB)
Feast of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets represents the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. This feast was one day in length and was celebrated on 1 October each year. In the Tribulation, Israel’s believing remnant will be regathered in the Land. This will be the end of Israel’s 5th cycle of discipline. Lev. 23:23-25.
“Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. ‘You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.’““ (Leviticus 23:23-25, NASB)
Feast of Atonement
The Feast of Atonement celebrates the faithfulness of God and represents the salvation of Israel. On this day, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies. This will be the result of the Baptism of Fire. This is Yom Kippur and is a 10-day feast and was celebrated on 10 October and speaks of the fulfillment of the four Unconditional Covenants to regenerate Jews in Israel at the Second Advent. Lev. 23:26-32.
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. “You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. “If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. “As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. “You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. “It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”“ (Leviticus 23:26-32, NASB)
Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated in commemoration of the Israelites’ dwelling in tents in the wilderness for forty years. It is also called the Feast of Booths and represents the Millennial reign of Christ on earth with perfect environment. This feast is celebrated on 15 October each year and is seven days in length. During this feast, there was no work to be done. Each family would be in their own booth made of tree branches. The father who was the spiritual leader of the family would teach Bible doctrine to his family. On the first and eighth day, they would have a holy convocation or celebration. Lev. 23:34-41; Num. 29:12; Num. 29:35.
“"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. 'On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. 'For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.” (Leviticus 23:34-36, NASB)
“'Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 'You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.” (Leviticus 23:40-41, NASB)
“'Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.” (Numbers 29:12, NASB)
“'On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious work.” (Numbers 29:35, NASB)
Feast of Lights (Purim) or Hanukkah
The Feast of Lights (Purim) or Hanukkah or the Jewish Festival of Lights celebrates the providence of God. This feast remembers the rededication of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC. This feast represents deliverance. Rom 8:28.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB)