MEMO TO SELF: What are the biblical Holydays? The biblical Holydays are the ordained festivals observed by the followers of God as recorded in the scriptures. Leviticus 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. The words feasts and seasons are translated from the same single Hebrew word moedim. Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons [moedim], and for days, and years: The fact that the Lord referred to these moedim during creation is of great significance. The Feast Days are Gods Appointed Times for His People. As Genesis 1:14 illustrates, God establishes the times of these appointments by the lights in the heavens. The 23rd chapter of Leviticus contains the record of all of the moedim---a comprehensive list of the Holydays. Presented below is the Biblical text highlighting the Festivals one-by-one. The Sabbath: This is the weekly Sabbath Leviticus 23:3 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. The Passover: This is a memorial day. It is not one of the annual Sabbaths as work is not prohibited. Leviticus 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORDS Passover. Known today commonly as communion. The Feast of Unleavened Bread: The first and last days of this feast are annual Sabbaths Leviticus 23:6-9 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, The Wave Sheaf Day [also known as Elevation Sheaf, Omer, or Bikkurim]: This is not an actual holyday but is presented here because it ties the Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread with Pentecost. Leviticus 23:10-12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. Feast of First Fruits [also known as Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, or Pentecost]: This is an annual Sabbath Leviticus 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.- 21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. Day of Trumpets [also known as Yom Teruah, or Day of Shouting]: This is an annual Sabbath Leviticus 23:23-25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Day of Atonement [also known as Yom Kippur]: This is an annual Sabbath Leviticus 23:26-32 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a Day of Atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Feast of Tabernacles [Sukkot or Booths] and the Eighth Day [Shemini Atzeret]: The first and eighth days of this festal period are annual Sabbaths Leviticus 23:33-36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 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. What significance do these Feast Days have? The Bible, Gods inspired Word, contains all the knowledge that people need to know in regard to their salvation. It tells us how to gain life more abundantly--that is, eternal life. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) So what is the significance of these appointed times that proceeded out of the mouth of God? The Biblical Holydays reveal Gods Plan of Salvation for the faithful believer. They depict significant events--past, present, and future--in Gods Plan of Salvation. Some of these events, whether in ante-type or type, are outlined below. Sabbath: A Memorial of Creation (Gen 2:1-3; Exod 20:8-11); Memorial of Redemption (Deut 5:12-15); Kept properly brings blessing (Isa 56:2; Isa 58:13-14); Sign of identity as Gods people, as well as identity of God (Exod 31:13,17); Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28); The Sabbath foreshadows Resurrection & Millennial Rest (Hebrews 4). Passover: After being set aside on the 10th day and examined by the religious leaders, the spotless lamb was sacrificed on 14th day of the first month of the year to redeem the first-born of Israel providing deliverance from certain death (Ex 12). Those houses that bore the blood of the lamb were passed over by the death angel (Ex 12:23). Joshua led the people into the Land in Joshua 4:19 on the 10th of the month (day of setting aside of the Lamb) and circumcised the children of Israel (Josh 5); Moses, representing the law, could not lead the people into the promised land, but Joshua the son of Nun (Nun means eternal) led them in. This antetype shows that the law couldnt save us (lead us into the promised land) but Jesus can and He circumcises our hearts and leads us in. Compare the other types: Christ, the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29,36), was sacrificed for our sins on 14th of the month (Passover) (I Cor 5:7). He is the First-born of many brothers (Rom. 8:29), provides deliverance from the second death for the first born of the church (Rev 20:6) who bear have the blood of Christ covering them (I Cor 10:16; I Pet 1:18,19; Rev 1:5); Jesus also was examined by the religious leaders and was found without blemish (Luke 23:14,15, 22). Passover is an antetype of the Day of Atonement where only the firstborn (first resurrection) are atoned for at this time. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Israels exodus from bondage of Egypt; they had to sanctify the firstborn and all had to put out all leaven and eat unleavened bread (Ex 13:1-10); came to a point later where they had to be baptised under the waters of the Red Sea (Ex 14; I Cor 10:1,2), then continue in the leaving behind of the lifestyles they had in Egypt. We notice and compare that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48, 51) without sin (leaven). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which in Hebrew, means house of bread. The believers in Christ that take the Passover should then be unleavened (Matt 26:17, I Cor 5:7-8). The Gospels and Epistles also admonish us numerous times to sin no more and to be perfect. Wavesheaf: The first cut sheaf of the first fruit harvest cycle is elevated (Lev 23:10) on the morrow after the weekly Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Compare to the elevation into the presence of the Father of the resurrected Messiah (John 20:17), the First of the Firstfruits (I Cor 15:20,23), who was also risen to the Father on the morrow after the weekly Sabbath that occurs during the Days of Unleavened Bread.(John 20:1,19; Mark 16:19) Feast of First Fruits or Pentecost: Fifty days after the Elevation (Wave) Sheaf, two loaves of leavened bread were elevated (Lev 23:17), two lambs were offered as peace offering (Lev 23:19-20). A trumpet sounds to call the people to go up to be with the Lord (Ex 19). Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law at this time period. (Ex 19,20). This day also was a reminder that we were slaves to Egypt (Deut. 16:9-17). Compare and contrast these antetypes to their New Testament counterparts: Fifty days after Jesus arose, His disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:7-8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away (Wavesheaf) : for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart (Wavesheaf), I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.; God wrote the law (Torah) on the hearts of the believers.(1 Cor 3:3); the Holy Spirit is given to help us keep the (spirit of the) law (Acts 2, Rom 7,8); two witnesses are elevated (Rev 11:3-4,11-12, I Thess 4:13-17); a trumpet sounds then our transformation occurs and we go up to be with the Lord.(I Cor 15:52,53; I Thess 4:16-17) (some say this occurs rather on Day of Trumpets), antetype of the Marriage Supper (Ex 24) Compare to the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-9) Day of Trumpets: The first day of the seventh biblical month. The Shofar (Rams horn called Trumpet) is blown to proclaim a gathering for worship, to herald the arrival of the King, but is used also to warn/signal of war. (Num 10; Jer 4) The book of the Law was read to all the people (Neh 8); Their repentant tears were turned to joy. (Neh 8:9-12); Some believe this to be the possible date of the Creation of world, historically the beginning of the Jewish Civil year, return of Christ as King to the earth to make war and judge, End of war & regathering of Israel (Is 2; Mic 4). Jesus will be King of kings upon all the earth (Rev 19:11-16). Day of Atonement: Translated from Yom Kippur or Yom Kaphar, The tenth day of the seventh biblical month by the Jews. High Priest entered Holy of Holies only once in the year to offer atonement (Ex 30:10); the High Priest performed ceremonial washings; Two goats chosen, one to be sacrificed for transgressions of all the people/national sins and one, the Azazel, to have the sins confessed over it and have it carry the sins away from the people/nation. (Lev 16; Ps 103:12); this was for reconciliation to God; Start of Jubilee Year began on every 50th Atonement (Lev 25); Jesus, our High Priest, offered as our atonement only once (Hebrews 9, 10; Romans 5:10,11) and removed our sin from us. Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.; The binding of Satan is thought by many to occur on this day (Rev 20:2); Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,; Feast of Booths/Tabernacles: Tabernacles means temporary or perishable dwelling. Beginning the 15th Day of the seventh month and lasting seven days. Israel sojourning/living in tents/temporary dwellings in the wilderness 40 years prior to entering the Promised Land. (Leviticus 23:33-44; Neh 8; Zechariah 14:16-19 & Zechariah 14:1-4, 9) Compare to us living in these temporary fleshly tabernacles (2 Cor 5:1-4; 2 Pet 1:13) until we put them off (2 Pet 1:14) and enter the Promised Land in our new incorruptible spirit bodies. The Eighth Day: New beginnings. Depicts (similarly to the weekly Sabbath) the Millenium Reign of the Messiah on earth, yet this days picture continues on through the Second Resurrection, Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:11-15), New Heavens and New Earth (Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2Pet 3:13, Rev 21:1), even forever; Some see the spirit pouring out as water on this day and some a day previous (John 7:37-38). Arent the Holydays just for Jews? Many people today think that the Biblical Holydays are just for the Jews; or just for Israel; or just for that period of time. The scriptures reveal the truth of the matter that these are our Eternal Gods (the Lord Jesus) very own Feasts! Leviticus 23:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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. Leviticus 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. Leviticus 23:37-38 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. Leviticus 23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD. Does God require only Israel to keep the Feasts, or in other words, does God have one law for the Jew and another for the Christian? Concerning the keeping of the Passover the word of the LORD is recorded by Moses in Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. God, as His manner is, will say things once, yea twice, to show their significance. We read in Leviticus 24:22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:19:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015