FEASTS
OF THE LORD
THE FOUNDATION OF ALL BIBLICAL THEOLOGY And ESCHATOLOGY
By FeastsOfTheLord.Net
http://www.feastsofthelord.net/id199.html
Without the 7 Feasts
Of The Lord from Leviticus 23, the Bible would be nothing more than poetry and history.
The
7 Feasts of the Lord are God’s calendar (‘Appointed Times') to redeem mankind. They
outline God’s redemptive plan for mankind.
The 7 Feasts
of the Lord of Lev. 23 provide the foundational basis for all Biblical prophecy and eschatology.
Without prophecy the Bible
would only be a book of history and psalms, void of meaning. It is the 7 Feasts that provide the foundation
of prophecy - prophecy such as is typologically represented in the Feast of Passover.
The Feast of Passover typologically represents the spotless lamb the Lamb of God “Who takes away the sins of the world”.
Likewise this spotless lamb typologically represents purity i.e. sinless, such as in Jesus.
Passover
was first prophesied by Abraham. It was then enacted at the Passover in Egypt and finally institutionalized
in the Book of Leviticus Chapter 23 with the other 6 “Feasts of the Lord”.
This prophecy of God’s intent
to provide a means of redemption was first prophesied by Abraham. God instructed Abraham to lead his only
son up to Mount Moriah (later to be the site of the Temple in Jerusalem) to build there an altar for sacrifice (Genesis 22).
As they traveled, Isaac posed the question: “Father how can we offer a lamb as
a sacrifice when we have no lamb?” Abraham’s prophetic answer was that “God Himself
will provide a lamb”; which Jehovah physically did provide in the form of a ram whose horns were caught in the bushes.
Note that as they entered into the House (the temple) of Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider) the ram’s horns were used
as a means to call all who would respond to God in repentance. In other-words, it is a call to repentance before sacrifices
of atonement and thanksgiving are offered up to God.
Initially, Messiah’s first coming was
typologically foreshadowed in the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits (Easter) and Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).
Then the Feasts of Trumpets and Atonement foreshadow His Return as a period of repentance prior to the
Lord’s return in judgment.
This period between the Feasts of Trumpets and Atonement is known
as “The Days of Awe”; i.e. the Awe-some nature of God. It is followed immediately by the year
of Jubilee aka Millennium, aka the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
During this time,
Scripture states that satan is locked up for 1000 years, then to be released for a 2nd Gog-Magog battle. The
Great White Throne judgment follows, to be finalized by the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Hebrew word translated "Feasts” means ‘Solemn Appointed Times’, such as the fulfilled
prophecies and typologies related to the first 4 “Appointed Times” with God during the feasts of Passover,
Unleavened Bread, First Fruits aka Easter, and the Feast of Weeks aka Pentecost.
The Feast of Passover: the 1st “Appointed
Time” with God
“Behold the Lamb Of God Who takes away sins of the world.” John 1:29
"They pierced My hands and My feet; 17
I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” Ps. 22:16
See "Passover - Seder" and “Crucifixion Photos” file.
This significant part of Psalm 118: 21-29 was sung by Jesus and the apostles at the end of the Last Supper, aka the Seder:
“I will praise You: for You have heard me, and have become my salvation. The
stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
PASSOVER ETYMOLOGY: Passover begins on the 14th day of the Jewish
month of Nissan. “In the tenth day of this month (Nissan), they shall take to them every man a lamb,
. . . a lamb for an house, . . . and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month; and . . . kill it . .
. and . . . take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses. For
I will pass through the land of Egypt and will smite all firstborn . . . And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the
houses . . ... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you.” Exodus
12:3-7 & 12-13.
The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. This
story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many
of the Passover observances are instituted in Chapters 12-15.
The term "Passover" refers to the
fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In
Hebrew, it is known as Pesach, which is based on the Hebrew root meaning "pass over".
The word
“pass over” has a deeper meaning here than the idea of merely stepping or leaping over something to avoid contact. The word used here is
pasah,
which means “to spread wings over” in order to protect.
“O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! . . . How often
would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings“ Luke 13:34. It was not merely that the Lord passed by the
houses of the Israelites, but that He stood on guard, protecting
each blood-sprinkled door! “The Lord . . . will not suffer the destroyer to come in” Exodus 12:23.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread: The 2nd
“Appointed Time” with God
This feast
is held for 7 days plus one from the 14th day of Nissan on Passover to the 22nd day. Leaven is yeast that
causes fermentation of flour. This process of fermentation is synonymous with rottenness or spoilage or
decay; i.e. synonymous with sin that destroys our souls.
Therefore to be without leaven, i.e. unleavened bread
is symbolic of being without sin. This coincides with God's statement to us: "I
AM Holy, therefore be ye holy" Lev. 11:45.
The Feast of First Fruits: The 3rd “Appointed
Time” with God
Jesus' crucifixion and burial were finalized on Thursday p.m. at the start of the Passover celebration at sundown.
During Passover and the following day known as a High Holy Sabbath, Jesus lay in the grave until the following
day, a Sunday morning, aka Easter, when He arose from the dead and showed Himself to the apostles and many others.
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first
fruits of them that slept" 1 Cor. 15:20.
"But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His Coming"
1 Cor. 15:23.
The Feast of Weeks / Pentecost: The
4th “Appointed Time” with God
Pentecost is held 7
weeks of 7 days plus 1 day following Passover. It was the time when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given,
empowering those who believed in Jesus' Resurrection to proclaim the Gospel of His love to mankind for forgiveness of
sins.
Pentecost is in days (50) as years (50) are to the Year of Jubilee. The gift of the
Holy Spirit during Pentecost is a foreshadowing of the Millennial Kingdom, symbolized by the Year of Jubilee.
Feast of Trumpets, the 5th “Appointed Time”
with God
This feast begins on the first day of
the new moon on the 7th biblical month called Tishri (approx. September) and initiates the 10-day / year period
of time for repentance between the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Atonement, Judgment. This 10-day
/ year period is called the “Days of Awe” and includes the 7th Sabbatical Year of 7-years unto Jubilee
called the 7-year “Tribulation Period” as part of this 10-year “End of the Age” period call for repentance
before Judgment. In reflection of this feast, King David coined the phrase “may your name be written
in the Book of Life”.
Eschatology is the theological
term used for the study of prophecy, as related to these last 3 feasts of “Appointed Times with God”. A "Watchman" is called to "Prepare Ye
The Way Of The Lord". He sees the storm coming, and he blows the Trumpet of warning for those who
have ears to hear, for “the set time has come”, Psalm 102:13.
Feast of Atonement aka Judgment, the 6th “Appointed
Time” with God then culminates
on the tenth day and is completed on the 11th day of Tishri with the “Year of Jubilee”, aka the “Millennial
Kingdom.
This is a time when everything is required to be returned to its original
owner, i.e. God; Elohim. The Feast of Atonement typologically represents a time of judgment.
The Feasts and Sabbaths are called "Holy Convocations" in
Scripture; that is to say, they are intended to be times of meeting between God and man for "Holy Purposes". Each
Feast is also a Sabbath and reminds us of our call to a "Pursuit
of Holiness" and
a personal restoration with God.
Jesus called
the Pharisees hypocrites because they were able to discern the signs of the seasons, but not the signs of His coming as proclaimed
in Scripture. This is the real issue that I'm trying to draw attention to:
The King is Coming!
Granted it is hard it is to believe that God's Word is being completed in our day. The
simple profoundness of it all is overwhelming to many. As an escape from facing such issues, they prefer
not think about it.
But Abraham walked by faith, believing in the God (Jehovah Jireh) Who would complete what He initiated
with “His chosen people”.
First the Jewish nation and then those who were grafted into the vine, are God’s instrument in His
overall redemptive plan for mankind, as outlined by the 7 Feasts.
However, God’s covenant with the nation of Israel is everlasting. The
church does not replace the vine, but was grafted into the vine.
Ezekiel 37 prophesied that Israel would no longer be two nations but one in the latter days. This
prophecy was fulfilled in 1948 (1948 +70 = 2018).
“The days of our lives are seventy years; 70 Years = 1
Generation” Ps. 90:10
"Now
learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves,
you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the
doors!
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation
will by no means pass away until all these things take place.” Matt. 24:32-34
Reference: http://www.feastsofthelord.net/daniel70/
Jehovah Jireh; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah-jireh
Jehovah Jireh video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgU8re8b8aA
Jehovah Jireh video embed code:
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height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AgU8re8b8aA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
