Jewish feasts are more than feasts/holidays but prophecies. They foreshadow God’s orderly plan of saving humanity.
The seven Jewish feasts were instituted by God through Moses. They are;
Spring season feasts
- Passover
- Feast of Unleavened bread
- Feast of Firstfruits
- Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
Fall season feasts
- Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah)
- Day of Atonement (Yum Kuppor)
- Feast of Tabernacles (Succot/sukkot)
1. Passover
Passover was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month.
Lev 23:5: In the fourteenth day of the first month at evening is the LORD’s Passover
Num 9:5: And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
It is the time when the Lamb with no blemish was killed.
Ex 12:5, 6: Your lamb shall be without blemish. …and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
It is the time when the Israelites stroke the two door post and the lintel of their houses with the blood of the Lamb.
Ex 12:7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses
Ex 12:22: And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
It is the time when the Lord passed through the land of Egypt striking all the firstborns and passing over the houses of Israelites marked with the blood of the Lamb.
Ex 12:12-13: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Ex 12:23: For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
It is the time when the children of Israel were delivered from bondage in the land Egypt.
Ex 12:41: And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that very same day, it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
Passover is and was a shadow of the ultimate Passover when Jesus Christ on the cross delivered humanity from bondage.
On the fourteenth day which was Passover, Jesus was on the cross.
John 13:1: Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end
1 Cor 5:7: …For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us
On the cross Jesus delivered humanity from bondage.
Gal 1:4: Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father
Gal 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Jesus was the Lamb with no blemish
John 1:29: The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
1 Pet 1:19: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
As nails were driven in Jesus arms, blood stroke the two door posts and blood came out of His head striking the lintel.
The children of Israel in Passover striking the two doorposts and lintel is a full picture of Jesus on the cross; blood coming out of His arms and head.
The sacrificial lamb was to be slain at ‘evening/twilight’ on the Passover day which is a reference to the exact midpoint between our 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. which is 3 p.m. Exactly the same time (3 p.m.) on the Passover day, Jesus Christ on the cross gave up His spirit (Mat 27:50).
The blood of God’s only begotten son, Jesus, saved humanity; the blood of Jesus Christ saves every person who accepts and believes in Him.
Passover foreshadowed Jesus on the cross delivering humanity from bondage (saving humanity) and this was fulfilled.
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread
The same month of Passover is the same month the children of Israel were to eat unleavened bread from the fourteenth day until the twenty-first day of the month.
Ex 12:18: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.
For seven days the children of Israel ate unleavened bread from the evening of Passover.
Ex 12:15: Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread
The feast of unleavened bread foreshadowed Jesus body in the tomb.
On the evening of Passover, Jesus body was taken off the cross and laid in a tomb. This happened exactly the same time the children of Israel started the feast of unleavened bread.
Mt 27:57-60: When the evening came, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day while the feast of unleavened bread went on for seven days. When instituting the feast of unleavened bread, God said this,
Ex 12:16-17 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall you observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.
The above verse is a prophecy. By the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread God said, ‘I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt’.
The armies talked about in this verse are the children of Israel as seen in verse 41; And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on the same day it came to pass, that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt (Ex 12:41).
By the seventh day of the feast of unleavened bread, the children of Israel were out of the land of Egypt as God had said in Ex 12:16-17.
God used the word, ‘your armies’ referring to the Armies of the LORD; the armies of Jesus.
By the seventh day from the day the body of Jesus was laid on the tomb, the armies of the Lord, those who believed and accepted Him were out of bondage.
The feast of unleavened bread was fulfilled.
3. Feast of Firstfruits
Lev 23:10: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When you come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest
The feast of Firstfruits foreshadows Jesus being the first to rise from the dead. Jesus is the firstfruits of those who died.
1 Cor 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Feast of firstfruits was fulfilled when Jesus become the firstfruits of those who died; He was the first to rise from the dead; the first to overcome death.
4. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
Lev 23:15-16: And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.
‘Pentecost’ in the Greek language literally means ‘fifty’. The Feast of Weeks is marked fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits.
Fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Holy Spirit came in the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
The feast of weeks (Pentecost) foreshadows the Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, the feast of weeks was fulfilled.
All Spring Jewish feasts have been fulfilled but the fall feasts are yet to be fulfilled.
And the fall feasts are as follows;
5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah)
Lev 23:23-24: And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
The next heavenly grand event will happen on the Feast of Trumpets.
Apostle Paul unmistakably reveals to us what will happen at the Feast of Trumpets.
1 Cor 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
According to Paul, the event will unfold ‘at the last trumpet’ which is a specific reference to ‘the last trumpet’ blown on the Feasts of Trumpets.
This feast was marked with a series of short trumpet blasts and concluded with a single unbroken blast, held for as long as possible. This last unbroken trumpet is called ‘the Tekiah Gedolah’ (the last trumpet).
The Feast of Trumpets is on the first day of the seventh Jewish month (Tishrei) and the first day of this month is called ‘Rosh Hashanah’. Thus the feast of Trumpets is also referred to as Rosh Hashanah.
The feast of trumpets foreshadows rapture. At the last trumpet the church will be caught up and the Feast of Trumpets will be fulfilled.
6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Lev 23:26-28: And the LORD spoke 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 you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And you shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.
The first day of the seventh month is the Feast of Trumpets and on the tenth day of the same month is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It is the most solemn day in the Hebrew calendar.
Day of Atonement foreshadows the day when God delivers His judgment. It is the day when God will enter to pour His judgment to this world and this will be in the great tribulation period.
It is not a coincidence that Day of Atonement is on the tenth days from the Feast of Trumpets. A foreshadow of God entering to pour His wrath on this world (the great tribulation) immediately after the rapture of the church.
Isa 26:20-21: Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over past. For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
See the church is not appointed to God’s wrath
The Day of Atonement will be fulfilled when God will come out of His place to punish inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity in the great tribulation period.
Will you be found worthy to escape the wrath of God?
Lk 21:36: Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Succot/Sukkot)
Lev 23:34: 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.
Feast of tabernacles was on the 15th day of the seven month; 15 days after the Feast of Trumpets and 5 days after the Day of Atonement.
The Hebrew word for ‘tabernacle’ is ‘booth [or] tent’.
For seven days the children of Israel dwelt in booths.
Lev 23:42: You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths
It is for the generations to know that the children of Israel dwelt in booths when brought out of the land of Egypt.
Lev 23:43: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
In this day, the children of Israel dwell in booths (tents) looking up to the heaven for the coming of their LORD to save and give them permanent dwelling shelters. Booths are temporary.
For seven days the children of Israel celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles foreshadowing the seven years the children of Israel will be in great tribulation living in tents, looking up to the heavens, waiting for the coming of their savior to save and give them permanent shelter.
Inside the great tribulation we see God fleeing the children of Israel from Satan who is moving to finish them. And God gives them a temporary shelter from the face of Satan where He nourishes them as they look up for Him to descend from Heaven and save them.
Rev 12:14: And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
In the wilderness from the land of Egypt, the children of Israel dwelt in booths which foreshadow the children of Israel in wilderness living in booths during the great tribulation period.
At the end of the seven years, the man of war (Jesus Christ) will appear in the clouds with great army coming to save Israel and give them a permanent shelter in His presence forever.
Rev 19:11-14: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Satan with all his forces and the entire world will come against Jesus and Jesus will deliver judgment and justice.
Rev 19:19-21: And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
And entire Israel will be saved and they will live in His presence forever.
Rom 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved
In the Feast of Trumpets, the church will be ruptured and In the Day of Atonement, God will enter to deliver His judgment to the world in the great tribulation period. 5 days later the children of Israel will start dwelling in booths (Feast of Tabernacles).
It is not a coincidence that these feasts follow each other respectively.
Between the ‘spring feasts’ and the ‘fall feasts’ is a gap; it is the grace era, the church-age.
Fall Jewish Feasts fulfillment is at hand
Hundreds of years prior to the first coming of Christ, God marked the timing of the following dramatic events: Christ’s Crucifixion, burial, Resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Christ fulfilled the first four Jewish feasts;
- He was crucified on the Feast of Passover
- He was in the burial tomb on the Feast of Unleavened Bread
- He resurrected from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits,
- Christ sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
The first four feasts occurred during the ‘spring season’ speaking of the first coming of Jesus. The last three feasts happen during the ‘fall season’ speaking of the return of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is coming to fulfill the fall feasts;
- He will rapture the church on the Feast of Trumpets
- God’s wrath (great tribulation) will be poured on the Feast of Atonement
- Israel will dwell in booths in wilderness for seven years in the great tribulation period waiting for their Messiah to save them
The feasts were celebrated in order as directed by God and in the same order Jesus fulfilled them. The remaining fall feasts will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the same order as directed by God.
- Feasts of Trumpet was celebrated on the 1st day of the seventh month
- Day of Atonement on the 10th day of the seventh month
- Feast of tabernacle on the 15th day of the seventh month
Their fulfillment will be in that order.
As Jesus fulfilled the first four spring season feasts, He will surely fulfill the three fall season feasts.
Mt 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
On 28th September 2015, a total blood moon at perigee (a super moon) will be clearly seen in Jerusalem and Israel during the Feast of Tabernacles when the Jewish people will be dwelling outside in their booths/tents looking up toward the heavens for the coming of their savior.
This will be God speaking to the children of Israel.
See significance of the four blood moons coinciding with Jewish feasts; Passover and Sukkot
The fulfillment of Feast of trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles is at hand.
Surely, Jesus Christ is coming
‘Come Lord Jesus’ (Rev 22:20)
Repent! Repent! Repent!
Sin no more
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
