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The 7 Feasts of Israel and How They Point to Christ
The Seven Feasts of Israel: A Prophetic Tapestry of Christ
The Old Testament, far from being a mere historical record or a collection of antiquated laws, serves as a profound shadow pointing to the glorious realities found in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:16-17, declares concerning Sabbaths, new moons, and holy days: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Among these divinely appointed "holy days" are the seven annual feasts of Israel, detailed primarily in Leviticus 23. These feasts, or mo'edim (appointed times), are not merely historical commemorations but a prophetic calendar, meticulously outlining God's redemptive plan through His Son, Jesus Christ, from His first advent to His glorious return and millennial reign.
Understanding these feasts unlocks a deeper appreciation for the precision of God's Word and the centrality of Christ in all of scripture. They reveal a divine blueprint, illustrating how God orchestrated history to align perfectly with His eternal purposes. Let us explore each of these seven feasts and their remarkable fulfillment in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spring Feasts: Christ's First Coming
The first four feasts occur in the spring, during the first harvest season, and prophetically speak to events surrounding Christ's first coming.
Passover (Pesach):
The Feast of Passover, commanded in Exodus 12, commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage through the blood of a spotless lamb applied to their doorposts. The angel of death "passed over" those homes. This feast prophetically points directly to Christ, who is our ultimate Passover Lamb.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Just as the Passover lamb had to be without blemish, so too was Christ a sinless sacrifice (John 1:29). His blood, shed on the cross, cleanses believers from sin, causing God's judgment to "pass over" us. His bones were not broken, fulfilling the specific requirement for the Passover lamb (John 19:36; cf. Exodus 12:46).
Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot):
Immediately following Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread required Israelites to remove all leaven (a symbol of sin and corruption) from their homes for seven days (Exodus 12:15). This feast emphasizes purity and separation from sin. Prophetically, it points to Christ's sinless life and His burial.
Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ, our unleavened bread, was placed in the tomb without corruption (Acts 2:27). His sinless life provides the perfect righteousness we need, and His death calls us to live a life free from the "leaven" of sin.
Firstfruits (Bikkurim):
On the third day after Passover, the Feast of Firstfruits involved presenting the first sheaf of the barley harvest to the Lord (Leviticus 23:10-11). This feast celebrates resurrection and new life. Prophetically, it found its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's resurrection.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Just as the firstfruits guaranteed a greater harvest to follow, Christ's resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of all believers. He is the "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), leading the way for all who believe in Him.
Weeks (Pentecost/Shavuot):
Fifty days after Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) celebrated the wheat harvest and commemorated the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Leviticus 23:15-16). Prophetically, it marks the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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.
On the very day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended, empowering believers and inaugurating the Church Age. This was the spiritual harvest, a new covenant written not on stone tablets, but on the hearts of believers by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3).
The Summer Gap: The Church Age
Between the spring and fall feasts, there is a significant gap in the Jewish calendar. This "summer gap" prophetically represents the current Church Age, the period during which the Gospel is extended to the Gentiles, and the body of Christ is being built.
The Fall Feasts: Christ's Second Coming
The final three feasts occur in the fall, representing events surrounding Christ's glorious second coming and the establishment of His kingdom.
Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah):
The Feast of Trumpets, celebrated on the first day of the seventh month, was marked by the blowing of trumpets, signaling a time of solemn assembly and preparation (Leviticus 23:24). Prophetically, this feast points to the future "gathering" of believers and the reawakening of Israel.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
The "last trump" mentioned in scripture (1 Corinthians 15:52) is often associated with the Rapture of the Church, where believers will be gathered to meet the Lord in the air. It also signifies the beginning of God's final dealings with Israel, calling them to repentance and preparing them for the Messiah's return.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur):
Ten days after the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement was the most solemn day of the Jewish year. It was a day of national repentance, self-affliction, and atonement for sins, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to make sacrifice for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16; Leviticus 23:27-28). Prophetically, it points to Israel's future national repentance and the full and final atonement accomplished by Christ.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
While Christ's atonement for the world's sins was completed at the cross, Yom Kippur prophetically speaks of a future day when the nation of Israel will look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn, accepting Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). It signifies their spiritual cleansing and restoration to God's favor.
Tabernacles (Sukkot):
Five days after Yom Kippur, the Feast of Tabernacles was a joyful harvest festival, where Israelites dwelled in temporary booths (tabernacles) for seven days, commemorating God's provision during their wilderness wanderings (Leviticus 23:34-36). Prophetically, it points to Christ's glorious millennial reign on earth and His dwelling among His people.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
This feast anticipates the time when Jesus Christ will "tabernacle" among His people, ruling from Jerusalem during the thousand-year millennial kingdom (Zechariah 14:16). It speaks of rest, joy, divine presence, and the culmination of God's redemptive plan, where all nations will come to worship the King.
Conclusion
The seven feasts of Israel stand as a magnificent testament to the sovereignty and foresight of God. They are not merely ancient rituals but a living prophecy, a precise outline of God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ. The spring feasts were fulfilled with astonishing accuracy at Christ's first coming, marking His death, burial, resurrection, and the birth of His Church. The summer gap represents the current age of grace, and the fall feasts vividly portray the future events surrounding His glorious second coming, including the gathering of His saints, Israel's national repentance, and the establishment of His righteous kingdom on earth.
As believers, understanding these feasts deepens our faith and provides a rich tapestry of truth woven throughout scripture. They affirm that Jesus Christ is indeed the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one to whom all scripture points. He is the fulfillment of every shadow, the substance of every type, and the Lord of all history. Truly, "search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39).
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