Israel’s Seven Holidays

God instructed the Israelites to observe seven special seasons or holy days  These were mostly days of feasting but one of them was a day of fasting (the day of atonement).

God's Plan of Redemption Revealed in the Seven Feasts of Israel

A collection of all of the feasts is recorded in Leviticus 23.

a symbolizing of the advents

Three Spring Feasts

The spring feasts are a representation of the first advent of Jesus Christ.  Springtime is the beginning of a year.

1) Passover:  The Passover was instituted when God used Moses to deliver the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt.  (read Exodus 12:1-14 ) The event of the Passover from Egypt marked the beginning of the calendar for Israel.  This month would be the first month of the year for them.  Their new life of freedom would begin with the Passover.  The typology here is striking.  

Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God that came to take the away the sin of the world.  (John 1:29)  He was sacrificed on the passover.  (1 Cor. 5 :7)  The emphasis pointed to Christ's perfect blood.  

2) Unleavened Bread: This feast was closely connected to Passover; beginning the day following Passover on the 15th of the month and continuing for 7 days.  The emphasis pointed to Christ's  sinless body.

3) Firstfruits:  The next feast to be celebrated was the feast of the first fruits.  They were to bring a bundle of their first grain harvest. The priest was to wave it before the Lord and it would be accepted for them.  A proof of the Father's acceptance of the sacrifice of his son was his resurrection! Christ's sacrifice in our place was accepted by God. 

1 Corinthians 15:12-23

[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
[13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
[15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
[16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
[21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

The emphasis pointed to Christ's indestructible life (His resurrection).

A Single Mid-Season Feast

4) Pentecost:  

The Mid-Season feast is a representation of the second advent of Jesus Christ (via the sending of his Holy Spirit).  This feast was celebrated in the middle of the year.

 It was on this particular feast day  that the Holy Spirit  that Jesus Christ had promised to send  fell upon  the apostles, and thus began the church of Jesus Christ.

After the feast of the first fruits the Hebrew people were to count  seven weeks  and one day (which would equal 50 days) and then they were to provide this next offering, referred to as the Feast of Weeks for obvious reasons.  It was also called Pentecost (which means 50 days).

For this offering there was a significant departure from the others.  For this offering they were to bring two loaves that have been baked with leaven (that is with yeast).  In the scriptures, leavening or yeast  was frequently used as something that was a type of sin or evil.  

This could be because, unlike the other feasts that pointed specifically to Christ,  the Feast of Pentecost  typified  the church ---  thus two loaves  (Jew and Gentile)  and it would not be perfect as God's son was;  but would include redeemed people yet not perfected people. 

The emphasis pointed to Christ's redeemed people (His church).

Lev.23:15-21

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.
[18] And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
[19] Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
[20] And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
[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.

Acts 2:1-11

[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
[7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
[8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Three Fall Feasts

The fall feasts are a representation of the third advent of Jesus Christ  (typically referred to as his second advent).  Fall is the near the end of a year.

The emphasis pointed to Christ's earthly kingdom (His personal return, judgment and kingly reign).

5) Trumpets: 

...

Lev. 23:23-25

[23] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[24] 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.
[25] Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

6) Day of Atonement: 

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Lev. 23:26-32

[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[27] 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.
[28] 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.
[29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
[30] And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
[31] Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[32] 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.

7) Tabernacles: 

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Lev. 23:33-16

[33] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[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.
[35] On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
[36] 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.