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The Biblical Call to Rest: Discovering Sabbath Meaning

The word Sabbath comes from Hebrew. So, what does Sabbath mean? Could the meaning of the word give us any clues as to how we should respond.

  • In Hebrew:
    • H7676: Sabbat from H7673; specifically, the Sabbath intermission
    • H7673: to repose, in desist from exertion
  • In Greek:
    • G4521: Sabbaton of Hebrew origin (H7676) Sabbath or day of weekly repose from secular avocations

There are some interesting words in these definitions. Here are some definitions:

  • repose:
    • the state of being at rest; sleep
    • peace or tranquility; calm
    • absence of movement or animation
  • exertion:
    • vigorous action or effort
  • avocations:
    • something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, hobby
  • desist:
    • stop

So, what does all of this mean? It means that time should be set aside to stop and just spend some time with Jesus.

Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

God rested as an example for us. God also gave creation as a reason to keep sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Even today we need to have set time to stop and remember the work of God in our lives. We need to remember the work that Jesus did on the cross. Jesus calls all to come to him for rest. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Many years ago there was a song that talked about spending time with God. It is called Take time to be Holy by Author: William D. Longstaff (ca. 1882). I have put it below for you to read/ sing.

1 Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in Him always, and feed on His word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

2 Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

3 Take time to be holy, let Him be thy guide,
and run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
and, looking to Jesus, still trust in His word.

4 Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

This is a fitting song when thinking about the sabbath. We should take time every day to spend with God. We should also set aside a day just for God. We need to remember to Take Time to Be Holy.

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Celebrating the Joy of Sukkot: A Guide to the Feast of Tabernacles

Feasts of Tabernacles

This is a joyful feast. According to Deuteronomy 16:13‑15 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

The Torah (1st five books of the Old Testament) explicitly commands three things regarding the festival of Sukkot:

  1. To gather the four branches (Lev. 23:40)
  2. To rejoice before the LORD (Deut. 16:13‑14; Lev. 23:40)
  3. To live in a sukkah (booth) (Lev. 23:42)

It is considered a mitzvah for every Jew to participate in the building and/or decoration of a sukkah before the holiday begins. For those of us who are not Jewish, you are not required to build a sukkah. If possible, it would be nice if you did therefore, I am putting the instruction on how to build one here. For everyone else, please spend some time outside. Remember to be thankful. I will also be posting more about the four branches in a different post.

A few facts to consider:

  • This Feast was to remind the people of their time in the wilderness going to the promise land.
  • Revelations 21:3 and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them [as their God,]
  • During this feast the priests would perform many rituals. These Jewish rituals point found new meaning in the New Testament.
    •  John 7:37-39 Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).
      • So, as the priest was pouring the “living water” at the altar and praying for rain for the coming months, Jesus stood up and declared that the living water was actually the Holy Spirit that would flow from the innermost being (belly) of the believer.
      • Joel had prophesied that the Messiah would come and pour out the Spirit of God on the entire world.
        • Joel 2:28-29 “It shall come about after this That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
      • This was fulfilled in Acts Chapter 2.
      • The festival of Sukkot has a prophetic dimension awaiting fulfillment. As the “Day of Ingathering” of the harvest, Sukkot prefigures the gathering together of the Jewish people in the days of the Jesus’s reign on earth (Isa. 27:12‑13; Jer. 23:7‑8). Indeed, all of the nations of the earth that survived the Great Tribulation will come together to worship the LORD in Jerusalem during the Feast of Sukkot (Zech. 14:16‑17). Sukkot, therefore is a vision of the world to come. Sukkot also foreshadows the LORD’s sheltering Presence over Israel in the millennial kingdom. No longer will Israel be subject to the oppression of the ungodly nations of the world, but God Himself will place His sanctuary in her midst (Ezek. 37:26‑28). Jesus did indeed come to “sukkah” (or “tabernacle”) with us (see John 1:14) in order to purge away our sins and to redeem us to Himself.
        • John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
          • remember tabernacle means to dwell
      • There is an interesting prophecy in Zechariah chapter 14.
        • Zechariah 14:16-19 Then everyone who is left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 If the family of Egypt does not go up [to Jerusalem] and present themselves, then no rain will fall on them. It will be the plague with which the Lord will strike the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). 19 This will be the [consequent] punishment [for the sin] of Egypt, and the [consequent] punishment [for the sin] of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).
      • I really like what Revelation 21:3 says about Tabernacles.
        • 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.

How to Celebrate Sukkot: for anyone wanting to participate in this feast now. Remember doing this or not doing this does not affect your salvation. However, this can be a great learning experience for you and your family. Don’t be like the pharisees and think that doing this or any other thing makes you more Holy than anyone else.

The festival of Sukkot is celebrated for seven days (i.e., from Tishri 15‑21) during which we “dwell” in our sukkah by reciting various blessings, eating meals there, singing songs, and waving our lulavs.

Preparations for the Holiday

We begin preparing for Sukkot immediately following the Yom Kippur holiday. The following things help us to get ready for the holiday:

  1. Build and/or decorate a Sukkah. (I just use my wonderful car porch.)
    • you could build a sukkah
    • you could use a tent
    • you could use a car porch
    • you could use a gazebo
  2. Obtain lulav.
    • buy one
    • make one
  3. Make yourself happy. We are commanded to rejoice during the holiday of Sukkot for the blessing of God’s provision and care for our lives (Deut. 16:14‑15).
  4. Read the Bible

Steps for Celebrating Sukkot

On the evening before Sukkot begins, we will do the following:

  1. Light the Holiday Candles
    • To sanctify the occasion, we light the holiday candles 18 minutes before sundown (i.e., on Tishri 14). As the celebration begins, we will move into the “new day,” that is, the first day of Sukkot.
    • Say the blessing and then light the candles. The Blessing is…
      • Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with his commandments and commands us to light the candles of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
  2. Thank God for the Season
    • After sundown on the first night of Sukkot (only) we recite a blessing to thank God for bringing us to this season in our lives. The Blessing is…
      • Blessed are You, Lord our God, Master of the universe who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time.
    • You may also want to thank the LORD for the holidays as a revelation of Jesus at this time. This Blessing is…
      • Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.
  3. Say Kiddush: a blessing over the wine/ grape juice/ fruit of the vine
    • Before eating the holiday meal in the sukkah, we recite kiddush. Here is the shorter blessing over the wine.
      • The shorter blessing is…
        • Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of the true fruit of the vine Jesus. amen.
  4. Recite the Sukkah Blessing
    • After reciting the holiday kiddush, we (joyfully!) recite the traditional blessing over the Sukkah. The blessing is…
      • Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who sanctifies us with his commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.
  5. Recite blessing for the bread
    • Before partaking of our meal in the sukkah, we recite ha‑motzi (the blessing over the bread). The Ha-Motzi is: 
      • Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the living bread from heaven.
  6. Eat a meal
    • After this we enjoy our meal together in the sukkah. Traditional foods include stuffed cabbage and kreplach containing fruit or fall harvest vegetables; dishes made with honey and pastries.
  7. Wave the Lulav
    • We face east while holding the lulav bundle in our right hand and the etrog in the left hand. We then lift them together with the etrog pointing downward and recite the lulav blessing.
      • Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who sanctifies us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the waving of the lulav.
      • After reciting the blessing, we turn the etrog right‑side up, put both hands together, and then “shake” the lulav (i.e., reach out then draw in) three times in each direction: front, right, back, left, up and down.
        • These six directions indicate the surrounding presence of God.
        • Note that it is entirely appropriate to recite the blessing and “wave the lulav” at any time during the festival of Sukkot, day or night.
  8. Sing praises to the LORD
    • After reciting the Hebrew blessing and shaking the lulav around, it is customary to recite (or sing) Psalm 136.
      • Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites,  for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
  9. Celebrate in the Sukkah
    • Perhaps more than any other Jewish holiday, Sukkot has an atmosphere of celebration and delight. The Torah explicitly mentions that we are to rejoice during this festival, and we do so by listening to festive music, talking about the meaning of the holiday, praying together, eating holiday food, and just relaxing inside the sukkah with family and friends.
  10. During the subsequent days (and nights) of Sukkot we will perform these same steps, though we skip step number 2 after the 1st night.
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Understanding Yom Kippur: A Christian Perspective on Atonement

Atonement: Yom Kippour

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur mark the Days of Awe. During this ten-day period, Jews forgive others, give to those in need, and confess sins in order to secure their names in the Book of Life for another year,

The Days of Awe end with a 25 hour fast and a Sabbath rest called Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. This day was when God provided atonement for the sins of the Israelites. Leviticus 16 explains the Day of Atonement, how the Jews would bring two animals for sacrifice into the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle. Here is a short summary of the major events of the day.

  • After sacrificing on the priest’s own behalf, he would then sacrifice one animal in the temple as the sin offering. The second was named the Azazel or scapegoat. The priest would symbolically lay the sins of the people on the head of the goat and lead it outside of the camp, representing the sins of the people being taken away. This animal sacrifice would occur once a year and was always a temporal covering of sin. Year after year the Israelites repeated this tradition to ensure sins were covered and names were sealed in the Book of Life.

The question for us as Christians is how do we celebrate and remember a holiday in which the whole point of it is to make atonement for sins when we know Jesus has already made that ultimate atonement for us? Rather than trying to atone for another year’s sins, we as Christians can celebrate what Christ has already done for us. Here are some suggestions:

  1. You can extend radical forgiveness. Just as Jesus has given us grace, we too can extend grace and heal broken relationships during Yom Kippur. When you don’t have the grace or strength to forgive, ask God to supply both of those in greater measure.
    • Remember Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
  2. You can consider fasting for a meal or entire day. During your time of fasting, spend time praying. Pray for:
    • those who have not yet come to Jesus
    • Missionaries
    • Pastors
    • family members
    • the Nation of Israel
    • your own country
  3. You may also want to thank the LORD for the holidays as a revelation of Jesus at this time. This Blessing is…
    • Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.
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Understanding Yom Teruah: The Day of Shouting Explained

Trumpets: Yom Teru’ah

On the 1st day of the Seventh Month (Tishrei) the Bible commands us to observe the Holy day of Yom Teruah which means Day of Shouting (Leviticus 23:23‑25; Numbers 29:1‑6). Yom Teruah is a day of rest on which work is forbidden.

One of the unique things about Yom Teruah is that the Bible does not say what the purpose of this Holy day is. The Bible gives at least one reason for all the other holy days and two reasons for some. The Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread) commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, but it is also a celebration of the beginning of the barley harvest (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:4-14). The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks) is a celebration of the wheat harvest (Exodus 23:16; 34:22). Yom Ha‑Kippurim is a National Day of Atonement as described in great detail in Leviticus 16. Finally, the Feast of Sukkot (Booths or Tabernacles) commemorates the wandering of the Israelites in the desert and is also a celebration of the ingathering of agricultural produce (Exodus 23:16). In contrast to all these Torah festivals, Yom Teruah has no clear purpose other than that we are commended to rest on this day.

Nevertheless, the name of Yom Teruah provides a clue as to its purpose. Teruah literally means to make a loud noise. This word can describe the noise made by a trumpet but it also describes the noise made by a large gathering of people shouting in unison. For example:

  • Joshua 6:5 (KJV) “And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.”

In this verse the word “shout” appears twice, once as the verb form of Teruah and a second time as the noun form of Teruah. Although this verse mentions the sound of the shofar (ram’s horn), the two instances of Teruah do not refer to the shofar. In fact, in this verse, Teruah refers to the shouting of the Israelites which was followed by the fall of the walls of Jericho.

While the Bible does not explicitly tell us the purpose of Yom Teruah, its name may indicate that it is intended as a day of public prayer. The verb form of Teruah often refers to the noise made by a gathering of the faithful calling out to the Almighty in unison. For example:

  • Clap hands, all nations, shout to God, with a singing voice! (Psalms 47:2)
  • Shout to God, all the earth! (Psalms 66:1)
  • Sing to God, our strength, shout to the God of Jacob! (Psalms 81:2)
  • Shout to Jehovah, all the earth! (Psalms 100:1)

In Leviticus 23:24, Yom Teruah is also referred to as Zichron Teruah. The word Zichron is sometimes translated as memorial, but this Hebrew word also means to mention, often in reference to speaking the name of God. For example, Exodus 3:15; Isaiah 12:4; Isaiah 26:13; Psalms 45:18. The day of Zichron Teruah, the Mentioning Shout, may refer to a day of gathering in public prayer in which the crowd of the faithful shouts the name of God in unison.

We as Christians can look to the New Testament for the answer as to the reason for celebrating this Holy Day.

  • 1 Corinthians 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.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

The Trumpet referred to in scriptures is more commonly today called a Shofar.

A man blowing a shofar.

Today, few people remember the biblical name of Yom Teruah and instead it is widely known as Rosh Hashanah which literally means head of the year and hence also New Years Day. The transformation of Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting) into Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s) is the result of pagan Babylonian influence upon the Jewish nation. The first stage in the transformation was the adoption of the Babylonian month names. In the Torah, the months are numbered as First Month, Second Month, Third Month, etc. (Leviticus 23; Numbers 28). During their sojourn in Babylonia the people began to use the pagan Babylonian month names. 

How to celebrate:

  • It should be clear on how to celebrate. We are to sing, shout, and make a joyful noise to the Lord on this day.
  • There are no food restrictions on this day, except for keeping it Kosher (see the section on Kosher).
  • You may also want to thank the LORD for the holiday as a revelation of Jesus at this time. The Blessing is…
    • Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.
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Understanding Pentecost: Significance and Celebrations

What is Pentecost and How to Celebrate it

This Festival is called by 5 different names in the Bible. Now it is better known as Pentecost. Here are the names given for it in the Bible and a brief explanation of why it was called that.

1) Chag Shavuot ‑ Festival of Weeks

  • The Hebrew word sheva means 7, shavu’ah means week, and shavuot means weeks.
  • It is also referred to as Bikkurei Ketzir Chittim (the first fruits of the wheat harvest). And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.@ (Exodus 34:22). And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: (Deuteronomy 16:10).

2) Chag Hakatzir- The festival of the Harvest

  • Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of in gathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.”

3) Yom HaBikkurim ‑ Day of the First‑Fruits

  • This is not to be confused with the Festival of First Fruits. Also, in the day of the first fruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:” (Numbers 28:26).
  • The Targum (a Jewish commentary) to Numbers 28:26, interprets the word “beshavu’oteichem” ‑ “your Festival of Weeks” ‑ “be’atzrateichon.” ABe’atzrateichon is also known as Atzeret.

4) Zeman Matan Torateinu

  • In the Kiddush and Amidah prayers recited during Yom Tov, it is referred to as “zeman matan Torateinu” ‑ “the time of the giving of our Torah.”

5) Yom HaKahal- “The Day of Assembly”

  • According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire anymore, that I die not.” Deuteronomy 18:16.

 Major Events that occurred during Shavuot

  • Pentecost Acts 2:1
  • The Day of the First fruits / Yom HaBikkurim Numbers 28:26
  • The Day of the Congregation / Yom HaKahal Deuteronomy 18:16
  • Feast of Harvest / Hag Hakatzir Exodus 23:16 
  • Feast of Weeks / Hag Shavuot Exodus 34:22
  • The Law was given at Sinai. Exodus 19:1‑11
  • All males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem.  Deuteronomy 16:16
  • Jesus prays all night.  Luke 6:12
  • Jesus keeps the feast. John 7:37
  • The Holy Spirit comes! Acts 2:1
  • The covenant made at Sinai will be “renewed”.  Jeremiah 31:31‑40

Customs

  • Eat Milk and Honey (if possible)
    • Since the Bible, which gives nourishment to the spirit, is often liken to milk and honey, dairy foods are eaten on this day.
      • Psalms 19:7-10 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
      • 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
  • Remember to Pray
    • Acts 2:2-4 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.
  • Decorate the house with flowers and fruits to remember the ancient practice of bringing first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Learn/ remember the 10 commandments that were given on this day.
  • Thank the LORD for the holiday as a revelation of Jesus at this time. This Blessing is…
    • “Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.”
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Unlocking the Meaning of Passover in Christianity

Passover in the Old Testament is comparative to Passover in the New Testament. In the chart below I will be showing how they are similar and different by talking about some of the different elements that was present in the 1st Passover. In 1st Corinthians 5:7-8 talks about keeping the feast of unleavened bread which is part of Passover.  “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: Therefore 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.”

1st PassoverNew Testament Passover
Egypt: They are being delivered from slavery out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;		Sin and death: Before receiving Jesus, we are slaves to sin. Sin is the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Lamb: The lamb paid the price for the Israelites. It died in the place of the 1st born.
Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.		Jesus: Died in the place of you and me.
1 Corinthians 5:7 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:
Blood on the door frame: The blood was placed on the door frames of their houses.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.		Blood on the Cross: He was nailed to the cross. Jesus died on the cross. He was bloody all over.
John 19:33-35 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Unleavened Bread
This bread symbolizes sin.
Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.		Bread of Life
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Hyssop: Used to place the blood on the door frame.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.		Hyssop
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Journey began
Exodus 12:51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.		Journey Begins: We now have a new life set before us. This journey is thought of as a course.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Led by a prophet: Moses
Deuteronomy 34:10-12
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.		Jesus:
Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Acts 3:21-24 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
God is King:
1 Chronicles 29:11-12: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”
Isaiah 33:22: “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.”
Psalm 47:2-5: “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.”
Revelation 19:16: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Jesus is King
John 18:36 – Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king.”
Revelation 17:14 – “He is Lord of lords and King of kings.”
Revelation 19:13, 16 – “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Forgiveness: The priest made atonement
Leviticus 5:13
And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.		Forgiveness: Jesus is the High Priest
Hebrews 6:18-20  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
God is with them in the Ark
Exodus 25:22
“There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”		The Spirit of God dwells within us
1 Corinthians 3:16
 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The Seven Appointed Times of God

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Feasts of God, Scriptural Articles

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Biblical Feasts Explained: From Passover to Tabernacles

1 Passover

  • When: 14th day of 1st month – 22 day of 1st month (March/April)
  • Meaning: Redemptive sacrifice/ Death of Jesus
  • Scriptures:
    • Ye shall observe this thing (Passover) for an ordinance to thee and thy sones for ever. Exodus 12:24
    • 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: 1 Corinthians 5:7
  • For more information see Unlocking the Meaning of Passover in Christianity

2 Unleavened Bread

  • When: 14th day of 1st month – 22 day of 1st month (March/April)
  • Meaning: Sanctification/ Burial of Jesus – He suffered no decay
  • Scriptures:
    • And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. Exodus 12:17
    • And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Mathew 26:1-2
    • Therefore 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. 1 Corinthians 5:8

3 First Fruits

  • When: The 1st day after the Sabbath during the 8 days of Passover
  • Meaning: Resurrection of Jesus
  • Scriptures:
    • 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. Leviticus 23:10-11
    • Notice that the first fruits had to be taken to the priest at the temple.
      • Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17. Jesus needed to go present himself as the first fruits offering.
    • But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. I Corinthians 15:20-23

4 Pentecost

  • When: 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: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Leviticus 23:15-16
  • Meaning: This is when the church age began. It is when the Holy Ghost was made available to everyone. The Holy Ghost is the comforter and helper that Jesus said would come.
  • Scriptures:
    • And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. Joel 2:28-32
    • But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:14-21
    • Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. John 14:17-19
    • And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-8
  • For more information see Understanding Pentecost: Significance and Celebrations

5 Trumpets

  • When: 1st day of the 7th month.
  • Meaning: Resurrection
  • Scriptures:
    • 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. Leviticus 23:24
    • In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
    • For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
    • But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7
    • And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:15-19

6 Day of Atonement

  • When: 10th day of the 7th month
  • Meaning: Day of Judgement- the books are opened
  • Scriptures:
    • 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.
    • And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

7 Tabernacles

  • When: 14th day of the 7th month (Sept/ Oct.)
  • Meaning: Heaven
  • Scriptures:
    • 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. Leviticus 23:34
    • And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. Deuteronomy 16:14-15
    • And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16-19
    • And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. Hosea 12:9
    • 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. Revelations 21:3
The Seven Appointed Times of God

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Feasts of God, Scriptural Articles

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The Seven Appointed Times of God

God has a plan. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” Acts 2:23. 

He has spoken the plan. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Hebrews 1:1-2. 

Now he is completing the plan. “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. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:3-7.  

God gave his overarching plan to the Israelites in the form of his 7 Appointed times (feasts). “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 23:2. Those 7 times point to things that have happened and things that (at the time of the appointed
times being given) were still to happen.

Please see the chart below. 

For more information on the Feasts of God

Other Important Days

I have written a book on The Biblical Feasts in the 21st Century. It is available on Amazon. 

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