So, if the messiah and his disciples celebrated the feasts according to The Scriptures: He was crucified on Passover and raised on first fruits and The Set apart Spirit came on Shavuot/ The day of Pentecost. It is quite obvious that they are still very relevant.
The first feast we are instructed to celebrate is Passover. This is in remembrance of the deliverance of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. If we take a closer look we will see that they were in bondage, held captive by Pharoah. They cried out to The Almighty for help and He sent Moses, who he had saved and prepared for that purpose. He used Moses to tell them how to put the blood of the lamb on their doorpost, so the death angel would pass over them.
Messiah’s crucifixion
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus/Yashya cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a]lemasabachthani?” (which means “For this purpose I came?”).[b] Mathew 27 v 45-54
This first feast is a picture of the Messiah’s role in our deliverance. Pharoah is an agent of Satan, Moses is a prophet and deliverer of The Most high like Messiah. Messiah is also the Passover Lamb. Clearly we now can see why he was crucified at Passover .
Set Times
The Almighty said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Almighty, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.
leviticus 23
The blood was to be placed on the doorposts by the Israelites , after they obeyed the instructions of Moses. In like manner we are to apply the blood of Messiah through faith, confession and prayer as we obey the Mashyach.
‘These are the Almighty’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: 5 The Almighty’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.
leviticus
This is a picture of both obedience by faith and imputed righteousness at work. If they did not kill the lamb and put the blood on the doorpost then the death angel would take them out.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 john 1 v 9
The feast of unleavened bread
The day after Passover the feast of unleavened bread begins and during this feast we are instructed to remove all leaven from our homes. Leaven represents sin, and here again this would show us what we need to do to remove sin from our lives. This process is often referred to as sanctification, here we can see that it is to begin immediately after what is commonly called salvation/deliverance.
This feast then clearly shows us the next step in the process of being born again.
“6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Almighty’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present a food offering to the Almighty. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”
leviticus 23
The walking out of our deliverance from sin is being shown in this feast
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Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us:
8 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 cor. 5
“but like the set apart One who called you, be set apart yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be set apart, for I am set apart.”
1-Peter/1/16
Set apart living is required of us, it is not optional. The Messiah redeemed us by delivering us from the enemy, so that we could become a set apart people.
First fruits is the third feast
He is to wave the sheaf before the Almighty so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Almighty a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Almighty, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin[b] of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God/Elohim. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
The first fruits symbolizes putting The Almighty first. Making Him the one we honor and thank as the Creator of all things. It also represents Messiah as the first born of all creation and his resurrection from the dead. Representing us as the firstborn and we would follow in his steps.
But Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Messiah all will be made alive.
1 cor 15
The first place belongs to Ahayah
Submit yourselves therefore to God/Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God/Elohim, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Putting The Almighty first is required of us, in order to overcome sin. It is the first commandment and the others flow from it.
Jesus/Yashya said unto him, Thou shalt love the Almighty thy God/Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
Overcoming sin is only possible with divine help and so this feast helps us to remember to put Him first and to acknowledge that He is the source of all things.
The Feast of Weeks/ Shavuot/Pentecost
‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Almighty. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Almighty.
leveticus 23
This feast can be seen as the wilderness journey. The time when we are preparing to walk in newness of life, in true set apartness, hand in hand with the Almighty. It is on the 50th day that the Torah was give to Israel as well as the Ruach Hakodesh.
After the feast of weeks comes Pentecost
The Torah represents covenant. The time before would have been the time of preparation, for covenant and fellowship.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2 v1
Did you know that the day of Pentecost is a feast day? It was a set time, an appointed time that had been pre ordained. The disciples were celebrating it.
On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
leviticus 23
So the word/cpvenant and The Ruach Hakodesh were given on the last day after they had waited and been faithful.
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Set apart Spirit.” Acts 1
The Feast of Trumpets
The Almighty said to Moses, 24 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25 Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Almighty.’”
Levitius 23
This feast is a rehearsal for the return of Yashya.
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 cor 15 v 52
So the previous feasts are a picture of what is required of us to be ready for the coming of Messiah.
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Mathew 25
This feast is like a drill. When we blow the shofar it reminds us that one day, this will actually be a sound that will begin a new kingdom in the Earth.
Only those who had overcome can go with the Messiah when he appears.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Almighty and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Rev 11 v 15
The marriage supper of the lamb is what we are all preparing for.
….to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5 v 27
The Day of Atonement
The Almighty said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves,[d] and present a food offering to the Almighty. 28 Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Almighty your God/Elohim.
On this day we commemorate what The Messiah did for us as both our lamb and high priest. On this day we get to show our appreciation for His redemptive sacrifice.
We also get to repent of our sins, seek forgiveness and make a fresh new start. This feast represents oneness with Yah. It is the way we maintain our existing relationship and shows that we have been reconciled to Him.
After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Day of Atonement
acts 27 v 9
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Almighty?
isiah 58
This fast helps to maintain our relationship with The Father through repentance for offending Him in our ways whether intentionally or otherwise over the past year.
So the fact that we got to the feast of tabernacles mean that Messiah did not return. We get to go through the cycle of preparation again and look forward to His return.
Feast of tabernacles
3 The Almighty said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Almighty’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Almighty, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Almighty. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.
leviticus 23
This is the closing feast of the year and it is a picture of the promised land. A place of rejoicing and reward. The final aspect of our journey to the fulfillment of our destiny. A picture of Messiah’s thousand year reign.
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 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.
Zercgariah 14 v 16
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
rev 20 v 4
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to Elohim, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that Yah may be all in all.
The Last great day
The last great day is a picture of eternity and requests are made for good things to come.
Prophesy concerning the end times.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus/Yashya stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
John 7 v 37
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
rev 22 v 17
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 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.
Zercgariah 14 v 16
The feasts are a roadmap for our spiritual journey
We clearly can see how the feasts depict our deliverance process. The Messiah being our Passover lamb to deliver us captivity of sin. We get to follow him out of bondage if we apply the blood to our hearts, into the wilderness where we get rid of leaven.
We go through repentance and regeneration and then we get to come into covenant with The Almighty. The Holy Spirit is given to us to provide help and strength and we maintain our set apartness until Messiah comes. Like the 5 wise virgins.
If we do we get to attend the marriage supper of the lamb and reign with Messiah for a thousand years. A period called the millennium. Then we go on to spend eternity with Him.
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb”
revelations 19 v 7-9