A STUDY ON JEWISH FESTIVALS

THE ORDER OF JEWISH FESTIVALS IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST-LEVITICUS 23:4-44/NUMBERS 28:16-31/29

• THE PASSOVER (2)• THE FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (3)• THE FESTIVAL OF FIRST FRUITS (6)• THE PENTECOST (7)• THE FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS (1)• THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (4)• THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES (5)

ANNUAL FESTIVALS ARE CELEBERATED TO REMEMBER/COMMEMORATE AN EVENT AND IT IS ONLYLOGICAL THAT THEY ARE CELEBERATED CHRONOLOGICALLY (I,E…IN THE ORDER, THEY OCCURREDHISTORICALLY). BUT WITH RESPECT TO JEWISH FESTIVALS, WE WOULD OBSERVE DIVINE PROVIDENCEAT WORK IN THAT, FESTIVALS DO NOT REFLECT THE ORDER IN WHICH THE EVENTS OCCURRED BUTRATHER HIGHLIGHT THE ORDER IN WHICH EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY HAVE OCCURRED/WOULD OCCUR.ONE MORE PROOF THAT BY USING THE SACRED JEWISH FESTIVALS, THE ALMIGHTY HAS ALL ALONG WANTEDTO CONVEY A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE WORLD. IN GOD’S SCHEME OF THINGS, WE OUGHT TO REMEMBERTHAT AT TIMES, THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT MEETS THE EYE! THE REVEALER OF SECRETS (DAN 2:22) WOULD HAVE US DEPEND ON HIM, IN ORDER WE PRAISE HIM, ALL THE MORE, WHEN HEREVEALS THE SECRETS TO US!• In the brackets by way of numbers, the chronological order of events that these festivals commemorate

is noted, as opposed to the order the Jews follow in their annual calendar as per Divine instruction.

IN THE MANNER OF PROPHECIES, THE ALMIGHTY IN HIS SOVEREIGN WISDOM HAD ALSO IN ADVANCE ENSHRINED THE JEWISH FESTIVALS IN THE SCRIPTURES TO BE A POINTER TO THE COMING CHRIST AND THE EVENTS TO HAPPEN IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY!

WHEN SOMEONE IS WALKING TOWARDS US, WITH BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE BACKGROUND, WE ARE BOUND TO SEE HIS SHADOW FIRST AND THEN THE PERSON. WHEN THE SON OF GOD WAS COMING TO US, WITH THE INDESCRIBABLE LIGHT OF HIS FATHER (I TIM 6:14-16) BEHIND HIM, WE WERE BOUND TO SEE HIS SHADOW FIRST, AS A SURE PROOF OF HIS APPROACH. THE DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT JEWISH FESTIVALS “HEWN IN ROCK” AS IT WERE IN THE SCRIPTURES SERVED AND STILL SERVE AS A “SHADOW OF CHRIST” TO COME NOT ONLY IN HIS FIRST ADVENT BUT ALSO IN HIS SECOND ADVENT!

SOME INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS HERE…

NO WONDER, APOSTLE PAUL, DESCRIBED THE JEWISH FESTIVALS AS “A SHADOW OF CHRIST”

These (Jewish festivals) are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.-Colossians 2:17

IN THIS STUDY, WE WOULD CATEGORIZE THE JEWISH FESTIVALS INTO TWO GROUPS

I) JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED! SINCE THESE LANDMARK EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, OCCURRED ON JEWISH FESTIVALS-PUBLICLY-WE CAN ALSO DEEM THEM AS NATIONAL REVELATIONS’ TO JEWS!

II) JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE YET TO OCCUR! THEY ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE JEWS.

THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY

OCCURRED!

1. THE PASSOVER2. THE FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD3. THE FESTIVAL OF FIRST FRUITS4. THE PENTECOST

I REITERATE THAT WHEN SOME OF THE HISTORICAL CHRISTIAN EVENTSUNFOLDING THE REDEMPTION PLAN OF GOD FOR THE ENTIRE MANKIND,HAPPENED EXACTLY ON THE DAYS OF RELEVANT JEWISHFESTIVALS, THEY OUGHT TO HAVE SERVED AS A PUBLIC, NATIONALREVELATION TO MANY, MANY JEWS! PRAISE GOD, IT DID SERVE AS AREVELATION FOR MANY JEWS OF THE FIRST CENTURY, WHO RECEIVEDCHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR IN THEIR LIVES (ACTS 2:41/5:14)!

THE SECOND GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE YET TO TAKE PLACE! THEY ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE JEWS.

1. THE FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS2. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT3. THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating

Christian significance

Passover Leviticus 23:5/Numbers 28:16

To commemorate, deliverance from

Egyptian slavery, a lamb called the Pascal lamb is

sacrificed (Exodus 12:21-27).

Jesus symbolizing the Pascal Lamb died on the Passover day (Matt 27:50) to liberate us not

from physical Egyptian bondage but from spiritual slavery to sin (I Cor 5:7-8).

THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED!I REPEAT THAT THEY WERE A NATIONAL

REVELATION TO JEWS, AS THEY HAPPENED MOSTLY ON THEIR FESTIVALS’ DAY!

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating

Christian significance

Feast of Unleavened Bread

(Immediately follows the Passover)

Leviticus 23:6-8/Numbers 28:17

To commemorate the speed at which they left Egypt. From the

time the Pharoah allowed them to go

there was no delay, in “breaking away from

the past”(Exodus 12:39).

As soon as Jesus gave-up His Spirit on the Cross, instantly the curtain secluding the Holiest place in the

Jewish Temple was split apart from top to bottom (Matt 27:50-51),

symbolizing the immediate passage of the people from Old

Testament dispensation of Law to New Testament, age of Grace.

THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED!

THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED!

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating

Christian significance

Festival of First fruits ( to be

celebrated ONLY ONCE in the

history of Nation of Israel)

Leviticus 23:9-14 In thanksgiving of the first crop only in the Promised Land.

Not celebrated annually

Jesus rose from the dead for the “first and final time” as “First fruit” of millions of believers who would also rise from the

dead (I Cor 15:20).

THE FIRST GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED!

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating

Christian significance

Pentecost Leviticus 23:15-17/Numbers 28:26

After experiencing the blessings of good rains,

to commemorate annually the first crop of

“that season”

“Fiery "Holy Spirit (in the form of good rain) came upon the disciples on the

Day of Pentecost and on that day about 3000 souls (Acts 2:41) were

gathered into His Kingdom as “the First crop of New season of Grace”. From

then both the “loaves “(Jews and Gentiles) would be acceptable to God

(Eph 2:11-22)!

THE FIRST THREE JEWISH FESTIVALS, TAKE PLACE WITHIN A SPAN OF 50 DAYS. CRUCIFIXTION, RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND COMING OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE DISCIPLES SIGNIFYING THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH AGE (IN THAT ORDER PROVIDENTIALLY) TOOK PLACE IN THAT

PERIOD. AFTERWARDS NOTE THE CONSIDERABLE GAP (4 MONTHS), WHICH REPRESENTS THE EXISTING CHURCH AGE!

IF PARAMOUNT EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, SUCH AS

CRUCIFIXTION OF CHRIST, COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON

THE DISCIPLES TOOK PLACE EXACTLY ON THE DAY OF

RELEVANT JEWISH FESTIVALS, WILL NOT OTHER IMPORTANT FUTURE EVENTS RELATED TO

CHRISTIANITY TAKE PLACE ON THE DAYS OF OTHER RELEVANT

JEWISH FESTIVALS? THE ANSWER IS YES. PERIOD!

THE SECOND GROUP OF JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE YET TO OCCUR ! THEY ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE JEWS.

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating Christian significance

Feast of Trumpets( Jews summoned from the fields of

work by the trumpet blast during this

Festival. Based on sighting of full moon,

this festival is celebrated over a period of 2 days)

Leviticus 23:23-24/Numbers 29:1-6

Creation of Adam Chronologically, this

festival, ought to have been the first, going by the historical order of events. But clearly we see, Divine providence in placing this festival , at the fifth spot,

because it has to serve the purpose of highlighting ,

yet another landmark event in Christian history-

RAPTURE!!!

Called from “fields of work”, by the trumpet blast of the Arch-angel

(I Cor 15:51-53/I Thess 4:15-18), at this stage, there would be a New RECREATION of believers bodies’ into eternal, raptured, glorified

state. This would also signal, the beginning of 7-year tribulation in the

World minus the Church. Sadly, those Jews who have not placed

their faith in Jesus Christ would be left behind to face the tribulation.

IF MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, SUCH AS CRUCIFIXTION OF CHRIST,

COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE DISCIPLES TOOK PLACE EXACTLY ON THE DAY OF RELEVANT JEWISH FESTIVALS, WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE ON THE DAY OF YET

ANOTHER JEWISH FESTIVAL-THE FESTIVAL OF TRUMPETS? THE ANSWER IS YES. BUT , HEY

DOESN’T THE BIBLE SAY THAT NO ONE KNOWS THE DATE OF RAPTURE (MATT 24:36)? YES!

WHILE, I AM AFFIRMING THAT THE RAPTURE WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE ON THE DAY

OF THE FESTIVAL OF TRUMPETS IN THE COMING YEARS, PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT EXACTLY SPECIFYING EITHER THE DAY (THIS FESTIVAL IS SPREAD

OVER 2 DAYS, SO WILL RAPTURE TAKE PLACE IN THE FIRST DAY OR SECOND DAY OF THE SAID FESTIVAL IS STILL MATTER OF CONJECTURE) OR AM I

SPECIFYING THE YEAR!!!

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating Christian significanceDay of atonement (while the gap between Feast of Trumpets and this solemn festival as per Divine instruction is 10 days, the actual gap comes to ONLY 7 DAYS*, when we take into account the 2 days of trumpets’ festival and 1 actual day of atonement.)* A year for each day as in Numbers 13:25/14:34, when it comes to prophetical fulfillment

Leviticus 16/23:26-27/Numbers 29:7

To express their deep anguish of sinning (remembering the

worship of the Golden calf) Chronologically, this festival,

ought to have been the third, going by the historical order of

events. But clearly we see, Divine providence in placing this

festival , at the sixth spot, because it has to serve the

purpose of highlighting , yet another landmark event in Christian history-JESUS’ II

COMING!!!

The Jews after undergoing 7 years *of tribulation would (in national

repentance) make a U-turn towards the Messiah (Zech

12:9-10/Romans 11:26)-THE VERY ONE- they rejected 2000 years back. He would come back and

fight on their behalf against Anti-Christ who had been severely persecuting them. This battle

would take place at Armageddon, where Anti-Christ would be

defeated (Rev 19:19-21).* A year for each day as in

Numbers 13:25/14:34

JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE YET TO OCCUR ! THEY ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE JEWS.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES-THE LAST OF JEWISH FESTIVALS

IN THE JEWISH CALENDAR

NOTES IN THE TABULAR COLUMN AVAILABLE ON THE NEXT PAGE….

Jewish festival Reference Reason for celebrating Christian significanceFeast of TabernaclesChronologically, this

festival, ought to have been the

fourth, going by the historical order of events. But once

again clearly we see, Divine providence in placing this festival , at the seventh spot,

because it has to serve the purpose of

highlighting , yet another prophetical

landmark event in Christian history-

MILLINIAL RULE OF CHRIST!!!

Leviticus 23:33-34(“TABERNACLED

WITH” MEANS TO LIVE WITH , THE

EQUIVALENT WORD IN HEBREW

IS MISKAN, WHEREAS THE EQUIVALENT

WORD IN GREEK FOR THE SAME IS

SKENEH)

To remember, they lived in the wilderness in temporary shelters and the Lord in the wilderness “tabernacled” with them. He sheltered them with the “Pillar of Fire” by night, giving them warmth in the chilly desert nights and with “Pillar of Cloud” by day, giving them the needed shade in the hot desert noon-time heat. While our OT counterparts, may have complained about lack food or water, when the Lord tested them (Deu 8:3), the good Lord, did not give them an opportunity to complain about harsh desert weather!

Christ in the Millennium would “tabernacle” with the Christian Jews in their mortal bodies (who trusted

Him during the tribulation and survived it) in Jerusalem . In His

Second Advent, He would rule the whole world FROM JERUSALEM.

Christians (of all ages till the rapture) who would return with their Lord (Rev 19:11-16) before the Armageddon war

would rule the World, under the sovereign reign of their Lord. Christ

would “shelter” the Christian Jews in Jerusalem during the final Gog and

Magog war (Rev 20:7-9) . For more on this subject ( Prophetical, future

events of the World ) you may click on the following link…

http://www.jandsmministries.com/rev_pre.asp

JEWISH FESTIVALS SIGNIFYING THOSE EVENTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY, WHICH ARE YET TO OCCUR ! THEY ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE JEWS.

JEWISH FESTIVALS TOUCH UPON ALL THE THREE DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY

1.JUSTIFICATION: PASSOVER ,FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD AND FESTIVAL OF FIRST FRUITS

2. SANCTIFICATION: PENTECOST

3. GLORIFICATION: FESTIVAL OF TRUMPETS, DAY OF ATONEMENT AND FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES

THE FINAL SUMMARY

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AMAZING, ISN’T IT…THE STUDY OF JEWISH FESTIVALS? THE GOOD LORD HAS

CONCEALED THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF OUR TIMES IN IT!

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them – Proverbs 25:2