The Biblical feasts were designed to be shadow pictures of the Messiah (Colossians 2:17) who is the manifestation of God’s love (John 3:16).

They are yearly wedding rehearsals for the bride to keep them in His cycles of

righteousness. The feasts were designed to be outwards signs of His Word to the world.

• According to De.16:16 Yaweh commands that we keep His Feasts and appear before the Lord with thanksgiving. Celebration of the feasts today, are a combination of celebratory commemorations of God’s providence fulfilled in the past, and the continued fulfillment of His covenant promises for the future.

• The Hebrew word translated "Feasts" means Appointed Times. The sequencing and timing of these feasts are orchestrated by God himself as part of a comprehensive whole picture of His promises and providence. Collectively, they tell a story. You must also ask of yourself if His appointed times mean anything to you?

• Built into the feasts/sabbaths is the will of God, the plan of salvation for mankind, not their condemnation (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).

• Lev 23:2 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.

• The word convocation is translated from the Hebrew word miqra, which means “something called out, a public meeting, a rehearsal, assembly, calling, convocation, reading.” Notice the definition “rehearsal”. To rehearse is to practice in private for a public presentation. It could be preparing a speech in private before talking it in front of many or practicing a musical instrument before a concert. The big event that we as Disciples are waiting for is the return of Yeshua.

• The Feasts are designed to reveal the Messiah

• YHWH’s plan for the salvation of humanity is shown by the seven feasts He gave to ancient Israel in Leviticus 23. He told the people to celebrate these feasts as “lasting ordinances.” The seven feasts are patterns that describe the two comings of Yashua the Messiah (Lamb) and the second coming as The Lion of the tribe of Judah.

• The Spring Feasts picture the 1st coming of the Messiah.

• The Fall Feasts picture His 2nd coming.

• Feast: Passover (Pesach)• Prophetic Meaning: Liberation from

the slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 12)• Fulfilment: Liberation from the

slavery of sin (1st John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.)

• So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

• Prophetic Meaning: A flawless male lamb, one year old. (Exodus 12,5)

Jesus was without fault: • YHVH made him who had no sin to

be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of YHVH. (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

• (Passover Fulfillment Continued)• Prophetic Meaning: The blood of

the lamb protects against the destroyer, the Angel of Death. (Exodus 12:23)

• Trough the blood of Jesus, we have eternal life.

• Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

• For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Yeshua, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1st Peter 1:18-19)

• Feast: Unleavened Bread• Leaven, a type of sin, was removed from

the dwellings. Then at twilight, as the 14th day of Nisan was ending, the Passover lambs were slain. Sunset initiated the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Nisan 15 was a "high day", a non Saturday Sabbath. Bread baked without yeast was eaten during the seven days of the feast.

• Prophetic Meaning: Sunset began the 15th day of Nisan. Jesus was buried, just in time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But in the grave His body did not decay or see corruption. That Passover the sinless unleavened 'Bread of Heaven' was revealed as that long awaited perfect sacrifice for sin. Thus He fulfilled

• the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

• Feast: Firstfruits• "Firstfruits" refers to the first portion

of the harvest which is given to . Most notably the firstfruits are:

* the first to come in time;• a pledge or hope of the greater

harvest to follow; and• specially dedicated to God.• By giving God the firstfruits, Israel

acknowledged that all good things come from God and that everything belongs to God. Giving the firstfruits was also a way of expressing trust in God's provision; just as He provided the first fruits, so He would provide the rest of the crops that were needed

• Prophetic Meaning: Yeshua celebrated First Fruits in the appropriate manner by rising from the dead on that day. He also gave the Father His proper First Fruits offering; graves were opened and dead people rose and were seen after His resurrection in Jerusalem (Matt. 27:53). Our Lord, not unlike any farmer of the soil, gratefully brought before the Father a few early “crops” of what would be a magnificent harvest later on.

• Shavuot (Pentecost)• Prophetic Meaning: Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of

the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah).

• On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.

• Important Events: Pentecost: the exciting day when the disciples were filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and Caipha (Peter) boldly proclaimed the gospel of Yeshua. (Acts 2:1-43)

• That day, over 3,000 Jews accepted Yeshua as their Messiah, the crucifixtion of Yeshua led directly to the descent of the Ruach HaKodesh to empower His followers to serve Yaweh.

Ruth, a woman who loved Yaweh and would

do anything to follow His way and abandon

her idolatry.

It is appropriate to read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot for two reasons: First, because it gives us a picture of how the poor were treated in the harvest season with sympathy and love. (Deuteronomy 15:7) Secondly, because Shavuot is the yahrzeit (anniversary of the death) of King David, and in the Book of Ruth we are shown the origin of the House of David -- King David was the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. The line of David would eventually lead to Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah. (2nd Samuel 7:16)

What festival pattern are you on?

• Feast: Of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)• Basic Meaning: YAWEH has always had a heart to warn

people before He executes His judgment. God warned the people before the Flood, He warned Niniveh before it was ruined, and He sent the prophets to warn His people before they were sent into cpativity. The Feast of Trumpets reflects God’s desire to summon His people to repentance so that He can vindicate them on the day of His judgment. (Leviticus 23:24)

• The Feast of the Trumpets (and Atonement) is viewed as a universal and most personal celebration. A time for the individual to stand before the judgment seat of God, seeking for forgiveness and cleansing. Second, both (Atonement) feasts were observed, not like the other festivals in a spirit of exalted joyfulness, but in a spirit of intense moral and spiritual introspection, as befits a plaintiff coming before the Supreme Judge and Ruler of the universe, appealing for his life.

• The prophets used the metaphor of the shofar to call the people to repentance and return to God. For example, the prophet Joel called for blasts of the shofar in Zion to impress the people with the needed repentance: "Blow the trumpet [shofar] in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly" (Joel 2:15).

• New Testament References: Acts 1:9-11, I Cor. 15: 51-54, Math. 25:31-36, Mark 13:28-37

Yeshua atoned for your sin (breaking of the LAW)

1st John 3:4

• Feast: Atonement (Yom Kippur) • Leviticus 23:27

• "Yom Kippur", literally the "Day of Atonement", is considered the highest Holy day of the Biblical year. This was the one day each year when the High Priest would enter the most sanctified place in the Tabernacle - the Holy of Holies. All the sins of God's people were carried by the High Priest before the Ark of the Covenant, called the "Mercy Seat of God". Once inside he would atone for sin by placing blood upon the Ark of the Covenant, and calling out in the Name of the Most High God! The High Priest made atonement by confession, by blood, and in the Name of the Lord. This is Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement for sin, by the High Priest.

• In Revelation 20, the Lord is seated upon His throne, the books are opened, and the living and the dead are judged. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life are declared innocent, holy, and righteous in Him. This is Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement for sin, the great Day of the Lord; Forgiveness, Grace, and Mercy, Salvation and Redemption - Past, Present, and Future - by confession, by His blood, and in the Name above all Names – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.

• Scriptures in NT: So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Heb. 9:28. II Tim. 4:1, Math. 7:21-23, Math. 13:36-43, Math. 22:1-3,14

Was Yeshua born during

Sukkot?

• Feast: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Leviticus 23:34 • Sukkot brings each year to a powerful conclusion

in the Tabernacle of the Lord. • . It's a significant experience commemorating the

journey from slavery in Egypt, to freedom and the Promised Land. It's a time of reflection upon the not so distant journey from the slavery of sin, to freedom in the Messiah. A journey of protection and empowerment by the dwelling, or tabernacling Presence of the Lord; and a journey that reminds us, we hold this Eternal Treasure - Yeshua - in earthen vessels; temporary dwellings of flesh and bone.

• Sukkot is a week of great celebration because Sukkot reminds us that God not only dwells among us, but within us! The Prophet Isaiah calls Him "Immanuel" - a Name which means "God With Us to Save" (Isaiah 7). Sukkot reminds us that the Lord is with us; that He is returning to tabernacle among us for 1000 years, and that He is establishing His Kingdom on the earth, as it is in heaven. "and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:33)

John 14:13-16 (NKJV)Yeshua speaking

13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[a]

anything in My name, I will do it.15 “If you love Me, keep My

commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you

forever—

• Conclusions: Yeshua can be found in each Festival through fulfilling prophecy (1st four festivals).

• We also await his coming return to fulfill two more!

• Finally, the last feast will be when Yeshua reigns with us for 1000 years here on earth.

• So if God our Father has set up His appointed times (Moadim) for us to be with Him. Why do we continue as a people who call ourselves His, not meet Him at His times?

• Perhaps we are too modern for Him, or maybe we think His festivals are for a particular race? Or maybe, just maybe our PRIDE is the reason we don’t give in! Either way we will be responsible for missing His Moadim.

Jesus is also shown attending the Feast Days in John 2:23; John 5:1; John 7:2,10, 14, 37; John

11:55-56; John 12:12; John 13:1; and Luke 2:41-42. After washing the disciples feet

during Passover Jesus told then he was to be imitated in John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to

you.

• Perhaps you might think these feasts are for the Jews only?

• Leviticus 23:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

• Leviticus 23:37-38 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

• Leviticus 23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

• So the feasts are NOT just intended for Jews but for HIS people. If you belong to His people then go forth and learn about His festivals to prepare yourself and your family as the bride that you are.

Resources

• The Word of YAWEH=The Bible• http://www.truthontheweb.org/whyfeast.htm• http://

www.biblicalperspectives.com/books/festivals_2/3.html

• http://www.feastsofthelord.net/index.html• http://

hatikva.org/the-birth-of-yeshua-during-sukkot.html

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EmsQMfDDPQ