How Many Feasts Are There in the Bible?
The Bible has many feasts that remind us of God’s blessings. Passover and Unleavened Bread are two examples of these. These feasts were given by God to the Israelites as they were preparing to leave Egypt. Moses was given full instructions about these feasts on Mount Sinai.
Seven
The Seven Feasts of Israel are symbolic of God’s plan of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. In addition to celebrating the birth of Christ, these feasts also represent the end of the church age and the regathering of Israel. Throughout the Bible, the seven feasts are grouped together into three great annual convocations.
Historically, the seven feasts were a way for people to tell the passage of time. Christ fulfilled four of them in His first coming and will fulfill three more in His second coming. His death and burial are pictured in the Passover Feast, the Feast of Unleavened Bread represents the first fruits of the harvest, and the feast of Tabernacles is a time to worship God.
Jesus came as a prophet, just as Moses did in Old Testament times. As we look back, the work of Moses is the shadow of what Jesus would do in the New Testament. The seven feasts are prophetic, as each one of them prophesies the work of Jesus in the New Testament. If you want to know the true God, you need to know and keep His feasts. In fact, the seven feasts are essential to your life.
Among the seven feasts, the Feast of Atonement is one of the most important. It is celebrated for seven days and culminates with the high Sabbath. In this day, God’s people would make an atonement for their sins and turn to the Lord in repentance. This feast is also a sign of Christ’s coming to empower believers to minister and serve God.
Some feasts of the Bible were given to the Israelites to observe while in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan. During this time, the Israelites could not celebrate the Firstfruits, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. These festivals were given to prepare them for the land of promise.
Three harvest feasts
The three harvest feasts are symbolic of the three stages of salvation. Each harvest season involves greater numbers than the previous one. The barley harvest is the first in spring and is associated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Barley is a lighter grain than wheat. Jesus’ resurrection also relates to this festival.
The first harvest feast is Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt under Moses. This festival also marks the birth of the Church, which began with the salvation of the first 3,000 souls. The gospels later spread the message to Jews and Gentiles alike. In the Bible, God commands people to observe these feasts and present a food offering to God. In Exodus 23:14-17, the commandment to observe these feasts is summarized in the Bible.
The first two harvest feasts celebrate unprocessed grain, while the third harvest is the celebration of processed grain. In both cases, the wheat and barley harvests are a symbol of the harvest and the resurrection of Christ. The third harvest is also associated with grapes. When Jesus was married in Cana, he transformed water into wine, and the guests said that he had saved the best wine for last. The winepress is also a symbol of God’s judgments.
Passover is the foundational feast of the Jewish calendar, covered in Leviticus 23:5. Passover commemorates the redemption of the people from Egypt. The Passover lamb is a symbol of redemption. The lamb needs blood to be sacrificed, which is why it is never without blood. The lamb represents the true Lamb of God.
One day of rest
The weekly Sabbath, or day of rest and worship, is a command given to mankind by God, who created the world. This day is one of the Ten Commandments, and it was designed for us to rest and worship God. The sabbath is celebrated every week, on the seventh day of the week.
It is a metaphor for the future, when Christ will return to restore the intended pattern of work and rest. Until that day, humans will always be subject to a cycle of exhaustion, frustration, and partial recovery. However, when Christ returns, we will be free from this cycle and experience perfect communion with God.
The seventh day was the day of creation, and after six days, God rested and proclaimed his creation “very good.” The seventh day was also the day on which God pronounced the creation holiness, which is the essence of God. Throughout the Bible, we see the sabbath portrayed in three different ways. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath is a time to rest from labor and to renew our relationship with God.
The biblical narrative of work and rest is a rich and complicated story. While work is an ennobling partnership with God, rest is an invitation to enter into intimate fellowship with Him. Unfortunately, the Fall has made both rest and work difficult. People need rest both physically and spiritually, and it can be difficult to take time off in between. Therefore, the sabbath is a valuable reminder of the Creator’s plan for the world.
Jesus never declared the Sabbath to be obsolete. However, he did redefine the meaning of the day of rest. The disciples of Jesus were accused of violating the “law” by practicing the sabbath. In response, the disciples of Jesus were referred to three Old Testament passages regarding Sabbath-keeping. After quoting these three passages, Jesus concluded the argument by stating: “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Although Jesus never denied Sabbath-keeping, he simply redirected them toward the true meaning of the day of rest.
Reminder of God’s blessings
One of the best ways to face trials is to remind yourself of God’s blessings. You can turn a bad situation into an opportunity to practice gratitude by writing down all the blessings you have received. Make a list of your blessings and read it whenever you feel discouraged.
Point to Messiah
The feasts of the Bible point to the coming of Christ. The first three are related to Jesus’ first coming, the middle feast to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the second feast to the return of the Lord. These feasts are set on specific dates on the Biblical calendar, and each is a time of redemption and celebration. The feasts point to Jesus’ work and the redemption of humanity, as the ultimate goal of these celebrations.
The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows Jesus’ return to dwell with His people. Though Jesus has already come as God with us and dwelt among us, He will return to reign and dwell with us for 1,000 years in the new heavens and earth. This is the fulfillment of the covenant between Christ and His people, which was first established by Abraham.
The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the most important feasts of the Bible. Although Christians see the feast as a prophecy of the crucifixion, Jewish people see it as a symbol of the ultimate redemption of the Messiah. While Christians see the feasts of Passover as specifically pointing to Christ’s first coming, Jews see the feasts of both Fall and Spring as having multiple pointers to the ultimate redemption of mankind.
The Feast of Trumpets is another feast that points to the coming of the Messiah. In Hebrew, the word ‘trumpet’ means “a loud noise or blast.” In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, a trumpet sound is said to herald the return of Messiah. Then, the word “trumpet” is also used to refer to the Rapture of the Church, which always occurs on this feast.