The feasts of the Lord: Ask anyone ‘What feasts do Christians celebrate or observe?’ The immediate reply would be Christmas, Easter and New Year. Next ask them where in the Bible do we find these feasts and you get a blank stare. The truth is majority of Christians observe these festivals without knowing that they have no Biblical basis. Many churches have also added Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Boxing Day to their church calendars. The surprising thing is the Church observes only one Biblical feast, Pentecost, while ignoring the other six Biblical feasts.
Lev.23:4, ‘These are the feasts of the Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.’ Leviticus 23:1-43 gives us the feasts of Yahweh. There are seven feasts, apart from the Sabbath, which are as follows: Weekly Sabbath; Passover; Feast of Unleavened bread; Feast of First fruits; Pentecost; Feast of Trumpets; Day of Atonement , Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
These feasts reveal Yahweh’s plan of salvation for mankind.
Holy Day or Festival |
Future Event |
Passover |
Our deliverance from death; Death of the Messiah. |
Feast of Unleavened Bread |
Resurrection of the Messiah, Wavesheaf, Acceptance of Savior's Sacrifice by the Father. |
Feast of Pentecost |
Our receiving fullness of the Hoy Spirit. |
Trumpets |
Return of Christ, |
Atonement |
The blood of Messiah atoned for our sins, putting Satan in restraint. |
Feast of Tabernacles |
Birth of Messiah, the Millennium. |
Last Great Day |
White Throne Judgment, Salvation offered to all mankind. |
Of the above feasts the first three have been fulfilled and the next four are awaiting fulfillment.
Why should we celebrate the feasts? Yahshua kept the feasts [John 2:23; 7:2-10]. His disciples kept the feasts even after his death and resurrection. Read the following references and you will see for yourselves:
Acts 18:20-21. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 20:16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Luke 22:1. Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Luke 22:7-19. “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed…… And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” What was Messiah doing? He was eating a Passover supper.
1 Cor.11:23-26: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Yahshua the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1 Cor. 5:6-8: 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.
We will be keeping the Feast days when Christ returns. .
The Feast of Tabernacles was a reminder to Israel that they lived in tents or tabernacles during their journey to the Promised Land. They were dependent of the Lord for everything. The Feast of Tabernacles shows us that we are travellers in this world and our permanent dwelling is with the Lord. It shows us how insecure we are and that we should depend on the Almighty for all our needs. (2 Cor.12:9)
The feast of Tabernacles represents the 1000 year rule of Messiah and the resurrected saints on the earth when salvation will be offered to all mankind. . After the second coming of the Lord, man will be at peace with his neighbor, there will not be any wars, no disease, the deserts will be green with vegetation. At this time, all nations will learn to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. There will be no exceptions. Notice this plain prophecy: “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left ofall 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” (Zech. 14:16). Isa.66:23. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD
During the millennium, people will be required to go to Jerusalem to keep the Feast. (Zech.14:16-19). There is a blessing to be obtained in keeping this feast. Those who do not keep this feast will be cut off from the Lord.
One argument regularly heard from people against keeping the feasts is, "Messiah cleansed us from our sins so we no longer have to do keep the feasts”. These feasts never cleansed anyone from their sins. It is through the blood and sacrifice of Yahshua Messiah alone that our sins are forgiven. These feasts still continue to point to the Messiah.
Our motive in celebration should be as Yahweh originally intended; in remembrance and honor for what He has done. Yahweh said his feasts were to be celebrated "forever" (Ex. 12:14, Lev. 23:21, Lev. 23:41). Mal.3:6 says,’ For I am the LORD, I change not’. Yahweh never changes and so the way we worship him also should not change. The ancient rituals connected with the feasts are no longer binding on us as Yahshua, with his one sacrifice has done away with all sacrifices (Heb. 9:10). We should now focus on their prophetic and spiritual meaning as revealed under the New Covenant.