The Feasts of the LORD are outlined in Leviticus 23. The first verse states twice these are HIS appointed times.
The church in the United States seems to know very little about these appointed times even though Paul and the writer of Hebrews both explain that these times of coming together actually point towards a reality. In Hebrews 10:1, we see that the law (Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) has a “darkened view” of the good things to come. Paul states in Colossians 2:16-17 the Christian should not judge anyone on their choice of food, drink, or feast celebration. Then he clearly states these are a “shadow of things to come, but the reality is Christ.”
We can even see this in the very first Passover, which was far different than the Passover we see at Jesus’ crucifixion.
| Initial Passover | Crucifixion Parallel |
|---|---|
| Exodus 12:5 – The lamb was to be perfect. | New Testament – Jesus was born without sin and lived a perfect life. |
| Exodus 12:6 – and then the whole community of Israel will kill it around sundown. | Two paralles in one verse! The whole community will kill it – ALL FOUR gospels record the trial with Pilate and we see no one stand up for Jesus! The lamb was killed around sundown, Jesus died middle of the day … but: Luke 23:44-45 [44] It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, [45]because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. |
| Exodus 12:7 – The blood of the lamb represented the blood of the Lamb! Exodus 12:22 – blood lifted to the door posts and top via a hyssop branch | Jn 19:29 – sour or vinegar wine lifted to Jesus via a hyssop branch |
| Ex 12:8-9 …they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. [9] Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over the fire with its head, its legs, and its entrails. | At least two parallels: fire not boiled – no water in Hell and the lambs bones are intact as Jesus had no broken bones |
| Ex 12:10 You must leave nothing until morning, but you must burn with fire whatever remains of it until morning. The sacrifice must be lowered into the fire. | Mt 12:40 so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. |
The paralles are stunning to say the least. However, the story is not yet complete. There were special instructions given that changed later and more feasts would be added later and then Leviticus 23 outlines all together. Please look at the chart below to see how these appointed times are fulfilled in the New Testament. The verses in this chart will take you to an online Bible website. In order to return, use the “back button” in your website browser. (The verses throughout the article should pop up in a new window or tab.)
There can be no dispute that spring feasts foreshadow the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus and the sending of Holy Spirit to indwell the believers. There also cannot be any dispute that these events happened on the days as outlined in the Old Testament.
If Jesus fulfilled the first four feasts on the exact day as outlined in the Old Testament, it now becomes very difficult to argue that He will not fulfill the fall feasts on the days as outlined in the Old Testament. The American church has had it engrained by preachers that no one can know the day nor the hour. We have taken these words literally, even though, as a whole, they do not make sense. Matthew 24:36 (KJV) “[36] ¶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Then Mark’s version adds something extra – Mark 13:32 (KJV) “[32] ¶ But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” He adds the phrase “neither the Son”, which is a major clue that we need to investigate. There are two paths that need following. First, Jesus is saying that He does not know something that the Father does. In light of John 1:1 and John 10:30. (It was in chapter ten that they again picked up stones to kill Him.) If Jesus and the Father are one, how does one not know what the other knows. The argument calls for limiting Jesus’ knowledge. If this is even possible, the tense of the language limits that “limited knowledge” to that point in time, thus leaving the door open for further knowledge for Jesus. He does not say that “no man will ever know” nor does He say that He Himself will never know. Although nothing of substance is added in the New Testament, explanations, clarifications, and even outlines of future events are added by the New Testament.
Second, all but one of the “gatherings/feasts” have a time of preparation available. Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits occur mid-month meaning there is a 2 week preparation period available. Pentecost is set by a specific day that occurs 7 weeks after these events. The day of Atonement has a 9 day preparation period available and Tabernacles has a 2 week preparation period also. However, the Feast of Trumpets has no actual preparation period. The “new moon” that is used to start a new month had to be an observed moon. There is not a specific day this has to be observed. Even weather conditions can affect the day and hour the new moon is officially observed. (For further information, check out this article.) However, there would be an appoximate time known in which preparations could be made, but the exact day and hour would not be known. But there would be expectation. This makes it very clear that Jesus was specifying the beginning of all the previously discussed events would be on what we now call the Feast of Trumpets.
Returning to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32, when a group of words does not make sense in and of themselves, we consider that an idiom. (Use an online dictionary to read the definition of the word idiom.) If this is an idiom, it stands to reason that it has a meaning. Notice that in both books, this statement comes right after Jesus uses the idiom following His instruction to learn the parable of the fig tree. Here, He speaks of summer coming. The church fits into the parable as the summer prior to the events of the Fall Feast as demonstrated in the Feast Chart above.
The discussion of prophecy in the church can bring division, but for this article, if you desire to comment (all comments run through a moderator), it is requested that comments are kept to the discussion of the feasts and their application. And preferably, please give an answer to the question: “Since Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts with His first coming, what is the reason to think He will not fulfill the fall feasts with His second coming?”