Obliged To Keep The Feasts

The Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets marked the beginning of ten days of consecration and repentance before God. It began on the 1st day of the 7th month. Its name comes from the command to “blow trumpets” (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1-6). It is also called Hashanah, which means “Head of the Year,” because it marks the beginning of the Jewish Civil Calendar. During this celebration, no work of any kind is to be done, other than the burnt offerings and sin offerings that were brought to the Lord.

The Feast of Trumpets commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. The Day of Atonement fell on the 10th day of this month, and the Festival of Boots began on the 15th day. The blowing of the trumpet was on the 1st day of the month, heralding a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement; this preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance” or the Day of Awe.

The 1^st of the Fall Feasts is believed to point to the rapture of the Church. The blowing of the trumpets or ram’s horn is associated with the rapture in scripture (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:52).

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Lev. 23:27-28

The Day of Atonement is the most solemn holy day of all the Israelite’s feasts and festivals. It occurs once a year on the 10^th day of Tishri, the 7^th month of the Hebrew Calendar. On that day the priest was to perform elaborate rituals to atone for the sins of the people. The rituals began with Aaron, or subsequent high priests of Israel, coming into the Holy of Holies (Lev. 16:1-34). This was not a ceremony to be taken lightly, and the people were to understand that atonement for sin was to be done in God’s way.

Jews today still celebrate the annual Day of Atonement which falls on different days each year from September to October, traditionally observing this holy day as a 25-hour period of fasting and praying. This day is believed to point to the second coming of Jesus, the Jewish remnants will see Him as He is and repent of their sins, and they will then receive Him as their Messiah (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:1-6, 25-36).

The Feast of Tabernacle (Booths) – Lev. 23:24

The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Booths. During the days of the Feast, all native Israelites were to dwell in booths as a reminder of how their God delivered them out of Egypt and to look forward to the coming Messiah, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin.

The Feast of Tabernacles takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month “Tishri.” This is the 7th month of the Hebrew calendar and usually occurs in late Sept. to mid-Oct. The feast begins five after the Day of Atonement, just at the time the harvest has completed.

Two very significant events took place during the Feast of Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, which he dedicated to the Lord (1 Ki. 8:2); and the return of the Israelites, who help to rebuild the Temple (Neh. 8). The feasts are significant in that they foreshadow the work and actions of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin.

“If Jesus is our atonement, why did He die at Passover instead of the Day of Atonement?”

All of the Old Testament sacrifices typified Christ. The Passover or paschal sacrifice is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb was to be a male, without spot and blemish, and not a bone was to be broken, and Jesus fulfilled this picture perfectly. As the Israelites applied the blood of the sacrifice in faith, today we apply the spotless blood of Christ to the “doorposts” of our hearts. Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

An objection sometimes arises that the paschal sacrifice was not considered atonement; rather, atonement was provided for the Jews by the sacrifices made on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Henceforth, Jesus, (our “Passover” in the New Testament), was killed at Passover and he could not have been an atonement for sin on the Day of Atonement (Acts 2). The Old Testament Passover was a foreshadowing of Jesus in the New Testament. Therefore, Jesus is the Atoning Sacrifice in the New Testament.

The Feast of Tabernacle begins and ends with a special Sabbath day of rest. The feasts point to the Lord’s promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people and then He will reign as Lord over all the world (Micah 4:1-7). Whether or not a Christian celebrates the Jewish feast days would be a matter decided by the individual. Christians are not bound to observe the Jewish feasts, but should not criticize any who choose to, (Col. 2:16-17; Romans 14:5). Most Christians don’t follow Judaism today because the Mosaic Covenant has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant has been replaced with a better covenant, and a better sacrifice has been administered by another High Priest (Heb. 7:17, 22). Therefore, we have the confidence to boldly enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.

I pray that you were enlightened by this study of the Jewish Yearly Feast. These feasts were appointed and dedicated by God to Israel. God’s plan has been implemented so precisely that not only does the feast give honor and glory to Him, but we are also recipients of a better covenant (Heb. 8). Through the grace and mercy of God, our sins are forgiven after we accept Christ as our Savior. Then we are able to receive eternal salvation through the atoning blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now that’s the “Good News!” God is incredible and His grace is so Amazing!