Seven Yearly Feasts of the Lord – Part 1C

In case you have not read the PART-1A of this Series, please go HERE. And if you have not read the PART-1B, then go HERE.


In the previous newsletter, we began consideration of the annual feasts from a broad perspective. We talked about the THREE ASPECTS of the THREE Festival Periods (or Seasons) in a detailed manner. We also had the opportunity to answer the Question of why the festivals were observed. Now, we shall proceed to consider the festivals in the light of New Testament times.

FESTIVALS IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

From the first Passover in Egypt in the time of Moses until the First Coming of Jesus Christ was about fourteen centuries, that is, 1400 years. By New Testament times, the Jews were scattered all over the world.

At the first observance of Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, the Bible confirms that there were "DEVOUT men from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5) in Jerusalem for this feast of Pentecost.

This shows that most Jews were no longer observing the command to come up to Jerusalem. Only the devout were making the costly, dangerous journey from distant lands to honour God's commandment concerning the Feasts (or Festivals).

Even in Old Testament times, we read in Neh.8:14-17 that the observance of the Feasts was restored under Ezra and Nehemiah after they were last celebrated in the days of Joshua, son of Nun. This was over five hundred years of non-observance.

Whenever these Festivals were observed, they were a prophetic pageant pointing to something God would do. Observance was a statement of faith-- faith in action. They were a confession that the Sovereign Lord had a plan for Israel and the Gentile nations; and that in His time (the appointed seasons) God will act and "...who can hinder him?" Job 11:10

The vast majority of Israel did not understand the far-reaching significance of the Festivals they celebrated. The devout men, however, would continue to obey and honour God in their observance.

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE REVEALED

Some sought to know what these things meant. “…the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Pet.1:10-11

So imagine the sense of joy and thrill when Peter stood up on that first Christian Pentecost and said, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…” (Acts 2:16).

Under divine direction, Moses had instituted the Festival of Pentecost (Harvest); Joel spoke of its prophetic significance, and Peter announced the fulfillment of this great prophetic pageant at the first Pentecost Festival after Jesus’ resurrection.

SPIRITUAL SEASONS OF REFRESHING

Back to Leviticus Chapter 23, Verse 4 says, “There are the LORD’s appointed feasts… which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.” It is the same Spirit of revelation that has brought us to look at the Festivals of the Lord once again.

Perhaps it is time for God to raise up modern-day Peter’s who shall rise again and say, “This is that which was spoken by the prophets” –to set our hearts aflame with an awareness that we are again celebrating the PROPHETIC ASPECT of some of the Feasts in their spiritual season!

There are THREE seasons in which the Festivals are observed: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. This is what is meant by the Feasts being observed “in their seasons.” Acts 3:19 (NIV) says, “Repent therefore… that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

In a spiritual sense, there are seasons or time-periods during which the spiritual realities (revival, or seasons of refreshing) spoken of by the Festivals are experienced.

This has happened in Church history when a particular emphasis or revival experience comes to the whole Church. Remember Martin Luther, Calvin, Knox, Fletcher, John Wesley, Charles Finney, William Booth, Kathryn Kulmann, and many others of the past?

The Feasts portray the historic progression of the restoration of many doctrinal truths lost during the Dark Ages. For now, we shall proceed to examine in more detail each of these Seven Feasts of the Lord; and God helping us, we shall discover their Past, Prophetic, and Present reservoirs of rich truth.



NOTE: As I conclude today’s blog-post, permit to inform you that the Seven Feasts will be treated one after the other, but with their individual titles. For instance, the next post which is essentially Part Four of this series shall be titled “The Feast of Passover.”


Your comments, suggestions, and contributions are welcome and highly appreciated.


Till next post "The Feast of Passover", stay blessed.


Shalom!!!