God's Holy Days
Holy Day Calendar
Passover
As it clearly explains in Exodus 12, the Passover of the Old Testament celebrates the exodus of Israel from Egypt. God told Moses to have every man take a lamb for his family, and roast it and eat it in the evening. They were to put the blood of the lamb on their door posts as a sign to the Angel of Death to pass them by, because God said (in verse 12), "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD."
The Old Testament Passover was a foreshadow of the 'Lord's Supper', which was eaten by Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus, as he was going to be crucified on Passover, ate his Passover meal the evening before. On this day, he also gave us the example of foot washing. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples after they had eaten, and then told them, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15)
Passover is now kept on the evening prior to the Old Testament (Jewish) Passover, as Christ kept it also. The foot washing ceremony is observed on this evening, by those who have been baptised.
Deuteronomy 16:1, Numbers 28:16, Matthew 26:18, Leviticus 23:5
Three Days and Three Nights
The Passover or Easter — Which is Biblical?
Days of Unleavened Bread
The Days of Unleavened Bread are a commanded feast unto the Lord. Exodus 12:15 says, "Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel."
Luke is quoted as saying (Luke 22:1), "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover." The Days of Unleavened Bread, while observed as a seperate feast, are also counted as part of the Passover. The Old Testament Passover began within the first few hours of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." (Exodus 12:8)
The Days of Unleavened Bread signify the 'purging out of old leaven' as depicted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 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." The 'purging out of old leaven' was as much to remind Israel not to take the doctrines of the Egyptians with them into the promised land, as it was to indicate a 'purging of the spirit'; in other words, to repent of your sins, and do them not again. (A really bad analogy here is a New Year's resolution).
Exodus 23:15, Exodus 34:18
Pentecost
Pentecost is also called the Feast of Firstfruits (because the feast of Pentecost marks the first, spring harvest of the year), or the Feast of Weeks (because Pentecost is arrived at by counting seven weeks from the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread). The term Pentecost merely means 'fiftieth day', because when counted correctly, Pentecost is observed on the fiftieth day after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
"And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there." (Deuteronomy 16:10-11). The feast of Pentecost in the Old Testament was kept as a joyous celebration of the first harvest of the year, for all to rejoice in what the Lord had provided for Israel. The firstfruits of all crops were eaten during Pentecost.
In the New Testament, Pentecost took on a new meaning. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [Spirit], and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance... Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." (Acts 2:1-4,6)
The words which the Apostles spoke were of David, and of Jesus, saying how God promised to make the enemies of David his footstool, and surely Jesus, being the Lord Christ, would also have his enemies as his footstool. Having been involved in Christ's arrest and crucifixtion, amny beacame fearful, and asked Peter what they should do. Peter responded, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Thus, Pentecost is an analogy to the receiving of the Holy Spirit after baptism.
Pentecost is also the anniversary of the founding of the New Testament Chruch.
Pentecost and the Meaning of Life
Feast of Trumpets
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation." Leviticus 23:24. The memorial of the blowing of trumpets infers a corrolation with the silver trumpets used to command Israel when to travel, when to rest, and when to gather for assembly while in the wilderness.
The Feast of Trumpets also looks forward to the end times, as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:52. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Feast of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets and the Return of Jesus
Day of Atonement
"Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." Leviticus 23:27. The Day of Atonement is a day of fasting, and repenting of sins. In the Old Testament, two goats were sacrificed to atone for sin, but now the Blood of Christ has taken the place of the blood of the goats.
What does it mean to afflict your soul? Dictionary.com defines afflict as "to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously; to overthrow, defeat; to humble." Therefore, we are called to humble ourselves before God, and not to gather for vanity, fasting visibly in order to puff yourself up more than one another.
The Day of Atonement and Satan's Fate
Feast of Tabernacles
"Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." (Leviticus 23:34-36).
The Feast of Tabernacles marks the fall harvest, and is celebrated by the gathering together of all peoples, and a mighty feast is held during all eight days of the feast. In the Old Testament, it was also called the Feast of Booths. The Feast is also a memorial to Israel for the time when they were in the wilderness, as they lived in tabernacles, or booths (temporary housing), during those 40 years. It also signifies the temporary (fleshly) tabernacle of our bodies, and how we will be given a new (spiritual) body in the Kingdom of God.
The Feast of Tabernacles, Christmas, and the Kingdom of God
Last Great Day
The eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, refered to in Leviticus 23:36. Often counted as a seperate feast, Leviticus 23:36 plainly includes the Last Great Day as part of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a solemn assembly, with any farewell activities or meals held after sunset (when the Holy Day has ended).
The Last Great Day depicts the finalization of the plan of God, and the day of the White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15).
Other Celebrations
First Day of Sacred Year
The first day of the sacred year is celebrated by many, though it is not held as a Religious Holy Day. It is usually only refered to in order to mark the passage of time, or to gather with loved ones to praise God for the year he has given us, and the year yet to come. Some believe the first day of the sacred year should not be celebrated at all, but merely mentioned in passing.
Exodus 12:1-2
