God's Festivals: An Overview

Complete Introduction

From the beginning of creation God instituted the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly cycles that separate the four seasons through the continuous movement of the earth and moon in relation to the sun.  When the Lord delivered the Israelites from their Egyptian slavery 3500 years ago, He revealed His Covenant--the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:13).  In addition to the weekly Sabbath, annual festivals called feast were given as holy convocations (Leviticus 23:1-2).  These were to be proclaimed "in their seasons," or, as the New International Version says, "at their appointed times," Leviticus 23:4.  Therefore, God began to weave a thread through the fabric of time that would connect Israel's inception to her completion as a holy nations, while helping to maintain her unique identity a a hosen people throughout the centuries until the great Messianic Age.  Gentiles may also enjoy the benefits of the annual feasts as they reveal God's character, His leading and His future plans for the end of the ages.

Purim - The Feast of Lot

The Feast of Lot, which usually occures late in February or early March, is also considered to be a minor holiday in the Jewish Calendar. The Purim Fast occurs just before the Purim celebration, which includes children's pageants, where children dress up as various characters found in the book of Esther.  The parties and celebrations often include much revelry.

THE PAST: The celebration recalls an escape from destruction of the Jewish people from their Persian neighbors through the miraculous intervention of God, the bravery of [the Jewish] Queen Esther, and the wisdom of Mordecai-- Esther 9:26-29.

THE FUTURE: The future escape from the destruction of the Jewish people, likely initiated by Persia (modern Iran), as at the original Purim.  Daniel 12:11-12 says, "From the time that the daily [worship at the Western Wall/Temple Mount]... is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up [on the Temple Mount by Antichrist], there will be 1,290 days.  Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders [in the skies], and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie," 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11.  Jeremiah also speaks of past worship which will be repeated in the last days: " Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven... Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground, and it will burn and not be quenched," Jeremiah 7:17-20.

Passover - Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread comes around late March or early April each year, and is a reminder of God's protection during the plagues in Egypt when the death angel passed over the children of Israel.  The death of Egypt's firstborn led to their escape from Egyptian slavery the following morning-- Leviticus 23:4-6.

THE PAST: "Get rid of the old yeast [sin] that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed," -- 1 Corinthians 5:7.

THE FUTURE: "I will give power to my two witnesses [Elijah and Moses], and they will prophesy for 1,260 days [beginning at Passover], clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth,"--Revelation 11:3-4.

Feast of Firstfruits

A harvest offering presented to God on the first day after the Feast of Unleavened Bread Sabbath--Leviticus 23:7-14.  

THE PAST: Also the day of resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus):  "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,"--1 Corinthians 15:20.

THE FUTURE: "The woman [Israel] was given the two wings of a great eagle [in miraculous intervention], so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert [of safety], where she would be taken care of [by the two witnesses] for a time, times and half a time [1,260 days], out of the serpent's [Satan's] reach,"--Revelation 12:14. Finally John saw, "The Lamb, standing on Mount Zion [in Heaven], and with Him 144,000 [twelve tribes of all Israel--Romans 11:26-27]... they were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb,"--Revelation 14:1-4.