Although we no longer celebrate the Old Testament feasts (Galatians 4:9-10), we praise God for using them to both picture Christ and to encourage our faith.
In John chapter 7, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles (or ingathering) (John 7:2, 10). This was the last of seven annual feasts that the LORD directed his people to celebrate (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:41). During this seven-day celebration, the people lived in tents (or tabernacles) as a reminder that God rescued them from Egypt (Levitus 23:42-43). This feast occurred at the end of the autumn harvest season. That made it an ideal time to celebrate God’s bountiful blessings. It also pictures Christ and the blessings that he will pour-out upon his people during his future thousand-year Millennial reign on earth (Revelation 20:4; Isaiah 11:6-10; Zephaniah. 3:15, 17).
Take a moment to consider how the other Old Testament feasts picture Christ. First, see how the four springtime feasts picture the first coming of Christ.
Passover is the first spring feast (Exodus 12:7-14; Leviticus 23:4-8; Numbers 28). It pictures Christ’s death upon the cross. Passover celebrates the night in Egypt when the Lord “passed over” his people as he smote the first-born of the Egyptians. The Lord spared his people when they obeyed his command to take the blood of a sacrifice “and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post” of their houses” (Exodus 12:7). What a clear picture of both the blood that Christ shed upon the cross and the safety of those who trust in him and his blood! Not surprisingly, Paul called Christ “our passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The feast of unleavened bread is the second spring feast (Ex. 23:15; Lev. 23:6-8). It pictures Christ’s call for his people to live righteously. Paul commanded the Corinthian church members to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened…”(1 Corinthians 5:7).
The feast of firstfruits is the third spring feast (Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:9-14). It pictures Christ’s resurrection. Paul taught the Corinthian church “now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Just as the firstfruits of the spring harvest encouraged hope of a greater fall harvest, Christ’s resurrection encourages the certain hope that all believers will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
The feast of weeks (or Pentecost) is the fourth spring feast. It pictures Christ sending the Holy Spirit from the Father to indwell, comfort, and teach believers, which prepares us to go into all the world to carry-out the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). This demonstrates the love and faithfulness of our Savior and his desire to equip us for his service.
The remaining three annual feasts are celebrated in autumn. They picture the second coming of Christ. The feast of trumpets is the first autumn feast (Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers. 29:1-6). It pictures Christ’s return at the Rapture. Paul taught the Thessalonian church that the Lord “shall descend …with the trump of God …” (1 Th. 14:6). On that great day, believers will receive a heavenly body that is eternal and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)!
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the second autumn feast (Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11). It pictures Christ as the way of salvation for Israel. Zechariah prophesied , “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin…” God is not finished with the Jewish people (Zechariah 13:1).
As we have seen, the feast of tabernacles (or ingathering) is the third autumn feast. It pictures Christ as the source of future Millennial blessings.
The prophecies pictured by the spring feasts have been fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and sending of the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment of those prophecies should encourage our faith that the future events depicted by the three autumn feasts will indeed be fulfilled. The trumpet will sound! Israel will find salvation in Christ! And Christ will bless his people in the Millenium!
Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.