ISRAEL HOLY CONVOCATIONS (FEAST) IN LEVITICUS 23
ISRAEL HOLY CONVOCATIONS (FEAST) IN LEVITICUS 23......................................................................... 1
SABBATH ............................................................................................................................................. 2
When was the Sabbath initiated? ................................................................................................... 2
ISRAEL’S FIRST GROUP OF FEASTS ...................................................................................................... 4
1.
PASSOVER ................................................................................................................................... 4
When was the last Passover?.......................................................................................................... 7
2. THE FEAST OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD ...................................................................................... 11
Leaven ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Honey ............................................................................................................................................ 13
3. THE SHEAF (HARVEST) OF THE FIRSTFRUITS (wave offering) ...................................................... 13
THE SECOND GROUP OF FEASTS ....................................................................................................... 13
THE FEAST OF WEEKS ........................................................................................................................ 13
THE THIRD GROUP OF FEASTS .......................................................................................................... 15
1. THE FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS ...................................................................................................... 15
Trumpets ....................................................................................................................................... 16
2. GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT - YOM KIPPOER............................................................................... 17
Leviticus 16.................................................................................................................................... 18
3.THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES (BOOTHS) ................................................................................. 20
Booths ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Joy ................................................................................................................................................. 22
Month
Feast or convocation
It implies
First month
The Passover is not a feast,
but a holy convocation
The death of the old creation in
Christ
Feast of the unleavened bread
The harvest of the First-fruits
Christ’s resurrection
Third month
Feast of Weeks
Developing Church
Seventh month
Feast of the Trumpet
Rapture of the Church
Great day of Atonement
Israel’s repent as nation
Feast of Tabernacles (booths)
All the nations repent to make
them enter the Millennium
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‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as
holy convocations--My appointed times are these.’ Lev.23:2
The ‘holy convocation’ in this chapter is somewhat different to the usual meaning of the word
‘feast’. Sometimes there are similarities between the two words, but they do not always convey the
same meaning. In Leviticus, we find the Hebrew word ‘miqra St.no.4744’ that can be translated as ‘holy
convocation’. This word appears 23 times in the Old Testament, 11 of which are in this chapter. An
example of a holy convocation is the Sabbath that is not a feast as such. Therefore not all God’s
appointed convocations are feasts. If we understand this, we will have no problem in determining
the time of Christ’s crucifixion. The holy convocations form part of Moses’ laws, and they point
towards Christ’s work. His work for the world will end on the last day, and then the earth will enter
the new creation on the 8th day!
Besides Moses’ laws excites our own sinful nature and they are not written to protect us in any way.
The laws did condemn us together with the doomed old creation. Moreover, their primary goal is to
lead us to Christ. Moses’ laws and the laws of the prophets do testify of everything God did
accomplish in Christ.
‘For he (Moses) wrote of me. (Christ) Jh.5:46
The holy convocations are also part of the laws, and if we fail to notice Christ in them the laws will
become meaningless.
To summarize, we can say that there are eight holy convocations, and most of them are feasts. All of
them are remembered yearly, except for the Sabbath.
SABBATH
Israel had to work for six days, but on the seventh day, they had to rest. The word stems from the
Hebrew word ‘shabbath’ St.no.7979 meaning ‘to rest’, or ‘to stop working’. In the Hebrew language, the
word is also linked to the words ‘seven’ or to ‘take an oath’. The Sabbath is a holy convocation, and
it had to be remembered in their homes.
Since the Jews were sent into the Babylonian exile, they initiated the concept of a synagogue. When
the Israelites were in exile, their temple got destroyed, and therefore on the Sabbath day it was the
custom for the Jews to assemble in the synagogues and not in their own homes.
Each synagogue had a secret hiding place, a place hidden behind a curtain in a wall. To the Jews it
resembled the inner Sanctuary of the former tabernacle or temple where the ark was kept. Today
there is no temple, but today the Church as the body of Christ, are considered the ‘spiritual temple’.
Nonetheless once Israel do repent as a nation, there will be a literal temple at Jerusalem. The
people were not allowed to work on the Sabbath. God worked for six days until Adam was created,
but on the seventh day He rested. Gen.2:2 Our present creation can only last until the ‘seventh day’,
for, after that day, nothing more can be accomplished on earth. The Sabbath is not per se a law, but
rather a blessing encouraging us to rest.
Our world is earmarked by the number seven. There are cycles in nature commonly known as
biorhythms. For example the moon cycles the earth each 28 days, or 7 x 4 days. The woman’s
menstrual cycle is tied to the word ‘month’ as this usually happens every 7 x 4 days. Any pregnancy
usually last 40 x 7 days. They are the fixed laws of nature. The eighth day or whatever follows
belongs to the new creation and not the old.
When was the Sabbath initiated?
Adam was familiar with this day of rest. When God did provide manna to Israel in the desert, the
Sabbath was inaugurated for the first time. Ex.16 Then it was not known as a holy convocation. On the
6th day, the manna fell twice as much, as it was also meant to be eaten on the Sabbath. Nothing was
left for the seventh day.
‘…Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord.’ Ex.16:23
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Now we may guess on which day the manna fell for the first time. It was the first day, the day when
Jesus ascended from the dead. Manna is a type of the Word of God and Christ. The gathering of
manna began when Christ ascended from the dead to allow the people to live.
‘And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he
that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ Jh.6:35
The Sabbath as a sign unto the people
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign
between me and you throughout your generations.’ Ex.31:13,17
A sign has a deeper meaning; therefore the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people. God
agreed that anyone who did not honour the Sabbath should be killed. Ex.31:14 Probably that never
happened, for then we are all guilty.
Nevertheless, the people, who will die, are those who reject Christ! They deny the everlasting life
Christ wished to give them, and they will never enter the rest. Christ’s work for us is faultless, and
any of our works will be pointless. If any person refuses to accept this, he will never enter the
promised rest. Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath!
‘For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.’ Mat.12:8; Luke 6:5; Mark2:28
The Sabbath is a sign of what Christ did for us on the seventh day. He is the foundation of our rest,
and outside of Him, the world will never experience rest. After the battle of Armageddon Satan’s
influence will diminish on earth as he will be cast into a pit. Following that is the 7th dispensation of
rest. The Sabbath foreshadows the Millennium or the 1000 years of peace on earth, and every
Sabbath is a sign of this Millennium. When Israel entered the land Canaan, they did not find that
promised rest. Heb.4:8 Even David mentioned the rest, and that is extra proof that Joshua never
entered the rest. Neither was David able to lead Israel into the rest, for they doubted the rest. After
Christ’s resurrection, we do enter the rest with confidence, proviso our confidence is in Him. Israel
too could have entered the rest when they left Egypt, but they lacked faith. In the end only two men
(Caleb and Joshua) believed that they entered the land Canaan with God’s assistance. The others
died in the desert due to their unbelief. At present, the nation of Israel must still enter the ‘Sabbath’.
There is merely one condition to enter this rest, and it is faith in the risen Christ. If we obey Christ’s
voice, we will enter the rest. (The heavenly Jerusalem) Heb.4:13 If we wish to enter the rest, we need to
stop working. Christ’s work for us is complete, and for that reason any of our works are superfluous.
We must not harden our hearts like Israel in the desert, because they never entered the promised
rest due to their unbelief. The rest we do enjoy embraces the heavens. Eph.2:5 Nonetheless Israel is
promised an earthly Jerusalem. They will enter the rest after the ‘Day of the Lord’, the time when
the entire Israel will repent as a nation.
Israel’s redemption as a sign
‘… And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought
thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God
commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.’ Deut.5:12-15
Here Israel’s redemption from Egypt is regarded as a sign, for they worked as slaves. The nation was
cursed and bent beneath the yoke of slavery, and God freed them miraculously to enter the rest.
Previously we were slaves under the yoke of the law, but now we are freed.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage.’ Gal.5:1
We as the believers in Christ, do not skirmish with the ‘world of sevens’ but we have a greater
treaty, belonging to the eighth day. We are not part of the seventh day (Saturday), but rather
Sunday, the eighth day. The seventh day is part of the old creation, but the eighth day reflects the
new creation in Christ. We who are already part of the new creation do not form part of the old
creation. For us every day of the week, and not only Saturdays or Sundays, is the ‘eighth day’. We
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glance back to the world of seven, knowing we already belong to the new creation. We are indeed
free, and enjoy the freedom as we are not burdened by a yoke.
ISRAEL’S FIRST GROUP OF FEASTS
1. PASSOVER
When was the Passover remembered, and was it a feast?
Numbers 28:16 ‘And in the 14th day of the 1st month is the Passover of the LORD. And in the 15th day
of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.’
The 14th Nissan is the Passover, and the 15th Nissan is the feast of the unleavened bread.
Exodus 23:14 ‘Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me..’
Israel was told to visit Jerusalem three times a year. The first time is with the Feast of the
unleavened bread. The Passover is not mentioned here, for it is not even a feast. Throughout the
Passover and the Feast of the unleavened bread, the people had only the unleavened bread to eat
for 8 days.
Exodus 12. In this chapter, the Passover is celebrated for the first time. That was 50 days before they
received the laws of Moses.
Verse 2. When the Passover was instituted, the year calendar changed for Israel. The 7th month
became the 1st and vice versa. Nissan was supposedly their 7th month, and it got changes to be their
1st month. With this change, they clearly deviated from all the other nations of the world. Israel’s
New Year’s Day became the 1st Tisri, thus September/October. Israel’s exodus from Egypt was on the
7th month, but now it became their 1st month. I feel that there must be a greater significance with
this changing of times.
When Israel had to flee Egypt in the 7th month, they did not fully accept God. The celebrations
throughout Israel’s 7th month, including the great Day of Atonement, testify of Israel’s future
repentance that is yet future. Israel was not geared as a nation and not developed enough due to
their unbelief, and that may be the reason why Israel’s calendar slipped back to their 1st month. All
the feasts of the 1st month condensed Christ’s first coming to earth and His ascension into heaven.
The feasts of the 7th month deal with Israel’s conversion when they will be united with Christ, and
that is still pending. Therefore all the feasts during the 7th month echo Israel entering the Kingdom.
With Christ’s second coming to earth, the feasts of the 1st and 7th months will merge to form one
enormous feast. Israel will enter Christ’s Kingdom once they repent as a nation.
The Sabbath always commenced on the 6th day, meaning in the evening before the Sabbath. That is
12 hours earlier than the rest of the world. The 6th day, or the 6th dispensation, portrays the
judgement that will befall our world.
The tribulation period for Israel can be separated into two periods.
The tribulation period for Israel will last seven years, and this will end with the ‘Day of the Lord’.
At that point, Israel will repent and enter their promised rest. Once Israel entered their rest, the
remaining world will still experience the tribulation.
Israel entered the rest earlier than the rest of the world, and for them the 7th day, started earlier.
The remaining countries of the world will experience the horrible events of the 6th day, and they will
need to wait until the end of the great tribulation.
For Israel, the tribulation lasted 7 years, but for the rest of the world it will continue for another 33
years.
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That is the reason why the Sabbath (or rest) for Israel, always commences on the Friday night.
Verse 3 On the 10th Nissan every family (or two families) had to take a lamb into their homes. This
lamb portrays the Lord Jesus as faultless. The number ten suggests that God concerns Himself with
our world, as in Moses’ time when He secured to him the Ten Commandments.
The importance of the 10th Nissan
▪ On that day Israel took the lamb into their homes.
▪ Later on a comparable date, Joshua crossed the river Jordan with dry feet. Then Israel took the
lamb into their homes at Gilgal, on the opposite side of the river. At that time, they were also
circumcised. Jos.4:19
▪ On the 10th Nissan, Jesus descended down the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. That was the
same week in which He was crucified. At that moment of time, the nation of Israel had to accept the
Lamb, or the Lord Jesus, who lived amongst them. From the Scriptures it is clear that they refused
Him saying:
‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are
hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade
around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you
and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you
did not know the time of your visitation.’ Luke 19:42-44
This was supposedly the time when Israel had to take their ‘Lamb’ into their homes to receive Him. I
believe that later in Israel’s history, Christ will reveal Himself to them, as the ‘Lamb’ of the world.
Verse 5 It had to be a lamb without blemish. The soldiers did not break any of the Lord Jesus’ bones
when He was crucified. Jh.19; Ps.34:20 He was a perfect sacrifice. This Psalm obviously relates to the Lord
Jesus as with all the other Psalms. This verse cannot be applied to any other. The lamb was one year
old. The following three Hebrew words; ‘year’ (shaneh), St.no.8141 ‘tooth’ (shen) St.no.8127 and ‘two,’
(shen-ah-yim) St.no.8147 stem from a similar Hebrew word. The teeth have an upper and lower set, and
likewise we had milk teeth to be replaced by permanent teeth. The Passover Lamb also conveys a
duality that portrays Christ first and second coming to earth. The flock as the sheep and the goats
portray Israel, who wished to follow the Shepherd. Jesus (the Lamb) was born from the tribe of
Judah. Christ is the supreme Lamb, as He is also the Shepherd of the sheep. The flock will listen to
Him, for they know His voice. The oxen, unlike the sheep do not follow the shepherd but they are
chased from behind.
Verse 6 The lamb was hidden for 4 days, at a safe place in the house. Then in the evening before
sunset, they had to slaughter it.
The lamb had to remain in their homes for four days, which clearly direct us to the time of the law.
(The 4th dispensation) That time or the 4th dispensation commenced when the law was given to
Moses. The lamb or Christ was taken into their homes on the 10th Nissan.
‘But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law.’ Gal.4:4
The Son sent to earth by God, was the Lamb born under the curse of the law. The Lord Jesus lived
with a family, and He epitomized Israel.
After four days (4th dispensation), Christ set us free from the curse of the law. Jehovah became man
like us, to accomplish this great salvation plan.
Verse 7 The people had to smear some of the blood on the door post. The blood (the Life of the
Lamb) that is smeared on the doorpost had to protect them. In the Bible, the word blood and life has
an identical meaning. Christ’s blood is the living Christ.
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‘Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.’ John10:7 We
who believe in Christ did enter through the Living door. The sides of the door and the top part above
the door were smeared with blood. The blood on the top suggests the risen Christ. The hyssop
suggest Christ resurrection. Hyssop is reed like and grows especially well in the cracks amongst
rocks. Whenever we do read of a rock or a stone in Scripture, it immediately needs to draw our
attention to Christ. 1Cor.10:4
Verse 8 The breads had to be unleavened, signifying the new creation. The leaven portrays the old
creation, and none of that was allowed in the bread, as Christ is the beginning of a new creation. In
the Gospels, it says that when the disciples did commemorate the Passover with Christ, they had
wine. The Book Exodus does not specifically mention the wine at this Passover, but I am sure there
was. The wine also suggests the new life we did receive in Christ. That evening everyone had to eat
the lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread without any yeast. The bitter herbs suggest that
the sacrifice was not pleasant to the old man or nature, for the old man is indeed condemned by the
Lamb or Christ. The same judgement befell all the firstborn in Egypt.
Verse 9 & 10 The complete lamb, with its head, feet and intestines had to be roasted in the fire. It
was not allowed to boil in water. The reason is that water is a type of God’s Word, while the fire
advocates God’s judgement. His own Word will never condemn the risen Christ; therefore no water
was allowed during this feast. The lamb is roasted in its totality without a morsel being allowed to
remain until the next morning: the old creation in it’s totality is condemned to charcoal, and nothing
is allowed to continue in the new creation. According to Revelation 20:11 no place was found for
Satan, since all of the old creation is condemned.
2 Corinthians 5:15 says clearly that Christ died for all. Presently God refuses to speak with any
person on earth as we are all condemned with Christ at the cross. He will only listen to those who
belief in the risen Christ, as they are blessed and partakers of the new creation. The lamb in its
totality has been condemned with the old creation. When the lamb was slaughtered at Passover, it
demonstrated how God will condemn the world. The next day, when our Lord Jesus was crucified on
the 15th Nissan, God did make an end of the old creation.
Verse 11 & 12 The people had to eat the Passover in a great hurry, even with their shoes on their
feet. Israel did bond with the true Firstborn, who will lead them to the land Canaan, because they
did eat the Passover lamb. Christ is their true Firstborn.
‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…. He is also head of the body, the
church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have
first place in everything’ Col.1:15,18
Israel as the firstborn on earth will have great repercussion for Egypt. Christ being the true Firstborn
will substitute all the other firstborn (all the other heirs) still present in Egypt. After Israel
slaughtered the Passover lamb there were no other heirs left in Egypt. Similarly after Israel had killed
the Lord Jesus, nobody can claim the right to any kingdom here on earth. At present, the Jews have
no birth register to decide who their real firstborn is. They burned in the old libraries with fire. The
Jews never disputed the register of Matthew 1, wherein Christ is proclaimed the true Son of man.
In Revelation 5:9-12 there is a vision of the Lamb that was slaughtered, and He was the only One
worthy to open the seals of the Book. He is the Firstborn of heaven and earth and the true Passover
Lamb.
Verse 13 The blood on the doorposts is not a curse, but a symbol of life. When the Israelites were in
Egypt they smeared the blood (life of the lamb) on their doorposts, and that identified them with the
living Christ. The blood is the life of the Passover lamb, and the living door is Christ. Whenever we
encounter the word ‘blood’ in the New Testament, we can substitute it with the word ‘life’. Then
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those verses will have a more positive connotation. The people who spur us to donate blood, has the
slogan; ‘Blood is life.’
Verse 14 With each Passover, Israel had to remember the freedom they secured for themselves
since they left Egypt. It used to be a place of bondage. Three times we read in Exodus 12 that Israel
had to celebrate the Passover. It was not a feast, for the Feast of the unleavened bread was the next
day.
Deuteronomy 16:1, 6 Usually the Passover is celebrated in the month Nissan in Jerusalem. The
Passover lamb is slaughtered in the evening by sunset.
According to Numbers 9 the Passover may also be celebrated during the 2nd month if the nation
were unclean during the 1st month. In future after the ‘Day of the Lord,’ Israel will be unclean and
they will be incapable to celebrate the Passover. Nonetheless it will be convenient for them to
celebrate that one month later, which coincides with the 1290 days of Daniel. 12:10
Before the Lord Jesus was crucified, He descended on the 10th Nissan, on a donkey from the Mount
of Olives to Jerusalem. The people rejected Him and He wept over Jerusalem. At that time Israel also
had to take the ‘Lamb’ into their homes. After the great tribulation and on ‘the Day of the Lord’ the
Lord will literally come on a ‘white horse’ and then Israel will recognise Him as their Messiah. The
Passover will then commence, but then a month later. The reason is that during the great tribulation
Israel, they are caught in a war. They need to purify themselves before they can honour the
Passover.
Thus the Passover is not a feast, but the Feast of the unleavened bread is a feast.
When was the last Passover?
The burning question is whether the four Gospels do agree with each other, and whether the last
Passover was on the 13th or the 14th Nissan? There are so many inaccuracies regarding this topic, and
lately many Christians tend to believe that God’s Word contradicts itself. That is impossible. The
usual problem is that we or the theologians fail to study the Bible correctly.
People usually refer to John 13:1 where we read that the breaking of bread (communion) happened
before the last Passover:
‘Now before the feast of the Passover…’
Christ’s crucifixion was around the time of the last Passover, the time when the lamb was
slaughtered. The other Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, say that the last communion coincided
with the last Passover, on the 14th Nissan. How is this possible? The misunderstanding occurs
because people either translate or interpret the Scriptures incorrectly. We ought to bear in mind
that, during the time of Christ, the Jews did somehow steer away from the laws of Moses.
The Gospels are familiar with the:
▪ The feast of the Unleavened bread
▪ The day of preparation
▪ The ‘high or great’ Sabbath
The events were as follows:
▪ The last Passover (Supper) was on Thursday, the 14th Nissan.
▪ The crucifixion was on Friday the 15th Nissan
▪ The resurrection was on Sunday the 17th Nissan
The Passover
It says clearly that the Passover should be on the 14th Nissan. Lev.23:5 According to Luke 22:7 the lamb
is slaughtered on the first day of the unleavened bread, and that coincides with the communion. The
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Jews were only allowed to eat unleavened bread from the 14th until the 21st Nissan (8 days), yet the
Feast of the unleavened bread was from the 15th to the 21st Nissan (7 days)
In Matthew 26:17 we read that the disciples went to the Lord Jesus on the first day of the
unleavened bread. The Passover lamb was slain on the same day. Mark 14:12 also mentions the
Passover and unleavened bread. In the original text, the word ‘feast’ is not mentioned. The Feast of
the unleavened bread will follow the Passover. The problems are when we confuse the Passover
(when they had unleavened bread) with the Feast of the unleavened bread. The Passover was on the
14th Nissan, and the Feast of the unleavened bread from the 15th Nissan to the 21st Nissan. Deut.28:16-17
The Passover is a memorial to the redemption of the firstborn from Egypt, Ex.12:14, and the feast of the
unleavened bread is a memorial to them who escaped Egypt Ex.23:15
In the Book Exodus, there is a summary of all the feasts. Ex.23:14 The Passover is not mentioned with
the feasts.
When we study the Gospels in the light of the Old Testament; we need to be attentive to the word
‘feast.’ When the Passover lamb was slaughtered, it was not a ‘feast’ day. For example, when we do
read about the Passover and the feast;
‘Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when
they saw the signs which He did.’ Jh.2:23
We need to distinguish between the Passover and the feast. The Lord did many signs during
Passover and also throughout the ‘Feast’ of the unleavened bread. The reason why in the Jewish and
Biblical language, the ‘Passover’ and ‘the feast of the Unleavened bread’ are mostly used together, is
because on those days no leaven were allowed in their homes. If there is talk of a feast, it will be the
Feast of the unleavened bread that commenced on the 15th Nissan.
Now we will study the Gospels to notice where the word ‘feast’ are not mentioned.
Matthew 26:17
Mark 14:1(in the original text the word ‘feast’ does not appear. It should be printed in italics)
Mark 14:12
Luke 22:7
John 12:1
John 18:39
In Luke 22:1 the Passover to be followed by Feast of the Unleavened bread, is regarded as one. In
verse 8, we note what happened on the day of the Passover, which was also the first day of the
unleavened bread. Similar comparisons can be made in Mark 15:6 and Luke 23:17. Sometimes
Matthew 26:2 is also misunderstood. It does not say that the Son of man will be crucified during the
Passover, but only that He will be delivered up during that time. Mark 14:1 also defines those
events. The Apostle says that the Passover and the unleavened bread will commence in two days’
time. He was delivered up on the 14th Nissan. Also, in the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts the
word ‘feast’ does not appear. Therefore Matthew 26:17 says:
‘Now the first day of the unleavened bread.’
During the Passover, the people ate only unleavened bread, but actually the feast of the Unleavened
bread will only commence on the next day.
Now John 13:1 will become clearer when the writer says;
‘before the feast of the Passover.’
According to John the Last Supper (communion) was not before the Passover, but before the feast of
the Passover. (The Feast of the unleavened bread) Therefore, John is actually in accord with the
other three Gospels! It was at the time of the Passover on the 14th Nissan, the time when the lamb
was slain.
The New International Version makes this subject more complex, because in the original text the
word ‘feast’ does not appear, and it’s not supposed to.
There are numerous examples:
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Matthew 26:17 ‘On the first day of the (Feast of) unleavened bread.’ The word ‘feast’ does appear in
the New International version, and it needs to be omitted.
Mark 14:1 ‘Now the Passover and the (Feast of) unleavened bread’
Mark 14:12 ‘On the first day of the (Feast of) unleavened bread’
According to Leviticus 23:5, 6, the Passover and the Feast of the unleavened bread, cannot be
celebrated on a similar day.
For me, the only really problem is Luke 22:1
‘Now the feast of the Unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.’
According to ancient Jewish writings, in books 14 and 17 we find that the Jews also referred to the
Feast of the unleavened bread as the Passover. They interpreted the Old Testament laws of Moses
concerning the feasts incorrectly. Additionally Luke22: 7 says clearly that the lamb was slaughtered
on the day of the unleavened bread.
▪ The Jewish day and the Sabbath
When we study John 13:29, Judas was still allowed to buy food before the Feast of the unleavened
bread. Many reckon that the feast commenced on the evening of the Passover, once the sun did set.
The Jewish day always commences in the morning at sunrise, except on two occasions:
every
Sabbath (that starts on the Friday night)
and the great Day of Atonement. Lev.16:31
The evening of Passover belonged to the day of the Passover and not to the Feast of the unleavened
bread. The feast would only commence the next day at sunrise. Judas had enough time (until the
next morning) to do his business.
In the New Testament, there are often references to the ‘sixth hour’ or the ‘third hour.’ The sixth
hour is six hours after sunrise (12H00 according to our reckoning) and the third hour is at 9H00.
When we study Leviticus, 22:7 it says with sunset an unclean person can be ratified as clean. Certainly
that does not mean that then a new day commenced.
▪ The day of preparation
On the day of our Lords crucifixion, John also mentions the day of Preparation. Jh.19:14, 31,42 Some think
that it was also the preparation of the Passover. There are no other references in the Old Testament
or any Jewish literature making a connection between the slaughtering of the Passover lamb and the
‘preparation’ for the Passover. The preparation was on the 15th Nissan, the day on which the Lord
Jesus was crucified. Adam was created on the sixth day, and the Lord also died for our sins on the
sixth day. There were many preparations for the Feast of the unleavened bread, and even more so
later, as throughout the festival ten animals had to offered daily for the duration of the feast, that
lasted seven days
▪ The high or great Sabbath Jh.19:42
According to the Jews the Sabbath was great, because the following memorials as in Leviticus 23,
condensed into this one day. They are the:
-The Sabbath
-The Feast of the unleavened bread
-The sheaf of the firstfruits
There is enough reason to call it a ‘high Sabbath’
The Jews did not celebrate the sheaf of the firstfruits correctly, because it should have been on the
day succeeding the Sabbath, therefore, on the Sunday. Lev.23:10,11 According to ancient Jewish writing,
specifically the Book of Flavius Josephus, the Feast of the sheaf of the firstfruits was celebrated on
the 16th Nissan, the second day of the Feast of the Unleavened bread. That is wrong. Saturday was
the second day of this feast and at the time the Lord Jesus was in His grave. The sheaf of the
firstfruits reflects Christ’s resurrection that should have been on the Sunday.
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▪ Further Questions
Is the slaughtering of the Passover lamb not supposed to be a picture of Christ’s crucifixion? Some
believe that Jesus was crucified on the same day the lamb was slaughtered. That is a good
assumption, but wrong. I would rather say that, at the time when the Lord celebrated the Passover
meal, the writing was on the wall. All the other firstborns of the world were then being condemned,
and the judgement was procured.
The following day, with His crucifixion, he did judge our world. There is only one reference to the
Passover Lamb that was slaughtered. Heb.11:28
There are, however, many references in Hebrews to the animals that were offered according to the
laws in Leviticus. Each day of the feast of the Unleavened bread, ten animals had to be offered. The
10 x 7 animals suggest the great number of people who will be reconciled through Christ’s
crucifixion. On the first and last days of the feast, they were forbidden to perform any tasks.
To summarize we can conclude that our Lord was crucified on the first day of the Feast of the
unleavened bread rather than on the Passover. When the Passover lamb was slaughtered, the
people were allowed to work and do business.
▪ Three days and three nights?
We already noticed that our Lord was crucified on the 15th Nissan and that He ascended on the 17th
Nissan. When we analyse this we reckon that He must have spent a complete day, and two nights in
the grave, yet Matthew 12:40 says that He spent three days and three nights in the grave. This
seems like a contradiction unless we are familiar with both the Biblical and the Jewish customs.
Indeed the Gospels also say that Christ would rise on the third day: Mat.16:21; 20:19; 26:63 Mark 8:31; 9:31 Luke
9:22,18:33; 24:7,21,46; Jh.2:19,
The saying ‘after three days’ also implies ‘on the third day’. There are similar examples where the
three days are mentioned, and the event actually took place on the third day itself.
‘And he said unto them, come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.’v.5 .... So
Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come
again to me on the third day.’ 2Cron.10:5,12
Rehobeam sent the people away, and they returned two days later. According to the Jewish
reckoning, it is meant to be three days.
So he (Joseph) put them all together in prison for three days. Then Joseph said to them on the third
day, "Do this and live, for I fear God: Genesis 42:17,18
Jonah We certainly cannot say that Matthew 12:40 opposes the idea that Christ did resurrect on the
3rd day. We need to study the original Hebrew word, as in Jonah 1:17, on which the translated text is
based. The word ‘day’ in Jonah stems from the Hebrew word ‘yowm’ St.no.3117 which refers to a
particular period, not necessarily a 24-hour cycle? This yowm is an inaccurate time scale. The three
days in Jonah 1:17 can also be read as three time periods. It includes part of the first and third days,
and a complete second day. The Lord was in the grave for the entire Sabbath, (16th Nissan) but only a
part of Friday and Sunday. So a fraction of a day is also counted as a full day. According to our own
judgment that is not strange. For instance, if a person goes to prison for three days, even if he enters
late on the first day, it is nevertheless counted as day 1, and the day he leaves, will be be regarded as
a full day.
To summarize
The following events did occur when our Lord was crucified to resurrect o the 3rd day.
14th Nissan
On that day, the Passover lamb was slaughtered. The Lord was with His disciples, and they had the
last supper together. Today with the communion, the lamb is absent, and only the bread and the
wine remain. The bread and the wine do signify the new covenant. The following day Christ made an
end to our plight namely sin and the law.
15th Nissan
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On that day, Abraham left to go to Canaan. Ex.12:40,41 On exactly the same day, 430 years later, Israel
left Egypt for the Promised Land. The Lord did die for our sins, to enter the ‘promised land’, or the
new creation.
17th Nissan
On that day, Noah survived the great flood as he placed his feet on dry land. Gen.8:4 (The month Nissan
was the 7th month at that time, but with the Passover it became the 1st month)
On that day, the Red Sea divided to allow the children of Israel to cross the mighty waters – which is
a symbol of their death and resurrection. When they embarked on the other side of the sea, the new
dispensation dawned for them. Finally, they did turn their backs to a life of slavery.
On that day, the Israelites also had to offer the sheaf of the firstfruits, their first harvest to the Lord.
That embodies His resurrection. (Israel celebrated the feast incorrectly on the 16th Nissan Lev.23:10,11)
On that day, Christ resurrected from the dead to lead the way to the new covenant.
▪ The meaning of the last Passover in the New Testament
The blood of the last Passover lamb is the blood of the old covenant that was shed on earth. At the
Lord’s last supper, He said that the communion needs to be a continued as part of the Passover, but
without the Passover lamb. Thus the Lamb did disappear as it symbolized the old, leaving us with
only the bread and the wine.
He broke the bread, as He had to share it to His disciples. The thought behind this is that the bread
epitomizes the ‘one body’ and it had to be ‘broken,’ to be shared with all His disciples. Christ’s body
was never broken. Paul elaborates on this point too. In 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17 Paul says that we all
eat from the one loaf, showing that we belong to the one body. The bread is one as Christ’s body is
indeed one. The emphasis is that the bread needs to remain one. In 1 Corinthians 11:24 Paul says
(according to the old translation of the Bible) that the bread should be broken as the Lord Jesus’
body was broken. In the newer translation of the Bible, it is translated differently. There is no
suggestion of a broken body, so in my opinion the latter is the correct translation.
‘And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of Me.’ NASB
The body is Christ, and it includes the Church. The wine embodies the blood of the New Testament
and the flowing blood is the ultimate proof of life. The blood is the life of Christ that permeates the
new covenant. Christ is the true vine. The Lord’s Supper is not a memorial to ponder the past, but
rather to have a glimpse to the Life we now enjoy as part of the new covenant; the wine and the
bread is an emblem of that Life. The Passover lamb suggests the blood of the old covenant, and
today its gone. Both the wine and the bread is a living testimony of everything Christ did accomplish
after His resurrection from the dead. When we study Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26 and Luke
22:14-23, we need to understand that the blood or the wine is the life of the new covenant, and
similarly the bread reflects His Body.
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (For us today)’ Luke22:20
2. THE FEAST OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD
Exodus 12:14a ends with the Passover, and verse 14b commences with the Feast of the unleavened
bread:
‘And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, .........and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord
throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.’
When we do read ‘the feast should be an ordinance forever,’ then the word ‘forever’ involves a long
time. The word stems from the Hebrew word ‘owlam,’ St.no.5769 meaning ‘a long period’. The
ordinance is limited to the 4th dispensation of the law and concluded before Pentacost.
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Leaven
A feature of this feast is that only unleavened bread may be eaten. Some may argue if that is the
only rationale of a feast? The reason is plain as the leaven (old) vanished forever.
This feast lasted seven days. The number seven suggests that something definite/concrete is
established. An example is the recreation of our world in seven days. The creation as we know it
today was created in seven days. It implies that a new creation is found through Christ. All of God’s
works on earth ended with a rest, and in total there are three times when the festivals ended in a
rest. Exodus 23 mentions three feasts, and each includes a day of rest, because something definite
is accomplished. The three are:
▪ The Feast of the unleavened bread – Christ’s first coming to earth
▪ The Feast of Weeks– the Church is found
▪ The Feast of the Trumpet, the great Day of Atonement and the Feast of the Tabernacles – Each of
them portrays Christ second coming to earth.
Christ condemned the old creation forever through His death and resurrection. He destroyed Satan’s
pillars of death and the law.
‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took
it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew
of them openly, triumphing over them in it.’ Col.2:14-15
The leaven that is left from the previous day (the previous creation before Adam) has tarnished our
old creation; it is dealt with, and I will not spoil the new batch of dough. The new creation has its
roots in Christ and remains untarnished by the leaven.
The yeast (or the leaven) is especially used in the making of bread and cheese, as it aids the
oxidation of bread or milk. The yeast from the previous day is put into the new batch. Adam was
created from the dust of a previously fallen world, and when he did sin, it confirmed that the former
leaven had an effect on his body. Immediately after Adam sinned he was told that Christ will crunch
the snake’s head and He will destroy the leaven that spoiled our human bodies. The old creation got
spoiled by Satan long before Adam, and that restrains us. Christ dealt with whatever dilemma was
caused by the leaven, and the new dough will never be spoiled by it.
The leaven is compared to the Scribes who lived when our Lord was on earth. They did not live in the
‘Light’ that echoed life, but they stuffed themselves all the more with the many laws of Moses. The
laws meant death to them, as they were blinded by them, and they never noticed Christ in them.
Christ, can indeed be seen clearly in the laws of Moses, and He will rid us of the leaven. In fact, the
Scribes added more leaven to the batch, by making the laws more burdensome. Mat.16:6, 11-12 Mark 8:15. In
Matthew 13:33 the leaven is hidden within the three measures of flour, and it spoilt the entire batch
of dough. The new creation (new batch) has nothing in common with the old creation that is
transient. After Christ’s death, God reckons our world to be dead. God is not troubled by the leaven.
The leaven working in our bodies bears us down to the earth, and in essence they are the laws of
Moses. A little yeast quickly spreads through the whole batch of dough. Gal.5:9 We will curse ourselves
if we deliberately eat of this yeast, or subject ourselves, yet again, to the laws of Moses.’
Gal.3:13
In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 the leaven is compared to the old man. The leaven is unavoidable, and we
inherited it from our forefathers, having no choice in the matter. Our sinful nature permeated our
bodies like yeast in a batch of dough. We are only free once we become part of the new creation.
Our world did succumb to this leaven, and everything we notice with our eyes; but on the contrary,
we need to occupy our minds on new creation in Christ, as it will endure.
Our old life is destroyed, however, our bodies still belongs to the old creation, but it holds a new
treasure, or the new creation. 2Cor.4:7 That is what God planned to do long before Adam was created,
as it was the only means to destroy the previously fallen world. From the old something new is
established. This new treasure is Christ within us that became part of our bodies that used to sin.
The ‘new life’ inside of us gives our life on earth a real purpose. Our bodies can bear fruit that will
last all eternity, thereby glorifying God. His ultimate aim is accomplished in Christ.
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The Feast of the unleavened bread commences and ends with a holy convocation, or a day of rest.
That is not necessarily on a Saturday. Everyone who died with Christ will also enter this rest. Heb.4
Honey
During this feast, the people were forbidden to eat honey. The honey is His Word of God, as His
Words are as sweet as honey.
‘How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ Ps.119:103
We received His Word, and we do not dare to return it to God. It is something we need to treasure
and keep in our hearts.
3. THE SHEAF (HARVEST) OF THE FIRSTFRUITS (wave offering)
Hidden within in this feast is the wave offering that needed to be offered to the Lord. Lev.23:10-14 That
offering indorses that Christ did resurrect from the dead and He ascended into the heaven. My
reasons are as follow:
The first fruits are harvested from the land even before they are fully seasoned or ripe. This feast
corresponds to our month March/April, when it may be too early to harvest the first wheat, but
some ears of the wheat may be prematurely ripe. Christ commenced the new creation with His
resurrection, and He became the Firstborn of a total new creation. Col.1:15,18; 1Cor.15 The people had to
harvest the first mature wheat ears and that was their offering. With this offering to the Lord, the
wheat ears will became fruitful bearing much fruit. At present, the world is reckoned to be
‘pregnant’, waiting in great anticipation for the revelation of the Sons of men. Rom.8:18, 19 The curse
that is now hanging as a cloud over our world will disappear and once more our world will bear fruit
as it’s meant to do. The first fruit that is offered to the Lord does testify of a creation that will
become fruitful. The sheaf had to be waved with the priest, suggesting movement and life. (Christ’s
resurrection) v.11
Christ’s resurrection was on the day following the Sabbath, or simpler the first day of the week or
Sunday. The 8th day is special to us, as it is not part of our world of sevens, but part of the new. The
ingredients of the grain offering are fine flour, oil and wine. In their own way, each of the ingredients
was either pressed or beaten to obtain the fruit, comparing it to Christ’s suffering, or the shame He
had to bear at the cross. The flour is grinded from the grain, the oil from olives and the wine from
the grapes. They all convey Christ’s suffering here on earth.
THE SECOND GROUP OF FEASTS
THE FEAST OF WEEKS
This is Israel’s second group of feasts, the time they were supposed to go to Jerusalem. Today those
festivals correspond to our ‘day of Pentecost,’ when the Church is found.
The same feast is given different names and is explained in the following Scriptures:
▪ Exodus 23:16 The Feast of the Harvest
▪ Exodus 34:22 Deuteronomy 16:9-11 The Feast of Weeks, as they had to count the weeks from the
first group of feasts until the next is due. It is also known as the feast of the firstfruits of wheat
harvest, or the feast of ingathering at the turn of the year.
▪ Leviticus 23:15-22 The new Grain Offering. This offering differs from the grain offering as detailed
in Leviticus 2, as it contains leaven.
The Feast of Weeks, the new Grain Offering or the Feast of the Harvest- Leviticus 23
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Verse 15 Israel had to count 7 weeks from the previous ‘sheaf of the firstfruits’ that earmarked
Christ resurrection. From the time they put the sickle to the grain (as with the sheaf of firstfruits)
they had to wait seven weeks. Deut.16:9
Verse 16 & 17 This feast is enjoyed once we are past the world of sevens. (7x7 = 49). The feast of
weeks is on the 50th day. The number 50 is linked to the number 8, as it portrays the truths not
belonging to the old creation, or to the new creation in Christ. The Church is the first to be born
again, the first to be a totally part of His Kingdom.
The jubilee year (every fifty years) also suggests the new creation, and similarly Joshua the son of
Nun, (50) who led the Israelites into Canaan.
That day will always be on a Sunday, the first day of the week. In the New Testament, the Church
was established on the day of Pentecost. Then the disciples were filled with the Spirit and Peter
addressed the nation. It was 50 days since Christ resurrection from the dead and 10 days after His
ascension into heaven. The word ‘Pentecost’ stems from the Greek word meaning 50.
The time when Israel left Egypt (Passover) to cross the Red sea, until the advent of the law was also
50 days. According to Exodus 19 Israel reached Mount Sinai on the 1st of the 3rd month, and they had
to remain there until the 3rd day. They received the Law of Moses on the 3rd day of the 3rd month and
the Passover was on the 14th of the 1st month. 14th Nissan until the 3rd of the 3rd month = 50 days
The land of Israel was unable to celebrate the feast of weeks in the desert, as there was no fruit. I
believe that the Feast of Weeks does not venerate the giving of the law (as the Jews are currently
claiming), but rather the revelation of Christ’s body or the Church.
Strangely the breads were leavened; therefore, it is a new offering. The offering in Leviticus 2 was
unleavened. The leaven suggests the old creation that challenges us daily. The Church is already part
of the new covenant, even though we are limited by the old creation. At the time of the rapture, we
will finally be freed from the old leaven and the old creation.
Today the leaven is placed in the dough, and it is offered to the Lord, but God fails to notice the
leaven or the sins we commit daily. Paul says that we can ignore our old sinful nature, Rom.6:11
because we are dead to sin, but alive to Christ. We may be troubled by the leaven, yet Christ uses us
regardlessly. It is a sheer miracle that we, who are part of the fallen world, can be harnessed for His
eternal Kingdom.
The two breads and the two tenths of a measure of flour point to the dual nature of the Church that
comprises of both Jews and Gentiles. 1Cor.12:13 Two tenths are also one fifth, and the Church forms
part of the 5th dispensation.
The batch is dedicated to the Lord as the firstfruits. Similarly, we as the Church in Christ are seen as
the firstfruits of the new creation. Rom.8:23; Heb.12:23
Verse 18-22 The new grain offering blends simultaneously with the following offerings:
Burnt offering with 7 one-year old lambs, 1 young bull and 2 rams
Sin offering with 1 kid of the goat
Peace offering with 2 young lambs
In Leviticus 1 to 7 we did acquaint ourselves with the following 5 offerings:
Burnt offering. This is voluntary. I is the highest offering and involves the total person. The fire
consumes us and changes everything to smoke (spirit), and it is a pleasant fragrance to God.
The Grain offering is also voluntary. It deals with the new life we did receive from Christ.
Symbolically via this offering we offer ourselves to the Lord. The two leavened breads that are
waved, is the grain offering.
The Peace offering is also voluntary. The 2 lambs is the peace offering. Christ is our peace. Eph.2:14
Sin offering This is compulsory, because it cleanses our daily walk on earth. The Lord purifies us from
a contaminated world. That is His High Priestly duty in heaven.
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Guilt offering. This is compulsory. It conveys our Lord’s suffering on the cross when He did pay the
price of the world’s sin. Unknowingly Adam did inherit this sin, the sin that previously stained our
fallen world.
Verse 20 Here the priest waves the breads and the two lambs. It advocates life, as the waving of
both the bread and the lambs communicates life. Christ led us into the inner Sanctuary, because we
died with Him, and we did rise with Him. Heb.10:19 We are in the hands of the High Priest, or Christ,
and we are alive despite the leaven.
Verse 21 This holy feast day is an institution forever, for Christ’s Church will endure for all eternity.
Verse 22 They were not allowed to harvest the boundaries of the lands. The boundaries or the ends
of the harvest symbolize the future body of believers who will follow the Church. The boundaries will
only be harvested after the rapture of the Church. They are the believing Israelites and nations that
will trust Christ during the Great Tribulation. Lev.19 :9-10; Deut.24:19-21 Ruth, a Moabite woman, decided to
continue with her mother-in-law, and she left Moab for Israel. She arrived at the time of harvesting,
and she trailed behind the harvesters, gathering the grain from the edges. Eventually, she was
blessed and married Boaz. She symbolized the believing Israelites, or the other nations of the world,
who will follow the Church.
THE THIRD GROUP OF FEASTS
The 3rd group of feast could be divided into 3 groups, and as a group they depict Christ return to
earth.
The first group of feast do treasure the truths as portrayed in the Church,
followed by truths surroundings Israel’s repentance on the day of the Lord,
and then the remaining countries of the world.
The feast of weeks ended with the boundaries of the land that were forbidden to be harvested, to
prove that God’s salvation plan did not end with the formation of the Church. The Church and the
latter believing remnant will become totally part of the new creation.
Christ’s second coming will be in stages and thus the feasts of the seventh month can be divided into
3 groups. They are for:
▪ The Church – the feast of the trumpets
▪ Israel – the Great day of Atonement
▪ The remaining countries - The Feast of the Tabernacles (Booths)
1. THE FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS
The feast of the trumpets only concerns the Church, and it is only mentioned in Leviticus 23:23-25
and Numbers 29:1-6. The feast is on the 1st day of the 7th month, which coincides with Israel’s New
Year. That feast is the next on God’s prophetic calendar, and it will literally be fulfilled on the day of
the rapture, when the Church disappears into heaven. The 1st day of the 7th month (1st Tisri) is an
important day, and in Scripture it is mentioned a few times:
Noah’s history. On that day, Noah raised the roof or the window of the ark. Gen.8:13 Bear in mind that
Israel’s 1st month switched to the 7th month. Ex.12:2 After the long rains, the skies were again visible,
and Noah, who opened the window, portrayed the rapture of the Church. Presently the Church is
seen as a ship floating above the waters (nations). The sea is a clear picture of the nations, as they
are vividly portrayed in the following verse:
‘Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the
rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like
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the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be
chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the
whirlwind.’Isa.17:12-13
The windows on the ark were placed in the ceiling of the ark, and Noah could only look vertical to
the heavens, and there were no level windows facing the earth. It pictures our dispensation. With
the rapture, the window will physically open for us, and we will become incorruptible.
On the 1st day of the 7th month, the people gathered together as one man in the open square that
was in front of the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to teach them God’s Word. Neh.8:1-7 They
sat together as ‘one man.’ We as the Church are also part of the one body of Christ. The water
(water gate) suggests God’s Word, and possibly it reflected Noah’s time, as well. Ezra called the
people from exile (the sea of nations) to the Living Word of God. The history of the Church is also in
Ezra 3:1 when it says that Israel listened faithfully to the Lord as one man. This ‘one man’ suggests the
Church of Christ. Ezra’s words were aimed to gather and free the people of Israel, and we are the
firstborn of Israel. That day was also a day of rest, a Memorial Day to the Lord. Then the trumpets
blasted loudly. The word ‘sound’ appears 46 times in the Old Testament, and it is based on the
Hebrew word ‘rawa’ St.no.7321 It is mostly translated as:
Alarm. Num.10:7, 9; Joel 2:1
A great shout. Joshua 6:20; 1 Samuel 4:6; Jer.20:16
Praise/shout. Ezra 3:11,13
The word really means ‘a loud uproar.’ We can expect a similar blast when we are taken to heaven
accompanied by the sounding of the trumpet. 1Cor.15:52 The believers in Christ will hear the trumpet,
unlike the unbelievers who will be totally oblivious of the great alarm. The great sound during the
feast of the trumpet is probably due to the sound of the trumpets, the ram’s horn and the sound of
the people as a whole.
Trumpets
In Numbers 10:2 the people had to make two silver trumpets that were hammered by special
craftsmen. The sound of the trumpet echoed a message, calling the people for a feast, a war or the
‘inauguration’ of a new king. The silver of the trumpets suggests reconciliation. In Israel’s time, they
had silver coins, so silver suggest the price our Lord had to pay to procure our reconciliation. Any
person who accepts Christ’s message of reconciliation will respond to the sound of the trumpet.
Additionally the sound of the ram’s horn will echo. The voice of the once slain Ram, (Lord Jesus) will
continue to live in the horns that are blown. The king’s voice (the Ram) will gather the Church with
the sound of His trumpet. 1Cor.15:521 1Thes.4:16 Christ’s second coming is vividly portrayed in the battle
Gideon had when he conquered the Midianites. When Gideon blew the trumpets the clay vessel
broke, and the light that was hidden within the vessel did lighten the camp. The sound and the
sudden light caused a great confusion amongst the Midianites, which can be compared to the great
tribulation that will follow the rapture of the Church, that is still future. The jar or the clay vessel
reflects our human bodies harbouring our new nature. With the rapture, our fragile bodies will
break, and it will be exchanged for a new body. We will unite in the Light which will blind and
confuse our enemies. Judges 7
The trumpets will be blown three times.
▪ The first is with the rapture of the Church,
▪ The second time is when Israel accepts Christ and when they are is gathered from amongst all the
nations of the world.
‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come
which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall
worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.’ Isa.27:13
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▪ It will blow for the last time when all the other nations of the world do accept Christ in faith. At the
end of the great tribulation, the countries of the world will be gathered, and the kingdoms of this
world will be destroyed. Then the last trumpet will sound.
‘And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of
this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.’
Rev.11:15
Besides the ram’s horn was also used to anoint a king, as with David’s ainointing.1 Samuel 16 Christ is the
anointed King, and He will reign throughout eternity.
In Numbers 29:1-6 the feast of the trumpet is mentioned and the people brought both a burnt and a
grain offering to the Lord. The fire transformed the visible (carnal) into the invisible (spiritual) which
is a pleasant fragrance unto the Lord. v.6 The leaven that used to spoil our life will vanish.
2. GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT - YOM KIPPOER
Amongst the Jews today, that is undoubtedly their greatest feast. This feast is also the main subject
of the Book Hebrews. On that day, the high priest made reconciliation for the Jews in the inner
Sanctuary. Only on that day, did the high priest exchange his colourful clothes for white linen
clothes. It was the only day when the high priest was allowed to enter the inner Sanctuary, as it was
forbidden on all the other feast days. The priest’s linen garment symbolizes the new birth. As
previously mentioned, the linen is made from the cotton fibre which is processed and purified.
Once the high priest entered the inner Sanctuary, the people waited anxiously for the high priest to
re-appear, and when he did, he brought great relief to them. It comforted them to know that their
sins were atoned for. Similarly today we know that Christ did enter the inner Sanctuary for us, and
He is now at the right hand of God in heaven, where He reconciles for us. Ps.110:1,2 (Of all the Old
Testament verses, this verse is the most frequently cited in the New Testament) That day (great day
of Atonement) is drawn out for us, as we have the freedom to enter the inner Sanctuary where
Christ is seated, and we do not need to wait outside until He appears. At present He intercedes for
us, and that is the main theme of the Book Hebrews. Heb.10:19-20
There are several references to the great Day of Atonement. Lev.16:1-34; 23:27-32; Num.29:7-11
Leviticus 23:27-32
The great day of Atonement is on the 10th of the 7th month. On that day, God will reveal Himself to
the nation of Israel. Exactly 6 months previously (in the month Nissan), Christ was humiliated and
despised as the ‘Lamb’ to be slaughtered, Luke 19:28-40 but not with this feast.
The Great day of Atonement commenced for Israel the evening before the great day. Lev.23:32 As
previously discussed, both the Great day of Atonement and the Sabbath day commenced the
previous night at 18H00. On the night of those two days, the people assembled with great joy. The
two days have something in common, as indirectly they reflect the time when Israel will be enter
God’s Kingdom. Throughout the Millennium no work is allowed, and therefore Israel had to rest.
Israel will enter the Kingdom the previous night, thus before the other nations of the world. For the
Gentiles, the suffering of the great tribulation will persist, and only at the end of the tribulation or 33
years later, each remaining believer will enter the rest on the morning of the Sabbath day or the
seventh day.
It says emphatically that those who fancy to work during the Millennium (Sabbath) will be killed.
Exo.31:14
Throughout the Millennium, God will allow no person to work, since Christ’s work of
reconciliation is complete.
Then Israel will humble themselves before the Lord. They were an obstinate nation, and it also
includes all the other countries of the world. The Israelites who refuse to accept Christ will die seeing
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the events when present day Israel is bulldozed down to the ground by a nation from the north. The
remnant will escape to Petra and soon afterwards they will return to Jerusalem, to rebuild Israel
with God at their side.
Leviticus 16
This chapter elaborates on the offering of the bull, a ram and two goats.
The ram was the burnt offering,
and the bull is destined to be a sin offering for the high priest.
The bull pictures Christ’s death and resurrection. His blood went right inside the Inner Sanctuary.
The male bull is a picture of fertility – the Lord Jesus exchanged everything the old creation
epitomizes, and He exchanged that for the new creation. This new creation did reach us, and with
time it will engulf the complete heaven and earth.
The two goats that looked alike, were offered as a sin offering.
The first goat is for Jehovah, and the other for Azazel.
‘And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD (Jehovah), and the other lot for
the scapegoat.’ (Azazel) Lev.16:8
The fist goat is Jehovah or Jesus, who dwelt amongst us, and He did become like one of us.
The second goat is called Azazel (meaning a strong goat), and he was freed in the desert.
On that day of the offering the fragrance ascended to God’s throne, v12,13 and it always suggests
worship. The blood of the bull went right into the inner Sanctuary, the place where Christ intercedes
for us! Willingly the Lord Jesus died for us, and His blood (Life) is on the mercy seat, behind the
second veil. The seven times that the blood is sprinkled portrays God’s perfect work to procure our
reconciliation. That is the Living way that Christ did accomplish on our behalf! Heb.10:20 The blood that
was shed lives today, and now Christ is the true and living way. Jh.14:6
The nation had to wait patiently for the high priest to reappear after leaving the Sanctuary. Once
they saw him, they knew their sins were atoned for.
Now as part of the new covenant, Christ is seated in the Inner Sanctuary for us, doing atonement for
us. We can follow Him along this living way; the route the priest used to follow when he sprinkled
the blood all the way from the altar to the inner Sanctuary. To ignore this ‘living way’ or the blood of
the new covenant is like adhering to the old, or to a life outside the sanctuary, feeding on the old
covenant. The people adhering to the law, despise the work Christ is doing for us as our High Priest.
Heb.9:6-8
Indisputably, Christ reconciles us to God, and our efforts in the outer sanctuary are futile. We
can never cleanse ourselves, and we are totally dependent on Christ’s work in the Inner Sanctuary!
v.17
Reconciliation is done for the High Priest (Lord Jesus), His house (Church ) and the assembly. (the
remaining countries of the world) After the blood entered the Inner Sanctuary, it was also sprinkled
seven times onto the horns of the altar of burnt offering. Now Christ’s work is limited to the Church
in the inner Sanctuary, but when He returns He will do atonement for the complete world, as
portrayed by the four horns on the altar of the burnt offering. Christ’s atonement will then redeem
the entire world.
Following that, the first goat is offered. The offering of this goat atones for Israel’s uncleanness. They
are Israel’s transgressions in relation to the law and their sins in relation to God. v.16 God lived
amongst Israel’s unrighteousness, and this offering is a reminder of Christ’s ultimate work of
reconciliation for Israel. Following this the second goat is brought to Aaron, and then he had to place
his hands on his head, to symbolically transfer all the people’s unrighteousness on his head. Because
the first goat (Christ) is alive to God even when it is offered, the second goat (the Church ) will also
be alive. We (the second goat) owe our lives to the first Goat. (Christ) The second goat is not
released in the desert to die, but rather to live as we too live in the desert. We have no prerogatives
in our world as we exchanged the old for the new. We live in the desert. Paul pictures our position in
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our world as people who are placed outside the confines of the camp to live in the desert. We sense
this world is not ours, for we have received a new life in exchange for the old. Christ is despised by
the world today, and He is not reckoned as their King.
‘Therefore Jesus also that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the
gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no
continuing city, but we seek the one to come.’ Heb.13:12-14
We, as part of Christ’s body, can be pictured as both the 1st and the 2nd goat. We are the first goat
that died, but yet we do live as the 2nd goat in the desert. Our place is to be seated with Christ in
Heaven. Eph.2:5 The life of the 1st goat entered the inner Sanctuary. The 2nd goat reflects our life on
earth. Christ is the High Priest and He guided the goat into the desert. Many times Paul reiterated
this, and similarly Israel’s history in the desert. We live due to the manna (bread) in the desert.
Throughout Paul’s life, God did provide for him in the desert. Paul lived in the desert when God
revealed to him the truths concerning our dispensation.
We find the word ‘Arabia’ twice in the New Testament. Gal.1 and 4 In Galatians 4 the desert is compared
to Mount Sinai. I am sure that Paul ascended Mount Sinai, similar to Moses when Israel meandered
in the desert. Moses did see God’s glory and built the tabernacle. Paul also experienced this glory,
and he revealed it to the Church. Many times he told the believers he desired to reveal the
compelling truths regarding our dispensation, but he was hindered many a time from doing that.
That is clear when we study Hebrews 6 and also the two letters to the Corinthians. He had a
message for them, but he did not feel comfortable to share it with them. Personally I sense that
their unbelief was the thorn in his flesh. It was the stubbornness of his fellow believers. In order to
grasp certain truths, we have to go outside the camp to share Christ’s reproach in shame.
In the same chapter, Paul refers to both the thorn in his flesh, and the Lord’s glory. 2Cor.12 In this letter
he constantly battles to explain his apostolic authority, 2Cor.10 and also his suffering. 2Cor.11 The idea of
the second goat is not to be killed in the desert, but rather to be alive unto God. We are now living in
the desert like Israel, and we have also been set free from Egypt (slavery) like the Israelites.
In this chapter, we can assume that Azazel (Asasel) implies ‘to send someone away into the desert’.
The word could possibly be linked to the word ‘Azal’ (Asal). That place is named by Zachariah 14:5 at a
very critical time in Israel’s history. Soon Israel will face a roaring army flattening every obstacle. It is
often cited by our Lord. On the ‘day of the Lord’ He will appear on the Mount of Olives and the
mountain will split in two, allowing the believers amongst the Israelites, to flee Jerusalem. The
believing remnant will then be forced into the desert to Azal, to a place where they will meet the
Lord on the Great Day of Atonement. Azal cannot be found on any map, as it remains a mysterious
name. At that place, they will realize who entered for them into the inner Sanctuary, and He will
make Himself known. I believe that today in real life, ‘Azal’ is Petra or Selah. There Israel will meet
Christ.
Most Christians are not acquainted with the significance of all the offerings, or at most they know
about the Passover lamb and the two goats on the great Day of Atonement. The reason for this is
that both those offerings are mentioned in the New Testament. They argue that the blood of the
Lamb is the blood the Lord Jesus did shed on the cross? Then they believe that the blood merely
portrays His death. That is where most people go wrong, as the story continues. The essence of the
offerings is not His death, but the core is the resurrected life that followed His death. One example is
our baptism. The essence of our baptism is not to remain beneath the water, but to rise from it.
None of us can live beneath the water. When the Lord was baptized He immediately ascended
again. Mat.3:6 The emphasis is on the word ‘immediate’ as it directs us to His resurrection from the
death. The sceptical world drowns, but we are rescued from the same waters.
The focus of Christ’s death is His resurrection. The blood of the first goat is placed on the second
goat. Our attention ought not to be the death of the first goat; but rather the life that emanated
from it. The goat is sent into the desert with the aim to live, but outside the gates of Jerusalem or
the commune.
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On that day, the high priest also exchanged his colourful clothing for an ordinary garment made of
linen and a turban. Now whilst our High Priest cleanses us, the world is totally ignorant of His
existence. Today His crown or His Kingship (colourful clothing) is not noticed.
3.THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES (BOOTHS)
Leviticus 23:34-44
That is the last feast, and it concerns the Gentiles at most. It is an extension of the great Day of
Atonement that commences after Israel did subject themselves to Christ Kingdom. The 70 nations
that are scattered across the world will return to their own homeland. In the Old Testament, there
are many laws, and many of them have never been put into practice. Those laws will be applied
during Millennium and possibly later too, in the new creation.
Then God’s plan for this world will be realized. It is not a novel idea that Christ is using the old
creation to accomplish His plans. Now Christ is using our mortal bodies to safeguard His treasure.
(Holy Spirit) Similarly, during Millennium God will use the old creation to finally stamp His authority.
The feast of tabernacles deals with Christ’s revealed Kingdom, and it commenced with Israel
accepting their Messiah. This feast will be prominent until the world enters the new creation. As far
as the timing of this feast is concerned, it can be placed besides the Feast of the unleavened bread,
but six months apart and both include an 8th day.
The 8th day suggests the new creation. God’s final plan throughout the first seven-day period will be
executed on the 8th day. Then everything will become part of a perfect new creation. Abraham and
the other believers of the Old Testament will not partake of the first seven days of the feast of the
tabernacles, but rather they will enter the new creation on the 8th day, when His Kingdom is fully
established on earth. God’s ruling will be the same in the new heaven and earth, but then everything
will be enveloped by the new creation. Maybe the division and differences between the nations as
we know them today, will not exist in the new earth. The 8th day of the feast is a continuation of the
previous seven. The feast of the tabernacles originates from the Hebrew word ‘soekkaw’ St.no.5521
that again stems from the word ‘soch’ meaning ‘booths’ or ‘shelter’. It is translated as follows:
▪ secret place Ps.18:11
▪ in tents 2 Samuel 11:11
▪ shelter to provide shade Jonah 4:5
The feast of tabernacles will again be celebrated during the Millennium. Zachariah 14:16,18,19 We can also
presume a new temple will be built. Eze.40-45
Following Israel’s history in the Old Testament, we notice that they celebrated this feast three times.
▪ At the inauguration of King Solomon’s temple
▪ During Ezra’s lifetime
▪ During Nehemiah’s lifetime
King Solomon’s kingdom symbolizes the Millennium on earth, and Ezra and Nehemiah lived at the
time when Israel returned from the Babylonian exile. In the future when Israel do return from exile,
the Millennium will commence, and then this feast will be celebrated yearly.
The jubilee years Lev.25 and 27 as known in the Old Testament has never been observed before,
however, it will be celebrated during the Millennium, because God will never make laws concerning
the Sabbath or the jubilee years, to be never kept. Those laws beg fulfilment, sometimes in the near
future. It also implies that nobody can hoard properties as they do today, and no rent will be
collected. Then an ideal social environment exists.
The Jews were called to celebrate the feast of tabernacles to remind them of the past. Lev.23:43 It
reminded them about the time when they were en route from Egypt to Canaan. According to the
Jews the meaning of the Passover is reflected to the past, to the time they spend in Egypt and when
the Lord killed all the firstborn. We, as part of Christ’s body, have a totally different vision of the
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Passover and the feast of tabernacles. We do not reflect the past, but rather we are occupied with
all the things happening today.
Christ, as the essence of all the feasts today and they are accomplished in Him. If we see Christ in the
Passover, it has a far greater significance. The same applies to the feast of tabernacles. The feast
reflects the past, but also to the 8th day. On the 8th day, the people will not live in booths, because
then the world will enter the eternal position. When Jesus lived on earth the people also celebrated
that feast. Jh.7:10-53 According to verse 37 the last day of the feast (or the 8th day) was the most
important day of the feast. On the 8th day, the Lord appeared mysteriously at the feast and told the
people what the meaning of the feast is, as it hinged on Him. He also extended an invitation to the
people:
‘If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.’ Jh.7:37
The Jews were too blind to notice the true significance of the feast.
To summarize we can conclude that the feast of tabernacles has a great significance for many
people. I will discuss each of them separately.
▪ Israel
Israel was momentarily in the desert when the conditions were out of the ordinary. All the
persecutions that crossed their path were brief. There transient life in the desert ought to capture
us. 1Cor.10 We are now in a similar spiritual situation. Israel lived as slaves in Egypt and travelled in the
desert en-route to the promised land of Canaan. We have been freed from sin (Egypt, or the law),
but we still linger in the desert, like the goat on the great Day of Atonement. Israel’s fleeting
existence is part of the first seven days of the feast of tabernacles. There is an 8th day that
guarantees their eternal inheritance, their earthly land Canaan. During the Millennium when Israel
will celebrate the feast of tabernacles, they and all the other nations of the world, will yearn for the
8th day. After the last day of judgement, they will enter the new creation. (8th day)
▪ Church
We live in a fallen world, and we too wait to be freed from our earthly bodies. We experience the
first seven days. We have been freed from Egypt (from the yoke of the law), but our bodies long for
the time of the rapture. With the rapture, our bodies will be total part of the 8th day (new creation)
Our life here on earth is brief. However, we ought to remember that spiritually we already belong to
the 8th day, if indeed we deem ourselves as part of Christ’s body.
▪ Christ
On earth, the Lord communed ‘with us’ and the disciples saw His glory.
‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ Jh.1:14
The word ‘dwelt’ stems from the word ‘tabernacle’. He shared our life and the tribulations we
experience on earth, but He entered the 8th day with His resurrection. While our Lord lived on earth
He belonged to the seven days, but after His resurrection He is totally part of the 8th day or the new
creation.
▪ World
According to 2 Peter 3 the old world (the world of seven) will be replaced by a new earth. At last it
belongs to the 8th day. The true significance of the feast hinges on the 8th day. The seventh day is the
Sabbath, and it reflects the Millennium. On the last day, our world of sevens will finally end at the
great white throne. Then the world will be replaced by a total new creation.
According to Numbers 29 many animals had to be slaughtered during this feast. There were 70 bulls,
and they reflect our world of seven. The many offerings are final. The old is burnt to herald the way
to the new creation.
Day 1
13 young bulls
Day 2
12 young bulls
Day 3
11 young bulls
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Day 4
10 young bulls
Day 5
9 young bulls
Day 6
8 young bulls
Day 7
7 young bulls
Total - 70 young bulls
Booths (tents)
The Israelites had to live in huts for 7 days. Lev.23:42 During Nehemiah’s time, they hailed this festival
and each person or family made their own huts of tree or palm branches. Neh. 8 The tree beside the
waters in the Psalms, Ps.1 is a type of Christ. It is planted along a flowing stream of water, and its roots
are grounded in Christ’s resurrected life. The new life that emanates from that spring is ‘the streams
of living water.’ This new life is symbolized by the branches that matured from that tree. They had to
shelter beneath its branches for 7 days. Until we enter the new creation we too can also find our
refuge and shelter in Christ.
Joy
This feast will finally herald their entry into the new creation. That is the reason for the people’s
great joy when they celebrated this feast. Lev.23:40; Deut.16:14; Neh. 8:18 If the feast of tabernacles was only a
reminder of Israel’s time in the desert, why were they so frequently prompted to be joyful? Their
sojourn in the desert was certainly not a pleasant affair!
The reason for this great joy is that Christ’s Kingdom will endure, and it will continue for all eternity.
Our circumstances here on earth will change, as Christ Himself will reign. Consequently the earth
and the animals’ behaviour will change dramatically.
‘The wolf will live with the lamb; the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the
yearling together, and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear; their young will
lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the
cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.’ Isa.11:6-8
The feast of tabernacles gives us a glimpse into the new creation. Christ is our booth (tent), and He
will shield us en route from the old to the new.
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