The Seven Feasts (Moed) of Israel

The Seven Feasts (Moed) of Israel

7 is the number of completion in the bible

The Seven Feasts of Israel are found in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus. Ordained by God for Israel to celebrate, they were intended as a teaching tool to prepare Israel for the coming of their Messiah and Israel’s salvation.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, (Mikra) even these are My Feasts. (God’s Feasts) (Leviticus 23:2)

Convocation--- (Leviticus 23:2,) means an assembly of people; for the purpose of rehearsing for something.

The Hebrew word for “feasts” Leviticus 23:2 is “Moed”, which means an appointment, a fixed time, a set time or exact time. Literally, the Feasts of Israel are the rehearsals or patterns of future. (Very important)

7 Feasts or Rehearsals

They point to the coming ofOur LORD Jesus the Messiah. The Feasts are the foreshadowing of things that were yet to come. The seven feast of Israel prophetically forecast and outline the main events of Israel’s relation to Yahweh

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an Holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Pesach or Passover:
Exodus 12:1-14 & Leviticus 23:4,5 On the 10th day of the first month, Nisan,(Religious Calendar) (April on our calendar), Nisan is the first month of the ecclesiastical year and the seventh month (eighth, in leap year) of the civil calendar
On the 10th day of the 1st monthEvery family of Israel was to take a lamb, without blemish, and separate it from the flock. It was to be a male without blemish of the first of the year. The lamb was to be examined for four days. On the evening of the 14th the Passover Lamb(Between the two evenings)was killed,So the Passover lamb was killed at about 3:00 p.m. on 14th Then roasted and eaten during the night. The blood was applied on the doorposts and lintel. This feast celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. But, like all of the feasts, it also has a prophetic meaning. It looked forward to the sacrifice of the “lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ that would take away the sins of the world
God told Moses while he was in Egypt
Exodus 12: 3,6
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth (day) of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of (their) fathers, a lamb for an house: (without Blemish)
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (Between the two evenings) Thursday from 6:00 pm to Friday at 6:00 pm.
Passover in Jerusalem at time of Jesus Crucifixion:
3,000,000 Jews besides gentiles were in Jerusalem at Passover
The High Priest killed Passover lamb at the same time Jesus died. Both were killed on Mount Moriah, as the so called Mount Calvary is actually part of Mount Moriah. Mount Calvary was made as a result of Solomon’s mining stones for the Temple.
Jesus ate the Passover on Thursday night (which was Friday) at 6:00 pm on Thursday night. The Passover started at 6:00, as Jewish Holidays start at 6:00 and end at 6:00 the next evening. The Passover lamb was to be killed between the two evenings.
Not only did Jesus fulfill this feast symbolically, but also quite literally. On the 10th of Nisan, Palm Sunday, Jesus rode down the Mount of Olives on a colt. He was crucified four days later on Passover. (MT. 21:4-8, Zech. 9:9)
This was clearly demonstrated by Paul when he wrote
"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." (1st Cor. 5:7)
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
4 Feasts in the Spring:
Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost
1.Passover (Chag Ha Pesach)
Families took their Passover lamb to the temple to be slain by the priest and the blood was passed down to a priest that poured the blood beside of the brazen altar. The Lamb was taken to ovens in that were set up in Jerusalem and then was eaten at Passover supper on Thursday night, which was Friday the night of Passover.
2.Unleavened Bread (Chag Ha Motzi)
The day following Passover, the 15th of Nisan, (Saturday)(Sabbath)began the feast of Unleavened bread. This feast covered seven days, from the 15th to the 21st Nisan which was seven days. The first and last days, (15th & 21st), were "High Sabbath" days, although they do not necessarily fall on the weekly Sabbath. "High Sabbath" days are mandatory rest days which occur during some feast days.
The feast of Unleavened Bread celebrates the journey of the children of Israel through the wilderness, when God fed them with manna from heaven and supplied water out of the rock. This feast was fulfilled by Jesus during the Feast of Unleavened Bread when He said,
Jesus is the Bread of Life
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51).
Jesus was crucified on Passover. His body was laid in the tomb just before sunset, when the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. His body laid in the tomb for the first three days of this feast, from the 14th through the 16th of Nisan
Matzah of the Passover meal had stripes on it and Jesus had stripes on his back for us.
And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it and gave unto them, saying, This is my bodywhich is given for you: this do in rememberance of me. Luke 22:19

3.Firstfruits (Yom Ha Bikkurim)Lev.23:9-14
In the year of the crucifixion, Sunday fell on the 16th of Nisan, the third day after Jesus was put in the tomb. (Sunday) On this Sunday called the Feast of First fruits, each family brought a single bundle (Omer) of barley to the Temple. The Priest would cross the Red Heifer Causeway and wave the 1st bundle on the Mt. Of Olives. It was gathered at the beginning of the harvest and given to the Lord. The Red Heifer was also slain on the Mount Moriah. The Eastern Gate was made a little lower than the other four gates so the High Priest could view the front of the entrance to the Holy Place.
Jesus fulfilled this feast of firstfruits. The Apostle Paul said:
"But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept."..."For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." [1 Cor. 15:20,23].
The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of the resurrection of all the saints.
Jesus was crucified on Passover and buried before the Feast of Unleavened Bread and raised on Yom Bikkurim and walked upon the earth during the 40 days of the counting of the omer.
Counting of the Omer
According to the Torah (Lev. 23:15), the Jewish people were obligated to count the days from Passover to Shavuot or Pentecost. This period is known as the Counting of the Omer. An omer is a unit of measure. On the second day of Passover, in the days of the temple, an omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an Offering. This grain offering was referred to as the Omer.
Every night, from the second night of Passover to the night before Shavu'ot, the Jews recite a blessingand state the count of the omer in both weeks and days. So on the 16th day, you would say "Today is sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer. The counting is intended to remind us of the link between Passover, which commemorates the Exodus, and Shavu'ot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah. It reminds them that the redemption from slavery was not complete until we received the Torah.
Jesus was Resurrected on Sunday
Pentecost was on Sunday
JESUS WALKED ON THE EARTH FOR 40 DAYS DURING THE COUNTING OF THE OMER.
The disciples were told to not leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with Holy Ghost.

4.Shavuot the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost:
Leviticus 23:15-21 From the feast of Firstfruits,(Bikkurim) the Jews were to count seven Sabbaths, (49 days). The Sunday following the seventh Sabbath, was the Feast of Pentecost, (which means "fiftieth"). This feast commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. On that day God himself came down in a cloud on Mt. Sinai in fire and smoke and a blast of God's trumpet, to establish His covenant with His people. (Israel was birthed on that day.)This feast was also a prophecy of the coming of the New Covenant which was consummated on the same day,(Sunday) the Day of Pentecost, with a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire and miraculous demonstrations of the Holy Ghost. (The church was birthed or began on the Day of Pentecost.)
Two Loaves of Bread brought by the people, typified both Jew and Gentile in the church.
The two loaves were waved before the Lord by the High Priest.
The Division of time between the 4 Feasts of spring and the beginning of the last 3 feasts in the fall is the period of the 2000 years of Gentile Church.
We are in that period of time now.
The first four feasts were fulfilled by Jesus both symbolically and literally at His first coming. The last three will be fulfilled by Jesus at His second coming. Since the first four feasts were fulfilled on the very days God commanded His people to celebrate them, it is reasonable to conclude that the remaining three feasts will also be fulfilled on the actual feast days as well.
Jesus died on Passover and buried just before the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Resurrected on First Fruits, Church began on Day of Pentecost.
Jesus is a Priest after the order of Melchizedek
Jesus came and fulfilled the first four feasts as Messiah Ben (Son) of Joseph, or as the suffering servant.
Jesus will return in the Fall Feasts as Messiah Ben (Son) of David as the conquering King.
Fall Feasts Typify the Second coming of Jesus.

5. Rosh Hashanah (Head of Year) Or Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teru’ah) God commanded Israel to start this Feast on the first day of the seventh month, by blowing a series of trumpets. Thefirst day of the month of Tishrei, on The Jewish civil calendar. It was the beginning the Jewish new year.
Feast of Trumpets was the only Feast to begin on the New Moon.
Feast of Passover was during the Full Moon
The period of the New Moon was a Dark and moonless night as the Moon is between the earth and the Sun.
48 hour period when the Jews did not know when the New Moon was.
Two Witnesses were to testify about the time
The first day of any given Hebrew month is the new moon. This is the time when the first thin crescent of the new moon can just be made out with the naked eye.
Picture of first sighting of the New Moon

Trumpets sounded all day on the 1st day of Trumpets
Shofar and Two Silver Trumpets were blown
Feast of Gathering
Reminded Jews of Ram that replaced Isaac as sacrifice. They believe that Abraham was going to offer Isaac on the same day as the day of the beginning of Feast of Trumpets.
Although the Scripture does not specify what this feast represents, it possibly looked forward to the fall of Jericho. In the days of Joshua, they were instructed to march around the city of Jericho seven days. Each day the trumpets were blown by the priests, but the people kept silent. On the last day, they marched around the city seven times with the seven priests blowing seven trumpets. When the last trumpet sounded, the people raised a great shout, and the walls of the city fell flat. Is it a coincidence that Paul said we will be raised at the "last trumpet?"
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, “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”(1Corinthians 15:51-52)
Is it also a coincidence that at the rapture there will be a great "shout?"
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16)
(Symbolized Rapture and beginning of Tribulation!!)
Tishvua (Repentance)
The first day of every month was begun with the blowing of trumpets, but there was deeper significance attached to the blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) occurred ten days later on the tenth of the month. The ten days from Trumpets to the Day of Atonement are known as "The days of Awe"(YamimNoraim)TheBook of Life, Book of Remberance, Book of Death were opened in Heaven which include penitence, prayer, and fasting in preparation for the Feast of Atonement. The Feast of Atonement is the Feast of Judgment.
The Feast of Trumpets is the only Hebrew Feast to occur on a new moon.
The 10 Days of Awe are actually 86 moons and 9 days which is 7 years.
70th week of Daniel’s prophecy
The last week of Daniels 70 week prophecy is the last of the 70 weeks and it starts with the Anti-Christ making a covenant with Israel for one week or seven years. This is the same as the 10 days of Awe.
Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Jacob had to work and extra 7 Years to receive Rachael as his bride.
On the first day of Feast of Trumpets as the trumpets sounded it was a sign for the workers in the field to come to the Temple to rest from their labors and celebrate with Yahweh.
When interpreting the meaning of these Feasts it seems to indicate that the Rapture could happen on the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets on Tishrei the 1st.
At the end of Jewish wedding the door was opened and the bride and groom went into the Hup’a or marriage chamber for 7 days. Time of concealment. Then they appeared back in public.
The Lord will gather his gentle bride and Israel will be converted to Jesus as their Messiah in the 7 year tribulation period.
Jesus at the end of the 7 year tribulation period he will appear with his bride to reign for 1000 years on this earth.
The New Moon was recognized by actual or personal observation and not by astronomical means. As we know many of the Rabbis must have been familiar with astronomical pictures, by which they were would test the veracity of witnesses. So important was it deemed to have faithful witnesses, that they were even allowed, in order to reach Jerusalem in time, to travel on the Sabbath, and, if necessary, to make use of horse or mule
Gentiles calculate time by the Sun because many were sun worshipers, but God had Jews calculate by the moon.

6. (Yom Kippur) or The Day of Atonement: And Forgiveness (Leviticus 23:26-32) The Feast of Trumpets is followed by ten days called by modern Jews, "the days of awe.” (YamimNoraim)
This is a time of national repentance for Israel. The 10th day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. On this day the priest entered the Holy of Holies into the presence of God to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The Passover clearly represents personal salvation, each family had their own lamb, and celebrated Passover at home. But the Day of Atonement represents national salvation for Israel. Only one sacrifice was offered for the whole nation. The Bible makes it clear that at the second coming of Christ, the surviving Jews will look upon Christ and be saved in a day. (Zechariah 12:9,10 & 13:1), (Romans 11:25-27, Revelation 1:7) If there is any day on the Jewish calendar which is a prophecy of the second coming of Christ to overthrow the world kingdoms and deliver His people Israel, this is it.
Armageddon
The Day of Atonement is considered the Most Holy of all of the feasts.