HAVE YOU BEEN DECEIVED Regarding The Feasts And Appointments Found IN THE SCRIPTURES???
Have you been taught that “the Feasts & Sabbaths in Leviticus 23 and elsewhere in the Old Testament are Old Covenant and are strictly for the Jews?” If you have then you may want to read this brief synopsis and see for yourself if you have been taught the truth!
Leviticus 23:1-5“And YHWH2 spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl (Israel), and say to them, ‘The appointments of YHWH ,which you are to proclaim as qodesh3 gatherings, My appointments, are these: ‘Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a qodesh gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings.‘These are the appointments of YHWH, qodesh gatherings which you are to proclaim at their Appointed Times. In the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, between the evenings, is the Pěsaḥ to YHWH.”
It is very clear that these are the “appointments of YHWH”! Yisra'el misrepresented YHWH and HIS Feasts, which brought judgment.4 Are Christianity's observances such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, Lent, Easter, Halloween, etc., accurately representing Yahweh? It's something to think about...
Notice that the Sabbath is included in YHWH'S appointed times. We will not include the Sabbath in this writing. There are more in-depth studies on the Sabbath on our website.5
APPOINTMENT #1 – THE PASSOVER – Not Easter
In Genesis 22:7-8 Abraham prophesied that YHWH would provide for Himself the lamb. The Passover Lamb is first instituted as an “everlasting law” in Exodus 12:3-14. The Prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) referenced the Passover Lamb in chapter 53. The first reference to Yahshua being the Passover Lamb of Yahweh is in John 1:29. There are 33 references to Yahshua as the (Passover) Lamb in the New Testament. There are no references in the Scriptures to an Easter Bunny. Why? Egg laying rabbits do not exist! However, The Passover Lamb of YHWH does exist! Every Passover we commemorate that Yahshua shed His blood as The Lamb of YHWH to deliver us and cleanse us from sin!6 The Easter Bunny cannot do that! Only Yahshua can!
APPOINTMENT #2 – UNLEAVENED BREAD
Lev 23:6-8 ‘And on the fifteenth day of this new moon is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to YHWH – seven days you eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. 8‘And you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH for seven days. On the seventh day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.’ ”
This Appointment, under the Old Covenant, is to commemorate the day that Yisra'el departed from Egypt.(Ex 12:17). Leaven represents sin in the scriptures. This observance speaks of Yisra'el exiting Egypt for a new beginning. Being delivered from the bondage and idolatry, Yisra'el must now be taught the process of removing the influences, practices, observances and idolatry of Egypt so as to follow THEIR Deliverer; YAHWEH!
In The New Covenant, we who believe in Yahshua are His Bride, His Body, His House.7 Just as Yisra'el were commanded to cleanse their houses of leaven (sin), Yahshua began the process of cleansing His Bride/Body/House of sin on the First day of this Feast. “Seven” throughout the Scriptures is in reference to completeness / perfection. Yahshua is coming back for a Bride without blemish, being completed or perfect. The seventh day of this Feast speaks of that day.
APPOINTMENT #3 - FIRST-FRUITS
Lev 23:9-14 “And YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before YHWH for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it. 12 And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as an ascending offering to YHWH. 13 and its grain offering: two-tenths of an ěphah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to YHWH, a sweet fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine. 14 ‘And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim – a Law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”
These verses emphasize for Yisra'el to acknowledge YHWH FIRST in all reaping. The Priest was to offer the first of the first-fruits to YHWH along with a “perfect male lamb” upon the altar with accompanying flour, oil, and wine offerings.
The relevance for us in the New Covenant is proclaiming Yahshua as HE once and for all fulfilled the following;
Yahshua: The First of the First-Fruits; 1Cor 15:20-23 “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep.” 21For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a Man. 22 For as all die in Adam, so also all shall be made alive in Messiah. 23 And each in his own order: Messiah the first-fruits, then those who are of Messiah at His coming..”
Yahshua: The Great High Priest; Hebrews 4:14-15 “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Yahshua the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tried in all respects as we are, apart from sin.”
Yahshua: The Perfect Male Lamb – John 1:29 “On the next day Yohanan saw Yahshua coming toward him, and said, “See, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!”
Yahshua: The Ascending Offering – Ascended on The First Day – John 20:17 "Yahshua said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.’ ”
Yahshua: The Bread / Drink Offerings – Luke 22:19-20 “And taking bread, giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shed for you.”
Yahshua: The Anointed Son Of Yahweh – Hebrews 1:8-9 “But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever, a scepter of straightness is the scepter of Your reign. 9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Because of this, Elohim, Your Elohim, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
APPOINTMENT #4 – SHAVUOT / FEAST OF WEEKS / PENTECOST
Lev 23:15-21 ‘And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. 16 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHWH. 17 ‘Bring from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour they are, baked with leaven, first-fruits to YHWH. 18 ‘And besides the bread, you shall bring seven lambs a year old, perfect ones, and one young bull and two rams. They are an ascending offering to YHWH, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to YHWH. 19 ‘And you shall offer one male goat as a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old, as a slaughter of peace offerings. 20 ‘And the priest shall wave them, besides the bread of the first-fruits, as a wave offering before YHWH, besides the two lambs. They are set-apart to YHWH for the priest. 21 ‘And on this same day you shall proclaim a set-apart gathering for yourselves, you do no servile work on it – a law forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”
Historically it was during this one day observance when Moshe(Moses) received The Law / Torah of Yahweh and upon bringing them down from the mountain found the children of Yisrael worshiping and dancing before the golden calf. He subsequently threw the stone tablets containing the Torah of Yahweh to the ground in disgust! On this day 3000 impatient people were slain for their unbelief & idolatry (Exodus 32).
For us in The New Covenant, it is on this same day that The Set-Apart Spirit was poured out upon the 120 taught ones in the upper room who believed and were patiently waiting “for the Promise of The Father.”8 Having received the Set-Apart Spirit as promised, speaking languages supernaturally, their testimony caused pandemonium in Yerushalyim! Peter proclaimed Yahshua as Messiah and 3000 people believed and were added to them!
APPOINTMENT #5 – YOM TERUAH / TRUMPETS
Lev 23:23-25 And YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, a remembrance of Teruah, a qodesh gathering. 25‘You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH.”
Teruah: “a shout, a loud noise, a battle cry, by voice or instrument.” For Yisra'el it is a day to blow shophars in their gatherings. Many in Christianity have taught that on this day Yahshua will return for His Bride.9 Others link this day to Yahshua's conception or the day of His birth. It is a day to ponder and reflect upon Yahshua's promise that His people will hear His voice.10
APPOINTMENT #6 – YOM KIPPUR / ATONEMENT
Lev 23:26-32 And YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, 27“On the tenth day of this seventh new moon is Day of Atonement. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. 28 And you do no work on that same day, for it is Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before YHWH your Elohim. 29 For any being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any being who does any work on that same day, that being I shall destroy from the midst of his people. 31 You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the ninth day of the new moon at evening, from evening to evening, you observe your Sabbath.”
In Yisra'el this day was observed yearly by the Priest entering into the Most Set-Apart place and making the offerings for himself and for the people.11 If the offerings were acceptable, the people would know that they had the favor of YHWH for another year. It speaks prophetically of the bitter-sweet future Day of Atonement/Judgment when ALL will give an account before YHWH on the basis of a relationship with The Great High Priest; Yahshua. Sweet for those who know HIM and are known by HIM who receive everlasting life in HIS Kingdom. Bitter for those who do not know HIM in Truth, receiving everlasting judgment and torment.12
APPOINTMENT #7 – SUKKOT / BOOTHS / TABERNACLES
Lev 23:33-36 And YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, saying, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh new moon is the Festival of Sukkot for seven days to YHWH. 35 On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. 36 ‘For seven days you bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. On the eighth day there shall be a set-apart gathering for you, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. It is a closing festival, you do no servile work.”
The native born in Yisra'el are to build temporary shelters and stay in them throughout this appointment in remembrance of their ancestors dwelling in tents in the wilderness on their way to the promised land (Lev 23:43). This also speaks of our journey now as believers in Yahshua, walking through this “wilderness” in these tents (our bodies) looking for the promised city; The New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. The first day is a reminder of being born from above and beginning the journey out of Mystery Babylon. The last day is a reminder that we must finish the race to completion as we look to the ultimate new beginning...The Eighth Day!
Hopefully, you can now understand how YHWH'S Appointments weave the story of HIS Redemption for those who believe and obey HIM. Believing in the (Passover) Lamb begins the journey. Allowing Yahshua as the acceptable (Ascending) High Priest to (Unleaven) your life as HE prepares you for HIS return! Being filled/gifted/empowered with HIS Spirit (Shavuot) is essential in this new relationship! Hearing HIS Voice (Teruah) is not just a promise. Its a must! Preparing you for the final judgment (Atonement) is the whole point! Putting off these temporary tents (Sukkot) and being clothed with the New Body in the New Jerusalem and achieving The (Eighth Day) of New Beginnings... FOREVER!
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1Hebrew: moadim meaning “appointments, assemblies, festival, feast, observance, appointed time to meet.”
2YHWH: The abbreviation of Yahweh, The Father's Name mentioned 6800+ times in the original manuscripts.
3Hebrew: qodesh meaning “set-apart, dedicated, consecrated” Used herein instead of holy, (Holi) which is a Hindu deity.
4Isaiah: 1:14 & Amos 5:21 refer to YHWH pronouncing judgment for Yisra'el misrepresenting HIM and HIS Feasts.
5Messiah: Fellowship's website is www.messiah-fellowship.com
6Matthew: 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:12-14, 1Peter 1:18-21, 1John 1:7
7His Bride: Revelation 21:2-9, His Body: Eph. 4:11-16, 5:30, Colossians 1:24, His House:1Cor 3:16, 6:19, Eph. 2:21
8The promises of and the sending of the Set-apart Spirit! Luke 24:49, John 14:15-17, 26, Acts 1:4, 2:1-8, 41
91Thess 4:16 Messiah returning with a shout...with a trumpet. Rev 1:10 Yahshua's voice as a trumpet.
10The promise that Yahshua's sheep will hear His voice; John 10:16, 10:27, Revelation 3:20
11Leviticus 16 explains the Day of Atonement and Offerings
12Revelation 20:11-15 The Final Judgment Day