What are the Biblical Feasts and why should I celebrate them?

Described in Leviticus 23, these feasts are God's holidays. They were created by God, not man. The word translated "feasts" is the Hebrew word "moedim."  Moedim means "appointed times."  Yahweh Himself has appointed these times and set them apart as special. It is as if we have a special appointment with God at these times, and He expects us to keep these appointments. The sequence and timing of these Biblical holy days has been carefully orchestrated by Yahweh. Each is part of a whole that tells a story. They are called holy convocations and are intended to be a meeting time between God and man for holy purposes.

The feasts were given to God's chosen people-- Israel. However, the Bible says that "all of the nations will be blessed" through Abraham's descendents (Genesis 12). All of the blessings of the church-- past, present and future-- have come and will come through the covenants that God made with Israel. There is no reason to conclude that Gentiles cannot or should not participate in the blessings of the feasts.

The biblical holidays relate to ancient Israel's agricultural seasons. When the feasts were instituted, Israel was an agricultural nation, and thus, these agricultural characteristics remain to this day.

Yet, more importantly, these feasts point to the sequence, timing and significance of the major event's of Yeshua's  (Jesus') life and His redemptive purpose- both in the past and in the future.

Passover/Pesach

Yeshua is our Passover lamb. His sacrificial blood was spilled for our sins. This holiday reminds us of our need to put the blood of Yeshua over the doorframes of our hearts. Yeshua died on Passover.

Unleavened Bread/Matzah

Leaven is seen the the Bible as a symbol of sin, decay, degeneration and death. The 7-day feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after Passover. This was the day that Yeshua's body was placed in the grave.

Firstfruits/Bikkurim

The firstfruits of the barley harvest were cut on his day and presented to God. Yeshua is described as the "firstfruits" of the resurrection (1Cor. 15:23) He rose from the grave on this day. Yeshua was the first to be resurrected from the grave and presented to God.

Weeks/Shavuot

God told the Israelites that they were to count 7 weeks from Firstfruits and then on  the day after that, they were to celebrate this fourth feast. This was the 50th day. This feast is also called Pentecost meaning "fiftieth." Scriptures tell us that Yeshua rose from the dead  and lived on earth for 40 days before ascending into heaven. He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem, and He would send His Holy Spirit. They didn't wait long. The Holy Spirit descended upon the believers in 10 days (40 + 10 = 50). This holiday is also celebrated as a remembrance of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. It was a day when the word was written "not on hearts of stone, but on hearts of flesh."

                            The interval of time between the spring feasts and the fall feasts is the time we are in now--

 between the first and second coming of Yeshua.

Trumpets/Yom Teruah

The shofar is the trumpet associated with this feast. It was used for two purposes: to summon Israel into God's presence and to sound a battle alarm when God called Israel to war. The prophets speak of this future day when God will intervene in man's affairs. They call it "the day of the Lord." Two major themes are associated with this day: 1) deliverance of the righteous and 2) judgment of the wicked. In Thess. 4, it says that "the Lord will descend with the sound of the trumpet to call His own to His presence." Chapter 5 describes the time of wrath to be poured out on all of the wicked. The Feast of Trumpets describes the coming of the Messiah to gather His people and judge the wicked. 

Atonement/Yom Kipper

In ancient Israel, one day a year the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with blood sacrifices for the sins of the entire nation of Israel. The Day of Atonement is a solemn day of self-examination and repentance. In the future fulfillment of this holiday, when the Messiah comes to establish His throne, Israel will look on Him who they pierced and repent. The nation's sin will be dealt with, and the Lord will remember their sins no more. 

Tabernacles/Sukkot

Tabernacles commemorates the time when the Israelites dwelled in booths/tabernacles(small huts) in the wilderness as God provided for them, This feast speaks of the Messianic Kingdom when God will "tabernacle among men." In ancient Israel it was a most joyous harvest celebration occurring just after the fall harvest had been gathered. This "Feast of Ingathering" as it is also called in the Bible prophetically speaks to the future "ingathering" or harvest of souls.