Saturday,December 20, 2003
THE THREE MAIN AND ORIGINAL FEASTS OF ISRAEL. The keeping of these feasts was compulsory. Every male was to follow their actions and rules. They were the highlights of their religious year. All are of great significance to the church for they are types of spiritual experiences which are vital to the spiritual well being of every member of the body of Christ. Deut. 16:16
THE PASSOVER. It was to commemorate their deliverance from all the bondage of Egypt. It foreshadowed the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the sin offering for the world. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. Christ our Passover is crucified for us. 1 Cor. 5:7 He wonderfully and fully fulfilled all the requirements of that sacrifice and the activities of that day. He was crucified precisely on the day and the time of the sacrifice of the lamb. The message was loud and clear for all who would give heed to it. It was the month of Abib, the month of new beginnings. We find a totally new life in Christ Jesus when He becomes our Passover lamb. It was celebrated at the time of the barley harvest, the food of the poor. Christ excludes no one from his salvation, it is for the whosoever. The poor heard Him gladly.
PENTECOST. Pentecost means fifty. Using the Sabbath following the day of resurrection as a starting point. Seven Sabbaths or seven weeks were counted out giving a total of forty-nine days, the morrow or the next day would be the fiftieth, and that would be the day of Pentecost. Lev. 23:15-17 Once again the Lord made the shadow and the type to become a reality. When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the Spirit came upon the waiting group in Jerusalem and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. This would take place in the third month, the month of fullness. The Lord brought His church into being and anointed it for service. They became alive and active, by the power of the Spirit began to spread the Good News everywhere. Acts 2:4.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. The one feast which as yet has not been activated in the spiritual life of the church. It is the feast of the seventh month, a divine complete number. The final one, representing the great last day revival and the perfecting of the church. The most important activity of this feast is the Day of Atonement. Lev. 23:28 It was on this day that the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself, his family, the tabernacle and for the people of Israel. It was a time of entering in to the glorious and awesome presence of the glory of the Lord. It foreshadows a moment of time in these last day when the Lord will bring His church to the fullness of the stature of the Lord Jesus. Eph. 4:15 Having sanctified and glorified those who are worthy to be in His Bride, He will bring them to perfection, totally sanctified and filled with all the fullness of the Lord. A perfect church, a bride. Eph. 5:26-27