Feasts of the Lord. Study Notes. Stan Proctor

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1 Feasts of the Lord Study Notes by Stan Proctor 1 of 37

2 Slide Feasts of the Lord Introduction Session 0 (zero) Intro The feasts of the Lord are found in the Bible in chapter 23 chapter of Leviticus. They are 7 holidays listed in chronological sequence. The word feasts means appointed times. They are called holy convocations or times of meeting. Each feast is a part of a comprehensive whole. Collectively, they tell a story. Let s look at a number of important points about the feasts. 1. They were given to the Hebrew people. 2. These seven feasts relate to Israel s spring and fall agricultural seasons. 3. The timing of the feasts is based on the Jewish lunar calendar (354-day yrs). (every 19 th year the Jewish calendar has a 13 th month). 4. These seven feast typify the sequence, timing, and significance of the major events of the Lord s redemptive plan. a) they commence at Calvary, where Jesus gave Himself for the sins of the world (represented by Passover), b) and climax at the establishment of the messianic Kingdom at the Messiah s second coming (represented by feast of Tabernacles). 5. The spiritual reality of the feasts are clearly fulfilled in Messiah, therefore ALL of humanity has been extended an invitation to meet with God. 6. The Gentiles participate in the blessings associated with the feast. a) This is consistent with God s unconditional covenant to the patriarch Abraham. In your seed all nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 22:18). b) All the blessings and promises the Church enjoys, comes out of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New covenants which God made with Israel. c) The seven feasts depict the entire redemptive plan of the Messiah: On the seventh day of the week, the children of Israel were to observe a Sabbath rest. The seventh month of the year is especially holy (all three fall feasts are observed during it). Every seventh year the nation of Israel was commanded to refrain from farming and allow the soil to rest. Seven sevens of years were counted, and then the next year was to be the year of Jubilee (fiftieth year when all debts were forgiven and all slaves set free). Seventy sevens of years were determined upon the Jewish people during which time God would bring to perfection and completion His redemptive purposes (Dan 9:24-27). 2 of 37

3 The book of Revelation uses the number seven more than fifty times. Then entire book revolves around seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. The seven feasts of the Lord are his appointed times during which He will meet with men for holy purposes Feasts of the Lord occur during two separate times each year. Spring Feasts The first four of the seven holidays occur in the spring of the year. o The events of these four feasts typify the fulfillment of the Hebrew scriptures in Messiah. Fall Feasts The final three holidays occur in the fall of the year. o All three occur in the Hebrew month of Tishri (sep/oct). o These three holidays depict specific events associated with His second coming. o These three feasts are what the New Testament calls the Blessed hope (Tim 2:13). Advance slides through filling in the blanks. Let s see if we can name the seven feasts of the Lord? Passover o The first of the seven feasts, which all others are built upon. o There was only one Passover (Egypt) but the Jewish people have celebrated it since the time of Moses. o The feast of Passover spoke of Messiah s death as a sacrificial and substitutionary lamb. Unleavened Bread o God appointed this feast to begin the very day after Passover. o It was to last for seven days. o The first two feasts were so intimately related, over time they became observed as one holiday by the Jewish people. o Unleavened bread symbolizes error or evil. o UB proclaims that Christ s physical body would not experience the ravages of death, while in the grave. o The feast of UB indicated that His body would not decay in the grave Firstfruits o Occurs on the 2 nd day of the 7 day feast of Unleavened Bread. o First fruits is a pledge on God s part of a full harvest. o The tithe was brought to the temple from the first fruits 3 of 37

4 o The feast of firstfruits proclaims that death could not hold her foe. As the hymn proclaims, Up from the grave He arose, with a might triumph o er His foes. Weeks (Shavout) (also known as the Feast of Harvest) o Always celebrated 50 days after Firstfruits. o Viewed as the conclusion of the Passover season and summer harvest. o The temple services followed much the same pattern as that of Firstfruits since both holy days were celebrated with Firstfruit offerings. o However, it was also unique: They baked leavened loaves of wheat bread and offered them to the Lord. But, they were not offered on the alter since they contained leaven. o God appointed this feast to begin the very day after Passover. o Depicts the birth of the NT church at Pentecost. Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) o First of the fall feasts and begins the Jewish new year. o Two types of horns are used as trumpets. o Two purposes for the blowing of the trumpets: 1) calling a solemn assembly and 2) going to war. o Depicts the coming of the Messiah. (*1 Thes. 4:16; trump KJV ) o When Christ calls His own to Himself. Atonement (Yom Kippur) o This is a day of judgment, when the Lord bring His wrath upon the church. o We believe this time to directly follow the rapture of the church. Tabernacles (Sukkot) o Focus here is on the Messianic Kingdom, when Christ will reign with out the ravages of the curse of sin. o Tabernacles literally means dwelling. God dwelt among His people in the tabernacle and the temple. o Today God dwells in the hearts of those who profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Passover speaks of redemption. Messiah, the Passover Lamb, was slain for us. Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. He was set apart. His body would not decay in the grave. Firstfruits speaks of resurrection. Death could not hold Him in the grave. 4 of 37

5 Feast of Weeks speaks of origination. The coming of the Holy Spirit inaugurated in the New Covenant. Trumpets depicts Christ returning for His church (rapture) Atonement signifies the coming judgment of the Lord upon the earth. Tabernacles alludes to the Messianic reign of Christ for a thousand years. Every major event of the Messiah s first coming occurred on the precise date of the appropriate Jewish holiday. Each of the fall feasts also should be the time when God moves on His prophetic plan to fully redeem mankind. The fall feasts point to the rapture of the church and judgment of the wicked, the salvation of Israel, and the establishment of the messianic Kingdom. Feasts of the Lord Hebrew Calendar END OF INTRODUCTORY SESSION (ZERO) 5 of 37

6 Feasts of the Lord (week 2 of 8) Session ONE Passover There are seven Feasts of the Lord. (review them) I. Passover First feast the Lord commanded was Passover. It is the foundational feast the other six are built upon it. It is in the spring of the year. (14 th day of Nisan (Mar/Apr)) Celebrated since the time of Moses and the exodus. o In reality there has been only one Passover 3500 years ago. o Recap the story of the Exodus. o Jews celebrate Passover meal the lamb sacrificed. o Christians celebrate the Lord s Supper meal until he comes again the lamb sacrificed. The state of Israel leading up to Passover: o Enslavement o Hopelessness The burning bush typified Israel: o They experience the hot flames of satanic fury in the form of anti- Semitism. o Like the burning bush, Israel would be burned by not consumed. o As God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, He would speak to the world through the fiery trial of Israel. Each plague was directed against an Egyptian deity. Since Pharaoh was worshiped as a god, a god s son would die. God redeemed a motley crew of slaves, so that they could worship and serve the living God. The lamb sacrificed at Passover pointed to the one lamb that would be sacrificed at Calvary. Passover forms the backdrop for understanding the events in the upper room. The meaning of Passover o God allowed the family to raise, care for, and get attached to the sacrificial lamb. o In Egypt an innocent one would die that they might live. o At that point, the blood of the innocent made it possible for God s judgment to pass over them. o Exodus 12:42 proclaims it as a night of solemn observance. The time of the Passover o A one day feast followed by a 7 day feast of unleavened bread. o Takes place on the 14 th day of the month of Nisan (Mar/Apr). o Nisan became the first month of the religious year. 6 of 37

7 The record of Passover o The lamb was the centerpiece of all that was accomplished no lamb, no deliverance. o God required 3 foods to be eaten 1. The young lamb, depicting innocence, was roasted with fire portraying judgment. 2. Matzah (unleavened bread) was roasted symbolizing the purity of the sacrifice. 3. Bitter herbs eaten as a reminder of the suffering of the lamb. The importance of Passover o There was only one Passover; every observance since then is a memorial (Ex 13:3) o It is the oldest continual feast in existence o It was first celebrated at Mt. Sinai in the wilderness. o God gave an alternate date to observe Passover in the case of uncleanliness. (30 days later on the 14 th of the second month Iyar). Those who were defiled by touching a dead person Those who ere away on a journey This is the only feast that has this accommodation. The Service of Passover o It is observed as a memorial forever. o It was to incorporate 3 foods which would raise questions in the minds of the children. (this passed it to the next generation). o The Lord did not detail the service, only that it be kept. o Centuries before Christ, the Passover was called Sader (Say-der) meaning order. o The Sader (service) prescribed: Scripture reading Prayers Symbolic foods and Songs It has remained nearly the same service for 2000 years now. The Modern observance of Passover (Sader) o The Passover Seder Hebrew word meaning order. Preparation in a Jewish home begins with removal of all leavened bread. o Every corner in the house is cleaned and inspected o Every pockets of every garment is turned inside out and laundered o All utensils are scalded and all the daily dishes are replaced with the finest china, silver, and crystal in the house The Passover service itself is lengthy o consists of the retelling of the story through 7 of 37

8 o prayers, songs, and narrative readings. The mother ushers in the holiday by lighting the Passover candles. Then she covers her eyes with her hands and recites a Hebrew blessing; Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has set us apart by His Word, and in whose Name we light the festival lights. o The First Cup reflective of the joy of the harvest. (4 cups are used during the Seder, reflecting the Lord s fourfold redemption) see Lk 22:17. o The Washing of the Hands symbolic act of purification. o The Green Vegetable these are dipped in salt water as a reminder that the Passover occurs in the springtime and of the suffering of the Jewish people in slavery. o The Middle Matzah the ceremonial bread. o The Four Questions Read *Exodus 12:26-28 aloud : :a child, who has rehearsed, asks the question: Why is this night different from all other nights? The story is later reiterated and the passing of the story to the children takes place. o The Second Cup the second cup of wine is poured in response to the question. o The Dipping of the Matzah at this point the bread is broken and distributed to everyone and dipped in horseradish as a reminder of the sweetness of God s redemption in the midst of their bitter slavery. o The Dinner In Jesus day it would have consisted of roasted lamb, served with bitter herbs and matzah. Today, the meal is far more varied with a variety of delicious Jewish dishes. o The Afikomen After the meal the children are sent out to find the hidden matzah that was earlier hidden, know as the afikomen. o The Third Cup the third cup is called the cup of redemption. o The Fourth Cup Is called the cup of Acceptance or Praise. (Jesus referred to this cup as the one he would not take again until he drank it again with his disciple in the Kingdom (Mt 26:29). o Closing Hymn this hymn is sung or recited. In Mt 26:30, after the Passover meal, they sang a hymn and then went out. The Sader ends with parts of Psalm : o The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. o This is the day the Lord has made; we will be glad and rejoice in it. o Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! Conclusion: o Passover foreshadowed the Jewish Messiah as the true Passover Lamb. END OF SESSION ONE Advance to end of session slide 8 of 37

9 Feasts of the Lord (Week 3 of 8) Session Two Unleavened Bread The Biblical Observance The Meaning of the Feast The feast is remembered as God s miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. When Israel fled fro Egypt in the middle of the night, there was no time for bread dough to rise. Deuteronomy 16:3 (NIV) 3 Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. The Time of the Feast Observed in early spring (Mar-Apr) 15 th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan Lasts for seven days Begins the day after Passover o Often the two holidays are blurred together and referred to the eight days of Passover o In Jesus day, it was common to call all eight days the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:1, 7) Luke22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed The Importance of the Feast Unlike the other feasts, Unleavened Bread was instituted prior to the Exodus. Passover and UB were the first feast the others came later. UB was the one of three annual pilgrim feasts -- UB, Weeks, Tabernacles. o During these feasts all Jewish men were required to present themselves before the Lord at the tabernacle. o At age twelve, Jesus made this pilgrimage to Jerusalem. (Lk 2:42-47) 9 of 37

10 The Record of the Feast The Biblical record give only three instructions for the feast. 1. Special sacrifices were to be offered in the temple each day of the feast. 2. The first and seventh days were Sabbaths w/prohibitions on work. 3. Thirdly, leaven was strictly forbidden. Leaven is known as hametz, which literally means sour. The Lord commanded Moses: On the first day to remove leaven from your houses. (whoever ate leaven from the first day until the seventh day would be cut off from Israel (Ex 12:15)). The command was emphasized in Duet 16:4 4 Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until morning. All leaven must be purged from clothing, homes, everywhere. (this may seem unnecessary, but God relates this physical leaven to spiritual leaven; sin). The Modern Observance The eve before Passover, all Jewish families perform Bedikat Hametz, or Search for Leaven. After reciting the benediction for the occasion, the father beins the search. He uses an old wooden spoon and a goose feather to sweep up any leaven found. (the children follow him with excitement in anticipation of finding and removing any leaven) After the search is completed, the spoon, feather, and leaven are all placed into a bag, wrapped with a cloth and set outside to be burned in the moring. 10 of 37

11 The Fulfillment *Sin is often pictured as leaven in scripture (*Mt 16:6, 11; *Gal 5:9). *Ancient Rabbis also believed leaven represents the evil impulse of the heart. Leaven is well suited as a picture of sin; 1. it rapidly preemeates the dough, contaminating it. 2. it swells to many times its original size without changing its weight. 3. the souring process (which is the first stage of decay) is operative solely because of the curse of death, decreed by God when Adam sinned. Since leaven pictures sin, only unleavened bread (matzah) was used in the Temple. Offerings had to be pure. *The feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the burial of Jesus the Messiah, and Firstfrutis pictures the resurrection of the Messiah. *Unlike bread made with leaven, the body of Jesus was not left to decay, since it was without leaven or sinless. He was not a sinner under the curse of death and decay. The Application *Paul used the perging ceremony for leaven to convey spiritual truth to believers in the city of Corinth in 1 Cor 5:7-8: 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. *For be believers Passover is past history. The deliverance brought by the pure sacrificial Passover Lamb has already been experience in their lives. The are now living in the Feast of Unleavened Bread where purity and separation from leaven are required! *It does no good to just get rid of large, conspicuous loaves of bread on the table and leave the little pieces of leaven scattered on the floor. A little leaven will leaven the contaminate everything! God commands them to purge it out all of it. (God commanded us to get the leaven out of our lives and gave us the Holy Spirit to have the power to do it!) Close: The Jews used candles to search in every corner of the house to find any trace of leaven. As Christians, we need to take the candle of God s Word and search our lives for every a trace of leaven. END OF SESSION TWO 11 of 37

12 The Feasts of the Lord (Week 4 of 8) Session Three Firstfruits The Biblical Observance The Meaning of the Feast o Marks the beginning of the cereal grain harvests in Israel. o Barley was the first grain to ripen of those sown in the winter months. o Firstfruits, a sheaf of barley was harvested and brought to the Temple as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord. o It was representative of the barley harvest and served as a pledge or guarantee that the remainder of the harvest would be realized in the days that followed. The Time of the Feast o Firstfruits was an early spring feast. o Occurred on the 16 th day of Nisan (Mar/Apr) o Scripture does not specify the actual calendar date of Firstfruits It only prescribed that it be on the day after the Sabbath according to Jewish reckoning. The Saturday was usually designated the Sabbath, however, the word Sabbath can refer to any holy day pp76. (Lev 23:11). o The Sadducees understood it to refer to the first weekly Sabbath which occurred during the week of Passover season. o It was the Pharisees majority opinion that the Sabbath in question was the 15 th of Nisan. o Josephus, a first-century historian, wrote: But on the second day of unleavened, which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the earth, for before that day they do not touch them (Antiquities of the Jews ). o The feast of Firstfruits overlapped the week of Unleavened Bread o (The chronology then consisted of: show the calendar). (SHOW SLIDE) 12 of 37

13 The Record of the Feast o The regulations for Firstfruits were outlined by the Lord in Lev. 23: The LORD said to Moses, 10 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil an offering made to the LORD by fire, a pleasing aroma and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. o A sheaf means a measure (of barley- a specified amount) o This sheaf was brought to the priest at the Temple who would wave it before the Lord for acceptance. o This action of waving is sometimes repeated by Christians who say they are giving the Lord a wave offering. o Additionally, there were other sacrifices brought to the Lord An unblemished male lamb a drink offering of wine, and a meal offering of the barley flour mixed with olive oil. o The people were not allowed to use any of the barley until the offering was complete. o To neglect these firstfruit offerings was considered robbing God according to Mal 3:8. o The ritual for the Firstfruits ceremony was detailed in Deut 26: When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and (1) put them in a basket. (2) Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our forefathers to give us. 4 (3) The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 (4) Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me. (5) Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. 13 of 37

14 The Importance of the Feast o Firstfruits was primarily seen as a time marker. It marked the beginning of the grain harvest and It marked the countdown to the Feast of Weeks (Israel s fourth spring feast). o Beginning with Firstfruits, 49 days was counted (7 sevens) and on the fiftieth day, the feast of Weeks was celebrated. *Read Lev 23: o This period of time was is known as the Sefirat Ha-Omer or the Counting of the sheaf or measure. The Service of the Feast The Cutting o The barley field was especially cultivated solely for the purpose of the Firstfruits offering. It was plowed in the autumn and sown with barley some seventy days earlier during the winter months. o In the days leading up to Passover, several sheaves were selectively marked and bundled by representatives from the Sanhedrin. o The service began at sundown on Nisan 15 (which begins Nisan 16), o A three man delegation from the Sanhedrin emerged from the Temple followed by excited observers. o Then 3 chosen reapers readied themselves to cut the barley and ask the questions to onlookers: Has the sun set? With this sickle? Into this basket? On this Sabbath? o This is repeated 3 times as a safeguard. o The marked sheaves were then reaped until about 2/3 bushel was obtained. The Presentation o In the Temple court the grain was threshed with rods not oxen (so the grain was not damaged) o Then it was parched over an open flame and winnowed in the wind to remove the chaff. o Finally the barley was milled by intensive sifting. o On the morning of the 16 th the Firstfruits were presented to the Lord. About 5 pints of barley flour was mixed with ¾ pint of olive oil, and a small amount of frankincense was sprinkled upon it. THIS became the Firstfruits offering. o Then the priest waved it before the Lord in accordance with Lev 23:11-13 and burned a small amount upon the alter. The remainder was given to the Levites (priests). 14 of 37

15 o During the remainder of the day, Levitical choirs led the worship music with Psalm 30: I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. o This scene continued throughout the day as the Jewish nation flocked to the sanctuary of the Lord. The Modern Observance o There are no Firstfruits sacrifices and offerings today, since there is no Temple. o The only ritual which has survived to modern times has been the counting of the omer, the days from Firstfruits to Shavuot (the feast of Weeks). o Apart from the counting of the days, there is no celebration of Firstfruits. The Application First Things in General o First things are an important and repeated theme of Scripture. God declared that the Firstfruits of all agriculture belonged to him. This include the first part from all the seven major crops of Israel: Barley, wheat, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. The first of the bread dough also belonged to God, as a heave offering (Num 15:20-21). Furthermore, the first born of all male animals be longed to Him. Ultimately, God even required that the first born male in every family be taken to the Temple at the age of one month and presented to the priest for life long service. In His mercy, He made provision so that the first born could be redeemed and thus freed from lifetime service to God.? In what way does this reflect what God did during the Passover in Egypt?? Do we see the resemblance here with our own redemption? 15 of 37

16 Firstfruits in the New Testament o Firstfruits forms an important backdrop to the New Testament. o It is mentioned no less than seven times. 1. Paul spoke of the Epaenetus as the firstfruits of Achaia (Rom 16:5). 2. He later spoke of the household of Stephanas as the Firstfruits of Achaia (1 Cor 16:15). 3. Elsewhere, Paul used the concept of firstfruits of dough to teach that if the firstfruit is holy the whole lump is holy. 4. James taught that believers are set apart to the Lord as a kind of firstfruits of his creation. 5. Once again, Paul used this imagery when he spoke of salvation as the firstfruits of the Spirit (Rom 8:23). By this he meant that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee, or pledge, that there will be a final redemption. 6. In Revelation John speaks of 144,000 who are considered firstfruits. 7. Identifying with Israel s final harvest, Paul spoke of himself as one born out of due time This imagery was of a fig tree that prematurely bore figs. This is how Paul viewed himself, as one of those whom God had graciously saved before the final harvest. The Fulfillment o The feast of Firstfruits found its fulfillment in the work of Messiah s first coming. o Paul proclaimed this in his reference to firstfruits in the New Testament when he said, But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20; cf. Rev 1:5). o Jesus rose on the 3 rd day after Passover, which was the 16 th of Nisan, and the day of Firstfruits. (is God good, or what!) o There are just two parts to the grain, which is harvested. There is the wheat And there is the chaff o Ironically, there are two parts to the final harvest of mankind, illustrated in Matt 3:12 and 13: Some will be harvested unto eternal life, While others will be harvested to eternal separation from God. END OF SESSION THREE 16 of 37

17 Feasts of the Lord (Week 5 of 8) Session Four Weeks (Shavuot) slide numbers 20 The Biblical Observance No date is associated with this feast in the Bible. However, any Jew will tell you it is celebrated 50 days after the feast of Firstfruits The Meaning of Shavuot Names were important in the ancient Jewish world. There were three names associated with the Feast of Weeks in Hebrew Scriptures: each name signified a different facet of the feast. 1. The most common designation was Hag Hashavouot, meaning the Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22). It was called Shavuot because if was counted 7 weeks after Firstfruits. # 2; use picture of temple (advance slide) 2. The primary meaning of the feast was reflected in the Hebrew name, Yom Habikkurim or The day of Firstfruits (Num 28:26). It was called this because Shavuot was the day on which the firstfruit offerings of the summer wheat crop were brought to the Temple. So, Shavuot marked the beginning of the summer wheat harvest just as firstfruits marked the beginning of the spring barley harvest. 3. The third designation was called Hag Hakatzir or the Feast of Harvest (Ex 23:16). In addition to the biblical designation, the Talmud and Josephus referred to this festival as Atzeret, meaning conclusion. They viewed Shavuot as the conclusion of the Passover season and the seven-week harvest, since there was no other holiday, until autumn. The Time of Shavuot Observed in late spring, usually May or early June. Insert picture of Jewish holiday calendar.jpg On the Hebrew calendar, Shavuot falls on the sixth day of the month of Sivan. Because of the commandment to count, the time period from Firstfruits to Shavuot is know as Sefirah, meaning counting. Since the counting was from the offering of the omer at Firstfruits, this 50 day period was also know as the omer. 17 of 37

18 24 The Record of Shavuot Three scripture passages outline the biblical observance for Shavuot. Temple offerings were described in Lev. 23:15-21 and Num. 28: Lev. 23:15-21 (focus vs ) 15 From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the LORD as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the LORD for the priest. 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 22 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. 23 The LORD said to Moses, 24 Say to the Israelites: On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25 Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire. 26 The LORD said to Moses, 27 The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. 28 Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. 30 I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. Deut 28: On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the LORD an offering of new grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 27 Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 28 With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, twotenths; 29 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 30 Include one male goat to make atonement for you. 31 Prepare these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect. The requirements for individual worshipers were outlined in Deut. 16: Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10 Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you. 11 And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you. 12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees. The purpose of the offering was to remind the people that the Lord had freed them from the bondage of the Egyptians. 18 of 37

19 The Importance of Shavuot In Bible days, Shavuot was a particularly important to Jewish feast. Of the seven decreed feasts of the Lord, three were declared solemn feasts (Ex 23:14-17; Duet 16:16; 2 Chr 8:13; cf. Ex 34:22-23). During these solemn feasts, the men of Israel were obligated to present themselves at the Temple. Shavuot was the 2 nd of these exclusive feasts; the other two were Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles. Like the Sabbath, Shavuot was a holy convocation or rest day (Lev 23:21), and therefore, no work was permitted. The Service of Shavuot According to the Bible, it was forbidden to eat of the new barley crop until the barley firstfruits were offered on the Feast of Firstfruits. o The same was principle was applied to the wheat crop. o The meal offerings and showbread for the sanctuary were not made from the new crop until after the wheat offering was presented on Shavuot. The Temple service followed much the same format as that of Firstfruits, however, the offering of Shavuot was unique. o It consisted of two long, flat, leavened loaves of what bread as commanded by the Lord: (see Lev. 23:17). o The loafs were not burned because the Lord had forbidden leaven on the alter: (Lev 2:11). o Instead, these loaves and two lambs as a peace offering formed the wave offering for Shavuot. o The priest waved them before the alter forwards then backwards, then up and then down. o Afterwards, they were set aside for the priests and formed the festive meal eaten by the priest later that day in the Temple. The Modern Observance Giving of the Torah o Roman emperor Hadrian, in A.D. 130, outlawed circumcision, Sabbath observance, and synagogue prayers, in an attempt to erase Jewish distinctiveness and assimilate the sons of Israel into the Roman empire, and the nation revolted. o It was after this uprising 1 had been defeated, in A.D. 140 that the Sanhedrin convened and decided to divert the focus of Shavuot observance away from agriculture, and instead associate it with the historical event, the giving of the Mosaic Law at Sinai, to keep the holiday alive of 37

20 o Consequently, the idea of the giving of the Law and the birthday of Judaism quickly caught on and became the dominant motif of the modern Shavuot Synagogue Use picture or the banners It is customary to decorate synagogues with greenery and beautiful floral arrangements for Shavuot. o Some synagogues hang an embroidered green curtain over the ark (where the scrolls are stored). o Some synagogues braid a crown of branches and flowers for the Torah scrolls. o Others weave a canopy of flowers over the reading area. o The reason for these decorations is Shavuot s emphasis as a harvest festival and as a reminder that Mt. Sinai was at one time covered with green trees and grass. The Scripture readings for Shavuot, Ezek. 1:1-28; 3:12; Habakkuk 2:20 3:19, date back to the days of the Temple. o They describe the brightness of God s glory. Further scripture reading comes from the book of Ruth because: 1. The story of Ruth took place during the spring barley harvest, and Shavuot is the celebration of the conclusion of that harvest. 2. Ruth the Moabitess, willingly embraced the God of Israel and His Law, the Torah. 3. The reading of the story of Ruth brings focus to the giving of the Law. Many synagogues also hold Shavuot confirmation services for their teenage youth, to recognize their childhood studies and confirm their commitment to live according to the Mosaic Law. Food One of the most popular Shavuot traditions is the eating of diary foods. o It is said that this practice is a reminder of the Law, since the words of Scripture are like milk and honey to the soul. o Among the most delicious and tempting of these dairy dishes are cheesecakes, cheese blintzes, and cheese kreplach. o It is also customary to bake two loaves of hallah bread on Shavuot. o These represent the two loaves of bread offered in the Temple and the two tables of the Law received on Mt. Sinai. o A seven-rung ladder design is traditionally formed on the top of the loaves symbolizing eh ascent of Moses to receive the Ten Commandments. 20 of 37

21 Stay up all night Today, it is customary for observant Jews to stay up the entire night of Shavuot, studying and discussing the Torah. Throughout the night there are periodic breaks for coffee and cheesecake. (they have the makings to be good Baptist! ha ha). o As dawn approaches in Israel, thousands of observant Jews can be seen making their way to the Temple. Use picture of Western Wall o They pour assemble at the Western Wall plaza to recite the ancient Amidah prayer. o The Amidah or standing prayer consists of 19 blessings and dates back more than 2,000 years. 33 The Fulfillment This account is recorded in Acts chapter 2. o On that Shavuot morning, God initiated a new covenant with Israel as He foretold: Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel (Jer. 31:31). o On that morning He poured out His Holy Spirit as He also foretold: The Redeemer [Messiah] will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgressions [by repentance] in Jacob, says the LORD. As for Me, says the LORD, this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you (Isa. 59:20-21). Show the video of Acts 2:1-40 (7 minutes on the tape) o But even as that promise was for them, it is also for you. Call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be saved. Prayer. END OF SESSION FOUR 21 of 37

22 Feasts of the Lord Session Five Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) (see notes on Trumpets at the end of FOL study notes) The Biblical Observance o It is not uncommon for holidays to have musical instruments incorporated into their celebration. o Rarely, however, is the sum and substance of a holiday s celebration solely dependent upon a musical instrument. o Yet, such is the case with Israel s fifth holiday, know as Rosh Hashanah. The Meaning o Although Rosh Hashanah has its roots firmly planted in the Bible, it is never known by that name in Scripture. o Instead, it is referred to as Zikhron Teruah ( Memorial of Blowing [of trumpets], Lev 23:24 and Yom Teruah ( Day of Blowing [of trumpets], Num 29:1. o This holiday is often referred to simply as the Feast of Trumpets. It is a day of sounding trumpets in the Temple and throughout the land of Israel. o Rosh Hashanah literally means Head of the Year. This title was not applied to the feast until the second century A.D. o After the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 it s observance was radically altered. Continuation of the feast was threatened due to the absence of the Temple and its sacrificial system. As a result, synagogue liturgy was enlarged, new traditions were suggested, and emphasis was shifted in an attempt to preserve and adapt the observance of the holiday (for people who were scattered and deprived to their Temple). The Time o The timing of the ancient Feast of Trumpets coincided with the beginning of Israel s civil new year. o After the destruction of the 2 nd Temple in A.D. 70, the two observances become intertwined. o Eventually, the Feasts of Trumpets was overshadowed and assimilated by the Jewish New Year, and became known as Rosh Hashanah ( The Head of the Year ). o It is observed in the autumn of the year, on the Hebrew calendar. o It occurs on the 1st day of Tishri, the seventh month (mid-sept to early Oct). 22 of 37

23 The Record o The biblical record of Rosh Hashanah observance is neither lengthy nor complicated. Israel was commanded to memorialize the day by blowing trumpets and to keep the day as a Sabbath of rest (Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1). o The Temple sacrifices included a special burnt offering consisting of a young bull, a ram, and seven lambs. A kid goat was also sacrificed as a sin offering. Both these offerings were in addition to the required daily sacrifices o The actual observance of the Feast of Trumpets is recorded only once in Scripture. Ezra, the scribe, related that it was during the Feast of Trumpets that the Temple alter was rebuilt, and sacrifices were reinstituted by the returning Jews from Babylonian exile (Ezra 3:1-6). The Importance o Rosh Hashanah is the only Jewish holiday which occurs on the first day of the month, at the New Moon (when the moon is dark and only a thin crescent). o Just as the 7 th day and 7 th year were holy under Mosaic law, so too, was Tishri, the seventh month. 1. it occurs on the first day of the Sabbath of months. 2. the new moon was normally announced with short blasts of the trumpet, but on the 7 th month it was proclaimed with long blasts of the Shofar, which emphasized it s uniqueness. The Instrument of Rosh Hashanah Types of trumpets (SLIDE ADV metal trumpet) o Most English Bible do not clearly distinguish the different types of Hebrew trumpets. o The hatzotzerah was a straight metal trumpet that was flared at the end. Israel was commanded to fashion two silver trumpets of hammered work (Num 10:1-2). o According to Josephus, the priests also blew this trumpet from the southwest corner of the Temple wall to announce the beginning and ending of every Sabbath. o Representations of these trumpets have been uncovered in archaeological digs with depictions of them found on the victory arch of Titus in Rome (A.D. 70) and on silver coins minted during the Simon Bar Kochba revolt in A.D o In recent days the trumpets have been reconstructed by the Temple institute in Jerusalem in preparation for the future rebuilding of the Temple. o (SLIDE ADV Shofar) The other Hebrew trumpet is the Shofar. 23 of 37

24 o Curved trumpet fashioned from a ram s horn. o In Hebrew Shofar means ram s horn trumpet. o The Shofar was clearly distinguished from the keren horn of another animal. o Scripture does not specify which type of horn is to be blown at during the Feast of Trumpets: o But almost with out exception, the rabbinic tradition specified the Shofar, not the silver trumpets of the priests, as the primary instrument intended by scripture. o The Shofar is the horn used: To announce the year of Jubilee. To be blown on Yom Kippur (Lev 25:9) Types of blasts o Scripture does not specifically describe the manner of the blasts required. o A compromise among rabbis was reached that covered all possibilities. o Different blasts The tekiah was defined as a long, unwavering blast The shevarim were defined as three short, broken blasts. The teruah, mentioned in scripture, was declared to be a nine-part staccato blast (sounded like sobbing). o A combination was developed for blowing the Shofar: A long blast (tekiah) Three short blasts (shevarim) Nine staccato blasts (teruah) One long blast (tekiah) Types of uses o Apart from the sacrificial ceremony, the trumpet had several major uses for the nation Israel: It gathered an assembly before the Lord (Num 10:2-4). It sounded a battle alarm (Num 10:9). The Shofar also announced the coronation of a new king as in the cases of Solomon, Jehu, and Absalom. o After almost 1,900 years, in 1967, following the Six Day War, it was once again sounded after Israeli soldiers restored Jewish sovereignty over East Jerusalem. 24 of 37

25 The Service of Rosh Hashanah o Silver trumpets were sounded for the burnt offerings or peace offerings, according to Numbers 10:10: You shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. o These trumpets were blown by the priests is confirmed in scripture (2 Chr 29:27-28) and in the writings of Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews ). o The service incorporated: Some 100 priests officiated the service because of the multiple sacrifices offered in the morning, evening, new moon, and festival sacrifices (Ps 81:3-4). The Modern Observance The modern observance bears only a remote resemblance to the biblical Feast of Trumpets. The fact that the name of the feast has changed indicates that I has been recast with many traditions superimposed over the biblical observance. The Days of Awe o A ten day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. o Jewish tradition holds that during this 10 day period, God s judgment is rendered to determine whether a person will continue to live or die in the coming year. o Believed to be the last chance to repent before God s judgment is finalized for the coming year. Prayer of Repentance o The week before Rosh Hashanah is usually marked by the recitation of penitential prayers called Selihot ( forgivenesses ). o In preparation for the Days of Awe, these prayers usually begin at midnight the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. The Casting Ceremony o The Rosh Hashanah ceremony is know as the Tashlikh ( cast off ) symbolizing the self-purification and the shedding of one s sins. o This practice arose during the Middle Ages and is still widely observed today. o Prayers will stand by a body of water, recite their prayers, and cast bread crumbs into the water signifying, Micah 7:19, You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. o This symbolically rids them of clinging sins so that their sin may be carried away and remembered no more. The Shofar 25 of 37

26 o Both Christian and Jewish theology view Satan (Hebrew for adversary ) as the great enemy of God and His people. o Jewish tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, Satan appears before the Almighty to accuse Israel, as the books for judgment are opened. o The ancient rabbis, therefore, suggested the traditional purpose for the shofar on Rosh Hashanah was to confound Satan. o They believed the many blasts of the shofar would confuse Satan to believe that the Messiah had arrived and his authority had ended. o Therefore, it is customary to sound 100 shofar blasts on each day of the Rosh Hashanah synagogue services. The Fulfillment Like Israel s other feast, the Feast of Trumpets carries strong prophetic overtones. o This holy day commemorates no historical event. o It portrays future events for the nation. o The Feast of Trumpets is next on God s prophetic calendar! o Israel s first four feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruts, and Feast of Weeks) were fulfilled in the connection with Messiah s first coming. o The three autumn feast are connected with Messiah s second coming. o Israel s three autumn holidays (Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles) will be fulfilled at His second coming. The Dark Day o Israel s prophets repeatedly warned of a coming dark day of judgment. o They knew it as the Day of the Lord o A time period at the end of this age when the Lord will pour out His fiery judgment. o The prophet Zephaniah predicted this day would come (Zeph 1:14-16). o The darkened moon (1 st day of the month, with a crescent moon) symbolizes this dread full day of God s wrath. The Last Trumpet o Men often blow trumpets, but only twice in scripture is it recorded that God blows a trumpet. In both instances it is the shofar. o The first time was at Mt. Sinai When the Lord revealed Himself and prepared to bring the nation under the Old Covenant. o The last occasion will be when the Lord blows the shofar at Messiah s return at which time the nation Israel will be brought into the New Covenant. o Ancient Jewish tradition held that the resurrection of the dead would occur on Rosh Hashanah. 26 of 37

27 o Both events, God s blowing of the last trumpet, and the resurrection of the righteous, are intricately connected to the Rapture of the Church. The last trumpet has several purposes: 1. it will gather an assembly to the Lord (know as the rapture of the church) 2. it will sound God s battle alarm (and will begin the Great Day of His wrath). 3. it will announce the coming and soon coronation of the Messiah (He alone will be exalted in that day). The Application National repentance by Israel is a prerequisite to the Messiah s return. Their repentance is one of the chief purposes of the Day of the Lord. Unfortunately, Israel will suffer the fury of God s wrath before she is willing to say, Blessed is he [Jesus the Messiah] who comes in the name of the LORD (Ps 11826). Repentance literally means to return. (to turn away from sin and self and turn to Christ). All of us, Jew or Gentile, must, Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near (Isa 55:6). One day soon, God Himself will blow the shofar, redeem Israel, and bring this age to an end. END OF SESSION FIVE 27 of 37

28 Feasts of the Lord Session Six Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) The Biblical Observance o Israel s most awesome holy day is Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement. o It is an ever-present theme woven through the pages of scripture. o 3 ½ millennia after its divine institution it is still a powerful influence over the culture and worship of Israel. o It provides a necessary backdrop for understanding the scope of the Messiah s payment for sin and the security of God s people today. The Meaning o The Day of Atonement is the English equivalent for Yom Kippur. o The word atonement simply means covering. o Is was on Yom Kippur that an atonement was made for the previous year s sins. o It consisted of a blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. o Lev 17:11 identifies the blood as the life of the soul and is required for the atonement (covering) for the soul. The Time o Yom Kippur is the sixth divinely instituted holy day. o It occurs in the autumn of the year. o On the Hebrew calendar it falls on the 10 th day of the month of Tishri. o This roughly corresponds to September / October. o It is observed between two other major biblical holidays: the Feast of Trumpets (know as Rosh Hashanah) on the first day of Tishri, and the Feast of Tabernacles which begins on the fifteenth of Tishri. The Record o Three separate passages outline the biblical observance of Yom Kippur. o Divine instructions were given: For the high priest in Lev 16: This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. 28 of 37

29 For the people in Lev 23: The LORD said to Moses, 27 The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. 28 Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. 30 I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath. For the sacrifices in Num 29: On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah (a word of Egyptian origin, meaning measure) of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings. The Importance o It is the most solemn day of the year for the people of Israel. o Is was designated by the Lord as the day in which you shall afflict your souls. o By definition this was understood to mean fasting (Ezra 8:21). o It was a day devoted to fasting and repentance of one s sins. o It is the only fast which is mandated by scripture. o Anyone who failed to adhere to the fast on Yom Kippur was to be cut off from his people (Lev 23:29). o Yom Kippur was also a day with prohibitions against all forms of work. Those who chose to ignore this regulation would suffer the death penalty (Lev 23:30). o It was only on this day of Yom Kippur that the priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple and stand before the presence of God s glory. The Service o The preparation of the high priest was crucial. o The priest had to be ceremonially clean in order to perform his duties on the Day of Atonement. o The high priest would have to leave his home the week before and spend the time prior to Yom Kippur in quarters inside the Temple area. o His duties included sprinkling blood with the thumb and forefinger, burning incense, and lighting the menorah. o The role of the priest can not be over emphasized, because any error or mistake in presenting the sacrifice would disqualify it and result in leaving the sins of the people uncovered. 29 of 37

30 o Although there were several different segments of the service on this day, the scapegoat is one aspect of it, which has found its way into modern terminology. During the time of the first Temple, the priest would lay hands on the goats head and confess the sins of the people. He then led the goat through the Eastern Gate and more than 10 miles into the wilderness, never to be seen again. In the days of the second Temple, the scapegoat was actually killed so that it (carrying Israel s sins) could not later wander into an inhabited place. The Modern Observance The modern observance of Yom Kippur bears little resemblance to its biblical observance. This is largely due to the influence of one man, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, the well known rabbi during the days of the Roman destruction of the Temple. Jewish historical records give us the reason: As Raban Yohanan ben Zakkai was coming forth from Jerusalem, Rabbi Joshua followed after him and beheld the Temple in ruins. Woe unto us! Rabbi Joshua cried, that this, the place where the iniquities of Israel were atoned for is laid waste! My son, Rabban Yohanan said to him, be not grieved; we have another atonement as effective as this. And what is it? It is acts of loving-kindness, as it is said For I desire mercy and not sacrifice [Hos 6:6] (Avot de Rabbi Nathan 4:18). Based on the words of this one rabbi, Israel abandoned atonement through the blood and sought it instead through mitzvoth (good works). The Future Fulfillment Like Israel s other autumn feast, Yom Kippur prophetically points to Messiah s future work with the nation Israel. These events will occur in the end days at Messiah s coming to establish His throne. When the Messiah comes to establish his throng, Israel will look on him (Jesus) whom they pierced, and repent (Zech 12:10). 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. At this time the nation s sin will be dealt with and the Lord will remember their sin no more (Isa 43:25; Jer 31:34). This will be the prophetic fulfillment of Israel s Day of Atonement as the nation comes face to face in repentance with their Messiah at the end of the seventieth week (Dan 9:24). 30 of 37

31 24 Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. The Application A blood sacrifice is required by Scripture and is centrally tied to the sin issue. The substitutionary death of an innocent one was required since an atonement (covering) for sin was to be made only through the blood (Lev 17:11). 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one s life The New Testament scriptures remain in agreement with the Old Testament statement (Heb 9:22). 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. The solution to the sin problem was always tied to the substitutionary shedding of blood. Where the Old Covenant allowed a covering for sin the New Covenant affords the forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Therefore, to say that Christ is our atonement for sin is highly inaccurate and is never taught in the New Testament. The word atonement occurs only once in the New Testament (Rom 5:11) and is a translation of the Greek word which is elsewhere translated reconciliation. 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. G2643 From G2644; exchange (figuratively adjustment), that is, restoration to (the divine) favor: atonement, reconciliation (-ing). The Old Covenant was a shadow of things to come. The New Covenant is the substance. Under the Old Covenant the payment for sin was anticipated. Under the New Covenant it is realized. Under the Old Covenant the sacrifices were provisional and recurring. Under the New Covenant the sacrifice through Jesus death is eternal and totally sufficient (Heb 7:27; 9:12, 25-28). 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Under the Old Covenant men s lambs could only cover sin (Heb 10:4) but under the New covenant God s Lamb is able to take away sin (Jn 1:29). 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! by implication to take up or away; 31 of 37

32 Year after year the rams horn calls Israel to repentance, but there is no atonement in Judaism today. There is no blood sacrifice, no temple, no priesthood, and no adherence to the Levitical regulations. The forgiveness of sins will never be found through the traditions of men, such as doing mitzvoth ( good works ) or transferring one s guilt to a substitute. It can only come through accepting the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. END OF SESSION SIX 32 of 37

33 Feasts of the Lord Session Seven Tabernacles (Sukkot)Booths The Biblical Observance The Meaning o Scripture most often refers to this feast as Sukkot or Tabernacles. (the English word for it is booths). o It acquired its name from the biblical requirement for all Israelites to dwell in tabernacles or temporary shelters during the holiday. o It served as a reminder of God s provision during the 40 year wilderness sojourn when Israel had lived in similar shelters. o It is known in scripture as the Feast of Ingathering (Ex 23:16; 34:22). o The joy of the celebration was two fold: o First it commemorated God s past goodness and provision during their time in the wilderness o Secondly, it commemorated God s present goodness and provision with the completion of the harvest. The Time o Autumn of the year o 15 th day of Tishri (7 th month, usually in September) o only 5 days after the Day of Atonement o occurs at Israel s change of seasons and marks the beginning of the winter rainy season. (see pp. 136 for more specifics) The Record o Three portions of scripture outline the Feast of Tabernacles. 1. Leviticus 23:33-34 the people were to live in booths and rejoice before the Lord with branches. 2. Numbers 29:12-39 there were to be many daily sacrificial offerings. 3. Deuteronomy 31:10-13 In the sabbatical year, the Law was to be publicly read during Tabernacles. The Importance o Because of the joy associated with the feast, it became the most prominent of Israel s holidays. o It was referred to simply as the holiday by ancient rabbis. o Tabernacles is one of the three pilgrim feasts, where all Jewish males were required to appear before the Lord in the Temple. o Further importance is seen in the great number of sacrifices required during the week. Each day. 1 goat 14 lambs 2 rams and a number of bullocks. 33 of 37

34 o Each sacrifice was offered with its appropriate meal offering (flour and oil) and drink offering (wine). o At the ancient observance The Service o Upon arrival in Jerusalem the pilgrims focused on building booths for the feast o Sundown brought a blast from the shofar (ram s horn) to announce the arrival of the holiday. o The Water-Libation Ceremony: (is the sacrificial pouring our of a liquid) Each morning the water was offered to the Lord, as a visual prayer for rain. Shortly after dawn each morning, a joyous procession of music and worshipers made its way down to the Pool of Siloam. o There at the pool the high priest dipped a golden pitcher into the pool and retrieved about a quart of water to carry back to the Temple. At the same time another procession made their way south of Jerusalem to Motza where willows of the brook grew in great abundance. o They gathered willows and brought them back to the Temple. o After returning with water and willows, at the proper time the congregation waved their palm branches toward the alter and joined in singing: Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity (Ps 11825). This practice dates back to the time of the Maccabees; about 165 years before Christ. o Other ceremonies included: 1. The Temple-Lighting Ceremony ( The rejoicing of the House of [water] Drawing ) The light from the candles was reminiscent of the descent of the Shekinah glory in Solomon s day and looked forward to the return of glory the days of Messiah. 2. The Hoshana-Rabbah (great Hosanna) Ceremony On the 7 th day of the feast the Temple services reached a climax. Jewish tradition held that is was on this day that God declared whether there would be rain for the coming year s crops. The Modern Observance The primary symbol of the feast is the sukkah or tabernacle. o It recalls Israel s hasty building of houses in the wilderness. o As soon as Yom Kippur is past, booths are constructed in yards and patios of Jewish homes. o Inside they are decorated with colorful harvest fruits and vegetables. o During the feast, Jewish families eat their meals in the booths, and the very observant even sleep in them. 34 of 37

35 With palm branches you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. (Lev 23:40). The Future Fulfillment The Bible often speaks of the final judgment as a harvest (Hos 6:11; Joel 3:13; Mt 13:39; Rev 14:15). It s a future day of ingathering when God gathers His people unto Himself and burns the wicked like chaff and stubble (Mal 4:1-2). It is not surprising that the Feast of Tabernacles is tied to Israel s past as well as her future. The Lord will not only gather his people but he will tabernacle in their midst during the coming messianic Kingdom. The Application Two things surface concerning the application of the Feast of Tabernacles. 1. Messiah spoke of Himself as the light of the world. Isaiah wrote, I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles. That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth (49:6) He offers light to men today: He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12). 2. Water is significant both in the physical and spiritual Israel. The Lord used water to illustrate Israel s rebellion and idolatry: For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer 2:13). Furthermore, the moving of water, as in drawing water and pouring water, is representative of the Holy Spirit. o The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in relation to salvation was a muchrepeated theme of the Old Testament prophets. o The Lord said through Isaiah, For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My spirit on your descendants (Isa 44:3). Jesus said, if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink (John 7:37). There is only one water that will quench the spiritual thirst of man. It is the living water offered by Jesus. 35 of 37

36 Feasts of the Lord Summary of the Fulfillment of the Feasts Passover Passover speaks of redemption. Messiah, the Passover Lamb, was slain for us. The feast of Passover spoke of Messiah s death as a sacrificial and substitutionary lamb; an innocent one would die that we might live There was only one Passover; every observance since then is a memorial It is the foundational feast the other six are built upon it. Unleavened Bread Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. He was set apart. Sin is often pictured as leaven in scripture (*Mt 16:6, 11; *Gal 5:9). The feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the burial of Jesus the Messiah, and Firstfrutis pictures the resurrection of the Messiah. Unlike bread made with leaven, the body of Jesus was not left to decay, since it was without leaven or sinless. Firstfruits The feast of firstfruits proclaims that death could not hold her foe. As the hymn proclaims, Up from the grave He arose, with a might triumph o er His foes. o The fulfillment of this feast is found in the work of Messiah s first coming and pictures the resurrection of Christ. o Paul proclaimed this in his reference to firstfruits in the New Testament when he said, But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20; cf. Rev 1:5). o Jesus rose on the 3 rd day after Passover, which was the 16 th of Nisan, and the day of Firstfruits. (is God good, or what!) o There are just two parts to the grain, which is harvested. There is the wheat And there is the chaff o Ironically, there are two parts to the final harvest of mankind, illustrated in Matt 3:12 and 13: Some will be harvested unto eternal life, While others will be harvested to eternal separation from God. 36 of 37