INTERESTING FACTS : When Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, the crown was passed on to James I, who had been king of Scotland for 37 years as James VI. Several months after he began the pursuit of a new Bible translation. It was completed in 1611 and is now knowN as the King James Version.[1]

DAILY READING : [LEVITICUS 22 - 23]

TEXT : Lev 23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

THEME : FEASTS OF THE LORD

Reading Leviticus 22 - 23, we see further laws regarding the order of the Priesthood, then the order of Israel's feasts. The feasts are varied, but all have significance. Some feast are in the spring, the others in the fall. John Gill lists the feasts in their chronological order.

The feast of the Lord, Lev_23:1, Lev_23:2. The Sabbath, Lev_23:3. The Passover and unleavened bread, Lev_23:4-8. The feast of firstfruits, Lev_23:9-14. The feast of Pentecost, Lev_23:15-21. Gleanings to be left for the poor, Lev_23:22. The feast of trumpets, Lev_23:23-25. The great day of atonement, Lev_23:26-32. The feast of tabernacles, Lev_23:33-44.

Here is a chart that lists the feasts of Israel and Christ's fulfilling them in the New Testament. Please note - the fulfillment of the last three are yet future.

MEANING OF BIBLICAL FEASTS [THE REFINER'S FIRE MINISTRY] [2]

TRUTH FOR TODAY : CHRIST FULFILLS THE WORD OF GOD!

As we saw with the Tabernacle, we see with the feasts - they are a type of Christ. Many things in the Old Testament foreshadow Christ, and the feasts are no different.

1) Christ is our Passover - 1Co 5:7 :Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." For this reason we live [by the Grace and Holy Spirit of God], a holy life - 1Co 5:8

2) He is also our "feast" of unleavened bread - "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Remember leaven [yeast] is s type of sin. This is the reason so many Churches used matzo. It is unleavened bread, a type of Christ and the Christian life.

3) Christ, is the firstfruits of all that will be raised from the dead - "1Co 15:20-23 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 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.

4) The feast of Pentecost was fifty days after the Passover. It was also the beginning of the harvest. This is when the Holy Spirit filled the Church for the purpose of soul winning through the power of God rather than the wisdom of men -

"Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

5) The feast of trumpets, announced the Day of Atonement. Likewise, Christ has redeemed us to Himself and will come to take us home with a trumpet blast -

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1Th 4:16 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: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

6) Christ, of course is our atonement making a sacrifice one time forever.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

7) Lastly, we will dwell with Christ forever. Perhaps, like the feast of tabernacles when Israel remembered how they dwelt in tents as God lead and provided for them, we too will always remember the same. That is, how Christ lead us through this world and into His Eternal Kingdom.

2Pe 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 2Pe 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.