Before the Israelites entered Canaan, they were commanded to faithfully observe seven feasts at their appointed times as recorded in Leviticus 23. These events had prophetic significance and were to be fulfilled in the Messiah. They also have much to teach us concerning how we should live in this world.

The first feast was Passover – when Israel remembered how the blood of a lamb on their doorposts protected them from death. This was fulfilled when Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - was crucified. Those who believe in Him are covered from the wrath of God that awaits His adversaries. Therefore, we should not practice sin for that is tantamount to treating as common the blood of Jesus. Those who practice sin will be eternally punished (Hebrews 10:26-31).

The second feast that started the next day (after Passover) was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was fulfilled when Jesus was buried. His body did not decay because it was sinless - it was unleavened. We, the body of Christ, are to be holy by shunning the leaven of malice and wickedness (1 Corinthians 5:8).

The third feast was The Feast of Firstfruits when the Israelites had to give to God a portion of their first harvest. This feast was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead. "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). All those who die in the Lord will be resurrected to eternal life. Until then, “those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

The fourth feast was the Feast of Weeks, which is also called Pentecost. It was commemorated fifty days after the previous feast by the Israelites bringing to God another firstfruits offering of another harvest. On that same day, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit Who filled the disciples and they began speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4). This reminds us not to neglect praying in tongues.

The fifth feast was The Feast of Trumpets. In those ancient days, the trumpets were blown so people could gather either for war or worship. This feast has not yet been fulfilled; it is the blessed hope we all should be eagerly awaiting. It is what the Church calls the Rapture. When that day comes, which is very soon, "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In Jesus’ own words, that trumpet of the Rapture will be blown after the great tribulation: “Immediately after the tribulation . . . the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven . . . He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect" (Matthew 24:29-31). While we are in heaven, we shall also be rewarded for our service unto the Lord (Revelation 11:15-18). Therefore, let us, as chaste virgins, eagerly wait for Jesus to whom we are betrothed (2 Corinthians 11:2). Also, let us be ready to go through the tribulation; we are not escaping it.

A few days after being raptured to heaven and receiving our rewards, we shall return with the Lord to the earth to fight against the enemies of Israel during the battle of Armageddon. The Jews will finally accept Jesus as the Messiah, when He comes to save them. All their sins will be cleansed. This will be the fulfillment of the sixth feast, The Day of Atonement. In Hebrew, this is called Yom Kippur (Yom means day, kippur means cleansing). "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins” (Romans 11:26-27).

A few days thereafter, when the war will have ended, the prophetic fulfillment of the last feast – The Feast of Tabernacles – will start. The Lord will physically tabernacle (dwell) with us His people here on earth. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”” (Revelation 21:1-4). We must all make it to this day by keeping our faith in Jesus and by making sure that our works are a true reflection of our faith, for faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

God bless you.