God's rest and holy days
Over the centuries the church of Jesus has lost much of the knowledge and richness of the Word of God. One area in which this applies is that of "the rest and holy days of God." God wants to remind us that He gave us these feasts to remind us and understand His commandments to the toes (Exodus 20) and His timing. First, God gave us the Sabbath, ie the seventh day, as a day of rest .
The Bible speaks of seven "feasts of the Lord". The Hebrew word translated "feasts" or "seasons" is "moed" and means "a definite appointed time." These are not only Jewish festivals, but festival times "of the LORD". God has appointed times when he is ready to meet his people. The seven feasts of the Lord are explained in detail in Leviticus 23.
It is important that God's calendar has 364 days (30x12 plus 4 days after the 3rd, 6th, 9th & 12th month) in contrast to the Gregorian calendar with 365 days and therefore the dates do not always match exactly to the day. For example, the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) may fall on September 19, but there may be a difference of a few days in the following year. However, what always remains the same are the dates in the Bible. The Bible speaks of twelve months and the year begins in the first month (Nisan ניסן - March/April). Passover is on the 14th day of the first month.
In the Bible, a "24-hour day" is from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. So you greet the new day in the evening at sunset. This is how the festivals begin in the evening.
God's holidays carry a secret מיקרה miqra = incident, this event should be repeated and a preparation for the future, ie also for today.
The seven festivals are divided into two groups. There are 4 festivals in spring and 3 festivals in autumn . The four spring festivals were all fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah. So we can expect that he will also fulfill the three autumn festivals of his 2nd coming to the day.
The chart indicates the prophetic meaning and fulfillment. Below are the festivals in more detail.
1. Pesach (Passover): Yeshua's death on the cross
2. Unleavened Bread : Yeshua's life free from sin, pride, selfish thinking and falsehood
3. Firstfruits : Jesus' resurrection
4. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks, Pentecost): Coming of the Holy Spirit. Between Passover and Shavuot
are exactly 50 days and that is why the festival is also known as Pentecost (Greek).
5. Feast of Trumpets (Shofar Blowing): Associated with the last trumpet and thus with the rapture
6. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): This is the Day of Judgment and also represents the salvation of the believers.
7. Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): Associated with the return of Jesus and the Messianic Kingdom, but also with the time of Jesus' birth.
It is known that Jesus, his apostles and the early churches observed the biblical festivals and holidays strictly like all other Jews (Acts 2:1; 12:3; 20:6f. 16; 1 Corinthians 5:7f; 16 ,8th). All festivals and holidays were and are not only historical commemoration days, but they also point to the completion in the future and are therefore of great importance not only for the Israelites, but also for all mankind.
There are two other festivals, Hanukkah (temple dedication / festival of lights) and Purim (lots), which commemorate historical events. Jesus also celebrated these festivals. They are also described in more detail in the conclusion below.
The Rest of days
Over the centuries, the church of Jesus has lost much knowledge and riches from the Word of God. One area to which this applies is that of "God's rest and holidays". God wants to remind us that He gave us these festivals to remind us and understand His 10th Commandments and His schedule. First, God gave us the Sabbath, that is, the seventh day as a day of rest .
The Bible speaks of seven "feasts of the Lord". The Hebrew word translated as "feasts" or "feasts" is "Moed" and means "a definite, fixed time". They are not just Jewish feasts, but feasts of "the Lord". God has determined times when he is ready to meet his people. The seven feasts of the Lord are explained in detail in Leviticus 23.
It is important that God's calendar has 364 days (30x12 plus 4 days after the 3rd, 6th, 9th & 12th month) in contrast to the Gregorian calendar with 365 days and therefore the dates do not always match exactly to the day. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) may fall on September 19th, but there can be a difference of a few days in the flying year. However, what always remains the same are the dates in the Bible. The Bible speaks of twelve months and the year begins in the first month (Nisan ניסן - March / April). Passover is on the 14th day of the first month.
In the Bible, a "24-hour day" consists of 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. So you greet the new day in the evening at sunset. This is how the festivities begin in the evening.
God's holidays have a secret מיקרה miqra = incident, this occurrence should be repeated and a preparation for the future, ie also for today.
The seven festivals are divided into two groups. There are 4 festivals in spring and 3 in autumn . The four spring festivals were all fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah. We can therefore expect that he will also fulfill the three autumn festivals of his 2nd coming exactly to the day.
The overview indicates the prophetic meaning and fulfillment. The festivals are detailed below.
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1. Passover (Passover): Yeshua's death on the cross
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2. Unleavened Bread : Jeshua's life free from sin, pride, selfish thinking and falsehood
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3. First fruits : Jesus' resurrection
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4. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks, Pentecost): Coming of the Holy Spirit. Between Passover and Shavuot
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are exactly 50 days and therefore the festival is also known as Pentecost (Greek).
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5. Feast of Trumpets (Shofar blowing): Connects to the last trump and thus with the Rapture
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6. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): This is the day of judgment and also represents the salvation of believers.
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7. Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): Associated with the Second Coming of Jesus and the Messianic Kingdom, but also with the time of Jesus' birth.
It is known of Jesus, his apostles and the first churches that, like all other Jews, they observed the biblical festivals and holidays strictly (Acts 2: 1; 12: 3; 20, 6f. 16; 1 Corinthians 5: 7f; 16 ,8th). All feasts and holidays were and are not only historical days of remembrance, but they also point to the consummation in the future and are therefore not only of great importance for the Israelites, but also for all of humanity.
There are two other festivals, the Hanukkah (temple consecration / festival of lights) and Purim (lots), which commemorate historical events. Jesus also celebrated these festivals. They are also described in more detail in the conclusion below.
שַׁבָּת
Shabbat (Sabbath)
Shabbat (שבת) means a time of rest after work is done. The day
was created by the LORD for them people and the animals. (Mark 2:27) On Shabbat we are to rest, worship God, read the Word (Bible) and reflect on what God has done for us.
The Shabbat is the seventh day; a day chosen by God when man is called upon to cease his normal, mundane labors and present himself before the Lord God to know Him and be known by Him.
The rest of God is further elaborated in Hebrews 4:9-10.
According to Exodus 20, the weekly festival and holiday is the "Shabbat". For believing Jews, Messianic Jews and Christians, it is a day of holy rest on which, according to God's will, no work is allowed. With the beginning of the "Shabbat" on Friday evening the whole family gathers around the festively set table. The lady of the house lights the Shabbat candles and recites the blessing. The father holds a short prayer and blesses the bread and wine. Then the wine is drunk and the Shabbat bread (Challah) is cut or broken open. You hold the Shabbat meal and wish each other "Shabbat Shalom" ("The Shabbat peace be with you!"). The Lord's Day has begun, a time of inner edification, rest and family gatherings. We celebrate the Sabbath on the seventh day. Consider that Wednesday, the fourth day - is in the middle of the week.
The Messianic Jews and followers of Christ who obey God's commandments appeal to Jesus and the early church , who also kept "the Shabbat" (Luke 14:1; Mark 1:21; Acts 20:7).
The word Sabbath includes our heavenly Father ABBA*.
* More explanations about Shabbat שַׁבָּת
Shin ש means: eating, consuming fire, destruction, peace, supply or victory. The shin also stands for conversion and repentance and reconciliation
Bet ב stands for house or tent and refers to our inner temple, where the Holy Spirit enters when we are born again. Our Abba wants to live in our temple.
Taw ת stands for the cross and is the sign or covenant, covenant, mark, seal and eternity.
The Feast Days
פֶּסַח .1
Passover (Passover)
On the 14th of the first month (the month of Nisan or also known as Abib) this first festival takes place in the biblical calendar (Leviticus 23:6). In the Gregorian calendar, this festival is celebrated in March/April.
The Passover feast is a reminder of that fateful night in Egypt, when God's judgment fell on Israel's oppressors. The Israelites were spared, however, because the doorposts of their houses were sprinkled with the blood of a sacrificial lamb . "When I see the blood ," God had promised, "I will pass by." This led to the fact that Pharaoh let the children of Israel go back to their homeland (Exodus 12). On the "Seder evening" the "Passover Haggadah" (narration of the exodus from Egypt) is read and then a feast takes place .
The Hebrews were asked to celebrate the Passover (Exodus 12). They were asked to take an unblemished lamb, keep it for 4 days, and then kill it. They were also asked to remove all leaven from their homes. (Ex 12:19) Then they were to dip hyssop in the blood (Ex 12:22) and take the blood of the Lamb and put it on the doorposts and lintels of their house. That night, on the 14th of the second month, the angel of death passed through Egypt, but all who believed—Hebrews and strangers alike—and had blood painted on their doorposts and lintels were covered in blood and passed over by the angel (Exodus 12 ,23). From then on the Jews were encouraged to celebrate the Passover feast.
Messianic Jews and Christians also celebrate Passover, but they especially remember the sacrifice, suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus is to us the "Passover Lamb," the Lamb of God, sacrificed for their sins and for our salvation from Satan's slavery. And as once the blood of a slain lamb spared the houses of Israel from judgment, so is it the blood of Jesus Christ also for us protection and salvation.
The blood on the lintel represents our heart, ie our soul and spirit, while the blood on the doorpost sanctifies and cleanses everything inside the house from all impurity. (1 Pet 1:19). The removal of all leaven represents the removal of everything that is contrary to the knowledge of Jesus Christ (ego, pride, arrogance, etc.) while the hyssop dipped in blood shows that we need to be cleansed again and again with the blood of Jesus.
Christians remember that on that night of Passover, Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples. He distributed unleavened bread and wine to them as a sign that his body would be broken and his blood shed. Since then, Jesus has also been the "Passover Lamb" of God for us, who was "slain" for the forgiveness of our sins.
2. חג מצה
Chag ha-Mazzot (Festival of Unleavened Bread)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread (between January 15 and 21) follows immediately after Passover (Leviticus 23:6-8).
In the celebration of Holy Communion we too are reminded of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “ Put away the old leaven, that ye may be new, unleavened dough. For we have a Passover lamb sacrificed for us: This is Christ!
The Feast of Unleavened Bread points to the sinless life and burial of Messiah, making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the tomb in the early days of that feast like a grain of wheat planted waiting to spring forth as the bread of life. The historical background is the exodus from Egypt (Lev 23:6-8), the messianic fulfillment of Jesus' sinless life and his burial ( John 6:47-51 , Acts 2:29-32 , Rom 6:4 , 1Cor 5 :8 ).
Sourdough is a fermentation process that puffs the dough. The leaven of the Pharisees (Mt 16:6-12) dealt with the evil teachings, their hypocritical ways and their external legalism. The Sadducees (Mt 16:6) do not believe in the supernatural. They don't believe in visions, dreams, miracles, etc. This is what we mean by the leaven of the Sadducees. We are to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But we are also to beware of Herod's leaven (Mark 8:15). Its leaven was laced with worldliness and lust.
From the 15th of the first month the seven-day festival of unleavened bread to the LORD takes place. On the first day there should be a holy assembly and no one should do weekday work. As Christians we remember that Jesus is the unleavened bread of life without pride or ambition. (John 6:35 and 51) In a spiritual sense, this means that ever since we were saved, we are to eat of the bread (Jesus) continually - pondering the pure, unadulterated Word of God throughout our lives. (Joshua 1:8) We must separate ourselves from all that constitutes leaven (1 Cor. 5:6-8) and live in integrity and in truth.
חג הביכורים .3
Chag HaBikurim (First Fruits Festival)
The feast of the firstfruits takes place immediately after the Passover feast. In Lev 23:9-14 the offering of the first fruits is explained in detail. When the harvest was in, a sheaf of firstfruits was brought to the priest, which he waved before the Lord. This celebration is a sign of the resurrection, being Jesus was the first to be bodily resurrected as firstfruits and presented to God. (1 Cor 15:20-21:23) It signifies the newness of life (Rom 6:4).
Behind it are three mysteries (2 Cor. 4:14)
Resurrection of the Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19)
Resurrection of the soul (Phil 2:12)
Resurrection of the body (Job 19:26-27)
שבועות .4
Schawuoth (Weekly Festival / Pentecost Festival)
"Shawuoth" takes place 50 days after the Passover. It is the day of remembrance of the revelation of God on Mount Sinai and the reception of the Ten Commandments as well as the "Feast of the First Fruits" (wheat grain harvest). Fifty days after the first sheaf was sacrificed, a festival was celebrated to mark the end of the grain harvest. The festival is called the festival of weeks (Hebrew shavuot), Pentecost or from the Greek pentecost (fifty). To celebrate the festival, the men traveled to Jerusalem.
On this day the book of Ruth will be read, which is about a Moabite bride who put all her trust in the God of Israel.
Messianic Jews and Christians especially think of "Shawuoth" because they are reminded of the special festival of Pentecost 2000 years ago in Acts 2. The apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ (120 people in total) received the Holy Spirit!
The apostles and disciples began to preach the good news (the gospel) of the crucified, risen, and returning Lord and the coming kingdom on earth. The "harvest" was not lacking: 3,000 Jews believed in Jesus Christ. They were the first fruits of the Gospel. Since that "Feast of the First Fruits", more "fruits" have soon been added to believers from Israel and other nations Meanwhile, collecting the fruits for Jesus continues all over the world.
רֹאֹשׁ הַשָּׁנָה .5
Rosh Ha-Schanah or Yom Teruah (Head of the Year / Noise-Making Day / New Year Festival / Trumpet Blowing)
In ancient Israel, this day was originally called the "New Moon Sabbath" and the "Day of
Blowing the trumpet "(Numbers 29: 1; Leviticus 23: 23-25; Psalm 81.4).
Rosh Hashanah / Yom Teruah falls on Tischri on the Jewish calendar
or the first of the seventh month , whichever according to the Greorian calendar
New moon sighting in the Falls in September or the first half of October.
It was not until late Judaism that it became New Year's Day in the Jewish bourgeois calendar and, at the same time, the day of remembrance of the ascension to the throne of the judging God, before whom the scrolls of merit and guilt are spread out. In this sense, this day is also celebrated today among the Jews.
The focus of this and the following days is blowing on the shofar (Ram's horn). The "instrument" is reminiscent of the planned sacrifice of Isaac But in the place of which a ram was sacrificed to God, and its horns to God to remind of the vicarious atonement of Israel (Genesis 22). In Numbers 10: 1-2, however, God asked Moses to produce two silver trumpets. Silver is stronger than gold, but it was very valuable (durable, weatherproof and valuable). Both trumpets should be blown uniformly. This points to the coming and future: Aaron's sons blew the two trumpets. They point to the two witnesses (prophetic voices) in Revelation 11: 5-6. The witnesses will prophesy together and proclaim judgment, just as the trumpets are now supposed to proclaim the warning before the court.
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The trumpets announce that the Lord God is on his way. (Exodus 19:13; 1 Thes 4:16; Ps 47: 5) call the congregation to a gathering, to celebrations and to fight the enemies (Numbers 10: 42, 9, 10).
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The trumpets also call for a fight.
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The trumpets call God's people and also the followers of Jesus together.
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They are an indication of the "sounding of the trumpet" with which the resurrection of the dead who fell asleep in the Lord is announced (Revelation 8; 1; Corinthians 15: 51f).
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They announce that the journey will be continued or started. (4th Mo 10: 1)
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Especially in the anniversary year the trumpets are blown, ie. there are certain times when the trumpets are supposed to shake and remind (Ps 150: 3)
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The trumpets announce the coming judgment and call for repentance. (Rev 8: 2) The day of atonement (Yom Kippur) also follows a few days after Yom Teruah.
God speaks to us through the trumpets. (Rev 1: 10-11; Zechariah 9: 4)
Messianic Jews and Christians are reminded by the meaning of the Jewish New Year of the eternal truth in Romans 8, 32-34: God did not spare his own son, but gave him up for all of us to die. How should He not give us everything with him? Who else wants to accuse us? " God himself acquitted us. Who wants to condemn us? Jesus Christ died for us. Even more: He rose from the dead. Now he sits at the right hand of God and stands up for us ."
יוֹם כִּפּוּר .6
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement )
This day of conversion and penance on the 10th of the seventh month (September / October) is the highest holiday. In biblical times, on this day, once in the whole year, the high priest went to the holy of holies of the temple to offer an animal sacrifice to God in reconciliation for the sins of the people (3rd Moselle 6; 23: 27-32). Since the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, there has been no animal sacrifice in Judaism on Yom Kippur. Instead, a 24-hour fast, accompanied by self-examination and accountability and the request for God's mercy and forgiveness.
Yom (Hebrew day) Kippur (Hebrew covering). So Yom Kippur is the day when God looks at His people and covers their sins with His embrace. On that day alone, the high priest was allowed to step into the holy of holies and sprinkle blood on the ark for the sins of the Israelites; a bull was offered as a sin offering for the high priest (Leviticus 16: 6). Then two billy goats were brought to the Lord. One goat stood as a sin offering for the sins of Israel. The other carried the sins of Israel into the desert never to return. (Leviticus 16:10). A ram was also sacrificed.
Jesus Christ fulfilled this Atonement. (Heb. 9: 11-14) For the messianic Jews and Christians this day is fulfilled and completed by the death of Jesus on the cross. Because Jesus Christ is the high priest and at the same time the sacrificial lamb for the sins of all people (Hebrews 9 1ff) He has purified us from all guilt and given us forgiveness. Since then it has been true for us: "But where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no more sacrifice for them" (Hebrews 10:18) Repentance to join the cleansing and sanctification of their people and to stand up in prayer for the salvation of Israel.
Jesus lives forever to intercede for us (Heb 7:25). Jesus sprinkled his blood on the mercy horn (Heb 9: 11-12). Jesus was sacrificed like the first goat for the sins of Israel. He also took our sins upon himself (similar to the sins that were then laid on the second goat and sent into the desert). He took sins to heaven to be justified (Heb. 9: 24-26).
In the last days all believers will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Rom 14:10) and all humanity will have to stand before the Great White Throne to be judged (Revelation 20: 11-15) .
סֻכּוֹת .7
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and Thanksgiving Day
The Jews celebrate this eight-day festival to commemorate the time of the desert wandering, when the Israelites lived in shelters (Leviticus 23: 33-44).
It is also a harvest festival . In addition, it has a future meaning. The prophet Zechariah describes it as an international festival in the days of the Messianic Kingdom, to which "people from all nations" will come to Jerusalem to take part in the Feast of Tabernacles and to worship God (14.16ff) Jews in a makeshift "booth" (sukkah) outside their home, decorated with green branches and colorful garlands.
For messianic Jews and Christians , this festival is an occasion to reflect on the "wandering" of the community of Jesus in the past and to visualize the faithfulness of God, his help and provision. At the same time, the "tabernacle" points to the place of the future present God's way in the New Jerusalem: “Look there, the tent of God with the people! And he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and he himself, God, will be their God "(Revelation 21: 3).
Other holidays
חֲנֻכָּה Hanukkah (Feast of the Dedication of the Temple)
This eight-day festival commemorates the rededication of the temple in 164 BC. B.C., having previously been desecrated and desecrated by the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This can be found in the first book of Maccabees, in the history book of Flavius Josephus and can be looked up in the Talmud (the oral tradition).
Hanukkah" is also known as the "Festival of Lights". Because in the newly consecrated temple, a small vessel with oil for a day is said to have burned for eight days through a miracle of God. That is why the Jews light an eight-armed candlestick (special "Hanukkah candlestick") every day. ) a light on.
For the Jews who believe in Christ , the focus of this festival is Jesus Christ . You see the middle candle as our servant Jesus, who served us through his sacrificial death.
Jesus himself celebrated this festival and stayed in the temple (John 10:22f). During one such feast he was also asked the Messiah question.
For Messianic Jews and Christians Hanukkah has a messianic meaning: Jesus as the Messiah is the true light of the world. We long for the day when the entire Jewish people will come to a living faith in Jesus the Messiah and experience the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-2: " Arise, shine! For your light is coming, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth and blindness the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and his glory appears upon you ."
פּוּרִים
Purim
The last feast of the biblical year has its basis in the Book of Esther, chapter 9 in the Old Testament. It tells of the surrender of the people of Israel to a merciless enemy Haman, who has power over many peoples and countries. Even the big and small rulers of today have all means (weapons) at their disposal to exterminate not only the small people of Israel, but also all of humanity. Even the church of Jesus is increasingly threatened by anti-Christian people and powers and in some cases cruelly persecuted.
On the 13th of the twelfth month (February / March) the Jews waged a struggle for rescue and redemption against their enemies, and on the 14th of the 12th month they rested from it. That is why this day is considered a day of joy and feast. On this occasion, a service is celebrated in the synagogue , which is usually not overly serious, the whole process is aimed at joy. The fixed scroll of the Book of Esther is also read aloud. Whenever the name Haman is mentioned, the children present should make as much noise as possible with boos, rattles and ratchets
Seven Duties to Purim
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Complete reading of the chapter of Esther before the congregation. When the name Haman is mentioned, the audience rattles their guns; During this time the reader waits until calm has returned.
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At least one gift package with two different dishes for a loved one or for joy that is sent directly on the holiday.
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At least one gift each to two arms, usually money.
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Reading the Torah .
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Say “About the miracles” about the food during prayer and grace.
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According to the scholars, so much wine must be drunk during the feasts until the person can no longer distinguish between "Cursed be Haman" and "Praise be to Mordecai"; Haman bags are also eaten.
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Funeral speeches and fasting are prohibited on the feast day.
1 Sabbath = 1 week
From sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening
7th day Sabbath / Shabbat
In Greek the 6th day means Paraskevi "preparation", followed by Saturday Savvato.
sabbatical
Every seven years we are to take a sabbatical. (Exodus 23:10)
7 x thousand years
2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
7 years rest
Lev 25:4: But in the seventh year the land shall have its Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the LORD, on which you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
50 year anniversary
Lev 25:10 And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all who dwell in it. It is the year of jubilee when each one of you shall come back to his property and return to his family.
50 days to Shavout (Pentecost occurs 50 weeks after Passover)
Leviticus 23:15-16: Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread at the appointed time in the month of Abib, just as I commanded you; for in this [month] you came out of Egypt. And one shall not come before my face empty-handed. Then the feast of the harvest, when you bring the firstfruits of your labors from what you have sown in the field; and the feast of the harvest at the end of the year, when you have brought in the produce of your labors from the field.
70 weeks (Daniel 9)
Every 70 year weeks, ie in the 70 year anniversary (70th festival of weeks), everything is to be refunded. This is what happened to the land of Israel after World War II.
70 festival of weeks 1948
+ 62
= 2010
+ 7
= 2017
360/7 = 51.428571 50 years autumn 2015 - 2016
Ester's year of preparation = 1 year fall 2016 - 2017
On September 1st, 2017, the sign of the Virgin could be seen in the sky, which is considered a sign from Revelation 12. (More will follow soon or email me)