Seven Festivals of the Lord

39 days left before Rosh Hashanah!

Rosh Hashanah is the 5th of 7 annual festivals of the Lord. The first 4 festivals are in the spring and the last 3 festivals are in the fall.

Since the festivals have an historical context, a fulfillment by Jesus Christ, and a spiritual application, they are important to both Jews and Gentiles alike.

Passover (Exodus 12:1-23, Leviticus 23:4-5, Deuteronomy 16:1-3) is the first of the annual feasts. It is a reminder of the final plague of Egypt when the firstborn of the Egyptians died and the Israelites were spared because of the blood of the slain lamb that was smeared of their doorposts. This festival was prophetically fulfilled by the crucifixion of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), who is the Lamb of the World. Spiritually, this festival calls us to repent and trust by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Passover is held on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, the 1st month of the religious calendar. On the 15th to 21st day of Nisan is the feast of unleavened bread. Historically, this festival reminds us of the Israelites journey away from Egypt because they were told to take with them unleavened bread because they would have to leave in haste. Prophetically, this feast was fulfilled by the burial of Jesus Christ. Spiritually, the feast signifies our being sanctified and separated from evil as illustrated by our immersion in the waters of baptism.

The feast of firstfruits points historically to the crossing of the Red Sea. The feast is celebrated on the 17th day of Nisan. Prophetically, the feast is fulfilled by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spiritually, the feast represents our living in newness of life.

Fifty days after Passover is the festival of Pentecost. This festival looks back historically to the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. It was fulfilled prophetically, when the Holy Spirit was poured out 50 days after Christ was crucified. The feast spiritually signifies being immersed in the Holy Spirit and growing in our faith in God.

All of the spring feasts have been fulfilled by the Lord, but the remaining 3 fall feasts have yet to be fulfilled. But just as the spring feasts pointed to key aspects of God's redemptive plan, so do the fall feasts. Jesus died on Passover (at the ninth hour - 3:00 pm)and the promised Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. The fall feasts also point to specific times and seasons when God's redemptive plan will be continued to completion.

In the next blog posting, I plan to discuss the prophetic significance of the fall festivals.

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Truth can be bittersweet.

The Bible sometimes describes revelation as sweet as honey in the mouth, but once eaten, it turns the stomach sour. Although God is entirely victorious in the end, His victory means that mankind must experience great wrath, judgment, and suffering in the meantime.

Over the next few days I want to discuss the important matter of loving truth. Followers of the Lord are characterized as lovers of the truth. In John 14:6, Jesus
anwered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In contrast, those who reject Jesus resist the truth. In Jesus' conversation with Nichodemus, Jesus said "This is the verdict, Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed". (See John 3:19-20).

God's wrath is revealed against all godlessness and wickedness of man who suppress the truth by their wickedness. (See Romans 1:18). Consequently, the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (See 1 Corinthians 2:14.)

Do you love the truth, wherever it may lead? If not, its time to repent.

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Prayer thought for the day:

O Lord, You are the way and truth and the life! Help me to love you deeper for being everything I need. Search my heart, God, and help me to seek you in Spirit and in Truth with zeal. Help me to love the truth, no matter what the cost. For this pleases You.