The Feasts of YHVH - Die Lighuis Ministry

Today I want to share my understanding regarding the Feasts of the Lord. My journey to truth has been a long one, but also very short. Let me explain.

When I first got introduced to the Feasts of the Lord and learnt that it’s still very applicable in the lives of believers, I immediately was drawn to it. But there was still so much spiritual pride and religiosity in my heart. My motive for celebrating the Lord’s feasts were driven by my spiritual ambition and by works. Without me even realising it, I wanted to earn God’s favour and I wanted to look good in the eyes of man.

It took a long and hard journey of dying to self, of dealing with the pride in my heart. I still stand amazed at God’s patience with us – that He tolerated me for so long and still do. (I will maybe give my testimony on a separate blog, God willing…)

I’m still on the journey towards complete brokenness before Him, but me honouring His times and seasons are not from a place of pride anymore, but from worship.

It is from that perspective that I’m writing.

So much have already been written and taught on this subject. I don’t intend to give a detailed theoretical explanation of each of the feasts. My purpose is to focus on God’s divine timing, redemptive plan and how He decided to use appointed times to bring each step into fulfilment. When we grasp this concept, it becomes easier to align ourselves to His Godly timetable.

Introduction:

We tend to think in a linear fashion – from start to end. But God’s times work in cycles, in seasons of planting and harvesting, winter and summer. God has fixed appointments in heaven and on earth. The most important revelation in these fixed appointments is the revelation of Jesus Christ. He also has fixed appointments with His ecclesia as a whole, with smaller groups, with families and with individuals. A lot of things happening on the world front also takes place on fixed times set by the heavenly clock. Scripture always refers us to the date or the season when a certain event or prophesy took place. Lots of times, these dates overlap with appointed feast dates. We have seen season changes on a personal level and big events taking place on or around the major feast dates in our lives personally.

When we remember and celebrate YHVH’s feasts, we are not being Jewish. These are not Jewish feasts. These set appointments were made by the Creator of the Universe and He still uses these times and seasons for His purposes. We don’t celebrate the feasts as an act of religion or to earn favour from God, but it’s an act of worship, led by the Spirit of the Living God. We wilfully align our timetables to the timetable of heaven.

We are so accustomed to the Roman calendar. We think nothing of it to search God’s face for the new year starting on the 1^st of January. Where I don’t find any fault with it, I’m struggling to understand the severe judgement coming to believers searching God’s face in the month of Adar to be ready for His change in season starting on the 1^st of Nisan. How can the first be seen as freedom ‘under grace’, but the latter as being caught up in religion. We have to be careful how we judge and how we cut the truth.

A note of warning from our own experience:

Once your grasp the fullness of these feasts, a person can get carried away and delf into Jewish practices. A lot of these practices are man-made traditions. Let’s take Pesach for example; the Jewish seder includes rituals based on the Roman symposium (source: Hebrew university) and you can end up with an egg on your table which is nothing else than the egg of the goddess Ishtar (Easter). The Bible is our source and if the Bible doesn’t say we have to blow the shofar a hundred times, then we don’t do it (even though Jewish customs prescribes it).

Appointed times:

We read as far back as Genesis 1:14 the following: “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years”

The word seasons in Hebrew is the word mô‛êd (Strongs 4150) which means:

an appointment, a fixed time or season, a festival, a set solemn feast
set appointed time; appointed due season
an assembly – as convened for a definite purpose
the place of meeting, place of solemn assembly, congregation
also, a signal as appointed beforehand: – appointed sign or time

Set appointments were in place in the heavenlies long before the Mosaic Law. Once we come to understand that Jesus is the fulfilment of all the feasts of YHVH, we can only stand amazed at God’s foreknowledge and perfect plan of redemption.

In Leviticus, we read that the feasts didn’t originate from mankind. They are the feasts of the LORD, which must be holy convocations.

Lev 23:2 and 4: “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. ‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.

The Hebrew word for convocations is: miqra (Strongs H4744), meaning

something called out, a public meeting,
also, a rehearsal: assembly, calling, convocation, reading.

The most important revelation is this verse for me personally was that the feasts are a rehearsal. A rehearsal is a practice run up until the real event or concert takes place. Every time the Jewish people celebrated Pesach up until the crucifixion, they were rehearsing with a lamb as a symbol. They were getting ready for the real event that had to take place: the slaying of the true Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world.

I also want to point out that the Hebrew word used for appointed times is exactly the same word used in Genesis 1:14 – a feast at an appointed time.

A schematic drawing of the seasons in Israel that will assist us to understand how the harvest times and the feasts are interlinked:

While the purpose of this writing is not the theory surrounding each feast, I would like us to take a birds-eye view, focusing on the past, current and future fulfilment – never losing sight of Jesus, the Messiah as THE fulfilment of the feasts.

Passover:

In Afrikaans – Pasga
In Hebrew – Pesach

For the Afrikaans speaking people I want to quickly talk about the word: paasfees. We find the word paasfees or paaslam, opposed to the original word pasga, occurring a few times in the Bible. The English Bible consistently uses the word Passover, literally meaning to pass over something. I’ve done some digging and it looks like the word paasfees, comes from the word Pase in Netherlands, also meaning to pass over something. Pase became paas in the vernacular. It should give believers some comfort that use of the word in itself is not a problem. As long as the feast is not confused with the feast of Ishtar (Easter). Personally, we prefer to refer to the feast on the initial name in the Bible: Pasga.

The most beautiful verse explaining Passover is found in Exodus 12:13 – And when I see the blood, I will pass over you. This gives us the full extend – only the applied Blood of the Lamb can rescue and save us. Not our good deeds, not our best performance or intent. Our only hope lies in the most precious commodity in the universe – the Blood of the Son of YHVH – Jesus, the Messiah.

On the 10^th of Nisan 33AD, Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the same day the lambs were brought into the house for inspection. He was tested by the religious factions, but they could find no fault in Him – the unblemished Lamb.

Ex 12:3 and 5: Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Four days later, on the 14^th of Nisan, Jesus was crucified.

Exo 12:6: Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.

Fulfilment of Passover:

Historically: Ever since that last night in Egypt when Passover began, Jewish people have been rehearsing and unknowingly proclaiming that there will be a permanent solution to sin – the Lamb of God. They have been practising for the real event. We can only start to image what happened in the heavenlies each year when the lambs were slain.

Current: At the last Passover that Jesus celebrated with His disciples, he instituted the meal of the covenant – His body and His blood. Every time we take part in this meal, we look back to the real event that took place on Golgotha (1 Cor 11:24-26).

Future: We also look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb when Jesus will drink of the fruit of the vine again. Every time we take the cup, we declare that we are His bride and that we will wait for Him. We promise that we belong to no other, we are spoken for. We promise to life a live behind the veil, holy and consecrated unto the One to whom our hearts belong. It’s a solemn promise, something not to take light heartily.

Jesus Christ is the fulfilment – He is our Passover.

Luk 22:15-16: Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Joh 1:29: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 Pet 1:19: but redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Feast of unleavened bread

In Afrikaans – Ongesuurde brode
In Hebrew – Bar Matzot

Although the Feast of unleavened bread started one day after Passover (on the 15^th of Nisan), the removing of the leaven took place on the 14^th, therefore these two feasts were sometimes grouped together as one feast in Scripture. The feast names were also used interchangeably.

We know that leaven (yeast) represents sin. This feast lasted for seven days which represents completeness and holiness. Jesus, the one without sin (leaven), the Bread of Life – the fulfilled the feast of unleavened bread.

Every time we celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, and abstain from physically eating products that contain leaven, it reminds us to get rid of all known and unknown sin in our lives.

The issue of leaven was very serious, if anyone was found eating leaven during these seven days, he or she was to be killed. Sin is dangerous for us and brings death and destruction in our lives.

We believe the removing of sin far outweighs the elimination of physical leaven. Paul writes to the Corinthians on this matter – they were to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread by purging out the old leaven, in sincerity and truth:

1 Cor 5:6-8: Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Feast of first fruits

In Afrikaans – Eerstelinggerf
In Hebrew – Yom HaBikkurim

Lev 23:11: He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

The Hebrew word for sheaf is omar, meaning a heap or a dry measure (Strongs H6016). In other words, they were to bring fresh barley grain from the first sheaf of the harvest to be waved before the Lord. I’m still studying the rich symbolism and significance of barley and of this sacrifice. I will share more on the topic at a later stage. Only after this first fruit offering of barley grain was presented, the rest of the harvest could follow.

This offering had to occur on the day after the Sabbath. In 33AD, the first day of the feast of unleavened bread fell on a Sabbath (Saturday). We read in John 19:31: that Sabbath was a high holy day (Normal Sabbath plus the first day of the Feast). In other words, the first day after that Sabbath fell on a Sunday.

Jesus was the first fruit offering when He rose from the dead on the day the first fruit offering was presented and waved before YHVH as an acceptable offer. The waving was also a request for the blessing of the remainder of the harvest. The wheat harvest followed the barley, which ripened first. We will follow Him at His second coming and will also be presented as fine wheat flour that had to pass the test of fire. Every time when we celebrate the feast of first fruits, we look forward to the day of His return.

1 Cor 15:20-23: But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

Pentecost

In Afrikaans – Pinksterfees of Fees van weke
In Hebrew – Shavuot

Lev 23:15-17: ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the first fruits to the LORD.

Exactly fifty days after the feast of first fruits – the day Jesus rose from the dead; the next feast was to take place: Pentecost. The days had to be precisely counted to another special appointment with YHVH.

It took fifty days for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to Mount Sinai where they were to meet the God who set them free. A marriage covenant between the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His people were planned for the 50^th day. It was an appointment that couldn’t be missed.

The same fifty days took us to the upper room where the disciples were in prayer when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Another divine appointment that couldn’t be missed.

Two leavened breads were required, the only sacrifice that could contain leaven. Those two breads are symbols for Jew and Gentile, sinful in nature, but one new man in Christ. The bread was made from the harvest that was blessed 50 days earlier.

When we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, we present ourselves as a wave offering. God is so gracious that He allows us, as a sinful (leavened) people to be baptised by His precious Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a divine appointment, one that we cannot afford to miss. Each one of us have to meet the God who set us free and allow Him to take us deeper and higher by the power of His Spirit.

Feast of Trumpets

In Afrikaans – Fees van Basuingeklank
In Hebrew – Yom Teruah

Num 29:1: ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.

The Hebrew word Teruah means: clamour, acclamation of joy or a battle cry, alarm, jubilee, joy, loud noise (Strongs H8643).

Not a lot of specifics are given on how to celebrate the feast, expect that trumpets must be blown and certain offerings made. It was to start on the 1^st of Tishri (the seventh month). This feast has not been completely fulfilled yet. We are looking forward to the sound of the last trumpet. I believe a spiritual trumpet has already sounded to awake the sleeping virgins. We are now in the time of making sure we have enough extra oil as we are going out to meet the Bridegroom. May we not run out of oil when we need it the most (Matthew 25).

1 Cor 15:51-52: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Very interesting: this feast is also the ‘Awakening of judgement’, pointing to the Day of Atonement that follows this feast. We know that after the tribulation, the saints will be gathered (raptured if you will) and then the Day of the Lord will commence – God’s judgement on a wicked world (Rev 6:17)

Day of Atonement

In Afrikaans – Groot versoendag
In Hebrew – Yom Kippur

This feast was to be a solemn occasion, a day of repentance and humbling before YHVH. The Day of Atonement took place on the 10^th of Tishrei (the seventh month).

Historically Jesus fulfilled the feast as the one who made atonement (Lev 16 – scapegoat ceremony on the Day of Atonement). There is so much rich symbolism in just this chapter alone, it will be a teaching on its own).

Every year, we have a special appointment with the Lord, a day of special grace to remember the perfect atonement. It’s a day of humbling ourselves, of searching our hearts and of deep repentance.

This feast is also looking forward to a future event – most probably the great and terrible day of the Lord, the day of wrath that almost every Old Testament prophet prophesied about.

Rev 6:17: For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Feast of Booths

In Afrikaans – Huttefees
In Hebrew – Sukkot

Deut 16:13: “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.

This feast started on the 15^th of Tishrei (seventh month) and continued for seven days. Seven signifies completion and holiness. The people were to dwell in booths for the seven-day period to remind them of God’s provision during their time in the desert. It was to be a time of celebration and presenting the harvest of summer fruits.

Every year when we celebrate the feast, we are reminded of God’s daily provision and care for us. We bring the fruit of our lives as an offering. It’s a time to thank the Lord for the work He has done in us and the fruit that we were able to bring forth – fruit of love, peace, gentleness etc. (Gal 5:22)

This feast also looks forward to the thousand-year period when Jesus will reign from Jerusalem. We are now prophetically celebrating His Kingship over all the earth. We read in the book of Zechariah that all the nations will go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of booths and those that don’t will not get rain. In essence, only those nations that won’t accept the Kingship of Jesus Christ, will rebel by not going up to Jerusalem and that explains the judgement. (Zech 14:16-17).

Examples of Biblical events that took place on or around the feast dates:

When one of two incidents happens on the same day, one can say it’s coincidence, but when so many incidents take place, we have to acknowledge that these dates are important to the Lord. He has chosen for these events to take place in a season where there is divine grace to bring it to pass.

First month (Aviv / Nisan):

Nehemiah – permission by king Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 2)
Noah – earth was dried on the first day of the first month (Gen 8:13)
Tabernacle was set up – on the first day of the first month (Ex 40:2)
Crossing the Jordan river – on the tenth day of the first month (Jos 4:19)
Ezra started his journey to Jerusalem – on the first day of the first month (Ezra 7:9)
Two prophesies of Ezekiel on the first day of the first month (Ezek 29:17; 30:20)

Seventh month (Tishrei):

The ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. (Gen 8:4)
Haggai prophesied (Hag 2:1)
Ezra read the law on the first day of the seventh month (Neh 8:3)
Ezra – burnt offerings began (Ezra 3:6)
Dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Kron 5:3; 7:10)

From Scripture, we can see how the feasts were still part of the live of the first church. Paul’s journeys involved the feast times. He also wrote to the church of the Corinth to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread with spiritual purpose. They had to have some understanding of the feast to understand the symbolism he was referring to. Please read Act 18:21, Acts 27:9 and 1 Cor 5:8.

You can also refer to John 7:10, John 7:37, John 2:13 and Luk 22:7-8 – a few of the Scriptures that talks about Jesus celebrating the feasts.

Word of warning:

When we decide to celebrate the feast of YHVH, it requires a pure, joyful heart. We will not earn God’s favour, but we will enjoy the blessing of being aligned to His appointed times, seasons and purposes.

Please take time to read the following four Scriptures. The Lord was not happy with Israel. They disregarded His feasts and when they celebrated, it was with deceit in their hearts. Some thought it was too much trouble and others brought second-rated offerings.

Our hearts must be right with God. We cannot come before the King of the Universe with hidden leaven in our hearts and think He will not see it. We cannot present ourselves as wave offerings while thinking it too much trouble to live a holy life.

Isa 1:13-14, Hos 2:10, Zech 8:19, Mal 1:13

Closure:

Each one of us must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The celebrating of the feasts of YHVH must not become a law. When my brother or sister doesn’t have the revelation or leading to celebrate the feasts, who am I to judge. The same goes for the ones celebrating the feasts – no-one is to judge such person. We all have the Spirit of the Living God, leading each one of us on a unique journey.

The feasts of YHVH gives us a picture of future events. The real event is much more important than the rehearsal. We can become so focused on the rehearsal that we miss the essence of the feast – Jesus, the Messiah – who is the fulfilment of all the feasts.

Col 2:16-17: So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.