RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-07-06	What Are The Lord's Appointed Times? (Le.23)
		The “appointed times” are the holy days and feasts that God required the people of Israel to set aside and observed throughout the year. These appointed times correspond with the Jewish calendar and were associated with the lunar (moon) and solar (sun) cycles. The Lord called these observances “my appointed times” because the focus of the gatherings was to be on Him. The annual spring festivals included the Lord's Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, and Weeks (Pentecost). The annual fall festivals consisted of the Feast of Trumpets (new year), the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). The Sabbath (Le.23:3) was an important time celebrated every week as a sign of Israel's covenant relationship with God (Ex.31:12-17). During the Sabbath, the people of Israel were forbidden to do any work. The new moon observance marked the first day of every month. The following are the seven Feasts of the Lord. They are both COMMEMORATIVE (looking back) and PROPHETIC (looking forward). 1. The Passover (Le.23:4-5) — DEATH • Commemorates Israel's salvation and deliverance from Egypt (Ex.12:3-7, 46-47). • Prophetic of Jesus as the sacrificial Passover Lamb (1Co.5:7). Jesus died on the Feast of Passover. 2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Le.23:6-8) — BURIAL • Commemorates Israel's hurried departure from Egypt (Ex.12:17-20) and lasted 7 days. • Prophetic of Jesus' body buried in the grave but not seeing corruption (Ps.16:10; 1Co.5:7-8). 3. Feast of Firstfruits (Le.23:9-14) — RESURRECTION • Commemorates Israel as they entered Canaan since they could not celebrate it in the wilderness. Beginning of the barley harvest. • Prophetic of Jesus as the Firstfruits of resurrection (1Co.15:15;4, 20-21). 4. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Le.23:15-22) — LAW vs SPIRIT • Commemorates the newly redeemed people. Pentecost took place on the same day as the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. • Prophetically notice the following parallels between Sinai and Pentecost. 50 days after sacrificing the Passover Lamb the Israelites received a covenant from God (the Law). 50 days after the sacrifice of Jesus the church received a new covenant from God (the Spirit of Promise). Moses came down with the Law that Israel broke, and 3,000 people died (Ex.32:28). On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down and 3,000 people were saved (Ac.2:41). 5. Feast of Trumpets (Le.23:23-25) — NATIONAL REGATHERING • Commemorates Israel calling the congregation for directing the movement of the camps (Nu.10:1-10). This required waiting and watching to witness the beginning of the civil new year. • Prophetic of God regathering national Israel (Is.27:12-13; Ek.36:24). Most understand this beginning in the year 1948. They are regathered in unbelief. 6. Day of Atonement (Le.23:26-32) — TRUE ISRAEL SAVED • Commemorative of God covering the sins of His people. This is the one time in a year the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. • Prophetic of the atonement of Israel after they “afflict their souls” at the end of Daniel's 70th Week (Is.36:25-29; Je.30:7; Ho.5:15-6:2; Zc.12:10; 14:16-21) 7. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Le.23:33-36,40-43) — ISRAEL BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM • Commemorates God's provision and care during Israel's 40 years of wandering. • Prophetic of Israel during their Millennial rest kingdom. The Lord tabernacles with His people forever. Feasts 1-4 have already been fulfilled through the death, burial, resurrection of Christ, and giving of the Holy Spirit. Feasts 5-7 are still future though God has begun the gathering of Israel to the land (Feast 5). Feast 6 takes place during Daniel's 70th Week, in which Israel at the end will come to faith in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. Feast 7 will be fulfilled as Christ returns and sets up the Millennial kingdom on the earth. Everything is going according to God's time schedule. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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