If you are a student of the Bible and if you are familiar with the seven feasts of Israel, you probably know the significance of those feasts. For the Jews, they are reminders of God’s goodness in bringing them out of Egyptian captivity and His faithfulness to lead them into the Promised Land.

But through the lens of the cross, we see so much more in the God-ordained feasts for His uniquely called people (Leviticus 23)!

• Passover: Jesus took on our sin as the Passover Lamb.
• Feast of Unleavened Bread: Jesus’ body was pierced, striped and broken (just like a piece of unleavened matzos) to pay the penalty for our sin.
• Feast of First Fruit: Jesus rose again from the grave as the First Fruit. He was raised first so that when we crucify our flesh (our human desire to sin), we too can be raised to new life in Christ.
• Shavuot (Feast of Weeks): The Holy Spirit was given and the church was born.
• Feast of Trumpets: At the end of the 7-year tribulation, a trumpet will sound and Jesus will step foot once again on planet earth to redeem Israel (this is after believers in Christ are raptured prior to the tribulation).
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): Jewish eyes will be open to see and recognize the Messiah and they will repent.
• Feast of Tabernacles: This is the Millennial reign of Jesus on this earth, with all the Jewish and Gentile saints who now recognize Him and call Him Lord.

Interestingly, those feasts happen in unique timing. The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of First Fruits actually take place within the 8-day Passover time during the spring. Shavuot occurs about 50 days later (in late-spring), then there is a sizable gap until the final three feasts all occur within about a 3-week span in the fall.

On the Hebrew calendar, those feasts all take place in Tishri. The month before Tishri, however, is the month of Elul, a month of preparation in which Jewish people historically become introspective. They know Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is coming, so they are contemplating their own personal sin to be covered during atonement. They simply don’t recognize that Jesus, the Passover Lamb slain for the sin of the world, is their Passover Lamb (Messiah) as well!

We’re living in the month of Elul right now and it will give way to Tishri (the first day of the Feast of Trumpets) at sundown on September 11 this year. So, modern-day Israel, just like ancient Israel, is focused on this time of preparation for the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Find out more about God’s design of preparation and repentance:

These wonderful feasts ordained by the Lord speak prophetically of the first and second comings of Yeshua. He came the first time to be the Redeeming Sacrifice for all. He’s coming the second time to redeem His people (who missed the day of His first visitation). (Luke 19:41-44)

Let’s make this time of repentance and preparation a time of prayer for the nation of Israel and Jewish people around the world. This is when they seek God’s forgiveness most fervently. Perhaps you know a Jewish person. For these next 2 weeks, will you ask the God of the harvest to prepare the hearts and minds of Jewish people to hear and recognize Yeshua, who fulfilled the very feasts in which they celebrate? In fact, why not carry out the prayer mission throughout the feast season! God is moving…let’s join Him where He is at work!

Fall feast dates:

• Feast of Trumpets: Sundown September 11 through sundown September 13.
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): Sundown September 20 until sundown September 21.
• Feast of Tabernacles: Sundown September 25 through sundown October 2.