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The Passover as Prophecy
Passover
The first festival of the calendar year. Israel’s calendar of festivals begins with this festival, indicating its significance to God. Jesus is said to be our Passover lamb, according to 1 Corinthians. 5:7.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:1 Corinthians 5:7
Unleavened Bread
The second festival was a week-long celebration which commemorated Israel’s hasty exodus from Egypt.
Firstfruits
Occurring during the festival of unleavened bread, on the day after the Sabbath, the first day of the week, is the festival of first harvest or firstfruits, according to Leviticus 23:11. This was a feast day celebrating God’s provision for Israel as the nation was about to enter into the promised land.
And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.Leviticus 23:11
Pentecost
This festival occurred 50 days after the festival of first fruits, according to Leviticus 23:15-16. It was sort of a “second harvest” festival.
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.Leviticus 23:15-16
Trumpets
This festival was preparatory for the Day of Atonement, which would arrive 10 days later. The Jews refer to these 10 days as the “Days of Awe.”
Atonement
The day of atonement was viewed as the most holy day of the year. On this day, and ONLY on this day, the high priest would take the blood of a lamb, enter in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, and sprinkle that blood on the top of the ark of the covenant - the lid known as the “mercy seat.” In this way, Israel’s sins would receive atonement for another year.
Tabernacles
This festival commemorated Israel’s wilderness wanderings, when God dwelt with them in the tabernacle, and provided for them throughout their wanderings.
The Passover as prophecy was completely fulfilled by Jesus when God’s true sacrificial lamb was slaughtered, and Jesus’s blood was posted to our account.
Unleavened bread was completely fulfilled by Jesus when His body was placed in the grave, offered up on our behalf, pure and holy, to nourish us and bring us eternal life.
FirstFruits was fulfilled on the day after the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Sunday. Jesus rose from the dead ON the morning of FirstFruits, becoming the Firstfruits of God’s spiritual harvest.
Exactly fifty days after Jesus’s resurrection, another important festival was fulfilled. According to Acts 2:1-4 (READ), the Holy Spirit was first given to believers, both Jew and Gentile, at the festival of Pentecost.
The final festivals: Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles have not been fulfilled and are yet future. They will be fulfilled literally as well, when Jesus returns, Israel recognizes Jesus as the Messiah they had rejected, and He dwells with them in His kingdom on Earth: the “Millennial Kingdom.”
The festivals are still in effect for observant Jews, and Christians are free to observe or not observe them, “as unto the Lord.”
God is sovereign and you can trust Him . He has a plan for Israel, he has a plan for His Church, and He has a plan for you. Trust Him and He will guide you!
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is an extremely important interlude in God’s plan for the world. It fills the gap between the first and second set of festivals.
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