Lev 23:4-6 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Lev 23:10-11... then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the (weekly) Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Lev 23:15-16 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.

The above verses describe the time of the first four feasts of Israel ordained by God for the Jews to keep. First, there was the Passover; then, the day after was Unleavened Bread; The day after the following Sabbath (which would be Sunday), was Firstfruits. Finally, 50 days after that was Pentecost. There remain three more feasts after these: Trumpets (vs. 24), Day of Atonement (vs. 27), and Tabernacles (34). It is very interesting to study the feasts of Israel, because they are prophetic in nature. Did you know that Jesus fulfilled the first four feasts perfectly in the New Testament? It all started with Passover.

In the Jewish calendar, the day starts at 6 p.m. on the day before. For instance, the Sabbath actually starts on Friday at 6 p.m., not on Saturday morning. We know that Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples that evening, and it was still Passover the next day when He was crucified. He was then buried by sunset, which started the new day - which was Unleavened Bread. Firstfruits started on the day after the Sabbath, which was 6 p.m. on Saturday. It’s true Jesus rose on a Sunday, but remember that Sunday started at 6 p. m. Saturday evening - our time. Also remember that Jesus was already gone when the women came to the tomb before sunrise. Then we see that 50 days after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus on the day of Pentecost. What does all this mean?

It means that Jesus The Messiah was crucified on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, resurrected on Firstfruits, and sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. It means that at the first coming of Jesus, He fulfilled four out of seven feasts. Why would Jesus fulfill the first four feasts in order perfectly, and not finish the last three? I believe we can confidently say that Jesus keeps the feasts. He kept them in His life, and He kept four of them in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. So what is next on the list of feasts? Of course, it’s Trumpets! Hmmmmmmm.

The swift “catching away,” also known as the rapture, will happen with three accompanying signs: the shout of Jesus Messiah, the announcement of the Archangel, and the sound of a trumpet. Is it any accident that Trumpets is the next feast in order to be fulfilled by Jesus? I think not. Now, the Bible says no man knows the day or the hour. However, the Bible also says that we should know the signs of the times. I believe that Jesus will fulfill the fifth feast with the sound of the trumpet. We need to be ready to meet our Lord. Do not waste another minute. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior right now. Eternity hangs in the balance.

Let’s say for argument’s sake that I’m wrong. I’ve lost nothing. I’ve lived a blessed life in real peace. But, unbelieving friend, if I am right, and you are wrong - you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. You have lost everything. You need to think hard and seriously about that. Jesus has - and He will - keep the feasts. This coming Monday evening at sundown Jews across the world will be celebrating Passover as they have for 3,500 years. As Christians, we know that Jesus is the Passover lamb. It is through His blood applied to the doorposts of our hearts through faith that we receive deliverance from sins. As we celebrate Passover every Sunday in the communion service, I would encourage Christians to celebrate it this Monday evening as well - commemorating our deliverance from sin approximately 1,980 years ago. Thank God for the cross. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!