The Feast Days of Israel
Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade
(an Assembly of True Israel, of the Diaspora)
SUBJECT: The Feast days of Israel, Ordained by Yahweh (G_d) in the Old Covenant and fulfilled by Yahshua (Je_us), Messiah (Christ), from the Cross to the Parousia (Second Coming) in AD 70. Note all bracketed "( )" items, and emphasis are supplied by the editor, Bible quotes are from the "Webster Bible 1833", by Noah Webster, which was a revision of the 1611 King James Bible. The Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade observes the traditions of the Feast days, as a part of our Nation's inheritance. We believe all of the Feast Days pointed to the coming Messiah, and were fulfilled in Yahshua. We observe the days not for legalistic purposes, because exact means and methods for their observation are no longer in effect, having been destroyed at 70 AD, the end of the world (system of Cultic Yahudaism), and through the fulfillment of the sacrificial death, as well as all prophecy concerning Messiah, Luke 24:44. The primary purpose of our observation and celebration of the Feasts is for Fellowship, to Remember, Worship and Praise, and for Teaching the youth about how Yahweh through Yahshua Redeemed and restored back to Himself, our Nation of True Israel.
INTRODUCTION
During the Old Covenant, Yahweh called out a people for himself. This body of believers was the physical nation of Israel. Yahweh gave this nation (only this nation) his law and His sacrificial system, and also provided a 'modern-day video' to help them understand his plan of redeeming Israel to his living presence.
This 'video' came in the form of seven annual feasts. Four were at the beginning of the Hebrew year: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. Three were at the end of the year: Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles.
Each feast day comprised of a unique agenda. Timing, order, sacrifice, and rest were critical components. Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 provide the Biblical outline of the feasts. The annual observance of these seven feasts was a visual reality of a spiritual truth. Yahweh used only seven months of the Hebrew year to convey the fullness of the salvation message.
At the establishment of the New Covenant, Yahweh again called out a people for Himself. This body of New Covenant Israel believers was called the Ecclesia (out-calling), an Assembly of True Israel. That which was written in the Law and the Prophets to the Old Covenant Israel became a road map to New Covenant Israel to help them in their journey to their promised inheritance.
In Col. 2:16-17 Paul writes, "let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a Set Apart-day, or of the new-moon, or of Sabbaths: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Messiah." Paul understood that the things that were written and which occurred in the Old Covenant were an example for the generation that lived from the time of Yahshua until his return in AD 70 at the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
Paul states in 1 Cor. 10:11: "Now all these things happened to them (Old Covenant Israel) for examples: and they are written for our (New Covenant Israel) admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (ages) are come." The goal of this, our understanding, is to provide an overview of the feasts in the Old Covenant and to demonstrate their fulfillment in the New Covenant, that period of time from the cross, to the Parousia (Yahshua's second coming of AD 70). By this understanding, the observation of the feast days, as understood by the Assembly of True Israel, Cascade, of the Diaspora, is for fellowship, remembrance, joy, and not legalistic reasons.
#1 PASSOVER
The feast of Passover is different from the other feasts in that it is based on a unique event in our nation's history. The first Passover occurred while our people were held captive in a strange land. Egypt's Pharaoh was obstinate and denied Moses' request to let Yahweh's people go and be released from the bondage of slavery. Moses was directed to show a series of plagues designed to change Pharaoh's mind.
Exodus 12 recounts conditions Yahweh gave to all the of Israelites to protect them from the last and final plague--a plague in which all the first born in the land of Egypt would be slain. (Note: Exodus 4:22 - Israel [is] My son, [even] my first-born). Yahweh's method of redemption or freedom for his own was the sacrifice of a lamb. It had to be unblemished and its blood was to be applied to the lintel and the two door posts. This blood of the lamb protected the inhabitants of the houses from the Lord's judgment. It was Yahweh's Passover and was to become a memorial for Israel through the celebration of an annual feast on the 14th of the first month (Nisan/Abib - Heb.) at evening.
Following Yahweh's judgment on Egypt, the Israelites experienced Yahweh's redemption and began what was to become a 40-year trek in the wilderness to their Promised Land.
THE FEAST
Passover as ordained by Yahweh is recorded in Leviticus 23:4-5 and in Deuteronomy 16:1-8. It was established so that Israelites would "remember" an event of miraculous deliverance by Yahweh from their bondage in Egypt.
THE FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:15 reveals that Yahshua earnestly desired to eat the Passover Feast with His disciples before He suffered. Yahshua connected his final Passover with a change of covenants. "This cup [is] the new Covenant in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:20).
The words of the prophet Jeremiah must have rung through the ears of the apostles: "Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Yahudah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them" (Jer. 31:31-32).
The Passover sacrifice of Yahshua on the cross fulfilled the SHADOW image projected by the original Passover. Exodus 6:6-7 reveals the results of that first Passover: "I will bring you out -- I will rid you of bondage -- I will redeem you -- I will take you to me for a people."
Yahshua' death on the cross provided the blood on the door for his people to escape from the bondage in which the law had ensnared them. Paul describes this event in various ways: "to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Yahweh;" (Rom. 3:25). "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world (natural law):" (Gal. 4:3). "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:" (1 Cor. 5:7).
Peter notes: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, a Set Apart nation, a peculiar people; Who in time past [were] not a people, but [are ] now the people of Yahweh" (1 Pet. 2:9-10).
Christ's death brought his New Covenant Israel out from the bondage of the law and, like Israel in the Old Covenant they began a 40-year journey in the spiritual wilderness (the Covenant changeover), toward their promised inheritance. It is important to note that the New Covenant from Acts to Revelation is written about, and occurred by the end of this 40-year period of time. During this 40 years, (a Biblical generation) Yahweh was destroying the old system of "Judaism" and establishing "Christianity". The Old Covenant was completed and the New Covenant was fully established with the destruction of "Old Jerusalem", and the temple in A.D. 70. (The old system of Cultic Yahudaism was no longer possible with the destruction of the Temple).
HOW WE OBSERVE PASSOVER
We affirm that the Passover memorial begins at dusk at the start of the fourteenth of Abib (month of green ears of barley), Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16; Deuteronomy 16:1. The Passover represents two significant events-the death of the firstborn of Egypt, and the death of our Savior on the torture stake, Exodus 12; John 18-19. The Passover is a memorial, not a High Sabbath. Work may be done on this day, Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14. Yahshua partook of the Passover at twilight on the fourteenth day of Abib with His Apostles, Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25, thus fulfilling the law. We no longer sacrifice a lamb at Passover, and we now recognize lamb only as a symbol of Yahshua as the spotless lamb; as the body of truth. We partake of the prescribed emblems, which represent Yahshua's body (the unleavened bread, matzoth), and blood (wine, the pure blood of the grape), Deut. 32:14). Yahshua's Blood (life) delivers from sin. Luke 22:12-23, 1Corinthians 11:23-26. We remember the sanctification of the group of the Firstborn. We Fellowship, Remember, Worship, and sing Praises.
#2 THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, like the Passover, also commemorated the Exodus from Egypt. Scripture verses include Exod. 12:17-20, 13:6-7; Lev. 23:6-8 and Deut. 16:3-8.
Because Israel was to leave Egypt in haste and time was short, no leaven was to be added to their bread. They were to eat the Passover lamb, the unleavened bread and bitter herbs with their loins girded, their sandals on their feet and their staff in their hands. Although the blood of the Passover lamb protected the house and its inhabitants from the Angel of Death, the flesh of the lamb, the unleavened bread and the herbs provided the sustenance for the nation's quick departure from Egypt. Old Covenant Israel was now ready for her "walk" toward her promised inheritance.
It was an ordinance to be observed throughout Israel's generations; it was one of the three annual feasts in which all the males of the congregation were to appear en masse in the place that Yahweh had chosen. Unlike Passover, which was observed for one day, Unleavened Bread was to be observed for seven days, commencing on the 15th of Nisan/Abib. In Deut. 16:3, the unleavened bread is called the "Bread of Affliction."
2 Chron. 30:13-27 recalls Hezekiah's celebration of this feast. Although this particular celebration was one month late, the excitement of the people and the joy that surrounded the event caused the feast to be held an additional seven days!
Much preaching and writing has been done regarding the fact that the bread was unleavened. It is obvious from the original event that the timing was critical and that Yahweh expected a quick departure from Egypt with Moses. There was no time for the bread to rise. Leaven added to the dough permeates the whole loaf. Perhaps Yahweh did not want any of the leaven of Egypt to infiltrate the bread of his people as they began their journey. And as they celebrated the annual feast day, Yahweh commanded: "Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread with it, [even] the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth from the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth from the land of Egypt, all the days of thy life" (Deut. 16:3).
THE FULFILLMENT
Yahshua connected the unleavened bread at the Last Supper with his sacrificed body (Luke 22:19). He does not connect his body with the sacrificed body of the Passover lamb. In Mark 14 and Matthew 26 his disciples are invited to eat of "his body."
After His resurrection, this descriptive term "body of Christ" became a safe haven for the first century Christians. A careful review of the New Covenant will reveal numerous cases where these believers were placed positionally "in Christ" (Eph. 1:7, 10, 12-13). In 1 Cor. 10:16, 17 Paul writes, " The bread which we break, is it not the communion (sharing) of the body of Christ? For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread."
Paul makes the argument in the fifth chapter of Galatians that Christ had set them free from the yoke of slavery to the law. Since they were positionally "in Christ" neither circumcision nor uncircumcision meant anything. To bring the law of sacrifices again into their relationship was like bringing leaven into His "unleavened" body -- "a little leaven leavens the whole lump." (Gal 5:9).
The generation who departed from the bondage of the law with the sustenance of, and within the safety of Christ's unleavened body began a spiritual walk toward their inheritance of eonian life! Be aware of the necessity of the Set Apart walk required by the Ecclesia of the first century (Gal 5:25). Paul sums up an occurrence of the feast in 1 Cor. 5:7-8: "Cleanse 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. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth."
The novelty of seeing Scripture through the eyes of fulfilled prophecy places the building up of the body of Christ paramount in the first century. This unleavened body, through the use of the miraculous gifts was being fitted together for the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:16).
This body of believers (the Ecclesia) is also the body that takes part in the resurrection. "And not only [they] but ourselves also, who have the first- fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the Sonship, [to wit], the redemption (deliverance) of our body" (Rom. 8:23). This body of believers are the undefiled ones purchased from among men as first fruits to Yahweh and the Lamb.
The feast days of Yahweh as outlined in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 were shadows of the reality fulfilled in Christ. There are seven feast days, which encompass the total reality of the Messiah, his message and his mission.
Yahweh did not just "jumble up" all the spiritual truth which would be fulfilled in Christ into one big holiday. He carefully set down each Set Apart day, its time, sequence, sacrifices, priestly conditions and rites. By participation in each individual Set Apart day, Old Covenant believers could see Yahweh's video of their future deliverance in His Son. In order to have complete atonement for sin, Yahshua had to have fulfilled all the aspects of each individual Set Apart day in the order, which they are laid out in the Old Covenant.
Certain futurists including dispensationalists say that the first four Set Apart days were completed by Christ and we are waiting for fulfillment of the last three days. The problem with this viewpoint is that if Christ has not completed the last three Set Apart days, we as Christians today do not have complete salvation. See Hebrews 9:28. Yahshua' second appearing in AD 70 completes our salvation. Yahshua' Second Coming completes the return of the high priest out of the heavenly sanctuary that is cleansed by His blood. His coming out of the sanctuary is THE Second Coming in which he invites those who were eagerly waiting into the Most Set Apart Place and into the presence of Yahweh.
Other futurist views realize the necessity of the completion of the work of the high priest and so, many ministers incorporate aspects of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) to the work at the cross. However, doing this does an injustice to the order of the feast days.
The preterist viewpoint, which we believe, sees all the feast days fulfilled by Christ from the Cross to the Parousia (Second Coming) in AD 70. This is the only viewpoint that recognizes the feast days as the complete shadow of the completed work of Christ.
The preterist viewpoint is the only viewpoint that sees New Testament/New Covenant Israel and proselyte believers today in a perpetual feast of Tabernacles. We are not waiting to be in Yahweh's presence. We ARE in Yahweh's presence. And we ARE in Yahweh's presence because we were invited in when Christ returned for his first-century BODY of believers at his coming (Rom. 8:23). We believe the message we should be extending to everyone today is not - Someday Yahshua is going to do something else to prove who he is. Our message is -Come and see what he has done, come and see....ALL HIS GLORY NOW!
HOW WE OBSERVE THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
We believe that the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th day of the month of Abib and extends through the 21st day of that same month, Exodus 12:15-18, Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17. The first and last days of the seven-day observance are observed as high days, Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:7-8, Numbers 28:18, 25. During this time we are to worship Yahweh and examine ourselves, removing any pride, sin, falsity or false doctrine from our lives, Exodus 5:1, 1Corinthians 5:8. We are to remove, as symbols, all leaven products from our property and eat unleavened bread with our meals for all seven days of the Feast, Exodus 12:15, 18, Leviticus 23:6. We fellowship, Remember, Worship, and sing praises.
#3 FIRST FRUITS AND PENTECOST (FEAST OF WEEKS)
In the midst of the week of Unleavened Bread, we are introduced to the Day of First Fruits. Leviticus 23:9-14 provides an outline of the day. It was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath in the week of Unleavened Bread. It consisted of waving a sheaf of the barley harvest before Yahweh by the priest. In order to reap the full harvest of the land that Yahweh swore to give to Israel, the first fruit offering had to be made.
THE FULFILLMENT
On the day after the Sabbath in the week of Unleavened Bread, Christ rose from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who were asleep. 1 Cor. 15:20-26 presents the hope of resurrection to the first century Ecclesia. Christ's bodily resurrection from the tomb was the first fruit offering which guaranteed a future harvest.
#4 PENTECOST - THE FEAST
Leviticus 23:15-22 provides information on the Feast of Pentecost. The timing for the feast was reckoned from the day when the barley sheaf was waved. Fifty days after the wave offering was the day of Pentecost.
It was the second of three great annual festivals when all males were to travel to Jerusalem. Other names used in the Bible are the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22) because it was celebrated seven complete weeks after First Fruits, Harvest Feast (Ex. 23:16) because it concluded the harvest of the later grains and the Day of First Fruits (Num. 28:26) because the loaves made from the first fruits of the wheat harvest were presented to the Yahweh.
THE FULLFILMENT
Acts 2 describes the New Covenant fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost. All the disciples that were gathered together experienced the appearance of Set Apart spirit.
Peter's speech provides the timing for the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith Yahweh, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, (divinely speak)...." (Acts 2:17). The last days of Judaism were rapidly drawing to an end and Yahweh had begun the harvest of believers to himself out of Old Covenant Israel, the last days spoken of by the prophets were then occurring.
Paul in Romans 8:23 says "And not only [they], but ourselves also, who have the first- fruits of the spirit... waiting for the Sonship, [to wit], the redemption (deliverance) of our body." In Ephesians 1:13 and 14, Paul ties in the work of the Set Apart spirit with these words ": in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Set Apart spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory."
Rev. 7:4 ties the sealing in with the 144,000. "And I heard the number of them who were sealed: [and there were] sealed a hundred [and] forty- four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Rev. 14:4, 5 describes the 144,000 this way, "These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth. These were redeemed (bought) from among men, [being] the first- fruits to Yahweh and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of Yahweh."
In those "last days" of Judaism Yahweh began to call out a New Covenant Israel. They were waiting for a promised inheritance (eonian life). They were waiting for the redemption of their Body (one body - the Body of Christ, which they were being built into). They were virgins, (no spiritual adultery), sealed and protected by the spirit of Yahweh until the return of the Bridegroom who was at that time preparing a place for THIS bride. The first century Ecclessia, "the Bride of Christ" was born at the fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost.
HOW WE OBSERVE PENTECOST (FEAST OF WEEKS)
We affirm that the Feast of Weeks (Heb. Shavuoth) or Pentecost is the third of the seven annual observances. This Feast is to be calculated from within the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We are to start the count from the day after the weekly Sabbath that falls within the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and count seven complete weeks, Leviticus 23:15-16. On this day the New Testament Assembly received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2. It is also the day that the 12 tribes received the law at Sinai. We Fellowship, Remember, Worship, and sing praises.
RECAP OF FOUR FEASTS
1. Passover - Divinely Led O.T. - Exodus of covenant people from bondage to Egypt N.T. - Exodus of covenant people from bondage to the LawThe seven feasts of Israel in the Old Covenant were the shadow image, which became fulfilled in Christ in the New Covenant. The completion of these Set Apart days as given to Old Covenant Israel described by Yahweh in Leviticus 23 were evidence of the completed work of Yahweh in both redeeming his people Israel and bringing them into their promised inheritance which was then the physical land of Israel.
2. Unleavened Bread - Divinely Fed O.T. - Sustenance of unleavened bread provided for physical Israel to begin walk toward the Promised Land. N.T. - Covenant people invited to partake of Christ's Body. This Body of Christ becomes safe haven for the first century church in their walk toward promised eternal life.
3. First Fruits - Divinely Raised. O.T. - Barley Sheaf Wave offering - first fruit offering guarantees a future harvest. N.T. Christ's Bodily Resurrection provided the first century believer with their hope of a 'BODY' resurrection.
4. Pentecost/Weeks - Divinely Praised. O.T. - Wheat Harvest - leavened loaves presented to Yahweh. N.T. - Sealing of 144,000 at Pentecost.
The annual celebration of the Set Apart days was a constant reminder to them of Yahweh's provision and shepherding care and prophetically they pictured the future perfect kingdom of Yahweh.
The New Covenant introduces Yahshua as the mediator of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22). Once the New Covenant was introduced the Old became obsolete and was ready to disappear (Heb. 8:13).
The fulfillment of the first three feast days occurred during Yahshua' earthly ministry. Pentecost brought the spirit to minister while Yahshua went to prepare a place for his disciples.
NOTE: The key to understanding the fulfillment of the last three autumn feasts is to understand the necessity of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.
"And almost all things are by the law cleansed with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness). [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
"For Christ hath not entered into the Set Apart place made with hands, [which are] the figures (copy) of the true; but into heaven itself, now (during the first century) to appear in the presence of Yahweh for us:" (Heb 9:22-24)
During the period after the Cross until the Parousia in AD 70, the Set Apart Spirit signified this... "that the way into the Set Apart place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle (physical temple) is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time (during the first century)." (Heb. 9:8-9)
Yahshua at his ascension sat down at the right hand of the Father waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool. Yahshua' enemies were everyone who would not accept him as the Messiah, which included the Judaizers who tried to bring the New Covenant Israel back under the bondage of the Law.
The destruction of the physical temple in AD 70 perfectly fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 14:4 where Yahshua' feet trample his enemies by splitting the Mount of Olives (the system) in two, thereby rendering the house of the Old Covenant desolate, and establishing completely the house of the New Covenant.
With the destruction of the earthly tabernacle the way into the more perfect, heavenly tabernacle was now prepared and ready to be opened. The TRUMPET sounds!
#5 THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS - Divinely Called
The Feast of Trumpets was introduced to Israel in Leviticus 23:24-25: "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a Set Apart convocation. Ye shall do no servile [in it]; but ye shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh."
Numbers 29:1-6 amplifies the above verses by including the required sacrifices.
The last three feasts occur in the seventh month of Tishri. What the seventh day is to the week, Tishri is to the agricultural year. There are only seven months in Yahweh's redemptive plan. He does not use the whole year as His vehicle, but only seven months which indicates the completeness of his scheduled work.
Trumpets is a memorial feast inaugurated with the sound of the shofar or ram's horn. This horn is a reminder of the proposed sacrifice by Abraham of Isaac. Abraham's arm was stopped by Yahweh and a ram substituted for Isaac.
Yahweh made himself known to Israel amidst the sound of the shofar - Yahweh revealed his presence to them at Sinai (Ex. 19:16, 19).
THE ANNUAL FEAST IN THE BIBLE
After the return from the Babylonian captivity when the sons of Israel inhabited the cities, both Ezra 3:1 and Nehemiah 7:73-8:2 reveal an interesting gathering. All the people gathered as One Man to hear the words of the book as presented by Ezra the priest. Anyone who could listen with understanding partook on the first day of the seventh month.
Psalm 81:3-5 alludes to the Tishri feasts of both Trumpets and Tabernacles:
Blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this [was] a statute for Israel, [and] a law of the Elohim of Jacob. This He ordained in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went throughout the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] I understood not.
The prophet Zephaniah speaks of the great "day of Yahweh" as a "day of the horn and alarm" (1:16).
Prophetic passages such as Isa. 27:13 and Zech 9:14 use the shofar as the horn of choice in calling Yahweh's people together to worship in the Set Apart mountain and to announce the appearing of Yahweh.
Yom Teruah is the Day of Sounding the Trumpet.
FULFILLMENT IN THE NEW COVENANT
There is a bounty of eschatological trumpets in the New Covenant. Keep in mind, that there was no way that admittance into the fullness of the New Covenant or the New Heavens and the New Earth could be made while the physical temple remained in place (Heb. 9:8-9). But once the temple was destroyed and no stone was left upon another, the final eschatological steps of redemption could and were made by Yahweh.
What did this entail?
1. Matthew 24:31 "And he will send his angles with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other." (resurrection)
2. 1 Cor. 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, (imperishable), and we shall be changed." (resurrection)
3. 1 Thess 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an arch-angel, and with the trumpet of Yahweh: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (resurrection and second coming)
4. Hebrews 12:18-24 paraphrased: You have not come to the elements of the physical covenant of Old Covenant Israel. But you have come to Mount Zion and the heavenly city of Jerusalem and to Yahweh, the Judge of all and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect. (resurrection, judgment, entrance into the totality of the New Covenant - eonian life and the eonian kingdom)
5. John was in the spirit on the day of the Lord in Rev. 1:10 when he heard a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet which told him to write to the seven churches which are is Asia:... (their rewards and judgment).
6. John was in the spirit on the day of the Lord in Rev. 4:1 when the voice like that sound of a trumpet said, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." (resurrection)
During the Old Covenant, the temple was the external symbol of the dwelling place of Yahweh with his people. Once the temple was removed by fire in AD 70, the New Covenant Israel people of Yahweh who were positionally placed "in Christ" during the first century needed a new heaven and a new earth in which to dwell. This corporate Ecclesia, "Body of Christ" needed to be raised into the heavenly realm so that they could enjoy the place that Yahshua prepared for them.
When this "Body" was raised, the "Dead" were also raised. These were the "Dead" in Sheol who were waiting for the resurrection on the "last day" (John 11:24) or at the "time of the end" (Dan. 12:1-4). Isaiah 26:19-21 also ties this resurrection with the Second Coming.
What the completion of the Feast of Trumpets provides for us today is perfect timing. The physical temple is destroyed on the last day of the Old Covenant. All the dead from that Old Covenant period are raised along with those who are alive after the tribulation of that time. Judgment is made in the physical realm by the destruction of the elements of Judaism. Judgment is made in the spiritual realm by giving the reward of eonian life to those who accepted Christ as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
The heavenly realm is now prepared. All the gathered elect are perfect and standing ready for perhaps the greatest and most exciting moment of all times -- the unveiling of Yahshua Christ.
This moment is fulfilled in the completion of the Set Apart Day of Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement!
HOW WE OBSERVE THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
We affirm that the Feast of Trumpets is a High Sabbath, a memorial of blowing Trumpets, that falls on the first day of the seventh Hebrew month, Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 29:1-6. We fellowship, Remember, Worship, and sing praises.
#6 DAY OF ATONEMENT - Yom Kippur - Divinely Installed
The Day of Atonement occurred on the tenth day of the Israelite seventh month (Ethanaim). The Divine ordinances concerning this day are found in Lev. 16, 23:26-32; Num. 29:7-11. This Set Apart day introduces the high priest dressed in his Set Apart white linen (Heb.-bad) tunic. His entire body had to be cleansed in water because he alone would enter the most Set Apart place and stand directly in the Presence of the mercy seat to make atonement for himself, the nation of Israel, and for the Set Apart place itself.
Lev. 16:16 describes the necessity of cleansing the Set Apart place: "And he shall make an atonement for the Set Apart [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle (tent) of the congregation that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness (impurities)."
An abundance of sacrifices are noted including the peculiar double goat sin offering - one for Yahweh and the other lot for the scapegoat (Azazel) (Lev. 16:8). Yom Kippur was a Sabbath of rest for Israel. "For on that day shall [the priest] make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, [that] ye may be clean from all your sins before Yahweh." (Lev. 16:30).
Israel in the Old Covenant lived a daily life of sacrifice to Yahweh the most Set Apart Yahweh. However, the blood of bulls and goats could never remove sin and thus their conscience either as an individual or as a nation could never be clear. The Day of Atonement provided a one-day clearing away for the entire nation of their sins, and allowed, for a brief moment, a clear conscience, and made the standing in the presence of Yahweh possible.
FULFILLMENT - NEW COVENANT
The Book of Hebrews probably best describes the nature of the fulfillment of the Feast of Yom Kippur in the New Covenant. The theme of the book is the superiority of Christ over the shadow elements of the Old Covenant. The words "better," "perfect," and "heavenly" appear frequently. The time frame is set in the book in the first chapter, verse 1, 2. "Yahweh, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by [his] Son......"
Christ is described as better than the prophets, the angels and Moses. Chapter 4 intimates the necessity of a Sabbath rest for the people of Yahweh and Chapter 5 begins the description of the superiority of the high priesthood of Christ.
The description of this high priestly ministry had to be extremely comforting to the first century church who were experiencing many trials and great tribulation. The introduction of Christ in his Melchizedek priesthood role prepared the reader for the impending fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.
The first century Christians who had been enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, made partakers of Set Apart spirit, tasted the good word of Yahweh and the powers of the age to come, could have fallen away and returned to the death-producing elements of the Old Covenant. They needed staying power to endure until the coming of the high priest out of the heavenlies i.e. the high priest who would return "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin to salvation." (Heb. 9:28).
These first-century Christians had fled Jerusalem before it's destruction in 70 AD, (Heb. 6:18) heeding the prophetic word of Christ to flee the city (Matt. 24:16). They had been taught by the apostles about the sacrificial work of Christ on the Cross-, which constituted their release from the bondage of the Law. Now they were ready to comprehend the high priestly role of Christ, which would transport them forever into the fullness of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Melchizedek in the Old Covenant was a priest of the Most High Yahweh who resided in Salem (Peace) and blessed Abram. Christ could never have been an earthly high priest since he was not born of the tribe of Levi (Heb. 7:14). He had obtained a more excellent priesthood through the heavenly order of Melchizedek.
This order incorporated the role of both priest and king. John sees Christ in both roles in the Book of Revelation. In Chapter 1, John describes Christ in his high priestly garments standing in the Set Apart place amidst the lampstands. The lampstand or menorah was in the Set Apart place in the earthly temple. John sees Christ standing amidst the symbols of his completed Ecclesia in his high priestly garments. It is no wonder that John falls down as if he were dead. This vision speaks of the immanency of the New Covenant fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. John knew exactly where he was standing in regard to the Set Apart of holies.
In Chapter 19 of Revelation John sees the kingship role of Melchizedek fulfilled when he declares "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (Rev. 19:16).
The Feast of Trumpets raised the Body of Christ, the first-century Ecclesia. " But ye are come to mount Zion and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Ecclesia of the first-born, who are written in heaven, and to Yahweh the Judge of all, and to spirits of just men made perfect, and to Yahshua, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel" (Heb. 12:22-24).
While destruction was being made on the physical earthly temple of the Old Covenant world, the New Covenant saints waited eagerly for the cleansing of the spiritual heavenly temple. Isaiah describes the scene: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; Hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation shall be overpast. For behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her bloods, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isa 26:20-21)
The Judeans were judged in AD 70 for not accepting the precious blood of Yahweh's own Son, and thereby received upon them all the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah (Matt 23:35-36).
New Covenant/New Covenant Israel, on the other hand, was elevated to meet her heavenly priest, king and bridegroom. Christ's return out of the heavenly 'Set Aparts' proved that the sanctuary had been cleansed and was ready to be occupied!
Give consideration to the reason the heavenly sanctuary had to be cleansed. What could possibly have contaminated this heavenly realm? It was that Satan had access to Yahweh and was an "accuser of the brethren" (Zech. 3:1, Rev. 12:10). Satan seemed always to be able to be in Yahweh's presence taunting Him concerning the unfaithfulness of His created beings -- witness the story of Job. In particular, during the Old Covenant, Yahshua described Satan as a strong man. " how can anyone enter into a strong man's house, and seize his goods, except he shall first bind the strong man?" (Matt. 12:29). Once the Law was established, the transgression increased. This gave Satan continual ammunition against Yahweh's people. In Rev. 12:7-9 Satan is cast down to earth because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their (first century Ecclesia) testimony.
An interesting observation may be made to the double goat sacrifice of Yom Kippur. Two identical goats were chosen and lots were cast: one lot for the Lord and the other for Azazel (Lev. 16:8).
The high priest sacrificed the goat for Yahweh, which was the sin offering for the people and brought its blood inside the veil and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat. Atonement was made for the Set Apart place and for all impurities of the sons of Israel. He then mixed the blood of the goat sacrifice with the blood of the bull sacrifice which was the high priest offering and cleansed the altar (Lev. 16:18-19).
The first century "Body of Christ" seems to have a much more intimate relationship with the person of Christ than is normally taught. They were to present their bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). In Rev. 6:9-11 these martyred saints are seen as being underneath the altar crying out for vengeance. Is it possible that these saints (Christ's Body) represent the sacrifice of the slain goat presented to the Lord and which became commingled with the blood of the offering of Christ as the high priest?
Now, what about the goat that was set aside as the scapegoat (Azazel)? The word "Azazel" is not mentioned again in the Bible. However, in the apocalyptic literature, The Book of Enoch, it is stated: "to Azazel ascribe all sin" (10:8). In Modern Hebrew a curse is rendered thus, Lech lazazel -- go to Azazel.
The scapegoat, (Old Covenant Israel) received laid on its head all the guilt of the blood from Abel to Zechariah. Thus laden, the goat was released into the wilderness as a permanent witness to Azazel (Satan) of Yahweh's judgment and their inability to enjoy the benefits of the promised land!
When Christ completed his atoneing work on the Day of Atonement, the first century church was able to enter his Sabbath rest. The 144,000 of Rev. 14 were standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb; they had been found blameless.
This first century Ecclesia which had been built up to become the Body of Christ was the vehicle from which the Bride of Christ was taken. No suitable helper had been found for Adam, so Eve was removed from his side. The suitable mate for the last Adam was taken from this first century Body of Christ. "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His bride hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
The prophet Isaiah beautifully sums up the return of Christ for his people and the intimacy of their future union: "...we have waited for Thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee." (Isa. 26:8).
HOW WE CELEBRATE THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
We affirm that the Day of Atonement no manner of work is to be done, it is a strict Sabbath to Yahweh. On this High Sabbath we are to afflict ourselves by soul searching and with intro-inspection, Leviticus 16; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11. Symbolizing responsibility of the heads of households, and recognizing the ultimate responsibility of Yahshua's sacrifice for us.
#7 FEAST OF TABERNACLES - Divine presence and remembrance
Iniquity has been removed. Christ has returned. The marriage of the Lamb has occurred. The spirit and the Bride stand perpetually to invite future generations to partake of the glorious Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Tabernacles occurred on the fifteenth day of the Israelite seventh month of Tishri/Ethanim (flowing). Leviticus 23:33-44 provides some of the highlights of the feast.
1. The feast was celebrated for seven days and it was an assembly, which occurred after the harvest. There is added an additional eighth or LAST DAY that is a day of rest (Lev. 23:39).
2. It is a feast of rejoicing with the fruit of beautiful trees (etrog), palm branches (lulav), boughs of leafy trees (myrtle or hadassah) and the willows of the brook (aravah). Interested readers should investigate the Book of Esther and its myrtle connection (Italics above - Heb. words).
3. All native born Israelites were to live in booths (Succoth) as a remembrance that Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt and provided protection and sustenance for them.
4. Numbers 29:12-40 recounts the offerings and sacrifices for the celebration. These are altogether peculiar in that the number of burnt sacrifices either individually or cumulatively is always divisible by the sacred number seven.
Tabernacles, along with Passover and Pentecost, make up the three great annual feasts in which it was necessary that all the males of Israel participate.
TABERNACLES IN PROPHESY
The prophets Zechariah and Haggai were the first prophetic voices to be heard after the Babylonian Exile. Both prophets cry out to the people to rebuild the temple Yahweh. In Hebrew their names together mean, "Yahweh remembers my feast".
Zechariah 14:16-21 relates a future celebration of the Feast of Booths which would occur after all the nations had gone up against Jerusalem, after the Lord had been declared King, and after judgment had been meted out.
The feast would include worship of the King by all the nations. Any nation, which will not worship him, is punished with no rain. Holiness will reign in that day even unto the bells of the horses and the utensils in which to cook. And NO Canaanite will enter the house of the Lord.
TABERNACLES in the GOSPELS
During the days of the Temple, a water ritual was introduced into the celebration at Tabernacles. A priest drew water from the Pool of Siloam and returned to the Temple. The water was poured out upon the altar while priests recited Isaiah 12:3 "...with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." The palm branches were waved in the air.
In connection with this ritual, in John 7:2 the feast of Israel, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. In verse 37 on the last GREAT day of the feast, Yahshua stood up and cried out, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being shall FLOW rivers of living water." (emphasis - editor) Again, the feast month (Ethanim) means flowing.
Peter seems to allude to this feast when at the Transfiguration, after seeing Yahshua standing with Moses and Elijah, he declares the necessity of building booths (Matt. 17:4).
TABERNACLES in the book of REVELATION
Rev. 7:9 announces the appearance of a great multitude, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They are revealed in verse 14 as the ones who came out of the great tribulation. Verses 15-17 read as follows:
"Therefore they are before the throne of Yahweh, and they serve Him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them, and will lead them to living fountains of waters: and Yahweh will wipe away all tears from their eyes."
In Rev. 21 John sees the new heaven and a new earth and in verse 3 he is made aware that the tabernacle of Yahweh is among men -- that Yahweh himself, is dwelling among his people. In verse 6, the Alpha and the Omega declares, "I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely (without cost)."
In verse 7 overcomers shall inherit; while in verse 8 the cowardly and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers, and lewd men, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, experience judgement and the second death.
Finally, John describes the beautiful city of Jerusalem, which is actually the bride and wife of the Lamb. But in this new city no temple is there (verse 22). Yahweh and the Lamb constitute the temple their (the dwelling place). They provide all the light necessary for illumination.
"And the multitude of the saved in the light of it shall walk about, and the kings of the earth [will] bring their glory and honor into it." (Literal translation) (Rev 21:24). Nations are able to walk by the light provided, kings bring their glory into it and the gates are never closed but nothing unclean is able to enter into the city.
TABERNACLES - EXPLANATION OF THE FULFILLMENT
Throughout the Bible, Yahweh always wanted to dwell with His people. Although the tabernacling with his creation provided complete sustenance and protection, man always fell short in fully accepting Yahweh's conditions of fellowship - Adam and Eve could not resist the temptation to eat of the tree.
When Yahweh chose Israel and established his law, Israel overwhelmingly agreed to do it all and keep all the laws required to maintain a relationship with the Lord. Knowing that man could never sustain these requirements, Yahweh provided a sacrificial system wherein temporary atonement could be made. Within this covenant of law, Yahweh inaugurated the seven feast days as a visual picture of His complete redemption/salvation message that Israel was to act out on a yearly basis.
Ultimately, these feasts were revealed as a mere shadow of what was to come. The substance or reality of these festivals belonged to the Messiah. (Col. 2:16-17).
We discussed the fulfillment of the first six feasts by 1. Christ during his earthly ministry, 2. Christ through his Body of believers that was being built up in the first century. The fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles provided the first-century Ecclesia with total access to the presence of Yahweh and the Lamb in the culmination of the New Covenant.
The timing for the feast is related in the prophetic book of Zechariah. Earthly Jerusalem had to be destroyed (AD 70) and provision had to be made for escape by New Covenant Israel (Zech. 14:4-5). The Lord had to be declared king and judgment had to be made (Zech. 14:9-15).
The Day of Atonement revealed Christ in his role as high priest returning from the heavenly Set Apart place to gather his people to himself (Heb. 9-28). This inaugurated the opening of heaven and the revealing of his name, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Rev. 19:16).
New Covenant Israel (the first century Ecclesia) had been gathered together to await Messiah's return as shown in the Feast of Trumpets. Note how the ingathering Feast of Tabernacles follows the return of Christ in AD 70 as pictured by Trumpets/Day of Atonement events. Rev. 7:9 shows this victorious crowd waving palm branches in the heavenly arena.
Judgment had to be made against Old Covenant Israel. Zecharia 14:4 indicates that 'Yahweh's feet must stand on the Mount of Olives in a picture of Yahweh's wrath against His disobedient people. Revelation 16 and 17 reveal the destruction of Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots. Rev. 16:20 shows no islands or mountains left after Yahweh's cup of wrath is drunk in the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem in AD 70.
The most joyous of all the festive seasons, the Feast of Tabernacles, could now be celebrated. Yahweh had done all that was necessary to bring His New Covenant Israel into a full relationship with Himself. " This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more". (Heb. 10:16, 17) The preparation of the bride and the consummation of the marriage at the Feast of the Lamb produces a beautiful picture in the last chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Nehemiah provides a picture of the holiday booths being made on the roof of the house (8:16). With the blood of the Passover being applied to the doorpost of the ground floor, and Yahshua' Last Supper taking place in the upper room (Luke 22:12), it is significant that Tabernacles is celebrated on the roof. For now in a booth laden with fruit and foliage, we have a picture of the Paradise of Yahweh (Rev. 2:7), the new Garden of Eden in the heavenlies. In this glorious realm, we can delight in the fact that Yahweh IS THERE (Ezek. 48:35).
Yahweh's people have been elevated to a status of intimate relationship with him. In Rev. 22:17 the spirit stands with the bride for all eternity to extend the message of the eternal gospel to those who are born throughout all coming generations.
The "water" message of Yahshua in John 7:37 remains intact for all humanity to hear. "And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is thirsty, come; And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Without cost)" (Rev. 22:17).
Tabernacles remains as a perpetual feast for all of Israel, and proselyte believers today. When you accept the offer to "come and drink freely" you as New Covenant Israel enter the Promised Land of the New Covenant relationship with Yahweh. It is a land free from the curse of sin. All sin remains outside the courtyard of the temple comprised of Yahweh Himself. No Canaanite enters the house of the Lord (Zech. 14:21).
To fully appreciate the climax of the salvation provided by Yahweh through the feast of Tabernacles, read Isaiah 25:6-9:
"And on this mountain will the Lord of hosts (Yahweh sabaoth) make to all people a feast of fat (choice) things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined (aged). And he will destroy on this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [that is spread] over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and Yahweh will wipe away tears from all faces; and the rebuke of his people will he remove from all the earth: for Yahweh hath spoken [it]. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our Yahweh; we have waited for him, and he will save us: This is Yahweh; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
HOW WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
We affirm that the Feast of Tabernacles is a seven-day Feast, which has a High Day on the 15th day of Ethanaim, Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43; Numbers 29:12-34; Deuteronomy 16:13-15. Yahshua set the example for all mankind by observing the Feast in the New Testament, John 7:1-10. We fellowship, Remember, Worship, and sing praises.
We affirm that the "Last Great Day" immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles and comes on the 22nd day of Tishri as a High Sabbath. On this day no manner of work is to be done. This special day commemorates the closing of the yearly feast cycle, Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35-38. During this time, we have Fellowship, we Teach, we Learn, we sing praises, we Worship, and have "good times" within the families of believers, of "True Israel." This symbolizes the continuing presence "Parousia" (Second Coming) of Yahshua (spiritually) in all the believers. Heb. 9:28. Our bodies are now the dwelling place of the spirit of Yahweh, the new fleshly Tabernacles.
".... but he who is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast" (Prov. 15:15)
END NOTE
We affirm that the first visible crescent marks the new month. The start of the year is determined by the green ears of barley and the new moon that immediately follows their confirmation, Exodus 12:1. The new moon is a day to gather and observe the crescent, 1Chronicles 23:31; 2Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 45:17; 46:3.
For aletheia, the Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade
A.O.Y., Cascade, P.O. Box 695, Kettle Falls, WA 99141
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