OVERVIEW | GOD'S ANNUAL FEAST DAYS

God's Annual Feast Days

1. How do God's Feast Days picture His awesome plan of salvation for all mankind?  What are the three harvest seasons in which all the Holy Days are celebrated?  What pivotal doctrines do each of the Holy Days teach?   How important should these days of worship be to believers?

a) God's Word says that His Seven Annual Festivals occur during three major time periods, each of which represents a harvest.

i) 14 "Celebrate three festivals a year to honor me. 15 In the month of Abib, the month in which you left Egypt, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the way that I commanded you. Do not eat any bread made with yeast during the seven days of this festival. Never come to worship me without bringing an offering. 16 "Celebrate the Harvest Festival when you begin to harvest your crops. "Celebrate the Festival of Shelters in the autumn, when you gather the fruit from your vineyards and orchards. 17 Every year at these three festivals all your men must come to worship me, the Lord your God. (Exodus 23:14-17; see also Deuteronomy 16)

2. The Passover Lamb and Feast of Un-leavening 

a) The Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3), came to earth as a man to die for the sins of his creation. Because he was God, his life was worth far more than ALL things created and therefore his sacrifice could pay for ALL sins forever.

i) 7. Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. 8. For this reason, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Corinthians 5:7, HBFV)

b) Christ's offering for our sins is applied AFTER we repent of sins, receive baptism, and willing agree to obey God and accept Jesus was our individual savior (Acts 2). Christians commemorate the sacrifice of Christ each year by partaking of the simple symbols of bread and wine at the Christian Passover.

c) Following the Passover is a period of seven days (Leviticus 23) known in the Bible as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven must be removed from a person's house before the Feast begins. Removing leaven teaches Christians to be diligent in overcoming yet also teaches understanding and humility toward the sins of others. 

3. The Power of God 

a) True obedience to God cannot be accomplished without the power of his Holy Spirit. It was on Pentecost in 30 A.D. that God's power through his spirit was begun to be offered and available to man (Acts 2:1-4).

i) 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

4. The Second Coming 

a) Trumpets in God's word are many times used to signal death, destruction and war. The Day of Trumpets symbolizes the final battle between Jesus and his chief adversary the devil, ending in Jesus' Second Coming to earth. It is also at this time that the first resurrection takes place (1Corinthians 15:52, 1Thessalonians 4, etc.).

i) 11. And I saw heaven open; and behold, a white horse; and He Who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. 15. And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations; and He shall shepherd them with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury and the wrath of the Almighty God. (Revelation 19)

5. A time of peace  

a) God's Day of Atonement pictures, among many things, the time of peace brought by the devil being chained and not allowed to deceive man during the reign of Jesus. Mankind in general will finally be able to learn to be at one with God in peace.

i) 1. Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20)

6. The Thousand Year (Millennial) Reign 

a) The return of Jesus Christ to rule the earth will usher in a golden age of peace and prosperity that will last 1,000 years. This time of joy is commemorate during what is called the Feast of Tabernacles. Those who are part of the first resurrection of the dead will be blessed by ruling the earth as well with their elder brother and Savior Jesus.

i) 4 Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God . . . They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20)

7. Brought back to life 

a) When the reign of Christ on earth has lasted 1,000 years ALL humanity who never had a full chance at salvation will be brought back to life. They will then be able to understand God's truth, repent, and ultimately receive eternal life. What is known as the Last Great Day feast commemorates this event.

i) 11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sits on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence and were seen no more. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. (Revelation 20:11-12; See also Ezekiel 37:1-14)

Dates for God's Annual Feast Days
Year	Christian Passover*	Feast of Unleavened Bread	Feast of Pentecost	Feast of Trumpets	Day of Atonement	Feast of Tabernacles	The Last Great Day
2014	April 14 Monday	April 15 - 21 Tuesday - Monday	June 8 Sunday	September 25 Thursday	October 4 Saturday	October 9 - 15 Thur - Wed	October 16 Thursday
2015	April 3 Friday	April 4 - 10 Saturday - Friday	May 24 Sunday	September 14 Monday	September 23 Wednesday	Sept. 28 - Oct 4 Mon - Sun	October 5 Monday
Note:  Biblical Days begin at sunset.  Therefore, a Holy Day begins at sunset of the previous day listed.  For example, a Holy Day that is on Wednesday is observed from sunset Tuesday to sunset Wednesday. * The Christian Passover service is held just after sunset of the previous day (e.g. A date of Monday for Passover means that the service is held on a Sunday evening.)