Feast observance is one of the core beliefs of the true faith practiced by those that truly believe in Elohim, who obey his holy scriptures to the latter. On the contrary, most of those that are instinctively regarded as true believers when measured by recognized yardsticks, disregard the observance of holy feasts by questioning its authenticity. It is time to go back to the crossroad, evaluate where the good way is and walk in it! Now is the time to quest for truth, walk in truth and tell the scriptural truth which will set us free from our sins. As it is written “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31). What truth is being addressed here? John says that, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).Therefore, truth can only be obtained from Elohim’s word -the scriptures. So let’s then authenticate the observance of the holy feasts from the scriptures!
In the beginning, Elohim spoke to Moses saying, “Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts” (Leviticus 23:2). From that scripture, we find Elohim owning these feasts by saying “even these are my feasts”. This disapproves the perception that Moses was the author of the holy feasts, as indicated by most Christians. Moses only conveyed the messages given to him by Elohim to the Israelites. Yahshua clarified this out by saying, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had ye believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?” (John 5:45-47). Therefore, it is expedient to keep these feasts in partial obedience of Elohim’s word. These feasts should be proclaimed and kept at their appointed times as indicated in verse 4 of the same scripture; “These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.”
There are seven feasts to be observed as indicated in the whole chapter of Leviticus 23, which also clarifies the specific appointed time for each. Beginning in the spring, the seven biblical feasts are Passover, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First-fruits; the Feast of Weeks (also known Pentecost or Shavuot in Hebrew), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In addition to these feasts, we have the weekly Sabbath as outlined in Leviticus 23. These feasts are closely related to Israel’s spring and fall harvests and agricultural seasons. They were meant to and still are to remind the Israelites each year of God’s protection and provision. But even more importantly, they foreshadowed the redemptive work of Yahshua our Messiah. Not only did they play significant role in Messiah’s earthly ministry but they also symbolize the complete redemptive story of Messiah, beginning with his death as the Passover Lamb of Elohim and ending with His second coming after which He will ‘tabernacle’ or dwell with His people forever.
Elohim emphasizes that these feasts are everlasting ordinances and should be kept throughout in all generations (Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, 41; Exodus12:14, 13:10).
Feasts should not be kept or celebrated at home or within our residential places. They should be kept at the places chosen by Elohim to bear his name (Deuteronomy 16:5-6). Believers always convene at the appointed places forming holy assemblies from the first day of the feast to the last day. Yahshua did set us a good example to follow as indicated in John 2:13; “and the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Yahshua went up to Jerusalem.” Jerusalem was where the temple was situated, therefore, Yahshua had to obey the scriptures and leave his abode. A second illustration of the same is in John 11:55; “...when the Jews’ Passover was nigh at hand, many went out of the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Again, here we see many people leaving their homes for Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover. This has been Elohim’s pattern of setting apart his people from the beginning. He consecrated Goshen where his people dwelt such that, no plagues were experienced there. It is during these festive seasons that Elohim puts a division between his people and the people of the world as indicated in Exodus 8:23.
Most people think that these feasts were done away with by the coming of Yahshua the Messiah. This is NOT true. We find Yahshua in the New Testament keeping these feasts at their appointed time and place. For instance, when the Passover time was due, in the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, his disciples came to him asking, “where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?”(Matthew 26:17). In verse 22 of the same chapter, we read that Yahshua celebrated that Passover with his disciples. Yahshua also kept the feast of tabernacle as indicated in John 7:10; “…But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast…..” He was in the feast throughout until the last day as indicated in verses 16 and 37 of the same chapter.
In John 11:55, another instance is cited when the Passover feast was celebrated; “when the Jews’ Passover was nigh at hand: many went out of the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. After his crucifixion, his disciples proceeded with feast observances. For instance, when Paul was returning to Antioch, he passed by Ephesus and reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue. When they desired him to tarry longer with them, he did not consent but bade them farewell saying, “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem” (Acts 18: 21). In acts 20:22, we read that the feast that Paul was so determined to attend was the feast of Pentecost. In his letter to Colossians Paul wrote, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of an holy day, or the new moon or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Messiah.”(Colossians 2:16-17).
From the text, we learn that the saints and faithful brethren in Yahshua which were at Colos-se were feasts and Sabbath keepers. Here, we see Paul encouraging them and cautioning them not to allow anyone to judge them on that! For these are a shadow of things to come but the body (casting the shadow) is Yahshua. Please note this clearly that, the time when this was written was after Yahshua’s crucifixion. Again, note the word- are, used in this text is a present simple tense. This is to mean, the observance of these feasts and Sabbath continues up to date. We also learn that these feasts, Sabbaths and new moon are a shadow of Yahshua. If you follow an object’s shadow for a time and you get to the object casting the shadow, you will no longer require the shadow since you now have the real object. This illustration is meant to help us comprehend the above verse. Therefore, the observance of feasts, Sabbaths and new moon which are a shadow of Yahshua, should proceed until we get to Yahshua (the body casting the shadow) i.e. at his second coming. For the righteous, the observance of Sabbaths and other feast will cease immediately after the second revelation of Yahshua but for the sinners (those that do not keep the feasts now), feasts and Sabbath observance will be forcefully introduced to them during the millennium reign of Yahshua as indicated in Zechariah 14:16-17 and Isaiah 66:23.
All these feasts are a road map for believers on their way towards the promised total rest. They illustrate Elohim’s perfect plan for redemption. During these feast, the Holy Spirit equips the believers fully and prepares them for eventual perfection and glorification at the second coming of Yahshua. Now that you know the truth, repent and turn away thy foot from not keeping the holy feasts of Elohim by pursuing righteousness and walking in way of truth!