THE HOLY
FESTIVALS OF ISRAEL
MOEDIM HA'ELOHIM (G-D'S APPOINTED DAYS)
In each case below where you see the word sacrifice in brackets [ ], it is provided by our Messiah's sacrifice of Himself. So we should note this on these days. In any case, once the Temple was in place in Jerusalem, under no circumstances were sacrifices allowed to be performed except in the Land of Israel at the Holy Mount.
Customary Greeting: "Chag Same'ach" (Joyful Feast!)
THE LATTER RAIN: FALL FEASTS (Usually in the months of September/October)
1. Yom Teruah (Day of Blowing/Shouting) / Also known customarily as "Rosh HaShana" (Head of the Year)
Tishri 1 (First Day of the Seventh Month)A. Memorial: the entrance into the Promised Land
B. Traditional: the day Adam was created
C. Prophetic: the Day of the L-RD; His coming and judgment
D. Messianic: the day of resurrection and catching away of the holy ones
E. Command: rejoice, shout, blow the shofar; do no wage work, [sacrifice]
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:24,25
G. Gift of the Ruach: working of miracles
H. Fruit of the Ruach: excellence/usefulness[Between these two feasts it is called "The Days of Awe"]
2. Yom Kippur (Day of Covering/Atonement)
Tishri 10 / Also known as "Face to Face"A. Memorial: atonement for Israel's sins
B. Traditional: the second Passover; name inscribed in Book of Life
C. Prophetic: the day when Israel is restored
D. Messianic: the day when Jewish people accept Yeshua
E. Command: afflict your soul; do no work at all, [sacrifice]
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:27-32
G. Gift of the Ruach: prophecy
H. Fruit of the Ruach: goodness3. Sukkot (Tabernacles, The Feast of) / Also known as "The Feast of Ingathering"; the last day (eighth day) is known as Hoshana Raba (Save us, Great One)
Tishri 15-23A. Memorial: the time of temporary wandering
B. Traditional: thanksgiving for prosperity
C. Prophetic: the nations come to worship King Messiah
D. Messianic: the birth of Messiah Yeshua
E. Command: abide in temporary dwellings in the land, first and last day do no wage work, bring an offering of first fruits, [sacrifice]
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:34-36
G. Gift of the Ruach: discerning of spirits
H. Fruit of the Ruach: persuasion/trust
THE TRIUMPHS: WINTER CELEBRATIONS
1. Chanukah (Dedication, The Feast of) / Also known as "The Festival of Lights"
Kislev 25 - Cheshvan 4 (Usually in December)A. Memorial: the re-dedication of the Temple under the Maccabees
B. Traditional: the eight day miracle of oil for the re-dedication
C. Prophetic: dedication of the 3rd Temple to come
D. Messianic: the conception of Messiah Yeshua
E. Command: none, it is a patriotic celebration
F. Scripture: John 10:22,23; Book of Maccabees
G. Gift of the Ruach: kinds of languages
H. Fruit of the Ruach: humility2. Purim (Lots) / Also known as "The Feast of Esther"
Adar 14 (Usually in March)A. Memorial: the victory of Esther for her people
B. Traditional: celebrating matriarchal qualities
C. Prophetic: the preservation of the Jewish people
D. Messianic: the ordination of Messiah Yeshua (by Yochanan)
E. Command: none, it is a patriotic celebration
F. Scripture: Book of Esther
G. Gift of the Ruach: interpretation of languages
H. Fruit of the Ruach: self-control
THE FORMER RAIN: SPRING FEASTS (Usually in the months of April-June)
1. Pesach (Passover) / Also known as "The Feast of Our Freedeom"
Abib/Nisan 14 (Fourteenth Day of the First Month)A. Memorial: deliverance from the death angel
B. Traditional: deliverance from slavery, coming again of Elijah
C. Prophetic: deliverance from the wages of sin
D. Messianic: the death of Messiah Yeshua
E. Command: eat bitter herbs, eat no leaven, eat unleavened bread, tell your children what G-d has done in delivering them, bring an offering, [sacrifice]
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:4,5
G. Gift of the Ruach: word of wisdom
H. Fruit of the Ruach: love2. Chag Matzah (Feast of Unleavened Bread)
Abib/Nisan 15-22A. Memorial: deliverance from slavery in Egypt
B. Traditional: removal of all leaven
C. Prophetic: cleansing from sin
D. Messianic: the burial of Messiah Yeshua
E. Command: eat no leaven for seven days, eat unleavened bread seven days, first and last day do no wage work, [sacrifice]
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:6-8; Exodus 13:6-8
G. Gift of the Ruach: word of knowledge
H. Fruit of the Ruach: joy/calm delight3. Yom HaBikkurim (Day of First Fruits) / Also known as "First Fruits of the Barley Harvest"
The first day of the week, which follows PassoverA. Memorial: thanksgiving for the first fruits of the land
B. Traditional: none, this day is not kept by modern Judaism
C. Prophetic: assurance of salvation
D. Messianic: the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua
E. Command: wave a barley loaf (sheaf) before the L-RD
F. Scripture: Leviticus 23:9-14
G. Gift of the Ruach: trust/faith
H. Fruit of the Ruach: peace4. Shavuot (Weeks, Feast of) / Also known as "First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest"
The seventh first day from First Fruits (modern Judaism counts this from the day after Nisan 15, making it always fall on Sivan 6)A. Memorial: Establishment of the People of YHVH
B. Traditional: Moses announces the covenant in Torah
C. Prophetic: Israel to be a witness of YHVH
D. Messianic: the out-pouring of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh
E. Command: rejoice, do no wage work, bring an offering of first fruits, [sacrifice]
F. Leviticus 23:15-21
G. Gift of the Ruach: gifts of healing
H. Fruit of the Ruach: patience
OTHER IMPORTANT SCRIPTURAL DAYS
1. Abib/Nisan 1: The biblical Rosh HaShana. The first day of the Hebrew year according to Scripture. Exodus 12:2.
2. Shabbat Ha'Gadol: The first Sabbath of the Hebrew Year; the first Sabbath in Nisan.
2. Abib/Nisan 10: The Inclusion of the Lamb. The day when the lamb was selected for Passover, which was also the day Yeshua came into Jerusalem on a donkey. Exodus 12:3-6.
3. Av 9 / Tisha B'Av: The day when both Temples were destroyed, and other judgements came upon Israel.
4. Every Shabbat: Each weekly seventh day Sabbath is considered a holy feast day. Leviticus 23:1-3.
5. Rosh Chodesh: The first day of every Hebrew month is noted as a special day. Numbers 28:11-14.
© 1999 - 2008 by David M. Hargis. All rights reserved.
