HOLY FEASTS CALENDAR 2010

The Event that anticipated the death of Yahshua (April 7)

What does the blood symbolizes according to Leviticus 17:11 and what promise does Yahshua make to his disciples having known the true significance of the Passover lamb?  John 6:54-56  What mystery does the Passover celebrated in Egypt hold? First, the lamb could have no defect (it had to be perfect).  Abraham also prophesized in Genesis 22:2,8 that Yahweh himself would provide the lamb for the burnt offering.  Yahweh had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, whom he loved.  This lamb, as well as the ram, which was given as an offering in sacrifice, symbolized the lamb that would take away the sins of the world -- Yahshua. Yahshua fulfilled all the pre-requisites of the perfect lamb. After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately.  These were the people in charge of certifying that the lamb met the requirements established by the Torah.  Luke tells us:  “They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public.  And astonished by his answer, they became silent.”  (Luke 20:26) This silence confirmed that Yahshua was the perfect sacrificial lamb.  As much as they tried to find something wrong with Yahshua (something that they could accuse him of) they could not for he was perfect.  According to the Misna, the only sheep to be sacrificed in the Temple were from the grazing fields in Bethlehem.  That is to say, the sheep could not be of any other place, because Bethlehem was the House of Bread.  In the scriptures you will also find that our savior, Yahshua, was born in Bethlehem. Yahshua was our lamb, and by the shedding of his blood, he took the sins of the world, and will continue cleansing us from the sins of the world. (1 Peter 1:19, Isaiah 53:7)  He is the gift that keeps on giving.

If the blood spread on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses of the Israelites saved them that night of Abib from the death by passing over, how much more the blood of Yahshua, which has redeemed us and will continue to redeem us from being enslaved in sin.   (Exodus 12:7~23)

Note:  This year we will celebrate the feast of the Passover at sunset of April 7.  We will congregate in the temple to celebrate the Last Supper as well as the washing of the feet.  We do this to commemorate the death of Yahshua (only once a year). We first perform the washing of the feet.  We then partake in unleavened bread (Matzos for Passover) and the fruit of the vine (pure grape juice).  This is given to each individual by one of our leaders and the pastor recites the words of Yahshua (Mark 14:22~24) regarding the meaning of the fruit of the vine and the bread.  We have to acknowledge that this is the body and blood of Yahshua.  We then all wait until the pastor asks us to eat and drink accordingly.  We are given a small piece of Matzo for Passover and a small cup with grape juice.

FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREADS

Who established the appointed feasts and asked for us to proclaim holy assemblies?  Leviticus 23:1,2,4 The feast of Unleavened Bread is the first of the three great feasts. The Hebrew word for this feast is Hag-Matzot.  It is a feast in which the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is commemorated for seven days, from April 9 to the April 15 in 2009 (the day begins at sunset the day before).  (Exodus 12:17) The Passover and the feast of unleavened bread were so close from each other (in the days of Yahshua) that many treated the two as one.  However, in Mark 12:1,2 we read that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are two distinct solemn days and each one has its own significance.  This feast symbolizes our new state of existence after the liberation. During the seven days of celebration there should be no leavening in our homes. (Exodus 12:19) The Hebrew word for leavening is hametz, which signifies a fungus that  produces fermentation.  The leavening from a spiritual point of view symbolizes sin.

NOTE: The first and the last day of the feast of Unleavened Bread we present ourselves to Yahweh in sacred assembly and do no regular work. (Lev. 23:7-8) The day begins at sunset on the day before. Many believe that these feasts were/are only for the people of Israel.  However, if we study the Holy Scriptures we will find that even in his last days Yahshua continued celebrating the holy feasts of Yahweh along with his disciples.  “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover? (Mark 14:12)  Also, as you can see not everyone was invited to participate in this event.  The only ones invited to partake with Yahshua were his 12 disciples.

PENTECOST

Also known as the "Feast of Weeks, Harvest and First fruits", celebrated in the month of Sivan (May-June), 50 days after the Passover or exactly 7 weeks after Passover.Deuteronomy 16:10-11, "Then you must celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor Yahweh, your God. Bring Him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing you have received from Him. It is time to celebrate before Yahweh, your Creator, at the place He chooses for His name to be honored. Celebrate with your whole family, all your servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you."During these seven weeks Yahweh blessed the grain and wheat harvest with rain and fertility. The people would honor Yahweh by bringing forth the first produce of the land.In the New Testament, during the forty days, after the death of Yahshua, He reappeared several times to His disciples...Acts 1:4-5, "In one of these meetings as He was eating a meal with them, He told them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what He has promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the holy spirit."And seven weeks after Yahshua's resurrection, believers in Yahshua were in Jerusalem, in one place when Yahweh's spirit descended upon them. Yahweh blessed them by empowering them with His holy spirit. Enabling them to speak in tongues they had never spoken before, and therefore communicate with Jewish pilgrims. A sign of unity between Jew and Gentile.Yahweh's spirit descended upon 120 people on that day in Jerusalem. And fulfilled the promise of His holy spirit that would never leave us, and guide us to all truth.John 14:16-18, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever, the spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."John 14:26, "But the counselor, the holy spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

FEAST OF TRUMPETS

This feast is celebrated on the first day of the seventh month Tishri (September-October) in early autumn. It is to be celebrated with the sounding of the Shophar (a ram's horn) and a special offering to Yahweh. Numbers 29:1, "Celebrate the festival of trumpets each year on the first day of the appointed month in early autumn. You must call an official day for holy assembly, and you may do no ordinary work." Leviticus 23:23-25, "Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. On the first day of the appointed month in early autumn, you are to observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of trumpet. You must do no ordinary work on that day. Instead, you are to present special gifts to Yahweh."Believers in Yahshua today celebrate this feast announcing the prophetic application of Yahshua's return. In the book of revelation 7 trumpets were given to 7 angels and after each trumpet was blown a major event would occur. But at the sound of the last trumpet blast, that was the sound that would announce Yahshua descending from the heavens, on a white horse to announce His throne, and the beginning of a holy war against all forces of evil.Revelation 11:15-18, "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: ‘The world has now become the kingdom of Yahweh and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.' The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before Yahweh, fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him and they said,"We give thanks to you Yahshua, the Almighty the one who is and who will always be for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth."

DAY OF ATONEMENT (YOM KIPPUR)

This feast is celebrated in the month of Tishri (September-October) five days before "The feast of Tabernacles". It is a feast in where Yahweh called his people to gather. They needed to fast (not eat or drink anything) to indicate repentance of their sins. They needed to come before Him with a humble heart, giving Him undivided attention and dedication.Leviticus 23:27-29, "You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to Yahweh. Do no work during that entire day because it is the Day of Atonement, when offerings of purification are made for you, making you right with Yahweh, your Creator."In the Old Testament the high priest would purify themselves before entering the holy of holies. Then the priest would bring a special offering, interceding for the sins of the people. In the New Testament Yahshua entered the Tabernacle of heaven and interceded for our sins before Yahweh our Heavenly Father.Hebrews 9:11-12, "So Yahshua has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With His own blood-not the blood of goats and calves-He entered the most holy place once for all time and secured our redemption forever."Because we constantly sin, we observe this special Day of Atonement and use to reconcile with Yahweh our Creator through Yahshua. It's not a day of sorrow but a day of joy. Because of Yahshua's sacrifice, the shedding of His blood we are able to come to Yahweh, ask for forgiveness of our sins and celebrate redemption and salvation.

TABERNACLE

This feast is known as "Feast of the Lord, booths" or just simply "the feast" because of its popularity. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of Tishri (September-October).Leviticus 23:40, "On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees-palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before Yahweh, your Creator for seven days."Passover commemorates leaving Egypt and Tabernacles commemorates the journey through the wilderness when Israel left Egypt. This is also a feast of thanksgiving, showing Yahweh gratitude for protecting Israel as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the promise land.Yahshua went to the Temple for the feast of Tabernacles, showing that He too celebrated the feast. However because it was a time that the religious leaders were looking to persecute Him, He quietly made an entrance.John 7:10, "But after his brothers left for the festival, Yahshua also went, though secretly, staying out of public view."John 7:14, "Then, midway through the festival, Yahshua went up to the Temple and began to teach."Today we show our gratitude towards Yahweh, for He protects us through our journey in the wilderness until we reach the promise land. And even though it may get difficult at times we will still rejoice and celebrate to Yahweh.

Final Note...

The feasts are to remind us of who created us and who owns us. They are holy convocations, each with a purpose and an appointed time. Showing us how Yahweh wants to have a relationship and dwell among His people.

*We'd like to thank www.coyzion.org, Our sister congregation's (Congregation of Yahweh Rochester, NY) website for providing us with some of this information*