The Bible lists a series of festivals that God gave to Israel. These festivals hold timeless significance for Christians because they show God’s plan of salvation for humanity.

“The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” – Leviticus 23:2

The word feasts comes from a Hebrew word  mo-ade’  meaning appointed times.

The reference comes from the Strong Concordance # 4150

From the transliteration moed (mo-ade’): appointed time, place, or meeting

Original Word: מוֹעֵד
Definition: appointed time, place, or meeting

WHY Should We Keep the Biblical Feast Days? Because Jesus Kept the Feast Days. You probably don’t know that Jesus faithfully kept God’s feasts.  You can read some occurrences here:

• Luke 2:42;
• Luke 22:15;
• John 2:23;
• John 4:45;
• John 5:1;
• John 7:10,
• John 14, 37;
• John 12:2; and more.).

But did He keep the feast for you, so you don’t have to? Or did He keep them as an example to follow? Consider what Jesus said about God’s Law:

“Matthew 5:17-19

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

If you have been told that Jesus abolished God’s law (or that He kept the law for you so you don’t have to), you should carefully read all of the scriptures about this for yourself to see what he said. 

According Leviticus 23, the weekly Sabbath is also a feast day but it will not be discussed in this article. It is a weekly day of rest from cooking, cleaning, working shopping and selling your wares.

Each feast has a historical context, spiritual and prophetic connotations, as well as  physical do’s and don’ts. We know the Messiah fulfilled the first three feast: 

• Passover, the Messiah was killed. He passes over our sins so we can we be forgiven. Jesus became the Passover lamb, wine needs to be available. and on the original Passover, there was bitter herbs on the table. Cooking is allowed at home, your family some good food, fellowship & holy congregation. This is a one-night memorial. Many camps have different protocol, investigate to see what your church or camp rules are. Again, study for yourself and pick your battles.
• On the 3^rd Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread he was resurrected. We are walking sin free. You can cook but refrain from doing any work that does not involve setting up and celebrating this feast day.
• Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks also called Shavuote – It was the first fruits. Historically, this is the time the Torah, the law was given to Israel and the time in Acts when the angles translated tongues spoken by the people in an important event. The Father poured his spirit out on the people. We receive his holy spirit. You can cook but refrain from doing any work that does not involve setting up and celebrating this feast day

The Fall Feast Days Reveal the Future

Now we are anticipating him fulfilling the fall feast which include Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and The 8^th Day. Fall Feasts. Leviticus 23: 23-44.  The Feast Days help us learn his plan for our salvation and allow us to practice the plan,

Consider this widely misunderstood scripture, Colossians2:15-17 about the Sabbath and God’s feasts. This passage does not say that God’s feasts are no longer necessary because they were shadows of Christ. Unfortunately, the translators continue to mislead readers. When Paul says that God’s feasts “are a shadow of things to come,” it doesn’t mean they are unimportant. Instead, it means that the feast days reveal the future! We must keep the feast days and make them essential to our lives.

• Trumpets – Yom Teruah, A warning of Christ’s return) Warning of the coming of the Lord. Some churches have a meal together while others do not, study for yourself and choose your battles. But at home, you can cook but refrain from doing any work that does not involve setting up and celebrating this feast day.
• Atonement – Yom Kippur. Christ returns to judge the earth. The fight is on.) He will come to complete the resurrection and we will become spirit beings. It is a day of fasting, prayer, and leaving the pleasures alone for the day. The interesting thing is that fasting for a day resets your immune system and is good for health. Intake no food or drink on The Day of Atonement.
• The Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkah, some call Succote or Succoth. The feast is 7 days long, The Feast of Ingathering was the festival at the gathering in of the fruits, which marked the natural close of the agricultural year. The ingathering will mean the struggle is over. We will be dwelling with Christ for 1000 years. As all feast you can cook but refrain from doing any work that does not involve setting up and celebrating this feast day.
• The 8th day, Yom Shemini, it is the time of consecration and reconciliation as God establishes his kingdom on earth. Celebration is in order because the Father’s Kingdom is coming down to the earth from the 3^rd heaven, New Jerusalem. You can cook but refrain from doing any work that does not involve setting up and celebrating this feast day.

When do we keep the feast?  What calendar do we use?

Calculating the feasts is another conversation for another group. I suggest you read Leviticus 23 for the appointed times and seasons set aside in the scripture.  Also, I have come to know that from my count there are at least 8 different times various groups are observing the appointed times this season.  I have listed to all 8 I know and not all, but most sounds a bit reasonable in their calculations, but we know everybody can’t be right so If any one is listening who is confused about the time, I would say study for yourself, see what people in your area are doing, and pick your battles. 

The Original Church of God Kept the Biblical Feast Days

Here are a few scriptures that show which feasts the the apostles and early Church kept:

• Acts 2:1
• Acts 18:21
• Acts 20:6, 16,

These feasts were not just for the Jews.  Paul also instructed the Gentile Christians in Corinth to keep them: 1 Corinthians 5:8.

Read it for yourself: Soon the Whole World Will Keep the Feasts of the LORD. This scripture is important for explain this. Zechariah 14:16-18, While Ezekiel 45:17 is another prophecy about the future, and it mentions “all the feasts.” They Are God’s Feasts When God gave Moses instructions for the feasts in Leviticus 23, He said, “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” Leviticus 23:2.