There are many misunderstandings about the feasts themselves. So before we go into the meaning and importance of each feast, we will first define and identify the elements of the feast of Unleavened Bread and the other feasts that are misunderstood. I hope that this study will answer questions and clarify misunderstandings that we may keep these ordinances with a clear conscience.
In the feast of Unleavened bread there is a direct connection to The Passover meal and we will begin by examining exodus 12v 15-20.
Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
I want to point out in verse 18 it states, “Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.”
This verse combines the 14th to the 7 days of unleavened bread. Interesting thing is that Father mentions this combination again in Deuteronomy 16 v 6-8 more clearly which states,
Deu 16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
Deu 16:7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Deu 16:8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
These verses clearly show that though they killed the Passover on the 14th of the 1st month, they did not eat it until the evening of the 15th of the 1st month. This means the Passover meal is on the 1st day of unleavened Bread. This is also seen in the Gospels.
Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Just to clarify what many feast keepers misunderstand? The 14th of abib is not a feast day but a preparation to eat the Passover meal on the evening of the 15th. Father has revealed that the night of the 15th is a night to observe.
Exo 12:42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Another interesting note is when the Passover is mentioned that Israel should KEEP IT that word means to prepare or to kill the Passover. It is the Hebrew word AWSAW meaning to do or make.
Num_9:2 Let the children of Israel also keep(Make or Prepare) the passover at his appointed season.
The word keep in regards to the Feast is the word Shamar which means to guard or protect and the word Chagag which means to OBSERVE.
Exo_12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep(OBSERVE) it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Another point many don’t see when studying this feast is that in Exodus, the 15th of abib was given to be observed and to eat the Passover. The 7 day format was instructed but for a certain time. They were to Kill the Passover and observe the Feast of Unleavened on the night of the 15th of abib by eating the Passover meal and remembering that they were passed over and delivered out of Egypt that night.
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
This also proves a very important point for the Son of God. This means He died on the 15th of Abib and not the 14th. He would have never changed the ordinance of Passover rather He would keep it to the exact word. Scripture says this.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin(1 John 3v4).
Scripture shows us that Jesus never broke the law. During the time of Passover, The Son of Gods disciples inquired about when and where they were to eat the Passover.
Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
Mar 14:14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
So we see the Son of God and His disciples are very urgent to keep this command of the Passover. The disciples prepared the Passover on the 14th of abib as commanded and then at the evening (beginning of the 15th) they sat down to eat.
Mat 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover(14th).
Mat 26:20 Now when the even was come(15th), he sat down with the twelve.
Mat 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Just as the command in exodus 12 instructs us, Jesus kept the law exactly the way it is written. This shows us that during the DAY of the 15th, Jesus was crucified. This means He rested on the 16th which was a 7th day Sabbath and rose on the 17th of Abib.
An interesting point that is clear to us is that the 16th of abib can not be First fruits. Jesus rose on first fruits which would have been the 17th of abib. The 15th would not have been a 7th day Sabbath but the day before which was the 1st day of unleavened bread. We will touch on the memorial of the first fruits a little later.
Now exodus thirteen gives us the instruction as to when they were to keep 7 days along with the Passover.
Exo 13:5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Exo 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Exo 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
This shows that while in Egypt we see they did not practice 7 days of not eating leaven and also Father referred to them doing this ordinance in their habitation and houses and strangers being as if they were born of the land. Which land? The land they were to inherit when they leave Egypt. To solidify this point lets look at Deuteronomy.
Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night (15th of abib).
Deu 16:2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
Deu 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
Deu 16:4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
In these verses He is giving more instruction as to what is to occur when they have an actual Land or home. At this time they were wandering the wilderness for 40 years and no where to farm to get grain, olives and vineyards. Israel was given manna and making cakes from that for 40 years. They were also receiving quail at night to eat. They had no way to farm. It was not until Joshua led Israel to the Jordan that they were able to keep Passover again.
Jos 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Jos 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Jos 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept(prepared) the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
Jos 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover(15th of Abib), unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow(16th of Abib) after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
They could not even prepare Passover for 40 years because they were under a reproach of Egypt. Also the new Generation was not circumcised and that was the main stipulation of taking the Passover.
Exo 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep(Prepare or Make) it.
Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land(Promised Land): for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Joshua circumcised the new generation of Israel, when the old generation passed away, and now they began to keep the instructions for the Feast of unleavened bread. They did not need to be in Jerusalem but needed to have there own place to offer up to God their first fruits.
Leviticus also is laying down instruction for a future time in the time they received their land.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Many instructions were geared to Israel being off of reproach and being able to settle down in their own place. We today are settled. I haven’t seen any congregation wandering around by command of the Lord in which they are unable to offer to Father their Hearts and service. This study is by no means against the feast but to bring honest clarity to the use of the scriptures on this topic.
Looking at this we can see that there are things we are told that the scripture does not teach pertaining to the feast. For instance, many say there are 7 feasts. What does scripture say? Leviticus says simply “These are the Feast of the LORD” but How many does Father say He has?
Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Deu 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
Note that Deuteronomy 16v17 says they ought to give AS HE IS ABLE. Many link feasts with sacrifices of animals but scriptures shows it for freewill offerings.
What I wanted to point out is that Father says twice that 3 times a year He wants us to come to Him. Let’s clear this up, with scripture. Earlier we established that the 14th and the 15th is the same feast. The Passover was prepared on the 14th and eaten on the 15th when they left Egypt. This means the 14th and the 7 days of unleavened bread the same feast. Next we have First fruits which no where in scripture calls that day a feast. It is the day in which we begin counting the FEAST OF WEEKS/HARVEST also known as Pentecost.
Deu 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
Deu 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
The time you begin to put the sickle to the corn is the day the First fruits was waved by the priest.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
This means the day of First fruits is day 1 of a 50 day count/harvest to Pentecost. This makes Pentecost and the day the wave sheaf was waved apart of the Feast of weeks. So that makes the 2nd feast. We also see that the feast are observed in 3 months of Fathers Calendar which are Abib which is month 1 on Fathers calendar, Siven the 3rd month and Tishri the 7th month. This breakdown so far encompassed 4 appointed times into 2 feasts. Now the appointed times in the 7th Month is more complicated because it involved 3 appointed times and These 3 three appointed times are dependant on one another. The first appointed time would be the 1st of the 7th month which is the memorial of Blowing Trumpets.
Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
There is 9 days between The Blowing of trumpets and the Day of Atonement which occurs on the 10th of the same month. In scripture, the blowing of trumpets is a warning and call to assemble to repent.
Num 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Joe 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Joe 2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Why is it so important to blow the trumpet? So the people may repent and come back to the Father to offer themselves back to Father. This is extremely important at this time of the year because the appointed time on the 10th of the 7th month is Judgment day.
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
The Trumpets were to get the congregation ready to afflict their souls that they may receive atonement for their sins. It was necessary that the trumpets not only reminded them but also remind us to get ready because Judgment is coming soon. Then the next and final Feast is the Feast of Tabernacles which is a time of celebration of the Harvest. If you were not found repentant during the time of Judgment you would NOT partake in the Harvest which represents the final moment when we are with our God on the new earth.
Deu 16:13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
Deu 16:14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
Deu 16:15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Mat_9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Mat_13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
The last 3 appointed times work as one harvest. The preparation (Trumpets), The Reaping (Atonement/Judgment), and the Ingathering (Tabernacles). The people would come to Jerusalem 3 times a year. On the 1st, 3rd and 7th month of Gods calendar. When they would come in the beginning of each month, they would not leave until all that was asked for in that month was accomplished. Each appointed time worked together with another. This is why Father tells us to observe the month.
Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
There are 3 pilgrimages/Times with 3 purposes but 7 holy convocations. 2 in the feast of unleavened bread, 1 on Feast of Harvest, 1 on the Sabbath of Trumpets, 1 on the Day of atonement, 1 for the Feast of Trumpets and 1 for the Last great day of the Feast of Trumpets. This does not mean there are 7 feast just 7 appointed times to gather and assemble for the purposes of God. I hope this study was simple and clear.
In the feast of Unleavened bread there is a direct connection to The Passover meal and we will begin by examining exodus 12v 15-20.
Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
I want to point out in verse 18 it states, “Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.”
This verse combines the 14th to the 7 days of unleavened bread. Interesting thing is that Father mentions this combination again in Deuteronomy 16 v 6-8 more clearly which states,
Deu 16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
Deu 16:7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Deu 16:8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
These verses clearly show that though they killed the Passover on the 14th of the 1st month, they did not eat it until the evening of the 15th of the 1st month. This means the Passover meal is on the 1st day of unleavened Bread. This is also seen in the Gospels.
Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Just to clarify what many feast keepers misunderstand? The 14th of abib is not a feast day but a preparation to eat the Passover meal on the evening of the 15th. Father has revealed that the night of the 15th is a night to observe.
Exo 12:42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Another interesting note is when the Passover is mentioned that Israel should KEEP IT that word means to prepare or to kill the Passover. It is the Hebrew word AWSAW meaning to do or make.
Num_9:2 Let the children of Israel also keep(Make or Prepare) the passover at his appointed season.
The word keep in regards to the Feast is the word Shamar which means to guard or protect and the word Chagag which means to OBSERVE.
Exo_12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep(OBSERVE) it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Another point many don’t see when studying this feast is that in Exodus, the 15th of abib was given to be observed and to eat the Passover. The 7 day format was instructed but for a certain time. They were to Kill the Passover and observe the Feast of Unleavened on the night of the 15th of abib by eating the Passover meal and remembering that they were passed over and delivered out of Egypt that night.
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
This also proves a very important point for the Son of God. This means He died on the 15th of Abib and not the 14th. He would have never changed the ordinance of Passover rather He would keep it to the exact word. Scripture says this.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin(1 John 3v4).
Scripture shows us that Jesus never broke the law. During the time of Passover, The Son of Gods disciples inquired about when and where they were to eat the Passover.
Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
Mar 14:14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
So we see the Son of God and His disciples are very urgent to keep this command of the Passover. The disciples prepared the Passover on the 14th of abib as commanded and then at the evening (beginning of the 15th) they sat down to eat.
Mat 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover(14th).
Mat 26:20 Now when the even was come(15th), he sat down with the twelve.
Mat 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Just as the command in exodus 12 instructs us, Jesus kept the law exactly the way it is written. This shows us that during the DAY of the 15th, Jesus was crucified. This means He rested on the 16th which was a 7th day Sabbath and rose on the 17th of Abib.
An interesting point that is clear to us is that the 16th of abib can not be First fruits. Jesus rose on first fruits which would have been the 17th of abib. The 15th would not have been a 7th day Sabbath but the day before which was the 1st day of unleavened bread. We will touch on the memorial of the first fruits a little later.
Now exodus thirteen gives us the instruction as to when they were to keep 7 days along with the Passover.
Exo 13:5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Exo 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Exo 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
This shows that while in Egypt we see they did not practice 7 days of not eating leaven and also Father referred to them doing this ordinance in their habitation and houses and strangers being as if they were born of the land. Which land? The land they were to inherit when they leave Egypt. To solidify this point lets look at Deuteronomy.
Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night (15th of abib).
Deu 16:2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
Deu 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
Deu 16:4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
In these verses He is giving more instruction as to what is to occur when they have an actual Land or home. At this time they were wandering the wilderness for 40 years and no where to farm to get grain, olives and vineyards. Israel was given manna and making cakes from that for 40 years. They were also receiving quail at night to eat. They had no way to farm. It was not until Joshua led Israel to the Jordan that they were able to keep Passover again.
Jos 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Jos 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Jos 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept(prepared) the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
Jos 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover(15th of Abib), unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow(16th of Abib) after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
They could not even prepare Passover for 40 years because they were under a reproach of Egypt. Also the new Generation was not circumcised and that was the main stipulation of taking the Passover.
Exo 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep(Prepare or Make) it.
Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land(Promised Land): for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Joshua circumcised the new generation of Israel, when the old generation passed away, and now they began to keep the instructions for the Feast of unleavened bread. They did not need to be in Jerusalem but needed to have there own place to offer up to God their first fruits.
Leviticus also is laying down instruction for a future time in the time they received their land.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Many instructions were geared to Israel being off of reproach and being able to settle down in their own place. We today are settled. I haven’t seen any congregation wandering around by command of the Lord in which they are unable to offer to Father their Hearts and service. This study is by no means against the feast but to bring honest clarity to the use of the scriptures on this topic.
Looking at this we can see that there are things we are told that the scripture does not teach pertaining to the feast. For instance, many say there are 7 feasts. What does scripture say? Leviticus says simply “These are the Feast of the LORD” but How many does Father say He has?
Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Deu 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
Note that Deuteronomy 16v17 says they ought to give AS HE IS ABLE. Many link feasts with sacrifices of animals but scriptures shows it for freewill offerings.
What I wanted to point out is that Father says twice that 3 times a year He wants us to come to Him. Let’s clear this up, with scripture. Earlier we established that the 14th and the 15th is the same feast. The Passover was prepared on the 14th and eaten on the 15th when they left Egypt. This means the 14th and the 7 days of unleavened bread the same feast. Next we have First fruits which no where in scripture calls that day a feast. It is the day in which we begin counting the FEAST OF WEEKS/HARVEST also known as Pentecost.
Deu 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
Deu 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
The time you begin to put the sickle to the corn is the day the First fruits was waved by the priest.
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
This means the day of First fruits is day 1 of a 50 day count/harvest to Pentecost. This makes Pentecost and the day the wave sheaf was waved apart of the Feast of weeks. So that makes the 2nd feast. We also see that the feast are observed in 3 months of Fathers Calendar which are Abib which is month 1 on Fathers calendar, Siven the 3rd month and Tishri the 7th month. This breakdown so far encompassed 4 appointed times into 2 feasts. Now the appointed times in the 7th Month is more complicated because it involved 3 appointed times and These 3 three appointed times are dependant on one another. The first appointed time would be the 1st of the 7th month which is the memorial of Blowing Trumpets.
Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
There is 9 days between The Blowing of trumpets and the Day of Atonement which occurs on the 10th of the same month. In scripture, the blowing of trumpets is a warning and call to assemble to repent.
Num 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Joe 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Joe 2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Why is it so important to blow the trumpet? So the people may repent and come back to the Father to offer themselves back to Father. This is extremely important at this time of the year because the appointed time on the 10th of the 7th month is Judgment day.
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
The Trumpets were to get the congregation ready to afflict their souls that they may receive atonement for their sins. It was necessary that the trumpets not only reminded them but also remind us to get ready because Judgment is coming soon. Then the next and final Feast is the Feast of Tabernacles which is a time of celebration of the Harvest. If you were not found repentant during the time of Judgment you would NOT partake in the Harvest which represents the final moment when we are with our God on the new earth.
Deu 16:13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
Deu 16:14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
Deu 16:15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Mat_9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Mat_13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
The last 3 appointed times work as one harvest. The preparation (Trumpets), The Reaping (Atonement/Judgment), and the Ingathering (Tabernacles). The people would come to Jerusalem 3 times a year. On the 1st, 3rd and 7th month of Gods calendar. When they would come in the beginning of each month, they would not leave until all that was asked for in that month was accomplished. Each appointed time worked together with another. This is why Father tells us to observe the month.
Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
There are 3 pilgrimages/Times with 3 purposes but 7 holy convocations. 2 in the feast of unleavened bread, 1 on Feast of Harvest, 1 on the Sabbath of Trumpets, 1 on the Day of atonement, 1 for the Feast of Trumpets and 1 for the Last great day of the Feast of Trumpets. This does not mean there are 7 feast just 7 appointed times to gather and assemble for the purposes of God. I hope this study was simple and clear.