The Appointed Times of the LORD
The Appointed Times of the LORD are very specific times set by God. He has chosen to reveal Himself and His ways throughout history during these Appointed Times. Therefore, celebrate and rejoice in learning more about Him from His Appointed Times (Lev. 23). The Appointed Times of the LORD all point to the Messiah, with fulfillment in and through Him.
7th Day of Rest
God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. God set this day apart and made it holy (Gen.1&2). Notice the pattern in Scripture. There’s “evening & morning, day 1…evening & morning, day 2… evening & morning, day 3…” (Gen.1). God establishes the pattern and wants man to follow: work 6 days and rest on the 7th day, the Sabbath (Exd.20:8-11). The Sabbath begins Friday evening at sunset and continues thru Saturday morning… until the beginning of the evening of the first day of the week. It is a day of rest. Man’s ultimate rest comes from God alone as rest can only be found in Him and the finished work of Messiah.
Passover
The Passover lamb had to be without blemish (Exd.12:5). The lamb was slain and none of its bones were broken, per God’s instructions (Exd.12:46). The blood was applied to the doorposts and lintel (Exd.12&13). The LORD (YHVH) redeemed His people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Thousands of years later… at this appointed time as the lambs were being sacrificed during the annual Passover observance, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world was slain (John 19:14). He was without blemish. As a lamb to the slaughter He made not a sound (Isa.53:6-7). So the soldiers came and seeing “He was already dead, they did not break His legs…For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, ‘NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN'” (Jn 19:33-36).
Feast of Unleavened Bread – one of the Feasts of the LORD
Leaven represents sin and corruption. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, people are to remove all leaven from their homes and lives. Jesus, the Messiah, is the Bread of Life. He is without leaven and lived a sinless life. He was in the grave during the Feast of Unleavened Bread three days and three nights without decay or corruption. God was pleased with His sinless sacrifice.
Firstfruits
On the day after the Sabbath after Passover, the priest waves the firstfruits harvest as an offering (Lev.23:10-11). “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1). God had raised Jesus from the dead!!! He is the firstfruits offering. He is the firstborn from among the dead (Col. 1:18). “Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor.15:20).
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) – one of the Feasts of the LORD
Pentecost is the Greek name (‘pente’ means 50) for the Feast of Weeks (Acts 2:1-4). The Feast of Weeks is 7 weeks + 1 day (50 days) from the Firstfruits offering after Passover (Lev.23:15-16). The Israelites had been guarding and observing this annual Feast since God had spoken the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai (Exd.19:1). Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3). He told them to wait for the Gift the Father promised which they had heard about from Jesus. After His ascension, they waited…and 10 days later – on the Feast of Weeks – “when the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place … and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4 NASB). It was at God’s appointed time, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Remember how God wrote the Law on the tablets of stone with His finger at Mt. Sinai. Behold… now God writes His Law on the hearts of believing men and women with the deposit of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). God’s gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit enables believers to be obedient to His commands.
Day of Blowing (aka Feast of Trumpets)
The first day of the 7th month, a day of blowing! A time of announcement (ie: The King is coming). The Messiah has come as Savior of the world and He will come again as King of kings and LORD of lords. Halleluyah!
Day of Atonements
It is a day of complete rest. There is complete rest because Messiah has done all the work as High Priest to make atonement for sin. He entered the tabernacle made without hands with the once for all sacrifice of His own blood (Heb. 9:11-12). “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He lives to make intercession for them” (Heb.7:25).
Feast of Tabernacles – one of the Feasts of the LORD
The Israelites lived in tents in the wilderness for 40 years. “God said, ‘Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Exd.25:8). The Tabernacle was to be built, a tent covered with skins, exactly according to the pattern God gave. God came down from heaven to dwell among men. God dwelt among the people and His glory filled the Tabernacle. The people saw His glory. What a picture of things to come … At the Appointed Time, in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son. The Messiah was born during the Feast of Tabernacles. He came down from heaven to dwell among men. He lived (tabernacled) among us. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). Rejoice before the LORD your God!!! And “in the last days… all the nations …will go up to Jerusalem from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zach.14:16-21).