Journal Through the Bible: Week 20 Monday

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Leviticus chapter 23

God reminded Moses of the days that were set aside for holy feast ceremonies. Several of the days were to be days of rest. All pointed to the Messiah.

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• God promised days of rest if they followed His feasts.
• God promised to cut off anyone who would not afflict himself on the Day of Atonement. (All who will not repent of his sins and trust the atonement that was made by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God will be cut off forever.)

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The sabbath day of rest pictures Jesus. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Matt 11:28 (KJV)
• The Passover pictures Jesus. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29 (KJV)
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the sinless life of Jesus. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor 5:7-8 (KJV)
• The Feast of the Firstfruits pictured the resurrection of Jesus. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." 1 Cor 15:20-23 (KJV)
• The Feast of Pentecost happened 50 days following Jesus' resurrection and 10 days after His ascension was when the Father sent the Holy Spirit to the believers as Jesus said He would. "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:25-27 (KJV)
• The Feast of Trumpets was a memorial holiday (holy day)  leading to the Day of Atonement. The feast might celebrate the coming of the Messiah when believers are raised from the dead, certainly a trumpet blowing event! Or it might celebrate the coronation of King Jesus when He rules His Kingdom. Trumpets have signified the presence of royalty throughout history. As Supreme Judge, Jesus has been given the authority to judge each person. Specifically, He will be the final authority over who will spend eternity with Him and who will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Jesus will judge on only one condition: whose sins have been atoned for by His shed blood (His elect). "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 15:51-57 (KJV)  Also "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt 24:30-31 (KJV)
• Jesus is our atonement! "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) Our Day of Atonement was the day of Jesus' crucifixion!
• Jesus took on a "tabernacle" like ours, which means a human body. It is possible that this was the actual time of year that He was born and not in the winter. At the time of harvest, the Feast of Tabernacles followed the Feast of Trumpets (Attention, everyone! Your Messiah is coming!) and the Day of Atonement (Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world!) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (KJV) 

Does this chapter teach anything about future events?

• The events that the Feast of Trumpets commemorate are still future. Resurrection and judgment are coming! And Jesus will assume the Throne and rule the world!

Does God issue any commands?

• God restated His commands concerning the Sabbath.
• God commanded Passover to be observed the 14th day of the first month.
• God commanded the Feast of Unleavened Bread to begin on the 15th day of the first month and continue for 7 days.
• God commanded that they begin celebrating the Firstfruits when they came into the land.
• God commanded the Feast of Pentecost to be celebrated 50 days after the wave offering was made during the Firstfruits.
• God commanded that they celebrate the Feast of Trumpets on the 1st day of the seventh month in preparation for the Day of Atonement.
• God commanded that they observe the Day of Atonement on the 10th day of the seventh month.
• God commanded that they observe the Feast of Tabernacles on the 15th day of the seventh month. This was to last for 8 days and commemorated their Exodus from Egypt.