APPOINTMENTS WITH ALMIGHTY GOD

Genesis 1:14-18 - "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth:  and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night:  He made the stars also.  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good."

The phrase "for seasons" is from the Hebrew מוֹעֵד (mow`ed), which means "an appointed time, place, gathering, an appointed sign or signal."  It is translated "congregation" 150 times; "feast" 23 times; "season" 13 times; "appointed" 12 times; "time" 12 times; "assembly" 4 times; "solemnity" 4 times; "solemn" 2 times; "days" 1 time; "sign" 1 time; "synagogues" 1time. 

The phrase "the feasts of the LORD" appears just six times in the Bible (Lev. 23:2, 4, 37, 44; 2 Chron. 2:4; Ezra 3:5).  Most significantly, Leviticus 23:1-4 says this about God's "Feasts":

"And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the Feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be Holy Convocations, even these are My Feasts.  Six days shall work be done:  but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an Holy Convocation; ye shall do no work therein:  it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.  These are the Feasts of the LORD, even Holy Convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons."

Here are some observations concerning the "Seven Feasts of the LORD":

1.  The seven "Feasts of the LORD" are not all seven days in length.  Note that Passover (Lev. 23:5) is one day long (Nisan 14); Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16) is one day long; fifty days after the Sabbath of Firstfruits; Trumpets (Lev. 23:24) is but one day long (Tishri 1); and Atonement (Lev. 23:27) is but one day long (Tishri 10).

2.  The seven "Feasts of the LORD" do not all involve a feast.  Passover is the preparation day for the day following which is the "Feast of Unleavened Bread."  The phrases "the Feast of Firstfruits"; "the Feast of Trumpets"; and the "Feast of the Atonement" do not exist in Scripture.

3.  In reality, as I have said, the use of the phraes "feasts of the LORD" (Lev. 23:2, 4, 37, 44; 2 Chron. 2:4; and Ezra 3:5), are more accurately "the appointments of the LORD." 

4.  Genesis 1:14-18 (noted above) indicate that the Sun provides man with times such as the length of a year, the changing of the seasons, and the length of a day; the Moon provides man with knowledge of the months; and while I do not want to be dogmatic about this, it appears that the Stars provide signs as well.  In Revelation 12, the woman is described as being between the Sun and the Moon; and above "her" head, is a ring of twelve Stars - the constellation Leo which is "above the head of Virgo," has only nine Stars, however, there is every indication that three of the planets will "join them" during the event being signified.  I believe it signifies the Rapture of the Church, which is followed by the Tribulation of the "woman" (Israel:  see Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 19.

 

Stay tuned as I still have much to learn concerning the Word of God!