LESSON 15 Three Festivals of The Seventh Month

 LESSON 15

Three Festivals of The Seventh Month




Objective: To understand the prophetic messages contained in the Jewish festivals of the seventh month and to continue in our hope.

Bible Portion: Lev. 23:23-44; Deut. 16:13-16

Memory Verse: Heb. 9:27-28

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this judgment, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Introduction

Which are the Jewish festivals of the first month? We have learned that they stand for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation, sanctification, and newness of life that we receive through Him. Which festival is in the third month? It points to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the resultant spiritual blessings. The remaining three festivals stand for the beautiful events that will take place.

Festival of the Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25; Num. 10:1-10)

This festival is celebrated on the first day of the seventh month. Israel has no four-month celebrations, unlike the Pentecost and Trumpet festivals. These months belong to the harvest season. For the church, too, the most important event to occur after the pouring out of the Holy Spirit is the second coming of Jesus Christ with the call of trumpets. We are now living in the intervening time called 'Period of

The church is also called the 'Period of Grace.' In this harvest season, the Holy Spirit gathers the souls saved through the atoning age. That death of Jesus Christ. The trumpet will sound at the end, and the saints who die in Christ will rise from the dead. All alive Saints will be transformed, and both will meet the Lord in the air. This great event is called the Rapture of the Church (1 Cor. 15:52-54; 1 Thes. 4:16-17).

The fulfillment of the prophecy contained in the festival of the trumpets also concerns Israel. The trumpets' sound and blast were used to assemble the people and set them out during their wilderness journey (Num. 10:1-10). The fulfillment of the feast of the trumpets is in the gathering together of the Jews. After a long dispersal, Jews have come together as a strong nation. The times are ripe for the trumpet to sound and for the Lord to return. After the rapture of the church, all the Jews from different countries will come together in their homeland, with the final fulfillment of the trumpets taking place at the end of the great tribulation when the Lord and His saints will make their glorious appearance on the earth (Isa. 11:11-12; Matt. 24:31; Amos 9:9; Jer. 31:8).

Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32; Lev. 16)



The tenth day of the seventh month was set apart as the Day of Atonement, a day on which the people repented of their sins, were cleansed in the presence of God, and the Holy Spirit offered sacrifices for their atonement.

Duty of the High Priest

The High Priest removes his official robes inside the tabernacle and puts on the linen garments of the ordinary Priest. He offers sin offerings for himself and his family. Then he brings two goats to the Tabernacle's entrance and casts lots on them, one for the Lord and one for Azazel (removal). The goat selected for the Lord is sacrificed as a sin offering. HighPriestt enters the Most Holy place and sprinkles its blood at the Mercy Seat. Then he places his hands on the head of the scapegoat, puts all the sins of Israel on it, and sends it away to the desert. Then, he washes himself with water, wears his own robe, and sacrifices burnt offerings for himself and the people. This work of the

HighPriestt represents what Jesus Christ did when He entered into heaven with his own blood and accomplished redemption of all mankind for all times. The apostle explains all this in Heb. 9. The High Priest and the goats represent Jesus Christ. The goat sacrificed as a sin offering points to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and the one sent away to the desert points to the fact that Christ lives after taking away the sin of the world and also proclaims His death and resurrection. Putting away his official garments by the High Priest shows Jesus Christ forsaking His glory and taking the form of man. Just as the High Priest puts on his own robes after the sacrifice in the same way, Jesus Christ is living in the presence of Father with His former glory after his work on the cross. Praise God for this unique High Priest.

The Day of Atonement points to a future event about Israel. After their final restoration to their homeland, they will look at the Messiah they pierced and repent of their sins. A fountain will be opened for their cleansing from sin and impurity, and they will be accepted by the Lord (Zach. 12:10 - 13:2).

Festival of the Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33- 44; Deut. 16:13-15)



This festival is happily celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month. Holy Sabbath is observed on the first and eighth days. The people enjoy the presence of God in tabernacles for seven days, holding fruits, branches, and leaves of trees. They live in tabernacles (booths, tents) for seven days. The festival reminds us of three important facts:

a.The Israelites lived in tabernacles for 40 years in the wilderness while journeying from Egypt to Canaan (Lev. 23:42- 43). Their present houses and inheritances are gifts of God.

b. LifLife Earth is temporary. All are tent dwellers. Our body, which is our earthly Tabernacle, will perish. Whatever we consider our own will pass away (Ps. 103: 15, 16; 1 Tim. 6:7; 2 Cor. 5:1-3).

C. Israel has a blessed future. After their gathering and reconciliation, they will enjoy freedom and happiness under the rule of their Promised Messiah during the Millennium. In the New Testament, Israel will rule as the Bride of the Messiah. "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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 21:3-4). We will enjoy happiness with our Lord in the Millennium and for eternity. Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4).

Questions

1. Which are the festivals of the seventh month? Give their dates.

2. What are the prophetic messages contained in the festival of the trumpets.

3. What is the duty of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement? Compare it with the duty that Jesus Christ does as the High Priest.

4. What are the truths that we are reminded of by the festival of the Tabernacles?

5. How was the festival of the Tabernacles observed by the people of Israel?

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