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SHALOM
A. Introduction to the Festivals of Messianic
Israel
The Festivals of Yahweh or Moedim (Appointed Times) were given by the
Most High, El Elyon, to be observed by those who love and reverence Him for all time.
They were not, as 'orthodox' Christians claim, abolished by the Messiah (Christ). Seven of
these nine festivals were commanded in Torah by Yahweh Himself (Leviticus/Vayikra 23) and two (the
winter festivals) were added by the Jews, without revelation, to commemorate later historical events. The seven mandatory festivals were observed by
both Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and by His apostles and are as much a part of the
Messianic or 'New' Covenant as they were of the Mosaic or 'Old' Covenant. They were given
both so that people could understand the coming of the Messiah and the rôle that the Messiah
would play in redeeming and restoring both man and the earth to Yahweh, our Heavenly Father,
following the fall in Eden. The three autumn (fall) festivals have not as yet been fulfilled.
To the 7 annual festivals is added the weekly Shabbat or Sabbath which is the
foundation of Israelite life. Its observance both protects and inspires Yahweh's people and
is based on two fundamental premises: First, that Yahweh created the world in six days and
rested on the seventh; and Second, that He intervened in history to take the Israelite people
out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Together with the seven festivals, the Shabbat
provides the physical and spiritual rhythm of Yahweh's people, defining their rest days and
days of celebration and commemoration. They form the "way of life" of all true Bible-beliving
Christians. Together these make a total of 8 Moedim or Appointments when true,
obedient believers are obliged to formally assemble in congregations of spiritual families to
worship Yahweh.
Historically, however, the sabbaths and festivals were either replaced by pagan festivals
(like Christmas and the Sunday Sabbath by apostate Christians) or were added to by the Talmudic Jews who rejected the Messiah and added lots of
man-made festivals (like Tu b'Shevat, Yom haShoah, Lag b'Omer, etc.). In
the New Covenant Church of God (B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh) we follow neither the
Christianised pagan traditions (Christmas, Easter, Lent, Halloween,
etc.) nor acknowledge the accretions made by the Jews (still accepted by many Messianic
Jews), but observe the simplicity of the biblical revelation.
Many of the directives given in Torah concerning the Festivals are no longer
applicable in the Messianic New Covenant because they were filfilled in the death and
resurrection of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Thus neither the Mosaic animal
sacrificial system and associated ceremonial Torah, nor the Levitical Priesthood that
administered it, are any longer applicable. What were therefore prophetic pointers are now
commemorations. For some idea as to how the festivals are celebrated by NCCG/BCAY, please see
the essays, sermons and FAQs on our Festivals Page.
Concerning dating the sabbaths and festivals: within the theocratic state of Israel all
calculations, with the exception of the weekly solar Sabbath, were based on the timing of the
New Moon, itself a monthly observation known as Rosh Chodesh making the 9th Moed that we observe. This means that the
dates of the festivals change relative to our solar calendar.
The Sabbath is observed from 'Friday' sunset to 'Saturday' sunset (the seventh day),
or at a fixed time like 1800 (6 p.m.) in extreme northerly or southerly sub-Arctic/Antarctic
and Arctic/Antarctic lattitues), or from Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset between longitude
31° east of Greenwich (the Jordan River or eastern boundary of the Nation of Israel and the approximate location of the Garden of Eden, believed to be where Jerusalem stands today, where the first
Sabbath was observed) and the artificial human-made International Date Line (IDL)
Finally, the first day of each new month, as measured by the New Moon, is set-apart to
Yahweh and in theocratic Israel. In the Old Covenant
this was marked by special sacrifices (Num.28:11-15) over which the trumpets were blown
(Num.10:10; Ps.81:3). In the New Covenant as in the Old, both the New Moon and the regular Sabbath
provided an opportunity to consult the prophets. It is so observed by Messianic Israelites. (We do not
calculate the day of observance of the weekly Sabbath on the basis of the new moon as some
Messianic Jews do).
B. Explanation of the Festivals
| Season |
Holiday/Date |
Purpose |
Messianic
Significance |
Spring
Feasts |
1. Passover
Pesach
Nisan 14 |
Remembering the
deliverance
from Egyptian bondage. An unblemished firstborn male lamb was sacrificed and its blood
poured on the altar. A lamb was selected for each family, and four days before the lamb
was to be slain it was brought into the home for a four-day examination
period. |
Yah'shua is the
sacrificial lamb
who died for our sins. On Nisan 15 at the exact time the lamb was to be slain, Yah'shua
was
slain. Yah'shua also had a four-day examination period before the religious leaders and
was
found without blemish. |
| 2. Unleavened Bread
Chag haMatzah
Nisan 15 |
Leaven symbolises
sin.
Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. Yahweh told the Jews to cleanse all leaven
from
their homes and eat only unleavened bread, matzah, for seven days, symbolizing a
holy walk
with Him. |
Yah'shua is the
"Bread of
Life" without sin. Born in Bethlehem. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means 'house of bread'.
Just as matzah is striped and pierced, so was the Messiah. This Feast falls on the
day
Yah'shua was buried. |
| 3. Day of Firstfruits
Yom haBikkurim
Nisan 16 |
The first of the
barley
harvest was brought as an offering to the priest in the Tabernacle/Temple. The priest
would present the first of the harvest to Yahweh by waving them back and forth. This
reminded the Hebrews that Yahweh gave them the land, and the harvest belonged to
Him. |
Yah'shua is the
Firstfruits (1
Cor. 15:20-23). Yah'shua' resurrection marked the beginning of the harvest of souls. John
12:23-24,32 shows Yah'shua was likened to a grain of wheat falling to the ground and
dying to
produce a great harvest. Yah'shua arose on Firstfruits. |
4. Feast of
Weeks
(Pentecost)
Shavu'ot Sivan 6 |
Fifty days
after the Feast of Firstfruits, two loaves of leavened bread are presented to Yahweh.
Also a
reminder that the Israelites were slaves to Egypt (Deut. 16:9-17). The giving of the
Torah to
Moses on Sinai took place this day. Three thousand were killed that day. |
Fifty days after
Yah'shua arose,
a group of Messianic Judahites received the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). Yah'shua said
"Unless I go, the Holy
Spirit will not come. But when I go (Firstfruits - His resurrection) I will send the Holy
Spirit unto you." Yahweh began the process of writing the law (Torah) on the
hearts of the believers.
Three thousand souls were saved. |
Fall/
Autumn
Feasts |
5.
Feast
of Trumpets
Yom Teruah
Tishri 1 |
The Hebrew New
Year begins the
high Holy Days in the Hebrew month of Tishri (corresponding to September or October.) A
celebration of the spiritual birthday of the world or creation. Blowing of the trumpets
and coronation of the King. Also known as Yom haZikkaron - the Day of Remembrance - a
memorial (Lev.23:24) reminding us that Yahweh remembers us always and that we are under
obligation to remember Him too. |
Depicts the
post-tribulation regathering of believers at the sound of the trumpet (1 Thess. 4:16-18;
Rev.
19) and is the day of the second
coming. Yah'shua will be King and rule over a Theocratic world government based in
Jerusalem. It is preceeded by Chevlai shel Maschiah - the Birth Pangs of the Messiah, the
seven year tribulation period. |
6.
Day of
Atonement
Yom Kippur
Tishri 10 |
The holiest day
in the annual biblical
calendar is spent in fasting, prayer, and confession. This was one gracious day a year
given
by Yahweh that each individual could receive forgiveness. The High Priest entered the
holy of
holies to make atonement for the nation by sacrificing animals including two
goats. |
Yah'shua our
Messiah was
displayed as our sacrifice. We can use this as a time of self-searching, repentance, and
recommitment to Yahweh. The goats represent Messianic Israelites and Gentiles,
respectively. Points to the day of
the Messiah judging the world after His physically returning to earth. |
7.
Feast
of Tabernacles
& The Last Great Day
Sukkoth &
Shemini
Atsereth
Tishri 15
Tishri 22 |
Yahweh told the
Israelites they
should live in booths for seven days so that the generations would know that His people
lived in booths when He brought them out of Egypt. Each Sukkot, the Hebrews build and
dwell
or eat in booths or temporary dwellings for seven days. A joyful celebration! |
Yah'shua is our
tabernacle or
dwelling place (John 14:14). Represents the 1000-year reign or Millennium of the Messiah
on earth. Many
believe Yah'shua was born during this Feast because He was born in the late fall in a
"booth" (not a cave as Catholic tradition teaches). |
Winter
Feasts
(not a part of Torah) |
8.
Festival
of Lights
or Dedication
Hanukkah
Kislev 25 |
An eight day
festival held by the Jews to commemorate the rededication of the Temple after its
defilement by the Greek pagan antichrist Antiochus Epipheanes. When the Jews cleaned out the
temple idols, legend has it they found only one small cruse of oil with only enough oil for one day to
light their holy lamps. They decided to light the Menorah (the Temple candelabra) even with
the small amount of oil. To everyone’s amazement the menorah miraculously burned for eight
days until new oil was available. Research has demonstrated that this miracle almost certainly did not happen and that it was invented by the Pharisees to bolster their power. |
During Hanukkah
Yah'shua spoke of His miracles (John 10:37-38). Yah'shua wanted the people of his day to see
His miracles and believe in Him as a result. His miracles point to his divine and messianic
identity. Yah'shua did not endorse the spirit of Hanukkah which commemorates the re-establishment of the Kingdom by violent means, contrary to the way of the Gospel. Hanukkah is also a reminder of days of persecution and tribulation
ahead when the Antichrist comes to power. It's celebration is not commanded by Yahweh anywhere in Scripture and therefore Hanukkah is not celebrated by New Covenant Christians. |
9.
Festival
of Lots
Purim
Adar 14 |
A one day
festival celebrating the deliverance of the Persian Judahites from one of the most dastardly
plots in history to exterminate them. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells the story
of how the beautiful Benjaminite Esther (Hadassah) and her counsin Mordecai thwart the evil
Haman who plots to massacre the Judahites. The festival was instituted by Queen Esther but its observance is nowhere commanded anywhere by Yahweh in Scripture. |
Just as the
Judahites were rescued, so believers are redeemed by our Righteous Messiah, Yah'shua. True
and complete redemption lies in our hands as we must turn to Yahweh in complete repentance.
The attempt to exterminate one of the Israelite tribes in Persia foreshadows the Great
Tribulation in which the Antichrist will attempt to exterminate all true believers just prior
to the return of Yah'shua. Though New Covenant Christians teach the story of Purim as found in the Book of Esther, we do not hold any formal observance of the festival. |
C. The Monthly and Weekly
Moedim
| Season |
Holiday |
Purpose |
Messianic Significance |
Monthly
Moedim |
New Moon
Rosh Chodesh |
Given by Yahweh as one of the luminaries 'for signs and for
seasons' (Gen.1:14), the moon was to be used to calculate the calendar, and the day of the
monthly new moon set-apart for consulting the prophets and establishing Yahweh's will (2
Ki.4:23). It is not a Sabbath day. It was announced by the blowing
of the shofar and animal sacrifices. Rosh Chodesh commences at the New Moon when the moon is completely invisible. |
Like the annual festivals, Rosh Chodesh is a shadow or type of
the Messiah. Paul warns that we are not saved by legalistically observing it or the other
moedim (2 Col.2:16ff.). Like the sun, the moon is a symbol of permanence (Ps.72:5) and
is used to mark the coming of the Messiah (Mk.13;24; Lk.21:25). In the New Covenant, because
of the unfulfilled autumnal (fall) festivals, it is still used to mark the second coming of
Yah'shua. The New Moon is used to consult the prophets probably because in an invisible state
it does not affect the mind or interfere with the revelatory process on a psychic level
(Ps.121:6; cp. Mt.4:24; 17:15) |
Weekly
Moedim |
Sabbath
Shabbat |
Yahweh blessed the seventh day and sanctfied it (Gen.2:3). It
is a celebration of His complete and perfect creation. It was set-apart by Him long before
the Israelites came into existence and was re-affirmed by Moses in the Torah.
Sabbath-keeping is enshrined in the Ten Commandments and has been given to man to rest from
weekly work and the stress and pressure of making a living, and to remember the Creator.
Keeping it honours Yahweh, maintains bodily health, unifies families and sets priorities for
them. It refreshes the whole soul, physically and spiritually. The Sabbath is the only solar
appointment and is measured from 'Friday' sunset to 'Saturday' sunset west of the eastern border of the Nation of Israel (River Jordan), and 'Saturday' sunset to 'Sunday' sunset east of the River Jordan as far as the International
Date Line. |
The Sabbath reminds us that Yahweh-Elohim created the world and
delivered Israel from bondage, that Yah'shua delivered us from the penality of sin, that
Yahweh will make us holy in the same way He made the Sabbath holy, that Yahweh will finish
His work in our lives just as He finished the work of Creation and Redemption, that Yahweh is
our Lord and Master, and that in Yah'shua we have spiritual rest. By not working on the
seventh day we are reminded that we cannot save ourselves and can rest in the finished work
of the Messiah. Yah'shua defines the Sabbath in Matthew 12:8. Indeed, everything about the
Sabbath teaches us something about the Messiah. It is to be used, on Friday evening, to
partake of the Lord's Supper. Finally, the Sabbath is a shadow or mirror of the Millennial world to
come. |
Moedim Dates 2008
A biblical 'day' starts at sunset and ends the following Gregorian day at sunset. For example, 5/6 April = sunset on 5th April to sunset on 6th April (=one day).
Those living in the IDL zone (between the River Jordan and New Zealand and the IDL/Internatational Date Line - see map) observe the moedim one day later.
| Moed of Yahweh |
Date to Observe
(sunset to sunset) |
Date for IDL Zone
(sunset to sunset) |
| Biblical New Year |
1 Nisan
(5/6 April 2008) |
1 Nisan
(6/7 April 2008) |
1 Pesach
- Passover |
14 Nisan
(19/20 April 2008) |
14 Nisan
(20/21 April 2008) |
2 Chag haMatzah
- Unleavened Bread |
Nisan 15-21
(20/21-25/26 April 2008)
Nisan 15 & 21 (sabbaths) |
Nisan 15-21
(21/22-26/27 April 2008)
Nisan 15 & 21 (sabbaths) |
3 Yom haBikkurim
- Day of Firstfruits |
Nisan 16
(21/22 April 2008) |
Nisan 16
(22/23 April 2008) |
4 Shavu'ot
- Pentecost/Weeks |
6 Sivan (sabbath)
(8/9 June 2008) |
6 Sivan (sabbath)
(9/10 June 2008) |
5 Yom Teruah
- Day of Trumpets |
1 Tishri (sabbath)
(29/30 September 2008) |
1 Tishri (sabbath)
(30 September/1 October 2008) |
6 Yom Kippur
- Day of Atonement |
10 Tishri (sabbath)
(8/9 October 2008) |
10 Tishri (sabbath)
(9/10 October 2008) |
7 Sukkot
- Tabernacles/Booths
- Shemini Atsereth
- Last Great Day |
15-21 Tishri
(13/14-19/20 October 2008)
21 Tishri (sabbath)
(20/21 October 2008) |
15-21 Tishri
(14/15-20/21 October 2008)
21 Tishri (sabbath)
(21/22 October 2008) |
Non-Moedim for Teaching (Non-celebratory) Purposes Only
Purim
- Lots |
14 Adar
(21/22 March 2008) |
14 Adar
(22/23 March 2008) |
Hanukkah
- Dedication
(Late 'Sukkot') |
24 Kislev
(21/22 December 2008) |
24 Kislev
(22/23 December 2008) |
Rosh Chodesh/New Moon Dates 2008
| January |
7/8 (IDLZ* 8/9) |
| February |
6/7 (IDLZ 7/8) |
| March |
6/7 (IDLZ 7/8) |
| April |
5/6 (IDLZ 6/7) |
| May |
4/5 (IDLZ 5/6) |
| June |
2/3 (IDLZ 3/4) |
| July |
2/3 (IDLZ 3/4) |
| August |
31/1 (IDLZ 1/2) |
| September |
28/29 (IDLZ 29/30) |
| October |
27/28 (IDLZ 29/30) |
| November |
26/27 (IDLZ 27/28) |
| December |
26/27 (IDLZ 27/28) |
*For members who live in the International Date Line Zone between Jordan and New Zealand - see map.
Days of the Week
True Name
Sunset to sunset* |
Pagan Name
Midnight to midnight |
Mini Symbolic Moed**
For daily meditation |
| Yom Rishon (1st) |
Sunday |
Pesach |
| Yom Shanee (2nd) |
Monday |
Chag haMatzah |
| Yom Shleshi (3rd) |
Tuesday |
Yom haBikkurim |
| Yom Revee (4th) |
Wednesday |
Shavu'ot |
| Yom Chamashee (5th) |
Thursday |
Yom Teruah |
| Yom Sheshi (6th) |
Friday |
Yom Kippur |
| Yom Shabbat (7th) |
Saturday |
Sukkot |
*The biblical day starts each evening at sunset. Thus, for example, Yom Rishon begins on Saturday evening at sundown and ends on Sunday evening at sundown. Yom Shanee begins at sundown on Sunday.
**Each day of the 7-day week is a recapitulation of one of the 7 annual Messianic Israelite communal festivals of Yahweh and are used by MLT members as families and privately to meditate on the meaning of the moedim. The Sabbath Day thus becomes the culmination of a week's spiritual exercises in which the individual soul celebrates the overcoming in one week's activities and leading to spiritual rest and renewal in Yahweh. Each day is also presided over by one of the seven Ruachs such that (for example) Yom Revee is presided over and blessed by the Ruach haRevee who also presides over and blesses Shavu'ot.
This page was created on 25 November 1999
Last updated on 23 May 2008
Copyright © 1997-2008 NCCG - All Rights Reserved
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