In ancient Israel the moon was considered a symbol of renewal and resurrection. Having no light of its own, and merely reflecting the sun, the moon goes through a complete cycle each month from darkness to light. The rabbis saw great significance in this. Like the moon, which goes through a complete renewal, we need to constantly be renewed through repentance. As the moon is reborn, so we too must be “born again” through renewal and repentance in Christ. Thus, the moon is referred to as “the faithful witness in the sky.”  

“Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness– and I will not lie to David– that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Ps 89:35-37 NIV

This is undoubtedly what Jesus had in mind when He spoke to Nicodemus who came to Him at night. “You must be born again,” Jesus said. Perhaps the moon was in view when He said this. In any event, it appears He fully expected Nicodemus to understand what He was referring to.

“Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?” John 3:10

The New Moon (Rosh Chodesh), when the disk is dark to the naked eye, was so important to the Jews that they proclaimed a festival at this time every month. The sighting of the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) was also the event which determined the religious calendar with respect to the Seven Great Feasts of Israel. These feasts were also known as the Appointed Times or Rehearsals (Moedim). All of these festivals were considered “Rehearsals” for The Day of the Lord or the Kingdom of Messiah. Paul alludes to this in the following verse:

Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day– things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; (REHEARSALS) but the substance belongs to Christ. Col 2:16-17

These Appointed Times were known as Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (Hag Hamatzah), First Fruits (Sfirat Haomer), Pentecost (Shavuot), Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each one of these festivals, which the Jews celebrate every year, points to a fulfillment in the Kingdom of Messiah. They are representative of God’s perfect plan of Salvation in Jesus. The first three appear to have been fulfilled with His first coming. The fourth one, Pentecost, seems to have had a partial fulfillment at that time. But the last three, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, all have their future fulfillment in The Day of the Lord at the end of the age.

Fall Feasts

The Spring feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits (Sfirat Haomer) were fulfilled by Messiah’s first coming. Pentecost, the early Summer feast, was partially fulfilled. And in between is the long hot summer until the Fall feasts which will be fulfilled by Jesus at His second appearance in The Day of the Lord. The Fall feasts are: Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah), Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles (Sukkot).

The theme of the Fall feasts is repentance and turning to God. Preparation begins in the Summer time in the month of Elul forty days before Yom Kippur on the tenth day of Tishri.

SPRING FEASTS

1. Passover – 14TH Nisan/Abib – Jesus Died

2. Unleavened Bread – 15TH Nisan – Buried in Tomb

3. First Fruits – 16TH Nisan – Rose Again (with other saints to the Father)

  1. Shavuot – Pentecost – 50 days later –Holy Spirit poured out on Jew and Gentile

Two Loaves Waved – First Fruits – Not about Torah

The Holy Spirit poured out on Jew and Gentile

Long Summer ____________________________ 2000yrs

4.  Shavuot fulfilled – Jew and Gentile – Bridal Remnant – Rapture

FALL FEASTS

5.  Rosh Hashanah – (Darkness) Sign of the son of Man in the Sky (No man knows)

(Yom Teruah-Awakening Blast) – Days of Awe

6.  Yon Kippur (Atonement/ Judgment-10 Days Later) – Jesus Appears

7. Sukkot– Tabernacles (5 Days Later) – God with us – Messianic Kingdom

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