Return to 7 Feasts IndexTo: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com> Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 02:14:36 Subject: The Seven Feasts of Israel
From: Gregory Richardson To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: The Seven Feasts of Israel
The Seven Feasts of Israel
Before we can fully appreciate the timing of these near future events, it would be very helpful, and quite interesting to read about how Jesus Christ has already 'fulfilled' the Spring Feasts of Israel, and thus how he will fulfill the Fall Feasts as well. The following excellent article was taken off the web. It is reproduced in its entirety as directed by the author, but its style and format has been edited for easier reading;
Copyright 1994 by Return to God. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Unlocking Prophecy: Jesus Fulfills the Seven Feasts of Israel" (an article from Return to God Magazine, Volume 1 Number 1, page 22 and Vol.1, Number 2, page 4). -----------------------------------------------------------------
God's plan for the salvation of humanity is shown by the seven feasts He gave to ancient Israel in Leviticus 23. God told the people of Israel to celebrate these feasts as "lasting ordinances." The seven feasts are patterns that describe the two comings of Jesus Christ, whose actual Hebrew name is Yeshua Ha Mashiach. In Hebrew, Yeshua means "Salvation" and Ha Mashiach (English: the Messiah) means "the Anointed One". While most Jewish people still celebrate the feasts, it's unfortunate that many don't understand Jesus' fulfillment of them, and thus miss the Messiah that was sent for their salvation. It is also unfortunate that most Christians don't celebrate the feasts, for they would clearly see that the feasts symbolize Jesus' work. They could then use the feasts to better understand and praise God and rejoice in His plan for the salvation of man.
FEASTS DESCRIBE TWO COMINGS OF JESUS The four spring feasts describe the first coming of Jesus. He sacrificed Himself on the Feast of Passover, was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits, and He sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The practices of each of these spring feasts clearly depict the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God:
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
(John 1:29)
Jesus is the Unleavened Bread of Life: "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." (John 6:51)
Jesus is the First Fruits: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) "And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:1-4)
Because Jesus' fulfillment of the spring feasts is so exact, it seems reasonable that He may also fulfill the remaining fall feasts. In this booklet we will also describe a view among Bible teachers as to how Jesus may fulfill the fall feasts and return on the Feast of Trumpets to catch away His Bride, the church; celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven; then return to earth seven years later on the Day of Atonement to establish His Kingdom beginning on the Feast of Tabernacles.
FEASTS ARE DIVINE APPOINTMENTS - SHADOWS OF THINGS TO COME
How do we know that God intended the feasts to show His plan for salvation? One of the clues that indicates the feasts have more significance than mere tradition and remembrance is found in Leviticus 23:4
"These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them..."
The Hebrew translated as "holy convocations" actually means "rehearsals". These feasts then were appointed times of rehearsals for events that were to occur in the future. Paul provides the same conclusion when he refers to the feasts as shadows of things to come and states that the true substance belongs to Christ in Colossians 2:16-17;
"Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."
First century believers in Jesus understood that the feasts symbolized God's plan for salvation of man through Jesus, the long awaited Messiah. They continued to practice the celebrations, but with new joy and understanding of the substance that was the Messiah!
JESUS FULFILLS THE SPRING FEASTS
The first coming of Jesus completely fulfilled the pattern set by the four spring feasts (See Spring Feasts on God's Calendar). The Hebrew and English names for these feasts are:
Jewish Name Common Name
Pesach Passover
hag haMatzah Feast of Unleavened Bread
Yom HaBikkurim Feast of First Fruits
Shavuot Feast of Weeks/Pentecost
PASSOVER (Pesach)
[Exodus 12:2-11, Leviticus 23] Historically, Passover marks the national liberation of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery.
Pesach, the Hebrew name of the feast literally means "the lamb". God instructed each family to take an unblemished year-old male lamb to their home on the tenth day of the first month. They were to examine the lamb for four days to see that it was perfect. On the fourth day at twilight, they were to kill the lamb and take some of the lamb's blood and place it on the two doorposts and the lintel of their house. On the first Passover, the avenging angel of God killed every first born male throughout the land, from Pharaoh, to slave, to camel. The angel would "Passover" those homes that protected themselves by placing the blood of a lamb on their doorposts and lintels.
FULFILLMENT OF PASSOVER BY JESUS -- THE PASSOVER LAMB
"...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"
(1 Corinthians 5:7)
"...Like a lamb That is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is
silent before its shearers..."
(Isaiah 53:7)
"Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
(John 1:29)
PROCESSION OF THE LAMB When Israel had a Temple, in addition to the lamb for each household, a lamb was chosen to die for the sins of the entire nation. On the 10th of Nisan, it was lead in a huge procession from Bethany to the Temple. During the procession, the people waved Palm branches and sang Psalms, including: "O Lord save us (Hosanna)... Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 118:25-26 NIV).
Jesus rode into the city to the Temple on the same day (Nisan 10) as the procession of the lamb chosen to die for the sins of the nation. By doing this, He was proclaiming Himself to be "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" -- John 1:29. As Jesus passed, the people shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:9 NIV).
JESUS, THE PASSOVER LAMB EXAMINED Just as the Passover lamb was examined for four days prior to Passover, so Jesus entered the Temple and was examined for four days prior to Passover by the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
"On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came
to Him and questioned Him..."
(Matthew 22:23-33)
"Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap
Him in word what He said."
(Matthew 22:15-22)
LAMBS PREPARED FOR SACRIFICE Jesus was prepared for sacrifice and beaten on the morning of Passover, just as a lamb to be sacrificed in the Temple was prepared on Passover morning;
"Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death and they bound Him, and led Him away..." (Matthew 27:1)
"...after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified."
(Matthew 27:26)
LAMBS SLAIN "BETWEEN THE EVENINGS
Jesus was slain at the same time the unblemished lamb was slain on
Passover. According to God's instructions the Passover lamb had to be
slain "between the evenings"
(Exodus 12:6)
Jesus gave up His spirit at the exact time the lambs were to be killed-the ninth hour. "Between the evenings" and "the ninth hour" are based on the manner by which the Temple priests calculated time. Both refer to the same time --three o'clock in the afternoon.
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,..."
(Matthew 27:46)
"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His
spirit."
(Matthew 27:50)
That Jesus died in just three hours is incredible. Typically, death by crucifixion took three days. The Romans were experts at crucifixion. They wanted the crucified person to live in agony for days, while frightened friends, relatives and travelers stared in horror. Jesus, a strong young man should not have died so quickly. He died at three in the afternoon to keep a Divine Appointment!
THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
[Leviticus 23:5-8] Historically, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a remembrance of God bringing the Hebrews out of Egypt. It begins at sunset of Nisan/Aviv 15. In ancient Israel, days were counted from evening to evening, therefore sunset (6:00 PM) of Nisan/Aviv 14 begins a new day -- Nisan/Aviv 15. The Feast of Unleavened Bread continues for seven days until Nisan/Aviv 21. During this period only unleavened bread is to be eaten.
The first meal, eaten on the evening of the 15th, is special. After the Hebrews sacrificed the Passover lamb, they were to roast and eat all the flesh of the lamb (head, legs and entrails) together with bitter herbs and unleavened bread (matzah). No bone of the lamb was to be broken (Exodus 12:46).
Traditionally, the meal begins as the woman of the house lights candles. The man takes three loaves of unleavened bread and places them in a white linen envelope that has three compartments. The unleavened bread looks like a flat cracker. It is marked with stripes and has holes pierced through from cooking. The father removes the middle loaf from its compartment, breaks it, wraps it in a separate piece of white linen and "buries" it behind his chair cushion or in a drawer where it is later "redeemed" by the father for a price. During the meal, four cups of wine are drunk. The Passover meal concludes with singing. One of the traditional songs is Psalms 118:21-24. In it we find the prophetic tragedy of the Nation of Israel rejecting the Messiah:
"I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou has answered me; and Thou hast become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it..."
JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE FULFILLS THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD "I am the bread of life..." (John 6:35) The Feast of Unleavened Bread is symbolic of Jesus' death and burial. Jesus fulfilled all the patterns of the feast.
NO BONES BROKEN Though it was a common and merciful Roman practice to break the legs of the crucified to hasten their death and relieve their suffering, none of Jesus' bones were broken, just as the Passover lamb is to have no bone broken;
"The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man,
and of the other man who was crucified with Him; But coming to Jesus,
when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs."
(John 19:32-33)
JESUS, THE PURE UNLEAVENED BREAD When breaking the bread at His last meal, Jesus said to His disciples, "Take and eat; this is my body." -- Matthew 26:26. Leaven represents sin, thus unleavened bread is a good representation of our sinless Messiah, the Bread of Life. Jesus bore stripes from Roman beatings; the unleavened bread is marked with stripes. Jesus was pierced in the side when He was crucified; the unleavened bread has holes pierced throughout for cooking. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, which translates from Hebrew: "House of Bread".
Like the father who wraps the unleavened bread in linen, hides (buries) it and later redeems it, Jesus was wrapped in linen, buried and He paid the price of our redemption with His perfect sacrifice.
"And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and
laid it in his own new tomb..."
(Matthew 27:59)
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD The candles lit by the woman of the home are symbolic of the Messiah, The Light of the World. The woman is symbolic of Mary, who God chose to bring us the Light of the World.
"...Jesus spoke to them saying, 'I am the light of the world...'
"
(John 8:12)
JESUS' BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT The wine in the Passover meal represents Jesus' blood, as He told His disciples.
"And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them,
saying,'drink from it , all of you; for this is My blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.' "
(Matthew 26:27-28)
THE CORNERSTONE The traditional hymn sung at Passover, Psalms 118:21-24 speaks of Jesus when it speaks of the "stone which was rejected". Peter confirms this in Acts 4:11:
"He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone." (Acts 4:11)
THE FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS
[Leviticus 23:9-14] Historically, the Feast of First Fruits was the day that the Hebrew slaves went down into the Red Sea and emerged alive on the other side, while Pharaoh was swallowed up by the Red Sea. This set the Israelites free as the First Fruits from Egyptian bondage. The Feast of First Fruits falls on the day after the Sabbath, during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This is the first Sunday after the fifteenth of Nisan/Aviv (see Spring Feasts on God's Calendar). When God brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land, they were to bring the best first fruits of their harvest and present them to the Lord.
Josephus records that the people did not partake of the harvest until the first fruits were presented (Antiquities of the Jews 3.10.5). It is unfortunate that modern Christianity has come to call this feast Easter, whose name is derived from the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar.
JESUS, THE FIRST FRUITS FULFILLS THE FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS
"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,..." (I Corinthians 15:20-23)
Jesus is the First Fruits. Jesus is first in order and preeminence,
just as the offering of fruits is to be the first and the "best
portion". He was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits, the first
day after the Sabbath; "Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn
toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
came to look at the grave... And the angel answered and said to the
women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus
who has been crucified; He is not here, for He has risen, just as He
said...'"
(Matthew 28:1, 5-6)
Jesus also being The High Priest and always one to observe the Feasts of Israel, gave a first fruits offering of people!
"...and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many." (Matthew 27:52-53)
THE FEAST OF WEEKS (PENTECOST)
[Leviticus 23:15-22] God instructed the children of Israel to count seven Sabbaths from the day after the first Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day following the forty-ninth day is the Feast of Weeks, on the 6th of Sivan. The forty-nine days are called "The Counting of the Omer". They connect the Feast of First Fruits (the barley harvest) with the Feast of Weeks (the beginning of the wheat harvest). On the Feast of Weeks, a wave offering of two loaves of bread made of fine flour and leaven is presented to the Lord.
Some scholars believe that the giving of the Law to Moses and the people of Israel occurred on the Feast of Weeks.
HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN ON THE FEAST OF WEEKS Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and told them to wait in Jerusalem until He sent forth "the promise" of His Father (Luke 24:49).
We know the Holy Spirit was given exactly fifty days following Jesus' resurrection, because the New Testament clearly mentions that it occurred on Pentecost.
"And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and the rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:1-4)
The two loaves of leavened bread offered to God during this feast represent the Jew and Gentile together as one body in Jesus. The fine flour in which the loaves are made represents the perfect righteousness of Jesus. The leaven represents the sin in the lives of the Jew and the Gentile until Jesus' return.
If the scholars are correct about the giving of the law to Moses, the Feast of Weeks depicts both the giving of the law and the giving of the Holy Spirit.
HOW MIGHT JESUS FULFILL THE FALL FEASTS?
The accuracy in which Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts at His first appearance is inescapable! By examining the three fall feasts more closely, we can understand how Jesus may complete God's plan for man through their fulfillment. The Hebrew and English names for the three fall feasts are;
Jewish Name Common Name Yom T'ruah (Rosh HaShanah) Trumpets (New Year's Day) Yom HaDin (Yom Kippur) Day of Atonement Sukkot Tabernacles (Booths)
FEAST OF TRUMPETS
[Numbers 29:1-11] It is useful to understand the Hebraic mindset in order to better picture the symbolism of Jesus' fulfillment of the feasts. In Jewish eschatology, the Feast of Trumpets is a solemn time of self evaluation. On this day, it is said that God writes the names of those found completely righteous into the Book of Life, those found completely wicked are written into the Book of Death and those found neither completely righteous or completely wicked await the Day of Atonement for their judgment. The Feast of Trumpets is traditionally a two-day feast, celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri (see Fall Feasts on God's Calendar). In Numbers 29:1-11, God instructed the Hebrews to observe a holy convocation or appointment on the first day of the seventh month by resting, blowing the trumpets and making offerings by fire to the Lord.
The Feast of Trumpets is also called Rosh HaShanah or "the head of the year". Jewish people celebrate this day as the day of the creation of the world.
A THEORY OF JESUS' FULFILLMENT OF THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
"And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will
gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky
to the other."
(Matthew 24:31)
The catching away of those who believe in Jesus, commonly referred to as "the rapture", is clearly associated with the sound of the trumpet, as can be seen by reading the following Scriptures;
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in
Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air..."
(I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we shall be changed."
(I Corinthians 15:51-52)
Jewish eschatology is consistent with this view. The Rabbis taught that when 6000 years (or six "days") of human history are completed, the seventh day, the Day of the Lord will come. On the Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 1, the shofar will sound and all the righteous, both dead and alive will be resurrected. The righteous will go to the "gates" for the coronation of the King, the Messiah and then be united with the Messiah as His bride.
DAYS OF AWE
MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
The days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called "the Days of Awe," yamim noraim in Hebrew. The Days of Awe are devoted to self examination and repentance from one's sin and preparation for judgment on the Day of Atonement. In Jewish eschatology, "the Days of Awe" were representative of a "day of trouble" (Jer. 30:6) that was to come upon the earth before the second coming of the Messiah. This "day of trouble" is also referred to as the "birthpangs of the Messiah". Today that time of trouble is commonly called "the tribulation." During that time of trouble on earth, the Lord will protect His bride:
"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In
the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a
rock"
(Psalm 27:5)
Rabbis have taught that after being resurrected on the Feast of Trumpets, the righteous would enter the chupah, or wedding canopy to spend seven years while the "day of trouble", the seven years of judgment occurs on earth. By examining an ancient Jewish wedding, we can more clearly see the picture of the union of the church (the bride) with the Messiah.
When a man in ancient Israel married, he went to the bride's house with a "bride price" and made a contract (covenant) with the girl's father. If the father accepted the man and his bride price, the man would pour a glass of wine. If the girl drank it, it would indicate that she accepted the man's proposal and they were betrothed. The man would go away and prepare a wedding chamber for his bride. When the man's father deemed that the wedding chamber was ready, usually one to two years later, the man would return to the bride's house and "steal" her away "like a thief in the night" at an hour when no one would suspect. He would take her to the wedding chamber for seven days. During this time, the groom's father would hold a party to announce the marriage. At the end of the seventh day, the married couple would emerge from the chamber and partake of the marriage supper.
The ancient Jewish wedding is a picture of Jesus the Bridegroom and His bride, the church. The contract (covenant) was sealed at the last supper when Jesus shared the covenant cup with His disciples.
"And He said to them, 'This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." (Mark 14:24)
Jesus, in speaking to the Disciples after the last supper said the same words that any Jewish man would tell his betrothed.
"In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3)
And, of course, Jesus paid the "bride price" with His life. The marriage of the church to Jesus is described in several Bible texts.
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Revelation 19:7-8)
"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church."
(Ephesians 5:31-32)
DAY OF ATONEMENT
"On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement..." (Leviticus 23:27)
Jewish eschatology teaches that the Day of Atonement is the day in which the people of Israel are to be judged by God and the sins of the nation of Israel are atoned. The Day of Atonement is also referred to as "the Day of Redemption" and "the Day of Judgment". The people of Israel were instructed in Leviticus 23:32 to confess their sins to God for twenty-four hours prior to the Day of Atonement. On this day, God would either grant or deny atonement for the coming year.
As Leviticus 16:29-24 instructed, the high priest was to enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people of Israel. As part of the atonement, two goats were selected. One goat was slain as a sacrificial atonement and the other was called the scape goat. The scape goat symbolically bore the sins of the nation of Israel away from the people. It was led into the wilderness and was pushed from a cliff to ensure that it did not inadvertently carry the sins back into the city.
A THEORY OF JESUS' FULFILLMENT OF THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the Day of Atonement cannot be properly observed by the rabbis. Without a proper place of sacrifice, there cannot be a sacrifice. Without a sacrifice there cannot be atonement. The first century rabbis made some substitutions that are supposed to provide for atonement, therefore the modern observance is very different than the ancient observance. As Christians, we know that Jesus has provided our atonement.
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by
Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through
faith in his blood. "
(Romans 3:23-25 NIV)
The Day of Atonement also may have a future fulfillment. The Day of Atonement may be the day Jesus will physically return to earth! The Bible clearly states Jesus will return immediately after the great tribulation.
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling
from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great
power and glory."
(Mark 13:24-26)
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
[Leviticus 23:34-43] The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), after the crops were gathered. God instructed the Israelites to observe the Feast of Tabernacles by building and living in booths for seven days, to remember that the Israelites lived in booths when God brought them out of Egypt. Also remember that God dwelt with the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt: Exodus 25:8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."
This feast is celebrated by a full week of rejoicing, dancing, singing and feasting and is called "Season of our Joy".
It is believed that the first American Thanksgiving was based on the Feast of Tabernacles, since the Puritans were followers of the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the seventh feast. It depicts the Lord's rest, just as the pattern which God designed in Genesis 2:2 suggests:
"And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done."
JESUS' FULFILLMENT OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES Just as God tabernacled with the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert, Jesus tabernacled with man in His first coming and will come again to tabernacle with man in His Messianic Kingdom. John 1:14 describes Jesus' first coming: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (NIV) The Greek word interpreted as "made His dwelling", 'skenoo', is derived from tabernacle, and could also be interpreted as "to have one's tabernacle".
JESUS BORN ON THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? The Feast of Tabernacles may be the day that Jesus was born. Since the fourth century, December 25 has been recognized as the day of His birth, but it is generally recognized that this date was likely set due to the "Christianizing" of pagan holidays. December 25th was a pagan holiday called Saturnalia, which celebrated the winter solstice.
************************************************************************
Return to 7 Feasts Index