Leviticus 23:15 "And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed."

Leviticus 23:16-17 "Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. 'You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves ..."

Jesus the firstfruits was seen for 40 days then He ascended on high. In accordance with His command (Acts 1:8 ), the disciples met in prayer for 10 days.

Acts 2:1-4 "Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come ..."

The loaves of bread are grains consolidated into one body. At Pentecost 120 individual disciples were fused into one Holy Spirit-baptised with power group. Continued experience of the church:

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

A gap of three months before the feasts were observed in the seventh month - could speak to us of the time of the church before once again God deals with Israel.

John 1:11-12 "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"

Teaching and worship should emphasise and demonstrate Holy Spirit power.

Leviticus 23:24 "... a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation."

Taking place in the seventh month. It can speak of the completion of the gospel day of grace. Passover took place in the first month - the death and resurrection of Christ began the day of grace.

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Feast Of Trumpets A Memorial

Speaks to us of the gathering together unto Christ of all the people of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, ..."

Gathering together unto Him is a reference to the fulfilment of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It will be a time of personal fellowship with Christ, and re-united, re-knit relationships.

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Feast Of Blowing Of Trumpets

Typical of the great trumpet which will be blown at that Great Day when the living, and dead in Christ, will meet Him in the air.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 "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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

A Holy Convocation. A time of expressed joy and thanksgiving to God - anticipating the incredible joy and thanksgiving at our gathering unto Him. Now is the time of joyful sounding out the Word (1 Thessalonians 1:8 ). God's intention is that our teaching and worship express great joy and thanksgiving because of the sure hope of His coming. Emphasis that the Lord's coming is at hand.

Sin finally dealt with - His coming will complete redemption's work. We will be given a spiritual body which will be in harmony with our spiritual life. The day of atonement speaks of the eternal Sabbath - triumphant rest of God's people, in perfect fellowship with God. God's intention includes that in our teaching and worship expressive of ultimate unhindered fellowship with Him, and that fellowship with Him and His Son can grow deeper in daily experience - till triumphant realisation of eternal fellowship.

This final feast lasted eight days - they left their permanent abode to dwell in booths as described. They were reminded of their time in the wilderness dwelling in tents. It points to the bringing into millennial blessing and security, planned with the return of Christ to reign on earth (Isaiah 11:6-10 ).

God's intention includes that we express in our teaching and worship, the ultimate triumphant reign of Christ, who is the answer to earth's restoration (Romans 8:20-21 ). The pre-eminent permanent theme of our teaching and worship must be the Lamb of God. As Passover and unleavened bread had the lamb central, pointing to the Lamb of God slain. (Leviticus 23:8 ).

As firstfruits has the risen Lamb of God presenting the blood (Leviticus 23:11-12 ). As Pentecost required the burnt offering (Leviticus 23:18 ). As the trumpets centred around the lamb removing sin - the day of atonement (Leviticus 25:9 ). So our teaching and worship should and will centre in the Lamb of God who washed us and loosed us from sin.

Revelation 5:13 "... 'Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Do you expect every gathering of the Lord's people to be meetings for holy purposes (Leviticus 23:3 )?

2. In your set apart day of rest does it fulfill the divine intentions (Leviticus 23:3 )?

3. In the seven feasts Israel was commanded to keep, do you see pictured what God intends us to emphasise in our teaching and worship?