Our God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33) and a God who does not change (Malachi 3:6) — honorable and candid in the work of salvation, so that all can trust the process (2 Peter 3:9). The plan of salvation was illustrated among the Israelites through the sanctuary, its ceremonies, and its calendar — giving insight into the efforts God takes to restore man to a sinless state.
Basics of the Plan of Salvation
The sanctuary is a unique structure designed by God to teach us the process of salvation and the removal of sin. Once we allow Christ to establish the sanctuary in us — equipped with the altar of sacrifice (Christ, the Lamb), the laver (Christ, the water of life), the table of shewbread (Christ, the bread of life), the seven-branch candlestick (Christ, the light of the world), the altar of incense (Christ, our intercessor), and the ark of the covenant (Christ, our King and lawgiver) — we put ourselves in a position to have our sanctuary cleaned and furnished for God to come and dwell in us.
With every step we follow in Christ, growth comes with a celebration — a landmark achieved by the temple in demonstrating its habitability for God. These celebrations typify the yearly feasts of Israel. Just as you cannot celebrate a seventh birthday before a first, these feasts were ordered and arranged to alert Israel to the coming atonement and cleansing of the sanctuary — and there is an antitypical calendar we can observe spiritually in comparison, since the earthly sanctuary was a copy of the one in Heaven.
The Seven Feasts
| Feast | Typifies |
|---|---|
| Passover | The crucifixion — accepting Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness of sin |
| Unleavened Bread | Christ in the tomb — sinless, uncorrupted, preserved |
| First Fruits | The resurrection of Christ, and our resurrection in Him |
| Weeks (Pentecost) | The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the harvest of souls |
| Trumpets | The alarm and call to confess sin ahead of atonement |
| Day of Atonement | Reconciliation — the cleansing and blotting away of confessed sin |
| Tabernacles (Booths) | The marriage supper of the Lamb, and final glorification |
The Passover — Crucifixion
The celebration of Christ's sacrifice, typified before Israel was brought out of Egypt. It represents us accepting the forgiveness of sin Christ provides through His sacrifice on the cross — and because of this, we are justified to come into the presence of God. The lamb's blood sprinkled on the doorposts alerted the death angel to pass over; it covers our sin and leads us into the sanctuary to be cleansed and restored.
"Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us."
Christ himself celebrated the Passover with His disciples, knowing full well He was the Passover Lamb to be sacrificed for the redeeming of mankind (Mark 14:12-26).
Feast of Unleavened Bread — Christ in the Tomb
On the day after Passover, Christ's body stayed in the tomb without preservation, and did not decay — He is the bread of life that came from heaven (John 6:35), made without yeast, because He had no corruption in Him. Yeast being the symbol of sin, no yeast was added to the bread: "Christ was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
"For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Feast of First Fruits — The Resurrection
From the death and burial of Christ, we rise as new creatures, living not by ourselves but with Christ living in us. "Firstfruits" is a harvest term — the first produce to arise from the ground, and hence the grave, so others were raised with Him when He came out of the grave, giving the feast its validity in type.
"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
If we are crucified with Christ, and died in Christ, then we shall definitely rise in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:14; Romans 8:11).
Feast of Weeks — Pentecost, Harvest of Souls
Pentecost means "fiftieth" — the Jewish festival celebrated fifty days after First Fruits. When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they boldly proclaimed the kingdom of God, and 3,000 souls were harvested in a single day.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... unto the uttermost part of the earth."
We celebrate this feast effectively by sharing the good news with those around us, encouraging and inviting them to the feast of good news.
Feast of Trumpets — Alarms of Atonement
The first of the fall festivals, celebrated on the first day of the seventh month. Leading up to the Day of Atonement, one trumpet was sounded the first day, two the second, and so on, up to ten trumpets on the tenth day — reminding the people to confess their sins. Trumpets are also a sound of warning, a call to battle, urging all who will listen to confess their sins for atonement before the time for atonement is over.
"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
Day of Atonement — Reconciliation
The reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God is what this day typifies — a day of cleansing and blotting away of sin for those who have confessed, cleansed, and declared righteous in the eyes of God. A special animal was sacrificed, and the blood was taken by the High Priest into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat and the ark containing the Ten Commandments, to atone for the broken law. Two goats were presented: one killed, one sent as a scapegoat into the wilderness, bearing away the confessed sin (Leviticus 16:22).
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Christ is in the heavenly sanctuary right now, blotting out our sins — imputing to us His innocence, while empowering us to resist sin by giving us new desires, hope, and strength to overcome. During atonement we are declared justified and sanctified, cleansed from all sin, to make it possible to meet God.
Feast of Booths — Feast of Tabernacles
Celebrated after the Day of Atonement, symbolic of the marriage supper of the Lamb at Christ's second coming. At the final judgment, the universe is cleansed of sin, and God and man are eternally united — glorification. Here we celebrate the final sanctuary, now a tabernacle, a true temple for God, restored and presented to Christ pure and without sin.
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready... Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Why This Matters
It's important to know where we stand in the progress of the sanctuary. These feasts, though not celebrated literally today, give us an understanding of the cost of this exorbitant process of salvation God has established to bring man out of darkness. No process, idea, step, or pattern is wasted by God in delivering His children. From the sanctuary to the feasts, we're given an understanding of the salvation in place to help us recognize God's work, and draw near to Him. God is in control.