Bible Questions & Answers
What Are the Meanings of Each of God’s Festivals?
God’s annual festivals and holy days represent His plan of salvation for mankind. Though given to ancient Israel (Leviticus 23), Jesus, the disciples and the New Testament Church continued to observe these days with Christian meaning. Here is what each of these commanded assemblies represents.
Passover, celebrated with the killing of a lamb in the Old Testament, pointed toward Christ giving His life for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). In observing the Passover with His disciples prior to His crucifixion, Jesus instituted New Testament symbols of bread and wine to represent His broken body and shed blood. He now represents the Passover lamb. As Paul told the Church at Corinth: “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Days of Unleavened Bread last for seven days and are observed by putting leaven and leavened products (which represent sin) out of our homes. By not eating leaven for this period of time, Christians are reminded that we must put sin out of our lives (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Pentecost, which is the 50th day counted beginning with the first day of the week (Sunday) during the Days of Unleavened Bread, represents the day upon which the New Testament Church—referred to as “firstfruits” (James 1:18; Revelation 14:4)—began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). After understanding that Jesus died for our sins, we must repent of our sins in order to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32). This festival also reminds us that once baptized, we must allow God’s Spirit to lead us (Romans 8:8-9).
The Feast of Trumpets pictures the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish the Kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15).
The Day of Atonement symbolizes the binding of Satan so humans will no longer be deceived by him and the demons (Revelation 20:1-3). This act prepares the world for what the next holy day represents.
The Feast of Tabernacles, which lasts for seven days, pictures the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth. During this Millennium, the saints will serve as kings and priests assisting Christ in teaching humans God’s way of life (Revelation 5:10). During this time of peace, humans will be healed of diseases (Isaiah 35:5-6), and the earth will become abundantly productive (verses 1-2). This celebration will continue to be observed during the millennium (Zechariah 14:16).
The Last Great Day represents another period of time after the Millennium in which all humans who have ever lived without full knowledge of God’s way of life will be resurrected to a physical life. These people will then be instructed in God’s way and given an opportunity to respond (Ezekiel 37:14; Matthew 12:41-42).
For additional study, see From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.
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- What Does the New Testament Passover Mean and How Is It Commemorated?
- What Does the Feast of Unleavened Bread Mean for Christians Today?
- What Does the Feast of Pentecost Mean for Christians Today?
- What Does the Feast of Trumpets Mean for Our Future?
- What Does the Day of Atonement Mean for Christians Today?
- What Does the Feast of Tabernacles Mean for Christians Today?
- What Does the Eighth Day (Last Great Day) Mean for Christians Today?
- Can Humans Designate Holy Days?
- Should Christians Observe New Moons?
- Which Calendar Should We Use to Calculate the Biblical Festivals?