📖 Biblical Definition
The Feasts of Israel are the appointed annual festivals of the Old Testament covenant, listed in Leviticus 23: Sabbath (weekly), Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost (Weeks), Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles. Each was a holy convocation — a called assembly. Each prefigured an aspect of Christ's person and work. The New Testament fulfills them in stages: Passover (cross), Firstfruits (resurrection), Pentecost (Spirit), Trumpets / Atonement / Tabernacles (return / consummation).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Appointed annual festivals of the Old Testament covenant; each prefigures an aspect of Christ's work.
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Spring feasts (Lev 23:5-22): Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost. Fulfilled in Christ's first coming (cross, resurrection, Spirit-pouring).
Fall feasts (Lev 23:23-44): Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles. Many premillennialists associate them with Christ's return; amillennialists with the present church age.
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 23:2 — "Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations."
1 Corinthians 5:7 — "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
Acts 2:1 — "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
Colossians 2:16 — "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often skips the feasts as Old Testament ceremony; New Testament writers consistently read Christ's work as their fulfillment.
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Colossians 2:17 names the principle: the feasts are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. The shadow served until the substance came; the household reads them backward to deepen understanding of Christ's fulfillment.
The Christian liturgical year (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity, Ordinary Time) loosely echoes the Israelite calendar. Both anchor time in salvation-history.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew moadim; appointed times.
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Hebrew moed — appointed time, season, feast.
Hebrew chag — festival, pilgrimage feast (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles).
Usage
"Each feast prefigures an aspect of Christ's work."
"The shadow served until the substance came."
"Holy convocations — called assemblies."