How is it that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jewish Spring and Fall feasts and holy days?

Email Received:

I am Jewish and have heard that Yeshua (Jesus) "fulfilled" the spring feasts, festivals, and holy days at his first coming and will fulfill the ones in the fall when he comes again. What does this mean and do you believe this?

Ted’s Response:

Yes, I believe this. In ancient times, God spoke to Moses and told him to tell the Israelites what God's appointed feasts and sacred assemblies would be (Leviticus 23:1-44). These are the four primary Hebraic or Jewish Feasts/Holy Days in the Spring:

  1. Passover,
  2. Feast of Unleavened Bread,
  3. Feast of Firstfruits, and
  4. Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks).
In fact, Jesus was crucified and died on the day of Passover. He was buried before sunset and lay in the tomb on the first three nights of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was resurrected physically from death on the day of Firstfruits. And, fifty days from His resurrection (and ten days following His ascension into heaven—Acts 1:3,9), the Holy Spirit came upon many Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem on Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks), which was the day of Pentecost. Many more details can be found in Parts I, II, III, and IV of Chapter 4 of my online book in Hebraic Spring Festivals/Holy Days and also in my Good Thursday commentary.

These are the three primary Hebraic Jewish Feasts/Holy Days in the Fall:

  1. Rosh haShanah (the Feast of Trumpets),
  2. Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and
  3. Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles).
I believe that the main Rapture event will occur on a Rosh haShanah (the Feast of Trumpets). The physical return of Jesus to the earth at the end of the 70th Week will occur on a Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Then the survivors of the nations of the world who attacked Jerusalem during the 70th Week will gather in Jerusalem to worship Jesus, the King, during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles)—Zechariah 14:16. (The first day of Sukkot probably is Jesus' birthday, rather than Christmas.) Many more details can be found in Parts I, II, and III of Chapter 5 of my online book in Hebraic Fall Festivals/Holy Days.

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