The Wedding Feast and

The Great Feast

By Gerry Watts

 

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet (wedding festivities – CV) for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

 But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 For many are invited (called – CV), but few are chosen.”

(Matthew 22:1-14 NIV)

 

  This parable of the Wedding Feast (or Banquet) is closely linked to the parable of the Great Feast (or Banquet or Dinner) in Luke 14, which is why we shall consider both of these together. The main theme in the Wedding Feast is, of course, wedding festivities. As we shall see shortly, the Great Feast doesn’t mention anything about a wedding, but the emphasis of both parables is the same – that of the celebratory feast that is the Kingdom of God.

  Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people, Israel, are figured as a bride and wife of God, and God eventually had to divorce Israel because she was unfaithful to His covenant. (For further study see The Faithful Love of the Husband of Israel). There is also the underlying idea that the coming manifestation of the kingdom of God will be like a wedding for the Messiah and His people, but this theme is not developed much in the OT, it is only there through various inferences and typology. In the New Testament, though, the wedding theme is clearly revealed.

First Century Jewish Weddings

  Before we consider this parable in detail, we need some background information on Jewish weddings at the time of Christ. There were three main stages to getting married in the ancient Near East. We shall see that Jesus used all three stages to illustrate spiritual truth about Himself and His Body/Bride and the kingdom of the heavens.

1)      The Arrangement. Firstly, while the couple were still usually quite young, the parents, especially the father, would arrange the marriage and sometimes they would be assisted by a ‘matchmaker.’ When they had settled the matter, the groom’s family would pay a dowry or bride-price to the bride’s family as a kind of security for the bride – a purchase price to seal the deal, if you will.

 

2)      The Betrothal or Engagement. Then came the official betrothal ceremony. This was usually held at the bride’s parent’s house in the company of family and friends. The couple would exchange vows (and sometimes rings) and the groom would usually give his bride some gifts. This betrothal was legally binding and it could only be annulled through divorce or death (cp. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:4-5 concerning Joseph and Mary). During the following year or two, the groom would begin to prepare a place for himself and his bride by usually building an extension onto his father’s house.

 

3)      The Wedding Festivities. The final stage was the actual wedding festivities, which, for a virgin marrying for the first time (as opposed to a widow remarrying), would last seven days (cp. Genesis 29:26-28 concerning Leah’s bridal week). At the appointed time, the bridegroom would make his way to the bride’s house with his friends. This would usually occur at night to give the element of surprise, but the bride didn’t know exactly when her bridegroom would arrive. So she had to be prepared, ready and waiting for him, attended by her bridesmaids, who were usually young maidens or virgins, holding burning torches or lamps so that they could receive and welcome the bridegroom when he arrived.

 

  The bridegroom would then take his bride, accompanied by all the friends and attendants, to either his father’s house or a large hall nearby. Then the weeklong festivities would begin. It would be during this week, in their private chamber at night, that the bride and groom would physically consummate their marriage. Then the bride/wife would remove her veil to reveal her face to everyone.

 

  Now for those who are familiar with the teaching of the New Testament, particularly that of Jesus and Paul, you will recognise many amazing and beautiful parallels emerging in the above three stages in relation to what is contained in the NT concerning our relationship to Christ. Here are some of those parallels.

  Firstly, our heavenly Father has chosen His Son’s Bride well in advance and He has paid the bride-price through His own Sacrifice to purchase His precious Pearl, and He has given His Bride (the Body of Christ Ecclesia) a heavenly deposit (the Holy Spirit) as security (Ephesians 1:3-14; Matthew 13:45).

  Secondly, through His First Coming (to His bride’s home) and the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost, the Son (Jesus Christ) has been officially betrothed to His Virgin Bride and He has showered her with gifts (gifts and blessings of the Spirit) (Ephesians 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

  Thirdly, He will return at the appointed time to claim His Bride, and she must be ready and waiting, for she doesn’t know exactly when He will arrive. Then the Wedding Festivities will begin and the Bride will be in intimate union with her Bridegroom for the whole figurative week of the coming kingdom (the number seven symbolises spiritual completion or fulfillment). It is also at this time that she will be unveiled to the guests (the peoples of the world) as the Wife of the Lamb (which Paul calls ‘the unveiling of the sons of God’- Romans 8:19).

   Nevertheless, without trying to confuse the matter, it can also be said that this spiritual intimacy between Christ and His bride is already a fact, in spirit, even now, as we are already His spiritual body/bride, who is at one with her husband. Yet the ultimate manifestation, though, is still in the future.

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church (ecclesia – CV)— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery (literally secret - CV)—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

 

(Ephesians 5:29-32 NIV)

  In the meantime, the Bridegroom (Christ) is preparing and building a place for His Bride, which is an extension of His Father’s house (God’s House, the true Temple of God with many rooms or abodes).

“In my Father’s house are many rooms (or abodes); if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

 

(John 14:2-3 NIV)

 

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

 

(Ephesians 2:21-22 NIV)

 

  Many other details that could be mentioned are portrayed in some of the other parables that we shall be considering in the next few chapters.

  Also, the events in Genesis Chapter 24, where Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, are a beautiful picture or allegory of God choosing a wife for His Son. Much could be said about this, nevertheless, we need to get back to our parable.

  Well, now that we have this background information, let us consider this parable of the Wedding Feast.

The Wedding Feast is the Kingdom

  God, the Father, is the King who is preparing wedding festivities for His Son, Jesus. The people of Israel were the original guests who were invited to the Wedding Feast, that is, the kingdom of God. During, and after, the First Coming of Christ, God sent out His servants, His prophets and apostles, to summon those of Israel who had been invited to come to the Feast, for everything was now ready. But on the whole, the majority did not want to come to the Feast when it was time. They all made various excuses and refused to go. Some of them even persecuted God’s servants and killed them. This enraged God, so in His righteous indignation, He sent His army to destroy those murderers and to burn down their city.

  This is a veiled prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in the War of 66-70 AD – and yet notice that the Romans are viewed as being God’s army to bring judgment on the Jewish people for their sins. Later, Jesus made it very clear that this judgment would befall the Jews because of their murders – particularly that of murdering the Son of God, which filled up the measure of the sins of their fathers. This was to bring wrath, distress and days of vengeance upon the people for an indefinite period of time, beginning with Jerusalem’s burning by the Romans, and leading to the ultimate Day of the Lord – in fulfilment of all that has been written.

  The historical details passed down to us from the Jewish historian, Josephus, in his book The Jewish War, shows us the awful state of the Jewish nation at that time and how they brought this destruction upon themselves through their great wickedness and violence. This same warning applies to the Jewish nation today, also, for the prophetic pattern or cycle has not yet reached its complete fulfilment in the Day of the Lord. Let us here these solemn words of Jesus.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

  You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell (Gehenna)? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

(Matthew 23:29-39 NIV)

  “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them…    When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment (days of vengeance – CV) in fulfilment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles (nations) until the times of the Gentiles (nations) are fulfilled.

(Luke 21:12-24 NIV)

Wedding Clothes

  So due to the fact that Israel rejected their special invitation to enter the kingdom of God, for they did not deserve to come, the King then sent His servants, the apostles and prophets, to invite anyone, anywhere to the Feast, whether good or wicked. They did so and the wedding was filled with guests.

  This was ultimately fulfilled in the ministry of the Apostles, especially the apostle Paul, as he was uniquely chosen to be the apostle to the nations. Through his ministry, many ‘good and wicked’ people from all nations believed, repented and became followers of Christ and, therefore, were invited to the Wedding Feast of the Kingdom. This invitation is still going out to all the nations of the world and many are being called to accept it. Therefore, the Wedding Hall is not quite filled with all the guests – yet!

  But the parable doesn’t end here. Jesus goes on to say that when the King comes to see the guests, He finds a man there without any wedding clothes! When asked how he got in without wedding clothes, the man says nothing. The King then orders that this intruder be tied up and thrown outside into the darkness.

  The last words of Jesus concerning this parable in verses 13-14 appear to be added after, and therefore, they probably don’t belong to the actual parable narrative itself. That is, they are not the words of the King in the parable, but Jesus’ additional words of teaching in relation to the parable. The CV brings this out. It reads,

“…outer darkness.’ There shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth. For many are the called, yet few are the chosen.

  Nevertheless, the truth remains the same either way. This guest is thrown out of the Wedding party! Now in First Century Palestine, invited guests were often given white wedding clothes (linen garments), particularly by the wealthy, as they arrived for the wedding festivities. So anyone not wearing these garments would stand out from the rest. In the parable, the man was actually an intruder who had gatecrashed the party, so he hadn’t been given his white linen wedding garment. This is why the King had him bound and thrown out into the darkness of the night.

  Now a search through the Bible will reveal some interesting details about white linen garments. Firstly, it brings to mind the linen tunics that the Levitical priests had to wear when they were ministering at the Tabernacle or Temple (Exodus 28:39-41). The blood spattered garments, as a result of the animal sacrifices, were a constant reminder of the people’s sins and God’s provision for forgiveness. Yet God promised that their garments would become white as snow, symbolising the eradication of sin.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

 

(Isaiah 1:18 NIV also Psalm 51:7)

  The pure whiteness of these garments symbolises the absolute righteousness and purity of God, as well as the Glory of God. Christ Himself, as the One Who reflects the Glory of God, can shine as white as snow (Revelation 1:14; Matthew 17:2).

  Yet the NT teaches that the chosen followers of Christ are a royal priesthood and we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever (for the ages of the ages)! Amen.

 

(Revelation 1:5b-6 NIV)

 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

 

(1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

 

Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ’s faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God.

 

(Romans 3:21-23 CV)

 

God made him who had no sin to be sin (or sin offering) for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

 Then in Revelation 19:7-9 we are told the following in relation to the Return of Christ,

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ “ And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (NIV)

  Take note of the following in relation to the full manifestation of the Kingdom of God at Christ’s Return:

1.      The Wedding of the Lamb has come

2.      His Bride has made herself ready

3.      Fine linen, bright and clean, is given to the Bride

4.      Happy are those who are invited to the Wedding Feast

 

  This confirms that the Kingdom of the Heavens is the Wedding Feast, particularly in its full manifestation at Christ’s Return (that is, in the Day of the Lord). His Bride and Wife are His called, chosen and faithful followers, who are termed Overcomers and the Sons of God, who are prepared for His Return through their faithful and righteous acts.

  And the fine white linen that is given to the Bride is said to be ‘the righteous acts of the saints.’ Not only have we been given the righteousness of God in Christ, we also have to walk in the righteous acts of Christ. Only then can we confirm that we are among the called and chosen ones of God; the Overcomers; the Bride and Wife of the Lamb – and, in the words of the parable, those who are clothed with the wedding garments.

  For those who try to get in to the Kingdom (or be saved) without wedding clothes (that is, not clothed with the righteousness of God in Christ) will not succeed. Instead they will be thrown out into spiritual darkness, where there will be weeping and bitter gnashing of teeth. (For further information on these things, see the earlier parable of The Wheat and the Darnel). We must bear in mind that ‘Many are called (or invited) to share in the Kingdom blessings, but only the few are chosen.’ These chosen ones are guaranteed salvation, for they belong to the Body/Bride of Christ. (For further details, see the earlier parable of The Sower).

  It goes without saying that these chosen ones are also those who have been invited to the Feast, and they have accepted the invitation of the blessing of salvation. These are the ‘invited ones’ of Revelation 19:9 who are blessed because they have been graciously invited to share in the Happy Day of the Kingdom of God – the Great Wedding Feast of the Son. This is confirmed in the following parable.

The Great Feast

  Here is the parable of The Great Feast, which teaches us the same basic truths as the Wedding Feast.

 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

(Luke 14:15-24 NIV)

  In this instance, the Feast has nothing to do with a wedding, nevertheless, the overall meaning is the same. It is self–evident that there are many parallels in these two parables. Basically, they are both declaring the same truth, with slightly different emphases, but essentially they are the same.

  Take note that in both of these parables, those of Israel were the original guests who had previously received the special invitation to come to the feast. Yet when the time came for the feast to begin (which is the era of the Messiah) these guests, who had previously accepted the invitation, now refused to come, making lots of excuses instead. They had become so pre-occupied with worldly things, including their religious duties, that they were not interested in coming to the feast. So, they lost out on their special invitation and they could not attend the feast at all. Instead, numerous others were invited at the last minute and they all came to the feast, and these included the 'sinners' and the so-called 'dregs of society.'

  These things were clearly played out in the events of the 1st century, as recorded in the NT. Yet it also applies right now to the Christian Church. Like Israel of old, those who claim to believe in Christ Jesus are the outward people of God, as those who have received the special invitation of the Gospel - but only the true Chosen Ones will ultimately come to the feast, while all the religious ones and the hypocrites, will ultimately be shut out, due to their unfaithfulness and disloyalty and excuses. In the meantime, there is a great ingathering of 'unworthy sinners' and 'dregs of society' who are filling the hall in preparation for the Great Feast.

  It is worth bringing up an interesting point here. Some teach that the wedding guests in the first parable cannot be the believers of the Body of Christ because (so it is reasoned), they are not viewed as the bride herself, but only as the guests. The same is often said of the parable of The Ten Virgins, which we shall look at next. Some say that the virgins must represent a different group for they are not viewed as the bride!

  It is true that in Revelation 19:7-9, quoted earlier, the guests appear to be distinct from the Bride, yet, it is evident from this parable that both the bride and the guests are representing, in figure, the chosen ones of God. The main emphasis in these parables is the invitation and its acceptance.

  The chosen Body/Bride of Christ are symbolised as Guests of a Feast (whether a wedding feast or a normal feast, as in the second parable above). This special Ecclesia of the Sons of God are also figured elsewhere as Wise Virgins; Wise Servants; Sheep of the Good Shepherd; Wheat; Good Fruit; Sons of God, etc, etc. The symbolism varies depending on the context of the particular parable, nevertheless, they all refer to the same group. I’ve touched on some of these things already in this book.

  In the same way, John the Baptist is not only the friend of the Bridegroom (Christ) in his special role of being the forerunner and messenger of the Messiah; he also belongs to the Bride because he is a true son of Abraham who belongs to the New Jerusalem – and this heavenly Jerusalem is said to be THE BRIDE AND WIFE OF THE LAMB (Revelation 21:9-14). This is confirmed in Hebrews 12:22-24.

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (NIV)

  The Church (or Ecclesia) of the Firstborn is the Body/Bride of Christ; headed up by the Chief Priest and Mediator, Jesus Himself; which also includes the spirits of the righteous ones who died prior to the coming of Christ. All these will be resurrected and transformed into the New Humanity in Christ as dwellers and inheritors of the New Jerusalem.

  Anyhow, before we get sidetracked too much, let’s return to the subject of the Great Feast. As we have seen, this Great Feast represents the Kingdom of God manifested in all its glory. Jesus had already referred to this Feast a number of times previously. For example,

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

 

(Luke 13:28-29 NIV)

  This is a condensed version of the above parables. The saints of the past are represented in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets, while the rest of the Ecclesia are represented as those who come from east, west, north and south (all nations); and the kingdom of God itself is equated with the Great Feast.

  Now I am sure that actual food and drink will play its part in this glorious celebration, as even Jesus ate and drank after His resurrection (Luke 24:36-42; John 21:1-15); and He also said to His disciples on that fateful night of His betrayal and trial that He will again drink the fruit of the vine and eat the Passover when it finds complete fulfillment in the kingdom (Luke 22:15-18). He also promised the twelve apostles,

“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

 

(Luke 22:29-30 NIV)

  These things have an earthly and a heavenly application, for the Kingdom of the Heavens must always manifest itself in this earth realm of creation - whether the Old Creation or the New, for the earth is the place where God has purposed to place mankind. Nevertheless, ultimately, Paul tells us the simple truth that surpasses all material things,

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…

 

(Romans 14:17 NIV)

The Feast of Tabernacles

  Before we finish this particular study, let us consider something else that relates to our present subject – namely, the Feasts of Yahweh. There were seven Feasts or Festivals that God originally gave to Israel through Moses. These Feasts were observed over a seven-month period, from spring through to autumn, and they were intimately tied in to the agricultural year. Three of these Feasts (namely, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles) were considered the major feasts, and every male Israelite had to attend these three feasts every year at the Tabernacle/Temple (see Leviticus 23:4-44; Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:1-17).

  Yet these seven Feasts are a type or figure or allegory of the Plan of God concerning His Messiah. I hope to cover this topic in detail in a future book entitled The Hidden Prophecies of the Seven Feasts, but for now, though, here’s just a brief overview.

  Leviticus 23 supplies us with the details of the seven Feasts, (also supplemented by Exodus 23 and Deuteronomy 16).

“ ‘These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The LORD’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the LORD’s Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast…

 

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath…

“ ‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering (i.e. Firstfruits), count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD (i.e. Pentecost). From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD…

 

The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts (i.e. Trumpets). Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire…’  

The LORD said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire…

 

The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days…

 

 “ ‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.”

 

(Leviticus 23:4-6, 9-11, 15-17, 23-25, 26-27, 33-34, 39-40 NIV)

  Beginning in the spring, Passover came first on the 14th Nisan, followed by Unleavened Bread on the 15th, which lasted for seven days. During this week, on the day after the Sabbath, the Feast of Weeks began with Firstfruits, which then ended seven weeks later, on the day after the Sabbath, the fiftieth day, the Day of Pentecost. Firstfruits celebrated the firstfruits of the barley harvest, and Pentecost celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.

  After this, there followed a period of about four months covering the summer. Then in the seventh month of Tishrei, the final three feasts were observed. Trumpets on the 1st (a special New Moon Festival ushering in the 7th month); Day of Atonement on the 10th; and Tabernacles on the 15th.

  The Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering was considered the greatest Feast at the end of the sacred year, and it lasted for seven days, with a special eighth day to close the Feast. It was the final great Harvest, particularly of the olives and the grapes.

  These seven original Feasts of Yahweh are prophetic of the Messiah and His work during this age and the one to come. They can be understood on a number of different levels of truth, but the following reveals their foundational meaning. The number seven figures prominently in the details of the Feasts, because seven symbolises spiritual completion or fulfillment. With God, ALL things are brought to a complete and satisfactory consummation within His great Plan and Purpose.

Passover portrays the Messiah’s Ransom Sacrifice as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. This was fulfilled on 14th Nisan 33 A.D. when Jesus was crucified. He died about mid-afternoon as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple.

Unleavened Bread symbolises the sin-removing, sanctifying work of Messiah Jesus, which was fulfilled during Passover week of 33 A.D (which also included the fulfilment of the details within the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy).

Firstfruits symbolises the Resurrection of Christ from the dead as the Firstfruit of a New Humanity – an Immortal, Incorruptible New Creation. This was fulfilled on Nisan 16th 33 A.D. when God raised Jesus from the dead. This took place on the day after the Sabbath, the first day of the week (Sunday). This was also known as the eighth day. The number eight symbolises New Beginnings or New Creation.

Pentecost symbolises the next firstfruits of the New Humanity who are, at this stage, still in sinful, mortal bodies, though they have been given a down-payment as a guarantee – the promised Holy Spirit. This was fulfilled at Pentecost 33 A.D. at the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ while they were in the Temple Courts. Like the feast of Firstfruits before it, Pentecost also occurred on the eighth day, the day after the weekly Sabbath.

  The four summer months symbolise the universal Era of Grace, which is nearing its end, in which the last days are being extended.

Trumpets and Atonement will have their complete fulfillment during the events of the Day of the Lord, that is, the Return of Christ.

Tabernacles symbolises the coming of the Kingdom of God in all its fullness.

  Now the OT clearly uses the final great Harvest Feast of Tabernacles as the symbol for the coming Kingdom of God. This is especially evident in the dedication of the Temple under Solomon found in 1 Kings 8; and in the special celebration at Jerusalem during the return from the Babylonian Exile under Ezra and Nehemiah, found in Nehemiah 8.

All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim (i.e. Tishrei), the seventh month… So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

 

(1 Kings 8:2, 65-66 NIV)

The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.

 (Nehemiah 8:17-18 NIV)

  To those with spiritual eyes, it is clear that Tabernacles = The Feast = The Kingdom. The celebration of this Feast was greater at the time of Ezra than at the time of Solomon, and in fact, it had not been celebrated that way since the time of Joshua. This hints at the fact that, at the time the kingdom is established in glory at Christ’s Return, the exiled remnant of the Israel of God will be delivered and they will celebrate the Feast in the kingdom under their Messiah - Jesus or Yehoshua or Joshua (these are variations of the same Hebrew name meaning ‘Yahweh is Saviour’).

  Nevertheless, Solomon's kingdom is a type of Christ's Kingdom, and Solomon celebrated this feast for 2 x 7 days, which speaks of the greater glory of the fullness of Christ's Kingdom as a double portion of the blessings of the Firstborn.

The Harvests

  Now it is extremely interesting to note that these seven Feasts are intimately tied in with the three major harvest periods. Passover/Unleavened Bread/Firstfruits occurred at the beginning of the Barley harvest; Pentecost occurred at the beginning of the Wheat harvest; and Tabernacles occurred at the time of the Grape harvest in particular, though it was also the final Great Harvest of all the crops at the end of the year.

  In view of this, some of Jesus’ teaching is extremely fascinating concerning what He says about the various harvests, particularly that of the great Harvest being the end of the age. We touched on this a little earlier in the Parable of the Wheat and the Darnel.

“The field is the world… The harvest is the end of the age…”

 

(Matthew 13:38 & 39 NIV)

  Also, take note of the following words of Jesus.

 “Are you not saying that, ‘Still four months is it, and the harvest is coming’? Lo! I am saying to you, Lift up your eyes and gaze on the countrysides, for they are white for harvest already. And he who is reaping is getting wages and is gathering fruit for life eonian, that both the sower and the reaper likewise may be rejoicing. For in this case is the saying true, that ‘One is the sower and another is the reaper.’ I commission you to reap that for which you have not toiled. Others have toiled, and you have entered into their toil.”

 

(John 4:35-38 CV)

 

 

  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 

(Matthew 9:37-38 NIV)

  Jesus was saying something very significant here in relation to the symbolic meaning of the Feasts. When you follow the chronology of the early chapters of John’s account, the events of John Chapter 4 would’ve occurred a few weeks after the first Passover/Unleavened Bread of Jesus’ ministry. This would’ve been around the month of May, during which time the barley was still being harvested, and the wheat was nearing its time of harvest, which began after the firstfruit offering at Pentecost. This meant that there were yet four months until the great harvest time of Tabernacles in September/October time.

  What Jesus was saying here is that the apostles and early disciples were not to primarily focus on the coming kingdom of God at the end of the age (Tabernacles), for they had a job to do now as reapers of a present harvest (Firstfruits/Pentecost). Jesus had prophesied earlier, in Matthew 9 quoted above, that the harvest is plentiful in His grain field, which is the field of the world, but more reapers or harvesters were needed to reap the crop.

  The spreading of the Gospel of God’s Son needs chosen believers to sow the seed, and to reap the harvest, in the field of the world. In the process, these servants of Christ will be getting wages and gathering fruit for age-abiding life in the kingdom of God. So, Jesus is saying that there are a number of harvests, but there is still the great Harvest of Tabernacles still to come. This is made evident in the vision of Revelation, which is ultimately a vision of the Day of the Lord - both present and future.

  I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe (dried – CV).” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

 

(Revelation 14:14-16 NIV)

  This is symbolically describing the great Harvest of believers at the end of the age in relation to the Feast of Tabernacles, in which the chosen ones will inherit the kingdom of God at Christ’s Return. Take note that this is describing a grain harvest of the earth or world (that is, God’s field) for the harvest is literally dried. Then what follows in verses 17-20 is the graphic, yet figurative, depiction of the wrath of God being poured out upon the earth, where the stubborn unbelievers of the world are being viewed as red grapes being trampled and crushed in a winepress – and Christ is the One who treads this winepress (Revelation 19:15). This also has a relation to the feast of Tabernacles and the great Harvest. Scripture even speaks of sin and wickedness becoming ripe for judgment.

 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

(Joel 3:12-14 NIV)

  Hence, Revelation 14:18 says that these “grapes are dead ripe!” Not only is there going to be a Harvest of Righteousness and Glory for the Overcomers, but there is also going to be a Harvest of Judgment and Condemnation for the Sons of Stubbornness. Yet both will occur at the same time, in the Age of Tabernacles, the time of the Great Harvest. Anyhow, there is so much more that could be said, but this will suffice for now.

  We must remember that there is a harvest occurring right now, which the Body of Christ is involved in, yet we are also awaiting the era of the Great Wedding Feast, the era of the Great Harvest and the wonderful Feast of Tabernacles – the glory and power of the coming Kingdom of God. It is not too far away…so don’t give up the Faith. Walk the path of Righteousness and Truth in the Grace of God…..and be prepared.

 

Copyright © Gerry Watts 2006; revised 2007

 

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