Author: hillturnfs

Spring festivals:

When the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt God spoke to the people through Moses and established feasts to honor the Lord. Each festival was to commemorate a major event in the life of the Hebrews. There were to be seven festivals each year, three in the spring, one in the summer, and three more in the fall. In this blog we’ll only address the three festivals held in the spring, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of First Fruits. While these are Jewish festivals they also have prophetic significance for Christians because they mirror God’s salvation plan for mankind. During the millennial reign of Jesus these festivals will be celebrated in Jerusalem every year and in heaven forever. All these festivals point to Christ and all Christians should celebrate these festivals alongside the Jewish people.

We all know the story of Pharaoh refusing to let the Hebrew slaves leave Egypt until finally God sent His death angel to kill all the first born of Egypt. To protect the Hebrews from the same fate they were instructed to kill an unblemished lamb and place its blood on the two posts and lintel of their doors so the death angel would “pass over” their house. The slain lamb was to be roasted and eaten. In a prophetic parallel, the Passover lamb was later fulfilled in Christ, who was called in John 1:20, “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” The three crosses were part of the crucifixion narrative, reminding us that three marks of blood were on each Hebrew door post in Egypt. The blood of Christ was required to seal the redemption of those who believe in Him. The stripes Jesus carried through his scourging became the stripes of healing for those who could believe.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the day after Passover and commemorates the Hebrews leaving Egypt so fast they didn’t have time to bake any bread properly so they ate it unleavened. Pharaoh freed the Hebrews and they left Egypt the day after the death angel passed over. In the New Testament, leaven is considered a picture of a sinful lifestyle and bread without leaven represents a life without sin. The yearly commemoration of Unleavened Bread is the picture of Christ dying as a sinless sacrifice. Immediately following Unleavened Bread is the Feast of First Fruits, which marks the beginning of the barley harvest. Christ fulfilled this imagery as He rose from the dead on the morning of First Fruits. I always thought it odd the Jews had three festivals so close together (back to back) but now it makes sense. God has appointed these three spring festivals to represent the death, redemption and resurrection of Jesus Christ which happened over a three day period.

I’ve left the Book of Job until last because it’s in a category by itself. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible around 1400 BC. Job was written at least 700 years earlier (2100 BC) and possibly as early as 2600 BC. Although much older than Genesis, God chose to place the Book of Job in the Old Testament canon behind the historical books and just ahead of the poetical books. The Book of Job addresses why God allows righteous people to suffer. We know that when we suffer as Christ did our character is somehow strengthened and our souls are purified. We ultimately grow closer to God and learn to depend on His strength.

Through Job’s experience we learn of God’s awesome power and inscrutable ways. We learn of God’s deep love for us and that He superintends every aspect of His creation. The lesson here is we need to know God in a personal way and never stop seeking to deepen that relationship. As we know God better our trust in Him will grow stronger. We will know for certain that God will do his best for us in every circumstance. We will learn to endure whatever happens to us with patience and fortitude knowing it’s God’s will for us as we continue to trust in Him and praise His name. This was the lesson Job learned through his suffering.

Job 19:25-27 – For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed , this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God. Whom shall I see for myself, and my eyes behold, and not another.

New Testament – Galatians 4:4 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.

Job 14:4 – Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean one? No one!

New Testament – Hebrews 10:14 – For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Job 33:23-24 – If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man his uprightness, then He is gracious to him, and says, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.”

New Testament – Mark 10:45 – (Jesus speaking) – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Jesus in the Prophets:

Minor prophets with messianic prophecies (cont’d):

3. Amos 9:11 – On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old.

New Testament – Acts 15:16-17 – After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild it s ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things.

4. Micah 2:12 – I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.

New Testament – John 10:14 – I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

5. Habakkuk 2:14 – The herds shall lie down in her midst, every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be at the threshold; for He will lay bare the cedar work.

New Testament – Romans 11:26 – And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

6. Zechariah 6:12-13 – Then speak to him, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne, so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

New Testament – Hebrews 8:1-2 – Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not by man.

7. Malachi 4:2-3 – But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts.

New Testament – John 1:6-9 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (the Baptist). This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness to that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Jesus in the Prophets:

All prophets of God are equal. Bible scholars refer to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel as major prophets because of the voluminous body of work contained in their books. The other twelve prophets with books in the Bible are referred to as the minor prophets because their books are very small in comparison to the major prophets. Not all prophets of God were writing prophets. Elijah was an important prophet in the Old Testament but he didn’t leave us with any written Scripture. Elijah was in such favor with God that he was translated to heaven without dying. Elijah will come back as one of the two witnesses for God in Jerusalem during the great tribulation. Elisha is another prime example of a prophet without a book in the Bible. Elisha was the disciple of Elijah. Upon Elijah’s departure for heaven Elisha asked for and received a double portion of the grace God bestowed on Elijah. Elisha performed more miracles than any other prophet in the Old Testament.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS AND WHERE THEY MINISTERED:

1. Obadiah (850-840 BC) – Edom
2. Joel (835-796 BC) – Judah
3. Jonah (784-774 BC) – Nineveh
4. Amos (764-755 BC) – Israel
5. Hosea (755-710 BC) – Israel
6. Isaiah (739-680 BC) – Judah
7. Micah (735-710 BC) – Judah
8. Nahum (650-630 BC) – Nineveh
9. Zephaniah (635-625 BC) – Judah
10. Jeremiah (627-570 BC) – Judah
11. Habakkuk (620-605 BC – Judah
12. Daniel (605-536 BC) – Jews in Babylon
13. Ezekiel (593-570 BC) – Jews in Babylon
14. Haggai (520-505 BC) – Judah
15. Zechariah (520-470 BC) – Judah
16. Malachi (433-424 BC) – Judah

Minor prophets with messianic prophecies:

1. Hosea 3:5 – Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.

New Testament – Romans 11:26-27 – And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”

2. Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

New Testament – Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus in the Prophets:

The best known Bible story is about Daniel in the lion’s den being rescued by God. That Daniel is the fourth and final major prophet of the Bible. Daniel ministered to the Jews from 605-536 BC, which coincided with the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. The Book of Daniel contains phenomenal prophecies, especially about the times of the Gentiles which ends with the second coming of Christ to the earth to judge the nations. The book’s main theme is that God alone is sovereign in history and over human affairs. The book also serves as an object lesson in faith under trial and adversity. This is especially important for us to remember today as we see signs of the approaching end times all around us. God reminds us in Scripture that He’s got this and we’re not to worry. Look to God and be strong.

1. Daniel 7:13-14 – I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

New Testament – Matthew 25:31 – (Jesus speaking) – When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

2. Daniel 7:27 – Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

New Testament – 1 Corinthians 15:23-25 – But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

3. Daniel 2:44 – And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

New Testament – Luke 1:33 – And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

Jesus in the prophets:

Ezekiel was another major prophet of the Bible and his service to God was from 593-570 BC. Ezekiel, like Daniel, was a prophet to the Jews during the Babylonian captivity, which lasted seventy years. Ezekiel was unique in that God had him act out things visually in order to send a message, or word picture, to the Jews in Babylon. As you can imagine, many of the Jews thought he was deranged. Ezekiel warned the Jews to remain faithful to God and predicted the fall of Judah for their sins against God.

1. Ezekiel 17:22-24 – As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you. And the the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.”

New Testament – Matthew 13:31-32 – Another parable He put forth to them saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed id the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

2. Ezekiel 21:26-27 – Thus says the Lord God: “Remove the turban, and take off the crown; nothing shall remain the same. Exalt the humble and humble the exalted. Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.”

New Testament – Luke 1:52 – He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.

3. Ezekiel 34:23-24 – I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them – My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

New Testament – John 10:11 – (Jesus speaking) – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Jesus in the Prophets:

Jeremiah is another of the major prophets of the Bible who ministered to the Hebrews from 627 to 570 BC. God instructed Jeremiah to preach against sin and warn the people of the coming destruction of Judah and Jerusalem, which happened in Jeremiah’s lifetime. The book of Lamentations chronicles the lament of Jeremiah after Jerusalem is conquered. Jeremiah wore his emotions on his sleeve and often wept over the impending fate of the Jewish people which is why Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet.” The people had fallen away from God and did what was right in their own eyes so Jeremiah’s message was not welcomed by the people. The local authorities persecuted Jeremiah, he was imprisoned, and ultimately the people abandoned Jeremiah and his message from God. The following are a few of the messianic prophecies about Jesus:

1. Jeremiah 23:5-6 – Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a king shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

New Testament – John 2:19 – Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

2. Jeremiah 31:22 – How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter? For the lord has created a new thing in the earth – a woman shall encompass a man.

New Testament – Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

3. Jeremiah 31:33 – But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

New Testament – 1 Corinthians 11:25 – In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Jesus in the Prophets:

I love the book of Isaiah. It’s long and beautifully written. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets in the Bible and he ministered from 739 to 680 BC, mostly in Judah but also in Israel. Isaiah contains more messianic prophecies than any other prophetic book. Isaiah is a microcosm of the Bible. If I could only read one book of the Old Testament Isaiah would be my pick. Most people could read Isiah and come to belief in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior without reading or knowing the rest of the Bible.

1. Isaiah 9:6-7 – For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

New Testament – John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

2. Isaiah 53:12 – Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

New Testament – Acts 8:32-33 – He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.

3. Isaiah 62:11- Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, surely your salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with him.”

New Testament – Revelation 3:12 – He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Jesus in the poetical books:

The Book of Psalms is a collection of poems that were used as a hymnbook for the Hebrew people to sing praises to God. Psalms is a guide for us on how to bare our souls to God for an intimate conversation. It’s okay to be emotional and personal with God. You can’t hide anything from God anyway so you might as well be honest about your feelings. Psalms also points the way how to worship God. The Book of Psalms is the Old Testament book most quoted in the New Testament. The Book of Psalms contains more than 22 messianic prophecies of which I’ll only list a few along with fulfillment verses in the New Testament.

1. Psalms 2:7-8 – I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.

New Testament – Revelations 2:27 – He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels.

2. Psalm 49:15 – But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah

New Testament – Mark 16:6 – But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.”

3. Psalms 68:18 – You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there.

New Testament – Ephesians 4:8 – Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.

4. Psalm 102:16 – For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory.

New Testament – Revelation 5:10 – Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

5. Psalm 118:22 – The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

New Testament – John 1:11 – He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Jesus in the historical books:

The Bible repeatedly points to Christ as the Lamb of God whose blood would be shed for the remission of our sins and we see numerous examples throughout the Bible of blood sacrifices under the law.

1. 1 Samuel 7:9 – And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

NT – Hebrews 9:22 – And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

2. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

NT – Luke 1:32 – He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

3. 1 Chronicles 17:11-12 – And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

NT – Acts 2:30-31 – Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

4. 2 Chronicles 21:7 – Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

NT – 2 Timothy 2:8 – Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.