Guest post from Robin Sampson at Biblical Holidays
Three of the four spring holidays are celebrated within an eight-day period (Abib 14-21). The three spring festivals overlap or run into each other. The fourth and final spring feast is the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost). The Feast of Weeks is held seven weeks or fifty days following the morrow after the Sabbath of Passover.
The spring holidays of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits are a portrait of the death and resurrection of Y’shua (Jesus). He sacrificed Himself on Passover, was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and was resurrected on Firstfruits. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost) was the day the Holy Sprit fell on believers.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are held in immediate sequence. The lamb was slain on the fourteenth and the Feast of Unleavened bread began on the fifteenth day of the first month. And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten (Num. 28:16-17). This passage might account for why Jesus began His Passover seder on the fourteenth. These are distinctly different holidays falling on different days; however, due to their closeness they are usually treated as one festival. (The scriptures seem to teach that these are two names for the same festival. See Exodus 13:3-8.)
As you study the Spring Festivals, you will see the plan of God fulfilled in such dramatic detail that you cannot help but be stricken by the awesomeness of our Eternal King. The spring festivals clearly prophesy the first coming of Messiah and the fall festivals are prophetic of His second coming.
Dates
All holidays begin at sundown of the preceding day and end at nightfall of the final day of observance.
Passover (Pesach)
April 09, 2009 (15th of Nisan, 5769)
Pentecost (Shavuot)
May 29, 2009 (6th of Sivan, 5769)
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