You shall keep a feast unto Me three times in the year.
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And no one shall appear before Me empty.
Also the Feast of the Harvest of the Firstfruits of your labors (Pentecost), which you have sown in the field. And the Feast of Ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles), in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field (Exodus 23:14 - 16, HBFV, see also Deuteronomy 16).
The Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ (John 1:1 - 3), came to earth as a man to die for the sins of his creation. Because he was God, his life was worth far more than ALL things created and therefore his sacrifice could pay for ALL sins forever.
Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. 8. For this reason, LET US KEEP THE FEAST . . . (1Corinthians 5:7, HBFV).
Christ's offering for our sins is applied AFTER we repent of sins, receive baptism, and willing agree to obey God and accept Jesus was our individual savior (Acts 2). Christians commemorate the sacrifice of Christ each year by partaking of the simple symbols of bread and wine at the Christian Passover.
Following the Passover is a period of seven days (Leviticus 23) known in the Bible as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven must be removed from a person's house before the Feast begins. Removing leaven teaches Christians to be diligent in overcoming yet also teaches understanding and humility toward the sins of others.
When do they occur?
The dates for the feasts of the Lord vary each year based on the calendar used in the Bible. Below are the dates when the Feast days occur for the next few years. Please note that Biblical days start and end at sunset. Note also that the keeping of the Christian Passover service should begin just after sunset of the previous calendar day listed below.
The Power of God
True obedience to God cannot be accomplished without the power of his Holy Spirit. It was on Pentecost in 30 A.D. that God's power through his spirit was begun to be offered and available to man (Acts 2:1 - 4).
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).
The Second Coming
Trumpets in God's word are many times used to signal death, destruction and war. The Day of Trumpets symbolizes the final battle between Jesus and his chief adversary the devil, ending in the Lord's Second Coming to earth. It is also at this time that the first resurrection takes place (1Corinthians 15:52, 1Thessalonians 4, etc.). Jesus will come, in awesome power, to the earth in order to rule it God's way for 1,000 years (see Revelation 19).
A time of peace
God's Day of Atonement pictures, among many things, the time of peace brought by the devil being chained and not allowed to deceive man during the reign of Jesus. Mankind in general will finally be able to learn to be at one with God in peace. First, however, the devil must be captured, thrown into a spiritual prison, and not allowed to deceive ANYONE on the earth (Revelation 20:1 - 2)
The Thousand Year (Millennial) Reign
The return of Jesus Christ to rule the earth will usher in a golden age of peace and prosperity that will last 1,000 years. This time of joy is commemorated during what is called the Feast of Tabernacles. Those who are part of the first resurrection of the dead will be blessed by ruling the earth with their elder brother and Savior Jesus (see Revelation 20:4 - 5).
Brought back to life
We now come to the very last holy day in the feasts of the Lord. When the reign of Christ on earth has lasted 1,000 years, ALL humanity who never had a full chance at salvation will be brought back to life. They will then be able to understand God's truth, repent, and ultimately receive eternal life. What is known as the feast of the Last Great Day commemorates this awesome event (Revelation 20:11 - 12, See also Ezekiel 37:1 - 14).