The seven feasts fulfilled: from Passover to Tabernacles

24 September 2026

The seven feasts fulfilled: from Passover to Tabernacles

Leviticus 23 sets out the feasts of the LORD—spring and fall appointments that mark God’s dealing with His people. Many readers see these feasts as shadows that find their substance in Jesus Christ: once in His first coming, and again in what is still ahead. The verses below are taken from this site’s KJV.

This reading also notes a proposed chronology in which John the Baptist is born at Passover and Jesus Christ is born at Tabernacles (from Luke’s priestly course and the shepherds still in the fields). Weigh that carefully against Scripture itself.

Spring feasts — fulfilled at the first coming

1. Passover (14 Nisan)

Meaning: The Lamb slain. OT: Exodus 12; Leviticus 23:5.

Exodus 12:1-14

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the first month of the year to you.

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of [their] fathers, a lamb for an house:

And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take [it] out from the sheep, or from the goats:

And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it.

Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast [with] fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the LORD’S passover.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the LORD.

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Leviticus 23:5

In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD’S passover.

First fulfillment: Christ’s crucifixion.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

If John the Baptist was born at Passover, that too sits under this feast. He came in the spirit and power of Elias (Luke 1:17), and Elijah was long expected in connection with the Passover hope of redemption.

Luke 1:17

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Future fulfillment: Israel receives nationally the Lamb they pierced.

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (15–21 Nisan)

Meaning: A sinless offering. OT: Leviticus 23:6–8.

Leviticus 23:6-8

And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day [is] an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work [therein].

First fulfillment: Christ’s sinless burial—He lay in the tomb during the feast days that follow Passover.

Future fulfillment: The people of God kept in sincerity and truth, free from the leaven of malice and wickedness.

1 Corinthians 5:8

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

3. Firstfruits

Meaning: Firstborn from the dead. OT: Leviticus 23:9–14.

Leviticus 23:9-14

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.

And the meat offering thereof [shall be] two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD [for] a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof [shall be] of wine, the fourth [part] of an hin.

And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

First fulfillment: Jesus’ resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20

But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Future fulfillment: The resurrection of those that are Christ’s.

1 Corinthians 15:23

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

4. Feast of Weeks / Pentecost

Meaning: Outpouring and harvest. OT: Leviticus 23:15–22.

Leviticus 23:15-22

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; [they are] the firstfruits unto the LORD.

And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be [for] a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, [even] an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.

Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits [for] a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.

And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, [that] it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work [therein: it shall be] a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I [am] the LORD your God.

First fulfillment: The Holy Ghost given.

Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Future fulfillment: Messiah teaching the nations in the age to come.

Isaiah 2:2-3

And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Fall feasts — birth announcement and second coming

5. Feast of Trumpets (1 Tishri)

Meaning: Announcement of the King. OT: Leviticus 23:23–25.

Leviticus 23:23-25

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Ye shall do no servile work [therein]: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

First fulfillment (proposed): The heavenly announcement of Jesus’ birth.

Luke 2:10-14

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Future fulfillment: The trump of God at His coming.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

6. Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur (10 Tishri)

Meaning: Blood applied; sin removed. OT: Leviticus 23:26–32.

Leviticus 23:26-32

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

For whatsoever soul [it be] that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

And whatsoever soul [it be] that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.

Ye shall do no manner of work: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

It [shall be] unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth [day] of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

First fulfillment: Christ’s atoning blood presented once for eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:12

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

Future fulfillment: Israel’s repentance and cleansing (Zechariah 12:10 again).

7. Feast of Tabernacles / Sukkot (15–22 Tishri)

Meaning: God dwelling with man. OT: Leviticus 23:33–44.

Leviticus 23:33-44

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the feast of tabernacles [for] seven days unto the LORD.

On the first day [shall be] an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work [therein].

Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a solemn assembly; [and] ye shall do no servile work [therein].

These [are] the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim [to be] holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day [shall be] a sabbath, and on the eighth day [shall be] a sabbath.

And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. [It shall be] a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

First fulfillment (proposed): Jesus Christ’s birth—the Word tabernacling among us. Shepherds still abiding in the fields fits a warmer season better than deep winter. The word “dwelt” is often noted as to pitch a tent / tabernacle.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Future fulfillment: Nations keeping Tabernacles under Messiah’s reign.

Zechariah 14:16

And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

The total picture

At the first coming

Feast	Focus
Passover	John’s birth (proposed); Jesus’ death — 1 Corinthians 5:7
Unleavened Bread	Jesus’ burial
Firstfruits	Resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15:20
Pentecost	Holy Ghost — Acts 2
Trumpets	Angelic birth announcement — Luke 2
Atonement	Blood presented in heaven — Hebrews 9:12
Tabernacles	Jesus’ birth — John 1:14

At the second coming

Feast	Focus
Trumpets	Resurrection / trump of God — 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Atonement	Israel’s repentance — Zechariah 12:10
Tabernacles	Christ reigning; nations keep the feast — Zechariah 14:16
Firstfruits / harvest	Saints raised at His coming — 1 Corinthians 15:23
Passover / Unleavened / Pentecost	National redemption, holiness, and teaching of the nations

Closing

Leviticus 23 is not a museum piece. In this reading, the spring feasts announce the Lamb, the tomb, the firstfruits from the dead, and the Spirit poured out; the fall feasts announce the King, the blood applied, and God dwelling with man—once in the manger and the cross, and again when He comes in glory.

Search the Scriptures. Hold fast what is written. Let the feasts turn your eyes to Christ—our Passover, our Firstfruits, and the Word who tabernacled among us.

Proposed birth timings (John at Passover; Jesus at Tabernacles) are interpretive. Test them against Luke 1–2 and the Law.