Written By Felicia A. Trecek / Revised April 9, 2003

YHWH has seven appointed set-apart times within two seasons of the year He expects us to keep. All are appointed times, but not all are feasts. There are only three feasts. This is important to understand if one wants to understand part of YHWH's salvation plan for mankind.

In the King James bible version of Lev 23 verses 1-5, 37, and 44, the English words Feast or Feasts were translated from the Hebrew word " mo-ade' " which means appointments, a fixed time - according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. The King James should have correctly translated the Hebrew word " mo-ade' " as "appointed times" rather than festivals. However, there are other Leviticus scriptures within Leviticus that also contain the English words "feast" or "feasts", but were properly translated from the Hebrew text. The Hebrew word for "feast" or "feasts" is "chag". The scriptures that contain the word Hebrew word "chag" and was properly translated in Leviticus are: Lev 23:6,34,39,41. The meaning of "chag" according to Strong's is: festival, feast (day), sacrifice, soleminity. In summary, the only true "Feasts" recorded in Leviticus 23 are Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles.

In Deuteronomy 16, the Hebrew word "mo-ade' " is not used at all. The places you'll find the Hebrew word "chag" used and correctly translated as "feast/s" are verses 10,13,14,15, and 16. The only feasts recorded in Deuteronomy 16 are: Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost) and Tabernacles. Verse 16 summarize these feasts: "Three times a year all your males appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths. And none shall appear before YHWH empty handed." There are only THREE festivals, not seven. The remaining four fixed times [Passover, trumpets (day of shouting or clammer), atonement, and last great day] are set-apart appointments only, not feasts.

For each of the three feasts, all the males were mandated to come before YHWH with something to offer.

1st FEAST: Unleavened Bread
This feast was for the first of the first-fruits, and it took place during or immediately following the barley harvest. (Ref: Ruth 2:23, Exodus 9:31<-time of unleavened bread season, Ex 23:19, and Ex 34:26). The males were to bring a basket offering of their first of first-fruits (De 26:1-11, Lev 23:5-11). This first of the first fruits - barley - was for a wave offering. There is no indication, the tithe of the barley was brought at the feast of unleavened bread.

2nd FEAST: Weeks (Greek name is: Penticost)
This feast was for the first fruits. The feast of weeks [Pentecost] took place after the wheat harvest was finished. (Ex 34:22-23, Lev 23:16-17,20-21). There is indication, the Israelites were to bring a tithe of the barley along with the wheat at the second festival of weeks/penicost. (2 Chron 31:2-5-7-12, Ruth 2:23, De 16:16-17)

3rd FEAST: Booths/Tabernacles
This feast took place after the vast harvest - the late wheat, fruits, nuts, figs, oil, grapes, etc. Israelites were to keep the feast after the ingathering from the threshing-floor and from the wine press. Therefore, they were to first harvest the crops, then prepare the harvest such as squeeze the grapes and the like. (Lev 23:39, Deut 16:13,16). [Additional references: Deut 8:7-8, Deut 14:22-23, Ne 10:34-37]. During this time, they were to bring in their tithe of all the fall produce and clean agricultural animals. (2 Chron 31:2-5-7-12)

SALVATION HARVEST
YHWH is not in the business of harvesting agricultural crops. He uses His physical creation to represent the spiritual (Romans 1:20). YHWH is in the business of harvesting mankind through Messiah.

There are three biblical harvests within the year:

1. spring barley - the first of the first fruits at the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
2. spring wheat - the first fruits at the time of the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost
3. all other types of crops - the fall fruits right before the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles

The physical Israelite nation represented the soil (Isaiah 28:18-25) for planting. Messiah represented the barley (first of the first-fruits) planted in the soil. Messiah grew, overcame, and was harvested/resurrected (I Cor 15:20, Acts 26:23, Rev 1:5). He both died and was resurrected during the very first spring feast - the feast of unleavened bread (Luke 22:1,15, John 19:31).

Afterward, the spring wheat (also known as the first-fruits) will be harvested. This crop represents the Spirit lead ones within the new covenant era before Messiah's second coming. The spring wheat will be harvested at the time designated for the first resurrection (I Cor 15:23, 1 Thess 4:16-17).

The fall harvest which occurs right before the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles represents the second resurrection for the many various peoples and nations throughout time. The various types of produce that was harvested in the fall - pomegranates, nuts, grain, grapes, olives (olive oil), figs, etc., represent an eclectic group of people. These people who will rise at the second resurrection will be resurrected as fleshly beings again (John 5:28-29, I Cor 15:50) and will be given a second chance to live a righteous life through the Spirit in order to inherit eternal life (Rev 20:7,12-13). The second resurrection is also referred to as the resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29, Acts 24:15). [Note: The KJ Bible translation improperly translates the word judgment for damnation in some passages]. (Additional references: Daniel 12:1-2, 1 Cor 3:6, John 11:24-26, Acts 2:34, Romans 6:5, I Cor 15:12-28, 41-56, 2 Tim 2:18-19, Heb 6:1-9, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Rev 14:1-7, Rev 20:4-6)