GOD'S PROGRAM FOR HIS PEOPLE PREDICTED IN ISRAEL'S FEASTS

VIII.  Evaluating Major Views Of Prophecy By The Typology Of Israel's Feasts

(Leviticus 23:1-44)

 

I.               Introduction

A.    Israel's Leviticus 23:1-44 feasts typologically predict God's program for His people in history (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 208), what is valuable for us to study today in view of unsettling current events.

B.    A survey of Israel's feasts reveals that the Leviticus 23:1-44 typological presentation of these feasts provides an informative, clear evaluation of major views of future events, so we study that evaluation (as follows):

II.            Evaluating Major Views Of Prophecy By The Typology Of Israel's Feasts, Leviticus 23:1-44.

A.    The Leviticus 23:1-44 presentation of Israel's feasts reveals that Postmillennialism is in error (as follows):

1.      Postmillennialism holds that Christ will return to the earth after a thousand year kingdom that the Church will establish, and that the Church and not Israel will experience the fulfillment of the Biblical Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. (Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey Of Bible Doctrine, 1978, p. 162-163)

2.      However, this view violates several points of the Leviticus 23 typological presentation of Israel's feasts:

                         a.        First, the start and the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (Millennial Kingdom) are marked by Sabbaths (Lev. 23:39b), what typify God's grace apart from man's meritorious works (Lev. 23:1-3; Heb. 4:4-10) in providing the Kingdom.  Thus, God, not the Church, will set up the Millennial Kingdom!

                         b.        Second, the Feast of Pentecost (Church) is not linked by dates to the Feast of Tabernacles (Kingdom), but to Passover (Christ's Cross), Unleavened Bread (holy living) and Firstfruits (Christ's resurrection) that were fulfilled in Christ's First Advent, Lev. 23:5-16.  The Church does not set up the Kingdom!

                         c.        Third, the Postmillennial view offers no rational need for the Feast of Trumpets (Israel's regathering) and Day of Atonement (Israel's cleansing) that are linked by dates to the Feast of Tabernacles (Kingdom)!

B.    The Leviticus 23:1-44 presentation of Israel's feasts reveals that Amillennialism is in error (as follows):

1.      Amillennialism holds that there is no literal Millennial Kingdom, but that the Kingdom currently exists in the form of God's rule from heaven over the present Church on earth, Ibid., p. 163.

2.      Amillennialists thus hold the Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled in one of three ways, but each one errs!

                         a.        Some hold the land promises were fulfilled under Solomon.  Yet, Solomon did not rule over all that God in Genesis 15:18-21 promised Abraham, and Israel did not possess it forever as God had promised, Ibid.

                         b.        Some hold the covenant was conditional and does not have to be fulfilled since Israel sinned and gave away her right to God's promises.  However, the Day of Atonement (Israel's cleansing) occurs before the Feast of Tabernacles (Kingdom), so Israel's sin will not irrevocably disqualify her for the Kingdom, Ibid.

                         c.        Some hold that the Church fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant in a non-literal way, that Christ sits on David's throne in heaven now and is fulfilling to the Church the "'necessary essence'" of the Abrahamic Covenant, Ibid.  However, (i) the Feast of Pentecost (Church) is not linked by date to the Feast of Tabernacles (Kingdom), but to the feasts that typify Christ's First Advent.  (ii) Also, this view does not explain the need for the Feast of Trumpets (Israel's regathering) and Day of Atonement (Israel's cleansing) that are linked by dates to- and thus are preparatory for the Feast of Tabernacles (Kingdom).  (iii) Then, Christ in Revelation 3:21 distinguished His earthly Davidic throne from His Father's heavenly one, so any view, including Progressive Dispensationalism, that equates these two thrones as the same throne errs!

C.    The Leviticus 23:1-44 presentation of Israel's feasts reveals that Premillennialism is correct (as follows):

1.      Premillennialism holds that Christ returns before a literal Millennial Kingdom, that He and not the Church establishes it and that Israel will experience the literal fulfillment of the Biblical Covenants, Ibid.

2.      This view fits the typological layout of the Leviticus 23 feasts: the first four feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost) are linked to each other by dates as Christ's First Advent while  the last three feasts (Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles) are linked to each other by dates as His Second Advent.

 

Lesson: The typology of the Leviticus 23:1-44 presentation of Israel's feasts show that Postmillennialism and each of the views of Amillennialism along with Progressive Dispensationalism err, but that Premillennialism is correct.

 

Application: Since Premillennialism alone holds the Church responsible only to disciple individuals for Christ's coming Kingdom, and since Postmillennialism, Amillennialism and Progressive Dispensationalism each make the Church in some way responsible to be involved in ruling or redeeming secular society, may we Premillennialists focus on our Biblical calling of discipling individuals and not try to redeem a lost society!