The Old Testament has been appropriately called, "The picture book of the Bible." Perhaps this is nowhere more evident than in the twenty-third chapter of the book of Leviticus where we find the instructions for Israel concerning the observance of the seven great feasts, or appointments, of the Lord. These feasts were as follows: Passover, Unleavened Bread, the First-fruits, Pentecost,- Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. Undoubtedly, these are involved in the Apostle Paul's declaration to the Corinthians, that "all these things happend unto them r Israel) for ensamples (literally, 'tones' V and they ?re written for our admonition"" (I Cor. 10:11). Hence, it will be profitable for us to Study these picture-presentations of truth that we might be "throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:17).

It will be of interest to our readers to know that many Bible teachers have sensed this typical message of the feasts so we quote briefly from a representative group by way of illustration.

The first quotation is from Dr. Bonar's "Commentary on Leviticus," p. 397: "It is beautifully supposed by some, that Israel's feasts represent the course of time — this earth's days, from creation down to the final end. The Lamb slain (passover) commences it, and the eighth day of the happy feast of tabernacles is its close; while the Sabbath, the rest — God's rest in Himself, and His creatures rest around Him — both precedes and follows the course of time."

Dr. Joseph A. Seiss furnishes us the next significant quotation regarding the meaning of the feasts of the Lord: "There are three general aspects in which these remarkable festivals may be considered. They had important relations to the peace and prosperity of the Jews as a nation ; they embodied a great religious idea; and they presented a chronological pre-figuration of the great facts of our redemption ,, (The Gospel in Leviticus," p. 345).

The third statement is from the well-known C. H. Mcintosh, and clearly reveals his recognition of the typical character of the annual feasts: "Strictly speaking, as the attentive reader will observe, Israel's first great feast was the Passover, and their seventh was the feast of tabernacles. That is to say, divesting them of their typical dress, we have, first, redemption ; and last of all, we have the millennial glory. The paschal lamb typified the death of Christ (I Cor. 5:7) ; and the feast of tabernacles typified 'the times of the restitution of all things, of which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began' (Acts 3:21)."

The last quotation is from "His appointments," pp. 12-13, By August Van Ryn and plainly indicates his belief in the pictorial nature of the feasts of the Lord: "These three general feasts, in their spiritual application, are symbolic of God's provision for us in the death of Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and of our Lord's glorious coming", thus of the past, the present and the future. They present Grace, Guidance, and Glory. Halleluiah! There were four other feasts, and these seven altogether take us in thought from the cross on to the glorious future, embracing" in their meaning of provisions of God's grace for the Church of God and for Israel. His chosen earthly people. They begin at Calvary and on on to the eternal day when God shall he all in all when the Jew, the Gentile and the Church of God shall enjoy the riches of His grace."

Our emphasis in the consideration of these feasts of the Lord shall be upon the work of our Lord Jesus Christ With this in view, we shall note that they fall into three groups: (1) The Passover and Unleavened Bread typifying redemption through Christ: (2) The First-fruits and Pentecost typifying resurrection through Christ; and (3) Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles, typifying the return of Christ.

Let us turn now to the consideration of the first of these "Feasts of the Lord." namely. the Passover. The scriptures from Leviticus are verses two and three of chapter twenty-three and read as follows:

"These are the feasts of the Lord even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover."

A clearer understanding of the passover is gained from reading Exodus 12:3-13 which records God's instructions to Moses and Aaron when it was instituted so we quote this portion also:

"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel , saving, 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 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 sheen, or from the goats. And ye shall keen 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 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 lees, 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 of 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 you 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"

In order to be certain that the Passover is a type of Christ we turn to the New Testament and read these words: "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" (I Cor. 5:7).

1) Achie H. Yetter is Director of the Bible Institute of Denver Bible College, and is in demand as a Bible conference speaker.