The High and Holy Days Broken Down
We at United Hebrew Nation hope that you will have a blessing of the reading and the hearing of Gods true word. Please take notes and read for understanding because the world has so many lies out there to fool you and to get you killed by God. Thank you for taking out time to hear the word of The Most High God.
Holy Days:
Passover
Today well learned that God reveals His plan of salvation for
mankind in His commanded holy days. The first step in that plan is
shown in the observance of the Passover. The world around us is filled
with sin and evil of every kind, and it has been that way since Adam
and Eve disobeyed God's command not to eat of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. For God to fulfill His plan of reproducing
Himself, He had to provide a way to redeem man from his sinful
condition and implement a means of forgiveness.
God is holy and will not tolerate sin in any form, even in human
beings. Because He will not allow sinful people into His Kingdom,
humans must be "justified." By this, God forgives a person's sins,
brings him into a right relationship with Himself and imputes Christ's
righteousness to him. Only after being forgiven can people take the
additional steps of character development and overcoming to qualify to
enter the Kingdom of God. Our annual keeping of the Passover reminds
us of this initial step in fulfilling the plan of God.
1. When God called the children of Israel out of Egypt, did He have to
show them when the year began? Exodus 12:1-2.
Comment: During their long sojourn in Egypt, the Israelites lost track
of time—they even forgot which day was the Sabbath. God had to show
Israel when His year began so that they could begin observing His holy
days. Israel's calling out of Egypt symbolizes God calling us out of
this evil world.
2. Is Passover one of God's festivals? Leviticus 23:4-5.
Comment: Passover is a feast of the Lord, not a feast of Israel or
the Jews. He instituted it and commands us to keep it.
3. How was Israel to observe the Passover? Exodus 12:3-11.
Comment: God told each Israelite family to choose an unblemished lamb
on the 10th day of the month Abib. On the 14th day at twilight (just
after sundown as the 14th began), they killed the lamb, putting its
blood on the doorpost and lintel of their homes. Then they roasted and
ate the lamb.
4. Why did they put the blood on their doorposts and lintels? Exodus
12:12-13.
Comment: The blood was a sign to the death angel to "pass over" their
homes when it went through Egypt. Because of it, Israel's firstborn
were saved, while Egypt's firstborn died.
5. What did killing the lamb and putting its blood around the door
represent? Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Acts 8:32; Revelation 7:14; I Peter
1:18-19.
Comment: These yearly rituals represented the death of Jesus Christ,
who was God in the flesh. The innocent lamb had to be without blemish
because it represented the only Man who ever lived a perfect, sinless
life. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who gave His life and shed His
blood so that we may be saved from eternal death by paying the penalty
for our sins. Through faith in His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness
of sin and come into a right relationship with God. Because His life
was worth more than all human life combined, His sacrifice paid the
price for all sin. He redeemed us from the penalty that the breaking
of God's law imposes and freed us to live righteously.
6. Was Jesus crucified on Passover? John 18:39; 19:13-18.
Comment: Our Savior was crucified in the early afternoon of the day of
the Passover. This further confirms He was the One who was to give His
life as a ransom for many. Even to the very day, He completely
fulfilled the symbolism of the lamb.
7. Did Jesus observe the Passover during His life on earth? Luke
2:40-42; John 2:13, 23.
Comment: Jesus kept the Passover as a man because God had commanded it
as a festival. In this, He set us a perfect example, showing us that
we should observe this festival too.
8. Are New Testament Christians commanded to keep the Passover? I
Corinthians 5:7-8.
Comment: The apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians to
observe the Passover as a memorial of the death of Christ, our
Passover, who was sacrificed for us.
9. What did Jesus teach is the first step in observing the New
Testament Passover? John 13:1-5, 14-15.
Comment: While His disciples ate the Passover meal, Jesus arose and
washed the disciples' feet. Considered a very lowly responsibility in
that culture, foot washing was performed by servants when visitors
entered a house. By performing this act of humility, Jesus showed us
how we should serve each other. He commands Christians everywhere and
throughout all ages to follow His example.
10. What else did Jesus teach His disciples to do in observing the
Passover? Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20.
Comment: Jesus told His disciples to partake of unleavened bread and
wine during the New Testament Passover service. Through this command,
He charged His followers to observe it as a memorial of His death for
all time. Since Christ's death completely fulfilled the symbolism of
killing a lamb, we no longer need to slaughter a lamb in keeping the
Passover.
11. Must all converted Christians observe the New Testament Passover
every year? John 6:48, 51-54.
Comment: Unless we eat His flesh (represented by the unleavened bread)
and drink His blood (symbolized by the wine), we have no life in us
and will not inherit eternal life. How vital it is for us to keep the
Passover every year.
12. Did the New Testament church of God continues to keep the Passover
yearly? Acts 12:4.
Comment: Some translations grossly mistranslate the Greek word pascha
as "Easter." It always means "Passover."
13. Did the apostles teach the Gentiles to observe the Passover? I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Comment: The apostle Paul carefully taught the Gentile Corinthians to
keep the Passover using the symbols of bread and wine that Jesus had
instituted. These scriptures teach us to keep the Passover "till He
comes," and the true church of God will still be observing the
Passover as He commanded. All those who have accepted His redemption
eagerly anticipate His return to share the eternal life He makes
possible by His sacrifice.
Holy Days:
Unleavened Bread
Passover pictures the first major step in God's plan of salvation,
justification through the forgiveness of sin by faith in the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ. The Days of Unleavened Bread explain and memorialize
the second major step in salvation, sanctification. When God
sanctifies us, He separates us for holy use. After cleansing us at
Passover, He sets us apart and considers us to be holy. The problem
is, though, that our human nature remains intact and resists holiness.
When the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, a type of baptism,
they were symbolically washed and sanctified as a holy people to God.
However, they began to murmur and rebel almost immediately. Why?
Because they still had their slave mentality; they were not yet
accustomed to providing for themselves. They were frightened and
intimidated, and they voiced their desire to return to their bondage
in Egypt.
We also find it very easy to return to old, sinful habits and
erroneous ways of thinking. God commands us to keep the Days of
Unleavened Bread yearly to remind us to continue to fight free of the
bondage to Satan's world and our own carnal nature so that we can
truly escape slavery with a high hand.
1. After such a solemn observance as Passover, how does the Night To
Be Much Observed fit in with the Days of Unleavened Bread? Exodus
12:42; 14:8; Numbers 33:3.
Comment: Israel, a nation of slaves, began to glimpse the possibility
of freedom through Moses. Their anticipation roller-coasted from high
expectation to dread after each plague. How their emotions must have
soared when they walked away from the brickyards with their firstborn
alive, laughing and playing. They left Egypt with a high hand or as we
might say "on a real high". The Night To Be Much Observed memorializes
our own freedom from spiritual bondage. We left spiritual Egypt, the
world, behind, and in great hope and zeal, began our trek toward God's
Kingdom.
2. Why did God tell the Israelites to eat unleavened bread and put
leaven out of their homes? Exodus 12:19-20, 39.
Comment: The Exodus involved a great deal of urgency and haste. With
Egypt virtually destroyed, the Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave
lest further devastation occur. However, God knew Egypt would not long
tolerate the loss of her slaves or delay in seeking vengeance. The
window of opportunity for escape would quickly close. They did not
even have time to let their bread rise! Biblically, leaven represents
sin. Once we are converted, we must diligently endeavor to rid
ourselves of sin and live God's pure way of life (I Corinthians 5:8).
Like the Israelites, we must flee from sin, lest it pursue and destroy
us (Matthew 12:43-45).
3. How does leavening demonstrate the effect of sin in our lives? I
Corinthians 5:6; James 2:10-11.
Comment: Just as a little leaven in bread quickly spreads completely
through the dough, one "little" sin affects our whole being. As James
points out, if we break one commandment, we are guilty of breaking the
whole law. One sin begets another unless the chain is broken through
repentance.
4. How does sin puff us up? I Corinthians 5:2, 6-8.
Comment: The Corinthian congregation had serious problems with sexual
sins, but instead of feeling terrible, people were "glorying" in it.
They did not comprehend the slavery imposed by profligate lifestyles:
broken marriages, ruined health and alienation from God and man. They
did not realize true liberty is in keeping the law.
5. Does leaven represent false doctrine as well? Matthew 16:6-12; I
Corinthians 5:8.
Comment: Jesus points out the error of the Pharisees' doctrines, and
Paul advises the Corinthians to partake of the bread of sincerity and
truth. False doctrine causes us to think more highly of ourselves than
we ought. True doctrine promotes sincerity, humility and obedience to
the Sovereign of the Universe, the overall lesson of this festival.
6. Why do we now keep these days? What is their spiritual
significance? Exodus 13:8-9; I Corinthians 5:1-13.
Comment: These days are a memorial to God's law and to His powerful
deliverance from Egypt and bondage. Paul explains this significance to
the Corinthians and the urgency attached to cease sinning. He says we
should not even keep company with a brother involved in flagrant sin.
Also, by ridding our homes of sin, we realize that overcoming sin is
hard work.
7. Why are there seven days of Unleavened Bread but only one day of
Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets and Atonement? Exodus 12:19; Hebrews
12:1; I Corinthians 9:27; 10:12-13; Romans 7:14-25.
Comment: God knows that we tend to change slowly. He gives us seven
days each year to concentrate on our duty to rid our lives of sin.
Those acts that are God's responsibility the sacrifice of one for all
sin, the sending of His Spirit, the resurrection of the dead or the
binding of Satan He can accomplish in one day. The part that involves
mankind's participation overcoming sin requires more time and
attention. The Days of Unleavened Bread represent a period of judgment
when man is required to overcome. To us, overcoming a deep-seated sin
can seem to take an eternity. The obvious lesson is that we must draw
much nearer to the Source of the power to overcome.
8. This world's Christianity has perverted Passover into Easter and
completely dismissed the Days of Unleavened Bread. What have they lost
by avoiding these days? Revelation 3:12; 22:14-15; Hebrews 6:4-6;
12:14-17.
Comment: It has lost a vital step in salvation: Sanctification. God
sets us aside for a lifetime of overcoming sin so that we might enter
His Kingdom. By their "once saved, always saved" doctrine, worldly
Christians deny the whole process of putting sin out of their lives.
They believe that once they "accept Christ," their salvation is
secure they cannot lose it no matter what lifestyle they choose to
live. This directly contradicts God's holy Word in Hebrews six and twelve.
God has chosen to reveal this festival to us so that we will overcome,
pursue holiness and secure eternal life in His Kingdom.
Holy Days:
Pentecost Feast of Weeks
As we study the meaning of God's holy days, a logical pattern surfaces
that unlocks truths that remain a mystery to the vast majority of the
world's people. The day of Pentecost symbolizes a major key to
spiritual understanding because upon this day God sent His Holy Spirit
to His church, providing Christ's disciples with the power, love and
understanding to carry out the work of the church. This happens by
the Holy Spirit, the key to understanding the spiritual principles of
God's Word, opens our understanding of the plan that God is working
out among humanity.
God established His holy days around the two major harvests of the
year, a small one in the spring and a larger one in the fall. These
harvest seasons typify two spiritual harvests. Pentecost, occurring in
late spring, symbolizes the first spiritual harvest and reveals that
this is not the only day of salvation. Those whom God calls now are
merely a "pilot group" that He has specifically selected to be His
"first fruits." This day is also the anniversary of God's church—the
beginning of the portion of God's master plan in which He calls people
out of this evil world to create in them His holy, perfect, spiritual
character.
1. During what three periods of the year did God command Israel to
appear before Him? Exodus 23:14-16.
Comment: The "three times" are three general periods during which
God's holy days fall. Passover and Unleavened Bread occur in early
spring, the "Feast of Harvest" in late spring and the "Feast of
Ingathering" in the fall.
2. How did the spring harvest begin? Leviticus 23:10-11, 14.
Comment: Before the Israelites could reap the spring crop, God
commanded them to bring a sheaf of grain to the priest, who waved it
before God for acceptance. This "wave sheaf offering" occurred on "the
day after the Sabbath" that falls during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
3. How do we determine when to observe Pentecost, also called "the
Feast of Weeks"? Leviticus 23:15-16, 21.
Comment: This late spring holy day must be counted. God instructs us
to count fifty days from the day that the wave sheaf was offered. This
explains why this day is commonly called Pentecost, which means "count
fifty." The Sabbath (verse 15), the day after which we start to count,
is not an annual holy day, but the weekly Sabbath that falls during
Unleavened Bread. We know this because Pentecost must be counted every
year. If this Sabbath were an annual Sabbath, Pentecost would always
fall on a fixed date. It always falls on the same day of the week the
first day, Sunday—because one begins to count on a Sunday.
4. What special offering did God command to be offered on Pentecost in
the Old Testament? Leviticus 23:17.
Comment: God commanded that two loaves of bread be offered as
first fruits to God. These two loaves represent the Old and New
Testament churches.
5. Are the members of God's church regarded as first fruits? James
1:18; Revelation 14:4.
Comment: Pentecost, the Feast of First fruits, represents the first
part of God's spiritual harvest. God is now calling a small number of
people, the first fruits, into His church. These people, who live in
the world but are not part of it (John 17:15-16), are training to be
the leaders in the World Tomorrow when God will work to save the whole
world.
6. Is the end time a spiritual harvest? Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43.
Comment: "End of the age" (verse 39) refers to the time of Christ's
second coming and the resurrection of the dead when God will reap the
first fruits of His harvest. The fifty days between the wave sheaf
offering and Pentecost symbolize the time from the founding of the
church to the end of the age when the small harvest of the first fruits
occurs.
7. What did the wave sheaf offering symbolize? I Corinthians 15:20-23.
Comment: Jesus Christ, the first of the first fruits, willingly gave
His life so others may receive forgiveness of sin. He was a holy,
sinless sacrifice, and three days later, He was the first person
resurrected to eternal life. In this, He fulfilled the symbolism of
the wave sheaf offering.
8. Did Jesus have to be accepted just as the wave sheaf offering was?
John 20:17.
Comment: Jesus was crucified on the day of the Passover in AD 31,
which fell that year on a Wednesday. God resurrected Him at the end of
the weekly Sabbath (Saturday). He appeared to Mary Magdalene the next
morning, the day after the weekly Sabbath during Unleavened Bread,
when the priests presented the wave sheaf offering. He did not permit
her to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Just
as the High Priest had to wave the sheaf of grain before the spring
harvest began, so our Savior had to ascend to the Father that day to
be accepted before Him. Once this happened, He allowed His disciples
to touch Him (cf. Matthew 28:9; John 20:20-28).
9. Did Christ's disciples observe Pentecost? Acts 2:1.
Comment: This was the Day of Pentecost exactly fifty days after Christ
ascended to heaven to be accepted by the Father on the day the sheaf
of grain was waved.
10. What happened then to fulfill a promise that Jesus had made to His
disciples? Acts 2:2-4; John 14:16, 26.
11. Was the Holy Spirit to be in the disciples as contrasted to
dwelling with them? John 14:17.
Comment: During Jesus' life on earth, the Holy Spirit was with the
disciples. After the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, the Spirit was
within them as it had been in Christ. At this time, the disciples were
begotten by the Holy Spirit, marking the beginning of the church of God.
12. Did the early church continue to keep Pentecost after the Holy
Spirit came? Acts 20:16; I Corinthians 16:8.
Comment: About 25 years after Christ's ascension into heaven, Paul,
the apostle to the Gentiles, hurried to be in Jerusalem in time for
Pentecost. Just as the early church kept Pentecost every year, so the
true church of God continues to keep it today as a continual reminder
of our part in God's great master plan of salvation.
Holy Days:
Feast of Trumpets
Normally, church members approach Passover and Unleavened Bread very
somberly. The enormity of what our Father and His Son risked for us is
sobering, especially as we examine ourselves in comparison to the
perfection of Jesus Christ. At Pentecost, the mood lightens as we
contemplate the coming of God's Holy Spirit as a comforter and guide
during our journey toward the Kingdom of God. It is a thrill to
realize that God has chosen us to be part of the first harvest of His
creation.
This exuberant mood stays with us as we approach the Feast of
Trumpets. We tend to focus on the return of Christ as King of Kings
and Lord of Lords and on our resurrection to glory as this festival
depicts. What a joyous day that will be. Though Trumpets does
ultimately focus on these events, we should consider other
sobering even terrifying meanings as we near the Feast of Trumpets,
for it also depicts a terrible time of judgment upon the people of
this world.
1. Why do we call this holy day "the Feast of Trumpets"? Leviticus
23:23-25.
Comment: God commands us to keep this holy day each year so we will
remember something about the "blowing of trumpets."
2. What do trumpets symbolize in Scripture? Isaiah 58:1; Jeremiah 4:5;
6:1; Ezekiel 33:3; Joel 2:1, 15; Amos 3:6.
Comment: Trumpets symbolize a loud, warning cry of impending danger.
These verses from the prophets impart a dire warning to those living
in the end time: The day of the Lord is at hand, a day of darkness,
gloominess and clouds over man's society. The prophets strongly
admonish the ministry to raise their voices as trumpets to warn of
sudden, terrifying destruction.
3. Are these warnings just for the world, or are they for God's people
too? Same verses.
Comment: Though originally intended for Israel, these warnings apply
specifically to the called-out children of God since we are the ones
living in the end time with the understanding of God's plan. In fact,
we have the most to lose by ignoring these stern prophecies of death
and destruction. They are admonishments to prepare us
Spiritually for the tumult ahead. Notice that these verses stress
repentance, fasting and prayer, and who but God's elect truly
understand them?
4. How do these warnings apply to the Feast of Trumpets? Revelation
8-9; 11:15-19.
Comment: The seventh seal, which includes the seven trumpets,
announces the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ. I
Corinthians 15:52 says that the resurrection will occur "at the last
trumpet," and in I Thessalonians 4:16 Paul writes that Christ "will
descend from heaven with a shout, . . . with the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first." These proofs lead unmistakably to
the conclusion that the Feast of Trumpets represents this step in the
plan of God.
5. Why must God pour out His wrath on humanity? I Corinthians 13:9-13.
Comment: We do not know all the reasons why such destruction and death
must occur, but we do know that God will do it in love. It may be that
He sends these plagues in just retribution for their sin, or He may be
saving their character from permanent rebellion against Him. He
desires all to repent and attain His Kingdom (II Peter 3:9), so He
will do whatever is necessary to bring that to pass.
6. Does God's church have a responsibility in preparing for Christ's
return? II Peter 3:10-18; Revelation 19:7-9.
Comment: It is one thing to celebrate a joyous meeting with Christ it
is quite another to ensure that we are a fitting bride for Him. The
church must do its part in cooperating with God to prepare us as holy,
righteous, godly saints who are worthy to marry His Son.
7. Revelation 10:7 says that when the seventh angel "is about to
sound, the mystery of God would be finished." What is this mystery? I
Corinthians 15:50-58.
Comment: The great mystery is that we can and will become immortal and
incorruptible spirit beings at Christ's return. This is the part of
the Feast of Trumpets that we rejoice in—for good reason—for vision of
what We will be is a great motivator. I John 3:2 says we will be just
like the returning Christ, who is very God, "the firstborn among many
brethren" (Romans 8:29; see Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:18).
8. Is God's plan finished when Christ returns? I Corinthians 15:23-28;
Revelation 20.
Comment: The resurrection at Christ's second coming is only the
beginning of God's reign on the earth. In the proper time and order,
all who have lived will be given an opportunity to repent and enter
God's glorious Kingdom as sons of God. These events are more fully
contemplated in the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
9. Will Jesus return on the Feast of Trumpets?
Comment: The church of God has supposed this to be true for many
years and the biblical material seems to support His second coming On
that day some time soon. However, no verse specifically, unequivocally
states this. The Feast of Trumpets pictures His return, but we cannot
blindly assume that He will in fact come on that day. The odds are no
worse than 1 in 365, however.
Because we know that He will return soon, we can be prepared for it.
If we learn to love each other fervently which is the basis of His
judgment of us (Matthew 25:31-46) we will qualify to help perfect
others. We will be prepared to help others as they recover from the
terrible times of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. We
will be trained to teach and guide others as they strive to enter
God's Kingdom.
For us, Being Ready is much more important than When Christ returns.
As the prophets advised, we need to be busy repenting, overcoming,
praying and fasting as Christ's return approaches.
Holy Days:
The Day of Atonement
In our continuing study on the holy days, we have seen the plan of God
broaden from our personal redemption and removal of sin in Passover
and the Days of Unleavened Bread to the founding of the church and
giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Trumpets picture the return
of Christ, the changing of the saints into immortal spirit beings and
God's judgment on all mankind. But one more hurdle must be overcome
before salvation can be made available to everyone. God must remove
the archenemy, Satan the Devil, to produce unity between Him and humanity.
The Day of Atonement depicts the accomplishment of this step in God's
purpose. Though this prodigious feat deserves our joyous praise and
thanksgiving to God, Atonement is the most solemn of the seven
festivals. On this day, Christians fast afflict their souls to show
that only when man sees himself in proper comparison to God will he
have the right attitude to be truly at one with Him. When Satan is
bound and men live humbly before God, then God's Word and Spirit will
work wonders among the people of the world.
1. Is Atonement a commanded feast of God? Leviticus 23:26-32.
Comment: God emphasizes this day's solemnity by threatening death to
those who fail to afflict their souls or who do any work on this day.
Nothing is more important than being at one with Him.
2. What is it to "afflict your souls"? Isaiah 58:3.
Comment: Fasting puts us in a proper attitude to submit to God. When
we deprive ourselves of the necessities of life, we see how dependent
we are upon God's providence. This is why in a true, spiritual fast we
neither eat nor drink anything for the whole 24 hours of the day
(Deuteronomy 9:18; Esther 4:16). God desires such a humble spirit in
us so that we can walk in harmony with Him (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 66:2).
3. What are we trying to accomplish when we fast? Isaiah 58:3-12.
Comment: The members of Isaiah's audience were fasting for all the
wrong reasons. They fasted to get things from God and hypocritically
appear righteous. God says, though, that we should fast to free others
from their sins, to intercede with God for their healing, to help
provide for their needs and to understand His will. Fasting is a tool
of godly love we are to use for the good of others, and any benefits
we derive from it are wonderful blessings. On the Day of Atonement, we
fast to implore God to bring to pass the greatest blessing of all upon
the world and ourselves: unity, oneness, with Him.
4. Did the early church keep this Fast? Acts 27:9.
Comment: Luke, writing this over 30 years after Christ's death, makes
it very clear that the early church observed this holy day.
5. What unusual ritual did the ironic high priest perform on the Day
of Atonement? Leviticus 16.
Comment: This lengthy, involved ritual depicts all of the steps that
must be accomplished before mankind can truly be at one with God. In
short, the following must occur:
You a high priest must be pure and sinless to mediate between God and
man (verse 4). Christ, having lived a sinless life, is our eternal
High Priest.
You the high priest must enter God's presence with blood to open the way
between God and man (verses 3, 14-16). Christ, by His own sacrifice,
gains us entrance before God's throne, having rent the veil (Matthew
27:51).
The sins of men must be covered by the offering of an innocent
victim (verses 9, 15). Christ's blood covers our sins, and God grants
us forgiveness.
The cause of man's sins must be removed (verses 10, 20-22). After
Christ returns, Satan the being who first sinned and has been
broadcasting his sinful, rebellious nature to all mankind will be
imprisoned so he cannot deceive men.
6. How long will Satan be bound? Revelation 20:1-3.
Comment: Mankind will have a thousand years of freedom from the
Devil's attitudes of pride, rebellion, vanity and strife. What a
peaceful, blessed time the Millennium will be.
7. What will be the result of Satan's removal? Acts 3:19-21.
Comment: Once the Deceiver is neutralized, refreshing and restitution
can begin. Christ and the saints will immediately work to restore the
earth to its beauty and productivity (Isaiah 35). God's perfect
government and laws will be reinstituted , bringing peace and
prosperity to all who submit to them (Isaiah 2:1-4). In a spirit of
harmony, everyone will pitch in to rebuild the waste places and ruins
caused by man's and Satan's sins (Isaiah 58:12; 61:4; Amos 9:14). This
is the wonderful World Tomorrow that all of God's people have looked
toward since the Garden of Eden. All that is good very good (Genesis
1:31) will be restored.
Holy Days:
Feast of Tabernacles
In these studies on the holy days, we have seen God's plan unfolding.
The process of salvation, revealed in the spring festivals, culminates
in the Feast of Trumpets, picturing Christ returning to earth in power
to crush Satan's end-time attempt to subjugate the world. Saints from
all ages will be resurrected, or if alive, changed to immortality. For
the first time in history, man will be totally at one with his
Creator. Satan will then be bound for a thousand years, and his evil,
destructive influence will be totally cut off.
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the ensuing Millennium when the
whole earth will rest. In Hebrews 4, the writer discusses the Sabbath
as a day of rest. He uses Israel entering the Promised Land as a type
of our entering into rest when Christ returns. If the week typifies
the length of God's plan, we are now living on "Friday," the sixth
day, as almost 6,000 years—a thousand years as a day—have elapsed
since Adam's creation. Christians should be busy preparing for
Christ's return and His coming Sabbath rest.
1. What will life be like in the World Tomorrow? Isaiah 11:5-16;
29:18; 35:1-10.
Comment: Man is proud of his powerful computers, satellites, modern
scientific labs and medical discoveries. In spite of this, he fights
with nature and other men. Crime, drug abuse, sexual perversions and
all sorts of other evils escalate. The deaf and blind go unhealed. Man
pollutes his air, water and soil because he does not know how to
manage a civilization. With all his technological advances, man cannot
get along with his neighbor.
1.The earth being "full of the knowledge of the Lord" means far more
than "everyone will go to the right church". God's knowledge is vast;
He knows how to make a civilization work even a high-tech one. In the
Millennium, man will be at peace. Nations, neighbors and even spouses
will not fight. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, blindness and
deafness will be eradicated. Eyeglasses and braces will be found only
in museums. The deserts will produce bountiful harvests. The animal
kingdom will peacefully co-exist with humanity. All this will be the
result of an unprecedented explosion of knowledge in how to do things
right.
2. What will be the Millennial job of those who are glorified at
Christ's return? Revelation 5:10; 20:4, 6; Isaiah 30:20-21.
Comment: As King of kings, Christ will appoint His faithful followers
as kings and priests over the earth. They will have abilities as God
has today. If a person considers an action that would hurt himself or
someone else, the glorified children of God will teach them to choose
a better course. At that time, people "shall not hurt nor destroy in
all My holy mountain" (Isaiah 11:9).
3. Over whom will the saints rule? Isaiah 11:11-16; 66:14-21;
Zechariah 14:9-19.
Comment: After Jesus Christ returns, the survivors of all the nations
will be gathered, and He will appoint the resurrected saints to rule
over them. If they initially rebel against His rule, He will cut off
all rain until they submit and keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
4. How will their keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles show submission
to God? Zechariah 14:16-19.
Comment: During the Millennium, people will be required to go to
Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles to worship the King, Jesus
Christ. The Feast will be their primary reminder of where they are in
God's plan and when they must secure their salvation. If they fail to
keep it, they will reveal their refusal to accept Christ as sovereign
and to cooperate with Him in His purpose.
5. What occurs at the end of the Millennium? Revelation 20:7-10.
Comment: God will release Satan for a short time when the thousand
years end. The people, familiar with Christ and His kings and priests,
will have lived in unprecedented peace, happiness and prosperity. They
will have learned and lived God's way from birth. Surely, Satan could
have no influence on them.
Almost instantly, however, he will raise an army of people "as the
sand of the sea" out of "the four corners of the earth". His arguments
will persuade them that they should and can destroy Christ and his
throne in Jerusalem. The Most High God, however, will annihilate them all in a
blinding flash of fire from heaven and cast the Devil into the Lake of
Fire, never to be freed again.
6. What can we learn from this? I Peter 5:8-11; Revelation 12:7-12.
Comment: This rebellion at the end of the Millennium is often
overlooked in the joy of considering Christ's wonderful rule. Satan's
influence is so powerful he can influence millions of people to follow
him seemingly overnight. Having drawn away a third of the angels from
God (Revelation 12:4; Isaiah 14:12-14) and overcome Adam and Eve, he
has wielded almost total control over man.
His present power will be greatly magnified very shortly when he is
cast down to earth to begin the Great Tribulation. He would deceive
the very elect if it were possible (Matthew 24:24). It is no wonder
Peter instructs us to be sober, to be vigilant, to resist Satan in
faith that Christ might establish us in the end.
Holy Days:
Last Great Day
This study concludes the series on God's annual holy days. We have
seen that Passover, the first festival, memorializes Jesus' sacrifice
for man. The Days of Unleavened Bread instruct Christ's disciples in
holy conduct. Pentecost pictures God's Holy Spirit given to His
church. The Feast of Trumpets warns mankind of impending war and the
return of Jesus Christ. Atonement depicts Satan being restrained and
man finally becoming one with God. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures
Christ's thousand-year reign of unprecedented peace and prosperity.
The final festival is the Last Great Day. It looks forward to a time
after the Millennium when an awesomely wonderful period of salvation
will take place. During this time the majority of mankind rich and
poor, young and old, men and women will be resurrected and have an
opportunity to inherit eternal life. Billions will qualify to enter
the God Family. On the other hand, those who will not repent, who will
not submit to God and His way, will be cast into the Lake of Fire and
die the second eternal death. What a fair and merciful God we have.
1. Why is this festival called "the eighth day" and "the last day,
that great day of the feast"? Leviticus 23:34-36, 39; Numbers 29:35;
John 7:37.
Comment: This seventh holy day is observed immediately following the
Feast of Tabernacles. Biblically, seven symbolizes perfection. It is
also the eighth day of the Feast, and the Hebrew word for "eight" is
related to another meaning "fatness," implying abundance,
fertility even resurrection and regeneration. According to Hebrew Israelite
tradition, on the Last Great Day, they finished reading what they
started when Tabernacles began. Though intimately connected to the
Feast of Tabernacles, it holds a distinct meaning of its own. It is
part of it, yet separate.
The offerings required on this day in the Old Testament were the
largest of all, typifying Israel's thankfulness to God for all He
provided. Today, God's people keep this day with praise and
thankfulness spiritual sacrifices (Hebrews 13:15) for His abundant
spiritual gifts.
2. What does the Last Great Day foreshadow? Isaiah 65:20-25;
Revelation 20:11-15.
Comment: This holy day represents the Great White Throne Judgment
period. The prevalent conditions of the Millennium God's government,
peace, prosperity, etc. will continue into this time, just as the Last
Great Day follows the Feast of Tabernacles. From Isaiah 65:20, some
speculate that this judgment will last a hundred years, the life span
of a healthy individual.
3. What resurrections will occur during this period? Revelation
20:4-6, 11-15.
Comment: The first part of verse 5 inserts a parenthetical statement
that refers to a second resurrection, described in verses 11-15. After
the Millennium, God will raise up to physical life all those who have
never had an opportunity for salvation. Christ will judge all those
who lived throughout human history yet have not been called. Ezekiel
37:1-14 prophesies of God resurrecting all Israel. At the same time
(see Matthew 12:41-42), He will raise all the Gentiles and extend to
them the same offer He does to Israel (Romans 2:7-11; I Timothy 2:4).
If they satisfy God's judgment, He will at some point grant them
eternal life and give them spiritual bodies (I Corinthians 15:44-49).
After all have had his or her opportunity, God still wants to save everyone that
will come to him. Those who will not repent of their rebellion against the
Almighty will be raised to physical life and cast into the Lake of
Fire, which provides a merciful, permanent death (see Matthew 25:41).
4. Does God judge everyone by the same standard? I Peter 4:17-18;
Romans 14:10-12; I Corinthians 3:8, 13; II Corinthians 5:10.
Comment: God judges true Christians today by how well they live by His
Word, and He will judge those who rise in the second resurrection
exactly the same way. They will be given enough time to live a life of
overcoming and obedience, just as God's first fruits are doing in this age.
5. Why is this a great day? John 7:37.
Comment: As the God of the Old Testament (John 1:1-3, 14), Jesus
personally instituted the Last Great Day to symbolize the Great White
Throne Judgment. As Judge of mankind, Christ is great in all His
attributes; He is the perfect Judge of all (John 5:22, 24-30). We can
also see the greatness of this period in the huge number of people who
will be mercifully and lovingly judged and granted eternal life.
6. Why did Christ speak of the Holy Spirit during His proclamation on
the Last Great Day? John 7:37-39.
Comment: His words revealed that a day the White Throne Judgment would
come when all humanity would have free access to the "living water" of
God's Holy Spirit (John 4:13-14; Matthew 5:6; Revelation 22:17). Jesus
is not only Judge of all, but also the One who dispenses the Holy
Spirit to all of His disciples.
7. What occurs after this period? Revelation 21:1-4.
Comment: Following this time of judgment, God will create "a new
heaven and a new earth" a clean, pure world fit for God the Father
Himself. For all eternity, "there shall be no more death, nor sorrow,
nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things
have passed away." All those who have accepted God's way will have
been glorified as members of the God Family, and they will live
forever. Like God, they will create, beautify and spread God's rule
over the entire universe. With this wonderful potential ahead of us,
we can eagerly echo the apostle John's words in Revelation 22:20:
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Should we keep the Feast Days of the Lord forever?
Yes, I believe we will always remember the Feasts. I don't know, for sure (at this point), whether they all will be observed forever. I can only be sure of the new moons and the Seventh-day Sabbath -- though it would stand to reason that the following reference to "sabbath" could also be applied to the Annual Sabbaths.
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Thank you for that post, brother. I started keeping God's Feast Days (rather than the Beast days) in 2002. I've copied your post for further study and to share with the growing movement, here in the U.S., of Seventh-day Adventist Feast-keepers. We hold a free eight-day camping retreat twice a year in California -- in the spring for Passover/Unleavened Bread and in the fall for Tabernacles. But there are many whom can't attend these retreats for one reason or another. I know the movement covers well over 2,000 people across the US and Canada.
It has been quite a blessing the more I get into God's Word and find out about what the Feasts have stood for and what they will stand for in the Final Events. Visit www.BibleExplorations.com to find out more about us.
God bless.
Reply:The D, B %26amp; R of Christ didn't replace any Feasts of the Lord. The first Christians still kept Pentecost and Easter (Acts 2:1; 12;4). Convert like Cornelius (Acts10) and thousands of Gentiles (Acts11) and keep His Commands, which incl. His Feast Days (Jn.14:21) Report It
Reply:My friend you should know if you are a Jew or ask a Jew if you are not. My opinion is that the passover as an example was for the Israelites to remember their slaveries in Egypt and how the Lord their God delivered them. Jesus did it before he died because he had not died. Christians remember his death and his resurrection because christians were not included in their Laws or even the gentiles. Christ is the end of thre law - Romans 9:31,32. Study chapter 10:1-8.
Reply:You warn about deceivers, then you proceed to deceive.
The holy days indeed reveal some of "God's plan" of salvation for mankind by pointing to Christ and His redemptive work. But you insist Christ in turn points us back to these shadows.
The holy days are a part of the old covenant. Christians were never a party to the old covenant, and in any event, that covenant ended upon the death of Christ, seeing as such covenants end upon the death of either party, as explained by the apostle Paul in Romans 7. The Jewish Christian is also seen as dying to that law for the purpose of being freed to be bound directly to Christ. But you would have people be bound to both.
Paul warns us against going back into the teachings of the old covenant in Galatians 4:21 - 5:1. But you ignore this warning, and indeed embrace and teach the old covenant. As a result, you have that veil before your eyes described in II Cor. 3 regarding those who remain in the teachings of Moses; the old testament/covenant.
And even though I point this out to you, you still will not perceive; such is the price one pays for rejecting the true gospel, and promulgating a false one of law.
No one can be held to the conditions of a "contract" they were never a party to, yet this is what you are doing.
.
Reply:Absolutely!
Please read verse 41 below, if the one is forever they all are:
Leviticus 23:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
4 ¶ These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.
6 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.
7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
8 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.
9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10 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:
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 ¶ 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:
16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
23 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 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.
25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27 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.
28 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.
29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32 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.
33 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
34 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.
35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
36 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.
37 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:
38 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.
39 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.
40 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.
41 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.
42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43 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.
44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
Edit: Hogie, read 1 John 2:4
Reply:Forever, good question, i am not sure about that, i know we keep them now and when Jesus returns and after the whitethrone resurrection, but forever i am just not sure,
Most religious teachers say that God's commands given through Moses applied only to ancient Israel and are not for us today. But in drawing that conclusion, most of them overlook the full significance of what God said about Abraham's obedience in Genesis 26:5, hundreds of years before God spoke to Moses and Israel at Mt. Sinai: "Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws" (NIV).
Reply:Yes why not good idea and it wouldn't hurt.
Reply:T
(I thought a short answer was appropriate)
没有评论:
发表评论