Section Two of Biblical Holy Days

Introduction

Section Two of Biblical Holy Days is a general introduction to the Holy Days. First, we show the meaning of the Biblical Holy Days and how they picture the Plan of Salvation. Then, we address the issue of the validity of the Holy Days, as well as the differences between the Holy Days and the Feast Days. Few Holy Day keepers know that there are three pilgrimage feasts. How are we to observe the Festivals of the Almighty? Proper usage of the Second Tithe is essential to proper festival observance.

" . . . I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem . . . " Acts 18:21.

"For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost," Acts 20:16.

"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: 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," I Corinthians 5:7-8.

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ," Colossians 2:16-17.

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty," Deuteronomy 16:16 (see also Exodus 23:14-17, 34:23).

"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Eternal thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Eternal thy God always," Deuteronomy 14:22-23.

Biblical Feasts

Why were you born? The Creator God has a plan for all mankind which leads to eternal life and eternal happiness. That is the reason why we were born. Death can be defeated, and we can live forever. Salvation is eternal life in the Kingdom of God, the Family of God; it is being saved from the wages of sin, which is death, Romans 3:23. Salvation is not earned through our own efforts, it is God's free and loving gift, Romans 3:24.

The Plan of Salvation involves seven steps, pictured by the Seven Annual Festivals. Unless we act out this plan each year, and grow in grace and knowledge, we lose sight of what the Almighty has in store for us.

Step One: Jesus is Our Passover

The first step of any plan is very important. If you skip the first step, or substitute another step for it, the results might be undesirable. In God's plan the first step is of immense magnitude. It has to do with the death penalty that we have hanging over our heads. Jesus Christ died for our sins, and this means that due to each of us breaking God's Ten Commandments, we have sinned, and the penalty of sin is death unless there is someone else to die in our place.

Jesus Christ, the Creator of the heavens, the earth, and mankind, John 1:1-3, is of more value than all of His creation. Therefore, He could die for all mankind who have sinned, becoming our Passover sacrifice, I Corinthians 5:7.

This sacrifice is applied only after an individual repents of sin, is baptized and accepts Jesus Christ as personal savior, Acts 2:37-38. There is no other way to eternal life except through Jesus Christ; thus, the importance of this first step portrayed by the Passover memorial service of Messiah's death for our sins.

Step Two: Become Spiritually Unleavened

Next is the putting out of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:6-8. Putting out physical leaven for seven days pictures putting sin out of our lives every day through heartfelt desire and effort to quit sinning. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as your are unleavened, for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven . . . but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth," I Corinthians 5:7-8.

In addition to not eating leavened items during this period, we should actively eat unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:6, which pictures putting on Christ; that is, following His example in all that we do, and allowing Him to live His life in us.

Step Three: Receive Gift of Holy Spirit

Since it is impossible to obey God on our own, due to the weaknesses of the flesh and the downward pull of our human nature, we need to invoke the next step in God's plan: God's help. This is His Holy Spirit, which He gives to us after our baptism, Acts 2:38. We then become begotten sons of God.

The gift of God's Holy Spirit was first made available to mankind in general on the Feast of Pentecost, a little more than seven weeks after Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Acts 2:1-4. This was the beginning of the New Testament Church of God.

If we utilize this fantastic gift, we can begin to obey God as we should. And it is this minute portion of God Himself in us that begins our journey toward eternal life. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God," Romans 8:14.

Pentecost is often called the Feast of Firstfruits. You may be part of this select group if God is now calling you, John 6:44.

Step Four: Return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings

The Bible often uses trumpets to signify war and destruction. The Day of Trumpets pictures the end time, climactic war between Christ and the forces of Satan, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings, Revelation 19:11-16. There will never be such a time of war as this in all history. All life would be eradicated from the earth if not for the intervention and second coming of Jesus Christ, Matthew 24:21-22.

The resurrection of the firstfruits will occur at this stage in God's plan, I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 20:1-6.

Step Five: All Earth at Peace and At One With God

Finally, the earth will be at one with its Creator, as pictured by the Day of Atonement, because the Adversary, Satan the Devil, will be imprisoned and not allowed to continue his self-serving rule over this earth, Revelation 20:1-2. All the world will then learn to follow God's way of love and peace instead of Satan's way of hate and war.

Step Six: Thousand-Year Reign of Messiah

After Satan is put away we will enter the truly "golden era" of earth's history, the Millennium, which literally means one thousand years. Jesus and all those resurrected in the first resurrection, shall reign over the earth, bringing fabulous joy and prosperity to all humanity that survive the end time holocaust, Revelation 20:4-6. During these thousand years, many will have their opportunity for salvation (eternal life).

Step Seven: The Dead Live Again

At the end of the Millennium, all the dead throughout history who never had an opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ, will be resurrected to a second human life, Revelation 20:11-12; Ezekiel 37:1-14. They will enter an earth which is a utopia, after one thousand years of Christ's reign, and learn the right way to live. This is their first and only opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal savior, to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is their time to accept the magnificent gift of eternal life being held out to them.

Sometimes this last feast day is called the "8th Day." This is the Biblical term in Leviticus 23. If seven is the number of completion, eight is the number of new beginnings. God has wonderful plans for all of us far into the future, and those plans begin with the 8th Day, the final step in God's Feast Days.

God's Plan of Salvation
Portrayed by His Holy Feasts

Festival/Holy Day Step in God's Plan of Salvation

Passover, Repentance, baptism, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our personal savior.

Unleavened Bread: Heartfelt desire and effort to come out of sin (which is breaking the commandments).

Pentecost: God's gift of His Holy Spirit to help us overcome our sins.

Trumpets: Climactic end time Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings over all the earth, with resurrection of the Saints.

Atonement: Banishment of Satan from the earth, allowing unity between all mankind and the Almighty Creator God.

Tabernacles: Thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth, with man living in peace and happiness God's Way.

Last Great Day: Resurrection of all the dead who never knew the truth; all will then have an opportunity for salvation.

-- adapted from the article, "Should Christians Observe God's Holy Days?" published by the Biblical Church of God, 1984.

God's Three Harvest Seasons

God's Word says that His Seven Annual Festivals occur during three major time periods, each of which represents a harvest: "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year . . ." (Exodus 23:14-17; see also Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

I. FIRST: Early Spring (March/April)

Harvest of the First of the Firstfruits of God's Children -- Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:20; I Thessalonians 4:14)

1. Passover (14th day of First month)

Acceptance of Jesus Christ our Saviour who died for our sins.

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (7 days: 15th - 21st of First month)

Putting sin (leaven) from our lives after accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour.

II. SECOND: Late Spring (May/June)

Harvest of the Firstfruits of God's Children

(I Corinthians 15:23; I Thessalonians 4:15-17)

3. Pentecost (Count 50 days from the day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread)

Receiving of God's Holy Spirit in order to help us in our effort to obey God's righteous Law.

III. THIRD: Fall (September/October)

Harvest of the Rest of the Fruits, the Vast Majority of God's Children

(Revelation 20:4-6, 11-12; Ezekiel 37:11-13)

4. Day of Trumpets (1st Day of Seventh Month)

Return of Jesus Christ to destroy man's evil, ungodly, unrighteous system of government.

5. Day of Atonement (10th Day of Seventh Month)

Reconciliation of God to His People after putting away the Deceiver and Adversary -- Satan the Devil.

6. Feast of Tabernacles (7 days: 15th - 21st of Seventh Month)

Thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth with man living in peace and happiness God's Way.

7. Last Great Day, or Eighth Day (22nd Day of Seventh Month)

New Beginnings. Resurrection to human life of all the dead who never knew the truth in order for them to have their opportunity for salvation.

-- adapted from Answers Newsletter, August/September 1987

Festival Themes

Seven Feast Days, Seven Doctrines

Beatitudes in the Feast Days

Seven Festivals, Seven Churches

Seven Annual Holy Days
Picture Seven Major Past and Future Events in God's Plan of Salvation

Holy Day or Festival; Past Event; Future Event

(1) Passover: Israel's deliverance, Our deliverance from death; death of the Messiah angel, Great Tribulation and Seven Last Plagues

(2) Feast of Unleavened Bread: Israel's exodus from Total deliverance from sin of Egypt, Parting of Red Sea, Resurrection of the Messiah, Wavesheaf, Acceptance of Savior's Sacrifice by the Father, the Marriage Supper

(3) Feast of Giving of the Law at Pentecost; Our receiving fullness of the Holy Spirit, our becoming Spirit beings

(4) Trumpets: Creation of world First Resurrection, Return of Christ, Regathering of Israel

(5) Atonement: Putting away of Putting Satan in restraint Azazel goat

(6) Feast of Tabernacles: Israel living in tents in wilderness 40 years, The Millennium

(7) Last Great Day: Unknown, Second Resurrection, White Throne Judgment, Salvation offered to all mankind, Third Resurrection, New Heavens and New Earth

"The Nazarenes [were] an obscure Jewish-Christian sect, existing at the time of Epiphanius (fl. A.D. 371) . . . . They recognized the new covenant as well as the old, and believed in the resurrection, and in the one God and His Son Jesus . . . . They dated their settlement in Pella from the time of the flight of the Jewish- Christians from Jerusalem, immediately before the siege in A.D. 70 . . . . While adhering as far as possible to the Mosaic economy, as regarding Sabbaths, foods and the like, they did not refuse to recognize the apostolicy of Paul." Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. 19

"Abhorred and publicly execrated by the Jews for their attachment to Christianity, and despised by the Christians for their prejudice in favor of the Mosaic law [with its weekly and annual sabbaths, kosher diet, etc.] they were peculiarly oppressed and unfortunate. Traces of this sect [the Nazarenes] appear as late as the fourth century." -- Hugh Smith, History of the Christian Church, page 72

"The Jewish Christians [Nazarenes] of Palestine retained the entire Mosaic law [with the exception of the ceremonial] and consequently the Jewish festivals . . . . In the Feast of the Passover . . . the Nazarenes eat [unleavened] bread, probably like the Jews . . . ." -- Ecclesiastical History, vol 1, chapter 2, section 30, by Gieseler

"There is another sect, 'Hypisistarians,' that is, worshippers of the most high, whom they worshipped as the Jews only in one person. And they observed their weekly and annual sabbaths, used distinction of their meats, clean and unclean . . . ." -- Antiquities of the Christian Church, Book 16, chapter 16, section 2

Josephus and Festival Fellowship

"Let those that live as remote as the bounds of the land which the Hebrews shall possess, come to that city where the temple shall be, and this three times in a year, that they may give thanks to God for His former benefits, and may entreat Him for those they shall want hereafter; and let them, by this means, maintain a friendly correspondence with one another by such meetings and feastings together, for it is a good thing for those that are of the same stock, and under the same institution of laws, not to be unacquainted with each other; which acquaintance will be maintained by thus conversing together, and by seeing and talking with one another, and so renewing the memorials of this union; for if they do not thus converse together continually, they will appear like mere strangers to one another." -- Antiquities, IV, viii, 7

Philo of Alexandria, often called Philo Judaeus (c. 30 B.C. to c. A.D.40), was a famous classical Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, called "the first theologian." Philo was well-versed in pagan Greek philosophy, including Plato. However, Philo wrote extensively to gain the acceptance, if not the conversion, of Greeks to Judaism. He recognized the Pentateuch as having divine authority and containing all truth.

"The fourth commandment," Philo says, "deals with the sacred seventh day, that it should be observed in a reverent and religious manner . . . . [and men should] rest on the seventh and turn to the study of wisdom . . . ." (Decalogue, 96-98).

Philo concludes: "Again, the experience of those who keep the seventh day is that both body and soul are benefited in two most essential ways. The body is benefited by the recurrence of respite from continuous and wearisome toil, the soul by the excellent conceptions which it receives of God as the world-maker and guardian of what He has begotten. For He brought all things to their completion on the seventh day. These things shew clearly that he who gives due value to the seventh day gains value for himself," (Special Laws, II, 260).

"On this day we are commanded to abstain from all work, not because the law inculcates slackness; on the contrary it always inures men to endure hardship and incites them to labour . . . . Its object is rather to give men relaxation from continuous and unending toil and by refreshing their bodies with a regularly calculated system of remissions, to send them out renewed to their old activities . . . . Further, when He forbids bodily labour on the seventh day, He permits the exercise of the higher activities, namely, those employed in the study of the principles of virtue's lore . . . knowledge and perfection of the mind., (Special Laws, II 60-64).

Philo groups the feasts and holy days, as well as the land Sabbath and jubilee year under the Fourth Commandment. He says that traveling to the Festivals is an important spiritual life exercise. Festivalgoers leave behind them the cares of daily life, and "enjoy a brief breathing-space in scenes of general cheerfulness. Thus filled with comfortable hopes they devote the leisure, as is their bounden duty, to holiness and honouring of God. Friendships are formed between those who hitherto knew not each other . . . [and the mutual festivities] are the occasion of reciprocity of feeling and constitute the surest pledge that all are of one mind." (Special Laws, I, 69-70).

"Proselytes," or newly-joined members of the spiritual community, have equal rank with the longtime native-born members, who are to give them "special friendship" and "more than ordinary goodwill . . . . For the most effectual love-charm, the chain which binds indissolubly the goodwill which makes us one, is to honour the one God," (Special Laws, I, 51-53).

Philo enumerates ten different feasts in the Law:

1. Feast of Every Day

2. Sabbath

3. New Moon

4. Pascha, "the Crossing-feast" (Passover)

5. Feast of Unleavened Bread

6. Festival of the Sheaf

7. Feast of First-products (Weeks, Pentecost)

8. Trumpet Feast

9. The Fast (Day of Atonement)

10. Feast of Tabernacles

The first, which may come as a surprise to some, Philo calls "the feast of every day." Every day, according to Numbers 28:3-4, daily sacrifices were offered in the tabernacle and later the Temple. The entire life of the wise follower of the Almighty is "one continuous feast." The wicked cannot keep a Feast.

Like Josephus, Philo places the Wavesheaf Day on Nisan 16, whereas we feel the Scriptural evidence points to the Sunday following the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Philo draws a number of conclusions as to the spiritual meaning of the festivals, which you can discover for yourself when you read his excellent books. Obviously, the Sabbaths had great meaning to this Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt.

Living in Alexandria, Egypt, Philo was too far from Jerusalem to receive notification of "official" new moon sightings from the Sanhedrin. Since he obviously believed in and observed the Holy Days, how did Philo know when the Eternal's Feast Days occurred? By calculation! Philo says that the length from one New Moon to another, for the beginning of the lunar month, "has been accurately calculated in the astronomical schools," (Special Laws, II, 140).

Furthermore, Philo says that the Sabbath and the day preceding it (sixth day of the week) are both taken into account by the Almighty in reckoning feast times, including the crucial "holy-month day," or Day of Trumpets. (Decalogue, 159). Here in simple terms by a contemporary of the New Testament Church, is an exact description of the so-called "Jewish" calendar rules which some "observable calendar" proponents say were invented by Simon III, the Jewish Patriarch in the second century, A.D., or even by Hillel II in the fourth century, A.D.!

The molad of Tishri resulting in the calculation of the proper Day of Trumpets is the key to determining the Holy Days. And the Day of Trumpets can never fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. The key to this rule is that the Holy Days (with one scriptural exception explained in section 9 of Biblical Holy Days) require a day of preparation so as to protect the sanctity of the Sabbath. Wise Philo understood the basis for the calendar rules, while many today ignore these spiritual principles.

The Important Feasts

One of our major purposes is to promote the observance of Biblical Holy Days. We constantly look for resources that add meaning to and refresh our observance of the Eternal's divine appointments. Two fine books on the Holy Days are: The Feasts of the Lord, by Robert Thompson, and The Jewish Festivals, History & Observance by Hayyim Schauss. We encourage everyone who observes the Almighty's festivals to order and read these books.

The Feasts of the Lord, by Robert Thompson. Medford, Oregon: Omega Publications, 1989. 330 pages. Available from Omega Ministries, PO Box 1788, Medford, Oregon 97501-0140.

Here is a unique book on the Festivals, a treasure of spiritual understanding. Rather than examining each Holy Day individually, as most writers have done, Thompson describes common spiritual lessons, how each day corroborates that lesson.

Thompson says that the Bible gives major types, or object lesson examples, of divine redemption: (1) the seven days of creation, (2) the journey of Israel from Egypt to Canaan, (3) the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and (4) the seven Holy Days. These all illustrate the Eternal's plan in the Messiah for mankind to be saved from sin and death and brought into the family of the Almighty.

In the major section of his book, Thompson applies the seven annual holy convocations to four areas of interpretation: (1) the person and work of the Messiah, (2) the redemption of the believer, (3) the perfecting of the Church, and (4) the setting up of the Kingdom of God.

One of the best books on the Holy Days, The Feasts of the Lord could easily launch a thousand sermons and fruitful Bible Studies for those who wish more inspiration from the awesome meaning and purpose of the Eternal's sacred appointments. This book belongs in the home of every person who observes Biblical Holy Days.

Yet there are some flaws. Thompson apparently is a "charismatic" Protestant who does not understand that "speaking in tongues" is speaking in multiple languages, not gibberish. He believes Wavesheaf Day is always Abib 16, rather than the Sunday after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Thompson, along with others, incorrectly refers to Wavesheaf Day as the Feast of Firstfruits. Actually, Pentecost is the Feast of Firstfruits. Nevertheless, this book is one of the best we have seen on the Holy Days. We heartily recommend The Feasts of the Lord.

The Jewish Festivals, History & Observance, by Hayyim Schauss. New York: Schocken Books, 1988 edition of 1938 copyrighted book, originally entitled Guide to Jewish Holy Days. 316 pages. Available from Giving & Sharing.

Jewish customs and traditions relating to the Sabbath and Holy Days are fascinating. In our book, Biblical Holy Days, we frequently cite Jewish understanding of the meaning of these sacred occasions. Why do we cite the Jews? We should gather all pertinent information relating to a Bible topic. To ignore the history and practices of a group of people who have observed the Sabbath and Holy Days for thousands of years would be folly.

The Holy Days are not "Jewish." Jews have corrupted these sacred times in their rejection of the Messiah who has come and is coming again. They are wrong in the date for the Passover supper and the date of Pentecost. Schauss, in following liberal Jewish scholarship, expresses the origins of the Holy Days in humanistic rather than divine terms. Yet Jews have gems of truth and understanding about the Festivals.

For example, Schauss explains that the blowing of the shofar on the Day of Trumpets reminds us of the giving of God's law, and is a call of thanks to God who halts the war between nations and ushers in peace and harmony to the world, ending Satan's dominion of this world. This exactly conforms to our understanding.

Jewish terminology and Hebrew wording for the Holy Days may not be understood by some. Here is a quick cross reference:

Jewish Pesach, Shovuos, Rosh Hashonoh, Yom Kippur, Sukkos

English Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles

Schauss gives interesting insights gathered through centuries of observance. God's plan for the salvation of mankind is clearly shown, even in the Jewish understanding of the Holy Days.

Booker, Richard, Jesus in the Feasts of Israel. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 1987. 115 pp.

Booker discusses each of the seven feasts (he counts firstfruits, Wavesheaf Day, as separate feast) in four aspects: (1) the historical aspect, examining the Old Testament instructions, (2) how Jesus fulfilled the spiritual reality that the feast symoblized, (3) how to apply this to our lives, and (4) the prophetic significance and how God brings the truths portrayed by these feasts to the Church.

Passover brings us into God's presence through Jesus Christ and emphasizes the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with our Creator resulting in peace with God and the peace of God. At Pentecost, we obtain the power of God to work in our lives. and at Tabernacles, we enter into His divine rest.

Booker is a thoroughly Protestant Sunday keeper and made several errors, such as supporting a Thursday crucifixion. Nevertheless, even though he does not keep the Festivals, he presents some interesting and thoughtful insights.

Note: "FUB" means "Feast of Unleavened Bread," and "FOT" means "Feast of Tabernacles."

Three Feast Times, Chag

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread

2. Pentecost

3. Feast of Tabernacles

Nineteen Special Days, Moed

1. Passover
2. 1st Day FUB
3. 2nd Day FUB
4. 3rd Day FUB
5. 4th Day FUB
6. 5th Day FUB
7. 6th Day FUB
8. 7th Day FUB
9. Pentecost
10. Trumpets
11. Atonement
12. 1st Day FOT
13. 2nd Day FOT
14. 3rd Day FOT
15. 4th Day FOT
16. 5th Day FOT
17. 6th Day FOT
18. 7th Day FOT
19. Last Great Day

Seven Annual Holy Days, Sabbaths

1. 1st Day FUB
2. 7th Day FUB
3. Pentecost
4. Trumpets
5. Atonement
6. 1st Day FOT
7. Last Great Day

Additional General Articles on God's Holy Days :

Written by: Richard C. Nickels
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