In the greater Christian Community, there
are few subjects which are met with greater disinterest than the
seven annual Holydays found in the pages of Scripture. Despite
the Early Church being seen as having observed them, and despite
the Apostle Paul’s direct instruction to a Greek (Gentile)
congregation to keep one set in particular, (1st Cor.
5:7-8) yet the attraction to non-biblical religious holidays seem
the more compelling in society and even among the religiously
inclined.
Factoring into people’s sentiments
in this matter is the issue of Grace. It is counter-posed that we
are not in any way obligated to keep Biblical Holydays as means
of attaining salvation. Despite this being technically correct,
the greater matter is overlooked. These days are not our means of
attainment, rather they are educational tools created by God to
permit us to better understand the process of salvation, both
personal salvation and world salvation, and to provide a
framework upon which to be able to better understand Bible
Prophecy. Observing these before-ordained Holydays and focusing
on their illustrative meaning gives each disciple a more in-depth
comprehension of how personal salvation is attained and how that
opportunity will be extended ultimately to all who have ever
lived!
It is ironic that the one place in the
New Testament which most specifically mentions Holydays is used
to discourage interest in them! Colossians 2:16-17 admonishes the
Christian: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or
in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days: Which are a shadow of
things to come; but the body…of
Christ. What this verse
says is to let no man judge them in how they were observing these
things, but rather to let the Church (the body of Christ) do so.
(The word “is” was added by translators.) Notice
please, that Paul wasn’t indicating that ‘men’
were judging them for NOT keeping these things, but rather for
HOW they WERE
keeping them. The New Testament Church KEPT them somewhat
differently than did the religious zealots of the day! What has
been largely overlooked here is the explanation of their ultimate
purpose, that they’re a ‘shadow of things to
come’.
Why would Paul want them to disregard observances which offered
an ‘outline of future events’?
( A modern way of saying
it.)
Biblical Holydays offer a more in-depth
understanding of redemption and prophecy. Most perceive prophecy
to be only dark predictions of end-time events. Anyone with a
reasonably correct under-standing of prophecy will immediately
see the correlation between prophecy and God’s Holydays,
particularly the Fall Holydays. Anyone not finding Bible Prophecy
to be clear and understandable will gain much from a familiarity
with Holydays in knowing how events interrelate and why they
happen.
Holyday observance isn’t a means of
earning salvation, but of enhancing understanding, (growing
further in grace and knowledge). (The world will one day be
introduced to them: Zech. 14:16)
The Spring Holydays illustrate the
process of personal salvation. (Passover, the seven Days of
Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost)
The Spring Holydays end with the First
Resurrection, the Fall Holydays sequence begins with
it.
The Fall Holydays illustrate how the
process of salvation will be afforded to all who have ever lived
or will live in the Millennial Age. (The Day of Trumpets,
Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great
Day.)
A brief test as to whether or not you could
benefit from a familiarity with biblical Holydays
follows:
1. Do you understand
about the Millennial Rule of Christ and His Glorified Saints on
Earth? (Rev. 2:26, 5:10, 20:4 & 6)
2. Do you understand
the need for the resurrections from the dead? (1st
Cor. 15:13-17, Heb. 6:2)
3. Can you explain how
many resurrections there are and generally when they occur? (Rev.
20:5)
4. Do you know that
Pentecost was an Old Testament observance? (Lev.
23:15-16)
5. Do you understand
when and why God the Father will descend to Earth and assume full
rule from Christ? (1st Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 21:2, 3,
22, & 22:3)
6. Can you explain when
it is that all the uncalled dead will have the opportunity that
they never had in their lifetimes? (Rev. 20:12, John 6:44, &
6:37-40, Ezekiel 37)