God's Holy Days
The seven annual Holy Days are annual Sabbaths. They are holy convocations,
or commanded assemblies, of God's people. These days are holy because
they are sanctified (set apart) by God. He commands His people to assemble
for worship and to learn about Him and His plan. His command goes further
than worship only; it includes fellowshipping and rejoicing together
(Leviticus 23:1-4; Deuteronomy 14:23-26; Nehemiah 8:1-12).
The New Testament record shows the continuity of observance of these
days by Jesus Christ and the Church. Jesus observed these festivals,
and we as His followers are told to walk as He walked (John 7:8-14;
1 John 2:6). The New Testament Church began on an annual festival—the
Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The apostles and disciples of the early
Church continued to observe these festivals long after Jesus' death
and resurrection (Acts 18:21; 20:16; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 5:8). Paul
upholds their observance and presents them as continuing "shadows" or
outlines of the great events in God's plan of salvation that are yet
to be fulfilled (Colossians 2:16-17). He also instructed the congregation
in Corinth, "Let us keep the feast" (1 Corinthians 5:8).
Through the observance of these feasts, God's people focus on and
are reminded throughout the year of the work of Jesus the Messiah.
It is through preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the divine
calling to a new way of life (John 6:44) that we see the building up
of the Church as the family of God. Through Christ as our focal point,
we begin to understand the special meaning behind the annual feasts.
During the course of the seven annual festivals are seven Holy Days,
which are annual Sabbaths. These Holy Days are the first and last days
of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets,
the Day of Atonement, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and
the Last Great Day. Although the Passover is a festival, it is not
an annual Sabbath.
The plan of salvation as revealed in the Holy Scriptures is pictured
in the meaning of these seven annual festivals.
The Passover teaches us that Jesus Christ was sinless
and, as the true Lamb of God, gave His life so that the sins of humanity
could be forgiven and the death penalty removed (1 Corinthians 5:7;
1 Peter 1:18-20; Romans 3:25). Passover, although not observed as a
Holy Day, is the first festival of the year.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread teaches us that we
have been called to reject lawlessness and repent of sin. We are to
live by every word of God and according to the teachings of Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 4:4). During this festival, leaven symbolizes
sin and, as such, is removed from our homes for the seven days of the
festival (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Exodus 12:19). By eating unleavened
bread we picture living a life of sincerity and truth, free from sin.
The Feast of Pentecost, or firstfruits, teaches us
that Jesus Christ came to build His Church. This festival pictures
the coming of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of the Church.
The firstfruits are those who will be given salvation at the return
of Christ. They have been empowered with the Holy Spirit, which creates
in each one a new heart and nature to live by the commandments of God
(Exodus 23:16; Acts 2:1-4, 37-39; 5:32; James 1:18).
The Feast of Trumpets teaches us that Jesus Christ
will visibly return to the earth at the end of this age. At that time
He will resurrect the saints who are no longer living and instantly
change those saints who are still alive to immortal spirit beings (Matthew
24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). This festival
commemorates the blowing of the trumpets that will precede His return.
Seven angels with seven trumpets are described in Revelation 8-10.
Christ will return with the blowing of the seventh trumpet (Revelation
11:15).
The Day of Atonement teaches us that Jesus Christ
gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. It also points
to the time when Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Leviticus 16:29-30,
20-22; Revelation 20:1-3). This Holy Day pictures our High Priest,
Jesus Christ, making atonement for our sins, which allows us to be
reconciled to God and enter into the "holiest of all" (Hebrews 9:8-14;
10:19-20). By fasting on this day, we draw closer to God and picture
the reconciliation of mankind to God. Christ is essential in this process
as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15; 5:4-5, 10) and as our eternal
sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:26-28).
The Feast of Tabernacles teaches us that when Jesus
Christ returns, a new society will be established with Christ as King
of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christ, assisted by the resurrected saints,
will set up His government on the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation
19:11-16; 20:4; Leviticus 23:39-43; Matthew 17:1-4; Hebrews 11:8-9).
Rule under His laws will spread from Jerusalem throughout the world
to usher in an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity (Isaiah
2:2-4; Daniel 2:35, 44; 7:13-14).
The Last Great Day, or eighth day, teaches us that
Jesus Christ will complete His harvest of humans by raising from the
dead and extending salvation to all human beings who have died in the
past and have never been given a full opportunity for salvation (Ezekiel
37:1-14; Romans 11:25-27; Luke 11:31-32; Revelation 20:11-13).
The annual cycle of the celebration of the festivals and Holy Days
reminds Christ's disciples that He is working out His plan of extending
salvation from sin and death and offering the gift of eternal life
in the family of God to all humanity—past, present and future.
