|
 |
|
|
|
|
CHRISTIAN
HOLYDAYS Usually when you ask churchgoers what are the holydays of the bible,
they will respond, “Christmas and Easter”. Which is false. Actually,
neither of those days are mentioned in scripture or even recorded as being kept
by Jesus, the disciples or any of the first century churches! Not mentioned is
the fact that Jesus and His followers always kept the holydays revealed by God
to Israel. These days are rich with meaning and outline God’s plan of
salvation. The are a shadow of things to come as Jesus fulfilled each of them
on their appointed time. In the Passover and the days of unleavened bread we
see Jesus being the sacrificial lamb and putting sin {leaven is a type of sin}
out of our lives; Pentecost being the birthday of the church and granting
access to the Holy Spirit to true believers. Those days being fulfilled, we
celebrate the feast of Trumpets as Jesus returning as a conquering king and
raising the Saints to life followed closely is the Day of Atonement, as the
binding of Satan and setting people free from his deception; and finally, the
Feast of Tabernacles as the setting up of God’s Kingdom on earth for one
thousand years. {Rev 19 & 20/ 1 Cor 15:52}
These days are known as
Jewish holydays and viewed as for Jews alone to keep- yet there are thousands
of Christians who celebrate them. In years past it was mostly Messianic Jewish
congregations keeping them, but now it seems that the good news is out and many
groups both small and large throughout the world are rejoicing in Gods feasts.
Even nominal denominations that do not themselves keep them, study the meaning
and prophetic implications of the feasts of Leviticus 23. The feasts of the
Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are MY FEASTS.
After God sets up His Kingdom on earth it will be mandatory to keep them- all
nations shall keep the feast of tabernacles or shall be punished by not
receiving any rain! {Zech 14}. No longer will it be invitational- but
mandatory.
Church history records an aggressive effort to rid the
Christian church of its Jewish roots and embrace days long held sacred by
pagans. It is well known that December 25 was a celebration of the birth of the
sun as it marked its return from its diminishing autumn cycle. More obviously,
Easter is the name of the goddess of the spring, complete with the trappings of
fertility rites of rabbits and eggs. It is documented that this was done to
attract the heathen to the Christian religion. Some feel that the church had
the authority to drop laws or adopt practices at will, but the bible is clear
that the prophets are subject to the prophets. The words of God go unheard,
learn NOT the way of the heathen for their customs are vain {Jer 10}
If
nothing else, the bible is a history of man's disobedience to God- and that
disobedience continues- albeit ignorantly. Sin separates men from God! It is
vital for folks seeking the face of God to realize what the definition of sin
is. Sin is: the transgression of the LAW {1Jn3:4}. The focus of Satan's wrath
is directed at those who KEEP the commandments of God. {Rev 12: 17}. Common
sense should dictate that God would want men to keep his laws- yet men have
been deceived to believe the opposite. If one loves God he will KEEP the
commandments {Jn 14:15}.
There are many books in Christian bookstores
about the biblical feasts why not study into this interesting subject and see
if they are for you.
by Wayne Schatzle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
