BIBLICAL HOLY DAYS ARE THE ENGINES THAT DRIVE SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
People need reminders. Keeping ourselves focused on God and his Plan requires renewal of our commitment, seasonally. True believers are guided to both understand God's wonderful program and to commit to repentance and growth THROUGH Biblical Holy Days. The Designer of mankind knew our needs and gave them to us for our benefit. Just as the Sabbath is a weekly renewal, the annual ones are for our rejuvenation yearly.
Mark 2:25-27 NKJV 25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry,...and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
The Holy Days are a guide to the plan of God to both renew our spirits and inspire us. The PASSOVER AND DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD are about the sacrifice of Christ and His purity paying the price for our sins. Jesus has redeemed us from our personal indictment for sins.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The Passover Lamb symbolizes Christ's saving all of us from the penalty of all our sins. No one is righteous enough to earn his own salvation.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Unleavened Bread symbolizes Christ's working with us to help our growing in good works as we try with the help of the Spirit of God, to put God's Laws in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
Note also John 3:16. PENTECOST is the reminder that God is now pouring out His spirit for the first time on large numbers of believers. The first fruits is the smaller harvest. We are reminded to protect this invaluable spiritual gift given to us at baptism. Note Acts Chapter Two.
Ephesians 4:30 NKJV 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
After this summer renewal, comes the grand finale the plenteous Fall reminders and guides.
CLIMATIC CONCLUSION OF GOD'S PLAN REVEALED IN THE FALL HOLY DAYS
The Fall final harvest is the large harvest season. The first event is the FEAST OF TRUMPETS. It pictures the events described in Revelation Chapters19-20 when Jesus takes power. True believers will be resurrected to join the Messiah in bringing Godly government to all. The Last Trump will be the sound of the conquest of an evil society by Christ. Next is the DAY OF ATONEMENT when man will no longer be deceived by Satan. The day represents the imprisonment of the world's evil overlord and Jesus Christ covering our sins by his sacrifice for all mankind.
Ephesians 2:2 NKJV 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Further, God's people were to save part of this Fall bounty to celebrate the big events of the season, the FEAST OF TABERNACLES AND LAST GREAT DAY. This plenty eaten at these feasts represent the wonderful society of truth, peace and prosperity brought by Christ's leadership.
Isaiah 2:2-4 NKJV 2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... all nations shall flow to it. 3 ... He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
Think of it-a world without war, wow! All those resources now will be put to better uses. The Earth will enjoy prosperity and peace like never before in history. God's people look forward to this period every year in the Fall. All the world will be forced to keep these Holy Days and be happy.
Zechariah 14:16-18 NKJV 16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
After the conquering Christ has defeated the evil empires of this world at Armageddon and taken charge of this society all will keep which Holy Day? All will keep the Feast of Tabernacles. False religion will be a thing of the past. What about deep seated false religions and pagan customs?
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
The world will be forced to forsake false religion and live in harmony with God, living prosperous, happy lives.
THE LAST GREAT DAY, A FINAL CHANCE FOR EVERYONE
Moses linked the final end of all debts and enslavement's with the Feast of Tabernacles and its Last Great Day.
Deuteronomy 31:10-11 DBY 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, at the set time of the year of release, at the feast of tabernacles, 11 when all Israel cometh to appear before Jehovah thy God...
The last day represents the Great White Throne Judgment period after the Millennium; when all will get a chance to be saved-the billions who have died without having been called by God; including people who never fully understood the Bible and never really had a chance to fully repent. Many never even heard the name Jesus or had a chance to even read a Bible. Most could not have fully known what to even repent of because Satan has so deceived the world for nearly 6,000 years.
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV 11 Then I saw a great white throne ...12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,
All mankind who have not yet been born into God's family or kingdom will be brought back to physical life. This is also the scene of Ezekiel 37.
and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
People will then have their minds opened to the full truth of the Bible. The word Bible means in Greek, a collection of books. Now, armed with the true gospel they will have a chance to repent and grow and get their names entered into the Book Of Life. They will be taught to live by what is written in the Bible (books). The vast majority will undoubtedly do so. However, those who are still defiantly wicked will then face the lake of fire and be quickly consumed. Malachi 4:1-3 says they will be ashes.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Then the remainder of mankind will live with God happily ever after. Note the remainder of the Book of Revelation.
