2. DO MOST REALIZE THAT THE ONLY BIBLE THAT EXISTED IN THE DAYS OF EARLY CHURCH WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Podcast : 9-30-22
What Holy Days Did The Apostles Keep,Teach and Why?
WHICH HOLY DAYS WERE USED BY JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES?
All religions use some kinds of Holidays or Holy Days. Did the Apostles of Jesus use the Holy Days that were clearly established already and listed in the Bible or use worldly days? Did they re-label pagan days and celebrate them for Christ such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween? The New Testament will provide clear evidence of their choice. First remember the author of most of the New Testament, totally believes in the authenticity of the Old Testament.
Acts 24:13-14 NKJV 13 "Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Paul realized that the Holy Days were God's Days not the days of any one tribe like Judah. Note Lev 23:1-4. They do not rise and fall with the sacrifices for they were given before all the sacrifices. Note Jeremiah 7:21-23 , Hebrews 10:3-6. The sacrifices came later than the Days of God. Jesus Himself kept the Holy Day seasons. He observed the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
Luke 2:41-42 NKJV 41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
Matthew 26:17 NKJV 17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
John 7:1-2 NKJV 1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
John 7:37 NKJV 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
It is note worthy that Christ attended the Feast of Tabernacles and spoke publicly even when under the threat of death. Jesus had the greatest excuse of all time to not attend.
WHAT HOLY DAYS DID THE APOSTLES KEEP IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER?
If the church had celebrated Biblical days we should see it sprinkled into the letters that make up the New Testament. We do find such evidence throughout church literature. We cover some of this evidence.
Acts 12:3 NKJV 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
If the church was keeping Easter it would be more likely they would say during or right before our Easter celebration. One might say Easter is mentioned once in the King James translation. All margins will reveal that the word translated 'Easter' was 'Passover'. See Acts 12:4.
Acts 20:6 NKJV 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 DBY 6 Your boasting is not good. Do ye not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened. For also our Passover, Christ, has been sacrificed; 8 so let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
How did the Apostle Paul know with certainty that when his letter arrived during the Days of Unleavened Bread that they would actually be unleavened? Because he taught them to celebrate the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. No other analysis is truly logical. When Paul said let us 'celebrate the feast' the only logical conclusion is he is saying keep God's Feast Days of Unleavened Bread. What about Pentecost the small summer harvest celebration?
Ac 2:1 ΒΆ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Ac 20:16 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. 1Co 16:8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
Clearly the church which Jesus built kept the Feast of First Fruits or Pentecost.
WHAT HOLY DAYS DID THE CHURCH KEEP IN THE FALL?
Under conditions of forced travel the Apostles still kept the fast or Day of Atonement because it was part of their life.
Acts 27:9 NKJV 9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
The Feast of Tabernacles was also part of their lives many years after the resurrection of Christ.
Acts 18:20-21 NKJV 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus.
Some will argue well why didn't he just keep the feast locally. Paul understood that it is most approved by God to keep it centrally. Further one wonders how did all those believers in Rome before Paul arrived toward end of his evangelism get converted. They came to the central location and learned from Christians about the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection.
WHY ARE THE HOLY DAYS IMPORTANT SPIRITUALLY
God is harvesting sons into HIS family. His days are built around the harvest seasons. The winter harvest produces the first of the first fruits which is Jesus our savior. This leads after a fifty day Jubilee typology to the first fruits which is Pentecost fifty days after the Sabbath within U.B. Those called in this age will be the cadre to help the Messiah in leading the vast majority into the family. This Fall harvest is the largest and last harvest opportunity.
Romans 8:16-22 NKJV 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,... not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
These Biblical Holy days built around the harvest seasons are so important to God that he will force all nations to celebrate them joyously in the future.
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. 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.
These Holy Days were important in the past and will be also in the future, therefore keep the feasts of God now!
