In spite of being under military arrest and being transported to Rome the Apostle Paul still kept the fast or Day of Atonement. Paul was a prisoner on a ship yet did not ignore the fast day.
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,
Paul the apostle to the gentiles, to the world outside of Judaism, explained the importance of Atonement to new covenant believers. He explains first that Jesus is our high priest who officiates at the real Atonement service. It is based on the fact that Christ was the priest Melchizedek, who Abraham tithed to before any other regulations were instituted.
Hebrews 7:11-12 NKJV 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood..., what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
If it was Jesus intent to cancel the annual Sabbaths like Atonement, why would He takeover the priestly duties in regard to this Holy Day? Clearly Christ is taking this Holy Day to its full spiritual fulfillment and cleansing meaning for us.
Hebrews 7:26-27 NKJV 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the peoples, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
The high priest could only enter the Holy of Hollies once a year on Atonement and approach God and ask for forgiveness for all the people, but Jesus not only entered into Holy of Hollies the throne of God but the real throne in heaven. He entered it not just on Atonement but permanently as our advocate.
Hebrews 8:1-2 NKJV 1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed...
Romans 5:10-11 KJV 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
This is the real deep spiritual meaning of the day of Atonement. The physical Tabernacle was just a model for the real event, the real Atonement of all mankind's sins.
Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect....3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year...
Atonement was an event to remind the Israelites collectively of their sins and the need to repent. But it was not the full fulfillment of the process. Christ completes the real meaning of Atonement.
Hebrews 9:11-12 NKJV 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats...but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 10:12... But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
When new covenant believers keep the Day of Atonement we are remembering and honoring Jesus's sacrifice and His present work as our high priest next to God the Father for us. What is the spiritual meaning of this holy day? It is that believers are being helped to repent, the fasting, and become more like Christ. He is helping get the locus of control for goodness inside our hearts.
Hebrews 10:15-16 NKJV 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I willput My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
What is in our hearts is the most vital thing for true believers! Note Mark chapter seven.
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness toenter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
The holiest room and the veil are all references to Atonement Day procedures. Why would Jesus inspire this discussion if He no longer wanted us to celebrate this holy day? He has us seeing it in more depth.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IS REQUIRED BY GOD OF ALL MANKIND
The Feast of Tabernacles was also part of THE APOSTLES 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. It is a long joyous celebration. It was eight days in which believers could share this vital truth and grow in unity and love. Tabernacles are temporary quarters. Our bodies and lives are temporary and our true goal and home is in God's family.
Romans 8:18-23 NKJV 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are 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... 23 ...we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
The Feast of Tabernacles helps believers to appreciate the end of our temporary existence and glorious elevation to sons of God. Further we celebrate the prosperous millennial reign of the Messiah on Earth as part of that process of changing the world. This is very important to God.
God is harvesting sons into His family. His holy days are built around the harvest seasons. Those called in this age will be the cadre to help the Messiah in leading the vast majority into the family. The Fall harvest is the largest. 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...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...LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
These Holy Days were important in the past and are now and also will be in the future, therefore let us keep the feasts of God now like the apostles of Jesus!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS
WHY ARE THE HOLY DAYS GOOD FOR OUR LOVE OF GOD AND UNITY?
