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ere is a very brief
overview of Yahweh's annual Holy Days, as found in Leviticus 23 and other
places. This shows that the annual Holy Days of the Bible actually represent,
step-by-step, Yahweh's plan of salvation for all mankind. For a more complete
explanation, write for "Man's Holidays vs. Yahweh's Holy Days."
Sin is the breaking
of Yahweh's Moral Law, the Ten Commandments (I John 3:4). All have sinned
(Romans 3:23) and have incurred the death penalty as a result (Romans 6:23). We
need a Savior. Otherwise, we must die to pay for our own sins.
Yahweh sent His own
Son to live a perfect life, setting us an example, and to call a "firstfruits."
He then died at Passover time, on the 14th of the first Scriptural
month, as a sacrifice to pay for OUR sins (John 3:16, 1 Cor. 5:7-8). All who
repent of their sins and accept His sacrifice to pay the death penalty in their
stead, are then to stop sinning.
This is pictured by our putting leavening out of our homes for seven days during
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover, from the 15th
through the 21st of the first month.
The next festival,
Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, occurs 50 days after Passover week during the 3rd
month, and pictures the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20), and also
the sending of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) to dwell in our minds so that we can
keep those Commandments with the Spiritual intent Yahweh requires (Romans
8:8-9).
Passover-Unleavened
Bread comes in early spring, at the time of the barley harvest. Pentecost occurs
in the late spring at the time of the wheat harvest.
The next Holy Days
come in the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar, just after the autumn harvest.
The first of these, Feast of Trumpets, represents probably the birth of Yahshua
(we know He was born in autumn and not in dead of winter, although the exact
date is not known). It also represents His triumphant return to set up His
Millennial Kingdom here on earth at the sound of the "last trump."
Mat 24:31 And he
shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.
The "saints" will be
resurrected at that time. 1 Cor 15:52-53, In a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Following this event
nine days later is the Day of Atonement, when we fast (no food or drink) for 24
hours. This day represents our being reconciled to Yahweh and our sins being
finally covered or blotted out permanently. It also pictures the marriage of the
Lamb to His bride, the Assembly (Revelation 19).
Then, on the 15th
of the seventh month, begins the Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day Feast which
pictures the Israelites coming out of Egypt and wandering in the wilderness for
40 years; it also pictures the resurrected Saints under leadership of Yahshua
the Messiah restoring the earth and preparing it for the general resurrection,
when all who have ever lived will come up to be taught Yahweh's way of life and
be given their one and only chance for salvation (Rev. 5:10, 2:26, 3:21, Acts
3:18-22). This final resurrection is depicted by the events of the Last Great
Day, the 8th day of the Feast.
This Day depicts the
Final Judgment, also known as the "Great White Throne Judgment" (Rev. 20:11-13,
and Matthew 25:31-33). See also Matthew 10:15, Mark 6:11, and Luke 10:12-14.
Some refuse to
believe that these plain Scriptures, spoken by Yahshua the Messiah Himself,
actually mean what they say. They seem to be so indoctrinated in traditional
Christianity and its often-unbiblical doctrines that the thought of these people
having what they insist on calling a "second chance," is unthinkable.
Yet, many Scriptures
tell us plainly that not everyone is now being called. In fact, Yahweh Himself
says that He has blinded the vast majority so that they cannot understand and be
converted now. Only a "firstfruits," a "little flock," the "elect," are now
being chosen. Notice a few of the Scriptures that prove this:
Mark 4:10-12
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him
the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of
the kingdom of Yahweh: but unto them that are without, all these things are done
in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may
hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and
their sins should be forgiven them.
John 12:36-41
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of
light. These things spake Yahshua, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on
him: That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,
Yahweh, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of Yahweh been
revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, He
hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with
their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I
should heal them. These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of
him.
John is here quoting
from Isaiah 53. Paul makes mention of this in Romans 11:7-8: What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, Yahweh hath
given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that
they should not hear;) unto this day.
Upon reading the
rest of Romans 11 it becomes evident that Israel as well as the Gentiles who
have not yet been called, those who have lived and died without understanding,
those who have lived and died without once hearing the only Name given under
heaven whereby men must be saved, do indeed still have a judgment period
ahead of them.
First Peter, chapter
4 and verse 17, explains that the elect are being judged now - in this
age. The words of Yahshua explain that the rest of humankind, those to come up
in the second resurrection, are yet to be judged. Even the inhabitants of
those evil cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, have not yet been finally judged (Mat.
10:15, 11:24, Mk. 6:11).
Paul explains this
in 1 Corinthians 15:22-24 For as in Adam all die, even so in the Messiah
shall all be made alive. But
every man in his own order: the Messiah the firstfruits; afterward
they that are the Messiah's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall
have delivered up the kingdom to Yahweh, even the Father; when he shall have put
down all rule and all authority and power.
After this, we see
in Revelation 21 and 22 that Yahweh Himself will descend from Heaven in the new
city of Jerusalem, and dwell with us there for all eternity.
This, then, is what
the annual Festivals of Yahweh mean. They picture year-by-year and day-by-day
His Plan of Salvation for all of his people who have ever been born. Those who
will not repent will be cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed, not
tortured for all eternity. Those who do repent will be rewarded with eternal
life in His glorious Kingdom.