God's Holy Day Plan (truth about easter, christmas, sunday worship)

reply to post by PreTribGuy


your quote:the sabbath is not mentioned before moses and it is specifically for israel.

i can't help it if when you look at genesis2:2-3 or exodus16:23(which was months before israel came to mt.sinai when Yahvah spoke/wrote in stone the 10 commandments) or hebrews4:9 that you cannot see it ?

and i cannot help it if when you look at romans11:13 that you cannot see that a gentile, that becomes a real christian, also becomes a spiritual jew/israelite

G-D's spiritual laws are just as binding on all of us as are the physical laws of:gravity/magnetism/inertia/wind/electricity/atomic radiation/thermodynamics etc.

and as i pointed out before(leviticus24:22)G-D sets 1 standard set of rules for all of us----------none is free from the penalty that will come from breaking ANY of G-D's laws whether they be physical laws or spiritual laws.

the reprecussions for breaking G-D'S spiritual laws are not always immeadiate(some think they have gotten away with murder/theft/adultery/etc.)there can be a long delay until those that died in their sins are resurrected(revelation20)to face the Judge

reply to post by Locoman8


thanks locoman for all the work you went to------thats quite a booklet !must be the size of an encyclopedia for all the info that it contains.

i need another printer so i can review again later.have worn out 2 ,or more correctly they don't last very long------am hesitent to waste money on another dud

reply to post by yahn goodey


I admire your will to learn this. If you want to save printer ink and paper, simply visit www.ucg.org/booklets and request a free copy to be mailed to you. There are a range of booklets with a ton of info on things. You can request 3 at a time and then request 3 more and so on and so forth. Request the free "Good News" magazine, the free newsletter "World News & Prophecy" and even free bible study magazines. Read about the United Church of God and what they are about.

About the United Church of God

Information
FREE Booklet: This is the United Church of God
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Fact Sheets
Brief History
The Festival of Tabernacles
God's Holy Day Plan
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Members of Council of Elders
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Contact Us
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WHO WE ARE
The literature on this site is published by the United Church of God, an International Association, which has ministers and local congregations in the United States and many countries around the world. We trace our origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century. We follow the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then. Our commission is to proclaim the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to all the world as a witness and teach all nations to observe what Christ commanded (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20).

BRIEF HISTORY
The United Church of God, today active with congregations in more than 40 countries, began as a formal assembly in 1995. Doctrinal distinctives of the Church include the observance of a seventh-day Sabbath, a modern application of the ancient Hebrew Holy Day seasons (which Jesus also kept and which the Church believes are a literal representation of God's plan for humanity) and a firm belief that Jesus Christ will return to earth to institute a benevolent, world-encircling Kingdom of God. Read more...

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Church of God is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in all the world, make disciples in all nations and care for those disciples.


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So there is just a little insight on the United Church of God. I urge you to visit the website at www.ucg.org. God bless.

reply to post by yahn goodey

i can't help it if when you look at genesis2:2-3 or exodus16:23(which was months before israel came to mt.sinai when Yahvah spoke/wrote in stone the 10 commandments) or hebrews4:9 that you cannot see it ?

Gen 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

There is no command from God to man here. We are free to "take a day off" within any given 7 days.

Ex 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

I still say the same thing...no command from Adam to Moses about the Sabbath.

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Yes, but this rest isn't "1 day out of 7", neither is it, "THIS specific day" (IE:Saturday). There is nothing in the text of Hebrews that says that.

and i cannot help it if when you look at romans11:13 that you cannot see that a gentile, that becomes a real christian, also becomes a spiritual jew/israelite

Gal 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Paul says there is no longer a distinction between Jew nor Greek (gentile)...in Christ Jesus.

G-D's spiritual laws are just as binding on all of us as are the physical laws of:gravity/magnetism/inertia/wind/electricity/atomic radiation/thermodynamics etc.

God's law in Genesis:

Gen 9:3-4 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

(Some of) God's law for Israel (for ISRAEL only...at THAT time):

Deut 14:7-8 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.
8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

God's Law in the NT:
Acts 10:13-15 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

I have just shown you that God had FIRST said EVERYTHING was fine to eat...then He said some meats were forbidden to Israel...and then finally said, it is no longer forbidden.

and as i pointed out before(leviticus24:22)G-D sets 1 standard set of rules for all of us----------none is free from the penalty that will come from breaking ANY of G-D's laws whether they be physical laws or spiritual laws.

And I have just shown you, using the Bible, that God made some very distinct changes. God sets a standard, yes. But God is also able (as a Holy God) to change those standards AS HE WILLS.

(continued below)

reply to post by yahn goodey

the reprecussions for breaking G-D'S spiritual laws are not always immeadiate(some think they have gotten away with murder/theft/adultery/etc.)there can be a long delay until those that died in their sins are resurrected(revelation20)to face the Judge

Luke 6:2-4 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

Here, Jesus, himself, notes that what King David did was NOT LAWFUL. And yet, there is no recorded punishment of David for doing so. Jesus seemed fine with what David did...and did the same (somewhat).

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Yahn, I noted that you've added me as a "foe". I don't really understand what that means on BTS?


[edit on 29-5-2008 by PreTribGuy]

reply to post by PreTribGuy


i think i added you to my list of foes several threads ago-------41 years of meeting different christians and it doesn't take long now to figure out types.

i realize this is a waste of time to tell you this but not every single word that G-D inspired his prophets to know is written down in the book otherwise we would need a tractor trailer to haul it around with.

G-D says He changes not(malachi3:6)kjv but you say He does change---------obviously i do not believe you.

king david was hungry-----the bread was/is replaced daily-----that was all that was available in a hurry-----mercy is greater than the law in emergencies-----this was not a sin unto death(1john5:16)

you might not realize where you are coming from but what you are writing down makes it evident that no matter what G-D says we should do you appear to be looking for a loophole/an excuse to not do it quite that way? (2peter3:16)

G-D will force no one to become a son of G-D so they can live forever and no one can become a son of G-D unless they do it His way(john14:6)

The laws that God gave to the hebrews in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy were not strictly for the Jews. Remember that Israel was divided into two nations after Solomon's death. You have the north 10 tribes that made up Israel and the south tribes of Judea, Benjamine, and portions of the Levites that made up Judea. Judea is where you get the term, "Jewish" from. God's law was given to all tribes of Israel. The 10 north tribes were dispersed throught the world. I may need to start a new thread for this one but the United States and Britain are of the tribe of Joseph who's subtribes were Mannasseh and Ephairm. USA is Mannasseh and Britain is Ephairm. The other tribes were spread out through northwest Europe and through the British Empire were spread out to Australia, New Zeiland, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, and many others. This is why Ron Weinland mentions these countries in his "false" prophecy for the end times. Followers of the Church of God know about the origins of the lost 10 tribes because extensive research and studies on the migration of these tribes after exile were conducted... not to mention the covenant that God made with Joseph and his two sons which point out the power of the two nations that would be under the tribes of Mannasseh and Ephairm clearly pointning to the U.S. and Great Britain. CoG does not hold back historic studies on these things and the United Church of God recommends the study of historic findings along with the bible in search of the truth. In short, the Jews are not the only ones bound by God's laws. All of Israel is and not just the nation of Israel but the decendants of the lost tribes of Israel. Spiritually, if you're a christian you have become an Israelite and if you live in the USA, you are already living in a modern tribe of Israel.

reply to post by PreTribGuy


I suppose you belong to a church.
I would guess that your church convenes on Sunday.
Does your church put any significance to that particular day?
Or, do they just hold church on Sunday because most people have that day off from work, anyway?
Did you ever wonder how such a thing came about, in the first place?
Could it be an imitation of the Sabbath?
Would you be prepared to give these same arguments, that you give us, in front of your congregation?
Tell them that there is something wrong with going to church, on a particular day, once a week?
Would you tell the members that they should be working on Sunday?
I think not.
So, how dare you, come here and speak against God's Holy Day, and not make a peep about the Roman counterfeit, being happily worshiped by everyone in your personal life?



[edit on 30-5-2008 by jmdewey60]

reply to post by yahn goodey

G-D says He changes not(malachi3:6)kjv but you say He does change---------obviously i do not believe you.

I just showed you in the Bible, above, how God changed His law twice on the same subject.

reply to post by jmdewey60

I suppose you belong to a church.

Do you mean a "local Church house" or denomination? No, I don't. I can't find a single one that would like me. The apostasy is really quite astonishing.

I do, however, teach a small group Bible study on (some) Wednesday nights. Other than that it is my family and a Christian mailing list that I belong to.

I would guess that your church convenes on Sunday.

I think I just answered this question above.

Does your church put any significance to that particular day?
Or, do they just hold church on Sunday because most people have that day off from work, anyway?

Same answer

Could it be an imitation of the Sabbath?

I'm not sure how to answer this because I don't regularly attend any local Church house.

Would you be prepared to give these same arguments, that you give us, in front of your congregation?

I don't have a "congregation". But to answer you, I am prepared to talk about the Bible almost all of the time. I am not ashamed of what I believe. I would say the same thing I'm saying in front of anyone/any group.

Tell them that there is something wrong with going to church, on a particular day, once a week?

There is nothing wrong with attending a meeting to hear the Word of God on any day. Personally, I'd prefer to get together with brethren every single day...if I could. Not just on one day a week. I am also authorized to take a "day off" to rest whenever I want to.

If you want to esteem Saturday as the day above all others...fine by me. If one wants to esteem every "even numbered" day above all others...fine by me. If you want to esteem "every day alike", fine by me.

Romans 14:4-6 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Would you tell the members that they should be working on Sunday?

What business is that of mine? Please see the above set of verses.

I think not.

It is none of my business to make a judgment upon those who regard on day above another. "Keeping the Sabbath" was for the Hebrew children. It wasn't a perpetual command. I am not obliged to keep any day above another.

So, how dare you, come here and speak against God's Holy Day, and not make a peep about the Roman counterfeit, being happily worshiped by everyone in your personal life?

I'm not quite sure how to take this?

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Again, I say:
There is no requirement to keep the Sabbath. If you want to take a break on Saturday...feel free. It is not required, nor sinful, if you don't.

reply to post by Locoman8

Followers of the Church of God know about the origins of the lost 10 tribes because extensive research and studies on the migration of these tribes after exile were conducted

Endless genealogies?

1 Tim 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

reply to post by yahn goodey

king david was hungry-----the bread was/is replaced daily-----that was all that was available in a hurry-----mercy is greater than the law in emergencies-----this was not a sin unto death(1john5:16)

Are you saying it was a sin for King David to do what he did?

reply to post by PreTribGuy


under normal circumstances it would have been a sin for david to eat the consecrated bread.this wasn't a normal circumstance as david was fleeing for his life from saul who wanted to murder him(1samuel20:31)
it wasn't a habit that david was in to do such a thing which if it had been would have been a sin unto death.

G-D can forgive all sins except the ones we refuse to repent of.
king David was a man after G-D's heart(psalm40:8)a prophet and one that prayed habitually( many psalms are prophecies of david)this was his normal way of life(acts13:22)

reply to post by jmdewey60


i read years ago in the commentary pages of one english version of the bible that if we could read and understand hebrew/aramaic/and greek that we would have a much clearer view of what the uninspired translaters into english didn't understand as they did their work.

those languages use words that can have several different meanings.
in order for the translaters to have given us the correct meaning the whole context the individual words are used in needs to be understood and sadly the translaters were not inspired or real christians for the most part.

i have an interlinear bible in front of me--------i'll write what genesis2:2-3 could have been translated to english as:and on the 7th day Elohiym finished His work which He had made;and kept sabbath on the 7th day from all His work which He had made and Elohiym blessed the 7th day and appointed it for holy use because He kept sabbath from all His work which Elohiym had created and made.

as i said in an earlier post it is possible that adam and eve and their children spent upwards of 120 years in that garden before they sinned and were driven out,and G-D made regular visits during that time------i'm sure that more was said than just hi----how are you? all that time.

if i was adam i think i'd have a million questions to pester G-D with every visit.

reply to post by PreTribGuy


Thanks for responding to my "comment".
I have been busy making 9/11 videos to put on youtube.
I get a little frustrated sometimes, at what happened back on that day.
Sorry if I took it out on you.
Well I know how you feel about being accepted.
Too many people think they know it all and do not accept anything that does not go along with what they have already decided on.
I might have to inform you that according to the Canons of the Church, it is a crime to keep the Sabbath.
It is strictly excluded from Christian behavior.
Countries that pass Sunday laws do not stop at requiring observance of Sunday.
They always throw in that you must not be "idle" on Saturday.

reply to post by PreTribGuy


I never said anything about endless geniologes. Scripture points out about the Northern Tribes being exiled to an island northwest of Israel and what direction is Great Britain from Israel by chance? Great Britain was once a great empire that had colonies around the world like the USA, Hong Kong and even the Holy Land. The tribes of the North were exiled throughout Europe and especially to the British Isle and through this fact the children of the Northern Tribes were distributed all over the world mainly to english speaking countries. You really have to read the covenant in Genesis. Read chapters 48-50 and pay special attention to Jacob's blessings on Manasseh and Ephairm.

Here is the next phase of the booklet which speaks of the holy days.

God's Days of Worship
Since the Word of God doesn't sanction the celebration of either Christmas or Easter and condemns the pagan embellishments associated with these humanly devised holidays, how should Christians worship of God? Do annual celebrations exist that Christians should observe?

God has given us seven annual festivals, or feast days, on which to worship and honor Him. By observing them according to His Word, we can understand His ultimate plan for humanity. Let us now take note of the days on which God revealed we should formally worship Him. His festivals are far more significant than this world's holidays because they reveal His plan for humanity.

The first commanded day of worship

Leviticus 23 lists all of God's commanded festivals in order. The first of God's festivals is to be observed every week—the weekly Sabbath day (Leviticus 23:3).

In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we find that God created man on the sixth day (Genesis 1:24-31). "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Genesis 2:2-3).

The Hebrew word for "rested" is shabath and is related to the word Sabbath. Literally, God sabbathed, or rested; He ceased from the work of creating (Exodus 20:8-11).

In resting, God also blessed and sanctified the seventh day as a gift for mankind (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16:29). To sanctify something means to make it holy. Since God made the Sabbath holy (Exodus 16:23; 20:11; Nehemiah 9:14), He instructed those who follow Him to remember to keep it holy by also resting (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).

Keeping the Sabbath, then, reminds us that God is our Creator.

Besides making the Sabbath for rest, God also revealed that the Sabbath is a day of worship. In Leviticus 23 He told Moses: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings'" (verses 1-3). Holy convocations are sacred assemblies for worship.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, He did not come to abolish or weaken God's commands (Matthew 5:17). He came to "exalt the law and make it honorable" (Isaiah 42:21). Jesus kept the Sabbath (Mark 1:21; 6:2; Luke 4:16; 6:6), as did the apostles and other members of the early Church (Acts 13:14; 17:2). Gentile believers met with them on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42, 44; 18:4).

This blessing from God, enshrined as one of the Ten Commandments, did not change. The seventh day of the week—observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening—continued as God's commanded holy day for rest and worship. Even though people later initiated a change to worshiping on Sunday, God's command was never rescinded, nor was there biblical authorization for a change to the first day of the week.

This is only the briefest explanation of God's Fourth Commandment. If you would like to discover much more about the biblical Sabbath, please request your free copy of the booklet Sunset to Sunset: God's Sabbath Rest.

Besides the weekly Sabbath, God gave His people annual festivals that correspond with the harvest seasons of Israel. These were also "holy convocations" to be observed at their appropriate times (Leviticus 23:4) and represent God's master plan of salvation for humankind.

The Passover
Passover (Leviticus 23:5) is a reminder of how God took the lives of all the firstborn Egyptian males (Exodus 12:7, 26-29) but passed over the Israelites' homes because they had placed the blood of a sacrificed lamb on their doorposts.

The blood of the lamb foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which spares mankind from eternal death. In the New Testament, Christians came to understand that Christ is the true Passover Lamb (compare Exodus 12:21 with 1 Corinthians 5:7). In observing His last Passover with His disciples, Jesus explained that the symbols of bread and wine represent His body and blood, offered by Him for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24).

Our observance of this annual occasion marking Jesus' death (1 Corinthians 11:26) reminds us that eternal life is possible only through Him (John 6:47-54; Acts 4:10-12). His sacrifice is the starting point for salvation and the foundation of the annual feast days that follow.

Feast of Unleavened Bread
In conjunction with the Passover, God instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8). Historically it commemorates the ancient Israelites fleeing Egypt in such haste they did not have time to let their bread rise (Exodus 12:33-34).

God commanded the Israelites to keep this festival by removing leaven (yeast) out of their homes for seven days. The first and last days of this week-long festival were specifically set apart as holy convocations—days devoted to rest and assembly for worship.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus identified leaven as a symbol of sin (Matthew 16:6-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1). Thereafter members of the early Church continued to observe this festival by putting leaven out of their homes for the week as a symbol of the clean minds and attitudes God desires of His people (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). After accepting Christ's sacrifice for our sins, we must follow His example in practicing righteousness.

The Feast of Pentecost
The third annual feast day is the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This festival, which corresponded with the first harvest of the season, was the day God miraculously granted His Spirit to the New Testament Church (Acts 2).

Pentecost continues to remind us that God is the Lord of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by granting them His Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). God's Spirit empowers us with the love of God, the motivation to obey Him, and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; 16:13). Only those led by God's Spirit are called the Sons of God (Romans 8:9, 14).

The Feast of Trumpets
The next feast day is the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25). Ancient Israel understood that trumpets were used as a way of announcing special messages (Numbers 10:1-10). The New Testament reveals a great event to be announced on this day with the sounding of a trumpet: the return of Jesus Christ to earth (Revelation 8:2, 11:15). This day also pictures a time when the dead in Christ will be resurrected to life (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) to reign with Him for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6).

The remaining feast days describe steps in the establishment of the prophesied Kingdom of God on earth and judgment of humanity after Christ's return.

The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is the next holy convocation (Leviticus 23:26-32). Observed by fasting (verse 27, compare Acts 27:9), refraining from eating or drinking (Esther 4:16), this day represents humanity's need to be reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin.

At the return of Christ, Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-3) so the nations can be reconciled to the Father through Christ. Luke referred to this observance as "the fast" in Acts 27:9.

The Feast of Tabernacles
The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34) represents the next step in God's master plan. This festival pictures the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4-6) known as the Millennium.

Isaiah describes this period as a time of peace when God's law will go out to all nations from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4). Fierce animals' natures will change (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25), the earth will become highly productive (Isaiah 35:1), and, most important, "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). With Satan's evil influence removed, all of humanity will at last learn God's ways.

This perfect environment will be designed to offer all people the opportunity to repent of their sins and come to God the Father through Jesus Christ. The Bible shows that Jesus attended this important festival (John 7:2, 10, 14).

The Last Great Day
The final step in God's plan of salvation for all mankind is represented in a feast day at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:39). Called the eighth day or the Last Great Day (John 7:37), this festival pictures the great judgment of humankind described in Revelation 20:11-13. During this time all people who have died not knowing God's plan for them will be resurrected to life to be given an opportunity to respond to God's call.

Our Creator wants "all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4) and is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Through this wonderful plan everyone will have an opportunity to know God's truth, repent and receive salvation.

The Church of the first century followed Jesus' example of observing these days. Peter and John urged the brethren to walk in Jesus' steps (1 Peter 2:21), to "walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6). They followed Christ's command to teach converts to "observe all things that I [Jesus] have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Obedience or idolatry?
Observances that are rooted in paganism break the first two of the Ten Commandments. Is God pleased when people claim to worship Him by adopting celebrations of pagan gods and goddesses in man-made holidays while they ignore His commanded days and ways of worship?

Celebrating the birth of the sun god or adopting fertility rites to other gods and goddesses violates God's clear instruction: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

Inventing religious feasts to replace those given by God contradicts His teaching: "You shall not make for yourself an idol ... You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God ..." (verses 4-5, New International Version). Substituting pagan customs and practices for what God has commanded—regardless of how well intentioned it might be—is idolatry.

Why would anyone choose to reject God's instructions and His marvelous feast days, especially since God gave them to us to reveal our ultimate destiny? To discover more about these magnificent festivals and how to observe them, be sure to request your free copy of the booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. You will find further proof that Jesus and the apostles observed these days and learn much more about their significance in helping us understand God's master plan for all of humanity.

Following the instruction and example of Jesus Christ, the apostles and the early New Testament Church, members of the United Church of God continue to observe these annual days. We welcome all who wish to join us in worshiping our Creator on these great festivals of hope. We invite you to contact our nearest office to locate a congregation near you.

God's Festivals in the New Testament
Passover

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:5

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Matthew 26:2, 17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 2:41-42; 22:1, 7-20; John 2:13, 23; 6:4; 13:1-30;1 Corinthians 11:23-29



Feast of Unleavened Bread

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:6-8

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 2:41-42, 22:1, 7; Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8



Feast of Pentecost

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:15-22

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Acts 2:1-21; 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8



Feast of Trumpets*

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:23-25

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 11:15



Day of Atonement

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:26-32

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: Acts 27:9



Feast of Tabernacles

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:33-43

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: John 7:1-2, 8, 10, 14; Acts 18:21



Last Great Day

Commanded in the Old Testament: Leviticus 23:36

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament: John 7:37-38



*Although the Feast of Trumpets is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, the theme of the day—the sounding of trumpets announcing Jesus Christ's return—is mentioned by several New Testament authors as noted in the references.



An Ancient Cultural Clash
Some 2,600 years ago, three young men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, faced a cultural crisis when they were commanded to show honor to a false god.

After their native country of Judah was conquered by the Babylonian Empire, the three were taken to Babylon to be trained for service in King Nebuchadnezzar's government (Daniel 1:1-7). They were in a vulnerable position in a kingdom in which the monarch ruled with absolute power.

The king built a graven image and commanded that everyone should show honor to his creation by bowing down to it (Daniel 3:1-7). Although some may have reasoned that they should show respect to the ruler by accepting some of his customs, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego determined to show respect to God by refusing to comply with this decree.

They knew their decision would lead to their being thrown into "a burning fiery furnace" (verses 6, 12-15), but they remained firm in their conviction. When the moment of decision arrived and the king personally commanded them to show honor to His god, they replied: "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (verses 16-18).

These courageous young men were willing to give their lives, if necessary, to show loyalty to God alone. Appreciating their devotion, God spared their lives in a powerful and miraculous witness to King Nebuchadnezzar (verses 19-30). The faith and faithfulness of these young men remains an enduring example of respect for God. Their example should inspire all of us to honor our Creator with a similar sense of loyalty and dedication.

What About Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Purim?
Since the Jews added the feasts of Purim (the origins of which are described in the book of Esther) and Hanukkah, otherwise known as the Feast of Lights or Feast of Dedication (mentioned in John 10:22-23), some believe we are free to add any religious holidays and celebrations of our own choosing. Is this true?

Important differences in the background and intent of these observances are obvious when we compare them to Christmas, Easter and Halloween. The Jews instituted Purim to commemorate their deliverance during the time of Esther, and Hanukkah to celebrate the rededication of the Jerusalem temple after its defilement by the Syrian invader Antiochus Epiphanes. Neither originated from paganism, although over the centuries these celebrations have taken on some practices, like the Hanukkah bush, that are rooted in paganism.

In their original form, Hanukkah and Purim, like the American holiday of Thanksgiving, are celebrations of thanks and honor to God for His intervention and blessings. The way some Americans celebrate Thanksgiving is far removed from the original intent, but that does not alter the real meaning and significance of the day.

An important distinction between acceptable holidays and those rooted in paganism (like Christmas and Easter) is that they do not alter, replace or distort the meaning of a festival of God or other biblical truths.

Does It Matter to God?
Over the last two millennia, traditional Christianity has systematically laid aside the "feast days of the Lord" and established its own holidays. Christmas was established to enable pagan converts to come into church fellowship without forsaking their heathen customs and practices. Easter is a replacement for the biblical Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.

Even the weekly Sabbath was abandoned in favor of Sunday, supposedly to commemorate Jesus' resurrection (which, as we demonstrated earlier, did not take place on Sunday morning).

Although we should immediately recognize that overruling God's instructions is dangerous behavior, let us consider, from the biblical record, whether such humanly designed inventions and alterations are acceptable worship to our Creator God.

Changing God's instructions
When God began working with the ancient Israelites, He intended they set an example of obedience to Him for the nations around them (Deuteronomy 4:1, 6-8). They were to be a model nation, showing other peoples that God's way of life produces abundant blessings. Their experiences serve as continuing examples for us (1 Corinthians 10:1-11).

During their years in Egypt, the Israelites were exposed to Egyptian culture and worship. Notice what Unger's Bible Dictionary says about this culture: "The Egyptian religion was an utterly bewildering polytheistic conglomeration in which many deities of the earliest periods, when each town had its own deity, were retained ...

"Every object beheld, every phenomenon of nature, was thought to be indwelt by a spirit which could choose its own form, occupying the body of a crocodile, a fish, a cow, a cat, etc. Hence the Egyptians had numerous holy animals, principally the bull, the cow, the cat, the baboon, the jackal, and the crocodile" (1966, p. 291, "Egypt").

Shortly after miraculously delivering the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, God instructed them how He wanted to be worshiped. He gave them His commandments (Exodus 20), along with statutes and judgments detailing how to apply them (Exodus 21-22). God revealed His feast days (Leviticus 23) and gave directions regarding a priesthood, tabernacle and offerings (Exodus 25-31). God told Moses to climb Mount Sinai and gave him two tablets of stone engraved with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:12; 31:18).

When Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:1), Aaron and the people decided to mix the Egyptian form of worship with the instructions they had just received from God. The practice of blending religious beliefs and practices is known as syncretism.

After creating a golden image of a calf, Aaron proclaimed the next day a holiday—"a feast to the Lord" (verses 4-5). They then "rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry" (verse 6, New International Version). This celebration combined God's instruction with Egyptian religious practice and tradition.

We are not told why the Israelites chose this mix of worship. Perhaps they thought it was not a good idea to abandon all of the familiar forms of worship at once and they simply practiced what they were familiar with from their years immersed in Egyptian culture. Whatever their thinking, God was not pleased. He told Moses: "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them" (verses 7-8, New International Version).

God shows from His Word He expects more from those who claim to follow Him. He wants people to worship Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24)—not in corrupted, vile practices rooted in worship of other gods.

Consequences of futile worship
The Israelites were in no way justified in departing from the God-ordained instructions introduced in the wilderness. God was so angered by their actions that He was ready to destroy the nation (Exodus 32:10). Only because of Moses' pleadings did God relent and spare them (verses 11-14).

Ancient Israel's experiment with combining parts of God's instruction with pagan customs and elements was a disaster. In punishment for this sin, 3,000 men lost their lives (verses 27-28). The remaining people had to drink water polluted with the ground-up idol, pulverized into powder (verse 20).

Being presumptuous—taking unauthorized liberty to do things such as altering God's instructions for worship—is sinful. The Bible describes the Israelites' actions as "a great sin" (verses 21, 30, 31). God's law is clear concerning presumptuous behavior (Numbers 15:30-31).

The principle holds true today among God's people. Once we come to understand His truth, we have an obligation to take steps to obey Him. We recognize that the instruction and examples in His Word were recorded for our spiritual instruction and benefit (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11; Romans 15:4).

Additional warnings for Christians
The generation of Israelites who built the golden calf apparently never learned to trust and obey God. Only a short time later, while preparing to go into the land God had promised them, they grew afraid of the land's inhabitants and refused to enter (Numbers 13-14). As a result, God told them they would wander 40 years in the wilderness until all those who had refused to follow His instructions had died (Numbers 14:33). After their deaths, God then began preparing the next generation to enter Canaan.

Part of God's instructions included an explicit warning against incorporating pagan customs into their worship. Here are His exact words:

"When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'

"You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).