Festival Days
Why does the Christian lore tell us the Apostles began to keep new and different festival days after Yahshua’s death, when a responsible examination of the New Covenant shows no such evidence?
The word ‘Easter’ appears in the King James Version at Acts 12:4, but this is only because the King James translators incorrectly rendered the Greek word Pascha (meaning the Passover) as ‘Easter’: 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter (sic) to bring him forth to the people. [Ma’aseh (Acts) 12:4 KJV]
All major versions since the King James have corrected this error. Even the New King James reads: 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. [Ma’aseh (Acts) 12:4 NKJV]
There are several other references to the Passover in the New Covenant. All these indicate that the Apostles were still keeping the Hebrew calendar [with YHWHs Feast Days], many years after Yahshua’s Ascension: 6 And we sailed away after the Days of Unleavened Bread …(meaning, [just after] the Passover). [Ma’aseh (Acts) 20:6]
There are also numerous references telling us that the Apostles continued to observe the Festival of the Pentecost: 8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost. [1st Corinthians 16:8]
And, as mentioned before, we know that this was still the Hebrew Pentecost, because the Apostle Shaul was hurrying to observe this festival in Jerusalem (rather than Rome): 16 For Shaul had decided to sail by Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for he hastened if it was possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. [Acts 20:16]
Many Christians also miss the reference to the Day of Atonement in the New Covenant. It is called ‘the Fast’ at Acts 27:9, because the Day of Atonement is traditionally observed by fasting: 9 And much time having passed, and the voyage already being dangerous because the Fast had now gone by….[Ma’aseh (Acts) 27:9]
Boat travel was dangerous because weather in the Mediterranean can be turbulent after the Fast, which is always held in fall. The main thing to notice, however, is that the authors of the New Covenant used idiomatic language (slang). Even though the word ‘Fast’ is translated perfectly from Greek into the English, unless one understands that it was a slang reference to the Day of Atonement, one can easily miss the fact that the Apostles were still using the Hebrew calendar [which included keeping YHWHs Feast Days].
Even though Yahshua said not to think He came to destroy the Law or the Prophets [Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:17-19], many Christians think just exactly that. They suggest that because Yahshua came in fulfillment of the Festivals, one is no longer required to keep them. These Christians suggest that the Law is like a bank loan: Once you have paid your loan, the loan is now ‘Paid in Full’; and therefore this loan is ‘fulfilled.’ Once it is fulfilled, it has become void; and they suggest that it is likewise this way with the Law. But are laws like a loan? And, if you repay a loan, does that mean you will no longer have to obey any of the laws that govern banking?
At Luke 4:18, Yahshua stood up in front of the synagogue at Nazareth to say that He had come to fulfill the first part of the prophecy at Isaiah 60-61: 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah (or Yeshayahu). And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of YHWH is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and 19 “to proclaim the acceptable year of YHWH….” [Luqa (Luke) 4:16-19]
Even though Yahshua does not intend to fulfill Isaiah 61:2 until His Second Coming, still He said He was sent to fulfill the first part of it (Isaiah 61:1): 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” [Luqa (Luke) 4:16-21]
Yahshua fulfilled Isaiah 61:1, but He must return to fulfill Isaiah 61:2 (the Day of Vengeance of our Elohim,). Both the Law and the Prophets speak of Yahshua’s eventual return; but if the Law and the Prophets are now destroyed, then how will Yahshua ever return to fulfill the second half of this prophecy? Is this what the Christianity really wants? Does Christianity hope Yahshua will not be able to return and fulfill the second half of the Prophecies? Is that why it wants to see the Law and the Prophets destroyed? [Remember, Christianity comes from Catholicism. Catholicism comes from Mithraism. I’m talking about the system, not the people.]
If the Christian hypothesis is true (that the Law and the Prophets were annulled), then why does the Apostle Shaul tell us (below) that the festivals are shadows of things still to come? That is precisely what Colossians 2:16-17 says, although most people do not realize it, because of major errors in most of the English translations. For example, the King James Version reads:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the sabbath (days): [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17, KJV]
The King James makes it appear as if we should never let anyone judge us according to what we eat or drink, or what days we keep in worship. It also seems to suggest that it makes no difference whether we keep the same days of worship the Apostles kept, or whether we keep the Sun-day and Easter, because (after all) the Body is of Messiah. However, this rendering has some problems:
When we take this back to the Greek Texts, we find that the words in parenthesis, (days) and (is) do not appear. They appear in the King James only because the translators added these words, in order to make the passage harmonize with the popular view that the Law and the Prophets had been abolished. However, since we are not supposed to add to the Word (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, etc)., once we realize that the words (days) and (is) do not belong in this passage, we need to take them out, and see what kind of difference it makes.
Here is the exact same passage, but with the supplied words (days) and (is) taken out:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the Sabbath; which are a shadow of things to come; but the Body of Christ [Colossians 2:16-17]
If we read this passage closely, we will see that there are three main ideas mentioned here (1-2-3):
1. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the Sabbath;
2. which are a (prophetic) shadow of things (still) to come;
3. but the Body of [Messiah].
If we rearrange the clauses to make the English read better (3-1-2), we find that Shaul was actually telling us that the festivals are still prophetic shadows:
16 Let no man but the Body of Messiah judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the Sabbath; for the festivals are shadows of things (still) to come. [Colossians 2:16-17]
Rather than telling us that the festivals do not matter, Shaul is actually telling us that we should keep the Sabbath, the Festivals and the New Moons, because they are prophetic shadows of future events. Shaul’s true meaning, however, is not at all reflected in the New International Version, which reads: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17, NIV]
The NIV tells us that these prophetic shadows of future events are now all discarded, or irrelevant. The NIV further suggests that as long as one believes that Yahshua is the Messiah, it no longer makes any difference what one might eat or drink, or what days of worship one might decide to keep (if any). However, the idea that the Festival Days are important prophetic shadows of future events did not originate with Shaul. Yahshua came in prophetic fulfillment of the Passover; and it was important for the faithful to be in the Temple in Jerusalem on the Day of the Pentecost, even after Yahshua’s Ascension: 1 And in the fulfilling of the Day of Pentecost, (the faithful) were all with one mind, in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole House where they were sitting. [Acts 2:1]
[Why were they in one place? Because they were keeping the Hebrew Calendar (which included YHWHs Feast Days).]
If Yahshua’s death was really the clear-cut turning point that the Church Fathers claim, then it would not have mattered whether the faithful were in the Temple in Acts Chapter 2, or not. Instead, the Spirit would have been poured out on them no matter where they were.
Christianity counters by saying that the Law and the Prophets were not abolished instantaneously; but that Yahshua’s death ushered in a three-to-fourhundred-year period of change, in which authority was given to the Church Fathers to make all sorts of sweeping changes to the faith. Christianity further asserts that these changes were all legitimate and valid, even though they directly conflict with the Bridal Contract, the Prophecies, Yahshua’s Words, and the Apostles’ writings. The Church asserts that the First Century was a special time; and that the reason the Apostles still observed the Festivals was simply because they did not know any better.
The Church suggests that the Apostles had no idea that the Church Fathers would make such wonderful improvements on YHWH’s Covenant, or else they would have abandoned it while the Book of Acts was still being written. In contrast, Jews have always taught that major prophetic events always occur on the Festival days.
The Torah is essentially a codification of YHWH’s Spirit, made into a list of Instructions. This codification was first given to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai (Horeb) on the Pentecost, fifty days after they left from Egypt (after the Passover). Thousands of years later, the Spirit was again handed down at Pentecost, this time in Acts Chapter Two. The main difference was that this time, instead of just giving a codification of the Spirit’s guidance, the faithful were given the Spirit itself. Thus, in actuality, there have already been two fulfillments of the Feast of the Pentecost. Therefore, while the pattern is one of repeated fulfillments, the Church tells us that there will never be another fulfillment. But is this really true?
Consider for a moment that Israel’s children already fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles once, when they dwelt in tabernacles (or booths) in the Wilderness in Sinai. The second fulfillment came when Yahshua was born. While the Christians tell us He was born on December the 25th, the truth is that He was born on the first day of the Fall Festival of Tabernacles, which is why Yochanan (or John) tells us: 14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. [John 1:14]
Other versions read “and pitched His tent among us”, which gives essentially the same meaning. Christianity teaches that Yahshua was born in a manger on December the 25th, with donkeys and horses looking on, and Yahshua swaddled in a crib, on the hay. As romantic as this Roman Church version of the story sounds, it is far from the truth. Contrary to Roman myth, Yahshua could not have been born on December the 25th.
In the first place, December the 25th is the Roman festival of Saturnalia (or Bacchanalia). The Roman Church supposedly re-named this festival in honor of the Messiah, but this does not alter the fact that it is still a pagan festival; and the observance of even a re-named pagan festival is strictly prohibited by the Marital Covenant (Deuteronomy 12:30).
Second, if the Apostles had observed December the 25th, it would have been recorded. However, the word ‘Christmas’ appears nowhere in Scripture [neither does December 25th].
Third, ‘December’ is not even a month on the Hebrew calendar. Why would the Apostles have kept a pagan festival date that does not even show up on their calendar?
Fourth, if the Father designated certain days for worship and rest at the time of the Creation (and then banned the keeping of all other festival days) then why would those days have changed at the coming of the Messiah? Indeed why, when none of the Prophecies speak of a change in the days of worship?
Since Christianity does not value the Hebrew language, most Christians do not realize that in Hebrew, the word for a manger is the same as the word for a tabernacle. Thus, the account of Yahshua’s birth should actually read: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a tabernacle, because there was no room for them in the inn. [Luqa (Luke) 2:7]
To a Hebrew, it is only fitting that the honor of raising the Messiah should have been given to a devout couple who kept the Commandments. This describes Joseph and Mary (or Miriam) exactly. Joseph and Miriam (or Mary) had come up for the pilgrimage feast in Jerusalem, in keeping with the Commandment that all males who wished to continue to be thought of as Israelites should make the pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times a year.
The commandment specifies that all native-born Israelites must dwell in tabernacles (i.e., temporary dwellings) for seven days, in keeping with the Command in the Torah. In Hebrew, these dwellings are called sukkot. In English, these tabernacles are sometimes referred to as ‘booths’: 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am YHWH your Elohim’.” [Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:39-43]
While Joseph and Miriam had come up to Jerusalem in obedience to the commandment in Torah, they originally intended to stay at an inn. This is because, while the Jewish rabbis teach the importance of keeping the commandments, they also teach that the highest commandment is the preservation of human life.
The rabbinical ruling in that time was the same as it is today; that at any person who was pregnant, old, or sick did not actually have to sleep in a tabernacle (or a booth, or a ‘manger’), but that for health and safety’s sake, they could rent a room at an inn. However, we know from Scripture that there was no room at the inn; and therefore even though Miriam was pregnant, Joseph and Miriam had to dwell in a Tabernacle (or a booth, or a ‘manger’). All of this came to pass so that Yahshua might be born in a tabernacle on the first day of the Fall Festival of Tabernacles, in prophetic fulfillment of the Command. Thus, just as the Jews have always taught, important prophetic events in Israel happen only on the festival days, in prophetic fulfillment of these festivals.
But lest we believe that there are no more fulfillments of these Festivals, Zechariah 14 prophesies a third fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is still to come:
16 And it shall be, everyone who is left from all the nations which came up against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, YHWH of hosts; and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, whoever will not go up from the families of the earth to worship the King, YHWH of hosts, there shall even be no rain on them. [Zech. 14:16-17]
And there is also a fourth fulfillment, which is prophesied in the Book of Revelation:
3 And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, “Behold, the Tabernacle of Elohim is with men!” And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His peoples, and Elohim Himself will be their Elohim. [Revelation 21:3]
Yahshua is surely a good Son. If He intends to bring His bride back to His Father’s House, then why would He take a bride, who insists on worshipping and resting on those pagan festival days that His Father always said He hated? Why indeed, when other virgins love Him, and want to keep all of His Father’s Commandments?
[Can you see how we have inherited lies? When it comes to your eternal destiny, don’t you think it is important to find out what the truth really is?
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