Well we have slammed the pagan holy days in the church quite well, now lets study the Holy days that God meant for us to keep. They are called the "Feast of the Lord"

They are divided into two times of the year: Spring and Fall.

God commanded His people to keep them because they a foreshodows of things to come Col 2:17.

They are the foreshadow of the events of Christ two comings to Earth.

Jesus fulfilled the Spring Feasts with His First coming and will fulfill the Fall Feasts with His second coming.

This study will be a real eye opener, it was for me.

For our first visit, lets see if the 1st century Church kept the Feasts.

I know that modern Christianity has dismissed this commandment of God, for His people to keep these feasts, based on the theory that they are “Jewish old testament holidays”. That we are not to sacrifice animals to God since Jesus was crucified. I know all these arguments of man, but let’s look at the Word and see what it says.

Let us start with I Cor. 5:8. Therefore let us keep the feast. The feast word here is #1858: Holy day. Acts 18:21, Paul left Ephesus to go to Jerusalem to, by all means, to keep a feast. Colossians 2:16, man is not to judge us in the holy days, but the Church.

Now that we see the 1st century Church kept the Feasts of the LORD, Let's study them and maybe we will see why God commanded us to keep them.


To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

Spring Feast

Paul told us that the feasts are a type and foreshadow of things to come. That is why studying the feasts is very essential in understanding God’s plan for the salvation of Mankind.

Colossians 2:16-17
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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body of Christ.
*New Moon feast is not in Leviticus 23, Numbers 10:10 & 28:11
Leviticus 23
Verse 3 is about the weekly Sabbath.
Verse 5 is Passover
Verse 6-8 is Unleaven Bread
Verse 9-14 Sheaf of the First Fruits.
Verse 15-22 Feast of Weeks. AKA: Pentecost
Verse 26-32 Day of Atonement.
Verse 33-35 Feast of Tabernacles

Sabbaths
7th day Sabbath: This is the day of rest that God set forth as a memorial of creation and a shadow of Christ’s millennial Kingdom.
7th year Sabbath: This is a time to give the Earth a rest to rejuvenate.
Jubilee: This is seven 7th year Sabbaths, it is a start over thing.

For now I want to focus on the Spring Feasts: Passover, First Fruits, Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost, the history and the foreshadowing of these Feasts.
History of the spring Feasts:
Passover: is to remember the events of the coming out of Egypt.
Unleavened Bread: is to remember the haste of which they left.
First Fruits: is a tithe of the harvest of the winter grains.
Pentecost: is to remember the events of God giving the “Ten Commandment” to Moses.

The Foreshadow of the spring Feast:
Passover: Jesus death for our salvation.
Unleavened Bread: is turning to Jesus, becoming a new creation; a child of God. Exodus 12:17
First Fruits: is the first resurrection of the Dead.
Pentecost: is the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Passover
Exodus 12:3-6. The tenth day of the first month of the year, which is Abib or Nisan, they were to select a first born lamb, without blemish. They were to take this lamb into their homes to get to know it and inspect it for any blemishes. Then on the evening of the fourth day, sacrifice and eat it.
Now lets look at the events of the Passover almost 2000 years ago. Jesus enters Jerusalem on the 10th of Abib on a donkey colt this was four days before his crucifixion. He was examined for four days. Matt 21 day one, Matt. 21:18 day two, Matt. 26 day three, and Matt. 27 day four and he was crucified that day after the ninth hour Mark 15:33. One other point is the High Priest was to declare the Passover lamb was blemish free and announce “I find no fault in him”, but God used Pilate to do the job of the High Priest Luke 23:14.


Unleavened Bread
This feast was to remind the Jews of the haste in which they left Egypt. Egypt is a type of Satan’s dominion. The Hebrews were in slavery in a land that was not the promise land. Their time there started out very good, but as time went by things got worst. It got to the point that if they were not able to meet their quota in bricks the Egyptians would used Hebrew children in place of bricks in the buildings.
Jesus fulfilled the feast of Unleavened Bread in that as, new creatures we have came out of Satan’s dominion. Satan no longer has authority over us, because we are children of God as a betroth wife to His Son. This is another subject, being the bride of Christ, and it runs deep. We are no longer slave to Satan, his devils and or demons, in fact they are now under our dominion and authority. Jesus was not of the seed of Adam, because his father was the Holy Spirit. As the Bride of Christ we are no longer creatures that exist when Satan stole the earth lease from Adam (told you it gets deep).

The feast of Firstfruits
This is a small and simple offering that is easily overlooked. There is not much information on this feast in modern Jewish books, but it is loaded with events at Christ’s crucifixion. First, let us look at the bible. At some of the small over looked verses that we do not understand because we do not understand the feast of Firstfruits. Then I will show you the events that fulfilled this feast.

John 5:25-29
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Romans 10:6-7
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on the wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead).

Act 2: 30-36
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption (Psalms 16:10). This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Some believe that Jesus went to Hell to receive our punishment for sin. This going to hell was not to receive our punishment for sin, but a conquering rescue mission that fulfills the feast of Firstfruits.
Eph 4:8-9
8 Wherefore he saith, When He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?


This descending to the lower parts of the Earth is not to be confused with the descending from Heaven to Earth found in John 3:13. The Bible is very pacific about the parts of the Earth. Here are a few verses to refer too. Philippians 2: 10 Revelation 5:3 & 13 Luke 8: 31. The Bottomless Pit: Revelation 9:1-11 11:7 17:8 20:1-3 Matt. 11:23-24 Luke 10: 15
Also, do a word search of Sheol. Sheol is Hebrew word. It is a place in the Earth. It is translated in the KJV as Hell, the grave, the pit. In the NT it is uniformly translated as hell. The word Hades is a Greek mythology term meaning: lower regions.

Now that I have established with the canonized Bible, that the three days that Jesus was in the grave, He was on a mission in Hell. Let us look now at some of the details of those three days. In the GOSPEL OF BARTHOLOMEW we get some of that detail.
Bartholomew 1
2 But Jesus answered and said unto them: If I put not off the body of flesh I cannot tell you.
3 But after that he had suffered and risen again, all the apostles, looking upon him, durst not question him, because his countenance was not as it had been aforetime, but showed forth the fullness of power.
Greek. 4 Bartholomew therefore drew near unto the Lord and said: I have a word to speak unto thee, Lord.
5 And Jesus said to him: I know what thou art about to say; say then what thou wilt, and I will answer thee.
6 And Bartholomew said: Lord, when thou wentest to be hanged upon the cross, I followed thee afar off and saw thee hung upon the cross, and the angels coming down from heaven and worshipping thee. And when there came darkness, 7 I beheld, and I saw thee that thou wast vanished away from the cross and I heard only a voice in the parts under the earth, and great wailing and gnashing of teeth on a sudden. Tell me, Lord, whither wentest thou from the cross?
8 And Jesus answered and said: Blessed art thou, Bartholomew, my beloved, because thou sawest this mystery, and now will I tell thee all things whatsoever thou askest me. 9 For when I vanished away from the cross, then went I down into Hades that I might bring up Adam and all them that were with him, according to the supplication of Michael the archangel.
10 Then said Bartholomew: Lord, what was the voice which was heard?
11 Jesus saith unto him: Hades said unto Beliar: As I perceive, a God cometh hither. [Slavonic and latin 2 continue: And the angels cried unto the powers, saying: Remove your gates, ye princes, remove the everlasting doors, for behold the King of glory cometh down.
12 Hades said: Who is the King of glory, that cometh down from heaven unto us?
13 And when I had descended five hundred steps, Hades was troubled, saying: I hear the breathing of the Most High, and I cannot endure it. (latin 2. He cometh with great fragrance and I cannot bear it.) 14 But the devil answered and said: Submit not thyself, O Hades, but be strong: for God himself hath not descended upon the earth. 15 But when I had descended yet five hundred steps, the angels and the powers cried out: Take hold, remove the doors, for behold the King of glory cometh down. And Hades said: O, woe unto me, for I hear the breath of God.]
Greek. 16-17 And Beliar said unto Hades: Look carefully who it is that , for it is Elias, or Enoch, or one of the prophets that this man seemeth to me to be. But Hades answered Death and said: Not yet are six thousand years accomplished. And whence are these, O Beliar; for the sum of the number is in mine hands.
[Slavonic. 16 And the devil said unto Hades: Why affrightest thou me, Hades? it is a prophet, and he hath made himself like unto God: this prophet will we take and bring him hither unto those that think to ascend into heaven. 17 And Hades said: Which of the prophets is it? Show me: Is it Enoch the scribe of righteousness? But God hath not suffered him to come down upon the earth before the end of the six thousand years. Sayest thou that it is Elias, the avenger? But before he cometh not down. What shall I do, whereas the destruction is of God: for surely our end is at hand? For I have the number (of the years) in mine hands.]
Greek. 18 : Be not troubled, make safe thy gates and strengthen thy bars: consider, God cometh not down upon the earth.
19 Hades saith unto him: These be no good words that I hear from thee: my belly is rent, and mine inward parts are pained: it cannot be but that God cometh hither. Alas, whither shall I flee before the face of the power of the great king? Suffer me to enter into myself (thyself, Latin): for before (of, latin) thee was I formed.
20 Then did I enter in and scourged him and bound him with chains that cannot be loosed, and brought forth thence all the patriarchs and came again unto the cross.
21 Bartholomew saith unto him: [latin 2, I saw thee again, hanging upon the cross, and all the dead arising and worshipping thee, and going up again into their sepulchres.] Tell me, Lord, who was he whom the angels bare up in their hands, even that man that was very great of stature? [Slav., Latin. 2, And what spakest thou unto him that he sighed so sore?]
22 Jesus answered and said unto him: It was Adam the first-formed, for whose sake I came down from heaven upon earth. And I said unto him: I was hung upon the cross for thee and for thy children's sake. And he, when he heard it, groaned and said: So was thy good pleasure, O Lord.
23 Again Bartholomew said: Lord, I saw the angels ascending before Adam and singing praises.
24 But one of the angels which was very great, above the rest, would not ascend up with them: and there was in his hand a sword of fire, and he was looking steadfastly upon thee only.
[Slav. 25 And all the angels besought him that he would go up with them, but he would not. But when thou didst command him to go up, I beheld a flame of fire issuing out of his hands and going even unto the city of Jerusalem. 26 And Jesus said unto him: Blessed art thou, Bartholomew my beloved because thou sawest these mysteries. This was one of the angels of vengeance which stand before my Father's throne: and this angel sent he unto me. 27 And for this cause he would not ascend up, because he desired to destroy all the powers of the world. But when I commanded him to ascend up, there went a flame out of his hand and rent asunder the veil of the temple, and parted it in two pieces for a witness unto the children of Israel for my passion because they crucified me. (Lat. 1. But the flame which thou sawest issuing out of his hands smote the house of the synagogue of the Jews, for a testimony of me wherein they crucified me.)].


Now you see that Jesus was not in hell to suffer our punishment for sin, but was there on a conquering rescue mission.

Matt 27:51-53
And, behold, he veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom: and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And come out of the graves after his resurrection, and appeared unto many.

The curtain is torn and the dead rise and walk around. What happen to these walking dead? They were the first fruits of the three resurrections of the dead. I Corinthians 15: teaches about the three resurrection of the dead. Pay close attention to the verses 20-24. Now what does all this have to do with the feast of Firstfruits? To fulfill the feast of Firstfruits, Jesus was on his way to the Father to wave the sheaf of the firstfruits of the dead, when Mary Magdalene stopped Him in the garden (John 20).
The High Priest was to stay in solitude for three days to purify himself, too make the wave offering of the first fruits. This is why Jesus did not let Mary touch Him in the garden. He was on His way to wave the firstfruits of the Dead.

Pentecost fulfilment:
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It is the Ten Commandments that tell us what God expects of us. The Ten Commandments and the Law kept the Hebrew right with God. The Holy Spirit keeps us right with Christ and Christ keeps us right with God. Thus, the Spring Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled. This difference of Law and Grace is another deep subject, but to keep it simple, do not confuse Mercy and Grace. The Law was the Hebrew's salvation, for the Law rolled their sins to the Cross, thus Jesus fulfilled the Law. After the Cross, the Grace of Jesus Christ is our salvation also. Grace is: God doing the work and we reap the benefits.

In summary:
Christ’s first coming fulfilled all the Spring Feast of the LORD. It is the Fall Feast that will be fulfilled, with Christ’s second coming. This is why students of prophecy get very excited in the fall. Not only did Jesus fulfill all the spring feasts in context. He also fulfilled them in the time of the year of their observance. The problem with getting excited every year at the fall Feasts is there are still a few End Time prophecies that have been fulfilled yet. The two prophecies that I look for are: 1)The two witnesses, and 2) the building of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem.

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I have been checking daily for responses to this post, and have been very surprised to find none. I was also very surprised to find quotes used from the Gospel of Bartholomew. Joe, do you think this is reliable? Should we be studying the Apocryphal New Testament? I'm no scholor, but I thought these writings were not thought to be inspired.

Sister Cathy:
Thank you for your response. Responses to this subject will be very small if any, because it is a subject that few want to deal with. I teach it in Sunday School in Exile for that very reason: The remnant is a very small percentage of the church goers, and some will come here to study because they are beyond, and tired of, the Sunday morning milk sermons.
Now as for using Apocryphal writings. What is the acid test we are to use to determine what is inspired?
· That it is in the bible? No. The bible we have today was given to us by the catholics. They filtered through over 900 letters and writings to decided what was going to be in the Holy Bible. The catholics have a very long history of keeping biblical knowledge away from the commoners. Also if you have surfed this site at all, you know of the way that the versions attack the truth so we have to have a way to determine what is inspired.
· Who was the author? No. Bartholomew was one of the original Apostles.
o Mark, Luke, Jude and James the brother of Jesus were not Apostles.
o We are not sure who wrote the book of Hebrews.
· When we think about the scriptures, (* footnote) we think of the whole bible, but the scriptures the Apostles are talking about is the Torah and the Prophets, not the New Testament.
· What the preacher, elders, or the Christian colleges tell us is OK for us to accept? NO! They are not even able to discern the different between the versions, or the difference between Godly worship and pagan worship. So what do they know? NOTHING! I’m sorry: I almost got started.

As you can see we must have an acid test to know what we are to believe. We today are not the only ones acceptable to this method of misleading (II Thes. 2. I John 2 ). This subject is covered here in Sunday School in Exile under the heading “The Test” http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=187069&messageid=1015762417&lp=1072512227
One of God’s laws is two or more witnesses are needed to verify the truth (De 19:15). All through God’s word you will find at least two independent passages that tell you about a truth. This is where we get the term to intrepid scripture with scripture, not scripture with what I have been taught. So as I read Apocryphal writings, I keep the ones that line up with scripture or the other two witnesses.

*foot note

Ro 16:26 -But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
1Co 15:3 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
2Pe 3:16 - As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Ti 3:16 -All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

Cathy,

Try this one for celebrating the first of the spring festivals.

...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast...
1cor5:7-8

Remember, these are not feasts commanded to be observed under the law. These are feasts of the Lord. The church is the New Israel. We are adopted into His chosen family.

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
(Lev 23:5-6)


The reference here is most definitely the body and blood of Christ. We choose to celebrate the LS on the first day of each week. Considering the letter written to Greeks, not Jews, Paul may be saying that we might benefit from celebrating the Passover feast with the understanding that the Messiah has come, and is Jesus. There's value to understanding the foreshadow of all the prophecy in the OT. The 3 feasts have great significance in our celebration of resurrection, birth of church and final return of our Lord. Unfortunately, we have chosen to ignore the value, and create other holidays with pagan origin. I'm not against celebrating resurrection day or Jesus' birth day, but we should understand their origins and deal with them honestly.

sc

The Fall Feast
Leviticus 23:23-44

In the fall of the year Israel celebrates the civil New Year, it starts with the “New Moon”. It the month of Tishrei, the start of the civil year, the beginning of months is Nisan or Abib: Exodus 12:2. The month of Tishrei is a very busy month because it is full of feasts. It starts with a New Moon feast ( Rosh Chodesh), then the 10th day is the day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). And on the 15th is the feast of Tabernacles (Sukket) and the feast of Ingathering.
This is also the time of the year that the prophecy sect of the Church gets very excited. Prophecy students know that Jesus full filled all the Spring Feast and that He will full fill the Fall Feast in His second coming. All though it is not time to watch the eastern sky, because there are a few End Time prophecies that have not been full filled yet. It’s still an exciting time of the year, because Israel’s enemies usually attack her in the fall feastand we get to see some awesome work of God in these battles. Just don’t fall for the fake Armageddon that ushers in the Anti-christ.

Now with that said, let’s study the “Fall Feasts”

The month of Tishrei starts as all months start, with the New Moon feast. God put His people on a time tracking schedule (calendar) based on a lunar timetable. They watched the moon to know what time of the month it was. The month starts with the new moon. This new moon is the first sighting of the moon after the moonless night phase. People would watch the western sky, at nightfall, looking for a small sliver of the moon. When you saw it you would run to the Temple to announce you saw the New Moon. When two people came to the Temple to witness the sighting, they would go up to the High Priest and give their witness of the New Moon. After a few questions the High Priest would announce that the month begin and to blow the trumpet and light the signal fires. Then at the Temple they would have a big sit down eating fest. This is how Israel started each month twelve times a year.
The start of Tishrei is a little different from the normal New Moon feasts. The blowing of the trumpets is more than a signal blast. The trumpets where blown up to 90 times signaling many different things, thus the name “the Feast of Trumpets”, but there is a first and last trumpet blast. Also, the other “Feasts of the LORD” you start counting the days from the new moon. The day the Feast of Trumpet starts is unknown, because you are watching for the new moon: this is a small technically, but you will see the significant to this in the foreshadows of the Last Days.
. ***First let me tell you about the feasts and their history,
later, I will tell you the foreshadows of the feast***.
The Feast of Trumpets was established to celebrate the time when Moses talked to God for the people at Mt. Sinai Exodus 19&20.

On the 10th of Tishrei is the “Day of Atonement” Leviticus 23: 27-32. This is the feast that makes atonement for sins. Some more details of what is to be done for this feast is found in Leviticus 16 & Numbers 29:7-11. This is the only time that a Priest can enter into the Holy of Holies, the most Holy place. This is where the Ark of the Covenant is. He would enter and sprinkle blood on the eastward side of the Mercy Seat: The left side, the right side is reserved for Jesus and it is His blood that was sprinkled on the right side of the Mercy seat during His crucifixion (remember the earthquake in Matt.). The “afflict your soul” in Num. 29:7 is a reference too fasting. You are to fast one day.

On the 15th day of Tishrei there is two feasts during this time Lev. 23:34 & 39. The Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Ingathering. The Feast of Tabernacles was to remember the time spent in the wilderness for 40 years. They lived in tents, or booths, or tabernacles (Sukket) for 40 years. During the Feast of Tabernacle you build a booth, a tabernacle to live in for 7 days: basically you camp out. The tabernacle also was a remembrance of the Tabernacle that God have Moses build so He could live with them Exodus 25:8. When God lives with man He lives in a tabernacle: that is why Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacle. Jesus’ body was a tabernacle. God was tabernacling with us. (I know you do not understand when Jesus was born, but the bible gives us that information, if you are willing to do a little digging). Now, for the Feast of Ingathering. Exodus 23:16 & 34:22 This and the Feast of First Fruits are wave offerings of the corps of the fields. The Feast of Ingathering is in the mist of the Feast of Tabernacle for a End Times prophecy foreshadow.

Now let’s get into the Foreshadows

The Feast of Trumpets: Matt 24: 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Also, look at Luke 17:34.
Just like we do not know the day and hour that the Feast of Trumpets starts, we look for the sign, the New Moon. We know not the day and the hour of Christ’s return, but we watch for the signs of His return; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2Th 2:3 let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; You really need to read all of the 2nd chapter and II Peter 3. There are many, many signs the bible gives us to watch for and are being fulfilled daily, but this study is already long.

The Feast of Atonement: Get out your bible and hold onto your seat, I’m going to blow your mind with this one. Revelations 14:14-16 this is were Jesus catches us up, and then in chapter 15 we see what we are doing in Heaven with Jesus before we return with Him in Revelation 19. In chapter 15, we are found standing on a floor as it were a sea of glass mingled with Fire. What is going on here? Let’s start with Isaiah 4:4 Spirit of burning. Malachi 3:He is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap. Luke 3:17 with a fan in His hand He burns the chaff. I Corinthians 3:13 our work are tried by fire. I Peter 1:7 our faith is tried by fire at His appearing. Look these verses up and read them in context, because I ask again, what is going on here in this sea of glass mingle with fire. Don’t get chaff and tares mixed up here. Wheat has chaff on it, and the tares are separated from the wheat and left in the field. Revelation 15-18 is what happens to the tares: The 7 vials of wrath. So what is going on? Your sins are being burned off. When you sin you create a marker, God does not see it because Jesus hangs on to it and burns it off you so, He can present His spotless and wrinkle free bride to the Father. REMEMBER; Jesus’ first coming He fulfilled the spring feast of Passover, His second coming He fulfills the fall feast of Atonement.

Now let’s look at the combine feasts of Tabernacle and Ingathering. This combining of the two feasts, is a foreshadow of the 1000 year Sabbath Kingdom. While Jesus is setting on the throne in Jerusalem all the tribes of Israel will be back on their promised land, the end of the dispensation promised to them by God. This does not set well with a lot of people, because it does not fit well with their comfort zone of bible prophecy. Some peoples comfort zone is that they do not believe bible prophecy, other have build a nice living in twisting bible prophesy.
Let say one other thing about the Feast of Tabernacle. Zechariah 14:16 tell us that during the 1000 year Sabbath Kingdom that all that are left of the nations will go up to Jerusalem to worship Jesus year to year. The Feast of Tabernacle is a feast that will be a hold over in the 1000 years Sabbath Kingdom, because Jesus is living among us.

Now let’s put all this together and see why it is so important that we understand the fall Feasts. When Jesus came and fulfilled the spring Feasts, He fulfilled them all in one year. He fulfilled them completely, even to the timing of the events: that is 4 days of inspection, 4 days to First Fruits then 50 days to Pentecost. So if that holds true again (which I think it will), after the 7 years of Tribulation and we are called up at Tishrei 1, it will be 15 days till the establishment of the 1000 years Sabbath Kingdom.
I would like to share with you the two signs I look for to see what time it is in the timetable of the End Times. I look for the two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah. Revelations 11 tells us that the two witnesses show up at the beginning of the 7 years of tribulation. The second is: building of the Temple, on the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem. I really think this will be very soon. They are working very hard and have made great strides to get things ready for the Temple and Temple services.


Thank you Jesus for your Holy Spirit, for He has called me out, and He teaches me of your Glory. He protects us and provides for us. And I am thankful that He prays for me, and I summit myself to the request He makes on my part, for He knows my heart better than I. He knows better than I the things I need to strengthen me and to bring you Glory. Most of all, thank you for your work that redeems me to the Father. Thank you for choosing me as your bride, for making me more than a conqueror because I benefit from your conquering work, and I benefit from your standing with the Father. For I am nothing without you, I’m faithless, absent your faith and unrighteous without your righteousness. Thank you for making me a new creature, transferring me from the seed of Adam, to make me your betroth bride. LORD come quickly.

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

I am struggling with how to respond with Christian love and kindness to this website. I happen to be the product of a conservative Church of Christ background, who graduated from one particular Christian colleger and am currently in graudate school in another. Professors and fellow students, whom I know love the Lord and His church with all their hearts are constantly attacked in this forum. People who claim to love God and profess to be true Christians are acting in the most un-Christian ways. There is no attempt at healthy dialogue, it seems most people who post here have written off Freed-Hademan, Lipscomb, Harding, ACU, Pepperdine, etc and "given them over to the devil." There seems to be no desire to "bring them back to the fold."

Jesus Christ himself sat and talked and ate with and listened to tax collectors and prostitutes. He didn't approve of their lifestyle, but wasn't content to let them stay that way. If the people who routinely posted on here wanted to act in a Christ-like manner, they would not fire off these hateful salvos toward those they feel are wrong. They would welcome them into their homes, get to know them, and seek to understand where they come from.

But anyway, I learned all that in my Christian college, from people truly God-oriented, and yet intelligent at the same time, so my position will probably be dismissed. There are those of us who love our brothers and sisters who post on here, and are willing to engage in dialogue, but for that to happen, both sides need to be willing to talk, and perhaps admit that each side has something to teach the other.

Anonymous
This is an excellent attempt to stone the Watchmen on the wall that are trying to meet their responsibility to warn. We, the Watchmen on this site have continually tried to have, as you put it “healthy dialogue”. But the evil ones will not come into the Light. They know their evil ways will be exposed. They have even been enticed to disfellowship some of us, but they will not, for fear of a public trail, they do not want their evil deeds exposed to the public. Your comments to defend the so call “Christian colleges”, is either sad or hilarious, that would depend on whether you are a poor blind sheep or one of them. Satan does his best work at the Christian COLLEGES. It is sad that the sheep are so blind that they can’t even read the scriptures. We, the Watchmen on this site must be doing a very good job of defending the truth, based on the amount of attacks we endure.
I see you (anonymous) as one of the evil ones, part of the party feeding on the sheep, for you use the same evil tactics that other evil ones use to attack an “watchman on the wall”, too attempt to keep others from heeding the warnings, therefore your attack is welcomed. For if I am not attacked in these dark days of the End Times, I would fear that I was one of the Evil Ones that, are moving across this land devouring the blind sheep. Member of the elect remnant are very small in number, but they are watching. The Blind Sheep themselves chose to be blind, and do not want to see, they prefer the taste of sand, and keep their head stuck in the sand thinking they are safe, rather than exposing themselves,. They, the willful blind sheep, do not want to know the truth and this is very scriptural. For in the last days many will fall away, many will be lovers of themselves, many will be part of giving true followers of Christ over to the evil ones, to be killed, thinking they are doing the LORD’s work, many will give themselves over to the Beast and take his mark, many will be damned.


To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

Mr. McKnight,

What exactly are these "evil tactics" to which you refer? I would like to know exactly what it is I am being accused of.

As far as the work of Satan at the Christian colleges, I will be the first to admit that they are not perfect institutions. However, would you say that Satan is doing his "best work" at an institution founded on Christian principles, where students are taught to read the Bible, study the Bible, interpret the Bible, meet for chapel everyday, etc. or a state run institution where co-ed dorms allow premarital sex, alcohol, drug use and offer a very un-Christian way of life? I think that judgement is very farsighted.

However, I am willing to enter into dialog about these issues. I cherish my heritage in the churches of Christ, but feel that as with any tradition, some careful criticism is a healthy, if not needed thing. I will not simply toe the party line because it is the party line.

Indeed, to God be the glory,

A concerned student

Concerned Student:
Thank you for your questions, I was afraid that my study of the feasts was to vague for students to see the foreshallows.

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

I do not believe in all the liberal views, change agents, praise teams, and the community church movement. I am, however, confused about the feasts. Are we or are we not suppose to be participating in a feast other than the Lord's supper every Sunday? It has been hard for me to follow and understand all that has been written about the feasts. Your answer will be greatly appreciated.

Patsy:
Thank you for your question and for the opportunity to address your confusion. In the studies of the Spring, and Fall Feasts, I showed where the early Church was participating the Feasts of the LORD. The apostles did not condemn this practice. I know modern denominational church leaders condemn this practice or even the thought of it. They are afraid that animal sacrifices for sin will breakout. Jesus was and is the only sacrifice that satisfies the cost of forgiveness of our sins. Even under the Law, the animal sacrifices for sin was not for forgiveness of sin, but to cover their sins, untill the death of Christ on the cross.

Here is something to keep in mind. Animal sacrifices are to be done in the Temple. God stopped the animal sacrifices by removing the Temple. Do you see it? Man, on our own, did not stop sacrificing animals for sins, it was by God’s Grace that we stopped. We know that Jesus Christ was the sin sacrifice, and that the blood of bulls and goats does not forgive us of sin. Yet, as gullible as we are, if God had not taken away the Temple, I fear we would return to animal sacrifices, but by God’s grace, we can not.

Your Question: Are we or are we not suppose to be participating in a feast other than the Lord's supper every Sunday? This has many different levels, but to keep from being, or giving, a politician’s answer, let me say I believe so. I know I just opened “a can of worms” and I gave tons of ammunition to those that live to shoot at me, but to those that are truehearted, think about this. Ask yourself: What or whose feasts do I participate in? And whose are we to participate in?

Now let me ask: Where are we to get the information that governs our life?
What does the Bible say about Feast participation?

Patsy, let me ask you and others, did this study help you see the foreshadows in the Feasts? What can I do better too help others to see the foreshadows?

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

Tishar 1 Is just around the corner. What day and hour will it be? We don't know, but we can watch for it. Watch for the sign, and know it is here, and blow the trumpet in Zion.

Jesus said we know not the day or the hour of His return, but commanded us to watch for the signs of His return so we will not be caught naked and ashame.

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

Like you said Joe," this stuff will blow your mind." I vaguely remember a quick study regarding the feasts many new moons ago. Of course I do not recall how Jesus fulfilled them while he was here. Now it seems so clear. Thanks for your making it easier to understand. How do we become "watchers" instead of "blind sheep?" Where else can I go and read in order to be ready and not caught naked? Again, thank you for sharing your studies! Wil

wilmontero@bellsouth.net

Brother Wil:
I am sorry to have taken so long to respond.
Just worrying about being caught N/S is headed in the right direction. It is not for everyone to know so, the second thing you must do is: Ask the Holy Spirit to show it to you, it is His job to teach and guide.

You asked about what to read. Well of coarse we would start with the Bible: I would make it a KJV, but to see the signs of HIS coming, you will need to read all of it. God said He tells the ends from the begining, so you will start with the 6 days of creation, for this world is 6000 years old and TIME is nearing the begining of the Sabbath. The Old Testament is key in understanding the New Testament, so don't buy off on the thinking that we do not need to know the Old.
Next I would get a couple of good books on the Jewish traditions, customs, and ritual. Micheal Rood Helped me alot with seeing the foreshadows of the feasts, check his website out.
May God bless you in your search, and remember_

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight

We are right at moonless nights. We will need to watch the western sky at sundown to see the "New Moon", For no man knows the day or the hour. Then when two or more witnesses verify the sighting of the "New Moon", we can start the "Feast of Trumpets". And start counting the days till Jesus' birthday.

To God be the Glory
Joe McKnight