the shocking truth about christmas: BIBLICAL FEASTS

Christianity and the Establishment ChurchThe Roman Emperor Constantine outlawed the persecution of Christians when he was in power. He called a meeting of bishops from around the region to the Counsel of Nicea (325AD ) to discuss on the divinity of Yahshua ( Jesus ) . Later on, Constantine became not only emperor, but head of the church as well, also known as the Roman Catholic Church. It was this church which fixed the dates of holy days by the secular / pagan calendar rather than the Jewish calendar. Celebration of Yahshua's ( Jesus ) death became Good Friday instead of Passover and His Resurrection became Easter ( The feast of the pagan deity Ishtar) instead of Firstfruits. Dec 25th became the celebration of His birth ( even though there is NO Biblical commandment to do so ). This detached the events in Yahsuah's ministry from their prophetic Jewish context, depriving us of so much deep insight into Yahweh God and His designs.

However, Yashua has declared that ' the gates of hell shall not prevail' ( Matt 16:18) so despite our enemies' efforts at deception, a growing number of Christians have begun to be aware that christmas makes a mockery of our faith and are turning to observe instead the a Biblical Feasts ( thanks to the Internet ) . In Singapore, the ministry of One New Man Asia ( led by Pastor Gilbert ) is doing a superb job of instructing New Covenant Believers how to celebrate these Biblical Feasts. There is a rich treasure house for us all to partake in these Biblical holidays. They are not just for the Jews only, no more than salvation is exclusively for the Jews.

We enjoy a common heritage by faith as children of Abraham, not genetically, but definitely spiritually. In this regard, we feel that celebrating these holidays are more Christian than celebrating the ones that the world has already blurred the definition of. The Feasts of the LORD have no such blurred distinction. They are HIS feasts, they are HIS holidays, and they are for us to commemorate and celebrate HIM. Although we know that our relationship with God is not based on observing some outward form of worship associated with a feast, we do know that God has established His feasts for our benefit and instruction. It is to our detriment when we ignore that which God has established to keep His gospel in our hearts and minds

What then are these Feasts Of The Lord?. There are 7 major Feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23:1-44. God's Chosen People the Jews have celebrated them since Moses was given the instructions from God to them. Four of the seven feasts have been fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled the first 3 with his life, death and resurrection. We can indeed expect the last 3 feasts to be fulfilled with His Glorious Second Coming.

Did Paul Keep The Feasts Of The Lord? Absolutely. Paul is quoted as telling the Ephesian believers "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem" (Acts 18:20-21).The feast Paul observed is not specified, but likely it was Shavuot (Pentecost) which is a one-day feast. Pentecost remained an important observance for Paul. Paul also instructed the believers at Corinth to observe Passover: "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast." (I Corinthians 5:7-8). The Feasts are also mentioned in Acts 20: 6. Not only did Paul observed these Feasts, Jesus himself did.

From historical church writings, it is clear that the followers of Jesus continued to keep the Feasts of the Lord after Yeshua ascended to heaven, even into the 3rd and 4th century. Paul praised the Corinthians in that "you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you." The word used for "traditions" ("ordinances" in the KJV) is the Greek word paradosis which Strong's Concordance defines as "specifically Jewish traditionary law."

But I’m Not Jewish’ Those who misconstrue the Bible’s clear command to keep the seven annual Feast days, as well as the weekly Sabbath, counter Yahweh’s mandate with the rationale, "I’m not a Jew".

First, realize that the Feast days were given to Moses on Mount Sinai to pass on to Israel (see the Book of Leviticus, along with the last verse, which reveals that Moses was given all the law, not just the Ten Commandments on Sinai). Israel was composed of 12 tribes, only one of which was known as the Jews, the tribe of Judah. The 11 other tribes were not Jews, but Hebrews, who were collectively known as Israel.

All 12 tribes stood at the base of Mt. Sinai to receive Yahweh’s laws and agreed to His covenant, Exodus 19:1, 5-6. Therefore, the requirement was given to more than the Jews. The entire nation of Israel received the statutes and judgments and the Jews were just a fraction of the 12-tribed Israelite nation.
The Scriptures make it clear that we are to become spiritual Israelites. Paul wrote, "Who are Israelites?" Then he answers his own question, "To whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Yahweh, and the promises" (Rom. 9:4).

The original covenant was made with Israel and no one but Israel. What most fail to understand is that Yahweh is still working with and through Israel. Others have a part in the promises only by special adoption, as Paul reminds us. Yahshua’s disciples clearly understood this fact. Just before His ascension they approached Him and asked, "Master, will you at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6) They did not comprehend His timetable, but they did understand that He was working with those known as Israel. Others who want a part in the salvation promise must become spiritual Israelites (Rom. 9 and 11) and abide by the same covenant agreement Yahweh made with Israel. That agreement included obedience to all of Yahweh’s laws given at Sinai – including the Ten Commandments and Feast days. Source

Note : Here are some books on the Feasts of the Lord. We are not involved in the selling of these books nor do we profit from the sale of them. Our only aim is to share resources we've found on the internet for your benefit.