The all-knowing, all wise Creator, Yahweh El Elyon knows the end from the very beginning
Therefore, He designed a Master Plan for the ultimate salvation of man, long before the creation
We got a hint of this from the account of the creation in Gen. 1:14; “And Elohim said, Let there be light in the firmaments of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and they will be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years.”
He ordained a perfectly arranged program, an outline of His rescue program prefiguring the seven steps in His overall plan for the salvation of man.
This revelation becomes crystal-clear when we study the text quoted above from different translations of the Bible.
COMPARING VERSIONS (Gen. 1:4)
The Good News Bible reads, “Then (Yahweh) commanded, let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years and religious festivals begin”
Jerusalem Bible “let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night and let them indicate festivals, days and years”
New English Bible “Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to separate day from night and let them serve as signs both for
festival and for seasons and years”
Moffat Bible “Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to separate day from night to mark the sacred seasons, the days and the years”
YAHWER’S FEAST DAYS OR FESTIVALS ORDAINED FROM CREATION
In the Book of Leviticus chapter 23, verse 1 to end, the Almighty Yahweh
specified seven feasts (or festivals) which He commanded Israel to observe. He said they should observe these feasts to run throughout the year. He equally stated the dates, indicating months and days of the moon these feasts should be observed every year.
From the text of our study which we quoted above from different translation of the Bible, we found out that these feast (festivals) given to Israel were not actually intended only for ancient Israel. They are not exclusively “Jewish” as many think rather; they are originally intended for the whole mankind to observe.
When mankind deviated from the Creator and followed Nimrod the “Rebelled one” refusing to neither obey the Creator nor follow His ways. He now reserved it, and reintroduced it to His chosen people Israel.
These seven feasts, in addition to the weekly Sabbath – the seventh day Sabbath given to Israel to observe, were originally ordained by the Creator to keep His great plan for the ultimate salvation of man in the minds and hearts of His people. As they observe these festivals weekly, monthly and yearly their mind is constantly impressed with a preview of the outline of Yahweh’s programme for the salvation of man.
Consider the different translations cited above (as taken from Gen. 1.14), you will see plainly from those translations that these solemn festivals were an integral part of Yahweh’s plan for the creation of the world.
The seven feasts (festivals) given to Israel as stated in Leviticus 23 were never an afterthought hurriedly formulated and given to Israel after they left Egypt, the house of slavery, as many think. Rather they were conceived in the mind of the Creator before man was even created as we can see from Gen 1:14. This plan came up on the fourth day of creation, while man was created on the sixth day.
The very first reference to festivals was made on the fourth day of creation, thus Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years and religious festivals begin”.
Think about this!
THE FEASTS –A FORESHADOW
The seven feasts are a preview, a foreshadow, an outline of His rescue programme prefiguring the seven steps in His overall plan for the salvation of man.
The Sabbath is the foundation upon which others are built. It was a plan in the mind of the Creator (from the beginning of creation) for the man He created. It was a carefully arranged programme, a perfect schedule to occur at a divinely appointed time. A perfect plan of salvation. Thus He said;
“Even these are my feasts.”(Lev. 23:2)
MAN NEEDS A BREAK
Before man was created, the Elohim Yahweh, who knows the end from the very beginning knew that man needs a break-a seasonal break! Hence He drafted it into the programme in His scheme of things.
He saw that man needs a seasonal respite and repose.
He knows that man too often gets deeply absorbed in the things of this world, and has a tendency to forget his purpose here on earth.
Materialism, sinful pleasure, and entertainment largely occupy man’s attention and interests, causing him to lose sight of his spiritual values and Yahweh’s programme for his eternity
For this reason, the Almighty Yahweh set-aside and ordained as a statute forever these occasional seasonal feasts and the Sabbath as holidays or rest days for man. So that man can occasionally lift up his head to reflect and refocus on the purpose of life, and once again appreciate spiritual values.
AN ORDINANCE FOREVER
Knowing that man has been so disobedient, He encoded it in a statutory law and said, (to Israel this time)
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My feasts .Contrary to what many think, those special observances (feasts) stated clearly by the Creator in Leviticus 23, were not for the Israelites or the Jews only.
In point of fact, He stated emphatically even these are My Feasts,” verse 4. And verse 37 says; “These are the feasts of Yahweh…..”
The feasts are Yahweh’s, they were not meant for ancient Israel only. They are not just for the Jews.
The feasts antedated the ancient Israel and the Jews, as we could see from the afore-cited texts Gen 1:14
All the patriarchs, Adam, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham etc, observed these festivals.
Testifying about Abraham, Yahweh said, “Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws. The “Statutes” here refer to the feasts of Yahweh which Abraham also observed at their appointed season. The reason is that the feasts were ordained at creation as an ordinance forever.
“….and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever” (Ex. 12:14).
The feasts were never a temporary feature instituted by Yahweh for Israel to observe, only to be done away with by the death and resurrection of the Messiah, as some suppose.
They were never old and dead ritualistic laws contrary to us, nailed to the tree’ by the Messiah and abolished. No! They have been, they are and will ever he, since forever has not ended as they were ordained to be.
Even in the millennial kingdom to come, the feasts will still be observed.
“And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the king, Yahweh of Hosts, and to observe feast of tabernacles” (Zech. 14:16).
“For as the new heavens and new earth, which I will make shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new-moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, said Yahweh” (Isa. 66:22-23).
Furthermore, a close examination of such passages in Lev. 23 particularly verse 14, 21, 31 and 41, will reveal to you the Almighty Yahweh’s intent and purpose concerning the feasts. Notice how many times the word “forever” was used in those passages.
Carefully studying the passages, you can see that the Almighty Yahweh, in no equivocal terms, stresses that the feasts are to be eternal. Not temporary, soon to be abrogated or done away with, nullified, repealed or canceled.
THE FEASTS A FORE SHADOW
Below are the spiritual significance of the FLASTS.
1. PASSOVER
Yahweh paid the price for the redemption of mankind by sacrificing His Son Yahshua the Messiah, the true Passover lamb paid for our sins and purchases our eternal salvation John 1:29,1 Cor 5.7.
2. UNLEAVENED BREAD:
Putting away the leaven of sin, hypocrisy and false doctrines out of our lives. Perfecting righteousness and holiness in the fear of Yahweh. Seven days, indicating perfection. I Cor. 5:8, 11 Cor. 7:1.
3. PENTECOST
(Feast of Weeks):- Symbolizes the first harvest the first of souls from the earth and presenting them to Yahweh at the first resurrection. Mt. 13.37-38, Rev 20:6.
4. TRUMPETS:-
On the first day of the seventh month, we call to mind the return of Yahshua the Messiah when,” the TRUMPET of Yahweh shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible”, and those who are alive and remain shall be changed to meet the coming of the King of Kings 1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thess. 4:16. Rev. 11:15.
5. ATONEMENT
This word “Atonement”, derived its name from the Hebrew word Kaphar’ which means “Covering” or to “Cover”. Hence, this day is called “Yom Kippur” (in Hebrew language) meaning “day of Covering”
It signifies the great work Yahshua the Messiah is doing now, covering our sins by His blood as the true lamb of Yahweh Rom. 5:11,8:34.
It also signifies the final work of atonement which will be done at the coming of Yahshua. That is, the removal of sin and the author of sin. Satan (Azazel) chained and thrown into the bottomless pit, when Yahshua comes to reign. So that He should deceive the nations no more, see Rev. 20:1-3.
At that time, man and the whole creation will finally come to be at one with the Creator. Thus, the word AT-ONE-MENT!
6. TABERNACLES:-
The feast of tabernacles lasts for seven days. It begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The feast of tabernacles points to the millennial kingdom. The one thousand years rulership of Yahshua the Messiah
It signifies a joyful gathering of people! A holy convocation of the peoples of the earth to enjoy a thousand years reign of peace and abundance on the earth. Time of restoration of all thing!Acts 3:20-21.
7. THE LAST GREAT DAY
The last great day is the consummation of the grand plan of Yahweh for the salvation of man
It is the removal of the temporary order (dwellings) for the permanent order to take place When the new heavens and new earth wall be put in place and the tabernacle of Yahweh will come to dwell with man, Rev 21:1-6.
It is a time of greater harvest of souls for the kingdom of Yahweh (see Rev 20: 11-15.
The eightieth day of the feast of tabernacle, also called the great day, signifies the white throne judgment. The final judgment! After which man will be transferred to eternal dwelling place prepared for Him by Yahweh. Thus, eternity has fully taken place.
THE WORLD REJECTED YAHWEH’S WAYS
Why then have the whole world refused to observe these festivals ordained at creation by the Almighty Yahweh?
The reason is obvious. Satan has deceived the whole world, Rev. 12:9. He would not let them know and follow the ways Yahweh our creator has commanded, in order to know the programme He has for the salvation of man.
Satan deceives and misleads the world through human government. Human government is always against the government of Yahweh because Satan works through human government. The Bible says that Satan is the god of this world, 2Cor 4:4, “the prince of this world” “the spirit that works in the children of disobedience Eph 2:2; and the ruler of the darkness of this World Eph 6:12
The Book of Daniel the Prophet chapter 7 verse 25 reveals that Satan, through human government (the 4th Beast Roman Empire), changed the FEASTS and the appointed times of the Almighty Yahweh.
He was permitted to do so, (but for a period of time). He went on to substitute Yahwhe’s ordained feasts with pagan idolatrous festival such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine, Halloween, New Year, etc.
But the elects are called upon to come out of this great deception.
“Come out of her my people that ye he not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues “Rev. 18:4.
Decide today to obey the Word of Yahweh. Observe Yahweh’s feast at His appointed times and enjoy the blessings of Yahweh’s Master – Plan for the salvation of man! (Mz).
By C. C. Emeka
