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God's Plan of Redemption
as pictured by the annual “appointed feasts of the LORD” listed in Lev. 23

Leviticus 23:1-4  "The Lord said to Moses, 'Say to the people of Israel, The appointed feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed feasts, are these. Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings. These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them."

First Day of Sacred Year   Nisan or Abib1 or April 6, 2008 (Exodus 12)

1. PASSOVER   Nisan 14 or April 19, 2008 (Lev 23:5-8)

Pictures the death of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins that are past (Ex 12; Rom. 3:25)

2. DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD   Nisan 15-21 or April 20-26, 2008 (Lev 23:9-14)

Pictures the complete putting away of sin, the keeping of the commandments after past sins are forgiven  (1. Cor. 5:7-8)

3. PENTECOST  Sivan, 50 days from Days of Unleavened Bread or June 8, 2008 (Lev:15-22)

Pictures the first part of the spiritual harvest, the calling out of the Church.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit  (Acts 2, James 1:18; Rom 8:23, Ex 34:22)

4. FEAST OF TRUMPETS  Tishri 1 or Sept. 30, 2008 (Lev 23:23-25)

Pictures the blowing of trumpets and the second coming of Christ  (1 Thess. 4:14-17; Rev. 11:15-19)

5. DAY OF ATONEMENT  Tishri 10 or Oct. 9, 2008 (Lev 23:26-32)

Pictures the return of all sin borne by Jesus Christ back to Satan (Azazel) the   author of sin (Lev. 16; Acts 27:9)

6. FEAST OF TABERNACLES  Tishri 15-21 or Oct. 14-20, 2008 (Lev 23:33-43)

Pictures the Kingdom of God, the great harvest of souls during the millennium (Zech. 14:16, Ex 34:22)

7. LAST GREAT DAY  Tishri 22 or Oct. 21, 2008 (Lev 23:36)

Pictures the completion of the plan of redemption. Gentiles who died in ignorance will be given an opportunity to receive salvation (Rev. 20:5; Ezek. 37:14; John 7:37-39)

"Thus Moses (God) declared to the people of Israel (US)
the appointed feasts of the Lord" (Lev 23:44)

Note: The above dates for God’s appointed feast days are based on the Hebrew Calendar as used by most Church of God organizations. Alternate methods of how to determine the dates for God’s holy days have been devised and are used by various individuals and church organizations.

It should be noted that the “Hebrew Calendar” (also known as the “Jewish Calendar”) is NOT a “Sacred Calendar,” is NOT “God’s Calendar,” is NOT a “Calendar that is in the Bible.” The “Hebrew Calendar” is exactly what it says it is, it is the “Calendar of the Hebrews (Jews)!” Just like the “Gregorian Calendar” is the calendar of  Pope Gregory XIII.

The Hebrew Calendar contains postponements of some of God’s feast days that are NOT in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. This means that certain feast days in certain years do not conform to the Biblical instructions of Lev. 23. The Hebrew calendar, for example, puts the Passover on Nisan 15, whereas the Biblical record clearly and often states that Passover is on Nisan 14.  

Undoubtedly, there is a correct, biblical way to determine on what days and dates God’s appointed feast days are to be kept. But, because of the many convoluted issues that have been raised, there is no consensus among the people and the churches of God.

Orthodox Christianity rejects the keeping of God’s annual feast days based upon a faulty interpretation of Isa 1:13, 14; Col 2:16 and Gal 4:10,11. What they fail to understand is that these seven annual Sabbaths are prophecies that define the complete plan of salvation. The first three feast days (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost) are PAST EVENTS and we look back at them. The other four feast days (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and Last Great Day) are FUTURE EVENTS and we look forward to them. The reason for not recognizing these annual Sabbaths is that orthodox Christianity has rejected the weekly Sabbath, and the significance of not recognizing these annual Sabbaths is that God’s plan of salvation can therefore not, and is not, understood by the Trinitarian, Orthodox, Christian Church.

It was the Roman Catholic Church that rejected the Holy Days of the Lord, and replaced them with the Holidays of man. To be sure, Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ, and Easter is supposed to be the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. But, there are two problems! The first one is that God, in and through His Word, the Holy Bible, does not command, or, not even recommend, to celebrate the birth and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Secondly, both Christmas and Easter is the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yes, there was the birth and resurrection of Jesus and that is good, but the mythological baggage and commercialization that comes with Christmas and Easter is evil. That is syncretism which God hates!

God commands His people to commemorate the death of Christ annually, on the Passover, and God encourages His people to consider and believe in the resurrection of Christ, for it is our assurance that we too, can and someday will, share in His resurrection. This then will fulfill Jesus Christ’s command when He said: “You MUST be born again” in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Therefore, let us keep God’s festivals, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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