Q&A: Should the Feast Days that Yahweh Gave to Israel Be Observed Today?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Should the Feast Days that Yahweh Gave to Israel Be Observed Today?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Mr. Herrin,</div> <bR> <div> You wrote: "The Feast days of Yahweh, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles and many others have been replaced with festivals of pagan origin, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. The Babylonian church does not think twice about this substitution, nor of the myriad of other false traditions that have been imported into the life of mainstream denominations, and the abandonment of the doctrine of the apostles and prophets."</div> <bR> <div> If, in fact, Sabbath-keeping is in error of Scripture, why would it matter that the Feast days of Yahweh, etc., no longer be kept? Just as Yahshua fulfilled the law, He certainly fulfilled the Passover, etc., although my understanding is that the fall feasts have not been fulfilled in their entirety. I am not supporting the pagan festivals; I have not acknowledged them for sometime now, but this sounds like you are saying that the appointed times of Yahweh should be observed. Please, if you will, clarify for me.</div> <bR> <div> Dear E., </div> <bR> <div> I was not meaning to imply that we should be observing the feast days, though I can see how my statement could be interpreted that way. What I was finding fault with was the adoption of pagan holidays. This is why I said, "The Babylonian church doesn't think twice about these substitutes...." In neglecting the rich instruction to be found in Yahweh's feast days that still hold valuable lessons for the saint, and adopting false days, the church has moved away from truth. I am not advocating keeping these feast days as instructed in the Old Testament, but these things have been given as examples that we can learn from. However, there is nothing to be gained by keeping pagan festivals. There is no sound basis for this substitution. In the book I am now writing ("Laying Down the Law") I speak more directly to this issue. </div> <bR> <div> There is one feast day that may be an exception. The pattern seems to be that once some symbol has been fulfilled and the substance has come, the symbol no longer is to be legally followed. We are to look to the substance, instead. The one feast that has not been fulfilled is Tabernacles, and there could be some sound reason to keep it, in that it causes us to look forward to its fulfillment. There is a scripture in the Old Testament that states that during the Millennial period that Tabernacles (The Feast of Booths) will be observed, but it is the only Feast that is mentioned. The reason for this is that the other feasts (Passover, Pentecost) have been fulfilled, but for the majority of those living during the Millennium, the Feast of Tabernacles will not yet have been realized. </div> <bR> <div> Tabernacles equates to the Holy of Holies in the Temple, and it typifies man in complete and uninterrupted union with God. We are now experiencing Pentecost which is an in-part fellowship with God. It is typified by leavened bread which speaks of mixture, the flesh and the Spirit. But in Tabernacles we will know the Spirit in fulness and we will have put off these corrupt and mortal bodies and put on that which is imperishable. </div> <bR> <div> Here is the OT scripture I referred to: </div> <bR> <div> Zechariah 14:16-19 </div> <div> 16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. </div> <div> 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, there will be no rain on them. </div> <div> 18 If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which Yahweh smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. </div> <div> 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. </div> <bR> <div> I trust this clarifies this statement for you. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph</div> <bR> <div> E-mail: </div> <div> website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://heart4god.ws" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://heart4god.ws"><U><U>http://heart4god.ws</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>