The Law and the Appointed Times of God

R7-12 · Tadpole Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 21

Hello everyone,

I have a question. If the law of God is still in effect, which scripture is very clear about, what of the appointed Feasts/Holy Days and New Moons?

Are they all to be observed according to the law, and if so, what about the calendar by which their times are determined? And what ARE the New Moons and the means by which they are determined?

Is this topic of interest to anyone?

R7-12

Rocket · House Cat Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 156

R7, that is a very, very good question and I so wish I had the answer. I believe that Yeshua celebrated all these Jewish laws and holidays as taught in the Old Testement. I also believe as Paul wrote in Romans chapter 11, we are the wild branches grafted onto the Olive Tree, the Olive tree representing the Jewish faith and the wild branchs are us. I for one do not know how to celebrate these holidays. My mother was a non-practicing Jew. I remember many moons ago, as a child visiting my mothers sister, who was Orthodox and kept a Kosher home. There was a Jewish calender on the wall and the year was 57??. This was the kindest lady I have ever met and I remember her always smiling. Boy could she cook, makes me hungry just thinking about it.

R7-12 · Tadpole Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 21

Thanks for your reply Rocket,

From what I have come to understand, the Bible says God Feasts, Holy Days, and Sabbaths are an integral part of His law (not Jewish law as it is often called), and how we worship the one true God. The NT even tells us that not only are these times to be kept, but that we are not to let any man judge us as to how they are to be observed, but the body of Christ only (Col. 2:16-17).

We are also told explicitly when to observe God’s appointed times. The weekly Sabbath day is a no-brainer in that it is clearly identified as the seventh day of the week. But such days as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are to be kept on very specific days of what is called the first month of the year. The other appointed times and Feasts are also identified on certain days of the calendar of God by scripture.

Below is just one example:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. 3‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. 4‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. 5‘On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover. 6‘And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it (Lev. 23:1-7).

So it appears that what God’s people must do is examine the word of God to correctly determine God’s calendar and how it works. Otherwise, how do we correctly worship the only true God according to His express will?

It begins with the first day of the first month of the year:

Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you (Ex. 12:1-2).

The first day of the year is determined by identifying what would be the first new moon where Passover falls after “the turn of the year.” This phrase is found in several OT passages referring to the end of winter and beginning of the warm season. They are SHD 8141 and 8666. They can be found at 2 Sam. 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22, 26; 1 Chron. 20:1; and 2 Chron. 36:10.

If Passover fell before the turn of the year, that month would not be the first month of the year for Passover/ULB is to be the first Feast of the new year.

Another issue that has to be resolved is the definition of a new moon. What is it, how is it determined, and how is it to be kept?

This whole topic seems to be an extremely important one, for if these are commanded observances, but are not kept, or not kept correctly, then one would be in continual breech of the law, not doing God’s will.

I have heard it said, “The calendar one follows determines the God they worship.”

I am familiar with the calendar which is used by most of those of Judaism and many of the churches which acknowledge the Feasts, but the Hillel calendar is based on Pharisaic tradition which employs rules of postponement. These rules of postponement prevent those who follow them from keeping the days on the very days God has commanded.

If you’re interested in learning more about the false Hillel calendar, a quick google search on the rules of postponement will probably provide quite a bit of reading.

So it seems to come down to a matter of obedience and faith and diligent study. The question is, does anyone really want to do what God wants? The prevailing antinomian approach and attitude toward the Bible by this world’s Christianity indicates a desire to go with what is easiest, not by what is written.

Any thoughts?

R7-12

R7-12 · Tadpole Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 21

Is it true?

Is there very little or no interest in the fact that the Bible clearly shows Almighty God has given us instructions concerning the correct way to count time; identify His days that we are to set apart for holy purpose and which reveal His plan for mankind; and, if it hasn't occurred to anyone, understand and use a calendrical system that allows us to correctly identify the prophetic times given in the Bible?

If it is true, that is itelf very revealling.

R7-12
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“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (Jn. 17:3, NASB).