God's holy days highlight each specific step in His work to build children in His image. The weekly Sabbath is the first holy day commanded to be kept and reminds of His purpose. The rest of the holy days are kept in their seasons each year so that His plan for mankind is never forgotten and is passed from generation to generation. Jesus and His disciples kept the Old Testament holy days even after Christ returned to His Father, and new meanings were given to them. Jesus changed the symbols of Passover from a sacrificial lamb to the bread and wine representing His body and blood given for forgiveness. Unleavened bread represents sin in lives that must be conquered after accepting Christ's sacrifice. Pentecost reminds of God's founding of the New Testament church and giving it His Holy Spirit. That church along with the patriarchs and others who qualified before their deaths is called the firstfruits. The Feast of Trumpets follows Pentecost. When Christ returns at the last trumpet He will gather His elect both living and dead. Changed to spirit they will enter God's Kingdom and rule with Christ a thousand years. The Feast of Tabernacles represents the time when those left of all nations along with any children born during it will be able to be saved. The Last Great Day of the Feast foreshadows the Great White Throne Judgment when the only people left who have not had a chance for salvation will be resurrected to physical life. This judgment allows these people to learn and accept God's way of life. No feast day pictures the sorrowful event when those who rejected salvation will be resurrected for a final judgment and burned in an all-consuming fire. God gives His feast days that His plan may be remembered and a better resurrection qualified for than the wicked.

The subject of God's Holy Days is of vital importance, revealing a broad spectrum of understanding of God's truth. Those who do not keep God's holy feasts remain in ignorance and confusion about His plan of salvation for mankind. God's annual holy days and feasts were observed long before the law of Moses was given, as detailed in Exodus 12 with Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, and summarized in Leviticus 23, where God outlines the seven annual holy days: Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day. These holy days are not merely Old Testament observances or Jewish holidays; they are God's Holy Days, rooted firmly in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ actively observed them in the New Testament church, and true Christians are commanded to observe them today. Despite attacks on these feasts throughout history, including efforts by false teachers to abandon them due to anti-Jewish bias in the Roman Empire, the early church remained faithful in keeping God's annual festivals, as documented in the Gospels, the book of Acts, and the epistles. Jesus Christ, as the Head of the true church, faithfully kept the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles, setting an example for His disciples and the church to follow. He commanded His disciples to observe these days, and they, in turn, taught holy day observance to the church, which continues to exist today. The book of Acts shows the early Christians, including Paul, observing these holy days, using them as reference points in their teachings to Gentile converts, as seen in Acts 20 and I Corinthians 5. Paul, under the authority of Jesus Christ, instructed Gentile converts to keep the feast, emphasizing the spiritual significance of these days, such as purging spiritual leaven during the Days of Unleavened Bread. The early church observed all seven festivals of God, which together lay out the complete plan of salvation. These feasts were given to keep God's children in the true memory and worship of Him, constantly reminding them of His great plan of redemption through their annual observance. God's Holy Days picture different periods in the plan of spiritual creation, mark the stewardship of His truth, and carry vital symbolism and meaning for every member of His church. They were commanded to be kept year after year forever, impressing the truths they represent on the minds of His children through all time, ensuring the church remains in the true understanding of His plan of salvation. When understood in their true significance, these holy days are a source of great joy and hope, to be kept today and forever.

God's holy days reveal His unfolding plan. The process of salvation, depicted primarily in the spring festivals, culminates in the Feast of Trumpets, picturing Christ returning to earth in judgment and power as King to crush Satan's end-time attempt to subjugate the world. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures those thousand years, the Millennium, when the whole earth will rest. In Hebrews 4, the author discusses the Sabbath as a day of rest. The week typifies the length of God's plan with a thousand years to each day. During the Millennium, people will be required to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles to worship the King, Jesus Christ. The Feast will remind them of where they are in God's plan and when they must secure their salvation. The Millennium is their day of salvation. If they fail to keep it, they will reveal their refusal to accept Christ as sovereign and cooperate with Him in His purpose.

God's Holy Days reveal the expansive plan of God, beginning with personal redemption through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on Passover, progressing to the removal of corruption during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and culminating in the founding of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The Feast of Trumpets portrays the return of Christ, the transformation of the saints into immortal spirit beings, and God's judgment on all mankind. Before Christ's rule on earth commences, spiritual cleansing and salvation must be extended to those emerging from the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, starting with the remnant of Israel, as depicted by the Day of Atonement. This day, the most solemn of the seven festivals, represents a broader scope than Passover, ultimately encompassing all humanity. On the Day of Atonement, Christians fast to afflict their souls, demonstrating that only by seeing themselves in proper comparison to God can they adopt the right attitude to submit to Him. Fasting fosters a humble spirit, showing dependence on God's providence, and is a tool of godly love to free others from sin, intercede for their healing, provide for their needs, and understand His will. The early church observed this holy day, and its rituals, as described in Leviticus, illustrate the steps necessary for mankind to be truly at one with God, including the mediation of a sinless High Priest, Christ, who by His sacrifice opens the way to God's throne, covers and removes human sin, and bears it away. Immediately after returning from heaven, Christ will call the survivors of Israel and Judah back to their ancestral land, offering them redemption and forgiveness of sins, fulfilling the purpose of the Day of Atonement.

Observing God's holy days leads to increased stress and anxiety as events intensify around times such as Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread. Satan attacks more during the holy days because they hold spiritual importance and draw greater focus on God along with the removal of sin. This heightened activity creates unique resistance compared to everyday challenges. Patterns show that Satan appears whenever spiritual growth occurs and especially around the holy days in efforts to separate people from God. Examples include Satan entering Judas right before and during Passover while actively working during the holy season. Satan also appears on the Sabbath as a weekly holy day to disrupt teachings and healings. During the Days of Unleavened Bread the emphasis on removing sin attracts more opposition as Satan seeks to derail progress at these pivotal moments. Satan's activity level rises during God's feasts when something spiritually significant takes place.

God's Holy Days are a vital part of walking as children of light, demonstrating obedience to His commands even when full understanding is not yet present. By faithfully keeping these days as commanded in Leviticus 23, one can prove what is acceptable to the Lord through the act of submission to His will. Over time, as seen in the experience of diligent study and observance, God reveals the deeper meaning and purpose behind these Holy Days, showing His plan through them. This principle of obedience before understanding applies to all of God's commands, where persistent adherence leads to eventual insight into why He requires such actions. Thus, keeping God's Holy Days becomes a practical step in aligning with His light, growing in faith, and gaining a fuller comprehension of His desires for us.

God's holy days consist of seven high days between the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in early spring and the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles in autumn. These appointed times of holy convocation function as memorials that tell the story of God's plan of salvation through parable-like vignettes rehearsed each year. Certain holy days commemorate major events in the history of Israel as types of spiritual realities brought about by God, while others serve as pre-memorials of future events. Passover pictures redemption by the blood of a perfect sacrifice. Jesus Christ lived without sin and His death covers all sin to redeem humanity from captivity to sin and this world's ruler, Satan the Devil. The Passover service focuses on Christian service in the footwashing, Christ's body in the broken bread, and His shed blood that ratifies God's New Covenant with His people in the wine. The day after Passover begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which commemorates Israel's flight from Egypt into the wilderness. During this feast the Israelites cleaned their homes of yeast and ate unleavened bread. The spiritual application shows a time of fleeing from the corruption of sin by putting off sins and habits of the evil nature and putting on the character of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is the Feast of Harvest and represents a small early harvest of God's people. The wave offering of two leavened loaves symbolizes God's acceptance of once-sinful people in two groups, those brought to salvation before Christ and those converted during the church age. The Feast of Trumpets covers the return of Jesus Christ announced with trumpet blasts along with His rewarding of the saints and defeat of all opposition. Atonement pictures Satan bound and removed from influence over people during the coming Millennium. The Feast of Tabernacles depicts Christ reigning with the resurrected saints for a thousand years while the earth blossoms. The Last Day shows the great majority of humanity living under the gracious judgment of God to accept salvation and live for eternity.

As the first signs of spring emerge, the minds of longtime Christians often turn to the nearness of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, prompting self-evaluation and the physical task of removing leaven from homes. God's holy days bring extended fellowship, meaningful messages, and the joy of feasting, yet many observe them routinely without considering the challenges faced by those new to these practices. For Christians, keeping God's holy times involves following biblical instructions and church traditions to honor Him and benefit from the meaning and joy of His feasts. Leviticus 23 provides a concise list of God's appointed times, emphasizing that these festivals are His, not belonging to any group, with Him as their Source and ultimate Object. Our observance must focus on Him and His teachings, bringing spiritual and physical benefits. These days are proclaimed as holy convocations, set apart for gathering God's people together for instruction, worship, and unity in purpose and relationships within the Body of Christ. Additionally, like the weekly Sabbath, the seven annual holy days are Sabbaths, times of solemn rest where no customary work is to be done, allowing focus on worship and fellowship. Specific instructions guide the observance of these days. For the Feast of Unleavened Bread, no work is permitted except for preparing food necessary for eating, as feasting is integral to the holy day experience, reflecting the abundance He has bestowed. The Night to Be Much Observed, marking the start of this feast, involves a grand meal commemorating freedom from bondage. In contrast, the Day of Atonement is a solemn day of fasting, with no eating, drinking, or working, dedicated to worship, prayer, and humbling ourselves before Him for His work in atoning for sin. The Passover, while not a Sabbath, is a significant memorial of key events in God's plan, observed in the evening with a service modeled after the Last Supper, including foot-washing, partaking of unleavened bread and wine by baptized members, and listening to Jesus' discourse, closing with a hymn. The Feasts of Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles stand out with unique commands: removing leaven during Unleavened Bread symbolizes living a life of sincerity and truth, while living in temporary dwellings during Tabernacles teaches that Christians are pilgrims journeying toward the Kingdom of God. A festival tithe is set aside to cover expenses for these observances, ensuring proper celebration. Offerings are also taken during the holy days, given voluntarily according to the blessings received from Him, as a way to appreciate His loving care. Keeping these festivals year after year builds understanding of His plan and the process He guides us through, making them cherished times of worship that reflect His goodness.

Jesus observed the holy days listed in Leviticus 23, which God calls My feasts and which include the Passover along with seven additional holy days. These commanded observances form part of the complete package of instructions for worship that God built into His law, specifying the method, timing, and attitude required to build faith and honor Him. Jesus kept the seventh-day Sabbath as the subject of the fourth commandment, and His followers continued to observe the same day after His death. The New Testament records that Paul instructed converted Jews and Gentiles to keep the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, while the book of Acts shows the church and Paul keeping the Feast of Pentecost. Completing the yearly cycle of these feasts brings satisfaction and assurance together with new knowledge of God's plan for His creation. In contrast to man-made holidays that produce bills, conflicts, and no understanding of God, these observances reflect the worship practices Jesus followed and taught His disciples to value. When He returns, Jesus will recognize those who worship the Father according to His instructions as part of the obedience and love that define His true followers, rather than those who adopt traditions that contradict the commands He upheld.