The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

Everything God does is for a reason. He is a God of purpose. A God of order. Not a God of confusion.

And He reveals His divine purpose in Genesis chapter 1.

After creating every living creature on the earth after its own kind, in verse 26 God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

From the beginning, God purposed to make man after the God-kind.

To develop in human beings the very perfect, righteous character of God Himself.

So that we would eventually become immortal, spirit-born members of the divine Family of God.

To achieve His grand purpose, God devised a master plan outlined by seven annual festivals which God commands His people to observe.

And you might be surprised — probably even shocked — to find that there is not a single mention of Christmas, Easter, Halloween or any of the world’s traditional festivals anywhere in the Bible.

Don’t believe me.

Prove it for yourself.

Open your Bible and turn to Leviticus chapter 23 and begin reading in verse 4.

4 These are the feasts of the Eternal, holy convocations [or commanded assemblies for the purpose of worship] which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.

The first of these seven annual festivals is the Passover, picturing Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, Whose sacrifice paid the penalty of our sins.

Followed by the 7 days of Unleavened Bread in verse 6.

Just as Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt symbolizing sin, we, too, must come out of this world that lies in wickedness.

In verse 15, the third festival mentioned is Pentecost.

When God’s Holy Spirit is given to those who have committed to obey God and help them keep His commandments.

In verse 24, you will find the fourth festival: the feast of Trumpets, announcing the triumphant return of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the government of God over all the earth.

In verse 27, the fifth festival is the Day of Atonement, celebrating the removal of Satan the devil.

In verse 34, the sixth festival is the seven-day feast of Tabernacles — the millennial reign of Christ — ushering in a thousand years of unprecedented peace, prosperity and joy for everybody.

And finally, in verse 36, the seventh festival is the Last Great Day, when every man, woman and child who ever lived will receive their very first opportunity to learn the truth of God.

But, aren’t these festivals Jewish holy days?

God declares very emphatically in verse 2 that they are MY feasts. They are NOT the feasts of the Jews.

Moreover, He commands that everyone keep them. Not just the Jews.

Does it really matter, does it make a difference to God if we keep these annual festivals?

What does God Himself say?

These annual festivals were also annual sabbaths, which, God says, are a “sign between me and you throughout your generations."

These annual sabbaths — like the weekly Sabbath — identify WHO the true God is.

But there is a very important aspect God mentions by keeping HIS feasts.

He wants us to realize that those who keep these annual festivals are sanctified or set apart as God’s holy people!

Jesus Christ Himself says that by calling Me your Lord and Master — your Boss — then you, as My faithful and obedient followers, must dutifully submit to My authority.

Otherwise, “You cannot be My disciple.”

Jesus Christ Himself kept ALL these festivals.

At a young age, He went up to Jerusalem together with His family and kept the Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread.

He kept the feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.

And so, Jesus Christ set an example for us to follow.

There are those who maintain that these annual festivals are nothing more than obsolete Old Testament commands that Christ Himself abolished by His death on the stake.

Were these annual festivals done away? What does the Bible say?

There are NINE verses in the Bible that specifically mention that God’s annual festivals are to be observed year by year FOR EVER!

And so, after Christ’s death, the apostles and the New Testament Church of God continued to keep these annual sabbaths.

On the Day of Pentecost 31 AD, 120 people were gathered together in an upper room in a house in Jerusalem.

Among whom were Christ’s 11 apostles, His mother Mary and His brothers.

If these annual festivals were done away at Christ’s death, why were the 120 still keeping Pentecost?

The apostle Paul also kept these annual sabbaths.

He kept the fast day of the Day of Atonement.

Paul observed the weekly sabbath and the other annual festivals, and he commanded the congregations he raised up to do so as well.

So the sabbath and the annual festivals were not done away with after all.

These annual festivals remain valid and binding for all true Christians today.

Does it make a difference what days we keep?

ABSOLUTELY, they make a difference!

These annual festivals enumerated in your Bible are of utmost importance to God.

They identify God, and they set us apart as His holy people.

God says they are to be kept forever! So, they are still valid and binding on all of us today.

Failure to keep them means we have broken God’s law. And breaking God’s law is sin. And the wages of sin is death!

These annual festivals have deep, spiritual meaning. They keep us in remembrance of God’s magnificent plan for OUR salvation.

For a more thorough presentation on this subject, I highly recommend the article “God’s Annual Festivals” on our website constantchurchofgod.com.

This is Ross Abasolo with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!