GOD'S  ANNUAL  HOLY  DAYS              

The Holydays Show Us God's Plan and Schedule Here on Earth  

How the Holydays are Prophetic of and Point to Jesus Christ  

Dates for the Holy Days (Holydays) in 2008  

God's Calendar for what remains of 2007 and for 2008 and parts of 2009.  In God's calendar the New Year in 2008  starts on April 6,2008.

Keeping the Holydays at the Right Time and In the Right Spirit  

These seven annual Holy Days show us God's plan and schedule here on earth. All these days are prophetic and point to Jesus Christ. 

FEASTS OF THE LORD (Leviticus 23rd chapter)

Leviticus 23:4 " These are the feasts of the Lord ......"  Please note very carefully that these are the feasts of the Lord. So they don't belong to any particular race or man made religion - they belong to God. 

1. Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8)
3. Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-16 , 21), also called Feast of First Fruits (Exodus 23:16)
4. Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25)
5. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-32)
6. Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-35)
7. Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:36)

There are references to these Holy Days throughout the Bible.  Now let us study each one of them to find out where we are right now in God's schedule.

The Passover has been fulfilled already, almost 2,000 years ago, when Christ died on the cross for our sins (John 19:1-37  note verses 16-18 ,23 ,28-30 , and 33-35). Jesus died right on Passover day !  

He was arrested in the evening of the Passover (after He and His disciples had celebrated the Passover, and ate the Passover meal), and died right on Passover day just before sunset, and prior to the annual Holy Day the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31-42).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread has been fulfilled when Christ died and was resurrected, after being dead for three days and three nights. 

If you observe the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread - then you will know that you are supposed to put away leaven or yeast from your home on these days. Yeast or leavening is symbolic of sin.  Christ died and was resurrected so we can be free from slavery to sin and death (John 8:31-36)  Romans 6th chapter,  please note especially verses 9-10 , 18, 22-23). Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord ."

The children of Israel were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt. Pharaoh is symbolic of Satan. Egypt is symbolic of sin. They couldn't free themselves from Pharaoh's power by their own strength. God  had to intervene and work miracles to liberate them. 

Through Moses, God told the children of Israel to take lambs, and  on the evening of the 14th day of the first month they were to kill them, and  smear some of the blood on the side-frames of the doors. The lambs of course were prophetic and symbolic of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins. God then killed all the firstborn in Egypt, but He passed over the homes of the Israelites, who had the blood of the lamb on their doors. Pharaoh had to be forced into letting the people go  (Exodus chapters 11-13).

Pentecost or First Fruits has not yet been completely fulfilled, but most of it has. 

1 Corinthians  15:20 " But now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that slept."

The Church of God was founded on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven and entered the believers (Acts 2:1-4). Seven different eras of the true Church are listed in Revelation chapters 2 & 3 : 

1. Ephesus      (Revelation 2:1-7)
2. Smyrna       (Revelation 2:8-11)
3. Pergamos    (Revelation 2:12-17)
4. Thyatira      (Revelation 2:18-29)
5. Sardis         (Revelation 3:1-6)
6. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)
7. Laodicea     (Revelation 3:14-22)

It seems very clear these are listed in a chronological order. Ephesus era obviously consisted of the early Church - the original disciples, apostles and those who came after them in the early years. That era faded away and another arose and on and on it went through the ages. 

WHERE ARE WE NOW IN 2OO8?  

The Philadelphia era of God's true church is described  in  Revelation 3:8 " .. for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."  They patiently obey God despite being persecuted and are promised a place of safety during the hour of temptation ,which will come upon the whole world (Revelation 3:10) (Revelation 12:13-16).

Revelation 3:10:  " Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. "

This " hour  of temptation " is very clearly referring to the great tribulation, which certainly hasn't happened yet. And Bible prophecy shows us that certain major events must precede this tribulation. This cannot happen in a few short years. 

It seems clear from scripture the Philadelphia  and Laodicea eras exist more or less during the same time.  Christ has virtually nothing good to say about the Laodiceans. They are spiritually conceited, blind, miserable, wretched, poor and naked (Revelation 3:15-17) ! Christ spits them out of His mouth, which symbolizes  rejection! How prophetic of the spiritual condition most of the church is in today!  There is a pervasive lukewarm, apathetic, smug, conceited attitude. Sort of mirrors the state of the general society in Canada and the United States - don't you think?

So where are we today in God's schedule?  

We are in the Pentecostal period, where God is just working with the church - the small first fruits. The greater harvest is yet to come. However, we are in the last days - there can be no doubt. So therefore we are in the last eras of God's true church - perhaps there is a remnant of the Sardis era still around, but most likely we are already into the final stages of God's Church the Philadelphia and Laodicean era. 

The Feast of Trumpets  points to the next great event on God's schedule - the second coming of Jesus Christ and the setting up of His Kingdom here on earth. This will happen when the seventh trumpet sounds and the saints will be resurrected at that time  (Revelation 11:15) (I Corinthians 15:51-52) (Matthew  24:29-31). His feet shall stand upon the mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). We can have a fairly good idea of the approximate time of Christ's return by simple watching for the signs (Mark 13:28-37).  However, none of us can know the exact date (Matthew 24:36). 

Day of Atonement  points to Christ taking and locking up Satan and his demon followers (Revelation 20:1-3).  This happens very shortly after Jesus has returned and overthrown the governments of this world.  Satan and his host of fallen angels are the unseen spiritual rulers of this corrupt world (Ephesians 6:11-12).  However, the devils rule is coming to an end (Revelation 12:12). With the devil out of the picture and God's Kingdom established on earth -  then the whole wide world will truly be  at-one-ment with God.

The Feast of Tabernacles  points to the peaceful rule of Jesus during the 1000 years, or Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus shall rule the earth and the resurrected saints will be part of that government (Daniel 7:27). God's spirit will be poured out upon people living during the 1000 years. It will truly be a time of joy, peace and prosperity (Isaiah chapter 35)  (Isaiah 51:11)  (Isaiah 32:15-20).

The Last Great Day  points to the judgment period  and the final judging of all mankind by Christ (Revelation 20:7-1)   Essentially all those who never had their first opportunity for salvation will be resurrected as physical human beings and given that first and only opportunity to attain salvation. Those who remain rebellious to the end will be burnt up. The judgment period may last over 100 years, but there are no clear scriptures on the matter.

New Heaven and a New Earth

Revelation 21:1 " And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."

Rev.21:4 " And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow ,nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Rev. 21: 5-7  " And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

" And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

" He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. "

In God's sacred calendar months are 29 or 30 days each. Their years consisting of 12 lunar months or of 354 ¼ days. Therefore about every 3 years (7 times in 19 years) the 13th month Veador (also called second Adar) is added between Adar and Abib. It is known as an '' intercalary month." 

The correct time for New Year is the 1st of Abib (Exodus 12:1-2, 13:3-4). Here is the list of months and the months they usually correspond to in the Gregorian Calendar.                  

     MONTH              NUMBER OF DAYS         CORRESPONDS WITH

1. Abib ........................ 30 ...........................March-April
2. Ivar ......................... 29 ............................April-May
3. Sivan ....................... 30 ...........................May-June
4. Tammuz  .................. 29 ...........................June-July 
5. Ab  .......................... 30 ...........................July-August
6. Elul ......................... 29 ...........................August-Sept
7. Tishri  ...................... 30 ............................Sept-Oct
8. Bul  ..................... 29 or 30 ........................Oct-Nov
9. Kislev  ................. 29 or 30 ........................Nov-Dec
10. Tebeth ...................... 29 ...........................Dec-Jan 
11. Shebat  ..................... 30 ...........................Jan-Feb
12. Adar  ..................... 29 or 30 ....................Feb-March 

2008   New year (Abib 1) in God's Calendar - April 6,2008.

God's days begin and end at sunset

1. Passover....Apr.19/08 - Saturday (begins at sunset Friday evening Apr.18)
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread...April 20-26, 2008 ...Sunday to Sabbath
3. Day of Pentecost.................June 15,2008 ........Sunday  
4. Feast of Trumpets................Sept. 30 2008.......Tuesday 
5. Day of Atonement................Oct. 9 2008...........Thursday
6. Feast of Tabernacles............Oct. 14-20, 2008 ...Tuesday to Monday
7. Last Great Day....................Oct. 21, 2008.........Tuesday

Month of Tebeth 2007 corresponds to Dec10/07 to Jan.7/08 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Shebat 2007 corresponds to Jan.8 to Feb.6, 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Adar 2007 corresponds to Feb.7 to March 7/08 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Veador 2007 corresponds to Mar.8 to Apr. 5, 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Abib 2008 corresponds to April 6 to May 5th 2008.

Month of Ivar 2008 corresponds to May 6 to June 3,2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Sivan 2008 corresponds to June 4 to July 3, 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Tammuz 2008 corresponds to July 4 to August 1/08 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Ab 2008 corresponds to August 2 to August 31,2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Elul 2008 corresponds to Sept. 1 to Sept. 29,2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Tishri 2008 corresponds to Sept.30 to Oct.29 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Bul 2008 corresponds to Oct.30 to Nov.27, 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Kislev 2008 corresponds to Nov.28 to Dec.27, 2008 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Tebeth 2008 corresponds to Dec/28,08 to Jan/25, 09 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Shebat 2008 corresponds to Jan26 to Feb.24/09 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Adar 2008 corresponds to Feb.25 to March 25/09 in the Gregorian calendar.

Month of Abib 2009 corresponds to March 26, 2009 to April 24, 2009.