Jesus and the 7 Feasts

Welcome to
Jesus and the 7 Feasts

I'm sure most of you are looking at this web page and thinking "well, what is this about"?

It's about bringing back into your conscious thinking facts that you already know, but society and religion want you to ignore.

Even forget about.

(Or maybe, you've never been taught before.)

You may, or may not, have been taught about "Jesus" fulfilling the promise of the Passover Lamb.

To those of us who spend lots of time studying these things, there is a consensus that the Jesus of the Gospels doesn't really "line up" with the Jesus preached in our churches today. This should really not be surprising to anybody if they only consider the number of denominations and flavors of "Christianity". And while scholarship does agree on some basic and foundational issues, there is a large spectrum of doctrines and beliefs regarding how these should be applied and practiced.

For example, take this wonderfully researched and scholarly website. Doctrine.org

This website is presented by a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. One of the most highly respected schools in the Christian Evangelical community. So while I would vehemently teach against the conclusions that he presents on his website, I deeply appreciate the scholarship and research that he has put into each of his articles.

One of my favorite articles is one that I would encourage everyone to read and consider:

Are the Gospels Christian?

A popular knee jerk response would be that the question itself is preposterous. But it isn't. Most theologians, including myself, would agree that they aren't.

So how can students of the scriptures hold such different conclusions from what is popularly taught in the Churches? What would be the purpose of such a disparity? The answer is really not that hard to figure out. Ask any theologian. Its purpose is manipulation.

This manipulation isn't necessarily malicious. It's just easier to "corral" groups of people into a preferred conclusion if the gatekeepers "filter" the information presented to them.

How do you feel about being given "filtered" facts? Well you should be used to it by now. This practice isn't limited to just religion.

It is the purpose of this website to remind you of facts and truths that some other gatekeepers have tried to discredit and diminish. That you are given a chance to consider Bible verses from another view point, another perspective. And it is my sincerest prayer that you can come to the conclusions that God himself wants you to come to. So let's start.

In Leviticus 23 God gives Moses seven Feasts for the children of Israel to celebrate throughout their generations. Now the "New Testament" Jesus is documented as being a Jew, and as Christians we profess that He lived a perfect life fully following "the Law" (Torah) perfectly.

These seven feasts are Festivals that God asks us to celebrate each year because they commemorate the seven steps that God performs in order to save us. There are four in the spring, and three in the fall.

So all throughout Jesus' life he participated in these Seven Feasts. But then that changed in the last year of his life. When "Jesus" began fulfilling these feasts.

Passover, where "the Lamb of God" dies in our place as God provides himself the Lamb who suffers the death penalty for our sins.

Unleavened Bread (Matzah) This is the main week long holiday. It opens with the evening observance of Passover, and ends seven days later with another "grand feast". This week long holiday is where we celebrate that God, through "the Lamb", removes the consequences of sin from our lives.

First Fruits This is celebrated during which ever "Sunday" falls within the Unleaved Bread (Matzah) feast. Where God presented previously deceased "Old Testament" saints, new version 2.0 heavenly bodies, just like Jesus was, as the first fruits of the Heavenly harvest. Functional proof that God can do the same for us at the "Taruah" harvest.
"52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many." Matthew 27 Lexham English Bible
Now here's a verse that you hardly ever hear anything about. There is a lot of speculation about what happened to these people. There is even speculation that this verse isn't even real. But if they were brought to heaven by Jesus to present to the Father on the morning of First Fruits, then they were only able to hang around long enough to be seen before they were taken up.

Pentacost Originally the Festival of Weeks or Shavuot. This is the festival that ends the 50 day countdown as God sends his Holy Spirit upon us to empower us to be witnesses, and live satisfying, powerful lives.

And that is all that "Jesus" has fulfilled.

So far...

I did say that there were seven feasts, didn't I?

Let's look at what many scholars believe that the other Feasts mean, and how they are going to be fulfilled.

The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Taruah). Most who have studied these feasts believe that this celebrates the resurrection. A day of fanfare, shouting and joy! Also a day to throw a party to celebrate our salvation, and invite others to join us while teaching them.

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This is the day that the Books of Heaven are opened up and everyone's lives are examined.
"And I saw the dead the great and the small standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds." Revelation 20:12 LEB
(Warning! Though it is obvious that God allows all that is happening in the world, He doesn't approve of most of it. The gift of free will affords us the opportunity to choose to do evil. It's obvious that God doesn't punish evil "on the spot". Though He is recording it all and taking notes. No one is going to "get away" with anything.)

The Festival of Booths, or Tabernacles. This is the feast where we celebrate our adoption into God's family and living with Him during "the Millennium" and into the New Heavens and the New Earth.

So, so far, "Jesus" has only fulfilled the four Spring Feasts.

What about the rest of them? Let's see what Jesus has to say about this.
17 "Do not think that I have come to destroy the law (Torah) or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law (Torah) until all takes place. 19 Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them, this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5 Lexham English Bible (underline added by me).
With the first four feasts having been fulfilled, and the certainty of the last three being fulfilled insured. You would think that the followers of Jesus would be all about celebrating God's promised salvation with the instructed feasts.

But they don't.

Christianity teaches that the Law (Torah) has already been completely fulfilled. All of it. Like over with, done for, and of no more use. Really? It seems to me that we are missing some important events. Like the nations beating their swords into plowshares. Has death and disease been cast into hell? I don't believe I've missed anything when I say that there is still a lot of "fulfillin" to do!

So what theologians say is that we no longer have to pay attention to the feasts because "the cross" became so important that we can ignore the rest. That celebrating these promises actually separates us from God.

Say what?

According to "them", celebrating Easter (and Christ's birthday) now takes the place of God's instructed seven celebrations.

Somehow I don't see how smushing seven feasts together that are suppose to be spread out across the year, and replacing it with one day of eating candy given to us by a bunny that lays multi-colored eggs, would be acceptable to God. Do you know where the bunny and decorated eggs tradition comes from?

Ignore the rest?

So let's see what Jesus has to say (about this?).

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
What is Jesus saying here? Jesus is affirming that he came to fulfill the promises of our Heavenly Father. That trying to separate what Jesus is doing from the thousands of years of promises and prophecies, from the salvation plan that the Father has already predefined, won't get you the results that you are looking for. Jesus continues his statement and says:
22 "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?' 23 And then I will say to them plainly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness! (Torahlessness)'" Matthew 7 Lexham English Bible

So maybe ignoring God's holidays wasn't such a good idea.

I know that I've talked about some things that don't line up with with the way that you usually hear them. Through my studies I've discovered that the "faith once delivered to the saints" isn't the churchianity that most people practice today. That December 25th isn't really Jesus' birthday. It's the birthday of a counterfeit Jesus. Wait! Did I just say that there was a counterfeit Jesus? Remember when I said that the Gospel you hear in churches doesn't alway agree with what us theologians study? What if I were to tell you that there are two different and opposing plans of salvation that have been incorporated into your New Testament. Would you care?

And how can I believe that God would allow untruth in "His" book. Well Jesus said:
24 ... "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

28 'An enemy did this,' he replied.

The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

29 "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"Matthew 13:24-30, NIV
Why would Jesus teach something like this? Because he is restating something our Heavenly Father talked about in his instructions to Moses.

"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.

YHVH your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

4 It is YHVH your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him." Dueteronomy 13 NIV (Name/Title corrected in accordance with the publishers notes)(Underline added by me.)

I hope that I've motivated you into looking into at least some of this for yourselves. If you're happy with your religion, then I hope this site amused you. If, on the other hand, your religion is more show than substance, then this site is here to help explain to you why.

Jesus in Matthew 7:13, 14 says:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."NIV
Wide and broad is the "mainstream". So if you belong to a "mainstream" church and study the "mainstream" doctrines and "confessions", then you are on the broad and easy highway that takes the majority to their destruction.

Jesus says in Matthew 24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. NIV
Satan has made sure that the true Gospel is not only obscured, but also lied about. Not only hidden, but vilified. Not only "diluted", but if possible, poisoned.

If you're coming to the realization that you're on the "broad and easy highway", then this website is your "Exit Ramp". Notice Jesus says that the way that leads to life is small and narrow. Don't expect to be in a group. Very few are willing to leave the familiar to seek this "precious treasure". Remember this is more than just the "Road Less Traveled". The New Living Translation renders Matthew 7:14 as "But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it".

25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you. But you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name are a witness for me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep.

27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one will steal them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anyone. No one can steal them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."John 10 NIRV
God has made sure that to those who would love the truth, and chase after it, and Him, can find them.

I believe that the websites that I list below have found the "narrow and difficult" path that leads to life. Though these ministries are "part of" and "attached to" the broad and easy highway, they still embrace important foundational truths. And though there are some key issues that they haven't dealt with yet, they still can be used as "off ramps" that will help you exit the broad path that leads to destruction.

A Rood Awakening
Michael Rood has been in ministry for many decades. His emphasis has been on the "Harmony of the Gospels". This work has resulted in him publishing "The Chronological Gospels". This "Chronological Gospel" is one of my foundational reference books. His ministry is a good entry point for studies. His ministry has hundreds of excellent video teachings. And if I may be so bold as to suggest that you start with this video:
The Chronological Gospels, the name of Jesus

Jesus Words Only
Doug Del Tondo has many YouTube videos supporting his site. But the site itself is the free presentation and explanation of his book, "Jesus' Words Only". It is deep scholarship guaranteed to challenge your beliefs. Don't go here unless you want to get into deep thought and analysis. This site explores the doctrines of the Apostles being challenged by imaginative new doctrines thought up by upstart gentile congregations. For the first 300 years "the Church" was a wild and woolly place. Interestingly, some of the doctrines of the Apostles lost out to some of the new doctrines of the Greek and Roman theologians. If you want to shock yourself and blow your mind, you can check your local Church's doctrines against this informative expose' here: Marcionism

And then there is my other site:

REPeet.net
My twelve step journey away from the lie, and into the light.

P.S. The observant will notice that in some instances I've put "quotation marks" around the name of Jesus, and in other instances not. There is a deliberate pattern for this practice. When and why I've done this will be puzzling for those on the broad and easy highway. It is my sincere prayer that you get off this highway, and find the narrow and challenging path that leads to life. So that you can enjoy the eternal life empowering information that it provides.