Statement of Fundamental Beliefs -
ANNUAL FESTIVALS PICTURE GOD'S MASTER PLAN OF SALVATION

God's annual Festivals are listed in Leviticus 23 and in Deuteronomy 16. These God-given holy days were commanded to be observed "forever" (Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, 41). The Apostolic Church observed the annual Sabbaths (Acts 2; 12:3–4; 18:21; 20:6, 16; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 16:8). These Sabbaths will continue to be observed during Christ's millennial rule (Zechariah 14:1, 9, 16–19).

The Annual Festivals of God

God's annual Festivals picture the seven vital steps in His plan of salvation:

1.  The Passover pictures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6) sacrificed for us, (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus established the New Testament Passover with the symbols of bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Learn about Passover >>

2.  The Seven Days of Unleavened Bread purging the leaven of malice and wickedness out of the believer's life, and partaking of God's nature, the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:6–13; Luke 12:1).
Learn about the Days of Unleavened Bread >>

3.  The Feast of Firstfruits (Pentecost) pictures the small harvest of "begotten" followers of Christ who will be harvested at the "first resurrection" (Revelation 20:4–5), as "a kind of firstfruits" (James 1:18).
Learn about Pentecost >>

4.  The Feast of Trumpets points prophetically to the second coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; Revelation 11:15–18; 19:15; Zechariah 14:9).
Learn about the Feast of Trumpets >>

5.  The Day of Atonement pictures the banishment of Satan, and man's becoming "at one" with God (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 15–27; Revelation 20:1–3).
Learn about the Day of Atonement >>

6.  The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the soon-coming wonderful world under the government of Jesus Christ and His saints (Zechariah 14; Matthew 9:37–38; 13:1–30; Luke 12:32; John 7:6–14; Acts 17:31; Revelation 12:9; 20:4–6).
Learn about the Feast of Tabernacles >>

7.  The Last Great Day features the great judgement that will occur at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth (John 7:37; Leviticus 23:36, 39, 33–34; Revelation 20:11–12).
Learn about the Last Great Day >>

If you would like to receive more information or have any questions please call our Canadian Regional Office toll free at 1-800-932-4264, or (905)814-1094 within Toronto, and ask to speak with a minister.

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ANNUAL FESTIVALS PICTURE GOD'S MASTER PLAN OF SALVATION

Key Scriptures

Leviticus 23:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocation, these are My feasts.

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast...

Further Information

The Holy Days: God's Master Plan
By Roderick C. Meredith
What are the most important days on the Christian calendar? Most would say Christmas and Easter. But the first followers of Jesus Christ observed NEITHER of these days. They followed Christ's example and observed the SAME Holy Days that Jesus Christ Himself observed! The Holy Days are not obsolete "Jewish" observances, but in fact picture, in sequence, the destiny God has planned for ALL humanity. God Himself ordained these Holy Days for ALL of His people to observe.   View >>

Pagan Holidays or God's Holy Days? (telecast)
By Roderick C. Meredith
Few today realize that most of the holidays which mainstream "Christianity" observes come straight out of paganism! Did you know that God gave Christians an entire series of Holy Days, which Christ and the apostles observed, but which have effectively been "trashed" by mainstream "Christianity" today? Which days should you observe—and why?  View >>

Holidays Or Holy Days?
By Douglas S. Winnail
Have you ever asked yourself what Easter baskets, colored eggs and chocolate bunnies have to do with the worship of God? What about observing Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday? Where are these customs mentioned in the Bible? Does God really care how we worship Him? The Bible's answers to these questions may surprise and even shock you!   View >>