What happened on September 11, 2001? Few Americans would have trouble answering that question. The events that took place in New York City on that day have been seared into our collective memory like a brand from a hot iron. Anyone who was in the area or lost a friend or relative in the World Trade Center that day can recall the shock and trauma as though it happened yesterday. “Ground Zero” was made into a national memorial and each year as that date returns, now known as Patriot Day, there are events to commemorate the tragedy that changed our nation. We were all affected in a negative way and we can’t forget even though we wish it was only a bad dream.<\/p>\n
Now if I asked, “What happened on August 27, 1963?” not as many could give an answer. If I said, “It was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” there would still be some who would be puzzled. But for Black Americans who were adults at that time, that date has great significance. It was an important step in the movement for their equality in this country. The next day, August 28, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech calling for an end to racism. There may not be an official national holiday on that date but it is commemorated by those who were most affected by it.<\/p>\n
A Reminder<\/strong><\/p>\n Festivals and holidays are for the purpose of remembering and celebrating the significance of something, either a famous person or an important event – President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. God’s Festivals are for the same purpose – to remember and celebrate things He has done, the great events or developments in this world’s history from a spiritual perspective. Every human who has ever lived has been affected by these things but only a very few understand or appreciate their importance and choose to acknowledge and celebrate what they commemorate.<\/p>\n weekly Sabbath – celebrating His act of Creation<\/p>\n annual Festivals – celebrating His acts of Redemption<\/p>\n In the book of Revelation there are acclamations of praise to God and to the Lamb for their great acts in behalf of the human race.<\/p>\n Thou art worthy, O Lord<\/em> (God Almighty sitting on the throne), to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.<\/em>\u00a0 Revelation 4:11<\/p>\n And they sung a new song, saying, Thou<\/em> (the Lamb before the throne) art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.<\/em>\u00a0 Revelation 5:9-13<\/p>\n Rituals and Traditions<\/strong><\/p>\n On our holidays here in America, we do certain things (rituals, traditions) that remind us of the significance of the day.<\/p>\n Presidents Day – patriotic parades and programs, portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln<\/p>\n Martin Luther King Day – Civil Rights rallies and speeches, media documentaries<\/p>\n Independence Day – flags, patriotic parades, fireworks, outdoor picnics, sports<\/p>\n Thanksgiving Day – family gatherings, sumptuous meals, turkeys, Pilgrims<\/p>\n God included rituals in His Festivals that serve as physical reminders and symbols of what He has done and will do through the Plan of Salvation.<\/p>\n Sabbath – rest from daily labor: He will give us ultimate soul rest in Heaven \u00a0(Hebrews 4)<\/p>\n Passover – a meal with lamb and bitter herbs, blood on doorposts and lintel:<\/p>\n deliverance from death and bondage \u00a0(Exodus 12:12, 13)<\/p>\n Lord’s Supper – unleavened bread and grape juice – Christ’s body and blood:<\/p>\n deliverance from death and sin \u00a0(Luke 22:19, 20)<\/p>\n 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread – no leaven allowed in any household: deliverance from Satan’s tyranny \u00a0(Hebrews 2:14, 15)<\/p>\n Wave Sheaf – a representative sample of grain from the beginning of the harvest \u00a0(Leviticus 23:10) saints resurrected with Christ \u00a0(Matthew 27:51-53; Ephesians 4:9)<\/p>\n Feast of Weeks – two loaves of leavened bread: the first product of the apostle’s ministry \u00a0(Acts 2:41)<\/p>\n Feast of Trumpets – a trumpet blast:<\/p>\n Reminder: Judgment is coming soon \u00a0(Revelation 8-11)<\/p>\n Day of Atonement – sprinkled blood and Scapegoat:<\/p>\n judgment and final disposition of all sin \u00a0(Leviticus 16; Daniel 8; Hebrews 9:24-28)<\/p>\n Feast of Tabernacles – living in booths: there will be a great celebration when we get to heaven \u00a0(Revelation 19:7-9)<\/p>\n (*This is according to Hebrew tradition and the Jews celebrate it with this in mind. It is not mentioned in the Bible but is very plausible in the context of the verses cited. The Israelites arrived at Sinai in the beginning of the third month and a few days later God spoke to them from the top of the mountain.)<\/p>\n Timing<\/strong><\/p>\n Some holidays are celebrated on a specific date each year because that is the date an event occurred that the day commemorates. It would lose its significance if it was observed at any random time.<\/p>\n Flag Day – June 14 – commemorates the adoption of the U.S. Flag in 1777<\/p>\n Independence Day – July 4 – commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776<\/p>\n Veterans Day – November 11 – commemorates the end of World War I in 1918 and celebrates the service of all military veterans<\/p>\n Pearl Harbor Day – December 7 – commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941<\/p>\n If someone decided to celebrate Independence Day in February or October, we would think it rather strange and would probably remonstrate with them about the proper time.<\/p>\n In the same way, God specified when His people should celebrate His great acts of Creation and Redemption. If they are not observed at the times He gave, they lose much of their significance.<\/p>\n Sabbath – the 7th day of every week<\/p>\n Passover – the 14th day of the first month<\/p>\n Unleavened Bread – the 15th through 21st days of the first month<\/p>\n Wave Sheaf – the 16th day of the first month<\/p>\n Pentecost – 50 days after Wave Sheaf (the 6th day of the third month)<\/p>\n Trumpets – the 1st day of the seventh month<\/p>\n Atonement – the 10th day of the seventh month<\/p>\n Tabernacles – the 15th through 22nd days of the seventh month<\/p>\n Is it okay to observe the Sabbath whenever we feel like it or to ignore it completely? Is it okay to choose another time for the other Festivals God has given or ignore them altogether? or to celebrate the festivals established by God’s enemy?<\/p>\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0. . . These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, . . . every thing upon his day:\u00a0<\/em> Leviticus 23:1-6, 37<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What happened on September 11, 2001? Few Americans would have trouble answering that question. The events that took place in New York City on that day have been seared into our collective memory like a brand from a hot iron. Anyone who was in the area or lost a friend or relative in the World … <\/p>\n
\nGod rested after completing His creation \u00a0(Exodus 20:8-11)
\nHe sanctifies us through His power \u00a0(Ezekiel 20:12)<\/p>\n
\nhasty journey toward complete deliverance from Egypt \u00a0(Exodus 12:17)
\npurge out sin \u00a0(1 Corinthians 5:6-8)<\/p>\n
\nChrist, the firstfruits from the dead \u00a0(1 Corinthians 15:20)<\/p>\n
\nfirst product of the grain harvest \u00a0(Leviticus 23:17)
\nreceiving the Law at Mount Sinai* \u00a0(Exodus 19:1, 11)
\nreceiving the Holy Spirit \u00a0(Acts 2:1-4)<\/p>\n
\ntemporary living conditions while enroute to Canaan \u00a0(Leviticus 23:42, 43)
\nthanksgiving feast following completed harvest \u00a0(Exodus 23:16)
\nwe are pilgrims on this earth traveling to our heavenly home \u00a0(Hebrews 11:13-16)<\/p>\n