It's Really Not About Me

In the world today, we are taught to be driven. We grow up hearing phrases like "Go for the gold!", "You were meant for this.", "Don't let them keep you down." and "You deserve the best!" These phrases are intended to be motivating, but when you get to the core of these driving motivations they are all about self. We can allow this egotistical way of thinking to build up until it overtakes the way we think and those selfish inclinations influence our expectations. This brings me to consider my own actions when I attend church.

People have been known to leave their faith or their church because they feel they have not gotten enough attention in one way or another. This is sad for two reasons. First, because we as Christians should be showing love and serving other's needs. Secondly, because those who tend to leave sometimes have a skewed focus on life. They are not trying to serve others, but instead are looking to be saved and served. They let their ego get in the way and instead of being humble focus on what they feel should be done for them.

Too often we may feel we are not spoken to enough, that our children do not have enough friends, or that we are not generally included in things. When we begin to have such feelings we should stop and look at ourselves first. It is possible we are looking at others accusingly and not looking at how we ourselves are acting.  Maybe we are not seeing the log in our own eye. (Matthew:7:3)

We must ask ourselves some hard questions

Are we approaching others and being friendly? We must be friendly to make friends.  If we go to church just in time for services and then leave immediately afterward are we giving people a chance? Are we avoiding church functions; not staying for potlucks, outings or attending special functions? How can people get to know us if we're not around? It is difficult to make friends or to be invited to outings when we are always absent or seem to want to be separate from others.

Maybe we feel we have all the answers and get upset when someone disagrees with us. How can we grow or expect others to have deep discussions with us if we are not allowing others to speak? We cannot dominate if we want others to feel close to us. Who wants to spend time with someone who spends an entire conversation unwilling to listen or always motivated in only trying to prove their own point?

Are we being cliquish? It is sometimes our own separation from others that keeps us from feeling involved. If we choose select people who we always sit with, spend time with, or talk with the majority of the time, we are building our own walls. Again, to be included means we must become involved.­­

The best thing to do is to stop when you discover you are acting in such a way and think, "It is not about me". Jesus tells us to; "Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark:12:31).  This is in the same line of thinking as in Luke:6:31, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."  

If we focus on acting this way instead, we will become totally different people with a completely different way of thinking. We automatically become friendlier toward others; we become more giving and more willing to serve others. When we consider how we would like to be treated and do that for others, we cannot go wrong.

None of us wants to be treated poorly or have others dominate us, so we should act in kind. We wouldn't want others to ignore us or not take the time to get to know us. No, we want others to be attentive, keep us in the loop, enjoy our company and include us in the things they are doing. If all that is true, than how can we think of doing the opposite?

We can be happier in any situation in our life if we just remember these four little words, "It's not about me."

Approve, Hold and Abstain

“Test (approve) all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians:5:21).

Paul, in his closing statements of his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, gave the brethren some very strong instruction. It’s usually the case that Paul uses the latter parts of a letter to drive in some final points he hopes the churches will take to heart. Test all things, approve all things, hold fast to what is good, and abstain from every form of evil! What an admonition to a new and growing church in the faith. What an admonition to you and I today! While this scripture might be only two sentences long, the shortness doesn’t take away from the breadth of wisdom instilled in the spiritual principles it conveys. To really dive deep in hopes that this scripture will become part of who we are, let’s break the scripture down into three parts.

Test (approve) all things

Sometimes we can be afraid to test our attitudes and actions to determine their godliness because we deep down already know the answer; the answer being that what we are doing and what we are thinking do not align to the values that are instructed to us in God’s Word! The “casual” lie, the “accidental” click and lewd acts, the “informative” gossip, the “justified” fit of rage, the “need” for one more drink, and so one, can slowly develop into habits justified by the fact that, “Well, I’m only human.” When will we shine the light of God into the deepest parts of our lives and approve our attitudes, thoughts, and acts as either of God or not of God? The enemy wants all of us to keep those hidden areas under darkness and not bring them to the surface, expose it to the light, and conclude it to be wrong.

“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians:5:13, English Standard Version).

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life”(John:8:12, New Living Translation) .

What POWERFUL scriptures!

Hold fast what is good

Every day is a new day to be challenging existing attitudes and actions, and concluding whether they are right or wrong. It’s going to be an ongoing process! But once we find and approve those things that are good, we have to hold on to them, or as the scripture would say, “hold fast what is good.” That’s going to be hard to do when we are holding on to the bad! One of the biggest impediments to godly change is not being able to let go of the evil attitudes and actions that gave us temporary pleasure and comfort! Light has no fellowship with darkness, so likewise holding on to good and evil just doesn’t mix. Let’s take an active approach each and every day to pry away former ways of thinking and behaving, and replace them with Christ-like attitudes, intentions and deeds!

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians:4:31).

Abstain from every form of evil

This scripture is not done yet! Once we approve all things and hold fast what is good, the next thing we need to be doing every single day is actively abstaining from every form of evil. The enemy is not going to leave us alone because we started to make positive spiritual strides towards our Creator. In fact, he’s got a whole dump truck of tricks and muck he is waiting to dump on us to get us to go two steps backwards. Don’t let him succeed. Fight onward! Actively abstaining from every form of evil everyday goes a long way in removing the hold and power the enemy has on us! The best way to abstain from evil is to draw near to God!

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James:4:7).

Approve all things, hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil!

God Never Changes

Scripture: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalms 90:2

People Change—God Does Not

One of the most important things about God is that He never changes. Every part of His character is as true today as it was at the beginning of time. In Malachi 3:6, God says “I the Lord do not change...” Because of this, we can describe all of God’s attributes as eternal. For example, His eternal love, His eternal justice and His eternal holiness. People aren’t like this. Only God is.

Creation is Finite; the Creator is Infinite

Our universe is finite. That means it will only be here for a little while and it hasn’t been here forever. It will end. The creation will have an end as well. Hebrews 1:12 says, “Like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” Only God, the Creator, is infinite. That means God has existed and will continue to exist forever.

God Can’t Grow Up—or Grow Old

Newborn babies are mostly helpless. When they grow, they can eventually do everything an adult can do. When we’re old this growth reverses. Many times, we becomes less and less capable to do things. God is not like this! Numbers 23:19 tells us “God is not human...” He will never lose His ability to do anything. In fact, if God could change, he wouldn’t be God at all. Hebrews 13:8 tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

What This Means to Us

We don’t have to wonder if God will be nice today and mean tomorrow. In a world where everything and everyone changes, we can depend on God’s faithfulness.

Do You Stand for Something?

“ Those who stand for nothing fall for anything .” – Alex Hamilton, journalist

This quote has been increasingly used by media and marketing pundits encouraging businesses to take a position on some social topic. For every customer gained by taking a stance on a controversial topic however, another customer can be lost. Being opinionated has its ups and downs.

What about us? As young people called to become part of the Body of Christ, we are to take a stand for the true calling, instruction and truth of God. A calling that will make us stand out and bring attention to the way live; the annual Holy Days we observe, the 7th day Sabbath we keep, the law of God we obey, and the care we have for our fellow brethren.

What if we stand by God’s truth and we are punished for it? What if we are put to torture and told to publically deny Christ as our savior and God as our Father? That might seem far-fetched, but we live in a world increasingly devoid of respect for the true God. When nations become fearful or uncertain about the future, they often look to blame or punish the people who hold to a standard of right behavior. Recently the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) made the news with their dramatic gains in overtaking huge sections of the Middle East and even more so for their public beheadings of western captives. Some have postulated that they would lie to such captors rather than be beheaded.

Is it okay to lie in order to save your life or the life of someone else? Is this acceptable to God?

No! First of all, it breaks the ninth Commandment against lying, since even under duress, it is sinful to bear false witness. What if we publicly had to deny Christ even though we knew in our hearts that what we said was untrue? Is that an acceptable escape plan? No, again.Matthew:10:33 is very clear that if we deny Christ before men, we will be denied by Him before the Father! Once we deny Christ (even if we think we don’t mean it), it becomes easier to deny Him a second time, then a third and more. Consider Peter’s example of repeatedly denying Christ on the morning of His crucifixion. Where would we be if Christ had sought to save his physical life, lying to the Jewish and Roman rulers rather than be killed and become the means of salvation for all mankind?

God certainly knows the thoughts of our heart, but He also needs to see what we will actually do. God worked with Abraham for decades, but it wasn’t until He saw Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac ( some forty years after the promise ) that He said “… now Iknow that you fear God ” (Genesis:22:12, NKJV, emphasis added).

God saw the faithfulness of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah but He didn’t deliver them from King Nebuchadnezzar until they were thrown into the red-hot furnace. Esther and the Israelite people of the tribe of Judah were not delivered until eleven months after the decree was given that the Jews could be killed and their property taken. Actions speak louder than words, but words and action speak loudest of all.

God’s Word is full of instruction for us to be strong in Him – “ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong ,” (1 Corinthians:16:13, NKJV). The primary stand for us is to be faithful in word and deed to God’s instruction – no matter what kind of hardship, trial, difficulty or persecution we may face. The time to prepare to be strong is now, before we find ourselves being tested.

Why the Scottish Vote For Independence Matters

Lost in all the fear and concern over what the United States will do about the growing threat in the Middle East from ISIS is next week’s vote on Scottish independence. This historic vote, set for September 18, is off the radar of most Americans. It’s likely only a few within the Washington policy establishment are watching it with any idea what is at stake. While the growing threat from another terrorist group has grabbed our attention this little watched issue could impact the effectiveness of any response to this new danger.

The United Kingdom, which has for 307 years included Scotland, is in danger of breaking up. Polls show a growing support for a “Yes” vote next week to take Scotland out of the union and on its own. With Scotland out of the Union, Great Britain would definitely be downgraded as a lending nation. The impact of such a step is virtually unknown. Much would change. A new flag would have to designed. Wales and Ireland would no doubt reconsider their status. Would they too desire to leave the Union? Britain left alone would be exposed as a diverse nation, shorn of its last vestige of glory with only grey hairs exposed. It would not be a pretty sight.

At stake is the existing status of Great Britain as an effective power in the world. America and the UK have had a long standing "Special Relationship” that has greatly benefited the world. Eleven years ago as the United States formed a coalition to go into Iraq it was Great Britain who provided key military and political support. Now, as America looks like it will have to ramp up another major military effort in the region, its key ally faces a possible breakup of it’s essential political and cultural basis. Anything that changes or weakens Great Britain’s standing among the nations impacts America. The Special Relationship would indeed be weakened.

Britain’s nuclear capability is stationed on Scottish soil. This nuclear deterrent is part of the key to its viability as a partner in NATO. If Scotland secedes from the union what does England do with its nukes? With a weakened political profile what kind of military power will Great Britain be able to project? Scotland’s men and women have played key historic roles as part of England’s military during this period of unity. Anything that weakens Britain’s military standing weakens America and by extension it weakens NATO. Make no mistake Russia’s Vladimir Putin is carefully watching this vote as he probes the resolve of Western Europe over Ukraine.

All this comes at a critical moment in world events. The Middle East is going through historic changes. The Syria and Iraq border has been redrawn by the emergence of ISIS, a virtual autonomous Islamic state which has proclaimed itself as a resorted Caliphate within the region. Whether this new group will remain in place or be replaced or reduced to a minor role is yet to be seen. Their presence and actions have everyone’s attention. How Europe, America and Asia handle this development is important. No one is served in the long term by a barbaric Islamist terror state within this volatile region.

Add to the mix the crisis in Ukraine. Russian leader Putin has invaded a sovereign nation's lands and violated an international border. No European nation will respond forcefully enough to restore Ukraine’s former borders. Indeed, whether or not Ukraine itself will muster the courage to resist this invasion, clean up its own political house and assert its rights as a nation are yet to be determined. Corrupted leadership exists within these nations and those who will suffer most are the people in the streets.

The Scottish vote next week matters when it is considered against the larger stage of current world events. The world order is being shaped by major events. If Scotland secedes from the United Kingdom and breaks up an important centuries old union then other, unintended things could happen. As small an event as this seems it is not occurring in a vacuum.

God Rules Over Everything

Scripture: "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'" Isaiah 46:9-10

What is Sovereignty?

The word sovereignty is often used to describe a king or a ruler. It means that person has total authority and control. But while earthly kings and kingdoms are conquered and eventually forgotten, God has a different kind of sovereignty. He is in complete control for eternity.

Total Control

God created everything, from big things like the universe down to the smallest things like cells and particles. And He continues to keep everything working. Colossians 1:16-17 says of Jesus, who is God,“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things were created through him and for him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Job, one of the earliest people in the Bible, wondered why he experienced such terrible suffering. But after hearing from God, Job said, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

At the Cross

God’s control is seen most clearly at the crucifixion. For Jesus’ followers, it was the end of the world. Their beloved leader was captured, tortured and killed. How could God possibly be in control? Yet, Acts tells us that this was part of God’s plan. Acts 2:23 tells us “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.” This horrible event – including all the wicked plans of Jesus’ enemies – were part of God’s plan to save us from our sins.

Eternal Control

Even if an earthly king manages to defend himself and his country from enemies, he eventually dies, and someone takes his place. But that doesn’t happen with God. Psalm 145:13 describes God by saying, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

God is the one who rules completely and eternally. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” That means God uses each experience we have for our good and for His eternal glory. So whatever we may be going through, we can find comfort in knowing that every experience, good or bad, passes through God’s hands.

Jesus Christ in the Biblical Festivals

Every single year, Jesus observed seven annual festivals, and so did His Church that followed.

Have you ever heard of the Feast of Tabernacles? How about the Days of Unleavened Bread? Ever hear of the Day of Atonement?

These special celebrations are found in the Bible—and not only in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ, your Savior, not only observed these festivals, but He is central to them. When we observe these festivals, we are celebrating the mission and work of Jesus Christ—what He has done, what He is doing now, and what He will yet do. They are a key to developing a closer relationship with Him. And through them you can also learn how God is bringing salvation to the entire world!

Jesus Christ is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented figures in all history. He is certainly the most well known, but there's a lot to learn about His life, His teaching and His example.

It's essential to realize that Jesus kept these commanded biblical festivals as part of His worship of and teaching about the Father—and to understand that these festivals show Christ's central role in the process of salvation. It's vital that we see the biblical Holy Days in their proper New Testament perspective. That perspective points to Jesus Christ. Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, is the main agent of God's plan of salvation for mankind.

At this point some of you may be thinking: "But those are Jewish feasts. They have nothing to do with the New Testament or Christianity today." That's a widely held belief—but it'sincorrect. These festivals do not belong to the Jews alone. They belong first to God the Father and Jesus Christ. These are God's festivals. They are also commanded for Christians who desire to follow Jesus' example, and they have everything to do with Christ and His Church today.

Let's step through the biblical festivals and learn how Jesus is represented in each one. These festivals are grouped into three periods of the year, tied to the harvest seasons of the Holy Land. They provide remarkable insight into how God the Father, through Jesus Christ, will harvest people in His plan of salvation.

Passover: "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us"

The first of the festivals is Passover, immediately followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread. The Passover was a major part of the story of ancient Israel's Exodus from Egypt, but it's more than an Old Testament observance. We find that it's mentioned 28 times in the New Testament.

Now what is the New Testament Passover about? It's about the One who is so profound, so holy, so important, that without Him there is no hope for mankind—Jesus Christ. From the beginning, the Passover pointed directly to Jesus. He is our true Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians:5:7). In observing the New Testament Passover (in the spring in Israel and the rest of the northern hemisphere), we understand the central role Jesus has in God's forgiveness of our sins. Scripture states, "And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin" (1 John:3:5).

Many prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures foretold the life and death of a Messiah. Christ's death by crucifixion fulfilled many of these scriptures in incredible detail. It is one of the great proofs of the validity of the Bible and of who Jesus is. Just before Jesus' last Passover with His apostles, the Jewish high priest Caiaphas predicted that Jesus would "die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish" (John:11:50).

Christ's death, occurring on the Passover day, fulfilled the ritual of the slaughtered lamb, and it opened a new dimension of understanding to the festivals. Notice how the apostle Paul understood this New Testament application and taught it to gentile Christians in the city of Corinth:

"Therefore purge out the old leaven [a reference to the Days of Unleavened Bread, leaven being an agent that causes bread to rise during baking], that you may be a new lump [of dough, figuratively speaking], since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast [of Unleavened Bread], not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians:5:7-8
, emphasis added throughout).

In this passage referring to the first two annual biblical festivals, we see the essential role of Christ in our proper understanding and observance of these days.

Let's next look at the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Days of Unleavened Bread: leaving sin by partaking of the true Bread of Life

The day after Passover begins the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, with a Holy Day on the first and last day. As with Passover, Jesus Christ is the central focus of this feast too. Christians observe this festival knowing that it's a time to focus on striving to put sin out of their lives and overcoming sin.

Leavening, for the purpose of the spring festival season, represents sin. Again the apostle Paul refers to it as "the leaven of malice and wickedness" (1 Corinthians:5:8). Other scriptures similarly identify leaven with hypocrisy (Luke:12:1) and false teaching. During this New Testament festival, leavening is portrayed as wickedness that Christians strive in their lives to overcome.

God's instruction for keeping this festival is to remove and not eat anything leavened for seven days, and to instead eat "the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians:5:8).

The Days of Unleavened Bread tie deeply into something very significant revealed in this festival. You see, these days picture the promise Christ made that was to be fulfilled after He was raised to life. Jesus promised that He and the Father would make Their home in our hearts (John:14:23). In fact, it is Christ in us who is the hope of our future glory in God's Kingdom (Colossians:1:27).

And as we eat unleavened bread during this festival, we are reminded that Christ, the "bread of life" and the "living bread which came down from heaven" (John:6:35, John:6:51), is the ultimate example of the sincerity and truth the unleavened bread represents. Christians desire with all their being to have that Holy One living in them.

Observing the Days of Unleavened Bread also reminds us that it is not our own innate or self-generated righteousness that enables us to overcome sins. Rather, it is the righteousness that comes as a result of partaking of that Bread of Life, of Jesus Christ living His righteous life in the hearts of His people and empowering us to conquer sin.

As Paul writes, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians:2:20, King James Version).

The New Testament observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread teaches us about the resurrected Christ who died for our sins that we may leave a life of sin and have the hope of eternal life through partaking of the true Bread of Life. It explains that by letting Christ live in us, we can be transformed. Only by taking on Jesus' character and nature can we truly overcome sin.

Pentecost: Christ empowers His Church with the Holy Spirit

Now let's look at the next festival, the Feast of Pentecost, representing the firstfruits of the wheat harvest in Israel. It came seven weeks after an offering of firstfruits of the smaller barley harvest presented during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These harvest celebrations were eagerly celebrated by the Israelites. They could be assured of food for their families when God's blessing was on them. Pentecost signaled a good year ahead for an Israelite.

In a special ceremony the priest would lift up two loaves of bread before God as an offering. The offering recognized God as the one who blesses Israel and gave them the fruit of the harvest. It was a great festival of both hope and joy.

According to Jewish tradition, God gave Israel the Ten Commandments on the day of Pentecost. But the Israelites did not have the Holy Spirit in them, so they failed to obey the immutable spiritual laws God had given them.

In the New Testament, we see a deeper and a more profound parallel to this. Jesus Himself was the first of the firstfruits, represented by the waved barley sheaf during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And His followers of this age are represented by the firstfruits of the wheat harvest of Pentecost.

When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven following His resurrection, the apostles were perplexed because their risen Lord was being taken from them. But Jesus had already promised them that He would not leave them as orphans (John:14:18). He promised that both He and the Father would come to the disciples by and through the power of the Holy Spirit (John:14:16-23






).

Jesus repeated this promise in Luke, where He said, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry [or wait] in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke:24:49).

That power is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, as we read in the second chapter of Acts. And suddenly with that event, the disciples became the Church of God.

No longer were they a dazed and bewildered group of men and women—they were now the firstfruits of the people of God, the first part of God's harvest. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they would now be able to truly overcome sin. And through that same power, God's Church would take the gospel to the entire world.

All of this was made possible because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled His promise by empowering the Church with the Holy Spirit. As Christians today celebrate this festival, we are reminded of the transforming power of God's Holy Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit we have hope and joy to carry out the same work Christ did while here on earth—the work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

We have covered three of the annual biblical festivals—Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Pentecost. We will now briefly cover each of the next four festivals, observed in the autumn of the year in the Holy Land and the rest of the northern hemisphere. As we examine them, we will again notice the pivotal role Jesus Christ has in fulfilling each one.

Trumpets: Jesus Christ returns and resurrects His followers

The next biblical festival uses an interesting symbol—the blowing of trumpets.

Trumpets, whether metal instruments or rams' horns, were used in the Bible for several purposes. They were used to call the people of God to assembly (Numbers:10:1-10








). They were also used to announce the beginning of this Holy Day (Leviticus:23:24; comparePsalm:81:3-4
). And trumpets were used to announce the coronation of a king (1 Kings:1:39-40
).

All of these purposes find their ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament teaching that Jesus Christ will return to earth as King and assemble His people together at the sounding of a great trumpet blast.

Furthermore, the New Testament clearly shows that at what is called the first resurrection, with the blowing of a great trumpet, "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians:4:16).

In 1 Corinthians:15:51-52
 Paul writes: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Another key scripture is Revelation:11:15: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'" (English Standard Version).

The Feast of Trumpets pictures the time when Jesus Christ steps into our world and imposes His Kingdom in place of every human government. It also pictures the resurrection of what is called in the Bible the "dead in Christ" (1 Thessalonians:4:16) and the change to a glorified spirit life—becoming spirit beings in the family of God. Jesus stated that He Himself would raise His followers at this future time (John:6:44).

The Bible further shows us that Christ's return will not be welcomed by the armies and the leaders of this world. In fact, the coming of Christ is accompanied by a time of war. The "kingdom of the world" will not willingly yield nor submit to Jesus Christ.

There is a reason the Lamb of God with a robe dipped in blood and wielding a sword will "strike the nations" (Revelation:19:13-15

). The kingdom of the world is currently controlled by a powerful spirit being called Satan the devil. This evil being is the real power behind the scenes of all human folly.

Before the righteous reign of Jesus Christ can begin on this earth, Satan himself must be decisively dealt with. This next step in God's plan is told through the next festival, the Day of Atonement.

Atonement: Christ sends Satan away and offers reconciliation to all

The Day of Atonement is the most unusual of the Holy Days. It is a day on which God's people do not eat food or drink any liquids. It's called a "fast" (Leviticus:23:26-32





;Acts:27:9). In ancient Israel, once a year on this festival a ceremony took place with the high priest and the offering of two specially chosen goats.

One goat was killed and its blood was offered within the Holy of Holies—that sacred room within the temple where only the high priest could go on this special once-a-year festival. This represented the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the atonement of humanity.

The second goat was not killed. It was driven into the wilderness. This goat represents Satan, the one who rebelled against God and is the primary cause of sin and evil in the world. Satan is the one Jesus called a "liar" and a "murderer from the beginning" (John:8:44). His evil presence and influence must be removed from the human family before the peace of God's Kingdom can begin.

While we do not observe the Day of Atonement today with the temple ritual of the two goats, we nevertheless focus on the great meaning behind this while we fast in drawing near to God. The Day of Atonement looks forward to the time when Christ returns to the earth. He will commission an angel to banish Satan into the bottomless pit (Revelation:20:1-3

). Satan will not be allowed to deceive the nations for a thousand years.

This world will not know true peace until Satan, the ultimate deceiver, is put away. With this done, the eyes of mankind will be opened. The light of God's truth will spread over humanity and a spiritual healing will come upon all peoples from all walks of life. At this time Christ's sacrifice, as pictured by the slain goat, will begin to be applied to the world at large, as people repent and draw near to God, making humanity atoned or at one with Him.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the One who has offered His life in place of all mankind and has crushed the head of the serpent (see Genesis:3:15), is central to the ultimate fulfillment of this day. Now the real work of God's Kingdom can begin.

The Feast of Tabernacles: Jesus Christ's millennial rule over the entire earth

After Jesus returns, the world will see a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity (Revelation:20:1-6




). The earth will be changed, not through the achievement of mankind, but through the power of God. The biblical festival called the Feast of Tabernacles pictures this time—which theologians often refer to as the Millennium (meaning simply 1,000 years).

Jesus is the key to understanding the Feast of Tabernacles. He observed this Feast while a human being, and He told His disciples to observe the Feast as well (John:7:2-14











). In Old Testament times, the Israelites would gather in Jerusalem and dwell in small huts or booths made from leafy branches of trees, and they would rejoice in the worship of God (Leviticus:23:40). And the Old Testament directly links the reign of Christ on the earth with the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah:14:16-21




).

The book of Revelation tells us that Christ will reign on the earth for 1,000 years. And His reign will create what human government has not been able to accomplish for thousands of years—lasting peace, true justice and the opportunity for godly knowledge to flourish within the human family.

The prophet Isaiah foretells this period in many of his exciting prophecies. Let's note two of them.

Isaiah:2:4 says, "He [the Lord] shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation."

Isaiah:35:5-7

 states: "The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water."

These scriptures will be ultimately fulfilled when the One who sits at the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ, returns to the earth.

The Eighth Day: Jesus offers salvation to all

The three fall festivals we've covered so far—the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles—all occur within a three-week period (days 1 through 21 of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar). But there is one more festival the day after, and its meaning offers the greatest hope for all of mankind.

Have you ever wondered about those who died never having accepted Jesus Christ as Savior? What about them? Is there hope? What does the Bible say about this group of people? The meaning of the final biblical festival of the year holds the answer.

Following the Feast of Tabernacles is a final feast day (Leviticus:23:36). It's designated as an Eighth Day, distinct from the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles. Now this last of the commanded annual festivals has a profound meaning in the plan of God.

Many today worry about loved ones who died without receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. They fret and mourn over these loved ones who never repented of sin and never received baptism being lost, doomed forever in an ever-burning hellfire.

But God is a God of love. He will never allow any human being to be lost without first being given a fair opportunity to hear and understand the gospel. He will even yet offer salvation to those who have gone to their graves without adequate knowledge.

The prophecy of Ezekiel 37 speaks of a great resurrection of people who died without having understood God's great plan. While specifically showing what is to happen to Israel, it gives us understanding of what God intends for the entire human race as foretold inRevelation:20:5, Revelation:20:11-12
.

Ezekiel writes: "I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army. And they say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off'" (Ezekiel:37:10-11
). The prophet is seeing, in vision, a resurrection.

But God then speaks comforting words to the Israelites: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves . . . then you shall know that I am the Lord . . . I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it" (Ezekiel:37:12-14

).

These verses, along with other biblical passages, tell us that a time is coming when those who died without the full knowledge of God will be given their opportunity for salvation. They will finally recognize Christ for who He really is—our Lord and our Savior. Non-Christians who lived their entire lives without ever hearing Christ's name, as well as those who professed Christianity but never really understood the truth, will be given the opportunity to both accept His sacrifice as payment for their sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 20 tells us of a resurrection at the conclusion of the 1,000-year reign of Christ—of "the dead, small and great" (Revelation:20:12). They will stand before Him and have the books of the Bible opened to their understanding. They will have the opportunity to confess belief in God and Christ and enter into eternal life.

Only those who ultimately reject God despite full enlightenment will be burned up in a final lake of fire.

The Eighth Day festival, then, pictures the time yet coming in God's timetable when those who have never had full opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be raised from their graves and given the opportunity to truly learn the truth.

So the great meaning of this final festival is this: Every human being who has ever lived will receive the opportunity to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy:2:4). (See also " Jesus Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment ".)

The Holy Days of God give us an overview of God's great plan of salvation. The fulfillment of these days is dependent upon the One who became a man, who died for our sins, who now sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will soon return to rule the world. His name is Jesus Christ.

What should we do?

What is it that people can learn by keeping these biblical festivals?

They can learn a tremendous amount. These are God's Holy Days. Think about that word—holy. We forget sometimes what that word really means. It designates something special to God, set apart by Him.

These days are special to Him because they reveal what His plan for mankind is all about. He maps it out for us to make it very clear that it all starts with Passover, pointing to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. We picture coming out of sin and becoming like Jesus Christ during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pentecost pictures the Holy Spirit enabling those God has called to truly change.

The Feast of Trumpets gives us hope that Jesus will return and set all things aright. The Day of Atonement memorializes the time when Satan will be banished, prevented from influencing mankind, and the nations will at last come to accept Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures Jesus dwelling with mankind and ruling over the nations for 1,000 years.

And then, at the end, we have the Eighth Day that makes it very clear that God wants to save everyone who is ultimately willing. All people of all past ages will have an opportunity to have the Bible opened to them. God's Word will come to life for them, and they will have an opportunity to choose life.

What an amazing blessing it is when you see how Jesus Christ fits into all of the Holy Days! It's something that everyone needs to check into.

You really need to examine your beliefs. Maybe you celebrate Christmas, Easter and other religious holidays but you're finding them lacking. Maybe you can tell something is missing. It's time that you ask some hard questions about what you've accepted and what you've been doing all your life in a religious sense.

Moreover, you should consider finding a church that observes these biblical festivals. These celebrations offer so much meaning and so much understanding. It's vital to comprehend what they represent in God's plan for you. Find out why many people are turning to what God's Word really says and come to understand how to truly worship Him!