Do You Follow and Imitate Christ’s Example of Keeping His Feasts?

by Leonard V Johnson

Blessings to you, my friend! Welcome. Our friends in Karachi, Pakistan, Poza Rica, Mexico, Thái Binh, Vietnam, and the Nizhniy Novgorod, Russian Federation. I welcome you to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries (COJCOM) here in West Central Florida!

What are commonly called the ‘Fall Holy Days’ will begin very soon for 2026. In fact, the SEVENTH MONTH of the year begins sunset Friday 11th. It’s the biblical month, Ethanim (1st Kings 8:2).

There are wonderful meanings that these Fall Holy Days represent.

A few weeks ago I spoke concerning the glorious LORD’s Feast of Trumpets which pictures for us a memorial of blowing of trumpets the next phase of the LORD God’s redemptive plan, when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shall come, in the clouds with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) For it shall be AT THE LAST TRUMP “for the trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1 Corinthians 15:52.

Beginning at sunset the 20th of this month is the LORD’s Day of Atonement. Truly, a holy day to humble yourself before the LORD God. These feasts and holy days belong to God! They are His feasts! And He’s sharing the information with us – those of us who have ears to hear and eyes to see and a willingness to accept the truth of God as being our teacher! Sadly, many ministers today continue to threaten the congregation with a very serious maniacal undertone – “You shall afflict your souls!” As we have pointed out many times ── get out your concordance, get out your word studies, get out your different translations, and you too will discover that that phrase is supposed to say – “You shall HUMBLE yourself before the LORD.” It is the same thing that our Lord Jesus Christ teaches in the Book of Matthew, chapter 5.

True Christians continue to keep our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s example of keeping and celebrating the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles and knows that it represents the glorious and powerful second coming of our Savior and the establishment of His Millennial Rule on Earth! (cf. Revelation 11:15).

As our beloved Apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, wrote ──

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1.

Do you follow and imitate Christ Jesus?

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, along with all of His apostles kept and celebrated the Fall Holy Days!

Let’s also notice that our beloved Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69–155 AD), a disciple of the Apostle John, also kept and celebrated the Fall Holy Days ──

I will give the narration in order, thus coming down to the history of the blessed Polycarp. …

So also he pursued the reading of the Scriptures from childhood to old age, himself reading in church; and he recommended it to others, saying that the reading of the law and the prophets was the forerunner of grace, preparing and making straight the ways of the Lord, that is the hearts, which are like tablets whereon certain harsh beliefs and conceptions that were written before perfect knowledge came, are through the inculcation of the Old Testament, and the correct interpretation following thereupon, first smoothed and levelled, that, when the Holy Spirit comes as a pen, the grace and joy of the voice of the Gospel and of the doctrine of the immortal and heavenly Christ may be inscribed on them. And he said that they could not otherwise receive the impression of the seal which is given by baptism and engrave and exhibit the form conveyed in it, unless the wax were first softened and filled the deep parts. So also he thought that the hearts of the hearers ought to be softened and yield to the impress of the Word. For he said that it unfolded and opened, like closed doors, the minds of recent comers; and accordingly the prophet was bidden by God, Cry out mightily and spare not, Raise thy voice as a trumpet. What must one say, when even He that was gentler than all men so appeals and cries out at the feast of Tabernacles? For it is written; And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirsteth, let him come to Me and drink. 1

So, according to Pionius──for there is a narrative claiming that Pionius and several other Christians were martyred on the “birthday” of Polycarp──he endorsed the keeping and the celebration of the Fall Holy Days which begins with the LORD’s Feast of Trumpets, including the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.

The Feasts and the Holy Days of the LORD (annually during the spring and fall) were indeed kept and celebrated by the early, true Christians, and this is crystal clear from God’s living word──from both the Old and New Testaments. For additional information, be sure to read and study “God’s Eternal Marks Upon His Covenant People (PART ONE) and (PART TWO).”

The LORD’s first fall Holy Day is the Feast of Trumpets (also called Rosh Hashanah by the Jews) which will begin sunset on September 11th until sunset September 12th.

Then there is the LORD’s Day of Atonement. It begins sunset on September 20th until sunset September 21st. Again, the true meaning of the Day of Atonement isn’t about God wanting you to afflict your body. It’s about God wanting you to HUMBLE yourself before Him, His will, and His word. A MEMORIAL of the glorious ATONEMENT that our Lord Jesus Christ has done for all of us! Christ Jesus is our ATONEMENT!

There are some magnificent prophetic meanings of the Day of Atonement as well, that many church leaders have never considered. And I’d be willing to say that probably most do not have a clear understanding of, prophetically, what the Day of Atonement – the DAY TO HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD – symbolizes. On a personal level, it truly means getting ever-closer to God, repenting, and humbling yourself before God – but on a prophetic level, it is directly linked to the end-time tribulation that will occur! What our Lord Jesus calls the end-time ‘great tribulation.’ – Matthew 24:21-22.

Then comes the great annual festival, the Feast of Tabernacles! It begins sunset September 25th and continues until October 2nd at sunset. Immediately followed by the Last Great Day which ends at sunset on the 3rd of October.

The LORD God’s faithful followers, the early true Christians, kept and celebrated what many mistakenly refer to as “Jewish holidays.” Again, our Savior and Elder Brother, the Lord Jesus Christ indeed did──an not only because He was Jewish. His disciples that graduated and became apostles all kept and celebrated His Feasts and Holy Days! Including the weekly holy Sabbath day, the SEVENTH DAY!

I hope and pray that you will look into His Feasts and Holy Days more! □

The Last Day, That Great Day of the Feast

THE eighth day, the holy day that immediately follows the seven days of the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles, truly pictures the completion of God’s Master Plan of redemption.

The “Book of Life” ── of which “anyone not found written in” will be eventually cast into the lake of fire ── will be opened (Revelation 20:12, 15). 

The whole seven-day Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles, in combination with the holy eighth day, is referred to as the “Feast of Ingathering” in the Old Testament ──

“ …’ and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labor from the field.’” – Exodus 23:16.

This “Ingathering” is truly a much larger harvest than the firstfruits that are associated with the Feast of Weeks. 

Notice God’s living word in the Old Testament concerning the Lord’s commanded eighth-day Feast ──

“’ Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this SEVENTH MONTH shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35) On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 … On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, … It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.’” – Leviticus 23:34-36. 

This eighth day has been dubbed as the “Last Great Day,” because of how the Apostle John had worded it ── 

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes [on] Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow river of living water.’” – John 7:37-38.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, observed this most important holy day, which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles. This celebration pictures His soon-coming Millennial Reign, and He taught on this day. 

But, after His thousand-year reign ── what occurs?

A glorious and monumental resurrection of the dead ── note Revelation 20:5. 

The dead, “small and great” ── those who had lived and died from the very time of Adam to the end of Christ’s thousand year rule will be resurrected ── will stand before God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and will be judged, each one according to their works, by the things which were written in the books – Revelation 20:11-13. Now, this resurrection will not include true Christians in this present evil age, as they will be resurrected at the glorious blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMPET! This is that judgment day that our Lord Jesus frequently spoke about ──

“’ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom [from] heaven is at hand.’ … 14) And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from the house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15) Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah IN THAT DAY OF JUDGMENT than for that city!’” – Matthew 10:7, 14-15; 11:23-24.

So, notice that it will be more tolerable on that day of judgment for those that the LORD God allowed to be destroyed in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah than for those people who knowingly reject our Lord Jesus and the gospel during the time of His kingdom.

Our Lord Jesus said to us that “’ ALL SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN THE SONS OF MEN’” (Mark 3:28), except “’ he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit.’” So, there is a sin – there is a spiritual condition which is much more dire, dangerous, and potentially deadly, which Jesus Christ said will lead to destruction and eternal death. But what is the one sin that cannot be forgiven?

To ‘blaspheme’ – from the Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – their definition is:

# 988 - βλασφημία, blasphémia, n. GK: 1060 [ → 987]. Blasphemy, slander, malicious talk. 

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines blasphemy:

\’blas-fǝ-mē\ n. pl – mies (13c) 1 a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b: the act of claiming the attributes of deity 2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable. 

Blaspheme against the LORD God’s Spirit!

Now, a lot of people over the years, I heard say, ‘Oh, I think I’ve committed the unpardonable sin!’ Well, if you are fearful or uncomfortable that maybe you have done something wrong, you have not committed blasphemy against God’s Spirit. Because if you’ve committed blasphemy against God’s Spirit, you wouldn’t care. 

Blaspheme against God’s Spirit is commanding it – driving it out of you – out of your heart and out of your mind. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul wrote the following – “Do not quench the Spirit.” Don’t restrict it – don’t squeeze it off. Don’t tie off the flow of God’s Spirit. 

If you would turn to Ephesians 4. The Apostle Paul says something very similar. Verse 30 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”         

The fulfillment of the Last Great Day, all who have not had an opportunity for salvation, and have not “grieved the Holy Spirit,” will have their first opportunity for the glorious promise of eternal salvation. And, nearly all people will accept this offer. 

Nearly all people who have ever lived ── which also includes stillborn or aborted babies ── will be saved!

God’s living truth ── the Holy Bible ── truly teaches us of the LORD God’s love and great mercy for all mankind ── 

“’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [on] Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’” – John 3:16-17.

Multiple thousand of “nominal Christians” will often quote John 3:16, and they tend to teach that the world could be saved, but that the vast majority of humanity who have ever lived will ultimately suffer in hellfire, being tortured forever. Overlooking the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ came to be sacrificed for all mankind. Is an everlasting torture burning in hell sound like something a merciful and loving God would plan? Does God’s living word support such an idea? And, since the LORD God (the Elohim, the family of God) is all-powerful, merciful, and loving ── God is love (1 John 4:8, 16) ── would the LORD God have predestined the majority of all humanity to a destiny of eternal torture in a hellfire? 

No.

Notice Romans 9:14-15 ── 

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? CERTAINLY NOT! 15) For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ 16) So then it is not him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”   

Truly, truly: the LORD God “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4. The reason why not all people are called in this present evil age is because the LORD God knows that most would not respond and endure with the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God to the end to be saved ── 

“ … ‘ But he who endures to the end shall be saved.’” – Mark 13:13; see also Luke 8:5-15.

God’s living word truly teaches that most of mankind has been blinded in this present age ──

“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe [on] Him, 38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?’ 39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40) ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’” – John 12:37-40.

All those who have been blinded in this age still will have an opportunity! 

“Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.’” – John 9:41; see also Isaiah 42:16-18.

“For there is no partiality with God.” – Romans 2:11. There will be a glorious opportunity for eternal salvation ── “ … And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.” – Isaiah 52:10.

All who are not part of the first resurrection, that are called “the rest of the dead,” will not live again until the thousand years of our Lord Jesus’ reign are finished (Revelation 20:5). This is going to be a physical resurrection (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

And, even though they will be judged according to their works, by the things which are written in the Holy Bible ── judged guilty of their sins before the great white throne and Him who will sit on it, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT.” – James 2:13. The LORD “will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,’ says the LORD.” – Jeremiah 25:31; see also Isaiah 3:13. And the LORD will answer many; and while they are still speaking, He will hear them! – Isaiah 65:24. Yet, sadly, not all will respond to Him and His glorious and merciful offer of salvation; they will not get another chance. Those who truly had a chance at eternal salvation, and then fully rejected the LORD God and the gospel message, and rejected the Spirit of God, will not ever get another opportunity to be forgiven ── cf. Mark 3:29.

The keeping and celebrating of this wonderful, holy Last Great Day picture this. 

Let us consider and meditate upon God’s living word ──

“O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, ‘Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.’ 20) Will a man make gods for himself, Which are not gods? 21) ‘Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know My hand and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD.’” – Jeremiah 16:19-21.

“Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and fall down to it. 16) He burns half of it in the fire; With this half, he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.’ 17) And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god!’

18) They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. … 22) ‘I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. RETURN TO ME, for I have redeemed you.’” – Isaiah 44:15-18, 22. 

Yes! Even the multiple millions who accept false gospels and traditions, and those who celebrate holidays that originated from paganism, and those who are idolaters and worship gods that are not God, will have their first true opportunity for eternal salvation. Truly, billions upon billions of our peoples in the far flung regions of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americans who never heard of our glorious and merciful Savior and what He has done for all mankind, has never heard the true gospel of the soon-coming kingdom of God ── and, of course, the LORD God foreknew this and had planned for this!

There is only ONE NAME “’ nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’” – Acts 4:12. And that Name is Jesus Christ.

“Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.” – Acts 4:10.

Since the majority of humanity has not truly heard or received the living truth of God, Word of God, and the Plan of God ── the glorious gospel message of the kingdom of God and of eternal salvation, and “’ all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” – Luke 3:6, there will be an opportunity for all men to have a glorious opportunity for eternal salvation ── ‘either in this age or in the age to come.’

The keeping and celebrating of the God-ordained feasts and holy days remind true Christians of the LORD God’s Master Plan… From the Beginning! The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries does understand how the LORD’s Plan is laid out.

The LORD God makes it crystal clear that we are not to worship them by practicing paganism ── even if those pagan practices were integrated with “nominal Christianity” ── 

“’ When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30) TAKE HEED to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’” – Deuteronomy 13:29-30. 

‘You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 

WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU, BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE IT; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.’” – Deuteronomy 12:31-32. 

The great Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the Earth (Revelation 17:5), who combined pagan worship practices with her holidays ── such as Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, St. Valentine’s Day, and New Year’s Day ── obscures the LORD God’s Master Plan, and they do not understand it. □              

Personal From... Why I Keep the Feast of Tabernacles

Sadly, under the circumstances at this time, I am unable to travel to visit our brethren to keep and celebrate the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles 2025. However, I personally keep and celebrate it at home. Yet, how many nominal Christians throughout the world have even so much heard the word “tabernacle” ── or let alone, the Feast of Tabernacles?

So very few of today’s “nominal Christians” even realize that our Lord Jesus Christ, His apostles, along with His New Covenant/New Testament Church, have kept and celebrated the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles from the very beginning. How come it is, then, that those who profess to be Christians do not follow our Master, Savior, and Elder Brother’s example by keeping and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles annually, along with the other Holy Days? Instead, they continue to keep and celebrate this world’s holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, St. Valentine’s Day, and even New Year's ── which originated from ancient paganism!

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’”

These instructions came from the LORD God. When referring to the holy seventh-day Sabbath, the LORD’s Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets ── a memorial of blowing of trumpets ── the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day, the LORD calls them, “the feasts of the LORD.” “So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.” – vs. 44. 

Why is it then that the overall vast majority of “nominal Christian” ministers teach their members that these God-ordained feasts and holy days are nothing more than “Jewish feasts” ── and teach their people that they don’t need to keep or celebrate them, because they're only for the Jews?

Notice that in this same chapter of the Book of Leviticus, the LORD clearly commands His people to “do no work on the seventh day, because it is a Sabbath ── it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” In four separate places within His living and immutable word is commanded, “it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” – verses 14, 21, 31, 41.

The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament renders the word “forever” ──  

1631a (‘ ôlām) forever, ever, ever-lasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world, etc. (RSV similar in general, but substitutes “always” for “in the world” in Ps 73:12 and “eternity” for “world” in Ecc 3:11). Probably derived from ‘ alam. 1 

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35) On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36) … On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, … It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.’” – verses 33-36.

Surely, because the LORD commanded that “for seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD,” people have concluded amongst themselves that the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles are no longer supposed to be kept, since animal sacrifices are no longer commanded within our Lord Jesus’ New Covenant, cf. Hebrews 8:6-13. The passage emphasizes that our Lord Jesus offered a better sacrifice than what was commanded by the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is based on the blood and sacrifice of our Savior and High Priest, being established upon better promises, as in the promise of eternal life.

Yet, that conclusion is not based upon sound reasoning. Animal sacrifices were actually offered unto the LORD on every day of every week (cf. Numbers 28:3-4), not just during the Feast of Tabernacles. Our Lord Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us absolutely ended the sacrifice of animals ── He is our Passover Lamb (cf. John 1:29).

“ … For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. …” – 1 Corinthians 5:7.

But our Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for us did not do away with the LORD’s annual feasts and holy days. His sacrifice did not mean that His followers were no longer to keep His weekly seventh-day Sabbath, or His yearly Sabbaths. 

Again, notice in what month in God’s Sacred Calendar the Feast of Tabernacles is to be kept and observed ── 

“’ On the FIFTEENTH DAY of the SEVENTH MONTH, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work, and you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days.’” – Numbers 29:12.

The seventh month of God’s Sacred Calendar corresponds roughly with the Gregorian Calendar’s September/October.

It’s to be kept forever after the great fall harvest ── “’ You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. 14) And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite [the LORD God’s ministers and pastors], the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.’” – Deuteronomy 16:13-14.

Even though there are awesome meanings behind keeping and celebrating this glorious Feast, we are truly to rejoice in keeping and celebrating the Lord’s Feast!

“’ Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, …’” – meaning, where He places His Name. “ … ‘because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.’” – Verse 15.

Truly, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the LORD God’s people are to have a type of cornucopia of wonderful foods and wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; “you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.” – Deuteronomy 14:22-29.

Also, three times a year, the LORD God’s people are commanded to make offerings as they are able in thankful appreciation to the ultimate Giver of all life ── the LORD God. 

“’ Three times a year all your males [the leader of your household] shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks [Pentecost], and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17) Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.’” – Deuteronomy 16:16-17.

Truly, truly I tell you ── when the children of Israel faithfully obeyed the LORD God, kept and properly celebrated the Lord’s feasts and holy days, they were immensely blessed and prospered in all the work of their hands. They were also protected from foreign invasion ── including an invasion of illegal immigrants. Yet, sadly, the children of Israel didn’t keep and properly celebrate the Lord’s commanded feasts and holy days very long ── even including changing the dates and times ── and the LORD God allowed the Gentile nations to invade, capture, and enslave them – cf. Ezekiel 20:12-24.

Sadly, the Northern Kingdom ── the kingdom of Israel ── was ultimately taken into captivity by the Assyrian Empire in about 721 BC. The “lost ten tribes,” or rather “the dispersed” of Israel, never returned to their homeland in Palestine. The Southern Kingdom ── the kingdom of Judah ── after their 70-year captivity from the third invasion (587 BC), did eventually return to the land of Palestine.

Coming to realize that their fathers had gone into captivity because they quit keeping and celebrating the Lord’s commanded feasts and holy days, the returning Jews began to keep the feasts and holy days again.

“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep.’ For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. …” – Nehemiah 8:9-12. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ Kept the Feast of Tabernacles

The Apostle Paul ── under divine inspiration ── has told us that to the Jews “were committed the oracles of God” – Romans 3:2, which included the keeping and celebrating of the Lord’s feasts and holy days. And, the Jews had begun to keep and celebrate them for the next 500 years, even until the time of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He, too, kept and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. I spoke of this in my last article, “Let Us Observe the Feast of Tabernacles!”         

 

We find our Lord Jesus’ activities during the Feast of Tabernacles in the Book of John, chapters 7 through 9.

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2) Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. … 

14) Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.” – John 7:1-2, 14. 

Then, “On the last day, that great day of the feast [the evening of the 21st of Tishri], Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes [on] Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing [on] Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” – John 7:37-39.

However, it behooves me to mention ── Not one place in all of the New Testament do we see our Lord Jesus directly participating in any of the Old Covenant various Jewish customs and religious rituals that grew up around the holy Feast of Tabernacles. And I know that’s probably a blasphemous statement to say, but the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees were practicing customs and religious rites that the LORD God had never told the children of Israel within the Old Covenant to keep or celebrate. We are to keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in a more heightened and spiritual manner, not with Old Covenant customs and religious rituals. 

The Apostles Kept the Feast of Tabernacles

God’s living word clearly reveals to us that the apostles continued keeping and celebrating the feasts and the holy days of the Lord’s after the establishment of Jesus Christ’s Church, which began in A.D. 31.

The Apostle Paul ── an apostle to the Gentiles ── also kept the Lord’s feasts and holy days. Notice ──

“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; …” – Acts 16:13.

“But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, …” – Acts 20:6.

“ … for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.” – Acts 20:16. 

“And he [Apostle Paul] came to Ephesus … 20) When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21) but took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast [the Feast of Tabernacles] in Jerusalem.” – Acts 18:19-21.     

What did the Apostle Paul mean by, “You observe days and months and seasons and years”?

A great many people misunderstand the meaning of the Apostle Paul’s statement in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 10 concerning “days and months and seasons and years.” 

Here is what our beloved Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians ──

“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature ARE NOT GODS. 9) But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn AGAIN to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage [the bondage of paganism]? 10) You observe days and months and seasons and years.” – Galatians 4:8-10.

So, what is the Apostle Paul saying here? Notice again, “You [Gentiles; because he is speaking to Gentile converts] observe days and months and seasons and years.” Is the Apostle Paul saying that they observe the Lord’s feasts and holy days? No.

Keep in mind, the Apostle Paul is talking to Gentile Galatians who had never kept or observed the Lord’s commanded feasts or holy days. They were, however, observing ── as were the other Gentile nations ── certain days, months, seasons, and years of… as he had said earlier… of, by nature ARE NOT GODS. The Apostle Paul was admonishing the Gentile converts, “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” – verse 11. Brother Paul was bemoaning the Galatians’ lusting to go back to their former ways and hold to their former pagan customs and observances. 

Another verse within God’s living word that is often misunderstood or twisted is Isaiah 1:14 ── “’ Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.’”

Well… critical commentators and critics alike overlook the plain and understanding history of the children of Israel and their Gentile neighbors. Our Eternal God said, “’ I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. … 8:10) I will turn your feasts into mourning, And all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, And baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an only son, And its end like a bitter day.’” – Amos 5:21; 8:10. 

“’ I will also cause all her mirth to cease, Her feast days, Her New Moons, Her Sabbaths ── All her appointed feasts.’” – Hosea 2:11.

The LORD was not speaking of divinely appointed feasts and holy days, but man-made New Moons and appointed feasts and sabbaths that were ── and many of which continue to be ── observed in the nations descended from the children of Israel. These New Moons and appointed feasts the LORD hates! The children of Israel did not continue keeping and properly observing the Lord’s feasts and holy days. They ultimately refused His statutes and judgments (Ezekiel 20:18). Rather, they began to keep and celebrate pagan feasts, New Moons, and holidays of their surrounding neighbors. Not only does secular history show us this ── but God’s living word tells us this!

There were major changes with the Law of God, when Israel divided into two separate kingdoms ── “[King] Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of THE EIGHTH MONTH, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. … 33) So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of THE EIGHTH MONTH, in the month which he had devised in his own heart. …” – I Kings 12:32, 33.

That was the beginning steps in which the kingdom of Israel began to depart from the Lord’s Law. So, to keep his people from going down to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD ── he feared that the people might then, in their heart, turn back to Rehoboam king of Judah ── he built and constructed two golden calves and altars to sacrifice upon unto the LORD.

Thereafter, the kingdom of Israel began to keep New Moons, and their self-appointed feasts unto the LORD. They changed the LORD God’s Sabbath into the idolatrous day of the sun ── which is called Sunday. Now, something to keep in mind ── the kingdom of Israel partially retained a perverted version of the original feast days – II Kings 17:8. 

Now… when “the dispersed” of the kingdom of Israel is next found in our secular history, now as the nations of Northwestern Europe, they are fully keeping the day of the sun ── Her Sabbath. So, the Eternal LORD our God never hated nor abolished His appointed feasts and holy days. However, the LORD certainly hated ── and hates today ── all the different New Moons, feasts, and holidays which the nations that are descended from the kingdom of Israel celebrate!

Why do I keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles?

First and foremost, because the LORD calls His Sabbaths, feasts, and holy days, ‘The feasts of the LORD. These shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.’ 

My ancestors are mostly from the tribe of Benjamin ── which my research shows, my paternal 6th great-grandfather travelled from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to the shores of Virginia in 1696. Six ancestral regions are England & Northwestern Europe (53%), Scotland (31%), Germanic Europe (7%), Denmark (4%), Sweden (3%), and the Netherlands (2%). We in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries believe that the descendants of the kingdom of Israel traveled to many locations around the world. “BENJAMIN also seems to have been represented by the NORMANS” 2 A portion of Mr. Yair Davidiy’s book reads, “Manasseh is especially evident in the USA, and was once present in Scotland.”

I also, of course, keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, certainly did, setting us an example for all true believers who follow in His steps. I also keep and celebrate this important and meaningful Feast because the New Covenant Church of God did ── and continues to do so.

I keep and celebrate the Lord’s feasts and holy days because God’s living word prophesies that during our Lord Jesus’ Millennial Reign all nations ── “’ whichever of the families of the earth’” ── who do not come up to New Jerusalem to worship the King, and who do not keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, those nations shall be punished – Zechariah 14:16-19.

I keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles because it also pictures the Millennial great harvest of mankind on this planet, during the King of kings and Lord of lords’ rule!

I keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, because for 44 years I have known of the Lord’s ordained Feast. My first Feast that I attended with my grandmother was the Feast of Tabernacles 1984 in Eugene, Oregon, when I was 15 years old. I can still recall Mr. Armstrong speaking to us via satellite on a huge projection screen from Pasadena, California!

I keep the LORD’s wonderful Feast of Tabernacles because this is the fall season when all of God’s true people get away from their daily cares, the hustle and bustle of daily life, and certainly from the untold evils and vilest of Satan the Devil’s world, and we physically and spiritually fellowship with our brethren ── God’s begotten children who are of one accord for eight days! 

Keeping & celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, I can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” – 2 Peter 3:18. For eight restful and rejuvenating days I can eat before the LORD our God whatever my heart desires (of course, continuing to obey the LORD God’s food law), and not forgetting God’s ministers, the strangers, the fatherless and the widows within our gates. Eight glorious days, also, to meditate and reflect on the LORD God’s Way, of the living word of God, and of their great and awesome Master Plan… From the Beginning for all mankind!

I also keep the Lord’s feasts and holy days because I reverently fear God, and I want to continue “keep[ing] His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” – 1 John 3:22. 

The Whole World Will Eventually Keep & Celebrate This Feast! 

God’s living & unmovable word ── the word of God that is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, that can pierce through even to the division of body and spirit, of joints and marrow. A word that is a discerner of our very thoughts & intents of the heart ── tells us that this present evil age will never experience true and lasting peace and prosperity until the LORD God’s kingdom is established upon this planet. 

Surely, when God’s government is established upon the Earth, will mankind continue going by the Gregorian calendar, celebrating their present pagan holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, or St. Valentine’s Day? Or, will they then … having been given a new heart and a new spirit, having God’s Spirit within them… begin to walk in God’s statutes, keeping God’s judgments ── including the keeping and celebrating all of the Lord’s feasts and holy days? – cf. Ezekiel 36:24-32.

Yes! God Almighty Most High forever be praised!  

“And it shall come to pass [at the beginning of our Lord Jesus’ Millennium Reign] that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” – Zechariah 14:16. 

Now… what will happen if such nations as Gog and Magog (meaning, Siberia, China, and the Russian Confederation) decide that they will not obey the LORD God and will not come up from year to year to worship the King and to keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles?

“And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain.” – Verse 17. 

If a nation refuses to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords and keep this meaningful and important Feast, that nation will receive “the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”           

Today, in this present age ── on the Lord’s 3rd day of the Feast of Tabernacles ── thousands of God’s begotten children are gathering together to keep & celebrate this very meaningful Feast! It truly is a time of rejoicing in the LORD our God, of true Christian fellowship, and it’s a glorious time to experience, even just a little, of what the soon-coming kingdom of God will be like! – cf. Matthew 17:1-5; Mark 9:2-7; Luke 9:28-35. □

1) Harris L. R., Archer, L. Gleason, Jr., and Waltke K. Bruce. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1980, #1631a, pg. 672.

2) Davidiy, Y. Hebrew Tribes: The Israelite Tribal Identification of Western Peoples, Russell-Davis Publishing, Jerusalem, Israel, 2021, pg. 232.  

Let Us Observe the Feast of Tabernacles!

Greetings, this beautiful Holy Day, the First Day of the Lord’s Feast of TABERNACLES 2025! 

Welcome everyone! Our Brethren, Co-workers, and Friends in Christ who are located in India, Singapore, Istanbul, and here in the United States, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Thank you for being here today on this holy day, the first day of the fall season, the Feast of Tabernacles! God bless!

Our Lord Jesus ── Savior, Master and Elder Brother ── has commanded His servants to observe the Lord’s Passover, not by sacrificing a lamb every year, but by washing our fellow brethren’s feet along with the partaking of unleavened bread and wine. But, how many of this world’s nominal Christians truly understand that our Lord Jesus also commanded His servants to celebrate and observe the Feast of Tabernacles as well?

Maybe you have never thought of this before ── or you’ve been taught that those Old Testament (Old Covenant) feasts were only for the Jews, and that now the Gentile converts don’t have to celebrate those feasts anymore, because they were “fulfilled for us,” or they were “nailed to the cross”? Yet, our Lord Jesus’ Church ── it is His Church, He built it! – cf. Matthew 16:18 – celebrates and observes the annual Feast of Tabernacles! 

Indeed, we all know that the animal sacrifices and the preparatory washings of the Old Covenant have ceased. Yet, what I want to speak about today ── there are ways, often overlooked ways, in which our Lord Jesus’ Church observes and celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles that differ greatly from the way in which the congregation of Israel observed it.

We Observe In Spirit and In Truth

There is a more heightened and spiritual manner in which we keep and celebrate the Feast that was first enunciated by our Lord Jesus Christ; here He was speaking to the Samaritan woman at the water well ── 

“The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ 

21) Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain [which is Mount Gerizim], nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. … 23) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; …’” – John 4:19-21, 23.

The Old Covenant Feast of Tabernacles, from the time of King Solomon until the establishment of the New Covenant, was celebrated and observed with all its religious rites in Jerusalem only. Yet, here our Lord Jesus Christ is clearly saying that the “place and the manner” of observing and celebrating the Lord’s feasts was changing. And the hour came when we are to worship God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ “in spirit and truth,” not in mere religious rituals. Those religious rituals came by the law of Moses, or rather the Old Covenant ── “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17. And this grace and truth includes how we are to keep and celebrate the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles. 

Indeed, the New Testament reveals to us concerning the keeping and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, and we certainly should be reminded, brethren ── surely during this fall festival season ── of the customs that surrounded the Old Covenant way in keeping and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles ── the congregation of Israel’s way. Recall that the Apostle John, in his account, commonly used the expression “the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles.” Why? He would often say as well, “the Passover, a feast of the Jews.” He wrote it that way because the Jews had added various additional customs and religious rites ── even there in the first century ── to the original Mosaic regulations for all of the Lord’s feasts.

The Old Covenant Way of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees

What customs or religious rites were the scribes, Pharisees, and the Sadducees ── the Temple elites ── following (certainly customs and religious rites that were not necessarily ordained by the LORD God, and were not continued in the New Covenant)?

The Feast of Tabernacles, also called Sukkot or the Feast of Ingathering, was one of the three major pilgrimage feasts commanded by God in the Law of Moses. Flavius Josephus wrote ──

“When King Solomon had finished these works, these large and beautiful buildings, and had laid up his donations in the temple … The feast of  tabernacles happened to fall at the same time, which was celebrated by the Hebrews as a most holy and most eminent feast.” 1 

Also, the online Encyclopedia Britannica ──

“Sukkot is a Jewish festival of thanksgiving that begins on the 15th day of Tishri. … Jews celebrating Sukkot construct huts that have at least two walls—although they may have up to four walls or partial walls—and have thatched roofs. When the holiday begins, practitioners dwell in these huts either partially or fully—in some cases, only taking their meals there and in other cases sleeping there as well. There is also a practice of waving four symbolic species of plants in six directions during prayers of thanksgiving.” 2 

“The Hebrew Bible also describes the festival of ḥag ha-sukkot (“Festival of Booths,” Leviticus 23:33–44) as a holiday recalling the days when the Israelites lived in huts (sukkot) during their years of wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. The passage in Leviticus 23 relating to Sukkot outlines the rules and practices for the festival.” 3

“’ You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43) that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’ 44) So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.” – Leviticus 23:42-44. 

“When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, one of the special Sukkot observances was to pour water on the Altar. The drawing of water for this purpose was preceded by all-night celebrations in the Temple courtyard; on the 15 steps leading to the azarah (inner courtyard) stood Levites while playing a variety of musical instruments, sages danced and juggled burning torches, and huge oil-burning lamps illuminated the entire city. The singing and dancing went on until daybreak, when a procession would make its way to the Shiloach Spring, which flowed in a valley below the Temple to “draw water with joy.” 4 

All these various customs and religious rites were very familiar to our Lord Jesus Christ. He saw them enacted every year since His birth. But the question is ── how has our Lord Jesus commanded His servants in the New Covenant to keep and celebrate the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles? 

Our Lord Jesus Is Our Example

How many of us have looked at our Lord Jesus’ example during the glorious Feast of Tabernacles during His ministry? Truly, as many passages in His living word are devoted to it as is the last Passover.

We find our Lord Jesus’ activities during the Feast of Tabernacles in the Book of John, chapters 7 through 9.

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2) Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. … 

14) Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.” – John 7:1-2, 14. 

Then, “On the last day, that great day of the feast [the evening of the 21st of Tishri], Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes [on] Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing [on] Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” – John 7:37-39. 

Now, what did the Apostle John mean, “the last day, that great day of the feast”?

Well… the annual Feast of Tabernacles is an autumn festival, and it lasts seven days. It begins the evening of the 14th of Tishri, the seventh month of God’s sacred calendar, which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar of September/October. Then, immediately following the seven days is an eighth day, “the last day, that great day of the feast.” Notice ── 

“’ Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for SEVEN DAYS; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the EIGHTH DAY a sabbath-rest.” – Leviticus 23:39.

Which is the 22nd of Tishri. A one-day festival, which we call the Last Great Day. And, the entire eight-day period is called the Feast of Tabernacles.

Interestingly, our Lord Jesus’ last great day Message ── the Last Great Day ── was a Message concerning a river of living water, the glorious Holy Spirit. As noted above, “The drawing of water was preceded by all-night celebrations in the Temple courtyard.” That symbolized and foreshadowed the pouring out of the Spirit of God upon all nations during the glorious and powerful reign of our Lord Jesus Christ during the Millennium. The basis for this Mosaic water drawing ceremony is Isaiah 12:3 ── “Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.”    

It was to this ceremonial water drawing that our Lord Jesus was referring as He taught and cried out in the temple.

Also, notice ──

“And everyone went to his own house [speaking of the evening of the 21st of Tishri]. 8:1) But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2) Now early in the morning [the morning of the 22nd of Tishri] He came again into the temple, and all the people came to him; and He sat down and taught them.” – John 7:53; 8:1-2.

Here is our Lord Jesus Christ’s example of keeping and celebrating the Last Great Day. Then, just shortly afterwards, the scribes and Pharisees interrupted Him, bringing to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery.

Following that interruption, our Lord Jesus continued setting us an example in His New Covenant, speaking again to the people ── 

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” – John 8:12. 

Among those people were also Pharisees, who again interrupted Him, saying, “’ You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.’” – verse 13.

A rather heated discussion ensued in which our Lord Jesus was accused of being possessed by a demon, “’ Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?’” – verse 48.

Then, within moments, they “took up stones to throw at Him.” – verse 59.

But that event didn’t just end there. It continues on into the 9th chapter of the Book of John.

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.” – John 9:1. Then, our Lord Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Then told him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.’ The man blind from birth came back with his sight!

Also, later that day ── the last day, that great day of the feast ── that blind man from birth was brought to the Pharisees (verse 13). 

“Now it was a Sabbath [the Last Great Day; the EIGHTH DAY a sabbath-rest] when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. … 16) Therefore some of the Pharisees said, ‘This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.’”        

Here again, we have an example of our Lord Jesus healing on a sabbath-rest.

New Covenant Way of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles 

Not one place in all of the New Testament do we see our Lord Jesus directly participating in any of the Old Covenant various Jewish customs and religious rituals that grew up around the holy Feast of Tabernacles. And, it’s not that He condemned them all, the customs and rituals that He commanded the congregation of Israel through Moses were to be kept. But, within the New Covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ set us, the Church of Jesus Christ, which can certainly also be called the Church of God ── an example to follow. And it’s that of teaching the true meaning(s) of the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles and of the Last Great Day, and of anointing, if needed, those who are sick.

And, this is why the Church of God, during the annual Feast of Tabernacles, teaches, preaches, and prays for the sick rather than participating in symbolic rituals and customs—why we worship God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world in “spirit and in truth.” Also, why during the Feast of Tabernacles do we not need to build a booth, and why we are able to keep and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles throughout the world and not only in Jerusalem. 

Again, some of those customs and rituals of our Lord Jesus’ day did have great foreshadowing! But they were physical, and they were temporary. Today, we are to present to the LORD God a spiritual worship at the Feast ── “in spirit and in truth.”

In the New Covenant, we have direct access through prayer to the Holy of Holies that is located in the upper heavenly realm ── called in His living word, the third heaven. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” – Hebrews 10:19. So then, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16. Brethren, we are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. … 9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:5, 9. 

We have One now that “has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses” – Hebrews 3:3. Our Lord Jesus Christ brought us the New Covenant promise of the glorious Holy Spirit. And He set for us ── His New Testament/New Covenant Church ── the example of teaching concerning conversion and the gift of the Holy Spirit during the Feast of Tabernacles. “For this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21. □  

Do you understand Ezekiel 37?

by Leonard V Johnson

Greetings, Brethren and Friends. Welcome, Nakuru, Kenya, Ashburn, VA, Forest City, NC, and Madrid, Spain! Welcome! I’m so pleased to be with you today. 

Ezekiel 37 helps show us that people who were dead - and not in Christ Jesus - will indeed be resurrected to the flesh and live again, having a true opportunity for salvation unto immortality and eternal life. 

“The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2) Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3) And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, You know.’

4) Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5) Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6) I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.’

7) So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 

9) Also He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ 10) So I prophesied as He commanded, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 

11) Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12) Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13) Then you shall know that I AM the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14) 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,’ says the LORD” - Ezekiel 37:1-14; NKJV throughout, unless otherwise noted.

Now, will salvation be offered to all who have ever lived or will live?

Yes. 

Related to this, we made the following video sermon  ──

Let us notice just what the Old and New Testaments plainly teach us ──

“’ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” - Luke 3:6.

“ ... And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God” - Isaiah 52:10. 

The Prophet Micah ── under divine inspiration ── 

“Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea” - Micah 7:18-19.

So, with what we just read above, is the LORD God going to pardon sin (iniquity) for only a few or nearly all? The LORD God does not stay angry forever; He delights in mercy. And, as the Prophet Micah continued here, the LORD God will indeed give TRUTH to Jacob and MERCY to Abraham, which He swore to our fathers of old.

And, if you would turn to Ezekiel 11 and Ezekiel 36. They both record for us that the LORD God is going to convert many sinners and that they will walk in His statutes - His LAW ── 

“ ... ‘Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ 17) Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ 18) And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. 19) Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, 20) that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God’” - Ezekiel 11:16-20. 

“’ For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25) Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your IDOLS. 26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27) I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

28) Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God. 29) I will deliver you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30) And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31) Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves, in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 

32) Not for your sake do I do this,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.’ 

33) ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34) The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35) So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36) Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.” - Ezekiel 36:24-36.

Now, friends, this great and awesome prophecy has not been fulfilled by the Jews who have gone back to the nation called Israel in the Middle East. God has not given them a ‘new heart and a new spirit.’ The LORD God indeed has a Master Plan of salvation for all those who may feel lost.

The Prophet Daniel - under the great inspiration of God's Spirit ── 

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3) Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever” - Daniel 12:2-3.

This shows us that DEATH IS LIKE SLEEP. It's also referring to a resurrection. As I wrote in our Letter to our Friends – November 12th, 2019 ──           

The Prophet Daniel foretold this grave time happening BEFORE the SEVENTH TRUMP OF GOD – “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people [the spiritual saints of God] shall be delivered, Everyone who is found written in the Book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some [those who have committed the ‘unpardonable sin’] to shame and everlasting contempt” – Daniel 12:1-2.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in John 5:28-29 emphatically said ── 

“’ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29) and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [or judgment].’” 

Sadly, this is something that mainstream “Christianity” ── which includes the MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH, the Roman Catholic Church ── does NOT properly understand! 

Here are a few inaccurate views from some of the different denominations of this world ── 

• Certain Protestants and Evangelicals: God is trying to save everyone NOW through the name of Jesus Christ. However, since most have not heard the Message of Christ, most who have lived or will live are eternally lost.
• Universalists: God loves everyone and will save everyone.
• Calvinists: God isn't trying to save everyone now and never really plans on truly offering salvation to all because all humans are sinners and deserve eternal damnation. Yet, God is so merciful that He sent His Son to die for a few (roughly 1-3% of the total population) who were predestined to be called and saved, and this shows that God has love. Nearly all who have ever lived are eternally lost. 
• Mormons (a.k.a. the Latter Day Saints): God, since He will not condemn those who - for no fault of their own - have not accepted Christ, that He will save many through baptism for the dead, and their later, hoped-for acceptance of Jesus. So, they try to find the names of the dead through genealogical research and have people baptized by proxy for them. 
• Eastern Orthodox: They tend to believe that God's Plan of salvation is highly sacramental, and teach that His Plan is not one of terror, but that God may save people up through the time of the ‘Great White Throne Judgment.’ 
• Unitarians: God does not truly care what you believe or even if you do, but if you try and lead a decent life, He will save you. Now NOTE: This is not really the position of unitarian groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and many others, yet, the position of those generally known as Unitarians.
• Catholics: God wants to save everyone, yet most will not be saved. Despite never hearing the name Jesus Christ, God has a plan and will save some from the pagan religions who strive to live right, and will give salvation to Catholics who have gone through the right sacraments at the appropriate time. 

God's living and holy WORD teaches that God created all things and that ‘indeed it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31), and ‘whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments ...’ (1 John 5:1-3). The LORD God made man upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29), but humans felt that they could decide what is right and what is wrong (Genesis 3:6) - yet, such disobedience leads to death (Romans 6:23). Eternal death. So, because of this transgression, the LORD God banned humans from having access to the tree of life (which represents His Holy Spirit) on their own (Genesis 3:22; John 6:44) - even though the Lord GOD had a Plan of redemption for all mankind “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

The LORD God has allotted mankind 6,000 years of rulership over themselves to live how they want. However, mankind will come to the very brink of human extinction (Matthew 24:22; Daniel 12:1). 

And, because the LORD God’s mercy includes His Plan for the forgiveness of all sins (Acts 13:38) and that Almighty God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are love (1 John 4:8, 16; John 3:16), They will intervene and send the living Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom upon this earth (Revelation 11:15; 20:4).

After our soon-coming “King of kings and Lord of lords’” Millennial reign, all who ever lived will be resurrected (Revelation 20:5). And then ── 

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God [Theos; God the Father], and books [the biblos; the Holy Bible] were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books [the Holy Bible]” - Revelation 20:12.

And God the Father and Jesus Christ will plead Their case (John 10:30) ── 

“The LORD stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people” - Isaiah 3:13. 

“’ A noise will come to the ends of the earth - For the LORD has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,’ says the LORD” - Jeremiah 25:31. 

And friends, concerning WHY Satan the Devil and his demons are released for a “short season” immediately after the Millennial Reign - Revelation 20:3b … because immediately he goes out to the four corners of the world – to Gog and Magog (Siberia, China, Russia area) to gather them together to battle against the beloved city of God and of the saints. And dead bodies will be piled high when the “Great White Throne” resurrection occurs.

Nearly all who have ever lived will repent and accept Jesus Christ and will begin living the LORD God's Way of life.

GOD is love (1 John 4:16), it is crystal clear that He indeed has a Master Plan that takes into account EVERY human being (cf. 1 Peter 1:20-21). Almighty God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ indeed developed a Plan that does not result in the vast majority of humanity suffering untold torture in the false doctrine of a hell. His ultimate Plan will result in nearly everyone who has ever lived, no matter what their religious background was, being saved. And there are literally hundreds of passages within His living word to this fact! THIS IS GOD’S WILL (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16, 17).

Indeed, the LORD God’s holy days reveal to us a most merciful and loving plan for all mankind! The LORD God forever be praised! Yet, because the greater majority who profess Christ keep non-biblical holy days (or rather holidays) ── such as Easter, Christmas, Halloween, St. Valentine’s Day, and even New Year’s ── worldly holidays that do not teach you God’s Master Plan… From the Beginning, they simply do not understand that God indeed has a plan that will ultimately result in nearly everyone who has ever lived or will live being saved!

Our Master, Elder Brother – our Savior, Jesus Christ – was very clear that only a few will find the Way during this present evil age ── 

“’ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life [eternal life], and there are few who find it.’” - Matthew 7:14. 

“’ Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’” - Luke 12:32. 

“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, 24) ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’” - Matthew 12:23-24. 

Many will be called, but few chosen in this age (Matthew 22:14). And, there is an age to come (Matthew 12:32), where even infamous sinners will indeed have an opportunity for salvation (cf. Matthew 10:15; 11:22).

Our Lord Jesus called His Church in this age, a ‘little flock’ which will be around until His return to this earth. 

So, God’s living and eternal word says ──  

“’ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” - Luke 3:6. 

So then those who do not truly see or hear what God's Spirit says in regards to His great Master Plan of salvation will have it explained to them. And this is part of what the Last Great Day pictures.

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” - John 7:37-38.

The Last Great Day helps demonstrate that all who have ever lived will indeed have an opportunity for salvation. An opportunity that most will accept (John 7:37-39; Romans 11:25-26; Ezekiel 37:11-14; Hebrews 9:27-28).

This indeed is part of what Ezekiel 37 is about. □

Additional Related Items:

The Two Resurrections (PDF booklet)    

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH? (PDF booklet)

The TRUTH Concerning New Year's (PDF booklet)

The LIE of HELL! (PDF booklet)

ChristMas... Its Origin (PDF booklet)