Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts Anymore
Some people have wondered why Christians no longer keep
the feast days. To find out the answer to that questions we must
examine the history of the feasts to see why Christians no
longer keep them.
History of the feasts:
Date:
Event:
Reference Quotes:
1 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Circa. 1425 B.C.
To understand the origins of the Feasts we must first look
The Children of Israel had just been freed from slavery in
1.
God spoke the Ten Commandments aloud from Mt. Sina
2.
The people were very afraid and they said to Moses, “Sp
3.
After this God did not speak directly to the people, but ins
2 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
4.
After receiving the these laws from God Moses came dow
5.
The people solemnly promised, “All that the LORD hath s
6.
The people had promised to obey God's Covenant. So no
7.
But the people did not realize their own sinfulness and we
8.
Moses went to intercede for them with God and God forg
3 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
9.
God was merciful and gracious and again renewed His c
10.
This time the people did not declare self-confidently that
11.
Now the people showed their love for God by their liberal
12.
After the Sanctuary had been built Moses placed the Ten
13.
God had given at Sinai definite instructions concerning th
4 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
So now we have seen that there was two categories of la
1.
The moral law, which included the Ten Commandments (
2.
And lastly, the Ceremonial law - which consisted of sacrif
Now that we understand these differences we will continu
(Forwww.seekbibletruth.org
more quotes and information
)
about these laws and t
Quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy about the other la
5 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ The
Every
specifications
” {1888
word877.1}
is to are
be cherished.
never to lose their force, for they
“ The
studied
instructions
by the
and
people
obeyed
given
of God
to Moses
today.”
for(Letter
ancient
259,
Israel,
1903).
with{
“ In ”the
{AUCR,
day ofMarch
judgment
25, 1907
we shall
par.be
4}asked whether we h
6 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ Why,
seen
, Ifor
have
and
they
acted
asked,
are the
out
are
principles
not theseofprinciples
the law ofthat
God.”
have
{18b
“ WeLevitical
are
initall
tocontains
.”become
its
law
(Letter
bearings;
rules
3,
familiar
1905).
for
thatwith
must
{1BC
the
be
1110.4}
obeyed
“ ...Again
Yearly
s. The
all
the
feasts
.were
The
object
These
people
to
Lord
given
were
Israel.
of
laws
were
said,
all
appointed,
forthese
were
{PP
the
reminded
"Yegood
311.3}
to
regulations
shall
be
atof
of
recorded
which
beIsrael
the
holy
sacred
was
allmen
the
bystated:
Moses
unto
men
obliga
M
ot
7 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ They
notto
were
shadowy
binding
pass
. These
power
away
, upon
and
types
commands
of
with
they
man
the
the
clearly
moral
in death
every
law
and
of
age
enforced
Christ.
definitely
as long
They
byexplaine
as
the
were
time
{RH,
May
6,were
1875
par.
10}
Quotes about the Covenant at Sinai:
“ Under
are. The
the
the
based
...Mercy
same
new
conditions
We
on
.--Letter
covenant,
are
as
perfect
and
under
cleansed
are,
forgiveness
216,
obedience
the
and
1906,
old
conditions
from
everp.
sin
are
have
2.by
the
{8MR
by
been,
the
reward
which
blood
31.1}etern
ofofalC
8 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ TheHerein
covenant
is revealed
God made
God's
at Sinai
purpose
is for
forthe
us,Israel
if we of
willGo
o
“ It would
Hisunite,
professed
inbe
a
" (SW
solemn
a
asscene
did
June
followers
Israel
covenant
well-pleasing
7, 1904).
of in
old
this
to[referring
"observe
generation
to Godespecially
and do
angels,
alltothe
th
w
“ The
our
covenant
...refuge
This
of covenant
just
as
and
that
.”itas
The
was
defense
God
much
Southern
is
when
made
force
the
with
Watchman,
today
Lord
Hismade
people
March
it with
at Sinai
ancie
1, 19i
|
9 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
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10 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
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|
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11 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
|
|
|
The Feasts and the Sabbath were kept all through history
|
12 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
|
|
|
|
|
13 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
|
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14 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 8
At 12 years of age Jesus attended Passover for the first t
Luke 2:41
We can assume that Jesus attended the Feasts at Jerusa
15 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 28
First Passover when Jesus cleansed the Temple
John 2:13
A.D. 29
Second Passover when Jesus healed the lame man
John 5:1
16 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 30
Feast of Tabernacles when Jesus taught in the Temple
John 7:14
A.D. 31
The“With
Last
until
Passover,
desire
.”it(Luke
beI fulfilled
have
22:15-16)
during
desired
in which
the kingdom
to Jesus
eat thisreplaced
ofpassover
God thewith
Pasy
John 13:1-30
17 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 31
Christ
died
. But
on
these
the
cross
sacrifices
andLamb
ceremonies
of God,were
whichtaken
take
Num.
28;
Lev.
23) as “the
John 1:29; PP, p. 365
New Testament
A.D. 31
In the beginning God had commanded the people to asse
18 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 31
Christ's followers assembled at Jerusalem during the Fea
Acts 2; AA, p. 37
c. A.D. 49
Paulthose
and
attend
Barnabas
[Christians]
.” (AA,
the approaching
p.went
190,
whoto
brackets
had
Jerusalem
come
festivals
inserted)
to“to
Jerusalem
meet delegates
to
Acts 15; AA, p. 190
19 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 52
Paulcelebrate
bade
thean
Feast
earlyoffarewell
Pentecost.”
to the(8Ephesians
Red, p. 65)
because “h
Acts 18:20-21; AA, p. 269
c. A.D. 56
Paul speaks to the Corinthians about Passover (the Lord
1 Cor. 5:7-11; cf. DA, p. 656
20 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 56
Paul tells the Corinthians that he will tarry at Ephesus un
1 Cor. 16:8; AA, p. 291
c. A.D. 57
Paul writes a letter to the Galatians, in which he warns th
(We will learn more about these pagan feasts of the “no g
21 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Galatians 4:8-12; cf. 1 Cor. 8, 10:19-21
(References about the “no gods”: 2 Kings 19:18; 2 Chron
c. A.D. 58
Paul had planned to be at Jerusalem for Passover, but up
AA, p. 390; Acts 20:3
c. A.D. 58
22 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Paul keeps Passover at Philippi with his converts; Philipp
“
At Philippi Paul tarried to keep the Passover. ...The P
(Note: After Christ's death, God's name was no longer at
Acts 20:6; AA, p. 390
(Note: The feast of Unleavened Bread is seven days long
c. A.D. 58
23 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Paul does not spend time in Asia because he is hurrying
Acts 20:16; AA, p. 392
c. A.D. 58
Paul reaches Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, but the lea
Acts 21; AA, ch. 38
c. A.D. 60
24 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
The ship Paul was a prisoner on was in danger because
Acts 27:9; AA, p. 440
c. A.D. 62
PaulSo
wrote
there
. The
tois
Judaizing
the
noColossians
reason
teachers
for anyone
not were
to lettoprobably
anyone
judge those
judge
criticizing
who
them
Colossians 2:14-17
The Passover/Easter Controversy Begins
25 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
th
th
Introduction
Shortly
after
day
tothof
the
the
the
, and
last
Passover/
month
the
of day
the
Asiatic
Nisan
apostles
ofEaster
Nisan
churches
as God
Controversy”:
had
regardless
had
died
always
comman
a sharp
ofcele
whi
“ From
continued
; Rome
and
the–this
celebration
day
the
there
towas
as
celebrate,
fourteenth
of
The
the
came
the
.”
continued
(Great
rule
day
sun
was
now
of
in
of
of
always
Rome
Empires
the
this
the
another
among
remembrance
celebration.
first
on
was
of
those
month.”
addition
the
that
Prophecy,
Passover
who
the
According
“Rome,
to
ofcelebra
from
the
the
byda
su
daA
h
c. A.D. 6 - A.D. 100
th
According
of Nisan.
to Polycrates,
John the
John
Revelator
the Revelator
was the(A.D.
last survivin
6 – A.D
c. A.D. 117
26 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
th Sixtus
Pope
of Nissan.
at Rome,
“They
as neither
well as observed
“Anicetus,itand
themselves,
Pius, and
c. A.D. 154
Polycarp (ca. 69 – ca. 155), a disciple of the apostle John
“
Neither
had could
the
always
,disciple
Anicetus
and
observed
with
the
of presbyters
our
other
persuade
whom
with
.”Lord
(Irenæus,
apostles
John
he Polycarp
that
had had
associated;
in a preceded
letter
not totoobse
nei
Po
h
(Notice that Polycarp was following the example of John,
27 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 195
Polycrates of Ephesus (flourished c.130 - 196) and Pope
“
We Philip,
observe
, who
one
John,
the
fell
,ofand,
exact
asleep
who
the
Allbeing
twelve
these
was
,day;
deviating
inAnd
Hierapolis;
both
a
neither
observed
apostles
priest,
I,my
atherefore,
in
am
witness
relatives
adding,
no
wore
.not
the
and
For
respect,
We
affrighted
the
fourteenth
and
his
those
brethren,
nor
always
’”ought
sacerdo
two
ataking
but
teach
grea
age
ob
by
to
fow
d
“He then writes of all the bishops who were present with
“
I could
would
mention
. And
constitute
they,
thebeholding
bishops
a great who
multitude
my were
littleness,
present,
gavewhom
their
28 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 195
Pope
(Eusebius.
Victor immediately
"Church History".
attempted
Vol.to5)
excommunicate Po
c. A.D. 198
“
Synods
Lord's
[Sunday]
and
Day
conferences
should the
of bishops
mysterywere
of theconvened,
Lord's res
29 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 100 – A.D. 300
Over the span of centuries after the last of the apostles, J
The pagan feast of Saturnalia became Christmas.
The pagan feast of the god Attis became Easter.
The pagan “Feast of the Dead” became “All Souls Day” (
Etc., etc...
"Thewe
new
must
" (Catholic
lawgo
has
to it's
Catechism,
the own
Catholic
spirit...and
quoted
church,it's
innot
aown
Signs
to the
feasts
of
Mosaic
the
whic
Ti
30 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
From The Catholic World:
“ The
pagan
church
. She
pagan
Sunday
and
took
took
Easter
made
the
the
andpagan
itmade
the feast
philosophy
it the
weChristian
celebrate
and made
Sunday
during
it the
th
c. A.D. 321
A Sunday law is enacted ordering tribunals, shops, and w
"A law of the year 321 ordered tribunals, shops, and work
31 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 325
th of Nicea
Thefirst
Council
,universal
commanding
of Easter
Nisan.
made
that
Sunday
Following
Easter
the law
beis observed
a letter from
on the Su
Co
"We have also gratifying intelligence to communicate to y
“
Rome’s
” (New
custom
Catholic
replaced
Encyclopedia,
heaven’spages
statute1062
in the
-1063)
fourt
Constantine's letter to the Churches concerning the decis
32 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ It seemed
that
.” the
(Constantine's
to
most
everyone
holy feast
Letter
a most
ofto
Easter
unworthy
the Churches,
should
thing
bebrackets
that
celebrat
we s
c. A.D. 364
The Council of Laodicea made the first Sunday Law com
"Canon 29. Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Sa
c. A.D. 386
33 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Apparently even at this time there were some Christians
“
The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soo
A.D. 634
The Irish were keeping Passover “on the fourteenth moon
34 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 664
At the Synod of Whitby, King Oswiu of Northumbria (part
The following is part of the dialog between Colmán, Bisho
Colman
"Thesaid:
Easter which I keep, I received from my elders,
Wilfred
“Thereplied:
only people who stupidly contend against the wh
Coleman
“It is strange
responds:
that you call us stupid when we uphold
Wilfred
“Farreplies:
be it from us to charge John with stupidity, beca
35 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
c. A.D. 1590
Christians in Translyvania again began keeping the Seve
“
The hymnal was written in Hungarian ... It consisted o
A.D. 1844, Oct. 22
The great Antitypical Day of Atonement began. Jesus mo
36 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
GC, ch. 24
A.D. 1846
The Adventists discovered the truth that the Seventh-day
GC, ch. 25
A.D. 1869
Ellen White wrote some interesting things relating our cam
37 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“
Do you
? He
want
is
. to
at You
find
theHe
feast
Jesus
may
has
. There
find
come
him
areup
here.
men
to the
andfeast
women th
A.D. 1870
Ellen White wrote:
“
God gave direction to the Israelites to assemble befor
“
God requires no less of His people in these last days,
38 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“
Let all
[camp
who
to these
meetings].
,possibly
to find
sacred
.Jesus
can,
All
He
convocation
attend
should
will
. Hecome
will
these
feel
be
up
meetings
that
present,
yearly
to God
the gatherin
feast
require
and He
A.D. 1885
Ellen White wrote:
“
Well, a
would
joyous
it be
commemoration
for us to have a
offeast
the blessings
of tabernacles
of God
39 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 1888
The well-known 1888 General Conference took place in M
A.D. 1893
Ellen
come
White
?” up
(Bible
wrote:
to the
Echo
“...shall
feast
12-08-93,
ofwe
tabernacles
notp.gather
458) our forces toget
40 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 1900
In Testimonies to the Church, volume 6, in an article abo
“
Anciently
preserved
. the
Faith
Lord
from
, and
and
they
instructed
the
through
love
. corrupting
were
andtheir
to
his
gratitude
be
people
association
power
bound
were
to
ofcloser
assemble
worldlines
to
togethe
be
to Go
ke
“
In the days of Christ these feasts were attended by va
“
Withnecessary
those
. They
whoneeded
for
lived
the at
spiritual
toaturn
distance
away
life offrom
from
His the
people
their
tabernacl
worldly
“
If the
” {6T,
children
39-40}
of Israel needed the benefit of these ho
41 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 1900
Again Ellen White writes, in relation to our camp meeting
“
A great
which
"work
{6T
He70.3}
is
has
to called
be accomplished
"holy convocations.
by our camp mee
Note: We find that this phrase “holy convocations” comes
“
Speak
feasts
unto
, which
ofholy
the
the
,ye
children
convocations
even
LORD
shall
mythese
feasts
.”proclaim
(Lev.
of Israel,
are23:2)
toand
be say unto them,
“
These
feasts
are
, even
of
the
holy
the
, convocations
which
LORDye shall proclaim in their seaso
(For
www.seekbibletruth.org
more details about the.)Feasts/Camp Meetings and w
42 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 1902
In this year Father T. Enright wrote a letter, dated April 26
“
I stillbut
offer
.”
all $1,000
the
(T. other
Enright
to Jewish
anyone
of theFestivals
who
Redemporist
can provefathers
from the
of th
B
43 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
A.D. 1919
"Thewe
new
must
." (Catholic
lawgo
has
to it's
the
Catechism,
own
Catholic
spirit...and
quoted
church,it's
in
not
own
a Signs
to the
feasts
of
Mosaic
the
whic
T
Danand
7:25
:think
and
“And
they
tohe
change
shall
shall be
speak
times
given
and
great
into
laws
words
his hand
against
until the
a time
mo
Editor's note: The “time and times and the dividing of time
c. A.D. 1950
44 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Note from editor: My parents were missionaries in India a
A.D. 1993
The new Catechism of the Catholic Church urges Christia
“
2188.
seek
In.”respecting
recognition
(Catechismreligious
of
ofSundays
the Catholic
liberty
andand
Church,
thethe
Church's
common
1993)ho
“ Past history will be repeated; old controversies will aro
45 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
We know Sunday laws are coming. Will there also on
A.D. 1998
Pope John Paul II issues his Apostolic Letter, “Ad Tuenda
“
Canon
punished
1436
withpunished
a–as
major
§
, not
a1.heretic
Whoever
excluding
excommunication;
with other
or an
denies
deposition.
penalties
apostate
a truth
a cleric
which
moreo
mus
“
§ 2.isIntoaddition
” be
(Pope
punished
to
John
these
Paul
with
cases,
an
II, May
appropriate
whoever
28, 1998,
obstinately
penalty.
Apostolicre
The Roman Catholic saint and theologian, Thomas Aquin
46 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
“ With
heretics
…on
regard
death
.”their
(SUMMA
to own side
THEOLOGICA
there is sin, Part
by which
II of second
they desp
“ The Roman Catholic Church, uniting the forms of paga
A.D. 1998
Next“Dies
Pope
in Domini”
which
John he
Paul
urges
II issues
Sunday
his laws
letterto be made.
“
66. laws
. . . When,
(109)
concerning
which
the
through
. (110)
the
Church
Sunday
State
. the
. . has
centuries,
must
rest,
hadguarantee
in mind
she has
above
made
all th
47 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
67. strive
. . . .”
Therefore,
(John
to ensure
Paul
also
that
II, in
Dies
civil
theDomini,
legislation
particular
May
respects
circumstances
31, 1998)
their dut
of
“ ...a movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast ga
A.D. 2000
Soon
will
there
the
Willwill
Easter
there
be again
oppressive
controversy
be laws
laws
against
arouse
enacted.
the
to new
Feast
Are you
life
Days
as
read
w
a
48 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
The Seventh-day Sabbath
The Feasts of the Lord
Commanded at Mt. Sinai
Commanded at Mt. Sinai
Included as part of the Covenant
Included as part of the Covenant
49 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Kept by Christ
Kept by Christ
Kept by Paul (recorded 5 times in the Bible)
Kept by Paul (recorded 5 times in the Bible as well)
Kept all through history by the faithful
Kept all through history by the faithful
50 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Abolished by the Catholic Church in A.D. 365
Abolished by the Catholic Church in A.D. 325
“Rome’s custom replaced heaven’s statute in
the fourth century A.D. ”
(New Catholic Encyclopedia, pages 1062 -1063)
51 / 53
Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
Conclusion:
Why don't Christians now keep the Feasts?
Well, because the Catholic Church abolished
them in the fourth century and replaced them
with her feast days – Christmas, Easter,
Halloween, Lent, etc. She took the pagan feasts
on the “no-gods” and changed their names so
Christians could keep them.
Who will you follow? The Catholic Church? Or
will you follow the example of Jesus, Paul, John
the Revelator, Philip the Apostle, Polycarp,
Polycrates, and the other Christians all through
time who have faithfully refused to bow the
knee to the power of Rome?
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Why Christians Don't Keep the Feasts - A 3,000 Year Timeline
For more information about Bible verses and
Spirit of Prophecy quotes about this topic see
www.seekbibletruth.org
.
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