(Black bold type is an excerpt from Herbert E. Douglass’ book Feast Days Shadows of Our Faith.)
( Blue italicized type is my own commentary about the preceding excerpt. Of note: there are days during the Feast Days that are not holy Sabbaths. However, when I refer to the “Feast Days” in this paper, I am really referring only to the particular days God set aside as holy convocation Sabbaths as being currently relevant.)
We are told in Leviticus 23: 37: “These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day- besides the Sabbaths (weekly, seventh-day Sabbaths) of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.”
It is of note to me that when the bible says “Sabbaths” here, it is the Hebrew word #7676 in the Stong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. This word #7676 is used for BOTH the weekly seventh-day Sabbath and also the annual Feast Day Sabbaths. (See Exodus 20: 8; Leviticus 23: 3, 11, 15, 32, 39.)
Obviously, these Feasts could not be celebrated without offering sacrifices; that is, no feast without a sacrifice. Those today who choose to observe these festivals must create their own personal ways of celebration, thus developing traditions not based on biblical commands.
Actually, it IS possible to celebrate the Feast Day Sabbaths without offering sacrifices as evidenced by the example of Jesus and Paul. “Christ passed through all the experiences of his childhood, youth, and manhood without the observance of ceremonial temple worship. He held no office, he assumed no rank. He passed through the experience of infancy, childhood, and manhood without a stain upon his character. He consecrated himself to God that he might benefit and bless others, to show that in every period of life the human agent can do the Master's will” (Review and Herald, by EGW, October 24, 1899). Since Jesus did attend the Feast Days from ages 12-33, He must have considered some of the Feast Day issues to be moral law and not ceremonial law (See Luke 2 and 22, John 7, Desire of Ages, by EGW, p. 452-453.)
“Paul did not bind himself nor his converts to the ceremonies and customs of the Jews, with their varied forms, types, and sacrifices; for he recognized that the perfect and final offering had been made in the death of the Son of God. The age of clearer light and knowledge had now come. And although the early education of Paul had blinded his eyes to this light, and led him to bitterly oppose the work of God, yet the revelation of Christ to him while on his way to Damascus had changed the whole current of his life. His character and works had now become a remarkable illustration of those of his divine Lord. His teaching led the mind to a more active spiritual life that carried the believer above mere ceremonies. For thou desires not sacrifice, else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Sketches from the Life of Paul, by EGW, p. 105).
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5: 7-8). Paul did urge his gentile Christian converts to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the style of the New Covenant… So He too must have considered some of the Feast Day issues to be moral law and not ceremonial law. As such, Paul kept the Feasts presumably New Covenant style without any sacrifices. (See Acts 18: 21, Acts 20:6, 16, Acts 27: 9, Acts of the Apostles, by EGW, p. 390.)
The weekly Sabbath never had this restriction.
Actually, the weekly Sabbath did so have specific offerings. (See Numbers 28: 9-10, 1 Chronicles 23: 31, 2 Chronicles 2: 4, 2 Chronicles 8: 12-13, 2 Chronicles 31: 3, Nehemiah 10: 33, Ezekiel 45: 17.) Of note: the rest of Numbers 28 and 29 describe what offerings to offer on Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks/Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. So Numbers 28: 9-10 is indeed referring to the seventh-day Sabbath since following sections refer to the other Feasts with their Sabbaths.
After the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70, the Jews determined to keep their feasts in some other way than attending the central sanctuary. Without the insights of the Christian gospel, they felt the need to remember services and festivals that had been part of their national history for centuries. But it was impossible to keep these feasts as they once did. Thus, any attempt to celebrate these feasts today apart from the Israelite Temple would be human decisions not biblically supported.
Interestingly, the prophecy that the location and mode of worship would change post-cross in the New Covenant was given by Jesus himself when He was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He.” (John 4: 19-26)
Based on the Disciples’ and Paul’s examples of keeping the Feasts (minus the ceremonial sacrifices, oblations/offerings, and/or rituals presumably) post-cross in the New Covenant era, I would hardly say that any attempt to celebrate these feasts today apart from the Israelite Temple would be human decisions not biblically supported… With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they WROTE much of the Bible! (See Acts 2: 1-4 & 47, Acts 12: 1-3, Acts 18: 21, Acts 20:6, 16, Acts 27: 9, Acts of the Apostles, by EGW, p. 390, 1 Corinthians 5: 7-8.)
These three feasts, as we have already seen, also reflected important periods in the Jewish agricultural calendar. Even though Moses outlined the importance and particular aspects of each of the feasts while they were still in the wilderness wanderings, celebrating the Feasts of Weeks (Pentecost) and Tabernacles would obviously wait until they were in the Promised Land and had orchards and farm land to harvest. In fact, Hosea foretold that Israel while in exile would not be able to celebrate the Lord’s feasts (9: 1-5).
I would be very interested to see any evidence that the Israelites did not celebrate Pentecost and Tabernacles while in the wilderness. As far as the inference that Hosea foretold that because of exile Israel would not be able to celebrate the Feasts… Back up to Hosea 8 and also 9.
“Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, and I did not acknowledge it. From their silver and gold they made idols for themselves that they might be cut off. I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing. For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt. For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his palaces.” (Hosea 8: 1, 4, 12-14) Does it sound like Israel WANTED to do God’s will? No! As a result, God was returning them to their roots.
“Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, for you have played the harlot against your God. You have loved for reward on every threshing floor. The threshing floor and the winepress shall not feed them and the new wine shall fail in her. They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt and shall eat unclean things in Assyria. They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lord, nor shall their sacrifices be pleasing to Him. It shall be like bread of mourners to them; all who eat it shall be defiled. For their bread shall be for their life; it shall not come into the house of the Lord. What will you do in the appointed day, and in the day of the feast of the Lord? For indeed they are gone because of destruction. Egypt shall gather them up; Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their valuables of silver; thorns shall be in their tents. I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first fruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves to that shame; they became an abomination like the thing they loved.” (Hosea 9: 1-6, 10) Sounds to me like the real reason Israel would not be keeping the Feasts in exile would be because they would be dead spiritually and/or physically due to their abandonment of God.
Another feature of the Israelite feasts was the close ethnic identity associated with some of the celebrations, especially the Passover. “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: No outsider shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it” (Exodus 12: 43-45)
Of note, Old Covenant style commitment to God included circumcision of the flesh… then one could partake of God’s Feasts. New Covenant style commitment to God replaces circumcision of the flesh with a more important circumcision of the heart. (See Acts 15, Colossians 2: 11-13.) Then, a person may partake of God’s Feasts (New Covenant style!) (See 1 Corinthians 11: 23-29.)
Also of note to me is God's declaration in Isaiah 56: 6-8 that "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My Holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of Prayer: Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My alter; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people. The Lord God which gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet will I gather others to Him beside those that are gathered unto Him."
"One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you." (Numbers 15: 15-16)
It is more than interesting that John, the last of the apostolic writers, referred to the Feast Days always as Jewish celebrations (see 2: 13, 6: 4, 7: 2, 11: 55)… never as Christian celebrations!
Technically speaking, although the book of John was written after the cross, the story’s reference point was during Jesus’ ministry STILL UNDER THE OLD COVENANT and when the kingdom of God was still with the Jews… Prior to emergence of the Christian church post-cross in the New Covenant era. (See Acts 11: 26 for the first coining of the term “Christian”.) Note: The kingdom of God was not taken from the Jewish nation until AD 34… but then that was not documented until the book of Acts…
Here it is asserted that “times (season) and laws” (Daniel 7: 25) refer to God’s Holy Days and would all be attacked by apostate powers (inpired by Satan). However, zinnim (Aramaic for “fixed time”) has no reference to Feast Days. In Daniel 1: 21, the same Aramaic is used describing how God alone has the prerogative to change “times”. The emphasis is always on a set time, not on Feasts Days or seasons.
“We keep Sunday in obedience to the law of the Catholic Church. The church made this law after the Bible was written; hence the law is not in the Bible. The Catholic Church abolished not only the Sabbath, but all the other Jewish Festivals.” (T. Enright of the Redemptorist Fathers of the Roman Church, June 1905) I would say the proof is in the pudding…
Referencing Daniel 7: 25, according to my King James Version Bible, the word in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible for “times” is #2166 Zeman from #2165 which is “an appointed occasion:- season, time.” The word for “laws” is #1882 Dath corresponding to #1881 meaning “a royal edict or statute:- commandment, commission, decree, law, manner.” So, I do not see anything in either “times” or “laws” that would mean it DIDN’T relate to the Feast Days and Sabbaths (weekly/annual) which happen to be “set (or appointed) times”
“These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.” (Leviticus 23: 4) (See also Leviticus 23: 3, 5, 16, 24, 27, 34.) The Hebrew word for “seasons” in this case is #4150 Mowed/Moed/Mowadah meaning an “appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly as convened for a definite purpose; technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal as appointed beforehand:- appointed sign, time, place of, solemn assembly, congregation, set solemn Feast, appointed due season, solemn synagogue, set time appointed.” Wow, that gives me the impression not only are the Feast Days (including the weekly AND annual Sabbaths) of God indeed set times, but that they are a solemn sign of my commitment to God… (See also Ezekiel 20: 12, 19-20 to confirm this!)
When one unfortunately (and without foundation) translates Moed (from Genesis 1: 14) to be “festival,” there is no end to speculation.
Well, as noted in the above quote of the definition of the word Moed (#4150) from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible Mr. James Strong felt it was appropriate to include the phrase “specifically a festival” in the definition.
Furthermore, the contributors and editors of The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1, p. 213 felt it appropriate to give the commentary on "For seasons" from Genesis 1: 14 to read, "Yearly returning festival periods and other definite times were to be regulated by the movement of the celestial bodies (Ps. 104: 19; Zech. 8: 19)..."
In summary, statutes and judgments are not part of either the moral law or of the ceremonial law. They explain and enforce the moral law, but have no apparent relationship with the ceremonial law. They are not shadowy types to end at the cross; they retain their validity as long as time shall last.
I don't quite follow the above reasoning... It's like saying the head of the body has no apparent relationship with the blood... doesn't quite make sense. Try this out instead:
A. “Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law (Greek word #3551) and the Prophets (Greek word #4396).” (Matthew 22: 37-40) Greek word #3551 in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible is Nomos meaning, “to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals; law through the idea of prescriptive usage, general regulation, specifically of Moses including the Volume; also of the Gospel, or figuratively a principal:- law.” The Greek word #4396 is Prophetes meaning, “a foreteller; by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet:- prophet.”
B. Statutes and Judgments INCLUDE the Moral Law, the Ceremonial Law, and incidentally also includes the Ten Commandments. (See Leviticus 23, Leviticus 26-27, Deuteronomy 5-6, and a host more stuff throughout Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.)
C. The New Covenant changes to the Statutes and Judgments deleted the portions that pertained to the Ceremonial Law (See www.biblefeastdays.com/Judgments.htm for further exploration of the New Covenant changes and how they affected the Feast Days among other things.)I agree that the statutes and judgments with their New Covenant changes (including the keeping of the Feast Day Sabbaths as Sabbaths of rest spent with Jesus minus any sacrifices, oblations/offerings, or rituals) are not shadowy types to end at the cross and that they do indeed retain their validity as long as time shall last.
Whatever evidence one may use in support of modern Feast Days, it would have to be very powerful to contradict Paul’s statement that these ceremonial Sabbaths were “shadows of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2: 17). Or to contradict Ellen White’s clear statements about the temporary aspect of the sanctuary services and ceremonial Sabbaths. Or to explain why Ellen White never said a word about the modern observance of the Feast Days. Paul’s admonition to the Galatians seems appropriate: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (5: 1).
A. There is no place either in the Bible nor in Ellen G. White’s writings where the term “Ceremonial” is linked to the term “Sabbath”. So the phrase “ceremonial Sabbath” has no biblical or inspired basis.
B. Colossians 2: 17 says, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days which ARE a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” “Sabbath” here being the Greek word #4521 Sabbaton meaning the “Sabbath or day of weekly repose from secular avocations also the observance or institution itself; by extension a sen-night i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications:- Sabbath day, week.” This Greek word #4521 is used in Matthew 12: 8, John 5: 10, and Acts 13:14… I really don’t see any instances where the Greek word #4521 was actually used in reference to the annual or yearly Sabbaths… just the weekly Sabbath. But if there were, it would still not contradict Paul’s statement that these Sabbaths ARE “shadows of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” since from Paul’s point in the timeline, he was living in the New Covenant era and still saw the Sabbath as a futuristic shadow of “things to come” and that the very substance was/is/will be of Christ… i.e. from/for our Savior!
C. Now about contradicting Ellen G. White’s statements about the ceremonial law being done away with… No one here is contradicting her or the Bible! I absolutely agree! (See Daniel 9: 27, Hebrews 9 & 10; Patriarchs and Prophets, by EGW, p. 365; Desire of Ages, by EGW, p. 233, and Signs of the Times, by EGW, July 29, 1886). However, please note that these passages did NOT say that observance of Sabbaths (weekly and annual) as rest days from work with a focus on God stopped! Just that the rites, ceremonies, and offerings/oblations superimposed on the Sabbaths stopped.
D. While Ellen G. White did not have a lot to say about the modern observance of the term “Feast Days”, she did say that, “We are to become familiar with the Levitical law in all its bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the instruction that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of faith and practice that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No soul has any excuse for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith receive also power to become the sons of God.” (SDA Bible Commentary, by EGW, vol. 7A, p. 42) She also said, “In the days of Christ these feasts were attended by vast multitudes of people from all lands; and had they been kept as God intended, in the spirit of true worship, the light of truth might through them have been given to all the nations of the world. With those who lived at a distance from the tabernacle, more than a month of every year must have been occupied in attendance upon these holy convocations. The Lord saw that these gatherings were necessary for the spiritual life of His people. They needed to turn away from their worldly cares, to commune with God, and to contemplate unseen realities. If the children of Israel needed the benefit of these holy convocations in their time, how much more do we need them in these last days of peril and conflict! And if the people of the world then needed the light, which God had committed to His church, how much more do they need it now! This is a time for everyone to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” (Testimonies for the Church, volume 6, by EGW, p. 39-40)
E. Regarding Paul’s admonition to the Galatians, Galatians 3-5 does not have anything to do with deleting the Feast Days because the gentile converts never kept God’s Feast Days prior to conversion in the first place. Instead, they deal with the difference between Righteousness by Faith versus by Works. The “yoke of bondage” meaning the impossible task of obtaining salvation through good works. See also www.biblefeastdays.com/Impressions.htm for more exploration on the meanings of Acts 15, Ephesians 2, Colossians 2, Galatians 5, and more!
The weekly Sabbath was established long before Sinai, long before the inauguration of the sanctuary service. It is not a shadow pointing to Jesus and the Cross (Colossians 2: 17). In Leviticus 23, some link the weekly Sabbath with the festivals, but in a closer look we see that Moses is clearly distinguishing the weekly Sabbath from the festivals. After noting the special aspects of the weekly Sabbath (verse 3), verse 4 begins: “These (the feasts now to be listed) are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.
It would seem that an even CLOSER look is needed since there is a need to back up a couple verses on either side of verses 3 and 4 to get a better picture. “ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's Passover….”(and beyond these verses it describes the other Feast Days). (Leviticus 23: 1-5) So actually, Moses was not doing anything of the kind! The LORD dictated this document and indicated the terms “feasts of the Lord” and “My feasts” PRIOR TO describing the seventh-day Sabbath then immediately FOLLOWING again with the term “feasts of the Lord”. Why?... (See Below)
Here is a basic concept of Law: Unless a law is signed/sealed with a name, title, and jurisdiction that is applicable, it is not in effect, law. The 10 Commandments have at the heart of them the 4th Commandment (Weekly Sabbath) containing God's Signiture/Seal: God's name (Lord God), Title (Creator), and Jurisdiction (Heaven, Earth, and Sea)... this validates and puts into effect this Law of God. Well, In Leviticus 23: 3, God again places his sign/seal: Name and Title combined (Lord of the Sabbath) and Jurisdiction (All your dwellings) in order to validate the following Law of the Feasts of the Lord..
Picture Leviticus 23 like this:
· Identification of the Lawgiver… The Lord himself dictating this Law (Leviticus 23: 1)
· Introduction of the Feasts of the Lord, His Holy convocations” (Leviticus 23: 2)
· Seal of God- The WEEKLY Sabbath (containing Name, Title, and Jurisdiction) to validate this document of Law contained in this chapter (Leviticus 23: 3)
· Commencement with the Feasts of the Lord, His Holy convocations… (Leviticus 23: 4-42)
· Throughout verses 4-44 as God pronounces His ANNUAL Sabbaths (along with some SUPERIMPOSED ceremonial/oblation stuff), God again places His sign/seal: Name (Lord God), Title (Deliverer), and Jurisdiction (All your dwellings throughout your generations).So BOTH the 10 Commandments (with the weekly Sabbath) AND the Feasts of the Lord (with the weekly and annual Sabbaths) contain God's sign/seal to validate and put into effect these Laws.
Of note: I agree that the weekly Sabbath was established long before Sinai, long before the inauguration of the sanctuary service and is not a shadow pointing to Jesus and the Cross. However, I also want to point out that the God-made statutes were also in place before Satan fell (Selected Messages, by EGW, Volume 1, p. 316), at creation (Genesis 1: 14-19), Abraham’s day (Genesis 26: 5), Joseph’s day (Psalms 81: 3-5), Moses’ day (Deuteronomy 5), Paul’s day (1 Corinthians 5: 7-8; Acts 20:6; Acts of the Apostles, by EGW, p. 390-391), Ellen G. White’s day (Signs of the Times, by EGW, March 21, 1895), every believer’s day (Review and Herald, EGW, October 13, 1904), and are forever (Review and Herald, by EGW, May 6, 1875). According to Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 5, both the Ten Commandments AND the Feast Day (Sabbaths) are part of those statutes. Only the ceremonial law with it’s rituals, sacrifices, and oblations/offerings SUPERIMPOSED on those annual and yes the weekly Sabbaths were done away with at the cross. The annual AND weekly Sabbath Days themselves (as rest days spent with Jesus and our fellow mankind) are and will still be relevant.
If one tries to get rid of the annual Sabbaths (Feast Day Sabbaths) as Sabbaths, then one would also have to get rid of the weekly Sabbath since they are both the same Hebrew word- #7676 (#7677 refers to a High Sabbath when an annual Sabbaths falls on a weekly Sabbath. Hebrew was what the Old Testament was written in when the Sabbaths were first being established and/or discussed); both are part of the statutes which are forever (Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 5, and Review and Herald, by EGW, May 6, 1875); both had ceremonial stuff that fell away from them at the cross (Leviticus 23, Numbers 28:9-10, and Daniel 9: 27); both have blessings AND curses depending on how one treats them (See Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 11: 26-28 and 28: 15-68); and both seem to be signs of the presence of a bonded relationship between God and His people (Exodus 13: 1-10, Exodus 31: 13-18, and Ezekiel 20: 12, 19-20).
Since the Bible is silent regarding the keeping of Israelite feasts after the Cross, it would also be wise for modern Christians to avoid imposing regulations and ceremonies without biblical support.
A. The Bible is NOT silent regarding the keeping of Israelite feasts after the Cross! (See Acts 2: 1-4 & 47, Acts 12: 1-3, Acts 18: 21, Acts 20: 6 & 16, Acts 27: 9, 1 Corinthians 5: 7-8, Sketches from the Life of Paul, by EGW, p. 105, and Acts of the Apostles, by EGW, p. 390) Nor is the Bible silent about the keeping of God’s statutes of which His Feast Day Sabbaths are a part of through to end time events and on to the New Earth! (See Malachi 3-4, Joel 2, Isaiah 58: 12-14, Isaiah 66: 22-23, and Prophets and Kings, by EGW, p. 678.)
B. Who is imposing anything? There ARE NO regulations or ceremonies in the New Covenant era style of keeping the Feast Day Sabbaths. (See www.biblefeastdays.com/Judgments.htm for further study on how these Feasts ARE to be kept!)
C. Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8) Does that sound like Jesus was telling Christians to be quiet about sharing their faith? No.
D. As to the part about not having Biblical support… well, the Bible says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2: 15) Everyone is to study for himself/herself because each of us “shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14: 12) Of note: Re-read Malachi 3 and 4 where it talks about God making a book of remembrance for the judgment day to delineate between those who kept His statutes and those who did not!
Moses here (referring to Malachi 4: 4) made a clear distinction between the Ten Commandments and the statutes. Nowhere in the Bible are the statutes given the same authority as the Ten Commandments. Much to the contrary! The statutes were given “to guard the Ten Commandments” (see Review and Herald, May 6, 1875).
A. Taking a look at Malachi 4: 4, it reads “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” The term “Law of God” is in reality the same thing as “Law of Moses” and vice versa. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably in the Bible. (1Kings 2: 3, Exodus 13: 9, Deuteronomy 4: 44, Joshua 8: 31, Joshua 24: 26, 2 Kings 10: 31, 1 Chronicles 22: 12, 2 Chronicles 23: 18 all being the Hebrew word #8451 in Strong’s Concordance) (Luke 2: 22-24 and 39, 1 Corinthians 9: 9, Galatians 6: 2 all being the Greek word #3551in Strong’s Concordance.) For further study, go to Strong’s Concordance and look at all the instances where the Hebrew word #8451 and the Greek word #3551 are used. James 1: 12 says that there is only one Lawgiver. Isaiah 33: 22 says the Lord is that Lawgiver. Moses was merely the conduit (Exodus 19:3-8, 1Kings 8:56, 58, Leviticus 26:46, Numbers 36:13, Judges 3: 4, 1Kings 2:3, Nehemiah 9:13-14).
B. “Which I commanded unto him” refers to the “statutes and judgments” not specifically to the Ten Commandments if my English grammar is correct.
C. To say that “nowhere in the Bible are the statutes given the same authority as the Ten Commandments” is silly because according to Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments ARE a piece of the Statute pie! Leviticus 26 says that at least the first, second, and fourth of the Ten Commandments ARE Statutes! And Leviticus 27 indicates that the principal of tithing IS a Commandment from God!
D. Just for the sake of debate… When something is guarding something else, which thing has the most strength… the thing that is guarding or the thing that is guarded? Fortunately, it is not a matter of salvation to debate the pecking order of either the term “statute” versus “commandment”.
We look in vain for these statements (about Ellen White connecting the Feast Days with the Ten Commandments).
A technicality. But let me help… The BIBLE connects the Feast Days with the fourth of the Ten Commandments in Leviticus 23: 2-3. It also connects the first of the Ten Commandments with the Feast Days in Psalm 81. Then, Ellen G. White says, “Concerning the law proclaimed from Sinai, Nehemiah says, Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments. Nehemiah 9: 13 Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, declares, The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7: 12. This can be no other than the Decalogue; for it is the law that says, Thou shalt not covet. While the Savior’s death brought to an end the law of types and shadows, it did not in the least detract from the obligation of the moral law. On the contrary, the very fact that it was necessary for Christ to die in order to atone for the transgression of that law, proves it to be immutable.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, by EGW, p. 365) Note: It would seem that EGW did include the statutes (which include the Feast Day Sabbaths) with the Decalogue! Deuteronomy 5 also includes the Ten Commandments as being part of the “statutes and judgments”. Furthermore, in Colossians 2, remember that verse 17 says these things are a shadow of THINGS TO COME… (not things already fulfilled or done away with) but the body IS of Christ (present tense).
Ellen G. White also says that, “In like manner the types, which relate to the Second Advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic. Can you name the types? If these types are to be fulfilled in our day, should we not know their names and their times as pointed out in their symbolic services?” (Great Controversy, by EGW, p. 399-400) Some form of the “types” still remain just as some of the statutes are still relevant including the Feast Day Sabbaths (just minus the ceremonial, ritual, oblation/offerings, or sacrificial stuff).
Here is an interesting mind bender: “Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in His ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice” (Deuteronomy 26: 17) Submitting to God is bonded with walking in “His Ways” which are bonded with keeping His“Statutes” which are bonded with keeping His “Commandments” which are bonded with being aware of His “Judgments”, which are bonded with “hearken(ing) unto His voice”. As such, all six things are bonded together and cannot legitimately biblically be separated. (See Deuteronomy 5, 8, 28; Malachi 3-4).
How Do These Issues Relate to the Adventist Mission and Message?
Good job on this chapter. However, I would like to make note of some things... “Said my Guide, There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory.” (Manuscript Release, By EGW, Volume 2, p. 58) About “New Light”: Authentic new light must be entirely in accord with the Bible, not unsettle faith in the old landmarks or the body of Christ, and will not bypass His people or His ministers. (Testimonies to the Church, by EGW, Volume 1, p. 469; Testimonies to the Church, by EGW, Volume5, p. 291 & 295; and Selected Messages, by EGW, Volume 1, p. 161). Furthermore, I think this would also apply: Where there is no counsel, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11: 14) So far as I can tell, the conclusions I have drawn from this Bible study are in accord with the entire Bible and EGW writings, do not unsettle faith in any of the SDA 28 Fundamental Beliefs or the SDA denomination, and there seems to already be a widespread interest in this topic within the SDA family and ministerial staff.
Furthermore, is the issue of keeping the Feast Day Sabbaths as Sabbaths really “New Light” or rather a broken down landmark destined to be restored in end times? (Joel 2; Isaiah 58: 12-14; Prophets and Kings, by EGW, p. 678) There is the interesting quote from Ellen G. White that says, “I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the churches and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth.” (Early Writings, By EGW, p. 33) Might it be possible that proclaiming the “Sabbath more fully” could mean proclaiming the annual Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbath? After all, as noted previously in this paper, both are signs between God and His people. Also of note is that in the Hebrew word #7676 (used for both the annual and the weekly Sabbaths) one cannot differentiate between the two except by placing it in context.
Truth does prevail.
I whole-heartedly agree!
