God’s People Keep God’s Feasts - Ahnsahnghong

God’s People Keep God’s Feasts
As stated above, the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Tabernacles were a shadow, revealing how Jesus would resurrect and how the 144,000—the materials of the heavenly temple—would be gathered in the New Testament times. Thus, it is very difficult for Christians to understand why people celebrate the American-made Thanksgiving Day, claiming that it is related to the Feast of Firstfruits or to the Feast of Tabernacles.

In the New Testament times, the Feast of Firstfruits was fulfilled on Resurrection Day. On Resurrection Day we commemorate Jesus' resurrection and we are reminded of God’s promise to change and to resurrect the saints living in the last days. The Feast of Tabernacles was fulfilled by the Preaching Week of the New Testament times, during which we preach the gospel to find the materials—the saints who are to be saved—for the heavenly temple.

Thanksgiving Day is an American festival, not a Christian feast. It is undoubtedly a man-made custom. A long time ago, Jeroboam, king of Israel, constructed golden calves to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem to keep the feasts of God. He said, "Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt," and instituted a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month similar to the festival held in Judah. The Bible says that Jeroboam’s actions were viewed as sinful in the eyes of God (1 Kin. 12:25-33). Jesus also spoke concerning this kind of people.

Mark 7:6-8 『He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."』

Many people do not know the prophecies of the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Tabernacles, or how these feasts were fulfilled. Most continue to follow and to proclaim incorrect teachings. They even shout, "Amen!" when these false doctrines are taught. We hope that, under God’s grace, they can realize the true decrees and laws of God.

The Bible says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children" (Hos. 4:6). This is a warning to those who neglect God's commands and who follow only the commands of men.

Hebrews chapter nine reads, "Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary" (Heb. 9:1). This verse implies that the second covenant [the new covenant] had regulations for worship and for a heavenly sanctuary. Which covenant is more important? No one denies that the regulations of the new covenant are more important. The feasts and the regulations for worshiping God in the earthly sanctuary are merely a shadow whose reality is the feasts of the new covenant and the heavenly sanctuary, disclosed in the New Testament times.

Only God's people regard the regulations of the new covenant as precious. We pray that many souls will abandon the rules of men, will come to accept the regulations of the new covenant, and thus, will come to truly worship God.