Holy Days
A study of God's annual appointed festivals and the way each one pictures a major stage in His plan of salvation—from Christ's sacrifice through the Kingdom of God, the Great White Throne Judgment and the New Heaven and New Earth.
Just as it keeps the weekly Sabbath, the Church of God also observes the annual holy days that were ordered by God, kept by the ancient Israelites and continued by the early New Testament Christians. These seven annual appointed feasts picture God's plan of salvation for mankind.
God's Plan Pictured Through the Sacred Year
The annual holy days are Passover, the First and Last Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. They occur on specific dates of the Hebrew calendar, with Pentecost determined by a prescribed count.
Like the weekly Sabbath, each holy day is reckoned from sunset to sunset. Their primary importance is spiritual: together they form an outline of God's plan of salvation for the individual and for mankind as a whole.
These observances also provide regular opportunities for worship, religious instruction, spiritual renewal, fellowship, rest and a change from ordinary daily concerns. The spring and autumn festival seasons create extended periods for concentrated attention on God and His purpose.
The lesson describes the holy days as “shadows of things to come.” Their significance is not limited to ancient Israel. Each festival points forward to a major element of God's saving work through Jesus Christ.
The Passover points to Christ's sacrifice. Unleavened Bread pictures removing sin and living a new godly way of life. Pentecost pictures the founding of the New Testament Church and the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Trumpets points to the proclamation of the gospel, Christ's return and the resurrection of the saints. Atonement pictures reconciliation with God and the removal of Satan's influence.
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the thousand-year reign of Christ and the saints, while the Last Great Day pictures the resurrection and opportunity for salvation of those who lived and died without previously receiving that opportunity.
The plan culminates in the New Heaven and New Earth described in Revelation 21, when death and destruction are gone and the Kingdom of God continues eternally.
The annual festivals were established in the Old Testament and were closely connected with the agricultural harvest seasons. That physical pattern provides the framework for the lesson's spiritual interpretation of firstfruits, larger harvests and God's progressive work of salvation.
The New Testament records Jesus observing the festivals and shows the apostolic Church continuing in a festival environment. Passover receives detailed Christian symbolism, Pentecost becomes the day the Church receives the Holy Spirit, and Paul speaks of celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread with sincerity and truth.
In the Church today, the festivals are observed in their spiritual intent as recurring reminders of God's plan. Worship services are held on the annual holy days, special offerings are brought, and particular observances—such as Passover, fasting on Atonement and attendance at the Feast of Tabernacles—retain their distinct biblical meaning.
Seven Steps in the Plan of Salvation
Each annual observance highlights a distinct stage in God's plan and points directly to the work of Jesus Christ.
Christ's Sacrifice
Passover represents Jesus Christ's sacrifice for mankind. The bread pictures His body, the wine His blood, and foot washing teaches humility and service.
Putting Sin Out
Seven days of unleavened bread picture the continuing process of removing sin and actively practicing God's way of life.
The Church & Holy Spirit
Pentecost pictures the founding of the New Testament Church, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the first spiritual harvest.
Christ Returns
Trumpets pictures the watchman's warning, proclamation of the gospel, Christ's return and the resurrection and change of the saints.
Reconciliation & Satan Removed
Atonement pictures mankind being reconciled to God and Satan, the source of deception, being bound and removed from influence.
The Millennial Kingdom
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the thousand-year reign of Christ and His saints and the great harvest of mankind.
Salvation Offered to All
The Last Great Day pictures the Second Resurrection, the Great White Throne Judgment and the opportunity for salvation of those not previously called.
Worship, Celebration and Spiritual Renewal
The lesson describes the annual festivals as both deeply spiritual observances and recurring times of fellowship, rest and rejoicing.
Church services are held on the annual holy days, with sermons emphasizing the spiritual meaning of each particular observance.
The Passover is observed at the beginning of Nisan 14 with foot washing, bread and wine in a solemn memorial service.
Leaven is removed before the Feast and unleavened food is eaten throughout the seven-day period.
The Day of Atonement is observed as a complete fast from sunset to sunset, with personal exceptions for serious health needs.
Members are taught to save ahead for festival expenses so the Feast can be observed with rejoicing, travel and fellowship.
Special offerings are brought on the annual holy days according to the biblical instruction in Deuteronomy 16.
The Feast is generally observed in central locations, with members living temporarily away from home as part of its symbolism.
The lesson points to prophetic passages describing festival observance during the future Kingdom of God.
Read These Scriptures in Your Own Bible
Questions
The current source page contains Questions 1–11 and 13–30. Question 12 is missing from the displayed lesson, so its position is clearly marked below rather than reconstructed.
The primary purpose of the Holy Days are:
- a) to afford the church more opportunity for fellowship
- b) test our obedience to God
- c) to reveal the Plan of God
Complete this sentence: The Passover represents the sacrifice of ____________.
The bread we take at Passover represents the _______ of Christ. The wine represents His _______.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is symbolic of:
- a) putting sin out of our lives
- b) Christ
- c) the entire Salvation Process
- d) practicing a new Godly way of life
- e) all of the above
Pentecost pictures:
- a) the foundation of the New Testament church
- b) the sending of the Holy Spirit for the individual
- c) both
- d) neither
The first clear reference to the annual festival days is found in:
- a) Exodus 10
- b) Leviticus 23
- c) Exodus 12
- d) Leviticus 26
The most complete description of the annual Holy Days is found in:
- a) Exodus 12
- b) Exodus 23
- c) Leviticus 23
- d) Leviticus 26
Which of the following are true of the Days of Unleavened Bread:
- a) 7 days long
- b) member eats no leavened products
- c) no leavened products are to be found in the home
- d) includes two Holy Days
- e) all of the above
- f) a, b and d only
Pentecost is the only day which is determined by counting 50 days beginning with:
- a) the Sabbath
- b) the day after the Sabbath
- d) the Monday after the Sabbath
In counting Pentecost, to determine which day is the Holy Day, we count 7 Sabbaths beginning with the day after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. We count from:
- a) Saturday to Saturday
- b) Sunday to Sunday
- c) Monday to Monday
Hence the Day of Pentecost is always on a:
- a) Monday
- b) Saturday
- c) Friday
- d) Sunday
Question 12 is not displayed on the current source page.
The existing Lesson 10 page skips from Question 11 to Question 13, although its answer key includes “12. False.” This placeholder preserves the original numbering without inventing missing text.
The primary reason one does not see extensive discourse in the New Testament on the Holy Days is because everyone was keeping them. True or False?
Jesus never actually kept any of the Holy Days while He was on earth. True or False?
Which of the following are true statements about Jesus:
- a) betrayed during the Passover [Lord’s Supper]
- b) scripture records Him keeping at least 3 Passovers
- c) kept the Feast of Tabernacles
- d) all of the above
On what Holy Day did the New Testament church begin?
The imperative to keep the Holy Days is far greater now than ever. True or False?
The drinking of the wine and eating of the bread at Passover (Lord’s Supper) represents:
- a) partaking the Law of God into our minds
- b) partaking Grace into our hearts
- c) partaking of eternal life into us
The purpose of the footwashing service is to show:
- a) piety and righteousness
- b) humility and service
- c) repentance and forgiveness
The Passover represents Christ’s sacrifice. This sacrifice was:
- a) for a chosen few
- b) the 144,000
- c) the whole world
The Feast of Trumpets symbolizes:
- a) the return of Christ
- b) the spread of the gospel
- c) the first resurrection
- d) important judgment time for mankind
- e) all of the above
What day symbolizes the putting away of Satan for 1,000 years?
The Atonement Azazel goat represents:
- a) Christ
- b) Satan
- c) sin
- d) all of the above
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures:
- a) the life of Jesus Christ on earth
- b) the putting away of Satan for 1,000 years
- c) the millennial reign of Christ
- d) the first resurrection
The Last Great Day represents a time when all who lived but never truly knew Christ will be resurrected. True or False?
The Second Resurrection, in which billions will be brought back to life represents:
- a) their second chance at Salvation
- b) their first and only chance at Salvation
- c) a first chance for some and a second chance for others
The Last Great Day also pictures eternity after the time of the Second Resurrection. True or False?
God commands that we bring a Holy Day offering before Him on each of the Holy Days. Where in scripture do we find this:
- a) Matthew 24
- b) Revelation 20
- c) Deuteronomy 16
- d) Isaiah 40
On which of the Holy Days are we to keep a complete fast (no food or water) for 24 full hours?
The Feast of Tabernacles will be kept in the Millennium. Where do we read this in the Old Testament?
- a) Leviticus 23
- b) Joshua 13
- c) Zechariah 14
- d) Isaiah 53
