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The Lost Doctrines of Christianity

The Plan of God

Satan also knows of mankind's glorious destiny; and, as God's enemy, Satan is determined to prevent mankind from achieving eternal life. The Plan of God was put in place to make it possible for everyone who has lived to have the opportunity to achieve this incredible destiny. Satan took advantage of the spiritual weakness and ignorance of Adam and Eve and started them on a path away from their destiny. The Plan of God thwarts Satan and his deceptions despite the weakness of Adam and Eve. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was planned from the beginning to overcome the weakness of mankind.

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. KJV

It wasn't until Christ died and was resurrected that the Plan of God became completely manifest to the world. God created a physical rehearsal that symbolized the spiritual Plan of God by ordaining annual Holy Days for the nation of Israel. The Plan of God encompasses the Sabbath and the Holy Days of the Old Testament and are symbolic of the spiritual reality prophesied to come. Paul described them as a shadow of things to come.

Colossians 2:16 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: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

The first step in understanding the Plan of God is the realization that God has mapped out 7,000 years for its unfolding and completion.

The 7,000 Year Plan of God:

God has planned a rest for mankind that will last 1,000 years. The first 6,000 years of human history since Adam and Eve represents the work of Satan. This work of Satan is a work of deception and is an attempt to make mankind ignorant of its true destiny and the Plan of God for achieving it.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. KJV

The Biblical justification of a 7,000-year Plan of God is based on the principal that to God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. From God's perspective the plan will only take a week.

Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. KJV

2 Peter 3:7 By the same word the present heavens and Earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. NIV

The seven-day week represents the Plan of God. The first six days represent the time of mankind's suffering under the works of Satan. The seventh day represents a rest for the people of God for one thousand years. A non-biblical epistle written by Barnabus, the minister who traveled and preached with Paul, best explains the 7,000-year Plan of God.

Barnabas was a companion and fellow-preacher with Paul. This Epistle [of Barnabas] lays a greater claim to canonical authority than most others. It has been Cited by Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome, and many ancient Fathers. Cotelerius affirms that Origen and Jerome esteemed it genuine and canonical. Dr. Bernard, Savilian professor at Oxford… not only believed it to be genuine, but that it was read throughout, in the churches at Alexaodria, as the canonical scriptures were. Dodwell supposed it to have been published before the Epistle of Jude, and the writings of both the Johns. Vossius, Dupuis, Dr. Cane, Dr. Mill, Dr. S. Clark, Whiston, and Archbishop Wake also esteemed it genuine.

Barnabas was an apostle of the early church and was one of the seventy disciples that Christ sent out to spread his gospel. He was a Levite Jew from the island of Cyprus. Because he was a Levite, he was probably familiar in the temple service. Joseph was his first name but he was called Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." Raised in a wealthy home, history records he received his training under the Rabban Gamaliel. Barnabas had family in Jerusalem. His sister, Mary, was there and also Mary's son, Mark, the future Evangelist. In the early days of the Christian church at Jerusalem, Barnabas distinguished himself as a prominent Christian servant. He was commended for selling his land and laying the proceeds at the apostle's feet.

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. NKJV

The apostle Paul was originally known as Saul and began the first Christian persecutions.

Even after receiving his famous Damascus road conversion, the disciples did not trust him. Barnabas was Paul's advocate, and only after he vouched for Paul did the other Christians admit him into the fellowship.

Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. NKJV

Paul had retreated for some time into seclusion. After tremendous growth in the early church, Barnabus felt he needed an able assistant. Around the year 44 AD, Barnabus went to Tarsus to enlist Paul. They returned to Antioch and worked for about a year with the Jewish and Gentile converts there. It was about this time in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. He and Paul were companions and each influenced the other greatly. He was also known as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, strong in the faith, and many people were added to the early church because of his evangelism.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NKJV

The seven-day week represents the 7,000-year Plan of God in overview. The Bible does not lay out the 7,000-year Plan of God as straightforwardly as the Epistle of Barnabas. Despite the fact that the Epistle of Barnabus is not considered canon; it still shows that the early New Testament church understood the 7,000-year Plan of God and the symbolism of the creation week and the seventh day Sabbath.

The Epistle of Barnabas: Chapter 13:1 Furthermore it is written concerning the Sabbath, in the Ten Commandments, which God spake in the Mount Sinai to Moses, face to face; sanctify the Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands, and with a clean heart. 2 And elsewhere he saith; If thy children shall keep my Sabbaths, then will I put my mercy upon them. 3 And even in the beginning of the creation he makes mention of the Sabbath. And God made in six days the works of his hands; and he finished them on the seventh day, and he rested the seventh day, and sanctified it. 4 Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end. 5 For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousands years, shall all things be accomplished. 6 And what is that he saith, And he rested the seventh day; he meaneth this; that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in the seventh day.

The Weekly Sabbath

The Sabbath serves two purposes. In addition to representing the last 1,000 years in the overall 7,000-year Plan of God, it has the purpose of making sure that mankind has time to relax and enjoy a relationship with God without the distractions of work. This weekly time is also part of the Plan of God. Since God is a family and mankind is part of the Family of God, the weekly observance of the Sabbath is the equivalent of a weekly family get together. The Sabbath is a sign between God and his people and is to be kept by Christians today as a way to honor their Father in Heaven.

Exodus 31:13 … "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. NKJV

By tying the Sabbath to a specific period of time, God made it easy for human beings to pause every week and dedicate 24 hours to focusing on their relationship with God. Christ made this clear when he said:

Mark 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. NKJV

The Sabbath was created for man as a blessing. There can be no greater blessing than the benefits gained from a close and intimate relationship with the Creator God. This is the meaning and purpose of the Sabbath. To fail to keep the Sabbath commandment, people are essentially declaring that their relationship with God is unimportant to them.

Isaiah 58:13-14 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD…" NKJV

By making the Sabbath part of the Ten Commandments, God was declaring to all of mankind that the Sabbath was as important as the commandments to not murder, steal or lie. Christ affirmed the Sabbath and all of the laws of God and made it plain they were to be kept, including the Sabbath.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. KJV

The apostle James taught that the laws of God (The Ten Commandments) were to be kept in their entirety. This included the keeping of the Sabbath, for to break one was to break them all.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. KJV

Because James referenced adultery and killing, the context makes it plain that he was affirming that all of the Ten Commandments are in force for Christians. Was the law nailed to the cross? Critics of the Sabbath quote Colossians 2:14.

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting [cheirographon] of ordinances [dogma] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; KJV

They claim that when Paul stated the law was nailed to the cross, he was referring to the Ten Commandments. Samuele Bacchiocchi, in his book, The Sabbath in the New Testament clarifies what Colossians 2:14 means in the Greek text.

What was nailed to the Cross was not the "law (nomos)" but the cheirographon, a term which occurs only in Colossians 2:14. Its meaning has been clarified in apocalyptic literature where cheirographon is used to designate the "record-book of sin" or the "certificate of sin-indebtedness" but not the moral or ceremonial law. By this daring metaphor Paul affirms that through Christ, God has "canceled," "set aside," "nailed to the cross" the written record of our sins which because of the regulations [ordinances] was against us.

An ancient non-Biblical text that also supports the sabbath is the Gospel of Thomas. It is supportive of the Sabbath as being taught by Christ. The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of traditional sayings, prophecies, proverbs, and parables of Jesus. The Coptic Gospel of Thomas was translated from the Greek. Several fragments of this Greek version have been preserved and can be dated to about 200 AD. Many scholars do not consider The Gospel of Thomas to be authoritative. Other scholars speculate it is the "sayings" source of the synoptic gospels. Regardless, it does prove that the sayings of Jesus were recorded. It is only mentioned here because the critics of a Christian seventh day Sabbath point out that the New Testament does not specifically command the Sabbath to be kept Holy by Christians. In the case of the Gospel of Thomas, it is recorded that Jesus commanded Christians to observe the Sabbath.

Gospel of Thomas saying 27 "If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath you will not see the Father." The relationship of the Gospel of Thomas to the New Testament gospels has been a matter of special interest: many of the sayings of the Gospel of Thomas have parallels in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). A comparison of the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas with their parallels in the synoptic gospels suggests that the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas either are present in a more primitive form or are developments of a more primitive of such sayings. Indeed, the Gospel of Thomas resembles the synoptic sayings source, often called "Q" (from the German word Quelle, "source"), which was the common source of sayings used by Matthew and Luke. Hence, the Gospel of Thomas and its sources are collections of sayings and parables are closely related to the sources of the New Testament gospels. Because of the close parallel between many of the sayings in Thomas and the Gospels, some scholars have suggested that Thomas is also based on the Q source or is actually Q itself. Of course, these remain only hypotheses since there is no conclusive proof that a Q source ever existed. Still, the existence of a collection of sayings of Jesus as early as the dates proposed for Thomas suggest that there did exist such a collection in the early church.

There is a scripture in the New Testament that commands Christians to keep the Sabbath. Because of how the scripture is commonly translated, the real meaning is obscured. The scripture is in Hebrews 4.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

All except one of the words in Hebrews 1 that are translated into the English word rest are translated from the Hebrew word katapauo {kat-ap-ow'-o} [restrain, rest, give rest, cease]. In Verse 8, where it says: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, the word translated as rest comes from the Hebrew word sabbatismos {sab-bat-is-mos'} [rest, a keeping Sabbath]. According to Strong's Concordance, sabbatismos is a derivative of sabbaton {sab'-bat-on} [sabbath day, sabbath]. The actual meaning of the word sabbatismos means to keep the Sabbath by resting. The New International Version of the Bible translates Verse 9 as: 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; NIV. Hebrews is telling the reader that in order to enter into the rest of God [the Kingdom of God], one must keep the Sabbath! The Sabbath represents the 1,000-year reign of Christ when he will establish rest from the works of Satan. In order to be a part of that spiritual rest and reign with Christ 1,000 years, one must rehearse now, every week, on the Sabbath day! The Darby Translation makes it even clearer: Hebrews 4:9 There remains then a sabbatism to the people of God. Darby. The word sabbatism is to Sabbath like baptism is to baptize (to be baptized). Sabbatism in English means, "to keep the Sabbath." If one must keep the Sabbath in order to see the Father and to enter into his rest, how do the billions of people throughout time, who didn't keep the Sabbath, get to see the Father?

The Paradox of 1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2:3 states that it is the will of God to save all of mankind. This would include those that lived before Christ as well as those that lived after Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, NIV

Critics of Christianity claim that an unsolvable paradox is created by the above verse. Because of the scriptures in the New Testament that teach that people can only be saved by the name of Christ, there is no way to save the people who lived before Christ.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. KJV

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. KJV

Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. KJV

If God wants to save all of mankind, by definition that would include all men born before the time of Christ. But, if the only way a man or woman can be saved is by the name of Christ, how does God save all of the men and women who lived and died before the time of Christ? In addition, how does God save all of the men and women who lived after the time of Christ but lived in a place or culture that never heard of Jesus Christ? It appears that God's Plan of Salvation for all of mankind is very inefficient, and it only gives people who have lived in the last 2,000 years any chance at all for salvation. Some Christian theologians try to solve the problem by stating that those born before Christ could be saved by believing on the prophecies of the coming Messiah. Do those who died believing a savior would be born some day get the benefit of retroactive salvation? Even with this theological patch applied to the problem, billions are condemned for not growing up in Israel and knowing of the prophecies. Even for those who have lived since the time of Christ, there are literally billions of people who may have heard of Christ but live in a culture where the primary religion is not Christianity and, by definition, will not or can not be saved. The paradox of Genesis 1 is solved by researching and applying the information found in both the Old and New Testaments. He also solved the paradox of 1st Timothy 2 by the same method.

Saving the Eskimo (Or Buddhist, or Hindu or Muslim, etc…)

Mainstream Christianity did not have a solution on how to save all of the people who lived before Christ. To illustrate this dilemma the following example is given. The scenario begins at some point in the past with a man or woman who lived before Christ. Or it involves someone who lived after Christ but lived at a time or a place where no information about Christ was available. This hypothetical situation involves an Eskimo called Nanook. During the life of Nanook, he lives what would be called a good life. He is honest, doesn't kill anyone, never steals, honors his father and mother and is faithful to his wife all of his days. Nanook didn't live a perfect life, but he was a man who believed in the Great Spirit who created everything and tried to keep the teachings of the tribal elders to be a man of honor, nonviolent, truthful and faithful. Unfortunately, this Eskimo tribe lived so far north that they never heard of Jesus Christ. They believed in a Supreme God but had never heard of Jesus. Is Nanook doomed to hell because he never had heard of Jesus? According to mainstream Christianity, the answer might be, "Yes." The following is a quote from a sincere Christian posted on an Internet chat board.

"Yes, Nanook is out of luck if he has never heard of Jesus. That is why we tell those around us about Him! Consider this: if people can go to heaven without Christ, why are we even wasting our time trying to teach them? I mean, what's the point? Duh!"

This is an excellent example of the view that some Christians have and is exactly what the critics of Christianity consider as its fatal flaw. The scriptures show how someone like Nanook gets saved. Christ addressed this question in the form of an invitation while he was alive on Earth and later revealed the answer in a vision given to the Apostle John when he was exiled to the island of Patmos. The vision John had was recorded by him which became part of the New Testament as the last book of the Bible called Revelation. Jesus' invitation was:

John 7: 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. KJV

During the time just before Christ and while Christ was alive, the priests, during the first seven days of the fall feast in Jerusalem, would go down to the pool of Siloam in a religious procession with large water jugs. There at the pool of Siloam, they would fill the water jugs and come up the many steps to the Temple mount commemorating the long expected anticipation of the promise given through the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." NIV

As the water poured, they were reminded of how God miraculously provided water in the wilderness out of the Rock, and how God will also one day pour water from heaven on their thirsty souls through the Messiah. On the eighth day, the last day called "The Great Day of the Feast," the priests made no procession and poured no water onto the pavement. This, too, was very significant because it symbolized the fact that God had fulfilled the promise to their fathers. He had now brought them into this land that was well watered, flowing with milk and honey, and they no longer needed the miraculous supply of water out of the Rock. It was on this day, the last great day, which Jesus stood and cried out: " If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." By this act he was proclaiming that he was the "Holy One of Israel among you," and that through him all mankind would one day have access to spiritual water. How do those who lived before Christ or those who never heard of the "savior" receive the "living water?" Revelation 21 spells it out:

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. KJV

Who will be thrown into the lake of fire (hell) is clearly spelled out here. So how do folks who lived "good" lives but didn't have the opportunity to accept Christ as their savior avoid the lake of fire? The answer is in the scriptures that proceeded Rev. 21:7.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new Earth: for the first heaven and the first Earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. KJV

Verse 6 is what Christ was referencing when he stood and said. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." In the next chapter:

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. KJV

How do the nations participate in the river and tree of life? The Holy Days spell out exactly how this comes about and it begins and ends with Christ. Understanding the complete spiritual meaning of the Holy Days solves the paradox. The Holy Days of Israel are a physical rehearsal for the spiritual plan of salvation for all of mankind. The Jews, by not accepting Christ, do not understand their meaning. Christians by ignoring their importance have overlooked their meaning. In Colossians 2, the Holy Days foreshadow the spiritual reality to come.

Colossians 2:16 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: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. KJV

The Holy Days: A Rehearsal for the 7,000-Year Plan of God

Unless the Old and New Testaments are taken together, the keys to understanding God's great plan is hidden.

God gave His annual Festivals, with their seven annual Holy Days (Sabbaths) to His "Church" – then called the Congregation of Israel – in the days of Moses! They were intended to picture to the people of God, repeatedly every year, His Master Plan of redemption – leading to the incredible HUMAN POTENTIAL! These Festivals were ordained to be kept forever! Jesus, the apostles, and the early Church of God ALL OBSERVED THEM!

By being viewed as just Jewish Holy Days with no importance or significance to Christians, the meaning of the days are hidden from view. The New Testament Church of God and the Apostles kept the Holy Days and knew of their prophetic significance. God's commandment to the Israelites explains their true purpose.

Leviticus 23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 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. 3 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. 4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. KJV

Leviticus 23:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: `These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. 3 "`There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD. 4 "`These are the LORD's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: NIV

The Hebrew word that is translated convocation in the King James Version and assembly in the New International Version is from the Hebrew word miqra' {mik-raw'}. The full meaning of this word in the Hebrew can not be captured in a single English word. Strong's Concordance gives its full meaning as something called out, the act, the persons or the place. Also a rehearsal, assembly, calling, convocation, reading. The Sabbath and the Holy Days are more than sacred assemblies or holy convocations, they are sacred (holy) rehearsals commanded by God. What are they rehearsals of? The Sabbath and the Holy Days are physical rehearsals of spiritual realities that are still in the future.

All of the "Jewish Holy Days" are about Christ. Some have come to pass and symbolically look back as memorials, and some have yet to happen and are the symbolic foreshadowing of things to come. The spring festivals are symbolic of Christ's First Coming. The fall festivals are symbolic of Christ's Second Coming. God commanded the children of Israel to keep the Holy Days annually. There are three Holy Days in the spring and four in the fall. In addition to the three Holy Days in the spring, an additional special evening is observed called the Passover. For thousands of years, Israel kept these days without understanding their spiritual meaning. After Christ came, their true meaning and how they mapped out God's Plan of Salvation for all of mankind became clear to the New Testament church. In the writings of Paul and John, each and every Holy Day had a special prophetic meaning. There are three spring Holy Festivals: Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Pentecost. Each one has a spiritual meaning in addition to their original physical meaning.

The Meaning of the Spring Holy Days

The Lost Doctrines of Christianity

Christianity Not New

The Secret Teachings

The Original Religion

The Spirit Realm

Paradox of Genesis 1

The Spiritual Ruler of This World

The True Destiny of Mankind

The Doctrine of the Trinity

The Plan of God

The Meaning of the Spring Holy Days

The Fall Holy Days

The Kingdom of God

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Reincarnation Research Center

Hebrews 9:27 does not disprove reincarnation.

The Book of Revelation Teaches Reincarnation Part I

The Book of Revelation Teaches Reincarnation Part II

Pope Arrested for Believing in Reincarnation

Reincarnation in the Bible

More Scriptural Support for Reincarnation

Biblical Proof of Awareness after Death

Buddha: Proof of Reincarnation

Scientific Proof of Reincarnation

Reincarnation (old plan), Resurrection (new plan)?

Reincarnation: The Original Plan of God

Christian Reincarnation: The Long Forgotten Doctrine

Aquarian Gospel of Christ

Resurrection - The Amended plan of God

The Essenes

Christ Taught Reincarnation

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Sabbath: The Amended Plan of God part 1

Resurrection: The Amended Plan of God part 2

The Sabbath is a Rehearsal

Sabbath and the Buddha

The Tao of Sabbath

Seven Sabbath Meditations

How to Meditate

Advanced Meditation

The Parable of the King's Diamonds

Chester's Oral tests

And God said...

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