United Church of God

Letter From Devin Schulz - May 15, 2020

Letter From Devin Schulz

May 15, 2020

Happy Sabbath!

Last week, we extended the challenge to write out concise explanations about each of the Festivals of God. This practice forces us to verbalize our understanding of these important days, but also maintaining brevity requires a deep understanding, to be able to accurately convey the truth. Let us look at some examples for the last four of God's Festivals.

The book of Revelation reveals a sequence of earth-shaking events, heralded by angels sounding a series of seven trumpet blasts. The seventh angel's sounding of the last trumpet signifies that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15). Paul understood this as well when he wrote to the brethren in Thessalonica "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The Festival of Trumpets points forward to these important events that will be announced with a trumpet. In addition to the direct connection to trumpets, these events must take place to set the stage for the fulfillment of the next step in God's plan, represented by the Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 16 describes a ritual that God commanded Israel to perform every year on the Festival of Atonement. This ritual seems like a strange thing, but the symbolism becomes clear when connected with what God reveals in Revelation. Revelation 20:1-3 describes an angel (fit man - Leviticus 16:20-22) coming from heaven and laying hold of Satan (Azazel goat Leviticus 16:8,10) and casting him into a bottomless pit (solitary place Leviticus 16:21-22). The Day of Atonement pictures the removal of the primary cause of sin - Satan and his demons. This makes sense in the timeline of events, as this will occur after Christ returns to establish His Father's Kingdom on earth, and to start a new kingdom you must remove the ruler of the old one.

Once Satan is removed from influencing this world, Christ will work with the resurrected Saints to restore and refresh this world for 1,000 years (Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 20:4-6). This time is pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles. Tabernacles is a time to celebrate the abundance that God had blessed us with, reflected in the fact this Festival is also called the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). The symbology is clear in the connection to the thousand years when God will bless the earth under the rulership of His Son (Isaiah 35:6-7; Amos 9:13-14). A major part of the changes brought forth will be the instruction in God's law, including the observance of all the Festivals of God (Isaiah 11:9, Zechariah 14:16).

The last Feast day mentioned in scripture is referred to as "The Eighth Day" (Leviticus 23:36). It is at the end of the seven-day Tabernacles Festival but is distinct from it. This day is connected to what is called the "Great White Throne Judgement" (Revelation 20:11-14). This will be the time when all those who have died in this age without a calling from God will have an opportunity to learn God's way of life and enter the family of God.

This is just a brief glimpse into the incredible meaning and symbolism held in God's Feast Days. What is clear scripturally, is that keeping of these days is still expected of those who follow God. They are relevant and in rehearsing these days every year we get deeper insights into God's Plan.

How did our assignment go this week? Did we learn anything? Did it spur further study? I pray this was an edifying activity.  

May we all be uplifted as we keep this Sabbath!

Devin Schulz