2 Peter chapter 3
We are walking in today: HOW TO AVOID DECEPTION: Let Scripture Interpret Scripture!!!!*** ENCORE!!!!!
Witness prophet throughout the Bible: H5030
nabiy--spokesman, speaker, prophet, often
rebuked the conduct of kings or nations; they were not speaking their own words--but
those divinely received; a messenger of the Most High and declarer of His will.
1 Kings 20:13 And, behold, there came a prophet H5030 unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
The Torah ..................…
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet H5030 from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
The prophets ...............…
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets H5030 prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means;
and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
The writings .............
1 King 20:13 And, behold, there came a prophet H5030 unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus
saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 44:23-24 23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
Ezekiel 2:5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet H5030 among them.
All the Words of the Prophets
Our next Guideline is seen in the Book of Luke, where we see Yahushua talking to His Disciples. Here Yahushua reveals a great truth for us today, a valuable piece of information that has been ignored by most Bible Teachers. Notice the following passage:
Then he said unto them, O fools ['foolish'], and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: (Luke 24:25)
In the above passage, Yahushua tells us that it is the 'foolish' who are slow of heart to believe [to be "DO-ers" of] all that the prophets have spoken. By contrast, being quick to believe 'all that the prophets have spoken' is the realm of the 'wise.'
This tells us that we should be "DO-ers" of all the words of the prophets, and that we can use the words of the prophets to validate truth.
We see the same principle in the book of Acts:
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, (Acts 15:15)
In the above passage, the apostle James confirms and validates the actions and words of Simon Peter, by finding their agreement with the words of the prophets!
As if that were not enough, Peter then goes on to tell us that we too, should be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets:
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:1-2)
If we are to avoid being among the foolish, among those who are slow of heart, our interpretation must also be in agreement with all the words of the prophets!
Let's see some Scripture examples of how we may use this guideline.
In this example, we will see how the apostle Paul believed [was a "DO-er" of] all the words of the Prophets, and that Paul exhorts us to follow his example.
What did Paul himself believe, and do?
In order to determine what Paul believed and did, we must look closely at Paul's testimony:
And this I [Paul] confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim [God] of my fathers, believing [being a "DO-er" of] all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets (Acts 24:14 - The Scriptures 1998)
In the above passage, Paul tells us he worships the Elohim [God] of his fathers, 'believing' [being a "DO-er" of] all things which are written in the law and in the Prophets.
The apostle Paul is telling us that he is a "DO-er" of all the Words of Messiah, which include the Words Messiah spoke to Moses and all the Prophets.
But what did the Prophets speak? What did the apostle Paul do and practice?
Notice the following words of the prophet Ezekiel:
I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. (Ezekiel 20:19-20)
In the above passage, the prophet Ezekiel looks backward, reminding us of the commandments of Torah. Now notice the words of Ezekiel that look forward prophetically, to Believers in Messiah under the New Covenant:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24)
In the above passages, the prophet Ezekiel confirms a New Covenant promise.
THE MOST HIGH tells us He will give us a new heart; and He will put His Spirit within the Believers, and will cause them to walk in His statutes, and keep and do His judgments. This refers to walking in obedience to all the New Covenant statutes, judgments, and commandments that are written in Torah.
Do we see Ezekiel's prophetic words as a testimony in the life of the apostle Paul?
We now know that the apostle Paul was a "DO-er" of all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets. We can now understand that Paul was careful to keep all the commandments, statutes, and judgments of Torah, including the Biblical Feast days and Sabbath days.
Let's look further at Paul's testimony:
Now... Paul and his company... went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. (Acts 13:13-14)
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. (Acts 13:42)
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (Acts 17:2)
But [Paul] bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (Acts 18:21)
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16)
Defending himself, Paul said, Neither against the Torah of the Jews, nor against the sanctuary, nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything. (Acts 25:8-HRB)
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: 8 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)
In the above passages, Paul reveals that his manner was to assemble on the Sabbath days, and to observe the Biblical Feast days and other commandments of Torah.
With Paul's testimony in mind, notice next what Paul says:
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers [imitators] of me. (1 Corinthians 4:16)
Be ye followers [imitators] of me, even as I also am [an imitator] of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Brethren, be followers [imitators] together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:17)
In the above passage, Paul exhorts all of Messiah's followers [including us today] to be 'imitators' of him, as he is [an imitator] of Messiah (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul exhorts us to do as he did, by observing THE MOST HIGH's Sabbath Days and Feast Days, and by walking orderly and keeping the Law, according to his own example for us to follow.
Beloved, have you been taught the above information about Paul from your Bible Teachers?
No? Why not?
Scripture tells us in detail, the reason that many Bible teachers today do not teach these Scriptures!
We recall that in a Biblical sense, to 'know' something is to experience that thing. When Paul tells us he writes to those who 'know' the Torah, he is telling us that he writes to those who experience or practice Torah.
So it is, that from a Biblical standpoint, it is not until we 'know' Torah by experiencing and practicing Torah, that we truly 'know' Torah. And because many Bible Teachers today have themselves been taught not to experience Torah, they do not really 'know' Torah — and according to the apostle Peter, they are unlearned!
Peter goes on to give us more details:
"...even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15-16)
Those who read Paul's letters without knowing [practicing] Torah, will not understand Paul's message. They do not 'know' Torah, so from a Biblical standpoint they are 'unlearned' and unstable. They will simply 'wrest' or twist the apostle Paul's words, just as Peter warned us in 2 Peter 3:16.
Peter reminds us to "be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets." The apostle Paul likewise exhorts us to imitate him, and become "DO-ers" of all things which are written in the law and in the Prophets!
Let's look at another example of how we may test the many popular, modern Bible doctrines using the words of the Prophets:
In this example, we will look at some of the apostle Paul's words. Our goal is to confirm the true meaning of Paul's words, by comparing them to the words of the Holy Prophets of old.
In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he tells them they had begun well, but they had become bewitched, and were being led away from New Covenant practices and principles. Many teachers today, however, teach a non-Biblical meaning for Paul's exhortation.
Let's look at the New Testament passage, and then use the words of the Prophets in Scripture to spot the error:
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of [for] you, lest [that perhaps] I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4:10-11)
The above passage is translated correctly in modern Bible translations, but the notes found in many Bibles actually change the meaning of Paul's words in this passage to fit modern church doctrines.
Notice that the Bible notes in many Bibles speculate that Paul is here rebuking the Galatians for observing 'Biblical' feast days. But is this true?
We recall from the above example, that Paul was a "DO-er" of all that is written in the Law [Torah] and in the Prophets. The apostle Paul is telling us that he is a "DO-er" of all the Words of Messiah, including the Words Messiah spoke to Moses, and the Words Messiah spoke to all the Prophets.
So let's see what the Prophets of old say about the Biblical feast days:
And this day [Passover] shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:14)
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:17)
Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. (Isaiah 56:2)
In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. (Ezekiel 45:21)
In the above passages, we see a few of the many, many words of the Prophets, who continue to call THE MOST HIGH's people to observe His Feasts.
THE MOST HIGH's Feasts include His weekly Sabbath days, His annual Passover, and His annual Feast of Unleavened (Lev 23:1-44).
And in the previous example above, we saw that Paul observes the Biblical Sabbath days and Feast days, and other commandments of Torah.
We also saw in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, that Paul exhorts us to keep the Feast of Passover and Unleavened.
We also saw in 1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1, and Philippians 3:17, that Paul exhorts us to be followers [imitators] of him.
Since Paul himself kept all the 'Biblical' feast days [as we saw in the previous example above], and since Paul exhorts us to be 'imitators' of him (1 Co 4:16,11:1; Php 3:17), we must ask the next question:
Question: "How could Paul be afraid for the Galatian Believers, and consider his labour to be in vain, if the Galatians were imitating Paul's example, by observing the 'Biblical' feast days as Paul did?"
So we see that when we compare the Galatians 4:10-11 Passage with Paul's own words and testimony, the notion that Paul is rebuking the Galatians for keeping of 'Biblical' Feast days does agree.
This is further evidence that Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
But this is still not enough evidence thus far. Let's look for further confirmation from the words of the Prophets, to see what else the Prophets have to say about Believers in Messiah observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
In the following passage, notice carefully that the prophet Zechariah describes a future scenario in Messiah's Kingdom:
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19)
As we have noted in other writings, the Scriptures tell us in great detail that the observing of all the Biblical Feasts are vital, present-day provisions of the Everlasting [New] Covenant!
And as we see in the above Zechariah passage, in the future, all the earth will be subject to Yah's Everlasting [New] Covenant provisions of keeping the Torah, including all the Biblical Feasts.
The Prophet Zechariah is telling us that in Messiah's future Kingdom on earth, all the nations on earth will receive either Blessings or chastisement, according to how they obey, just as it is today!
In Messiah's future Kingdom, those who 'believe' Messiah's words, and observe His Feast days, will receive Blessings. But those who not 'believe' Messiah's words, and do not observe His Feast days, will receive punishment.
So we see in this example, the notion that the apostle Paul is rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days, actually contradicts Paul's own words and testimony, and in particular, contradicts the words of the Prophets!
We may now conclude that in the Galatians passage, the apostle Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
We must then ask, "Why is the apostle Paul rebuking the Believers in Galatians 4:10-11?"
Upon close inspection, we find that in the Galatians 4:10 passage, Paul is referring back to the "weak and beggarly elements of the world" (Gal 4:3; Col 2:8,20).
Paul then tells us these "weak and beggarly elements" [Greek stoicheon< 4747>] are of the world, and are the worldly precepts that will perish, and will be done away with, because they are not based on Messiah's Words (Col 2:8).
Instead, Paul tells us in Colossians 2:20-22, that these same stoicheon are based on man-made 'ordinances' [dogmas; decrees of men] that are according to the "commandments and doctrines of men."
Did we catch this? The 'elements of the world' are not based on based on Messiah's Words.
The commandments to observe the Feasts of THE MOST HIGH, however, are Messiah's Words. The Scriptures tell us plainly that it was the WORD of THE MOST HIGH
[Messiah Himself], who spoke the words to Moses and all the Prophets.
So we see further proof that Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
The "days and months and seasons and years" to which Paul refers in Galatians, are the popular [but man-made] 'holy' days "not commanded" in Scripture. These are man-made days of pagan origin — the popular religious 'holidays' celebrated by the nations. These 'holy' seasons and 'holy' days were popular in ancient times, even before the birth of Messiah, and they were popular in Paul's day.
Today these same pagan 'holy' days continue to attract and deceive many, and are popular within the modern Christian culture!
As we can read in any Encyclopaedia, these modern Religious 'holy days' are of ancient, pagan origin, but have been 'Christianised' and given new names and new 'packaging,' and have been vigorously promoted by Rome for almost two thousand years.
Today these ancient customs are known as Christmas [from the pagan 'Saturnalia' Sun worship celebration on 25 December], Easter [from the pagan 'Ishtar' fertility celebration featuring eggs and rabbits in the Spring], Good Friday, Lent, All-saints Day, and many other 'holy' days, months, seasons, and years not mentioned in Scripture.
There are many more words that the Prophets have spoken, which describe in much more detail some of the pagan celebrations forbidden to THE MOST HIGH's people. For example, Jeremiah 10:1-4 warns us against observing certain Religious rites that are not commanded in Scripture! Note that this particular warning tells us that bringing an evergreen tree into the home, and decorating it as part of a Religious celebration, is one of the ways of the heathen that we are to avoid.
As we have seen in the few examples above, we will be able to detect any false doctrines, false teachers, and false prophets — and avoid deception — if we will only be mindful of all the words of the Prophets.
Our next Guideline is seen in the Book of Luke, where we see Yahushua talking to His Disciples. Here Yahushua reveals a great truth for us today, a valuable piece of information that has been ignored by most Bible Teachers. Notice the following passage:
Then he said unto them, O fools ['foolish'], and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: (Luke 24:25)
In the above passage, Yahushua tells us that it is the 'foolish' who are slow of heart to believe [to be "DO-ers" of] all that the prophets have spoken. By contrast, being quick to believe 'all that the prophets have spoken' is the realm of the 'wise.'
This tells us that we should be "DO-ers" of all the words of the prophets, and that we can use the words of the prophets to validate truth.
We see the same principle in the book of Acts:
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, (Acts 15:15)
In the above passage, the apostle James confirms and validates the actions and words of Simon Peter, by finding their agreement with the words of the prophets!
As if that were not enough, Peter then goes on to tell us that we too, should be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets:
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:1-2)
If we are to avoid being among the foolish, among those who are slow of heart, our interpretation must also be in agreement with all the words of the prophets!
Let's see some Scripture examples of how we may use this guideline.
In this example, we will see how the apostle Paul believed [was a "DO-er" of] all the words of the Prophets, and that Paul exhorts us to follow his example.
What did Paul himself believe, and do?
In order to determine what Paul believed and did, we must look closely at Paul's testimony:
And this I [Paul] confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim [God] of my fathers, believing [being a "DO-er" of] all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets (Acts 24:14 - The Scriptures 1998)
In the above passage, Paul tells us he worships the Elohim [God] of his fathers, 'believing' [being a "DO-er" of] all things which are written in the law and in the Prophets.
The apostle Paul is telling us that he is a "DO-er" of all the Words of Messiah, which include the Words Messiah spoke to Moses and all the Prophets.
But what did the Prophets speak? What did the apostle Paul do and practice?
Notice the following words of the prophet Ezekiel:
I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. (Ezekiel 20:19-20)
In the above passage, the prophet Ezekiel looks backward, reminding us of the commandments of Torah. Now notice the words of Ezekiel that look forward prophetically, to Believers in Messiah under the New Covenant:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24)
In the above passages, the prophet Ezekiel confirms a New Covenant promise.
THE MOST HIGH tells us He will give us a new heart; and He will put His Spirit within the Believers, and will cause them to walk in His statutes, and keep and do His judgments. This refers to walking in obedience to all the New Covenant statutes, judgments, and commandments that are written in Torah.
Do we see Ezekiel's prophetic words as a testimony in the life of the apostle Paul?
We now know that the apostle Paul was a "DO-er" of all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets. We can now understand that Paul was careful to keep all the commandments, statutes, and judgments of Torah, including the Biblical Feast days and Sabbath days.
Let's look further at Paul's testimony:
Now... Paul and his company... went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. (Acts 13:13-14)
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. (Acts 13:42)
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (Acts 17:2)
But [Paul] bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (Acts 18:21)
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16)
Defending himself, Paul said, Neither against the Torah of the Jews, nor against the sanctuary, nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything. (Acts 25:8-HRB)
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: 8 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)
In the above passages, Paul reveals that his manner was to assemble on the Sabbath days, and to observe the Biblical Feast days and other commandments of Torah.
With Paul's testimony in mind, notice next what Paul says:
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers [imitators] of me. (1 Corinthians 4:16)
Be ye followers [imitators] of me, even as I also am [an imitator] of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Brethren, be followers [imitators] together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:17)
In the above passage, Paul exhorts all of Messiah's followers [including us today] to be 'imitators' of him, as he is [an imitator] of Messiah (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul exhorts us to do as he did, by observing THE MOST HIGH 's Sabbath Days and Feast Days, and by walking orderly and keeping the Law, according to his own example for us to follow.
Beloved, have you been taught the above information about Paul from your Bible Teachers?
No? Why not?
Scripture tells us in detail, the reason that many Bible teachers today do not teach these Scriptures!
We recall that in a Biblical sense, to 'know' something is to experience that thing. When Paul tells us he writes to those who 'know' the Torah, he is telling us that he writes to those who experience or practice Torah.
So it is, that from a Biblical standpoint, it is not until we 'know' Torah by experiencing and practicing Torah, that we truly 'know' Torah. And because many Bible Teachers today have themselves been taught not to experience Torah, they do not really 'know' Torah — and according to the apostle Peter, they are unlearned!
Peter goes on to give us more details:
"...even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15-16)
Those who read Paul's letters without knowing [practicing] Torah, will not understand Paul's message. They do not 'know' Torah, so from a Biblical standpoint they are 'unlearned' and unstable. They will simply 'wrest' or twist the apostle Paul's words, just as Peter warned us in 2 Peter 3:16.
Peter reminds us to "be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets." The apostle Paul likewise exhorts us to imitate him, and become "DO-ers" of all things which are written in the law and in the Prophets!
Let's look at another example of how we may test the many popular, modern Bible doctrines using the words of the Prophets:
In this example, we will look at some of the apostle Paul's words. Our goal is to confirm the true meaning of Paul's words, by comparing them to the words of the Holy Prophets of old.
In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he tells them they had begun well, but they had become bewitched, and were being led away from New Covenant practices and principles. Many teachers today, however, teach a non-Biblical meaning for Paul's exhortation.
Let's look at the New Testament passage, and then use the words of the Prophets in Scripture to spot the error:
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of [for] you, lest [that perhaps] I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4:10-11)
The above passage is translated correctly in modern Bible translations, but the notes found in many Bibles actually change the meaning of Paul's words in this passage to fit modern church doctrines.
Notice that the Bible notes in many Bibles speculate that Paul is here rebuking the Galatians for observing 'Biblical' feast days. But is this true?
We recall from the above example, that Paul was a "DO-er" of all that is written in the Law [Torah] and in the Prophets. The apostle Paul is telling us that he is a "DO-er" of all the Words of Messiah, including the Words Messiah spoke to Moses, and the Words Messiah spoke to all the Prophets.
So let's see what the Prophets of old say about the Biblical feast days:
And this day [Passover] shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:14)
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:17)
Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. (Isaiah 56:2)
In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. (Ezekiel 45:21)
In the above passages, we see a few of the many, many words of the Prophets, who continue to call
THE MOST HIGH's people to observe His Feasts. THE MOST HIGH's Feasts include His weekly Sabbath days, His annual Passover, and His annual Feast of Unleavened (Lev 23:1-44).
And in the previous example above, we saw that Paul observes the Biblical Sabbath days and Feast days, and other commandments of Torah.
We also saw in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, that Paul exhorts us to keep the Feast of Passover and Unleavened.
We also saw in 1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1, and Philippians 3:17, that Paul exhorts us to be followers [imitators] of him.
Since Paul himself kept all the 'Biblical' feast days [as we saw in the previous example above], and since Paul exhorts us to be 'imitators' of him (1 Co 4:16,11:1; Php 3:17), we must ask the next question:
Question: "How could Paul be afraid for the Galatian Believers, and consider his labour to be in vain, if the Galatians were imitating Paul's example, by observing the 'Biblical' feast days as Paul did?"
So we see that when we compare the Galatians 4:10-11 Passage with Paul's own words and testimony, the notion that Paul is rebuking the Galatians for keeping of 'Biblical' Feast days does agree.
This is further evidence that Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
But this is still not enough evidence thus far. Let's look for further confirmation from the words of the Prophets, to see what else the Prophets have to say about Believers in Messiah observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
In the following passage, notice carefully that the prophet Zechariah describes a future scenario in Messiah's Kingdom:
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19)
As we have noted in other writings, the Scriptures tell us in great detail that the observing of all the Biblical Feasts are vital, present-day provisions of the Everlasting [New] Covenant!
And as we see in the above Zechariah passage, in the future, all the earth will be subject to Yah's Everlasting [New] Covenant provisions of keeping the Torah, including all the Biblical Feasts.
The Prophet Zechariah is telling us that in Messiah's future Kingdom on earth, all the nations on earth will receive either Blessings or chastisement, according to how they obey, just as it is today!
In Messiah's future Kingdom, those who 'believe' Messiah's words, and observe His Feast days, will receive Blessings. But those who not 'believe' Messiah's words, and do not observe His Feast days, will receive punishment.
So we see in this example, the notion that the apostle Paul is rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days, actually contradicts Paul's own words and testimony, and in particular, contradicts the words of the Prophets!
We may now conclude that in the Galatians passage, the apostle Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
We must then ask, "Why is the apostle Paul rebuking the Believers in Galatians 4:10-11?"
Upon close inspection, we find that in the Galatians 4:10 passage, Paul is referring back to the "weak and beggarly elements of the world" (Gal 4:3; Col 2:8,20).
Paul then tells us these "weak and beggarly elements" [Greek stoicheon< 4747>] are of the world, and are the worldly precepts that will perish, and will be done away with, because they are not based on Messiah's Words (Col 2:8).
Instead, Paul tells us in Colossians 2:20-22, that these same stoicheon are based on man-made 'ordinances' [dogmas; decrees of men] that are according to the "commandments and doctrines of men."
Did we catch this? The 'elements of the world' are not based on based on Messiah's Words.
The commandments to observe the Feasts of THE MOST HIGH, however, are Messiah's Words. The Scriptures tell us plainly that it was the WORD of THE MOST HIGH [Messiah Himself], who spoke the words to Moses and all the Prophets.
So we see further proof that Paul is not rebuking the Believers for observing 'Biblical' Feast days.
The "days and months and seasons and years" to which Paul refers in Galatians, are the popular [but man-made] 'holy' days "not commanded" in Scripture. These are man-made days of pagan origin — the popular religious 'holidays' celebrated by the nations. These 'holy' seasons and 'holy' days were popular in ancient times, even before the birth of Messiah, and they were popular in Paul's day.
Today these same pagan 'holy' days continue to attract and deceive many, and are popular within the modern Christian culture!
As we can read in any Encyclopaedia, these modern Religious 'holy days' are of ancient, pagan origin, but have been 'Christianised' and given new names and new 'packaging,' and have been vigorously promoted by Rome for almost two thousand years.
Today these ancient customs are known as Christmas [from the pagan 'Saturnalia' Sun worship celebration on 25 December], Easter [from the pagan 'Ishtar' fertility celebration featuring eggs and rabbits in the Spring], Good Friday, Lent, All-saints Day, and many other 'holy' days, months, seasons, and years not mentioned in Scripture.
There are many more words that the Prophets have spoken, which describe in much more detail some of the pagan celebrations forbidden to
THE MOST HIGH's people. For example, Jeremiah 10:1-4 warns us against observing certain Religious rites that are not commanded in Scripture! Note that this particular warning tells us that bringing an evergreen tree into the home, and decorating it as part of a Religious celebration, is one of the ways of the heathen that we are to avoid.
As we have seen in the few examples above, we will be able to detect any false doctrines, false teachers, and false prophets — and avoid deception — if we will only be mindful of all the words of the Prophets.
Shema Selah let us listen and weigh the scriptures according to scripture and not man!!!
