One major responsibility of Ministerial and Member Services (MMS) is to provide festival locations around the world to observe God’s annual Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. We seek to determine where God has placed His name through prayer and by walking through the doors God opens for us as we consider various festival site possibilities.

We have just completed the annual  cycle of God’s Holy Days, so now is a good time to reflect upon the reality that God’s plan of salvation, revealed in these days, is a plan devised in love and grace for all mankind. These days also reveal that God isn’t calling everyone now; but for those who understand and answer God’s call, now is our day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Some think we keep these Holy Days because we are legalists trying to earn our salvation. Not so! In fact, these Holy Days picture God’s plan of salvation through grace! We would not understand the fullness of God’s grace if it were not for our observance of these Holy Days! And even now, we still don’t fully grasp that grace.

New Testament Passover

God’s grace is highlighted in the first of God’s annual Holy Days. The Passover also underscores our calling now; we were baptized, immersed in water, and had the laying on of hands of a minister of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12-17; Hebrews 6:2), because God called us now, at this time. We accept Jesus Christ as our Messiah, our Savior who died for us (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-8; 14:15; 1 Corinthians 15:13). We repented of our sins, sins which made it necessary for Christ’s death on our behalf. The wages of sin is death and death is what we all deserve (Romans 6:23); but our sinless Messiah died for us and the gift of God is eternal life. That is grace. Christ now lives as our High Priest, making intercession for us as we are saved by God’s ongoing grace and forgiveness (Hebrews 2:7; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:5; 7:26; 8:1; 9:11). We are repentant members of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16; 12:27; Ephesians 4:12).

New Testament Days of Unleavened Bread

Jesus Christ is the unleavened bread, the perfect sacrifice/offering that came down from heaven and lived a perfect life in the flesh, as a human being, setting an example for all of us (John 6:35-58). During the Days of Unleavened Bread, Jesus Christ was resurrected to eternal life. Yes, we strive to put spiritual leaven, sin, out of our lives as we attempt to glorify God the Father and Jesus Christ who now live in us by the power of the Holy Spirit that we received at baptism (Acts 2:38; Galatians 2:20), but we ought not to believe for one second that we are earning our salvation.

New Testament Pentecost

Acts 2 shows that God was full of grace as He granted His Holy Spirit to those He was calling on that first New Testament Day of Pentecost. The New Testament Church of God, our Church, began with the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon true Christians— those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and who repented of their sins (Acts 2:38-41).

Figuratively, this is where we all are now—the time in our calling, our day of salvation, represented between Passover and the coming fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets when we will be changed to spirit beings at Christ’s return.

New Testament Feast of Trumpets

This Holy Day pictures the Messiah’s return. Our Savior is coming back to earth (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and we are privileged, as firstfruits, to rule and reign as kings and priests in love alongside Him (Revelation 5:10). What mercy, what grace, what forgiveness, what salvation!

New Testament Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement pictures the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, looking back to Passover and the killing of the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, for our atonement (John 1:29; Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). It also pictures the binding of Satan the devil and his banishment to the abyss, the wilderness for 1,000 years, and then, ultimately, the fate of Satan as God wills (Revelation 20:2, 10).

New Testament Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles pictures Christ’s millennial reign upon the earth (Revelation 20:4, 6). What a glorious time that will be! God will graciously teach His ways to all mankind and all will come to know the true God. His law will go forth from Zion, from Jerusalem, established as the world headquarters of God’s Kingdom on earth (Micah 4:2). Satan is bound and is not around to influence and to tempt mankind for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).

New Testament Last Great Day or Eighth Day

This Holy Day pictures the Great White Throne Judgment period and beyond into eternity. All people who have been deceived and were not called, or did not answer their call, will be resurrected after the thousand years are completed and they will have their day of salvation (Revelation 20:11-13). What mercy, what grace, what forgiveness, what salvation!

Those who have refused to repent and do not have their names written in God’s book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

New heavens and a new earth are coming where only righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17; 66:2)! A spiritual Kingdom will be established that shall have no end (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:33)!

God’s merciful plan of salvation has been graciously revealed to all of us, as we shall certainly be saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)! This knowledge is another indication that now is your day of salvation!