Our Lord Jesus Christ’s faithful in the churches of God will observe the apostle Paul’s admonition to “examine” themselves just before the beginning of this spring’s holy days ── 1st Corinthians 11:28-32.
Sadly, the overall majority within this world’s churches will be observing Easter or perhaps Lent.
Also, the overall majority within this world’s churches realize that our Lord Jesus observed what they consider to be “Jewish” days, yet they have not properly understood nor realized that the faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ kept and observed ‘the feasts of the LORD’ in the first few centuries of true Christianity.
The LORD God’s faithful kept and observed all ‘the feasts of the LORD’ listed for us in Leviticus 23. Notice ── in the New Testament that they kept and observed ‘the LORD’s Passover’ along with the ‘Days of Unleavened Bread.’ ──
“THEREFORE purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8) THEREFORE let us KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” – 1st Corinthians 5:7-8.
They kept and observed ‘the Day of Pentecost.’ ──
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. …” – Acts 2:1-4.
“But I [the apostle Paul] will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.” – 1st Corinthians 16:8.
They kept and observed ‘the Day of Atonement’ which was called ‘the Fast.’ ──
“Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them.” – Acts 27:9.
They kept and observed ‘the Feast of Tabernacles.’ ──
“but took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means KEEP THIS coming feast in Jerusalem.” – Acts 18:21.
They kept and observed what is called ‘the Last Great Day.’ ──
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.’” – John 7:37.
Also, notice that the glorious fulfillments of ‘the first day of the month, a sabbath-rest, a memorial of trumpets, a holy convocation’ called ‘the Feast of Trumpets’ is spoken of in the New Testament ── 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18; also, be sure to read “Trumpets and Your Future.”
The Roman Catholic scholars understood and realized that these observances were kept as well ──
The connection between the Jewish Passover and the … feast of Easter is real and ideal. Real, since Christ died on the first Jewish Easter Day; Ideal, like the relation between type and reality, because Christ’s death and resurrection had its figures and types in the Old Law, particularly in the Paschal lamb, which was eaten towards the evening of the 14th of Nisan. In fact, the Jewish feast WAS TAKEN OVER INTO THE CHRISTIAN EASTER CELEBRATION; … The connection between the Jewish and the Christian [Easter] explains the movable character of this feast. … Since Christ, the true Paschal Lamb, had been slain on the very day when the Jews, in celebration of their Passover, immolated the figurative lamb, the Jewish Christians in the Orient followed the Jewish method, and commemorated the death of Christ on the 15th of Nisan and His resurrection on the 17th of Nisan, no matter what day of the week they fell. For this observance they claimed the authority of St. John and St. Philip. 1
In actuality, the true and faithful Christians that were in the Orient were keeping and observing the 14th day of Nisan ── not the 15th! But, the basic point I want to make is that the Roman Catholic Church then ── and now ── admits (in publication and behind closed doors) that our Lord Jesus Christ was slain on the 14th of Nisan – ‘the LORD’s Passover.’ Even though they changed the name, “change times and laws” calling it EASTER - a homonym of the pagan goddess Ishtar.
Pentecost … a feast of the universal Church [speaking about the Roman Catholic Church] which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, ON THE ANCIENT JEWISH FESTIVAL CALLED ‘the feast of weeks’ or Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10) … 2
What is known as Lent was not kept or observed by any early true Christian. However, ‘the LORD’s Passover’ and ‘the feast of weeks’ (Pentecost) were!
In the THIRD CENTURY (referring to the period from AD 201 – AD 300), the Roman Catholic theologian Origen had listed the following as being celebrated by Roman Catholics ──
Chapter XXII. If it be objected to us on this subject that WE OURSELVES ARE ACCUSTOMED TO OBSERVE CERTAIN DAYS, as for example … The Passover, or Pentecost, … 3
It is also very likely that other spring holy days were being kept by the early Roman Catholics, along with the LORD God’s fall holy days.
Notice this from the SECOND CENTURY (the period from AD 101 – AD 200) ──
The most important in this festival was the Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, … in it they ate unleavened bread, probably like the Jews, eight days through. … there is NO TRACE OF A YEARLY FESTIVAL OF THE RESURRECTION AMONG THEM, … 4
Like the faithful apostle John (the last of the original apostles to die; probably naturally), the early faithful true Christians kept and observed the LORD’s Passover, along with the Days of Unleavened Bread!
We in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries keep and observe (In God’s living word, the concept of ‘KEEP’ and ‘OBSERVE’ is related to following and keeping the LORD God’s holy and righteous commandments, including the ‘feasts of the LORD,’ including the holy Sabbath!) the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day that foreshadows the glorious and powerful soon-coming Millennium!
So, the early true Christians kept and observed what are today known as “Jewish” holy days. And since our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles kept and observed them, shouldn’t ‘the LORD’s feasts’ be kept annually ── and not Easter, Halloween, and the Mass of Christ (Christmas) ── by true and faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ? Gradually, as more “converted” pagans entered into the Roman Catholic Church, they stopped keeping and observing “Jewish” holy days.
The Roman Catholic John Chrysostom preached antisemitism in AD 387 ──
What is this disease? The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. … If the Jewish ceremonies are venerable and great, our[s] are lies. 5
Now, truly none of this causes a problem for the Roman Catholic Church of today, because they just simply gloss it all over with excuse after excuse – again, ‘changing the appointed times and laws’ – cf. Daniel 7:25. The modern Roman Catholics claim they still keep a version of Passover (of course, under the name Easter) and Pentecost. This John Chrysostom died on September 14, AD 407, and is venerated by the Catholic Church! So, he did not write anything they are too ashamed of ── they too have the idealism of “What is this disease?”
Although his writings are not a part of God’s inspired Word – the Bible – Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, spoke of some possible information. Polycarp, who is considered a saint by the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries.
Some of this information speaks of the Sabbath, the LORD’s Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. And the book ── The Life of Polycarp ── endorses keeping and observing them ──
In the days of unleavened bread, Paul, coming down from Galatia, arrived in Asia, considering the repose among the faithful in Smyrna to be a great refreshment in Christ Jesus after his severe toil, and intending afterwards to depart to Jerusalem. So in Smyrna he went to visit Strataeas, who had been his hearer in Pamphylia, being a son of Eunice the daughter of Lois. These are they of whom he makes mention when writing to Timothy, saying; Of the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice; whence we find that Strataeas was a brother of Timothy. Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection. For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians, nor yet on the other hand of necessity on the fourteenth day: for he said nothing about the fourteenth day, but named the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel.22) And on the sabbath, when prayer had been made long time on bended knee, he, as was his custom, got up to read; and every eye was fixed upon him. Now the lesson was the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and to Titus, in which he says what manner of man a bishop ought to be. And he was so well fitted for the office that the hearers said one to another that he lacked none of those qualities which Paul requires in one who has the care of a church. When then, after the reading and the instruction of the bishops and the discourses of the presbyters, the deacons were sent to the laity to enquire whom they would have, they said with one accord, 'Let Polycarp be our pastor and teacher.' 6
So, there is an ancient book that says that Polycarp did indeed keep and observe the holy Sabbath, along with all ‘the feasts of the LORD’! And, of course, as we’ve shown you here in this article, other various sources also support this fact!
Polycrates ── who actually did not accept what the Roman Catholic Church taught ── who was bishop of Ephesus, wrote this around the year AD 195 ──
Chapter 24. The Disagreement in Asia.We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate.He fell asleep at Ephesus.And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna.Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead?All these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. 7
Praise be forever for our mighty LORD God ── this shows that Polycrates and others (who are considered to be saints by the Roman Catholic Church) kept and observed the LORD’s Passover ON THE 14th of Nisan. So, there is no doubt that the feasts that are called by a great many today as “Jewish” were still being kept and observed by the true and faithful Christians there in Asia Minor and elsewhere centuries after the death and glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ!
What WAS NOT BEING KEPT OR OBSERVED ── until at least the 4th century (the period from AD 301 – AD 400) ── by the Roman Catholic Church or even the Eastern Orthodox churches, was CHRISTMAS! Nor what is known as Lent, or Valentine’s Day, or Halloween, that multiple millions keep and observe today.
The LORD God’s feasts are still observed by the faithful true Christians around the world in this 21st century!
Do you follow the commands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or are YOU BUT A TRADITIONALIST? □
1 Wynes, J.J., The Catholic Encyclopedia Volume V, “Easter”, 1909, pgs. 224, 225.
2 The Catholic Encyclopedia Volume 15, “Whitsunday,” Knights Of Columbus Special Edition, 1914, pg. 614.
3 by Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second, Ante Nicene Fathers, Vol 4, 2000, pg. 1513.
4 by Gieseler, Johann Karl Ludwig, 1792-1854, A text-book of church history, “§ 53. ECCLESIASTICAL LIFE.” 1857-80, pg. 166.
5 John Chrysostom, Against the Jews. Homily 1, https://www.tertullian.org/, HOMILY I § 5, VI § 5.
6 Lightfoot, J.B., Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506. LIFE OF POLYCARP.
7 New Advent, Church History (Book V), Chapter 24, § 2-6.
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