Holidays are a major aspect of the study of man. The holidays which God gave His people are shadow pictures of His Son (Colossians 2:16-17). Not only are the holy days in the Bible shadow pictures of Messiah, so too are the holidays instituted by man.
Biblical Holidays
The Biblical feasts/holidays were designed to be shadow pictures of the Messiah (Colossians 2:17) who is the manifestation of God’s love (John 3:16). They were designed like yearly ancient wedding rehearsals for the bride to keep them in His cycles of righteousness. The feasts were designed to be outwards signs of His Word to the world.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, He is the fulfillment of these sabbaths/holidays. The Word is the character/name of God (Revelation 19:13; Matthew 12:18-21 – Isaiah 42:1-4; Revelation 14:1; 22:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-8), which is love (1 John 4:8). Built into the feasts/sabbaths is the will of God, the plan of salvation for mankind (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).
Lev 23:2 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.
The Feasts are designed to reveal the Messiah. God’s plan for the salvation of humanity is shown by the seven feasts He gave to ancient Israel in Leviticus 23. He told the people to celebrate these feasts as “lasting ordinances.” The seven feasts are patterns that describe the two comings of Jesus the Christ. The Spring Feasts picture the 1st coming of the Messiah. The Fall Feasts picture His 2nd coming.
Hos 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter (spring) and former (autumn) rain unto the earth.
Sabbath…7th day of rest….picture of the thousand year reign of Messiah and our rest in Christ.
Passover…death and forgiveness…Lamb of God (John 1:29)…entering door of the Tabernacle/Temple
Unleavened bread…burial (old sinful life)….Unleavened Bread of Life (John 6:51)…burnt offering/dying to old life
First Fruits…Resurrection….First Fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Pentecost…Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), 1o commandments given in Exodus (Act 2:1-4)…brazen laver, washing with water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26)
Feast of Trumpets….Resurrection of dead…Last trump (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)…assembling at the Tabernacle/Temple (Numbers 10:2)
Day of Atonement…Jubilee, Messiah’s feet on Mt. of Olives receiving of inheritance, wedding feast, reconciliation…(Revelation 19)…new clothing
Tabernacles…Messianic era…(Revelation 21:3)…dwelling in the Temple
Last Great Day…New heavens & earth…(Revelation 22)
His Sabbaths and Feasts are a sign that God is the Creator
Exo 31:16 And the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to do the Sabbath for their generations; it is a never ending covenant.
Exo 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Passover & the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Yom Teruah – The Voice of Messiah
Yom Kippur – Ransom From Heaven
Yom Kippur – Under the Shadow of His Wings
Musings – Sukkot – Unity in the Love of Messiah
Daily Tidbits 12/31/11 – The Calendar
Tidbits:
Daily Tidbits 4/6 – Unleavened Bread
Daily Tidbits 4/11 – Wave Sheaf/Firstfruits
Man Made Holidays
Daily Tidbits 5/5 – Cinco de Mayo
Daily Tidbits 5/19 – Victoria Day
Shadows of Messiah – Mother’s Day
Daily Tidbits 5/26 – Memorial Day
Shadows of Messiah – Memorial Day
Shadows of Messiah – The Declaration of Independence (Fourth of July)
Jewish Holidays
Daily Tidbits 12/21/11 – Hanukkah & Sukkot
Daily Tidbits 12/23/11 – Hanukkah & Dedication
Winter Holidays (Hanukkah & Christmas)
Winter Holidays – Expanded (Hanukkah & Christmas)
Christian Holidays
This section is going to examine the claims of many that the holidays celebrated by Christians are rooted in the customs and beliefs of paganism (heathens/Mystery Babylon etc.). This area of study and focus is very dangerous to the spiritual condition of believers and needs to be addressed. I myself fell into this trap many years ago and it has taken me a long time to wake up to the errors and falsehood I was believing and teaching.
Most, if not all, of the claims of Christian holidays being rooted in paganism are erroneous. Some are outright lies, some are half-truths but the result of bearing false witness is still seen. These lies are dividing the body of Christ and are abominable in the eyes of God.
Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
I believe most who believe and teach these things, like myself in the past, are sincere people seeking the truth who have been misled by men of cunning craftiness (Ephesians 4:14). I hope to share some things I’ve learned which have helped me see more clearly the errors of those who claim Christian doctrine is “pagan” and hopefully edify the body of Christ in so doing.
This page will be dedicated to the subject of holidays celebrated by Christians in light of the Word of God, history and the teachings of the early Church.
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Examine Yourself
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Pagan Christianity?
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Alexander Hislop
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Ralph Woodrow
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Pagan Parallels
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Church Fathers & Paganism
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Constantine
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Origins of Christian Holidays
Daily Tidbits 12/30/11 – Shadows of Messiah: New Year’s
Daily Tidbits 1/6/12 – Epiphany
Groundhog’s Day
Daily Tidbits 2/2 – Shadows of Messiah: Groundhog’s Day
Daily Tidbits 2/14 – Shadow of Messiah – Valentine’s Day
Shadow of Messiah – Valentine’s Day
Daily Tidbits 2/24 – Shadows of Messiah: Lent
Daily Tidbits 3/17 – Shadows of Messiah: St. Patrick’s Day
Shadows of Messiah – St. Patrick’s Day
Daily Tidbits 3/25 – Annunciation
Daily Tidbits 4/13/14 – Palm Sunday
Daily Tidbits 4/8 – Shadows of Messiah: Easter
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Easter & Paganism?
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Easter Eggs
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Easter Lily
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Easter Bunny
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Resurrection Celebration
Christmas – Little Guy in the Eye
YES! Evidence Indicates Jesus Really Was Born Dec. 25th – Kurt Simmons
“Unto You is Born this Day” – Kurt Simmons
John the Baptist Six Months Older than our Lord – Kurt Simmons
The Nativity of Christ & Death of Herod the Great – Kurt Simmons
Star of Bethlehem or Nazareth? – Kurt Simmons
Objections to Christmas and the Dec. 25th Birth of Christ Answered – Kurt Simmons
Refutation of Ernest Martin’s “The Star that Astonished the World” – Kurt Simmons
Dating the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth – Michal E. Hunt
How December 25 Became Christmas – Biblical Archaeology Society
Calculating Christmas: The Story Behind December 25 – William J. Tighe
Christmas – Throwback Christianity
Is Christmas Lawful, or Is It Pagan? – Kurt Simmons
Presbyterian & Puritanial Curmudeons and the War Against Christmas – Kurt Simmons
Christmas Was Never a Pagan Holiday – Marian T. Horvat
Is Christmas Really a Pagan Holiday? – Come Reason Ministries
Christmas: Pagan Festival or Christian Celebration? – Dr. Anthony McRoy
On Nimrod and Christmas Trees – “As Bereans Did”
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Christmas & Paganism?
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Christmas Trees
Winter Holidays (Christmas & Hanukkah)
Winter Holidays – Expanded (Christmas & Hanukkah)
Daily Tidbits 12/25/11 – Shadows of Messiah: Christmas
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays part 1
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays part 2
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Law & Holidays
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Change in Law
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Law of Christ
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – A New Commandment
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – God Changes Times and Seasons
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Binding & Loosing
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Establishing the Law
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Fulfillment of the Law
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Receiving One Another
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Lord’s Day
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Love Bears All Things
Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – History
For more on the subject of holidays, from the holy days during Biblical times to the holidays of other religions and how they display Shadows of Messiah see:
Little Guy in the Eye 