Other Biblical information on our site
Good News subscription Audio/Video
view Beyond Today
Holy Day
Calendar


Meaning & Significance of the Holy Days

Jesus observed the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles and the other festivals that God gave to Israel. Should you follow His example? Are those sacred festivals still applicable for Christians?

Many Bible readers are surprised to learn that Christ observed the festivals God revealed through Moses, while other religious holidays are nowhere to be found in the Bible. One reason Christ observed those festivals is that they are relevant to His message, the gospel of the Kindgom of God. By observing them we can learn much about God's plan to grant eternal life to those who become His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. This is what gives these festivals their Christian importance and significance.

The annual cycle of God's Holy Days reminds us that God is working according to His plan of offering eternal life to every human being who has ever lived. Each year, celebrating the Holy Days once again refreshes in our minds the steps in that plan and gives great purpose to our daily lives.


Holy Day / Festival

Significance in Brief
Passover Keeping the Passover each year reminds us that God is the forgiver of sin who grants us eternal life in His Kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover. This observance is a memorial of our Creator's continuing role in humanity's salvation.
Days of Unleavened Bread Depicts putting sin out of our lives.
Pentecost Serves as an annual reminder tht our Creator still works miracles, granting His Spirit to the firstfruits of His spiritual harvest, empowering them to carry out His work in this world.
Feast of Trumpets Looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ to establish God's millennial rule upon the earth, and to the resurrection of the "dead in Christ"–the hope of a christian (1 Cor. 15:21-23; 1 Thess. 4:16).
Day of Atonement Pictures the loving reconciliation we have with God, made possible through Christ's sacrifice. It also shows the remarkable truth that Satan, the author of sin, will eventually be removed so that humanity can at last attain reconciliation with God on a universal basis.
Feast of Tabernacles Represents the Millenium, the reign of Christ on Earth for 1,000 years of true utopia and happiness.
Last Great Day Depicts the time when the vast bulk of all humanity, of all ages, will be resurrected and given their chance to qualify for eternal life.

Dates of the Holy Days and Festivals of God

Holy Day / Festival

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010
Passover Apr 12 Apr 2 Apr 19 Apr 8 Mar 29
Feast of Unleavened Bread Apr 13-19 Apr 3-9 Apr 20-26 Apr 9-15 Mar 30-Apr 5
Pentecost Jun 4 May 27 Jun 8 May 31 May 23
Feast of Trumpets Sep 23 Sep 13 Sep 30 Sep 19 Sep 9
Day of Atonement Oct 2 Sep 22 Oct 9 Sep 28 Sep 18
Feast of Tabernacles Oct 7-13 Sep 27-Oct 3 Oct 14-20 Oct 3-9 Sep 23-29
Last Great Day Oct 14 Oct 4 Oct 21 Oct 10 Sep 30
In biblical reckoning, days begin in the evening (Genesis 1:5), when the sun goes down (Joshua 8:29; 2 Chronicles 18:34; Mark 1:32), and are counted "from evening to evening" (Leviticus 23:32). Thus, all God's festivals begin the evening just before the dates listed in this table. For example, in 2002 Passover is observed Tuesday evening, March 26, after sundown, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins Wednesday evening, March 27.


Copyright © 1997-2008 United Church of God - St. Paul.
All rights reserved. Please send comments/changes to: webmaster@ucgstp.org


Other Biblical information on our site:
Search Our Site
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
Home Page of this site