No More Animal Sacrifices

All Christians will agree that animal sacrifices ceased at the death of Christ, when “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51) by an unseen hand, thus signifying the end of the typical service with all its ceremonies, rituals, festivals, forms, symbols, and ordinances that pointed to a future fulfillment.

This being true, it would be senseless to continue the observance of the Jewish feast days, since animal sacrifice was an integral part of all the feasts. Simple logic will tell you that when the sacrifice of animals became a thing of the past, the feast days became a thing of the past as well.

Colossians 2:16, 17 gives more information regarding the ordinances that were blotted out and nailed to the cross (verse 14). “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Paul says we are not to be judged because we no longer present meat and drink offerings to the Lord, even respecting a “holyday.” According to the original Greek, the word “holyday” means “a festival or solemn feast” (Strong’s Concordance #1859). Incidentally, the sabbath days mentioned here are not the Sabbaths of the fourth commandment, but yearly sabbaths that fell on certain set days of the month-a different day of the week each year. Please read Leviticus 23:23-38 and all this will become very clear.

In the ninth chapter of Hebrews, Paul gives a brief description of the Old Testament sanctuary service. In verse one he says, “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” Then after his description of the earthly sanctuary with its ordinances, verses 9 and 10 say, “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”

As one continues to read, it becomes obvious that the “time of reformation” that would abolish the Old Testament ordinances “with better sacrifices than these” (verse 23), was the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

Much of the apostle Paul’s labors were to dispel the notion that the ceremonial law (of which feast days were a part-see Numbers 9:3) was still binding after the sacrifice of Christ.

Labor in Vain

Galatians 4:9-11 says, “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

The words “days, months, times, and years” refer to the ceremonial sabbaths, the new moon festivals and the appointed seasons-or the annual feasts of the Jews. Paul was afraid that he had labored in vain to present Christ as the fulfillment of all these ceremonies. In fact, in Galatians 5:4 he takes it a step further and tells them that they are fallen from grace, and in Galatians 1:6 that they are removed from Christ and are preaching another gospel. So we can see how serious a matter it is to continue the observance of ceremonies that have met their fulfillment in Christ.

Feast Days and Church History

The important thing to understand is that the various feast days kept for centuries by the Jews were a type representing the history of the Christian church from the time of Christ’s first advent until He comes again to take us to heaven.

The first feast of the Jewish religious year was Passover with the “feast of unleavened bread.” Was this type fulfilled? Yes! 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Jesus our passover was crucified for us.”

What is represented by the unleavened bread? The offering of Christ’s sinless life – “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) The slain lamb, the unleavened bread, and the sheaf of first fruits, represented the Saviour’s death, sinless life, and resurrection.

For us today, the Passover has become the Lord’s supper. This is the only feast that has been changed and is to be observed today; because Jesus said, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

When Christ ascended to heaven, what happened 50 days later? Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). Was this type fulfilled? Yes! For the Jews, the Feast of Weeks was the celebration of the wheat harvest. This is the harvest that brought forth fruit because of the early rain that fell at the beginning of the year. And so this type was fulfilled when the early rain of the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in tongues of fire.

After Pentecost was the Feast of Trumpets. This feast took place 10 days before the Day of Atonement. Has this type been fulfilled? Yes! The feast of trumpets was a 10-day call to repentance in preparation for the Day of Atonement.

According to Daniel 8:14; 9:24-27, the anti-typical Day of Atonement began on October 22, 1844, when Jesus moved from the holy to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. The greatest call to repentance, this side of the cross, was the ten years that preceded 1844 (day for a year principle-Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6). The Millerite movement in the early 1800’s was the anti-typical blowing of the trumpets. (Please send for the free supplemental material offered at the end of this booklet.)

After the blowing of the trumpets comes the Day of Atonement. Has this been fulfilled? Not yet! It is in progress now. And this is exactly the reason why no feasts are to be kept at present.

None of the Jewish feast days were concurrent. In other words, no more than one feast or assembly could be observed at one time. The Jews didn’t celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles the same day, one had to follow the other in their order.

To keep any of the feast days during this time of atonement is to deny that Christ is in the Most Holy place today atoning for our sins, which would make it impossible for us to benefit from His work there.

And how long does the Day of Atonement last? Until Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is completed (see Leviticus 16). And that won’t happen until human probation closes.

The last feast of the Jewish religious year was the Feast of Tabernacles. Has this type been fulfilled? NO! During the Feast of Tabernacles in the days of ancient Israel all the people traveled to Jerusalem and lived in temporary booths made from the branches and boughs of trees (Leviticus 23:40). This was a time of celebration after their sins had been removed from the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

Something To Look Forward To

When the real Feast of Tabernacles begins, all of God’s people will travel to the New Jerusalem to live in temporary homes that have been prepared for us (John 14:2) until we can build our permanent homes in the earth made new (Isaiah 65:21).

Don’t be fooled friend. There is nothing we can add to the perfect sacrifice of Christ to make it more complete.

Orthodox Jews still observe the feast days because they will not accept the sacrifice of Christ in their behalf. And by continuing to observe these ordinances today, we are doing the same as those who are not moved by faith in Christ alone. We are now living during the time of the great anti-typical Day of Atonement. This is not to be a time of celebration, but a time to afflict our souls (Leviticus 23:27). There is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth at this time.

When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing. Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself will be a “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27.