The Plainer Truth about . . .
What is the big picture about the Biblical Calendar?

The Plainer Truth about . . .
What is the BIG PICTURE concerning the Biblical Calendar?

Many believers know what day is the true Bible Sabbath. In Spanish Saturday is sabado. In Russian it is subbota. The Sabbath happens every seven days. But the Biblical new moons and the first day of the month are not clearly defined in Scripture. Some men somewhere must determine when each new moon (month) begins. And the new moons are a key to timing when the annual Holy Days occur. Who are the right men? Are we all supposed to determine it for ourselves? What is the answer to this perplexing problem?

The Holy Days: A Picture of God's Plan Whenever Kept

The Holy Days are a blueprint of God's plan for mankind. If a new house is planned, a blueprint is used and a lot is cleared; a stake is often driven in the ground showing where the foundation corner is to be placed. If that stick gets moved and the foundation is placed one foot off, what happens? Hardly anyone will ever know the difference. But, if a builder builds a mortuary on the foundation instead of the three-bedroom house the blueprint shows, it will be obvious to all. Exactly where to start the foundation does not alter what the house looks like. The House of God is being built for the Family of God. The blueprint is the annual Holy Days.

Christmas and Easter are not the Big Picture

It is interesting how human nature manifests its distain for God (see Romans 8:7), yet wants to act like it loves God. God's Word says to keep the Passover season (1Corinthians 5:7). Jesus said to remember him by the Passover (Luke 22:19). Deceived mankind rebels and observes pagan days, justifying it by saying they are celebrating his birth and resurrection instead. They don't even bother to change the pagan name of Easter! Easter and Christmas do not reveal God's plan.

The Big Picture

But what is God concerned about? Obedience? Yes. The seventh-day Sabbath has been called the test of obedience. No one has to decide when it is, just to obey or not. But God is also concerned about us getting the big picture of His House Plan (the House of God through the House of David). God was so concerned about us getting the picture that he gave an alternate Passover if the first was missed (Numbers 9:10-12).

Hezekiah's Keeping of the Days of Unleavened Bread TWICE!

In Hezekiah's day he and the people were so zealous in their reforms that they not only kept the Days of Unleavened Bread which God had commanded but also kept them another seven days (which God did not command) for a total of 14 unleavened bread days (2Chronicles 30)! What did God think of this? He healed the people, and their voice was heard (2Chronicles 30:20, 27).

Ask a Non-Believer

Someone once said to me, "Your beliefs make a lot of sense, but how do you know you are right?" I said, "Because we know what is going to happen to a baby in the Hindu religion that dies a day old." Since the Scripture says there is no other name by which men might be saved but Jesus, how could this dead baby ever call on his name? He can't talk, let alone call upon Jesus' name. We know what will happen to the baby because of an understanding of what the Holy Days picture apart from on which exact day they are kept. The seventh and last Holy Day, the Last Great Day, pictures the resurrection to flesh of Revelation 20:5 and Ezekiel 37:1-14. The baby will someday live again and have a full opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life. Easter does not give this picture of God's plan nor does Christmas!

Believers ought not to divide on Biblical calendar issues. Jesus will set things perfectly in order when he comes (Isaiah 52:8). We will be a "people prepared" (Luke 1:17) to hear him set us in order about the Holy Days and other things. But how could those who keep Easter, Christmas and so on be prepared to hear? If Jesus said, "Here's how we will keep the days of unleavened bread," can you see a person who kept Easter in an unprepared state of mind, "Uh, is that Lent?" God's people regularly study the Scriptures to seek and understand God's truth: "Study to show yourself approved unto God" (II Timothy 2:15). They will be a people able then to understand all Christ will set in order. Let us keep the Holy Days and get the Big Picture.