God's Holy Day Plan: Blueprint for Salvation

There's a group of Christians who observe Jewish holidays and by keeping what people think are Jewish days, people actually learn what Jesus Christ is all about. Does this sound shocking, like nonsense? What if I could tell you how to understand the mind of God, the Creator of the universe? Let me show you how you can begin that journey today by revealing what God shows us from his word. The answer is found in a series of festivals given by God to show us what this life is all about. Join us on Beyond Today as we discover God's Holy Days, a blueprint for meaning and salvation.

Look at a building, a magnificent piece of architecture. Do you think it just came into existence without any planning? Was it built a little at a time without a design and a plan in mind? I don't think so and neither do you. Buildings and homes don't just happen. There was a time when a grand building existed only in the mind of its creator, an architect or its owner. In time their ideas were set down in a set of blueprints. The plans contain every major component and small details of the building. Now a trained eye can look and see the finished product, everything was thought out in advanced and set down in the plans. These plans guided builders who began to construct the building. In time the building took shape according to the plan. Grand and beautiful buildings began with a blueprint and a plan, they're the product of an architect who's designs and intentions are brought to reality.

Take the Biltmore estate in the mountains of North Carolina, this building is sometimes called America's home. Built by a member of the Vanderbilt family it sets in a beautiful mountain setting amid hundreds of acres of forest. Built over a hundred years ago it took an architect years to design and build this magnificent structure. When it was built it was a state of the art construction with all the modern amenities. It's been preserved and maintained many decades and it is an example of what can be produced from enough thought given to reality through the process of design and construction.

You see, God is an architect, the architect of a most marvelous, redemptive plan which spans all of human history. The Bible uses the architectural analogy to describe God's plan for mankind. Let's look at some places in scripture that tells us this. Notice what Jesus Christ Himself says in the book of

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?×For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it —
Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,×lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.×saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

And listen to this description from I. Corinthians 3 the Apostle Paul writes, he said

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.×According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.×For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?×Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

You see, God says through inspired scripture, He's building a magnificent spiritual building for the ages. Construction on this structure is going on in our time and today there is much that is being accomplished and a great deal more to come.

How is it that God is completing this plan? And how can you learn about his plan and what it means for your present life and most importantly for your future and all eternity?

Many study the Bible to gain understanding of God's plan and for His purpose for humanity. They are looking for answers. Well that plan and those answers can be found from the pages of your Bible.

It can be found through the festival plan that God revealed first to His people Israel. In these that are often called Holy Days we find a blueprint that tells us exactly what is God's eternal plan for mankind.

Now right now you might be thinking but aren't those festivals, the Holy Days, found in the in this book, aren't those only for the Jews, aren't they Jewish festivals and Holy Days. Weren't they only for the ancient Israelites and after all we're Christian and we our own holidays. Aren't Christmas and Easter proper holidays to worship God?

Legitimate questions for some perhaps and often answered but to be quiet frank the answer to all of those is no. Not if you read what the Bible says. And not if you see what Jesus Christ taught and observed in His life, not if you read what the early church observed as it's festivals or Holy Days. They had nothing to do, those people, with the customs that later led to Christmas and Easter. The Bible specifically condemns those customs. They teach you nothing, nothing about why you were born or God's plan for salvation.

You don't believe me? Well stay with us on this program and you might learn something. You might a little bit. You see, we'll challenge what you thought you knew about the Bible. But more importantly we're going to show you a better way and a fuller comprehension of God's plan for your life.

Would it surprise you to learn that Christians today observe these biblical festivals just as Jesus Christ and the early church did? Modern Christians have come to see the value of observing these days, these festivals, these Holy Days mentioned in the Bible as a viable means of worshiping God and His Son, Jesus Christ. These days have far more to teach us about Christ than the holidays of Christmas and Easter. Look at where we're introduced to these festivals. Let's go back in the Bible to Leviticus 23, and there we read some very interesting words. We read

Leviticus 23:1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,×And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Leviticus 23:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.דSpeak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
Leviticus 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons.×'These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.

Now notice, God says these are His feasts. They never were Israel's feasts they never were nor are they today Jewish although Jews today do keep these festivals. They originally were and are today, God's feasts. That's what your Bible says and they are important for us to observe today. We can look at four of those festivals that point to events in salvation history that are to come. They all deal with a different aspect of God's work to bring salvation to all. In the fall of the year we see that there are four festivals that point to the future aspects of the plan of God. Now we're just going to focus on one today which is called the Feast of Trumpets. And it begins there in the fall and we read about it back again in

Leviticus 23:24 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.דSpeak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath- rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

Now in ancient times the trumpet blast when it was blown, it meant many things. It drew attention to the beginning of each new month. It called the people to assembly, it sounded the warning of an impending battle and calamity. It would proceed the appointment and the appointing of a new king over Israel. All of these bear great significance to the meaning of the Feast of Trumpets. In the new testament we find in direct imagery that links the Feast of Trumpets to the calling together of the spiritual people of God at the triumphant second coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints as the first fruits. Notice what Christ, Himself said in

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.×Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.×And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now notice, this happens at the sound of a trumpet the scripture says. The trumpet calls the elect which are the people of God from all nations and peoples to where Christ will be. Where will He be? Well we read in

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:×For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Here's completed according to the scripture a part of God's great plan, the resurrection of a group of people called the first fruits of God's plan for salvation.

You likely yourself do not understand God's great purpose and plan for your life, the very purpose for this physical life which is to prepare for a time when Christ will set on this earth the means for restoring peace and order to the creation. God is working now to bring this about.

The festivals of God tell us this in great detail and you can understand your part in this unfolding plan. Let me tell you how you can learn more about this. This is a large subject, there is a great deal to it in the scriptures, more than we can cover in this particular program today.

That's why we have prepared this booklet, entitle, God's Holy Day Plan, the Promise of Hope for all Mankind . We put the entire story here. This booklet is provided by us free of charge as a service to you and the public. It will take you through a complete study of all of the Holy Days, showing you from your Bible the connection of Jesus Christ and His life and His purpose. Look at some of the chapter headings found in this booklet such as this, Are God's Holy Days relevant today? Another on is Finding the biblical festivals in the New Testament, they are not just found in the Old Testament. Another chapter discusses how to observe God's Holy Days. It also discusses a very important scripture from Colossians 2 that shows the Gentile Christians in the time of the Apostle Paul kept the Holy Days and were taught to keep the Holy Days. It is possible to know what the future holds for us. The Creator of mankind does have a plan and reveals it to us through an annual cycle of festivals or Holy Days described in the scriptures. It's an astounding plan and it offers an incredible future to every man, woman and child who has ever lived.

This booklet will help you understand about what lies ahead for all humanity and open your mind to understand a subject in the Bible that you've given very little attention to in your lifetime. You can get this booklet or you can read it online at BeyondToday.tv or you can call 1-888-886-8632 request your free copy. That's 1-888-886-8632. Call it now or go online at BeyondToday.tv and begin reading and looking into this booklet. It's going to challenge a lot of your preconceived ideas about the Bible and what you should be doing. And also don't forget through our websites you can follow us for additional updates on Facebook and on Twitter .

We're talking about one of the Holy Days of God called the Feast of Trumpets.

That day, the Feast of Trumpets is pivotal in God's plan. Earlier we were talking about the resurrection of the dead at the second coming we're told by this particular Holy Day, the Feast of Trumpets. You've heard about the Kingdom of God but do you really understand that the Kingdom of God is talking about really, a literal Kingdom brought to this earth by Jesus Christ at His second coming?

Not something ethereal or something that's in your heart or something that's represented by the church. The Bible discusses the Kingdom of God as a literal government on this earth brought by Christ and meant to restore peace and order. The Kingdom of God is real and literal and it is coming to this earth and you can understand the truth of this Kingdom. You can if you will submit to it's rule in your life now and prepare in advance to have a part in it. This is not some simple spiritual story, it's real and it's told in your Bible. By keeping the Holy Days of God and in particular the Feast of Trumpets you can understand this truth, the truth of God's plan far better.

Let's go and explore just a little bit further on this subject. Did you know that Jesus told His followers they would hold positions of authority along side Him? Again notice what it says in

Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.×So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Christ repeated this on the night before He died. In

Luke 22:29 And I appoint to you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me;×And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
Luke 22:30 That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.×that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

These verses tells us what God is doing now through His elect, through His church. He is preparing for a time in the future where He will return in the power of all the universe. The resurrection and return of Christ set the stage for the establishment of the Kingdom of God and all it's fullness to rule over all the earth. And the Feast of Trumpets sets the stage and tells us in advance how this will occur.

Christ foretold in a dramatic time of world crisis to come that would occur before His second coming. He told the disciples there will be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time or never shall be and unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved but for the elect sake those days will be shortened. Quiet a dramatic statement.

The trumpet plays in Revelation ties to this period and remind us of how a difficult period this will be. The closing of this age of human rule on earth will be the worst time in human history. This too is something we can learn from the Holy Days. God is in charge of history. He guides and directs towards the ending of the age all events. This world is not left to chance.

There is purpose even amid the evil and the suffering and there is hope. And that's why God has given us the festivals, the Holy Days, to keep and to observe. They are the means to understanding who we are and where we are in today's world.

I cannot really emphasize enough just how important is the knowledge of life's purpose and man's role in this universe of life. We pursue a constant search for meaning and purpose. Sincere and well meaning we all want to understand why we were born and what lies in the future. I can tell you once you begin to keep God's festivals you will learn the answer to these biggest questions but you have to apply a principle from God's word that says understanding comes when we obey God.

This Feast of Trumpets is an example of the focus on Christ that you find in the Holy Days. Everyone of the Holy Days focuses on Jesus Christ. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't.

He is central to God's plan and to each step that plan involves gives a detailed aspect of His life, His death and of His resurrection. It was intended of that before the foundation of the world, in the story's told of the Holy Days.

Observe these days and that knowledge will open up to you. Let's go back to one more point that we can learn from the Feast of Trumpets. It's in the book of Revelation. It shows us what the return of Jesus Christ really means. Where it says that the seventh angel sounded and there were loud voices in Heaven saying, the Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever. The Feast of Trumpets forecast the most important transfer of power in the history of mankind. The Kingdoms of this world, it says will become the Kingdom's of our Lord and His Christ. Those are pretty strong words. Think through what that means. What president of a nation, what prime minister, what king today would willingly give up the power they hold? What powerful nation and its ruling elite give sovereignty to another nation much less to Jesus Christ. There is none. No president, no king, no nation. That's why we see the nations gathered at Christ's coming to do battle with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Notice in

Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.×And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

The Feast of Trumpets portrays this pivotal event in the plan of God. The return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead to immortal life, signifying the start of Christ's rule over the peoples of the earth and a time of restorations of God's righteous reign.

It is the time long anticipated by many prophets and many of old that saw the need for a better system of rule among men. This is but one of several other Holy Days that are mentioned in the Bible. It's time you began to look at what you assumed to be festivals and holidays and ways of worshipping and honoring God. It's time that you look into what God has given us as the means to understand His plan and His purpose for all mankind, for all nations for all people. It can be known and you can know the mind of God and you can come to comprehend His great plan.

Well there's much more to understand about God's festivals and why they are important to you. I'm going to discuss more details with our Beyond Today panel but before doing that I want to show you a primary publication that we offer here on Beyond Today , it's called the Good News magazine. This magazine contains important articles on how to make sense of today's confusing world news. This magazine will help you understand what the Bible teaches about the most vital questions concerning your life, marriage, your family, why is it important to have a relationship with your Creator. This magazine the Good News will help you comprehend God's amazing plan for mankind and for you personally. You'll find articles also in this magazine from time to time about God's Holy Days giving you additional information. That's why you need your free subscription to the Good News . It will help you with the answers. So call toll free 1-888-886-8632 it's 1-888-886-8632. You can visit us on the web at BeyondToday.tv and begin reading it as well. And don't forget to follow Beyond Today on Twitter or join our Facebook  page.

(Darris McNeely)
I'm joined now with our Beyond Today panel, fellow hosts Steve Myers and Gary Petty. Gentlemen good to have you with us here today. We're talking about the Holy Days, their blueprint, what they tell us about God's plan and purpose. Does it really matter which days if any that one observes in the worshipping of God?

(Gary Petty)
You know Darris it really does, if you really want to develop a more meaningful relationship God. In order to have that we need to ask the most important question, if we love God and want to respond to God, does He have the right to determine how He wants to be worshipped? And if He does then what days does He set aside or what rituals does He want as a part of our worship of Him.

(Steve Myers)
Yeah I think part of the solution to the question is you have to say well what should I do? And Christ made it very clear, He said my followers will follow me. Christ said it over and over again, follow me, follow me, follow me. So what do we do? Most religions say well I want to worship God my way.

(Darris McNeely)
And we find ample examples in the scriptures of Jesus observing these days, being in Jerusalem teaching the people and of the later church following in that same example don't we.

(Steve Myers)
Absolutely. So over and over again the example is there to follow but often times we want to overlook it or we don't look deep enough to see what really happened.

(Gary Petty)
Well even in the book of I. Corinthians Paul is writing primarily to a group of Gentiles and he's telling them to observe the Passover season.

(Darris McNeely)
Which is in the spring.

(Gary Petty)
Which is in the spring so there we have Gentile Christians observing the Holy Days.

(Steve Myers)
Yeah in fact he says let us keep the Feasts. Boy it can't be much more plain than that. It lays it right out.

(Darris McNeely)
Ok we can see from the Bible that Christ kept these days, the church kept these days, Paul taught the Gentiles to keep these days. But when we look in history we see that there is a clear record, anybody could pull off the shelf an encyclopedia or look into a simple history book in many ways and find that within early church history, these days were changed. They were replaced with other holidays from pagan forms and practices and celebrations that came in that were distinctly non Christian. When we look at that we see that clearly from history. Is God pleased with that type of approach, does that honor God?

(Gary Petty)
You know we can see right here in this book what Paul said to that church in Corinth that we were talking about just a minute ago. Here they were, observing these Holy Days but they were also beginning to mingle in pagan customs into their worship and he tells them, what communion has Christ with demons? Because he compares paganism right with the worship of demons, so right there, Paul talking to Gentile Christians he says don't do that. So the were struggling with this concept of pulling in pagan ideas in their worship of God and he was standing against it right then.

(Darris McNeely)
What authority calls baptized paganism is what crept into their worship.

(Steve Myers)
Even if it's not paganism you see all kinds of various ways that people worship God or feel is appropriate for worshipping God, they come up with their own ideas. And yet this isn't a new problem this is something that has gone on for centuries. Christ Himself said in vain do they worship me because we teach the commandments of men, what someone else thinks is appropriate but they don't go to the source. They don't go to the Bible, they don't look to see what God says is the right way of worship. And so over and over again we find that in the Bible. In fact there is another interesting quote that talks about having a form of godliness but denying God's power and what a powerful way to say hey, God say's worship me the way I want.

(Gary Petty)
And that's so disrespectful not to honor that.

(Darris McNeely)
You know I like that scripture, having a form of godliness but no power. People observe days like Christmas and Easter and other religious festivals, there's no power there. God's Holy Days are infused with the power that can transform ones life.

(Steve Myers)
Yeah, you've got the whole plan because it's not just a one shot deal, this is all there is, it's over and it's done and now I'm left with this emptiness. The Holy Days lay out God's complete plan and it paints the big picture.

(Darris McNeely)
I think for anybody in our audience that's watching and considering this today and perhaps a bit quizzical about what it is we're talking about, quite frankly should begin to ask just how well their own festivals and holidays are working for them and look carefully at what God says because there is power there.

(Gary Petty)
And you know just look at Halloween, it's amazing how many Christians are beginning to question Halloween. Should we be keeping this with all of it's dark spiritual meaning and witchcraft. Now if you are beginning to ask at your church whether we should be keeping Halloween, you need to take the next step, where do the origins of Easter and Christmas come from? Because all those ideas those days did not originate in scripture.

(Darris McNeely)
And I know there are a lot of people who in their churches see Halloween creeping in and becoming a big deal who are uncomfortable with that but they are afraid to challenge the status and they think it's okay but that's a problem.

(Steve Myers)
Yeah I think you just see the fun side of things and you really don't look at what's really behind it. What's behind the meaning of these days and what is the substance? If there's no substance behind it or you see it's from these demonic back grounds, these evil backgrounds, these pagan backgrounds or maybe something you just pass off as no big deal. Well to God's days are a big deal, all of His Holy Days have real meaning behind them so it offsets that from all those man made holidays.

(Darris McNeely)
A few years ago I was talking with an Evangelical minister from Eastern Europe and he was visiting the United States and he called and we were talking about these Holy Days and he was talking about Halloween and he said I see these churches in America keeping Halloween and caught up in it and he said I feel sorry for them. Because he saw no connection to it in the Gospel and he was questioning that himself. I think he saw how bankrupt some of these ideas were in some of these churches in the United States.

(Gary Petty)
You said, no connection to the gospel.

(Darris McNeely)
 Right.

(Gary Petty)
From my personal experience from keeping the Holy Days outlined in the scripture from the Passover to Pentecost to the Feast of Trumpets that you were talking about, I see and discover and experience the work of Jesus Christ. It is the gospel, these Holy Days outline the Gospel message.

(Darris McNeely)
And tell us every aspect and every dimension of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

(Steve Myers)
Absolutely. I think that is the important part, they keep pointing back to Christ, they keep pointing to the Savior, they point to salvation, they point to the Father who has an awesome plan, not just for a few but for all of mankind and so if you really want deeper meaning in your life, check it out, look for it, read your Bible and you'll be amazed to see the meaning behind these days.

Well if our viewers will take that challenge I think they are going to be in for a big surprise and fine there are things in this book that they did not understand. Don't forget our free offers today. Our free booklet, God's Holy Day Plan and our magazine, the Good News , both are free and available at BeyondToday.tv or you can call 1-888-886-8632.

In his book, A Brief History of Time , physicist Stephen Hawking talked of a quest for a unified theory to describe the universe, what it is and how it works. But he knew that would only be a set of rules and equations. What he asks it that “breathes fire into equations and makes the universe?” What indeed. Hawking concludes that finding this unified theory would allow us to know the mind of God. Well you can know the mind of God today. God has revealed this through His festivals found in your Bible. You can begin to know God's purpose for your life and His great plan of salvation through these days. They point us to us to the great and beautiful mind that created this vast universe of wonder, the mind of God. Join us again next week on Beyond Today and thanks for watching.