Lesson 12 - Part 2
Bible Correspondence Course Lesson 12 - Part 2 Christianity Is A Way Of Life The Seven Annual Sabbaths
God has a master plan by which He is bringing about the fruition of His awesome purpose for mankind. And His Son, Jesus Christ, plays the central role in God’s little-known plan for man. This plan is outlined in the form of seven annual Sabbaths/festivals which Christians are to observe for a vital purpose.
Just as the weekly Sabbath pictures the Christian’s goal of entering into eternal "rest" as a glorified, Spirit-born member of God’s Family, these annual observances give the step by step overview of the working out of God’s plan for man. Not only does each festival picture a great event in God’s plan in vivid terms, but the yearly observance of these days by God’s people further impresses the knowledge of God’s plan on them, and continually reminds them of their part in it.
It was not until the days of Moses that God began to reveal the details of His plan for working out His purpose for mankind. God formally introduced these festivals through Moses to His nation Israel—His "church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38).
Since throughout most of human history man has been close to the soil in providing his own food and sustenance, God originally used the yearly agricultural harvests of Palestine as symbolic types of His spiritual harvests of human beings. Today, however, due to large segments of the world’s population neither farming nor even living close to agricultural areas, sometimes it is difficult to appreciate, in a spontaneous way, the spiritual analogies and understanding to be derived from these festivals.
Today we can understand from the teachings of Christ and the apostles, that God intends the spring harvest festivals to picture to His Church repeatedly year by year the fact that all of those He has called to become His Spirit-begotten children since Christ’s first coming are only the "firstfruits"—only the relatively small beginning of His great spiritual harvest of human beings into His immortal family. Later, as pictured by the festivals of the autumn harvest season, God will call the rest of humanity to salvation! In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus, we find a summary of these festivals. The first three festival periods, beginning with the Passover, are memorials of the first part of God’s plan.
They picture the "first-fruits" of God’s spiritual harvest. The last four festivals look forward to the future and show how God will reap the latter great autumn spiritual harvest of billions of people. As we commence this introductory study of God’s annual festivals and what they signify for modern man, let’s notice a few facts from history. The Encyclopaedia Britannica bears witness to the fact that the early New Testament Church of God kept the biblical festivals in a new and different way. "The sanctity of special times [current religious festivals such as Easter and Christmas] was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians, who continued to observe the Jewish festivals [of Leviticus 23:1-44], though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed" (vol. 7, p. 859, 14th edition, emphasis ours).
Most Bible commentators and scholars will agree that the many passing references to these annual occasions in the New Testament indicate that in the times and environment of the early church their observance was known, accepted—even taken for granted. Most importantly, Christ and the Church of God customarily kept the annual festivals and their Sabbaths: "In the early Christian Church the propriety of celebrating the festivals together with the whole of the Jewish people was never questioned, so that it needed no special mention" ( The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 1, p. 628).
However, it is obvious from a study of the Bible that God’s annual festivals took on a new significance in the apostolic Church and were transformed into Christian celebrations. Jesus Himself played a major role in this by His teaching and example.
1. Who does the Bible say originated these annual festivals and their Sabbaths? Leviticus 23:1-2.
COMMENT: Notice that these are not the "feasts of the Jews" or "feasts of Moses," as some have thought—they are God’s own feasts which He originated and gave to His people to keep year by year.
2. Did God specifically say that His annual feasts were to be observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath? Leviticus 23:37-38.
3. What is the first festival to be observed each year? Leviticus 23:5.When did God institute the very first Passover? Exodus 12:1-14.
COMMENT: The festival of the Passover begins God’s master plan for mankind. The Passover pictured in advance the great sacrifice—the crucifixion and death—of Jesus Christ ("our Passover lamb"—1 Corinthians 5:7;1 Peter 1:19)for the sins of mankind. After His death, the Passover became a memorial of that sacrifice. Notice:
4. What new way of observing the Passover did Jesus institute shortly before His death as He kept the Passover with His disciples? Luke 22:8,Luke 22:15-20.
COMMENT: While instituting the new symbols of the wine and the bread, picturing His shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and His broken body for our physical healing (1 Peter 2:24), Jesus gave a command: "This DO in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). The Passover is a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins which He wants Christians to especially "remember" once every year of their lives.
5. What completely new ceremony did Jesus also institute in connection with this New Testament Passover observance? John 13:1-17,especially John 13:14-15.
COMMENT: On the occasion of His "last supper," Jesus left a very significant example for His disciples to follow henceforth. Notice that this ceremony of the washing of His disciples’ feet had nothing whatsoever to do with the Old Testament observance of the Passover. It was then being instituted for the very first time by Jesus Christ Himself. He was taking this last-minute opportunity to institute an observance which His disciples in all ages were to keep annually from that time forward!
Foot-washing depicts the attitude of humility and service to others which Christ always exhibited, and which He desires that each Christian strive to imitate (John 13:16-17).
6. What observance follows immediately after the Passover? Leviticus 23:6-8;Exodus 12:15-20.
7. Were the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread holy days on which the people were to assemble themselves, much the same as they would on a weekly Sabbath day? Exodus 12:16;Leviticus 23:7-8.
8. Did New Testament Christians ever observe this festival? 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
What is the obvious meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7.
COMMENT: A study of these passages in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 shows that the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which the Corinthian Christians were observing, pictures the putting away of sin. Leavening, therefore, is a biblical type or symbol for sin (verse 8) because sin, like physical leavening used in bread to make it rise, not only can cause a person to swell with vanity and become puffed up in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 5:2, 1 Corinthians 5:6), but can also spread throughout a group of people.
Paul warned the Church of God at Corinth that they should put out of their fellowship the person who was openly sinning (1 Corinthians 5:1). Paul urged decisive action because, as he reminded them, "...a little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). Permitting sin to continue unabated and openly before all the congregation would, in time, cause others to gradually let down and begin slipping back into former sins. Sin would spread into the lives of other Christians by the poor example of just one as certainly as a little leavening in bread dough eventually causes the whole loaf to rise--to become puffed up!
We saw that the Passover is to remind us that Jesus paid a tremendous price for our past sins. He offered something more valuable than anything we could offer—the sacrifice of His perfect, sinless life.
Then the Days of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follow the Passover, remind us that we must strive to put all sins OUT of our lives. This festival pictures putting the leaven of sin away from us and our renewed resolve to live in harmony with God’s laws henceforth. Thus we are to annually rededicate our lives to continual spiritual growth—overcoming the remaining leaven of sin in our lives, and the recurring sins that beset all Christians from time to time.
9. What is the next annual festival that God ordained? Leviticus 23:9-16.Was this another holy day of rest on which the people were to assemble themselves? Leviticus 23:21.
10. What new name was given in the New Testament to this Old Testament festival of "Firstfruits"? Acts 2:1.
COMMENT: The term Pentecost means "fifty" in the Greek. This is the only annual Sabbath whose exact calendar date is determined by counting. The first New Testament Pentecost occurred on the fiftieth day after Christ’s resurrection. (For a full explanation of how this day is properly computed, you may write for our free article titled "How to Reckon the Day of Pentecost.")
11. What is the vital meaning of the festival of Pentecost (or "Firstfruits") for New Testament Christians? Acts 1:4-5;Acts 2:38.Are Spirit-begotten Christians the "firstfruits" of God’s great master plan? James 1:18;Romans 8:23.
COMMENT: The New Testament festival of Pentecost is now a memorial which pictures the first arrival of the Holy Spirit from God to beget repentant believers for the first time. This first Pentecost therefore marked the birth of the New Testament Church. It was the first time God made the Holy Spirit available to mankind to this extent.
It was on this first Pentecost that the first of the "firstfruits" of God’s first small spiritual "spring harvest" began to be reaped. These new Christians were begotten by the power that would help them to overcome and grow spiritually, thus preparing them to be born into God’s Family at Christ’s coming.
God knows that for us to overcome our human weaknesses, to be thoroughly and successfully "unleavening" our lives, our puny human willpower and abilities are not enough. We need the supernatural strength of His Holy Spirit. This is the third logical step in God’s master plan intended to help each one of us succeed in our purpose for living.
12. What is the next festival, or annual "Sabbath," of the seven described in Leviticus? Leviticus 23:23-24.
COMMENT: The Day of Trumpets primarily depicts the triumphant return of the powerful living Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 11:15). You will remember that the first resurrection occurs at the second coming of Jesus Christ which is announced by the blast of a trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17;1 Corinthians 15:52).
13. Does the overall meaning of the Feast of Trumpets encompass more than the second coming of Christ? Revelation 8:1-2,Revelation 8:6;Revelation 10:7.
COMMENT: Notice that it is the Feast of Trumpets, plural (Leviticus 23:24), not just the "Feast of the Last Trump." When ancient Israel was wandering in the wilderness, they became accustomed to the blowing of trumpets for many purposes: the calling of assemblies, the signal to march or halt, "officer’s call," or as a warning. Much like the use of bugles in the military, ancient Israel came to recognize various sounds as having specific meaning.
There is a parallel between trumpets sounding alarms of warning in ancient Israel and the function of the Work of God today (Isaiah 58:1). There is also a relationship between the angelic trumpet blasts, signaling the imminent return of Jesus Christ, and the continual warning and witness conducted by God’s Work today which is preparing the way for the return of Christ. The successive angelic trumpet blasts and accompanying cataclysmic events on a worldwide scale just prior to Christ’s return will serve as final warnings to a heedless, sin-ravaged world!
14. What annual Sabbath follows only nine days after the Feast of Trumpets? Leviticus 23:26-32;Leviticus 16:2-34,especially Leviticus 16:29-31.
COMMENT: The rituals required of the Old Testament Levitical ministry on the Day of Atonement are described in great detail in Leviticus 16:1-34. Suffice it to say here that the live goat, upon whom all the sins of Israel were to be confessed, and which was led into the desolate wilderness, represents the restraining of the Devil upon whom the guilt of all the sins of mankind will be laid after Jesus Christ returns.
Satan, who is called the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), and is described as the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2), being the father of sin (John 8:42-44), will be restrained by Christ from further deceiving and leading the masses of mankind into sin. No longer will he be able to "broadcast" his attitudes of vanity, lust, and greed into people’s minds. At the Devil’s "chaining" (Revelation 20:1-3), the symbolism of Leviticus 16:1-34 will have become reality. The minds of men, formerly closed tight by Satan and his demon cohorts, will now at last be opened by the Spirit of God, and all humanity will readily accept and receive forgiveness of their sins through Christ. They will be able for the first time to understand God’s master plan of salvation for them. Then, and only then, will mankind become "at one" with Christ and the Father, as symbolized by the Day of At-one-ment.
15. How are we to observe the Day of Atonement? Leviticus 23:32.
COMMENT: The Day of Atonement is perhaps the most unusual holy day as far as what God expects us to do during it is concerned. For it is the one day on which God has commanded us to fast—to "afflict our souls" or bodies. (For biblical proof that afflicting one’s soul means to fast, compare the following passages: Psalms 35:13;Psalms 69:10;Isaiah 58:3;Ezra 8:21.)
What, exactly, is fasting? What is its purpose? The purpose of fasting is to humble oneself—to help us to see ourselves as we really are. And to see God as He is.
Fasting on the Day of Atonement means denying oneself food and water for 24 hours—from sunset to sunset (or evening to evening—Leviticus 23:32). Fasting is not penance—not a hunger strike to try to get one’s way with God. A Christian is to fast in order to humble his or her own fleshly mind with its carnal will, and to draw closer to God and His righteous way (Isaiah 58:6-11).
Thus fasting on the Day of Atonement is a vivid reminder of the state of mind necessary for salvation—of the humility, the godly sorrow, the earnest seeking for God’s way—a condition to which this world will have been brought by the catastrophic events culminating in the return of Jesus Christ!
16. What important seven-day festival and integral annual Sabbath day follows the Day of Atonement? Leviticus 23:33-35;Deuteronomy 16:13.
COMMENT: The Feast of Tabernacles was also called the "Feast of Ingathering" (Exodus 23:16;Exodus 34:22)because this seven-day festival fell just after the autumn harvest season. The whole nation observed this feast after the final, main harvest was in (Leviticus 23:39).
17. Did Jesus keep the Feast of Tabernacles? John 7:2,John 7:8-11, John 7:14. Did everyone know that Jesus always kept God’s feasts and was certain to be in Jerusalem for its observance? John 7:11.
COMMENT: Because of continually mounting persecution, Jesus wisely chose not to travel openly in Judea (John 7:1). However, John 7:1-10 show that He did risk His life to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Even though He went secretly, He openly taught in the temple during the middle of the Feast (John 7:14).
18. What is the divinely set theme for the yearly observance of the Feast of Tabernacles? Deuteronomy 16:14-15.(Notice the words "surely rejoice." Other translations render this "be altogether joyful.") Does God intend for everyone—regardless of age, social strata or economic level—to rejoice in this feast? Deuteronomy 16:14.
19. Does God intend for a man to take his wife and children to rejoice with him at the Feast of Tabernacles? Deuteronomy 16:14;Deuteronomy 12:5,Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:12. Are they to live in "booths"—temporary dwellings (corresponding to motel and hotel rooms, lodges, etc., today)--at the place designated for the observance of this feast? Leviticus 23:42,Leviticus 23:40.
COMMENT: The Feast of Tabernacles is full of spiritual meaning for Christians today. Simply put, the Feast of Tabernacles portrays for us the wonderful World Tomorrow under the righteous rule of Jesus Christ--1,000 years of peace, prosperity and joy for the billions of mankind who will live in this utopian age. It is during the Millennium that the great "autumn harvest" of human lives will begin to be gathered into the Kingdom of God—born again as divine members of the Family of God.
Just think of it! Satan will have been immediately deposed at Christ’s return. Then there will follow one thousand years of peace and prosperity. Those who are the "firstfruits" of God’s spiritual harvest—first born into God’s Family and co-heirs with Jesus Christ—will join Him in ruling this earth. They will be given the privilege of bringing saving knowledge to every human then alive.
New generations will be born in the Millennium, and humans will soon again number billions! Perhaps these could be called "second fruits," for each will live a life of overcoming as Christians today will have lived.
Over and over God tells us that the Feast of Tabernacles is a time of exceedingly great rejoicing. For ancient Israel it was a time of rejoicing because the abundant winter’s store was taken in just before the Feast. But in the Millennium, the happiness, joy and prosperity pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will come about universally under the enlightened rule of Jesus Christ. Obedience to the spiritual principles of God’s laws and God’s revealed way of life will make the World Tomorrow a gloriously happy place.
God’s great autumn festival gives His Spirit-begotten children today freedom to think on His purpose and how to fulfill it. The Feast of Tabernacles is intended to separate and free them from the world. Dwelling in temporary habitations for an entire week away from their everyday surroundings, away from their jobs, their customary thoughts, and most negative influences, they picture by their observance of these seven days the universal freedom and peace of the Millennium. The Feast of Tabernacles as observed today is actually a tiny, but happy, foretaste of the joyful World Tomorrow when the Spirit of God will lead every human. These are days of concentrated teaching by God’s ministers—days of continuous, genuine Christian fellowship. Christians at the Feast demonstrate now, by the way they live together in harmony, what this whole sin-sick, unhappy world COULD and WILL be like!
Worldwide Church of God members enthusiastically look forward to observing the Feast of Tabernacles every autumn at one of dozens of festival sites located throughout the world. Outstanding convention sites are leased by the Church in the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Australia and other countries of the free world (and even in one iron curtain country!) to enable brethren to meet for services during this seven-day festival. Between services, members also participate in various exciting, fun-filled church-sponsored activities for young and old alike, as well as other special attractions which are unique to each site. The sincere concern and fellowship, the spiritual nourishment and just plain good fun whets one’s appetite for the next year’s feast, making the ordinary "vacations" of the past seem humdrum by comparison!
20. But does the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles mark the end of God’s plan for humanity? Isn’t it God’s will that all who have ever lived should come to the knowledge of salvation? 2 Peter 3:9;1 Timothy 2:4.
COMMENT: Thus far we have seen how those who have been privileged to be called of God through the ages, especially from the first coming of Christ up unto the end of the Millennium, fit into God’s marvelous master plan. But what about the billions of people from the time of Adam down to our time (including perhaps most of your loved ones) who were not called of God?
Billions have never even heard the name of Christ, let alone heard of God’s great plan of salvation! What of the millions under atheistic Communism? Are they doomed to eternal death, never even having had a chance to hear the truth? Would this be fair of a loving God? Can you imagine a merciful and just God condemning innocent little children—some of whose lives may have been cut short before they could either walk or talk—to remain dead for all eternity without the knowledge of God’s happy way of life?
How, then, are they to learn of salvation? The answer is revealed in the final step in God’s master plan.
God has, in His fairness, planned for everyone who has ever lived—men, women and children—to receive the very same opportunity for salvation you are being given. Just as the week is not complete without the Sabbath day, so God’s master plan is not complete without God’s seventh annual holy day.
Seven in the Bible is a number signifying completion and perfection. Without the knowledge of this seventh annual holy day, you can’t understand the perfection of God’s master plan—that God’s mercy to mankind extends even beyond the Millennium! In order to understand this final phase—the windup—of God’s plan, we must understand the last of God’s annual holy days, symbolizing the Last Great Judgment.
21. Was there an "eighth day" of worship held immediately following the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles? Leviticus 23:36.Is it the final festival—the final annual Sabbath of rest? Leviticus 23:39.
COMMENT: The last annual High Sabbath is observed immediately after the Feast of Tabernacles. But because of its close proximity to this feast, it naturally was associated with the Feast of Tabernacles and was called the "eighth day." In the New Testament it is referred to as the "last day, that great day of the feast" (John 7:37).
22. Revelation 20:1-15 holds the key to the meaning of the "Last Great Day." As we already know, Revelation 20:4-6 essentially speak of the resurrected saints ruling with Jesus Christ on earth for 1,000 years. But exactly what is said in the first sentence of Revelation 20:5?
COMMENT: These are not "the dead in Christ," but simply—the dead— those billions who are not Christ’s—who have never been begotten and converted, who may never have even heard the name of Jesus Christ.
Note that the first part of verse 5 in the King James Version is in reality a parenthetical expression. Here’s how it should read: "(But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection." The sentence, "This is the first resurrection," refers to the resurrection of the righteous dead in Christ just before the 1,000 years. "But," John makes clear, "the rest of the dead"—those who never had a chance to understand God’s truth—would not come up in a resurrection "until the thousand years were finished." This resurrection—after the 1,000 years are finished—is the second resurrection in time order.
23. How does John further elaborate on the second resurrection? Revelation 20:11-13.How are these people judged? Revelation 20:12.
COMMENT: The Greek word translated "books" in Revelation 20:12 is biblia, and it is from this exact word that we derive our English word "bible." Check it in your dictionary. The "books" that are opened are the books of the Bible! They will be opened to the understanding of the billions of people who have never yet heard the name of Christ or been able to understand the true message of God’s Word—those who have never before been able to participate in God’s master plan of salvation. This is the same outpouring of the spirit of understanding—of "living waters"—that Jesus Christ referred to on that last great day of the Feast of Tabernacles! (John 7:37-39.)
24. How did Jesus refer to this special "day," or period of judgment for peoples who have yet to hear the wonderful message of salvation? Matthew 10:15;Matthew 11:20-24;Matthew 12:41-42.
25. Where else in the Bible is this resurrection to judgment described? Ezekiel 37:1-14.Are these dead clearly raised to physical human life—again to have corruptible human bodies made of flesh and bone—to rely on air to sustain their physical existence? Ezekiel 37:5-10.
26. What is God’s promise to these resurrected peoples? Ezekiel 37:13-14. Isn’t this obviously the same outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ spoke about in His enigmatic sermon on the "last great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles? John 7:37-39.
COMMENT: Recall in Matthew 10:1-42, Matthew 11:1-30 and Matthew 12:1-50 that Christ first mentioned the peoples of Sodom and Gomorrha. Then in order: Tyre and Sidon, Sodom again, Nineveh in Jonah’s time, and finally the Queen of Sheba. All of these examples (people who lived in different generations) are compared to the citizens living in the cities and towns of Jesus’ generation (the vast majority of whom did not understand or believe Christ’s message). Jesus tells us that they all are to be resurrected with the generation that lived during His time on earth!
Jesus gave enough representative examples of generations of people living at widespread and different times in human history to substantiate the fact that most of humanity will be alive, together, at the same time on this earth. There will be pre-Flood men and women, all twelve tribes of Israel, those who lived during the Middle or Dark Ages, etc., and everyone living even now who will not have had the opportunity to come to Christ simply because they were not called by God to receive their opportunity for salvation during their lifetime. (See John 6:44,John 6:65) This group includes all people of all times everywhere on this earth, excepting, of course, those who will be born of God in the first resurrection—or those relatively few incorrigibly wicked people who will be resurrected in the third resurrection to have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second and final death (Revelation 20:14-15).
If many of the ancient peoples described in Matthew’s gospel would have repented, as Christ Himself said they would have if He had personally come to them in their day; they will most surely repent when resurrected after He has already ruled for a thousand years on an earth dominated by peace, prosperity and well-being. This vast resurrection to mortal life opens their period of judgment— not sentencing. (Sentencing is merely the final act in the process of judgment.) A decision must be rendered based on how each individual responds to the Word of God. (This same "judgment" is now upon Christians who have been begotten by God’s Holy Spirit today—1 Peter 4:17.) And since every individual will have the fullest single opportunity for salvation, each will in effect be rendering their own verdict by the choices they make while living during this period of "judgment." But if you become a Christian now in this age, and if you remain faithful unto death, you will be privileged to partake of a "better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35)at Christ’s second coming. It’s better simply because you have the opportunity to receive a greater reward than those who will live the Christian life during the last judgment period, or even those who will have lived during the Millennium! (More about your potential "reward" a little later in this lesson.)
We have seen that all of God’s annual Sabbaths/festivals are built around the annual harvest seasons in Palestine. But it is the spiritual harvest that God is interested in! Old Testament Israel was reminded of their dependence upon, and relationship to, Almighty God by this seasonal cycle of harvest festivals. Now God’s faithful New Testament Christians can receive the vital lifesaving knowledge of God’s master plan for His spiritual harvest through the observance of these SAME DAYS!
What one wants to remember, he must review regularly. As Spirit-begotten Christians observe each annual festival in its season, they are reminded of God’s master plan for the salvation of all mankind, and their individual part in it. God’s annual holy days give one the opportunity to "act out," in a sense, the purpose for which he or she was born.
Through the years, God’s church has grown in the understanding of the spiritual meaning of these annual holy days. Unlike the world’s holidays which show no practical purpose or plan whatsoever for human existence, God’s annual Sabbaths/festivals reveal the full scope and meaning of His great purpose for mankind. In this introductory study we learned that God’s annual Sabbaths and their related festivals not only teach us His plan of salvation, they point us directly to our Savior Jesus Christ. He is "our Passover" (1 Corinthians 5:7).
It is by "putting on" Christ that we put sin out of our lives, as pictured by the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Christ is the first of the "firstfruits," and it was after His resurrection that He sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was sent to spiritually beget those whom the Father would call, thus enabling them to fulfill His law, successfully overcome sin in their lives, and grow spiritually.
It is Christ who is going to intervene in world affairs, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets and become King of kings and Lord of lords, putting down the despotic rule of man and Satan, the arch deceiver, as portrayed by the Day of Atonement. With the influence of the devil and his demons now gone, all mankind will have opportunity to become "at one" with Christ through baptism and the receipt of the Holy Spirit.
Christ is coming to set up His government in the Millennium, making this earth a veritable utopia—pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles. Billions will be born into the Family of God during this golden age. His people, which the Bible terms "saints," are now preparing the way for, and are representatives of, that Kingdom by following in Christ’s footsteps.
Finally, Christ shall make salvation available to everyone who ever lived, but never heard or understood the truth, in the last great step—the Last Great Day picturing the last judgment period—in His plan. This will be the conclusion of His personal sacrifice as the Savior of mankind.
God’s church today has retained the precious truth concerning His master plan and purpose here on earth for you! Around the world God’s true church—composed of converted, Spirit-begotten children of God—is faithfully observing all of God’s festivals every year.
(For a more detailed explanation of these annual Sabbaths/festivals, please write for our two free booklets titled Holidays or God’s Holy Days--Which? and How Often Should We Observe the Lord’s Supper?) Tithing and Giving in a New Spirit
We have seen that the weekly Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths/festivals, and many other Old Testament laws, are now observed by Christians with a new and different spirit and approach (Matthew 5:21-22,Matthew 5:27-28). We are about to see that God’s law of tithing also takes on new meaning today. Remember the apostle Paul wrote that "... We are able ministers of the new testament [or the New Covenant]" (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Christianity is a way of life. It has everything to do with the way we live our daily lives—our day-in, day-out association with others, our business practices—even the way we handle our money.
Remember that God is Creator, Owner, and Proprietor of everything we see around us. God therefore has a prior claim to ownership of all that has been produced out of the earth. As David wrote: "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalms 24:1). All the gold and silver belongs to God (Haggai 2:8). God created everything and by virtue of that creation He owns it all—including mankind. There is really no way that we can "reimburse" God for what He has done for us as our Creator. So why give a tithe of our increase to God?
Tithing is a part of God’s "give way" of life. God wants us to learn how to give and share for the good of others, and for our own good!
God uses the tenth He claims for Himself for proclaiming to the world His gospel of peace, joy, happiness, prosperity and eternal life. For lack of this knowledge, the world has been under a curse!
God’s law concerning what we produce and earn can be compared to a contract. He wants us to understand that we are working with Him in a partnership. God allows us to live and work on His earth—to cultivate the land and produce the food we eat. He allows us to cut down His timber and build the houses we live in, and to use all His resources in producing thousands of products for our own use. But God is a very generous partner. He basically reserves only 10 percent for His Work on earth. In the Garden of Eden, God reserved just one tree for Himself. That remained His. He never gave that one tree to Adam and Eve for their use. They had no right to eat of its fruit. When they, filled with greed to possess all, reached out and took the fruit of that forbidden tree, they sinned—they STOLE from God.
Today, the same Satan that deceived Eve would gladly have you believe that all of your income—or all the produce of your land—is yours. But don’t you believe it! Let’s understand what the Bible has to say about tithing.
1. How did the patriarch Abraham honor the Creator, Owner and Sovereign over all things? Genesis 14:17-20;Hebrews 7:1-4.To what extent did God bless obedient Abraham? Genesis 13:2.
COMMENT: Abraham was a tither. He gave a tenth part of the spoils of battle to God. The context of these verses in Genesis clearly shows that God received His due before any further disposition of the goods to others was made. Abraham thus acknowledged that God was the source of all his blessings.
Abraham became an exceedingly prosperous man because he was mightily blessed of God. And the biblical record shows he continued to be obedient to God for the rest of his life (Genesis 26:5).
2. Was Melchizedek God’s priest? Genesis 14:18;Hebrews 7:1-3.
COMMENT: Tithing is revealed in the Bible as God’s system for financing His earthly ministry. Prior to the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic dispensation, the ministry was that of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was God’s representative on earth and He received the tithes from God’s faithful servants at that time.
Melchisedec, "...having neither beginning of days, nor end of life... abideth a priest continually" (Hebrews 7:3). Yes, He probably was High Priest even from the time of Adam! And the ancient patriarchs financed this ministry of God on earth by the tithing system.
3. What did Jacob promise God he would do with all his increase? Genesis 28:20-22.Was he prospered? Genesis 30:43.
COMMENT: Jacob promised to give God the tithe of his increase from that time forward. Over the years of his life God did bless him a great deal because of his faithfulness; there was hardly enough space in the country for all his cattle. Jacob apparently continued as a life-long tither, never forgetting the One who had caused him to prosper (Genesis 48:15).
4. Before the time of Moses, the tithe had been paid directly to Melchizedek. But after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, who did God say was to receive the tithe? Numbers 18:21,Numbers 18:24. To whom were the Levites themselves to pay a tithe of their income (of the tithes they received from the people)? Numbers 1:1-28.
COMMENT: God had set Aaron’s family in highest authority over the Levites (verses 2-3, 6), so the priests received a tithe from the income of all the other Levites.
5. What different use was to be made of this tithe for that time? Numbers 18:21.
COMMENT: Melchizedek, the member of the Godhead who became Jesus Christ (write for the free article which proves the true identity of Melchizedek), selected the Levites to be His ministers. God’s ministry through the Levitical priesthood was a material, ritualistic ministry of reminding a carnal nation of their failure to obey His laws (Jeremiah 7:22-24). So Christ (Melchizedek) ordained a change in the tithing law—He turned the tenth He had always personally received over to the Levites for their support. Christ thereby transferred receipt of the tithe to the Levitical priesthood for their support. But there was no spreading of the gospel worldwide at that time. God’s plan for that dispensation merely called for the Levites to teach the people the law in the letter, and to administer the physical rituals and sacrifices. And the people were commanded to bring their tithes to them.
Hebrews chapter seven clearly shows that tithing had long been an ongoing financial principle by the time God formally instituted ancient Israel’s civil law through Moses and made tithing a law. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that tithing is not Levitical (of the descendants of Levi) or "ceremonial" (see verses 5, 8-10). It did not begin with the administration of the Levites and therefore is not ended now that there is no longer a Levitical priesthood extant in the world. Rather, according to verses 11-17 of Hebrews seven, God changed the priesthood back to the spiritual priesthood of Melchizedek. The Levitical Priesthood was superseded by the priesthood of Jesus Christ—the Melchizedek priesthood restored! And so there was also a change as to who should now receive the tithe (verse 12). Christ has authorized His New Testament ministry to accept the tithes in order to do the spiritual Work of God! The New Testament era was ushered in when Melchizedek (Christ), who abides as our High Priest continually (Hebrews 7:5;Hebrews 4:14-16), became a mortal man so He could be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind and make the Holy Spirit available to those whom God calls.
Christ came to this earth to inaugurate a NEW kind of ministry—a spiritual ministry. It is a ministry of SALVATION—a ministry of PROPHECY--a ministry of WARNING, as well as GOOD NEWS.
Christ’s commission to all His true ministers is, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20). And, referring to our day, He said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end [of the age] come" (Matthew 24:14).
Jesus Christ came to qualify as the Ruler of this world. And He came to train messengers who would proclaim to an unbelieving and slumbering world His soon return to establish the government of God on earth. Christ personally chose His original twelve apostles, or ministers, to carry on the work He began. Today the true ministers of Jesus Christ are to perform an even GREATER WORK for this end time! But which church today is carrying out Christ’s commission? Do you know? Jesus said He would build His church (Matthew 16:18). And He did build it! Have you found it?
Jesus Christ established one church—not hundreds of differing, disagreeing denominations. One church which was to carry on the work He began. That church first comprised His apostles and disciples whom He empowered with His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). And Christ’s true church has continued through the ages until this very day!
Somewhere on earth today are the true ministers of God. As the end of this age approaches, they will be carrying out Christ’s commission with POWER. They are making plain the GOOD NEWS of the soon-coming Kingdom of God. Without fear or favor, they are explaining the laws of that Kingdom. And they are making plain and clear the hundreds of prophecies referring directly to this end time. In these critical, chaotic days approaching the end of an age, the carrying on of God’s true ministry is a worldwide mission which is reaching MILLIONS of people. It is a huge undertaking and it requires not only the financing of the personal needs of hundreds of ministers and other laborers, but the employing of tremendous facilities for proclaiming Jesus’ world-shaking gospel of the Kingdom of God UNTO ALL NATIONS! And these high-powered facilities that have been made available for His purpose—radio and television stations and printing presses which reach vast multitudes of people never before possible in any past age—cost a great deal of money!
Today, God has provided for the financing of His powerful spiritual ministry by the same system He has used for millennia—the tithing system.
6. Does the Bible show that both nations and individuals can literally "steal" from God directly? Malachi 3:7-12.
COMMENT: Can anyone afford to rob God? Stealing from God is a very serious matter! It would be sheer folly to toss it off with a casual shrug of the shoulders as if God does not notice.
Although tithing is giving a tenth of one’s income, you cannot give "your" tithe, in this sense: It is not yours to give—it already belongs to God. He has put a "no-trespassing" sign on it; it is the first tenth which He has reserved unto Himself. It is only after we acknowledge God’s prior claim over that first tenth of our income that we have legitimate claim to the other nine-tenths.
7. What does one come under when he or she breaks this fundamental financial law of God? Malachi 3:9.
COMMENT: Does anyone who lives in America, or Britain, or Australia doubt that these Western nations are, in fact, under some horrible curse in spite of their comparative wealth? It’s almost a contradiction in terms— blessings and cursings at the same time—yet news of our latest financial debacles are regular headlines in the United States, Britain and other English-speaking countries in the Western world.
8. What is God’s simple solution to our financial problems? Malachi 3:10.Does He challenge us to put Him to the test—to "prove" Him—to see if He really will bless us? Same verse.
COMMENT: God does not offer us complex, hard to be understood solutions to our financial problems and curses. The simple equation is: Give to God what is His and He will reward us with blessings.
God has a thousand ways of making what you do pay off bigger. If you work diligently, and are faithful in giving Him His portion, He works with you, blesses your effort, causes your partnership with Him to produce and earn more!
Those who faithfully give God His tenth find that the 90 percent that is left seems to go further than the 100 percent ever did before. Thousands of Worldwide Church of God members, and co-workers in this great Work of God, have remarked that there seems to be an unwritten law which cannot be put down in a budget—a law that causes their money to always stretch further when they tithe faithfully. (Read the following scriptures in connection with this principle: 1 Kings 17:8-23;2 Kings 4:1-7;2 Kings 4:42-44; Matthew 14:17-21;Matthew 15:34-38;Hebrews 13:8.) At the same time, by giving the tenth which God reserves for Himself, people become more conscious of their money—they budget and plan more carefully, and waste less of their incomes.
9. What should be our attitude in giving God the tenth that belongs to Him, and even an occasional offering as we are able? 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
COMMENT: A generous attitude is foundational to God’s "give" way of life. God is a generous giver! He hopes that His children will reflect a like generosity, within their limited means. The apostle Paul made this crystal clear: "The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7,RSV). The giving principle is elsewhere stated in the pages of the Bible. Jesus showed that a giving spirit brings an automatic boomerang-like effect. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).
Solomon reiterates the very same axiom in his writings: "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days" (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2,RSV). God’s blessing WILL come in God’s own time and God’s own way. Again, "One man gives freely, yet grows richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:24-25,RSV).
All of these verses just repeat in different words, the time-tested principle restated by many writers throughout the Bible: "What you sow you shall reap" (Galatians 6:7).
10. In what way did Jesus uphold the principle of tithing? Matthew 23:23.Notice the last part of the verse.
COMMENT: Isn’t that rather clear? Jesus said that spiritual qualities such as judgment, love, mercy and faith are more important than carefully and strictly paying tithes on every little plant that might grow in your garden—especially when that strictness led to self-righteousness. But Christ said "not to leave the other undone"—not to fail to pay your full tithe as God requires.
11. Is tithing a kind of worship, as well as an expression of faith toward God? Hebrews 11:6.
COMMENT: Tithing is much akin to prayer. Prayer to God is an offering of one’s deepest heartfelt intent coupled with thanksgiving and gratitude. Tithing and the giving of our material substance are exactly in the same category. It is an act of worship to God—a demonstration of love, gratitude, respect, honor and esteem for the Creator—a sign of submission to the will of God, an acknowledgment of His lordship and dominion.
Tithing, like prayer, is an act of faith in God. As such, it is the heart and core of what Christianity and conversion are all about. Tithing is a deeply personal act of worship when done in faith. It is an acknowledgment that God is there—that He REALLY EXISTS—and that He is able to "supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Php 4:19).
There is simply no way anyone can prevent God from blessing those who step out on faith and tithe to their Creator. Experience has proved there is an automatic blessing for being obedient to our great eternal God if that obedience is coupled with faith.
Remember that you tithe to God, not to any man! You are recognizing, when you give God His tithe, that He has placed a prior claim on your income. You are recognizing that He EXISTS, and that He is a "rewarder of them that diligently seek him"! Yes, tithing is an act of faith—a spiritual act, like prayer—and without faith, it is impossible to please God. But suppose someone says, "I have no confidence in the way the tithe will be used." May he therefore refuse to give his tithe or stipulate exactly by whom or for what purpose it will be used? Let’s understand. The individual’s responsibility is to pay God’s tithe to those whom he has proved to be doing God’s Work. Deciding how the tithe is to be used or spent once it is given is not his responsibility. That is God’s responsibility. It is God’s tithe and it is up to Him to direct how His servants use the money.
12. Should Christians be "fellow-helpers" to the truth? 3 John 1:8. Are they "fellow-laborers" in spreading the gospel? Php 4:3;1 Corinthians 3:9;2 Corinthians 6:1.
COMMENT: The amazing growth in the power and effectiveness of the Worldwide Church of God over the years has been possible only through the combined efforts of thousands whom Jesus Christ has called to help financially support His Work through their tithes and offerings. In the earlier years of God’s church, only a handful of people could be reached with the gospel. But as the number of dedicated members and co-workers who voluntarily sent tithes and offerings increased, so has the scope and power of God’s Work.
Money is a storehouse of value. It can be used selfishly or it can add power and increased effectiveness to the Church of God so it can fulfill His commission. It is by the collective efforts of many whom God has called to share in the glorious opportunity to be "fellow-laborers" that makes it possible for this world to hear and read the true gospel of Christ today. Even the expense of printing and mailing this course of Bible study was made possible by the tithes and offerings given to God’s Work.
God’s "tithe" is that 10 percent which He reserves for Himself. And yet, it is actually spent wholly for man’s benefit—in bringing the knowledge of the blessings of God’s government to mankind!
God’s way is to give—without charge—His truth to any and all who will ask. By involving His "fellow-laborers" in this awesome commission, they share in the blessing of bringing others into the Family of God.
Truly it is "more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). By honoring God with our substance, our own material needs will be supplied, for God promises: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" [Matthew 6:33).
Christ gave His disciples (and us also, if we seek to follow His ways) a precious spiritual principle. He said: "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:20-21). If you will invest a tenth of your income in the Work of God, you will find that your own interest in the things of God will develop and grow. And as your involvement in the great work of this church develops, and you nurture it with prayer and study to know God’s will for your life, you will be overcoming and growing in the very character of Jesus Christ: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Php 2:13).
Why not make your investment an eternal investment? Make God your financial partner. Put your heart and God’s tithe into the work that He is doing; the work of warning all nations of impending global troubles; the Work that is publishing the message of the GOOD NEWS of tomorrow’s world—a world that will at last be living under the loving guidance of our Creator God.
Why not "prove" God?