The Seventh-Day Sabbath
The Sabbath was the very first thing God made holy — even before the Law was given at Sinai.
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3 KJV)
Jesus kept the Sabbath as His custom:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” (Luke 4:16 KJV)
The early church also continued meeting on the seventh day:
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath… And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” (Acts 13:42-44 KJV)
For us, the Sabbath is a weekly sign and delight — a gift of rest, worship, relationship with our Creator, and a reminder that our ultimate rest is found in Jesus.
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3 KJV)
Jesus kept the Sabbath as His custom:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” (Luke 4:16 KJV)
The early church also continued meeting on the seventh day:
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath… And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” (Acts 13:42-44 KJV)
For us, the Sabbath is a weekly sign and delight — a gift of rest, worship, relationship with our Creator, and a reminder that our ultimate rest is found in Jesus.
God’s Annual Holy Days (God's Appointed Times)
God appointed seven annual Holy Days (mo'edim) that together paint a breathtaking picture of His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2 KJV)
Below is a deeper look at each of God’s appointed times and their significance for us today.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2 KJV)
Below is a deeper look at each of God’s appointed times and their significance for us today.
Passover
The Lamb of God
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months… Your lamb shall be without blemish… And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire…” (Exodus 12:1-2, 5, 8 KJV)Passover celebrates God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery through the blood of the lamb. This feast was perfectly fulfilled when Jesus, our Passover Lamb, gave His life on the exact day of Passover.
"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)
For us today: Passover is a powerful reminder that we are redeemed not by our own effort but by the precious blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Walking in Holiness
“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses…” (Exodus 12:15 KJV)Leaven is a consistent biblical symbol of sin. This feast calls God’s people to remove sin from their lives and walk in newness of life after being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
For us today: Having been delivered by Christ, we are called to live holy, set-apart lives — putting away the old leaven of sin, receiving His (unleavened) inmputed righteousness, and walking in sincerity and truth.
Feast of Firstfruits
Christ the Firstfruits
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest…” (Leviticus 23:10 KJV)
This feast was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection.
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV)
For us today: Because Christ rose as the firstfruits, we have confident hope that we too shall be raised to eternal life.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest…” (Leviticus 23:10 KJV)
This feast was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection.
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV)
For us today: Because Christ rose as the firstfruits, we have confident hope that we too shall be raised to eternal life.
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Birth of the Church
“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath… seven sabbaths shall be complete… And ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-16 KJV)
This feast was dramatically fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…” (Acts 2:1-2 KJV)
For us today: Pentecost reminds us that we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower holy living and effective ministry.
“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath… seven sabbaths shall be complete… And ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-16 KJV)
This feast was dramatically fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…” (Acts 2:1-2 KJV)
For us today: Pentecost reminds us that we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower holy living and effective ministry.
Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
The Call to Attention - The King is Coming!
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23:23-24 KJV)
The sounding of the trumpets was a call to awaken, repent, and prepare. Many believe this points to the future return of Christ and the gathering of His people.
For us today: This feast calls us to live watchful and ready for the return of the King.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23:23-24 KJV)
The sounding of the trumpets was a call to awaken, repent, and prepare. Many believe this points to the future return of Christ and the gathering of His people.
For us today: This feast calls us to live watchful and ready for the return of the King.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Complete Cleansing
“And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls… For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” (Leviticus 16:29-30 KJV)
This was the most solemn day of the year, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people.
For us today: Jesus is our Great High Priest who has made the final and perfect atonement for us. We no longer need animal sacrifices — His blood is enough.
“And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls… For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” (Leviticus 16:29-30 KJV)
This was the most solemn day of the year, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the people.
For us today: Jesus is our Great High Priest who has made the final and perfect atonement for us. We no longer need animal sacrifices — His blood is enough.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) & Last Great Day
The Kingdom is Coming – God Dwelling With His People
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD… Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…” (Leviticus 23:34, 42 KJV)
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is a joyful, seven-day celebration that reminds us how God dwelt with Israel in the wilderness and prophetically points to the future time when God will dwell with His people forever.
This feast beautifully pictures the coming Kingdom of God, when the Messiah will reign on earth and tabernacle among us. It is filled with joy, thanksgiving, and hope as we look forward to the great wedding supper of the Lamb and eternal fellowship with our King.
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3 KJV)
For us today: The Feast of Tabernacles fills us with joyful hope. It reminds us that this world is not our final home — we are sojourners looking forward to the day when God will fully dwell with His people in His Kingdom.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD… Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…” (Leviticus 23:34, 42 KJV)
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is a joyful, seven-day celebration that reminds us how God dwelt with Israel in the wilderness and prophetically points to the future time when God will dwell with His people forever.
This feast beautifully pictures the coming Kingdom of God, when the Messiah will reign on earth and tabernacle among us. It is filled with joy, thanksgiving, and hope as we look forward to the great wedding supper of the Lamb and eternal fellowship with our King.
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3 KJV)
For us today: The Feast of Tabernacles fills us with joyful hope. It reminds us that this world is not our final home — we are sojourners looking forward to the day when God will fully dwell with His people in His Kingdom.
Why We Observe the Sabbath and Holy Days Today
We observe the Sabbath and God’s Holy Days not to earn salvation, but out of love and obedience to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Himself declared:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)
The Apostle John reinforced this:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3 KJV)
We believe these appointed times are still relevant and beautiful for Christians today because:
The Sabbath, in particular, is called a delight by the Lord:
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…”— Isaiah 58:13-14 (KJV)
He also commanded that these appointed times be observed as perpetual practices:
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” (Exodus 31:16 KJV)
Jesus kept them, the early church continued them, and we joyfully keep them today as beautiful reminders of who God is and what He has done — and will do — through Jesus Christ.
We are not perfect in our observance, but we keep these days joyfully as we grow in grace and truth.
Jesus Himself declared:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)
The Apostle John reinforced this:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3 KJV)
We believe these appointed times are still relevant and beautiful for Christians today because:
- They were established by God as eternal signs and appointments, not temporary shadows only for ancient Israel.
- Jesus kept them, taught them, and never abolished them.
- The early church continued observing them long after the resurrection.
- They serve as powerful teaching tools that point us to Jesus and God’s complete plan of redemption.
- They bring blessing, rest, joy, deeper intimacy with God, and hope for the future.
The Sabbath, in particular, is called a delight by the Lord:
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…”— Isaiah 58:13-14 (KJV)
He also commanded that these appointed times be observed as perpetual practices:
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” (Exodus 31:16 KJV)
Jesus kept them, the early church continued them, and we joyfully keep them today as beautiful reminders of who God is and what He has done — and will do — through Jesus Christ.
We are not perfect in our observance, but we keep these days joyfully as we grow in grace and truth.