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[[Image:Jesus resurrected.jpg|right|thumb|250px|One of the first harvest lessons of the [[New Testament]] is that Jesus Christ "is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20)]]

[[Image:Jesus resurrected.jpg|right|thumb|250px|One of the first harvest lessons of the [[New Testament]] is that Jesus Christ "is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20)]]

The [[Bible|Biblical]] [[Holy Days]] (also called '''feasts''' or '''festivals''') occur during those times of the year around the world equating to the early-[[spring]] [[harvest]], late-spring harvest and early-[[autumn]] harvest in [[Israel]].<ref>''What these Holy Days reveal'' [http://www.gnmagazine.org/booklets/HD/ "God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise for All Mankind"] United Church of God. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref> The themes these days portray reflect [[God|God's]] spiritual harvest of mankind to eternal life as spoken of by [[Jesus Christ]] in [[John]] 4:35-38.<ref>[[King James Version]] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204:35-38;&version=9; BibleGateway]</ref> Whereas popular observances such as [[Easter]] and [[Christmas]], which are regarded by many as being true representations of the themes of the Bible, are nowhere commanded in the Bible, God does command seven other feasts. Many [[Christians]] consider these Biblically-commanded festivals as relics of [[history]] with no relevance to modern Christianity.<ref>Somerville, Robert [http://www.awarenessministry.org/whyceleb.htm "Why Christians Celebrate Biblical Memorial Days"] Awareness Ministry. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref> The [[New Testament]] however shows Jesus Christ observing the Biblical Holy Days, and His [[disciple]]s following His example many decades after His death, burial and resurrection, with the early Church continuing to do so for several hundred years subsequently.<ref>Dankenbring, William F. [http://www.triumphpro.com/when_did_the_early_church_observe_the_passover.htm "When Did the Early Church Observe the Passover?"] Triumph Prophetic Ministries. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref>

 

The [[Bible|Biblical]] [[Holy Days]] identified in the Hebrew [[Bible]], (also called '''feasts''' or '''festivals''') occur during those times of the year around the world equating to the early-[[spring]] [[harvest]], late-spring harvest and early-[[autumn]] harvest in [[Israel]].<ref>''What these Holy Days reveal'' [http://www.gnmagazine.org/booklets/HD/ "God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise for All Mankind"] United Church of God. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref> God had commanded seven feasts in Old Testament times, prior to the coming of the Messiah. The themes stressed these days portray [[God|God's]] spiritual harvest of mankind to eternal life as spoken of by [[Jesus Christ]] in [[John]] 4:35-38.<ref>[[King James Version]]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204:35-38;&version=9; BibleGateway]</ref>

 

The great majority of Christian denominations, however, celebrate Holy Days that recall events from the [[New Testament]], such as as [[Easter]] and [[Christmas]], even though the exact dates of the events memorialized are not known and the observance of them is nowhere commanded in the Bible. Very few Christian churches have retained the festivals that are described in the books of the [[Old Testament]], but the churches that descend from the former Worldwide Church of God founded by Herbert W. Armstrong in the twentieth century are known for calling upon Bible-believers to resume the observance of them. While they consider these [[Hebrew]] Holy Days to be eternal and obligatory, most Christian churches believe them to have been superceded by the work of Christ and the founding by him of his own church with its own standards.<ref>Somerville, Robert [http://www.awarenessministry.org/whyceleb.htm "Why Christians Celebrate Biblical Memorial Days"] Awareness Ministry. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref>

 

The [[New Testament]] shows Jesus Christ observing the existing Holy Days of His people, and His [[disciple]]s continuing that practice after His death, burial and resurrection. The early Church maintained the old holidays for some generations, then progressively adopted new holidays based upon the life of Jesus, doing so in the belief that Christ had taken the church from Law, i.e. ritual, to Grace, i.e. freedom in such matters.<ref>Dankenbring, William F. [http://www.triumphpro.com/when_did_the_early_church_observe_the_passover.htm "When Did the Early Church Observe the Passover?"] Triumph Prophetic Ministries. Accessed 17 February 2008</ref>

==The Biblically commanded feasts==

==The Biblically commanded feasts==