The Prophetic Calendar: Divine Appointments vs. Replacement Theology

The Prophetic Calendar:
Divine Appointments vs. Replacement Theology

Executive summation:

In this chapter we will see that the Nazarene apostles continued to keep the same Israelite feasts as ever. This is because the feasts serve as prophetic shadow pictures of the coming wedding between Yahweh Elohim (Jehovah God) and His bride Israel. In a sense, they serve as “dates” with the Almighty.

The Torah Feasts as Meeting Times with Yahweh

In the last chapter we saw how Yeshua told us not to think that He came to destroy (or replace) the Torah or the Prophets. In other words, He said not to think He came to teach replacement theology—but rather, He came to teach continuation theology, and to call His followers to keep the eternal Torah.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 5:17-20
17 “Think not that I came to destroy the Torah and the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but (only) to fulfill.
18 For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, nothing at all shall pass from the Torah, till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

In verse 20 Yeshua tells us that if we want to enter His kingdom (i.e., the kingdom of heaven), we must obey the Torat Moshe (Law of Moses) even more than the scribes and the Pharisees (Orthodox Jews).

Why? We don’t have space in a short volume like this one, but if you read the Nazarene Israel study, we show that the Torat Moshe serves as the bride Israel’s marital covenant (which is called a ketubah in Hebrew). This speaks to what the rabbis call the Cosmic Wedding between Yahweh and Israel. This idea is found throughout the rabbinic literature, for one example at Da’at Zekenim on Deuteronomy 9:16:2.

Da’at Zekenim on Deuteronomy 9:16:2
Israel had become betrothed to G–d at time of the revelation at Mount Sinai. The Tablets were meant to be the marriage document that He would give His people forty days later.

We do not have space to list all of the references, but for a Tanach (Older Covenant) reference, consider that when Yahweh gave Moshe the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, Israel confirmed the wedding vows, saying a collective, “I do.”

Shemote (Exodus) 19:8a
8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.”

Consider also this quote from the prophets, where Yahweh says He will marry Israel in “righteousness” (i.e., Torah obedience).

Hoshea (Hosea) 2:16, 19
16 “And it shall be, in that day,” Says Yahweh, “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ And no longer call Me ‘My Master,’
19 “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy…”

There are too many references to include in this short work, but let’s see the Strong’s Definitions for the appointed feast times in the Torah, for example, in Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:2:

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:2
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be set-apart convocations, these are My feasts.”

The word “feasts” here is Strong’s Hebrew Concordance H4150, mo’edim (מוֹעֲדִים, mo’ed singular), referring to a set time mutually agreed upon, or an appointment.

H4150
מוֹעָדָה מֹעֵד מוֹעֵד
mô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh
mo-ade’, mo-ade’, mo-aw-daw’
From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): – appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).

If we look up the root at Strong’s Hebrew 3259, it is the Hebrew word yaw-ad’ (יָעַד), which deals with betrothal, engagement, or marriage.

H3259
יָעַד yâ‛ad yaw-ad’
A primitive root; to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial), to direct (in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for marriage): – agree, (make an) appoint (-ment, a time), assemble (selves), betroth, gather (selves, together), meet (together), set (a time).

If we are willing to accept it, the picture this gives is that Yahweh plans to marry His bride Israel, who obeys the Torah He gave her at Mount Sinai, and who meets with Him faithfully at the meeting times He appointed. If this is correct (and it is correct), it would be a tragic mistake to worship Yahweh on any other calendar—and yet this is precisely what the Roman Church system teaches us to do.

The Roman Church’s Replacement Calendar

As we will see in the balance of this chapter, the Roman Church has not only changed the days of worship, but it has replaced the entire calendar system completely! For one example, in the Hebrew calendar, the day begins at evening.

B’reisheet (Genesis) 1:31b
31b So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This also applies to the feasts. For example, Leviticus 23:32 confirms that Yahweh wants Yom Kippur kept from evening to evening (i.e., from sunset to sunset), and not from midnight to midnight.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:32b
32b “On the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall celebrate your Sabbath [i.e., rest day].”

In complete contrast to this, the Gregorian Roman Christian calendar begins the day begins at midnight (i.e., the ‘witching hour’). This is so well known that we do not need to prove it here.

However, if this change was legitimate, we should expect to see Yeshua and His disciples following a new calendar in the pages of the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant). However, we do not. Rather, we see Yeshua and His disciples keeping the same calendar His Father commanded in the Torah.

In Scripture, the weekly Sabbath lasts from evening to evening. Luke 4:16 tells us that Yeshua (Jesus) also kept this same Sabbath, going into the synagogues on the Sabbath day (and not on Sunday).

Luqa (Luke) 4:16
16 So 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 to read.

The Apostle Shaul (Paul) also continued to go into the synagogues on the Sabbath day, even many years after Yeshua’s resurrection.

Ma’asei (Acts) 13:14
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

Nevertheless, the Christian Church tells us that we should no longer keep the Sabbath or Yahweh’s feasts, but that we should keep Sunday, Christmas, and Easter instead. This is curious, since Sunday, Christmas, and Easter are not commanded anywhere in Scripture.

Why the Switch from the Sabbath to Sunday?

Did Yeshua really mean for His apostles to stop worshipping on the Hebrew calendar (in which the day lasts from evening-to-evening) and start worshipping on the Roman calendar (in which the day lasts from midnight-to-midnight)? Christians cite Acts 20:7-11 as an alleged ‘proof text’ that the disciples had begun to meet on the Roman Sunday, but we will see that this alleged ‘proof text’ proves nothing.

Ma’asei (Acts) 20:7-11
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Shaul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Shaul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
10 But Shaul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”
11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.

Christian scholars assume the disciples gathered on Sunday morning. However, why would there be so many lamps in the upper room if they met on a Sunday morning? Further, this hypothesis has the disciples listening to Shaul (Paul) for almost twenty-four hours. Did religious Jews eat only one meal in a twenty-four-hour period? This idea leaves many questions unanswered.

If we remember that the disciples were meeting in the Jewish synagogues at this early stage, there is a more logical solution. First, let us remember that religious Jews are a very tradition-oriented people. They usually worship at their synagogue (or at the temple) on Shabbat, and then after the Shabbat is over, they often gather to break bread and fellowship and extend the day of worship and rest as long as possible.

However, when the sun goes down at the end of Shabbat and the first day of the week begins (on what might be called “Saturday night”), this does not constitute a new day of worship! Rather, it is simply a traditional extension of the Sabbath.

Thus, if we re-read Acts chapter 20 in this light, we can see that the reason there were so many lamps in the upper room is that they initially met after sundown ‘Saturday night’ and then talked until the break of day ‘Sunday morning’. This also explains why they only needed one meal.

So, if Sunday worship does not come from Scripture, then from where does it come? One of the earliest references to Sunday worship comes from the Christian apologist Justin Martyr, circa 150 CE. He tells us that all the people in cities and in the country gathered together to worship on “the day called Sunday.”

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place….
[Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 67 – Weekly Worship of the Christians, circa 150 CE]

We do not doubt Justin Martyr’s sincerity. However, let us note that he uses a different calendar system than the one found in Scripture. Scripture calls the first six days of the week by their ordinal numbers (the first day, the second day, the third day and so forth) up through the sixth day of the week.

B’reisheet (Genesis) 1:31b
31b So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Yahweh only gives names to the seventh day Sabbath and the feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, etc.). In contrast, Justin Martyr tells us that the reason his assembly worshipped on ”the day of the sun” (i.e., Sunday) was that it was the day Elohim (God) made the world, and that it was the day Yeshua first appeared to His disciples. Both things are true if we forget that Yahweh counts time from evening-to-evening, whereas the Roman calendar counts time from midnight-to-midnight.

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.
[Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 67 – Weekly Worship of the Christians, circa 150 CE]

However, the issue is, Saturday on the Roman calendar is not the same as the seventh-day Sabbath, and Sunday is not the same as the first day of the week in Scripture, for two reasons. First, the two calendars begin at different times, and second, they are named in honor of different spiritual entities (and thus honor or worship or serve different spiritual entities).

Yahweh expressly forbids us from worshipping or serving the sun, the moon, the stars, and the host of the heavens (e.g., Saturn) in places like Deuteronomy 4:19.

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 4:19
19 “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which Yahweh your Elohim has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”

If we are willing to receive it, this is exactly what the Romans did when they named the days of their week in honor of the sun, the moon, the stars, and all of the host of heaven. Yahweh tells us that He has given this kind of worship to all of the pagan peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. It is not the calendar that was practiced in the original apostolic faith, and it is not the calendar that Yahweh’s bride is supposed to keep.

The Change from Pesach (Passover) to Easter

The Sabbath was by no means the only casualty of the great falling away into replacement theology. As one of many casualties, the entire Hebrew calendar was replaced with a Roman calendar system—and the Pesach (Passover) follows this same pattern.

In Nazarene Israel we show how the bishopric of Rome began to assert dominance over the other assemblies, and changed not only the Sabbath, but also the Pesach (Passover) and the other feasts.

The Church Father Eusebius records that a great crisis called the Quartodeciman Controversy erupted when Bishop Victor of Rome began to demand that all the assemblies keep the Pesach on a Sunday (i.e., on the Roman calendar), rather than keeping it on the 14th of Nisan (Aviv), on the Hebrew calendar (as they had been earlier taught by the apostles).

A question of no small importance arose at that time. For the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should be observed as the feast of the Saviour’s passover…But it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world…But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the Church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him.
[Eusebius, Church History, Book V, Chapters 23, 25, circa 190-195 CE]

Eusebius also records a letter that Polycrates, a leader in Asia, personally wrote to Bishop Victor of Rome, protesting his decision to change the date of the Passover from the 14th of Nisan (Aviv) to a Sunday.

Polycrates points out that the tradition of keeping the Pesach on the 14th of Nisan (Aviv) had been passed down by the apostles Philip and John themselves, and that the tradition had been kept over generations by a number of distinguished and devout families. He insisted that all devout believers should do as the Scriptures say (i.e., practice continuation theology), rather than accept any man-made substitute traditions (i.e., replacement theology).

We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ‘We ought to obey God rather than man’.
[Eusebius, Church History, Book V, Chapter 24. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two, Volume 1.]

Although the apostles Philip and John had personally taught those in Asia to keep Pesach on the 14th of Nisan (on the Hebrew calendar), the Roman Bishop Victor excommunicated any assembly which did not keep Passover on a Sunday (on the Roman calendar).

While this greatly displeased many of the other bishops (who knew what Polycrates had said to be true), the Roman bishopric won the argument. Unity and uniformity were preserved in the Roman church, although it was not preserved on loyalty to Scriptures (but on loyalty to the Roman bishopric). Those who kept Pesach on the 14th of Nisan (on the Hebrew calendar) were driven underground.

Although the exact wording is not preserved, during the Council of Nicea (circa 325/326 CE) the Roman Church decided that Easter was to be celebrated throughout the world on the Sunday that followed the 14th day of the ‘paschal moon.’

However, the moon was considered ‘paschal’ only if the 14th day fell after the spring equinox. Since the equinox is never mentioned in Scripture, this was just another example of how the bishopric of Rome turned its back on Yahweh’s Torah, deciding instead to implement their own days of worship based on the movements of the sun, the moon, and the stars, as is prohibited in Deuteronomy 4:19 (above).

This might be confusing for English speakers who read the King James Version (KJV) because the word Easter appears in the KJV at Acts 12:4. However, this is a mistranslation of the Greek word Pascha (πάσχα), meaning Pesach (Passover).

This error has been corrected in almost every other major translation since the KJV—and yet ironically, many faithful believers still keep Easter. But why? The Nestle-Aland 28 Textual Critical Edition shows the apostles as keeping the Pesach (Pascha, πασχα). (We have put the word πάσχα in bold for visibility.)

Further, Shaliach Shaul (the Apostle Paul) does not tell us to keep Easter, but rather to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which is a continuation of the Pesach).

Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 5:8
8 Therefore let us keep the feast [of unleavened bread] not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Further, Acts 20:6 shows us that the disciples were still keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread [and not Easter] many years after Yeshua’s resurrection. This is important when we realize that Unleavened Bread is a continuation of the Pesach.

Ma’asei (Acts) 20:6
6 But we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread….

The Apostles Kept the Original Calendar

For those who were raised in the replacement theology church system, it can be startling to realize that the apostles continued to keep the same calendar that was given to Moshe (Moses) in the Torah. For example, in Acts 27:9 the disciples kept “the Fast.” This is a reference to the Day of Atonement (because in Judaism, the Day of Atonement is traditionally observed by fasting.)

Ma’asei (Acts) 27:9-10
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Shaul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”

The reason “sailing was now dangerous” was that the Day of Atonement takes place at the end of summer, and the weather in the Mediterranean can be stormy after that, thus making boat travel hazardous.

For another example, Shaliach Shaul continued to observe Shavuot (Pentecost) on Yahweh’s original calendar.

Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 16:8
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.

However, this was not the Roman Pentecost in Rome, but the Hebrew Pentecost on the original Mosaic Calendar, because Shaul went up to Jerusalem (and not Rome).

Ma’asei (Acts) 20:16
16 For Shaul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.

But why is it important to keep the original Mosaic calendar, rather than observe different days in honor of Yahweh? To answer this, let us look at the sin of the golden calf, where even the High Priest of Israel Aharon (Aaron) made up his own day of worship in honor of Yahweh.

Shemote (Exodus) 32:4-5
4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
5 So when Aharon saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aharon made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to Yahweh.”

Even though Aharon declared that the new feast was in honor of Yahweh, Yahweh did not feel honored. Instead, Yahweh was enraged that His people did not worship the way He said.

Why? Perhaps because as we have already seen, the mo’edim are times of intimate meeting (or “dates”) between the Cosmic Bridegroom and His bride. It may be that when Yahweh’s bride decides to change His instructions, the Bridegroom might feel that she is effectively disrespecting His leadership as the Head of His household.

Concerning Shavuot (Pentecost), we should also remember that the apostles received the gift of the Spirit when they were keeping Yahweh’s feasts days as commanded. This shows that even after Yeshua’s resurrection, it is still important to keep Yahweh’s feast days where He says, and when He says, lest we miss out on the movement of the Spirit.

Ma’asei (Acts) 2:1-2
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

We have already seen that Shavuot (Pentecost) is thought to be when Yahweh betrothed Israel to Himself. It is also when the Spirit was poured out on Yeshua’s disciples. But does that mean there is no need to keep Shavuot anymore? Or is it possible that there will be other fulfillments in the future?

The Torah Calendar as Prophetic Shadow Picture

Indeed, long after the Spirit was poured out in Acts 2, Shaul tells us that the feasts, the new moon days, and the Shabbat are still prophetic shadow pictures of things to come. However, this meaning is lost in most mainstream versions because something is lost (or in this case, added) in the translation. For example, the King James Version adds two words in italics (to indicate that they are supplied).

Colossians 2:16-17, KJV
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Perhaps the KJV translators added these two words with the best of intentions, hoping to make the text read more easily to a replacement theology audience?

However, one of the supplied words, is, leads the reader to conclude that the original calendar and the dietary laws are no longer important—and therefore we should not let anyone tell us what to eat, or what to drink, or what days of worship to keep, because the body is of Christ (and therefore the Torah commandments are no longer important). Indeed, this is the meaning proffered by the New International Version.

Colossians 2:16-17, NIV
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a sabbath day.
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

If we accept these added words, we can easily conclude that it makes no difference whether we keep the feasts, the New Moon Days, or Shabbat, or whether we worship on Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, the Chinese New Year, or no feast days at all. It makes it seem like we can make up our own feast days, or worship however we want.

However, this flies in the face of Yeshua’s own words at Matthew 5:17-19, where He clearly said not to think that He came to abolish even the least part of the Torah.

Hebrew does not translate directly to Western languages, and so sometimes supplied words help. However, not in every case. Here is the same passage from the King James Version, but with the supplied words days and is removed:

Colossians 2:16-17 [KJV without supplied words]
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the Sabbath; which are a shadow of things to come; but the Body of Christ.

If we are willing to receive it, there are three main ideas here (1-2-3):

1. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moons, or of the Sabbath;
2. which are a (prophetic) shadow of things (still) to come;
3. but the Body of [Messiah].

To paraphrase, Shaul is telling us (1-2-3):

1. Let no man judge you with regards to the meat you eat, what you drink, or what religious feast days you keep;
2. Because these foods, liquids and feast days are all prophetic shadows of things still to come;
3. Therefore, let only the Body of Messiah tell you what to eat, what to drink, and what feast days to keep!

The message seems to be that those who were not keeping the Law of Moses were judging the Nazarenes for continuing to obey the Torah of Moshe. Shaul said not to listen to them, for they were not really of the Body of Mashiach.

This becomes apparent if we rearrange the clauses to make the English read better (3-1-2). Shaul says not to let anyone BUT the Body of Mashiach judge us in what we eat, what we drink, and/or what feast days we keep, because these are all prophetic shadow pictures of blessings still to come.

[Colossians 2:16-17, reordered 3-1-2]
Let no man [but the Body of Mashiach] judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an set-apart day, or of the new moons, or of the Shabbat; for the feast are shadows of things [still] to come.

Why the Switch from Tabernacles to Christmas?

The Roman Church teaches that Yeshua (“Jesus”) was born on December 25. However, December is not a month on the Torah calendar, and it has no meaning from a prophetic standpoint. What makes infinitely more sense from a Hebraic standpoint is that Yeshua would be born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which in Hebraic thought would be a prophetic fulfillment of the feast. This is also likely why Yochanan (John) tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Yochanan (John) 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….

The word “dwelt” is the Greek word skenoo, Strong’s NT:4637, meaning “to tabernacle” or to encamp in a tent.

NT:4637 skenoo (skay-no’-o); from NT:4636; to tent or encamp, i.e. (figuratively) to occupy (as a mansion) or (specifically) to reside (as God did in the Tabernacle of old, a symbol of protection and communion):

What Yochanan really said, then, was that Yeshua became flesh and tabernacled (or pitched His tent) among us.

Yochanan (John) 1:14 [interpreted]
14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us….

This makes sense, in that Leviticus 23 requires all native-born Israelites who live in the land of Israel to go up to Jerusalem three times a year. One of these three annual pilgrimage feasts is the Feast of Tabernacles. During this feast all Israel must dwell in tabernacles (temporary dwellings) for seven days. In Hebrew these temporary dwellings are called sukkot. In English they are often called booths.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:42
42 You shall dwell in booths [tabernacles] for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths….

Rabbinic tradition is that women (especially pregnant women) do not need to dwell in a sukkah.

Mishna Sukkah 2:8
The mishna continues: Women, slaves, and minors are exempt from the mitzva [commandment] of sukka.

However, even though Miriam (Mary) was pregnant, there was no room at the inn, and therefore Joseph and Miriam had to stay in a temporary dwelling (in this case a booth or a manger), thus fulfilling Leviticus 23.

Luqa (Luke) 2:7
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

One might think that since Yeshua already fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles, we do not need to keep it any longer. However, Scripture speaks of other fulfillments of the Feast of Tabernacles—for example, Zechariah 14.

Zechariah 14:16-17
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

Beyond this, there is yet another prophesied fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles in the book of Revelation.

Hitgalut (Revelation) 21:3
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself will be among them…”

These are but a few examples of why we should not let anyone but the true body of Mashiach tell us what foods and drinks to eat, and what days of worship to keep (because the feasts are prophetic shadow pictures of coming things).

Why Was the Original Apostolic Faith Replaced?

Despite what Scripture says, in 311 CE a Roman general named Constantine converted to replacement-theology Christianity, and went on to become the Emperor of Rome. He then issued his famous Edict of Milan, which proclaimed a degree of religious tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Scholars now debate whether there was ever an official edict, but the point is that religious tolerance was granted to Sunday Christians, and it was denied to those of the original apostolic faith, who worshipped on the original Mosaic calendar.

Then on March 7, 321 CE, Constantine issued a Sunday enforcement law of March 7, A.D. 321, which reads:

On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed.
[Codex Justinianus 3.12.3, trans. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 5th ed. (New York, 1902), 3:380, note 1.]

In 364 CE, Emperor Constantine issued an edict stating that Christians must not “Judaize” by resting on the Sabbath, but that they must rest on “the Lord’s Day” (i.e., Sunday) instead.

Christians must not ‘Judaize’ by resting on the Sabbath; but must work on that day, honoring rather the Lord’s Day (‘Sun’ day) by resting, if possible, as Christians. However, if any (Nazarene) be found Judaizing, let them be shut out from Christ. (Other translations read, “Let them be anathema to Christ.”)
[Council of Laodicea under the Emperor Constantine; Canon 29, 364 CE]

Consider the irony: three hundred years after Yeshua came to preach obedience to the Torat Moshe and the Mosaic calendar, the Church of Rome officially banned the faith once delivered to the saints, and embraced replacement theology.

Now let us ask ourselves a central question: why would Yahweh allow a Catholic Roman emperor to ban the original apostolic faith, and replace it with a mutated variety of the faith that embraced many elements of paganism?

Scripture does not say, but we believe Yahweh allowed it so that faith in a Jewish Mashiach and a desire to see a Messianic age would spread to the ends of the earth much sooner than the Torah-obedient Nazarene Israelite variety ever could. Maimonides (or the Rambam) said something parallel in his Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, 11:7.

Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, 11:7
Ultimately, all the deeds of Jesus of Nazareth and that Ishmaelite who arose after him will only serve to prepare the way for Mashiach’s coming and the improvement of the entire world, motivating the nations to serve God together as Tzephaniah 3:9 states: ‘I will transform the peoples to a purer language that they all will call upon the name of God and serve Him with one purpose.

In other words, Yahweh allowed a paganized Catholic variation of the original apostolic faith to keep a false calendar and to incorporate pagan elements so that it would spread faith in a Jewish Mashiach to the world much sooner than the sect of the Nazarenes ever could have.

And, as we will see in the next chapter, this is how the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel (Ephraim) are to be found, and then regathered. In fact, as we will see in the next chapter, this process is happening even now.

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