Presently,
there are any number of ministers and members who question the validity
of using the Hebrew Calendar to determine the dates for the observance of the
Holy Days. They also question the
validity of using the rules of postponement that form the basis for the calendar
calculations. Different conclusions
have resulted from studies by ministers and members alike who have not accepted
the findings of Herbert W. Armstrong, which were based on the Hebrew Calendar.
It is obvious their various interpretations have led them into error,
since they cannot all be right.
To resolve problems about fundamental doctrinal teachings
within the Church, the apostle Paul, in his letter to the Church at Corinth,
wrote that God has placed government in His Church (I Corinthians 12:27-28;
Ephesians 4:11-16). Further, he
wrote, “Christ is neither divided nor the author of confusion!” (I
Corinthians 1:13; 14:33).
God’s form of government, if carried out correctly
through His chosen and faithful ministry, eliminates any such confusion from
developing -- confusion such as we see in the over 200 corporate Churches today.
“The Church is organized as a theocratic government, hierarchical in
form. The members do not set
officials in the Church. God sets
EVEN THE LAY MEMBERS in the Church” (I Corinthians 12:18, Mystery of the Ages,
page 246). Unfortunately, since the
death of Herbert Armstrong, we find ourselves in a tragically similar time to
the Book of Judges: “A time when there was no king in Israel, and everyone did
that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
Both Luke, in the book of Acts, and the apostle Paul, in
his writings, make very clear that to prevent the members of His Church from
being “blown about with every wind of doctrine,” God established the
fundamental doctrinal teachings within His Church through His apostles -- and no
one else! (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:3-5; 2:19-20; I Corinthians 4:1-2; 2:10; II
Peter 1:21, etc.). God used the early apostles to “plant” the foundational
doctrines of the Church. Ministers
are to “water” (expound upon) these teachings.
God then gives the increase (I Corinthians 3:6,10).
In order to understand the function of an apostle, it would
be
helpful to consider the meaning of the word apostle in the Greek
language: Apostle -- apostolos,
means a delegate, ambassador. A
chosen messenger who is sent to perform a special mission for God.
One sent forth by God. Officially
a commissioner of Christ (Strongs
and Youngs, Concordances; Ungers Bible Dictionary, etc.).
In contrast: Apostasy
means a falling back, abandonment, rebellion, desertion of obedience toward God,
a denial of faith in Christ (The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, volume
1, page 170). As stated,
apostasy IS a denial of faith in Christ, and it rejects His use of the apostles
He has specially chosen to fulfill the responsibilities He has given them.
The Church in the early 20th century lost much
of its foundation -- its Truth -- as a result of persecution and compromise
(Mystery of the Ages, page 289). God
began using His late apostle, Mr. Armstrong, to RESTORE the truth, as He
promised He would in the end time (Malachi 4:4-6; Matthew 17:11).
Considering the fact God restored, through His apostle, Herbert
Armstrong, knowledge of the Feast days and the proper seasons for observing
them, it is only logical God would also make known, through him, the exact dates
and times of these commanded assemblies.
The fact is, God made known to ancient Israel, through a
calendar He gave them, when His Passover and Holy Days were to be observed
(Exodus 12:2; Deuteronomy 16:1; Leviticus 23).
That Calendar was still being used in the New Testament.
Christ, His family, and His disciples observed the Passover, Pentecost,
and other Holy Days according to that calendar (Luke 2:41). As a result, the
disciples knew exactly when they were to meet together on the day of
Pentecost in 31 A.D. (Acts 2:1).
During the early years of his ministry, Mr. Armstrong
encountered the same problem we are experiencing in 2001 with counting
Pentecost. In the process of
restoring truth, Mr. Armstrong was forced to make an in-depth study into the
means God uses to make sure His people would know when to observe the Passover,
along with all the Holy Days. His
study also included when to begin and end the COUNT for Pentecost.
This knowledge was delivered to him over a period of time, the final
adjustment being the correct day for beginning the Pentecost count. Though he
had the wrong day -- for a few years -- on the basis of his understanding of the
Hebrew word translated “FROM,” God eventually led HIM to make the correction
-- not anyone else!
God also led Mr. Armstrong to know how to count Pentecost
in such a year as this one -- beginning the count INSIDE the Days of Unleavened
Bread, not outside them, on Sunday, the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread.
Mr. Armstrong’s findings are borne out when we consider
what the Days of Unleavened Bread are to teach God’s people.
The week of Unleavened Bread pictures the time of “escape” from sin.
The Sheaf, Christ, who was first offered for sin, ascended (after He was
resurrected) to His father to be accepted by Him, then returned -- a perfect
representation of what the wave sheaf offering was to represent.
Once the sacrifice for sin had been accepted, the barriers holding
God’s people in enslavement to sin could be crossed.
Obviously, this picture necessitated the sheaf offering being waved some
time during the days of Unleavened Bread, so the “Red Sea” crossing on the
last day of Unleavened Bread, picturing the final escape from bondage to sin,
could occur.
PART II – Next Week
By Don Billingsly
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