What are God’s Annual Festivals (Holy Days)?

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Biblical Meaning and Why They Are God’s Appointed Times—Not Just Jewish Holidays

Many people today refer to the biblical festivals as “Jewish holidays.” However, the Bible itself presents a very different picture. Scripture clearly teaches that these days are not man-made traditions or ethnic observances—they are God’s Holy Days, established by Him for all His people.

Understanding this distinction is essential for grasping God’s plan and purpose revealed throughout the Bible.

1. The Bible Calls Them God’s Feasts

The foundational passage for understanding the Holy Days is Leviticus 23.

“The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2)

Notice carefully:

  • They are called “the feasts of the LORD”
  • God says “these are My feasts”

They are not called Jewish feasts in Scripture.

Key Insight

These festivals belong to God—not to any one nation. While they were given to ancient Israel, their origin is divine, not cultural.

2. Given to Israel—But Intended for All Who Follow God

It is true that God gave these festivals to Israel. But this does not make them exclusively Jewish any more than:

  • The Ten Commandments are “Jewish laws”
  • Or the Bible is a “Jewish book only”

Israel was chosen as the nation through whom God would:

  • Preserve His truth
  • Demonstrate His ways
  • Teach His plan to the world

“He declares His word to Jacob… He has not dealt thus with any nation.” (Psalm 147:19–20)

Important Distinction

Israel was the recipient, not the owner, of these Holy Days.

3. Jesus Christ Observed These Holy Days

Jesus did not treat these festivals as temporary or cultural traditions. He kept them faithfully.

Examples:

  • Passover — Luke 22:15
  • Feast of Tabernacles — John 7:2, 8–10
  • Other festivals — John 5:1

Jesus’ example is crucial:

  • He never taught that these days should be abandoned
  • He observed them as part of a faithful life of obedience

4. The Early Church Continued Observing Them

After Jesus’ resurrection, the apostles and early Church continued keeping these same Holy Days.

Examples:

  • Passover — (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) “7 Therefore [a]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed [b]for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
  • Pentecost — (Acts 2:1) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place.”
  • Paul keeping festivals — (Acts 20:16) “16 For Paul 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.”

This shows:

  • These were not temporary Old Covenant rituals
  • They remained meaningful in the New Testament Church

5. These Festivals Reveal God’s Plan of Salvation

One of the most powerful truths about God’s Holy Days is that they outline His entire plan for humanity.

Spring Festivals (Christ’s First Coming)

  • Passover — Christ’s sacrifice as the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
  • Unleavened Bread — Putting sin out of our lives
  • Pentecost — The giving of the Holy Spirit and firstfruits

Fall Festivals (Future Fulfillment)

  • Trumpets — Christ’s return
  • Day of Atonement — Removal of Satan and reconciliation
  • Feast of Tabernacles — The Kingdom of God on earth
  • Last Great Day — Final judgment and salvation for all

These days are not random—they form a prophetic timeline of God’s plan.

6. Why Calling Them “Jewish Holidays” Is Misleading

Referring to these festivals as “Jewish holidays” can unintentionally:

  • Limit their meaning
  • Detach them from God’s universal plan
  • Cause people to overlook their relevance today

Biblical Reality

  • They are God’s appointed times (Leviticus 23:4)
  • They reveal His plan for all humanity
  • They were observed by Jesus and the early Church

Calling them merely “Jewish” is similar to calling:

  • The Ten Commandments “Jewish commandments”
  • Or the gospel “a Jewish message only”

It reduces something universal to something ethnic.

Quoting Google: “referring to the festivals listed in Leviticus 23 as “Jewish” is incorrect because these days are explicitly identified in the Bible as belonging to God, not to any particular ethnic or religious group. The Bible teaches that these festivals are intended for all believers and are vital for understanding God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. 1

Here is why calling them “Jewish” incorrect:

  • They are “Feasts of the Lord”: In Leviticus 23:1-2, God calls them “My feasts” and “the feasts of the Lord,” rather than the feasts of the Jews.
  • They predated Judaism: The festivals were established before the tribe of Judah (from which “Jew” is derived) existed as a distinct entity.
  • They are “Appointed Times” for all: They are “sacred assemblies”—divine appointments for all of God’s people to gather before Him.
  • They were kept by Jesus and the Apostles: Jesus Christ observed these festivals, and the New Testament Church continued to keep them long after his resurrection, setting an example for Christians today.
  • They have Christian significance: UCG teaches that these festivals outline the complete plan of salvation: the first four (Spring) are fulfilled through Christ’s first coming, and the final three (Fall) point to events surrounding his second coming.
  • They are prophetic and future-oriented: The Bible shows these festivals being observed in the future during the Millennium (e.g., Zechariah 14:16). 

Labeling these days as solely “Jewish” is a misconception that causes many Christians to miss the spiritual significance and the commanded observance of God’s holy days. ” End Quote

7. God’s Holy Days Are Still Relevant Today

These festivals are not outdated traditions—they are living teachings.

They help believers:

  • Understand God’s plan step-by-step
  • Stay connected to biblical truth
  • Grow in obedience and faith
  • Focus on Christ’s work—past, present, and future

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

If Christ observed them—and the early Church continued in them—they remain deeply meaningful for Christians today.

Conclusion

God’s annual festivals are far more than cultural observances. They are divinely appointed Holy Days that reveal His plan of salvation for all mankind.

They are:

  • God’s feasts—not Jewish inventions
  • Biblical—not traditional
  • Prophetic—not outdated

Understanding and observing these days brings a deeper awareness of God’s purpose and a closer walk with Him.

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