A short study on Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”Hebrews 10:23-25 I wanted to bring up discussion on this scripture because I have noticed in some of my threads, and several others, an ongoing discussion about the Feasts of the Lord and are they just Jewish feasts or is there any value to the Christian? I want to consider the Hebrews 10 scripture above - we often hear the traditional interpretation given that this means we are supposed to be in church on Sunday right? And this is an ok interpretation, I would say in a very broad interpretation it is applicable and I would not dispute it, but as always good Bible study involves context and I have long considered Hebrews 10 and who was it written to? Not a trick question - it was written to the Hebrews. At the time in which Hebrews was written was there a church structure in which regular Sunday meetings were held? Probably not at this point and when the writer of Hebrews tell the Hebrews not to forsake the assembling of themselves together what was he in context speaking of? More than likely not a Sunday meeting but, he was probably encouraging them to continue observing the feasts of the Lord. Why would I say this? As a good bible student we should always let the Bible, interpret the Bible - so where is it commanded that the Hebrews actually assemble together? We find it in Exodus 23:17 and also repeated in Exodus 34:23 “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. We also see another clarification of this given in Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.” So is it possible that this was the context in Hebrews 10? One other point to make and then I’ll be very curious to hear your responses. So we see these sacred assemblies in Leviticus 23 and I am going to look at Leviticus 23:1-2 in English and in Hebrew (hopefully not sure if RITAN supports the font so hope it works) and I will bold a couple of words for emphasis. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” Leviticus 23:1-2 “וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם מִקְרָאֵ֣י קֹ֑דֶשׁאֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מוֹעֲדָֽי׃” So the words I want to consider are “feasts of the Lord” and “holy convocations”. First, “feasts of the Lord”. Yes, as I have mentioned in some of my other posts, they are not feasts of Israel or feasts of the Jews, but the feasts of the “Lord” - in the Hebrew, actually YHVH Yahweh or however it is actually pronounced. But the word for feast is interesting. Feast as you or I would think of it as a festive meal is actually “Chag” in Hebrew, but that is not the word that is used here, here the word is “Moed” - meaning appointment or appointed time - so the more literal translation should read, these are the Lord’s appointments or appointed times. But next look at the words, “holy convocations” because while the appointments concern God, the “holy convocations” concern the people - the words here are “mikrah kodesh”. Kodesh means holy, but “Mikrah” is an interesting word it means “rehearsal” - so a literal translation could be rendered “holy rehearsals”. So what is being rehearsed? So perhaps this lends even more significance to the message of Hebrews 10, do not forsake the assemblies or “holy rehearsals”- so much more as you see the day approaching - because maybe they are rehearsals of God’s appointments with man for redemptive purposes? Anyway, I think that may be part of the reason for the emphasis on the Feast days as high watch days, although we don’t know for certain that any one of these days is appointed for the rapture - maybe yes, maybe no. As Christians I do not think any Christian is obligated to keep these feasts in any way, as we discussed quite a bit a few weeks ago in my passover thread - but as we see the “Day approaching” it might benefit all Christians to at least keep these things in mind, even if we do not assemble on these days. We might celebrate them, by just taking that day to remember that God does have an appointment book and that He is faithful. He kept His spring appointments in the crucifixion, the resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit , and will keep the fall appointments someday - even if it doesn’t involve us. But it should excite us, because He has an appointed time for the rapture, even if we don’t know it yet. What do you all think of this interpretation of Hebrews 10? Indeed, again the injunction to keep these days of the Lord are given to the Jew! That said, God redemption plans were first to the Jew! Using the gentiles and involving them in His redemption plans was utilized to prompt and make Israel jealous! The use of those who were not required to keep these Feast Days or even to the acknowledging that the Lord made them sacred unto Himself is somewhat lost even to the Jew! Again, Father God formed, fashioned and held Israel accountable where others were not! As they were His procession and His wife! Likewise, Christ was also given opportunity to gather unto himself His own Bride! Jehovah God revealed himself to the Jew and Christ revealed himself to the gentile! TR Just as God reveals the second coming to the Jew and the Rapture to the bride of Christ! TR Whether Jew or Gentile, we have all fallen short of God's glory and will forever in this life continue to do so! When man (Adam) was created, he was neither jew nor gentile! We collectively are His creation, in His image and likeness! Jews for the Father as his prized posession. And gentiles for Christ as His! With the Holy Spirit embracing them both fulfilling the legacy of the Godhead! TR Amen brother, I like your train of thought on this, the first and second coming revealed in the feasts to Israel, the rapture perhaps one day being revealed to the church? It is not without scriptural precedent that God should perhaps reveal a little more to us as the time draws very close, there is no guarantee but it is nevertheless a possibility and I sure hope so!
