Insight into Jewish and Christian Holy Days; their origins and practices.
Posted December 24th, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days, Selah
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Let’s take just a moment to look beyond the controversy over when the Lord came and focus on why He came. What follows is my adaptation of Isaiah 53. I think it’s the best explanation the Bible offers.
Posted December 3rd, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days, Selah
Commentary by Jack Kelley
Whether you’re following commentaries by prophecy scholars on the nearness of the rapture or predictions by financial experts on the nearness of the world’s economic downfall, the message is the same. This could very well be the last time we celebrate Christmas as we’ve come to know it.
Posted November 26th, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days
Commentary by Jack Kelley
Every year at Thanksgiving I’m reminded of the holiday’s origin, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It was the crowning event in Israel’s cycle of fall feasts that also included Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It was a celebration of the harvest, of God’s mercy in forgiving their sins for another year, and a remembrance of the time when He lived among them in the wilderness, setting them apart as His people.
Posted September 24th, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
(At sunset on Sept. 16, 2012 Israel begins year 5773 on the Hebrew Calendar. As I often do with articles that commemorate annual events, I have updated this study on the Fall Feasts adding new information for your review.)
The fall is arguably the most important time of the year in Judaism. Three of Israel’s holiest days are celebrated then, and all in the space of 15 days. They are Yom Teruah, or Feast of Trumpets, followed 10 days later by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and 5 days after that by Sukkot, the week long Feast of Tabernacles. On our calendar they usually occur some time between mid September and early October due to the differences between the Jewish (lunar) calendar and the western (solar) one. Each of these holy days has both historical and prophetic significance, the prophetic fulfillment to occur on the day itself. Therefore Christians study them for glimpses into the future as well as to gain a better understanding of Jewish culture.
Posted April 23rd, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days, Selah
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).
Posted April 16th, 2011 in Holidays and Holy Days
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
The Feasts of Israel have both a historical and a prophetic fulfillment. In this study we’ll review the account of Passover, the world’s oldest continuously celebrated Holy Day from these two perspectives.
Posted December 18th, 2010 in Holidays and Holy Days
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. (Luke 2:21)
Posted December 11th, 2010 in Holidays and Holy Days
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
Posted December 25th, 2008 in Holidays and Holy Days
Commentary by Jack Kelley
On the night Jesus was born, the Parthians (remnant of Persia and forerunners of today’s Iran) and the Romans (forerunners of the End Times Kingdom of the anti-Christ) were at odds with each other. The Syrians didn’t like the Jews and had tried unsuccessfully to conquer them, their attempt having been thwarted by the Maccabean revolt. Israel’s sovereignty had all but vanished, and the nation’s very existence was in doubt. Their King didn’t have the country’s best interests at heart, and many questioned the legitimacy of his government. Read Post »
Posted December 15th, 2008 in Holidays and Holy Days
Commentary by Jack Kelley
(This article was originally published in November of 2005 when the controversy over the Christmas season was first heating up. It’s even more relevant today. I’ve expanded and updated it for this holiday season.)
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.” (Jeremiah 10:3-4)
A friend once observed that when you see the Christmas decorations begin to go up on Main Street, you know that Thanksgiving must be near. That’s because in the US, Thanksgiving weekend officially kicks off the Christmas season. Special school programs, parties, shopping, all the things Christmas has become these days begin in earnest on the day after Thanksgiving. Read Post »
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