Page 77 - Laying Down the Law

I Corinthians 5:7
For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Fifty days later Pentecost found its fulfillment when the Holy Spirit descended
upon the 120 gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. The only feast remaining to
be fulfilled is Tabernacles. Tabernacles represents God and man dwelling together in
fulness. This only occurs when a man has laid aside his earthly dwelling and receives
a glorified body. This is symbolized at the feast, for men are required to build booths
outside their homes and to dwell in them during the feast of tabernacles. They exit
one dwelling place to enter another.
During the Millennial period, those saints who attained to the first resurrection
will have entered into the substance of Tabernacles. However, the nations they are
ruling over will not yet have entered in. The next resurrection does not occur until the
thousand years is up (Revelation 20:5). Yahweh, wanting to foreshadow that which
is to come, will require the nations to observe the feast annually until the substance
has come.
It is error to conclude from this passage in Zechariah, that Christians are to
continue to observe the Law. The apostles gave no instruction regarding such things.
Indeed, Paul wrote that new moons, sabbaths, feast days and laws pertaining to
food and drink were given to God’s people as shadows to point them to the substance
that is found in Christ.
Consider for a moment that the apostles’ behavior reveals that they were not
bound to the observance of the Law. Although Paul continued to observe the feasts
on occasion, he did not do so out of obligation. We have the record of his missionary
journeys. Some of these journeys lasted for years. We have detailed accounts of his
whereabouts. Paul did not leave the mission field to which God had sent him to travel
to Jerusalem three times a year to keep the feasts. If he believed that Christians were
under obligation to keep the Law, then he surely would have made the journey.
People of God, what I am declaring is that the Law was temporal. Yahweh
provided a special environment for a season in which it could be observed. This
environment no longer exists.
Some Christians have adopted what is termed by some as “replacement
theology.” They believe that Christians, who are the spiritual seed of Abraham, have
replaced the natural seed of Abraham. Therefore the covenant of the Law, and the
priesthood now belong to them. The Bible clearly refutes such a view.
The Law of Moses was served by the Levitical priesthood. It is great error to
suggest that Christians have taken up this priesthood. The Law, and by extension the
Levitical Priesthood, could make nothing perfect. We have examined this carefully in
earlier chapters. Therefore, it was necessary to put away that which is imperfect and
to usher in something better. Christ was not, and is not, a Levitical priest. Yahshua
was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.