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The Galileans

The Bible tells us that in order to escape the wicked king Herod, Joseph fled from Judea, taking Mary and Jesus with him to Egypt.  An angel appeared to Joseph while in Egypt and instructed him to return again to the land of Israel, but the angel warned Joseph against re-entering Judea: he was instead to enter the northern region of Galilee and settle in the city of Nazareth – this, even though the ancestral roots of both Mary and Joseph were in Judea.  Why Galilee?  The answer to this question is instructive in understanding the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Before answering the question, why Galilee, it is helpful to understand who the Galileans were. The Galileans referred to in the New Testament were Jews by race and religion.  Because they dwelled in the most northern province of Israel, they were considered different from the southern Jews of Judea.  John, in his gospel, distinguishes between these two groups.  In John 7:2, 11:55 and 19:42 the term “Jews” is used by John to refer to the Jews of Judea and their religious practices. In referring to them separately from the Jews of Galilee, John pointed to the fact that the Jews of Judea, and especially Jerusalem, were not as exacting in the practice of their religion as were their cousins to the north. 

Commentators on Judaism in Christ’s time are all in agreement that it was difficult to define an organized religion called Judaism.  In Judea there were many differing sects with many competing divisions within them.  Among the best-known sects were the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadduccees, Zealots and Herodians – all mentioned in the New Testament. Besides the religious sects, much like Christianity today, most Jews in the Judean province of Palestine were marginally religious.  They paid little attention to the wrangling between these different groups.  The annual feast days of the Old Testament (see Leviticus 23) were still practiced by some of the Jews during Christ’s day, but in Judea they were treated by most as nothing more than annual patriotic holidays: they were times for celebration, family gatherings, marriage matchmaking and eating good food.  That does not mean there were not religiously serious Judeans who were careful in how they celebrated the annual Sabbaths, but even these individuals did not agree on many aspects of how or when these days should be celebrated.

The Jewish inhabitants of the Galilee, on the other hand, tended to be much more serious about their religious celebrations.  This does not mean they were more moral, but they tended to be more conservative and nationalistic than their southern cousins. To the Galileans, the religion of Moses was considered sacred in much the same way American patriots revere the flag, the Constitution, and the 4th of July.

Also, the province of Galilee was more rural than Judea and not as heavily influenced by the Greek culture.  Thus the ideas of “modern Greek philosophy” did not leave its mark on their culture. These differences between the Galileans and the Judeans came about after the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, as written about in the book of Jeremiah and elsewhere. 

Upon their return from their captivity, the Jews settled in three provinces of Palestine.  These provinces were, from south to north, Judea, Samaria and Galilee.  As the Bible makes clear, the middle province of Samaria was hardly considered a Jewish province at all.  The population of this region was largely made up of the descendents of people brought Into the province by Nebuchadnezzar to replace the Jews taken into captivity by him.  Judea, on the other hand, remained ethnically Jewish during the time of Christ, while the two northern provinces had mixed populations.  In Galilee the Jews had actually become a minority, and were not considered as sophisticated as the Jews of Judea. 

Because of their ethnically mixed region and their distance from Jerusalem, the dialect of the Galileans differed markedly from that of the Judeans (see Acts 2:7).  They also, in contrast to their southern cousins, were known to be good soldiers.  They tended to be vigorous in fighting and were determined in their convictions.  In fact, as Roman rule developed in Palestine, many Galileans became characterized as Zealots and Patriots, and were extreme in the exercise of their ideals.  It was the rebellion by these two extreme groups that eventually led to the Romans destroying Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  The passionate nature of these northern Jews developed partly because they were in the minority in Galilee and thus had to struggle to maintain their culture and religious beliefs.

Because of their regional differences, there was a natural lack of mixing between the Jews of Galilee and the Jews of Judea when they gathered in Jerusalem to keep the pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and Feast of Tabernacles. Over time, there had also developed differences among them as to when and how these Festivals should be observed.  The Jews of Judea were much more influenced by the Greek and Egyptian cultures brought by occupation and the resulting international flavor of Jerusalem.  Their religious beliefs and practices evolved from a mixture of Old Testament scriptures, oral tradition, apocryphal writings, the Talmud, and Greek Philosophy; which were much different from their northern cousins’ who focused their beliefs solely on the writings of the Pentateuch and prophets.  The political, economic, and social/religious control over Israel were the concerns of Jerusalem, which was far removed from the major concerns of the northern Galilee region.  Also, Galilee was distant enough from Jerusalem that it was largely free from the influence of the competing Pharisees and priestly Sadducees, the dominant religious sects in and around Jerusalem.

There is much more that could be said about the society in which God the Father dictated that his son live and be brought to manhood.  The things that have been mentioned thus far, however, give a basic understanding of the temperament of the two regions during Christ’s day, and will provide insight into the Ministry of Jesus Christ. 

As mentioned earlier, Galilee was a rural but prosperous agricultural province populated by Jews who by and large tenaciously held to the religious practices as spelled out by Moses in the Pentateuch.  The Jews of Judea, on the other hand, were steeped in Greek and Egyptian culture and philosophy and had lost much of the instruction found in the early books of the Bible.  Seen in this light, Christ’s words, “had you believed Moses, you would have believed me…but you believe not his writings” (John 5: 46-47), become much more meaningful.  While the Jews of Judea still claimed the authority of Moses, they did not adhere to the things he wrote.  Further, Jesus accused them of “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark7:7), referring to their practice of placing oral tradition above scripture. 

An overview of Christ’s ministry will demonstrate what he meant by these remarks  The statement from Mark mentioned above occurred when the Pharisees from Jerusalem were both dogging and persecuting him.  The atmosphere in Jerusalem was rife with division, competition, power mongering and fear.  Naturally, those in position over the Jewish community both resented and feared anyone who taught differently from them, viewing such as seditious and dangerous.  Their concerns over maintaining the political balance in Jerusalem that would maintain peace with their Roman occupiers caused suspicion and anger to erupt whenever anyone opposed them; and, no doubt, a perceived enemy from without their circle could unite even the most divided among them.  Being from an area to the north that was rife with zealots and patriots, the Jews of Jerusalem had cause to suspicion Jesus Christ and his “new” ideas.  Thus, while Christ visited Jerusalem and Judea, his ministry by and large took place in Galilee, far distant from the religious boiling pot that was Jerusalem.

It is not only the geographical location of Galilee that was important to Christ’s ministry, however.  The people of Galilee played a central role in Christ’s ministry and the beginning of the church.  What follows is a short list of scriptures with comments demonstrating the prominence of Galilee in Christ’s ministry:

Mark 1:14: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  KJV

Comment: Christ began his ministry by introducing the Gospel of the kingdom of God in Galilee.

Matthew 4:18-21: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  KJV

Comment: Christ first called these fishermen of Galilee to be numbered among the eleven Galileans called to be his apostles.

Matthew 5:6-7:  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  KJV

Comment: Christ delivered his most famous sermon, the sermon on the Mount, from an area overlooking the sea of Galilee.

Matthew 8 and 9 (see entirety of both chapters):

Comment:  Christ moved throughout Galilee performing many miracles.

Matthew 14:22-25: And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. KJV

Comment:  Christ performed the astounding miracle of walking on water on the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew 28:16: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  KJV

Comment:  Christ told his disciples to meet him in Galilee after the resurrection.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are, by-and-large, accounts of Christ’s ministry in Galilee.  In contrast, the Gospel of John centers on the conflicts among the Jewish authorities in Judea that led to Christ’s death. As part of this contrast, John referred to the Passover of the “Jews” (see John 2:15 and 11:55) to set it apart from the Passover observance of the Galileans, which Christ confirmed by his example. Christ’s ministry exposed the oral traditions and false doctrines of the Judeans and typed them as corrupting leaven – a metaphor for sin. The chief priests and Pharisees could not believe a prophet could come from Galilee, even though the Scriptures plainly foretold Christ would come from that region:

Isaiah 9:1-2  …by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. KJV 

While the Galileans were not a deeply spiritual people, they did have one aspect of their religious practice that was very important to Christ.  That is, they remained true in their observance of the annual festivals outlined in Leviticus, chapter 23.  The following is a listing of those holy days and a discussion of their significance to Jesus Christ.

THE PASSOVER

Leviticus 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even (or between the evenings or at twilight) is the LORD's passover.  KJV

Comment:  The Galileans observed this important Feast at precisely the time mentioned in the scripture above. Christ followed this tradition. The proper timing of the observance of Passover was especially important to him as it served to point to him as being the perfect “Lamb of God”.  The four gospel accounts tell us that prior to being crucified, he ate the traditional Passover meal with his disciples, then he established new memorial rituals that included the drinking of wine and eating unleavened bread.  These new rituals, when annually observed, were to remind his disciples of the significance of his having lived the perfect, sinless life, which when later offered as an offering for sin, was found sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of all repentant believers for all time.  Having initiated the new memorial rituals for observing the Passover, Christ left the house where he had eaten the meal with his disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane where he was arrested, then unlawfully forced to undergo the ordeal of being tried, beaten, tormented, and scourged, then nailed to the stake where he died at the 9th hour when the sin offering was traditionally slain in Jerusalem.

Unlike the Galileans, the Jews of Judea had lost the true Passover by combining it with a festival that immediately followed it, the Feast of Unleavened Bread: the Spring festivals, which normally covered an 8-day period, were condensed by the Judeans into a 7-day observance.  Having lost the appropriate time to observe the Passover, the wayward Jews of Judea were found busily slaying their erroneous passover lambs at the very time Christ died on the stake, having already pictured for them the previous evening what it meant to be the perfect, sinless “lamb” of God – his life was the fulfillment of the symbolic “spotless” lamb that was consumed at the traditional Passover meal. 

Christ’s death as a sacrifice for sin, which occurred at the time the daily sin offering was slain in Jerusalem, ended the need for any future ritualistic sin offerings among the Jews.  Unfortunately, the Jews of Judea were blinded to the identity of their savior, and continued making their ritualistic sacrifices.

THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

Leviticus 23:6-7: And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. KJV

Comment: This festival is a separate festival that immediately followed the Passover and was to picture for observant Jews (and Christians today) the need to put sin, pictured by leavened bread, out of their homes and lives. Then they were to eat unleavened bread, which represented the righteous life, throughout the seven days of the festival.  This festival pictures for modern-day Christians the need to live a life of overcoming sin and putting on righteousness in an effort to become perfect, as Christ was perfect.  The idea of overcoming sin was a central theme in the teachings of Christ, and is only made possible because he paid the penalty of sin in our stead.

THE FEAST OF WEEKS OR PENTECOST

Leviticus 23:9-17, 21: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD….21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.  KJV

Comment:   The error of most who read the Bible is to assume that the Pharisees and other Jews in Judea were practicing the religion of Moses.  That is a false assumption.  As stated earlier, there were many stripes to Judaism, which incorporated many errors and traditions of men that had no foundation in scripture.  However, the Galileans, who were Christ’s fellow travelers, did keep all of the festivals of God in their right order and time.  The majority of the Jews of Judea, unfortunately, only kept five of the annual festivals on the right days.  As a result, they had lost critical details concerning the symbolism of God’s festivals.

As discussed already, the Judean Pharisees had the erroneous tradition of observing the Passover on the wrong day -- at the beginning of the 15th of Nisan[vi], but when Christ said to his fellow Galileans that they should prepare the Passover meal at the start of the 14th, one day ahead of most Judean Jews, his disciples did not question him because it was their tradition to follow Leviticus 23:5 exactly.  By his example, Christ ended all argument, for all time, as to when the Passover was to be observed.

But the confusion that existed among the wayward and confused Jews of Judea did not end there.

Earlier, it was stated that the Jews of Judea kept only five of the annual festivals on the right day, and at the right time.  Besides the Passover, they also failed to adhere to the instructions given by Moses concerning the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16:10) or Pentecost (Acts 2:1). 

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread there was a ceremony called the waive sheaf offering. This ceremony consisted of the priest waving the first sheaf of the spring barley harvest in the air on the Sunday following the weekly Sabbath that fell during the days of unleavened bread.  This ceremony, unbeknownst to the Jews of his day, foreshadowed the event and marked the exact day Christ was to ascend to his father.  Beginning with that Sunday, the Israelites were to count 50 days (seven full weeks – thus the name Feast of Weeks – plus one day), and celebrate the Feast of Weeks on the 50th day. 

The Feast of Weeks is referred to as Pentecost in the New Testament.  During Christ’s time there was a controversy as to how the counting for this festival should occur.  Instead of following the Scriptures and counting fifty, the Pharisees decided to set the time of the festival on the sixth day of the third month each year.  This particular day was the day when the old covenant between Israel and God was established, as spoken of in Exodus 19, and forward.  Setting the date as they did made it convenient to celebrate the start of the Israelite nation at Mount Sinai on the same calendar day every year – much as Independence day is celebrate on July 4th in the United States – without regard to the particular day of the week on which the event occurred. This celebration became known as Shavout on the Jewish calendar.  

Because Shavout occurs on the 6th day of the Jewish month of Sivan, it no longer correlates with the waive sheaf offering.  But that is not what God commanded.  God had more important reasons for establishing the annual holy day of Pentecost (which means count fifty) than to celebrate the birth of a nation.  His intent was to use the day to foreshadow and later memorialize the exact date the New Testament church was begun. In order to be in the right place at the right time for celebrating this particular festival, the Scripture directing the counting of 50 had to be followed exactly.  Once again, who was there at the right place on the right day?  The Galileans.  Christ’s disciples knew when to keep this Feast.

In Acts chapter 2 we find the account of the coming of God’s Holy Spirit to begin the New Testament church.  It defines the start of the Christian era:

Acts 2:1-7: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? KJV

Once again the natives of Galilee were used by God to bring his message of salvation to mankind.  If they had been counting the days as their southern cousins, they would not have observed Pentecost on the right day.  But following Christ’s instructions, they were found observing the holy days in accordance with the Scriptures given to Moses. Had they not, they would not have been in the right place at the right time to receive the holy spirit.

THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

Leviticus 23:23-25:  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.  25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  KJV

Comment:  Christ began his ministry in the region of Galilee, and his message was the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14).  Throughout his ministry he continued to preach about the kingdom, offering many parables to describe various aspects of it.  Christ later revealed himself to be the one who would bring the kingdom (see Revelation 19:10-16).  The Feast of Trumpets is the festival that points to the day of Christ’s return and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth.  Both Galileans and Judeans alike celebrated this festival at the correct time, but without the proper understanding; for even though the Galileans observed the festivals in their proper time and sequence, they did not understand their meaning unless Christ revealed it to them, and neither did the Judeans.  Much of Christianity suffers from a similar lack of understanding today.

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Leviticus 23:26-32:  26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.  30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.  31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.  KJV

Comment:  This day marks a future day of victory for Jesus Christ.  One of the great moments described in the New Testament is the day Christ overcame Satan after his 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).  Satan had come to tempt Christ to sin, but Christ did not yield to Satan’s temptation, though he was in extreme duress following his long fast.  Thus Christ qualified to replace Satan as ruler (see John 14:30) over the earth.  The Day of Atonement points to a future time when Christ will return to this earth to take the reigns of government from Satan, and banish him to a place called in the Bible, the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1).  While he will not be destroyed, he will be restrained from troubling the earth.  Just as Christ fasted to gain the spiritual strength needed to overcome Satan, Christians today who observe the Day of Atonement also fast.  As they fast, they acknowledge Christ’s victory over Satan, and celebrate Satan’s future banishment from the affairs of mankind. Both Galileans and Jews celebrated this festival at the correct time, yet without true understanding of its meaning.   

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

Leviticus 23:33-43:  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.  40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. KJV

Comment:  Both Judeans and Galileans celebrated this very popular feast.  While they did not understand its future application, those who could gathered in Jerusalem to keep this 7-day festival.  For them it was a national celebration during which much wining and dining occurred.  Marriages were arranged and contracts were signed as part of this happy occasion.  The festival celebrants rented houses or constructed booths from materials they carried with them.  To the feast-goers this festival pictured the time of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness before they entered the promise land.  Christ appeared at this festival in Jerusalem as a child, and later during his ministry.

For Christians today, the Feast of Tabernacles points to the future establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth.  Christ taught much about the kingdom; and later, in the book of Revelation, he revealed that this period would last a thousand years.  He also revealed that during his millennial reign Satan is to be restrained, and the knowledge of God’s way of life is to be disseminated throughout the world (Review Revelation 19 and 20).  Modern-day Christians continue to celebrate this feast as a foreshadowing of Christ’s return to this earth, and a reminder they are to live their lives as pilgrims, as they await the establishment of the Kingdom of God.  Following this feast there remains yet one more festival.

THE LAST GREAT DAY

Leviticus 23:39:  Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.  KJV

Comment:  Following the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles, a final feast comes right on its heals.  The Jews of Christ’s day observed this festival, but again without any real understanding of its meaning. This Feast is mentioned in the above scripture as an 8th day that was to be observed as a sabbath or high day immediately following the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles.  Christ observed this day, and was found in John 7:37 preaching loudly on this feast day, crying out to his listeners, proclaiming the way to salvation.  This was a general call for all those who could hear him to receive the holy spirit.  While those who heard at that time could not understand the import of what he was saying, this incident pointed to a future time when all humanity will be offered salvation.  Because this festival immediately follows the 7-day Feast of Tabernacles, it points to a period right after the millennium when all those who have never truly known Christ will be resurrected to physical life in what the Bible calls the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-12).  These people will be given an opportunity to come to repentance, receive the holy spirit, and qualify for eternal life.  Christians today celebrate this festival as a foreshadowing of what is yet to come, and the culmination of God’s plan for his physical creation.

Conclusion

The men and women of Galilee were no different when it came to spiritual matters than anyone else who has ever walked this earth.  Their one outstanding characteristic was that they adhered, in the face of a corrupt society, to the Scriptures given by Moses regarding celebrating God’s Holy Days. They did not follow Christ in great numbers.  There were only 120 followers of Christ who came together on the day of Pentecost to receive God’s holy spirit.  But the example of the Galileans does provide a valuable lesson:  strict adherence to the Scriptures does make it possible for God to use human beings for his purposes, and the reward to those who remain loyal to the scriptures will be that God will make sure they are where they need to be, at the right time.

You may want to find out when and where you should be keeping God’s holy days.  Please be sure to request your free copy of our booklet, The Gospel According To Christ, and also request your copies of our Bible Studies on the Holy Days.  Better yet, download your literature from our website today!  It’s available 24/7 from the Wonderfulworldtomorrow.org.

 

 

Author’s Comment:

 

In writing this article numerous books and articles were reviewed on the history of Judaism.  One fact became clear.  From the time the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah lost their strength, the religion of Judaism fractured into so many strains of belief and practice, they are too numerous to count.