Monday 29 May 2017

Paul's Issue

A lot of Paul's discussions about the Law dealt with an issue which doesn't really exist for us today.
In Paul's day, if a Gentile believer in Jesus wished to become Observant of Moses' Law, he could literally do so - because the infrastructure required for carrying-out the Law still existed (the altar, the Levitical priesthood, etc).
Since it was possible - and since some were asserting that believers were obliged to become Observant - Paul had to deal with it.
And deal with it he did. Paul insisted that it was not necessary for believers in Jesus to become Observant. In fact he said it would be detrimental if they did.
"...you are not under the Law..." Paul said.
"...if you are circumcised, Christ shall be made of no effect to you..."
But since no-one can carry-out Moses' Law today - not even if he wants to (because the required infrastructure no longer exists), the question itself (to become Observant or not) is nullified.
So we don't face quite the same issue.
What Paul took issue against was the idea that believers should become literally Observant of Moses' Law (as the composite unit that it was) - Paul's issue was never with ethics and morals. Of course he believed in ethics and morals, because he said:
"...yet not without law, but under the law to Christ..."
That meant that although believers weren't obligated to become Observant, they weren't utterly 'lawless' - believers did fulfil the law - Divine law - believers were made partakers of the Divine nature - they did live-out all of the ethics, morals and spiritual principles and realities which the Law could only illustrate and foreshadow and predict. Believers fulfilled divine ethics - but without being required to literally carry-out Moses' Law (as the composite unit that it was).
We have been "...justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ without the deeds of the Law..." - yet the "grace of Christ teaches" us to "deny ungodliness and worldly lust" and to "live holily and righteously".
And having been 'justified' freely by His grace, believers were not then 'sanctified' by becoming Observant, because the Scripture also says:
"By one offering He has perfected forever those who are 'sanctified' ".
"Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption".
So sanctification also - and not only justification - is by Christ, it wasn't by becoming Observant. Therefore sanctification today certainly doesn't involve adopting 'Messianic' versions of modern Judaism.
"And you are complete [justified, and sanctified] in Him, which is the Head..."
"Christ is all [justification, and sanctification]..."
That's good news - and it's for all nations to hear!

Wednesday 24 May 2017

Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt

A Facebook Friend of mine, a commercial airline pilot, posted a short video of the view from the cockpit, a view of the Andes coming in from Chile, I think.

You can hear the engines. The wide views the pilots get. Gives you a sense of awe.

Some instrumentation came into view. You realise the gravity of what it is to be a pilot.

As the camera panned right, his co-pilot's face came into view a little bit. What I noticed was how calm the young pilot looked.

Despite the seriousness of his role, so calm. I've seen more tension on the face of a worker at a simple construction site!

I realised, it's because the pilot knows his stuff. It doesn't matter how serious it is, nor  how crucial it is to be accurate - he knows his stuff, and therefore he's calm.

Jesus was like that. In the face of a storm threatening the disciples' lives, He was calm. How? Because He knew His Father - He knew His stuff.

And amazingly He expected His disciples to be calm - to have faith. It surprised Him when they doubted.

We can so "know our stuff" - that we are calm in the midst of impossibilities. Right up to the last minute. Even beyond ourselves.

We can know that we've heard from God; that we've stepped out on His Word; that what we do we do by God; and know that He's carrying us; He's buoying us up; He'll provide; He'll come through for us. And be calm about it.

We needn't look tense while we're trusting God.

Another reason the pilot looked calm, is because he didn't actually have to do much. It was on auto-pilot. All he had to do was be there, pretty much.

All we have to pretty much do is be there too. Because we're on auto-pilot too, in a sense. It is God Who will come through for us - we can't make happen what we need Him to do and what only He can do. So we can be relaxed and wait for God to do His part, and watch it unfold as He does.

And there's still another reason the young co-pilot looked calm. He had the senior pilot - the captain - my Facebook Friend - by his side.

And we have a helper - the Holy Spirit - with us always. "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Jesus said. If we ever do lose our calm, He's always there to bail us out, no matter what!

So:

1. Hear from God

2. Step out in faith

3. Wait assuredly, restfully, peacefully for Him to do what only He can do

4. And you'll watch it happen!

  

Jeremiah 31

Is there anything in the text of this chapter which can date its fulfilment as still-future, or past.

Let's see:

1At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

2Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

4Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

5Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

6For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

The prophecy spoke of a day in which pilgrimage would be carried out as required, to mount Zion. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem for worship ceased to be required, with the bringing-in of a better covenant.
JOHN 4:21-24
2Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.  
22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.  
23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Therefore the prophecy was likely fulfilled while the Old Covenant still stood. 



7For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

9They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

11For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

12Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

13Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

The Levitical priesthood ended with the bringing-in of the new covenant. Therefore the fulfilment probably occurred at a time when priests still served, and still ate their portion of the animal-sacrifices, according to Moses' Law.

15Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

The Gospel of Matthew states that this verse was fulfilled at the time of Jesus: 

MATTHEW 2:17-18




17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 



18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Therefore the fulfilment of the wider-prophecy can's easily be something still-future, or even something which happened 50 years ago.

16Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

17And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

18I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

19Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

20Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

21Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

22How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

23Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

24And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. 


25For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.



26Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

27Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

The prophecy mentioned a distinction between the houses of Israel and Judah. That distinction ceased to exist after the return from captivity, hundreds of years before Christ.

28And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

29In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.

30But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

It is stated in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that these verses were fulfilled by Jesus:
HEBREWS 8:6-13 
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 
7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Therefore since those verses have been fulfilled, the fulfilment of the wider-prophecy is not likely still in the future, or even 69 years ago.

35Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

36If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

37Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

38Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.

39And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.

The Bible itself provides the history, of the wall and House and city being rebuilt (in Ezra, and Nehemiah). 

40And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

"...for ever..." (Heb. olam) didn't necessarily mean literally forever and ever in eternity. 

If the fulfilment of the prophecy is still future, it implies the New Testament writers were mistaken in thinking there was a fulfilment of parts of it in the time of Jesus and by the offering of Jesus; and implies they were mistaken in thinking there's to be no return to Levitical worship in future. In which case our faith would be in vain.

If therefore it was fulfilled while the Old Covenant infrastructure still existed, what can we say about modern Israel?

I'm not sure that God ever revoked His promises to Israel:
ROMANS 11:28,29 
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.  
29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Therefore it has always been possible for modern Israelis to experience God's goodwill. So when they experience His goodwill, that wouldn't necessarily be the fulfilment of this particular Old Testament prophecy - it's something that was always possible since God, having already fulfilled His promises to Israel, never subsequently revoked it.

Tuesday 23 May 2017

Romans 7

I think Romans 7 really described the experience of an unsaved Jewish person under the Law - not so much Paul's personal experience after he got converted, baptised and filled with the Spirit.

The experience described in chapter 7 could also be compared with the Gentiles' need of God - since although they didn't have the law, they had the law written
in their hearts, and were still found sinners. Like Jews, they still needed something more - and that is Jesus Christ!

So Paul made a point of mentioning the powerlessness of the law, in comparison to the effectiveness of the Gospel of the grace of God, and the indwelling Spirit - so people wouldn't fall from the grace of God and go back to something which couldn't save.

In Paul's day it was still possible for new-believers among the Gentiles to literally become Observant of Moses' Law if they'd wanted to - with all of its rituals and ceremonies. Paul's statements about the Law were therefore addressing
an issue which was pertinent for their times. Paul was determined that the Gospel which was spreading among the Gentiles stayed true, effective and free.

But Moses' system of Law doesn't exist anymore, as the composite religious, ceremonial, ritualistic and civil unit that it was then. So no-one today really faces the same issue that Paul had to deal with, not quite in the same way anymore anyway. So we don't face exactly the same experience described inRomans 7. Not exactly.

I don't think it describes a Christian. We've already been delivered from sin. We aren't still in need of a second work of grace. We're not in a wilderness still needing to cross over Jordan into a sanctified life. By one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified!

We could say that Romans 7 by application illustrated the needlessness of Gentile believers in Jesus becoming Observant of Moses' Law - because why should they adopt something which wasn't able to save Jews in the first place.
But I never was Observant of the Law, and I can't become Observant of it even I want to: because its infrastructure simply doesn't exist anymore.

So instead of thinking Romans 7 describes the ordinary everyday struggle of Christians, realising that the system of Law has been superseded, we can simply look away to Jesus. We've already arrived at the end of the chapter. We're
already in chapter 8. We're not under the Law - and can never become Observant of it. Our part is simply to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin. To walk in
the Spirit. To believe the grace of God.

Certainly there still is divine law. And every human being has had to come to the Lord and be saved. So if we sin despite being a Christian, confess our sins and be cleansed of all unrighteousness. But my struggle has never been with Moses' Law. It just hasn't.

So either way, whether it was Moses’ Law (in the experience described in Romans 7), or divine law still written in the hearts of all men today – we’re not still in Romans 7. We’ve been saved already! Hallelujah!

Sunday 21 May 2017

Surf Lifesaver Healed!

In February 1981, a friend of mine participated in a Surf Lifesaving competition at Newport Beach, NSW.
It was the day after Cyclone Cliff. Beaches were closed all over, and they really shouldn't have been in the surf, he said.
His surfboat was pounded by a large wave, and everyone - oars and everything - were thrown out. The surfboat hit a sandbank and sprung back hitting him in the face, smashing his front teeth. He sustained a compound fracture of the jaw, and was knocked out cold, in heavy surf.
He was dragged ashore unconscious, not breathing, but with a pulse. He couldn't be brought-to. A chopper arrived from Long Reef Beach, with life-saving equipment.
The competition was closed. Meanwhile he was rushed to Mona Vale hospital, where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit for a day-and-a-half, before undergoing surgery. His jaw was wired-up. And he was released from hospital five days later.
But his jaw wasn't healing very well. It was still in two parts. The sight of it prompted his friends at Manly Surf Club to nickname him 'Jaws'.
Several days later he was invited to attend a meeting held by Pastor Phil Pringle, in a hired hall at St Kevin's Catholic Church, Dee Why. My friend said it was his first time to attend one of Phil Pringle's meetings. About 80 people were present.
He sat at the back, feeling quite skeptical about such meetings. He had a background in science - biology and Physical Education. He'd been teaching for two years.
During the meeting he saw a woman dancing for joy with a tambourine - and he thought to himself, "She's either crazy, or she's for real".
Then Pastor Phil received a "word of knowledge" (see the scripture below).
"Someone here is suffering excruciating pain in front of their teeth," Pastor Phil said.
He felt that the way Phil described his injury was more accurate than even his friends at the Surf Club knew, he said.
So he went forward, still wondering within himself whether this was God or the devil.
But Pastor Phil said, "Look away to Jesus".
So my friend trusted the Lord.
Phil lifted his hand, and without touching him, my friend said he felt power - limitless power, but also gentle - like honey it slowly came all over him. He tried bracing himself against it, but ended up falling backwards to the floor!
When he stood up again, Pastor Phil asked him whether the pain was gone. And he answered, Yes.
But my friend still didn't think much of it. He thought maybe it was just the atmosphere of the place that made him momentarily forget the pain and next morning it would be back again.
But when he got home that night, he yawned - and realised his jaw moved normally.
Three days later he went to an appointment, referred by the surgeon, to a reconstructive dentist, a friend of the surgeon's - they played squash together - a practising Jew.
"One of the worst broken jaws I've seen," was the surgeon's message to the dentist.
The dentist took an x-ray. Then another x-ray. After some time he asked, "Didn't you have a broken jaw?"
The dentist said he could see no evidence of it at all!
"I got prayed for on Sunday night," my friend told him.
Just four weeks later, my friend competed again at the World Championships in Bali.
As a newly converted young person, still a little bit in-and-out of church, my friend said he felt the gift of healing that night was God's way of showing him "I'm here".
My friend saw others come to the Lord, and still more people through them.
Today his own daughter and son-in-law are pastors - missionaries in northern Thailand.
He said Pastor Phil's meetings grew to a couple of thousand people in a few short years. Many others were healed and many more were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Today to God's glory the movement has grown to some 450 churches in 64 countries.
And today is Doctor Phil Pringle's 65th birthday!
ACTS 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
MARK 16:20
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
I CORINTHIANS 12:7-11
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Friday 19 May 2017

Signs for Gentiles

Signs and wonders weren't just for unbelieving Jews - but also for Gentiles:
ROMANS 15:15-20
15 ...because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ TO THE GENTILES, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of THE GENTILES might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, TO MAKE THE GENTILES obedient, by word AND DEED,
19 Through MIGHTY SIGNS AND WONDERS, by the POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, NOT WHERE CHRIST WAS NAMED, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Good Record-Keeping

ACTS 1:15
15 ...(the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

That could imply there was a written list of the names of those who were present in the upper room; and if so, the author of the Book of Acts may have seen that list, and here he notes the approximate number of names in the list, as he previously noted some of the names and individuals in it (in verses 13 &14).

Or it could just mean approximately 120 had been present, written list or not.

Either way there was a good knowledge of who was present. The record of the New Testament is a reliable record. 

The Kingdom/Reign of God

Young's Literal Translation sometimes translates the "kingdom" of God as the reign of God.

For example, where the KJV says:

ACTS 1:3
3 ...speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
 

YLT has it:

...and speaking the things concerning the reign of God.

The kingdom of God evokes images of God's visible location - but the reign of God extends to include the manner of God's dealings with mankind in both eternity and time.

The Old Testament gave prophecies concerning the Kingdom of God - the New Testament reveals the manner of its fulfilment, through Jesus Christ. 

Nations & Representatives

In Young's Literal Translation, an Old Testament Bible prophecy can say "nations" - but in fulfilment, it can mean representatives of the nations. 

For example, the early Church prayed, quoting an Old Testament prophecy and applying it to their own time, to Jesus:


ACTS 4:25-27
25Who by the mouth of thy 
servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?


26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.


27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Young's Literal Translation of verse 27 says:


27 for gathered together of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel,


quoting Psalm 2:1 


"Why have nations tumultuously assembled (YLT)".


So maybe the prophecy about nations keeping the Feast of tabernacles, didn't necessarily mean literally whole populations, but representatives from the nations. 


And we do see examples in the Bible of people from "every nation of those under heaven" in Jerusalem for the Feast (e.g. Acts 2:5).

And if so, then the historical fulfilment of that part of the prophecy may already be in the past.

Placing it in the future seems to conflict with New Testament theology anyway. And isn't necessary given the way the New Testament often divides and interprets Old Testament prophecy. Other physical details in the prophecy also seem to make it awkward to place in the future.

Conclusion: it isn't God's plan for us to carry out the Feast of Tabernacles in future. 

Monday 15 May 2017

Observance?

1. The Hebrew word 'olam' doesn't always mean literally forever and ever for eternity.
In fact, sometimes it definitely didn't mean that, in the Torah.
Therefore the use of the word 'olam' in connection with the Feasts in the Torah, doesn't in itself make it conclusive that the Jews Feasts were to be observed literally forever and ever for eternity.
2. The New Testament doesn't state that the Feasts shall be observed in eternity.
3. Most of the time we don't see Paul making an effort to observe the Feasts, after his conversion.
On one occasion Paul did make an effort to be in Jerusalem in time for a Feast, and while he was there we see him respecting the Jews' customs - making himself "as under the law, to those who were under the law" - not because he had to be, but because he could.
But most of the time we see Paul making himself "as without the law, to those who were without the law".
He "made himself all things to all men" so that he could "by all means save some".
As for Paul's doctrine and direct teaching on the issue of observance, he wrote that it isn't necessary to observe such Jewish customs - and he was categorically against Gentile believers in Jesus ever being required to become observant. The Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem also felt the same, and wrote an edict to that effect.
4. The Old Testament Prophecy which included the prediction about the nations observing the Feast of Passover - the details of that Prophecy make it difficult to place the fulfilment of that part of the Prophecy in our future, for physical and theological reasons.
The Bible rather gives us the history, showing us that that part of the Prophecy had already come to be carried out in fulfilment - in Old Covenant times, while the Feasts were still a requirement. There was regular, physical, literal observance of the Feast - in history, by Gentiles of many nations.
5. Beyond that, the ethical, moral, true, spiritual, Divine and eternal realities which the Feasts merely foreshadowed, have each now been fulfilled by the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ - fulfilled in us, in inauguration, by His first coming and His death for us on the cross and His resurrection, and by the giving of His Holy Spirit; which has made us new creatures and guaranteed us for its fulfilment openly, in consummation, by the event of His still-future Second Coming.
6. We therefore have but one thing to do now: remember His death; show forth His death - as oft as we do, anywhere, any time - 'til He comes. Feasting on Christ, our Head. In Whom we are complete, lacking nothing. He is all things - to all men.
(Observing the Torah-Feasts isn't physically possible now anyway in the way the Torah demanded, the way some early Jewish believers in Jesus in Judea were able to continue observing the Law if they'd wished to - since the required altar, Levitical priesthood, sacrifices, Temple and pilgrimages have ceased to exist; and if you're in the Southern Hemisphere - also because your seasons can't be synced with the Torah's Northern Hemisphere seasons/months.
No alternative way of 'keeping' the Feasts was authorised by the Torah. In fact, the Torah was against it.
It won't be possible to carry-out the Feasts as required by the Torah at any time in the future either - because the genealogies required by the law to authenticate a priest as a Levite have been lost. And also for reasons of New Testament theology and fact.)
7. But if someone feels less assured in his conscience about these liberating truths, and feels obligated to regard a certain day above another (even though he can't observe a day in the Torah-way), with a little love we can live and let live - seeing in his heart he's honouring the Lord, just as we honour the Lord in our hearts by knowing He has made all seasons spiritually alike.
It's all about JESUS!