What is Significant about Jewish Holidays?

God commanded the Jewish people to observe specific holidays and festivals. Some of these holidays are so holy that no work is permitted. The mandatory observances of holy days and the specific scripture reading on those days served several purposes: they reminded the Jewish people about their history; they taught the Jewish people about their Messiah; and they prepare the Jewish people for the end times.

The Jewish Calendar

The Jewish people use a special calendar. Year One of the Jewish calendar begins with the creation of the world. The number of years since creation is based on the ancient writings of the Torah (aka the Old Testament of the Holy Bible). The Jewish new year usually begins in September and goes until the following September. The Jewish day begins at sundown and continues until sundown the following day.

The Jewish year of 5775 ends at sundown on September 13, 2015. The Jewish year of 5776 begins at sundown on September 13, 2015.

The Sacred Assemblies

The Lord said to Moses, ²“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. (Leviticus 23: 1-2)

God has decreed specific festivals and proclaimed them to be sacred assemblies (holy days).

Major Jewish Holidays

Jewish holidays begin at sunset of the day before the holiday date. For example, if the date of the Jewish holiday is October 9-10, the holiday begins at sunset on October 8 and ends at nightfall on October 10.

The three biblically mandated Jewish holidays which require a sacred assembly are: Pesach (Passover), Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles), and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is worth noting that the four blood moons in the 2014-2015 tetrad coincide with two of the biblically mandated Jewish holidays: Pesach and Sukkot. In addition, the center of this tetrad falls within a “Sabbatical year” (September 24, 2014 to September 13, 2015).

A Change of Set Times

²⁵He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Daniel 7: 25)

The Antichrist will try to change the set times. He will attempt to change the calendar and the holidays. The Antichrist will try to eliminate the days that God has declared to be holy. In particular, the Antichrist will attempt to eliminate Jewish holidays and the Jewish calendar. (see What is the Antichrist?)