Please read the one page article “God’s Festivals: An Historical Perspective” for an introduction to the subject of God’s Holy Days.
Leviticus 23: 36-39 and Numbers 29:35, The Last Great Day of the Feast. Kept on the 22nd day of the 7th month on the Hebrew Calendar immediately after the Festival of Tabernacles. Sometimes also called the day of solemn or sacred assembly (vs 36). It is the 8th day of the Feast. The Last Great Day of the Feast depicts the final judgement of all mankind. This Hoy Day pictures the completion of God’s plan of redemption from sin for mankind. It is the final judgement of ALL humans who have ever lived either to life forever with God in His Kingdom or to everlasting death for rebellion and sin.
Jesus kept the Festivals (Holy Days) of God and one instance is recorded in John 7:37-38. Jesus forcefully told of Himself. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” It is through Christ, our savior and redeemer that we have the opportunity to live forever with God.
The New Testament church understood the fuller meaning of the last holy day of the year as a precursor to the final judgement of mankind. The final judgement of man, as symbolized on the Last Great Day will be the day for the vast majority of humanity to make a choice, follow God or follow Satan. Paul reminded the gentile Christians of Corinth of this in II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the thing done in his body, according to that he what done, whether it be good or bad.” Peter echoes Paul in I Peter 4:16-19 where he speaks of the final judgement of mankind starting with the “house of God”. Paul also tells us that God will judge the secret things of man (Romans 2:16). We are all to be judged by God, both the righteous and the unrighteous. Either to life forever with God or to death forever apart from God.
The final fulfillment of the judgement of man as depicted on the Last Great Day is found in Revelation 20:11-15. At the end of ages God will judge all mankind at the Great White Throne judgement depicted for us as the Last Great Day of Lev. 23: 36-39. God’s plan for humanity as outlined in His Holy Days comes full circle. The Last Great Day completes the Festival season and shows us the conclusion of the plan of God for humanity. The final judgement to life with God everlasting or to eternal death and judgment. On that day, God will give every human the opportunity to choose between life and death, blessing and cursing (Deut. 30:19). God’s master plan of the redemption from sin for mankind is laid out in His annual Festivals. May we keep them year by year in remembrance of His wonderful salvation and redemption of mankind!
