[Greetings friends and listeners!]

In our political world especially on this country, there is what you call the "bawas- dagdag" problem. I'd like to ask you, what do you think is the bawas-dagdag counterpart in religion? Many of you might be wondering what it is all about but there is something that I would like to bring up to your attention in our effort and in search for the truths of God.

In the field of religion, we will address the problem of holidays and Holy days. Did you know that in popular Christianity, many of those major religious observances and religions, which are popularly observed by most Christians, are not even found in the Bible? This will come as a shock to many of you? But did you know that, for example, Valentine, cannot be found in the Bible? Nor Easter. Nor Halloween. Nor even the most popular Christmas, cannot be found in the Bible. And I'd like to challenge our listeners: I'm going to offer, as usual, ten thousand pesos cash to anyone who could show me from the Bible that the words or the names Valentine, Easter celebration, Halloween, and Christmas can be found. Text me immediately and I will send to your address ten thousand pesos, if those words or celebrations can be found.

Now these celebrations, friends and listeners, are not from the Bible. These popularly believed ones are from paganism. Valentine, for example, if you'll read history, came from the ancient pagan celebration of Lupercalla. And it was instituted into so-called Christianity in 494 A.D. by Pope Gelasius I.

Easter was a worship of the pagan goddess Astarte.

Halloween, characterized by celebrations supposedly honoring the dead but featuring death and macabre scenes or motif, and fear, actually is an attempt by a great power, to celebrate himself, the one who is the god of dead, the god of fear, and the god of horror, and the god of death, no less than Satan himself, and of course assisted by his angels who are called demons.

How about Christmas? We have presented broadcast on this aspect and there is no way whatsoever that Jesus Christ could be born on or near December 25. All Encyclopedias, and when I say all, I mean all including the Britannica, Americana, even the Catholic Encyclopedia, admit that Jesus Christ cannot be born on December 25. Your own Bible, our own Bible itself, testifies that when Christ was born, the shepherds were out in the field that night. It's impossible for the shepherds to be out in the field that night and to time it with the census or taxation of the Roman Empire at that time. The Romans would never do that on dead winter, otherwise, the taxation process and program would be a complete fiasco if not a failure.

Therefore, friends and listeners, there has been a massive attempt to divert people's attention from the true celebrations of God into the false paganized one. Those of you know that Christmas celebration actually came from ancient Saturnalia and Brumalia, pagan celebrations in ancient antiquity, which were simply so-called 'christianized'. There has been a great attempt to replace the truth with falsehood.

But it's time that we look into the Bible and see what the real celebrations of God are. We can see these things if we open to the Bible in Leviticus 23. The celebrations of God are scattered all over the Bible but we can find a condensation of these things in Leviticus 23 and we are going to see all of these confirmed in the New Testament much later.

Let us open to Leviticus 23:1, "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ' Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of the Lord (Question: Is God, the Maker of heaven and earth your Lord and my Lord? If He is your Lord and my Lord, then we better obey Him. And which God said) which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts." The one talking here is God and He said, "These are my feasts." He did not say, "These are the feasts of the Jews or of Israel," but these are God's Feasts. Are you a man or a woman of God? Do you belong to God? If you belong to God, then you ought and we ought to obey God. And in verse 3, He mentions the Sabbath here, He said, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, a holy convocation; you shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings." He did not say, "It is a Sabbath of the Jews." He did not say, "It is a Sabbath of the Israelites." It is of God. Do you belong to God? Then the Sabbath is for you and me. And then continued in verse 4, it does not end with the Sabbath, it goes directly to the Feasts of God. He said, "These are the feasts of the Lord." It's not the feast of Israel. It's not the feast of the Jews. It's the Feast of the Lord. The question again is, "Are you one that belongs to the Lord?" If you are one, then these are for you. He said, "These are holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons." There is a specific date and time for the celebrations. And after this, seven Festivals of God have been mentioned. Seven, remember, is God's number of completion. It starts with Passover in verse 5, which most Christians now would probably call communion, although that is not the correct terminology in the Bible, followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread, and then Pentecost, Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and of course, the Last Great Day that follows it.

There is something that is very significant about these dates or these celebrations in Leviticus 23. I'd like you to notice some verses here, in Leviticus 23:21, God said, "And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you (or commanded assembly) you shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations." And we belong to God as the children of Abraham, in fact, spiritual children of Abraham. I'd like you to notice again verse 31. Now it's easy to remember these: 21, 31 and I'm going to 41. In verse 31, it says, "You shall do no manner of work, it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings." And in verse 41, it says, "And you shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: you shall celebrate it in the seventh month." And this is talking about those celebrations that fell on the seventh month. We can give you more details about that later on. But I'd like you to notice some very important things here, which have been hidden from us by deception, even religious deception of this world.

Now, the big question is, many people will say, "Okay, that's Old Testament. That should be done away." That might be true if these things have not been confirmed in the New Testament itself. This time, I'd like us to look into the New Testament and find out whether these were continued on in the New Testament. Remember, for the early New Testament Christians, they had no other Bible. Jesus Christ preached from no other Bible. The apostle Paul preached from no other Bible but the only Bible, which we now call the Old Testament or the Hebrew writings. But then we see that the artificial theory or supposition or assumption, that there is a complete break between the Old Testament and New Testament does not simply stand. It can't hold water when we study the history of the first-century church. There was no break in that. In fact, there have been changes, right? But it has only to do with the stopping of the animal sacrifices because Christ became our sacrifice; or the Levitical priesthood because Christ became our high priest; or the temple worship because we now became the temple of the Holy Spirit. But much of what is stated in the Bible continued on.

Now, let's notice and show the proof that much of the Bible continued on and the practices of God stated by the word of God continued on among His people. Now, concerning Passover, which was celebrated at that time by killing a lamb and the Bible talking about Jesus Christ being our Passover, is that to be continued on? Of course, Jesus Christ said, we have to continue on, and the apostle Paul expressly mentioned about its continuance. Let's open to 1 Corinthians 11. Now many people admit that this continues on, there is almost no question that the Old Testament Passover which symbols were changed by Christ to bread and wine, continues on in the New Testament. I don't think there is any argument on that. But my question is, why stop there? Why suddenly drop all the rest when seven of them belong to one package? There must be something wrong. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 11:23, the apostle Paul said, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you (so it came directly from Jesus Christ), that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread." Remember it was nighttime. And of course, we know about the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine. And in verse 26, it says, "For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come." It was an anniversary of His death. The apostles and Jesus Christ had to wait until the hour had come. They did not do it at any given time that they wanted or felt like doing it. It is an anniversary, a memorial, and that is the same teaching in the New Testament concerning God's Festival.

Now, let's move on and see whether the Days of Unleavened Bread which follows Passover is also to be kept and was kept by the New Testament church, the Gentile church. I'd like you to open with me to 1 Corinthians 5. There is too much deception in this world. 1 Corinthians 5:7, "Purge out therefore the old leaven" (So it's still talking of unleavened bread. And remember, this epistle to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul no less than 25-30 years after Christ died and rose again when all that should have been changed should have been changed, those that should have been abolished should have been abolished, but we showed apostle Paul writing about leavening and unleavened bread, which shows that the issue and the celebration is known and practiced by the people at that time including the Gentile churches. Going on to 1 Corinthians 5:7, it says, "Purge therefore the old leaven") that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." Okay, since Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed for us, do we now stop all celebrations? NO! Let's move on to verse 8. It starts with the word, therefore, and when the Bible uses the word therefore, it means that something before it has occurred, which means that because Jesus Christ became our Passover, "Let us keep the feast," or in other words, let us continue to keep the feast. That's what in effect the apostle Paul was mentioning and was talking about leavening. He said, "not with the leavened neither of the leavened of malice and wickedness but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth," which shows you that the apostle Paul was elevating the celebration not just from a simple eating of the unleavened bread but accompanied with understanding the spiritual significance of the celebration.

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Now, unleavened bread only to the Corinthian church? Does it not affect other Gentile churches as well?

Let us see a record of the one who was travelling with apostle Paul as his chronicler, his biographer or historian. Let's open to Acts 20. Now, the book of Acts has been written by Luke (the writer of the book of Luke) and he was a travelling companion. He knew about the teachings of Christ. He knew about the practices of the New Testament Christians. He knew about the teachings of the apostles. Let us see what is recorded in Acts 20:6. It says here that the apostle Paul and Luke obviously were part of this group. And he said here, or Luke wrote in verse 6 of Acts 20, "And we sailed away from Philippi (now, Philippi is another Gentile city, it's not just Corinth, we have a second testimony here) after the days of unleavened bread." Why did they not sail away from Philippi during the Days of Unleavened Bread or just ignore the Days of Unleavened Bread? Because obviously, they kept the Days of Unleavened Bread in Philippi, which was a Gentile city. So we find here testimony or evidences that the New Testament church were keeping these Festivals of God.

How about Pentecost? Let us go to Acts 2. It says here, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come (Do you know when this day of Pentecost was? Actually the word Pentecost comes from two Greek words, Pente and Costes. Pente means 'fifty' and costes means 'count.' In other words, "count fifty" because this day is celebrated fifty days after the first day of the week during the Days of Unleavened Bread. And so fifty days after Christ was killed and rose from the dead, we find the New Testament church still keeping this day. Do you know what happened if they did not keep it? If the apostles declared that, "Okay, Christ died, Let's stop keeping this things," do you know what would happen? The disciples and the hundred twenty saints of God would not have received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. That would be very tragic for them and even for us if we are not obedient to God's commands. So it shows here that they were assembling on the Day of Pentecost. Let's start with verse 1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come") they were all with one accord in one place." They were all in agreement. They were not debating whether this day was to be kept or not. They were all in unity. They all understood the message of God concerning the Festivals. There was no argument. As a result of their unity and understanding, the teachings and the doctrines of the Bible and of Jesus Christ, "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." So, if they did not assemble, if they rejected the Holy days of God as most people, most preachers, most scholars, most theologians would reject God's Holy days now, they would not received the Holy Spirit. And no wonder, many of the theologians, scholars and Bible teachers and preachers have not received the Holy Spirit of understanding because they have not kept with these commands of God. It should not be a surprise to anyone.

We find other evidences that indeed this was still being practice. Let's open to Acts 20:16. Let us let the Bible be our witness and our guide, the one that testifies, not our own words and not our own suppositions or teachings. Acts 20:16, the apostle Paul said, "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost." Did you read that in your Bible? He was in a hurry to be at Jerusalem for that particular Day of Pentecost that year. But the rest of the times, he spent Pentecost obviously with the churches in Asia.

And there's another one. Let's open to 1 Corinthians 16:8 to really established whether these Festivals of God have been done away with because that is what most people will tell you or will preach to you. But you need to look at your own Bible to find the truth of the matter. The apostle Paul again, writing to the Corinthians said, in verse 8 of 1 Corinthians 16, "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost." The previous one we read, he wanted to go to Jerusalem and was leaving Ephesus. This time, he will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. And Ephesus was another Gentile city. So we see here ample evidences, hard evidences that the Holy days of God were being practiced by the people of God, by the New Testament church in New Testament times.

How about the Day of Atonement, the day of Fast? Among the seven annual Holy days of God, there is one day, a day dedicated to fasting. In Acts 27:9; we find another evidence which cannot escape our eyes for those who would like to find the truth of God. This was at the time when the apostle Paul was already captured and was being sent to Rome for investigation to face Felix and the emperors there, and he was advising that the journey would be dangerous because it as late in autumn (cold winds and stormy weather usually typified autumn in the Mediterranean Sea). And he was advising them not to travel but they insisted and as a result they encountered shipwreck. But let's notice here Acts 27:9. Again, Luke here was testifying and writing for the apostle Paul. "Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them (saying…) and that was the advice that I mentioned to you before. All readers of the Bible, all New Testament Christians in that century knew when they said, "the fast." There is no other celebration in the entire program of God's calendar of festivals mentioned about the Fast except the Day of Atonement.

We have seen many evidences already, but maybe we need to cut the story short. Do you think that these Festivals of God will continue to be kept until Christ's coming? Before we go to that, I would like to feature to you another Gentile church, which had been keeping these Festivals and as a result, the pagans around them were criticizing them about their celebrations.

I'd like you to open with me to Colossians 20; it gives us evidence that there were Christian churches aside from Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, and many others, which were keeping the Holy days of God. Colossians 2:16. [Now, I discussed the background of this passage in the last broadcast.] It's important for us to remember those things. The Colossian Christians were following adhering and following the true teachings of God. But as a result of their following the true teachings of God, they were being criticized. They were being despised. They were being ridiculed by the people around them who do not share the same ideas. As a result of their trials and difficulties which came to the attention of the apostle Paul, the apostle Paul from prison, wrote them a letter, and obviously hand-carried by Epaphras and it contained these words of admonition or encouragement to them, "Let no man therefore judge you (or condemned you or criticized you. Now, whenever there is a word therefore, we need to read the background surrounding the passage to give us meaning and context on why he is saying this. And I've mentioned to you about the criticisms from outside the church. He said, "Let no man therefore judge you) in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an Holy day (which means that they are still observing the Holy days of God), or of the New moon (which was the basis for the calculating calendar reckoning at that time since they did not have published calendars), or of the Sabbath days (or of the Sabbath)." So we find here that these Colossians church were observing these things. Why? Verse 17, "Which are a shadow of things to come (future, not past, it does not look back to the past, it looks forward to the future, the plan of God's redemption. The Holy Days of God shows us this plan of God of salvation and redemption. Seven steps to salvation and redemption are encoded in these Holy Days of God for those who would observe it.) but, (he said) the body of Christ." In other words, let no one judge you or condemned you or teach you but it should be the Church of God. The body of Christ as we mentioned, or in the writing of the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:18, the body of Christ, is the Church itself.

Now, I was mentioning about the future. Will the future show that the people of God when Jesus Christ comes, will be keeping these Holy days? Let us project our minds to the coming of Jesus Christ. It should settle all argument once and for all. Jesus Christ will settle the issue and the debate once and for all and this should give us a clue. If Jesus Christ will uphold it when He comes, we better take heed because He expects us to uphold it to this day because we cannot find. I repeat, we cannot find even one verse which shows that the Holy Days of God have been abolished. Now, let's confirmed this in Zechariah 14:16. It says, "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations (that's after the tribulation of this world of all the nations) which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year (these are annual Holy Days of God, year to year) to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and (what will they do?) to keep the feast of tabernacles." [Did you read that friends and listeners?] They will be keeping from year to year the Feast of Tabernacles, which is one of the seven annual Holy Days of God. And if we are to keep the seven Holy Days of God, we better be keeping that. And the rest of the verses until verse 19 mentions that. In fact, between verses 16 and 19, the word Feast of Tabernacles had been repeated three times. Verse 16, verse 18, and verse 19. Is there any harder evidence than these?

Well, friends and listeners, as I said earlier, a great deception has come upon this world, including this world of Christianity. Satan, the devil has been very successful in deceiving the whole world. Those of you who are old time listeners of this broadcast, know that I've always quoted or often quoted, Revelation 12:9 where it says, "…that Satan, the devil, that serpent of old has deceived the whole world." And when it says "the whole world," it does not exempt the greater part of modern day Christianity. [It's time to wake up, friends and listeners.] It's time to obey the words of God and not the words of men. Would you rather obey the words of God as proven in the Bible? Or would you continue to blindly follow the words of men? The choice is yours, but I hope you make the right choice.

For greater understanding, we are offering you two booklets on this subject, one is Holidays or Holy Days—Does it Matter which Days we Keep? This is a 24-page literature fully illustrated and well-researched and this will be an eye-opener to you. And I would like to offer you a second booklet, God's Holy Day Plan—the Promise of Hope for All Mankind. This is another booklet, which is 62 pages; it goes into the details on what is the meaning of God's seven annual Holy Days. Why do we keep it? What is its spiritual significance? How does it relate to the plan of salvation? This literature will help you understand the plan of God for mankind including your and my salvation.

[So in behalf of the Good News of the World Tomorrow, this is Ed Macaraeg, thanking you for listening.]