Also have been trying to do research on the sabbath on my own had no idea when I came to your website that I would come across this article, so far it is one of the best explanations I have come across but I had a question. When I talk to people about the command not changing from the 7th day to the 1st day they always refer to the scripture that tells to lay by & store on the first day & Acts 20:7 when they met on the first day of the week. That seems to be at least one New testament reference to worship on the first day. Any info that could help to make it more clear would be very appreciated.

At the same time, Paul says that when this happens “it will be like life from the dead.” Many of us believe that we will understand the significance of Moses and the Prophets in a fuller way, including the Festivals. But I am still puzzled about exactly how to celebrate them. I would not trade the liberty and the love of God of my Gentile Christianity for any amount of profoundly symbolic religious observances. I’m not sure there is any enduring value in one liturgy over another.

Maybe this will help. I am perplexed and frustrated by the controversies that pop up and circulate in the church today over issues like predestination, the rapture, who is and isn’t a member of the true church, instruments in worship… you name it. Maybe if we get more back in line with a Torah pattern of observance we will see these petty controversies in a clearer light.

Purim teaches us about the abolishment of death that’s long after the other feasts, times and seasons of the Lord’s judgments and restorations have taken place, and all that remains to be abolished is the decree of death, the last enemy. Being last on God’s religious calendar isn’t without significance because all of God’s promises of both destruction and restoration must be fulfilled and here in Esther we have the killing of the carnal nature at long last that’s been behind Antisemitism, behind Anti-women ideas that have been preached with the seeming endorsement of the Apostles of the New Testament, and every other erroneous idea as the angels of God are plucking from all that’s ever been said ANYWHERE all that offends and are casting it into the Lake of Fire.

Hanukkah is the Revelation 20 Lake of Fire judgment ’cause it’s the time of prolonged fire, of gold (usually gold wrapped chocolate) being given to the children, but also money, but here at Purim we have the remainder of God’s promises being fulfilled that weren’t fulfilled from Passover to Hanukkah, from the Cross to the Lake of Fire, when the last enemy fully comes under foot. Last two chapters of Revelation indicate that’s the direction we’re heading after Hanukkah, and here at Purim we’ve got Esther and Mordecai saying to the outsiders to come and take of the water of life freely!

It’s the revelation of Creation’s final Jubilee, when all of Creation is reaching it’s zenith as all that God ever intended, through the incessantly faithful proclamation of the Gospel, as it’s falling [in it's totality] into the full extent of God’s love in the dispensation of the fullness of times, according to Ephesians 1:8-10 and Ephesians 3:14-21 after every type, shadow, partial fulfillment, and prophetic silhouette has already passed and the final jots and tittles of Scripture are coming to pass! I know that none of us have been taught to read it that deeply, but the multifaceted layers of every thought being brought captive to the obedience of Christ are genuinely there to be understood and enjoyed as the Father of the Prodigal Son is finally able to go inside to BOTH SONS being in harmony with Him and with one another! He was outside the gates looking for His prodigals to come home from Passover through Hannukah, having to judge what was evil along the way while rescuing and blessing and promoting those He was making good, but this is the time when there’s rest for all, romance in every home, and a content Father (King Ahasuerus), Son (Mordecai), and Holy Spirit (Esther).

Vashti was the shame of man’s self effort outside of any Covenantal context that couldn’t approach the throne, Esther’s the one who stayed behind the veil absorbing all of the sweet smelling aromas of the tabernacle/temple/whatever ’til she was fully called upon to serve the interests of the King and of her people. Mordecai was unquestionably the suffering, exhorting, resurrected and reigning Son of the King, suffering in the sackcloth, exhorting and rebuking Esther who is also a figure head of her people, resurrected as he’s going through the triumphal procession that Haman had to be humiliated and made a public spectacle by, and Mordecai reigning from the moment he got the signet ring and new garments. Vashti’s also the picture of Israel that was divorced and the conversions at the end of the Book of Esther are as much the restoration of Israel, prophetically, as of what’s left to be restored of the Gentiles that hadn’t previously known God and His Christ!

It supplies a lot of silhouettes for questions about the last two chapters of Revelation and beyond that aren’t EVER answered for those who see the book of Revelation as the close of Biblical revelation rather than 1Corinthians 15 being the close. ‘Til all of St. Paul’s message is fully understood in every chapter and every line of what he wrote, in it’s totality, the Book of Esther gives us a more victorious picture of the consummation of all things than most Christians have been taught to entertain! It’s the close of all of God’s purposes in the prophetic types, shadows, and things to be fulfilled in His religious calendar, and it’s GLORIOUS!!! It’s peace on earth and good will towards men, as it says in the last sentence or two of the Book of Esther.