Line Upon Line

SIGNIFICANCE OF BELIEVERS BEING LABELED CHRISITANS

What were believers called the first 15 to eighteen years of their existence?

WHY THE CHANGE IN BELIEVERS NAME AND WHEN?

They were just another sect within Judaism, a fast growing but unpopular sect among the hierarchy of Judaism. The church was seen as Jews and a few proselytes to Judaism who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. What happened to alter this perception ?

Acts 11:21-24 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord..24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Believers in Jesus of Nazareth expanded their witness in Antioch to now include the local gentiles and to everyone’s surprise God called a vast number of them into the truth. It was about 15 to 18 years after Jesus resurrection. Why did it take that long for people to notice the difference between them and other Jewish sects? Why did this happen only in Antioch?

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

First, they must have kept the same outward sign of the true God- the Sabbath as all the other Jews. This would also include the annual Sabbaths like the Fall Holy Days. If the original believers had been keeping Sunday and a version of the Saturnalia they would have immediately been rejected and clearly labeled as apostate outsiders by other Jews. It would not have taken years to see the difference. But they clearly kept all the same Holy Days so they appeared to the outside world and themselves as just an unpopular wonderful sect within Judaism. Note what Apostles Paul and John say:

Romans 2:28-29 NKJV 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Revelation 3:9 NKJV 9 “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie–indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

All those fifteen to eighteen years no one noticed the difference until a vast number of gentiles were converted in Antioch. The outside world in Antioch could see a clear difference between these gentiles and the pagan society and that they were hated by the Jewish establishment. The name Christians was not meant originally as a compliment. Therefore spiritually, how were the gentiles of the Antioch church benefiting from keeping Days like the Feast of Trumpets.

ALL HOLY DAYS ARE A BENEFIT TO US- ANNUAL AND WEEKLY SABBATHS

Remember Jesus himself said that this is true.

Mark 2:27-28 And He said..”The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Paul said that all Sabbaths including the annual ones are a guide, a shadow of God’s plan.

Colossians 2:16-17 So let no one judge you in food.., or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come,..

The term Sabbaths plural means annual Holy Days and the new moon reference meant they were keeping the Hebrew calendar regarding these days. Paul said do not let your pagan neighbors judge you regarding these things. Note also I Cor. 5:6-9 that Paul taught the Holy Days clearly to gentiles.

How does God’s Feast of Trumpets benefit us spiritually? First and foremost it is a celebration and reminder that Christ will soon return to heal and save the entire world. It is a positive message for us every year.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This reality will alter the world forever, wow ! It is coming soon and we can comfort each other no matter how evil and chaotic things get with this knowledge. The Prince of Peace is coming to save everyone.

Isaiah 9:1-7…They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest,..6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice ..even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 2:3-4 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

These wonderful words adorn the united nations building and are all about the future ruler-ship of Jesus the prince of peace upon the last trumpet blast and His glorious return to judge the world in righteousness.

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 we shall all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”.. Hades, where is your victory?”..57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

All these Holy Days are also like a lamp unto our feet showing us what to celebrate that is comforting and encouraging to us. Our Hero is coming ! These days were celebrated by the Church of God in the first century. However in the following centuries they were altered. Those who follow the worldly- altered holidays have lost the benefits God intended for us. The Fall Holidays are also the beginning of the new civil year and can be a good time to commit to having a better, more spiritual year for the 2026/27 period.