Letters

How Many Festivals?

In Kevin Epps' article, "Holy Day Offerings and Deuteronomy 16:16" [March/April 2006, page 17], he writes that, "Leviticus 23 clearly states that there are seven festivals that are holy convocations, to be proclaimed in their seasons (Leviticus 23:4)." No, it doesn't.

There are three annual festivals, as listed in Deuteronomy 16:16. The Hebrew word for "feast" in this verse is chag —which is also found in Leviticus 23:6, 34, 39 and 41, referring to the Festivals of Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles.

In Leviticus 23:4 the Hebrew word translated "feasts" and "seasons" in the KJV is mo'ed, which means "appointment" or "appointed time"—as in Genesis 18:14.

The Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Last Great Day are annual Holy Days, but none of them fall within the three festival periods. Referring to the "Feast of Atonement" is an oxymoron.

—Internet

You raise an interesting point regarding the Hebrew words for "feast." Your premise, as I understand it, is that there are only three annual "festivals" (chag, e.g., Feasts of Unleavened Bread, Weeks and Tabernacles) and that the other Hebrew word, mowed, indicates "appointed times." Therefore, you conclude that the United News article is wrong in saying, "Leviticus 23 clearly states that there are seven festivals that are holy convocations."

Leviticus 23:4 says, "These are the feasts [ mowed ] of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times [ mowed ]." Though chag is the common Hebrew word for "feast," one of the definitions of mowed is "set feast"
(Brown, Driver and Briggs' Lexicon). Here mowed is associated with the seven "holy convocations," which include Trumpets, Atonement and the Last Great Day (see Leviticus 23:24, 27, 36).

However, if chag is the determining factor for defining a "festival," exclusively, then consider Exodus 34:25: "nor shall the sacrifice of the Feast [ chag ] of the Passover be left until morning." This annual chag is not listed in Deuteronomy 16:16. Yet it's still a "feast." The Hebrew chag means "feast" or "festival sacrifice" ( Brown, Driver and Briggs' Lexicon ). It's true that "feast" is not explicitly included in the names for Trumpets, Atonement and the Last Great Day. Yet cannot chag, in principle, include the sacrifices on all of the festivals and Holy Days, including Atonement?

In summary, perhaps there's a clearer wording for the statement in the article. But the context in Leviticus 23 is inclusive and mowed can refer to "set feasts." Therefore the overall outcome is the same, i.e., "festivals" are not restricted to those cited in Deuteronomy 16:16.

—Kevin Epps

Mr. Armstrong

Thanks to those who wrote the articles in the January issue of United News on Mr. Armstrong. It was wonderful to read positive comments on him.

—Michigan

Learning About Passover

I would like to use your booklet, God's Holy Day Plan, in our home Passover observance this Nissan 14. To do so, I need to make 12 copies of your Web page booklet to be used only to instruct those at the Passover supper, and for no other reason. Would this be OK with you? If not, I will try and make up another lesson for them, but I would really love to use your booklet as I feel it is inspired and wonderfully written.

—Wisconsin

Don't Want to Miss Out

I want to thank you for sending me the publication World News and Prophecy. This little magazine is just full of up-to-date information about world events and how it relates to end-time prophecy from the Bible. Especially chilling is what is going on in Iran today and their work on nuclear bombs.

Please keep each issue coming. I don't want to miss out on anything concerning the Middle East.

—Oklahoma

Israeli Requests Multiple Copies of Middle East Booklet

Would you kindly inform me as to how I may obtain a bulk mailing (12 copies) of The Middle East in Bible Prophecy to mail to friends in the United States?

—Israel

Support From India

I appreciate the good work you are doing. After Mr. Armstrong, things were not going in the right direction. We had no idea about anything happening in the U.S.A. But through the Internet I came to know about UCG. I would like to support the ministry. Please let me know how I can send you tithe and donations in rupee. Please let me know if we can contact someone in India representing the Church. We would also like to know about the Festival programs. It would be a great pleasure for us if we can help the Church in any way in India.

—India

Found on a Public Bench

I read your publications and find them most rewarding to my spiritual life. I was first introduced to your church when I picked up your publication from a public bench. I would like an opportunity to support your ministry. I am enclosing a check.

I appreciate your free-will giving to the people. It is beautiful and the way it should be. There are so many ministries who are money raisers. Your organizational focus is clear to me. You guys want to get the gospel out to the world as commanded by Jesus.

—California

"You Say to Look in the Bible"

Thank you for all the publications I have received. They are very eye-popping and challenging to a lot of things I have been taught. I used to just assume everything I was being taught was true. Every time your publications say something contradictory to past beliefs, you say to look in the Bible. Other views generally ask you to make a leap to make the Scriptures conform to their view or go to another source. Thank you for sending me to the true source, God's Word.

—Nebraska

"Could Not Put It Down"

In 2003 I picked up and read The Good News in a doctor's waiting room and could not put it down. I was given permission by the receptionist to take it home with me. Needless to say, I've been a subscriber since and have requested numerous other publications to provide me with needed assurance of doing what pleases God in my "walk with Jesus."

—Nevada

"What Am I to Do" About the Sabbath?

I have only recently found faith in God. I'm writing to you with the hope that you can answer my question, which others who have faith seem unable to agree on. If Saturday is the true Sabbath day, what am I to do seeing as my church refuses to recognize this and instead worships God on Sundays. Will I be judged by God for worshipping Him on Sundays, and am I, by attending church on Sunday, breaking the commandment of keeping the Sabbath day holy?

—Internet

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