If the princes of this world had understood what Jesus would accomplish,
"they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which
God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. (1 Cor. 2:7, 8)
What hidden "wisdom of God" is Paul talking about?
What did God ordain "before the world unto our glory"?
How does this revealed "mystery" directly impact us now- and in the future?
What exactly did God reveal in this letter to the church?
What is the hidden wisdom (revealed in Corinthians) that Satan and his
princes failed to grasp?
By revelation, Christ gave this understanding to Paul. In his first letter to the
Corinthians, Paul spoke of five holy days which apply directly to us, the
church: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks (Pentecost), and
Trumpets.
What is the significance of this?
Unknown to Satan, these holy days spoke of prophecy about our current and
future salvation. Unknown to the princes of this world, Jesus would become
our complete salvation-which would reflect the holy days: Christ is our
Passover Lamb (that cleanses sin); Christ is our Bread of Life (divine
revelation to transform the mind); Christ is our firstfruits from the dead
(rescuing us from the power of death); Christ is our baptizer (baptizing us
with the Holy Spirit-reflecting what occurred with the apostles on
Pentecost), and Christ is our future salvation (by the eternal spiritual seed
(within) that will ultimately give birth to an eternal body at the sound of the
last trumpet).
Additionally, these holy days unite God's testimony from the Torah to
Revelation. As God's family, we have the freedom to see this and believe this,
and when believed, the holy days have the power to unite all of those gathered
in the name of Christ in one vision: what is and what shall be. The central
theme of this vision is Christ setting us free, empowering us, and transforming
us (now and in the future) by the personal fulfillment of prophecy.
How did God set this in motion?
These holy days are feasts (Hebrew: moeds) of the Lord (Lev. 23:2). Moed means, a festival which has an appointed time. It also means a festival that is a
signal for what is appointed beforehand (by God). In other words, these holy
days were not only physical celebrations, they foreshadowed (signaled) what
God had in mind regarding what the Messiah would accomplish for us. In
addition, they form the chronological standard by which prophecies about the
first and second coming of Christ are measured. Thus, the holy days were set
forth by God to be prophetic in nature. This is what Paul declared in his letter
to the Colossians:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to
come. (Col. 2:16, 17)
The Messiah was in this "shadow" of the holy days. Hundreds of years prior
to the first coming of Christ, God marked the timing and significance of the
following dramatic events: Christ's Crucifixion, burial, Resurrection, and the
descent of the Holy Spirit. Christ fulfilled the first four holy days. He was
crucified on Passover; he was in the burial tomb on the Feast of Unleavened
Bread; he was resurrected from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits and,
finally, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples on the Feast of Weeks
(Pentecost)-which was fifty days after the Resurrection. These events
occurred as appointed by God, prophesied in the Old Testament Law. In the
future, the church shall be transformed according to the same divine
timetable, on the holy day of Trumpets, which precedes the wrath (judgment).
It all began with Jesus as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29)-who was sacrificed
on the holy day of Passover.
Satan failed to grasp that the holy days celebrated by the Israelites were in
actuality "rehearsals," that foreshadowed what the Lamb of God would
achieve with his personal presence. Ironically, Satan deceived himself. The
fallen angel believed that he would blot out the light sent by Heaven by killing
Jesus. In reality, the fallen angel participated in giving mankind the ultimate
sacrifice for sin-the children of darkness (princes of this world) slew God's
Lamb. By revelation, Christ revealed this to Paul-and Paul revealed it to us.
1 CORINTHIANS: GOD'S HIDDEN WISDOM REVEALED TO THE
CHURCH: FIVE HOLYS DAYS
PASSOVER
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are
unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:7)
THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death
till he come. (1 Cor. 11:26)
THE FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that
slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every
man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at
his coming. (1 Cor. 15:20-23)
THE FEAST OF WEEKS (PENTECOST)
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13)
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater
is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret,
that the church may receive edifying. (1 Cor. 14:5)
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak
unto this people. (1 Cor. 14:21)
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. (1 Cor. 15:51-53)
The five holy days revealed by Paul speak of our rescue from Satan: they
speak of an internal transformation and an external transformation in this
life, and a complete transformation in the next life. If the princes of this world
had known all of this, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
This knowledge of the prophetic holy days was hidden from the power of
darkness in Old Testament times, but fully revealed by our God in New
Testament times.
What does this mean to you and me today?
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST: PETER'S STORY: OUR STORY: THE
POWER DELIVERED ON THE FEAST OF WEEKS
With the Crucifixion, burial, and Resurrection, Christ fulfilled the first three
holy days. Now, having ascended to the right hand of God, Christ would fulfill
the fourth holy day.
And when the day of Pentecost [the Feast of Weeks] was fully come, they were
all with one accord in one place. And 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 Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
On the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Christ poured out the Spirit and Peter
became a living example of what it means to cross the divine threshold. In a
moment of time, Christ became Peter's Passover Lamb, Bread of Life, and
firstfruits from the dead. Christ also became Peter's baptizer-baptizing
Peter with the Holy Spirit, empowering him to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy: "For
with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom
he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the
refreshing" (Isa. 28:11, 12).
What did Peter do after he was baptized with the Holy Spirit?
He spoke with "stammering lips and another tongue." He fulfilled Isaiah's
prophecy-just as Paul declared: "In the law it is written, With men of other
tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people" (1 Cor. 14:21).
In essence, Christ filled Peter with the Holy Spirit, and empowered him to
fulfill the prophecy spoken by Isaiah. Herein, Peter knew the "rest" and
"refreshing" promised by God's Word.
"Rest" means "ease, quiet, [and] still." This rest is a divine "quiet" within.
Those who are "weary" mean those who are "faint [and] thirsty." To bring
them "to rest" means bringing them to a place to "settle down [and] comfort."
Thus, Isaiah prophesied the following: Speaking in divine languages would
yield divine quiet within, wherewith those thirsty (for the truth) would be
comforted and refreshed. Divine "rest" and divine "refreshing" are ours-
when we choose to fulfill prophecy.
Peter became a living example of what it means to witness prophecy
personally fulfilled. This power, this deliverance, is just as living and real
today as it was 2000 years ago. Peter is our example of what deliverance
means and can mean to each one of us. Paul expounded upon it to help us
understand it.
If Christ is our Lord, then God is speaking to us. This is how Paul introduced
his first letter to the Corinthians:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and
Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that
are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. (1 Cor. 1:1, 2)
The prophetic holy days apply to the church and so does the transforming
power of Holy Spirit.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being
justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
life. (Titus 3:4-7)
How many of us know "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost [Spirit]"?
How many of us know the "power, ... love, and... sound mind" promised by
God?
Peter knew it.
Yet, consider this: Where was Peter (mentally) prior to the day of Pentecost?
Didn't Peter walk in the Holy Land with the Messiah?
Didn't Peter see the transformation of the Christ?
Wasn't that enough for Peter?
What happened after the Crucifixion?
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus
and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)
Peter was filled with fear.
What was the first thing the risen Christ said to his disciples?
"Peace be unto you."
Later, Christ promised power.
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he,
ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4, 5)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
With the fulfillment of this prophecy on the Feast of Weeks, Peter spoke in
tongues.
What did Peter do after he spoke in divine languages? He explained to those
in the crowd what they had just witnessed. Peter boldly quoted Joel (Acts
2:14-21).
Where's the fear Peter had after the Crucifixion?
What changed Peter? Power. It's what separates Christianity from every
other religion on the planet: power from the Holy Spirit. Peter was no longer
filled with fear but was filled with the Holy Spirit. It's "Christ in you, the hope
of glory"(Col. 1:27).
The results speak for themselves. Peter crossed an unmistakable divine
threshold, witnessing an internal and external transformation. Peter knew the
fulfillment of these prophecies:
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).
And he knew the fulfillment of this prophecy:
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To
whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this
is the refreshing. (Isa. 28:11, 12)
The Feast of Weeks witnessed not only the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, but
the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy as well. God's promises are about the
personal fulfillment of prophecy.
Passover is an ongoing fulfillment. Every time someone believes, Christ our
Passover becomes a personal reality, and sins are cleansed.
Unleavened Bread is an ongoing fulfillment. Every time someone decides to
feed upon the "Bread of Life" separation from worldly gods follows.
Firstfruits is an ongoing fulfillment. Every time someone believes, Christ our
firstfruits from the dead becomes a personal reality and the power of death is
overcome, setting the stage for immortal existence.
The Feast of Weeks is an ongoing fulfillment. Our great high priest, Christ,
continues to baptize with the Holy Spirit and deliver into his kingdom
whenever someone confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior-believing in the
Resurrection. With the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, the believer is
empowered to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy.
Is it any wonder that our Lord and Savior declared the prophetic holy days in
the very letter that declares Satan was outwitted and defeated?
This knowledge of the prophetic holy days has been sitting here for 2000
years-hidden, in plain sight. When Paul speaks of the Crucifixion, he speaks
of Passover, not Good Friday. When Paul speaks of the Resurrection, he
speaks of Firstfruits, not Easter. Hidden behind our traditional man-made
terminology is the glory of God's holy days.
Why can't we as Christ's church use the same terms as spoken by Moses,
Christ, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul?
By focusing on traditional terms and not God's terms, the hidden wisdom of
God remains hidden, and God's people are left without a very real and
dramatic reality: The biblical significance of the Passover lamb began with
Moses-and provides the foundation to understand the significance of the
Messiah-who was the Lamb of God. The personal presence of the Messiah
marks the fulfillment of all that God set in motion through Moses-and this
becomes a personal reality when we make Jesus our Lord and believe in the
Resurrection, recognizing that Christ is the firstfruits from the dead. The New
Covenant is about the fulfillment of prophecy declared by Christ and the
apostles. Fulfillment of prophecy is about Christ empowering us-which
includes speaking forth divine languages.
Peter is our example.
What did Peter do after he spoke in divine tongues?
Peter boldly quoted Joel. Why? Why did he quote the following section of
Joel? How does this quote relate to the holy days and our current and future
salvation?
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye
men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and
hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but
the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my
servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and
they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the
earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned
into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the
Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:14-21)
On the first day of the church, Peter spoke of that section of Joel's prophecy
that applied to the entire time of the church: The signs that marked the
beginning of the church ("I will pour out my Spirit on all people"); the signs
that mark the presence of the church on Earth ("prophesy," "visions," etc.)
and, in addition, Peter marked the signs that would mark the gathering of the
church into Heaven on the "day of the Lord" (when "The sun will be turned
to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious
day of the Lord [Jesus Christ]").
Peter ended his quote with the following:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that
great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:20, 21)
When will this come to pass?
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Christ expounded upon Peter's declaration via his revelation to Paul:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. (1 Cor. 15:51-53)
This is what it means to be "saved" in the future: "whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved." Christ shall descend for us some year when
"the last trumpet" sounds on the Feast of Trumpets (the next holy day). This
is our hope of glory. Paul also prophesied of the same subject in
Thessalonians:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God [the last trumpet]: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever
be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:16, 17)
The church began with dramatic signs on the Feast of Weeks and will be
transformed with dramatic signs on the Feast of Trumpets. The Law can only
be fulfilled, never contradicted. That's the beauty and glory of the Law. Its
God's unmovable standard. How can anything that God placed in the holy
days be removed or altered?
Finally, Christ marked the Feast of Trumpets in his chronological
presentation in The Book of Revelation. Christ expounded upon the revelation
given to Peter (the celestial signs) and Paul (the transformation)-revealing
the order of events to John.
And I [John] beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon
became as blood. (Rev. 6:12)
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried
with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and
worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these
which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him,
Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and
night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light
on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Rev. 7:9-17)
John gave us this vision of the church transformed in Heaven. With the
fulfillment of this prophecy (as well as those spoken by Peter and Paul), Christ
will become our future salvation.
The entire Bible is an unfolding revelation, revealing the Christ, and what he
would accomplish for us. Time marked in Old Testament times foreshadowed
time marked in New Testament times. The first coming of Christ witnessed the
fulfillment of numerous prophecies-all of which came to pass on time,
exactly as God foretold in the Old Testament. Likewise, so shall numerous
prophecies be fulfilled in accordance with the holy days at the second coming
of Christ.
God ordained all of this "before the world unto our glory." God kept this a
"mystery" until it was fully revealed by Christ to Paul. This mystery is ours to
embrace. The significance cannot be underestimated: This revealed wisdom in
Corinthians forms the lens by which to view prophecy about the church
throughout the New Testament.
Shouldn't we declare the hidden wisdom of God to the flock of Christ?
Shouldn't we allow the apostles' Peter and Paul to be our example?
Shouldn't we declare Isaiah's prophecy just as Paul did?
Shouldn't we allow the revealed wisdom in First Corinthians to guide us in
how we view our current and future salvation?
With a clear conscience before Heaven, let us unite the Torah to Revelation
and unite the Body of Christ in one vision: what is and what shall be.
God bless.
Dr. William Ayles
williamayles@thetimeline.org
