1. The Shared Beliefs of the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) and the Witnesses of Jesus Church of God

Both the WMSCOG and the Witnesses of Jesus Church emphasize the observance of feasts, labeling those who do not adhere to these practices as influenced by Satan.

• Shared Claim: "Israel was destroyed by Babylon because they did not observe the feasts."
• Shared Practices:
  They reinterpret Old Testament feasts—such as the Sabbath, Passover, and Day of Atonement—into modern-day observances.

However, they fail to grasp the essence of the feasts, focusing instead on external adherence to the law, a significant error.

2. A Biblical Examination of Feast-Based Faith

(1) The Purpose of the Feasts
In the Old Testament, feasts and sacrifices served as a means to reveal sin and lead people to God.

• Leviticus 16:26: On the Day of Atonement, sins were symbolically transferred to the scapegoat (Azazel) and sent into the wilderness.
• Purpose: To make Israel aware of their sins and encourage them to obey God's commandments (the Ten Commandments).

(2) The Limits of the Law
Although Israel observed the feasts, they neglected the essence of the law—love and justice.

• Hosea 6:6:

  "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

• Romans 3:20:

  "Through the law, we become conscious of our sin."
  The law and feasts were tools to reveal sin, not the essence of salvation.

(3) Fulfillment by Jesus Christ (Yehoshua)
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament feasts and opened a new path.

• Day of Atonement Fulfillment: Jesus cast out Satan (symbolized by Azazel) from heaven, fulfilling the prophecy of the Day of Atonement.
• Feast of Tabernacles Fulfillment: Through the Holy Spirit, He established believers as the temple of God, fulfilling the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Hebrews 10:18:

  "And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."
  Jesus' sacrifice eliminated the need for further feasts or rituals.

3. Errors in the WMSCOG and Witnesses of Jesus Church

(1) Claim: Israel's Destruction was Due to Neglecting Feasts
Israel's destruction by Babylon was not due to neglecting feasts but due to wickedness and a lack of love and justice.

• Zechariah 7:8-14: God emphasized justice, mercy, and peace over feasts.
• Zechariah 8:15-17:

  "Speak the truth to each other and render true and sound judgment in your courts."

(2) Losing the True Meaning of the Feasts
Both groups teach that observing feasts is essential for salvation.

• The feasts were merely shadows; Jesus fulfilled their prophecies.
• Lack of love and repentance: They focus on ritual observance while neglecting love for others and true repentance.

(3) Distortion of the Mediator’s Role
Jesus became the perfect mediator of the New Covenant.

• Hebrews 10:1:

  "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves."
  Through Jesus' sacrifice, the Old Testament feasts were completed, rendering them unnecessary.

4. True Faith: Love and Repentance

(1) The Core of the Law is Love
Jesus taught that the essence of the law is to love God and others.

• Matthew 22:37-40:

  "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
  "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

(2) Worship in Spirit and Truth
True worship is not about rituals but about repentance and love in action.

• John 4:24:

  "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
  This emphasizes purity of heart and sincere worship.

5. Conclusion: A Faith Beyond the Feasts

The WMSCOG and the Witnesses of Jesus Church misunderstand the role of the feasts in salvation, distorting the essence of the Bible.

• Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the feasts and abolished ritual-centered worship.
• True faith is not about observing feasts but about loving God, loving others, and living a life of repentance.

The True Message of the Bible:

Salvation is not found in ceremonial feasts but in perfecting the law through love and mercy.

"True worship is not about outward forms but worshiping in spirit and truth, living a life of love for God and others—this is the essence of genuine faith."