With the latest wave of books coming from the Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses against feast-keeping, the teaching that God’s last day people will keep His annual Sabbaths seems more and more far fetched in the minds of Adventist church members. One of the assertions in the majority of these books is that they claim Sister White didn’t tell us to keep the feasts.

But is this so? Consider the following interesting quotations from Sister White (or James White) on the subject of the holy feast convocations (a term straight out of Leviticus 23).

“Would it not be well for us to observe holidays unto God, when we could revive in our minds the memory of His dealings? Would it not be well to consider His past blessings, to remember the impressive warnings that have come home to our souls, so that we shall not forget God? The world has many holidays, and men become engrossed with games, with horse races, with gambling, smoking and drunkenness. They show plainly under what banner they are standing. They make it evident that they do not stand under the banner of the Prince of Life, but the prince of darkness rules and controls them. Shall not the people of God… have holy covocations in which to thank God for His rich blessings?” (Ellen White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p 343)

Because of the awareness of the importance of the annual Sabbaths in the early S.D.A. Church founders, the Seventh-day Adventists were originally called the Seventh-month Movement. Why? Because Christ would return in the Seventh biblical month (at the Feast of Tabernacles). In fact, our church’s early campmeetings were significantly called “Annual Feasts of Tabernacles.” Consider the following quotation by James White on the subject:

"This excellent meeting, with all its labor of preparation, anxiety, preaching, hearing, exhorting, confession of sins and want of Christ, its tears, deliverances and joys, is now past… These annual FEASTS OF TABERNACLES are gatherings of the greatest importance; and there should be a general turnout of all who may be benefitted." (James White, Signs of the Times, June 8, 1876, quoted from: Ellen White, vol. 3 The Lonely Years 1876-1891, page 38.)

Another powerful statement is found in Testimonies, Vol. 2. We strongly encourage you to read the quote in entirety! Ellen White wrote:

"God gave directions to the Israelites to assemble before Him at set periods… God requires no less of His people in these last days… Let all who possibly can, attend these yearly gatherings, all should feel that God requires this of them… Come, brethren and sisters to these sacred convocation meetings, to find Jesus. He will come up to the feast." (Ellen White, Testimonies, Vol. 2, p 573-576)

Here is a final thought on the subject: "In the days of Christ these feasts were attended by vast multitudes of people… If the children of Israel needed the benefit of these holy convocations in their time, how much more do we need them in these last days of peril and conflict!" (Ellen White, Testimonies, Vol. 6, p 39-40). We at Lighted Way Ministries couldn’t agree more. Along with the dear ones who joined us in keeping the last feast, we all have “tasted and seen that YHWH is good.” And having tasted, we’re all eagerly looking forward to more feasting ahead!