Gerry--
With all due respect, I must take exception several points in your last post:
Would you help clarify a few points?
1. Where do you find in scripture that the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was "done away with"?
I see just the opposite in Lev 23:41
And you shall celebrate it a feast to YHWH, seven days in a year, a never ending statute throughout your generations; in the seventh month you shall keep it.
2. Yahshua (Jesus) may have celebrated Chanukah, but scripture does not make it clear that He did. It seems that the 4th day you refer to was during the Feast of Sukkot, NOT Chanukah. Am I missing something? See John 7:2-14.
3. With regard to the calculation between Pentecost and Chanukah, please clarify. As I see it, there are only a little over six months between Shavuot (Pentecost) and Chanukah. Pentecost occurs the first week or so of the third month in the scriptural calendar; Chanukah occurs well into the ninth. There is only about 190-200 days in between those two feasts. Try counting from Abib 1 and you will see one full gestation period of 266 days (from conception to birth, 280 days is from womb prep to birth.)
4. We DON"T know when Yahshua was born because He purposely left that out. How can you be so sure about Chanukah? The numbers are all fine and good, but as we have all seen, that doesn't make it absolute.
And as an aside, I will step on my soapbox for just a few lines:
Even if we can conclusively prove that He was born around December 25, I ask Christians WHY do we celebrate as we do? Shouldn't we be practicing pure religion as defined by James instead of covering ourselves with gifts? If it is truly HIS birthday, why do we not honor Him with our gifts, by giving to the poor and needy, not to each other? Why do we not give sacrificially to the oppressed? I am sickened at the greed and covetousness that emerges at this time of year--and our children are learning nothing but ME.
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Blessings,
Mary Ames