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vs. 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Many believe that because the sacrificial laws were closely tied to the sabbaths and feasts,
that when Christ came to be the sacrifice all holy days or 'shadows' had fulfilled their purpose.
Further proof, they say, is that Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 thereby bringing a crashing end
to the sacrifices, with the sabbaths and feasts ending there also. The argument uses Paul's words in
Colossians to prove it. The passage is thus convoluted to read, "don't let anyone judge you if you
don't want to keep the sabbaths, holy days, new moons, or if you do eat pork."

This doesn't take into account, however, as Yahweh said in Exodus 31:12 that: (1) the sab-
bath is a sign between Him and His people for ever, (2) it is a perpetual covenant, (3) it is tied di-
rectly to the pattern of His resting after He made heaven and earth, which was long prior to the
ritual sacrifice being codified, and (4) there were sacrifices every day.

The apparent contradiction between the keeping of the sabbath day being a "sign/perpetual
covenant" and Colossians 2:16 is easily resolved with the understanding of the Judaizers' purpose
in keeping out the uncircumcised, and the following concepts.

Paul wrote to the Colossians some 30 years after the New Covenant was established by the
crucifixion and resurrection. Notice he doesn't say they 'were a shadow of things,' he says "are"
(meaning currently) a shadow of things to come. So it can't be said that sometime between Paul
and the 21st Century we left the "shadows" and now clearly see the object creating the shadow.

For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face . . I Corinthians 13:12.

-- speaking of a time "when that which is perfect is come." Indeed, that which is perfect
has not yet come, otherwise Paul would not have spoken of a future day.

Paul's words in Colossians 2:16 were simply encouraging these "gentiles" to keep the holy
days, etc., in spite of the Judaizers. This was confirmed in Peter's vision where unclean animals
appeared on a sheet and he was told to "rise, kill and eat." (Acts 10:13-15). Peter, knowing that
Yahweh would not contradict His well established law states, "I have never eaten anything that is
common or unclean," (Acts 10:14) and "doubted in himself" what the vision should mean. (Acts
10:17). So after pondering its meaning, (Acts 10:19) he states, "God hath shewed me that I should
not call any man (adamite) common or unclean," speaking of those who were uncircumcised.
(Acts 10:28 and 11:1-3)

In closing, if verses 16 and 17 of Colossians 2 are read together properly, they would say,
"Let no man therefore judge you ... but the body [] of Christ." The word "is" in vs. 17 is not in the
original Greek text. [see note 2]

In other words, the body of Christ (the circumcised in heart under the New Covenant) is the
only group of people capable of judging whether one may sit down to meat and drink on the holy
days, based on whether one is obeying His Laws. You can see this acted out where Paul exhorts
believers during the Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread in I Corinthians 5:

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