What Did Ellen White Say About the Feast Days?

The writings of Ellen White as well as the early Adventist pioneers are very clear that we do not need to observe the feast days. Below are three points that on their own prove that feast keeping has ended.Feast days are nailed to the cross

1) It is argued by some using a few abused quotes from Ellen White that we should keep the feasts. But let's make one thing abundantly clear. How can one use Ellen White's writings to support something which she herself never practiced? Was Ellen White a crazy hypocrite to promote something that she herself did not do? Obviously not.

2) In order for the Seventh day Adventist Church to be God's remnant, it has to be like the Church in the days of the Apostles after the cross. This means God has to raise His remnant to be just like the original Church. So if God never gave His remnant Church feast keeping as one of the Pillars of Faith, then feast keeping has ended just as SOP and Scripture states. Either that, or the SDA Church cannot be God's remnant.

3) Ellen White said, "That which I have written is what the Lord has bidden me write. I have not been instructed to change that which I have sent out. … The straight line of truth presented to me when I was but a girl is just as clearly presented to me now." — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, January 26, 1905)

She also said that new light never contradicts old light. "But although the long line of events extends through so many centuries, and new and important truths are from time to time developed, that which was truth in the beginning is the truth still. The increased light of the present day does not contradict or make of none effect the dimmer light of the past." — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, August, 1913)

Why can't new light contradict old light? Because everything she wrote is what God instructed her to write. If new light contradicted old light, than either the old or new light would have to be incorrect, and God does not make mistakes. So what Ellen White wrote is what God bid her to write and cannot be error! If she wrote that the feast days were nailed to the cross than that is God given truth that cannot change. So feast keepers have to accept the feasts have ended, call Ellen White a false prophet, or go into denial which is what they normally do.

Below is a question asked to the Ellen White Estate that covers one the most abused statements from Ellen White. Source: "http://ellenwhite.org/content/file/feast-days#document"

Question

"Is there anything in the writings of E.G. White, either pro or con regarding the observance of the feasts today? What about in the Bible? I am really confused on this issue--any suggestions?"

Answer

"Thank you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate. I find nothing in Mrs. White's writings to support the idea that Christians should observe the feasts today. She herself did not observe them.

One statement that is often quoted in support of keeping the feasts is this one, from the Review and Herald, Nov. 17, 1885:

"Well would it be for us to have a feast of tabernacles, a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to us as a people. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God wrought for their fathers, and his miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt to the promised land, so should the people of God at the present time gratefully call to mind the various ways he has devised to bring them out from the world, out from the darkness of error, into the precious light of truth. We should often bring to remembrance the dependence upon God of those who first led out in this work. We should gratefully regard the old way-marks, and refresh our souls with memories of the loving-kindness of our gracious Benefactor."

When Mrs. White calls for "a feast of tabernacles" rather than "the feast of tabernacles," she seems to be asking us to do something similar, but not the same, as what Israel of old did. In the remainder of the paragraph she describes the elements that she was calling for. These elements do not require our observance of the feast of tabernacles as such. In fact, in this statement Mrs. White appears to call for something more frequent than the annual feast: "We should *often* bring to remembrance . . . ."

On occasion Mrs. White seems to have compared our camp meetings to the feast of tabernacles:

"The forces of the enemies are strengthening, and as a people we are misrepresented; but shall we not gather our forces together, and come up to the feast of tabernacles? Let us not treat this matter as one of little importance, but let the army of the Lord be on the ground to represent the work and cause of God in Australia. Let no one plead an excuse at such a time. One of the reasons why we have appointed the camp-meeting to be held at Melbourne, is that we desire the people of that vicinity to become acquainted with our doctrines and works. We want them to know what we are, and what we believe. Let every one pray, and make God his trust. Those who are barricaded with prejudice must hear the warning message for this time. We must find our way to the hearts of the people. Therefore come to the camp-meeting, even though you have to make a sacrifice to do so, and the Lord will bless your efforts to honour his cause and advance his work." (Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, Dec. 8, 1893.)

In the remainder of the article I just quoted from, Mrs. White gives many reasons for people to attend the camp meeting, but observing the Bible feast is not one of them."

This sermon by Nader Mansour called Feast Days vs. The New Covenant also reveals in clear manner that the feast days have ended using Scripture and quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy.

See do we need to keep the feast days to find out what the Bible says.

Quotes from Ellen White that state the Feast days Ended with Christ

As you move through these quotes you will note that this system of feasts and sacrifices was only for the Jews. I have highlighted the relevant key words in cyan. Note that Ellen White says it was only the Jews who were keeping the feasts at 70 AD, but the Christians however were not, and this is how the Christians were able to flee in safety.

"At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested." — (Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, 30.4)

The ceremonial law was intended for the Jews and the Gentiles were never under any obligation to keep them and neither were the Christians. Though some Jews tried to incorporate ceremonial feast keeping into the Christian religion.

"The Jews had always prided themselves upon their divinely appointed services, and many of those who had been converted to the faith of Christ still felt that since God had once clearly outlined the Hebrew manner of worship, it was improbable that He would ever authorize a change in any of its specifications. They insisted that the Jewish laws and ceremonies should be incorporated into the rites of the Christian religion. They were slow to discern that all the sacrificial offerings had but prefigured the death of the Son of God, in which type met antitype, and after which the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic dispensation were no longer binding." — (Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 189.3)

"The Jews had prided themselves upon their divinely appointed services; and they concluded that as God once specified the Hebrew manner of worship, it was impossible that he should ever authorize a change in any of its specifications. They decided that Christianity must connect itself with the Jewish laws and ceremonies. They were slow to discern to the end of that which had been abolished by the death of Christ, and to perceive that all their sacrificial offerings had but prefigured the death of the Son of God, in which type had met its antitype rendering valueless the divinely appointed ceremonies and sacrifices of the Jewish religion.
Paul had prided himself upon his Pharisaical strictness; but after the revelation of Christ to him on the road to Damascus, the mission of the Saviour, and his own work in the conversion of the Gentiles, were plain to his mind; and he fully comprehended the difference between a living faith and a dead formalism. Paul still claimed to be one of the children of Abraham, and kept the ten commandments in letter and in spirit as faithfully as he had ever done before his conversion to Christianity. But he knew that the typical ceremonies must soon altogether cease, since that which they had shadowed forth had come to pass, and the light of the gospel was shedding its glory upon the Jewish religion, giving a new significance to its ancient rites.
" — (Ellen G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 64.2-65.1)

Some claim that the feasts are future based on what Paul said in Colossians 2:17. But note the following states the shadows ended when Christ died and the quote after that states that the sacrifices were shadows of things to come. This proves that Paul was speaking in past tense and looking to the cross as previously stated.

"Christ is the substance, or body, which casts its shadow back into former dispensations. When Christ died, the shadow ceased. At the death of Christ, the typical system was done away; but the law of God, whose violation had made the plan of salvation necessary, was magnified and made honourable." — (Ellen G. White, BEcho, July 15, 1893)

"While the Saviour's death brought to an end the law of types and shadows, it did not in the least detract from the obligation of the moral law." — (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 363, 365)

"Paul endeavored to direct the minds of his hearers to the one great Sacrifice for sin. He pointed to the sacrifices that were shadows of good things to come, and then presented Christ as the antitype of all those ceremonies-the object to which they pointed as the only source of life and hope for fallen man. Holy men of old were saved by faith in the blood of Christ. As they saw the dying agonies of the sacrificial victims they looked across the gulf of ages to the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world." — (Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 424.2)

Note below that it is stated that they rejected Christ who was in one sense the antitype for all the shadows, and hence these festivals and types are now said to be useless ceremonies. Note that it is stated they did not recognize Christ was the fulfillment of all their types, as Christ was the substance of all their shadows. Not some of the feasts, but all of them, including the two that have not met their literal fulfilment. Note it also refers to the time that is all fulfilled. No more keeping the feasts.

"These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time. On the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, the very day and month on which, for fifteen long centuries, the passover lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the passover with his disciples, instituted that feast which was to commemorate his own death as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." That same night he was taken by wicked hands, to be crucified and slain. And as the antitype of the wave-sheaf, our Lord was raised from the dead on the third day, "the first-fruits of them that slept," [1 Corinthians 15:20.] a sample of all the resurrected just, whose "vile body" shall be changed, and "fashioned like unto his glorious body." [Philippians 3:21.]" — (Ellen G. White, GC88, 399.2)

"The Lord Jesus was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. Its imposing services were of divine appointment. They were designed to teach the people that at the time appointed One would come to whom those ceremonies pointed. But the Jews had exalted the forms and ceremonies and had lost sight of their object. The traditions, maxims, and enactments of men hid from them the lessons which God intended to convey. These maxims and traditions became an obstacle to their understanding and practice of true religion. And when the Reality came, in the person of Christ, they did not recognize in Him the fulfillment of all their types, the substance of all their shadows. They rejected the antitype, and clung to their types and useless ceremonies." — (Ellen G. White, COL 34.4)

"The ceremonies connected with the services of the temple, prefiguring Christ in types and shadows, were taken away at the time of the crucifixion, because on the cross type met antitype in the death of the true and perfect offering, the Lamb of God (Manuscript 72, 1901)." — (Ellen G. White, 6BC 1115.21)

Patriarchs and Prophets below states that these ordinances in Colossians 2:14-16 were only until "type" (feast) met "antitype" (Christ in His death). That means all feasts have ended. Notice that she also points out this law was for the Hebrew people. Gentiles were never under any obligation to keep this law.

"After the completion of the tabernacle He communicated with Moses from the cloud of glory above the mercy seat, and gave him full directions concerning the system of offerings and the forms of worship to be maintained in the sanctuary. The ceremonial law was thus given to Moses, and by him written in a book. But the law of Ten Commandments spoken from Sinai had been written by God Himself on the tables of stone, and was sacredly preserved in the ark. There are many who try to blend these two systems, using the texts that speak of the ceremonial law to prove that the moral law has been abolished; but this is a perversion of the Scriptures. The distinction between the two systems is broad and clear. The ceremonial system was made up of symbols pointing to Christ, to His sacrifice and His priesthood. This ritual law, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be performed by the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings were to cease. It is this law that Christ "took ... out of the way, nailing it to His cross." Colossians 2:14." — (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 364, 365)

Note that Ellen White quotes Colossians 2:14 in the above quote referring to the "ordinances" that Paul referred to in this verse. Note also that the word "ordinances" used in the KJV for Colossians 2:14 is the correct translation. Some feast keepers try to hide this fact by using corrupt modern translations that use phrases like "certificate of debt" or "record of debt."

Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

We also find that the Greek word for "ordinances" in Colossians 2:14 is the same Greek word used in Ephesians 2:15, which says:

Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;"

So what was nailed to the cross? "the law of commandments contained in ordinances!" Not a debt.

Ellen White confirms stating it was a "LAW," not a debt. She also confirms the connection between Colossians 2:14 and Ephesians 2:15 as she quotes them both below.

"But there is a law which was abolished, which Christ "took out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Paul calls it "the law of commandments contained in ordinances." This ceremonial law, given by God through Moses, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be binding upon the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings and services were to be abolished. Paul and the other apostles labored to show this, and resolutely withstood those Judaizing teachers who declared that Christians should observe the ceremonial law." — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, September 4, 1884) - Colossians 2:14 quoted

Note Ellen White said SACRIFICES and ORDINANCES above. And what was in these "ordinances" that ended with Christ? Paul tells us in verse 16.

Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink offerings, or in respect of an holyday [feast days], or of the new moon, or of the [yearly] sabbath days:"

Thus Paul says do not let anyone judge for no longer keeping these "ordinances" which were BLOTTED out, AGAINST us, CONTRARY to us, and NAILED to the cross, and that includes the feast days!

Ellen White states that Satan rejoiced that the Jews still kept the "ordinances" and hence the feast days after the cross. So this is not a path we want to follow. This law was only ever for the Jews and was never kept by Gentiles and was never intended for Christians. This is what caused the enmity between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:15) and hence what Ellen White was talking about when she said, "the partition wall between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down."

"Satan rejoiced that the Jews were safe in his snare. They still continued their useless forms, their sacrifices, and ordinances. As Jesus hung upon the cross and cried, "It is finished", the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, to signify that God would no longer meet with the priests in the temple, to accept their sacrifices and ordinances, and also to show that the partition wall between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down." — (Ellen G. White, Early Writings, 209.1)

Not only does Ellen White tell us that Satan rejoices when Christians continue to keep the feasts, she also tells us it is an insult to Jehovah.

"Christ discharged his disciples from the cares and burdens of the ancient Jewish obligations in rites and ceremonies. These no longer possessed any virtue; for type was meeting antitype in himself, the authority and foundation of all Jewish ordinances that pointed to him as the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world. ... To continue these rites would be an insult to Jehovah." — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, June 14, 1898)

This short video by Professor Walter Veith called should we keep the feasts addresses this issue in a simple and clear manner while also using two of these quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy.

"The passover suppers had been scenes of special interest; but upon this occasion Jesus was troubled in spirit, and his disciples sympathized with his grief although they knew not its cause. THIS WAS VIRTUALLY THE LAST PASSOVER THAT WAS EVER TO BE CELEBRATED; for type was to meet antitype in the slaying of the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Christ was soon to receive his full baptism of suffering; but the few quiet hours between him and Gethsemane were to be spent for the benefit of his disciples." — (E.G. White, 3SP 83.3)

This isn't talking about the sacrificial animal, but the CELEBRATION of the Passover. Period!

"Christ was standing at the point of transition between two economies and their two great festivals. He, the spotless Lamb of God, was about to present Himself as a sin-offering, that He would thus bring to an end the system of types and ceremonies that for four thousand years had pointed to His death. As He ate the Passover with His disciples, He instituted in its place the service that was to be the memorial of His great sacrifice. The NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE JEWS WAS TO PASS AWAY FOREVER. The service which Christ established was to be observed by His followers in all lands and through all ages." — (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, 652)

"At the very moment that Christ had expired, the heavy veil of tapestry, made of pure linen, and beautifully wrought with scarlet and purple, had been rent from top to bottom. The place where Jehovah had met with the priest, to communicate His glory, the place that had been God's sacred audience chamber, lay open to every eye—a place no longer recognized by the Lord. Many who at that time united in the services of the Passover never again took part in them. Light was to shine into their hearts. The disciples were to communicate to them the knowledge that the great Teacher had come." — (Ellen G. White, 12MR 418.1)

"On the fourteenth day of the month, at even, the Passover was celebrated, its solemn, impressive ceremonies commemorating the deliverance from bondage in Egypt, and pointing forward to the sacrifice that should deliver from the bondage of sin. When the Saviour yielded up His life on Calvary, the significance of the Passover ceased, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was instituted as a memorial of the same event of which the Passover had been a type." — (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 539.5)

Paul had to deal with this feast heresy with the Romans, Galatians and the Colossians. Below the Spirit of Prophecy states that they "grasped at the shadow, rather than the substance." This means they continued with the feasts rather than accepting Christ who brought these shadows to an end. And the Spirit of Prophecy says this "history has been and will be repeated," which it has. It was an error that Paul had to deal with and it is being repeated again today. Feast keepers take their error as being a blessing as if it has been "clothed with a new garment, which they think covers something wonderful." But if the covering is removed, they will find there is nothing there.

"In the days of the apostles the most foolish heresies were presented as truth. History has been and will be repeated. There will always be those who, though apparently conscientious, will grasp at the shadow, preferring it to the substance. They take error in the place of truth, because error is clothed with a new garment, which they think covers something wonderful. But let the covering be removed, and nothingness appears." — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, February 5, 1901)

Judaizing teachers had returned the Galatians back to the ceremonial law. We find Paul dealing with this in Galatians chapters 1 through 5 which specifically involves the feasts days.

"While Paul looked with interest and hope to new fields of labor in the west, he had cause for serious apprehension concerning the fields of his former labor in the east. Tidings had been received at Corinth from the churches in Galatia, revealing a state of great confusion, and even of absolute apostasy. Judaizing teachers were opposing the work of the apostle, and seeking to destroy the fruit of his labors. In almost every church there were some members who were Jews by birth. To these converts the Jewish teachers found ready access, and through them gained a foot-hold in the churches. It was impossible, by scriptural arguments, to overthrow the doctrines taught by Paul; hence they resorted to the most unscrupulous measures to counteract his influence and weaken his authority. They declared that he had not been a disciple of Jesus, and had received no commission from him; yet he had presumed to teach doctrines directly opposed to those held by Peter, James, and the other apostles. Thus the emissaries of Judaism succeeded in alienating many of the Christian converts from their teacher in the gospel. Having gained this point, they induced them to return to the observance of the ceremonial law as essential to salvation. Faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of ten commandments, were regarded as of minor importance. Division, heresy, and sensualism were rapidly gaining ground among the believers in Galatia." — (Ellen G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 188.2 )

Moving forward a page in the story.

"In the Galatian churches, open, unmasked error was supplanting the faith of the gospel. Christ, the true foundation, was virtually renounced for the obsolete ceremonies of Judaism. The apostle saw that if these churches were saved from the dangerous influences which threatened them, the most decisive measures must be taken, the sharpest warnings given, to bring them to a sense of their true condition." — (Ellen G. White, Sketches from the Life of Paul, 190.1)

Acts 18:21 is often used to claim that the feast days were to be kept after Christ's ascension to heaven. But the following passage shows that Paul simply makes reference to the Passover as the time when Jews were gathered at Jerusalem, and he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to preach Christ to them.

"Paul greatly desired to reach Jerusalem before the Passover as he would thus have an opportunity to meet those who should come from all parts of the world to attend the feast. Ever he cherished the hope that in some way he might be instrumental in removing the prejudice of his unbelieving countrymen, so that they might be led to accept the precious light of the gospel. He also desired to meet the church at Jerusalem and bear to them the gifts sent by the Gentile churches to the poor brethren in Judea. And by this visit he hoped to bring about a firmer union between the Jewish and the Gentile converts to the faith." — (Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 389)

Some state that Jesus kept the feasts so we should follow His example. Firstly, the feasts ended at the cross and Jesus never attended them after the cross. Also, Jesus did not attend all the feasts and He did not have to. So this is a very bad straw man argument.

"As the sons of Joseph made preparation to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, they saw that Christ made no movement signifying His intention of attending. They watched Him with anxiety. Since the healing at Bethesda He had not attended the national gatherings. … From Jerusalem the report of Christ's miracles had spread wherever the Jews were dispersed; and although for many months He had been absent from the feasts, the interest in Him had not abated. Many from all parts of the world had come up to the Feast of Tabernacles in the hope of seeing Him. At the beginning of the feast many inquiries were made for Him. The Pharisees and rulers looked for Him to come, hoping for an opportunity to condemn Him. They anxiously inquired, "Where is He?" but no one knew. The thought of Him was uppermost in all minds. Through fear of the priests and rulers, none dared acknowledge." — (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 451)

And what about the Disciples. Did they keep the feasts after the cross? No! While the feasts officially ended at the cross, it should be obvious that no one is going to know until Paul and the disciples preach the Gospel so they know. In the quote below we see the disciples did not have to keep the feasts but remained in Jerusalem because the many Jews who did not yet know the feasts had ended would see them as heretics and put their lives in danger.

"Jesus had appointed to meet His disciples in Galilee; and soon after the Passover week was ended, they bent their steps thither. Their ABSENCE from Jerusalem during the feast would have been interpreted as disaffection and heresy, therefore they remained till its close; but this over, they gladly turned homeward to meet the Saviour as He had directed." — (E.G. White, DA809)

Quotes from James White and the Adventist pioneers that state the Feast days Ended with Christ

Before continuing, please note the following.

"After the passing of the time in 1844 we searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, "We can do nothing more," the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me. I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages WE had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped US to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, his mission, and his priesthood." — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 25, 1905)

Not only that, but if the pioneers were wrong on what they taught about feast days ending, then they were guilty of proclaiming falsehoods concerning the laws of God. And if they were teaching falsehoods, then it was the duty of Ellen White to correct them. To "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2. And if Ellen White failed to rebuke such a falsehood for the seventy-two years she belonged to the Adventist Church, then she would have failed miserably in her duty as a messenger of the Lord. But not only did she never rebuke her husband or any of the pioneers for their teachings on the feasts, but she followed the instructions of God Himself and recommended them! And not forgetting of course that she taught they had ended also.

"God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it? -- He has said that the dead are to speak. How? -- Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced." — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 25, 1905)

"The feast days, new moons and ceremonial sabbaths which as shadows were to cease at the cross, God declared that he would take away." — (Uriah Smith, The Biblical Institute, p. 139)

Note also what Ellen White said about her husband and his writings. "God has permitted the precious light of truth to shine upon His Word and illuminate the mind of my husband. He may reflect the rays of light from the presence of Jesus upon others by his preaching and writing." — (E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church, 3:502, 1875)

"All the Jewish sabbaths did cease, when Christ nailed them to his cross. Col. 2,14-17. 'Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.' These were properly called Jewish sabbaths. Hosea says, 'her sabbaths.' But the Sabbath of which we are speaking, God calls 'my Sabbath.' Here is clear distinction between the creation Sabbath and the ceremonial. The one is perpetual; the others were merely shadows of good things to come, and are limited in Christ." — (Quoted by James White in Life Incidents, pp. 284-286)

"The feasts, new moons and sabbaths of the ceremonial law, which Paul declared to be abolished in consequence of the abrogation of that code, have been particularly noticed already. That the Sabbath of the Lord is not included in their number the following facts evince:" — (James White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, February 18, 1862)

"The Christians at Rome were labouring under trials, similar to those in other Churches. Some of them were holding on to the Jewish customs of eating, and feast-days, and others were opposed to these customs. Paul's greatest trial with them, was their judging one another, and making these things a test of Christian fellowship." — (James White, The Present Truth, July 1849 p.8.6)

"The Sabbath of the Lord our God was instituted at the creation, before the fall, when the earth and man were holy, and Eden bloomed on earth. The convocation sabbaths of the Jews were given at Mount Sinai, more than twenty-five hundred years after, and were a portion of the hand-writing of ordinances of the law of Moses, which was nailed to the cross, at the death of the Messiah." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p.9.12)

"The fact that some were teaching these Jewish customs to the Christian Church, and judging them in respect to them, drew the Apostle out to write as he has to the Galatians, Romans, and Colossians, upon this subject." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p.9.13)

"The first covenant which had "ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary," was a shadow of the second, and better covenant. The law was the shadow, and the Gospel is the body, that cast the shadow; and as all shadows reach to their body, and no farther, it is very clear that the sacrifices and oblations, new-moons, feast days, and Sabbaths of the Jewish law ceased, when the precious body and blood of the Lamb of God was sacrificed on the cross. This is what Paul calls "nailing it to his cross." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p. 9.5)

"Some regarded the Jewish Sabbaths, new-moons, and feast days, after they were abolished and nailed to the cross, and others did not. Paul would not have the Colossians judged by Judaizing teachers, in respect to those things that had ceased, according to the testimony of the Prophet." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p.9.7)

"Finally, the fact that the early Christians were troubled by those who were teaching them that they must observe the law of Moses in order to be saved, shows what Paul's subject was, and that he did not refer to the Sabbath; but to the shadows of Moses law, which began to reach their body when the new covenant was introduced by the death of Messiah." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p.11.4)

"When Jesus was nailed to the cross, the hand-writing of ordinances was abolished. Let all remember that St. Paul has forever established this point in Col.ii:14. At the third hour of the day, or 9 o'clock A. M. Jesus was nailed to his cross, and at that very hour, whatever was to be abolished at the crucifixion, then died." — (James White, The Present Truth, August 1849, p.17.4)

"The prophet Malachi, while describing the burning day, and addressing those to whom the prophet Elijah should be sent, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, says, "Remember ye the LAW OF MOSES my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel," etc.-See Malachi 4:1-4. From these Scriptures we see that we are not only directed to the law of Moses, but a positive injunction is laid upon us to remember it. Not to keep it; for its ordinances were nailed to the cross; but its types and shadows, as St. Paul has taught, were figures of the true. They were a true representation of the "good things to come" connected with the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Therefore, they are our positive, and only sure guide, contained in the oracles of truth, to lead us to a correct understanding of the work of Christ in "THE TRUE TABERNACLE, WHICH THE LORD PITCHED, and not man." — (James White, The Present Truth, December 1849, p. 42.4)

This sermon from Pastor Allen Stump is excellent and explains why there was a transition period from the feasts ending at the cross to when they literally ceased. This had to be expected as it would take time for Paul to spread the Gospel message. This is why Paul attended what feasts he could as there would have been no better opportunity to speak to his Jewish brethren then on the feast days.

This quote is from Ellen White and she also explains why Paul attended the feasts.

"The minister must not feel that the whole truth is to be spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion. He should study carefully when to speak, what to say, and what to leave unsaid. This is not practicing deception; it is working as Paul worked. "Though I be free from all men," he wrote to the Corinthians, "yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." [1 Corinthians 9:19-22.]
Paul did not approach the Jews in such a way as to arouse their prejudices. He did not at first tell them that they must believe in Jesus of Nazareth; but dwelt upon the prophecies that spoke of Christ, His mission and His work. Step by step he led his hearers on, showing the importance of honoring the law of God. He gave due honor to the ceremonial law, showing that it was Christ who instituted the Jewish economy and the sacrificial service. Then he brought them down to the first advent of the Redeemer, and showed that in the life and death of Christ every specification of the sacrificial service had been fulfilled.
The Gentiles, Paul approached by exalting Christ, and then presenting the binding claims of the law. He showed how the light reflected by the cross of Calvary gave significance and glory to the whole Jewish economy.
Thus the apostle varied his manner of labor, shaping his message to the circumstances under which he was placed. After patient labor he was successful to a large degree; yet there were many who would not be convinced. Some there are today who will not be convinced by any method of presenting the truth;
" — (Ellen G. White, GW 119.3)

Note that Ellen White quoted Paul above where he explained why he attended the feasts.

1 Corinthians 9:20-21 "When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the [Mosaic] law, so that I can bring them to Christ. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ."

"The feasts, new moons, and annual sabbaths, were restored when the Hebrews returned from captivity, and with some interruptions, were kept up until the final destruction of their city and nation by the Romans. But ere the providence of God thus struck out of existence these Jewish festivals, the whole typical system was abolished, having reached the commencement of its antitype, when our Lord Jesus Christ expired upon the cross. The handwriting of ordinances being thus abolished, no one is to be judged respecting its meats, or drinks, or holy days, or new moons, or sabbaths, "which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." But the Sabbath of the Lord did not form a part of this handwriting of ordinances; for it was instituted before sin had entered the world, and consequently before there was any shadow of redemption; it was written by the finger of God, not in the midst of types and shadows, but in the bosom of the moral law; and the day following that on which the typical sabbaths were nailed to the cross, the Sabbath commandment of the moral law is expressly recognized. Moreover, when the Jewish festivals were utterly extinguished with the final destruction of Jerusalem, even then was the Sabbath of the Lord brought to the minds of his people." — (J.N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Chapter 7)

"When the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross, all the Jewish festivals ceased to exist; for they were ordained by it; but the abrogation of that law could only take away those rites which it had appended to the Sabbath, leaving the original institution precisely as it came at first from its author." — (J.N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Chapter 7)

"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; but the body is of Christ. Here we have holy days, new moons, and the Sabbath days, which are shadows of things in the work of Christ. This shows that Paul has reference to the ceremonial ordinances which were introduced after the fall and the promise of the Messiah. The twenty-third chapter of Leviticus contains a record of the appointment of these Sabbath days. It will be noticed that they are all connected with meats and drinks (see verse 27); and, further, that they are entirely distinct from the Sabbath of the Lord (verse 38). In the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day of the week, there is nothing shadowy,-which prefigures Christ,-because it was given in Eden when man was first created, and when there was no need of a sacrifice being made. In the text in Colossians Paul has not the slightest reference to the Sabbath of the Lord. In the preceding verse he has stated that the law of types and shadows had been nailed to the cross; since it consisted only of shadows, it necessarily ceased when the substance came; and therefore Paul says that no one need be judged for the performance or nonperformance of its provisions." — (February 17, 1887, E.J. Waggoner, SITI 103.22-23)