Why do you not read the context of Paul's letter to the Galatians? When you do you will find Paul admonishing the Galatians for desiring to turn again to the works of the Law after having been instructed of Christ. The Law was to have been until Christ came, the Law was the tutor teaching them of their need for Christ, and returning to the Law would show them to again be as children. Christ had redeemed them that were under the Law, that they might receive the adoption of sons.
Galatians 3:1-3 (KJV) O
foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:10-12 (KJV) For
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that
no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Galatians 3:13-14 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that hangeth on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:17-19 (KJV) And this I say,
that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:20-26 (KJV) Now a mediator is not
a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The foolish Galatians desired to return to the ceremonial laws, observing Jewish ritual the Law required before Christ came and fulfilled all the requirements of the Old system, establishing the New Covenant by His atoning blood on the cross and defeating death by His resurrection. Paul likens them to "
weak and beggarly elements".
Days—
i.e., in the first instance and especially, the Jewish sabbaths; but other fasts or festivals which occupied a single day may be included.
Months.—The description mounts in an ascending scale—days, months, seasons, years. The "months," however, mean really "the first day of the month," the "new moon." (See
Le 23:24;
Nu 28:11;
Ps 81:3.)
Times.—
Seasons: such as the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
Years.—Such as the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee. Paul is giving a list which is intended to be exhaustive of all Jewish observances.
Paul says returning to the Law is to "
turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage" after having been set free of bondage to the Law of which obedience could never save but would bring them again into bondage and death.
Galatians 4:9-10 (KJV) But now,
after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Paul is under no delusion, believing time is an allusion! Time was given by God to mankind during creation, never intending that time for this earth would endure forever. Just as TIME given the earth had a beginning, so too when the seventh angel begins to sound "
there should be time no longer."