While I totally agree with you that WE ("the Church which is His body") is under no obligation to observe these things (because Christ is the Reality), I do believe that because the grammar is written as: "which ARE [plural; present tense] A SHADOW [singular] of things coming [present tense, participle, plural; (we'd say, '[are] certain-to-come')]" and then because Jesus had said, in Luke 22:30,[15]16,18 [parallel Matt26:29] "16 I will not eat any more thereof [see v.15 'the passover'] UNTIL it BE FULFILLED in the kingdom of God" and "18 I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, UNTIL the kingdom of God shall come," with Mt26:29 saying, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, UNTIL THAT DAY when I drink it NEW WITH [G3326 - meta - accompanying] YOU in My Father's kingdom."
Once our Rapture takes place, one can see certain things in the "FUTURE aspects" of The Revelation (that is, chpts 4-19 especially, i.e. the 7-yr TRIB years) that pertain to Israel's past that will serve to point "the wise [of Israel]" TO CHRIST JESUS their MESSIAH and His promised and prophesied earthly Millennial Kingdom, when they are in the midst of the trib; many "timing-markers" [within that text] that will come to make sense to THEM (at that future time). Example: Rev8:1-5 spells out things which are associated with a particular/specific date on the Hebrew calendar-of-events, which timing will align with actual calendar dates that will aid them in that time of great deception (meaning, those who will have come to faith during that time, of course, not those who will not have and refuse to give heed to His Word but disregard it instead).
One more example: "kings went out to battle" and were "crowned" [Rev19] at a very specific time/day (per the OT) and their knowing this fact will shield them from the deceptions that will be assailing them... (a great many other things like this within "The Revelation" supplying specific TIMING CLUES they will come to "understand" [and they will benefit others with this "understanding" as well, meaning the "a great multitude" of the ations/Gentiles and the "Sheep" of the nations/Gentiles, of that future time period).
Another example: Exodus 31:13,17 says the sabbath [7th day] is "A SIGN between Me and the children of Israel forever"... things like that (in Rev)...
Ok, I'm sorry to say, but all of that above is mega confusing and doesn't address the issue. Here again is what you said:
"6. Paul told the Colossians not to let anyone judge them
because they were observing
God's sabbaths and feasts because these appointed times are "a shadow of things to come".
Meaning they reveal future events, just like the passover foreshadowed Christ's
sacrifice on the cross.(Colossians 2:16-17)"
My objection, was/is that Paul was not telling the Colossians to not let anyone judge them because they were observing God's Sabbaths, feast, new moons, etc., as you claimed, but just the opposite. What he was telling them was to not let anyone judge them because they were no longer observing those things. Hey! How come you're working on the Sabbath? How come you're eating food that is not unlawful eat? Paul is saying, don't let anyone bother you about those things which were a shadow of what was to come, which is Christ.
This is all supported by all of Paul writings regarding salvation by grace through faith vs. the works of the Law, which could never save anyone. Regarding this, scripture states that "the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law." The law kills us because we can't keep it. Jesus came and fulfilled the law, satisfying it completely. When we believe in Christ we are credited with the fulfillment of the law. In fact, the believer is credited with all that Christ accomplished every believers behalf.
The following is what Peter had to say about the Law, when those of the Pharisaic group were teaching that the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and made to obey the Law of Moses:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “
The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses.” So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days, God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke (the Law)
that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
We are no longer under the law, but are saved by grace through faith. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can take credit for salvation.
...
(Ps. 90:1-2
