The Missed Passover Connection*

Passover is approaching in a few days. John the Baptist identified Jesus directly with the Passover by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (Jn. 1:29, 36). He also identified Jesus as the Son of God (v. 34). Jesus said clearly that He was the bread that comes from heaven, that when eaten, brings eternal life: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." The crowd wanted that bread, and asked Jesus to give it to them. Jesus answered: "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst...and this is the will of him (meaning the Father) that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn. 6:30-40, excerpt). Resurrection is the core of our Christian faith. We will see later on that Jesus connects this bread of resurrection with the Passover bread. While still slaves in Egypt, Passover also delivered from the power of death the Israelites who had obediently applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts and lintels as Moses had commanded them from God. The Jews who were listening to Jesus, however, had trouble accepting the comment that He had come down from heaven. They knew His birth family, they reasoned, so how could He have come down from heaven? They were missing the Passover connection through unbelief. Jesus, knowing their murmurings said, "No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God (see Isa. 54:13-14, Jer. 31:33-34). Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me...Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life...that a man may eat thereof and not die." In the wilderness, the Israelites ate the manna that God had miraculously given to them, but they did eventually die. This bread, however, of which Jesus spoke, if a man ate of it, he would not die (Jn. 6:41-50). Then Jesus revealed the nature of this bread of eternal life come down from heaven: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of theworld...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."" (v.51-53). Those listening were repulsed by the idea of eating this Man's flesh, and drinking His blood, as they received this with their natural understanding, rather than by the Spirit (v. 63), and being "taught of God", as Jesus had mentioned. These were the same people who had witnessed Jesus multiply the fish and the bread to feed thousands, and had travelled around the Sea of Galilee to follow Him. Now He was telling them about the living bread of everlasting life, and they couldn't accept it. Jesus had also told them that His flesh as the living bread was given for the life of the world. He repeated again the truth of the living bread of His flesh, and His blood, sent by the Father, given for them: "...he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." (v. 54-59). Many who had been His disciples up to this point, could no longer walk with Jesus because of this revelation. Only the twelve, including the betrayer, Judas, continued with Jesus. When Jesus remarked on this, Peter said, "...Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (v. 60-71). Jesus Himself connected this living bread of eternal life, which was His own flesh, with the Passover. The Lord was sharing the Passover meal with His disciples (Mt. 26:17-18), and He took the two main elements from that meal: "And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Mt. 26:26-28). The account of this same Passover event in Luke 22 tells us that the cup that Jesus took was the cup after supper (Lk. 22:20). This cup, taken after the Passover supper, has special significance here because it is called "the cup of redemption" by those who observe the Passover. Jesus also said that He would not partake of the wine again until He drinks it new with them in His Father's kingdom. Jesus knew that this would be His last Passover on earth, and be the night of His arrest, and then death (see Lk. 22:7), and that His betrayer was at the table with Him at that moment, and about to act (v. 21-25, see also Mk. 14:22-25). Jesus said that He would not be shedding that blood of the new testament for few, but for many, even in fact for the world - those who believe and have partaken of the Passover connection. He also revealed by this statement that we will be keeping the Passover with Him in His reign as King. When the Passover was first given to Israel by Moses for their deliverance from the last plague of death, they were told to select a male lamb without blemish (Ex. 12:5): "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover...And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." (v. 11, 14, also see Num. 9). The Hebrew word used here for "it", referring to the Passover and the lamb, has the root word made up of the Hebrew letters aleph, tav, which are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus referred to Himself as "The Aleph Tav", or "the Alpha and the Omega" when translated into the Greek. In the verses from Exodus and Numbers, a third Hebrew letter, the vaw, has been added to make up the word "it". This is the same spelling as used for the word meaning "sign", and the individual meanings of the three letters together mean "God nailed to the cross". This word is also used in Isa. 7:10-14, when the king is ordered to ask God for a "sign". The LORD provided the prophetic sign Himself in that passage in the form of a prophetic promise of a virgin giving birth to a son, and the child's name being called Immanuel, meaning "God with us". The aleph-tav sign of Passover, "God nailed to the cross", is to be a guide to the Church. Paul wrote to the church of Corinth for overlooking fornication within its congregation. The nature of the fornication was extreme, and Paul instructed them to turn the offender over to Satan. (The man would later repent and Paul then instructed the church that the man should be accepted back.) Paul warned the church about the tolerance of sin in their midst: "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven (meaning sin) leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." (1 Cor. 5:1-7). As the church today, like the Corinthian church long ago, ignores the destruction and death caused by sin, they are also missing the Passover connection. Both Jesus and Paul spoke of the Passover connection two thousand years ago. All who have received this truth since then have also received the promise of eternal life. Can anyone afford to ignore this? All believers are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb of God, but don't try to sneak in without your wedding garment, which is eternal life. As Passover approaches, we must examine our lives and remove the leaven, which is sin, while we reflect on Who our Passover is. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/26/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

Passover 2021*

The arbitrary decision to separate Passover from its relevance to Christ's death and resurrection was made by men in the early history of the Church. However, this was never so in scripture, or in the prophetic and powerful redemption plan of God. Passover, a commanded Feast of the LORD, clearly exemplifies Jesus Christ as the Lamb who shed His blood to cover us, as the lamb's blood covered and protected the Hebrew slaves' households from the judgment of death that plagued Egypt. The account of Passover is told in Exodus 12. Moses was told by the LORD what the Israelites must do to survive the final plague that was about to spread through Egypt. It would be this last plague, the death of the firstborn, that would finally convince Pharaoh to let the people of God go. God instructs that each household, on the tenth day of the month, is to choose a year old lamb from their flock that is without blemish. They are to keep the lamb for four dqys, and on the fourteenth day, they are to kill it. Each household must use a hyssop branch to strike the doorposts and lintels of their homes with the blood of the lamb (which would make the shape of a cross on the front of their homes). They must roast and eat the lamb and unleavened bread wearing their outer garments, with their shoes on their feet, and their staffs in their hands, ready to make a hasty departure. The LORD then said, "It is the LORD's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." (Ex. 12:11-13). The LORD also commanded the Israelites that they are to keep a remembrnce of this Passover forever: "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." (v. 14, see also v. 17, v. 24,). Pssover is not a feast of Israel. It is the Feast of the LORD, to be kept by each generation. We can see the fulfillment of Passover as John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Messiah: "The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." (Jn. 1:29, 35-36). The gospel recorded John the Baptists's testimony of Christ: "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (v. 31-34). John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, and as the Son of God. The Book of Revelation continually refers to Jesus as the Lamb. It one exmple, it says, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the beast/antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8). It is revealed here that Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. As the Lamb, Jesus is found in the Hebrew opening words of the Book of Genesis: Barashiet Elohim aleph-tav..., translated in our Bibles as "In the beginning, God...". "Bareshiet" in ancient pictographic Hebrew letters means "Behold the hand, behold the nail". In Revelation, Jesus refers to Himself as the "aleph-tav". From the Greek, we read it as "Alpha and Omega": "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:8, see also, 1:11, 22:13). As the prophet Isaiah described the Redeemer of Israel, he wrote: "Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last (see Rev. 1:11). Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together." (Isa. 48:12-13). As we can see, although the Lord made Himself as a Lamb, and gave Himself into the hands of men, scripture identifies Him as the Aleph-Tav, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the One who laid the foundation of the earth. He is the "I AM" who identified Himself to Moses. Isaiah wrote: "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I." (Isa. 52:6). It is this same I AM who brings forth good tidings and proclaims salvation (v. 7). "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." (V. 10). Before He was lifted up on the cross, scripture prophesied of the Lamb, Jesus, "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. So shall he sprinkle (nazah- to sprinkle (the blood of expiation), to startle) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm (meaning: power, strength, arm or forearm stretched out, shoulder (of animal sacrificed), son of "arm"; Root: sow/sower, produce, yielding seed, conceive) of the LORD revealed? (Isa. 52:13-15, 53:1). The sacrifice of the Passover lamb in the temple, and the death of Jesus on the cross occurred at the same time of day on that Passover: "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/28/21 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Recommended: Dr. Stevenson's new book: "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com

Memorial Day-The Concept of Memorials in the Bible

 

Memorial Day is a day designated for the honor and remembrance of those in the military who gave their lives in service for us. The day was first known in history as "Decoration Day", when the graves of soldiers lost in the Civil War were decorated. The first known occurrence of this practice was as it was performed by slaves in Charleston, South Carolina, but it was also subsequently practiced in other states as well. In 1966, this day was officially declared by the President as Memorial Day, to honor fallen soldiers throughout America. In doing this, there was an official recognition of the connection of a memorial, or remembrance, and a sacrifice made. This concept of an eternal remembrance is founded in the Bible. It is a principle of God first mentioned in association even with His very name.
Moses, when first called by God, asked God what His name was, that he should tell the children of Israel:
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me to you....this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."  Ex. 3:14-15 (see also Ps. 135:13)
We have said that a memorial is connected to sacrifice, so how does the name of God indicate a sacrifice? The Hebrew representation for the name "I AM THAT I AM" is YHWH, represented by the pictographic letters yod, heh, vaw, heh. Each individual letter in the Hebrew "alphabet" also represents a concept. The letters of the name of God revealed to Moses here represent, "Behold the hand, Behold the nail." The sacrifice of Christ was embedded into the name and character of God, and that name serves as a memorial to Israel, and before God.
Sacrifice and memorial are mentioned in the account of Passover. As the lamb, whose blood would cover and preserve the Israelite household from death, was selected, it was examined for any blemishes. Only a spotless lamb could be used, according to the instructions given to Moses by the LORD. After fourteen days of being examined for imperfection, the lamb was to be killed by the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel (Ex. 12:1-6).
"And they shall take of the blood and strike (given, bestowed) it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it...and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever."  Ex. 12:7, 13-14
Again, the sacrifice in this instance prophetically refers us to Jesus, the "Lamb of God" slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), who was also revealed to all by John the Baptist who declared, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  (Jn. 1:29, 36).
Later, after fleeing Egypt, Moses and the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim ("rest, support") on their journey to the Promised Land (Ex. 17:8-16). Joshua leading the army, finally secured the victory under the supported raised hands of Moses. The LORD commanded that this battle be kept as a memorial:
"...write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.. And Moses built an altar (meaning "sacrifice"), and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi."  Ex. 17:14-15
It was a place of physical sacrifice in battle by the Israelites, and a place of spiritual sacrifice at the altar of the One who is raised up on a pole as a sign for all to see, named "The LORD our Banner". The LORD commanded a memorial out of this event, so Joshua and the people would remember it always.
The New Testament tells of a Roman Centurion, named Cornelius, who was devout and feared God with all his house. He continually gave alms (charitable giving) to the people, and prayed always (Acts 10:1-3). An angel appeared to him in a vision one day, saying to him:
"Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." Acts 10:4
Cornelius, as a soldier, must have been acquainted with sacrifice in battle, but it was his spiritual sacrifice, both in prayer and in possessions, that created a memorial before God. Out of this memorial came the salvation of his whole household, and the opening of the Gospel message to the Gentiles, in addition to Israel.
The LORD commands that we keep His word, and these memorials, not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of our children, and future generations:
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes."  Deut. 6:7-8
Our children, like never before, have suffered the consequences of a people who have failed to remember, and have failed to teach their children, the life-changing memorials created out of the sacrifices of not only brave soldiers and citizens, but more importantly the sacrifices of God, on our behalf. Let us remember, and let us teach our children, and let each of our lives come up as a memorial before God.

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God bless you.