A Voice in the Wilderness |
April 6, 1997 Hello Everyone... Some very good letters came in response to "The Lord's Supper." Some questions. Some insights. Some things I didn't want to get into in the article because it was to be kept "Gentile" as it relates to the "Church." But are important to realize, nonetheless. Topics: This last item, while covered last, may likely be the most significant as one of the "Signs of the Time" we are NOW living in. Something which shows JUST HOW CLOSE Christ is "at the doors."(Mt 24:33) Unleavened Bread:
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Comment: I could go on and on about the Passover, the four cups of wine - sanctification, judgment redemption and praise. The afikomen is the middle matza held in a bag, called a matza tosh (bag in hebrew) and this bag has three compartments, the middle compartment is where the matza is pulled from, broken in two, one half is wrapped in a white linen cloth and hidden, the other half is eaten among all. the children after the meal go to search for the white linen clothed unleavened bread, and whoever finds it brings it back to the elder, where the meal cannot continue until the afikomen has been redeemed with a monetary reward to the child that found it. Can you see Jesus Yeshua here? Isn't it a picture of beauty and yet, jews all over the world celebrate Passover with a seder every year, yet God has veiled their eyes until the fullness of the Gentiles. So we wait, we pray, we love, we hurt, we trust, we beseech, and we wait.
A. They label the three compartments of the matsa tosh "Priests, Levites, Israelites." Not seeing the "Father, Son, & Holy Spirit." The middle afikomen pouch which they break, hide and redeem, really representing Jesus Christ; "afikomen" meaning "He came." [Top] Thursday Crucifixion:
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A. The term "sabbath" could apply to the 7th day of the week, Saturday (to us). Equally to special feast days. It means, literally, "rest." The first Sabbath kept was when God rested the 7th day.(Gen 2:3) However, there were many special days in Israel, which were days of rest, which didn't necessarily fall on the 7th day of the week. Not only was this Passover, it was also feast of Unleavened bread. As well as, the beginning of the "Firstfruits" which culminated at Pentecost. And then, of course, Saturday...the regular weekly Sabbath. Lev 23:5-6 14th day of the month is Passover. 15th is Unleavened bread. Ex 12:18 it says "on the 14th day..at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread. The Jewish day began at sunset the previous day. So, the "evening" of the 14th was actually the beginning of the 15th day. Sunday was the 10th. Wed PM was the beginning of the 14th day...Passover. Also known as the "preparation day" ...for Unleavened bread. According to Lev23:7-8, the first and 7th days of Unleavend bread, they were to do no "customery work" ...in other words, "Sabbath" And being one of the special Annual Feasts it was a "high day"(Jn19:31) For the scholarship regarding Daniel's prophecies, and the actual date Jesus was crucified, I will again, direct the reader to Hunt's book. But, to simply sort the events out here:
[Top] March Passover:
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Comment: ..the calendar came to be regulated, not by observation, but by _calculation_, and the formula was kept a closely guarded secret. Eventually, however -- around A.D. 359 -- Hillel II published the formula for the calendar, so Jewish people everywhere could calculate it on their own. It's a very good calendar. However, it does have some error, and that error has accumulated through the centuries.
A. God dispersed His people, so, again, the religious leaders devised "formulae" for keeping time. As I was observing the recent lunar eclipse, and Hale-Bopp comet, I was already concluding that March was the correct time for Passover and Resurrection Sunday. Here are some thoughts to consider: The two "most important" Jewish feasts are Passover/Unleavened bread and Sukkot (Tabernacles). The importance of Passover is now history. The importance of Tabernacles is found in Zech 14:16~ as it represents the presence of the Messiah..."God with us."(Isa7:14,Mt1:23) It is thought that Jesus was born in September, corresponding with Sukkot. He died at Passover. The primary feast during the Millenium when Christ is ruling on David's throne, is to be Sukkot. It is speculated that Hale-Bopp made its last visit during the Exodus from Egypt. Passover. When Jesus was born, the wise men followed His "star." (Another ?? comet) Sukkot. This year, during the lunar eclipse, Hale-Bopp was also easily visible in the northwestern ski. Passover. Joel 2:31 says, "the moon [shall be turned] into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." In 1996 there were 2 lunar eclipses. One at Passover, the other at Sukkot. This year we have had a "blood moon" eclipse in March, Passover. And another is to be in September, Sukkot. I don't recall how many of these were/will be "blood moons." But does anybody see anything significant here? So, the Jewish leaders have messed up the calendar so it's a month off. But God is setting the record straight again. The things in the heavens are for "signs and seasons."(Gen1:14) He's giving the universe notice. It's about time for "those days" and He is "calibrating" the "stop watch." And He is emphasizing the matter. The Jewish (eastern) mind thinks of things in three's. Elisha became angry with Joash when he hit the ground with the arrows "ONLY" three times.(2Kgs13:18) "You should have struck 5 or 6 times..." God has given us 3 lunar eclipses in 3 (major) Jewish Feasts in a row. The 4th is on its way. God is saying that it is a Sure Thing. He's gone beyond the "traditional three." His promises "WILL" come to pass. It is NOW time! Don't mistake it! It is ABOUT TO HAPPEN!! "At the doors." However, Sukkot is only PART of the "third" Feast called "INGATHERING.. at the end of the year."(Ex23:14-16) It foreshadows Christ's Millenial reign..."God with us. "My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Ezek 37:27) Before Sukkot comes Yom Kippur, "Atonement." Affliction of souls.(Lev23:27) Foreshadowing God's "purifying the sons of Levi" during the time of His wrath.(Mal3:1-3) Purging out the rebels.(Ez20:38) And who can "endure" it?! (Mt24:22) However, before Atonement, at the beginning of the "Ingathering," is the blowing of trumpets.(Lev23:24) Rosh Hashanah. Many associate this with Mt24:31. But that "gathering" of Israel from the "four winds" is "immediately after the tribulation of those days."(vs29) Rosh Hashanah is at the "beginning" of the Ingathering..heralding it! Could this be the "last trumpet" when Believers are "changed?" (1Cor15:52) ..to be "caught up together..to meet the Lord in the air?" (1Ths4:17) O Glorious Day! Even so, Come Lord Jesus! (Rev22:20) [Top] |