1. The Setting
Moses and Aaron
Moses didn’t think himself able to speak to Pharaoh, so he and Aaron addressed Pharaoh. They were coming against the biggest ruling power in their time: Egypt. This ruling power was set against God and His people.Jesus
He came to battle the spiritual authority over this world, Satan. When Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan as he operated through the form of a snake, they gave authority over Satan. This can be seen in these two scriptures:In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not… (2 Corinthians 4:4)Satan had power in this word. Jesus came to get it back. This was the real battle. It was for the ownership of the Earth.
Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; (Romans 6:16)When we obey either God or Satan, we become servants to them. This meant Jesus would have to only obey God and never sin in order to take back power over this world. Our Lord resisted all temptation and was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. This is why when Jesus rose, ALL authority was given to Him; He was victorious!
The Two Witnesses
There is a final battle with evil that is coming: the Tribulation. Satan will try to take over once more, using a man the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. Anti means opposite. This man will be doing the opposite of what Christ did. He will come into power and be a world, backed by a false prophet. During this time, God will send two witnesses to oppose him.
2. The Job
Moses and Aaron
These two men spoke what God told them to say and He moved.In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Corinthians 13:1)It was their agreement and the words they spoke that allowed God to move against Egypt so that His people could be set free. Moses and Aaron declared God’s judgement and His will, and it was done. They irritated Pharaoh when they called down ten plagues upon Egypt, the nation and people who had set themselves against God. There is no Biblical information about how long they did this job before the grand finale.
Jesus
Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing. When He spoke, people became free of sickness, disease, and all manner of demonic oppression and infirmities. This was coming directly against the powers of Satan as He healed people and set them free from the enemy’s power. The spiritual authorities of Jesus’ time were greatly irritated by the miracles He did which clearly shows what side they were on.The Two Witnesses
All of the Jewish nation was waiting for Elijah because it was prophesied that he would come and prepare the way for the Messiah. They set an extra plate with a cup of wine at every passover for Elijah. Despite this fact, many of God’s people failed to recognize that John the Baptist was wearing the mantle of Elijah, he was the fulfillment of the prophecy.John was born as a man and had a ministry which concluded as Jesus moved to the center stage. The two witnesses described in Revelation may carry the mantles of Moses, Elijah, or Enoch, however, just like John, they will be born on this earth and have a ministry before the final conclusion spoken of in Revelation. There is no doubt that these two will begin to set people free long before the final three years.
Like Moses and Aaron, there is no telling how long this prequel to the finale will be. They will come against the powers of the age, declaring what God tells them to. This is to get people ready for the final return of the Lord.
3. The Climax
Moses and Aaron
This dynamic duo achieved one of the main goals God had for their destinies as the last plague was pronounced over Egypt: it is known as Passover. Every first-born child would die unless they had the blood of a lamb to cover their house, which was a sign for the angel of death to passover that family. God commanded His people to always remember that final moment in a feast called Passover.In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house… And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening… (Exodus 12:2 & 6 AKJV)Notice the feast starts on the tenth and ends on the fourteenth. That is four days. We need to examine two things to find out how this foreshadows Jesus and the two witnesses: Feast guidelines and the Hebrew calendar.
Hebrew Calendar
God’s people count time by a lunar calendar. This is much different than the Roman calendar most people use today. Hebrew months are not constant according to the system much of the world uses. They also begin their days at sunset instead of sunrise. This means the Hebrew 10th day of the month would begin at sunset on the 9th.Passover Feast
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats… (Exodus 12:5)God tells His people to select a sheep or goat that is without blemish. That would be hard to do without a lamp. Evenings in a Jewish household are usually for dinner and prayer. Logic indicates that the lamb would enter after dawn the following day.
This lamb will be killed in the evening of the fourteenth to be prepared for that evening’s meal. This means that most likely the lamb will be in the house for more than three days but less than four. This was the climatic finishing to the job of freeing God’s people.
Jesus
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph… (Luke 3:23 AKJV)
Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30 and the Book of John notes three Passovers that were celebrated. Together with other facts about Jesus’ life and ministry, it is believed that His ministry lasted 3.5 years.
Our Lord, the Passover Lamb for all humanity, spent three and one-half years ministering to God’s household on this earth!
Two Witnesses
During a three and a half year period, these two witnesses will be empowered to call down the plagues of both Moses and Elijah (Elijah - halting rain, Moses - 10 plagues) as they give testimony against cities which infuriates the Antichrist.And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days (3.5 years), clothed in sackcloth... These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:3 & 6)
Jesus’ ministry upon the earth lasted three and a half years as will the climatic testimony of the two witnesses.
4. The Payment
… and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses… And the blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:6-7 & 13)
Moses & Aaron
All throughout God’s word we see that the blood of an animal could atone for sin. At Passover, the blood of the most innocent of creatures, a lamb was used to redeem the firstborn of God’s people. Because of the blood, death passed by the houses of Israel.Jesus
This is why we refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God. He was completely innocent, untainted by sin in any way. He was obedient, even unto death to ransom us back from the fall of Adam and Eve. With this one act, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Curse is singular, it is the curse of the Law of Moses which sends us to Hell for our sins without an animal to take our place each year. Because of His perfection, we only need this one sacrifice for all men for all time.The Two Witnesses
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:6)
For three and a half years the job of the two witnesses will cause the Antichrist to pursue them.
When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
When that job is over, they will be sacrificed and the enemy is allowed to overpower and kill them. Why are there two and not one? That is a big topic and we will discuss that next year as God releases me to speak about the Book of Revelation. For now, I will ask that you be open to the fact that one will be a Jew and one will be a Gentile, one will be a man and one will be a woman, representing a sacrifice for the entire Body of Christ.
5. The Reward
and now let us go, we beseech you, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. (Exodus 3:18)
Moses & Aaron
The Passover lamb achieved the release of God’s people for three days. The word of God is very specific about the time: Pharoah released them at night. However, he didn’t count time as the Jews did, so he would begin counting three days from the next morning, giving God’s people three and a half days.And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people… (Exodus 12:31)This journey was hard: through the dry and dangerous wilderness. God miraculously supplied food, manna, and water for His people. It was a time when they needed God and He showed up in big ways!
Many Bible scholars have been perplexed over the fact that God told Moses to ask for three days. Why only a three day head start? Why not a week? God is all-knowing: He did this so the foreshadowing would be easily seen.
Jesus
Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (three o’clock). (Matthew 27:45 AMPC)
It is well known that Jesus lay in the tomb for three days. Again, we must look at the details the Bible provides to see the fullness of what God is saying. Jesus died at 3 PM. He was placed in the tomb that evening and three days later He rose. Technically He was dead for more than three days but less than four.
This was a time of great testing and sorrow for the disciples. They didn’t understand what was happening because they expected Jesus to conquer their enemies and begin His earthly reign. Many left for their homes where Jesus would have to retrieve them later.
The Two Witnesses
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (Revelation 11:9)The two witnesses will be dead for three and a half days. There is great meaning in the “half” day, but we will save that for next year when we speak in greater detail about what is coming. The foreshadowing is clear: just as it was for Jesus, Moses and Aaron, it will be a time of great testing and trials where we will need to lean on God for our provision.
6. Rapture
The word “rapture” refers to a time where Christians will be “caught away” instantly delivered from the enemy. The word alone is enough to cause a hot debate among many Christians. Before we connect the rapture to these events, I want to be very clear: What we believe about the rapture doesn’t matter. I agree with the daughter of Pastor Roland Buck, the author of the anointed book, “Angels on Assignment.” She writes:“...when Jesus comes, He is not going to look in people's minds to see what position they hold on this. He's just going to look in their hearts to see if He's living inside.”If you don’t see this the way I do, that is okay. The truth will come out in the end and it won’t matter a bit what we believe about it. Just consider this food for thought.
Moses & Aaron
After the three days, Pharaoh pursued God’s people and overtook them. They were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. God’s parting of the Red Sea can be seen as a type of rapture. A river is an obstacle that must be crossed or overcome. According to all Hebrew records, the parting happened instantly as a path to the Promised Land was opened.Jesus
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:52-53)When Jesus rose from the grave, so did many saints. It was the release of those who had been waiting for Him. This was a “rapture,” a sudden deliverance for those who had been faithful to God.
The Two Witnesses
And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell on them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them (Revelation 11:11-12)Many Christians are expecting a “rapture:” A sudden evacuation and escape from the wrath of God. Doesn’t this sound familiar? The two witnesses will be raptured out in an instant. Here are a couple of places in the New Testament where the “rapture” is revealed:
...for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)In both cases the dead are raised first, then those that are alive. This means the two witnesses would be raised before those living. Both of these verses mention a trumpet, but Jesus tells us a bit more:
Truly, truly, I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)This is Jesus talking. He was talking about the rapture to Jews who didn’t know about it yet. Perhaps the dead will hear “come up here” as the trumpet sounds? The witness would be among the dead who rise at the rapture. Then the living will rise.
This perfectly completes the foreshadow demonstrated by the Passover. It is the completion of the salvation of our Lord. He paid a high price for our freedom and I look forward to seeing it fulfilled in every way.
The two witnesses are the only part of the Tribulation that is connected to definite events. Everything else is open to interpretation. There is an amazing amount of information about the two witnesses, if you know where to look. But that is a topic for next year.
As I said, whether you believe in a rapture at all makes no difference to the Lord at all. After we finish discussing the important topic of how to meet with God face to fact, we will look at what is coming. Until then, focus on the Lord and finding your destiny with Him: this is what really matters.
If our relationship with Jesus allows us to be led and guided by Him, He will provide for us like He did the Jews in the wilderness. One meal may feed 5,000 or manna will appear from Heaven. Whatever comes, if our relationship with Jesus is strong, He will see us through it.
Because the passion of Christ took place the week of Passover (Matt. 26:1–2), the early church quickly understood that Jesus fulfilled the symbolism in the Passover meal as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The marking of blood on the doorposts (Ex. 12:7–13) has a clear tie to the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross (Rev. 1:1–8), and it is therefore no surprise to see the Lord’s disciples link His death to the Passover throughout their writings. Without Christ, the Father looks upon the world He made and sees only a mass of corrupt sinners who are wholly deserving of His wrath. But since Jesus has died for His people, the Father now sees in the midst of fallen humanity men and women who have been marked with the blood of His Son by faith. His wrath can let these blood-bought saints alone in a passing over even greater than the one over the houses of Israel so long ago.
Seeing the clear connection between the death of Christ and the Feast of the Passover, the apostles came to associate other elements of the Passover with Jesus (beyond the slaughter of the lamb). For example, in today’s passage, Paul views church life in light of the reality of Passover and applies one important element of the Passover feast to the church, the body of which Christ the Passover Lamb is the head. The setting is the church at Corinth and their toleration of a man who was in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother, an act that not even the pagan Romans would tolerate (1 Cor. 5:1). Paul orders the church to cast out the unrepentant man because “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (vv. 2–8). He is referring to the custom at Passover of going through one’s home and getting rid of any leaven — symbolic of sin — from the home. The death of Christ requires a commitment to forsake sin, to remain unleavened — set apart unto holiness and the service of God.
Paul’s call, however, is not merciless. John Chrysostom writes in his sermon on this passage: “In the case of material leaven, the unleavened might become leavened, but never the reverse; whereas here there is a chance of the direct contrary occurring.” Normally, leavened bread cannot become unleavened, but spiritually, that which is leavened (sinful) might become unleavened (holy). The incestuous man was cast out from the congregation so that he might be redeemed (1 Cor. 5:5).
Coram Deo
Christ’s sacrifice as the ultimate Passover gives us a knowledge of sin and its effects, freedom from its power, and confidence to mortify it that the old covenant saint did not fully enjoy. Consequently, we can cast out the leaven of sin from our lives as we rely on the power of the Spirit and remember who we are in Christ. Turn to the Lord and His people for help this day in putting sin to death in your life.
While most professing Christiansconsider Passover to be a Jewish festival, it should also be a sacred observance for all Christians. The apostle Paul writes to the predominantly Gentile church in Corinth:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (I Corinthians 11:23-25)
This is not, as is commonly believed, the command to take communion as often as one likes. In reality, this is Jesus' own command, communicated through the apostle Paul, for the church to celebrate the Passover "on the night in which He was betrayed," which was the evening of the Passover, Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar (see Leviticus 23:5). This was the practice of the New Testament church—in fact, it kept all of the holy days of Leviticus 23—as long as the original apostles lived.
However, like all men, the apostles died one by one until only the apostle John was left, an old man living in or near the city of Ephesus. Around the turn of the second century, John died at an advanced age. For a few generations under the leadership of John's disciple, Polycarp (AD 69-155), and a successor, Polycrates (c. 130-196), the Ephesian church remained faithful to the teachings and traditions of the early church, including the keeping of the Passover on Nisan 14.
Those few who stubbornly resisted the change to the celebration of Easter, which had supplanted Passover throughout most of Christendom, were called Quartodecimans ("fourteenthers") and Judaizers. By Origen's day (c. 185- 254), they were, he wrote, "a mere handful" among the millions living in the Empire. Even so, the Roman Church did not effectively ban the practice of keeping the Passover on Nisan 14 until AD 325 at the Council of Nicea, when rules were set down to calculate the date of Easter for the entire Church. Canon 29 of the Council of Laodicea (held in 363-364) later anathematized those Judaizers who kept the seventh-day Sabbath, many of whom were also Quartodecimans.
The controversy over Passover or Easter boils down to following Scripture versus following Roman Catholic tradition. Frankly, the reason that the Roman Church chose to keep Easter rests on two faulty pillars: 1) an intense prejudice against "the perfidy of the Jews" in the crucifixion of Christ (which has come to be known as the "blood libel") and 2) the widespread celebration of Easter among pagan cultures throughout the Empire. The convoluted theological arguments that have come down from the so-called apostolic fathers, repeated endlessly by their successors, are window dressing to obscure these unpleasant factors.
Even during the first century, an anti-Jewish element had begun to creep into the church of God. In his epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians, the apostle Paul had attempted to explain the place of God's law under the New Covenant, but as Peter later testified, in Paul's epistles "are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16). And twist them they did, moving the church away from the truths written in the Old Testament and expounded by Christ and His apostles. Soon, many Greek-speaking Christians, not wanting to be constrained by the "Hebrew" law, entertained Gnostic ideas that encouraged spiritual license. Finally, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 ratcheted up anti-Jewish fervor to a fever pitch, and across the Empire, association with Jews and things Jewish was generally avoided.
In this way, the church that appears in second-century history is quite different from its first-century counterpart. It is largely Gentile, keeping Sunday (which it calls "the Lord's Day") rather than the Sabbath, and growing in power and political influence. It is also attracting new converts, not only out of Greco-Roman paganism, but also from the gods and goddesses of the frontier areas like Britain, Germany, and Dacia. This church found it easier to assimilate these new converts by syncretizing the "Christian" Easter celebration with their pagan spring festivals, often called after the name of the widely worshipped fertility goddess, Ishtar (or some close variation: Astarte, Eoster, Ostara, Isis, Aphrodite, etc.). It is from these heathen influences that the Easter Bunny, dyeing eggs, giving candy, and other non-biblical Easter traditions have sprung.
Conversely, the Christian Passover is not a celebration but a solemn observance that commemorates the agonizing blood-sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins (Matthew 26:28; Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 2:14; I John 1:7), to redeem us from spiritual bondage (Matthew 20:28; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:14-15; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9), and to open the way to fellowship with the Father (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 7:25; 10:19-22). Each year in the Passover ceremony, baptized Christians wash one another's feet to follow Christ's example of selfless service (John 13:1-17), as well as partake of the bread and the wine, recommitting themselves to the everlasting covenant that they have made with God. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."
Easter, however, celebrates, not the Savior's death, but His resurrection, which most professing Christians believe occurred at sunrise on the Sunday morning after His death (please see "After Three Days" which explains from the Bible that this is not the case). Neither Jesus nor His apostles mention anything about observing or memorializing His resurrection. In fact, His death is the onlyevent of His life that the Bible consistently commands us to remember (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:24-25; see the principle in Psalm 116:15; Ecclesiastes 7:1).
And, yes, this excludes His birth too, making Christmas another non-biblical addition to the liturgical calendar. Despite the human desire to mark such times, Christians must be careful to do only what God's Word commands lest they be guilty of adding to or taking away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Joshua 1:7; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19). When we add to or take from what God has said, we alter His revelation to us and are sure to veer from His way.
If you are interested in further information regarding God's Sabbath and holy days, please visit our website on this subject, www.Sabbath.org.
While most professing Christiansconsider Passover to be a Jewish festival, it should also be a sacred observance for all Christians. The apostle Paul writes to the predominantly Gentile church in Corinth:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (I Corinthians 11:23-25)
This is not, as is commonly believed, the command to take communion as often as one likes. In reality, this is Jesus' own command, communicated through the apostle Paul, for the church to celebrate the Passover "on the night in which He was betrayed," which was the evening of the Passover, Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar (see Leviticus 23:5). This was the practice of the New Testament church—in fact, it kept all of the holy days of Leviticus 23—as long as the original apostles lived.
However, like all men, the apostles died one by one until only the apostle John was left, an old man living in or near the city of Ephesus. Around the turn of the second century, John died at an advanced age. For a few generations under the leadership of John's disciple, Polycarp (AD 69-155), and a successor, Polycrates (c. 130-196), the Ephesian church remained faithful to the teachings and traditions of the early church, including the keeping of the Passover on Nisan 14.
Those few who stubbornly resisted the change to the celebration of Easter, which had supplanted Passover throughout most of Christendom, were called Quartodecimans ("fourteenthers") and Judaizers. By Origen's day (c. 185- 254), they were, he wrote, "a mere handful" among the millions living in the Empire. Even so, the Roman Church did not effectively ban the practice of keeping the Passover on Nisan 14 until AD 325 at the Council of Nicea, when rules were set down to calculate the date of Easter for the entire Church. Canon 29 of the Council of Laodicea (held in 363-364) later anathematized those Judaizers who kept the seventh-day Sabbath, many of whom were also Quartodecimans.
The controversy over Passover or Easter boils down to following Scripture versus following Roman Catholic tradition. Frankly, the reason that the Roman Church chose to keep Easter rests on two faulty pillars: 1) an intense prejudice against "the perfidy of the Jews" in the crucifixion of Christ (which has come to be known as the "blood libel") and 2) the widespread celebration of Easter among pagan cultures throughout the Empire. The convoluted theological arguments that have come down from the so-called apostolic fathers, repeated endlessly by their successors, are window dressing to obscure these unpleasant factors.
Even during the first century, an anti-Jewish element had begun to creep into the church of God. In his epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians, the apostle Paul had attempted to explain the place of God's law under the New Covenant, but as Peter later testified, in Paul's epistles "are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16). And twist them they did, moving the church away from the truths written in the Old Testament and expounded by Christ and His apostles. Soon, many Greek-speaking Christians, not wanting to be constrained by the "Hebrew" law, entertained Gnostic ideas that encouraged spiritual license. Finally, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 ratcheted up anti-Jewish fervor to a fever pitch, and across the Empire, association with Jews and things Jewish was generally avoided.
In this way, the church that appears in second-century history is quite different from its first-century counterpart. It is largely Gentile, keeping Sunday (which it calls "the Lord's Day") rather than the Sabbath, and growing in power and political influence. It is also attracting new converts, not only out of Greco-Roman paganism, but also from the gods and goddesses of the frontier areas like Britain, Germany, and Dacia. This church found it easier to assimilate these new converts by syncretizing the "Christian" Easter celebration with their pagan spring festivals, often called after the name of the widely worshipped fertility goddess, Ishtar (or some close variation: Astarte, Eoster, Ostara, Isis, Aphrodite, etc.). It is from these heathen influences that the Easter Bunny, dyeing eggs, giving candy, and other non-biblical Easter traditions have sprung.
Conversely, the Christian Passover is not a celebration but a solemn observance that commemorates the agonizing blood-sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins (Matthew 26:28; Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 2:14; I John 1:7), to redeem us from spiritual bondage (Matthew 20:28; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:14-15; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9), and to open the way to fellowship with the Father (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 7:25; 10:19-22). Each year in the Passover ceremony, baptized Christians wash one another's feet to follow Christ's example of selfless service (John 13:1-17), as well as partake of the bread and the wine, recommitting themselves to the everlasting covenant that they have made with God. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."
Easter, however, celebrates, not the Savior's death, but His resurrection, which most professing Christians believe occurred at sunrise on the Sunday morning after His death (please see "After Three Days" which explains from the Bible that this is not the case). Neither Jesus nor His apostles mention anything about observing or memorializing His resurrection. In fact, His death is the onlyevent of His life that the Bible consistently commands us to remember (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:24-25; see the principle in Psalm 116:15; Ecclesiastes 7:1).
And, yes, this excludes His birth too, making Christmas another non-biblical addition to the liturgical calendar. Despite the human desire to mark such times, Christians must be careful to do only what God's Word commands lest they be guilty of adding to or taking away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Joshua 1:7; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19). When we add to or take from what God has said, we alter His revelation to us and are sure to veer from His way.
If you are interested in further information regarding God's Sabbath and holy days, please visit our website on this subject, www.Sabbath.org.
It's that time of year. For weeks now the stores have stocked up on cream eggs, marshmallow chicks, both solid and hollow bunnies, and jelly beans. Plans are being made for Easter Egg hunts and other events. Movies like King of Kings are coming on television. Churches are gearing up for the influx of people who seem to only show up for Easter, Christmas, and New Years Eve. The question that continues to come up is this; Did the Early Church celebrate or observe Easter? A better question is, did the Apostles have the Churches celebrate it in its current form?
What Does Easter Mean?
Historically, the word Easter is not Hebrew. The word is Greek. The word is linked to the Hebrew word ‘Pascha', which means ‘Passover'. This linking took place long after the resurrection of Christ. Trying to pin down the exact origin of Easter should tell you something about it. It is believed that the word Easter is an English mis-translation or spelling of the original word, ‘Eostre'. This is the name of the Germanic goddess. It is also historically taken from the word Astarte, which is Chaldean. Strangely enough, both are names of goddesses of ancient times. Astarte is known in scripture as ‘Ashtoreth', as found in 1 Kings 11:5
:
“For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.”
Ashtoreth is the goddess of love. And we know that Solomon's wives turned his heart from Godin his old age according to 1 Kings 11:4. It is well-known that Easter was a replacement for the Jewish Passover. The history of this act is well documented. While the story is too lengthy to record here, I will do my best to highlight some parts and add my own findings.
The Replacement of Passover
From the time of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, the Passover was observed by the Jewish people on the 14th of Nisan. Right up through the New Testament, Passover was observed along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Even Christ Himself kept it with His disciples. More on this in a moment. It was during the time after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem that Easter began to gain prominence among Christians. This was because of rising antisemitism. Compromising Jewish and Greek Christians wanted to distance themselves from anything that resembled Judaism. But it was during the Council of Nicaea in 325 that Easter became an official Christian observance. It was decided that Passover would fall on the first day of the week, to coincide with the resurrection of Christ. And it would be observed in April of instead of 14 Nisan. Of course we know that with later changes in the Gregorian calendar, Easter became a ‘movable feast', shifting between March and April. But it is always held on Sunday. According to the The Encyclopaedia Britannica…
“The Gentile Christians, on the other hand, unfettered by Jewish traditions, identified the first day of the week [Sunday] with the Resurrection, and kept the preceding Friday as the commemoration of the crucifixion, irrespective of the day of the month” (11th edition, p. 828, “Easter”)
Furthermore…
“A final settlement of the dispute [over whether and when to keep Easter or Passover] was one among the other reasons which led [the Roman emperor] Constantine to summon the council of Nicaea in 325 . . . The decision of the council was unanimous that Easter was to be kept on Sunday, and on the same Sunday throughout the world, and ‘that none should hereafter follow the blindness of the Jews’ ” (ibid., pp. 828-829).
Isn't Easter Mentioned in the Bible?
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Acts 12:1-4
Easter is mentioned once in the New Testament. Herod Agrippa I (not Herod Antipater or ‘Antipas' of Jesus' day), after he killed James, the brother of John. Here is the kicker… This was during the Jewish Passover, not Easter! The Passover was never called Easter by the Jews. Yet Easter was to be observed around the same time. Note verse three mentions the days of Unleavened Bread. So what's the deal? Easter was already an established Greek celebration of the goddess Eostre! Please see the references at the end of the post for further details.
Were Christians Ever Told to Observe Easter?
The only answer anyone can give in truth is no! We were told by Jesus Himself to observe Passover, not Easter!
“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?” Matthew 26:17
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
If Easter was observed, why didn't Jesus mention it? Why didn't the Apostles teach on it or observe it themselves? They didn't because it is not for Christians to keep. And the Early Christians did not keep it. They kept Passover, which we now call ‘The Lord's Supper‘.
When Did Jesus mention Rabbits, Chicks, and Eggs?
Do you recall reading about rabbits, chicks, or eggs in scripture? I remember reading about rabbits! In the bible, rabbits are called conies!
“And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.” Leviticus 11:5
And here are your chickens…
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37
And the eggs…
“And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.” Isaiah 10:14
Okay. So Jesus did mention chickens. But these chickens were not Peeps, nor were they chocolate. All three of these items represent fertility and were used by ancient nations in fertility rites to false gods. They have nothing to do with Christ's death, burial, or resurrection. They come from Eostre's ancient rituals.
Did Jesus Tell Us To Celebrate His Resurrection?
We covered this earlier but here is a recap.
“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?” Matthew 26:17
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
The Passover initiated in ancient Egypt was a foreshadow of Christ's death. He is the Passover Lamb!
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” Exodus 12:21-23
“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!” John 19:14
“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 Corinthians 5:7
Jesus told the disciples to keep the Passover in remembrance of Him. Again, the Passover is what we call The Lord's Supper. Oh, and by the way, the word ‘Communion‘ means partnership or fellowship. It is used to reference the Passover, but was never called that by the Early Church.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
A Quick Aside About Sunrise Services
From the book, Celebrations—The Complete Book of American Holidays,
“These have been linked to rites of ancient sun worshippers “performed at the vernal equinox welcoming the sun and its great power to bring new life to all growing things.”
You don't find this in the Early Church teachings or practices either. Not to mention, the Passover is usually held in the evening.
“Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.” Matthew 26:20
Passover would have begun at sundown since an original day was from evening to evening, not morning to morning. So, they would not have observed the sunrise. God knew what man would do and did everything so we could discern the real from the counterfeit.
Conclusion
So as the world prepares to celebrate Easter, consider what it is they do. We can't stop the world from doing what they do. Nor am I writing this to tell anyone to stop doing what they choose. But if you are a Christian, please consider what you are a partaker of.
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:14
While Easter represents a celebration of the resurrection of Christ to many, we are told to remember Christ only through Passover. Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the 40 days of Lent (the 40-day fasts done after the New Year leading up to Easter…), Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter, and Eastertide (50-day ascension celebration) were all added long after Christ's Resurrection and the start of the Christian Church. And while there is nothing wrong with remembering these events (Jesus asked us to remember), they are best remembered the way He asked us to. This way we can avoid counterfeits and deception. The only way to be assured of God's blessing and grace on our deeds is to do what His Word says and avoid what's absent.
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32
Because…
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9
I hope you found this article helpful. Have a bible question? Feel free to ask here or in the comment box! If you liked this article, you can subscribe for notification when new articles are posted. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sources: Online. Easter – Dictionary.com (3 Apr 2017) Vine, W.E., et al. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1940 Online. Easter Holiday. The Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 Apr. 2017. Leach, Maria, and Jerome Fried. Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1972Myers, Robert J. Celebrations—The Complete Book of American Holidays. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1972Hislop, Alexander. The Two Babylons. New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1959
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