THE PASSOVER FOREVER; A TYPE OF CHRIST
Yahweh’s House of God Oakland California
The day the death angel passed through Egypt and did not enter the homes of the Israelites to smite them is to be remembered for all time. (Exd. 12:14,23) It is also to be remembered as the day that God delivered the armies of Israel out of Egypt. (Exd. 12:17) It is this deliverance from death and bondage that is to be observed as and ordinance for ever. (Exd. 12:23 & 24) A festive service is to take place on this day. (Exd. 12:25 & 26) The service to be observed this first day of celebration is the sacrifice and roasting of the lamb. The lamb is to then be eaten with unleavened bread. (Exd. 12:27; Deut. 16:2 - 7) The festivities are to then continue for six more days in which unleavened bread is to be eaten. (Deut. 16:8) Thus we can conclude that our principle uses the term, Passover Forever in the same sense, i.e. a festive celebration to be observed perpetually.
Do not be deceived by those who have departed from the faith. Beware of their teachings else they will deceive you with their vain philosophies. They have strange teachings in regards to Types and Anti-Types that if you are not careful will turn you from the truth of God. Types are persons or things that foreshadow the arrival of the real thing. Types have strong and clearly marked similarities to the person, thing, or event they represent. So strong are their similarities that they are naturally grouped together. God s festivals are Holy Convocations. (Lev. 23:3 & 4) If God s Holy Assemblies are indeed Types then they s5tand as symbols of a higher category of convocations yet to come, not as Types of Christ . It is very necessary to draw a distinct difference between the term Passover used to mean the festive celebration which is sometimes called the Passover, (Lk. 22:1), and the term Passover used to denote the Pascal Lamb which was to be killed at even and eaten during the memorial celebration service. The Passover as a Type of Christ refers to the sacrificial lamb, the actual sacrifice of the lamb or by extension the eating of the sacrifice, each of which ended at Calvary.
The following are examples where the Bible uses Passover as the sacrificial lamb, the actual sacrifice and eating the sacrifice:
In the above scriptures you see the Passover being killed, sacrificed and eaten. From these scriptures it is obvious they refer to the lamb, the sacrifice of the lamb and eating the lamb. Let me restate the principle using, sacrificial lamb for the sake of clarity. Restated the principle would read as follows: The Sacrificial Lamb Forever a Type of Christ or The Lamb Forever a Type, of Christ . Notice too the term Passover is not used in any of the referenced scriptures to mean a period of time or specific day, as in Passover time or Passover day , but denotes the very lamb itself. Now let us examine how this lamb served as a Type of Christ . In order to understand what the lamb typified we must look at its use and purpose. The scriptures states that a lamb was to be sacrificed and eaten at every feast of un-leavened bread as a memorial of the first lambs which were killed. (Deut. 16:1-8)
The First Lamb (Type) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: (Exd 12:5)
Christ (Anti-Type) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1Pet. 1:9)
The First Lamb (Type) And ye 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. (Exd. 12:6)
Christ (Anti-Type) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mar. 15:34) ----- And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. (Mar. 15:37)
The First Lamb (Type) Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire, his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (Exd. 12:9)
Christ (Anti-Type) But when they came to Jesus, and saw he was dead already, they brake not his legs: (Jon. 19:33) ----- For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (Jon. 19:36)
Jesus then is the fulfillment of the sacrificial lambs that were killed each year at the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread. With this understanding the true meaning of Paul s declaration, For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: becomes very clear, (1Cor. 5:7b), i.e. Christ has become our sacrificial lamb. Of course Jesus became more than simply our Passover, he became the propitiation for our sins. (Rom. 3:25; 1Jon. 2:2, 4:10) John the Baptist recognizing him as our sin sacrifice, shouted, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (Jon. 1:29b) The Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews echoes the words of the Psalmist as he announced the end of sacrifices and offerings. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that he may establish the second. By the which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:4-10)
With the era of slaughter and sacrifice ending at the cross and the type (sacrificial lamb) being replaced by the Lamb of God (Christ) this announced the end of the Passover (Sacrificial Lamb) that was eaten at the feast. It in no wise indicates an end to God s holy convocations, but rather gives us more reason to celebrate. Again God s holy festivals are shadows of things to come. Let s us look at some of these great events in our future.
Sabbath Day(Type) Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. (Exd. 31:15)
(Anti-Type) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard the voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Rev. 14:12 & 13)
Note: The New Testament Writer Declares: Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.---- ---For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Heb. 4:1, 8 & 9) The writer concludes, Jesus did not fulfill the promise of rest to God s people but that glorious and eternal rest was yet to come.
Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover)(Type) 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 your houses where ye 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. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exd. 12:12-14)
(Anti Type) And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Rev. 16:1) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)
Feast of Firstfruits (Pentecost)(Type) Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tent deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven: they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. (Lev. 23:16 & 17)
(Anti Type) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne , and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 14:1 4)
Feast of Trumpets(Type) Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, and holy convocation. (Lev. 23:24)
(Anti Type) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mat. 24:31)
Day of Atonement(Type) Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be and holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. (Lev. 23:27 & 28)
(Anti-Type) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Rev. 20:11 & 12)
Note: Paul recognized that an appearance before the judgment seat was yet to come: For we must all appear before judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2Cor. 5:10) Although the atoning blood has already been shed, (Rom. 5:11) the appearance before God has not taken place(Rev. 7:9 14).
Feast of Tabernacle (Harvest)(Type) Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: Ye shall do no servile work therein. (Lev. 23:34 & 35)
(Anti-Type) And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heave saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. (Rev. 21:2 & 3)
The Types and Anti-Types mentioned above are God s, each unmistakably holy convocations. Thus holding true to the meaning of types; events that have strong and clear similarities to the event they represent. Do not fall victim to those who would have you believe the death of Christ did away everything that was holy unto God. Let s take a look at what they would have you believe concerning God s festivals.
God declares the holy festivals belong to him.Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto the concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. (Lev. 23:2)
Man declares Jesus died to do away with God s feasts.Warning: There are philosophers and deceivers who would like you to believe them rather than God s word. (Col. 2:8) Do you sincerely and truly believe that the death of Christ did away with God s declared feasts so man could replace them with something else. Surely you can see it is not celebrating that everyone objects to or wants done away with, but God s feasts celebrations. (Rom. 10:3)
Conclusion
The Passover Supper and Feast of unleavened Bread were instituted as perpetual statutes. The Supper had immediate significance in its original implementation because the lamb, the unleavened bread and cup were symbols of deliverance from death and bondage. These symbols in fact foreshadowed the ultimate implementation of Passover where Jesus himself became the lamb; and the bread and cup became icons of his body and blood. The parallels between the old Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ are unmistakable. For these reasons we believe the Passover is forever a type of Christ and teach others the same.