In this issue:
The Death of Jesus
The Passover
Moses wrote about the Passover: "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:1-13)
The Israelites celebrated the Passover as God had commanded through Moses. That night, “at midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” (Exodus 12:29-32).
Thus God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
To be celebrated every year
God commanded that the Passover be celebrated every year: “When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.’” (Exodus 12:25-27)
However, because the Israelites had abandoned the Lord and worshiped other gods, they celebrated the Passover only a few times. It was celebrated more extensively during the reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah.
The Passover was celebrated more extensively during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, with the people greately rejoicing of it as recorded 2 Chronicles chapter 30.
The Bible also recorded that the Passover was held again during the reign of King Josiah.
“Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.” (2 Chronicles 35:1, 17-19)
The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. 18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 19 This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. (2 Chronicles 35:17-19)
Exiles who return from Babylon
The Jews repented of their captivity in Babylon and became more zealous for God, so they celebrated it regularly every year from the time of their return from captivity until the time of Christ. To Babylon, "On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves. 21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel." (Ezra 6:19-22)
Jesus and the Passover
Jesus also went to the Passover, "Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it." (Luke 2:41-43)
"Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:7-20)
Thus, the celebration of the Passover between Jesus and his disciples is known by Christians as the Last Supper, and is used as a celebration. The truth is, when Jesus celebrated the Passover, He was pointing to himself as the one who would be slain as the Passover lamb. That is why Paul wrote, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Benefits of Passover
By celebrating the Passover in Egypt, the Israelites were not only saved from the death of their firstborn sons, but they were also saved from the Egyptian yoke. However, the Israelites did not value it. When they returned from the Babylonian captivity, they celebrated the Passover every year, but because they did not understand its meaning, they fulfilled the Scripture by killing the Passover lamb, Jesus.
Today, Christians also accept and preach the death of Christ and worship Him, but because they do not understand the meaning of the death and do not think deeply about it, they are like a ritual and do not receive any benefit. Through the death of Christ the Passover Lamb, we are not only saved from the judgment of God (John 3:18), but are also set free from the slavery of Satan, and the yoke of sin (Romans 6:17, 22; Hebrews 2:14-15).
Resurrection
People are basically afraid of dying. They work because they are afraid of dying. When they are sick, they go to the hospital. They try to live as long as they could, even if it costs a lot of money. Therefore, coming back alive after being death to live forever should be something very interesting and should be understood properly.
The body lives 70 years
Every living being does not want to die. Therefore, we struggle and work hard to survive. However, as humans, we value our physical life and do not value our spiritual life, and we do not care about it at all. In fact, our physical life is short, and we will only live for about 100 years at most. Moses said, “The length of our days is seventy years; if by reason of strength we are eighty years, yet our pride is but weariness and sorrow. They are quickly gone, and we are consumed.” (Psalm 90:10)
As for young people, however, because they are still healthy and strong, they do not understand, do not listen, and do not care about this at all. Even the elderly do not understand. No matter how old they are, or how sick they are, they only want and care about the longevity of their physical bodies.
The body is dust
God says through the psalmist about the life of the human body: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:13-16) The Creator of the body said that the body is but dust, and is as worthless as grass. Furthermore, He said that human life is as fleeting as a flower that blooms for a moment, and when the wind blows, it is blown away and perishes.
The Life of the Body is Grass
God also had Isaiah write this: “A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.” (Isaiah 40:6-7) The life of a physical body is like grass, and success and fame fade away like a flower. Glory fades before the body dies. However, everyone is focused on the life of the body and the glory of the body, so they do not pay attention to what God says. God knows the body and the spirit that He created, so He used the prophets to warn the people.
Spiritual Life
The spiritual life is more valuable than physical life. The Lord Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will he give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Most Christians know this verse and have it memorized. However, because they do not think deeply about it, they value physical life more than spiritual life, and they strive to gain and maintain only these worldly possessions.
A person’s spiritual life is more valuable than the universe.
To those who do not understand this, "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'" (John 11:25-26)
Since everyone lives physically, they do not care about the spiritual life that Jesus spoke of. Even though he spoke about his death and resurrection, they do not care, but celebrate the resurrection day as a festival. Therefore, on the resurrection day, they are more concerned about physical food than spiritual life. How ignorant they are! Only when God opens their spiritual eyes will they see and value it.
When Christ said, "I am the life" (John 14:6), he wanted spiritual life. He said, "I am the life; whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live." And whoever believes in me and lives will never die. When he says, "Whoever believes in me will live forever," he is talking about spiritual life. People do not want that life because they do not know (internalize) it like a child. If they knew, there would be no one who would not want it. Those who know the life that Christ gave, no longer attach importance to physical life. They only want that life. That life also does not have to be bought, it is given freely. Christ died first to prove that he is life. But because they do not understand, they do not know how to take it. It is very sad, painful, and wasteful. Now, instead of eating and drinking at the resurrection feast, singing and listening to the sermon at the worship meeting, let us examine carefully whether we have the life that he has given. If we do not have it, let us take it.
John said, "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12) So you need to receive the Son. How can you receive it? Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)
He is knocking at the door of your heart. If you open it, He will come in. How can you open it? Pray this prayer and ask Him to come in. "Lord Jesus, I believe that You are my life. I believe that Your blood has washed my sins away. I open the door of my heart. Come in. Rule my life as You will. Amen." If you truly pray and ask Him, He will come in and you will have eternal life. How do you know that He is a God who does what He says? He does not say He will come and then not come. You must believe what He says. So thank Him like this. "Lord Jesus, I thank You that You have come into my heart and given me eternal life. Amen." You cannot approach God with your physical and mental feelings. You can only approach Him by believing His Word.
"without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6). So do not approach God by signs, by dreams, or by feelings, but approach Him by faith in His Word, the Bible. God bless you.
The Rapture Is Near
Deal of the Century
Daniel 9:27 says, “ He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[a] In the middle of the ‘seven’[b] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[c] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Under the leadership of the Antichrist, Israel and the Arabs, who are many, will make a seven-year peace treaty for one week. Every American president has tried to work on peace treaty for these apposing groups, but they have failed. There is a great possibility that such a treaty could be made under current administration. It is called the Deal of the Century. It was thought that the treaty would allow Israel and the Palestinians to live together in peace and security, but it has not materialized yet. The situation is changing. According to the leaks, the Palestinians from the West Bank of Jordan will be included as citizens of Jordan. The United States will provide Jordan with billions of dollars in aid to accept this. But will Jordan accept it? It seems that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will also be included as citizens of Egypt. Whether that is possible or not remains to be seen. The President has said that the agreement will be announced after the Israeli elections. He has made similar announcements before, but they have not taken place. Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf Arab states, fearing an expanding Iranian threat, rely on the United States and Israel. Therefore, the Palestinian issue, if not the Iranian threat, is likely to support a US-led peace deal. Therefore, a peace and security treaty could be signed between Israel and the Arab nations. If such a treaty were to be signed, the Israelites would be allowed to build a third temple. They would be allowed to offer sacrifices in that temple for three and a half years, and at the end of the three and a half years, the Antichrist would declare himself to be God.
Christ said, "When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, let him who reads understand. 16 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house, and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his clothes. 19 In those days it will be very difficult for pregnant women and nursing mothers. 20 Pray that your flight will not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will." (Matthew 24:15-21)
Paul also said, “He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, so that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4) He also wrote, “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Therefore, we need to be vigilant and awake.
Globalism
The Bible says that during the great tribulation, the Antichrist will rule the whole world: "He was given power to make war on the saints and to overcome them, and to rule over all nations, peoples, and tongues. 8 And all who have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain will worship the beast." (Revelation 13:7-8). The world leaders are working hard to make the Antichrist rule the whole world. How is this done? They are proclaiming the idea that the world will be free of national boundaries so that people of the world will be able to travel anywhere they want without restriction. This is called the Global Village Order or NWO. In other words, it is also called the Global Village. Those who want to create a world government are called Globalists. Most of the world leaders today are Globalists. They are also called left-wing groups in the political world. Most European leaders, Canadian Prime Ministers, Mexican Presidents, and Latin American leaders are globalists. Globalists are mainly the world's rich, Hollywood movie producers. This is because these people want to get richer by selling their products to the whole world. Political leaders are their puppets. In addition, the owners and producers of the media such as TV, Internet, You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, newspapers, magazines, are also globalists, so they are constantly transmitting their ideas to the public. In addition, the companies owned by Amazon, Walmart, and Apple are also globalists.
One of the main organizations that globalists work with is the United Nations. The goal of globalists is that there should be no national borders, no one nation should be together, and everyone should live together. Therefore, the UN is taking responsibility for this by urging all countries to accept refugees. People can immigrate to third countries for that purpose. Therefore, although it may be good for those who immigrate, it is not good for the spiritual well-being of these immigrants. Because, when they go to third countries and become rich, worshipping God becomes a formality but they are only interested in the world. In this way, they become natural persons; their children are not disciplined; they only work and earn money, and there are many problems in the family. All these are signs of the end times.
Therefore, we need to be free from this end result. The only way to be free from that is to trust in God with all our heart. We need to be born again in the spirit. We came to this world because we were born in the flesh. Only by being born in the spirit can we enter heaven. In order to be born and grow spiritually, you need to attend in a church that follows the truth. Only then can you escape the deception of Satan. Not everyone who is strong in their faith. The Pharisees were zealous of God, but they were people who opposed God, so they were always against the Lord Jesus. Today, if you have issues with and are against the church and ministers who teach according to the truth, you are a Pharisee.
Welcoming of the Bride
When a virgin is engaged to a young man, she knows for sure that she is engaged. It make sense that she cannot be engaged without her knowing it. Moreover, she herself decides to get married. As soon as she is engaged, her feelings change. She only sees in her mind eyes the young man she is going to marry, and she looks forward to the day of the wedding. She also makes preparations. From the clothes, to the reception on the wedding day, to the life she will start with the groom after the wedding, she thinks about a million things every day. She is also worried that the groom have the wrong ideas, so she does not mix with other young men, and lives a pure life.
Why do so-called Christians not want to hear about the coming of Christ, why do they not talk about it? It is because they are not engaged to marry him. Therefore, when the rapture is mentioned, they are angry and worried. Just as unengaged virgins do not care about the coming of the bridegroom, so do so-called Christians ridicule the coming of Christ. Of such people, Peter warns: "In the last days scoffers will come with their own lusts, walking after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of the Lord'? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). They will say, "Christ is not coming," and when he comes, "we will not need to say anything." Actually, Christ is not coming for them. He is not going to take them away, so what they're saying is true for them. There is no argument. What a pity! Therefore, if you see scoffers who are angry at the mention of the rapture, know that they are not engaged to Christ who are acting according to their own lusts, and are therefore perverse. Have pity on these people.
John the matchmaker
John the Baptist said, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” (John 3:29)
John the Baptist was saying he was not the bridegroom but only a friend who attends the bridegroom. So who would be the bridegroom then? It is Jesus. In today’s terms, Jesus is the bridegroom, and John is the best man of the bridegroom. A best man of the bridegroom is a friend of the bridegroom. Some times, a friend of the bridegroom could be the matchmaker who brings the bride to the bridegroom. John introduces people to Jesus in this way: "You are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but that I have been sent before him.' He must increase, but I must decrease. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who rejects the Son will not see life, for the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:27-28, 30, 36)
So John the Baptist was the matchmaker for the Lord Jesus, a man who rejoiced in advance of the wedding day.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." (2 Cor. 11:2) Like John the Baptist, Paul was the matchmaker for the Lord Jesus. The Corinthians were betrothed to be the bride of the Lord Jesus.
Paul wrote, “ I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ..” (2 Corinthians 11:3) Paul was concerned that the Corinthian believers would lose their love for Jesus and fall into another Jesus.
Jesus himself wrote to the Ephesians, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." (Revelation 2:1-5) According to Christ, not loving Him is a sin worthy of repentance.
Bride the Believers
True believers are also the brides of the Lord Jesus. True believers are betrothed to Christ by true preachers. Therefore, those preachers are afraid that believers will love something other than Jesus. As true ministers, they are afraid that believers will lose their love for Jesus. However, false ministers, not knowing this, teach false doctrines about loving the world, about loving another Jesus.
If you are the bride of the Lord Jesus, you need to be a chaste virgin. A chaste virgin means that you do not love other men and are self-controlled so that the bridegroom would not have any wrong ideas about her.
If a young woman is not engaged, she would make herself beautiful in order to get attention of young men. However, if she is already engaged to a young man, she is not interested in getting attention of other young men. Moreover, she would count down the day of their wedding and make preparations. She is also worried that her future husband will be disappointed, so she avoids being seen with the wrong young man. In addition, she looks forward to the day of the wedding.
Believers who look forward to the day of the coming of the bridegroom, Jesus, should avoid being tainted by this world. If you love this world, you love the ruler of the world, Satan. You must be careful to be pure so that you can meet the Lord Jesus. Therefore, James warned, "Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4)
Paul said, "Christ gave himself for the church, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, free from spot and wrinkle, having cleansed it with the washing of water by the word." (Ephesians 5:27) The Lord Jesus gave the Word to believers, the church, to cleanse them. Therefore, if they read, meditate on, and follow the Word, they can be cleansed. Those who do not read, study, meditate on, and follow the Word are mixing with this world so they're unclean and disgusting.
The rapture is the bridegroom Jesus welcoming the bride, the church, to be married. Therefore, the bride should prepare herself by living a holy life, anticipating the day of her marriage. John spoke about the marriage of the Lamb: "Again, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come. And I heard the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of the sea, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, 'His wife has made herself ready.' 8 And it was granted to her that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Revelation 19:6-8)
Those who are to attend such a wedding should be anxiously waiting. They should not be like people of the world, who have no hope.
John also wrote about what will happen after believers have married to Jesus, "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." (Revelation 21:9-10) Here the bride is called the holy city, Jerusalem. The city is not a building, but a people. The city (the people) is said to be full of the glory of God. Why should such a people be defiled by the world through Satan's deceit? Let us live holy and righteous lives from now on.
