This year the Feast of Passover begins the evening of monday April 22nd and ends the evening of tuesday April 30th.

Yahshua (Jesus) is the ultimate fulfillment of every biblical feast beginning with the Spring Feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The Fall Feasts are partially fulfilled by Messiah and will be completely fulfilled by Him at the culmination of the age, they are the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). The biblical holy days create a vivid portrait of the Lamb of God and serve as a spiritual map for our holy pilgrimage journey out of the world into the eternal Promised Land. The Almighty says, “These are [My] appointed times” (Leviticus 23:2,4). His holy calendar leads us to innumerable blessings, a true treasure chest of the riches of His glory. The Holy One presents us with a spiritual banquet to feast on as we study and learn about His Biblical calendar, His true holy days. The Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appointed these biblical feast days. The centerpiece of all seven feasts is Yahshua (Jesus), “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The King of Glory’s appointed times are an invitation to all. Those who respond will say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahveh [the LORD], To the house of the God of Jacob; So that He may teach us about His ways, And that we may walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). All who accept this invitation to come and learn from the Divine Giver of these holy days will certainly be blessed with a greater revelation of our Savior and Passover Lamb. Yahshua (Jesus) died to free us from our sins and to redeem us to become His treasured possession a holy people. Let us behold our Lamb and uphold His precious sacrificial blood, through loving obedience to His Word and will.

It is important to read the Passover story

in Exodus Chapter 12 from which these teachings pivot.

The 14th of Nissan (on the Biblical calendar), is the time we enter into the glorious season memorializing the Passover and the lamb’s blood that spared the children of Israel from “the angel of death” (Exodus 12:23) It’s greater importance is the reality that the Passover was Almighty God’s preview of His mercy and grace to send His Son, the Messiah, Yahshua (Jesus), as the Ultimate Lamb of God. As His redeemed Jewish and non Jewish (Gentile) children, we are to continually behold the Lamb of God, whose sacrificial blood covers our humble repentant hearts, sparing us from the consequences of our inherited sin nature, the curse of eternal death. As in the original Passover, we are redeemed to wholeheartedly love, worship, and serve Him through obedient surrendered lives, highly esteeming His blood that has redeemed us.

Let’s begin the original Passover story when Moses was drawn to “the burning bush” that was not consumed (Exodus 3:2). In awe Moses approached the remarkable sight and heard the voice of the Almighty, who is “a consuming fire”, say, “take off your sandals you are standing on holy ground” (Hebrews 12:29, see Exodus 3:1-17). The Eternal Holy God’s presence was represented by the fire that could not be quenched in the bush that did not burn. He audibly commissioned Moses, “Come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” “… Assuredly I will be with you, …Then Moses said to God, … Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God furthermore said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘YAHVEH [YHVH- Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey in Hebrew] (see footnotes below), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is the name [a memorial] for all generations to use to call upon Me” (Exodus 3:10,12-15).

The Almighty God of Israel chose Moses as His instrument of deliverance to proclaim “His name Yahveh” [YHVH] as the One True God who demanded Pharaoh (Satan’s ambassador), to “Let My people go that they might serve Me” (Exodus 3:15, Exodus 9:1). Shortly after Moses went to Pharaoh, Yahveh explained the depth and meaning of His Name, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Yahveh I was not known to them” (Exodus 6:3). He said, “therefore proclaim to the sons of Israel, ‘I am Yahveh and I will bring you out … I will deliver you from bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you as My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am Yahveh your God, … I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession; I am Yahveh’” (Exodus 6:6-8). (It is important to note that the four cups of the Passover Seder Meal are magnifying Yahveh’s proclaimed I wills of His redemptive plan. For Simple Instructions for a Passover Meal see Section 9-10 in the Table of Contents)

In obedience to the commission, Moses went to Pharaoh again and spoke the Almighty’s adamant words, “… I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name [Yahveh] through all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). Through the God of Israel’s awesome signs, wonders, and judgments, many non Jewish people (Gentiles) throughout the earth would come to humbly acknowledge, with reverential fear and awe, that Israel’s God is the Most High Living God of Creation. Yahveh Almighty, through His righteous judgments and ten plagues, bore His omnipotent arm making it clear to Egypt and the heathen world, “before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. “I, even I, am Yahveh; And there is no savior besides Me” (Isaiah 43:10-11).

Yahveh’s (the LORD’s) chosen people, were spared death because of the lamb’s blood that was placed over the door posts and lintels of their homes (Exodus 12:7). The original Passover with Moses was a preview of our ultimate Passover Lamb and Deliverer, Yahshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Yahshua’s original divinely given Hebrew name means: Yahveh Saves. Yahveh’s name is magnified as the covenant keeping God as proclaimed in Exodus 6:6-7. He sovereignly promised to deliver and redeem His people, to bring them safely into the Promised Land, a foreshadowing of the Messianic Kingdom of Heaven, where He will be their God and they will be His people forever. As we learn about these Biblical “Holy Days”, Yahveh (the LORD) magnifies His holy character and eternal plan of redemption through His Son Yahshua (Jesus), our Passover “Lamb who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Although Yahveh’s infinite love, mercy, and grace always begins with His chosen people, the Jews, it never ends with them. His omnipotent love mercifully extends and includes each and every non Jewish person (Gentile) “from every tribe, language, and nation” who will forsake their foreign gods to join in with redeemed Israel’s worship of the One True Living God and Creator (Revelation 5:9). Over the centuries, multitudes of non Jewish people (Gentiles), through faith in the Jewish Messiah, our Passover Lamb, have wholeheartedly understood and gratefully acknowledged that they “love, worship, and serve the God of Israel.” As it is written and fulfilled through Yahshua (Jesus) the Lamb of God, “The gospel of Messiah … is the power of Yahveh God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile” (See Romans 1:16).

References

1. Two reference points help to clarify the use of His divine name, YAHveh, as proclaimed to Moses at the burning bush.

In regard to the divine name [YHVH] or YHWH, commonly referred to as the Tetragrammaton, the translators adopted the device used in most English versions of rendering that name as “Lord” in capital letters to distinguish it from Adonai, another Hebrew word rendered “Lord,” for which small letters are used. The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, 1985), p. xii

This explanation is to be found in the prefaces of most English Bibles.

Second, a footnote on Deuteronomy 28:58 expresses with perplexity: “One of the oddities of history and revelation is the loss of the proper pronunciation of the Hebrew [YHVH] or YHWH, the most intimate and personal name of God in the OT [Old Testament]” (emphasis added). The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, 1985), p. 279.

Many dictionaries render YAHveh (or YAHweh) as the accurate spelling and pronunciation of the original name of the Almighty. The Hebrew letter “vav” is represented in English by the letters “V” or “W.” However, Jewish scholarship leans towards the “V” as the ancient and correct representation of the letter “vav.” “Overwhelming scholarly opinion holds that YHVH [Yod Hey Vav Hey] was in Moses’ time pronounced Yahveh” (emphasis added). THE TORAH, A Modern Commentary (New York: Union of American Hebrew Congregation, 1981), p. 426

2. The Almighty’s true and holy name, consisting of the Hebrew letters Yod Hey Vav Hey, appears approximately 7,000 times in the Old Testament.

Yahshua (Jesus) is the Jewish Messiah, bringing deliverance and eternal salvation to all who repent of their sins and are covered in the Passover Lamb’s blood. The Savior’s disciples were all Jews, they knew and observed Yahveh’s biblical calendar even after the Messiah’s resurrection from the dead. Apostle Paul (Sha’ul) a “Hebrew of Hebrews”, and a Pharisee and scholar of the Scripture, was chosen specifically by Yahshua (Jesus) to teach the non Jewish (Gentiles) about the Holy One of Israel and the Jewish roots of their faith (Philippians 3:5, Acts 9:15). Most Christians have been erroneously taught that Paul the great “apostle to the Gentiles”, was teaching the Gentile believers that the biblical feasts only pertained to the Jews and not to them (Philippians 3:5, Romans 11:13). The truth is, the apostle Paul was emphasizing, that the holy festivals lead to and bring a greater “light of revelation” of Yahshua (Jesus) and “the narrow path” by which to follow Him into the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 2:32, Matthew 7:3-14). His specific exhortation in Colossians 2:16-17, was not to disregard the feast days. He was encouraging non Jewish people (Gentiles) that no one was to legalistically judge others regarding the manner in which they celebrated these biblically ordained appointed times on the Almighty’s calendar. (See the following references: Acts 18:21, KJV, Acts 20:16, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 16:8 showing the importance of the appointed Feast Days in Paul’s ministry). Our God and Savior says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). The world and everything in it, including it’s man-made calendar and holidays are all going to pass away. The Holy One’s Word, including His biblical calendar, is going to continue eternally in His righteous Kingdom as is recorded in Scripture (Matthew 26:29, Zechariah 14:16, Isaiah 66:23). Obviously, the Almighty’s biblical calendar was not nullified when the non Jewish people (Gentiles) came into salvation. The Author of the Holy Scripture gives warning and says, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, … Or [I] will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar” (Deuteronomy 4:21, Proverbs 30:6).

The Creator of heaven and earth is our Heavenly Father and He has a divine order, by which He gave His Holy Scripture [Old and New Testaments], His Covenants, His Ten Commandments, and His Biblical calendar. His utmost eternal gift is His Son, who came as the long awaited Jewish Messiah, the sacrificial Passover Lamb, bringing salvation for all (Jew and Gentile) whose repentant sins are covered in His precious blood (see Leviticus 23, Romans 9:4). The Almighty’s divine order is always to the Jews first then to the Gentiles. Yahshua (Jesus) proclaimed,”Salvation is from the Jews” and apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (John 4:22, Romans 1:16).

The God of Israel’s divine order is based on His divine will that chose the Jewish people, the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to be His chosen nation. Only the Jews knew Him personally as the One True Living God and He decreed to them, “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord Yahveh, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am Yahveh, And there is no savior besides Me” (Isaiah 43:10-11). It has been a deception and robbery of Satan that has hindered so many believers from receiving and growing in the knowledge and love of our Savior’s Father, the God of Israel. At the end of the age, the Holy One is “restoring the ancient foundations” of biblical truth (Isaiah 58:12). That foundation is, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and His divine order and plan that has come forth through the Jews to the non Jewish people (the Gentiles). “The restoration of all things" must happen on its true and holy foundation, which is Jewish through and through, and will be so into all eternity (Acts 3:21).

The Most High God expresses His infinite love, mercy, and grace in His divine order to His Jewish people first and always extends the blessings to include all non Jewish (Gentiles) who desire to come and “worship Him in Spirit and in truth”, “together with redeemed Israel” (John 4:24, Ephesians 3:6). Apostle Paul warned the Gentile believers very adamantly in Romans 9-11 and Ephesians 2 to remember and “not to be conceited” against the Jewish root of our Savior and the gospel message. He told them remember you were once excluded because of your foreign gods and heathen customs, but now, through faith in the the Passover Lamb’s blood, you, the Gentiles who were far away, have come near to the God of Israel to receive His mercy and to become “born again” “new creations" and “one new man” together with redeemed Israel (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, see Ephesians 2:12-16). Paul further explained, don’t be conceited against the Jews, “you do not support the root, but the [Jewish] root supports you” (Romans 11:18). Remember, Messiah said to the Gentiles, “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). The holy root system is in, and of, and from the Jewish Messiah (Romans 11:18). The holy root supports you in order to produce holy fruit to the glory of the Eternal Living God.

The biblical feasts are an immeasurable blessing for all. They open our spiritual eyes to behold our Passover Lamb. This greater revelation pierces our heart for the One whose heart was pierced to save our souls that we would uphold His blood by walking in an obedient holy manner. Our Lamb died to free us from sin and eternal death. All redeemed Jews and Gentiles, through Messiah Yahshua (Jesus) have become “one new man” in the Spirit, “so that the Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of the God of Israel’s household” (Ephesians 2:15,19). In infinite love, our Lamb gave His life for us, in reciprocal love, we are to give our life in surrendered service and sacrifice to Him. The redeemed Jewish and Gentile “one new man” remnant, are given the continued commission to be His witnesses that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “gave His only begotten Son” as the sacrificial Lamb to free us from our sins and eternal death (Ephesians 2:15, John 3:16).

As stated, the holy feasts are an awesome prophetic tapestry, woven together throughout the Old and New Testaments, magnifying Yahshua (Jesus) “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Our Savior was born to die as the Passover Lamb. He lives eternally and will be memorialized in the Kingdom as the slain Lamb by all the blood redeemed righteous multitudes (Revelation 5:6). Apostle John was given the revelation of the eternal future, He wrote, “And they sang a new song, saying,“Worthy are you … for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). They will continually worship and praise Him because they had “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:14). Their sins do not condemn them and they are forever free to worship, praise, and serve Him into all eternity!

The Kingdom of Heaven will be filled with the righteous remnant who wholeheartedly heeded the call in their pilgrimage on earth, “to behold the Lamb and uphold His blood”. They will be in His kingdom forever proclaiming, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever"”(Revelation 5:12-13).

The God of Israel displaying His omnipotent power against Pharaoh and Egypt, through the ten plagues, destroyed their gods, putting fear and awe into the hearts of Israel, the Egyptians, and the known world (See Exodus 7-12). After the tenth plague of the angel of death, the Israelites were miraculously spared by Yahveh’s mercy, through the blood of the lamb, and were hastily led out of Egypt (Exodus 11:4-12:29). In haste they took their bread dough before it was leavened (Exodus 12:39). They had to leave the leaven (symbolic of sin) behind, in order to quickly follow the Holy One of Israel out of captivity to Pharaoh, symbolic of Satan. The Almighty’s wonder working power parted the Red Sea, leading the freed nation of Israel into the wilderness, on their way to the “Promised Land”.

Passover is followed by the seven day Biblical Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:14-29). The Holy One requires that before Passover begins, all yeast, symbolic of sin, must be removed from our homes (Exodus 12:15). This points to the necessity of keeping our redeemed lives “holy to Yahveh” (Exodus 28:36). To be holy means to be separated from sin in order to be acceptable in the sight of a holy God who said, “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) . We must be diligent to rid our lives of all leaven, sin. Apostle Paul addresses all believers regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is symbolic of our daily spiritual walk following our Savior on the “narrow path that leads to eternal life” (Matthew 7:13-14). He says, “Clean out the old leaven (sin) so that you may be a new batch, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah [Christ] our Passover Lamb also has been sacrificed. Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven [the sinful self nature], nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity [wholehearted obedience] and [uncompromised] truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Apostle Paul gave a major warning, using Israel’s example in their wilderness journey, to magnify the inherited sinful human nature, which is common to us all. Our flesh nature continually craves, lusts, and longs for what is tangible and of this visible world. It is an ever present enemy to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul is exhorting and alerting every follower of the Messiah, to pay attention and not to repeat Israel’s fatal mistakes in our holy walk toward the Promised Land. He emphatically said, “… I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers [the children of Israel] were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah [Christ]. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:1-5).

How quickly Israel forgot their holy awesome God and His mercy, through the blood of the lamb, to spare them from captivity and death. Although, they saw and were redeemed by mighty signs and wonders, the sinful flesh nature of the children of Israel, rose up with great murmurings, grumblings, complaining, and cravings against Moses and the God of Israel who had delivered them. Because their carnal incessant desires and yearnings overcame them, Yahveh Almighty was greatly angered, and He gave them what their flesh craved, but He also gave them “leanness of soul” (Psalm 106:15). The same merciful God of Israel, who spared His chosen people from the plagues on Egypt, delivering them from the angel of death, was furious by their faithless discontentment and their constant cravings. The Most High God's merciful deliverance turned into righteous indignation and judgments destroying most of them in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.

Paul, is admonishing us to carefully watch our self nature so that we are quick to recognize the chronic harmful sins that will grieve and anger the Holy Spirit. This sin nature must be exposed and confessed, in order to be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. He fervently gives warnings to those who will open their ears to hear and heed this merciful exhortation, “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor are we to put Yahveh to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by the snakes. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:6-13).

Apostle Paul is stating a reality that is magnified throughout our Savior's and the apostle’s biblically recorded teachings. Paul is stressing that we are “not to make any provision for the flesh” and its sin nature (Romans 13:14). It is written, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13). Paul emphasizes, “For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah [Christ] and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:5-6). Apostle Peter, likewise emphasizes our brief stay on earth, as pilgrims in route to the Kingdom of Heaven, “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers [to this world] to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). It is written to professing believers in Yahshua (Jesus), “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. …“Yahveh will judge His people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26,27,29-31). As Apostle Peter warned, “Judgement begins at the household of God” because “everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (1 Peter 4:17, Luke 12:48).

As Paul warned, we must be on guard and watch our flesh and have self control, or we will be disqualified as the majority of the Israelites who never made it to the Promised Land but died in the wilderness. In their discontent and lack of faith they took lightly such a great salvation through the blood of the lamb of God that spared them from “the angel of death." Only Caleb and Joshua, of the original multitudes, went into the Promised Land, along with the offspring of those who were destroyed because they sinned against the Holy God of Israel. Our Savior Yahshua (Jesus), our Lamb and Deliverer, made this very clear many times in His ministry when He shockingly stated , “… many, I tell you, will seek to enter [the kingdom] and will not be able” (Luke 13:24) and “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23). Apostle John emphasizes, “Sin is lawlessness.” “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous … No one who has been born of God practices sin … anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:4). Therefore, “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Messiah [Christ]” (1 Peter 1:17-19). “Therefore let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Yahveh” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Heavenly Father, I thank you for making me very aware of the importance of my everyday walk with You and the necessity to carefully watch my self nature in order to keep sin out of my life. I have heard apostle Paul’s warning and example of what happened to Your children of Israel in the Exodus journey. May the fear of grieving You come upon me, giving me wisdom to be spiritually awake and diligent. I ask for Your Holy Spirit’s help to not be led by my old self nature and its many obsessive cravings and preoccupations. I repent, please forgive me. I can see that this is a form of idolatry because it keeps me from loving You as the first and foremost love of my heart and life.

I understand that sin is like leaven, it grows bigger and bigger, until I can’t see You and You can’t see Your Son’s life and Spirit in and through me. Yahshua (Jesus) in my daily walk, I pray to always keep watch and keep the sin of murmuring, grumbling, and my self justified cravings out of my life. I humbly repent for taking lightly such a great salvation of Your blood poured out as the Passover Lamb to cover my sins and make me holy in Your sight. Oh, my God, I need Your continual help in working out my salvation with fear and trembling. I know You are a holy God and without holiness no one will see You or enter Your heavenly kingdom.

Yahshua (Jesus), my Lamb, I confess that I have been careless and casual regarding the necessity to keep my flesh and sin nature continually repented for, covered in Your blood, and under the control of the Holy Spirit. I repent for being self seeking, self pleasing, and self justifying. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to continually convict me and for Your Word to be as a double edged sword showing me the difference between my flesh’s desires and Your perfect will. Please forgive me for the times that I have named and claimed You as my Savior, yet I have defamed You by my thoughts, desires, words, and actions. You are convicting me to take my eyes off myself and this world, and put my focus and affection on You, my Redeemer and Your kingdom of righteousness.

Yahshua (Jesus), thank You for pouring out Your whole life, giving everything to redeem my soul. I know I have grieved You by not giving my life in total surrender in service to You for Your eternal purposes and glory. You delivered me out of this world to be holy for Your kingdom, may I never look back again. Thank You, Lamb of God, for dying for me and cleansing me of my confessed sin with Your precious blood. You surrendered all for me and I surrender all to you, In the name of Yahshua (Jesus) I humbly pray.

In truth, and in deed, Messiah is the fulfillment of all the holy feasts of Israel. Our Savior was born in order that He would die as our Passover Lamb shedding His sacrificial holy blood for the covering and removal of our sins. YAHveh’s word proclaims, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). This is the Heavenly Father’s infinite magnificent love compelling Him to send His “only begotten Son” to die in our place that we might live with Him forever in His eternal glorious kingdom. YAHshua’s (Jesus’s) death was the fulfillment of the holy Feast of Passover.  What is commonly known as the “Last Supper” was a Passover Seder, (the biblically prescribed commemorated meal with which Passover begins). Messiah and His twelve Jewish disciples were celebrating the Passover reflecting and remembering the miracle of the lamb’s blood placed on the doorposts of their forefather’s homes which caused the angel of death to see the blood, spare their lives, and deliver them from Egyptian bondage.

At this most important history changing Passover YAHshua was making known to His disciples then, and to future generations of Jews and Gentiles in all nations, that He is the sacrificial Lamb whose blood covers sin in all repentant hearts, sparing them from eternal death. HALLELUYAH to the Lamb of YAHveh who’s blood takes away the sin of the world! Our Savior in essence was saying, “From now on when you take this unleavened bread and this cup of wine you will do this in remembrance of the original Passover lamb’s body and blood fulfilled by the final sacrifice of My life as your ultimate Passover Lamb.  In doing so you will remember the love of My Father to give a sacrifice—My life, that you might be delivered from bondage to your sin nature, the prince of this world Satan, and the wages of sin which is eternal death. “For God (YAHveh) so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Almighty One of Israel prophesied through the prophet Isaiah more than 700 years prior, of His suffering Son who would be our sacrificial Lamb, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.  All of us like sheep have gone astray… But YAHveh (the LORD) has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him… Like a lamb that is led to slaughter… So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away… He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due…But YAHveh was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering…Because He poured out Himself to death…He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:5-6,8,10,12)

Additionally and equally important at the Passover Seder (the Last Supper) YAHshua (Jesus) proclaimed, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). He was revealing to His Jewish disciples that this was the fulfillment of His Father’s promise through the prophet Jeremiah over six hundred years prior. “The days are coming,” declares YAHveh, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt… “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares YAHveh. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:31-33). This was reiterated through the book of Hebrews, with this addition, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more”  (see Hebrews 10:16-17). In addition, and as YAHveh (the LORD) said, "when I see the blood I will pass over you." As long as we are holy to YAHveh, He will protect us as a hen would protect her chicks — guarding them from harm and danger. As the Israelites were warned not to go outside, lest they perish, so too must we stay under the blood of YAHshua (Jesus) with our sins repented for as this is the only place of safety.

A special note: After Israel received the Commandments YAHveh asked her to construct the ark to house them.  In the last days the prophet Jeremiah prophesied, 'The ark of the covenant of YAHveh.' And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again” (Jeremiah 3:16) because the ark is the throne of YAHveh in the hearts of His people that house His ark and everything that was housed in it!  The redeemed heart is now the dwelling place of YAHshua (Jesus) by His spirit as well as the place where He has written His Fathers Commandments “…behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV). The Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone, but the New Covenant, through YAHshua’s once and for all sacrifice, is written on the hearts and minds of all redeemed so they, by His spirit of truth and empowering grace, will not sin against Him. So when we take of this privileged, sacred, intimate communion with our Savior we are remembering that He is the ultimate Passover Lamb whose body hung on the execution stake for all sinners as He died to take our place. We are to rightfully discern the body of YAHshua, “For as often as [we] eat this bread and drink the cup, [we] proclaim the Master’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of [YAHshua]. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly” (1Corinthians 11:26-29). We are to take communion with wholehearted reverential awe as we behold, honor and uphold our Lamb’s sacrificial holy blood that covers all our repentant sin and delivers us from eternal death.

Messiah died after only six hours rather than the usual three days on the stake. He had a limited time in which to be buried, in order to sovereignly fulfill the second spring feast, the Feast of Unleavened Bread (see Leviticus 23:6 and 1Corinthians 5:7-8). The Feast of Unleavened Bread starts the day after Passover “for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread” (Leviticus 23:6). We have a new beginning through the death of our Passover Lamb. “Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are now to live as new creations as apostle Paul (Sha’ul) said, “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). The reality of being crucified with our Passover Lamb is again magnified in apostle Paul’s words, "I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). “May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Master YAHshua Messiah, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

This feast symbolizes our walks as new creations who are wholeheartedly “working out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) by daily purging out our leaven-sin (symbolized in the seven days of eating unleavened bread).  “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). We are to walk like YAHshua (Jesus) and as Apostle Paul said, “…I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). Paul’s words in 1Corinthians 5:6-8 refer to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, “Don’t you know that a little bit of sin works through the whole batch (our redeemed life). Get rid of the old yeast (sin), so that you may be a new unleavened batch−as you really are (a born again new creation in the spirit!).  For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast…” “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YAHveh” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. For YAHveh (the LORD) impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Messiah.” (1 Peter 1:14-19)

With the Feast of Unleavened Bread, YAHveh (the LORD) is pointing out that we have been set free and delivered from bondage as the children of Israel were in order to worship and serve Him in “spirit and in truth”. The Passover Lamb died to deliver and redeem us to be true worshippers and children of the Most High.  We are to reflect Him, by His spirit in and through us, in holy conduct, words and deeds to the glory of His Father. As His children, we are making pilgrimage to the Promised Land, which is His Eternal Holy Kingdom, the “blessed hope” of all the redeemed who are longingly looking up and “waiting for Him” (Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28).

To begin the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, each household will benefit by responding to Yahveh’s words in Exodus 13:7 by removing all yeast products from their homes, putting them aside for eight days.  This obedient act will heighten your awareness of the importance of ridding ones life of sin (leaven).   Eating unleavened bread (matzos) for eight days, instead of the usual bread and yeast products, will deeply impress upon your heart the need to walk in a righteous (sinless) manner upholding the blood of the Lamb poured out for your redemption.

Passover Seders (meals) vary because of different man-made traditions, but the central elements and Biblical ordinances do not change.  To actively participate in the Passover teaching and Seder you will need a few basic food products.  To keep things simple we will adhere to the Biblically prescribed foods of the Passover as seen in Exodus 12:8.  They are:  roasted lamb, unleavened bread (matzos), Bitter herbs (white horseradish). Before the Seder, place on each person’s plate roasted lamb, a matzah, and a little white horseradish for the bitter herbs.

To highlight the precious blood of the Passover Lamb, have a pitcher of grape juice and a glass for each person.  The four cups of grape juice will be used as symbolic remembrances of Yahveh’s promises in Exodus 6:6-7 and the Last Passover called the Last Supper when Yahshua (Jesus) took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”  (Luke 22:20)

CUP 1. The first cup is called the cup of sanctification — “I Will Bring You Out.” (Exodus 6:6)

As we take this first cup, it prepares us for the Passover by separating us from the world and its preoccupations, focusing our attention on the reality of Yahveh’s (the LORD’s) holiness and on our need to be holy through the blood of the Lamb’s cleansing delivering power.

CUP 2. The second cup is called the cup of deliverance — “I Will Deliver You.”  (Exodus 6:6)

Israel was delivered from bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt and we, The Redeemed, have been delivered from bondage to Satan and this doomed world system through the blood of Yahshua (Jesus) the Passover Lamb.  In drinking this cup of grape juice let us wholeheartedly thank Yahveh for His promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For Yahveh did not appoint us to suffer wrath (as the Egyptians did) but to receive salvation through our master Yahshua, the Messiah.” (Take turns reading the exodus story, chapter 12:1-42.  Then read the account of Yahshua’s last passover supper in Matthew 26:17-29.)

CUP 3. The third cup is called the cup of redemption — “I Will Redeem You” (Exodus 6:6)

This cup is most significant as it is the point in the Last Passover (Supper) where Yahshua (Jesus) broke the bread (matzah) and gave it to His disciples and said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:19-20 - This is the origin of communion and the time to take communion if you feel led).  Each person should take some lamb, matzah, and bitter herbs, remembering the bitterness of bondage to Satan and our sinful nature.  Give thanks and rejoice that Yahshua (Jesus) became our Passover Lamb and shed His blood on the tree of Calvary to cover our hearts from repented sins (leaven) that we will be spared eternal death because of His sacrificial blood.

CUP 4. The fourth cup is often called the cup of praise pertaining to the completion of Yahveh’s sovereign promises in Exodus 6:7

“I Will Take You For My People and I Will Be Your Elohim (God)” and I Will Bring You to the Land I Promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  It is the cup of utmost praise for all that Yahveh has done by giving His “only begotten Son” as our Passover Lamb. 

To conclude your Passover celebration, we have the example of Yahshua and the disciples after that last Passover Supper “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”  Psalms 113-118 are called the Hallel Psalms - Psalms of praising the Mighty One of Israel by His holy name, Yahveh (Exodus 3:15).  Join in this time of praise by reading one or more of the Hallel Psalms. 

 May His glory fall upon you as you celebrate Yahveh’s holy days, His “appointed times”.  May He transform you from glory to glory as you behold Yahshua the Lamb who was slain and “raised from the dead as the first fruits” promising resurrection for those who are redeemed by His blood (1Corinthians 15:20-23). 

 As previewed in the first Passover in Egypt, Yahveh proclaimed many times throughout the entire scripture that He will once again pour out His final and greatest judgments on Satan and all the gods and godless ones of the entire world (Exodus 12:12, Isaiah 24, Revelation 8).  When Yahveh (the LORD) sees our sins (leaven) removed through the blood of the Lamb covering our humble repentant hearts, then in sovereign mercy His final judgment of eternal death will pass over us.  Praise be to Yahveh who has caused us to triumph over eternal death through Yahshua the Messiah our Passover Lamb!

 The Mighty One of Israel will bring both the redeemed Jews and Gentiles as “one new man” (Ephesians 2:16) into His eternal promised land.  He is Yahveh, the covenant keeping great “I AM” who is worthy of a holy people who will continually exalt and highly esteem the blood sacrifice of His Son – our Passover Lamb!

This is an optional added brief overview for the family to read

 “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because Yahveh brought you out of it with a mighty hand " Exodus 13:3

 Before you begin the meal you may want to go outside and look at the full moon. This is the 14th day of the biblical lunar month of Nisan (also called "Abib," Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7), always a full moon, always a light in the sky. There was no need for artificial torches or other lights on the night of Israel's deliverance. Yahveh lighted the way. The Passover (Pesach) remembrance is always on 14th of Nisan during a full moon.

Step 1

Have the "mother of the house" recite the following prayer as candles are lighted.

Blessed are you, O Yahveh our God, Kings of the universe, Who has delivered us from slavery and brought us into freedom through the Lamb of God, Who is the Light of the world. We honor You, O God, in the lighting of these festive candles. Amen

Step 2

Read aloud the story of Passover night from Exodus 12. Consider using a more contemporary translation or abbreviating the reading to help hold the interest of younger children. (The suggested abbreviation is Exodus 12:1-14, 21-42.)

Step 3

Then read together of that other eventful night when Yahshua (Jesus) sat with His disciples before He, our Passover Lamb, became the Eternal Deliverer from all of our Egypts, from Matthew 26: 17-29.

Step 4

Now take the bread! Take the wine! Eat together! Remember! Rejoice!

During the meal encourage all who would like to talk about...

• our own deliverance from slavery, the joy of freedom in Messiah

• what it means to be "saved by the blood" of the Lamb, passed over by the angel of death

• anything else the Holy Spirit stirs in you as you share this evening together

Step 5

Close your evening by reading "Passover... On This Night... On This Day... Today"

***NOTE: As you celebrate this meal with your family, don't worry if you don't know the traditions of our Jewish family as they celebrate Passover. If you want to do the whole "Seder" with a "Haggadah" feel the freedom, but this order has been prepared so you might experience the blessing of simply following Yahveh’s instruction to "remember this day."

"I am Yahveh your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deuteronomy 5:6

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 

Passover...On This Night...
On This Day...Today

Remembrance of Our Life Redeemed Through the Blood of the Lamb

On this day, 3500 years ago, lambs were slaughtered throughout Goshen in Egypt. Hyssop brushes stroked Jewish doorposts with lamb's blood. The children of Israel met quietly, sequestered behind their bloodstained doors, waiting to be delivered from 400 years of slavery. On this night, 3500 years ago, Yahveh went through the land looking for blood on doorposts. There was a great deliverance, a pass-over. Firstborn sons were slain in houses where there was no blood. Wailing and mourning was heard when judgment came in Egypt.

Poetic Portrait to Enhance Your Passover Celebration of Yahshua (Jesus) the Lamb

“The Lamb of God” from Genesis to Revelation, is the exalted highlight and manifestation of the Almighty’s infinite love, mercy, and grace to provide a sacrifice, the Lamb slayed for our sins (John 1:29). The first Passover set the stage for the coming ultimate Lamb of God, Yahshua (Jesus) our Deliverer and Redeemer. His sacrificial atoning blood will set us free from our sin nature, eternal destruction, the world and it’s pulls, and bondage to Satan, whom Yahshua (Jesus) called, “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). The redeemed remnant of Jews and Gentiles who uphold Yahshua’s sacrificial blood through obedient surrendered lives, will follow Him in the Spirit on “the narrow path that leads to eternal life”, in the Promised Land (Matthew 7:13-14). Yahshua (Jesus) will be exalted and forever praised for dying to save us from eternal death by covering our repentant sins in His holy sacrificial blood. We read that in the heavenly kingdom the redeemed saints will continually “behold the Lamb at the center of the throne” and worship Him along with heaven’s host who eternally praise and exult Him, “crying out with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:6,12, 7:17)

The biblical calendar from the first feast to the last of Leviticus 23, introduces and exalts the Lamb of God, pointing to our “once and for all sacrifice”, Yahshua (Jesus), “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Hebrews 10:10, John 1:29). Those whose sins are confessed and by faith covered in His blood, become the supernaturally “born again” spiritual children of our eternal Heavenly Father, the Creator (1 John 1:9, John 3:3). This righteous remnant is being groomed, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, for the ultimate purpose of their redemption, which is to be the holy “bride of the Lamb Yahshua (Jesus)” (Revelation 17:14, 19:7). (PLEASE NOTE: The Scripture makes it clear that those who are “born again” spiritual “new creations” through faith in the atoning blood of our Lamb, “that there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yahshua [Christ Jesus]” who is Spirit (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:28). We are the body and bride of Messiah. This is not man’s interpretation, this is the truth of the reality of the Savior’s love for His people and divinely ordained purchased bride.) This is emphasized in Scripture by Apostle Paul’s words, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin [in the Spirit] to Messiah [Christ].” Yahshua (Jesus) highlights the reality of His beloved bride at the conclusion of Scripture in the Book of Revelation. It is written, “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Revelation 19:6-8).

The righteous acts of the saints come forth by the rulership and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Good deeds done by the flesh and a “form of religion” will never produce what is righteous (2 Timothy 3:5). The remnant, that is truly the bride, have wholeheartedly loved Yahshua (Jesus) so much that she* has been obedient to His words, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). The passionate love of the Lamb to die for us, propels the bride to say, “You did this for me, and I do this for you, I surrender myself as “a living sacrifice made holy and acceptable to You”, which is the least I can do for all that You have done for me” (See Romans 12:1). The Scripture reminds us, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold, … but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Messiah” (1Peter 1:18-19). Those who profess to know and love our Savior, must take to heart this Scriptural reality, “you are not your own you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body” through “your words and deeds…” (See 1 Corinthians 6:20, Colossians 3:17). Yahveh Almighty proclaims, I am a “jealous God” and "a consuming fire” (Exodus 34:14, Hebrews 12:29). As His redeemed, we are told that the "Holy Spirit is jealous for us” “to present us as a pure virgin [in the Spirit, undefiled by sin and the flesh’s desires for the world] betrothed to one husband [Yahshua Jesus our Lamb]” (James 4:5, 2 Corinthians 11:2).

Our Lamb’s blood is on the heavenly altar for the forgiveness of sin. What we do with the gift of His life poured out to cover our confessed sins and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome our sin nature, are the determining factors of whether, we will in actuality, be found pure and holy in His sight. What we do with the blood will determine where we spend eternity regardless of our profession of faith. Yahshua (Jesus) spoke to many of the religious leaders and His brethren when He was on earth saying, “You hypocrites, ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, …” (Matthew 15:7-9). Yahshua (Jesus) gave a warning to all believers, that not everyone who professes to know and love Him will enter His kingdom. This is a shocking reality to most people because they have not been taught how “narrow is the path that many want to enter" to go into heaven, but as the Savior said, "very few will be able to” (see Matthew 7:13). Let us take to heart Yahshua’s piercing words of truth, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’‘And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness’ ”(Matthew 7:21-23).

We are to behold the Lamb and uphold and honor His blood. The Holy Spirit grieves for the multitude of professing believers who take lightly their salvation and consequently dishonor the blood of the Lamb. We must take to heart this powerful admonition to all believers, warning, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. … How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God [the Lamb], and has regarded as unclean the [Lamb’s] blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26,27,29)

“Many are called and few are chosen” and very few are faithful (Matthew 22:14). The Lamb laid down His life to pour out His blood to redeem a spiritually pure virginal bride. This faithful righteous remnant is living more and more in the Spirit, cultivating an intimate relationship with Yahshua (Jesus) by pushing away the distraction of the tangible here and now for the eternal joy of the here after with their Bridegroom. They keep their mind on things above where their Beloved is seated and not on things below (Colossians 3:1-2). They are continually being “transformed by the renewing of their minds, that they may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). The bride of Messiah is adorned with righteousness that comes from an obedient surrendered life.

In the Book of Revelation, we read about the righteous remnant , the bride who is referred to as “the called and chosen and faithful”, the smallest remnant of professing believers, who uphold His blood and remain faithful at any cost (Revelation 17:14). For them “to live is Messiah and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). They want to “know Him in His sufferings that they will also know Him in His resurrection power” (see Philippians 3:10). These are the ones who overcome the raging enemy who “makes war against the Lamb” and His bride (see Revelation 17:14). The righteous remnant “overcome the Enemy by the blood of the Lamb” covering their confessed sins, "the word of their testimony” always speaking the truth in love even if they are persecuted and hated, and “they don’t love their lives on earth so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11). “Death has no sting” for the redeemed remnant who “prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:55, 2 Corinthians 5:8). They have already died daily to their flesh and it’s desires for the world because of their passionate love for Him in return for His passionate love to die for them. They will know Yahshua (Jesus) in His death and resurrection power. Regardless of what kind of death they suffer, they know that they are alive, united with Him, and “will never see death”, as Yahshua (Jesus) said (John 8:51). The righteous redeemed remnant is passionately waiting for “the blessed hope” of the “wedding supper of the Lamb”, which is the ultimate conclusion and eternal reward for beholding and upholding the Lamb of God’s precious poured out blood (Titus 2:13, Revelation 19:6-9).

Yahveh God’s ten plagues and His dramatic signs and wonders displayed at the first Passover are a foreshadowing of the prophetic terrifying conclusion at the end of the age, with the many outpoured judgments of Yahveh and the ultimate “wrath of the Lamb” (Exodus 7:14-11:10, Revelation 6:12-17, Joel 2:1-2, Matthew 24:29-30). “For this is the time of punishment [and vengeance] in fulfillment of all that has been written” (Luke 21:22, see Revelation 10:7). All of prophecy must be fulfilled. The whole world, as it is written in the Book of Daniel and Revelation, is moving quickly toward a complete satanic takeover with the most wicked heightened rebellion against the Almighty, the Messiah, His Jewish brethren, and His redeemed Jewish and Gentile righteous remnant (See Daniel 11:31-32, Revelation 13). It is becoming very obvious to believers and non believers, that there is a satanic rulership and overwhelming demonic influences that are infiltrating humanity’s thoughts, attitudes, and emotions, in everything from politics to religion. Instead of “the salt and the light”, we now have the darkness and demonic bitterness, because there are more and more people infiltrated with Satan’s mindsets that are against all righteousness and the righteous ones (Matthew 5:13-16). This is why Yahshua (Jesus) said, “If they hated and persecuted Me, they are going to hate and persecute you” and “the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 15:18-25,16:2). This is a warning to so many believers who are “lukewarm” and biblically ignorant, they are being groomed by the Satanic system, working through doctrinal error, to be part of the mindset that comes against the righteous remnant “who obey the commandments of Yahveh and hold to the testimony of Yahshua [Jesus]” without compromise (Revelation 3:16, 12:17, 14:12).

Many have been taught that the believers will not suffer in the tribulation and its judgments because they believe they will be raptured before these difficult times. As Scripture states, “How can we escape Yahveh’s judgments if we ignore and take lightly such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) Give or take when the tribulation is, many people are unprepared to endure through faith, the great trials, persecutions, and hatred that is already fomenting on earth against the righteous. The Enemy is making war against the righteous children of the Almighty and it will increase with much persecution. Continued martyrdom of the saints will become a greater and greater reality. "Yahshua is the Spirit of the prophets”, He knew how great the satanic control, moving toward the “beast” system would be (Revelation 19:10, 18:1-8). He warned the believers in the Book of Revelation, repeating these words, “This will call for patient endurance on the part of the saints those who keep the commandments of Yahveh and hold to the testimony of Yahshua (Jesus).” “But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved” (Revelation 12:17, 14:12, Matthew 24:13).

Messiah said, "when these things begin to take place, straighten up [repent that your sins be covered in the Lamb’s blood, and go in the power of the Spirit and “sin no more” (John 8:11)]. Lift up your heads [take your eyes off this doomed earth and look heavenward toward Yahshua (Jesus) and His coming kingdom], because your redemption is drawing near!” (Luke 21:28, Matthew 24:8). The Holy Spirit is urging us, “Come out of her, my people [flee the preoccupation with this world under Satan’s rulership (John 12:31)], so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). As Yahveh said to the Israelites, “… When I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt (the world)” (Exodus 12:13). Flee the judgments! As it is written, “For the end of all things is near brethren. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” Yahshua (Jesus) said, “pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand [unashamed ] before the Son of Man” (1 Peter 4:7, Luke 21:36).

We must humbly and wholeheartedly ask the Holy Spirit to continually “convict us of our sins, God’s holiness, and the judgment to come” (John 16:8). It is deceptive lunacy and rebellion for professing believers to “insult and grieve the Holy Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29). Grievously, so many believers continue to live in their self pleasing degenerate sin nature, drunk on the things of this passing doomed world, and stockpiling treasures on earth, rather than living under the Holy Spirit’s leadership and the blessing of being united with our holy Savior. This is Satan’s deceptive enticing way to make a mockery of the blood of Yahshua (Jesus) the Lamb, by the many Christians who defame Him by living the same way they did before they confessed Him as “Lord and Savior” (Romans 10:9). Many congregations globally are filled with countless “double minded” “lukewarm” believers in Yahshua (Jesus), who are “taking lightly such a great salvation” purchased by the blood of the Lamb. So many come to salvation and Satan brings them back into captivity through his continual seduction and enticements to redirect them from the Spirit back to the world (James 1:8, Revelation 3:16, Hebrews 2:3).

The passionate love that compelled Yahshua (Jesus) to die for us, is the passionate love within us that compels us to “pour out our lives as a drink offering" in worship and service and sacrifice to Him (2 Timothy 4:6). Those who love Yahshua (Jesus) serve Him. His bride runs from everything else because they want to be with Him and please Him. They know they cannot be with Him if they are in the flesh or in the world, just like “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Flesh and blood cannot go into that intimate Secret Place, where Yahshua (Jesus) dwells in the Spirit waiting for His bride to come away to be with Him [in the Spirit], outside of the world’s distractions. This passionately pursued and cultivated relationship of the bride for their Bridegroom comes from love, not from ”you must do this.”

The account of the original Passover emphasizes Yahveh Almighty’s desire, reiterated through Moses to Pharaoh, “Let my people go that they might serve and worship Me” (Exodus 7:16, 8:1). His heart has not changed. His Son, our Messiah proclaimed, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:24). Yahveh redeemed His people from bondage to Pharaoh with an “outstretched arm of judgment” because of the sacrificial blood of the lamb over the doorpost of their homes that spared them from the angel of death (Exodus 6:6, 12:13). The Holy One continually made a distinction between His chosen people the Jews and those who were not His, the Egyptians. Although it is not stated, it can be ascertained, that any Israelite who disobeyed the mandate to cover their doorposts in the lamb's blood and stay in their homes, would be in harm's way and subject to the same judgment falling upon the Egyptians. In the book of Malachi we read of Yahveh making a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. It is written, “Then those who feared the Lord Yahveh talked with each other, and Yahveh listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared Yahveh and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says Yahveh Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction [as in the days of Egypt because of the Lamb’s blood] between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not” (Malachi 3:16-18).

Israel was spared because of the lamb’s sacrificial blood, for the purpose of loving, obeying, serving, and worshipping the One True Living God who had delivered them. Although they were miraculously delivered from bondage, they forgot what Yahveh their Redeemer had done and viewed their new freedom as a license to let their unruly flesh nature express itself in self serving, sensual, and idolatrous ways. The Almighty's heart was grieved and burned with jealous indignation. He expressed His anger to Moses saying, “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them” (Exodus 32:8), and they indulged in “pagan [worldly] revelry” (Exodus 32:6, 1 Corinthians 10:7). They had mixed the pure worship of their Holy God with elements of paganism and worldliness they had brought with them from idolatrous Egypt.

Human nature does not want to be in bondage, they want to be free to serve and please themselves. Israel’s example of human nature speaks loudly to so many believers who are set free by the blood of the Lamb and the wonder working power of His love to deliver them, yet they use their freedom to go right back into the flesh, its desires for the world, and construe a new form of religion that endorses what they desire (2 Timothy 4:3). They deceive themselves and others saying, “all these worldly treasures are a blessing of God.” In reality it is written, those who have many riches “pierce themselves through with many sorrows” because the love of Yahveh and the love of mammon are diametrically opposed (1 Timothy 6:10). “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). One is the flesh, one is the Spirit, “they are opposed to each other” (Galatians 5:17). It is up to each believer to actively and wholeheartedly “fight the good fight of faith” against our common enemy, our sinful flesh nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 6:12, Galatians 5:17).

It is clearly written that at the end of the age Yahveh Almighty will stretch out His omnipotent arm to pour out judgments once again upon the whole world and all its inhabitants because of the demonic progression of rebellion and sin overtaking humanity (Acts 17:31, 19:11). There were ten plagues and judgments from the hand of the God of Israel poured out in righteous indignation upon Egypt. We read in the Book of Revelation the horrific judgments and plagues will be a precise numerical count until it is all completed. The Psalmist wrote, “For a cup is in the hand of the Lord Yahveh, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink its dregs” (Psalm 75:8).

There is no hope or prayer that will avert the prophesied judgments, plagues, tribulation, and the ultimate wrath of the Lamb. The hope and prayer is the provision of the Lamb of God whose blood covers our sincerely repentant sins and protects us from the judgments that must fall. Even if the righteous cry out, there comes a tipping point for the cup of judgment overflowing its brim in His omnipotent outstretched arm. Yahveh spoke to Ezekiel saying, “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save themselves …” (Ezekiel 14:13-14). Yahveh will “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). It is written, “Yahveh is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 1:15). AMEN Yahveh is righteous and all of the righteous who love Him must be in agreement with Him and rejoice that He is faithful to avenge, repay, and restore this earth to its former paradisal nature, and make a home of righteousness for the blood redeemed bride of the Lamb. HalleluYAH!

As in the days of Noah, “Yahveh [the LORD] saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Yahveh regretted that he had made human beings on the earth …” (Genesis 6:5-6). Yahshua (Jesus) said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” - complete annihilation except for those who are covered in the blood in the ark of safety. These prophesied catastrophic last judgments, reserved for the end of the age, will be with the consuming fire of His wrath, “in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

The foam of the fury in the cup of Yahveh’s hand has already begun to fall upon the earth and its inhabitants. It will not stop until He drains it to the dregs of destruction and desolation upon the whole earth and all of the multitudes who continue to sin against Him, “trampling the blood of the Lamb underfoot”, and filling His beautiful creation with deception, corruption, perversion, and defilement, “calling evil good and good evil” (Hebrews 10:29, Isaiah 5:20). Yahshua (Jesus), “the Lamb of God” will become the “Lion of the tribe of Judah" for the multitudes throughout the world who refuse to acknowledge His loving sacrifice because they would rather serve themselves, love the things of the world more than wanting His kingdom and rulership (John 1:29, Revelation 5:5, see Luke 19:27). They, as in the days of Egypt, will be destroyed with all their gods and all that kept them bound in the things that Satan deceived them to cling to, rather than turn and surrender their lives to the One that surrendered and gave His life to spare them from eternal death.

Anyone who claims to be a believer, yet remains in their old sinful flesh nature, loving the world and its enticements, preoccupied with the things in the here and now rather than the things in the heavenly kingdom, will not be able to escape the judgments that are coming. They are not “alive and awake in the Spirit”, “following the way of His judgments”, “redeeming the little bit of time” that is left (1 Thessalonians 5:6, Isaiah 26:8, Ephesians 5:16). They are not continually before the Holy One “working out their salvation with fear and trembling” and for them “it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” (Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 10:31. They have “trampled the blood of the Lamb underfoot” instead of turning from sin and being "clothed in Yahshua’s righteousness”, purchased through His atoning blood (Hebrews 10:29, see 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 1:19).

The reality is, if you claim Me as Lord and Savior and you don’t love being with Me here on earth and you don’t have time to cultivate a relationship with Me here and a desire to serve and worship My Father “in spirit and in truth”, then what makes you think that you are going to want to do this in My kingdom? “Why do you call me ‘Lord’, ‘Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) Therefore you are not My bride, you do not love Me the way I have loved you and you have not followed Me because I was not your first love. You have given me “lukewarm" lip service thinking you have all you need and I am just one of the many loves in your heart. Yahshua (Jesus) says, “I am going to vomit you out of My mouth” and I am going to “blot many of you out of My book” (Revelation 3:16, 3:5). These words were spoken by Yahshua to the churches when He visited them as it is written in the Book of Revelation (author’s paraphrase). So “if you think you are standing firm, take heed lest you fall” from the grace that was given to overcome sin, that you did not employ, because you liked living in the flesh and for the things of the world more than you loved our Lamb who passionately loved each of us (1 Corinthians 10:12). You spent your life pursuing other loves and lovers.

We read in the book of Revelation, that at the end of the age the deceived rebellious multitudes “… will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings…” They will say “to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 7:14, 6:16-17) They will “… drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and [they] shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:10).

As it is written, “Satan is raging to deceive the inhabitants of the earth” and is “the accuser” and hates Yahshua’s faithful followers (Revelation 13:14, 12:10). In the midst of the trials and tribulation the righteous remnant will persevere and endure, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who infuses them with supernatural fortitude to be valiant, courageous, fearless and faithful. The bride does not fear the terrifying judgments because they know their God and Bridegroom’s prophetic promises and that He is faithful to bring forth judgments in order to cleanse the earth of all sin and sinners and create a “new home of righteousness”, where the Lamb and His bride will regain what was lost by Adam and Eve, the deed to dominion over this earth (2 Peter 3:13, Genesis 1:26, Revelation 21:7).

The world has grown so dark through the infiltration of satanic deception, take over, and control. However, “those who know their God will do mighty exploits” and they will, as everything is being destroyed by Yahveh's outstretched arm and the overflow of His cup of indignation and judgments say, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. … Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation” (Daniel 11:32, Isaiah 25:9). “Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O Yahveh, We have waited for You eagerly” (Isaiah 26:8). “From the ends of the earth we [will] hear singing [the righteous remnant, the bride]: “Glory to the Righteous One. … for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” of destruction and desolation (Isaiah 24:16, 25:1). “When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). His judgments are glory. It is His glory that evokes glorious worship and praise for the sovereignty of His mercy and grace to do what He planned and proclaimed.

This is the bride, they know their mighty beloved Bridegroom has to destroy this wicked earth that was long ago lost to Satan through Adam and Eve’s rebellion, to prepare a home of righteousness, paradise restored, where He and His bride will dwell in the Messianic Kingdom, “the New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:21). Yahshua (Jesus) will have dominion over all the kingdoms of this earth and His beloved bride will rule and reign with Him. As in the days of Egypt, the knowledge of the One True Living God and His name Yahveh will fill the earth once again (Exodus 9:16, Romans 9:17). All the other gods, all the other religions, and everything that is contrary to truth and His sovereign rulership will be destroyed. “The fear of Yahveh”, the One who poured these judgments out, will fill the hearts of the surviving inhabitants and they will bow and worship Him as the One True Living God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, and His name will be great (Proverbs 9:10, See Zechariah 14:17-18). It is written, “Yahveh will be King over all the earth; on that day Yahveh will be the only one, and His name the only one” (Zechariah 14:9). There will be no other name of any other gods on the face of the earth. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahveh, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). The Lamb is going to be worshiped and exalted forever as it is written, I [John the Revelator] heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13) HalleluYAH!

Want to learn even more about the Biblical Feasts of Israel? Check out Terrye G. Seedman's book "Redefining the Feasts of Israel Through the Ten Commandments." The Holy Days pivot around the Ten Commandments, these were appointed times to meet with Him that would help them to walk by His spirit’s leading in these Commandments.  Indeed, there would be no feasts if it was not for the Ten Commandments and the penalty of sin for not upholding them and there would be no need of Messiah.  The Ten Commandments point us to Him and YAHshua the schoolmaster points us to the truth so we can walk in a way worthy of everything that He has taught us to be.  “Not of the letter but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) This book unlocks truths from Yahveh's divine Ten Commandments to redefine the true meaning and fulfillment of the holy Feasts of Israel. Simply, the divinely appointed times, the feast days, pivot around the blood on the altar of sacrifice—on the mercy seat, for the forgiveness of sin and sin points us back to the Commandments. Therefore every feast is exalting the Commandments of YAHveh, exalting our Lamb who came and died because we can’t uphold the Commandments without His help.  They are inextricably linked. You can’t separate the feasts from the Commandments and you cannot separate the Lamb of God who is the ultimate fulfillment of the holy temple, priesthood, and the sacrificial system’s substitutionary sacrifice for our sin nature. Learn all of this and more in this powerful book about Yahveh's divine commandments and holy feasts.