PASSOVER  CONTROVERSY

     There are many views as to when to observe Passover or the Master's Supper, according to the different ways people interpret the new moon, and vernal equinox, and in recent times some have even embraced the Essene method.  Perhaps I should say something here.  The only reason folks would follow the Essenes is because they are following the scholars of this world, instead of the Scriptures, these scholars paint the Essenes as some righteous group.  Having read some in the Masonic text book Morals & Dogma you will learn they refer to the Essenes as their forefathers in the ancient mysteries.  The scholars have only of recent spoken good of the Essenes, before the Dead Sea scrolls were found, they spoke of them as sun worshippers.  Now the Devil's scholars speak well of them because, he wants you to follow them.  "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Matthew 15:14.

   Bottom line following these willingly blind sun worshippers, who have been blinded by the sun-god, have detoured folks from going by the Scriptural method.

    The only reason folks will not practice going by the Scriptures, is because they are not converted.  The carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the Scriptures, neither indeed can be.  This is the whole reason why folks cannot rightly divide the Word of truth, they are not converted, and therefore not subject to it.  They are self sufficient, they don't need Elohim, they can do it on their own.

 They feel no need of YAHUSHUA and the aid of the Holy Spirit.  They are the modern Pharisees, very religious, yet reject the truth when brought to them, or they can't see it as truth for they are blinded from seeing it, given over to delusions and  "STRONG" ones at that, and they reject YAHUWAH's messengers who might declare the right way.  "The spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets."   I Corinthians 14:32

    "Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.  I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." Isaiah 66:4

    "But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word." Isaiah 66:2.

    Has the Holy Spirit given up on us?  Why can't we see the truth? 

    "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners (modern policemen), unjust, adulterers (lets include even those who don't have beards, nor wear suspenders), or even as this publican (IRS agent).  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican (tax collector), standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

     When we come to the point that we realize we can't do anything right without YAHUSHUA, when we realize that we are sinners in need of the Saviour, and our heart is broken, then the Saviour can teach us His truth, we can learn something.

      "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHUWAH's Passover." Leviticus 23:5.

    This fourteenth day started from the new moon which was a reflection of the sun on the moon causing a lesser light in the firmament of heaven, which was the  "sign" to begin the Scriptural new year.  The old year expired at the finish line or vernal equinox, and this new moon is the first one that appeared after the vernal equinox.  Counting fourteen days from this point brings us unto the fourteenth day, "at even" is reference to the afternoon of this day.  We see this by comparing Scripture with Scripture.  In other words, the fourteenth day at even is the ending of the day, compare Leviticus 23:32 concerning the Day of Atonement, "It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."

    From even unto even means from the ninth day of the month at even unto the tenth day of the month at even.  Which is one complete day.

    How many days is unleavened bread to be eaten?  Everyone I think knows the answer, "seven days" (Ex 12:19; Lev. 23:6; Deut. 16:3, 8).  When did these seven days begin?  "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even." Exodus 12:18, did you notice that no one got hung up on the word  "until" in this phrase!  So if you count from the fourteenth day at even unto the twenty-first day at even the total is seven days.  I am still puzzled how folks can use gnostic unreasonable methods of reasoning to reinterpret this phrase in such a way as to come out with  "eight days"!

    Probably the only other way to hold onto this belief system of eight days, here I'll help you out a little bit, is to say that in this verse, Ex. 12:18, the fourteenth day at even in this spot is truly talking about the ending of the day, but everywhere else it means the ending of the 13th when the sun sets bringing on the 14th. 

    Did you know that the Scriptures explain themselves?  We don't have to come along and overly complicate the matter, forcing it to fit what we believe.

    When will we repent of wresting the Scriptures to our own destruction?  Lets let the Scriptures interpret themselves.

    It is true that many religious and devout Jews, including Josephus throughout history have had this understanding of the ending of the 13th day and early beginning of the 14th day as the correct timing for the Passover, instead of the ending of the 14th.  But does that make it the truth?

    "The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible.  Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair.  No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation." Review & Herald  December 20, 1892

    Originally the feast of Unleavened Bread was for seven days (Ex. 12:18 & Lev 23:6 and so Josephus himself Ant. iii. 10. 5.) "but from the time immemorial the Jews outside of Palestine have added a day to their principle festival." Oesterly-Box, Religion and Worship of Synagogue, 2, p. 385 (Quoted in Ant. ii. 15. 1 footnote of the Loeb Classical Library set)

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