Fundamentals of Belief #11C: Passover Beginning of the 14 th. Edited Sermon Transcript Jon W. Brisby;

Transcription

1 Fundamentals of Belief #11C: Passover Beginning of e 14 Edited Sermon Transcript Jon W. Brisby; This afternoon, breren, we are going to continue our series on e Fundamentals of Belief of e Church of God, The Eternal. We are still working on fundamental eleven. I can already tell you, we have is and probably one more sermon, before we finish fundamental number eleven. I didn't anticipate at it was going to take is many. In fact, I ought is one was going to go much quicker. Let me read fundamental number eleven for you again: We believe in TWO ORDINANCES for is age; water baptism by immersion, into Jesus Christ (not a denomination) for e remission of sins, following genuine repentance; and Lord's Supper as continuation of e Passover, observed at night on e anniversary of e dea of our Saviour, e 14 of Abib. That is fundamental number eleven. As you are already aware, we covered in one sermon e topic of baptism. Last time, we covered e concept of e second ordinance of Passover, and I gave you an overview of e significance of Passover in e plan of God. We talked about e piece of is fundamental which says, "... and Lord's Supper as continuation of e Passover..." We demonstrated what e Passover was about, what its meaning is in God's overall plan, and e significance of Christ's keeping of e Passover. We discussed e emblems of e Passover at were changed, and which were commanded and required of e Church, even unto e second coming of Jesus Christ.

2 Now, we are going to get into e technicalities. I am actually glad at it worked out is way. This time of year is early before Passover season and yet, for e next two sermons, we are going to get into some of e nitty-gritty technicalities of is issue of e Passover controversy. I would prefer to cover at at is time of year an in Passover season. I would raer focus at at time on e spiritual intent and significance of Passover to e Church, when we are supposed to be living it and recognizing e value of it not grinding and chafing in conflict over e issues of technicalities, like e 14 or e 15. We are aware, if we have any respect for e revelation of Jesus Christ, at is fundamental is based upon revelation at came rough Mr. Armstrong, which is at Christ kept e Passover on e 14 of Abib. It was kept on e 14 of e first mon of God's calendar, and it was at e beginning of e 14. The 15 is e feast of Unleavened Bread; and e Night to be Much Observed is at convocation which we have after sunset, when it moves from e 14 to e 15. The Jews and a number of oer groups today believe at e Passover was killed on e afternoon of e 14, and en eaten after sundown after e 15 began. So, you have e seeds for incredible controversy. On e surface, you can ask, "If everybody is reading e same Bible, why is ere such controversy? Why is it so unclear, and why do you have such vehement battles going on over is issue?" It has been going on for centuries. It is certainly noing new today. The unfortunate ing is at e number of individuals who were baptized into e Church, even decades ago, who heard e voice of at servant whom God called and to whom He revealed His way of life, accepted at e Passover was on e beginning of e 14. But now, ey have completely turned from it. Passover is at service, on e Roman calendar, which we would say was on e night of e 13. It is when e 13 ends and e 14 begins; at is when we keep e Passover. The 15 en, is e beginning of e feast. Two separate nights. Many who kept at law in at manner for years and years, which is what ey were baptized to believe, are now writing papers and speaking, supporting is concept at it has always been a Passover kept on e same night as e feast. I can understand scholars and ose who were never part of e Church, at believe ose ings. Again, ose Passover controversies have been going on for centuries. 2

3 However, someone who was once part of e Church, who has now embraced is kind of lunacy, is e ing I can least understand. Well, what kind of questions do we want to answer when we talk about e Passover controversy? First, we want to answer e question, when did Christ keep e Passover? Next, we are going to look at e question, when did e Israelites keep e Passover? Finally, we are going to try to answer, to e best of our ability, when did e Jews keep e Passover? Hopefully, I can get rough ose first two questions today. I want to start by asking e question, when did Jesus Christ keep e Passover? We are going to stick to e New Testament and look at e evidence ere, because I ink we have some incredibly strong evidence. Then, separately, we are going to go over and look at at question in e Old Testament records from Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, to show, by e original commands for e Passover, what e Israelites did, and see if we come up wi e same answer technically. Is ere technical evidence to support what we have always believed and been taught from e Bible? Absolutely, ere is. This will be beneficial to ose who are technically minded, but technical ings are not e basis of our fai. Our fai is in e fact at we received someing as tru. It was given to us and it all fit togeer in a perfect picture. I hope at least, at by going rough technical details, you are going to be able to see e fabric of e beauty of at which God built into His word even in e technicalities of e words at were used, why ey are ere and for what reason because it is an incredible picture. We are going to start wi e question, when did Christ keep e Passover? Well, what are e scholarly claims at are out ere? There are about half a dozen or more major claims. Some of em include at Christ's Last Supper was not e Passover. That supper at He ate wi His disciples was not e Passover at all because e Passover is on e 15. The Passover lamb is killed on e afternoon of e 14, but eaten after e sun goes down, when it becomes e 15. What Christ was doing e evening before, erefore, was not a Passover at all. It was just a special supper of unique significance wi His disciples, but it was not a Passover ceremony. That is one of e claims. What is anoer claim? Certain scholars will tell you at Christ's supper was e Passover; He was keeping a Passover wi His disciples, but He was keeping it on e 15. They will tell you, and try to support from e Bible, at Jesus Christ, on 3

4 e night at He ate His last Passover, was keeping a Passover meal, but it was on e evening of e feast of Unleavened Bread. Then, ere are oers who claim at Christ's supper was e Passover, but it wasn't on e 15 ; it was a special, extra Passover. There were two Passovers approved at year; so, you can eier keep e Passover on e beginning of e 14 or on e beginning of e 15 whichever you choose. Those are just samples of a smattering of ideas at are out ere and which all have incredible volumes of information written technically to support em. They all use terms like, "The Bible clearly shows," and "For anybody at has eyes to see and ears to hear, ere is no oer conclusion but." They all write is way, but ey all totally contradict one anoer. Those who have written ese letters and articles are brilliant people. You can look up Biblical encyclopedias, dictionaries and all manner of ings in which ey debate ese items. The one ing you find is at ey all, invariably, run up against contradictions at are very, very difficult for em to explain. When you don't have e tru and it doesn't match wi what e holy, inspired scriptures tell us, you automatically have problems. So, did Christ actually keep e Passover wi His disciples before He died? Let's see if we can prove at one right off e bat. I read you is before we ended last time, but let's read it again. Luke 22:8 15: "And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us e passover..." What were ey doing? Was is just some special meal, separate and apart from e Passover service? See how many times it says and verifies it wiin e next four or five verses here. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us e passover, at we may eat. And ey said unto him, Where wilt ou at we prepare? And he said unto em, Behold, when ye are entered into e city, ere shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into e house where he entere in. And ye shall say unto e goodman of e house, The Master sai unto ee, Where is e guestchamber, where I shall eat e passover wi my disciples? 4

5 Was ere any doubt what Christ intended to do?... where I shall eat e passover wi my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: ere make ready. And ey went, and found as he had said unto em: and ey made ready e passover. Christ told e disciples, "Go and prepare e Passover." They went and asked where at chamber was "... where I shall eat e Passover wi my disciples..." Then, ey made ready e Passover. Verse 14: "And when e hour was come..." What hour? The appropriate hour of e beginning of e 14 (as we will see later) when e sun goes down and when it is commanded to keep at service. And when e hour was come, he sat down, and e twelve apostles wi him. And he said unto em, Wi desire I have desired to eat is passover wi you before I suffer... The Passover was mentioned four different times in ose verses. So, why is ere any conflict? Why does anybody have any doubt at what was going on, was a Passover service? Well, many say at e accounts of Matew, Mark and Luke, to whom ey refer as e synoptists, contradict e account of John. Here is where we run into e problem. If all you read were Matew, Mark or Luke, you would have no doubt at what Christ was doing at night, was keeping e Passover. The problem is, you go to e account of John and ere appears to be a contradiction, or so ese scholars ink. The first ree Matew, Mark and Luke state firmly, just like we read in Luke, at He was keeping e literal Passover. Now, let's look at what John says and you will see where e confusion comes in. What you are going to find is at, as detailed as John is in his description of all of e events of at night, and e following morning and day, never does he say, like e oer ree gospel writers, at is was e Passover service. Notice John 13:1 2: 5

6 "Now before e feast of e passover..." This says, "... before e feast of e passover...", and as we are going to find out, at is a very broad term. Admittedly, you cannot draw any conclusions about what was encompassed or intended in is reference. Now before e feast of e passover [before e entire Holy Days], when Jesus knew at his hour was come at he should depart out of is world unto e Faer, having loved his own which were in e world, he loved em unto e end. And supper being ended, e devil having now put into e heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him... All you find is a reference at sometime before e feast of e Passover, when Christ knew His hour was coming, a supper occurred. In e inspired writing of John, he doesn't say at is was e Passover service. Now, why is at a problem to e scholars? Well, turn to John 19:14. These are people who presume. They already have eir conclusion in mind at Christ believed in and kept a Passover at was on e beginning of e 15. John is e one writer in is book who casts doubt on at. Directly, ere is no way you can get around it. What does it say in John 19:14? "And it was e preparation of e passover, and about e six hour: and he sai unto e Jews, Behold your King!" This is before Pilate, when Christ was being sentenced to dea and crucified. On at morning, which is sometime before or around 8AM, after e previous evening when Jesus Christ had eaten is supper, John says at e Passover was yet coming. It was e preparation of e Passover. This would lead you to believe, if you only read e account of John so ese scholars will tell you at e supper Christ ate wi His disciples happened on e night before e Passover. John says at e Passover is coming up, but Christ has already eaten His supper wi e disciples; so at couldn't have been e Passover. The Passover must have been e next evening. So here is a major discrepancy, supposedly, between Matew, Mark and Luke, which all seem to say very strongly at He was keeping e Passover. However, John is saying at, hours after He had eaten at same supper, e Passover was still looming at e following sunset. Now, how do we reconcile? 6

7 Scholars don't have a way to reconcile it because ey are unwilling to admit e very facts at we were taught which show e perfect picture of e explanation at we received rough Mr. Armstrong. Scholars admit at John seems to imply at Jesus had His supper e evening before e Jews' Passover, which would have been e night of e 13, or really e beginning of e 14. Those presuming at e real Passover was at e end of e 14 or e beginning of e 15, find is to be a direct contradiction. I want to quote someing out of McClintock and Strong, from e article entitled, Passover. Here is what ey say; see if you can follow is: "Finally, it must be admitted at e narrative of John, so far as e mere succession of events is concerned, bears consistent testimony in favor of e last supper having been eaten on e evening before e Passover." "Wheer e explanations of e passages in John, and of e difficulties resulting from e nature of e occurrences related, compared wi e enactments of e Jewish law, be considered satisfactory or not, due weight should be given to e antecedent probability at e meal was no oer an e regular Passover, and at e reasonableness of e contrary view cannot be maintained wiout some artificial eory, having no proper foundation eier in Scripture or ancient testimony of any kind." Anybody follow any of at? I had to read it a few times myself. Basically, all ey are saying, wi all of eir flowery words, is at it appears John's writings indicate at it was e night before e Jews' Passover. They still have to assume, however, from eir best knowledge of interpretation, at it really was a Passover at Christ was celebrating, but ey have no way of reconciling e contradiction between John and e oer ree gospels. The scholars of e world have to come from a premise of believing at ere is contradiction. They are not coming from our premise e fact at e entire Bible is inspired, at it all fits togeer and makes a perfect tapestry, and at it is all tru. Matew, Mark and Luke were true, we believe, when ey say Christ was keeping a Passover service. We also believe at John was true when he said at it was a preparation for some kind of a Passover coming up, after Christ had already kept His. The question is, what is e answer at reconciles all of ose different issues? 7

8 Well, to overcome is problem, as I mentioned to you, I saw one writer who claimed at ere were really two Passovers approved in at particular year of Christ's dea. This is somebody who believes at all of e Bible is e inspired word of God; but if you don't have e tru, en what kind of oer interesting scenarios can you come up wi in order to justify and get rid of is contradiction? This man claims at, in at particular year, e Jews had difficulty, because of e weaer or whatever, in observing e new moon, and ey weren't quite sure when e first of e mon began. Therefore, to be sure, ey actually approved two different days for Passover. Now, what is e problem wi at? Well, is is someone who doesn't believe in e Hebrew calendar, for one. There are a lot of what we call "calendar dissidents" who do not accept e fact at God did give His calendar to e Jews, and ey brought it down all e way from e time of Moses. They also do not accept at e calendar works in harmony wi observation. It wasn't observation as opposed to calculation. The calculation and e observation always arrive at e same conclusion. So, wheer or not ey were able to see e new moon e crescent as it appeared, ey had a calendar at allowed em to know when at new moon was. If ey knew when e first of e mon was, and if ey knew how to calculate Nisan 1, ere was no question at ey knew how to calculate Nisan 14 and Nisan 15. That argument will not hold water. My intent is not to get into a dissertation on e calendar, alough we might do at at some point. Mr. Cole and I have had an opportunity in e last couple of weeks, to spend some time wi it in answering some questions. It has been very, very fascinating to me, but I will avoid getting into at now. All I can tell you is at anyone who comes up wi is conclusion at ere were two approved Passovers denies e fact at God sets up one day and one day only for His holy observances. Now, e Jews have continued out of tradition and history in many cases to keep two days. They keep two days for Pentecost and for a number of Holy Days because ey are not sure. That is not e way God operates. God is sure. He gave each day to be holy, one and only one. To not be able to keep it on e day at He commanded is an act of failessness. We have an opportunity to know when; and I can guarantee you at Christ, whenever He was keeping it, was keeping e one and only Passover. It wasn't at ere were two days approved at year, and so, Christ flipped a coin and decided, "Well, I guess I will keep is one." Preposterous. 8

9 But if at is not e answer, what is e answer to reconcile John's account wi at of e synoptists? Well, let's look. Here is e problem at least a presumed problem wi Matew, Mark and Luke. Is ere really a contradiction? Do Matew, Mark and Luke say at e Passover was kept at e beginning of e High Day? Because at is what ey try and tell you. Even ough Matew, Mark and Luke supposedly verify it was e Passover at Christ was keeping, ey claim ere are oer scriptures at show e Passover was kept at e beginning of e 15, not e beginning of e 14. Why do ey conclude at? Mark 14:12: And e first day of unleavened bread, when ey killed e passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt ou at we go and prepare at ou mayest eat e passover? Did you catch e problem? "... e first day of unleavened bread, when ey killed e passover..." Now, wait a minute. I ought e first day of Unleavened Bread, which is a High Holy Day, is e 15 of e mon. This is saying at if e disciples were preparing for e first day of Unleavened Bread and killing e Passover, en at Passover service Christ kept was mingled togeer wi e High Holy Day. Isn't at what he is saying? Because he says at it was e first day of Unleavened Bread at is was occurring. Or, is at really what he is saying? What about Luke 22:7? "Then came e day of unleavened bread, when e passover must be killed." Well, ere is a problem. The Passover must be killed on e day of Unleavened Bread? Are we talking about e feast day ere? That is what you would be led to believe. What about Matew 26:17? Now e first day of e feast of unleavened bread e disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt ou at we prepare for ee to eat e passover? Now, how can at be right? I wonder if we are wrong. Does anybody believe at it was really, literally on e feast day, e 15, at is question is being asked of Christ, where do you want to keep e Passover? There is no one, of any of e people who argue over is controversy, at believes at e Passover was kept a day after e 9

10 Holy Day. So obviously, we are still talking about a preparation for, leading up to, eier e first day of Unleavened Bread or anoer day. The question is, what are we taking about? You will notice in your King James Bible at ere are several words which are italicized. That means ey are not ere in e phrase. The proper rendering in Matew 26:17 is: "Now e first of unleavened bread e disciples came to Jesus..." What we have are ree different accounts. Mark says e first day of unleavened bread; Luke says e day of unleavened bread; and Matew says e first of unleavened bread. What are we speaking of? The answer is in coming to understand at unleavened bread, having been eaten actually on eight days bo in e Passover service as well as e seven days of Unleavened Bread began to be a term at was used interchangeably wi Passover. We are going to see several examples in which e term "Passover" was used to denote e entire feast, including bo e Passover service itself as well as e seven days of Unleavened Bread. In like manner, Unleavened Bread was used as a common title for e entire feast, including e Passover as well as e seven feast days. Can we prove at? Notice Luke 22:1 to begin wi: "Now e feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called e Passover." The feast of Unleavened Bread drew nigh, and at seven-day feast is called e Passover. At is time in history, ose titles for e spring Holy Days had become synonymous. This was because of e relationship of e Passover wi e seven-day feast. They began to be titled collectively. This is an example, under e inspiration of e Holy Spirit, at it was very appropriate in at day for e feast of Unleavened Bread to be called e "Passover." How about conversely? We have a record of Josephus at I will read to you. Josephus states in The Antiquities of e Jews, Book 2, Chapter 15, "Whence it is at, in memory of e want we were en in, we keep a feast for eight days, which is called e feast of unleavened bread." So here you see at e feast, which included e seven days of Unleavened Bread plus e Passover day (e 14 ), was considered collectively an eight-day feast and was just as often called Unleavened Bread. What do we find is e answer to our apparent discrepancy in Matew, Mark and Luke, when ey said it was "approaching," "nearing," or "in preparation for" e first day of unleavened bread? Were ey speaking of e first High Day of e feast of Unleavened Bread? No, "feast" is not mentioned ere. It does not say at in any one 10

11 of e accounts, in spite of e insertion of e word "feast" in Matew. The word "feast" is not ere. It is e first day of unleavened bread and e first day of unleavened bread, in is sense, was considered e Passover day. It was not saying it was e High Holy Day, whatsoever. When you understand and put it togeer, Matew, Mark and Luke all confirm absolutely at Jesus Christ was keeping a Passover service. These scriptures are not contradictory when ey say He was keeping it on e High Day. No, he wasn't, and at is not what it is saying at all. You cannot draw e conclusion at it was kept on e 15. Matew 26:3 5: Notice if at is what ey were saying. If so, en Christ was preparing wi His disciples on e 14 to keep e Passover at night e beginning of e Holy Day. He would have been sitting down to eat e supper wi His disciples on e Holy Day; and erefore, He must have been crucified e following morning, on e 15. Except, what does Matew 26:3 5 say? Then assembled togeer e chief priests, and e scribes, and e elders of e people, unto e palace of e high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted at ey might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But ey said, Not on e feast day, lest ere be an uproar among e people. The clear intent was not to crucify Christ on e feast day. Those claiming at Matew, Mark and Luke say at Christ ate e Passover on e beginning of e 15, are saying at He was crucified on e 15 at e Jewish leadership actually did crucify Him on at feast day. We have seen here at ey intentionally sought to avoid at. Now, some can argue, "Well, ey tried to avoid it, but ey didn't have any choice; so ey did it anyway." There is a much better explanation. The first ing we have to get past, is trying to assign a definition to e words "Passover" or "Unleavened Bread" whenever you see em used by emselves. We cannot construe from ese four different writings wheer it is referring specifically to e Passover service, to e Days of Unleavened Bread, to one or e oer, or bo combined togeer. They can be interchanged appropriately. If we do not try to look for e answer to e question of e 14 or e 15 based upon e use of e terms "Passover" or "Unleavened Bread," is ere anying else at 11

12 points e way? Absolutely. If e terms "Passover" or "Unleavened Bread" do not indicate conclusively which specific day Christ was sitting down wi His disciples, how do we know for sure when Christ was keeping e Passover? We are going to go rough a little bit of a logic chain here, and I am going to point out someing at I ink will be very fascinating. What do we know for sure? Let's look at e pieces logically. Christ kept e service e night before He died; I ink everybody will admit at. He ate is supper on a particular night, whatever night it was, wi His disciples. Then, He was arrested sometime after midnight, after at supper. He was taken into custody and was tried in e early hours of e next morning. He was convicted, He was sentenced to dea and He was hanged on e stake. Very quickly, Mark 14:72: And e second time e cock crew. And Peter called to mind e word at Jesus said unto him, Before e cock crow twice, ou shalt deny me rice. "Before e cock crow twice, ou shalt deny me rice." This was a prophecy at Christ uttered at e supper. He said Peter was going to deny Him at at very time, even before e coming of e following morning. As at night moved into morning and ose roosters were going to crow at dawn, He said it would only be a very few hours before Peter would deny Him. You know e account wiout turning to it. It was when He was standing in e courtyard on trial; He had already been beaten when Peter denied Him at final time, and Jesus looked upon him. So, is was all happening wiin e space of a few hours. Christ was sentenced, He was hanged on at stake, and notice now Mark 15:42. This was after He had been hanged on e stake and crucified. "And now when e even was come..." This was after Christ had died. We understand at He was on e stake from 9 AM to 3 PM, for a total of six hours. And now when e even was come, because it was e preparation, at is, e day before e sabba [Keep at in mind.], Joseph of Arimaaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for e kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved e body of Jesus. Whenever His dea was, it was on e afternoon of a preparation day for a Sabba. Is is saying e weekly Sabba? No, not at all. It is a Sabba. I went rough some of is wi you in past sermons on e fundamental concerning Christ's 12

13 resurrection. We are just going to hit some of e high points because it is important in determining, once and for all, when Christ kept e Passover. "... it was e preparation, at is, e day before [a] sabba..." That is what it says in e Greek. Not e Sabba, but a Sabba. It doesn't tell you what kind of Sabba, wheer a weekly Sabba or a Holy Day. So, how do we know? Let's look at John 19:30, and it will tell us very plainly what kind of Sabba it was. John 19:30 31: When Jesus erefore had received e vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up e [spirit]. The Jews erefore, because it was e preparation, at e bodies should not remain upon e cross on e sabba day [There is a Sabba coming up.], (for at sabba day was an high day,)... That Sabba day, which was going to begin wiin hours after Christ died on e stake, was a Holy Day. Can ere be any doubt at is is exactly what we are reading from e inspired word?... at e bodies should not remain upon e cross on e sabba day, (for at sabba day was an high day,) besought Pilate at eir legs might be broken, and at ey might be taken away. So, what do we know? We know Christ ate a dinner, a supper of some kind, wi His disciples. Wiin hours afterward, He was arrested and He was sentenced to dea e following morning. He was hanged on a stake, and by sunset of e following evening, He was dead. Whatever afternoon on which He died, at day was leading up to a Holy Day. A Holy Day was going to begin, because He died on a preparation day for a Holy Day. What else do we know? I am just putting ese pieces togeer, because I am going to fill it all out to show you e chain of logic which is unbreakable. What about Christ's resurrection? Why do we need to go back and talk about Christ's resurrection? I ought we were talking about wheer e Passover is on e 14 or e 15. Now, we are going to go all e way up and talk about His resurrection? Interestingly, is hit me very strongly when I was going rough all of is material and trying to pull all of ese pieces togeer to present it in a logical fashion for you. You know what e best evidence is at Christ kept e Passover on e 13

14 14? It comes from understanding at Christ was in e tomb for ree days and ree nights. Did you know at? We already went rough at several sermons ago, on e resurrection of Christ, in order to demonstrate at He was not resurrected on a Sunday morning. However, did you also know at it is e crucial piece at helps us know when Christ kept e Passover? Those ree days and ree nights are e key in e story. It is at very piece which all of ese supposed scholars of e world fail to recognize and to admit, which not only prevents em from knowing when Christ was resurrected, but also when He kept e Passover. Can I prove it? Yes. Remember, Jesus Christ said one sign of His messiahship was at, as Jonah was in e belly of e whale for ree days and ree nights, so would e Son of man be in e heart of e ear. Three days and ree nights; not a minute sooner, not a minute later; not more, not less. I went rough all of at wi you. You can go back and review ose tapes for e technicalities. It was ree days and ree nights seventy-two hours. No less and no more. When was Christ resurrected? Well, we know at He was gone from at tomb resurrected no later an Sunday morning. The account again, is at Mary Magdalene and e oers came at dawn on Sunday morning, e first day of e week, and what did ey find? They found an empty tomb, because He had risen. Ok, so He was gone by Sunday morning. No later an Sunday morning, He was resurrected. We also know at He was ree days and ree nights in e tomb, and at was e only sign at He gave of His messiahship. So we are not going to try and get around at. We are going to accept at as e basis, and at is how we are going to come to an understanding of Passover, believe it or not. What time of day was He put in at tomb? It was right at or right before sunset. On whatever day it was let's not address at right now He was put in e tomb right before, or immediately at, e setting of e sun. We have already proved ose ings in e past. If He was placed in e tomb at e going down of e sun, when was He resurrected? Regardless of how many days, doesn't it also have to be at sundown? If it is seventy-two hours later, it has to be equal increments of time. If you believe in e ree days and ree nights, en He was placed in e tomb at sundown and He was resurrected at sundown. If you believe in parts of days and parts of nights, en 14

15 you are going to believe in a Sunday resurrection or someing else; but en again, you have to leave out a very crucial point at we are not going to do. Three days and ree nights, and He was resurrected sometime before Sunday morning. When is e closest sundown to Sunday morning? Saturday night at sundown. Saturday night at sundown is when He came out of e grave. What is seventy-two hours back from Saturday night at sundown? Well, let's count back. From Saturday night, Friday night is one day, Thursday night is e second day, and Wednesday night at sundown is day ree e day we know absolutely at He was put into e tomb. We know all of ose ings because of what God did provide. We know at He was resurrected before e rising of e sun on Sunday, e first day of e week. He was in e tomb for ree days and ree nights. Therefore, ere is no oer conclusion if you believe all of ose ings and take em at face value at He was put into e tomb Wednesday, right at or just before sundown. Therefore, we have already seen at e day Christ died was a preparation day for a Holy Day, correct? If Wednesday was e day He was put into e tomb, and Wednesday was e preparation for a Holy Day, what day of e week was e Holy Day at year in whatever year Christ died? Thursday beginning at sundown on Wednesday and ending at sundown on Thursday was e first day of Unleavened Bread, e feast day. If Christ died on a Wednesday, which we have just proven, when did He eat e supper wi His disciples? When did He eat e supper wi His disciples, if He died on e afternoon of Wednesday? Wasn't it at e beginning of Wednesday or e end of Tuesday? It was e night before. That is why I showed you all of ose scriptures. He had a supper wi His disciples; wiin hours, He was arrested, taken into custody, tried, convicted and hanged on e stake; and He was dead before sundown of e same day, whatever day He ate at supper. That supper was on Wednesday, which was a preparation for e Holy Day, and what day is e Holy Day? The 15 of e mon of God's calendar. So, what was e preparation day's date? If e 15 was Thursday, beginning Wednesday night, en e 14 was e 14 of e mon of Nisan or Abib. Christ was crucified and died at e end of Wednesday e 14 ; erefore, e supper He was eating wi His disciples was on e beginning of e 14. At e end of e 13 when e sun went down, e 14 day began. His hour had come, He sat down and He ate e Passover meal wi His disciples. 15

16 Is at what all four accounts Matew, Mark, Luke and John tell you? Yes. It fits harmoniously togeer and it is e only answer at fits, in spite of what all of e conflicting scholars will try and tell you. It fits at Matew, Mark and Luke all said He was keeping e Passover service. Yes, He was. It fits wi what John said, at Christ was eating His supper before e Passover not e proper Passover, but e Passover of e Jews. Or, it could be at e term "Passover" in John refers to e Days of Unleavened Bread. It could be eier way, because we have proved at you cannot use e term "Passover" or "Unleavened Bread" to try and distinguish exactly what it is referring to. However, e account in John fits at it was e night before, at ere was a preparation day leading to a Holy Day, and at Christ was eating e Passover wi His disciples on e beginning of e 14. There is your proof, breren, right ere. It tells you absolutely at Christ was keeping a Passover and at it was before e beginning of e Holy Day. The 14 was e preparation for e Holy Day. He was in e tomb ree days and ree nights. He was resurrected Saturday night at sundown, and He was already gone from e tomb before e first human beings saw e empty tomb on Sunday morning. That is how it all fits togeer. Notice one oer historical resource: e Nicene and Post-Nicene Faers, Volume 14, page 56, written by Schaff and Wace. To set e stage for it, is work is speaking of e Quartodeciman controversy which was going on years later. It was is same dispute over e 14 versus e 15 and what was appropriate. This was when e church had gone apostate, at e time of e first Bishops of Rome and different individuals who were pushing to establish Easter. They were trying to stamp out all observance of e 14. It was a great movement to amalgamate all of e "Christian churches" (ey were still called Christian at e time) to keep e same date for Passover, or for Easter really. That is what was going on at is time, and here is what it says: "At e same time also was generally established, e opinion so little entertained by e ancient auorities of e Church..." Meaning, whatever was being promulgated as e popular ought of e day, was someing opposed to what had been believed by e ancient auorities of e church. "... one might even say, so strongly in contradiction to eir teaching..." What was e contradictory teaching from what e ancients believed? "... at Christ partook of e passover on e 14 Nisan, at he died on e 15..." That is what ey were trying to get people to believe. 16

17 They were willing to admit at Christ ate it on e 14, but ey believed He died on e 15 however ey figured at one. This is what ey wrote: "... at Christ partook of e passover on e 14 Nisan, at he died on e 15 (not on e 14, as e ancients considered)..." What was is new philosophy in opposition to? That which was ascribed to e ancients in e church, who taught at Christ died on e 14. If Christ died on e 14, when did He keep e Passover? On e 14 as well e beginning of e 14. Then, He died toward e end of e 14. Do we base our confidence on historical writings? No. However, you see, ere are enough nuggets of interesting support, even for e tru, at it is wor using it sometimes. Our confidence is not in at at all. We believe what we believe because at is what we heard from e servant who opened up e knowledge of ese ings from e Bible to all of us in is last decade. There is no question, breren, at we heard e tru. There is nobody else at understood and was able to put ese pieces togeer. While e rest of ese religions and scholars are left to fight over who is right, we can laugh at all of it and say, "There is no contradiction; ey all fit perfectly togeer and show a tapestry of unity." It is all e inspired word of God, and it all meshes togeer. The only ing you have to do in order to see it, is give up your preconceived ideas at Christ was keeping a Passover on e 15, or at He wasn't in e grave for ree days and ree nights, at He was crucified on a Friday, or all of e oer false assumptions at are in all of ese writings. That is e ing at amazes me when I read ese historical writings and all of ese conjuring ideas; ey have certain facts or certain logic strings. They are trying to be very logical; e problem is, eir logic is embedded upon a presumption ey start wi in eir minds. This is e foundational tru, and ey build everying upon at. Any logical string built upon an error, ends in error. Only if you get rid of all e error and start clean, from scratch, and are willing to accept what e Bible tells you, are you going to find it. The problem is, human beings can't do it. God intentionally hid it so ey can't. It makes it at much more spectacular and awe-inspiring to recognize at a man like Herbert Armstrong, who was not a Bible scholar at all, came to understand ese ings and taught em to us. It is amazing. What about what Israel did? What night was e Passover at ancient Israel kept? Were ey keeping e Passover on e beginning of e 14 or were ey 17

18 keeping it at e beginning of e 15? Well, if we have demonstrated to your satisfaction at Christ was keeping e Passover and at He was keeping it on e beginning of e 14, what do you ink Israel was doing? Somehow I suspect ey were doing e same ing. Leviticus 23:4 6; here is e command: These are e feasts of e Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in eir seasons. In e fourteen day of e first mon at even is e Lord's passover. When is e Passover? Is it e 15 or is it e 14? "In e fourteen day" could at be any more clear? In e fourteen day of e first mon at even is e Lord's passover. And on e fifteen day of e same mon is e feast of unleavened bread unto e Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Passover is on e 14 ; e feast of Unleavened Bread begins on e 15 and lasts for seven days. Scholars defending e Jewish tradition, which many of em do, attempt to say at e Passover was killed on e afternoon of e 14, but en eaten after e sun went down on e beginning of e 15. How do ey come to is conclusion, at e Passover is to be killed on e 14, but en eaten on e 15? Where does it come from? Well, I am going to tell you, breren, before we get into it, at if you want to believe, or have an inclination to believe at e Passover was killed by e Israelites on e 14 and eaten on e 15, en ere are ree ings you are going to have to believe. I will tell you, before we get to em, what ey are: 1) You are going to have to believe at "sunset" means noon. Are you willing to do at? When e Bible says "sunset," you are going to have to believe it means noontime. 2) You are going to have to believe at when e Bible says "morning," it really means night. 3) When e Bible says "night," you are going to have to believe it means morning. Now, if at is not too much of a stretch for you, en you are perfectly configured to accept e killing of e Passover on e afternoon of e 14 and e 18

19 eating of it on e beginning of e 15. Those are e only ree ings you have to believe. If you have a problem wi at, en you are going to have no oer alternative an to believe, even technically, at e Passover was ordained to be on e beginning of e 14 and at it was e next night at Israel left Egypt in haste. Let's see it. Exodus 12:1 13: And e Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in e land of Egypt saying, This mon shall be unto you e beginning of mons: it shall be e first mon of e year to you. Speak ye unto all e congregation of Israel, saying, In e ten day of is mon ey shall take to em every man a lamb, according to e house of eir faers, a lamb for an house: And if e household be too little for e lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to e number of e souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for e lamb. Your lamb shall be wiout blemish, a male of e first year: ye shall take it out from e sheep, or from e goats: And ye shall keep it up until e fourteen day of e same mon [Here is what ey are supposed to do wi is sacrificial lamb.]: and e whole assembly of e congregation of Israel shall kill it in e evening. When are ey going to kill it? They are going to kill it in e evening, and it is an evening somehow associated wi e 14. You keep it up until e 14, and en e congregation is to kill it in e evening. That term "in e evening" is e basis for more wrangling and bitter fighting an you could ever imagine. We will get to at in a moment. And ey shall take of e blood, and strike it on e two side posts and on e upper door post of e houses, wherein ey shall eat it. And ey shall eat e flesh in at night... Whatever is evening is, ey are supposed to kill it in e evening and ey are supposed to eat it at night. And ey shall eat e flesh in at night, roast wi fire, and unleavened bread; and wi bitter herbs ey shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all wi water, but roast wi fire; his head wi his legs, and wi e purtenance ereof. And ye shall let noing of it remain until e 19

20 morning; and at which remaine of it until e morning ye shall burn wi fire. [Anoer important point.] And us shall ye eat it; wi your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is e [Eternal's] passover. [That is what e command is, and it is called e "Passover."] For I will pass rough e land of Egypt is night, and will smite all e firstborn in e land of Egypt, bo man and beast; and against all e gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am e [Eternal]. And e blood shall be to you for a token upon e houses where ye are: and when I see e blood, I will pass over you, and e plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite e land of Egypt. This command, if Israel followed and kept it as God ordained, was going to save eir lives. The Egyptians were going to be smitten and e Israelites were going to be saved. It had to do wi taking e sacrificial lamb and following e instructions properly. Well, how do we know when is evening was? Was is evening e beginning of e 14 or e end of e 14? You don't have to turn to it, but you know what scriptures e church always taught us in order to know how God defines a day. Genesis 1:5 is one of em. It says, "... e evening and e morning were e first day." There are scholars who even want to debate over is, believe it or not. I read e writings of one at was written about 1946 and published in The Jewish Quarterly Review. He wants to make e case at e commands of God were never to count a day from sunset to sunset. It was always supposed to be from dawn to dawn. He had a very convoluted explanation, even of Genesis 1. He claimed at when it says e evening and e morning were e first day, it really did not mean e day started at nighttime and was fulfilled in a twenty-four hour period, ending in e daylight. If ere is anying you want to believe, I guarantee you at somebody has written a paper on it. It has noing to do wi tru. No, e evening and e morning as e first day tells us. Let's took at Leviticus 23:32 as well. This is e strongest evidence we have always used to define how God counts time, as far as a day is concerned. It is e command to keep e Day of Atonement. Leviticus 23:32: It shall be unto you a sabba of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in e nin day of e mon at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabba. 20

21 What does at tell you? The term here, "at even" e word "even" is e Hebrew word ereb or erev, depending on e anglicized rendering means "evening, night or sunset." Now, if you kept your finger back in Exodus 12:6, we want to talk about ese two renderings of e word "even." In Exodus 12:6, when e instructions said to "keep it up until e fourteen day of e same mon: and e whole assembly of e congregation of Israel shall kill it in e evening," it is a variation of at same word ereb, ere. It has to do wi someing called "evening." Are we talking about sunset? Was is an instruction to tell e Israelites at ey were to kill eir lambs when e sun went down, or is it talking about someing else? What do e Jews and oers tell you at is term means? There is a distinction between e use of e word ereb or erev in Leviticus 23 and Exodus 12. In Leviticus 23, e preposition at goes wi ereb is ba. It means literally "at sundown." That is what ba ereb means "at sundown." Doesn't at make sense, because when do we keep e Day of Atonement? Is it not from sundown to sundown, a twenty-four hour period? From sundown to sundown at is when we keep e Day of Atonement ba ereb. Unfortunately, ba ereb is not what is used in Exodus 12:6. It is a different preposition. There, e phrase for "in e evening" is actually e Hebrew phrase ben haerevim or haerebim, eier one. Ben haerevim is translated "between e two evenings." I know you have heard is phrase "between e two evenings," and it is e source of great controversy. What do e Jews believe is "between e two evenings" means? They believe at it means "noon to sunset." The first evening is when e sun starts to decline in e sky, after it has come to its full position above you at noon. When it starts to make its descent in e afternoon, at is e first evening or when evening begins. The evening is when e sun begins to wane in e day. Then, e second evening is e literal sunset. Therefore, ey believe e instruction here in Exodus was at ey were to kill e Passover lambs on e afternoon of e 14. That is where ey get it. It is an interpretation of is Hebrew term ben haerevim. The problem is, it doesn't hold water. Not at all. Yes, ben haerevim means "between e two evenings," but when we are talking about evening even wi is particular phrase we are still talking about sunset in a period of dusk and twilight. 21

22 Ben haerevim refers specifically to e period between e time at e sun sets and nightfall sets in. It is what we call dusk or twilight e time after which e sun sets, but before all light is gone when ere is still some light by which you can see. That is e time we call twilight, which is what it means. Can we prove it, or can we at least prove at is is e point in time when God intended for e Passover lambs to be sacrificed? Yes, we can. Ben haerevim, is term "between e two evenings," is used eleven times in e Old Testament, including Exodus 12:6 which we have just been reading, and Leviticus 23:5 when I began wi e command for keeping e Passover. We read, "In e fourteen day of e first mon at even is e [Eternal's] passover." That is also e term "between e two evenings." What does it mean? For ose who have done all of is wrangling to tell you at it means "noon to sunset," how did at even come about? Well, one explanation is at from e time e Jews "templeized" e keeping of e Passover which made it so at all of e lambs, raer an being killed by each family, had to be brought to e temple what obviously would have happened? If ey had interpreted e law correctly, to say at all of ose Passover lambs had to be killed at sundown, during twilight or dusk, you have a very narrow window of time. Now, if for purposes of controlling e temple and e people, all of ose Passover lambs had to be sacrificed at e temple, you would run into a problem, wouldn't you? A big bottleneck. How many ousands of lambs would have to be sacrificed in a very narrow period of time, wi only so many priests who could do e work? It is a natural progression to see how it might have been possible for e Jews to come up wi is interpretation. If, really, what e inspired scriptures said was at you killed e lambs between noon and sundown, you have all of ose extra hours to kill all of ose lambs in e temple. It makes sense to me. I can see how e mind of man would have easily worked to come up wi at scenario, but is at what God commanded? Is at what He expected e Israelites to do? No, He instructed Israel to kill eir own lambs, and He told em to kill em in e evening. Did at mean sunset or did it mean at noon or early afternoon? Here is e one scripture ey do not like to address Deuteronomy 16:6. This is anoer command for keeping e Passover, and let's see what it says: 22

23 "But at e place which e Lord y God shall choose to place his name in, ere ou shalt sacrifice e passover at even..." Between e two evenings, right? Nope, not a bit. This is not e term ben haerevim at all. It is e term at we found in Leviticus 23:32, defining how to keep e Day of Atonement. It is e Hebrew preposition and noun ba ereb, not ben haerevim. Here, in Deuteronomy 16:6, it is ba ereb, which means literally at sunset. Now, in case anyone still has a question, it is as if God provided e answer in e inspired word in case someone still wasn't clear what He wanted. Look at e very next phrase: But at e place which e Lord y God shall choose to place his name in, ere ou shalt sacrifice e passover at even [ba ereb, at sunset], at e going down of e sun... "... at e going down of e sun" what does at mean? Does at mean noon? Does at mean 3:00 in e afternoon? Or, are we talking about what it says, "e going down of e sun"? You have ba ereb, meaning "sunset," and a furer certification in e next phrase, "e going down of e sun." That phrase, "e going down of e sun," is e Hebrew expression bo hashamesh, meaning "when e sun goes down." When do you sacrifice e Passover lamb? When e sun goes down, at sunset. That is what ba ereb, bo hashamesh means. That is still not enough for e scholars. I read a paper at we got off e Internet, in which ey interpret all around is very scripture and still try to claim at is is saying "between noon and sunset." It is e most convoluted explanation I have ever seen amazing. People get in eir minds what ey believe, and it is e only ing ey are going to believe. Tru and common sense will not prevail; such is e human mind. You, breren, however, do not need to be confused, because Deuteronomy 16:6 takes away e doubt, even technically. So, if it is sundown if sunset means sunset and not noon en what was God's command to e children of Israel? If e Passover lambs were to be killed at sunset, when e sun went down, and between e two evenings, en ose have to mean e same ing because bo were commands in Exodus and Deuteronomy. One used "between e two evenings" and one used "at sunset," ba ereb. They obviously mean e same ing because it is one command for e killing of e 23