Significant lessons about Yahweh’s plan and your life can be found in the Passover and Feast.
Seeking signs and wonders to get closer to Yahweh and His Word is not the way to acquire more Bible truth leading to life everlasting. Yet, that is how thousands believe they can find salvation.
When True Worshipers do great miracles they will not flaunt their successes or sing their own praises on television or radio. Scripture plainly tells us, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Prov. 27:2).
Unholy “miracles” will be so convincing, however, that even the very elect would come close to being deceived, said our Savior inMatthew 24:24. Signs and wonders by themselves are not absolute proof, and He warned that they can in fact be Satan’s masterful deceptions.
Acts 3:20-21 foretells of a return to Bible truth in the days before the appearance of the Messiah. “And he shall send Yahshua the Messiah, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which Elohim has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
We at YRM are dedicated to returning to the teachings and practices of Yahshua and the Apostles that have been neglected for 2,000 years. Truth is much more than an emotional response to miracles and great acts of wonder, healings, and unexplained phenomena. It involves changing lives to conform to the life of Yahshua the Messiah.
Bibles Everywhere Go Unread
The abrupt return to the message of the Bible will likely be brought about by some significant event or discovery that will verify the truths of the Book that the world in general ignores. Most homes in this country have at least one Bible and most all public libraries have multiple copies of the Bible. But the general population is ignorant of the Scriptures that reveal to man the very mind of Almighty Yahweh. Something will occur that will call worldwide attention to this Book of books.
It may be that more revelations unearthed in archaeological digs will attract even greater interest in the Bible. There could likely be more fascinating bits of information soon coming to light that will reveal facts about the dark period of history following the first hundred years after the Savior’s ascension to the heavens.
Very little is known about the second century following the days of the Messiah. Yet it was during this time that truth became corrupted and the early assembly became infused with heresies and paganism that would put the early “church” on an entirely different course.
Passover’s Revelations
Serious students of the Bible know that Passover was not something that just happened in Egypt. It was foretold and foreordained long before by Yahweh Himself. Passover is the beginning of the seven annual festal observances given to mankind by our Almighty Creator.
In the creation account in Genesis we read of the preparation that Yahweh made for Passover and the ensuing Feasts. “And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night,· and let them be for signs, and for seasons [Hebrew = moed), and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14).
The Hebrew “moed” means appointed times. Yahweh has set aside certain time periods throughout the year when He meets with His people. Many are unaware of these appointed times because churchianity has ignored them and left them untaught.
But to understand Passover and the other annual appointed days is to uncover our great Creator’s master design recorded for us in the Scriptures.
A Promise to Abraham
Abram is called the Father of the faithful. The Bible focuses on him and his family. It follows his progeny not only in the Book of Genesis but also through the entirety of the Old Testament in the history of fleshly Israelites. In fact, the New Testament continues with the spiritual seed, the “called-out” spiritual Israelites. This fundamental truth, very basic to the Scriptures, is unknown by most today.
Abram lived in the worldly city of Ur in ancient Babylon. Ur means “moon-city” and was a great cosmopolitan center where worship of many deities and pagan teachings flourished. “Now Yahweh had said unto Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, unto a land that I will shew you” (Gen. 12:1).
Then follows the wonderful promise made to Abraham of making his progeny a great nation, filled with blessings, and in him all families of the earth would be blessed. Abram obeyed and departed with Lot his nephew, Genesis 12:2-4.
Paul writes in Galatians 3:8 that this was the evangel that was first preached on earth. Many preachers imply the “gospel” is the New Testament teaching as opposed to the Old Testament’s teaching of Law and sacrifices. But Paul said the “gospel” began back with faithful Abram.
The blessings that would come through Abraham and his seed included the Israelite families, Moses the Law-giver and Yahshua the Messiah, Savior of the world. This is the true “Evangel” and is taught from Genesis to Revelation.
Passover, Abraham, and Israel
Passover was not just an event that occurred in Egypt and just “happened” to be in the spring. It was foretold at least 400 years before that, and indications are that other events took place that were forerunners of these later occurrences. When Abram left Haran, he took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew and “all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” Abram left Haran, the city of Ur of the Chaldees (called the city of the moon-deity) with his wife and nephew, along with their servants who were sheep-herders and cattlemen.
Some 400 years later the Israelites left Ramses of Egypt on Abib fifteen (Num. 33:3) and started for the Promised Land with all their goods and families, including a “mixed multitude,” Numbers 11.
Furthermore, it has been suggested that Abram left Ur the very same day, the fifteenth of Abib, arriving at Shechem on the Feast of weeks, Genesis 12:6-7. There he built an altar unto Yahweh. Some scholars understand that the places where Abram stopped signify annual Feast days: Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.
Amazing Parallels
Genesis 12:20 tells of Abram, with his family, being thrust out of Egypt, just as were the Israelites 430 years later, Exodus 12:33. Both were increased with wealth as they left Egypt. Furthermore, Yahshua Himself was taken to Egypt and then was called out of there also: “When [Joseph} arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of Yahweh by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matt. 2:14-15).
When Yahweh introduces His Covenant to Israel, note how He describes Himself: “I [am] Yahweh your Elohim, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Ex. 20:2). Not only did Yahweh bring Abram out of Egypt, Israel out of Egypt, and Yahshua out of Egypt, but through His Word He is also calling YOU out of the Egypt of this world! He is asking you to forsake the ways of the world and take up His way of life and follow in the footsteps of His pattern Son Who also was brought out of Egypt.
We may not all be the fleshly seed of Abraham, the “dust of the earth” (Gen. 13: 16), but we certainly strive to be the spiritual Israelites, the celestial “stars of the heavens” (Gen. 15:5). This we can be if we keep His Commandments and have the faith of Yahshua, Revelation 14:12. This includes observing the Feast days of Leviticus 23.
When Yahweh made the Covenant with Abram in Genesis 12, He emphasized that He was Yahweh and that Abram’s seed would be strangers in a land that was not theirs, and afflicted 400 years.“And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt” (Ex. 12:41). The Israelites were not made slaves immediately; it took some time, likely a period of 30 years. Over this time the situation had changed. Joseph had died, and the Hyksos (“foreign rulers”) who knew not Joseph took over rulership of Egypt, Exodus 1:8.
Significantly, prophecy was fulfilled to the very day—the same day Abram left Ur and the Israelites left Egypt!
Spring and the Passover
Passover marks the beginning of the Annual Holy Days in Yahweh’s program for mankind. It comes in the spring of the year. Passover always falls on the fourteenth of the month Abib (Hebrew,meaning “green ears” of barley grain). Abib begins the year in Yahweh’s plan when the northern hemisphere comes to life again after the winter season.
The grass greens, the trees bud and the leaves and fruit follow. The birds build their nests, animals are born, and the warming sun stirs the earth to life once again. Yahweh established spring to begin the new year, not January in the dead of cold winter.
The Feast Before Sinai
Yahweh’s plan for the redemption of mankind began with Abram. Abram was chosen by Yahweh and told to leave his family, leave his friends, leave the land he knew, and he would be shown a new homeland. Yet he would be a stranger in the land as he continued to seek the heavenly Jerusalem, Hebrews 11:8-10.
Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread had special significance for Abraham. Genesis 18 describes him as sitting in the tent door among the oaks of Mamre. When three celestial beings appeared, he recognized one of them as Yahweh Himself! Abraham quickly told Sarah to make unleavened cakes while he fetched a young calf and fed his guests; Genesis 18:6-8.
The Book of Judges tells of Gideon also preparing unleavened cakes for the Angel of Yahweh who appeared to him, Judges 6: 19. The appointed times (Hebrew: moedim) are a special time when Yahweh has met with His people and will commune in the future.
Isaac is promised to be born of Sarah at “this set time” (moed) in the next year, Genesis 17 :21. The promise is given to Abraham that this Being (Yahweh) will return “according to the time of life” (Gen. 18:10), which is understood to mean in spring, when the earth comes to life.
The promise is repeated in .Genesis 18:14, “the time of life”is the Passover season and days of Unleavened Bread.
When the two angels continued to Sodom, Lot met them and baked unleavened bread for them, Genesis 19:1-3. Lot’s family was taken out of Sodom and protected while the sinful city was destroyed by fire and brimstone.
Some 400 years later the land of Egypt was stricken with 10 plagues, each of which was directed against specific deities of Egypt. Yahweh showed that He is more powerful than all the deities of Egypt. The blood on the doors of the Israelites protected them while the Egyptian firstborn were slain.
Israel was brought out of Egypt, while Pharaoh and his armies—who were in the worldly opposition—were destroyed in the Red Sea.
Significant Season
We see a pattern here. Spring is the time when the earth comes back to life in this northern hemisphere. It is the time when Sodom and the sister cities were destroyed and only Lot and his family were led out of harm’s way. Neither Sodom nor Egypt could interfere with Yahweh’s plan for His people.
Abraham’s son Isaac was born to him at this time of year, Genesis 21:2. Passover season is the starting point of our walk with Yahweh. We accept the shed blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Then we keep seven days of unleavened bread therewith (in addition to Passover), Deuteronomy 16:3. We feed on the “Bread of Life” seven more days, learning of Him and walking in His ways. We overcome the temptations and meet the trials of life and help others along the way.
Spring is a time of coming alive. Just as the foliage brings forth fruit, we are to bear much fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles in the fall of the year is the time for the ingathering of fruit and symbolizes the coming Millennial Kingdom with Yahshua ruling with a rod of iron, Revelation 2:26-27.
Watching What We Ingest
Passover begins on Abib 14. Paul cautioned us not to gorge ourselves at this time, but to take a token amount of the fruit of the vine, and a token amount of unleavened bread as a memorial of the Saviour’s broken body and shed blood.
Then follow the seven days of Unleavened Bread where we examine all the doctrines we believe, making certain all are based on the Bible and not teachings of men. It is much like a spring housecleaning. We cannot partake of the emblems of the Saviour’s death and continue our sinful ways.
Unleavened Bread reminds us to check everything we eat to make certain it is proper food for the remnant of Israel. We become “label-readers” as we confirm the food we take is in accord with Yahweh’s Word. In a spiritual sense we are to do the same thing. We are to verify that those things we believe are not leavened with “hypocrisy or formalism; erroneous doctrine or teachings; political religion or worldliness,” as noted in Dr. Bullinger’s Bible comments on leaven, page 1338.
If you have not kept the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread, we urge you to seek Yahweh’s truth seriously. Start calling on Yahshua’s Name, the only name in Scripture that promises salvation, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The Choice Is Yours Now
Yahweh is still working with His people, calling certain ones out of the world to keep the days that He Himself ordained. These annual observances will be kept and taught in the Millennial Kingdom, Ezekiel 45:21-25; Zechariah 14:16-18; Hosea 12:9. They were never abolished, and neither are they just for Jews.
One can elect to keep the weekly and annual Sabbaths in this life, learning what to do, when to do it, and have a closer walk now with the Savior. Remember, He also kept these days in His earthlysojourn. He likely will return at the time of one of Yahweh’s sacred appointments (moedim) at the sound of the trumpet, 1Thessalonians 4:16.
Become a part of the kingdom of priests who will be teaching others in the sovereignty of Yahweh (Rev. 5:10; 20:6). Those who resist will be forced to keep these days in the kingdom under severe penalties. You have a choice now. Choose life by obeying Yahweh and conforming to His Word.
by Donald R. Mansager
