The Passover and the Signs of the Times*

     As this Passover season approached, we have seen several unusual signs from God. We have witnessed an unusual solar eclipse, the second eclipse since 2017, along with warfare in the Middle East involving nations that have been mentioned in Bible prophecies. While we never set dates for the Lord's return, Jesus told the Pharisees and Sadducees to heed the signs that had been given to them: "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky (for the weather); but can ye not discern the signs of the times?...there shall no sign be given...but the sign of the prophet Jonas." (Mt. 16:1-4). The sign of Jonah to which Jesus referred, was the resurrection of Jesus after three days in the grave.

     One of the prophetic signs that we see today connected to the last days is the prevalence of scoffers of the faith: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet. 3:1-4, excerpt). Even many believers do not live as if Jesus was soon to return, or of the prophesied catastrophic judgment by fire. Peter wrote that we were to stay steadfast not only to the words of the prophets, but to the commands of the apostles, which both testify of Christ's return and the judgment of the ungodly. Those who choose not to believe that either of these events will occur do so willingly because it is inconvenient to their corrupt way of life to believe it. However, there is overwhelming evidence that God previously judged the wickedness of the world with a universal flood of water. Why deny the truth that He will judge the world again but this time by fire? (v. 5-10). The scoffers do not take into consideration that the judgment seems slow in coming because: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). For this very reason, Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, was sent by the Father to provide the way to forgiveness and salvation for those who will believe in Him. This was the most gracious gift ever given to all mankind if we will accept it.

     However, the escalation of the signs tells us that the prophetic clock is ticking down. Peter provides an indication of this prophetic timeline in his statement: "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (v. 8). Using this revelation, it is thought that the prophetic timeline is seven thousand years, reflected prophetically in the seven days of creation. The last three thousand years of this timeline are made up of the two thousand years since Christ's death and resurrection, which brings us up to today, and the final one thousand years will be Christ's millennial reign here on earth after His return.

     The scoffers will scoff as a sign to us, but as for believers in Christ, Peter wrote: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (v. 11-12). This description is very similar to that of a nuclear holocaust, but it was written two thousand years ago by a fisherman! However, this humble fisherman was called by Jesus and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

     Peter also warned that we would see an increase of false teachers and false prophets, even those who deny the Lord completely because of their covetousness and desire for riches. They will speak evil things about the Lord, and many will follow after them because of their lusts to the destruction of them all. If the Lord did not spare others who sinned in this manner, He will not spare them. (2 Pet. 2:1-6). Even in the middle of the destruction of the ungodly, though, the Lord saved the righteous out of it (v. 8-9). We saw the anger of Jesus break out against those who, through covetousness, bought and sold in the temple of God. He overturned their tables and drove them out of the temple with whips made of cords. Jesus proclaimed that God's house was to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.

     Jesus observed the true meaning of the Passover with His disciples. He was about to be betrayed by Judas and crucified, yet He stated to His disciples: "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Lk. 22:1-16). As the Lamb of God, publicly declared to be so by John the Baptist, and as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world identified in the Book of Revelation, Jesus began to reveal the Passover to His disciples: "He took the cup (of unity), and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took the bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after dinner (the cup of redemption), saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (v. 17-20). We see the broken bread in the Passover Seder, which is the middle of three matzo (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), wrapped together in linen in the Unity Bag. The middle matzo (the Son) is broken, wrapped in linen separately, and hidden away temporarily. This is a reflection of Christ's burial after death, but resurrection after three days. As a Christian, do you observe the Passover? 

     The LORD commanded Moses regarding the Passover in Ex. 12:1-14. The Israelites were to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts and lintels of their houses to protect them from the plague of death of the firstborn which God would send throughout the land of Egypt. Immediately afterwards, Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt and hard bondage in slavery, as the LORD had promised. The Israelites were to observe the Passover forever in all their generations so they would remember how the LORD had delivered them by His might. The observance of Passover did not end when Jesus came into the world, as we saw above. A physical lamb preserved the Israelites, but it is Jesus, the Passover Lamb, who preserves us.

     Although it may appear that the Passover is separate from our belief in Resurrection, the LORD has prophesied that they will be joined together. The prophet Ezekiel was told to gather two sticks: upon one he was to write "Judah", and the other stick was to represent "Ephraim", the son of Joseph. Ephraim's mother was not an Israelite but a Gentile. In the prophet's hand, these two sticks were to be joined together and made one (see also Rom. 2:28-29, Rom. 10:11-13). They would become a nation, cleansed from defilement of idols and the LORD said: "...I will save them out of all their dwelling places, and cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant...and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them...and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. (Ezek. 37:15-28). We see here the cleansing from sin, one shepherd and one king from the line of David. This shepherd and king from the line of David is the Messiah/Christ Jesus. We haven't seen the completion of the return to the land as the LORD promised here, but we are in the process of it. This also is a sign to us.

     Ezekiel also gives us a prophetic glimpse into a coming war with Israel that will include Russia (Gog, Magog, Tubal, Meshech), Persia (Iran), and other nations who will attack Israel. This is to take place "in the latter years". (Ezek. 38:1-8). The prophet Zechariah also spoke of all the nations coming against Israel. Ezekiel wrote that the LORD's fury will be expressed with great hailstones, fire, and brimstone so that the LORD will magnify himself, "and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD." (v. 29).

     Psalm 118 is one of the psalms sung on Passover. It is a psalm that gives thanks to the LORD for His enduring mercy. Just as on the first Passover, the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts provided mercy and life for those on the inside of it, while judgment and destruction were being visited upon Egypt outside of that door. This psalm also recognizes God's mercy towards His people, while compassing (sabab - surround, encircle, enclose, envelop, beset on every side) nations are destroyed in the name of the LORD (v. 10-12). The psalmist declares that he puts his trust and confidence in the LORD rather than men and leaders, and called upon the LORD who answered him (v. 5-6, 8-9). The psalmist also wrote: "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD...Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD...I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation (Yesua). The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes (see also Mt. 21:42, Acts 4:10-13). This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee...Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar...I will exalt thee. O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." This psalm calls upon and rejoices in the salvation (Yesua - the Hebrew name of Jesus) of the LORD during Passover.

     The Old Testament, as it is called, is not excluded from belief in Christ, as we have seen above. In fact, Paul wrote: "For Christ is the end (telos - to set out for a definite point or goal) of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Rom. 10:4). Jesus said of Himself that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. The Jewish people observe the feasts of the LORD, like Passover, while we know that Jesus is the goal as that Lamb that was sacrificed so that His blood could cleanse us of sin and death. This is the Good News of Passover for all: the Lamb was slain before the foundation to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He IS our Passover, and the day is coming when that door will be shut and those outside the door in that day will not be allowed to enter. As the day approaches, the Lord has given us signs to alert us. Don't ignore the signs.

   *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 4/21/24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.