In 1991 Destiny Image published a book by Lou Berthleson titled Holiness for these Awesome Days; and a book by Dan Juster titled Revelation, The Passover Key. The first work outlined a fascinating series of parallels between the first Passover at the time of the Exodus and the Passover of Jesus death and resurrection. Dan Juster in his book examines parallels between the Passover at the exodus and the Book of Revelation especially the Second Coming. What I hope to do in this article is to combine these insights and expand on them sharing what the Lord has shown me. And basically it is this. There are common elements between Exodus and the Gospels, common elements between the Exodus and Revelation, and common elements between the gospels and the Second coming. Once you lay these all out it becomes clear that there is a prophetic pattern in all three. I call this the passover pattern.
Lou Berthleson found that Jesus' death and resurrection at the Passover season followed patterns set in place by Moses' actions at the first Passover.
He goes into great detail and lays out some very interesting correspondences. Then he follows on to examine the feast of Pentecost, and it’s fulfillment in the Book of Acts. He also presents a fascinating discussion of Tabernacles and the typology used in the bible and Jewish traditions.
Dan Juster’s book is a look at Revelation which sees the events therein as foreshadowed by the events and patterns of the Passover-Exodus. He sees the situation of the Church of the Last Days as parallel to Israel in Egypt before the Exodus, and also parallel to the Church under Roman Empire in the first and second centuries.
Juster outlines four main approached to interpreting Revelation. These are as follows.
The Symbolic Approach:
This approach looks to the book primarily to gain insight into the nature of spiritual opposition and struggle at all times and for all believers. Through this method, all believers undergoing persecution or duress may be encouraged toward the ultimate victory of Jesus and His Kingdom. Those of this school shun historical, or prophetic past or future identifications for the symbols and content of the book.
The Preterist Approach:
This approach views the book as presenting the spiritual struggle of the first century believers with the Roman Empire and Jewish opposition. It is believed that the prophetic content of the book is fully past, excepting the literal return of Jesus the Messiah.
The Historical Approach:
This approach sees the book as representing the progress of history from the time of the Ascension of Jesus the Messiah until His second coming and the establishment of the New Jerusalem. Days and calculations in the book are seen as symbolic of years.
The Futurist Approach:
This approach sees the book, especially after chapter four, as representing the last great tribulation before the return of Jesus.
These approaches to Revelation are used by people of widely differing theological persuasions. However, most Futurists are Pre-Millennialists, believing that a literal 1000-year Millennial Age of peace on earth (Revelation 20) precedes the full establishment of the new heavens and earth. There are, however, many who use the historical approach who believe in a literal Millennium. Most of those who believe that there is no literal Millennium, but that the Millennium of chapter 20 is symbolic of this Church Age, are not Futurists, but hold to one or a combination of the first three views.
There is of course some truth in all these views. The least popular or unfortunately most neglected approach is the symbolic or allegorical one.
But in the present article we are like Juster and Berthleson dealing in the futurist vein.
I'm going to note the points Mr. Juster makes in his comparison and then add a few of my own before getting back to Berthelson's work
The Exodus Passover seen as a type of the End Times as described in Revelation [and elsewhere.]
A. As Egypt is a type of the World the Exodus Passover deals with the Children of Israel in Egypt while Revelation deals with God's people throughout the world.
B. God uses two prophets, Moses and Aaron to announce and pronounce his plagues on Egypt. In Revelation, He uses his two witnesses in the same role.
C. One of the plagues in Egypt is darkness over all the land. At the Return of the Lord, the sun will be turned to dark. [Also we are told, the kingdom of the beast was filled with darkness.]
D. In Exodus, God's people are protected from the plagues by living in the Land of Goshen which was untouched. In Revelation, Gods people are sealed in their foreheads by the angel for their protection.
E. The Children of Israel are protected from the final plague by having the blood of the Passover Lamb on their door posts. In Revelation, God's people overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and their willingness to die for Jesus.
F. The Pharaoh of Exodus is a picture of the Beast [anti-Christ] of Revelation.
G. Pharaoh and his armies pursue Israel to the shore of the Red Sea in Exodus. In the last days, The Beast and his armies invade Israel.
H. In Exodus, Pharaoh's armies are held up by the Lord. The Lord fights against the Beast at Armageddon.
I. Pharaoh and his armies are destroyed in the sea. The beast and his armies are destroyed in the last battle.
To these points I would add the following:
1. Israel lived in Egypt but they were not assimilated into their culture. So also God's people are called to be 'in the world but not of the world'.
2. Israel lives in a separate area called the Land of Goshen. God's people in these end times are instructed to 'come out of her' and to be holy [separate] so they will not be hurt by her [Babylon's] judgments.
3. Pharaoh, the horse and rider, were cast into the sea, and the beast and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
4. When the Lord slew all the firstborn of Egypt in the 10th plague, he also judged the 'gods of Egypt' When the Lord returns to fight the final battle, he first carries out judgment on the heavenly powers.
Dan Juster also makes the following points comparing Roman times with End times.
A. During Roman times, there was opposition to the Gospel all throughout the empire. The End Times will exhibit similar opposition all through the world.
B. During Roman times the Gospel was also opposed by Judaism, Today this is still the case.
C. In Roman Times Caesar was worshipped. In the End times, the Beast is worshipped.
D. In Roman times the church was in great warfare and many were killed in the persecution. The End Times will see great persecution and martyrdom of the church [the saints].
Completions
One other area Juster deals with that I wish to mention is the area or idea of completion. There are multiple completions that will take place. I'm going to list these in the order I believe they will take place.
The mystery of God must be completed, which he states is the maturity of the bride, the church. [Rev. 10:7 and Eph. 5:27,32]
That there must be a completion of the Global witness, preaching of the Gospel and resulting harvest [Mt. 24:12-14].
The revelation of Evil will also be completed with the beast getting power to make war and overcome the saints. [Re 13:7]
He mentions that The Return of the Lord, [and therefore the time of vengeance] does not come till The Number Of Martyrs is complete. This is the fullness of the gentiles. [Re 6:9-11]
And The Redemption Of Natural Israel must be complete so they are able to call upon the Lord for deliverance. See [Matt. 23:39 and Rom. 11:15.]
Meaning of The Scroll.
Moses had a commission to tell the Israelites that God had sent him. 'Tell them I am that I am'. That I AM had sent him. He also had authority to pronounce judgments.
Jesus had the same commission to reveal the Nature of God to the people of God. And he had the authority to pronounce judgments.
In the End Times it will be God's people in this role.
In Revelation 5, The Lamb who is worthy takes the scroll. Juster states that the scroll represents the decrees of God concerning the acts of judgment and redemption to occur in the last days. The seven seals represent the judgments and they are opened by Jesus, the Lamb, because he has the authority to initiate all the judgments to follow.
Other writers have claimed that the scroll is the 'title deed to planet earth' or a catalog of woe and sorrow.
I prefer to think of the scroll as representing the bible itself. And the reasons I will offer here are scriptural and provide a marvelous glimpse of the sheer genius of God in the construction of his word.
1. The Scroll is said to be written with in and without or on the front and back side. Rev. 5:1
2. The stone tables of the Law given to Moses are said to be written on the front and back sides.
Ex 32:15 ¶ And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
This identifies the scroll with the law, hence with the bible, and ultimately with the Word of God, Jesus.
3. Since part is on the back side, then clearly it's not all readily apparent. Some meaning is hidden. The sealed scroll clearly has only a part of the writing visible.
4. There are several references to books being sealed in the O T. [Isa 8:16, 29:11-12, and Dan 12:4] Daniel says they are sealed till the end. Here opening the scroll is the unsealing of the books.
5. Opening the seals means revealing hidden meaning in the Word. So opening the scroll is one of many illustrations of the key concept summarized in the opening verse of Revelation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
6. Jesus is the only one who can open the scroll. No man is worthy. This shows that God reveals himself. Man cannot learn of these things on his own.
7. Each seal that is opened produces a judgment, and this also speaks of the Revelation of Jesus Christ since as Ps 9:16 says "The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: …."
So the Lamb that was slain is Jesus Christ. The Scroll is Jesus Christ. Opening the Scroll is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The Judgments that come forth are the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And the book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It's all about the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, knowing God.
Dan Juster writes
Our concern with the Book of Revelation should be less for speculation and more for our own preparation and understanding of present warfare. P35
And
The key preparations for the last days are therefore holiness of heart, humility, a burning love for the Lord and a faith preparation through the Word that will enable us to find God's guidance and strength to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. P 37
I heartily agree and would only add that it's about the Revelation of Jesus Christ in His People. Or as it is said: Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.
Dan Juster writes:
God's holy people can be martyred only when He calls upon them to lay down their lives. P37
The martyrdom of the prophets leads to an even greater outpouring of God's power. This is the result of true martyrdom - power is released in the spiritual realm! Thus the martyrdom of the Chinese saints under Communism led to the greatest church growth since the Church Age began. Martyrdom is similar to the sacrifice of intercessory prayer leading to the victory of the people of God. P 39
We can conclude that there are patterns established in Moses’ Passover that are prophetic of Jesus’ Passover, and in addition there will be a further fulfillment of these prophetic patterns in the end times. I find that in the scriptures describing Jesus’ Passover, death and resurrection there are additional elements added that are also prophetic of the end times and of the Second Coming of Christ.
In general I would say that each feast as established by the Lord in Moses’ time is prophetic and has multiple fulfillments. That is to say, that each one has been partly fulfilled in the past and awaits further and complete fulfillment in the end times.
Before we get into the meat of Lou Berthelson's work, I want to present a quote from his first chapter about the prophetic nature of the Feasts of the Lord.
Our study of patterns will begin with the feasts of the Lord as set forth in Leviticus 23. The Jews saw these as appointments with the Lord Jehovah. They called the festivals Miqra', or rehearsals.
In First Thessalonians 5:1-5 Paul addresses mature Jews about the "appointed" time of Jesus' return. He referred to the festivals, Sabbaths and new moons that were the focus of the Jews' religious calendar.
The word "times" in First Thessalonians 5:1-5 is Mowed, which is translated, "a specific appointment in time, a particular time or appointed season." The seven feasts of the Lord were given as appointments or rehearsals. They were designed by the Lord to foretell the events that would surround the coming of His Son and ever point to the proper attitudes requited of believers.
Berthelson goes on to show in fascinating detail just how these feasts foretell later events. [As you study the feasts even more, you find that the dates of the feasts are also dates when important things happen in the history of Israel. For example the recent 7 year peace treaty known as the Oslo Accords took effect in Israel at the time of the fall feast of Trumpets. It was broken 7 years later at about the same time when the current Palestinian uprising began.]
In chapter one of his book, Lou Berthelson concentrates his focus on the Passover. There are several elements that are relevant here.
1. The instructions of the Lord for celebrating the feast of Passover.
2. The account of events in Exodus at the first Passover.
3. The Jewish traditions in effect in Jesus' time, and
4. The account of events in the gospels at Jesus' death and resurrection.
Passover Basics.
The Lord's instructions for the Feasts are found in Leviticus 23. In vs. 4-14 are the spring feasts: Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. In vs. 15-21 are the ordinances for Pentecost, also called Feast of Weeks, and Shavuot in Hebrew.
It all boils down to this. Aviv also known as Nisan became the first month of the religious calendar. [Tishri, usually overlapping September is the first month of the civil calendar. The first day of Tishri is Rosh Hoshanna, also known as Jewish New Years Day.]
On the 10th of Nisan they take a lamb from the flock. It's inspected for 4 days. The Lamb had to be perfect, without flaw or blemish.
On the 14th the lamb is killed and roasted, from 3 - 6pm. At 6pm the day changes to the 15th. [The day begins at 6pm in the Jewish calendar.]
Then the lamb is eaten. Also on the 15th begins the first day of The Feast Of Unleavened Bread. It runs for 7 days with a feast on the last day, the 21st. On the 16th is the feast of First Fruits. It includes waving a sheaf of the first fruits of the Harvest before the Lord and animal sacrifices. The 16 is also the first day of the Counting of the Omer. This is where 50 days are counted off till Pentecost.
So the 14th is called 'The preparation of the Passover'.
The 15th is called Passover and the beginning of Unleavened Bread.
The 16th is called First Fruits or day 1 of the Omer.
Pentecost and First fruits are linked in two ways. First being that on first fruits the 50 day count down begins. The second is more symbolic. In Leviticus 23 we see the phrase 'first fruits' again in connection with the offerings for the day of Pentecost.
Le 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
Events Of Exodus.
In Exodus 12:1-14 the Lord gives Moses the instructions for sacrificing the Passover lamb. Then in verses 15-20 he lays out the feast of unleavened bread. Verses 21-28 show Moses repeating the Lords instructions to the people.
In Vs 29-30 the Lord strikes the Egyptians with the tenth plague, the death of the first born.
In Vs 31-42 Pharaoh releases the people and they journey by night to Succoth where they bake unleavened bread. The rest of the chapter vs. 43-51 contain further regulations on observing Passover.
Exodus 13:1-2 tell of the consecration of the firstborn. This is the act that First Fruits commemorates.
In Exodus 13:19-20, they leave Succoth and travel to Etham, taking the bones of Joseph with them.
In Exodus 14:2 they make camp at Pihahiroth. Then Pharaoh decides to come after them.
The rest of chapter 14 describes how Pharaoh caught up with Israel at Pihahiroth. Then the Angel of the Lord, the pillar of cloud stood between Israel and Egypt, while the Lord parted the sea during the night. Then in the morning, as Pharaoh entered the sea in pursuit, the Lord fought against them, taking off their chariot wheels. Then he caused the waters to come back on the Egyptians while Israel emerged from the sea on the far shore.
Jewish Traditions During the time of Jesus
On the 10th of Aviv [or Nisan]
The Temple practices had evolved to the point that on the tenth of Aviv the priests would select a lamb without spot or blemish. They would place the lamb on a special cart atop the Mt. of Olives.
They paraded the lamb down to the city and into the Temple court. There it would be displayed until it was slain at the Passover. [Lou Berthleson page 10-11]
On the 14th at exactly 9am The Temple lamb was tied to the altar.
At 3pm the Temple Lamb was killed, prepared and roasted.
At 6pm the Day changed to the 15th when the Temple Lamb was eaten.
Of course other lambs were killed as well for all the people who came to the feast. The Passover could be eaten on either evening of the fourteenth or the evening of the fifteenth. This was changed to accommodate the multitude of Jews coming to the city.
Events In The Gospels
On the 10th Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the Temple to be examined by the priests. Berthelson explains that he probably followed right behind the procession of the Temple Lamb. Therefore there were crowds of people already on the scene. Once they knew he was coming they rejoiced and blessed him. In effect they were choosing his to be their spiritual Passover.
On the 14th Jesus kept the Passover.
How could Jesus eat the Passover with his disciples [Mt. 26] on the day before Passover? He kept the Passover on the 14th.
Jesus had to take the Passover meal, as did Moses, but He also had to be the Lamb. The only way He could accomplish both was to eat the Passover the first evening of the fourteenth. [Lou Berthleson page 14]
On the 14 at 9am Jesus was nailed to the cross.
At 3pm Jesus died. There is darkness over the land, and an earthquake. The saints come out of their graves and the veil of the temple is torn. [Matt. 27:50-53]
He was buried at about 6pm as the day changed to the 15th.
What happens after Jesus' death?
He becomes the redeemed first born/first fruits.
He descends into hell and takes the keys to death, hell and the grave.
He leads captivity free. Satan is defeated.
Jesus rises after three days and three nights, around 6pm on the beginning of the18th.
His grave is found empty at about 6am the following morning.
We noted that some of these events happen at precise times which correspond to the times of corresponding events in Exodus. Berthelson tells us exactly what day of the week these things happened. He further claims that the resurrection happened on exactly the same day of the month, and day of the week and time of the day as Moses leading Israel out onto the far shore of the sea. Only he has this happening at 6am on the 17th. I do not feel this is correct. If it were then Jesus would not have been dead for exactly 3 days and 3 nights. But neither do I have the resources or the brilliance to present an exactly correct time table.
The solution to this quandary is to fudge things. [I'm serious here.]
First of all the bible is often vague on many important matters. Secondly it really doesn't matter if the timing is exact or not. Prophetic typology is not an exact science. Types and shadows are often incomplete and fuzzy. You do not get an exact picture. Thirdly typology may at times scramble the order of events.
Most importantly, [while we're on the subject] there can often be more than one correct interpretation of scripture. Just as a word can have more that one definition, a shadow can be cast by more than one object. Sometimes prophetic scriptures have more than one fulfillment. Sometimes one correct interpretation can be 'more correct' than another because of the depth of insight or detail involved.
And since we're talking about Passover, here is a perfect example of a pattern in scripture where the order of events is scrambled. Yet they are all still part of the pattern.
Jesus' trip to Jerusalem at age 12 is an interesting pattern for his later trip there to be crucified. [Luke 2:41 and following.]
In the earlier trip he travels with his family, in the latter with his disciples. In the earlier he is found in the temple having discussions with the learned men. In the latter trip, he is four days in the temple being challenged and questioned by the learned men again. After Passover in the first trip, he is missing for 3 days. After the latter Passover, he is buried and rises again after 3 days!
The difference is that in the second event the questioning in the temple happens before the three days not during those days. Nevertheless, the trip at age 12 is prophetic typology [or a rehearsal] for the latter trip.
Moses' Passover Compared To Jesus'.
Here are the parallels between Exodus, tradition, and the Gospels as Berthleson summarizes them.
The Gospels to The Second Coming
Now I want to look at some parallels between the gospel accounts of Jesus' Passover and the second coming of Christ.
These elements are:
Here are passages of scripture where these are found.
Mt 27:50 ¶ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Lu 23:44 ¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
In the bible the phrase 'Day of the Lord' has several meanings.
When it is used to speak of the actual second coming, many other equivalent sayings may be substituted. These include, the day of judgment, the day of wrath, 'in that day', the day of Christ, the day of vengeance etc.
With that in mind, let's look at these elements.
Darkness.
In Luke 23:44 above it mentions darkness from the 6th to the 9th hour. In the Jewish calendar, this means the 6th to the 9th hour of daylight, which is approximately from 6am to 6pm. In the spring and fall the hours of light and dark are the most equal of the year. So the 6th hour of daylight translates to 12 noon. Now look at this verse from Amos.
Am 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
Also see Isa. 13:9, Isa 24:21, 23, Ez 32:7, Joel 2:31 and Mt. 24:29.
The darkness that took place at the crucifixion clearly points ahead to another darkness to come at the Second Coming.
Earthquake.
Re 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Re 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
So the earthquake at the crucifixion is prophetic of the one at the Second Coming.
It Is Finished.
Here when Jesus says, It is Finished, the phrase points ahead to the time when the number of the martyrs will be completed. This is one of the completions Dan Juster mentions above.
Re 6:9 ¶ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Shout.
And once the numbering of the martyrs is finished, God gives a great shout. The time of vengeance begins. When He says, I will repay, it's not just a warning, it's a promise.
Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Here the shout is mentioned.
Ps 47:5 ¶ God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Now the reason for the shout should be obvious. But once again we see that the shout at Jesus death foretells the shout at His Second Coming.
The Resurrection.
Mt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
This should tell us that the resurrection occurs at this same time.
The Veil.
When the veil was torn, the holy of holies became visible. This is prophetic of a time to come when another veil will be removed and Jesus will be visible.
We mentioned earlier about the completion of the number of martyrs. When God rises up with a shout, it's because that process is completed. This is what's meant by the fullness of the gentiles. [We're talking about martyrs of the gentile church.] That still leaves Israel.
Who is Israel?
1. National Israel is the nation state of Israel.
2. Natural Israel is the descendants of Jacob, world wide Jewry.
3. Spiritual Israel is the mass of people who are 'circumcised in the heart', the redeemed [the church].
4. Jesus Himself, the suffering servant, the First Born
5. All of the Above
Here we're concerned with the first two. Replacement Theology would ignore natural Israel. Parallel Restoration Theology argues that the prophetic scriptures that speak of Israel in the end times apply to both natural and spiritual Israel. Every development in the history of natural Israel in the 20th century has a parallel development in the history of the church.
The redemption of natural Israel is something to occur very rapidly. We read in Is. 66:8 about a nation being born in a day. Spiritual Israel is the redeemed, but natural Israel are the ones spoken of in John 10.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
And Romans 11 tells us:
Ro 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 9:3 says:
Ro 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Here Paul speaks as a type of Jesus and describes exactly what Jesus did when He became a curse, taking on the sin of the world.
We said that after the fullness of the gentiles, the completion of the number of martyrs, that still leaves the redemption of Israel.
Romans tells us about something that will happen as a consequence. That is all Israel shall be saved.
Ro 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Removing the Veil.
That blindness on the part of Israel is symbolized by a veil. Here we find it mentioned in second Corinthians.
2 Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
In the Gospels Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, knowing they will miss the time of their visitation. Then he states a condition they must meet before he will come to them again. And in the same breath, he prophesies that they will meet that condition at a set time. The condition is that they must call upon him, saying: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. The time comes, as we read in Romans 11 above, the fullness of the gentiles comes in. Then follows the completion of the redemption of natural Israel.
Lu 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
This is described another way in Zechariah 12:
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Revelation 1 alludes to the same scripture.
Re 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Here are a few more references that link the redemption of Israel with the second coming.
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. Jeremiah 50:4
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. Jeremiah 50:20
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name. (Amos 4:12-13 KJV)
Judgment of the gods.
Notice how the gods of Egypt are mentioned in the following passage.
Ex 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
This is the only time the gods are mentioned as part of that judgment. It serves to give us a clue to the spiritual meaning of the First Born of Egypt. And it points ahead to the second coming identifying the first born who are to be slain at that time. These are the powers of heaven, the gods of Egypt, the gods of this world, principalities, powers and rulers of wickedness in high places. [1 Cor. 2:6-8; Eph. 6-12; Rom. 8:38-39; Col. 2:14-15; Ps 82]
Here are a couple representative verses that show us the judgment of the gods.
Isa 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Mt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Also see these verses: Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 34:4-5; Micah 1:3;. Mark 13:25; Luke 21:26.
The gods and The Veil
The fall of the powers of heaven is linked to the removing of the veil. Let's look at this in more detail.
In first John we are told the whole world is under their influence.
1Jo 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Here in second Corinthians we see that they cause blindness.
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Revelation tells us that they deceive the whole world.
Re 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world ….
Here is Isaiah it is described as a veil, and we are told that the Lord will destroy the veil.
Isa 25:6 ¶ And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 ¶ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
The mountain speaks of the Kingdom of God, where his people dwell. [Israel] "In that day" speaks of course of the second coming.
Since we see that the 'powers of heaven' are the ones who bring blindness, clearly their removal, at the second coming means the blindness is removed.
In the first Passover judgment fell on one group [Egypt] and another group was spared [Israel]. Also one group of first born were slain and another was redeemed.
In Jesus Passover the judgment of death and hell fell upon Jesus. This was not just physical death, but the second death as well for he experienced separation from the Father. By tasting death for us, He made a way for us to be saved as we abide in him.
Also in Jesus' Passover he was the first born slain, but he was also the first born redeemed. Judgment fell on Satan.
There is a passage in Zechariah that depicts the spiritual side of what happened then. Recall that the name Joshua is the same as Jesus and that he is our High Priest.
Zec 3:1 ¶ And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
What this passage is showing us it the judgment of Jesus after his death. The filthy garments speak of his becoming a sin offering and taking on the sin of the world. Describing him as a brand plucked out of the fire tells us that he is being redeemed from the fire of hell. As the words "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan" are spoken, Satan is being judged. Jesus is given proper garments and the sin is removed. He is given a crown to indicate his power. Later he would tell his followers that all authority is given to him.
So who is the first born to be redeemed? Well we have already spoken above about the blindness removed from Israel when the fullness of the gentiles comes in. In Exodus 4 God spells it out for us.
Ex 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
He refers to this again in Hosea 11.
Ho 11:1 ¶ When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
And Matthew alludes to Hosea in chapter 2, speaking of Jesus.
Mt 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
This identifies Israel with Jesus, the suffering servant. As Jesus is his firstborn. And you may conclude that those who are in Him are also his sons.
So what exactly is the meaning of Passover?
Passover is a sacrifice which if taken advantage of, [appropriated], yields protection from judgments, and deliverance from bondage or blindness. And that results or causes judgments on the enemy, and final victory over him.
The Meaning Of First Fruits.
First Fruits is the celebration of the redemption of the First Born that comes with Passover. So First Fruits celebrates the Victory that Passover produces.
Now I'm going to sketch out some parallels of the Passover Pattern.
The Other Feasts.
Pentecost relates to covenant [or betrothal of the bride] The old covenant is the Law, it was given to Moses on the first Pentecost. The New covenant is the Spirit, it was given to us in Acts. 2. This points ahead to a future fulfillment, perhaps the marriage supper.
Tabernacles relates God visiting his people, The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the building of God's dwelling place. The dwelling place has been represented by that tabernacle, and the temple. Ultimately it's in the hearts of his people.
The Passover Pattern
Here is our comparison of three Passovers.
A. Passover of Exodus
B. Jesus, our Passover
a. The two prophets are John and Jesus.
b. Mt 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
C. Second Coming of Christ
a. The two prophets are the two witnesses.
b. Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
The Pattern of the Tasks.
Tasks and Commissions
Now in closing let's make some comparisons on another level. These will be partly derived from an earlier article "Moses' Commission".
Moses tasks included:
Jesus' tasks included:
The End Time Saints tasks include.
All this requires and End Time Church that is far different than what we have now. In Matthew 16, Jesus spoke these words about his end time church:
Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Psalm 48 gives us a description of that church from another point of view.
Ps 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.