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"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." {39} He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. {40} For as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:38-40.
Some say "the sign that the Savior was the Messiah and the Lamb of God was that He must be in the grave exactly 3 WHOLE DAYS and 3 WHOLE NIGHTS just as Jonah was in the whale’s belly 3 WHOLE DAYS and 3 WHOLE NIGHTS!"
First – we do not know that Yonah was 3 WHOLE DAYS and 3 WHOLE NIGHTS [72 hours] in the belly of the huge fish because Jonah himself said he was in there "forever". Jonah 2:6.
Second – The Savior said "3 days and 3 nights." Modern man understands that to mean 72 hours, but that is not the way the Hebrews reckoned time. Any part of a day or night included the whole. If a king started to rule on the 12th month of the year, then the 1st month of the next year would be considered his 2nd year, even though he ruled only 1 month of the previous year.
Also Queen Esther told Mordecai to gather all those of Judah to fast for her, and neither eat nor drink 3 days, night and day. [Esther 4:16, 17] then it says
"Now it came to pass on the 3rd day" [5:1]
If she were to fast for 72 hours, [night and day] then it would read "on the 4th day" not on the 3rd day. This shows one example of inclusive reckoning.
Another problem with 72 hours is that on the 3rd day organic matter starts to decay. Scripture tells us:
"He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of [the Messiah], that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.." Acts 2:31;
"For You will not leave my soul in hell; neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.." Psalm 16:10.
In the Ceremonial ordinances referring to the "Peace Offering", the priest was to eat the flesh of the offering the day it was offered, and the next day, but to eat it on the 3rd day was considered an abomination and was not accepted by Yah.
"And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving will be eaten the same day that it is offered; he will not leave any of it until the morning. {16} But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it will be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it will be eaten: {17} But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the 3rd day will be burnt with fire. {18} And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the 3rd day, it will not be accepted, neither will it be imputed to him that offers it: it will be an abomination, and the soul that eats of it will bear his iniquity." Leviticus 7:15-18.
Any biologist will tell you that bacteria is most active ON the 3rd day.
The 4th day He would definitely have seen corruption [decay] for at the tomb of Lazarus, Martha said
"Master, by this time he stinks; for he had been dead for 4 days." John 11:39.
In the "Wednesday impalement" theory, they have the women coming to anoint His body on the 4th day, this would be too late for normally they anointed and buried the person the same day they died, but would never anoint a body after 3 days. [See Acts 5:5, 6 & 9.]
It is interesting to note that the pagans had a "god" that was put in the tomb on a Thursday and they believe he arose on "Saturday". [From the Two Babylons, page 155.]
Also when Constantine changed the 7th-day Rest [Sabbath] to the 1st day or SUNday, he made the time of the new day of rest to include 3:00 p.m. "Saturday" until "Monday" at sunrise. [roger de Hoveden, Annals, Vol. 2, pp 528-530.] Somewhere in this falsehood is the truth. Was He resurrected on the 7th day Sabbath? Or the 1st day, SUNday? Or the second day called "Monday"? See Chart # 1.
THE FIRST PASSOVER
The 10th day of the 1st month of Abib the Lamb was set aside, separated from the flock.
"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘In the 10th day of this month they will take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house." Exodus 12:3.
The 14th day of the 1st month,
"You must sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun…" Deuteronomy 16:6. [See also Exodus 12:6.]
When we talk about the Biblical day, then the Evening comes before the Morning. But in calculating the sacrifices, it is Morning offering [9:00 a.m.] and Evening offering [3:00 p.m.].
"And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, ‘What is this thing that you do to the people? why do you sit alone, and all the people stand by you from morning to even?" Exodus 18:14;
"The one lamb you will offer in the morning; and the other lamb you will offer at evening." Exodus 29:39.
It is interesting to note that the Savior was put on the Cross at the 3rd hour [9:00 a.m.]
"And it was the 3rd hour, and they crucified Him." Mark 15:25.
And darkness covered the cross from the 6th hour [12 noon]
"Now from the 6th hour there was darkness over all the land to the 9th hour." Matthew 27:45; [See also Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; John 4:6; 19:14]
until the 9th hour [3:00 p.m.]
"And when the 6th hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the 9th hour. {34} And at the 9th hour [Yasha] cried with a loud voice, saying, Ayil Yah, Ayil Yah, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My Ruler Yah, My Ruler Yah, why have You forsaken Me?" Mark 15:33, 34. [See also Mattithyah 20:5; 27:45, 46; Luke 23:44; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 30.]
[Why do we interpret this as "Ayil Yah, Ayil Yah"? Look at verse 35, "And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, ‘Behold, he calls for Elijah." The bystanders heard Him call on YilYah. Was He calling on the prophet? No, He was calling on His Supreme Ruler Yah, His Father.]
From sunrise until 12 noon, the sun is coming up. From 12 noon until sunset the sun is going down.
Now, with this information in mind, Yah the Creator said,
"But at the place which Yah your Ruler will choose to place His Name, there you will sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came forth out of Egypt." Deuteronomy 16:6.
Many calculate the "evening" as the beginning of the 14th day of Abib, but the going down of the sun would be in the afternoon when from 12 noon the sun is going down. Otherwise, we would be talking about the 13th day and no where was the 13th day mentioned in Scripture.
They were instructed to eat unleavened bread for 7 days. Starting on the 15th day until the 21st day. If we calculate the "evening" of the 14th to be from the beginning then the 21st day [evening and morning] would end before dawn and the "consecrated gathering" would be in the darkness.
Yah is light, not darkness. He begins His day while it is still light. His month begins at the first sliver of the new moon. He begins His year at the first "green ear" [Abib] or Spring when everything is becoming new.
The world follows their leader in determining the day at Midnight, the darkest time. They determine the month by the "dark" moon, one you can not see, so you have to listen to another voice. They begin their year in the middle of winter when everything is dead and dark! "he will think to change times and laws." Daniel 7:25.
Letting the Scriptures interpret themselves, the descendants of Israel were instructed
"It will be to you a day of rest, and you will afflict your souls: in the 9th day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you will celebrate your rest [Sabbath]." Leviticus 23:32.
Remember that verse 27 says
"…on the 10th day of this 7th month there will be a Day of Atonement: it will be a consecrated gathering to you; and you will afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to Yah."
If you believe the "evening" is at the beginning of the 9th, then the "evening" to "evening" would make the 9th the day on which they celebrate the Day of Atonement. But if you understand the "evening" of the 9th to be
"As the sun is going down"
then the consecrated gathering and rest [Sabbath] would be the 10th day, where it belongs!
The 15th day of Abib, at evening, they were to take of the blood and put some of the lintel and door-post of the house, they were to separate their children from those of Egypt, have their sandals on their feet and their staff in their hand, and they were to roast the lamb and eat it in haste. For they were to depart in the morning. At midnight of the 15th the angel would "Passover" those who were covered with the lamb’s blood, and had obeyed all the instructions. [Exodus 12:7-13.]
On the 15th day,
"They departed from Ramses in the 1st month, on the 15th day of the 1st month, on the morning after the Passover the descendants of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all Egypt." Numbers 33:3.
If the Passover was at midnight on the 14th, and they did not leave until the morning of the 15th, where was the haste? Those of Egypt wanted them out immediately.
"And those of Egypt were URGENT upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in HASTE; for they said, ‘we are all dead’." Exodus 12:33.
When we understand that the 14th day was ONLY for the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, and was the last of the 4 preparation days for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, then it makes it clear that the lamb was roasted and eaten on the 1st part [evening] of the 15th day, which is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Scriptural day begins at Sunset –the evening. But the Sacrifices were morning and evening. The evening sacrifice for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread was at 3:00 p.m. on the 14th [which is the afternoon] as the sun is going down.
LAST PASSOVER
EVER TO BE CELEBRATED
There seems to be 2 ways of determining the Passover, but only one way heaven acknowledges.
The 1st day of the 1st month is determined by the first sliver of the moon in the month of green ears, or the first ear of barley grain in the spring. The 14th day of Abib in the year 31 AD. fell on the day of the week, referred to as "Friday". We know this for a fact because the Navel Observatory has stated that the Full Moon in the year 31 AD. was on the evening [first part] of Wednesday. Now how does this prove that the 14th Full Moon fell on the day "Friday"? Because the Navel Observatory goes by the dark Moon which is approximately 2 days before the sighting of the Kodesh, or sighting of the moon. So for those who believe the Month begins when you see the sliver of the moon, can not also believe in the Wednesday death of the Savior, and use the Navel Observatory to prove it!
On the 10th day of Abib in 31 AD. was when the Savior departed, and hid Himself from the people.
"While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Yasha spoke, and departed, and did hide Himself from them." John 12:36.
On the 14th day when the Passover Lamb was to be slain between 3:00 p.m. and sundown, the Savior gathered His disciples in the dark part of the 14th day to eat the lamb [Passover] with His disciples. Did the Savior violate the Feast of Unleavened Bread and eat it at the wrong time? The feasts were instituted by Him and pointed to Him as the Passover Lamb.
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even [Yasha] our Passover is sacrificed for us." 1 Corinthians 5:7.
The ceremonial feast days and sacrifices were about to end, fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15, that the Seed of the woman [the Savior, Yasha] would crush the serpent’s [Satan’s] head.
The Inspired Word says
"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John." Matthew 11:13.
The Law in this context is the Ceremonial Law, not the Moral Law of 10 Command-ments.
Because He was to be the True Passover Lamb, He wanted to keep the feast with His disciples. The disciples did not totally understand the significance of the Ceremonial Law with all its offerings and feast days, until after the resurrection of Yasha. He showed by His institution of the Memorial Supper, that the New Covenant had only 3 ordinances that were to be observed until He returns the second time.
"As often as you eat the bread and drink this cup, you do show the Master’s death until He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26.
This is the Savior’s Will and Testament. He included the 3 ordinances that replaced the feasts, before His death, in order that it would become established, and become a part of His Will and Testament, since His Will cannot be changed after His death. Israel failed in their mission to share the love and mercy of the Creator with the whole world. They kept it for themselves, and considered everyone not of Israel in the flesh, as "unclean". The Savior made the way for the Glad Tidings of salvation to go to the whole world by those who are led by His Spirit. No one has any advantage over anyone else, we are all ONE in Yasha, the Anointed of Yah.
At 9:00 a.m. on the 14th [the 3rd hour] the morning the Savior was to die, Yasha was placed on the Cross. At 12 noon [the 6th hour] darkness was over the Cross until 3:00 p.m. [the 9th hour], at the very time when the Passover Lamb was about to be slain, according to the Book of the Law of Moses. [Deuteronomy 16:6] At 3:00 p.m. the veil of the Temple was torn in 2 from the top to the bottom. [Mark 15:38] This signified that there is a new living Way, and that the Ceremonial Law including offerings, feast days, and the priesthood had met their completion in the death of the Lamb of Yah and were no longer accepted by Yah. Also the Temple services had no more meaning to Yah, as the Savior Yasha said,
"your house is left unto you desolate." Matthew 23:38.
of Aramathea and Nicodemus went to Pilate to ask for the body of the Savior, Yasha, because He was already dead and they wanted to bury Him before the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the 7th day Rest [Sabbath]. Yasha was taken down from the Cross after 3 p.m. and was laid in the tomb before sunset. When you use "inclusive reckoning," you began the counting of the FIRST DAY, in the tomb, or heart of the earth. [See chart #1]The woman went to the tomb and saw how His body was placed, and then returned to their homes and prepared the spices and ointments with which to anoint His body after the Sabbaths. Then they rested on the
"Sabbath according to the Commandment." Luke 23:54-56.
What Commandment? The 4th! Which commands us to Remember the 7th day Rest, for the 7th day Rest is a Memorial.
The 15th day the Savior rested in the tomb on the 7th day of Redemption week, as He had rested on the 7th day of Creation.
The Pharisees went to Pilate on the 7th day Sabbath to ask for a guard for the tomb because the Savior had said He would be resurrected the 3rd day. The Scripture says,
"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate." Matthew 27:62.
It was not mentioned as the 7th day Sabbath, because this was not something that should have been done on the Rest day, or feast day. Now this could be construed as the 14th day, the preparation day, however, for the Passover there were 4 preparation days. But we know that the day referred to as the preparation day is the 6th day of the week as was demonstrated in the wilderness when for 40 years the descendants of Israel received a double portion of Manna on the 6th day to "Prepare" for the 7th day Sabbath of Yah when no Manna was to fall from Heaven.
The chapters, verses, and punctuation were not in the original writings, they were put in by the translators. Therefore, let us read Matthew 27:65, 66 and the first part of chapter 28:1, in context.
"Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard, go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, put a seal upon the stone, and setting a guard after the Sabbath. As it began to dawn toward the first l of the week, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary came to see the tomb."
The Dark part of the 15th, [the 7th day – Saturday] that year is the FIRST NIGHT. The light part is the SECOND DAY. [See Chart # 1]
The 16th day in 31 A.D. was on the 1st day of the week [Sunday] and was a ceremonial rest day. The Sabbath of the bringing of the wave sheaf.
The first fruit sheaf of the harvest coincided with the Passover time. Scripture says,
"Speak to the descendants of Israel, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and you reap the harvest thereof, THEN you will BRING a sheaf [handful] of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest: And he will wave the sheaf before Yah, to be accepted for you, on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest will wave it." Leviticus 23:10, 11.
In determining the Feast of Weeks you were to start your counting "from the day after the Sabbath". Which Sabbath? "From the day that you BROUGHT the sheaf of the wave offering." Leviticus 23:15. [See also Deuteronomy 16:9.]
The Hebrews brought the wave sheaf to the Passover season, and they presented it on the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and waved it on the 3rd day of the feast. At the time the Savior became the Passover Lamb, the 15th was not only the Consecrated assembly but was also the 7th Sabbath, making it a High Day.
Many people call a holy convocation a Sabbath. But the Scriptures tell us not to bake or boil on the 7th Sabbath [Exodus 16:22, 23] No work at all is to be done. All food preparation is to be done on the 6th day of the week. But on the holy convocation you could prepare food, but you were not to do any of the work of your trade. [Exodus 12:16]
The 1st part of the 16th day is counted as the SECOND NIGHT. The light part of the 16th is the THIRD DAY. [See Chart # 1]
The 17th day. The 1st of the week in 31 AD. was what we call today the 2nd day of the week or [Monday].
"At dawn on the 1st of the week…" Matthew 28:1.
In this text "week" is from "Shabbaton" which means "between the Sabbaths." Since the 16th was a ceremonial rest day this makes the 2nd day [Monday] the 1st of that week.
In the dark part of the 17th day [Monday] before dawn the messenger [angel] of Heaven came to the tomb, rolled away the stone and by the Father called forth the Savior. The soldiers fell to the ground by the presence of that one messenger. They went into the city and told the chief priests who paid the soldiers to lie and say that the disciples had stolen His body away. [Matthew 28:1-20.]
"So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the "Jews" until this day." Matthew 28:15.
This is the THIRD NIGHT. [See Chart # 1] Thus fulfills the Only Sign, the 3 DAYS and 3 NIGHTS, inclusive reckoning!
If He arose on "Sunday", as the majority believe, you do not have 3 days and 3 nights, as the Savior said. If you have His resurrection on the 7th Sabbath, then that presents many other problems including the fact that He would not have violated the 4th Commandment of Rest on that day. The only day that is in harmony with Scripture and the account of events, is the first of the week, which was "Monday" of that year.
By the death of Yasha the Messiah was fulfilled the offerings and the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the offering of the Wave Sheaf.
Also 50 days after His resurrection, the Feast of Weeks [Pentecost-Greek for 50] was fulfilled when Yah’s Spirit descended on the approximately 120 men and women who were of one accord and of one mind. [Acts 1:14, 15; 2:1-6] The Spirit will again be poured out in the Latter Rain which will ripen His harvest. [Deuteronomy 32:1-3]
In the 1830’s the Feast of Trumpet was fulfilled when the message of the coming Day of Atonement was announced. This was fulfilled in 1844 when our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Yasha, moved from the 1st apartment of the Heavenly Temple into the 2nd apartment of the Heavenly Temple to begin the Day of Atonement – the Judgment! [Daniel 7:9, 10]
We are now in the Day of Atonement, from which the earthly service was but a shadow, when the names in the Book of Life are either retained or blotted out. The literal Day of Atonement on the 10th day of the 7th month was a day of fasting and afflicting of soul. The anti typical Day of Atonement is also to be a time of afflicting our soul and fasting. But you say "how can His people have been fasting since 1844?" Again the Scriptures will give us the answer:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hid not yourself from your own flesh?" Isaiah 58:6, 7. [See also Matthew 25]
To keep the Feast of Tabernacle is pleasing to Yah, for that feast is yet to be fulfilled. When our High Priest comes out of the Heavenly Temple, to bring His rewards with Him, then He will place all the guilt of the sins of the righteous on the head of the Scapegoat [Satan] and he will be lead into the wilderness alone. [the desolate earth, abyss] [See our study on the Millennium] The Feast of Tabernacles is also called the ingathering or Harvest. We are told the harvest is at the end of the world. [Matthew 13:39]
The sacrifices, feasts, ceremonies and priesthood all pointed to the work of our Creator, Lawgiver, Savior, Redeemer, and High Priest - Yasha. The Levitical Priesthood is no more. It has been replaced by the Melchisedec Priesthood which has no end.
In the New Earth there will be no Temple.
"And I saw no temple therein: for the Sovereign Yah Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." Revelation 21:22.
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT: because as He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17.
Yasha and the Redeemed will indeed reign on this earth, but not when the Savior appears again, for He will not put His feet on the Mount of Olives [Zechariah 14:4], until the righteous and all the other worlds have seen that the judgments of Yah are just and right. Then after the 1000 years the redeemed of all ages, the angels of heaven, and the Infinite Father and His Son will return to this earth to administer the White Throne Judgment of all the wicked. After the wicked see where they were in apostasy, the Creator will purify the earth from all sin and sinners. Then there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwells righteousness.
Halleluyah!