Continued from Part II
Also Constantine made the following announcement in a letter to all who were not present:
"When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter [Passover] arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and more desirable, than to see this festival through which we receive the hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord, and in the same manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom [the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom, we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter [Passover], which we have observed from the time of the saviour's Passion [crucifixion] to the present day [according to the day of the week]. We ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way: our worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course [the order of the days of the week]; and consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the right,--they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led by reason, but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter [Passover] question; for, in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements, they frequently celebrate two Passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error. How, then, could we follow these Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? For to celebrate the Passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people [the Jews]. Besides, consider well, that in such an important matter, and on a subject of such great solemnity, there ought not to be any division. Our Saviour has left us only one festal day of our redemption, that is to say, of His holy passion, and He desired [to establish] only one Catholic Church. Think, then, how unseemly it is, that on the same day some should be fasting, whilst others are seated at a banquet; and that after Easter, [Passover] some should be rejoicing at feasts, whilst others are still observing a strict fast. For this reason, Divine Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and regulated in a uniform way; and every one, I hope, will agree upon this point. As, on the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord, and as, on the other, the custom now followed by the Churches of the West, of the south, and of the North, and by some of those of the East, is the most acceptable, it has appeared good to all, and I have been guarantee for your consent, that you would accept it with joy, as it is followed at Rome, in Africa, in all Italy, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, Britain, Libya, in all Achaia, and in the dioceses of Asia, on Pontus, and Cilicia. You should consider not only that the number of Churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Jews. To sum up in few words: by the unanimous judgement of all, it has been decided that the most holy festival of Easter [Passover] should be everywhere celebrated on one and the same day, and it is not seemly that in so holy a thing there should be any division. As this is the state of the case, accept joyfully the divine favour, and this truly divine command; for all which takes place in assemblies of the bishops ought to be regarded as proceeding from the will of God. Make known to your brethren what has been decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode; we can thus celebrate this holy Easter day [Passover] at the same time, if it is granted me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice together, seeing that the divine power has made use of our instrumentality for destroying the evil designs of the devil, and thus causing faith, peace, and unity to flourish amongst us. May God graciously protect you, my beloved brethren."
Hefele states:
"We find no further details in the acts. But it is easy to understand that the Fathers of the Council took as the basis of their decision the computation which was most generally admitted among orthodox Christians, that is, the one which regulated the Passover according to the equinox, and Easter Sunday according to the Passover. We have a letter of Constantine's upon this point, which clearly shows the mind of the Council; for, according to this letter, the Synod requires, 1st, that Easter day should always be a Sunday [and therefore decides against the Quartodecimans]; and 2nd, that it should never be celebrated at the same time as the feast of the Jews. It results from this second decision, that according to the Synod, if the Passover should fall on a Sunday, Easter was not to be celebrated on that day, but a week later. And this for two reasons: [1] Because the Passover indicates the day of the Saviour's death, and that the festival of the resurrection ought to follow that day, and not to coincide with it; [2] because in those years when the Passover should fall on a Sunday, Christians would be celebrating their Easter [Passover] at the same time as the Jews, which was what they Synod wished to avoid. The third decision made at Nicaea was [3] to forbid Christians to celebrate Easter twice in one year [solar year]; that is to say, that the equinox should be considered in all calculations about Easter."
Because of the decrees of the Council of Nicaea the Churches of the west [Catholic] switched officially from observance of the Passover at the evening of the 14th Nisan to observance of Easter Resurrection only. Confirmed by first canon at the Synod of Antioch in 341.
The Apostolic Churches of Asia still used the moon for seasons. Constantine wanted the Churches to abandon this practice and use the solar calendar.
The Churches of Asia [Johannean Quartodecimans] baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This caused many to be labeled heretics.
The Synod of Antioch in 341 officially excommunicates Quartodecimans:
"All those who dare to act contrary to the command of the great and holy Synod, assembled at Nicaea in presence of the pious Emperor Constantine, beloved of God, in regard to the sacred feast of Easter [Passover], shall be excommunicated from the Church if they obstinately persist in their opposition to this most excellent decision. This refers to the laity. But if after this command any of the Church-officers, bishop, priest, or deacon, still dares to celebrate the feast of Easter [Passover] with the Jews, and to follow his own perverse will to the ruin of the people and the disturbance of the Churches, the holy Synod holds such a person from that time as separated from the Church, because he not only sins himself, but is the cause of ruin and destruction to many; and the Synod not only deposes such persons from their office, but also all those who after their deposition presume to hold communion with them. The persons deposed shall also be deprived of the external honours enjoyed by the holy canon and the priesthood."
These threatenings were not entirely successful. On the contrary, we learn from St. Epiphanius who was born and raised in the Holy Land, that in his time, about the year 400 after Christ, there were still many Quartodecimans. As to their faith, they are orthodox, said Epiphanius. They observe the Jewish Passover and build upon the passage: "Cursed is he who does not celebrate his Passover on the 14th Nisan."
2Timothy 4:3-4
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
AT THE SYNOD OF LAODICEA
Dated after Antioch in 341 A.D. and before 2nd General Council 381 A.D.
Canon 7:
"That the heretics returning from the Novatian, Photinian, or Quartodeciman heresies, whether they have been reckoned among the catechuman or the faithful, shall not be received until they have anathematized all heresies, and more especially those in which they were themselves implicated. These, as soon as they have learnt the creed, and received the anointing of the holy Chrism, shall share in the holy mysteries".
It was settled: a person who did not give up the observance of the Lord's Passover was to be counted a heritic. Those who recanted the Lord's Passover and came under the Creed of Nicaea and observed Easter would be anointed and receive among the Catholic mysteries. At this time they did not require those (Novatians and Photinians) that were baptized in Jesus' name to be rebaptized. They considered them to be baptized in a primitive mode of baptism. But these could not baptize people any longer in Jesus' name but must use the Roman formula of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost thereby denying the Apostolic use of the name of Jesus. The Roman controlled Churches continued to baptize in the manner agreed upon at the Council of Nicaea "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Family members of succeeding generations of the Apostolic Churches were henceforth forced to be baptized in the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Roman Western Churches considered this to be a revelation proceeding from the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Christians following the Apostolic Johannean Quartodecimans, had to renounce keeping the Lord's Passover on the 14th of Nisan at even. Although many did recant and switched from the Lord's Passover to observe the pagan day of Easter a large number refused and never became Catholics. Therefore, not all Christians are Catholic or Protestant. Many Christians groups are descended from Apostolic Churches that have always rejected the Roman corruption of the New Testament Truths.
Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, in his "Oneness Apostolic History", A.D. 600-700, reports: "Note: For 626 years [since A.D. 37-42] Apostolic Celts in Britain had kept the 14th NISAN Passover. A Jesus Name Apostolic had planted Acts 2:38 at Glastonbury by 37-42. In 663 it was the dominant religion by far [E.T. Thompson, Through the Ages, pp. 10-15, 156]."
We see from the original documents, the Catholic Church forbid baptism in the name of Jesus and keeping the Lord's Passover Supper on the 14th of Nisan which was the same time the Jews celebrated their Egyptian Passover. When the true hour came to observe the old Passover, only then did Jesus institute the New Testament Passover in remembrance of himself becoming our Passover Lamb. Keeping the Lord's Passover feast was preached and practiced by the Apostles, Paul, Phillip and other Christians. All the apostles warned the Churches to hold on to this and the other truths they had been taught until the Lord returned. It was Mystery Babylon the Great, through her harlot daughter Catholicism, who abolished and outlawed at the Council of Nicaea the Lord's Passover Feast on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (the lamb was killed at even on the 14th but passover was that night which was by the Jewish calendar the 15th, but because the Romans counted until midnight some extened the 14th until midnight. This is an error easily corrected).
The Catholic Church says it has received a new revelation. That the verse, as "often as you do this" [1Cor. 11:26] is the authority of the Mass anytime a priest wants to celebrate it. In fact they observe the Lord's Supper with the Mass of the Eucharist 3 or more times a day.
The rituals of the Mystery Masses were observed in the Babylonian Mystery religions from the time of Nimrod's Babylon. In order to institute these abominations into the Church they had to get people to believe they could observe the Lord's Supper anytime they wanted to. The Bishops at Nicea had to do away with the Apostles' Doctrine in order to establish the Babylonian Mystery Mass.
Although the daughter trinity Churches [Protestant] don't keep the Lord's Supper three times a day, they still obey the decrees of the Council of Nicea and fight against anyone holding the Lord's Passover on 14th of Nisan. Some have decided to observe the Lord's Supper once a month. Others keep the Lord's Supper 2 or 3 times a year during weddings or revivals. Some feel it is best to observe the Lord's Supper on the evening of December 31st, in commemoration of the old year out and the new year in.
Unknowingly, they are celebrating this most Holy Observance on the birthday-month of the Roman god Janus; the god of time, and the opener of doors. An evening and time when orgie, drunkenness, and eating black-eyed peas and cornbread sweeps the modern heathens into a spirit of debauchery.
Not only has the Lord's Body not been discerned, but many observe the Roman superstition of new years vows that have nothing to do with the Lord's Passover. Eating black-eyed peas after their debauchery, and going to a Mystery Mass is pure paganism. We are told in Revelations 18:4 to come out of Babylon and stop partaking of her detestable abominations.
Throughout this study we learn the truth of the decisions of the Council of Nicaea. We were told by the apostles concerning the synagogue of Satan; Those giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; And those who would come to destroy truth and turn it into fables. The Catholic Church has decreed that the observance of the Lord's Supper at 14th Nisan is to be halted forever and never practiced again. The Council of Nicea decreed the Lord's Passover on the 14th of Nisan, to be a Jewish fable that only heretics and sinners, rejecting Church authority, observe.
The Council of Nicaea and succeeding Popes go further and proclaim that if anyone persist in observing this fable [Passover], that person will be excommunicated and denied the privilege of partaking in the delicacies of Babylon's Mysterious Mass.
Well the, let's obey the example set forth by Jesus and follow the apostles doctrine and keep the 14th of Nisan at even as the Lord's Passover Feast as He ordained.
If we disobey the decrees of Nicaea and return to the Lord's Passover, we are removing ourselves from the Catholic Church, her creeds, and her Council decrees. Choose to obey God rather than man, even if it is the Council of Nicea, the Pope, a Denomination, Organization, Priest, Preacher, Father, Mother, Husband, Wife. Obey your Lord Jesus Christ. Obey your Lord and the Apostle's Doctrine and keep the Passover Feast at the 14th of Nisan at even. Be no longer deceived. Jesus fulfilled the law of the Passover lamb and we are to keep the Christian Passover on the of 14th Nisan as he commanded as a memorial of his death and the purchase of the Church.
MODERN CHURCHES FOLLOW THE PAPACY
AND OBSERVE THE LORD'S PASSOVER WHEN THEY HAVE A WHIMMany Churches and Pastors do not discern the full revelation in the Lord's Cup or His Body. They affirm only what their denomination teaches them or what they have come to believe as a tradition of man. The proof is their new years eve celebration of this sacred Memorial. They substitute the Lord's Passover with their own style of Mass or service. Some get very angry if you try to change them or challenge them with the truth. They deny the honor and glory that comes with the real remembrance of Christ's death on the proper day. Instead of focusing on His death, as Jesus said the Passover was to typify, they focus on the Resurrection as the purpose of the Passover Supper. Any Bible Student can see the error. However, those who go along with the Council Of Nicea have always attempted to say that those who hold the Lord's Passover deny the Resurrection. This is untrue. They follow the decrees of the Council of Nicaea in 325 and keep Easter,rejecting forever the Lord's Passover. Those who hold the Lord's Passover,celebrate both his crucifixion and his resurrection.
There was no actual ritual to follow in celebration in remembrance of the resurrection. Modern customs all come from paganism. The Passover of Christ was never given to symbolize the Resurrection. Without the Passover, there would have been no Resurrection and consequently no Church. Instead, Jesus Christ instituted that the Resurrection be commemorated each and every time a person is baptized. [Rom 6:4] For it is in Baptism that we are buried with Christ. It is baptism that we are raised up as Christ was resurrected from the dead. It is through water baptism that sins are remitted by the blood of Christ. [Acts 2:38] It is upon rising from baptism that we are made new creatures in Christ. [Rom. 6:1-6] It is in Baptism that we take on the name of Christ. [Acts 2:38]. It is in baptism that we affirm our faith that the same Jesus who died on Passover, rose the first day of the week for our total redemption.
THE SACRIFICE OF THE DAILY LAMBS
In the Tabernacle, two lambs were slain everyday by the priest. One lamb was slain in the morning. The other lamb was slain in the evening. The high priest sacrificed these lambs first for their own sins, and then the sins of the people that would be confessed that day. These lambs were to consolidate all the confessed sins of the people for the entire day. These lambs were slain for the remission of those sins. The sins on a daily basis would be rolled forward to the day of Atonement. On the day of atonement they were rolled forward to Calvary. Each day and year stood on its on separate from all other days and years.
So if the sacrifice in the temple stopped for whatever reason, the people would not be deprived of the remission of sins the Atonement of God had already accepted.
These two lambs were slain at the altar. Their blood was not carried into the holy place. Instead, a golden cup full of wine was poured out on the sacrifice. Then the sacrifice was set afire and offered to God.
In this offering is pictured the sacrifice of Christ. In it is pictured the Communion. The lamb signified Christ, the unleavened bread. The wine signified his blood which was offered for a sacrifice. Herein Christ fulfills the "Lamb Of God That Taketh Away the Sins of The World". [John 1:29] Remember, the Egypt lamb did not take away sin. The Egypt lamb was not slain for the forgiveness of sins. Only the daily lambs offered by the priest did that. Not even on Atonement did a lamb take away the sins of the people. For it was not a lamb slain on the day of Atonement by a "Goat". Hence, when you look at the daily sacrifice of the lambs slain for the remission of sins, you see the picture of Christ. A picture of the Christ who daily maketh intercession for us. The Christ who forgives us daily. Hence, "Give us this day"...."Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
So the daily Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World is Jesus Christ. When you take a look at the Passover Supper of Christ you get a glimpse of two ceremonies. The first is the commemoration of the old Jewish Passover. The second is the Christian Passover in commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ, the lamb of God. Christ brought these two sacrifices together in His Passover Supper. He has become therefore both our Passover and the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
In as much as Christ was slain early in the morning at the time of the morning sacrifice lamb, and in as much as Christ died before the evening oblation or sacrifice of the evening lamb, Christ as the morning lamb canceled the need of the evening lamb. So the lamb of God has forever replaced all sacrifices by the death of himself upon the Cross.
Hebrews 7:27
27: Who needeth not daily [two lambs] as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered himself.
When we celebrate the Lord's Passover, we call to remembrance all these marvelous and beautiful things. To ignore Passover then is the highest insult you can show the grace and sacrifice of Christ. Others may attempt to justify ignoring it by saying God will have to accept their other chosen days, or have none at all, but this is sacrilegious and mean spirited. John the Baptist did not see Christ as the Passover lamb, he saw Him as the daily lamb that would forever take away the sins of the world. [John 1:29] The Egypt Passover lamb speaks of deliverance from oppressive governmental bondage and slavery. The Christian Passover speaks of deliverance from oppressive governmental bondage under the Law and slavery to a sinful nature. The Daily lamb of God, speaks to remission of sins. Both the daily lamb sacrifice and the Christian Passover are brought together in the Lord's Supper. For this reason, only one small cup of wine with unleavened bread signifies the sacrifice of Christ as the daily lamb of God crucified on our behalf. To take Communion reaffirms this faith openly and publicly.
The Lord's Supper also brings back to the Christian the remembrance of his or her day of water baptism and first love in the Gospel. It promotes right attitudes of forgiveness, charity, and fellowship. To take the Lord's Supper is to reaffirm your baptism and your new birth experience. If for any reason there has been a weakness, a backsliding, or causes of disfellowship, the Communion is a place to be restored. It is the place to rededicate and reconsecrate one's life. By partaking, you are reaffirming your belief that Jesus Christ is the lamb that took away your sins. A Christian who ignores the Lord's Passover Communion has cheated themselves and will be subject to many problems and difficulties.
A bad attitude towards Communion makes a mockery of Christ. Ignorance about the Lord's Passover is no excuse to avoid it. Those who have denied Christ to live sinful lives should not partake of it. Passover should be partaken of by believers only. No one can remove the curses that come as a result of ignoring the Lord's Passover on its proper annual anniversary on the 14th day of Nisan of the Jewish year.
Many have not always seen this, but when we searched history and found that the Catholic Church changed Passover in 325 A.D., we knew that the Lord wanted his Passover restored in our lives. From now until we die or Jesus comes, we should intend to honor the Lord's memorial on the correct day. If others think were honoring one day above another, they are right. The Scriptures on this issue simply says, "let every man be persuaded in his own mind." [Romans 14:5] Since I am persuaded in my mind, the First Church and Apostle Paul kept this annual feast, we are in obedience to Apostolic practice and the Word of God. Since history records that Christian Passover was kept by the saints up to the time of the Nicean Council in 325 A.D. and then up till 626 A.D., I am persuaded it is the most high holy day of the year for the Church. Because many have not respected this most high Holy day of the year, we are without the benefits the first Apostolic Church enjoyed. Drinking the Communion cup is saying, "I am honoring the Lord's death until he comes".
THE BIBLE AND USE OF WINE AT THE PASSOVER
There is a big attempt to prove the use of grape juice for the Lord's Memorial. For the most part, nearly all of Christianity uses juice. But is it true the Jews used grape juice for Passover? Is it true that Jesus used grape jucie for Passover and then his own Memorial? Did the Jews have a custom or practice to preserve grape juice for religious observane because they consider it an alcoholic sin to use wine for the Passover? Is it true that drinking wine was considered a sin? All of these arguments are used to try and establish the use of juice. Let us examine the Scriptures and see if there is some important light on this that proves unfermented juice was not used at the Passover and that the non-sinful use of wine was not prohibited.
Melchizedek priest of the Most High God:
Melchizedek served Abraham bread and wine, Communion in type. Jesus was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek:
Gen. 14:18
18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. [Hebrews 6:20]
Some think that Melchizedek was a manifestation of God (which we do not hold), but whoever he was, he served Abraham wine. That is a fact no one can honestly deny. And, as far as we know, Abraham drank it.
If Jesus Christ came after the Order of Melchizedek and did not serve the apostles "Bread and Wine" in his lifetime, how is he then a priest after the order of Melchizedek?
WINE USED IN THE TABERNACLE
Wine was used in the Tabernacle sacrifices and did not defile it. Your body is now the Tabernacle [temple of God (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 23:13: Num. 15:5,7,10). The Jews drank wine in non-sinful uses and this was not condemned anywhere in the Scriptures. The sin was to abused one's self by drunkenness. This excess as well as gluttony are both condemned. It does not mean wine is to be prohibited any more than eating which is the act of gluttony means you don't eat! To be scriptural and to avoid sinful conduct in drunkenness and or placing unnecessary stumbling blocks whereby a brother or sister is offended, we should use wine only for Passover.
Tithes were paid on wine (Deu 18:4).
While some keep trying to find some way to have Jesus turning water into grape jucie for the wedding feast at Canna, the fact remains that he turned water into real wine (John 2:4).
John 4:46
46: So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
To continue under the blood of Jesus and to Part Four, click the Cross below.
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