Table of Contents
The Passover in the Old Testament with the lamb’s blood foreshadowed Jesus as the true Passover lamb whose blood/words bring salvation. At his first coming, Jesus’ teachings were the spiritual “flesh and blood” people needed to be freed from the Pharisees/teachers of the law. Jesus instituted a new covenant, saying the Passover meal wouldn’t be eaten again until his second coming and the kingdom of God. In Revelation, Jesus as the Lamb opens the scroll containing end times prophecies that must be fulfilled. An angel gives this open scroll to one like John, who must reveal its meaning to help God’s people “come out of Babylon” and gather to the Lamb at Mount Zion. The 144,000 and a great multitude will partake of the Passover meal at Mount Zion by receiving the opened prophecies from the one like John, allowing them to be purified by the Lamb’s blood. Just as there was deliverance at the Exodus and Jesus’ first coming, there will be another spiritual Passover at the second coming when God’s people receive the opened revelations.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
I pray this will be a wonderful time as we dive deeper into today’s content. It is going to be very deep and very eye-opening for our time.
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Flesh and Blood of the Lamb Part 2
Review
Last time, we looked at the flesh and blood being, or the Lamb being, which is, of course, Jesus, as mentioned in John 1:29.
And then, His flesh and His blood are His words of life, as stated in John 6:63 and John 1:29.
We talked about how, in every era, there was a Passover that was required of God’s people, who did not realize that they were in captivity and needed to come out or be freed from that captivity.
And we know that there is a Passover mentioned in Revelation now.
And then, to pass over to God’s kingdom at the second coming. That is our hope, a very important and significant hope that seems so vast now, but as we study, it will make more and more sense, and we will become increasingly excited for what is to come. So, part of this lesson will be a review of what we learned in the previous lesson, but we’ll also be filling in a little more detail.
And then, we will spend a significant amount of time discussing the second coming, which will be really important for this lesson.
Remember:
1.- Lamb —–> Jesus 1:29
Flesh and Blood ——> Word’s of Life (John 6:63)
2.- Passover ——> COME OUT!
3.- There is a Passover in Revelation!
1.- Passover at the Old Testament
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
Exodus 12: 1-14
Let’s break this down once more so we can understand all the important things mentioned in this passage.
Exodus 12: God is preparing to free His people from captivity in Egypt. In the previous class, we discussed how God first prophesied that He would do this. This prophecy was fulfilled during the time of Moses. God’s trademark or overarching principle is that He promises and fulfills. He has never broken a promise, and He never will. Here, God is giving specific instructions to His people on how to escape captivity in Egypt.
He said, “Take a lamb, a year old, without blemish. Roast the lamb; do not eat it raw, and put its blood on your door frames.” There were many different instructions they had to follow.
How were they supposed to eat the lamb? What were some of the strange things they had to do while eating the lamb?
They were instructed to eat it with “your belt on, your staff in your hand, and your sandals ready.”
Why? What were they supposed to do shortly after eating it?
“Leave.”
Their goal, their task, was to come out after eating the lamb. After the angel of death had passed over, it was time to depart.
So, the goal was to come out of the place that held them in captivity.
The process of coming out was the Passover.
The angel of death passed over their houses and did not affect their firstborn, and then they passed over from Egypt.
Who was the one giving them these instructions? Who was the one God was using as His mouthpiece to the people?
What was his name? Moses.
Moses was God’s messenger, the one God was using to deliver His word to the people, and later given the Ten Commandments, the law.
Moses gave instructions to the people, and they were to follow Moses’ instructions to be saved from captivity in Egypt. But God was saying all these things to the people.
Initially, they might have thought, “Okay, this is strange, but I don’t want my firstborn to die.”
“I hate being in this place. So I’m ready to go, right? I’m going to keep this command of God.”
“So that I and my family can come out and have freedom finally.” And many completed the commands that God gave.
Let’s go back to verse 14 and read it one more time because something important was mentioned there.
Verse 14 says, “This is a day you are to commemorate for the generations to come.”
“You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.” So, every year since that point, the Israelites celebrated the Passover to commemorate how God delivered their ancestors out of captivity.
Keep that in mind because it’s going to be important. Exodus 12:14 is a remembrance.
A festival was held every year after the Passover to remember what God had done for the people.
But there’s a reason why God does everything that He does. God does nothing by accident. Everything is intentional. Everything has a future goal. So, the reason why God asked them to do all these things was not by accident.
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Hebrews 10:1.
The law is only a shadow, not the reality itself. In other words, as the writer of Hebrews states, the law is a prophecy, foreshadowing what is to come. The reality is the fulfillment of the law.
This is the reason why, in Matthew 5, Jesus declared, “I am the fulfillment of the law. I am the reality of the things that God asked you and your ancestors to do all those years ago.” The law was fulfilled through Jesus.
Let’s examine this in more detail to understand why this event pointed to Christ at His first coming. Why is it the case that the law is merely a shadow, a prophecy of the reality that was to come in the form of Jesus as the fulfillment?
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17
What did Paul say to the people in Colossae?
Don’t let people deceive you with these festivals or put you down. Whether or not you eat or drink because of the festival or even the Sabbath day, these are a shadow. The reality of these events, these rituals, these traditions, is Christ.
Christ is the reality of these things. So, if someone comes at you and says, “Why don’t you do this?” You should answer, “Because of Christ. Because Jesus is the answer.”
So, when God said all of these things are to be done as a lasting ordinance, God had in mind, “Do until my son comes.” How silly would it be for someone to say to Jesus, “Well, I need to keep this, so I’m not going to follow you.” And then, the festival you’re celebrating is right here. Following me is keeping the festival.
Following me is keeping the law. That was a hard distinction for people to make, that the law was standing right in front of them. And now, they no longer had to keep the traditions of old but had to follow the one that God was using at that time.
It was very difficult for many people to do. Let’s not be those who make the same mistake.
Let’s see, one more passage about this, about how Christ was the reality.
7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Christ is our Passover Lamb who has been sacrificed. Therefore, we should get rid of the old yeast, the old traditions, as they have been invalidated by Christ’s sacrifice. Instead, we ought to follow Him, for He is our Passover. Do you all understand? Are we all following this?
Now, let us examine how the spiritual Passover unfolded during the time of Christ’s First Coming.
2.- Passover at the First Coming
At the time of the first coming, who was the entity that held people in captivity, akin to slavery? Can someone provide an answer? During the first coming, who played the role of the slaver, keeping people subjugated? It was the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law who were the oppressors. And whom did they keep in this state of bondage? Just as in the past, it was God’s people, the Israelites, who were held captive.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:1-4
In verse 4, what did Jesus call them? He said, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”
What does that sound like? A slaver, one who enslaves others. That’s who they were, and Jesus had to call them out. This is the call-out in Matthew 23.
Jesus is calling out these Pharisees. It’s time to judge them. And what does he call them in verse 33? “You brood of vipers, you, those like the first viper, the first serpent.” In Genesis. Why? Because Satan was using them to enslave the Israelites.
Consider it like this: The war between God and Satan has been the same for the last 6,000 years. God establishes a people; Satan attacks that people. It’s been the same battle forever. But thankfully, by God’s grace, it will come to an end.
However, when God establishes a people, somehow, someway, they find themselves enslaved. And so then, God has to go through the process again of calling his people out.
The people who enslaved them changed every time. Initially, it was physical enslavement; they were literal slaves subjected to heavy labor. But then, they became spiritual slaves. By this time, they didn’t realize it. This is why, when Jesus said in John 8:32, “One who accepts my words will be set free,” the people began to protest, “What do you mean be set free? We have never been slaves,” meaning the people of that generation, to be clear.
“What do you mean be set free?” They didn’t realize that they were in captivity by the one who enslaved them – Satan, of course.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:32,44
Jesus told them, “You belong to your father, the devil.” He was saying that they were enslaved, though they didn’t realize it. That’s why the words Jesus preached were so valuable for them – so important to set them free. To liberate them not only from Satan but also from the tedious rituals they had been keeping, which were no longer effective because they were not with God anymore.
How did Jesus provide freedom for the people? Of course, there must be a Passover. Let’s see how Jesus did so.
14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:14
Jesus said, “Leave them.” This means you cannot continue to stay with the blind guides and claim that you’re following Jesus. It does not work that way. You have to make a decision, a choice. Do I stick with what I’ve always known, which has kept me in slavery? Or do I come and follow the one who is bringing freedom? You cannot have one foot here and the other foot there. That’s not how this works. You have to fully come out.
Let’s see, Jesus reiterates this once more in…
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24
Whoever hears My words and believes has crossed over from death to life. So, who did God use to deliver the message that brings salvation for the first time? Jesus. We have God using the Son, Jesus. And Jesus spoke the words of life to the people. But what words of life did Jesus speak? A word that had never been heard before. A new word. The open word of the Old Testament prophecy and fulfillment. “The words that you have been reading every Sabbath have been fulfilled through Me.”
This is what God did here through Me. This was a new teaching. Like Mark 1:27 states, “What is this? A new teaching and with authority.” The people were surprised. “Who is this man, and where did these teachings come from?” And when they heard these words from Jesus, those who truly had the heart to understand were compelled to leave the place of death and come to the place where they realized that they could no longer receive what they needed from there. But not everyone was able to make that decision. Not everyone was able to come out. And those who did not come out were judged with the rest of the Pharisees and the Sadducees by Jesus’ words.
But what are the characteristics of those who came out with Jesus?
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
John 1:45.
We have found the one about whom Moses and the prophets wrote. That’s why the disciples followed Jesus. That’s why they were so ready to drop everything and follow the one they had been waiting for, the one who appeared to them, a legend.
Ever since they were little, they had been hearing about the Messiah. And then the Messiah appeared. He proved He was the Messiah, not just by performing miraculous signs, which is often how people explain why they call Him the Messiah. But because Scripture was being fulfilled. That was the real reason. The miracles were only the icing on the cake.
The real substance, the main meat and potatoes, was prophecy and fulfillment. Miracles were the icing. But most people only received the icing, and they got like a sugar high and then left Jesus. Right?
They didn’t actually eat the real cake. Like, “Wow, He healed someone’s eyes, that’s cool.” The Pharisees were like that. Does that make sense?
So, really consider this because the time of the second coming looks just like the Old Testament and just like the first coming.
Just one more thing to mention about this right here. This is, of course, the Old Testament prophecy and fulfillment. Is Jesus flesh and blood? So, His flesh and blood is the word of life.
And that’s what the people needed to eat and drink in order to receive salvation, as stated in John 6:45 and 54.
And so, when the people heard this, many of them struggled, saying, “What does He mean by this? What does He mean by that?”
But know that when Jesus was explaining this, He expected people to ask Him those questions and then decide to come to Him.
However, they really struggled with this because it was a strange teaching, and they weren’t making those figurative connections at the time.
But only His disciples, who decided to cross over from death to life, made that connection. So it was with Jesus’ disciples that He decided to establish a new covenant.
3.- Jesus’ New Covenant
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:14-20
Hopefully, everyone is familiar with the Last Supper, and you’ve seen the painting where Jesus’ 12 disciples are surrounding him. That’s the event we just read about. Before Jesus knew he had to suffer on the night of Passover, knowing he would be arrested and crucified the next day, he decided to establish some key things with his disciples. Let’s pay attention to the things Jesus said because they’re so critical for the time we are living in.
Keep this in mind: The disciples are the reason why we have the Bible today. They’re the reason why we know about Jesus today. If it wasn’t for their sacrifice, we would not have this word today. When they agreed to this new covenant with Jesus, they are the reason why we have faith in Jesus in the first place. When they agreed to this new covenant, every believer after them also made the same agreement. Just like those who were born to the Israelites of the Old Testament were automatically born into the covenant of old, we too, as spiritual children of the disciples, are also part of this new covenant. This applies to us.
We’ll understand how it applies to us even more at the time of revelation. So, let’s break this down. Let’s go back to verse 14. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table, and he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” This is the traditional yearly Passover celebration that has been going on since Exodus 12, right?
Let’s keep going. Now, in verse 16, this is key. Pay attention to verse 16: “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Do we often read over this passage without truly understanding the gravity of what Jesus just said?
So, let’s understand the gravity. First of all, Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, with the bread and the wine that have symbolic meaning. But in verse 16, Jesus said this Passover meal, and he says the same thing in verse 18: “For I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” He’s saying he will not be able to participate in this Passover meal, and really, no one knows until the Kingdom of God comes when he will eat and drink again.
This is critically important. When is the kingdom of God coming, everyone? What time period? During the second coming.
What were you supposed to do until that time? Prepare for them and understand their word.
Certainly. And what did Jesus ask his disciples to do? In verse 19, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'”
Sound familiar, everybody? It should because God asked the people to do the same thing all those years ago: “Do this in remembrance of me.” But what tends to happen when people are told to do a ritual in remembrance? They forget! What a paradox! They forget the reason why they are doing the remembrance, thinking that the power is in the ritual when the power is in what the ritual represents: the promise that Jesus will come and eat and drink again at the time of the second coming.
Everyone, the power is not in the ritual. The power is in what the ritual represents: that Jesus will come again and establish the kingdom of God, where we will then again be able to eat and drink of the flesh and blood of the lamb. But this time, the flesh and blood of the lamb is not the Old Testament prophecy and fulfillment but the New Testament prophecy and fulfillment, which is fulfilled when the kingdom of God comes. Are we understanding? Are we putting two and two together? Are we making that link? So, communion is great, but we forgot why.
That’s the problem. So, let’s understand the why now. And who are those who get to partake in the Passover meal of our time?
4.- Passover at the Second Coming
It’s going to follow three categories: when, where, and who.
When does it take place? Who are those who partake in that Passover meal, and where do they do so?
When: At the second coming, when Revelation is fulfilled. Then the kingdom of God can come. The Passover meal can be eaten again.
But where will it take place, and who are the ones that participate?
The flow of the opening of Revelation is going to be very important. So, how does this flow begin? How does the opening of Revelation begin? How does it start being fulfilled? Where do all things begin?
With God.
God is the creator.
So, the opening of the word begins with God. Oh, how?
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
Revelation 5:1-3
There is a scroll, sealed with seven seals, held in the hand of the One who is seated on the throne, who is God. For the past 2,000 years, God has possessed this sealed scroll in His hand. However, no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open it or look inside. Only one being was capable of accomplishing this task. And who was that one?
4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:4-7
The Lamb comes and takes the scroll from Him who sat on the throne, as the only one who was able to do this. Why? Because He was slain. And when Jesus opens the seals, events begin to unfold.
Things start happening. In the next chapter, verse one states, “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals.” Verse 3 says, “I watched as the Lamb opened the second seal.” Verse 5 mentions, “I watched as the Lamb opened the third seal.” Verse 7 states, “I watched as the Lamb opened the fourth seal.” Verse 9 reads, “I watched as the Lamb opened the fifth seal.” Verse 12 declares, “I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal.” That concludes Revelation 6.
And the last seal is opened. Revelation 8:1 says, “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven.” We’ll delve into these details much more later, but understand that Jesus was the one who opened the scroll.
The little scroll is the Book of Revelation. Here’s the explanation: By this point, the rest of the Bible had already been unveiled. From Genesis to Malachi had been opened. And we know that history and moral teachings don’t need to be unveiled. That’s straightforward. “This person was at this location at this time and date, did this thing.” That’s history, simple. “Treat others how you want to be treated.” Straightforward.
That part of the scripture, that part of the Bible, is not sealed. What is sealed is when you see “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—and let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
That’s what is sealed. And that is what Jesus had to unveil when this was revealed.
Does that make sense? So, just the Book of Revelation. It’s directly addressing the Book of Revelation.
That’s what needed to be unveiled at the time of the second coming. So Jesus does the work of opening the seal, but it doesn’t just stop with Jesus.
It continues on.
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
Revelation 10:1-2
John then sees a glorious, mighty angel, and this angel is holding a little scroll in his hand. Where did that little scroll come from? Jesus had just opened it. So, Jesus gives it to the angel. Remember, Revelation 1:1-3 states: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him.” Why is it called Jesus’s revelation? Because he opened it. Jesus opened it, which means it is fulfilled. And it makes it Jesus’ revelation because he has opened it. Jesus is the revelation. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.” He made it known by sending his angel to whom? This is the next key in the puzzle.
8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:8-11
Let’s understand what is being recorded here because it is very important. We see that we’re reading the book of Revelation from the perspective of Apostle John, who, if you remember, was seeing this in a vision. He didn’t live out these events; he only saw them while he was in the spirit, the events of Revelation, and he recorded what he saw. But we know that Revelation is a book of prophecy, which means it must be fulfilled.
And just like the Old Testament, when prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel said things like, “I saw,” “I heard,” “It was shown to me,” it wasn’t Isaiah who healed the sick and gave the good news. It wasn’t Ezekiel who spoke to the valley of the dry bones. It was the one who came later and lived out the events that Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Hosea saw.
Guess what? The same thing must happen at the time of the second coming. Every chapter of Revelation has a testimony of one who saw and heard. Every chapter states, “Then I saw this. Then I saw this. Then I saw this. Then I heard this, I heard the voice of this.” So there was a person who was living out these events of Revelation and seeing and hearing. And his testimony must be one that we hear so that we understand what has been fulfilled, rather than guessing, “Is this event on the news a fulfillment? Is that event on the news a fulfillment?” Instead, we will be hearing, “This is what happened here. This is what happened there. This is when it happened like that.” So someone must come, like John.
Someone like John must appear, or you can say a “New John.” Someone like John must appear and live out the events of Apostle John. And then give the testimony to what he saw.
What we see in Revelation 10:8-11: “Then the voice I heard from heaven spoke to me once more. ‘Go take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.’ So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it. And eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” Then I was told, “You must prophesy again to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
Where are the peoples, nations, languages, and kings now? Trapped where? In Babylon.
And just like the people at the time of the first coming, they did not know they needed deliverance.
Let’s now go to Revelation 18 to read about the state of Babylon.
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
Revelation 18:1-4
We see here God and Jesus’ desperate cry for their people. What does it say? “My people, come out of her, my people.” Come out from her, for you are enslaved in a place that is a home for demons, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird, every evil spirit. That’s where you currently are, my people.
So, when we need to be extracted from this place, there needs to be a Passover meal that we must eat and then come out, following the pattern of old. What is the Passover meal? The meal that comes from the place where the Lamb is. Revelation 14:1 says, “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion.”
Where is the Lamb today? It is Jesus.
And where is His revelation being taught from?
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
Let’s understand this a little more now. Then I saw the Lamb standing where? On Mount Zion. And with Him, 144,000 were sealed with His name and His Father’s name on their foreheads. We’ll have a whole lesson on the figurative seal in a few weeks to come.
But let’s take a step back. Remember what Jesus promised in Luke 22? He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me because I will not eat of this again until the Kingdom of God comes.”
Where will the Kingdom of God come to? Mount Zion, the place where the Lamb is. God’s Kingdom.
So, who are the ones that will partake? The first group we know about, based on Revelation, is the 144,000. But they’re not the only ones, as some might teach in a different denomination. Who are the others that will take part in the Passover meal?
I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14
We observe that the 144,000 are mentioned in Revelation 7:4, and a great multitude will also be present at Mount Zion to partake in this wedding banquet, this Passover meal. A vast number of people will gather at Mount Zion; this is God’s objective and God’s will. Do not be concerned, as we will have ample time over the next few months to explore this in greater depth. This is merely our initial introduction. So, keep these aspects in mind: how Revelation must be fulfilled.
The 144,000 and an innumerable multitude from every tribe, people, language, and nation will be present, and they will cleanse their robes. Recall, the figurative clothes symbolizes our hearts, actions, and doctrines, which will be purified by what? The blood of the Lamb.
Here is how Jesus’ blood is applied at the second coming. How it is consumed and imbibed once more at the second coming.
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6
Jesus’ blood has a significant impact at the time of His second coming, just as it had a profound effect during His first coming on the cross. However, His blood also plays a crucial role at the time of the second coming. The book of Revelation frequently mentions Jesus’ blood, as seen in Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 7:14, Revelation 12:11, and Revelation 19. His blood is prominently featured throughout the book. As we continue to study, we will gain a deeper understanding of the significance of Jesus’ blood.
Memorization
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
Revelation 18:4
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
We have covered part 2 of the flesh and blood of the lamb.
Jesus’s flesh and his blood represent his words of life.
As Jesus is the Lamb, the Passover at his first coming set the standard for how things will be done in the time after.
God instructed them to eat the flesh of a real lamb and put its blood on their door frames. Then, the angel of death would pass over their houses, sparing their firstborn, and they would come out of Egypt.
The same thing happened spiritually at the time of Jesus’s first coming, through his flesh and blood.
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy with his words of life was used to bring people out of the slavery of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
By listening to his words, they would cross over or Passover from death to life. Then, Jesus established a new covenant in his blood, detailing what we are to expect in our time. He said this will not be eaten or drunk again until the kingdom of God comes at the second coming.
Until then, we should do the remembrance. However, the power does not come from the remembrance itself but from what needs to be remembered, which is Jesus’s promise about what will happen at the end times.
So, how does this take place? At the time of the second coming, when Revelation is fulfilled, the Lamb will be at Mount Zion. He will give the open scroll to one who is like John, who will deliver the flesh and blood of the Lamb to the people in Babylon, prophesied about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. The very word that God had sealed, which Jesus opened and the angel delivered to John, telling him to eat, for these things must take place as they were prophesied.
Why have I heard this before? Well, that’s the point. The word is now spreading.
But just like the time of the first coming, people had to meet someone who received the word, like Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
Those who are drunk with the maddening wine, consuming food from all kinds of places (we’ll study the maddening wine next), need to receive this new word and come out of Babylon to gather at Mount Zion.
So, let us be those who pass over in our time.
Review with the Evangelist
REVIEW
We learned about the secrets of heaven, the fugitive flesh, and blood of the Lamb Part 2. We learned that there was a Passover that happened in the Old Testament, where the Israelites had to come out from Egypt. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. During that time, the flesh and the blood of a physical lamb were needed for the Israelites to be saved.
However, God commanded them to celebrate it as a festival for generations to come. We also learned that this was just a copy and shadow of what was to come, as mentioned in Colossians 2. The reality of this is Jesus, the reality is in Christ. So, during His first coming, they needed to eat the flesh and blood of Jesus.
Who is the Lamb of God to cross over to life, right? So, what is the flesh and blood of the lamb?
Is it Jesus’s word of life or the opened word, right? It is the explanation of the prophecy and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy at that time.
That is why in John 1:45, the disciples say, “We have found the one whom Moses and the prophets wrote about.”
So, those who accepted His words would be able to come out from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law.
Because Satan was using them at that time. Now, what about today? In Luke 22, Jesus said that He would not eat the Passover meal again until the fulfillment of the kingdom of God comes.
And in Revelation 18:1-4, it says, “Come out of her, my people.”
We are God’s people, right? So, how can we eat the flesh and the blood of the lamb today?
For us to come out, what do we need to receive? What do we need to understand?
We have to understand the word, right? But specifically, the open word.
So, the explanation of the prophecy reaches in parables and the fulfillment of the New Testament prophecies, right?
So, do I completely believe in the open word that I am receiving right now? How crucial is this in my life?
If we truly value it, then we must come out, right? And focus on the open word.
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Flesh and Blood of the Lamb
Part 2
Summary: This class explores the concept of “flesh and blood of the Lamb” as Jesus’ words of life and how this concept relates to the Passover in different eras. It delves into the Old Testament Passover, its spiritual fulfillment at Jesus’ first coming, and its future fulfillment at the Second Coming, highlighting the need to come out of spiritual Babylon and partake in the Passover meal at Mount Zion.
I. Review
- Reiterates the key takeaways from the previous lesson, establishing the connections between the Lamb and Jesus, flesh and blood and Jesus’ words of life, and the Passover as a call to come out of captivity.
II. Passover in the Old Testament (Exodus 12:1-14)
- Examines the instructions God gave the Israelites for escaping captivity in Egypt, emphasizing the symbolism of the lamb, the blood on doorframes, and the act of coming out.
- Highlights the commemorative nature of the Passover, pointing to its deeper spiritual significance.
- Explains that the Old Testament law, including the Passover, is a shadow or prophecy of the reality found in Christ, as stated in Hebrews 10:1 and Colossians 2:16-17.
- Identifies Christ as the Passover Lamb, signifying the need to abandon old traditions and embrace Him as the fulfillment of the law (1 Corinthians 5:7).
III. Passover at the First Coming
- Identifies the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law as the enslavers of God’s people at Jesus’ time, highlighting their oppressive practices (Matthew 23:1-4).
- Explains how Jesus exposed their spiritual slavery and offered freedom through His words, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and providing a new teaching (John 8:32,44; Mark 1:27).
- Underscores the importance of leaving the old system and following Jesus for liberation (Matthew 15:14; John 5:24).
- Emphasizes that Jesus’ disciples recognized Him as the fulfillment of prophecy and readily followed Him (John 1:45).
- Reiterates that Jesus’ flesh and blood, representing His words of life, are essential for salvation, and those who truly understood crossed over from death to life by accepting them.
- Explains that Jesus established a new covenant with His disciples, marking a shift from old rituals to a new understanding of faith.
IV. Jesus’ New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20)
- Analyzes Jesus’ words during the Last Supper, highlighting His anticipation of suffering and His declaration that He wouldn’t partake in the Passover meal again until the Kingdom of God comes.
- Emphasizes the significance of this statement, pointing to the fulfillment of the Passover at the Second Coming.
- Reminds us that communion, though a remembrance, often loses its intended meaning and power, which lies in the promise of Jesus’ return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
V. Passover at the Second Coming
- Establishes a framework for understanding the Passover at the Second Coming by focusing on when, where, and who.
- Explains that the Passover takes place at the Second Coming when Revelation is fulfilled, signifying the establishment of God’s Kingdom.
a) God’s Sealed Scroll (Revelation 5:1-7)
- Describes the scene in heaven where a scroll sealed with seven seals is held by God, and no one is worthy to open it except the Lamb, Jesus.
- Connects Jesus’ opening of the seals to the unfolding of events in Revelation, highlighting His role in fulfilling prophecy.
- Clarifies that the sealed scroll represents the Book of Revelation, particularly the prophecies concerning the end times.
b) The Little Scroll and the New John (Revelation 10:1-11)
- Introduces the mighty angel who receives the open scroll from Jesus and delivers it to John, instructing him to eat it.
- Draws parallels between the visions of Old Testament prophets and John’s experience in Revelation, suggesting the need for a “New John” to live out and testify to the events of Revelation.
- Highlights the instruction given to John to prophesy to the people trapped in Babylon, emphasizing their need for deliverance.
c) The Cry to Come Out of Babylon (Revelation 18:1-4)
- Depicts the state of Babylon as a dwelling place for demons and unclean spirits, emphasizing its spiritual corruption.
- Conveys God’s urgent call for His people to come out of Babylon to avoid sharing in its sins and plagues.
- Connects the need for deliverance from Babylon to the Passover meal, drawing parallels to the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
d) The Passover Meal at Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1)
- Identifies Mount Zion as the location of the Lamb, Jesus, and the 144,000 sealed with His name and His Father’s name.
- Links Jesus’ promise in Luke 22 to eat the Passover meal again when the Kingdom of God comes to the presence of the Lamb at Mount Zion.
- Introduces the 144,000 as the first group to partake in the Passover meal, with others from every tribe, nation, and language joining them.
e) The Cleansing Power of Jesus’ Blood (Revelation 7:14; Revelation 1:5-6)
- Explains that the great multitude will cleanse their robes, representing their hearts, actions, and doctrines, in the blood of the Lamb.
- Emphasizes the continued significance of Jesus’ blood at the Second Coming, highlighting its role in purification and redemption.
VI. Summary
- Summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the connection between the Passover and the flesh and blood of the Lamb, represented by Jesus’ words of life.
- Reinforces the need to come out of spiritual Babylon, receive the open word of Revelation, and gather at Mount Zion for the Passover meal at the Second Coming.
VII. Review
- Provides a concise review of the lesson, emphasizing the need for understanding and faith in the open word to participate in the Passover at the Second Coming.
- Challenges listeners to reflect on their understanding and belief in the open word and the importance of coming out of Babylon to focus on God’s truth.
A Study Guide
Unlocking Revelation: The Flesh and Blood of the Lamb
I. Short Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences.
- What does the “flesh and blood” of the Lamb symbolize in both the Old and New Testaments?
- Explain the concept of “Passover” as it relates to the Israelites in Egypt and to Christians today.
- Why is the Law considered a “shadow” and Christ the “reality” according to the book of Hebrews?
- How did the Pharisees and Sadducees act as “slavers” during Jesus’s time on Earth?
- What new teaching did Jesus bring that set people free from spiritual captivity?
- What is the significance of Jesus’ statement that He would not eat the Passover meal again until the Kingdom of God comes?
- What is the sealed scroll in Revelation 5, and who is worthy to open it?
- Explain the role of the “New John” in the fulfillment of Revelation.
- Describe the spiritual state of Babylon and why God’s people are called to come out of it.
- Where will the Passover meal be eaten again at the Second Coming, and who will partake in it?
II. Short Answer Quiz: Answer Key
- The “flesh and blood” of the Lamb symbolizes the Word of God, both in the Old Testament (the sacrificial lamb) and the New Testament (Jesus’s teachings). This Word provides spiritual nourishment and guidance for God’s people.
- In Egypt, Passover marked the Israelites’ physical freedom from slavery. Today, it signifies spiritual liberation from sin and death through Christ’s sacrifice. Christians “pass over” from spiritual death to eternal life through faith in Jesus.
- The Law, with its rituals and sacrifices, foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. It was a blueprint, but incomplete. Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled the Law, becoming the ultimate reality it pointed towards.
- The Pharisees and Sadducees imposed burdensome religious rules on the people, leading them away from God’s true intentions. They focused on outward observance rather than genuine faith, keeping the people spiritually enslaved.
- Jesus brought the message of salvation through grace and faith, not through strict adherence to the Law. This new teaching offered freedom from legalistic burdens and opened the way for a personal relationship with God.
- Jesus’s statement highlights the future fulfillment of His Kingdom during the Second Coming. It emphasizes that the true Passover celebration, the ultimate union with God, will only be realized when Christ returns.
- The sealed scroll in Revelation 5 represents the unfolding plan of God for the end times. Only Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, is worthy to open it because His sacrifice grants Him the authority to reveal and enact God’s final victory.
- The “New John” is a figure who will appear at the Second Coming, mirroring the role of Apostle John in receiving and sharing the revelation of Jesus Christ. This individual will experience the events of Revelation firsthand and testify to their fulfillment, guiding God’s people through the end times.
- Babylon represents a corrupt and materialistic world system that opposes God. It is a place of spiritual darkness and deception where evil thrives. God calls His people to separate themselves from its influence to avoid judgment and partake in His Kingdom.
- The Passover meal will be eaten again at Mount Zion, symbolic of God’s Kingdom, at the Second Coming. The 144,000, representing the faithful remnant, and a vast multitude from all nations who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb will participate, signifying their unity and eternal fellowship with God.
III. Essay Questions
- Analyze the symbolism of the Passover lamb in both the Old and New Testaments, drawing connections to Jesus’s sacrifice and the spiritual freedom He offers.
- Compare and contrast the three Passovers discussed in the source material: the Passover in Egypt, the Passover at Jesus’s First Coming, and the Passover at the Second Coming.
- Explain how the “flesh and blood” of the Lamb functions as spiritual nourishment for God’s people in both the Old and New Testaments.
- Discuss the significance of Jesus opening the sealed scroll in Revelation. What does this action reveal about His authority and His role in the events of the end times?
- Analyze the call to “come out of Babylon” in Revelation 18. What are the implications of this call for Christians today, and how does it relate to the concept of spiritual separation?
IV. Glossary of Key Terms
- Lamb: A symbolic representation of Jesus Christ, referencing His sacrificial death for the sins of humanity.
- Flesh and Blood: Figurative language for the Word of God, both the spoken teachings of Jesus and the written Scriptures, which provide spiritual nourishment and guidance.
- Passover: Originally, the event commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt; now signifying spiritual liberation from sin and death through Christ.
- Shadow/Reality: The Law, with its rituals and sacrifices, is a “shadow” pointing towards the ultimate reality of Christ’s sacrifice, which fulfills its purpose.
- Mount Zion: Symbolic representation of God’s Kingdom and the dwelling place of the Lamb, signifying spiritual wholeness and communion with God.
- Babylon: Represents a corrupt and materialistic world system opposed to God, signifying spiritual darkness and deception.
- 144,000: Symbolic representation of the faithful remnant of God’s people who remain pure and obedient during the end times.
- Open Word: The revealed and explained prophecy of Scripture, particularly the book of Revelation, which illuminates the events of the end times.
- New John: A figure prophesied to appear at the Second Coming, mirroring John the Apostle’s role in receiving and sharing the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Blood of the Lamb: Represents the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which cleanses believers from sin and grants them eternal life.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This timeline outlines the spiritual Passover across three eras:
1. Old Testament Passover (Exodus 12: 1-14):
- Prior to Exodus: God promises to free His people from Egypt.
- 10th day of the first month: Each Israelite family chooses a year-old unblemished lamb.
- 14th day of the first month, at twilight: The lamb is slaughtered.
- Same night: The blood of the lamb is placed on doorframes. The lamb is roasted and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread, while dressed for departure.
- Following night: The Angel of Death passes through Egypt, killing firstborn sons and animals not covered by the blood.
- Immediately after: The Israelites leave Egypt.
- Annually thereafter: The Passover is celebrated to remember God’s deliverance.
2. First Coming Passover (Ministry of Jesus):
- Throughout Jesus’ Ministry: Jesus preaches a new word, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and challenging the authority of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- John 8:32: Jesus declares that accepting his words brings freedom, sparking debate about the nature of slavery.
- Matthew 15:14, John 5:24: Jesus calls His followers to “leave” the blind guides and cross over from death to life by believing in Him.
- Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20): Jesus celebrates Passover with his disciples, establishes the New Covenant, and states He will not eat this meal again until the Kingdom of God comes.
3. Second Coming Passover (Revelation):
- Revelation 5: God holds a sealed scroll that only the Lamb (Jesus) can open, initiating the events of Revelation.
- Revelation 6-8: Jesus opens the seven seals of the scroll, revealing prophecies of the end times.
- Revelation 10: Jesus gives the open scroll to a mighty angel who delivers it to “New John.”
- Revelation 18: God calls his people to “come out” of Babylon, a place of spiritual impurity and enslavement.
- Revelation 14:1: The Lamb (Jesus) stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000.
- Revelation 7:14: A great multitude, having come out of the tribulation, gathers on Mount Zion.
- Revelation 1:5-6: The blood of the Lamb cleanses and redeems His followers.
- Culmination: The Passover meal is celebrated again on Mount Zion, marking the arrival of God’s Kingdom.
Cast of Characters
1. God: The ultimate authority, initiating and fulfilling His plan of salvation throughout history. He calls His people out of slavery in Egypt, sends His Son to redeem humanity, and will establish His Kingdom on Mount Zion.
2. Jesus (The Lamb): The central figure, fulfilling God’s promises and prophecies. He is the Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice sets humanity free from spiritual death. He opens the scroll of Revelation, establishing the New Covenant, and will ultimately reign over God’s Kingdom.
3. Moses: God’s messenger in the Old Testament, delivering the instructions for the Passover and leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He represents a prototype for messengers who deliver God’s word.
4. Pharisees, Sadducees, and Teachers of the Law: The spiritual enslavers at the time of Jesus’ first coming. They burden the people with legalistic interpretations of the law, resisting Jesus’ message of freedom.
5. The Disciples (Apostle John in particular): Jesus’ followers who receive His teachings, witness His sacrifice, and carry on His mission. John receives the vision of Revelation, documenting the events of the Second Coming, and acts as a model for the “New John.”
6. The Mighty Angel: A powerful being who receives the open scroll from Jesus and delivers it to “New John,” marking the beginning of the Second Coming events.
7. “New John”: The individual who receives the open scroll from the angel and lives out the events of Revelation. He will preach God’s word and call people out of Babylon, mirroring John the Apostle’s role.
8. The 144,000: A symbolic group of God’s chosen people sealed with His name. They stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion and represent those who are first to partake in the Second Coming Passover.
9. The Great Multitude: A vast number of people from all nations who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and join the 144,000 on Mount Zion, celebrating the arrival of God’s Kingdom.
Overview
Overview: Figurative Flesh and Blood of the Lamb
Main Themes:
- The Passover as a recurring motif: This lesson emphasizes the Passover event in the Old Testament as a symbolic foreshadowing of spiritual liberation. It connects the physical Passover from Egyptian slavery to the spiritual Passover from sin through Christ, and finally to a future Passover out of spiritual Babylon during the Second Coming.
- “Flesh and Blood” as the Word of God: This phrase is interpreted not literally but figuratively, referring to the teachings and revelations of God. In the Old Testament, this meant following the laws and prophecies. In the first coming, it was accepting Christ’s teachings. In the second coming, it will be understanding the revealed prophecies of Revelation.
- The need for a messenger: In each era, God uses a chosen individual to deliver his message and guide his people: Moses in the Old Testament, Jesus in the first coming, and a predicted “New John” in the second coming. This messenger’s role is crucial for understanding and receiving God’s “flesh and blood.”
- Spiritual Captivity and Liberation: The lesson emphasizes the cyclical nature of God’s people falling into captivity – first physical, then spiritual under the Pharisees, and finally in a future spiritual Babylon. Each Passover represents a liberation from a different form of captivity.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
- The Passover in Exodus foreshadowed Christ: The ritualistic elements of the Passover lamb, its blood, and the hasty departure from Egypt are interpreted as symbolic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ sacrifice and the liberation from sin he offers.
- “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves…The reality is the fulfillment of the law.” (Hebrews 10:1) “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
- Jesus’ teachings were the “flesh and blood” needed in the first coming: Accepting Christ and his teachings brought spiritual freedom from the oppressive religious systems of the time.
- “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)
- Communion is a reminder of a future Passover: The Last Supper and the institution of communion are not just rituals but reminders of Jesus’ promise to return and partake in a final Passover meal during the establishment of God’s kingdom on Mount Zion.
- “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 22:16)
- Revelation reveals the “flesh and blood” for the Second Coming: The document claims that the sealed scroll in Revelation represents the unveiling of specific prophecies regarding the end times, essential for navigating the spiritual challenges of that era.
- “That’s what is sealed. And that is what Jesus had to unveil when this was revealed.”
- A “New John” will deliver the message during the Second Coming: The document predicts a figure akin to John the Apostle who will witness and experience the events of Revelation, then deliver this “open word” to those trapped in spiritual Babylon.
- “Someone like John must appear…and live out the events of Apostle John. And then give the testimony to what he saw.”
- The final Passover will take place on Mount Zion: This future Passover will liberate believers from spiritual Babylon and usher them into God’s kingdom, where they will partake in a final meal with the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
- “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion.” (Revelation 14:1)
Quotes:
- On the need to come out of spiritual captivity: “Leave them; they are blind guides…If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)
- On the importance of Jesus’ blood in the Second Coming: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)
- God’s call to his people in the end times: “Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)
Overall: This lesson presents a complex theological framework, drawing heavily on biblical symbolism and interpretation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the “flesh and blood” of Christ in each era and the crucial role of God’s chosen messengers in delivering this truth. The document focuses on the impending Second Coming and the need for believers to prepare by understanding the prophecies of Revelation and separating themselves from spiritual Babylon.
Q&A
Q&A: The Passover and the Second Coming
1. What is the significance of the Passover in the Old Testament?
The Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. As instructed by God, they sacrificed a lamb without blemish, put its blood on their doorposts, and ate its roasted flesh. The angel of death “passed over” the houses marked with blood, sparing their firstborn sons while slaying the firstborn of the Egyptians. This event foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb.
2. How is Jesus the fulfillment of the Passover?
Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate Passover sacrifice, freeing believers from spiritual slavery to sin and death. Just as the Israelites were instructed to eat the Passover lamb, we are to partake in communion, remembering Christ’s sacrifice and receiving spiritual nourishment from His body (the Word) and blood.
3. What does Jesus mean when He says He will not eat the Passover again until the Kingdom of God comes?
This statement, made during the Last Supper (Luke 22:16), signifies that the full realization of the Passover will occur at the Second Coming, when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom. It points to a future event, a Messianic banquet, where He will celebrate with His faithful followers in the fully realized Kingdom of God.
4. Who are the “blind guides” Jesus warns us about?
In the context of the first coming, the “blind guides” are the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law who burdened the people with legalistic interpretations and traditions, leading them away from God’s true intentions. Today, anyone who distorts God’s Word or leads people astray from true faith can be considered a “blind guide.”
5. What is the meaning of “crossing over from death to life”?
This phrase, found in John 5:24, refers to the spiritual transformation that occurs when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their savior. Through faith in Christ’s sacrifice, we move from spiritual death (separation from God) to spiritual life (reconciliation with God), receiving eternal life and the promise of resurrection.
6. Who is the “New John” expected to appear at the Second Coming?
The “New John” is a figure prophesied to appear in the end times, mirroring the role of John the Baptist who heralded Jesus’ first coming. This individual will similarly act as a forerunner, proclaiming the truth of the opened Book of Revelation and preparing people for Christ’s return.
7. What is the significance of Mount Zion in relation to the Second Coming?
Mount Zion represents the dwelling place of God and the location where His Kingdom will be established. According to Revelation, the Lamb (Jesus) will stand on Mount Zion with the 144,000 and a great multitude. This suggests that Mount Zion will be the focal point of God’s presence and the place where the final Passover will occur.
8. How can we prepare for the Passover at the Second Coming?
We can prepare by studying and understanding the revealed Word of God, particularly the Book of Revelation. We should be vigilant against false teachings and strive to live in accordance with God’s will, allowing the “blood of the Lamb” (Christ’s sacrifice) to cleanse us from sin. Ultimately, we are to remain faithful, awaiting Christ’s return and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom.