New Year: 01/01/31/120

The New Year on 1^st Abib (Nisan) begins with the luni-solar conjunction at 19.14 on Friday, 7 March 2008 in Jerusalem. The start of the First day is at the end of evening nautical twilight (EENT), or dark, at 18:34 Jerusalem time. Since the New Moon of 7 March occurs at 19:14 (7.14 p.m.), which is after EENT (18:34 or 6.34 p.m.), the New Year is kept on March 8 in 2008.

This is the First day of the First month of the 31^st year of the 120^th Jubilee and the 40^th Jubilee since the baptism of Messiah. The number forty is significant as it is often the period allotted for repentance (Num. 14:33-34). See the paper Forty Years for Repentance (No. 290).

The Vernal or Spring Equinox is on 20 March at 7.48 a.m. this year.

Preparing for the Passover

The Passover is a commemorative Feast representing a series of features in God’s Plan of Redemption. The keeping of the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread is a sign that we are God's people (Ex. 13:3-10). The paper The Passover (No. 98) should be studied.

The Exodus under Moses forms the basis of the Passover and, while the story is based on the physical salvation of the nation of Israel, the Feast symbolises the spiritual salvation of the entire planet (see also Moses and the Gods of Egypt (No. 105)).

Moses' six ascents of the mountain to speak with the Angel of God show that we are able to enter into a relationship of glorification with God through Christ, who was that Angel. We who are predestined are chosen and called, then justified and glorified through Christ. See the paper The Ascents of Moses (No. 70).

Legislation and Timing

The legislation concerning the Passover is found at: Exodus 12:3-49; 23:15-18; 34:18; Leviticus 23:4-8; Numbers 9:2-5,13-14; 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8,16-17; Ezekiel 45:21-24.

Passover is the first of the three annual pilgrim Festivals – the others being Pentecost and Tabernacles – and is to be kept for a full eight days. It represents the first of three major spiritual harvests in the Plan of God – in this case, of Jesus Christ, as the first of the first-fruits (1Cor. 15:20).

The thirty-six hour period of the Lord’s Supper and the Passover, including the Night of Watching – from the beginning of the 14^th Abib (at dark) until the morning of the First Holy Day on the 15^th Abib – is to be observed away from our normal places of residence (Ex. 16:5; Mat. 26:17-19). However, where possible, the entire Feast should be kept outside our homes in order to remove ourselves somewhat from the world, even as Israel was taken out of Egypt.

Application in the Third Year

Since 2008 is the third year in the seven-year cycle, we are permitted to keep the Feasts within our gates this year. However, the thirty-six hour period is to be kept outside our gates, i.e. from the beginning of the 14^th Abib (at dark) until the morning of the First Holy Day on the 15^th Abib.

In the third year of the cycle our normal second tithe is given to the priesthood (now the Church) for assistance of the poor. This is then the ‘tithe of the third year’. Thus Feast expenditure (the Feast being kept within the gates in the 3^rd year) is from savings other than second tithe. All second tithe in the 3^rd year was given to the poor and Levites and, in the normal years, offerings to the poor and the Levites were made from the individual’s second tithe. See also the paper Tithing (No. 161).

Leaven

We are required to remove any leavened products from our accommodation at the Feast site before the start of the 14^th Abib (Ex. 12:15,19; 13:6-7; Deut. 16:3-4). Our permanent residences must also be deleavened prior to leaving for the Passover. See the paper Preparing for the Passover (No. 190).

While physical deleavening is important, the sanctification process during the Passover season is not one of outward cleansing but of inward cleansing, which is the hardest of all to achieve. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is understood as a time of replacing the old leaven of malice and wickedness with the leaven of sincerity and truth (see the paper The Old and the New Leaven (No. 106a)).

Purpose

In all seven of the major Passovers mentioned in the Bible, the sanctification process and the keeping of the Feast for the full seven days were critical to the restoration of the congregation of Israel, as seen in the paper The Seven Great Passovers of the Bible (No. 107). It is incumbent upon us to worship the One True God on the days that He set aside as holy and not on any other days.

It is also one of the few opportunities in the year for isolated and scattered brethren to eat together in worship, and gives participants a stronger sense of belonging to the Body of Christ (see the paper Eating Together in Worship (No. 267)).

During the full 21-day period from 1^st Abib, we are required to undertake regular prayer and occasional fasting for the salvation of the people of our nations, and even the fallen Host – for God doesn't wish anyone to perish (2Pet. 3:9). Refer also to the paper Cursing the Fig Tree (No. 90).

First Day of Abib: New Moon

The First day of the First month is a New Moon Sabbath (Isa. 66:23; Ezek. 46:1-3; Num. 28:11-15) and commences the New Year according to God's Sacred Calendar (Gen. 8:13; Ex. 12:2; Ps. 104:19). It is a Holy Day in its own right, and no onerous or paid work is to be done either by us or for us. See the paper The Moon and the New Year (No. 213).

It is the day to begin the preparation for the restoration of the worship of the Living God, and commences with the House of God, the Temple, and from the new priesthood of the Elect (2Chr. 29:16-19; 30:1-5; Mk. 11:11,15-18). The paper Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241) should be studied here.

As with all days in God's Calendar, 1^st Abib begins at dark (or EENT) in our local area and ends 24 hours later at dark, or 'evening' (cf. Gen. 1:5; Neh. 13:19; Lev. 23:32).

Seventh Day: Fast for Error and Ignorance

The Seventh of Abib is the day set aside for prayer and fasting in obedience to God's command to "sanctify a fast" (Joel 1:14; 2:12-17). All baptised members are required to participate in this fast. The paper Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous (No. 291) should be studied.

The fast begins on 13 March at dark and ends on 14 March at dark, and mirrors the fast on the Day of Atonement in the Seventh month (Lev. 23:27-31).

On this day we go before our Father to appeal for the simple or ignorant among our people, who have not known God’s ways and cannot sanctify themselves (Ezek. 45:18-20; Mk. 11:1; Heb. 5:2). Sanctification in the Church is the process of becoming consecrated to God by prayer and fasting in the study of His word.

Scripture enjoins us "to loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke" (Isa. 58:6-12), so that our people may be reconciled to our God and Father.

A few of the many things to pray for during this fast are that: many are given the gift of the calling of God and the power of the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them; we have the opportunity to properly educate people in God's Way and have people restored to the true Faith; we are able to repair the breach of understanding and restore the path of righteousness; the work of restoration is not frustrated by competing false prophecy and doctrines; encouragement is given to members and leaders of all the Churches of God; there will be peace and freedom among all men; and that all will be kept from the Evil One (cf. Lk. 11:1-4).

We are reminded that: "the prayer of a righteous person has great power in its effect" (Jas. 5:16; 2Chr. 30:18-20).

Tenth Day: Lamb Set Aside

The Tenth day is for the setting aside of the Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:3-5) that represents Messiah, and falls on Monday 17 March. It is a time to reflect upon our own spiritual condition after having been called out of the world and "set aside" by God for His purpose.

This is also an appropriate day on which to examine ourselves and to "discern the Body" in preparation for partaking of the Lord’s Supper with those who represent the true Body of believers in the true Spirit under one Lord, Jesus Christ, and One True God (2Cor. 13:5; 1Cor. 11:28-32).

Fourteenth Day: Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is to be observed after dark on Thursday, 20 March. A detailed explanation of the ordinance is found in the paper The Lord's Supper (No. 103). It is the second of only two sacraments of the Church, the other being baptism itself. See also the paper Procedures for the Lord's Supper (No. 103B).

Not everyone is eligible to take the Lord’s Supper. The primary requirement for partaking of the Lord's Supper is to be a baptised member of the Body of Christ. If we are not baptised, we should prepare for baptism (see the paper Repentance and Baptism (No. 52)).

If we are baptised, we should review our baptism and what it means. It requires the development of a right relationship with God. The children are consecrated and given special protection through a baptised and consecrated parent (1Cor. 7:14).

We are reminded that unless we “drink the blood and eat the body of Christ”, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God (Jn. 6:27-58). We ought to remember also that we have been given the Holy Spirit as a down-payment on our redemption as sons of God (2Cor. 1:22; 5:5).

Hence the Lord’s Supper service is purely to reconcile us to God. There are three main elements to it:

1) Foot-washing

The first element is the foot-washing service (Jn. 13:1-17), which precedes the partaking of the bread and wine. Taking part in the foot-washing ceremony each year renews and rededicates us to our conversion and the cleanliness we received from baptism prior to receipt of the Holy Spirit (1Pet. 3:21). See the paper Significance of the Footwashing (No. 99).

2) Bread

The concept of the body and blood of Christ is central to the Lord’s Supper. Christ’s sacrifice is reflected in these two symbols of bread and wine, as shown in the paper Significance of the Bread and Wine (No. 100). An example of the early Church observing this ordinance is found at 1Corinthians 11:20-29.

Only unleavened bread should be used at this service (Ex. 23:18; 34:25), as a physical sign that we are to put the leaven of sin out of our lives during this Passover period (see the paper Steps to Overcoming Sin (No. 11)).

3) Wine

The wine is symbolic of the High Priest’s annual sacrifice whereby, through the blood of bulls, he entered into the Holy of Holies. Christ himself is now our High Priest, interceding for us before the Throne of God (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 5:1ff.; 7:24-25). Wine is also symbolic of Christ's role as the vine (Jn. 15:1-6).

Thus wine is an indispensable part of the Lord’s Supper for each and every person and cannot be delegated or abrogated. Grape juice, which prevents a person from partaking of wine, cannot be substituted for the wine. Wine is alcoholic by nature (see the paper Wine in the Bible (No. 188)).

Memorial Service at 3.00 p.m.

On Friday 21 March, at the 'ninth hour' or 3.00 p.m., a service is to be held at the time the lamb was traditionally sacrificed (Ex. 12:6; Deut. 16:5-6). The paper The Death of the Lamb (No. 242) should be referred to.

Offering

An offering is required to be taken up following the 3.00 p.m. service as above. It is one of only three annual collections (Deut. 16:16; Ex. 23:17), and must be handed in before morning on the first day of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 23:18; 34:25). See also the paper Offering (No. 275).

Fifteenth Day: Passover and First day of Unleavened Bread

The Fifteenth is the First day of Unleavened Bread; it is a Holy Day (Lev. 23:6-7; Num. 28:17), and falls on Saturday 22 March.

It includes the Passover meal (Ex. 12:6-11), which is to be observed after dark the previous evening, Friday 21 March. This evening is also referred to as the ‘Night to be Much Observed/Greatly Remembered’ or the ‘Night of Watching’ (Ex. 12:42; 13:3). See the papers Preparation for the Passover Meal on the Night of Watching (No. 93) and The Night to be Much Observed (No. 101).

Everyone takes part in this meal, including the children and the unconverted who are then encouraged to ask about the meaning of the Passover and the symbols associated with it (Ex. 12:26; 13:14). All those present are expected to provide reasons for partaking of the lamb (Ex. 12:27), the wine (Ex. 29:40), unleavened bread (Ex. 12:39; Deut. 16:3-5), bitter herbs (Ex. 1:14,12:8; Num. 9:11), and the use of salt (Lev. 2:13; Mk. 9:49-50). See the paper Passover Questions and the Reasons for our Faith (No. 51).

For the Passover meal we normally eat lamb or another 'herd' animal roasted without the bone (Ex. 12:8-9); however, we make no actual sacrifice of the lamb, as that aspect was fulfilled in Messiah. Our vigil on the Night of Watching is in commemoration of his death, and the expectation of his return. It is usual for all baptised persons to maintain the vigil until well after midnight.

Wave-Sheaf Offering

Although not a Sabbath in its own right, the Wave Sheaf must be held at the time of the morning sacrifice (9.00 a.m.) on Sunday 23 March.

The Wave Sheaf symbolises Christ as the first of the first-fruits being offered to God (Ex. 34:26; 1Cor. 15:23; Lev. 23:9-14; Ex. 29:24-25). The male lamb was also Christ as a first-fruits ascending into Heaven to his Father. See the paper The Wave Sheaf Offering (No. 106b).

This day always falls on the first day of the week (Sunday) within the Feast of Unleavened Bread and is used to start the count of the fifty days to Pentecost, which will be held on Sunday, 11 May 2008. The Omer Count to Pentecost (No. 173) paper should be studied.

Twenty-first Day: Last Day of Unleavened Bread

The Last Day of Unleavened Bread is on Friday 28 March and is a Holy Day (Lev. 23:8; Num. 28:25; Deut. 16:8). Services are held at 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., that is, at the times of the morning and evening sacrifices in Israel (Ex. 29:39).

It is a day to reflect upon the entire period of Sanctification and the ongoing Restoration process, the sequence of which is outlined in the paper Josiah's Restoration (No. 245). The day also mirrors the Last Great Day in the Seventh month, representing the coming of God to the Earth and the establishment of the City of God as the final part of His Restoration.

Passover is to be kept in the Millennium as a commemoration of the redemption of the world.

Passover of the Second Month

There is provision in God's Law for the Lord's Supper/Passover to be taken in the Second month, or Iyar. This is for the occasions when the Lord’s Supper in the First month has been missed due to unforeseen circumstances, such as travelling, accidents, illness, etc., or in the event of childbirth. As with the First month, the ceremony should be held after dark on the 14^th day of the Second month, which falls on 14 April this year (cf. Num. 9:9-11).

A particularly relevant example of a Passover celebrated in the Second month may be seen in 2Chronicles 29 and 30; this followed the cleansing and sanctification of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Sanctification of the Nations

The Sanctification of the Nations is a 50-year period that began in 1978 after the Jubilee of 1977 and includes the seven perfect Sabbaths of years as represented within the Omer Count to Pentecost. See the paper Sanctification of the Nations (No. 77). On a year-for-a-day basis, the final part of this sanctification period is correlated with the complete 21-day Passover season, as follows:

1^st Abib represents the first year of the last 21 years of the Sanctification of the Temple, namely the Church of God, that is, from 2006/07.

7^thAbib, the fast day for the Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous, equates to the year 2012/13 (a Sabbath year). The Two Witnesses are expected to Read the Law, which is required every Sabbath Year. They are expected to restore the nexus of the Law when they appear in Jerusalem (see the paper The Witnesses (No. 135)).

10^th Abib, the day for the setting aside of the lamb, relates to Messiah's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which would then equate to 2015/16.

14^th Abib, the Lord's Supper, looks toward the year 2019/20 (a Sabbath year), when the nations are brought down to Jerusalem and the ‘Wrath of God’ commences (see the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142)).

· 21^st Abib, the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, represents also the final year 2026/27 (also the last Sabbath year of the 120^th Jubilee cycle and the end of the Six Days of the creation given to Satan, whose time has already been cut short). The nations will be in place prior to the commencement of the last Jubilee and the allocation of lands for the Millennium or ‘Sabbath Rest of Christ’. The 120^th Jubilee, the six-thousandth year of the cursed Earth is in 2027/28. The New Millennial system takes place from 2028.

Eternal Life

There are three elements for eternal life that are not normally dealt with in the Lord’s Supper.

First element: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God (Deut. 6:4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6), and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (Jn. 17:3; 1Tim. 2:5; 1Cor. 8:4-6).

Second element: Faith in Jesus Christ through knowledge of the One True God (Jn. 17:3) and that God raised him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). This leads from our repentance to baptism as an adult and to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Third element: Participation in the Passover and the eating of the body and blood of Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:53-54; 1Cor. 6:11).

All of those three elements are predicated upon obedience. Obedience to the One True God and love of Him are demonstrated by the keeping of His Commandments (Jn. 15:10; Deut. 6:1-25). Obedience is the necessary prerequisite to the retention of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32). Without the Spirit we cannot worship God completely (Jn. 4:23; Phil. 3:3), nor can we enter the Kingdom of God and thus have eternal life in either the First Resurrection (Rom. 8:11) or the Second Resurrection (Ezek. 37:12-14). However, with the Holy Spirit we are able to obey all of God's Commandments (1Jn. 3:24). See the paper Eternal Life (No. 133).

Obedience to the Passover ordinance entails keeping the Laws and regulations that Christ set for our participation in this Festival. If we do not partake in the ceremony of the Lord's Supper we have no part with Jesus Christ (Jn. 13:8). We are required to obey God's instructions even before we fully understand them, as understanding will follow obedience (Prov. 16:3).

By obedience we also make it possible for others to understand and to be added to the Body of Christ, and for the Body to grow as the Church of God in truth and honesty of conviction.

Christ kept the Passover and the Law (Mat. 26:17-20; Lk. 22:15; Jn. 2:13, 23; 13:1ff.); he did not change one 'jot' or 'tittle' of the Law (Mat. 5:18).

There is only One True God, Eloah, and Jesus Christ, or Joshua the Messiah, is His son. Knowledge of them is eternal life (Jn. 17:1-3).

AMEN.

2008/2009 – 31/120

(Vernal Equinox: 20 March 2008 at 07:48)

Third Year Tithe

New Moons Jerusalem time	EENT at Jerusalem	New Moon and other Dates to be kept	Biblical date
08 January 08 13:37	17:48	Tuesday 08 January	1 Shebat 11^th Month
07 February 08 05:44	18:12	Thursday 07 February	1 Adar 12^th Month
07 March 08 19:14	18:34	Saturday 08 March	1 Nisan = New Year 1^st Month, 31^st Year of the 120^th Jubilee
****	****	Friday 14 March	7 Nisan Sanctification
****	****	Thursday 20 March	Vernal Equinox
****	****	Friday 21 March (Evening of previous day)	14 Nisan Lord's Supper
****	****	Saturday 22 March (Evening of previous day)	15 Nisan Passover/NTBMR
****	****	Sunday 23 March	Wave Sheaf (9.00 a.m.)
****	****	Friday 28 March	21 Nisan Last Day of UB
06 April 08 05:55	18:56	Sunday 06 April	1 Iyar 2^nd Month
05 May 08 14:18	19:20	Monday 05 May	1 Sivan 3^rd Month
****	****	Sunday 11 May	Pentecost (9.00 a.m.)
03 June 08 21:23	19:43	Wednesday 04 June	1 Tammuz 4^th Month
03 July 08 04:19	19:51	Thursday 03 July	1 Ab 5^th Month
01 August 08 12:13	19:34	Friday 01 August	1 Elul 6^th Month
30 August 08 21:58	19:00	Sunday 31 August	1 Tishri = Trumpets 7^th Month
****	****	Tuesday 09 September	10 Tishri Atonement
****	****	Sunday 14 September (Evening of previous day)	Ingathering
****	****	Sunday 14 September	15 Tishri Tabernacles
****	****	Sunday 21 September	22 Tishri Last Great Day
29 September 08 10:12	18:19	Monday 29 September	1 Heshvan 8^th Month
29 October 08 01:14	17:46	Wednesday 29 October	1 Kislev 9^th Month
27 November 08 18:55	17:32	Friday 28 November	1 Tebeth 10^th Month
27 December 08 14:22	17:40	Saturday 27 December	1 Shebat 11^th Month
26 January 09 09:55	18:04	Monday 26 January	1 Adar 12^th Month
25 February 09 03:35	18:27	Wednesday 25 February	1 Adar II 13^th Month