A History of Passover and Easter.
Welcome to the April 2026 Blog folks! In this Spring Season when Nature is bursting forth with signs of Life at every turn, we remain always aware and cognizant of our Loving Creator and Heavenly Father, as the Source of Life in all its manifestations. So it is with thankful hearts, we recognize the Father of Life and Light with His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, as Author & Agent of all Blessings to mankind. Through his sinless blood as the Passover Lamb, as we look to the first full Moon following the Spring Equinox each year, as a time thought to mark this Spring Feast, but is it truly as Exodus 12 tells us, according to the standard of God’s everlasting ordinance? This is a focus of the topic of this month’s blog study. How did the God’s Passover commands morph into Easter?
Ex. 12:12-14 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; [#2146] and you will keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
Just as the blood of the sacrificed Passover Lamb saved the inhabitants of the Jewish dwellings in ancient Egypt, from the angel of Death, so the Blood of Jesus Christ our Passover protects us today from our sinful nature that is the death of all– without Christ. His perfect sinless blood was the only righteous sacrifice that could ever cover for our sin, as the rest of mankind all shares in the sinful blood of the 1st Adam, coursing through our veins. It’s key to note that Almighty God commanded that the Passover on Nisan 14 was to be a Memorial- kept as a Feast to the Lord throughout Israel’s Generations, as an everlasting Ordinance, without exception.
In this way, the life & ministry of the Messiah Jesus Christ embodies pictures of future redemptive truths seen in the Sacred Feasts of Judaism. The First Coming of Jesus fulfilled 3 of these Feasts, as his Second Coming fulfils the remaining four. This aligning of the Hebrew Feasts of God with the 1st & 2nd Advents of Jesus Christ, depicts a unified Biblical Calendar recognizing Jesus’ sacrificial crucifixion aligned with Passover.
Figure 1. Feasts of the Hebrew Calendar
This record in Exodus 12 reveals more details of the Passover Lamb for Israel;
Ex. 12:2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Verse 3 tells us the Passover Lamb was selected on the 10th day of the month, followed on the 14th, when the families of Israel killed their Passover Lamb. The two aspects of the Passover Lamb-its flesh for healing health, and Blood for Salvation/Atonement we find today in Communion, [Levi. 17:11, Heb. 9:23].
This Passover Feast recalls the final plague before Israel was released from Egyptian Bondage, as the death angel “passed over” the nation of Israel who applied the blood of the Lamb to their doors. The Israelites dipped bundles of Hyssop into the blood in the basin at the threshold of their doors’ entrance, and going up they applied it to their lintels, touching both sides of the door-frames, [Ex. 12]. A deeper look at this imagery shows the form applied in this process makes the shape of a Cross, exhibiting God’s intention to align Jesus’ crucifixion with Passover, opening Wednesday- Nisan 14th established by God on the Hebrew Calendar, agreeing with Messianic prophecies in Amos 8:8-10. Reflected in the image of this 10th and final plague on Egypt, was the truth in the Lord’s Passover that “He would smite all the firstborn in Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt, the Lord executed judgment: I am the Lord.” The Hebrew noun “pesach’“ 1st usage [Ex. 12:11-12] refers to “the Lord’s Passover” or killing the Passover Lamb, applying Lamb’s blood to the doorposts, and eating the Passover Meal, [Lk. 22:8-13] These are 3 different Biblical usages of “Passover,” with a 4th referring to the entire 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, [Lk. 22:1]. #1
The image of the firstborn in Egypt, both man and beast, [Heb. 11:28, 12:23] is mirrored in the truth that Almighty God and our Heavenly Father, gave His only begotten Firstborn Son Jesus Christ, who gave himself for all mankind on Passover–to embody the Spiritual First-Fruits of a truly abundant harvest of souls, foreshadowed in the Feast of Firstfruits; [Ex. 23:16-19, Levi. 23:9-10, 17-20, Num. 18:15, Deut. 26:1-10, Neh. 10:35-37, 12:44, Prov. 3:9, Ezek. 44: 30, Ex. 4:23, Mt. 1:25, Acts 26:23, Romans 6:9-11, 8:29, 1Cor. 15:20-23–prototoktos]#2
Jesus Christ fulfilled this when John the Baptist-seeing him, said Look! The “Lamb of God“ who takes away the sin of the world, [Jn. 1:29]. Jesus’ perfect Passover Sacrifice on April 28th, 28AD paid it all for us, rescuing us from spiritual death! This unity of the Calendars of Judaism and Christianty was however wrongfully divided by the Roman Catholics in the 1st Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
Ex. 12:5 5 Your lamb shall be without[a] blemish, a male [b]of the first year.
There are important clues in this verse that are glossed over by most of the Christian world. This verse describes the qualifications of the Passover Lamb, being a Lamb of the First Year. Jesus-a Judean Rabbi, had to be at least 30 years old before he could begin his ministry to Israel. With his birth on 9/11/3 BC, it means 30 years later puts us in 27 AD. As God’s Chosen Passover Lamb, a Lamb in his first year means that the length of his ministry to Israel did not exceed 2 years before the sacrifice of the Lamb could occur! Thus, the freedom that Christ brought to the Jews in Passover is evident in the freedom Christian’s share in the New Birth.
This automatically eliminates all the many who maintain that Jesus’ ministry to Israel lasted 3 years! It means too-the record in John 1:26-34 as John, seeing Jesus- identified him as the “Lamb of God” in v. 29, occurred Winter-Spring of 27 AD, meaning the events of Jesus’ ministry occured in Spring 27AD toward the balance of 28 AD. As the Ministry of the Lamb of God–a Lamb of the first year, technically extends till before the end of the 2nd year, covering 27-28 AD. History tells the 15th year of Tiberius aligned with 27 AD as Tiberius Caesar, the Emperor during Christ’s lifetime, appears to have believed in Christ-as Lord, and that Pilate also became a Christian as well. [Lk. 3:1-3] #3
After Jesus conquered the Temptations of the Devil in the wilderness, he went to his home-town Nazareth to teach in it’s synagogue, where he read from the scroll of [Isa. 61:1-2, 63:1-4]. In Luke 4:16-19; “Jesus preached the Gospel to the poor, deliverance to the captives, healed the broken-hearted, and recovering sight to the blind, set them at liberty them who are bruised. To Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord.”
This word “Acceptable“ in Greek is [#1184-dektos-a form of Dechomai-#1209 is not only a subjective decision but a favorable acceptance of God’s will, and divine approval.] The Acceptable Year is a time of God’s approval and His Choosing, [2 Cor. 6:2]. This word repeats again in Luke 4:24; “No prophet is accepted in [#1184] his own country.”#4 This was a prophetic reference not only of Christ and his Gospel of deliverance and liberty, but also the Jew’s rejection of his kingdom. It’s ironic that Jesus’ first declares his ministry to his “hometown“ crowd, in Nazareth–the people most familiar with him and his family, foreshadows also Christ’s rejection by the Jew’s religious leaders.
In the Spring of the year the 1st month-called Abib, on the Jew’s Calendar was known as Nisan after the Babylonian Captivity. We find evidence of this in the book of Esther below.
Esther 3:5-7 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the [b]month, [c]until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
“Casting Pur“ in verse 7, is not a Hebrew word but refers to “casting of lots” a practice of the “monthly prognosticator’s, enchantments & sorceries engaged in by astrologers & star-gazer’s,” employed by Haman whose prophesied end seen in Isa. 47:9-13, is found with those who practice these “black arts.” “Pur” is likely from the Assyrian “puru“-as a pebble in casting lots. #5
In current events today we find a very similar picture to what happened in ancient Persia, as Haman’s Genocide of the Jews is mirrored in modern Iran. As Haman intended Genocide for the Jews, so modern terrorists like Hamas have shown similar hatred for the Jews, seen in their October 7th atrocities. We can also see a reflection of the reversal that Haman brought on himself, being hung with his 10 sons on the very gallows he built to hang Mordecai! [Est. 8:1-8]. In today’s Iran-the Ayatollah Ali Khameni and his top leadership met their final ruin on a Saturday–Feb. 28th, a “Sabbath of Remembrance“-3 days before a 3rd [2024-2026] Purim Blood Moon 3/3/2026-in a row on the Jews annual victory bash for Haman’s demise! Part of this celebration included a Torah Reading in Jewish Synagouges of Haman being blotted out, [1Sam. 15:2 -3] as Ali Khameni & his leaders were bombed by Israeli/US forces. Iran has been developing a Nuclear bomb to bring “death to America and Israel” for decades, but were themselves bombed into submission! Like Haman and his Sons had the gallows, so Khamanei and his sons got their bomb. Like Haman rose many generations after the fall of Amalek, so Khamanei followed many generations after Haman, but our Lord recalls the ancient battle vs. the seed of evil, [Gen. 3:15] as the Almighty wrote it in the stars in Repeating-matched in our day in current Purim Lunar Eclipses!
The Feb. 28th Saturday–“Sabbath of Remembrance“ recalls Exod. 17:8-16 as Amalek fought with Israel at Rephidim. In 1 Samuel 15:2 the Lord remembered what Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way [#1870] when he came up from Egypt. It is no coincidence that Ali Khameni met his demise on this Sabbath of Remembrance, so near a 3rd Purim Blood Moon in a row! This aligns with God’s Promise in Ex. 17:14 below that; “I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Ali Khameni-as a notorious ruler since 1989, having recently massacred 35-40K of his own Iranian people, while sponsoring the likes of terrorist proxies Hamas, Hezzbollah & other Palestinian groups vs. the US and Israel. Not only do we find the link to a Sabbath of Remembrance, but we also find Matched-Repeating dates of the 3/3/2026 Purim Lunar Eclipse, back to the same March 3rd date with another Lunar Eclipse in 478BC, during Esther’s actual reign as Queen with Ahaseraus and Mordecai! The Purim feast is a permanent yearly notice and celebration of Israel’s victory & freedom from Haman’s intended Genocide, evident throughout history. It is also the reason for these Repeating, Matching dates found in current events of 3/3/2026 Purim Lunar Eclipse, with the signs of Repeating-Matched dates of Luni-Solar Eclipses from 480-478BC to 469BC.
Exodus 17:14-16 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial; [#2146-to pierce, invoke in memory]#6 in the book and recount it in hearing
of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, [f]The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
In the seed and generations of Amalek from Agag in 1 Samuel 15:2-3 we find Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, [Est. 3:1]. This shows a priority in the mind of God concerning the generational enemies of Israel, with the high ranking of Amalek’s seed, as “the Lord desired to war with Amalek.” As God looks on the heart of Men, there is no better righteous Judge of man than the Almighty God.
As Moses stood atop of a hill where he could see Amalek’s armies below him. He held to the “rod of God”—the same rod with which he had raised to part the Red Sea for Israel’s crossing, and with he struck the rock to bring water for Israel in the desert (Exodus 17:5–6).
This battle was unusual: “As long as Moses raised his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he lowered his hands, with the rod of God the Amalekites prevailed (Ex. 17: 11). As Moses’ arms grew weary, they had to be supported by his brother, Aaron, and a man named Hur. At sunset, Israel defeated the Amalekites (Ex. 17:12–13). After the battle, Moses built an altar and named it Jehovah-Nissi, “the Lord is my banner.”
The unique manner of this conquest, left no doubt as to who was responsible for the victory. Only as the rod of God was held aloft did the Israelites prevail. The battle was not won by military might or superior battle plans; it was won by the power of God. “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).
The hands and rod of Moses were held up in the same way that soldiers hold up their flags in the time of battle. As these flags bear the insignia of their country, the soldiers are said to fight under that banner. The Israelites fought under the direction of God, Jehovah-Nissi. It was under the Lord’s banner and with His aid they fought, and in His name and strength they conquered.
The lesson that, as Moses held up the rod of God, he was praying for the success of the Israelite troops below him. Moses’ lifting up of the rod can thus be seen as a picture of intercessory prayer. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Moses’ weariness, evidenced by the lowering of his hands, illustrates a truth that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” (Mark 14:38). The naming of the altar Jehovah-Nissi is a reminder to believers of every era that we are always victorious as we honor the name of the Lord and rally to Him as our Banner. If God be for us ,Who can be against us?
An added purpose in this blog study is to utilize written historical references to show that the Church Jesus set up, observed the biblical Passover on the 14th of Aviv/ Nisan for the first 200 years of its existence. And only after significant political pressure, many Christian Churches changed the date of observance to what is now called “Easter Sunday.” I’m blessed to say that our church is not included among those who made this change, against God’s Command. [Ex. 12: 12-14.]
If the apostle Paul taught against the observance of biblical holy days as many falsely proclaim, then why was the church still observing holy days 2 centuries after his death? The historical record shows the very congregations he set up in Asia Minor, were holding to a Biblical Passover 200 years later, that they kept on the 14th of Aviv/Nisan just as recorded in the book of Exodus and Leviticus 23:5.
Early post-Apostolic Observance of the Passover #7
Those that favored abandoning the observance of Passover according to Biblical standards tell us the history of life in the early church is foggy…”and since our view of how Passover was observed in the Church of the Apostles is unclear we are free to rewrite history and improvise our own traditions.” This is a falsehood of a highest order, since God’s Word provides us the clearest images of how and where the New Covenant records are preserved. Every year there are Church fellowships on the 14th of Nisan that conduct ceremonies as Christ taught his disciples where a Passover Lamb was replaced by Communion’ Bread & Wine [John 13:3-15]… [Matthew 26:26-29]… together we read Jesus’ encouraging words to the disciples on that night [John 14:1 – 17:26]…we sing a hymn together and we conclude, our Communion service [Matthew 26:30].
1Cor. 5:6-8 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore [d]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed [e]for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The New Testament Passover is not based on Jewish tradition, or Old Covenant practice, except the date of observance, which is the 14th day of the month of Aviv/Nissan. Jesus himself replaced the sacrificed lamb with the bread and wine. Jesus instructs us in 28 AD till today, that Passover was a memorial of Jesus’ death and our deliverance from sin rather than Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. He said;
“this is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me“…”this cup is the blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you“…”poured out for the many, for the forgiveness of sin“.
This is summarized in 1 Cor. 11:23-26 as Churches of God hold New Covenant Passover services according to a pattern given by Jesus Christ, passed down to us via the apostles, and to the Church of God into the present day.
The Scriptural records document the followers of Christ still observed and referred to “the Passover“ on Nisan 14. Their recalling of the memorial of Jesus’ death honors this sacrifice, rather than Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. Those remaining faithful to the Biblical standards from the Apostles are on good and solid ground, while others influenced mostly by the Roman Catholic Church, veered into new practices linked to Easter, based on heretical practices
of their own presumed authority. This divisive practice generated controversy.
The 1st Historic References to the Controversy
A writer named Irenaus who lived during the decades after the last of the apostles reports on a meeting that took place in 154 AD, between two church leaders: Polycarp and Anicetus. Polycarp was bishop of Sardis representing the eastern congregations, while Anicetus was bishop of Rome in the west.
During that meeting Anicetus tried to persuade Polycarp to stop observing the Passover according to the practice of the apostle John, while Polycarp worked to persuade Anicetus to stick with the Passover. Since part of the Church kept the Passover while others did not, a doctrinal schism was exposed. Churches in the east, set up and taught by the Apostle Paul, rejected Rome’s efforts to alter times and practices. Due to a rise of Antisemitism, based on Jews themselves who were stirring up trouble and unrest in the empire that was used to respond by rejecting the Passover, that began to sweep across the Roman Empire.
In 70 AD. while some of the apostles were still on the scene, Jerusalem was sacked and destroyed by Roman troops because of Jewish rebellion against the empire. The Church of God had fled to nearby Pella as destruction came. but after decades passed Christians drifted back to Jerusalem once again.
About 62 years later the Jews tried again to overthrow the Roman rule. The Bar Kokhba Revolt of AD. 132 – 135 was forcefully put down by Rome. Because of the revolt the emperor Hadrian put measures into place to try and stamp out Jewish influence for good.
- Hadrian built a brand new Roman style city called Aelia Capitolina on the ruins of Jerusalem
- Hadrian instituted laws that prohibited the practise of the Jewish religion
- Hadrian specifically targeted the Jewish festivals [which are God’s feasts] presumably to remove any excuse for the Jews to gather in large numbers and instigate riots and revolts.
- Hadrian expelled the Jews (therefore including the Jewish Christians) from His new city Aelia Capitolina. After ethnic Jewish leaders of the influential Jerusalem church were gone, they were replaced with Gentile members and leaders.
This set a stage for major change and serious controversy about observance of the Passover. A Palestinian historian Epiphanius wrote a report about the Quarto-deciman controversy in the late 300’s AD:
“The controversy arose after the exodus of the bishops of the circumcision in A.D. 135 and it has continued until our time.” He goes on to say that the 15 Jerusalem bishops had held fast to the date of the 14th of Nisan in keeping with the Apostolic Constitutions where the following rule was given; “you shall not change the calculation of the time but you shall celebrate it as the same time as your brethren who came out of the circumcision. With them you shall celebrate the Passover.”
Once a removal of Christian bishops with a Jewish background occured the Passover controversy rose up. Epiphanius also speculated that the new Gentile leaders changed the date to separate & differentiate Christian churches from the Jews… as the Jews came under attack from the Roman government. Soon after the changes initiated by Hadrian in Jerusalem, other Gentile Christian churches began to adopt the Sunday after Nisan 14 as the Passover date. The congregations in Rome were early adopters of this new standard.
In Scripture, Paul dealt with Jewish legalism in Galatians and Gentile philosophy in Colossians. So, these differing approaches existed beneath the surface even in the 1st century congregations. Later, as Gentile Christians came to dominate the leadership of Church congregations…The Anti-semitism of Hadrian made anything that seemed Jewish undesirable. With the passage of time, Gentile Christians lead a church increasingly anti-semitic, as the two primary topics of this strife became the Sabbath and the holy days, the two prominent practices that were prioritzed by the Jews. Contrary to the Roman Cathholic positions, the Bible held the Sabbath and Holy days/God’s Feasts as basic Scriptural tenets. [Ex. 12:12-14]
The Council of Nicea 325 AD. #8
The Quarto-deciman controversy continued on, after men like Polycarp and Polycrates had tried to hold the line. Then after 200 years the debate over the observance of Passover was settled by an agreement hammered out between the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Bishops of the Roman Church.
This debate intensified during the Second Century, historically known as the Quartodeciman controversy. “Quartodeciman” is simply a Latin term meaning “fourteenth.” What the 2nd century ecclesiastical record reveals is there was a controversy over the fourteenth— specifically, it concerned the change from the fourteenth of Nisan (Passover) to Easter, with all its pagan associations & links with typologies of fertility and fecundity. This was openly contested and rejected by congregations of the Asiatic East. It came to a head when Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna (who was personally taught by John the apostle), faced off with Anicetus, the preeminent bishop of Rome, in about 95 AD.
The Anti-Semitic influence in this part of the resolution is obvious: it appears an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this Most Holy Feast we should follow Jewish practices, who impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are therefore deserving to be afflicted with blindness of soul… let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd: for we have received from our Savior a different way. Strive and pray continually that the purity of your soul may not seem in anything to be sullied by fellowship with the custom of these most wicked men… All should unite in desiring that which sound reason appears to demand, avoiding all participation in the perjured conduct of the Jews.
Furthermore, to ensure the new Passover never coincided with the Jewish Passover, the Nicean Council decreed that if the 14th of Nisan ever fell on a Sunday, their celebration would be celebrated the following Sunday. In effect, this was how the biblical Passover was suppressed and world ended up with what is now called Easter… a humanly devised tradition. A disagreement that was not settled by an appeal to Scripture, or an appeal to Apostolic Practice or Teaching… but settled politically in this Roman Catholic Church Council.
The celebration called Easter wore on; changed according to human tradition. Not only was it given a new date, and given new meaning, becoming a Spring Festival filled with fertility symbols reinterpreted as symbols of resurrection, along with elements of sun worship twisted into stories of light triumphing over darkness. This degradation of Passover from an annual Biblical Feast to abide by Godly Commandments, deteriorated to a religious dogma decided by Constantine and the Roman Catholic Bishops, which eventually changed the
name to Easter near 200 years after the Council, in honor of a Spring goddess Eoster/Astarte… as Baal’s consort a thinly veiled version of Ishtar. The entire pagan concoction was merely an expression of the Babylon Mystery Religion.
“For I received of the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed [not Easter Sunday!] took bread” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Keep in mind Jesus Christ was betrayed during the night of Nisan 14 (Luke 22:15-22), that was thought the evening portion of the day of Passover (Exodus 12:6-13). Remember, God begins a new day at evening, commencing at sunset (Genesis 1:5). With this established fact, how then was it changed from the 14th of Nisan (Passover) to Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, and then assigned the pagan name Easter; (Ishtarte)?
Unquestionably, this was no minor change from the original observance that Jesus Christ exemplified (especially since people died refusing to obey this change). And furthermore, to supersede the authority of Jesus’ own example, is obviously presumptuous at best; and at worst, it is outright heretical! How can such a blatant act of contradiction and disregard for our Lord’s example and commands be allowed to take place?
Notice what history tells us from the Roman Catholic Church itself, concerning this second century controversy: “The dioceses of all Asia, as from the older tradition [Passover], held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should always be observed as the feast of the life-giving Pesach-Passover]… However, it was not a custom of the churches in the rest of the world [primarily the West, expressed by Rome] to end it at this point [a non-biblical based fast ending Easter Sunday], as they observed the practice, which from apostolic pracitice has prevailed to present time… Synods and assemblies of bishops [not Jesus Christ’s example or the Gospel records!] were held on this account and all with one consent through mutual correspondence drew up an ecclesiastical decree [ignoring Christ’s personal example as recorded in the Gospels] that the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection should be celebrated on no other day but, the Sunday [Easter] and that we should observe the close of the paschal fast on that day only. A letter of Saint Irenaeus is among extracts just referred to, says Polycarp who [bishop of Smyrna], like the other Asiatics, kept Easter the fourteenth day of the moon [the real Passover], whatever day of the week that might be, after the practice of [Polycarp] said to have derived from St. John the Apostle, was not swayed by Pope Anicetus to give up his Quartodecimen observance. The debated question was primarily whether Easter was to be kept on a Sunday, or whether Christians should observe the holy day of the Jews… #9
Clearly, this historical record from the Catholic Church proves that they themselves (not Jesus Christ) chose to exercise authority to sever the link with Passover. Undoubtedly, there was a long-term agenda to undermine and shift any and all associations connecting Jewish underpinnings that were foundational to the early Christian Church. This included doctrine of the Trinity, that was not introduced till the same Council of Nicea in 325 AD, based on the same political basis of negotiation amongst Synod’s and Bishop’s, with Constantine. Why is it that the word “Trinity” never occurs in Bible text? Very simply, because it did not exist as Church doctrine till introduced in the same Nicean Council of 325 AD, by Constantine & his Roman Catholic Bishops. If we recall from The 10 Commandments, God decreed that we should have no other God’s before Him, [Ex. 20:2-3]. since the Trinity makes Jesus-“God the Son” this idolatrous doctrine puts the Man-Jesus [1Tim. 2:5] on an equal basis with The Almighty God, his Heavenly Father. This violates the Laws of Physics, as its impossible for a Man to be both finite and infinite, at the same time and same relationship. It also violates God’s will; Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one!” [Deut. 6:4-shema] As opposed to the polytheistic religions of her neighbors, Israel was deeply impressed with the truth that there is only One true God (hence, the term, “monotheism“). The monotheistic doctrine of God is an invioable tenet of Creator’s Doctrine at the headwaters of the Christian faith. When the Apostle’s wrote their Gospel’s and Epistle’s in the 1st Century after Christ’s Crucifixion in 28AD, there was no Trinitarian Church Doctrine except in the pagan nations that all shared a form of a Trinity of idol gods, as in Egypt with the Sun god Ra, Isis & Oriris, or in India with Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva, or ancient Greece; had Zeus, Athena & Apollo, or in Norse Mythology with; Odin, Freya & Thor. In Rome it was Jupiter, Juno & Minerva. Not till the 1st Roman Council of Nicea in 325 AD, did Roman Catholics legislate a policy agreed amongst Synod’s and Bishop’s to spread this malady of idolatry in the Christian Church.
Remember, Paul told us that, the household of God (Church) is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets [not Synods, Councils, and bishops], Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer stone”(Ephesians 2:20, 1 John 2:6). There was absolutely no authorization to change the framework of these major points of doctrine, disconnecting from Jesus Christ’s own worship exemplified by His life, habits, and customs as seen in Peter’s 1st Epistle-
(1 Peter 2:20-24); 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [e]us, leaving [f]us an example, that you should follow his steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in his mouth”; 23 who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed [3680#10] himself to Him Who Judged righteously; 24
who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [g]stripes you were healed.
Yes, its by the example of Jesus’ own worship, he commits himself to the Only Righteous Judge; the Greek word for ‘commit‘ here is [paradidomi–#3860; yield up, to surrender, entrust, transmit, cast, give over. Jesus gave himself over to surrender to God’s will, even in his prayer to Almighty Father in the Garden of Gethsamane that this cup might pass, but His [the Heavenly Father’s will] be done. This act of worship and obedience to the Heavenly Father is seen in the early life of Christ, as he was always about His Father’s business. [Lk. 2: 49]
1Cor. 15:20-28 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have [d]fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign till He has put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under his feet.” But when He says “all things are put under him,” it is evident that He Who put all things under him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son himself will also be subject [#5293–hupotasso–submission in a dependent position, 2Cor. 9:13, 1Tim. 3:4-5]#11 to Him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
As the Almighty Heavenly Father put all things under the feet of Christ, in the finality of events God Almighty-Who put all things under Christ, Himself is excepted in v. 27. As the exception, and the Righteous Judge of all, including the Son who is also subject to God the Father-Who put all things under Christ. This is the Godly designed order and spiritual heirarchy that we all share life in, not a Trinity of 3 god’s where the Son is made “God-man“. This, of course was the other link to God of the Jews, that Rome sought to sever, the Righteous Judge who judged not only all Egyptian god’s in 10 plagues against Pharaoh, but all rebellious fallen spirits in idol pantheons in Satan’s world dominion, [Lk. 4:5-8, Dan. 11:10-13].
It is important we recall: Jesus Christ never kept an Easter in His life! Unequivocally, it is undeniable that Easter has no Biblical connection, foundation, or authority on the name of Jesus Christ requiring observance and/or recognition by any who claim Christ as their Savior.
Yet, regardless of these verifiable facts; this trend finally became law in the year A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicaea. Notice, in the Catholic Encyclopedia: “The emperor himself [Constantine] writing to the churches after the council of Nicaea, exhorts, ‘At this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of Easter was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present [regardless of the example/commands of Jesus Christ and original apostolic fathers, Matthew 26:17-30] that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day [Easter Sunday]…And first of all it appeared an unworthy thing that in celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who impiously defiled their hand with enormous sin… for we have received from our Savior a different way [Where then, is the Biblical proof or Christological authorization?] …and I [Constantine] have undertaken that this decision should meet with the approval of your sagacity in the hope that your wisdoms will gladly admit that practice which is observed [Easter Sunday] at once in the city of Rome and in Africa, throughout Italy and Egypt… with entire unity of judgment.” #12
And finally, under the article “Councils” in the Catholic Encyclopedia again, we read about the purpose of the Council of Nicaea. ‘The 1st Ecumenical Council, of Nicaea (325 A.D.) lasted two months and twelve days. Three [318] hundred and eighteen bishops were present. Hosius, bishop of Cordova, assisted as legate of Pope Sylvester. The Emperor, Constantine, was also present. To the council we owe the Creed of Nicaea, defining against Arius the true divinity of the Son of God [Arius challenged the divinity of Jesus Christ], and the fixing of the date for keeping Easter [opposing the Quartodecimans who observed Passover]. #13
It was now made “official”: Easter Sunday, the day after the first full moon, after the spring equinox, became the day to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. This was a serious and critical shift of theology. Critical, as it not only changed the day of the observance, but changed the focus, and meaning of the observance. It now became an observance and celebration of his resurrection, contrary to the Biblical admonition of remembering the willing sacrifice of His death! In the Creed of Nicaea we note the dual purpose of the Council of Nicaea; first to define the divinity of the Son of God [the idol “God-Man“], the Trinity and 2nd to fix the date for keeping Easter, to separate it from the 14th of Nisan to preface the further idolatry of the pagan Spring festivals of Astrate.
Jesus Christ’s act of surrender to the Will of the Heavenly Father, made the will of the Son himself also subject [#5293-hupotasso–submissive in a dependent position Jesus Christ so he could fulfill the purpose God sent him to complete, to endure the Cross as an act of Jesus’ will and Faith to agree with the Father, as seen in Heb. 12:2; below.
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]
author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Notice what Paul says, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death [not His resurrection] till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). There is a purposeful point of significance our Lord placed exclusively on Passover concerning His death. It’s fundamental, but crucial to understand; Passover was intended to distinctly address the impeccable fact that it was by Jesus Christ’s sacrificed life and shed blood that we have access to eternal life. Unfortunately, merging His death and resurrection in one holy day, embodied in Easter, blurs a deep profound meaning of both these events by removing the emphasis that each so richly deserves.
Sadly, on a broader scale, the abandonment of the observance of God’s holy days has contributed to this greatly. Understanding the additional holy days throughout the year, their enriched meanings and sequence they portray, would clarify how each step in the salvation/atonement process is explained for our understanding and spiritual edification.
After the Council of Nicaea, the Roman government became more entangled with the ecclesiastical matters of the Church, derailing it further from the original intent by multiple means. “Emperor Theodosius (A.D. 78-98) made Christianity the State Religion of the Roman Empire, making membership in the church compulsory. This was the worst calamity that has ever befallen the Church. The forced conversion filled the churches with unregenerate people. Christ had designed to outreach by purely spiritual and moral means. Up to this time conversion was voluntary, a genuine change in heart and life. But now the military spirit of Imperial Rome had entered the Church. The Church conquered the Roman Empire. But in reality the Roman Empire conquered the Church, by making the Church over into the image of the Roman Empire. The Church had changed its nature, had entered its great Apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12), had become a political organization in the Spirit and pattern of Imperial Rome, and took its nose-dive into the millennium of Papal abominations. The Imperial Church of the 4th and 5th centuries had become an entirely different institution from the persecuted Church of the first three centuries. In its ambition to rule, it lost and forgot the Spirit of Christ” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, “Paganization of the Church,” p. 760). #14
Regrettably, the combination of Rome’s secular power and the integration of fertility symbols and observances, adopted from many of the existing pagan religions that saturated Rome, took its toll; and by means of forced compliance and/or persecution, marginalized the true Church, reducing its influence. Notice again, “Conversion of Barbarians, the Goths, Vandals, and Huns who overthrew the Roman Empire accepted Christianity; but to a large extent their conversion was nominal and this further filled the Church with pagan practices.
“…Even as every generation seeks to interpret Christ in terms of its own thinking, so, no sooner had Christianity made its appearance than it began its process of amalgamation in Greek & Oriental philosophies; and there arose many Sects…”
The historical record of the Passover/Easter controversy is a prime illustration of how man endeavors to evade God, avoiding His authority. History reveals the combination of the Greco-Roman government, implemented by ecclesiastical authority of the Popes and Catholic Councils over the centuries, replaced Passover with Easter. There is absolutely no Biblical directive or Christ–like example throughout the whole Bible authorizing the institution of Easter as a Christian holy day! It’s simply a man-made tradition, adopted, concocted, and assimilated with ancient pagan fertility rites and symbols that are linked to the “sun-worshipping” cults of Babylon that came down to us through the Greco-Macedonian/Roman cultures. Lamentably, over the years, it has contributed to misdirecting much of the vast Christian community, causing it to render laws of God of none effect because of the traditions of men. Even Jesus Christ had to personally deal with this same principle during His ministry and cautioned against it. Notice what He said. “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:6-9).
As we observed our Communion Passover this month, I trust this history of the transformation of the Biblical Passover into the Roman Catholic Easter, along with the introduction of the Roman Catholic Trinity doctrine, regarding the identity of Jesus Christ-the only begotten Son of God, we find evidence of a role of the Roman Catholic Church to influence Biblical Christian Churches to re-interpret the Passover observance of Jesus Christ and his Apostles and Prophets. As we are aware of these Roman Catholic historical records to this effect, we can better equip ourselves to walk circumspectly and avoid the snares and doctrinal pitfalls that our spiritual adversary has laid for us.
God Bless!
Rene’
Footnotes
1. [Jesus Christ Our Passover-Appendix 4] American Christian Press.
2. Strong’s Concordance, [4415-4416], James Strong
3. Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, American Christian Press.
4. Strong’s Concordance, #1184-dektos-a form of Dechomai-#1209], James Strong
5. Tyndale’s New Bible Dictionary p. 1002
6. Strong’s Concordance, [#2146]-to pierce, invoke in memory, James Strong
7. https://www.ucg.org/sermons/quartodecimans-and-council-nicea-325-ad-how-passover-got-changed [blog content adopted from this text]
8. https://www.cgi.org/new-page-56 [blog content adopted from this text]
9. Catholic Encyclopedia
10. Strong’s Concordance, [#3680-paradidomi], James Strong
11. IBID [#5293-hupotasso-submit in a dependent stance, 2Cor. 9:13, 1Tim. 3:4-5].
12. Catholic Encyclopedia
13. IBID
14. (Halley’s Bible Handbook, “Paganization of the Church,” p. 761).