According to the Sacred calendar of the Jews, the Feast of Passover was the beginning of months, the beginning of beginnings. This also was the time when the Lord was crucified, which means the beginning of new life for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. When the days of the Kingdom come, those who have prevailed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony enter into the great deliverance of the Passover (Revelation 12:11). It is not designed to deliver them from Egypt or from Babylon, but that Passover is designed to deliver God’s people into the Kingdom, which is quite different.
The Passover has had different meanings at different times. The Passover that took place on the plains of Jericho was the Passover of conquest (Joshua 5:10). Israel went from there to take all the land of Canaan, and thirty-one nations were completely destroyed; any one of them was greater than Israel in number.
When we see the magnitude of what God is doing now, we will believe that the Passover can be more than a momentary inspiration. Dispensationally, it may open the door to the whole new age. We may be preparing our hearts for what is to come and find an immediate launching of it. We never have been through more difficult days nor more glorious days. The Word has been so precious, and God’s people have never had such a rapid rate of growth and such a sound growth. Prophecies come, and soon they are completely fulfilled. Never have we moved so rapidly into the faith walk by a word from God. Yet in the midst of everything, we have felt a certain travail of soul, as though we have come to birth in our spirits. We have come to the hour of fulfillment, but something seems to hold it back.
Perhaps it is waiting for this particular time. Acts 2:1 speaks of what happened when the day of Pentecost was fully come… And who knows what great things have been held in reserve for us to move into when the Passover has fully come upon us.
This message is about the coming Kingdom Passover. The story of the Passover the Lord kept, as recorded by Luke, is simple, and the message is obvious. The Gospel of Luke outlines more clearly than any of the other Gospels the story of Christ’s prophecy of the Kingdom Passover that is to come. The Passover is reiterated in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. John is the only Gospel that does not record the Lord’s Supper, but fills in what is lacking in the other Gospels. John (chapters 13 through 18) describes what took place that night, leading up to the time they went out to the garden of Gethsemane, after singing the last Passover hymn. Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not record the events in exactly the same order, because the Gospels are not as much concerned about historical accuracy, as they are for the spiritual, revelation truth to be revealed.
The Gospel of Luke has as fine a presentation of the two suppers that occurred that night as can be found anywhere. There were actually two suppers. First, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus and His disciples kept the Feast of Passover (the preparation for it is described in Luke 22:7–13). It was a miracle preparation. Verses 14–18 describe the Passover, and the Kingdom Passover is entirely outlined. Then verses 19 through 20 tell of the Lord’s Supper, and it is evident there were two cups instead of only one cup—the cup of the Passover and the declaration concerning it, and the cup of the Lord’s Supper, over which He also made declarations. Verses 21 through 23 are a prophecy about the betrayer, while verses 24 through 27 involve the argument over which disciple would be the greatest. Verses 28 through 30 revert back to the issue of a kingdom being appointed. This particular Passover and the Lord’s Supper was for the appointment of the Kingdom that was to come. The prophecy in verses 31 through 34 foretold testing in the life of Peter, and then verses 35 through 38 prepared the disciples’ hearts for what was to come. Following the Lord’s Supper, when their hearts would be tenderest, following the time when He had washed their feet, He still asked them to go sell their cloaks and buy a sword. They were to enter into an age which would have conflict with the coexistence of two kingdoms, of two world powers. But He had already given the prophecy that there would be a time in which He would again resume the keeping of the Passover itself.
The Lord’s Supper is to be kept all through this age, but when we come to the end of the age, we look forward to a restoration of the Feast of Passover. The Feast of Passover was never given to be only a temporary feast. In Exodus 12:14 we read that the Passover was to be a memorial throughout all generations, forever; it was never to cease.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” And they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ ” (Many Bible students feel this was one of the younger men, like John Mark, because the Passover probably was kept in the home of Mary the mother of Mark.) “And he will show you a large, furnished, upper room; prepare it there.” And they departed and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. Luke 22:7–13. This was a miracle preparation because there was a tremendous amount of revelation involved, beyond the natural knowledge that leads toward the preparation of the Passover.
Luke 22:14–16 is an important passage. And when the hour had come He reclined at table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Some churches have kept a replica of the Feast of Passover, with the actual menus, right down to the last little detail, and they have brought forth the Christian significance. It has been a great blessing to those churches. That practice is fine, but Jesus already held the last Passover. This was called the Last Supper, because it was the last supper He had before His crucifixion, though not necessarily the last supper He had with His disciples. He did eat with them after the resurrection. But never was there to be another significant Passover, for all that the Passover had implied, in a memorial and as a prophecy of what was to come, was fulfilled. From the last hour in the garden of Gethsemane, the events began to roll toward the Passover Lamb being put upon the spit of the cross. The fires of eternal judgment, which were due for our miserable, sinful souls, were blasted upon Him, and He suffered for us. He was the Passover Lamb crucified for us. This was the real Passover. And He said, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you. I will never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” What did He mean, “—until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God”?
Our salvation is accomplished in provision, but it is not fulfilled in actual historical fact. What Christ died to win has not been appropriated in the slightest degree, and though we enter in with a whole heart, we have not even begun to see what was embraced by our Passover Lamb dying for us. But the Kingdom will come, and we will be ushered into that fullness. Therefore He said, “This Passover I have desired to eat with you. But this ends it. I will not eat again of this Passover until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
We are approaching the hour of the Kingdom Passover. It could be called “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb,” or “The time when His Bride hath made herself ready.” These are the days of preparation, days of hope, days when He says, “I stand at the door and knock. Open the door, and I will come in and sup with you and you with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Only to the last Church age is this promise given, for we are going to keep that Passover with the King.
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And having taken a cup, when He had given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.” Luke 22:15–17. Almost all things in Jewish festivals begin and end with wine. They begin with blessing the wine, the fruit of the vine, and they end with wine. It apparently should have ended when the Lord said, “Take this and share it among yourselves” (that was the Passover cup, and the Lord was still talking about the Passover); “for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes” (there has to be that Kingdom Passover). And having taken some bread, when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:17–19. That was a new institution, the Lord’s Supper. At the Lord’s Supper the new commandment was given. “A new commandment give I unto you, that you love one another…” John 13:34. He was opening up a new era. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:20. There was a new covenant in His blood.
What was the original Passover covenant? When they had taken the offerings, Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant (the Ten Commandments, the ordinances, and the promises given in Exodus, chapters 20 through 23) and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” (But they were not obedient.) So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:6–9.
In Hebrews 12:22–24, we read, You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Able.
Jesus said, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” In the first covenant, they sprinkled the altar and the people. They had sealed them to a covenant of God. But Jesus took the wine, which He said we were to do, and made it a continual validation of a new covenant, a new covenant in His blood. And it speaks better things than the blood of Abel.
What did the blood of Abel speak? God said to Cain, “Where is your brother?” And Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But He said, “The blood of your brother Abel cries up from the ground” (Genesis 4:9–10). The ground that was soaked in the innocent blood of Abel cried for justice, cried for judgment. But Jesus sprinkled us with His blood, and it speaks better things than the blood of Abel. It is not crying for justice. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). It is the plea to the Father, “I shed My blood for them. I made the sacrifice and sealed a new covenant with them. I made a pact with them, a covenant of life. I sprinkled them with the blood, like the Passover Lamb, and the judgment is to be averted. It is to pass over them, and they are to be free.” The blood of Jesus Christ is precious to us.
He did not say, “This is My blood,” but the accurate statement is, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” The blood seals us to God. The blood seals the provision of God’s mercy and grace to our hearts. How did this differ from the Passover? The Passover was commemorating the blood that had averted judgment also, but that was not a covenant. The covenant was to follow later, at Mount Sinai; for there the covenant was given and sprinkled with blood. The Lord is saying now, “I am bringing you out; I am your Passover Lamb. My blood is sealing a new covenant of forgiveness and mercy to you, of grace to you in the time of need.” For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14. One time is all it took, and He sealed to your heart the covenant of His everlasting mercies and grace through His precious blood.
“It is a new covenant in My blood.” It is all yours. All you have to do is open your heart and receive it. “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man through whom He is betrayed!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But not so with you, but let him who is greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves” (this is the only hint Luke gives of washing the disciples feet, but it was nevertheless done, as we read in John 13). “And you are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom” (again He reverts back to the Kingdom issue, “We are going to have another Passover; you are going to eat with me in My kingdom”) “and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:21–30. May the Lord bless that word so it will be something that burns in your heart.
Jesus went on to prophesy the sifting of Simon, and then He told them, “When I sent you out without purse and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” And they said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. Luke 22:35–36. Prepare your hearts for difficult days. These difficult days will continue upon the earth. The mission of Christ has to be understood. He came to make a provision by which the establishment is to be destroyed. He came to bring down. He said, “Do not think I came to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Luke 12:49.
The Lord is trying to teach us that we are coexisting with a great deal of hostility: with an old order that is set to combat and put down God’s order and God’s Kingdom. However, God has set the barriers that prevent Satan from destroying every one of God’s citizens in the Kingdom, every one of His children, from off the face of the earth. If it were not that God had appointed a boundary that Satan cannot excede, we would have been destroyed long ago. But now He is telling us, “Be prepared! Sell your cloak and buy a sword” (Luke 22:36). “Get ready for a kind of conflict.”
Our warfare is not carnal. It really is not with a literal sword, but you sell the cloak of self-esteem, the cloak of withdrawal, the cloak of hypocrisy, the cloak of a veneer that the world is used to. Sell that and come out in your openness. Buy a sword, the word of the living God, the sharp two-edged sword. For you cannot prevail by hypocrisy. You cannot prevail by the kind of duplicity that the world uses in its business and in everything else. But you prevail as you stand naked before God and the world. But you stand with a sword in your hand. And that sword is the word of God. And by that the citizens will prevail. By that they will take the Kingdom, a kingdom that is prepared for them.
The last Passover then, had a significance. It was speaking of a Passover to come, and Jesus said, “I will not partake of this until I take it new with you in the Father’s Kingdom. There will not be another Passover until I do (Luke 22:16).
“Well, what’s this coming Passover going to be like Lord? We’d like to know. We thank You for the covenant in Thy blood that gives us assurance and gives us promises.”
Let’s compare that first Passover with the Lord’s Supper and with the Passover that is to come. The first Passover was a Passover of deliverance and brought Israel out of slavery, but it was also a Passover of judgment because it brought judgment upon the Egyptians who were their oppressors. The first Passover was instituted originally as a memorial of an historical event, and whenever there would be a question about it, they were to review in the ears of their children how God had delivered their nation out of the hand of slavery. That Passover was prophetic of Christ’s death, representing how He would be the Lamb of God, slain so judgments might pass over us. It was also prophetic of the future event at the end of the age.
The Lord’s Supper came as a symbolic manifestation that the Passover had alluded to. It embodied both deliverance and judgment. The Lord’s Supper was a memorial of an historical event also, because Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of Me until I come.” That supper was a commemorating of the death on the cross and a prophetic remembrance until He comes; so it indicates that it was a prophecy. Every time you take the Lord’s Supper you are agreeing, hoping, and standing upon His promise that He will come again. The Lord’s Supper was also prophetic of the marriage supper of the Lamb that is to come.
The second Passover, the Kingdom Passover that is to come, will be a Passover of deliverance from the establishment. Israel was delivered from Egypt, and this will be God’s way of bringing us into a deliverance from one age into another. It will be a Passover of judgment, inasmuch as it will bring judgment to the whole earth. This will come as a Passover of release into the inheritance of the Kingdom and a fulfillment of the prophecy of the end of the age. This Kingdom Passover will bring the beginning of a new age. The Kingdom Passover before us is the Passover of total release and absolute deliverance without any compromise. And as it was in the first Passover, we are to be delivered with the riches of the oppressor. The Israelites left with the spoil of the Egyptians in their hands, loaded with the treasures of Egypt. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former… Haggai 2:8–9. He tells us that the wealth of the nations shall flow unto us (Zechariah 14:14). This coming Passover of the Kingdom will be the final end of oppressors.
Get the significance of this in your heart. Reach in with such a hope and expectancy, for the Lord might appear among us at any time. Soon the Lord might keep the most significant Passover of all generations. We have leaned into the Kingdom for several years, but we want to experience that which means from now on one age is ended and we are completely in a new age. Who knows what could happen. The establishment is being shaken. How have the mighty fallen! II Samuel 1:19. God has brought this to pass so rapidly.
“What should we do?” Have your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand… Exodus 12:11. We should say, “Good-bye, Egypt; good-bye, Babylon; good-bye, oppression. We are ready to leave!” Above everything else, there should be a readiness and an expectancy in the hearts of everyone, for who knows how mysteriously He will move. Who knows in what wonderful way He will visit us and pour out of His Spirit upon us! Who knows what new experiences we will have! Who knows how close the fellowship can be with Him or how much we too can be identified with the suffering Lamb now, so we may reign with Him shortly.
The lord has marked this feast of passover as the time of singular blessing. we are going to have an exodus out of the perils and the jeopardies of babylon. in the spirit realm we are coming out of them. we are coming out of the area where we are susceptible to the attack and harassment of babylon. we are going to walk into the days of immunity.