1. The Biblical Origin and Purpose of the Passover

1.1. The Passover in Egypt
The Passover was instituted by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

• Exodus 12:12-13: During the plague that struck the firstborn of Egypt, the blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts served as a sign of protection, sparing the firstborn in those homes.
• The blood of the lamb became a symbol of salvation for the Israelites' firstborn.

1.2. The Limited Application of the Passover

• The Passover was specifically intended to protect the firstborn of Israel, not all individuals or all forms of calamities.
• Even before the Passover, God protected the Israelites during the first nine plagues, showing that the Passover was not the sole means of protection.
• Thus, the Passover was not a universal solution to all disasters but a specific event for a specific purpose.

2. The Prophetic Significance of the Passover

2.1. The Passover Lamb as a Prophecy
The Passover lamb foreshadowed Yehoshua (Jesus) and His sacrifice.

• Yehoshua came as the Passover Lamb to free believers from the bondage of sin.
• 1 Corinthians 5:7: "For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed."

2.2. Fulfillment of the Passover

• Yehoshua’s death on the cross fulfilled the Passover requirements, making the annual Passover observance unnecessary.
• Through His sacrifice, He provided a new and living way to salvation.

3. Misinterpretations of the Passover by the World Mission Society Church of God

3.1. Passover and Calamities

• The church teaches that observing the Passover protects from all disasters, but this claim lacks biblical support.
• In Egypt, the Passover was a sign for a specific moment of deliverance, not a general solution for all calamities.

3.2. Ritualization of the Passover

• The church insists that keeping the Passover is essential for eternal life.
• However, Yehoshua’s sacrifice rendered the Old Testament Passover observance unnecessary.

3.3. Misuse of the 144,000

• The church connects the Passover with the 144,000 from Revelation, misrepresenting their symbolic role as spiritual firstborn sealed by God.
• Salvation is achieved through faith in Yehoshua and receiving the Holy Spirit, not through ritualistic observance.

4. The True Meaning of the Passover

4.1. Spiritual Fulfillment Through Yehoshua

• The Passover signifies Yehoshua’s ultimate sacrifice, offering salvation to all who believe.
• John 1:29: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
• Yehoshua, as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb, brings spiritual freedom from sin.

4.2. Salvation Marked by the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for believers, not the observance of a ritual.
• Ephesians 1:13: "You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance."

5. Issues with the World Mission Society Church of God's Teachings

5.1. Distortion of the Passover's Purpose

• The church misinterprets the Passover as a universal safeguard against disasters, a claim unsupported by scripture.
• Their focus on rituals overlooks the fulfillment of the Passover in Yehoshua’s sacrifice.

5.2. Neglect of the Holy Spirit

• The church minimizes the significance of the Holy Spirit in salvation and instead emphasizes external rituals.

5.3. Legalistic Approach to Salvation

• By tying salvation to the observance of the Passover, the church undermines Yehoshua’s completed work on the cross.

6. Conclusion

• The Passover was a temporary sign for Israel’s firstborn, fully fulfilled by Yehoshua’s sacrifice on the cross.
• Today, salvation is not achieved through Passover rituals but through faith in Yehoshua and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• The claim that the Passover protects against all calamities is a distortion of scripture and fails to acknowledge the spiritual significance of Yehoshua’s work.
• The church’s teachings reflect a legalistic misunderstanding of the Passover, reducing its profound fulfillment in Yehoshua to mere ritual observance.
• The true meaning of the Passover lies in celebrating Yehoshua’s completed work, which grants freedom from sin and eternal life to those who believe.