The most memorable aspect for both members and former members of the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) is the Passover. According to the Bible, Jesus promised eternal life through His body and blood, symbolized by the bread and wine of the Passover, known as the Last Supper. However, WMSCOG indoctrinates its members into believing that observing the Passover is essential for salvation. Upon examining the Bible, it becomes evident that their claims are flawed.
WMSCOG claims that the Last Supper was the Passover, but this is not true. According to the Bible, the Last Supper occurred on the evening of the 13th day of the first month, while the Passover began on the evening of the 14th. In John 13:1, Jesus held the Last Supper a day before the Passover. During the supper, Judas left to betray Jesus. Other disciples assumed Judas went to purchase items for the festival, but this would have been impossible if it were Passover night, as Passover extends from evening to the following morning, during which no one would go out. (John 13:27–29)
On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus was arrested and subjected to suffering, and by 6 a.m. the following morning, He stood trial before Pilate's court. The Jews, however, refrained from entering the court to keep themselves ceremonially clean to eat the Passover meal. If it were Passover, why would they act this way? Wasn’t the Passover already over by the morning? (John 18:28)
In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb was chosen on the 10th day of the first month and sacrificed at 9 a.m. on the 14th, roasted, and eaten that evening. Similarly, Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy, entered Jerusalem on the 10th day, was crucified at 9 a.m. on the 14th, and died at 3 p.m. John 19:31 states, “The next day was both a Sabbath and the Passover,” linking Jesus’ death to the Passover.
[Korean Bible Society] John 19:31–33
"The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs and take their bodies down. The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs."
In Matthew 26, Jesus foretold that He would die on the Passover. The Jewish leaders also conspired to kill Him before the festival (Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread). Passover begins on the evening of the 14th and overlaps with the Feast of Unleavened Bread starting on the 15th, often referred to as the first day of Unleavened Bread. (Matthew 26:1–5)
WMSCOG asserts that Jesus observed the Passover and died on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, according to the Old Testament, the first day of Unleavened Bread is a sacred Sabbath, during which Jews would not execute anyone or leave a body hanging on a tree. (Leviticus 23:6–7)
Even historical church records cited by WMSCOG confirm that Jesus died at 3 p.m. on the 14th day of the first month. The Eastern Church (Jerusalem) fasted from the evening of the 13th to 3 p.m. on the 14th and commemorated Jesus’ death with the Eucharist. The Western Church (Rome) began fasting at 3 p.m. on the 14th until the following Sunday, commemorating the Eucharist. This indicates Jesus died on the Passover, not the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The true Passover Lamb is Jesus, as testified in the Bible. The bread and wine of the Last Supper, symbolizing Jesus’ body and blood, are the true Passover meal. When Jesus desired to eat the Passover with His disciples, He referred not to the symbolic food of the Jews but to the bread and wine, which represented His body and blood. Many misunderstand this phrase and mistake the day of the Last Supper for Passover.
The sacrificial system of the Old Testament temple foreshadowed Jesus and His work. The animals sacrificed for the sins of the people and the high priest entering the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement prefigured Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies by dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice and ascending to heaven, the true Most Holy Place, after His resurrection. Furthermore, Jesus casting Satan out of heaven fulfilled the Day of Atonement ritual of sending sins onto the scapegoat and driving it into the wilderness.
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on believers, making them temples of God. This event fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles, where Israelites built temporary shelters (tabernacles) and read God’s Word. Likewise, Jesus established His followers as new temples, proclaiming God’s Word through them. Thus, Jesus completed the temple system and its laws in their entirety. Observing Sabbaths, Passovers, or the Day of Atonement for atonement of sins is no longer necessary. Such acts undermine Jesus' perfect sacrifice.
[Hebrews 10:18]
"And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."
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