Bible Study Seattle

“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.

“Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

The meaning of communion is lost on most Christians. It is a ritual involving eating a wafer and wine (or grape juice). That’s about it. Communion really is Passover. It was eaten right before the Hebrews marched out of Egyptian slavery before the crack of dawn of Abib 14 (or Nisan 14). It represents our coming out of the slavery of sin. In the second part of our life when we come back from the dead in the millennial reign of Christ, its meaning will become apparent.

“Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths.  Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, rain will not fall on them.  And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter, then rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague the Lord inflicts on the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Booths.  This will be the punishment of Egypt and all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Booths.” Zechariah 14:16-19

Will the nations also be required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover? “Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15-16 If they eat the Passover meal in a unworthy manner will they be prohibited from eating of the trees of life?

This is where the rubber meets the road. God has told us that those that refuse to go to the Feast of Booths will have no rain. Their crops will fail and they will ultimately die if they persist in resisting the Lord’s commands. How different this is from the current situation! (circa AD 2023)

Something amazing will happen to those who are fit to eat from the trees of life: “then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth,
and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.” Job 33:25

But people will not be able to eat of the trees of life whenever they see fit, only when in season, yet these trees will blossom every month: “All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12

The effects of sin will be reversed! The way to eternal life will be open to all who would choose Life!