Rabbis and Temple Institute on Sabbath before Passover, plus UN wants global tax for COVID-19?
Photo of Temple Institute by Bob Thiel
Passover is next week. The biblical date for it is the 8th of April this year, meaning that (since days begin at sunset) Passover is to be observed by Christians the evening of April 7th.
Jews apparently have traditions related to the Book of Malachi that they read the Sabbath prior to Passover.
At least partially because of COVID-19, rabbis believe this is a time for the world to get together this Sabbath:
Chief Rabbis From Around the World Call For Universal Coming Together in “Great Sabbath”
April 3 2020
“He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction. Lo, I will send the Navi Eliyahu to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of Hashem.” Malachi 3:4 (The Israel Bible™) …
Normally, it is an especially important Shabbat to gather in the synagogue but this year, due to pandemic restrictions, Jews will be observing the sabbath separately. In response to this, an open letter from eleven Chief Rabbis from around the world compares this Shabbat Hagadol to the Shabbat before the Exodus when Jewish families sat alone in their homes in Egypt.
“Shabbat HaGadol was first celebrated at the birth of the Jewish people, moments before the dawn of our deliverance from Egyptian slavery,” they said. “Every Jewish family, alone in their homes in Egypt, sat fervently anticipating the united dream of deliverance and nationhood. Now 3,332 years later, this Shabbat HaGadol, we too sit isolated in our own homes, once again united in our fervent prayer for relief from the global pandemic that has shaken our world to its core.”
“In our heroic global quest to protect each other, we find ourselves physically cut off from one another,” they said. “Many of us are completely alone. Call or message someone you know who is alone or struggling, wish them Shabbat Shalom and offer them words of support and encouragement. There is so much we cannot do at this time, but let’s not underestimate the power we have to uplift, encourage and support one another. Pray for each other just before candle-lighting. As the devastation of COVID-19 sweeps across the world, so many people need our prayers.”
In other news related to a universal coming together, the United Nations seemingly wants 10% of entire planet’s annual income in fund for coronavirus response. Here is a reported press release:
The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is attacking societies at their core, claiming lives and people’s livelihoods. The potential longer-term effects on the global economy and those of individual countries are dire. In a new report, Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the United Nations Secretary-General calls on everyone to act together to address this impact and lessen the blow to people.The report describes the speed and scale of the outbreak, the severity of cases, and the societal and economic disruption of COVID-19, which has so far claimed the lives of 33 257 people, with 697 244 confirmed cases in 204 countries, areas and territories1. “COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. “This human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies – and maximum financial and techni-cal support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries.” The report comes after the IMF has announced that the world has entered into a recession as bad or worse than in 2009. The report calls for a large-scale, coordinated and comprehensive multilateral response amounting to at least 10 percent of global GDP.The United Nations system—and its global network of regional, sub-regional and country offices working for peace, human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action, will support all governments and part-ners through the response and recovery. To that end, the Secretary-General has established a dedicated COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support efforts in low- and middle-income countries. Its approach underpins the reformed UN with a coordinated multi-agency, multi-sectoral response for priority national and local actions to address the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. It will count on the country leadership of Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in swiftly supporting and enabling governments in this crisis, and recovery. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/un_brand_sg_press_release_march31_2020_10am.pdf
I am trying to verify the accuracy of the above as no major news source has picked this up–though many feel that reliefweb.int is credible. Yet, 10% of GDP seems impossible, so I have severe doubts about that proposal. From the UN’s own site, however, it early has asked for billions for COVID-19, per the following: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059421 A 10% global GDP tax would certainly point to at least a type of global governance–and many do want that–but it is not about to happen now.
Anyway, related to this upcoming Sabbath, the Temple Institute sent out the following:
Nisan 9, 5780/April 3, 2020
This week’s Torah reading, Tzav, “And HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Command (Tzav) Aharon and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering…, “ (Leviticus 6:1-2) …
Shabbat HaGadol occurs on the Shabbat preceding Passover. A special Haftarah is read on Shabbat HaGadol.
Malachi 3:4-24:
“And then the offerings of Yehudah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to HaShem, as in the days of old and former years. And I will approach you for judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely; and also against those who withhold the wages of the day laborers, of the widow and fatherless, and those who pervert [the rights of] the stranger, [and those who] fear Me not, says HaShem of Hosts. For I, HaShem, have not changed; and you, the sons of Yaakov, have not reached the end. From the days of your fathers you have departed from My laws and have not kept [them]. “Return to Me, and I will return to you,” said HaShem of Hosts, but you said, “With what have we to return?” Will a man rob G-d? Yet you rob Me, and you say, “With what have we robbed You?” – With tithes and with the terumah-levy. You are cursed with a curse, but you rob Me, the whole nation! Bring the whole of the tithes into the treasury so that there may be nourishment in My House, and test Me now therewith, says HaShem of Hosts, [to see] if I will not open for you the sluices of heaven and pour down for you blessing until there be no room to suffice for it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, and he will not destroy the fruits of your land; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field, says HaShem of Hosts. And then all the nations shall praise you, for you shall be a desirable land, says HaShem of Hosts. “Still harder did your words strike Me,” says HaShem, but you say, “What have we spoken against You?” You have said, “It is futile to serve G-d, and what profit do we get for keeping His charge and for going about in anxious worry because of HaShem of Hosts?” And now we praise the bold transgressors. Yea, those who work wickedness are built up. Yea, they tempt G-d, and they have, nevertheless, escaped. Then the G-d-fearing men spoke to one another, and HaShem hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared HaShem and for those who valued His name highly. And they shall be Mine, says HaShem of Hosts, for that day when I make a treasure. And I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. And you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves G-d and him who has not served Him. For lo, the sun comes, glowing like a furnace, and all the audacious sinners and all the perpetrators of wickedness will be stubble. And the sun that comes shall burn them up so that it will leave them neither root nor branch, says HaShem of Hosts. And the sun of mercy shall rise with healing in its wings for you who fear My Name. Then will you go forth and be fat as fatted calves. And you shall crush the wicked, for they will be as ash under the soles of your feet on the day that I will prepare, says HaShem of Hosts. Keep in remembrance the teaching of Moshe, My servant-the laws and ordinances which I commanded him in Horev for all Israel. Lo, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of HaShem, that he may turn the heart of the fathers back through the children, and the heart of the children back through their fathers-lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction.”
So, apparently it is a Jewish tradition to read about tithes and offerings the Sabbath before Passover.
Passover is immediately before the Days of Unleavened Bread.
The Bible enjoins taking up an offering during the Days of Unleavened Bread, along with other Holy Days:
16 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:16)
14 “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); 16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. (Exodus 23:14-16)
Clearly, the Bible shows that offerings were to be collected on the Holy Days.
Related to offerings on the biblical Holy Days, we made the following video:
Why Holy Day Offerings?
How does God finance His church? Why are there Holy Day offerings? Which Holy Days? Are Holy Day offerings mentioned in scripture? Why offerings on Holy Days? Are offerings required of everyone or are they voluntary? How large should they be? Can women contribute? Do we reap what we sow? What did the Apostle Paul write about giving? What are such offerings used for? This offertory message covers these matters and more.
To mail an offering, here is our US address: Continuing Church of God 1036 W. Grand Avenue Grover Beach, CA 93433
To give donations online via PayPal, please go to: https://www.ccog.org/donations/
A written article on this topic is also available titled “Why Holy Day Offerings?” URL: https://www.ccog.org/why-holy-day-off…
Irrespective of Jewish traditions related to reading from Malachi and about tithes and offerings the Sabbath prior to Passover, Passover itself is to be observed by baptized Christians the evening of April 7th. This is followed by The Night to Be Observed the evening of the 8th, with Holy Day Offerings normally given during the daylight hours on the 9th.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays. A related sermon is Which Spring Days should Christians observe?
Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread How should Christians keep Passover, especially if they are by themselves. Why does the Church of God not require lambs for Passover? How does one keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? For a step-by-step video for Christians to keep it, check out a CCOG Passover Service. Here is a link to a related article in the Spanish language: Guardando la Pascua y los Días de los Panes sin Levadura.
Examine Yourself before Passover This article goes into some of why real Christians are to do this. Two related sermons are Really examine yourself before Passover and Passover Examination. Here is a link to this article in the Spanish language: Examínese antes de la Pascua.
Preparing for Passover The Apostle Paul taught that Christians should examine themselves prior to taking Passover. This YouTube video sermon gives suggestions on how to prepare.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled History of the Christian Passover.
The Passover Plot What was the first Passover plot? Which plots have Islam and the Greco-Roman faiths perpetuated about Passover? A sermon video of related interest is The Passover Plots, Including Easter.
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well. Here is a related sermon, also titled Melito’s Homily on the Passover.
TPM: Passover on the 14th or 15th? While the real COG observes Passover on the 14th, some observe it on the 15th. Why is the 14th correct? A related sermon is titled Is Passover on the 14th or 15th for Christians?
Did the Apostles Keep Passover on Easter Sunday or Nisan 14 Some have claimed that the Apostles Peter and Paul institued Easter Sunday, whereas the Apostles John and Philip kept Passover on Nisan 14. Were the apostles divided? What does the historical and biblical evidence point to? Here is a link to a related video: Did Peter, Paul, & John keep Easter Sunday or Passover?
Unleavened Bread recipes A Serbian COG member, now CCOG elder, sent these recipes for those who would like more ways to prepare unleavened bread. Here is a link to recipes in Spanish: Recetas de Recuerdo.
The Night to Be Observed What is the night to be much observed? When is it? Why do Jews keep Passover twice and emphasize the wrong date? A related animation is available and is titled: Night to Be Observed.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers. Here is a link to this article in the French language: Les Chrétiens devraient-ils observer les Jours des Pains sans levain?Here are three YouTube videos intended to be viewed for the first day of unleavened bread: Unleavened Bread: No Tolerance for Sin, Leaven and Sin, and Christians and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
The Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread What happened? Does this day have any type of fulfillment in the Book of Revelation? A related sermon video is also available: 7th Day of Unleavened Bread: Prophecy and Lessons.
Perfection? Does God have faith in humans? A message for the seventh-day of unleavened bread. A related sermon is titled: Does God have faith in humans?
Tithing Questions and Some Answers Answers questions about tithing and also addresses some non-biblical arguments against tithing. Should people tithe?Here is a link to a related sermon: Tithes and Tithing. Here is a link to an older sermon: Tithing Answers from the Bible.
Why Holy Day Offerings? Some have wondered. This article has scriptures and other statements. Here is a link to a related video message: Why Holy Day Offerings?
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