It is our desire to: “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
In keeping with this desire, we declare our common bond with the QUARTODECIMANS or fourteenthers of the early ekklesia. Historians tell us that this was a derogatory name that the Roman Church gave to the true believers attending the Asiatic assemblies. We are pleased to be able to draw close to the brethren of that era and accept the responsibility that goes with it. They kept the Passover during the day of the 14th. WE DO AS WELL!
They followed the truth of Numbers 28:16: “and in the 14th day of the first month is the Passover of Yahweh.” Their actions reflected the truth of John the Baptist, as recorded in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of Yahweh which taketh away the sin of the world.”
It was the day of the 14ththat Messiah, the lamb of Yahweh, died on the tree. He was placed on the tree at 9 AM and finally died at 3 PM.
On the night of the 14th, before he died, Messiah gave his disciples a new commandment: “This do in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11: 24-25) The night of the 14th is when we wash each other’s feet, eat leavened bread and drink the fruit of the vine together.
We obey Messiah’s commandment to remember him on the night of the 14th. During the day of the 14th,we remember his death at 3 PM. Many of the early believers fasted during the time Messiah was on the tree, from 9 AM to 3 PM. This is not commanded but is an optional observance.
The following seven days are called the days of unleavened. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) These days are often referred to as being part of the feast of Passover. We keep these days as did the Quartodecimans.
We remove all leavening by noon on the 14thand eat unleavened bread until sundown on the 21st. We observe these days as the Feast of Passover.
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