To understand the second Passover we must first understand the symbolism of the first one.  Recall from the book of Exodus that the celebration of the Passover Feast occurred just prior to the final judgment upon Egypt, the death of the firstborn of every household in the land.  The death angel who killed Egypt’s firstborn passed over all of Israel’s homes, however, because they had brushed with hyssop the blood of the Passover feast lamb onto each doorpost and lintel of their dwellings.  This blood prophesied, of course, that the blood Jesus shed fifteen hundred years later would to be applied to the doorposts and lintels of our spirits so that we could escape spiritual death. (Note that this follows the Biblical principle of “first the natural, then the spiritual”)

The death of the firstborn constituted the last of ten profound judgments that progressively destroyed the greatest nation on earth at the time. Throughout Scripture Egypt represents, i.e. is a “type” of,  Satan’s world system of government.  Thus the destruction of Egypt foreshadows the destruction of the despotic, tyrannical New World Order which presently rules the earth.

Now consider who it is that may actually participate in Passover.  First, a person must believe in the God of the Hebrews, for what person would truly celebrate Passover if he did not believe? For us this means that rather than applying sheep blood to our doors each year, we believe that Jesus’ blood effectively works to bring us forgiveness and salvation.  This speaks of faith in Jesus.  This explains why Christians continue to celebrate Passover even today, although they have changed its name to Easter and have forgotten most of the laws concerning this important feast.

Second, in Numbers 9 we learn that one must be “clean” to partake of Passover.  We understand this because certain men came to Moses to inquire about celebrating Passover who had become unclean by touching a dead body.  Moses asked God and God told him to proclaim that anyone who became unclean by touching a dead body or who was on a long journey could celebrate Passover exactly one month after the first designated holy day.  This is second Passover.

This new requirement seems rather strange at first because Moses mentioned nothing about ritual cleanness when he first announced Passover in Exodus 12.  In fact other than this first mention of Second Passover we see it actually observed only one time in all Scripture.  This one occasion occurred at the beginning of the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah.  The date was six years before the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel, in about 727 B.C.  Then, Hezekiah began to rule in a time of great spiritual decline and apostasy, very similar to these days in which we live.  His father, Ahaz, did evil before the LORD by making metal images for the Baals, sacrificing his sons as burnt offerings to Molech, and by sacrificing and offering on all the high places of the land.  Clearly, Ahaz did not obey God’s Law.  Such defines the times in which we find the only instance of Second Passover ever being celebrated.  And, not coincidentally, such defines these days of lawlessness, idol worship, and child sacrifice (abortion) as well.

Go to Part 3