Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters

In the country where before the invasion by the Russians lived about 50 million people, we can find people who have been exposed to a variety of religious beliefs.

The Orthodox Church –  10th-21st Century

In the tenth century, the Eastern Orthodox religion was introduced to become in 2018 the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Serhii Petrovych Dumenko, Epiphanius I of Ukraine, primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), holding the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

The church was united at the unification council in Kyiv on 15 December 2018 as a condition for recognition of it by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and was granted the tomos of autocephaly (decree of ecclesial independence) by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul on 5 January 2019. The unification council voted to unite all the existing Ukrainian Orthodox major jurisdictions: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) as well as a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (a branch of the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church, which claims jurisdiction over Ukraine). The Unification Council elected Epiphanius Dumenko – previously the Metropolitan of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Bila Tserkva (UOC-KP) – as its primate, the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine.

Catholicism, Islam and atheism

Later the Ottoman Empire brought Islam to southern Ukraine. Also, Polish noblemen were spreading Catholicism during the Middle Ages.

In the 20th century, many became atheists under the rule of Communism, though also a lot of religious people practised their religion in secret.

For the Bible students in the country, such religious practice in secret was nothing new, as they always had to keep themselves safe from repercussions from Trinitarian Christians, who regarded non-trinitarians as the devil.

Cross-border seeds of faith – 9th – 13th Century

Devoted Bible readers living in the Principality or, from 1253, Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, one of the three most important powers to emerge from the collapse of Kievan Rus’ (loose federation in Eastern Europe and Northern Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century) By the Mongol invasion the Byzantine teaching of a three-headed god was replaced in the regions by the singular God by the Muslims, which made it somehow more comfortable for the Bible students to show others how the Singular God had provided His begotten son to rescue the world.

16th Century

In the 16th century, several people interested in the Word of the Only One True God by seeking refuge from their persecution by state churches in the Holy Roman Empire (mostly Germany today) and other European states, found their way into regions which became later ruled by Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia.

Because everything had to be done in secret, like in many other countries throughout Europe, it was not so easy to enlarge the community. Certainly, because they did not consider people who had a child baptism and who believed that Jesus is God, to be real Christians. This provided for a lot of controversy throughout the ages.

Jews opposing Charles Taze Russell his teaching

Charles Taze Russell, a leading Bible Student, at the end of the 19th century visited many countries in Europe and the Middle East. On his way to what was then Constantinople, Turkey, he visited Odessa in southern Ukraine in 1891. Later, in 1911, he gave a series of Bible lectures in major cities of Europe, including the city of Lvov or Lviv in western Ukraine. Lviv has historically been the chief centre of Galicia, a region now divided between Ukraine and Poland. Its position controlling east-west routes and passes across the Carpathians has given it a stormy history, but made it also a region of moving Biblestudents going from one place to another, spreading the faith, bringing a continuation of true New Testament Christianity over Eastern Europe.

Strangely enough, it was a Jewish rabbi from the United States who fiercely opposed Russell’s work who cabled a message to his associates in Lvov, denouncing the Bible Students. This incited some to try and stop Russell from speaking. About that night, Russell said

“God alone knows what his providences may be in connection with these experiences. . . . [The Jews’] excitement on the subject may lead some to a deeper investigation than if they had heard us in a decent and orderly manner.”

Though there was no immediate response to the message, seeds of truth had been sown, and many groups of Bible Students were formed later, not only in Lvov but also in other areas of Ukraine.

After World War I

Following World War I, Ukraine was divided among four neighbouring countries. The territories of central and eastern Ukraine were seized by Communist Russia and incorporated into the Soviet Union. Western Ukraine was divided among three other countries. The areas of Halychyna and Volyn’ were annexed to Poland, Bukovina to Romania, and Transcarpathia to Czechoslovakia. These three countries provided a measure of religious freedom and permitted the Bible Students to carry on their preaching. Thus, many seeds of truth that were to bear fruit later were first sown in western Ukraine.

In the early 1920’s, seeds of truth were sown in Halychyna and Volyn’ by Bible Students from Poland. Meanwhile, brothers from Romania and Moldavia (now Moldova) brought the truth into the Bukovina region.

This laid a good foundation for further growth. The Watch Tower of December 15, 1921, reported:

“Recently some of our brethren visited [Bukovina] . . . The result of their visit there for a few weeks is seven classes organized and now studying the volumes and ‘Tabernacle Shadows’. One of these classes has about 70 members.”

In 1922 in the village of Kolinkivtsi, in Bukovina, Stepan Koltsa accepted the truth, was baptised, and began preaching. Later ten families joined him. Similar growth occurred in the Transcarpathian area. By 1925 there were approximately 100 Bible Students in the village of Velyki Luchky and neighbouring villages. Following that, the first full-time servants began preaching in Transcarpathia, conducting meetings in the homes of the Bible Students. Many people asked the office in Brooklyn to send more books and pamphlets so that more people could be reached and baptised.

Such keen interest resulted in the establishing of an office of the Bible Students on Pekarska Street in Lvov. The office received many requests for literature from Halychyna and Volyn’ and regularly forwarded them to Brooklyn to be filled.

Like in many countries,several of the Biblestudents working on their own, and not having a connection with central organisations, made that we do not have exact figures of baptised Biblestudents. Though we now of ecclesiae having 50 to 100 baptised people.

In the 1920s there were were 15 publishers who had to exert themselves in order to work through the many villages with literature twice a year. Every Sunday at four o’clock in the morning, they met together at one of the village to start their house-to-house ministry at 8:00 a.m. to work until 2:00 p.m..

Since Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics have their Christmas celebrations during different weeks the brethren made use of it to bring singing sessions, but soon they stopped with those liked activities because they saw how wrong it was to be connected with that pagan festival of Christmas.

Willing to come more into the open there was decided to have a first convention of Bible Students in the Transcarpathian area. It was held in the village Velyki LuchkyIn, in the Mukachevo Raion in the Zakarpattia Oblast (province) in southwestern Ukraine, May 1926. There were 150 in attendance, and 20 were baptised. The following year 200 persons attended a convention in the outdoor central park of Uzhgorod, a city in the same region, which had passed to Czechoslovakia in 1919, to Hungary in 1938, and to the Soviet Union during World War II.  Soon other conventions were organised in various towns of Transcarpathia. In 1928, Lvov had its first convention. Later, other conventions took place in Halychyna and Volyn’ that after World War II became part of the Ukrainian S.S.R..

Despite the fact that some halls Biblestudents had built, were destroyed during the war and some were confiscated, the brothers maintained the desire to have their own Kingdom Halls and got meeting places all over the country. (Presently, there are 8 Kingdom Halls of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the village of Dibrova and 18 Kingdom Halls in six neighbouring villages).

Before World War II the majority of our brethren and sisters could be found in the West of Ukraine. Today they may be found all over Ukraine.

That Biblestudents are not spared the grim consequences of war, could already be seen in the Second World War, but now also with this Ukrainian war with Russia.  But also when there was no war, like from 1951 till the middle of the 1960’s, with the majority of the brothers imprisoned or exiled, our community had to be very careful how to preach or come into the open. Many brothers and sisters ended up in one of the 54 prison camps throughout the entire Soviet Union. In many congregations, it became necessary for sisters to take the lead.

Concealed in cellars

Today there are grandparents who feel like they are back in the old days when they had to hide in cellars and forests. Others remember how they gathered several times a week in the late evening or well into the night. They curtained their windows with heavy cloth in order to avoid detection and studied by kerosene lamp. Often the exhortations were only distributed on a written paper. Later, brothers began to receive magazines printed on duplicating machines. In KGB times the secret service was unrelenting in their determination to locate meeting places of Biblestudents so that they could punish the responsible brothers.

In Communist times holding the Memorial was the most challenging. But now with the Russians bombing Ukraine it has also become a very big challenge. Last 14 Nisan (15 of April 2022) several of our brethren and sisters did everything to make the best out of the evening. Though in several villages and cities there was not even drinkable water to prepare a meal. Bottles of alcohol brought salvation to have something extra in this time of distress.

Normally Biblestudents open their meeting to all who want to come to listen to what we have to tell. Last year there was Corona that prevented such a gathering. This year our Ukrainian brethren could not invite many. Some of them were already pleased that they could prepare a meal for 7 people, with the limited foodstuffs they still had available.

After more than 50 years of bans and persecution, today it looked again as if a period of aggression and ordeal had come over them. Some of our younger brethren had sent their youngsters to leave Ukraine, but after the bombing of the Kramatorsk station, they are now in the dark about what happened to their family members.

Having been able to meet with like-minded friends, for many it was like they belonged to the escaped ones and on that night it was as if they were resurrected from the dead by the Power of God. Even when lots of their assets were gone up in the fire, they still felt rich in the Gory of God that they were able to celebrate that special weekend in these times of war. Normally the Ukrainians eat a lot of potatoes, but this time they were not at the party nor any lamb.

While the sirens were sounding regularly, they quietly read the Bible passages and listened to the elder’s speech. Whilst bombs and weapons did not keep silent, they expressed their hope to live in a world where free nations are assertive and in the ascendant … where freedom and democracy are strengthened through a network of economic and security partnerships, and most importantly they all look forward to the return of Christ, though that would mean there shall be first that Great Tribulation. But for them, it could well be that we are already in that predicted Third World War.

Some saw this special evening also as a night to be liberated from the modern plagues. At the same time some were sad that some of their family members living in Russia do have a totally different picture of what is going on in Ukraine. The modern snake is clearly doing its work and by spreading misinformation gets tornness in otherwise close-knit families. This is one of the most terrible things that these people now have to endure in their families, a part that does not want to believe that they are being slaughtered by Russia’s murderous army.

While others have fled the country, some Ukrainian brothers and sisters have stayed in place — either bound to the land, too old or ill to travel, or simply lacking other options.

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Preceding

Preparing for 14 Nisan

Fellowship over meals

Coming together for a meal to remember a special lamb

Coming together for a meal to remember a special lamb

Jesse Hemery and the The Goshen Fellowship

When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name

Those who Jesus can call friends

Most important weekend of the year 2016

The Most important weekend of the year 2018

2021 Memorial of Christ’s death

Another year of 14 Nisan with restricted access

Celebrating the evening of 15 April 2022 as a festival to Jehovah God

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Additional reading

1. A useless but very dangerous challenge game
2. Great tribulation and Armageddon
3. Armageddon or the Great Tribulation
4. What makes you following Christ and Facebook Groups
5. Christadelphian brothers and sisters in Ukraine
6. The one who claimed he was not planning an invasion in Ukraine
7. Does the population of Russia know what the Russian soldiers are doing in Ukraine
8. Russian army wants to make Ukraine the Syria from Europe
9. Weekly World Watch March 13 – 19, 2022
10. Stories to read in the week of March/April 2022 in the Independent
11. The Guardian’s view on Ukraine for the first half of April 2022
12. Has Ukraine become a Symbol of ‘Freedom’

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Related

1. The Ten Modern Plagues
2. A replica of the first Passover
3. The Pesach Lamb
4. Pesach 5782
5. “They think it’s Passover… It is now!”

Celebrating the evening of 15 April 2022 as a festival to Jehovah God

Tomorrow Friday, April the 15th of the year 2022 we remember what happened in the month Jehovah demanded it to be the first month of the year for the people of God.

“1  The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.” (Ex 12:1-2 NIV)

Jehovah had spoken about a “Passover to God”, where He was going to go through the land of Egypt on that specific night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and was going to bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, because they should come to know that He, Jehovah is The God. And that day should be remembered year after year as a lasting ordinance, meaning a ritual practice “for ever”.

“13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (Ex 12:13 NIV)

Tomorrow evening will be the beginning of a memorial day for us, where even not with many, because of the Corona limitations, we will celebrate the evening as a festival to Jehovah God, like it is already done from one generation to the next generation.

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.” (Ex 12:14 NIV)

“10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. ” (Ex 13:10 NIV)

But the evening shall be more than just keeping a “Festival of Unraised Bread” like the Jews do.

For us, it is an extra special night, where we recognise that God has provided an other “lamb” for our families which was slaughtered as the Passover lamb.

As the Jews had to keep that word and ordinance that God had given, Jesus too, with his disciples kept to the law, and at that night also asked his disciples to remember that night. The reason Jesus was coming together in the upper room in Jerusalem was that they had to bring the Passover sacrifice to God who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt when He hit Egypt with death but rescued them.

“26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshipped.” (Ex 12:26-27 NIV)

It is our task to tell our children why we are gathering tomorrow night. that they come to learn how God rescued His people the first time, by deliberating them from the Egyptian slavery.

“that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.”” (Ex 10:2 NIV)

“On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’” (Ex 13:8 NIV)

“14 “In days to come when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’” (Ex 13:14-15 NIV)

Even when there are already centuries past, it is still necessary to tell our children how God’s Hand was with His People and how He still wants to be with us and saving us from any bondage.

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.” (De 32:7 NIV)

The Israelites had lived in Egypt 430 years and at the end of the 430 years, to the very day, God’s entire army left Egypt whilst God kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as He brought them out of Egypt.

Because Jehovah the God of gods, kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honour God by keeping watch this night — a watchnight.

“41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honour the LORD for the generations to come.” (Ex 12:41-42 NIV)

People may find it strange that we keep the participation of the bread and wine only for baptised members. But as it was not up to foreigners to eat of the Passover meal, so it is still today.

“43  The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover: “No foreigner is to eat of it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, 45 but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it.” (Ex 12:43-45 NIV)

In addition to the deliverance of God’s People from Egypt, we remember that special ‘lamb‘ that God provided for all people in the world. It is the Nazarene Jew Jeshua ben Josef (Jesus Christ) who had prepared himself to do fully the will of his heavenly Father and therefore offered himself as a ransom sacrifice. It is thanks to Jesus’ sacrificial act that deliverance has now come to all who are willing to accept that sacrifice.

We celebrate it in community, even when not all in the same house of place, we consider us to be united by the bond of our baptism.

In the past we allowed visitors, friends and interested people to see how we remembered that day. But this year, like last year, the places in our ecclesiae are limited, and therefore our memorial service shall only be open to members of our community.

(Sorry folks. Next time, when Covid may belong to the past, you all shall be welcome again.)

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Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Het vieren van de avond van 15 april 2022 als een feest voor Jehovah God

Preceding

Fellowship over meals

Coming together for a meal to remember a special lamb

Another year of 14 Nisan with restricted access

Those who Jesus can call friends

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name

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Additional reading

1. Ember and light the ransomed of Jehovah
2. Vayikra after its opening word וַיִּקְרָא, which means and He called
3. Shabbat Pesach service reading 1/2
4. Trust in the blood of the Lamb God provides
5. The Last Supper was a Passover meal
6. Objects of God’s final wrath
7. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
8. Trust in the blood of the Lamb God provides
9. Redemption #4 The Passover Lamb
10. Redemption #5 The perfect sacrifice
11. Ransom for all
12. Thinking about fear for the Loving God and an Invitation for 14 Nisan
13. This day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the Most High God
14. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
15. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
16. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
17. Partakers and sons of the Realm
18. The Most special weekend of the year 2018
19. Soon it shall be Erev Pesach and Passover 2019
20. A special weekend for Jews, Messianics, Jeshuaists and Christians
21. Able to celebrate the Passover in all of its prophetic fulfilment

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Related

1. A Simple Easter Passover Lesson for Kids
2. Pesaj / Pesach
3. PassoverPassover Circa 33 AD; Hallel
   A Passover Gift
4. Pascha – Death is not the end
5. The Week of Passover, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.
6. The Stronghold of Passover – Blood of the Lamb
7. Passover: The Sacrificial Lamb
8. The Lamb of God
9. Blood Poured Out
10. Lamb of God
11. Nisan 14 — Good Thursday

Het vieren van de avond van 15 april 2022 als een feest voor Jehovah God

Morgen vrijdag 15 april van het jaar 2022 gedenken wij wat er gebeurde in de maand waarvan Jehovah eiste dat het de eerste maand van het jaar zou zijn voor het volk van God.

“1 En de Heer sprak tot Mozes en Aäron in Egypteland: 2 Deze maand zal bij u de eerste maand zijn, en van haar zult gij de maanden des jaars beginnen.” (Ex 12:1-2 LU)

Jehovah had gesproken over een “Pascha voor God”, waarbij Hij op die specifieke nacht door het land Egypte zou gaan en elke eerstgeborene in het land Egypte zou neerslaan, hetzij mens of dier, en het oordeel zou brengen over alle goden van Egypte, omdat zij zouden moeten leren kennen dat Hij, Jehovah, De God is. En die dag zou jaar na jaar herdacht moeten worden als een blijvende ordinantie, dat wil zeggen een rituele praktijk “voor altijd”.

“En dat bloed zal u tot een teken zijn aan de huizen, in welke gij zijt; opdat Ik, het bloed ziende, u voorbijga, en opdat u niet wedervare de plaag, die verderft, als Ik Egypteland sla.” (Ex 12:13 LU)

Morgenavond zal voor ons het begin zijn van een herdenkingsdag, waar wij, zelfs niet met velen, vanwege de Corona-beperkingen, de avond zullen vieren als een feest voor Jehovah God, zoals dat al van de ene generatie op de volgende generatie wordt gedaan.

14 En gij zult dezen dag hebben ter gedachtenis, en zult dien vieren den Heer tot een feest, gij en al uwe nakomelingen, tot ene eeuwige inzetting.” (Ex 12:14 LU)

“10 Daarom houdt deze inzetting op den bestemden tijd, jaarlijks. ” (Ex 13:10 LU)

Maar de avond zal meer zijn dan alleen het houden van een “Festival van Ongerezen Brood” zoals de Joden doen.

Voor ons is het een extra speciale avond, waarin we erkennen dat God voor onze gezinnen een ander “lam” heeft voorzien, dat geslacht werd als het Pesachlam.

Zoals de Joden zich moesten houden aan dat woord en die verordening die God had gegeven, zo hield ook Jezus met zijn discipelen zich aan de wet, en vroeg zijn discipelen in die nacht ook om die nacht te gedenken. De reden waarom Jezus in de bovenzaal in Jeruzalem bijeenkwam, was dat zij het Pesach-offer moesten brengen aan God die over de huizen van de Israëlieten in Egypte was heengegaan toen Hij Egypte met de dood sloeg, maar hen redde.

“26 En als uwe kinderen dan tot u zullen zeggen: Welk een dienst hebt gij daar?, 27 zo zult gij zeggen: Dit is het Paaschoffer des Heren, die in Egypte de huizen der kinderen Israëls voorbijging, toen Hij de Egyptenaars sloeg, en onze huizen verschoonde. Toen neigde zich het volk en boog zich.” (Ex 12:26-27 LU)

Het is onze taak onze kinderen te vertellen waarom we morgenavond samenkomen. dat ze komen te leren hoe God Zijn volk de eerste keer redde, door hen uit de Egyptische slavernij te bevrijden.

“en opdat gij verkondigt voor de oren uwer kinderen en uwer kindskinderen wat Ik in Egypte uitgericht heb, en hoe Ik mijne tekenen onder hen getoond heb; opdat gij weet, dat Ik de Heer ben.” (Ex 10:2 LU)

“en gij zult op dien dag tot uwe zonen zeggen: Dit geschiedt wegens hetgeen de Heer ons gedaan heeft, toen wij uit Egypte trokken.” (Ex 13:8 LU)

“14 En als u heden of morgen uw zoon zal vragen: Wat is dat?, zo zult gij tot hem zeggen: De Heer heeft ons met een machtige hand uit Egypte, uit het diensthuis, gevoerd; 15 want toen Farao hardnekkig weigerde ons los te laten, sloeg de Heer alle eerstgeborenen in Egypteland, van den eerstgeborene der mensen af tot den eerstgeborene van het vee: daarom offer ik aan den Heer al wat de baarmoeder breekt, dat een mannetje is; maar alle eerstgeborenen mijner zonen los ik.” (Ex 13:14-15 LU)

Zelfs als er al eeuwen voorbij zijn gegaan, is het nog steeds nodig om onze kinderen te vertellen hoe Gods Hand met Zijn volk was en hoe Hij nog steeds bij ons wil zijn en ons wil redden van elke slavernij.

“Gedenkt aan den vorigen tijd tot hiertoe, bedenk wat Hij gedaan heeft aan de voorvaderen; vraag uwen vader, die zal het u verkondigen, uwen oudsten, die zullen het u zeggen.” (De 32:7 LU)

De Israëlieten hadden 430 jaar in Egypte gewoond en aan het eind van die 430 jaar, tot op de dag zelf, verliet Gods hele leger Egypte, terwijl God de hele nacht de wacht hield, wakend over de Israëlieten terwijl Hij hen uit Egypte bracht.

Omdat Jehovah, de God der goden, de wacht hield, zal heel Israël voor alle generaties God eren door deze nacht de wacht te houden – een wachtnacht.

“41 Toen die om waren, ging het gehele heir des Heren op dezen zelfden dag uit Egypteland. 42 Daarom wordt deze nacht den Heer gehouden, omdat Hij hen uit Egypteland gevoerd heeft; en dien zullen de kinderen Israëls den Heer houden, zij en hunne nakomelingen.” (Ex 12:41-42 LU)

Mensen kunnen het vreemd vinden dat wij de deelname aan het brood en de wijn alleen voor gedoopte leden houden. Maar zoals het niet aan vreemdelingen was om van het Pesachmaal te eten, zo is het ook nu nog.

“43  En de Heer sprak tot Mozes en Aäron: Dit is de wijze om het Pascha te houden: geen vreemdeling zal daarvan eten; 44 doch wie een gekochte knecht is, dien besnijde men, en dan ete hij daarvan; 45 een huisgenoot, die een huurling is, zal er niet van eten.” (Ex 12:43-45 LU)

Naast de bevrijding van Gods Volk uit Egypte herdenken wij nog dat bijzondere ‘lam’ dat God voor alle mensen in de wereld heeft voorzien. Het is de Nazareense Jood Jeshua ben Josef (Jezus Christus) die zich bereidwillig had opgesteld om volledig de wil van zijn hemelse Vader te doen en zich daarom aanbood als een loskoopoffer. Het is dankzij Jezus offerdaad dat nu bevrijding is gekomen voor iedereen die dat zoenoffer wil aanvaarden.

Wij vieren het in gemeenschap, ook al zijn wij niet allen in hetzelfde huis of op dezelfde plaats, beschouwen wij ons verenigd door de band van ons doopsel.

In het verleden lieten wij bezoekers, vrienden en belangstellenden toe om te zien hoe wij die dag herdachten. Maar dit jaar, net als vorig jaar, zijn de plaatsen in onze ecclesiae beperkt, en daarom zal onze herdenkingsdienst alleen toegankelijk zijn voor leden van onze gemeenschap.

(Sorry, mensen. De volgende keer, wanneer Covid tot het verleden mag behoren, zijn jullie allemaal weer welkom).

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Engelse versie / English version: Celebrating the evening of 15 April 2022 as a festival to Jehovah God

Voorgaande

Nog een jaartje 14 Nisan met beperkte toegang

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #3 Voor het Overgangsfeest

Belangrijkste weekend van het jaar 2016

Zij die Jezus vrienden kan noemen

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Aanvullende lectuur

1. De taal van de Bijbel: Zuurdesem
2. Shabbat HaChodesh Parshat Tazria, Parshat Metzora en tzara’at
3. Niet zo onbelangrijk
4. Vertrouwende in het door God voorziene Lam
5. Lam van God #1 Sprekers voor God
6. Lam van God #2 Tegenover onschuldig dier een onschuldig man #1
7. Gods verbonden en de bedoelde man aanvaarden
8. Voor ons gestorven om ons tot God te brengen
9. Verlossing #2 De Bijbelse oplossing
10. Verlossing #3 Het onvolmaakte dieroffer
11. Verlossing #4 Het Paaslam
12. Verlossing #5 Het volmaakte offer
13. Lijden bedekt door Zoenoffer
14. Zoenoffer
15. Zichtbare druppel Bloed aan de deurlijst
16. Verscheidene Verbondakkoorden 7 Het nieuwe verbondsslachtoffer en bemiddelaar
17. Een losgeld voor iedereen 2 Een verheven persoon van vlees en bloed
18. Na meer dan een jaar van isolaties en vele doden
19. 27-28 maart 2021 een herinneringsweekend als geen ander
20. Uitkijkend naar 14-15 Nisan, Pascha of Pesach op 15 april 2022

Another year of 14 Nisan with restricted access

For two years, our services could not continue physically. Fortunately, we had Zoom and Jitsi to reach our members via the internet.

For months, Bible students have been prevented from going to the houses to bring the Good News. Like last year, no leaflets have been put in the mailboxes to invite people to the 14 Nisan celebration. This year too, that highlight of the church year will be a day of silence or modesty. But for the first time in a long time, our baptised members, in limited numbers, will also be able to meet in the Kingdom Hall, this Friday evening at 20:15 (in English). Baptised members will also be able to follow the memorial service on the net via a video stream from the auditorium.

Unfortunately, for security reasons, as we are so often attacked, we have to limit access to the service via the internet to those we know well and to family members present at the baptisms. Those who are not baptised can therefore unfortunately not take part in this highlight of the year.

But we are hopeful that in the coming months the situation around Covid will gradually improve and that in a few months (after the summer) we will be able to meet again in the Ecclesia hall, Bible study room and/or Kingdom Hall.

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Dutch version / Nederlandstalige versie: Nog een jaartje 14 Nisan met beperkte toegang

Preceding

Preparing for 14 Nisan

14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception

14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus

14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast

14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain

14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate

Fellowship over meals

Coming together for a meal to remember a special lamb

When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name

Most important weekend of the year 2016

Preparing for the most important weekend of the year 2018

The Most important weekend of the year 2018

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Additional reading

1. Coronavirus, Vaccinations and an Old and New World
2. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
3. Catholics facing a totally different Holy Week
4. Celebrations pointing to events of ultimate meaning
5. The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
6. High Holidays not only for Israel (Our World) + High Holidays not only for Israel (Some View on the World)
7. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
8. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
9. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
10. Seven days of Passover
11. Most important day in Christian year
12. Vayikra after its opening word וַיִּקְרָא, which means and He called
13. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
14. Solution for Willing hearts filled with gifts
15. Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart (Our World) + Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart (Some view on the World)
16. Eostre, Easter, White god, chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies and metaphorical resurrection
17. Preparation for Passover
18. Shabbat Pesach service reading 1/2
19. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
20. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
21. This day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the Most High God
22. Celebrations pointing to events of ultimate meaning
23. Lost senses or a clear focus on the one at the stake
24. Inauguration of the New Covenant
25. Not dragged unwillingly to death
26. Spoken in the name of Jehovah God for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience
27. A particular night to share unleavened bread and red wine
28. The Memorial Supper
29. Asking to come under the Wings of God
30. Memorial Observance 1909
31. Fraternal week-end at Easter in Paris
32. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
33. Worthy partakers of the body of Christ
34. Making sure we express kedusha for 14-16 Nisan
35. Wednesday 5 April 2017 – Sunday 9 April 30 CE Pesach or Passover versus Easter
36. Thinking about fear for the Loving God and an Invitation for 14 Nisan
37. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
38. Able to celebrate the Passover in all of its prophetic fulfilment
39. The Most special weekend of the year 2018
40. At the Shabbat HaChodesh: readings about blood, liberation and purification
41. Purification and perfection
42. Soon it shall be Erev Pesach and Passover 2019
43. A great evening and special days to look forward in 2019
44. Not daring to show a connection (Our World) + Not daring to show a connection (Some View on the World)
45. Terwijl wij in Isolatie zijn: Beste wensen op dit Feest van Bevrijding – From our isolation best wishes on this Feast of Liberation
46. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
47. Hosting a Virtual Seder During a Pandemic
48. One Passover tradition asking to provide the less fortunate with foods and help
49. In a time when we must remain in our place

 

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Related

1. A Simple Easter Passover Lesson for Kids
2. Learn About Passover With Books, Recipes & More!
3. Passover: A Sign to Remember
4. Significance of Passover (repost)
5. Passover: What Does Freedom Even Mean?
6. The medieval history of Passover: libel, conspiracy, and hope for freedom
7. Three Things About Passover
8. Passover and the Church
9. Passover, Easter and the Christian
10. The Lamb of God
11. He is Our Passover Sacrifice!
12. BE DeliveredAll In: Remember, We Won, Let’s Eat!
13. Interested in Exploring a Jewish Passover Seder?
14. First Two Days of Pesach
15. The Passover Celebration and Jag Hamatzot
16. Jesus and the PassoverA Story and A Prayer for Passover
17. Blood Poured Out
18. Passover Circa 33 AD; Hallel
19. It was yet another Passover meal–or was it? (Maundy Thursday, Year C)
20. Passover vs. Easter [where the writer wrongly insinuate that in Christianity (where he means Christendom), the easter egg became associated with Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. Real Christians always have kept away from those heaten symbols and the pagan feast Easter].
21. 4/13/2022 Passover Observation at Even
22. Do Not Pass-Over Sabbaths

Nog een jaartje 14 Nisan met beperkte toegang

Twee jaar zijn onze diensten niet lijfelijk kunnen door gaan. Gelukkig hadden wij Zoom en Jitsi om via het internet onze leden te bereiken.

Maanden zijn Bijbelstudenten er van weerhouden langs de huizen te gaan om het Goede Nieuws te brengen. Zoals vorig jaar zijn er ook dit jaar geen folders in de brievenbussen gedaan om mensen uit te nodigen voor de 14 Nisan viering. Ook dit jaar zal dat hoogtepunt van het kerkelijk jaar een dag in een zekere vorm van stilte of ingetogenheid zijn. Maar voor het eerst in lange tijd zullen onze gedoopte leden, in beperkte getallen, elkaar ook kunnen aantreffen in de Koninkrijkszaal, deze vrijdagavond om 20.15 uur (in het Engels). Vanuit de zaal zal ook voor de gedoopte leden het mogelijk zijn die gedachtenisviering op het net via een videostream te volgen.

Spijtig genoeg, moeten wij voor de veiligheid te voorzien, omdat wij zo dikwijls worden aangevallen, de toegang tot de dienst via het internet beperken tot hen die wij goed kennen en familieleden die bij de gedoopten aanwezig zijn. Niet gedoopten op hun eigen kunnen dus spijtig genoeg dit jaar nog niet meedoen aan dit hoogtepunt van het jaar.

Maar wij hebben goede hoop dat stilaan in de komende maanden de toestand rond Covid zal verbeteren en dat wij dan ook over enkele maanden (na de zomer) weer gewoon tezamen zullen komen in de Ecclesia-hal, bijbelstudieruimte en/of Koninkrijkszaal.

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Engelse versie / English version: Another year of 14 Nisan with restricted access

Voorgaand

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #1 Oorsprong

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #2 In Jezus tijd

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #3 Voor het Overgangsfeest

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #4 Een Gedood Lam

14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #5 De te vieren dag

Het Avondmaal des Heren

Vrijdag 3 april 2015 een dag voor verenigde samenkomst ter herinnering

Belangrijkste weekend van het jaar 2016

Voorbereiding op het belangrijkste weekend van het jaar 2018

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Aanvullende lectuur

1. Tijden van gevangenschap, verbanning en verlossing
2. Een stille week
3. De zoon van David en de eerste dag van het Feest van de ongezuurde broden
4. In deze oorlogsdreigingstijden
5. Hoop naar weer een leven in het normale
6. De avond dat Jeshua zijn talmidim opdroeg dat de Pascha Seder vanaf die tijd zal worden gevierd ter zijner nagedachtenis
7. Niemand heeft grotere liefde dan hij die zijn leven geeft voor zijn vrienden
8. Mogelijkheid om God rechtstreeks toe te spreken
9. Het meest speciale weekend van 2018
10. Zichtbare druppel Bloed aan de deurlijst
11. Voor het eerst in jaren weer een Pesach in isolatie
12. Opdracht niet na laten om over de belangrijke Uittocht te praten
13. Terwijl wij in Isolatie zijn: Beste wensen op dit Feest van Bevrijding – From our isolation best wishes on this Feast of Liberation
14. Uitkijkend naar 14-15 Nisan, Pascha of Pesach op 15 april 2022
15. 14 Nisan, de avond om Christus Zijn predikingswerk te herinneren
16. 14 Nisan gelegenheid om anderen in samekomst bijeen te brengen
17. Uit het land van Nazareth
18. Jezus laatste avondmaal
19. Inhuldiging van het nieuwe verbond
20. Het HerinneringsmaalNiet onwillig naar de dood gesleept
21. Vragen om onder de vleugels van God te komen
22. Pasen 2006
23. Donderdag 9 April 209 = 14 Nisan en Paasviering 11 April
24. 2017 Nisan 10, uitkijkend naar 14 Nisan
25. Messiaans Pesach 2017 en verharde harten
26. 1 en 14 Nisan – Herinnering van oude wereld en denken aan nieuwe wereld
27. Vanavond 27 maart 2021 een avond om te herinneren
28. 27-28 maart 2021 een herinneringsweekend als geen ander
29. Een herinneringsmaaltijd in kleine kring