Epaggelia

There are stories from eastern legends which tell us of Syrians, Egyptians and Arabians, using their front door to their house as a threshold altar for sacrifices. This is reflected in the Bible, when God tells the Hebrews captive in Egypt to put lamb’s blood on the front doorposts of their house during the tenth plague, Ex. 12:1-13.  In some eastern cultures, weddings are still held in the front-yard and sometimes an animal is sacrificed during or right before the wedding, then soon after the ceremony, the groom carries the bride over the blood before the threshold. This is the origin of some modern grooms carrying their bride into a new abode. It is interesting that three important modern day events are still affected by an ancient threshold covenant.

1, Weddings. 2, Passover and 3, Communion.
In Judaism, the doorposts or threshold of every Jewish house was sacred, where the shema of Dt. 6:4 is inscribed on parchment and kept protected for the touching or kissing of it practically everyday. When pious Jews do this, they quote “the Lord shall preserve thy coming in and going out from this time forward and forever”, (Psa 121:8). But why? It reminds them of God’s covenanted promise! His faithfulness and blessings. 

The word “Passover” has two meanings, both to pass above something and also to pass through. Today modern orthodox Jews during their Passover feast, will put an empty chair and an extra cup at the table in the hope that God’s messenger will cross the threshold, entering the home as a welcomed guest. In the ancient 10th plague on Egypt, the angel of the Lord passed over the life of the firstborn child, if and only if the blood was on the front door posts. If not, then the angel of the Lord killed the firstborn child as he passed through.  The issue is this: Is the Lord welcome?  Obviously the Egyptians had rejected the Lord, but the faithful Hebrews were receiving Him. Why? The blood. The same sentiment is found in the ancient eastern custom of a groom passing over the blood at threshold with his bride. Why? Because the blood means she is received into a new family and is welcome!

Jesus conglomerated both the Threshold Covenant and the Passover Covenant together to make a new Covenant, which is renewed every Lord’s Day in the Communion. He did this by using the cup, representing His blood, but also the bread, representing His body which suffered to give the blood, Luke 22:14-22. Have you ever wondered why Jesus said repeatedly, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God”.  Because that is where we are finally received and welcomed. This reflects His desire to have us share in taking the cup and bread, as a sign that we welcome and receive Him (His Holy Spirit) every first day of the week. It reinstates that we are ‘betrothed’ to Him and a bride for no one else spiritually, until the great wedding feast in Heaven is enjoyed, Rev. 19:6-10. Why? Because of the blood, it means we are received and welcomed in this new eternal family, Eph. 1:10 & 3:14 in heaven and on earth, we are one.  On earth before we become a Christian, we are outside the family and destitute of God’s blessings & promises of forgiveness, power and life eternal. But when we become a Christian, all that changes into a new family.

What are the full and glorious benefits of His covenant with Christians here on earth and also in Heaven?
In the body of Christ on earth, the church or kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:12-14)
Forgiveness of redeemed people & sanctification of their hearts to grow the fruit of His Spirit.
In the body of Christ in heaven, the kingdom of God (1st Cor. 15:24-28)
Eternal life with glory & power unimaginable, while enjoying the full effects of all the spiritual blessings from the tree of life.