An Introduction

Danny McDowell

My name is Dan McDowell. I have been interested in Bible prophecy since I was a young believer almost 30 years ago when I read "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsay. I was fascinated and hooked on the subject. I read everything I could get my hands on. Then I made a terrible mistake.

I began to reference the books I read against another book - The Bible. I became frustrated so I developed a method of tolerance to enable myself to continue to feed my appetite for Bible Prophecy. I developed a "Danger List" of verses in the Bible that had caused me to become confused. My list began with Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Next on the list was II Thessalonians 2. Then came "THE BOOK OF REVELATION." I could hear deafening alarms go off in my head and the voice as a Trumpet shouting "STAY AWAY FROM THE BOOK & NOW!" So I got out quick and went back to safer ground.

* Hal Lindsay
* Dave Hunt
* Grant Jefferies
* Jack Van Impe
* And Others

Things were more peaceful there. It all seemed to make sense as long as I avoided that "Other Book." From time to time I seemed to be drawn to the "Other Book" so I would muster the strength to GO IN. After a short time in "THE BOOK," I scrambled out of there looking, and feeling like I had tangled with a pack of rabid junk yard dogs and would lick my wounds and return to the safety of Hal Lindsay, for he only was worthy.

I developed another mechanism for living with my fascination with Prophecy. I called it the "I'm too stupid to research this stuff for myself" mechanism. I could leave this stuff for those who truly understand. This was quite comfortable indeed and yet TEMPTATION was always at hand. The Book, THE BOOK, it was always THE BOOK, black and foreboding. Confusion and frustration was therein. Problems, problems for more than 25 years. Then came Marvin. Marvin Rosenthal and "The Pre-Wrath Rapture" and Gene Bacon "Rapture, Truth or Consequences" and others.

"Halleluiah," I can open THE BOOK now, no sirens or whistles, no trumpet voices, "and he shall send his angels to gather his elect from Heaven and Earth." "That's it", "That's it", It's in the Book. It's all there. I turned the table. Now I began to use THE BOOK as the authority and to weigh Hal and his friends against THE BOOK - THE BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD - THE LOGOS and pieces came into place as the key pieces were discovered in THE BIBLE.

This began a 2-year study that has been profound, enlightening and exciting at times (especially in light of events happening in the world today). I purchased air time at a local AM radio station and began to proclaim the Word of prophecy. The book of Revelation became a joy and a road map into the future. I spent many hours pouring over that most foreboding work - The Old Testament.

Everything Fits..
when you use the scripture to define Truth. Matthew 24 and Mark 13 is the "hub" of bible prophecy. The words of Jesus are the key to unlocking the future. It all works now. Now I can open "THE BOOK." I hope you will do the same.

Revelation 20:5B
THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION

WARNING
If you are weak kneed and Mamby Pamby about identifying false doctrine, paganism, and apostasy in evangelical Christianity, then THIS SITE IS NOT FOR YOU! Look to others who are willing to dance around the truth. I'm tired of dancing!

Buckle up. Here we go!

The Bread of the New Covenant

Danny McDowell

NT:740
artos (ar'-tos); from NT:142; bread (as raised) or a loaf:

KJV - (shew-) bread, loaf.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

In every reference of the New Testament regarding the NEW COVENANT, the greek word ARTOS is used exclusively. There is a very PERTINENT REASON for the use of this word “ARTOS”. I will discuss this reasoning as we conclude this study

ARTOS

Matt 4:3-5
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
KJV

Matt 7:9-10
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
KJV

Matt 16:7-9
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
KJV

Mark 6:36-38
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?


Mark 14:22-23
22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread [ARTOS], and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread [ARTOS], and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

This is the BREAD [ARTOS] of the New Covenant. In every reference to the Lord’s Table----THIS WORD “ARTOS” is used without exception.


This following reference is clearly an un-ceremonial application of the word.

Luke 24:30-36
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
KJV

Notice BELOW the vital connection between BREAD and WINE in this familiar COMMUNION PASSAGE.

Luke 22:19-21
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
KJV

THE BREAKING OF BREAD WITHOUT THE COMMUNION CUP IS SIMPLY A COMMUNAL MEAL AND HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE LORD’S TABLE !

Acts 20:7-12
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
KJV

Some insist that this “breaking of bread” was the ceremonial TABLE OF THE LORD. A simple exercise in logic should dismiss such a notion.

Take a close look at this clearly defined TABLE OF THE LORD!

Cor 10:16-18
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
KJV


1 Cor 11:23-31
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
KJV


THE CREMONIAL BREAD

NT:106
azumos (ad'-zoo-mos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:2219; unleavened, i.e. (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the Passover week:

KJV - unleavened (bread).

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc


This is the “CEREMONIAL BREAD” of Passover. This is UNLEAVENED bread. Furthermore-----this UNLEAVENED BREAD is NEVER used in reference to the “BREAD” of the New Covenant-------NOT ONCE !


Matt 26:17-22
17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread [AZUMOS] the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

We must clarify that Jesus was NOT serving the “Passover” on this evening----but rather, was beginning the PREPARATION [the Day of Preparation] for the Passover. This was the evening of 13/14 Aviv-------the day the Passover would be killed. The FOLLOWING EVENING would be the Passover.

Matt 26:26-27
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread [ARTOS], and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
KJV

NT:740
artos (ar'-tos); from NT:142; bread (as raised) or a loaf:

KJV - (shew-) bread, loaf.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)


Luke 22:1-8
22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread [AZUMOS] drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread [azumos], when the passover must be killed.
KJV

NT:106
azumos (ad'-zoo-mos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:2219; unleavened, i.e. (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the Passover week:
KJV - unleavened (bread).

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)


1 Cor 5:8-9
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

In Paul’s plea for the “unleavened bread of sincerity” in this passage; some would attempt to utilize this phrase “unleavened bread” to justify the use of AZUMOS in celebration of the Lord’s Table, however, Strongs reference 9999 clearly tells us the KJV translators added the word “UNLEAVENED” to the passage for their own understanding in the sentence, and that NO SUCH WORD EXISTS in the original language of this passage. Therefore, when Paul refers to “entering the “FEAST” [the Lord’s Table at Passover] he simply states-----“let us keep the feast [the Lord’s Table] with the “BREAD OF SINCERITY”-----and NEVER SUGGESTS that unleavened bread should be used. The only use of the word “leaven” is in typology to our own sins, and is admonished to be PURGED FROM OUR CONCIENCE prior to our participation in the BODY and BLOOD of JESUS



It is sometimes suggested that the scriptural “BREAKING OF BREAD” is synonomous to the Lord’s Table as in:


Acts 2:42-47
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

It is clearly ERROR to believe that every mention of BREAKING OF BREAD in the New Testament is synonymous with the Lord’s Table. The term “BREAKING OF BREAD” was simply a common term for HAVING A MEAL IN FELLOWSHIP. Let us never forget that “ABSENT THE WINE”, it is not possible that this reference to “breaking of bread” should be speaking of the communion table.

This “breaking of bread” is also seen as Jesus reveals himself to his decuples after his resurrection.

Luke 24:30-36
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
KJV


Acts 20:7-12
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him

CONRAST.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
KJV

Look at the STARK CONTRAST between these two passages regarding the BREAKING OF BREAD

1 Cor 10:16-18
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
KJV

1 Cor 11:23-31
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
KJV


May we now come to the CRUX of this study. What does it matter that we celebrate the Lord’s Table this way or that? Would you not agree that so many of our beliefs and celebrations have been corrupted in the passage of TIME. Have we no ENEMY to steal at opportune times? Is IGNORANCE truly a virtue? Are we AGENTS OF TRADITION? What is the importance of ORTHODOXY in this matter? May I take you to Isaiah 53:

“FOR THE LORD HATH LAID UPON HIM THE INIQUITIES OF US ALL”

This is the MATTER for us. The leaven of SIN was placed upon Christ-------OUR SIN ! That’s why it important to RESIST the TRADITIONS OF MEN, and to HOLD FAST to the teachings of the New Testament. We at the New Testament Fellowship of Winston Salem, North Carolina----celebrate the Lord’s table yearly at Passover-------as did the New Testament Church for nearly TWO HUNDRED YEARS following that initial Table set by our Master. It’s important-----It really is! It’s important to recognize that -------OUR SIN--------was laid upon him!

Danny McDowell