The February 2026 edition of CG7-S: Church of God 7th Day, Salem (West Virginia)‘s The Advocate of Truth has the following in it:
The Lord’s Supper will be held on Wednesday Evening, after sundown, April 1st, 2026 (p. 2)
Exodus 12:1-2 refers to the beginning of months … Abib … at evening or the beginning of the 14th day … Therefore, we celebrate the memorial of Jesus’ death on the 14th day of the 1st month at even. … The Apostolic Council determines the date of the Lord’s Supper each year. (p. 4)
The magazine says that “repentance would be in order” (p. 4) if one keeps the wrong date.
Does Passover start or end at sunset April 1, 2026? Well, that is the date that the 14th of Abib ends. So, that is the wrong date, as CG7-S should know as it states the observance is to be the beginning of the 14th–which is 31 March at sunset in 2026.
Passover is to be properly observed after sunset on the 31st of March in 2026. I actually telephoned CG7-S about this when I saw it to point that out. On February 6, 2026, I spoke with Ricky Herrera of CG7-S, and basically he said that the first day of the month, they count that as day zero, so that is why they hold Passover on a different date. Ancient Jews did not count the first day as zero, so, this seems to be an unusual way to count the days of the month.
That being said, CG7-S also has issues with not using all the same symbols as Jesus on this. It uses grape juice. Its ‘Apostle Warren H. Randall Jr.’ wrote:
… the unleavened bread and grape juice represent the body and blood of Jesus. (Randall WH. The Lord’s Supper: Prepare Your Heart. The Advocate of Truth. February 2026, p. 4)
Did Jesus use grape juice for His last Passover, often referred to as the Last Supper, which many call Communion?
No.
The organization calling itself Christianity Today posted the following from Brad East:
Jesus Did Not Serve Grape Juice
Why reopen debate about what we serve for Communion? Because it matters that we follow God’s commands.
February 4, 2026
hen I teach evangelical college students about the practicalities of Communion, I’ll often begin with the Last Supper, with Jesus and the disciples, because it raises some straightforward questions. I’ll ask them: Should we obey Jesus? Should we celebrate the meal as he instituted it? Should we do what he said? Should we use what he used, eating what he ate and drinking what he drank?
Obviously, they respond—but then they catch themselves. On second thought, their churches don’t do that. And it occurs to them that they can’t quite offer an explanation why.
Some of their churches have taught them that the Communion elements don’t matter at all: Cheez-Its and Minute Maid will work in a pinch. Whatever’s on hand can do the job. Why be such a legalist? God doesn’t care. It’s about the intention of your heart. …
Christians agree that Jesus himself instituted both Communion and baptism and commanded his followers to continue practicing them until his return from heaven. …
Start in the Upper Room, at the Last Supper of Jesus mere hours before he was betrayed by Judas (Luke 22:12; 1 Cor. 11:23). There’s little doubt that, when Jesus instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper, he and his disciples shared unleavened bread and wine (Mark 14:12–25). …
Jesus refers to having drunk “the fruit of the vine” from the shared cup (Mark 14:25), and this is a biblical shorthand for wine (Num. 18:12; Deut. 18:4; 28:30; Josh. 24:13; Zech. 8:12, ESV).
Most churches … don’t use wine. … many Protestants, do use wine in Communion. That includes some Methodists, many Presbyterians, and all Lutherans and Anglicans, along with the Orthodox and Catholics. Those who don’t use wine tend to be “low church” evangelicals: Baptists, Pentecostals, Churches of Christ (my own tradition), and a variety of nondenominational believers. Instead of wine, these groups tend to use grape juice. …
Far from being a scriptural or doctrinal matter, grape juice in Communion was introduced by the American temperance movement. It was made possible by Mr. Welch himself, a teetotaling Methodist minister in the late 19th century who pioneered a way of preventing the process of fermentation in the sweet juice squeezed from grapes. …
If Jesus used wine in his institution of his Supper, does that matter? Did Jesus—does God—care whether what we drink from the Communion cup is fermented? And if he does, why?
The best way to approach these questions is to consider the nature of the elements as symbols. This, too, is a matter about which all Christians agree: Whatever else they may be, the bread and wine are symbols, and what symbols do is symbolize. They are signs, and signs signify. They are significant. …
The bread is unleavened because this is the new Passover meal for God’s new covenant people (Luke 22:20). We have been delivered by Jesus from the Pharaoh of sin, death, and the Devil, and this is our sustenance for the journey, at once the bread baked in haste (Ex. 12:8, 33–34) and the manna from heaven in the wilderness (John 6:25–59). It is the bread of the new and final exodus—the Lord’s own body broken for our sake (Luke 9:31; 1 Cor. 11:24). Therefore, 1 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) instructs, “let us keep the feast”!
If the type of bread is so significant, it would be odd if the contents of the cup were irrelevant. But as it happens, Scripture has much to say about wine. …
There is Melchizedek, the king of Jerusalem and priest of God, who brings out bread and wine to share with Abram (Gen. 14:18)—a type of Christ in every one of these respects (Heb. 5–7). There is the role of wine in libations commanded as drink offerings in the Law (Lev. 23:13; Num. 15:1–10). There is the promise of God to the Israelites that he will richly bless them when they possess the land: “He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deut. 7:13). …
Compare the symbolism of wine and grape juice for us. The one signifies adulthood, maturity, festivity, and celebration. It’s valuable and, as in Jesus’s own ministry (John 2:1–11), capable of marking an occasion as momentous, meaningful, and memorable.
Grape juice signifies children. Preadolescence. It’s what parents and teachers offer to young kids as a treat instead of water. It’s cheap and mass-produced. …
Biblically, grape juice signifies nothing—except perhaps its eventual transition into wine, as in the Nazirite vows of abstention found in Numbers 6:1-4. …
Jesus instituted both unleavened bread and wine on purpose—that is to say, with purpose. …
To use wine in the Supper would bring our churches into alignment … with Scripture’s rich symbolism of the fruit of the vine. And finally, it would bring them into alignment with—I want to say, obedience to—the teaching and practice of the apostles and of the Lord Jesus himself.
There is no better reason than that. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/02/jesus-did-not-serve-grape-juice-communion-wine-lords-supper/
Before going further, let me add that. in general, most Protestants, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and others who profess Christianity do NOT keep the Passover at the right date or time.
So, if one truly wants to obey Jesus and follow in His footsteps, that is when they would partake of the unleavened bread and wine. For 2026, that would be after sunset on the 31st of March (see Holy Day Calendar; see also Passover and the Early Church).
The early SDA’s used wine. Although some online say otherwise, the fact is that in 1867, James White of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) wrote:
But what shall be used at the table of the Lord as an emblem of the precious’ blood of Christ? The answer in Scripture language is, “the fruit of the vine’, and ” the cup.” That the grape-vine is here meant no one will call in question. The prophet, speaking of the death of Christ, represents his garments as being red, as he that treadeth the wine-press.
Some, however, object to grape wine, because it is fermented, and they have even chosen in its place, water sweetened with molasses. We freely admit that, this is a suitable article to go with rye and indian bread. But there is something disgusting in the idea of representing the blood of the holy Jesus by molasses, the cane from which it is made, raised in slavery, and its juice, pressed and boiled in slavery, and with slave hands barreled and shipped North for free Christians to use instead of the juice of the grape, cultivated on free soil. This objecting to a few drops of domestic wine with which to only wet the lips at the Lord’s supper, is carrying total-abstinence principles to great length. To those who are conscientious in this matter, we would recommend pure cold water. (White J. Lord’s Supper. ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD, No. 19, Volume 29. April 16, 1867, p. 222. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18670416-V29-19.pdf)
Of course, molasses and water are NOT biblically “the fruit of the vine,” so while denouncing molasses was fine, James White should not have suggested “pure cold water” as an alternative to the biblically directed use of fermented wine.
As far as grape juice goes, although there was some of it before Thomas Bramwell Welch, Dr. Welch ended up pasteurizing it in 1869. He called it “Dr. Welch’s unfermented wine,” and he massively popularized it. Many Protestant churches, including the SDAs, then were using pasteurized grape juice.
However, using actual wine among the SDAs was still going on the next decade:
Some California Adventists were still using wine (instead of grape juice) at Communion services in the late-1870s. (Strayer BE. A History of Adventist Lifestyles. Spectrum, January 30, 2020)
In 1905, Ellen G. White, the prophetess of the SDA church, wrote:
The Bible nowhere sanctions the use of intoxicating wine. The wine that Christ made from water at the marriage feast of Cana was the pure juice of the grape. … Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine that He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. This is the wine that was used by our Saviour and His disciples in the first Communion. It is the wine that should always be used on the Communion table as a symbol of the Saviour’s blood. (White EG. The Ministry of Healing. Review and Herald Publishing Assn, 1905, pp. 333-334)
That being said, did Jesus use fermented wine or grape juice for Passover?
The Greek word commonly translated as “wine” in the New Testament (oîνος) means “a beverage from fermented grape juice” a different word (τρúέ) refers to unfermented grape juice (Danker FW. A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature, 6th edition. 2000, p. 701). Jesus’ first recorded miracle was to make wine (John 2:3-11).
Jesus introduced the use of the wine cup:
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20)
The cup symbolized His blood. As blood is red and grape juice back then was not, this was a reference to red wine, not juice. The Bible teaches that wine is the blood of the grape (Deuteronomy 32:14).
While I personally prefer the taste of grape juice to wine, in CCOG we use a small amount of wine for Passover.
As far as scriptures proving that it is wine as opposed to grape juice, notice something that the old WCG taught:
Dear Friend:
Does “wine” in the Bible mean “grape juice”? What is the answer to this perplexing question? Does it really mean fermented wine?
Prohibitionists object saying, “But how do you know that the original Hebrew and Greek words mean fermented wine? Certain historians say the wine used was nothing more than molasses — that this grape drink was nonintoxicating and the ordinary drink of people in Christ’s time.”
Here is the truth about this false idea!
There are thirteen original Hebrew and Greek words for “wine” in our English Bible. How can we know which one means fermented wine? To find the answer, do not go to Aristotle or Pliny, but go to the Bible itself. By comparing its usage, the scriptural meaning of wine can be defined.
One of the original Hebrew words for wine is yayin. This word is first used in Genesis 9:21 where Noah “drank of the wine and was drunken.” This wine caused drunkenness! Was it just grape juice or was it molasses?
In Genesis 14:18 we read of Melchizedek — Jesus Christ — who “brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.” God Himself here gave wine to Abraham. And again, the original Hebrew word was yayin which always means fermented wine. This same Hebrew words used in Amos 9:14 speaking of the coming Millennium when the people will “plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof.” They will drink the same kind of wine that Noah, by overindulgence, became drunk on.
In the New Testament, one original Greek word for wine is oinos. Proof that it is alcoholic is given in the story of the good Samaritan. The Samaritan poured oil and wine on the man’s wounds (Luke 10:34), showing that the wine had enough alcoholic content to be used as an antiseptic. Would you pour grape juice or molasses on a wound?
The Greek word oinos is also used in John 2 where Jesus turned water into wine by a divine miracle. It is used in I Timothy 5:23, the command of Paul, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” This Greek word is also used in Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess.”
In ancient times it was impossible to preserve grape juice. Except for a short season the “fruit of the vine” was either made into a thick molasses or into wine. Check Hastings Bible Dictionary for the full proof.
“Taken intelligently and with discretion, alcohol (in wine and other drinks) can prolong life expectancy… However, even temporary excess or prolonged overdrinking can lead to disaster” (Pasadena Medical Society). It is for our welfare and happiness that God has commanded us not to use alcoholic beverages IN EXCESS and for a wrong purpose. …
LETTER ANSWERING DEPARTMENT
Letter Number: 939
Now since some will argue about the Greek, but it is not logical to conclude that the disciples were drinking grape juice at Passover in Jesus’ time as grapes are NOT in season then.
I have lived in ‘grape country’ since 1976, in a climate similar to the land of Israel. Grapes ripen in the late summer or early fall.
Having been to Israel once, it occurred to me that the ancient Israelites would not have had any way to store the juice of grapes to prevent it from going bad or fermenting. They did not have refrigeration nor sterilization. Plus, there was not enough freezing there to freeze very much for very long.
Passover comes in the Spring. Raw grape juice spoils fairly quickly and would not be drinkable months after harvest. It was not possible for Jesus to use grape juice at His last Passover.
Despite the fact that Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:3-10) and the Greek term used in the New Testament (oinos) refers to wine (cf. 1 Timothy 3:8), various ones have claimed that it was grape juice, and not wine, that was used for Passover.
The ancient Jews themselves though, use wine at Passover (Hisrch EG, Eisenstein JD. Wine. Jewish Encyclopedia. 1907, pp. 532-535). Jesus would have followed that practice.
Others have also noted that it was IMPOSSIBLE for Jews to have stored grape juice from the time of grape harvest until Passover (Cf. Kennedy ARS. Hastings Bible Dictionary. C. Scribner Son’s, 1909 p. 974).
Therefore, only wine, which can remain unspoiled for even many years would have been used. (The use of alcohol, like wine, is endorsed during the Feast of Tabernacles in Deuteronomy 26:14, but not required.)
Christians are not to be “drunk with wine, wherein is excess” as Paul wrote (Ephesians 5:18, KJV).
Only a very small amount of wine is normally consumed at Passover. One drop is sufficient.
It is not proper to conclude that grape juice was used by Jesus in His final Passover.
Jesus used fermented wine for Passover.
We in the Continuing Church of God use fermented wine for Passover too.
In 2026, Passover services should commence after sunset on March 31st.
The Days of Unleavened Bread run from sunset 1 April to sunset 8 April this year.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread How should Christians keep Passover, especially if they are by themselves. Why does the Church of God not require lambs for Passover? How does one keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? For a step-by-step video for Christians to keep it, here is a link to a Continuing Church of God Passover Service; here is a link to a service in Spanish: Servicion de Pascua CCOG. Here is a link to a related article in the Spanish language: Guardando la Pascua y los Días de los Panes sin Levadura.
CG7-S: Church of God 7th Day, Salem (West Virginia) This group formed by A.N. Dugger in 1933 when he split from the CG7 group he was once president of.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here are two sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and CCOG and SDA differences and similarities. Here is a link to a video and an article in the Spanish language: Diferencias: La Bestia de dos cuernos, el 666 y los Adventistas y SDA/CCOG: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666.
Examine Yourself before Passover This article goes into some of why real Christians are to do this. Two related sermons are Really examine yourself before Passover and Passover Examination.
Preparing for Passover The Apostle Paul taught that Christians should examine themselves prior to taking Passover. This YouTube video sermon gives suggestions on how to prepare.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled History of the Christian Passover.
The Passover Plot What was the first Passover plot? Which plots have Islam and the Greco-Roman faiths perpetuated about Passover? A sermon video of related interest is The Passover Plots, Including Easter.
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well. Here is a related sermon, also titled Melito’s Homily on the Passover.
TPM: Passover on the 14th or 15th? While the real COG observes Passover on the 14th, some observe it on the 15th. Why is the 14th correct? A related sermon is titled Is Passover on the 14th or 15th for Christians?
The Night to Be Observed What is the night to be much observed? When is it? Why do Jews keep Passover twice and emphasize the wrong date? A related animation is available and is titled: Night to Be Observed.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers. Here are two YouTube videos intended to be viewed for the first day of unleavened bread:Leaven and Sin and Christians and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Early Christianity and the Eucharist? What does ‘eucharist’ mean? Did early Christians tie it in with Passover? Should it be a rounded host? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eucharist, Passover, and Easter.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history teach about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2033, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos.