Pentecost

[HollowofHishand]

The feast of the Pentecost is not something I learned in Sunday school growing up. I have only recently realized it's joint importance for both Jews and Christians.
My knowledge is still kinda thin. So if anyone out there can tell me what they know, I would be greatful.
I know it considered the birth of the church and why, but the rest is not so clear.

[Joshua's Gen]

The feast of Pentecost has its roots in the time of Moses.

50 Days after Moses & the Israelites had their exodus from Egypt through the Red Sea..

God gave Moses & Israel the Law (The Ten Commandments, etc) on a mount..

This is the first Pentecost..


The next significant Pentecost was in the time of Jesus..

50 Days after Jesus rose from the dead conquering sin & death..

God gave His Church His Holy Spirit in the upper room of 120 people..

Here's something I posted elsewhere..



To make a comparison...

We have:

Old Testament Pentecost (The Fiftieth Day)



Mt. Sinai
Fire, darkness, trumpet voice, quaking, thunder, and lightning
Fear of the LORD in the camp of Israel

Moses the Mediator
The Old Covenant
Ministration of Death
3,000 people slain
Written and engraven upon tables of stone
Written by the Finger of God
Ministration of Condemnation
Glory in the face of Moses
Veil over Moses' face
Israel not able to look thereon
The Letter which killeth


New Testament Pentecost (The Fiftieth Day)



Mt. Zion (Jerusalem)
Tongues of fire, rushing mighty wind, shaking
Holy Ghost conviction, fear and wonder fell upon hearers of Gospel as it was preached

Jesus the Mediator
The New Covenant
Ministration of Life
3,000 people live
Written and engraven on tables of the heart and mind
Written by the Spirit of God
Ministration of Righteousness
Glory in the face of Jesus
Open face of Jesus
Believer beholds His face
The Spirit which gives life

[HollowofHishand]

Thanks for the information. I will take some time later to really study it.
Isn't it true that this year's Pentecost is the 2000th anniversay of the church (using the 360 day year)?

[Hootmon]

It is if Christ was indeed crucified in AD 32

32 + (2000 * 360) / 365.25 = 2003.253

[hopemail]

I agree with Joshuas Gen...

Pentecost--
Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, Feast of First Fruits, Bikkoorim,... the fourth of the LORD's Feasts, which are to be kept by people who call the LORD, Lord...

the first Pentecost--
Mt Sinai, law written on stone, 3000 lost...

Act's Pentecost--
Jerusalem, law written on heart, 3000 restored...

[glorydays]

Joshua,

There's also this in Heb 12:19-24 -- the comparison of the first trump and the last trump.

[antsinmypants]

http://www.biblicalholidays.com/

[Joshua's Gen]

Originally posted by glorydays
Joshua,

There's also this in Heb 12:19-24 -- the comparison of the first trump and the last trump.

Thank you for pointing this out! Thanks for sharing it! :)


Hebrews 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Hebrews 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

Hebrews 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.

[antsinmypants]

Pentecost or Shavuot Overview
There are many names for the Feast of Weeks. It is identified in the Old Testament as the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22) and the Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16). As explained in the previous chapter, this feast is referred to as Latter Firstfruits. The Hebrew name is Shavuot (pronounced sha-voo-ote). The Greek name Pentecost is only found in the New Testament (Acts 2:1).

Pentecost is a major festival and has a dual significance: historical and agricultural, just as Passover and Tabernacles. Unlike Passover and Tabernacles, it is observed for only two days (only one in the Reform Movement). Pentecost marks the end of the barley harvest and beginning of the wheat harvest. Counting the days from the second day of Passover to Pentecost is called the “Counting of the Omer” (see previous chapter). The cutting of the omer of the new barley marked the beginning of the counting period; on the fiftieth day, Pentecost is observed. Pentecost is a Greek word meaning fiftieth.


First Pentecost Pentecost After Christ
The Commandments Given The Holy Spirit Given
Fifty days from the crossing of the Red Sea Fifty days from the resurrection of Christ
Law of Yahweh written in Stone Law of Yahweh written on our hearts
Three thousand slain Three thousand receive salvation
The letter of the Law The Spirit of the Law

Pentecost is considered the closing festival of the Passover season (Ex. 34:22; Lev. 23:15; Deut. 16:9-10). This day is further referred to as “latter firstfruits” of the spring harvest. The “early firstfruits” (barley) were waved before the Lord during the Feast of Firstfruits (see Passover chapter) and the “latter firstfruits” (wheat) were offered unto the Lord during the Feast of Weeks. It is also referred to as the Day of the Congregation (Deuteronomy 18:16). Another name is Atserret, meaning stop or cease or conclusion of seven weeks of counting.

Pentecost is the only festival for which no specific date is given in the Bible. Rather, the people were instructed to count seven weeks “...from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf [omer] of the wave offering (Lev. 23:15). This holiday occurs in the months of May or June on the American calendar. It is the successful conclusion of the first wheat-growing season and the anniversary celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

It is a celebration to reawaken and strengthen personal relationships with God by rededication to the observance and study of the Torah — the most precious heritage. When Yahweh revealed Himself on Mount Sinai, His people heard His voice proclaiming the Ten Commandments. Then the Israelites pledged their allegiance to Yahweh by saying, “…All that the Lord has hath said will we do and be obedient” (Exod. 24:7).

Passover freed God’s people physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavuot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. The Torah contains the Five Book of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings.

[antsinmypants]

Feast of Weeks in Bible Times
(also called Pentecost or Shavuot)
The Day Moses Received the Ten Commandments
The Feast of Weeks not only marks the end of the grain harvest at Passover time, but also signifies the process of freedom started with the Exodus at Passover, and concluded with the proclamation of the Law at Sinai. The Feast Of Weeks is an observance of the giving of the Torah by Yahweh (God) to the Jewish people over three thousand years ago on Mount Sinai. Throughout the generations people have studied these works, commenting upon them, clarifying their meanings, deriving practical applications of these principles and codifying the laws derived from them. Thus, a continuous chain of tradition extends throughout the generations, connecting the scholars of the present day to the communication at Mount Sinai.

On that day (when Moses received the law) three thousand souls died due to disobedience. God has never taken His covenant with us casually. He is a jealous God. While on one hand, He desired and still desires intimacy with us, He also is a God committed in marriage to us by His rights as husband. When we violate Him, through types of spiritual adultery, we may indeed face His jealous wrath (Birnbaum 1996).

The Feast is one of the three times when all young men were required to appear before the Lord, a pilgrim festival (Exod. 23:17; 34:23, Deut. 16:16). Historically, the main activity on the Feast of Pentecost was the presentation of a wave offering to the Lord, two loaves of bread with leaven (Lev. 23:15-21). The bread was to be brought with seven male lambs, a young bull and two rams as a burnt offering (Lev. 23:18). The sin offering was a male goat (Lev. 23:19).
During the second Temple period, everyone gathered together in their home town and slept the night in the town streets (they didn’t enter homes to prevent being exposed to impurities). In the morning the overseer would walk among the people saying, “Get up, let us go into the house of Zion, to the house of the Lord our God.” Those in the Jerusalem area would join a procession carrying fresh dates, pomegranates, and grapes. Those at the back would carry dried fruit, figs, and raisins. The ox offering was led before them, whose horns were overlaid with gold, with an olive branch and a crown on his head. Each family brought two loaves of the finest bread.

Remember, only the best fruits were chosen. The men would go out before this festival to choose the best grapes and dates to give unto God. They tied a red thread to the fruit to mark them for the offering.

The wave offering expressed the Hebrews’ dependence on God for the harvest and their daily bread. This was a thanksgiving offering. The link between Passover and Pentecost is the omer. The second night of Passover (Firstfruits) the barley is harvested and the first sheaf is waved before the altar in the Temple. On Pentecost two loaves are waved as an offering before the same altar.

This one day is to be kept with a holy convocation. It was one of the days on which all Israel was to meet God and one another, at the place which the Lord should choose. Some suggest that, whereas seven days were to make up the Feast of Unleavened Bread, there was only one day appointed for the Feast of Pentecost because this was a busy time of the year with them, and God allowed them speedily to return to their work in the country (Mays 1988).
Through the centuries the Jewish people have celebrated this important event. It was at Mount Sinai that this band of wearied travelers would become the nation known as Israel.


Messianic Significance of Feast of Weeks
(also called Pentecost or Shavuot)

Pentecost not only memorializes the first giving of the law written on tablets of stone, but it also memorializes, on the same day many years later, the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), when the law of God is written in the heart of the believer. As it states in Jeremiah 31:33, But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

First Pentecost Pentecost After Christ
The Commandments Given The Holy Spirit Given
Fifty days from the crossing of the Red Sea Fifty days from the resurrection of Christ
Law of Yahweh written in Stone Law of Yahweh written on our hearts
Three thousand slain Three thousand receive salvation
The letter of the Law The Spirit of the Law

Before His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit.
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:4).

The Day the Holy Spirit was Given to Believers

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) commemorates this day on which the Holy Spirit was given to the believers (Acts 2). On that day three thousand souls were saved. It is the birthday of the church, when the Holy Spirit came to unite the believers in one body. All believers are baptized into the same body with Christ the head of the church.

From Luke’s account in Acts 2 you see the marvelous timing of God. Thousands of Jews had journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. It was then that the followers of Jesus waiting in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit. They then began to worship God in foreign languages that were spoken and understood by the Jewish pilgrims. There was such a loud noise accompanying this experience that it attracted the attention of the Jewish visitors who went to see what the commotion was all about. Peter then stood up and preached a bold sermon to this Jewish crowd. About three thousand responded to Peter’s sermon by accepting Jesus as their Messiah and Lord (Somerville 1996).


The Two Loaves of Bread

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit transpired on the very day that the Jews were offering the two wave loaves to God representing their reliance on Him. The two wave loaves with leaven offered to God may represent that Jews and Gentiles, both sinners (leaven in their lives), are able to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit through the Messiah. Promises made earlier by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) and the risen Messiah (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8) are now fulfilled on Shavuot (Pentecost): on that day, the Holy Spirit did indeed come upon the apostles and empowered them to witness of the Messiah. The first century church was mainly Jewish. The last century church will be mainly Gentile. This explains Paul’s statement that the blessings of God were “to the Jew first and also the Gentile.”

The two loaves may also represent two witnesses. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses (Heb. 10:28). The law of Moses is associated with two witnesses. Shavuot is associated with the law and the two loaves (witnesses).


Symbol Represents
Grain of wheat Messiah (John 12:23-24)
Two Loaves with leaven (Lev. 23:15-17) Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah
As the wheat is beaten and
refined as fine flour (Lev. 23:17) Messiah beaten, sifted, and crushed (Isa. 28:28, 52:14; 53:1-6)
Harvest Salvation Rain Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Witnesses were always connected with the law, through the Bible; likewise the two loaves and the law are associated with Pentecost. Jesus said that they would become witnesses after they were baptized with the Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 1:3-9).

The two loaves were huge. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD (Lev. 23:17): An ephah is a measure of Egyptian origin and contained ten omers (an omer is about two quarts, so it would be approximately four quarts of flour). Four quarts of four cups each is about sixteen cups of fine flour. This would make the loaves approximately 12" x 21" x 3".

The followers of the Messiah obtained a mission through the dramatic descent of the Holy Spirit. From the moment of birth, this community—the early church—intended itself not a new religion but rather an awakening movement within Judaism. The church members continued to observe the Jewish laws and worshipped regularly in the Temple. What distinguished them from other Jews was their conviction that Jesus as the promised Messiah would reappear to restore the kingdom of Israel (Guinness 1988).




BiblicalHolidays.com

[antsinmypants]

Suggestions for Celebrating Feast of Weeks
(also called Pentecost or Shavuot)
The fact that The Feast of Weeks is also identified as the Feast of Harvest gives us some spiritual insight concerning the harvest of souls that God desires to be reaped from the earth. The Bible teaches that Jesus was the Son of man who came to sow good seed—the Word of God (Luke 8:5-11). The church is the reaper sent forth for harvesting (John 4:38; Matt. 9:38). Through Spirit-filled witnessing, the harvest of earth will be reaped. It is for this reason that Jesus made the declaration “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me...unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:9-8). The people of God can never be effective and productive in this harvest without an abundant anointing or baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Feast ofweeks symbolizes anointing for the harvest. A yearly observance of this biblical memorial day by the church serves to remind us of our total dependence upon the Holy Spirit to give us the guidance and anointing we must have for this spiritual harvest of earth. The apostle Peter referred to it as a “time of refreshing” (Somerville 1996).

Each year, Shavuot is the precious time for us to reawaken and strengthen our special relationship with God. We can do so by rededicating ourselves to the study of the Torah. We can declare our thanksgiving to God and belief on Him by celebrating the Feast of Weeks as fulfilled in Jesus.

Decorate Your Home
Decorate your home with flowers and greens. This is a great job for the children. This time of year there are beautiful wild flowers available. Send the children to gather them and put containers of wild flowers all over the house.

Light the Candles
Before sunset, the first day of Feast of Weeks, the woman of the home says a blessing and lights the two candles as for other Sabbaths.

Bake Two Wave Loaves
Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD (Lev. 23:17).

Do No Work
The Feast of Weeks is a high Sabbath day; therefore, no work (business) is performed, although it is permissible for us to bake, to cook, to put away, to kindle a light, and to prepare and do on the Festival all that is necessary for the Sabbath.

Eat Dairy
It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Feast of Weeks. There are several different opinions as to how this custom started. Some say it is a reminder of the promise regarding the land of Israel, a land flowing with “milk and honey.” We like to set out candy dishes full of Bit-O-Honey candy. This is a family tradition our children really look forward to. Cheese (not hard cheese) dishes are usually served such as cheese blintzes, hot, with sour cream or applesauce. Cheesecake with cherry or another fruit topping can be a special treat.

Bless Your Children
Say a prayer over each of your children praying specifically for their needs, gifts, and talents.

Plant a Fruit Tree
Martha Zimmerman writes, in her book Celebrate the Feasts, about her family’s special memory of planting a tree on the Feast of weeks:



Several years ago we all went to a nursery, chose a cherry tree ($5) and planted it on Shavuot. Richard dug the hole. After placing it and straightening it, we prayed and dedicated our little tree to the Lord. The next year on the afternoon of Shavuot we tied a red yarn around a branch that held our first green cherry. This year several branches had clusters of fruit and we chose the best one for the red ribbon. The children are expecting a bushel next year! They are also asking if we can plant an apple tree.


Stay Up All Night

It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavuot and study the Bible, then pray as early as possible in the morning. If you choose to stay up all night you may want your children to just stay up very late—this will be a special memory for them. Let the children stay up until a late hour, 1:00 or 2:00 a.m., playing Bible games, working in this book, watching Bible videos, etc. The Ten Commandments would be a good choice. If you read the story before seeing the video you can point out the difference between God’s Word and the Hollywood version.

Parents and older children may try staying up all night studying the Bible. Serve snacks and assign Bible portions from each book. Read aloud the Bible portions and discuss them. Take a few minutes each hour to walk around or do a few exercises to keep everyone awake.


Study the Bible
You may not choose to stay up all night, but don’t miss this excellent opportunity to go through a brief review of the books of the Bible and study short portions. You might try learning or finding at least one favorite verse or passage from each book, for example, Hebrews 3:17-19 or Zephaniah 3:17-20.
Include the story of the giving of the Commandments in the verses below, or from the Bible, or from a storybook.


And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount;
and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.


So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.


Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.


Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery.


Thou shalt not steal.


Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.


Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.


And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of thetrumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off (Exod. 19:20-20:18).


Memorize the Ten Commandments

God’s Word commands us to teach the commandments to our children.
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 6:1, 2, 5-7).
If you haven’t done so, memorize the commandments. Discuss each one with your children and answer any questions they may have.
1.) You shall have no other gods before Me.
2.) Do not make graven images.
3.) Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4.) Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
5.) Honor your father and mother.
6.) Do not murder.
7.) Do not commit adultery.
8.) Do not steal.
9.) Do not bear false witness.
10.) Do not covet.



Read the Book of Ruth


Ruth is the classic model of one who converted to Judaism out of love and responsibility. The book of Ruth is also the story of the community’s care for the poor and the deprived, such as the orphan and the widow. Ruth’s commitment to the people and the faith of Naomi constitutes a timely lesson for Shavuot, which itself commemorates Israel’s acceptance of the Torah. David, who was descended from Ruth, has traditional associations with the festival (Encyclopedia of Judaism).

[glorydays]

ants,

Pentecost marks the end of the barley harvest and beginning of the wheat harvest.

This is truly interesting! Have you noticed that throughout scripture, the Gentiles are the "barley" and the Jews the "wheat?" That the woman in Matt 13:30 puts leaven into 3 measures of "meal" suggesting a mix of barley and wheat in the trib false religion?

Pentecost is the only festival for which no specific date is given in the Bible.

You mean like the rapture here -- an unknown day. Good stuff!

The men would go out before this festival to choose the best grapes and dates to give unto God. They tied a red thread to the fruit to mark them for the offering.

Christ is doing this in the church today -- tying the scarlet thread of salvation around His firstfruits!

Thanks, ants.

[HollowofHishand]

Glorydays! You took the words right out of my heart!
Just quickly, here is what I have observed.
1) this year is the 2000th anniversary of the church
2) I have been trying to find the post that said a prophet told that Jesus would return for us in two days
3) A thousand years is as a day to God
4) that it the end of one harvest and the beginning of the Wheat
5) On another thread is a debate over what Jesus meant by the sowing of tarres amongst the wheat. (Sinners amongst his people)

And no, I am not date setting, just trying to see how it all falls into place.

[Hootmon]

Originally posted by HollowofHishand
And no, I am not date setting, just trying to see how it all falls into place. It IS exciting, isnt it?

[HollowofHishand]

OK, I found one of the verses I was looking for (thanks Blue Letter Bible!)

Hsa 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Kind of chilling. I have looked at the verses around it so as not to take it out of context.
Maybe someone else would like to read the other ones and comment.

[antsinmypants]

I'll look this up tonight if I can, just as I did the rest this morning.
My time is so limited, I just am waiting until i'm married and can stay home to write and study... and get into the word atleast 8 hrs of the day, instead of me working and trying to squeeze it in somewhere between my drive and sleep time!!

I've two bible studies i'm in and also trying to study for Shabbat services and my parent's church sunday school...
and sooooo much more.. I swear you'd think i was married as much as I have to do :lol

I'll see what I can find when I get home.
I also have to cross stitch a bib for a baby shower Tomorrow night. LOL

[antsinmypants]

Originally posted by HollowofHishand
OK, I found one of the verses I was looking for (thanks Blue Letter Bible!)

Hsa 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Kind of chilling. I have looked at the verses around it so as not to take it out of context.
Maybe someone else would like to read the other ones and comment.

Here it is in context:

Hos 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed-crushed by punishment, because its people are determined to chase idols.
Hos 5:12 I will destroy Ephraim as a moth destroys clothing. I will destroy the nation of Judah as rot destroys wood.
Hos 5:13 "When Ephraim saw that he was sick and when Judah saw his own wounds, Ephraim went to Assyria to ask the great king for help. But the king couldn't cure them or heal their wounds.
Hos 5:14 I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the nation of Judah. I will carry them off, and no one will rescue them.
Hos 5:15 I will go back to my place until they admit that they are guilty. Then they will search for me. In their distress they will eagerly look for me."
Hos 6:1 Let's return to the LORD. Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bandage our wounds.
Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence.
Hos 6:3 Let's learn about the LORD. Let's get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground.
Hos 6:4 "What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your love is like fog in the morning. It disappears as quickly as the morning dew.
Hos 6:5 That is why I cut you down by sending the prophets. I killed you with the words from my mouth. My judgments shined on you like light.
Hos 6:6 I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings.
Hos 6:7 "Like Adam, you rejected the promise. You were unfaithful to me.
Hos 6:8 Gilead is a city filled with troublemakers. It is stained with bloody footprints.
Hos 6:9 The priests are like gangs of robbers who lie in ambush for a person. They murder on the road to Shechem. Certainly, they have committed a crime.
Hos 6:10 "I have seen horrible things in the nation of Israel. Ephraim is acting like a prostitute, and Israel is unclean.
Hos 6:11 "Yet, Judah, I have set a harvest time for you when I bring my people back from captivity.



Clarke:
Hos 6:2 -
After two days will he revive - Such is his power that in two or three days he can restore us. He can realize all our hopes, and give us the strongest token for good.
In the third day he will raise us up - In so short a time can he give us complete deliverance. These words are supposed to refer to the death and resurrection of our Lord; and it is thought that the apostle refers to them, 1Co_15:4 : “Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures;” and this is the only place in the Scriptures, i.e., of the Old Testament, where his resurrection on the third day seems to be hinted at. The original, é÷îðå yekimenu, has been translated, he will raise him up. Then they who trusted in him could believe that they should be quickened together with him.
And we shall live in his sight - His resurrection being a proof of theirs.


Gill:Hos 6:2 - After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up,.... The Jews, in their present state, are as dead men, both in a civil and spiritual sense, and their conversion and restoration will be as life from the dead; they are like persons buried, and, when they are restored, they will be raised out of their graves, both of sin and misery; see Rom_11:15; the time of which is here fixed, after two days, and on the third; which Jarchi interprets of the two temples that have been destroyed, and of the third temple to be built, which the Jews expect, but in vain, and when they hope for good times: Kimchi explains it of their three captivities, in Egypt, Babylon, and the present one, and so Ben Melech, from which they hope to be raised, and live comfortably; which sense is much better than the former: and with it may be compared Vitringa's (s) notion of the text, that the first day was between Israel's coming out of Egypt and the Babylonish captivity; the second day between that and the times of Antiochus, which was the third night; then the third day followed, which is the times of the Messiah: but the Targum comes nearer the truth, which paraphrases the words thus,

"he will quicken us in the days of consolation which are to come, and in the day of the resurrection of the dead he will raise us up;''

where by days of consolation are meant the days of the Messiah, with which the Jews generally connect the resurrection of the dead; and if we understand them of the last days of the Messiah, it is not much amiss; for the words respect the quickening and raising up of the Jews in the latter day, the times of Christ's spiritual coming and reign: and these two and three days may be expressive of a long and short time, as interpreters differently explain them; of a long time, as the third day is a long time for a man to lie dead, when there can be little or no hope of his reviving, Luk_24:21; or of a short time, for which two or three days is a common phrase; and both true in this case: it is a long time Israel and Judah have been in captivity, and there may seem little hope of their restoration; but it will be a short time with the Lord, with whom a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years: and this I take to be the sense of the words, that after the second Millennium, or the Lord's two days, and at the beginning of the third, will be the time of their conversion and restoration, reckoning from the last destruction of them by the Romans; for not till then were Israel and Judah wholly in a state of death: many of Israel were mixed among those of Judah before the Babylonish captivity, and many returned with them from it; but, when destroyed by the Romans, there was an end of their civil and church state; which will both be revived on a better foundation at this period of time: but if this conjecture is not agreeable (for I only propose it as such), the sense may be taken thus, that in a short time after the repentance of Israel, and their conversion to the Lord, they will be brought into a very comfortable and happy state and condition, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual;

and we shall live in his sight; comfortably, in a civil sense, in their own land, and in the possession of all their privileges and liberties; and in a spiritual sense, by faith on Jesus Christ, whom they shall now embrace, and in the enjoyment of the Gospel and Gospel ordinances; and the prophet represents the penitents and faithful among them as believing and hoping for these things. This may be applied to the case of sensible sinners, who, as they are in their natural state dead in sin, and dead in law, so they see themselves to be such when awakened; and yet entertain a secret hope that sooner or later they shall be revived and refreshed, and raised up to a more comfortable state, and live in the presence of God, and the enjoyment of his favour. The ancient fathers generally understood these words of Christ, who was buried on the sixth day, lay in the grave the whole seventh day, and after these two days, on the third, rose again from the dead; and to this passage the apostle is thought to have respect, 1Co_15:3; and also of the resurrection of his people in and with him, and by virtue of his: and true it is that Christ rose from the dead on the third day, and all his redeemed ones were quickened and raised up together with him as their head and representative, Eph_2:5; and his in virtue of his being quickened that they are regenerated and quickened, and made alive, in a spiritual sense; he is the author of their spiritual life, and their life itself; see 1Pe_1:3; and not only in virtue of his resurrection is their spiritual resurrection from the death of sin to a life of grace, but even their corporeal resurrection at the last day; and as, in consequence of their spiritual resurrection, they live in the sight of God a life of grace and holiness by faith in Christ, and in a comfortable view and enjoyment of the divine favour; so they shall live eternally in the presence of God, where are fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore: but the first sense is best, and most agreeable to the context and scope of it.

(s) Comment. in Isa. viii. 20.

[Funny, he sounds Two-House!!]


JFB:
Hos 6:2 - Primarily, in type, Israel's national revival, in a short period ("two or three" being used to denote a few days, Isa_17:6; Luk_13:32-33); antitypically the language is so framed as to refer in its full accuracy only to Messiah, the ideal Israel (Isa_49:3; compare Mat_2:15, with Hos_11:1), raised on the third day (Joh_2:19; 1Co_15:4; compare Isa_53:10). "He shall prolong His days." Compare the similar use of Israel's political resurrection as the type of the general resurrection of which "Christ is the first-fruits" (Isa_26:19; Eze_37:1-14; Dan_12:2).

live in his sight--enjoy His countenance shining on us, as of old; in contrast to Hos_5:6, Hos_5:15, "Withdrawn Himself from them."


Barnes:
Hos 6:2 -
After two days will He revive us (or quicken us, give us life,) in the third day He will raise us up - The Resurrection of Christ, and our resurrection in Him and in His Resurrection, could not be more plainly foretold. The prophet expressly mentions “two days,” after which life should be given, and a “third day, on” which the resurrection should take place. What else can this be than the two days in which the Body of Christ lay in the tomb, and the third day, on which He rose again, as “the Resurrection and the life” Joh_11:25, “the first fruits of them that slept” 1Co_15:20, the source and earnest and pledge of our resurrection and of life eternal? The Apostle, in speaking of our resurrection in Christ, uses these self-same words of the prophet; “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us - hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Eph_2:4-6.
The Apostle, like the prophet, speaks of that which took place in Christ our Head, as having already taken place in us, His members. : “If we unhesitatingly believe in our heart,” says a father, “what we profess with our mouth, we were crucified in Christ, “we” died, “we” were buried, “we” also were raised again on that very third day. Whence the Apostle saith, “If ye rose again with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God” Col_3:1. “As Christ died for us, so He also rose for us. “Our old man was nailed to the wood, in the flesh of our Head, and the new man was formed in that same Head, rising glorious from the tomb.” What Christ, our Head, did, He did, not for Himself, but for His redeemed, that the benefits of His Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, might redound to all. life did it for them; they partook of what He did.
In no other way, could our participation of Christ be foretold. It was not the prophet’s object here, nor was it so direct a comfort to Israel, to speak of Christ’s Resurrection in itself. He took a nearer way to their hearts. He told them, “all we who turn to the Lord, putting our whole trust in Him, and committing ourselves wholly to Him, to be healed of our wounds and to have our griefs bound up, shall receive life from Him, shall be raised up by Him.” They could not understand “then,” how He would do this. The “after two days” and, “in the third day,” remained a mystery, to be explained by the event. But the promise itself was not the less distinct, nor the less full of hope, nor did it less fulfill all cravings for life eternal and the sight of God, because they did not understand, “how shall these things be.” Faith is unconcerned about the “how.” Faith believes what God says, because He says it, and leaves Him to fulfill it, “how” He wills and knows. The words of the promise which faith had to believe, were plain. The life of which the prophet spoke, could only be life from death, whether of the body or the soul or both. For God is said to “give life,” only in contrast with such death. Whence the Jews too have ever looked and do look, that this should be fulfilled in the Christ, though they know not that it has been fulfilled in Him. They too explain it ; “He will quicken us in the days of consolation which shall come; in the day of the quickening of the dead; he will raise us up, and we shall live before Him.”
In shadow, the prophecy was never fulfilled to Israel at all. The ten tribes were never restored; they never, as a whole, received any favor from God, after He gave them up to captivity. And unto the two tribes, (of whom, apart from the ten, no mention is made here) what a mere shadow was the restoration from Babylon, that it should be spoken of as the gift of life or of resurrection, whereby we should live before Him! The strictest explanation is the truest. The “two days” and “the third day” have nothing in history to correspond with them, except that in which they were fulfilled, when Christ, “rising on the third day from the grave, raised with Him the whole human race” .
And we shall live in His sight - Literally, “before His Face.” In the face, we see the will, and mind, the love, the pleasure or displeasure of a human being whom we love. In the holy or loving face of man, there may be read fresh depths of devotion or of love. The face is turned away in sorrowful displeasure; it is turned full upon the face it loves. Hence, it is so very expressive an image of the relation of the soul to God, and the Psalmists so often pray, “Lord lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us; make Thy Face to shine upon Thy servant; God bless us, and cause His Face to shine upon us; cast me not away from Thy presence or Face; look Thou upon me and be merciful unto me; look upon the Face of thine anointed; how long wilt Thou hide Thy Face from me? hide not Thy Face from Thy servant” (Psa_4:6; Psa_31:16 (from Num_6:25); Psa_67:1; Psa_80:7; Psa_119:135; Psa_51:11; Psa_119:132; Psa_84:9; Psa_13:1; Psa_69:17, etc.); or they profess, “Thy Face, Lord, will I seek” (Psa_27:8; see Psa_24:6; Psa_105:4); or they declare that the bliss of eternity is in “the Face of God” Psa_11:7; Psa_16:11; Psa_17:15.
God had just said, that He would withdraw His presence, until they should “seek” His “Face;” now He says, they should “live before His Face.” To Abraham He had said, “Walk before Me” Gen_17:1, literally, “before My Face, and be thou perfect.” Bliss from the Creator, and duty from the creature, answer to one another. We “live in His sight,” in the way of duty, when we refer ourselves and our whole being, our courses of action, our thoughts, our love, to Him, remembering that we are ever in His presence, and ever seeking to please Him. “We live in His sight,” in the bliss of His presence, when we enjoy the sense of His favor, and know that His Eye rests on us in love, that He cares for us, guides us, guards us; and have some sweetness in contemplating Him. Much more fully shall we live in His sight, when, in Him, we shall be partakers of His Eternal Life and Bliss, and shall behold Him “face to face,” and “see Him as He is,” and the sight of Him shall be our bliss, “and in His light we shall see light” Psa_36:9.

[hmm.. this sounds two-house again!!]

[glorydays]

Hollow,

Actually, I think the way you calculated it for those who know that 32AD + 2000 doesn't equal 2003 is in prophetic years of 360 days or 32AD + 1971 = 2003, right?

Actually (John 11) another 2 days was for Jesus to come raise Lazarus which is another picture of the postrib resurrection of the OT saints. Recall He waited 2 days after He heard but when He got there Lazarus was dead 4 days -- ever since Abraham was chosen were they in graves awaiting the resurrection of Messiah!

Also, (John 2) after 2 days on the 3rd day Jesus took His disciples to the wedding feast at Cana. Well, after 2000 years Christ is going to return with us to the the wedding feast on earth (Rev 19:7) to present us to His family (Israel) and friends (like John the Baptist and his disciples). John was actually quite a Revelator indeed!

No date seeting either (Though I've got even better signs!) -- but we are definitely "in the zone!" :lol

[Hootmon]

Good post, glorydays.

[HollowofHishand]

Glorydays,
I am using the 360 day calendar. Thanks for clarifying that! Somethimes I get so excited that I forget to include the important details!
Talking and thinking about this makes me feel about 5 years old! Can you pm me the other stuff you hinted at?

YSIC,
Alison

[antsinmypants]

Glorydays I agree with what you've said as well.. please PM me more info too

[warbar]

Excellent Bible study guys! I just wanted to add a quote from an article by J.R.Church:

"Pentecost has played at the beginning of two dispensations - Law and Grace. The rabbis say that the Dispensation of Law began on Pentecost. On that day, a HEAVENLY TRUMPET was heard at Mt. Sinai. The Jews remember this as a time when their national identity took a new direction.

'And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice' (Exodus 19:19)

Many Jews say thatthis first mention of a trumpet blast in Exodus was regarded by the spiritual leaders of Israel as having occurred on Pentecost. Exodus 19:1 tells us that this event came about in Sivan, THE THIRD MONTH.

Furthermore, the trumpet was blown, not by man, but by a heavenly being. Moses and the Chosen People had gathered at Mt. Sinai, on the THIRD DAY of preparation, wherein they washed themselves, cleaned their clothes, and were forbidden to touch the mountain. When God came down, a trumpet sounded long and loud, filling the people with awe and terror. On that occasion, the fire of God's glory descended and God gave the Ten Commandments. Here, we find the only heavenly trumpet recorded in the Old Testament. The next such trumpet should sound on the day of the rapture and resurrection."

[antsinmypants]

Counting the Omer

Each year, according to the Hebrew calendar, a set of days are counted after the Passover to the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot. Not only is there mystery in this fifty day count, but there is also controversy as to how it is counted. What exactly is the purpose in this activity? And, what is the dispute concerning its counting?

Before we attempt to answer those questions, maybe we should define what an omer is. An omer is a measure of grain. Specifically, an omer is one tenth of an ephah. I'm sure that is very helpful to you. Obviously, an omer is part of the weights and measures of the Bible. It is how an omer was used that will reveal its meaning to us. And on this account, it is the measure used for the gathering of manna. Manna, as you know, was the bread from heaven gathered in the wilderness by the children of Israel.

This is what the Lord has commanded, "Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent." And the sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. EXO 16:16-18

An omer was the amount of flour to make daily bread. The children of Israel would gather an omer of manna for each person. Part of miracle of that bread was that it was exactly what was needed. There was no excess nor lack.

The counting of the omer is to teach us and illustrate the great work of the bread from heaven. Yeshua is the bread from heaven and He is to be our daily bread. During the celebration of Passover, Yeshua shows us that he is the Afikomen (the bread broken for us), the best part of the Passover. He also taught that He was the true bread from heaven.

The omer, the measure of daily bread, is the teaching from Passover to the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). Shavuot is not the same date each year on the calendar. It is because there is a unique way of counting the omer. Shavuot is the 50th day after the counting of seven weeks.

What exactly is an omer? An ephah was the measure of a person, that is, a person could fit into a vessel called an ephah. Since the omer was one tenth of an ephah, it is also understood that an omer was a tithe of the ephah. I'm sure that a "tithe" evokes much spiritual instruction from your past. A tithe is spiritual measure; an omer is the same measure. This information begins to shed some light on why God calls us to measure these particular days. but, let us try to explain the counting method first.

The ancient Sadducees and Pharisees were not always in agreement with the instruction of Moses. The counting of the omer is one of the classic areas of their disagreement. Simply put, the Pharisees treated Passover as a Sabbath and counted directly 50 days after the Passover. To them, 50 days after the Passover was Shavuot. Consider the instruction of Moses on this point.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, "When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord. Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the Lord for a soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord." LEV 23:10-16

The dispute between the Sadducees and Pharisees was concerning the "sabbath" that the barley is waved after. Was it the day after Passover (is Passover a Sabbath)? Or was it the first day of the Feast of Unleaven, which is a High Sabbath? Or, was Moses referring to the day after the weekly sabbath? The Pharisees argued that it was Passover, and counted the Feast of Weeks as fifty days later. This is the present method of counting in Rabbinical Judaism today. The Sadducees argued that the "sabbath" in question was the weekly sabbath that fell somewhere in the Feast of Unleavened and that the day following was the first day of the counting. They argued that the counting of weeks was seven complete sabbatical weeks resulting in Shavuot. This always caused a Sunday, the first day after the seventh sabbath, to be Shavuot.

Are you confused yet? Don't be concerned. Israel has been confused about this whole matter for millennia. I believe the Sadducees who weren't correct about many things were in fact correct in counting the omer. So, how does that counting method affect us in our counting of the omer this year 2,000? Let's review the Mosaic instruction and then do the count.

Passover was on the 14th of Nisan. The Feast of Unleavened bread began on the 15th of Nisan and extends for seven days. On the first day after the first weekly sabbath after Passover is the feast of first fruits. This is the day that the priest waves the barley sheafs. This is the first day of the counting of the omer. You then count seven sabbaths (seven complete weeks) from that point. On the day after the seventh sabbath, it is Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks).

April 18th at the evening was the evening of the 14th of Nisan. Passover began; Passover day was April 19th. On Wednesday evening, April 19, the Feast of Unleavened Bread began and extended for seven days to April 26 in the evening. The days of Unleavened bread were April 20 to April 26. The weekly sabbath of that week was April 22. Therefore the first day of the omer count was April 23, Sunday, the day after the weekly sabbath. Counting seven full sabbaths and fifty days brings to Sunday, June 11. This is Shavuot according the instruction Moses. If you check a traditional Hebrew calendar, it will show that Friday, June 9 is Shavuot. This is the difference between Moses and the Pharisaic (present Rabbinical) tradition.

The New Testament account of these holidays and the counting lines up only with the Mosaic instruction. Why? Because, the Sadducees had the upper hand on this issue during the New Testament period. The day of Pentecost was on a first day after a weekly sabbath. It was on the day of Pentecost that the disciples came out proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah. Look at the instruction of Moses for the Feast of Weeks and the call for proclamation.

On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is to be a perpetual statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations. LEV 23:21

I trust that having enjoyed the Unleavened Bread of the Messiah at the Passover, that you are now enjoying the daily bread from heaven and preparing to join with all Israel in proclaiming that the Lord, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And, there is no one like the Lord! Amen.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YAVOH, He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries Inc. The ministry is a non-profit organization with an end time prophetic message in a Messianic Jewish context. Subscription to YAVOH, He is Coming is without cost and supported only by donation.

Permission is granted to reprint any article in YAVOH, He is Coming with the only restriction being the article must be reprinted in full without alteration and credit given to YAVOH.


www.Lionlamb.net This was printed in 2000.

[Doulos]

antsinmypants,

Since you are quoting entire chapters out of a book, I'd think that you'd at least give the book credit.

[Doulos]

Originally posted by HollowofHishand
The feast of the Pentecost is not something I learned in
Sunday school growing up. I have only recently realized it's
joint importance for both Jews and Christians.
My knowledge is still kinda thin. So if anyone out there can
tell me what they know, I would be greatful.
I know it considered the birth of the church and why, but the
rest is not so clear.

Pentecost, also called The Feast or Weeks or Latter First
Fruits, tells us a lot about the church by symbology. The
reason why it is sometimes called Latter First Fruits is
because of its relation to First Fruits, or Early First
Fruits which occurs 50 days earlier.
In fact the entire spring feast cycle speaks volumes to us.
The entire plan of salvation is in the spring feasts.
Choosing a Lamb tells us of choosing Christ. The search for
leaven before Unleavened Bread speaks of repentance. Passover
foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ and its benefit of
eternal life. Unleavened Bread symbolizes positional
righteousness. First Fruits is baptism. The counting of the
Omer tells us of keeping Jesus before us in our walk. And
finally, Pentecost, portrays the comming of the kingdom of
God.

This entire cycle can be broken up into two parts. One is the
extended Feast of Unleavened Bread which would include
Passover and the other is First Fruits and the counting of
the Omer which culminates in Pentecost. The first part shows
what is essential for salvation while the second gives us the
plan for living a life of faith. Since the specific question
is on Pentecost, I will focus on the second group and then
narrow to Pentecost.

Before First Fruits the harvest is to be inspected and the
barley stalks that are the closest to being ripe are marked
with a red cord. At least a 1/60th of the harvest is to be
marked. The first sheaf cut is to be given as a wave offering
before the Lord. That sheaf is the first fruits but it is the
first fruits among many. Jesus also is the first fruits of
the resurection, but the first among many. And, this is the
very feast on which Jesus rose from the dead.

Interestingly, on this same day Noah's Ark reseted upon Mt.
Ararat and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. These along
with First Fruits also symbolize resurrection and Baptism
which is also a symbol of the same.

One would do well to note that those who passed through the
water on the Ark and in the Red Sea never touched the water.
They were kept safe from it. Most recognize that the Ark is a
type of Christ, but few have noticed that at the crossing of
the Red Sea an East Wind dried up the water to allow the
Israelites to cross on dry ground. That East Wind is a
type of the Spirit of God. Likewise, we are saved from the
waters of judgement by being in Christ with the unction of
the Holy Spirit.

After First Fruits, an Omer of barley is waved before the
Lord until Pentecost. An omer is the daily ration for a
person. Likewise, we are to look to Jesus as our daily
portion. This also harkens back to the giving of Manna in the
wilderness. An Omer was to be gathered for each day. Now some
of the Israelites gathered much and some little, but when it
was measured each had an omer (Ex. 16:16-18). In the same
way, some of us are able to gather much from the Lord and
some little, but we each are able to get what we need - our
daily portion.

This then leads us to Pentecost. It is both a harvest
festival and a commemoration of the giving of the Law. During
the counting of the Omer one was to be in a state of
expectation. Let's look back to the time of the giving of the
Law. The Israelites knew something great was about to happen,
and then they camped before Mt. Sinai and the Lord made clear
His intent.

Exodus 19:5
'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My
covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the
peoples , for all the earth is Mine;
19:6
and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons
of Israel."

God was calling forth a kingdom of of Priests and Kings. But,
the Lord also called upon them to obey His voice and keep His
covenant. The Israelites agreed to this (Ex. 19:8), but they
failed to follow through. In fact, just as the Lord began to
instruct what was to be His priesthood, they shrunk back in
fear and asked that God not speak to them!

Exodus 20:19
Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will
listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die."
20:20
Moses said to the people , "Do not be afraid ; for God has
come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him
may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
Moses did reasure the people, but God never did speak to them
in that way again. Now, when we look forwad to the Pentecost
that established the church we find that once again God was
calling forth a priesthood. Further, God himself had
fulfilled the covenant by Jesus' own blood. But, it still
remained for the priesthood to hear from God directly. Thus
on this Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given to fulfill this
purpose and more. The Spirit also served to instruct us and
to serve the same purposes as the Law. In fact, the Law both
foreshadows the Spirit and works with the Spirit.

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage
that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not
come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and
of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me
no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them now. 
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will
guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own
authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and
declare it to you. 
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said
that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Romans 8:6-12

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is
not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed
the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin,
but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also
give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells
in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to
live according to the flesh.

So, since the first Pentecost of the church there has been a
new priesthood; the priesthood of all believers. Now, if we
examine the offering that is the main focus of the Feast of
Weeks we can see something else about the church. The main
focus is the offering of two leavened loaves of bread. The
two loaves represent what comes out of the church. The fact
that there were two loaves show that there were two main
factions of the church. One represents the Hebrew part of the
church and the other represents the Gentile portion.

Further, the other offerings of this season up to now were
products of the land. Raw grain represents what the Lord
provided, but now we have an offering of bread, a work of
man's hands. This is also why it is leavened, that which
comes from God is perfect but whatever a man sets his hands
to will inevitably be flawed in some way. However, this
should not prevent us from working for the Lord and offering
up that which we can. A man is not to come before the Lord
with empty hands (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

[antsinmypants]

amen

[Beth]

This is a great thread... really exciting!
That part about marking the barley with the scarlet thread is so beautiful, makes my heart feel full to bursting!

[Joshua's Gen]

Bumped for a friend. :bump

[mattbert]

We starting talking about this exact thing at our website http://www.churchage.com/

Thanks for bumping this!

Matt

[delljustin]

:bump