'And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the
Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven
Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh
Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring
from your dwellings two wave [loaves] of two-tenths [of an ephah]. They shall
be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. [They are] the firstfruits
to the LORD. Leviticus 23:15-17 NKJV
Fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits comes Shavuot, or
the Feast of Weeks. We know it as
Pentecost, which is derived from the Greek word “penta” meaning fifty. It
also has other names such as the Festival of Weeks, the Festival of Reaping or
Ingathering, and the Day of Firstfruits.
It occurs at the end of the wheat harvest in Israel, which is why it is
associated with the theme of harvesting and the bringing of a sacrifice of
grain to the Lord. Yet it is also a time
of celebrating the harvest of the land, which includes all seven of the fruits
of the land listed by God in the book of Deuteronomy.
“For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a
land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and
hills; “a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and
pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;
Deuteronomy 8:7-8 NKJV
Something I personally found interesting when I first began
to study this feast was the tradition in Israel of reading the book of Ruth
during this time. Considered to be one
of the greatest love stories to be found in the Bible, it is a story of how a
Gentile, (non-Jew), was "redeemed", or bought with a price, by a
"kinsman" or relative (who was a Jew) according to Jewish law, and
then becomes the bride of her redeemer. This story is situated in Bethlehem
with the events transpiring during the fifty days between the barley and wheat
harvest. The redeemer (Boaz) takes his
bride at the end of that time or at the Feast of Pentecost.
Because this story demonstrates how a Gentile could become a
Jew, we can also see a perfect example of how Jesus Christ can redeem all who
choose to accept His sacrifice, thus becoming His bride, the body of
Christ. We find this was illustrated by
the events which occurred on the Feast of Pentecost that followed fifty days
after the resurrection of Jesus.
When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there
appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from
every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together,
and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were
all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who
speak Galileans? “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in
which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, “Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews
and proselytes, “Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues
the wonderful works of God.” Acts
2:1-11 NKJV
Because the Feast of Pentecost was one of the three feasts
in Israel that were compulsory to attend, Jerusalem was full of Jews from
different lands. It was for this reason
that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the ability to speak in different
languages, allowing the Gospel to be shared with everyone who was there. This is the day that many consider to be the
birthday of the Church as not only did God send the Holy Spirit to indwell all
who believe, but also arranged for the good news to be spread to other
countries by virtue of these Jewish pilgrims returning home with the message of
Jesus Christ.
The sixth of Sivan is a day which certainly has many
different events associated with it, yet curiously, only one central theme
which is redemption. Enoch was raptured,
Ruth who was a Gentile was redeemed, and the Church was born and given the gift
of the Holy Spirit to indwell. As the
firstfruits of the Holy Spirit, is this a day that the Church might look to as
a possible day of redemption, or even possibly a wedding?
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with
birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have
the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22-23 NKJV
As we have seen, there are more than a few references to a
"rapture" type event associated with the Feast of Pentecost. Will the
Church be raptured on its birthday? Of course, no one knows and I certainly
can't say for sure but I hope I'm not the only one who finds it more than
curious that there seem to be so many events common to this particular day of
the year. Jesus commanded us to watch for His return, and I for one think it
very important to take Him at His word. I'm watching every day, and I hope the
words I share with you in these pages encourage you to watch as well.
There is one more thing, however. I can never talk about this day without
sharing something we are told by the Jewish historian Josephus in his work
“Wars of the Jews”. This is of course,
non-biblical, but it is also something I have found fascinating and consider
believable in light of the proven historical accuracy of the works of Josephus.
"Besides
these, a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month Artemisius,
[Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared: I suppose the
account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw
it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to
deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers
in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of
cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call PENTECOST, as the priests were
going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom was, to
perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, THEY
FELT A QUAKING, AND HEARD A GREAT NOISE, AND AFTER THAT THEY HEARD A SOUND AS
OF A GREAT MULTITUDE, SAYING, "LET US REMOVE HENCE." (end quote) Josephus,
"Wars of the Jews" VI. V. 3
Wouldn’t we all love to hear the trumpet sound and the call
to come home in light of what we see the world becoming all around us right
now? Will it be on this day? I have no idea, but I do know we are called
to share the same Gospel that the disciples did on that Pentecost so many years
ago. Make it a point to tell others of
the gift of redemption which is available to all who choose to believe in the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins.
If you have never accepted the gift of eternal life offered
to us by the sacrifice of Jesus, simply pray a prayer like this; Jesus I know
that I am a sinner, and have sinned against you. I believe you loved me enough to send your
Son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He rose from the dead so that I can live. Forgive me of my sins and come into my life
and help me to live for you. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
Keep watching.
