Pentecost, Shavout, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Harvest - 2015

Pentecost, Shavout, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Harvest  May 24, 2015 

Lev 23:10-11 NKJV  "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.  (11)  He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 

Lev 23:14 NKJV  You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 

Lev 23:15-16 NKJV  '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.  (16)  Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. 

Deu 16:9-10 NKJV  "You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain.  (10)  Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. 

This grain offering was referred to as the Omer 

We are told to count forty-nine days beginning from the day on which the Omer, a sacrifice containing an omer-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, up until the day before an offering of wheat was brought to the Temple on Shavuot or from Passover to Pentecost.    

Barley Harvest is the time of Passover.  Wheat Harvest is about 50 days after Barley harvest, May to June time, Pentecost.   

Numbers 28:26 NKJV  'Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. 

Later it was given the title “Pentecost” in the New Testament based on the Septuagint’s translation of the “50 days” (Lev 23:16). (Count fifty days which we just read)   

This period marks the beginning of the barley harvest when, in ancient times, Jews would bring the first sheaves to the Temple as a means of thanking God for the harvest. The word Omer literally means “sheaf” and refers to these early offerings. An  

Omer is a unit of measure. 

Exodus 16:36 NKJV  Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah. 

The priests know this period as the Counting of the Omer. An Omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering.  

Typically, the priests from the Temple, in preparation of the sheaf offering for all the people would perform the following.  

1.   The spring harvest season could not begin until the wave-sheaf offering was made to and accepted by God

2.   They would initially select a bundle of barley from the field, as a type of firstfruits selection.

3.   From this selected and tied barley bundle; on the evening of the Sabbath (as the Sabbath was coming to an end and on the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread),

4.   A cutting from the barley bundle was performed by the priests.

5.   They would take this bundle and cut out or select out about three pints worth and bring it into the Temple.

6.   This cut out or selected out portion was called the sheaf.

7.   There in the Temple the sheaf was prepared, ground into barley flour.

8.   This preparing was performed throughout the night.

9.   The fine barley flour was then presented to the Eternal at the Wave Sheaf offering ceremony during the day.

10.                  God would accept the offering

Important:  The sheaf was not burned on the alter, but only presented symbolically before God.  

The preparing of the Sheaf took place during the night of the first day of the week, on the morrow after the Sabbath, and during the day it was waved before the Eternal. 

We have to remember, is the fact that the sheaf was part of the firstfruits; the sheaf was taken from among a portion of the firstfruits. The firstfruits is considered dedicated and holy unto God.  

The sheaf considered holy and dedicated unto God, but with one greater distinction. The sheaf is the first of the firstfruits;  

The sheaf is the lead, the head of the firstfruits, taking precedence among the firstfruits;  

We find this same term used in the Bible-describing Jesus Christ! "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep"  

1Cor 15:20 NKJV  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

We also find that Jesus Christ is called "the firstborn over all creation" and "the firstborn from the dead"  

Col 1:15, 18 NKJV  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  (18)  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 

As the wave-sheaf offering represented Jesus Christ, so did these loaves represent God's spiritual firstfruits, those who are called and faithfully obey God in this life  

James 1:18 NKJV  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 

As the wave-sheaf offering was the necessary forerunner of the Pentecost offering, so was Jesus Christ the necessary forerunner of God's people, who are His spiritual firstfruits. 

In like manner, the Holy Spirit was not poured out on humanity until after Jesus returned to the Father  

Acts 1:1-8 NKJV  The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  (2)  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,  (3)  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.  (4)  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;  (5)  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now 

(8)  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

 

Even after His resurrection, Jesus Christ would not let His followers not to touch Him until after He had gone or returned to His Father  

John 20:17 NKJV  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " 

Only after Jesus had risen to the Father and returned to them again were they allowed to touch Him. 

John 20:19-20 NKJV  Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."  (20)  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 

The Omer Count was used to mark the 50^th day of the growing season.  A special offering that involved waving of the two loaves of bread symbolized the occasion.  This is when the priests used leavened bread.   

What we covered is known as “Counting the Omer”  (49 days + 1 days)  which is always ends on a Sunday. 

Exodus 23:14-16 NKJV  "Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:  (15)  You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);  (16)  and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. 

Leviticus 23:17 NKJV  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. 

(20)  The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.  (21)  And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 

vs. 17 Only use of Leavened Bread! Two loaves: (Jew & Gentile) 

Did you notice, Leaven?  This is the only case where leavened bread is specified! This gives the feast a non-Jewish flavor…with All nations which are Gentiles? 

Something to think about, Pentecost is 50 days after the day after the Sabbath. That puts it at 50 days after the Resurrection! Therefore, Pentecost is measured from and relates to, not the Lord’s death, but His Resurrection.  

What did Jesus tell His disciples.  We read in: 

Acts 1:3-5 NKJV  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.  (4)  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;  (5)  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 

·      Jesus was with them for 40 days. 

·      He said not to depart from Jerusalem, wait there, they were to tarry. 

·      Why, because of the Promise of the Father. 

·      Baptized with the Holy Spirit 

This is the only place that mentions the period of time between the resurrection and the ascension. 

Why, Jesus told his disciples of His “going away.” Jesus needs to go away to allow the Holy Spirit to come 

John 16:7-11 NKJV  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.   

Jesus does show that the Holy Spirit is sent in a very special and unique way to the Church. 

The Nation of Israel counting of the Omer was intended to remind them of the link between Passover, with the Exodus, and Shavu'ot, with the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai.   

On the Feast of Firstfruits, the priest waved a sheaf of grain before the Lord; but on Pentecost, he presented two loaves of bread.  Because at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit baptized the believers and united them into one body, the Church.   

The Church is the Lord’s Body of believers. 

Two Loaves, with Leaven: This explains the presence of two loaves of bread Jews (Israel) and Gentiles.  The Jewish believers received this baptism at Pentecost, and the Gentile believers in the home of Cornelius.  

1Co 10:17 NKJV  For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 

Acts 2:1-4 NKJV  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2)  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3)  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Acts 11:12 NKJV  Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house (Cornelius the centurion). 

Acts 11:15-18 NKJV  And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.  (16)  Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  (17)  If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"  (18)  When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." 

Act 11:19 NKJV  Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 

When we hear about Pentecost or Shavuot or Feast of Harvest or Feast of Weeks (same day, but different names.)  

Jewish custom of always reading each year the Book of Ruth at the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), which the Book of Ruth is a prophecy of Jesus Christ and the Church. 

The Law of Levirate Marriage for the kinsman (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). [The Book of Ruth is the example: Boaz redeems the land for Naomi, and purchases Ruth (a Gentile) as his bride.  

Act 2:16 KJV  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  (17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  

The prophet Joel explains Pentecost 

Joel 2:28-29 NKJV  "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.  (29)  And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 

“pour out My Spirit on all flesh”  This began at Pentecost, but has not yet happen to the Nation of Israel. 

This is what Joel meant in his prophecy—there is a day coming when God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, not just some. 

The Spirit was poured out upon very few on the Day of Pentecost.  The Spirit has come upon a few, and today God is calling out a people for His name. 

We are to receive “A new heart...a new spirit”: not to repair the heart, but a new heart 

Ezekiel 18:31 NKJV  Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 

On Pentecost, 120 believers met and 3000 more were added. 

Acts 1:15 NKJV  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 

Acts 2:41 NKJV  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

The baptism with the Holy Spirit brought in a new Age, the Church Age, the “Age of the Spirit” The Baptism is of the Body of Christ on Pentecost. It is this baptism of the Holy Spirit which places a believer into the body of believers, which we sometimes refer to as the church. 

1Co 12:12-13 NKJV  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not yet glorified. The Holy Spirit did not come until the Day of Pentecost. Then He came to indwell believers and to form them into one body. The coming of the Holy Spirit on that day assures us that Jesus had arrived back at the Father’s throne and has been glorified. 

John 7:39 NKJV  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Jas 1:18 NKJV  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 

Rev 14:4-5 NKJV  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.  (5)  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. 

Rev 5:10 NKJV  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." 

Rev 19:6-8 NKJV  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering’s, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  (7)  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."  (8)  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 

Rev 19:9 NKJV  Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."