New Moon and Aviv Barley 2011

The barley was seen Aviv on March 31, 2011 in the Jordan Valley: Source

The New Moon was sighted today, April 4th in Israel, which means that April 4/5th is Nisan 1 – the first Biblical month of the Year. This officially puts Passover to begin at sunset Israel time, April 18th. Source

This means that the Lord’s Passover is Nisan 14th (April 18 sunset to April 19 sunset), Unleavened Bread begins on Nisan 15 (April 19 sunset to April 20 sunset) and continues for 7 days (including day 1). The Feast of First Fruits is on April 24 sunset to April 25 sunset and that then begins the Omer count to Pentecost which will be on June 12th. Leviticus 23

Exciting days ahead, keep looking UP!

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Tu B’Av: A Romantic Celebration

I came across a post online after watching a video that mentioned this holiday. My interest was peaked with thoughts of the Rapture of the Church. Here is what I saw:

Tu B’Av – 15th of Av

Holiday of Romance and Love

Some History behind Tu B’Av

1. Tu B’Av marked the end of the “desert generation.”

The Torah relates that the entire generation of Israelites rescued from Egypt was sentenced to die while in the desert (Parashat Shelach). According to the Midrash Eichah Rabbah, every year until the fortieth year, on the eve of the Ninth of Av, Moses would command the people, “Go out and dig,” and the people would leave the camp, dig graves, and sleep in them overnight. The following morning a messenger would proclaim, “Let the living separate from the dead!” Fifteen thousand would die that very night, but the survivors would return to the camp for another year.

This occurred year after year, but in the fortieth year no one died. Since they thought they might have miscalculated the days, they slept in their graves an additional night. This went on for five nights until the fifteenth of Av, when they saw the full moon, realized that there calculations were correct, and rejoiced that no more of the first generation would die. They subsequently declared Tu B’Av a day of celebration. The “desert generation” had finally died off and the new generation was finally ready to enter the land!

The Talmud (Bava Batra 121b) also states that while the first generation was dying out, the LORD did not speak to Moses, except through the Urim and Thummim.

2. Tu B’Av marked the time when the tribes of Israel were permitted to intermarry.

The first generation of Israelites that entered the land to receive their portion of land were instructed to intermarry only within their own tribe, unless the woman to be married had at least one brother (Numbers 36:7-9). However, the Talmud (Bava Batra 121a) states that on Tu B’Av the next generation of women was granted permission to marry whomever they desired (within Israel), since the land had been allocated among the various tribes.

3. Tu B’Av marked the restoration of the tribe of Benjamin.

On Tu B’Av the leaders of Israel allowed the tribe of Benjamin to repopulate (after their civil war with the other tribes of Israel) by allowing the surviving 600 males to marry “daughters from Shiloh” (Judges 21:16-24). [Shiloh was the first capital of Israel.] After the war it was pledged that no one would willingly give his daughter to a Benjaminite, but the decision was made to “look the other way” should a Benjamite male ran off with a girl who was dancing in Shiloh. In this way the tribe of Benjamin was saved from extinction.

Later, the leaders of Israel repealed this ban and said that the pledge applied only to those men who had taken the oath, and intermarriage with Benjamin was permitted.

4. Tu B’Av became a time of great celebration in Jerusalem.

Just as Yom Kippur demonstrated the reconciliation of Israel to the LORD after the incident of the Golden Calf, Tu B’Av was celebrated as the time of reconciliation for the Sin of the 10 spies (Parashat Shelach). Therefore Tu B’Av became a joyous time celebrating our forgiveness and restoration to the LORD. The Talmud (Mishna Ta’anit 4:8) states “Israel had no holidays as joyous as Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur, when the young women of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards.”

Later, Tu B’Av became known as a time of summer dancing and a courtship celebration. In a sort of romantic masquerade, the girls would exchange white clothing with one another so that their prospects would not know who could afford expensive dresses and who was only borrowing them.

In recent years this practice has been revived and Jewish girls from Shiloh (located about 40 minutes north of Jerusalem) dance in the same vineyards, while Chassidic musical artists provide entertainment.
5. Tu B’Av marked the end of Jeroboam’s blockade against Jerusalem.

King Jeroboam son of Nebat (Yerovam ben Nevat) was a king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (922-901 BC), an evil ruler who enticed Israel into idolatry and forbade worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. His roadblocks were in place until they were finally removed by Israel’s last king, Hoshea the son of Elah (732-722 BC), who declared free passage to Jerusalem (Ta’anit 30a). According to tradition, these roadblocks were removed on the 15th of Av.

6. Tu B’Av marked the time of “Breaking of the Hatchets.”

After the Babylonian exile, Ezra and Nehemiah came to rebuild the First Temple but found the land desolate and all the trees uprooted by the enemy. They needed wood for the altar offerings, and contributions of wood came to be known as “wood offerings.” These offerings were celebratory events, similar to firstfruit offerings.

Tu B’Av came to be known as the “Day of the breaking of hatchets” since after this date it was forbidden to cut down trees for use in the Temple fires (Ta’anit 31a). Wood used to fuel the altar had to be entirely dried out, but after Tu B’Av the days become shorter and there was not enough sunlight to dry out freshly cut logs. By this date, then, all the cutting of the wood for the altar was completed and the supply was replenished until the next summer.

7. Tu B’Av marked the end of the year for planting.

Tu B’Av was instituted (in the Second Temple period) to mark the beginning of the grape harvest, which ended on Yom Kippur. It was also the time when planting of trees and crops was to end for the year (trees planted after this date are considered to take root after Rosh Hashanah, and therefore belong to the following year for the purposes of the Sabbatical Year).

8. Tu B’Av marks the final Jewish Holiday of the year.

On the Jewish calendar, Tu B’Av occurs a week after Tishah B’Av – the culmination of the three weeks of sorrow – and traditionally marks the end of summer and all of the holidays of the Jewish year. Moreover, Tu B’Av acts as a sort of preface to the month of Elul when the cycle of holidays begins again with Rosh Hashanah. As such it marks the last celebration of the current Jewish year, and is a time of happiness and joy.

Since it falls on the fifteenth of the month, Tu B’Av is a night of the full moon. Since the ninth of Av (Tishah B’Av) recalls the history of Jewish tragedy, the full moon of Av is said to represent the transformation of tragedy into joy.

9. Tu B’Av marks a time of romance and love in modern Israel.

In modern day Israel it is customary to send a bouquet of red roses to the one you love on Tu B’Av. Romantic songs are played on the radio and parties are held in the evening throughout the country. In addition, Tu b’Av is a popular date for Jews to hold weddings (and they are not required to fast before the wedding on this day either).

10. Tu B’Av prophetically pictures the Marriage of the Lamb of God.

Since it is the “last” festival of the Jewish year, prophetically Tu B’Av pictures our marriage to the Lamb of God (Seh Elohim), the LORD Yeshua our beloved Mashiach:

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God” (Revelation 19:6-9).

On a soon-coming day those who belong to the LORD and are faithful to follow His ways will be blessed with the unspeakable joy of consummating their relationship with Him. This is heaven itself – to be in the Presence of the LORD and to be His beloved. The analogy of a joyous Jewish marriage, with the sheva berachot (intimating the seven years of rapture before terrible the Day of the LORD at the end of the Great Tribulation), is our great and blessed hope (Titus 2:13).

source

Pentecost 2010 Date

Ok… I really wasn’t trying to focus on the actual date of Pentecost this year because it never fails that everyone continues to be wrong.

The Jewish Calendar said it was on May 19th which could not be farther from Biblical truth… Pentecost MUST fall on a Sunday, the day after the Sabbath (Saturday). No matter when it is otherwise… it must be on a Sunday. Check Leviticus 23.

Ok, so from what I had heard regarding the moon sighting and the barley being aviv… I calculated as did many others that it would fall on May 23rd of this year.

Well, there are other studies out in the webisphere that point to it being on June 20th of this year. Ok, there is one a friend of mine sent me that talks about it being on May 31st but in reading that, I do not know where they pulled that one out of their hat.

Seriously though, it is possible for it to be on June 20th of 2010 and I would like to point you to an article written by one of my friends, Stephen. See what you think.

Many believe, as I have shared here, that the rapture could happen on Pentecost of this year. Well, if it is on June 20th like my friend suggests… there would still be hope for that. We will see when it comes but it never hurts to hope for our blessed hope and watch as we are commanded to do.

So, check out his post on the subject and while you are there… look around. He has some very amazing things on his site. Honestly, there are not too many sites that blow me away but his is one of them.

Here is the link: Rapture Watch

A Rosh Hashanah Rapture

Have you ever wondered about the Jewish Festivals in the Bible? Have you ever heard of them having a prophetic relevance for the Jews and the Christians? Has anyone you know ever made claims regarding the Rapture of the Church happening on a Jewish Holiday?

Well, in this study I will attempt to cover the topic of the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah and it’s prophetic significance / correlation to the Rapture of the Christian Church as some believe. For the record, I do believe that there is a very strong possibility for this and though I may make suggestions in this post regarding this year being a great possibility, this is not written in stone… so, please take note of this before writing to me regarding false prophecies, etc.

So, before we get into this study further… I would like to pre-address the argument regarding that no man will know the day or the hour, which some cling to so that they can have comfort in the fact that they are not “watching”. It reminds me of the stance that ignorance is bliss because if you know the truth, then you are accountable for the truth and that means effort and acknowledgment. For this, I would like to point you first to the scripture that most rely on 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and then I would like for you to pay very close attention to this scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, which should clarify our position as the Church verses those outside the Church as in the first verse. A decent site for debate reference would be HERE, which goes into detail regarding defending the Rapture theology. There are plenty of scripture verses used in this reference site, so I encourage you to endulge yourself in your study. Another site for studying the relevance of a Rosh Hashana Rapture would be HERE.

As you will see, some of the practices I list here are based in scriptures that I can find and others are instituted through traditions. To make myself clear up front, I do not necessarily condone tradition as a Biblical standard. I am only listing the traditions practiced here for references and to gain a better insight as to how the Jewish people view and practice the Biblical Holidays for a possible deeper understanding behind the meanings for prophetic significance of the Holidays.

Also, as a disclaimer… I do not necessarily agree with 100% of what the reference links state, whether in written/spoken or applied infurance. I have only referred to what is particularly relevant to this study as a whole and anything beyond that is at your own judgment.

Now, to begin… there is a period of 30 days before Rosh Hashanah in which the Jewish people begin repenting in preparation for the coming High Holy-days. This is called Teshuvah. Teshuvah begins on Elul 1. When you put together the 30 days prior to Rosh Hashanah and the 10 days to conclude Yom Kippur, you get 40 days of repentance… Does this sound familiar (*Israel – 40 years in the desert, *Jesus – 40 days of fasting on the mount)? Another interesting point is that we are currently in the 40th (Jewish) year from the time that Israel conquered Jerusalem and then immediately gave it back. Could this be a 40 year time of the Gentiles running the promised land spoken of in Luke 21:24?

In this video, you can gain a little history behind understanding when Rosh Hashanah is calculated as well as other months and days according to the Jewish calendar.

Leviticus 23:24-25 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work [therein]: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Rosh Hashanah is a fall Jewish festival, which is celebrated for two days, Tishri 1 and Tishri 2 (September – October on the Gregorian calendar). Click here for the current Jewish Calendar. Rosh Hashanah is a new moon festival, which begins a new year on the Jewish calendar and this is the reason why they celebrate this holiday for two days because of the need to spot the new moon and the Jews in the Diaspora (dispersed Jews). This holiday was so important because it was a major marker for the Jews to get right with God before He judged them on Yom Kippur for the year to come. Therefore, in order to recognize it on the right day and to get word to the Jews outside of the Holy Land, they observed it on two days. In doing so, the Jews reserve the observance of Rosh Hashanah as one long day and not two separate days.

As with all Jewish festivals and days in general, they begin at sunset the day before and go through to sunset the day of. So, Rosh Hashanah in 2008 is to begin on September 29th… this means that it begins at sunset September 28th. Now, because it is celebrated for 2 days, it would end at sunset on September 30th. The Jewish people begin their celebrations and end them around 6 pm to keep the hours of the day equal even though sunset on some days may not be until 7pm or 8pm, etc. For an accurate sunset time, you can check out this link. To see what time sunset is in correlation to your area, you can click HERE for the world clock.

Leviticus 23:27-28 Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God… (continues through verse 32)

In the verse above, you see that the very next observance is what is called Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. The days between Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1) and Yom Kippur (Tishri 10) are known as the Days of Awe. These are days (High Holy-days) in which the Jewish people basically plead before God so that He will forgive them on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). [a last ditch effort for cleansing if you will].

Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first [day] of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

Now, as you can see in the verse above as well as in Leviticus 23, on this Holy Day, the Jewish people were required to blow the shofar. The Shofar is a rams horn, which is blown for different reasons on different occasions. You can see a Shofar in the picture below.

For Rosh Hashana, the Shofar was blown in a certain way, which can be heard HERE. In Psalm 150:3 the word “sound” is translated from the word teqa` , which is pronounced “tā·kah’ “. You can find out more in depth regarding strongs translation HERE. According to a source, the root for tekiah means “blast” and this is the first sound made on the Shofar. This article also states that:

The second sound made with the sofar is called shevarim, which means “broken.” Broken is a good way to describe this sound. It is intended to portray a person who is crying. Thus, rabbinic tradition states the purpose for shevarim is to remind people of the need for repentance. True repentance is only possible once someone is broken before God.

The third sound is called teruah, which means “alarm.” Teruah is made by sounding at least nine short staccato blasts on the shofar. This sound is intended to alert the hearer to impending danger or some other type of ominous event.

The article goes on to state that these blasts are in recognition of God as Creator, a Father who forgives and a Judge who is coming to judge the entire earth. The article also states that the most associated part of the Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah, is one of an awakening blast to resurrect the dead. Regarding this fourth blast, the article states:

Rabbinic literature teaches that it is God who will resurrect the dead and redeem man with the sound of the Shofar…

…The fourth sound made upon the shofar sounds exactly as tekiah, except that it is sounded for as long as one can hold his breath. This is the sound that many believe will announce the resurrection. For that reason, it is called tekiah hagadolah, which means “the great blast,” or as some would refer to it – “the last trump.”

Regarding the different names which refer to Rosh Hashanah, I will quote a source in the following (underline emphasis mine):

Rosh Hashanah literally means Head of the Year.

Other names for Rosh Hashanah include…
Jewish New Year
Feast of Trumpets
Feast of the Last Trump
Feast of the Born Again
Yom Ha’Zikkaron – Day of Remembrance
Yom Teruah – Day of the Awakening Blast
Yom HaDin – Day of Judgment
Yom HaMelech – Day of the King – the Coronation
Yom HaKiseh – the Hidden Day (referring to the New or Hidden Moon).

Yeshua said no man knows the day or the hour.  This was actually an indication that the “catching away” would take place on this “hidden” festival.

Two other sites, HERE and HERE as well as HERE, adds to the list of name references such as:

The Shout
The Open Door – of the rapture in Matthew 25, and Revelation 3 and Revelation 4:1 is a symbol of the Feast of Trumpets. [Ezekial 46:1] “Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
A Thief in the Night – “Of that day and hour no man knows, but my Father only” is an expression used by a groom when asked when his wedding will be. He says this because it is his Father that will tell him when his preparations on the bridal chamber are completed and it is time. Again, the wedding pictures the rapture.
Teshuvah – Repentance
The Time of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) Trouble – (the birthpains of the Messiah, Chevlai shel Mashiach)
Kiddushin/Nesu’in – (the wedding ceremony)
The Resurrection of the dead – (Rapture/Natzal)

Rosh Hashanah also is referred to in themes… kind of a scene behind the scene. Those themes are as follows:

1. The Rapture – Catching away of the Bride of Christ

This is the topic that we will be focusing on here today. As stated previously in the names for Rosh Hashanah, the one that would be most recognized to this event would be the feast of the Last Trump as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.

2. Resurrection of the dead

As one of the names for the festival of Rosh Hashanah, which fits this theme is Yom Teruah – Day of the Awakening Blast. As the feast of Trumpets, in Jerusalem, when the trumpets would sound, the workers would stop what they were doing and immediately enter the temple. Rosh Hashanah is a time of rest, worship and marriage as you can see from the references here.

3. The Kings coronation

Again referring to the multiple names held for Rosh Hashana, we must associate this theme to that of Yom HaMelech – Day of the King – the Coronation.

4. The Marriage (the Messiah and His Bride)

You can find out more on this at my post HERE.

5. The birthday of the world

The Jewish people believe this day (Tishri 1) to be the day that God created the world, therefore it begins a new year.

Many believe that the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur represent the tribulation period of 7 days = 7 years. Yom Kippur last for 3 days and we will cover that in a different study.

According to this source, the Jewish beliefs regarding the festival of Rosh Hashana correlate with the belief of a rapture/resurrection occurring on this day.

Jewish eschatology is consistent with this view. The Rabbis taught that when 6000 years (or six “days”) of human history are completed, the seventh day, the Day of the Lord will come. On the Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 1, the shofar will sound and all the righteous, both dead and alive will be resurrected. The righteous will go to the “gates” for the coronation of the King, the Messiah and then be united with the Messiah as His bride.

We are currently in the year 5769 according to the Jewish calendar and that ends on Rosh Hashanah 2008. Also something to consider is that this is what they call a Sabbatical year. Many believe that the Lord Messiah will return in a Sabbatical year, therefore, if the Rapture of the Church is 7 years before the Lord’s return… that means the Rapture is also in a Sabbatical year. Many also believe that the Lord’s second coming will be on Yom Kippur, which leaves Rosh Hashanah open for the fulfillment of the Rapture. You can do further research on this by clicking HERE. This link also includes the study that has made its way around the world a few times now regarding the solar and lunar eclipses in the last days. This article will include some videos as well.

Probably one of the strongest indications of how close we are to the Rapture of the Church, possibly being this year is that of the news around the world. All countries are now aligning themselves on one pole or another in this third world war. All of the countries predicted throughout the Bible that will go against Israel in the last days are now creating alliances with each other and the focus of the world is on Israel… just as predicted. I wish that I could go deep into all of that topic here, however, it is much too long for this post. Please check out my links page (tab) above to research that topic.

The following is a study series in 3 parts regarding Rosh Hashanah and the Rapture:

Part I

Part II

Part III

To Be Continued…

What is the date of Pentecost (Shavuot) 2008?

I am writing this as an update (edit) to my original post: the Feast of Pentecost and the Rapture of the Church concerning the date of Pentecost (Shavuot) 2008.

In my original post, I began counting the 50 days, from the Sabbath between the Passover (April 20th) and First Fruits (April 27) as opposed to the Sabbath (Saturday) which follows the Feast of First Fruits. Therefore, I came up with the date of June 8, 2008 for Pentecost. The actual date is Sunday, June 15, 2008.

According to Leviticus 23:15-16, we are to count from the morrow after the first Sabbath which follows the Passover, which is the feast of First Fruits. There are to be 7 Sabbaths completed, even unto the morrow (the day after the Sabbath). [Seven Sabbaths after First Fruits]

Leviticus 23:15-16

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days [*Omer]; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Passover was on April 20, 2008
Feast of First Fruits was on April 27, 2008

The seven Sabbaths (Saturdays) are:

1. May 3, 2008 (begin counting the *Omer)
2. May 10, 2008
3. May 17, 2008
4. May 24, 2008
5. May 31, 2008
6. June 7, 2008
7. June 14, 2008

The morrow (day after) the 7th Sabbath (Saturday) June 14, 2008 is (Sunday) June 15, 2008. That means that June 15, 2008 is Pentecost (Shavuot).

If you would like to read my full study on this subject “The Feast of Pentecost and the Rapture of the Church”, you can click these links below:
Part I
Part II

 

The Feast of Pentecost and The Rapture of the Church Part II

Click here for Part I

I have found an article that goes into a little more detail in some areas of my previous study, which can be found here.

Instead of going over the entire article that I just found, I am going to refer to the parts pertaining to my previous study.

Hebrews 10:30-31,35-39 “For we know Him that said, vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Below is an excerpt from the above article:

…For the enlightenment and benefit of our readers, a literal word for word rendering of Habakkuk 2:2-3 follows exactly as it is worded in the Hebrew text of the Bible,

2: And answered me Jehovah and said, Write the vision, and engrave it on the tablets, so that he may run who is reading it.

3: For still the vision is for the appointed festival, but it pants to the end, and does not lie. Though it hesitates, wait for it; for surely it will come; it will not tarry.

Please compare this literal rendering with the wording recorded in the King James Bible. Notice the words “appointed time” in the KJV. These words are translated from the Hebrew word, “mowadah.” This Hebrew word literally means “appointed festival.” See Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, page 457, Strong’s No. 4150.

For any reader willing to deal honestly with God’s Word, this should settle the question of whether or not the Lord is coming on a Jewish Holy Day. This verse explicitly states that the vision of the Lord’s coming is to be fulfilled on “the appointed festival.” In view of this explicit statement, we need not expect the Lord to come at any other time than on a Jewish Festival, for the Lord never violates His own Word…

The Festival of Unleavened Bread

The instructions for observing this festival are given in Exodus 12:14-20 and Leviticus 23:6-14, with specific instructions being given in Leviticus 23:9-14 for the “firstfruits” offering. This observance is also mentioned in several other related passages. What I especially want our readers to notice in the course of this festival is the observance of the “firstfruits” offering.

The “firstfruits” offering was a “sheaf” [omer] of barley, the first grain ripe in Israel in the Spring of the year. There was always some of this grain ripe by Passover. This first ripe barley was gathered in from the field, and the grain was beaten out of the husks until there was an “omer” of barley. The “omer” full of the first ripe barley was then brought to the priest officiating in the Tabernacle [later in the Temple].

The Scriptures tell us that “on the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover, the priest would take this “omer” of barley into the Tabernacle, and standing before the veil which separated the holy place from the “holiest of all,” would lift up the “omer” of barley towards Heaven as high as he could reach, and would “wave the sheaf” [omer] vigorously back and forth before the veil “to be accepted for you, 23:11. The Lord Himself called it a “wave offering” in Leviticus 23:15. Glory to God!

Please dear readers, in this study I am only presenting those facts about the “wave offering” of the “firstfruits” which are necessary to give our readers an understanding of what the offering foreshadowed. You can study all the details for yourself.

The Fulfillment of Firstfruits

If you are a true Bible believer then you know that just as the Israelites sacrificed a lamb on that first Passover [and each Passover thereafter], so 1,517 years later the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29, was sacrificed on Passover in 30 A.D.

Three days and three nights after Christ was crucified, just as the 17th day of Abib ended and the 18th day began, “on the morrow after the sabbath” following the Passover, the Lord Jesus Christ came forth from the tomb, triumphant over death, hell, and the grave, Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-6; Luke 24:1-7; John 20. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Now here is where the events really get interesting. For on that same first day of the week, “the morrow after the sabbath,” the Scriptures state, “many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many,” Matthew 28:52-53. Folks, these were the “firstfruits” [plural] of the resurrection, which included Christ Himself, 1 Corinthians 15:20, all of which were foreshadowed by the “omer” of barley. Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! But let’s put it all together.

According to John 20:1-18, on that glorious “first day of the week” when Christ arose, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, “when it was yet dark,” and found the tomb empty. She ran and told Peter and John and they came to the tomb and also found it empty. Peter and John then left the tomb, but Mary remained at the tomb weeping. The Lord then appeared to her, identifying Himself, and saying to her, “Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” It is then obvious that at that specific time on that resurrection morning, the Lord had not yet ascended to the Father.

However, according to Matthew 28:1-10, just a few hours [or a few minutes…??] later the Lord met “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” as they were going to tell the other disciples what the angel had told them, “And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him.” Folks, in that interval of time the Lord had ascended into Heaven itself [Hebrews 9:24], where He presented His blood to the Father, and also presented to the Father “the firstfruits of them that slept,” all of which were received and accepted by the Father, and then the Lord returned to earth to meet the two Mary’s. Glory to God!

Folks, it certainly appears that Christ and the “firstfruit” saints were standing before the Father’s throne in Heaven that morning at the very same time that the Jewish priest was standing in the Temple waving the “firstfruits” barley offering before a veil that was standing wide open [Mark 15:38], clearly signifying that the way into Heaven itself was now open for all who will believe, Hebrews 10:19-20. Remember that the Scriptures explicitly state that this offering was “to be accepted for you.” Folks, it is the blood of our risen Christ that makes the truly repentant believer “accepted” by the Heavenly Father, Ephesians 1:3-7. Glory! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Glory to God! “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6.

Folks, there are two things here I want you to notice. First, it is obvious that the “wave offering” of the “firstfruits” of the “omer” of barley on “the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover clearly foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ and those “firstfruits” saints who came out of their graves after His resurrection. Second, this observance marked the beginning of the barley harvest.

Now let’s look at the other Jewish Festival…..

The Festival of Harvest

This Jewish Festival is known today as “Pentecost.” It is referred to in the Scriptures as “the feast of harvest,” Exodus 23:16, and also as “the feast of weeks,” Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10; 16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13. It is the only other Jewish Festival during the course of the Jewish year where a “wave offering” taken from the barley harvest was presented to the Lord. Didn’t we just see that the “wave offering” of the barley foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of Christ and the “firstfruits” of God’s people? Then what do you think the second “wave offering” of barley foreshadows? Well..??

The instructions for the observance of Pentecost are recorded in Leviticus 23:15-21. The word “Pentecost” simply means “fifty.” This is because the “wave offering” on Pentecost came fifty days after the “firstfruits” wave offering on “the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover. Both “wave offerings” were regarded as “firstfruits” to the Lord, Leviticus 23:17; 23:20. .

On this “appointed festival” two loaves of barley bread were to be brought “out of your habitations” [homes] to the priest, Leviticus 23:17. The priest would take these two loaves of barley bread into the Tabernacle [or Temple], and standing before the veil would “wave” them before the Lord, just as he had “waved” the “omer” of barley 50 days previously. What does this foreshadow? Let’s see…..

The Waving of the Loaves

These two barley loaves had been baked “with leaven,” Leviticus 23:17. This is the only place in all of God’s Word where the Jewish people were explicitly told to use “leaven.” In God’s Word “leaven” is a type of sin. It never typifies anything but sin in God’s Word, Matthew 13:33; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Because leaven typifies sin, the Jews were explicitly forbidden from using “leaven” in all of their offerings to the Lord, except this one. Why this exception?

This exception was made because, just as the “omer” of barley typified the Lord and the “firstfruit” saints, these loaves also typify God’s people. In what way? Folks, true believers are now saints who were once sinners. The only people the Lord saves are sinners. The Lord doesn’t save so-called “good people” [Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23]. He only saves men and women, boys and girls, who realize and confess that they are “dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1; 2:8-9. Then, having believed His Word and repented, the Holy Spirit comes into the repentant believer’s body and takes up His abode, John 14:16-17. And, just as the fire in the Jewish ovens baked the leaven out of those loaves of barley bread, so the fire of God’s Holy Spirit [which was given on Pentecost] bakes the SIN out of the life of the truly repentant believer. Glory! Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

These two loaves of barley bread then served two purposes.

First, they signified the end of the barley harvest which had been harvested over the past 50 days. Note this well!

Second, just as the “waving” of the “omer” of barley clearly foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of the Lord Jesus Christ and the saints who came out of their graves after His resurrection, so the “waving” of these two barley loaves foreshadows the resurrection and rapture of God’s people [true believers] saved during this present Dispensation of Grace. Folks, the barley harvest is a type of the Dispensation of Grace. Just as the two barley loaves “waved before the Lord” at Pentecost signified the end of the barley harvest, so they also foreshadowed the end of “the fullness of the Gentiles” [Romans 11:25], and therefore the resurrection and rapture of “the dead in Christ” and “the living in Christ.” There are your two loaves! See John 11:25-26 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Now let’s examine some additional proof in God’s Word of what I am presenting, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Ruth…..The Gentile Bride

Any serious Bible student knows that Ruth is a type of the Gentile bride of Christ, and that Boaz is a type of Christ. The entire Book of Ruth is filled with Scriptures teaching these truths. Study it for yourself.

When Ruth [the Gentile] returned to the land of Israel with Naomi [the Jewess] “….. they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley harvest,” Ruth 1:22. This gives us the time period involved in this account. The real story of Ruth began on or near Passover and the observance of “firstfruits.”

How and when does the story set forth in the Book of Ruth end? It ends with Ruth’s espousal [and subsequent marriage] to Boaz “in the threshing floor” of Boaz, where Boaz “winnoweth barley,” Ruth 3:2. Folks, that is exactly what the Lord is doing today. He is separating the barley from the chaff [true believers from mere “religionists”] in preparation for the marriage. Glory to God! Hallelujah!

After the espousal had been made on or near the end of the barley harvest [Pentecost], Boaz placed “six measures of barley” on the shoulders of Ruth, and “she went into the city.” Could the six measures of barley be a type of the saved during the 6000 years of human history? 2 Peter 3:8. Could her going “into the city” foreshadow our entering into the New Jerusalem? Folks, Ruth is a type of the Gentile bride of Christ; the Lord’s church, Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 11:2. Christ is coming after His bride just as He promised [John 14:1-3], and “they that are Christ’s” shall be “caught up…..to meet the Lord in the air,” 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. When? On Pentecost!

The Samaritan Woman

In John 4 the Lord met the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob [the well of living water]. The Samaritan woman was looked down upon by the Jews, for they considered her to be a “goyim;” a Gentile dog. The Lord revealed Himself to this Gentile woman as the promised Messiah of Israel and the great “I AM.” [Check the actual way John 4:26 is worded in the Greek text].

The Samaritan woman then went into the city and proclaimed, “Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Folks, this is exactly what the Lord’s church has been doing the past 2,000 years; inviting the lost world to come to Christ. Some readers may object to using this adulterous woman as a type of the Lord’s church. I suggest that before you become too “self-righteous and holy” you ought to read Paul’s inspired statement to the church in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. When a repentant sinner is “justified,” they become as spiritually pure as if they had never known sin. Sure this woman had previously had five husbands and was living in open sin with a man right then, but has it ever occurred to some of you that Ruth wasn’t a “virgin” either. She also had been previously married. Yet she is a wonderful type of the pure, virtuous Gentile bride of Christ. So is the Samaritan woman. Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

Now notice that the Lord’s disciples came on the scene and urged the Lord to eat. The Lord’s reply in John 4:34-36 is so enlightening.

“…..My meat [food] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”

Folks, Christ Himself is the “sower” who began sowing the seed at the beginning of the harvest season. He said so Himself in Matthew 13:37. He is also the “reaper” who brings the harvest to an end. That is exactly what He is stating in John 4:34. He is the One who will “finish the work” that He began. Praise the Lord!

But when is the work to be finished? Folks, it is exactly four months between the Festival of Pentecost and the Festival of Tabernacles. Count it for yourself. So it is obvious that the Lord met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well on the day of Pentecost. Folks, the Festival of Tabernacles is the celebration of all the completed harvests [barley…wheat…grape] at the end of the year. But there, on the day of Pentecost, the Lord explicitly told His disciples, “DO NOT SAY…..There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest….” The Lord told His disciples the harvest was ready right then and was being reaped that day. What day? The day of Pentecost!

Folks, the Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His New Testament saints to glory at the end of the barley harvest on the day of Pentecost. Glory! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

But what about…..

Rosh Ha-Shanah

“That is the day the trumpets are blown, and the rapture is clearly associated with the blowing of a trumpet, so it must be the day the rapture will occur. Right?”

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! If God’s people would seriously get into God’s Word, they would find that the trumpets were blown on every Jewish holy day. Read it for yourself. The inspired instructions for making and using the trumpets are given in Numbers 10:1-10. Verse 10 explicitly states, “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Folks, the trumpets were blown on every day of significance to the Jewish people throughout their whole year. If all you have to connect Rosh Ha-Shanah with the resurrection and rapture of God’s people is the blowing of trumpets, then you have nothing.

Further, Rosh Ha-Shanah is not one of the three Jewish Festivals. Habakkuk 2:3 explicitly states “For still the vision [of the Lord’s coming for His people] is for the appointed festival…” Folks, the Lord is not going to violate His own Word. The resurrection and rapture of God’s people is going to occur on one of the three Jewish Festival during the course of Israel’s year. Rosh Ha-Shanah is not a festival!

Again, Rosh Ha-Shanah comes in the end of the year just 15 days before the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles. Tabernacles comes four months after Pentecost. The Lord explicitly told His disciples, “DO NOT SAY, there are yet four months…” until the harvest. Are you one of the Lord’s disciples? Are you listening to Him?
The Rosh Ha-Shanah theory just doesn’t stand up to the testing of God’s Word. I might add that it makes no difference who is teaching the theory. That won’t alter the truth of God’s Word one iota. Almighty God is not a respecter of persons.

The Significance

Folks, the Day of Pentecost this year falls June 8th, however it actually begins at sundown on June 7th in Israel. What are the significance of these dates?

On June 7, 1967 the Holy Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem were returned to their rightful owners during the Six Day War. That is the “date” when the tender branch of the fig tree put forth leaves, Matthew 24:32. The Lord Himself said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors,” Matthew 24:33. June 7, 1967 is the “date” when the forty year “generation” began, Matthew 24:34. Therefore on June 7, 2007 the fortieth year arrived. However, Israel is still in the 40th year until June 7, 2008. The 41st year will begin on June 8, 2008. What day is that? It is the Day of Pentecost. Is all of this just coincidence? Or is Almighty God trying to tell His people WHEN He is coming?

I am also told that Pentecost marks the 33rd counting of the “omer.” Thirty-three is the Bible number for “promise.” Is this just another coincidence? Some 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ promised His disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” John 14:3. Folks, the Lord always keeps His Word, and on this coming Pentecost, June 7th – 8th, you will see that for yourself. Glory! Praise the Lord!

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief,” 1 Thessalonians 5:4. Do you believe this Scripture? Do you really believe this Scripture? If you do, then you better get with God’s program. Our Lord is coming!

Conclusion

Folks, this truth is so simple that I now realize that the Lord has tried to show me this truth previously, and I was so dense I stumbled right over it.

The “feast of firstfruits” marked the beginning of the barley harvest, and foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of “Christ [and] the firstfruits…,” 1 Corinthians 15:23.

The “feast of harvest” [Pentecost] marked the end of the barley harvest, and foreshadows the resurrection and rapture of all New Testament believers. Glory!

Isn’t that simple? Such a simple truth that God’s people have been stumbling right over it for centuries…

It truly is an amazing thing if we are that close to our going home to be with the Lord forever, always to be with Him. No matter how it all plays out, we know that He promised to return for His Church, He promised to prepare a place for us [John 14:2-3] there where He is and He has never let us down. He said to watch, look up and love His coming, so I urge you to do just that. Be prepared:

Luke 12:45 “But if that servant say in his hear, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Luke 12:46 “The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”

Luke 12:47 “And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

So, prepare yourself to meet your God because whether He comes while you live or not, you will meet Him.

 

The Feast of Pentecost and The Rapture of the Church

Could the rapture of the church happen on Pentecost?

This first part (regarding 2009) I have added to my “Rapture Theories” page, located in a tab above:

One point that I would like to point out first that I did not cover in my Pentecost Rapture post originally is that most Christians believe that Christ Jesus will need to fulfill all of the feasts of the Lord. We all know that He has already fulfilled the first 3 and have ideas on how He will fulfill the last ones in the fall… however, many believe that Pentecost has been fulfilled by Him and yet, that is NOT the case. Pentecost for the Church was done by the Holy Spirit, not Jesus. Therefore, Jesus still needs to fulfill it. This is where the Rapture (which is the next event on the prophetic time table) comes in.

Just a note… I have noticed that there is some confusion as to when Pentecost is this year (2009). Some are saying that it is on Friday, May 29, 2009. It is actually on Sunday, May 31, 2009 (though it begins at sundown on May 30th to sunset May 31st). You can see this in Leviticus 23: 15-16 . Pentecost is always the day after the Sabbath. The Sabbath is always on Saturday and the day after that is always a Sunday.

The following quote was added for 2008:

First of all, the true biblical holiday of Pentecost is NOT this weekend (May 17-18). Christians who are celebrating Pentecost on this weekend are basing their judgment on Easter, which they believe represents the Passover… this is not true. Easter was celebrated a month before Passover this year based on the Gregorian calendar not the Hebrew calendar. The true Passover was on April 20th not March 23rd. Therefore, Pentecost is actually June 8th. [*edit by author* Thanks to a wonderful reader, Donna, she pointed out that Pentecost in 2008 is actually June 15th. I went back to research this information and found that she is correct. I began my counting from the Sabbath between Passover and First Fruits, but I was suppose to count from the following Sabbath. This takes us to June 15, 2008, which is a Sunday. I deeply appologize for the inacuracy, but I gratefully thank Donna for the correction.]

Now here is where it may get a little confusing to some… If we base our dates and times according to Jerusalem, since that is how God did it, then this would cause us to begin our celebration on June 7th. According to the Bible, the beginning of a day is at sunset on the previous day. So, June 8th would actually begin at sunset on June 8th and go until sunset on June 8th. Well, if you live in CST in the United States (we are currently 8 hours behind Jerusalem) that would be around 10:00 am ‘ish our time. CLICK HERE to calculate the sunset times for these dates. CLICK HERE to see what time it will be in your area. You also need to keep in mind that the Biblical Sabbath is actually on Saturday not Sunday as the pagans celebrate.

Now that we have that covered, lets take a look at a few things about Pentecost and the rapture, taking place on Pentecost…

A Specific Time vs. A Specific Number of Believers

Regarding Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness inpart is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Some base their belief that no one knows the day or the hour because you cannot know how many will be included into the church, therefore, you cannot determine when the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Okay, I agree that there is a definite number of those who will be saved by grace before the tribulation, however, I would not limit God to say that He couldn’t calculate this to fit perfectly with a specific date… The Lord God is one of perfect accuracy; the Bible says that God knows the day and the hour in which the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, My Father only.”

Now, we must keep the ‘lack of information’ towards man in the proper context here. In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people who will be here during the tribulation, not the Church. The point I am trying to make with this verse is that the Father already knows when it is all going to happen. For more clarification on my previous sentence, please read: Amos 3:7

The Bible also states that the festivals are a shadow of things to come, which means that they each have a prophetic fulfillment.

Colossians 2:16-17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come;…”

Some may say that these holy days are fulfilled “for the Jewish people…” Well, the Church began on Pentecost and it includes the Gentiles… not just the Jewish people. A good way to look at it is that Pentecost could be the parentheses around the Church age between Daniel’s 69th week and the 70th week.

Lets continue to look at God, as a God of specifics (this character trait is what allows us to put our trust in His Word and the accuracy of His Word). If we were to compare the rapture/resurrection of the Church to a nautical picture, as some may, based on Romans 11:25, then we must look at it from more of a military image rather than one of a random traveler. We are soldiers in Christ, which is why we are called to put on the full armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

A military ship, though sailors may get drunk on their leaves, will leave at precisely the right time and if you aren’t ready when the time comes… you would get left and charged with an AWOL. Kind of sounds like the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, don’t you think? Matthew 25

Pentecost Beginnings

Pentecost is celebrated on the 6th of Sivan, which is 50 days after the Passover Sabbath (First Fruits). This holy day is sandwiched between the three holy days in the spring (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits) and the three holy days in the fall (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot “Tabernacles”). Its true Hebrew name is Shavuot. We get the name Pentecost from the Greeks, which means 50 because of the 50 days we count from the Passover Sabbath.

Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Leviticus 23:15-16 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:

Pentecost Reference Names

The Feast of Weeks (because of the counting of weeks between Passover to Pentecost)
First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest (because this is when the wheat harvest is gathered)
Feast of Ingathering (because this is when the harvest is gathered unto the high priest)

Pentecost History

1. According to Jewish tradition based in the book of Enoch, Enoch was born and raptured to heaven on the holy day Pentecost. CLICK HERE for the book of Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 Enoch is viewed as a type of the Church whereas, we too will be spared from the tribulation period as he was from the flood. Many scholars refer back to Jesus stating in Matthew 24:37 that His coming would be as in the days of Noah.

With this assumption, then the world (nations) would be destroyed (judged) by His wrath, a remnant of Israel (Noah) would be spared through His wrath and the Church (Enoch) would be removed before His wrath. I believe that the beginning of God’s wrath starts with the first seal in Revelation 6, but that is a topic to be covered later.

So, if this is the case and Enoch was raptured on his birthday… then the conclusion could be made that the Church might also be raptured on it’s birthday – Pentecost, for we are sealed for the day of redemption Ephesians 4:30.

2. The Torah was given to the Jewish people as a covenant between them and the Lord God on Mount Sinai. Exodus 19

3. The Holy Spirit filled the Church and sealed them for the day of redemption. Acts 2 and Ephesians 4:30

Pentecost Practices

Exodus 23:16 And the Feast of Harvest, the First Fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the Feast of Ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.

Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, of the First Fruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at year’s end.

Leviticus 23:17 “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.”

We may assume that these two loaves of leavened bread, which are also called the “first fruits” to the Lord, are the Church (1=Jewish believers, 2=Gentile believers). We are called the First Fruits unto the Lord. The leaven represents sin and giving it in a wave offering is a way of sanctifying it before the Lord as He did with us through Christ the Messiah. A good point to make here as well, is that this is the ONLY feast where leaven is used and so it can be viewed that this is the only feast directly dealing with the Church.

James 1:18 “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

The book of Ruth is read. The book of Ruth, has been compared to, the story of the Church, our relationship to Israel and the Lord by many scholars. I would like to quote Jack Kelly now on his take regarding this:

Naomi in the role of Israel, destitute and alone; Ruth as the Church, the gentile bride; Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer (Messiah) and the story a prediction of the relationship between the three of them. On His way to redeeming Israel, the Kinsman Redeemer takes a gentile bride, saving both from destitution.

Pentecost Future

Exodus 19:13 “…when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.”

Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Matthew 13:30 “Let both [wheat and tares] grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

Pentecost Summary

In summation, Pentecost is a very good possibility for the rapture/resurrection of the Church. One more idea I would like to share regarding whether we will be aware of it right before or not… If we use Enoch as an example, then according to the book of Enoch, he was told the day of his rapture that it was time to go. If memory serves me correctly, he was told a year before that he had a year left to get his house in order.

Anyway, Enoch is a “Lost Book of the Bible”, so its infallibility is in some question whether it has been preserved completely or not. The canonized Bible that we use today makes reference to the book (teachings) of Enoch, so researching it with discernment could prove beneficial. Jude 1:14-15

Either way, whether it happens on Pentecost or not, we will keep looking up… watching and preparing while sharing the Word of God with others until we cannot work in the harvest fields any longer because our Beloved has called us home.

Click here for Part II

NEW: Please also see my recent post here: Pentecost 2010 and the Prophetic Beyond

Jewish Feasts of the Lord – Signs In the Heavens

The following is a profound study on the Jewish Feasts of the Lord and their corrolation with signs in the heavens just as the Bible predicted. I am also including a few links, which provide more information as well as study charts, etc. You will find these videos very intreaguing. I have linked the video for Part I in a previous post, however, I will post again, once I have access to, Part II, so eventually, they will all be together in one post. If you would like to know what dates are what between the calendar that we go by verses the Jewish calendar, you can go HERE to do a conversion.

Here are some helpful study links:

 Eclipse Calendar Charts For The Video
 Study Notes For The Video

Videos:

 A Video Linking Eclipses to the Timing of the Second Coming of Messiah

Also: Prophecy In The News

The Feasts of the Lord Part I.A
 

The Feasts of the Lord Part I.B

The Feasts of the Lord Part I.C

Here are some other useful links for further study:

Past, Present and Future Eclipes Calculations by NASA
Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses
Lunar Eclipses: 1901 to 2000

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

 

Feast of First Fruits

Here  is a video of a teaching regarding the rapture of the church being on the feast of First Fruits, which is the same day that Jesus rose from the dead and acended up to heaven. Later, He came back down again to spent 40 days with His disciples. The basics of the message is that there are 3 Feasts that represent a harvest and that they correspond with 3 harvestings of believers, Jews included at the end.