App
October 2006
And greetings brethren this is a special video which will also be part of the coming new book, and we want to go through how to count Pentecost and the meaning of counting to fifty. And what we need to understand is this, as we’ve mentioned before, everything concerning the Holy Days is keyed to the Passover. And the Passover is most important because it is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Now, that starts out in Genesis 3, as we have already understood. And goes through to Genesis 15, Genesis 22, Exodus 12, and then on down to the time of Christ when on the Passover night He instituted the New Covenant symbols, and then on the day portion of the Passover He was crucified. Then we immediately go into the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is connected with it, then on to the Wave Sheaf Offering Day, on to Pentecost, down to Trumpets, down to Atonement, down to Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. And greetings brethren this is a special video which will also be part of the coming new book, and we want to go through how to count Pentecost and the meaning of counting to fifty. And what we need to understand is this, as we’ve mentioned before, everything concerning the Holy Days is keyed to the Passover. And the Passover is most important because it is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Now, that starts out in Genesis 3, as we have already understood. And goes through to Genesis 15, Genesis 22, Exodus 12, and then on down to the time of Christ when on the Passover night He instituted the New Covenant symbols, and then on the day portion of the Passover He was crucified. Then we immediately go into the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is connected with it, then on to the Wave Sheaf Offering Day, on to Pentecost, down to Trumpets, down to Atonement, down to Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
Now, if we count the Passover as one of the Feasts of God, which it is, and then we have seven Holy Days; we have a total of eight [feasts]. And Pentecost is the fourth Feast of the eight, or the middle Feast. As you will see when you get into the transcripts concerning events to take place before Pentecost, and then events to take place after Pentecost, you will see that Pentecost is the tipping point in history. Now we’ve also understood that Satan likes to confuse everything. Satan likes to destroy the knowledge of the true Christian Passover. So we have all of the counterfeits concerning that. We’ve covered a lot of that. Then [that] does away with Unleavened Bread, substituting it with Lent and with Easter. And the Wave Sheaf Offering Day is then made to be the resurrection day, which is not the resurrection day. And Pentecost also is confused. Not only by those who profess Christianity, but also by those who profess to know the truth, that is being the Jews. And we will see how Judaism also affects the things concerning the understanding of the Holy Days of God. And because the Jews are not in the land of Palestine, they do not keep a fourteenth Passover, but they keep a fifteenth Passover. And if you read the Passover book, I have a chapter in there, “The Passover of the Rejected” and why they do it on the fifteenth. So likewise, as we’ll see a little later, they always have their Pentecost on a fixed day of the calendar because they begin counting in the wrong place with the exception of one of the five variations of when Passover occurs.
Now, let’s come to Acts the 2nd chapter, and let’s see how that Pentecost pictures, as we know, the receiving of the Holy Spirit. And this becomes important for us to understand and how it’s all tied together with Unleavened Bread, Wave Sheaf Offering Day, and all of these things. But let’s begin right here, in verse 36 of Acts the 2nd chapter. Now, let’s come back to the first verse because we’ll refer to this later. Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, was being fulfilled, they were all with one accord in the same place” (Acts 2:1). So it’s not the day before, it’s not the day after; it’s during the fiftieth day that it is being fulfilled. Now then, the apostles preached, God gave them the ability to preach supernaturally in all the languages of those who were gathered there at the temple. And God began it at the temple to show the sign of His authority, and that it was directly from Him. Now, let’s come over here to verse 36, because what I want to do is show you this, is that in order to receive the Holy Spirit, it has got to go back to the Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and then the Wave Sheaf Offering, and Jesus’ acceptance for our sins as the perfect sacrifice of God in the throne of God in heaven above. So right here, verse 36, “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” So here we are in Pentecost going back to Passover because see they fit together as a unit. And as you study the things concerning the seven churches, and all of those things which in this transcription book of study of the Holy Days, you will have all of those things combined to show the various meanings of the seventh week and the fiftieth day. But today we’re going to look at it from another different point of view. Verse 37, “Now after hearing this, they were cut to the heart; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” And so the day of Pentecost pictures the day in which the Holy Spirit was given in power. And it pictures the day which also commemorates us receiving the Holy Spirit. And we will see that this fiftieth day, though we receive it at other times whenever we are baptized, but the meaning is with the Feast of Pentecost, that it has to do with our receiving of the Holy Spirit. And it’s connected back to the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Verse 39, “For the promises is to you and your children, and to all those who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God may call” (Acts 2:3639).
Now, let’s look a just a couple of other things here, that’s important for us to understand and realize. Let’s come here to Romans the 5th chapter, Romans 5:6. And then we are going to see with this how important that it is everything ties back to the Passover and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Romans 5, and let’s begin here in verse 6. “For even when we where without strength, at the appointed time…” See even Paul in writing and preaching it goes back to the crucifixion of Christ on the Passover Day. At the appointed time, and it was not at any other time. “… [Christ] died for the ungodly. For rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, although perhaps someone might have the courage even to die for a good man. But God commends His own love to us because, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood…” Now justification is a twostep operation. It is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His acceptance of the Wave Sheaf Offering Day, which begins the first day of the Count to Pentecost. “…Justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His own Son, much more then, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom. 5:610).
Now, come back over here to Romans 4, and let’s pick it up here concerning faith and imputation of righteousness through having your sins forgiven. And using the example of Abraham here in Romans the 4th chapter, let’s to verse 23, in Romans 4. “But it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him: Rather, it was also written for our sakes, to whom it shall be imputed—to those who believe in Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Now it’s very important to understand, as we’ll see on some charts later on that the year in which Jesus was crucified, the Passover fell in the middle of the week, on a Wednesday. With the Passover services taking place on Tuesday night before the day portion of the Passover. And the appointed time that we read of over here in Romans the 5th chapter is that very day. And it is also backed up by what Jesus said, that He would be in the tomb three days and three nights. So, we’ll have to come through to the Wave Sheaf Offering Day, and then we will look at how to count Pentecost. But notice, “Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead: Who was delivered for our offenses…” delivered to the crucifixion and death, “…And was raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:2325). And as Paul said, “If Christ was not raised; you’re still in your sins.” And if you’re still in your sins you have no justification, do you? No.
Now let’s see how this applies here concerning the blood of Christ, and concerning these things that we’re covering here. Let’s come back to Hebrews the 10th chapter, and we’ll see about the sacrifice of Christ. And again, as you go through and study the Bible, and the New Testament in particular, I want you to understand that everything is keyed on the Passover; the death of Jesus Christ. The next event then, His resurrection at the end of the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. [Calendar month charts can be found in pages 280–287 that show this in detail.] If you want a full explanation of when Jesus was resurrected you can read The Harmony of the Gospels which shows the three days and three nights of Jesus in the tomb, or the appendix in the New Testament. And we also have it in the book The Day Jesus the Christ Died. So there are plenty references to it, so you go ahead and read and study those.
Now let’s come here to Hebrews 10, and let’s read what he said here concerning Hebrew 10:12. Now what you might do is key this in your margin going back to Genesis 3:15. Where it talks about [it], that’s the first prophecy of the death of Jesus Christ after the sin of Adam and Eve showing that there had to be a penalty paid for their sins. Now, when Jesus was crucified, here is the meaning of it. Verse 12, “But He…” now this is contrasted to the priest who offered sacrifices daily, “…After offering one sacrifice for sins forever…” because Jesus was God manifested in the flesh He alone can take away the sins of the world because He is the creator of all mankind, and don’t be fooled by any false doctrine that He was not God before He became God manifested in the flesh. “…One sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down at the right hand of God.” Now that took place on the Wave Sheaf Offering Day for His presentation, He came back to the earth for forty days and forty nights, and He showed Himself to His apostles. Then ascended on the fortieth day for the final time, and has been sitting at the right hand of God, as it says here “…Waiting until His enemies are placed as a footstool for His feet.” So that is the tipping point of history, the beginning of the return of Christ and the resurrection of the Saints, as we will see. Verse 14, “For by one offering He has obtained eternal perfection for those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12-14). So this is, again, relating back to the crucifixion.
Come over here to [Hebrews] Chapter 9, and let’s pick it up here in verse 11; showing about Christ’s activity as our High Priest in heaven right now. And also it goes back to His crucifixion. See, every thing keys back to the Passover, and ties together. All the Holy Days of God are connected in a plan and [in] a revealed step-by-step sequence of what God is doing. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 11 of Hebrews 9. “But Christ Himself has become a High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands (that is, not of this present physical creation). Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood, He entered once for all into the holiest…” that’s in the heavens above, “…Having by Himself secured everlasting redemption for us. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh. To a far greater degree, the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:11-14). Now that’s why He is mediator of the New Covenant; so that through death, He provided the release of our transgressions for us.
Now’s let’s come here to I John the 1st chapter; and let’s see again the blood of Jesus Christ. And as you study through the Bible I want you to continuously keep that in mind. All of what God is doing is keyed to the Passover. And that’s why it’s so important. Now if you don’t have the Passover book, write in for it, we’ll send it to you. Five hundred pages explaining the truth about the Passover; exposing all the errors; going through step-by-step to show the magnitude of the Passover and why it is profoundly important and related to salvation, that unless you keep the Passover the way that God has said, you do not have salvation. Now let’s come here, I John the 1st chapter, and let’s pick it up here in verse 7. It says, “However, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light…” Now notice the “IF.” The “if” is always on us. The “if’ is never on God. “…We walk in the light, as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His own Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Now that’s what we need to really understand and realize. See again here, John is writing this and he starts out—read how he starts out—and it comes down then to the sacrifice of Christ, and the forgiveness of our sins. And that’s why the Passover is so important. We take the Passover to commemorate—and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—to renew the New Covenant. And then that keeps us established under the grace of God, so that through the grace of God and the confession of sins we can continually have our sins washed away even on a daily bases, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Alright now let’s carry this a little bit further here, let’s go to Acts 20:28. And let’s see how this reflects to the church. Because here again, we see Paul in preaching to the elders at Ephesus who came down to meet him in Miletus. He refers back again to the sacrifice of Christ and His blood. And let’s read it here, Acts 20:28, he’s talking to the elders. So this is a good verse for all the elders, ministers, and teachers to understand, you see. Because no man is to put himself forward. God has to lead and guide him, you see. Verse 28, “Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” So again, our sins are forgiven through the blood of Christ; the blood of Christ covers everything that we do on a continuous basis in establishing our relationship with God; the blood of Christ; the body of Christ that has to do with the New Covenant and renewing it. And here he purchased the church with His own blood. Then He gives a warning, “For I know this: that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” And that’s what’s happened to the church of God; and that’s what’s happened to worldly Christianity. They’ve given themselves over to Satan the Devil and his ways, and all the counterfeit things that are there. “And from among your own selves men will rise up speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-30). And so that’s why we find there’s so much confusion today in the things that are done, and in relationship to the Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Now, let’s come here and see about the assention of Christ; the receiving of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit was not given until Christ sent it on the day of Pentecost, and what that has meaning for us. Let’s come back here to Ephesians the 1st chapter, and let’s see where again Paul in starting out he connects this, now notice the connection from Passover, Unleavened Bread, [and] Pentecost. And that’s the pattern. Come here to Ephesians the 1st chapter. Now let’s pick it up in verse 7, and we’ll see the progression of it. “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and intelligence; having made known to us the mystery of His own will…” See, God has brought you into His confidence to understand His will. This is just not a matter of comparative religions that you go out and say “Well, I wonder what religion I could be comfortable with? I wonder how I feel in this church.” See that has nothing to do with truth. You’ve got to have the true Jesus; the true Word of God; understand the truth of the Passover and Holy Days; and you’ve got keep the commandments of God; love Him. It’s not a matter of a place where you have a psychological rearranging of your brains to be a good person in the world. See, you’re qualifying for eternal life. “Having made known to us the mystery of His own will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself; that in the divine plan…” And that’s what this book is all about; the divine plan of God, step-by-step, and as you will see when you go through the transcriptions, you listen to the sermons in this book about Gods’ revealed will and His plan for mankind, that Pentecost has indeed the greatest number of sermons in there because it is the tipping point in history. Because not only does it commemorate our receiving the Holy Spirit, we will also see as you get into the meaning of Pentecost, that it commemorates and looks forward to the resurrection when Jesus returns. Now we will see that right here in Ephesians the 1st chapter. “…He might bring all things together in Christ, both the things in heavens and the things upon the earth, yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose…” Now think about that for a minute. God Himself has personally called you; God Himself has personally given you the begettal of the Holy Spirit; God Himself wants to give you eternal life if you remain faithful. So notice all the responsibility that has been given to us, and the way that God has given us the understanding of these things. This is a magnificent thing indeed. “That we might be to the praise of His glory…” Now I want you to just think about that for a minute; that God has called you; given you His Spirit and is creating in you the very mind of Christ; and is going to resurrect you, as we’ll see as the Feast of Pentecost pictures, the first resurrection, so that all those in the first resurrection will be to the praise of His glory. “…Who first trusted in the Christ; in Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the truth…” And the Word of truth involves: repentance, baptism, and so forth as we’ve already seen. “…The gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” And that’s the first meaning of The Feast of Pentecost. “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the posession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:7-14). See, so it is the down payment. And Pentecost pictures the down payment of the Holy Spirit; and Pentecost pictures the fulfillment of the redemption on Pentecost. So this is really quite a thing, really something for us to understand.
Now let’s look at something else that’s important concerning counting, concerning Pentecost, and why God did it this way. Let’s come here to Luke the 4th chapter, and then we will go back to the Old Testament, and we will read how to count Pentecost, we will read about the number 50 and what it means. Now, let’s come over here to Luke the 4th chapter, because this becomes a very important section for us to understand, and again, Jesus is showing and preaching on a day that’s important to show what the gospel is all about, and what it means. Now let’s pick it up here in Luke 4:14. “Then Jesus returned in the power in the Spirit to Galilee…” Now that was after He was baptized. “…And the word about Him went out into the entire country around. And He taught in their synagogues, and was glorified by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and according to His custom, He went into the synagogues on the Sabbath day…” Now in the New Testament you’ll find the foot note there which means, this Sabbath was a unique Sabbath; because it is called in the Greek te hemera toon sabbatoon, and it means, on the day of the weeks; which has reference to Pentecost. Now I want you to focus in on the message that he gave from Isaiah, which is from Isaiah 61, you can go back and read it there. “…And he stood up to read. And there was given Him the book of the prophet Isaiah; and when He had unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was written.” Now you see, we’re told to preach in season and out of season, correct? Jesus taught in season and out of season as well, because that’s the method of how God wants us to understand things. So He taught in season. Here it is on the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Pentecost, He reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; for this reason, He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…” And that relates to fifty days as we will see. “ ‘…He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to proclaim pardon to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth in deliverance those who have been crushed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’ ” (Luke 4:14-19).
Now what is the acceptable year of the Lord? What is it talking about? Now let’s come back to Leviticus 25, before we go to Leviticus 23 for the count on Pentecost. Let’s see the only other holy year, if we can put it that way, where there is a count to fifty; and it ties right in with the message that was given here by Jesus on Pentecost. Leviticus 25—and it has to do with the Jubilee. So what Jesus was doing here on Pentecost was preaching the Jubilee. Now let’s read it, let’s come back here to Leviticus 25:8. Now I’m reading from the new translation which you’ll receive sometime in the fall of 2007. “And you shall number seven Sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years.” That’s forty-nine; we’ll see forty-nine when we get to counting Pentecost for the Holy Day. “And the time of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be forty-nine years to you. Then you shall cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; in the Day of Atonement, the trumpet shall sound throughout all your land.” Now notice what this is physically. Now we know that every seven years there’s to be a release of debt. Now here is seven times seven years—forty-nine—then we come to the fiftieth year. Verse 10, “And you shall make the fiftieth year holy…” So here is a parallel counting one through fifty. And seven complete cycles of seven years for forty-nine years. Now that will tie in when we count the weeks. “…And proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” All debts forgiven; everything set aside. “It shall be a jubilee to you, and you shall return each man to his possession, and you shall return every man to his family.” Now when you read what’s going to happen during the millennium, everyone is what? Going to sit under his own fig tree, and he’s going take care of his own food, his own garden, right? Yes. “That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. You shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather in it of your undressed vine.” See because God said He would give you three years worth of food in the last year. That is the year forty-eight. So you go forty-nine and fifty, and then the third year you have the food, see. “For it is the jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You shall eat the increase of it out of the field.” You’re not to gather; you’re not to reap it; but you can go out and eat whatever there is. “In the year of this jubilee you shall return each man to his possession. And if you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another. According to the number of years after the jubilee” (Lev. 25:8-15). Then it’s the instructions on how to handle the land. But the point is this, number fifty pictures the jubilee. So when we come to Pentecost and counting fifty, what we are actually doing is counting a mini jubilee; and that ties in with God’s plan for the resurrection. When we first receive the earnest of the Holy Spirit, let’s see what we receive. We’ll talk about that a little bit later
Let’s come back here and see how to count Pentecost, because this becomes important for us, and to have it the right way. Now again, in the new translation, what we’re going to find is this, that we have it explained in the translation so there doesn’t have to be any misinterpretation on how to count Pentecost. So let’s come to Leviticus 23 and let’s pick it up here in verse 9. And this gives us some very important information and understanding too; when we understand the Hebrew; and when we have the right translation; and when we understand what God is saying; and how to count Pentecost; and how it’s going to come about. Now verse 9, “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, “When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it…” and of course we’re the firstfruits harvest, you see, “…Then you shall bring the premier sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.” And that first of the firstfruits pictured Christ. You’re to bring it. And you can read in the Passover book all the details concerning that. “And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you.” And that’s what we read that Christ did when He ascended to heaven, correct? To be accepted for us, as the one sacrifice once for all. And His blood covered it. But you see now with the Wave Sheaf and the Wave Sheaf Offering Day we’re going to see must take place on the first day of the week which is called Sunday today. Now just remember, though the names of the weeks have pagan names on them today that does not detour from the fact that seven days of the week are still the seven days of the week as God gave it in the creation. Now here’s what he says, verse 11, “And he…” that is the priest, “…shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” Now this becomes important because the Hebrew here is ha shabbat, which means the weekly Sabbath. And yet Judaism today follows the pharisaical count of counting from the first Holy Day. And that’s how they end up with their Pentecost on Sivan 6. Now we’re going to go through, and we’re going to look at some charts here in just a minute and see how to count Pentecost and how this mini jubilee fits in for Christians. Now let’s continue on. Now here’s something he says—verse 12—what they were to do with the offering and so forth, the grain offering, the meal offering and so forth. Now, it says—and this was to be when they came into the land—see because it says here in verse 14, “And you shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the same day, until you have brought an offering to your God. It shall be a statue forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” So all during the time they were wandering in the wilderness they ate no bread from grain; they ate manna, bread from heaven. Now we’ll take a little pause and we’ll come back and see how to count Pentecost.
Now let’s come to Leviticus 23 where we left off and let’s begin to count. Let’s begin to see how Pentecost is counted. It’s very important; this is a special day; this is a special thing; and there’s special meaning to Christians today concerning counting Pentecost and coming to the fiftieth day Pentecost. Then what it pictures is a mini jubilee within a Christian’s life. Now let’s read it, verse 15 Leviticus 23. “And you shall count to you beginning with the next day after the Sabbath…” ha shabbat, “…Beginning with the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete.” Now when we read it there in Leviticus 25 it was seven Sabbaths of years. So we have the same thing. “Seven Sabbaths shall be complete.” Now this means this, a complete week, beginning with day one through day seven. You cannot have partial weeks because then you get into completely discombobulating the instructions here, and miscounting. Now notice verse 16, “Even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath you shall number fifty days” (Lev. 23:9-11, 14-16). Now the fiftieth day then is always the first day of the week after the weekly Sabbath, the seventh Sabbath. And it’s also the first day of the eighth week, which then we will see has meaning for us as Christians in relating to the mini jubilee. Now, we have other sermons that go through and explain all about the grain offerings, and the two wave loaves, and everything like that.
So what we’re going to do now, I’m going to show you some charts of the calculated Hebrew calendar and show you the [four] different ways, or the [four] different days at which Passover can occur during the year as you go through time. We’ll see there is a Passover on Monday, and on Wednesday, and on a Friday, and on Sabbath; and we’ll see all of those and see how to count with those circumstances and how the variation of Pentecost will occur on a monthly bases from the fifth of Sivan to the tenth of Sivan. So having it fixed on the sixth on Sivan violates the way to properly count because there would be no use in counting if it where a fixed day of the month. So we’ll take a look at these charts here and go through them one-by-one, (pages 280-287). Let’s take a look at this chart. This is count to Pentecost with a Monday Passover because everything’s keyed to the Passover. Now let’s understand something with this. On a Monday Passover it is observed Sunday night. Then we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread through here, and this is the weekly Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. Then this is the Wave Sheaf Offering Day. And we’re to count beginning with this day which is inclusive counting, and we number the days. And you also have this chart in the book; and when we send this sermon out we’ll send all of these charts with it as well. Okay, Wave Sheaf Offering Day is one. And it goes down, you have seven, here’s the first week. Now, we have each day counted, and each day of the count toward Pentecost is in a circle. Now let’s come down to the next month here, Iyor, you have Nisan then Iyor, so here is week two; and you come down, week three; week four; week five, and each day is listed; week six, forty-two days, week seven, forty-nine days. And then Pentecost over here which when the Passover is on a Monday, observed Sunday night, Pentecost comes out to be on the 10th of Sivan. Quite interesting isn’t it? So this is a sequence of how you count when you have a Monday Passover.
Now we’re going to look at another chart. Now let’s look at when Passover is on a Wednesday, again remember, everything is keyed to the Passover. So Wednesday Passover, middle of the week, you observe it the night before. And this is the same sequence as it was in the year that Jesus was crucified. So you come down here to the 17th, then which is the weekly Sabbath during the days of Unleavened Bread; and toward the end of the Sabbath Jesus was resurrected; and then ascended to the Father on the 18th, the Wave Sheaf Offering Day. So that’s why you count this as day one, always Wave Sheaf Offering Day. Now let’s count through the days here and then the weeks. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven and again we have the days in the circle, and then the weeks in the square. Week one, week two, week three, week four, five, six, seven which is forty-nine days then, to the morrow after the seventh Sabbath; Pentecost, the fiftieth day, which then is on the eighth of Sivan. So that’s how you count it when you have a Wednesday Passover.
Now let’s look at it when we have a Friday Passover. Now here is the sequence of months beginning with Nisan, when you have the Passover on a Friday, and it’s observed Thursday night. The Holy Day, which then is the fifteenth, is also the weekly Sabbath; but remember it’s on the day after the weekly Sabbath, which then always puts the Wave Sheaf Offering Day on the first day of the week; now that’s important when we get to the next one with a Sabbath Passover day. So the Wave Sheaf Offering Day is on the first day of the week, and it is day one. Always, must be counted. So then we have the seven days to the first week, which ends in the Sabbath; second week, which end with the Sabbath; third week ending in the Sabbath, same way with the fourth week, fifth week, sixth week, seventh week. Then we have Pentecost here on the fiftieth day on the day after the seventh Sabbath, fifty days. And that is on sixth of Sivan. So you see the difference. You have the tenth of Sivan, and the eighth of Sivan, now here you have the sixth of Sivan.
Now when we look at the next sequence of when the Passover is observed, which is on the weekly Sabbath, then we have some special circumstances to look at, so we’ll look at that chart next. Now this is the last one, when the Passover day falls on the Sabbath, and presents some special difficulties which always have caused people some problems. Now the reason that it has caused problems is because the Passover day is on the Sabbath and you then observe it Friday night. Now, in this case, you do not have a Sabbath during the days of Unleavened Bread, except [after] the last Holy Day; but then if you start counting the Wave Sheaf Offering Day after the last Holy Day then you loose the whole sequence of things and [because] the Wave Sheaf Offering Day cannot be outside the Day’s of Unleavened Bread. So what is the solution? The solution is very simple. Since Passover is also an Unleavened Bread Day, therefore this becomes the Sabbath. And the next day after the Sabbath then is a Holy Day, the fifteenth day of the first month. So you have a combination here of the Holy Day and the Wave Sheaf Offering Day on the rare occurrence when you have a Sabbath Passover. Now for years, and years, and years we did not have a Sabbath Passover, and we made the mistake of saying that it’s day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was incorrect. It should be the first day of the week during Unleavened Bread is the day that you begin counting on, then which is this day right here. So let’s see how this counts. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven complete weeks ending with the Sabbath, which is also a Holy Day. Now, we come down: week two, week three, four, five, six, seven and that’s forty-nine days, seven weeks. On the day after the Sabbath you have Pentecost, right here. And in this case it occurs then on the fifth of Sivan. Now you see this is why we are to count Pentecost because there will a variation all based upon when the Passover occurs.
Now I’m sure that those charts will help you understand how to count to Pentecost. And how to get the correct way to do it; and I want to emphasize this, that for years—I’ll just repeat what I said—for years it was said that it has to be the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That is true in three out of four cases when you count Pentecost because there’s the regular Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However when you have it when the Passover is on Sabbath, then the first Holy Day is on the Wave Sheaf Offering Day because the only Sabbath during Unleavened Bread has got to include the Passover in that, because the Passover is an Unleavened Bread day. Now there are still a lot of people who say “Well you only have to eat unleavened bread for the Passover, and then you can have leavened bread until sundown the next day.” Well that’s not true. Passover was an Unleavened Bread day. And just keep this in mind, very simple thing to remember, the children of Israel ate unleavened bread for the Passover, which we do too. We eat unleavened bread, correct? When they left their homes at sunrise there was no place for leaven to be around, right? They had unleavened bread; they ate it on the Passover; the Passover day, and Passover ceremony is a day of Unleavened Bread. Now keep this in mind, it’s easy to understand, as they were making their way to Ramses to assemble for the beginning of the exodus, there were no McDonald’s to stop at to get a egg McMuffin’s, or toast, or biscuits. It was by practice an Unleavened Bread Day. So therefore when you come to the Passover being on Sabbath, then the first Holy Day, being the first day of the week, becomes the Wave Sheaf Offering Day because it is the only first day of the week during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now I hope that makes things a whole lot more clear for you.
Alright, now, let’s come to Romans 8 and let’s see the beginning of the mini jubilee for Christians. And this is when you receive the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:1, “Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death.” Now that takes place when you receive the Holy Spirit, after you have repented and have been baptized. And that’s where we started. Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. You have a mini—beginning of a mini jubilee at that particular time—and then regardless of what it was during the year when you where baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, you come full circle around the Passover and then Unleavened Bread and Wave Sheaf Offering Day, and so forth. And all of that has to do with receiving the Spirit, it is the earnest of the inheritance. So you have been delivered from the law of sin and death. That’s the beginning of the mini jubilee for all Christians, if we could put it that way, in their lives. Now let’s continue on here in Romans 8 because this is important. “For what was impossible for the law to do” (Rom. 8:1-3). The law could not overcome the law of sin and death that is within us, you see. And the only way we can be delivered by it is with God’s Spirit. So when you receive God’s Spirit that’s when you’re able to overcome.
Now, let’s come to I John the 3rd chapter, and let’s see that the beginning of the mini jubilee for every Christian is when they receive the Holy Spirit. Now the mini jubilee, just the rest of your life from the time that you’re baptized until the time of your resurrection, that is the jubilee. So you begin the jubilee by receiving the Holy Spirit. That’s why Christ came; that why He preached that message in Luke the 4th chapter. Now, here in I John the 3rd chapter let’s see what it talks about with receiving God’s Spirit which it the begettal, the seed of the Holy Spirit. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 9. I John 3:9, “Everyone who has been begotten by God does not practice sin…” You don’t live your life in sin because you have been delivered from the law of sin and death inasmuch as that with the Holy Spirit and growing and overcoming, and yielding to God, you’re then able to be delivered in a progressive way from the law of sin and death. Now the full deliverance from death does not come until later at the resurrection. But let’s finish this here. So you don’t practice sin, “…Because His seed of begettal is dwelling within him…” That’s the beginning; the earnest; the down payment as we saw in the beginning of the Holy Spirit. “…And he is not able to practice sin because he has been begotten by God” (I John 3:9). Now let’s see the end of the jubilee, or the symbolism for Christians concerning the fiftieth day, because the fiftieth day—just like the fiftieth year in the jubilee year—is a complete deliverance from everything. So if you grow, change, and overcome, and die in the faith; then the final jubilee is going to be for everyone who dies in the faith; for everyone who is still alive when the resurrection occurs is going to be that day of the resurrection which is pictured by Pentecost; the full deliverance; the full jubilee for Christians.
Now what we need to do is come back to Ephesians the 1st chapter. And let’s read verse 13 and 14 again though we’ve already covered it as we need to remember that number fifty is a complete jubilee. And Pentecost is the fiftieth day; a mini jubilee as I have said for all Christians. So it’s fitting that this mini jubilee which will be the great first resurrection is going to be the total redemption that we have so that we are no longer flesh but spirit. Totally redeemed of Christ, and now ready as spirit being in the kingdom of God to do the work of God. So let’s go back to Ephesians 1:13. Speaking of Christ, “In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Which is the beginning as he says here, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance…” This is the guarantee, the down payment, and we’re trusting in God because God cannot lie, will not lie, His Word is truth, the resurrection is going to occur. Now notice the rest of this, “…Until the redemption of the purchased, possession…” and that redemption comes for all Christians at the same time on the fiftieth day being the day of Pentecost. “…To the praise of His glory” (I John 3:13-14).
Now let’s come to II Timothy the 4th chapter. And we will see what Paul said. Come to II Timothy the 4th chapter and let’s see how Paul kind of gives us a little summary of this. Now he’s says here, verse 6 of II Timothy the 4th chapter. “For I am now ready to be offered…” He knew that he was going to be martyred. “…And the time of my departure is at hand.” So you can say well this is day forty-nine for Paul. For whatever [day] it is for when we die that’s day forty-nine for us. “I fought a good fight, I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. From this time forward…” That is when he’s dead and in the grave, “…A crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day…” The jubilee day for all Christians. “…And not to me only, but also to all who love His appearing” (II Tim. 4:6-8). Now this is why when we come to the book of Hebrews that it shows the jubilee day.
Now let’s come here to Hebrews the 12th chapter. Now we’ve covered this in other sermons that we have in the transcripts in the book concerning the day of Pentecost but let’s just input it right here. Hebrews 12 and let’s pick it up here in verse 22. This ends the mini jubilee for all Christians and it all occurs at the same time on the fiftieth day, which then is the day of the resurrection. So you can take all of the other things that we have studied leading up to Pentecost, the meaning of Pentecost, you put it all together and it shows the great meaning of the day of Pentecost and the resurrection. Verse 22, Hebrews 12, “But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels.” And that’s what it’s going to be, and as we have seen when the saints are resurrected they’re brought to the sea of glass, as we find, you can study that in the other transcripts that we have in the book; and everyone is on the sea of glass and it’s going to be called, as he says here in Hebrews 12:23, “To the joyous festival gathering.” Because it is the total deliverance from the flesh; it is the total deliverance from death; it is the total deliverance from sin; because as resurrected human beings, now spirit beings, you no longer have the ability to sin. So it is the complete jubilee that happens for all of those in the first resurrection on the day of Pentecost, which then brings the final jubilee for every one of us. “To the joyous festival gathering; and to the church of the firstborn, registered in the book of life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected” (Heb. 12:22-23). And so that’s really quite a thing, isn’t it? The harvest of the firstfruits; and that’s why it is counted. And that’s why it must be on the fiftieth day, and the fiftieth day then is the first day of the eighth week.
Now let’s understand something else. There is also symbolic significance for us in the fiftieth day, which then is the beginning of the eighth week. Eight is the number of a new beginning. And the resurrection day of Pentecost, being the fiftieth day, and the first day of the eighth week is a new beginning for all eternity; for all the resurrected saints, is it not? Yes. So that’s important to understand the mini jubilee as it applies to Christians. And why it has to be fifty days; and why it has to be seven complete weeks unto the day after the seventh Sabbath. So that’s why Pentecost is fifty days, and that’s the meaning of the counting of fifty days; so all Christians at the resurrection on Pentecost are going to share in eternal life; the fiftieth day beginning the first day of eternity, of a new beginning.
(End of Sermon)
Transcriber: Sasha Vogele
How to Count Pentecost and Count 50
October 2006
Scriptural References
- Acts 2:1, 36:39
- Romans 5:6-10
- Romans 4:23-25
- Hebrews 10:12-14
- Hebrews 9:11-14
- 1 John 1:7
- Acts 20:28-30
- Ephesians 1:7-14
- Luke 4:14-19
- Leviticus 25:8-15
- Leviticus 23:9-11, 14-16
- Romans 8:1-3
- 1 John 3:9, 13-14
- II Timothy 4:6-8
- Hebrews 12:22-23
