The counting of the days to Shavuot is intended to
remind us of the physical shadow and the spiritual truth:
Physical shadow picture
- The children of Israel released from bondage on the Passover, left the
bondage of Egypt on the first day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread, crossed the
Red Sea where the nation of Israel was Mikveh’d through water on The Feast of
Unleavened Bread, and then “counted the Omar” or 7 weeks as they traveled to
Mount Sinai and received The Torah written in stone on Shav’uot.
The spiritual truth
– The children of Yahuah released from the bondage of sin on the Passover, left
a life of sin on the first day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread, inspect our
lives for sin as we crossed over to a new and living way (through Mikveh)
during The Feast of Unleavened Bread, and received The Torah written on our
hearts on Shav’uot when the Spirit of Holiness was sent to fulfill Jeremiah
Chapter 31.
During Shavuot we read Exodus 19:1 thru 20:23; Numbers
28:26-31; Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12. (Also, see Acts 2, John 14:15-18, Ephesians
2:11-22).
It was on Shav’uot that Yahuah fulfilled his promise to
“write the law on our hearts” and The Yahushaic Covenant began as Yahuah
fulfilled Jeremiah Chapter 31.
These two separate Festivals are two of the least understood
moedim (rehearsals) of all the Feasts in Yahuah’s Plan of Salvation. The
Feast of First Fruits is literally THE FEAST that represents Yahuah’s Spiritually
Chosen “few” in the Spring Harvest! This feast period includes Shav’uot
which is the 7th Sabbath FOLLOWING the Feast of Unleavened
Bread.
There are many interpretations of what this time period
represents and when to begin the count of 49+1 = 50 days. I think the most
important issue at hand is “what” this time period represents as it is a
rehearsal for a future event and has a greater Spiritual Fulfillment. It is a
physical to Spiritual Parallel.
So let us begin there, and see if by understanding the Spiritual
Truth of the Feast of First Fruits and the 50-day count if that will not help
us better understand when to begin the feast. We know we are to wave the sheaf
on the first day “after the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread”. Most
teachers I know of interpret that to be the day after the first day of the
Feast of Unleavened Bread which is a High Sabbath. In doing so, they combine
two unique Feasts on top of each other, which has no scriptural precedent
and destroys the unique value and lesson to be learned by the Feast of First
Fruits. The last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is also a High Sabbath.
So the scriptural command to begin the count after the Sabbath of Unleavened
Bread could also begin after the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (A
High Sabbath). This would make the Feast of First Fruits its own unique
festival as is all the other Feasts in Yahuah’s Appointed Times!
However, "Passover" is a "Remembrance"
of "The Coming out of Egypt", and Messiah symbolically changes that
to "The Coming out of Self" (Sin) due to Messiah's influence
and example. As for the beginning of "The "Wave Sheaf and Omer
Count", that is not supposed to begin until after you can put the sickle
to "The Standing Grain" and, also, after "The Feast of
Unleavened Bread" is completely over.
The relevant question pertaining to Passover, The Feast of
Unleavened Bread, The Wave Sheaf Offering, The Feast of First Fruits, and
Shavuot is whether or not people can "Spiritually See" that the
symbolic rituals actually portray The Transition from "Physical Sacrifice
by Physical Death" to a "Spiritual Living Sacrifice" of which Messiah
Yahshua was "The First of the First Fruits" (symbolized by Barley),
and "We" are simply "The First Fruits" (symbolized by
Refined Wheat). One more important symbolism is that the Forty-nine days or
Seven Weeks are symbolic replicas of the Forty-nine Jubilee Years that will
have occurred prior to the Sabbath Millennium, while "The Sabbath
Millennium" is replicated (symbolized) by Shav’uot.
Whenever you see the term "First-Fruits", Scripture
and Epistles are always symbolically referring to "The Spring
Harvest" that will eventually occur at the very beginning of "The
Seventh Sabbath Millennium" (a Shabuoth Millennium). There are two
harvests periods in which YAHUAH (ELOHIYM) will gather His children (Elohim)
unto Himself. The "Spring Harvest" for "The First fruits"
and the "Fall Harvest" for those that are conceived during and come
through "The Shabuoth Millennium". These will be those that will be
taught and guided by Messiah Yahshua and "The First fruits" of Messiah.
Symbolically this will be a very large harvest of "Righteousness
Seekers".
The Wave Sheaf Offering begins the Feast of First Fruits
which begins just after the Feast of Unleavened Bread has ended and lasts 49 days
ending in the 50th day … Shav’uot. It is waived on the first day
after the Feast of Unleavened Bread has ended. NOT the day after the FIRST
day of Unleavened Bread as is taught. Notice below, AFTER the
last High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread, THEN the wave sheaf
offering is made and the Feast of First Fruits begins. It is a totally unique
and different Feast.
Deuteronomy 16:8 The END of Unleavened Bread
8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread:
and on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to Yahuah your God: you
shall do no work [therein].
Deuteronomy 16:9-10 The Beginning of Feast of Weeks
9 Seven weeks you shall number unto you: Begin
to number the seven weeks from [such time as] you
begin [to put] the sickle to the (H7054; qamah) standing grain (after Unleavened Bread verse 8). 10 And you shall
keep "The Feast of Weeks" unto Yahuah your GOD with a tribute of a
freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give (unto
Yahuah), according as Yahuah your GOD has blessed you:
The First Fruits (other than Messiah) are not only
symbolized by wheat (loaves), but by all the First Fruits of all the
various Spring Harvests that occur during the Seven Weeks that lead up to
Shavuot and Pentecost. These various varieties of First Fruits, also [in
addition to Jews], symbolize the various remnant of the Lost Sheep of the
House of Israel scattered among the Gentiles. The Apostle Sha’ul too teaches
that the Feast of Weeks is a rehearsal for a yet future event:
Romans 8:23
And not only [they], but ourselves also,
which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Maybe we can find deeper understanding in another arena, but
first the not so basic "basics".
Exodus 34:22 (The Two Harvest periods)
22 [First]
You shall observe the "Feast of Weeks" with the First-Fruits of (The Spring) wheat harvest, and [Second](also)
the "Feast of Harvests" (Succoth or Ingathering)
at the (Sacred) year's end (in Autumn not Winter).
Leviticus 23:10-17 Spiritual Parallels are in parenthesis
10 Speak to the (True
Spiritual Seed of Abraham) children of Israel, and tell them, When
you are come into the land (The Coming Kingdom on Earth)
which I give to you, and shall reap the (human)
harvest of it, then you shall bring the sheaf of the First-Fruits (The Chosen Few - of mankind) of your (human) harvest (of
True Worshippers) to the priest (Messiah,
our Zadok High Priest): 11 and he (The
High Zadok Priest) shall wave the sheaf (present
them as refined wheat) before Yahuah, to be accepted for you: on
the next day after the (last High) Sabbath
(Strong's H7676) (of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) the priest
shall wave it.
This would be in keeping with each Feast offering its own
unique rehearsal, teaching a unique Spiritual Truth. So we have Passover then
the Feast of Unleavened Bread and THEN the 7 weeks of the Feast of
First Fruits, which represents the 49 Jubilees before the Kingdom Reign on the
50th Day… Shav’uot.
The Offering referred to here is the symbolism of having
become a True Worshipper by accepting and following the example of
"Self-sacrifice", which is freewill obedience to the "Righteous
Intent of Yahuah's Laws". It requires "Repentance” (rejection of
"Self"), and the mental receiving of "The Mind of YAHUAH" (Holy
Spirit). The Holy Spirit is perfectly implicated here by the phrase,
"Anointed with Oil".
Continuing with Lev. 23
Leviticus 23:10-17
15 You shall count to you from the next day
after the (7th day) Sabbath (H7676), from (that
follows) the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave-offering (the cutting of standing grain on the day after the last High
Sabbath of Unleavened Bread); seven (additional
weekly) Sabbaths (H7676)
shall there be complete. 16 even to the next day after the seventh (weekly) Sabbath (H7676)
shall you number fifty days (Shav’uot);
and you shall offer a new (newly harvested)
meal-offering to Yahuah. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two
wave-loaves (no longer sheaves, but fully prepared
loaves) of two tenth parts of an ephah: they shall be of fine (Wheat) flour, they shall be baked with yeast (symbolizing those who are coming out of sin and have found
Favor or Grace in Yahuah's eyes), for first-fruits (the small 'Spring' harvest of the Chosen Few) to
Yahuah.
The Two Loaves represent Yahuah Elohim prophetically
gathering His fully prepared children (perfected through tribulation)
out from among the nations (a remnant from both the House of Israel
and the House of Judah, a new Bride). The two loaves, also, represent the
provision of a double portion.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12 (offerings, charity, and the rejoicing of brethren)
9 Seven weeks (49
days/49 Jubilees/7,000 years) shall you number to you: from the time
you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain (and make a "Wave Sheaf" from it on the first day
after the last High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread) shall you begin to
number seven weeks (symbolic of six thousand years
past, and the Beginning of the Seventh Millennium). 10 You shall
keep the Feast of Weeks (Shav’uot) to Yahuah your GOD with a tribute of a
freewill-offering of your hand (your work or
Ministry), which you shall give (Charity),
according as Yahuah your GOD blesses you: 11 and you shall rejoice before Yahuah
your GOD, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your man-servant, and your
maid-servant, and the Levite (Priest)
who is within your gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow,
who are in the midst of you, in the place which Yahuah your GOD shall choose,
to cause His name to dwell there (This is your place
of Holy Convocation, and can be your home). 12 You shall remember
that you were a bondservant in Egypt (a slave to
sin): and you shall observe and do these statutes.
I want to stress this very important reality. What is MORE
important than “when” we celebrate these Appointed Times (meaning the calendar
dates) is WHEN we keep them in terms of their ORDER and duration from one
another. Later in this book I am going to explain how “I” determine the
beginning of the year, the seasons, the months, the Sabbaths, and the days. I
am well aware there is many options and formulas and I by no means condemn
anyone for “when” they do these things or by what calendar they use. What is
more important is the ORDER and duration. So let me clearly illustrate the
order of the Spring Feasts, regardless of what “date” you keep them on. I put
the dates “I” keep these Appointed Times, but by “appointment” it means the appointed
days and durations between them as they are very important rehearsals of
“how” these days will be fulfilled.
