The Spiritual Significance of the

The Spiritual Significance of the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost

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Introduction

The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost is latent with symbolism and mystery. It was the fourth of seven feast days (see chart on this page) that Yahweh gave to Israel after He delivered them from Pharaohs bondage in Egypt (Lev. 23rd). The Feast of Weeks celebrated the wheat harvest 50 days after the sickle had cut the barley harvest.

Because this midsummer feast celebrated a harvest, the Israelites could not keep it until they reached Canaan Land and established themselves as farmers. The forty years they wandered in the Wilderness of Sinai, Israel was nomadic and did not plant crops. (See "The Spiritual Significance of the Feast of First Fruits," p. 7, in the March/April 1996 issue of the "PLIM REPORT" magazine.)

The most famous incident of the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost occurred at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, June 6 A.D. 33 (Acts 2:1-4). The Messiah's disciples and a group of true believers received illumination in their consciousness fifty days after the Messiahs resurrection.

The Feast of Weeks also commemorated Yahweh giving the Law to Israel 50 days after they resurrected from Egypt (see chart on p. 6). Pentecost means 50 and within that number is seven weeks (or 7 x 7 = 49 + 1). In Hebrew the word for week is Shabuwa. We will explain the symbolism of 50 and 49 later in this article in accordance to the tabernacle pattern.

What is the intent of this article?

The intent of this article is to show the physical and spiritual significance of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks and its fulfillment with the Messiah (Matt. 5:17-18; Lk. 24:44-46). This article will emphasize that all of us must receive our own 'Pentecost' individually which is the Holy Spirit being revealed unto our consciousness (Jn. 16:13). Each of us should be striving for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, comfort, and inspire us.

Many Christians fail to see how feast days point to the Messiah and how He brought them to an end from a physical standpoint along with the Old Covenant (Rom. 10:1-4). Paul said the feasts under the law were: "... a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation (Heb 9:9-10)."

Does the Feast of Weeks typify the New Covenant?

The feast days importance lies in its spiritual reality to spiritual Israel (Rom. 2:28-29) and those of us following the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:7-13).

Now the Apostle Paul defined a spiritual Jew as one who follows the 'Spirit' and not the letter of the law (Rom. 2:28-29; 8:14)."

Are divine calculations latent within the Feast of Weeks?

There is another part of the Feast of Weeks that is very important, but is a mystery to many Biblical scholars. The Feast of Weeks revolves around a prophetic calculation (7 x 7 = 49), especially Daniels Prophecy, concerning the 70 weeks (70 x 7 = 490; Dn. 9:24) and the year of Jubilee, which occurred every 50 years (Lev. 25:8-10). We will discuss these calculations in detail later in the paper.

Now we can briefly state that both of these numbers (49 and 490) are another expression of the Feast of Weeks because they are based upon the number 7. The year of Jubilee is also based on the number '7.' Jubilee occurs after every seventh sabbath year or 7 x 7 = 49 years. Daniels 70 weeks of prophecy which is 70 x 7 = 490 years follow the same formula.

The Feast of Weeks symbolizes a divine calculation that Yahweh set up for Israel to understand how Spirit is able to operate repetitiously through time.

How was Pentecost instituted?

When Yahweh spoke the Law to Israel at Mt. Sinai, this was the first Pentecost, but they were unaware of it. Each of them heard the Law in their consciousness and trembled and quaked at Yahweh's voice (Exo. 19:16-19). From the time Israel resurrected out of the Red Sea and entered the Wilderness, to the time Yahweh spoke from Mt. Sinai, was exactly 50 days (Ex. 19:1; see chart on page 6). So from the killing of the lamb in Egypt, which instituted the Feast of Passover (Ex. 12:1-12) to Yahweh speaking at Mt. Sinai was 53 days. This is exactly the number of days from the Messiah's death on the cross to the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. [NOTE: We have to include an extra day between Abib 14th and Abib 16th. A phenomenal day occurred during those two days when the Phenomenal Cloud gave light to Israel as they went through the Red Sea and kept the Egyptians in darkness (Ex. 14:19-20).]

David Noss in his book states the following: "For forty-nine days after the Seder [Passover] Feast ... no joyous occasions, including marriages were allowed. Then on the fiftieth day came Shebhuoth the Feast of Weeks (in the New Testament called Pentecost), a day of joy once set aside to commemorate the first-fruits of the spring wheat harvest, then modified to include thanksgiving for the giving of the Law at Sinai, which was held to have occurred at the same time of year (Mans Religion, 7th Edition, David S. Noss, Macmillan Publishing Comp., 1984, p. 404)."

When did the Feast of Weeks begin?

There was a controversy between the Sadducees and the Pharisees on when to start counting 49 days, 7 weeks after Passover (Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:15-21). One group thought the commemoration of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai included the Feast of First Fruits that began the wheat harvest and the other thought the Passover began the Feast of Weeks (Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions, General Editor, Marsha A. Ellis Smith, Broadman & Holman Publications, Nashville, Tennessee, p. 56).

Eventually over the years, the Feast of Weeks declined in importance within Israel. Only the Passover feasts and the Feast of Tabernacles were prominent. To both Jewish sects, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Feast of Weeks came to be regarded as concluding the Feast of Passover.

According to the Dictionary of the Bible by James Hastings, the purpose for the Feast of Weeks marked an end to the barley harvest and began the wheat harvest. Later in this article we will show the spiritual significance of these two harvests.

What was required on this feast day?

On the Feast of Weeks Yahweh required all males in Israel to present themselves before Him at the Temple. This day was a holy convocation where there was no manner of work performed. The Feast of Weeks was treated just as a Sabbath day (Lev. 23:1-3).

Besides the daily morning and evening sacrifices and burnt offerings, the sacrifices required on the "Feast of Weeks" follow. According to the scriptures, the priest had to offer two leavened loaves of wheat flour. We will discuss the significance of leavened bread (or bread with yeast in it) later in this article. The priest had to wave them before Yahweh as a peace offering. He also had to offer seven lambs, one bullock, two rams as burnt offerings, and one goat as a sin offering (Lv. 23:17-21). Now the people brought free-will offerings. They did not have to bring two loaves.

Merril F. Unger points this out in his book The New Ungers Bible Dictionary by states that not every Israelite had to offer the two loaves: "The words You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering <Lev. 23:17> are not to be understood as if every head of a house was to bring two such loaves, but that the two loaves were presented for the whole people."

After Israel was released from 70 years of Babylonian captivity, the service for this feast day changed somewhat. More elaborate ceremonies were added to the Feast of Weeks. During the Messiah's ministry Israel still kept this feast day.

How did Yahshua fulfill the Feast of Weeks?

Yahshua the Messiah fulfilled (Mt. 5:17-18) the Feast of Pentecost through His death, burial, and resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which established the New Covenant where the true worshippers worshipped Elohim in "Spirit and Truth (Jn. 4:24)."

Under the Law, the leaven (risen) bread symbolized the Messiahs resurrection. He was the true leaven bread that came down from heaven. The Messiah told Mary that He was the resurrection and life (Jn. 11:24-25). All the sacrifices offered under the Law typified Him.

Now the two loaves that the priest waved before Yahweh point to both the Jews and Gentile receiving the Holy Spirit and standing before Him through Yahshua the Messiah (Acts 2:1-4; 10th chp.; See chart on p. 6).

When did Pentecost begin?

Pentecost began June 6, A.D. 33 when the Holy Spirit was revealed in the consciousness of man (Acts 2:1-4). This event was foreshadowed when the children of Israel gathered around Mt. Sinai for the revelation of the Ten Commandment Law (Ex. 19th Chapter) which occurred exactly 50 days after their resurrection through the divided waters of the Red Sea (Exo. 21:14-15) on June 6, 1490 B.Y. Therefore, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost commemorated the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai (Heb. 12:18-24). We will now examine the divine calculations latent in the Feast of Weeks. Let us now look at the spiritual reality of the barley and wheat harvests.

What do the barley and wheat harvest represent?

As was stated earlier, the Feast of Weeks brought an end to the barley harvest and began the wheat harvest. This has great spiritual significance for it tells the purpose of the Messiah. First, the two harvests typify or reflect the two parts of the resurrection. (See "Resurrection vs Reincarnation, Part One" in the January/February 1994 issue of the "PLIM REPORT.")

The first part of the resurrection consists of those that were in the grave or had physically died before the Messiahs resurrection. These souls or spirits all resurrected with the Messiah after He resurrected. The account was recorded in the New Testament in the four Gospels. Matthew wrote: "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and 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 (Mt. 27:51-53)."

None of the people alive today, or even the Messiahs disciples, participated in this resurrection of souls from the graves. The first part of the resurrection began and ended with the Messiah and those that resurrected with Him. The Apostle John referred to the day the Messiah resurrected as the 1000 year day in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 20:4) when the souls of men reigned with the Messiah. Now most of Christendom are looking for the resurrection to take place in the distant future. They do not realize that it has already been fulfilled.

Are we currently in the wheat harvest?

The second part of the resurrection corresponds to the wheat harvest and it began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and continues to this day. The current resurrection is for those that are alive in physical bodies. The Apostle John wrote in Revelation: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection (Rev 20:5)."

The "rest of the dead" the Apostle John referred to were those people physically alive with the Messiah and those not born yet. All had to wait, including His disciples, 50 days after the Messiahs resurrection or "until the thousand years were finished" to receive the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Now no one physically alive after the Messiahs resurrection has to die physically in order to be resurrected or receive the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26; 16:7, 13). We have to be resurrected before we take off the fleshy bodythis is the second resurrection. Let us now examine Daniel's prophecy concerning the 70 weeks and see how it correlates with the 'Feast of Weeks.'

What is the significance of Daniels prophecy and the feast of weeks ?

Daniel received a vision of the 70 weeks that prophesied the coming of the Messiah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Jews while Babylon held Israel captive (Dan 9:24). "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy (Dan. 9:24)." Hence, the Holy Spirit revealed to Israel when the Messiah would come to finish the transgression, end sin, and dedicate the tabernacle of mankind.

Paul said the physical body is house for the soul which was anointed beginning on the day of Pentecost. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of Elohim (God), and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Elohim (God) in your body, and in your spirit, which are Elohim's (Gods, 1 Cor. 6:19-20)." The Holy Spirit being revealed within man is the reality of Daniels prophecy.

Daniels prophecy told Israel when the rebuilding of the temple would take place, when the walls of Israel would be built, and that the Messiah would appear within 490 years period. Zerubbabels temple was completed first, after King Cyrus released Israel from 70 years of Babylonian captivity to return to Jerusalem as Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 45:28; 45:1-13). Then they built the city's walls, but Israel's progression stopped for a while. Finally, King Artexerxes gave a decree for the walls to be finished 457 B.C. (Before Christ). Now adding the 33 years of the Messiahs life to His death, burial, resurrection and the out pouring of the Holy Spirit, we get the 70 weeks Daniel prophesied.

457 B.C. = years the wall of Jerusalem began to be built under Artexerxes decree

+ 33 A.D. = years of the Messiah's life that ended with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

490 years = 70 weeks

[Note to the reader: The 490 year cycle repeats itself over and over throughout history. For example, from the cloud dedicating the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) to the dedication of Solomon's Temple is 490 years (1 Kgs. 8: 10); for more details see "The 490 Year Cycle" in the January/February 1993 issue and "Will the Messiah Return on or Before the Year 2000?" in the May/June 1995 issue of the "PLIM REPORT."]

The prophecy also signified that the Messiah would appear at the end of the 70 weeks or 490 years. [Note to the reader: 70 weeks = 70 times 7 days (week of days) = 490 days; 1 day = 1 years; so 490 days = 490 years Ezk. 4:6.] Examining Biblical history shows that the resurrected Messiah indeed fulfilled Daniel's prophecy by rebuilding His temple which are the resurrected hearts and minds of men on the day of Pentecost (Eph. 2:19-22).

The Messiah died in the Year of Jubilee, (meaning during the 50th year) when all debts were forgiven, slaves were released, no work was performed for this year (Lev. 25:8-10), and Jews from all over the world returned to Jerusalem. Ironically, the Messiah released Israel from sin and the Law of Moses bondage in A.D. 33 by atoning for them with His own blood (Jn. 1:29; Dn. 9:24). As was stated earlier, the Jubilee year symbolized the principle of Pentecost. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit freed men from the limitations of their carnal thoughts and expanded their consciousness to include Spirit and explore its infinite possibilities. Pentecost (50) = 49 (or 7 x 7 ) + 1.

What we have shown with both Daniels 70 weeks prophecy and the year of Jubilee is that they point to the Messiah. Paul said the things in the law were a shadow of the Messiah (Heb. 10:1-2) who said the scriptures (Old Testament) testify to Him (Jn. 5:39).

What is the spiritual reality?

The feast of Pentecost has significant spiritual meaning to man today. It is not a vain and archaic part of history.

It is mans realization of the existence of a creator within our consciousness and our inseparable relationship with Spirit within. (See cover story, "I Heard A Voice From Heaven," by Dr. Henry C. Kinley.)

Pentecost comes to us when we realize that our sufficiency is not of ourselves, but we must rely totally upon the Holy Spirit within our consciousness to overcome the adversities of everyday life. Pentecost also means giving honor and glory to the Holy Spirit within us, and not taking credit ourselves nor giving credit to any other creature for His daily resurrections. This is salvation in a nutshell.

Conclusion

The Feast of Weeks illustrates that there are two harvests: the barley comes to an end and the wheat harvest begins. We are a part of the wheat or spiritual harvest.

The Messiah referred to this harvest as one where there will be a division between the tares and the wheat (See "Parable of the Tares and Wheat" in the March/April 1996 issue of the "PLIM REPORT"). So, individually, all humans have to harvest the 'fruits of the Spirit' if we are to inherit eternal life (Jn. 4:35; 6:63).

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