Pentecost comes in the early summer (May-June). It’s the only Levitical Feast Day between the 3 Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits) and the 3 in the fall (Rosh Hashanna, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles). The Hebrew name for this Day is Shavuot, which means weeks, so in Israel it’s called the Feast of Weeks.

This is because it’s supposed to occur 7 weeks after the Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:15-16). Deut. 16:9 confirms this. “Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.” The first cutting of the grain harvest took place on the Feast of First Fruits.

Since First Fruits is the first Sunday after Passover, Shavuot should always be on a Sunday, too. But somewhere along the way the Jews began counting from Passover itself, so now Shavuot can come any day of the week, depending on what day Passover is. This year (2010) it began at sundown May 18 on our calendar.

Christians call this day by its Greek name, Pentecost, from a Greek word that means “50 days”. There were 50 days from the Sabbath that followed Passover to the Feast of Weeks, and that’s where the Greek name comes from. But whether you count seven weeks (49 days) from First Fruits to the day the Jews call the Feast of Weeks or count 50 days from the first Sabbath after Passover to the day Christians call Pentecost, you will arrive at the same day and it will be a Sunday.

But like the Jews we’ve also changed things although we’ve retained the Sunday part. Christians now start counting on the day we call Easter Sunday, which is officially the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the Spring Equinox.

We include Easter Sunday as day one, so Pentecost is always seven weeks from Easter. Because of differences between the Western Solar calendar and the Jewish Lunar one, Easter does not always come on the first Sunday after Passover, so we don’t always celebrate Pentecost on the correct date either. But this year Easter came on April 4, which was the first Sunday after Passover, the Feast of First Fruits. That means May 23, called Pentecost Sunday in 2010, is the correct date for the Feast of Weeks, according to Lev. 23:15-16 and Deut. 16:9. It’s the 7th Sunday after April 4.

What’s a Pentecost?

Jews celebrate Pentecost (I’ll just use its Greek name to avoid any more confusion than necessary) as the day Moses received the Law on Mt. Sinai and the nation Israel was born. (Exodus 19-20) Christians celebrate it as the day the Holy Spirit fell on the Disciples in Jerusalem and the Church was born (Acts 2).

If you agree with my view that the parables of Matthew 13 describe the church on Earth and that the parable of the yeast predicts there will be sin in the church, you’ll be interested in the fact that unlike all the other Jewish Feasts that call for unleavened bread (no yeast), Pentecost requires bread baked with yeast (Lev. 23:17). In the Bible leaven, or yeast, is a model of sin because it causes the dough to begin spoiling.

The Jewish Pentecost ceremonies reveal a subtle link to the coming church. In synagogues, the Book of Ruth is read on Pentecost. The story of Ruth has been called “The Romance of Redemption”. It’s about Naomi, a Jewish woman from Bethlehem who lost her land and position and was forced into exile in a foreign country (Moab).

Shortly thereafter her husband passed away leaving her penniless and alone. She returns to Bethlehem accompanied by Ruth, a gentile woman who has sworn never to leave her. Ruth was a Moabite who had married one of Naomi’s sons (who also died) making her Naomi’s daughter-in-law and a destitute widow as well.

Once back in Bethlehem Naomi’s close relative, a prominent Jewish man named Boaz falls in love with Ruth and marries her while in the process of redeeming Naomi’s land. Both these events were accomplished according to the Law. For Naomi it was the law of redemption (Lev 25:25), and for Ruth it was the law of leverite marriage (Deut. 25:5-6).

The modeling here is dramatic, with 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 them. In the process of redeeming Israel, the Messiah takes a gentile bride. In doing so, He saves both from destitution and redeems Israel’s land. The identification of the Church with Pentecost began in the prophecies of Ruth. To learn more about these incredible prophecies, and enjoy one of the world’s classic love stories, read Ruth’s Story.

By the way, Boaz was the son of Rahab, the harlot from the Book of Joshua (read “The Gospel in Joshua … The Story of Rahab” ), and 3 generations later his great-grandson David became King of Israel. Rahab and Ruth both show up in the Genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 1:5), and King Solomon named one of the pillars at the entrance to the Temple after Boaz.

When’s Your Birthday?

By tradition Enoch, one of the patriarchs from Genesis 5, was born on the day later to be known as Pentecost. Enoch’s name means “teaching”, a primary function of the Church (Matt. 28:19-20) For this reason many scholars see him as a “type” of the church as well. Genesis 5:21-23 indicates that Enoch was very close to God and was actually taken live (raptured) into Heaven before the Great Flood. Pre-Trib scholars see this event as one of several Old Testament hints that the Church will disappear from Earth before the Great Tribulation.

These same traditions also hold that Enoch was taken on his birthday. So here’s a model in Genesis 5 of a man identified with the church being born and raptured on the day that would become Pentecost, the day the church was also born.

Will the Church be raptured on our birthday too? Personally I don’t believe the Rapture of the Church will be the prophetic fulfillment of any of Israel’s Holy Days. But if I’m wrong and the Rapture does fulfill a Jewish Feast, Pentecost is by far the most obvious candidate.

As you probably know, I believe the reason no one on Earth can accurately predict the day of the Rapture is because it’s a number specific event, not a date specific one. In Romans 11:25 Paul implied the church has a “full number”, when its ranks will be considered complete.

When that number is reached the Church will “come in” which means it will arrive at its scheduled destination, like when a ship “comes in.” Jesus said the destination of the Church is His Father’s house (John 14:2). Put it together and I believe it means we’ll be raptured as soon as the pre-determined number of Christians has been born again, no matter what day of the week it is.

Soon And Very Soon

One day soon now, all who are in Christ, having heard and believed the Word of Truth, the Gospel of our salvation (thereby receiving the mark of the promised Holy Spirit) will suddenly disappear from the face of the Earth along with all children and those mentally incapable of making informed choices.

In one instant we will have been going about our daily routines on Earth and in the next we’ll be standing in the presence of our Redeemer, our sins forgiven and forgotten, and all our imperfections gone. Among us will be all the faithful dead of the Church Age, reunited with perfected bodies and restored to eternal physical life. Together we will begin the most incredible journey of exploration and realization ever dreamed of.

Neither we, nor the unbelieving world, will have received any advance warning of the timing for this event; it will have come totally by surprise. Maybe it will happen on Pentecost, maybe not. But one thing is certain, when it does happen, none of us will care one whit whether we had predicted it’s timing accurately. We will only express in unimaginable joy our gratitude for being there.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephe. 2:8-9) As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:9-10). You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah. 05-22-10

15 “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:

16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat [meal] offering unto the Lord.

17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven; they are the first fruits unto the Lord…………….

20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.”

Leviticus 23:15-22 [entire text]

Introduction

This Scripture text which informed the Jews living under the Mosiac Covenant HOW to calculate the day which was to be observed as Pentecost has not changed since the Lord gave it to Israel some 3,400 years ago. It still says the same thing today as it said back then.

Apparently some today have trouble reading this passage, for there is a debate among the Jews today which has also spread even into the ranks of Christianity, about the correct way to count the days leading up to the Day of Pentecost. By the way, the word “Pentecost” literally means “fifty.” It DOES NOT mean “100.”

It is quite obvious that following the resurrection of the Lord on firstfruits [the morrow after the first weekly Sabbath following Passover…Leviticus 23:9-11], the Lord was then seen of His disciples for FORTY DAYS. This is explicitly stated in Acts 1:3. Ten days later the Day of Pentecost occurred as recorded in Acts 2.

Do you know what this inspired record tells me? It tells me that I know how to correctly read Leviticus 23:15-22, and therefore I also know how to correctly calculate the day on which Pentecost will occur. Perhaps some Jews today and also some “gung-ho Christians” who have convinced themselves that the 50 day count begins AFTER the first 49 or 50 day count [that’s 100 days], should go back and review the resurrection of the Lord.

It is quite obvious to anyone possessing spiritual discernment [only true believers…1 Corinthians 2:10-16] that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was an explicit fulfillment of the Jewish “first fruits” wave offering on “the morrow after the sabbath.”. Maybe such a review would then allow the Holy Spirit to teach them HOW TO READ. Maybe…?? Perhaps…??

The Morrow after the Sabbath

It is obvious that “the morrow after the sabbath” is Sunday, the first day of the week. It has always been Sunday. The weekly Sabbath Day of the Jews is on each Saturday of each week. It has always been on Saturday. Even today the weekly Jewish Sabbath Day still falls on Saturday. So anyone with a lick of sense ought to be able to understand that “the morrow after the Sabbath” is then Sunday, the first day of the week. Whooee! Isn’t that hard to grasp?

Why am I being sarcastic and laboring this point? Because I am sick and tired of people who claim to be “Christians” chasing after every silly theory that someone comes up with today. It appears that today there are some in the ranks of Christianity who are so insecure and lacking in “self esteem,” that they just have to find “something” in God’s Word that they can “re-interpret” in order to make them feel important and get their moment of “vain glory,” Galatians 5:26; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:5-7; 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; Titus 1:10-11; 3:9.

The inspired warning of the Apostle Paul is still in God’s Word whether some today like it or not, “That we [believers] henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [teaching; theory; opinion], by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,” Ephesians 4:14. If you claim to be a “Christian,” then stay with what God’s Word actually and literally says and teaches, and not what some man would like to make it say and teach. Is that clear enough? The “morrow after the sabbath” is Sunday, the first day of the week!

Calculating Pentecost

Well guess what? If you look on the calendars for this year [2010], even the Jewish calendars, the Jews have the Day of Pentecost occurring on May 19th, which is Wednesday, right smack in the middle of the week. This date for Pentecost is Scripturally impossible, if one is going to stay with the inspired instructions given for calculating Pentecost set forth in Leviticus 23:15-22. Either some Jews don’t know how to count, or else they don’t pay any attention to or believe their own Scriptures. God have mercy!

Folks, no matter how you count, the Day of Pentecost always HAS TO OCCUR on Sunday. The inspired Scripture explicitly states that it occurs on “the morrow after the [weekly] sabbath.” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out that “the morrow after the sabbath” is Sunday, the first day of the week, and the same day the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave, [Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1-18] perfectly fulfilling the prophetic type set forth in the “first fruits” offering” in Leviticus 23:9-14. Read 1 Corinthians 15:23 and believe what it says.

Therefore…..

In order to Scripturally calculate the correct date for Pentecost, we begin with the day of “first fruits” on the Jewish calendar. This year that date was April 4, 2010, the “morrow” after the weekly Jewish Sabbath following Passover.

Now if anyone wants to debate this date, then stand right in front of your bathroom mirror and just debate away with the person staring back at you. I have looked into the “mirror” of God’s Word, believed what it says, and know whereof I speak. The Jewish observance of “first fruits” fell on April 4th this year, and according to the inspired Word that is exactly where the count to calculate the correct date for Pentecost should begin.

Well guess what? If one begins on April 4th and counts 7 weekly Jewish sabbath days from that point, then “the morrow after the [seventh] sabbath” falls exactly on Sunday, May 23rd. Count it for yourself! I did! This is then the CORRECT AND SCRIPTURAL DATE for the Day of Pentecost in this year of 2010. Period!

What’s the Big Deal…??

Why am I going to such lengths to impress upon our readers the importance of this date this year? Let me demonstrate…..

MAY 23, 2010

May is the 5th month of the year on our Gentile calendar. “5” is the Bible number associated with “GRACE” all through the Scriptures.

The 23rd of May is the 23rd day of the month of May. Obvious! “23” is the Bible number associated with “death” all through the Scriptures. But…..by the GRACE of God we who are true believers have been delivered from death through placing our personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:4-10; 1 Peter 1:18-23.

2010 is the 10th year of this present century. “10” is the Bible number associated with “Law” all through the Scriptures. We believers are presently living in the “dispensation of grace,” [Ephesians 3:2], yet the careful student of Bible prophecy knows that seven more years of Law is staring Israel in the face RIGHT NOW, Daniel 9:24-27. There is no question in my mind that (1) the resurrection and rapture of the Lord’s New Testament believers will occur and (2) the final seven years of LAW for Israel will begin BEFORE this present year is completed. Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

All of these facts are important to God’s people [true believers], but just how important are they? Let’s put these numbers together and see…..

5th month plus 23rd day equals 28. “28” is the Bible number for “eternal life.” This is what we New Testament believers are going to enter into at the rapture. Glory!

5th month plus 23rd day plus 10th year equals 38. “38” is the Bible number for “righteousness.” This is what New Testament believers are going to experience when we receive our new “glorified” bodies at the rapture, made like unto the glorious body of the Son of God; that is, total and complete “righteousness” in both body and soul. Read Romans 7:18-25, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, and Philippians 3:20-21. Rejoice and give glory to God! Hallelujah! But this isn’t all…..

Now let’s take the numbers themselves which are involved in this particular date and see what we can find…..

Here are the numbers I will use : 5 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 0 These are the numbers for the month, the day of the month, and the year of the century.

5 + 2 = 7 “7” is the Bible number for “completion; fulfillment; to complete or fulfill.” This number is often associated with the 7 years of the Tribulation which shall complete or bring to fulfillment the end of this present age.

5 + 2 + 3 = 10 I have already discussed the meaning of this number.

5 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 11 “11” is the Bible number for “judgment.” The swiftly approaching seven year Tribulation period is a time of judgment upon Israel and upon this present evil world.

5 + 2 + 3 + 10 = 20 “20” is the Bible number for “redemption,” which, in relation to the believer’s body, is exactly what we and all creation are waiting for RIGHT NOW, and which will occur for every true believer at the rapture. Read Romans 8:18-23, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, and Colossians 3:1-4. Hallelujah! Give glory to God! I would also point out that “20” is the number for this present century. Coincidence? You decide!

This is still not all….. Now let’s do some multiplication…..

5 x 2 = 10 This number has already been discussed.

10 x 3 = 30 This is the Bible number for “blood.” Much blood is going to be shed during the coming Tribulation period.

30 x 20 (the century) = 600 This is the Bible number for “war; warfare; to go to war.” The Tribulation will be filled with one bloody war after another, Revelation 6:3-4.

600 x 10 = 6000 This is the Bible number marking the end of the 6th millennium or 6,000 years of human history or six days in God’s Great Week, 2 Peter 3:8. These 6,000 years are brought to an end by the 7 years of the Tribulation period which is staring humanity in the face RIGHT NOW.

Conclusion

Folks, is the way all of these numbers involved in May 23, 2010, the SCRIPTURAL Jewish Day of Pentecost, just “coincidence?” Or….is it “possible” the Lord is trying to tell His people something? Something very meaningful and important to us? Is this possible? Think about it!

We believers who consider ourselves to be serious “watchmen” [Mark 13:35-37] have carefully “watched” each of the past two years, hoping and praying for the coming of our Lord on the Jewish Day of Pentecost. But it didn’t happen!

This doesn’t change the fact that there is abundant Scriptural reasons to believe that the Day of Pentecost could very well be the day that the resurrection and rapture of all true New Testament believers could occur and the Tribulation period could begin on the earth.

Due to the many “signs” clearly predicted in the prophetic Scriptures, including “signs” given by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, which have appeared in these past two years and are still appearing daily as I write, this coming Day of Pentecost appears to be more favorable for the coming of our Lord to rapture His people to glory than at any time in the past. Praise the Lord. Glory to God! Hallelujah!

Will the Lord then appear in glory to receive His people to Himself on this coming Day of Pentecost, May 23rd, 2010? I DO NOT KNOW! Further, I make no claim of knowing! Is this statemen plain enough for all of the critics in the ranks of Christianity today who are scared to death of “those terrible date setters”? Sic!

However, just because I do not know does not mean that I am going to sit on my pious, apathetic, Laodicean behind, refuse to study the prophecies, refuse to “watch” as the Lord explicitly told every single believer to do [Mark 13:35-37], refuse to warn the lost [and the saved] of the shortness of time, and just spend my time enjoying the “abundant life” until the Lord does come. God have mercy!

Rather, during these next THIRTY DAYS I am going to seek to draw closer to my Savior than I have ever been, and to lay my entire time, money, effort, SELF AND LIFE on the altar of sacrifice as I seek to reach and warn every lost soul who will listen to me that their time to be saved is running out with every tick of the clock.

It is NOW OR NEVER to reach the lost for Christ. Where, dear brothers and sisters, will your lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors spend eternity? The next THIRTY DAYS could very well answer that question. DO YOU CARE? DO YOU REALLY CARE…..???

Then get serious about living for and serving the Lord…!!!

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NOTICE: Permission is granted to any true believer or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others [PLEASE DO SO] as the Lord leads.

I WANT TO THANK every reader who has helped make this ministry possible over these many years by your prayers and financial support. May your reward be great in glory, and may Heaven reveal the precious souls that are there because you cared enough to help us send forth the truth of God’s Word.

Please address all comments, questions, and correspondence to: Pastor F. M. Riley, Last Call Gospel Ministry, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, Missouri 65256.

My email address is: fmrglbd5@yahoo.com or fmr7sngn@centurylink.net

I woke up last night at 1am EST and felt the need to pray. I have no idea whether or not the escape from all will take place over the next day or two but if it does I want to remind you of this. A week or two ago the Lord brought to my mind to remind you of Lot’s wife. She was on the way out of Sodom and she looked back. If this thing does happen, if the Lord shows up and asks you “are you ready?” REMEMBER LOTS WIFE.

Set it in your heart now that you will not look back at this world or anything in it. We may hear “the bridegroom cometh” or “are you ready” or maybe something else but the point is the specific warning for remembering Lot’s wife was given to US WHO ARE ON THE WAY OUT!!!!! The Lord is very detail oriented, you have been warned and prepared for everything you need to know for that special day.

If the escape from all is not on Pentecost 2009 is makes no difference whatsoever to us who are watching every day. We are ready and watching every day unlike so many who surround us. We are soldiers ready for our commander to show up at any minute. Some days are loaded with more significance than others and tomorrow seems to be one of those “loaded” days than others so we would be wise to seek the Lord’s face TODAY before he might show up. I was on my knees this morning at 1am seeking his face about the next 24 hours and the only thing I received from him is my earlier post from today.

I am convinced that there will be a pre-departure “something” that is a time interval between notification and departure before the escape takes place. Noah was’nt sawing wood then poof went into the ark. Lot was’nt baking bread then poof found himself outside of Sodom. Noah and Lot were both told in advance what was going to happen and WHEN. In Noahs case it was 7 days, in Lots case it was the day after the angels arrived. We see from the “one taken one left” texts in Matt 24 and Luke 17 that we are told those on the rooftop dont go down to the house, those in the field dont go back to try and get anything, that implies TIME to actually do those things between notifacation and departure. The cherry on top of this is the parable of the virgins. They all heard “the bridegroom cometh!” but the foolish went away to “buy oil” which relates perfectly with the idea of not going down from the rooftop or coming back from the field to try and get anything.

When you get the notification, perhaps wake your family up and pray for 1. all the brothers 2. your family 3. yourself that we all will REMEMBER LOTS WIFE.

Everything that I’ve done here through this ministry since August 2008 has led to this. I wholeheartedly believe that now because this is the absolute most important column ever written and published on this website in the 9 months that I’ve been doing this and the 4 years that I’ve been writing to people about end times prophecy.

No, that’s not over-hype or overstated. I believe deep down in my heart and soul that the prophesied Rapture of the Christian Church (the Bride of Christ/Body of Christ) is imminent as is the beginning of those final 7 years for mankind on Earth beginning with the Tribulation.

To borrow a phrase from Steve Coerper whom is the catalyst for today’s entry: “If June 1st arrives and none of these things have happened, it is because I made unwarranted assumptions or otherwise erred in my study. The Bible is still true. You will never be any worse off for preparing for your inevitable meeting with God. And you could still be hit by a truck and die on June 2nd.”

Truer words were never written, and so it with a heavy heart that I share this with you all today because I know that even despite the hard evidence below there will still be many well-meaning Christians (as well as many well-meaning, but lost and unsaved souls) who will read this and simply won’t believe any of it. Worse, they’ll believe it, but won’t care enough to do anything about it (like getting themselves right with the Lord and sharing it with anyone and everyone who is within there sphere of influence).
That being said, I pray Lord that you give those reading this now the clarity of mind as well as the spiritual discernment and wisdom to receive the truth of this message and the courage to act upon it in such a way that is in accordance with your perfect will while they still can. Amen.

The verse displayed prominently on this website is Luke 21:28.

Luke 21:28 – “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Friends, our “redemption draweth nigh” I think! Despite all the other signs in this world that are pointing to the fact that we’re on the cusp of the start of the Tribulation we have what could very well be the final piece of the prophetic puzzle. If we only had this piece it would still be enough to cause any Christian with common sense to see the reality we’re facing at the moment. Praise God! The study I’m going to reference in a minute seamlessly ties together EVERYTHING that we’ve looked at here in this forum since August 2008 — EVERYTHING! That’s not just a mere coincidence and we already know that “coincidences” don’t exist in the Christian lifestyle.

Please pray for discernment and wisdom before reading this. Read it some place quiet where you can focus and where you will not be interrupted because it is that important. I know it’s rather long (isn’t every column that appears on this site? HA!), but if it’s true like I believe it is, then the next few days or so will be VERY IMPORTANT to us within the Body of Christ who love Jesus Christ and are watching for His return daily.

That’s why I’m not going to put any new columns up on the site at this time. This could very well be the bookend to this online ministry.

The conclusions by this author echo the conclusions I came to on my own a few months ago so we definitely seem to have another case of “in the mouth of two or three witnesses” here to confirm things (2 Corinthians 13:1). The article also lines up with the timelines of many others I have been reading/researching over the past few years or so. David Lowe wrote a book about the 6th Seal Earthquake that accompanies/precedes the Resurrection/Rapture. David Flynn has written a book that coincides very closely with this article’s timeline of events, as does the works of Daniel Matson, Mark Biltz, and a few others. Again, we could be witnessing a clear case of the spiritual law God told us about in 2 Corinthians 13:1.

COULD IT BE? COULD THIS REALLY BE IT? YES IT COULD! MARANATHA!!!

Could the Rapture really happen during Pentecost? Yes! I believe so! Then again, ANY DAY could be the day because time-after-time again we’re commanded throughout the Bible to be watching and praying for His return — TODAY.

Jack Kelley writes: “Pentecost comes in the early summer (May-June). This year it’s May 31. It’s the only Holy Day between the 3 Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits) and the 3 in the fall (Rosh Hashanna, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles). Its Hebrew name is Shavuot. Pentecost is a Greek word and translates ’50 days’ since it comes 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits, the day we should know as Resurrection Morning . The Feast of First Fruits is celebrated on the day following the first Sabbath after Passover and Pentecost on the day after the Sabbath seven weeks later, (Leviticus 23:15-16) giving rise to its nickname ‘Feast of Weeks.’ Since the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, both these Holy days are Sundays.”

Jewish synagogues love the story of Ruth. It is the most popular, especially on Pentecost. Often times there is a strong teaching that the Messiah will arrive on this date. The Rapture is pictured in the Book of Ruth. When Ruth was on the threshing floor and laid down at the feet of Boaz this represented the rapture. This whole scenario took place on Shavuot (Pentecost). When Ruth married Boaz one could make a pretty good case that she converted over to Judaism. Once again the dispensation of law started on Shavuot (Pentecost). Grace (Pentecost). Ruth lying at the feet of Boaz (Pentecost). Could it be that Law, Grace, and the Rapture/Resurrection will come together on Pentecost?

The significance of this religious holiday cannot be overstated when discussing the hotly debated topic known as the Rapture.

Let’s take a close look at the blessed piece that has everyone — including myself — very excited. This is the commentary written by Steve Coerper back in January 2009 that has been updated many times since with facts that make his case even stronger. In fact, he’s now so confident that he’s added a clock that’s counting down at the top of his main page!

I’m including it here in its entirety because it’s that important. Seriously, take some time to sit down and give this the proper devotion it deserves because you might not get another chance to. What really sold it for me aside from the fact that all his conclusions are rooted firmly in God’s Word as found in the Holy Bible is the fact that the Holy Spirit led me to the SAME CONCLUSIONS (no, not to the same level of depth and detail as Mr. Coerper here, but in the sense that I knew for certain that Shavuot/Pentecost would be a prophetically significant time period) independent of him months ago.

Up until seeing this, I had thought that I (and Brother D from Christian Apostasy) were the only two “Christian crackpots” thinking this way. Now I know that God is intimately involved in this. There’s just no other way to explain it.

The Final Fulfillment of Pentecost
By Steve Coerper

(An Apology – sort of: I wrote this article in January of 2009 as a “brief” exegesis of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, intending to explain — briefly — why the upcoming Pentecost seemed to me to be the most likely time for the Rapture. Since then, there has been a significant amount of supporting material published on the web, and I have linked some of it from relevant points in the article. In addition, I have expanded some areas for clarification and completeness.

I’m a date-setter. In fact, I’m probably an incurable date-setter. I’m intrigued by both the tantalizing hints and the explicit descriptions sprinkled through the Bible concerning events that haven’t yet occurred.

When Jesus came 2000 years ago, He fulfilled prophecies precisely. He presented Himself as the Messiah on the exact day indicated in the book of Daniel; 483 years to the day from the time of the decree to restore and build Jerusalem. As happened at Jesus’ first coming, Nisan 14 this year will begin on a Wednesday evening (Jesus was crucified on Thursday). The following day (Friday) is the Feast of Unleavened Bread and is a “high sabbath.” The following day is the weekly sabbath, followed by the first day of the following week, which is the Feast of First Fruits. This year is a “year of perfect order.” I believe this is significant.

What follows is an examination of this unfulfilled promise: that the “blindness of Israel” will end and the Jews will recognize and embrace Jesus Christ as Messiah. I believe that when this happens, the “second half” of Pentecost will have occurred and the “Church Age” will be closed. Paul wrote concerning this to the Christians in Rome:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” - Romans 11:25-27

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” “You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” - Ezekiel 38:2-4,8,9, 16

Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes. Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests who minister to the LORD weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” - Joel 2:15-17

And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it. I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”
- Zechariah 13:8-9

Facing the very real possibility of complete annihilation, they finally listen to the testimony of those Messianic Jews among them who point to the scriptures and to the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope of deliverance. Jesus, of course, told them a long time ago that this day would come:

2. Global tensions will continue to increase as economies crumble, trust evaporates, diseases threaten, and food and water shortages become a daily reality for many.

3. The Gog alliance (consisting primarily of Russia, Iran and Turkey) will move into Israel from the north.

The word for “unwalled villages” (“peraza”) is used in two other places in scripture, and neither of those places appears to be in the land of Israel. One (Esther 9:19) is clearly in the Persian empire, and the second use (Zechariah 2:4) compares Jerusalem to “towns without walls” without specifying where those towns might be.

The world economy is, by design, in a collapse. I believe that in the time immediately following the “inauguration” of “Barack Obama” (not his real name), we will see more signs of collapse, including power outages, business bankruptcies and closings, bank failures, food shortages and the like. These will be orchestrated by the New World Order folks in order to make us more amenable to their “solution” to the problem.

Early in the morning of November 23, 1998, Bill Wiese had an out-of-body experience — what he says was a vision — in which the Lord took him to Hell. The Lord told Bill, “Tell them I am coming very, very soon.”

The question, of course, is “how soon is ‘soon’?” Can the time of the fulfillment be determined?

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Much has been written concerning those fallen angels who chose human wives and created a hybrid race:

Of immediate interest to us is the question of when these “fallen ones” will come out of hiding and visibly begin advancing their agenda. Clearly, they will be FORCED to do so at the time they are driven out of the spiritual realm. Knowing that this is inevitable, and possibly knowing when this will take place, they are already signalling their manifestation. The time they are presenting is December 21, 2012. This is 3 1/2 years after the proposed fulfillment of the battle of Ezekiel 38, and 3 1/2 years before the time of the coming that we determined from Bill Wiese’s vision and Mark Biltz’s research:

1. Late May, 2009 – Beginning of Russian invasion of the land of Israel. (Note: This item originally said “early or mid May” but it now appears that the Russians will have “war games” in late May to position themselves for the invasion. “President” Obama will be in Egypt on June 4th and will be safe in Germany on June 6th when America is attacked. Other political leaders also have travel plans.)

2. May 31st at the latest – Rapture of the Church. “As it was in the days of Noah,” there will be a seven-day lull before the beginning of the war and God’s subsequent judgment of Russia and the “coastlands.” (See An Urgent Message by David Wilkerson.)

3. June – July, 2009 – A leader emerges and structures a world-wide peace treaty. The pact will provide for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. By this time, America will be a smoldering ruin. Since the American “Babylon” (New York City) will have been destroyed, a replacement will be built on the plains of Shinar. Ancient Babylon will be restored.

5. September 23, 2015 – Yom Kippur; likely fulfillment of Zechariah 14:4 (video)

What To Do – How To Prepare

1. First, this is NOT a time to panic. We have known for 2000 years that Jesus was going to return, set up His kingdom, and judge the earth.

2. Get your spiritual house in order. REPENT. This means align your life with the law of God. Where you have sinned, you must acknowledge your sin, confess it to God, and make restitution where-ever possible and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

4. Don’t be deceived. Study your Bible. The time is getting really short. Jesus commanded us to watch! This means 1) knowing the prophetic signs in the scriptures, and 2) knowing what’s going on in the world.

6. If June 1st arrives and none of these things have happened, it is because I made unwarranted assumptions or otherwise erred in my study. The Bible is still true. You will never be any worse off for preparing for your inevitable meeting with God. And you could still be hit by a truck on June 2nd.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST

It’s amazing to me how the Body of Christ will come together as one mind on a subject, and yet we’ll be able to still find so many individuals adding so many incredible gems of wisdom to the discussion.

Case in point, here’s a snapshot of some of the comments from Christians like you and me who added their take to this idea (thanks to reader Susan C. for the head’s up on this):

“If God poured out his Holy Spirit on this day, could He also take it back on the same day?”
Anonymous

“A year ago I wrote a Bible study entitled ‘So Simple!’ In that study I emphasized how the Lord had shown me that only two of the Jewish Holy Days given to Israel in Leviticus 23 typify the resurrection and rapture of New Testament believers. Those two Jewish Holy Days are ‘firstfruits’ and Pentecost. Proof of this truth is easily available to any reader willing to deal honestly with the Scriptures. It was only on ‘firstfruits’ that a ‘sheaf’ [omer] of barley was lifted up and ‘waved’ before the Lord, which subsequent history proved was a type of the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ and the ‘firstfruit’ saints [Leviticus 23:9-14; Matthew 27:52-53; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23]. The only other Jewish Holy Day where a ‘wave offering’ was ‘waved before the Lord’ was on Pentecost. The instructions given for the observance of this Jewish Holy Day are found in Leviticus 23:15-21. But now we living today are well into a new year. The Jewish Holy Day of ‘firstfruits’, which was this past Sunday, has now come and gone. It is now obvious that the Lord did not come on ‘firstfruits’ this year. Therefore, if the resurrection and rapture of New Testament believers is going to occur this year on or in connection with one of these two Jewish Holy Days, then I have to believe that it will be ‘Pentecost.’”
Pastor F. M. Riley / May 6, 2009

“Jews celebrate Pentecost (I’ll just use its Greek name to avoid any more confusion than necessary) as the day Moses received the Law on Mt. Sinai in the wilderness and the nation Israel was born. (Exodus 19-20) Christians celebrate it as the day the Holy Spirit fell on the Disciples inJerusalem and the Church was born (Acts 2). If you agree with my view that the parables of Matthew 13 describe the church on Earth and that the parable of the yeast predicts there will be sin in the church, you’ll be interested in the fact that unlike all the other Jewish Feasts that call for unleavened bread, Pentecost requires bread baked with yeast (Lev. 23:17). Pentecost also began the annual wheat harvest, perhaps pointing to another of Matthew’s Kingdom parables, the Wheat and the Tares. The Pentecost ceremonies reveal a subtle link to the coming church.” Anonymous

“In synagogues, the Book of Ruth is read on Pentecost. The story of Ruth has been called ‘The Romance of Redemption’. The identification of the Church with Pentecost began in the prophecies of Ruth.” Anonymous

“Neither we, nor the unbelieving world, will have received any advance warning of the timing for this event; it will have come totally by surprise. Maybe it will happen on Pentecost, maybe not. But one thing is certain, when it does happen, none us will care one whit whether we had predicted it’s timing accurately. We will only express in unimaginable joy our gratitude for being there. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.” Jack Kelley / Pentecost And The Rapture Of The Church

“I used to believe that Rosh Hoshana was the day of the Rapture, but I no longer believe that. Pentecost, as I explained in a previous letter (http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/june2008/rickh66.htm,) has not been fulfilled yet. If the Rapture were the fulfillment of Rosh Hoshana, then that would leave Pentecost unfulfilled. Pentecost has to be fulfilled by the Rapture. There is no other event that could fulfill it.The reason I believe 2009 will be the year, if 2008 isn’t, is the fact that something major is going to happen on December 21, 2012. If the Rapture happens this year, in June, then Dec. 21, 2012 will be about 4 1/2 years from now. That would put Dec. 21, 2012 a whole year into the second half of the Tribulation. This is possible, but whatever happens on this day would have to be just a routine event of the second half of the Tribulation. By that I mean it would be just one of the many judgements of God that happened on that day during the second half. However, if the Rapture happenes on Pentecost 2009 (June,) then Dec. 21, 2012 is ‘exactly’ 3 1/2 years later. What I’m getting at is this: perhaps the major event that is to happen on Dec. 21, 2012 is Satan being cast down to Earth, indwelling the Antichrist, and proclaiming himself to be God in the Temple. This seems to be a very likely event for what’s to happen on Dec. 21, 2012. No other Tibulation event or historical event is as major as this one.. Things are going to change drastically after this event happens. The Mayans astronomical calendar ends on this date. During the second half of the Tribulation, astronomical events will not be normal and routine any longer. And all this happens immediately after the Beast enters the Temple and proclaims himself to be God…..on Dec. 21, 2012. This is, of course, speculation. But it is educated speculation.”
Rick Hedrick / June 19, 2008

“Please also make special note of the fact that this year is the 62nd week (62nd Feasts of Weeks or Shavuot) from the date of the original covenant, as theorized below. If true, this would corroborate the Daniel’s Timeline theory! See Daniel 9:24-27 and UN Resolution 181.”
Look Up Fellowship Reader

“In view of what I have set forth in this study, is it then just ‘coincidence’ that in John 4 the Lord met the Gentile woman at Jacob’s well precisely on Pentecost? Since Pentecost is not mentioned in that chapter, how do we know it was Pentecost? We know this to be so because in ‘a year of perfect order’ it is exactly ‘four months’ from Pentecost to Rosh HaShanah. Now look at the statement of the Lord Jesus in John 4:35: Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! Did I mention that 2009 is ‘a year of perfect order’? For those of our readers who are not familiar with this term, ‘year of perfect order,’ it means that every day on the Jewish calendar in a given year falls on exactly the same day that it fell on during the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is then more than ‘coincidence’ that it is exactly four months to the day from Pentecost to Rosh HaShanah this year. Count the days for yourself, and as the Lord said, ‘be not faithless, but believing,’ John 20:27. Is it possible that the Lord’s meeting with the Gentile woman on Pentecost at Jacob’s well typifies the transition of the ‘gospel’ from the Gentile ‘church’ back into the hands of the Jewish people during the coming Tribulation period? Is that possible? I don’t know! I’m just studying the Scriptures and seeking to learn, like othertrue believers should also be doing.” Pastor F. M. Riley / May 6, 2009

“There are 7 feast days and Pentecost is the 4th. Jesus Christ is always represented by the 4th candlestick. The middle gives light and understanding to the first 3 and the last 3. At the Rapture of the Church we will have understanding. It is a time when we will see the Light of the world who is Jesus Christ face-to-face! There are 3 Jewish festivals, but Pentecost is right in the middle. This speaks of division. People may not want to hear this, but the Rapture is division. The saved in Jesus Christ will go up and the unsaved will be left behind. In both cases, Pentecost is right in the middle (the feasts and the festivals).” Anonymous

“According to the Talmud, David was born and died on Shavuot/Pentecost! If this is true God, was making a statement? I cannot be sure of this, but David seemed to be a type of the Church. David was in Ruth’s bloodline, right? If we went from Ruth to David we are in essence starting and ending with Pentecost.” Anonymous

So, there you have it. What do you think? As with all things, go to the Lord in prayer and see what He reveals to you. Me? I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep at all the next few nights!

Let me leave you all with one more thing to please keep in mind about me and this ministry. No, I’m not a prophet. I certainly do not speak for God. This ministry is all about bringing all the glory and honor to Him by encouraging people to seek His face and study His Word regularly. I am not and have never claimed to be “infallible” either. I’m just another child of God and servant of the Lord who seriously studies the Word seeking to learn the truth. Until my critics can find “infallibility” in themselves, then I would suggest that they quit demanding it of others. Romans 2:1 is still in the Bible! But so is Titus 2:11-15, and I am going to keep right on searching the Scriptures and “watching” for my Lord without apology to anyone just as Jesus Christ Himself instructed us to.

Finding connections and signs where none lie? Or a warning in advance? Either way, I pray that you make a decision for Jesus Christ if you haven’t already because these are chaotic times, and time won’t wait for you to finally make up your mind. Even if this doesn’t materialize you could still die tomorrow, and any unresolved issues (like where you will spend eternity when you die) will be moot at that point.

Do you desire a personal relationship with the One who created you and desires to have an intimate relationship with you? You need to know that if you haven’t been saved and born again then you’re not here reading this by accident. God has been trying to get your attention for so long, and He desperately wants you to finally answer His call and reach out to Him before it’s too late! This may even be your final warning. Are you willing to take that chance if you leave here without accepting Him and His free offer once and for all? If you know this to be true and want to respond once and for all, tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer:

“Father God, I know I need You because I am a sinner, but also know that I can never get to You on my own. There’s nothing I can do on my own to make up for my sins; nothing I could do on my own to earn favor and forgiveness from You or to secure my place in Heaven when I die. The only thing I can do is to make a conscious decision that You sent Your one and only Son Jesus Christ, and that He came to this world for me. He took my sins upon Himself, was crucified in my place, died for me, and was resurrected so that I may live forever. I accept Him and His sacrifice, and desperately want to receive Your Son Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. When He conquered death for my sake He gave me access to You. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Thank You for forgiving me and for sending the Holy Spirit to transform my life from this moment forward. I pray that You transform my life from this day forward and give me a heart and a mind that desires to not only get to know You, but to be with You as much as possible. Teach me how to live, and teach me how to share this message with others before it’s too late for them. Please count me worthy to escape the things to come. Amen.”

If you’re already a saved Christian, but you haven’t repented for your sins or sought the Lord for His mercy, forgiveness, salvation, or prayed that you are counted worthy to escape the things to come as we’re instructed to, if you haven’t done all these things in awhile, then please say the following prayer right now:

“Dear Lord, I pray that you will not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Please think of me according to Your mercy and for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. Lord I turn from all of those sins that I committed and I ask for Your help in washing the memory and thoughts of that sin completely from my mind. Please restore me to faithful obedience to Your Word, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit anew, so that I may keep Your commands all the days of my life. Lord Jesus, I invite you into my heart anew today, and I ask forgiveness for all of my sin. Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins and for forgiving me of them through your shed blood for me on the cross. Please take away all the sinful ‘old things’ in my heart that defile me, and replace them with the ‘good things’ that you desire to grow in to my life. Please wash away all the sinful crud and tendencies toward evil and replace them with a hunger and thirst for your righteousness. I need your help, Lord God, in living this new life in Christ. Please send your Holy Spirit afresh into my life to help me, heal me, lead me and transform me. I also pray that your shed blood washes over me, protects me, and that I am counted worthy to escape the things that are coming upon this world in the form of your righteous judgment. Lastly, I pray that you have mercy on this nation even though we deserve your fierce judgment for our blatant sins that are before you. Help us to see the error in our ways as individuals and as a nation, and lead us to repentance before it’s too late for us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Congratulations! You’ve just bought yourself the best Life Insurance policy there is!

Now, go and share this message with others because they may not be prepared for what’s coming (or perhaps for where they’re going to spend eternity).

Keep looking up! MARANATHA!!!

…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.

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.

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.