God's plan for man is written in The Holy Bible, and this plan is drawing to its conclusion as proven by daily news reports.

PROPHECY E-NEWSLETTER NUMBER 14
... www.prophecyfulfillment.com...

Shavuot: The Birth Days of Judaism and Christianity



CLICK to return to Website home page.

INTRODUCTION: We will soon observe Hag HaShavuot, the Festival of Weeks, commontly shortened to Shavuot (Weeks). Shavuot is the plural of shabua. A shabua in Hebrew is a collection of seven (just as a decade is a collection of ten in English). Shavuot in this instance is a collection of seven seven-day weeks. Shavuot occurs this year on Friday, May 29, 2009. As customary for Jewish holy days, the day is counted from sundown the day before (here, Shavuot begins at sundown on Thursday, May 28).

FEASTS: God gave the Israelites a number of holy days, or feasts. These holy days have been observed since the days of Moses. These days had/ still have special meanings for observant Israelites/ Jews. God folded into these feasts foreshadows (prophecies) of the life and ministry of the coming Messiah, Jesus. If we look at these feasts from a Messianic perspective, we see that Jesus the Messiah was promised to God's Covenant People approximately three and one-half millennia ago.

Feasts often occurred at seasons of harvest, but they held great spiritual and historical significance for the Israelites/ Jews. For Christians, they also should be highly significant. If you as a Christian do not consider yourself as grafted into God's tree of Israel, you have missed major truths in the Bible. See an earlier e-newsletter I issued on this subject. If your church teaches the heresy of replacement theology, there are probably churches in your community that know and teach the Bible and you should visit.

The seven feasts generally considered to be Feasts of Israel (Moses) include:

  • Spring feasts: The three spring feasts are Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits. Originally, the spring feasts commemorated the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. I have previously issued two e-newsletters about these feasts: Passover— A Prophecy and Confirmation of Jesus the Messiah and Prophecies Fulfilled through the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
    • Passover commemorated, among other things, the passing of God's power over Egypt as His tenth and final plague to cause Pharaoh to change his mind and permit Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt. (See Leviticus 23:5 and other Scriptures.) For Christians, Passover foretells the death of our Passover Lamb, Jesus, to be the one-time blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind (see John 3:1-21, 1 Corinthians 5:7, etc.).
    • The Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorated the haste in which the Israelites fled Egypt, having no time to permit bread to rise from leaven, or yeast. (See Leviticus 23:6-8 and other Scriptures.) Later, leaven became symbolic of sin, and eating unleavened bread denoted a symbolic effort to remove sin from lives. For Christians, this feast foretells the burial of Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, James 1:18, etc.).
    • The Feast of Firstfruits commemorated early harvest (see Leviticus 23:9-14). For Christians, this feast foretells the resurrection of Jesus, who was the first fruit of God's gift to man of being raised from death for eternal life (see Luke 24:7, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, etc.).
  • Summer feast: The summer feast was Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15-22). I will explain more about Shavuot in following paragraphs.
  • Fall feasts: The three fall feasts are the Feast of the Trumpets/ Shouts, Yom Teruah; the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur; and the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles, Sukkot.
    • The Feast of Trumpets commemorated trumpet (shofar) blasts throughout the land to acknowledge the presence of Jehovah, to announce the holy days soon to follow, and to signal the finality of God's harvest for the season (see Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6). For Christians, this feast foretells the Rapture/ Resurrection— the return of Jesus in the clouds for His church (see Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; etc.) Jesus will "harvest" the souls of those who have accepted Him as Savior at the Resurrection/ Rapture.
    • The Day of Atonement, the most solemn and dreaded of all Jewish feasts, was a time of national and personal introspection and repentance for and asking forgiveness of sins (see Leviticus 23:26-32, Numbers 29:7-11, etc.).
      For all persons, this feasts foretells the seven-year Tribulation, with different consequences for different groups. During the Tribulation...
      Christians will be in Jesus' presence, participating in two events: (1) Each Christian will appear before the Bema Judgment to show Jesus what he or she has done with his or her life for Jesus, and rewards will be given or withheld, depending upon these works (deeds).* (2) Then, will occur the marriage to the Lamb, Jesus, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:7-10), when we drink the Cup of Praise saved from the Lord's last Passover Seder with His disciples (see Matthew 26:29, etc.). From that moment, a Christian is eternally joined in spiritual marriage to the Bridegroom Jesus.
      All Zion— all Jews— will be saved (see Romans 11:26-27, etc.).
      Those who are not resurrected/ raptured will be left behind on earth during the worst time in all history to face the judgments of God and the evil of the Unholy Trinity (Satan, Antichrist, and False Prophet). Millions will be saved (and martyred) during this horrendous time; even more will rebel against and defile God, though, and will be cast eternally into the Lake of Fire (Hell).
      — — — — —
      *See a previously issued e-newsletter on the Bema Judgment

  • The Feast of Tabernacles, a time of joy and thanksgiving, commemorated the forty years in which the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, living in tents but always having the glory and presence of Jehovah with them (see Leviticus 23:33-43, Deuteronomy 16:13-15, etc.). For Christians, the feast foretells the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus will tabernacle (live) with His followers on earth (see Isaiah 9:7, Revelation 20:4-6, etc.).

    • THIS WEEK'S FESTIVAL— SHAVUOT (PENTECOST): This feast marks two important events, occurring on the same calendar day but separated in time by many centuries. The feast may be called by the Hebrew Shavuot (occurring seven weeks after an event) or by the anglicized Greek Pentecost (on the fiftieth day after an event).

    Old Testament Shavuot— The Birth of Judaism: Shavuot marks fifty days after the exodus of the Israelites, led by Moses, from bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt.

    The Jews counted forty-nine days (seven shavuot or weeks) from the second day of Passover until the day before the festival. The festival is also known as Pentecost (Greek origin) because it occurred on the fiftieth day after Passover (Pentecost = fiftieth day).

    On this day, God gave His law, the Torah, to the Israelites. The Hebrew Torah is translated "law, instruction, or direction." Jewish rabbis and teachers point out that the Torah was given on this date (a one-time act), not received on this day (which should continue through every generation). The Torah is sacred for Jews (Deuteronomy 33:4): Moses commanded a law [Hebrew = torah] for us, a heritage for the congregation of Jacob [Israel]. No one is permitted to add, subtract, or modify any part of the Bible (Deuteronomy 4:2): [The LORD speaking to Israel about His covenants] "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you." Serious consequences have always attended the disrespect for or breaking of God's Word. God gives us commandments, not suggestions or multiple choices.

    The Torah, the most important document of Jewish belief, is the written law. The Torah is most commonly considered as the first five books of the Bible, the books written by Moses— Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

    Another more-inclusive definition is that of Tanakh, which is an acronym derived from Torah (Books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). Christians sometimes call this the "Hebrew Bible." The portion of the Bible is mostly written in Hebrew, but I believe this is a mild form of anti-Semitism (suggestive of replacement theology). Every word in this portion of the Bible is as binding on Christians today as it was on Israelites/ Jews many centuries ago. Jesus came not to replace the earlier law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:18): [Jesus said] "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." We commonly refer to this portion as "the Old Testament," and to the writings from Matthew through Revelation as "the New Testament." I do this, too, but a better designation would be merely "the Bible" or the "Word of God." Christians are as bound to "Old" Testament teachings as to "New" Testament teachings.

    A still more inclusive definition would add to the above Bible writings the Mishna, the Midrash, the Talmud, and other writings.

    During the Feast of Shavuot, work was not permitted. Other observed customs included lighting candles, reading the Torah and the Book of Ruth, praying, and eating dairy products (to recall the promise that Canaan would be a land flowing with milk and honey?).

    New Testament Pentecost— the Birth of Christianity: Jesus was crucified on Passover, was buried for three days (by Jewish counting), and arose (was resurrected) from the tomb on Sunday morning— a day commonly called "Easter" or by a name less rooted in pagan origins, "Resurrection Day."

    After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many persons and taught for forty days (John, chapters 20 and 21, and other Scriptures). Jesus had warned that He must leave for a while, but that the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) would be sent in His place, while He was with the Father (see John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; and other Scriptures).

    We read in Acts 1:5, 8: [Jesus said] "... for John [John the Baptizer] truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. |...| But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." He then ascended into a cloud (a "cloud" of white-robed angels?) out of his followers' sight (Acts 1:9-11). This ascension is the model (in reverse) of Jesus' return in the clouds— the Resurrection/ Rapture— according to this promise (Acts 1:10-11): And while they [Jesus' followers] looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men [angels, undoubtedly] dressed in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

    The "not many days from now" mentioned by Jesus turned out to be ten days.

    Read Acts, chapter 2, which is too lengthy to reproduce in this newsletter, but which I summarize:

    • On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus' followers were meeting "in one accord in one place."
    • Suddenly in the room, the Holy Spirit— the promised Comforter— descended upon them, with audible and visible manifestations of God's power and with a gift of the Holy Spirit.
    • They heard a rushing, mighty wind that filled the whole house. Note the words used in the Bible for the Holy Spirit: In Hebrew, ruach (pronounched, RU-akh) translates to "spirit, wind, or breath." Putting "Holy" with this noun, HaKodesh Ruach, translates to "the Holy Spirit." Similarly in Greek, pneuma translates to "spirit, wind, or breath." (Note the pneuma- root in pneumonia, for example.) Putting "holy"— hagios (pronounced HA-gee-os)— with this noun translates to "the Holy Spirit." The rushing wind was the first sign that the power of God the Father would forever be present with Jesus' church through the Holy Spirit. Not only is the Holy Spirit present within Jesus' church, He is a gift to every believer. I previously mentioned Jesus' promise that the Comforter would come. The Greek word translated "Comforter" is Parakletos (pronounced, pah-RAH-klay-tos). From this Greek, we translate to Paraklete (Paraclete), which has the sense of God through the Holy Spirit walking alongside of every believer to serve as Counselor, Advocate, Comforter, Intercessor, and Helper. No matter how alone you may feel, if you believe in Christ as Savior the Holy Spirit is at your side— as close to you as prayer.
    • Then appeared cloven (divided, branching) tongues of fire, which settled on every person. This manifestation of the Spirit symbolized God's power given then and now to every follower. It also fufilled a prophecy of John the Baptizer (Luke 3:16): John answered, saying to them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (See also Matthew 3:11.)
    • Then, these followers received the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit. They "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Speaking in tongues, or glossolalia, was an essential gift for these followers, because they were commissioned as missionaries to take the Gospel of Jesus the Christ throughout the world. By speaking foreign languages, they could immediately address villagers in any country. Put the key words "definition of glossolalia" in the GoogleTM search engine. The Web definitions show the present-day biases, the prejudices against speaking in tongues. On a personal note, I was saved at about age twelve and received water baptism in a Baptist Church. My wife and I worshipped as Baptists for many years. Most mainline Protestant churches downplay speaking in tongues in modern times, and we believed speaking in tongues was some sort of "gibberish." We began worshipping in a Church of God (Pentecostal) congregation ten years or so ago. Both of us, then, were "baptized with the Holy Spirit, with the inital manifestation of speaking in tongues." My wife and I are very reserved, quiet people, and are not easily influenced through emotional appeals. We have both been "baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit," as John the Baptizer promised would come. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this life-changing event is a real phenomenon and a gift from God. Paul spoke of gifts of the Holy Spirit, one of which is the gift of "different tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:10). Read Paul's writings about the value of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:7-25). In the gift of glossolalia, there was not a time limit, such as, "Speaking in tongues will cease, when the last apostle dies." Be open-minded about gifts from God. You may only be receiving some of the gifts God would like you to have. Also, read Peter's explanation of Pentecost (beginning with Acts 2:14).
    • On the Day of Pentecost, the first missionaries received the Holy Spirit (rushing wind), God's power (baptism of fire), and an important gift of the Spirit (speaking and understanding languages unknown to them). These first missionaries were, for the most part, uneducated, unsophisticated people, but, yet, they revolutionized the world. Remember, though, that God will always equip any person He calls to do His bidding. He searches out willing servants, not necessarily accomplished servants.

    Do not miss the timing of Shavuot, as it occurs in summer (the season of harvest). Jesus will harvest His church at the Resurrection/ Rapture. But in the present summer of harvest in which we live, you and I must harvest souls for the Kingdom (Luke 10:2): Then [Jesus] said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

    CONCLUSION: We are in the time of Shavuot (The Festival of Weeks, Day of Pentecost)— both in this calendar week and in God's prophetic timetable. On the same calendar day many centuries apart, God chose to give His Law to the Israelites, and Judaism was born; and God chose to send the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers, and Christianity was born.

    God loves both Jews and Christians. Indeed, He loves all people. It is the Christian's task to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and spread the Gospel to unsaved persons, serving as a "watchman on the wall" to warn of eternal death for any person who does not accept Jesus the Christ as Savior. The time is short. Jesus will return soon. The fields of unsaved persons are ripe for harvest. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit is by your side, wanting to walk alongside as you serve as Jesus' ambassador on earth.

    You may ask, What does this newsletter have to do with end-time prophecy? Maybe not a lot, directly. God has commanded us to follow His written word, though. We must respect the Bible in its entirety, as we prepare for eternity. More importantly, we must share the message of the Bible with others. God loves all mankind so much that He wove the story of the Messiah into ancient feast practices. Four of these feast prohecies have been fulfilled. We await with great anticipation the fulfilling of the last three feast prophecies.

    SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS: I teach a Sunday School class at my church. We discuss only end-time prophecy and the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. Since I have no nicely printed Sunday School quarterlies to follow, I must write my own lessons. I started last week mailing lessons to any interested person (no charge, of course). If you would like to receive these lessons, please send a "Sunday School lesson subscribe" request to me. I am trying to reach as many persons as I can, and I would be honored to email these lessons to you.

    Be good to— love— people this week. In my last Sunday School lesson, I quoted a favorite phrase from Paul Wilbur's song, Shalom Jerusalem, which is a good prayer for us all: "When Messiah comes to take us home, may His praise be found in you." Pray for Israel. I believe the War of Gog and Magog could erupt soon. Only God knows the future, of course, but we may be much closer to Jesus' return than most people think.