We may not know the day or the hour, but I believe we will know
the seasons for the raptures.
 
  On the Jewish calendar there are 3 first fruit harvests- spring, summer, and fall.  Jesus was spring firstfruits- barley.  The Bride
of the Church must be summer firstfruits- wheat.  And Israel with
with the tribulation saints must be fall firstfruits- perhaps apples
and grapes.
 
   In Exodus 34:22 God said, "And thou shalt observe the feast
of weeks (Pentecost), of the firstfruits of wheat harvest."
 
   Jews regard Shavuot (Pentecost, Feast of Weeks) as either
an independent festival or as a supplement - especially as a
concluding piece - of the Passover.  Its significance can be measured best by their celebration of the law which was given to them by God on this fiftieth day after their deliverance from Egypt.
 
   On the second night of Passover, the period called "the omer" began.  For the people of the exodus, this measured time became a countdown to Sinai where they were offered as a type of living
firstfruits.  It was during this time that many Jews believe God courted Israel.  They see Shavuot at Sinai as the celebration of the actual marriage when her consecration to God as a people was completed.
 
   On Shavuot the Hebrew children at Sinai experienced the appearance of God; the giving of the Torah (the law); and their acceptance as a people.  On Pentecost the disciples at Jerusalem experienced the appearance of God the Holy Spirit; the giving of the New Birth (the nature of God); the infilling of the Holy Spirit; and their acceptance as believers.
 
   At the foot of Mount Sinai the followers of Moses witnessed supernatural thunder; lightning; thick cloud upon the mount; smoke; fire; and finally a trumpet and the voice of God that called Moses up from among them (Ex. 19:18-20).  In Jerusalem and in a related way the followers of Jesus witnessed the sound of wind from heaven; cloven tongues like fire; followed by "many signs" (Acts 2), but without a "great voice, as a trumpet"...which may be reserved for a future Pentecost.
 
   Other significant correlations between the Sinai event and the Jerusalem one are:-
 
   1.    Both groups of people were chosen and drawn out
          from the world by God.
 
   2.    Both were involved in a countdown from one event
          to another that ended on the same festival day -
          from Passover to Pentecost and from the Ascension
          Day to Pentecost.
 
   3.    Both were commanded to assemble at a particular
          place and wait - at Mount Sinai and in Jerusalem.
 
   4.    Both were involved in some type of preparation to
          meet God.
 
   5     Both the followers of Moses and the followers of
          Jesus had someone to represent them before God -
          Moses who "went up to the top of the mount," and
          the 120 who "went up into the upper room."
 
   6     The life of Moses ended at 120, and the life of the
          Church began with 120.
 
   7.     More importantly, both the Jewish nation and the
           Church were born on Pentecost.
 
   Of particular note is the fact that when the Church was born, God's major focus changed from one covenant people, the Jews, to another, the Christians, both in one day.  Should a trumpet voice call the Bride up as it did Moses on a future Pentecost, the main focus would shift back upon the Jews, and their stopped clock would start again.
 
   If this were to happen, this would mean that the Pentecost which birthed the Church cannot be fulfilled until a select group like the 120 are called up from the Church.  This group too would be like the first assembly - as one and in one accord.  In this manner God's attention could once again return to His original chosen people.
 
   For the Jews left behind, the Rapture of the Bride will be tragic!
How appropriate then is it that the period which follows Pentecost on the Jewish calendar is called "The Dark Time?"
 
   After Shavuot the next firstfruit harvest to be fulfilled is in the fall on Rosh Ha-Shanah. It is on this two day feast that Israel and the tribulation saints might anticipate their rapture.
 
   Because this year celebrates the 40th anniversary since the Six Day War in 1967, and because the number 40 plays such a prominent role in so many transitional events in the Bible, I believe this year is very favorable for the Rapture.
 
                SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES ON SHAVUOT
                       (PENTECOST) AND 40 YEARS
 
1.    The two themes of Shavuot are harvest and Revelation.
 
2.     Exodus 23:14-19 and Lev. 23:9-22 regard this day as
        the feast of harvest or the day of first fruits.  In James
        1:18 the Bride is also called firstfruits.
 
3.     Shavuot is marked as the rite of a new agricultural
        season - the bringing of the first fruits to the temple.
 
4.     According to tradition, Israelites at Sinai slept late
        that morning and had to be awakened by Moses.  In
        atonement, Jews nowadays are urged to stay awake
        all night.
 
5.     The sense of preparation for Sinai is heightened  by a
        mystical tradition holding that the skies open up during
        that night for a brief instant, and at that moment, God
        will favorably answer prayer.
 
6.     Many regard Shavout as the wedding of God and Israel.
        Thus, they stay up all night as if to decorate the Bride.
 
7.     It is thought that Enoch was born and raptured on
        Shavout.
 
8      The Book of Ruth is read during Shavuot.  It ends with
        the genealogy from Ruth to King David.
 
9.      According to tradition, King David was born and died
         on Shavuot.
 
10.    Isaac was 40 when he took Rebekah to wife.  The story
         of Abraham the father securing a bride for his son Isaac
         by his servant strongly relates to God the Father
         securing a bride for his son Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
 
 
In Jesus,
 
Susie Parker