Hi Doves,
 
Its becoming more clear to me that the Resurrection of our Lord took place on the 17th of Nisan and not the 16th. Which means the feast of First-fruits should actually be observed on the 17th of Nisan.
 
Why was it changed? Could it be because Israel, as a nation, has rejected Jesus as there Messiah? Why would they want to have a date on there calendar marking His Resurrection?
 
We already understand that a Jewish night of 12 hours (sunset to sunrise) is followed by a Jewish day of 12 hours (sunrise to sunset).This is a full 24 hour day.
 
In scripture we read:
 
"Now you shall keep it (the lamb) until the fourteenth DAY of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight." (Exodus 12:6)
 
From this verse we  see that the 12 hour evening of the 14th of  Nisan has already past. The lamb was to be killed towards the end of the 12 hour day of the 14th of Nisan. This would then be followed by the 12 hour evening of the 15th of Nisan when the Passover lamb would be eaten with unleavened bread.
 
For scripture reads:
 
"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening" (Exod.12:18)
 
The word "evening" in the phrase "on the fourteenth day of the month at evening" is referring to the evening of the 1st day of the feast of unleavened bread. The feast was to be observed for 7 days.
 
In Leviticus we read:
 
"On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread." (Lev.23:5,6)
 
Notice they were to eat unleavened bread for seven days and
not eight days.
 
We begin to see that the Passover meal along with unleavened bread was actually eaten on the evening of the 15th of Nisan.
 
"Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover" (Matt.26:17)
 
"After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread," (Mark 14:1)
 
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near,which is called Passover" (Luke 22:1)
 
It therefore follows that the Lord was crucified during the 12 hour Day of the 15th of Nisan. This was from 9:00 am in the morning until 15:00 pm in the afternoon.
 
"Now it was third hour (9:00am), and they crucified Him." (Mark 15:25)
 
"Now when the sixth hour (noon) had come there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (15:00 pm) And at the ninth hour......Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last." (Mark 15:33 - 37)
 
As the 12 hour day of the 15th of Nisan draws to an end at Sundown, the 12 hour evening of the 16th of Nisan begins. This would of cause be followed by the 12 hour Day of the 16th of Nisan. This was a Sabbath Day.
 
"Now behold, there was a man named Joseph...this man went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus...that day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near...And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after...And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment." (Luke 23:50 - 56)
 
Following the 12 hour Day of the 16th of Nisan, at sundown, begins the 12 hour Evening of the 17th of Nisan. At a certain time before dawn, on the First day of the week, The Lord Jesus Christ rose completely Glorified from the dead.
 
"Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb...behold,two men stood by them in shining garments..."Why do you seek the living among the dead? "He is not here, but is risen!"
(Luke 24:1-6)
 
I am convinced that the 17th of Nisan is the Day we  should celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord. Hence the Feast of First-fruits.
 
Why is this so important now?
 
Recently the Lord led me to use this date to set my Calendar for the entire year. This year, the 17th of Nisan falls on the 5th of April, on a Thursday.
 
For this year 2007. A week should start on a Thursday and end the following Wednesday. Wednesday being the 7th day, would be a Sabbath day.
 
I discovered that after setting the starting Day to Thursday, using the advanced settings on my mobile phone, the Appointed feasts days lined up perfectly.
 
For instance, this year, 2007, the Feast of First-fruits is on the 5th of April. Counting seven Sabbaths :11th,18th, 25th of April and 2nd,9th,16th and the 23rd of May. The  correct day of Pentecost for this year is the 24th of May. That is the 7th of Sivan.
 
If the resurrection/translation of the saints is to happen this year it will most likely happen during the Seventh feast. This is on the Evening of the eighth Day.
 
"...The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord...Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest." (Lev.23:34, 39)
 
There is no feast during the Evening of the 12 hours of the 15th of Tishrei, this is because the booths have not been made yet. They are built during the 12 hour day of the 15th of Tishrei.
 
"And you shall take for yourselves on THE FIRST DAY the fruit of beautiful trees...and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God Seven days." (Lev.23:40)
 
This means that the 1st feast will be celebrated on the Evening of the 16th Tishrei, the 2nd feast on the Evening of the 17 Tishrei, the 3rd feast on the Evening of the 18th Tishrei and so on.
 
The seventh and last feast would be on the Evening of the 22nd Tishrei, which is also the "eighth Day a Sabbath-rest"
 
For this year, 2007, The Evening of the eighth Day falls on Wednesday the 3rd of October. This would be from Sundown (Jerusalem time) until Sunrise the following day.
 
I would Just like to encourage everyone to devout themselves as much as possible to the Word.
 
Ola