The Actual date of Pentecost

 

Dear beloved brother,

 

    It is good to hear from you.  Brother, let me remind you that it doesn't matter what people "think;" not me, not you, not anyone else.  What matters is what God's Word actually and literally says and teaches.  And yes, there is a "falling away" taking place, so much so that many who claim to be "Christians" just don't care what God's Word says anymore.  Tragic!  That is the only way I know to express it and be truthful.   

    Yes, there is a lot of debate on Five Doves and other "Christian" websites about the correct date of Pentecost, and also other Jewish Holy Days.  But I still believe in getting our answers from God's Word. 

    The date of June 7th is highly significant, just as I pointed out in my Bible study.  I don't think the significance of that date is any coincidence.  June 7th was the date that Jerusalem was restored to the Jewish people in 1967 during the Six Day War.  It is also the end of the 41st year since the "generation" began in 1967.  I did state in my study that it was the end of the 40th year.  That was a mistake.  I'm not too proud, nor ashamed,  to admit my mistakes.  [After all, my critics must have something to scoff at].  By actual count the 41st year ends on June 7th, and the 42nd year begins on June 8th.  Very significantly, 42 is the Bible number for "the coming of Christ."      

    However, some brother pointed out the statement of the Lord Himself, which I referred to my in study, in which the Lord explicitly said, "DO NOT SAY, There are yet four months and then cometh the harvest...," John 4:35.  This brother claims that the true date of Pentecost is June 15th, based on taking the statement of Christ at face value for exactly what He said.  If the actual date of Pentecost is June 15th instead of June 8th, then it is exactly four months [120 days.....4 x 30] by actual day count to the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles on the evening of October 13th. 

    This doesn't change the truth of the Lord's coming to resurrect and rapture His people on Pentecost.  The Lord didn't show me a "date."  He showed me that the "firstfruits" offering on the morrow after the sabbath following Passover, and the wave offering on Pentecost are the only two Jewish holy days that have anything to do with resurrection and rapture of God's people.  Period!  After the Lord revealed that truth to me, then I looked at the calendar to see what "date" Pentecost would fall on.  Isn't that what any normal person would do? 

    Frankly, it doesn't seem like a "big deal" to me if Pentecost is one week later than I first thought it to be.  The Lord's people [true believers] have been waiting for the Lord to return since He ascended back to the Father some 2,000 years ago.  In view of the long time God's people have been waiting, what piddling difference is one more week going to make?  I can wait another week to see my Lord.  Is there any true believer reading this that can't? 

    But what about June 7th, and the significance of that date?  Is it just possible that on June 7th we [God's people] may see the seven day warning repeated that God gave to Noah?  Has anyone thought about that? 

    Actually, if you carefully study Genesis 7:4 and 7:10 the warning God gave to Noah came NINE DAYS before the flood began.  Look at it for yourself.  God told Noah in verse 4, "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain....."  He must have been speaking to Noah the day before the seven days.  And in verse 10 the Scripture says, "And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth."  This certainly appears to me then that God warned Noah nine days before the flood began.  The next day was the first day of the seven.  Then the day after the 7th day, which if counting from the day Noah received the warning would have been the 9th day, the flood began.  Now if I am looking at the literal statements of the Scripture wrong here, then I'll let some of my "brethren" straighten me out. But those who are seriously studying the Word will have to admit that it is interesting that June 7th is nine days before the alleged true date of Pentecost on June 15th.  Count it for yourself.  Just coincidence?  You decide! 

    I still stand by the truth the Lord showed to me on April 26th; that He is coming to resurrect and rapture His people to glory ON PENTECOST.  If it is a week later than the date I picked off the calendar, so be it.  I've been waiting for 54 years for my Lord to come and take me "home," and I am sure I can wait one more week.  Glory to God!  He is coming! 

    God bless you brother.  I'll meet you soon in glory.  Pray for me.

 

           Pastor F. M. Riley

  

To: Francis Riley <fmrglbd5@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:18:34 PM
Subject: The "ACTUAL" Pentecost Date?

Good morning Pastor Riley.  How are you? I first want to tell you I enjoyed that latest article you posted on the 5 Doves Website.  You know what? If I'd known about that website a while back, I probably would've figured out a way to join it, because I get so much inspiration and "excitement" out of everyone's post.

 

Today I was on there, I was reading what some people are saying about the correct date for Pentecost.  Lots of people are saying that the Jewish calendar and the Gentile calendar is not correctly aligned with each other, which I do believe, because as you know, Passover has always came BEFORE Easter, but this year (2008) it was after Easter, it was off by a whole month. That's unusual.

 

Also, I noticed that many of them are saying that Ascension Day (May 29) could actually be the TARGET DATE OF THE RAPTURE/RESURRECTION, rather than sometime in June. I'm wandering now if we'll even "know" the exact day of His Appearing. My pastor preached from 2nd Kings Chapter 2 yesterday about Elijah and how he was "raptured" to heaven, and Elisha saw it. Elijah KNEW THE DAY HE WAS GOING UP, Enoch KNEW THE DAY HE WAS GOING UP, and Jesus Christ himself KNEW THE DAY HE WAS GOING UP, but now there appears to be lots of confusion, not to mention the fact that the majority of Christians are just not that interested in things like that.

 

I can see the "falling away" taking place right now.  In the last few months, there have been lots of people leaving my church.  It's a lot of confusion, misunderstanding, and animosity between the members, and it's taking its toll on our pastor and other members.  He even preached about it yesterday.  My Sunday School teacher is getting ready to leave now.  She's been teaching a study on the Book of Revelation.  Two years ago she taught from the Book of Daniel.  Now she says she's not going to continue (because she's leaving the church).

 

Also, another lady in my class was crying and upset yesterday over the fact that our church has changed a lot over the last 13 years. My pastor has been there for 13 years, and as you know quite well, THE NUMBER 13 IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOTS OF WICKEDNESS, EVIL, DECEPTION, AND CROOKEDNESS. I discovered it in the Word of God.  There NOTHING GOOD that's associated with the number 13!

 

As a result, lots of people have backed down from the church.  Attendance has dropped significantly, and the finances are dropping fast, too.  It's getting empty in there, and pretty soon, I believe no one will be there except the "Pioneers"....(older members).  This is the church where I accepted Christ at age 11, and after having been away for 10 years (at another church), I reunited in 2005.

 

I would also like to mention that my own life has played out in the format of "Daniel's 70th Week" over the last 7 years.  I began experiencing lots of trouble, spiritual depression, and total dillusion in 2001. Then by 2005, when God spoke to me in a series of dreams telling me that my season was over at my previous church, and that He wanted to me to return to the place where I came to Him, that's when ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!! It was like "The Abomination of Desolation" in 2005. Then I lost my job at the end of that year, and remained unemployed until the spring of 2006. I worked consistently up until January of this year (2008), when I lost my new job after only being there for 7 months (completion). I was at my other job for 13 months (13 is the number of Rebellion, Apostasy, and Wickedness), and as a result, I had a wreck in the company truck as I was approaching my 13th month with the company. Ain't that somethin'? My very life has been the exact portrayal of "The 7-Year Tribulation Period".

 

So I was wandering if all of this is a sign of the SOON RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST? Another thing this lady said yesterday is "There are NOT going to be as many Christians going in the Rapture as people think".  I was enjoying our Bible Prophecy class, but since my teacher had become slack in teaching it, it now appears that the class itself is going to end.  I believe yesterday was her final Sunday teaching it.

 

So I guess I'll just hold on, and see what else happens before the Trumpet sounds.

Taron Jerone Harris

All of God's Promises are "Yea" and "Amen".