When is the symbolic end of the annual barley harvest for Israel? Scripturally, we have 2 choices. The earlier date is Second Passover on Day 28 of The Counting of the Omer, on Eve of Iyar 14. The later choice is at Day 50 of The Counting of the Omer on Feast 4 of the 7 Feasts of Elohim at Shavuot (Pentecost). When is the barley harvest literally over for Israel? Probably at Second Passover, 4 weeks after Eve First Passover as Nisan 14 begins at sunset. When the Messiah lived, the barley was harvested by hand. Winnowing forks were used to separate barley from the chaff. The harvest would have taken up to 4 weeks, rather than 7 weeks until Shavuot? At 7 weeks, the barley would have been overripe and rotting in the fields.

   What was an omer? It was a unit of measurement of grain. What was used for the 50 days count up? BARLEY, not wheat. The omer count goes 22 days past Day 28 until Day 50. We do indeed associate wheat with Shavuot (Pentecost). In days of old, 2 loaves of wheat were offered as wave offerings at Herod’s Temple on Day 50 of The Counting of the Omer. Wheat, not barley. At maturity a barley crop appears white in a field. The usual bridal color is white. The Book of Revelation informs us that the bride of the Messiah wears white. So we have 2 choices of days when the barley harvest is symbolically complete for Israel. Messiah is the first fruits of those who have slept in death and been transformed in Resurrection. He is the Head of the harvest. The First of the first fruits. He is associated on His Resurrection Day with the First (the Head) of the First Fruits. Of what? BARLEY, at Feast 3 of the 7 Feasts of Elohim called Yom ha Bikkarim, the Feast of First Fruits of Barley. The Messiah as the groom is linked to barley. Is His bride linked to barley or wheat? The bride will complete the First Fruits Barley, the remainder of the body of the barley harvest. Is Shavuot (Pentecost) linked to a later harvest of believers in the Messiah, the friends to the groom and bride? Not longer bride but friends, symbolic of the wheat harvest, to the bridal couple? The redeemed of the tribulum period of the “hour of trial” of The 70th Week of Daniel?

   The date of Second Passover in 2020 on The Torah Calendar will begin the evening at sunset on 5-7-2020, Eve Second Passover. The themes of First Passover apply. No, there are not 7 Days of Unleavened Bread after that. Second Passover is the only Feast of Elohim of those from 2 through 7 with a Second Chance, a Second Opportunity. That makes it mysterious, special and unique!

   Please see the following articles in archives for more information on the elusive, obscure, yet important occasion of Second Passover: “Second Passover” by Lisa Taylor on 4-19-2013. “Second Passover and His Barley Resurrection Season” on 4-25-2011 and “Three Nights of Vigil: Keeping Watch” on 3-27-2013 by Jean Stepnoski. The Messiah, the Groom of the Ages, promises to come for His bride, His family “at a time you think not” and He will! Few know about Second Passover but it may be The Season and The Day. Most “think not” about Second Passover in 2020. More are considering Shavuot (Pentecost) in 2020. Awaiting…

 

With Love and Shalom,

Jean