Hello James, John and Doves,
You have two interesting studies
in your letter that compel us to relook at where Pentecost
falls on the calendar - bringing into question the
"traditional 40 days to Ascension Day and the
"traditional" 50 days to Pentecost. I believe the
proper counting has 'been lost' for generations.
Maybe it's our generation rightly studying this topic
because we are THE last generation! It is for us to
know.
I remember reading about Paul
wanting to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost - Acts 20:16 says
"...for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible,
by the day of Pentecost. I have wondered if maybe he had a
'gut feeling' that the Rapture might happen on that
day. And that was more the reason for 'the
hurry'. But I did not consider how far he had to
travel to get there in time!
What you posted is pretty
telling...1) Given the number of days that Paul actually
had to travel to Jerusalem to get there in time for
Pentecost from where he was, by this study, was just not
enough time. And 2) the '40' meaning associated with
Ascension Day (was Jesus seen over a 40 day period or was
He seen 40 times?) has come into question with another
study.
These require us to question the
traditional placement of Ascension Day and Pentecost on
the calendar. Pentecost falling at the time of the
New Wine Festival makes perfect sense - because 'the wine
is new' Acts 2. Grape harvesting was in June -
September - not May.
Thank you very much for this
'additional' information that places Pentecost much later
in the calendar...and more than likely, on the Feast of
New Wine.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
Chance