Re: DP (26 May 2019)
"Sequence and Timing of End Time Events"
DP: I would like to comment on your
article above. I would ask you to consider a different
view of "Sinai Pentecost".
Leviticus 23 speaks to the seven
festivals (moed) of the Lord. There are three
pilgrimage feasts (chag) within these seven festivals.
I know you understand the distinction between a moed and
chag. The three chag are a shadow (Colossians 2:16) of
the First Resurrection. (See 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 52; and
Revelation 20:4-5 for the three orders of the First
Resurrection)
Now, Moses was clear to instruct the
Israelites not to celebrate "First Fruits" and
"Pentecost" until they came into the Promised land.
(Leviticus 23:10) This prohibition leads me to believe
that any Sinai association is wrong. I know it is the
majority view that Pentecost was fulfilled by the giving of
the law in Sinai and the gift of the Holy Spirit in 30
A.D. I believe this is a gross error. I will
explain my view.
Moses never associated the giving of the
law with Pentecost. Surely, it may be true that the
Law was given about 53 days following the Egypt
Exodus. If any comparison should be made, and I
believe a comparison is surely demanded, it would be by
contrast rather than by similarity. The Law is
associated with sin and death and Pentecost is associated
with grace and life. Did not 3,000 die at Sinai and
3,000 receive eternal life at Pentecost? That is the
distinction and it is true. They are not
similar. They are opposites. They contrast the
law and death with faith and life as a result of Jesus'
atonement offering and resurrection. See Galatians 3;
Romans 3:20, 7:5, 8:2; 1 Corinthians 15:56
Having recognized that the giving of the
Law at Sinai did not fulfill any portion of the typology of
Pentecost should raise a question about the future of
Pentecost and its true imagery of fulfillment. All we
need do is consider what the Lord says about our
salvation. He says it has two parts. Part
one is the indwelling of the H.S. at the First Pentecost and
part two, will be the redemption of the body, at his
appearing. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Now, consider the priestly actions at
First Fruits at Jesus' resurrection and ascension. The
priests were commanded to take a sheaf of grain heads and
wave it up to the Lord in thanks expectantly awaiting the
final harvest. Jesus was the "grain" that had to die
to produce much fruit. (John 12:24) Jesus ascended to
the Father just as the Temple priests were conducting the
"wave sheaf offering". (Leviticus 23:10-11; John
20:17) At Pentecost, the Temple priests were
commanded to take the harvested grain and bake two loaves
and offer the two loaves up to God as a thanks offering.
(Leviticus 23:17) This is the "wave loaf
offering". The deposit of the Holy Spirit came
down into believers. Yet, there must be an ascension
associated with this "two loaf wave offering feast typology,
just as there was an ascension associated with Jesus' First
Fruits ascension.
Two loaves is the image of the (1)
resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1
Thessalonians 4:16), then (2) the "catching out" of the
living in Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians
4:17).
Therefore, Pentecost awaits final
fulfillment at the Resurrection/Rapture event. The
Year 2019, because it is Israel's 70th year
(1949-2019), is a very possible year for such an
event.
Personally, I do not know how to
calculate Pentecost. I know that it is in the Spring
and probably a Sunday (8th day) Jerusalem time. There
is nothing in Leviticus which provides start date
information. Jewish tradition suggests that it is
associated with the Spring equinox.
Greg Wilson