Tag: Feast of Weeks

The Holy Days of Leviticus 23 are Christian Holidays that Outline the Plan of Salvation

What do the biblical holy days of Leviticus 23 mean for followers of Yeshua today? In this in-depth sermon, Chris presents an overview of the Sabbath, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Shavuot/Pentecost, the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, Sukkot, and the Eighth Day.

The message explores how these appointed times relate to the life, sacrifice, resurrection, and return of Yeshua; how they reveal the biblical plan of salvation; and how believers can begin observing them in everyday life. It also discusses the biblical calendar, holy convocations, first-century Christian practice, prophecy, repentance, resurrection, the millennial reign, and the world to come.

Please share your questions or comments below. Shalom and be blessed.

Leviticus 23, biblical holy days, appointed times, moedim, Torah, Yeshua, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Messianic Christianity, Hebrew Roots, first century Christianity, Sabbath, Shabbat, Passover, Pesach, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, wave sheaf offering, Shavuot, Pentecost, Feast of Weeks, Yom Teruah, Day of Trumpets, Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths, Shemini Atzeret, Eighth Day, biblical calendar, Hebrew calendar, holy convocation, Christian holy days, biblical festivals, Torah observance, plan of salvation, Bible prophecy, Messianic prophecy, resurrection, return of Yeshua, millennial reign, Olam Haba, New Jerusalem, early church, Acts 2, Book of Hebrews, Revelation 20, Zechariah 14, First Centry Christianity

The Feast of Weeks for Christians

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.” (Exo 34:21-22)

This Sunday, June 5th, is the Feast of Weeks for 2020. This day goes by many names in scripture including “count fifty” which, in Greek, is Pentecost. Most Christians know this day to be Pentecost because of the miracle of the Spirit (Ruach) descending on the Apostles in Acts 2. The book of Acts was written in Greek and Pentecost was not translated into English. What’s ironic is many Christians don’t realize this day is from the Torah and it shows the Apostles were continuing to observe Torah after Yeshua ascended.

I used the Exodus scripture above vice the many others to illustrate the Feast of Weeks for a reason today. It’s because the commandment is adjacent to the Sabbath commandment. In English, we don’t see an association here that is plain to see in Hebrew. Let me show you:

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day (yom shebee-e) you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Chag Shebua), that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. (Exo 34:21-22)

Yom Shebee-e means seventh day. Chag Shebua means Feast of Weeks. And you can see these words are derived from the word Shabbat, which we know is the weekly holiday commanded by the 4th commandment. The Feast of Weeks is tied to the Hebrew week. We are to count 7 Sabbaths and then a day to arrive on the day to be observed, which is June 5 this year.

I understand there is another counting method to this day that makes it start on a calendar date each year instead of a day of the week. This results in the Feast of Weeks falling on random days of the week fifty days later. Does it make sense to count 7 weeks apart from the week established by Yahweh at Creation? I don’t think so.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Act 2:1-4)

I will speak about this day in detail this weekend. The Sabbath before Pentecost is rather special to those of us who believe in Yeshua and the New Testament. Please join us on Zoom at 1pm central to hear more about that specific day in history. On Pentecost, please join at 3pm central. Sorry for the change in times but we share meeting space and couldn’t get in at our normal time. Here’s the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9833667268

On the day of Pentecost in Acts two, we can know the count started on the 1st day of the week because Yeshua was resurrected on the 1st day. The women arrived at the tomb to find it empty before sunrise on the 1st day. Since a day starts at sunset, we know Yeshua was resurrected sometime Saturday night (using modern words for understanding). Paul later tells us Yeshua is the first fruits of the dead, meaning He was resurrected on the day the wave sheaf was offered as Yahweh’s blessed first fruits of the dead. Yahweh accepted His Son’s sinless death as an offering for all sin and resurrected Him at the proper time. This observance is particularly important as an apologetic to our common Messianic faith. Because it shows the Apostles were still keeping Torah even after the Messiah was resurrected and explained everything to them. And they were rewarded incredibly for displaying their faith through their works. Shalom and I hope to see you online this weekend!